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Silk King Studios Returns!

The Classic Treatise – Harold Rice’s Silk Encyclopedia

There simply is no better magic silk than a Silk King Studio silk. That?s the bottom-line and the reason why you can still go to eBay and find Silk King silks selling for tremendous amounts considering their age and used condition.

The silks are well-made and perfect for the uses to which we put them. I dare you to name a better silk ball than the original Palmo ball. In fact, like Kleenex, we call the silk or palming ball by the name given to it by the Rice family, Palmo.

Along with the Tarbell set, we all have a copy of Rice?s Silk Encyclopedia. It is as much as the bible in its area as is Tarbell?s work, Bobo?s book or S.W. Erdnase?s guide. You will do your self well to visit the site and check out the offerings.

I understand that the company is selling the inventory they already had and are not currently making new products; so you will receive the classic Rice products.

Look to this site for Tim?s interview with Ms. Rice Crone. Until then, check out the site and get yourself a new Palmo.

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March 30th, 2003 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

Showcase for College Tours

Comedian Buzz Sutherland Auditions

A very cool article in the LA Times today about a
conclave in Tennessee where acts hoping to perform at colleges can go
to try out. It is not magic specific but it is very interesting and
inspiring.

It is the kind of thing that inspires me and perhaps you as well. Check it out.

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March 29th, 2003 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

Steve Wyrick Gives Up Secret to Cops

Wyrick Tells Students of Love

Steve Wyrick stood amongst Police Officers, Fire Fighters and Lawyers in his presentationfor Vegas Verdes Elementary school’s annual Career Day and described the life of a magician and magic as a career.

Mr. Wyrick signed a multi-year contract at the beautiful Sahara Hotel and Casino where his spectactular new illusion show is presented fifty weeks a year.

The secret to enjoying life is to find a career that you love, Mr. Wyrick told the students. “I love to see people smile,” he said. “When I look out in the audience and I see people smiling and having a good time, it makes me feel good about what I do.”

Mr. Wyrick told the students, “When I was growing up I wanted to be a policeman,but I didn’t pass the test to be a policeman. So I’m a magician. And not passing that test is probably one of the best things that ever happened to me.”

He told the students that the work is hard, often starting at eight a.m. and finishing at two a.m. the next morning. He performs ten shows a week and loves every minute of it. Mr. Wyrick noted that the thought of a satisfied audience chases his exhaustion and reminds him that his work is worth it.

Mr. Wyrick’s love for the art of magic is evident in his new show. He clearly cares about constantly improving and certainly being between Seigfried and Roy and Lance Burton on the Strip, keeps the competitive edge sharp.

If you have a chance, you do not want to miss his show. If you are a magician, you no doubt can identify with his comments. This is the best job you could ever have.

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March 29th, 2003 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

Alex Lourido – Inside Magic Celebrity Interview

The Amazing Osmosis

Inside Magic: Hi Alex and welcome to Inside Magic’s Celebrity Interview. How did you get interested in magic?

Hi, thanks. Going back to my earliest childhood I was always fascinated with magic. In second grade I signed out my first magic book from the school library and read it from cover-to-cover.

Inside Magic: What kind of tricks did you learn from that first book?

I learned how to build my first “pull” utilizing rubber bands, and how to perform the “paddle move.” My fascination grew with each page and I eventually read all of the material that was available to me via my school library, which, by the way, was a whopping three books! (You have to remember, this was before anyone new what the word, “Internet,” meant!)

Inside Magic: What did you do after you finished the three books on magic?

Right, my sources quickly dried up and it wasn’t until much later, when I joined the Armed Forces, that I picked up where I left off, so many years ago. I entered the 82ND Airborne Division in ’92, and by ’93 I became an Airborne Ranger in the US Special Operations Forces.

It was there that I met a very special person who rekindled my love for magic. Specialist Pine was my roommate at the Ranger Battalion and he was also an incredible magician. His father was a professional, practicing magician in Vegas and Pine learned a lot from him (wouldn’t it be nice to have a father who was a Vegas Magician)!

Aaaahhhhh . . . Magic Coins . . ..

Pine taught me some incredible card magic. With his guidance I was quickly able to perform an effective shuttle pass, learn the arts of sleeving and lapping, prevent coins from “talking”, and he even introduced me to the secret world of coin magic with the use of “specialty” coins. Ahhhhhhhh….gimmicked coins……..that’s where I begin to salivate!

Inside Magic: What did you do after leaving the service?

I went to college in Philadelphia, I continued my search for quality magic. The military paid for my tuition, but to make extra money I began performing magic at theme parks. Upon graduation I began making TV commercials. I jumped around the City and worked as an AVID Editor. Within a few years I became the senior editor for a large production company that only makes celebrity endorsement commercials.

It was here that I cut commercials for Chuck Norris, Scott Hamilton, Susan Sommers, Lennox Lewis and some others. However, during this entire time, I felt that I was not doing what I was placed on this earth to do–ENTERTAIN! That is, unless you find cheesy infomercials that use…
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March 26th, 2003 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment

Tommy Johns – The Inside Magic Interview

Tommy Doing What He Does Best!

Inside Magic: How did you get started in magic?

I was 18 before I saw my first live performance of a magic show.

Irv Wiener (Mr. Fingers) performed on campus at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and I was BLOWN AWAY!

Later that semester, I found out a friend from Spanish class was a Gospel magician and I bugged him to teach me some magic until I wore him down and he did. About 8 months later, after attending dozens of his shows and learning his stuff, he called to tell me he was sick and needed me to cover his show.

I borrowed his props and tuxedo, went to a church basement, performed a sponge ball routine (his standard opener) and got applause! I was hooked from that moment on to performing magic.

Inside Magic: Who were your biggest influences?

Starting out in the late seventies there were a number of obvious influences – Henning, Mark Wilson, Copperfield, some of the guys at the magic shop in Birmingham.

Later I was influenced as much by story telling comedians (Bill Cosby, Christian humorist Grady Nutt, and Jeff Foxworthy in particular) who could tell a story that would take you “there,” wherever “there” was that they wanted to take you.

Now I almost never tell stories about ancient temples and shamans and the occasional wise man of the mountain when I develop patter for my routines. I tell stories from real life (or as real as I can get them!) about growing up, families in the south, my experience at a rope store, or playing “oops! got your nose!” with clowns (the opener for my sponge balls routine).

Storytellers, in my opinion, do amazing magic for their audiences with no props. If the magic in the story can be made even better with the addition of illusion, then I have improved both the story and the magic.

Inside Magic: What is your favorite type of magic to perform or watch?

I would far rather see (or be) a magician in a smaller venue (living room, restaurant, church basement) performing wonderful comedy magic that involves the audience and a real spectator/volunteer than all the flashy cabinets and dancing girls that Vegas can hold!

Of course I buy tickets to see Copperfield every year, and am looking forward to going to Vegas to see the shows there, but IMHO, nothing beats magic in an intimate setting, and meeting and talking to the magician after the show.

Inside Magic: Is it tougher teaching magic or performing a show?

Far more difficult to teach, because of the individual nature of teaching a student. For a group, you aim for the middle, but with teaching, you have to consider the individual. After all, “it isn’t teaching if they aren’t learning!”

Inside Magic: Do you think a good kid…
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March 19th, 2003 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment
 
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