Podcast · Arts & Books

The Magic Newswire

by Dodd Vickers · English · Arts & Books

The original magic news and information podcast from the oldest magic news website online. The Magic Newswire Spirit of Magic podcast is the place for interviews with all of your favorite magicians.

New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 55 min
Latest: 4 Nov 2022
Language: English

Latest episode

4 Nov 2022 · 1 hr 33 min

Broken Wand: Max Maven

The world of magic became much poorer this week with the passing of one of the best, Max Maven. I was honored to have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Max on numerous occasions and always came away a little better from the experience. As one of my early guests on the podcast, Max set the bar very high for all those to follow. I am sharing that first chat again here for those that are still reeling from the loss and for those that are somehow not familiar with his work. From his Twitter feed on Nov. 2, 2022: I made my life about words, reading them and writing them. I wish I had a…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

4 Nov 2022 · 1 hr 33 min
Broken Wand: Max Maven
The world of magic became much poorer this week with the passing of one of the best, Max Maven. I was honored to have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Max on numerous occasions and always came away a little better from the experience. As one of my early guests on the podcast, Max set the bar very high for all those to follow. I am sharing that first chat again here for those that are still reeling from the loss and for those that are somehow not familiar with his work. From his Twitter feed on Nov. 2, 2022: I made my life about words, reading them and writing them. I wish I had a…
4 Nov 2022 · 1 hr 33 min
Broken Wand: Max Maven
The world of magic became much poorer this week with the passing of one of the best, Max Maven. I was honored to have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Max on numerous occasions and always came away a little better from the experience. As one of my early guests on the podcast, Max set the bar very high for all those to follow. I am sharing that first chat again here for those that are still reeling from the loss and for those that are somehow not familiar with his work. From his Twitter feed on Nov. 2, 2022: I made my life about words, reading them and writing them. I wish I had a…
4 Nov 2022 · 1 hr 33 min
Broken Wand: Max Maven
The world of magic became much poorer this week with the passing of one of the best, Max Maven. I was honored to have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Max on numerous occasions and always came away a little better from the experience. As one of my early guests on the podcast, Max set the bar very high for all those to follow. I am sharing that first chat again here for those that are still reeling from the loss and for those that are somehow not familiar with his work. From his Twitter feed on Nov. 2, 2022: I made my life about words, reading them and writing them. I wish I had a…
24 Feb 2022 · 39 min
Broken Wand :: Amazing Johnathan
From numerous sources, we have sadly learned of the passing of the Amazing Johnathan. According to Rolling Stone , "An exact cause of death was not immediately given, though Johnathan — born Johnathan Edward Szeles — had previously revealed he had been diagnosed with a heart condition. Szeles' wife, the performer Anastasia Synn, confirmed her husband's death, telling the Review-Journal he died in his sleep Tuesday night." In remembrance, I am reposting my conversation with him from just before his annual Halloween Party in 2008. Johnathan, it will be hard to forget someone who gave us so…
S1 · E151 · 23 Dec 2020 · 1 hr 4 min
BANACHEK REMASTERED - MNW151
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 also a part of the now famous Project Alpha hoax in which he convinced scientists from Washington University that he was actually demonstrating paranormal abilities. Banachek is now a sought after consultant 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…
22 Oct 2020 · 51 min
JAMES RANDI REDUC - MNW110
The James Randi Foundation has today announced that "The Amazing Randi" had died at the age of 92, saying simply that its founder succumbed to "age-related causes" on Tuesday. Randi joined us on this episode of the "Spirit of Magic" podcast before appearing as a featured performer at the 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…
S2 · E1 · 2 Jul 2020 · 55 min
BROKEN WAND :: MARVYN ROY
