Well October is here - it's National Magic Month and here at FAB and Colon we have lots going on! On Saturday, October 26th we will have the official unveiling of the Stars Walk Of Fame at 1:00 pm - 12 stars to show off! Hope you can come and celebrate with us. Then at 7:00 pm our Abbott-Watson IBM Ring 386 will host the 2nd annual SHARING THE MAGIC show at Colon High School - a fun magic show to help raise money/food donations for the Colon Food Pantry. Then of course the big Halloween trick or treat/costume party on the 31st. I have two daughters' birthday this month - Ashley on the 2nd and Brandy (and soon to be new mom!) on the 31st and...uh...I turn (50 something) on the 22nd :(
We have just booked Paul Romhany for MagiCelebration 2014 - he will lecture and perform in both our close up show and emcee/perform on evening show. Add to that Richard Osterlind, Tomas Medina,John Born & Cody Fisher ---well you have the makings of one heck of a convention - watch for more details - www.colonmichiganmagic.com - and MAGICIDOL 2014 - EXCITING NEWS FORTHCOMING!
I need a clock that has 36 hours - there just isn't enough time to get everything done. As we are looking at a new production facility - and custom orders coming in at a record pace - I look back over these past 10 years and reflect a little on this Labor Day Weekend...What we have accomplished as a team - what we WILL accomplish going forward. MagiCelebration - our magic convention here in the magic capital - is now a full blown 4 day event. We are already looking at acts and have some verbal committments from some of the top names in magic for next year...In a nutshell ~ you ain't seen nothing yet!
Products? Magic In General? Well we heard this week that Morrissey Magic from Canada decided to put an end to their wonderful line of metal equipment. Sign of the times? Perhaps - but let it be known now and in the future - FAB Magic is committed to Colon, Michigan - WE believe in Colon and we are here to stay. It's been a wonderful ride so far and we look forward to serving you now and in the future. Thanks for a great 10 years!
Magic lost of it's most prolific inventors this week - Magic Ian Sutz (Garrison) had invented many magic effects in his long career. The top pro's knew who to call on when they were looking for a new idea - Ian always came up with one. We had him perform here at MagiCelebration a few years back and actually had him booked this year until he was forced to cancel due to health reasons. A great guy - our sympathies and condolences to his family - Magic has indeed lost a true pioneer.
Where has all the time gone...................we've been so busy here at FAB I haven't even had time to update this blog..promise I will do better :) - New products, several new estates came in. I am trying to push for a new 36 hour clock - I could get more done around here and with MagiCelebration on the horizon time becomes ever so precious - our Youth Stage Talent Contest is FULL! That is great news and we hope you can join us for our big week July 31 - August 3rd.
Above you see our new EZ Hippity Hop Rabbits - the artwork was completed by the late Ed Harris - and this great classic of magic is so easy to use and affordable at only $39.95! And we ain't kidding!
Watch for several Hip Hop Versions to come out eg: Christmas,Easter and so many more ideas are coming!!! I DO love my job :)
We made some new friends this week with Paul W. Smith and his wife and crew who came to Colon, Michigan to promote the Magic Capital Of The World! A HUGE plug for this great community. Here are some pics and links to the podcasts
Paul W. Smith at the helm
Paul W. Smith, Bill Watson & Joe Ganger
Arriving Sunday night and on to the cemetery . . .
Joe Ganger giving the grand tour of Lakeside Cemetery
Village President Tom Tenney & Colon Chamber prez Edie Doenges
Breaking
News! We've just booked Dave Pendleton, one of the finest
ventriloquists in the country,to perform and emcee our Friday night show
at MagiCelebration ! You've seen Dave on cruise ships and across the
United States - even headlining in Shipshewanna, Indiana - another
reason to come to Colon this summer and have fun! Dave is one of the 'fun' guys with two decades of experience. He's one of the most sought after comedians/ventriloquists and we've got him here in Colon! So, don't delay - what are you waiting for??? Come join the fun - www.colonmichiganmagic.com
When I asked my granddaughter Lilly where she would like her 6th birthday party to be held she didn' hesitate "The Shop Grandpa!" So with several of her friends and classmates we all celebrated her 6th year on this earth and ..uh...6th year in the shop. You see she has grown up around here - surrounded by hundreds of magic tricks,book,weird looking gimmicks even Barbie can't compete with. She takes it all in stride knowing this is Grandpa's chosen profession but she also takes pride even at this young age knowing that magic is in her blood too. She loves to watch me tinker with new ideas back in the woodshop and oftentimes will find her out front welcoming in a new customer with that familiar smile of hers. I love having her here - she is the light of my life - and with her charm heck I can't go wrong! Happy Birthday Princess!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
This past Friday, literally minutes before the Colon fire, I was contacted by ITC Group. These folks are a part of large electrical co-op here in Michigan. Colon has been selected to be the location for a live remote/on air program hosted ...by Paul W. Smith of WJR Radio in Detroit! They will be setting up here at FAB on April 29th for 4 hour live broadcast from 5:00 am - 9:00 am to promote COLON! Refreshments /coffee/donuts and thanks to Dawn & Phils will be serving good ole' biscuits and gravy as well.
