MyMagic Headline eNews #536

Meir's Muses:
Last week I promised to reminisce about Tom Mullica (August 19, 1948-February 18, 2016). As many of you know, he needlessly passed away after a surgical procedure on February 18 at the age of 67. I am sure that all the major magic magazines will be running full obituaries with his life story… after all he was the best bar magician in the history of magic!

After I found out about the news I was flooded with many memories that occurred through the past 36 years of being friends. I decided to write a few of them down and share them below. I only included ones I thought were humorous, interesting or educational. I am also releasing his An Evening At The Tom-Foolery video as digital streaming. It will be available until March 15 for only $10 (a 50% discount). All proceeds from this sale will be donated to the Tom Mullica estate to cover some of their expenses.

The Bald One:
The photo below was taken in New Jersey after one of Tom's RED shows. It was shortly after he beat cancer and wanted to go back to work. Akemi and I took Tom and Stephen to dinner at a sushi restaurant... And no Tom would not eat any sushi. I tried to convince him to get some tempura, explaining that it was kind of like fried chicken with vegetables inside. He had chicken instead. We had so much fun that night with constant laughter the entire night. When Tom was on a role he was a force of nature...

Pictured are: Meir Yedid, Akemi Yoshida, Tom Mullica, and Stephen Mullica. Photo taken after the Red Skelton Show in New Jersey in March, 2011.

You will notice in the picture that Tom was bald. It wasn't because of the Chemo, he could now grow hair, but since he wanted to start performing right away he had a Red Skelton wig made... Unfortunately it only fit on a bald head so he had to keep shaving his head until he could have a break long enough for him to grow a full head of hair.

A Memorable Meeting:
Although I met many famous magicians in my lifetime I don't really remember exactly when and how I met most of them. The day I met Tom is still very vivid. Let me tell you about it. It was April 1980 at the 4F convention. I just arrived at the Forks Hotel (actually a bar/restaurant) in Cheektowaga, New York. As soon as I enter the bar Howie Schwartzman calls me over and tells me you have to show Tom your finger stuff. So he seats us across from each other at a small table, a huge crowd gathers all around us, I always make sure that my back is against the wall and I do most of my finger routine for Tom. Tom begins to laugh hysterically (unlike most performers who smile and say that's funny or that’s good when they see something, Tom was never afraid to laugh and have fun). He had a great laugh.

After I finish I tell him that I can't wait to see his act the next day. Then something unbelievable happened. Tom tells me, you don't have to wait, and then, Howie senses what is about to happen and immediately runs to the bar and buys Tom a pack of cigarettes.

You guessed it. Tom now performs his entire cigarette act for me, I am sitting one foot across from him and he is blowing my mind. I had no idea what was going on. Everyone in the bar is now in hysterics; I can't believe what I am seeing. I also later realized that he used the entire pack this time with all 20 cigarettes in his mouth which is not what he usually does in the shows. I never forgot that day or that moment. We became instant friends.

The Bash:
The following year I was invited to his Bash (a small gathering of his friends). It was basically a small convention that took place at the Tom-Foolery. On my first night in Atlanta I decided to watch both of his 90-minute shows.

I never laughed so hard. It was brilliant. I was in tears. When he cut open the apple, he was eating, and found half a worm dangling out, then spit out everything out of his mouth... I laughed so hard that I fell off my chair and landed on the floor, with tears dripping out of my eyes.

But I also learned something very important that night. Although he ate cigarettes, did lots of jokes and sight gags... Most of the show was card magic. But the audiences walked away talking about the cigarettes.

It was at a time I thought I had to do an all finger act. But realized after watching his show that I could just be myself, do whatever I like and still be known as the finger guy. Just like everyone knew him as the cigarette guy.

Playing Pool:
Tom was also a fantastic pool player. When in New York I would take him to Fat Cats, a pool hall I used to hang out at. It was an underground joint in the village. Not fancy and hidden away. He always beat me, even with handicaps. I remember him saying, this is the first time I played pool in a room that smells like piss. Of course, it smelled like the Forks, where we first met.

Tom was also invited to entertain at a major billiards tournament that was held in NYC. He was the half time show in the middle of the championship event. He started off telling jokes, doing trick shots while smoking and closing with his cigarette act, done surrounded. At first the audience didn't know what was going on but he immediately won them over and killed.

One last pool story. Not about Tom but he was involved. During one of the Desert Seminars in Las Vegas Tom and Stephen threw a party at their house where they had a world class pool table. We played doubles, Tom and Gary Beutler against me and Roger Klause. Now, Tom was better than all three of us combined and he and Gary were about to beat us, but then Roger went on a good run and I luckily went on a heater and we ended up winning. The funny thing was that for the next 20+ years, every time I saw Roger he would bring up this match by saying, "do you remember the time you and I kicked Tom and Gary's ass at pool?"

An Evening At The Tom-Foolery:
The only existing footage of Tom performing his show at the Tom-Foolery was released on VHS in the 1980s. But the master was soon destroyed and there were very few sold. In the early 90s I worked out a deal with Tom to purchase the rights to it along with two tricks. I was able to get all the raw footage, hire a great editor, rent a professional studio and re-edit the show. I decided to change the order of some of the routines as it made for a better video (that is why the order does not match what is in the book). I hired Geoff Latta to design the box, spent $790 on color separations and released the first magic video with professional color VHS packaging that would later become standard. I had the dream of making this available to the general public... Because he was that good. My dream never happened, but I love watching this video of Tom at his prime with all the jokes, sight gags, ad-libs and amazing magic.

I remember in the editing studio the owner and staff kept coming in to the editing bay and laughing and wanting to see it again, I remember thinking, I am paying you guys by the hour and you want to watch this video! I told that story to Tom and he shared a story where they were shooting his act for a TV show but the camera man was laughing so hard that the entire video was shaking and they had to shoot it over.

So, here is the story. I just re-mastered An Evening At The Tom-Foolery and am offering it to you on my streaming platform. The regular price will be US $19.95 but will be offered at a 50% discount until March 15, 2016.

All the proceeds from this sale will go directly to Stephen Mullica to help with the medical and funeral expenses. You will love reliving this great show or seeing it for the very first time.

You can watch the hysterical trailer and get the video: HERE.

Please share this story with all your friends.

Until next time, Meir

P.S: My favorite Tom Mullica Joke: I was really debating about including it here. I wrote it up but decided that it might offend some people. So, next time you see me just ask me for Tom's joke. I will probably use it when I Emcee the 4F show in April.

AN EVENING AT THE TOM-FOOLERY

Tom Mullica was the world's greatest bar magician. With his mile-a-minute comedy, magic and slapstick he presented more than 3,000 sold-out shows during his eleven year run at the famed Tom-Foolery Magic Bar Theatre (1976-1987) in Atlanta, Georgia.

This video features the only existing record of Mullica's frenzy-filled act presented in the theater that was built around it. This is your only opportunity to see this comedic genius on his own turf perform his laugh-filled show full of dozens of sidesplitting gags, jokes, and routines. The show features his hysterical Apple Trick and his trademark routine, Nicotine Nincompoop, where he eats a pack of lit cigarettes with a stack of bar napkins as a chaser.

You will never laugh so hard. You can't just watch this show once… It gets funnier every time you see it.

CLICK HERE: For more info and to order.