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The Magic Word The Magic Word

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549: Mercer Helms - Trust Me

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Mercer Helms is a retired dove magician, though he shouldn’t be “pigeon-holed” like that (pun intended). He has retired to Houston, Texas after a long and illustrative career in Los Angeles California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Many years ago he continues to work in and around Houston due to his wife’s failing health. We frequently worked together at Houston’s Magic Island where he was the opening dove act and much loved by the audiences.

You can view a video of him performing his dove routine on the Magicana.com website by Clicking Here

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In this week’s episode, Mercer talks about his relationship with Phyllis Diller, how they came to know each other, a few “tales from the road”, plus what it was like working in the old circuit that included the Catskills and old Las Vegas. Mercer was also the subject of a 2015 newspaper article which you can read by Clicking Here.

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

The Magic Book Shop: This week our sponsor is offering listeners the chance to win a copy of Daryl’s “Ambitious Card Omnibus” on their website. A winner will be drawn on March 15, 2020. Also, you will receive a 15% discount on ALL purchases just for…

The Magic Book Shop: This week our sponsor is offering listeners the chance to win a copy of Daryl’s “Ambitious Card Omnibus” on their website. A winner will be drawn on March 15, 2020. Also, you will receive a 15% discount on ALL purchases just for listening to The Magic Word Podcast. Just put in the promo code: magicword

Tagged with Mercer Helms, dove worker, Phyllis Diller, Ricky Dunn, Magic Island.

March 5, 2020 by Scott Wells.
  • March 5, 2020
  • Scott Wells
  • Mercer Helms
  • dove worker
  • Phyllis Diller
  • Ricky Dunn
  • Magic Island
  • 2 Comments
2 Comments

#204: 2014 Year of Magic in Review

It's that time of the year when we try to "put the band back together" and chat with members of the hosts from the MagicNewswire.com podcast, "This Week in Magic". Trying to get a time to arrange everyone's schedule is like "herding cats". So, due to work and health conflicts, this year we have David "Silly Billy" Kaye and Cameron Ramsay join Scott Wells to discuss what went on in the magic world this past year.

To supplement our chat about Magic on TV, here is a little up-to-the-minute information that I read on IndieWire.com after our chat:

"Magic is in the air, or at least on the airwaves. "Masters of Illusion" did well enough for CW last year to make an order for 13 more episodes materialize – and that's after being canceled by MyNetworkTV in 2009. It joins the network's other magic show, the British ITV production "Penn & Teller: Fool Us," as well as magic programs gaining traction on basic cable. TruTV's "The Carbonaro Effect" will be back for a second season, while "Wizard Wars" returns to Syfy in January for six additional episodes. Even shows that don't have magic as a focus are shuffling it into the deck: "American Masters" is kicking off a new season January 23 with an episode about master magician Ricky Jay, and Nat Geo's "Brain Games," regularly tosses a sleight-of-hand artist into the mix."

Of course this is from a personal perspective of the guest on this podcast and does not include a lot of things you perhaps found to be more relevant. But we hope you enjoy our chat.

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Instead of bouncing all over the globe, we try to stay on topic with an agenda that includes: magic on television; live touring magic shows; magic conventions; notable passings, and; predictions for 2015.

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. (please note: this RSS Feed subscription system may not work with Android systems). Remember, you can download it through iTunes. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Magicians' Valhalla

Although the list below is not exhaustive, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses and assistants who passed on in 2014. If you are unfamiliar with any of these names, then it would behoove you to do a little online search of what these people have contributed to our craft. If you have someone you think was overlooked, then please post the name in the comments below on this blog.

Aldo Colombini

Scott Lewis

Dave Madden

Montecore (S&R’s tiger)

Jeff Busby

Judge Arnold Drennen

Robert “Bob” Knigge

Robert L. “Bob” Bluemle

Stella P. Coward (wife of Noel Coward)

John T. Fedko

Robert “Bob” W. Klamm

Alan Alan

Alan “Ace” C. Greenberg

Joanie Spina

Ronald A. Wohl

Roger Bernheim

Lubor Fiedler

Philip “Phil” Reed Willmarth

Joe M. Bertuzzi

Carl “Bud” Dietrich

Renee Lorayne (wife of Harry Lorayne)

Bernard Samuel Lerner (aka “Bobby Bernard”)

Lester “Larry” Fulton Weeks

Steve Walker

Andi Diamond (wife of Paul Diamond)

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Save$100 on registration before January 15, 2015. Click on the banner above to visit the website for more information on M.B.U.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Save$100 on registration before January 15, 2015. Click on the banner above to visit the website for more information on M.B.U.

Tagged with Dodd Vickers, David Kaye, Chase Goforth, Cameron Ramsay, Magic Newswire.

