800: Jack Goldfinger - Yoda Man!

We have reached another important milestone with this episode #800. And as we often do with these milestones, we feature someone who is a major mover and shaker in our community. Jack “Goldfinger” Vaughan fits the bill perfectly as the Director of Entertainment for the Academy of Magical Arts, the Magic Castle. Prior to taking on that role, he and his lovely wife, Dove, have performed around the world on some of the greatest stages and on screen. He is sought out for his advice and wisdom in life lessons, not unlike “Yoda” from the epic movie saga, Star Wars.

This week, Jack shares some of his “Jack-isms” that are true gems that makes you really think. He talks about his predecessor, Max Maven, as well as some of those who have influenced his career along the way.

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432: 2018 I.B.M. Convention - Day Two Update

Thurs July 5, 2018

8 AM - 9:30 AM Ring Representative Meeting/TVP

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Stage Contest Rehearsal

9 AM - 12 NOON Registration Open

9 AM - 5 PM Dealer's Room Open

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

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

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

10:00 AM Spouse Event - Meet at Registration

11 AM - 12 NOON Lance Burton Teen Scene # 1

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Stage Contest Rehearsal

11:00 AM Annual Business Meeting, Order of Merlin Inductees-Please arrive 15 minutes early

1 PM - 3 PM Stage Contest Part 2

1 PM - 5 PM Registration Open

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Lecture - David Malek

8 PM - 9:30 PM Legends of Comedy Show

10:15 PM - 11:15 PM Lecture - Kyle & Mistie Knight

11:45 PM - 12:45 AM Lecture - Amazing Johnathan

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:16 - Gwyn Auger is Lance Burton's assistant and talks about being a magician's assistant

00:09:28 - Michael Trixx will open the Friday night show with his high energy, rock-and-roll dove act but here he talks about marketing tips

00:16:51 - Steve Valentine talks about his recent lecture

00:22:09 - Larry Wilson tells the Sammy Davis, Jr. story

00:54:54- Apparently Gay Blackstone worked with Sammy David Jr., too

01:01:43 - Christian Rasmussen was the recipient of the new "Bill Cook" award from the Lance Burton Teen Seminar

01:08:06 - I caught up with The Amazing Jonathan while waiting for a taxi and hilarity ensued.

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

400: David Berglas - International Man of Mystery, Part One

David Berglas has an affect on me.

Okay, that is corny. But it is true that he has influenced and inspired more magicians and mentalists in the world than can be counted. Not only has he changed how we look at magic, David Berglas has significantly changed magic on television.

The BBC called him the “Godfather of TV Magic”. Born in 1926, Berglas escaped to Britain from Nazi Germany at age 11. He first became interested in Magic in his 20’s and studied psychotherapy at university before becoming a professional magician in 1952. His groundbreaking TV show in 1986, “The Mind of David Berglas” paved the way for all others to follow up to this very day. He is the author of several books including, "The Berglas Effects" and "The Mind & Magic of David Berglas", among others. And he is an multiple award winner of several prestigious organizations and is the Past President of The Magic Circle.

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I was part of a momentous meeting organized by Spyros Melaris in 2002 when he arranged a dinner meeting with David Berglas and his wife, Ruth, with Banachek and his wife, Heidi, and me and my wife, Kathy. It was a wonderful, memorable dinner with Banachek sharing his spoon bending to David and magic talk late into the evening. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, no photos of that evening exist except those in our minds.

It was at that first meeting that we all became good friends and I am glad that we could get together again for this podcast where David talks about his beginnings in magic, work both in front of and behind the cameras on television and film, plus lots of stories about celebrated names of magicians, most of whom are long since passed.

Magicians' Valhalla

Although the list below is not exhaustive nor in any particular order, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses and assistants who passed on in 2017. Some may not be as well-known to you, but they were my personal friends (hey, it is my blog!). If you are unfamiliar with any of these names, then it would behoove you to do a little online search of what these people have contributed to our craft. If you have someone you think was overlooked, then please post the name in the comments below on this blog.

Those whose names are highlighted were featured or interviewed here on The Magic Word Podcast. You can click on their name to revisit and listen to their voices again. David Oliver put together a video of some names and dates of passing of these (and others) in a YouTube video. Click Here to see that video.

Phil Messina

Daryl Easton (Martinez)

Bob Cassidy

Jim Zachary

Ed Thomas

Jessica “Shedini” Moore

George Kovari, Jr.

"Chuck" Kirchner

John Moehring

Eugene Burger

Tom Jones

Eddie Gibson