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tonight on "nightline," y magic is real. you are about to enter a world of magic like you have never seen before. it is edgy, it is dangerous, it is las vegas. the city where magic makes billions and we are meeting the king. david copperfield keeps his cards close to his chest until tonight. >> ready? >> since being found not guilty of murdering trayvon martin, george zimmerman hasn't exactly gone into hiding. one weapons related charge, two domestic altercations. >> he's in my housebreaking all my [ bleep ]. three traffic stops. today he was released on bond again. so we're curious -- george, why can't you stay out of trouble? >> here comes the president now. he is reaching across the fence shaking hands.

>> turning point. the chaos. the shot. jfks final moments. never forgotten. never seen before like this. ♪ ♪ >> the president of the united states is dead. >> announcer: keep it right here, america, "nightline" is back in just 60 second. president o

>> from new york city, this is "night line" with dan abrams. good evening. thank you for joining us. do you believe in magic? in las vegas, the answer is a resounding yes where they are selling tricks to the tune of billions. it's big business. if you saw the david blaine special on abc, you know it is getting a makeover. larger than life magicians pulling off the ultimate balancing act to stay cutting edge. are they risking too much? tonight abc's cecelia vega disappears into their world.

>> reporter: what you are about to witness is magic unlike anything you have ever seen, illusionist david blaine drinking kerosene. all in the name of a trick that is just plain deadly. he spent more than 20 years trying to master this stunt despite warnings from every expert telling him not to try it. did you get any of that into your lungs it will cause an inflammation of the lung which can cause severe damage. there is a chance that you could inhale some of this and you could die. >> reporter: then again this is the guy who famously froze himself to near death, held his breath underwater for 17 minutes. fasted for 44 days, and buried himself alive. >> my stomach felt like it was on fire. kerosene was dripping from my nose. i could hardly breathe. and tonight on an abc special, drinking all that kerosene he lived to tell once again. >> considered my first attempt a

success because i made it through. >> reporter: blaine has made a name for himself pushing the limits of all that is humanly possible and audiences are eating it up. wanting more from magicians turned celebrity stuntmen. to keep those audiences coming, the big names are taking even bigger risks pulling bigger rabbits out of even bigger hats. tonight, we get a rare look behind the curtain. this is like really detailed. in las vegas, the capital of the billion dollar entertainment industry, the city where extreme magic sells. there is david copperfield, worth an estimated $800 million. reportedly selling more tickets than any solo performer ever. he has walked through the great wall of china, even made the statue of liberty disappear. yeah, that's me. on stage, right there with the magic man himself, power tools, hard hat and all, making my debut as a magician side kick.

copperfield shrinks, shrinks, and shrinks himself into almost nothing. an illusion that mystifies a packed house. even copperfield admits he too has had to step up his game in the face of fierce competition. i wonder how far you push yourself to make it better? to the point where it is dangerous? >> there is danger. educated risks you. have backup plans. things do go wrong. thing do's screw up. you are depending on lots of people who you trust and they're smart people, they're really well trained. sometimes things go wrong. >> reporter: five years ago one of copperfield's assistants was severely injured on stage, pulled into a giant fan blade. is there of a risk when it comes to safety having to raise the bar constantly? >> there could be a risk. safety is number one priority. >> reporter: the mgm grand president, scott cebelo was talking about copperfield's success but reluctant to talk

about two stunts gone wrong. one trying to balance on a wire fell to her death this summer. a casino publicist cutting our interview short. >> is it safe? >> it is very safe. >> not about david copperfield. we are going to cover everything. if you want to elaborate on the point you are make. >> reporter: this past month. another performer at aria resort and casino was hospitalized following a stunt on the wheel of death. >> the topic is david copperfield. >> reporter: you won't answer the question about cirque? >> i guess not. >> reporter: not one question. >> would you just stick to david copperfield? >> reporter: okay. the danger doesn't just sell tickets. it is what drives these extreme magicians to go deeper and deeper into the danger zone. >> that is through your hand. >> when i would see houdini

dangling or evel knievel riding over a bus. things that were death defying, there was danger. those were the things that i liked the most. >> one of the risks of being a magician, do you have to go that far to sell tickets? >> i don't think to sell tickets. a matter of pushing your own boundaries of, what you expect of yourself. you know the audience of course, a big respect to the audience to treat them to not the same old thing. you want to respect them. and show them something that maybe will take them to another level. it is really, has to come from, has to come from here.

