Dale Salwak

Dale Salwak is known as "The Gentleman of Magic." Skilled in the classics of magic, his elegant style has made him a favorite for many years in the finest clubs, showrooms, and theaters throughout the world. As director since 1978 of the California-based Chavez Studio of Magic (founded in 1941 by Ben Chavez), he has led hundreds of magicians in pursuit of these same values. A London reviewer says it best: "Dale Salwak doesn't just do magic; he is magic!"
    Dale Salwak offers for your enjoyment a fast-moving, elegant presentation of the classics of magic, performed to a full orchestral background and appropriate for any venue – from the largest of theaters to the most intimate of settings. He performs smooth-as-silk magic with an easy skill and grace that testifies to a drive for absolute perfection. Twice-nominated Stage Magician of the Year as well as Lecturer of the Year at the Hollywood Magic Castle and recipient of the prestigious Jack Gwynne Award for Excellence in Magic and the Chavez Memorial Trophy for Excellence in Manipulation – he has been a featured performer at top showrooms around the world and on numerous television shows including Merv Griffin from Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.
    Dale started in magic at an the tender age of five. His father had a copy of G. S. Ripley’s Magic for Boys (a title which, in our enlightened era, would have to be altered!). Each evening Dale and his mother learned how to put together the materials for one of the tricks and then how to perform it. At age ten he debuted his act and was paid two dollars plus a twenty-five cents tip. His parents had hired him for his own birthday!
    Later his family moved from Massachusetts to Indiana. There he founded the Magic Club of America and published for eight years Magic Carpet – a magazine devoted to the Art of Magic and subscribed to by magicians all over the world. He also wrote and published three books on magic, and his writings began to appear in international journals.
    Dale went on to earn his B.A. degree in English (with a minor in science and mathematics) at Purdue University; and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English literature at the University of Southern California. He is the author of twenty-three books on literary or inspirational subjects and numerous scholarly essays. In 1987 Purdue University awarded him its coveted Distinguished Alumni Award.
    But Dale’s education did not start or stop there. He studied piano, both classical and popular, as early as 1953, and from 1963-70 he studied tap dancing and modern jazz. The call of magic lured him to the Chavez Studio of Manual Dexterity and Prestidigitation in 1963-65. Later he assisted at the studio as an instructor and since 1978 he has been the owner and director of the studio’s West Coast division. To round out his education, he also trained with Ron Carver at the Hollywood School of Comedy Writing in 1970.
    During those early years he kept polishing his act by appearing in showrooms, hotels, theaters and on television. With a company of other performers his travels have taken him across America and Canada, to Europe (eight tours), to Asia (six tours), and the Hawaiian Islands (two tours). In addition, he has performed countless times for the Motion Picture Home benefit show and with the Bob Hope USO Clubs. He has appeared at every magician’s convention in the country, and most in Europe and Asia, including Abbott¹s Magic Get-Together (twenty- three times), where he was awarded the prestigious Jack Gwynne Award for Excellence in Magic; at the Hollywood Magic Castle (regularly since 1970) where he has been twice-nominated Stage Magician of the Year and has received the Lecturer of the Year Award; at the Magic Island in Newport Beach (1978-88) and Houston (1984-91); at the Pasadena Ice House (regularly since 1971); at Wizardz, Universal CityWalk (regularly since its opening in 1993 until its closing in 2003); and in three Las Vegas showrooms – Caesar’s Palace, the Riviera, and Bally’s.
    For two consecutive years he was featured in the "Magic of Fashion" production in the Celebrity Room, Bally’s. And ever since 1974 he has appeared in and produced for college and university audiences across the country his annual "Stars of Magic" – an elegant, enchanting, all-new stage production featuring internationally recognized magicians. For this he received an Award of Merit from the Academy of Magical Arts. He is also Talent Chairman/Executive Producer of Shows for the International Brotherhood of Magicians annual convention - a position he has held since 1995 - and interim Entertainment Director for the Magic Castle, Hollywood (Palace Theater and Lectures) - a position he held from May 2006 through December 2007.
    Then there are the television appearances. In Indiana he appeared weekly on a Saturday morning children’s program broadcast from Indianapolis. Since then his television appearances include "Matlock," "MacMillan," "The Merv Griffin Show" (six appearances), "Hollywood Squares," "To Tell the Truth," "We’ve Got Each Other" (a comedy series that ran eleven weeks starring Tom Poston and Beverly Archer), "Masters of Illusion," as well as variety programs in Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Holland, and the People’s Republic of China plus numerous charity telethons.
    Today as performer and teacher, Dale Salwak is a leader and one of the most popular men in the field of magic. He mirrors the professionalism of working the entire spectrum of show business. He is a celebrated entertainer and an entertainer of celebrities.

