Todd Robbins was a magician engaged in off-the-beaten-track entertainment. David Adamovich was a PhD in a kinesiology, an ordained minister and manager of a billiard hall. When he turned 50, he decided to “follow his bliss” and became a knife thrower (aka impalement artist). As the Great Throwdini, he set 25 world records and was generally acknowledged as the world’s best knife thrower.
Todd and David wanted to bring good, clean fun to New York City’s Times Square with the FunHouse, a venue for an eclectic mix of entertainers: magicians, knife throwers, plate spinners, acrobats, fire breathers, and the like. Smaller variations of the FunHouse were already in restaurants and lounges around New York City, but nothing like the 25,000-square-foot building they imagined. With the 35 million people who visit Times Square annually, there was a ready-made audience.
Even though they only asked for a $300,000 investment, the building would cost $1,500,000. Then there was the $7,000,000 in annual expenses. Poof! Just like that they made the sharks disappear.
Todd and David dropped their joint venture, the FunHouse, but they went on to many individual successes—too many to list here, so we have a sampling of their achievements:
- Todd is part owner of and performer in a long-running Off-Broadway magic show. He’s been on more than 100 television shows and was the main subject of a documentary, American Carny. He was dean of a sideshow school and currently hosts a TV series, True Nightmares. He also wrote a book, The Modern Con Man: How to Get Something for Nothing.
- David won the prestigious honor, The Merlin Award for the Impalement Arts. He performs around the world, did well in the early rounds of America’s Got Talent, and co-authored A Day on Broadway: The Art of Being a Knife Thrower’s Assistant. He runs a wedding business from his home on Long Island.
Funhouse is no longer in business.
