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Houdini Days are Still On!

I was recently made aware of some concern from magicians that the Houdini Days 2004 Magic Festival in Appleton, Wisconsin would not occur this year. As the organizer of the Festival, I can assure everyone that the Festival will occur on September 2-5, 2004 in Appleton, Wisconsin.

I am very aware of the outrage that the magic community has expressed towards the Outagamie County Historical Society (OCHS) regarding the exposure of the Metamorphosis. As a member of The Comedy Magic of Mike & Chris, I am also personally outraged and have expressed my views to the OCHS verbally and in writing. It is important that the magic community understand that Houdini Days has absolutely no relationship with the OCHS and opposes the planned Metamorphosis exhibit.

The Houdini Days Magic Festival is a NON-PROFIT event that is focused on presenting outstanding magical performances with the intent of inspiring future generations of magicians. The Festival is being organized by VOLUNTEERS who are passionate about the magical arts. The outdoor performances are all FREE. All costs are covered through corporate and individual donations and sponsorships.

The Festival creates enormous goodwill for the magic community within the general public. The enormously positive benefits of the Festival will help outweigh the damage that the OCHS will cause. It is more vital than ever that the Festival occurs and inspires the expected 20,000 people who will experience unbelievable magic from some of the world’s greatest magicians.

We are excited to be able to offer three free Young Magicians Workshops taught by Mark Wilson, Michael Ammar, and Ice McDonald. These Workshops will assist the beginning magician in taking the next step in their journey in the magical arts.

The Rising Stars of Magic Competition will provide recognition as well as cash awards, for the non-professional magician at the Festival.

The confirmed line-up of magicians for the 2004 Festival consists of Mark Wilson, Jeff McBride, Michael Ammar, Bill Malone, Jon Stetson, Doc Eason, Joshua Jay, Michael Finney, Ice McDonald, Kevin King, Jessica Reed, Dean Gunnarson, Rex Sikes, David “Silly Billy” Kaye, Robert Baxt, Glen Gerard, Rondini, Nate Nygren, Bruce Hetzler, Lou Lepore and more.

For more information about the Festival, please see the website at: www.houdinidays.com

Thank you,
Chris Cochrane
Houdini Days Organizer

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January 2nd, 2004 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

The Ending of WAM — But There’s Hope

Fireside Chat

Open Letter To the Entire Magic Community:

The World Alliance of Magicians (W.A.M.) has been in existence for just over five years. During that time, we have had our successes and failures as we have battled for the preservation of ethics in magic, the protection of the mystery of magic and the defense for the inventors, creators and manufacturers of proprietary illusions. But to borrow a quote from the Oracle in the movie “The Matrix Revolutions”, “Everything that has a beginning has an end.” And so, the end has come for W.A.M.

The many accomplishments of our organization are listed on our website http://www.magiciansalliance.com where you are encouraged to read all about what we have done over the years. The few of us officers who have “fought the good fight” have decided that the most important goal that we have accomplished was to raise interest among the magic organizations in regards to ethics in magic. Now the I.B.M., S.A.M. and The Magic Circle, along with many other organizations around the world have “changed the focus” of their own ethics committees toward dealing with the topics of magic exposures, rip-off manufacturers and the protection of magical inventor’s rights.

The officers of W.A.M. have decided “our work here is now done” and they are going to return to the pursuit of our other interests. These past several years would not have been scattered with success stories without the assistance of many of you who are reading this now. Your ranks around the world are legion. You have helped with your words of encouragement, your letters and your financial support. Some of you have even posted the W.A.M. icon on your website attesting to your genuine support for our joint cause. And for your support and individual work, we sincerely thank you. Among the many whom we would like to thank, we send our appreciation to two key individuals; we want to thank Rossini for handling our “Latin America” office and Jun Kotani for his work with our “Japan” and “Pacific Rim” office.

We are encouraged with the knowledge that a Magic Inventors Database is being independently developed by Bruce Chadwick and Larry Brown.

In a short time, you will receive an announcement of an interactive Database that will serve as a living history and ultimate repository of proprietary magic effects. We say “living” because it will be interactive. There will be someone who will update it as necessary when and if there are contested matters of who should properly be credited for what.

In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding W.A.M., then we…
Continue reading The Ending of WAM — But There’s Hope

January 2nd, 2004 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment