116: John Star's Birthday - Magic & Martinis Thursday - Sep. 12, 2013

This week has been about helping others and spreading some joy into the lives of some who may never get to see live magic. I was the Master of Ceremonies for the annual Grandparents' Day at Bayou Manor here in Houston. This is how we pay back the people who allow our local I.B.M. Ring #39 to meet in their facility each month. The retired people from the Manor invite their children, grand children and some great grand children to come and enjoy them for an afternoon of fun.

On Thursday, our Chairman of the Charity Shows, Stephen Shain, had arranged for some of us to do our regular visits to the hospital. Today it was at the Texas Children's Hospital.

After we finished the morning at the hospital, Steve Shain, Gene Protas and I went to a local Chinese restaurant where we met up with John Star for his birthday. Before the others arrived, John and I had a brief chat about his early years in the U.K. working with those like Terry Seabrooke, Tommy Cooper and so many others of the great U.K. magicians of yesteryear (i.e. David Nixon, Ali Bongo, Wayne Dobson, Billy McComb and others).

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After the day was over, it was time to set down the cut-and-restored magic stethoscope and have a martini. Cheers!

After performing magic at the hospital, it's time for a little R&R...well, actually, M&M (Magic and Martinis).

108: MAGIC Live! 2013 - Day 3

Day three was another fun and exciting day that began with the Opening Session hosted by Justin Flom A highlight of the show was Xavier Mortimer's incredibly innovative routines. He is currently featured in the Cirque du Soliel show here in Vegas, "Michael Jackson One".. But it was Wayne Dobson being interviewed by Jeff McBride which received a standing ovation.

00:00:07 – Tom Vorjahan, Daniel Herron and Eddie Wade give a recap of the Documentary Live 1 show from last night that featured the Long Beach Mystics hosted by Stan Allen and Mike Caveney. It featured David Deeble, Victor and Diamond, Michael Weber, Dana Daniels, Mark Kalin and Jinger, Armando Lucera, Kevin James, and James Hamilton (as Alexander Hamilton).

00:08:33 – I give a short review of the General Session that was hosted by Justin Flom and featured Master Payne, Bill Abbott, Xavier Mortimer, and Wayne Dobson being interviewed by Jeff McBride.

00:13:00 – I chatted with random people dining at the In ‘N Out and how much they enjoy this place. It is one of my regular, mandatory places to dine while in Las Vegas.

00:15:02 – Simon Coronel talks about creativity and how he developed his routine.

00:26:00 – Photo time with Criss Angel

00:26:50 – David Hira talks about this convention and conventions in general and their appeal to different age groups.

00:34:45 – Scott Hunstler was one of the winners on the Sunday night Welcome Party. He talks about what he won. Mark Weidhaas, S.A.M. Past President, and Errol Lipschitz, from Vancouver, talks about their experience of this convention.

00:39:56 – We viewed the documentary about Ricky Jay’s life, Deceptive Practices. Here I get to talk with a few people who know Ricky and have a perspective and opinion on the movie. It isn’t anything like Siskell & Ebert, but I think you will enjoy this discussion by Peter Samelson, Tim Felix and Jon Stetson.

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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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