JANUARY 2015

CONDE ROPHERMAN PAGE 36 2 JANUARY 2015

MAGIC - UNITY - MIGHT Editor Michael Close Editor Emeritus David Goodsell Associate Editor W.S. Duncan Proofreader & Copy Editor Lindsay Smith Art Director Lisa Close Publisher Society of American Magicians, 18915 East Briargate Lane, #1F Parker, CO 80134 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 P.O. Box 505, Parker, CO 80134 manon@.bz Skype: manonadmin Phone: 303-362-0575 Fax: 303-362-0424

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4 JANUARY 2015 M-U-M JANUARY 2015 MAGAZINE Volume 104 • Number 8

S.A.M. NEWS 6 From the Editor’s Desk 24 8 From the President’s Desk 11 M-U-M Assembly News 23 Good Cheer List 28 New Members and Reinstatements Cover Story Page 36 54 Newsworthy 69 Our Advertisers

THIS MONTH’S FEATURES 10 The Dean’s Diary • by

24 Nielsen Gallery • by Tom Ewing 2610 BasilNot Just the Kid Baffling Stuff • by AlanJim Kleefeld Wassilak 30 Ebook Nook: The Book of Magic 36 COVER STORY • by Mac Lupén 50 40 Cheats and Deceptions • by Antonio M. Cabral 42 Top of the Magic Summit • by David Goodsell 46 Convention Spotlight: Woody Aragón 48 I Left My Cards at Home • by Steve Marshall 50 Ten Questions • by Scott Alexander 70 52 Chautauqua Conjurors • by David Haversat 56 The High Road • by Mick Ayres 58 Working in the Real World • by Christian Painter 60 Informed Opinion • New Product Reviews 68 Tech Tricks • by Bruce Kalver 69 Inside Straight • by Norman Beck 70 Fast and Loose • by

M-U-M (ISSN 00475300 USPS 323580) is published monthly for $40 per year by The Society of American Magicians, 6838 N. Alpine Dr., Parker, CO 80134 . Periodical postage paid at Parker, CO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to M-U-M, c/o Manon Rodriguez, P.O. Box 505, Parker, CO 80134.

M-U-M Magazine 5 here in the magazine, you’ll be able to find additional graphics at www.magicsam.com. (Speaking of online content, you can also find a video of Tony Cabral performing his Pub Shuffle – from his column this month – on the S.A.M. website. This shuffle looks great, but it’s easier to understand if you can see how it looks. Just remember that Tony is left-handed; if you’re right-handed, when you watch the video, Editor's Desk imagine you’re looking into a mirror.)

Photo by fivebyphotography.com Michael Close The Ebook Nook continues for its third year. I want to thank L&L Publishing for allowing M-U-M to excerpt content from their I met Dr. Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Fernandez at the combined line of ebooks for the past two years. This year we’ll be looking I.B.M./S.A.M. convention in St. Louis last summer. Dr. Rodríguez at ebooks from lybrary.com, including some classic texts that you is a life member of The Society of American Magicians and also should have in your library. My thanks to Chris Wasshuber for serves as the international deputy for . He has had a long and allowing these excerpts to appear. successful career as a psychiatrist and has published several books Finally, we’re resuming a column that appeared a few years in that field. But along with his medical career, Dr. Rodríguez has ago, the Convention Spotlight. In this also established himself as one of the premiere comedy magicians column, we’ll feature some of the per- in Spain. For fifty years his alter ego, “Conde Ropherman,” has formers who will be attending the Phil- performed in cabarets, theaters, and other venues throughout adelphia convention. This month, we Spain. showcase the magic of Woody Aragón. At the convention, it was suggested to me that Dr. Rodríguez He offers a simple card trick that will would make a good cover story subject, especially since few puzzle anyone, magician or layman. compeers know of the members who represent the society in To wrap things up, there was an countries outside the . I heartily agreed; you’ll find error in the Assembly Reports last the story on page 36. month: a photo was inadvertently dupli- With the start of a new year, it’s time to introduce some new cated. This was corrected in the online columns in M-U-M. I’m delighted to welcome our new writers and edition, but I also wanted to print the to say welcome back to some old friends. photo here. This is Victor La’Yon of First off, I’m very happy that the great Harry Anderson has Assembly 38.  Victor La'Yon returned to M-U-M. Harry’s column, Fast and Loose, was one of my favorites under John Moehring’s editorship. Harry’s unique take on the world of magic and magicians, combined with material Statement of Ownership — Publication #0323-5800 from Jon Racherbaumer, should provide you with stimulating Title: M-U-M. Issues published annually: 12. reading throughout the year. Welcome back, Harry and Jon. Annual subscription: $40. Extent and nature of circulation: The Christian Painter, whose Mental Breakdown column was a membership of Society of American Magicians. Owned and favorite with M-U-M readers, is back with a new column focusing published by Society of American Magicians, National Adminis- on the challenges of performing magic as a living. Those of you trator Manon Rodriguez, 18915 East Briargate Lane, #1F Parker, who are thinking of taking the plunge into the world of full-time CO 80134. Editor Michael Close, 18915 East Briargate Lane, #1F magician will want to study Christian’s column. His observations Parker, CO 80134 may well save you a lot of time, effort, and heartache. Future columns will cover such topics as finding a magic mentor, finding Avg. copies No. a business mentor, working the college market, working the trade Issue Date for each issue copies show market, putting together a professional show, marketing and circulation data: during published magic, and much more. October 2015 preceding nearest to If you’ve ever considered making a living from magic, it’s 12 months filing date probably because you seen and admired the performance of someone who is a successful magician. Have you ever wondered Net press run 3418 3325 what inspired them or what advice they might have for up-and- Mailed outside-county paid 3058 3027 coming magicians? You’ll find out in Scott Alexander’s new subscriptions column, Ten Questions. Scott will be presenting his questions Mailed in-county paid subs per 0 0 to some of top pros working today. This month is PS Form 3541 Paid distribution outside Mails 193 174 featured. The terrific caricature that accompanies the article is by through carriers James Carroll. Paid distribution through other 4 4 During the three decades from 1900 to 1930, some wonderful classes USPS magicians performed on the summer Chautauqua circuits or Total paid distribution 3250 3197 the Lyceum stage circuit. David Haversat is a past president of Total free or Nominal Rate 0 0 the New England Magic Collectors Association, was co-owner distribution of the S.S. Adams Novelty Company, and currently owns the Copies not distributed 168 128 Petrie & Lewis line of magic. He has published historical books Total distribution 3418 3325 on magicians through his company 1878 Press. Every month in Percentage paid 100% 100% his new column, Chautauqua Conjurers and Lyceum Legerde- USPS Form 3526 Filed 11/21/14 main, David will present one of the performers from this great era of variety entertainment. In addition to the images presented

6 JANUARY 2015

THE PRESIDENT’S GOOD WILL PERFORMER OF THE MONTH This month's Good Will Performer goes out to every member who donated money to Jason’s Memorial Observation Park Bench. This past year, one of our S.A.M. families, PNP Mark and President's Desk Anne Weidhaas, lost their son Jason. the S.A.M. wanted to do Kenrick "ICE" McDonald something special for our family members, so, S.A.M. RED: Many of you have heard me use the term without hesitation, “S.A.M. RED.” Each time I said it, I referred to the passion of members sent being an S.A.M. member and of being not just an organization, money and but a family. These past six months I have witnessed The Society donated their time of American Magicians stepping up to help and care for one to this memorial another like no other time in my memory. We are family, and park bench, family sticks together, family takes care of their own. located in one We are in the middle of the gravesite restoration project of PNP of Jason’s favorite places, a park in . The Society . We have helped, and are still helping, numerous of American Magicians has a plaque on the bench. It reads: members get through tragedies. I and a few other magicians, “JASON WOJTKOWIAK ‘My favorite sound in the world is including and International Brotherhood of Colorado.’ Listen in comfort. From Jason’s Friends of the Society Magicians International President Shawn Farquhar, gathered of American Magicians.” together for a benefit show for our S.A.M. brother, Tevell Rose, who is in need of a kidney transplant. The campaign is titled THE PRESIDENT’S YOUNG MAGICAL ARTIST “Magic to Make Tevell Well.” I ask that we, as a family, donate OF THE MONTH: ALEXANDER BOYCE to this cause. The Society of American Magicians has wonderful treasures; Alexander Boyce’s one of them is the S.A.M. Magic Center. I am asking that performances have been called members donate $5, $10, $20 to the Magic Center. The Magic “classy,” “fun,” and “astounding.” Center operates mostly on donations. At only eighteen, his performances are in demand at performing I AM S.A.M. NEXT: Recently, I had the opportunity to travel arts centers, banquets, colleges, and visit a few colleges and universities. I spoke to college magic corporations, and everywhere clubs and youth leaders. I also have consulted with young adults in between. He has worked who are S.A.M. members and perform professionally. I asked his magic for top theaters and them about the future of magic and the future of the Society. The conferences all over the east coast answers that I received were astounding, yet I had a hunch that I including , Manhattan, would receive the answer that was given. Norfolk, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Everyone knows of my concern in regards to connecting with and Washington D.C. Alexander the younger generation. I have been expressing those concerns hails from Endicott, ; he now lives in Manhattan. He ever since becoming a Regional Vice President. Well, based on is currently a freshman at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, observation, consultation, and (frankly) a dose of reality, I have where he studies acting. started a new committee that will address our current issues Alexander uses his experience in over fifty live theatre regarding the next generation of Society members. The title of plays and musicals to enhance the magic he performs. He uses this committee is “I AM SAM NEXT,” a young adult advisory his work as a theatrical set builder and painter to create special committee (with members eighteen to thirty years old) headed custom magical effects. Highly trained in acting, dancing, by Kayla Drescher and her team of young adults. This team will juggling, voice, and improvisation, these extra skills shine in his report directly to the president. As I spoke to (and listened to) performance, separating him from other performers. the young adults, one of the issues that was discussed was, At Tannen’s Magic Camp and the Magicians Alliance of what is the benefit of belonging to S.A.M. and what does the Eastern States Annual Convention, Alexander has won various S.A.M. offer the younger generation? We as a society have to awards. In 2013, Alexander was honored to be part of the go where the young adults live: the Internet and social media S.A.M.’s Stars of Tomorrow show in Arlington, Virginia, where (Twitter, Instagram, etc.). With this new team, we will go there; we he presented his unique ‘60s Rat Pack version of a traditional will also develop new benefits and new attractions that will serve dove act. His major influences in magic are David Oliver, the younger members of the Society and attract new members. Kostya Kimlat, Michael Carbonaro, , Garrett What makes this attempt to reach the younger generation Thomas, and Vito Lupo. David Oliver says, “Alexander is one different than before? The difference is that I have received of those few performers I’ve mentored who is a well-rounded commitments from the next three presidents to continue this student of magic; he definitely has the ‘IT’ factor.” Known for committee, giving it the opportunity to work. his work ethic, he plans on pursuing a career in the arts and entertainment. 

8 JANUARY 2015 S.A.M. National Officers

Dean: George Schindler, 1735 East 26th St., Brooklyn, NY 11229, (718) 336-0605, Fax (718) 627-1397, [email protected] President: Kenrick “ICE” McDonald, P.O. Box 341034, , CA 90034, (310) 559-8968, [email protected] President Elect: David Bowers, (717) 414-7574, [email protected] First Vice President: Jeffrey Sikora, (402) 339- 6726 [email protected] Second Vice President: Richard Bowman, 719- 527-0678, [email protected] Secretary: Marlene Clark, 274 Church Street, #6B, Guilford, CT 06437, (203) 689-5730, Skype: marlene.clark, [email protected] Treasurer: Eric Lampert, (215) 939-5555, [email protected]

Regional Vice Presidents

New England: CT MA RI NH ME VT Thomas D. Gentile, 413-533-7653, [email protected] North Atlantic: NY NJ Eric DeCamps, (718) 896-5861, [email protected] Mid Atlantic: PA DE MD VAWV DC Arlen Z. Solomon, 215-443-7908, [email protected] South Atlantic: FL AL GA MS NC SC James M. Driscoll, 770-603-9266, [email protected] Central Plains: KY TN OH IN MI Steven A. Spence, (317) 722-0429 [email protected] Midwest: IL MN WI MO ND NE KS SD IA Shaun Rivera, (618) 781-8621 [email protected] South Central States: TX AR OK NM LA Michael Tallon, (210) 341-6959 [email protected] Southwest: CA AZ NV HI Ron Ishimaru, (808) 428-6019, [email protected] Northwest: WA OR UT ID CO AK WY MT James Russell, (360) 682-6648 [email protected] Canada: Lon F. Mandrake, 604-591-5839, [email protected] Society of Young Magicians Director: Jann Wherry Goodsell, 329 West 1750 North, Orem, Utah 84057 (801) 376-0353. [email protected]

Living Past National Presidents

Bradley M. Jacobs, Richard L. Gustafson, Roy A. Snyder, Bruce W. Fletcher, James E. Zachary, David R. Goodsell, Fr. Cyprian Murray, Michael D. Douglass, George Schindler, Dan Rodriguez, Dan Garrett, Donald F. Oltz Jr., Craig Dickson, Loren C. Lind, Gary D. Hughes, Harry Monti, Jann Wherry Goodsell, Warren J. Kaps, Ed Thomas, Jay Gorham, John Apperson, Richard M. Dooley, Andy Dallas, Maria Ibáñez, Bruce Kalver, Mike Miller, Mark Weidhaas, Vinny Grosso, J. Christopher Bontjes, Dal Sanders

M-U-M Magazine 9 The Dean's Diary By George Schindler

featuring the IMPS (S.A.M.-mentored young performers – this was before the S.Y.M.). There were holiday shows, and Halloween and April Fool’s Day events. We always had fun at the Exchange Nights (other assemblies performed for us and we did likewise for them). We usually scheduled at least three members-only lectures. At other times the after-meeting events were open and A GREAT FRIDAY IN 1968 guests were allowed in. Way back when, there were no Notebooks, iPhones, pods, The season’s opening meeting usually had a paid professional pads, or texting; people actually talked to one another face to face show. For the rest of the year the performers were member vol- and magic happened at the magic clubs without YouTube. In New unteers. Wives, family members, and others waited outside the York, Fridays were magic days. One Friday, in January of 1968, I meeting room while the official meeting was held; they had waited outside of a magic meeting room until summoned by the a chance to meet one another and socialize. Many long-lasting admissions committee for an interview. I was asked to perform, friendships were born during those waiting times. The second after which five well-known magicians did the interview and asked vice president had the task of arranging and booking the annual a few questions. The regular meeting followed, during which time banquet. It was great training for his next term, when as first the committee made its recommendations. The chairman invited vice president he would produce the annual show (later renamed me to attend the official meeting where the membership had the Salute to Magic). Our volunteer entertainment committee already voted and accepted me as a member. I was duly sworn in performed for charity groups and publicly took their bows during and was presented with a membership pin, a copy of the bylaws, Magic Week. and a wand. The entire body stood up and in unison chanted, “We We met informally on weekdays in the city for lunch at the all bear witness to his oath.” It was very moving, and from that Magic Table. During the week, except for Wednesday matinee day forward my life with magic changed. days, the various restaurants allowed us to hang out after dining. There was a meeting on the first Friday of each month, and Visiting magicians and guests were always welcome. Over on every third Friday there was an informal get-together called the years we have had a variety of meeting places in hotels, at the Open House – no formal business, just members doing magic a church, and the YMCA. Costs have gone up, and we are now for one another. This workshop format also held auctions, had an lucky to have a member at Mt. Sinai Hospital who arranged free occasional lecture, and provided loads of laughs and fun. For a meeting space. We still pay for the storage of our archives and few years prior to my membership, I had been working in show administrative fees for phone, bank, accounting, etc. business, very rarely meeting or associating with other magicians. The assembly experience is a great benefit of our membership I met comics, singers, and dancers, but not other magicians. I and I encourage you to seek out the one closest to your home and looked forward to the local Spellbinder newsletter and the M-U-M plan a visit. The bottom of our website has an Assembly Locator. magazine. The annual conventions were the high spots of each I realize that there may be some readers who are too far away, so year. I recommend you find other magicians in your area and consider When we arrived at our meeting, we signed in and got name meeting with them and forming a local group. Your RVP may be badges to identify us. The monthly after-meeting events were able to help with this. fun. After the short business meetings, the producers (a different Working together in harmony, our assemblies fulfill the member each time) would set up special themes, such as a New needs of both professional and part-time performers and Members night, Old Timers night, Honor nights, Close-up amateur hobbyists, who look to promote the art of magic while evenings, Cabaret shows, Roasts, Auctions, or a Kids’ night having fun. 

10 JANUARY 2015 ASSEMBLY NEWS JANUARY 2015 Volume 104, Number 8 Society of American Magicians Monthly News

GO TO: WWW.MUM-MAGAZINE.COM and use the easy submission form to file your report

psychology, and history. His performed a quick two-color, 3 website is www.misterdanny.com. two-card match. Jarod Raitsky REDISCOVERING AL LEECH —John Sturk did a weird torn corner effect, a Assembly 3 meets at the Pilgrim Jay Sankey freebie just released , IL— Our October Congregational Church, 460 that day (Insane Torn Corner). Meeting brought a new-but-old Lake St, Oak Park IL. Contact Kenny Caplan, our answer to topic to the assembly’s attention. John Sturk at sam3chicago@ Henny Youngman, had a deck Al Leech, author of dozens of gmail.com (773) 633-9219. www. shuffled, thanked the spec for booklets for Magic Inc., recently magicalchicago.com for more shuffling, then pocketed the deck had his work compiled into a details. to do a cut and restored string, single volume, published by Magic the restoration taking place in his Inc., and edited by young Danny mouth. For some reason no one Rudnick. 6 wanted to examine the restored Danny, a science teacher by day, FASTER THAN A SPEEDING string. Joe Bruno performed and performing tackled the multi-year project BULLET taught (using a corner short card) a rope trick with club of compiling Leech’s work on ’ Impossible! Jeff President Jerry Golmanavich cards, close-up, and psychology , MD— Our Eline borrowed a dollar bill, folded with gusto. He presented an November meeting zipped through it, and then had a spec shuffle effects. He started with a abbreviated version of his lecture business in under a minute and then three piles of cards face up into Flipstick routine full of surprises at Magic Inc.’s 50th Anniversary immediately on to magic. Guest face down, Triumph style. The and stressed that the way to Celebration this past summer, but Art Pekarsky kicked things off face-up cards turned out to exactly make an effect look faster was by tonight was his first opportunity to with a spectator’s selected card match the bill’s serial number, and moving slower and using “off” present his full lecture. found trapped between two there was a further kicker in the timing. Shoot presented a series A few of our more mature Jokers. A three-phase routine, card box. Les Albert came back of Matrix effects throughout the members had actually gotten each phase more mysterious than to close the show with an Invisible evening and ended on a Reverse the opportunity to meet Al the last (Dan Harlan’s R & B Deck effect utilizing his Himber Matrix that caught us all off guard. Leech, who passed away in 1974. Special). Dennis Hasson did a fine wallet. —Eric Hoffman He sparked interest with a Rudnick gave us an outstanding Coins Across, followed by some The Kellar/Thurston Assembly key-card routine that overview into Leech’s thinking on Okito box moves. 6 meets every first Thursday at can be used with any deck of and close-up magic. Guest Les Albert performed his 8:00 pm at the Magic Warehouse, cards and the presentation of an three-coin Copper Silver Brass and 11419 Cronridge Drive suite #10 Eight-card Brainwave trick with a his McDonald’s Aces in which the in Owings Mills, . 410- surprise ending. His rope routine Aces disappear altogether. Guest 561-0777. Contact Andy was not only astounding, but Dr. Ken Carle did a two-coin London [email protected] allowed him to re-introduce us to Copper/Silver followed by some www.baltimoresam.com for more the feeling of magic that so many more . Joe Harsanyi, details. of us have forgotten. whose background is electrical He explained how to take a classic engineering, had three coins 7 Three Card Monte (flap variation) jumping from hand to hand “at the SHOOT OGAWA LECTURE and create a version that produces speed of light.” Justin Simpson the same effect, but leaves you mystified us with three little green OMAHA, NE— Our meeting completely clean. Enhancements balls, ending with them changing started with the election of new to the French Drop, thimbles, to a big yellow ball. Astronomer officers into our club. Election more card tricks – this night just Mark Wolfire (“nobody ever results are as followed: President couldn’t get any better. But Shoot believes an astronomer”) did a fine - Jerry Golmanavich, Vice did make it better by his artistic torn corner effect. President - Larry Brodahl, performance of the Chinese Author Danny Rudnick After touting the book Fooling Secretary - Tom Neddo, Treasurer Linking Rings. He explained and his new book, “The Houdini, Eric Hoffman had a - Walter Graham, Sergeant at what to look for in a good set of Complete Al Leech” spec merely name a card and the Arms - Bob Gehringer. We then linking rings and reviewed three entire rest of the deck turned blank inducted the following for lifetime principles that he has learned over In addition to his research on (Dean Dill’s Blizzard). Andy membership: Ann Rourke, Ron the past twenty-four years of his Al Leech, Danny presented a London performed and taught Gerard, Bob Pitlor, and Letha experience with this effect. Shoots few of his own creations, the an interesting Do As I Do (Eric Pitlor. lecture was fun, magical, full most memorable of which was Ross’s Election 2, from Reel Once business was taken care of information, and contained his Selec-. Using a Magic Vol. 32). Our two Johns of, we were privileged to watch something for everyone. We had hand-modified Electric Deck gag, Hopkins University guests were Shoot Ogawa mesmerize us with a great turnout for the event and Danny has created a bona fide next on stage. Salomon Vainstein his precision and truly enjoyed the evening we had mind-reading miracle requiring did a classic McDonald’s Aces flawless performance. Shoot with this extremely talented and no sleight-of-hand. followed by a card revelation. And showed us no less than eighteen entertaining magician. It’s no Danny’s lecture is highly Ronann Carrero did his first ever different effects and continued wonder why he is recognized as recommended for any club Chop Cup routine, based on Paul to baffle and amaze us with his one of the best performers of our interested in close-up magic, Daniels’s routine. Howard Katz modern presentation of classic day. —Tom Neddo

M-U-M Magazine 11 Assembly News

Southwest Church of Christ near up the very successful IT teach-in cheering! pass it on to others. Nice routine 124th and West Center Road, right with thumb tip magic. It was not Rich Gilbert performed two by Dick. across from McAlister’s Deli. only informative; it was a lot of foolers: Shock Twist, a Twisting Jaime Salinas had America C o n t a c t To m N e d d o d o ow i t t a g e n @ fun. Peter went into detail on a the Aces routine with a killer Bustos assist him in a mentalism hotmail.com (402) 213-7812 www. bill switch with a tip and several kicker ending, and followed this routine whereby one of three omahamagicalsociety.com for other uses including a vanish and up with Cinema Verite, a squeaky objects chosen by America was more details. reappearance of sugar poured clean mind reading piece using correctly predicted by Jamie. Nice into his closed fist and vanishing movie posters. work by Jamie, as always. Bob 8 a silk using a bill. There were Jeff Pyzocha was next with Smith performed a ring and rope HOLY SHOOT contributions from many of the the Chop Cup routine he’s been effect and also cut and restored the members, including a torn and working on for a while now, rope with America Bustos as his ST. LOUIS, MO— November restored Sweet ‘n Low packet using a drumstick as a wand and assistant. 13, 2014, was a Back to Basics from Scott Martell. a percussive tapping as the magic Shane Wilson demonstrated evening. After the meeting we After the learning session, we moment. This is a nice example of the Phoenix rising effect using watched DMC’s Aces, Wild Card, went downstairs for dinner and using interests outside of magic a paper napkin to form the and the Thumb Tie! Columbus our history lesson presented by within your magic; well done Jeff! Phoenix. Visibly burned, the Smith walked us through basic Scott Martell. This month it was Dylan performed a second dealing Phoenix rose again with no and explained his Irv Weiner, aka Mr. Fingers. An demonstration that sent some visible burn marks. Rick Hebert own techniques. George Van Dyke interesting fact about Irv’s nom waves through the group! He’s performed a nice rope routine that reads M-U-M as well as many de plume is that it referred to his quietly becoming one of the best was followed up by passing a ring other publications and treats us signing ability; both his parents card men we have, and we can’t through an imaginary hole in the to those gems that he finds. Each were deaf mutes. Mr. Fingers wait to see where he takes us next! rope. meeting he shares what he has was born in Boston; as with many Peter Lennis performed a nice Roger Johnson gave a short found in plain sight, if you look. of his generation, after serving collection of effects. First, he had lecture on “Thinking Magically.” in WWII he used the GI bill to to get rid of his gum, so he took it His impromptu bits were well attend the Chavez College. Irv from his mouth, changed it into an received. It was a delightful was a co-founder of I.B.M. Ring un-chewed piece, and magically reminder that magic can happen 122 in Watertown, Mass. Scott made the wrapper appear back anytime, anywhere. Frank Price demonstrated and explained some on the gum. He then performed a magically moved pips on a of Irv’s affects assisted by our own Bank Night routine with scratch couple of dice around as America JoeJoe and Ken. tickets in four envelopes, and a helped out. He ended with a nice Following our history lesson $100 bill in the one left for him. prediction of the values of the dice we were entertained with some Always a treat when he gets up! held in her hands. Rick Hebert Halloween magic. JoeJoe started Leonard Nadeau did some quickly unscrambled a Rubik’s with a great prediction effect. wonderful work with rope. A cube to everyone’s amazement. Peter Lennis presented the voodoo series of knots were tied in the Roger Johnson returned as Holy Shoot doll with great affect. He also rope, and the handle of a coffee America Bustos assisted with shocked JoeJoe with a collapsing mug was slipped onto the rope his atomic rope effect. A rope Visitor Derrick Daniels, the card spooky house. Peter also wowed us as well. With a pull, all the knots was pulled through his “Atomic wizard, was beyond the basics. all with his nut and bolt telekinesis dissolved except one, which Slicer”; when the atoms in the rope Color Monte moves came in in which a nut screwed onto a was now on the cup handle! were aligned just right, the rope handy for Steve Barcellona as he bolt is placed under a wooden Finally, Pj Pinsonnault spoke was split and then restored. explained the basics and more with cup; on command it unscrews about The Trick That Cannot be Alison Williams showed us that his jumbo tree card routine. Dan itself. Peter also performed his Explained; he discussed how he America’s chosen card could (the Great) Todd searches for the version of Bank Night, great uses this with his card magic. not have been, for it had been perfect Substitute Rabbit, which magic. A wonderful time was had He then performed a routine in previously laid out on the table is a fun routine! Paul Rygelski by all. Great evening, great magic, which a thought-of Ace vanished as a prediction card since the produces a lit Christmas tree from great people, and great programs. from beneath his hand and was beginning of the effect. David an empty tube! Joseph Lortz aced —Joseph Beman found reversed in the deck. Great Rengal’s nice Chop Cup routine his magical effects and we were Assembly 16 meets the first meeting, 17! —Pj Pinsonnault had us all guessing as to where D’lited! Monday of the month at the Assembly 17 meets at RP Magic, the ball would be next. His finale November 20 was the Shoot Magic Barn 179R Main St 69 East Street Ludlow, MA 01056. production of a lime and a tomato Ogawa lecture. Shoot brought Ashland, MA Contact Joseph 413-547-6500 Contact Rich put a finishing touch to a very many magical moments to our Berman [email protected] Gilbert rgilbertmagic@yahoo. entertaining routine. assembly. Each effect has been (661) 433-8456 Under development com for more details. Frank Price placed a prediction perfected to baffle and amaze for more details. card on the table and had Alison us, as he did with coins, cards, Williams then select one as well thimbles, ropes, and Ninja Rings. 17 19 as the deck was dealt down. Of We all had a blast. As always TRICKS WE’RE THANKFUL HOUSTON’S FALL SEASON course, the card Alice chose was visit Assembly8.com for photos. FOR OF MAGIC ARRIVES the mate to Frank’s prediction —Dan Todd card. —Miles Root Assembly 8 meets at Mount Tabor SPRINGFIELD, MA— Our HOUSTON, TX— Our fall Assembly 19 meets the first United Church of Christ located November meeting was about magic auction was a huge success Monday of every month at at 6520 Arsenal in Saint Louis, magic you’re thankful for, and once again. Doug Kornegay, the International Alliance of Missouri 63139. Contact Dick we had plenty of performers to Scott Wells, and David Hinken Theatrical Stage Employees Blowers [email protected] share their thoughts! Tom Gentile were key players for us here. We Local 51 Meeting Hall, 3030 (213) 846-8468 http://Assembly8. led us off with a comedy card are now looking forward to the North Freeway, Houston, TX. A com for more details. trick in which two selected cards Charles Gauci lecture coming up teaching lecture begins at 7:30 were found, though Tom cheated; on November 18. Holiday magic pm with the meeting beginning 16 they ended up being the only two is right around the corner in at 8:00 pm Contact Miles Root TWO THUMBS UP jumbo cards in a normal pack! Houston. [email protected] (832) Rich Pinsonnault shared a new Dick Olson’s Linking Rings 607-6678 www.houstonmagic. WORCESTER, MA— What a trick in the shop called Mist by routine focused on his first com for more details. great meeting! Assembly 16 has Peter Eggink. You have to see this experience with magic as a successfully returned to the Magic one to appreciate it. He followed it youngster. His patter reflected on 22 Barn and some new programs. up with some beautiful Cups and how far he had come from that AL LAMPKIN LECTURES IN This month Peter Lennis followed Balls sequences that had everyone first experience and his desire to LOS ANGELES

