Newsflash!
McBride’s Magic & Mystery School has a new book! Would you like to get a copy of it…for free? If so, read on.
Did you know that each and every day McBride’s Magic & Mystery School will be holding free magic classes and hands-on training at the FISM convention in Quebec City? Jeff McBride, Dr. Larry Hass, Tobias Beckwith, Will Bradshaw, Scott Steelfyre, and the friends of Mystery School will be hosting daily and late night magic classes.
Subjects will range from Parlor Magic Classics, to Impromptu Masterpieces, to Mysteries from our Mentors, and even a special “Eugene Burger Night.” Here is our full schedule of classes and lectures.
Magic & Mystery School 3D Walkthrough
Take a look at the Magic & Mystery School installation with this amazing 3D walkthrough created by our own technowizard Scott Steelfyre.
The Mystery School Book of Secrets – Free!
This is our new (and until now, very secret) special interactive book/video compendium that will be given to each and every person who visits the Mystery School Room installation at this year’s FISM convention. This is the only way to obtain this book!
The Mystery School Book of Secrets is free, compliments of our school, and will be given to registrants of the conference. The only way to get this book is to visit us in our Mystery School Room at FISM. We look forward to meeting you in Quebec and sharing our mysteries and magic with you!
Jeff
Dear Friends,
Our guest contributor this month is Tim “Santiago” Converse. Tim has been studying the art and history of magic for over 30 years. He is an instructor for the McBride Magic & Mystery School, and teaches magic online through a new after school educational program called Veeko.
Every Day Carry Magic
This is a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately. We just enjoyed an episode of Mystery School Monday on this very topic, where a lot of great information and useful advice was shared. I thought I would share a story of my own that might be of interest.
When we think of Every Day Carry (EDC) magic, we are usually thinking in terms of the things we always have with us that are general purpose – they will play anywhere, anytime, for any audience. But I like to think in advance when I go somewhere, and make additions or substitutions to my current EDC magic as well.
If you know me at all, then you know that I visit Disneyland frequently, up to two to three times a year! I love going to amusement parks, and I’m a roller coaster enthusiast. Disneyland has my all time favorite – Space Mountain. When I go, I always make sure to have two things on me that are in addition to my usual EDC.
Customizing Your Props
First, a D’lite, usually a bright white one, but I also have used a green one for a very specific reason. I have found that when I am standing in line for a “dark ride” – any ride that has a queue line in the dark and runs in the dark, like the Haunted Mansion or Tower of Terror – my D’lite is a perfect way to calm a child who might be scared. Some parents bring small children on such rides because they want to go, even if their child doesn’t.
The child can become frightened pretty easily. A D’lite immediately gets their attention and it gives me a great opportunity to open a conversation with them. That conversation is always along the lines of, “I used to get scared on this ride too, but now it’s a lot of fun. Would you like to have a little bit of my courage to get on the ride?”
My courage is, of course, the light. If they give me permission, I gently bring the light closer to their heart, and without touching them, toss it to them in a way that suggests that the light went into their heart. Every time I have done this the child has perked up, smiled, and calmed right down, and the parents are usually very grateful as well!
This is a magic moment that helps them relax and enjoy where they are and what they are doing. Also, it usually makes them a bit more chatty with me while we’re in line, which makes them feel like this is a normal experience after all. And why a green D’lite? Because Tinkerbell is green! So with just a small modification to anything I say, I can reference Tinkerbell, and it becomes that much more Disney!
Magic Bubbles
The second thing I bring with me is a small supply of clear glass marbles. I’m sure you can see where this is going!
Throughout the park there are many vendors who sell “magic bubble wands.” They usually have some character on them, run on batteries, have a bubble solution reservoir, and can put large amounts of bubbles in the air. What an opportunity!
On my most recent trip to Disneyland, I had the absolute most perfect situation. I was standing outside a ride waiting for my wife to return, and standing across from me was a young girl, maybe around five or six years old, playing with a bubble wand while her mom was busy on her phone. The conditions were exactly right, so while she was looking directly at me I reached up and “caught a bubble”! Her beautiful brown eyes went absolutely wide and she smiled and laughed!
