It’s magic

Every little thing Almodarr does

By Jeff Hall

AIMODARR: “We’re making a living as magicians.”

It’s a simple trick that has been passed down for ages. Typically, a distant uncle or a clever grandfather tries to impress the youngsters by pulling a coin out from behind the ear of a bewildered child. Maybe it was impressive in the Middle Ages, but as the art of magic has evolved, the schtick has grown old.

That’s exactly why Maine’s hardest working magician, Almodarr, says he has been diligent throughout his career in jazzing up his bag of tricks — or “effects,” as he likes to call them — by adding his own personal touch to each one. By doing this, Almodarr, with his wife Donna, has not only been able to liven up his performances, keeping booked year round, but has been able to make a living as a magician for the last 31 years.

“I use a lot of commercial magic,” says the veteran magician, who keeps his real name as secret as his effects. “But to the layman person it’s a miracle. I put my own personality or style into it and that’s what makes the trick.”

Almodarr, who is a Maine native, grew up in Portland and now lives in Dayton with his wife. She handles the business end of Almodarr’s Grand Illusions, but also practices magic. Although he considers New England a tough market to make it in the magic business, Almodarr says it is this effort to constantly be creative, along with his wife’s aggressive business sense, that has allowed them to be, he believes, the only full-time magicians in the state.

“My wife and I are the only ones who are full-time, 24-7. We’re making a living as magicians,” he says. “Usually someone will have another job and do this part-time. They are not solely dependent on it. We make a regular income, but it is extremely difficult to make a living at this.”

With their summers filled with performances seven days a week at Santa’s Village in Jefferson, N.H., Almodarr’s Grand Illusions returns to the Maine area and performs various acts for private functions, fairs, holiday programs, birthday parties, and business events. Almodarr is also a motivational speaker.

The magician has even started his own line of magic equipment that he builds and creates called Wizard World.

Growing up near Union Station, Almodarr still remembers the first time he was turned on to magic. As a nine-year-old, he and his neighborhood friends would walk down to the local penny candy store. On their return one day, however, one of his buddies showed him a coin jumping from one hand to another. A simple trick, but Almodarr says he was so obsessed with finding out how it was done that he gave away his whole bag of sweets.

From that point on, he remembers, “I spent every cent I had on new tricks. I was walking around with bulging pockets because of all my tricks, so I got a suitcase to carry them around in.” Then the young magician took it a step further and did what most only joke about — he ran off with the circus.

Lying about his age allowed Almodarr to get a job as a driver for the Allen Brothers Magic Circus that toured the East Coast putting on performances. But when it was discovered that he was only 13, owner George Allen had him shucking shit after the dog and elephant shows as penance.

Almodarr capitalized on the opportunity, however, by taking in as much as he could; learning tricks and gags from the clowns, magicians, and other performers. He returned every summer for the next five years to work with the Magic Circus.

As he grew older, he tried out a variety of audiences, performing at resorts, campgrounds, hotels, and even a short stint at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas where he met legends like Lance Burton and said ‘hello’ to David Copperfield. He also ran a magic store on Congress Street for 10 years called Grand Illusions.

Now Almodarr spends a good portion of his time either in front of a five-by-five mirror in his living room, or in the barn outside their home, developing and rehearsing new acts and effects to keep his performances fresh.

“Depending on the effect, it takes me a couple of weeks or months to practice,” Almodarr says. “I rehearse until there are no mistakes.”

And with tricks that include sword swallowing, balancing acts, walking on stilts, ax juggling, escapes, and fire eating, mistakes are nigh on unacceptable. An error while rehearsing an ax-juggling routine 12 years ago required 50 total stitches in his left hand and gave him a scar to remind him of the importance of practice.

“Other than that, I’ve never really been hurt,” he says. “I’ve twisted my ankle on the unicycle, but nothing serious.”

With a number of performers around New England, and on television, doing similar effects, Almodarr has to stay on his toes when it comes to keeping his acts unique. In fact, with the recent televised programs revealing the secrets behind many of the magic world’s best illusions, he was forced to add some flair.

For example, when it was revealed how to perform the age-old effect where an assistant sits inside a basket as swords are pushed through, Almodarr made his basket smaller and added more swords — including a flaming sword that pierces down the middle. And he says he has spiced up a knot and rope trick called the “Nightmare Returns” with more knots and some jokes.

“I heard constantly [after the television programs aired] ‘I know how that’s done,’ ” he says. “So I changed my tricks around. The most common question still is: ‘how did you do that?’

“No matter what effect you do, you need to personalize it and make it your own,” he continues. “It adds a little twist to the effect and gives it a life of its own.”

Occasionally, after performing magic since 1970, Almodarr says he does get a little burned out and when it comes time to get away from the magic business for a little while to vent out any frustrations, he likes to strap on a suit of armor, pick up a sword and shield, and do battle with a friend of his.

“It’s a lot of fun and a good workout,” the magician says. “But I wear thick gloves. The hands are the most important part of a magician.”

Jeff Hall can be rached at jhall002@maine.rr.com.