Magic Castle Happenings – The Good Stuff (August 2014)

Discuss the latest news and rumors in the magic world.
User avatar
Dustin Stinett
Posts: 7259
Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Sometimes
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Magic Castle Happenings – The Good Stuff (August 2014)

Postby Dustin Stinett » August 1st, 2014, 6:23 pm

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Image

Here we are dead-solid in the middle of the Dog Days of Summer already. Where is the year going? Next thing you know we will be talking about the annual Halloween celebration. Speaking of which (see what I did there?), it appears that the theme will be “4-D.” Start thinking about your (required) costumes and reservations now!

The Magic Castle Isn’t Disappearing

There has been an absurd amount of jibber-jabber over the notion that the AMA is “phasing out” the name “The Magic Castle.”

Hogwash!

No, I have NOT been approached by anyone—as a caller recently asked—to stop using the name “Magic Castle Happenings” in these missives.

No, I do NOT have to pay Milt Larsen $3 every time I use “The Magic Castle” (but that WAS funny…).

No, I have NOT been told or even asked to use the name “Academy of Magical Arts” instead.

First, no one has to tell me that I am a member of the Academy. Check out all of my writings about the Academy and the Castle over the years: I talk about the Academy all the time. I have said countless times that every serious magician should be a member of their one-and-only Academy (and I have made proposals to the Powers That Be to make that a reality for those who cannot afford the cost of a full membership).

I have always understood—and have made a point of imparting the fact—that the Magic Castle is the clubhouse of the AMA. Though technically separate, each one cannot exist without the other. While there are those who think otherwise, my comment is not hyperbole; it is, I believe, an empirical fact.

I highly suggest that (if you are a member) you read AMA President Erika Larsen’s column in the August Newsletter. It goes into detail of what is going on with the name game that is happening right now. She sets the record straight and—to borrow her words—clears the smoke.

For you non-members, here’s the short version: The AMA is (as it should) expanding the Academy “brand.” This should have happened a long time ago. Just as “The Oscars” and “The Academy” go hand in hand in the movie business, so should “The Magic Castle” and our “Academy” in this business of magic.

And you should be a member.

Monti, I’ll Take What’s Behind Door Number One

Joe Monti that is.

Joe’s very popular “Sessions” start up again in the Peller Theatre on Wednesday, August 6. The Session starts at 8PM. Magician Members only are invited to this FREE workshop. Perform, observe, actively participate, be passive and soak it in: the choice is yours.

But Hoo Will Be Doing the Talking?

This month’s “Who’s Hoo” taping—on August 19 at 8PM in the Inner Circle—will feature Willie Tyler and Lester! All members and their guests are welcome to attend.

Num-Num for the Tum-Tum

The August feasts for members are …

August 4, 5, & 6 – Jerk Chicken with Yellow Rice
11, 12, & 13 – Linguine Pasta with Clams
18, 19, 20 – Braised Beef and Mashed Potatoes
25, 26, 27 – Salmon Teriyaki with Asparagus and Brown Rice

This Ain’t Denny’s

Our Interim Head Chef, Sous Chef Angela Asuncion, has been doing a marvelous job since the departure of Shushan Zupic (who did a marvelous job and we wish her all the best for what is certain to be a bright future).

One does not just hire a new “cook” for a job like this. It’s a time-consuming search. But after a month, the BOD is close to naming the new Head Chef and will do so on the Academy Facebook page as well as the AMA website.

Learn From the Legends

Mark Wilson and the Lovely Nani Darnell Wilson are starting their 6-week beginners magic courses this month. There are Monday and Wednesday evening classes available beginning on the 18th and 20th respectively. $255 includes all supplies. Non-members are welcome and will receive a special pass to enter the club on class nights. Contact Nani at naniwilson[at]sbcglobal[dot]net for details.

