Magic Newswire

MNW #169 :: DANNY ARCHER - MINDVENTION

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:40:03 -0800

On Sunday November 8th, the sixth annual Mindvention will kick off in Las Vegas. Convention organizer Danny Archer joins me to talkmagic, mentalism and MindVention on this episode of the podcast. What is Mindvention? A conference for mentalists and mystery performers whicg states as its goal to "Explore the untapped boundaries of the human mind. A gathering of the worlds finest thought readers, metal benders and mentalists who will be presenting performances, lectures, panel discussions. A dealer’s room overflowing with all the newest books and props and a "who’s who" of the world's finest Magicians and Mentalists. If you have any interest in Mentalism, you should not miss this annual gathering!

MNW #168 :: ROBERT WALLACE

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:52:55 -0800

Bob Wallace, retired CIA Director of the Department of Technical Íervice is one of the co-authors of the new book, The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception. In 1953, against the backdrop of the Cold War, the CIA initiated a top-secret program, code-named MKULTRA, to counter Soviet mind-control and interrogation techniques. Realizing that clandestine officers might need to covertly deploy newly developed pills, potions, and powders against the adversary, the CIA hired America's most famous magician, John Mulholland, to write two manuals on sleight of hand and undercover communication techniques.

In 1973, virtually all documents related to MKULTRA were destroyed. Mulholland's manuals were thought to be among them—until a single surviving copy of each, complete with illustrations, was recently discovered in the agency's archives.

The manuals reprinted in this work represent the only known complete copy of Mulholland's instructions for CIA officers on the magician's art of deception and secret communication

"A legendary 'lost' piece of magic history.It's James Bond meets Harry Houdini!" (Lance Burton, Master Magician )

"Melton and Wallace have achieved the ultimate mastery of the shadow world where CIA's smoke and mirrors meet Hollywood's art of magic, deception and illusion. Like any good stage show, the never-before-disclosed techniques are spellbinding. The history of espionage is expanded by this factual, fascinating account." (Tony and Jonna Mendez, Masters of Disguise )

"Entrancing! I was amazed to see how the magician's trade can be twisted to aid in the dark arts of espionage." (Jeff McBride, Creator of The Magic and Mystery School )

MNW #167 :: ALAIN NU

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:46:21 -0800

Just before heading off to the 2009 MindVention in Las Vegas Alain Nu joins me on the Spirit of Magic podcast. Alain is “the man who knows, ” a mentalist and mystery performer who explores the hidden potential of our minds. After headlining at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for four straight years, Nu was also the international star of four hour-long television specials for TLC entitled “The Mysterious World of Alain Nu.” On January 20th, 2009, Alain was asked to appear before many of the living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor at the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball which celebrated President Obama’s inauguration into the White House. Join Alain and me as we discuss modern mentalism and the ways in which he entertains even the most skeptical audiences with the awesome powers of the mind.

MNW #166 :: GEORGE SEIGEL

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:32:41 -0800

As we approach the 100th anniversary celebration of the mansion that serves as the permanent resident for the Academy of Magical Arts, we continue to explore the rich history of the Magic Castle. My guest on this episode of the podcast is George Seigel. George if the architectural historian for the Castle and the man that knows the complete history of the mansion. How many people have died in the Castle? Are there any reports of paranormal activity? Is there a connection between the family that lived there when it was a private residence and Harry Housini? All this and more will be revealed on teh Spirit of Magic Podcast!

MNW #165 :: MILT LARSEN

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:54:48 -0700

The founder of the Magic Castle and the producer of the annual "It's Magic" show is my guest on this special edition of the Magic Newswire's Spirit of Magic Podcast as we explore the history of the Castle which celecreates it's 100th anniversary next week. In the podcast, Milt shares his experiences as one of the founders of the most magical place on earth, talks about what the future holds for the Magic Castle and promotes the 100th Anniversary celevration "It's Magic Show" which takes place next week.

MNW #164 :: NEIL PATRICK HARRIS

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:18:22 -0700

Neil Patrick Harris joins me for a second interview on the Magic Newswire podcast to discuss the 100th Anniversary of the Magic Castle mansion and "It's Magic 2009." Neil also discusses Max Maven's resignation as the Castle's Entertainment Director, why magic is an important part of his life and what the future has in stor from his magic and for the Magic Castle.

MNW #163 :: RICHARD OSTERLIND

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:43:31 -0700

My guest on this episode is an entertainer entertainer considered by many to be the foremost Mentalist performing in the English language, Richard Osterlind. In addition to his many and varied performing credits, Richard is also the creator of many landmark effects of mentalism and has just released the much anticipated six DVD set on Corinda's Thirteen Steps to Mentalism. In our interview, Richard and i discuss his eveloution as a mentalist and the power of this type of entertainment.

MNW # 162 :: TOTALLY RAD SHOW

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:34:07 -0700

On this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast, we do something a little bit different. Instead of an interview with one of magic's leading performers, we talk to the hosts of Revision 3's "Totally Rad Show." Dan Trachtenberg, Alex Albrecht & Jeff Cannata are fans of magic, but spend most of their time focused on popular culture and modern entertainment. We got together to discuss magic's place in the modern world of entertainment and the challenges it faces when competing for the attention of an audience. I am certain that you'll find a lot to think about !

MNW #161 :: MAX MAVEN

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:09:43 -0700

Previous Magic Newswire podcast guest Max Maven returns to discuss his decision to resign as the Entertainment Director of the Magic Castle. As this information began to circulate on the Interwebs, I thought it best to call Max in order to allow him to tell out listeners what the real story was before too many rumors began to circulate. In addition, he talks about this expereince booking acts for one of the most unusual clubs in the world.

MNW #160 :: MARVYN ROY

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:38:28 -0700

What more is there to say other than it's Mr. Electric! I am thrilled to welcome Marvyn Roy to the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast! If for some strange reason, you don't already know, Marvyn and Carol Roy performed the "Mr. Electric" Act for over fifty years. Mr. Electric toured the world during the fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties. Marvyn & Carol were featured at Radio City Music Hall, the London Palladium, the Latin Quarter, Gorki Park in Moscow, the Ed Sullivan Show and the Hollywood Palace. Whether working hotels, ice shows, floor shows, night clubs, theatres, arenas or amusement parks, Mr. & Mrs. Electric led a life that most magicians only dream of.

MNW #159 :: DAVID BERGLAS

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:13:13 -0700

"International Man of Mystery" David Berglas is my guest on this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast. In his 2009 Enigma show brochure, Derren Brown describes David Berglas as "One of our greatest living magical performers" and thanks him "-for his constant inspiration and generosity. Each show is indebted to his artistry and astonishing body of work. Thank you David". Known within the magic community for his many creations, Berglas is best known for the effect named for him which allows for the prediction of Any Card at Any Number." David was the first elected President of London's Magic Circle and has had the opportunity to perform for England's Royal Family, Winston Churchill and Paul Getty.

