Las Vegas Weekly

September 21, 2010 · 12:33 PM

Photos: Criss Angel launches Mindfreak magic kit at The Bank

By Robin Leach

Criss Angel hosts a party for the release of his Mindfreak Platinum Magic Kit at The Bank in the Bellagio on Sept. 20, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

By Nov. 1, Mindfreak magician Criss Angel will have his new mega magic kit in 40,000 retail stores across North America in time for the holidays. Last night, he hosted an industry-only party at The Bank in the Bellagio and performed close-up tricks for the crowd of retail buyers and TV infomercial executives.

Andy Khubani, founder of Idea Village and the As Seen on TV retail lines, is distributing the Mindfreak Magic Platinum Kit. Criss will star in a special 30-minute entertainment infomercial to be filmed at his Luxor theater by Idea Village in the next three weeks to demonstrate the 100-plus tricks.

Stores selling the kit include Walmart, Toys R Us, Sears, K-Mart, Walgreens and CVS. Although it was a private party not open to the public or media, Criss and Andy, who I’ve known for more than 15 years, told me: “This is the biggest launch of a magic kit ever in American retail history. Nobody has ever done a 30-minute special show for an infomercial. It will be the biggest ad buy on TV this holiday season.”

Criss welcomed the industry folks to the nightclub and spontaneously started doing tricks with buyers right on the dance floor. Fellow Luxor headliner Carrot Top, magician Amazing Johnathon and mentalist Gerry McCambridge were there to join in the celebration, and our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue took these exclusive shots for Vegas DeLuxe. Many of Criss’s magic pals entertained the crowd with strolling close-up tricks and sleight of hand.

Earlier, Criss, who serves as ambassador for Make-A-Wish Foundation, was at the Las Vegas Hilton to see young Jack’s wish as a terminally ill patient come true to play Spider-Man at an Oscar-type movie screening. Carrot Top and Vince Neil joined Criss to make it a star-studded gala for the youngster.

In advance of the Halloween second anniversary of Believe at the Luxor, Criss has nearly completed several new illusions for the show. In two weeks, I’ll go to his warehouse for an exclusive photo tour and then report the magic sequences that have been added to Believe.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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