MovieChat Forums > The Magician (1973) Discussion > The trouble I got into................. ...

The trouble I got into................. ...............

posted 15 years ago by rexmagicman
6 replies | jump to latest

....because I loved this show! I was in the 5th grade (I'm 47 now--yikes!), and as an assigment, our teacher had us pick a business, and then do a project on it to present in our gym, to all the parents, etc. Part of the project, was to contact as many of the businesses we could, and get as many pamphlets, etc. sent to us for the big day----our teacher back then, Miss Schlief, told us that if we call a business long-distance, and then hang up when we're done, they can't bill us because they don't have our information. Well, I picked Holiday Inn as my business, and did the phone calls---to Hawaii, China, etc. Then, I got the big idea, that if I'm not being billed, I'll call the Magic Castle, and ask to speak to Bill Bixby, which I did!! And believe it or not, they put my through to him, as he was actually there that day---and we spoke for about 20-25 minutes, and then I hung up quick!!! Well, about a month later, I got off the bus, and as I was walking to my home, and wayyyyyyyyyyy at the end of our driveway, I could see my mom, waving some paper in her hand, and screaming my name----turns out, surprise surprise, that my teacher was WRONG, and we had an enormous phone bill----even Bill Bixby couldn't make that dissapear. Anyways, I worked the bill off doing chores, and learned my lesson---but still, I got to speak to Mr. Bixby, and felt honored----loved the show then, and still do. RIP Mr. Bixby, and thanks for the great chat----it's something I'll never forget.

[–] LarryBrownHouston 15 years ago

Well....???? What did you and Mr. Bixby talk about? What was he like? Did he tell you anything surprising? What was your opening line: "Hi Mr. Bixby, you don't know me but, uh, I like "My Favorite Martian."

[–] rexmagicman 15 years ago

Well, I don't remember too much---but, at the time I did magic as a kid with my dad, and performed at Boyscout banquets, etc---so we talked magic, and of course, how much I loved the show. All I remember was him somewhat laughing on the other end (probably couldn't believe a kid had actually called him and gotten through), and how extremely kind and polite he was. He didn't rush the call, or was rude----just a very nice man. I do remember he asked if I had ever been to California, which I hadn't (with fice kids in our family, we never took vacations), and also told me about an upcoming episode I had to promise "I wouldn't tell anyone about"---which I didn't tell anyone! I was such a big fan of all his work, but that show in particular, as a kid who did magic, was just something special.

[–] TheBatCaveofOz 14 years ago

I actually worked on this show....the first of my 22 years in the Biz! Bill was a very nice man, and several years later he directed an episode of Rich Man, Poor Man, Book II that I was then working on. We had a wedding scene, and I provided a cage of live doves for the scene, and asked Bill how he liked 'his' doves...they were the Same Birds that were used in The Magician! He got a kick out of that. My uncle had taken them home during the series, because they had been kept in a small cage...he had a huge cage built in his back yard for them, and their off-spring!
We had a business with them....renting them out in assorted cages for weddings and parties!!
Fun times!

Bruce Wayne
^^X^^

[–] russedav 13 years ago

What a wonderful guy. I can't believe he's really gone.

[–] Fugitive_Bill 13 years ago

Great story 'rexmagicman'. Since you posted your story Sept 2009, that make you 49 now, the same age as me. I loved "The Magician" and it would have been wonderful to actually speak to Bill Bixby. I envy you! - To hell with the phone bill, it would have been worth it for the memories!
-B!LL!

[–] PaladinNJ (21783) 6 years ago

Wow. I would have kept the phone bill. After all you did earn it.