SANTA CLARITA, California, March 28, 2026 — Franz Harary joined Greg Wilson on the Secret-Cabaret stage for a wide-ranging, hour-plus interview that traced one of magic’s most storied careers — and the video clips he brought along made it unforgettable.
The journey started young. Harary shared 8mm footage of himself at seventeen, staging a levitation in front of his house with a crew of high school classmates — one young woman rising improbably into the air while the others worked the rig they had built together from an assortment of pipes and fittings sourced from a hardware store.
Even that early clip came with an unscripted bonus: a police cruiser rolls into the background, clearly drawn by the commotion, then quietly drives away once it determines that whatever is happening is beyond the jurisdiction of the laws of nature, let alone local law enforcement.
The vintage footage resonated with viewers. “I enjoyed the conversational style of the event,” said live stream viewer Ken Burkett of Greenville, Mississippi. “I’m a history buff — and probably overly sentimental about the past — so I really enjoyed seeing those old videos. Those were fun to watch.”
It’s a MacGyver-meets-Houdini quality that has defined Harary throughout his career — the ability to look at raw materials and envision and create moments of wonder that can’t be explained — only enjoyed.
From those scrappy beginnings, the conversation moved into his dance and magic era, a visually electric period that would lead to collaborations with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Michael Jackson.
Then came the mega illusions. Harary gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most ambitious productions in modern magic history — automobiles vanishing and reappearing, a space shuttle and the Taj Mahal disappearing, and not one but six girls materializing in mid-air simultaneously. It’s the kind of spectacle that reminds you why his name became synonymous with large-scale illusion. Throughout, Harary kept the mood light, delivering the kind of wit and self-deprecating humor that made an already compelling story genuinely fun to watch.
The laughs, however, never got in the way of the substance. Harary spoke thoughtfully about the philosophy behind his craft — what magic means, how it has evolved, and what separates a trick from a genuine moment of wonder. It was the kind of reflection that resonates well beyond the magic community.
“I’ve known Franz for many years and he is a friend,” said magician and actor Christopher Hart. “His sharing of real world insight and experiences doing magic professionally around the world are always filled with some golden nuggets. Many things to learn and also be inspired by.”
The interview closed on what’s next: immersive design work for theme parks, museums, shopping centers, and entertainment complexes that channels decades of stagecraft and showmanship into permanent, large-scale experiences. For a man who once made a space shuttle disappear, designing entire worlds feels like a logical next step.
Wilson, whose friendship with Harary dates to 1984 — forged through his father, magic icon Mark Wilson — provided the perfect foil, drawing out candid stories and keeping the conversation moving across a career that has spanned continents, pop royalty, and the outer limits of what audiences believe is possible. Harary, now based in Orlando, made a special trip to Los Angeles just for the appearance. “It’s always a whoot getting interviewed by someone you’ve known for 40 years,” Harary said.
Wilson echoed the sentiment. “It brings me joy to share my friends with everyone who participates in The Greg Wilson Show,” he said. “The response I kept hearing was, ‘I had no idea Franz did so much.’ That’s exactly what I want — I want my friends to be your friends too. And the fact that Franz made a special trip back to LA just for the show says everything about the kind of person he is.”
The evening wouldn’t have been complete without Greg’s mother, the legendary Nani Darnell Wilson — who, approaching her 95th birthday, remains every bit as sharp, warm, and charming as the magic world has always known her to be.
For more about this and previous episodes along with what’s coming next visit the Greg Wilson Show at secret-cabaret.com.
Franz Harary. Wow!