Friday, January 31, 2014

This is my Magical Credo…



What Is Story Magic?

Since ancient days, people clustered in groups and invented stories to explain the unexplainable —the Seasons, the Elements, the Stars.

The Stories, Fables, and Myths that arose were filled with Wonder, Magic, and Healing, and provided a foundation upon which a people explored their beliefs.

Shaman Priests, Druid Teachers, and Wise Women all understood the power of the Spoken Word –while in our time “entertainment” is epitomized by canned-comedy on television–  the gulf has widened between our amusements and our inner truths.

At Spellbinder Entertainment we recognize the necessity of re-introducing these ancient forms of amusement in a new guise.

Why can a movie, with plot-twists and special-effects, move us so deeply when most live entertainers move us only to laughter —if they elicit any emotional response at all?

As a contemporary conjurer, Walt Anthony combines the Art of Magic and the Art of Storytelling to evoke for today's audience a sense of Astonishment, Emotional Intensity, and Wonder —things lost to many of us since childhood.

The united powers of Myth and Magic can take us on a kaleidoscopic journey of feelings and experiences. They hold a mirror to our mind, and reflect the truth of the Human Experience in the form of entertainment.

Our presentations transport our audience to another world  —called Imagination  and on this journey reveal the Truths of the Heart, while Magically entertaining the senses!


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

What is Truth? What is Illusion?


Both these quotes from Tennessee William plays essentially sum up my philosophy of being a professional magician…

“I don’t want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell the truth, I tell what ought to be the truth.”
(A Streetcar Named Desire)

I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.”
(The Glass Menagerie)

Monday, January 27, 2014

Happy Birthday Dolly! San Francisco Magic Parlor Celebrates Carol Channing



Mark your calendars! January 31, 2014 the inimitable actress/singer/comedian Carol Channing turns 93 (yes! 93!) years old. I was lucky enough to spend time with her during our initial San Francisco Magic Parlor run in 2009. She’s as charming and genuine a lady as you could meet, on and off stage.

Dr. Carol Channing and her late husband Harry started a nonprofit to help fund bringing the Arts back into the public schools, and this is my passion as well. My life-long dream of meeting Carol Channing more than came true when I was asked to be an opening act here in the San Francisco area.

What a huge honor to share the stage with the star of “Gentlemen Prefer Blonds” and the immortal “Hello Dolly!” My San Francisco Magic Parlor colleague magician David Miller and I magically made Carol appear for her entrance.

The San Francisco Magic Parlor donated $500, as a percentage of our ticket sales, to The Carol Channing Foundation for the Arts. During their stay in San Francisco they stayed in the suites of our Magic Parlor Theatre host hotel The Chancellor on Union Square. You can imagine heads turned as she and Harry held court in the lobby.

Now the grand lady is turning 93. The years melt away the moment the spotlight hits her, she’s as witty and wonderful as ever. There’s a documentary film about her multi-talented career you might want to catch on Netflix.

So this month our San Francisco Magic Parlor celebrates and dedicates our performances to our own San Francisco native Ms Carol Channing.

 Carol Channing is interviews for her 93rd Birthday

Walt Anthony and David Miller make Carol Channing Appear

Friday, January 24, 2014

Walt Anthony as the “Wizard”



A quick peek of…
Walt Anthony as the “Wizard”
and a whirlwind tour of the 2014 Edwardian Ball!

See at 42 seconds.

We had a great time… hope to be invited back.

See a very different character at our San Francisco Magic Parlor




Monday, January 20, 2014

Come meet my alter-ego The Wizard!



Hello San Francisco Magic Parlor Fans!

I’ve posted a bunch of photo on Facebook from the Mystic Midway and the Miraculum (where I performed as The Wizard last weekend) at the 2014 San Francisco Edwardian Ball.

I had a fantastic time and wanted to proudly share some of the best moments!