MNW #158 :: Stephen Minch

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:31:47 -0700

After many years of writing magic books Stephen Minch decided to found his own publishing house which he called Hermetic Press. Today, the Hermetic Press is one of the most prestigeous magic publishers in the world and Stephen is considered one of the best editors and authors of magic books. Also recognized for his encyclopedic knowledge of magic history. Mr. Minch joins me on the Magic Newswire's Spirit of magic to talk about Ted Annemann and the Jinx.

MNW #157 :: DAVID BEN 2

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:18:38 -0700

The public, the press and his peers have recognized David as one of the world’s foremost sleight-of-hand artists. In Dai Vernon: A Biography (2006), David penned the first half (part two being in production) of the definitive portrait of Dai Vernon, the most influential magician of the twentieth century. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Magicana, a performing arts organization and registered charity which serves to educate and increase the public’s understanding and appreciation of the art of magic. David joins me on the podcast to talk about his love of magic and his contribution to Genii's 75th Anniversary sauluteto the Jinx.

MNW #156 :: DAVID BEN

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:33:13 -0700

The public, the press and his peers have recognized David Ben as one of the world’s foremost sleight-of-hand artists. In Dai Vernon: A Biography (2006), David penned the first half (part two being in production) of the definitive portrait of Dai Vernon, the most influential magician of the twentieth century. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Magicana, a performing arts organization and registered charity which serves to educate and increase the public’s understanding and appreciation of the art of magic. David joins me on the podcast to talk about his love of magic and his contribution to Genii's 75th Anniversary sauluteto the Jinx.

MNW #155 :: STAND ALLEN

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:25:39 -0700

Magic Magazine Editor Stan Allen joins me for our monthly conversation to discuss the October 2009 issue of the publication. The feature story is on Yevgeniy Voronin has perfected his magical, comedic, rather vampiric stage persona, The Maestro. With his deadpan expressions and implacable demeanor, he seems much like a painting come to life, although just the opposite has proven to be true. Robert Neale takes a look at using humor to examine the darker aspects of life. David Britland reports on the Street Magic festival in Portugal and Steve Bryant reports on Magic Live!

MNW #152 :: MAVEN, KING, BURGER, CAVENEY, LEVIT (Repost)

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:58:59 -0700

Previous guests from the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast re-join us to talk about their contributions to the Genii 75h Anniversary Special Edition of the Jinx. Our guests include Mac King, Max Maven, Mike Caveney, Jonathan Levit and Eugene Burger. We talk to each of these performers about their contributions to the Jinx special edition and about how Anneman and the Jinx impacted their growth as performers in the art of magic and mentalism.

MNW #154 :: MARVIN MILLER

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:20:10 -0700

In addition to his duties as an executive on the Board of Directors of many international companies, Marvin Miller has managed to find tim to write more than twenty best selling books for children and to make a significant contribution to the art of magic and mentalism. Most recently, Marvin contributed the article "When Ted Went Postal" to genii Magazine's 75th Anniversary salute to Ted Annemann's the Jinx. Join us on this episode of the Spirit of Magic podcast for a conversation that also touches on Walter Gibson, Dunninger, Himber and modern mentalism.

MNW #152 :: PCAM 2009

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:00:20 -0700

In 2005, Shawn Farquar took to the ocean for the first time with the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians confrence. This hear, he did it again when the event was held on the latest addition to the Norwegian Cruise Lines Fleet, The Norwegian Pearl. Ken Scott was there to capture a bit of the flavour of the event and sent in these chats with Chris Capehart, Luis Dematos, Shawn Farquhar, Geoff Williams and many more. Enjoy!

MNW #152 :: MAVEN, KING, CAVENEY LEVIT & BURGER

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:03:55 -0700

Previous guests from the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast re-join us to talk about their contributions to the Genii 75h Anniversary Special Edition of the Jinx. Our guests on this episode include Mac King, Max Maven, Mike Caveney, Jonathan Levit and Eugene Burger. We talk to each of these performers about their contributions to the Jinx special edition and about how Anneman and the Jinx impacted their growth as performers in the art of magic and mentalism.

MNW #151 :: BANACHEK

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:17:31 -0700

My guest on this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast is more than just an amazing performer, he's a respected thinker and creator in the art of magic and mentalism. Banachek Was a part of the now famous Project Alpha hoax in which he convinced scientists from Washington University that he was actually demonstrating paranormal abilities. Banacheck in now a sought after concultant and performer who has worked with such performers as Criss Angel and Penn & Teller to develop material for their acts. Join us in this episode as we talk about his notorious history in the art and the 75th Anniversary of the Jinx released by Genii Magazine in October.

MNW #150 :: BOB CASSIDY

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:44:48 -0700

Bob Cassidy is a founding member of the Psychic Entertainers Association and one of the most colorful and influential creators of modern mentalism. His book, "The Art of Mentalism" was immediately recognized as a classic in the field when it was released and remains at the top of the "must read" book lists of the leading practioners in this area of magic. In this interview, Bob shares his thoughts on the state of modern mentalism and discusses the influence of Ted Annemann and "The Jinx" on the art. Bob is also one of the contributors to the October special supplement to Genii Magazine which celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Jinx.

MNW #149 :: MARCO TEMPEST

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:22:02 -0700

My guest on this episode of the "Spirit of Magic" Podcast is none other than Techno Magician Marco Tempest. Marco believes that the magician’s role is to be the one who makes dreams real first, before technology can get there…and so Tempest is always out there exploring new frontiers, one step ahead of the rest of us. It’s hard to tell if he’s on a fool’s journey…or that of a true visionary. Perhaps it’s a bit of both. In this conversation, Marco and I explore the connections between magic and technology as well as what motivates him to explore new frontiers.

MNW #148 :: ERIC DECAMPS

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:41:07 -0700

On Friday, September 11th, 2009, our friend magician Eric DeCamps was invested as a Dean of the Society of American Magicians Parent Assembly #1. Eric has been performing for more than 30 years. Among his many honors, he was voted Magician of the Year by The Society of American Magicians and is only the second person in the 107 year history of the organization to receive the prestigious Gold Medal of Excellence for Close Up Magic. Eric joins me on this episode of the Spirit of Magic Podcast to reflect upon the most recent honor bestowed upon him by the organization and what it means to him s he moves forward in his magical career. Eric will be performing his one man show at the Magic Castle on September 27th.

MNW #147 :: MAGIC IN THE ROCKIES 2

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:08:10 -0700

Mark Weidhaas continues to bring us reports from the 2009 "Magic in the Rockies" convention. In this episode, he visits with SYM National Director Jann Goodsell, Earle Reum, FISM winners Carol Massie, & Joe Givens, Geof Williams, Charlie Frye, Sherry Frye, Mark Stivers and Luke Jermay.

MNW #146 :: TAOM 2009

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:44:50 -0700

Ken Scott, one of the Magic Newswire's roving reporters just returned from the Texas Association of Magicians Conferene in Houston Texas. In spite of his busy schedule as a volunteer at the gathering, he managed to get interviews with Banachek, Scott Wells, Michael Ammar, Adel Rhindress and Walter Blaney. Find out more about Ken by visiting KenScottMagic.com and for more info on TAOM visit TAOM.org!

