Posts
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 07/18/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Summer Magic (turn up the heat!)
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
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Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
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GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
2007-07 From the Editor
Summer is the club's quiet period, and it tends to show in the newsletter. But my thanks to those that did contribute, Dan, George and of course Dennis (with some help from Art). Unfortunately, this month I had another opportunity to meet with some of the clubmembers, the unfortunate part was because it was yet another Broken Wand ceremony.
I wish everybody a fun summer, those that are lucky enough to be going on vacation (including your scribe), enjoy and be safe.
Stefan
I wish everybody a fun summer, those that are lucky enough to be going on vacation (including your scribe), enjoy and be safe.
Stefan
2007-07 Ring Report Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
There is good news, sad news and fun news to report from the June meeting. Twenty-eight magic lovers were present as the business meeting called to order by president Craig Fennessey. We welcomed new member Mike Martin. The sad news was that Lee Barnard, a long time fixture in the Orlando magician's scene died one month after his tribute get-together. Many magicians attended his funeral and Bev Bergeron did the Broken Wand ceremony. Some good news was that former member and now California resident, Jon Armstrong, won the Close-up magician of the year at The Magic Castle. Member Jorge Iglasias won the competition at the Magic On the Beach Convention in Miami.
Some fun news is that Tom and Donna Salvador and moving their magic shop inside Pizzazz Theatrical, a magic, costume and makeup store on the East side of Orlando.
Mark Fitzgerald showed a new fancy magic wand he bought and then advised us on a new product available at office supply stores that turns a home computer and color printer into a poster making machine.
Finally Joe Vecciarelli brought in some printed materials from Las Vegas and informed us about the new Criss Angel show opening in a Cirque Show at the Luxor.
With business meeting over, we began our monthly show. This month Tom Salvador was the emcee. First up was KP and Professor Knox (Cory). The professor did a fine job of juggling glowing balls and when the lights were turned low, he brought down the house. KP did "Dots Impossible", where blue dots and red dots on cards change places. Finally he did a unique exchange of a red ribbon and a blue ribbon while held around a volunteers closed arm. Charlie Pfrogner revived an old classic, The Grandma's Necklace in its original form with cord and large beads.
Chris Dunn passed out a paper to all present with nine animal characters on it and invited the audience to start eliminating characters by making specific moves of their choice. We all ended up on the American Eagle since it is going to soon be the 4th of July. Max Maven has done this type of effect on television many times and it was nice to see Chris theme it for the holiday. Kostya Kimlat, resident card wiz, did a cute card story about four kings on a desert island who wanted to get home. No, Sam the Bellhop did not rescue them. James Songster and Joe Vecciarelli presented a portion of their library show with a pirate theme. They had a square circle and a treasure map and lots of humor. They and a spectator finally made it to the correct island and found the treasure.
Ravelli had a red,green and blue colored rope routine. They traveled and they ended up mysteriously tied. Dan Stapleton capped off the show with The Patriotic Ropes.
If you get to Orlando, please join us for a Ring meeting. Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Art Thomas and Dennis Phillips
Some fun news is that Tom and Donna Salvador and moving their magic shop inside Pizzazz Theatrical, a magic, costume and makeup store on the East side of Orlando.
Mark Fitzgerald showed a new fancy magic wand he bought and then advised us on a new product available at office supply stores that turns a home computer and color printer into a poster making machine.
Finally Joe Vecciarelli brought in some printed materials from Las Vegas and informed us about the new Criss Angel show opening in a Cirque Show at the Luxor.
With business meeting over, we began our monthly show. This month Tom Salvador was the emcee. First up was KP and Professor Knox (Cory). The professor did a fine job of juggling glowing balls and when the lights were turned low, he brought down the house. KP did "Dots Impossible", where blue dots and red dots on cards change places. Finally he did a unique exchange of a red ribbon and a blue ribbon while held around a volunteers closed arm. Charlie Pfrogner revived an old classic, The Grandma's Necklace in its original form with cord and large beads.
Chris Dunn passed out a paper to all present with nine animal characters on it and invited the audience to start eliminating characters by making specific moves of their choice. We all ended up on the American Eagle since it is going to soon be the 4th of July. Max Maven has done this type of effect on television many times and it was nice to see Chris theme it for the holiday. Kostya Kimlat, resident card wiz, did a cute card story about four kings on a desert island who wanted to get home. No, Sam the Bellhop did not rescue them. James Songster and Joe Vecciarelli presented a portion of their library show with a pirate theme. They had a square circle and a treasure map and lots of humor. They and a spectator finally made it to the correct island and found the treasure.
Ravelli had a red,green and blue colored rope routine. They traveled and they ended up mysteriously tied. Dan Stapleton capped off the show with The Patriotic Ropes.
If you get to Orlando, please join us for a Ring meeting. Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Art Thomas and Dennis Phillips
2007-07 Criss Angel Editorial
To: mumeditor@sesamemag.com
Subject: Criss Angel editorial
John-Before reading your comments from your July editorial, concerning Criss Angel's "Luxor levitation", I was wondering...is it just me? Mr. Angel is quickly taking a "live-on-stage" profession into the realm of "wrestlers animation". Yes, we all know that those watching wrestling often wonder "is that for real"? Yet, most magicians, hopefully, don't expect the laymen to think that magicians are real.
But we can also perform illusions that are respected by those (not in the know) by performing "in-one" and without cuts, digital enhancements or edits. Someone recently stated that "an edit is a lie"! With edits, cut-aways and out-of-frame advantages, we might as well be watching a cartoon. Let's get back the respect that we non-TV performing magicians once had. Can some noteworthy magicians out there please teach CA a few more effects (and we know that he can do them) that can, not only fool the viewers and (real) spectators, but gain the respect of us who have learned how to perform magic without the use of...yes, camera trickery.
Dan Stapleton
Subject: Criss Angel editorial
John-Before reading your comments from your July editorial, concerning Criss Angel's "Luxor levitation", I was wondering...is it just me? Mr. Angel is quickly taking a "live-on-stage" profession into the realm of "wrestlers animation". Yes, we all know that those watching wrestling often wonder "is that for real"? Yet, most magicians, hopefully, don't expect the laymen to think that magicians are real.
