927: Larry Kahlow - Preserving History

Larry Kahlow carries on the tradition of owning and managing a brick and mortar magic shop. And the Eagle Magic Shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is not just a magic shop. It is the oldest, longest running magic shop still operating in the United States.

Larry shares the history of the Eagle Magic Shop from it’s founding by Collins Rice Pentz to its current owner, Larry. Along the way there have been many known, well-known and unknown magicians who have darkened their doors including the famous escape artist himself, Harry Houdini. Larry shares stories passed down to him along with his own stories that now live through him. If you are interested in magic history and particularly the “life of a brick-and-mortar magic shop,” then you will love this episode.

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802: Dick Stoner - Trade Show Pioneer

At 93 years of age, Dick Stoner was a pioneer in performing magic at trade shows and a magic shop owner since the 1940’s. It is because of people like Dick that other magicians have been successful trade show performers. Certainly many of us are figuratively standing on his shoulders. But not only that, Dick has owned and operated Stoners Funstore in Fort Wayne, Indiana, since 1949. There are few brick and mortar shops that have been around that long.

While attending the 2023 Abbott’s Get Together, I had the chance to sit down with Dick Stoner to record this week’s chat. He attends this convention somewhat regularly, but doesn’t stay more than a day, so it was hard to catch him. In this episode we chat about his magic store as well as his career as a trade show magician. He also reminisces about some of those with whom he worked like Johnny Thompson, Eddie Tullock Bud Dietrich and other trade show titans.

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

703: Abbott's Get Together 2022 - Day One Report

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3rd 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 TARGET: MIDNIGHT RELEASED in Dealers Room Target Midnight Release (High School) Requires Registration

10:15AM SLIGHTLY IRREGULAR BOOK SALE in Dealers Room (Available Book List) (High School) Requires Registration

10:30AM SHOWROOM SPECIALS in Dealers Room Spooky Collectibles and Super Deals (High School) Requires Registration

11:15AM LECTURE - Duane Laflin "Making Magic Fun" at Laflin's Grand Magic Theater Free

12:00PM STREET PERFORMER - John Sturk (On Blackstone at Dawn's Cafe past picnic tables)

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

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

2:30PM STREET PERFORMER - Jania Taylor (Granny's Place by American Legion)

3:00PM LECTURE - Bizzaro at High School Requires Abbott's Registration

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

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

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

4:30PM OLD FASHION MAGIC SHOW with Joe Bennett 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 - Bibik! (Magic Capital Grill by bridge)

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 Bizzaro, Nick Diffatte, Doug Stafford, Joel Hodgson
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

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:16 - After departing FISM Quebec, we are on the road from Detroit, Michigan, on an early, early morning drive to Colon.

00:04:44 - David Seebach, one of the perennial registrants and also one of the performers this year. Lance Burton joins us as he talked about his new tour bus. Lance also talked about the cemetery where Gary Darwin was just buried.

00:10:51 - Kevin James joins us for lunch as he talks a bit about the Illusionists tour and what he’s doing now. He also talks about piracy of magic.

00:18:00 - Abbott’s Magic proprietor, Greg Bordner, is a co-organizer of this convention. He talks a bit about this convention and expectations for this year.

00:28:30 - Steve Chezaday is one of the stage hands for the past 25+ years and talks a little about what makes this convention special to him.

0036:36 - The first evening show is about to begin, but first we chat with the creator of “One Hundred Monkeys”, Chris Philpott. This is the first Get Together for him, too.

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

927: Larry Kahlow - Preserving History

802: Dick Stoner - Trade Show Pioneer

703: Abbott's Get Together 2022 - Day One Report

Time stamps for this episode:

The Magic Word