384: Two Fer - Neal 'n Bull

While at the IBM/SAM Combined Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, I recorded some extended chats with a couple friends that were too long to be part of the daily convention updates but too short to complete a full hour for the podcast. So, this episode for the first time brings you not one, but two excellent chats with world class magicians: Jonathan Neal and David Bull.

Vintage clip of Jonathan’s second appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

A rare inside glimpse of a magical world- Marco the Magi's Production of Le Grand David and his Own Spectacular Magic Company in Beverly, Massachusetts, USA. Footage is from the Larcom theater and their second historic magic auction from this amazing ensemble.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:05:58 - Jonathan Neal (Brown) talks about establishing a relationship with an audience, blocking and choreography on stage, plus how he developed his successful act and how he works towards excellence in every performance.

00:31:35 - David Bull a.k.a. "Le Grand David" tells us how he became known on the bill as "Le Grand David" plus some of the history of the theater troupe and how it began and ended and what David Bull is doing today.

00:57:52 - "The Ocbender" by Menny Lindenfeld available from your favorite magic dealer through Murphy's Magic Supplies. This is an unseen tool used by the mentalist/magician to make coins, spoons and keys seemingly bend "in the hands of your volunteer". Very well made gimmick and highly recommended.

00:57:52 - Product (Book) Review of "New Angle" by Ryan Plunkett and Michael Feldman published by and available from Magic, Inc. This book is a new look at a classic tool in the magician's toolbox: the Tapered (or "Stripper") Deck. New ideas, tips and routines that take this tool to the next level. Recommended for intermediate to advanced card workers.

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Please visit our sponsor, The Great American Magic Company

245: Day One - MAGIC LIve! 2015

For the first day of a four day event that had no scheduled activity until 7:30 p.m., there sure was a lot of meeting and greeting of old friends.

In this first day update, we have some time to chat with many of the friends we ran into. With nearly 1,800 registrants, it's hard to get around to have quality conversations with everyone. But it was great that some people gave me some great quality time albeit short due to the veritable whirlwind of magical luminaries swirling around the casino. Monday will bring us the first full day of activities so I probably should get a little rest. I;m still on Central Time so it is nearly dawn in Texas according to my body clock.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:25 - Charlie Randall of H&R Magic Books joins me at the airport for our flight from Houston to Las Vegas

00:07:17 - Chris Philppott and Steve Valentine, mates of mine from the Magic Castle are the first ones that I got to chat with after I checked into the hotel. Steve talks a bit about his presentation that he will give on Monday and Chris talks about his marketed effect, "French Postcards".

00:11:46 - R. Paul Wilson talks a bit about his movie, "Our Magic"

00:13:25 - "The Evil Twins", Dave Cox and Bruce Gold

00:15:20 - Steve Bryan talks about the Little Egypt Gazette and Randy Wakeman joins us to give us a health report on SIMON Lovell

00:22:44 - Kyle Knight and Mistie talks about their current and future schedule also about their performance on "Wizard Wars" and "Penn & Teller Fool Us".

00:31:35- Jeff and Tessa Evason are joined briefly by Gil Eagles and Ken Weber

00:39:26 - Justin Willman is getting married soon and he talks about that. He is also joined by Sean Popp and Shep Hyken.

00:44:38 - Dustin Stinett talks about the upcoming Genii convention

00:52:26 - Ray Anderson, star of Esther's Follies in Austin, Texas talks about the upcoming Texas Association of Magicians convention and his appearance there.

01:01:47 - Dennis Watkins talks about the return of the Houdini play in Chicago next summer for a 15 week run starting in June 2016.

01:06:52 - Steve Chezaday and Carol talk about Abbott's Get Together that just ended and he flew straight to Las Vegas

01:20:11 - Tom Mullica talks about his late night tales he told by his headstone in the graveyard at Colon, Michigan at Abbott's Get Together last week.

225: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part Six

As we conclude this six past series in Hollywood, California, we visit with some more of the "Knights of the Castle". This was a great week for me that could not be contained in one podcast. I hope that you enjoyed the multiple part series and the magicians who shared their time with me behind the microphone. I would love to receive your comments on whether this series was too long or too short, who and what you liked best in this series, and perhaps who you might like to hear on an extended podcast in the future.

Here are the timestamps for this podcast:

00:03:56 - Entertainment Director, Jack Goldfinger, gives us some pearls of wisdom and the "perils" of his job which preclude vacations.

00:12:15 - Tony Clark talks about producing magic shows around the country plus some new venues he is working on.

00:31:40 - J. Neal, of Jonathan Neal or Jonathan Neal Brown (take your pick) talks about his long career, what he's doing now (mostly cruise ships) and how he has kept on top of his game as the economy and the market changes.

00:45:02 - 35 year member of the AMA, Lee Delano, talks about his long career as an actor and how he kept busy for 40 years in the business. He worked with Sid Caesar for over 25 years. He worked with Lucille Ball and many other great comedians, plus he worked in the "Planet of the Apes" movie plus Star Trek and other TV shows and movies.

00:53:51 - Ray Pie.rce and Christopher Hart both worked at the old Hollywood Magic shop. They both tell some great stories from their experience in those old days

384: Two Fer - Neal 'n Bull

245: Day One - MAGIC LIve! 2015

225: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part Six

The Magic Word