NOVEMBER 2013

CHRIS WESTFALL Page 36

MAGIC - UNITY - MIGHT Editor Michael Close Editor Emeritus David Goodsell Associate Editor W.S. Duncan Proofreader & Copy Editor Lindsay Smith Art Director Lisa Close Publisher Society of American Magicians, 6838 N. Alpine Dr. Parker, CO 80134 Copyright © 2012

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4 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 M-U-M NOVEMBER 2013 MAGAZINE Volume 103 • Number 6

S.A.M. NEWS 6 From the Editor’s Desk 8 From the President’s Desk cover story 11 M-U-M Assembly News page 36 22 New Members & Reinstatments 23 Good Cheer List 28 24 Broken Wands 47 S.A.M. Spotlight 69 Our Advertisers THIS MONTH’S FEATURES 26 The High Road • by Mick Ayres 28 Nielsen Gallery • by Tom Ewing 30 Mental Breakdown • by Christian Painter 32 Building a Show • by Larry Hass 36 COVER STORY • by James Alan 42 On the Shoulders of Giants • by Scott Alexander 46 Stage 101 • by Levent 50 Ebook Nook: Ultra Cervon 54 El Roberto Enigmatico • by Bob Farmer 42 58 Informed Opinion • New Product Reviews 66 Happenings • by Charles Siebert, MD 67 Tech Tricks • Bruce Kalver 68 Salon de Magie • by Ken Klosterman 69 Inside Straight • by Norman Beck 70 The Dean’s Diary • by 70 Basil the Baffling • by Alan Wassilak 68

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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.

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 5 dance, but the highlight for me was a gag that happened in the second half. I had performed a routine that incorporated The Un- believably Useful Comedy Prop (the little rubber hand on a stick) from Workers 1. I explained that when I came up with the prop Editor’s Desk around 1980, these little hands were a popular novelty, but were

Photo by fivebyphotography.com no longer readily available. So, while attendees could feel free to Michael Close use the prop with my blessing, I had no idea where they would find one. There was a pause, and then from the back of the room One of the most vivid memories I have occurred in the my daughter Ava yelled out, “Daddy, we sell those!” It got a great summer of 1976, when I first met a very famous card magician reaction. at a convention in the Midwest. I had read and studied this man’s creations, and from what I had read I formed an opinion of what he must like as a person. He was a hero to me. Unfortunately, what I had imagined was diametrically opposite to what I dis- covered when I met him. He was a drunk – a pretty nasty drunk at that – and not particularly pleasant to be around. I was pro- foundly disappointed. What I learned from this encounter is that magic books and periodicals often sugar coat reality; we prefer that our idols not have feet of clay. Unfortunately, I think this does a disservice to young magicians who look up to these performers and creators. We all have flaws, shortcomings, and imperfections. It is how we deal with these that makes us interesting human beings. I mention this to prepare you for the cover story this month. Chris Westfall is a clever, busy, and entertaining professional magician who lives and works in Toronto. He has worked very hard to get to where he is today. But there are aspects of his story that are not particularly pretty. The temptations and influences Chris faced are not the type of things you read about in a magic Michael Lecturing at the Toronto Hat & Rabbit Club magazine. However, to omit those details would be disingenuous and would not fully explain how Chris turned his life around. In early October I did strolling magic at a cocktail party in Chris Westfall’s story is inspirational; it shows what an downtown Toronto; Bob Farmer had recommended me for the important factor magic can be in a young person’s life. My job. It was a very enjoyable gig, made so by the fact that the host thanks to Chris and author James Alan for allowing it to appear took me around and introduced me to various groups of people in M-U-M. before I performed. This eliminated the biggest problem facing I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Cinde Sanders the strolling performer – the lack of audience anticipation. Unlike to the M-U-M team. Cinde will be serving as the representative most walk-around situations, I wasn’t just some guy interrupting for M-U-M advertising. You can find her contact information on people’s conversations to show them a few tricks; I was a friend page 4. of the host. This completely changed the attendees’ attitudes and In the October 2013 issue of M-U-M, Jim Kleefeld gave a very expectations. It made all the difference in the world, and made positive review of Gerry Frenette’s six-DVD set Building Your the gig a real delight. Own Illusions. Unintentionally omitted from that review was the I want to wrap up this month with some clarification for fact that Building Your Own Illusions is available directly from assembly secretaries concerning promoting future assembly Jerry at www.magicmakersillusions.com. To quote Jim’s review, events. Assembly reports need to be submitted by the twenty- this is a “no-brainer purchase for anyone who builds any magic sixth of the month. For example, you would want to get the report of any size.” of your September meeting in by September 26. However, that The Ebook Nook excerpt this month is ’s report will not appear until the November issue of M-U-M. In handing of Al Koran’s Hanky Panky. Do not let the fact that the other words, your report will not appear until two months after routine involves a cigarette and a lighter deter you from trying it. your meeting date. (This is because of the way our printing Other objects can be substituted for those now-taboo items. schedule works.) The last couple of months have been busy for the Close I mention this because if your report includes promotion of family. In September, James Alan kindly invited me to be the an event that will occur in October, that information will be out- season-opening lecture for the Toronto Hat & Rabbit Club. Tra- of-date, and I will edit it out. I think it’s great for assemblies to ditionally, this lecture is given by a Canadian, but since I am now promote upcoming events, but be sure to allow sufficient lead in possession of a Canadian permanent resident card, I slid in by time so that readers will be able to take advantage of that infor- a technicality. mation. Thanks.  The lecture was great fun, with many old friends in atten-

6 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 7 written, she was staying with John’s nephew, Fred Calvert, at 4399 Irvine Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604. Friends have also set up a PayPal account for her, ready to receive donations. You don’t have to have a PayPal account to send funds to her. Go to www. PayPal.com. Click on “transfer.” Enter your email address and President’s Desk “EpicProductions.Juno.com.” Enter the donation amount and then answer the questions that follow. Dal Sanders What else can you do? Visit www.johncalvertmagic.com and www.johncalvertmagician.com to purchase the video about Calvert’s life and other unique collector’s items. In addition to As you know, this magazine is prepared weeks in advance. I that, almost two years ago John and Tammy asked Mark Jensen am currently writing this article between shows from my dressing to help them sell some of their memorabilia and collectables. room trailer at the State Fair. The loss of one of the true Mark has an online store set up where you can purchase photos, legends of magic is still fresh in my mind and in my heart. program books, DVDs, etc. Many of these items are signed. Quantities are limited. If you would like to support Tammy please visit http://thats-impossible.com/store/ and click on John Calvert Memorabilia at the top of the page. John Calvert was a magician, an actor, a director, a producer, an author, an airplane pilot, a ship captain, an adventurer, and a CREATIVITY daredevil. He was also our living link to what many have called the Golden Age of Magic. John was inspired to take up magic John Calvert was an extremely clever and creative magician. after seeing Past National President perform in I have always been intrigued by the entertainers that we consider Cincinnati. He was a contemporary of (and competition to) The “creative.” Have you ever heard someone talk about how some Great Blackstone and later Harry Blackstone Jr. He performed people are “just naturally creative?” I have some bad news: no magic for well over eighty years and appeared in almost every one is naturally creative. Creativity is one of those things that country in the world. the English language has botched. It’s like the phrase “falling in I was lucky enough to sit in John’s audience a couple times. love.” No one falls in love. Love isn’t some big hole in the middle I got to see him perform onstage with his full show and later of some idyllic pasture that you stumble into when you least in cabaret settings with his bride Tammy. John and Tammy expect it. Love is an active verb. It is something that you decide were always open with other magicians and eager to share their either to do or to not do. I wake up every day and choose to love knowledge and expertise. In the ‘80s I attended one of John’s my wife, my children, my friends, my job, and the people I will workshops during which he helped me to perfect my watch steal meet during the day. Howard Thurston did the same thing before technique. Years later I attended other lectures and workshops every show. But I digress; let’s get back to the subject at hand. where he tipped some of his other signature pieces. Thanks to According to Wikipedia, “Creativity refers to the invention Mark Jensen and Assembly 13 in , Texas, I actually got to or origination of any new thing (a product, solution, artwork, know John Calvert and his wife Tammy personally. Just before his literary work, joke, etc.) that has value. I think that creativity is 101st birthday, John and Tammy performed at the annual banquet the activity of making something – the activity of creating. for Assembly 13. After the show I got to interview John on stage. I also believe that creativity is not a talent. To be perfectly Mark set me up with a trick question that resulted in a hilarious honest, most talents are not really what we refer to as talents. bit of confusion. To see a video of this conversation, please check Creativity is not something that comes naturally. Like loving out the Total Media Online M-U-M. We have attached the video someone, creativity is something that you either decide to do or to this article. to not do. However, it is an activity that the more you practice it, the better you get at it. It’s like playing a guitar, or writing, or painting. You get better at these things through repetition. One of the things that our assemblies should be doing is fostering and encouraging creativity. Too often we shoot down ideas that are new or fresh. Someone may come in with a new way to do an effect only to be met with those seven deadly words: “That’s not the way to do it.” It doesn’t matter that the new method may be as good as the traditional way to do the effect. Magicians tend to reject new ideas on the grounds that it is too different from the traditional methods. On the other hand, someone may come in to the local assembly with a new idea that may attract a new (or at least different) crowd to the monthly assembly meetings only to be met with those other seven deadly words: “We’ve never done it that way before.” Sanders and Calvert If we are to truly “elevate and advance” the art of magic Although Calvert continued performing and lecturing into we need to encourage innovation within our ranks. We need to his 101st year, his health declined the last few months of his life stop using any version of those seven deadly words. We should and many medical expenses were incurred. John and Tammy’s reassure those creative types that what they are doing has value. funds were severely depleted to maintain his comfort. Many of We should inspire them so that they may inspire others. you may wish to send cards and/or financial gifts to Tammy to Of course, this is only my opinion; I could be wrong.  help with medical and funeral expenses. At the time this was

8 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 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: Dal Sanders, 3316 Northaven Rd, Dallas, TX 75229 (214) 902-9200, [email protected] President Elect: Kenrick “ICE” McDonald, P.O. Box 341034, Los Angeles, CA 90034, (310) 559-8968, [email protected] First Vice President: David Bowers, (717) 414-7574, [email protected] Second Vice President: Jeffrey Sikora, (402) 339-6726 [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 Joseph Caulfield (603) 654-6022, [email protected] North Atlantic: NY NJ Eric DeCamps, (718) 896-5861, [email protected] Mid Atlantic: PA DE MD VAWV DC Phil Milstead, (703) 481-5271, [email protected] South Atlantic: FL AL GA MS NC SC Debbie Leifer (404) 630-1120 [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: Rod Chow (604) 669-7777 [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

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 9 10 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 ASSEMBLY NEWS NOVEMBER 2013 Volume 103, Number 6 Society of American Magicians Monthly News

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

1 into several piles of varying quan- many of his signature effects, DOUG EDWARDS ROCKS tities. After Corky had narrowed which are featured on his critically THE WORKSHOP! the packets down to one, Hippo acclaimed DVD, The Treachery of revealed the exact number of cards Tricks. His presentation included NEW YORK, NY— In in the packet. In an amusing back- some masterful tricks involving September, magician Will Slade to-school skit, Dan Sneider pulled cards and coins that really packed from Washington, D.C., joined a four-foot #2 pencil from a small a wallop and incorporated the us at the Magic Table, trading brown paper bag. This pencil theory behind the handling. coin moves with Richie Bossong. would certainly last the whole One of the highlights of the They were a pleasure to watch. semester. Dan, with Corky’s assis- lecture was Bilver, in which Scott Mero, Jerry and Lee Oppen- Doug Edwards leading the tance, then deftly executed Matt Francis borrowed a $1.00 bill, heimer, and Rene Clement were PA#1 Workshop Ellison’s Triple Impact, a great displayed it on both sides, and then also at the Table this month, which crowd pleaser. proceeded to fold it into sixteenths, meets at the Edison Café on 47th terrific night for all of us. Stu Bacon performed two at which point it visually trans- Street in Times Square. We start As the newly appointed PA 1 routines with a back-to-school formed into a silver dollar and was around 12:30 sharing magic and Historian, I spent a day with valued theme. Telling a story of a student then instantly transformed back lunch. member Rhoda Houslanger. We sent to the principal’s office, into a dollar. Another highlight of Our Monthly meeting occurred spoke about her life as a performer Stu tied a pair of plastic straws the evening was an effect called on September 12. Before the and PA 1 member. Did you know together and then magically MWI (Multiple World Interpre- meeting at 6:30 the PA 1 By-laws she was a professional performer separated them. For his second tation) that had to be seen to be Committee meet and many issues written up in the Daily News when effect, he showed a packet of five believed. In effect, a card that were discussed and recommenda- just shy of five years old, or that cards, each with a different vowel had been freely selected from a tions were suggested. Chairman she did a single in the 1985 Salute printed on it. John Caris selected Tom Klem asked that they put to Magic performed by Le Grand one card and Stu correctly iden- a list of subjects to discuss in a David. She got a tremendous tified it. Bill Langdell cleverly conflict resolution committee. It reception and wild applause. What produced a quarter signed by Rich was agreed to add it by all at the a great PA 1 member. —Tom Klem from a nest of plastic cases. Yes, committee meeting. The Business Parent Assembly 1 meets at the coin was found in the smallest Meeting then was called at 7:15 Mount Sinai on Madison Avenue container. John presented Howard but we had a guest: RVP Eric in Contact Tom Klem Adams’s astonishing ESP routine DeCamps. Eric addressed the [email protected] (212) 725-5258 Triplersons. Jack Langdell enjoyed assembly stating he was sorry he www.sampa1.com for more the evening’s entertainment and did not visit the assembly last year details. did his part vanishing the cookies. and that he was available to our —John Caris Francis Menotti Captivating members to provide counsel. 2 Golden Gate Assembly 2 meets the Crowd at Assembly 4 After Eric departed the Business AN EVENING OF WONDER first Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Meeting started. President Community Room of Taraval red-backed deck was signed by Throwdini reported that the newly SAN FRANCISCO, CA— Police Station, 2345 24th Avenue, an audience member before being created PA 1 David Oliver S.Y.M. In the silence of the moon when San Francisco. Contact Tamaka reinserted by that individual into Award had a recipient. David mystery emerges, mages and [email protected] (415) the deck between two cards of his Oliver had selected Ben Zabin of guests gathered to evoke enchant- 531-9332 https://www.facebook. choosing, Miraculously, Francis the Bill Andrews S.Y.M. Assembly ment and wondrous delights. com/groups/249018441875771/ for removed a blue-backed deck from 42 in Stamford, CT. Ben and his Tonight’s teach-in focused on the more details. his pocket and, lo and behold, the father will be coming to the next many methods for forcing a card. very same suit and color card that PA 1 meeting to receive the award. Corky LaVallee began the session had been selected from the red Committee reports were given; by demonstrating several easy 4 deck and signed was sandwiched it was a lively meeting, which forces, including the bottom card, FRANCIS MENOTTI between the same two cards in the adjourned at 8 p.m. We had a great top card, and riffle forces. Rich LECTURES blue-backed deck that it had been lecturer, Francis Menotti. He was Seguine offered more versions placed between in the red-backed smooth as silk and the assembly of simple forces. The group PHILADELPHIA, PA— Our deck. In addition, the card also really enjoyed the evening. also discussed the usefulness of September meeting featured an contained the spectator’s signature On Friday evening Doug employing a fixed or gimmicked excellent lecture from Philadel- despite the fact that he had only Edwards held court at the Gemini deck. phia’s own Francis Menotti. First, signed the red-backed card from Dinner. His workshop was Corky started the evening’s per- President Brian Hurlburt extended the red deck at the outset of the called “ with Classic formances. Assistant Mary Caris a warm welcome to our many trick. This effect left everyone Apparatus.” He performed several thought of a card, which Corky members and their friends before speechless. The lecture was a re- effects and then taught them. One correctly identified. Then Mary, conducting an extremely brief sounding success and everyone was The Rock of Gibraltar. He then given the opportunity to ascertain business meeting to allow the in attendance witnessed some went on the show some self-work- the card Corky had predicted lecture to get underway. amazing magic. If your assembly ing tricks and some very skillful earlier, verified the precise card. Francis, who has been a friend is looking for a superb lecturer, card handling. He taught it all, Hippo Lau presented an amazing of Assembly 4 for years, is one of you need look no further than the drawing from his deep knowledge routine without touching the cards. the most creative minds working incomparable Francis Menotti. of magic and its mysteries. Many He allowed his assistant Corky to in magic today. Over the course of —Peter Cuddihy PA 1 members were there; it was a handle the cards, dealing them two hours he performed and taught The James Wobensmith, Assembly

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 11 Assembly News

4, meets third Thursday at 7:00 Randy, performed and taught us held by Frank Seltzer, who invited p.m. at the Bustleton Memorial a calculator gem for an iPhone (no member Rob Divers up to receive Post, 810 (American Legion) 9151 special App needed). Columbus his membership packet as a new Old Newtown Road. Contact Smith taught us a rubber band member of the S.A.M. The packet Information: www.sam4.org/ for through pencil effect. He brought was presented to him by none other more details. pencils and rubber bands for than S.A.M. President Dal Sanders. everyone to practice with. We Next, Richard McClure from were all enticed with the Alex AVSD Productions briefly spoke 7 Elmsley video that Steve Barcel- on the use of microphones in A WONDER FULL LECTURE lona shared with us. performance. This talk included BY JAY SCOTT BERRY September 14, 2013: Broken types of mics, positioning of mics, Wand Ceremony for Harry and tons of information on gating, OMAHA, NE— If someone Machin Jr. of Webster Groves. feedback, proximity effect, and asks me how an illusion is done, Jay Scott Berry performs Ring Harry Monti read the ceremony, other technical aspects. There is I explain that once you know and a String for Ian Andress as requested by the family. no way to do it justice in print, but the secret the “sense of wonder” —Dan Todd suffice it to say that Richard was is gone. When Jay Scott Berry create a masterpiece, and then to Assembly 8 meets at Mount extremely knowledgeable and the lectured, the thought occurred create a sense of wonder. This was Tabor United Church of Christ at club appreciated his lecture. to me that it can be recovered by best learned during his live perfor- 6520 Arsenal in Saint Louis MO There were four performances performing an effect and watching mance. —Jerry Golmanavich 63139 Contact Richard Blowers this evening, kicked off by visiting the response of the audience. The Omaha Magical Society [email protected] (213) magician Shawn Messonnier. That alone was worth “the price meets generally every third 846-8468 http://Assembly8.com Shawn invited a volunteer up to of admission.” When the music Monday at 7 p.m. at the Southwest for more details. participate, asking her to lay seven started I knew we were in for Church of Christ near 124th Street different colored poker chips in a treat. We sat in awe as a coin and West Center Road- right a line, in any order she wished. appeared and vanished – then re- across from where Hooters used 11 Through a series of free choices, appeared and then disappeared to be. Contact jerry golmanavich QUEEN CITY MYSTICS the volunteer ended up with a blue again – in several different ways. [email protected] (402) 390-9834 SEPTEMBER PICNIC poker chip. Shawn opened a small He moved on to produce a ball omahamagicalsociety.com for envelope containing one poker from an empty purse and then more details. CINCINNATI, OH— chip – a matching blue chip. turned it into a silk. Assembly 11 started off the Dal and Cinde Sanders took a Producing a string and a ring that 8 2013-2014 Magic year with a break from their children’s acts to invisibly went onto the string then TWO STEPS FORWARD AND picnic on September 15 with the attempt a two-person mentalism off and then on and then, while TWO STEPS BACK local I.B.M. ring magic. Many act. Dal presented a stack of large twirling the ring on a table, he got bargains were available at the flea cards displaying movie posters it back onto the string. After sug- ST. LOUIS, MO— August 21, market before the food and War of on one side and lists of movies gesting that magic was indeed a 2013, marked the Broken Wand the Wizards between Assembly 11 on the other. After the cards were “craft” to be learned he turned a Ceremony for Robert F. Cole and Ring 71. shuffled by one spectator, stacks slip of paper into a $100 bill and Sr. of Wentzville, MO. PNP and After eating and the initiation of cards were distributed to three then into a large silk bill, all the Assembly 8’s Chaplin, Harry of the new officers for the next other spectators. Each person while adding his own comments Monti, read the ceremony as magic year, the magic contest was selected their one favorite movie. and then appearing to be just requested by the family. held. Unfortunately, the I.B.M. They then were asked, one at a as amazed as we were. After August 22, 2013: Jubilee Review. performers edged out the S.A.M. time, to stand up and read (as ex- we relaxed, he explained that Special thanks to Terry Richison, compeers, so wait until next year. pressionless as possible) the list sometimes destiny plays a role co-chair of the Midwest Magic The assembly magi were: of movies on the back of the card, and looking for following the sug- Jubilee who came by to answer Shellina Borgman presenting her which included the selection. As gestions of the signs all around he questions and share stories. Most Mad Hatter theme magic pertain- the names were read, Cinde iden- performed a mentalism/prediction everyone attending had been to ing to the Alice in Wonderland tified each of the three selections that impressed the audience. the Jubilee and everyone spoke of characters; Joe Farag entertain- Frank Seltzer displayed a large After his last effect he explained the fun they had and the lectures, ing with his wild sense of humor domino card with one spot on one the relative positions of the close-up shows, and stage shows. and his magic; and Don Hinton side and five spots on the other magician and the audience and After the short meeting and showing us his mental ability side (or was it four? or maybe how one should use this theory slide show we had our “After the with his triangle predictions, six?). Frank’s explanation of how to make the magic stronger and meeting Magic Show!” —Don Hinton the card effect worked seemed le- almost foolproof. How often First up was Derrick Daniels, who Assembly 11 meets at Haines gitimate at first, until more spots have you seen a performance that caused his ring to float about. He House of Cards in Norwood, started appearing. seemed so impossible and then was followed by Columbus Smith, Ohio on the second Friday of The final act of the night featured learned that you have already who taught everyone a great card each month at 7 PM Contact Don Derrel Allen, who performed the been exposed to the techniques effect. He brought everyone cards Hinton [email protected] deadly Devil’s Spike. A large to do exactly the same things? He to practice with. Harry Monti, (513) 2480773 assembly11.com for metal spike was hidden under showed a novel gimmick and then goes nuts with magic, perform- more details. a Styrofoam cup and shuffled walked us through the steps to ing literally with nuts! Dan Todd among other cups by a spectator perform his magic. He used some taught a card effect and followed it while Derrel was distracted by of the same “tools” I use and hid up with Chris Randal’s Hollywood 13 Cinde Sanders. Derrel proceeded them from plain sight so I sat in Squares. Sandy Weis brought her WORKING THE MIKE to crush the cups with his hand, wonderment during the entertain- dog, Rocky, who played the piano leaving only one cup – the one ment. His demeanor suggested – Bach – but his Bach was worse DALLAS, TX— The Dallas containing the spike. that he was just as caught up in than his bite! Magic Clubs met Tuesday The Dallas , the magic as I was. All at once I September 12, 2013: Self night for their first get together Assembly 13 meets at 7:00 on was acting the part of the magi- Working Magic night. We had a since the Texas Association of the third Tuesday of the month at cian’s assistant and amazed at good attendance of members and Magicians conference, which took Crosspointe community center, how I could perform the same visitors. The officers covered the place over Labor Day weekend. Theater 166, in Carrollton Texas. “miracles.” I seldom experience business meeting in record time! Visitors included Colton Morrow, Contact Reade Quinton reade. this at lectures. What I learned is Randy Kalin, assisted by Adam Will Baffle, Shawn Messonnier, [email protected] (972) that I have the tools to perform Putman, performed and taught Gineva Jones, and special guest 400-0195 www.dallasmagic.org the art of magic. Jay Scott Berry us a great little self-working card Richard McClure. for more details and directions. taught me how to use them to effect. Adam, then assisted by The first order of business was

12 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 Assembly News

of her dog Baxter to perform a was inside a stapled “envelope.” Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, 17 blindfolded mental routine. The (Correct, of course.) Soll Levine California. Contact Ed Thomas SUMMER SIZZLER blindfold was on Baxter! Our final demonstrated a Z-fold wallet to [email protected] (213) act, Dennis (Vice President of produce a b-card. Steve Wronker 382-8504 for more details. SPRINGFIELD, MA— Dr. Assembly 16) and Janet Pimenta showed us his technique of using a I. R. Calkins would have really with their rabbit, Stu, did some Himber wallet to produce not only 25 enjoyed himself at the Assembly dove magic and performed a levi- a b-card, but a “million-dollar” SELF-WORKING AND 17 Summer Sizzler 2013. After tation of Janet. (See photo.) Janet bill that had his contact informa- IMPROMPTU an estimated sixty years of being is not only an assistant on stage; tion on the reverse. rolled up and stored in someone’s she also helped with the prepara- Dan showed us the Card Now ELMWOOD PARK, NJ— It carriage house, his home stage’s tion of the meal and grills. iPhone app that “prints” b-cards, was self-working card trick and backdrop was unfurled once again The festivities were overseen with appropriate sound effects. impromptu magic night. President and served as a backdrop for our and safety provided by our Sgt at Jon then showed us how to Phil Schwartz started us off with summer picnic gathering. Our Arms Ed Kazar. get the same effect (minus the his version of Mixed Symbols. newest member, Peter Lennis, Thanks to all who came and sound) with just the normal pho- Phil had one of the five standard expertly worked five grills. enjoyed our Summer Sizzler. to-viewer on your Smartphone. ESP symbols drawn on five Be watching for the invite to —Dana T. Ring different business cards. These “Visit for a Spell!” next year. Assembly 21 meets at Angelo’s were mixed. Phil asked Richard —Tom Gentile On Main, 289 South Main Street, Bangs to mentally select one and Dr. I. R. Calkins Assembly West Hartford, Connecticut 06107. note its position from the top of the 17 meets on the first Friday of Contact Dana T. Ring dana@ fan. Bangs moved them around; month, except July and August danaring.com (860) 5239888 Phil shuffled them and moved at Moto-X Bike and Magic Shop www.ctmagic.org for more details. one forward. It was Bangs’s card! 69 East St. Ludlow MA at 7:00. Then Phil did another impromptu www.assembly17.org “Visit for a mental effect. John Henderson Spell!” 22 rolled a die a few times, adding ALLIED ARTS NIGHT the numbers up. Phil told him the total, not seeing the tosses. 21 John Henderson next with a coin- YOUR BUSINESS CARD LOS ANNGELES, CA— The cidence effect, Fore-shadowed, by September 16, 2013, meeting of Ryan Schultz. John explained the HARTFORD, CT— The theme Southern California Assembly 22 force used, and Ron Wohl offered Lord and Lady Blacksword this month was Handing Out was presided over by President thoughts on it, calling it the “fool- Your Business Card, hosted by Tom Meseroll, who welcomed proof” force and using it in a few Guests from Assemblies 21, Roger Cisowkski. MI Dan Sclare members and several guests before effects of his own. Al Kalin did a 16, 118, and National Secretary performed a version of Out to announcements of upcoming nice coin flight using two silver Marlene Clark came. President of Lunch using business cards. Roger magical events and presentation of coins and a brass Chinese coin, Assembly 21 and Life Member- then produced his business card the new member welcome packet and a story about his Uncle Ben ship Chairman Dan Sclare brought from between a $1 and $10 bill. to Patrick Murphy. and his rice conversion. Al also along his support and extra Our Assembly Dean Bob Killian Tom then introduced Kim showed an effect using a nice bracelets for anyone supporting told a story regarding numerol- Hallinger, the emcee for the forcing deck. David Oliver’s “Team Purple.” ogy – how the numbers seven evening’s program of Comedy, George Silverman next, getting While the food was being and eleven are regarded as lucky, Variety and Allied Arts. Michael our Nigerian visitor, Paul, to prepared Bob Carroll exhibited while the number thirteen is asso- Perovich was the first performer, select a card by cutting the cards. some of his stage expertise he ciated with ill fortune. He capped telling an amusing story with The trick didn’t work right and wrote of in his new book, and off the story with some predic- the rarely seen artistry of hand Paul got kidded the rest of the provided a “game show” with tions about a number chosen at shadows. A demonstration of evening. George showed us how 50/50, call a friend, or poll the random by the group and calcula- juggling skills by Tom Meseroll to get a freely named card to a audience in order to answer magic tions involving the numbers 7, 11, featured the use of balls and freely named number. He showed questions. Many did not know that and 13. Bob revealed that this trick knives, and concluded with a the Simon Lovell cull, the use of was once a member was taught to him by Fitch Cheney spectator taking a bite out of an a breather key card, and a tiny of Assembly 17! many years ago. Bob then showed apple Tom was juggling. plunger to cut the deck and find a President Rich Gilbert prepared seven business cards and did a Nate Kvetney presented a joke- selected card. many ears of corn on the cob, counting trick. Jon Cap showed filled comedy mentalism routine Richard Bangs showed the while photographing many us a packet of his business cards, (of course, all his revelations were Martin Gardner book, Impromptu incidents of fun which was had by and one mysteriously rose from correct, even if a bit suspicious). Magic, which Bangs highly rec- many. When Treasurer PJ Pinson- the middle. John Engman demonstrated his ommended. A die was examined, nault was not table hopping and Jason Abate had Dave Garrity invention, the “Mr. E. Chops-a- placed in a small box, and then performing with his fifty-two as- select a card and write its name on Lot Food Chopper” (a hand guil- stabbed with a small sword. John sistants, he was selling tickets for a business card. Jason’s prediction lotine). The program concluded Mintz showed his version of Al the raffle of many donated items. with Ted “Suds” Sudbrack doing Koran’s Encore Card Stab. His The raffle took almost an hour to a comedy card location in western version is quite different and complete! attire assisted by a toy donkey that works well for him. Guest Bill Radner brought some located the signed card. Ron Wohl talked about the memorabilia that his father, Sid, The meeting concluded with Palmetto Card, and then did had of New England’s rich history the Trick-of-the-Month drawing, a clock dial effect with three of magic and took more pictures of and adjourned to the refresh- different phases. He concluded our happenings. Dick Lavengood ments table set by Bill Yamane. with the Swindle Aces. Bob donated an old ‘40s photo of our Members lingered, sharing magic Delaney borrowed a $20 dollar assembly that included Dr. I. and fellowship around the tables. bill, signed it, and turned it into R. Calkins, Al Rapisarda, Joe It was another delightful evening a $2 bill. But he did return the 20 Karson, and possibly Jay Marshall of magic for Assembly 22. (Honest Bob!) This year’s stage entertainment, —Ed Thomas Richard Micucci, president of Lord and Lady Blacksword (NE Southern California Assembly Ring 113, and president of All RVP Joseph and Kathy Caulfield), 22 meets the third Monday each State Medal Company, did a neat wove many stories of history and month at 8:00 PM, St. Thomas effect with two copper washers, lore. Kathy had the assistance Jon Cap’s rising card More Parish Hall, 2510 South in which the hole from one travels