>> even the slightest move matters. >> pretty damn good for a ten minute training purpose. >> can we do one more time? >> one wrong flick of the hand and i could lose a hand or mess the whole trick up. >> i'm going to meet you right here. and we're going to rush you back here and don't mess up. >> words of advice from david copperfield. >> with ♪ >> overshot it a little bit. don't think anybody noticed. i know secret. i can't tell you. one secret copperfield will share, a look inside his off limits, very bizarre collection

of magic memorabilia. >> five, four, three, two, one. >> reporter: oh! all 40,000 square feet. wow. >> ha-ha-ha. >> reporter: not the first person who said that. >> these are spikes i hung from a straitjacket, burning ropes. >> reporter: true if you build a set what do you do with it? you want to keep it. >> mostly. i keep everything. >> reporter: keep everything. a hoarder. >> a little bit? >> magic hoarder, >> yes, celebrity hoarder. me getting into a safe. and the safe. >> reporter: i remember that. the largest houdini collection outside of library of congress. we did escape things houdini inspired. his legacy doesn't need my help. >> reporter: the famous saw. and this. the room that really freaked me out. is this creepy at all to you? have to admit it is a little creepy? >> a lot of people are creeped out.

people really love it too. >> reporter: the man who has perfected the disappearing act has no plans to disappear any time soon. when do you finally say, okay. my last show. >> never. never. >> really? >> they'll carry me out on a gurney. >> we won't know if it's a trick or not. >> i may not have left. you know. >> reporter: fresh off his latest trick, blaine was back at it again today, diving in fish tanks and playing with fire. >> i'm working on a specific new project and i don't want to talk about it and jinx it. >> reporter: here is hoping he survives his next new project. for "nightline." i'm cecelia vega in vegas. >> did you have to sign the secrecy agreement. we want to know how the stuff works. thank you for the report. >> next, george zimmerman released on bond yet again today. how can he still be getting in trouble? we are bringing jfk's final

hours to life like you have never seen. >> abc news "nightline," brought to you by macy's. hours to life like you have never seen. >> he is reaching across the fence, shaking hands. >> announcer: abc news, "nightline," brought to you by macy's. fby eating healthier, drinking plenty of water, but still not getting relief? try dulcolax laxative tablets. dulcolax is comfort-coated for gentle, over-night relief. dulcolax. predictable over-night relief you can count on. avo: tgen "sis bacen salest

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>> announcer: abc news, "nightline," brought to you by macy's. you might think george zimmerman shortly after being found not guilty in the trayvon martin murder case, would try to

lay low, stay out of sight. not this former neighborhood watch volunteer. he was in court again today, accused of assaulting his latest girlfriend. and released on bond. staying on the radar even when he is not getting caught speeding. and yes that's happened too. here's abc's matt gutman. >> reporter: if it feels like you have seen this before that's because you have. george zimmerman tonight, walking out of the seminole county jail with a bail bondsman, 502 days since the last time bonded out of here after being charged in the high profile murder of trayvon martin. earlier today sweat beaded on his forehead. a judge explained the new charges against the shackled zimmerman including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. the prosecutor claiming zimmerman battered his new girlfriend and held a cocked shotgun to her head all allegedly heard in the 911 call. beaded on his forehead. a judge explained the new charges against the shackled zimmerman including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. the prosecutor claiming zimmerman battered his new girlfriend and held a cocked shotgun to her head all allegedly heard in the 911 call. >> my glass table, broke my sunglasses and put the gun in my freaking face.

