Curtis Lovell II

Curtis Lovell II is an American illusionist and escape artist. He is known for his high-profile escape performances and his events for corporations. The Washington Times interviewed him for a political piece subtitled "Houdini Factor".^[1] He was referred to in an article in weekly entertainment newspaper Citizen LA as "the premiere [sic] escape artist of our time."^[2] He has also received coverage for his stunts, including a performance with actor Tony Curtis and Larry King.^[3]

Curtis Lovell II
Occupation(s)	magician, escapologist, stunt performer, illusionist
Website	www.curtislovell.com

Career

When Lovell was seven, his father performed a magic trick by pulling a coin from the young boy's ear. This inspired him to become a magical entertainer. At an early age, Lovell mastered the art of close up magic.^[2]

In the Death Trap, created for a nightlife/entertainment complex in Singapore, Lovell attracted thousands of spectators and media on 18 subsequent nights when he was chained up and lowered into the Singapore River. He has performed Houdini's Cube of Death trick hundreds of times, including 29 times at a shopping entertainment complex in the Philippines, as well as for radio and Television Publicity for USA Network and News Radio.^[4]

Lovell was buried alive during a performance on Halloween night 2008 and 2012.^[5] The stunt attracted over 2000 spectators,^[6] as well as CBS and KCAL9 News stations, local newspapers, and radio shows including Casey Kasem's Top 20.^{[citation needed]}

He has appeared as a guest on television programs such as: Spike TV for MANSWERS, where he explained how to escape from handcuffs. He appeared on the reality show The Simple Life on E! Entertainment to cut Paris Hilton in half.^[7]

Television appearances

2014 OVATION TV: The Art of: Magic^[8]

2012–2013 kuperman.tv: Living in La La Land^[9] is a 53-episode docu-reality show following the journey of six Israeli performing artists, extremely famous in their own country, to Los Angeles in order to break into the international music market. Curtis Lovell guest appears on six episodes as a mentor, instructor, consultant to a musical artist. Also Lovell performs escapes and illusions.^{[citation needed]}

2009 MYNETWORK-TV: MASTERS OF ILLUSION Four-minute guest appearance where Lovell performed a water escape.^{[citation needed]}

2006 E! ENTERTAINMENT: THE SIMPLE LIFE - WITH PARIS HILTON Season 4 - "Murray Family" The concept was themed around auditioning entertainers for a party that Paris was throwing. Lovell cut Paris in half and was hired back to perform for the party.^[7]

2007 USA NETWORK: CHARACTER ROAD TRIP Five-minute spotlight around Lovell and his Cube of Death escape.^[10]

2007 SPIKE TV: MANSWERS Season 1 - "How to escape from handcuffs" Lovell explained the art of escaping from police handcuffs.^[7]

2008 A&E: GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS MARCH Season 3 - Season Premier Lovell made a cameo appearance at the veterinarian hospital with his pet Chinchilla and interacted with Gene Simmons.^[11]

2007 RHEELZ CHANNEL: DAILIES Lovell shared his insight on the movie The Prestige.^{[citation needed]}

Show accomplishments

Curtis Lovell II - shackled, cuffed and locked in a clear box filled with water - The Cube of Death

February, 2012 -Guard A Heart -Pre-Oscar fundraiser honoring Larry King - Hollywood California ^[12]

Guard A Heart presented the Guardian of Hearts award to Larry King in recognition of his contribution to saving lives through the Larry King Cardiac Foundation. The Award was presented at a pre-Oscar party at the Avalon Ballroom in Hollywood on February 25, 2012.^[13] The evening included performances by variety of entertainers and acts such as Midnight Red,^[14] Josh Sussman, Savannah Robison and International Escape Artist Curtis Lovell II. Lovell, performed a Houdini style escape as an opening act for Larry King and his guests.^[15]

October, 2009 – U.S. Military Challenge - California

Lovell was challenged by the United States Marines to an escape. Lovell accepted their challenge and was strapped into a regulation straitjacket by two U.S. military officers in front of thousands of spectators. It took Lovell over 3 minutes to free himself from the straitjacket. The challenge was part of The City of Grand Terrace, California, Halloween Haunt in Richard Rollins Park.^{[citation needed]}

June, 2009 - The Magic of Tony Curtis - California

Produced by the Jules Verne Festival, where 1950s movie actor Tony Curtis was presented the "Legendarie award".^[16] As a show opener, Lovell recreated the water escape that Tony Curtis performed in the movie Houdini.^[17] A VIP dinner at the Los Angeles Athletic Club followed, where Curtis strapped Lovell into a straitjacket in front of several hundred people.

