The “Goldfinger” in the magic duo Goldfinger and Dove is Jack, the man who books the magicians who perform nightly at The Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. Not only is he an extremely talented magician who oozes a unique style, Jack Goldfinger is also a beloved figure in the magic community. ABC 7 news tells the tale.
https://abc7.com/magic-castle-academy-of-magical-arts-goldfinger-and-dove/11609923/
If our complete run-down of everything that happened at The Academy of Magical Arts’ 50th Anniversary Awards Show is a bit too long for you and you just want to know won the shiny things, this is the article for you.
The big winner of the night was magic icon and television mainstay David Copperfield, who walked away with not only the grandest fellowship award the AMA has to offer, the Masters Fellowship, but also the first ever Magician of the Decade award.
Gifted comedian and sleight-of-hand magician David Williamson was crowned Magician of the Year. Williamson’s career spans dozens of TV shows, numerous stage shows, and years of touring. He’s got more awards than I can fit in this summary. Now he’s got one more.
Haruo Shimada was one of two magicians from Tokyo to win an award on Sunday. Shimada began performing in the late 50’s at just 18-years-old and has apparently never spoken during a performance. Half a century in the arts has earned him a Lifetime Achievement award.
Born in Tokyo some 35 years after Shimada, Shoot Ogawa discovered his love for magic at the age of ten and by 17 he was already winning magic awards in the US. He has toured the world, performed on all seven Japanese television channels and is a regular performer at The Magic Castle. In 2003 he became the youngest magician to win an AMA Close-up Magician of the Year award at just 27-years-old. On Sunday, he added the Stage Magician of the Year award to his trophy case.
This is Richard Turner’s second Close-Up Magician of the Year award. He won his first in 2015. He is also blind, and was recently the subject of critically acclaimed documentary, Dealt. Despite losing most of his vision during his childhood, Turner has went on to become an expert card manipulator and performer. He’s currently retired, but still performs semi-regularly at the Magic Castle.
Johnny “Ace Palmer” has won both The AMA Close-up Magician of the Year award and Lecturer of the Year award twice. He has performed on dozens of TV shows and in venues around the world. He is also the 2018 AMA Parlour Magician of the Year.
Sleight-of-hand magician, artist, actor and teacher, John Carney, has been Magician of the Year seven times during his storied career. This time he’s being honored for his skills as a lecturer. He regularly tours the world conducting seminars and giving lectures. He has written five books on performance magic.
Ray Anderson has entertained Austin, Texas for more than thirty years as the creative force Esther’s Follies. Eric Mead is a magical jack-of-all-trades who has created two TV shows of his own and appeared in dozens more. Both gentlemen came away with Performing Fellowships.
Both men were honored for their dedication to the preservation of magic artifacts and literature; Klosterman in his role as a private collector and merchant, and Lane in his capacity as Executive Librarian of the Magic Circle in London.
Kenner’s role as executive producer of David Copperfield’s shows for more than twenty years helped earned him his Creative Fellowship award.
David Ginn not only performs upwards of 300 shows a year, he’s a prolific author with over 80 books, audio recordings, and DVDs to his name. He’s also responsible for some 250 columns in magic and clowning trade publications. 40 years behind the keyboard have earned Ginn a Media Fellowship.
Magician and cardist Denis Behr, former AMA president Randy Sinnott, and British magician Wayne Dobson, all came away with awards of merit for their contributions to the art.
Kevin Li and Griffin Barry were honored for their excellence in the field of close-up magic.
Everyone here at GeniiOnline would like to extend our congratulations to everyone who won, or was nominated for, an award.
Last evening, The Orpheum Theatre in Downtown L.A. was host to The Academy of Magical Arts’ 50th Anniversary Awards Show. The Magic Castle’s official Twitter account live-tweeted the event, the results of which I’ve compiled into the blow-by-blow summary you see below. Enjoy.
This video is so charming! Especially with Libby singing! #magicawards2018 pic.twitter.com/wjrmgPQJ6j
— The Magic Castle® (@MagicCastle_AMA) April 23, 2018
THIS IS THE BEST #magicawards2018 pic.twitter.com/dFD6xH3gcd
— The Magic Castle® (@MagicCastle_AMA) April 23, 2018
Wow! Marawa's hula hoop skills are on point! We could watch this for hours! #magicawards2018 pic.twitter.com/tQ4aZzEjSP
— The Magic Castle® (@MagicCastle_AMA) April 23, 2018
The In Memoriam was truly lovely. Everyone shown (and any we weren't able to include) are so very missed. #RIP #magicawards2018 pic.twitter.com/Xpj7gl6tkM
— The Magic Castle® (@MagicCastle_AMA) April 23, 2018
Wayne’s speech is probably the best one the AMA has ever witnessed. WE LOVE WAYNE #magicawards2018 pic.twitter.com/XkXZsWWHX1
— The Magic Castle® (@MagicCastle_AMA) April 23, 2018
Ok that didn’t quite go as planned. Security escorted him offstage. @LarryWilmore, we hope you’re okay!!! #magicawards2018
— The Magic Castle® (@MagicCastle_AMA) April 23, 2018
Michael Carbonaro presents the first ever Magician of the Decade award to, who else, David Copperfield.
David Copperfield’s accepting the AMA’s very first ‘Magician of the Decade’ award #magicawards2018 pic.twitter.com/zaToR3skSY
— The Magic Castle® (@MagicCastle_AMA) April 23, 2018
DICK VAN DYKE, YOU GUYS. PRESENTING AN AWARD TO…… #magicawards2018 #danceoff #historyinthemaking pic.twitter.com/Q0YR05al1t
— The Magic Castle® (@MagicCastle_AMA) April 23, 2018
And there ends a truly magical evening. Congratulations to all those who walked away with an award or an award nomination, and thank you to whoever is running the Magic Castle’s Twitter account for the timely and tireless coverage.
As noted in the text, Randy Pitchford is the owner of Genii Magazine and GeniiOnline.
The Academy of Magical Arts is hosting its yearly bash to honor the best of the business in the magic world this weekend. The 50th annual AMA Awards Show is happening on Sunday, April 22 at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. There will be an after-party at, where else, the Magic Castle following the ceremony. Although the event is open to the public, those tickets have already disappeared like a palmed coin. AMA members can still contact the Magic Castle for their tickets.
Larry Wilmore, who is a magician in addition to an actor, comedian, writer, and producer, will host the ceremony at the Orpheum. David Copperfield will be honored as Magician of the Decade in addition to receiving the AMA Masters Fellowship. David Williamson has been selected as Magician of the Year. Other awards for the best close-up magician, parlour magician, stage magician, and lecturer of the year will be announced at the event, and the nominees are quite the who’s who of contemporary performers:
Close-Up Magician of the Year Nominees:
Eric Jones
Armando Lucero
Garrett Thomas
Richard Turner
Andrew Goldenhersh
Bill Goodwin
Parlour Magician of the Year Nominees:
Woody Aragon
Chris Capehart
Handsome Jack
Johnny Ace Palmer
Arthur Trace
Stage Magician of the Year Nominees:
The Clairvoyants
Derek Hughes
Tina Lenert
Shoot Ogawa
Voronin
Lecturer of the Year Nominees:
John Carney
Pop Haydn
Joshua Jay
Eric Jones
Rob Zabrecky