But we can also perform illusions that are respected by those (not in the know) by performing "in-one" and without cuts, digital enhancements or edits. Someone recently stated that "an edit is a lie"! With edits, cut-aways and out-of-frame advantages, we might as well be watching a cartoon. Let's get back the respect that we non-TV performing magicians once had. Can some noteworthy magicians out there please teach CA a few more effects (and we know that he can do them) that can, not only fool the viewers and (real) spectators, but gain the respect of us who have learned how to perform magic without the use of...yes, camera trickery.
Dan Stapleton
2007-07 Request for Children's Magicians
Looking for magicians to perform for children during a July 13-16 event at Hunters Creek. It's for Lifestyles gym equipment. No pay but many local businesses to promote yourself.Call Craig at 407-856-8308.
2007-07 Siver Trails
In the last few days I have created a BLACK MAGIC show as a demonstration of the art to about 16 Magicians on a cave stage creating illusions that demonstrated various types of styles in the art.
None of those present had ever seen this type of magic before and were baffled by its simplicity. I was trying to show the ways to use the art form in modern magic Some of the persons present are planning to use several ideas that were explained.
But most important was the assistance from afar. This was received from Charles Pfrogner and Richard Newcomb, who each in their own way added to the presentation.
I can not thank them enough as it was reported to me that it was a fantastic show.
George Bernard (Dr.White)
None of those present had ever seen this type of magic before and were baffled by its simplicity. I was trying to show the ways to use the art form in modern magic Some of the persons present are planning to use several ideas that were explained.
But most important was the assistance from afar. This was received from Charles Pfrogner and Richard Newcomb, who each in their own way added to the presentation.
I can not thank them enough as it was reported to me that it was a fantastic show.
George Bernard (Dr.White)
2007-07 Dennis' Deliberations
Sadly, we lost my friend Lee Barnard earlier this month. Lee was a year younger than me. I have known him since I moved to Orlando in 1975. His 8 by 10 headshot use to hang in Clarence Godwin's old "Funway" magic shop on East Colonial located across from Fashion Square Mall. When Clarence found out that I had just come from working in Radio and TV in Charlotte, he made sure I knew about Lee Barnard, also a radio announcer. Lee, at the time had stylish fluffy 70s hair and wore paisley tux coats in his gig. He was the announcer at The Club Juana in Casselberry, Mike Pinter's stripper bar. It has now been razed to make way for a massive highway interchange at 17-92 and 436. Though the Club Juana featured totally nudity in the late show, a novelty in Conservative Orlando in the sex-crazed Disco late 70s, it was probably the closet thing to classic Burlesque here in town.
Wally Boag and Don Novis brought a touch of Burlesque to Disneyland in California in 1955 when they helped in putting together Slue Foot Sue's Golden Horseshoe Review. Slue Foot Sue's bit with her hand-held mirror reflecting the spot light on selected men in the audience and kissing the bald man's head was an old Burlesque bit. When Disney opening The Magic Kingdom here in Orlando, this presentation was brought to our doorstep and , of course, featured Bev Bergeron.
Old time Burlesque was "Strip Tease" with an emphasis on the "Tease" and strippers rarely went down to less than a G-string and pasties. The Club Juana had a nice small stage and featured some variety acts. A number of female magicians ,including Paula Paul (Panda), played there with their magic acts. A few times my wife,Cindy and I went to the club to see the magic act. I seem to remember Barclay Shaw playing there. Unlike any of the other topless places in Orlando, they never badgered you to buy drinks and hand over your wallet. Much like the old Empire Room at the Langford Hotel, you could simply walk in and tell them you just wanted to see the show.
My costume shop, Allied Costumes, did provide a few items for Lee Barnard. At that time he was always after me to make a Broom Suspension for him, in my "spare time". It became kind of a running joke between us through the years in that I never seemed to have the "spare time" ( the truth!). One other joke between us was based on the fact that Lee had worked as a radio announcer here in Orlando. I also had a radio background from up north. I always was after Lee to let me know if there were any jobs openings in radio here in town and his answer was always "No, and you don't want to know because you don't want to work radio in this town!".That became a kind of running joke between us for all these years.When Lee started coming regularly to the ring meetings his first words to me were, 'No I don;t have a line on any radio jobs and where is my broom?"
Orlando lost a real magic enthusiast. Thank you Dan Stapleton for spotlighting Lee at the Tribute a month ago. Rest in peace, Lee.
Clarence Godwin's Funway Store was the local magician's Mecca back in the mid 70s. Clarence was chemist by trade and ran a state lab up in Sanford. One of his managers was James Sherrill. Godwin was tall and thin and I assumed he would live to a ripe old age but he died of a heart attack in the late 80s while in his early 60s. James Sherrill and I were pallbearers at his funeral. Funway had a decent magic counter and Clarence had a few people building props for him. Art Week's, a plumber in Lakeland and excellent metal and woodworker, built a few illusions for him. Several ended up in Brett Glascock's cruise ship show. Art can be seen in Paul Osborne's second illusion book.Clarence also developed a line of theatrical makeup. During they Hollywood East mania here in town when Orlando was promoted as the next movie capital of the world and Disney and Universal were building their studios, Clarence changed the name from Funway to "Paramount Theatricals". When Clarence died he had just married Pat and she was a Jehovah's Witness. That religious group's beliefs did not approve of her owning a "magic store' so she eventually sold it to Madge Simpson, who also had managed Funway and changed the name to Madge Elaine's World of Entertainment. Today it is Pizzazz and owned by Kay Gonzales and still is a source for magic.