Gettin’ Schooled at the Magic Castle

Here is the lecture schedule for August:

8/3 – Steve Reynolds
8/10 – Sonny Fontana
8/17 – Mark Edward
8/24 – Jeff Ezell
8/31 – Bebel Belkheir

Robbie Z and Harry Houdini (there’s got to be a better rhyme there somewhere)

The Non-Dining Houdini Séances for August will be hosted by Rob Zabrecky and take place on the 21st. $35 gets you in ($45 with a nifty commemorative coin). Four sittings: 6, 8, 9:45, and 11PM. Order tickets through the events link at the AMA website OR contact the AMA Spirit Director (I just now gave him that title) Josh Stern at jstern[at]magiccastle[dot]com or at extension 303.

Or For the Full Experience…

One of the greatest nights of my magic life was the Houdini Séance I attended. If you have the means, I highly recommend it. Great food and a great show...err … séance … it’s a séance host by Resident Medium Leo Kostka. Just $125 per person. I think the minimum is ten people now, but don’t quote me. Check with Spirit Director Josh for details and booking (per contact info above).

Why Does Christmas Come Right in the Middle of the Holidays When You’re Busy?*

The holidays will be upon us soon. NOW is the time to book your party of twenty or more at the Magic Castle. NOW! Do it NOW or you WILL be shut out! Contact Erin Chick at echick[at]magiccastle[dot]com or extension 300. If you do so before September 1, you will be in for a very pleasant surprise—budget-wise.

*With a doff of the pageboy cap to Gallagher

No Labor on Labor Day

The Magic Castle and the AMA offices will be closed on September 1 in observance of Labor Day. (And while it has nothing to do with the Castle or the Academy, I want to throw the Houdini guys a bone: that’s the same night “Houdini” premiers on The History Channel.)

Now Playing

“Future Stars Week” started on July 28:

The Close-Up Gallery
Zach Davidson
Paul Robaia
Evan Alberto
Eli Tanenbaum
Ben Altman
Clark Brown
Franco Pascali
Akinobu Mitsui

The Parlour of Prestidigitation
Mark Gibson
Aaron Rabkin

The Palace of Mystery
Bob Dorian (emcee)
John Accardo
Kyle Eschen
Shun Shibuya
Fernando Velasco
Farrah Siegel

W.C. Fields Bar (Thursday – Sunday)
Nathan Gibson

The Peller Theatre (Friday – Sunday) [-/b]
Griffin Barry
David Gabbay

[b]Friday Lunch

Akinobu Mitsui

Saturday and Sunday Brunch
Jimmy H.

Sunday Lecture
(8/3) Steve Reynolds

Sneak Peek of Some Future Performers…

Richard Turner (Close-Up: wk/of 8-4)
Kevin James (Palace: wk/of 8-4)
Dana Daniels “NO SHOW” (Palace: wk/of 8-11)
John Carney (Peller: 8-15 thru 8-17)
Derek Hughes (Peller: 8-15 thru 8-17)
David Minkin (Close-Up: wk/of 8-18)
Danny Orleans & Jan Rose (Parlour: wk/of 8-18)
Lindsay Benner (Palace: wk/of 8-18)
Jonathan Levit (Close-Up: 8-28 thru 31 only)
Kalin & Jinger (Palace: wk/of 8-25)
Chuck Jones (Palace Brunch 9-6 & 7)
Suzanne (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Steve Valentine (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Daryl Easton* (Parlour: wk/of 9-8 – Early and Late shifts: Brunch Shows also)
Chuck Jones and Company (palace: wk/of 9-8)
Doc Eason (Where else? The WC Fields Bar, 9-11 thru 14 and 9-18 thru 21)
Kainoa Harbottle (Close-Up: wk/of 9-15)
Eric Buss (Parlour: wk/of 9-15)
Jonathan Pendragon (Peller: 9-19 thru 21)
Chris Korn (Close-Up: 9-25 thru 28)
Andi Gladwin (Close-Up: wk/of 9-22)
John Archer (Palace: wk/of 9-22)

*The artist formerly known as “Daryl” and before that “Daryl Martinez”



Schedule is subject to change without notice—as John “Eagle-Eye” Signa takes great joy in pointing out to me …