Normally I would have offered up the “bubble” to her as a gift, but since her mom didn’t see me do it, and we were just far enough apart to make it awkward if I walked over to her, I didn’t. Also, of course, in light of things like Covid, there still is a certain amount of caution taking place, even in Disneyland. Regardless, that little girl will remember the experience, perhaps for the rest of her life, because she saw something magical she had never even dreamed of!
Be Prepared to Create Magic Moments
In light of this discussion about EDC magic, I urge you to think beyond the “always playable anywhere” set. Consider where you’re going and what other effects you might have that would fit your EDC kit. If you do, you might just find yourself perfectly placed to create even greater magical moments than Mickey himself!
Greetings friends,
The summer is here and things are heating up! Not only is it over 100° outside every day, but new shows are opening and Las Vegas business is back, better than ever! How do all of us at the Mystery School beat the heat? We get out of town, go on the road, and make some cool magic with our friends…so look for us on the road this summer!
Paying it Forward – the Next Generation of Magic
Mystery School will be helping with the 2022 Lance Burton Teen Magic Seminar. Dr. Larry Hass, Tetro, and Elliot Hunter will team up with Lance Burton and his friends at the International Brotherhood of Magicians convention in Atlanta, Georgia. We love teaching magic with Lance because he is so committed to nurturing the magicians of tomorrow. For over twenty years, Lance has hosted this event, and it is free to all teens who are part of the convention!
Right after the Atlanta convention, Mystery School will be heading to Quebec, Canada, for the FISM convention. Mystery School will have its own room, so if you are attending the convention, drop in and visit us! We will be hosting workshops and teachings all day every day, and will be the cool late night place to session with your magic.
The 2022 FISM (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques) World Championships of Magic takes place in Québec, Canada, from July 25-30, and will feature the lead faculty of Jeff McBride’s Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas. The school will be set up with its own space next to the dealer’s room. The Mystery School team will be offering mini-lectures and workshops, as well as magic jam sessions in their space at the convention. Many of our friends and faculty members will be joining us, so it is surely a grand occasion to get help with your magic – and it is all absolutely free if you attend the convention!
As you read this we will be hosting our 7-Day Master Class, with 17 students from all over the world. It’s amazing to watch our friends and students grow in the art of magic. Recently, one of those students was accepted into the Magic Castle! Susan Zeller is the magical storyteller, and here is part of her story.
When we asked Susan how she creates her magic and achieves her goals, she said, “With Jeff’s mentorship and support, I realized my dream to become a Magician Member of the AMA and to perform my show at the Magic Castle. The actual audition process for the Magic Castle was fun. I was confident and relaxed, in part due to the encouragement from Jeff. I was very prepared, and that helped me to succeed in impressing the audition committee. I also won several awards along the way. The ideas for my magical creations come from my life and personality. They exist in my mind as bits and pieces of emotions, grand theater, singing, and classic magic that is exciting to me and resonates with my audiences.
Jeff has been my mentor for the last couple of years. My decision to work with Jeff and to trust him to assist me with my ideas has helped me to bring my ideas to life. He also was able to help me to solidify my brand and costuming for my character, Susan Zeller, The Magical Storyteller. I have a new lecture for magic clubs that I call “Conjuring Your Dreams.”
Thank you Susan, for sharing your inspiration and encouraging words! You can find more about Susan Zeller here: https://www.susanzellermagic.com
Bizarre Magic in Baltimore
Susan will be joining me, and many other top magicians, for the Poe’s Magic Conference. Baltimore’s best magic conference is back – and with Jeff McBride as the keynote speaker! Tickets are at a reduced rate only for a limited time. Check out more about the incredible line-up here: http://tiny.cc/mcbride2022
I look forward to seeing you at the conventions, on the road, or at a class online. Now I’m going to go take a dip in the Mystery School pool!