Today we lost yet another true luminary in the world of magic, Marvyn Roy, better known to many as Mr. Electric." 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, Gorky Park in Moscow, the Ed Sullivan Show and the Hollywood Palace. Whether working hotels, ice shows, floor shows, night clubs, theaters, arenas or amusement parks, Mr. & Mrs. Electric led a life that most magicians only dream…
S1 · E133 · 27 Jun 2020 · 56 min
MNW 133 : Deitrich & Brooks
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…
S1 · E336 · 20 Mar 2019 · 1 hr 14 min
MNW336 REDUX : THE CHARLIE MILLER INTERVIEW
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…
S1 · E310 · 19 Mar 2019 · 22 min
MNW 310 Reviisited: Gary Vaynerchuck
Here is another redo of a prior episode of the podcast. This one highlights a non magician, 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…
S1 · 10 Mar 2019 · 56 min
Tomsoni, Teller & Todd
"Some demented magician would take over a movie theater at midnight on Saturday. He'd choose creepy tricks and return-of-the-dead patter and the show would climax with him producing a monster, like a mummy, who would stagger into the audience as the lights went out. All the teenagers would clutch their dates and scream and giggle," he adds, "and take advantage of the darkness to have a great time." This is the Teller's description of the Midnight Spook Shows that served to inspire he, Todd Robbins and Johnny Thompson as they collaborated to deliver the off-Broadway production, "Play Dead."…
S1 · 10 Mar 2019 · 1 hr 34 min
Broken Wand: Tomsoni
Both Johnny & Pam Thompson Joined us for a rip roaring chat on an episode of This Week in Magic and it is a great one to listen to while thinking of him. Rest Easy my friend!
S1 · 10 Mar 2019 · 1 hr 31 min
Broken Wand : Johnny Thompson
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. This is one of my favorites and the earliest. Please listen and remember in his honor! 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…
S1 · E112 · 19 Nov 2018 · 6 min
JOHN ROTELLINI IS GOING BLIND
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…
S1 · 9 May 2017 · 42 min
BROKEN WAND :: PAUL DIAMOND
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.…
S1 · E37 · 26 Feb 2016 · 43 min
BROKEN WAND :: IRENE LARSEN
It has been a rough week for magic. This afternoon I learned that we had lost yet another member of magic's royality, "Princess" Irene Larsen. From Erika: It is with the greatest sorrow imaginable, that we announce the passing of my beautiful, beloved mother, Irene Larsen. She left us suddenly, but not before touching many, many lives deeply and permanently. She was grace personified. Her love is all around us. She will be missed forever. The family is grieving, and we appreciate your kind words and we know you are hurting too. We will never stop celebrating Princess Irene. I was incredibly…
S1 · 19 Feb 2016 · 1 hr 23 min
Broken Wand :: Tom Mullica
YOU ARE ALREADY MISSED MY FRIEND As a native Atlantan, I have very fond memories of seeing Tom Mullica perform at his magic bar on Peachtree Street, The Tom Foolery. I am sad to report that today, we lost one of magic's great performers and a genuinely nice guy. When we recorded this, Tom had been battling leukemia, but it was in remission and Tom was preparing to renew his Red Skelton tribute show in Branson. There was recent talk about the opening of a new Tom Foolery on Las Vegas as well. I am so happy to have had the chance to share this moment with Tom and can only say that I am so…
S1 · E342 · 1 Feb 2016 · 55 min
MNW342 - Chris Ramsay
Chris Ramsay is a magician. He's a photographer. He's a guy that can't be easily categorized, which is probably exactly how he likes it. Chris discovered magic as a child and honed his skills as a traditional magician while working in a restaurant, but it wasn't until he discovered cardistry and flourishing that he really came into his own. These days, he has become one of the most popular performers posting material to social media. Listen in to learn what it is about magic that inspires him and how he thinks that new performers should begin and progress in the craft.
S1 · E174 · 29 Jan 2016 · 44 min
MNW174 THE MAGIC SNOBS
Jim Steinmeyer & Mike Caveney rejoin me on the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast to talk about several topics including magic snobbery, the 20th anniversary of the LA Magic History Conference which just wrapped in Los Angeles, their new release from Taschen Books, "Magic: 1400 - 1950", and their current projects including Steinmeyer's biography of Howard Thurston and Caveney's long anticipated "Magic of Mike Caveney."
S1 · E79 · 29 Jan 2016 · 52 min
