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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Aaron Stone (magician, photographer and friend) found these pictures in his archive. This is Crystals Pizza Palace and to date, was my longest run at any restaurant (see title of this thread). I really do miss Crystals. A lot of great memories took place here. I put in well over 40 hours per week at this restaurant as their primary entertainment for a little over 10 years every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I would entertain 1000s of people in and out of these doors every weekend...it was a marvelous time and so much fun was had by so many...myself included.
This photo was taken on the last day they were open, as I was clearing out all of my gear from of the restaurant...February 17, 2013. The main stage (on the left side of the photo) was where I would rock my stage show once every Friday Night, five times every Saturday, and 4 times every Sunday. In front of the stage was the main dining room and at the way back of the main dining room was the "library" dining room. Here is where I would perform strolling magic and create balloon art before and after my stage show. To the back left of the picture was the private party room, where I could set up shop and entertain a private party that came in. 100s of Birthday Parties took place at Crystals over my time there. I wonder where all the kiddos are today. Probably in college by now. Speaking of the private party room, this is where the Dallas Magic Club held its lectures on Sunday Afternoons. I had some of the greats walk thru the doors, I would attend their lecture, and then (most of the time), they would stick around and watch my evening showcase. Aldo and Rachel Colembini, Eugene Burger, Jeff McBride, Bizzaro, Diamond Jim Tyler, Paul Gertner, Joshua Jay, Lonnie Cheverie, Jeff Hobson, John Carney, Jon Armstrong, Jonathan Pendragon, John Calvert, and Michael Ammar, just to name a few. All of their names appeared on the ceiling of Crystals. I recovered their cards and they're now on the ceiling above my desk here in my home office. Speaking of...look at the ceiling. Well over 1000 signed playing cards were magically placed there during my time at Crystals Pizza. To the far right, you see the pizza buffet and directly in front of it was the arcade. Not pictured was the movie theater on the WAAAY far right where you could dine and watch the old Bugs Bunny and Road Runner cartoons. I know this doesn't mean anything to anyone here on the Magic Café, but I wanted to post these pictures to share what a decade of my life looked like. Crystals was a great neighborhood dive. I heard so many people tell me that they had their birthday party at Crystals as a kid and now they were bringing their children there to do the same. It was soooo much cooler with a TON more character than Chuck E. Cheese and had a real family feel to it. I survived several management changes and even survived it changing owners 5 years into my being there. Sadly, the final owner drove it into the ground and by the end, it was depressing to be in. I'd come in and sit there watching TV or playing video games waiting and praying for people to come in so I could have someone to perform for. I should have left sooner, but he continued to pay me hand over fist to be there. It was hard to walk away from all of that money. Sadly, my last two years there were as I described above. The restaurant was the Titanic and I was Jack Dawson riding it down into the North Atlantic saying "I'll never let go!" Since then, I have learned that no amount of money is worth being starved artistically. On February 17, 2013, they closed their doors forever. Now sits an interesting facade from the outside and an empty shell full of great memories on the inside. EVERY TABLE in the restaurant had my sign advertising when I would be there... Here's a shot of The Library. Many times, I would hold court in here with 40+ gathered around a table with me, a close up mat, a deck of cards and some coins. This was my favorite place in the entire restaurant. The back 1/2 of the Pizza Buffet... Millions of these arcade tickets were cashed in daily at The Prize Bar for toys, candy, and other fun prizes. Here I am up at the (now 2/3rds empty) Prize Bar. I did many Close Up Shows here as well. The entrance into the Cartoon Theater Aaron took one final shot as we left the restaurant. It was bitter sweet. ...every now and again, I drive by to see what's going on. A part of me wishes that someone will buy the building, dump millions into and bring it back. I doubt that will ever happen. But alas, it still sits there like a tombstone as a remberance to yesteryear and a time that once was. I want to end this post on an up, so here's a clip from one of my favorite moments while performing at Crystals Pizza Palace. Here I am performing Card on Ceiling with Michael Ammar... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFBGn_ES08Q Thanks for reading and taking this walk down memory lane with me... Christopher Lyle
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
Cool post, Christopher. What wonderful experiences you've had there. Thanks for sharing these personal final pictures with us here.
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Just went digging thru MY computer, and found a few more memories I thought I'd share...
