Al Goshman Sponge Ball Magic

[svrex]

The Magic Castle was a private club, you could only get in as a guest of a member, after going there a few times, he put me on a list, so I could go there whenever I wanted to. He did not hang out there,only went there to do shows, did not drink, or smoke. Was so respected. I truly will never ever forget him and how he charmed my mother in that private show.He was flirting with her. God rest both their souls, he was truly wonderful to me! A little tear for dear Mr.Goshman!

[svrex]

I don't know what he died from, but I would bet it was from the fumes from the sponge ball dyes, and the smoke that came from the way we made the balls. He was always coughing,especially when he was dying the balls.I used to glue the balls on the magic ding dong too. He helped his sons become bakers too.They were very good at it!!! He and his eldest opened a do-nut shop once,called the Magic Do-nut,of course! Wonderful times, he made quite an impact on my life.God Bless Mr. Albert Goshman!!!!

[svrex]

Mr. Goshman, as I always called him, had a few things he liked. He like gadgets, he had alot of them in his ofc. an electric rolodex, stuff like that. He also collected faces, carved out of plaster, and imaculately painted. He had alot of those hanging in his ofc. too and all over the house. I don't think his wife liked them much. But they were neat. We all kept saying, why didn't he buy a fancy car, he like his little toyota!

[svrex]

He was on the Johnny Carson show, and had many pictures of private parties he did for HUGE stars!! I was shocked the first time I saw him perform after seeing him in his bathrobe in that garage so many times! He was so perfectly dressed in his tux! And he would darken his mustache over the years for shows. He was a simple person, didn't have a fancy car or anything but there were a few things he loved!

[svrex]

He had those salt shakers one the table, because during the show, he would put coins under them. The girls were there to watch to see when he did it. No one ever saw when he did it. By the end of the show, he was putting huge chinese yens under there, and still no one could catch him put them there! He pretty much did the same show for his whole career, if it works, don't change it!

[svrex]

When I was working for him, I wanted to buy a dulcimer, but could not afford it, he split the cost with me, and took a little bit out of my paycheck, until I could go and get it. One morning he was choking on a bagel, I did the heinlich manuever on him and out it came. Sponge balls were just one of the many amazing magical trick he did. The coins, were really amazing. This only show a tiny bit of what he did in his show.Even if you figured out a trick, he could do it a different way!

[svrex]

This is nothing, once at work he vanished a lit cigarette, inches from my face.We all looked for the smoke,we couldn't see it, and then he clapped his hands inches from my face, and handed it back to me.I was at a funeral years later,I wandered from the gravesite I was at, and there was his grave. I cried my eyes out, I loved him too, in a little different way than he loved me. :(

[svrex]

I worked making spongballs for my dear friend Albert Goshman, when I was a teenager. We worked in his garage,he was very thrifty, but ever ever so kind to me!At some point I brought many friends to work for him too.He loved me, he told me so.He once brought me an amazing pair of scissors from Germany, from a trip there.I made sponge balls, and counted endlessly. I saw him perform at the Magic Castle several times. He did a private show for us at the castle for my birthday.And charmed my mother!

[golajhavkage]

hmm lukeythe1 the point is he is the best sponge ball magicaian ever! he got famous on this on routine ! i know how he does to ! i am sponge magician my self but it is not the trick its how its done!!

[brassic5]

took me a while trace his movements - this guy is a real pro

[BicycleGAFFcards]

Isnt Al goshman dead?

[RoyalMagicFUN]

For more great magic tricks, check out Royal Magic @

w w w. G y p s y S o j o u r n e r . c o m

[miamimagicians]

One of the best Close Up Magicians ever!

[lukeythe1]

i love alberts trick

[lukeythe1]

i know how he dose it

[96TennisAce]

Kool!

[kuyashaun]

i have an original gosh spongeballs . :) thank sir gosh . :)

[Shanster98]

on 0:25 u can see he didnt put anything in his right hand

[dagumolo]

No one cares!!!! Just calm down and enjoy magic

[Shanster98]

never mind

[Shanster98]

on 0:11 the ball is already small

[jjIQ135]

dirty innuendo at 0:20

[poker147258]

i think it would have been funny if he finished with the al goshman ding dong

[gundulbota]

nice!!!watch mine!