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 13 Assembly News to the other, and are examinable. was translated into a symbol that Ogawa. Those of us who experi- necessary props and products used Things wrapped with Sean Burke was in fact the same symbol that enced both enjoyed almost five as well as safety precautions. Spry doing a strong mental effect. A Jack had predicted. Jeff Higgins full hours of amazing magic and Ed Fitchett performed Dr. Jak’s spectator cut the cards several continued the theme perform- magic theory. What Shoot can do “Supersonic Prediction,” which times to select a card that Sean had ing a very quick three-card trick with a few coins truly have to be used a spinning card holder that predicted before. —Del Dixon followed by a delightful twist to seen to be believed. —Steven A. turned out to be quite mesmer- The Rouclere-Zarrow Assembly the Color Vision effect, whereby Spence izing the longer you looked at it. meets every third Friday of the he could predict not only the past Assembly 31 meets the first Ryan Dutcher, assisted by Tigman month at 8:00pm at the VFW Hall, (the color that the spectator chose) Monday of each month at and guest Ed Endlich, despite Veterans Place,Elmwood Park, but also the color that he would 7:00 p.m. at Irvington United having his hands tied, was able New Jersey. Contact Phil Schwartz choose in the future. Methodist Church, 30 Audubon to extricate himself and become [email protected] (973) Daniel Lee helped us relive the Rd., on the east side of the City re-tied again at will. The evening’s 263-4419 www.livemagicguide. ‘60s when we used a Magic 8-ball unless otherwise announced. If entertainment came to a close with com/sam25 for more details. to predict the future. However, for the first Monday conflicts with Joel Zaritsky performing a Gypsy practical purposes, Daniel substi- a holiday weekend, we postpone Thread routine utilizing a balloon tuted a magic chard for the bulky the meeting by one week. Contact while telling us how his interest in 30 ball to divine the card that the Taylor Martin [email protected] magic came to be. With this auspi- THE GILBREATH spectator selected. David Kirby, (317) 413-1320 www.sam31.om for cious beginning to a new season, PRINCIPLE with a capable assist from his more details. it promises to be an entertaining lovely bride, Linda, strayed from year indeed. —Darryl Bielski ATLANTA, GA— Our Pro- the card theme by presenting a Al Baker Assembly No. 35 fessional Development series wonderful straitjacket escape. It 35 (usually) meets at 7:30 p.m. on the continued with Professor Matt was noted that this presentation SCHOOL’S BACK second Tuesday of the month at the Baker giving us an interesting was a first for our assembly. IN SESSION Milanese Italian Restaurant, 115 presentation on the Gilbreath Steve Spence brought us back to Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY. Principle. This effect was first card magic with a POUGHKEEPSIE, NY— A Contact Joel Zaritsky jizdds@ published in the July 1958 edition piece. He demonstrated with a new slate of officers welcomed optonline.net (845) 546-1559 of by Norman hole punched in a playing card in the new season of lectures www.sam35.com for more details. Gilbreath. A Parade followed in how he, as a mediator, worked to and meetings. New officers are June, 1966. The principle in card heal warring parties’ disputes by President Joel Zaritsky, VP Terry magic involves a setup so that taking their dispute upon himself. Morgan, 2nd VP Ryan Dutcher, 37 there is alternating red and black He represented this by magically Treasurer Craig Kunaschk, MILE HIGH MAGICIANS cards and when shuffled, the pairs transferring the hole from the Secretary Michael Bochar, and SOCIETY SPECIAL NIGHT will be red and black, enabling the playing card to his business card. Scribe Darryl Bielski. Outgoing performer to read the mind of the Taylor Martin and Jim Croop President Derrin Berger was DENVER, CO— Our spectator and predict the cards. closed out the magical perfor- thanked for his service by September meeting night was Matt performed a couple of effects mance part of the evening with a receiving a TV remote control postponed by one week because using the principle and explained flourish by performing the Three- wand. We can only hope that a few of the horrible flooding that the workings. He also handed out Card Simpatico and Déjà vu by waves of it can make some reality has recently ravaged our state. notes on his presentation. Carl Andrews. shows disappear. However, better late than never. Our performers were few, but President Martin then took this Joel gave a rundown of what is Originally planned as stage mighty. West Evans performed opportunity to install our 2nd V.P. on tap for the upcoming months. magic night the meeting took off a Coins Across routine with a Aaron Kalinowski who had been Besides having great lecturers in several interesting directions. cork, a wand, and a cup. Merritt absent from the assembly on the coming our way, Terry will be President Chad Wonder began Ambrose did a coin matrix using doing a series on the with an introduction of brand new four distinctly different coins. basics, to be called member Michael, and then asked Jim Driscoll brought in his first “Morgan’s Moments,” for the help from a member of the attempt at an impossible bottle. which will be taped and audience. He choose devoted and Very good work! accessible to members long-time member Gerald “Jerry” Our 900th meeting of the to view at any later date. Stoll to come up front. Little did Atlanta Society of Magicians Also, we will be starting Jerry know, it was for a surprise will be coming in March. We are a local S.Y.M. chapter. recognition of Jerry’s countless planning something special for Tonight was “Open years of service to our club in the that time. Anyone who is interest- Mic” night, and the form of a lifetime member’s pin ed may join us for the celebration. evening’s entertain- and status. —Carol Garrett ment began with Terry Joining the club in 1980, Jerry Assembly 30 meets the second Morgan doing an Aldo had the distinct title of serving Tuesday of the month at Picca- Assembly 31 Officers Colombini version of as an officer more times than any dilly Cafeteria, I-85/North Druid Cards Across, assisted other member – from editor to Hills Road, Atlanta, Georgia. date of the formal installation of by Max Alexander. Next up was President (88-89) and back again. Contact Secretary, Carol Garrett the other officers due to pressing Derrin Berger with a spelling trick. Jerry even produced the public [email protected] for more business. Assisted by Max and Tigman, the show and much to his surprise he information. Finally, as though that wasn’t suits and colors matched each time performed in it too. He had asked enough, Taylor continued our the last card was turned over. Max his good friend Charles to perform 31 monthly teach-in from the literary then performed a matching card as emcee that year. Charles said TWO IS BETTER classics of magic by discuss- trick, stating that the explana- he would only do it if Jerry was THAN ONE ing and demonstrating the use tion for the effect is available...in in the show, too. In fact it was of the overhand shuffle control. a book. At least that will narrow Charles that lured Jerry to the Our assembly continues to be down the search for anyone club in the first place and made INDIANAPOLIS, IN— It was dedicated to improving the looking for the explanation. Max him Sergeant at Arms. Special a month so packed with magic that magical knowledge and skills of and Gale Alexander performed note should be given to Jerry’s one night couldn’t hold it all. The our members. a “communications demo” with lovely bride Louise for buying a theme for our monthly meeting But, boys and girls, that’s not all; Max being blindfolded, yet still beautiful cake that inspired Jerry was card magic. Reverend Jack there’s more. On September 18, able to identify the objects that to come to the meeting. His award Weigle kicked things off with his Assembly 31 and Ring 10 jointly Gale was holding in his hand. came to him in a firebook case. homemade counting frame effect. sponsored a workshop and a Kevin Meyerriecks gave a talk The meeting was then held by A spectator selected a number that lecture by the incomparable Shoot on how to “eat” fire, with the impressive collector Chris Manos

14 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 Assembly News

attendance and it wasn’t even Penfield, NY 14526 Contact Mike and Glen. Contact Michael Baker Halloween. We are consider- Ihrig [email protected] (585) [email protected] (205) ing having a flea market either 377-1566 www.sam47.com for 612-3696 http://peoriamagicians. before or after meetings to allow more details. com/ for more details. members to sell items from their prospective “junk drawer” before a convention auction. On to magic! 51 52 Here is a brief synopsis: HALLOWEEN COMES EARLY SOMETHING THAT YOU JP Lacey performed Professor’s IN PEORIA! “LABORED” WITH Nightmare, but using a theme of SAM magicians being of different PEORIA, IL— President , TX On ages and backgrounds (ropes were Jerry Tupper opened the August September 5, 2013, Brother John Gerald “Jerry” Stoll is awarded three different sizes) coming meeting by having any members Hamman Assembly 52 held its a lifetime member status by together to be the same. Very well who wished, to tell their personal monthly meeting at LaMad- President Chad Wonder done! stories about Fellow PMA member eleine Restaurant. President Don Joel Greenwich performed Gordon Snow, who passed away on Moravits welcomed members and who showed us the difficulties that a very interesting prediction August 4th. The stories told were wives. Also welcome to guests, some stage apparatus can give – effect. A predicted card was in both touching and funny. We think Jennifer, Ethan, and Andrew both by malfunctioning and also the exact position of a number Gordon would have approved. Adams, daughter-in-law and by traveling. He brought along his that the spectator chose. Brian A deli tray was sent to the grandsons of Ray and Barbara delightful homemade snowstorm Smith performed Crazy Man’s meeting, courtesy of CJ Diamond, Adams. TAOM 2013 was well chair that he has traveled with to Handcuffs. With his rollicking who recently moved to the represented by Assembly 52 in far-off lands. It is so intricate un- patter, it was seen that this was one area. This was much appreci- Dallas over Labor Day weekend. derneath that it resembles a bomb. of his favorite routines. ated and enjoyed by all. Typical It was the general consensus that In fact, once the Russian KGB Professor REM kept up the pace business was minimal, just some everyone had a great time, es- thought just that. with a packet effect. He placed a quick updates on upcoming and pecially seeing old friends and Stuart Hayner gave a fast lesson card on the table and showed that potential lectures. making new ones. to Libby on how to get in and out the others in his hand were all The magic followed the theme Tonight’s theme was something of a Hindu Basket. He then let alike, but different than the one of Halloween. We chose to do this that you “labored” with, and the members see how she looked on the table. Then, he would pick in August, because September starting off the open performanc- while in it. the tabled card up, place one in will be our annual picnic, and by es was President Don Moravits, The brightest was saved for his hand onto the table and now October, our Halloween shows who did a Gospel version of the last in a presentation on stage the ones in his hand matched the would have already been set. This Hexaflexagon. Claude Crowe en- presence by young member one previously on the table! He did gave some members a chance to tertained with Diamond Jack, and Timothy Anthem Cripe. He has this card illusion several times and test material in plenty of time. Ray Adams did a nice bill switch. taken the middle name Anthem then offered to explain it after the Mike Tate showed a fun thing, Michael Tallon amazed with Un- because he has constructed a meeting. a box filled with spiders, one of shuffled, and Paul Mims, with the thirty-seat theatre in his Mom’s New prospect Paul Merrit, noted which decided to crawl mysteri- help of guest, Andrew, performed garage called the Anthem Theatre. “paddle maniac,” showed us two ously about…mysteriously con- the Cut and Restored Rope. He demonstrated a brilliant piece of his collection. The first was a sidering they were all rubber Doug Gorman ended the open of stage mentalism using small jumping fly (plastic), one on each spiders! Grant Golden showed a performances with the puzzling envelopes with personal informa- paddle, which hopped back and nice Halloween routine that he got Bermuda Triangle effect. tion gathered from members of forth to join its neighbor. The from FAB Magic called, Witch, John Murphy was at the teaching the audience. Timothy has a com- other was a homemade trick with Ghost, and Bat. A flying bat turned table this month. He performed manding voice and a very strong stickers and props purchased from into a baseball bat. Doc Lowery and then taught a clever self- stage persona. —Connie Elstun The Dollar Tree. Symbols on each had a haunted wand, really a groan working card trick called Triple The Doctor Earl Reum Assembly of the two paddles used turned wand, but with the creepiest sound Forecast. John then treated us 37 meets the second Thursday of into Batman. I’ve ever heard! to his specialty: ope Magic. He the month at Riverpointe Senior Keeping with paddles, I showed Michael Baker first showed a taught an effect called Jumping Center in Littleton Colorado. a dry erase marker paddle and a Halloween theme Nest of Boxes. Ends, in which the ends of the Contact Chad Wonder Chad@ routine in which spots jumped and A marked coin magically traveled ropes jump from one hand to the Idomagic.com (303) 933-4118 multiplied. I then gave out a flower to the innermost box, somehow other. Amazing! Thanks, John, www.milehighmagicians.com for paddle to each member and taught accompanied by the keys that for teaching these two awesome more details. the paddle move. Three flowers on were to unlock the box! Fortu- effects. the paddle, two yellows and a red nately, Michael is a magician and We have several scheduled with the red being in the middle somehow managed to extract the lectures in the upcoming months. 47 were shown on both sides. With a keys while leaving the coin still Among those are Doug Conn, Roy A NEW YEAR WITH GREAT magic flick, the red flower jumped securely locked inside. Okay, Zaltsman, David Gabbay, Nathan MAGIC! to the top on both sides. that’s not how it was supposed to Kranzo, and Chris Manos. Finally, Jeff Blood was getting go, but it was good for a laugh. Door prize winners were ROCHESTER, NY— Thirteen ready to leave, but stopped long Michael then showed the Vampire Paul Mims, Michel Tallon, and members and prospects were in enough to show us his Houdini Block escape, and finished with a Geoffrey Sadowski. Paul won pen. A card was Supreme magic effect called Oh, Optical Brainwave by Barrie noted by a spectator Mummy! A mummy closed within Richardson, Michael won Altered and miss-guessed a sarcophagus was accidentally by Bruce Bernstein, and Geoffrey twice by Jeff. In stripped naked when a long length won Odd Quad by . frustration, he asked of mummy wrapping cloth was Brother John Hamman Assembly Houdini for help and pulled out. 52 meets at 7:30 p.m. on the the card appeared Brad Borland showed a Simon first Thursday of the month on the pen! —Mike Aronson trick called Shuffle- at La Madeleine Restaurant, Ihrig board. A few of us hung around located at 722 N.W. Loop 410. Assembly 47 meets for a while after the meeting to The restaurant is inside Loop the third Tuesday of talk more magic. —Michael Baker 410 on the access road between months September Assembly 51 meets the third Blanco Rd. and San Pedro. – May at 7pm at St Monday of the month, beginning For more information, contact Our First Meeting! Joseph’s School, at 7:00pm at Schnucks Grocery [email protected]. 39 Gebhardt Rd, in the Metro Center, University

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 15 Assembly News

his case set-up. Like the case he off to a delicious start at the home 77 used with all the tricks exposed, 88 of Tony Chris Kazoleas. Master MYSTICS ARE BACK he was open for anything from us. AUG/SEPT CORN ROAST/ Chef Tony prepared a fabulous WITH BOLTER! —Lou Johnson DAVID GABBAY LECTURE buffet of gourmet food. Dessert Long Island Mystics Assembly was Tony’s “New England Black MASSAPEQUA, NY— We’re 77 meets at 7:30PM on the second Forest Chocolate Trifle,” and the back for the 2013-14 season and we Monday of the month at The ANN ARBOR/YPSILANTI, MI— house beverage was “My Fish really have a great lineup of guests Community United Methodist The Ann Arbor Magic Club had Bowl Oceanic Punch.” coming so stay with us, with more Church. For more information, its annual corn roast get together Starting off the theme of Magic details to follow. President Phil check www.limystics.org Contact August 24th with George and of the Seas was Ray Roch, in Levy and Vice President Mitch Lou Johnson loujohnson@ Sally Honer hosting. It was a pirate attire, who magically Goodkin got the meeting started loujuggler.com (516) 978-7735 very good turnout with great food produced a quantity of chocolate with more sad news than happy. www.limystics.org for more and equally great magic being doubloons that he generously gave Suffice it to say that The Long details. shown by its members! Then for out to everyone. Lon Mandrake Island Mystics will have their September we had an exclusive suspended water upside down hands full and at the ready to help 80 lecture from an award-winning in a jar by just placing a piece of out with numerous fund-raising STUDY GROUP magician from Los Angeles, David cardboard over the rim. Lon then events with our magical talents to Gabbay! This was one of the best performed a disappearing and re- help out those in need (members HAYWARD, CA— This spring lectures I’ve seen in a while. appearing water routine with three and non-members alike) in raising Assembly 80 began a study group paper cups and a Lota Bowl of finances for medical expenses. in addition to our usual monthly water. meeting and club show. Doug Dennis Hewson showed Eakin is our inspiration and guide. everyone how to tie a one-handed From his survey of books making knot around one’s body so that one major contributions to magic would be able to pull oneself out of Doug selected Tommy Wonder’s the sea while still holding a cup of The Books Of Wonder. Through beer. As a kicker, Dennis put the the course of our meetings we rope into a cup and upon pulling have learned Fabricated, Coun- it out showed that he magically terfeit Spellbound, Elizabeth III caused the rope to be filled with & IV, and are starting Card in the knots. Jens Henriksen played the Ring Box, all from Volume One. part of the host of the game show In August we held our annual Jeopardy in a triple prediction Chris Bolter and L.I. Mystics barbeque and show. Dinner card effect ending with a success- Pres. Phil Levy was the usual burgers, Kathy’s ful surprise Final Jeopardy predic- Castillo’s casserole, beans, and tion. Glen LaBarre had a selected After the meeting, we had our Byron Walker’s chocolate silk card tossed into a roasting pan, notepads ready to learn about pie. On the show Rene Castillo David Gabbay and then he had a rubber lobster the art of mentalism with Chris did a card transformation, Bruce magically retrieve it. Bolter. Chris opened with a Jordan performed three wonders: David started out with the card trick? Yep, just so he can Confusing Wands, Sad Clown Gabbay’s Coin Opener, in which show off his roots as a magician. & Happy Clown, and the Dutch- four silver dollars seem to appear (Nice diagonal palm shift, Chris) Duck Predictions. Bill Ragsdale from nowhere! Invisible coins After waking us up with the wound up the show with Tommy are removed from a small purse card onslaught, he went right Wonder’s Elizabeth III & Fab- with the fourth being visible; into his actual mentalism show ricated, ’s 3/4 of as the audience looks back to material. His extensive opener Diamonds, a shortened Out Of the table all are visible! One of revolved around a borrowed bill This World Bill calls Out Of This David’s routines that was shown, and was incredible. By blending Moment, and the Open Prediction. the Clown Purse, was used with in mentalism and then the disap- Our trivia is that Steve Valentine other tricks like Sweet, in which pearance of the bill to an impos- worked that same trick on Bill as a coin was signed by taking a sible location, he made it much his close-up victim at the recent Sharpie marker out of a tiny purse more impressive. Chris went on to MAGIC Live Vegas Convention. and putting it back, with the coin Tony Chris Kazoleas proudly the Magic Square. Don’t zone out It appears in the new book Live inside a sugar packet. Overall, displays his vast magic trophy now because we didn’t. His was From The Magic Apple. David Gabbay gave us some new collection fast and down-and-dirty simple. We are proud to report our ideas on performing close-up Plus, when the serial number on newest member, Michael Della magic and he helps us to be better Rod Chow performed Chu’s the borrowed bill was summed up, Penna, won first place at the magicians, for the sake of magic! Magic Crazy Liquid with coffee, it also matched the random total. recent Oakland Magic Circle stage If you get a chance to see David tea and Tony’s sea green oceanic The call back of the century! No competition. His act included Gabbay, please do; you won’t be punch in which he separated the detail was left out including the Botania, an updated variation on disappointed! —Randy A. Smith liquids into three glasses despite type of board that he built that the Hippity-Hop Rabbits, very Hank Moorehouse Assembly the glasses being stacked on top really stepped it up a notch. colorfully presented using a 88 second WEDNESDAY 7PM of each other. Juan Garcia, in an His middle acts involving playing Princess & Dragon plot, and a Faith Lutheran Church, 1255 East original routine with a great play cards really fooled us, but after the slick, fast-paced Passé Passé Forest Ave, Ypsilanti, Michigan on words, entertained everyone break, he went into a subject that Bottles. Contact Randy A. Smith randy. with a series of sea jokes, a hand was a first for the Mystics in a long Our next major events are the [email protected] (313) drawn “Hotel under the Sea” sheet time: the Q & A! I was stunned at annual Halloween party and 562-3875 www.aamagic.org. for of paper, and some fish cards. the recalling of past reactions from Christmas party. more details. Henry Tom handsomely produced people after he performed this Assembly 80 meets at 3481 two gold coins from a cruise ship act. It was eye-opening. He even Sandpiper Court, Hayward, CA on card logo button. Tony Chris in his performed a demonstration of cold the third Wednesday of the month. 95 original routine called The 7 Seas reading that was a rare treat for us. Contact Bill Ragsdale, phone MAGIC OF THE SEAS showed seven playing cards with At the end, he opened the floor to 530-867-6241 or bill@ the various seven seas written on answering anything pertaining to billragsdale.cc for more informa- VANCOUVER, CANADA— the backs. Upon revealing the sea marketing, performance, and even tion. The September, 2013 meeting got that Jens picked, it turned out to be

16 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 Assembly News the only winning one with a pirate thing is bar bets had our waitress, produced a three-inch Chinese symbol on the back. Rick Mearns Tara, attempt to drop a plying coin from his mouth. Among our closed the evening by vanishing card into a hat on the floor from guests was twelve-year-old Jamie water into his hand and then her shoulder height. Although Tucher, who proved to be a skillful bringing it back. For the lucky few Tara was unsuccessful, she was a card magician, performing a that remained, Tony gave a tour delight. Lou, of course could get wonderful set of impromptu card of his meticulously detailed Jules the cards to fall in the hat. It’s a effects. Verne-themed magic room and very old trick; look it up. Bob Holdridge led off the themed finely displayed magic trophy col- Al Bienstock gave us a version performances with his inflation- lection. —Rod Chow of a effect called ary one-dollar bill that progres- Tony Chris Kazoleas Blind Date, which Al titled sively turned into higher denomi- proudly displays his vast Smart Meeting. This effect nicely nations. He then pulled three magic trophy collection. Simon baffles Secretary Bob involves a large number of helpers. members from the audience and Contact Rod Chow rod@rodchow. Forrest with his Lemming Ace Izzy Swab was next with his offered each a free choice of one com (604) 669-7777 www.sam95. Exchange locked box and half dozen keys of four envelopes, promising each com for more details. only one of which opens the box. would receive a big bill. In the end, many of us, a genuine treat. After trading keys and mixing the audience received gags such as Threading his zany patter through keys, only the final key would an electric bill while Bob ended up clever card work is Simon’s style. open the box. with the envelope that contained a 104 Teaching clever card work that Joe Noll presented an effect with hundred-dollar bill. THE MAN OF DANGER doesn’t overwork technique is a set of A-B-C cards from Creative DROPS IN ON 104 also his forte. From his opening Magic. A chosen card and its mate effect, Fingered Number Three, are found on the top of two of the WITCH CITY, SALEM, MA— a simple two-card transposition six or seven piles of cards. If Joe September activities have in the spectator’s hands, Simon had not forgotten to have the card begun moving into high gear for makes his case for using easier chosen initially, it probably would Assembly 104. On Wednesday, sleights to get the layman to the have been better received. September 4, the first regular same place. The Lovell treatment John Sergott presented a mind meeting of the new season began. of Card to Wallet belongs firmly in reading effect in its simplest form: Cauldron Editor and 104 mentor the classic category. Packed Wallet think of a deck of cards, select red Len Lazar kicked off our first approaches genius as a selected or black, think of a correspond- School of Magic session with an card vanishes, reappears in wallet, ing suit, think of the card’s value. insightful overview of card forces. only to have the entire deck lost Hold that thought while John dials Plans for SAMCON, our annual and reappear in wallet. Simon a phone number in the United convention at the Holiday Inn taught an effortless deck vanish to Kingdom. The person answering in Peabody, , help accomplish the miracle. The the phone announces the chosen Bill Sparacino performs a November 9, continue to be quality of the lecture remained card. The winners for the evening coin trick developed. A subsequent planning high right to the end. It was a night as determined by the votes of committee meeting, held on worth waiting for. Next month’s those not performing were: 1) Izzy Dan Del Bonta followed with a September 21 under the direction guest: Garrett Thomas. —Bob Schwab 2) John Sergott 3) Frank trick using five one-dollar bills, of Producer Evan Buso-Jarnis, Forrest Bianco which when turned atop each firmed up what will be an out- S.A.M. 104 meets the first Assembly 110, Joe Homecheck, other alternating face up and face standing weekend. A Friday night Wednesday of each month, Sep- SAM Assembly 110 Meets 2nd down, magically ended up facing competition has been shelved to tember-June, 7 p.m., at the First Thursday, 7:00pm at John’s the same direction. allow more time for attendees who Baptist Church of Salem, 292 Diner, 146 Sheridan Drive, New Then Ric Ewing presented a sign up for the full convention day, Lafayette Street, Salem, Mas- Cumberland, PA 17070. Email: humorous routine demonstrating for Saturday, November 9, to enjoy sachusetts. Contact Bob Forrest [email protected] his ability to “find things.” After a a free, bonus close-up lecture by [email protected] couple of unimpressive successes headliner , on the (339) 227-0797 www.sam104.com he was able to find a marked coin night of November 8. Then, come for more details. 112 lost among dozens of similar coins Saturday morning, conventioneers MONEY MAGIC inside a closed bag. will enjoy lectures by Eugene as Next, Jerry Barrilleaux showed well as Bill Abbott and Andrew 110 PLEASANT HILL, CA— how, with proper timing, a Goldenhersh, followed by evening EDUCATIONAL MAGIC Assembly 112 paid tribute magician can drop a million-dol- performances. The latter gala this month to the magical life lar bill between the outstretched show will be bargain priced for NEW CUMBERLAND, PA— of our compeer Leroy Good- fingers of his spectator, yet when the public at just $15 per person, The theme of the month was enough, a founding member of roles are reversed, the magician four tickets for $50. On Sunday educational magic or magic done Assembly 112. He also served as can grab the bill before it falls afternoon, Eugene’s day-after at educational events. A total assembly president in 1976, 1990, through his own fingers. master class, with limited registra- of seven performers lined up to and 1996. In accordance with At the conclusion of theme tion, should be a sellout. compete. Leroy’s wishes, the broken wand magic, Douglass the MagicMan Compeer Jim Rainho thanked Mike Snyder was first to perform. ceremony, conducted by Larry performed his humorous but mys- the assembly for its condolences He found Izzy Swab’s freely “Zappo” Wright and Roy Porfido, tifying version of the Houdini on the recent passing of his wife. selected and marked quarter in a was a fond celebration of his life handcuffs escape. Bill Marquardt He also announced his retirement black bag that contained eleven rather than a sad memorial. then demonstrated the Trick of the at the end of the year, after 16,648 other quarters. Following the ceremony, several Month, a variation of the classic shows in his amazing sixty-four Frank Bianco was next. While members related their remem- Salt Shaker through Table. years as magician; he is a compeer seated at a table Frank showed a brances. Leroy was well known for The hit of the evening was without peer. small coin purse that held three his sense of humor, as evidenced provided by Germar, who showed Our guest lecturer this evening coins, copper, silver and brass. in his parody of the Masked his fellow magicians how to make was cardician extraordinaire, The coins magically changed Magician, in which he explained their heads appear to drop down Simon Lovell. Well known and places, into and out of the purse the Silk-to-Egg trick. to waist level. You had to be there. respected for years through his and Frank’s left and right hands. Afterwards, Bill Sparacino —Bill Marquardt many videos and books, the ex- Try as we might, we could not demonstrated a bit of . Diablo Assembly 112 meets on the perience of the Man of Danger predict their flight. Among other effects, Bill changed third Wednesday of every month at up close and personal was, for Lou Abbattiello, whose current a coin into a rubber ball and the VFW building in Pleasant Hill,