And....I have just been informed that during Paul's radio show ITC will be presenting Colon Michigan a check for $10,000 to help aid in the fire restorations projects...At the Village Council meeting tonite I revealed the details much to the appreciation of everyone there.
Come show your support for Colon if you are in the area...
An exciting opportunity and we thank ITC for caring.....
Life can change - and just when you think you have a handle on life it throws you a curve ball. Here in the magic capital of the world we are very fortunate to have so many people who care about one another. In 2006 when the Hill Opera House burned to the ground it was the village residents who banded together.
Now nearly 6 years later we are enduring once again. To lose nearly 1/2 your downtown businesses would seem to some insurmountable - but not in Colon - not in the town that prides itself on sticking together when times get tough - it makes us tougher and stronger.
We have so much to be grateful for - each other. Forget everything else. The comraderie - the compassion - the unity - can't be described in words. In a world where change is constant so goes our little village. So much to look back on and so many new opportunities lay in front of us. But today, we take this time to remember - and to feel compassion for our business neighbors who lost their dream - many will re-build that dream and make it stronger for the future.
Saturdays here at FAB Magic have been oh so much fun! We had a packed house this past Saturday with young magicians - who WANT to learn magic! Yes, magic is just as popular as always regardless of what the pundits say. It's more widespread now than ever - just in a different form. Kids are getting excited about magic again - great to see! This 8 year old budding magician from Kalamazoo came in with his parents along with about a dozen other folks - wanting to learn stage magic....he loved our Dream Zombie - and as you can see by his expression enjoyed his new purchase. This is what makes it all worthwhile :) Come see us in the Magic Capital Of The World - we're havin' fun here :)
One of the most successful trade show magicians in history has just been added to our
Close Up Show At MagiCelebration this year. Dick Stoner is one of the most sought after trade show magicians in the world! Not only is Dick emceeing our Saturday night show but he will be performing some of his unique/time tested trade show material in our Close up show along with Ron Jaxon & Charlie Frye! Wow ! Just one more reason to register for FAB's MagiCelebration this year!
and guess what.....we aren't finished yet :) Stay Tuned!
For the past several years we have partnered with several corporations to help make MagiCelebration the successful event that it is. This year is no different! America's Best Value Inn in Three Rivers, Michigan is our first one on board this year! Herb Howard and the gang always give first class service. We are very picky when it comes to reccommending motels - its a general reflection on where we feel is the most comfortable and CLEAN!
For those of you coming to MagiCelebration July 31 - August 3rd - we have special room rates just for you! $62.50 per nite - with free wi-fi and a wonderful continental breakfast.
Make sure you mention MagiCelebration Colon to get your reduced rate.
America's Best Value Inn
1211 W. Broadway
Three Rivers, MI 49093
United States
(269) 273-8100
We are very excited to bring Larry & Nancy Pew - The Zodiacs - to our stage Wednesday, July 31st during MagiCelebration here in Colon, Michigan. In 1962 on this same Colon High School stage, the legendary McDonald Birch presented the SCIMITAR illusion - now 51 years later it's coming back!
You won't want to miss this once in a lifetime event! Tickets available NOW!
Picture at top - on left side of photo is Skippy Lamore - Skippy operated a big tent show and eventually sold the tent to Percy Abbott. My good friend Leonard Burnham was a 'work boy' on the shows and traveled with him to various cities. This was his 'pass' to get him in and out of the shows. The full story in our upcoming book. So many great stories here in magic town we had lots of fun putting it together.
It's been crazy around the shop! Our new program OLD TRIX = NEW TRIX has really taken off and we are getting all kinds of magic,dvd's and books on trade and we just can't keep up. But, we still want your stuff! Send us a list of magic tricks,books,dvd's and ventriloquist items and we'll give you an amount of store credit for new stuff you can use! Just email us at: sales@fabmagic.com - make sure you send a photo(s) of the items too!
We are in the process of installing our new Colon Michigan Magic Capital Souvenir Shop &
Visitor Information Center here in the front of the shop. Now you can buy shirts,coffee mugs, hats,banners and all sorts of neat stuff plus get all the info you need on the magic capital of the world - a one stop shop here at FAB!
The Under The Radar tv episode that was filmed here in August has been quite a success! We have been getting phone calls,emails and letters from all over including a few other tv programs who want to come experience the magic of Colon! If you haven't seen the episode here it is in it's entirety. The American Museum of Magic is also featured. It's going to be great 2013 - come see us - new products and of course our BIG 10th Annual MagiCelebration July 31 - August 3rd - The best value convention on the planet !
Welcome to the crazy chaos & mayhem of a big little magic company, as seen through the eyes of the resident rabbit! You never know what Riley will have up his sleeve. Rick will take over the posts at times to give you his perpective of the world of magic, along with the current happenings in the small village of Colon, Michigan.
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