12 JANUARY 2015 Assembly News

LOS ANGELES, CA— The particularly interesting. Both tricks: Norman Beck’s $30 Hotel folks like Jazz and Tasha getting November 17 meeting of the are quality printings with photos Trick, Larry West’s $8 or More, involved, and bringing their Southern Assembly and nicely bound. Al was a most and also a nice card matrix effect, youthful enthusiasm into the club. was again prefaced with a pre- friendly and personable lecturer Ascension Transposition by A huge thanks to both Richard meeting video showing of and provided another evening of Randy Wakeman. Turner and Jim Dyer for taking magic’s great performances from great magic for Assembly 22. — Dan Sylvestri, who is interested the time to visit, and to share their the Golden Age of Magic. The Steven L. Jennings in mentalism, shared his overall magic and stories. —Chris Natale meeting itself opened with Southern California Assembly positive experiences at Jeff and Jeff Smith second readings for Robert 22 meets the third Monday each McBride’s Magic & Mystery Assembly 26 meets first Carroll and John Clougherty, month at 8:00 PM, St. Thomas School, and the MINDVention Tuesday each month from who were then unanimously More Parish Hall, 2510 South conference in Las Vegas last September to June at 7 pm. elected into Assembly 22 Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, October. American Legion Auburn Post membership. Congratulations California Contact Ed Thomas Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 20, 7 Legion Way, Cranston RI. and welcome, Robert and [email protected] (213) —Mark Karavolos Contact Jeff Smith for more John. Assembly Secretary Ed 382-8504 for more details. Assembly 25 meets the 3rd Friday details. Thomas, P.N.P. gave a convincing of every month atVFW Hall, presentation to encourage 25 Veterans Place, Elmwood Park, 30 attendance at the 2015 S.A.M. NOVEMBER MEETING NJ, meeting time: 8:00pm. If MARTIN BARATZ ON convention in Philadelphia and a REPORT you can come early, join us for KRESKIN review of the Magic Summit held dinner at 6:00 at the Elmwood in Las Vegas on November 14 and ELWOOD PARK, NJ— Sam 25 Park Diner. The address is 375 ATLANTA, GA— Martin Baratz 15. The Magic Summit was a welcomes Carl Morano, a possible Market Street, Elmwood Park, began our entertainment portion conference focusing on leadership future member who brought along NJ. It’s at the intersection of of the meeting with a Professional to strengthen magic clubs. some magical artifacts for review Market and Boulevard. Contact Development presentation on the President Michael Perovich then by the members. Bob Delaney delaneyschicks@ mentalist Kreskin. Martin showed took a few minutes to respond to the Phil Schwartz, our illustrious aol.com (973) 900-0100 http:// a short video presentation on the interest and many questions about past president, demonstrated www.livemagicguide.com/sam25 artist and demonstrated some of the book he recently authored, The an older elastic pull from his for more details. the techniques used by Kreskin Vernon Companion. Mike was collection. We all wish to thank during his performances. Martin a frequent visitor to the Magic Phil for his past contributions as 26 had various games and books on Castle and familiar with all of the president. SKILL AND SPOOKY Kreskin available for members to great magicians who made the All the effects were well peruse. Castle their gathering place. From received, starting with talented PROVIDENCE, RI— Richard Our performances, emceed by detailed notes garnered from new president, Bob Delaney, who Turner visited the club recently, Debbie Leifer, began with John conversations with Dai Vernon presented a very deceptive no- to demonstrate his amazing Gretch, who predicted a chosen and other icons, gimmick ring and string routine skill with cards. To quote club card via a text message sent prior Mike has crafted a most interesting that also incorporated a nice finale President Jeff Smith, “Never have to his performance. A stack of and entertaining chronicle about from Magick Balay’s Ring Escape. I witnessed such card control.” cards were taken and the person the Dai Vernon era at the Magic George Silverman presented With assistance from siblings remembered how many were Castle. This quality hardbound several advanced card effects Tasha and Jazz Sussman Moss, taken. All of the cards were spread book will be released by Hermetic facilitated by Garrett Thomas’s Richard entertained the club with on the table and the card at the Press in early December. Speedreader marked deck. One an amazing display of magic number selected was remembered. It was then on to the feature effect is a version of the Trick and dexterity. Despite having The card had a different color of the night: a great lecture by That Cannot Be Explained and performed for decades, Richard of back and matched the texted Al Lampkin, who has lived a also Simon Aronson’s Double- still executes everything with joy prediction. lifetime presenting magic as a Ment, from his new book Art and passion, having a great time Scott Edwards asked for a career. Al formerly lived in Los Decko in which two cards are with everyone in attendance. number from 1-1000 selected and Angeles, but relocated to Salt mentally selected by a spectator, Dave Hill is on-the-mark with his the selected number was predicted Lake City some years ago. Al the magician looks for the cards, comment that Richard “is one of in his wallet. Dan Garrett gave his is a very busy lecturer and places two cards on the table, the last living legends, and it was rendition of Three Card Monte. performer throughout the western spectator’s reveal their choices, incredible.” Merritt Ambrose used a cell phone states. Al began his lecture with which match. as a timer as he proceeded to an interesting biographical sketch Mark Karavolos, newly separate out the cards in piles with of his life in magic and continued appointed secretary, presented suits separated by touch. Rick to provide anecdotes about magic Martin Lewis’s Sidewalk Shuffle, Hinze performed an alien card and magicians throughout the in which three jumbo blank cards trick, as in Roswell aliens. lecture. The lecture was almost and an Ace transpose in the finale Mal Simpson did an entirely stand-up magic using to three Aces and one blank effect with mentalism. The Aces small, typically commonplace card. Mark was very thankful were separated in the deck and a objects as props. A very practical the cards were displayed and number from ten to twenty was magic square presentation, a oriented properly this time unlike thought of by an audience member. multi-phase rope routine and in so many prior disasters. Mark The integers of the number were a simple Cards Across were a also demonstrated the Garrett added together to find an Ace, few of the highlights. All the Thomas’s finger ring routine he Richard Turner performs which was repeated three more magic in the lecture is doable learned at the IBM 106/SAM times. by anyone attending the lecture, 25 lecture and Banded DVD by Jim Dyer stopped by the October West Evans gave us an given a reasonable amount of Garrett last month. meeting and shared the stories entertaining rendition of a two practice. During the lecture, Al Phil Germain presented a nice of his grandfather, C.M. Eddy, a coin effect with a gold dollar and briefly referred to an article he quickie mental effect, Mark friend and confidant of Houdini. a penny that kept jumping back authored for the 2014 issue of Oberon’s 37; a nice card to Jim was kind enough to also from his pocket. Matt Baker Linking Ring titled “How to Build envelope effect; and also Richard share letters and other Houdini implored us to use numeric Your Business.” Sander’s Tagged, in which a memorabilia that his family owns. passwords. He had someone After the lecture, Al had a selected card ends up mysteriously Six of the club’s members then select a password and read the number of his publications and on a dog-tag chain around Phil’s performed their scariest “tricks,” person’s mind by using bots (little effects available for purchase. His neck. with Tasha Sussman Moss taking roach-like creatures running a lecture notes and a booklet John Henderson smoothly home the prize of a Haunted Deck maze) to divine the numbers. Jim titled Magician at Large were presented some cool currency DVD. It’s great to see young Mangham ended the evening with

M-U-M Magazine 13 Assembly News a two-deck presentation. A card A couple of members (Bob Wallin of the one hundred feet of Navy was chosen and when the deck was and John Jennings) made the trip 37 rope that was used to save him spread, the chosen card was found over to Ring 320 the previous NO CARDS NO COINS when he mysteriously fell off with the opposite colored back. day to attend the David London NOVEMBER the boat. Steve Davis had been —Carol Garrett lecture. A brief review was given. working on a unique presentation Assembly 30 meets the second —John Jennings , CO— No cards no of Professor’s Nightmare and it Tuesday at Picadilly Cafeteria, The Hersy Basham Assembly 32 coins November was a good, old- really showed that practice pays I-85 at North Druid Hills usually meets the third Tuesday fashioned magic meeting very off. It delighted everyone. Past Rd, Atlanta. Please contact at 7:00 p.m. at Tharp Funeral befitting the end of a year like 2014 President and devote member [email protected], 678-643- Home, 220 Breezewood Drive, and the end of a decade that yours Chad Darnell performed a red 0250 for more details. Lynchburg, VA. Contacting us truly will be writing the Mile High disk into giant Chinese coins, but ahead is suggested. Contact John Magicians updates. It certainly then remembered it was no coins, Jennings [email protected] has been a pleasure. Vice no cards night, so he hysterically 32 (434) 851-6240 for more details. President/President-elect Andrew tried to sell them to the THANKFUL FOR MAGIC Bates was host to a lineup that group. Comedy closed the night included new members with a as the clubs most loved couple Jeff LYNCHBURG, VA— There was 35 few of my favorite pros thrown and Karen Wake came out in their no theme for November’s meeting LECTURE GETS ASSEMBLY in. President Bates’s mission for Hula attire. Coconut bras firmly in at the Hersy Basham Assembly, PUMPED UP the upcoming year is to make the place they performed a delightful but there was some business and club more welcoming to beginners danced-through routine complete then an open forum for those in POUGHKEEPSIE, NY— Our just learning their craft. with a catchy video game theme. attendance to perform anything November meeting began with a First up on this magic evening —Connie Elstun to their liking. The business discussion about the many things was card worker Gene Gordon, Assembly 37 meets Riverpointe included election of assembly we enjoy about our assembly. The who showed he didn’t really need Senior center in Littleton officers for 2015. Incoming topic was started by our fearless cards to succeed. He summoned Colorado Contact Connie Elstun officers will be: Bob Wallin, leader, President Joel Zaritsky, help from Dennis to choose a word connie@comedymagicbunny. President; Bob Staton, Vice who was preparing for the in a newspaper article that com (303) 594-2555 Www. President/Program Chairman; upcoming S.A.M. meeting in Las magically appeared in a pre- milehighmagicians.com for more John Jennings, Secretary/ Vegas. One frequently mentioned written envelope. That moved him details. Treasurer; and Sergeant-At-Arms: quality was sharing, which is into telling about his successful Carl Hoegerl. what Ed Fitchett and Joe Que did invention called “ring on a rope” 38 Then it was on to a magical with an assortment of items from that segued brilliantly into a dental A SKETCHY REPORT evening as President Patrick recently departed compeer George floss routine. Member Lewis Hubble called the meeting to Post. Peacock wanted to show his initial KANSAS CITY, MO— The order. We welcomed a guest Another member also shared with practice work on a pantomime November meeting of Kansas (already an S.A.M. member, us in the form of a lecture – member routine he is working on. He had a City Assembly 38 was opened by but new to Assembly 32) Doug Darryl Bielski. It’s not often you bit of a mishap with a can of Coke Vice President Jason Moore, who Atkinson. Doug maintains a can say a lecturer “blows” and not changing into milk, but that’s how conducted a first-class meeting. website devoted to magic-related receive a raised eyebrow, but when you learn. He announced upcoming lectures resources that proved quite you’re lecturing on balloons, it and our December holiday party/ interesting and showed Doug should be expected. didn’t election of 2015 Officers night. had put an extensive amount leave anything out of his lecture, The meeting was turned over to of work into the project. He we learned all sorts of twists, RVP Shaun Rivera, who reported accessed the site on his laptop turns, bends, and advice on how on the just-past Magic Summit, and gave those attending a to explore the amazing world of which was both educational and review of material available. balloons. He gave us so many enjoyable. He has returned with a Performing first was John interesting ideas that would have plethora of ideas for strengthening Jennings who started by reminding taken us years to uncover on our the assembly, as well as for creative the audience that everyone has own. new approaches to our evening probably heard of a magician Throughout the evening we saw performances. (When was the somewhere who pulls a coin from a variety of flowers, a spider, an Master Coin Manipulator last time you performed your act behind the ear of a child. Well, octopus, and a number of other David Neighbors shows his blindfolded? That’s literally, not not tonight; John proceeded items that would seem out of the new book figuratively which we’ve all done to pull an ear of a child from realm of possibility, but Darryl a few times.) More to come on all behind a coin. It was different. made the impossible possible. I Young junior member Aiden of that. Bob Staton performed a routine had a lot more to write as I’m a Darnell performed for the first Magic performers for the evening with people choosing first colors huge fan of the double entendre, time ever. It is always enjoyable were most of the card enthusiasts: and then places, writing their but our secretary, Frank Monaco, to witness a new performer’s Korso, John Hicks, Shaun Rivera, mental selections on small cards won’t allow me to submit the half maiden voyage. He was just and Josh and Nicholas Theno, all and mixing the cards before being dozen quotes I heard during the great by choosing to perform a of whom presented their usual handed to Bob. He was still able lecture. Unfortunately my late mind reading effect using nouns brand of quality magic. to identify which person wrote ‘40s body houses the brain of an and little toy trinkets to match, Dennis Burks mystified everyone what on the individual cards. adolescent boy. Thank you Darryl including a mini Eiffel Tower and with a (sort of) Die Box just large Mike Kinnaird then entertained for an evening filled with a lot a trolley. Master coin manipulator enough for the die, which involved the group with two sets of ESP of fun. Of course our unending and author Dave Neighbors was the die doing magical things and cards and even after the cards thanks go to Santino who up before no-snack break. He finally transforming into a ball. were mixed, Mike’s set match continues to generously provide us performed a delightful ball and Dr. Phil King read minds as did the spectator’s set in order. with space at his restaurant every vase routine just before plugging Duane Roberts, and Rivera Dr. John Risher also attended month. —Craig Kunaschk his new book, Not Just Coins. It put the finishing touches on the this meeting. He may have Al Baker Assembly No. 35 fit the night perfectly. evening’s performances. pulled off the greatest trick of (usually) meets at 7:30 p.m. on the Engaging visitation took place More mind reading and magic all – considering that he is still second Tuesday of the month at as President-elect Bates called the followed at our Not Quite going strong at an age of 104. We the Milanese Italian Restaurant, meeting back to order. He wanted Five-Star Bar and Grill. Everyone suspect that he is the world’s 115 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, our close-knit twenty to hear the left already looking forward to our oldest living magician and we are NY. Contact www.compumagic. story of the day he learned magic December holiday meeting. pleased he has kept an interest com/sam35 for more details. while in the Navy. He offered (Sorry, members, for the sketchy in our assembly for many years. member Elliot an examination report. Your scribe was absent

14 JANUARY 2015 Assembly News and all good-hearted efforts at to display your collectible decks. the correct mouse. Unfortunately, Sal Manfredo was our featured second-hand accounts proved, The meeting had very little Michael shook the box a bit too performer for the evening. He well, sketchy. We’ll return to our time left for actual magic, but the hard and the mice were found in a did some excellent balloon work, old form next time.) —Don Becker members were treated to a great crumpled heap in the bottom of the including a balloon restoration, Assembly 38 meets at the lecture and afterwards, many of box. Oh, well…He finished with a balloon through glass, and a Westport Improv Theater, 4010 us headed to Dunkin’ Donuts for his routine he calls The Mystery unique take on the needle through Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas a beverage and of course, a donut! Box; this revolves around a story balloon, in which he first inserted City, Missouri Contact Don —Mike Ihrig of a magical box he received as a and blew up a small balloon Becker [email protected] Contact Joel Greenwich for details Christmas gift. inside of an already inflated larger (816) 886-6780 for more details. below as weekday fluctuates this Finally, Jerry Tupper performed balloon. He then forced a needle season. Contact Joel Greenwich the color-changing shoelaces, through the larger balloon, popped [email protected] (870) using Christmas colors, and then the smaller balloon within, and 47 210-1303 www.sam47.com for he performed a prediction effect then forced the needle on out DAN WELCH CARD DECK more details. using several glasses with colored through the other side of the LECTURE! silks inside. Only one contained a larger balloon. He closed with a prize and this just happened to be Silk Cabby routine that combined ROCHESTER, NY— Well, it is 51 the one picked by someone from the standard effect with a 20th snow time again. But not as bad as CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY the audience. —Michael Baker Century Silk climax. Thanks, our compeers in Buffalo got it! We IN PEORIA! Assembly 51 meets the third Sal, for a very entertaining and have had to make a few changes Monday of each month at original performance. this year to our meeting dates. In PEORIA, IL— The November Schnucks Grocery, 4800 N. Door prize winners were Ray the months of December, March meeting began with feedback University in Peoria, beginning Adams, Don Moravits, and 2015, and April 2015, we will have on the Houdini tribute show in at 7:00pm. Contact Michael Baker Michael Tallon. Ray won the to meet on the third Wednesday, October. We all agreed that it was [email protected] (205) book Jennings 67, Don won an not the third Tuesday. Even though a very good show, but that we 612-3696 http://peoriamagicians. Invisible Deck, and Michael won we did this at our November need to work on different ways to com/ for more details. an original Ed Solomon effect. meeting, we still had nine members promote the shows that we do. Brother John Hamman Assembly and two guests and we normally Next we held our election 52 meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first average about thirteen members. of officers for 2015. The slate 52 Thursday of the month at La Our club is lucky to have nominated last month was HEAT AND SMOKE Madeleine Restaurant, located at some really good talent in its unanimously approved and voted 722 N.W. Loop 410. The restaurant midst. A long-time member in. The new officers will be: SAN ANTONIO, TX— is inside Loop 410 on the access and recently happily retired President – Rodney Nordstrom, November 5, 2014, Brother John road between Blanco Rd. and Dan Welch performed a Vice President – Kyle Bassett, Hamman Assembly 52 held its San Pedro. For more information, fantastic lecture on collecting Treasurer – Jay Zentko, and monthly meeting at LaMadeleine contact [email protected]. Bicycle decks of playing cards. Secretary – Michael Baker. The Restaurant. President Ray About the entire meeting was new officers will be sworn in at the Adams called the meeting to devoted to this lecture. I am annual banquet in January. order. Congratulations to Matthew 59 going to describe it in as much Our theme was Christmas Orta for winning a $50,000 S.Y.M. THANKSGIVING detail as I can, but I suggest that Magic. Matthew Gardner robotics scholarship at St. Mary’s SHOW if you have an assembly near performed a nice Monte routine University. What an awesome Rochester, NY, contact Dan to see with three jingle bells, only one accomplishment. We are all very PORTLAND, OR— It was an for if he would be willing to lecture at of which would jingle. In spite proud of you, Matthew! Ray exciting night at our meeting. The your club. ([email protected]) of us watching closely, it was presented Matthew with his night was kicked off by President Dan owns over two hundred impossible to pick the correct bell. S.A.M. pin and packet from the Mel Anderson. It was a packed different styles of Bicycle brand I don’t know if Matthew cooked national organization, so he is now house on this Thanksgiving playing cards, as well as numerous this one up by himself, but it was an official member of Assembly eve. Mentor Tom Waldrop gave uncut sheets of cards. One is of a clever take on the classic Monte 52. Many thanks to James Dusek a background of the two S.Y.M. a printing of only one hundred, theme. Matthew’s sister, Mallory who volunteered to become the clubs, stating that this was the making it very rare indeed! Gardner performed a variation of new S.Y.M. leader and John nineteenth year of this annual Playing cards originated in a trick with loops on her fingers. Murphy who will be assisting show. There was a buzz in the China at about 800 AD, but only This also appeared to have a bit of James. Michael Tallon reviewed air and the crowd was ready to be consisted of one through ten. It creative brainstorming involved. an article in the October 2014 amazed and baffled by our S.Y.M wasn’t until 1400 AD when the It’s great to have these two young M-U-M on Houdini and spoke Clubs. French added the court cards, people involved with our club. of a few highlights from that This year we had eleven young giving us our present deck layout. There is hope for the future of article. He also spoke of Bruce magicians performing on this Around 1847, four men got together magic! Kalver, who had a great tip on magical night. They did not and started making playing cards Char Gott began her set with the remembering names of volunteers disappoint and delivered an in the USA and in 1867 the U.S. sudden appearance of a Harbin- during a show. amazing show filled with magic Playing Card Company was born. style table, and then used a couple Starting off the open and mystery with lots of humor The company was once based children (Matthew and Ethan) to performances was Ray Adams, as well. There were and in Cincinnati, Ohio, but is now assist as she stuffed various color who performed a bottle and glass applause through the evening – a headquartered in the Cincinnati scarves into a paper tube only to routine with a burning candle. job well done by all the performers. suburb of Erlanger, Kentucky. have them blend into a very long Don Moravits did a prediction After some light snacks, One of the key points is the “air rainbow streamer (Duke’s Dye- effect called the Blackpool Effect our president Mel Anderson cushion finish,” which allows good version). Upon opening the paper by Jay Sanky. John Murphy called the meeting to order. spreading ability when the deck is tube, it was seen empty, other than did some great rope magic that November is the election of the opened. Also, did you know the a nice Christmas message written involved knots, and Michael following year’s board. The card box is called a tuck case? The inside. It was a nice colorful Tallon performed Tenyo’s Soft following were nominated for USPCC also makes Bee, Hoyle, routine and some fun by-play with Coins. Joe Libby entertained with the following positions: President Kem, and custom cards, too. the kids. Devin Knight’s Auto Spell Deck, – Mel Anderson and Randy Dan is a member of the “Club Michael Baker performed Three Ed Solomon shared an original Stumman; Vice President – Jay 808,” making him an avid Mouse Monte, a small gift box effect that he called Horse-Frog, Fredricks; Treasuer – Brian collector. He also supports with three wiggling mice, only one and Paul Amerson did The Red Adams; Secretary – Andy Turner; Kickstarter, a company that allows of which squeaked. Michael shook Carpet by Jason Palter. Doug members at large – Tom Cramer small businesses to get off the the box to mix up the mice a few Gorman closed with an effect he and Michael Jaffe. Since no ground. Dan makes custom frames times; it was impossible to guess called the Lightning Box. official ballots were available,

M-U-M Magazine 15 Assembly News the motion was made that all the mind. He then proceeded to solve proceeded to change into a large Hewson, who showed a silver uncontested positions would be it with no hands. Henning and wad of bills. Nick Pudar followed tube, two silks and two ropes; he accepted by John Edsall. The Alonzo had their way and so did with a pen through bill penetration then tied everything together and motion was seconded by Duane Thomas. Dream Coins taught which completely befuddled the caused the tube to escape. Ray Duvall. All members were in us that simplicity is key. After a audience. Jim Folkl performed Roch showed a trick he performed favor. So this issue passed. Next, break to offer his wares to us, the the jumbo Chinese color changing in Victoria, which was the bent the presidential race between Mel second half started us down a path coin. Jack Markley presented a and restored spoon. Jens Anderson and Randy Stumman of improving our acts by using a multitude of his original creations, Henriksen did a matrix prediction was voted on. Secret ballots were pad of paper with some drawings which were also offered for sale. with Tony’s son, Dimitri, who given to members and the final tally that zeroed in on help anyone find Jack had something for everyone. helped make and mark up squares for our new president was Randy the magic in magic. Finally he Our last three performers all on a piece of paper. This was Stumann. Congratulations! stayed standing up for his very presented variations on a theme – taken from the November 2014 Lots happening, so be sure to magical Stand-Up Monte. It made The Miser’s Dream. President Bill M-U-M. Glen LaBarre did a get plugged in and enjoy all the my head swim with delight. Brang did a great job presenting haunted Victorian skeleton benefits that come with your The next meeting on December the classic routine using an key. The key turned towards the S.A.M. membership. Wishing 8, 2014, the Mystics have snagged Abbott’s champagne bucket skeleton. all a happy new year and happy a bigger feather than usual in the and coin ladder. Treasurer John Tony Chris showed a wood holidays. —Andy Turner guise of Dan Sperry: The Anti- Russell performed an original Assembly 59 meets at the Conjuror. Many of us are catching routine to music, employing a Beaverton Elks Club 3500 on Broadway the SW 104th in Beaverton, week before, and we’re primed Oregon Contact Andy Turner to hear what he has to say about [email protected] playing around the world. (503) 975-6139 sam59portland.org Until then, see you at the diner. for more details. —Lou Johnson Long Island Mystics Assembly #77 meets at 7:30PM on the 77 second Monday of the month at GARRETT THOMAS: NEED The Community United Methodist WE SAY MORE? Church. For more information, check www.limystics.org Contact Tony Chris and his Victorian MASSAPEQUA, NY— During Lou Johnson [email protected] Themed Magic Room our very brief meeting, we (516) 978-7735 www.limystics.org Nick Pudar Money Magic were excited by the numerous for more details. box with two velvet bags. One awards handed out by N.E. RVP one of a kind coin pail with a contained a prediction and the Eric DeCamps to the following few unseen gimmicks, including other a deck of Tarot cards. Tony members: PP John LePre for his 88 a Kellar coin dropper. Our last spoke of choice, chance, and twenty-five years of help, President FLEA MARKET AND MONEY performer, Dan Jones, caught destiny, and had Glen LaBarre Mitch Goodkin for hard work, and MAGIC nickels from thin air, using a deal Tarot cards from a mixed-up a mention of our new S.A.M. Pres. coffee cup as their repository. deck in the shape of a fork in the Pin, PP Pat Darienzo for twenty ANN ARBOR, MI— Our world In addition to the fabulous road. From the velvet bag Tony years, Bill Gleason for twenty-two famous flea market, v.2014, is entertainment extravaganza, the showed a gold sun that matched years of service and the creation of now in the books. On October 26, performers graciously shared their the gold sun Tarot card under the Heroes and Patriotism Award. magicians, clowns, and sundry methods and bits of business with Glen’s hand. The other card was PP Mike Maione also received an entertainers convened at the the group. Who said education death. Tony has published this award, but wasn’t present to take Eagle’s Club in Belleville, MI, to couldn’t be the entertaining? routine on his DVD. Henry Tom his present. check out the mysterious wares of —Jim Folkl did a Coins Across routine with Mitch Goodkin introduced twelve vendors from the Michigan/ Assembly 88 meets at Denny’s Glen and Dimitri. Both started Garrett Thomas to the stage and Ohio area. There was a wide restaurant, 39550 Ann Arbor with six coins each; three travelled upon Mr. Thomas’s “signature” selection of props and books from Rd., Plymouth MI 48170 on across from Glen to Dimitri. opening, we knew that magic which to choose: gags, to close-up, the 2nd Wednesday of the Anthony Young changed a Nine of wasn’t the same old card trick or to stage illusions! Bargaining was month, 7pm. Contact Jim Folkl Clubs to the Five of Clubs, which flip over box. The opening made lively, with everyone coming away [email protected] matched Dennis’s selected card. us turn our heads without having with that special treasure to make (248) 8514839 www.aamagic.org John Macmillan told the story of to. His Ring Thing was the closest them a star. A big thank you goes for more details. Jack the Ripper with two slates thing to real magic that I’ve ever to all the folks who came out to and an 1888 coin with Queen seen. He spilled all of the details support our event. Hope to see Victoria. John gave Glen a chalk to make many members buy a ring everyone next year! 95 and the coin. John then revealed just for the opening effect. Our November meeting kicked VICTORIAN MAGIC that Jack Chow Insurance had Then a one-handed demonstration off with the introduction of three mysteriously written itself on the of solving a Rubik’s Cube told new members, Scott Mitchell, VANCOUVER, CANADA— slate. us that he has skillful hands and Molly Larson, and Paul Nielsen. The November 2014 meeting Rod Chow showed a Victorian Good friends of the club, Shirley was held at the home of Tony wand from Alivan’s with crystal and Jack Markley made the trek Chris. Chef Tony prepared a ends that he used in a successful from Anderson, Indiana, to join succulent French meal for all four-card mind reading effect in the fun. They kicked off the members consisting of: ratatouille, using a deck of cards with random meeting by offering some of their Marcel beef bourguignon and numbers on the back. At the end original mysterious creations. Parisian hunter potatoes. For of the evening, members had the This month’s theme was “Money dessert, members were treated privilege to receive a guided tour Magic,” and did the members to cream cheese eclairs, coconut of Tony’s exquisitely appointed respond! Eight performers drops and creme de Canterbury Victorian-themed magic room, “showed us the money.” Magic tortes. Tony never fails to spoil which Tony has so ornately Joe Fusco opened by tearing a all his guests with a delicious designed to the very last accurate From Left: Pres. Mitch borrowed dollar bill into two whole gourmet-themed meal each time Victorian detail. —Rod Chow Goodkin, PP John Lepre, N.E. dollar bills. Randy Smith tore up a he hosts a meeting. The Carl Hemeon Assembly No. RVP Eric DeCamps, William dollar and produced from it a very Starting off the evening of 95 meets the first Tuesday of Gleason, PP Pat Darienzo long money streamer which he Victorian Magic was Dennis each month at members’ homes.

16 JANUARY 2015 Assembly News

Contact Rod Chow rod@rodchow. mystifying demonstration of card com (604) 669-7777 www.sam95. handling. com for more details. John Gyllenhaal had his friend Armando the Armadillo assist him in a hysterical bit of magic. That 104 darned Armadillo is one of the 104 CLOWNS AROUND better magicians in our assembly. BEFORE THE LONG Even though Nate Wilson covered AWAITED CONVENTION the eyes of Armando, that talented animal was able to determine what WITCH CITY, SALEM, MA— Co-Presidents Jensen and card was selected by one of our On November 5, special guests Snider present award to guests. joined us for our pre-SAMCON Compeer DeAngelis at Finally, Zappo made an meeting. These included S.Y.M. SAMCON appearance with a couple of 124 President Derek DuBois and Dody-Jane Svetahor and Dan blackboard slates that he used members of the Greater Boston Miller ready the marquee as an iPad when he was a kid Clown Club, Alley 54. Following our S.Y.M. kids, and S.Y.M. 124 for club show in school. The spirit world Len Lazar’s lessons in the School Vice President Michael Ricciardi transmitted seemingly random of Magic, the fine points of our for outstanding work on the 124 112 words to Zappo: Help, An, Ape, thirteenth annual SAMCON were newsletter. OH, WHAT A NIGHT! Yowl, H. . .that he recorded on ironed out on a positive note. On Sunday, November 16, Vince the slates. When the two slates Young Derek DuBois began the DeAngelis offered the traditional PLEASANT HILL, CA— were placed face to face and the evening’s entertainment with an “Morning After” Open House There’s a song lyric recorded by chalk sandwiched inside, the ambitious array of effects. These at Diamond’s Magic. This was the Four Seasons that’s haunting spirits rearranged the letters, were highlighted by his three- followed by a private Master me as I write this account of our and transformed them into the ring Linking Ring routine, which Class workshop conducted by Jay October meeting. “Oh, What a message, Happy Halloween. only gets better every month. Sankey. Those compeers fortunate Night!” Although that song clearly The meeting ended late because Our additional guests from the enough to have signed up enjoyed has subject matter far from the there was such great interest in Clown Club followed Derek with fantastic personal attention from a content of our October workshop, Walt Anthony’s workshop, and unlimited glee. Alley 54 President disarmingly personable close-up that catch phrase lyric keeps everyone engaged in conversations JuJu the Clown demonstrated a master. —Bob Forrest ringing in my ears. with him and our fellow members. variety of props, many of them Assembly 104 meets on the Walt Anthony shared some of A few members were able to get familiar to us, emphasizing the first Wednesday of each month, the “real work” with us in his a copy of Walt’s book, Tales of ways a clown would present them September-June, 7 p.m., at the workshop, “From Good... to Great! Enchantment – The Art of Magic. differently than a magician. It was First Baptist Church of Salem, It was a completely different kind Walt graciously autographed fun, funny, and instructive; even 292 Lafayette Street, Salem, of talk from our usual teach- those books. Oh, What a Night! our own Second Vice-President Contact Bob a-trick session; it focused on a —Larry “Zappo” Wright Jon Hubbard – also a member Forrest captainalbrightsq1@ discussion of principles Walt has Diablo Assembly 112 meets on the of the clown local – joined in, comcast.net (339) 227-0797 www. gathered from a long career as third Wednesday of every month at throwing in a pratfall that amazed sam104.com for more details. an actor, producer, and teacher of the VFW building in Pleasant Hill, this writer. Bruce Lawson offered theatre skills. California. Contact Larry Wright more good-natured silliness as did The workshop ended with an [email protected] Perky the Clown. It was a great 108 exercise in which four teams of (925) 685-5129 http://sam112.com/ night with greater things to follow. MAGICAL FUN our members and guests had to for more details. On November 15, it was time come up with a story about some for SAMCON at the Double Tree SOMERSET, PA— Our magic experience they had and use the Hotel in Danvers, Massachusetts, club has been very busy with classic Professor’s Nightmare rope 118 come hell or high water. Numerous preparing for and performing effect to illustrate the story. GRANITE STATE last minute challenges had been various shows as a club and After the break, Bob Holdridge CONJURORS presented to Producer Evan Buso- individually. The club had five showed a stack of blocks in a Jarnis, including the eleventh members perform at a theater in round pyramid shape (Mystic NASHUA, NH— Tom Gentile, hour canceling by our sound and West Virginia in late October. Disks). He produced the pyramid our new Regional VP, joined us lighting people and manipulator We had a small crowd, but I have stack and demonstrated that no for our October meeting. We have Jad being taken out by a hand to say that we gave a wonderful matter which way you turned the several events coming up. The injury. Happily, so many compeers two-hour performance. All in all, tube over, the pyramid always Granite State Conjurors will be came through in the end, led by we enjoy performing together. came out in the proper order when performing as part of the Nashua S.Y.M. 124 parent John Savastano, We have signed on for our the tube was lifted. Holiday Stroll on November 29. that our convention emerged as fifth summer in a row at a local Next up was visitor Alan We are collaborating with the a rousing success. The lectures campground. The manager of the Leeds, who performed a version Peterborough Unitarian Church by Oscar Munoz, Christian and campground has been very happy of McDonald’s Aces that to produce a magic show for our Katalina, and Jay Sankey were with the response she has received incorporated some of the classic mutual benefit. outstanding. from our audiences. We easily have Twisting the Aces effect into a Our annual show to benefit the The evening’s performances 125-150 in attendance at each show. Merrimack Crimeline is already in that followed were filled with We have been helping the S.Y.M. planning for the spring. For more entertainment enough to overflow youth to routine effects they have information about any of these and our already full house. Doc Swan instead of one they have done. other future events, contact us at handled the emcee duties with They are now preparing for the [email protected] welcomed humor in his polished Family Christmas Show with a Assembly 118 meets on the transitions. All of this was routine. —Dan Miller third Wednesday of each month preceded by 104 Co-President Bill The James Swoger Assembly 108 at 7:00 p.m. at Black Sword Jensen presenting much deserved meet the third Monday at Wheeler Estate, 126 Perham Corner Rd. awards to Producer Buso-Jarnis, Bros. at 6:00 pm SYM & 7:00 Lyndeborough, NH 03082 Our for his third straight year of pm for SAM Contact Dan Miller venue rotates, so contact us first. tireless SAMCON planning, [email protected] Zappo uses magic slates Contact Robert Granville sam. Compeer Vince DeAngelis, for (814) 733-4978 for more details. to celebrate October’s big [email protected] (603) 505 his endless accommodations to celebration. 8749 http://sam118.com for more Assembly 104, our convention and details.

