Photo: QueensPost
June 12, 2013 By Bill Parry
A group of professional magicians will perform at an unlikely Sunnyside venue on Friday night.
The show is taking place at Maggie Mae’s (41-15 Queens Blvd.) at 10 pm and has taken some longtime regulars by surprise, including one of the show’s performers Tommy T.
The show represents a turning point for Maggie Mae’s. The bar has undergone a great deal of change since James Moore took over as manager one year ago.
“It was a rough and tumble bar for so many years,” Moore said. “We had to get rid of the riff raff—and those tough days are behind us as we keep up with the changing neighborhood.”
Moore was the man to get rid of the undesirables.
He was a professional light middleweight boxer after moving to the U.S. from County Wicklow, Ireland. Known as “Thunder” he went 17-3 before retiring in 2011.
“Let’s just say when I’d bar someone there wasn’t much of a discussion,” Moore said. The magician Tommy T. said, “The job he did cleaning up Maggie Mae’s isn’t just a great magic trick, it’s a miracle!”
When Tommy T. would return to Sunnyside—his home for 17 years– from abroad, he’d be one of the regulars at Maggie Mae’s. The more comfortable he got with the changing crowd, the more he’d perform some of his magic tricks learned over his 30 years in the business.
“Folks enjoyed it so much I figured let’s give him a night,” Moore said. The show was so successful last April that they decided to make it a bigger event on Friday.
Tommy T. is bringing in some of his friends for the free show on Friday night. “I’m going to emcee for 5 different acts with five different styles and my friends are doing it for fun, maybe a few beers,” the magician said.
Tommy T. is more accustomed to performing on big stages in front of thousands from Las Vegas to China. “I [typically] don’t do bar shows.”
Event details.
Date: Friday, June 14
Time: 10 pm
Location: Maggie Mae’s, 41-15 Queens Blvd
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8 Comments
I think there were four, not five, acts. Still a great show, I’m glad they all came out, especially if they weren’t being paid! The first two were my favorite.
They were good! I’m glad I went I had fun watching the magicians and their acts did amaze me.
Also the bar looks good! Good job Moore and thank you!
I’ve seen loads of magicians in local bars. They sure can make a pint of Guinness disappear.
Great job to James Moore! Yes, the grand old days of Trigger were amazing! Wish they would come back and play a few gigs in Sunnyside again. Can’t wait for the magic show and to see Maggie’s hopping again.
Trigger was great!!!!!!! Maz on fiddle
Could be a nice place, but too many dirtbags
*a few years, not “ears” back.
Does anybody remember a few ears back when a band called Trigger used to play at Maggie Mae’s quite frequently?