833: Magic Collector Expo 2024 - Day Three

Thursday, May 10, 2024

9:30am-11:00am Dealer Room Open

11:00am-12:30 Session #5

12:30am-2:30pm Dealer Room Open

2:30pm-4:00pm Session #6

6:30pm-10:00pm Dinner & Show

Timestamps for this episode:

00:00:17 – We begin the third and final day of the Expo and just finished taking a ghost tour of the Queen Mary. Brad Henderson was the curator for the Richard Garriott magic collection and tells us what Richard has been doing since he moved from Austin to New York. He also gives us his viewpoint of the Expo.

00:14:35 – Organizer, Bill Smith, welcomes us to the Queen Mary and tells us why he selected this venue for the convention.

00:21:59 – Ed Alonzo, was a Long Beach Mystic and he tells us how that changed his life.

00:28:40 – as they are setting up for the final night banquet, we chat with Lance Burton, and John Cox. John had talked about Houdini on ship voyages and how Harry was the “King of Sea Sickness.”

00:36:30 – Dianna Zimmerman has been working with the Magic Castle Juniors for decades and she tells us how it got started in 1975 and how rewarding it has been for her.

00:48:51 – Mike Michaels is a performer/creator/builder/creator who tells us how his life was influenced by Lance Burton and how he developed his robotic act.

00:53:30 – Greg Wilson talks about this convention plus his years as part of the Wilson family magic legacy.

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727: Behind the Camera at Masters of Illusion Season 9 - Part One

A lot goes into the production of a television show, especially where magic is involved. Producing a show with one magician is hard enough, but imagine coordinating the schedules of dozens of magicians from around the world to produce a multi-week series plus a Christmas special! Gay Blackstone is the Executive Producer of “Masters of Illusion” television series which airs in the U.S. on the CS network. This coming season number 9 will kick off with the Christmas Special airing Wednesday December 14th. The actual series won’t begin airing until February 2023. The Magic Word Podcast had exclusive, behind the scenes and behind the camera access to the filming of Season 9. This week and next we will broadcast conversations with some of those that made this show happen.

As we take our “magic carpet” to Burbank, California, we are excited about the unknown adventures that lie ahead for the filming of this year’s “Masters of Illusion” TV show. This week we chat with a variety of people behind the scenes beginning with a few people in the audience. Ever wonder where these audience members and volunteers come from? That is answered this along with our chats with some of the performers back stage, in the hallways and in their dressing rooms.

676: Ed Alonzo - In The Library

While I was in Los Angeles to work on “Masters of Illusion” TV series, Ed Alonzo found time to sit in the library of the Magic Castle to chat about his career. As a former member of the Long Beach Mystics and the Magic Castle Junior group, Ed launched successful careers as both a magician and an actor having major roles in many television series including “Saved By The Bell.” He also went on to work with Britney Spears on her worldwide concert tour where he interacted with her on stage in his character as a magician.

In this week’s episode, Ed covers a lot of territory in a short hour podcast. He talks extensively about the Magic Castle and his love and dedication to the clubhouse. He also talks about his time as a youth as he was trying to “find his character” when he was a member of the Long Beach Mystics and the Magic Castle Juniors. He tells how he transitioned into acting but never lost his love for performing magic, which he still does to this day having just completed the taping of Season Nine of “Masters of Illusion.” By the way, he talked about running for office on the Academy of Magical Arts: he won the election and is now on the Board of Directors. Congratulations, Ed.