676: Ed Alonzo - In The Library

While I was in Los Angeles to work on “Masters of Illusion” TV series, Ed Alonzo found time to sit in the library of the Magic Castle to chat about his career. As a former member of the Long Beach Mystics and the Magic Castle Junior group, Ed launched successful careers as both a magician and an actor having major roles in many television series including “Saved By The Bell.” He also went on to work with Britney Spears on her worldwide concert tour where he interacted with her on stage in his character as a magician.

In this week’s episode, Ed covers a lot of territory in a short hour podcast. He talks extensively about the Magic Castle and his love and dedication to the clubhouse. He also talks about his time as a youth as he was trying to “find his character” when he was a member of the Long Beach Mystics and the Magic Castle Juniors. He tells how he transitioned into acting but never lost his love for performing magic, which he still does to this day having just completed the taping of Season Nine of “Masters of Illusion.” By the way, he talked about running for office on the Academy of Magical Arts: he won the election and is now on the Board of Directors. Congratulations, Ed.

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Towards the end of the episode, Ed talks about being on “The American Life” podcast with Ira Glass and David Kestenbaum as they talked about “The Lady Vanishes” or, David Copperfield’s vanish of the Statue of Liberty. Ed was part of the team that worked with David on this illusion and this episode goes into detail about the effect. The podcast website for this episode is HERE. “The Lady Vanishes” is the second part of this episode entitled “The Magic Show” and Ed Alonzo’s part comes very near the end at around time stamp 00:53:00.

670: The Zubricks - Sand Between Their Toes

After more than a decade in Saipan and Guam performing grand, Las Vegas styled shows with dancers and big cats, Chris and Ryan Zubrick have settled in the U.S. finding St. Petersburg, Florida as their new “forever” home. After an exhaustive search across the country, they decided to open their new Zubrick Theater where they can be near the beach and feel the “sand between their toes.”

In this week’s episode, Chris and Ryan Zubrick sit down on the front row of their theater to chat about their history together and how they came to perform in Southeast Asia. They also discuss their search to find and the hurdles they overcame to open their theater in Florida. They share many stories of life on stage plus about their personal lives and the non-traditional conception and birth of their son.

652: Michael Trixx - Up to New Trixx

When we talk about those among us who are hard workers, this week we have Michael Costa (aka Michael Trixx) as the perfect example of someone who has been quietly doing it year after year. In fact, he has been working six nights a week for 22 years mostly in his outdoor venue “Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar” in Islamorada,, Florida in the Florida, Keys. This conversation is a good example of a successful, self-made magician who works hard and learned to even work through this pandemic with live shows. Michael has always been a rock-and-roll magician, and although he has maintained his basic character, he has not been afraid to try new things and new opportunities.

Michael Trixx has been a long-time friend who has an interesting story that will inspire young magicians to keep working hard and how to find success. He also talks about working with doves outdoors and some stories about doves flying off and retrieving them, getting sponsors for his show, finding a venue, the benefits of working charity shows, the importance of competing in magic contests, and how to be bold (or as Paul Diamond used to say, “It takes guts, dammit.”)

676: Ed Alonzo - In The Library

670: The Zubricks - Sand Between Their Toes

652: Michael Trixx - Up to New Trixx

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