121: Joanie Spina Has Breathing Room

All of us saw Joanie Spina walk onto the MAGIC Live! stage this year with a 90 foot hose to her oxygen tank. What many of us didn't know was what that was all about, how sick she has been and how long she has endured her illness. Then on September 26th, Robin Leach published an article in the Las Vegas Sun that gave us some insight. You can Click Here to read the article and view additional pictures. Moreover, the article told about the generosity of so many from the Las Vegas magic community, and beyond, that came together this past February 2013 to aid her in her time of financial need. But it was her former employer, David Copperfield who "stepped up" and delivered "big time". She has been cancer-free for five years but still unable to get on the lung transplant list. Moreover, she has been unable to work for at least the past year. Many efforts that might seem mundane to us leaves her breathless and exhausted for days. In fact, she is still "recovering" from her participation at MAGIC Live! which was over two months ago.

Joanie said that although she can "breathe easier" for a while because of the generosity of David Copperfield and so many people, she also mentioned that Joan Lawton works with the Dai Vernon Foundation that helps with those who are in financial need. In addition to directing and counseling magicians and improving their stage acts, Joanie is passionate about animal rights. She is an outspoken proponent of getting pets spayed and neutered. In our podcast, she also talks about the feral chihuahua problems in Las Vegas. Some years ago Joanie recorded a documentary about the importance of having animals spay and neutered. You can view clips from the film at: http://borntodiepets.com and http://hcws.org In this podcast, Joanie talks about all these things and more. But most importantly, she wants to thank all those who have supported her with thoughts, prayers, cards, letters and finances. To read her open letter of gratitude to David Copperfield, Click Here to read that direct link on her Facebook page.

You can reach her at joanie@joaniespina.com or learn more information on what she can do for you, visit her website at http://JoanieSpina.com

Time stamps for this podcast: 

00:00:08 - Joanie Spina talks about her health, the fundraiser, her association with David Copperfield, her work for animal rights, and more

00:58:28 - Stan Allen talks about the fundraiser he was involved with to help Joanie

01:08:08 - Stan gives us a preview of what to expect in the November 2013 issue of MAGIC Magazine

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Magic & Martinis Thursday

Cheers! 

120: John Calvert - Centurian of the World

John Calvert was a featured performer on more than one occasion for the Texas Association of Magicians in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dan Garret was his emcee one time and introduced John as magician, adventurer, actor and legend who's "address is the world." I thought there has never been anyone who so embodied that "mailing address" as John and Tammy Calvert as they traversed the globe in their yacht, called The Magic Castle". Every week they were docked at some exotic destination and made friends wherever they went. 

John and Tammy Calvert spread joy and mystery all over the world for so many years until it finally came to an end on September 27, 2013. John was 102 years young. He never stopped giving and loving people and magic. He was passionate about our art.  There are many tributes posted elsewhere on the Internet as well as his complete (and summarized) biography. But nothing can come close to the complete life story of John Calvert that was written and published by William Rauscher entitled, John Calvert - Magic and Adventures Around the World.

When John and Tammy came through Houston, Texas in 2009 on one of their lecture tours, they spent a few nights in our home. They were such splendid guests. While here, John sat down with me to record a short account of some of the thing that were outside of his biography, John Calvert - Magic and Adventures Around the World. I edited the video to comply with the then required time constraints of YouTube. I posted a second, more candid, video interview with John where he talked about his family and the secret to his longevity. These videos are linked below, but the audio portion is captured in this week's podcast.

Also included with this podcast is my chat with John's "Boswell", William Rauscher. This was my interview with Bill during the 2011 M.A.E.S. convention. 

John Calvert shares some insight on his many years in magic in a brief interview with Scott Wells.

Scott Wells talks with John Calvert who turned 100 years old on August 5, 2011 and talks about his secrets to longevity. Plus a look at him filling in as a stunt double for Clark Gable. These are some out takes from another interview with this incredible man.

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When magicians think of the famous magician John Calvert, his wife and assistant, Tammy, comes automatically to mind. The Calverts were inseparable for over 50 years as they traveled the world with the Magicarama illusion show. In recent years they made scores of appearances at magicians’ gatherings, sharing their lifetime of knowledge with others.  Although Calvert continued to perform into his 101st year, his health declined in recent months and expenses mounted. 