2008 Buried Alive - California

Curtis Lovell II - buried Alive

Successfully escaped being buried alive on Halloween evening 2008.^[5] He was shackled and locked into a coffin by a local police officer. Then over 1,000 pounds of dirt was poured on the coffin. It took Lovell 16 minutes to successfully escape. The successful attempt echoed an escape performend by Harry Houdini.^[18] This escape received coverage from CBS, KCAL9, and I.E Weekly.^[19]

2006 The Death Trap - Singapore

Lovell performed 18 magic escape shows for an entertainment complex in Singapore.^[2] Lovell was chained and shackled onto two large steel plates and lowered into the Singapore river by a crane. The goal was to gain publicity for the entertainment complex, and Lovell attracted the attention of 2,500 guests nightly, five major print organizations, three news networks, an international news station and radio stations.^{[citation needed]}

2006 Escape From Reality - Philippines

Lovell performed 29 shows at a shopping mall complex based on the theme of escaping fears and defying death. Lovell performed an effect similar to Houdini's water torture cell, called the Cube of Death. Lovell attracted thousands of guests nightly, sometimes more than 4,000 onlookers.^[20]

2007 Public Challenges

The David Blaine Challenge Psychic John Edward Challenge.^[21] Lovell publicly challenged Blaine to a magic duel. Lovell received national press coverage including: television, print, internet, radio and on major blogs and chat rooms.^[22]

Cryonics

Lovell is signed up for cryonic suspension with the American Cryonics Society.^[23]

DVD

POOF! You’re a magician ~Learn magic with everyday objects is an instructional DVD that stars Lovell teaching magic to the viewers.^[7]

References

1. Harper, Jennifer (13 October 2009). "Inside the Beltway: Houdini Factor". The Washington Times. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
2. Hutchinson, Heidi. "Magic Man Interview: Curtis Eugene Lovell". Citizen L.A. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
3. Gray Painter, Alysia (11 June 2009). "Derring-Do! Watery Feats! "Houdini" Hijinks!". NBC4. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
4. "Curtis Eugene Lovell II - Magician, Escape Artist". Tapley Entertainment. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
5. Ausmus, Kevin (October 2008). "Curtis Lovell II To Be Buried Alive Escapologist to Temp Fate on Halloween Night". Inland Empire Weekly. Archived from the original on 5 November 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
6. Weeks, John (26 February 2009). "A magic kind of place". The Sun. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
7. "Curtis Lovell Escapes Death on Halloween". Inside Magic. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
8. "Wild about Harry: Ovation explores The Art Of Magic". wildabouthoudini.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
9. KUPAN TV http://www.kuperman.tv/Living-in-La-La-Land-Show Archived 2013-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
10. ""Character Road Trip" Trailer". Trailer Mine. 2007. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
11. "International Trade Show Entertainer & Escape Artist - Curtis Lovell II". Festivals and Shows. 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
12. "www.zimbio.com/Larry+King/articles/tCbI2nizmKC/Guard+Heart+Guardian+Heart+Awards+Pre+Oscar". zimbio.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
13. "Aviir in Conjunction with Guard A Heart Foundation Presenting Award to Larry King on February 25(th) in Recognition of His Contribution to Saving Lives". PRWeb. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
14. "Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source". Newsday. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
15. "b/2012/02/29/curtis-lovell-ii-escapes-at-pre-oscar-benefit". magic.about.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.^{[permanent dead link]}
16. "Curtis Lovell and Tony Curtis Live". Inside Magic. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
17. Staff (16 October 2007). "BROADCAST BITS: Magician to show up on Spike". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
18. Kawamoto, Wayne (5 November 2008). "Curtis Lovell Conquers "Buried Alive"". About.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
19. Bierly, Mandi (16 September 2008). "Best 'buried alive!' scenes". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
20. "Television Escape Artist Curtis Lovell II". Los Angeles. 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
21. Kawamoto, Wayne. "Is Blaine's Greatest Illusion Fooling the Public?". About.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
22. "Curtis Lovell To Confront David Blaine On The Radio". iTricks.com. 10 December 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
23. "Magician Curtis Eugene Lovell II to be frozen for one hundred years". www.mmdnewswire.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

External links

• Curtis Lovell II at IMDb