Scott Wells is a full time professional magician who has traveled around the world where he has met, worked with and become friends with some pretty cool people. Enjoy listening to these podcasts with magicians talking about their magic, magic conventions and what's going on in the magic scene today.
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Christopher Hart has had, and continues to have, an amazing career, or should I say “careers”. Many people, not just magicians, would be satisfied with success in any one of the areas where Chris has exceeded expectations. Many listeners of The Magic Word Podcast know that it was his hand as “Thing” in “The Addams Family” movies. And yet there is a whole generation who have never seen nor heard of “The Addams Family”, the New Yorker comic strip, the TV series let alone the movies. The recent Netflix series “Wednesday” has introduced many to this genre, but Chris wasn’t in that, and I digress.
Multi international award winning escapist, Dean Gunnarson, joins us this week to talk about his dangerous career. He has been called by the media “The World’s Most Daring Escape Artist” and the title fits. Traveling from his home in Canada to lands across China, Dean has conquered it all and accepted challenges much like Harry Houdini, from rope and chain escapes to the Water Torture and Milk Can Escapes, not to mention straitjacket escapes while being suspended hundreds of feet in the air, View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View
One of magic’s most creative minds, Dan Harlan, joins us this week. No doubt many of you have his “Card Toon” card trick or have watched him on Penguin Live videos or perhaps on the Tarbell Course of Magic on video. Maybe you once subscribed to The Minotaur which he co-published with Marv Leventhal. His life and career hasn’t all been roses and indeed had many bumps along the way. Currently he hosts MagiCon - The Mystic Tower convention in Raleigh, North Carolina plus he continues to create and perform. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fu
ScheduleWednesday, August 6th 24 hours Bicycle Lounge, St. Charles 9:00 a.m. Information Booth, Kiosk (9:00p) 10:00 a.m. General Sessions, Showroom, (Noon) 10:00 a.m. Focus Sessions (11:00a) 11:00 a.m. The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras, (2:00p) 11:15 a.m. Focus Sessions (12:15p) 11:30 a.m. Cafe Live!, Esplanade K/L (2:00p) 12:15 p.m. Lunch Break (2:15p) 2:15 p.m. General Session, Showroom (4:15p) 2:15 p.m. Focus Sessions (3:15p) 3:30 p.m. Focus Sessions (4:30p) Live Tonight! 6:00, 9:00 p.m. - Live Onstage!, Showroom 10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. - Farewell Party, Mardi Gras 10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. - Souvenir
ScheduleTuesday, August 4th 24 hours Bicycle Lounge, St. Charles 9:00 a.m. Information Booth, Kiosk (9:00p) 10:00 a.m. General Sessions, Showroom, (Noon) 10:00 a.m. Focus Sessions (11:00a) 11:00 a.m. The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras, (6:00p) 11:15 a.m. Focus Sessions (12:15p) 11:30 a.m. Cafe Live!, Esplanade K/L (2:00p) 12:15 p.m. Lunch Break (2:15p) 2:15 p.m. General Session, Showroom (4:15p) 2:15 p.m. Focus Sessions (3:15p) 3:30 p.m. Focus Sessions (4:30p) Live Tonight! 5:45, 7:10, 9:00, 10:20 p.m. The Close-up Experience, Bienville G 6:15, 8:00, 10:00 p.m. In Concert: Dani Daortiz, French Quarter
ScheduleSunday, August 2nd 24 hours Bicycle Lounge, St. Charles 10:00 a.m. Registration, Bienville G (10:00p) 10:00 a.m. Photo Badges, Dauphine F (10:00p) Live Tonight! 7:30 – 11:00 p.m. - The Zombie Ball, Esplanade 7:30 – 11:00 p.m. - The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras 11:00 – 11:30 p.m. - Grand Prize Giveaway & Costume Awards, Esplanade Monday, August 3rd 24 hours Bicycle Lounge, St. Charles 9:00 a.m. Information Booth, Kiosk (9:00p) 10:00 a.m. General Sessions, Showroom, (Noon) 10:00 a.m. Focus Sessions (11:00a) 11:00 a.m. The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras, (6:00p) 11:15 a.m. Focus Sessions (12:15p) 11:30
For many years, Scott Tokar has been helping clients at industrial shows across the country and indeed, across the globe. He structures trade show programs to engage, educate and entertain and sending the corporate message to everyone who passes by his booth. He co-authored Special F-X with Harrison Carroll that teaches magicians how to engage with hospitalized patients using magic. He also dabbles in photography and enjoys taking stills of friends. Scott also owns a booking agency for trade show magicians. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Vie
Tobias Beckwith used to manage Jeff McBride and Marco Tempest, just to name a couple “names” in our magic community. He has worked on Broadway with some of the most iconic plays such as “Oh, Calcutta” and “The Fantastiks” among others. He was one of the early staff teachers at the McBride Mystery School as it was formed and of course, was close friends with Eugene Burger, among others. Tobias has authored several books on production and direction and are well worth you inspection. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This week, Tobias shares some stories about the formation