M-U-M Magazine 17 Assembly News

on what they had seen. See ya at (845) 797-8363 for more details. Hallberg’s toothpicks and finger the meeting, Ken Barham rings. Bill Irwin drove a toothpick Assembly 120, Andy Dallas through his hand and made cheese Assembly meets on the 3rd Wed. 138 disappear and reappear into a 7pm, (except Nov. and Dec.) For OCT/NOV FORT WORTH cup. Al Fox performed a jumping location call Jim Percy at 217- MAGICIANS CLUB rubber band routine and Michael 494-2222 or Ken Barham Sec, Stein closed by making a knot 2318 Winchester Dr, Champaign, FORT WORTH, TX— On disappear from a handkerchief IL 61821. 217-841-5616 email: October 2, 2014, Michael Stein and making a spoon appear. The [email protected] opened the meeting of FWMC meeting adjourned at about 9:00 with general announcements pm. A short executive committee Regional VP Tom Gentile and introduced the program meeting followed. entertaining the Granite State 131 MAGIC WITH GADGETS “Halloween and Bizarre Tarrant County College, Conjurors Magic.” He performed his Trinity River Campus Contact DANBURY, CT— This was Voodoo Doll effect followed by [email protected] (817-846- 120 new president Bob Abel’s first Richard Rodriguez with a ESP 4062) for more details. OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER meeting. Our evening’s theme was demonstration, and Josh Ayala and Magic with Gadgets. President his bizarre Knife Roulette routine CHAMPAIGN, IL —In October Bob and Magic Marty handed complete with zany manikin leg 141 we met at Manzella’s Italian Patio out three-fold flyers with an table! THE RABBIT SLEEPS and the food and service were agenda for our evening’s business Bruce Chadwick provided TONIGHT outstanding. Discussion included meeting: Treasurer’s report, Old the main core activity with a the VA show. Also discussed were News, New News, Health and photo slideshow from the Ken COLUMBIA, MD— On magic on television and how it Welfare, and Magic with Gadgets. Klosterman Salon De Magie at the November 10, 2014, after a affects geopolitical boundaries We then discussed what themes “Gathering of Vultures” Magic quick business meeting and some in a world besieged by a violent would entertain us in the months Collector’s Convention. pretty bad bunny jokes (and upsurge in counterfeit corn-dog to come. The November 6, 2014, with apologies to the Tokens for sales. Walter B gave a surprise drawing meeting of FWMC began with mangling their song title), the Randy Shields opened the to Tony S. Des was out for cataract President Michael Stein making Columbia Conjurors began their magic by sawing our waitress surgery. President Bob had a fire announcements about the November performances with “The in half with a borrowed butter in his home and has been living in upcoming Charles Gauci lecture Rabbit Sleeps Tonight: Magic with knife while performing “Oops, I a hotel with wife. No magic was and Fielding West workshop. It an Animal Theme.” Eric Hoffman Did It Again.” Dave Wernick put harmed. was reported that Past President started us out with Freddy the the waitress back together and Russ demoed a handmade Larry Heil is still fighting health Flea, who performed his own ordered a non-menu entree and, bank that exploded when issues. Patsy Wilson, widow rope trick, located a card in his not to be out done, Jeff Harpring a coin was dropped in it. of our late club member Doug tiny car, and then met an untimely demonstrated his new talent by What a rush. President Bob Wilson, continues her husband’s end. Jim Murray amused with a hypnotizing the staff and making performed a homemade coin tradition of woodcarving. paper guppy that kept stubbornly them perform selected songs from thru jar. Tony S. reintroduced the Exec-VP and Program Chairman reappearing after being cut in half Cats as various historical figures. Indivisible Deck promising that Matthew Martin introduced multiple times, followed by Rob Ken Barham closed out the your selected card will be reversed Sergio Lopez, who performed his Niccolini performing a cut and evening with the “21 Card Trick.” in the deck. Well performed, Tony qualification demonstration and restored effect with a butterfly silk As usual, it was a great meeting S. became our newest club member. production at the end. and fun was had by all, even if Gail Alexander used a calculator Sergio’s main interest is building Peter Wood chose to ignore the Jeff’s helpers don’t remember any to put in three sets of three- magic effects for his young son theme, offering up “the bird” to of it. digit numbers. She guessed the Christian, member of the Cook us as a last-minute substitute, and Our next VA show is set for answer. Your scribe, Magic Marty, Children’s . Sergio then did a neat prediction of four Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 2:00 gave a short talk on: thread reels, showed his apparatus, including cards from a deck mixed up front p.m. at the VA in Danville, IL. floating a napkin rose or bill, using an aquarium production table, and back. Wayne Miller used an Contact Chris Bontjes for more poker chips as coins (most are temple screen, ABC blocks, and a animal deck and matched them two information. The Central IL magnetic), and having a Sucrets substitution trunk. by two so they could make it onto Magic Get-Together will be on box in your back pant pocket with Dr. Michael Smith talked about Noah’s Ark, and Kenny Wadrick April 25, 2015, in Peoria. magnets in it as a coin drop. the recent Magic and Meaning followed with his own animal In our November meeting, Chris Marty also discussed his new Conference. Michael showed deck and drawing predictions (as a Bontjes told us about his trip to the smart phone ad for photos to his copy of Robert Neale’s The bonus, he also transformed a guest Magic Summit and brought back be placed in M-U-M and our Sense of Wonder, released at the into a bunny with the classic kid’s some great ideas for expanding Danbury Top Hatters Facebook. conference. Matthew Martin wand). Matt Neufeld entertained local magic clubs. Several of the —Magic Marty Steinberg introduced Impromptu Magic, the with a series of rabbit productions ideas were discussed and we hope Assembly 141 meets at Methodist activity for the meeting. from various magic boxes, and to implement them soon. Church #5, Clap Board ridge Club members were then divided Bob Leedom shared a funny trick Mark Carlon opened the magic Rd Danbury CT Contact Magic into four groups, each to perform he invented for his grandkids with portion of the evening by showing Marty [email protected] effects using objects from the animal-shaped rubber bands and us his customizable magic vest. It table. Matthew performed a Hot a baby wand-in-training named had a lot of options and could be Rod type effect with pieces of Hector. Finally, Jacques Severe re-arranged for comfort. Andy paper and a ruler. Bruce Chadwick brought us home with several Dallas showed us a trap table he performed a “two in the hand and origami rabbits created from modified to be used as a magic one in the pocket” routine with dollar bills, and a three blind mice table with just a few adjustments. small tomatoes. John Hatzenbuhler color prediction. Professor Higgins showed several showed various feats, including a Overall, it was a night to make new variations of his floating bill. makeshift sponge ball type routine your hares stand on end! Chris Bontjes performed his new with balls of paper, star circle Assembly 141, the Columbia flash drive routine. Greg Loschen moon paper tear, and perpetual Conjurors, meet on the second showed us his 442, holdout, and tomatoes from his mouth. Monday of each month at 8:00 card change. Andy Dallas closed Josh Ayala performed rubber pm in the basement of the Parish the magic with his version of the band magic followed by Geoff House (on top of the hill) at Christ torn and restored bill. As usual, Tony Spiro receiving drawing Grimes’s finger ring and Episcopal Church in Columbia, everyone had thoughts and ideas from Walter B. handkerchief routine and Jeff Maryland. For more information

18 JANUARY 2015 Assembly News or to contact an officer, visit www. Elmhurst, Illinois Contact Tony Tuesday of every month except sam141.org Noice [email protected] 172 December at the Saint Lucie Lanes (630) 993-3740 WWW.SAM.com SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER on S. US 1 in port Saint Lucie at 148 for more details. WITH ASSEMBLY 172 7:00pm Contact Dean F. Devitt A (MIKE) WINTER’S TALE [email protected] (772) PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL— 332-8412 for more details. ELMHURST, IL — The members 157 September could have hardly been of Assembly 148 assembled on a EVENTS AND FUN TO LOOK any better. After all, what can cold, cold day in November and FORWARD TO possibly top a lecture by our own 181 were rewarded with one of the local David Kelly of Vero Beach? COINS AND CARDS most practical lectures we’ve ever BEAVER, PA— Due to President David’s lecture featured much of SLEIGHTS seen. Mike Winters is a fulltime Doug Ries being in Las Vegas the material he performed when we pro who generously taught a at the Magic Summit, Jim Tate, visited him at The Filling Station HIGHTSTOWN, NJ— Keith number of really great items from VP, presided over the Mystic in Vero a few months ago. Full Warner was performing magic his working repertoire. Opening Magicians of Beaver Valley (157) of information, tips on getting for children in a stage show and with his multi-multi-phase rope meeting. Frank Kietzke reported gigs, and pointers on approaching puppet act back in the 1980s. His routine, Mike had the entire crowd that there is The Carbonaro Effect customers, David shared a wealth performing time was soon to be enraptured, entertained, and and Wizard Wars currently on TV. of knowledge appreciated by all. taken up by his thirty-four-year fooled. Here was a perfect routine, Upcoming events: Conference Our own compeers jumped in career in the restaurant business. honed and polished by thousands for the Fellowship of Christian after David’s lecture and a short Lately, he has been able to return of performances in every type Magicians in May, MagiFest in respite, led off by Danny Eisen to magic, dedicating his practice of venue, which was not only Columbus January 29 thru 31, with a two-card revelation in time to coins and cards sleights explained in detail but offered in Battle of Magicians in Canton which the participant actually and effects that use no gaffs. At a video version free to those who April 29 to May 2. chose the two cards’ locations. our November meeting, Keith was simply emailed Mike asking for The Masters of Illusions Show Matt Musgrave performed an able to share some of the sleights it. The lecture could have stopped was reported as “great” with one of Oil and Water card effect, followed that he has found most useful in there and have been worth a year’s our members (Dick Recktenwald) by Paul Hilko and a potentially building routines. dues. It didn’t stop there! Mike then and his wife being called onstage gory Finger Guillotine, in which, Keith started his workshop presented a wonderfully ingenious to assist Rick Thomas. Jack fortunately, no phalanges were with a bottom palm for a color Magic Square effect on a giant Greenberg presented the Teach harmed. James Offenharte changing deck routine. Many of but ultra lightweight placard. The and Learn on the Performer’s performed a very clean coin effect his sleights come from Expert method incorporated a unique use Emergency Kit, which consists using a spectator’s pocket change, Card Technique, an indispensable of the Out-To-Lunch principle and of aspirin, Tums, lozenges, tools, and Harley Salas closed out the resource for card workers, but proved to be a stunner even for tape, and many more items all evening with a card production. Keith adds his own methods, math-challenged magi. fitting into a 8”x4”x2” pencil October started off with a which he showed for example, in Throughout the evening, we box. Other members added more road trip up the coast to visit our his “pass with a point.” were told how and where to buy ideas. friends at the Space Coast Magic Sleights are difficult for everyone. everything needed for a couple Performances were emceed by Club in Melbourne, the nest Keith has taken on the challenge of dollars from such well-known Frank Kietzke. Bill Cornelius stop on Wayne Houchin’s “No of working with coins and cards magic stores as Walmart and Home recalled some Halloween one- Blessings” tour. Worth the trip, sleights as a therapy; older Depot. When Mike did close-up liners and presented a trick with because three of the five compeers gentlemen please take note: he work, the effects were practical in the Ace to Four of Spades. Bill who made the trip signed on says it helps for arthritis. Where either intimate surroundings or on had someone think of a card, with the Melbourne Assembly is all this practice leading, Keith a stage for hundreds of spectators. then he shuffled them, and chose before the evening was over. would like to do a close-up act A prime example is his two-deck the correct one. Jim Weyand Our regular October magical , and from what I saw, he transposition effect. This was had someone pick a card, then a session started off with a is well on his way to making that followed by an clever, almost- number. He picked up the number workshop featuring coins, cards, a reality. impromptu version of Zen’s Cards chosen off the deck and the last and rubber bands by our own Jay Our open performance part of and Envelopes in which the cards card was the chosen one. Don Rene. Dean Devitt (yours truly) the evening started with Reba can be merely thought of or signed Moody placed a face card for two followed Jay with a Man in the doing “the only coin trick I (for cautious magicians who dread people to sign on the back. Don Iron Mask themed effect involving know.” Jeff Carson followed by an audience member’s memory folded the card in half lengthwise, three brand new genuine antique doing an Annemann effect with lapse). A refreshingly different tore it, folded it in half to show keys and a prediction, once again an expanded set of Zener card version of Bank Night followed. all edges, opened the card, and leaving the Man in the Iron Mask symbols and a large Post-it board. The prize is a package of giant M magically restored it. unidentified. Dean then did a Matt Schick, who joined our & M’s – the spectator wins and the Jack Greenberg showed three voodoo card revelation in which assembly as a teenager, took magician is stuck with a $20 bill small matchboxes. He had several a selected card was returned to time off his busy schedule to and a $100 bill. people pick up the stack, then the deck, slowly roasted over attend and tell us what he has For the second half of the lecture, only the top one. “Feel anything an open flame, and revealed as Mike concentrated on card stuff unusual?” All agreed the top box the only card with a hole burnt for the kind of guys who use felt heavier than all three. It was through it. Did I mention the “session” as a verb – in other a perceptual illusion. Jim Tate ashes on the volunteer’s palm? words, tricks that fool magicians. did Got Your Number -10. He had James followed with a short, In this case, however, they are five cards (red and yellow). Helper but very nice, change bag routine also mighty effective for paying turned cards any which way while and a variation on the Professor’s customers. After the lecture, the Jim faced other way. He turned Nightmare. Matt Musgrave table was crowded with eager around, took the cards, and they reprised his spirit reading of magicians and Mike wasn’t selling added up to 10. —Judy Steed the name of a recently deceased anything. They just wanted to The Mystic Magicians of Beaver person with fire, ashes, and the chat with this wonderful guy who Valley (157) meet the second name of the decedent written in obviously loves magic in spite of Thursday of every month at the ashes on his arm. Nice Job, Matt! Keith Warner the fact that he makes his entire Towne Square Restaurant in So, we move on now to living with it. —Tony Noice Beaver, PA. Contact Judy Steed November at the Saint Lucie been working on. Matt is part of Assembly 148 meets downstairs [email protected] (330) Lanes for another chapter in the the magic consulting team for in the Lutheran Evangelical 525-5389 for more details. life of Port Saint Lucie’s Donald E. Michael Carbonaro’s new show Epiphany Church, corner of Lea Assembly. —Dean F. Devitt on truTV, The Carbonaro Effect. Vallette and Spring Road in Assembly 172 meets on the 4th Coco did a one-coin routine and

M-U-M Magazine 19 Assembly News The Amazing Randy finished the a quarter and then back into a experiences during a later episode to the west from the east side of performances with his Five Senses ring. Ben Eskenazi showed us in which he was teamed with Las the island. However, he didn’t go routine. some mentalism by divining Vegas magician Nathan Burton. alone. He was accompanied by At our second meeting in a word freely selected from a The finale for Eddie’s and some of the top magicians on this November, we had the pleasure book. Chuck Kleiner showed a Burton’s winning routine was a journey. Why, you may ask. It was of watching a lecture on comedy genie bottle and a flying carpet; the swing set . Eddie also an effort to unite the other half of magic by Harry Allen of Daytona genie left the bottle and magically performed a miracle with a mirror, the top magicians of our assembly. Magic. Harry has been on tour returned when the bottle was place and unveiled an original creation After a three-hour drive they recently with a new lecture that he on the flying carpet. in which he magically knots a tie. arrived at Playa Los Jobos has presented at the Magic Castle; Reymarx Gereda divided a deck in Isabella, Puerto Rico. it was a delight to see and hear in half, keeping one and giving The founder of Assembly 210 him. Sleight of Mouth, the name the other to a spectator. After and S.A.M. lifetime member of Harry’s book, is the best way to numerous shuffles and cuts, each #151, our Professor Mago LuLu describe his performances. half was dealt into four piles. All did his cut and restored dental Two meetings, one month; that of the cards on top of Reymarx’s floss act. Shabum performed the is how we roll at Assembly 181. piles were Kings. All of the cards drawing board rising card. Mago —David Zboray on the spectator’s piles were Noda performed Triception Coin Assembly 181 of Hightstown supposed to be Aces, but only two and Card in Wallet. Mago Karlo meets the first Thursday of every were. Pretty close. Mark Paulson performed an excellent card month, September thru June at the had three spectators each choose routine. He never lets me down. First United Methodist Church , a page from a book. He divined Austin’s Marcus Eddie wins Mago Joel Delgado performed 187 Stockton Street, Hightstown, two and missed the third one by at Wizard Wars, on the SyFy the disappearing elephant. Mago NJ 08520. Doors open at 7:00 PM. five pages. However, he had a Channel. Odyn performed an interesting Contact Stephan Sloan lands10@ prediction that said he would miss rope routine. Mago Robert Zimmo optonline.net (732) 757-5337 one by five, so it turned out he was Another inventive illusion did a slick coin routine. And to put http://www.magicsam181.com for both pretty close and right on. had Eddie disappearing from a the icing on the cake, the magician more details. It’s great being able to try out new makeshift cardboard box just of the night, Mago Nivek, magic and get positive feedback as it was about to be crushed. performed a flamboyant, exotic, from peers. If you’re ever in Seattle, Eddie then made a miraculous live animal show. Parakeets turned 200 bring your magic and play with us. reappearance from behind the into ferrets and beautiful birds! PRETTY CLOSE —Chuck Kleiner studio audience – as one of the I wish to thank the vice-president The Emerald City Wizards Meet network’s camera operators. of Assembly 210, Mago Reynold SEATTLE, WA— Our club the First Thursday at 7:00 PM Assembly 206 members also Alexander, for his presence at all culture offers a safe, supportive each month at a branch of the received a fascinating update about our meetings and his motivation environment where members can King County Library. Check the in-progress Richard Turner to keep us going as a magical try out new presentations and website for locations: www. documentary from filmmakers family. A special thank you get positive feedback on how to emeraldcitywizards.org Contact Andrew Lee and Luke Korem. to Mago Carlos Manuel for make them better. Our November Chuck Kleiner chuckkleiner@ Dealt is scheduled for release the invitation to this beautiful meeting found many members yahoo.com (206) 236-0608 www. sometime in 2015. The filmmakers beach, Los Jobos, in an effort to trying out new effects, which emeraldcitywizards.org for more aired two trailers during the keep the “Art of Magic” alive. revealed our unplanned theme of details. October meeting and spoke about —Freddie I. Gonzalez the month, “Pretty Close.” their continuing efforts to raise Bill Murray started the evening 206 money for the project. with a new effect where he AUSTIN MAGICIANS HEAR “When you learn more about his divined three chosen cards. Well, FROM WIZARD WARRIOR personal life and how he turned it he got two out of three. Pretty AND MAGIC FILMMAKERS around and overcame everything, close. John Cameron unveiled it’s such an inspiration,” Korem a new effect he created using AUSTIN, TX— Magic on the big said of Turner, a San Antonio- geometry and playing cards. It was screen and the small – these were based magical virtuoso known a fun effect, but John only got two the themes for the October meeting best for his spectacular card out of three cards correct. Pretty of Austin’s Assembly 206. handling. close. Budding star Marcus Eddie, fresh Turner is completely blind, Shabum’s Tienda Magica Michael Jacobs wrote randomly from his winning appearance having lost his sight at an early selected numbers on a balloon on Penn & Teller’s Wizard Wars, age. But over those sightless years Assembly 210 meets every 3rd that were calculated to arrive at was among the evening’s star Turner also gained an incredible Wednesday of the month at: E.G. the number nine, which matched attractions. Also appearing were touch with cards. 18 Cristobal Real, Levittown the prediction he had placed in filmmakers Andrew Lee and For more information about Lakes ; Toa Baja, P.R. 00949 the balloon. Fortunately, Michael Luke Korem, who premiered their Dealt, check out the film’s website Contact Emanuel Shabum put a line under the nine in the new trailer for Dealt, a work- at dealtmovie.com —R.A. Dyer [email protected] (787) prediction, otherwise it could have in-progress documentary about Assembly 206 meets at the 645-2989 for more details. been seen as a six which would world-renowned card magician Omni South Park Hotel, 4140 have been pretty close. Larry Richard Turner. Governors Row, Austin, Texas, Dimmit hypnotized a half dollar The movie-night combination 78744. Contact Jake Dyer 215 that stood up and spun around on of Eddie, Lee, and Korem were [email protected] (512) ROBERT ESCHER its own. Both Michael and Larry enough to fill nearly all the theater- 658-0017 http://sam206.com/ for CLOSE-UP CONTEST were right on. style seats at the Omni Southpark more details. Ralph Huntzinger shared some Hotel conference room, the club’s LOUISVILLE, KY— The books by Tobias Beckworth and regular meeting space. Assembly 210 November 11, 2014, meeting of Max Howard to keep us thinking 206 even signed up a number of MAGICIANS REACH the Louisville Magic Club began creatively. Roger Sylwester new members. MAGICIANS with recognition of President offered some magic VHS tapes Some of the newcomers said Jim Harris for having received that were grabbed up by the group. they were drawn by the budding BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO— the Bob Escher Excellence He also showed us some beautiful fame of Eddie, a fixture in the The internationally renowned in Magic Award at the recent wooden wands. Austin magic community. The children’s TV entertainer and UnConventional Convention at Hugh Castell shared a story thirty-five-year-old magician president of Assembly 210 of the Cumberland Falls State Park about his grandfather’s ring, spoke both about his experience Puerto Rico, Mago Emanuel in Kentucky, November 7-8. Cody which visually changed into on the Wizard Wars pilot and his Shabum, set out on a mini excursion Clark announced that he will be

20 JANUARY 2015 Assembly News performing his show, A Different the pocket effect that ended with and then explaining his vanishing event, and performing two church Way of Thinking, at the Slant a giant penny. He also showed wand. Then, he went on to further shows. Lew Wymisner used magic Culture Theatre Festival on Nov. a new style deck of marked amaze us with the Double Hand to spark up two lectures to help 15, 19, and 22. Steve Spence, the cards. Chris Nicholson continued Matrix, coin routines, his muscle young people succeed at work, S.A.M. territorial vice president the theme with a demonstration of pass, rope tricks, his signature and he has a show booked in early from Indianapolis, was a welcome his new “fire” wallet. Ninja Rings, some card tricks, December. visitor again. Bob Malinchock showed his and his thimbles. During his Show time! The theme was Officers elected for next year memory skills by memorizing an presentation, he thoroughly gave “Fruits, Gourds, and Vegetables.” were the following: Mike Raymer entire deck of cards and found us explanations for all of his (Both Alex Acosta and James – 1st V.P.; Ray Adams, Jr. – 2nd the selected card by noting its effects. Lopez had performed earlier.) Dr. V.P.; Barb Harris – Treasurer; absence. He also showed a neat Lloyd (Worley the Wizard) Worley John Butler – Sergeant at Arms; trick using mailbox letters that opened, displaying a set of Crazy and Roger Omanson – Secretary. spelled out “knot,” and then Liquid Glasses (Liquid Penetration The remainder of the evening produced a knot that indicated by Father Blantz). Lew (The Great consisted of our annual Dr. Robert which letters a spectator had Loudini) Wymisner performed Escher Close-up and Parlor re-arranged. Next, he showed an entertaining and humorous Competition, organized again a box of vintage candy bars routine. Marilyn Dutton picked a this year by Ken Abbott, who and predicted the audience’s card and kept a corner. Since his also served as emcee. (Bob was favorite. Bob finished with a lighter did not work, Lew said to president of the LMC for twenty combination lock trick that used imagine that he had burned up the years, as well as president of random numbers to figure out how Shoot Ogawa with his card in his dove pan. In a really the I.B.M. in 2001-2002.) Each to open the lock, while standing by Ninja Rings bad pun, the dove pan then yielded contestant was limited to ten with a large set of bolt cutters in a food-theme production of a pair minutes. Club members Pete Now, a little more about Shoot of men’s undershorts by Fruit of Miller, Dennis Alm, and Roger Ogawa: He is a disciple of the Loom. Lew then gave Marilyn Omanson served as judges. Masahiro Yanagida. In March a can of peas and a can opener, and Prizes for the winners were 2003, he was featured in MAGIC Card in Can held a restored card provided by Penguin Magic, and magazine. Shoot has also starred that was missing the matching door prizes were awarded by as a character in Magic Master, corner. For a double climax, Lew drawings throughout the evening. a popular Japanese teenager produced, from the undershorts, a Attendance was lower than usual comic book. His website is www. card silk showing the same card. on this rainy night, but those of holyshoot.com. Dr. Ron Dutton did an original us who attended had an enjoyable I would definitely recommend Vanishing Fish effect by making evening. hosting Shoot so he can the salmon vanish from his blue In the senior category division, Bob Malinchock’s bolt cutter dazzle you with his magic. and pumpkin striped shirt. He then there were three contestants: Mike backup Last, we would like to do say a recounted a hilarious Blackstone Raymer (1st place), Jim Harris farewell to an amazing lecturer, Sr. story Ron heard from a friend (2nd place), and Arym Olden. In case the magic did not work. performer, and friend of Assembly who was an assistant on the the junior category, there were also Greg Clements showed a clever 291, Woody Pittman. Woody Blackstone show. Lew Wymisner three contestants: Graham Maupin color-changing sponge ball passed on October 24, 2014. Before appeared for a second time (1st place), Edward Streeter (2nd routine; he then concluded the he left the magic world, he shared producing a pile of Al Goshman’s place), and Sidney Hagerthy. There evening with an updated version an evening with us and took us was a three-way tie for the People’s of the six-card repeat routine that on his thrilling magic adventure. Choice Award: Graham Maupin, he had used to end last month’s That was a privilege. We will miss Edward Streeter, and Arym Olden. meeting. —Alan Wheeler him. —William Dow Jr. —Roger L. Omanson Assembly 252 meets the third Assembly 291 meets the second The LMC, Assembly 215, usually Thursday of each month at Tuesday of every month at OPICA meets at the Kosair Community the Knights of Columbus Hall Adult Day Care Facility, 11759 Center on Eastern Parkway. behind St. Leo’s Catholic Missouri Avenue, Los Angeles, Contact Roger L. Omanson Church, 3700 Old Lee Highway CA 90025. *This is subject to [email protected] (502) in the City of Fairfax, Virginia change.* Contact Les Cooper 296-6577 www.lmcmagic.com for Contact Tom Bohacek bohacek@ [email protected] (310) 473-1820 more details. gmail.com (703) 754-2005 for www.westsidewizerds.org for Enjoying our new venue more details. more details. 252 foam eggs from a Dice Tray. IN YOUR POCKET 291 292 The Amazing James closed with LESSONS WITH SHOOT PLAYING WITH FOOD a colorful production effect based FAIRFAX, VA— Bob Ellis, a OGAWA on Jack Chanin’s TV Surprise middle school science teacher GREELEY, CO— We tried out (Tarbell Course Volume 7 by in real life, began the November LOS ANGELES, CA— The night a new venue for our November ). It was a large meeting by telling about his new started with our secretary talking meeting. Jim Pope led a business production from a black foulard, after-school activity for seventh about the upcoming elections for meeting over lunch in a private starting with small candy boxes, and eighth graders that he calls the officers and our big end-of-the- room of Pellegrini Ristorante then to increasingly larger fruits “Magic of Science.” He teaches year potluck dinner. President Bill Italiano. The room proved to be and vegetables, and for a climax, kids simple magic tricks combined talked about what is new in the suitable and the quality of the a big pineapple. Well done, and a with scientific experiments and world of magic and the Internet food was excellent. (Pellegrini’s fine way to close a convivial and invited Assembly 252 members to side of magic. will become our back-up enjoyable meeting.—Ron Dutton participate. Ben Guy continued On with the guest lecturer – meeting place when Kenny’s The Dr. Ronald P. Dutton the discussion with info on his Mr. Makota “Shoot” Ogawa! Per Steakhouse is not available.) Assembly 292 usually meets at new project: a gathering of all Shoot’s biography, in Japanese, We elected officers for 2015: Kenny’s Steak House, 3502 West the published Okito box routines “Shoot” (Mr. Ogawa’s stage name) President – James Lopez; Vice 10th Street (corner of 35th Avenue) that he hopes to produce as a means “people gather together.” President – Dr. Ron Dutton; at 11:00 A.M. (lunch optional), compilation. This is what he did for us, he Secretary – Lew Wymisner; and on the second Saturday of the Richie Klein kicked off the gathered us together to dazzle us Treasurer – Paul Noffsinger. month. Contact R. James Lopez magic (and the evening’s “In with his signature and beautiful Show Reports included James [email protected] (970) Your Pocket” theme) with a three- magic. He started the night Lopez doing a show based on 301-3804 www.SAM292.org for penny, two in the hand and one in fascinating, astonishing, amazing math, handling a balloon animals more details. 

