What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Discuss the latest news and rumors in the magic world.
User avatar
erdnasephile
Posts: 4762
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm

What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby erdnasephile » April 28th, 2016, 9:12 pm

All:

Just wondering if anyone knows what happened to Black Fox Trading & Magic Company? I was researching their shells and discovered their site is no longer active (and some of their shells getting a little bit harder to find, although S4S currently has a good selection).

Thanks!

I.M. Magician
Posts: 1123
Joined: August 19th, 2013, 10:49 pm
Favorite Magician: All of the very best!
Location: Magicville

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby I.M. Magician » April 28th, 2016, 9:57 pm

Maybe they got tired making people 'shell out' all that money for a set. :lol:

I.M. Magician
Posts: 1123
Joined: August 19th, 2013, 10:49 pm
Favorite Magician: All of the very best!
Location: Magicville

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby I.M. Magician » April 29th, 2016, 3:33 pm

Kidding (and bad jokes) aside, I think that they are still very much in business and may be releasing some new sets in the near future. I will attempt to find out what is going on with them and post what I discover, if anything, here.

Perhaps their website being down is a temporary thing.

Speaking of the Three Shell Game, I used to enjoy performing it and just recently was practicing to get the rust out. I learned whatever I know about them from the Ralph W. Read book which I think is terrific and probably the best book ever written on the subject. By the way, if anyone wants a copy at a reasonable price, please let me know. I have several copies and can post them here on the forum as a new thread.

Black Fox sets are quite nice! I never liked those shinny gold shells. I have two sets. One is the old SS Adams plastic shells which work just fine actually. The other is a handmade set of genuine walnut shells which were lacquered on the outside and filled in with an unknown substance on the inside. I don't remember who made them but they were considered really good in the early seventies. For me, the pea is everything. You need a really good pea! Nowadays, good ones are available.

It would be interesting to hear what others have to say about the Three Shell Game. Which set you use, how you use them, and anything else you want to mention.

Thank you erdnasephile for waking up this classic apparatus!

User avatar
Brad Jeffers
Posts: 1221
Joined: April 11th, 2008, 5:52 pm
Location: Savannah, GA

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Brad Jeffers » April 29th, 2016, 4:01 pm

The phone number for their brick & mortar site is 909-866-0676. I called and got a recording giving the store hours. They should have been open as it was noon (Big Bear time).
All comments on their facebook page, Yelp, and tripadvisor, date back to 2015.

It's an interesting looking place, especially the magic shop, which includes a stage ...

Image

User avatar
erdnasephile
Posts: 4762
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby erdnasephile » May 3rd, 2016, 2:47 pm

So, I just received in the mail: 1. The BF Superior Shells and 2. The BF Master Shells.

From the pictures on the websites, I expected that these shells would be different in shape. Specifically, in all the pix I have seen of the superior shells, they have the "divot" in the rear of the shell. The master shells do not.

However, as far as I can tell, the 2 sets I received are completely identical, except the Master shells have a fancier paint job. The shape, size, and markings are the same. The colors of the shells are very nice, but differ from that seen on the web. I bought both sets new from reputable US dealers.

I can't email BF for obvious reasons, so if you own these two sets, is the difference in the two sets just one of appearance? (I was able to find JC Sum's website with the two sets, but the sets I own don't look like his--I assume BF took liberties with his designs over the years.)

User avatar
erdnasephile
Posts: 4762
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby erdnasephile » May 6th, 2016, 12:06 pm

Looks like his ebay store is still up and running: http://stores.ebay.com/blackfoxandco?_t ... 7675.l2563

I.M. Magician
Posts: 1123
Joined: August 19th, 2013, 10:49 pm
Favorite Magician: All of the very best!
Location: Magicville

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby I.M. Magician » May 6th, 2016, 3:15 pm

His eBay store is still up but not running technically.

John LeBlanc
Posts: 903
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby John LeBlanc » May 6th, 2016, 3:54 pm

After seeing some shells on eBay I wanted I thought I'd try the retail store number (909-866-0676) and ended up speaking to Hedi Popovich. She saw this thread a couple of days ago. (Yes, Erdnasefile, one set should have the divot.)

For anyone wanting Frank's shells, the website is down for now, but the retail store is open (closed on Tuesdays until after Labor Day.) Hedi's son runs the magic store.

There are shells available. Just give her a call and do some business with her.

John

I.M. Magician
Posts: 1123
Joined: August 19th, 2013, 10:49 pm
Favorite Magician: All of the very best!
Location: Magicville

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby I.M. Magician » May 6th, 2016, 4:06 pm

I ordered and received some Black Fox shells this week and they are beautiful!

If you desire some shells, I suggest that you strongly consider Black Fox shells. For one thing, his shells come in varieties such as Scarabs. Walnuts are great but I like the idea of the shells being something more interesting than that and Scarabs fit the bill perfectly!

User avatar
erdnasephile
Posts: 4762
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby erdnasephile » May 6th, 2016, 5:22 pm

John LeBlanc wrote:After seeing some shells on eBay I wanted I thought I'd try the retail store number (909-866-0676) and ended up speaking to Hedi Popovich. She saw this thread a couple of days ago. (Yes, Erdnasefile, one set should have the divot.)