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 17 Assembly News

California. Contact Doug Kovacich Assembly 115 meets the first which he has the kids read out immediately followed by Ace douglassthemagicman@hotmail. Friday of the month at 7PM at the loud. First there was an “R” card, number two, and in a split second, com (925) 435-4824 http://sam112. Forest Lakes Pavilion Building in followed by a “U”, then a red “E.” Aces three and four popped up com/ for more details. Forest Lakes North Subdivision. (Are you red-e?) He then showed a simultaneously. Before any of the number “2” card and a “C” card. members caught their breath, a (R U RedE 2 C?) When Chick fusillade of fancy cuts, shuffles, 115 120 dropped the cards, they tumbled and color changes made all eyes in HOLIDAY-THEMED A VARIETY OF MAGIC down, connected, spelling the room widen to the max. MAGIC “MAGIC.” He then turned the Then Ed slowed the pace. He cut CHAMPAIGN, IL— The club cards around and they now spelled the face-down deck and passed CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA— did a show for the Danville, IL VA his name: CHICK. This is a novel one half over the other. An Ace Attending our September meeting on August 25. We can expect a and colorful effect for kids. of Hearts appeared face up. He were Everette Anderson, George report on how it went this month. tossed it away and a face up Ace of Buckley, David and Nathan Andy Dallas kicked off the dis- Diamonds took its place, and then Clauss, David Feng, Dan Hall, Dan cussion with his thoughts on using the Ace of Clubs arrived. Instead Rowan, and Ed Schmitz with son the Magic Square as a false start of discarding it, Ed passed the half Edward Jr. as guest. Our teach-in and also included a history lesson deck over it, changing it to the Ace was on sponge ball magic. George regarding the trick that Abbotts of Spades. More dazzling effects presented an excellent overview was founded on. As usual, the with cards followed. of effective sponge ball magic actual topics were many and en- After the usual coffee break, including a nice booklet provided tertaining. Ed explained to everyone in the to all those attending. Some of Chris Bontjes opened the magic room why he had placed two the sleights discussed included up with his Red Tape, Paul yellow rubber bands on each the finger palm and thumb clip. Mercer followed with Hydrostatic seat before starting – it was for He discussed the use of different Magic (Sorry Charlie), Jim Percy the Ellis version of Crazy Man’s colored sponges depending on produced water and flowers, Andy Handcuffs. This was an extraordi- working environment and also Dallas demonstrated the use of a nary lesson in how little changes to showed some work with sponge Siphon Glass, and Prof. Higgins a standard effect can make a huge bunnies. He showed some clever produced a bowl of water and Chick’s Kid Show Opener difference. In this case, one of the possibilities with this homemade poured wine into a floating wine changes simply involved reversing PK sponge balls and also talked glass. Vic Tarquini showed us The Magic Eight Ball, with the plane; generally the release is briefly about the use of holdouts. his appearing glass of wine, and various messages within, has done horizontally; when Ed did it Dale told his five penny joke. been around for a long time, but vertically, separating the linked —Ken Barham it took David Regal to make it an bands (and later a borrowed finger Assembly 120, Andy Dallas entertaining magic effect, Mind ring) with an upward movement, Assembly meets the third Wed. Ball. Bill Hoagland has been CMH was suddenly transformed 7pm, (except Nov. and Dec.) For working with it and calls his from a clever trick to a visual location call Jim Percy at 217- version The Mind Reading 8-Ball. miracle. Continuing the routine, 494-2222 or Ken Barham Sec, Dave Wyskiel and Chick Kelman Ed added cards. A selected, signed 2318 Winchester Dr, Champaign, selected cards and the selections card was cut into the middle of the IL 61821. 217-841-5616 email: were found in the window of deck, which was then wrapped [email protected] the ball. Since Bill is still “work with the rubber band, still con- shopping” the effect, several of taining the spectator’s ring. In a the members had suggestions for flash, the band penetrated the deck 127 bits of business and “outs” with and appeared, ring and all, on the David Feng does card magic BUSY TIMES FOR the routine. We’re sure Bill and spectator’s card, now separated for George Buckley ASSEMBLY 127 his audience will have fun with completely from the deck. There this comedy bit, maybe in one of was much more, including some Our theme for the evening was WALLINGFORD, CT— his gigs at the bar in New Haven. lovely refinements on fundamen- holiday-themed magic. George Assembly 127 is getting busy as —Dick Hodes tal card sleights such as the double again showed some creative we head into the fall season. Al Assembly 127 meets on the third lift and tilt, as well as a strong variations of the classic Color Palmero hosted our September Tuesday of each month at the First stand-up rendition of the Bill in Monte routine. He showed how 14 picnic at his beautiful lakeside United Methodist Church, 941 Lemon. —Tony Noice by changing the story line and if home in Middlefield, Ct. A small Old Rock Hill Road, Walling- Assembly 148 meets the third necessary the prop appearance group enjoyed good food, fel- ford, Connecticut. Contact Dick Monday of every month at the he could vary this effect for a lowship, and some great close-up Hodes [email protected] (203) Lutheran Evangelical Epihany Christmas theme or St. Patrick’s magic. The assembly extends its 287-1635 www.magicsam127.org Church (downstairs) on the Day theme among others. Other thanks to Al for his generosity and for more details. corner of Vallette and Spring magic shared this evening hospitality. Road, Elmhurst, IL Contact included David Feng’s Miracle Congratulations to John Kedves Tony Noice noicea@net. Revelation of a selected card and on receiving his congratulatory 148 elmhurst.edu (630) 993-3740 an effect called Chaos – an in the letter from National S.A.M. for A FEAST FOR FINGER www.sam148.com for more hands triumph effect in which twenty-five-year membership FLINGERS details. the deck is restored to new deck in the Tom Prete Assembly 127. order. Dan Rowan showed some John, along with Chick Kelman, ELMHURST, IL— The 150 very entertaining ring and rope Al Palmero, and Dick Hodes, are September meeting of Jay Marshall SOMETIMES YOU magic he rediscovered on the CD charter members of our assembly, Assembly 148 hosted the Ed Ellis DON’T SEE IT Fifty Years of Magic from M-U-M. which received its charter in 1976. lecture, which was enthusiasti- Dan Hall showed his improved National S.A.M. Secretary cally received, to say the least. Ed FORT MYERS, FL— Pick a handling of the Magic 16 card Marlene Clark will once again be started off with an all-cards per- number, any number. 15? That’s effect. This is a killer self-working our delegate to the S.A.M. national formance that literally got gasps right! That’s exactly how many effect that can now be done by council meeting in Boca Raton, from the audience. He first did a FMMA members attended the your spectator from long distance. Florida on November 9. visual (make that hyper-visual) September meeting. After brief Next month is a talk on Hen Fetch Chick Kelman led off our after- Ace production. He shuffled the word on funds in the treasury, by Bob “Kirkwood the Magician” meeting magic with his kid show deck, turned both hands face down upcoming lectures, and special Spencer. opening. He showed letter cards, and Ace number one appeared, events (Xmas party, January

18 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 Assembly News officer appointments), members [email protected] (239) flavor falls out. Ray Lucas spread Degrees book in which a spectator rushed to display his or her 963-9104 FMMAONLINE.ORG a deck of cards. A helper picked a shuffles a deck of cards, deals magical ability. for more details. card. Ray turned cards over; they them to four people, and Harvey In the case of yours truly, that all said “wrong,” chosen one said is able to name all of the cards. It ability was mysteriously absent. “right.” Eddie Ace had helper hold seems impossible. He also told us Great effort had gone into demon- 157 a string with a copper penny and about two new ideas that we look strating an effect from a popular HONORING A MEMBER AND a half dollar on it. He performed forward to seeing soon. magic magazine. Illustrations UPCOMING EVENTS his magic and pulled one coin off In May, Danny Archer travelled were scanned, blown up to plat- string from the middle. Doug Ries from Denver, Colorado, for a fine form-magic size, then cut out and BEAVER, PA— The Mystic told about a new music recorder he lecture. Danny does tableside res- pasted for an exhibition of precog- Magicians of Beaver Valley has to enhance his performances. taurant magic as well as mentalism. nition. A knowledgeable spectator (Assembly 57)opened with a It is size of a credit card, is flexible, He is one of the producers of the moved pieces around on a grid. All moment of silence for recently and has a remote control that Mindvention convention held to absolutely no result. Evidently, deceased member, Jay Brenner. controls tracks and volume. Holds in Las Vegas and he contributes several important points were left The Broken Wand Ceremony had music for a whole program, plus. to the online Vanish magazine. out of the instructions. Members been done for him with twenty Ray Lucas treated each performer He performed Eye Exam, a card were promised a complete showing members present. Releasing of and those who contributed to teach effect with quick surprises. His at a future meeting – after the doves at the cemetery was paid for and learn with one of his card trick Pick a Coin, Any Coin was created creator of the effect reveals what with donations from the club, with inventions. —Judy Steed when Danny challenged himself went wrong. surplus amount to purchase magic The Mystic Magicians of Beaver to create an effect that could be books for the library. The current Valley, Assembly 157, meet the performed for one to five hundred officers were re-elected to serve second Thursday of every month people. His Birthday Banner is a for 2013-2014. Plans for a lecture at the Towne Square Restaruant stack of cards that transform into by Chuck Caputo in November in Beaver, PA. Contact Judy Steed a birthday banner – a great emcee have been made. The Christmas [email protected] (330) bit or for when you suddenly need Party will be the December 525-5389 for more details. a trick for a birthday guest. He has meeting night at the Towne Square a drawing duplication effect called Restaurant with a Chinese Auction Drawn Again and also showed us gift exchange. Members are free, 161 a no bill switch. guests will be $15. PETE LENTINI, HARVEY Visit us soon. We have a fun Ed VanDusen has brought several BERG, AND DANNY ARCHER group. —Christopher J Smith items to give to any member who VISIT 161 Society of American Magicians wants them because he is having Assembly 161- The David to move to an apartment. Several SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ— Copperfield Assembly Dan Tong vs. Dr. Rhine members reported on recent According to Pete Lentini, he Meets at: The Stage House shows they have seen and are was stalked by President Doug Restaurant 366 Park Avenue On to magic that worked. Matt recommending to membership. Thornton at the Genii Birthday Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 Price showed off a card routine Teach and Learn was hosted by Bash in October 2012 until Pete 908-332-4224 on the second he will do in competition at the Don Moody about “Tricks I Have finally relented and agreed to Monday of the month (no meeting Daytona meet, and then revealed Made.” Several members added to lecture for us in March 2013. Pete, July or August) Contact Christo- the miracle was accomplished the presentation with something a Bruce Springsteen and Giants pher J Smith sam-161@comcast. with something few magicians they had made. fan, shared magic including cards, net (908) 850-8765 http://www. expect to see: a one-way-force Bill Cornelius emceed the per- coins and ropes. His affable per- sam161.org/ for more details. deck. Tony Chaudhuri got the formances with his jokes and sonality shone through his presen- usual chuckles with his explana- laughter. Tom Chidester presented tations. Pete began with a cut and tion of why magicians shouldn’t two Die Boxes, one is a tree house restored rope with a new twist on a 181 play cards – “If you win, they say and the other is a regular house. gimmick. Christian Engblom’s Oil GIFT MAGIC you cheated; if you lose, you’re “Johnny” is placed in regular over Troubled Water inspired Pete thought to be a lousy magician.” house. Tom opens all sides of to create Triumph over Troubled HIGHTSTOWN, NJ— The Then he easily won a $10 bill with house box. Johnny is gone. He is Oil and Water. He taught his summer recess is over, and it is a clever cut to the winning card. in tree house box. Card Spread Top Card Displace- time to get back to school and Magic runs in the family, so his Don Moody had a helper shuffle ment and Full Deck Monte, which back to assembly meetings. Our spouse Gretchen found a card deck of cards. Don makes two is a full-deck false cut. Other summer planning meeting set up chosen by new FMMA member predictions. Helper tells him to effects were Distorted Hoarders, a full schedule of workshops and Steve Sanders. “stop” and he places one predic- Exchange Place (inspired by Jon lectures. Our September meeting Wally Feather, who really enjoys tion card in deck, repeats it all Racherbaumer), and a prediction started with a workshop on Gift being first with the newest, wowed again. Spreads deck, predictions (with a sponge ball) called Lost Magic by President Stephan all with a vanishing dollar bill that show next to originals. Eric Davis Electron Human. We were pleased Sloan. Gift Magic is also magic showed up in a crystal box. Dan had several one-liners. Showed to have Pete leave his self-imposed that leaves the spectator with a Tong then did a variation on the a paper bag, asked audience to retirement to visit us. souvenir of the moment, therefore card-to-box vanish, but simply pick a flavor of Jolly Rancher Harvey Berg from New York creating a stronger bond between used the card case. So things were candy, shakes the bag, chosen visited us in April and baffled spectator and magician. not crystal clear. Next, out came a many of us with his creations. Stephan began the gifting by dis- pack of ESP cards and what Dan Harvey’s first lecture was at tributing special colored napkins did with them would certainly Mindvention a number of years on which he demonstrated how have impressed the legendary Dr. ago and he has continued to to make a napkin rose. Although Rhine at Duke University. produce amazing demonstra- almost any napkin can be used, The magic continued to flow tions of mentalism. He started it looks considerably better when for another hour, but this cor- at the young age of sixty-two using a red for the petals and green respondent has run out of and at eight he is going strong. for the peduncle (stem) colored space...right about here! We were treated to his one-of- napkin. —Don Dunn a-kind book test, Ne Plus Ultra, Another common gift item is Assembly 150 meets the which is nearly impossible to the bead poodle, which is made second Tuesday of each find now. It is a brilliant piece by twisting a small string of month at Myerlee Manor, Fort of mindreading. He shared one Mardi Gras beads similarly to the Myers. Contact Richard Payne 60 Years of the Mystic Magicians of the effects from his Three twisting of a balloon into a poodle

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 19 Assembly News shape souvenir. You might think OR EM, UT— September’s utahmagicclub.org for more would be the special lecturer that handing out such an artifact theme was “Hard Card Magic,” details. during the November meeting. is quite silly. I have met a waitress and members could take a broad The lecture would be open to all who carries a bead poodle that a definition of the theme. Al 206 assembly members for free; guests magician gave her every day to Lampkin related a story about FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE can attend for $15. work at the diner as a good luck his Uncle Freddy, who died CARDOCALYPSE INVADE Assembly 206 devoted its charm. when Al was fourteen. Al said ASSEMBLY MEETING September meeting to all things he felt his presence ever since. TAOM. With the convention After “cleaning the aura” of one AUSTIN, TX— Card handling, recently concluded, members spectator, Al tapped the shoulder card sleights, card maintenance, came armed with their favorite of another spectator. The first card magic: The August meeting new acquisitions, critiqued the spectator said he felt a tap on his of Austin’s Assembly 206 was all shows, and recounted stories shoulder, but Al never touched about cards. from the convention in Dallas and him. Al said it was Banachek’s Featured lecturers Mike Brewer, earlier ones. Psychokinetic Touches. Agustin Tajch, Edward Boswell, The Assembly meeting in Kerry Summers performed a and Albert Lucio – all assembly September also featured a special wonderful card production routine members – dug deep into the guest, Mitch Harwood, AKA including fans, split fans, and topic, discussing everything from Mysto the Magi, who performed cards from the air. He also showed breaking in new decks to double entertaining card and rope magic. the assembly how to make a nifty lifts and undercuts. The Colorado-based magician performance table from a leaf Brewer, who has been per- and former Austin native was in bag holder and a bamboo serving forming for twenty-three years, town for a conference and a show. Assembly President tray, a variation of an idea from a explained how to break in a new —R.A. Dyer Stephan Sloan lecture a couple years ago. deck by rubbing it on one’s blue Assembly 206 meets a the Omni Steve Dawson changed a sign jeans. He also discussed the South Park Hotel, 4140 Governors After the workshop, our with black letters on a white back- different seals on Bicycle decks Row, Austin, TX. Contact Jake Amazing Randy, Randy Butters, ground to white letters on a black and expressed a preference for the Dyer [email protected] http:// did the Gene Anderson version of background, a Lubor Fiedler effect blue-and-black seals. But he said sam206.com/ for more details. a Torn and Restored Newspaper from more than forty years ago. the very best were the gold seal presenting it with a recycling Steve then predicted two cards decks associated with preeminent theme. Assembly 181 Dean, Hank that would be mentally selected by card mechanic Richard Tanner. 215 Strasser, used a flipper coin to audience members. Tajch said that no matter the SUMMERTIME IN THE show coin through glass. Hank Ron Carrasco pretended to deck, a red back is preferable to BLUEGRASS also showed us his new business be his wife describing her first a blue one. This is because red card design, which has imbedded baseball game while performing backs are more visible, especially LOUISVILLE, KY— This playing card pips for doing pre- what appeared to be a nine-card if you have a spectator sign a card. summer has been a busy time diction effects – a clever way repeat. He then showed a deck “It doesn’t matter what you did, or for the Louisville Magic Club, of getting someone to keep and of cards, each with a different how you did it, the magic grows in Mac King Assembly 215. August remember your business card. state written on them, as well as their mind,” said Tajch. brought Al Lampkin to our state Jimmy Brown has a great mouth a puzzle map of the U.S. that was Boswell cautioned against to give a presentation of twelve coil routine with a roll of toilet placed in an envelope. A spectator gripping cards too tightly. He said different and entertaining routines paper. He does it, as a Do As I named a playing card, and on the the deck should be held almost so that included torn and restored Do routine. The spectator, who back of that card “Wisconsin” was lightly that it appears you might napkins and dollar bills, rings on no matter how closely they follow, written. Ron removed the map drop it. “If you’re tense with the and off a stick, Magic Squares, cannot get the same end result of from the envelope, and the state cards, the audience will see that,” the best card trick in the world, a thirty-foot mouth coil coming of Wisconsin was missing from he explained. a routine called Infallible and from their mouth. Jimmy also the puzzle, only to be found in Lucio said it was important to one called Add One, besides a showed us an iPod app called the card box. Another card was get the audience on your side, and wonderful cut and restored rope Show Cues, which can put you in selected, and the deck was then to have an “out” when necessary. presentation. total control of your music. hit against a large target Ron was “If you try something crazy, and it Our annual summer picnic was The point of Gift Magic night holding. The center of the target doesn’t work, they (the audience) held at the riverside home of is that, as magicians, we can use popped out and the card was found will be part of your journey,” he our honored member, Sherrill our skills to entertain, inspire, stuck to Ron’s head! said. Nunnley, as in years past. A motivate, and bring hope to those Next, guest Mick Kristofferson great time was who we perform for. One never showed his excellent card handling had by all who knows how an unselfish random skills by creating a Bermuda attended and act of magic may affect an indi- Triangle to find a selected card. magic filled the vidual. It might just be the only Dave “Magical” Johnson did a air once again. bright spot that they have seen very clean You Do as I Do routine Thank you, in their lives in a long time. in which both he and a spectator Sherrill. Doug —David Zboray removed cards from cut halves of a Conn stopped Assembly 181 of Hightstown deck, ending in a double card rev- by in September meets the first Thursday of every elation. Frank Bright involved a Assembly 206 - From left, Mike Brewer, Edward to give us his month, September thru June at the spectator in a ten-card poker deal, Boswell, Albert Lucio, and Agustin Tajch presentations First United Methodist Church, where Frank won almost every of so many 187 Stockton Street, Hightstown, hand. Brewer said it was a sign of different routines and educating NJ 08520. Doors open at 7:00PM. Prizes for the best effects mastery when he became so adept us in the art of street perform- Contact Stephan Sloan lands10@ were awarded to Ron, Kerry, at a card sleight that he could ing and parlor presentation. His optonline.net (732) 757-5337 and Al, courtesy of Jason perform it while his mind was routines included Coins, Cards, http://www.magicsam181.com/ for Carling’s frogsandmagic.com. occupied with some other activity, and an Eight-ball, Coins Across, more details. —Steve Dawson such as talking on the phone. one coin Flurry, sponge bunnies, Assembly 188 meets the second Lucio noted that even good card wand spins, Coin-ci-dice, a Three Thursday of each month at the magicians can get by with only a Card Monte with a card shrink at 188 Courtyard Jamestown, 3352 handful of sleights, just as long as the end, rope magic, linking rings, HARD CARD TRICKS AND North 100 East in Provo, Utah. they do those sleighs very well. misprinted card routine called Pip SIMPLE AMAZEMENT Contact Brian South brian@ The assembly also announced Trip, and a paint by the number teachbymagic.com (801) 916-2442 that magician David Gabbay routine to close the evening.

20 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 Assembly News

Our annual presentation of It’s card somehow ended up reversed meets on the 1st Monday at the times with this all the time. Magic was held on September in the deck. JCC in Boca Raton, FL. For in- S. Patrick shared three routines 20th with magic presented by Ravelli was next with a part of formation call Marshall Johnson with the group. The first was Mind David Garrard, Ray Adams, the his stage routine music and all. (561) 638-0043. marshj4magic@ Power by Howard Adams, which Action Brothers, Seth Bendorf, He tamed an unruly balloon and aol.com. uses the classic “Will the Cards and emcee Wayne Perkey, a threaded razor blades on a string Match” plot and adds a clever story local television personality. The in his mouth all in a few moments. 277 with ESP cards. S. then showed an evening was a success and the Next up was a talking number in NO SMOKING? easy out method of the Spectator’s magic club extends sincere thanks which the wrong card changed NOT HERE! Card to Wallet that anyone can do, to all who helped, performed, and before our eyes. He closed his even if they don’t have card chops. supported this annual event. — set with his popular rope routine STROUDSBURG , PA— The S. then finished up by sharing Tom Crecelius followed by a charming story members of the Pocono Mountains another Howard Adams classic, The Mac King Assembly 215 about his grandfather’s legacy Magic Club met in August and Cidentaquin, which packs a punch meets the second Tuesday of the with a surprise that had to be seen revived a rather out-dated magic but is really easy to perform. month at the Kosair Children’s to be believed theme for our performances. The —S. Patrick Headquarters on Eastern Parkway President Jerry was our cleanup theme of “Cigarette Magic” was The Pocono Mountains Magic in Louisville. Other meetings batter with another of his hand on tap for this meeting. Our first Club (SAM #277) meets at the and places are scheduled as they crafted miracles. His device performer was Mark Mysterrio, “Art Space Gallery” - 18 N. 7th become available to us. Contact helped to determine the qualities who did a comedy parody while St. Stroudsburg PA. 18360), Tom Crecelius medimagic@ of a ghost card. This spooky demonstrating a new floating each month on the third Friday. cs.com (812) 633-7875 www. device projected an image that cigarette effect. The commercial Contact S. Patrick damagician@ lmcmagic.com for more details. wasn’t visible to the naked eye, was full of jokes and one-liners. verizon.net (570) 242-6821 www. which was a great kickoff to the Ryne Gade, back from his job pmmc.webs.com for more details. upcoming Halloween season. at the summer camp did his 266 Another amazing show by team hilarious Card in Mouth routine. SEPTEMBER Lakeland. Be sure to visit soon Ryne always does this one well. 292 SHENAGIANS!! so you don’t miss out on a night Jimmy Pagan, who is a non- SPOOKY FUN of great magic and fellowship. smoker, decided to do a routine LAKELAND, FL— Our —Al D’Alfonso that uses something else you place GREELEY, CO— In spite business meeting was called to Jim Zachary Assembly 266 meets in the mouth. He performed the of Colorado’s floods and road order by President Jerry Kardos. the second Wednesday of the Toothpick Vanish that was featured closures, we met at our usual time. Our only order of business was to month at 7PM at the Lakeland on ’s Mindfreak. In a brief September business vote for a change of our meeting I-HOP, I-4 & US 98. Contact S. Patrick finished up the night meeting over lunch, during night to the second Wednesday Al D’Alfonso keeper0499@ with a multi-faceted routine that “Shows Seen,” Paul Noffsinger of the month. This will make embarqmail.com (321) 4373814 for was themed around a magical enthusiastically reported on the our meetings more accessible to more details. 1940’s old time radio noir private MAGIC Live! convention. He saw local magi because we will not detective. S. dressed the part, the historic final performance of be competing with other magic 274 produced, vanished, and trans- the classic comedy act of Johnny events. SHOW AND TELL formed detective props, and Thompson and Pam. Paul called it Resident card maven Ed even had a bit of trouble with his “the most inspiring week I’ve had McGowan wowed us; a card only BOCA RATON, FL— At our cigarette thanks to Ron Jaxon’s in years.” thought of by yours truly ended up September meeting we had a large Outsmokin’ effect. S. even told During “Shows Given,” at a freely chosen location in the number of members performing. the audience a mystery and chal- President Worley the Wizard (aka pack. Ed followed up by teaching VP Manny Riskin did a fine job lenged them to solve it before Lloyd Worley) said that his Potato us an effect in which everyone in acting as emcee. Simon Carmel ending the routine by signing off Day show had been cancelled the room found the match to their opened with a mental card effect the detective show with a magic because floods threatened the mixed up card in their pocket. – very clever! Michelle Klein (the filled radio commercial. venue facility. However, he will Ed also demonstrated a Steve gal with a million dollar smile) Our first Monday library be giving five Halloween shows Reynolds packet effect he learned demonstrated a cut and restored workshop featured our always- back-to-back for the Centennial at our last meeting. handkerchief. Peter Fox showed popular “Teach-A-Trick” theme. Library. Paul Noffsinger is giving Al D’Alfonso told a story about us a very interesting effect with Rich Saldan shared with us his a show for special needs adults. runes and how they can be used dice in a box. Mel Panzer always version of Professor’s Nightmare Also, he has been hired to do a to predict the future by display- comes up with unusual effects. and we all shared various tips, spook birthday party. Alex Acosta ing James Songster’s Riddle of Matching Cards was an excellent plots, and handlings that make this is doing a public show sponsored the Runes. The Amazing Sammy trick. Gene Fien, a long time classic performance worthy. by a church. The Amazing James showed off and explained a member, caused cards to turn over Jordan Benoit showed us how Lopez is giving a show for a local number prediction effect in which with a color change as well! Next, political party. he foretold what number Elmo Marshall Johnson performed Paul Noffsinger gave a book Bennett would choose. He next Royal Fantasy, causing four Kings review on two stunning volumes told a story about how his father to change to four Sevens. Phil on bizarre magic: Christian always had enough money to buy Labush honored us with several him candy when he was a kid by tricks. He performed the Fifteen using some magical coins. Card Trick, a spelling trick, and Elmo took the stage and a coin effect called That’s Im- performed his famous multiple possible. Fred Hyden did a very card revelation. He creative- impressive cut and restored rope ly revealed a card chosen by without using scissors. Fred is a everyone in the room to a tre- new magician in our club. He is S. Patrick Doing Some mendous response from the a polished performer. Our former Close-Up Before the Business crowd. Dean Bob Macey treated S.A.M. national president, Warren Meeting! guest Brad Breaux with a trick in Kaps, showed us an ESP effect and which he used mathematical al- a four-Ace effect. Manny Riskin easy it is to maneuver half dollars gorithms to memorize the entire closed the show with an encore on a carpeted floor as it pertains to deck, revealing the location of the presentation of card changes and his Matrix routine. Odes Odhner selected card. Brad then showed a location revelation – very nice! shared some books with the group his card chops by having Ed select —Marshall Johnson and also his Four-card Turnover Jim Pope (left), invisible a card from behind his back; the The Sam Schwartz Assembly 274 bar bet. He floors people multiple thread, James Lopez

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 21 Assembly News

Chelman’s Capricornian Tales magnificent props from Outlaw Lopez’s hand. James Lopez closed The Dr. Ronald P. Dutton and Hauntiques. Effects. Paul used their incredible with an impactful effect. James Assembly 292 usually meets The meeting theme was “Boo! Hobb’s Box and antique patient did Patrik Kuffs’s Invisible Touch at Kenny’s Steak House, 3502 Spooky Magic.” Worley the directory (their Luna Book Test) from the December 2006 Genii. West 10th Street (corner of 35th Wizard opened with a Harry to weave a scary story about a The effect involves a spectator’s Avenue), at 11:00 A.M. (lunch Potter story and a rising-card box. long-dead mental patient who secret choice of a finger (marked optional), on the second Saturday He claimed that Hagred gave him a answered questions by ringing a on a drawn hand). The choice is of the month. Contact Dr. Lloyd pet spider that could play cards. A bell. revealed not by the magician but Worley lloyd@worleythewiz- selected, signed card was shuffled Alex Acosta demonstrated a by a different spectator (Jim Pope), ard.com (970) 356-3002 www. back in, the deck was dropped graceful routine he developed: a who actually feels a “tingling” SAM292.com for more details.  into the box, and the spider found bare-handed, no pail version of sensation on the same finger on his the card and handed it to Lloyd. the Miser’s Dream. He dropped own hand! Special thanks to Lloyd Paul Noffsinger showed two the coins into “spectator” James Worley. —Ron Dutton New Members and Reinstatements

NEW MEMBERS Egan, Daniel Great Neck, NY Spinner, Cheryl Big Bear City, CA Angelatos, Nikolaos Petaluma, CA Marr, Joseph Durham, NC Hinton, Michael Patras, Achaia Greece Farrell, Jim Falls Church, VA Tedrow, James Indian Trail, NC Arthur, Tobin Austin, TX Medeski, Josh Santa Clara, CA Horr, Caine Seattle, WA Fern, William Kingwood, TX Tian, Dennis Alameda, CA Bable, Neil Somerset, NJ Meitz, Justin Beijing, China Hurley, Jerry Papillion, NE Ferrante, Kelley Reno, NV Virden, Thomas Bishops Town, Ireland Baker, Roger Raleigh, NC Melchor, Mark Anthony Phoenix, AZ Kahlow, Larry J Burke, VA Fitzgerald, Randal , TX Weiner, Baruch Burnsville, MN Bauschard, Frederick Weatherford, TX Mendon, Prajwal Kiryat Sefer, Kjorlaug, Clark O'fallon, MO Foley, Vincent Tucson, AZ Weisz, Daniel Atlanta, GA Black, Terry Bellevue, WA Mitchell, Chris University City, MO Kramer, Thomas Rockledge, FL Gerson, Michael Norfolk, VA Westlfall, Chris Trebur, Germany Boudreau, Remi Westlake Village, CA Molnar, Gail Toronto, ON Canada Kriss, Gary Dieppe, NB Canada Gibbons, Tom San Antonio, TX Womack, Adam South Salem, NY Brenner, Stephen Sparta, NJ Morris, Chris Camarillo, CA Lacey, John Potomac, MO Gonzalez, John Rome, GA Wu, Donald Rochester, NY Bustos, America Centreville, VA Nasi, Andrea Redwood City, CA Lentros, Peter G Houston, TX Goodman, Phil Scottsdale, AZ Wynn, Samuel Ashland, MA Cassell, Robert Los Angeles, CA Olliver, Richard San Diego, CA Malik, Shahid Orlando, FL Grove, Brady Fulshear, TX Yoder, Jim Bradford W.Y., UK Chao, Mike Mc Intosh, MN Ortner, Brian Riverside, CA Martin, Jason A R. Santa Margarita, CA Haag, Colin Dallas, TX Ashburn, VA Checansky, Rick New Albany, OH Pacheco, Roland REINSTATEMENTS Mitchell, J. Christopher Simi Valley, CA Hammond, John Sunnyside, NY Becker, Larry Las Cruces, NM Coffey, Jack Gadsden, AL Rasmussen, David St Louis, MO Niehaus, Michael Alexandria, VA Harris, Don Charlotte, NC Brewer, Dennis Michael Affton, MO Coffey, David C Gilbert, AZ Reed-Brown, David Austin, TX O'dowd, Michael A Willis, TX Karisik, Ademir Simsbury, CT Chi, Yikun Barnhart, MD Colosimo, Carlo Herndon, VA Ruffley, Deb Manlius, NY Olson, David A Yorkville, IL Klemens, Jonathan Eden Prairie, MN Conlin, Jonah Tucson, AZ Daniel, Mark Gibsonia, PA Sandberg, Isaac Cambridge, MA Pai, Makia L Mocksville, NC Lee, Ang-Hsuan Crystal, MN Connors, Storm Bristol, PA Danziger, Lawrence Taipei City, Taiwan Scadlock, Billy Elkins, NH Patrick, S Poughkeepsie, NY Li, Yigxue Orlando, FL Crasson, Sara E Stroudsburg, PA Davis, Rob Jersey City, NJ Schincariol, Trino New York, NY Tacle, Alan Burleson, TX Lim, Gabriel Mt Pleasent, MI Crecelius, Thomas J Woodside, NY Della Penna, Mike Tucson, AZ Shapiro, Robert Milltown, IN Thighe, Craig Emeryville, CA Lowery, Jacob San Francisco, CA Dufrene, Larry Centennial, CO Divers, Robert Tucson, AZ Sherman, Paul Millington, TN Thompson, Richard W Euless, TX Mains, Steven Arlington, VA Escobar, Uriel Alexis Belleville, IL Dix, Cameron Williamsburg, VA Sieck, Curtis Walnut Creek, CA Walton, John H Etobicoke, ON Canada Malone, Spencer Cedar Rapids, IA Fowler, Chris Bellingham, WA Dukich, David Fort Thomas, KY Sigley, Tom Lawton, OK Brownsville, PA Manganelli, Tom Union, NJ Garcia, Melinda A

22 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 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]

Roger Barr Bob King James J. Morrisey Harry Riser 883 B Leverpool Circle, 304 Suburban Court, 24 Grove St. 11755 N. Michigan Rd #313 Manchester, NJ 08759 Rochester, NY 14620 Wayland, MA 01788 Zionsville, IN 46077