M-U-M Magazine 21 22 JANUARY 2015 Good Cheer List

Please take a minute to spread a few words of cheer with a card or note to one of our less fortunate members. Send additions, changes, or deletions to: Anthony Antonelly, Chairman, Sick and Convalescent Committee, (215) 820-3192 ext. 1512. [email protected]

Daniel Cudennec Bob King James J. Morrisey Pat Ryan “Dany Trick” 304 Suburban Ct. 24 Grove St. 43 Fairbanks Rd. 225, Stang-ar-Veil- Rochester, NY 14620 Wayland, MA 01788 Churchville, NY 14428 d’an-Traon, Mellac-29300, Quimperle, France Dick Kohlhafer Nahmen Nissen Jack White 408 Century Vista Dr. PO Box 1856 4288 Arguello St. Dan A. Dorsey Arnold, MD 21012 Colfax, CA 95713-1856 San Diego, CA 92103 98 Woodvalley Dr. Fayetteville, GA 30215 Stanley R. Kramien Allen Okawa Jim Zachary 11205 SW Summerfield Dr. 2101 Nuuanu Ave., 2801 South Creek Dr. Charlie Gross Apt 161 Tower 1, #2203 Mulberry, FL 33860 16745 Gertrude St. Tigard, OR 97224-3391 Honolulu, HI 9681 Omaha, NE 60136-3023 Richard Laneau Jim Relyea Roy Horn 4020 55th St. N. 241 W. Lakeshore c/o Siegfried & Roy St. Petersburg, FL 33709 Rockaway, NJ 07866 1639 N Valley Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89108 George Gilbert Lott Harry Riser 1725 Great Hill Rd. 11755 N. Michigan Rd. #313 Guilford, CT 06437 Zionsville, IN 46077

M-U-M Magazine 23 The Nielsen Gallery Kio - Doves and Top Hat Dimensions: ½ sheet – 23” x 36” • Lithographer: Russian Lithographer Date: Circa late 1950s • Nielsen Rating: Rare

humans, particularly attractive young ladies, with such illusions THE KIO DYNASTY OF as the transposition of a spectator-marked girl from one ceiling- MAGICIANS suspended cage to a remote suspended cage, the change of a girl in a wheeled-on cage to a lion, and the reappearance of a man and There are few family dynasties in magic. We have the lady in a horse-drawn buggy. He produced five large ducks from Herrmanns, Bambergs, Sorcars, Willards, and a few others. a water-filled tub on stage, and drew dozens of doves from a small This first column of the New Year will touch on the Kio family, box previously shown empty, filling the ring with ducks and ’s very own dynasty of magicians. doves.” And, he, too, carried on the tradition by presenting his The first member of this dynasty is Emil Teodorovich Kio, father’s spectacular Bride of the Flames. whose real name was Emil Teodorovich Hirschfeld-Renard. According to magic historian , Kio was, “the most innovative circus illusionist in history.” No other circus performer offering illusions anywhere else in the world equaled his sensational staging. He was born on April 11, 1894, and like his sons Igor and Emil Jr. who followed, was an illusionist who held the coveted title, “People’s Artist” of the Russian Soviet Fed- erative Socialist Republic. He plied his trade very successfully in Russia’s most famous circuses. Emil Sr. deserves great credit for overcoming a number of obstacles associated with performing surrounded in a circus ring. First, he was able to assemble a show comprised of illusions, suf- ficiently spectacular enough to appeal to such a large audience. Second, he assembled an outstanding collection of productions, vanishes, and transpositions that precluded any sort of monotony. And finally, he managed to do all this while deftly handling and managing upwards of thirty assistants. His most spectacular illusion was a cremation-in-the-round. Kio Incineration Christopher wrote, “A girl stood on top of a small white table while a circular cloth canopy was lowered to cover her. Assistants Following the show, the magicians met at a nearby restaurant rushed into the ring with lighted torches and set fire to the cloth. where they were joined by Kio and his interpreter. Milbourne Forty-foot-high flames leapt up. Spectators in the arena could feel Christopher presented him with a plaque on behalf of the S.A.M. the intensity of the heat. Soon only a heap of ashes remained. Later In a May 1986 issue of Genii, columnist Tom Ogden enthused the girl emergency unharmed from inside a suspended cage.” over Igor Kio’s show, describing every illusion and all the sup- In the summer of 1959, he appeared with the Moscow Circus porting acts that he witnessed in the Soviet Union. Kio never did at the Empire Pool building at Wembley in England. Of course, anything in a small way and Ogden’s description of Kio’s final Magic Circle members attended, feted him, and made him an bow is a perfect example: “Alone in the ring, Kio takes his final honorary member with the Silver Wand. The world mourned the bows. A little girl is brought into the ring with flowers for Kio, loss of a great magician when he passed away six years later on which he accepts. The girl starts to leave the ring, then turns back December 19, 1965. and gives Kio her teddy bear. As she runs from the ring, Kio tucks His second son, Igor, was born on March 13, 1944, and being the toy into a large drawer box and turns it into a live dancing a member of a family of circus performers, began appearing in bear. And why not?” front of audiences at the age of five. By the time he was fifteen, he In addition to the circus, he was also a star of stage and televi- was working professionally as a magician with the Russian Circus sion and hosted an annual New Year’s program. He left the state Association. He was a member of the International Brotherhood circus in 1989, two years before the collapse of the Soviet Union; of Magicians, and won numerous awards, including People’s he opened his own firm, organizing tours for his and other artistic Artist of the Russian Federation and an Oscar from Belgium. acts. Interestingly, Kio’s first wife, Galina, was the daughter of In October 1967, he made a rare appearance in the U.S. with the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. The marriage only lasted nine Moscow Circus; during his appearance in New York, the Parent days. His second lasted eleven years and produced a daughter, Assembly obtained a block of two hundred seats at Madison who performed in his show as a ballet dancer. His third and final Square Garden. An article on his appearance in the December marriage lasted twenty years. Igor Kio died August 30, 2006. 1967 issue of M-U-M with many photographs gave this overview: Emil Emilievich Kio, eldest son of the original Kio, became his “Igor Kio, who reminds one of Dick Gustafson in looks and father’s assistant in 1961 and presented his own version of the act movement, is the successor of his father who performed under the in another unit of the Moscow Circus with Eleonora Boleslavovna same name, and apparently inherited a masterful presentation in Prochnizkaya, his wife and a former premiere dancer with the the Old World tradition. His act concentrated on transpositions of Bolshoi Ballet. 

24 JANUARY 2015

Not Just Kid Stuff By Jim Kleefeld

astute means that you can accurately both the children and their parents. I call assess a need or a situation and turn this this trick No Bars at the Zoo. to your advantage. You can make your First, you will need three pieces of show work for you by carefully planning clear plastic printed with (apparently) what combination of effects and materials random black rectangles, as shown in will best marry your performing character Figure 1. One sheet has solid vertical bars. MAKING ASTUTE with your audience’s aspiration to be en- The second and third sheets show the bars tertained. Choose material that you are broken and scattered. These three sheets DECISIONS good at, that reflects who you are and how I’m going to let you in on a secret that you behave onstage, and that pleases and only a few veteran performers come to entertains your audiences. realize. It’s one of those things that some Several years ago I watched a perform- people never learn, and even if you tell er’s Dove Pan routine. He showed the pan them, they don’t believe you. It tends to and had a girl hold it. Then he brought up be what separates the guys who do great a gaggle of helpers and passed out small shows from the guys who wonder why packets of ingredients. The children lined they never get word-of-mouth referrals. up and each dropped something into the Here is the secret: Your customers do not pan: first real flour, then actual milk, then an pay you for the $1,000 worth of equipment egg, then water, then sugar, then chocolate that you bring to the show; they pay you chips. He took back the pan, dropped in a for the $100,000 worth of equipment that lit match, and covered the pan with a lid. He you left at home. had the kids sing a song while they waited Think about the implications of that and watched the pan he was holding. Then statement. You don’t book shows because he lifted the lid and produced a bunch of of what you bring, you book shows because chocolate chip cookies. He walked into the of what you do not bring. That is because audience passing them out until they were a good performance is mainly about gone. When kids in the back complained FIGURE 1 selection. It is your choice of material that that they hadn’t received a cookie, he dug makes you and your act worth watching. under his table, brought out a bag of Chips will overlap; the black bars can be seen We all have bought a plethora of magic Ahoy cookies, opened it, and finished through all three layers as shown in Figure tricks. From our earliest days of youth, passing out the treats until everyone had 2. The sheets can be easily printed at home when we discovered that tricks were to be gotten one. What kind of decision-making on inkjet transparency film available at had by buying them one at a time, we have went into this routine, I wondered? Did he any local office supply store. You will also collected props, tricks, routines, gags, bits think he was clever by using a baking pan need a deck of alphabet cards and a thin of business, and more. We all have drawers to simulate baking? He surely planned on flat box about 9 x 12 to hold the sheets or closets or entire homes full of magic passing out cookies to everyone and even (Figure 3). Parchment and other specialty “stuff.” You cannot take it all to a show, so brought an extra bag in case there were printed papers often come in tray-like you must decide what to take. more kids than Dove Pan cookies. Did he boxes like these when bought in small And therein is the crux of a good realize that this would take an inordinate quantities at office supply stores. performer. You can take the newest tricks amount of time and bring his magic show you bought, or the ones that were the to a screeching halt? Did he realize that most expensive, or the ones that are your none of the kids even considered that they personal favorites, or the ones that get had witnessed a magic effect? They saw the loudest response, or the ones that are (even helped) him put ingredients into a the easiest to carry, or the ones that have pan, add heat, and wait. Of course he got a birthday theme, or the ones that are the cookies! That’s exactly what their mothers simplest to re-set, or…well, you get the do without using any magic. idea. The point is that you have to make Here is an example of making an astute decisions about your working repertoire. decision that can improve your show. Suppose you need to do a trick about a MAKE ASTUTE zoo animal. You could bring out the old DECISIONS and worn Monkey Bar trick, in which a tiny plush animal jumps from one rope FIGURE 2 An astute person is intelligent, but also to another. Or you could do something At your show, bring out the three plastic sees underlying cause and effect. Being original and clever that is entertaining to sheets, the flat box, and the alphabet deck.

26 JANUARY 2015 and back to the top, and then use a slip-cut thought of any animal in the zoo. Best of force. “Make sure you don’t show me or all, the trick has a different kind of plot and say out loud which letter you picked, but is entertaining. When you start to choose think of any animal that begins with that effects for your show, it helps to pick ones letter. If you picked B, you might think that show something visual, unique, and of a bear or a bison or a beaver. If you clever. If you bring out predictable props picked L, then you could think of a lion, and do predictable effects, then your show or a lemur, or a leopard. Do you have one may end up being predictably dull. Instead in mind? Just set your letter face down on of choosing ordinary tricks with standard the table.” It is important to have the card props, think about what tricks will work FIGURE 3 readily available. If the child gets confused best for you, and then Make Astute “Did you hear what they are doing at the or tries to trick you by naming her favorite Decisions. zoo? They are making realistic and life-like animal, you can always pick it up and The ability to make astute decisions is habitats for the animals instead of keeping remind her that her animal has to begin not necessarily a skill we are born with. them in cages with bars. The zoo used to with a Z, the letter she chose. In life you have to make many decisions; have all the animals behind bars like this.” Pick up the box and remove the top slowly you learn which ones turn out to be Pick up the clear sheet with the solid bars sheet to show it again, displaying the black good and which ones to avoid. But reading and set it in the box. Hold it up to show the sections scattered throughout. “Remember and studying child psychology and the audience. The white background of the that I said they cut apart all the bars and psychology of magic are good ways to box allows the striped design to show cages like this? And that one animal got avoid making poor decisions. If you have clearly. “But over the past several years, loose? Which animal were you thinking to, you can learn from experience, but you they have been cutting apart the bars and about?” Since the child picked a Z, she might end up burning some bridges behind dismantling the cages.” Set the box flat on should answer “zebra.” Drop the plastic you along the way. Take several bad tricks your table. Hold up the second and third sheet back into the box. Tilt and tap the to a Cub Scout show and you may never sheets to show the broken bar sections. box slightly so all three sheets slide down again work for Cub Scouts in your area. Drop these in the tray as well, but make and to the right, which will align them Fortunately, it is often the case that we sure the three sheets are not perfectly against the bottom and right edges of the are more judgmental about our decisions aligned. Since the sheets are 8.5 x 11 and box. When the three panels align, the black than are others. Ultimately, you are the box is 9 x 12, there is room to allow the bars will coincide to form the image of a often much better equipped to determine sheets to be somewhat disarrayed (Figure zebra (Figure 5). “I guess you were whether an effect or routine was a poor 4). thinking of exactly the right animal. Let’s choice than are your clients. To many in give our helper a round of applause.” the audience, your show might have been just fine. But if you evaluate your own performance, you may realize that the old routine you took out was getting a much better response then the new one you put in. Self-criticism is one way to help make astute decisions. During your show you FIGURE 4 should be judging responses. How well is “They did have a problem last week, each trick going over? What routines need however. One of the animals got out and to be trimmed or expanded? Is there any wandered about the zoo. It took quite evidence of confusion or misunderstand- a while to get him back into the habitat. ing? Let’s see if someone can spot the errant What you need to consider in evaluat- animal.” (Yes, it is okay to use a larger vo- ing each effect is how well it fits with your FIGURE 5 cabulary in a children’s show. Your context style, your persona, and your audience. may help the kids learn something new.) Notice that the routine has a fun theme; Your decision to keep, delete, or change a Bring out the alphabet deck and choose a kids love zoo animals. It also presents routine or prop should never be about how volunteer. “I’m going to let a helper pick a magic outcome – that of predicting or much you like the trick, or how much you out a letter of the alphabet and think of an revealing a hidden thought. And it makes paid for it, or how many other magicians animal. We’ll see if that’s the one that the a magically visible display; the panels are doing it. Whether you think the method zoo lost.” (Notice that this is the third time sliding together to form an unexpected is cool does not enter into it. Neither is it you have mentioned “zoo.” This should picture. It plays as well for adults as it does important whether or not anyone else in steer the kids away from thinking about for kids because children love to see the your local magic club owns one. Make whales or roosters.) zebra and adults are fascinated with how your decision about a routine based on its Show the letter cards, shuffle the pack, the clear pieces can technically accom- effect on your audience. and have your helper choose one. Force plish the transformation. Plus, nobody Every show you do should generate the letter Z. Use your favorite method. I knows that you forced a Z on the child. some serious thinking on your part about usually start with the Z card on top, jog As far as the audience is concerned, she the contents, sequence, and pacing. The shuffle twice to move the Z to the bottom chose a random letter of the alphabet and drive home is always a good place to

M-U-M Magazine 27 NOT JUST KID STUFF ponder. Did the show really work as well new things and play with cool toys. But Asia. It’s highly unlikely any kid will think as it could have, or is there something you you cannot be a pro by buying ten tricks of that. If you are interested in making up can improve? If your thoughts wander to and putting them all into your show. You a No Bars at the Zoo effect for yourself, I the hoard of props in your basement or have to choose. Often you have to examine have the artwork for the three clear sheets closet, or some new prop that you just love, and practice with a hundred tricks and in jpeg format, which I can email to anyone or whether you should spend your show props and routines to find the ten that will who asks. You can print the files on inkjet profit on buying more new tricks, try to work for you. Leave those thousands of transparency film, grab a flat box and curtail yourself. I made up No Bars at the dollars worth of not-right-for-me tricks at deck of alphabet cards, and you will be all Zoo after I had thought about using my home. Just bring the best ones. set.  Acrobatic Silks routine and labeling the Oh, and about the precocious child Email me at [email protected] colored silks different animals. That might who wants to sabotage the above trick in and I’ll send you the artwork with my have worked, but this was better. your show, this is nearly impossible if you compliments – as long as you promise to Like me, you probably have spent your force a Z. About the only other animal that continue improving your show by Making life buying lots of new magic tricks. No someone could ever come up is a zebu, Astute Decisions. problem, we all do it. We love to discover which is a species of cattle native to South

New Members & Reinstatements

NEW MEMBERS Tucson, Arizona Tana, Tj Kentner, Robert W Kuehner, Ashley Commack, NY Ponca, NE Anderson, Steve St. Louis, Mo Tedford, Jeremy Lafitte, Guy Andover, MA Lennis, Peter Brea, CA St Paul, MN Baker, Darla North Brookfield, MA Trick, Jim Loud, Carl Thomas Mims, FL Lizotte, Bryan Marblehead, MA Louisville, KY Bey, Victoria Shelton, CT Vick, Lance Mauro, David J Pittsburg, PA Lo, Kayi East Palo Alto, CA West Palm Beach, FL Brown, Brad Brooklyn, NY Von Culin, Richard Melillo, Peter James Ellwood City, PA Lyons, Joe Middlebury, CT New Hartford, CT Browne, Ken Ashley, Ohio White, Jeff Miskelly, Wayne Mesa, AZ Mahaffey, Dylan Sunnyvale, CA Haines City, FL Cheevers, Alison Pittsburg, PA Witoszynski, Jim Moore, Jason Stratford, CT Martinez, Lee Los Angeles, CA Kansas City, MO Clougherty, John Jacksonville, NC Wood, Cameo Newman, Ira Jay Azusa, CA Messina, James , CA Placentia, CA Delara, Christopher Califon, NJ Parsons, Ryan Albuquerque, NM Milenka Repnau, Valerie REINSTATEMENTS Reading, PA Delaure, Fabrice Los Angeles, CA Portonova, Audrey L Torcy, FRANCE Moore, Tj Arnstein, Augie West Hartford, CT Diaz, Albert Yuma, Arizona Annandale, VA Robertson, Mark J Reseda, CA Page, Elizabeth Boudrot, Mitchell Lincoln, NE Friedberg, Steve Brea, CA Murphy, NC Robinson, Daniel Downington, PA Parish, Gary Brizendine, Bob Warren, OH Garcia, David Kent, WA Palm Shores, FL Semanchik, David Bronx, NY Parrish Iii, Edwin C Capaul, Joseph A Reston, VA Genis, David Wichita, KS Seaside, CA Sipe, Rod NY City, NY Ralston, Stephen A Edwards, Doug Independence, MO Gracy, Jennifer Upland, CA Flushing, NY Tan, Calvin Melissa, TX Reid, Johnathan Flom, Scott Maple Glen, PA Hayward, Craig Sammamish, WA Eden Prairie, MN Teraila, Robert Henderson, NV Schindler, Hadley Franco, Mat Newington, CT Hollar, Everett St Louis, MO Newport, RI Thighe, Craig Tucson, AZ Sierra, Rick Gunn, Kent Centennial, CO Johnson, Darlene N Las Vegas, NV Merritt Is, FL Vassilakis, Dino Tarzana, CA Smith, Craig Haversat, David Homer Gren, IL Justin Simpson, R Eagle Rock, CA Oxford, CT Viehmann, Dan Baltimore, MD Stevens, Emmett Joly, Paul Cape Porpoise, ME Kennedy, Thomas Knoxville, TN South Hamilton, MA Wojewoda, Tim 'Carlson' Lake Hiawatha, NJ Szkotak, Eric Kennedy, Frank Bay City, MI Klem, Jacey Hayward, CA Haverford, PA

28 JANUARY 2015

Ebook Nook: The Dai Vernon Book of Magic

learn by watching and asking why certain choices were made. You learn by having your own material critiqued. You can under- stand Vernon’s aesthetic choice by studying his material, but it’s tough. At the time I met Harry Riser in 1972, I was very conver- Excerpt From: The Dai Vernon sant with Stars of Magic and the books on Vernon, Book of Magic but within an hour of meeting Harry I realized that I didn’t really Written By: understand any of it. I never spent that much time with Vernon, Lewis Ganson but I spent a lot of time with Riser, and through him I gained an Description: understanding and an appreciation of the Vernon aesthetic (and Ebook, pages Charlie Miller’s, too). Available From: There are still some first- and second-generation Vernon www.lybrary.com students on the planet. Many of them don’t talk very much about what they know. Try to spend time with one if you can. (The best It is hard to believe that Dai Vernon has been gone for twenty- way to begin that conversation is to ask an intelligent question.) two years. In the opinion of many (myself included), Vernon was In Spain, has become the maestro whose aesthetic the greatest influence on close-up magic in the twentieth century. approach is most appealing. Juan is a student of Vernon’s, and so Vernon was obsessed with magic. He was the living conduit to the the legacy continues. magic of such greats as , Max Malini, and Dr. James The excerpt for Ebook Nook this month comes from Lewis Elliott. When he lived in , he inspired younger Ganson’s The Dai Vernon Book of Magic, which was the first big magicians who would themselves achieve legendary status: Herb book of Vernon’s creations. The secrets revealed in it came as a Zarrow, Ken Krenzel, Howard Schwarzman, Persi Diaconis, and revelation to magicians around the world. Ganson does his best to others. In the 1950s, Vernon lectured in the UK and ; his explain the Vernon aesthetic, but that information is most easily approach to magic stunned the European magicians, who had discerned if you already know what you’re looking for. The routine never seen anything like it. I’ve chosen, The Three Ball Transposition exemplifies the Vernon When Vernon moved to and became the resident approach. In particular (in case you enjoy careful reading), you’ll guru at the Magic Castle, he became the focal point for magic find at least six examples of how Vernon solves problems. This in the United States. Many magicians, including Larry Jennings, routine will fool and entertain laymen and magicians. My thanks , Michael Skinner, Steve Freeman, , to Chris Wasshuber and lybrary.com for allowing this excerpt to , Johnny Thompson, and Michael Perovich, relocated to appear in M-U-M. —Michael Close Southern California just to be able to spend time with Vernon on a regular basis. There had been nothing like Vernon before, and THREE BALL TRANSPOSITION since his passing, there has been nothing like him since (at least in the United States). Edwin T. Sachs, in his book Sleight of Hand, mentions that When describing Vernon and his approach to magic, a term although performers from the East have the reputation of being often used was “The Vernon Touch.” (This was also the title of able to produce marvelous feats of magic, he personally had Vernon’s long-running column in Genii magazine, now available been disappointed in the effects that some Chinese conjurers had as a book.) These “touches” were guided by one overriding shown him when they visited England. However, there was one dictum: Be natural. At the end of any effect, the spectators should trick that impressed him considerably: a novel and quaint effect say to themselves, “But he didn’t do anything!” To put this in with marbles. artistic terms, what Vernon offered was a dramatically different For this trick, the performer placed some marbles in his aesthetic approach to magic. mouth, where he held them temporarily while showing his hands A creative artist answers two questions: 1) What idea or to be empty. He then took the marbles separately from his mouth emotion am I going to express? 2) How am I going to express and held them in his closed fists, from where he caused them to that idea or emotion? The answer to question two is an aesthetic vanish, only to reappear from the tip of his wand, from the table- answer. Jackson Pollock’s answer was different than Norman top, and from his mouth again. Rockwell’s answer. Rachmaninoff’s answer was different than This description intrigued Dai Vernon, who became deter- John Cage’s answer. Vernon’s answer was different from much mined to evolve a routine that, while eliminating the distasteful of what was being offered in magic during the twentieth century. action of placing marbles in the mouth, would allow him to bring And for the many magicians who moved to be with him (and about a mysterious transposition of marbles or balls from one for those like Harry Riser, Bob White, and others who met with hand to the other. After a considerable amount of experimenting, Vernon occasionally), Vernon’s aesthetic approach was the one he produced an original routine that met with instant success and they wanted to internalize and emulate. that has remained a feature of his act for many years. Here’s the problem. I don’t think you can internalize an In the Vernon effect, the balls used are about an inch in aesthetic approach without being around someone who exempli- diameter. The material from which they are made matters little, fies that approach. It’s really tough to get it from a book. I think although he recommends solid rubber. On occasions, he will pick that the student absorbs this approach, rather than studies it. You up olives from the dinner table and perform with those. For his

30 JANUARY 2015 demonstrations in this country, in addition to rubber balls, he used balls turned from wood and also balls that looked like miniature golf balls, made from a plastic material, that he purchased from a toy shop. Although the audience is aware of the existence of three balls only, he actually has four in his jacket pocket on the right-hand side at the commencement of the performance. When procuring balls for this routine, it will assist the reader if he bears in mind that the diameter required is about the same as an English halfpenny. Photo 1 shows the performance in progress, and it will be seen that two volunteer assistants from the audience are holding a handkerchief between them into which the balls are dropped at various stages in the routine. 2

1 eight inches and turn it so that the thumb end of the fist is to the right. Relax the fingers sufficiently to allow the ball to roll right into the opening at the thumb end of the fist, but at this point the opening should still be covered by the thumb. Notice the position of the left hand in Photo 3. With the right hand pick up the second ball and display it between the pads of the thumb and second finger (Photo 3). Now simultaneous actions take place with both hands. Bring them towards each other; the right hand makes a quarter turn to bring the back towards the audience as the first, third, and little fingers come around the ball, obscuring it from view (Photo 4). As the hands are coming together, they both begin to turn to the left until, when they actually touch, the right hand is above the left fist. During this turning movement, move the left When performing before a large audience, Dai Vernon thumb aside and slightly down so that when the top of the left fist provides a close-mesh net, which is held by the assistants in place is covered by the right fingers, the left forefinger (assisted by the of the handkerchief. The advantage of the net is that the balls can thumb) can squeeze the ball to the top of the fist. be seen by spectators who may be sitting below the level of the performer. Incidentally, the idea for using a net is Dai Vernon’s own. He passed it on to Silent Mora, who had constructed another fine routine, quite independently, on the same lines. 3 As an important basic sleight is used several times during the routine, this will be described first, because it is essential that it should be mastered before attempting the rest of the moves. The purpose of the basic sleight is to allow the spectators to see two or three balls apparently placed into the left hand, whereas, in reality, the hand eventually contains a single ball only. The Basic Sleight: After casually permitting the left hand to be seen empty, close it into a fist and hold it, thumb end upwards, in front of the body just above waist level. With the right hand pick up a ball and place it on top of the left fist, then, after touching it with the tip of the right forefinger (Photo 2), allow it to sink slowly into the fist by opening the left fingers just sufficiently to let the ball sink downwards by its own weight. So far there is no trickery involved, except that the ball does not go far down into the fist, only just out of sight. The foregoing moves appear complicated in print, but if the Pick up a second ball with the right hand and apparently place reader will attempt them while reading the text, they will be easily it on top of the fist as before, then allow it to sink in, but during understood. Refer to Photo 5, which shows a rear view of the final these visible actions you perform the following secret move: position – the first ball has been squeezed to the top of the left fist, After the first ball is in the left fist, and during the action of while the right hand (containing the second ball) has apparently reaching forward for the second ball, drop the left hand about placed the ball on the left fist. The photograph shows how the

M-U-M Magazine 31 EBOOK NOOK

into the fist, it is not necessary to push the ball down. Touching the ball looks perfectly natural, as the action draws attention to it, but 4 what is important to the performer is that by extending the right forefinger and curling the other fingers into the palm the second ball is taken automatically to the finger-palm position under cover of a natural movement. From the finger-palm position a ball can be conveyed to the palm-proper position if required. Once the mechanics of the moves are understood, the reader will find that they are not difficult to perform, but it is essential that they are practiced until they can be made smoothly and auto- matically – remember that it is the timing and the naturalness of performance that creates the perfect illusion. Performance: With four balls in your jacket pocket on the right-hand side and the handkerchief or net readily available, you are ready to present the effect. Obtain the services of two volunteer assistants from the audience; position one on your right side and the other on your left, then instruct them to hold the handkerchief or net between them (Photo 1). If the performance is taking place before a large audience, then a better view will be obtained if the performer and his assistants are standing. It is also desirable to use a net on these 5 occasions, because the mesh permits a view of the balls from a low angle. Stage 1: Tell the audience that it is proposed to use three small balls for this effect, and, after removing three of the four balls from the jacket pocket, let them drop singly from the right hand into the net. Now hold both hands palms upward with fingers curled slightly to permit the audience to see that they are empty. Say, “Watch carefully...” then close the left hand into a fist and hold it, thumb upwards, in front of the body, just above waist level. Pick up a ball from the net between the pads of the right thumb and second finger, and place it on top of the left fist; touch it with the right forefinger (Photo 2) and as you say, “One ball...” allow it to sink slowly into the fist by opening the left fingers just suf- ficiently to let the ball sink down by its own weight. As you reach forward to pick up a second ball from the net in the same manner as before, allow the left fist to turn and drop naturally in readiness for the Basic Sleight. Apparently place the action is covered – notice how the right fingers cover the second second ball on the left fist, but actually make the Basic Sleight. ball on three sides, obscuring it from the view of the spectators in Touch the ball with the right forefinger and say, “Two balls...” front and the two volunteer assistants on the left and the right of then allow it to sink into the fist again. the performer. Repeat these actions (Basic Sleight) with the third ball. When the right hand is removed, what appears to be the second At this point the audience believes that the three balls are in the ball is visible on top of the left fist. Actually it is the first ball left fist, but due to the fact that the basic move has been employed again. Apparently to draw attention to the ball the right second, twice, there is only one ball in the left fist. Two balls are in the third, and little fingers curl into the palm (conveying the second right finger-palm position. ball automatically to the finger-palm position), and the extended Close the right hand into a fist and hold it, thumb upwards, in forefinger touches the visible ball (Photo 2), which then sinks front of the body and about a foot from the left fist. Gesture with down into the fist as before. the left fist towards the right fist (without bringing them together), The same operation is repeated with the third ball, and at the wiggling the fingers in the process, then squeeze a ball to the top conclusion the audience will believe that there are three balls in of the right fist and, by tipping the fist to the left, allow the ball to the left fist; actually there is only one; the other two are in the right fall into the net, saying, “One ball...” finger-palm position. Repeat these actions, and, as the second ball falls from the Practice the moves until the movements of both hands can be right fist into the net, say,“...two balls.” Now turn to the assistant perfectly synchronized, because it is upon the timing and the nat- on the left and pretend to hear him remark that there is no ball in uralness of the actions that the illusion depends. the left hand, so say, “No, no, there is still a ball in this hand.” Although the right forefinger touches the ball before it sinks Open the left hand and show him the ball on the palm. Pick it

32 JANUARY 2015 up with the right hand and show it to the assistant on the right, kept still). Allow the ball on the right fist to sink back into the fist then apparently take it back into the left hand, which is then and simultaneously dislodge the ball from the left hand so that it again closed into a fist. Actually, this is a fake transfer, the ball falls on to the right fist, then into the net. When these movements remaining in the right hand, where it is taken into the palm-proper are correctly timed, it appears as if the ball has been squeezed position as the hand drops momentarily while attention is focused from the right fist to fall into the net. In Photo 6 the left hand has on the closed left fist. been lifted to show the position of the ball outside the fingers and Gesture to the assistant on the right with the right hand. The the right-hand ball sinking into the fist; in performance the hands ball is in the right palm-proper position; the fingers are opened a would be together momentarily. little and curled slightly, so that the hand is natural in appearance, Now squeeze the ball to the top of the right fist and allow it to not with fingers spread “starfish” fashion. Say, “Watch!” Then fall into the net as the fist is tilted. Apparently the three balls have close the right hand and hold it in front of the body again. Make a passed magically from the left hand to the right hand. Both hands gesture with the left hand towards the right, then squeeze the ball are opened and shown casually, palms upward. to the top of the right fist and allow it to drop into the net. Show Stage 3: State that the effect will be repeated again. This time both hands casually, palms upward. really do allow the first two balls to sink into the left fist (noBasic Stage 2: At this stage the effect is repeated, but on this occasion Sleight is made). Place the third ball on top of the left fist, then there is a slight variation in the moves. say, “I’ll place this ball in my pocket.” Reach over with the right Saying, “I’ll do that again,” pick up a ball from the net with hand as if taking the ball, but as the right fingers come around the the right hand and place it on the left fist as before. ball, allow it to sink into the left fist. The right hand goes to the Actually, the moves are the same up to the point where you jacket pocket, palms the fourth ball, and is then removed. begin to squeeze balls from the right hand – that is: (a) the first Looking at the assistant on the right, say, “How many balls in ball is placed on the left fist and sinks in; (b) the second ball is my left hand?” Whatever he answers, say, “But you see, I have apparently placed on the left fist and sinks in (Basic Sleight); and three balls in my left hand.” Allow the three balls to fall singly (c) the third ball is apparently placed on the left fist and sinks in from the left hand into the net. (Basic Sleight). This leaves one ball in the left fist and two in Remember, at the conclusion of this stage, the fourth ball is the right, although apparently there should be three balls in the palmed in the right hand, unbeknown to the audience. left fist. After the previous demonstration, the audience will be Stage 4: The moves, with certain variations, are repeated. watching carefully, so a variation is brought into play. Pick up a ball from the net and place it on top of the left fist. This time hold the fists closer together in front of the body, Actually, this ball sinks into the fist under cover of the right and, as the left hand gestures towards the right, the left-hand ball fingers, and it is the palmed ball (that has been brought to the fin- is secretly brought outside the left fingers and gripped by the gertips) that is seen on top of the left fist as the right hand moves base of the thumb and the bent third finger; the thumb rolls it away. Refer to Photo 5, which is an exposed view. It will be seen to this position under cover of the movement of the left hand as that the ball that was taken from the pocket and brought to the it gestures towards the right. Photo 6 shows an exposed view of fingertips rests on top of the first ball, then, when the first ball is this hold. All attention will be on the right hand as it squeezes a allowed to sink into the left fist, the second ball drops on top of ball to the top of the fist and then tilts to the left to make the ball the fist just before the right fingers are removed. Let the visible fall into the net. Squeeze the second ball to the top of the right ball sink into the fist as you say, “One ball.” Pick up another ball fist, but this time, although the tilting action appears the same as from the net and place it on top of the fist; allow it to sink in as before, the right hand moves under the left hand (the left hand is you count, “Two balls.” Take the last ball from the net and place it on top of the left fist. This time, pick up the ball again between the tips of the right first and second fingers (Photo 7), and as you say, “I’ll place the 6 third ball into my pocket,” move the right hand to the right, turning it over to show the other side. Notice in Photo 8 how the third and little fingers are closed into the palm and the thumb is extended adjacent to the second finger. In this instance, nothing is concealed in the palm, but the audience is being conditioned for the occasion when it is necessary to conceal balls. By making actions when no trickery is involved, no surprise will be aroused when apparently identical moves are made and balls are concealed. Place the right hand in the pocket, palm the ball, and bring the hand out again. Open the left fingers slowly and allow the three balls to roll singly into the net. Stage 5: Again you repeat the moves with variations. Pick up a ball with the right hand, place it on the left fist, and allow it to sink in counting, “One ball.” Pick up another ball, place it on the left fist, and allow it to sink in counting, “Two balls.” Turn to the assistant on the left, open the left hand, and show

M-U-M Magazine 33 EBOOK NOOK him the two balls, saying, “Remember, two balls.” Holding one Casually show both hands empty, and then close the left hand ball back with the left thumb, bring the left hand (back upwards) into a fist. Pick up the first ball and place it on top of the fist; touch over the right hand and open the fingers of both hands. One ball it with the right forefinger, then allow it to sink in, saying, “One only leaves the left hand and joins the palmed ball in the right ball.” Pick up the second ball and apparently place it on the left hand, which you now show to the assistant on the right, saying, fist, but this time make the Basic Sleight. Touch the visible ball “Two balls.” The left hand has closed into a fist. with the right forefinger, and then allow it to sink into the left fist, Place one of the balls from the right hand on top of the left fist counting, “Two balls.” Now pick up the last ball and apparently and let it sink in, and then do likewise with the second ball. Pick place it on the fist, but make theBasic Sleight again; this time the up the last ball from the net, place it on the left fist, and then say, ball remains on the fist as you count,“Three balls.” At this point, “Once again, I’ll place the third ball into my pocket.” Pick it up although the audience thinks there are two balls in the left fist in exactly the same manner as before (Photo 7), display it (Photo and one on top of it, actually there are two balls in the right hand 8), and place the hand in the pocket. Really leave the ball in the and the visible ball is the only one contained by the left hand. Do pocket this time. not let this one sink into the fist, but as you say, “Again I’ll place the third ball into my pocket,” pick it up between the right first and second fingers in exactly the same manner as has been done on previous occasions (Photo 7). As you display it to both the assistant on your left and the assistant on your right, the other two balls in the right hand are concealed by the third and little fingers and thumb, so, this time, keep the hand back upwards. Place the hand in the pocket and leave all the balls behind, then remove the hand. Remember, there are supposed to be two balls in the left fist, and it is most important that it appears that there really are balls in the fist; make a point of this, even moving the fingers a little as if adjusting their position. To the audience you are going to repeat the effect of making a ball leave the pocket and join the two in the left fist. Hold the hands apart then slap them together – all the balls have disappeared! This is a terrific climax; watch the audience 7 reaction. Dai Vernon tells me that when he is performing several shows in an evening, people will often stay, especially to see this routine performed again, so he likes to have a variation for the climax. For a repeat performance, he has a small lemon in his jacket pocket in addition to the balls. As he reaches the climax, he leaves all the balls in his pocket, but palms out the lemon. When he claps his hands together he allows the lemon to fall from his hands into the net. The instructions for the performance of this fine routine are somewhat lengthy because all details have been given. It will be appreciated that a small move that is over in a second often takes many paragraphs to describe. When the basic move has been mastered and the moves for the first stage memorized, it is simply a question of remembering the variations. Like all good things in magic, practice is the key to success. Practice until the moves can be performed automatically, and then the presentation can be concentrated upon. In performance the first two stages should be presented fairly 8 slowly, but as the routine continues the tempo should be quickened until the last stage is performed briskly – but not hurried. 

