For the last fifteen years, Bobby has been using his experience as a street performer, wit, and high energy level to win several awards in magic and to become a much sought after entertainer for Fairs, Festivals, Corporations, and Theatres. Even though he is fast becoming a premier “indoor” entertainer, he still manages to stay close to his roots as... Read more
Archive for February, 2011
February 2011 Cover: Bobby Maverick
February 28 | Posted by John Sturk | Cover Magicians, Featured Columns
Kevin Heller Joins 74th Get Together Cast
February 28 | Posted by Greg Bordner | Abbott NewsKevin tours throughout the midwest with what has been described as a roller coaster ride of magic, comedy and illusion. Along with his wife Robin, the couple has become a magical tour de force. From the smallest banquet rooms to the largest grandstands and theaters, Kevin and Robin have presented their unforgettable style of magic... Read more
1938 Review of John Calvert’s Show
February 27 | Posted by MS Mahendra | Featured ColumnsTo our surprise we find Calvert the Magician, is playing Oak Hill, West Virginia, just a few miles from us, so we anxiously await his coming, and as we are laying off on the day he plays Oak Hill we plan to catch his show and also visit him. Find Calvert to be a real fellow and has a very... Read more
Abbotts Newsletter – New Tarbell Book
February 25 | Posted by Chuck Kleiber | Abbott NewsBelow is Abbott’s Newsletter – To sign up to receive Abbott’s Newsletter in your email click here Editors Note: Lots of books in this newsletter, both new and old. This newsletter had some older and some new effects, the big hits being the 900 page Tarbell book (which is new, just coming on the market despite the content being old) ,... Read more
59th Annual Blackpool Convention
February 24 | Posted by Hank Moorehouse | Abbott NewsJust returned from the 59th Annual Blackpool Convention.. Who says convention business is off? Another sell out with 3,200 registered, with 125 dealers doing well. I’ve been going to this event for about 25 years and it gets better every year. This years Sunday Gala was great. Variety of magic talent from around the world.... Read more
John Calvert – Sept 1964 New Tops
February 23 | Posted by Bob Lynn | Featured ColumnsJohn Calvert appeared on the cover of Tops magazine in Sept 1964 and this article by Bob Lynn was the cover story. John will be appearing at the Abbott Magic Get Together this August and so we thought this story (nearly 50 years old) would be of interest to our readers and John’s fan base. Magician – Actor – Showman. These... Read more
Hodge Podge – Houdini Is Buried
February 21 | Posted by Joe Ganger | Featured ColumnsThe Marker on Houdini’s Grave – As of 2008, no date has been entered for his wife, Bess, although she died in 1943 Dateline November 5, 1926: “In accordance with his wishes, Harry Houdini, the famous magician and escape artist who passed away in Detroit, Michigan, on October 31st, was buried today from the Elks’ Clubhouse, West 43rd Street, New York... Read more
Reminder – McBrides Mystery School Tonight
February 21 | Posted by Chuck Kleiber | Featured ColumnsShown left a 2000 poster featuring Jeff McBride, available free with any purchase when you visit Abbott’s showroom in Colon MI Jeff McBride, Bryce Kuhlman,Tobias Beckwith, Leo Diaz, Jordan Wright and Tim Wise have been planning an internet chat show for Murphy’s Magic Community and it’s loyal members…with YOU as part of it! The MCBRIDE’S MYSTERY SCHOOL MONDAYS IS GOING LIVE TONIGHT,... Read more
Abbott’s Newsletter – Mental Epic Pads
February 20 | Posted by Chuck Kleiber | Abbott NewsBelow is Abbott’s Newsletter – To sign up to receive Abbott’s Newsletter in your email click here Editors Note: This newsletter had the usual number of effects, the big hits being the Funny Money Boxes and the Mental Epic Pads. We also thanked those who got the “New Lamps from Old” project off the ground with a bang. In fact, the... Read more
1953 – Houdini Movie Premiere
February 19 | Posted by Gordon Miller | Featured ColumnsFrom 1953 Tops Mag – (5 posters to left available from Abbott’s ) Now that the motion picture “Houdini” has been completed, Paramount publicists say the New York premiere will be staged “Sometime in July, according to present plans”, so writes Wanda Hale in her report on things to come moviewise in the New York Sunday News of June 14. “Talking with... Read more
Protected: Fifteen Ways To Use Abbott’s Card Sword
February 16 | Posted by Greg Bordner | Featured ColumnsThis post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: ... Read more
Hodge Podge – The Veterans Hospital
