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027 | Jon Armstrong (Magicians: Life In The Impossible)

Posted on May 10, 2016March 4, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 027 | Jon Armstrong (Magicians: Life In The Impossible)

My Summer Lair Chapter #27: What’s It Like To Have Your Face On The Box Of A Japanese Magic Toy?

A quote from Jon Armstrong’s Summer Lair visit: “My three passions in life are comics, magic and theme parks.” I instantly quipped: “You’re not getting invited to a lot of parties.”

Theme parks and magic…Jon’s origin story reminds me of Steve Martin’s origin story: Martin encountered magic at Disneyland (the one in California) through performer Wally Boag. Steve Martin realized magic was a way for him to get on stage…he couldn’t sing, he couldn’t dance and yeah later he did comedy. Still magic was the key…magic was the start. He could do magic. (After you listen to Jon and I discuss magic and comics you should read Steve Martin’s excellent memoir Born Standing Up.)

Comics, Magic and Theme Parks…what an amazing opportunity to get into it…all 3. We talk about his experiences growing up in Florida and Batman and of course magic. Which is how his face ended up on the box of a Japanese magic toy.

As Jon says: “It’s not about how magic works but why it works.” Yes!

Jon is in Toronto to promote a documentary he is featured in Magicians: Life in the Impossible…a documentary as he says saved his life.

Magicians: Life in the Impossible follows 4 magicians in various stages of their career:
Brian Gillis…Johnny Carson’s favourite close-up magician and a regular on The Tonight Show

David Minkin…can levitate almost anything with his mind (wait until you see the opening shot of this doc!!) {David’s My Summer Lair visit}

Jon Armstrong…might be the best card trickster in the world

Jan Rouven…a German Las Vegas magician managed by his partner Frank Alfter: yup…Vegas…the chocolate to magic’s peanut butter.

This is a freshtastic doc and I so enjoyed my conversation with the directors Marcie Hume & Christoph Baaden when they visited My Summer Lair.

1 High Five For:
Batman (of course…)

Jon Armstrong @ W • T • F

Host & Photography Sammy Younan

Recorded: Monday May 2, 2016 at 1:00 pm (at Girth Radio)

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some fun…just like a theme park!

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:Documentaries, Jon Armstrong, Magicians, Magicians: Life in the Impossible

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Previous Post: 026 | Marcie Hume & Christoph Baaden (Magicians: Life In The Impossible)
Next Post: 028 | David Minkin (Magicians: Life In The Impossible)

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