225: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part Six

As we conclude this six past series in Hollywood, California, we visit with some more of the "Knights of the Castle". This was a great week for me that could not be contained in one podcast. I hope that you enjoyed the multiple part series and the magicians who shared their time with me behind the microphone. I would love to receive your comments on whether this series was too long or too short, who and what you liked best in this series, and perhaps who you might like to hear on an extended podcast in the future.

Here are the timestamps for this podcast:

00:03:56 - Entertainment Director, Jack Goldfinger, gives us some pearls of wisdom and the "perils" of his job which preclude vacations.

00:12:15 - Tony Clark talks about producing magic shows around the country plus some new venues he is working on.

00:31:40 - J. Neal, of Jonathan Neal or Jonathan Neal Brown (take your pick) talks about his long career, what he's doing now (mostly cruise ships) and how he has kept on top of his game as the economy and the market changes.

00:45:02 - 35 year member of the AMA, Lee Delano, talks about his long career as an actor and how he kept busy for 40 years in the business. He worked with Sid Caesar for over 25 years. He worked with Lucille Ball and many other great comedians, plus he worked in the "Planet of the Apes" movie plus Star Trek and other TV shows and movies.

00:53:51 - Ray Pie.rce and Christopher Hart both worked at the old Hollywood Magic shop. They both tell some great stories from their experience in those old days

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224: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part Five

This one is a doozie. Lots of interesting people, diverse backgrounds, and wonderful stories. From one extreme to another. We talk with one of the servers who works at the Magic Castle, then one of the long time performers, then a couple Television personalities, comedians and authors. If you don't learn something from one, then you will from another. There is definitely something for everyone in this one.

Here are the timestamps for this podcast:

00:03:13 - Patrick Benneyworth is an actor who moonlights as a server at the Magic Castle...or is it the other way around? He talks about how he came to work at the Castle plus how he balances his acting career. I think his is an oft-heard story around Hollywood from aspiring actors.

00:09:46 - Rob Zabrecky talks about his work and his wife who he gives credit for as being the inspiration and creator of many of his ideas.

00:25:20 - Andrew Mayne is more than a magician. Here he talks about his upcoming mystery novel, "Name of the Devil", that will be released in July.

00:29:52 - Steve Valentine, Chris Philpott, Paul Vigil, and Alan Bursky are at the "Cary Grant" table during the Friday "Members' Lunch" as I sit in with my microphone and capture "lightening in a bottle". I'm glad I was in the right place at the right time. This short conversation is hilarious.

00:46:58 - Michael Perovich, author of "The Vernon Companion" talks about his time with Dai Vernon and the book that came as an outgrowth of spending a lot of time with "the Professor".

click on the image above to see more information about Andrew Mayne's newest product, the "Trigger clip"

Even impossible dreams begin with a single step. Follow the journey below for exclusive content from The Walk Movie and Sony Pictures. www.facebook.com/TheWalkMovie www.thewalkmovie.com/ Synopsis: The Walk is the true story of a young dreamer, Philippe Petit, and a band of unlikely recruits who together achieve the impossible: an illegal wire walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.

Our special online documentary series on Naked Stages' ongoing production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night". Featuring Patrick Benneyworth Videography and Post-Production by Lauren Street

223: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part Four

This week we again enter the Magic Castle and whisper "Open Sesame" into the ear of the owl on the bookcase, the sliding panel opens to where we greet and we talk with friends both old and new.

This week we sit down at the bar with one of the Magic Word listeners (and a "Friend of The Magic Word) and his wife to talk about magic in his life; a quick chat with Chris Philpott (creator of "The 100th Monkey"; a few reminisces with Milt Larsen, widely known as the "builder" of The Magic Castle; a stroll to breakfast with Paul Vigil; then another magician/mentalist named Paul from Salt Lake City, Paul Draper, talks about mentalism and showmanship; and, Christian Cagigal talks about his one man show and a new film project that is getting some traction around the U.S. You can view a "teaser trailer" of the film below.

NOW AND AT THE HOUR (Teaser Trailer) from Ersatz Film on Vimeo.

00:02:28 - Daniel WIll and his wife, Judy, are my first guests as we join them in the main bar, with "Irma the Invisible Piano Player" is playing in the background. He talks about his involvement in magic with the Boy Scouts organization.

00:07:09 - Chris Philpott, creator of the 100th Monkey effect, happened to walk by just as I completed my chat with Daniel and Judy Will. We talked about his product and its popularity. I was able to catch him with Steve Valentine for a quick "elevator conversation" before they had to rush to be seated for the show in the Palace.

00:09:04 - Milt Larsen talks about his radio broadcast on CRN "Hear Them Again" plus the building of the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts plus the recent changes in the name and usage of "The Magic Castle"

00:30:29 - Paul Vigil, talks about his most recent effect he is working on for his show, the "Q&A Act" and his thoughts on disclaimers.

00:39:38 - Paul Draper, talks about how to practice new routines and break them into your act.

01:04:30 - Christian Cagigal talks about his new documentary entitled "Now And At The Hour" chronicling his one-man magic show and how it was developed based on his life with his father who was a Viet Nam veteran with PTSD.

Click on the picture above to visit the Penguin Magic website for more information on this fantastic trick.

Steve Spill's new book was launched at The Academy of Magical Arts on May 12, 2015. Order your copy from Amazon (and support The Magic Word) by clicking on this graphic.