Frequent magic faces you would see in the store was Michael Ramm (Chambers) and his wife Nadine. Mike toured a shopping center magic show with his own stage and backdrops. I saw his act a few times at the old Colonial Plaza Mall and he also performed at the 1979 Florida Magic Convention. He had a Metamorphosis truck that looked like an open fronted circus wagon. Nadine also curled up in a Mirror Sword Box. Wayne Scott ("Scotty") built many of his props. Wayne and his family, now in Howey-in-the-Hills , still build most of the clown shoes for the Ringling show. The first time I met Harry Wise, he was just off a Ghost Show tour for Phil Morris. One evening I was directing a TV program for WBTV television in Charlotte and in the control room in front of the video switcher with a stop watch in my hand. The door to the control room opens and in walks Harry Wise who told me he was a friend of Phil Morris. Apparently Phil and his wife Amy needed to go somewhere for the evening so Phil suggested that Harry come see me at the studio! Phil was well known by everyone at the station so his phone call to the station got Harry through the front door. In the meantime, Harry is trying to tell me and the control room crew , the Audio man, Technical director, video control operator , his life story. He even tried a few tricks! We were in the middle of doing a live show! Harry is a character.
A couple of years later and I was living here in Orlando and I got to know Harry a lot better. I still have the Abbots Frame of Life and Death Illusion I bought from him 20 years ago. J.L. Harding and Stardust, his wife, had a homebuilt illusion show. J.L.'s main job was for Goodyear Tire Company. He lived in Apopka. He had done a fairly good job building his props on a limited budget. His big yearly event was his Benefit show for the Crippled Children's home in Umatilla. I played it a few years with Wallace Berry and Gary Kornfield. J.L. got transferred to Atlanta and did not take his props with him. He all but gave me most of his illusions.
Joe Conrad was a Chavez School of Magic graduate who aspired to having a large illusion show. He , like many others, decided to use Orlando as a home base.You know the drill: "I will take a few gigs out of town and then work their attractions here." I am sure like most he realized that steady employment as an illusionist is a rare thing in Orlando. Joe made deals,lost deals and tried. He played a college show at Valencia and I was in the audience. I remembered his doing an upside down Strait Jacket over the stage. Since I am a professor at Valencia in the Theater department I know the stage and rigging in that theater very well. I don't know how he talked them into doing it! If you ever want to do it there, "don't"! Like I say, I know the rigging....
Carlton Beck, of Las Vegas, was in town with his big cat illusions trying to set up a Dinner Attraction with magic. The former Fortune Feast building on 192 was mentioned. He called me a few times and explained some of his business dealings. Later, when Paul Osborne printed my "Million Dollar Platform" system in his Genii Illusion column, Carlton called and wanted my permission to use the principle for an illusion he was building. So many have tried to start a Dinner Illusion show in Orlando and discovered that this is not the town for it. Joe Eddie Fairchild spent a lot of money and effort and never could make the numbers work. Orlando was Vince Carmen's first choice but he was more successful in Sarasota.
Illusionist Mark O'Brien came here from New Jersey because in the late 80s and early 90s he was doing a considerable portion of his work at Nickelodeon /Universal and Disney. Mark also had a nice Convention Show venue here. He managed to swing a deal for two years doing a magic show in the Stanleyville Theater in Busch Gardens.Following a very successful engagement in Germany at a theme park, he returned to Orlando with his leopard, stage crew, wife ( assistant producer and co-performer) and tons of equipment. He had everything that was needed for a Dinner Illusion Show but a building. He even had the business plan. Sadly, his plan was seen by many others and Mark believes it was copied. In the summer of 1999 there were two big fires in his warehouses that destroyed the bulk of his props. The cause of the fires was never determined. Mark believes it could have been arson by business rivals. O'Brien did rebuild most of his show but his Orlando experience at doing an illusion show attraction was not a pleasant one.
Finally we get to the guy that once took the shirt off my back! But he did give it back and then took it again...and I finally got it back. Its a long story!It was a Halloween Night show at the old Lake Eola Band shell. Dan Stapleton was put in charge of producing the show and he got me to be the closing illusion act.That was probably one of the last times, a regular stage would have a full flaming CREMATION done on it. It was Halloween Night 1976 and on the play bill was James Sherrill, Rory Johnston, Dan and and others I have forgotten. My illusion act was the finale. At the time I was in the middle of a tour of fund-raising shows for local schools, so I got my assistants to help. It was a five person act. Ashley Dane -Michael, who went on to a big career as a soap-opera actress in New York, was my main female helper. Debbie Abraham was also a "ta-dah" girl and Tony Todaro was my chief male helper. Larry Norwood rounded out the cast of helpers. I believe I opened with Dove Catching with a net, vanishing cage with doves. The Temple of Benares and a Chair Suspension were performed and then the Cremation or Burning a Girl Alive. I recall that when Larry and Tony pulled the lid off the flaming Cremation and lowered the sides and the charred flaming skeleton could be seen, a loud gasp went through the crowd. Dan , in his rush to get his show together and get to the band shell had forgotten to pack his white tux shirt!So, I unbuttoned my shirt and let Dan wear it and shortly before my act he gave it back to me backstage. I seem to remember that he took it back for the final bows and I wrapped myself up in my long black and red cape. Probably the lightning shirt change was the most backstage excitement I have ever had!
Just a little story from Halloween Night thirty-one years ago!
Dennis Phillips
Wally Boag and Don Novis brought a touch of Burlesque to Disneyland in California in 1955 when they helped in putting together Slue Foot Sue's Golden Horseshoe Review. Slue Foot Sue's bit with her hand-held mirror reflecting the spot light on selected men in the audience and kissing the bald man's head was an old Burlesque bit. When Disney opening The Magic Kingdom here in Orlando, this presentation was brought to our doorstep and , of course, featured Bev Bergeron.
Old time Burlesque was "Strip Tease" with an emphasis on the "Tease" and strippers rarely went down to less than a G-string and pasties. The Club Juana had a nice small stage and featured some variety acts. A number of female magicians ,including Paula Paul (Panda), played there with their magic acts. A few times my wife,Cindy and I went to the club to see the magic act. I seem to remember Barclay Shaw playing there. Unlike any of the other topless places in Orlando, they never badgered you to buy drinks and hand over your wallet. Much like the old Empire Room at the Langford Hotel, you could simply walk in and tell them you just wanted to see the show.
