Arts ©Entertainment
Tuesday, November 28, 1995 Page 9
I J
il
Mike Kluck
Old shows
add spirit
to holidays
Bah-humbug.
The other night while I was lying
awake unable to sleep because the
neighbor’s Christmas lights kept flash
ing through my window, 1 realized
how depressing this holiday season
really is.
And the worst thing is I didn’t
always feel this way.
I use to go around and wish people
“Merry Christmas,” put my family’s
outside Christmas lights up the day
after Thanksgiving — even during a
blizzard — and be in an all-around
jovial spirit.
But, back in those days, I knew I
had the holiday TV specials to look
forward to.
I couldn’t wait for those shows. I
would sing along with Burl Ives as he
did “Rudolph the Red Nosed Rein
deer,” I would memorize “’Twas the
Night Before Christmas,” and cry
when Frosty melted in “Frosty the
Snowman.”
Nowadays, ask kids under the age
of 10 why Santa Claus was once cal led
Kris Kringle and how he got his rein
deer to fly, and they probably will give
you a long, blank stare.
But those of us who skipped supper •
just to watch “Santa Claus is Coming
to Town” know exactly how Kris
Kringle transformed into the lovable
St. Nick.
Today’s Christmas specials just
don’t match up with the classics of
old. Never mind that the only way I
can see “How the Grinch Stole Christ
mas” is to buy the tape.
This sham or not airing holiday
shows on network TV already started
this year when I couldn’t find “A
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” How
will the youth of today learn how to
prepare a Thanksgiving dinner with
out good ol’ Chuck.
At least the holiday specials of old
aren’t in total shambles. “A Charlie
Brown Christmas,” will air this sea
son, as always, but how much longer
does it have to survive when Christ
mas program cuts seem to come faster
than budget cuts?
How soon will the light dim out
forever on Rudolph’s nose? How long
before Santa won’t save the day and
bring Frosty back to life?
Our youth of today are being
cheated out of their childhood, and
what’s worse is I’m starting to forget
some of those programs.
In the future I won’t even be able to
sit around the Christmas tree and tell
my kids the story of Mr. Heatmeister
and Mr. Coldmeister because I can’t
even remember the name of the show
or the song they sang.
It’s time that network producers
realize these old-time holiday favor
ites are as much a part of Christmas as
mistletoe, fruitcake and credit cards
charged to the limit.
And yes, I do enjoy a good show
ing of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but
after seeingthe colorized and the black
and white version once, I do not need
the additional 20 airings that are shown
each season.
We hear so often these days about
the lack of quality programs on televi
sion. Let’s bring back these holiday
specials and my Christmas spirit.
Kluck Is a graduate news-editorial stu
dent and a Dally Nebraskan staff reporter.
Courtesy of Lobeline Communications
Illusionist David Copperfield performs two shows Wednesday night at Pershing Auditorium. Copperfield is well-known for his
large-scale illusions.
Magic returns
Illusions bring Copperfield out of his shell
By Cliff A. Hicks
Staff Reporter
A little magic has brought David Copperfield
a long way and, Wednesday night, it will bring
him to Lincoln’s Pershing Auditorium.
Bom David Kotkin, the world’s premiere illu
sionist has been performing large-scale magic
since 1982, when he made an airplane vanish in
the middle of a ring of spectators.
Since then, the 39-year-old magician has levi
tated himself across the Grand Canyon, walked
through the Great Wall of China, escaped from
Alcatraz and flown — without wings, strings or
camera tricks.
But his act didn’t start that big.
“I was an only child, and grew up in New
Jersey with my parents,” Copperfield said. “I was
shy in school, and magic helped me bridge the
communication gap with my peers.
“I went from just being lost in the crowd to
becoming part of it in a very positive manner with
my magic. And yes, of course, it got the attention
of the girls in school.”
By age 16, he was teaching magic at New York
University. While in college, he performed the
lead in a Chicago production of “The Magic
Man,” where he assumed the name David
Copperfield. He sang, danced, acted and created
all the magic for the show.
Not long after, he was chosen to be host of
“The Magic of ABC starring David Copperfield.”
The show was well-enough received that it mer
ited a series of sequels. In 1994, Copperfield
aired his 16th special, more than any other enter
tainer in history.
He has performed seven times for U.S. presi
dents, and he performed 16 sold-out shows in six
days in Europe’s Westfallenhalle, breaking a 10
year-old attendance record set by Pink Floyd.
He has begun his own repository of magic
ephemera, a collection started when he purchased
the Mulholland Library of Conjuring and the
Allied Arts for $2.2 million. It contained some
80,000 pieces, including 15,000 magic books—
some dating as far back as to the 16th century —
Houdini memorabilia and other items.
“Here was the most important testament in
existence to the incredibly rich legacy of the art of
magic, the art to which I have devoted my life,”
Copperfield said.
Copperfield, ranked by Forbes as one of the 10
highest-grossing entertainers, is engaged to
supermodel Claudia Schiffer.
“We are enjoying our engagement time to
gether,” Copperfield said. “I am very fortunate
that I can perform where I want to, when I want to
and be closer to my fiancee.
“Copperfield: The Magic Is Back” appears at
Pershing Auditorium Wednesday night at 5:30
and 8:30. Tickets for the 5:30 show are $24.75
and $29.75, and tickets for the 8:30 show are
$27.75 and $32.75.
Piccolo, Heavy Juice fresh blend of talent
By Jeff Randall
Senior Reporter
Greg Piccolo is a man who defies descrip
tions, and his new band, Heavy Juice, defies
comparisons.
At least that’s the way Larry Boehmer, owner
of the Zoo Bar, sees it. Those willing to take a
shot at defining Piccolo and Heavy Juice will get
a chance when they take the stage tonight at the
Zoo Bar, 136N. 14th St.
Piccolo last appeared at the Zoo Bar with
Roomful of Blues, and tonight marks his first
appearance there with Heavy Juice.
A master of the tenor saxophone as well as a
recognized vocalist and guitarist, Piccolo has
performed in a number of bands throughout his
31 -year music career.
But his most prominent tour of duty came with
Roomful of Blues, which was resurrected by
Piccolo and guitarist Duke Robillard in 1971
after it was temporarily disbanded in 1970. The
group was primarily a jump blues band in the
style of 1930s and 1940s hit makers such as
Count Basie.
Roomful of Blues was together for nearly a
quarter of a decade after that, recording albums
on its own and playing backup roles for other
musicians such as Pat Benatar, The Fabulous
Thunderbirds and Ronnie Earl.
Piccolo left Roomful of Blues in April 1994
for a solo career. Heavy Juice is Piccolo’s new
backing band.
Boehmer said Heavy Juice combined a num
ber of musical genres—jump blues, jazz, reggae
and rock among them — and combined them
well.
“Everything they play sounds great,” he said.
“It’s hard to pigeonhole their sound; it changes so
much from song to song.”
Piccolo’s latest release is this year’s solo ef
fort, “Acid Blue,” which features him on tenor,
vocals and guitar on a number of blues classics,
including Earl King’s “Always a First Time” and
Freddie King’s “Someday After Awhile.”
Heavy Juice and Greg Piccolo promise to
offer Lincoln’s music lovers a grab-bag taste of
the past with some of the best talent of today.
Cover for the show is $5, and the music starts
at 9:30 p.m.