597: Ken Scott - Kids! Conventions! Corporate!

Atlanta-based magician, Ken Scott Wisenbaker, dropped his legal last name to a shortened stage name of “Ken Scott.” Find out this week why he changed it and who recommended it. Ken is a multiple year winning Magician of the Year for the Atlanta club. He will be the incoming International President of the I.B.M. at this year’s annual convention slated for July 7-10 in Pittsburgh, PA. He is also the organizer of the annual Atlanta Harvest of Magic convention. But Ken is perhaps best know (certainly around Atlanta) as one of the premiere kid show performers entertaining at birthday parties, libraries and schools. But he also performs for corporate functions as well.

Ken Scottmagic. Baseball hall of famer Ozzie Smith joins me as well.

Ken Scott predicts what card you will pick!

This week, Ken talks about magic conventions and we discuss a little about the current state of these events and their possible future. Of course, Ken tells about his work with performing for children and a little about his corporate work, too.

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567: David Kaye - The Method Behind His Silliness

In response to listeners’ requests for more content and conversations with children and family show entertainer, this week we go to the “top” and visit with David “Silly Billy” Kaye who is regarded by many as one of the best known kid show entertainers in the world today.

Before the Magic Word Podcast became a reality, I was part of a podcast produced by Dodd Vickers called “Magic Newswire”. For quite some time on Sunday evenings, Dodd put together a small band of us, each with specific backgrounds and skill sets, to talk with some of the biggest names in magic (like Johnny Thompson, Mac King, Jamy Ian Swiss, and others). One of the other “co-hosts” with me was David Kaye. Though we had known each other from our times together at various magic conventions, we got to know each other better through our Sunday evening gatherings online from our respective homes before that was a “thing”.

This is a performance of the magic trick called Princess In A Pickle, created by Silly Billy. It was shot at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. A great routine for your show. Packs really flat and plays big and funny for 7 minutes. Buy Princess in a Pickle at https://www.sillymagic.com/product/pr... Silly Billy performs children’s magic for kids in New York.

David gives us a mini-lecture on the differences in “appreciation” of magic for children of different ages. This is a wonderful, insightful and educational episode for anyone interested in performing for children, regardless if you are just getting started or if you have been entertaining children for years.

279: The Cardini Connection with Randy Pitchford

Randy Pitchford is the nephew of Richard Valentine Pitchford, who was better known as Cardini. More than just a familial connection, Randy is also a performer, entrepreneur and successful businessman. Randy is the CEO and President of Gearbox Software located in Frisco, Texas (a northern suburb of Dallas).

Randy purchased much of the Cardini collection from the 2013 Potter & Potter auction and put the bulk of the exhibit in a museum at the Magic Castle. His most recent purchase may have the furthest reaching impact in our community: he is the new owner of Genii Magazine.

Randy is building a home designed to be like Brookledge, the home of Bill and Irene Larsen in Los Angeles. He even plans to present regular shows for the public in his home not unlike the Bookledge Follies.

Magician Cardini performing in 1957

Cardini (Richard Pitchford) performing coins and cards for some lucky people on a cruise. This rare footage was shot by Dr. Morris Young, and hasn't been seen for 50 years. Edited and restored by Magicbymax Steven Max Droge Productions.

Borderlands 2 creator Randy Pitchford (President and Co-founder, Gearbox Studios) gives his keynote speech at the 2013 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT. Titled "Video Games Are Magic". Brought to you by Variety and Machinima. The D.I.C.E.

Randy Pitchford was born in 1971 and Richard "Cardini" Pitchford died in 1973 so Randy has no recollection of his uncle. In this podcast, Randy talks about the acquisition of his Cardini artifacts plus some stories that were passed down to Randy from the family and friends. He also talks about his experience in his early years of performing at the Magic Castle and his personal relationship with the late Irene Larsen.

Also, he briefly talks about his recent acquisition of Genii magazine from Richard Kaufman; however, since the details have not been fleshed out, there are not many details to share. At this point, I understand that no change of any kind is envisioned for the immediate future of the magazine. Randy just wants to preserve this part of magic history and make sure of the longevity, viability and vitality of Genii far into the future so it can "live on forever."

Here is the photo taken by Michael Wilcoxen, the winner of the contest, with the framed Peau -Doux card he received as he has it displayed in his home.

This is the framed fan of Peau Doux manipulations cards (used by Cardini) that was presented by Randy Pitchford to David Copperfield. This is NOT the number of cards nor type of frame that will be sent to the winner of the contest (which is now ende… — This is the framed fan of Peau Doux manipulations cards (used by Cardini) that was presented by Randy Pitchford to David Copperfield. This is NOT the number of cards nor type of frame that will be sent to the winner of the contest (which is now ended). The contest here was for one framed card (probably without the brass plaque) and I'm uncertain of the type of framing that Randy will prepare.

597: Ken Scott - Kids! Conventions! Corporate!

567: David Kaye - The Method Behind His Silliness

279: The Cardini Connection with Randy Pitchford

The Magic Word