In 1973 Alan Bursky burst on the comedy scene in a big was when he was just 17 and being the youngest comedian to ever perform on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. He was also involved in booking entertainment in the early days of the Magic Island. But long before that when he was growing up in New York, he developed a friendship with David Kotke aka David Copperfield. Later while on the comedy circuit, he befriended Freddie Prinze who starred in “Chico and the Man” television series. He was a roommate with Freddie for a while. He also booked Steve Martin and Rodney Dangerfield, among many other n
Just Alan owned a magic shop near Woodstock, New York, for over 40 years. During that time he worked on his Zen archery, meditation, and relaxation. His search for real magic in his early years took him to India where he followed his heart and the stars as he was led to understand what is important in life. Also during the past several years, he studied with Jeff McBride, he entered magic contests, and he recently wrote a book, “Just Alan Not Just Magic.” View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In our conversation this wee
ScheduleSATURDAY, JULY 4, 2026 TBD - YOUTH ACADEMY 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM REGISTRATION OPEN - 2027 CONVENTION 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM HOUDINI COLLECTION DISPLAY - Adjacent to Dealer Room Rare Houdini artifacts provided by various collectors and museums 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM DEALERS ROOM OPEN 9:00 AM THE S.A.M. AWARDS & RECOGNITION SHOW Contest winner awards, recognitions and installation ceremony 10:30 AM LECTURE - John Shyrock 2:00 PM SPEAKEASY CLOSE-UP SHOW Featuring Shawn Farquhar, Boris Wild, Daniel Garcia, Dale Penn, Alyx Hilshey 4:30 PM PRESIDENTS RECEPTION Cash Bar 5:30 PM HOUDINI BANQUET (Extra Pay E
ScheduleFRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026 TBD - YOUTH ACADEMY 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM HOUDINI HISTORICAL CENTER @ MUSEUM at the CASTLE Free admission for convention attendees 12:00 AM- 5:00 PM HOUDINI COLLECTION DISPLAY - Adjacent to Dealer Room Rare Houdini artifacts provided by various collectors and museums 12:00 PM- 5:00 PM DEALERS ROOM OPEN 9:00 AM S.A.M. NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING 11:00 AM LECTURE - BORIS WILD 2:00 PM LECTURE JONATHAN NEAL 3:45 PM LECTURE - DANIEL GARCIA 7:00 PM MAGIC OPERA SHOW Featuring Mike Caveney, Shawn Farquhar, Christopher Hart, Puck, John Shyrock 10:00 PM CREATIVE COACHING PANEL & SH
ScheduleTHURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026 TBD - YOUTH ACADEMY 11:00 PM- 4:00 PM HOUDINI HISTORICAL CENTER @ MUSEUM at the CASTLE Free Admission All Day for Convention Attendees 12:00 AM- 5:00 PM HOUDINI COLLECTION DISPLAY - Adjacent to Dealer Room Rare Houdini artifacts provided by various collectors and museums 12:00 PM- 5:00 PM DEALERS ROOM OPEN 9:30 AM WORLD RECORD CHAIN ESCAPE @ Houdini Plaza Join 300 magicians attempting a world-record escape. Siberian chains and training is included 10:30 AM UPSIDE-DOWN STRAIGHT JACKET ESCAPE @ Houdini Plaza Featuring Houdini II 11:00 AM STAGE CONTEST BRIEFING / TE
ScheduleTuesday June 30, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM OPEN FORUM SESSIONING 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM HOUDINI SÉANCE HISTORY, DISCUSSION and METHODS Featuring Dorothy Deitrich and Bruce Kalver Wednesday July 1, 2026 10:00 AM- 1:00 PM YOUTH ACADEMY Youth-focused lectures, workshops and group events for SAMY members ages 7-17 12:00 PM- 5:00 PM DEALERS ROOM OPEN 10:00 AM S.A.M. LEADERSHIP TRAINING with Past National President Joel Zaritsky 10:00 AM CLOSE-UP CONTEST BRIEFING / TECH REHEARSAL 1:00 PM LECTURE - CHRISTOPHER HART - MOVIE MAGIC 2:30 PM LECTURE - SHAWN FARQUHAR 4:00 PM HARRY AND BE
Last episode we visited with Scott Pepper, the proprietor of the Magic Saloon in San Antonio, Texas. This week we chat with the featured stage entertainer who performed there: Jade. She was the winner of the I.B.M. Gold Medal for Stage in 1990, which is a distinctive honor in so many ways. The Gold Medal and Gold Cups (for close-up) are not awarded every year, but only when a performer is so outstanding and their execution is so perfect, that you cannot deny that it’s the best. Jade has gone on to perform around the world in clubs, aboard cruise ships, on television, in resorts and nightclubs,
Scott Pepper hails from England but is soon to be a Texan through and through once his citizenship papers are completed. In the meantime, he is successfully running the Magic Saloon as a magic venue in the heart of San Antonio, Texas, just across the street from the Alamo. Soon, people who have been shouting “Remember the Alamo” will be chanting “Remember the Magic Saloon!” This is a great venue that features stage magicians as the main entertainment, but also has close-up magic at it’s best at the gift shop featuring I.B.M. Gold Cups winner and Past National President of the I.B.M., Oscar Mun
