Magician

The Black Dahlia What It's About: Top cops Aaron Eckhart and Josh Hartnett try to solve the instantly infamous case of a would-be starlet whose murder seemed to sum up the sick soul of post-World War II L.A. Rated: R The Scoop: Brian De Palma, the director, imbues the imagery with an obsessive grandeur even as the narrative falls apart. But the result is still a wan, unsatisfying follow-up to the great L.A. Confidential. Grade: B- Gridiron Gang What it's about: The Rock plays the real life juvenile probation officer who molded some of the toughest residents at Camp Kilpatrick, a "last chance" facility for underage felons, into a football team.

Cyril A. Keller, a renowned sleight-of-hand man whose showmanship in magic set him apart during an apex of hocus-pocus in Baltimore, died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Friday at a Philadelphia hospice center. He was 77. A spade was never just a spade near Mr. Keller, who to the eye could wave his hand over a card to change its suit. With a clink, he could make seemingly seamless metal rings link. He could, of course, pull cards from behind his ears. "He was a Fred Astaire with cards," said Ken Horsman, who owns Ken-Zo's Yogi Magic Mart on South Charles Street, where Mr. Keller sometimes performed.

On Thursday, August 4, 2005, at Arbors of New Castle in New Castle, DE, after a long term illness, ANTHONY (Tony) Di POALA. He was born in Baltimore, MD on March 23, 1926 son of the late John and Catherine (Imbragulio) Di Paula. He is survived by his wife Vera (Fedoruk) Di Poala of Lewes; his daughter Jean Landon of Baltimore, MD; his daughter & son-in-law Diane and Nick Eliasen of Stillwater, MN; two grandsons and two great-granddaughters. Mr. Di Poala served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during WWII as a PT boater.

At the end of the day, the $1,250 "Lighter Than Air" levitation illusion remained unsold. So Annapolis magician Wayne Alan dragged it back into his house. Thing weighs about 300 pounds. Now, the Sword in the Neck kit, the Double Sawing a Lady in Half, the Tip-Over Trunk, the Zigzag Box, they all sold. All told, about $10,000 worth of tricks and illusions vanished, not so much because of magic, but commerce. "No, I'm not retiring," said Alan, 54. "Magicians just accumulate so much stuff over the years."

Raymond Louis Walston, who lost his heart to the Big Top as a child growing up in East Baltimore and spent the rest of his life as a magician and clown bringing smiles and laughs to children of all ages, died of lung cancer June 4 at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. He was 81 and had lived in Essex and earlier in Fort Howard. Mr. Walston, who was born in Baltimore and raised on North Potomac Street, was a graduate of Patterson Park High School. He served with the 80th Infantry in Europe during World War II, where he attained the rank of sergeant and was decorated with a Purple Heart.

The young magician stood before a group of children and declared that he could read their minds. After scribbling a prediction on a board and covering it with his jacket, 16-year-old Natan Lefkowits chose four volunteers. Three of them picked a three-digit number and whispered it to Natan, who wrote down each one. The fourth volunteer added the numbers and wrote the sum on the board. Natan then revealed his prediction. It matched exactly. The Clemens Crossing resident probably didn't read anyone's mind.

In a single afternoon, you can take your kids to see a magic show, enjoy karate school demonstrations, experience a simulated home fire drill and examine baby strollers from a local store that designed one to give to actress Julia Roberts. And you can do it all in one place. Kidz Konvention 2005, being held Sunday at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, will have dozens of vendors and entertainment acts for expectant parents, parents and young children. "The purpose of this event is to gather together everything there is to do for kids in the region so that parents and kids can enjoy the day," said Regina Ford, Turf Valley marketing director.

Albert J. Dennis, a one-time newspaper reporter and political aide whose true love was performing magic, died Thursday at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in St. Mary's County of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 78. Born and raised in East Baltimore, Mr. Dennis quit high school to devote himself to magic. He became acquainted with the art when a magician visited his grandfather, who for many years had been a circus performer. The magician taught the young Mr. Dennis several tricks and piqued his interest in magic.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke. Bloomsbury. 782 pages. $27.95. In England, it is the worst of times. Politicians watch nervously as Napoleon's armies sweep though Europe. King George III is barking mad and his government universally detested. The Raven King -- Britain's greatest magician -- has been gone for at least 200 years and practical magic has almost completely disappeared from English life. Two magicians hope to bring it back. The first is Gilbert Norrell, a humorless recluse from York who has spent a lifetime hoarding books about magic and painstakingly teaching himself the craft.

When Kenny Cooper walks through Baltimore-Washington International Airport, people still call him "Coach" and ask about the team. And though Cooper is now a businessman in Dallas, it is fitting he is still identified with the indoor soccer team that would not even have come to Baltimore if not for him. Cooper and all-star players Mike Stankovic and the late Stan Stamenkovic will become the first inductees into the Blast Hall of Fame tonight during a...