Swimming pools - the new night club scene - are opening here in Vegas, and many private pools are now up and running as the weather has broken and we are now officially in Springtime.

Warmer days and pleasant nights remind us all why we live here in the middle of the desert.

Not to beat a dead rabbit, but as I mentioned last week, yet another magic show moves into town for a bit. (A "Bit" is the term used to describe the length of time it takes for a show to run out of money).

Can you say, "Overload?"

Afternoons are filled with magic, with the Trop, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Flamingo and now the Sahara all featuring a magic show. No way they will all survive. Too much magic, folks, even for Vegas standards. That said, I wish them all well and may the best wand win.

MERLIN AWARD FOR YOURS TRULY

Yep, it finally happened.

Each year the International Magicians Society gives out their MERLIN awards. Considered the Oscar of the magic world, past winners read like the who's who of magic, with Siegfried & Roy, David Copperfield and Chris Angel among previous winners.

It is with great happiness that I report my recent inclusion in that rare group of performers, as I was awarded the Merlin for 2008 International Close-up Magician of the Year.

I am touched to be so honored, and you can see a photo and read all about it in my blog here.

TONY ORLANDO

My good friend Tony Orlando just wrapped up his sold out engagement for 3 shows at the South Point, and in his honor, thought I'd share with you a funny story from one of our shows together.

At left: Tony and I backstage, before he lost over 100 pounds, but still looking good...

It was many, many years ago, but the details are fresh in my head. We were appearing in Atlantic City, at Caesars. I was doing 25 minutes before Tony, and I would end with a Houdini Sub Trunk.

My trunk was made by Les Smith at Owen's Magic. We just lost Les recently, and our deepest sympathies go out to his family and co-workers at Owens.

I mention the origin of the trunk so that for those of you who know about these things, you will know that the trunk is normal and invites close inspection without fear of detection of anything other than a regular packing trunk.

After several shows, Tony came in to the showroom one afternoon while we were rehearsing and he hinted around (and began nosing around the stage) that he would like to get a look at that magic trunk.

I invited him to have a look and he was all over the thing, opening the top and banging on the sides.

Finally, he said that he figured he could get out if he was locked in it, and he hopped in. He said, "Go ahead, lock it up, I'll get out".

Hey, what can I say? He's a superstar, I do what he asks. SO I slam the lid down and lock up the trunk.

We all sat around and laughed as he pounded and banged from the iNside of the trunk, I'd say he gallantly gave it a go for about 10 minutes, and finally screamed a lot, and begged me to open the thing up.

When he finally emerged, he had a new respect for the trick, or so he said. He would always stand in the wings and watch it happen, and then shake his head in amazement each time the switch took place.

It's magic, Tony.

LIGHTNING STRIKES

Again and again and again and again..

So goes the line from the hit song "Lightning Strikes", one of the big hits of Lou Christie, whow as in town last week, and another Italian from Pennsylvania who became a star in the 60's. Along with teen idols Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon and Fabian Forte, Lou Christie set out to be a singer and songwriter and became a huge star as a result of his efforts and that amazing high voice he still has.

He revealed his "secret" of how to hit those notes, which was hilarious and I am not allowed to tell, you will just have to catch one of his shows and see it for yourself.

I remember when Paul McCartney came to America with his first tour since Wings, he sang many of his earlier hits in a slightly lower key so he could hit the notes. Lou Christie announced he'd sing his hits all in the original keys that he recorded them 40 years ago. And he did.

Up until this night, I had yet to meet him. When I was hanging out with Fabian, he often told me stories about the two of them on the road back in the days.

What a show. He sounded fantastic, plus he is such a personable guy, he talked about his early beginnings, growing up in Pittsburgh, and various things he encountered along the way. The Suncoast showroom was packed, it was the final night of a 3 night, sold-out gig, and he promised to return soon.

After the show, Lou told me how much he loves to play Vegas and how well he is received, even today, in concerts across America. We talked about his pals (and mine) Frankie Avalon and Fabian, and how he often appears with one or both of them, along with Bobby Rydell, at concerts sometimes.

I mentioned how I have a cocktail napkin that my parents gave me when I was 11 or 12, that he had signed, "To Steve, Good luck, Lou Christie", when they went to see him perform back in the sixties. He asked me why I had saved it after all these years. as I told him, it was my first celebrity autograph, it made a huge impression on me. We had a good laugh over that one. He was so gracious, posing for pictures and signing autographs and joking with the small group of us who had gathered at his dressing room after the sold out show.