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The Magic Word The Magic Word

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673: Magic Collectors Expo 2022 - Day One Report

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

  • 10:00am Expo registration

  • 3:00pm Hotel check-in

  • 4:00pm Buses depart to Ransom Center presentation

  • 6:00pm Dinner and Special Performance at Esther’s Follies

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View fullsize Dr. Eric Colleary
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View fullsize Lance Burton
View fullsize Randy Pitchford's wife wearing Bess Houdini's Necklace from photo
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View fullsize Pat Hazell
View fullsize John Gaughan
View fullsize Ray Anderson
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View fullsize Ray Anderson
View fullsize Gay Blackstone, Fielding West and Ray Anderson
View fullsize Nick Lewin and Ray Anderson

Timestamps for this episode:

00:00:16 - Scott and Harriet Jacobson take to the road for a trip to Austin, Texas and the 2022 Magic Collectors Expo

00:09:11 - Organizer Bill Smith greets us as he prepares to welcome all the registrants

00:10":19 - Dr.. Eric Colleary, from the U.T. Ransom Center, chats with us following his scholarly lecture about the Houdini artifacts in the museum

00:14:36 - Lance Burton talks about this podcast and convention

00:19:03 - Mike Caveney sits next to us on the bus explaining that this will be his first time seeing Ray Anderson and Esther’s Follies

00:26:28 - John Gaughan and Pat Hazell wait with us in line for BBQ before the show begins.

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

Posted in Convention Report and tagged with Magic Collector Expo, Austin Texas, Eric Colleary PhD, Lance Burton, Pat Hazell, John Gaughan, Mike Caveney, Bill Smith.

April 13, 2022 by Scott Wells.
  • April 13, 2022
  • Scott Wells
  • Magic Collector Expo
  • Austin Texas
  • Eric Colleary PhD
  • Lance Burton
  • Pat Hazell
  • John Gaughan
  • Mike Caveney
  • Bill Smith
  • Convention Report
  • Post a comment
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619: Eric Colleary PhD - In Front of the Bookcase

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This week we travel to Austin, Texas where one of the world’s largest collection of Houdini ephemera resides. Dr. Eric Colleary is our guest who is the Cline Curator of Theatre & Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, an international humanities research library, archive, and museum. He holds a Ph.D. in Theatre Historiography from the University of Minnesota and an all-around great guy. The title “In Front of the Bookcase” for this week’s episode comes from the massive bookcase (and its contents) once owned by Houdini that now is owned by the University.

This week’s podcast episode on YouTube.

View fullsize Eric Colleary.jpg
View fullsize The Houdini bookcase arriving at the Ransom Center
View fullsize Inspecting the Houdini bookcase
View fullsize The Houdini bookcase without the glass doors

In this conversation, Dr. Colleary tells us about how this Houdini collection came to Austin, Texas and what is in the massive collection. There are some interesting stories in this week’s episode told about Houdini and Eric also debunked a few myths around parts of this collection.

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

Tagged with Eric Colleary PhD, Houdini, Harry Houdini, magic collection, University of Texas, Ransom Center, Austin Texas, John Cox.

July 1, 2021 by Scott Wells.
  • July 1, 2021
  • Scott Wells
  • Eric Colleary PhD
  • Houdini
  • Harry Houdini
  • magic collection
  • University of Texas
  • Ransom Center
  • Austin Texas
  • John Cox
  • Post a comment
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279: The Cardini Connection with Randy Pitchford

Randy Pitchford is the nephew of Richard Valentine Pitchford, who was better known as Cardini. More than just a familial connection, Randy is also a performer, entrepreneur and successful businessman. Randy is the CEO and President of Gearbox Software located in Frisco, Texas (a northern suburb of Dallas).

Randy purchased much of the Cardini collection from the 2013 Potter & Potter auction and put the bulk of the exhibit in a museum at the Magic Castle. His most recent purchase may have the furthest reaching impact in our community: he is the new owner of Genii Magazine.

Randy is building a home designed to be like Brookledge, the home of Bill and Irene Larsen in Los Angeles. He even plans to present regular shows for the public in his home not unlike the Bookledge Follies.

