322: Kirby VanBurch - From Vegas to Branson

Kirby VanBurch is returning to his roots...Houston, Texas. He was born there when he fell in love with magic at age seven. His interest grew so he moved to Las Vegas where, according to Wikipedia, he was the youngest illusionist to have his own show. From there he moved to Reno then back to Las Vegas where he ran for the U.S. Senate. Then he moved to Branson, Missouri where he stayed for the next 20 years performing in nine separate theaters.

2010 Promo video for show in Branson, Missouri.

Time Stamps for the podcast:

00:04:07 - In this podcast, Kirby talks about his early roots in magic starting in Houston then moving to Las Vegas while in his late teens. It is interesting to hear about his failed attempt to run for political office (U.S. Senate) in Nevada. But perhaps most interestingly, he speaks candidly about an argument with Siegfried and other "behind the scenes" stories with his show in Branson including many "differences of opinion" and lawsuits that swirled around him.

0055:02: - PRODUCT REVIEW: this week we had a little time left to offer a Murphy's Magic Supplies product review. We take a look at the recent At The Table lecture by Kyle Littleton who has a host of commercial ideas for the worker that he has never shared anywhere else.

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249: Tom After Tom

Tom Mullica was one of the featured entertainers at the 2015 I.B.M. convention in Jacksonville, Florida. He was seen almost everywhere throughout the convention and he was outstanding in everything he did: lecturer, performer, and master of ceremonies. As a lecturer, Tom did double duty, lecturing in the evening to all the registrants then again with a completely different lecture for the breakfast meeting of the Order of Merlin members (those with 25 or more years of consecutive membership in the I.B.M.).

After performing a Tribute Act to Red Skelton in Branson, Missouri for 17 years, Tom felt that it has run its course and plans to return to magic. I'm not sure what that means insofar as where he will be appearing, but it is probably a sure bet that you will be seeing him being a bit more active on the magic convention scene in the near future. One new direction Where Tom has focused his interest is in pickpocketing. He has been breaking in this new act at magic conventions this summer like he I.B.M convention and the Midwest Magic Jubilee in St. Louis.

Tom allowed me to record his breakfast lecture and post it here. After that lecture, Tom sat down with me to talk one-on-one, exclusively for the podcast. Hence the title of this podcast, "Tom After Tom".

Runny nose gag - During Tom Mullica's presentation at the breakfast meeting of the Order of Merlin group during the I.B.M. convention in Jacksonville, Florida, Tom described a gag. Essentially, you have a mouth full of water and wait until the time is right. then let the water dibble out of your mouth as you run your arm under your nose.

This is the gag he performed during his morning speech.

A vintage video of magician Tom Mullica performing his magic

00:02:16 - The first part of this podcast is a broadcast of his specially prepared lecture on "Naivete" wherein he talks about trusting people which usually turned out great, but sometimes severely injured him financially and emotionally.

00:21:39 - In the second part of the podcast, Tom talks candidly about his life and tells some stories that you won't hear elsewhere. In one such story, Tom opens up emotionally to talk about "coming out of the closet" and telling his mother (and the world) that he was gay.

Now through March 15, 2016 Meir Yedid has reduced the price for a download of a remastered "An Evening at the Tom-Foolery," with all proceeds going to his husband, Stephen. The price for the download is now only $10.

The Magic Word

A Podcast for Magicians, About Magicians, Hosted by a Full Time Professional Magician, Scott Wells

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