308: 2016 Abbott's Get Together - Day Two

DAY TWO - THURSDAY, AUGUST 4th 2016
9:00AM REGISTRATION OPENS at the Abbott Plant
9:30AM LECTURE - Scott Alexander & Puck at the High School
10:00AM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS (more info) at Grade School
11:00AM VENT-O-RAMA (more info) at the Abbott Plant
1:00PM LECTURE - Ice McDonald at the High School
1:00PM COLON HISTORICAL MUSEUM OPEN TILL 4PM (more info)
1:30PM DEALERS ON PARADE (more info) at the Elementary School
1:30PM MAGIC SHOW at Abbott Plant with BJ Mallen or Gordon Miller
2:00PM COLON STREET PERFORMERS - outside Curly's featuring Joe Bennett
3:00PM MAGIC SHOW at Abbott Plant with BJ Mallen or Gordon Miller
3:00PM - 6:00PM FACE PAINTING outside 5 Star Pizza by Carol Hendrix
3:45PM FAMOUS MAGICIANS GRAVEYARD TOUR ushered by Al the Only
5:30PM RIVER LAKE INN’S MAGIC SHOW & DINNER with Ron Carnell
7:40PM ASTOUNDING TENT ILLUSION (more info) outside the High School (more info here)
8:00PM ABBOTT'S STAGE SHOW at the High School (Preshow Live Organ Music)
Featuring Vinny Grosso MC, Lynetta Welch, Banachek, Bizzaro
(view seating chart)
10:00PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS at Grade School after show
10:15PM CURLYS CLOSEUP CONTEST (more info) after show

00:00:13 - Rick Fisher, Proprietor of FAB Magic Studio, talks about the brick and mortar magic shops and the possible future of magic in Colon.

00:11:23 - Greg Bordner, Abbott's Magic Company proprietor, talks about organizing this and other Get Togethers.

00:18:49 - the "bally" for getting the "tip" for the Girl to Gorilla sideshow attraction

00:20:17 - Keith Stickley talks about bringing in the Girl to Gorilla as a special, one-night only feature to the Get Together.

00:25:42 - John Sturk and Martin Cox talk about the previous night's show plus some tips featured in Martin's lecture..

00:42:28 - Denny Haney, owner of Denny and Lee's Magic Studio, talks about the importance of books and reading.

00:48:43 - We caught Banachek after the evening show before he had to break away to fly back to Las Vegas.

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166: Day 1 - IBM/SAM Combined Convention 2014

July 1st was the first full day of magic starting with a close-up show on stage complimented by large screen image magnifiers with an overhead camera, all very well done to assure good viewing for 1,000+ people in the audience. The show was hosted by Shawn Farquhar in place of Steve Bargatze who was unable to attend at the last minute due to some health issues. David Stone opened followed by Shawn and concluding with Henry Evans.

After lunch, we first of the FISM North America Stage contests. Although I understand that the rules were change to allow only residents of North America though it appeared that some of the stronger candidates were not from around these parts. Perhaps they are being considered for whittling down the field for the IBM and SAM competition.

Opposite of the stage contest was the David Stone Lecture. The evening activity was the Fat Brothers: Dani DaOrtiz, Christian Engblom and Miguel Angel Gea. Richard Turner closed out the night with two late night , one man shows.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:0 - Richard Hatch and Charlie Randall, formerly of H&R Magic Books, are standing in line awaiting their Starbucks order. Dick Hatch brings us up to date on the Hatch Academy of Magic in Utah.

00: - Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger tell about the incredible experience of working with the youth program for two full days at this convention.

00: - Greg Bordner, Abbott's Magic Company, tells us a little of what to expect at this year's Get Together.

00: - Dale Salwak and Lance Burton talk about the incredible talent that is coming out of Korea, China and Japan and they talk about some of their mentors and instructors.

00: - Bill Cook and his mother/agent, Chris, talk about the 2010 movie "Make Believe" that featured Bill and how it has influenced his life. Bill also gives tips for young magicians.

00: - Lance Burton brings us up to date on the status of his film project, "Billy Topit, Master Magician" and when we might see that film hit the theaters.

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Colon, Michigan - The Magic Capital of the World

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!

308: 2016 Abbott's Get Together - Day Two

166: Day 1 - IBM/SAM Combined Convention 2014

130: Greg Bordner - Las Vegas Comes to Mayberry

Magic & Martinis Thursday

The Magic Word