740: P.T. Murphy - Big Fish in a Small Pond

This episode hopes to inspire you to dream it, make your dream a reality, then follow your dream. Patrick P.T. Murphy was doing well in Chicago and performed regularly with David Parr in the Chicago Magic Cabaret. But ten years ago the stars aligned which took him three hours away to a tourist destination to Northeastern Illinois where he began performing in a small theater with his own one-man show. Sometimes it’s best to “buck the norm” and become a big fish in a small pond.

If you are more of a visual person, then you will enjoy this video of our conversation recorded via Zoom.

This is the original 1947 black and white version of “Nightmare Alley” which differs a bit from the 2021 and well worth your attention to view.

P.T. shares some personal stories about his magical life and his brushes with magic celebrities like Bill Malone, Tony Andruzzi, Paul Harris, David Roth, Ricky Jay, Eugene Burger and others. Plus he talks about the magic dealer scene in Chicago. We also talk about making a dramatic change in his life by picking up and moving his family and belongings three hours northeast of Chicago where he has become recognized by Trip Advisor as the top attraction in the small pond of Galena, Illinois.

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Nightmare Alley was discussed in this week's episode. To order your copy of the book and also help The Magic Word Podcast with your purchase, please follow this link.

721: Don Deich "Vlad" - Interview with a Vampire

Vampires never die. And they capture the zeitgeist of the Halloween season more than any other character. This week we feature a chat with Don Deich whose character as “Vlad” is more of a lifestyle than just a seasonal act. Vlad has been a friend for a few years and shows up (or should I say, “rises up”) periodically for magic conventions where he is featured with his rather spellbinding performances. Join us as we learn about the differences between “vampires” and what they truly do at night with their “free” time.

A two and a half hour audio broadcast in 2019 between Vlad and Laurie Notch (Paranormal World Magazine)

This “Interview with a Vampire” took place at night (of course) during the recent Poe’s Magic Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. During our chat, Vlad shares his penchant for horror movies and monster models, how he developed his character, how he puts together his outfits, and a peek into the underworld of nightclubs where like-minded vampires “hang out.”

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.