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Hundreds Of Fans On Beach Waiting For Their Angel

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

Some Criss Angel fans passed the time on Clearwater Beach arranging seaweed to form the illusionist’s logo.

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 30, 2008

CLEARWATER BEACH - They were expecting thousands but by 6 p.m. only about 200 brave water-soaked fans were staking out spots on the beach to get a view of magician Criss Angel's attempt to escape an imploding nine-story Spyglass Resort.

Some, like Ron Bennett from Largo, had been waiting since 6 a.m. "My 13-year-old son Austin wanted to do this so we decided to rough it out," he said as rain dripped off his face. "I hope it was worth the wait."

Others, like Angel fan Danielle Dennison, 19, and her friend Kimberly Lindsey, 20, were huddled under umbrellas. They came over from Melbourne for this first-ever live telecast on "Criss Angel: Mindfreak" at 10 tonight on A&E.

"I'm a big Angel freak," Dennison said.

Jamie Brown, 15, and Missy Taylor, 13, both of St. Petersburg danced through puddles on the beach with "MindFreak" scrawled across their foreheads.

Speculation ran rampant through the crowd that Angel would pull a surprise, such as appearing to miss the helicopter that is supposed to carry him away from the collapsing building. "And then when it looks like he has disappeared in to the rubble, he will come from the crowd," said Michael O'Toole, 36, of Temple Terrace.

At noon, O'Toole and his wife Linda, daughter Angelina, 7, and son Austin, 13, claimed what seemed like a choice location in front of the Spyglass where they made a large MindFreak insignia out of seaweed.

But at 6 p.m. officials began trying to clear out a large stretch of the beach in front of the hotel. Some exhausted fans were upset. O'Toole said even though he had to move, he was glad they came early because Austin got to meet Angel when the magician strolled out on the beach about 2 p.m. to meet and greet the fans.

"It was pouring rain and there was thunder and lightning but he came out anyway," O'Toole said. "It's impressive that he cares about the fans."

A&E officials are monitoring the weather, which is expected to clear enough to proceed with the stunt as planned.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

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