MNW #145 :: BRENDAN BYRNE (DERREN BROWN EVENT 1)

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:54:40 -0700

My friend Brendan Byrne of IrishMagicNews.com joins me to share his observations on the first of the four part series of Derren Brown's Event series on UK Television Channel 4.

MNW #144 :: MAGIC IN THE ROCKIES 1

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:47:52 -0700

Society of American Magicians President Elect Mark Weidhass is attending this year's "Magic in the Rockies" convention in Ft. Collins Colorado. While there, he acting as our eyes and ears on site by bringing us reports and interviews with convention organizers, attendees and performers like Steve Spangler & Doc Eason. Join us now for the ffirst of these daily reports from Mark Weidhaas then pop over to MagicSam.com for info on their introductory membership offer!

MNW #143 :: BARRIE RICHARDSON

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:31:19 -0700

Barrie Richardson may be one of magic's most soft spoken thinkers, but has contributed a great deal to the art of magic an mentalism. Withe the 1990 release of "Theater of the Mind," Barrie became instantly synonymous with great mentalism. The release of his second book "Act II" continued this legacy. Barrie joins me on the Magic Newswire "Spirit of Magic" podcast to talk about his influences in magic including Ted Annemann whose JINX magazine will be celebrated in the October issue of Genii Magazine.

MNW #143 :: BARRIE RICHARDSON

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:18:59 -0700

Barrie Richardson may be one of magic's most soft spoken thinkers, but he has contributed a great deal to the art of magic an mentalism. With the 1990 release of "Theater of the Mind," Barrie became instantly synonymous with great mentalism. The release of his second book "Act II" continued his legacy. Barrie joins me on the Magic Newswire "Spirit of Magic" podcast to talk about his influences in magic including Ted Annemann whose JINX magazine will be celebrated in the October issue of Genii Magazine.

Derren Brown Predicts the Lottery

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:41:13 -0700

::ditto::

MNW #142 :: HARRY ANDERSON

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:57:09 -0700

Harry "The Hat" Anderson is back with us on the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast to talk about the 75th Anniversary tribute to the Jinx which will accompany the October issue of Genii Magazine. Ted Annemann was one of magic's most influential writers and editors. In 1934 he began publishing the Jinx Magazine with the last of 151 issues being released on December 15th, 1941, just before Annemann committed suicide. Ted was best known for his work in the field of mentalism and many of his methods and routines are still used by performers today. Harry talks about Annemann and how he was influenced by this legendary figure as well as the reason that he feels that the Jinx is still such an important part of our history.

MNW #141 :: JON RACHERBAUMER 2

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:57:58 -0700

In Part Two of my interview with the legendary Jon Racherbaumer, we explore the many influenences on Jon and his passion for magic. Marlo, Vernon, Cardini, Slydini, Chan Canasta, Channing Pollock, Tommy Wonder, John Scarne and more all enter into the conversation. In addition, we discuss 75th anniversary edition of the Jinx that he and Harry Anderson have put together for the October issue of Genii Magazine.

MNW #140 :: JON RACHERBAUMER 1

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:58:46 -0700

If you don't know the name of Jon Racherbaumer, you should either walk away from magic or take a some time to explore his influence on our art form. Jon is one of those guys that managed to connect to some of the greatests names in the modern history of magic including Ed Marlo, Eddie Fields, Orson Welles, and Senator Crandall. Given the controversies surrounding Blackpool & FISM 2010, it is also interesting to note that he was at one time blackballed by both the IBM & the SAM. Please join us for Part One of our interview with Jon Racherbaumer and learn more about lesbian bowlers, the magic mafic and how a good magician becomes controversial.

MNW #139 :: ERIC ESWIN

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:43:24 -0700

Eric Eswin first discovered magic at the knee of an Uncle showing him a coin trick. Today he is the International President of Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (International Federation of Magic Societies or FISM) which today today consists of 82 clubs, both national and international, as well as national Federations which represent over 50,000 Magicians from 44 countries. Having just returned from the most recent World Championships of Magic in Beijing, Eric joins us on the "Spirit of Magic" podcast to talk about his vision for the future of the organization and some of the controversies related to the next convention in 2012.

MNW #138 :: SHAWN FARQUHAR

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:26:27 -0700

Shawn Farquhar returns to the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast to share his FISM experience with our listeners. As you will know, Shawn was awarded First Place in Cards and went on to with the Grand Prix in close-up at the event in Beijing. We discuss both the good and the bad of this year's FISM including the controversy related to his win that was stirred up within magic circles.

MNW #137 :: MAGIC LIVE 5

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:12:41 -0700

As Magic Live winds down we bring you the final batch of interviews from the show floor and from backstage. In this episode we hear from Kevin James, Noel Britten, David Kaye, Dan Sperry, Dean Carnegie, Martin Lewis, Brian Daniel, Franz Harary and Richaed McDougal. Ken Scott, Cameron Ramsay and Paul Draper have done a fantastic job of bringing you interviews with attendees, performers, lectureres and dealers involved in the conference so that you got a taste of the Magic Live experience.

MNW #136 :: MAGIC LIVE 4

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:55:45 -0700

Magic Live has wrapped day three! Ken Scott, Cameron Ramsay and Paul Draper have been doing an amazing job of bringing you interviews with attendies, performers, lectureres and dealers involved in the conference so that you get a feel of what it is like to be there if you were unable to attend. In this episode they chat with Marco Tempest, Franz Hararry, Trixie Bond, SAM President Mike Miller, Mike Bent, Chris Randall, Mike Michaels and Jason Andrews.

(Note: There may be days in which multiple episodes are released. If you use iTunes to get this podcast, please check the list of files to make sure that you haven't missed an episode. You'll also be able to listen here to each and every report as they are made available!)

MNW #136 :: MAGIC LIVE 4

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:42:46 -0700

MNW #135 :: MAGIC LIVE 3

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:19:37 -0700

As we post this, Magic Live is in the midst of the evening session on Day Two of the conventiion. Ken Scott of KenScottMagic.com is reporting from Las Vegas with some special guests including Brian Daniel, Maria Ibanez, Jonathan Levit & Oscar Munoz. Ken is joined in Las Vegas by our other reporters including Paul Draper & Cameron Ramsay who will all be working to give you their perspective on one of the best magic conventions of the year. (Note: There may be days in which multiple episodes are released. If you use iTunes to get this podcast, please check the list of files to make sure that you haven't missed an episode. You'll also be able to listen here to each and every report as they are made available!)

MNW #134 :: MAGIC LIVE 2

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:22:44 -0700

The first full day of Magic Live wrapped up yesterday after two hour morning and afternoon sessions, the first Live Onstage and two special evening events. Paul Draper guves us a peek backstage in this episode of our Magic Live updates and chats with Elliot Zimet. Paul will be joined on site by Ken Scott & Cameron Ramsay who will all work to keep us up to date on what is happening at Magic Live! (Note: There may be days in which multiple episodes are released. If you use iTunes to get this podcast, please check the list of files to make sure that you haven't missed an episode. You'll also be able to listen here to each and every report as they are made available!)

