Backstage S.A.M. Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

We continue with another unusual story on how someone became a magician. Ryan Loyle hit rock bottom and saw no hope of getting out of it. The a bit of magical fate entered his life. Listen to this tale of hope and inspiration as host Bruce Kalver tells the tale.

To learn more about The Society of American Magicians, go to www.magicSAM.com

Ryan Loyle's YouTube channel is: Loyle Magic

All magicians have a story on how they became a magician. We found someone who has an unusual story that will show you that the art of magic is truly magical. Vee Sovann tells how magic turned his life around in a very dramatic way. 

To learn more about the Society of American Magicians, go to www.magicsam.com

Michael Close is an accomplished magician, a coach and mentor to many, and the sole judge on Penn & Teller Fool Us. With him,  we go behind the scenes of the show and see that presenting magic on tv and trying to fool Penn & Teller is serious business.

Support the podcast by joining the Society of American Magicians - visit www.magicsam.com today!

Have an idea for an episode? Email us at podcast@magicsam.com 

Produced by Bruce Kalver for Top Hat Productions. Associate Producer John Sturk. 

Although Chung Ling Soo is known by many as the original Chinese Conjurer, that is not true. First came Ching Ling Foo who was a hugely popular magician at the beginning of the 20th Century. Samuel Porteous has authored a definitive history of America's first Chinese Superstar.

Support the Society of American Magicians by joining us! Visit www.magicsam.com to sign up. Now, try our trial membership program. 

Have an idea for a podcast? Email us at podcast@magicsam.com. 

Dorothy Dietrich is a premiere magician who has performed some very dangerous illusions. Her most dangerous was Catching as Bullet. In an interview from 2016, Dorothy tells us all the "behind the scenes" details of what it takes to perform this illusion. The interview is from February of 2016.

Support the podcast by joining the Society of American Magicians at www.magicsam.com. 

Have an idea for an episode? Let us know at podcast@magicsam.com. 

John Cox is not a Houdini collector of props. Rather, he is a collector of Houdini information. His blog, WildAboutHoudini.com is chock full of everything Houdini. Learn about the man behind the blog. But first, a grand discovery of rare Houdini posters hidden behind a wall since 1926.

Want to support the podcast? Join the Society of American Magicians today at www.magicsam.com. 

Have an idea for an episode? Email us your idea at podcast@magicsam.com. 

Magicians perform magic shows all the time but are sometimes called for other jobs. Christopher Hart auditioned for a performance that would change his life forever. You may not remember him, but you sure remember his hand. Chris played the character of Thing in all three Addams Family films. Learn about his background as a magician and how he got the pivotal role of a lifetime just by knowing how to give his hand personality.

Support the Society of American Magicians with your membership. Sign up today at www.magicsam.com. 

Have an idea for an episode? Got a story to share? Email us at podcast@magicsam.com.

John Gaspard is not a magician. He is a magic groupie who writes The Eli Marks Mysteries. What is amazing is that he gets all the magic correct. He discusses how he wrote these stories and his take on the art of magic. Is it is worth learning all the secrets? Is it hard to write a mystery?

Eli Marks Mysteries are available as a softcover book, an e-book, and an audiobook on Amazon.

Support the podcast by joining the Society of American Magicians at www.magicsam.com

Have an idea for an episode? Let us know at podcast@magicsam.com

Order your S.A.M. merchandise at www.magicsam.com/store 

The Houdini Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls Canada was a treasure trove of all things Houdini. Where did all of that stuff come from? Who was behind the creation of this attraction? What happened to all the props when it closed down in 1995?  

Bruce interviews David Muller, the son of owner Henry Muller, who tells stories from his book, Growing Up With Houdini. Listen to hear how you can get a copy of this book.

Support the podcast by joining the Society of American Magicians at www.magicsam.com

Have an idea for an episode? Let us know at podcast@magicsam.com. 

Order your S.A.M. merchandise at www.magicsam.com/store 

A boxjumper is a magician's assistant that willingly goes into boxes to get cut up, transformed, or levitated. How does one become a box jumper? What training does it take? Are there any accidents that happen?  

Bruce Kalver interviews Gwyn Auger, a box jumper for hire, and Marion Outerbridge, the one-half of The Outerbridges - a well-known Illusion show.

Backstage S.A.M. is hosted by Bruce Kalver and presented thanks to a grant from the Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund. 

Support the podcast by joining the S.A.M. at www.magicsam.com. 

Have an idea for a podcast episode? Please let us know at podcast@magicsam.com.