The Newest Tops

Steve Spill has spent his entire life performing magic, producing magic shows around the globe in places such as the French Riviera’s Cannes Film Festival, Universal Studios Hollywood, Harrah’s Tahoe, Toronto’s Massey Hall, and consulting for theatrical productions, films, and television. Among the projects on which Spill has provided expertise are the CBS TV special “The World Greatest Magicians,” The Learning Channel TV special “Magic’s Greatest Illusions,” the A&E TV series “Comedy on the Road” and the FX TV series “Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular.” In 1998 Spill opened Magicopolis in Santa Monica, which is the permanent home of “Escape Reality,” his two hour theater show. (continue reading…)

Winchester Mystery House

How did the Magicians of the past handle the 50th anniversary of Houdini’s Death? With a seance in one of the spookiest houses on earth, the Winchester House. For those who do not know, the song “Stairway to Heaven” and movie “Rose Red” are both loosely based on this scary house. In 1977, “The New Tops” printed the following article with pictures about the Houdini seance in the Winchester house.

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Get-Together regular and magic icon Marshall Brodien was profiled by his hometown newspaper in Geneva, Ill. Take a look at the article here:

The life and times of Wizzo, now a retired Geneva resident

Click here to order!

If you’ve been enjoying The Newest Tops, you’ll love this.

The Newest Tops continues a long legacy of Abbott Magic Co. publications, and now, thanks to The Miracle Factory, you can have the complete New Tops and save a lot of space on your bookshelf.

Every issue of Abbott’s classic magic magazine is now available on CD-ROM! (continue reading…)

“Quick Tricks for Life”

Life isn’t fair.

Here I am at the 11th Annual Conference on Magic History in Los Angeles avoiding the cold Chicago weather and when I checked my iPhone to see what the weather was like in Chicago, I found that they’re having Indian Summer and it’s warmer there than it is here. I was kind of hoping they’d save a little of that for me, but it seems only cold weather is in my immediate future. Susan and I are off to Winnipeg, Canada in a few days to oversee the print run of my book, “BEATING A DEAD HORSE—The Life and Times of Jay Marshall.” The official release date of the book is January 7, 2010, and I’m told the snow is already waiting for us in Canada. Swell.
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Contests

I love magic convention contests.  Where else can you see all the sucky acts, the mediocre performers and the rare gems all in one show?  To the powers that be, I’d like to know who in their right mind decided that all the contests should take place in the early morning?  After a night of staying up late, rekindling old friendships and magic sessions, why would you think that 8 or 9 a.m. a contestant (or judge) would be “at their best”?  Most of us just turned in around 4 a.m. !
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Of the Indian Rope Trick

Imagine, if you will, the midday scene in a crowded marketplace in India.  A well dressed magician in flowing robes opens a wicker basket and pulls out a long coil of rope.  After making some magical gestures he flings the rope high into the air.  Instead of falling to the ground, the rope seems to climb snakelike, ever higher and remains suspended as if pulled by the hand of an invisible god into the sky.  Now a young boy climbs the rope and keeps ascending up, up, up until he is completely out of view.  The magician repeatedly calls out to him, but there is no answer.  Furious, the magician takes up a long knife and begins climbing the rope after him.  There is a heated argument, and then a shower of severed arms and legs and body parts descends from the sky.  The magician climbs back down still clutching the now bloody knife.  The magician gathers up the limbs and throws them all into the basket then covers it with a cloth.  From beneath the cloth a shape begins to emerge which is the young boy, restored to life once more.
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Look who is already booked for the 73rd Get Together! The Saturday show is set with: David Williamson, John Carney, Tina Lenert, Mike Caveney, and Chris Hart!

Also set are escapologists Mark and Sheila Cannon in a rare midwest appearance, Louisville’s TV Weatherman Paul Emmick, and Maria, who will add a feminine side to our Close Up Show.

David Williamson, John Carney, and Mark Cannon will also lecture and Williamson and Carney will also perform Close Up.

More to Come! Why not give yourself a Christmas present register today!

Hola!  (whatever the hell that means!)  I have gotten so much response from my famous 1 to 7 system about cutting down on drinking (with a very nasty one from A.A. and all branches including Great Britain, Spain, and Norway).  But that is just jealousy! Vicious, vicious people.  But I won’t let that bother me (I had no intention of visiting those spots anyway).

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Abbott’s Sword Basket: The perfect choice for your first illusion!

Here is a feature illusion that can be done anywhere … even close up … even surrounded by spectators. This specially-made basket is so small in appearance and so deceptive that it will fool the experts! The basket is made of strong Fiberglass and decorated to resemble a woven Indian basket. All the extra paraphernalia – the swords, the spear, the cloth – will fit inside the basket. In fact, it’s great for carrying the rest of your show. Special illustrated and detailed instructions and a complete routine are supplied. This illusion is small and lightweight – easy to carry, yet it is big in effect. Publicize that you have this illusion in your show and you will receive more bookings!

Longtime Get-Together dealer and iconic billiard ball manufacturer Frank “Fakini” Radtke passed away this past Sunday. All of us at the Abbott Magic Co. and The Newest TOPS send our deepest condolences to Frank’s family.

From the Toledo Blade:

RADTKE Frank Sr. “Fakini” Frank Radtke, 69, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2009, surrounded by his family at Flower Hospital. Frank was born March 20, 1940, to Eva and Clarence Radtke who preceded him in death. He married Joyce Myers who passed away in 1998.

Frank was a longtime magician and was known throughout the world as the originator of the silicone balls. He was a member of the IBM, SAM Ring 68 and the International Magic Collectors Association. He was also an avid knife collector. Surviving are his daughters, Melanie and Susan, and sons, Frank, Edward, Randy and Michael; sister, Nora Roundell, and very special mate, Judy Sharp and her children. He also leaves behind 27 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Frank has helped and touched many in the magic community. He will be greatly missed. Friends may call at the Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Ave., on Friday, November 13, 2009 from 2 to 7 p.m. There will be a Broken Wand Ceremony at 7 p.m. Memorials may be given to Promedica Hospice, 5100 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, OH 43560.

Only in LA

In 1982, at the Magic Castle, I met an actor named Joseph Bologna. He said “you have a terrific act, I predict that you’re going to have a big career… and what I’d like to propose to you is…”

At the time Bologna was well-known because he was starring with Peter O’Toole in a great movie called “My Favorite Year,” as we talked, a couple of his fans interrupted and…

What proposal? I never did find out. He put his arm around my shoulder… “You’re a very talented kid.” He shook my hand… “We’ll be talking very soon, you can bet on it.”
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Chef Chezaday

There is a chill in the air and we’ll finally be working indoors for a while.  I just finished a run of shows that had me working in a graveyard… outside.  Now if your not familiar with the weather in the Chicago area,  this can present quite the challenge.  This of course was for a local event called “All Hallows Eve” at the Naper Settlement.  I was to entertain groups as they would pass from one attraction to another.  My set up included hay on the ground and a mausoleum as my backstage area.  Two flood lights and a couple of fog machines completed my stage setting.  The guests would be seated on a semicircle of hay bales.  It really was an interesting set up and did the best I could.

I kept my set short to keep the crowd moving.  In fact I had two sets of very standard effects that I have been doing for years.  First up was Abbott’s Sword Thru Neck, perfect for a spooky event.  No troubles there… even in the rain.  Next up was the Pom Pom Prayers Stick and then I would finish with the Mystery of the Silver Rings.  There was a constant drizzle on Friday night but on Saturday it was cold.  I think it dipped down into the 40’s.  Try those in the cold… now that’s not easy.
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