KIDS/SNEAK PEEK : MAGICIANS PULLING FAST ONE.

With a wave of a wand and a celebratory ``ta-da!'' magicians have entertained children for generations. Kids love the wonder and illusion, even if they can figure it out.

Tonight through Sunday, seven of America's top headlining magicians will perform in the all-star revue ``It's Magic!'' at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre, which, in itself, is a dazzling spectacle of art deco glamour.

``It's Magic!'' is part of a 40-year-old tradition. In 1956, magicians started an all-star annual review at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Hancock Park, where the show was staged for 20 years.

It moved to the Variety Arts Theatre in 1977 and played annually there until 1984, when it was discontinued.

Three years ago, producers Terry Hill and Milt Larsen, owner of the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, revived the tradition and brought it to Glendale.

The magicians performing are Kevin James, who combines comedy and illusion; Tina Lenert, who also mixes laughs with magic - but does so silently; sleight-of-hand artist Luis de Matos; Nicholas Night, a magician who uses Andy Warhol-like pop-culture references; Ronn Lucas, known as ``The Man Who Can Make Anything Talk''; Darren Romeo, who sings while creating illusions; and master of ceremonies Mark Kornhauser.

Shows are 7 tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $19.50 to $23.50 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Call the box office at [phone] or Tele-Charge at [phone]. The Alex is at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

Run for a good cause

Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and ``Baywatch'' star Donna D'Errico will be among some 5,000 participants in Sunday's Terry Fox Run benefiting Santa Monica's John Wayne Cancer Institute.

Held at the Veterans Center in West Los Angeles, the charity event features a 10K run, 5K run/walk, children's fun run and a free festival with music, expo booths and refreshments.

The run is named for Terry Fox, a young Canadian man who died of cancer in 1981. Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer at age 18, which led to the loss of one leg. Despite his disability, he pledged to run 5,000 miles across Canada to bring attention to the suffering of cancer patients. He completed just over half the distance when he succumbed to a recurrence of the disease.

Benefit runs are held in his name throughout the world and have raised $180 million to date for cancer research. This is the second annual Terry Fox Run in Los Angeles.

The event begins at 6:30 a.m. (the runs start at 8 a.m.). The runner/walker participant fee, which includes a T-shirt, gift bag and refreshments, is $20 for adults, $15 for kids 12 and under. Festival admission is free. Call [phone] for more information.

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Photo: Ronn Lucas, ``The Man Who Can Make Anything Talk,'' is one of seven magicians in the all-star revue, ``It's Magic'' at the Alex Theatre.