Magician Cardini performing in 1957
Cardini (Richard Pitchford) performing coins and cards for some lucky people on a cruise. This rare footage was shot by Dr. Morris Young, and hasn't been seen for 50 years. Edited and restored by Magicbymax Steven Max Droge Productions.

Borderlands 2 creator Randy Pitchford (President and Co-founder, Gearbox Studios) gives his keynote speech at the 2013 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT. Titled "Video Games Are Magic". Brought to you by Variety and Machinima. The D.I.C.E.

View fullsize Cardini Classic Promo Photo
View fullsize Randy Pitchford
View fullsize Randy Pitchford
View fullsize Carnini Deck of Peau-Doux Manipulation Cards
View fullsize Randy Pitchford

Randy Pitchford was born in 1971 and Richard "Cardini" Pitchford died in 1973 so Randy has no recollection of his uncle. In this podcast, Randy talks about the acquisition of his Cardini artifacts plus some stories that were passed down to Randy from the family and friends. He also talks about his experience in his early years of performing at the Magic Castle and his personal relationship with the late Irene Larsen.

Also, he briefly talks about his recent acquisition of Genii magazine from Richard Kaufman; however, since the details have not been fleshed out, there are not many details to share. At this point, I understand that no change of any kind is envisioned for the immediate future of the magazine. Randy just wants to preserve this part of magic history and make sure of the longevity, viability and vitality of Genii far into the future so it can "live on forever."

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. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Here is the photo taken by Michael Wilcoxen, the winner of the contest, with the framed Peau -Doux card he received as he has it displayed in his home.

Here is the photo taken by Michael Wilcoxen, the winner of the contest, with the framed Peau -Doux card he received as he has it displayed in his home.

This is the framed fan of Peau Doux manipulations cards (used by Cardini) that was presented by Randy Pitchford to David Copperfield. This is NOT the number of cards nor type of frame that will be sent to the winner of the contest (which is now ende…

This is the framed fan of Peau Doux manipulations cards (used by Cardini) that was presented by Randy Pitchford to David Copperfield. This is NOT the number of cards nor type of frame that will be sent to the winner of the contest (which is now ended). The contest here was for one framed card (probably without the brass plaque) and I'm uncertain of the type of framing that Randy will prepare.

Tagged with Randy Pitchford, Cardini, Irene Larsen, Erika Larsen, Swan Pitchford, Potter & Potter, Dai Vernon, Genii, Richard Kaufman, Brookledge, The Magic Castle, Gearbox Software, Wizards Universal Studios City Walk, Fred Wood, Scott Hollingsworth, Magic Island, Billy McComb, Paul David, Tony Clark.

March 3, 2016 by Scott Wells.
  • March 3, 2016
  • Scott Wells
  • Randy Pitchford
  • Cardini
  • Irene Larsen
  • Erika Larsen
  • Swan Pitchford
  • Potter & Potter
  • Dai Vernon
  • Genii
  • Richard Kaufman
  • Brookledge
  • The Magic Castle
  • Gearbox Software
  • Wizards Universal Studios City Walk
  • Fred Wood
  • Scott Hollingsworth
  • Magic Island
  • Billy McComb
  • Paul David
  • Tony Clark
  • 2 Comments
2 Comments
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A Podcast for Magicians, About Magicians, Hosted by a Full Time Professional Magician, Scott Wells

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Mark Phillips - "Duel" Reality - Mark Phillips is more than just a long-time, successful trade show magician. He also co-hosts one of the most popular two-person comedy shows in Washington, D.C. #washingtondc #magiccomedy #comedy #tradeshow MAGIC Live! 2025 Daily Reports It's a wrap! - All four days of reports from MAGIC Live! in Las Vegas have been posted on The Magic Word Podcast and available for your listening pleasure. What another great convention! 15 years and counting. #magicliv Abbott's 87th Get Together 2025 Daily Reports - Daily reports from "Camp Colon" featuring chats with registrants, talent, organizers, dealers, and more. It's the next best thing to being there!
Rome may not have been built in a day, but we tried to see as much of it as we could in an afternoon.
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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

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