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Tony S Special user New York 582 Posts |
I wasn't sure where to post this - I figured this would be as good a place as any.
Copperfield Uses Illusion to Evade Robbery Wednesday, April 26, 2006 WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — Illusionist David Copperfield magically escaped getting robbed. After his show at a West Palm Beach performing arts center Sunday Copperfield was walking with two female assistants back to their tour bus when four teenagers pulled up in a black car and two armed demanded the group's belongings, according to police. An assistant handed over $400 from her pockets while the other gave up her purse with euro200, $100, her passport, plane tickets and a cellphone. Copperfield refused to empty his pockets, the report said. Copperfield says he turned his pockets inside out to reveal nothing in them, even though he was carrying his passport, wallet and cell phone. "Call it reverse pick-pocketing," Copperfield told The Palm Beach Post for its Wednesday editions. When the alleged robbers left in the car Copperfield read the license plate number to an assistant while she called 911. Four teenagers were arrested shortly after and the assistants' property recovered. They were charged with armed robbery and are being held without bond. Three of the alleged robbers are 17, while the fourth, Dwayne Riley, is 18-years-old. |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Very interesting. Call it my skeptical nature -- I think most of us magicians have it -- but I question this story just a little. It just sounds to much like a clever PR guy taking advantage of a situation for it's publicity angle. I could be wrong -- I have been before. What do you guys think?
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collective foundry Inner circle 1404 Posts |
I agree. I read an article that cathy daily tried to sue Copperfield over something. Well. Cathy runs david's Magic Lab. I'd hardly think she'd still be emplyed if she sued DCDI ... I think it may be just a PR thing..
Although very amusing! In magic. Not everything you see or hear is real. |
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magicdave777 New user 54 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-26 10:49, Starrpower wrote: I agree. |
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ricker Special user Tampa, FL 914 Posts |
The story comes from the AP so it legit.
Here's more details. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/c......cxcat=17 |
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cgscpa Elite user Ashton, MD 447 Posts |
MSNBC carried the story on their broadcast this afternoon.
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styck13 Regular user 165 Posts |
Give me a reporter and I'll give you a story.
The link that ricker posted has the audio of the 911 call as well. Whatcha wanna bet he puts some MAGICAL version of that on the stage? Heck..if I were in his shoe, I would gather every news paper and video clip of that that I could and add it...wouldn't u? PR or not..it IS an interesting story. In my Humble Opnion... I'm thinking that the "reversed pickpocket" part is added.. I don't doubt that they were robbed but it's just too good that he "fooled them" with a magic trick... like I said..it IS interesting. |
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Michael Dustman Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 1220 Posts |
Seems a long way to go for a publicity stunt. Having 4 teens arrested and put in jail would be over the top for a publicity stunt. A quick check of Palm Beach Court Records show that the arrests were legit.
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styck13 Regular user 165 Posts |
Being in the media myself I don't argue that the robbery and arrests were legit. I just think the reverse pickpocket schpeel was added. As far as "press" is concerned, you'll get MUCH better reaction out of a legit story rather over ANYTHING you could buy.
From here on out. the "lifestyles" columns of the papers in the towns where he shows up will tell THAT STORY. It'll be a little more than "David Copperfield is Coming to the XXXX Auditorium." They've added "The Statue of Liberty dissappearance" to those columns for years. NOW they have a new story to tell. I think it's Great that he's got the press and no one got hurt. Didn't Houdini use to say "Give me a Reporter and I'll give you a story"? Houdini's draw wasnt in paid ads it was in STORIES...right? (please correct me if I'm wrong) |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I think some of you are missing the point. I didn't mean that the entire incident was staged ... I only meant that magically thwarting the criminal seems like an embellishment to me.
And just because it appeared on a wire service says nothing of it's legitimacy. Heck, I have dozens of news stories stating empohatically that I can see into the future, and have predicted future headlines as proof of my powers. And I am alos not being ciritical with these statements. I think it's GREAT that he was able to make news with this story. Every time the papers run stories like this, it heightens the mistique about us all. |
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Scott Ocheltree Veteran user 364 Posts |
Saw DC on the nightly news tonight telling the story himself. So it's not some PR person, it's DC himself putting it out there. How can you NOT think he's exaggerating the events just a bit? I mean, come on! He's a magician, this is what magicians do! I'm sorry, I can't believe him, I know he lies, it's his job to lie.
