Previous MagicNewswire guest Alex Ramon was awareded the "Sleight of Plans" award by another previous guest, David Pogue for his 35 in 35 podcast. The planned "35 in 35" tour Alex Ramon tour was obviously cancelled in the midst of the current craziness. Well, he has decided to do it all online and was recognized today (May 3, 2020) on CBS Sunday morning. Here is Alex explaining the concept for the new show which you should definately check out by going HERE!
Here's another chat recovered from the Magic Newswire podcast archive: Paul Vigil has often been referred to as "the best close-up magician in Las Vegas". He's a free thinker and an explorer of the mind of both the performer and the spectator. Above all else he's a man who loves the art of magic. With an intensity that engages the most cynical of audiences, Paul has become a "Must see!" in a city known for it's ruthlessness towards performers. "I'm here to be the best--not only at what I do, but at what can be done--period. I want my audience to experience something they've never experienced ever before. I want them to feel something they've never felt before. I want my audiences to believe something they've never believed before; until they walk away from my show." I our interview we explore why magic is so important to him and what secret project he's working on in Las Vegas.
On the 2008 Halloween Special of the Magic Newswire we talked with one of magic's favorite "non-magicians." Namely, the Amazing Johnathan. Johnathan discusses his non-career in magic, the haunted house party that he hosts each year in Las Vegas and shares his opinions on magic on television. He also talked about the Amazing Underground. Robin Leach previewed Johnathan's Halloween party in his column in Las Vegas Weekly in which he told readers to, "Expect to see his fellow magicians David Copperfield, Criss Angel, and Penn & Teller, along with such other famous faces from the Strip such as Carrot Top among the crowd." Since this interview, there have been two competing documentaries about Johnathan which you can find linked below.
It goes without saying that the magic community is still reeling from the loss of one of our mentors, the amazing Johnny Thompson. It was because of him that I put together this interview with him and some of Charlie Miller's students and friends. The original description of this interview follows: "Seconds, bottoms, the pass, Malini, Vernon and so much more. Charlie Miller is one of those names that is often mentioned in the context of modern card magic. In that same context, he is one of those technicians that I think that many of us know too little about. I hope that this conversation with some of his closest friends does something to rectify that. In this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast, our good friend Johnny Thompson is joined by two other legends in magic, Harry Riser and Bob White. I am only there to guide the conversation, but what an amazing conversation it was! Enjoy and learn!" We miss you sorely Johnny!
I am so very sad to report on the passing of yet another of the greats in our art. Johnny "The Great Tomsoni" Thompson was my guest on several episodes of the Magic Newswire's Spirit of Magic Podcast.
Johnny was much more than an extremely well respected performer and one of the funniest magicians out there. He was also a much sought after magic consultant and worked with such performers as Lance Burton, Penn & Teller and Criss Angel. In the first interview below, Johnny talked about his career as well as his experiences with 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. In the second, we were joined by both Johnny & Pam for an episode of "This Week in Magic." In the third, he is joined by both Teller & Todd Robbins.
LISTEN TO THE "CHARLIE MILLER INTERVIEW" WITH JOHNNY, HARRY RISER & BOB WHITE:
LISTEN TO MY FIRST CONVERSATION WITH JOHNNY THOMPSON:
LISTEN TO BOTH JOHNNY AND PAM TALK ABOUT "TOMSONI & CO" IN OUR INTERVIEW FOR THIS WEEK IN MAGIC
HERE IS OUR CHAT WITH JOHNNY, TELLER & TODD ROBBINS
We revisit a prior episode of the podcast with this redux from March of 2011. We highlight a non-magician, New York Times bestselling author and social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, GQ, and Time, has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Ellen. He also makes regular appearances on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and the major network news outlets. Vaynerchuk has been described as "the first wine guru of the YouTube era", "the wine world's new superstar", and by Rob Newsom, a Washington State wine maker, "outside of Robert Parker, probably the most influential wine critic in the United States". Gary is also a best selling author of three books focused on the concept of personal branding and the power of social media and the internet in doing so. He joins us on the Magic Newswire to discuss his latest book "The Thank You Economy." Gary says, "I feel that we're living through the biggest culture shift of our time. The internet, itself, is 17-years-old. It's just hitting the social part of its life. It's just like growing up. As you get to 13, 14 and 15, you want to go out and go to parties. That's what's happening right now! The internet is growing up." Find out why this should matter to you!
Another titan of our craft has fallen. Today we mourn the passing of Ricky Jay. Though I never managed to get him to agree to an interview on the podcast, Ricky was hugely influential on me and my love of close up magic.
Born in 1948 as Richard Jay Potash, "Ricky Jay" is considered to be one of the most significant figures in close up magic. Mark Singer, writing for "The New Yorker" called Jay "perhaps the most gifted sleight of hand artist alive".
Thank you Ricky. You will be sorely missed.
“The book says we may be through with the past, but the past ain’t through with us”
Ricky Jay
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Harry Anderson. I was very fortunate to have an opportunity to hang out with Harry on several occasions as well as to see him perform live numerous times. The first time was before his days on the hit SitCom "Night Court" at the Punchline in Atlanta. He performed the comedy and Magic act for which he is now so well known. A few years ago, I again met
up with him at the Punchline after a rare public performance which included his unique ventriliquism act. I was also very lucky to have Harry join me on the Magic Newswire podcast on several occasion and you can listen to them below.
Rest in peace Harry the Hat! You will be sorely missed.
LISTEN TO THIS TWO PART INTERVIEW WITH HARRY FROM AUGUST 2008 ::
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LISTEN TO HARRY DISCUSS TED ANNEMANN AND THE JINX::
I am sad to report the passing of Philosopher and Magician Eugene Burger. Eugene is considered one of the great teachers of the magical arts. He has written fifteen best-selling books for the trade, starred in eight instructional videos, and lectured extensively to magicians' groups in over a dozen countries. His writings have been translated into several languages. Eugene's deep understanding of the psychology and philosophy behind magic have won him international accolades, cover stories in conjuring magazines, and four awards from the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood. Montrose Pictures has recently released a documentary film with Eugene as the subject titled "A Magical Vision." I was very pleased to welcome Eugene Burger to this early episode of the Magic Newswire!(Note:: Please accept our apologies for the poor sound quality of Eugene's side of the conversation.)
Eugene was also amongt those interviewed to discuss their contributions to the Genii 75th Anniversary Special Edition of the Jinx. Other guests included Mac King, Max Maven, Mike Caveney & Jonathan Levit. 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 practitioners in the art of magic and mentalism.
Paul Diamond may not be a household name in the world of magic today, but everyone that I speak to from Johnny Thompson, to Mac King & Lance Burton, etc... all knew "Mr. Humble." I was very sad to learn today that he had passed away. As a boy discovering the art of magic while living in South Florida, making the trip to Paul's shop in the Lauderdale by the Sea area was a must! I was lucky enough to get my first exposure to magic through a teacher associated with Paul's shop when I was in elementary school. As it turns out, Paul was also a favorite performer of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Over the years, he's been a featured entertainer for celebrity events hosted by Celine Dion, Elton John, Milton Berle and many others. In addition, Paul had such close association with such magic legends as Slydini and Charlie Miller live with him in his Florida home. Rediscover "Mr. Humble," Mr. Paul Diamond on this republished episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic Podcast." Rest in peace Paul!
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