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The Magic Word The Magic Word

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877: Leah Orleans -Legacy Mystifyer

Leah Orleans is the progeny of Jan Rose and Danny Orleans, Chicago based magicians. It only seemed natural that her path would be in the entertainment arts, but instead of traditional magic, Leah pursued the circus arts. She is a contortionist, fire eater, juggler, and even bends over backwards to shoot an arrow from a bow held by her feet! Her profession takes her around the world to Renaissance Festivals, cruise ship destinations, and more.

If you are more of a visual person, then you might like to watch our Zoom video chat on YouTube.

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This week, Leah talks about growing up in a magical household with both parents working in the magic business. She also discusses how she went into the circus arts and the classes she took and the places it has taken her. Leah also talks about Mystify Magic Festival and what will make this convention stand out from all the others. She has some great words of advice to convention organizers in general, 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 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.

Hail and Farewell to those in our magic community who left us this past year.

In 2024 we suffered the loss of many friends who have passed away, but whom are not forgotten. Although the list below is not exhaustive, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses, assistants and magic aficionados who passed on in 2024. This year’s list is much less than the number reported last year (17 this year, 29 in 2023.) 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 with a “hot link” were featured or interviewed here on The Magic Word Podcast. It was not my original intent when I began this journey to chronicle the voices before they left us, but I am so thankful that I did sit down with many of these friends for lively, and sometimes intimate, conversations. You can click on their name to revisit and listen to their voices again.

Dick Blowers

David Oliver

William “Bill” Rauscher

Chuck Golla

Ed Hurtubis

Daniel Sclare

Ron Jernigan

Doc Sheils

Glen Ghirardi, Sr.

John Apperson

Andrew Galloway

Bob Sanders

Emory Williams 

Harriet Jacobson

Jon Racherbaumer

George Joseph “The Amazing Kreskin” Kresge, Jr.

Leonardo Trébole

Tagged with Leah Orleans, Mystify Magic Festival, Chicago, Danny Orleans, Jan Rose, Renaissance Festival.

January 2, 2025 by Scott Wells.
  • January 2, 2025
  • Scott Wells
  • Leah Orleans
  • Mystify Magic Festival
  • Chicago
  • Danny Orleans
  • Jan Rose
  • Renaissance Festival
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531: Mark Connelly Wilson - Developing a Character

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Mark C. Wilson is an actor, musician, filmmaker, producer, teacher and magician but perhaps best known in Texas as “Merlin the Wise” at the Sherwood Forest Faire near Austin. In this week’s episode, Mark talks about something that only has been discussed by a handful of previous guests: developing his character. Merlin is an iconic character so how does one pull it off? Mark has an acting background and has spent much time on developing this persona. You may not plan to every perform at a Renaissance Festival, but you will do well to take to heart the lessons he learned and teaches here. For more information, please visit his Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MerlinTheWise/

Magician, actor, and musician Mark Connelly Wilson performs as "Merlin The Wise" with "Nimue" played by Lydia Kettle, and "Newt" played by his daughter Elissa Wilson, during the 2010 opening season of Sherwood Forest Faire on the Greenwood stage.

This was the movie discussed at the end of our podcast. The music and singing in this trailer was provided by Mark C. Wilson.

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For a more in-depth article about developing a character, then read the article by Kent Cummins in the June 2019 issue of The Linking Ring entitled, “Storytelling is the Secret Sauce.” Click Here to see a PDF of that article.

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 Renaissance Festival, musician, Sherwood Forest Faire, Merlin the Wizard, Saul Ravencraft, Austin Texas, character development, Chris Walden, Bill Palmer, Museum of the Weird, Mark Connelly Wilson.

November 21, 2019 by Scott Wells.
  • November 21, 2019
  • Scott Wells
  • Renaissance Festival
  • musician
  • Sherwood Forest Faire
  • Merlin the Wizard
  • Saul Ravencraft
  • Austin Texas
  • character development
  • Chris Walden
  • Bill Palmer
  • Museum of the Weird
  • Mark Connelly Wilson
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494: Danny Orleans - the Omni-Magician

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Danny Orleans is well known, well versed and well respected as both a children’s show entertainer and as a trade show worker. And adding to that, he and his wife, Jan Rose, also present an exceptional two-person mind reading act. Usually one would expect a successful professional to specialize in one field or another, but not both. Therefore, he is one of the few whom I refer to as an Omni-Magician who can do it all…and do it well.

"Danny Orleans performs one of the best kids magic shows -- strike that -- one of the best magic shows, I have ever seen." -- Mac King "This project is something special for reasons that transcend the magic show.”

Danny Orleans Trade Show Promotional Video 2015 for further details please visit www.TradeShowMagicGroup.com
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In this week’s podcast, Danny talks about his websites where you can go to find additional information including a free download of his secrets to becoming a trade show magician.

AmazeKids.com where you can find tons of professional equipment for children’s entertainers

tradeshowperforersworkshop.com is where you can go to find information on trade show work and get your free download of his trade show book.

And if you are seriously interested in knowing more about trade shows, you can request to join the Trade Show Performers Group on Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tradeshowperformers/

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

Congratulations to the winners of the contest. And thank you everyone who entered the contest.

Congratulations to the winners of the contest. And thank you everyone who entered the contest.

Tagged with Danny Orleans, trade shows, children's magic, two person mind reading duo, Jan Rose, Eddie Fields, Chicago magic bar.

May 30, 2019 by Scott Wells.
  • May 30, 2019
  • Scott Wells
  • Danny Orleans
  • trade shows
  • children's magic
  • two person mind reading duo
  • Jan Rose
  • Eddie Fields
  • Chicago magic bar
  • Post a comment
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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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FISM 2025 Daily Reports from Turin, Italy We are in the middle of the World Championship of Magic in Turin, Italy. Join us and/or catch up on the daily podcast updates on FISM 2025.
#fism2025
#fismturin
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FISM 2025 Daily Reports from Turin, Italy We are in the middle of the World Championship of Magic in Turin, Italy. Join us and/or catch up on the daily podcast updates on FISM 2025.
#fism2025
#fismturin
#turinitaly
#italy
#magic
#worldchampionshipofm
We departed for Turin and arrived in time for FISM registration, street magic, and dinner. #turino #FISM2025
Our most amazing day yet! So full of surprises, good food, great wine, and amazing magic artifacts. #cherascoitaly #museodellamagia #cherasco
A most delightful tour of the most amazing magic museum in the world. #MagicMuseum #DonSilvio #cherasco
From Milan to a hazelnut farm then to the Piedmont region for drinks and BBQ as the sun set. Beautiful! #hazelnut #italy
So much history, so much beauty, so much good food, so much fashion, and so little time. #milanitaly #milano
So much history, so much beauty, so much fashion, and too little time to take it all in.

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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