My costume shop, Allied Costumes, did provide a few items for Lee Barnard. At that time he was always after me to make a Broom Suspension for him, in my "spare time". It became kind of a running joke between us through the years in that I never seemed to have the "spare time" ( the truth!). One other joke between us was based on the fact that Lee had worked as a radio announcer here in Orlando. I also had a radio background from up north. I always was after Lee to let me know if there were any jobs openings in radio here in town and his answer was always "No, and you don't want to know because you don't want to work radio in this town!".That became a kind of running joke between us for all these years.When Lee started coming regularly to the ring meetings his first words to me were, 'No I don;t have a line on any radio jobs and where is my broom?"
Orlando lost a real magic enthusiast. Thank you Dan Stapleton for spotlighting Lee at the Tribute a month ago. Rest in peace, Lee.
Clarence Godwin's Funway Store was the local magician's Mecca back in the mid 70s. Clarence was chemist by trade and ran a state lab up in Sanford. One of his managers was James Sherrill. Godwin was tall and thin and I assumed he would live to a ripe old age but he died of a heart attack in the late 80s while in his early 60s. James Sherrill and I were pallbearers at his funeral. Funway had a decent magic counter and Clarence had a few people building props for him. Art Week's, a plumber in Lakeland and excellent metal and woodworker, built a few illusions for him. Several ended up in Brett Glascock's cruise ship show. Art can be seen in Paul Osborne's second illusion book.Clarence also developed a line of theatrical makeup. During they Hollywood East mania here in town when Orlando was promoted as the next movie capital of the world and Disney and Universal were building their studios, Clarence changed the name from Funway to "Paramount Theatricals". When Clarence died he had just married Pat and she was a Jehovah's Witness. That religious group's beliefs did not approve of her owning a "magic store' so she eventually sold it to Madge Simpson, who also had managed Funway and changed the name to Madge Elaine's World of Entertainment. Today it is Pizzazz and owned by Kay Gonzales and still is a source for magic.
Frequent magic faces you would see in the store was Michael Ramm (Chambers) and his wife Nadine. Mike toured a shopping center magic show with his own stage and backdrops. I saw his act a few times at the old Colonial Plaza Mall and he also performed at the 1979 Florida Magic Convention. He had a Metamorphosis truck that looked like an open fronted circus wagon. Nadine also curled up in a Mirror Sword Box. Wayne Scott ("Scotty") built many of his props. Wayne and his family, now in Howey-in-the-Hills , still build most of the clown shoes for the Ringling show. The first time I met Harry Wise, he was just off a Ghost Show tour for Phil Morris. One evening I was directing a TV program for WBTV television in Charlotte and in the control room in front of the video switcher with a stop watch in my hand. The door to the control room opens and in walks Harry Wise who told me he was a friend of Phil Morris. Apparently Phil and his wife Amy needed to go somewhere for the evening so Phil suggested that Harry come see me at the studio! Phil was well known by everyone at the station so his phone call to the station got Harry through the front door. In the meantime, Harry is trying to tell me and the control room crew , the Audio man, Technical director, video control operator , his life story. He even tried a few tricks! We were in the middle of doing a live show! Harry is a character.
A couple of years later and I was living here in Orlando and I got to know Harry a lot better. I still have the Abbots Frame of Life and Death Illusion I bought from him 20 years ago. J.L. Harding and Stardust, his wife, had a homebuilt illusion show. J.L.'s main job was for Goodyear Tire Company. He lived in Apopka. He had done a fairly good job building his props on a limited budget. His big yearly event was his Benefit show for the Crippled Children's home in Umatilla. I played it a few years with Wallace Berry and Gary Kornfield. J.L. got transferred to Atlanta and did not take his props with him. He all but gave me most of his illusions.
Joe Conrad was a Chavez School of Magic graduate who aspired to having a large illusion show. He , like many others, decided to use Orlando as a home base.You know the drill: "I will take a few gigs out of town and then work their attractions here." I am sure like most he realized that steady employment as an illusionist is a rare thing in Orlando. Joe made deals,lost deals and tried. He played a college show at Valencia and I was in the audience. I remembered his doing an upside down Strait Jacket over the stage. Since I am a professor at Valencia in the Theater department I know the stage and rigging in that theater very well. I don't know how he talked them into doing it! If you ever want to do it there, "don't"! Like I say, I know the rigging....
Carlton Beck, of Las Vegas, was in town with his big cat illusions trying to set up a Dinner Attraction with magic. The former Fortune Feast building on 192 was mentioned. He called me a few times and explained some of his business dealings. Later, when Paul Osborne printed my "Million Dollar Platform" system in his Genii Illusion column, Carlton called and wanted my permission to use the principle for an illusion he was building. So many have tried to start a Dinner Illusion show in Orlando and discovered that this is not the town for it. Joe Eddie Fairchild spent a lot of money and effort and never could make the numbers work. Orlando was Vince Carmen's first choice but he was more successful in Sarasota.
Illusionist Mark O'Brien came here from New Jersey because in the late 80s and early 90s he was doing a considerable portion of his work at Nickelodeon /Universal and Disney. Mark also had a nice Convention Show venue here. He managed to swing a deal for two years doing a magic show in the Stanleyville Theater in Busch Gardens.Following a very successful engagement in Germany at a theme park, he returned to Orlando with his leopard, stage crew, wife ( assistant producer and co-performer) and tons of equipment. He had everything that was needed for a Dinner Illusion Show but a building. He even had the business plan. Sadly, his plan was seen by many others and Mark believes it was copied. In the summer of 1999 there were two big fires in his warehouses that destroyed the bulk of his props. The cause of the fires was never determined. Mark believes it could have been arson by business rivals. O'Brien did rebuild most of his show but his Orlando experience at doing an illusion show attraction was not a pleasant one.