For those who wish to send cards and/or financial gifts to Tammy to help with medical and funeral expenses, she is currently staying with John’s nephew, Fred Calvert, at 4399 Irvine Avenue, Studio City, California 91604.

Friends have also set up a PayPal account for her, ready to receive donations. You don’t have to have a PayPal account to send funds to her. Go to www.PayPal.com. Click on "Send Money.” Enter the following e-mail address “EpicProductions@Juno.com.” Enter the donation amount and click to send to "Family and Friends"..

I understand that the following link will make it easy to send a financial gift to her: https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/send-money-online. 

What else can you do? Visit www.johncalvertmagic.com and www.johncalvertmagician.com to purchase the video about Calvert’s life and other unique collectors’ items.

Time stamps for this podcast: 

00:07:05 - John Calvert talks about his magical life

00:16:27 - John talks about his private side: his family and the secret to his longevity

00:21:27 - William Rauscher tells us some great stories about John that were not in the book. 

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Magic & Martinis Thursday

Though John Calvert was a teetotaler, that does not preclude me from toasting to his life and legacy. He said he was once approached by the Calvert whiskey distillery about promoting their brand. Despite the financial incentive, John had higher morals and refused the sponsorship. And although he was well-known for his cigarette manipulation act, he never smoked either. He always made a point of saying to his audience after his manip act that he did not advocate smoking and admonished the youth from ever starting the habit. 

John Calvert "floated" a Coca Cola bottle with nothing but a straw and so impressed the management of Coke that they agreed to sponsor his tour. He shared that secret with me when he visited in 2009. Being the teetotaler he was, I will have my vodka martini but lift a bottle of Coca Cola to John. Cheers!

119: David Oliver Breathes Easier

During one of my podcasts from 2011, I asked David Oliver (DO) for his "Magic Word". He said, "Believe". This has never been a more prescient and important word for living his life. And it is a good word and good advice for us, too. He lives what he "believes".

DO has been a champion for teaching magic to our next generation of magicians. He is an excellent performer who is highly respected in his field and traveled the globe performing and helping youth learn magic. Three years ago when he was diagnosed with a rare lung infection known as Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, or Bird Fancier Lung, which was caused by his doves, his health outlook was grave. The only treatment was a double lung replacement. On June 28th, a stranger's life ended but it gave David two new lungs and another chance at life so he can continue to DO magic.

His surgery is over but now is the time for him to rebuild his body and his life. After being hospitalized for so long, his muscle mass has atrophied and he has not performed before a live audience for well over a year. He is anxious to move forward and get back on stage as he continues to counsel youth on our art.

David Oliver is a Boston-area magician. More than just a talented magician, for more than twenty-five years, David Oliver has mentored, directed, and taught many of today's finest young magicians from around the globe. In an effort to assist their friend in dealing with mounting medical bills, many stars of magic have joined together to DO magic...

For the first time in 11 months, David hopes to attend his first magic convention this weekend, October 4-5, the Magicians' Alliance of Eastern States (M.A.E.S.). He had a little time to chat with me about his health, how things are going, and his future plans. We also talked about advice for those new to magic whether they are young  or old. We chatted about magic conventions, too, but the one thing that David wanted to emphasize was his deep and sincere appreciation to the thousands of people who have supported him with their thoughts, prayers and finances during this most difficult time.

David is far from being "out of the woods" as he tries to rebuild his life and finances. He has not performed for well over a year but still tries to give instructions via Skype to students around the world. If you are interested in talking with David or becoming a student, then you can contact him at DOmagic@DavidOliverMagic.com or you can find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/domagic?fref=ts

There are various ways you can financially contribute to David Oliver's medical fund. You can visit the "DO Magic for David Oliver" Benefit Fundraising Page at http://domagic4davidoliver.blogspot.com/ which has a link for donating with your credit card through PayPal (you do not have to have a PayPal account to donate). Another page is DO Breathe Easy at http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/do-breathe-easy/35262 which is an online fundraising site. One hundred percent of your donations go directly to David. Please help if you can.

If you would like to send him a Get Well card or other well wishes, then you can reach him by regular mail at: David Oliver, 141 Audubon Road, Weymouth, MA 02188

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Magic & Martinis Thursday

Since David can no longer consume alcohol, we will toast to his good health with something less...well, alcoholic.  A Coca Cola, not diet or sugar-free. Cheers! Here's to your good health, David. Let's DO Magic!