And you can always check it out at http://www.magiccastle.com/schedule/

User avatar
Dustin Stinett
Posts: 7259
Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Sometimes
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: Magic Castle Happenings – The Good Stuff (August 2014)

Postby Dustin Stinett » August 4th, 2014, 2:58 pm

Now Playing

The performers’ schedule commencing August 4:

The Close-Up Gallery
Richard Turner
The Phil Factor
Steve Reynolds (5-7 p.m. Thursday - Sunday)

The Parlour of Prestidigitation
Matt Marcy
Hillel

The Palace of Mystery
Kevin James
Sonny Fontana

W.C. Fields Bar (Friday – Sunday)
Danny Magic

The Peller Theatre (Friday – Sunday)
Jesse Dee
Michael Rangel

Friday Lunch
Richard Turner

Saturday and Sunday Brunch
Jeanine Anderson

Sunday Lecture
(8/10) Sonny Fontana

Sneak Peek of Some Future Performers…

Dana Daniels “NO SHOW” (Palace: wk/of 8-11)
John Carney (Peller: 8-15 thru 8-17)
Derek Hughes (Peller: 8-15 thru 8-17)
David Minkin (Close-Up: wk/of 8-18)
Danny Orleans & Jan Rose (Parlour: wk/of 8-18)
Lindsay Benner (Palace: wk/of 8-18)
Jonathan Levit (Close-Up: 8-28 thru 31 only)
Kalin & Jinger (Palace: wk/of 8-25)
Chuck Jones (Palace Brunch 9-6 & 7)
Suzanne (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Steve Valentine (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Daryl Easton (Parlour: wk/of 9-8 – Early and Late shifts: Brunch Shows also)
Chuck Jones and Company (palace: wk/of 9-8)
Doc Eason (Where else? The WC Fields Bar, 9-11 thru 14 and 9-18 thru 21)
Kainoa Harbottle (Close-Up: wk/of 9-15)
Eric Buss (Parlour: wk/of 9-15)
Jonathan Pendragon (Peller: 9-19 thru 21)
Chris Korn (Close-Up: 9-25 thru 28)
Andi Gladwin (Close-Up: wk/of 9-22)
John Archer (Palace: wk/of 9-22)


Schedule is subject to change without notice

User avatar
Dustin Stinett
Posts: 7259
Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Sometimes
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: Magic Castle Happenings – The Good Stuff (August 2014)

Postby Dustin Stinett » August 11th, 2014, 9:25 pm

Now Playing

The performers’ schedule commencing August 11:

The Close-Up Gallery
Bill Cook
Benjamin Barnes
Greg Otto (5-7 p.m. Thursday - Sunday)

The Parlour of Prestidigitation
Dimmare
Greg Wilson

The Palace of Mystery
Dana Daniels
Starring in the "NO SHOW" with Richard Allen

W.C. Fields Bar (Thursday – Sunday)
Mad Tad

The Peller Theatre (Friday – Sunday)
Derek Hughes
John Carney

Friday Lunch
Bill Cook

Saturday and Sunday Brunch
Frank Thurston

Sunday Lecture
(8/17) Mark Edward

Sneak Peek of Some Future Performers…

David Minkin (Close-Up: wk/of 8-18)
Danny Orleans & Jan Rose (Parlour: wk/of 8-18)
Lindsay Benner (Palace: wk/of 8-18)
Jonathan Levit (Close-Up: 8-28 thru 31 only)
Kalin & Jinger (Palace: wk/of 8-25)
Chuck Jones (Palace Brunch 9-6 & 7)
Suzanne (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Steve Valentine (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Daryl Easton (Parlour: wk/of 9-8 – Early and Late shifts: Brunch Shows also)
Chuck Jones and Company (palace: wk/of 9-8)
Doc Eason (WC Fields Bar, 9-11 thru 14 and 9-18 thru 21)
Kainoa Harbottle (Close-Up: wk/of 9-15)
Eric Buss (Parlour: wk/of 9-15)
Jonathan Pendragon (Peller: 9-19 thru 21)
Chris Korn (Close-Up: 9-25 thru 28)
Andi Gladwin (Close-Up: wk/of 9-22)
John Archer (Palace: wk/of 9-22)