I'm sure he got mugged, but did he really foil the assailants through sleight-of-hand? I'm not buying that. |
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bitterman Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-26 12:19, ricker wrote: That is the scariest thing I have heard all year!
If you are not cheating, you are only cheating yourself.
Dutchco is about to put out some new Ebook: DUTCHCO. Get 'em while you can. |
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
This is at leat the 5th seperate thread about this same incident.
I had some thoughts on one of the others about just how lucky they got, but let me comment here. I'm frankly disgusted by the behavior of some of you... Are you REALLY, TRULY, ACTUALLY criticizing David, Cathy & Mia over this? THEY WERE THE VICTIMS OF A VIOLENT CRIME! I can't wait until one of you is the VICTIM of a violent crime and then posts it here, scared to death of what happend, and all of us say that we don't believe you. Who cares what some reporter wrote describing the situation. Disgusting. Robert
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
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bitterman Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Yes, and the victim took time out between shows to speak with the press about it. I see nothing in the report that this was a 'violent' crime, however the venue and number of shows DC is doing were very prominent. I'd say he took a bad night for his assistances and turned it into a nice bit of PR.
When life gives you lemons, pull a bill out of it, I guess.
If you are not cheating, you are only cheating yourself.
Dutchco is about to put out some new Ebook: DUTCHCO. Get 'em while you can. |
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elgranmago Veteran user 371 Posts |
I find it odd that Mr. Copperfield would be carrying his passport while performing at a U.S. venue.
Further, I find it dangerous, to him and his assistants, to play games with ARMED robbers. I know of many places around the world where that sort of stunt can cost you your life. Having lived in places where these things are not uncommon, I can tell you that the rule is hand over all you´ve got and pray the delinquents leave quickly. José.
"It´s kind of fun to do the impossible". Walt Disney
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fanwun Regular user 172 Posts |
LOL... While I'm sure he may be exaggerating and DEFINITELY taking advantage of a bad situation, I don't think he's lying about the reverse pickpocketing. It's one of the basic moves in magic, especially with coins.
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Tony S Special user New York 582 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-27 13:36, bitterman wrote: Clearly it was a violent crime. They were held at gunpoint! The introduction of a deadly weapon makes the crime violent, even if the weapon was not used. |
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Tony S Special user New York 582 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-27 12:17, RobertBloor wrote: Well said, Robert. It always amazes me how there are so many magicians who will criticize EVERYTHING DC does. |
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DanielSteep Inner circle 1409 Posts |
I had just read this on the Café (in this post) went to school for the second half of the day and found a note.. "Ask me about david Copperfield, Mrs. D."
I was so surprised I had know it like 2 hours and then was being told by my teachers .. they said it was plasterd all over out canadian radio station... |
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Quote:
bitterman: I see nothing in the report that this was a 'violent' crime What part of having a gun held to ones head isn't violent? Quote:
Jose: Further, I find it dangerous, to him and his assistants, to play games with ARMED robbers. I know of many places around the world where that sort of stunt can cost you your life. Having lived in places where these things are not uncommon, I can tell you that the rule is hand over all you´ve got and pray the delinquents leave quickly. Jose, I have no doubt this is the rule in Paris. In the U.S., those who carry concealed weapons are generally taught a different rule..."No bullets for property." However, that said, once the gun was in play, it ceased to be a "property" case and became an "immediate jeopardy" case. That basically means, under Florida law (and many other states) that the three of them would've been justified to use any means necessary to stop the action that was taking place. In this case, the action was armed robbery. Did Copperfield and his crew handle it correctly - irrelevant. The only thing to say about their encounter is they all got LUCKY. This is why many Americans are in favor of concealed carry of weapons. Take Copperfield's situation. Held at gunpoint. No police anywhere to help. And what happens when one of the guys decides he's going to kill DC and rape and murder the two women. Again...they got lucky. And yes, I'm very passionate about this subject. Americans have to realize that the Supreme Court has ruled that it is NOT the job of police to "protect" individuals. That leaves ONLY the individual for their own protection. Okay, that's enough of my little soap box. -Robert
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
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