Daniel Cudennec Robert D. Knigge Anthony Murphy Pat Ryan “Dany Trick” PO Box 5, 11 Angel Rd., 43 Fairbanks Rd. 225, Stang-ar-Veil- Jones Borough, TN 3765 North Reading, MA 01864 Churchville, NY 14428 d’an-Traon, Mellac-29300, Quimperle, France Stanley R. Kramien Nahmen Nissen Matt Savin 11205 SW Summerfield Dr. PO Box 1856 P.O. Box 7693 Dan A. Dorsey Apt 161 Colfax, CA 95713-1856 Alhambra, CA 91802-7533 98 Woodvalley Dr. Tigard, OR 97224-3391 Fayetteville, GA 30215 David Oliver Sybill Simons Richard Laneau 141 Audaubon Rd. #201 65 West 95 St. Apt 3A Joseph H. (Ben) Grant 4020 55th St. N. Weymouth, MA 02188 New York, NY 10025 400 Commonwealth Ave, Unit 9 St. Petersburg, FL 33709 Warwick, RI 02886 Larry Poague Mario Susi George Gilbert Lott 34221 West 90 Circle 6 Bristol Rd. Charlie Gross 1725 Great Hill Rd. Desota, KS 66108 W. Peabody, MA 01960 16745 Gertrude Street, Guilford, CT 06437 Omaha, NE 60136-3023 Jim Relyea Jack White Frank J. McNaughton, Sr 241 W. Lakeshore 4288 Arguello St. Roy Horn 1926 Apple Street, Rockaway, NJ 07866 San Diego, CA 92103 c/o Siegfried & Roy Williamsport, PA 17701 1639 N Valley Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89108

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 23 Broken Wands

MELVIN LEROY GOODENOUGH Goodenough joined the Air Force on May 10, 1949, (MAY 10, 1932 – JULY 27, 2013) his seventeenth birthday. While stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, Private Good- enough received training on how to intercept, decipher, and decode Russian military intelligence. Goodenough was very good at this and moved up the grade from PFC to Staff Sergeant in three-and-a-half years. Leroy Goodenough saw Harry Blackstone Sr.’s big illusion show at San Antonio’s grand Majestic Theatre around 1950-51. This cemented his bond with magic! When discharged from the Air Force on December 2, 1952, Leroy took his bride, Mildred “Millie” Cook, and their baby daughter Melanie back to Vallejo. Jobs were scarce, so he attended a radio and television school in Hollywood, California, on the GI Bill. However, nobody was hiring DJs without on-air experience. In the late 1960s and several odd jobs later, Leroy Goodenough found himself back at Mare Island Naval Ship Yard, working with non-destructive X-ray cobalt testing in their foundry, while still doing magic on the side. Then the doctors laid Leroy off with a medical dis- ability because they thought he had muscular dystrophy, because he constantly walked into doors. In time, this Leroy the magician loved to “Share the Magic.” Melvin would change his life. Goodenough did more than just Leroy Goodenough, the eldest of three children, was perform magic while working at Mare Island. born on May 10, 1932, to Melvin and Ruth Goodenough, Leroy made his own bass guitar in the shape of a a farming family in Fresno, California. Shortly thereaf- Fender guitar and taught himself how to play it. He ter they moved to Fairfield, California, where his sister eventually had his own four-piece band, The Question Myrna and brother Jack were born. Leroy’s interest in Marks, which played nightclubs and causal dates. He also magic was sparked about ten years later when they lived became so good at hypnosis that he taught it; he also near the Mare Island Naval Ship Yard in Vallejo where held classes on how to use hypnosis to quit smoking. his dad was a welder. Leroy spent 1,700 hours at beauty school to become a Leroy frequented a local bookstore, where ads on hairdresser, so whenever Millie joined him and the band, the back of the popular Blackstone the Magician and Red her hair was made up to the nines. Dragon comics caught his eye. Here he could learn to The Goodenoughs now had six children; to help save do real magic. Leroy begged for a magic set and Santa money and obtain clothing in the styles they wanted, had one under the tree that Christmas. This magic set Leroy learned his way around a sewing machine, making was put to good use, as was the catalogue ordered from all the clothes for his wife and kids better than most Abbott’s Magic Company. Times were tough and money women could. Nonetheless, Leroy and Millie were was in short supply during WWII, so the Abbott’s headed toward divorce and new challenges. catalogue became well worn as he figured out his own It was not long until Leroy met Lynn Miller while tricks to make. When a fire burned their home down, ballroom dancing; they hit it off right away. Within a all that survived was his magic set’s red ball, which kept year of meeting Lynn, they were married on December his love of magic alive! 31, 1988, and Leroy the Magician had a new partner. Studying magic and hypnosis kept little Leroy busy Shortly thereafter, the doctors told him he was misdiag- with new tricks to try out on his sister and brother. Once nosed and never had MS. With this news, they decided he built a huge, 3-foot square by 5½-foot tall escape box it was time to make magic his profession and Leroy the in his bedroom. After he was securely padlocked inside Magician was now a fulltime entertainer. the wooden crate, which was wrapped with ropes for Leroy stayed active in the magic community and was good measure, he would be found in the living room a founding member and the first president of a magic two minutes later, having escaped through a secret club in Concord, California, that eventually became panel. The crate would never escape; it was made too Assembly 112. He also joined the International Brother- large to leave his bedroom. hood of Magicians and formed the Sierra Sorcerers in

24 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 Broken Wands

Placerville, California, when he retired. Through the depression years and into the 1940s, When Assembly 112 held their annual Share the he continually increased the size of his magic show, Magic shows, Leroy Goodenough was often one of adding illusions and personnel, and he gained notoriety the featured performers. He took the show’s name to by performing daredevil stunts for publicity. From the heart and thoroughly enjoyed teaching budding young mid 1940s through the late 1950s, he performed in ap- magicians the finer points of his craft. Several of his proximately forty films, including portraying a debonair students became very good seasoned performers. detective known as “The Falcon.” Even in retirement, Leroy continued his mentoring Calvert continued performing magic during his of young students; he joined Assembly 72 and I.B.M. Hollywood days. In the mid 1940s, he transported Ring 192 in Sacramento. For several years Goodenough his show’s equipment and personnel worldwide in a made “Wizard Trophies” for the winners of all three Douglas DC-3 airliner; in later years the show traveled of these magic clubs’ contests. In 2010, Lynn and Leroy on yachts. were divorced, but his love of magic continued. At age one hundred, Calvert appeared onstage at the Leroy Goodenough enjoyed a diverse life with lots of London Palladium, fulfilling a lifetime dream. He was still adventures during his seventy-year love affair with magic performing weeks before his death, accompanied by his and hypnotism; he was always ready to share the magic! assistant and wife of more than fifty years, Tammy. She Knowing he was losing his battle with cancer, he planned survives him. his own celebration of life to make sure there was magic Asked to divulge his secret to living so long, Calvert to share. He gave all his magic to other magicians in the told the Oakland Tribune: “Every morning when I wake hope that it would instill a renewed fondness for the art. up I say, ‘The world is my stage; I’m an actor and I’m His magic books were given to the Sierra Sorcerers so going to play the part of a young man all day long.’ Don’t that the members would have a library to learn from. be a pessimist. Expect to live one hundred years or Melvin Leroy Goodenough passed away on July more. It can be done. It’s not magic.”  27, 2013, at the age of eighty-two. The celebration of [A more complete tribute to John Calvert will appear Leroy’s magical life held on August 11 in Placerville, just in the December issue of M-U-M.] as he planned it. It was a packed house with seventy-one family, friends, and magicians present to share stories of Leroy the Magician. Several magicians performed per Leroy’s wishes, following the Broken Wand Ceremony put on by Dale Lorzo, the California State Deputy for the Society of American Magicians and Roy Porfido of Assembly 112. Leroy the Magician’s mantra was to “share the magic.” His magic might not have been the greatest, but his magic was truly Goodenough! —Dale Lorzo

MADREN ELBERN “JOHN” CALVERT (AUGUST 5, 1911 – SEPTEMBER 27, 2013)

John Calvert, a favorite magician in Hollywood circles who appeared on stage for more than eight decades and played the fictional sleuth The Falcon in three 1940s films died September 27, 2013, in Lancaster, California. He was 102. Calvert was born in New Trenton, Indiana; he became fascinated with magic at age eight when his father took him to see Howard Thurston perform in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly afterward, he performed his first trick for his Sunday school class; he made an egg appear from under another boy’s coat. He made his initial magic tour when he was eighteen, performing in small towns throughout Kentucky. His small troupe consisted of one assistant and “Gyp the Wonder Dog.”

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 25 The High Road script writing, character development, and act construction for the modern conjuror

By Mick Ayres

These experts have a point, but there How can one read the audience? Call it is another social element to consider a groove, a wave, the zone, or taking the from Joshua Bell’s performance: Bell is pulse of the crowd; when it hits you know TAKING THE not a busker. Any conjurer who earns just how much to raise your voice at the AUDIENCE’S PULSE a living through busking will tell you end of a good line to push it over the there is a world of difference between hump from merely funny to downright “It’s your baby; you rock it.” performing in the streets and performing hilarious. Your timing on every pause – Elvis Presley in a theater. The psychological attitudes feels exquisite. The guests shift to the of the audiences alone prove that. Fur- edge of their seats. Not long ago, an interesting video did thermore, there are two ways to perform This moment of connection with your the YouTube two-step on the Internet in the streets. You can stand behind an audience is also the moment you feel stage. It featured the violin prodigy empty hat in the hopes that people will validated in the role of entertainer. Every Joshua Bell performing in a busy Wash- be kind enough to toss a bill or two in, person in the room has just received what ington, D.C., metro station. This is a man or you can give people a show that draws they came for. They hoped for escape and who is usually found in packed theaters them in and actively encourages them to you have given it to them on a platter. while earning a thousand dollars per fill that hat. Joshua Bell learned a hard This euphoria all happens in the wink minute. In the video you watch as Joshua lesson about that difference, stating, “It of an eye. Frankly, this level of intimacy stands next to a trash can, lays an open was a strange feeling that people were is addictive. You will do absolutely violin case at his feet, and salts it with actually ignoring me.” anything to have it in your grip again. a few bills and some loose change. For In a theater, people will sit quietly and Even better, so will your guests – and the next forty-five minutes, he plays listen. After all, they bought a ticket for they will return to your shows again and an extremely rare, multi-million dollar the privilege. On the street, people will again to experience it. Stradivari violin and performs the six stop and give attention only if they have It is for good reason that profes- most difficult concertos written for his time and if your show engages them. This sional conjurers search for presentations instrument. is critical. There were plenty of conclu- that require greater audience participa- Over a thousand pedestrians hurry sions to be drawn from the Bell experi- tion. By doing so, you increase the op- past on their errands as a recognized ment, but one that seems to be missed is portunities to amplify the pulse of your virtuoso offers the most beautiful and that no matter how talented one is, to be audience. Of course, it helps if you have emotional music ever composed. A few noticed as a performer requires an in- a good backstory to go with it. of them toss coins or dollar bills into his teractive dialogue of some kind. There case, usually without even looking at are also proven busking techniques that him. Only one person recognizes Joshua; can be employed for gathering a crowd, AN OPEN PREDICTION… only one person stops to listen for more holding them, and coercing the money. than a minute. At no point does a crowd It doesn’t matter if you are a musician, OF SORTS develop. Joshua Bell’s performance magician, juggler, mime, dancer, or any You will need a deck of cards, a piece yields a total of thirty-two dollars. other type of performance artist; the of blank note paper, and a marker. The event was a social experi- basics are the same. Shuffle the cards. While you are ment staged by The Washington Post If Joshua Bell had prepared himself to doing so, put on your storyteller hat newspaper to determine if music and busk rather than just provide an alternate and deliver this tale: “Many decades beauty can reach past life’s distractions form of background music, then this ex- ago, a young man named Paul Curry and get us to pause and savor it. The periment might have ended differently. was an insurance salesman by day, but Internet video and the intriguing article Without providing his name, he would at night he performed magic for family, can be viewed by searching “Stop and have been noticed enough to gather a friends, anyone who would watch. He Hear the Music” on YouTube. In general, large crowd and keep them there until his was very talented and created his own the experiment has caused social sci- hat was filled far beyond a mere thirty- effects rather than copying other per- entists to conclude human beings have two bucks. formers. When other magicians watched become so culturally self-absorbed and We’re talking about a level of com- his shows, very few could figure out insular that we no longer stop and smell munication that goes beyond words. his mysteries. Mr. Curry eventually the roses…even when they are right in How can a performer judge the rise and published his ideas and concepts in front of us. fall of his or her presentation without it? books, but sold them only to magicians.

26 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 Today, his secrets are used by conjurers “In this experiment, using just half a magicians in various presentations since all over the world. There are very few dozen cards will keep things simple and its inception. magicians who do not know Paul Curry’s brief.” Lay the six cards face up in two Your guest can stop right here and name. rows on the table. “Examine each card you can proceed with the revelation. “However, the reason I am fasci- and choose one that feels right to you. However, for the sake of audience in- nated by Paul Curry isn’t because of a Your first instincts should be trusted.” volvement, have another guest take the mystery he created, but rather something Hand her the paper and marker. “Please packet and mix it in this manner. They he didn’t create. Let me explain. In the write the name of your card here so now pass the cards to yet a third guest late 1940s Paul Curry told friends he everyone can see.” Once you see which who mixes it as well, which resets the believed the perfect mentalism experi- card she has chosen, collect the cards packet to the original order again. ment would be presented with cards in so her selection is on the bottom of the To conduct the revelation theatrically, the following manner: a deck of cards face-down packet. hold up the paper so everyone can read it would be shuffled by a guest. Next, the Say, “Please choose any number from and say, “Remember, the rules for Paul name of one card would be written down one to six and jot that number next to the Curry’s challenge were, first, to have a openly where everyone could see it card written on your paper.” Your task card freely selected...” Point to the card easily. The guest would then go through now is to maneuver her card into that written on the paper. “...then the cards the deck, flipping cards face up. At a numbered position in the packet without are mixed fairly...” Point around to point determined only by the guest, one getting caught. Fortunately, getting it everyone who participated in the deal- card would be placed aside face down. there is boldly deceptive. and-mix process. “...and the cards are The remaining cards would then be Subtract the guest’s chosen number turned over one at a time, stopping at a flipped over one at a time; everyone can from six. Remember the difference for point randomly chosen by a guest.” Point see the predicted card has yet to appear. a moment. Say, “Since there are only to the number written on the paper. The single card is finally turned over by a handful of cards you won’t be able to Your guest now turns cards face up the guest and it matches the prediction give this packet a conventional shuffle. one by one from the top of the packet, dead on! Instead you will mix them as you deal.” counting as she goes along. When “Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Paul Now you recall the difference and she reaches her number, that card is Curry had this remarkable mystery, deal that many cards on the table. Say, not turned over; instead it is placed but he couldn’t create a way to make it “Obviously, just dealing one card at a aside face down. Say, “This is looking happen. He tried and tried for the rest time doesn’t mix anything.” Once you good; the chosen card hasn’t shown up of his life but, sadly, Mr. Curry passed have dealt the appropriate number of yet!” The guest continues dealing the away before he came up with a solution. cards to the table, drop the balance of remaining cards face up. “I can’t believe The puzzle became known as Paul the packet on top of the pile and pick it this; it’s still not there!” Remember, this Curry’s ‘Unsolved Card Problem’ and up. The guest’s noted card is now at her is theatre. Be excited. Act! It’s infectious has since become a legendary challenge numbered position in the packet. and your guests will catch it. among magicians. Continue by saying, “So, when you Have her turn over the sole remaining “For many decades, countless per- feel like it you will pause and switch the card. Dance a jig if you must but do not formers have attempted to solve Curry’s position of the top two cards to mix them. let your guests suspect for one second challenge to no avail. The difficulty lies Then drop those two cards together as that you are faking excitement. You in addressing each rule on Curry’s list one on the others – because if you deal just defeated the odds, broke a record, honestly. For example, the problem may them one at a time, you’ll just put them and achieved the impossible! If anyone be solved easily if the performer was back the way they were – and continue walks away thinking, “Nice card trick,” allowed to have a secret helper hidden dealing and mixing until you run out of you didn’t try hard enough. Throw your in the audience, or if sleight-of-hand cards.” Suit actions to words and demon- arms up in a victory salute. was an option, or if a could strate this method of mixing. Turn the paper over and have the be used. But Paul Curry believed if the Once you deal the last card you may guests date it and initial it as witnesses. audience even remotely suspected the be surprised to know that you have Hand it to the primary guest as a use of those methods, the impact of this merely reversed the order of the packet. memento and say, “Put this somewhere incredible mystery would be lessened. It The guest’s chosen card is now in the safe and remember…if anyone asks, you had to be his way or no way. numbered position, but from the bottom were there.”  “Why am I telling you this? Because, of the packet. Hand the guest the packet I want to take a shot at solving Paul and watch as she deals and mixes her Mick Ayres is an eclectic Curry’s challenge and I need your help. way through it. When she is finished, the entertainer for the Walt Disney Right now, with you as a witness and a packet is now in its original order with Company. He welcomes input at participant, we will follow Curry’s Rules her chosen card in her numbered position [email protected]. and try to accomplish what the experts from the top. feel is impossible. Are you game?” This clever “mix-deal” process comes Once she agrees, ask her to remove directly from Paul Curry’s A Swindle of six random cards from the deck. Say, Sorts and has been exploited by several

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 27 The Nielsen Gallery Tampa - Crushing a Girl Dimensions: Window Card - 14" x 22" • Lithographer: Otis Litho. Co. Date: 1929 • Nielsen Rating: Uncommon

This month’s column is devoted to a poster featuring an illusion mance and asked him if he would like to know how the illusion from the inventive mind of British magician P.T. Selbit (Percy worked. Ozzie replied that it was quite baffling and would like a Thomas Tibbles), who was responsible for such misogynistic few more shows to see if he could figure it out. Oswald Rae told effects as Sawing Through a Girl, Dissolving a Girl, Stretching a this story on himself and swore that after a week of performances, Girl, and in this case, Crushing a Girl. The graphic is actually a he still didn’t have any idea as to the secret of Crushing a Woman. window card and promotes Tampa as England’s Court Magician. As readers of this column know, Howard Thurston decided to capitalize upon his reputation as America’s favorite magician by putting two other units of his show on the road. The second unit featured Dante (Harry Jansen) and the third Tampa (Raymond Sugden). In each case, these magicians were heralded with the banner “Thurston the Magician presents…” and each poster portrayed one or more of Thurston’s illusions. Crushing a Girl first appeared on the scene in 1923. Selbit referred to it as either The Fourth Dimension or Avoiding the Crush. As the name implies, a lovely assistant is apparently crushed flat by the weight of two other assistants sitting cross-legged in boxes above her. To impress upon spectators the reality of the crushing, toy balloons were also placed in the cabinet; they exploded as the upper boxes were lowered down upon the girl. The first to present the illusion was E. Clive Maskelyne, who presented it on the stage of St. George’s Hall in London in October Tampa Crushing illusion 1923. In this instance, two male assistants filled the boxes above that were lowered onto the girl below. The weight of the boxes Always eager to find new and amazing illusions, Thurston was reported to be five hundred pounds. Upon the boxes being signed an agreement with Selbit allowing him to present lifted, the doors were opened and the girl was found to be in the Crushing a Woman in America as well as Broadcasting a same position as at the start. Upon stepping from the box, pieces Woman, Man Without a Middle, and The Million Dollar Mystery. of broken balloon dropped from her gown. In later versions, Crushing was a hit and Thurston soon provided copies to both Selbit dressed the girl in a Japanese kimono and she held an open Tampa and Dante for their shows. It is well known that Dante parasol, giving visual bulk to her appearance. was very unhappy that Thurston was allowing Tampa to present In the wonderful book P.T. Selbit – Magical Inventor, Eric Lewis Crushing and other effects in Dante’s show. Before things came and relate a humorous story about this illusion to a head, the start of the Great Depression and the increasing involving Selbit’s friend Oswald Rae. As they tell it, it was not popularity of speaking movies put an end to Tampa’s relationship unusual for him to take one of Selbit’s illusions out to some of with Thurston. the provincial theaters. Selbit provided everything, including the Some historians suggest that Tampa was not as dynamic a equipment, assistants, and a written copy of the patter. Normally, performer as Thurston and Dante, and perhaps that’s true. Rae would run through these illusions during band call and a However, the late Frank Dailey, former National Historian for technical rehearsal. the S.A.M. and all-time fan and collector of Tampa material, Apparently, Rae had spent a little too much time in the pub the disagreed. His scrapbooks on Tampa (now in my collection) fill previous evening and arose the next day to find he’d missed his two feet of shelf space and much of it is glowing testimonials train. The next one got him to the theater in time for the show from theater owners and patrons who witnessed and enjoyed but not in time to rehearse the illusion. Fortunately, Selbit’s top Tampa’s show. There is no doubt that the mystifying Crushing female assistant had seen to the setup and rehearsal and assured a Girl was one reason that audiences across the country filled Rae that all he had to do was stand at the side of the stage and theaters to witness the Tampa show. The inventive Selbit passed present the illusion. Lewis and Warlock wrote: away November 19, 1938.  The opening matinee went without a hitch, and afterwards the female assistant congratulated the magician on a fine perfor- —Tom Ewing

28 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013

Mental Breakdown By Christian Painter

performer in Arizona says, “A solid, This is how you will get the confidence working show is not created on paper or to work any venue and any crowd. This is designed in a week; it evolves over many also how you will get a tight show. years of performing.” Understand that the dream is much So, how do you get really good? Find a different than the reality of performing. couple of mentors or trusted friends who Sure, working in a beautiful theater where can give you honest feedback. A mentor everyone is at your beck and call is great. REAL SECRETS OF must be someone who has either been or But that’s not reality even for professional is currently a professional performer. And magicians. If Katalina and I perform two PERFORMING (PART 1) by professional, I mean someone who is hundred shows this year, maybe twenty This year Katalina and I had a great making a good living performing. Notice of them will be at an elegant theater with deal of fun performing at a few conven- that I did not add the word magic after a full lighting and sound crew. When tions. One of the highlights was meeting performing. This is because a mentor Katalina and I performed in the college so many of the young, up-and-coming can be an actor, a comedian, a juggler – market, I would explain that one day you performers. I got to sit and talk with anyone who understands what it means to could be performing on a beautiful, multi- Kayla Dresher, Trent James Ketchmark, entertain. This person is someone who can million dollar stage and the next day they Alex Boyce, and Nick Diffatte, to name a tell you without reservations that you suck. are moving folding tables from the corner few. I was caught a little off guard by one Someone who gives it to you like it is. If of the cafeteria, where the floor sticks to question that was asked quite a bit: “What they aren’t able to tell you that something your shoes. It’s not all glitz and glam. advice would we give to young performers you did was terrible, you’re not going to There is a misconception that comes to help them move forward in their magic progress. Everyone wants to hear how with Facebook, social media, blogging, careers?” amazing they are; how their magic is better and all around general bragging that every To be honest, I was not prepared for that than Copperfield’s; that they are the best gig is some storybook setting. What makes question. I tried to give a good answer, but thing since the Foo Can. It’s nice to hear a performer good, what makes the act I’m sure I only gave an adequate, mean- these plaudits, but they don’t help you get get hired back over and over, is that they dering answer. This is an easy question to better. can work in all kinds of conditions and give a flippant response to, and a difficult On that same token, you need to be still deliver a solid show. It’s very easy to question to answer thoughtfully. Having able to take that feedback without getting perform a good show when the environ- now thought about this subject for a couple defensive and crying like a hurt child. ment is perfect. What happens to your of months, I am ready to give the reply I Growth comes with pain. If you want to show when the setting is challenging and wish I could have told them at the time. I get good, put your ego in the trunk. stressful? hope they will read this column and know that this is what I wanted to say at that time. TWO: GET AS MUCH THREE: BE DIFFERENT Since the core of the question comes down to show business, we will break this STAGE TIME AS YOU CAN Open with the Bowling down into two parts, show and business. When you are starting out with your Ball Production, perform the Linking I will cover the show part of the question act, don’t worry about getting paid. Get in Rings, surprise them with a Sub-Trunk, in this column. In the next column I will front of as many audiences as you can for move to a cut and restored rope, add cover the business concepts. Here are our free. That’s right, for free. You are going Banana Bandana for comedy, continue five secrets to moving forward in your to be bad, make mistakes, blow tricks, with Bill in Lemon, end on an emotional show. and say the wrong things. It’s much easier tug at the heart with a Snow Storm. to overlook mistakes if you don’t charge. There, I just described ninety percent ONE: GET GENUINE However, if you claim to be a profession- of magic shows. al and don’t bring a polished show to the Open with Tossed-out Deck, bend FEEDBACK stage, it can make for some very awkward a spoon, perform a book test, demon- If you want to make show business situations. Your credibility will be in strate a drawing duplication, throw in a your profession, the first thing you will shambles. Don’t blow future gigs by trying Confabulation routine, and end with a need is a good show. This seems like an to put value on something that is still Blindfold Act. obvious concept, but Katalina and I have being created. And especially with social There, I just described ninety percent found that it is not. Too many magicians media and the Internet, negative reviews or of mentalism shows. believe that you can create a show within a critiques can stay online forever. If that is all your show is, then the only week by going to a magic shop, purchasing Where do you perform for free? Go difference between you and another act is eight tricks, deciding their order, throwing to nursing homes, Lions Clubs, charity price. Try to create something unique. It in a few hack jokes, and tah-dah, you have events, veteran’s hospitals, churches, or should be your own character, your own a show. Nothing could be further from the anyone who will have you. Will it be awful script, and your own take on tricks. truth. at times? Yes it will. This is how you get Recently, I had an agent tell me, “If I see Roland Sarlot, a very successful hardened. This is how you get seasoned. that stupid number matrix trick again…”

30 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 He was talking about the Magic Square. I reactions of the audience. It is also a place That’s magical. know many of you will say that you have where you will get to experiment with your I’m not saying that is how you should the best Linking Ring routine, Tossed-out character and magic premises. do it, but I think you should give as much Deck, or Magic Square ever. This is where Later in life when you are working on thought as he did in orchestrating your you need to go back and reread the first stage, those restaurant lessons will come movements on stage. secret: get genuine feedback. back to you when you bring a difficult What about lighting? What kinds of Nothing beats originality. Corpo- audience volunteer on stage or when you lights and gels might you use to create a rations, theaters, and colleges all look have to select just the right person for your more powerful performance? What about for something different. Magician and next piece. Working with an audience microphones and speakers? Working mentalist are pretty run of the mill terms can only be learned by working with an within a theater environment gives you for entertainment buyers. What makes you audience. the opportunity to see and work with different from all the other magicians and many different sound systems. This helps mentalists? FIVE: LEARN you select the right system for you. To be I cannot stress the importance of clear, there is no perfect system that fits standing out in the crowd. When your act STAGECRAFT everyone. However, if you have never is so unlike everyone else’s, then buyers Performing magic or mentalism is worked with sound systems before, how will start looking for you, instead of you theater. This seems to be a concept lost on will you even know where to start? looking for buyers. many mystery artists. Back in my college Sound will be one of the most important theater class, during one semester we factors in your show. If they can’t hear FOUR: WORK A spent three hours talking about the first you, you’re sunk. Do you know how to ten seconds of a performance. Those three troubleshoot sound problems? Do you RESTAURANT GIG hours covered how you walk on stage, your know how to adjust your soundboard to get Why? Because, you will learn a great gait, your costume, your facial expres- rid of an echo in a difficult room? These deal about yourself, an audience, and the sion, and your hand motion – even your are the lessons you will get when you learn performance of magic. You will learn how breathing. stagecraft. to approach a table, engage in conversa- One of the rules of theater I see tion, read people, and work with difficult magicians/mentalists break all the time is ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS individuals. You will also experience how blocking. During the show the performer quickly tricks develop into successful and should not struggle to find his props. I Of course, there are many other factors personal pieces when you get to perform have seen too many mystery performers you will also be working on. Who is your them over and over in the same night. You digging in their pockets, suitcases, and character? What genre of magic will you will learn how just changing a few words prop cases looking for the next trick. I have be working within? What tricks will you in your script can alter the emotional witnessed them turning around and giving be performing? What methods will you impact of the trick for the audience. It is the audience a surprise look at their bent choose? The list goes on and on. a great place to experiment with scripting, over derriere as they search for their next You will never be “done” with your methods, and different tricks. miracle. Terrible! show. Katalina and I are always refining This is a place where you will get Go back and watch a David Copperfield and tweaking our show. We constantly instant feedback. You will know very special from the ‘70s or ‘80s. Watch how look for ways to improve the performance. quickly if the trick works or not. You he moves from one trick to the next. If a It is a never-ending quest. So, good luck can take the same trick and change it ten banner has to fall down, he didn’t pick up to you as you embark on your journey to different ways in one night and gauge the a rope and pull it, he just waved his hands. become a professional entertainer. 

