Performers included Andost, Tom Burgoon, Christian and Katalina, Joe Devlin, David Ginn, Kevin Heller, Bruce Kalver, Kyoka, Brad Lancaster, TR Loon, Gordon Miller, Hank Moorehouse,
David Oliver, Pavel, George Schindler, David Seebach, Matthew David Stanley, Jay Sterling, Johnny Thompson, The Great Tomsoni, Rick Walker, Steve Walker, Bill Watson, Yumi.
Opening Tributes by Bill Watson
Tribute to Monk Watson by Bill Watson
Welcome to Colon by Bill Watson
A day before the official start of the 2008 Get Together Colon had a dedication ceremony for the new "magic themed" park which should be functional by next years Get Together!
Bruce Kalver Lecture
Bruce Kalver has been working professionally for over 40 years. Billed in the early years as "Rhode Island's Youngest Professional Magician," his magic education started at the age of four when his grandfather, Samuel Woolf, who was himself a magician and an assistant to Houdini, began to teach him the art.
Johnny Thompson Lecture
Johnny Thompson
has recently been working as a consultant to his protege Lance Burton and to Penn & Teller and has just finished an I-Max movie with Sigfried and Roy. Last year he did the 'Oakridge Boys Live in Las Vegas,' the World's Greatest Magic and the PBS Special, 'The Art of Magic.' John has also received the most prestigious Masters Fellowship award from the Academy of Magical Arts.
Tom Burgoon Lecture
Tom Burgoon
is a dynamic polished professional delighting audiences across the country for over 20 years! Tom has performed in all 50 states, major hotels, nightclubs, cruise ships, and Las Vegas. He has performed with such great comedians as Robin Williams, Louie Anderson, Drew Carey, Sinbad and Sam Kinison!
David Ginn Lecture
David Ginn
is now celebrating 35 years of fulltime performing, writing, lecturing and teaching others how to entertain children and family audiences. David performs 300-400 shows yearly at schools, libraries, conventions, and churches.
David Oliver Lecture
You may have seen David Oliver
on one of many TV appearances, including recently, when his magic was featured on the Discovery Channel, CN8's "NiteBeat" and �The Early Show� on CBS. And for the past nine years, David Oliver has been the most requested guest performer in Broadway's longest-running magic show, "Monday Night Magic" in New York City.
Pavel Lecture
Pavel's Original Magic
is both astonishing to watch and easy to perform. He is the author of several books on magic and is known around the world for his magical creations.
It is no wonder that, the Academy of Magical Arts, honored Pavel with the 2002 Creative Fellowship Award at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California.
Best Decorated Vehicle
Jim Hathy
is the winner of the 2008 Best Decorated Vehicle Contest. His daughters did most of the decorating and were awarded with gift certificates from Abbotts Magic from Debbie Bordner. Later in the day, Jim and his family appeared on SOC TV and Jim performed a favorite trick to a live internet audience.
Stage Talent Contest
Thanks to all the participants, the winners this year were Jeff Lee (1st Place), Jake Prosek (2nd Place), and Jeremy June & Gemma (3rd Place). Other performers receiving votes (in no particular order) included Chase Cottle, Richard Konjarevich, Chris Konjarevich, and Douglas Johnson.
Magic Ministers Session
Whether you are performing Gospel magic or not, take the time to see Duane Laflin do the Magic Ministers Sessions at the Abbotts Get Together. Every idea was great and most of the props are ones you already have. Performance and technique are covered in a most entertaining way and I guarantee you will enjoy this gem of an event.
Vent O Rama
Hosted by George Schindler, he takes you step by step through the basics of ventriloquism and demonstrates everything along the way. You do not need a puppet! You do not need any special equipment or talent to do this, and the entire family can learn and be entertained at the same time. Highly recommended for everyone who wants to add a touch of fun to their act!
SOC TV
You've probably seen their live feed on the internet as SOC TV sends magic in a new high tech direction which until recently was undreamt of. SOC stands for Street of Cards, a nickname for Colon MI.The founding members of SOC are also members of the "ISORZ" who meet annually at the Get Together, hosting their now legendary campfire.
Cemetery Tour
Its hard to believe that 15 years ago, Karrell Fox took Al the Only on a tour of the Colon Lakeside Cemetery. Now you can be part of that same tour except that it will be Al the Only as MC of Magics Final Act.
Closeup Show
Abbotts Closeup Show consists of four great performers who perform simultaneously to different parts of the stage. Each performance rotates after about 15 minutes giving the audience a wonderful closeup experience.
Visit the Magic Capital of the World during the Abbotts Magic Get Together and here are some of the things you might see just by walking up and down the streets of Colon.
Just Before the Show
The fun is only beginning as you count down the minutes till the show starts, luckily there are many things to do and many famous magicians to meet during this brief time.
Welcome to the Magic Capital of the World. Abbott's Magic mission is simple: to provide the best magic products and service to our customers at the lowest prices possible. We take great pride in our company (which has been doing business since 1934), our commitment to customer service and in the products we sell. Our online store is designed to provide you with a safe and secure environment to browse our product catalog. The Abbott plant provides year round employment for our staff. More than 50,000 square feet is divided into the following departments: Business Offices, Printing Department, Art Department, Silk Dyeing, Computer Room, Sewing Assembly, Silk Screen Processing, Blacksmith Shop, Lathe, and Precision Metal Work, Plastic and Chemicals, Metal Casting, Tool and Die Making, Shipping, Experimental, Wood Working, Sheet Metal Shop, Stock Room, Paint Shop, Showrooms, Demonstration Stage and Magic Theatre. Our phenomenal success proves that we are the recognized leaders in magic - not only in America but the entire world. We are credited with instituting real and modern innovations for the benefit of buyers of magical apparatus - proof enough of our sincerity in wanting to give those buyers a fair deal always. Our factory facilities are such that we are in the position to make anything in magic. Also we own our factory buildings - the only buildings in the world designed for the sole purpose of manufacturing magic. Abbott's leads the entire magic field in producing original magic effects. To us, your first order is the beginning of a lasting friendship in magic. Abbotts is the publisher of Tops Magazine (30's - 50's), New Tops Magazine (60's - 90's), and most recently our free online version the Newest Tops Magazine with informative articles by some of todays top magic performers. Abbotts Magic Shop and Abbotts Magic Get Together have been in business since 1934. Annual events include the Closeup Magic Convention, Summer Magic shows at the Abbott magic plant, a 4 day Magic Convention in August aka Magic Get Together, and Magic Flea Market and Auction. The Magic Get Together magic convention is well over 70 years old and has had many of the worlds greatest magicians perform on its magic stage including Blackstone Sr, Blackstone Jr, Karrell Fox, Lance Burton, Mac King, Jeff McBride, Jeff Hobson, Harlan Tarbell,Cardini, Neil Foster, and about 900 more. Publications include Tops Magic Magazine, Abbotts Illusions, Colon MI aka the Magic Capital of the World, Abbott Magic Movies, Abbott's Magic Compendium, and Abbott's Magic Catalog which includes thousands of magic tricks, magic books, and magic illusions for magicians of all ages and all magician skill levels including beginner magician and professional magician. Abbott's believes that this website, www.magicgettogether.com, is the largest magic site dealing with a magic conventions in the world.