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Rspangl New user Ohio 54 Posts |
Dave-
A couple years ago at Magi-fest, you told a very touching story about Albert Goshman performing for your family. Would you mind telling that story for those on this forum? Ron Spangler (Magi-fest Redcoat) p.s. I can still remember seeing Goshman do his act at the 'fest...several times. I knew what was coming, but would still get burned.
Ron Spangler
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Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts |
Any story re good ol' Albert is very welcome...
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... ) |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Kaps and I were sitting at a sidewalk Café somewhere in Paris. (At a convention). Goshman walked up, Kaps asked, "Have you eaten yet?" Goshman pointed at his shirt and said, "Can't you tell."
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-01-05 20:27, Pete Biro wrote: Paris? That must have been 1979..I was at that convention too Quote: That's was Albert...
On 2005-01-05 20:27, Pete Biro wrote: I recall -also at a convention- getting breakfast in the morning at a hotel, and somehow -can't remember exactly how it was- there where 2 catergories of selfservice-breakfast, one cheaper and one more expensive. My wife and I where already started, when Goshman walked up.. I said :'Morning Albert, please join us'. He did and had a voucher for the cheaper section of breakfast, nevertheless he filled his stommack from the section with the more expensive food and keep on eating..not too much, but neither to little. By that time he already was a millionaire.. Great fun, he never forgot his roots.. Brooklyn is for life...
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... ) |
Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts |
Dave, please let us have your story where Albert performed for your family...
BTW, you're about the greatest thing that happend to magic ever since Fred Kaps and Albert.. I'm happy to have a capture of a very young David taken many years back in private, where you worked in Germany..unfortunatelty it is B/W, but already there all the great routines where as perfect as they could be, I've to have a renewed look..even if I have seen it so many times... The crazyness wasn't yet there but the great magic was, smotthly and perfectly executed.. I also recall that incident in Sweden I mentiomned before here at this board..maybe it triggers memory..for all to se at: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/searc......=3889609
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... ) |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
I used to take suitcases filled with sponge balls to Europe for Goshman (no weight).
He and I travelled to Japan together and we spent time at Korean Barbecues and at cheap Yakitori stands eating chicken at night. Shortly before he died he sat down with me and wanted to perform for my lunch guestes at the Magic Castle. He hadn't been able to do anything, but wanted to try just one more time. After he confided in me saying, "IF I had my life to live over again I wouldn't be cheap... I'm leaving millions to a schmuck kid." When I MC'd the main show at the Hawaii IBM convention I opened with something like, "It's nice to be here and look out and see all the colorful shirts that used to be white and Goshman's." Irv Tannen was sitting in the front row and he laughes do hard he literally fell out of his seat slid to the floor. How many know, besides being a magician and a bagel baker, that Albert was, what he called, "A Kidnapper?" A Kidnapper is a photographer that goes around neighborhoods and takes portraits of little children. Some on a pony, others with other props. Don't know what he used for props. Mike Caldwell grabbed a taxi in New York and chatting with the driver told him he was a magician. Cab drivers said, "Hey, so is my brother... ever hear of Albert Goshman?"
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts |
Pete, mentioning the suitcase filled with sponges, I recall, when he transportet the stuff himself to a convention where he did sell from a boot, and the sale was over, he did sell both the suitcase including the sponges left to some other dealer who payed the most.
He always bought very cheap suitcases for the sponges and stuff to travel, so he simply could sell the lot.. Yes, I recall he was a photographer doing 'kidnapping' after the bakeries didn'd go well and he had to earn some money.. He also at one time sold icecream and IIRC, all that was in the very early 1960s, right before he took off to the castle with his old Volkswagen..what an 'interesting' life that guy had... He entered the castle with underwear sticking out of his trousers..it was wintertime and the heater in his Volkwagen didn't work... PS. Pete, thanx for the story
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... ) |
David Williamson V.I.P. 190 Posts |
My story is similar to Pete's.
Ever since I was a kid I would follow him around the Magi-Fest or other conventions I attended. He never knew my name as far as I know, I was always the lurking kid. He's sometimes look around an have me run and fetch something for him, just because he knew I would be there hanging around. Anyway I happened to be at the castle when he was near the end. He was there one night and he looked horrible. It made me very sad. I was showing a coin trick to some guys and he was standing there when I looked up. As far as I know it's the first time he'd ever seen me do anything. He asked me if I would teach it to him. I did and he said that he heard my family was in town for my brother's wedding, which was true. We had never had a conversation in the previous 20 years and he was inviting my entire family to the castle the next evening for a private performance! I took him up on it and he had reserved a large table upstairs for us. There were about 11 of us and he arrived dressed in a crisp tux, moustache waxed and dyed, he looked great. ( no stains on his shirt!) Then he went on to do over an hour of the greatest magic I will ever see. My Dad's reaction were priceless. The laughter never stopped. My family was used to seeing me do magic, but they'd never seen anything like Albert! I had a lump in my throat the entire evening because I know that this was his way of saying goodbye. I think he was saying goodbye to many people like that near the end. It was one of the most magical nights of my life in every sense of the word. I still miss him. |
Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts |
Dave, thank you so much for sharing this story, yes, that was Albert...
