974: Jade - It's Her Time

Last episode we visited with Scott Pepper, the proprietor of the Magic Saloon in San Antonio, Texas. This week we chat with the featured stage entertainer who performed there: Jade. She was the winner of the I.B.M. Gold Medal for Stage in 1990, which is a distinctive honor in so many ways. The Gold Medal and Gold Cups (for close-up) are not awarded every year, but only when a performer is so outstanding and their execution is so perfect, that you cannot deny that it’s the best. Jade has gone on to perform around the world in clubs, aboard cruise ships, on television, in resorts and nightclubs, as well as the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

This week, Jade tells us her journey from a shy magic demonstrator behind the counter in San Francisco to becoming the confident, dynamic stage performer that has defined her career. She also talks about how she developed her act, trick selection, and finding venues in which to perform.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

You can bid on a collector’s edition of this pinball machine at this year’s S.A.M. convention. Or you can visit the auction website at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/sam-houdini-pinball-auction and place your bid there. Bidding will end on July 4, 2026.
**One-of-a-Kind Limited Edition HOUDINI 100th Anniversary Pinball.** This is one of the original 100 manufactured by American Pinball and is officially labeled # S.A.M. 001. The machine you are bidding on is brand new, boxed and ready to be delivered to your home, office or business.

This is the 100th anniversary Houdini Pinball Game. It is live now (until July 4, 2026) and bidders do not ned to be attending the convention to participate. I know that the bidding begins at $6,000.

973: Reconstructing Scott Pepper

Scott Pepper hails from England but is soon to be a Texan through and through once his citizenship papers are completed. In the meantime, he is successfully running the Magic Saloon as a magic venue in the heart of San Antonio, Texas, just across the street from the Alamo. Soon, people who have been shouting “Remember the Alamo” will be chanting “Remember the Magic Saloon!” This is a great venue that features stage magicians as the main entertainment, but also has close-up magic at it’s best at the gift shop featuring I.B.M. Gold Cups winner and Past National President of the I.B.M., Oscar Munoz.

Scott has come over from the U.K. after a successful career of performing with Oliver Tabor at “holiday camps” across England, and tons of exposure on board cruise ships as their resident magician. He opened the “Magician’s Agency” several years ago and suffered through the COVID years. He considered selling the venue and moving to Colorado, but decided to give it one more shot. Fortune and serendipity set in when one evening some hospitality entrepreneurs stopped by and loved his show and the venue. He partnered with them and hasn’t looked back. He discusses all of this and more in this week’s episode.

972: Ice McDonald - Ice on Fire

Kenrick “Ice” McDonald is a man who stands on many well deserved accolades. Aside from the many performance awards, he was the first African American to become the National President of the S.A.M. and he has been recognized for his work in the community by being inducted into the S.A.M. Hall of Fame. He served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) and appeared on multiple television shows across the U.S. and abroad. He has done much to advance the black magicians in our culture today.

This week, Ice is open and honest about his time on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Magical Arts and some of the challenges he faced. He also talks about the way he has handled personal issues like dyslexia. He discusses his work with livestock and touring, plus he chats about his many talks and speeches on the way to ultimately presenting a TED Talk.

974: Jade - It's Her Time

973: Reconstructing Scott Pepper

972: Ice McDonald - Ice on Fire

The Magic Word