Stay cool everyone,
Jeff
Dear Friends,
Our guest contributor this month is Kat Rettke. A social worker and magic enthusiast who lives in Las Vegas, Kat also acts as the Magic & Mystery School Executive Assistant. This month she shares a scholarly insight into an interesting bit of magic history.
Question: What did Harry Houdini, Jack Benny, and Charlie Chaplin have in common?
Answer: All three performed on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit!
Vaudeville was a type of live performance popular from the late 1800s until the 1920s, featuring variety, comedy, and musical acts. Comedians like Buster Keaton and Jack Benny began their careers in vaudeville. Acrobats and comic jugglers like W.C. Fields were popular. Best of all, it featured many of the best-known magicians performing at that time. The style of vaudeville was unique because it consisted of a fast-paced variety show made up of unrelated performances. Developed with a goal of appealing to a wide audience, most vaudeville was intended to be family-friendly.
There were different vaudeville performing circuits throughout the United States and Canada. The largest circuit operating in the Western United States was the Orpheum Circuit. This circuit was a chain founded in 1886, and operated until 1927, when it merged into the Keith-Albee-Orpheum corporation, ultimately becoming part of the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO).
The Orpheum circuit was more prestigious than lesser known and smaller circuits performing in the same areas. This circuit had a reputation for high quality performances in beautiful theaters. Orpheum performers were paid better than average salaries. Behind the scenes, booking offices of the Orpheum stayed busy, with performers auditioning, and talent agents trying to sell the acts they represented. Popular films of the 20s and 30s (like Singin’ in the Rain) have scenes with performers going from office to office auditioning, as well as recreations of some of the kinds of performances that were popular on the vaudeville circuit.
One theater which was part of the Orpheum circuit was the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles. This theater was originally known as The Orpheum Theatre. Opened in 1911, the theater’s name was changed in 1926. This theater is the oldest remaining original Orpheum theatre in the United States, and is still in operation today. The inside and outside of the Palace Theatre can only be described as extravagant and beautiful, with wonderful acoustics.
If you live in Los Angeles, or if you are able to travel there, I suggest adding this theater to your bucket list of places to see. Picture yourself standing on the stage of this historic theater, knowing that you are standing on the same stage where Harry Houdini once performed. Other performers who once stood on this same stage include Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, and the Marx Brothers. Popular recent films from The Artist to The Prestige have filmed scenes at The Palace.
Do you want to learn more about preservation efforts for the historic theaters in Los Angeles? Check out the Los Angeles Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization focused on preserving historic places. You can learn more at https://www.laconservancy.org/.
Sources
Carina. (2021, April 14). An Annotated History of Vaudeville Theater.
https://www.theaterseatstore.com/blog/vaudeville-theater
Discover Hollywood Magazine. (2012, Fall). Last Page: RKO Pictures, A Titan is Born.
https://www.discoverhollywood.com/Publications/Discover-Hollywood/2012/Issue-Fall-2012/Last-Page-RKO-Pictures-A-Titan-is-Born.aspx
Encyclopedia.com. (2018, May 17). Vaudeville.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/performing-arts/theater/vaudeville
Genii Magazine Magicpedia (n.d.) Vaudeville.
https://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php?title=Vaudeville#:~:text=More%20the%20four%20thousand%20magicians,%2C%20Carl%20Rosini%2C%20Horace%20Goldin%2C
Los Angeles Conservancy. (n.d.) Palace Theatre.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/palace-theatre
“Muses of Vaudeville” (Palace Theater, Los Angeles (n.d.) In Publicartinla. Retrieved April 16,
2022, from http://www.publicartinla.com/Downtown/Broadway/palace_theater.html
Orpheum Circuit (n.d.) In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 28, 2021, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheum_Circuit
PBS. (1999, October 8). About Vaudeville.
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/vaudeville-about-vaudeville/721/
Vaudeville (n.d.) In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 28, 2021, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaudeville