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December 2019 Oakland Magic Circle Newsletter Official Website: www.OaklandMagicCircle.com Bjornson Hall, 2258 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94602 . David, a member of the OMC, has been collecting commercial practical jokes for decades and has DECEMBER MEETING-Tuesday, December 3 what is likely one of the most extensive collections 6:00pm- Doors Open- Come early to share ideas, in the country with items going back to the early effects and news informally. Free back issues of 1900s. Linking Ring magazine. Complimentary cookies, coffee and tea. And David’s Corner (see below) 7:00- Business meeting, Confirmation of 2020 Officers and Good of the Order News and Announcements 7:30ish: Break and more David’s Corner 8:00- Open Performance- with a Holiday Theme DAVID'S CORNER: DRIBBLE GLASSES, JOY BUZZERS AND X-RAY SPECS David Liotta will bring a sampling of vintage collectible novelty and joke items from his extensive collection to the December 3 Oakland Magic Circle meeting. Selections from his collection will be on display before the meeting and during the break with David explaining their history and function. There will be things you haven't seen in years or maybe you never knew existed. Stuff you remember from comic book ads. Novelties you walked past-- the bread and butter for most small magic shops – to get to the magic counter at stores when you were a kid. This collection will surely offer surprises, make you laugh out loud and send you home with ideas and Oakland Magic Circle December 2019 Newsletter 1 an appreciation for the kind of humor many of us grew up loving and even incorporating into our act and sometimes our daily life. But don't miss David's collection on December 3. And he has promised to bring more in 2020. No doubt more than a few of us got in trouble for laying down a Whoops!, putting insect embedded ice cubes into our parents' friends’ drinks, carefully sliding a Whoopie Cushion under a classmate at school or offering a Peanut Brittle can filled with spring snakes. It isn't too late for you to pull practical jokes. These gag items are still big sellers. Here are 20 funny ideas you can do. Some new gags for sale. And OPEN STAGE FOR DECEMBER AT Archie McPhee's creates and sells the old and the OMC new. A visit to their Seattle store includes a Rubber Our October meeting was a great success with Chicken Museum. Sign up to get their printed many members and friends showing favorite catalog for some nostalgia from the days when the routines and effects, often with a Halloween theme. new Johnson Smith Catalog was the best thing the mailman could bring. And they are still in business For December we ask that you come with with their online catalog. something to perform, possibly featuring a holiday season theme. The Oakland Magic Circle December 2019 Newsletter 2 have missed any. The value of the items is as much as the bargain-priced dues of only $20 for the entire year. Nominations for 2020 OMC officers were accepted with the following nominated: President – Robert Herrick Vice President – Mark Tarses Secretary – Byron Walker Treasurer – Marc McGuire Sergeant at Arms – Donovan Rittenbach Librarian – John Owens Historian – Scott Poole Member at Large – Mark Richardson Member at Large – Gary Meyer Nominations were then closed with only one person per office nominated. The business meeting adjourned to make way for Apparatus Night! But it does not need to be limited to the holidays. This is a perfect opportunity to try something out for Apparatus Night at the OMC! a real audience and if you want feedback, ask for it. Ten magicians presented from on e to nearly a Or show us one of your favorite effects. dozen magic effects utilizing apparatus. Byron DUES ARE DUE Walker opened with The Mueller Report. He then pointed out that this is just an updated version of December is the perfect time to pay your 2020 one of the oldest tricks in magic, appearing in the membership dues. It should be easy to remember first book in the English language to divulge magic as the cost is a low $20. You can bring a check or – The Discoverie of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot, cash to the meeting on Dec. 3 where outgoing published in England in 1584. Then came David Treasurer Robert Herrick will gladly accept your Liotta with his collection of about a dozen effects renewal which has many benefits including use of with clocks and watches. our fantastic library of books and videos, free lectures, teach-ins, prop giveaways and 11 meetings of magic, friendship and cookies. No wonder we have over 70 members. Or send a check made out to “Oakland Magic Circle” for $20 to Robert Herrick, 1095 Amito Dr, Berkeley, CA 94705 Potential new members can apply to join at any OMC meeting. Here is an optical illusion with your $20 