Thanks, Mr. LeBlanc and IM Magician: appreciate the information. Looks like I got shipped two master sets by mistake. May have to return a set even though both are painted differently.

Dr_J_Ayala
Posts: 3
Joined: November 19th, 2016, 6:59 pm
Favorite Magician: Slydini, Marlo, Michael Vincent, Kaps

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Dr_J_Ayala » November 20th, 2016, 12:26 pm

I have handled various shells from Frank and they are all superb products, and the few times I have spoken with him were all very informative and wonderful conversations.

However, this seems to be why people had not heard from him in a while: http://rotwnews.com/2016/04/18/man-shot ... club-dies/

The update says the next court date is December 2016 and I can only wish the best for Frank and that the truth, whatever it is, prevails.

Dr_J_Ayala
Posts: 3
Joined: November 19th, 2016, 6:59 pm
Favorite Magician: Slydini, Marlo, Michael Vincent, Kaps

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Dr_J_Ayala » December 2nd, 2017, 1:38 pm

Fast forward a year later: Black Fox was convicted of First Degree murder by a jury on November 2nd, 2017. He is due to be sentenced this month (December 2017) and is facing 50 years to life.

User avatar
erdnasephile
Posts: 4762
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby erdnasephile » December 2nd, 2017, 5:17 pm

Thanks for the update:

Here are a couple a news stories on this:
http://www.sbsun.com/2017/11/03/big-bea ... -shooting/

http://rotwnews.com/2017/11/03/frank-po ... of-murder/

Sounds like they caught much of what happened on tape.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Richard Kaufman » December 3rd, 2017, 5:31 pm

The owner Frank Popovich is a really bad guy, convicted of the murder of a friend (who may have consorted with his wife) which was clearly caught on videotape.

A small exceprt from The Sun:

"A Big Bear Lake magician is facing 50 years in state prison after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder Monday for fatally shooting a friend in a parking lot, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
Video footage captured the fatal shooting early on the morning of April 12, 2016, when 55-year-old Frank Popovich Jr. — a magician who owns the Black Fox Trading Co. in Big Bear Lake — killed 42-year-old James Clark in the back parking lot of a nightclub in the mountain community, officials said. Prosecutors noted the footage also captured Popovich’s actions after he shot Clark.
“In a scene that was captured on surveillance video, the defendant then walked over to the victim’s head area and slapped the victim in the head,” Deputy District Attorney Larissa Ruescher, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement. “The defendant then walked to the feet of the victim, took the cigarette from his left hand, and continued to smoke it for a full 30 seconds while standing over the victim’s body.”
Popovich and Clark were friends, prosecutors said in a statement, and Clark had worked for Popovich in the past.
During the trial, prosecutors said Popovich was upset his wife and Clark were spending time together, something Popovich denied in court, according to Chris Lee, spokesman for the DA’s office."
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Dr_J_Ayala
Posts: 3
Joined: November 19th, 2016, 6:59 pm
Favorite Magician: Slydini, Marlo, Michael Vincent, Kaps

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Dr_J_Ayala » July 13th, 2018, 9:09 am

Update as of July 12, 2018: I have no idea exactly what the length of sentence was that he recieved but I do know that the earliest date that Frank is even eligible for parole is August of 2055 - 37 years from now.

Griz326
Posts: 1
Joined: July 6th, 2020, 2:35 am
Favorite Magician: Daryl

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Griz326 » August 22nd, 2020, 7:38 pm

Richard, you may think Black Fox is "a really bad guy," but I'd suggest, that despite his conviction he could be a really good man.

Circumstances!

If I caught my wife foolin' around with "some guy," I shoot my wife, while most guys would shoot the guy makin' whoopie. Most people are far removed from their core responses, but living in the Rocky Mountains can change a guy's perspective.

I've known bad men and bad women; sometimes their deeds are not as evil as those of thieves and adulterers.

What brought me to this page was to see if anyone had heard if Popovich had died in prison.

Ted M
Posts: 1186
Joined: January 24th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Dani DaOrtiz
Location: Madison, WI

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Ted M » August 23rd, 2020, 12:14 am

I hope your wife is able to leave you safely, and that this post is useful to her as evidence for court protection.

Ted M
Posts: 1186
Joined: January 24th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Dani DaOrtiz
Location: Madison, WI

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Ted M » August 23rd, 2020, 12:31 am

Speaking to the question, Popovich was definitely still alive in March 2020 when his appeal in the case was denied.

Full details of the incident, investigation, claims, and trial are here:

https://www.leagle.com/decision/incaco20200310033

Leo Garet
Posts: 617
Joined: March 14th, 2015, 9:14 am
Favorite Magician: Nobody In Particular

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Leo Garet » August 23rd, 2020, 10:10 am

Griz326 wrote:Richard, you may think Black Fox is "a really bad guy," but I'd suggest, that despite his conviction he could be a really good man.

Circumstances!