January 1, 2015 by Scott Wells.
  • January 1, 2015
  • Scott Wells
  • Dodd Vickers
  • David Kaye
  • Chase Goforth
  • Cameron Ramsay
  • Magic Newswire
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163: Part 3 - My Week at The Castle 2014

Ah, the old barber shop. Sitting around the cracker barrel, playing dominoes, whittlin', spittin' and tellin' tales. Well, those days are mostly long gone in the real world, but not in the world of magic. Every Wednesday, many local magicians congregate at Dean's Shoppe (haircutting and magic) in Glendale to talk magic and shuffle cards.

In this Part Three of my multi-part podcast from my week at the Magic Castle, I turn on the recorder and let it roll as I had my hair cut and let the conversation and hair fall where it may. Alan Burskey and Pete Biro were the two guys who were in Dean's Shoppe on this particular Wednesday.

Back at the Castle, I chatted with Castle Librarian, Bill Goodwin then finished off the evening at the bar with the Builder of the Magic Castle, Milt Larsen.

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00:01:50 - Alan Bursky talks about his involvement with the Magic Island in Newport Beach and Houston. To confirm one of our points, Alan even called Michael Caliie on his cell phone during our conversation. Pete Biro and Dean Dill add a few comments from time to time while Dean was cutting Scott's hair. Pete Biro talks about his latest project with a documentary on Spook Shows. We briefly talked about Triple Espresso, the "highly caffeinated comedy" but forgot the name of the magician who originally worked at Houston's Magic Island. It was Bill Arnold.

00:25:18 - Bill Goodwin, Close-Up Magician of the Year and The Magic Castle's librarian. Bill was performing with me in the Close-Up Gallery as the late show performer. Bill talks about the Castle's library and how to care for your own.

00:37:37- Milt Larsen, Creator of the Magic Castle, talks at length about his various business ventures including an exciting new movie project that will be based around and filmed in The Magic Castle.

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. (please note: this RSS Feed subscription system may not work with Android systems). Remember, you can download it through iTunes. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Magic and Martinis' Thursday

There can't be good living where there's not good drinking.

There can't be good living where there's not good drinking.

Just a few comments that accompany the five star ratings on iTunes for The Magic Word. Add your comments today! Thanks.

Just a few comments that accompany the five star ratings on iTunes for The Magic Word. Add your comments today! Thanks.

Tagged with Dean Dill, Alan Bursky, Pete Biro, Mike Calie, The Magic Castle, Magic Island, Bill Goodwin, Milt Larsen, Triple Espresso, Bill Arnold, spook show documentary, Silkini, Mercer Helms, Don Greenberg, L&L Publishing, Joanie Spina.

June 19, 2014 by Scott Wells.
  • June 19, 2014
  • Scott Wells
  • Dean Dill
  • Alan Bursky
  • Pete Biro
  • Mike Calie
  • The Magic Castle
  • Magic Island
  • Bill Goodwin
  • Milt Larsen
  • Triple Espresso
  • Bill Arnold
  • spook show documentary
  • Silkini
  • Mercer Helms
  • Don Greenberg
  • L&L Publishing
  • Joanie Spina
  • Post a comment
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The Magic Word The Magic Word

A Podcast for Magicians, About Magicians, Hosted by a Full Time Professional Magician, Scott Wells

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Travel Breather in the Eye of the Storm - We are between two (actually three) major events: FISM, Abbott's Get Together and MAGIC Live! Last week was a full week of FISM reports. Next week we travel to Colon, Michigan for Abbott's Get Together then i
More time near the Tuscan sun. But this time we traveled south to Umbria where we visited #Bevagna #Montefalco and #Spello
More time under the beautiful Tuscan sun with a visit to Montalcino and Montepulciano for wine tasting and exploring. Now staying in a monestary. #italy
Travel Breather in the Eye of the Storm - We are between two (actually three) major events: FISM, Abbott's Get Together and MAGIC Live! Last week was a full week of FISM reports. Next week we travel to Colon, Michigan for Abbott's Get Together then i
Another delightful day under the Tuscan sun in Siena and other cities I can't spell, but enjoying the sun, the food, the wine, and the culture. And the Gelato is amazing. #gelato #siena #italy
A tour of the Chianti Classico region. Two wineries and a sunset Tuscan dinner followed by, of course, gellato. #chianti
From Turin to Parma where we tried the music,  cheese, prosciutto,  wine, and Gelato. #parma
Under the Tuscan sun with truffle hunting, a cooking class, and wine. #tuscany

The Magic Word Has been recognized by FeedSpot as the # 1 magician podcast in the world. Thank you all for your support and for listening throughout the years.

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