Finally we get to the guy that once took the shirt off my back! But he did give it back and then took it again...and I finally got it back. Its a long story!It was a Halloween Night show at the old Lake Eola Band shell. Dan Stapleton was put in charge of producing the show and he got me to be the closing illusion act.That was probably one of the last times, a regular stage would have a full flaming CREMATION done on it. It was Halloween Night 1976 and on the play bill was James Sherrill, Rory Johnston, Dan and and others I have forgotten. My illusion act was the finale. At the time I was in the middle of a tour of fund-raising shows for local schools, so I got my assistants to help. It was a five person act. Ashley Dane -Michael, who went on to a big career as a soap-opera actress in New York, was my main female helper. Debbie Abraham was also a "ta-dah" girl and Tony Todaro was my chief male helper. Larry Norwood rounded out the cast of helpers. I believe I opened with Dove Catching with a net, vanishing cage with doves. The Temple of Benares and a Chair Suspension were performed and then the Cremation or Burning a Girl Alive. I recall that when Larry and Tony pulled the lid off the flaming Cremation and lowered the sides and the charred flaming skeleton could be seen, a loud gasp went through the crowd. Dan , in his rush to get his show together and get to the band shell had forgotten to pack his white tux shirt!So, I unbuttoned my shirt and let Dan wear it and shortly before my act he gave it back to me backstage. I seem to remember that he took it back for the final bows and I wrapped myself up in my long black and red cape. Probably the lightning shirt change was the most backstage excitement I have ever had!
Just a little story from Halloween Night thirty-one years ago!
Dennis Phillips
Sunday, June 24, 2007
2007-07 - Broken Wand Lee Barnard
For those of you who were not able to attend the Broken Wand ceremony for Lee Barnard, click on the play button [>] below.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
2007-06 Famulus newsletter of IBM Ring 170
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 06/20/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Patriotic Magic (break out the Red, White and Blue Magic in honor of the upcoming July 4th holiday)
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
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Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
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GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 06/20/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Patriotic Magic (break out the Red, White and Blue Magic in honor of the upcoming July 4th holiday)
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
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Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
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GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
2007-06 From the Editor
Well, we are already half way through the year, time to start making your preparations for the holiday season rush. But your thoughts are probably more focussed on the upcoming vacation period.
Lots of good magic events over the last few weeks, but as summer comes up things will slow down. But watch your email, as the reminders will continue to appear as events are organized.
Thanks to this month's contributors, hopefully your articles will not slow down over the next few weeks.
Greetings from Winnipeg, Canada
Stefan
Lots of good magic events over the last few weeks, but as summer comes up things will slow down. But watch your email, as the reminders will continue to appear as events are organized.
Thanks to this month's contributors, hopefully your articles will not slow down over the next few weeks.
Greetings from Winnipeg, Canada
Stefan
2007-06 Ring Report Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
The month of May is often special in our ring because we begin to get an influx of tourist magicians who pay us a visit. We always enjoy visitors. President Craig Fennessey gaveled the meeting to order and we had three guests. From the Ireland and England area, we had Quinton Reynolds who later treated us to his great signature routine. Rebecca and Mary Lynn Dillon also were with us and plan on joining the ring. Treasurer , Art Thomas, said we had the best attended Flea Market in years and he was happy with the balance sheet. Craig announced the upcoming lectures and Dan Stapleton filled us in on the recent show at The Villages in which some of our members performed. Dan also attended the Chicago auction for Jay Marshall's estate and the concurrent Magic Collector's convention.
Following the business meeting, Secretary Dennis Phillips presented a mini-lecture on spoon-bending. He did many of the classic moves and then demonstrated plastic spoon bending that can be done impromptu at a picnic or school cafeteria.
Kerry Pierce, "KP" acted as this month's Emcee for the monthly show. The theme was Rope magic. He opened up with a knot that fell off the rope and moved into some clever vanishing knots and ended with his version of Bob Sheet's Hang 'em High Rope through the Body. Charlie Pfrogner brought his classic Block off the Rope and applied some clever patter about stopping the block from sliding down the rope. Dan Stapleton re-presented the same, but improved, "Bank-Night" effect he did at last month's ring show. It is a Bruce Bernstein and Barry Richardson effect. The response was great.
Director at Large, James Songster presented a version of Nick Trost trick where every card in the deck has a name. In this case the spectator chose a card named "Yensid". James explained that Yensid is a character from Disney movie and is, in fact, "Disney" spelled backwards. "Ms. Tanna", guest Rebecca Dillon, presented a card trick that featured a clever adaptation of a technique usually used in mentalism. She was able to know a card the spectator chose by them naming a number at random and counting in a circle of cards. Ms. Tanna is a young lady with a wonderful smile and bubbling personality.
Finally, our guest from the British Isles, Quenton Reynolds treated us to two of his classic routines. The first was the classic "Rope with Four Ends" woven into a great story about how Marmaduke got four stars in school. He then went into a handkerchief act that was a comic masterpiece. Think Dave Williamson's "Rocky" along with Chapeauography. Quenton got a solid 5 minutes out of a simple handkerchief and twisting, folding and puppeting. He has a DVD available.
The show concluded with Bev Bergeron prsenting his classic Sympathetic Match Boxes.
What a treat from all of this month's performers! Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
Following the business meeting, Secretary Dennis Phillips presented a mini-lecture on spoon-bending. He did many of the classic moves and then demonstrated plastic spoon bending that can be done impromptu at a picnic or school cafeteria.
Kerry Pierce, "KP" acted as this month's Emcee for the monthly show. The theme was Rope magic. He opened up with a knot that fell off the rope and moved into some clever vanishing knots and ended with his version of Bob Sheet's Hang 'em High Rope through the Body. Charlie Pfrogner brought his classic Block off the Rope and applied some clever patter about stopping the block from sliding down the rope. Dan Stapleton re-presented the same, but improved, "Bank-Night" effect he did at last month's ring show. It is a Bruce Bernstein and Barry Richardson effect. The response was great.
Director at Large, James Songster presented a version of Nick Trost trick where every card in the deck has a name. In this case the spectator chose a card named "Yensid". James explained that Yensid is a character from Disney movie and is, in fact, "Disney" spelled backwards. "Ms. Tanna", guest Rebecca Dillon, presented a card trick that featured a clever adaptation of a technique usually used in mentalism. She was able to know a card the spectator chose by them naming a number at random and counting in a circle of cards. Ms. Tanna is a young lady with a wonderful smile and bubbling personality.
