REPORTER : NICK LEWIN

PHOTOS :: CHIPPER LOWELL & GREG WILSON LAYOUT :: PAUL ROMHANY

MARK AND NANI WILSON : FROM TEXAS TO ALAKAZAM

It was a true delight recording the interview with Mark and Nani Wilson that formed the basis of this story . The interview took place in their warehouse / office / workshop in beautiful Valencia , California and it was exciting just to see the history and memorabilia that are packed into every inch of the 4000 square foot facility . I really don ’ t think Mark or Nani have discarded an item since their early days as a young couple in Texas .

Warehouse facility . It is filled with the creative clutter of a lifetime in magic . Any true-blooded magician could have spent a full day just exploring the space and looking at the myriad of fascinating items . I enjoyed their gracious tour immensely and could have spent hours more exploring .

By the time I got over the physical environment , the next thing that really caught my attention was exactly what a wonderful team the Wilson ’ s make . They can start and finish each others sentences and are so perfectly attuned to each other that it seems a little bit like a mind reading act . Mark would start to tell a story and Nani would quietly disappear only to return with an object or piece of publicity that Mark would be describing a few minutes later .

It was an object lesson in teamwork and you realize that in the 61 years they have known each other and worked together Mark and Nani have achieved the kind of synergy that is seldom seen . I really didn ’ t have to do too much ‘ interviewing ’, I just turned on my tape recorder and enjoyed the ride . I did ask the questions I wanted to , however for most of the three hours I just tried to keep out the way . Sometimes I would interrupt Mark ’ s flow with a pertinent inquiry , but I tried not to .

I am sure it comes as no surprise to anyone to hear that Mark is a very determined and self directed human being . As his story unfolded to me , I realized that this had always been the case and Mark ’ s focus coupled with his incredible teamwork with Nani is a truly magical and successful love story . Since the publication of his iconic ‘ Course in Magic ’ Mark has expanded the teaching aspect of his magic and I was amazed at how much I learned during my visit about the art and business of magic .

Starting at the very beginning , Mark Wilson was

6 SPECIAL EDITION | 2021