MNW #133 :: MAGIC LIVE 1

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:56:25 -0700

Magic Live kicked off yesterday with registration and time to mix and mingle with some of the top names in magic. Paul Draper is our first reporter on the scene and sent us these conversations with Chashetta, Ed Alonzo, Jeff McBride, Tobias Beckwith, Joey Juliano and Ron Seward. Paul will be joined on site by Ken Scott & Cameron Ramsay who will all work to keep us up to date on what is happening at Magic Live! (Note: There may be days in which multiple episodes are released. If you use iTunes to get this podcast, please check the list of files to make sure that you haven't missed an episode. You'll also be able to listen here to each and every report as they are made available!)

MNW #132 :: LVMI 1

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:15:24 -0700

Cameron Ramsay reports from the Las Vegas Magic Invitational on this special edition of the Magic Newswire podcast. Cameron talks with c0-producer Danny Archer and Paul Green. The tenth annual West Coast close-up convention showcases some of the best close-up and cabaret magic to be found at any convention.

Danny Archer is a former computer salesman who started using magic as an icebreaker with clients. Today, Archer performs customized magic tricks at corporate meetings and seminars to drive home a business concept like teamwork, cost-cutting and new business development.

Paul Green performs the kind of magic that audiences love. With years of experience and thousands of performances under his belt, Paul Green's magic is practical, powerful and memorable.

MNW #131 :: KIDABRA #2

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:43:53 -0700

Ken Scott wraps up his reporting from KIDabra 2009 with the winners of the first ever KIDabra performance competition which was sponsored by Silly Billy.

Jimbo, has been a professional magician for over 20 years. In this time he has won international acclaim as a top comedy Cabaret performer and Children's

Entertainer. He has represented the United Kingdom in the Comedy Slapstick awards on German TV, and has appeared no less than 20 times on

international and UK Television

Dave Andrews Dave has many years experience in entertaining children both here in the UK, Europe and on cruise ships. He is now based in London and works the whole of the South East and further afield.

MNW #130 :: KIDABRA 1

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:27:02 -0700

This is the first in a series of special editions of the Magic Newswire podcast with reports from the many magic related conventions taking place around the US. In this episode of the Magic Newscast, my friend Ken Scott chats with magicians attending Kidabra in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Among his guests is well known Boston performer Mike Bent. Mike is one of the top family performers in the US and has performed performed alongside animal expert Jack Hanna and the Disney Channel's Aly & A.J at the White House for the Annual White House Easter Egg Roll, where they entertained more than 16,000+ guests! Mark Daniel is one of the directors of KIDabra International. Performing for more than 24 years, Mark has been a special guest to schools throughout the Eastern US. Year after year he beats the drums for great children's books day in and day out as a Reading Ambassador. Max Howard is an Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, author and keynote speaker who entertains, inspires and informs educators and the businesses that support them. David Kaye, aka "Silly Billy" is a previous guest of the Magic Newswire who performs all styles of magic with the vast majority of his time spent performing magic shows for children.

MNW #129 :: MAX MAVEN

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:20:58 -0700

Max Maven makes a return appearance as my guest on this episode of the Spirit of Magic Podcast. Why has the first place prize for mentalism not been awarded at FISM since 1985 and then, not for eighteen years before that? Can mentalism even be successfully performed within the framework of a FISM competition? These are just a few of the topics that we touch on in this interview with one of our favorite mystery performers.

MNW #128 :: TIM ELLIS

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:12:30 -0700

Fresh from China where he served as a judge at FISM, Tim Ellis is my guest on this episode of the podcast. Tim talks about his career and how Asperger's Syndrome has impacted his magic. How important is originality and storytelling in magic? Was the quality of the overall magic up to FISM standards? What is Tim's philosophy when judging acts performing in what has become known as "The Olympics of Magic?" And of course, we discuss the controversy that has followed Shawn Farquhar's win of the FISM Grand Prix.

MNW #128 :: TIM ELLIS

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:00:10 -0700

MNW #127 :: SOMA

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:21:08 -0700

Joining me from Budapest, Hungary is the newly dubbed World Champion of Stage Magic, Soma! Soma has become recognized in magic circles over the last several years after winning the such awards as The Golden Lion and the Magic Rings Grand Prix. After being named the Champion in the General Magic category at this year's FISM in Beijing, China, Soma went on to win one of the most prestigious awards in the world of magic, the FISM Grand Prix for stage magic. His original phone-act, has been recognized for its originality and has been featured at conventions and gala shows around the world. In this Magic Conversation, Soma discusses the evolution of his magic and shares his FISM experience with our listeners.

MNW #126 :: STAN ALLEN

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:32:01 -0700

Stan Allen joins us for his monthly chat about the current issue of Magic Magazine just before heading out to Magic Live. David Copperfield is featured on the cover for an article promoting his private island and resort, Musha Key at Copperfield Bay. What would you pay to have Chris Kenner take you on a pirate treasure hunt? In addirion, we talk about the upcoming Magic Live convention and Stan offeres his thoughts on the possibility of a magician willing America's Got Talent.

MNW #125 :: CONSTANTINE & KC

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:55:51 -0700

Joseph Constantine joins the ranks of the magicians headed to Las vegas for the finals of this season of America's Got Talent on NBC. Illusionist Constantine and his wife KC received mixed reviews from the judges but their story of battling financial setbacks with the dream of getting a second chance through magic and AGT pushed them through to Las Vegas. Joseph & KC join me on this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast to discuss what AGT means to them and give us a glimpse behind the scenes of the summer's hottest television show.

MNW #124 :: STEVE SANTINI

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:45:29 -0700

The name Steve Santini may not yet be commonly known in magic circles, but in many ways he has single handedly revolutionized the image and accomplishments of the contemporary professional escape artist. Steve describes what he does as "Taking escapology out of it’s 'Dark Ages”.' Santini has crafted a unique performing style and props that are a look forward into the future of the art all the while creating a visceral and extremely intense psychological experience for modern audiences craving “reality” over fantasy. There is no “magic” or “illusion” to be found in Steve's work. In fact, he strongly believes that such elements have no place at all in the art of escape. What he does is real, impassioned, and without equal. If you didn't know Steve before this interview, you'll want to learn more after him discuss his inspirations and performance philosophy. Tomorrow, Steve will be staging an escape in the tradition of Haryy Houdini when he attempts to brak out of one of Canada's oldest Death Row prisons.

MNW #123 :: NATHAN BURTON II

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:26:51 -0700

Nathan Burton returns to the Magic Newswire's Spirit of Magic podcast after his appearance on the current season of America's Got Talent. Nathan was also a contestant on the first season of the show in which he placed 11th. Nathan returns to a show which seems more receptive to magic acts than it has been in the past. In addition to discussing the why and how of his return to the America's Got Talent, he offers his opinions on how to succeed as a magician on one of the most popular television shows in the world. In addition, Nathan talks about Michael Jackson and his love of magic as well as a photograph of MJ which has surfaced showing the King of Pop in attendance at Burton's show with his children.