Schedule is subject to change without notice

User avatar
Dustin Stinett
Posts: 7259
Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Sometimes
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: Magic Castle Happenings – The Good Stuff (August 2014)

Postby Dustin Stinett » August 18th, 2014, 7:45 pm

Busy Busy …

Tis a busy week at the Castle. There is a “Who’s Hoo” taping tomorrow (Tuesday) night with Willie Tyler and Lester as well as Ms. Lisa Cousins. And if that’s not enough for you, Rob Zabrecky is hosting the Non-Dining Houdini Séances on Thursday!

Now Playing

The performers’ schedule commencing August 18:

The Close-Up Gallery
David Minkin
LUIS
Fitzgerald (5-7 p.m. Thursday - Sunday)

The Parlour of Prestidigitation
Fumio
Danny Orleans & Jan Rose (Let’s get real: It’s Jan Rose & Danny Orleans ;) )

The Palace of Mystery
Jon Armstrong
Lindsay Benner
Stoil & Ekaterina

W.C. Fields Bar (Thursday – Sunday)
Jeff Ezell

The Peller Theatre (Friday – Sunday)
Jon Stetson
Nick Lewin

Friday Lunch
LUIS

Saturday and Sunday Brunch
Trissia Baughman

Sunday Lecture
(8/24) Jeff Ezell

Sneak Peek of Some Future Performers…

Jonathan Levit (Close-Up: 8-28 thru 31 only)
Kalin & Jinger (Palace: wk/of 8-25)
Chuck Jones (Palace Brunch 9-6 & 7)
Suzanne (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Steve Valentine (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Daryl Easton (Parlour: wk/of 9-8 – Early and Late shifts: Brunch Shows also)
Chuck Jones and Company (palace: wk/of 9-8)
Doc Eason (WC Fields Bar, 9-11 thru 14 and 9-18 thru 21)
Kainoa Harbottle (Close-Up: wk/of 9-15)
Eric Buss (Parlour: wk/of 9-15)
Jonathan Pendragon (Peller: 9-19 thru 21)
Chris Korn (Close-Up: 9-25 thru 28)
Andi Gladwin (Close-Up: wk/of 9-22)
John Archer (Palace: wk/of 9-22)


Schedule is subject to change without notice

User avatar
Dustin Stinett
Posts: 7259
Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Sometimes
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: Magic Castle Happenings – The Good Stuff (August 2014)

Postby Dustin Stinett » August 25th, 2014, 6:29 pm

Now Playing

The performers’ schedule commencing August 25:

The Close-Up Gallery
BEBEL
William Watt
Jonathan Levit (5-7 p.m. Thursday - Sunday)

The Parlour of Prestidigitation
Helder Guimaraes
Michael Hack

The Palace of Mystery
Kalin and Jinger
Michael Rayner

W.C. Fields Bar (Thursday – Sunday)
Brian Gillis

The Peller Theatre (Friday – Sunday)
Andrew Goldenhersh
The Bornsteins

Friday Lunch
BEBEL

Saturday and Sunday Brunch
Trissia Baughman

Sunday Lecture
(8/31) Bebel Belkheir

Sneak Peek of Some Future Performers…

Chuck Jones (Palace Brunch 9-6 & 7)
Suzanne (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Steve Valentine (Close-Up: wk/of 9-8)
Daryl Easton (Parlour: wk/of 9-8 – Early and Late shifts: Brunch Shows also)
Chuck Jones and Company (palace: wk/of 9-8)
Doc Eason (WC Fields Bar, 9-11 thru 14 and 9-18 thru 21)
Kainoa Harbottle (Close-Up: wk/of 9-15)
Eric Buss (Parlour: wk/of 9-15)
Jonathan Pendragon (Peller: 9-19 thru 21)
Chris Korn (Close-Up: 9-25 thru 28)
Andi Gladwin (Close-Up: wk/of 9-22)
John Archer (Palace: wk/of 9-22)


Schedule is subject to change without notice


Return to “Buzz”