I am working on a deadline today. But I wanted to share with you an amazing story by Mike Weatherford from Review-Journal.  Weatherford tells the back story of Rachel Jessee only slightly better known as “Scarlett — Princess of Magic” (formerly performing at Riviera and formerly performing at V theater at the mall at Planet Hollywood). You may recall she was arrested for misdemeanor battery on her former boyfriend/manager. She pleaded “no contest” to that unacceptable behavior.

The history Weatherford describes that preceded that incident is horrifyingly fascinating.  I am particularly stunned by the claims of the 67-year-old former manager, John Lewis, that this was not domestic violence so much as a case of elder abuse. Certainly, reading the story, a complex (yet common) situation emerges of a relationship in which an older man left his wife and spent their savings on a significantly younger woman. Of course, if you see movies you know already the relationship came to a bad end as the money ran out. But to reverse that, the younger woman in this case was entirely dependent on Lewis for her livelihood. You see, he was the actual magician. And, so whose show business dreams were being lived out by “Scarlett — Princess of Magic” becomes a bit hazy. Here is how Weatherford describes how the two met:

“He met Jessee when she was still in a Reno high school, after her dance teacher brought her attention to a request for a magician’s assistant.”

In all, from a high school in Reno, Weatherford goes on to unfold a classic “Only in Vegas” story.

And, it continues. Despite essentially admitting to being the magician equivalent of a sock puppet, Jessee, of course, is planning the comeback for “Scarlett — Princess of Magic” in Vegas. And, Lewis is currently suing so he can get his hands on the profits he still believes can come from the young lady’s as yet non-existent show.

Sure, the profits for a show that isn’t don’t seem to be worth fighting over now. But the thing about these “Only in Vegas” stories… Well, look at Criss Angel who makes money claiming to be a magician in Vegas, and so really anything is possible here. (photo: Sarah Gerke)