751: Senior Tour 2023 - Panel Discussion

On the first evening of the Senior Tour, we sat down for a very special, impromptu Q&A with some of the performers from the Senior Tour. Joining us on the couch was Trudy Monti (wife if the legendary Harry Monti), Bill Goodwin, Alan Ackerman, Mike Powers, Doug Conn, Jim Molinari and Howard Hamburg.

This is a bonus episode to the Magic Word Podcast and we will resume our daily updates with the next installment.

Like a late night talk show, Scott Wells has some of the talent from this year’s Senior Tour as his guests on the couch in this episode. We feature Trudy Monti (wife of Harry Monti, who was in the audience but not healthy enough to join us on the couch), Doug Conn, Bill Goodwin, Alan Ackerman, Mike Powers, Jim Molinari and Howard Hamburg.

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265: Scott Hollingsworth - Tales from the Island

For nearly 25 years in Houston, Texas, the Magic Island stood as a beacon for the public to see professional magic in a elegant setting. And in the epicenter of it all was Scott Hollingsworth. Scott was there from the beginning as one of the house magicians and later became the Entertainment Director. During the time the Island was open, nearly every professional and part-time professional magician performed there.

In April 2015, the Houston Chronicle.com digital newspaper posted a link to an earlier blog posting here on The Magic Word that rejuvenated interest and hope that the building would soon be opening. It played on the earlier article in Chron.com in May 2012 that quoted the owner as saying that he had hopes that the Magic Island would reopen by Christmas. In his defense, he didn't say what year, so it could reopen by Christmas some year though my doubts loom large that it will ever reopen and resemble anything that it once was.

In this podcast, Scotto (as he is affectionately known) tells about the history of the Magic Island, the builders, owners and creators of the edifice, some of the "characters" who performed there, stories about the psychics, and more.

Join Scott Wells as he takes a guided tour with Scott Hollingsworth, Entertainment Director of Houston"s Magic Island. Unfortunately the Magic Island closed after Hurricane Ike came through on September 13, 2008. Fortunately this guided tour gives a glimpse into what was once a most regal place for magicians to perform and a delight to all who visited.

Click on the graphic above to see photos of the Magic Island as it appears in 2017.

Scott Hollingsworth sat down to chat on this podcast before we set up for a video shoot of his upcoming DVD. Jamie Salinas brought in six cameras and several lights into my home and I had friends and neighbors come in to enjoy an "evening of magic featuring Scott Hollingsworth". So now the performance is "in the can" and we have yet to produce and shoot the explanation part of the DVD which is hoped to be ready for sale in January 2016.

Send out Magic holiday cards from the beauriful Taschen book. 100 postcards based on some of the posters from the Steinmeyer book, MAGIC. Order today through this link and help support The Magic Word.

Great reading for the holidays or anytime. Order Steve Spill's book and enjoy some great stories about magicians written by a magiian who has seen and done it all.

Start your online holiday shopping early. Order John Gaspard's newest Eli Marks magician mystery novel and support The Magic Word through this Amazon affiliate link.

220: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part One

We're off to be the wizard. We head west this week to the hills of Hollywood a bit early before my week begins because I want to catch the Castle swap meet on Saturday. To kick off this multi-part podcast of my week at the Castle, there is no better way to indoctrinate you than to immerse you in the lore and with stories from the Castle's rich heritage.

In this Part One podcast, we sit down in "Vernon's Corner" to hear stories from Howard Hamburg and Newell Unfried. They tell story after story of legends some of whom are long gone but whose spirit lives on in the Magic Castle. They include stories of Dai Vernon, Eddie Fields, Earl Nelson, Ed Marlo, John Cornelius and many, many others. We also get to chat with Bill Goodwin, the Librarian of The Magic Castle. What a way to kick off this series!

00:07:22 - Howard Hamburg and Newell Unfried seem to top each other by telling one story after another about many of the legendary magicians who have frequented the Magic Castle over its rich years of history. Newell has some great stories about those who have visited the old Hollywood Magic shop and Howard talks about some of the characters from the Castle like Senator Crandall and Dai Vernon. Our discussion is topped by a final story involving Martin Nash and the Professor. Nothing can top this one.

00:50:34 - Close-Up Magician of the Year (and current nominee again for 2014), Bill Goodwin talks about the Castle library and the thousands of videos available among the many tombs of books. He also talks about bequethment of collections and how you can provide for donatoins to the library after you are gone.