He's sadly missed.. Right in front of me on the wall, there is an autographed and framed picture of Albert with the inscription: To Werner G. Seitz still the " #1 Goshman Fan" in the whole world. January 13, 1986 Los Angeles California Yes, I followed him around too at conventions - Europe in this case, that's why I didn't stumple over you -, and one day from the stage at one of his performances re remarked there was a guy here that has been present at 4 out of the 5 performances he gave during the convention and I yelled back, if I had known about the 5th one, I would have been present there too.. He's sadly missed...and your above story is very touching...
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... ) |
Tony Noice Veteran user 342 Posts |
I was glad to hear the information on Goshman. I grew up with him in magic in NY -- did shows together, hung out at Tannens and Holden’s, and sessioned at Caféterias. But I knew only his public persona after he moved to the west coast. We were all amazed that he had changed into the perfectly-groomed, sartorially splendid new Goshman. It's nice to hear that our shirt-stained buddy was still inside the new image. Thanks for the memories.
Tony |
Frank Tougas Inner circle Minneapolis, MN 1712 Posts |
My fleeting brush with Albert Goshman occurred several years after he had come to Minneapolis to do a lecture. I was a fledgling magic dealer for about four years. Wasn't every magician at one time or another? Anyway he was always a gentleman when conversing on the phone, every order usually came with a little personal note and he'd send Christmas cards (back then it was allowed). Now I am not kidding myself into thinking he didn't do the same thing for a lot of others, but I always took it as something special.
Frank Tougas The Twin Cities Most "Kid Experienced" Children's Performer :"Creating Positive Memories...One Smile at a Time"
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
David... thanks for you Goshsperience!
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts |
@Tony Noice
Tony, you should try to find a copy of an old Hierophant, an article written by Jon Racherbaumer with the title: Albert Goshman: Boob on the tube? It is one of my favourite articles that describes the transformation of Albert from a slob to Mr. Wonderful, as Jon Racherbaumer frased it. Unfortunately, I did cut out that article to add to my collection of Goshmania, so I can't currently easily find out which Vol./no. of Hierophant this article was published.. I'm sure Jon Racherbaumer can point you in the right direction.. @Frank Tougas Well, I actualy think Al Goshman was a nicer person then most tend to believe.. Behind that hard shell, was hidden a real kind soul.. I once (1980) did send off a birthday congratulation letter re his 60th birthday, and he answered back with a nice letter, all in his own style... I -of course- still have it stored and in his opening lines there was a *another month shot to hell* re his birthday. He wondered wherefrom I did know his exact day of birth (Dec. 6th. 1920) as he said ist wasn't common knowledge amongst magicians.. He wrote a whole DIN A4 typewritten letter, all in his own inimitable style..
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... ) |
Bill Wells Elite user Lexington, VA 457 Posts |
Far too many years ago when I was a graduate student in Charlottesville, VA, I meet another graduate student who was a magician and from Long Island, NY. He invited me to come with him to a magic convention in the Catskills. Having grown up in the country and thinking all magic came from Douglas Magicland and Kanter's in Philly, I didn't even know that magicians had conventions, so I went along. We stopped by his home in Long Island and he mentioned that another magician wanted a ride to the convention. We stopped by a bakery and a somewhat rumpled, rotund fellow with dustings of flour got into the car. He had very little to say on the way to the convention and made no offer to share in any of the tolls. If he introduced himself, the name didn't mean anything to me. He went his own way upon arrival at the convention and I forgot about him.
Imagine my surprise during the close up show at the convention, when this same fellow walked out in a tux, sat down at the table and said "My name is Albert and I am going to magish for you". However, the real surprise and amazment came during his performance, the likes of which I had never seen and have never seen since. |
RonCalhoun Special user Independence, KY USA 599 Posts |
These are the kind of stories I could listen to all day.
A few years back I made plans to attend Magi Fest in Columbus, OH. A business emergency came up and I missed most of the convention. I was able to see David Williamson's close-up show and meet David and his son. David's show made the whole trip worth while. I remember the story about Mr. Goshman and I was moved too. All I can say is Man, do I love magic and all the great people and times associated with it. Ron Calhoun
Founder Heroin Doesn't Care. Find us on https://www.facebook.com/heroindoesntcare
www.heroindoesntcare.com |
Tony Noice Veteran user 342 Posts |
Here’s one more Goshman story to add to these reminiscences. When I was in my teens, Luis Zingoni came up with an idea for booking all the one-nighter theatre dates in the NY area (Loew’s Coney Island on Tuesdays, RKO 149th on Wednesdays, etc.) He started a local magicians’ contest but found out that almost nobody registered, so a bunch of us, (me, Garcia, Vic Sendax, Goshman, and a couple of others) went with Luis from theatre to theatre posing as local residents, splitting the prize money. One night, Al was running late and came directly from work in his stained baker’s outfit trailing flour and other substances. He did the show like that and the audience seemed to think it was a great new character-wardrobe concept.
Werner, Thanks for the tip on the Hierophant article; I’ll try to find it. |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
What th' heck happened to my face??????????
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Gazzo, did you do this?
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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RonCalhoun Special user Independence, KY USA 599 Posts |
Hey Pete Your lookin' good dude.
in a few weeks people reading this well be so confused!!!
Founder Heroin Doesn't Care. Find us on https://www.facebook.com/heroindoesntcare
www.heroindoesntcare.com |
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