Squeeze the three balls from the left fist, allowing them to fall singly into the net. Stage 6: This is the concluding stage and all is ready for the climax.

34 JANUARY 2015 M-U-M Magazine 35 Dr. Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Fernandez – CONDE ROPHERMAN S.A.M. Life Member and International Deputy for Spain By Mac Lupén

“Where there is a gathering of more than two magicians, there I’ll be...”

t is nine o’clock in the title, “Earl.”) evening; Dr. Rodríguez Tonight he has a performance bids farewell to his last with his flea circus at a venue in Thursday evening patient. downtown Madrid. Apart from HeI takes off his white coat his magic show, he has presented and leaves it on the back of a for some years a complete flea chair at the meeting table at circus, in which the tiny per- one end of his office. While he formers undertake astonishing loosens his characteristic bow feats, such as jumping into a tank tie, he once again looks around. of water from a diving board, Part of his magic wand collec- riding a bicycle across a tight tion, which already exceeds a rope, shooting a penalty at a soccer thousand, rests impressively on goal, or lifting a goose feather, custom-made wand racks. Display among many others. To the sound cabinets and bookcases, once filled of the most authentic circus music, with books on medicine, now exhibit Conde Ropherman’s Flea Circus does all types of collectors’ items related not allow you to blink an eye, under to magic. Some patients are perplexed penalty of missing a single detail of as they contemplate the little museum of such a refined performance. Dr. Rodríguez magic into which the austere psychiatrist changes his physician’s clothing for the suit of office has been transformed over the years. a circus trainer that lacks no detail; when he puts Others do not even notice all that there is behind on the top hat that completes the attire, the person the display case glass. disappears completely to give way to the character, and the Years have passed and the doctor’s two personalities have show begins. converged into a single one. There was a time when he did not In spite of the circus’s great reception, it is only the tip of the want to mix the life of a magician with that of a psychiatrist. Now iceberg of an artistic career that now spans fifty years: half a it is easy to read interviews in the national press with Doctor century of cabaret, theaters, venues, and events – half a century Rodríguez speaking on magic or Conde Ropherman speaking of magic. on psychiatry. (“Conde” is the Spanish word for the nobility When Conde was eight years old and living in Cuenca (Castille

36 JANUARY 2015 la Mancha), a magician who gave a street performance was adver- tised. The posters specified that people wishing to attend should bring a chair. Conde was the first to arrive; he did not even bring a chair. The performer was calmly preparing his stage. Such was the eagerness that he saw in young Conde he asked him if he wanted to be his assistant. Conde helped the magician put every- thing in its place before enjoying the show. From that moment, his fascination with magic has never ceased to grow. His first problem was how to obtain books on magic. He did not delay in locating what were to be his two great suppliers of tricks: The King of Magic (El Rey de la Magia) in Barcelona and the House of Games (Casa de los Juegos) in Madrid. As soon as he managed to save up the money for the next trick, he bought it from the catalog and rehearsed it over and over again. In no time he put together a little act that he began to perform for other children in Cuenca’s squares and parks. He finished high school there and received a diploma in primary education. He worked in this profession for a short time in the province of Cuenca. Conde moved from Cuenca to Madrid and began to study for the degree of medicine at Complutense University (one of the oldest universities in the world). He discovered that he centered his attention on stages and performing venues more than on books. This being the case, his father decided that he must continue his training as a doctor in Granada, a charming city in the south of Spain, where there would be less performing distractions. By luck or by misfortune, it was not so. He began to perform in Granada; after a few months the seed had been sown, and could not stop flourishing. Conde did not take long in finding the local enthusiasts; he founded the Granada Magic Circle (Círculo Mágico Granadino), which, forty years later, is still active and continues to grow, taking its magic throughout Spain. In 1972, Conde won the first prize in comic magic at the national a father wanted for his son. convention in San Sebastián; The years went by and Conde he not only became the Spanish accumulated awards and recogni- champion, he also established tion from the show business world; himself as an outstanding national he also managed to finish his degree authority in this specialty. in medicine, almost at the same time In the ‘70s, during the final phase that he got married to his fiancée, of the Franco regime in Spain, when Mari Paqui, a biologist and native of censoring was prevalent, it was not Cuenca, who has accompanied him easy to include humor in a performance. ever since; it is unusual to see him Irony and double meaning were the tools anywhere without her. of those who wished to do humor. On the o n e In his early years as an illusion- hand, traditional magicians did not look favorably upon ist, foreign magician role models the combination of magic and humor; the image that they had were scarce. Perhaps the best known in mind was the classic magician with whom everything is European role model was Fred elegance and sobriety. It took a major change in the times to Kaps. American magicians were reach a point when no one found it difficult to imagine the unknown. Later, performers like fusion of magic and humor. Brochures from 1969-70 or David Copper- Conde’s appearances on Spanish television were more field appeared. In any event, Conde frequent. In the ‘70s in Spain there were only two television always searched for his own style, and, in fact, created it over the channels. Since there was no competition, everyone watched the years. If you ask him about his role models, it is not easy to obtain same programs. Everyone knew what his neighbor or workmate a concrete answer. As a matter of fact, he always says that he has had seen the night before. avoided having them. Conde remembers that his father felt no pleasure when someone During the following years, he specialized in psychiatry and told him that they had seen his son on TV the previous night. became a six-time father. Conde does not hesitate to take along Unlike today, at that time being a performer was not the thing that the whole family to the magic conventions that he attends. He

M-U-M Magazine 37 went on to become the president of the with outstanding results, which led him Spanish Society of Illusionists (S.E.I.) and to offer lectures and specialized initiation to be part of the board of examiners for courses on hypnosis for health care profes- the various national magic competitions. sionals. He published the book Hypnosis: At the same time, he joined the Corps of A Different Path as both an introduction Prisons and began to work at the Cara- to hypnosis and a guide for improving banchel Penitentiary Psychiatric Hospital, technique. At the same time, and in col- where he was appointed medical director. laboration with his wife, he published The years went by and, still at the head some scientific books on sexology and of the Carabanchel Penitentiary Psychiat- psychiatry. ric Hospital, Conde Ropherman teamed As the twentieth century drew to a up with two Spanish magicians: Pablo close, he became involved in the con- Segóbriga and Víctor Arrogante to form struction of a magic-event hall, Zoa, in La Compañía Mágica. Víctor performed downtown Madrid. Located near the classic magic with visual tricks during Retiro Park in the Spanish capital, Zoa a musical number. Pablo performed became an example for the entire nation. mentalism with paranormal effects in col- It had two floors and a large terrace; the laboration with the audience; Conde added lower floor had a pub atmosphere and the comedy magic that he had already was decorated with magic effects. Clients been traveling the country with for twenty could enjoy close-up magic while they years. This type of artistic association, drank or ate. The upper floor had a stage later reproduced many times in Spain, and two-tiered seating, where stage magic received an enthusiastic reception from was performed. At Zoa, the most emblem- audiences; this led the three performers to atic Spanish magicians were showcased; it travel the country with their show. was the key spot for events and business At the end of the ‘80s, Conde specialized in clinical hypnosis parties during this period. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever; and began to use this discipline to therapeutic ends in his office the venue was obliged to close some years later, leaving an eternal

38 JANUARY 2015 With wife Mari Paqui at ZOA Conde and Mari Paqui with their children and grandchildren memory of the nights of magic in the hearts of all those who had by both old and young. With magic currently so present in almost the opportunity to set foot in it. every aspect of life, no one wishes to miss seeing such an as- Now having entered the twenty-first century, Conde is tounding collection, which is the fruit of years and years of trips, appointed president of the Club of Professional Illusionists (C.I.P); conventions, auctions, and exchanges. he remained the head of this organization for years and began a Nowadays, with seven grandchildren and still at the head of new era with the magazine MAGICIP, which is read throughout his psychiatry clinic on Francisco Silvela Street in Madrid, Conde the world. Collaborating with him is his eldest son, Mac Lupén, Ropherman par- who is also a magician. Mac inherited his father’s love of illusions, ticipates actively in and since the late ‘90s has traveled with his own show to stages in Peforming the all national magic Spain and Great Britain. Flea Circus conventions. Ac- An entire lifetime collect- companied by ing everything that has even his inseparable the least relationship with companion of forty magic led to Conde’s creation years, Mari Paqui, of an assemblage of magic he maintains his objects that was converted into enthusiasm for the an exhibition that has traveled queen of arts and around Spain. Stamps, all concerning her. figurines, emblems, medals, For years he has boxes of magic, antique and acted as the inter- modern games, porcelain, national deputy for Spain of the S.A.M. pennants, key chains, decks of and has attended the society’s annual cards, thimbles, balls, original conventions. posters, automatons, books The Flea Circus comes to an end and (and more books!), and much Conde Ropherman receives the audi- more comprise a fabulous ence’s applause with his top hat in hand. collection. The magic wand After a final curtain call, he goes to his has the leading role. Conde dressing room, where he checks the time has brought together a one- on a pocket watch (he is not fond of wrist of-a-kind collection in which watches); it is one o’clock in the morning. original, handmade, and com- His assistants enter with the small circus missioned wands abound – tent and Conde congratulates the fleas ebony, silver, crystal wands, by placing a small trough with water in all sizes and shapes imag- in front of their corresponding trailers, inable. where they will all rest following their The private collection has brilliant performance under the blinding been displayed at various museums and city halls in Spain as a spotlights. It is another night that could not have turned out better. temporary exhibition; it has been given an enthusiastic reception And back home we go. 

M-U-M Magazine 39 Cheats & Deceptions (For Entertainment Purposes Only) By Antonio M. Cabral

playing cards? Is that still the card he just ing my handling of this classic routine, I showed me a moment ago? had to ask myself what makes this method If your audience is continually inter- any better than using a crimped card, rupting your performance by asking these or keeping the Aces on top and doing a THE TRUTH, AND questions out loud, something’s wrong. bunch of false cuts. The answer is that you It’s not the performer’s job to acquiesce actually do what you claim to be doing. NOTHING BUT THE to every stringent condition that pops out The Aces are genuinely shuffled into the TRUTH of someone’s mouths. A magic trick isn’t middle of the deck, and you’re cutting a science experiment, after all. But you right to them without any breaks or weird When I was just starting out with card won’t be able to create a truly impossible edges on the cards. As a result, I designed magic, one performance that had a huge effect unless you address those questions my handling to emphasize all of those impact on me was Rene Lavand’s appear- in some fashion or another. Juan Tamariz, elements. I don’t have to work to convince ance on World’s Greatest Magic II. He in The Magic Way, says, “We need to know the audience of any of those things; I just performed his classic handling of the Oil & what goes on in the spectators’ minds have to point them out. They speak for Water effect, It Can’t Be Done Any Slower, during the course of the trick and upon its themselves, because “there’s nothing more as well as he’s ever done. One of the most completion, and we must determine what overwhelming than the truth.” In fact, one powerful moments in that performance for kind of impact is produced in their minds.” of my favorite versions of this trick comes me was when Lavand looked straight into Addressing those questions is the only from my friend Andrew Wimhurst, in the camera and quoted Arturo de Ascanio: path to creating a successful and lasting which the spectator is the one who does “There is nothing more overwhelming mystery. the cutting. If you want to see an audience than the truth.” One of the strongest ways to address overwhelmed by the truth, try that out I’ve since seen the adjective in the those questions is to give the audience sometime. middle translated a few different ways: something they can’t question at all. You “nothing more deceptive than the truth,” either get them to agree explicitly with ACCENTUATE THE or “nothing more nebulous than the truth.” what they’re experiencing, or you get but the way it was translated on that them so silently convinced that they don’t POSITIVE program is the way the quote has always even think to question what’s happening. I You might notice that not everything in stuck with me. “There is nothing more mentioned an example in my last column the preceding examples is on the level. In overwhelming than the truth.” Whenever on shuffling. Erdnase said, “Nothing the memory routine, the deck doesn’t stay I’m pondering the way a given trick is put so completely satisfies the average card completely shuffled; you cull a particular together, or trying to put together a trick player as a belief that the deck has been group of cards. In the Ace-cutting routine, of my own, I keep hearing that phrase in thoroughly shuffled and genuinely cut.” the Aces are stacked at certain positions my head. And nothing creates that impression better in the deck. Those are the other kind of Of course, in any kind of magic, “the than having someone from the audience truths: the ones that actually make the trick truth” is something we actively try to hide thoroughly shuffle and genuinely cut the work. Those are the elements of a trick and steer our audiences away from. We cards. “There’s nothing more overwhelm- we dance around and try hide from the are, after all, trying to perform impossible ing than the truth.” audience. This brings me back to the trans- things. By definition, those things can’t be That may seem self-evident, but lation issue I mentioned at the beginning the truth. So we strive to create powerful consider an example. On my DVD, The and the word “overwhelming.” When you illusions of impossible things; but again, Usual Suspect, I have a pseudo-demon- have an element of the trick the audience illusions aren’t “the truth.” So what’s all stration of superhuman memory that starts can’t question, it does just that: it over- this business about “the truth,” and what by having the deck shuffled by an audience whelms their thought processes. When you does it have to do with magic? member. I take the cards back, and in the confront the audience with an undeniable One way I’ve grown to interpret the process of removing the four Kings for a fact, particularly one that appears crucial quote is based precisely on the fact that preliminary effect, I cull a memorized slug to the proceedings, you box them in. Even- we’re crafting unbelievable illusions and of cards. Later, I spread the deck face up tually, the audience ends up on what Whit making outrageous claims. Since what and the audience not only sees a genuine- Hadyn calls magic’s horns of a dilemma: we’re claiming to do is the impossible, the ly-shuffled deck (because the order of the what they’re seeing is impossible, yet they audience knows the drill: the magician slug doesn’t matter), but they remember have no choice but to believe it. is going to try to hoodwink, bamboozle, that someone else genuinely shuffled them. The good news is you can find ways to or otherwise fool them into believing “There’s nothing more overwhelming than accentuate those undeniable facts in your something impossible. That’s when the the truth.” presentations. Michael Close, in his essay mental questions start creeping in. Are his Another example to consider is Ed on Patter in the Workers series, cautions hands really empty? Are there only four Marlo’s Miracle Ace Cutting routine (aka that you should never ask a question you coins there? Are those cards really regular Estimation Aces). When I was develop- may not want to hear the answer to. In my

40 JANUARY 2015 presentations, I try to ask questions that physically move the Aces invisibly into one Finish the Zarrow but maintain a break only have the answer I’m looking for. In pile. The problem is, the important truth in under the block on top. the Marlo Ace-cutting routine, I used to do a trick like that is that you do absolutely You’re now going to do a simple the required faro shuffle and ask “Is that an nothing to make the Aces transit invisibly. running cut to the table before giving the honest shuffle?” Some people would agree, That’s the part of the trick where you can’t cards one last riffle shuffle. Lift the deck and some would notice the perfect one-for- get away with simulated nothing; you need with both hands; with your left hand cut one weave and say, “Well...” Now I ask, “Is the genuine article. (Darwin Ortiz calls all cards above the break to the table. Take that a genuine shuffle?” The only answer this the “critical interval.”) On the other another packet of ten or twelve from the to that question is “yes.” hand, if you do Macdonald’s Aces, you can rest of the deck with your left hand and One of my favorite verbal dodges of have both. The Aces actually do start off place them onto the tabled cards, holding this kind is when I’m performing a trick in separate piles, and you do nothing to a break with the left thumb between those in which a card changes under an audience invisibly move them to the leader pile – as packets. Place the rest of the cards on top member’s hand or between her palms. long as you don’t start worrying about the and hold another break below them with I first thought of it in conjunction with “truth” of whether all the cards have backs the right thumb. Then cut the cards above Jazz Aces. In my handling, someone puts or not. the uppermost break to the right; maintain her hand down on the leader pile for the the other break with your left thumb. last transposition. The trickiest part of THE PUB SHUFFLE Riffle shuffle the two packets together any effect like this is making sure no one as follows: the cards below the left thumb questions the identity of the card under Most card workers are familiar with break are shuffled into the lower half of the the hand before the magic happens. If, the style of red/black shuffle in which right-hand packet, the right hand continues however, I were to ask right before the each half of the deck is a quarter of one releasing cards until the midpoint of its change, “Is there any way I could change color and a quarter of the other color; by packet is reached, and then the rest of the that card while your hand is on it?” the shuffling the two halves together you end cards are shuffled off normally. response would come back, “Can I look at up shuffling reds into reds and blacks Practice the riffle so that it’s as smooth it first?” The question I ask instead is, “Is into blacks, which maintains the separa- as possible from top to bottom; that is, there any way I could get that card out from tion. There are a number of variations on you’re not leaving a big block of cards under your hand without you knowing?” this shuffle concept in print, in The Card in the middle where the two halves are And the only answer to that is, “No!” And Magic of LePaul (credited to T. Nelson separated. With a nice even riffle you can that’s the overwhelming truth. I can’t. Downs), in More Inner Secrets of Card use a Juan Tamariz subtlety from Sonata Luckily, that’s not what I’m actually trying Magic (credited in The Vernon Chronicles (and recommended in Card College 3): to do. (This is the same concept used in, to Fred Black), and in Arthur Buckley’s Ribbon spread the woven deck and have say, a sponge ball routine when you claim Card Control, to name a few. In Card an audience member finish the shuffle by to able to make the ball in someone’s hand College 3, gives credit for pushing the two halves together. Taken all vanish. By focusing on whether or not the basic concept to Fred Black. together it’s a tremendously convincing you could get anything out, you avoid the The following is a divided-deck (or shuffle sequence. question of whether or not you could sneak red/black) riffle shuffle handling I devised This shuffle originally appeared in something in.) a number of years back that I’m particu- print in extremely brief form in Peter The key is to know which truths are larly proud of. What makes this and other Duffie’s Card Magic USA ebook.  important in the audience’s mind and which shuffles of this style so deceptive is that it aren’t. In an Ace assembly, for example, is – for the most part – a genuine shuffle. I welcome any questions or comments. you might think it would be really strong Begin with a deck separated into reds If any M-U-M readers want to get in touch, for an audience if you actually placed the and blacks. Place the deck in front of you please feel free to contact me at antoni- Aces down where they’re supposed to start for a riffle shuffle and cut off slightly more [email protected]. I look forward to out instead of doing some kind of switch- than half the deck to the right. Start a answering your questions and opening a out sequence. Then you might do a bunch Zarrow shuffle leaving a block of about ten dialogue or two. of palming or other funky procedures to or twelve cards on top of the left-hand pile.

M-U-M Magazine 41 A View from the Top of The Magic Summit By David Goodsell here were nearly one hundred fifty of us, when you bat we set about meeting each other and talking about the impor- count the presenters and those who took part in the tance of being friendly in our clubs and sharing ideas about how Lecture Showcase after the work was done. That is we can make our clubs friendlier. The best ideas from each table quite amazing, considering we all had to pay for our were shared with the whole group. Ttransportation to Vegas and our own rooms and most meals. And The second Pillar, “Fun,” was presented by Jamie D. Grant here’s why it’s amazing: nobody did any magic. What kind of (a fun guy, I might add). And this led to breakout sessions to magic conference is that? discuss “meeting themes.” Each large group then brought their Thanks to Stan Allen, Brian South, Brian Brushwood, and top five “themes” back to the whole conference, and we again Vinny Grosso, under the sponsorship of the S.A.M. and MAGIC shared with one another. We are going to use some of these ideas magazine, we were there to talk among ourselves about magic in our local assembly. For example, set tables for four or five clubs, our assemblies, rings, independent clubs, and how we throughout your meeting area and have your members go from might make the club experience something better. Was that table to table doing restaurant magic. Good idea? You bet. important? Well, consider that Stan, Vinny, the two Brians, or After a box lunch (surprise…it was good), David Oliver talked any of the presenters collected not one dime for their efforts. to us about “communication,” Ricky Brandon about “finances,” It was for the love o f magic Rory Johnston about and (and this is important) for “service,” and Jeff McBride the average guy who belongs about “public relations.” to a local assembly or other We then had the opportu- magic club. We were all on nity to explore any two of board to give something back those four topics at more in appreciation for all that depth in breakout rooms. magic has done for us. This was followed by final The Summit team built remarks and an admonition the conference on three to carry the spirit of The pillars of magic club wisdom, Magic Summit back to our “The Three Fs” of a success- local clubs and, although ful magic club: Friendship, unsaid, an admonition to Fun, and inFormation. That’s be a champion, each in his it. Those are what make or her own club, to make your magic club a success: strangers feel welcome, building life-long, solid, encourage personal growth friendships; having fun every through friendship, foster time you attend a meeting; The Summit Team. Back row, from left: Ricky Brandon, David Oliver, the joy of magic among and learning something new Jamie D. Grant, Michael Mode, Brian Brushwood, and Randy Kalin. friends, and provide an envi- Kneeling, from left: Rod Chow, Stan Allen, Jeff McBride, Brian South, Rory about a trick, a move, the Johnston, and Brad Montgomery. Not present: Vinny Grosso. ronment for improvement in history or theory of magic, magic. A hidden theme for every time you attend, as The Summit was revealed well. And so, when we registered Friday night, we immediately at the end of the regular sessions. We received a big question became involved. I was among the first to register; that is, fill mark sticker to put on our notebook cover. It represented the fact out my nametag, get my group identification card, and so on. that the Summit team did not offer answers. Rather, they asked Then, I had to help the next person in line register. Yes, I im- questions and encouraged all of us to go back to our magic clubs mediately became a part of the group and made a new friend. and to ask questions. Questions lead to creative answers. Pretty sneaky! Among the registrants were representatives from forty The registration area had a carnival atmosphere, right down S.A.M. assemblies; almost all of our national officers were to the popcorn and pink lemonade and a half-dozen carnival present. I believe we all felt the positive spirit that was present. games we all played individually or with one another. Now, my Our Regional Vice Presidents have a wonderful opportunity to natural mode is to avoid such activities like the plague, but I had share the messages of The Summit with the assemblies in their pledged to be a part of it. Surprise! I had a great time! I enjoyed region who were not represented and to encourage the ones who it! I took great delight at winning a carnival game and equal were. delight at failing at three of them, over and over and over again. Here is the message I took home with me: I can make a dif- From there we were treated to a keynote address about the ference. I can think of no greater satisfaction in magic than doing value of lasting memories and friendships by Brad Montgomery, so. Another message is that we can use every experience from one of the country’s most successful motivational speakers, with The Summit with our own magic clubs. clients like Microsoft and Verizon. I’m sure I was not the only Okay, okay, okay. There were magic tricks. Following the one who was actually motivated by Brad’s presentation. It was formal program and after dinner (which I enjoyed with Kent a great start. Cummins, a great friend whom I had not seen in ten years), we But the “real work” – meaning what really makes the trick were treated to a lecture showcase, hosted by , a success – came the next day when Michael Mode gave a “Ted in which David Cosaro, Will Fern, Barry Mitchell, John Reid, Talk” about the first F pillar, “Friendly” (meaning a club should Losander, and Chris Smith each taught one or two tricks. Great be friendly). This was followed by a table discussion. We had fun, and we then had a chance to peruse their wares at dealer been divided into sixteen tables of seven people each. Four of tables in the back of the room. the other six people at my table were new to me, so right off the Well done, Summit team. Thanks! 

42 JANUARY 2015

Convention Spotlight Woody Aragon

Woody Aragón is an outstanding card right under them, place a card with a normal magician, technical expert, and entertaining breather crimp (crimp the card on the face, so performer from Toledo, Spain. As a writer, that it will be on top when you cut to it). lecturer, teacher, and performer, Woody has You should be able to identify the incredible insight and theories about magic. crimped card at a glance. Usually you can Many of these he has shared in his excellent easily distinguish a crimped card by looking book, A Book in English. at its back, but if you’re in doubt, you can Woody has appeared on television in mark a small pencil dot on the card’s back, or Spain, Germany, and the United States. He un-crimp one of the corners (leaving a very- has won numerous awards, including the easy-to-spot crease on the card). Champion of Card Magic in 2005 in Spain, Method: Start by cutting the deck into the prestigious Ascanio Award as the best four piles. First, cut off the twelve-card group magician of the year in 2006, the MacMillan (with the aid of the breather crimp) and leave International second it in the center of the table. Overhand shuffle place award in London in 2009, the Merit the rest of the deck, transferring the crimped Award from the International Brotherhood card to the bottom of the pack. Cut off about of Magicians, the Card Magic award at FISM a third of the packet, and put it to the left of 2011 North-American, and the People’s the first one. Leave the rest of the deck on the Choice and Excellence in Close-Up awards right, and then cut a fourth packet, placing it by The Society of American Magicians in 2011. further to the right. After this, there will be four aligned piles on Miguel Puga (Card Magic FISM World Champion 2003) said the table, from your point of view, left to right: Pile A, with indif- of Woody, “He manages the concepts of Arturo de Ascanio, the ferent cards; Pile B, with the twelve-card setup; Pile C, with the evil ruses of Juan Tamariz, the arguments of Camilo Vasquez, crimped bottom card (I left it face up in Figure 1, so you can easily and the conflicts of José Carroll. Woody Aragón is the new heir of see it); and Pile D, with more indifferent cards. Tell your audience the Spanish school.” that from here on, you will not touch the cards. Tim Trono writes, “Some may be familiar with Woody through his contributions to Steve Beam’s Semi Automatic Card Tricks series. If you have seen Woody, you will already have an appre- ciation. If you have never seen Woody, you are in for an amazing surprise. What wonderful magic.” Woody Aragón will be part of the Spanish contingent appearing in Philadelphia at the 2015 S.A.M. national convention. Do not miss this opportunity to spend a little time with one of the modern masters of close-up magic. THE CHEERLEADER BY WOODY ARAGÓN AN EXCERPT FROM A BOOK IN ENGLISH

This is one of my many approaches to the spelling effect. This Figure 1 routine combines several effects, joining them into a solid block, Use magician’s choice to force Pile B on a member of the with the advantage that everything apparently happens without audience, and ask him to thoroughly shuffle it. After that, tell him the magician touching the deck. to spread the cards in a fan in front of him so that he can see all of Effect: The deck is divided into four piles. A member of the the cards, and choose any one that he likes. Then he is to put that audience chooses one of them, shuffles it, and freely thinks of a card on top of any other pile, shuffle the remaining cards in his card in that pile. He loses the card in the deck himself, and then hand, and put them on top of the selection. cuts the deck. The magician asks him to spell his selection, dealing How you proceed depends on which pile the spectator put his one card on the table for each letter. At the end of the spelling, the selection on, as your goal is to get the Pile C on top of the one on selected card appears. which he just placed his pile. I use a great method, created by the The Set-up: This trick needs a small set-up, but it is very easy Spanish magician Ramon Riobóo. to prepare on the fly. Just look through the deck for twelve non- If he placed his pile on one of the piles at the sides (A or D), Diamond cards whose values are Four, Five, Nine, Jack, or King then ask him to reassemble the deck, starting with the furthest (these values spell with four letters). Those go on top of the deck; pile (the one on the opposite side goes on top of the center pile,

