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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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434: 2018 I.B.M. Convention - Day Four Update

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Saturday July 7, 2018

8 AM Merlin Breakfast (Ticket Required)

9 AM - 1 PM 2019 Pre-Registration Opens

9 AM - 5 PM Dealer's Room Open

9:30 AM - 11 AM Big Three Event - (BLUE LANYARDS)

9:30 AM - 11 AM Big Three Event - (GREEN LANYARDS)

9:30 AM - 11 AM Big Three Event - (RED LANYARDS)

11 AM - 12 NOON Lance Burton Teen Scene # 3

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Lecture - Larry Wilson

1 PM - 2 PM Lecture - Patrick Martin

3 PM - 4 PM Lecture - Jeff McBride

7 PM - 7:30 PMI.B.M. Contest Awards

8 PM - 9:30 PM Grand Finale Show

10:15 PM Farwell Party

11:45 PMJ eff McBride Special Workshop
Extra Cost Event

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Time stamps for this podcast:

00:02:20- Dr. Larry Hass, Dean of the Mystery School, speaks to the members of the Order of Merlin (those with 25 or more years of consecutive membership in the I.B.M.) about lessons learned from Eugene Burger

00:14:42 - International President, Michael Finney, talks about what he plans to do during his presidency in the next year

00:32:48 - Past international President of the I.B.M. and Contest chairman, Oscar Munoz, talks about the importance of entering contests.

00:47:05 - Patrick Martin was one of the lecturers who was featured at this convention and he talks about working the corporate market.

01:03:02 - Robert Purcell talks about what it's like for a "first timer" because this is his first magic convention

01:11:36 - Kayla Drescher was a featured performer as one of the "Big Three" Events

01:16:17 - Larry Wilson (our emcee for the evening show0 returns to talk about one of his early TV specials

01:29:18 - a listing of the contest winners and a wrap of the convention

Contest Winners:

Stage Adult: Gold Medal, First Place and People's Choice - Zhou Zhou and Yuan Yuan; Award of Merit: Sebak

Stage Youth: First Place - Red Star; Award of Merit - Luna; Fantasma Award - Theo Chattra

Close-Up Adult: Erik Tait; Award of Merit - Chong Huang; People's Choice and Obie's Four F Award: Chris Quinero

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

Posted in Convention Report and tagged with I.B.M. Convention, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Larry Hass, Order of Merlin, Robert Purcell, Kayla Drescher, Larry Wilson, Patrick Martin, Oscar Munoz, Michael Finney.

July 8, 2018 by Scott Wells.
  • July 8, 2018
  • Scott Wells
  • I.B.M. Convention
  • Grand Rapids
  • Michigan
  • Larry Hass
  • Order of Merlin
  • Robert Purcell
  • Kayla Drescher
  • Larry Wilson
  • Patrick Martin
  • Oscar Munoz
  • Michael Finney
  • Convention Report
  • Post a comment
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433: 2018 I.B.M. Convention - Day Three Update

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Friday July 6, 2018

9 AM - 10 AM Close Up Contestant Meeting

9 AM - 12 NOON Registration Open

9 AM - 5 PM Dealer's Room Open

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Close-Up Contest Judges Briefing

9:30  AM- 11 AM Big Three Events - (GREEN LANYARDS)

9:30 AM - 11 AM Big Three Events - (RED LANYARDS)

9:30 AM - 11 AM Big Three Events - (BLUE LANYARDS)

10:00 AM Spouse Event - Meet at Registration

11 AM - 12 NOON I.B.M. Board Meeting

11 AM - 12 NOON Lance Burton Teen Scene # 2

1 PM - 5 PM Registration Open

1 PM - 3 PM Close-Up Contest

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Lecture - Jeff Hobson

5:00 PM Cocktails

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Grand Banquet (Ticket Required)

6:45 PM - 7:30 PM Grand Banquet Show

8 PM - 9:30 PM Gold Medal Show

10:15  PM - 11:15 PM Lecture - Nick Lewin

11:15 PM Invisible Lodge Meeting

11:45 PM Amazing Johnathan Show
Extra Cost Event ($5 tickets at registration)

 

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View fullsize Jeff Hobson

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:17 - Ken Scott talks about this convention and his upcoming Atlanta Harvest of Magic

00:08:05 - Bertil Fredstrom has attended many of these IBM convention but also 16 FISM's! He also talks about the upcoming TAOM Convention, too.

00:16:08 - Terry Waltham is the A/V tech guy for this convention so you hear some "behind the scenes" stuff from him.

00:20:43 - Neal Chamberlain talks about marketing strategies that every magician should know.

00:36:52 - Mistie and Kyle Knight will close the show tomorrow night but they are between cruise ship engagements.

00;43:35:- Dr. Larry Hass talks about eh Eugene Burger Legacy Program

00:49:27 - Jeff Hobson has plans to continue traveling with "The Illusionists" but he has other things in mind for his future, too.

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

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Posted in Convention Report and tagged with I.B.M. Convention, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

July 7, 2018 by Scott Wells.
  • July 7, 2018
  • Scott Wells
  • I.B.M. Convention
  • Grand Rapids
  • Michigan
  • Convention Report
  • Post a comment
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A Podcast for Magicians, About Magicians, Hosted by a Full Time Professional Magician, Scott Wells

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John Cox - Houdini Master Since 2010, John Cox has found enough material about the legendary magician, Harry Houdini, to fill a daily blog. This week we chat about some of the more important things that John has uncovered over the past year. #houdini
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Jim Cunningham - The Spirit of Eugene - Jim Cunningham is the voice on the Audible books reading the Eli Marks Mystery series. But is also interested in things that go bump in the night. So naturally, his mentor for producing scary seances was the la
TRICS 2025 Daily Reports - Daily reports from Charlotte, NC, at the TRICS convention with talent, organizers, dealers, attendees, and more. #trics #charlottenc #magicconvention #magicwordpod Tales From The Road 3 One of the popular features each year at Magic At The Beach in Myrtle Beach, is when the talent tells us some of their horror stories from the road. #talesfromtheroad #danadaniels #johnnythompson #bizzaro #codyfisher #charlesbac Craig Diamond - Around the World in 50 Years - Craig Diamond is a name that may not be familiar to you...yet. That's because has been performing magic on cruise ships since the 1970's. But he is slowing down his cruise ship shows and starting to perf
John Cox - Houdini Master Since 2010, John Cox has found enough material about the legendary magician, Harry Houdini, to fill a daily blog. This week we chat about some of the more important things that John has uncovered over the past year. #houdini Susan Gerbic - Busting Grief Vampires - Susan Gerbic is a skeptic who debunks those who are self-proclaimed psychics and "feed" on the grief of others like vampires feed on blood. She is a scientific skepticism activist, a columnist for Ske Enjoy an audible tour through the newest venue for magicians to perform. Also, Marc’s incredible magic props, ephemera costumes, and more from a lifetime of collecting are on display here. This “walk through” is a feast for the ears Jim Cunningham - The Spirit of Eugene - Jim Cunningham is the voice on the Audible books reading the Eli Marks Mystery series. But is also interested in things that go bump in the night. So naturally, his mentor for producing scary seances was the la

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