Boris Wild
Boris Wild began practising magic in 1985 when he was only 12. He is now one of the most renowned French magicians in the world. He is both international performer and lecturer, author and creator of original effects.
Close-up magic is his specialty, a top-level performance happening only a few inches from your eyes! Whether at your table, during a cocktail party or a private show, magic effects follow on at a tremendous rhythm!
Boris also performs a stage act in which he puts new life into classics of magic with class and elegance to a contemporary soundtrack.
His list of awards is prestigious and has never been equaled by any other French magician. Boris has notably won the title of "French Champion of Magic" in 1996. He has also been awarded at the FISM World Magic Championships and at the "Monte Carlo Magic Stars".
London, New York, Las Vegas, Shanghai, Tokyo, Cape Town or Sydney: Boris regularly performs on the five continents. He has already worked in more than 20 countries for the biggest companies, in the most renowned places such as the world famous "Magic Castle" in Hollywood where he has already performed more than 100 shows!
Boris Wild has been invited to many French and international TV shows including "The Greatest Cabaret in the World" (two appearances), "Magic Show at the Lido" or "Champions of Magic" in the USA. He has also even performed magic effects on a National French radio during one full season with a famous TV host.
His performances have drawn thousands of spectators all over the world and his romantic "Kiss Act" has quickly become a classic of close-up magic. His books, effects and videos are distributed everywhere in the world and are all bestsellers in their category.
Last but not least, Boris has been nominated "Guest of Honor" at the FFFF Convention, the most prestigious gathering of close-up magicians in the world, being the first French artist to get this title and the youngest ever.

Joe Lefler
    Joe Lefler, aka, "Mr. Tricky" became interested in magic when a magician performed for his second grade class. These interests were further peaked when he saw Blackstone perform at the Hanna Theater in Cleveland.
    After seeing an ad for a magic set in a magic magazine, given to him by a neighbor, he begged his parents for it and was given the magic set for Christmas. This was no ordinary magic set. It contained enough tricks to put on a little show, and Joe started doing shows for friends and neighbors.
    During his teen years, Joe performed many shows for birthday parties, church functions and anywhere else he could find to perform. Joe's love of magic continued, and in 1962 he met and married his wife, Sue. Joe and Sue worked hard to create a dove act that would be enjoyed by people of all ages. Together they performed this act for over fifteen years and were the opening act for several well-known performers. These include the New Christi Minstrels, the Ink Spots and the Michael Stanley Band to name a few.
    In 1975 Joe opened a magic store called Pandora's Box Magic Shop. This venture became the largest Magic shop between New York and Chicago. During this time, Joe honed his skills as a close-up magician and performed for many trade shows and hospitality rooms. Shortly after closing his store in 1985 to perform full-time, Joe injured his left hand while building something for a trade show. This left him unable to do the skillful sleight-of-hand magic he loved so much.
    As they say, "when one door closes, another door opens". Joe decided to perform for children once again and "Tricky T. Clown" was created with that thought in mind. Joe performed as "Tricky T. Clown" for many years and built quite a reputation as the clown to have at your party. In fact, he had so many bookings, that he gave a lot of them away to other performers. At the suggestion of his wife to "take a slice", Fun-Tastic Entertainment, Inc. was created and represents about 350 different entertainers. Then another slight sidestep happened when Joe became allergic to the makeup. Not wanting to disappoint the many children he performed for, "Tricky T. Clown" removed his makeup and "Mr. Tricky" was born.
    During the years that he performed as "Tricky T. Clown", Joe became very skilled at balloon sculpture and was asked to create an instructional video on how to make animals with balloons. Joe's first video, Balloon Sculpture Made Easy by "Tricky T. Clown" is the number one selling balloon video in the world. Joe's second and third videos were done as "Mr. Tricky."
    Joe also manufactures several items for the magic industry. Among them are Joe Lefler's Pro Suitcase tables, Slate of Mind, Hank Moorehouse Cube Table & Tray for Multiplying Bottles. Joe and his wife also travel to many magic and clown conventions over the USA as Dealers and Joe lectures. He has lectured for Tannen's Magic Jubilee, Winter Carnival of Magic, Columbus Magi Fest, Kidabra and several magic clubs. Joe is also involved in many of the magic fraternities such as: IBM Order of Merlin, Life Member of SAM, The Magic Circle Associate Member of Inner Circle, The Cleveland Magic Club and the First Honorary Life Member of Kidabra International.
    Today Joe continues to perform as "Mr. Tricky" and is in great demand for children's birthday parties, company picnics, open houses, grand openings, and company Christmas parties. He has also trademarked the name, "Mr. Tricky." Joe also performs Close-up magic, Stage magic (Laughs by Lefler), MC's, Lectures, and is a real beard Santa.

PLUS, LECTURES FROM WELL-KNOWN DUANE LAFLIN, MARTY HAHNE AND JOE FAIRCHILD!
4/15--JUST ADDED KIRBY VANBURCH LECTURE ON THE BUSINESS OF MAGIC!