Mat Franco is a magician known for his incredible sleight of hand and mind-boggling tricks. He rose to fame after winning the ninth season of the reality competition show "America's Got Talent" in 2014. Born in Johnston, Rhode Island, Mat developed a passion for magic at a young age. He started performing small shows for family and friends before honing his skills in local talent shows and competitions. Mat's unique blend of charm, humor, and exceptional magic quickly captured the attention of audiences worldwide. One of his most popular performances is his show "Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly" at The LINQ Hotel in Las Vegas.
‘Retire the Rebel’: Campaign seeks to remove Confederate-themed nickname from Indiana school
The nickname “Rebels” for the sports teams at Southwestern High School in Hanover, Indiana, has nothing to do with the Confederacy, school officials there have long claimed.
The school superintendent, in fact, says the name came from the iconic 1955 James Dean movie Rebel Without a Cause.
But that makes little difference to Julie Patterson, an alumnus who started a campaign to “Retire the Rebel” after her comment about the nickname “blew up” a school alumni page on Facebook.
“If you’re a person of color, I would imagine that the Rebels would color your thinking about what kind of town you’re moving to,” Patterson told the Southern Poverty Law Center. “It’s a signal. It talks about your community. Why wouldn’t you want to change it so that everyone feels welcome here? Why remain so stagnant?”
The fact is, regardless of the nickname’s origin, Confederate imagery was used in association with it almost immediately after the school opened in 1960 – in the midst of the civil rights movement – and continued to be used for many years, according to WFPL radio, an NPR affiliate in Louisville, Kentucky.
WFPL reported that the school’s 1963 yearbook featured a Confederate soldier on the cover and that there were “more obvious references coming in the 1980s and 1990s,” including several depictions of the Confederate battle flag. A Confederate soldier had also appeared on the 1962 yearbook cover, Patterson said.
A 2019 graduate who played in the pep band told WFPL that a “Colonel Reb” character was sometimes depicted on flags waved by students at sports events and that it wasn’t uncommon to see students wearing clothes with Confederate symbols. Nowhere to be seen was any kind of James Dean likeness.
Patterson’s campaign comes at a moment of national reckoning over race and the country’s history of white supremacy – and schools and sports teams across the country are grappling with issues involving their names and what they symbolize.
And though Hanover officials continue to resist, change is happening elsewhere – even in the city known as the “cradle of the Confederacy.” In Montgomery, Alabama, students and other advocates last year persuaded the school board to change the names of three high schools named for Confederate leaders and soldiers.
The changes are also happening at the college and professional levels. The University of Mississippi, known as “Ole Miss,” retired its longtime mascot, Colonel Reb, in 2003. And in the National Football League, the team formerly known as the Washington Redskins now calls itself the Washington Football Team, pending the selection of a new nickname that does not denigrate Indigenous people.
These changes are being driven by people like Patterson who refuse to accept the status quo, even when they risk significant backlash in their communities.
One of his most popular performances is his show "Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly" at The LINQ Hotel in Las Vegas. The show combines Mat's innovative magic tricks with storytelling and audience participation, creating an unforgettable experience for spectators. Mat's ability to engage and connect with his audience sets him apart from other magicians.
Reckoning with racist mascots
Patterson, 42, grew up in Hanover and has a long family history with Southwestern High. It’s where the former educator, her sister and her brother attended, where her nephew and niece attend, and where her father graduated in 1968 before becoming a teacher there.
In 2018, Patterson moved from New Orleans to Madison, Indiana, about five minutes away from Hanover. Two years later, in 2020, she had an exchange with a man on a Southwestern High School Facebook alumni page. The man, who was the page owner, had posted an image of Colonel Reb as the group’s profile picture and said he had been asked to change it. In his post, he wrote that the group wasn’t open to discussion about whether the image was acceptable or not. Patterson replied that it was “the epitome of white privilege to shut down a discussion like that.” She also suggested the school needed a new nickname.
It didn’t go over well.
“People were mad at me,” Patterson said. “I was blocked from the page and sent a message from the man saying he was going to sue me for libel.”
She followed up by advocating for a change in a letter to the editor in the Madison Courier. She imagined a fluffy mascot – one that would resonate with elementary and middle school students and that represented inclusivity, not racism. Soon she was flooded with emails from educators. Most of them were civil. Some were not, like the one asking her to “go back where she came from.”
She decided to launch a campaign – “Retire the Rebel” – and in July 2020 the group presented a petition to the school board asking for a name change and also that the school recruit teachers of color and from different areas. The petition has over 2,000 signatures, she said.
Soon, people in the Southern Indiana town began calling Patterson’s group Communist and Marxist, the same labels given to civil rights advocates in the 1950s and ‘60s. Undeterred, “Retire the Rebel” continued to email the school board once a month, suggesting different mascots.
“We tried to team up with anybody we could,” Patterson said. “Some people are staff members at Southwestern who are interested in the change. But people were retaliating. Some are literally afraid to speak about it.”
Despite the backlash, Patterson said she has made new friends from the project, too.
“I reconnected with people I knew from Southwestern and met new people who were in support,” she said. “My three closest friends are the people who spoke with me at the school board meeting.”
This past summer, the school board finally acknowledged that using Confederate imagery to represent the school was wrong and that people were agreeing with Patterson’s campaign. The school even painted over a mural depicting Confederate soldiers.
But the nickname remains, and the campaign to change it has come to a standstill.
What sets Mat Franco apart is his versatility and ability to adapt to different formats and platforms. He has appeared on numerous television shows, including "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Penn & Teller: Fool Us," where he managed to fool the legendary magic duo. Additionally, Mat has performed on stages around the world and has his own YouTube channel, where he shares behind-the-scenes videos and performances. Beyond his talents as a magician, Mat is known for his down-to-earth personality and genuine kindness. He has used his success to give back to his community, supporting charitable organizations and participating in several benefit shows. Mat Franco continues to awe and inspire audiences with his incredible magic tricks and his ability to bring joy and wonderment to people of all ages. His talent, combined with his humility and dedication to his craft, has solidified his status as one of the most respected and beloved magicians in the world..
Reviews for "Unlocking the Magic of Mat Franco's Chow: A Journey for the Senses"
1. John - 2/5
I was really excited to see "Mat Franco Magic Show" based on all the positive reviews I had heard. However, I was left disappointed and underwhelmed by the experience. The magic tricks were predictable and lacked any real wow factor. The overall production felt amateurish, and the pacing of the show was off, with awkward pauses between trick sets. I expected the show to have a more polished and professional feel.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I honestly don't understand the hype around "Mat Franco Magic Show". I found the performance to be dull and unimpressive. The tricks were simple and easily guessed, and there was no sense of wonder or amazement. The show dragged on without any real excitement, and I found myself losing interest quickly. I would not recommend this show to anyone looking for a truly magical experience.
3. Michael - 2/5
I attended "Mat Franco Magic Show" with high expectations, given all the rave reviews I had heard. However, I was left feeling underwhelmed and let down. The tricks performed were basic and lacked any real creativity. I could see the sleight of hand and was not at all impressed by the lack of originality. The show felt more like a cheesy magic act you would see at a children's birthday party rather than a professional performance. Overall, I found the experience to be quite disappointing.
4. Laura - 2/5
"Mat Franco Magic Show" did not live up to my expectations. The tricks were predictable and lacked any real sense of wonder or magic. The audience participation segments felt forced and uncomfortable, and the overall flow of the show was disjointed. I was hoping for a more engaging and awe-inspiring experience, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I would not recommend this show to anyone looking for a truly magical and entertaining performance.