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NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 31 Building A Show By Larry Hass

dazzling sequence that goes from a white mask 10. Abigail performs “Knots off Silk” with a to a red one (in a flash) to a green one, which gentleman from the audience. gets removed to reveal Jeff himself. Wow! 11. Transported to a Renaissance street fair, 2. Abigail brings Jeff a coiled length of Jeff becomes “Bravo!” with his magical, white rope. He shows the single length while hilarious version of the Benson Bowl routine. passing the coils from hand to hand. Suddenly 12. Borrowing a jacket, Jeff performs his Most readers of this column will know that the separate coils become five loops that are “baby gag” for getting on an airplane. Jeff McBride is one of the great magicians knotted together. After swinging the entire 13. Illumination: Jeff’s light manipulation of our time. He is a virtuoso performer with length of loops, Jeff magically removes one routine. It starts with lights flashing around legendary skills. He creates utterly distinctive loop at a time, one by one. the dark stage, morphs into lighted wands that routines, many of which have become modern 3. “Every magician starts out as a member of spin, float, and dance in impossible ways, and classics. His working knowledge of magic and the audience. Would you like to have a magic then morphs into a giant fan with one light stagecraft is prodigious. And he is an extraor- lesson? Lesson number one: !” on one spoke. Jeff produces lights at his fin- dinary teacher of magicians. Jeff magically produces eight cards at his fin- gertips and places them onto the rest of the What you might not know is that Jeff McBride gertips, uses imaginary thread to pull them to spokes. These lights go off and on and travel is a master show-builder – one of the very best the side (one at a time), makes them vanish and at Jeff’s command; the fan then splits into in the business. I can’t count the times I have reappear, and drops them into his hat. But wait: a second lighted fan. Jeff uses one of these seen Jeff confront a hodge-podge collection of after showing the front and back of both hands, lights to trigger a string of flashing lights on acts and, in the blink of an eye, organize them one last card pops into view at his fingertips. a mask. He removes and eats those lights, one into a smooth-flowing magic show that builds 4. Moving on to lesson number two (optical at a time, and then regurgitates those lights on properly and creates a tremendous effect. It illusions), Jeff directs the audience to expe- a string. Jeff ends by throwing the string of is my great fortune to work closely with Jeff rience the floating fingertip – with a funny, lights toward Abigail; they become a lighted and to have learned a lot from him about visual ending. necklace around her neck! building magic shows. He has been a signifi- 5. After discussing the first magicians – 14. Jeff closes the show with his magnificent, cant influence on my own thinking in this area, shamans who studied the mysteries of nature unsurpassed routine, The and I am grateful. – Jeff performs his extraordinary water bowls. King of Cards. A raucous, standing ovation Some of Jeff’s excellence at this stems from Within the narrative frame of a shaman seeking follows! his lifelong experience. Some of it, too, is his water, the bowls fill and are emptied, over and keen sensitivity to energy flow and dynamics over again. At the end, the bowls are handed OBSERVATIONS in any given room. But most of it has to do with out. This is one of the great routines in modern his rigorous study of the subject, along with magic. I was at this show. Believe me, the energy, ex- much experimentation, that led him to create 6. Abigail plays a frame drum. Jeff joins in citement, and audience involvement was aston- a powerful scheme that he applies – more or by snapping open and slapping large fans in ishing. To an extent unlike any other performer less loosely – to every show he performs or rhythm. The audience joins in. As the rhythm today, Jeff McBride creates a total, multi-sen- constructs. continues, Jeff appears wearing a fez and sory, magical experience. There are lights and The name of Jeff’s scheme is the “Seven performs his beat-box, rap poem, the Hindu music, rhythm and clapping, new- Stages of Show Flow.” It is not possible in the Prayer Sticks. variety, lots of laughter, and fascinating char- space of this column to get into its details. But 7. Discussing different interpretations of acters. There is unbelievable skill, astonish- you may be able to discern some of its features sawing a woman and the importance of keeping ing magic, and a subtle point of view about the and effects as you study the following perfor- mind, body, and spirit in balance, Abigail deep, important place of magic in our lives. All mance. Enjoy! performs Zig Zag Card. in forty-seven minutes! 8. Using a medicine show framework, Jeff I invite you to take a piece of paper and chart Jeff McBride with Abigail McBride, the performs a thimble routine while playing the the energy of each piece in this show as it Palace of Mystery at the , harmonica and creating rhythm by tapping the unfolds: notice where the curve starts, the in- February 9, 2013, 8:30 p.m. thimbles on a metal tie. “I’m so glad I finally teresting, dynamic-changing choices that Jeff have a thimble routine that makes sense...” and Abigail make in the middle (up and down, 1. The curtain opens on a dark stage. Two Holding a bottle of “elixir” and riffing on in and out), and the incredible build toward the lights blink faster and faster to an explosion of Gilbert and Sullivan, Jeff offers his comic reci- double ending. It is virtually impossible for light and music. Jeff McBride, wearing a mask, tation that begins, “I am the model of a modern someone not to stand. begins his signature mask routine. In brief, esotericist.” Energy, flow, and dynamic changes that he removes one mask after another, performs 9. The music, costume, and setting shifts to stimulate the senses, move the body, and mime with some of them, makes other masks the Old West for The Ballad of One-Card Pete inspire the mind: that’s some of what we learn appear in magical ways, and finishes with a – a Six Card Repeat effect. about show building from Jeff McBride. 

32 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 33

CHRIS WESTFALL Magic Saved My Life by James Alan

magician stands at a fork in the road. One path he keeps copious notes, something that comes as a complete leads to magic; the other path leads to dangerous surprise, since he is incapable of stringing together a coherent behavior, possible incarceration, and possible sentence in an email. death. (So, let the reader be warned.) The question is: what makes Chris Westfall tick? The Chris Westfall is a remarkable magician in obvious explanation might be that he was simply fortunate Amore ways than one. On the surface, he seems fairly ordinary; enough, in the ninth grade, to stumble onto a subject that excited an arsenal of card tricks, rubber bands around his wrist, a him; he latched on to it the way other youth might gravitate mildly goofy, slightly off-Sankey sense of humor. None of that toward hockey, drama, guitar playing, or fantasy novels. No seems to explain how busy he is. He currently juggles four academic subject attracted him; Chris had discovered magic. restaurant gigs in Toronto in addition to professional close-up But Chris’s story is not painted in black and white, with gigs. In the summer he adds a series of kids’ day-camp good choices saving the day. It turned out there was much more workshops that fuels weekends full of children’s shows. Of to it than that. The force that pushed Chris into magic, which course, he’s not organized enough to give me an exact figure, keeps him there and drives him to build a better show and a but a back-of-an-envelope estimate has him doing about six better business, is something far less idyllic. hundred dates a year. Rewind twenty-seven years to the mid Eighties when Chris His mindset is eminently practical. He is more interested was born in Scarborough, Ontario. At the time, it was a separate in creating something new and personal than he is in fooling city, but was absorbed into the “mega-city” of Toronto in 1998. magicians – which he does on occasion. High art is never Scarborough was certainly not an awful place to be, but still the goal and you will never find him stroking his goatee and it didn’t have the best reputation. Don Alan used to produce a waxing poetic about how magic “should” be done. He has a knife during his act and refer to it as a “ credit card.” very well-defined sense of what kind of magic suits him. Performers from the GTA (greater Toronto area) can often be I’ve known Chris for years; there is more to him than meets heard calling the same prop a “Scarborough credit card.” the eye. When he speaks, he gives the impression of not being Of course, when you’re growing up, you have no idea what very bright. It’s an illusion that comes from the conditions a “good neighborhood” is; there’s just “your neighborhood” – he grew up in. Time that should have been spent in school it’s all completely normal. learning the prescribed subjects was instead spent exploring At the age of twelve, life abruptly became less normal for magic videos and books. He constantly builds his repertoire, Chris. Chris’s parents split up. From his point of view it was both both through learning new material and creating his own. And unexpected and sudden. It was less than two weeks between

36 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 coming home from summer camp to having his mother tell him she was leaving; she moved two thousand miles to Calgary to live with a friend. That was two weeks during which Chris had to decide which parent to live with. His brother went to Calgary; Chris stayed in Scarborough with his father, who was self employed as a graphic artist. After summer camp, Chris began grade seven. As he was adjusting to his new living situation, he also had to start at a new school. Unfortunately, things were not going to get better. He may not have officially developed an interest in magic, but Chris was certainly thinking about deception. He remembers going out on Halloween with friends who carried a second set of masks, which meant they could visit houses twice. While out trick-or-treating that year, Chris was held up with a knife against his throat by a teenager. The attacker only took a single gumball and a can of soda, from which he took a single swig before tossing the can away. It’s one thing to be robbed and have your valuables taken. It’s something different to be robbed for sheer amusement. Nothing is more frightening than senseless violence, finding yourself in a situation where he found himself back in Toronto for the start of grade nine. someone might want to hurt you for no good reason. It didn’t Magic gave him a bit of help in breaking the ice and making help that his attacker wasn’t wearing a mask. He lived six new friends, and skateboarding provided a social group that houses away. Because of the sense of intimidation, the police was easy to join. They enjoyed the same bad habits, and, being were never called. older, they also took advantage of new venues to party. They That year at Christmastime, he visited his mother and learned which houses had parental supervision that was lax or brother in Calgary. He received a magic set. He was interested, non-existent. but had more important things to deal with. Nervous about Chris’s father had a new girlfriend, which doubled the returning to Toronto, he opted to places he could beg, borrow, and stay in Calgary. That meant starting steal to support his habits. Karma at another new school, having been worked in a small way, since he was at the old school for less than four  I saw a lineup of the victim of similar theft on more months. He also had to adjust to a than one occasion. new family situation. homeless people with push At the same time, his interest in His mother’s boyfriend was school waned and he had more free frequently abusive. Again, no one carts filled with empty time to practice magic. Morrissey ever sought the help of police. Magic, since closed, provided him Within a few weeks, the three were bottles. I saw my future in with DVDs with card tricks. His again running away, going to live father supported his magic study; it with another friend; this could not, those lines: Having fistfights appeared to be a healthy outlet, even however, be called an improvement if it interfered with Chris’s school- by any stretch of the imagination. over nickels. work. It was an abrupt move, taking only  By the end of grade nine, his clothes that would fit in suitcases. final year of junior high, Chris Chris would continue living here for a year and a half, until the had become a delinquent and had been kicked out of multiple end of grade eight. classes, but, as he saw it, this only provided more time to This new father-figure, Randy, was a bartender and was practice magic. In his grade nine yearbook, there is an entry usually away at night. His son, Ryan, was sixteen (three years for Chris. Coincidentally, his photo was next to that of a friend older than Chris) and was left in charge of the house, in par- who is listed as “most likely to become a magician.” Chris’s ticular, order and discipline. (And the discipline was simply entry read, “most likely to become a good magician.” bullying.) His family was certainly aware of how he was spending his Human beings are nothing if not resilient and adaptable. time and the choices he was making. While they may not have Chris kept his unpleasant home situation separate from his life said anything initially, the writing was on the wall when Chris at school and worked at the normal process of making friends. was hospitalized in 2001 for alcohol poisoning. He had an interest in skateboarding, which gave him an excuse In an attempt to distance himself from bad influences, to join a new group of friends. Magic was also a help since it Chris spent another summer in Calgary. But the friends he gave him a way to introduce himself and set himself apart. had left a year ago were still around and had developed a kind The house where Chris now lived was also a place for of thug culture. When he went back to Toronto to start high parties for Ryan and his friends. This gave Chris his first school, it became impossible to deny he was in a bad situation. to underage drinking and recreational drug use. That The parties he was attending were now taking place in meshed well with the skateboarding culture and made it easier unoccupied homes that had been broken into and people were to fit in there as well. showing up in cars that weren’t theirs. Theft was a necessary Armed with some new bad habits and a tiny bit of magic, activity to pay for drugs and became a standard practice. Chris

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 37 Left: Jeff Pinsky, owner of the Browser's Den of Magic, presents Chris with the Len Cooper Memorial Award. Right: Chris performing on TVO Kids in Toronto

recalls making a pact with a friend that they were going to to a set of lecture notes, Chris described the feeling: “That spend an entire summer drinking daily. kicked off a sort of rock-and-roll lifestyle, being a partier and One morning in grade ten, he was shocked to find police a performer, and working for what I thought was good money officers at his door. He was being arrested for assault and for short hours.” robbery, committed the previous day. He was released on He had a source of income, which rendered school his own recognizance. Unfortunately, he was immersed in a essentially useless to him. He was expelled during the first few culture that applauded his behavior – in the eyes of his friends, months of grade twelve. He was enrolled briefly in an alterna- it only made him cooler. tive school, but that was a short run. While he tried to make Within a few weeks he was offered two thousand dollars friends at the new school, he kept in touch with his old social to steal a car. He wouldn’t make it long enough to collect circle. He invited some of the old crew to a party with his new anything; he was arrested thirty minutes later. friends and after a violent outbreak, felt unable to go back to This time no one appeared to bail him out and he spent four the alternative school. It was a combination of embarrassment days at the Toronto Youth Assessment Centre. This was first of and fear. several important shocks that would kick-start the process of Still living at home, he was making far more money than turning his life around. Conditions at the center were unpleas- anyone else in his social circle; unfortunately, the money ant. (In fact, the facility was closed nine years ago because of that wasn’t going towards magic was going towards alcohol unsuitable conditions.) and drugs. At eighteen his repertoire expanded to include The consequence of his incarceration was house cocaine. He moved in a circle that kept him locked in. arrest, which would cover most of the eleventh By that point his family had run out of patience. His grade. School was the only exception permitted, father kicked him out and he rented a room, sharing a although his father notably allowed him to sneak out basement apartment with two strangers. to the Browser’s Den of Magic, one of the Toronto On top of physical addiction, co- brick-and-mortar shops, on Saturdays. The shop caine can produce paranoia: Chris was kept – and still keeps – a card table set up at all constantly on edge, irritable, times to allow customers to socialize and nervous. He split with his and share magic. girlfriend, his original high school Magic became the all-encom- sweetheart. At the same time his passing obsession. He could dismiss social circle was being torn apart schoolwork and spend as much by money, addiction, and the time as he felt like practicing. He violence that resulted. One of his had cards confiscated often when friends was convicted of murder. he was caught shuffling under his Chris’s appraisal of the desk. He even managed to sneak in his situation, looking back, is slightly first paid show while under house arrest. It more objective. He says he was was an event arranged through his father’s always aware that things weren’t girlfriend’s employer. right, but he felt trapped and As soon as his house arrest sentence powerless to do anything to change. ended, Chris landed a job performing at a res- The best that seemed possible for taurant once a week. Contrary to what might him at the time was to stay at the edge be expected, he kept the job for over two years of things: to be near the violence but not and in that time managed to add a second restau- directly part of it, at least not when he rant owned by the same family. In the foreword could avoid it. There was no clear way out.

38 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 deposit. He worked this job in conjunction with the bartending work. Magic was no longer making him any money. The time commitments of regular work were too pressing. And through- out this, addictions persisted. Ultimately, it was the bottle depot that became the turning point. Nothing else up to that point had worked; his cir- cumstances only pushed him towards impulsive decisions that usually made things worse. For six months he was paid minimum wage; he woke up at 6:30 a.m., and took a bus through downtown Calgary, sometimes in minus forty degree weather, to work in a kind of ghetto. He would arrive to find a lineup of homeless people wrapped around the corner with push carts filled with empty recyclable bottles they had fished out of dumpsters and trash cans the previous evening. Chris summed it up more completely and succinctly than I ever could: “I saw my future in those lines: having fistfights over nickels.” With a new sense of resolve, he saved money for a plane ticket back to Toronto and pleaded with his father, saying things would be different. His father arranged for an apartment in the building next door to his for closer supervision. He picked up a job stocking shelves at a supermarket. And even though he hadn’t performed professionally in over a year, he Nothing in his upbringing had taught him to overcome large was still practicing magic and able to secure two restaurant challenges. The mindset was to take things as they came, doing engagements. Fortunately (or not, depending on your point of whatever felt right at the time. Goals and plans were never part view), restaurant managers never ask to see your resume, or of the program. the gaps in it. But the cognitive dissonance was finally at a tipping point. Soon after that (this was already 2005) he moved in with a Chris reached out to his mother who bought him a plane ticket new girlfriend who already had two young children, ages one to Calgary. He sought training as a bartender, an extremely and four. Now on top of resolve, he had responsibility. He was short course, and worked for six months serving drinks at a picking up the kids from daycare and supervising them in the local theater. evening. It kept him inside and necessarily out of trouble. Through the Calgary magic shop, The Vanishing Rabbit, he Chris looks back and sums up his life as a choice between met local magicians like Tyler Wilson and Chris Mayhew. And two paths: the magic path and the wrong path. It’s been several he still had a circle of friends – skateboarders – but they were years since he’s been drawn down the wrong path. Hindsight also older and more violent. is naturally 20/20. Where some might be tempted to keep Ryan, the disciplinarian and de facto brother from four in mind that there were chances to get out and ask for help, years ago, had matured. He offered Chris a bottle-counting all of those chances require working up the courage to reach job at a depot, a place where the homeless would go to trade out and ask another human being for help. And sometimes in collected bottles for their five- and ten-cent redemption that’s very hard to do.

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 39 There’s more to the story. When we sat down to talk about shows now represent a major chunk of his schedule. his life, there were a great deal of hints about what I was Eventually, he branched out again, did more shows, and missing. Chris only mentions his brother in passing. He has began working on stand-up material for adults. As part of that, lost friends to addiction and violence, figuratively and literally. he used his restaurants to start hosting a semi-regular dinner Several people in the story have remained nameless. Thank- show a few times a year, similar to A Little Night Magic, a fully, Chris is still speaking with his parents and relies on his long-running magic show in downtown Toronto in the late father’s design input for his website and promotional materials. 1980s and early ‘90s. The show was hosted by Glenn Ottaway He worked hard and now cherishes the trust he’s built up. and featured a series of acts in addition to close-up magicians When he wrote the foreword to Calculated Chaos, his first strolling during dinner. At his shows, which he titled A Slice of set of lecture notes in June of this year, he only hinted about Magic (naturally, they’re hosted in a family pizza restaurant) his past. It’s a very difficult story to tell; it took multiple inter- he interspersed his own material with friends’ performances views to get it out of him. Credit also goes to Lisa Close for to fill out a longer show and arranged for the restaurant to convincing him that it was a story worth sharing. pay for the necessary staging. Now that he has become more Restaurants sparked Chris’s career. He is, first and comfortable on stage, he faces the same problem he has when foremost, a table-hopper. His close-up material is fast moving performing close-up: figuring out when to stop performing. with minimal dialogue (which he would call “patter” without This year marked another turning point for Chris when any reservation) and magical climax after magical climax. he was invited to give his first lecture at the Browser’s Den, The character that came out of it is very versatile. It appears which led to the writing of a set of notes and a three-trick DVD. slightly gruff and unsophisticated, but in a restaurant, where All three were well received; the notes and the DVD will be you never know who will walk in, he can transition seamlessly re-issued by Vanishing Inc. for wider distribution later this from children to drunken adults without missing a beat. Often, year. when magicians tread into adult territory, they come off as Chris Westfall was lucky; his love for magic turned him profoundly geeky. Chris’s past affords him a certain credibility away from the destructive path he was following. What keeps that gives him the freedom to get away with more. Chris going, apart from a love of magic, is a sense of fear. It It’s an environment in which he excels. Before 2007 took years, but he finally saw where his choices were leading there were ten to twenty restaurants that featured magicians, him and he turned the other way. Now, regardless of what including a couple that had featured the same magician for motivates him, he’s a busy performer who finds joy in his over a decade. After the arrival of the recession, that number profession. dropped almost to zero. The work was, for the time being, I’ll wait to see if all of this attention goes to Chris’s head. gone. I’m personally aware of only two magicians who kept More than likely, I’ll bump into him at the Browser’s Den, working restaurants through that. One of them was Chris, and where I’ll get to hear his now signature catchphrase, “Yo, check he is the only one who was able to keep multiple restaurants this out,” along with whatever it is he’s just come up with.  during this time. During the summer months he started performing for James Alan is a professional magician based in Toronto. a variety of children’s day camps, including Mike Segal’s He is the editor of Seventeen Secrets and the highly Sorcerers Safari camp. So he developed a children’s show, controversial Ninety-Nine Fabrications. bringing out the goofier side of his persona. It was essentially the same character, just more energetic...and oblivious. These

40 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013

On the Shoulders of Giants Stage Magic and Theory from Denny Haney By Scott Alexander

it was great because these pros told you ested in close-up, or I’m only interested what books you should have on your shelf. in card tricks.’ So what do they do, they When I was young, I felt if a pro offered only buy books on card tricks. Therefore, those suggestions, it was important. I did they never get exposed to anything else YOUR WORKING a search and I went out and grabbed those in magic. They don’t know what they LIBRARY books.” Denny currently has about six might like because they don’t even know thousand books in his entire library that he it exists; they don’t know anything about “A room without books is like a body has collected over the years. As you can it. When you read Tarbell things come to without a soul.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero see, it is a working library! you, things you’ve never heard of before. Things that are so old they are forgotten and you revive them.” Denny is right. In fact, a lot of online magic companies make money by going through Tarbell, pulling out a trick, and putting it on a DVD with a slick one-word name. “I’ve seen them do this and have the nerve to charge you twenty-five bucks for that one DVD or twelve dollars for the instant download; all this stuff is in Tarbell! Magicians have to wise up!”

The Fitzkee Trilogy – Dariel Fitzkee Remember when your teacher told you that reading is an important skill to have, Mark Twain said that a classic is “A Denny says, “Right next to Tarbell and that the library will open up a world book that people praise and don’t read.” should be the Fitzkee Trilogy. Showman- of adventure and excitement? Well, just Here are some classic books that Denny ship for Magicians is all about how to like your fourth grade teacher, Denny is thinks should be a part of any magician’s be a showman on stage, how to perform also a big believer in books. In fact he is working library, and that you should magic, and how to make your presenta- emphatic that every magician worth his probably read, too. These are by all means tions enjoyable. Then there is Magic by salt should have a working library. By a not the only ones, but these are a good solid . This tome deals with the working library, he doesn’t mean a bunch core of books to build your library. science of magic, why it works, and how it of books that sit on your shelf that you works. It deals with how you use misdirec- will eventually get around to reading one The tion and the principles of magic. Volume day...maybe. He means a set of hardcore, – three is called The Trick Brain. To me, it’s meat-and-potatoes books that cover the the most boring of the three books, but gamut of magic performance. A set of Denny recalls, “Phil Thomas tried to says it was his favorite books that you keep coming back to and get me to buy a set of Tarbell for three referencing whenever you are working on years. I finally broke down and got them new effects or researching old ones. These on a trade. I didn’t want those ‘old books.’ are the books that are your “go-to” set of But when I finally dug into Tarbell, all of books that can help point you in the right a sudden the whole world of magic opened direction. These are books that not only up to me. I felt like I wasted three years. Ev- deal with tricks and methods but also the erything you want to know about magic is theory behind the magic. These are the in there: close-up, escapes, doves, rabbits, books that no magician’s library should be stage illusions, mentalism, and publicity. without. When you have a working library, It is full of great essays on how to routine the whole world of magic opens to you. a magic show, how to make people laugh, “Many years ago, in one of the and how to do publicity stunts. Everything magazines, there was an article called the under the sun is in there. If you’re going to ‘Eight Foot Bookshelf,’” Denny recalls. “It be a magician of any type, you must have asked pros what are the ‘must-have’ books Tarbell. It must sit on your shelf. that would fit into that eight-foot area, and “A lot of guys say, ‘I’m only inter-

42 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 because it teaches you how to create and would be surprised at what you can do with his praise. invent your own magic. So here you have silk handkerchiefs. You can do transposi- After the show I was in the lobby and a set of three books. One teaches you how tions, transformations, changes, produc- someone said, ‘Hey Henning, what did you to do the magic. One teaches you how to tions, vanishes, dyeing, cut and restored... think of the kid?’ He turned around and be a showman with the magic. The third everything can be done with silks.” In fact, looked at me and said, ‘Yes, young man one teaches you how to invent your own it was Denny who turned Puck and I on to may I talk to you for a moment?’ He pulled effects. Put that next to Tarbell and what the Prisoner’s Silk by Marconick, which is me aside and lit into me. ‘Dammit, what do you have? An entire career. If you lived featured in these volumes; we now both do were you thinking? That was the most ir- to be five hundred years old, you would it in our shows in a routine we call Hanky ritating thing I have ever seen!’ He had have an entire career in those books. Wow! Panky. Jonathan Neal Brown does a whole me almost in tears. Why? Well, back in What more could you ask for?” show with nothing but silks. I watched it those days I actually had hair and it was a over and over again at Caesars in Vegas bright red. In my breast pocket of my tux Stars of Magic and it was sensational. It is amazing to me I had a red handkerchief. But the two reds – George Starke to see, firsthand, how silks can be so en- were different shades. He felt it was such tertaining. There is also a fourth volume an off-putting error. He said, ‘I had to sit Next to Fitzkee and Tarbell should in the series written by Mark Trimble that there and watch that five-minute routine be Stars of Magic. These were originally is also great. with these two clashing, mismatched, red released as a one-trick-at-a-time booklet things glaring at me and making me un- series. Later, they were bound into one Magic and Showmanship comfortable.’” As simple a point as this is, volume by D. Robbins in New York. Even if – Henning Nelms it is quite true. I imagine it like someone you are a stage performer, there are lessons talking to you with food hanging out of to be learned from the likes of Vernon, Denny actually hung with Henning his mouth. It is really annoying. Although Slydini, Leipzig, Scarne, Horowitz, Daley, Nelms as a kid. He recalls, “Nelms wrote a it may not seem like a big deal, it is these and Bertram. But even Jacob Daley’s book called Magic and Showmanship and little details that make the difference Cards up the Sleeve is a terrific stage trick, it was all about how to make magic enter- between the amateur and the professional. along with Vernon’s Travelers. This is also taining and theatrical. It taught you how Magic and Showmanship can help you iron where the original Triumph effect came to walk on stage, how to take a bow, and out those details and make your act better. from. “Everyone lately comes out with this how to make an entrance.” Nelms himself version and that version, but read Stars of was never really a performer, he just loved Maximum Entertainment Magic and do the original. You don’t need magic but hated the way the art was being – Ken Weber anything else.” done. He took his theatrical background as a teacher and director and wrote a book Denny says, “This is the modern day Rice’s Encyclopedia of Silk Magic from an actor’s and director’s perspective equivalent to Fitzkee’s Showmanship for Volumes 1-3 – Harold Rice to magic and magic tricks. Magicians. Ken Weber has made this a Denny remembers, “I knew Henning more pleasurable read than the Fitzkee “So many magicians can’t imagine what Nelms and would talk to him at the MAES stuff and has tips and ideas on performing you can do with silks,” Denny laments. convention every year. I was just a snot- for a modern audience.” I feel the same way. “Most guys think the only silk trick in the nosed kid, but boy was I clever. I was hot If they gave out licenses to be a magician, world is the one where you shove it in your stuff back then. I was doing the Jeffrey this would absolutely be required reading fake thumb and make it disappear. They Buckingham routine with eleven billiard before you were given permission to have no idea what is possible with silk balls. I won all kinds of trophies for this perform on a stage. If you read the Fitzkee handkerchiefs because they haven’t been act. This night I was performing in the Trilogy, Magic and Showmanship, and exposed to it. There are thousands of pages contest, and I knew I did a great job. I Maximum Entertainment, you will have a of different tricks with silks. These things mean, I really nailed it. I couldn’t wait to firm grasp on what it is to be a performing are colorful, lightweight, and play big. You go to Henning after the show and listen to magician who can entertain with magic.

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 43 ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS Routined Manipulation and it was all in my act. But as I explored meat of the magic is. The books today – Lewis Ganson the chapters on presentation and making have their foundations in these old books. things simple and easy to follow, I realized Denny agrees. “These are big, thick books Denny believes, “Out of all the authors that I was simply confusing the audiences that have so many ideas and inspirations in magic, I have probably learned more by mixing too many props and sleights. in them for magicians, yet these were from Lewis Ganson than any other author. This is how I pared down my card ma- written for the public and caused quite a He wrote bunches of books, but my three nipulation routine and made it such a great controversy in their day.” You see these favorites are Routined Manipulation Part piece of my act. It showed me how to make old props and tubes and boxes Professor One, Routined Manipulation Part Two, magic play for laymen and be entertaining, Hoffman writes about and you can see and Routined Manipulation Finale. Some rather than impressive to magicians to win to what lengths these magicians from the will look at the titles of those books and a magic contest. It taught me the power of late 1800s went to make the tricks work dismiss them by saying, ‘I don’t need this simplicity. – the precursors of the types of apparatus stuff because I’m not a manipulator.’ No, magic you may have seen in the intricate the titles are misleading. Not everything in Greater Magic workings of Tommy Wonder’s effects. there is manipulative. In the books you have – John Northern Hilliard Denny imagines, “I’m sure Tommy pored great sections on manipulation: Linking over them for inspiration in creating his Rings, billiard balls, and card manipula- “When I was twelve years old I went wonderful work.” Some of these titles tion. But there is other general close-up to Charson’s Magic and Novelty Shop,” are in paperback; you can pick them up and stand-up magic as well. These books Denny reminisces. Back in the ‘50s for a few bucks. These are a tremendous are jam packed with wonderful magic. Charson’s was on Baltimore Street, which resource to get your brain working. There is a trick in Volume One that is was known as “The Block,” since it housed a killer. I’m not even going say the name; many houses of ill repute. “I’ll never forget In a Class by Himself: if I were to sit at a table, do that trick, and the sign out in front of that shop; it read The Legacy of Don Alan offer to sell it for one hundred dollars, ‘Magic Tricks and Rubber Items.’ I never – Jon Racherbaumer magicians would be throwing their money knew what that meant. Now I do,” Denny at me to learn that one trick. A lot of laughs. In the close-up realm, Denny also rec- people don’t know this, but Ganson was Denny’s dad would drive him down ommends the Don Alan book. “Don only also the guy who wrote all the stuff about there on Saturdays. Denny saw on the shelf wrote two books. One was called Pretty the Professor, in The Dai a thick book called Greater Magic, which Sneaky and the other was called Close-Up Vernon Book of Magic, Inner Secrets of was selling for ten dollars. He imagined to Time. They were just little paperback Card Magic, More Inner Secrets of Card himself that everything in the world about pamphlets, but boy, were they good! Magic, Further Secrets of Card Magic, magic was in that book. He wanted it for Magic Inc. still prints them today. Back and Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic. They Christmas, and he knew he was going in the ‘60s, Alan was the close-up guy. He are all must-have books. He also wrote the to get it by the way his dad was acting. was on TV and always working and per- Slydini book, which again is a must-have “Christmas morning I got it. I was so forming.” Jon Racherbaumer has written a for your working library. Basically, if you excited. I opened it up and started reading. terrific book that chronicles the life story see anything by Lewis Ganson just buy it, I thought it was the worst magic book I had of Don Alan, featuring interviews, essays, don’t question it, just buy it. You won’t be read in my life.” About four years later, and a complete reprint of the two original disappointed.” when he read it again, he thought it was the books. Also in here there is a list of criteria one of the greatest books in magic. Denny that he felt makes a trick good which is a Our Magic says, “Sometimes we are not ready for the must-read. There are lessons to be learned – Maskelyne and Devant good stuff. We get exposed to things too on how to perform. Today we have a lot soon and we are not experienced enough in of the slam-bam, one-trick-and-walk-away This book was written by Maskelyne magic to handle it or realize why it is good. mentality spawned by David Blaine, but and Devant. If you don’t know who they Like when you are a kid and get a magic this is not how Alan used to do close-up. are, you haven’t read enough books. set. In that magic set there are the Linking Denny remembers, “He wouldn’t just do Denny insists, “Devant today is still the Rings, Rice Bowls, and Chinese Sticks. one trick and leave. It’s not walk-around most famous magician in all of England. We aren’t good enough to handle these magic; it is close-up magic.” He did a If you go to the Magic Circle they have tricks. Then, later on in life when we see a show. It had a beginning, a middle, and an a whole room called the Devant room. good set of these things, we dismiss them end. Reading about Don Alan is a lesson They have a big bust of Devant and it is because as a kid we thought they sucked.” in learning how to create a stage show at surrounded with memorabilia, books, and We learn to appreciate these things when a table, which will ultimately help your props from the Devant show. In the middle we gain the experience. We grow into stage show on stage, if you do one. of the room is an easy chair; when I was them. Denny admits, “I had to grow into visiting there, I sat in that chair and I felt Greater Magic.” The Art of Magic like I was in the presence of Devant.” Our – T. Nelson Downs Magic is divided into two parts. The first /More Magic/Later Magic part is mainly theory and the second part is – Professor Hoffman This is the guy who immortalized The application using tricks as examples. This Miser’s Dream. What more incentive is an important book. Denny says, “This is Jeff McBride said for every new book do you need to get this book? That trick the book that changed my life. I was doing that you buy on magic you should buy is a classic. Levent comments how most all kinds of finger-flinging manipulation two old ones, because this is where the magicians see that book on a shelf in a