MNW79 SIM STEINMEYER PART TWO
In the conclusion of my interview with magic creator, consultant, historian and author Jim Steinmeyer we cover a wide range of topics. What makes the Masked Magician Specials possible? Can the secrets of magic really be protected from exposure? What challenges are faced by Cirque when developing a new presentation of magic for the public? What's missing from modern magic as it is presented on television today? In addition we discuss the release of his upcoming book on Howard Thurston and his collaboration on an oversized book on the history of magic with Mike Caveney
S1 · E78 · 29 Jan 2016 · 48 min
MNW78 JIM STEINMEYER PART ONE
Magic creator, consultant, historian and author Jim Steinmeyer is our guest on this episode of the Magic Newswire podcast. In addition to talking about his magical youth, Jim shares his experiences working with some of the biggest names in magic. Doug Henning, David Copperfield, Lance Burton and Siegfried & Roy are just a few of the professional performers who have all turned to Jim for assistance over the years. In addition to writing a new work on Thurston and completing an oversized book on the history of magic with Mike Caveney, Jim is acting as the magic consultant for the new Ringling…
23 Jan 2016 · 1 hr 49 min
MNW156 and 157 DAVID BEN
Here is a repost of the two part interview with David Ben which was originally published in October of 2009. It has been remastered to remove the ads and consolidate both parts into one continuous interview. David talks about Marlo, Vernon and many other notable figures from the history of magic. From the original post: 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…
19 Jan 2016 · 37 min
MNW182 NICHOLAS JOHNSON
On this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast we have a chat with Australia's honest conman and one of the hosts of the latest incarnation of The Real Hustle, Nicholas Johnson. The concept for the Real Hustle as a television program originated in the UK and has gone through several incarnations in various countries. Nicholas is a con artist, magician, speaker & comedian who uses sleight of hand, card cheating, pickpocketing & psychology to recreate the world of the professional con man.
19 Jan 2016 · 44 min
MNW166 : GEORGE SEIGEL
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 is 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 Houdini? An insane asylum!? All this and…
16 Jan 2016 · 1 hr 14 min
MNW341 - Armando Lucero
A long time promise is now fulfilled for MagicNewswire Podcast listeners. Some time ago, I recorded a fantastic interview with "Magician's Magician" Armando Lucero. Unfortunately, due to a perfect storm of technical issues, I thought that it had been lost. In addition, time constrains placed upon me by my nob and family have prevented me from dedicating the time needed to try and recover this gem. Fortunately, I st aside some time and have managed to resurrect this conversation. Armando needs little introduction to magicians around the globe. He is an amazing performer and teacher who is…
13 Jan 2016 · 9 min
MNW156 : DAVID BEN PART 1
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…
13 Jan 2016 · 5 min
MNW181 : BAINE ON HAITI
By now, everyone will be aware of the tragedy that has hit the country of Haiti after a major eathquake rocked the region. The magic community is representing us well in the face of the disaster through the efforts of James L Clark , Daniel Ramirez & David Blaine . Yesterday, David Blaine announced that he would be doing magic in Times Square for the next 72 hours to heighten public awareness of the need in Haiti and the efforts of the Red Cross in the region
13 Jan 2016 · 1 hr 15 min
MNW95 :: PAUL WILSON
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…
13 Jan 2016 · 34 min
MNW168 :: ROBERT WALLACE
Bob Wallace, retired CIA Director of the Department of Technical Services 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…

About The Magic Newswire

The original magic news and information podcast from the oldest magic news website online. The Magic Newswire Spirit of Magic podcast is the place for interviews with all of your favorite magicians.

The Magic Newswire is a English arts & books podcast from Dodd Vickers. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Dodd Vickers
Language: English
Category: Arts & Books
New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 55 min
Latest episode: 4 Nov 2022
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id277451149
Rights: 2019 MagicNewswire.com

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