This shot was taken the weekend before they closed up. I had changed out of my suit and had just finished striking the stage. I was kinda sad knowing the following weekend would be my last... Here are some other random shots that were taken from my time at Crystals... My opening act after I took the stage... Here's the front of the building with a larger sign the owner had made and hung up to help draw people in... Some random stage shots with the live audience. Sadly, those were a thing of the past by around 2012. This was a picture that a customer texted to me from the audience. Not very clear, but Fire Eating was always a big hit at Crystals Pizza... The owner even built a fan into the stage floor so I could perform Snowstorm. Ahhh...how the cleaning crew loved me! ...and me doing part of a routine that I don't even remember now...lol! Ninja Rings to an obviously astonished tattoo'd dude... One of my idols ever since I was a kid lectured at Crystals Pizza. Here I am with the one and only Harry Anderson... I could sit here and post more pics for hours...but I won't. I just wanted to give y'all idea what it was like back when I had hair and before I became "The Guy in the Yellow Suit!" Like I said, I'm sure many of y'all don't really care about it, but I thought some of y'all might get a kick of out of the story and seeing some of the pics. I hope all this give you a chuckle or three. R.I.P. Crystals Pizza.
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
RiotStrike New user I've cemented 39 Posts |
I think it's worth noting, if this is the place I'm thinking about, that the majority of your stories, fun experiences, rants about clientele (and other magicians) came from mostly Crystal's for nearly a decade. I know you perform a ton of shows outside of your restaurants, but isn't this the source of a wealth of experience, treasure, humor and pain that we've all enjoyed from you here on the Café for so long?
I think anyone who is a fan of you on the Café owes a nod to Crystal's Pizza... |
pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
Great pics. 10 years is indeed a hell of a long run. My longest has been 7. I'd be very curious how long some of the real workers here have had a steady gig.
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
10 years is a great testament that you didn't aggravate any of the staff.
All it takes sometimes is to be in the way while they are bringing the food and, that's it. Here's to you doing it again.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
Montana76 Inner circle I hope I one day reach 1177 Posts |
Thank you for sharing your stories and pictures. Looks like you had a fantastic run there!
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MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
Wow. I am so envious of that venue. I have been doing this for well over 25 years and have never had a place like that. It was like your own personal magic castle.
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Rodney Palmer Inner circle 1317 Posts |
Way to go Christopher!!!!! I remember you were always talking about Crystals and how much you loved it there. So what are you up to these days? Are you working steady, I am sure that you are. Hope all is well with you and your family.
Rodney
"Creating Memories That Last A Lifetime"
In order to keep "MAGIC ALIVE" Please become a Mentor to a Young Person. |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Stepping stones to bigger and better things, eh? Congrats on a great run!
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
george1953 Inner circle Mallorca (Spain) 5943 Posts |
Looks like a great place to work, it must be sad to be leaving. I finished a Hotel that I had worked for 22 years so I know how it feels. The Hotel manager retired and the new one immediately cancelled all the entertainment, its now an all inclusive venue with nothing but drunks :-[
By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail.
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 25, 2014, Rodney Palmer wrote: Yup! Still goin' strong! I've been at Cristina's Fine Mexican Restaurant now for almost 6 years. I'm at two different locations...Monday, Tuesday, and Friday Nights and I'm at Margarita's Mexican on Wednesday Nights. I was working Cheesecake Factory on Saturday's for about a year after Crystals closed up but I decide to leave (on my own) b/c after a day full of birthday parties, I just didn't have the energy to go out and play a restaurant. I may add a 5th day to my schedule at some point, but for now, 4 days a week in restaurants is plenty...
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 24, 2014, RiotStrike wrote: You are correct!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Daryl -the other brother Special user Chicago 594 Posts |
Thanks for the memories Christopher. I remember when they built that stage for you and how excited you were to have your own show. We were both already Café members waaay back then.
I LOVE that library! What a great place to perform. Here's to the next 10 years my friend. ROCK ON!! |
patrick flanagan Inner circle lisle, illinois 1045 Posts |
Thanks for sharing, Christopher!!!
I've been at a restaurant almost 21 years, now. I really can't imagine NOT going there. It's going to be very strange when it does end. Patrick |
imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1336 Posts |
What great pictures and stories...thanks for sharing.
Just out of curiosity...what is Crystal's now? Has another place move in? Is it still closed?
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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General_Magician Special user United States 707 Posts |
Thanks for sharing Chris. I really enjoyed your performance of Card on the Cieling with Michael Ammar.
"Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is a light shining somewhere nearby." -unknown
Company Website Facebook Business Page Twitter Business Page |
Aaron Smith Magic Inner circle Portland, OR 1447 Posts |
What a run! Thanks for sharing buddy!
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The Mysterious One Veteran user 384 Posts |
Chris, I saw you perform out at Crystal's after a lecture I went to (Wayne Houchin) several years ago. I really did enjoy your performance. You had the crowd eating from your hands (figuratively that is). I always wanted to make a point to go back to Crystal's to see your performance and go to some additional lectures,but was always busy with my full time job (working 70 to 80 hours per week) and with raising four kids. Now that I have left that job and made the jump to start performing professionally full time, I would love to stop by one of those restaurants and see you perform in person one of these days. Best of luck in your new endeavors and congratulations on all of your success.
Sean |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » Ten Years, Four Months...what a ride! (12 Likes) |
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