The Newest Tops

Chezaday’s a rock ‘n’ roller. His large-scale illusion show involves plenty of pyrotechnics, flashing lights and – yes – a spandex costume with a lightning bolt on the chest. There are three women, all dancers, in Chezaday’s big show. He calls them the Chezababes. They tour the country with two technical assistants for most of the summer, levitating women from guitars and cutting them up in various ways. Steves television appearances included The Bozo Show, Wild Chicago, Jerry Springer, Kidding Around, National Geographic Explorer, WCW Halloween Havoc, and UPN50′s Up ‘n’ Running

Did you ever wonder where magic came from? Who were the first magic performers and what were their tricks?

Hello, and welcome to “Wunders.” I’m Paul from Wunderground Magic, Inc. and I’ll be your tour guide as we answer questions and dig beneath the surface to discover the fascinating and mysterious methods beneath our deceptions. This month we explore the Wunders of History and take an exciting journey through time (continue reading…)

It’s truly an honor and privilege to be a part of The Newest TOPS. The emails and phone calls I’ve been receiving in support of our new endeavor has been uplifting.

We hope to bring The Newest TOPS and the Abbott’s legacy to a new generation – the Internet generation, which I happen to be a part of. In an obscure art form, like magic, we rely on personal connections to pass the secrets on from one generation to another. The Internet has fundamentally altered the way in which we interact, and it is only natural that we harness its capabilities in furthering our art. (continue reading…)

David Seebach’s Abbott’s Bryce’s Screen

or
Gee, I Know How to use Apostrophes

If you are like me your well-worn copy of the Abbott catalog shows the effects of your constant perusal of its pages. Somehow, though, that page in the Illusions section that advertises Bryce’s Screen just hasn’t grabbed your attention the way many others have. The prop does not boast the exotic look of The Girl without a Middle or The Shredder. And, it’s relatively small cost may make it seem cheap in some manner.

You do not have to defend yourself. I overlooked this item for decades. (continue reading…)

“Be Prepared”

That’s the Boy Scout motto and should be every performing magician’s words-to-live-by. Being a full-time pro now for thirty years, I’ve racked up somewhere in the neighborhood of 24,000 shows. With that many performances under my belt, I can safely say that being prepared for the worst performing situations and conditions is what keeps my sanity intact.

I do have a contract and rider that my major corporate clients receive, review, sign and send back. No matter how big or small the show is, there are certain things I request of the client (continue reading…)

Well at least I’ve got the name of this column figured out. Let me tell you that was no easy task! Years ago I remember receiving my New Tops magazine once a month as I would get home from school. The first thing I would read was Subject: Illusions by David Seebach. Little did I know years later he would be my friend and have such a huge influence in my magic career. (continue reading…)

One of the hardest parts of being a close up magician is working a room. It doesn’t matter if the “room” is a restaurant, bar, house or a sidewalk or what ever location you are booked to perform what’s commonly known as “Strolling Magic”. You’ll have to approach and perform for total strangers. This is a scary place to be if you don’t have much experience at it. So I hope this little article will make things a little easier for you to get past this issue. (continue reading…)

Well it was either Happy Hour at the Ritz or writing this column, and you can see what I chose – a labor of love. You have no idea how thrilled I am to be writing this (I’m thrilled that I’m still alive!) and how glad I am that my dear friend Greg has decided to start TOPS up again! I lost count of how many covers I was on. I had quite a run at Abbotts in the late 80′s, so I decided to write a column on showmanship. People say I have quite a bit of it (Oh, the hush money)! (continue reading…)

Not too many people know much about me or my beginnings in magic. So I thought I’d set the record straight. My start in magic was a little unconventional: it involved a straitjacket!

Near the end of my senior year of high school, it seemed everyone, except me, had their life or career already mapped out. I didn’t have a clue. While I had interests in many things (drafting, gardening cooking, etc.), nothing really shouted out “Hey, this could be a good career.” (continue reading…)

It’s just so great to start The Newest Tops. In this computer age it boggles my mind the amount of speedy information is available. This new magazine will help connect magicians everywhere. If this magazine can inspire one young magician to try harder so he or she can enter the contest at Abbott’s Get-together or be on the cover of the Newest Tops, what a great thing this will be. So I hope you enjoy our new venture.

Greg Bordner
www.abbottmagic.com

If I had my way….

The year was 2003, Saturday night at the 65th Annual Magic Get Together. Gene Anderson was the Emcee for the night. I was doing my usual duties backstage.

Jay was to perform on the show and close with Lefty. I remember Jay getting dressed back in the band room. His shirt was missing a button so Julie Sobanski sewed it on. He had forgotten his cufflinks (somewhat like Frank Sinatra had done in Vegas when Jay worked with him). So, I went and got mine as I had performed earlier in the week and I had my show wardrobe with me. But Jay had forgotten Lefty. Hank Moorehouse had one that Jay had thrown away at a show one time. Hank brought it in for Jay to use. (continue reading…)

MyNetworkTV is programming the last of this season’s all-new magic show MASTERS OF ILLUSION for the sweeps week of May.  The series has been a strong performer for the network, sometimes beating rival network the CW in their timeslot.  This latest edition of the show is shot entirely in High Definition in front of a full studio audience.

The series is executive produced by David McKenzie, Paul Sharratt, and Gay Blackstone, the same trio behind the 2008 World Magic Awards, which aired over the same network for the past two years and will be airing again in 2009.  Network brass were impressed enough with the quality of the performances and the production of those two-hour specials to commission a full 13 hour season of MASTERS OF ILLUSION. (continue reading…)