760: Magic Collector Expo - Day 3 Report

Thursday, May 11

9:30am to 11:00am Dealer Room Opens

11:00am to 12:30pm Session #4 with William Winters “Walter Gibson”, John Cox “Houdini in Cleveland”,David Charvet “Conjurors and their Cars”

12:30pm to 2:30pm Dealers Open

2:30pm to 4:00pm Session #5 Jay Hunter “Don’t Throw Away Throw Out Cards”, Gabe Fajuri “A Half Century of Magic on The Block”. Mike Caveney “Otis Lithography Company, Cleveland, Ohio”

6:30pm- 10pm Dinner & Show Cleveland’s Finest Magicians with MC Kerry Pollock, Alan Howard, Tim Hill & Rick Smith Jr

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 - Julie Eng from Magicana and editor of Magicoll chats with us about this convention and specifically the Bruce Averbook collection

00:12:00 - Bruce Averbook talks about his collection and how he designed it. The visit to his museum was the highlight of the convention.

00:32:54 - Lance Burton talks about the presentation given by David Charvet about “Conjurors and their Cars” and in particular the vanishing car performed by Lance for his TV special

00:41:15 - Jim Hagy talks about his presentation he gave on the opening night covering the conjurors who lived and worked in Cleveland.

00:47:45 - Ben Winn is only 19 years old and has an avid interest in our history and collecting and will be one of the young magicians who will carry on with our passion

00:52:13 - Dr. Cato Holler and his wife Susan tell us about their collection in western North Carolina and how they house and display his immense book collection.

00:58:19 - Jon Stetson tells us a bit about his mentalism workshops with Bob Koehler as well as a sneak preview of an upcoming convention in Dubai. Jon also helps recap and give us an overview of the speakers in the final session this afternoon.

01:10:43 - Bill Smith, the organizer of this Expo, finally has time to reflect for a couple minutes as we wrap up the convention. Be sure to check the website at https://magiccollectorexpo.com/ for updates and announcements about the next Expo.

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738: Ray Lum - MARVELous Craftsman

Magicians cannot perform without props. The equipment one uses on stage says a lot about the performer. And the quality and craftsmanship of a good fabricator can make any magician look like a million dollars on stage. Ray Lum is one of those fabricators who resides in Las Vegas and works with all of the greats and the soon-to-be greats. Inspired and mentored by the late Tommy Wonder, Ray Lum carries the tradition of fine quality magic props.

If you are more of a visual person, then you will enjoy this video of our conversation recorded via Zoom.

This week Ray Lum talks about his invention of the Gumball Machine (which he calls the “Lumball Machine”) and the controversy surrounding the dual creators coming out separately but not knowing about the other’s invention. He also talks about his friend and mentor, Tommy Wonder, and how they met and how Ray carries on the tradition of quality craftsmanship using new technology and materials.

Click on the graphic above to visit the convention website and learn more about who, what and where.

706: Abbott's Get Together 2022 - Day Four Report

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH 2022

9:30AM REGISTRATION OPENS at the Abbott Plant Purchase Registration/Tickets

10:00AM-12:45PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS' ROOM at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

10:00AM LECTURE - Duane Laflin "Magic For The Gospel Magician" at Laflin's Grand Magic Theater Free

11:00AM LECTURE - John Bundy at High School Requires Abbott's Registration

11:00AM - 5:00PM COLON ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR Craft Show/Vendor Info on Canal street next to the library

12:00PM STREET PERFORMER - John Sturk (Magic Capital Grill, by bridge)

12:00PM GHOST SHOW Q&A/BOOK SIGN - Dr. Morbios, Seebach, & Scream Dealers Room Requires Registration

1:00PM OLD FASHION MAGIC SHOW with Brynn Cummings at Abbott's Magic Theatre $5

2:00 PM JAY BLACKWELL JUGGLING/FIRE EATING & MORE at Sterlini Magic & Theater

2:00PM LECTURE - Lance Burton at High School Requires Abbott's Registration

3:00PM-5PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS' ROOM at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

3:00PM STREET PERFORMER - Thom Bedlam (Colon Twp Library Lawn, by Craft Show)

3:00PM-5PM COLON HISTORICAL MUSEUM is open (Colon Museum Webpage)

3:00PM-6PM FACE PAINTING with Award Winning Artist Carol Hendrix

4:00PM GRAND MAGIC CLASSIC SHOW - 4 PM at the Laflin's Grand Magic Theater - $14.95 adult, $6.95 child

4:30PM OLD FASHION MAGIC SHOW with John Shango at Abbott's Magic Theatre $5

5:00 PM LIVE AT 5 WITH THE STERLINI'S at Sterlini Magic & Theater $10

5:30PM STREET PERFORMER - Thom Bedlam (Colon Twp Library Lawn, by Craft Show)

6:00PM-7:45PM DINNER on your own

7:45PM PRESHOW LIVE ORGAN MUSIC - by John Sturk Requires Abbott's Registration or Ticket ($30/$45)

8:00PM ABBOTT'S STAGE SHOW Requires Abbott's Registration or Ticket ($30/$45)
Featuring Reynold Alexander, Artem Shchukin, Hansel Kreutzberger, Michael Goudeau, David Seebach, Handsome Jack, BJ Mallen MC
NOTE: Tickets for the Abbott evening Stage Show must be purchased in advance at the Abbott Plant or online before 5pm that day.
You will be able to pick up tickets at a will call window at the show, but Abbotts will not be able to sell any at the door.

8:00PM GRAND MAGIC CLASSIC SHOW - 8 PM at the Laflin's Grand Magic Theater - $14.95 adult, $6.95 child

10:00PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

10:30PM ABBOTT'S PERFORMER AWARDS at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:16 - Brandon Ivy talks about this being his second year attending the Get Together and reviews the morning lecture by John Bundy who talked about customizing tricks for seasonal magic (i.e. Halloween, etc.)

00:06:36 - President Elect of the I.B.M., Chuck Arkin (a Friend of the Magic Word) chats about why he returns to this convention from year to year.

00:12:53 - One of the managing partners of Vanishing, Inc., Andi Gladwin, came to this convention after FISM and filled in because some of the planned talent couldn’t get here.

00:21:37 - 11 year old Brynn Cummings was a previous winner of the Get Together and is an incredible ventriloquist as well as recognized at the National Championship for Juniors at the national vent convention.

00:32:44 - From Las Vegas, Bizzaro, chats about the Escape Rooms that he works with now across the country.

00:43:25 - at the awards ceremony, we chat with Bill Smith who talk about his first time at this convention in 1977 with the Long Beach Mystics that inspired Kevin James to move to California and join their group. Bill also attended because he wanted to work with Harry Blackstone, Jr. as a prop man.. And he was hired then and there.

00:50:44 - Board of Directors of the American Magic Museum, Jeffrey Alan, and his assistant, Angel, talk about doing walk-around using an assistant.

00:54:06 - BJ Mallen presents the names of award winners.

00:59:46 - Jack Gwyn award winner, Carissa “Lucy Darling” Hendrix, talks about filling in as an alternate performer to this convention.