Episodes
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We continue with another unusual story on how someone became a magician. Ryan Loyle hit rock bottom and saw no hope of getting out of it. The a bit of magical fate entered his life. Listen to this tale of hope and inspiration as host Bruce Kalver tells the tale.
To learn more about The Society of American Magicians, go to www.magicSAM.com
Ryan Loyle's YouTube channel is: Loyle Magic
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All magicians have a story on how they became a magician. We found someone who has an unusual story that will show you that the art of magic is truly magical. Vee Sovann tells how magic turned his life around in a very dramatic way.
To learn more about the Society of American Magicians, go to www.magicsam.com
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This episode discusses the new magic trivia book Magic Babylon with it's author Joe Hernandez. You can find the book on Amazon.com
Be sure to also check out the new S.A.M. history book at magicsam.com/historybook.
To learn more about The Society of American Magicians, go to www.magicsam.com
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They thought they had a sure thing with a Halloween show that would bring in hundreds of people. They soon found out that luck was not on their side. Listen to a funny tale of a time when things didn't turn out the way they expected. Guest Joe Givan of Theater of Dreams in Castle Rock Colorado tells the Story
You can learn more about Theater of Dreams at www.amazingshows.com
Hosted by Bruce Kalver, Backstage S.A.M. is a production of The Society of American Magicians.
To learn more about The Society of American Magicians. please visit www.magicSAM.com
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Editor David Charvet discusses the new book Magic in America: The Story of the Society of American Magicians written by David Goodsell. Get the behind the scenes story of the making of this monumental publication.
You can learn more about the book and how to order at www.magicsam.com/historybook
Hosted by Bruce Kalver, Backstage S.A.M. is a production of The Society of American Magicians.
To learn more about The Society of American Magicians. please visit www.magicSAM.com
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Children's book author Amy Kimlat discusses her new book Hocus Pocus Practice Focus - The Making of a Magician.
The book is available on www.amykimlat.com
To learn about The Society of American Magicians, go to: www.magicsam.com
Write to us at [email protected]
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The Expert at the Card Table is defined by many as the definitive book on sleight of hand card magic.
On this episode, Director Hans Joachim Brucherseifer discuses his film The Expert at the Card Table - Looking for Erdnase and the mystery surrounding who the author truly was.
Watch the film at www.erdnase-movie.com
Please subscribe and be sure to check out the Society of American Magicians website at www.magicsam.com.
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Ian Keable loves to do research. His latest book details 10 great hoaxes of the 18th century including a woman who gave birth to rabbits, ghosts who threw things around the house, and a man who proclaimed to be able to jump inside a pint bottle.
Host Bruce Kalver discusses his latest book A Century of Deception available at www.centuryofdeception.com.
Join the S.A.M. and support all our efforts, including this podcast, at www.magicsam.com.
Have an idea for a story to share? Let us know at [email protected].
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Henry Brown was a slave in the 1850’s who thought of a very novel and magical way to disappear. Magician Rory Rennick has done extensive research on this amazing piece of history.
Backstage S.A.M. is hosted by Bruce Kalver and presented thanks to a grant from The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund. Support the podcast by joining the S.A.M. at www.magicsam.com.
Have an idea for a podcast episode? Please let us know at [email protected].
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Illusionist Lyn Dillies has done some large scale illusions but nothing as big as this. Lyn talks about the times she got to work with Elephants. There’s a donkey thrown in for good luck. Watch the illusions at www.magicoflyn.com.
Backstage S.A.M. is hosted by Bruce Kalver and presented thanks to a grant from The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund. Support the podcast by joining the S.A.M. at www.magicsam.com.
Have an idea for a podcast episode? Please let us know at [email protected].
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Michael Close is an accomplished magician, a coach and mentor to many, and the sole judge on Penn & Teller Fool Us. With him, we go behind the scenes of the show and see that presenting magic on tv and trying to fool Penn & Teller is serious business.
Support the podcast by joining the Society of American Magicians - visit www.magicsam.com today!
Have an idea for an episode? Email us at [email protected]
Produced by Bruce Kalver for Top Hat Productions. Associate Producer John Sturk.
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Although Chung Ling Soo is known by many as the original Chinese Conjurer, that is not true. First came Ching Ling Foo who was a hugely popular magician at the beginning of the 20th Century. Samuel Porteous has authored a definitive history of America’s first Chinese Superstar.
