167: Day 2 - IBM/SAM Combined Convention 2014

The second full day of the combined convention began very early for me, especially considering the late night I had in uploading these podcasts. The S.A.M. sponsored a very nice boxed breakfast event in the presidential suite in the hotel which featured guest speaker, Shawn Farquhar. Immediately thereafter was a lecture and workshop from the Korean College of Magic. Following lunch was the second in the FISM North American Stage Contest. The lecture by Miguel Angel Gea started about the time as when the contest ended.

Busses loaded at 6:30 for the gala show at the Peabody Opera House then after the show was more of the Richard Turner Experience.

Purchase Tickets here http://www.magicinc.net/Celebration.aspx In 1964, Magic Inc. held its grand opening at 5082 N. Lincoln Avenue. Now 50 years later, we're holding a big celebration / mini-convention with some of the best magicians from all over the world. Golden Tickets are only $100, prior to June 1st; after that, only $125.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:03:27 - Alan and Michelle Watson, talks about the New Zealand Ezine. Tens of thousands subscribers keep up to date on magic activities around the world. All your updates and stories can be sent to Alan at Editor@magicnewzealand.com He also talks a little about the business of magic and setting up your website.

00:10:52 - Shawn Farquhar was the guest speaker at the breakfast and tells about his life in magic. I picked up the recording part way into his speech.

00:26:41 - The Dean of the S.A.M., George Shindler tells us how he became the Dean, what the "job" entails, plus more information about the Houdini Fund for those who are hospitalized, ill or in need some financial help. More details are on the S.A.M. website.

00:42:13 - Alex Ramon tells us about the new illusion that he will present during the gala show tonight. He also tells us what he's been up to since we last chatted in our two part interview in Lake Tahoe earlier this year. Part One here and Part Two here.

00:51:11 - David Oliver tells us how his health is doing since his double lung transplant last year and what he is doing today including a busy schedule of performing and teaching the youth. He also tells us that his new passion is telling people the importance of organ donations.

01:04:27 - Sandy Marshall, owner of Magic Inc., gives us a health update on Simon Lovell plus the new book he is releasing today, "Betcha! How To Win Free Drinks For Life" which will be available from Magic Inc. He also tells us about the 50th anniversary of Magic Inc. convention coming July 17-19.

01:18:18 - Join us for lunch with Michael Close, editor of the M.U.M., and Don Wiberg, International Secretary of the I.B.M. and proof reader for The Linking Ring, as we talk about many things including the magazines/journals.

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144: Marshall Brodien - The Magician's Magician

During one of my visits to Chicago, Illinois to visit my friend, Don Wiberg, he drove us out to Geneva, Illinois to visit a legend in magic, Marshall Brodien. One cannot say that Marshall is best known for this or that because he was a master of so many things and known to so many for different reasons at different times in his life.

To our sons, he was Wizzo the Wizard on TV, The Bozo Show. To some he was a carnival talker on the midway in Riverview Park. To others he was known for his trade show work when he blazed the trail for many of us so many years ago. Still others know him for his magic sets. He created over 230 different sets. Some people knew Marshall from his nightclub act as a hypnotist. The Chicago underworld (or "mob") knew him as a clever magician who was their "go-to" guy when they wanted entertainment for a private party. I first heard of Marshall when he sold his TV Magic Cards on my television set.

During our visit to Marshall's home, I used my Kodak camera to not only capture shots of some of his amazing collection of magic in his basement, but also to record a few segments of Marshall himself. Unfortunately, I did not understand my new camera enough to know not to turn it sideways while capturing a video. So one of the taped segments is sideways. At least now I know. But it is his "bally" that I wanted to capture which I think you will enjoy as well as Marshall's clarity and presence of mind.

I mention that because unfortunately, Alzheimer's is getting hold of his mind. It is unfortunate to see someone, anyone have to suffer this disease. Chicago's television station WGN, where Marshall appeared as Wizzo the Wizard on the Bozo Show for so many years, recently did a story with his wife, Mary Doyle, about dealing with his condition. You can see the video interview at: http://wgntv.com/2015/08/29/author-mary-doyle-wife-of-wizzo-the-wizard-on-living-with-husbands-alzheimers/

While I was a guest in his home, I recorded a bit of history with Marshall. Please enjoy these few video tidbits from the recollection of his early years as a carnival talker.

Marshall Brodien aka Wizzo the Wizard, once worked at Riverview Park in Chicago as a Carnival Talker. Here you can hear him giving his pitch to encourage passers-by to come in to see the shows.

