221: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part Two

It's Saturday morning and the Magic Castle swap meet is in full swing. Apparently they let in a lot of people from the general public because I heard several people talking about how crowded it was this year. I did have several people tell me that this was the first time they had ever been inside the Magic Castle since it is a private club and this was the only time they knew they could get in. I think something must have been posted on some social media that opened the doors to more than those who were supposed to have been allowed inside.

In this podcast we chat with several people who were in and around the swap meet like Joe Porper, Scott Jenkins, Terry Lunceford and Andrew Goldenhirsh. We also spend some time talking with Doc Eason who was performing for two weeks at the W.C. Fields bar. And we wrap up with a chat with a two time winner of the Magic Castle strolling magic award, Steven Himmel.

00:02:42 - Funny Eddie talks about what happened to Dean Dill's magic stuff.

00:04:22- Joe Porper talks about his life and beginnings as a craftsman

00:09:44 - Scott Jenkins is the marketing manager for all of Joe Porper's magic and he tells us where to find it plus a new marketing plan to bring down the prices a bit.

00:11:53 - Terry Lunceford has sold thousands of hand made snake baskets. How many? He tells us here.

00:16:29 - It's Andre Goldenhirsh's birthday. We wish him a happy birthday.

00:20:05 - Doc Eason tells us a lot about what he's been up to over the past several years plus a new project that he hopes to leave as a lasting legacy.

00:52:55 - Two time winner of the Magic Castle Strolling award, Steven Himmel chats about this contest.

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. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Click on the banner above to view more information and to order the video. Tell Doc that you heard about it here on The Magic Word!

220: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part One

We're off to be the wizard. We head west this week to the hills of Hollywood a bit early before my week begins because I want to catch the Castle swap meet on Saturday. To kick off this multi-part podcast of my week at the Castle, there is no better way to indoctrinate you than to immerse you in the lore and with stories from the Castle's rich heritage.

In this Part One podcast, we sit down in "Vernon's Corner" to hear stories from Howard Hamburg and Newell Unfried. They tell story after story of legends some of whom are long gone but whose spirit lives on in the Magic Castle. They include stories of Dai Vernon, Eddie Fields, Earl Nelson, Ed Marlo, John Cornelius and many, many others. We also get to chat with Bill Goodwin, the Librarian of The Magic Castle. What a way to kick off this series!

00:07:22 - Howard Hamburg and Newell Unfried seem to top each other by telling one story after another about many of the legendary magicians who have frequented the Magic Castle over its rich years of history. Newell has some great stories about those who have visited the old Hollywood Magic shop and Howard talks about some of the characters from the Castle like Senator Crandall and Dai Vernon. Our discussion is topped by a final story involving Martin Nash and the Professor. Nothing can top this one.

00:50:34 - Close-Up Magician of the Year (and current nominee again for 2014), Bill Goodwin talks about the Castle library and the thousands of videos available among the many tombs of books. He also talks about bequethment of collections and how you can provide for donatoins to the library after you are gone.

219: Lee Earle - Clear Vision

Lee Earle has been a leader and pioneer in the field of mentalism for decades. He recently came through Houston on his "Farewell" Lecture Tour where he imparted some of his years of experience in a concise two and a half hour lecture filled with advice and solid, commercial mentalism effects. Unfortunately, Lee has not created nor marketed many new effects over the past several years. Moreover, he has not been seen on the convention or lecture scene either. As a result, he is best known, remembered and respected by those "long of tooth". If fact, he said that perhaps 80% of those attending his 20+ lectures across the U.S. had gray heir. Too bad for this generation who missed out.

Lee has had a remarkable career having started out as a magician then transforming into a mentalist, which is the typical way people get into mentalism. He laments that actors and drama majors don't go immediately into mentalism and skip magic altogether thus not "tainting" them with "bad habits" that are hard to break in the performance of mentalism.

For those who are unfamiliar with Lee Earle's background, he was the secretary and membership chairman of the Psychic Entertainers' Association (P.E.A.) for a number of years. He authored the newsletter "Syzygy", produced and marketed several mentalism tricks along with Larry Becker under their company, "Mentalism Unlimited". He was the medium who developed and produced "Manifestations" in Phoenix, Arizona. And early in his magic career, he started the circuit for performing in large, upscale RV Parks across the southern part of the U.S.

The podcast begins with opening a can of Diet RC Cola then we get down to business. Lee talks about his experience of performing magic at Recreational Vehicle (RV) Parks across the south in the 1970's. He then talks about his transition from magic to mentalism and the stumbles along the way that made him more determined. Lee then tells us about "Manifestations", the seance he conducted from 1986 through 1989, some stories from the performances and its demise.

Lee concludes this podcast talking about his friend and business partner, Larry Becker, and their business "Mentalism Unlimited" which is no longer in business. The items remaining are being sold by Lee during his "Farewell" Lecture Tour which is helping him clean out his inventory following his move from Phoenix, Arizona to Atlanta, Georgia.

Enjoy supplemental material from Lee Earle as he talks about the basic premises upon which mentalism is based. Plus he gives some great advice on use of sound (i.e. microphones, speakers, etc.)

221: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part Two

220: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part One

219: Lee Earle - Clear Vision

The Magic Word