46 JANUARY 2015 and those two go over the pile in which the selection lies). It will be very clear if you mime the actions for the spectator. If the cards are placed on top of the center pile (C), tell him to cut and complete the cut. Then discard the other two piles, saying that they have been eliminated. In any case, regardless of whether you are using the whole deck or only half of it, the crimped card is in the center and the selection lies twelve cards below it. Ask the spectator to cut the (half) deck. Because of the crimp, there are many opportunities for him to cut right to it. Glimpse the back of the top card and confirm that it is the crimped card. If it isn’t, then ask him to cut once again. If the crimped card is still not on top, then give the cards to a second spectator and tell him, “You can cut, too.” If, after all those attempts, you still don’t see the crimped card on top, cut it yourself as you say “That’s right. Everyone can cut. The important thing is for the card to be completely lost in the deck .” Figure 2 In most cases you won’t need to cut, but if this ever happens, card. But the spelling clearly indicates that you really were able to the action is so well covered (by all the other cuts) that people will discern its identity. And what’s more important, if you are skillful never remember that you touched the cards. enough in your presentation, the fact that the card appeared at Tell the audience that you learned this trick from a mentalist the end of the spelling sequence will just be a confirmation to the cheerleader. The spectator must now think of his card just like audience that you knew the thought-of card. Even though they a cheerleader would: So, if he was thinking of the Queen of don’t know the real method, and have no clue as to how could Diamonds, he would think, “Give me a Q” “Give me a U”, and so you possibly do it without touching the cards, they must conclude on until the final “Give me an S.” That is how he must mentally that you could not have moved the card to a determined position spell the name of his thought-of card. Tell him to take the cards, because you didn’t know its identity. The name of the card existed and get ready to deal them one by one onto the table, following only in the mind of the spectator!  your instructions, as he thinks of the card name’s letters. If the spectator does mentally spell his card, he will feel a greater impact himself (because it is as if you were able to hear his thoughts). If he doesn’t, it is not really important, because you are the one who will really spell the card, and the final spelling will prove to everyone else that you could read his thoughts. Look at the eyes of the spectator as you point to the place on the table where he’s supposed to deal the cards one by one. Ask him to deal four cards in a row (this is the value of the card). After the first two cards, the rhythm for the additional cards should be similar to saying “Hit me” when playing blackjack. You hesitate momentarily, and then want him to deal another card. Then point to a second row, and ask him to deal two more cards (“Of”). Finally, ask him to deal a final row of five cards (Figure 2). When he is holding the sixth card, instead of pointing to the table, open your hand and say, “Right there! Stop!” At this moment, even though the selection has never been named aloud, it really does seem as if you were able to know it, because the spelling is correct. Remind everyone you never touched the cards, and ask the spectator to tell everyone the card he was thinking of. If it’s a Club, for example “Jack of Clubs,” quickly spell “Jack” with the four cards on the first row, then “of,” then “Clubs” with the five cards on the third row. Finally ask him to turn over the card he’s holding. If it’s a Spade or a Heart, then you will do the same, but when you get to the final row point to the card the spectator is holding as the final “s” of the spell, and ask him to turn it over. It will be the selection. Additional Remarks: The fairness of the choices and the fact that the magician never touches the cards after the selection make it seem impossible for the magician to know the name of the

M-U-M Magazine 47 I Left My Cards At Home By Steve Marshall

worked a lot of restaurants and strolling This is repeated until four flash cards have gigs and a whole lot of comedy clubs.” He been chosen. says that performing at the Magic Castle in The numbers on the flash cards are Hollywood is still a highlight. totaled; they add up to thirty-four. The As for the style of magic TC performs, magician claims the participant had no it’s difficult to put him in a box. “There’s choice but to choose those particular nothing ‘usual’ about me. I do stand-up numbers. To prove it, the magician tells TC TAHOE comedy magic; I have a mentalism show the participant to look at the dates on the as well as a bizarre magic show; and I love coins. performing close-up.” They are all from 1934. Since I have seen some of TC’s per- Method: You need sixteen number formances on video I was curious how he cards, that are numbered 1 through 16 went about creating his unique material. (Photo 1). You can use any kind of number He said, “I have different ways, really. It cards you like. I found some old flash depends on what I am working on, and it cards, but again you can use nay style also depends on whether it’s an effect for number cards. In fact, I have done this with me or for someone else. Oftentimes it starts business cards by writing the numbers on with music. Music always seems to help the backs in front of the spectators. I had me create. I like to simplify things. Many the coins with me, but not the cards. In magicians want to complicate things – in fact, doing it with business cards might be both method and plot. I look back to the stronger. men who inspired me. Slydini’s magic was elegant and simple for the audience to follow. With Martin Nash, from the moment he starts, you know what he’s about; he’s a Photo by Peter Gould card cheat, and a charming one. With Carl Ballantine, you know you are in for silly TC Tahoe was born and raised in Great experience, before he even walks on stage, Falls, Montana; he got into magic as a way just by his table and sign. to pass the time during frequent periods These days TC can be found perform- of illness. “I was a fairly sickly child and ing stand-up comedy and magic on cruise spent an inordinate amount of time in the ships and doing a new close-up show with hospital,” TC said. “I used to love to read Erick Olson (of Wizardz Magic Theater in (and, in fact, I still do). My dad would bring Kissimmee, Florida) called Con Games me a new book every week; one week it & Cocktails. TC and Erick have also co- Photo 1 was a book called How to Do Tricks with authored a book titled I’ll Betcha, which Cards by Bill Turner.” includes fifty different bar-bets that The coins are fairly easy to come by. If That first book made him want to learn anyone can do. It can be purchased through you can’t find them at a local coin shop for more; TC continued performing magic Amazon.com or directly from them after a reasonable price, you will find them on throughout his school years. He dropped their show. eBay. I bought four online for a total of five out of high school two months before grad- TC is also working on a sequel to his bucks (Photo 2). uation (he eventually got his GED) and book, In the Play of Shadows: The Tarot moved to Southern California because he Effect. had been offered a three-week engagement at the Magic Island nightclub and dinner A VERY GOOD YEAR theater in Newport Beach. This three-week BY TC TAHOE engagement turned into several years of work at Magic Island. (Based on The Four Bit Machine from His main influences in magic were David Britland’s book Psychomancy) Slydini, Martin Nash, and Carl Ballantine, which tells you that TC is a serious student What the Audience Sees: The of magic and sleight of hand, although he Magician shows a stack of vintage number wraps it all in a comedic package. flash cards. The cards are openly mixed When asked about his evolution in and are dealt out in four rows of four. performing magic TC said, “I did a few Four coins are introduced; the par- Photo 2 kids parties, but learned pretty darn fast ticipant is asked to choose one of the flash The number is forced using a matrix that this type of show was not for me. I cards by placing a coin on top of her choice. force that dates back to 1942. (See Max

48 JANUARY 2015 Maven’s Cinematrix in the October 2014 pant tells you which packet to place where. these numbers. Did you feel influenced in M-U-M for more details.) David Britland “Now, no two cards are in sequence, but any way, or did you make totally random gave the force a more random feel in his let’s mix them further.” choices? Maybe you focused your mind trick The Four Bit Machine. You repeat the reverse faro, up-jog- and made a clear choice of each of these Handling and Presentation: The ging every other card, separating the numbers. (Wait a beat.) Then again, magician places a coin purse and a small two groups, and again letting the partici- maybe you had no choice at all. If you add stack of cards on the table. “Choices – we pant decide which way to reassemble the together the numbers of the cards that you make dozens of choices every day, maybe packets. chose, what total do you get?” hundreds. Little choices, like what socks “We can mix the cards again; it’s up to The participant does this and lo and to wear. Big choices: who to vote for on you.” Let the participant choose whether to behold the total is thirty-four. “Thirty- American Idol? As many choices as we mix one more time. Do not give the cards four; does that number have any meaning make, there are just as many things that a fourth mix. to you?” If it does, then play that up; most influence our choices. After the mixing, the cards are dealt often, it will not. “One of the things I have “This got me thinking; is it even out, face down, in four rows of four cards. come to realize is that most of the time we possible to make a truly random choice? Deal from left to right. Once the first four don’t even know we are being influenced. Or is there always something influencing cards are dealt, start your second row, and Do me a favor; look at the dates on my us?” so on. grandfather’s coins...” The cards are shown to be children’s “I also have some coins. These The participant does this and discovers flash cards. “These are some old flash belonged to my grandfather. When I was they all bear the date 1934. cards I found at a garage sale. What made a kid, I loved to play with his bowl of This has been a solid piece of close-up me buy them? I don’t really know.” The change.” Four coins are poured out of the theater for me. Feel free to use my story, magician shrugs. “If you wouldn’t mind, coin purse and the purse is set aside. but I do encourage you to create your own. please help me with an experiment – an ex- “I am going to have you choose a coin periment in choices.” The magician mixes and place it on one of the flash cards. STEVE’S STUFF the flash cards. Whatever card you choose, I will eliminate Mixing the Cards: Spread the cards the other cards in the row and the column This trick is really fun to perform. I’ve face up between the hands, showing that that card is in, so choose carefully.” The been doing it for friends and in paid shows, the cards are in sequential order. Turn the participant places a coin on a card. The since TC sent it to me. When people start cards face down. magician turns over the cards in both the checking the dates on the coins, it gets a You will now give the packet a reverse horizontal row and the vertical column. great reaction! I couldn’t find any good faro shuffle. Up-jog every other card, and The three remaining coins are pushed number flash cards in Japan (that didn’t then strip out the up-jogged cards. You will towards the participant. “Good; now cost less than $30) so the ones pictured here have eight cards in each hand. It doesn’t please choose another coin and another were downloaded from www.mrprinta- matter if you start the up-jogging with the card.” The elimination procedure is bles.com/printable-math-flash-cards.html. top card or the second card. It also doesn’t repeated. When it comes time for the last I printed them out on postcard stock and matter which hand holds which packet. coin, only one card will remain. “Because laminated them; they work great. The Once you have separated the up-jogged of your choices, there is only one card coins were purchased from eBay; I just cards, you say to the participant, “I have left.” A nod to the coin is all it takes and searched on “1934 coin” and lots of stuff separated the cards so they are no longer the participant will place the last coin on came up. All this preparation makes the in numerical order, which packet would the last card. trick feel really personal to me.  you like me to place on top?” The partici- “So, for whatever reason, you chose

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M-U-M Magazine 49 Ten Questions Asked by Scott Alexander

series with one of most creative magicians influence your development? I know, Kevin James. A lot of other people “I lived in a very small village with no know Kevin too, due to a viral YouTube magicians anywhere to be seen. It was just video: Kevin’s America’s Got Talent pre- me and six library books, until I discov- sentation of his reboot of the Raja Raboid/ ered Abbott’s. I remember walking into KEVIN JAMES – Johnny Eck sawing illusion that freaked that building like it was yesterday. It had a INVENTING HIMSELF people out in the 1940s. Kevin took this delightful musty smell, the creakiest floors plot and method and honed it into theat- ever, fit for a horror film, cool old posters rical perfection; it now has been seen by on the ceiling, and a roped-off section of more people than Houdini performed for the most beautiful illusions imaginable. I in his entire career. never worked there, but it was great and Kevin is one of a rare breed of magicians really old school. Once I moved to Cali- who is also a creator and inventor. He has fornia, I got a job right away at Best Magic an added insight he brings to his inventing and Costume in Anaheim. I couldn’t process. He comes at it from not only the believe my luck; I got to read magic books perspective of hypothetical “on paper” all day and get paid to do it. It was heaven. ideas, but real-world experience, because I loved it.” he is also a world-class performer. His magical creations, such as the Bowling 3. Give a few examples of effects from Ball from Sketchpad, Floating Rose, and your act in its early years. What material his signature Snowstorm, are examples of did you consider your “go to” stuff? Did magic by a performer who creates instead any of it make it into what you do now? of a clever creator who never performs. “I started with close-up magic because This is why these pieces are so pervasive it was all I could afford, so I worked res- in magic today. taurants. That is when I developed Perrier Kevin’s magic is everywhere and now with a Twist. I still use it today, mostly for Artwork by James Carroll it is headed to New York City. Kevin and TV shows. his band of merry cohorts, called “The Il- “I had started to develop some stage Magic, like any other industry or art lusionists,” are doing something remark- material and tried to compete with it. One form, has its movers and shakers – the able. They are performing on Broadway. thing was a costume change. I had retired people who have somehow made it to Not since have we had a it for many years; now, many years later, the top of the food chain in their respec- full-blown illusion show on “The Great the producer of The Illusionists asked me tive disciplines. Some have risen through White Way.” This one is spearheaded by for something quick and visual for the tenacity and diligence, some by luck and the brilliant ad man, Simon Painter, who opening of the show. So I dusted it off and timing, some just by downright hard work, in this production has aptly dubbed Kevin reworked it about a year ago. It still works and some by a combination of all three. “The Inventor.” Let’s examine, through great.” There are practitioners of pure sleight our Ten Questions, some thoughts on of hand, mentalists, manipulators, il- how Kevin has invented his own path to 4. Is your character now anything lusionists, inventors, authors, builders, magical fame and notoriety. like your character in your early de- craftsmen, and philosophers. I wanted velopment? How did you develop your to get inside the heads of these people to 1. What is the first magic you current persona? help shed some light on how they got to remember seeing and what impact did “I went through many characters. I tried where they are in their careers and some it have on you? to be the glam-rock guy and the stand-up of the motivation and influences they have “It was love at first sight. I saw a magician comedy magic guy, but none of them had behind the scenes. So, I am asking at my school and it really connected. Not really worked for me. I feel that I had to go all of these talented people the same Ten long after that Doug Henning appeared on through those phases and that there are no Questions to compare and contrast their TV and he sealed the deal.” shortcuts. I created a character for The Il- answers. Perhaps insights from these lusionists called The Inventor. I felt it was creative, tenacious, and talented people 2. Did you frequent and/or work at a big box to play in and I could grow into can provide you with a roadmap on your any brick-and-mortar magic shops in it. It was not far from the truth. It is still a journey into the limelight. your formative years? If so, which ones work in progress.” I am honored to be able to start off this and where were they? How did this

50 JANUARY 2015 5. What did you consider your biggest realize you had to be a part of the world “Study business administration in break in your career that took you to the of magic? college. When you turn pro you are running next level? “I knew right away that it was what I a business. Try to be different. Read every- “I think my biggest break was getting would do the rest of my life. I never wanted thing, lots of magic books, but lots of other booked at the Crazy Horse in Paris. Rudy to do anything else.” things too. Build your library.” Coby was trying to get his agent to book me there, but she really didn’t care for my 7. What effect that you currently 9. How do you think the Internet has act. She wouldn’t show the owner of the perform gives you the most satisfaction impacted magic? Crazy Horse my video. and why? “I think the Internet has had many “She also booked a TV show called “I think the Floating Rose gives me the effects on magic, both good and bad. The Sebastien c’est Fou. One week someone most satisfaction. There is a moment in the best part is that it gives you access to ev- dropped out of the lineup, she called me routine when the little girl gets to make the erything. The bad part is that it gives you and asked if I could be there in a few days. paper ball animate. She really thinks she is access to everything.” Sure we could. We did well and Sebastien doing it. There is such a beautiful, honest couldn’t stop talking about us. I told her sense of wonder that comes over her face 10. If it was possible for Houdini to to please show Mssr. Bernardin the video that it really sends electricity through deliver a message to you from “the great from the TV show. She did and he booked the audience. That is the same feeling of beyond,” what you like to like it to say? us right away. That place had such a great wonder that I experienced as a kid and “Bess and I see what you are doing and reputation that if you worked ‘The Crazy’ what got me into this business.” we like it. Good job.”  you didn’t have to send a video anymore. We did tons of work in Europe after that.” 8. What is the one piece of advice you would give an aspiring performer who 6. At what point in your life did you wanted to turn pro?

The Society of American Magicians CONTEST OF MAGIC Philadelphia – July 1-4, 2015 Probably Warm – Probably Crowded – Definitely Exciting!

The Society of American Magicians Contest of Magic is open to all members of the S.A.M.; it will be a featured event of the 2015 convention. As performers from all over the world who have shared their skill and art with us will attest, the S.A.M. Contests of Magic are unique, fair, independent, welcoming, and hot – sort of like Philadelphia itself and what got started there: The USA! There are two contests: The Dr. Paul Critelli Close-Up Magic Contest and The Father Cyprian Murray Stage Magic Contest. You may apply for either or both. If you would like to be considered for this event, your first step is to obtain an application packet. To do this, email me at: [email protected] with “S.A.M. – Contest” in the subject line. Please make sure to include your email address, your full name, regular postal address, and your phone number. If you do not have access to email, send your request to: Paul Critelli, 858 Iroquois SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

All application packets will be made available electronically or sent out on or after December 31, 2014. Do not put any act on line or send it to me in any form before you read, complete, and submit the application form. All requests for an application packet must be in my possession by or sent on or before May 15, 2015. All applications and all videos must be on line as instructed in the application packet by June 5, 2015. (These videos must be sent so that only I, Paul Critelli, can view them on YouTube or some other video service. More details will be given in the application packet.)

Thank you and good luck!

Paul Critelli, Chairperson, Contest of Magic The Society of American Magicians

M-U-M Magazine 51 Chautauqua Conjurors and Lyceum Legerdemain By David Haver sat

Allow me to introduce myself. I have been interested in magic qua Bureau. It began in Marshalltown, Iowa (home of T. Nelson history and collecting for many years. I served two terms as Downs the “King of Koins”), on July 4 and ended August 16. president of the New England Magic Collectors Association, was Brush was born March 21, 1873, in Garden Prairie, Illinois, co-owner of the S.S. Adams Novelty Company, currently own and decided to become a wand wielder after seeing Alexander the Petrie & Lewis line of magic, and publish historical books Herrmann. His first job was in a clothing store; he used small on magicians through my company 1878 Press. When Michael magic tricks as ice-breakers with customers. He became so Close approached me about popular with this that he decided to take up magic writing a historical column full-time. Over the next 20+ years he played all the I jumped at the opportunity. leading Chautauqua and Lyceum bureaus and was After some consider- considered a headliner. His second wife Ada Mary ation, I proposed a monthly Porter assisted him on stage doing illusions, her own feature on magicians who appeared either on the summer Chautauqua circuits or the Lyceum stage covering roughly the three decades from 1900 to 1930. The stars of these two venues are well known. Luminaries such as Germaine, Birch, Tarbell, Laurant, S.S. Henry, Reno, and many others worked for decades before enthusias- tic audiences in small- and medium-size towns across our nation. And so, that’s what I’ll do – with a twist. Because we only have two pages to cover the colorful lives of these performers, each column will provide interesting anecdotes and experiences of these magicians accompanied by a few illustrations from their promotional brochures that offer a snapshot in time. However, if you’re inter- ested in learning more about the performer and enjoying addi- tional examples of their memorabilia, visit M-U-M online (www. magicsam.com/chautauqua), where you’ll find their complete brochure, examples of items they gave away, photographs, even film footage if it exists. And, if you have a favorite performer, act of crystal gazing, and singing. contact me and perhaps I’ll feature that person in an upcoming A typical performance included Miser’s Dream, Chinese column. Linking Rings, vanishing and reappearing canaries, Floating Let’s start with the great entertainer Edwin Brush. He began Ball, Rising Cards, and ended with a small illusion. A number his Lyceum work in 1902 but he is more widely recognized as of his illusions involved him and an assistant wearing costumes the first magician who appeared on the tented Chautauqua circuit and mysteriously changing places. He even worked this with a that went out in 1904 under Keith Vawter’s Standard Chautau- spectator from the audience.

52 JANUARY 2015 The Hindoo's greatest illusion

Brush semi-retired in 1933 but continued working schools, churches, and clubs. His trademark was his upside-down mustache. In later life he explained how difficult it had been to train the hairs of his mustache to defy gravity with the ends pointing skyward. It did give him a devilish appearance. As he got older he designed what he called “ten suitcase shows” that could be easily picked up and performed, each one different. He also got around the laws restricting performances on Sunday by creating a series of religious lectures that he illus- trated with magic. He died March 14, 1967, one week before his ninety-fourth birthday. 

M-U-M Magazine 53 Updates From Our Newsworthy S.A.M. Members

Awards of Excellence Presented to Fifteenth World Deaf Magicians Festival Assembly 77 Members in Chicago By Eric DeCamps By Dr. Simon Carmel

On November 10, 2014, prior to the evening’s out- The fifteenth biennial standing lecture by Garrett Thomas, four members of World Deaf Magicians Assembly 77 (The Long Island Mystics) were presented Festival took place in Scha- with North Atlantic Region Awards of Excellence for umburg, Illinois, near their many years of selfless dedication to the S.A.M. and Chicago, from Sunday, the Long Island Community. Awards were presented to: October 26 to Saturday, Past Assembly President John Lepre in grateful appre- November 1, 2014, with the ciation of his twenty-five years of outstanding dedica- participation of thirty-eight tion and service to The Society of American Magicians, foreign deaf magicians from S.A.M. Assembly 77, and the Long Island Community. ten countries (England, Past Assembly President Pat Darienzo in grateful ap- Cyprus, France, Germany, preciation of his twenty years of outstanding dedication India, Italy, Lithuania, and service to The Society of American Magicians, Mexico, Russia, and USA). S.A.M. Assembly 77, and his commemoration of the Matthew Morgan was the legacy of , “The Wizard of the Festival organizer, with Deaf Magicians Festival poster North.” volunteers from the Chicagoland Deaf Seniors and the Chicago Club of the Deaf.

From left: Dr. Mitchell Goodkin, John Lepre, RVP Eric DeCamps, William Gleason, and Pat Darienzo. Photo credit: Harry Mandel Deaf magicians festival winners Assembly member William Gleason in grateful appre- Norwegian deaf historian Jon Brauti offered a Power- ciation of his twenty-two years of exceptional commit- Point presentation on the life histories of three popular ment and service to The Society of American Magicians, Norwegian deaf magicians (1925-1974); Bill Cook S.A.M. Assembly 77, and for founding the distinguished (hearing) gave a workshop on coins and cards; Simon S.A.M. Heroism and Patriot Award. Carmel gave his “dollar store magic” workshop and Standing Assembly President Dr. Mitchell Goodkin also showed a PowerPoint presentation on the “history in grateful appreciation of his nineteen years of service of magic”; John Sturk (hearing) demonstrated how to to The Society of American Magicians, S.A.M. Assembly make colorful paper coils, and explained the rising card 77, the Long Island Magic Community, and for his and other card tricks; and lastly, Duane Laflin (hearing) continued work in creating the new standard for S.A.M. gave his marvelous lecture on silks, ropes, and pre- Officer Insignias. dictions. In particular, Laflin made available copies of Congratulations to these remarkable members his new DVD, Visually Pleasing Magic, with the open who so faithfully represent the S.A.M. mission captions for deaf magicians. statement and spirit. On Wednesday morning, October 29, four magicians

54 JANUARY 2015 from India, England, USA, and France volunteered to award given in grateful appreciation of his twenty-four give their magic acts at a school auditorium to eighty- years of outstanding dedication and service as a secre- nine young deaf and hearing students from four tary-general of the Society of World Deaf Magicians. different public schools from the elementary school to In addition, President Vladimir Rudnev (hearing) of the high school levels. Later, a group of magicians and the Association of Russian Magicians and the Moscow foreign tourists visited Chicago’s Willis (Sears) Tower, Magic Club attended as a visiting guest. It was his fourth North America’s tallest building. The next day a group time to attend the World Deaf Magicians Festival; he of magicians were cordially invited to tour around the has always enjoyed socializing with deaf magicians. Fun, Inc. magic factory and were profoundly awed by He presented the highest award diploma to Simon the presence of a thousand different magic tricks and Carmel as an honorary member of the Association of props lying on the beehive-like shelves in the stock Russian Magicians for his hard work with international rooms. deaf magicians and his contribution into the develop- At the Congress meeting, Simon Carmel retired ment and popularization of the magic arts among deaf as secretary-general of the Society of World Deaf magicians. Magicians, after having served the international deaf Matthew Morgan, organizer, received gifts of appre- magicians for twenty-four years. John “Fanastica” Gapp ciation from foreign deaf magicians and leaders for his (England) retired as president after his twelve years of hard work to achieve a week-long international festival service. Both of them were voted as the honorary presi- program, along with his volunteers from the Chicago dents of the Society. Matthew Morgan was elected as a area. new president for 2014-2016, with new board members The next World Deaf Magicians Festival will take from France, Germany, India, Lithuania, and Russia. An place in Panevezys, Lithuania, in September 2016. important proposal at the meeting was raised to create a future Young Deaf Magicians International Festival in The S.A.M. Heroism and Patriot Award order to encourage deaf youngsters with their parents Admitted into the National September 11 to attend two- or three-day magic workshop sessions Memorial and Museum’s Permanent Col- and amateur performances. Regardless of the winning lection places, trophies and magic gifts are to be awarded to all youngsters who participate in the festival. For this On October 9, 2014, The Society of American reason, it was a big concern about the presence of the Magicians Heroism and Patriot Award, dedicated to the declining number of adult deaf magicians in the near memory of magician John Eichler, who was lost at the future. The Society wishes to attract more young World Trade Center attack, was admitted into the conjurers to get involved with the Society of World Deaf permanent collection of the September 11 Museum. Magicians and the biennial international Festival. After participating in the competitions in four evenings at a high school theater and once at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club for micro-magic competi- tion only, the Festival winners are: 2014 Grand Prix: Liliana Morgan (USA); Stage Magic: 1. Jayson Serripierri (France), 2. Franz Paulus (Germany), 3. Preeth Pavithran (India); Women in Magic: 1. Lisa Paulus (Germany), 2. Sheetal Kimmatkar (India); Comedy Magic: 1. John Gapp (England), 2. Maxim Sheinin & Sergey Klepeis (Russia), 3. Preeth Pavithran (India); Micro-Magic: 1. Franz Paulus (Germany), 2. Preeth Pavithran (India), and 3. Nikolai Chaushian (Russia); and Merlin Magic: 1. Morton Feldman (USA), 2. Horst Bormann (Germany), and 3. John Gapp (England). Amy Weinstein of the 9/11 Memorial Museum accepts After the trophy ceremony, the Society of World Deaf the donated items from Lt. William Gleason. Magicians presented the highest outstanding awards to Lt. William Gleason, Chairman of the Heroism and three magicians – Elena Kim and Anatoly Nemirovchen- Patriot Committee, presented two copies of the award, ko of Ukraine, and Morton Feldman of the United States showing both the front and reverse side. Lt. Gleason’s of America – in recognition of their long-time achieve- headlamp, which was used on September 11, 2001, and ments as “Extraordinary Deaf Magicians” in their re- two of Lt. Gleason’s challenge coins were also added to spective countries. Simon Carmel was surprised by an the permanent collection. ­—Eric DeCamps 

M-U-M Magazine 55 The High Road script writing, character development, and act construction for the modern conjuror By Mick Ayres

is found inside later; but no one sees it cards in hand, you’re going to make it even coming when Giovanni honors a request for more special – but it will only take a few anchovies by removing a large, brimming seconds. First, use a set of nail clippers to At the risk of stating the obvious, a con- goldfish bowl from that same box. When trim the card in the upper right and lower jurer’s task is to create unpredictable, sur- Johnny “Ace” Palmer presents the Cups left corners. These corner-shorts will help prising moments for our guests. The key and Balls, the appearance of a live baby later. Next, use a sharp blade to gently word here is “unpredictable.” The enter- chick under each cup is a warm and fuzzy trim around the tiny Four of Diamonds on tainment value of an effect is diminished surprise, which is greatly amplified when the 52-on-1 card. Be careful to only slice greatly when the finale can be anticipated Johnny stands up and is suddenly holding into the thin upper paper layer of the card. by the audience. We need a “surprise” the chick’s parents. Perhaps it should be Use the point of the blade to lift away this moment in our effects that delivers the mentioned that both of these examples are thin rectangle. Discard it. The Four of baffled look that motivates us to perform done in intimate, close-up settings? Diamonds is now missing from the card. in the first place. Though this sounds all For a long time, sleight-of-hand artists Put this card on the bottom of the deck. too obvious, it is a theatrical dynamic made coins jump from hand to hand. Now locate the actual Four of Diamonds often ignored by magicians. Magicians then brought the coins to the from the deck and put it on the bottom, too. We forget that what entertains a table and “matrixed” them into one corner. You are ready to perform. magician is usually far different from what However, both plots ignore the audience’s To begin, force the Four of Diamonds will entertain the general public. Since assumption that after the second coin on a guest. I prefer to use the Classic magicians have a strong appreciation for jumps, the element of surprise is the only Force, but the Hindu Shuffle Force or the the technical work that goes into a sleight- thing disappearing. Eventually, someone Cross-Cut Force will do just as well – just of-hand presentation, we will often choose twisted the plot and made the coins reset get the Four of Diamonds into the guest’s effects based on that premise alone. That to their original positions, thus giving the hand. Say, “Go ahead and show me the is why some tricks – though technically audience that unexpected surprise they card. It’s okay; I’ve seen this trick before.” brilliant – fall flat in performance. If the deserve. You may have the guest sign the card if you method is more impressive than the effect, To jump-start your own efforts to go wish. (Having the card signed will neces- walk away. beyond the realm of anticipation, here is a sitate having a stock of Four of Diamonds Magicians must be aware of the audi- playing card drama you may find useful. available for replacement purposes.) ence’s assumptions. Every time a magician Say, “Here’s what I propose: I want to holds up a rope and scissors, the crowd give you an experience you’ll never forget, understands the rope will be cut and then SOUVENIR but you get to choose. Using your card, I restored. Once a signed dollar bill vanishes, can perform the fastest trick in the world the audience knows exactly what’s coming A selected card hops from one place to or the weirdest trick in the world – or I as soon as they see the lemon. The list goes another, each time going a little faster and can do both. Please choose.” There isn’t on: the chosen card will be found; a rabbit farther. For a finale, the entire deck goes a guest in the world who will not choose will appear in the hat; the guy in handcuffs through a bizarre and unbelievable trans- “both.” Say, “Both? Both it is! Just put will escape. There are exceptions, of formation. To the guest’s delight, instead your card back here in the deck.” course, particularly within the children’s of transforming the deck back to normal, Perform a Bluff Pass with two cards. market. you present it as a memorable gift. That is, with your right hand, grip the top Some effects are successful because Get your hands on one of those 52-on-1 of the deck from above and lift the top two they exploit those assumptions: the Sliding novelty cards. Most magicians have one cards straight up. These two cards should Die Box and Run, Rabbit, Run come to or two of these cards lying around in be held with your right fingers extended mind. their junk box. However, if you are going over the front edge of the packet. Im- Within our industry, any magician to use it as a frequent giveaway, you will mediately extend your left hand with the who takes the guests well beyond their as- soon learn the expense of these cards can deck. From the guest’s point of view, it sumptions is one who stands out from the quickly add up. Purchasing a full deck of will look as if you cut the deck in half. Ask rest. For example, when Giovanni Livera them in quantity will reduce the individual him to put the Four of Diamonds on top of assembles an empty pizza box, no one cost. this bottom portion. As soon as he does, is too surprised when a pepperoni pizza Once you have one of these special replace the two cards smartly on top of

