Last month, I had the pleasure of performing once again at the Coney Island Museum as part of their wonderful Magic at Coney!!! Sunday afternoon magic series.
This steady program of magic seems to fly under the radar in terms of showing up on weekly lists of magic shows in New York City. However, they do seem to fill up their modest house of fifty or so patrons every week.
Once again I was positioned in a corner of the museum where I performed pre-show, during intermission, and a little bit after the main show. The host of the festivities, magician Lee Alan Barrett promoted my appearance by declaring,
“Please visit the back of the museum at intermission where Smallini, the world’s tiniest magician, will make an elephant disappear!”
This being a summer month meant that the famous Coney Island Sideshow was performing on the floor right beneath us, and that patrons of the magic show received a discount to the sideshow. Not a bad deal.
I loved arriving at Coney Island (early, to get a good parking spot), and having a snack on the boardwalk before the museum opened to the public. At that hour the beach isn’t crowded yet, and you can see the the workers getting the rides and attractions ready in Luna Park. It just gave me a nice feeling going in to the show.
Performing the Suitcase of Wonders at the Coney Island Museum is really a special experience that always makes me feel the rich history of that place.