903: AbraCORNdabra 2025 - Day One Report

Friday May 16, 2025

11:00 AM CHECK-IN TO PICK UP REGISTRATION PACKETS
Registration Opens

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Flea Market

12:45 PM Grand Opening / Welcome Greeting/ FREE MAGICAL GIFT

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Show & Lecture #1 - PETER SAMELSON

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Break

2:30 PM – 7:30 PM magiK-MART Opens (dealers)

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Dinner on your own

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM LECTURE (Lecture #2) - ERIC TAIT

7:30 PM – 8:00 PM Break

8:00 PM magiK-MART closes (dealers)

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM Show & Lecture #3 - THE COSMIC ROMANTICS

9:30 PM – ???? JOLLY TIME JAM – NEW FOR 2025
Super Special Late Night Jam Session featuring some very popular “name” magicians!
If you are a “nite-owl” – you will enjoy “hanging out” with fellow magi trading magical secrets & such. This special room for late-night jamming of magic is set up JUST for you & your magical friends!
Enjoy free flavored popcorns and soda sponsored by JOLLY TIME POPCORN!

Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep.

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829: Obie's 4F 2024 Close-Up Convention - Day Three Report

Friday April 26, 2024

10:30 a.m. Tricks from Books Everyone Has Forgotten (MC: Mike Powers)

1:30 p.m. 4th Show Magical Moments (MC: Meir Yedid)

3:30 p.m. Lecture #5 Jovi Benitez

7:45 p.m. Tribute to GOH Charming Choi (host: Jeki Yoo)

8:00 p.m. Korean Gala (MC: Charming Choi)

Time Stamps:

(00:00) Theyagic Word Podcast welcomes Glenn Brown to talk about the 51st convention

(02:21) About 130 people are from the US; the rest are spread amongst 17 countries

(06:14) Next year's convention is still planned for the same hotel as this year

(06:39) We ask people to provide two sponsors, people who have attended four f

(09:23) Glenn Brown: One of our guests lost his passport on a plane

(12:51) This is the 51st year of the four F convention

(16:19) A magician is a director to the actors, to the spectators

(20:23) The best story wins. Rather than saying, you want to see a trick

(22:25) Darryl: There is no other convention in the world like this one

(26:36) There are perks to giving back to magicians, right? Yeah. Well, there are perks, certainly,

(28:33) The magic circle now streams live on Monday night during COVID

(32:01) Daryl: The beauty of this convention is everyone's limited to five minutes

(34:31) Darryl Rose: This is the best close up convention in the magic world

(36:19) Every convention is worth it if you come away with something that you can use

(40:19) Rick Wilcox will be attending the TRICS convention in Charlotte in November

(44:16) You're receiving the Melbourne Christopher award for illusionist, best

(45:35) Obviously we want to talk about now before our season starts, so. So we had a 25th season

(46:50) You've been coming to 4F since 2002

(50:28) Rick says Bernardo always thinks of four numbers when doing magic

(53:41) Roger Nicot, and Eva Mae got married here nine years ago

(55:47) So have you seen much of the convention from the standpoint, you've been a dealer

(57:58) You're going to be a dealer at MAGIC Live this year, right

(59:17) Scott: They're getting ready for the main show right now

(59:28) Scott: We had a wonderful show by Korean magicians tonight

(01:01:04) Jekiyoo: I'm glad that all of you guys came over

(01:03:48) The Magic Word podcast is over. You scotty out

172: Part 5 - My Week at The Castle 2014

In this final installment from My Week at The Castle, we wrap up by giving blood...literally. The Magic Castle became "Castle Dracula" (my own moniker) where you left your blood. It was the first Red Cross blood donation drive at The Magic Castle. This was spurred by Paul Green who has been experiencing health issues that frequently require blood transfusions. I just came in for lunch but got so much more by giving back a little of myself. There were 31 people who gave the gift of life. Please consider donating in your community. The life you save may be someone you love.

While at the Castle this day, I ran into and chatted with Irene Larsen, matriarch of the Magic Castle and the International Ambassador of The Magic Castle. After lunch, I went next door to talk with Dale Hindman, Executive Director of Milt Larsen Enterprises, who helped unravel the mystery (to me) of the difference between the Academy of Magical Arts and the Magic Castle.

Back at the Castle after my last show of the evening, I sat down with President Bill Clinton impersonator and magician, Tim Smallwood. He has a unique act and character that takes him across the country where he performs magic and makes guest "celebrity" appearances. Later that evening I ran into Ray Kosby, former member of The Magic Castle Juniors, who talks about that organization and the early years. And to wrap up the night and this podcast, Jonathan Pendragon and his wife, West, talk about their new show and lives together.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:03:32 - Fellow corporate entertainer, Paul Green, is still experiencing some exhaustion due to his illness, but it doesn't deter his positive attitude. He is an obvious advocate of donating blood and organs plus t importance of giving your time to your community.

00:08:1 - Irene Larsen, The Magic Castle Ambassador, talks about some of the interesting people she has met and some of her memorable magic conventions she has attended.

00:12:18 - Dale Hindman, Executive Director for Milt Larsen Enterprises, talks about the full length feature film that is currently in production; licensing "The Magic Castle" brand; how to donate magic to The Magic Castle; the musical "Pizzazz"; the future of"It's Magic" shows; the succession of Castle Board and Director members; and, more.

00:20:49 - Tim Smallwood has been a magician for a long time, but once President Bill Clinton came into the public life, Tim's life changed. He has a resemblance to the President which propelled him in a completely different direction and opportunities for him to perform and meet new clients. However, it didn't just happen overnight. He pursued it with agents plus he tells and interesting story about "nearly" meeting the real President. But his comedy magic shows take him all across the country where he performs straight magic followed by a patriotic conclusion as a magical Bill Clinton.

00:28:53 - Ray Kosby, former member of the Magic Castle Juniors Society, talks about how he got into the group and how he moved from stage to close-up. He also talks about some of the Long Beach Mystics who were part of the Juniors Society. He also talks about the first trick that got him "hooked" in magic...the Red Snapper. He also talks about and recommends books for magic neophytes. He also talks about some of the tricks he has published over the years.

00:42:45 - Jonathan Pendragon and his wife, West, talk about the "new" direction his act has taken and how West is incorporated in the performance. West also tells a story about how Jonathan protected her by inserting himself into a dangerous situation and defending her from harm, thus exemplifying Jonathan's true loving and protective nature.

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