Finally, our guest from the British Isles, Quenton Reynolds treated us to two of his classic routines. The first was the classic "Rope with Four Ends" woven into a great story about how Marmaduke got four stars in school. He then went into a handkerchief act that was a comic masterpiece. Think Dave Williamson's "Rocky" along with Chapeauography. Quenton got a solid 5 minutes out of a simple handkerchief and twisting, folding and puppeting. He has a DVD available.
The show concluded with Bev Bergeron prsenting his classic Sympathetic Match Boxes.
What a treat from all of this month's performers! Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
2007-06 Don Masters....from Bondi
Kudos to Dan Stapleton and his colleagues for organizing such a warm tribute event to 3 of Central Florida's most generous magicians. Mr. Stapleton was the perfect "Dick Cavett" style host, whose admiration for each honoree was plainly evident. Bravo!
Don Masters, one of the guests of honor, taught me so much that I was glad to be able to thank him in person. Over twenty years ago, I met Mr. Masters at Paramount Theatrical, now known as Pizazz. It was there that I learned not to just perform tricks but to entertain. Don later hired me to cover his days off at a Church St. Station magic booth. For over 4 months, I honed my skills demonstrating both beginner and professional close-up magic effects. I did not do it for the money. I did it for the experience. It paid off by improving my stage presence which has served me well ever since. And yes, I too perform Don Master's 5-Card Version of Wild Card to the delight of lay audiences and magicians.
Two quick stories: In 1981, Mr. Masters was recovering at Florida Hospital from a minor illness. When I went to donate blood, the hospital staff had a difficult time locating a Mr. "Don Masters." Well, after a quick phone call to Clarence of Paramount, my donation was correctly credited to a Mr. Douglas Cameron! Hey, who knew?
More recently, I was performing close-up at the Fashion Square Target store, when a friendly elderly lady named Emma approached me to say, "I'm going steady with a magician." Her enthusiasm and words made me chuckle inside. Then I asked who was her boyfriend. "Don Masters." she said blushing like a school girl. Wow, I thought. Forget about my card skills. If my wife is half that giddy about me when we are older, I will have really learned Don Master's true magical secret!
Thanks Don! :)
Bondi
Don Masters, one of the guests of honor, taught me so much that I was glad to be able to thank him in person. Over twenty years ago, I met Mr. Masters at Paramount Theatrical, now known as Pizazz. It was there that I learned not to just perform tricks but to entertain. Don later hired me to cover his days off at a Church St. Station magic booth. For over 4 months, I honed my skills demonstrating both beginner and professional close-up magic effects. I did not do it for the money. I did it for the experience. It paid off by improving my stage presence which has served me well ever since. And yes, I too perform Don Master's 5-Card Version of Wild Card to the delight of lay audiences and magicians.
Two quick stories: In 1981, Mr. Masters was recovering at Florida Hospital from a minor illness. When I went to donate blood, the hospital staff had a difficult time locating a Mr. "Don Masters." Well, after a quick phone call to Clarence of Paramount, my donation was correctly credited to a Mr. Douglas Cameron! Hey, who knew?
More recently, I was performing close-up at the Fashion Square Target store, when a friendly elderly lady named Emma approached me to say, "I'm going steady with a magician." Her enthusiasm and words made me chuckle inside. Then I asked who was her boyfriend. "Don Masters." she said blushing like a school girl. Wow, I thought. Forget about my card skills. If my wife is half that giddy about me when we are older, I will have really learned Don Master's true magical secret!
Thanks Don! :)
Bondi
2007-06 Exposure in Gatlinburg
Just returned from Gatlinburg, Tenn. where there is a small walk-through attraction called World of Ilusions. It's located right on Main Street, costs $6.95 to go through and takes 20 min. It reminded me of the old Mystery Fun House in Orlando. Most of the "special effects" were the same Pepper's Ghost illusion but with different themes (Dracula turning into a bat, Frankenstein appearing in a window, Elvis turning into stone etc.) What I did not appreciate was the blatant exposure of the thumb tip (on video) and the "cut-aways" of some of close-ups most guarded secrets. Yes, they are the cheap versions that we have all seen and had from magic kits but there were many exposed...not good reason in an attraction like this. I can only hope that the average person doesn't really understand what each of the effects are supposed to do or look like, therefore, passing by those windows since there were no demonstrations of the effects. But the cut-outs were obvious and if anyone stands there for a minute to study its intent, they will see, although perhaps (and hopefully) not absorb, the secret.
Shame on the attraction owner, Wes Esterbrook, who is probably wealthy from the three other attractions he also owns in the area. For someone to have this kind of $$ to put an attraction like this in operation (the lease on the building more than likely far exceeds the cost of putting all the exhibits into it), I don't understand why he doesn't pay an expert to add finer optical illusions to this "museum" rather than hurting those who still perform those classic tricks.
Dan Stapleton
Shame on the attraction owner, Wes Esterbrook, who is probably wealthy from the three other attractions he also owns in the area. For someone to have this kind of $$ to put an attraction like this in operation (the lease on the building more than likely far exceeds the cost of putting all the exhibits into it), I don't understand why he doesn't pay an expert to add finer optical illusions to this "museum" rather than hurting those who still perform those classic tricks.
Dan Stapleton
2007-06 Change of EMAIL Address
Effective immediately: Please change my email address to
knappd@mindspring.com
Use that address for Helen as well.
If you received this notice before, or receive multiple copies, pleasse
understand the challenges of managing email accounts and feel free to
exercise your delete key.
Dan Knapp
knappd@mindspring.com
Use that address for Helen as well.
If you received this notice before, or receive multiple copies, pleasse
understand the challenges of managing email accounts and feel free to
exercise your delete key.
