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.

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.

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651: Steve Cohen - On Max Malini

We continue our extended conversation with Steve Cohen in this second of two episodes. Much of this week’s chat is about the 500+ page book authored by Steve which is currently still with the printer but will include Max Malini’s life story and a multitude of tricks in a section of explanations. Max Malini was a guiding influence in Steve’s life and career though he died in 1942, nearly 30 years before Steve was born. Malini’s life is rife with stories that have become legends. Steve’s book will try to decipher and weed out the truths from fiction and follow where the stories lead.

This week we pick up where we left off last week with Steve talking about his performances at the Waldorf Astoria before he moved to the Palace Hotel in New York. But the bulk of this episode focuses on Max Malini and the book Steve has written about this legendary magician from the early 20th century. Steve shares stories about Malini that will be enjoyed by magic historians and collectors alike.

The graphic novel (aka comic book) by Steve Cohen. Order yours here and help support The Magic Word Podcast with your purchase.

650: Steve Cohen - Millionaires' Magician

While attending the recent Columbus MagiFest, I sat down with the Guest of Honor, Steve Cohen. As most of you know, he is the star of his one-man show at the Palace Hotel in New York City, “Chamber Magic” that has been running for about two decades. He is known as the “Millionaires’ Magician” because of the cultured, cognoscenti and distinctive New York audiences he performs for every week. We had a rather lengthy conversation that covered his Chamber Magic show and his passion for his inspiration, Max Malini. So this first part is more about Steve’s history, life and build-up to and through his career as the Millionaires’ Magician.

In this first of our two part conversation, Steve talks about his preparation and magic training from Japan to New York leading to his residency at the Waldorf Astoria for nearly 18 years and landing him in his current location of the Palace Hotel in New York City.

The graphic novel (aka comic book) by Steve Cohen. Order yours here and help support The Magic Word Podcast with your purchase.