56 JANUARY 2015 the Four. Done with an air of nonchalance, Look at the guest and then look at the of the single card to add to the illusion that the guest will believe his card is buried in tabled card. Say, “At this point, it would be the deck is still there. Your left hand now the middle of the deck. In truth, it is three a good idea to make sure that card really goes into your pant pocket, slides the Four cards from the top. is the Four of Diamonds.” While he is busy off the top of the deck and brings out that Spread through the deck and slightly picking up the card to confirm this, run card. Say, “Sorry – wrong pocket – but the in-jog the third card as you do. Say, “Your your right thumb up the back corner of the same idea.” Hand the Four of Diamonds to card is buried somewhere among all these deck until you feel the corner-short drop. the guest. cards.” Close the spread and get a break Cut the deck at this point and offer the At this point, the guest has no clue how below the jogged card as you square the lower half to the guest. Ask him to place his card has jumped from the middle of the deck. Say, “Call your card, please. Just his card on top. He will put the Four on top deck to the top and then from one pocket name it out loud.” Stare back at the deck in of the gaffed card. to the other. Also, he believes your right your left hand and start to gently wiggle the Reassemble the deck by placing the hand is holding the deck. Say, “Would you pack. The guest will suspect the wiggling other half on top of his card while holding agree that I have delivered on my ‘ fastest has something to do with the method. a break between the two portions. Pause card trick’ promise? Good. Then it is time Freeze when he says, “Four of Diamonds.” and say, “This time I’m not only going for the weirdest trick in the world. Watch Smile and say, “Very good. Look.” for speed but a little bit of distance, too.” carefully.” Take advantage of the break and perform Separate the halves at the break and Hold your left hand palm up in front a triple turnover, revealing the Four of overhand shuffle the top half onto the face of you. Say, “You get to take these cards Diamonds on top of the deck. Turn the of the bottom half. (This is known as the home with you as a souvenir. They are all three-card packet face down and deal off Mahatma Shuffle. See Roberto Giobbi’s yours now. But first, I’ll make them easier the top card into your right hand. Gesture Confidences, page 93.) After the shuffle is to carr y.” With your right hand, mime with this card (taking care not to expose completed, the Four will be on top of the placing the deck into your left palm. Pause the face) and say, “That wasn’t bad, but, to deck followed by the special card. and allow your palms to come together as tell the truth, it wasn’t all that fast. I’ll do Look up at the guest and palm off the if squeezing the deck flat. Grunt a little; its it again. This time just say ‘Go’ whenever top card into your right hand. Say, “Please good theatre. you’re ready.” say ‘Go’ whenever you wish.” As soon as Lift your right hand straight up so the Insert the card into the center of the you hear the word ‘Go,’ dip your right hand guest can see the single card resting on deck and hold your left hand still. When into your pocket and withdraw the palmed your left palm. Smile broadly and say, the guest says “Go,” perform a double- card. Drop the card face down on the table “See? Weird! All fifty-two cards squeezed turnover to show the Four of Diamonds and say, “Speed and distance – not too into one itty-bitty living space!” Show again on top. Say, “See? It’s getting used bad. You better make sure that’s your card your guest the face of the card. After a to the sound of your voice. That was a little again.” beat, stare hard at the card and then slap faster – and this time there was no deck As your guest takes another peek, get your forehead, “Oh no! I forgot one of wiggling going on.” Turn the card(s) back a discreet break below the top card of the cards. You’re still holding the Four over and deal the top card face down onto the deck in preparation for the Vernon/ of Diamonds.” Point to the empty space the table. Marlo Depth Illusion. Insert the Four of where the Four is missing from the gaffed Say, “I’ll speed it up a little more this Diamonds into the back of the deck just card. time. Say ‘Go’ whenever you’re ready.” below the top card. The break causes the Shrug your shoulders and wrap it all up Hold the deck from above with your right top card to angle up at the back of the deck. by saying, “Sorry, I goofed; I hope it was hand and begin dribbling the cards on top From the guest’s point of view it looks as if still weird enough for you. Uh...here’s the of the tabled card. Drop all the remaining you are inserting his card near the middle box.” Push the empty card case toward the cards onto the pile as soon as you hear the of the deck. It is the perfect illusion. As guest and walk away. word ‘Go’ from the guest. Immediately you square the deck, push down a bit on You are left with a loose, incomplete snap over the top card, showing the Four the Four as it slides home; this will give deck in your pocket, but this is nothing of Diamonds on top of the tabled pile. Give you a break below the top card of the deck. that a rubber band won’t fix. Enjoy the your guest a bemused look and then turn Say, “I’ll do it again – right to the moment and think about that souvenir you his card face down and drop it on the pile. pocket.” The guest will assume the Four just created. Your guest will never forget Say, “You gotta admit: that’s pretty is going to jump into the same pocket as you or what he witnessed.  darn quick. Sure, it looks fast, but if you before. It will help if you glance at your think about it your card is only moving right pants pocket. However, as the guest Souvenir copyright 1994 by Mick Ayres. this far.” Illustrate the distance by holding follows your eyes to the right side of your Mick is a conjurer, tunesmith, and your thumb and index finger a quarter-inch body, your right hand grips the deck from taleswapper. He welcomes opinions and apart. “I can move it farther and still be above and holds the top card stationary dialogue. He can be reached at mick@ prett y quick .” Slide the Four off the pile so while your left hand cops the entire deck mickayreswares.com. it lies face down on the table. Pick up the down and away. Make sure your right deck into your left hand. fingers are extended over the leading edge

M-U-M Magazine 57 Working in the Real World By Christian Painter

you remember to grab everything out of the evenings, especially on Friday and your hotel room before getting on the next Saturday nights. This will affect family plane: toothbrush, cell phone, and your time. When will you see your family? travel computer? Not during the day, because the kids are Katalina and I have twenty phone-char- in school. You will be gone most weekend ger cables, external cell phone batteries, nights. You will also have quite a bit of and computer cables. Why? When you are travel time. You will miss your child’s WORKING IN THE in a constant state of traveling, you will football games, recitals, and other school REAL WORLD misplace them, lose them, and forget them. functions. There won’t be a lot of time to This is not just an irritating problem; these take your spouse out to dinner. An enter- Do you really want to be a professional small expenses add up. We have also lost, tainment career can create massive stress magician? forgotten, or had stolen, wallets, credit on relationships. Every magician, when he or she was cards, props, and clothing items. As a professional magician, you are young, dreamed of performing in an Travel can be stressful. Weight re- now a business. You will need to educate opulent theater on a big stage, standing in strictions on your luggage, the number of yourself on how to run a business, front of plush, red velvet curtains before bags you can bring, and the dreaded TSA including your business entity designation, an enthusiastic audience. The tinted inspections can play havoc on packing a federal identification number, performance lights whirl around the stage, highlight- show for travel. There is always the pos- insurance, expense tracking, quarterly ing the magical miracles. Enchanting, sibility that your bags will not arrive with self-employment taxes, and business rhythmic music seduces the crowd as the you at your destination. There is also the banking procedures. What happens if you magician gracefully maneuvers on nimble challenge of packing your performing don’t understand these things? Well, if feet between the dazzling illusions. After clothes so that they will come out looking you’re late on your quarterly filings, you the show, throngs of admirers crowd fresh and ready for your show. You better will pay a nice monetary penalty. You around the table in the lobby, eager for an know how to use an iron. need to be knowledgeable in Microsoft autograph from the necromancer. News- Of course, when you travel a great deal, Excel or QuickBooks and/or be willing to papers, radio, and television trumpet the you will be subjected to many people in pay an accountant to handle this. You will magician’s name. It is a fabulous . tight spaces. Colds, flu, and other sickness- also, occasionally, use the services of an As we get older, some of us begin to es can easily be transmitted. One thing attorney. think about making that leap from amateur I dread is sitting next to someone on the There is no withholding on the money magician to full-time professional. We plane who looks like a prime candidate for you receive as a performer. You are consid- ponder the possibility of making a living Ebola. The flight is full and every seat is ered an independent contractor and as such performing our passion to a willing, en- taken. Your thighs touch your seat mate’s it is your responsibility to put money aside thusiastic audience. The problem occurs during this four-hour flight and all he does for taxes. A safe estimate is 30%. This when the only frame of reference we have is cough and sneeze the entire time. Good type of business works under the princi- for becoming a professional entertainer is luck avoiding that virus. ples of feast and famine. One month you those precious few minutes when we see Let us not forget that there are no sick might be swimming in money and the next the magician on stage. There is a great days in this job. You don’t get to call in sick two could be rather sparse. There is no set deal more happening during the other because you have a runny nose. The show schedule to get paid and no set hours. You twenty-three hours of the day that is not so must go on or you don’t get paid. While we must have the discipline to budget your glamorous. are on the subject of sickness, it should be income. You have to manage your own re- Let’s start by talking about the travel pointed out that there is no health care in tirement plan and set money aside for this involved. Most professional magicians this job. There are no medical benefits and as well. will travel a great deal. One year, Katalina no dental benefits. You will either have to Gigs don’t magically appear; you have and I calculated how much time we spent pay for your own or do without. to earn them through sales and marketing. at home; it came out to eighty-five days. Your medical needs, the size of your You will have to create and print promo- We slept in our own bed less than three family, and where you live will determine tional material. You will need to design, months that year. At first, this might seem the cost of your medical insurance. I have manage, and market your website. Business exciting. However, after a few years of it, friends whose costs range from $1,800 a cards, photographs, a promo video, poster, you become extremely road weary. month for a family of five to $400 for a fliers, and a letterhead will all have to be Lumpy mattresses, marshmallow- single performer. How much of a deduc- considered. shaped pillows, and noisy neighbors can table do you want to have? What kinds of A good photographer can run you $500 make for some sleepless and painful nights medical emergencies do you want to be a session. Do you want studio shots or in even the best hotels. You could easily covered? All of this must be considered action shots? A good video with the right be living out of a suitcase for half your when choosing medical insurance. Even venue and the right audience is critical. life. Did you remember to take everything prescriptions can quickly add up in the You have to decide how professional you from home that you will need: toothbrush, medical costs column of your ledger. want the video to be. Will it be a friend cell phone, and your travel computer? Did Most of your shows will occur in using his iPhone camera or a multi-camera

58 JANUARY 2015 shoot you paid a professional videographer income from this show down to $550. eighteen foot stage. When you get to the to do. Marketing costs can easily run into We started with $1200. This can be a big venue, you see your stage in the corner thousands of dollars. wakeup call for many aspiring professional of the room. There is one sixty-watt light Who is going to sell you? Will you sell entertainers. bulb barely illuminating the area. You can, yourself? Do you know anything about Katalina and I have been in many however, make out that there is also a four- sales? Who will negotiate contracts for beautiful venues where we were treated person band on the stage. you? Do you have a well-written contract? like stars and were taken care of from the You seek out the person who hired you This might not matter for the Elks club, minute we arrived at that location. People and explain you need the entire stage; you but for the Ford Motor Company you will were there to greet us and to help us load are told that the band won’t be playing want to look professional. Do you have a in the props. There was a state-of-the-art when you are performing. Their instru- technical rider for your show? Who will sound system, beautiful lighting, and a ments will still be there, but they won’t contact the venue to verify the logistics tray of fresh fruit, sandwiches, coffee, and be. That this is an issue for you comes as a of the event to include sound, stage, and sodas waiting us in the green room. Ahh – complete surprise. green room? There are a lot of elements to that is the life. These are great moments. Your enjoyment is intensified when landing a show and getting the paycheck. However, only twenty percent of your gigs you are given a handheld, wired micro- Let’s look at the breakdown of the will be like that. Let me give you some phone. The organizer smiles and says, paycheck for a local show. You get a call examples to illustrate the performing chal- “We couldn’t get everything you needed. I from an agent. The show pays $1,200. The lenges you will face. hope that’s not a problem.” Before you can agent keeps $200 for commission. That is Example One – Weather Woes: You answer, he is pulled away by some other $1,000 to you. But, don’t forget federal, arrive at your show with multiple ATA pressing event issue. state, local, and self-employment tax. That cases in tow. The temperature is a muscle- Example Three – Musical Chairs: will be thirty percent. You now have $700. numbing ten degrees with a thick coat of You arrive at the venue, where the chairs Did you have any travel costs? Since it’s slushy snow covering the ground. The are to be set up theater style. The first row a local gig, the main expense is just some loading ramp doesn’t match the height of starts a full twelve feet from the edge of gasoline. However, did you consider the your vehicle, so you have to drag your show the stage. The people who set up the chairs total cost of your automobile and factor across the parking lot into a side entrance. did not allow for a center aisle. You spend that into your expenses? You will need Every time the wind whips across the a half hour explaining to the organizer that transportation to perform your job. Let’s parking lot, you can feel a part of your soul you will need a center aisle and that the make that a $20 expense when you factor freeze and break into a million pieces. rows need to start closer to the stage. in the price of the vehicle, gasoline, oil The lighting and electrical cables are The organizer replies that the crew changes, and maintenance. This brings our frozen into the shape they were packed. It who set up the chairs has already left. This income to $680. takes an hour for them to thaw before they forces you to spend an extra two hours However, there are a few more can be used. You dragged in snow and wet moving chairs yourself to enhance the the- expenses to consider. You will have slush as you brought everything in, so you atrical experience. You could elect to do performer’s insurance, bookkeeping have to constantly wipe down your cases, nothing and have the show play flat, but expenses, business licenses, a business equipment, and props to keep them from you would like to be hired back. PayPal account or credit card, and other getting damaged by the moisture. I’d like to say that these examples are office expenses like paper and printer ink. Example Two – The Vexed Venue: rare exceptions, but unfortunately they Let’s call it thirty dollars per show. That Well before the date of your performance happen more often than you would think. brings our income for this show to $650. you sent out your show rider explaining This is just a glimpse of what life is like in Don’t forget medical insurance. If the needs of your show. You asked for the real world of entertaining.  we calculate that expense at a low four a lavaliere microphone and a twelve by hundred dollars a month, and you perform eight shows a month, that would come to fifty dollars a show in medical insurance expenses. Your income is now $600. What about your marketing costs? Your agent probably had some printed promotional material to send to the client. Maybe the agent sent the client to your website. Websites cost money to create and maintain. Do you have a separate “Agent Friendly” website? If so, that costs more money. Did you have a promotional video made or promotional photographs taken? Marketing is what sells your show, and this expense is ongoing. How much do you spend on your marketing budget per year? If you spend only five thousand dollars a year (and that is not very much) on marketing and divide that up among one hundred shows, that will come to fifty dollars a show. That brings your net

M-U-M Magazine 59 Informed Opinion - Latest Product Reviews Compiled and Edited by W.S. Duncan

grave. Or that Greg Bordner had to petition the Colon City The Magic Graveyard Book Council so that magicians who were not residents of Colon could By Al the Only be buried in the cemetery. The stories are intriguing, fun, and Available from: www.abbottmagic.com informative, though short. The author attempts to keep the book Price $25.00 from becoming morbid, some of his lightness even taking a turn towards silly. For example, among the opening pages is a “Dead- REVIEW BY JIM KLEEFELD ication.” It is well-written and thoroughly researched. What makes it worth your time is the combination of dates and facts “Alas, poor Magician! I knew him, coupled with insider anecdotes, stories, gossip, and tales. These Horatio. A fellow of infinite jest, of are remembrances not about Yorick, but about magic, the profes- most excellent fancy.” Like Hamlet sion, and its people. The book is available at many magic outlets, and Horatio, Al the Only has dug up but I suggest you buy it from Abbott’s. It seems only right that you memories of performers we knew in should send your money to Colon. his book, The Magic Graveyard. These are not, however, sad tales of tragedies, 793.8: Where is the Magic but rather interesting life stories of per- Paperback or PDF download formers who chose to be buried near By Jeff Stone their magician friends. Harry Black- Available from: www.StoneColdMagic.com stone is interred at Lakeside Cemetery Price $39.95 in Colon, Michigan, where he spent many of his summers between tours. REVIEW BY PAYNE His wife, Inez, and his son, Harry Blackstone Jr., are buried there as well. And so is his grandson, The title of this book will mean Harry Blackstone III, who was killed in a freak accident at the age little to those who grew up in the digital of twenty-five. age. For those of you who learned their These and a plethora of other stories of magicians, famous magic from DVDs, digital downloads, and not-so-famous, are wonderfully recounted in The Magic and YouTube videos, the number 793.8 Graveyard. Al’s premise was to explore (through stories and infor- probably has little meaning. Yet for most mation, facts and fiction) the many magicians whose last resting of us over forty, or even perhaps thirty- place is in the city known as the Magic Capital of the World. This five years of age, the number 793.8 holds a book recounts his efforts at unearthing (please pardon that grave special place in our hearts. It is the Dewey pun) some tales about the performers who are buried at Lakeside. Decimal delineation for books on magic This is not an advanced autobiography of each spiritual tenant, and conjuring; it was stuck on the shelf just a light, yet reverential, recounting of the people many of us in the library whose contents many an has counted as friends. Duke Stern, Hank Moorehouse, Monk aspiring baby-boomer magician knew by Watson, Don Alan, , and Bob Lund are a few. There heart and frequently checked out. 793.8 are about thirty more, including spouses. For each person buried was the starting point for many a magician. So it is only fitting in Colon, Al has given a brief history and recounted some of the that Jeff Stone uses it as the title of his most recent book on magic. magical ties to Abbott’s or Colon, and to other magicians. The 793.8 is a book aimed squarely at the up-and-coming mentalist book is lovingly written by a man who has personally conducted or presenter of mental magic. While it contains a fair share of graveyard tours as a part of the Abbott’s Get-Togethers. His tricks and routines among its pages, its central focus is to present empathy for the performers shows respect and admiration, not the author’s performance philosophy, which he expounds on in a only of the individuals, but for our chosen field and the strange series of essays liberally disseminated throughout its nearly 270 idiosyncrasies it carries. And therein lies the rub. pages. Most of the subjects of the book, as well as the author and most Yes, it’s a book devoted to performance philosophy. But don’t of the resources, are connected through the Get-Together. These let this keep you from adding this volume to your magic library. are all people who went to Colon every August to make, meet, Stone’s thoughts on performing mentalism and finding that magic and revisit friends. In some ways, it is a tribute to the attendees moment in one’s presentations are well worth reading and mulling of that annual convention. So if you’ve never been to Abbott’s and over. Though the beginning and intermediate mind reader will do not know the people who became collectively famous, then the benefit the most from this tome, there is enough thought-pro- stories and anecdotes may not spark either nostalgia, or interest, voking material to keep the seasoned performer’s interest as as intended. But there is still a lot here to pique your attention and well. And though the material in the book is squarely aimed at spark your curiosity. And it is a far easier read than, say, twenty- the mental or psychic entertainer, there is much information that five full-length books, each a biography of one of the notables. can be applied to the other branches of the magical arts as well. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering that Blackstone bought Plus, anyone putting a show together for next year’s summer discarded posters of other magicians and then toured under that reading program will find a great routine involving superheroes. man’s name to avoid having to pay for new posters with his own It has lots of audience participation and great potential for bits of name. Or that “some” of Karrell Fox is buried in Duke Stern’s business and audience interaction that will fit perfectly into the

60 JANUARY 2015 superhero theme many libraries have chosen for their upcoming (is that a word?) fun ways, the disappearance of all the faces of the programs. So as you can see, even though this book is aimed at cards, and a wonderful coin matrix to end. the mentalism market there is something for everyone to be found With two exceptions, every trick is explained in detail. You get between its pages. a chance to see a real-time performance of C-4, an amazing color- changing card case, and Un-Matrix, a wonderful coin routine with Ahead of the Game Two-DVD Set a very surprising finish. These two items are not explained, but By Jonathan Levit are available for purchase separately on Levit’s website. Available from: www.jonathanlevit.com Both of us had consecutive close-up performances on the same Price $40 for the two-DVD set: $50 for the digital version cruise ship earlier this year, and I had a chance to have a short (playable on all devices) chat with Mr. Levit. We share a love of many things in addition to magic. He really shows the value of theatre and acting skills in REVIEW BY DAN GARRETT the performance of his craft, and a more personable fellow you are not likely to meet. And don’t let his comedic and acting abilities California-based actor overshadow the fact that he’s got some excellent technical chops. and magician Jonathan Levit Check out his website; you may find that you have seen has a solid, half-hour close-up Jonathan on TV as a character actor or a TV host. Ahead of the act that he has honed to razor Game is an act worthy of study, for many reasons. Highly recom- sharpness by a myriad of mended. performances at the Magic Castle, on cruise ships, and at At the Table With Marcus Eddie private parties and corporate Downloadable Video events. On this two-disc set he tips nearly every secret Available from: www.murphysmagic.com about his “baby,” and much more. Price $25.00 I was reminded of the education one receives by watching Max Howard and Diane Bray’s character-driven play with magic, The REVIEW BY JAMIE SALINAS War Wizard. Jonathan’s act is filled to the brim with treasures about the performance of magic. There is insight to be gained Marcus Eddie is a creator of several by studying the structure of the routines, the way the audience is marketed effects as well as an award- treated, and the way everyone (magicians included) is entertained winning magician. In this video while having the crap fooled out of them. lecture download, Marcus shares More magicians need to think this way. many of his ideas using a variety of The first disc contains two complete performances of about common items. Marcus’s persona is thirty minutes each. Is there any value in seeing the same routine that of a very likeable and fun guy and all over again for a different audience? In this case, yes! Subtle his creations fit his personality. changes in the performance play to the reactions of the audience. This two-hour lecture was Jonathan creates his character from the very beginning. Most recorded in a studio setting with a live of the comedy he aims at himself, not the audience. He uses a audience. The first effect taught is a lot of byplay, and reacts with great humor to individuals in the complete routine using a quarter and audience. In order to do this, Jonathan must know the material and breath-strips. This is followed with an eyeglass effect in which a his routine backwards and forwards. The expression “able to do lens is removed and magically restored. The routines look very it blindfolded” comes to mind. I only mean that metaphorically, impromptu but will require a simple set-up. Both routines are very of course. solid. Most of the movies one buys on DVD these days can be viewed The last routine taught in the first segment is an effect using with commentary by the producer, director, and actors in the film. a borrowed ring and a simple key tag. The ring links and unlinks On Ahead of the Game the viewer can see both performances with several times. This routine uses some of the same principles Jonathan’s commentary in the background. This is useful; I can’t taught in the effect with the breath-strips. understand why I haven’t seen others use this idea on a magic Next up is magic with money. Marcus teaches and performs a video until now. nice jumbo coin routine, a borrowed bill penetration effect, and There are also two interviews with Jonathan on the set. The a classic version of a bill traveling up a “ladder” of rubber bands first disc has an interview with the producer Anthony Asimov, that are stretched between his hands. The jumbo coin routine does concerning the whole concept of being “ahead of the game” in have some angle issues, but at the right angles it looks great. The building and performing this act. There are also valuable insights bill penetration is okay as a quick effect, though I did not find it into Jonathan’s acting background and his life story. The second that strong; the rubber band and bill routine is direct and visually disc contains a longer, in-depth interview by magician Suzanne, stunning. A color-changing rubber band is also covered as a quick and includes all the psychology, methodology, and everything. interlude. This shows the thinking and philosophy, the heart and the brain, Marcus moves on to cards by producing a deck from an empty of the act. box and then performs a full deck Oil and Water routine followed Counting the voice-over commentary, there are about five by a torn and restored card. The last thing covered is a three-phase hours of content to devour. It is an outrageous bargain for the prediction using Post-it Note type pads. The opening effect is not price. The material is almost all classic plots with cards, but with taught because it is a separate item that is for sale. The Oil and clever twists. As examples, we have color-changing cards (“ev- Water routine is easy to do and looks very good. The torn and erything changes”), cards divined or revealed in flabbergastingly restored card is a nice piece as well. The three-phase prediction is

M-U-M Magazine 61 okay, but the “works” may inspire more ideas. vanish and reproduction of a single coin under a card. This is Priced at just $25, this is a very good buy. The rubber band more of a tool to be used for a Matrix-type routine, employing a routine is worth the price of the entire download. If you are a magnetic card and coin. close-up worker, there is some really good material here. All the Moving on, he discusses his inspirations and demonstrates routines are practical and fairly easy to perform. some flourishing. A quick four-Ace production is shown, which segues into a change of four Aces to four Kings and back again. At the Table With Shin Lim He used the Aces for a Twisting routine with the cards in a spread Downloadable Video condition. This is similar in concept to Hollingworth’s Waving the Available from: www.murphysmagic.com Aces, but with a different handling. This routine is challenging, Price $29.95 but very magical looking. A visual card control is shown, along with a variety of snap changes and variations on them. REVIEW BY MARC DESOUZA He finishes up the session with a performance-only presen- tation of his original competition act, a discussion of the use of Well, I guess we have to face facts. music in magic, and finally, his handling for the Mercury Card The lecture industry has begun its Fold, which he uses for Card in Mouth. All in all, a very fast- decline and products like this will moving two hours of visual card magic. You certainly get your be one of the causes. I am not saying money’s worth of magic in this download. It is a good first taste of this as a complaint; it is just the reality this young artist and many of you will want more. I recommend of the world, which has gotten a lot this download. smaller with new technologies. Why go to a lecture when you can just sit in At The Table With Kostya Kimlat the comfort of your home and watch it? Downloadable Video And, if you want a snack, need to go to Available from: www.murphysmagic.com the bathroom, or just don’t have enough Price $24.95 time to watch the whole thing tonight, no problem. You can watch it over and over again. Are there downsides? You bet. Unless you REVIEW BY MARC DESOUZA are tuning in live, you don’t get to ask questions and you don’t get to listen to someone else ask the question you were too embar- This is a most unusual product. rassed to ask. It is a download of an online magic This is a small quibble, though. I think the concept of online lecture that contains no tricks. Okay, lectures is actually pretty great. I also believe that watching technically there are two tricks, but someone do an online lecture may actually make you want to see they are meaningless in the context of that performer if they come to your town to lecture. I just did one everything else here. Although there recently for another company and the experience was great for are few magic tricks to be learned, I me as a performer, because I did not have the time constraints I feel every magician should watch this normally have when lecturing at a club or at a convention. several times. Why several times? The first online lecture I’m reviewing is by Shin Lim. Despite Because there is so much here to learn issues I’ve had with a number of his commercial releases, I really and digest that you will likely find liked this lecture. I think this is an excellent venue for his work and something you missed the last time you watched it. The presenter the time allotted for the lecture made him tighten up his normal is Kostya Kimlat, who, despite his young age, is a very experi- rambling style. He began with his most recent competition act, 52 enced performer and businessman. He has already done more Shades of Red, which he has recently released (in its entirety) on magic business than most of us have done in a lifetime. DVD. During the lecture he chose only certain portions to discuss This video is far different than any magic lecture you have in the explanation section. These included his work on flap cards, experienced. It is a motivational speech, a mini-marketing course, from both a construction and handling point of view. a discussion of how to conduct yourself in the world of magic and Shin has some really good handlings of this tool. He also the world of business, and a great pep talk for magic in general. discusses the use of black art in close-up. I believe he has improved Kostya presents his material in a well-planned and cogent the handling of these tools since I last saw him, using a different manner, aided by PowerPoint slides where appropriate and video type of material than he had previously used. He went on to show enhancement. He begins with an overview of the types of magic a number of vanish techniques, some good, some just fair. My he deals with and the company he created. He speaks of his goals primary complaint is that a number of them are just too direct, and the need to raise the level of magic for the benefit of all, as leading a viewer to the only possible solution, thereby exposing well as stressing the need for personal and professional growth the method. By this , much of the mystery and impact and development. Kostya then outlines a number of strate- of the remainder of the act is destroyed. He finished this section gies and practical advice for close-up and strolling performers. with his use of magnets and cards, discussing both construction These include being aware of and acknowledging the audience’s and handlings. Again, he has some fine card vanishes using these reactions to your work, as well as effective scripting to establish gimmicks. you and your performance. At this point, he teaches his effect The next segment of the lecture continued with a signed card Warning, an excellent icebreaker with a lighter. appearing in a TicTac box. This was the highlight of the whole Kostya then continues with a discussion of audience manage- download. It has a similarity to David Regal’s Clarity Box, but ment in strolling situations, emphasizing the need to do some with a different method. I guess that the Card in Clear Box is the quick magic to establish yourself early. Other subjects discussed new ACAAN – there are two other versions on the market recently in this section include getting the DJ and servers to work with by others. Shin’s version is excellent. He then demonstrates the you for the benefit of all, and a very detailed analysis on how to

62 JANUARY 2015 have successful TV appearances. He also talks about investment spent, and the name of a person to accompany the traveler. in your magic and the use of professionals in a variety of fields to Paul Romhany’s Dream Prediction has been marketed as enhance your marketing. a stage trick for several years and is in the repertoire of many Next, he turns to the subject of restaurant magic. There are dis- working pros. Dream Prediction Elite is his new product, a cussions of the benefits to your overall marketing that restaurant close-up version of this plot that comes with everything you need work provides. There are discussions of analyzing your audience; except a few common office supplies. The handsome and classy after all, each table is a new audience. There is a plethora of in- leather notepad holds a regular pad of note paper and a pen. You valuable information and ideas presented, including the use of also use a window envelope as an open prediction. This is placed cheat sheets for your material, the need to have reliable back-up, face up on the table; spectators can see a slip of paper inside before the use of a case, and other topics. Then Kostya gets to the real you begin asking for information. You write their three bits of in- meat, which is the business end of things, including setting fees, formation on the page in the notepad and set it in front of them. the use of business cards, using mailing lists, and maintaining pro- Then you slide the other paper out of the windowed envelope and fessionalism. Further, he talks about using a marketing package to compare the information that was previously written there. Both sell your services, selling points aimed at detailing the benefits of sets of information match, right down to the last detail. your services to restaurant owners, learning about the restaurant The notepad looks like a fine leather wallet, and holds the pad industry and how that will help you determine who to sell to, how of paper, a pen, and the prediction envelope. It is completely un- valuable your work can be to them, and the need to understand gimmicked, but using it helps you to cover some work that you that you are in the business of customer service. need to do. The envelope is gimmicked; although you only use The final segment of the lecture is about stand-up magic. Kostya one, you get ten, enough to change or add additional routines and discusses ideas to build and implement a stand-up show, empha- still keep you in business for the rest of your performing life. The sizing that there is a different set of skills required, as compared envelope, developed by Mark Parker, is the crux of the routine and to close-up magic. These include the need to use lights and audio, allows you to show a prediction paper before you begin asking how to routine emotionally, writing scripts, and preparing your questions, yet still hand out that paper for the final revelation. It checklists. He also made it clear that doing stand-up magic will is clever, functional, and very easy to use. Although it cannot be help you grow your business, and that you should always do handed out for examination, in the routine that activity would close-up before your stand-up shows as a warm-up, as well as never even be considered. establishing yourself with your audience. He then performed a I was very impressed by the clear and simple handling instruc- lovely jumbo card piece called Who Killed the King, which has a tions on the video, as well as the personal attention Paul paid to wonderful script, as an example of turning a close-up trick into a my own circumstances. The DVD in the package I got did not full stage effect. Kostya finished out the session by emphasizing work on my computer and Paul immediately responded with a the need to create emotional experiences. secure link so that I could watch the instructions online. Kostya is a wonderful example of how someone with a true There is a very effective Confabulation-style routine shown passion for magic can transform that into a terrific business and explained, but the props are open-ended enough to allow and make a good living from it. He is putting his experience you to use then for any number of alternate routines. You could and knowledge out there for you to use. Now, it is up to you to predict the winning numbers on a lottery card, a series of playing implement it and create your own business. The information cards freely selected by several people, or random trivia facts shared in this lecture is worth far more than the small amount about your spectator’s personal lives. Basically, you openly write asked for it. Even if you don’t use any of the information (and you several things on a notepad and then you show a second paper on would be foolish not to) Kostya’s successes to date should be an which you had previously written those exact same things. There inspiration to all of us. On my first viewing of this lecture I took is very little reset, so you could table-hop with this all night long, three pages of notes. I am ready to watch it again to glean more or at least until you run out of pages on the blank notepad. I was information. You need to watch this and more than once. impressed with the ease of handling and the high quality of the leather wallet and envelopes. This is well worth the cost to anyone Dream Prediction Elite Trick who works close-up, because you not only get a great routine, you By Paul Romhany get classy props that appear very innocent, and you get to openly Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies predict several freely-named items at every presentation. And Price $99.00 those facts, the ones the spectators just randomly came up with, are written in your handwriting on a paper that you leave with the REVIEW BY JIM KLEEFELD spectators. I’m lovin’ it.

