Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To The My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

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

Post navigation

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

More Related Articles

George Stroumboulopoulos (House of Strombo) 071 | George Stroumboulopoulos (House of Strombo) My Summer Lair
Arlen Aguayo-Stewart (Human Animals) 108 | Arlen Aguayo-Stewart (Human Animals) My Summer Lair
Blood Child (Blood In The Snow Film Festival) 065 | Blood Child (Blood In The Snow Film Festival) My Summer Lair
233 | Alex Mallari Jr. (The Adam Project & Hello (Again)) My Summer Lair
Benjamin Percy (Suicide Woods) 131 | Benjamin Percy (Suicide Woods) My Summer Lair
Jonah Babins (The Toronto Magic Company) 118 | Jonah Babins (The Toronto Magic Company) My Summer Lair

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: October 2-8, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's TV recommendations pairs well with Rose Red wine especially if you a Loki evening with some Totally Killer TV. Welcome to #SetTheVCR and October where it's scary time!
  • #SetTheVCR: September 25-October 1, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    It's my birthday week and the TV recommendations are…well mostly my taste. Some cake and candles to go with this week's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 18-24, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    For this week's TV recommendations we got a Superpower, Super Models, a Saint and Saving people. That's right it's #SetTheVCR where this weekend we check into The Continental for a 3 night stay.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 11-17, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is Based on a True Story. Lots of TV recommendations that'll guide you through the Wilderness but do look out for a sudden Swarm or even a comedic Wolf.
  • #CouchWorthy: August 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    A terrific TV recap of August 2023. Here some August TV highlights that are #CouchWorthy. Maybe you missed em or didn’t hear about em. Sweet Sammy Suggestions for August 2023…
  • #SetTheVCR: September 4-10, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is a Rogues' Gallery of thieves, creeps, killers and criminals. Oh and lots of Star Trek to balance out all the dark TV recommendations.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 28-September 3, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    RoboCop and a Wanted fugitive. Choose Love because it's time to #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 21-27, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Flash forward and see yourself enjoying these TV recommendations with your Vacation Friends: It's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: August 14-20, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Take Shelter from the Summer heat with these Untold TV Recommendations: from Elvis to Tracy Morgan this week's #SetTheVCR is Killing It.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 7-13, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    You maybe Summering but with this #SetTheVCR post is All Up In The Biz of TV recommendations. Only Murders In The Building returns so we should kick off this TV week with a Clue.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • Yaron Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 148
    Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Yaron Weitzman's Tanking to the Top. Trust The Process of The Philadelphia 76ers?
  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme