130: Greg Bordner - Las Vegas Comes to Mayberry

The Andy Griffith Show aired on TV in the 1960's set in the fictional rural town of Mayberry, South Carolina, a friendly, close-knit community that clung to the 1930's...a time gone by.  Colon, Michigan is not dissimilar in that it has a rich tradition where many come back to relax and to enjoy a simpler time.

With a population of 1,161 people and one flashing traffic light, Colon nearly doubles in size each year for the annual Get Together as magicians from around the world convene to enjoy each others' company and share magic. It is truly a "Brigadoon" type of event that has the entire community turning out to celebrate the craft of magic then disappears afterwards with no trace that anything ever happened.

Greg Bordner wishes everyone a Happy Holiday from the showroom of Abbott's Magic Company.

Greg Bordner gives an after hours tour of the Abbotts Magic Factory. See where the magic begins before making it to the shelf!

Magic is a big house with many rooms. We have a rich history of magic that is filled with many people contributing to give us the texture that makes up the fabric of our craft. Greg Bordner, proprietor of Abbott's Magic Company, is one of dealers who continues the tradition started 80 years ago in the small village of Colon, Michigan.

Greg Bordner joins me on this podcast to talk about the history of Abbott's Magic Company, the transition of a brick-and-mortar magic shop to a successful online store, popular tricks sold through Abbott's, how Colon, Michigan came into being starting with Harry Blackstone, Sr., the many magicians who have moved to Colon, what there is to do in and around the Get Together (i.e. garage sales, Amish dinners, Curly's close-up contest, American Museum of Magic, Colon Museum) and so much more.

This is an interesting chat with some funny stories along the way about Blackstone, Sr. and others. For more information on Abbott's Magic Company, the  annual Get Together or the Close-Up Convention, visit their website at: http://AbbottMagic.com/

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As mentioned in the chat, many magicians are buried in the Colon cemetery. Thanks to Al the Only, here is an alphabetical list of those buried there (as of this writing):

Don Alan, Arthur Glen Babbs "Arturo", Bill Baird, Jack Barrows, Harry Blackstone Jr., Harry Blackstone Sr., John Nicholls Booth, Recil Bordner, Peter Bouton, Jerry Conklin, Shirley Conklin, Ted Coppin "Ted Banks", Della Coppin "Sally Banks", Ricki Dunn, Vince Fabek "Quincy the Clown", Karrell Fox, Anne Gwynne, Jack Gwynne, Kenneth Husted "Roy Huston", "Little Johnny" Jones, Skippy Lamore, Elaine Lund, Robert Lund, Fred R. Merrill, Hank Moorehouse, Jack Rench, Duke Stern, Marx Edward Straw, Jesse Thornton, Donald "Monk" Watson. You can learn more about each of these past magicians and see their grave sites by Clicking Here.

Karrell Fox gives a friendly tribute to his old friend Duke Stern in the Colon Cemetery. Also seen in this 1993 video is Bibik and Al the Only..

Magic & Martinis Thursday

Well, 'tis the season and everyone is working and partying hard. Our tree is appropriately festive with the right mix of...well, Magic & Martinis, what else? Cheers!

115: Exposed and Fearless with Vinny Grosso

Past International President of the S.A.M., Vinny Grosso, is working with a short fuse for raising money on Kickstarter for a really interesting book project. "Exposed and Fearless" will be a book that will contain a collection of personal short stories about some amazing people, how they are able to do the seemingly impossible and conquer fear. 

Some of those who will be in the book already include Banachek, the World's Number One Thought Reader, who will talk about whether or not E.S.P really exists. Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, from Who's Line Is It Anyway, will talk about whether improvisational comedy is really made up. Also, there will be stories from Richard Turner, the world's best card cheat who lost his vision at an early age plus Doc Swan, a veteran side show performer, and many, many others.

After listening to this short podcast with Vinny Grosso, and you are moved to action, then you can visit his Kickstarter page and decide what level of participation might best fit your financial situation. This podcast it "time sensitive" because time is short (October 3, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. EST is the deadline) and he is near his goal. But Vinny will not receive ANY of the money pledged unless he reaches or exceeds his goal before the deadline. And it can't be reached without a few more people helping...like you!

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063: A Chat with the Director of the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan

Following Abbott's 75th Get-Together, it would have been a shame not to have driven a few miles north of Colon to visit the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan. I first visited this museum following my first Get-Together in 1984. I was fortunate to have been given a private tour by owner and curator, Bob Lund. The Museum is now run by a board of directors but the building and it's contents look pretty much unchanged with what appeared to me as the same posters that adorned the wall way back then.

I chatted briefly with Hannah Lewis who is an intern at the museum who gives regular tours and is quite knowledgeable about the building, its contents and its history. She then introduced me to Jeff Taylor who is the Director. He gave me a little more insight and a private tour of the library which is usually only accessible by appointment.

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