One Night Only! Naathan Phan with Hayden Allcorn
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday March 28, 2024
Where: Coronation Theater, 3420 Rusk St a3, Houston, TX 77003
Magic is all over Houston! You will not want to miss this opportunity to see Naathan Phan LIVE for his one-night-only appearance along with Heyden Allcorn. You can scan the QR Code in the graphic or follow the following link.
Ticket link - www.bit.ly/foolyoutwice-032824
And Naathan is offering 10% off with "MAGI10" to members of the local magic community. Be sure to input that code when checking out.
For a little visual of what to expect, here is a quick trailer - https://vimeo.com/921653524/d33f8d6633
This is open to the public so be sure to bring your family, invite your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to this show. It promises to be an outstanding evening!
Where: Coronation Theater, 3420 Rusk St a3, Houston, TX 77003
Magic is all over Houston! You will not want to miss this opportunity to see Naathan Phan LIVE for his one-night-only appearance along with Heyden Allcorn. You can scan the QR Code in the graphic or follow the following link.
Ticket link - www.bit.ly/foolyoutwice-032824
And Naathan is offering 10% off with "MAGI10" to members of the local magic community. Be sure to input that code when checking out.
For a little visual of what to expect, here is a quick trailer - https://vimeo.com/921653524/d33f8d6633
This is open to the public so be sure to bring your family, invite your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to this show. It promises to be an outstanding evening!
Zombie magic and gambling club Magic Island will come alive again this summer
The left-for-dead entertainment facility had been decaying on Southwest Freeway for years but it looks to have a new lease on life.
By Jef Rouner, Chronicle Correspondent
Dateline: March 18, 2024
Houstonians who have driven by Magic Island off of the Southwest Freeway as of late may have noticed some activity going on in the parking lot adjacent to the Egyptian-themed entertainment venue.
After the Astrodome, Magic Island may be Houston’s second-most famous abandoned entertainment venue. The club, shuttered for 10 years, will finally reopen this summer. Many Houstonians will be happy that stage magic is returning. And the club plans to offer private gambling tables this time around. By sheer luck, I got a chance to poke around the inside of the venue as it moves forward with its renovation. After hiking up from the Southwest Freeway feeder road, I expected to find locked doors. Instead, I met new general manager Michael Loneman, who previously worked at the South Shore Harbor Resort in League City.
Loneman, with his windswept hair and black button-up shirt, has a stage-magician's air about him. While he wouldn't allow me to take pictures of the current renovations, he did offer a short, guided tour. The space opened in 1984 and had its heyday in the late 1980s. Magic Island once showcased Vegas-style stage magic shows, close-up magic, clairvoyants and tarot readings.
Once it closed, the club became an odd mixture of opulence and decay. The garish Egyptian décor was covered in graffiti and littered with discarded fixtures. In 2018, Mohammad Athari, a local neurologist, bought the place with plans to have it open within a few years. But the pandemic derailed plans for the nightspot. However, late last year, signs went up heralding its return.
The biggest news Loneman could offer about the new Magic Island is that it will host private gambling. Black Club members will be able to play poker, blackjack and roulette in a bespoke room. No word yet on whether membership cards will still be taken by an animatronic snake, as they were during the club’s original run.
Is private gambling legal in Texas? State law is unclear on the question, and this ambiguity has allowed dozens of clubs to open around the state.
The Texas Penal Code, Section 47, prohibits individuals or establishments from receiving “any economic benefit other than personal winnings.” This statute prohibits establishments from taking a cut of gambling proceeds, colloquially called a rake.
At least 30 private gambling clubs have opened in Texas, citing a loophole in current law that allows them to operate if they charge membership fees instead of taking a cut of profits. Since May 2019, police have raided some of the private gambling clubs in Houston. Charges were dismissed, and it was revealed that even members of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office had visited the raided clubs.
While the legality is in limbo, Loneman seems confident Magic Island will be safe for VIP members. “We’re a private club, so having private members, different rules apply,” he says. “That doesn’t mean we won’t serve the general public, because we will. But if you’re a member of the Black Club at Magic Island, there are different laws that apply to you. You know, kind of like a teenage daughter who wants to drink wine with the family.”