MNW #122 :: JAY MATTIOLI

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:45:18 -0700

America may have magic this year as three magicians have qualified for the next round of the new season of America's Got Talent. IN this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast we talk to Jay Mattioli who wowed the judges with his stage presence as much as with his magic. Jay was previously featured on FOX TV's Young Magician's Showcase. Among his warads are First place in the 2006 Society of American Magician's International Stage Contest of Magic and the 2000 International Brotherhood of Magicians Gold Medal Stage Contest. Jay talks with me about his inspirations and his experience on America's Got Talent.

MNW #121 :: JONATHAN PENDRAGON 2

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:09:10 -0700

When we posted the first part of our interview with Jonathan, we talked about the challenges that he had to overcome in order to become one of the top magicians in the world. It is no secret that the Pendragons are facing a new set of challenges as I post these interviews. In this episode, Jonathan talks in detail about meeting and romancing Charlotte and how they became one of the most respected couples in magic. Named by Magic Magazine, as one of 10 living magicians whose work shaped magic in the 20th and 21st centuries, Jonathan Pendragon is my guest on this episode of The Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic Podcast."

MNW #120 :: JOHN CALVERT

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:32:18 -0700

One of America's great stage magicians, John Calvert segued into acting when hired to play himself in The 1943 FILM "Bombardier" with Eddie Albert. As a result, John was signed to a contract with Columbia Pictures. John was the technical director on "The Silver Chalice" which was the platform for Paul Newman's acting debut. John was also the first magician to perform a big magic show in Las Vegas and on Broadway. John is a movie star, an amazing magician, an aviator, adventurer, a yachtsman and my guest on this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast!

MNW #119 :: JEFF HOBSON

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:56:34 -0700

Jeff Hobson is one of the most in-demand comedy magicians working today. His refreshing and clever mix of comedy and magic has brought him back for repeat performances all over the world. Hobson has won numerous awards for his skills. Among the most recent is his Best Comedy Magic award given by the International Magic Awards Association as well as an award of Best Magic Review by the World Magic Awards for his role as star and producer of the critically acclaimed Carnival of Wonders with Kalin & Jinger.

MNW #118 :: DREW THOMAS

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:14:35 -0700

With few exceptions, America's Got Talent hasn't been the most friendly venue for magicians. Kevin Jame, Nathan Burton and the Pendragons are among the few exceptions to this rule. Enter Drew Thomas who made his America's Got Talent appearance this season and was highly praised by the judges. Drew has entertained millions with his sensational productions and has performed in over 5000 live shows. Drew joins us on this episode of the Magic Newswire's Spirit of Magic podcast to talk about "Deconstructing magic" and his experience on America's Got Talent.

WONDER THUNDER #5

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:25:58 -0700

We continue to explore the world of magic from Australia withAdam Mada and his weekly radio segment on FBI Radio 94.5FM in Sydney, Australia. On this episode, "Abracadabra!" The crew talks about the origins of this most magical word of all time, what does it really mean ? Who first used it ? What are it’s origins ?Adam is joined by special guests Erin Black & the Page Turners in the studio with their manager Mr Russell Beattie, whom has a very special word tattooed on his chest We get all ABRACADABRA with a psychological & physical miracle, a sealed locked box, with something inside awaiting. No one knows what is inside, the contents will be determined LIVE on radio, by our special guests.

WONDER THUNDER #4

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:27:00 -0700

Bar stunts: Adam is going to teach you how to FREEZE an entire bottle of beer in under 2 seconds flat, I mean freeze the beer to ICE. We discuss the GUILLOTINE illusion, and the synchronicities I've experience of late with ALICE COOPER. We briefly touch, on magic used in large POP shows.

MNW #117 :: RICK THOMAS

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:31:05 -0700

How does a boy from Long Beach, California, go from being the country's youngest ballroom dance champion to a respected, top drawing magician in the Entertainment Capital of the World? Practice, practice, practice. Rick is no stranger to the Las Vegas stage having headlined at both the Tropicana and the Stardust. In July, he'll launch a new show at the Sahara. Rick joins us to discuss the new project, the evolution of his magic act, working with tigers and his frustration with some people in the industry.

MNW #116 :: JONATHAN PENDRAGON

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:26:34 -0700

Who was the stunt double that did the backflips for John Belushi in the movie "The Blues Brothers?" Who grew up in Harry Anderson's garage? Which magician overcame the hardships of dyslexia, ADD, sever speech impediments and other learning disabilities to become a world renowned magic performer? You've probably guessed that Jonathan Pendragon by now. Named by Magic Magazine, as one of 10 living magicians whose work shaped magic in the 20th and 21st centuries, Jonathan Pendragon is my guest on this episode of The Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic Podcast."

MNW #115 :: WAYNE HOUCHIN

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:42:24 -0700

Wayne Houchin has been creating magic since trying to recreate the illusions of David Copperfield with cardboard boxes in his family's living room. He went on to stage a straight jacket escape while hanging from a crane in order to promote his first series of shows at the age of sixteen. In 2003, an underground tape of Wayne's original magic was seen by acclaimed mentalist Banachek who immediately recognized Wayne's potential. While consulting for the first season of Criss Angel : Mindfreak, Banachek suggested that Wayne be brough on to assist in the production of several of his original effects. In 2007 Houchin, Jonathan Bayme, Chris Kenner, B.J. Bueno, and Dana Hocking formerd Theory 11, a new online entity devoted to the advancement of the art of magic. Today, Wayne is releasing his latest project, "The Art of Magic" as a DVD or online download. Wayne joins us on the Magic Newswire's Spirit of Magic podcast to discuss his philosophy and thoughts on magic today.

WONDER THUNDER #3

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:45:28 -0700

Who was the first person to fly an aircraft in the Land Downunder......Tune in to learn the historic tale of the first person to successfully pilot a powered aircraft in Australia. It all happened in 1910 at Diggers Rest...........Synchronicity, we are going to POLL LIVE the FBI audience, and ask for some random numbers. What will the numbers mean ? what will Adam do ?And of course following on from last week, we are going to teach a diabolical bar stunt with a simple pack of matches.

MNW #114 :: JOHN STURK :: THE NEWEST TOPS

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:03:28 -0700

Begiunning in 1936, the Abbott Magic Company produced Tops magazine, a seminal publication that featured columns from some of the all-time great magicians: Karrell Fox, Clarke "Senator" Crandall, Neil Foster, Frances Marshall...the list goes on and on Ceasing publication in the early '90s, The New Tops left behind a legacy of influencing generations of magicians. Now, in 2009, under the leadership of owner and publisher Greg Bordner, the Abbott Magic Company looks to continue the grand tradition with "The Newest Tops " a new monthly e-zine. With us on this episode of the Magic Newswire Podcast is the Editor of the Newsest TOPS, magician John Sturk. We'll talk about the grand old tradition that is TOPS and how it will impact the magic community today!

MAGIC NEWSCAST :: SIMON LOVELL

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:29:30 -0700

Previous MagicNewswire.com guest Simon Lovell pays us another visit in order to share his memories, thought and impressions of Earl "Presto" Johnson.

