497: Pat Hazell - Part One: Notes From Home

Pat Hazell may not be a name you are familiar with, but for those do (like Johnny Carson and Jerry Seinfeld), then you know how funny he is and how serious he takes comedy. He was an emcee at the 2018 MAGIC Live! event where he showed the “fake trailer” that fooled Jerry. You can view that very funny trailer by Clicking Here. He moved from magic into comedy but has never quit thinking about magic. “Wonderbread Years” is just one of his successful one-man shows that he has developed along the way. In this “Notes From Home” podcast, he talks about his roots so you can see perhaps how it affected his later life as a successful comedian.

In this podcast, Pat Hazell talks about his recent return to magic conventions with his appearance at the 2018 MAGIC Live! event, He also talks about his magical beginnings in Omaha performing restaurant magic, his performances on ”The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”, and a publicity stunt to promote his ”upside down straight jacket escape” in the warehouse district of Omaha (see the picture here on the blog). He also tells some funny stories about Hooters Restaurant, his Omaha apartment that had high enough ceilings where he could practice juggling, and his “joke of the day” on his answering machine. Pat also talks about why he got into comedy writing and performing that led to his move to Los Angeles where his career took off. There are a ton of other stories that you’re sure to enjoy.

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387: Orson Bean - It Began With A Fir Tree

The cover of a 1960 comedy album showed Orson Bean holding a "Fir Tree" (made from rolled-up newspaper) which started the search. While in the Los Angeles, California area, I learned that Orson Bean had an interest in magic and even belonged to the Academy of Magical Arts.

In a fortunate turn of events, The Magic Word Podcast was able to visit the home of legendary actor and comedian, Orson Bean, and his lovely wife (and talented actor in her own right), Alley Mills. What started out as a search into Orson's background and interest in magic led to a fascinating discussion through time and television history.

Orson and Alley were also putting the final touches on their new one act play, "Alright Then" that is "a true story of two people who fell in love and overcame insurmountable odds to forge a successful marriage." Their intent was to take it to the Mark Twain Library in Redding, CT (which they did this past July) then return to Los Angeles and present it there. During this podcast, Orson and Alley present a snippet from the play.

Watch SAFE AT HOME: An Evening with Orson Bean for FREE. Orson had offers to take his LADCC Award winning show to New York and elsewhere, but he feels strongly that this is a show he wants everyone to see and to enjoy, just as our audiences did here at Pacific Resident Theater. He decided to “give it away to the world” and posted it on YouTube. Now YOU and EVERYONE you know can enjoy this hilarious,

During our conversation, we start with magic but the real magic unfolds as we hear remarkable stories about Hollywood legends such as Johnny Carson, Ernie Kovacs, Bob Hope and so many, many more. Alley Mills also chats about her work on "The Wonder Years" TV show and the friendships that bonded the cast for life. Towards the end of this recording, Orson and Alley presented (and rehearsed) a bit of their new play "Alright Then"

261: Project Alpha with Mike Edwards

After viewing the highly acclaimed documentary, "An Honest Liar" about the career of James "The Amazing" Randi, I wanted to talk with Mike Edwards, the "psychic" who was "tested" along with Steve Shaw (Banachek) over a three year period in the late 70;s to the early 80;s. I have discussed Project Alpha with Banachek many times privately, on the podcast and on an L&L Video (Psi Series Volume 4 - Psychokenisis) but I had never met or spoken with, Mike Edwards, his partner on the project.

The stars aligned with my travel plans to Phoenix, Arizona and Mike's availability so we were able to find a relatively quiet corner in an otherwise busy restaurant and record this chat. It is a completely different perspective from the one I have heard from Banachek and the revelation during the last few minutes of our conversation figuratively "bowled me over". I was not expecting that news. You might be surprised and excited once you hear it, too.

Recorded: 5/27/2010 Original Alpha Kid, Michael Edwards pays a visit to the foundation and recalls some of the behind the scenes tricks that he and Steve Shaw (Banachek) did during the MacLab test. From Wikipedia: Project Alpha was an elaborate hoax orchestrated by the stage magician and skeptic James Randi.

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