The gambling is only part of the new experience at Magic Island. The venue will be geared toward hosting events and gatherings. Loneman is especially proud of the club's refurbished outdoor patio. He’s installed a retractable awning to protect partygoers as they mingle. The spot is custom-made for the selfie generation as it faces west, he pointed out. “Most restaurants in this area are not facing the right way,” says Loneman. “When it comes to engagements and special events, you’ll get a lot of great pictures because of the sunset. Plus, when you’re coming down the freeway, there’s no better form of advertising than to look over and see people dancing and having fun.”
Inside, the building is about 80% done. All of the graffiti is gone, and some of the original Egyptian-themed decorations have been preserved. The host stand is a tasteful marble structure that allows hosts to guide guests into a 500-person ballroom complete with a small stage. Upstairs is a lounge with an enormous bar. Here the Egyptian theme is even stronger, though there are fewer statues and more faux artifacts displayed museum-style behind glass. Loneman recently had a brand-new grand piano delivered. A disco room with a retractable ceiling lets visitors dance under the few stars that shine through at night.
It is a far cry from the rotting structure that urban explorers have been chronicling since 2008. Loneman says they are aiming for a summer opening and will be taking holiday bookings starting in July. And, yes, Loneman promises there will still be magic.
“A lot of memories were made here,” he says. “Presidents dined here, congressional representatives, movie stars, lots of people of notoriety. We’re excited to be reopening …. This is where the magic happens.”
The left-for-dead entertainment facility had been decaying on Southwest Freeway for years but it looks to have a new lease on life.
By Jef Rouner, Chronicle Correspondent
Dateline: March 18, 2024
Houstonians who have driven by Magic Island off of the Southwest Freeway as of late may have noticed some activity going on in the parking lot adjacent to the Egyptian-themed entertainment venue.
After the Astrodome, Magic Island may be Houston’s second-most famous abandoned entertainment venue. The club, shuttered for 10 years, will finally reopen this summer. Many Houstonians will be happy that stage magic is returning. And the club plans to offer private gambling tables this time around. By sheer luck, I got a chance to poke around the inside of the venue as it moves forward with its renovation. After hiking up from the Southwest Freeway feeder road, I expected to find locked doors. Instead, I met new general manager Michael Loneman, who previously worked at the South Shore Harbor Resort in League City.
Loneman, with his windswept hair and black button-up shirt, has a stage-magician's air about him. While he wouldn't allow me to take pictures of the current renovations, he did offer a short, guided tour. The space opened in 1984 and had its heyday in the late 1980s. Magic Island once showcased Vegas-style stage magic shows, close-up magic, clairvoyants and tarot readings.
Once it closed, the club became an odd mixture of opulence and decay. The garish Egyptian décor was covered in graffiti and littered with discarded fixtures. In 2018, Mohammad Athari, a local neurologist, bought the place with plans to have it open within a few years. But the pandemic derailed plans for the nightspot. However, late last year, signs went up heralding its return.
The biggest news Loneman could offer about the new Magic Island is that it will host private gambling. Black Club members will be able to play poker, blackjack and roulette in a bespoke room. No word yet on whether membership cards will still be taken by an animatronic snake, as they were during the club’s original run.
Is private gambling legal in Texas? State law is unclear on the question, and this ambiguity has allowed dozens of clubs to open around the state.
The Texas Penal Code, Section 47, prohibits individuals or establishments from receiving “any economic benefit other than personal winnings.” This statute prohibits establishments from taking a cut of gambling proceeds, colloquially called a rake.
At least 30 private gambling clubs have opened in Texas, citing a loophole in current law that allows them to operate if they charge membership fees instead of taking a cut of profits. Since May 2019, police have raided some of the private gambling clubs in Houston. Charges were dismissed, and it was revealed that even members of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office had visited the raided clubs.
