507: Day One - 2019 MAGIC Live! Convention

2019 Convention Schedule - Sunday August 4, 2019

24 hours Back Room Lounge (Dauphine A)

10:00 a.m. Registration (Bienville G) until 10:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m. Photo Badges (Dauphine F) until 10:00 p.m.

Live Tonight!

7:30 until 11:00 p.m. - Welcome “Trick or Treat” Party (Esplanade)

7:30 until 11:00 p.m. - The Magic Shop (Mardi Gras)

11:00 p.m. - Grand Prize Giveaway (Mardi Gras)

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Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:00:17 - Scott Wells prepares for take-off from Houston

00:04:53 - John McLenahan talks about the acquisition of Denny & Lee’s Magic Shop and its conversion to the Magic Hat and Wand Magic Shoppe

00:19:30 - James Dimmare at the Martinis and Magic show at the Thunderbird

00:29:04 - Stephen Sokulski (son of Stan Allen and sound director for James Dimmare’s show) talks about some of the plans for the convention

00:38:13 - Fred and Bobbi Becker talk about why they attend this convention

00:48:00 - Joey Cranford, co-proprietor of the Chicago Magic Lounge

00:57:45 - “Stance Burton” aka Stan Allen chats briefly about the evening’s actiities

00:58:00 - Craig Mitchell from South Africa talks about some of the other shows on the Strip he has visited

01:04:52 - Andy Pierson (Friend of The Magic Word) and Russ Jackson (listener from the U.K.) talk about what they like about the podcast. This is Russ’s first MAGIC Live! convention.

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175: Ground Zero - Abbott's Get Together 2014

Lots of stuff to do on the day before the official opening of the 77th Get Together. Upon my afternoon arrival , we headed over to Shipshewana, Indiana for an "all you can eat" chicken dinner that as fantastic. Fifty people joined the group that was arranged by Michael Mode. After dinner we went to the farm home of Merle and Marlene Hostetler who invited many of their Amish neighbors and families to enjoy a magic show that was put on by about ten magicians. After the show they gave us buggy rides and had cake, ice cream and lots of food for us to enjoy. I was going to head over to David Seebach's party, but by the time I got back to Colon, Michigan, it was a little late in the evening plus I needed to get this podcast edited and uploaded. If it wasn't for the nice hospitality of Losander's son, Timothy Cripe, then I wouldn't have had access to wi-fi tonight. Thanks, Tim.

This podcast is a little shorter than the usual one I post. To help put you in the mood, I think you will enjoy a video I found that I recorded 30 years ago when I first attended the Get Together. I brought along my video camera and recorded some of the sights and sounds of the city. I really didn't know too many people back then so unfortunately I didn't record any interviews with the attendees; however, I did get a personal tour of Abbott's from a very young Greg Bordner.

Enjoy a trip to the past as I walk down the streets of Colon, Michigan and record all the sights and sounds on the street, at the cemetery, and the Magic Carpet restaurant plus a guided tour of Abbott's Magic Company by Greg Bordner. See some of the street vendors as well as the dealers in the gymnasium.

The end of the film is the tech rehearsal for Rick Walker, my very good friend who was an illusionist from Dallas, TX.

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Time stamps for this podcast:

00:02:36 - Mike Miller talks about his experience in China and working with the recent touring magicians over there. Jania Taylor, a long time attendee, tells why she never misses this week.

00:07:22 - Ken Dumm and his son Austin tell us what is most important about the Get Together...Family.

00:16:38 - Local Amish farmer, Merle Hostetler opened his home to us for a delightful evening of food and buggy rides as many of us performed magic for his family and neighbors.

00:20:50 - Michael Mode was the one who put together this Amish magic show. He talks about how it can to be.

00:23:09 - Enjoy the last few minutes of my buggy ride as you hear the "clip clop" of horses hooves along the trail.

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. (please note: this RSS Feed subscription system may not work with Android systems). Remember, you can download it through iTunes. See the preview page by Clicking Here.