Part 2: A brief bally from Marshall Brodien as a Carnival Barker to attract people to the side show to see the fat man.

Here's a commercial for TV Magic Cards, a product created by magician Marshall Brodien (Bozo's Wizzo) who starts off showing one of his tricks, and then describing what the cards are about. This commercial was memorably parodied by Son of Svengoolie as "Real Life Magic".

Marshall Brodien has a whole "museum" of his life in his basement. It is huge and complete with a bathroom, sitting room and hide-a-bed couch. These are important because there is no way to appreciate all he has down there in just a short visit. It takes time to see his collection and hear his stories. I took several photos as he led us down memory lane of his life. I captured many of these in the photos below.

Although I did not record an interview with Marshall in 2008 when I visited his home, I did recently chat with his long-time friend, Mark Holstein. Mark has known and worked with Marshall for many decades and remains close even today although they are separated only by distance from Houston to Chicago.

Mark talks about Marshall's magical life including his days at Riverview Park as a carnival talker through his war years in the USO as a stage hypnotist, to a nightclub entertainer, trade show performer, bar magician, to the invention and marketing of his TV Magic Cards and magic kits through his appearances on the Bozo the Clown show as Wizzo the Wizard. Along the way, Mark relates a lot of fun and funny stories about Marshall.

Wizzo the Wizard's magic phrase was "Doody Doody". This toilet seat lid says it all...literally!

I can only recommend that you find a copy of John Moehring's excellent biography, "The Magical Life of Marshall Brodien" or you might find it Here on Amazon. The book may be hard to find and the link here may not take you to where you can buy one now, but if you do a little searching on the Internet, I think you might still find a copy. As I read the book, I could hear Marshall's voice telling those stories word for word as we traveled through time during this magical visit to his home in 2008.

Thank you, Marshall, for all you have done for magic and magicians all around the world and thank you, Mark Holstein, for sharing your memories of your good friend.

Magic & Martinis Thursday

It's not exactly Louis XIII cognac, but "Cheers" anyway to a magical life!

Click on the graphic above to read an obituary, “Now Appearing in Heaven” written by his bride, Mary.

101: 2013 I.B.M. Convention - Day 0: The Prequel

Wow, the convention hasn't even begun and here I sit at 2:00 a.m. uploading some really killer material for you guys. I think you'll enjoy some, if not all of what we have to offer to this "Pre-Convention" special edition. There has been a full day of activities for about 24 or so youth with the Lance Burton Teen Sessions. They have had lectures, seminars, workshops, breakout sessions and generally got to learn from and hang out with some of today's magic greats such as Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, Lance Burton, Melody and Oscar Munoz, Shawn Farquhar, Larry Haas, Nicholas St. Ern, Aubrey Fine and more.

Early registration opened at 5:00 with popcorn being served at the door for the showing of "Make Believe" at 7:00. At 10:15, the early bird lecture was given by Tony Chris on bizarre magic. .

Panel Discussion following the movie, "Make Believe" featuring (from left to right) moderator Larry Haas, Jeff McBride, Lance Burton, Eugene Burger, Bill Koch and Nicholas St. Ern.

00:00:10 - We prepared for the convention with my usual stopover at In 'n Out Burger for a double-double. Don Wiberg joined me at the restaurant as we talked a bit about the upcoming convention activities.

00:04:53 - Rolando Santos, past International President of the I.B.M., is a contributing editor for The Linking Ring and talks about the importance of getting involved and how to move on up into the organization. If you are coming to the convention and interested in writing up a review of one of the shows, please be sure to look for Rolando as he would like to see your byline in The Linking Ring

00:13:33 - We talked with Michael Messing about photographing the convention and the long line of photographers in whose steps he follows. We also chatted here with Aubrey Fine, Youth Chairman, about the exciting things that are happening with the youth at this convention.

00:19:52 - And speaking of youth activities, I was able to get a little time with Lance Burton who talks about his commitment to the youth and his rise to magical fame through competitions. He also tells me what he is up to now with his new feature film starring Johnny Thompson.

00:29:52 - I spoke with Bill Koch, one of the stars of the full length feature film, "Make Believe". This is a delightful documentary that follows the lives of junior magicians as they prepare to compete in the 2009 World Magic Summit. Bill talks about his experience and what he has been up to since the film was released.

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167: Day 2 - IBM/SAM Combined Convention 2014

144: Marshall Brodien - The Magician's Magician

Magic & Martinis Thursday

101: 2013 I.B.M. Convention - Day 0: The Prequel

The Magic Word