The Best of the Best: Michigan’s Magic Day ComethInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Billy McComb

Chris Reesman has gotten more press than Michael Jackson’s ride operator.

But his is for a good reason.

The Flint Journal went large all over Mr. Reesman and the Michigan Magic Day scheduled for this weekend in Flushing. The event began — the paper says — 35 years ago in Flint and so its return to the greater Flint area is fitting.

The famous Leonard Eva Ring will host the greatest one-day magic convention in the Western Hemisphere. “Magic Day was designed for amateur and professional illusionists to share information and learn advanced sleight-of-hand from top-ranked performers.” This year, however, there will be so much more squished into the 24 hours of magic; it will look like one of the rides at the Jackson compound.

Rather than the traditional one formal show for the public, Mr. Reesman convinced some of the top magicians in the world to help out with three shows. That’s two more shows!

“We’re trying to set a … precedent like Flint first set with the first Michigan Magic Day,” said Mr. Reesman “There’s not one person in the evening show that hasn’t been on national television at least twice.”

Again, the reason the performer has been on national television is for a good reason.

Billy McComb, Ireland’s Largest Leprechaun, will emcee the Saturday’s show. He told the paper, “These are basically international acts. They work all over the world.”

Mr. McComb has been around and seen a few things. He has performed his wonderful brand of magic since 1949 and knows quality when he sees it. “It would cost $40 to see any of the major names on Saturday’s playbill in Las Vegas. Collectively, they represent the biggest (magic) show that’s been in that (Flint) area,” Mr. McComb said.

Plus, audiences will have a chance to see Billy McComb perform. For my money, Mr. McComb is worth the price of admission all by himself. If you have never seen Mr. McComb perform, you must head towards the Flint suburb of Flushing to watch the master. Mr. McComb is also one of the nicest guys to hang out a bar and we have had wonderful conversations with the legend in just that scenario.

Performers at the 7:30 p.m. show will be: McComb; David Acer of Montreal; Whit Haydn of Los Angeles; Losander, originally from Germany and now performing in Las Vegas; and Luna Shimada and Tomsoni & Co., both from Las Vegas. Also on the playbill during the $20 show will be escape artist Mark Cannon of Los Angeles.

The day’s first show, at 1:30 p.m., will spotlight magicians Cherie Kay of Houston, Texas, Tony Blanco of Las Vegas, Tommy Anderson of Bay City and Keven Williams of Monroe, as well as magician-ventriloquist Carl Straham and magician-juggler Allen Quick, both of Flint Township, and Mark Cannon. Each ticket will make $10 disappear.