Jerry Mertens was in Eagle Magic Store last Saturday. (College Professor -- St. Cloud State University) We were trying to remember if it was 31 or 32 years ago I started him in magic.... sometime ago Jerry brings into the store this third generation East Indian Fakir (real street magic), with Indian attire and a head of wacked-out gray hair. And we're talking about the magic of India. Very interesting. I explained, I had recently seen a man push a long skewer in one side of his cheek and out the other. And he reaches in his bag and pulled out a skewer and says, "Did it look like this?" I said that's it. (A long thin sharp metal rod with a fin at the end) He sets down the rod and pulls an old pocket hankerchief out of his bag (it looked like he had just used it to clean someone's car windows) and wipes off his tongue; picks up the skewer and forces it up into the bottom of his tongue out the top of the tongue -- and it appeared to be no easy matter; grimacing & grunting included. Okay, I'm impressed, how did you do that! I'm standing right in front of him - well, at Eagle Magic we had six showcases on the magic side. One showcase was shorter than the others and that shorter one was next to the one I always stood behind for demonstrating magic tricks. He had planted the looped rod on this shorter showcase, just out of my line of vision, must have been immidiately after he arrived. He was in the country to do a bunch of national TV talk shows & radio shows. He showed me his set of Indian Cups & Balls. The balls were wadded-up black fabric with black string tightly wrapped and tied. I asked him, "Do you make thse balls yourself?" He said he did. He used old underwear and soot to make them black. Now for a second I thought he was pulling my leg. But after looking at the balls again, I think he was accurately describing the process. Later on in the month I saw him on Morton Downey Jr's TV show. Hey; I know that Fakir.
Klo
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
"Getting off on the wrong foot"
One day Harry Lorayne walks in the Eagle Magic Store. He was in town for a 3M corporate event doing the memory stuff. After a hi, how are ya; and an attempt to sell me (6) subscriptions to Apocalypse, Harry's now suggesting we/he do a lecture, that night. He says I should call (2) people they should call (2) people -- he'd split it with me. (I think the concept, "I gota check with my wife," probably started here in the Midwest). I just didn't want to do it. We talked about the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Carsons being interested in magic. And then Harry left.
So, one day Mike Rogers walks into Eagle Magic Store. He's carrying a bag -- as he's explaining to me he just finished a two-day trade show at the Minneapolis Convention Center, he's dumping packages of his sponge rabbits on my showcase asking how many do I want. I fish my bag of potato chips and cheese sandwich out from under his sponge rabbits and say, "Zero. I currently have four different types and just don't need any more." (people are so sensitive, aren't they?)
The Amazing Jonathan was admiring a latex arm and hand made by an Eagle Magic demonstrator, Joe Lyon; Joe didn't want to sell. Jonathan was the type of guy where you could hear him coming before you could see him coming -- on his last visit he asked me to get Joe Lyon to make him a latex vertebrae. He wanted to conceal the vertebrae in his hand , drop it down the back of a spectator's shirt, remove it and call the spectator a spineless bastard. I said it works for me.
Magician Harry Garrison from Cincinnati, has been coming into Eagle Magic Store for years. (He has two sisters here in Minneapolis and they own a cabin in Northern Minnesota.) Harry is on the Johnny Carson "Bloopers Show" for the Smoke Ring Act. He did the whole thing for me at the store one day. It looked great! He blew a large smoke ring, put his hand behind the smoke ring, made it turn to the left; turn to the right; then blew a smaller ring through it; then a third smaller ring. And several other smoke ring acrobatics & contortions. Well, on Carson he's introduced; makes several quick comments, lights the cigar, takes a big puff of smoke, contorts his face, blows -- and nothing comes out -- no ring, no smoke. Harry looks at the cigar and with confidence takes another big drag, turns to the left brings his hand up to his face and blows -- nothing -- the audience snickers. He says, "Let's do one here off to the right." -- nothing. He keeps doing the act I saw him do at the store and the audience is now howling; - belly laughs -- Carson is enjoying Harry Garrison. He found out after the show that the air conditioning, air temperature and back stage fans all worked against him. Harry's a great guy. A couple of years ago he lost a foot to diabetes, but has recovered nicely. Harry's not one to be down. He enjoys himself and his friends.
Klo
So, one day Mike Rogers walks into Eagle Magic Store. He's carrying a bag -- as he's explaining to me he just finished a two-day trade show at the Minneapolis Convention Center, he's dumping packages of his sponge rabbits on my showcase asking how many do I want. I fish my bag of potato chips and cheese sandwich out from under his sponge rabbits and say, "Zero. I currently have four different types and just don't need any more." (people are so sensitive, aren't they?)
