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Amusing

Custom suits, yes. Custom hangars?

Posted September 1st, 2010 at 11:25 PM by Steve Cohen in Amusing

If you’ve ever worn a custom-tailored suit or dress shirt, you know that they typically embroider your name into the garment. However, have you ever come across a custom hanger with your name on it?

Recently a man came to my show and introduced himself afterward. He said that he has something for me back home (in Montreal) that I’d be sure to like. A couple of weeks later, a package arrived with a heavy black hanger inside. The hanger was printed with gold lettering across the top, with the words:

S. Cohen

I thought to myself, how flattering. This man went out of his way to make a custom hanger for me. Then I read his letter, which explained [...]

Groucho & Kermit sing: Lydia the Tattooed Lady

Posted June 27th, 2010 at 1:37 PM by Steve Cohen in Amusing

My 5-year-old daughter enjoyed this performance by Groucho Marx, so I’m posting several versions here. The song? “Lydia The Tattooed Lady,” from the Marx Brothers movie At The Circus.

According to Wikipedia, among the items, persons, and scenes tattooed on Lydia’s body are the Battle of Waterloo (on her back), The Wreck of the Hesperus (beside it), the red, white and blue (above them); the cities of Kankakee and “Paree”, Washington Crossing the Delaware, President Andrew Jackson, Niagara Falls, Alcatraz, Buffalo Bill, Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon, Lady Godiva (with her pajamas on), Grover Whalen, the Trylon, Treasure Island, Nijinsky, a fleet of ships (on her hips), and Lydia’s own Social Security number.

I’ve included a second clip of Groucho singing on the Dick Cavett show later in life, and also a funny version by Kermit the Frog on the Muppet Show.

The Impossible Moment

Posted May 7th, 2010 at 3:17 PM by Steve Cohen in Amusing

I like the way this photo shows the utter despair of someone experiencing an impossible moment. Of course I look pretty intense here, too.
This shot was taken at an event I did in Switzerland at the ParkHotel Vitznau, located on the shore of Lake Lucerne. It was one of the most luxurious resorts I’ve stayed [...]

Where are you, FedEx??

Posted February 26th, 2010 at 5:21 PM by Steve Cohen in Amusing

The FedEx telephone agent said, “Sorry, we can’t change the weather.” I retorted, “Yeah, but you’re FedEx! What happened to your guarantee?” [...]

“Oil” magnate

Posted October 27th, 2009 at 12:36 PM by Steve Cohen in Amusing, Interesting People, Luxury, Magic, Magic Show NY, Places You Must Visit

Once you’ve flown on a private jet, there’s no going back. I just landed in Cancun, on a Bombadier Challenger 605. And it’s all thanks to card tricks. My flight bag is loaded with six decks of Tally-Ho cards, a purseful of antique silver dollars, one red silk hanky and two false thumbs. Try explaining [...]

Some day my prince will come…

Posted October 27th, 2009 at 12:02 AM by Steve Cohen in Amusing, Interesting People, Magic, Magic Show NY, Uncategorized, Waldorf-Astoria

A major highlight in my performing career took place on April 26, 2009.
The Waldorf-Astoria’s Director of Diplomatic Affairs invited me to entertain Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia.
The Crown Prince and his royal court were staying in the Waldorf Towers during an extended visit to New York. After all, the [...]

Linking Rings fiasco

Posted October 11th, 2009 at 8:02 PM by Steve Cohen in Amusing, Magic, Magic Show NY

In 2007, I was invited to be the featured performer at a high-society fundraiser in Manhattan. Two hundred very wealthy people were gathered in the ballroom of a private Park Avenue clubhouse, and I performed a modified version of my Chamber Magic show.
Having presented this show over 2000 times by that point, I felt confident [...]