Magic Tricks and Spring Cleaning

Hope your summer is into full swing. Mine is just starting with the warm weather FINALLY hitting Seattle (90 today). OK, HOT weather.

I finally had the opportunity to pull out my old cardboard boxes and re-organize my magic into nice plastic boxes that seal on top.

That's definitely the way to go. No moisture damage, or accidental "crushes" from storage stacking mishaps.

I found a 'real old' illusion. Blackstone Jr performed it live on Merv Griffin. It involved a tray, some wooden colored balls, and a shotglass (I'll have to describe it in detail in another post).John Carswell, who worked for Blackstone Sr. made it for me. John was a awesome guy. He was in charge of care-taking and patching up Sr's show when they were on the road.

John continued to make magic gear and illusions until he passed away a few years ago. I didn't attend the broken wand ceremony because, well, I don't like funerals. My very first funeral I can remember was an open casket (note to parents: don't EVER take your 8 yr old to an open casket funeral).

So, John's illusion is magnificent - but made with the eyes and hands of an 84 year old. I have fond memories of him. I am going to have the props re-tooled and brought back into the magic fold this winter, so be on the lookout for the grandest of all parlour magic illusions.

Amazing what a Spring Cleaning can do...

More to come...