DUELING MAGICIANS :: WONDER THUNDER 2

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:35:01 -0700

Dueling Magicians - With every Holy Grail, comes deceit,espionage and Thievery.In the spirit of the Prestige, we are going to discuss tales of dueling magicians. There is a rich history of sabotage, jealously show-biz espionage and murder, especially during the golden age of magic during the 20th century.I have recently received “hatashi jou” which is Japanese for “letter of challenge” by my arch nemesis Mr Richard Vegas. We shall call Mr Richard Vegas live on air, as I have my own little challenge for him. The challenge I present will be impossible of course, however if by a miracle he succeeds, I will accept the dual outlined in the “hatashi jou”. Anything could happen !

MNW #113 :: DIETRICH & BROOKS

Fri, 29 May 2009 09:35:07 -0700

Dorothy Dietrich is one of the world's foremost female magician and escapologists. She was the first woman to catch a bullet in her mouth. Dorothy is also the first woman to perform a straitjacket escape while suspended hundreds of feet in the air from a burning rope and has been referred to as on of the "eight most noted magicians of the late twentieth century." Dick Brooks is a world class entertainer of both comedy and magic and helped to found FAME which later became the Society of Young Magicians within SAM. Together, they created New York's famous Magic Townhouse and gave many magicians their first job during the fifteen years that it was in operation. Brooks & Dietrich now operate the famous Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA.

MNW #112 :: STEVE BROOKS

Wed, 20 May 2009 10:10:13 -0700

Magic Cafe founder Steve Books joins me on this episode of the Spirit of Magic podcast. We discuss his early days in magic, the founding of the Magic Cafe website in the very early days of the internet and the many challenges and issues that he's had to deal with as they site has evolved over the years. In addition, we also discuss the launch of the new Tenyo Elite series of magic tricks and how that project came about.

MNW #112 :: STEVE BROOKS

Tue, 19 May 2009 10:34:43 -0700

WONDER THUNDER #1

Sun, 17 May 2009 18:37:28 -0700

Sawing a woman in half.....why...? Today we discuss the origins of the this most iconic effect sawing a woman in half, why was it so popular in the early 20's. 1921 was also the year women in the UK were given the power to vote !! We also discuss the correlations between a deck of cards and the gregorian calendar. On the topic of cards, Mr Mada, performs a miracle with some one else's, deck of cards across in the airwaves in there home.

MNW #111:: ERIC DECAMPS

Fri, 15 May 2009 20:27:22 -0700

Award-winning magician and world-renowned sleight of hand artist, Eric DeCamps joins us on the Magic Newswire "Spirit of Magic" Podcast before appearing as a featured performer at the SAM's 100th anniversary Salute to Magic! Eric has been performing for more than 30 years and was voted Magician of the Year by The Society of American Magicians. He is the second person in the 107 year history of the organization to receive the prestigious Gold Medal of Excellence for Close Up Magic. Join Eric and me to discuss his background in the craft and his upcoming appearance at the SAM's anniversary show.

MNW #110 :: JAMES RANDI

Tue, 12 May 2009 17:04:44 -0700

The Amazing Randi joins us on this episode of the "Spirit of Magic" podcast before appearing as a featured performer at the upcoming 100th Anniversary Salute to Magic show in New York City. Randi began his career as a mentalist and magician before becoming known as a scientific sceptic challenging those who claim to have paranormal abilities. He gained fame in this field after an ongoing feud between himself and Uri Gellar in the mid to late 1970's. Randi himself rejects the title of "debunker" preferring instead to be seen as an investigator in the field of pseudo-science. Randi is the author of many books on the subjects of the paranormal, skepticism and the history of conjuring. Randi talks with me about his career in these varied fields and about his motivation as a paranormal skeptic.

MAGIC NEWSCAST :: 100TH ANNUAL SALUTE TO MAGIC

Mon, 11 May 2009 13:39:30 -0700

Sal Perotta from Sam Assembly 1 in NYC joins us on this Magic Newscast to talk about the 100th annual Salute to Magic. the longest running annual magic show in the history. For the 100th Annual Salute, they have put together an extraordinary theatrical presentation that focuses on some of the highlights of that amazing history. Several special re-created performances and tributes to past important Salute performers will be featured. The show will also include the world premier of several new magical effects and illusions created just for this event! The Salute show will also include giant video screens on either side of the stage to enlarge the live performers, as well as, show film clips of some classic performers! The performers will include Paul Daniels, Eric DeCamps, David Ben, Mike Caveney, Scott Interrante, The Pendragons, The Amazing Randi, Margaret Steele, Johnny and Pam Thompson and many surprise guests! This is a one night only performance to be held at 8PM on May 16th, 2009 at the Manhattan Center in midtown NY.

MNW #109 :: PAUL DANIELS

Thu, 07 May 2009 13:36:18 -0700

The best known magician in the UK is our guest on this episode of the "Spirit of Magic" podcast. Paul Daniels has been performing magic since he was eleven years ol. He starred in his own television series "Its Magic" for more than sixteen years and was awarded Golden Rose of Montreux Award at the International TV Festival in Switzerland in 1985. In 1983, paul became the first magician from outside the US to be named "Magician of the Tear" by the Academy of Magical Arts. Paul still tours with his magic show, and recently presented a intimate show focused on the ‘Magic of Max Malini’.

MNW #108 :: BRETT DANIELS

Tue, 05 May 2009 12:01:19 -0700

Brett Daniels has been presented his unique brand of magic to audiences around the world. His show set box office record in China and was a favorite in Atlantic City. His Chinese television special was watch by more than 1.8 Billion people and he then toured Asis performing his show for more that 10,000 people per day. Bret has appeared on such television specials as NBC's "World's Greatest Magic" (I, II, III & V), ABC's "Champions of Magic, "Houdini, Unlocking the Secrets (NBC), and the currently airing "Masters of Illusion." In 2008, Brett launched a new concept show at the Las Vegas Sahara entitled "Wohscigam" which combined magic with a theatrical murder mystery prduction, but the show closed after an extended union labor conflict.

MNW #107 :: JON ARMSTONG

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:29:37 -0700

Jon Armstrong has performed for some of the most prestigious audiences in over 30 countries worldwide. Growing up in Orlando, Florida, Jon became fascinated by the magic he saw in the theme parks around him and dreamed of having his own show. This dream came true when Disney asked him to bring his act to Epcot and he became the resident magician at Walt Disney World. He was only 20. Jon was also recurring headliner at Caesar's Magical Empire. It was between these runs in Vegas that Jon started touring the world as a performer and lecturer, teaching others how to add humor and entertainment to their magic. He now lives in Los Angeles and is a frequent performer at the world famous Magic Castle. His TV appearances as a talk show guest, featured performer or actor, include shows like "Magic Castle After Dark" on A&E and USA's "Ready For The Weekend." He has been featured in trade publications like Magic, The Linking Ring, MUM and other magic journals worldwide. In December 2004 Jon appeared on the cover of Genii Magazine in a issue dedicated to his magic. In April 2007, after being nominated for the last two years, Jon Armstrong was named Close up Magician of the Year by The Academy of Magical Arts. He also serves as a consultant on the television series, "The Mentalist."

