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The Magic Word The Magic Word

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912: Diana Zimmerman - The Enchantress

Diana Zimmerman is an enchanting woman in every sense of the word: personality, charm, abilities, looks, intelligence, skill, and so much more. She has led a life of magic like few other women. And she is being recognized for her achievements by being inducted to the Los Angeles Times Global Magicians Hall of Fame on July 9th, 2025. Married at 19 to Dick Zimmerman, magician and creative genius, she performed around the world on television and stage with her one-woman performance. She traveled with a giant gramophone then later switched to a thumb tie and pick pocketing. She developed and still works with the Magic Castle Junior Program (which just celebrated their 50th year) and is the author of several books of fantasy. But she also authored the definitive collector’s edition of the Siegfried and Roy book.

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Diana has so many stories that she shares with us this week including her early days working with her then-husband, Dick Zimmerman, then how Cary Grant encouraged her to form the junior program at the Magic Castle, and many stories about the late Siegfried and Roy. She was a close confidant to the illusionists and shares some “behind the scenes” stories from Little Bavaria to “the Incident” that ended their Las Vegas run.

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 Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly 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 Diana Zimmerman, Magic Castle, Magic Castle Junior Member, Doug Henning, Dai Vernon, Dick Zimmerman, Channing Pollock, pickpocketing, Matthew O'Neill, Jason Latimer, Michael Rangel, Lisa Menna, Cary Grant, Siegfried and Roy, Johnny Thompson, Gary Darwin, Michael Jackson, Little Bavaria.

July 3, 2025 by Scott Wells.
  • July 3, 2025
  • Scott Wells
  • Diana Zimmerman
  • Magic Castle
  • Magic Castle Junior Member
  • Doug Henning
  • Dai Vernon
  • Dick Zimmerman
  • Channing Pollock
  • pickpocketing
  • Matthew O'Neill
  • Jason Latimer
  • Michael Rangel
  • Lisa Menna
  • Cary Grant
  • Siegfried and Roy
  • Johnny Thompson
  • Gary Darwin
  • Michael Jackson
  • Little Bavaria
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741: Steve Aldrich - A Long Strange Trip

This episode is dedicated to those who remember the past and for those who want to learn more about our rich history. This week we travel back in time in our Grateful Dead VW bus and visit with magician and co-founder of the Foan Family Circus, Steve Aldrich. It was a simpler time when magicians were experimenting with new presentations and popular music of the time. It was at the height of Doug Henning’s popularity who was considered by some as a “Hippie Magician”.

Steve Aldrich also performed magic at the famed Tower Bar in Snowmass at a time when Doc Eason was still a waiter Steve and his band of merry men (and a woman) surprised and entertained magicians with their “tongue in cheek” original presentations of their “Foan Family Circus” at many magic conventions during the late 1970’s to early 1980’s. So what happened to the group? That and more will be the topic of discussion in this week’s episode.

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

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Steve talks this week about the formation of the Foan Family Circus, their original presentations and music, their performances at magic conventions (one of which won them the Senator Crandall Comedy Award at Abbott’s Get Together), plus the origins of magic at the Tower Bar starting with Bob Sheets then passed down to Steve Aldrich and Steve Spill.

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 Steve Aldrich, Foan Family Circus, Bob Sheets, Doc Eason, Tower Bar, Kathi DeFrancis, Brent Warren, Cheeseman Spark, Barrett Felker, Kuda Bux, Eddie Goldstein, Sam Kent, Steve Spill, The Magic Castle, Johnny Thompson, Tom Mullica, Air Jazz, Peter Davison.

March 2, 2023 by Scott Wells.
  • March 2, 2023
  • Scott Wells
  • Steve Aldrich
  • Foan Family Circus
  • Bob Sheets
  • Doc Eason
  • Tower Bar
  • Kathi DeFrancis
  • Brent Warren
  • Cheeseman Spark
  • Barrett Felker
  • Kuda Bux
  • Eddie Goldstein
  • Sam Kent
  • Steve Spill
  • The Magic Castle
  • Johnny Thompson
  • Tom Mullica
  • Air Jazz
  • Peter Davison
  • Post a comment
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348: Gary Darwin's Natural Selections

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Gary Darwin has been in Las Vegas for over six decades when he first moved there in his teens. Since then, Gary has kept about every magic item he could put his hands on over the years. Some might call him a hoarder while others might call him a shrewd collector. Gary started his magic club 51 years ago and it's still going strong. He also talks about the evolution of Las Vegas from the days when the Mafia ran the town to when he (as a youngster) was a "manipulation magician" all the way to this day when several magicians rule the Strip. Gary has a mental repository of one-liners that he reels off with ease throughout our chat.

During my visit to record a podcast with Gary Darwin, he showed me around his home which is a magic museum in and of itself. You just need to watch your step so you don't accidentally step on some treasure. You can hear the podcast at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/gary-darwin
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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

Please support our sponsor by clicking on the banner above to visit The Great American Magic Company's online store.

Please support our sponsor by clicking on the banner above to visit The Great American Magic Company's online store.

Order yours now from The Great American Magic Company.. Available March 20, 2017. With MOVE you cause the clip from a pen to detach from the cap and move along the body of the pen. You then magically restore the clip back onto the cap and hand the pen back out to be examined!!

Available now through The Great American Magic Company at http://www.thegreatamericanmagiccompany.com/

Tagged with Gary Darwin.

March 16, 2017 by Scott Wells.
  • March 16, 2017
  • Scott Wells
  • Gary Darwin
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The Magic Word The Magic Word

A Podcast for Magicians, About Magicians, Hosted by a Full Time Professional Magician, Scott Wells

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In May 2024, Scott Wells had the distinguished honor of receiving a “Special Fellowship” from the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) for the Magic Word Podcast which promotes “not only personal stories of fascinating individuals, but also fellowship amongst our extended family of artists and entertainers everywhere.”

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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
Rome may not have been built in a day, but we tried to see as much of it as we could in an afternoon.
Another beautiful day in Umbria visiting #Assissi and #Perugia #Italy
More time near the Tuscan sun. But this time we traveled south to Umbria where we visited #Bevagna #Montefalco and #Spello
More time under the beautiful Tuscan sun with a visit to Montalcino and Montepulciano for wine tasting and exploring. Now staying in a monestary. #italy
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
Another delightful day under the Tuscan sun in Siena and other cities I can't spell, but enjoying the sun, the food, the wine, and the culture. And the Gelato is amazing. #gelato #siena #italy
A tour of the Chianti Classico region. Two wineries and a sunset Tuscan dinner followed by, of course, gellato. #chianti
From Turin to Parma where we tried the music,  cheese, prosciutto,  wine, and Gelato. #parma

The Magic Word Has been recognized by FeedSpot as the # 1 magician podcast in the world. Thank you all for your support and for listening throughout the years.

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