Howard County Fair 2008: 10th Anniversary
Ten years ago, Peter Wood began performing at the Howard County Fair as a stand-in magician. He wasn't even 16, which meant his father got to drive him to the handful of shows booked that week. Peter's younger brother Matt came to "hang out" during the week, not yet functioning as official assistant.
Over the following decade, the Wood brothers cooked up new routines for fair-goers each year, and after performing hundreds of shows at the fairgrounds, they've decided to repeat themselves.
Because 2008 marked their tenth anniversary at the Fair, Matt and Peter brought to the stage some of their favorite routines, many of which have found a place in their other stage shows throughout the year.
Audiences enjoyed magic with milk, PB&J, giant cards, hats, silks, and the brothers' (in)famous Invisible Deck routine, as well as a streamer-cannon finale.
Photos courtesy of Damon Meledones, Kitty R. Photography and Christie Richards
Warning! Show-spoiling secrets and trivia below!
The Wood brothers, like all magicians, are disinclined to reveal the magic secrets used in their shows. However, they enjoy sharing the technical secrets and trivia behind their shows, and are happy to answer any non-magical questions in person or online. What follows are some unknown facts and bits of trivia from the 2008 performances at the Howard County Fair.
- The routines featured in the 2008 show were previously seen in:
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Magic Milk Mishap: 2006's Out of a Suitcase show
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Giant Card Routine: 2005's Larger-Than-Life Magic show
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Teleportation: 2003's Industrial-Grade Magic show
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Invisible Deck Revealed: 2004's Medieval Magic show
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Presto Hat Routine: New for 2008!
- For Magic Milk Mishap, the milk used was actually a milk substitute which is made by mixing a special chemical with water. Not only does this mean no refrigeration is required, but it also ensures that even a volunteer allergic to milk will not be harmed if a few drops get on them.
- The bread used in the PB&J Teleportation was not real bread. It's actually made of foam rubber, with tinted silicone standing in for the peanut butter and jelly. Why fake bread? Well in 2003, a real sandwich was used at every show, and at the end of the routine Matt had to take a bite out of it. After about twenty performances that week, Matt hasn't had a PB&J sandwich since!
- The new Presto Hat Routine boasted several hidden technologies, such as compressed air, electronically-controlled fire, and a series of other special mechanical devices. Along with Matt and Peter's mime skills, this gave the illusion that the two hats were connected.
- The wizard hat has been a Shazam prop for years, and was sewn by Matt and Peter's mother. Peter requested that it be fashioned after the hat that Sorcerer Mickey wears in the movie Fantasia, and it bears a striking resemblence.
- The top hat was specially constructed for this routine, because a normal hat wouldn't have the structure in place to install the magical apparatus, or be large enough to accomodate all the effects. The skeleton was plywood, covered in cardboard, with a thick felt outer skin, which makes the hat durable yet light.
- The air-powered streamer launchers were custom-built by Matt for 2008's Fair, and hold up to 100 psi of air in the large blue tank. An air compressor hidden in the ShazaMobile allowed for easy refilling of the launchers between shows.