Kenrick “Ice” McDonald is a man who stands on many well deserved accolades. Aside from the many performance awards, he was the first African American to become the National President of the S.A.M. and he has been recognized for his work in the community by being inducted into the S.A.M. Hall of Fame. He served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) and appeared on multiple television shows across the U.S. and abroad. He has done much to advance the black magicians in our culture today. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Vi
Gary Brown is a U.S. District Judge from New York, but he knows a con man when he discovers one. His recent revelations about Claude Alexander Conlin who had several aliases, but is most well know among magicians as “Alexander, the Man Who Knows.” Judge Brown has written several scholarly books about the history of magic including an innovative book, “Wandcraft” as well as “The Inventive Magicians Handbook.” His monograph on Alexander was published in Bill Kalush’s “Gibecière". View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View
Doug Gorman specializes in story telling. And he has lived a full life with stories to tell. He weaves storytelling into his magic that makes it relevant and interesting to his audience. He is an award winning magician and also a creator of some unique, rather bizarre “artifacts” that he sells at conventions and online. But one thing that makes him stand out, is his relationship with Richard Turner. For many years, Doug has been the “driver” for Richard taking him not only around town, but also across the country to lectures and corporate gigs. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fu
Bob Bengal worked for Hitachi for many years as their “in house” magician. That meant that he had all the benefits like insurance, vacation, 401-K, etc. He was responsible not only for performing at their trade show booths around the world, but also for playing golf with their premiere customers and keeping them happy. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In this week’s chat with Bob, he talks about how he got the job with Hitachi and why he left it. He also talks about and shares performing tips for “behind the trade show booth” to help attract crowds at the booth. You can
ScheduleThursday, May 14, 20269:00 to 11:00 a.m. – Dealer Room Open 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Session #4 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. – Dealer Room Open 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. – Session #5 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. – Cocktails & Close Up 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Dinner & Show View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize
ScheduleTuesday, May 12, 202610:00 a.m. – Registration Opens 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. – Dealer Room Open 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. – Session #1 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. – Session #2 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. – Dealer Room Open Wednesday, May 13, 20269:00 a.m. – First Group Bus to NYPL/Lincoln Center 10:15 a.m. – Second Group Bus to NYPL/Lincoln Center 11:30 a.m. – First Group Leaves NYPL/Lincoln Center 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. – Dealer Room Open 12:30 p.m. – Second Group Leaves NYPL/Lincoln Center 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. – Session #3 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. – Dealer Room Open View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fu
Everyone’s favorite close-up comedy magician, Bill Malone, joins us this week. He gives us his all including his career, his starring role on a TV show (NCIS Los Angeles) his first magic bar work, learning from a comedian, working trade shows around the world for years, training executives, his relationship with Ed Marlo, opening Malone’s Magic Bar in Boca Raton, Florida, his health scare that nearly ended his life, and he tells us about his forthcoming book that will hopefully be released in 2027. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Bill doesn’t
Doug Scheer has been performing thousands of school assembly shows since 1987. He has a proven formula that he fine tunes every year as he returns to many of the same schools year after year because of his entertaining and educational programs. There is more to school shows than just considering them as an oversized birthday party show. It involves a lot more business acumen in booking the shows and keeping clients happy. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize I am not a children’s entertainer, but I know a lot of listeners specialize in that field,
Dan Stapleton is one of those magicians who has seen it all and now in his 60’s could easily set his remaining days on “cruise control” for the rest of his life; however, that is not who he is. He was a cruise magician for 23 years and served as a cruise director, too. Early in his career, he performed in Circus World where he got his chops at performing illusions. But his passion and goal was always to work on Main Street in Disney World as a demonstrator in the magic shop. That opportunity came to him and he loved his days doing it. He also appeared on America’s Got Talent [sic] where he was
