Any magician worth his top hat can saw a person in half. It takes special magical powers to re-materialize, and Georgetown’s Kent Cummins has perfected the art over his 70-plus years in the magic business.
Entertainer, author, retired Lieutenant Colonel, businessman, motivational speaker, consultant, teacher; the self-professed showman with hyperactive tendencies has managed to weave his talents into a succession of careers, each one inspiring him to seek out his next quest.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
A magic kit from his dad at age 6 and Presto! By high school, Kent was winning trophies at magic conventions and paid his way through college. He earned an MBA from UT Austin, then founded SamWitch Shops, an Austin restaurant chain. He sold the business to become a full-time magician and along the way started The Magic Camp, a children’s summer camp using magic to help raise self-esteem.
Armed with his slogan “Sometimes it takes a Magician,” Kent became a one-man marketing machine. He later combined magic with his motivational speaking prowess and led corporate training and team building sessions for Fortune 500 companies.
A MAGICAL LIFE
It seemed fitting that Kent celebrated his 70th year in magic with three performances at Austin’s Scottish Rite Theatre in 2019. That same year, he decided his collection of magic paraphernalia needed a home, so The Fantastic Magic Center was born. Inspired by David Copperfield’s Magic Center in Las Vegas, the Georgetown location has no signage and is not advertised.
Inside, Kent’s personal memorabilia is lovingly displayed from floor to ceiling in theme-named rooms. There is a gift shop in the working kitchen, which leads to the 32-seat cabaret theater—a renovated garage—where donation-only performances are held. You also won’t want to miss the Korean apothecary chest filled with magic tricks or the 1936 newspaper article about Houdini; every item has its own story.
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KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Kent’s granddaughter, The Amazing Adele, a senior, has been performing with him since she was 10 years old. This year, they created three new shows, an impressive task considering the costumes, music, staging, tricks, and scripts that go into each performance. They’ve been booked all over the area, with 12-15 shows per month.
Living in Georgetown has given Kent a special connection to family and community that only small town living can. He credits a quote from Zig Ziglar that has guided him through the years; ”You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” With a smile and ever-present sparkle in his eyes, Kent adds “Ultimately, everything is about relationships. They have led to many opportunities and sometimes it does take a magician.”
Great article Can’t wait to go to one of Kents’ shows.
Thank you, I so enjoyed getting to know and writing about Kent. He should be advertising some new shows soon!