The Amazing Jonathan was admiring a latex arm and hand made by an Eagle Magic demonstrator, Joe Lyon; Joe didn't want to sell. Jonathan was the type of guy where you could hear him coming before you could see him coming -- on his last visit he asked me to get Joe Lyon to make him a latex vertebrae. He wanted to conceal the vertebrae in his hand , drop it down the back of a spectator's shirt, remove it and call the spectator a spineless bastard. I said it works for me.
Magician Harry Garrison from Cincinnati, has been coming into Eagle Magic Store for years. (He has two sisters here in Minneapolis and they own a cabin in Northern Minnesota.) Harry is on the Johnny Carson "Bloopers Show" for the Smoke Ring Act. He did the whole thing for me at the store one day. It looked great! He blew a large smoke ring, put his hand behind the smoke ring, made it turn to the left; turn to the right; then blew a smaller ring through it; then a third smaller ring. And several other smoke ring acrobatics & contortions. Well, on Carson he's introduced; makes several quick comments, lights the cigar, takes a big puff of smoke, contorts his face, blows -- and nothing comes out -- no ring, no smoke. Harry looks at the cigar and with confidence takes another big drag, turns to the left brings his hand up to his face and blows -- nothing -- the audience snickers. He says, "Let's do one here off to the right." -- nothing. He keeps doing the act I saw him do at the store and the audience is now howling; - belly laughs -- Carson is enjoying Harry Garrison. He found out after the show that the air conditioning, air temperature and back stage fans all worked against him. Harry's a great guy. A couple of years ago he lost a foot to diabetes, but has recovered nicely. Harry's not one to be down. He enjoys himself and his friends.
Klo
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Spellbound
I first saw Al Goshman perform in 1968. I was in California studying magic and at the Magic Castle for the first time. After greeting the owl & entering the bar luck would have it, there perched Al Goshman, on a break, after a preformance in the close-up parlor. He was sitting balanced on a large chair, front legs off the floor, back of the chair up against a wall -- asleep. I and my mentor approached him; "Al, I would like you to meet a young magican, Larry Kahlow. He'd like to see you do Spellbound." Al rustled; and dipped his fingers into his vest & removed a coin from his vest pocket, Bam! Bam! Bam! Change after change. WOW! He stuck his fingers with coin back into his vest pockets -- never opening his eyes. I had seen Goshman do Spellbound.
This was my first ten minutes at the Castle. Later that night I met Lou Derman and saw him do his cigarette gag (great). I was invited to Derman's for lunch on Sunday and heard about the Sleight of Hand Intimate Table workers (the house behind the house) it was a mind boggling summer.
Years later I had Goshman into Eagle Magic Store to lecture three times.
Time (1) I picked Al up at the airport and he had all these fiberboard boxes with straps full of sponge products. We dollied his luggage out to the parking lot. And he was surprised (I had just bought a new Mazda RX4 coup) "I thought you magic dealers all had cadillacs," Al said. "We'll never get all these cases in your car." -- We had a problem -- I said, (thinking hard & fast) "Al, let's transfer everything into two cases and check the third case here at airport!" (It worked) We got back to Eagle Magic Store, went upstairs (I had used vacant offices & storefronts for lectures.) He saw one card table & another table (like a cafeteria table) and said to me -- "Where do I put my stuff I'm going to sell?" -- as he was asking the question he undid the straps on the luggage and started dumping the sponge products on the floor and kicking the stuff around he said, "If they want to buy something, you tell them the price and take care of the sales." I said, "Sorry, I can do that." I found another table and everything went just "fine".
Time (2) -- years later -- Al did another lecture, it went great! It's midnight, I got him back to my place and Al says, "I'm tired -- you got any ice cream?" I say, yes -- and the doorbell rings. Some of the boys from the lecture are at the front door -- (it's a house invasion) they barge in and Al looks at me; I shrug my shoulders, he says, "If you guys think I'm going to stay up all night talking 'magic' you're #*)#@** crazy. Larry can you bring me my ice cream in my room?" I say yes and try to secure the premises.
Time (3) -- somewhere down the road.
Klo
This was my first ten minutes at the Castle. Later that night I met Lou Derman and saw him do his cigarette gag (great). I was invited to Derman's for lunch on Sunday and heard about the Sleight of Hand Intimate Table workers (the house behind the house) it was a mind boggling summer.
Years later I had Goshman into Eagle Magic Store to lecture three times.