MNW #106 :: PAUL DRAPER

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:39:06 -0700

Paul Draper is an anthropologist, magician and mentalist. He has appeared with David Copperfield, Lance Burton, and Teller and as an expert on Magic for the History Channel AND has performed for the HBO Comedy Fest at Caesar's Palace, on Criss Angel’s Mindfreak on A&E, and on documentaries accompanying Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist. As an anthropologist and member of the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness, Paul Draper pursues studies with Native American Ghost Dancers, South American cannibals, and Spiritualists. To top it all off, Paul will be the guest of honor this week at MagicCafe.com. Please join Paul and I on this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic Podcast."

MNW #106 :: PAUL DRAPER

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:14:25 -0700

MNW #105 :: PAUL DIAMOND

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:02:37 -0700

Paul Diamond may not be a household name in the world of magic today, but everyone that I speak to from Johnny Thompson, Mac King, Lance Burton, etc... all know the name. I was lucky enough to get my first exposure to magic through his shop when I was ten years old. Paul was a favoprite performer of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Over the years, he's performed for celebrity events for such hosts as Celine Dion, Elton John, Milton Burle and others. In addition, he had such legends as Slydini and Charlie Miller live with him in his Florida home. Rediscover "Mr. Humble" Paul Diamond on this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic Podcast."

MNW #104 :: LEVANT

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:57:59 -0700

My guest for this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast is the comedy magician Levant. As a fan of Mac computers, I have to include the fact that he is onw of only a handful of entertainers to be invited to Apple Computer Company headquarters in Cupertino where he performed for the Apple staff. Levant is a noted magic lecturer as well as a vaudeville historian. He was a regular contributor to the “Vaudeville Times“ Magazine, and has penned articles for various other publications, including “MAGIC” magazine. Most recently, you can see Levant on several episodes of the television series, Masters of Illusion.

MNW #103 :: DOC EASON

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:12:34 -0700

Doc Eason is known today as one of the premier bar and close-up magicians in the art. In fact, Doc was honored by the Academy of Magical Arts as Close-up Magician of the Year at the most recent Magic Cqastle banquet. This was not Doc's first award from the AMA as he was named WC Fields' Bar Magician of the Year in 2005. Know for his long run at John Denver's Tower Restaurant in Snowmass, Colorado, Doc began his career in magic at the age of 30 when he met Bob Sheets. Bob became his longtime friend and mentor helping to shape Doc as the magician that he is today. Doc talks about his time with Bob and JC Wagner as well as talks about working on the television show "Masters of illusion."

MNW SPECIAL EDITION :: JOHN ROTALLINI

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:51:37 -0700

On April 1st, 2009, Magician John Rotellini Jr. will spend the day sightless- having silver dollars duct taped over his eyes topped with custom-made stainless steel blindfold placed over his face. Throughout the course of the day, John will visit area businesses and schools performing mentalism. Why is he doing this? To raise money for Kidd’s Kids, a charitable organization that fills a Boeing 737 jetliner with terminally ill and handicapped youth and their families and takes them to Disney World for five magical days. John will end the day with a Blind drive in everyday traffic. John is also opening a new show on April 4th at the Wyo Theater, with a portion of the proceeds also benefiting Kidd’s Kids. To support John in his fundraising, call 307.752.2754

MNW #102 :: BRIAN BRUSHWOOD

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:45:43 -0700

Brian Brushwwod joined us on the Magic Newswire Podcast just under one year ago as our first interviewee on the new show. Since then, his Revision 3 show "Scam School" hase become a huge success with more than 100k viewers for every episode and it was named as one of the top podcasts of 2008 by iTunes. Brian has recently been seen as the opening act for Diggnation at SxSW, was featured in the most recent episode of the Totally Rad Show and will make a surprise appearance on Thursday's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno." What can you expect to see on Thursday? Well. if all goes well......

MNW #101 :: LANCE BURTON (PART 2)

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:25:48 -0700

We celebrate our 100th episode of the MagicNewswire.com 's Spirit of Magic podcast with Master Magician Lance Burton. Lance is one of the top performers in Las Vegas with a $27 Million dollar venue built just for him at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino. In July of 1980, barely three months after his 20th birthday, he became the first person to win magic's most coveted "Gold Medal Award for Excellence" from the International Brotherhood of Magicians and received magic's highest accolade two years later when he won the Grand Prix at the Federation International Society de Magic (F.I.S.M.) in Lausanne, Switzerland making him a "World Champion Magician." This made Lance both the first American to receive this honor as well as the first American performer to do so. Johnny Carson called Lance's performance on his show the "Best 12 minutes in magic." Who was Fletcher the Flamboyant? Lance joins us to discuss hi career and the many influences that have helped to shape his magic.

MNW #100 :: LANCE BURTON

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:31:35 -0700

We celebrate our 100th episode of the MagicNewswire.com 's Spirit of Magic podcast with Master Magician Lance Burton. Lance is one of the top performers in Las Vegas with a $27 Million doallr venue built just for him at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino. In July of 1980, barely three months after his 20th birthday, he became the first person to win magic's most coveted "Gold Medal Award for Excellence" from the International Brotherhood of Magicians and received magic's highest accolade two years later when he won the Grand Prix at the Federation International Society de Magic (F.I.S.M.) in Lausanne, Switzerland making him a "World Champion Magician." This made Lance both the first American to receive this honor as well as the first American performer to do so. Johnny Carson called Lance's performance on his show the "Best 12 minutes in magic." Who was Fletcher the Flamboyant? Lance joins us to discuss hi career and the many influences that have helped to shape his magic.

MNW #99 :: BIG DADDY COOL

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:35:26 -0700

It isn’t often that a Nashville , TN producer chooses to debut a new show in New York City , but that is exactly what producer and performer John B. Pyka has chosen to do. On March 20th he, along with co-writer and director Andy Still will launch The Club Roxy Revue at the Producer’s Club Theater in New York City. What sets the Club Roxy Revue apart is that it is full narrative magic musical that fuses magic and illusion, music, and dance in a story about revenge set in 1940s Chicago. It is an historic show in that it is the first full narrative magic musical to debut in New York since 1982 when Doug Henning starred in the Broadway musical Merlin. The show features award-winning magic and illusion, hit swing music from the mid 20th Century, and high energy dance, and a compelling story set in 1940s Chicago. Big Daddy Cool joins us to talk about his new show as well as to share his ideas on creativity in the presentation of magic.

MNW #98 :: JEFF MCBRIDE

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:10:24 -0700

At the forty-first annual Magic Castle and Academy of Magical Arts banquet hosted by "How I met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris, Jeff McBride was named "Lecturer of the Year." A good friend of the show and a repeat guest, Jeff joins us on the Spirit of Magic podcast to recap the gala event which was a significant departure from such ceremonies in the past. In addition, Jeff takes time to discuss magic on television and the conflict between a program showcasing the various forms of professional magic and one exposing the secrets of magic.

MNW #97 :: GAY BLACKSTONE

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:33:50 -0700

As the Executive Producer of the television series Masters of Illusion, the wife of renowned performer Harry Blackston Jr. and former President of the Aacademy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle, Gay Blackstone knows her way around the world of magic. Gay joins us on this episode of the "Spirit of Magic" podcast to talk about working wither her famous husband, celebrity magicians such as Orson Welles and Neil Patrick Harris, the challenges that she's faced in putting together a thirteeen episode series for television and about shows that reveal the secrets of our craft.