Dan Knapp
2007-06 Rocky Raccoon and a Way of Thinking
Rocky Raccoon instantly captures the attention and interest of kids from 2 - 90. Why is that? Because he is different and yet plausible. I have had people from babies to Mensans keep grins on their face while Rocky goes through his paces. (Note the wording - Rocky goes through his paces, I don't put him through his paces - it's an attitude!)
Now, I am strictly an amateur magician but I have learned some lessons from working with Rocky.
People accept Rocky as long as I treat him as I would a living animal. He keeps moving and I pet him while talking to people. If someone walks by, he watches them. His head follows the conversation.
At our annual banquet I brought Rocky out and an unnamed magician made the statement that Rocky is just too hard to sell as real. Is that to say everything else we do in a magic show is real, or that the audience believes it is real? People like Rocky, they make him real in their own minds; good enough.
People ask questions, but the questions, as worded, open the door for some diabolical slight of mouth. People just don't ask what they really want to know; we can work with that error to our advantage.
The invariable question "Is he real?" takes me back to Kenton Knepper's Wonder Words. It isn't the answer given, but the effect the answer has on the questioner. I have taken to answering the question by: "He's as real as he gets." What does that
mean? Search me! I flippantly said it one time and noted the odd reaction. Cha-ching bank that one! Yet, people do not pursue the question further. Obviously, Rocky is real; he is a real spring animal.
The intended question of course is "Is he alive?" Strangely, people seldom ask that question. My answer to that question is: "He thinks so." The point though is that people don't ask the questions they really want answered. They will ask a related question, one that we can answer in ways that build mental illusions.
What questions do you get during your performance? How can you give direct questions to the words used and not address the questioner's intent? Find your answers and add to the humor and illusion of your act.
Dan
Dan Knapp
Now, I am strictly an amateur magician but I have learned some lessons from working with Rocky.
People accept Rocky as long as I treat him as I would a living animal. He keeps moving and I pet him while talking to people. If someone walks by, he watches them. His head follows the conversation.
At our annual banquet I brought Rocky out and an unnamed magician made the statement that Rocky is just too hard to sell as real. Is that to say everything else we do in a magic show is real, or that the audience believes it is real? People like Rocky, they make him real in their own minds; good enough.
People ask questions, but the questions, as worded, open the door for some diabolical slight of mouth. People just don't ask what they really want to know; we can work with that error to our advantage.
The invariable question "Is he real?" takes me back to Kenton Knepper's Wonder Words. It isn't the answer given, but the effect the answer has on the questioner. I have taken to answering the question by: "He's as real as he gets." What does that
mean? Search me! I flippantly said it one time and noted the odd reaction. Cha-ching bank that one! Yet, people do not pursue the question further. Obviously, Rocky is real; he is a real spring animal.
The intended question of course is "Is he alive?" Strangely, people seldom ask that question. My answer to that question is: "He thinks so." The point though is that people don't ask the questions they really want answered. They will ask a related question, one that we can answer in ways that build mental illusions.
What questions do you get during your performance? How can you give direct questions to the words used and not address the questioner's intent? Find your answers and add to the humor and illusion of your act.
Dan
Dan Knapp
2007-06 Dennis' Deliberations
Ring #258 is in Leesburg and is our first cousin. A number of our members in Ring #170 are also active in Ring #258. So it would not be unusual that the recent Leesburg sponsored stage show had representatives from Orlando. Roger Reid and Chris Dunn did a hilarious politically incorrect sketch. Okay I will say it! It was about a Polish magician (Gruchnick) and his assistant (Maryshka) played by Chris Dunn in drag (don't read anything into that) . Magic Ian did a bit. Dan Dyer was on stage as well as our former ring president, Richard Hewitt with a nice dove and rabbit act. In such an eclectic evening performance as The Savannah Center Show at The Villages, stacking the acts and pacing are important.
The real star and glue that held the show together was comedy magician and emcee, Jim Moody. Jim's comedy approach is to use a barrage of one-liners , a running gag of teasing a couple of male audience members on the front row and self-effacing humor. "Mike, your babysitter is on the phone. She wants to know where you keep the fire-extinguisher!" Anyone will quickly surrender to this classic schtick and have fun. Jim, is a seasoned performer and was loved by the older crowd.
Our own ring member , Kendrix Adcock , was the big act and star illusionist . He asked me to help him stage The Asrah Levitation as his finale illusion at the end of the show. Now you know how I got to be backstage at the April 25th show . We used his Asrah table but the rigging was from my prop collection.
The Asrah Levitation was created near the turn of the 20th century by Servais LeRoy. Jean Henri Servais LeRoy was born in Spa, Belgium, May 4, 1865. He died at the ripe old age of 88. LeRoy's creations include The Asrah, the Duck Pan, Stolen Jam (now called the Palanquin ), The Costume Trunk, The Magical Farm Yard and The Master Tray. His contributions to stage magic were monumental. He invented the wedge-base in illusions and was masterful in his use of elastic webbed traps. (today we use spandex) The Asrah Levitation has the lady laying on a table and covered with a light cloth. She floats up 10 feet high and vanishes in mid air as the magician pulls off her cloth cover.
The Asrah demands a complicated stage rigging, lighting and expert coordination. Earlier versions of the Asrah were rigged a bit different from the modern versions but they all basically work the same way. I have been performing and staging the illusion for 40 years.
The secret is well-known: A bed-table is used and the female assistant reclines on it and sinks into it. A thin and lightweight wire form that looks like her profile is placed where she is supposed to be laying. It is covered with a thin cloth . She is wheeled off stage unknown to the audience. The form is suspended by four threads from a pipe baton high above the stage. In front of the baton is a "border" curtain that hangs down about 4 feet from another baton about 3 feet in front of the baton that is suspending the wire form. The border hides the black painted wire form when it is in the "up position".
That is not all! There needs to be a patterned curtain as a backdrop in back of the whole illusion to hide the threads. Since the 1950s and the invention of Mylar *, most illusionists now use a sparkly "rain curtain". So don't think that everybody is going to be doing this illusion! I forgot to mention that there needs to be an expert puppeteer standing behind one of the curtain legs on the side of the stage "flying" the form with a control rope. Timing is critical. Also the lighting is vital. It almost demands a "followspot" for proper lighting. In fact, I own an expensive followspot mostly so I can perform this illusion properly.