February 14 | Posted by Joe Ganger | Featured ColumnsFrom The “TOPS” Magazine, August 1967. By Monk Watson: “What a week it was … several months back a lady from the Legion auxiliary called me and asked me if I would entertain some Veterans from the LOCKED WARD in the Veteran?s Hospital at Battle Creek. These ladies, it seems, go over once a month and keep the fellows in... Read more
The Man Behind “Fooling St Peter”
February 13 | Posted by Gordon Miller | Featured ColumnsWhen visiting the Colon cemetery during the annual Get Together tour you are going to come across a very well maintained tombstone with the epitah “Now I have to fool St Peter”. Let’s take a look back at this fascinating magician. The year is 1945 and a World War 1 Vet is making the rounds, entertaining the troops of World... Read more
How Blackstone Sr. Averted Panic
February 12 | Posted by Gordon Miller | Featured ColumnsThis happened in 1942 and was published in Tops Magazine… When a $40,000 fire destroyed a store building next door to the Lincoln Theatre in Decatur, Ill., on the afternoon of September 3rd, it was a Magician playing the theatre whose presence of mind and quick thinking averted a disastrous panic. The Magician was Blackstone and he was about to go on... Read more
Abbott’s Newsletter – New Lamps For Old
February 10 | Posted by Chuck Kleiber | Abbott NewsBelow is Abbott’s Newsletter – To sign up to receive Abbott’s Newsletter in your email click here Editors Note. The big seller in this newsletter was the Maric Glass. I saw these when they came into Abbott’s and am impressed with what you get for your money. A DVD, a nice case for everything, and a few extra fakes/gimmicks/etc. This newsletter... Read more
Broken Wand – Pavel
February 9 | Posted by Chuck Kleiber | Abbott NewsWe were just informed that Swiss Magician Pavel has passed away from cancer. Pavel performed at five Magic Get Togethers, 1986, 1990, 1994, 2000 and 2008. A brilliant performer, lecturer and inventor, Hank Moorehouse once called him one of the most copied magicians in the world. Abbott Magic would like to send out their deepest sympathy to the family and friends... Read more
John Sturk Joins 2011 Get Together Roster
February 8 | Posted by Greg Bordner | Abbott NewsNewest Tops Editor John Sturk is the latest magical talent to join the 2011 Abbott Magic Get Together Roster. John Sturk is an award-winning comedy magician. A native of Detroit, John is a graduate of Michigan State University with degrees in Journalism and Political Theory. He now lives in Chicago, and works for FUN Incorporated, America’s largest magic... Read more
Clowning With Dune Buggy Remembered
February 7 | Posted by Gordon Miller | Abbott NewsOn 25 Jan 2011, Jim Dune Buggy Russell passed on. This is a reprint from 1989 Regardless of your clowning status: amateur, semi-pro, or professional, be professional in your makeup, costume, and your acts. Do what you or your unit has committed you to do. Do it willingly, without a chip on your shoulder-or simply don’t go! The general publics opinion... Read more
The Get Together Equinox has Passed
February 5 | Posted by Greg Bordner | Abbott NewsAs you may or may not know, today we passed the Get Together Equinox which means, in a nutshell, that we are closer to the start of the next Get Together than we are from the last moment of the last Get Together. During the Equinox period you may see strange formations in the heavens, the universe will be in... Read more
Columbus Magi-Fest Pics Are In
February 4 | Posted by Greg Bordner | Featured ColumnsIt is hard to review a convention that you don’t attend. I was there but only live in the dealers room. I try to just advertise and show high quality product and generate sales. The fun in seeing old and I mean old friends is great. For me, lectures and shows take a back seat. This years Magi-fest was again fun. No... Read more
Broken Wand – Tim Conover
February 3 | Posted by Greg Bordner | Abbott NewsAbbott’s just received word (from Magic New Zealand) that Mentalist/Magician Tim Conover has passed away. Tim Conover has over thirty years of performing experience and was widely considered one of the world’s leading mentalists. Tim’s audience members and clients included people like Walter Cronkite, the renowned news anchor; Shimon Perez, the past Prime Minister of Israel; Alice Cooper,... Read more
Yumi Joins 2011 Get Together Roster
February 1 | Posted by Greg Bordner | Abbott NewsThe Magic Get Together has long been an international event, this year is no different with one of Japans most popular acts – Yumi. Her performances define the term “poetry in motion”. She won several awards for her magical performances. Some of these include first prize in the SAM Japan in 1998, first prize at the... Read more