Time (1) I picked Al up at the airport and he had all these fiberboard boxes with straps full of sponge products. We dollied his luggage out to the parking lot. And he was surprised (I had just bought a new Mazda RX4 coup) "I thought you magic dealers all had cadillacs," Al said. "We'll never get all these cases in your car." -- We had a problem -- I said, (thinking hard & fast) "Al, let's transfer everything into two cases and check the third case here at airport!" (It worked) We got back to Eagle Magic Store, went upstairs (I had used vacant offices & storefronts for lectures.) He saw one card table & another table (like a cafeteria table) and said to me -- "Where do I put my stuff I'm going to sell?" -- as he was asking the question he undid the straps on the luggage and started dumping the sponge products on the floor and kicking the stuff around he said, "If they want to buy something, you tell them the price and take care of the sales." I said, "Sorry, I can do that." I found another table and everything went just "fine".
Time (2) -- years later -- Al did another lecture, it went great! It's midnight, I got him back to my place and Al says, "I'm tired -- you got any ice cream?" I say, yes -- and the doorbell rings. Some of the boys from the lecture are at the front door -- (it's a house invasion) they barge in and Al looks at me; I shrug my shoulders, he says, "If you guys think I'm going to stay up all night talking 'magic' you're #*)#@** crazy. Larry can you bring me my ice cream in my room?" I say yes and try to secure the premises.
Time (3) -- somewhere down the road.
Klo
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Golden Dragons
Jack Nordin, local Minneapolis magician, and grandson Alexander, stopped by Eagle Magic Store today. The kid had a great time! Jack has a huge collection and knows what he has. The kid will have a good teacher. Jack was at a M. C. A. convention (Magic Collectors Association) and ran into Dick Gustafson standing in front of a table of old stuff; and Dick admitted that he didn't know much about old apparatus, and asked Jack if he knew what this box was and how it was used. Gustafson was holding a die box; Jack was just floored that Dick didn't know.
In 1965 I competed at the IBM convention in Indianapolis. It was a fun experience. I did golf ball manipulations, wonder rope, and a dove production-- threw it all into a Wilcox box and vanished everything. Ed Wilcox from Cambridge Minnesota had invented a couple of great tricks and I was instructed to try to show them to a few people, maybe dealers. On the road trip home we stopped in Norwood, Ohio and visited Haines House of Cards; and Ronald Haines. Pictures of dogs playing cards on the wall, cards on aprons, cards on towels, cards on cups and saucers, cards on the rugs, card icons everywhere. In the walk-out basement was the business, in the attic the magic collection and office. Ronald Haines; (sometimes you wonder why you stay interested in magic a lifetime.) what a nice man. I explained to him I had blown all my money at the convention on food; and really didn't pick-up any special apparatus. I was looking at his die box, looked different from the other Homer Hudson two-door gold dragon die boxes I had seen before. Mr. Haines said that he had added a bottom pedestal to it so that he could install; a heavier weight - more banging noise when he tilted left and right. He said, "Larry, I'd like to give you that die box." Now I don't know why he said that, but I couldn't stop thanking him. He said, "Learn how to do it right" - he gave me a couple of tips - I used that die box in 100s & 100s of shows.
In the early '70s Chuck Cassini walked in the door of Eagle Magic Store. An Italian man wearing a bright yellow shirt with large black spots on it, long jet black hair. He had this quick, choppy walk from showcase to showcase (Eagle's showroom was set-up in a horse-shoe shape) as if he could consume or interrupt everything in the showcases quickly as he banged around the counters, like a ball in a pin ball machine. I knew this would be another interesting conversation -- I was standing behind the close-up mat perfecting my Curry turnover. Cassini points and says, "What's that" I turn and see he's pointing at a die box (Homer Hudson; not mine). I say, "A magic trick." He says, "I could make it better and sell it to you cheeper." Well this quip actually happens quite often over the years, somebody's curious, trying to let you know he works with wood; has tools and is willing to do you a favor. I was working for the previous owner at the time, and what transpired here probably wouldn't have happened if I was calling the shots. He walked out of the store knowing the "secret" of the die box and with confidence he would be back in a week with the finished product and he would be supplying us with die boxes. He did come back with a nice die box -- but didn't want to sell it to us for the price agreed; and wanted to know if we had any other "secrets" we wanted to share with him. Had someone created a monster? YES!!!
