Murray moves, Mac King extends contract for magic afternoons

Fans of comedy magic won’t have to worry about either Mac King going anywhere or having an afternoon alternative in Murray SawChuck.

King has signed a four-year contract extension at Harrah’s Las Vegas that will take his long-running show to 19 years at the hotel.

Murray (who is billed by his first name) is moving into the Sin City Theatre at Planet Hollywood Resort, with afternoon shows starting Dec. 20 that will compete almost directly with King’s. Murray’s showtimes will be 2 and 4 p.m., while King’s are 1 and 3 p.m.

Both magicians will be at Caesars Entertainment properties, but the corporation has never been too assertive as a landlord when it comes to refereeing rival shows within a genre. And, much like the arrangement he had at the Tropicana’s Laugh Factory, Murray will be a step removed from Caesars. The Sin City venue is leased from Planet Hollywood and run independently by John Padon and general manager Pete Housley.

Murray says he will rework his show to add pieces tying into his TV work on shows including “Pawn Stars” and “Wizard Wars.”

King says he and hotel executives came to terms a year ahead of his current contract expiring at the end of 2015. In January, he celebrates 15 years at Harrah’s, which he believes is a qualified record for a Las Vegas magician working at the same hotel — longer than Siegfried and Roy’s 13 years at The Mirage or Penn & Teller at the Rio.

“The other day a guy came up after the show and said he couldn’t wait to bring his wife,” King says. “He’s 30 now and said his parents first brought him when he was 16. Holy cow.”

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.