[Robespierre354]

he had two black ones, and at the end that chicks sounds like she's coming haha great stuff

[othj]

A.TRUE.LEGEND.

[daytonville]

Critics of Mr. Goshman's performance may not have the following information: this was not recorded to be a public performance. This was strictly recorded for other magicians as a teaching tool. The women are not "performing" either, but there simply to aide a teacher in a demonstration. Mr. Goshman was the foremost leader in the area of sponge ball magic routines. He created and invented many of the "moves" used by today's top performers. It was recorded to teach and not for "entertaining".

[rafagoto]

so true...this routine ids the best!

[mastermagic1992]

boooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

[jamaljamaloO]

the women dont seem impressed

[blyaxamuxin]

boring

[supertoilet88]

hey its my great uncle and im serious!

[l8l8l]

those girls look fucking bored

[EssexBoy696969]

Maybe you'd been talking to them beforehand.

[l8l8l]

lol grow some balls dude

[EssexBoy696969]

Oh is that what they sed 2 ya?

Nevermind ask your Mum to hold yours like they hold Goshman's, I'm sure they'll soon drop.

[l8l8l]

lol XD looks like this insult came from a 5th grader i aint surprised

[EssexBoy696969]

If I knew what a 5th grader was I'd comment!

[l8l8l]

lol what a retard

[EssexBoy696969]

You have commenced your previous 3 posts with 'lol'.

There appears to be only one retard; I'm responding to him.

[sqske]

look at his hand at 0:48 , 0:49 he drop the black ball (in fact there are 2 black balls (that my opinion :)

[madamadakun]

this is sick....i've been practicing with sponge balls, still not as smooth as him...

[Dolgini]

Give it another 40, 50 years

[zadinimagic]

He cheated in that third one. When the camara changed he gave the third ball to the women.

[EssexBoy696969]

For someone with 'magic' in his name, you don't know much about our art do you!

[Bizarre77]

His retention vanish is insane. I mean, he tricked me even though I was looking for it. Well, duh, he's GOSHMAN!

[EssexBoy696969]

It's not the retention vanish as we know it mate - it's called 'Goshman's Toss Vanish' and I've never seen anyone pull it off as convincingly as the great man himself.

[ForeverMAGIC1]

Don't you think Slydini was on this level (if not above) its hard to compare. Maybe we sould just let them be?

[Dolgini]

Slydini kicks his ass.

[EssexBoy696969]

You must be kidding.

Slydini was a magician for magicians - I actually saw him live and he was the greatest cure for insomnia ever. Misdirection was excellent but his personality and over emphasised fake Italian accent were woeful.

[Dolgini]

I sorta was kidding. But for my money, there's noone better than Slydini. Goshman is the man, it's a different style, there's really no comparison. What do you mean fake Italian accent? You think he overemphasized that?

[EssexBoy696969]

Well for someone that moved to New York as a very young man and lived there for 60 years - in a word - YEA !

[Dolgini]

Well, 44 years, but I get your point. You thought his performance was boring????

[EssexBoy696969]

Only my personal view of course but yes I think Slydini (along with Marlo of that era) were Magician's Magicians if you get my drift. Technically they were faultless but their actual persona lacked something.

Now Goshman is another story...by his own admission he comes across as a bit of a ruff around the edges letch...there's nothing fake and you get what you see. I could watch Albert all day (and when he came to the International Day's of Magic in London during the 70's I did)!

[ForeverMAGIC1]

Smoothest i've seen since the first time i saw the sponge balls performed! Which dvd is this from?

Also thanx 4 posting!

[transtremm]

The DVD is called, "World's Greatest Magic, Sponge Balls." It is published by L&L. The name of the trick is simply, "A.G. Sponge Balls."

Al Goshman was a truly one of the all time greats, very few magicians can come close to his sense of timing and incredible character.

[EssexBoy696969]

It's also on a video 'Magic By Gosh' (1985) which covers nearly all of Goshman's close up routines. It's strange that for a guy that made a fortune from manufacturing sponge balls, this was the only routine he finally incorporated into his act - his focus was primiarily on coins and also the Nudist & Devano rising cards.