Support the Society of American Magicians by joining us! Visit www.magicsam.com to sign up. Now, try our trial membership program.
Have an idea for a podcast? Email us at [email protected].
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Dorothy Dietrich is a premiere magician who has performed some very dangerous illusions. Her most dangerous was Catching as Bullet. In an interview from 2016, Dorothy tells us all the “behind the scenes” details of what it takes to perform this illusion. The interview is from February of 2016.
Support the podcast by joining the Society of American Magicians at www.magicsam.com.
Have an idea for an episode? Let us know at [email protected].
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John Cox is not a Houdini collector of props. Rather, he is a collector of Houdini information. His blog, WildAboutHoudini.com is chock full of everything Houdini. Learn about the man behind the blog. But first, a grand discovery of rare Houdini posters hidden behind a wall since 1926.
Want to support the podcast? Join the Society of American Magicians today at www.magicsam.com.
Have an idea for an episode? Email us your idea at [email protected].
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Magicians perform magic shows all the time but are sometimes called for other jobs. Christopher Hart auditioned for a performance that would change his life forever. You may not remember him, but you sure remember his hand. Chris played the character of Thing in all three Addams Family films. Learn about his background as a magician and how he got the pivotal role of a lifetime just by knowing how to give his hand personality.
Support the Society of American Magicians with your membership. Sign up today at www.magicsam.com.
Have an idea for an episode? Got a story to share? Email us at [email protected].
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John Gaspard is not a magician. He is a magic groupie who writes The Eli Marks Mysteries. What is amazing is that he gets all the magic correct. He discusses how he wrote these stories and his take on the art of magic. Is it is worth learning all the secrets? Is it hard to write a mystery?
Eli Marks Mysteries are available as a softcover book, an e-book, and an audiobook on Amazon.
Support the podcast by joining the Society of American Magicians at www.magicsam.com
Have an idea for an episode? Let us know at [email protected]Order your S.A.M. merchandise at www.magicsam.com/store
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The Houdini Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls Canada was a treasure trove of all things Houdini. Where did all of that stuff come from? Who was behind the creation of this attraction? What happened to all the props when it closed down in 1995?
Bruce interviews David Muller, the son of owner Henry Muller, who tells stories from his book, Growing Up With Houdini. Listen to hear how you can get a copy of this book.
Support the podcast by joining the Society of American Magicians at www.magicsam.com
Have an idea for an episode? Let us know at [email protected].Order your S.A.M. merchandise at www.magicsam.com/store
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A boxjumper is a magician’s assistant that willingly goes into boxes to get cut up, transformed, or levitated. How does one become a box jumper? What training does it take? Are there any accidents that happen?
Bruce Kalver interviews Gwyn Auger, a box jumper for hire, and Marion Outerbridge, the one-half of The Outerbridges - a well-known Illusion show.
Backstage S.A.M. is hosted by Bruce Kalver and presented thanks to a grant from the Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund.
Support the podcast by joining the S.A.M. at www.magicsam.com.
Have an idea for a podcast episode? Please let us know at [email protected].
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The art of magic often influences other arts and sciences in unpredictable ways. Associate Producer John Sturk speaks with Anthony Barnhart, Professor of Psychological Science from Carthage College, about how magic contributed as a catalyst for modern-day psychology. Professor Barnhart also discusses his Cognitive Science of Magic Course.
Learn more about Professor Barnhart's work at www.scienceofmagicassoc.org.
Backstage S.A.M. is hosted by Bruce Kalver and presented thanks to a grant from The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund.
Support the podcast by joining the S.A.M. at www.magicsam.com.
Have an idea for a podcast episode? Please let us know at [email protected].
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Margaret Steele talks about the first woman magician in the United States, Adelaide Herrmann. Learn about her determination to keep the show running. Hear how Margaret discovered the long lost memoir.
Adelaide Herrmann Queen of Magic: Memoirs, Published Writings and Collected Ephemera by Adelaide Herrmann and Margaret B. Steele is available on Amazon.com. Margaret's website is margaretsteele.com
Want to support the Society of American Magicians? Visit www.magicsam.com to join.
Send in your story ideas to [email protected]
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