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.

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

770: Buddy Farnan - Reflections on a Life of Firsts

Magicians have a long-standing reputation being on the leading edge of science and technology. After the television became a household item, several magicians found a home on air where they increased their visibility and spread joy to millions of viewers. Although some were able to parlay their local TV appearances to the national networks, most were content to be big fishes in small ponds. Buddy Farnan was one such magician who was well-known as a TV celebrity magician in a regional area. Buddy was the general manager of Funtown in Atlanta, Georgia, and a leading magician on a fledgling TV channel owned by Ted Turner. He later moved to Buffalo, New York, where he became known on local TV there as Buckskin Joe. All of this began in the early 1960’s and continued for many years. Now at age 89, Buddy looks back at his illustrious career.

On this week’s episode, Buddy Farnan talks about his roots in early television and some of the many celebrities we know still today. He chats candidly about his TV studio work as a magician and tells a few stories about the joy he spread to children as the magician from Funtown in Atlanta then later as Buckskin Joe. Meir Yedid recorded a short video interview with Buddy in 2019 that is located on Meir’s Magic Times website. I recommend that you take a look at this short video by Clicking Here.

695: I.B.M. 2022 Convention - Day Four Report

Saturday July 16th 2022

8 am Order of Merlin Breakfast Talk: Road to FISM with Stuart MacDonald Promenade

9 am - 1 pm Registration Open and 2023 Registration Chattooga Hallway

10 am Special Event - TALK MAGIC II
DAVID GOLDRAKE
TRIGG WATSON
LANCE RICH Grand Salon

11 am - 6 pm Dealers Open Chattahoochee Ballroom

11 am - Noon Lance Burton Teen Seminar Rabun 11 am Raffle Drawings in Dealer Room Chattahoochee Ballroom

12 noon Lunch Break (Cash Lunches Available) Promenade

1 pm - 3 pm Ring 2100 In-Person & Virtual JAM Session Grand Salon

3:30 pm Special Event - CLOSE UP SHOW
MC - DOC DIXON
ICE MCDONALD
ALYX HILSHEY
BRENT BRAUN
JOE M. TURNER Grand Salon

8 pm. Showtime - Grand Finale Show
MC - RAFAEL
TRIGG WATSON
JULIANA CHEN
RICHARD PRESTON
THE EVASONS
DAVID GOLDRAKE Grand Salon

10 pm Farewell Party Promenade

Contest Winners:

Close-Up Award Winners:

Youth Award of Merit: Jackson Oliver - Honolulu, Hawaii
Youth First Place: Anja Steyn, Cape Town, South Africa
Adult Award of Merit: Tetro - West Hollywood, California
Adult First Place: Micheal Bloemeke - Raleigh, North Carolina

Stage Award Winners:

Finalists:

Danny King - Garland, Texas
James Irwin - Arlington, Texas
Rena Cui - Fresh Meadows, New York
Anjya Steyn - Cape Town, South Africa
The Wushuong - People’s Republic of China
Artem Shchukin - Moscow, Russia

Youth Stage Award of Merit - Rena Cui - Fresh Meadows, New York

Youth Stage First Place - Anya Steyn - Cape Town, South Africa

Adult Stage Award of Merit: The Wushuong - The People’s Republic of China

Adult Stage First Place: Artum Shchunik - Moscow, Russia

Gold Medal: Artem Shchunik - Moscow, Russia

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:16 - Award winners names announced

00:03:22 - Stuart MacDonald talks to the Order of Merlin group with his speech on his Journey to FISM

00:24:18 - David Garrard and Tommy Ellison recap the previous evening’s contest show

00:35:33 - Jeff and Tessa Evason talk about this and other magic conventions they have performed in plus what they did during COVID

00:45:53 - Jeffrey Alan (an I.B.M Board member and American Museum of Magic Board Member) and his assistant, Angela, talk about this convention and the museum

00:52:54 - Trigg Watson was one of the evening’s performer who can now relax. He chats about his experience as well as part of what he talked about at the Youth Seminar

00:57:53 - Past International President of the I.B.M., David Sandy, has also chaired and produced several magic conventions. We recap this convention including the final night’s gala show.

800: Jack Goldfinger - Yoda Man!

770: Buddy Farnan - Reflections on a Life of Firsts

695: I.B.M. 2022 Convention - Day Four Report

Contest Winners:

Time stamps for this episode:

The Magic Word