Magic - Unity - Might
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October 2017 Volume 107 Number 5 GEOFF GRIMES PAGE 36 MAGIC - UNITY - MIGHT Editor Michael Close Editor Emeritus David Goodsell Associate Editor W.S. Duncan Proofreader & Copy Editor Lindsay Smith Art Director Lisa Close Online Edition Coordinator Bruce Kalver Publisher Society of American Magicians, 4927 S. Oak Ct., Littleton, CO 80127 Copyright © 2015 Subscription is through membership in the Society and annual dues of $65, of which $40 is for 12 issues of M-U-M. All inquiries concerning membership, change of address, and missing or replacement issues should be addressed to: Manon Rodriguez, National Administrator 4927 S. Oak Ct. Littleton, CO 80127 [email protected] Skype: manonadmin Phone: 303-362-0575 Fax: 303-362-0424 www.mum-magazine.com To file an assembly report go to: For advertising information, reservations, and placement contact: Cinde Sanders, M-U-M Advertising Manager Email: [email protected] Telephone: 214-902-9200 Editorial contributions and correspondence concerning all content and advertising should be addressed to the editor: Michael Close - Email: [email protected] Phone: 317-456-7234 Submissions for the magazine will only be accepted by email or fax. VISIT THE S.A.M. WEB SITE www.magicsam.com To access “Members Only” pages: PASSWORD: SAM(your member #) example: SAM12345 USERNAME: your email address that we have on file for you 4 OCTOBER 2017 M-U-M OCTOBER 2017 MAGAZINE Volume 107 Number 5 Cover Story Page 36 44 S.A.M. NEWS 6 From the Editor’s Desk 8 From the President’s Desk 11 M-U-M Assembly News 23 Good Cheer List 23 New Members & Reinstatements 28 Broken Wands 69 Our Advertisers THIS MONTH’S FEATURES 58 10 The Dean’s Diary • by George Schindler 22 Backstage • by Paul Stone 2410 BasilCombined the Baffling Convention • by AlanHighlights Wassilak 30 Life is Good • by David Oliver 36 COVER STORY • by Norman Beck 42 The High Road • by Mick Ayres 44 Magical Masterpieces and More • by David Haversat 48 Cheats and Deceptions • by Antonio M. Cabral 50 No Smoke, No Mirrors • by David Corsaro 24 52 Between the Lines • by Michael Perovich 54 Mind Craft • Jim Kleefeld 58 A Brief Moment in Time • by Gary Plants 60 Informed Opinion • New Product Reviews 68 Tech Tricks • by Bruce Kalver 69 Inside Straight • by Norman Beck 48 70 Personal Magic • Eric Lewis Cover photo by David and Donna Thomason M-U-M (ISSN 00475300 USPS 323580) is published monthly for $40 per year by The Society of American Magicians, 4927 S. Oak Ct. Littleton, CO 80127. Periodical postage paid at Littleton, CO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to M-U-M, c/o Manon Rodriguez, 4927 S. Oak Ct. Littleton, CO 80127. M-U-M Magazine 5 baffling effects interspersed, no one stays awake to the end. I was pleased that there was standing-room-only for the lecture, and that nobody headed for the hills during the brief intermission. As often happens in learning encounters, it was the teacher Editor's Desk who gained the most from the experience. As I organized the material for the lecture, I discovered a way to tie together all the Photo by fivebyphotography.com Michael Close various aspects of magic theory, which made the presentation much easier to understand. You may remember seeing Dr. Geoff Grimes’s name in the The key was starting off the discussion by giving my definition cover story article on the Main Street Magic Shop in the October of “magic.” It’s important to establish this definition. If you 2015 issue of M-U-M. Doc has served as the weekend house haven’t given any thought to what your definition of magic is, you magician at Main Street Magic for almost a decade. Recently, should do so. Here is mine: “Magic is an astonishing theatrical Norman Beck (who wrote the Main Street Magic story) suggested event for which there is seemingly no logical explanation and that Doc deserved a cover story of his own; I agreed. When you for which no rationalized explanation satisfies.” This definition read Doc’s accomplishments as a teacher, a humanitarian, a vital is useful because it divides the performance of magic into its member of his community, and a magician, you’ll understand theatrical (emotional) aspect and its logical (analytic) aspect. The why it is easy to consider him to be one of magic’s greatest gifts. conflict between the brain (“What I just saw can’t be real”) and You’ll find the cover story on page 36. the heart (“But it felt as real as anything I’ve ever experienced”) As I write this column, Hurricane Irma, a hurricane of record- helps give expertly performed conjuring its poignancy. breaking intensity, is about to make landfall on the