44 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 magic shop, leaf through the book, and put of the days of show business gone by. these magicians caused a sensation with it back on the shelf. Denny says, “I always Their stories are fun, but also informative. and discover new things. Then you can wonder why guys leaf through a book. You find out how these guys got stranded say, ‘Hey, maybe I want to do that trick,’ Are they expecting something to jump out in foreign countries and lost all of their and you start to research how to do it.” of the book and grab them and say, ‘Buy props. You learn about fortunes won and And where do you start this research, you me’?” lost. You learn how they were broke and ask? You guessed it: your working library. Denny points out that the reason people destitute, sitting on a park bench one Your working library doesn’t have to be put the book back on the shelf and pass it minute, and then merely a short time later as extensive as Denny’s. He has been col- by is that there are hardly any pictures or being the toast of the American magic lecting for over fifty years. But as Denny diagrams. It’s mainly text. When Mike scene, like Thurston. Rosini said it best says, having a great working magic library Rogers lectured at Denny’s shop many about biographies when he commented, is fundamental to being a great magician. years ago, he saw that book on the shelf “I have learned more about perform- Your teacher wasn’t kidding when she and asked if he could borrow it for his ing magic by reading biographies of told you to go hang out in the library and lecture. Rogers said, “I want everyone to other magicians than from any book on that reading would be a skill you’d use for take notice of this little paperback book. It tricks.” I agree with this sentiment whole your entire life. It is a learned skill. Like is twelve dollars. If any of you here were to heartedly. Denny puts it like this: “You magic, reading gets easier with practice. take this book and learn everything in it, get a feeling from these performers, Readers are good learners. Reading these you could tour the world as a professional reading their biographies, and it sort of... books and others like them can take you magician for the rest of your life, have gets in your soul...and it really makes you to the front row of Thurston’s show or a wonderful career, and earn a terrific a magician. You are learning about what even to the close-up table with Vernon. living.” That says it all about this book. it’s like to be a magician when you read a What you gain from books will enhance biography. It’s not this card trick, that card your entire lifetime in magic, living your MAGICIANS trick, this coin trick, that coin trick. You dream as a working, successful profes- BIOGRAPHIES are learning about being a magician. You sional magician, or simply an educated, actually absorb and become little parts of well informed hobbyist, just by the turn of Biographies of magicians are fun to all of these biographies you’ve read; you a page.  read. They are exciting and intriguing, become those magicians, a little of this full of backstabbing and wonderful tales one, a little of that one. You see what tricks

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 45 Stage 101 By Levent

practice is not limited to sleight-of-hand The second suggestion from the begin- tricks. I would posit that apparatus tricks ner’s magic books was to never reveal the often require a great deal of rehearsal secrets of the tricks. This of course makes in order to present them with style and perfect sense because the power of magic aplomb. to give the sense of wonder to the viewer When practicing apparatus tricks, you is often intertwined in the mystery of the must not only work out how to perform trick. But in the context of a beginner, the In this month’s column, I cover the the effect. You must also establish where exposure of a trick can sometimes be the Ninth Fundamental Rule of Stage Magic, you will place the prop before it is used by-product of a lack of rehearsal. which is: and where it will go when the trick is over. “When performing a routine with a It is also during this rehearsal period that REPEATING A TRICK repetitious effect, it is more deceptive if you might discover handling problems you vary your methods.” that require a modification of the prop. The third suggestion for beginners For magicians of my generation, it For instance, in one of my routines I use gets to the crux of this month’s column, was fairly common to first learn the art a special prop table with a square top; in namely the admonition to never repeat a by getting a magic set or by reading order to use it correctly I need to have it in trick. The reason for this rule is that one beginner's books on conjuring. Many of a specific orientation. I put a small piece of of the elements that sometimes makes a these books and the instruction sheets that white gaffer's tape on the back edge of the trick deceptive is the element of surprise. accompanied the sets offered the following table so that I can visually discern if the Take for example the classic Cups and trio of suggestions: table is facing the right direction. Balls trick. The earlier sequences of the Additionally, I have many other visual effect that utilize the smaller balls provide 1. Always practice a magic trick before cues for my props. For example, on my the motivation to reach into the pocket to you present it in public. set of Chinese Sticks one of the tassels is retrieve and palm the larger objects. Fur- 2. Never reveal the secret of the trick. wrapped with a small piece of red yarn. thermore, the action of the small balls 3. Never repeat a magic trick. During my show I always keep the stick provides the misdirection that covers the with the red yarn on my right side, the loading of the large objects under the cups Starting with the first suggestion, it is reason being that during rehearsal I discov- for the finale. But if you choose to repeat certainly very wise and cannot be argued ered that one of the sticks was a bit more that trick for the same audience, then they with. But I would add that as a magician sensitive to the tilting maneuver than the would be expecting the final loads and they gets more experienced and skillful, the other. By knowing which stick is which, I would look out for the introduction of these need to practice sleights by themselves can know exactly how much each stick must be large objects. In all likelihood, for keen sometimes diminish (depending of course tilted before the string retracts. audience members, the use of the pockets on the difficulty of the trick). But always Also, these visual cues are sometimes to steal the final loads would become trans- bear in mind that even if you can do the for others. For instance, I have a large cloth parent. trick perfectly on a technical level, there container into which I discard my magic That said, in some cases a trick can are other things that you should practice, props during the show. If you were to look in fact be repeated without detection. For beyond the pure mechanics of the trick. inside the container, you would see a very instance, in the 1970s I used to watch my For instance, I was recently performing large arrow. This arrow is for the benefit friend Chris Capehart vanish a small silk on an evening show at a . of the stagehands so that they know which in his fist (using a thumb tip) and make it Among the performers on the bill was a way to place the container on stage. reappear over and over again in the streets highly regarded sleight-of-hand magician, Getting back to the subject of rehearsal, of New York and he fooled the people who was participating in a comedy sketch. in some cases, no matter how skilled every time. Chris was wily enough of an One hour before the show, this magician you are, practice cannot be avoided. For entertainer to know that repeating the silk decided that he wanted to do the Six Card example, a few years ago I was doing a trick over and over did not give the routine Repeat as part of a gag. Surprisingly, he tour of performing arts centers through- a proper finale. So at the conclusion of his did not know how to do the effect, so I out Finland. On the tour with me was an routine, Chris transformed the silk into a taught him the basic handling (using a Asian magician who did an amazing card cane to give the trick a definitive ending, buckle count); within a minute, he was manipulation act. Due to the difficulty of an ending that garnered solid applause and doing it flawlessly. At his skill level, he had his sleights, this gentleman had to get to gave him an opportunity to pass the hat. no problem doing the trick. But he wisely the theater three hours before show time, spent the rest of the remaining hour (before so that he could warm-up his hands and VARYING THE show time) practicing the presentation and body for the show! It turns out that his act gags that would accompany the effect. was so physically difficult to do that he had PROCEDURE Always remember that rehearsal en- to approach every show like an Olympic In magic there are many cases in which compasses all the elements required to athlete preparing for a competition. a trick utilizes a repetitious effect and present an effect in a deceptive and en- Basically, he had to practice every day just method. One such example is the classic tertaining manner. Furthermore, diligent to maintain his ability to perform the act. Miser’s Dream, in which a magician palms

46 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 a stack of coins in his left hand and at the in order to apparently look them over. He palmed in his left hand, he reached up same time holds a metal pail along the rim. then throws the coins back into the pail, into the air with his left hand and made a The left thumb is on the outside of the pail, but secretly retains a single coin in order to stream of coins appear. In his two-minute- while the fingers are on the inside so that continue with the trick. The key here is to long Miser’s Dream routine, Charlie Miller the hand could secretly drop coins into create enough variations of the procedure used three distinctly different methods for the pail one at a time. The basic method so that it seems as if different kinds of the trick, which in turn greatly enhanced is that the right hand palms a single coin movements occur throughout the trick. the deception. and seemingly makes it appear from the air. The right hand then re-palms the coin VARYING THE METHOD MIRRORED REPETITION as it acts as if the coin is dropped into the pail, while the left hand releases one of the The best way to execute a repetitious There is one more aspect to using vari- coins from the stack. As that released coin effect is to actually change the methods ations of methods that I should explain. drops to the bottom of the pail, it makes a throughout the routine. A good example Sometimes you have no choice but to do the loud noise, thus creating the illusion that of this was the way Charlie Miller (1909- same secret move twice in a single routine. the right hand had dropped the coin. The 1989) performed the Miser’s Dream (in his This kind of repetition can expose the right hand then seemingly reproduces that actual professional routine, which differs method. In such cases it helps to perform previously palmed coin from the air and from the commonly known published a “mirrored repetition.” This means that the entire procedure is repeated until the versions). At the beginning of the trick, you use the opposite hands when you do left hand (which holds the pail and the Miller secretly held a stack of about the move the second time. For instance, stack) runs out of coins to drop. seventeen silver dollars in his left hand, when I do my Sympathetic Silks routine, I The basic method for the Miser’s which also held the pail. During the first show three silks that are tied together. The Dream is fairly simple; because of this part of his routine, the first few coins were silks are placed onto a chair on my left. As simplicity, magicians such as Robert- produced from the air and supposedly the silks come down to the chair, the left Houdin typically used only a few coins dropped into the pail as in the standard hand secretly unties the knots, while the for the trick. If the same method was used trick. But in the middle part of his routine, right hand provides cover. Moments later continuously, too many times, then the Miller thrust his right hand into the pail I do the exact same move with a different secret could be detected. and dropped the single coin into the pail. set of silks that are on a table on my right If, however, a magician wanted to In a split second, as a continuation of that side. Except in that case I secretly untie produce a greater quantity of coins using action, he secretly dropped about five the knots with my right hand and provide the exact same method, then the deception coins from the left-hand stack into his right cover with my left hand. So it’s the same can be enhanced by varying the procedure. hand. The right hand was then withdrawn move, but done in a mirrored opposite This means that subtle changes in the way out of the pail. While using the pail itself manner. The use of the opposite hands a trick is executed can sometimes keep as optical cover, the coins in the right hand helps mask the repetition of the sleight. spectators from discovering the secret. were transferred into a T. Nelson Downs Incidentally, the only place I have ever For instance, the magician could produce palm. From that position Charlie was then seen this “mirrored repetition” concept the first few coins from the air in the able to produce the coins one at a time at appear is in Charlie Miller’s routine for the standard fashion. Then he could ask a few the fingertips; the coins could actually be Sympathetic Silks. And as far as I can tell spectators to reach into the air to grab an seen dropping into the pail, thus changing this concept is original to him. invisible coin and drop it into the pail. As the method for the coin production trick. In conclusion, always remember: the spectators open their empty hand over For the final part of his routine, Miller “When performing a routine with a repeti- the pail, the magician releases a coin from again changed the method, by transfer- tious effect, it is more deceptive if you vary his left hand. Then the magician pours the ring the pail from his left hand to his your methods.”  coins out of the pail, into his right hand right. Using the remaining coins that were © 2013 Levent Cimkentli

S.A.M. SPOTLIGHT kind words for his fellow compeers, and his support of the art. JERRY WAYE What is not known by most of his magic friends is his status in the medical field. Jerry is Jerome D. Waye The Parent MD, Chief of GI Endoscopy at Mount Sinai Hospital Assembly's Jerry in . World Gastroenterology News Waye is one of the has rightfully called him a “Superstar” in the field. true gentlemen Jerry modestly insists that his magic skills are not in magic. He due to any special talent. “I’m good at magic because welcomes people I practice a lot,” he said. “I practice magic with the with a smile, and same discipline that I practice medicine.” he is appreciated for Jerry loves to volunteer his magic skills for the his infectious laugh, his benefit of many charitable organizations. 

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 47

EBOOK NOOK avoid red wines, because they stain and are difficult to launder should you spill or drip any on the borrowed handkerchief. Seal Excerpt From: the glass with the cover. Rubber covers have become difficult Ultra Cervon to obtain in recent years. They can be fabricated from balloons or condoms, but I’ve found that a piece of kitchen plastic wrap, Written By: folded into quarters and fixed in place by a rubber band, does the Bruce Cervon & Stephen Minch job nicely. Description: The glass holder I have used for years is of ’s design. Ebook, 194 pages It is simple enough to make. Find a quality rubber suction cup and attach a safety pin to it with a loop of wire or chain. Stick Available From: the suction cup securely to the foot of the wine glass and pin www.llepub.com the inverted glass inside your coat on the left side, just beyond the inside breast HANKY PANKY pocket; that is, on the side nearest the arm. Effect: This is my routining of A1 Koran’s excellent Hanky The foot of the glass Panky from Routined Manipulation Finale. There is little new should hang level with here. The main alteration I have made is in the selection of tricks. the opening of the Only the strongest effects have been retained. In doing this I have pocket (Photo 2). Here increased the pace of the routine and the impact. This routine has is a tip, should you use Photo 2 been in my repertoire for over twenty-five years. It has always a rubber cover. Once been a crowd pleaser. I published an early version of it in my Tricks you have stretched the & Conjuring lecture notes. Over the years I’ve made little changes cover over the mouth of the glass, fix a square of rayon cloth over and improvements here and there. Most of the credit should go to it with a rubber band. The rayon will prevent the rubber from A1 Koran. I was pleased that, when I showed Al my version, he dragging on the coat material when you steal the glass. was very enthusiastic about it. That completes the preparation. Over the years I have Briefly described the effect is this: A handkerchief is borrowed, performed this routine both as an opener and in the middle of a coin is wrapped in its center, and several lit matches are held my act. I often preceded it with Scarne’s Copper and Silver Trick against the cloth to show how the coin absorbs the heat, leaving from Stars of Magic. I would then put the copper coin in my right the cloth unharmed. However, something goes awry and a large coat pocket, disposing of the palmed extra coin at the same time, hole is burnt in the center of the handkerchief. After some by-play, and palm the gimmick. However, I will describe the routine as I the handkerchief is restored to everyone’s satisfaction. most often do it today – as an opener. Next, a half dozen or more half dollars are produced from the Greet the audience and ask for the loan of a man’s clean, white handkerchief, followed by a cigarette and a lit cigarette lighter. pocket handkerchief. On receiving it, snap it open and hold it in Then, just when everyone thinks the magic is over, a wine glass the left hand by one corner. Comment, “Oh, that’s very nice. You brimming with wine appears under the handkerchief. should see some of them I get. I also need to borrow a half dollar, Method: You will need two half dollars, a cigarette, a cigarette but since they’re so hard to find these days, I carry one just for this lighter, a book of matches, a wine glass and rubber cover, a holder trick .” Put your right hand into your coat pocket, finger palm the for the glass, and a three-inch square of white cloth cut from a gimmick, tail-side away from the fingers, and grasp the half dollar man’s handkerchief. I recommend that you buy a package of in- at the fingertips. Bring the hand from the pocket and display the expensive handkerchiefs and cut them into three-inch squares, coin. Transfer it to the left fingertips while taking the handker- because you will destroy one in each performance. chief in your right hand. Display the coin again briefly, holding it Place one of the half dollars in the center of the square of at the tips of the left thumb and forefinger. Then catch the hanging cloth and gather the corners around it. Twist the corners tightly left corner of the handkerchief, nipping it between the left first together, drawing the cloth taut around the coin, and secure this and second fingers. Raise this corner and hold the handkerchief twisted “tail” with a small rubber band (Photo 1). by its upper corners between the hands. Place this gimmick Release the left hand’s corner and drape the handkerchief over in your right coat this hand and its coin. pocket, along with the Bring the coin to the center of the handkerchief and release the second half dollar and right hand’s corner. With the right fingers and thumb, grasp the the cigarette lighter. In top of the coin through the cloth, freeing the left hand. Bring the your left coat pocket left hand from beneath the handkerchief and immediately transfer place the cigarette and the handkerchief and coin to the left fingertips. Photo 1 the book of matches. “Now I need to borrow a book of matches.” As you say this, lay Fill the wine glass the handkerchief-covered coin onto the right fingers and directly with a beverage of your over the gimmick, which has been in finger palm from the start. choice; I suggest you Stop anyone from searching for matches by saying, “That’s all 50 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 right. This isn’t a cheap act. I brought my own.” With the left up the four matches with the right hand, and the matchbook with hand, pick up the coin in the center of the handkerchief, and the the left, while retaining the gimmick and handkerchief at the left gimmick beneath it, pinching the tail of the gimmick through the fingertips. Light the matches and let the matchbook drop from cloth. Lay everything onto the table. The center of the handker- the left hand. Hold the burning matches against the face of the chief covers the gimmick, hiding it from view. (Should you be gimmick as you expound to the audience: “There is no trick to working away from a table, set the handkerchief and gimmick on this. The matches will not harm the handkerchief. The silver coin the right forearm as shown in Photo 3.) Both hands are now empty. absorbs the heat so quickly, the cloth cannot burn. After a while Let this be seen, but you can feel the coin start to get warm.” don’t comment on it. By this time, the cloth should have begun to burn. You, Reach into the left coat however, do not look at it. Instead, you become caught up in your pocket and bring out lecture. Someone will usually try to tell you that the handkerchief the book of matches. is burning. Carry right on, without checking it. “No, no, the hand- “Now you need four kerchief isn’t damaged. It’s a simple demonstration of applied matches. Not three, physics. This is really more of a scientific trick. It has nothing to not five. Three is not do with magic; but people assume it’s magic. You can actually enough and five is too Photo 3 hold the flame to the coin for two minutes and thirty seconds many. Four is just the before...ouch!” Suddenly jerk the right hand away, as if you were right number. Close burnt, and shake the matches to extinguish them. Let them drop cover before striking. I’m giving you all the professional tips here some place that is safe. “But you always have a cue long before so that you can do this yourself at home.” As you are talking, tear then. Now you will notice that the handkerchief is not damaged in out four matches and close the matchbook. Lay the four matches any way whatsoever.” together on the table, along with the matchbook. With your left Hold the gimmick and handkerchief out toward the audience hand, pick up the center of the handkerchief, with the coin and in a dramatic display. When people begin to laugh, take a look gimmick, and lay them across the fingers of the palm-up right at the burnt cloth yourself. Appear momentarily nonplused, but hand, gimmick underneath. Look at the man who lent you the recover quickly. “Sir, don’t worry.” Lick your right thumb and handkerchief and reassure him: “Don’t worry. No magician has rub it over the face of the gimmick while holding it in front of the ever damaged anything he has borrowed.” man who lent you the handkerchief. “If you look closely, the cloth This line provides a moment of misdirection, in which you is not burnt. It’s just scorched. If you put a little bleach on it when switch the gimmick for the coin in the handkerchief. This switch, you wash it ...” At this point let the coin pop through the burnt which I developed for the Hanky Panky routine, cannot be hole in the cloth. Remove it and hold it at the right fingertips. detected, even when closely observed. A1 Koran liked it so much Examine it closely. he had me teach it to him. It is not a difficult move. With your left “Thank goodness it’s all right. These are hard to find, you thumb, engage the far edge of the covered coin and flop the coin k now.” Place the half dollar back in the burnt hole. Stand up par- inward, folding the center of the handkerchief back and over itself. ticularly straight and face the audience. “And now the trick you’ve This exposes the gimmick to your view (Photo 4). Immediately all been waiting for – the vanishing magician. No, no, let’s fix grasp both the tail of the gimmick and the coin in the handker- this.” chief, pinching them between the left thumb and fingertips. Lift Bring the right hand palm down over the burnt gimmick and them from the right grasp gimmick, wrapped coin, and the center of the handkerchief Photo 4 hand and, with the between the thumb and fingertips. Then turn the right hand palm right fingers, pretend up, flipping the handkerchief over the hand. Slip the left hand to turn the gimmick, under the folds of the handkerchief and gather the burnt piece as though you were of cloth into left-hand finger palm. At the same time, work the twisting the coin in half dollar above the handkerchief into view (Photo 6) and take the center of the hand- the half dollar under the kerchief to tighten the handkerchief into right- Photo 6 cloth around it. (If hand finger palm. working away from a Bring the left hand table, the matches and from beneath the handker- matchbook can be held chief and pluck the coin in one hand while you from the folds. pick up handkerchief Focus your attention and gimmick from on the bunched center of your arm and make the the handkerchief. “A little switch. The particulars reciprocal rotary motion Photo 5 of the blocking can be and...” Rub the cloth between the right thumb and fingers. While easily worked out by everyone watches this, casually place the left hand into your the interested reader.) coat pocket and apparently leave the half dollar there. Actually, Display the gimmick to the audience (Photo 5). This will be you discard the bit of burnt cloth and finger palm the half dollar. taken for the coin wrapped in the center of the handkerchief. Pick Bring the hand from the pocket as you spread the right thumb and NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 51 EBOOK NOOK fingers a bit and peer into the folds of the handkerchief. before you release it, give it a little tug (Photo 10). “Simply pull “Hmm, it’s still burnt.” Rub t he clot h agai n wit h t he r ig ht fi ngers this corner, snap...” Snap the right fingers over the handkerchief. and snap the left fingers over the center in a magical gesture. Then “...and pull this corner.” Move the right hand to the corner lying grasp the nearest corner of the handkerchief and lift it above the on your forearm and give it a little tug. “That’s all it takes.” Open right hand. Continue to pinch the center of the handkerchief in the the left fingers, revealing the coin in the center of the handker- right fingers, obscuring the area thought to be burnt (Photo 7). “A chief (Photo 11). little trick performed...” Release the center of the handkerchief Now apparently take the coin into the right hand and pocket from the right fingers and catch the right-hand corner. Raise it, it. In reality, leave the holding the handker- coin on the handker- chief open between the chief and merely cup Photo 11 hands to display the the left fingers to hide restored center. “...to it from the audience’s the chord of G.” Gasps view. Bring the right and applause should hand from the pocket, Photo 7 result at this point. and gesture, letting the Each hand now has hand be seen genuinely a coin finger palmed. empty this time. “It’s Drop the left hand’s very easy. Just pull, corner and hold out the handkerchief to its owner as if to return it. snap and pull.” Repeat the corner pulling sequence just described. Suddenly seem to change your mind. “Oh, let me show you one This time, of course, no coin is loaded into the left hand, as the other thing.” You will now perform a short production sequence half dollar is already there. Open the hand and show the coin, ap- that I developed for this routine. Drape the center of the handker- parently a second one, in the center of the handkerchief. chief over the left hand, opening the hand palm up under the hand- “Now be careful. Don’t put the money here and then pull.” Pick kerchief once it is covered. Let the coin lie loose on the fingers. up the coin at the right fingertips, display it briefly and seemingly Lay the right hand’s corner over the left forearm. “Everybody place it back in the left hand. However, actually do a coin pass, wants to make money. This is always fun.” Raise the right hand in retaining the half dollar in the right hand as the left fingers close. a gesture, letting the empty palm be seen while you conceal the I use the Martin Chapender vanish from Greater Magic, but any coin in the loosely curled fingers (Photo 8, the Ramsay subtlety). direct vanish will serve. Then move the hand “Nothing will happen.” Open the left hand and show the coin down to the front has vanished. While attention is drawn there, shift the coin in Photo 8 corner, which hangs the right hand to finger palm and move the hand over the center from the tips of the left of the handkerchief. Pinch the inner edge of the coin under the fingers. handkerchief through the cloth and turn the right hand palm up, Raise this corner flipping the handkerchief over the hand and displaying the coin at and fold it back over the center (Photo 12). “Well, something happens. The dream of a the center of the hand- miser.” You have just performed the first move of Jack Chanin’s kerchief (Photo 9). As TV production. the right hand passes With the left hand, take the visible coin from the handkerchief over the covered left and apparently pocket it, actually finger palming it. Bring the Photo 9 hand, let the finger- hand from the pocket palmed coin fall onto and pinch the center the left palm. Take of the handkerchief, care that this coin does catching the right Photo 12 not hit the coin under hand’s coin through the handkerchief, and the folds. Turn the left don’t pause or hesitate hand palm up, flipping in the least when you the handkerchief over drop the coin. Close it and producing the the left fingers over second coin from the Photo 10 the dropped coin, center. Pluck this coin from the left fingers and pretend to pocket hiding it in the folds it, finger palming it again. Bring the right hand from the pocket of the handkerchief. and repeat the production sequence. This time, as the left hand Smoothly carry the goes to the pocket with the coin, leave the coin behind and palm right hand’s corner the cigarette. Do the Chanin production a fourth time and, as you forward again and let it place this coin in your right pocket, palm the lighter. “I can do hang once more at the this as long as I want.” front of the hand. Just Perform the Chanin production again, this time producing

52 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 the cigarette. “And now a rolled-up five-dollar bill.” Give the it roughly six inches above the right hand. Simultaneously, close cigarette a closer look as you take it into the left hand and place the right fingers and swing the glass to an upright position on the it between your lips. “Well, you can’t have everything.” You will right palm (Photo 16, with handkerchief removed to expose the now produce the lighter from the handkerchief, but rather than position). Let the handkerchief fall. Something is seen to have repeat the Chanin production, do this: Grasp the near corner of appeared beneath it. the handkerchief, clipping it securely between the left first and With your left second fingers. Raise this corner and let the handkerchief fall forefinger and open in front of the right hand. Lower the right hand and at the thumb, pinch the Photo 16 same time light the lighter, letting the flame be seen through the handkerchief at the cloth (Photo 13) a moment before you bring the lighter into view. near rim of the glass Light the cigarette and put the lighter into your inner left and roll the lip of the breast pocket. As you cover away. At the do this, steal the wine same time straight- glass in preparation for en the right fingers, the final production. leaving the glass The steal is made as sitting on the flat follows: The left hand, palm. Then slowly which still holds the lift the handkerchief Photo 13 handkerchief clipped and cover away, between the first two exposing the full fingers, goes to the left glass on your hand. lapel, grasps it and pulls open the coat for the right hand. The right Bring the left Photo 17 hand goes behind the coat to the breast pocket, drops the lighter hand back to the into it, then takes the stem of the inverted glass deep between right and momen- the second and third fingers while the thumb breaks loose the tarily cradle the suction cup. The right hand then travels to the right, meeting the bowl of the glass in left hand at the edge of the coat (Photo 14). The left hand draws the fork of the first and second fingers (Photo 17). This allows the the handkerchief back and over the right fingers, and the right right hand to grip the glass by its stem. Remove the cigarette from thumb comes down on the handkerchief, trapping it against the your lips, clipping it between the left first and second fingers. foot of the glass. The left hand releases the lapel and the handker- Then, with the right hand, raise the glass to the audience, silently chief, and the right hand moves to the right, remaining at about toasting them, take a sip from it and strike another applause chest height, with the handkerchief concealing the glass (Photo stance. 15, situation exposed from behind). As the applause begins to subside, bring the right hand and Take the cigarette glass behind the left hand, and extend the right fingers secretly from your mouth, under the rear of the handkerchief. Release the cover from the left holding it between the thumb and forefinger, and catch it in the right fingers. Close the left first and second fingers around the stem of the glass, bunching the cover against fingers, and look at the it, and separate the hands. audience, striking an Hand the handkerchief back to its owner and put the wine applause pose. Receive glass away, disposing of the cover at the same time. Photo 14 the applause, then I have done this routine under many different circumstances. perform the Jardine Sometimes it has not been possible to have the wine glass set up. Ellis glass production In such cases, I have appropriated some large article found on the as a surprise kicker: premises and tucked it under my coat, holding it in place under Replace the my left arm, before going on. I then produce that item – a brick, cigarette between your a large ashtray – in place of the glass. This can be very effective. lips and catch the inner At other times I have simply cut the glass production and finished corner of the handker- with the appearance of the cigarette and lighter. Given this flex- chief with your left ibility, the routine becomes nearly impromptu, so long as you Photo 15 hand. Draw the hand- have a prepared gimmick in your pocket. Everything else can be kerchief back until its borrowed or improvised. center lies over the This has been one of my favorite routines for many years. I fingers of the palm-up hope it serves you as well as it has me.  right hand. Next nip the center of the handkerchief, lift it a few inches above the Thanks to L&L Publishing for allowing this excerpt to appear right palm and let it fall back. Pause a moment, building a bit of in M-U-M. suspense. Then nip the center of the handkerchief again and raise

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 53 El Roberto Enigmatico The Magic of Bob Farmer translated from the spanish By R.D. Michaels

Turn the paper ninety degrees to the the left edge (Photo 6, mark exaggerated). right. Using a ruler and a pencil, make a Fold the left edges over to the mark (Photo TWO-RIGAMI very light pencil mark six inches from the 7). Turn the paper over side to side (Photo left edge (Photo 2, mark exaggerated – use 8). Fold the left edges over so they line up Two-rigami is a folded, 6” x 9” predic- a pencil, not a Sharpie). Fold the left-hand with the creased edge (Photo 9). This is the tion that can be opened in two different edge over to the mark (Photo 3). Turn the ways to reveal two different predictions, paper over from side to side (Photo 4). one on each side of the unfolded paper. Fold the left edge over so it lines up with Photo 6 Unlike earlier versions that restricted the the right-side folded edge (Photo 5). The writing to a small area of the paper, this “X” is now visible in the upper right-hand version allows almost the entire surface of corner. the paper to be used, so the writing can be Turn the paper ninety degrees to the very large. Because of the manner in which right. Using the ruler and the pencil, make the paper is folded, it can be snapped open a very light pencil mark four inches from in one move. In this action, only one side of the paper will be displayed. How to Fold the Paper: From a normal letter-sized sheet of paper, cut a rectangle that is nine inches long and six inches wide. With the paper oriented as in Photo 1, mark Photo 7 an “X” in the upper left-hand corner and a “Y” at the lower right-hand corner. (These two marks are for learning purposes only; when you make your performance paper you will not mark the corners.) Photo 3