In 1965 I competed at the IBM convention in Indianapolis. It was a fun experience. I did golf ball manipulations, wonder rope, and a dove production-- threw it all into a Wilcox box and vanished everything. Ed Wilcox from Cambridge Minnesota had invented a couple of great tricks and I was instructed to try to show them to a few people, maybe dealers. On the road trip home we stopped in Norwood, Ohio and visited Haines House of Cards; and Ronald Haines. Pictures of dogs playing cards on the wall, cards on aprons, cards on towels, cards on cups and saucers, cards on the rugs, card icons everywhere. In the walk-out basement was the business, in the attic the magic collection and office. Ronald Haines; (sometimes you wonder why you stay interested in magic a lifetime.) what a nice man. I explained to him I had blown all my money at the convention on food; and really didn't pick-up any special apparatus. I was looking at his die box, looked different from the other Homer Hudson two-door gold dragon die boxes I had seen before. Mr. Haines said that he had added a bottom pedestal to it so that he could install; a heavier weight - more banging noise when he tilted left and right. He said, "Larry, I'd like to give you that die box." Now I don't know why he said that, but I couldn't stop thanking him. He said, "Learn how to do it right" - he gave me a couple of tips - I used that die box in 100s & 100s of shows.
In the early '70s Chuck Cassini walked in the door of Eagle Magic Store. An Italian man wearing a bright yellow shirt with large black spots on it, long jet black hair. He had this quick, choppy walk from showcase to showcase (Eagle's showroom was set-up in a horse-shoe shape) as if he could consume or interrupt everything in the showcases quickly as he banged around the counters, like a ball in a pin ball machine. I knew this would be another interesting conversation -- I was standing behind the close-up mat perfecting my Curry turnover. Cassini points and says, "What's that" I turn and see he's pointing at a die box (Homer Hudson; not mine). I say, "A magic trick." He says, "I could make it better and sell it to you cheeper." Well this quip actually happens quite often over the years, somebody's curious, trying to let you know he works with wood; has tools and is willing to do you a favor. I was working for the previous owner at the time, and what transpired here probably wouldn't have happened if I was calling the shots. He walked out of the store knowing the "secret" of the die box and with confidence he would be back in a week with the finished product and he would be supplying us with die boxes. He did come back with a nice die box -- but didn't want to sell it to us for the price agreed; and wanted to know if we had any other "secrets" we wanted to share with him. Had someone created a monster? YES!!!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Hey Joe!!
Joe Stevens was a friend/consultant to the local S.A.M. Assembly when they were in the process of putting together our local magic convention, the "Wizards Weekend." At the first convention in the dealers room, as the dealers are setting up their displays, Joe comes over to the Eagle Magic tables and asks me, knowing that I too am interested in old magic tricks, if I had any, "olde-molde stuff" that I think he'd be interested in. I'm just opening up my first boxes and I say, "Maybe, I'll get back to you." As I continue to open the box in front of me I see a box of garbage! I had brought a box filled with pop cans, banana peels, cigarette butts, paper, candy wrappers...... garbage! I had brought garbage! Before Joe gets back to his table, I have to decide what I'm going to do with this stuff -- hide it, or use it. I said, "Joe, come 'er. Was this the kind of Olde-Molde stuff you were thinking about?" He looked in the box, he was shocked, didn't know what to say. Shook his head and walked away.
In 1938 Carl Jones, a Minneapolis newspaper editor, publisher/owner, published the book, Greater Magic; J. N. Hillards compilations of magicians tricks; he had met in the course of his work as Howard Thurston's advance man. When Joe Stevens was in the process of naming his teaching magic video series; he liked the idea of calling it the Greater Magic Video Library and asked me, to ask Waring Jones, son of Carl Jones; if that would be okay with Waring, who I had know from the E. M. S.. I asked Mr. Jones, he said okay, and Joe went with it. (It's still important to learn magic from books).
Klo
In 1938 Carl Jones, a Minneapolis newspaper editor, publisher/owner, published the book, Greater Magic; J. N. Hillards compilations of magicians tricks; he had met in the course of his work as Howard Thurston's advance man. When Joe Stevens was in the process of naming his teaching magic video series; he liked the idea of calling it the Greater Magic Video Library and asked me, to ask Waring Jones, son of Carl Jones; if that would be okay with Waring, who I had know from the E. M. S.. I asked Mr. Jones, he said okay, and Joe went with it. (It's still important to learn magic from books).
Klo
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
before retiring for the day
Just framed a Dante poster 'Electric Blue & Black' script; it looks magical. It's going to the store tomorrow.
Several friends have provided 8 x 10s for the store. Thanks!
Please keep me in mind for show biz advertising materials.
