740: P.T. Murphy - Big Fish in a Small Pond

This episode hopes to inspire you to dream it, make your dream a reality, then follow your dream. Patrick P.T. Murphy was doing well in Chicago and performed regularly with David Parr in the Chicago Magic Cabaret. But ten years ago the stars aligned which took him three hours away to a tourist destination to Northeastern Illinois where he began performing in a small theater with his own one-man show. Sometimes it’s best to “buck the norm” and become a big fish in a small pond.

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

This is the original 1947 black and white version of “Nightmare Alley” which differs a bit from the 2021 and well worth your attention to view.

P.T. shares some personal stories about his magical life and his brushes with magic celebrities like Bill Malone, Tony Andruzzi, Paul Harris, David Roth, Ricky Jay, Eugene Burger and others. Plus he talks about the magic dealer scene in Chicago. We also talk about making a dramatic change in his life by picking up and moving his family and belongings three hours northeast of Chicago where he has become recognized by Trip Advisor as the top attraction in the small pond of Galena, Illinois.

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Nightmare Alley was discussed in this week's episode. To order your copy of the book and also help The Magic Word Podcast with your purchase, please follow this link.

689: Jeff Scanlan - Thinking Inside the Bottle

While at MAGIC Live! this year, one of the dealers was Jeff Scanlan who puts things in bottles. How he does it is a trade secret, but the results are pure art that many people have put on their shelves as oddities and conversation starters. Jeff is a full time professional magician who was a student and friend of the late Eugene Burger. So although this episode is shorter than most, it contains two different themes: impossible bottles and Eugene Burger.

In this week’s episode, Jeff not only talks about his impossible bottles, but also passes on a lot of advice he learned from Eugene Burger. You get free information passed down from the “master” at no cost to you, but I’m certain that it will be knowledge that you will think about, enjoy, and help make your magic stronger, too.

Happy Birthday to Bruce Lish on your upcoming 53rd birthday. Have a great day celebrating the anniversary of your birth. And thank you for your donation to The Magic Word Podcast so we can announce this special event to the world.

658: From Paris With Love

Bonjour, mon ami! During my recent trip to France, some time was spent in Paris, the "City of Love." I certainly fell in love with the city and its people. And why not! I was warmly welcomed by three of my local magician friends, Alexandra Duvivier, David Stone and Boris Wild. They were so hospitable and generous and even showered me with unexpected birthday gifts! My travel companions (and fellow Texas magicians, Dick Olson and Trixie Bond along with her husband, Mark Axford) watched an amazing show at Le Double Fond that featured Alexandra and her father, Dominique Duvivier. The next day we had coffee at a little bistro with David Stone then met Boris Wild for a tour of the local Museum of Magic. While there we were entertained by Jérôme Cadeac who is the house magician at the Museum.
Enjoy this episode with conversations featuring three of the top magicians in Paris (if not the world), Alexandra, David and Boris.

In this episode, we open with a chat with Alexandra Duvivier at Le Double Fond immediately following her close-up show with her father, Dominuque. The next morning we meet up with David Stone is a French bistro for some coffee and conversation about the development of his new character, Klek Entos. Finally, we visit Musée de la Magie where we chat with FISM winner, Boris Wild.