Photo 8

Photo 4

Photo 1

Photo 9

Photo 5 Photo 2

54 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 completed prediction packet. this prediction, do the following: moving away from the body, the right hand To write the predictions, open out With the right hand holding the packet moves forward; this begins to unfold the the paper so the “X” is at the lower right at the lower right corner, the left hand paper. At the same time, turn the hands corner. Write the name of a card (in our grasps the “X” corner of the packet. The inward slightly, which turns the paper to case, the Ace of Hearts) as shown in Photo tip of the left forefinger lifts slightly on a vertical position and reveals the King of 10. Notice that the lower right-hand area is the outer edge of the “X” corner as the left Spades prediction (Photo 14). blank. (This will be the top surface of the thumb takes a position covering the “X”. Both of these actions look normal, prediction packet when it is folded.) Once the left hand has secured its grip, and the rapidity of the display seems the right hand repositions so that the right to preclude any alternative methods of thumb covers the “Y” at the bottom of the unfolding the prediction. packet. The right first and second fingers Background: I invented this to use are below the packet and press up against as a four-way out for a Himber wallet. One the right thumb (Photo 12). packet is on one side with two outs, and one is on the other with two outs. Gordon Bean suggested it would be more effective if the packet could be snapped open, rather than slowly unfolded, so, following his Photo 12 suggestion, I figured out a way to do that. In his trick Folderoll (Mind, Myth & Magic, pp. 669-670), T.A Waters explains a z-fold that allows a nail writer or Boon writer to write on the outside, while the handling makes it appear the prediction Photo 10 was written on the inside. Thank you to Robert Neale, who knows Turn the paper over end for end (the how to fold and who corrected an early “X” is on the underside at the upper right To snap open the packet, simply move version of these obtuse instructions. corner). Write the name of a second card the left hand forward, away from the body. Editor’s Notes: If you plan on using (in our case the King of Spades) as shown The paper will unfold, revealing the Ace Two-rigami on a regular basis (and you in Photo 11. Notice that the lower left-hand of Hearts prediction (Photo 13). The paper should, it’s a very clever idea), you’ll need area is blank. (This will be the bottom ends up being parallel with the tabletop. to experiment a bit to find the proper paper To reveal the other prediction (that and the proper writing implement for the is, the other side of the paper), refold the predictions. A possibility might be Tyvek packet along the existing creases and grip paper, which can be found in mailing the folded packet exactly as explained envelopes. Simply cut the proper-sized above. This time, instead of the left hand rectangle from the paper. Tyvek has the advantage of great strength; it cannot be torn. It also is thick enough that the writing from one side will not bleed through to the other side. If you want to use thinner paper, there are several options for writing implements. Crayons will work, if you find a color that is bold enough to read easily but does not bleed through. Also, there are calligraphic pens that make a bold mark but which will not bleed through. Photo 13 You can also adjust the size of the paper, Photo 11 so the prediction can be used with larger audiences. The only thing to remember is surface of the prediction packet when it is that the paper is folded into thirds in each folded.) Refold the paper along the existing direction. creases and orient it so the “X” is at the An Effect for Two-rigami: So that upper left-hand corner of the folded packet. you can try out Two-rigami on your magic Snapping Open the Packet: The pals, here’s a simple (but very effective) folded packet can be snapped open two card trick. It is based on Al Leech’s effect different ways; each way looks perfectly The Spectator Does a Trick from his natural, and each way reveals one of the booklet Cardmanship (1959). I have added two sides of the paper without flashing the some psychological ploys that deepen the writing on the other side. mystery. Let’s refer to the side of the paper that Photo 14 Let’s use the prediction sheet explained has the “X” and “Y” marks and the Ace above, with the Ace of Hearts on one side of Hearts writing as the top side. To reveal and the King of Spades on the other. From

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 55 EL ROBERTO ENIGMATICO a regular pack of cards, place the Ace of number of cards is entirely up to you.” At up on top of the piles, you have created Spades on top, followed by the King of some point the spectator will stop dealing. a brand new card – a card that only you Hearts. It is important to remember that You say, “Are you sure that’s where you know the name of.” the Ace of Spades is the top card. (In want to stop? Did I influence you in any Because you remembered on which pile practice, you’ll want to use two less con- way? Would you like to put another card the Ace of Spades fell, when the spectator spicuous cards. The only requirement is down, or would you like to take one back? picks up one of the two top cards, you that the two cards are of different values It’s your choice. It’s your decisions that know which one it is. He announces that and different suits. The prediction is made are important.” Whatever the spectator this card will determine the suit; therefore by using the suit of one and the value of does is fine. Take the un-dealt portion of you know the suit as well. Since the other the other, in each of the two combinations. the deck from him and place it aside. card will determine the value, you know For example, if you put the Ten of Clubs “Please pick up the cards on the table. what card he will be thinking of, and you and the Two of Diamonds on top of the We need to make two piles of cards from also know which way you have to snap deck, the prediction would have the Ten those, and they need to be fairly equal in open the prediction. of Diamonds on one side and the Two of size. So, let’s do this. Put a card here, and “I’d like to remind everyone that Clubs on the other.) put the next one here. Then just go back before we started I placed a folded piece Bring out the deck and give it any and forth. That’s it, great.” The spectator of paper into the card box, where it has shuffle that maintains the top two cards. deals the cards he holds into two piles, remained in view.” The right hand lifts Bring out the prediction. The prediction one card at a time, back and forth, until up the card box by holding it at the lower can be placed anywhere convenient (and all the cards are dealt. It is important that right corner. The right hand turns to show isolated), but placing it into the closed card he doesn’t screw up this dealing, and that both sides of the folded packet. (Because box between the flap and the box so that the cards are alternated properly. Watch as of the way the packet is folded, both sides it projects for about half its length offers he deals, and remember on which pile the are blank.) The left thumb and forefinger certain advantages later (Photo 15). As you final card (which will be the Ace of Spades) now are positioned at the upper left corner place the prediction aside say, “I’ve made a falls. It is time now to recap and to add a of the packet. As you patter, they assume prediction on this piece of paper. In doing little time misdirection and some smoke. the grip needed for snapping open the so, I’ve tried to anticipate the result of “When we started, we mixed the deck packet (Photo 16). The left hand removes actions that you are going to make. You and you made a large pile of cards; you the slip; the right hand tables the card box will make certain decisions, and you are alone determined how many cards were in and assumes its proper position at the inner the only one who will be in control of these that pile. From that pile of cards you made right corner. decisions.” two smaller piles. (As this is said, mime a cutting gesture.) The number of cards in these two piles is entirely determined by Photo 15 your earlier decision of how many cards Photo 16 to put in the original pile. You have been responsible for every choice.” The preceding patter and the actions that accompany it all play a part in distort- ing the spectators’ recollection of events. Let me take a moment to comment on this. First, notice the use of the words “deal” and “dealing.” They are used in the initial in- structions to the spectator, and then never used again. Instead, the words “make” Hand the deck to the spectator. “I want and “put” are used. We want the spectator “When I count to three, please shout out you to make a pile of cards on the table. Go to lose the memory of dealing cards one at the name of the card you are thinking of: ahead and start dealing.” The spectator a time from the top of the deck. The use one, two, three.” The spectator announces begins to deal cards into a pile. After he of the cutting gesture further obscures that his card. Because you already know what deals three or four cards, you interrupt memory. the card is, you have already made the him. “By the way, you don’t have to take “You have one more decision. Please decision of how the packet must be opened. the cards from the top; you can pick them look at the top card of either pile. (The Therefore, the instant the spectator speaks, from anywhere in the deck. Please put them spectator picks up a card and looks at it.) you snap open the packet, revealing the down one at a time, but feel free to choose I’d like you to remember either the suit or prediction. the cards from wherever you wish.” You the value of that card. Which do you want “Congratulations! That doesn’t work can mime spreading the cards between to remember, the suit or the value? (The all the time.” Refold the paper and pocket your hands, placing individual cards onto spectator says he will remember the suit.) it. The deck is normal and may be used for the tabled pile. The spectator will follow Fine. Now pick up the top card of the other further tricks.  your actions. pile and remember the value of that card. Let the spectator place a dozen or so (The spectator does so.) You now have cards onto the table, and then say to him, both the suit and the value of a card in “Put down as many cards as you want. The your mind. Using the two cards that ended

56 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 57 INFORMED OPINION LATEST PRODUCT REVIEWS Compiled and Edited by W. S. Duncan

Japan Ingenious Book The second section is a selection of material not connected By Steve Cohen and Richard Kaufman with the Atsukawa Prize, but a sampling of kind of the Japanese Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies magic Richard Kaufman has been instrumental in introducing to Price $60.00 America in Five by Five Japan, New Magic Japan, and the pages of Genii magazine. The lion’s share of material comes from Dr. REVIEW BY ANTONIO M. CABRAL Sawa, including his Submarine Coins and a wonderfully weird sequence designed to be performed off-the-cuff during a game On a family vacation in Japan this of ping pong. There are many other gems from other magicians, summer I had the pleasure of visiting including Tenkai Matsuura’s version of Unshuffled (with no faros), the world famous Magic Land. While and an item from Kenichi Kuroki in which you remove the bow I did get to meet Mama, I sadly did from your sneaker laces, replace it at the bottom of the tongue not get to meet Ton Onosaka. His rep- instead of the top, and untie the bow. utation is legendary, and the magic The book itself is standard Kaufman & Co. fare, well-pro- collected in Kaufman & Co.’s new duced, well-written, and certainly well-illustrated. The bulk of the book Japan Ingenious is dedicated to illustrations were done by Ton Onosaka and the late Earle Oakes, him and the inspiration he provides two of the best in the business, with some from Kaufman himself to what is, from the contents of this thrown in the mix. The only tricky part about the writing is that book, an extremely clever and imagi- it was stitched together from different sources, some originally native group of magicians. written by Steve Cohen, some by Kaufman, and some by Max Ton is only present in the book Maven. So it’s not always clear whose voice you’re dealing with. via his delightful illustrations, but Luckily, the material shines through regardless. If you’re looking the book does contain some names that American magicians will for something to spark a little ingenuity of your own, absolutely find familiar – Dr. Sawa, Hideo Kato, Shigeo Takagi, Akira Fujii pick up Japan Ingenious. Highly recommended. – and some names that may be unfamiliar – Hiro Sakai, Tenaki Matsuura, and Yuji Wada, to name a fraction of the magicians How to Become a Professional Magician Book appearing in this collection. Learning about magic from other By Sean Mitchell cultural schools of thought is always eye-opening. The Spanish Available from Amazon.com school, for example, will often fool American magicians with $22.00 paperback, $10.00 ebook tricks and principles we already know combined with masterful presentation. Japanese magic, on the other hand, is a combination REVIEW BY JIM KLEEFELD of principles that seem to come out of left field and very simple, yet beautiful, effects. It’s refreshing to see really enticing clever- You have probably never run across ness that isn’t wasted on boring or useless results. a book like this one. I know that I have The material in this book ranges from items that are perfectly seen nothing quite like it. Written by suitable to a professional close-up or parlor repertoire, to neat pseudonymous author Sean Mitchell, little impromptu miracles, to items that you’ll love busting out on this huge tome is an excellent step-by- the folks at the club. The first half of the book presents material step resource guide to everything an from the more unknown performers, collecting the winners of the amateur or hobbyist magician might Masao Atsukawa Prize (previously published in Japan in the book need to know about turning pro. In over Winners). These magicians in Japan have thankfully realized that 420 pages of plain-speak, Mitchell (not “magic” covers a wide variety of props other than (and including) his real name) gives you details on how playing cards. There are many interesting money illusions (many to plan for and begin working full-time relying on principles) that allow you to perform some (or even part-time) as a paid performer. very pretty penetrations, torn bill illusions, and vanishes. There’s The book is extremely well-organized some very good coin magic, ranging from the delightfully simple with a thorough and comprehensive set of topics. (in effect and method) Fading Coin from Tomoyuki Takahashi There are thirty-five chapters within twelve “parts” or major to Akira Fujii’s Jet Coins, which is a Coins Across that uses the headings. Beginning topics include such things as Setting Goals, muscle pass as a secret move (good luck!). The card tricks range Building a Repertoire, Selecting Clothing, and Preparing for from Kuniyasu Fujiwara’s Automatic Ace Triumph, a beautiful a Gig. Later chapters include Fee Negotiation, Networking, self-working plaything, to Takanobu Ishida’s Magic Square Card Marketing Methods, and Expanding Your Business. Mystery and Date/Time Cards, which will tax your memory for I found the writing to be clear and concise, yet personal. It some compelling mathematical results, to card tricks where the reads softly, not like a hard-edged business outline, which makes cards don’t really matter, like Tomo Maeda’s Re-Psychle, where it easy to glide through the book garnering information left and a fountain pen comes to life to scribble the name of a chosen card right. You really get the feeling that you are simply talking with on the inside of the card case. a friend who gives good advice. I was impressed by how much

58 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 of the advice was practical, apparently gleaned from real-world working performer that costs just $22 is a real value. Better yet, experience. It is clear that “Mitchell,” whoever he really is, has you can read it on your Kindle (other devices with the free Kindle a wealth of background performing paying gigs for a variety of reader software) for a measly $10. Working pros should buy this venues. and go through it to double-check their business plans. Part-time Almost all of the advice I read was practical and beneficial. amateurs should buy it and use it to increase the number of shows While you may not need all of it, you would certainly do well to and the amount they get paid. Anyone who is a full-time hobbyist read all of it, and at least consider if it applies to your budding magician who has considered charging for shows should buy it career. Want to know how to effectively hand out business cards? and read it cover to cover. It’s in here. Wondering how and where to get good photos to use for publicity? It’s in here. Need a set of criteria for choosing a res- Invisible Magic Book taurant to work? In here. Want a contract form to use for general By Dr. Simon J. Carmel stage shows? In here. Wondering why or how to get a website Available from [email protected] started? Yep, that too. This will teach you how to handle incoming Price: $50.00 leads, how to market to event planners, and why and how to use template emails. There are very few specific source references, REVIEW BY DAVID GOODSELL but a great many resource ideas. For example, there is no listing of photographers experienced in magic stills, but there is enough The subtitle of this book is: Biog- information to help you find one. raphies of 112 Deaf Magicians from I found some of his suggestions biased, and experienced per- 28 Countries. It is a follow-up book formers may not agree with all of his recommendations, but at to Dr. Carmel’s 2008 compilation of least almost all necessary concepts are introduced. Even the ones biographies of deaf magicians in the you disagree with are thought provoking and should give you ideas . Either alone or together, to consider. For example, regarding setting a fee for your services, the books are a celebration of men and he suggests that you start out doing free gigs, then transition into women overcoming the difficulties of low-paying gigs, and slowly bump up your fee to a higher profes- living in a soundless, or near soundless, sional level. I think that if you begin charging too little, then you world to provide the magic of magic to will have set the bar low and will have difficulty getting clients to thousands upon thousands of people accept your raise in prices. If you begin booking gigs at $100, then with normal as well as impaired hearing. you will always be thought of as a $100 magician. Charging the For the most part, the biographies same clients $500 two years from now will get you turned down, themselves are short, a few hundred not admired for your professional growth. But at least the concept words, perhaps two or three pages in length, with a few running is worth your consideration. six or seven pages, and each with a photo. From them we learn a If there are any negatives, they are minimal and should not bit about each person, how he or she became interested in magic, distract you from buying and studying this book. One possible how their professional lives developed, what their goals and aspi- downside is that the amount of amount of material could simply rations were, and are. There are more than a few heart-warming be overwhelming. If you truly are a beginner or hobbyist, you anecdotes that provide both human interest and inspiration. may find it daunting to absorb everything. No worries – just take Most people in magic have probably never seen a deaf it a step at a time and refer back to the book as you grow into your magician, hence the title of the book, Invisible Magic. We can career. Another point is the large emphasis on close-up and res- remember seeing the U.S.A.’s Danny Johnson (he’s in this book) at taurant magic as paid performances. There is an entire sixty-page a Tannen’s Jubilee in the late 1970s, and being absolutely thrilled section on restaurant gigs, but no information at all on private with his close-up performance. There were some strong acts on parties, school shows, festivals, or similar venues. The author the bill that day, but our favorite was Danny Johnson. freely admits that he does not do kid’s shows, but he has almost Dr. Carmel’s efforts are not to be taken lightly. He, himself, completely failed to address this huge market, which includes is deaf. So you can imagine the effort it took to contact two or birthday parties, schools, libraries, and numerous other family three hundred deaf magicians around the world. Yes, email was functions. Maybe it’s just me, but I know way more magicians an important tool, and letter writing, but as the materials began who make a full-time living from kid’s shows than those who do coming in, and Dr. Carmel began to organize his book, he did not so from restaurants. have the luxury of picking up a phone to place a long-distance call The other minor annoyance is the apparent lack of an editor. to the Ukraine for clarification on some important matter. While I found few spelling or grammatical errors, there were Remove the fact that they are deaf, and you have simply a a great many of what I call “cut-and-paste” errors. This occurs collection of varied performers from around the world, some when you rewrite and edit your own material. Some sentences exceptionally skilled, most solid journeyman performers, and a have extra words in them; this leads to constructions like “When few semi-pro and amateur enthusiasts. But, the point is that they going doing to a show.” Also common were unfinished sentences, are deaf! Dr. Carmel has done a good job of describing the little such as the partial thought “They would have to steal” that stands realized world of deaf magicians, including their international alone in the negotiation section. And there were an inordinate organization that brings many of them together periodically for number of widows and orphans – typographer’s terms meaning competition and public performances. If you love magic, you words left hanging at the top or bottom of a page when they should cannot help but be inspired by the short life histories contained be with the preceding or following page. Some simple editing or in this book. Bravo to them, one and all! To their determination, typesetting should have been used to correct these in galleys. their joy of living, their own love of magic, and their support of Lastly, a comment about value: In this age of expensive, one another. self-published books and more expensive magic books, How to If you were among the lucky few who saw the special Silent Become a Professional Magician, a 422-page paperback from a Magic show at the S.A.M. national convention in Washington,

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 59 D.C., last summer, and watched Dr. Carmel, Steve Longacre & wasting time. Whichever one you buy, you’re going to want the Gregg Koppel, Nobu Kamizuru, and Matt Morgan & Liliana, you other one as well after you watch John Carey’s magic. know what we mean. Well done, Dr. Simon Carmel. Highly recommended for all card magic aficionados.

24 Seven Project 2-DVD Set The Last Trick of Dr. Jacob Daley DVD By John Carey By various artists Available from: www.rsvpmagic.com Available from: www.llpub.com Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies Price $60.00, $30.00 each disc Price $20.00

REVIEW BY DAN GARRETT REVIEW BY W.S. DUNCAN

John Carey has a knack for taking existing card plots and The effect that is the focus of this edition streamlining them, making them logical, straight- of The World’s Greatest Magic by the forward, and easy to perform. If you live World’s Greatest Magicians series outside the UK, you will detect that is one of the most commonly John speaks with an accent. seen in all of card magic. Oddly, However, I was able to under- the original version of the trick stand his English English (as he itself is seldom seen, and does can understand my Southern not actually appear on this DVD. US English) perfectly well, That’s not entirely a complaint; with the exception of the brand I have no room to criticize those of aspirin he uses in his opening who vary the method for this classic effect. transposition effect. I published my own Let me save you the trouble of reading handling and script for the effect many years ago the rest of this review and come right out and tell in Tubthumping. In case you’re new to card magic, the trick is a you this: if you enjoy performing card magic for real people, and transposition between the red Aces and the black Aces, with the want maximum impact for minimum effort, buy this two-DVD four cards typically being isolated from the pack. It’s a natural collection. Mr. Carey already has the endorsements of card companion piece to Vernon’s Twisting the Aces. persons like Peter Duffie, Jack Carpenter, and hundreds of other The first presentation is the always ebullient Bill Malone, who magicians around the world who are his new-found fans. With sets the expectation that the two black Aces will transpose only twelve great effects on each DVD, you can’t go wrong for the to exceed that expectation by causing both to switch places with asking price. Each effect is a keeper. Compare this to one-trick the red Aces. It’s a quickie, done with his usual charm, and shows DVDs out there for the same price or higher, and you can’t really how the effect can be used as transitional piece. go wrong. Daryl’s presentation makes the effect very clear by telling the Disc One: Carey opens with the only non-card effect in the audience he will be asking three questions, one of which will be collection; a wonderful signed bill transposition from a spec- “the trick question,” a great idea that causes the audience to pay tator’s closed fist to an aspirin bottle in his pocket! It’s hard to close attention, something rather important when doing a trans- pick out favorites here, but Gemini Reflections and Shh...It’s a position. The presentation is worth considering, but the instruc- Mystery are the cream of the crop for me. tion segment doesn’t describe the method, which uses the Gemini Disc Two: I can’t give you more favorites, because these are all Count. This is a small problem, if you don’t know the move. good. I want to describe each one to you, but my space is limited. In Weighted Aces, Greg Wilson offers a variation that begins You can look up the quick descriptions online. The opening effect with a different effect entirely. The Ace of Spades is placed into is an in-the-hands Triumph with a surprise color-changing deck a spectator’s hand and the Ace of Clubs is placed under it. The that suits the needs of the strolling hospitality performer to a “lighter” Club rises up through the heavy Spade, in a sort of “T.” And from there it just gets better. There’s another Mystery two-card Ambitious sequence. The standard transposition follows Card effect in which a signed selection becomes the odd-backed when you offer to repeat the effect. “stranger” card that was placed on the table before the trick began. In most presentations of the effect, the two black Aces are the There’s another no-sleights Gemini Twins effect using two casino focus, which begs the question of why the red Aces are present. cut cards. In the USA, these cut cards can be purchased inexpen- Dan Harlan offers a version that works off the top of the pack, sively from Nevada through Amazon.com. (Of course, you can rather than with the Aces in isolation. His handling is really closer also use double-blank cards or glue two stranger cards face to to Eddie Fechter’s Be Honest, What Is It (aka Four Card Monte) face.) than Dr. Daley’s trick. Still, it’s a fine trick on its own, and may Here are some details about 24 Seven Project that really float provide additional directions of study for students interested in a my boat. Both discs feature real performances of every effect, two-for-two transposition. Dan’s a fine teacher, and he provides done for real people. Most also have in-studio performance recaps some useful instruction on the Top Change. Given that the target as well. John gives full credits and inspirations where due. The audience for these videos is the beginning student, that’s a solid international influences of Vernon, Tamariz, Jennings, Bilis, and bonus in my book. many others show in his thinking and structuring of his routines. teaches a very simple method, which is more His scholarship makes these discs better for you. Each disc runs than serviceable. This really should have been the first item on the about two hours in length, yet the teaching is both concise and disc because it offers the easiest method technically with almost entertaining. zero presentation. You can probably purchase each DVD separately, but you’ll be Finishing off the disc is Martin Nash, who offers a presenta-

60 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 tion appropriate for those who do gaming or gambling-themed First, the DVD cuts to a studio where Matthew is sitting on a couch material. He speaks about the rank of suits in the game of bridge, with well-known U.K. professional Harry Robsin. Together, they asking the spectator who assists him to recall which suit (Clubs) proceed to walk us, moment by moment and line by line through is the lowest and which (Spades) ranks highest. Those of us who each of the performances. They don’t talk about how the tricks grew up watching Martin also know that his presentation is work; they talk about the more important stuff. Matthew covers probably the reason so many magicians now believe that a royal the crucial first thirty seconds, how he establishes his character, flush in Spades is the highest poker hand. It’s not; there is no suit and then how he builds connections, first with the volunteer who ranking in poker. shares the stage with him, and then the entire audience, a few at Like most of the discs in this series, it’s a great value for the a time. The discussion is engaging and valuable, and as Matthew money if you are interested in the subject. If you have found that lays out his thinking behind his Ring on Rope and the reactions you get to this classic effect are less than you would routines, (apparently the cups routine has won awards) it’s easy to hope, there are several professional presentations for it to study forget that we still haven’t learned how to work the nut dropper. He here. And here’s another idea: instead of causing the black Aces to covers when to start a running gag, how to build to the big finish, change places with the red ones, you could use any of the methods and how to expand the spotlight to include the whole audience. To here to cause a crappy Blackjack hand (say a red Eight and Nine) my way of thinking, these are all lessons more valuable than the to change places with the Ace and Jack of Spades. Same method, nut trick itself. Given that, I was content to wait for the explana- but an entirely different effect...have fun. tion. I suspect that the discussion, sneaking up on us as it does, will try the patience of some purchasers. And that’s the oddness The Marvelous Nut Dropper Trick I mentioned. This product is advertised as a single trick, but in Featuring Matthew Wright reality, it’s a detailed explanation of a well-constructed profes- Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies sional stage act, a solid bar set, and a commercial close-up perfor- Price $50.00 mance by a thoughtful and talented performer, and it also happens to include the nut trick. REVIEW BY CURTIS KAM Oh yeah, the nut trick. The explanation’s on disc two. In fact, on that disc, Matthew explains how to perform just about every This is an odd release that’s well trick in all of the shows. Where he uses a special gimmick or move, worth having. Let’s start with the he has permission from the creators to explain them. There’s even oddness. an additional section in which he teaches the standard moves, just The ads and the box for The in case you’re new to this sort of thing. As for the nut trick itself, Marvelous Nut Dropper promise that the gaff does its job admirably, and does allow you to make the “The Marvelous Nut Dropper gives load with one hand, in about a second. It should surprise nobody you the ability to load any small item that the preparation for the effect takes a bit longer. Matthew’s de- into a nut, into a fruit, with one hand scription of the process seems infused with advice gleaned from in one second!” And after watching the experience. The preparation of the walnut shell seems reliable, two DVDs that come with the dropper although I admit I haven’t tried it myself. I also have no idea how itself, I do think I could do just that. it compares to the method recently sold by John Shryock, although Take it from a guy who used to find a I note that Shryock’s routine puts the ring into a walnut, into an borrowed watch in a lemon in an orange egg, and then into a fruit, and I don’t see how Matthew’s method in a pineapple on a regular basis, the nut dropper and Matthew’s would accommodate that. method for managing the setup and loading are all well designed Bottom line, this is recommended. You’ll learn a lot of essential and should work reliably. So this is a well-conceived method that stagecraft, like establishing character, constructing an act, and delivers what’s promised on the box. And while that has sadly building rapport. And, you’ll learn how to get a small borrowed become rare, that’s not what’s odd about this release. object into a nut or into a fruit with one hand in less than a second. When you open the box, you find two DVDs. Underneath them, nestled in protective foam, is an unusual device without any Water: Elements of Mentalism Vol.1 DVD obvious function. Surmising correctly that you should watch the By Joseph Atmore DVDs before unpacking the dropper, you pop the first DVD into Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies the machine. As expected, you are greeted by Matthew Wright, Price: $10.00 who congratulates you on your purchase, and again tells you that with the dropper, you will be able to load a small item into a nut, REVIEW BY JOSHUA KANE a fruit, etc. But first, (and here’s where it gets odd) he offers to show you the nut dropper in action, by showing you: 1) his full The disc covers five effects, stage show, 2) a set done behind a bar, and 3) a one-on-one close four of which deal with water, up performance, all done before live audiences. Okay, each per- hence the title. The first effect formance does include the titular effect, and it’s always good to is called Water Mark. The see the trick you’ve just purchased in context. In the stage perfor- performer grips an open paper mance, he uses a borrowed ring, behind the bar he shows us an bag and invites the participant entirely different presentation with a borrowed bill, and one-on- to pour water from a bottle into one he does the trick with a borrowed SIM card, with yet another the opening without looking presentation. From these, we learn two things: First, the effect inside. When she feels the impulse works under all sorts of conditions, and second, Mr. Wright is a to stop, she does. The performer then very good performer. reaches into the bag to show that there So how does the ring get into the nut into the fruit? Not so fast. is a glass inside to catch the water and briefly

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 61 lifts it partially into view so that the participant can see it. The Clarity Box Trick performer explains that he knew in advance where the participant By David Regal would stop. The participant can now remove the glass and see a Available from: www.RegalMagic.com dot affixed to the waterline, making it clear that the performer Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies had predicted correctly. The second routine, titled Water Spell, Price $80.00 is a variant of the first in which a word that the participant has announced appears on the waterline written on a piece of tape REVIEW BY CURTIS KAM instead of the dot to indicate the water line. In both cases, the procedure feels heavy and over-controlled, and the performer has to touch the glass at an awkward time. It does not feel clean, direct, or worth the procedure. The third effect, Hydro Birthday, is a charmer that uses six glasses. The spectator is asked to think of her birthday as she is invited to randomly mark different pouring heights on the glasses with a marker. When the participant then pours water into each of the glasses up to the marks, the performer can then tap out the tune to Happy Birthday. Using your own favorite method, you can also reveal the participant’s birth date. The fourth routine is a Russian Roulette-type effect that involves four glasses of water and a fifth glass of “acid.” The There’s a good chance you’ve already heard all there is to say spectator is not told this up front, but is asked to rearrange the about David Regal’s Clarity Box. You’ve heard how it debuted and five covered glasses once and then also to switch their paper bag sold out at this year’s MAGIC Live! convention. How magicians covers. The performer then has the participant shuffle a small came to David’s booth to see the effect over and over in vain stack of cards with instructions on them. They are returned to the attempts to figure out how it works. If you frequent The Magic performer who then lays them in front of the bags and follows the Cafe, you’ve heard the buzz, and seen the YouTube clips of David instructions for the first four, which say “drink.” When the fifth performing the effect at the Magic Castle. If you’ve checked out card says “don’t,” the performer tells the spectator that the fifth the ads, you’ve seen glowing endorsements from luminaries like glass has acid in it and that she can now carefully lift the glass John Bannon, Andy Nyman, Dean Dill, and Jim Steinmeyer. I to smell it and affirm the statement. I do not like this for several could just tell you that the accolades are justified, the box works reasons. The procedure is long. The suspense is lowered as the wonderfully well, the naysayers are daft, and be on my way. But reveal of it being roulette happens late in the routine. I am appalled wait; what was that about naysayers? What the nay? As far as I at the idea of someone being told after they have handled objects can figure, it comes down to these same three nays: that they were at risk. Also, the fact that the fifth glass does have Nay the First: Some people don’t like the effect itself. The a distinctive odor would also make it clear to the audience that the effect is this: Before anything else occurs, the performer shows the performer would know in advance not to drink if he picked up the audience an attractive box made entirely of clear, polished, heavy wrong glass. Nefesch also makes it clear that the routine has risks, acrylic. Naturally, the audience can see what’s inside, which is a and he does not recommend we do it. folded object – a playing card folded in fourths, showing the back, The fifth routine is the best on the disc. It is listed under the or a bill, or a piece of paper, or a business card. Let’s assume it’s category of Fifth Element and has to do with emotions. Two a playing card. (You can change the item any time you want, and stacks of cards are shown. The first has the word “slap” printed everything necessary for that relatively simple task is supplied.) on each card. The second has the word “kiss” on each. The cards The only other thing the audience sees in the box, or stuck to are mixed by a female spectator and she is instructed to cut the the box, is a small sign that reads “Emergency Use Only.” (You cards five times and to follow the instructions each time. An can also change the sign to say anything you want, and David’s envelope rests on the table. She mixes the cards and then cuts instructions on how to do this are very clear and complete.) You them. Twice the performer is slapped and three times he is kissed. explain that the box is there just in case there’s an emergency. At (Note from a woman – this routine sounds as if it could also make some point later in time, you have a playing card chosen, signed, a lot of female spectators extremely uncomfortable.) The envelope and shuffled back into the deck. You fail to locate the card. You contains a prediction that matches the result. This is a fun effect spread the deck face up, and discover that the card is gone. This, that would play well for a particular audience. being an emergency, calls for the “Emergency Card,” which is The DVD is almost three hours long and feels it. English is taken out of the box and shown to be the signed card. not Nefesch’s first language and his persona on the DVD is not Obviously, this effect is related to Bruno Hennig’s Card in terribly compelling. He is warm, but even one of his participants Box as made famous by , and then varied by just about expressed her boredom. The DVD is shot in a living room and everybody else. In fact, the basic mechanics are the same as in his necklace keeps brushing the microphone. The instruction that trick. However, there is one significant difference, and on the segments are thorough, but tedious. This would have made a DVD that comes with this nicely made prop, David discusses that better booklet. All that said, at a price point of $10 this is a fairly difference at some length. Briefly, the difference is that the folded good value. card is in view before any card is chosen, and it stays in view until