Matt Dunn and Brad Gudim stopped in this week and both explained that they had busy summers planned. Magic shows booked and events scheduled for the early season.
Tim G. and Sean P. took Larry K. to a prestigeous local restaurant; the fish was good, but the conversation was better. Both in the future to be superstars of magic.
Next time important details about my backyard.
Klo
Several friends have provided 8 x 10s for the store. Thanks!
Please keep me in mind for show biz advertising materials.
Matt Dunn and Brad Gudim stopped in this week and both explained that they had busy summers planned. Magic shows booked and events scheduled for the early season.
Tim G. and Sean P. took Larry K. to a prestigeous local restaurant; the fish was good, but the conversation was better. Both in the future to be superstars of magic.
Next time important details about my backyard.
Klo
Monday, June 13, 2005
news paper restoration.
Saturday, May 21st Eagle Magic Store had a great article in the Variety Section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (you can go to startribune.com to see the "Hocus Pocus" article). This article chronicled Eagle Magic Store's move from the Sexton Building to the Grain Exchange Building (also check out the accompanying slide show). I was surprised how lengthy the article is, the writer worked on it over a long period of time; and did a great job.
The people at FM 107.1 talk radio saw the article and Don Michaels from the Lori and Julia Show wanted to talk to the old magic cus, that's me, Laraunt Kahlow. So on June 9th I visited the show with practical jokes and magic tricks. I brought in a "sleeping puppydog" (supposedly a gift for my daughter, Adel) air holes punched in the side of a cardbaord box & everything. "Just pet him." Then I let the joy buzzer fly and Julia jumped. This took place in the five minutes when you make the transition from the lobby to the hot seat. Razzers, rattle snake eggs, snakes cans, itching powder, fart powder, nothing held back, full speed ahead. I'm supposed to come back soon!
Klo
The people at FM 107.1 talk radio saw the article and Don Michaels from the Lori and Julia Show wanted to talk to the old magic cus, that's me, Laraunt Kahlow. So on June 9th I visited the show with practical jokes and magic tricks. I brought in a "sleeping puppydog" (supposedly a gift for my daughter, Adel) air holes punched in the side of a cardbaord box & everything. "Just pet him." Then I let the joy buzzer fly and Julia jumped. This took place in the five minutes when you make the transition from the lobby to the hot seat. Razzers, rattle snake eggs, snakes cans, itching powder, fart powder, nothing held back, full speed ahead. I'm supposed to come back soon!
Klo
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Dean reveals worlds greatest magic trick
Recently reflecting on what I knew of Jay Marshall, I considered, if it was possible that every day of his life was wonderful. Charm, wit, spontaneity, respect from others and a couple of bucks can elevate oneself to the level of quite a happy go lucky type a guy. I thought he was great.
During a panel discussion at an early Wizards Weekend, a young magician in the audience asked a very heady question of the distinguished panel of experts. And the question was, "What is the greatest trick in magic?" The panel of experts were perfectly quiet and possibly not wanting to embarrass the young man were slow in formulating a response. It appeared to be quite a long time. Then Jay Marshall, who was seated at the far right side of the table stretched his body past Tony Andruzzi, extended his arms to grasp and pull towards himself the microphone, then responded, "20th Century Silks!" "Have a seat son." And of course there was a big laugh.
Maybe we should retire the concept of S.A.M. Dean. And have a S.A.M. Ambassador, no, that sounds too much across the pond. Maybe an S.A.M. Baron - "negative!" sounds to political; to commercial. This is it, maybe the S.A.M. Grand Marshall. (I don't know, maybe not) Oh, what the hell, hail to the Dean, he was the greatest, he'll never be replaced.
Klo
During a panel discussion at an early Wizards Weekend, a young magician in the audience asked a very heady question of the distinguished panel of experts. And the question was, "What is the greatest trick in magic?" The panel of experts were perfectly quiet and possibly not wanting to embarrass the young man were slow in formulating a response. It appeared to be quite a long time. Then Jay Marshall, who was seated at the far right side of the table stretched his body past Tony Andruzzi, extended his arms to grasp and pull towards himself the microphone, then responded, "20th Century Silks!" "Have a seat son." And of course there was a big laugh.
Maybe we should retire the concept of S.A.M. Dean. And have a S.A.M. Ambassador, no, that sounds too much across the pond. Maybe an S.A.M. Baron - "negative!" sounds to political; to commercial. This is it, maybe the S.A.M. Grand Marshall. (I don't know, maybe not) Oh, what the hell, hail to the Dean, he was the greatest, he'll never be replaced.
Klo
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