bill. Secretary’s Report of Nov. 5 and Oct.1 2019 Meetings by Byron Walker November 5: Among the effects were Watch to Silk, the Hook The meeting was called to order by President Mark Watch, the Sandwich Watch, Smashed and Tarses at 7:30 PM. Second readings for Restored Watch, Abbott’s Vanishing Alarm Clock (3 membership were given for Steve Goldstein, versions), a Die Box effect only utilizing a clock, a Caroline McKeown and Joe Litvinchuk. All three Production Clock and the P & L Vanishing Clock. were voted unanimously into OMC membership. Then followed John Owens with a Robert-Houdin Mark Tarses discussed the magic items given to Coin Casket from the 1850s with an interesting OMC members during 2019 and offered the provenance. John routined this nicely with another remaining items to dues current members who may antique piece - a Drawer Box hallmarked Wilkinson, The Oakland Magic Circle December 2019 Newsletter 3 believed to be of British manufacture in the 1890s. Robert Herrick, being so fond of mentalism, October 1: performed a mind reading effect utilizing an antique The meeting was called to order by President Mark divination casket. Mark Tarses then showed us an Tarses. The first reading for membership was Inexhaustible sponge effect invented by Gaetan given for Steven Goldstein, followed by the second Bloom. Mark continued this between performers reading for Sam Downing. Sam was voted and at the end of the show tipped the working, unanimously into membership of the Oakland which was probably even more clever than the Magic Circle – welcome Sam! Mark Richardson effect! Scott Poole then performed one of his discussed the Share the Magic public show choice micro magic effects, the Hydro Die. sponsored by S.A.M. Assembly 112 of Concord. This being the Halloween season, the OMC cinema authority, Gary Meyer, discussed his affection for the midnight spook shows so popular years ago. He displayed several books devoted to the subject and discussed OMC member Arthur Bull, who performed spookers on the west coast as Francisco. Examples of Francisco’s fantastic advertising, as well as books on bizarre and spooky magic were on display at a side table. Mark Tarses mentioned that he had recently attended a performance of Jay Alexander at his Marrakech Theater in San Francisco and was quite impressed. Magic inventor Joe Litvinchuk brought along a big Mark also announced that nominations for OMC bag of snacks but to our surprise the bottle of officers will be taken at the November meeting, with orange juice completely disappeared. Donovan the officer election to follow in December. Mark Rittenbach followed with Theo Bamberg’s most then distributed a nice set of Multiplying Golf Balls famous invention – a routine with his Okito Box. to all paid-up OMC members. A few of the Mike Della Penna then showed us a collection of previous gifts such as Lasso Card, a Svengali Deck effects that crossed between a Die Box and Run and a close-up pad were offered to members not Rabbit Run, using a rabbit or smiley faced moon. previously receiving them. As we say, “it doesn’t Mike closed with the great five spring snake effect. cost to belong to the Oakland Magic Circle, it pays”. Germar, who promises to attend meetings more regularly in the future, showed us the very clingy balls he uses and performed his Multiplying Ball Routine. Halloween Show at the OMC. BOO! Being the Halloween season our performers responded by displaying their finest spooky and scary routines. Germar led off with his very appropriate Disjointed Skeleton routine. Bill Austen followed with a Rapping Hand to answer questions, and then to be just a little more bizarre, a Rapping Our tenth and final performer was visitor but friend Skeleton Hand. Scott Poole brought Harry Houdini of the OMC – Phil Ackerly. Phil opened with a (who as all magicians know died on Halloween) clever Abbott’s Block Penetration. Next he and Bess back from the beyond for a divination performed a fine effect he purchased from local routine. Mike Della Penna displayed his terrific magician and magic builder, Paul Burleson, called Halloween backdrop and discussed its features. Hole in One. Phil closed with a dramatic and He also told the story of Matilda and the Telekinetic patriotic finale he developed. Timber. Gary Meyer, wearing his bold Scream Videos of the apparatus necktie, told about the haunted barn where he screened movies as a teenager, while showing presentations can be watched here. mysteriously alive objects recovered on a recent The Oakland Magic Circle December 2019 Newsletter 4 return visit. He then recounted his recent stay at the has explored nearly every branch of the Mystery Norwegian Hotel Union Øye where Sir Arthur Conan Arts and has gained a reputation for being one of Doyle often stayed and told the story of a ghost who magic’s most vocal defenders and critics.