607 - Allan Kronzek - Grandpa Magic Teacher

Author, creator, teacher and grandpa, Allan Kronzek has a lifetime of magic to share. He and his daughter wrote encyclopedic books about the Harry Potter canon and well known in the book business. Living in Sag Harbor, New York, (Long Island area), Allan is a performing magician to the well-to-do community as well as the common folk. He is also an accomplished teacher of magic to youth in his area. He recently completed a book for the public, “Grandpa Magic” which is widely available and is intended for adults to help their children and grand-children to learn magic.

In this week’s episode, Allan Kronzek talks about his writing background, how he got published, how he structures his magic classes, where he performs magic, and the details behind the scenes that he hasn’t shared before this podcast.

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Click on this graphic for more info on the Crown Royal egg bag by Robert Baxt.

259: Discovering Ammar

One of magic's greatest teachers, Michael Ammar, is reinventing the way we learn magic. Along with Brian Daniel South (proprietor of the former "Creative Magic" company) and Michael Rosander. Michael is working with a new project, "Discover Magic" which is a program to teach magic to 8-12 year old youngsters More than a "magic camp", the instructors are provided with the necessary tools to find a teaching venue in their home towns, receive instructional manuals, specially packaged tricks/props, and online support plus a "vault" for the students to "unlock" each week to learn even more magic. Each of the eight classes will be 90 minutes and teach the fundamentals of magic aided by learning material provided by Discover Magic.

They currently have 52 instructors across the U.S. and they have room for a couple more. From October 14-28, 2015, they are looking for two more instructors to join their ranks and get trained to teach.

Learn a little more about Discover Magic in this 45 second video.

A new levitation of a borrowed wine glass, full or empty. Originally called (by me) "Crystal-Air" but now offically called "Exquisite"

Click on the image above for information on ordering "The Exquisite" from Michael Ammar's website.

At the beginning of this podcast, Michael speaks in detail about, "Exquisite" his newest trick being developed and sold by Losander. It is a wonderful "levitating wine glass" effect that can be performed close-up. We also talk about when he used to perform on cruise ships and how they have changed over the years. Michael also talks about when he performed close-up magic on television talk shows, and learning magic from "The Professor" Dai Vernon. Plus he talks about how magic lectures have changed and he also gives some great advice for those who want to put together their own lecture and go on tour teaching their magic.

Click on the logo above to be directed to Discover Magic project and learn more.

Final few days remaining to get a good deal on a new product. This is happening, folks.

#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.

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