384: Two Fer - Neal 'n Bull

While at the IBM/SAM Combined Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, I recorded some extended chats with a couple friends that were too long to be part of the daily convention updates but too short to complete a full hour for the podcast. So, this episode for the first time brings you not one, but two excellent chats with world class magicians: Jonathan Neal and David Bull.

Vintage clip of Jonathan’s second appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

A rare inside glimpse of a magical world- Marco the Magi's Production of Le Grand David and his Own Spectacular Magic Company in Beverly, Massachusetts, USA. Footage is from the Larcom theater and their second historic magic auction from this amazing ensemble.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:05:58 - Jonathan Neal (Brown) talks about establishing a relationship with an audience, blocking and choreography on stage, plus how he developed his successful act and how he works towards excellence in every performance.

00:31:35 - David Bull a.k.a. "Le Grand David" tells us how he became known on the bill as "Le Grand David" plus some of the history of the theater troupe and how it began and ended and what David Bull is doing today.

00:57:52 - "The Ocbender" by Menny Lindenfeld available from your favorite magic dealer through Murphy's Magic Supplies. This is an unseen tool used by the mentalist/magician to make coins, spoons and keys seemingly bend "in the hands of your volunteer". Very well made gimmick and highly recommended.

00:57:52 - Product (Book) Review of "New Angle" by Ryan Plunkett and Michael Feldman published by and available from Magic, Inc. This book is a new look at a classic tool in the magician's toolbox: the Tapered (or "Stripper") Deck. New ideas, tips and routines that take this tool to the next level. Recommended for intermediate to advanced card workers.

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Please visit our sponsor, The Great American Magic Company

329: Rick Heath - Magician With A Paintbrush

Richard "Rick" Heath was the artist behind the beautiful props, scenery, and posters that adorned the stage and theater of Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Show in Beverly, Massachusetts. This grand spectacle of a show ran for 35 years, the longest running magic show in the history of the world, according to the Guinness World Book of Records.

The show had over 1,000 costumes, 700 entrances and exits, 100 classic illusions, 45 backdrops, 35 years in a small town, 4 hours of stage magic, and 2 antique theaters. It was a time in history that can never be repeated. And the cast and crew were more than employees...they were family. I had an opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with many of them and I was called a friend.

Marco the Magi (Cesareo Pelaez) presided over the family as a kindly patriarch and visionary who treated everyone with respect though without a doubt, he ruled and his word was final. Early in the creation of the show, Rick Heath was designated by Cesareo to be the artist in the company. He could see some spark in Rick's character that led him to prompting his latent abilities as an artist. But everyone had a job and each was tasked with different jobs.

As it related to the painting of backdrops and props, Rick gives credit to everyone that includes those who washed the paintbrushes, who mixed the paint, who prepared the canvas and props, and all of the other details that go into a painting, As a result, Rick still doesn't like to put his name on any of his artwork as he feels that it is unwarranted vanity.

Rick discussed this and more during his speech before the Order of Merlin breakfast at the recent I.B.M. convention in San Antonio, Texas. You can hear that speech on the podcast from Day Four. And the companion booklet that accompanied his speech is online HERE.

On July 4, 2016, while attending the 88th I.B.M. conveintion in San Antonio, Texas, Rick Heath, the artist responsible for the posters, props, curtains and backdrops for Le Grand David Magic Show, joined Scott Wells on the microphone to record a podcast for The Magic Word. This was recorded on Facebook's Live Streaming function.

In this podcast, Rick talks about how he became associated with the Le Grand David show and how he met Cesareo Pelaez and became part of the troupe. He also tells some stories about Cesareo and how he came to the U.S. from Cuba, his background and education, his association with Maslow, the Company, his philosophy, and his current commissioned work as an artist. You can visit Rick's website to find out more about "Magician With A Paintbrush" at http://www.magicianwithapaintbrush.com/

This podcast was live streamed on Facebook so during this podcast from time to time you will hear us checking on questions posted from those watching/listening online in real time.

108: MAGIC Live! 2013 - Day 3

Day three was another fun and exciting day that began with the Opening Session hosted by Justin Flom A highlight of the show was Xavier Mortimer's incredibly innovative routines. He is currently featured in the Cirque du Soliel show here in Vegas, "Michael Jackson One".. But it was Wayne Dobson being interviewed by Jeff McBride which received a standing ovation.

00:00:07 – Tom Vorjahan, Daniel Herron and Eddie Wade give a recap of the Documentary Live 1 show from last night that featured the Long Beach Mystics hosted by Stan Allen and Mike Caveney. It featured David Deeble, Victor and Diamond, Michael Weber, Dana Daniels, Mark Kalin and Jinger, Armando Lucera, Kevin James, and James Hamilton (as Alexander Hamilton).

00:08:33 – I give a short review of the General Session that was hosted by Justin Flom and featured Master Payne, Bill Abbott, Xavier Mortimer, and Wayne Dobson being interviewed by Jeff McBride.

00:13:00 – I chatted with random people dining at the In ‘N Out and how much they enjoy this place. It is one of my regular, mandatory places to dine while in Las Vegas.

00:15:02 – Simon Coronel talks about creativity and how he developed his routine.

00:26:00 – Photo time with Criss Angel

00:26:50 – David Hira talks about this convention and conventions in general and their appeal to different age groups.

00:34:45 – Scott Hunstler was one of the winners on the Sunday night Welcome Party. He talks about what he won. Mark Weidhaas, S.A.M. Past President, and Errol Lipschitz, from Vancouver, talks about their experience of this convention.

00:39:56 – We viewed the documentary about Ricky Jay’s life, Deceptive Practices. Here I get to talk with a few people who know Ricky and have a perspective and opinion on the movie. It isn’t anything like Siskell & Ebert, but I think you will enjoy this discussion by Peter Samelson, Tim Felix and Jon Stetson.

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