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The Amazing Johnathan: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "'''John Edward Szeles''' (born September 9, 1958, in Detroit, Michigan), better known by the stage name '''The Amazing Johnathan''', is an American stand-up comedian/magician....")
 
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'''John Edward Szeles''' (born September 9, 1958, in Detroit, Michigan), better known by the stage name '''The Amazing Johnathan''', is an American stand-up comedian/magician. His act is mostly composed of hijinks, interaction with one specific audience member and a few legitimate magic tricks. Since 2001, he has been a year-round headliner in Las Vegas. Self-described as the "Freddy Krueger of Comedy",<ref>{{cite news | last = Blowen | first = Michael | title = Pauly Shore, Part 2: The grown-up years? | work = The Boston Globe | date = 1998-04-17 | accessdate= 2008-11-09 | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BG&p_theme=bg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADDD15441FBFD9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | quote = The Amazing Jonathan, the self-proclaimed Freddie Krueger of Comedy, is at the Comedy Palace at Grill 93 off Route 93 in Andover tonight and tomorrow night.}}</ref> Szeles usually performs wearing his everpresent headband and his shows frequently use gore, such as pretending to suck on his own hanging eyeball, sinking a knife into his  arm, eating razor blades, and skewering his own tongue. He is also good friends with fellow performer [[Criss Angel]], and has helped Angel perform a variety of illusions, most notably during his three guest appearances on [[Mindfreak]].
#redirect [[Amazing Johnathan]]
 
Szeles, who began his career performing in the streets of San Francisco,<ref name=LAT>{{cite news | title = Best bets 1/18 | work = Los Angeles Times | location = Orange County edition | date = 2001-01-18 | accessdate = 2008-11-09 | page = F.2 | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66927908.html?dids=66927908:66927908&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+18%2C+2001&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=BEST+BETS+1%2F18&pqatl=google | quote = A San Francisco street performer in the '70s, the Amazing Jonathan ...}}</ref> first appeared on television in ''The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show'' in 1983 and later went on to become the host of the short-lived 1991 syndicated variety/game show ''Ruckus''. He appeared on various talk and variety shows from the mid-80s to mid 2000s. His only credited performance as an actor was The Obligatory Holiday Episode of ''The Weird Al Show'' (playing the part of Uncle Johnathan). He has made several appearances on Late Night with David Lettermen, a record 24 appearances on Fox's Comic Strip Live, and has had several specials on Comedy Central including Comedy Central Presents, Lounge Lizards and more recently his own one hour special entitled "Wrong on Every Level."  (November 18, 2006),  He dedicated the special to his Uncle Eugene, who showed him his first card trick which "started this whole mess". His only film appearance is the 2005 documentary ''The Aristocrats'', directed by fellow magician [[Penn Jillette]].
 
Szeles has also authored a how-to book on practical jokes titled ''Every Trick in the Book'', a compilation of both classic practical jokes and plain magic tricks, along with his own original material in both categories. He is currently finishing up his memoirs, entitled, "Drive It Like You Stole It."
 
In March 2007 it was reported that Szeles was diagnosed with "a serious heart condition".<ref>
{{cite news
  | last = Weatherford
  | first = Mike
  | coauthors =
  | title = Amazing Johnathan to bid farewell
  | work =
  | pages =
  | language =
  | publisher = ''Las Vegas Review-Journal''
  | date = March 8, 2007
  | url = http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Mar-08-Thu-2007/living/12836045.html
  | accessdate = 2007-06-07
}}</ref>
The performer's website identified the condition as cardiomyopathy and went on to assert that, due to a combination of weight loss and blood thinners, he was doing well and decided to postpone retirement indefinitely.
 
In 2008, Szeles combined two of his passions (classic car collecting and drive-in movie theaters) to open the "Amazing Underground", a members only indoor drive-in movie theatre located within his warehouse facilities in Las Vegas.
 
As of 2011, Szeles was performing regular shows in Las Vegas at the Harmon Theater while also taking select dates at venues across the USA and in Australia. 2011 marks Szeles' third year of performing at the Harmon Theatre and Szeles' 11th consecutive year as a full-time Las Vegas headliner. He has won "Best Comedian" award from Las Vegas Review Journal, Comedian of the Year from Nevada Magazine, Top Ten Acts in Vegas (LVRJ) and is the longest running, most successful solo comic magician in U.S history.
 
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
4 Mike Weatherford, (February 12, 2010) Show review : Amazing Johnathan Las Vegas Review Journal  [http://www.lvrj.com/neon/amazing-johnathan-84211287.html]
 
{{Wikipedia}}
 
==External links==
* [http://www.amazingj.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.amazingunderground.com]
* [http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=118911 The Amazing Johnathan's Car Collection]
* [http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/interviews/amazing_jonathan.html Interview at celebritycafe]
* [http://badpsychics.com/thefraudfiles/modules/news/article.php?storyid=162/ Video Of The Amazing Jonathan]
The Amazing Underground Drive-In Movie Theatre [http://www.amazingunderground.com]

Latest revision as of 22:08, 9 July 2012

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