457: Michael Kaminskas - His Cups Runneth Over

Michael Kaminskas is a corporate magician who may not be as well known to the magic community as he should be. Not only is he one of the busy trade show magicians working today, he is also the “King of CUps” in that he has designed and manufactured his own unique brand of cups and Chop cups and fake fruit for the final loads. He worked for over a decade as a demonstrator in a Magic Shop and also had his own one-man magic show traveling up and down the Atlantic seaboard playing in the finest hotels and sponsored by a car company.

His coin work is flawless and he loves to talk about close-up. He has been featured at several magic conventions so his name is starting to get “out there” plus he was one of the dealers at this year’s MAGIC Live! event and sold out of nearly everything. His well crafted items are highly sought after by professionals.

From KPRC Channel 2 in Houston, a great news piece covering the rebirth of the Magic Island. For more information, still pictures, plus links for more videos, visit: https://www.click2houston.com/news/rising-from-the-ashes-the-rebirth-of-houstons-magic-island

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 or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Please support our sponsor to help keep this podcast free for all.

347: Bob Kohler - The Man Behind The Magic

Bob Kohler was on the forefront of the magic video revolution always looking for creative magicians who were willing to share their innermost secrets. A "late bloomer" in magic (starting into magic at the age of 30), he quickly caught up and became a master in the art of close-up befriending the top guys in the industry. In the early 1980's, he was part of the stable of magicians who worked at the Brook Farm Inn of Magic along with Bob Sheets, Eddie Goldstein,, John Kennedy, Steve Spill, Scotty York, Tim Conover, and other well-known names.

Bob was also on the February 2003 cover of the MAGIC Magazine with a feature article about the California Trade Secret Agreement and how they used the Agreement to keep the Bob Fitch Holdout a trade secret.

You can purchase Aces in Their Faces from the Magic Store here on The Magic Word Podcast or through The Great American Magic Company.

Bob talks about his early projects including some video projects with Daryl and his Ultimate Three Fly, and current projects with Bob Fitch and Scott Alexander. We also talk about ethics in magic, people who rip off creators thus inhibiting them from working on new projects. He also talks about making "short/limited run" effects and his line of Pro Magic.

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 to visit Bob Kohler's line of Pro Magic

During the early 1990s Daryl and Bob Kohler took video equipment to several of the exclusive 4F (Fechter’s Finger Flicking Frolic) conventions and convinced many of the top close-up magicians in attendance to perform and teach one of their favorite … — During the early 1990s Daryl and Bob Kohler took video equipment to several of the exclusive 4F (Fechter’s Finger Flicking Frolic) conventions and convinced many of the top close-up magicians in attendance to perform and teach one of their favorite creations. In addition the 4F attendees they also talked some of their friends to do the same. They originally released the magic on three video tapes. All of that footage is included on this extra-long video where you will learn some outstanding impromptu close-up magic. **Available from Meir Yedid Magic.**

Hey, Magic Word Listeners: Save $15 on orders over $100 by entering the Promo Code MW on checkout.

FEBRUARY 28, 2017 from Jerry Ferguson:"I spoke with Alison, Daryl's wife, for a long time on the phone today."She explained that Daryl had been suffering from clinical depression for years. He had been taking medication for his condition for a very … — FEBRUARY 28, 2017 from Jerry Ferguson:
*"I spoke with Alison, Daryl's wife, for a long time on the phone today.*
"She explained that Daryl had been suffering from clinical depression for years. He had been taking medication for his condition for a very long time. She explained that people in show business are often very fragile people. Growing up Daryl had been badly physically abused by his mother. Not sexually, but she would often hit him. His escape was the world of magic, reading books, learning magic, performing and getting love, respect and appreciation from an audience that he loved. He loved to make his audience feel good by entertaining them.

"Alison was an illusionist working on Norwegian cruise lines and theater venues in Japan when she met Daryl in 1996 at one of his lectures. They got together and in 1998 they were married. They had two beautiful daughters and Alison said that Daryl was a very caring generous loving father. They had a wonderful normal loving family being together for 20 years. They both loved each other and with the children were committed to each other forever.
*"Alison said that some of the internet sensational fake news stories and blogs are hurtful and not true. Simply a way to sell ads.*
"She said that because of legal issues the coroners will normally rule suicides as accidents unless there is absolute proof and absolute certainty in order to protect themselves from legal issues involving insurance companies etc.. Daryl loved the Magic Castle where he had spent so much time learning from Dai Vernon and other great master magicians. It was like home for him. A place he loved. A place he felt safe. Those who saw him friday said he was peaceful and serene as he quietly visited every room. Fond memories of the happy years he spent there. He went to the dressing room area in the parlor. He was fully clothed. He had placed a bag over his head so that the people finding his body at the Castle, out of respect for them, would not have to see or remember seeing a gruesome dead face. He had placed certain items, and papers, in his coat pockets that have meaning to Alison. So Daryl had decided to end his long bout with depression on his own terms at a place that he loved. His body was found hanging fully clothed with a bag over his head in the parlor dressing area behind the curtain of the parlor. His body will be sent home to be cremated. There will be a memorial service at the Magic Castle some time in the future.
*"Daryl had no life insurance. Alison and Daryl's relationship was fine. He had planned to spend one day at home after the Phoenix lecture before leaving on a 30 city lecture tour in Spain.*
"Alison and the kids are now faced with funeral expenses. Alison like Daryl works from home. So this is a real good time to stock up on Daryl magic supplies which would help Alison and the kids pay for the funeral expenses. Daryl's web site is fully operational and all orders will be promptly filled. His web site is: " www.Daryl.net

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!

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

Support our sponsor and click on the graphic above to visit the online shore.

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.