MNW #96 :: WADE LIVE

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:40:40 -0700

As we reported earlier today, Federal authorities are investigating a central New York magician’s claim that he successfully shipped himself from New York State to Las Vegas via the United Parcel Service. According to various national news outlets, the current position of UPS seems to be that they believe Wade Whitcomb’s claim is a hoax. The Transportation Security Administration and the FBI are allegedly investigating Whitcomb’s claim. Wade joins us on the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" Podcast to tell us what really happened.

MNW #95 :: PAUL WILSON

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:03:23 -0800

Paul Wilson is much more than an award winning conjuror. He's a scam artist, movie consultant and television presenter. He has studied sleight of hand, cheating and conjuring since the age of eight. He consulted on the 2004 Sylvester Stallone film "Shade" in which he directed and starred in the highly acclaimed opening titles which featured his expert sleight of hand with cards. In the filme, he appeared as Mr. Andrews. He also served as a magic consultant on the Joe Carnahan film "Smokin' Aces," has consulted for Criss Angel, produced A&E's television show Mondo Magic, appeared on Modern Marvels casino technology episodes, co-created, produced and starred in Court TV's The Takedown and is the resident cheating expert on Italian television's Arcana show. Wilson is currently a writer and presenter on the BBC's The Real Hustle. The show is now a hit in the United Kingdom and is in its' eighth season. His credits within the magic community include The Royal Road To Card Magic, Hit the Road with Paul Wilson and Lee Asher, Knock 'Em Dead, Twists Of Fate, The Restaurant Act, and The Unreal Work with Paul Wilson and Jason England. Join us for a very thoughtful interview with magician Paul Wilson on this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast!

MNW #94 :: MAC KING

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:39:31 -0800

If you were to describe the worst audience for a comedy magic show, would it beat the one that Mac King found himself facing? If you have a line that you put into your act only to get a laugh, what would you do if it came true? Mac King shares his adventures on the comedy magic stage with us on this episode of the Magic Newswire Spirit of Magic podcast and we discuss all of these scenarios and more. We even learn that Teller is a far better heckler than I will ever be.. no surprise there though.

MNW #93 :: NEIL PATRICK HARRIS

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:43:42 -0800

In addition to starring on the CBS sitcom "How I met Your Mother," actor Neil Patrick Harris was elected to the board of the Magic Castle in 2008. As the first celebrity board member since Cary Grant, Neil has been spreading the magic word through appearances on various talk shows including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Ellen Degeneres. In this interview, Neil shares his love of magic both old and new, his passion for the Magic Castle and talks about what changes to expect at the 2009 AMA Awards banquet in March.

MNW #92 :: "BRO" JUSTIN GILBERT

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:34:58 -0800

Recently hitting the magic market is Paul Harris's "True Astonishments." True Astonishments is the current, definitive, and final legacy of Paul Harris and is considered by many to be one of the most important magic related projects to be released in the last 30 years. "Bro" Justin Gilbert was the Director of the production, the primary demonstrator of the material and collaborated closely with Paul throughout the development of the project. Bro is both a magic performer and consultant having worked with Criss Angel & Johnny Thompson on the first three seasons of Mindfreak. On this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast, we talk with Bro about the evolution of True Astonishments from conception to delivery and discuss what it might mean for magic in general.

MNW #91 :: JOHNNY THOMPSON

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:58:43 -0800

Johnny "The Great Tomsoni" Thompson is our guest on this episode of the Magic Newswire's Spirit of Magic Podcast. Johnny is much more than an extremely well respected performer and one of the funniest magicians performing today. He is also a much sought after magic consultant and has worked for such performers as Lance Burton, Penn & Teller and Criss Angel. In addition to talking about his career, Johnny talks about other performers including Herb Zarrow, Jay Marshall, Marshal Brodein, Francis Carlyle, Paul le Paul, Paul Rosini, Joe Bergen, Cardini, Channing Pollock, Carl Balentine, Al Koran, Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller.

MNW #90 :: MARK WILSON

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:54:27 -0800

Widely credited as the man who was the first magician to mainstream magic on television, Mr. Mark Wilson is our guest on ths edition of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast. This is the first of a multi-part interview that we'll be producing with Mark's help exploring his career, thoughts, ideas an philosophies as they relate to magic, both on television and on stage.

MNW #89 :: TONY CURTIS

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:49:18 -0800

Actor Tony Curtis is our guest on this episode of the Magic Newswire "Spirit of Magic" podcast. Tony studied with George L Boston before starring in the 1953 film Houdini. Tony's enthusiasm for magic continued far beyond his role in the film. He was a frequent presenter at the AMA's annual award banquets and presented Cardini with the Masters Fellowship. In spite of presenting a highly fictionalized account of Houdini's career, many still consider it to be one of the best "Houdini Films" to be made.

MNW #88 :: KALIN & JINGER

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:46:55 -0800

Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh jon us for a chat on the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast this week. Mark began as a member of the now legendary Long Beach Mystics and was the first member of both the Magic Castle Juniors and the Magic Castle Seniors. Jinger, a dancer by training, became Mark's partner almost immediately after they began working together and brought a completely new perspective to the act. Kalin & Jinger discuss the evolution of their act, the current state of magic and the future of big illusion shows as a form of entertainment.

MNW #87 :: MIKE CAVENEY (PART 2)

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:35:15 -0800

Part Two of our conversation with Mike Caveney callng in from the world headquarters of Magic Words. Mike began his career working at Owen's Magic Supreme, as a member of the Long Island Mystics, turning coins for Johnson Products and performing at the Magic Castle. Not too shabby for a guy just turning 21 at the time. Mike talks with us about what made the Mystics different from most magic clubs, the importance of innovation and creativity in an act and shares the evolution of his signature effects. In addition, we lern a bit more about the Left Handed League and the Bubonic Players.

MNW #86 :: STAN ALLEN

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:52:20 -0800

Magic Magazine's Editor & Publisher joins me for our monthly discussion of the current issue. Alex Ramon is featured on the cover as the new "Zingmaster" for Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey's new magic themed production of the circus. Jim Steinmeyer consulted on the show with Kenneth Feld. In addition Stan comments on Masters of Illusion vs The Masked Magician and the several near accidents that have occured in the magic world during the last few months.

MNW #85 :: MIKE CAVENEY

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:49:34 -0800

Mike Caveney calls in from the world headquarters of Magic Words to join us for a chat on this episode of the Magic Newswire "Spirit of Magic" podcast. Mike began his career working at Owen's Magic Supreme, as a member of the Long Islan Mystics, turning coins for Johnson Products and performing at the Magic Castle. Not too shabby for a guy just turning 21 at the time. Mike talks with us about what made the Mystics different from most magic clubs, the importance of innovation and creativity in an act and shares the evolution of his signature effects. In addition, we lern a bit more about the Left Handed League and the Bubonic Players.