Alan Shaxon’s Confabulation plot Upgrade DVD and Gimmick has been visited by many perform- By Danny Weiser ers, including notable versions by Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies , Cris Johnson, and Don Price $27.00 Wayne. It is a clever plot idea and has found its way into the regular sets of REVIEW BY MARC DESOUZA many seasoned professional mental- ists. In case you don’t know the effect, Upgrade is a very clever idea with several fine applications. a spectator gives you several separate I was unfamiliar with the creator, Danny Weiser, which is odd, bits of information related to one because he is from Philadelphia (home of the 2015 S.A.M. con- event, and you show that you have predicted all of the information vention). In any case, Mr. Weiser now makes Baltimore his home. correctly. Usually the event is travel and the three pieces of in- This is a really fine first effort, produced by the crew at Big formation you get will be a destination city, an amount of money Blind Media. The video and audio are superb, and BBM-regular

M-U-M Magazine 63 Liam Montier is on hand to help A nice twist on this is when the magician looks at the solid cap, lead the discussions. A card is shakes it a bit, and out of it (apparently) falls a real eight-ball. The selected, signed, and replaced switch is made during the surprise and the pen is then recapped. in the deck. Two other cards The production is fully explained. are removed from the deck and The long cap simply gives you a different interlude effect when held slightly spread in a fan. the spectator signs the card. The magician takes the cap from one The spectator is asked to hold hand to the other and then apparently stretches the regulation cap the corner of one card, while to three times its normal size. This long cap is then placed on the the magician holds a corner of Sharpie, which is put away. This is very startling. the other. The magician pulls A couple of handlings on the long cap are included, along with his card away causing the some nice sleeving and flip-stick techniques, which can be used to card held by the spectator to produce or vanish the long cap. Also covered are ways to change visibly change into the signed the long Sharpie cap back into the regular cap, although one might selection. This is a great magical-looking change that actually question the value of changing the long cap back again; that is, happens in the spectator’s own hand. it might be best to end with the impossible cap rather than the One simple gaff enables you to accomplish this startling effect. regular cap. The gaff is reminiscent of some of Mark Mason’s effects, but David Penn, our host and instructor, concludes the DVD by with a very different-looking result that occurs under seemingly performing his preferred Solid & Stretch routine, which includes impossible conditions. On the DVD you will first discover the using both the solid and the stretch gimmick and the eight-ball very detailed instructions on how you can make your own ad- production. By the way, he leaves the long cap in place at the ditional gimmicks. There are a few variations taught, but all of conclusion of the routine, which technically means the routine the gimmicks can be made with materials easily found at a fabric requires some minor resetting. store and an office supply store, as well as a few common card The question remains, does a routine within a routine play gaffs you probably have laying around your magic room. Weiser well? Does it enhance or detract from the magical experience? also discusses care of the gimmick. Maybe that’s the bonus. In addition to a clever, fun, and magical The next section begins by teaching the basic handling of interlude, you have something to kick around with your magic the effect. Other uses for the gimmick and variants on it are also friends. That’s how magic improves. discussed. These include an phase (I really didn’t You receive the DVD and the two gimmicked caps. The regu- care for this), a version in which the cards are trapped under your lation Sharpie and eight-ball are not provided. This is good magic! foot and one disappears, a face-down gimmick that can be used for a sandwich effect, and Card Through Table. The highlight for me C4 Prop and DVD was a great handling of David Solomon’s Fingerprint Trick. The By Jonathan Levit Upgrade gimmick turns it into an amazing visual card routine. Available from: www.jonathanlevit.com The DVD finishes with a brief interview with Weiser. He Price $45.00 seems like a very pleasant young man. If this product is any in- dication of his body of work to date, he has a great future in this REVIEW BY MARC DESOUZA field. I highly recommend this. When you receive this Solid & Stretch Trick package, your first thought is By David Penn & Jonathan Farr most likely going to be, “This is Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies a classy product.” And you would Price: $39.95 be right. The outside wrapper and custom case with magnetic flap REVIEW BY DAVID GOODSELL are opened to reveal three small, glossy cards. Two of them promote Jonathan’s new DVD set (more Along with the instructional DVD, about this in a moment) and another of his products at a discount you receive two special caps to use with price for buyers of this product. The third card tells you how to a regular, black Sharpie marker. One is access all of the contents of the DVD as a download so you can a stretched cap (six inches long) and the watch them on your favorite mobile device for free. Nice touch. other is a regulation-size cap that is solid; There is a block of foam that contains the special card case and that is, you can’t put it on a Sharpie. These beneath that are some card seals (if you wish to use them; the are used as sort of sub plots in any routine DVD discusses this), and the instructional DVD. that requires the spectator to sign a card So what is this thing and what does it do? It is a perfect adjunct or other object with a Sharpie. In the to any Color Changing Deck routine. The deck is cleanly removed basic use, the cap is apparently removed from the case, which is then tabled. The routine is performed and from the pen and placed on the table. The then the case is picked up from the table. With a wave of the hand, spectator signs the card but when he tries the case instantly changes color. You then hand the case to one to recap the pen, he can’t. The magician of your spectators; it can be fully examined – it is a regular card then switches the solid cap for a regular cap, recaps the pen, and case. The gimmick is a very clever idea that has been expertly continues with the routine, with the spectator wondering what just manufactured by Uday Jadugar. This is not a self-working prop. happened. Obviously, thought must be given to the presentation You need to be able to palm what is essentially a card, and then so that the event enhances the regular routine, rather than detracts you need to ditch the gimmick. Have no fear. Both of these moves from it. A couple of methods for this are presented. are well covered by misdirection and are well within the capabili-

64 JANUARY 2015 ties of most of you. There are two alternatives for the ditch; one ing a magic trick, the spectators are convinced that you actually for those who work in more formal performing conditions behind do what you say you are doing: moving a coin through various a table, and one for the strolling performer. You receive the “extra orifices using your facial, throat, and stomach muscles. If you something” required to ditch the gaff properly. want to put this kind of geek routine into your show, then this The DVD is superb; well filmed, with great audio. You get to product is a good place to start. But it’s not for everyone. Maybe see Levit perform his full Color Changing Deck routine, using you should decide whether the audiences you work for want to see this gaff as the blow off, at the Magic Castle. You get to see the something revolting or not. incredible reaction from the audience. You get to experience what I won’t be performing this, not even practicing it, so I cannot makes Levit such a wonderful performer. But you don’t get an say for sure how easy it is, but Sutter’s clear explanations and the explanation of the routine. I think it would have been a nice touch exacting camera work certainly make it look doable. The entire to include it, but I kind of understand why. It appears on his new set of videos lasts nearly two hours, so everything is covered and DVD set, Ahead of the Game, a review of which appears on page re-covered to the nth degree. To their credit, the team has made 59 (alas by another reviewer, but for my two cents this is a great it abundantly clear that this is geek magic, and there are many set!). However, this effect can be used with your favorite color inherent dangers. Warnings abound about not swallowing the changing deck routine. coin, not getting it lodged in your nasal cavity, and about keeping This is an excellent effect, with beautifully made props. Levit your props and utensils sanitary. Despite those, I am certain some teaches you what you need to perform it properly. He has thought- seventeen-year-old magic newbie is going to buy this and end up fully provided everything you need to learn and perform it imme- in an emergency room somewhere. Use it at your own risk. Or diately, even including the regular card case. You just need to put maybe, don’t. in the work to do it the justice it deserves. Highly recommended. Look Trick Coin Thru Nose Trick By Limin By Tyler Sutter Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies Available from: www.themagicestate.com Price $20.00 Price $35.00 REVIEW BY JIM KLEEFELD REVIEW BY JIM KLEEFELD If you have a few extra bucks, have The good news: Magic nothing better to do, and want to amuse Estate’s Coin Thru Nose is yourself or a friend for a few minutes, you one of the most thorough can get Look by Limin. Look is a quickie and complete explanations card revelation that plays smoothly and I’ve ever seen on a one-trick should entertain your spectators in a light DVD. The photography, and fun manner. What you actually get editing, and sound are in the package is a packet of ten, blank, professional caliber, and write-on/wipe-off cards, twenty plastic, the trick is nicely performed, clearly taught, and thoroughly stick-on googly eyes, and a card gimmick examined. We are given succinct and valuable tips on handling. (mine is a blue-backed Bicycle card). You It is the quality of product that I always expect, but seldom get. must provide your own Sharpie and a deck Now the bad news: you probably won’t like the trick. Yes, it of matching cards. is exactly what the title says. You put a marked quarter into your The routine is simple. You stick the two eyes on the blank card mouth, swallow it, regurgitate it, and then pull it out through and finish drawing (or have a spectator draw) a face. Setting this your nose. One look at the cover photo on the package tells the interactive mini-project aside, you have a spectator choose a card, entire story. It’s a geek trick. If you are prone to grossing out your sign it, and lose it in the pack. Then you remove cards from the audience with stunts like lifting a cement block with your tongue, top of the pack one by one and pass them over the playing card pulling a Lifesaver on a string through your neck, or laying on a with the drawing of the face. At some point, the googly eyes will bed of nails while getting whacked with a sledgehammer, then move, following the card you are moving above it. It appears as if this is your bailiwick. the drawn face is looking at that card. You turn the card over to Tyler Sutter conceived the routine, and has had it in his stage show that it is the spectator’s signed selection. You can put away repertoire for years. Some of those real-world performances were the deck, or ditch the gaff and go into other routines with it. The filmed for this DVD. Sutter’s Coin Thru Nose routine is definitely spectator can keep the googly-eyed face card as a souvenir, or you a stage act, because the performer needs to be standing and to can take it back, wipe off the face (if you use an erasable marker handle large surgical forceps. As you can imagine, in most of the instead of a Sharpie), and use it at your next performance. live shots, the spectator on stage reacts with some combination The quick instruction card is clear enough, and a resource for of fascination and revulsion. Lonnie Lyerla presents a second additional online video instructions is included. Oddly, those are routine involving a spectator-signed dime, which he places into filmed entirely in Mandarin without English or any other language his eye socket and then extracts from his nostril. He ably teaches translation. The video is decently filmed, but a translated version how to ring in a signed coin, vanish it to a retrievable location, would have been most helpful. and produce the desired effect of having it appear to drop out of Look is fairly straightforward magic. There is no elaborate or his nose. That is to say, the effect is desired by the performer, not awkward handling, just a card selection, a card control, and a little necessarily by the spectator. additional easy manipulation. What you are buying here is the In both cases, the overall effects have been routined to have a “cute” factor of allowing the spectator to draw a face and have it non-magical impact. That is, although you are actually perform- watch for their card. It’s a fun little presentation that would work

M-U-M Magazine 65 very well for table-hopping in a family restaurant. Give a child the Collision Props with DVD pen and have her draw a face, animate the face to find Dad’s card, By Tom Wright and then leave the face card as a souvenir for the kids. After you Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies ditch the gaff, the eyes on the face will not move whether near a Price $95.00 playing card or not. The idea that a spectator can draw the face makes this nicely REVIEW BY MARC DESOUZA interactive, but the actual magic effect is not particularly strong. I found it a bit hard to recognize the eye movement. You have to Here is the basic effect: A pass a playing card across and above the face of the drawing, and fork is shown and replaced in so doing you partially obstruct the face. The eyes move under in your back pocket. A card cover of the passing card. In other words, the eyes are looking is selected and folded into right when you begin to cover them, and then are looking left quarters. The folded card is after you uncover them. So the spectator does not actually see the placed into a plastic bag filled movement, just the results. Another downside is that you only get with many folded cards. All ten blank cards and sets of eyes, so if you give one away at each of these cards are divided among show, you have to continually buy more. The instructions claim several spectators. You remove the fork and ask all of the specta- that Magic Soul Products offers refills, but I could find no mention tors to throw their cards at you on the count of three. They do so of those on their website, which is in Mandarin, and tricky to and you stab a folded card out of the air. It is impaled on the tines navigate. This might mean you have to buy the entire trick again of the fork. When it is removed, it is seen to be the selection. Now if you want to perform it more than ten times. At $2 per perfor- everyone has to clean up the mess. mance, it isn’t bad for a special event, but you might not want to Okay, not a bad effect, but for what type of environment? You put this in your continuous table-hopping repertoire. certainly would not do this in a strolling environment. It is too small for the average stand-up show. It might work in a parlor Bill-Flash Reverse DVD with Props show, perhaps. By Mickael Chatelain There are many variations taught. One involves identifying the Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies chosen card by first tearing off a corner. Not great, but better than Price $39.95 no identification at all. There is a way to do it with a signed card, but that card does not end up impaled on the tines, it is woven REVIEW BY MARC DESOUZA between them – not as satisfying a conclusion. The same effect can be achieved with a signed business card – not so thrilling Here is another one-trick DVD from either. These versions, using this condition for the climax, have the very creative Mickael Chatelain. been published by others before. This one comes with some gimmicks The method borrows heavily from John Kennedy’s Mid-Air that you will use to create the final Card Stab, likely released before Tom Wright was born. He does gimmick required to perform the credit Kennedy, as well as others. The DVD is basic but pretty well effect. The DVD details a number done. You can certainly learn everything you need to perform any of routines that you can do with the of the versions of the effect. The change from pocket knife to a gimmicks you will create. The DVD fork seems a bit nonsensical. I don’t feel a fork is as compelling also details the process of creating as a knife. The gimmick is well made and about as simple as you and repairing the gimmicks. This can get. In fact, if you watch the online video, you will probably section is very clear and the process guess exactly how it works. Will your audience be able to do the requires only a minimum of arts-and-crafts same? I don’t know, but this is certainly not an effect I would ever skill and time. contemplate using. My dissatisfaction is compounded by the high The main gimmick allows you to show a playing card in a price. $95 for a couple of forks and a DVD is not my idea of good very open manner on both sides. The card has been pre-folded. value. Not recommended. You fold it into quarters and hold it at the fingertips. The card is shaken and it visibly changes to a bill. The bill is opened and is Cootie Catcher Magic DVD clearly shown on both sides. This gimmick can be used in tandem By Jason Michaels with a second gimmick that allows you to show a folded bill that Available from: www.JasonMichaelsMagic.com is placed under a wallet on the table. When the wallet is lifted, Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies the bill has transformed into a folded card. The disc goes on to Price $25.00 explain a number of variations with each of these gimmicks. The production values of the video are average, but certainly REVIEW BY PAYNE as clear as is needed to learn the material. If you are a fan of Chatelain’s body of work, you are no doubt familiar with these Don’t be misled by the title of this DVD. Cooties are not techniques. The primary transformation is very visual, but the involved in any of the routines detailed on this recording. In fact, showing of the card at the beginning looks a little cozy. Consider- technically speaking, the device that Mr. Michaels employs in all ing that you get the required gimmicks along with the DVD, this of the routines he presents is not actually a cootie catcher. It is a is reasonable value for the money. Although this really isn’t my fortune teller – sometimes also referred to as a chatterbox, salt taste and doesn’t fit my working style, I am sure that many of you cellar, whirlybird, flap-dapper or bumbedumpling. It is a bit of will appreciate it. You will have to determine for yourself if it is simple origami that young children manipulate on the thumbs and something you can really use. Check it out on his website, www. first fingers of both hands in a pre-pubescent pursuit to predict gimickmagic.com, to see it in action. their playmates’ possible portends.

66 JANUARY 2015 Mr. Michaels has taken this classic Jennings, Michael Skinner, and of course, Dai Vernon. This is not prognosticating plaything and applied the essential biography of Vernon, but a companion piece to such it to a series of routines and presen- books, as the title promises. To those who have read the essential tations with a magical bent. These biographies, this book adds texture and shading to the picture. range from playing card revelations For those more interested in crafting a show than in the lives to a gospel routine. All of the routines of famous showmen, there is advice from the Professor, both in are well within the grasp of even the word and deed, on how one constructs an act for the public. Mr. novice performer, and are a good way to Perovich has recorded the effects he saw Vernon perform in his establish character with one’s audience. sets in the Magic Castle Close-up Room over the years, and the set None of them are major mysteries or list, and the order of the effects, is very interesting. For instance, deep magic. But they are all fun, unique, Mr. Vernon customarily opened with the Cups and Balls, an effect and offbeat. The creative conjurer will that most performers save for their closer. If you’re wondering find them a springboard to other possibilities and presentations, how the Professor closed a set after opening with the big guns, because the paper fortune teller easily lends itself to multiple that information is in the book. Also interesting are the tricks themes and makeovers. I am already mulling over a presentation Vernon chose to perform in between. This reviewer was surprised based on the device being constructed from the page of an ancient to learn that Penetration of Thought, one of the effects from The grimoire or perhaps the Necronomicon. Dai Vernon Book of Magic that’s seldom performed, was often Eight routines are outlined in great detail on the DVD and included. Along with the set lists, Mr. Perovich shares show- three more complete with detailed scripts are provided in the PDF building advice from the Professor, such as the thought that once ebook included on the disc. This file also comes with printable you’ve finished with a prop, say, a deck of cards, you shouldn’t go templates for the fortune tellers required for the included routines. back to it. That’s something I’ve never heard before, and it has me The only thing you need to add is a Himber wallet and some form thinking about my own shows. Similarly, I was surprised to hear of double-ended envelope for the predictions that are made in which handling of the perennial Cards Across Vernon thought some of the routines. was the best. (Hint: It was created by a female performer; that This would be a great little trick for walk-around; it folds flat, should narrow it down.) And, at some point in Ricky Jay and His resets quickly, and uses an item that sparks curiosity. So it’s a Fifty Two Assistants, reference is made to a Professor Erasmus of good conversation starter; plus you could give it away at the end Rotterdam. If you were as perplexed by that reference as I was, of the presentation as a memento of your performance. It’s also I believe the explanation is in this book, and it had its beginning not limited to close-up or strolling work; the DVD starts out with with Dai Vernon. Mr. Michaels presenting a routine using a stage-size version of the During his many years performing on cruise ships, Vernon also prop. So, if you’re looking for a versatile and offbeat effect, Jason created several acts for what we would call platform or stand-up Michaels's Cootie Catcher is worth a look. shows, and Mr. Perovich lists the tricks that Vernon chose for those situations. For someone who thought that Vernon’s stage The Vernon Companion Book performances were mainly the Harlequin Act, this was a second By Michael A. Perovich surprise. That feeling continued with the discussion of Vernon’s Available from: www.hermeticpress.com interesting relationship with Paul Rosini, and Vernon’s recounting Price $65 of J. Warren Keane’s act. Of course, I can only touch on a few personal highlights REVIEW BY CURTIS KAM here. There are a great many stories, from the Professor himself and from his friends, including , Brad Berlin, John This is a book of anecdotes about Dai Carney, Bruce Cervon, Larry Jennings, Martin Lewis, Michael Vernon’s magic, life, and times at the Magic Close, , Gary Plants, and . Mostly these Castle, told by someone who had the good relate to Vernon as a man, a mentor, and a raconteur. For those of fortune to sit with the Professor several nights you who know even less than I do about the Professor’s life and a week, every week, for many years. That career, Mr. Perovich includes an extensive Appendix describing alone is enough to sell this book to the small where Vernon was, and what he was doing, decade by decade. In but constant audience of lovers of all things another Appendix, he sets the scene for our story by describing Vernon. Considering that there will only be the creation and development of the Magic Castle. And there are six hundred copies of this book printed, I two others, all both enlightening and useful. should consider my job done right here. But The Vernon Companion is a light, casual read that’s over a bit it turns out that there are quite a few items in too quickly. Mr. Perovich’s writing style is colloquial and con- this book that a more general audience will find valuable, and I versational, and as a result, he sometimes turns a clunky phrase. feel I should share them. If these sound like teasers to get you to The most amusing is in his description of a memory peg system buy the book, I apologize. developed by Vernon and Al Baker composed entirely of por- In addition to stories that will be familiar to fans of the Vernon nographic words. Describing the list as being “worthy of the mythos, the author shares personal stories that few others could Merchant Marines,” the author says, “I don’t recall the details of possibly know. Mr. Perovich is one of the magic-crazed enthusi- the list, but I can assure you it was memorable.” That paradoxical asts who migrated to Southern California to be near the Professor statement notwithstanding, this is an enlightening and enjoyable and the Magic Castle (1969 to approximately 1980). He was fre- collection of recollections. Hopefully, there will still be a copy left quently in Dai Vernon’s company, and for many years spent at by the time you read this.  least three nights a week at the Castle. This book is about this relationship with that time and place, and with people you’ll If you wish to have your product reviewed, please send it to: recognize, among them Tony Giorgio, Bruce Cervon, Larry Bill Duncan, P.O. Box 50562 Bellevue, WA 98015-0562

M-U-M Magazine 67 Working with the Card Now App Coin Scan

I have mentioned this app a few I describe Coin Scan as a cool trick with one gutsy step. You times in my column and realized that hold a few different coins in your hand; ask someone to take one it is one of my top four “go-to” apps. of the coins and hide it in her hand. Your iPhone becomes a sort My other three are Magic Gig Slips, of metal detector; it tells you which coin was taken. This is from Professor Marvel’s Crystal Ball, and the creative mind of Carl Andrews. The visuals on this app are Magic Shuffle. (Full disclosure: the cool. Coin Scan is available in the iTunes App Store for $0.99. first two were designed and created by me.) Levicam When I do my Tech Talks at conven- tions and meetings, I always bring up Want to levitate in a photo? This Card Now and show different handlings app makes it easy. Take a photo for it. I have seen a few magicians without you in it. Now get in the fumble through the effect and cringe photo and stand on something like when I see that happen. It is such a great a ladder or a box. The app helps effect that I wanted to give you a few you erase the ladder and then melts pointers on performing this app. the two photos together to create a The Effect: When someone asks for a business card, take out photo of you floating in space! This your iDevice and tap on the Card Now app. The app prints out a would be a great app to use at an card on your screen. It is loose inside your screen; you can move event or party; you can take photos of people levitating in front it around. To give the card to the spectator, simply flick it off the of you. Make the photo and then email it to the person. There screen. It comes out of your phone and turns into a real card that are lots of possibilities here. Be sure to use a tripod to hold the you can hand out. camera still. Levicam is free with in-app purchases that add a The app creates a beautiful illusion of the card being printed. timer and remove the watermark from the photo. Levicam is When you flick the card off the screen, it disappears and the real available in the iTunes App Store. Android users can find Levi- card takes over. It’s a smooth, beautiful, visual illusion! tation Photography in the Google Play Store; it is also free. Because you’re a magician, you probably have assumed that the real card is hidden under your phone. It is. Simply rest the Magic Tattoo card in your palm and place the phone on top of it. Don’t worry about getting the card ready. You’ll have plenty of time. I always Remember the old “rub ashes keep my business cards loose in my back pants pocket. When I on the arm to reveal a message” am ready to perform the effect, as I am showing my phone, my trick? The Magic Tattoo app other hand is grabbing a card. As I bring my “card hand” in front brings this effect into the twenty- of me, the phone drops on top of it. first century. Explain that this While the card is printing, pinch the card with your fingers to app creates tattoos on your arm get ready to pull it out. You have a great distraction here, so take without pain, needles, or ink. your time. The spectators are watching the card printing and are Draw a picture on your iDevice not paying attention to you. screen. Hold the screen on your Hand the card to the spectator and drop your phone on the arm and watch the light peek table. Now immediately reach in your back pocket and grab through the edges, which looks like a copy machine scanning. another card, because they will want to see it again. Reset and Show your arm with nothing on it and explain that it takes a do it again. while to be seen. Burn a napkin, take the ashes, and rub them Instead of a business card, what are some other ideas? Massa- on your arm. The tattoo is revealed, matching the drawing you chusetts magician Dennis Pimental suggested a Card to Phone, make earlier. in which a signed card comes out of the phone. Have a card There are different presentations for this effect. I’ve had fun selected and signed. The magician signs the back of the card. doing a drawing of Mickey Mouse; it “creates the tattoo” on my The card disappears from the deck. Open Card Now and “print” arm, yelling “ouch” as if it was stabbing me. This is getting great the card into your phone. They will see your signature on the responses and may move to my front screen real soon. Sugges- back of the printed card. Pull the card out of the phone and turn tion: The next time you are in a hotel, stock up on small soap it over to show the spectator’s signature. bars! Magic Tattoo is available in the iTunes App Store for $0.99. Card Now is available in the iTunes App Store for free, or you can pay the $3.99 or $5.99 for pro versions with more Bruce is always on the lookout for computer magic, iPhone/ options. What do you do with Card Now? Write to me and let iPad apps, Android apps, and tech toys that can be used in magic me know. We’ll share it in the column. applications. If you have any suggestions for future columns, Here are some other apps that are worth looking into. write to him ([email protected]).

68 JANUARY 2015 INSIDE STRAIGHT BY NORMAN BECK

OUR ADVERTISERS POP QUIZ B. Happie Entertainment 2 Magic is a big part of my life, but I have a rather strange Burgoon Magic 9 day job. I pay the bills working a job that requires I carry Christian Painter 23 a phone 24/7/365. I must answer it when it rings. The call Genii Magazine 29 doesn’t get to go to voicemail. I have to pick it up. The other day the phone rang; I did not recognize the Hermetic Press 71 number. I used my normal line: “SCA Promotions, Norman Jim Kleefeld 22 speaking. How can I help you?” I did not catch the guy’s Joe Mogar - Magic Stars 41 name, but it became clear what the call was about. I did LaRock’s Fun & Magic Outlet 72 not have a customer with a problem; I had a sales person. Lybrary.com 22 He was pitching and I didn’t even know I was up to bat. I got his name and then I asked for the name of his company. Magic Summit 44 Den of Thieves. I had to ask if that meant that truth in ad- M-U-M Advertising 47 vertising was true. He laughed and said no. After about Nemcon 34 4 fifteen minutes, the call was over. Nielsen Magic 2 The guy followed up with an email and a second phone Oceanside Magic Invitational 22 call. I was then told that he wanted to stop the project he was working on and fly to Dallas to give me a personal S.A.M. Convention 2015 45 pitch. I still had a problem with the name Den of Thieves. S.A.M. Gifts and Insignia 35 Could you really do business or take someone seriously S.A.M. Life Membership 7 whose company was named Den of Thieves? I assure you S.A.M Twitter 9 that I am not a soft sell, but Jared was very persistent in a Show-Biz Services 9 non-pest way. I broke down after the fifth phone call and seventh email. The Magic Bakery 3 I still had a picture in my mind based on Den of Thieves. T. Myers 69 The picture was not a nice picture, but that changed when Tony Cabral 35 the meeting started. Jared was one of the nicest people I have ever met. He did everything that he said he would do and then some. When the dinner check came, he grabbed it. I could tell that he really wanted to know what our thoughts about the project were, and if Den of Thieves could be in the mix, that would be even better. You could also tell that he loves his job and has a great passion for his work. I was glad that the name didn’t stop me from meeting him. The way things worked out, he didn’t get our business, but he was a very close second. The big lesson here is never judge a book by its cover. I have thought about this a great deal. The second lesson is that I will never forget that company name. A person could never forget that name. The thing that Jared and his company have learned is that if you have a name that is potentially off-putting, you need to quickly prove that the name has nothing to do with how you do business. (In case you are wondering, Den of Thieves was the production company on a show you may have seen last year – American Idol. I had no idea.) I received this email from Jared: “Hey Norman – Thanks again for the opportunity to meet with you about being your partner on this project. Everyone here is disappointed we are not working together, but we wish you all the best of luck with the project. Again, thanks for your time. I really enjoyed meeting you and wish you guys nothing but the best.” That is class, plain and simple. He didn’t get the job, but if things don’t work out with the company we chose, he will get the job. If I get the chance to send him work, I will. The lesson here is that the sales call is not over when the customer says no. I have room for a couple of quick jokes. The first is a riddle. How are men and parking spaces alike? All the good ones are taken. Here’s the second one: “I went on a diet and four ice cream parlors went broke because of it.” See you next time. 

M-U-M Magazine 69 Fast and Loose By Harry Anderson (with a little help from Jon Racherbaumer)

back in the ‘30s, which I recall the way I recall War, done with the colors red and black. the names of my children, Eric and Lyle. Jon Ask him to hold the deck face up and to deal reminds me of the principle: twenty-six cards face up into a pile. The other Give them a shuffled deck, and have them pull half of the deck is placed aside. Say, “As you off cards from the top in pairs. Any pairs that deal, note how randomly mixed the cards are different in color go into a pile. All black are…” While he does the deed, you casually pairs go into another pile, the same with red note the number of red cards dealt. Remember pairs. You will find that the black pile and the this key number. Suppose you count ten red red pile are of equal size in every case. cards. This means there are sixteen black cards I have a little trouble accepting all that. Is in the pile. This also means that the other half this some marvel of math that is eluding my has ten black cards and sixteen red cards. reasoning? I hang up on Jon (recommended), You’re now armed and ready. hustle over to the one empty table that offers At this point you predict the color black will no recharging option, bring out my ever-ready win the game by six. Have the mark shuffle the Bicycle Leagues, and try out the idea. top half (the portion he counted) and tell him to FREQUENT FLIER Shuffled deck. Mixed pair pile, black pair deal the cards face up in pairs to determine the “I” before “E” except after “C” – That’s just pile, red pair pile. First pass: fourteen in the red outcome. If both cards are red, ask him to place weird pile, fourteen in the black. Second pass: eight them to his left. If the pair consists of a red card red, eight black. Really? I’m whipped. Then and a black card, ask him to place them into a About me: I know I love Michael Close. I’m comes the “Aha.” “discard” pile. If both cards are black, have him forever assuming (as a sort of hobby thing) that There are magical methods as concealed as place the cards to his right. I love Jon Racherbaumer. I must love magic. the palm of a fist. There are others as obvious In other words, the spectator eventually I’m writing for M-U-M. Again. as a monkey’s nipple. (I’ve lived with several deals cards into three piles, the middle pile monkeys): Out of This World vs. The Vanishing consisting of discards. At the end of the sorting About you: While the idea was always that Elephant. Plus, how is it so many of our inner process, have the spectator count the red and the “magic” would be happening between dialogues begin with “WTF just happened?” black cards and note the numerical difference. “you” and “them,” how wonderful is it that so and end with “OMG of course!”? Your prediction is correct! much of it seems to happen between “you” and The pile of mixed pairs must contain an equal The working is elementary! Because there “you?” number of each color. Hence, the other two are more black cards in this portion, black Let’s be honest (sp?): No one loves magic piles must also be equal. Duh. will win. The math consists of subtracting the way magicians love magic. I mean it’s not So then, here’s your Hollywood ending: Jon the smaller number of red cards (ten) from music; bar flies who request “Stardust” from had, from a distance, once again, employing the larger number of black cards (sixteen). the piano player are unlikely to ask for “Three- nothing more than his unwarranted memory 16 – 10 = 6. Fly” from the roaming finger-flinger, nor order and basso lilt, lifted me, if only for minutes, Have him pick up the other half. Because of an “Oil and Water” from the mixologist. from the coal mine of O’Hare to that laboratory the Miraskill principle, when the spectator I’m betting you’re following. Stay with me. of mystery where the impossible is the expected eventually deals out thirteen pairs from this Airports are like vacuum cleaners; they take and joy is the currency. half, there will be six more black cards than and release, acting as assistant to our need and As I hand this deal over to Racherbaumer for red cards. In other words, the outcome is just desire for dispatch and renewal. Plus they suck. its reason-to-be, I‘ll say one more time that the reverse of the outcome of the first phase. Even at the best of times, life at Gate B23 is marvel is a respite. A holiday and a delight, You predict by saying: “This time I’m going to the wrong end of the cow. Add in a cancellation, even, if not especially, for those who pretend to cause red win by the same number of cards!” and you’re committed to a job my church do the marveling. Hey, Jon. All yours. Sure enough, at the end of the sorting process, frankly disallows. I’m ready to share this time- there will be six more red cards than black served situation with any sucker – a casting call ALMOST NO cards. that, by the way, includes you. So… If you want to do it a third time, you can Calling Jon Racherbaumer is a crapshoot. MIRASKILL combine all of the discarded cards. You can You’re either going to get the Magic Muskrat REQUIRED now predict a tie! This works because the who makes it all feel worthwhile, or you’ll end There is a fast-and-loose way to do Stewart number of red and black cards in this portion up with the “Guess Who Died Today?” basic- James’s Miraskill without touching the cards. is equal. If you were a betting man, you’d say cable host – the sexy Jody Arias or the one who In fact, if you or your mark has the “time” (not this is a “lock.” dressed down for sentencing. My iPhone lucks the kind that’s D.O.A.), you can perform and Onward. out; I get the cute one. predict the feat three times. Here’s the “whoop” In apparent anticipation of my current misery, and the “do”: “I couldn’t fix your brakes, so I made your Jon’s all jazzed up about ’s Ask the mark to shuffle his deck and then horn louder.” – Your guy  Miraskill, an effect published in The Jinx explain that he is going to play a game akin to

70 JANUARY 2015