341: Houdini-Opoly with Dick Brookz and Dorothy Dietrich

Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz own and operate the Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania. They have both led extraordinary lives and worthy of talking more about their Houdini museum, the Houdini seance, and the former Magic Townhouse in New York City. They talk about all these things but the purpose of this particular podcast is to help the magic world learn more about their newest project, "Houdini-Opoly"

They have been working on this board game for over two years and with the Kickstarter campaign now being fully funded just before this podcast was released. So not it's on to meet their "stretch" goals to pay for the "enhancements". Thanks to your support, it appears that it will be in production soon this year. The Magic Word Podcast is selective in providing a platform for promoting individuals or pet projects. But this is one I support and think is of particular interest to our community. But even if you choose not to support the cause and buy a game, the rest of our chat is interesting as we talk about the old Magic Townhouse in New York City and why it closed and the museum moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania. We also discuss the Houdini seance and the museum.

Help the Kickstarter Campaign and get your "one of a kind" collectible Houdini board game. You can't escape the fun!

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Click on the graphic above to visit the site for more information on Houdini-Opoly

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The contest is over and we congratulate Pat Darienzo who won a copy of Danny Archer's eBook. — The contest is over and we congratulate **Pat Darienzo** who won a copy of Danny Archer's eBook.

310: 2016 Abbott's Get Together - Day Four

DAY FOUR - SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH 2016
9:00AM REGISTRATION OPENS at the Abbott Plant
9:00AM MAGIC MINISTERS SESSION (more info) at the Methodist Church
9:00AM COLON ARTS & CRAFT FAIR (more info) until 4:00PM
9:30AM LECTURE - Joaquin Ayala at the High School
10:00AM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS (more info) at Grade School
11:00AM COLON STREET PERFORMERS - at Craft Fair featuring Jania Taylor
11:30AM MAGIC SHOW at Abbott Plant with BJ Mallen or Gordon Miller
12:00PM COLON STREET PERFORMERS - outside American Legion featuring Jania Taylor
1:00PM COLON HISTORICAL MUSEUM OPEN TILL 4PM (more info)
2:00PM ABBOTT'S BENEFIT MATINEE "THE ABBOTT BOYS" at High School
Featuring Mark Holstein, BJ Mallen, Artie Kidwell, Gordon Miller, Mike Miller, plus the Talent Contest Winning Act!
(view seating chart)
2:30PM MAGIC SHOW at Abbott Plant with BJ Mallen or Gordon Miller
3:00PM COLON STREET PERFORMERS - outside Colon Historical Museum featuring Adam Arcana
3:00PM - 6:00PM FACE PAINTING outside 5 Star Pizza by Carol Hendrix
4:00PM COLON STREET PERFORMERS - outside Five Star Pizza featuring Trino
5:00PM MAGIC AND MORE LIVE - Sterlini's Magic Shop (more info)
5:30PM RIVER LAKE INN’S MAGIC SHOW & DINNER with Ron Carnell
8:00PM ABBOTT'S STAGE SHOW at the High School (Preshow Live Organ Music)
Featuring Nick Diffatte MC , Jay Mattioli, Martin Cox, Doc Swan, Tony Chapek, Ayala
(view seating chart)
10:00 PM DEALERS ROOM OPENS at Grade School after show
10:30 PM ABBOTT PERFORMER AWARDS at Grade School after show

Winners of Special Awards:

Jerry Conklin Award (for outstanding service to the Get Together) - Steve Chezaday

Bill Baird/Neil Foster Award (manipulation) - Denny Haney

Senator Crandall Award (comedy): Puck and Scott Alexander

Jack Gwynn Award (presentation) - Jay Mattioli

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:12 - Gene Anderson has finished the book of his lifetime magical achievements and is autographing copies at this convention. Gene tells us some stories from the book and some that are not. He also talks about his association with the late Doug Henning.

00:20:48 - Brenda and Marty Hahne (Dazzling Magic) talk about their experiences in Branson, MO and here at Colon over the past several years. For a thoroughly enlightening podcast with Marty from the archives (March 2014) about his "Rabbit Tales" and the international notoriety he received for his permitting problems, Click Here.

00:29:22 - George Schindler, the Dean of the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) tells us what it's like to be "the Dean" plus many more stories about his travels and many friendships. This could have easily been a whole podcast...and perhaps some day I will record a full podcast with this legendary figure.

00:44:34 - Past President of the S.A.M., Ice McDonald, tells us about his experience here at the Get Together and what he likes best about it. Ice is part of the talent booked this week.

00:48:50 - Unveiling ceremony for renaming of a street in White Pigeon, Michigan to "Hank Moorehouse Avenue"

01:04:34 - Hank's widow, Jackie Moorehouse, talks a bit about her 28 year marriage to Hank.

01:07:10- Jeff Bibik helps me wrap up the convention as we say "so long and farewell" to the 79th annual Get Together.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Click on the banner above for more information on Gene's book.

Brenda and Marty Hahne's online magic shop.

226: John Gaughan - Magic's Builder

As an epilogue to my six part series from Hollywood, I offer you this special podcast featuring John Gaughan, magic's premiere illusion builder. It was such a thrill to spend time in his workshop and magic salon where we talked about magic, magicians past and present, and illusion building. Then the special guided tour of his salon was quite impressive, too. I recorded the tour with my iPad and posted the videos on YouTube which are linked in this blog.

For those few magicians in the world who may not have heard of John Gaughan as well as those who do know him, I'm certain that all of you will learn something about one of magic's greatest illusion builder.

This podcast came in response to a listener who suggested that if ever I had the opportunity, then I should interview John Gaughan. So, when I knew that I was going to be traveling to the Los Angeles area, I contacted John well in advance to schedule a convenient afternoon when he could spend time and show me his workshop. I was delighted that he was in town and not off somewhere around the world installing or consulting but would actually be in town and have time to chat. I know you will enjoy this podcast as well as the videos.

Antonio Diavolo, the mechanical trapeze artist created by Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805-1871), performed by John Gaughan and Ricky Jay.

John talks about his roots as an illusion builder when he first worked with Leo Behnke and others on Mark Wilson's "Magic Land of Allakazam" when he was just a prop painter. His progression to becoming a master craftsman and woodworker is fascinating. And he talks about some of the illusions he has built for many of the celebrated magicians over the past 50 years. He also talks about what makes for a good illusion and some of his failures. He concludes with a look into the future with where magic and grand stage illusions might be headed.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

If you have not yet made your reservation for your hotel room at the Hyatt Regency for the Jacksonville convention which takes place July 15th - 18th, 2015, your time is running out! After June 15th, the convention rate of only $99 will end, and th… — If you have not yet made your reservation for your hotel room at the Hyatt Regency for the Jacksonville convention which takes place July 15th - 18th, 2015, your time is running out!

After June 15th, the convention rate of only $99 will end, and there will be no guarantee of availability of additional room reservations.

If you are planning on attending the Jacksonville convention which promises to be a fantastic event, register for the convention, and MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATION NOW!!!!

You can register for the convention here: https://www.magician.org/convention/online-registration

You can make your hotel reservation here: https://aws.passkey.com/g/20902549 or by calling the Hyatt Regency directly at 1-800-421-1442.