Florida Fortunately for the student, there are theoretical texts that peninsula. It comes just a few short weeks after Hurricane Harvey address each aspect (for example, theatrical/emotional: Fitzkee, devastated the area around Houston, Texas. Hurricanes Jose and Nelms; logical/analytical: Vernon, Ortiz, Ascanio). And with the Katia are waiting in the wings. There are going to be tough times introduction of that definition, the group and I were off on a three- ahead for the people who live in the affected areas. hour thrill ride that ranged from Palestrina to Daniel Kahneman. I The Disaster Relief Fund of The Society of American enjoyed this presentation, and I hope to give a refined, condensed Magicians Magic Endowment Fund needs your help. Their existing version of this lecture at other venues. funds will not be enough cover the estimated losses and needs of I’ll be hitting the road in the next few months. I’ll be in Orlando magicians and allied artists affected by the recent storm disasters. for the Genii convention at the beginning of this month, in Kansas Your contributions City for David are greatly Sandy’s Workshop appreciated. This convention in solicitation is the November, and only one presented in London in by the S.A.M. All January for the monies donated Session convention, will go directly to hosted by the Disaster Fund. Josh Jay and While they welcome Andi Gladwin. If offerings from you’re planning on assemblies and third- attending any of party givers, they these gatherings, be do not use raffles, sure to say hi. prizes, drawings, At the end of or incentives, other August I spent five than your generous days in Las Vegas and compassionate working with Penn, desire to help Teller, and Johnny bring some relief Penn, Close, Thompson, and Teller in the Monkey Room. Thompson on new to those in need of material for the assistance. P&T show. When The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund I lived in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to work with those encourages direct donations earmarked for “Disaster Relief.” three gentlemen on a regular basis; lookingnback, those were Mail checks to: S A M. Magic Endowment Fund, 18 Stoney some of the most enjoyable and professionally satisfying times Creek Road, Hilton Head, SC 29928. You can also contribute of my life. There are few things more astonishing than seeing online via www.paypal.com to SAMadminstrator@magicsam. the transformation of an idea as its makes it way around a circle com (message DISASTER). of four friends and colleagues. Above is a photo taken in the At the beginning of August, I was asked by Jeff Pinskey, owner Monkey Room backstage at the Penn & Teller theater in the Rio of the Browser’s Den of Magic in Toronto, to present a lecture on Hotel & Casino. magic theory. At first, I was hesitant; magic theory lectures are an iffy proposition. If not carefully planned, with a few relevant, 6 OCTOBER 2017 Magic for Special Needs: For many years PNP Harry Monti and his wife Trudy championed the Magic for Special Education program within the Society. I believe this program needs to be a priority within the S.A.M. I would like to move forward to enable our compeers to perform for and teach magic to special-needs educators. These educators will in turn teach their students. Per- President's forming magic will build both dexterity and self-esteem in the special-needs students; it can also help them with inclusion in the Desk main student body. But to do this we need to develop a program that has the support Dick Bowman of educators in the field who work with special-needs children. To do that we must have an educationally based agenda that can be provided to magicians so they can work with the schools in their THANK YOU, THANK YOU, area. We are looking for special-needs professionals at the ad- THANK YOU! ministrative level (college professor, school administrators, etc.) within the S.A.M. (or who have an interest in magic or support Hurricane Harvey: Our thoughts and prayers go out to all making this program a success) who would like to help work on those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Many have lost everything, this initiative. If you have these credentials and are willing to help, some have lost something, and all affected by the wrath of Mother please contact me. Mitch Geier will be heading up the develop- Nature will take time to recover. One can never fully overcome ment. I solicit other magicians who want to assist to please let me this kind of devastation, but must be resilient and try to move know. We will start by building a program and getting the support forward. from leaders in the field.