>> reporter: according to police, zimmerman shoved his girlfriend, and today prosecutors say the fight which turned ugly wasn't the only time he laid hand on her. >> the victim indicated there was a prior domestic violence incident that occurred a week and a half ago that involved a choking. that she did didn't report to the police. >> reporter: according to prosecutors during one of the arguments, zimmerman apparently mentioned taking his own life. >> threatening to commit suicide. >> reporter: perhaps a hint of hopelessness in zimmerman's 911 call monday after the altercation with his girlfriend. >> i just want, everyone to know the truth. >> okay. the officers can speak with you on scene. have you spoken with them? >> no, they're pretty upset. i think. >> reporter: police say zimmerman barricaded the door of his girlfriend any house, kicking her out. refusing police to enter once she called them. >> the officers are upset. >> banging on the door and

window. >> reporter: his 911 call increasingly controversial, zimmerman using it to document his side of the story. >> i took great exception to george zimmerman using 911 to tell the world his side of the story. 911 is not his personal stenographer. >> the judge today temporarily stripping him of his right to bear arms, apparently several of them. abc news learned that police removed four weapons allege lead belonging to zimmerman, including an assault rifle and shotgun. zimmerman's new attorney, said zimmerman would likely get his guns back once exonerated. >> he maintained his innocence. i can tell you that. >> reporter: an arsenal that may have grown since unknown neighborhood watchman shot and killed 17-year-old martin in the gated community where zimmerman lived. and martin was staying. but even after his high profile, five-weektion nationally televised trial, the controversial acquittal.

>> not guilty. >> zimmerman hardly seemed to stay low. his past few months a pageant of mug shots and police video. one weapons charge. two domesticated relations. and three traffic violations. all within the space of four months. in fact, there is a virtual video gallery of his run-ins with cops. >> you went by me, the tag cover. you have the tinted tag cover on. >> i stopped you for speed. >> reporter: his recent round of troubles began in july when trouble seemed to find him. he and another driver came across a rolled over suv at this florida highway interchange. they stopped and rushed to help the family trapped in the ford explorer. there were not one, not two, but three traffic stops. one for overly tinted windows in september. two for speeding. legal analysts tell us speeding wasn't the wisest choice with some one like zimmerman's pre

final. >> if zimmerman were one of my defense clients. i would tell him drive ten miles under the speed limit. keep both hand on the wheel in the proper position. stay away from any one who will point their finger at you. >> reporter: in september, a more serious incident. started with a 911 call. this one from estranged wife shellie zimmerman. >> he is going to shoot us. he punched my dad in the nose. my dad has a mark on his face. glasses on the floor. he accosted my father. took my ipad out of my hand and smashed it. cut it. and with a pocketknife. >> reporter: moments later police arrived prepared for a hostage situation. police say they had their guns drawn and were carrying ballistic shields. zimmerman seen here in the plaid shirt and sunglasses was questioned by police, later released and never charged. >> we are trying to figure out who touched whom, whose allegations belong to whom? shellie zimmerman announced she wouldn't beep pressing charges. prosecutors dropped the case.

but zimmerman would not leave her home. tonight it is unclear where zimmerman who has no permanent address will go. it seems the only certainty in his life is his next court date. january 7. back in the seminole county courthouse. for "nightline," matt gutman in sanford, florida. attorney general eric holder said today that the justice department will soon announce a decision on whether to file federal civil rights charges against zimmerman in connection with the fatal shooting of trayvon martin. next, we're looking at the final hours leading up to jfk's assassination through a new lens. you don't even have to switch. unless you're scared. i'm not scared, it's... you know we can still see you. no, you can't. pretty sure we can... try snapshot today -- no pressure.

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tonight a video portrait of jfks final moments.

not your typical news piece. these are the sights and sound from our archives, brought to life and bringing you back to that event. that brought our nation to a stand still. >> here is morning edition -- >> the eyes of texas and the nation are focused on dallas. this is the height of a political tempest, the tightest possible security measures are in effect. nothing is being left to chance for the president's security and safety are concerned. here comes the president now. he is reaching across the fence, shaking hands. shaking hands with many of the people who have come here to see him. and gun metal gray limousine, blue and gray, pulling away now from the fenced area. the president and mrs. kennedy seated on the back seat. and as the trip to downtown dallas and the trade mart is under way. >> the president's car is turning on to the street, a matter of minutes before he

arrives at the trade mart. [ indiscernible ] >> something happened on the motorcade route. >> president kennedy has been shot in dallas, texas. he was shot. >> stand by for severe gunshot wound. >> president kennedy -- for f emergency supplies being rushed to the hospital. >> just a moment. we have a bulletin coming in. >> government sources now confirm that president kennedy its dead. so that apparently is the final word.