While the legality is in limbo, Loneman seems confident Magic Island will be safe for VIP members. “We’re a private club, so having private members, different rules apply,” he says. “That doesn’t mean we won’t serve the general public, because we will. But if you’re a member of the Black Club at Magic Island, there are different laws that apply to you. You know, kind of like a teenage daughter who wants to drink wine with the family.”
The gambling is only part of the new experience at Magic Island. The venue will be geared toward hosting events and gatherings. Loneman is especially proud of the club's refurbished outdoor patio. He’s installed a retractable awning to protect partygoers as they mingle. The spot is custom-made for the selfie generation as it faces west, he pointed out. “Most restaurants in this area are not facing the right way,” says Loneman. “When it comes to engagements and special events, you’ll get a lot of great pictures because of the sunset. Plus, when you’re coming down the freeway, there’s no better form of advertising than to look over and see people dancing and having fun.”
Inside, the building is about 80% done. All of the graffiti is gone, and some of the original Egyptian-themed decorations have been preserved. The host stand is a tasteful marble structure that allows hosts to guide guests into a 500-person ballroom complete with a small stage. Upstairs is a lounge with an enormous bar. Here the Egyptian theme is even stronger, though there are fewer statues and more faux artifacts displayed museum-style behind glass. Loneman recently had a brand-new grand piano delivered. A disco room with a retractable ceiling lets visitors dance under the few stars that shine through at night.
It is a far cry from the rotting structure that urban explorers have been chronicling since 2008. Loneman says they are aiming for a summer opening and will be taking holiday bookings starting in July. And, yes, Loneman promises there will still be magic.
“A lot of memories were made here,” he says. “Presidents dined here, congressional representatives, movie stars, lots of people of notoriety. We’re excited to be reopening …. This is where the magic happens.”
Ben Jackson Did It! He Fooled Penn & Teller on "Fool Us"
Big congratulations to Ben Jackson for representing Houston as the first local magician not only to appear on the show but also to win the coveted award for fooling Penn & Teller!
Friday night March 22, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. on the CW Network Ben Jackson was seen performing in Las Vegas on the Penn & Teller stage at the Rio Hotel and Casino. This was been over a year in the making and keeping it secret. It was filmed last August and been kept under wraps until now. A good secret is hard to keep, but Ben has been "tight lipped" about it until he was given approval to make this announcement. I also understand that he had a little outside help from other magicians including another local magus.
Ben says, "While I don't want to spoil anything, I will divulge that my routine involved 20 yarn balls, Greek mythology, pure sleight-of-hand, and a commonality that both Teller and I share: a love for the classical language, Latin. I'll be representing our wonderful magic community here in Houston!"
Well, now that the episode has aired, we know the result. It was odd, too, that they first said Ben didn't fool them, but when they came back from the commercial break, they admitted that they were wrong in guessing his method so, indeed, he did fool them and was awarded the prize trophy! You can watch his video below.
In case you happened to miss the television promo Ben did on the local Fox 26 station on Wednesday prior to the broadcast, you can watch him here: https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1428465
Way to go, Ben, and congratulations!
Friday night March 22, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. on the CW Network Ben Jackson was seen performing in Las Vegas on the Penn & Teller stage at the Rio Hotel and Casino. This was been over a year in the making and keeping it secret. It was filmed last August and been kept under wraps until now. A good secret is hard to keep, but Ben has been "tight lipped" about it until he was given approval to make this announcement. I also understand that he had a little outside help from other magicians including another local magus.
Ben says, "While I don't want to spoil anything, I will divulge that my routine involved 20 yarn balls, Greek mythology, pure sleight-of-hand, and a commonality that both Teller and I share: a love for the classical language, Latin. I'll be representing our wonderful magic community here in Houston!"
Well, now that the episode has aired, we know the result. It was odd, too, that they first said Ben didn't fool them, but when they came back from the commercial break, they admitted that they were wrong in guessing his method so, indeed, he did fool them and was awarded the prize trophy! You can watch his video below.
In case you happened to miss the television promo Ben did on the local Fox 26 station on Wednesday prior to the broadcast, you can watch him here: https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1428465
Way to go, Ben, and congratulations!
