Photos from Abbott's 2012 Day 3

Day Three of Abbott's Get-Together was another beautiful, sunny day in southern Michigan. People were still coming in to Abbott's Magic Factory to pick up their registration packets. The bulk of their magic inventory, however, was relocated from the Factory to the dealers' room that was set up in the elementary school.

You never know who is going to show up at a Get-Together. Perhaps if I would have waited for the owner of this car to return, I could have solved an age old question.

Buskers fanned throughout the village to entertain the guests. One was appointed to the downtown area where the annual arts and crafts fair was taking place.

Jania Taylor (http://www.magicbyjania.com/) was assigned to the grocery store that had a throng of people who were there during the lunch hour for the Kiwani's Club benefit. They were offering lunch for $1.00 that included a hot dog, chips, soft drink and an ice cream sandwiich. You could order an extra hot dog for just 50 cents.

Michael Mode (http://www.magicmode.com/) was one of those who helped Jerry Costello with the "Happy Hour" party at Jerry's lake house that took place after Adele Friel's lecture and before the evening show. (Jerry is on the left and Michael is on the right).

You never know how people will be dressed for the Friday night show. Have you ever seen a dress made entirely from balloons? Never mind WHERE did she sit in the show last night. The question is HOW did she sit?

Following the evening stage show, the city presented an enjoyable fireworks show just outside the high school.

060: Abbott's Get Together Day 2 - 2012

Although the schedule stated that Tom Mullica would be lecturing, he made it clear the night before while he was emceeing that he would not give a lecture. Now that Tom is regularly performing the Red Skelton Tribute in Branson, MO, he said he does not keep up with his magic skills so he felt that he could not give the type of lecture the registrants deserved. So his place was more than ably filled with Tina Lenert who talked about her character development. Mac King later that afternoon before the dealer's show and the cemetery tour.

But later that evening, I chatted with Steve Bryant, author of "Little Egypt Book of Ghosts" and the Little Egypt Gazette (http://www.littleegyptmagic.com/magicsplash.html), and The Rhythm of Magic, Michael and Jessica Blanco (http://www.therhythmofmagicproductions.com/The_Rhythm_of_Magic_Official_Websi..., who will close the Saturday night show. At the Legion Hall after the show, I spoke with Tom Dobrowolski about the Chicago Magic Bash which he will host next year (November 2013); Gabe Fajuri, owner of Squash Publications (http://www.squashpublications.com/) and co-owner of Potter & Potter Auctions (http://www.potterauctions.com/), about his lecture on the history of Abbott's Magic Company, and finally with David Merry (http://davidmerry.com/), whom you may have read about in the April issue of MAGIC Magazine.

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Photos from Abbott's Day 2

Day Two in Colon (that's "number two" or August 2nd which is number two, too) was another bright, sunny day with plenty of socializing on the schedule.

There were plenty of "buskers" on the main street entertaining the local residents and tourists who happened upon the lot of magicians. There has been a flurry of news reports in all the nearby newspapers promoting the convention.

Back at the high school before TIna Lenert's morning lecture, we had a photo opp with Mac King, Stan Allen, Tom Mullica, Scott Wells, Mark Holstein and Bill Smith.

Mac King gave one of his rare lectures to the group that afternoon which included a rope routine and several card effects along with lots of funny stories. His lecture sales had people lined up to the back of the auditorium.

Al the Only conducted the annual tour of the Colon cemetery with a record number in attendance this year of over 70 people who braved the blazing sun. Al gave us information about the deceased and their magical lives interspersed with several stories that brought them to life. It was fun to hear the stories amplified by some of the descendents who were in the audience including those from the Jack Gwynne and Jerry Conklin families. Of course it was Harry Blackstone, St. who started it all. He and Harry Junior both rest here.