633: 2021 Austin T.A.O.M. - Prelude Report

Thursday September 2, 2021

11:30 - Unveiling of Houdini Way in Kingsland, Texas, the first and only street in Texas named after the famed magician.

12:30 - champagne reception at home of Trixie Bond and Mark Axford following the street sign unveiling

8:00 - Esther’s Follies featuring Ray Anderson

On Friday morning September 3rd we had a LIVE virtual tour of Houdini artifacts from the University of Texas, Ransom Center, Austin, Texas presented by Dr. Eric Colleary. This very special “kick-off” for the Texas Association Of Magicians (T.A.O.M.) was open to all at NO COST and a unique opportunity to see some of the collection that few ever get to see in their lifetime. The Ransom Center houses an amazing collection of Houdini ephemera including papers, documents, correspondence, and artifacts associated with the magician, escape artist, business man, aviator, author, and actor popularly known as Harry Houdini. Dr. Colleary took us through an assortment of memorabilia with stops along the way as responded to your questions.

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:17 - Scott Wells explains what’s going on today prior to the official start of the TAOM

00:05:56 - Trixie Bond talks about the ceremony we are about to see

00:08:24 - official unveiling ceremony for the first street in Texas named for Houdini with Mark Axford, Scott Wells, Kent Cummins, Bertil Fredstrom and Trixie Bond

00:29:16 - Bill Winters gives us a preview of his talk about Walter Gibson that he will deliver at the Collectors Meeting tomorrow morning

00:32:31 - Ray Anderson answers some questions after Esther’s Follies

00:39:36 - Michael Ammar joins us in the back seat of a car with road noise and other conversations but he talks about “Discover Magic” and what he has been doing in recent years and currently.

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. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

560: Chris Randall - From Fremont Street to FISM

Chris Randall has done his time performing on the streets, in the casino showrooms, on television, on touring road shows, winning contests and more. Along the way he was coached by Vito Lupo, Joanie spna and others to finely hone his award winning act. All of this experience, practice and performance led up to his ultimate goal…competing at the triennial championships of magic…the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (F.I.S.M.).

In this episode, Chris talks about his long road from the streets of Las Vegas to the F.I.S.M. stage in Busan, South Korea in 2018. More importantly, he divulges personal and emotional insight into his preparation and disappointment that led to his nervous breakdown.

Chris is a World Champion magician. One of his specialties is manipulation. Chris wanted a new video that showcased his award winning manipulation act. He has taken classic magic tricks and remixed them to give them an updated feel. This video was edited together to garner new work in cabarets throughout Europe as well as variety shows on the Las Vegas Strip.

This episode opens with a one minute replay of our chat eight years ago when Chris shared his dreams and five year plan of where he wanted to be…and not be. During our ensuing discussion this week, Chris doesn’t hold back the details of a story that has never been released. This episode scoops the printed version of Chris’s story with more details than may later see publication.

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.

633: 2021 Austin T.A.O.M. - Prelude Report

560: Chris Randall - From Fremont Street to FISM

457: Michael Kaminskas - His Cups Runneth Over

The Magic Word