Funeral and Broken Wand Ceremony for Bill King
Our friend and long time member of the Houston Magic Community, William "Bill" Russell King, died peacefully on February 25, 2024. As reported in his obituary, "Bill has been a magician since he was a kid. He would share stories about saving his money and riding on a bus to get downtown to visit the magic shop and see what was new that he could purchase and then master. He performed at children's birthday parties and children's hospitals, and he had a short stint at Dave and Busters doing close-up magic with coins and cards. He was active in the Houston Association of Magicians and enjoyed spending time honing his craft.Always kind and quick-witted, Bill was easygoing and easy to love. He made an impact on everyone he met, whether he knew you personally or not. His claim to fame was calling his friends and family on their birthdays and singing the Happy Birthday chorus, including the addition to the end with '…and many more.'
At his last hospital stay, the discharge nurse said he was a 'precious soul' and charming and funny. He had smiling blue eyes and walked very fast. He had a knack for putting people at ease."
To read the full obituary, you can visit: www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/william-king-11683127
Bill's funeral service was held Saturday, March 9, 2024. The Broken Wand ceremony was presented by Gene Protas and Scott Wells at 9:30 a.m. then the funeral followed after a brief intermission at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, Texas.
Our friend and long time member of the Houston Magic Community, William "Bill" Russell King, died peacefully on February 25, 2024. As reported in his obituary, "Bill has been a magician since he was a kid. He would share stories about saving his money and riding on a bus to get downtown to visit the magic shop and see what was new that he could purchase and then master. He performed at children's birthday parties and children's hospitals, and he had a short stint at Dave and Busters doing close-up magic with coins and cards. He was active in the Houston Association of Magicians and enjoyed spending time honing his craft.Always kind and quick-witted, Bill was easygoing and easy to love. He made an impact on everyone he met, whether he knew you personally or not. His claim to fame was calling his friends and family on their birthdays and singing the Happy Birthday chorus, including the addition to the end with '…and many more.'
At his last hospital stay, the discharge nurse said he was a 'precious soul' and charming and funny. He had smiling blue eyes and walked very fast. He had a knack for putting people at ease."
To read the full obituary, you can visit: www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/william-king-11683127
Bill's funeral service was held Saturday, March 9, 2024. The Broken Wand ceremony was presented by Gene Protas and Scott Wells at 9:30 a.m. then the funeral followed after a brief intermission at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, Texas.
Don't Forget...HoustonMagic is on Facebook
If you have a Facebook account (and if not, then you’re missing out on potential business opportunities), then please visit http://www.facebook.com/HoustonMagic and hit “Like” to be added to the group. Here is your chance to let the world know what you are doing on the local Houston magic scene. Please post your links, videos, photos, announcements, upcoming show events, and more. Join the group today!
Tweet me
You can now follow what’s happening in the Houston Magic Community by joining Twitter and following @magichouston which is our new Twitter account name. Updates of who is doing what and where will posted as they are relevant to our community. Follow us and we will follow you and retweet as necessary. Go to www.twitter.com/magichouston to begin following us NOW!
The Magic Word Podcast
The Magic Word is the weekly podcast hosted by Scott Wells filled with magic convention coverage that is not posted anywhere else on the internet. It also includes photos, chats and interviews with magicians about what’s going on in and around the magic world. Be sure to listen and subscribe to the RSS feed so you receive the latest as it is posted. Be sure to tune in and listen on iTunes or Tunein or Stitcher or Feedpress or Spotify or iHeart Radio, among other providers. You can listen online or by downloading any of these podcasts and carry it with you for your daily commute. If you have any news items, comments or suggestions, then please contact Scott at Scott@TheMagicWordPodcast.com with your newsbits. You can also follow The Magic Word on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/themagicwordpodcast/ and on Twitter @MagicWordPod and Instagram at ScottWellsMagic
The website address is: https://www.TheMagicWordPodcast.com/
The website address is: https://www.TheMagicWordPodcast.com/