106: MAGIC Live! 2013 - Day 1

We haven't even begun to do anything yet but there are so many friends everywhere I turn. I decided at one point just to leave on my microphone and see who I ran into as I strolled around the floor. This is certainly THE magic event of the year. It is so exciting and there are so many fun mysteries to unfold over the next few days. I am having a blast and I hope the podcasts show that. It is so much fun also getting to meet several of the listeners to this podcast who hear my voice and introduce themselves. Thank you one and all.

00:00:07 - We take off from Houston for MAGIC Live! in Las Vegas, Nevada

00:02:19 - Marvyn Roy, aka "Mr. Electric" was one of the first friends I bumped into after I checked in. Marvyn talks about his new project of reading his book, "Mr. Electric Unplugged" which will be published by Mike Caveney and hopefully out by this Christmas.

00:18:34 - David Bull from Le Grande David Show in Beverly, Massachusetts talked about the sale of their movie theatre and what's going on at the Larcom Theatre with new traveling shows coming in for special engagements.

00:24:45 - Editor and Founder of The Magic Cafe, Steve Brooks, chatted with me about the phenomenal growth of this free online resource.

00:35:13 - Arthur Emerson talked about his 30 year association with Larry West and their partnership, Emerson and West that made many of the packet tricks that sold so well in the last century.

00:40:40 - Mark Kornhouser has an interesting video project going on during this convention. It's entitled "My First Trick". The intent is for anyone who is interested in sharing to show the first trick they learned and talk about how they got into magic and what the art means to them. In this interview, I left on the microphone during my segment as they were videotaping.

00:55:21 - Kyle Knight (I remember him when he went by Tyler Knight) and his wife, Mistie, talk about working Disney ships.

01:02:37 - Trigg Watson (formerly Burrage), David Hinkin and Krystyn Lambert talk about magic as a youth, contests, movies and more.

01:09:57 - Editor and Chief of MAGIC Magazine, Stan Allen, gave me a few minutes to talk about what's in store for this convention...well, as much as he could tip. Most of it will unfold just as you turn the page of the magazine. But Stan isn't afraid to take chances.

01:20:19 - Richard Hatch, former part owner of H&R Magic Books, talks about the reprint of The History of Magic book by Taschen. If you act quick, you can get a copy for $70 postpaid in the U.S. for an incredibly low price, but only if you mention that you heard it here on The Magic Word and if they have any left in stock when you order.

01:24:56 - Owner and proprietor of one of the world's largest wholesalers of magic, Mark Murphy (of Murphy's Magic Supplies) talks about his business and how inventors can get their ideas to market.

01:31:03 - Trade show magician, David McGee, talks about his upcoming six page spread that will appear in the September 2013 issue of MAGIC Magazine where he talks about his latest project: a game show at casinos. Plus he talks about the importance of working at charity shows. This is fascinating stuff.

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Photos of the American Museum of Magic - Marshall, Michigan

Robert "Bob" Lund (May 4, 1925 - October 20, 1995) was a noted magic historian and author, was also one of the world's foremost magic collectors. As a result of his passion (and needing a place to house his massive collection), he created the American Museum of Magic. The Museum was only open by appointment during his lifetime. Since Elaine Lund's passing in 2006, the museum has been governed by a board of directors and has become a non-profit corporation. It wasn't until about three years ago that it was finally opened to the public with regular operating hours.

The Bureau of History (Michigan Department of State) designated the building housing the American Museum of Magic as a Registered Historic Site in 1985.

The first thing visitors see as they enter the museum is the breathtaking statue of the Le Grand David show featuring one of their signature illusions, the Broomstick Suspension. This is one of three of these particular works of art in existence.

The Traveling Magician statue is another rare piece of art that is one of 61 known to exist in private collections.

A block away from the main museum building is the former Marshall Library. This building now houses the promotional materials of known and lesser known magicians. Additional ephemera fill the building plus other treasures like an ultra rare copy of "The Discoverie of Witchcraft".

"The Discoverie of Witchcraft" was a partially sceptical book published by the English gentleman Reginald Scot in 1584, and intended as an exposé of medieval witchcraft. It is considered rare becuase all obtainable copies were burned on the assccion of James I in 1603.

While I was visiting the museum, I video recorded a ten minute tour on my iPad then mixed some magic music in the background. If you would like to see more that just the photos above, then enjoy this short video below.

A short tour of the AMM in Marshall, MI.

For more information on The American Museum of Magic, visit their website at http://americanmuseumofmagic.org/

038: Winter Carnival 2011 - Another "Nearly Lost Episode" in Pigeon Forge, TN

This hour and a half podcast covers all three days of the convention including chats with Tom Ladshaw, Steve Beam, Mike Stratman, Duane Laflin, Doc Eason, Bob Little, Kozmo, Tom Vorjahan, Steve Gronowski, JC Doty, Dan Harlan, Daniel Herron, John Hopper, Steven Bargatze and of course, Banachek. There is a lot of interesting material in here and some rather revealing and candid conversations that go well beyond the convention.

But whether or not you attended the Winter Carnival and want to relive some of the moments or to hear some of the sounds you may have missed, then please listen to this podcast. I think you'll enjoy it and might even learn a little something along the way.

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