If you wish to have your product reviewed, please send it to: Bill Duncan P.O. Box 50562 Bellevue, WA 98015-0562

62 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 it is revealed to be the card that was chosen. That aspect makes position for the fold quickly and smoothly. David also teaches this effect closer to ’s Between Your Palms, Brother a method for getting the card folded invisibly without using the John Hamman’s The Signed Card, and Jay Sankey’s Paperclipped Mercury Fold. He also covers effects using a bill and a prediction than it is to the Card in Wallet. In other words, the effect is not written on a card. The thinking on each of these is as excellent as that the chosen card somehow got into the box, but rather, that the we’ve come to expect from David Regal. chosen card was in the box even before it was chosen. You see the difference? The former effect is doing something everyone is Rosepad Trick capable of – folding a card and putting it in a box – in an impos- By Martin Lewis sible way. In the Clarity Box effect, you do something that is in Available from: www.magikraft.com itself impossible (time travel?). And it’s at this point that cries of Price $195.00 “too perfect” or “nobody will believe it” arise. However, it is good to remember that the too perfect consideration first states that if REVIEW BY PAYNE we claim a more impossible effect, we must have a sufficiently deceptive method. In other words, if time travel is such an impos- First the bad news: sible effect that it compels the audience to look for a switch, then Unlike its predecessor, Car- the switch must be a very, very good one. Well in this case, I think diographic, the necessary it is. The switch looks wonderful and deceives both the eye and gimmicks required to perform the mind sufficiently. On the DVD, David explains why this is so, Rosepad aren’t cost effective including a fascinating observation that today, one of the things to construct yourself. Unless we see and ignore instantly are signs. you are overly skilled with an I happen to like effects like this, in spite of the fact that Exacto knife and gifted with sometimes the audience misses what the effect is. To aid with that, a steady hand and more than here’s a suggestion from skilled amateur Dr. Jason Fleming – take a modicum of patience, you a note from Michael Close and put the cap to a Sharpie in the box are going to want to purchase with the folded card. To further establish the effect, change the the refill packs. This means that it will cost you a little over two sign to read “Found and Lost” (as opposed to “Lost and Found”) dollars each time you perform this routine. The good news is and instead of the emergency card premise, introduce the prop by that even at twice the price, the cost is well worth it. Rosepad is saying, “Like most of you, I tend to lose things. The weird thing one of those rare effects in which the magic is both inexplicable is that I find them before I lose them. So I have to keep the things and happens while in full view of the audience. Inspired by an I find in this box, until I lose them.” Proceed until you’ve had effect created in the middle of the nineteenth century by Johann a card signed, and returned. You then notice that the cap to the Nepomuk Hofzinser, Mr. Martin’s Rosepad is a marvel to witness marker is missing. “Great!” you say, “that explains the cap in the and an ease to perform. What more could you ask for in a routine? box.” Having foreshadowed and then eased them into the concept, A sketchpad remarkably similar to the one employed in proceed to find both the lost pen cap and the card in the box. Cardiographic is brought out. The performer explains to the For mentalists, I should note that with a folded prediction, audience that he is not only a magician, but something of an written by you and not the spectator, this issue does not exist. amateur artist as well. To prove his claim he takes out a black It is completely logical for predictions to be made and placed on marker and begins to draw on the uppermost blank page of the display before a random event occurs. In that context, this item is sketchpad. comparable to Bob Ostin’s bulldog clip, in particular, one applica- After a fair amount of doodling, the magician shows the tion for the Ostin clip, which is to hang the clip on a chain attached audience his handiwork. A drawing of a stylized black rose now to the lid of a glass jar. adorns the upper right-hand side of the page. “This will never do,” Nay the Second: The audience cannot be directly to the side the performer proclaims as he picks up a green marker to finish of the performer, or behind him. Yes, this is probably true. This the picture by adding a stem and a couple of leaves to the drawing effect does not work surrounded. If you work that way, you’ve of his black rose. “I appear to have used the wrong pen. I meant given up the ability to do some really great effects and this will be this rose to be red, not black. A bit of magic is called for.” As the just one more. If, however, you are suddenly beset by such condi- magician holds the pad upright in one hand, the rose slowly and tions, and there’s no way around it, you can toss a handkerchief quite visibly changes color from black to red. The transformation over the box. Lift the hank anytime you want the people in front is quite wondrous and deceptive, and you’ll find yourself doing it of you to see what’s in the box, and the rest of the crowd sees over and over for yourself in the mirror. If magic were real, this is nothing. As to the side angle considerations, check out the clips on what it would look like. YouTube and see how David manages them. Once the transformation is complete, the page is torn out of the Nay the Third: The box is too big to carry around strolling, or pad, the drawing is signed, and then, as in Cardiographic, given going table-to-table in a restaurant. This is true, for me at least. to a lucky spectator to keep as a memento of the evening’s per- The box measures 4” x 2” x 2.5”, which is a big thing to put in formance. one’s pocket, though it does fit. Of course, if you stroll with your You receive the pad, twelve refills, a green marker, and an props in a case, carrying the box is not a problem. I don’t think instructional DVD with handling tips, prop modifications, and you’d want to wander about at a cocktail party with it, though. several routines and ideas. Some of the routines are more fleshed The trick is really better suited for a more formal setting where an out than others. There are also performance demos and printable attractive prop is appropriate, if not necessary. PDFs of scripts (one of them by Ed Solomon) and props for some These minor nays aside, I really want to commend David of the included routines. The prop might need some modifications on the instruction on the DVD. He is an excellent teacher and if you are going to be performing this in a parlor setting. But these provides a detailed explanation of the Mercury Card Fold, as well are minor, and ample instruction is provided on the DVD. as a control procedure that gets the card and the deck in the right Anyone who already owns Cardiographic knows the time

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 63 required to prepare this effect. But if you don’t already own a but can’t remember the rules to. There are enough elaborate and version of Mr. Lewis’s previous masterpiece, you should give beautifully produced card games on the market these days that no yourself three to five minutes to prepare this prop for performance. one will give them a second thought. Or call them postcards. I’m Once it’s set up it can be left alone indefinitely until needed to probably just feeling a bit of magician’s guilt. perform, because the workings are completely mechanical. No The size of these cards makes it possible for this effect to play chemical process is employed in the color change. to much larger audiences than the similarly themed Director’s If you’re doing multiple performances in a day, this might not Cut effect, which has playing-card-sized reproduction posters. be the trick for you because you’re going to need some setup time Still, the cards are small enough to carry around for close-up or in private between performances. But it’s a small price to pay for strolling venues, and you could even mail them to someone and an effect that can play as strongly as this one can. It is the perfect perform the effect over the phone. “packs flat (literally) plays big” effect. As a guy who does mostly magic, rather than mentalism, I like the fact that I can (and should) repeat this effect, but I am Cinéma Vérité Trick concerned that it doesn’t have a definitive ending. I think using By Jim Kleefeld the David Hoy idea of having people stand and asking them to sit Available from: www.JimKleefeld.com down when you get a hit would work well for this effect. Use five Dealer inquires invited people, get two cards easily, and get stuck on number three. Go on Price $42.50 to spectators four and five. Get stuck again on four, and then name all three remaining cards at once. REVIEW BY W.S. DUNCAN This may be the first time in my thirty years in magic where the phrase “the method is easy, allowing you to concentrate on I have a secret love performance” has actually been true. If you can read this review for prop mentalism, when you can do this effect. The desire to do this five minutes after (and only when) the props opening the package will be strong, so please spend some time look like something that thinking about how you’ll present this. This sort of elegant sim- exists in the world, and not plicity of effect and method deserves a well thought out presenta- something I found at a magic tion and rehearsal. Cinéma Vérité is excellent. You should buy it, shop. I hate, hate, hate, the but you should not waste it. Mental Epic board most of all because the method is so Spoken DVD very cool, and the prop is so By Rus Andrews very not. Cinéma Vérité is a new bit of prop mentalism from our Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies own Jim Kleefeld and it is very, very cool. Price $25.00 First of all, the method is cool. And I mean cool like the method for Powerball 60 is cool, only less difficult because you REVIEW BY DAN GARRETT don’t have to know how to add. I’m going to repeat some of the things Jim uses in his promotional materials. I want you to be British magician and mentalist Rus very clear about the conditions, because even knowing Jim they Andrews offers a one-trick DVD sounded a bit too good to be true. that may not be for everyone, but You present a stack of thirty-two postcard-sized reproductions has some very interesting possi- of movie posters. All the movies are real, and will be recognized bilities for a few. The magician as such by people familiar with the titles. The movies are well places his wallet on the table known, but they are not obvious choices. No one is going to think, and asks a spectator to think of a “Well, everyone chooses that movie...” You have the stack passed random playing card, and then to around and several people each take one of the posters. You do not change his mind to another random need to pay any attention to this process; after you have learned card. The card is named and the the method, being blind is no hindrance to successful perfor- magician removes it from the wallet. mance. You ask each person to look on the back of their posters, The effect is simple and straightfor- where they find a list of some of the movie titles. You ask them ward. Granted, there are many ways to accom- to read the titles from the back of the card and try not to betray plish similar effects. But Spoken has a special quality. which title is the one they are thinking of. With unerring accuracy It is mostly devoid of any props and seems to be quite impossible. you will be able to discern which movie poster they are holding. The effect can be easily set up in your everyday wallet (not a prop You can promote this as a psychological test, or downplay the fact wallet), and be ready to go at any time or any place. that they said anything and reveal the card they are holding by Here is the aspect of Spoken that appeals to me the most. True drawing a rough sketch of the poster in a design duplication effect. to its name, the effect is accomplished almost entirely through the Jim also teaches a more intimate version of the effect in which two spoken word. It uses a carefully crafted script, clever psychology, people each choose a poster and then return them to the stack. In and neuro-linguistic programming (otherwise known as NLP). this version of the effect, you don’t even have to ask them to say These are awesome weapons for the magician that I have touted anything. in my lectures for years. I have performed the effect as presented The props are advertised as postcards, but they’re not really; quite a few times over the past several days. The reaction I have they’re postcard-sized. I’m not sure calling them postcards is a been getting from real audiences is amazing. good idea, because it brings into question what you have handed Because of the nature of its method, Spoken is not one hundred them because there is no place to write on them, or to hold a percent foolproof, and it would be wise to have an “out.” Several stamp. I plan on introducing them as part of a card game I bought, such outs are suggested by Mr. Andrews. My first few perfor-

64 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 mances had two failures. But I carefully modified the script, and Silver Swindle Trick everything has been perfect since. I also developed my own script By Romanos so that it is almost impossible to fail. Now, I am very happy with Available from: www.VanishingIncMagic.com Spoken, and it has almost instantly become a permanent addition Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies to my repertoire. Price $25.00 Rus credits Michael Murray and with inspiration and a mysterious “Dr. Tear” with a variation of the handling. I REVIEW BY DANNY ARCHER feel that a big tip of the top hat should also go to Kenton Knepper. Unfortunately, Kenton is not credited on the DVD. This DVD, plus gimmick, allows you to For the average reader, this item would be the type of thing perform a version of the classic “which you would expect to read in a magazine or other magic periodical. hand holds the object” plot. In this Or, perhaps find as an online download for about $10 or less. For routine, your participant chooses one others (and I include myself in this group), Spoken could turn out of two identical coins and initials it. to be a diamond in the rough, and therefore much more valuable. You then turn your back, and one of the coins is placed in your hand as Tick Tock DVD and Gimmicks she holds the other coin. The spectator By Sean Goodman speaks and by listening to her voice you Available from: www.magictricks.com.uk can tell who holds which coin. Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies: The next time, she remains silent and you read Price $45.70 her facial expressions to figure out who has the signed coin. The third phase starts with the performer placing his business card REVIEW BY DANNY ARCHER down on the table; after the coins have been given out, the business card reveals the truth about who has which coin. The gaffed coin Got time for a little mental miracle? (included) was created by Romanos; the UK’s Dave Forrest con- Working for a husband and wife (or tributes a three-phase routine that takes the heat off the coin. Andi any two people), the performer Gladwin joins Dave in the studio and offers some good thoughts introduces a small nurse’s and performance tips. The video, audio, and disc navigation are watch (watch without a band) fine, although Dave’s mic volume seemed a little low. and shows how the hands will The method is low tech and foolproof (unlike some other move when the crown has versions of this effect). Charles Gaucci was an early pioneer of been pulled out and turned. this effect with his routine Eye to Eye marketed long ago. That This watch is given to the man routine opened up a floodgate of copycat ideas and presentations to examine and play with and then and now, after ten long years, another version has surfaced. This the watch is turned face down as he is different than the Gaucci version and has some advantages changes the time and clicks the stem in, over the earlier methods. Dave’s presentation is designed to be a locking that time in place. The watch is placed three-phase routine that builds to a satisfying climax. There are face down on the table as a second matching watch is no moves or sleights in the routine so this is within the skill set given to the lady who repeats the changing of the time with her of everyone. By placing the emphasis on which coin is signed, watch. When the spectators turn over the watches and compare Dave has taken most of the heat off the coin. There are handlings the times they are exactly the same. That’s the basic effect of Tick suggested on the DVD that seem to allow you to use borrowed Tock. coins for this effect. The gimmicked coin is very well made and a Audio, video, and disc navigation are fine on this release from unique solution. The coin is available in US, UK, and Euro coins. magictricks.com.uk. The performer is Sean Goodman and he This is not a showstopper or a closer by any means. This is an credits Mark Bendell with the inspiration. I had never heard the interesting effect that can be easily carried and performed in a term nurse’s watch, but such a thing really exists. After explain- casual situation. Some people look at an effect like this and think ing the basic routine, Sean explains two other handlings using the it’s a 50/50 choice and not strong enough and they could be right. Phil Deck as well as combining the watch effect with a rough- But if you put this into the hands of a performer who knows how and-smooth deck. Both effects are similar. The cards are shown to to sell an effect, this will get a dynamite reaction. In my mind, I have times written on the backs. The watch is spun by a spectator see this as an opening type of mental effect that would start the and tabled, a card is selected, and the time on the back of the performer and spectator down the road to something bigger and card matches the time on the watch. Another handling uses a coin; better. I don’t believe that this was mentioned on the DVD, but the time aligns with the date of a borrowed coin (a date of 2010 bending the signed coin could be the next phase. I like this effect translates to ten after eight using the twenty-four hour standard for the conditions stated above and I can recommend it.  common in the UK but less common in the US). This effect requires a little sleight of hand but nothing that a beginner couldn’t handle. In addition to the DVD, you also get the If you wish to have your needed watches. The watches have all had the batteries removed and this fact is disclosed to the spectator. The presentations all product reviewed, please send it to: have a coincidence theme to them and I think that there are other BILL DUNCAN hooks that could be developed using these small watches. So to P.O. Box 50562 end this review on time, I think that Tick Tock could be a really fun routine that won’t last too long and could garner you a few Bellevue, WA 98015-0562 seconds of astonishment.

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 65 Paranormal happenings

By Charles Siebert, MD

going to be an option. Kate discovered a death blow. I was the first in the field that by “swishing” her fingers she could and I have a right to expose it. My sister make certain noises in her knuckles and Katie and I were very young children when joints and the same effect could be done this horrible deception began. I was only with her toes. Both girls learned this new eight, just a year and a half older than she. Welcome back! In my last article I technique and practiced it until they were We were very mischievous children and mentioned how, as humans, we have an soon having regular conversations with the sought merely to terrify our dear mother, overwhelming want to believe in things spirit of the house. who was a very good woman and very whether explainable or not. Today I will At this same time, an older sister of easily frightened.” talk about how a childhood prank evolved theirs named Leah came home and quickly She went on to explain the details of the into what was to become a worldwide grasped on to the occult possibilities in apple and string as well as the discovery religion. her little sisters. She organized a society of how to make the noises using their toes. Spiritualism is a religion based on the of spiritualists and encouraged crowds to She even admitted to not having a belief in belief that spirits of the dead residing in come to the house to see the sisters, who spirits at all. the spirit world have the ability to com- then became famous overnight. Word “As far as Spirits were concerned, municate with certain living individuals. I quickly spread of their powers and they neither my sister nor I thought about it. am not at all here to discuss the benefits, became topics of conversation not only I know that there is no such thing as the merits, or shortcomings of any religion. in the United States, but also in England, departed returning to this life. Many The topic of this article is to discuss the Italy, Germany, and France. Realizing people have said to me that such a thing particular origin that led to this particular that Hydesville was becoming too small a was possible and seemed to believe so faith. base for operation, the sisters soon moved firmly in it that I tried to see, and I have It all started in 1848 in a small hamlet their exhibition to Rochester, then New tried in every form and know that it cannot in New York known as Hydesville, and York City, followed by a tour of the United be done.” began with two young girls, Margaret States. Margaret followed the press release (or Maggie) Fox, age fifteen, and Kate When their grand tour ended, Kate with a public demonstration of her Fox, age twelve. They lived in a small went on to school while Margaret chose methods in front of over 2,000 witnesses at farmhouse with their mother and father. to continue performing a series of séances the New York Academy of Music. Despite In March of 1848, the two girls began with her mother in rooms at the Union the enormous attention that her confes- playing a game when they went to bed Hotel in Philadelphia. Romance soon sion and expose attracted, many refused wherein they tied an apple to a string and blossomed for Margaret when she met to believe it; there was even a rumor that then moved the string up and down, letting Elisha Kent Kane, the noted arctic explorer she recanted under pressure from the First the apple hit the floor creating a bumping and a member of one of the most aristo- Society of Spiritualists, claiming it would noise. At times they would also just let the cratic families in Philadelphia. Dr. Kane be in her, as well as the Spiritualists’, best apple hit the floor making a strange noise was determined to make Margaret his interest to do so. Her confession did not every time it rebounded. Their mother wife. He did everything in his power to give her the relief she hoped for and she was a simple woman and was becoming eliminate everything in her mind related resorted to continuing to give séances and concerned by these “unexplained” noises. to rappings and spiritualism. Unfortunate- drinking heavily in cities throughout the According to Margaret in an expose of her ly, Dr. Kane’s health took a horrible turn United States until her death on March 8, story in 1888, “Mother listened to this for a and he soon died. Not being entitled to any 1895. time. She would not understand it and did of his estate due to compromises made Kate never fared much better. After not suspect us as being capable of a trick during their relationship, Margaret was school she moved to England, married a because we were so young.” penniless as well as friendless and soon barrister, and tried to have a normal life. This incredulity spread beyond her turned back to her rappings. She spent the She did, however continue to do occasional family to the entire community of Hydes- next thirty years wandering from place to séances. In 1885, Kate’s husband died of a ville, who quickly latched on to the belief place holding séances. stroke, she moved back to New York, lost of disembodied spirits doing the commu- She then found temporary solace in custody of her children, and also died from nicating rather than these innocent young the Catholic Church and in October 1888 drinking in July of 1892. girls. With the increase in interest there she released a written and signed confes- Despite Margaret’s efforts to come was an increase in “communications,” sion to the press that was published in the clean and expose spiritualism for what which came to be known as rappings. The New York World Sunday edition on it was, a children’s prank, Spiritualism girls soon developed a code in which raps October 21, 1888. gained momentum and by 1897 it attained could signify yes or no in response to a “I do this because I consider it my duty, a following of over eight million people in question or indicate a letter of the alphabet. a sacred thing, a holy mission to expose the United States and Europe; it continues Also, due to the increase in attention, the it [spiritualism]. I want to see the day today in various forms.  girls quickly learned that the use of the when it is entirely done away with. After I apple to make the noises was no longer expose it I hope Spiritualism will be given

66 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 A Stab at Augmented Reality spark dots on areas you wish to point out. Then transition to the next photo. You are creating a portable slide show with sound. I had this as a last minute app, but Now that it is created, you can send it to a private website moved it to first position because I was with a link for people to watch. You can also link it to social so excited about it. This is a good one. media like Twitter and Facebook. So how can you use this? Take a deck of cards and have one Create a living brochure showing what you do in a show. Teach card selected. The deck is now held in a “public domain” easy to do magic trick for the birthday child the spectator’s hand. You now show an and include the link when you send a thank you note to mom. ornate card with a photo of a sword sur- There are lots of possibilities. It’s not quite a movie but quirky rounded by numbers and suits. The card enough for people to take notice. I’ve actually used this app is placed on the top of the deck. An iPhone or iPad camera is to explain how to do things on the iPad when a relative asks. turned on and pointed at the deck. As you look through the I guarantee you will find a use for this. I still don’t understand screen, the sword comes to life and spins around in the air and why they call these mini slide shows puppets, but I’m glad they eventually points to the number and suit of the selected card. thought of this very useful app. Shadow Puppet app is on the The sword now pushes itself through the deck, stabbing it all iTunes App Store and is free. the way through. When the spectator looks through the cards, all of the cards are fine except for the selected card, which now Make It Light Cream has a slit in the center as if a sword had pierced it. The special sword card is actually a special picture that Magicians love to decorate starts the virtual reality view built into the app. You can walk their home with gimmicky things around the deck with the iPhone camera and view it in all direc- for guests to admire. If this is tions. It looks really cool! you, you definitely will want the I see many different presentations for this app. I prefer to Floating Mug. This very artistic have every card pierced except for the selected card (which coffee mug appears to levitate a is the way I do it now). I talk about the unknown Knights of few inches off the base. The handle acts as a sort of Super-X the Round Table who protected themselves. The selected card gimmick and accomplishes the trick. They say it becomes the knight. If you do bizarre magic, you could have a was designed to keep drops of coffee from staining your table- few drops of blood drip from your hands. I prefer to have the cloth. I say it looks really cool! Designed by Tigere Chiriga to spectator hold the deck so he can see his hand in the viewer solve the problem of not having a coaster all the time, he got the while all the spinning is going on. I have actually had spec- design idea from looking at the stand you use to hang bananas tators say that they felt something when the sword stabs the on. Check out this $40 mug at www.floatingmug.com. deck. It is that real looking. The creators, Alakazapp, give you a website to print out the special card. This app has a proud spot Oh, it’s Nothing on my front screen. Magic Sword AR is available on the iTunes App Store for $3.99. The Useless Box has been around for years in different looks and sizes. Photo Narrations When you turn on the switch at the top of the box, a finger-like hook comes out While surfing the web for new and shuts it off. Yup, that’s all it does. tech items and gadgets, I came When you turn it on, it shuts itself off. across an app called Shadow It can be a great bit of fun for a kid Puppet. Nope, it’s not what you show when you ask the child to turn the box on and then turn think. I thought it was a way away. for you to learn what Raymond This kit takes about ninety minutes to assemble, but it is Crowe does. No one can do what really easy to make and everything is included except the Raymond Crowe does, but this app batteries. You will need minor soldering skills. The Useless is certainly something you can use. Box is available from our friends at www.thinkgeek.com Remember in grade school, they used to have filmstrip slide for $40.  shows that were accompanied by a recording narrating what you saw? Well that is what this does. Found a cool gadget, app, or website for magic applica- Select photos from your camera roll and place them in the tions? Share your discovery with Bruce to include in a future order you wish. Then record a narration as you zoom in and put column. Email him ([email protected]).

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 67 Treasures from the Salon de Magie By Ken Klosterman

Paris at the Folies-Marigny, the Casino de Paree, and the Folies- Bergère. In order for his productions to be seen and heard by everyone in the theater, Downs used a extra tall Coin Ladder, on which his DOWNS COIN LADDER magically produced coins clinked their way down panels of glass where they were collected at the bottom. The model in the Salon de Magie is a smaller version as described in Downs’s book The Art of Magic and is constructed of wood with metal legs. In performance, Downs plucked some thirty coins from midair one by one, depositing them in a borrowed hat. Tipping the coins from the hat onto a side table, he did some manipula- tions and flourishes with many of them and then swept them all back into the hat and set it atop the coin ladder. He stepped away and commanded the coins to leave the hat. The shining pieces of money cascaded down one by one, clinking and ringing as they followed the path between metal studs on the edges of the ladder, to fall with a ring of real cash into a crystal goblet at the bottom of the ladder.

This month we feature the Coin Ladder, an interesting piece of equipment associated with T. Nelson Downs, the King of Koins. Downs was a performer from Marshalltown, Iowa, who began small and rose to the pinnacle of success with his coin production and manipulation act. As a young man, Downs continuously practiced coin manipu- lations and demonstrated his ability to every magician who came into town. Once he performed some of his moves for Harry Kellar, who, after witnessing his skill, said, “Keep practicing on what you have and you’ll be a headliner by the time I see you next.” This prediction came true ten years later when Kellar visited Downs in his dressing room at the Palace Theatre in London where he was headlining. Of course, Downs spent a lot of time playing small towns while refining his act and many people discouraged him from presenting an entire act based upon producing, vanishing, and manipulating coins. However, he persisted, and in the fall of 1895 he secured a booking at the Hopkins Theater in Chicago with his all-coin act, which he called “The Miser’s Dream.” This title has become synonymous for the trick of producing coins from thin After Downs died in 1938, the prop was acquired from Mrs. air, but it was originally the name for his entire act. The act was a Downs by Dave Coleman, a magician from Terre Haute, Indiana. hit; in 1897-98 Downs was headlining on the East Coast. By 1899 Coleman toured the United States with his wife Pauline, pre- he was a star in the capitals of Europe. senting an act of magic, comedy, and a sideshow stunt for a His one-month contract at the Palace Theater in London was finale. He considered Downs’s Coin Ladder one of his prized extended to two months, and then six. He could have stayed longer, possessions. He performed the ladder on rare occasions, according but he already had commitments to perform on the Continent. He to Woodrow Carpenter, who bought the prop from Pauline ran eight weeks at the Wintergarten in Berlin and nine months in Coleman after her husband’s death. 

68 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013 OUR ADVERTISERS INSIDE STRAIGHT B. Happie Entertainment 34, 35 Burgoon Magic 9 BY NORMAN BECK Christian Painter 23 TIPS David Oliver 3 Denny & Lee Magic Studio 10 I have heard that the word “tips” is an acronym for “to insure prompt service.” But it isn't, because Escape Masters 45 the correct word to use in that phrase is “ensure,” not Genii Magazine 49 “insure,” and that screws up the acronym. The Oxford Hermetic Press 48 English Dictionary says the word tip originated as a slang term, and its etymology is unclear. The term in I.B.M./S.A.M. Convention 2014 72 the sense of “to give a gratuity” first appeared in the Joe Mogar - Magic Stars 69 eighteenth century. Ken Weber 41 I used to be a waiter; I lived off my tips. My employers paid me $1.25 an hour. I have an uncle LaRock's Fun & Magic Outlet 71 who does not believe in tipping, and I have read some Levent Magic 33 articles that think we should outlaw it. I am of the old L&L Publishing 33 school; I believe in tipping, and I tend to go overboard at times. M-U-M Advertising 4, 25 Have I ever stiffed a waitperson? Yes. Was I right Nielsen Magic 10 in doing so? I think so. I have seen some people leave Oceanside Magic Invitational 9 religious flyers in lieu of a tip. I think that this is S.A.M. Life Membership 57 wrong on so many levels that I won’t even get into it. I want to talk about a very clever ploy that I like to S.A.M Twitter 69 use when tipping. I like to tip first, before the service. Show-Biz Services 9 Let me explain. I was on a cruise recently. The boat Signature Pieces 2 docked and we went out on a shore layover. While we were away from the ship we decided to have lunch. The Magic Bakery 7 I do not like chain restaurants. I seek out the local T. Myers 4 cuisine wherever I am. I always want to eat at the best place in town, and on this trip that place was called Bob’s on the Rocks. Bob’s joint was a trailer stationed at the end of a road; it didn’t even have a paved parking lot. You could buy a one-, two-, or three-piece dinner. We ordered the three-piece and decided to split it. Prior to paying, I noticed that the tip jar was empty. I asked the woman who took our order a very important question: “If I put money in here, do you get it?” I have been places where a tip jar is in place near the cash register, but the owner of the joint takes the tips. I think that is just short of stealing. I was informed that, in fact, she did get the money. I put a five-dollar bill in the jar. The lady was not only the cashier and the waitress; she was going to cook my food as well. I wanted her to like me. (I have seen hidden camera YouTube videos of what can happen in the kitchen if your waiter doesn’t like you.) Her response was, “Do you want change for the tip?” I told her no. She informed me that the bill was $18.29 and she could swap out my change for the tip and make the tip be $1.80. I once more told her no, and I asked her to keep the $5.00. I was on vacation; if my gesture makes her feel good, it makes me feel great. In about fifteen minutes the food came; we were informed that she had actually cooked four pieces, rather than the three pieces we ordered. Did the tip tilt the scales and get us the extra piece? Yes. I have a friend who tips with two-dollar bills; he does it so the people will remember him. I like this ploy and have used it as well. 

NOVEMBER 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 69 The Dean's Diary

By George Schindler

ceiling interfered with the electronics of his Sidekick. The Gus- BEAUX ARTS BALL tafsons, as always, had a smooth and flawless performance. At 2:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning in 1994, Nina and I George and Nina were walked up to the registration desk in the lobby of one of announced, and when Philadelphia’s poshest hotels, the Ritz Carlton. Nina was in I called for my table, her fancy black costume and I was in my tuxedo, and both of Nina brought out the us were covered in the chalky white powder and residue of Legs Table as always, the “under construction” lobby of the downtown Marriott. but this time, as the first We were coming from our appearances at the Magic in leg fell, an unknowing Black and White show presented by the Architect’s Society fellow magician in the at their annual Beaux Arts Ball, which was always held on audience came running the site of an unfinished building. forward to help the lady The public space provided was cleared to safely hold in distress. He arrived as she dropped the second leg and she a thousand people. There was a contest to award the best waved him away so we could get the laugh when the comedy design of a performance stage, and three such stages were lady’s legs popped into view. set up in various parts of the entrance area. Magicians By the end of the evening we were all exhausted and we performed on each of the stages. Nina and I, Dick and Joan decided to change costume at our hotel a few blocks away. Gustafson, and Marc DeSouza were the performers, and But, there was a booking mix-up, the room was not held for a few of us joined Jeff Carson and George Hemple doing us, and the hotel was sold out. We were too weary to drive close-up magic earlier in the evening. the two hours back home. The hotel manager made some We got to the black tie event early; while the guests calls and, at the same rate, got us the last room left in Philly. were being served food, we languished in what we called We were too drained to realize that we had been given a the backstage, among the construction tools and all sorts of three-room suite. Room service was handled by the recep- concrete bags, etc. One of our brave performers ventured tionist at the desk and we ate a few bags of vegetable chips out into the public area disguised in his tux and returned before going to bed. We had little sleep as we had to get off carrying a stolen tray of hors d’oeuvres over his shoulder early for a date in New York later that evening. Isn’t show Marc DeSouza was that brave soul and this was dinner. business glamorous? Marc did his show and found that the wiring in the We still speak to the producer of the show, Brad Jacobs. 

70 M-U-M Magazine - NOVEMBER 2013