If I caught my wife foolin' around with "some guy," I shoot my wife, while most guys would shoot the guy makin' whoopie. Most people are far removed from their core responses, but living in the Rocky Mountains can change a guy's perspective.

I've known bad men and bad women; sometimes their deeds are not as evil as those of thieves and adulterers.

What brought me to this page was to see if anyone had heard if Popovich had died in prison.


Well that's put the rest of us in our place.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Richard Kaufman » August 23rd, 2020, 12:06 pm

Griz326 wrote:Richard, you may think Black Fox is "a really bad guy," but I'd suggest, that despite his conviction he could be a really good man.

Circumstances!

If I caught my wife foolin' around with "some guy," I shoot my wife, while most guys would shoot the guy makin' whoopie. Most people are far removed from their core responses, but living in the Rocky Mountains can change a guy's perspective.

I've known bad men and bad women; sometimes their deeds are not as evil as those of thieves and adulterers.

What brought me to this page was to see if anyone had heard if Popovich had died in prison.


I don't even know how to respond to this. He killed a defenseless person. He's a murderer. He went to prison for a long time. He's a bad guy.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Jack Shalom
Posts: 1368
Joined: February 7th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Brooklyn NY

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Jack Shalom » August 23rd, 2020, 12:35 pm

I wonder if this is the same James Clark that used to sign his posts at the Magic Cafe as

James Clark, MBA
President, Blacks Magic Group, Inc.
Last edited by Jack Shalom on August 23rd, 2020, 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

MagicbyAlfred
Posts: 2388
Joined: June 7th, 2015, 12:48 pm
Favorite Magician: Bill Malone
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby MagicbyAlfred » August 23rd, 2020, 6:50 pm

Jack Shalom wrote:I wonder if this is the same James Clark that used to sign his posts at the Magic Cafe as

James Clark, MBA
President, Blacks Magic Group, Inc.


It is highly unlikely that the shooting victim, James Clark, was the James Clark, MBA, President of Blacks Magic Group, Inc. According to the California Court of Appeals decision that Ted posted, James Clark, the victim, worked doing odd jobs for the owner of the nightclub outside of which he was shot on the night in question. It is also mentioned by the Court that the victim worked some jobs for the nightclub owner in order to be able to buy a new pair of shoes.

James L. Clark, MBA, is an author and magic apparatus inventor (See, e.g. Mind Magic and Mentalism for Dummies, https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Mentalism- ... 1119953502 and the DVD, "How to Make a Flash Sharpie," which is advertised on the Penguin Magic site https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S11407). James L. Clark has also been acclaimed as follows: "an accomplished mentalist, magician and media consultant who has performed and lectured in more than 30 countries. James has been featured in numerous magic-related publications and is the editor of Magician Magazine. He's also the inventor of magic tricks and effects that are sold all over the world and used by some of the top performers in the art." https://www.kriso.ee/mind-magic-mentali ... 53500.html Additionally, it appears that James L. Clark, MBA and Blacks Magic put out a DVD on how to make your own flash paper. https://themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtop ... pic=258338 The California Appeals Court mentioned nothing about James Clark, the shooting victim, being a magician/mentalist, magic inventor, writer, or owner of his own company.

But what I find it most interesting (and gratifying) is that James L. Clark, MBA has been very active and aggressive about going after illegal online magic exposers - some of whom were apparently sharing Clark's/Black Magic Group's DVD, "Holy Grail." Clark, who is apparently quite well-to-do, even got the FBI after the unlawful activities/perpetrators. See https://magicunlimited.typepad.com/magi ... fifty.html

Jack Shalom
Posts: 1368
Joined: February 7th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Brooklyn NY

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Jack Shalom » August 23rd, 2020, 10:08 pm

Thanks for the clarification, Alfred.

Steve Mills
Posts: 374
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Saint Charles, IL

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby Steve Mills » August 24th, 2020, 4:37 pm

Jack Shalom wrote:I wonder if this is the same James Clark that used to sign his posts at the Magic Cafe as

James Clark, MBA
President, Blacks Magic Group, Inc.


I recall him quite well. He was President and CEO of the James Clark, MBA fan club. I believe he was involved with a short lived, failed magazine called Street Magician, I believe. A most unpleasant fellow online. Never met him in person.
Hell is empty and all of the devils are here. - William Shakespeare

MagicbyAlfred
Posts: 2388
Joined: June 7th, 2015, 12:48 pm
Favorite Magician: Bill Malone
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC

Re: What happened to Black Fox Magic and Trading Company?

Postby MagicbyAlfred » August 24th, 2020, 5:31 pm

Steve Mills wrote:
Jack Shalom wrote:I wonder if this is the same James Clark that used to sign his posts at the Magic Cafe as

James Clark, MBA
President, Blacks Magic Group, Inc.


I recall him quite well. He was President and CEO of the James Clark, MBA fan club. I believe he was involved with a short lived, failed magazine called Street Magician, I believe. A most unpleasant fellow online. Never met him in person.


Yes, editor of "Street Magic Magazine," to be exact. And short-lived, indeed: 5 bi-monthly issues (first issue March/April 2007).
https://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.ph ... c_Magazine


Return to “Buzz”