The Master of Ceremonies remains stoic as the suspense builds in the audience. Time is running out on the escape artist and the M.C. is counting down the seconds. A worried look falls over the faces in the crowd which has gathered this crisp fall day to watch another Colon outdoor magic event. Hundreds of people are lining the streets of Colon as a young woman attempts to escape from a wooden box elevated by a crane before the rope supporting her burns up and she falls to a certain death. More seconds pass as the paramedics, ambulances, and fire trucks stand by. Finally a voice second only to God bellows out "Get Her Out Of There!" but its too late, the fire burns through the rope and the box springs open. The crowd instinctively shrieks not wanting to watch someone plummet to their death, but the young lady appears to have vanished from the now empty box, only to be seen exiting safely from a pizza parlor across the street. Again the deep voice from the MC comes over the microphone "How about big round of applause" as the crowd gives it up for the young escape artist and the M.C. is leading the applause.

The M.C. is Bill Watson and once again his dazzling persona along with a voice out of the Old Testament has the crowd cheering in a frenzy as the Colon paramedics, ambulances, and fire trucks exit from Colon's Main Street, their services not being needed this autumn day.

Whether he is delivering the "Welcome to Colon" address at the Magic Get Together, or working behind the scenes with the stage crew, Bill Watson is everything that is right about magic and the Get Together. Born into show business (His father, Monk, was a legendary comic magician who worked with Jack Benny and was an early supporter of Bob Hope) and growing up with Harry Blackstone Jr it was certain that not only some, but much of that Colon magic had rubbed off on Bill. A great entertainer in his own right and a wonderful MC for any occasion, Bill was able to successfully balance his love of magic with several successful careers including working in Washington as a lobbyist for a telephone company. Now retired from the politics of Washington, Bill chose to make his home in the same house his father and grandfather lived in.

On Monday, June 29 2009, Abbotts Greg Bordner had a chance to chat with Bill at his home in Colon MI. You can listen to the interview online here, download the audio and listen on your iPod later, or watch on YouTube. The YouTube interview is divided into 3 sections, each about 8 minutes in length. We hope you enjoy this unique look into one of the unique success stories in magic.