The Asrah has to be the perfect illusion. It has no "emotionally low" parts. Most levitations emotionally fall flat when the lady floats back down. It is anti-climactic. With The Asrah she flies up 10 feet and she vanishes in mid-air. Dr. Thaddeus Seymour, former president of Rollins College and a magician, once told me that his dream was to one day perform the Asrah. So far I haven't had the chance to set it up at the Annie Russell Theater on campus and have him experience the joy of pulling off the cloth cover and hearing the audience gasp!
As it is in life, things don't always go according to plan but experience, skill and ingenuity go a long way to getting back on track. The Savannah Center Theater is not so much as theater as it is a multi-purpose room with a stage. The stage has a 20' by 40' proscenium but it has no grid or flying system. Thus, we had to hang the batons on the top of the fixed curtain system by using a tall wheeled scaffold. Kendrix's helper Jim, was the brave soul that scaled the 20 feet and hung all the system. It was a
2 hour set up for just the pipe batons. Challenge number two was that the mid-stage traveler curtain was too close to where we had to rest the form on the floor during the beginning of the performance, so we had to use a half dozen stage stands to tilt the curtain back at an angle.
Challenge number three: I don't have a 20 foot high Mylar rain curtain so we had to pin my 12 foot by 18 foot rain curtain onto the Black Commando Cloth traveler.
Finally, after close to three hours, we had the Asrah ready to work. We went over the stage cues and the lighting cues with the lighting director and followspot operator and Kendrix. A quick walk-through and light check and we had to surrender the stage to the rest of the acts and their tech rehearsal.
Kendrix likes to set the mood for his opening illusion , The Quantum Leap ( a Modernistic type Palanquin), by using two large floor-mounted ornate candle-stands with lit candles. Jim Moody informed us that any kind of fire was forbidden. Bummer! Since the Rhode Island Night Club Fire a few years back, fire is now mostly forbidden on all theater stages, so folks toss away your Fantasio candles, Fire Cages and Dove Pans. Magic Ian had to slash his act to follow the rules.
Ken's choreography was done by Joannie Spina ( Copperfield's chief female assistant for years) and reflects a visual jazz and ballet fusion to the sound of rock music. Ken's two female dancers were superb in action on stage as was Michelle, Ken's wife and efficient backstage prop coordinator. Also well-trained was Anthony and Glen Foster as his male assistants. Glen is also an illusionist with his own show.
Illusions performed were Quantum Leap, Modern Art, Origami, The Blue Box, Twister, Arm-Vanish, Bits and Pieces and Asrah. Here is a montage on You-Tube of some of the illusions Kendix did at The Villages.
There were two shows, and early and a late. During the first show, we were very rushed in spotting the Asrah table and form and the back threads got twisted . As the form arose , I pulled the cord and it went up slightly tilted forward. Of course, I was in a panic with no way to communicate what to do to Ken and he was equally mortified. (Make a note! Next time have at least one assistant on stage with an ear piece to communicate with the stage coordinator).
The form rose up about 6 feet with an increasing tilt and when I felt that it was going to arbitrarily dump the cloth, I gave a pull and made her vanish. Spectators that watched the action from the front said that no one was the wiser that we were not doing the full classic Asrah vanish. The effect was that she rose and vanished with the cloth falling into Ken's hands.
On the second show, everything worked perfect. As Thurston said in his patter, "She vanished like a fading cloud!". This Asrah performance was captured on tape and hopefully will be on You Tube. All the other illusions went off flawlessly and Ken got a lot of compliments from the crowds and fellow performers. I was pleased.
Illusionists need to have a complete understanding of the age demographics of their illusion audience. That issue is more important that ever in today's magic climate. Ken was "right on" with the age of the crowd. Ken's style is still popular in Las Vegas, and Convention and Cruise venues but changes are happening as the younger generation replaces us old folks.
I found out this past month that younger audiences 15 to 20 are not at all enthusiastic about the illusion styles of the 80s and mid 90s. As many of you know, I am a fill-in teacher for Orange County Public Schools. Because of my qualifications in science I took a job for the final 6 weeks of the school year finishing up for a resigned teacher that had 2 honors Chemistry and 2 Integrated Science classes. The last day of class, after the test review, I told the science class that I would show them some examples of magic illusions to inspire critical thinking about what they see.
First of all "critical thinking" is a lost art for most high school students today. The biggest shocker to me was how much they loved Criss Angel and to a lesser degree David Blaine and how they hated almost everything from David Copperfield and the mid 90s "World's Greatest Magic" series. They poked fun at the dancing, the illusions and the style of that mid 90s series. I can not repeat what they said about Jeff Hobson and James Dimmar! The only "hit" of those show samples was "The Amazing Jonathan".
On a final note: The Kendrix Show was packed and out of the theater well within the time limit. The secret was that he uses a large utility trailer and the props are rolled off and rolled on with very little time-consuming assembly and disassembly. Almost all small-crew illusionists (Stan Kramien, Mark Evans, Phil Morris, Vince Carmen et.al.) simply carry a big enough vehicle to do this. It saves time and wear and tear on the props. If you can afford a large stage crew and you have over-built props then full crates can be the option. The advantage of crates is that if you roll your truck or trailer, your props will probably survive. Don't laugh! This has happened to Bill Neff,David Copperfield, Andre Kole and others.
Next month I will walk down the memory lane of my 33 years in Orlando with stories of Harry Wise, Lee Bernard, Clarence Godwin, Wayne Scott, Michael Ramm, J.L. Harding, Joe Conrad, Carlton Beck, Mark O'Brien, Bev Bergeron and Dan Stapleton's 1976 Halloween Show in the Lake Eola band shell where we accidentally played "musical white shirts"!
Dennis Phillips
*Dupont's polyester research lead to a whole range of trademarked products, one example is Mylar (1952), an extraordinarily strong polyester (PET) film that grew out of the development of Dacron in the early 1950s. Polyesters can be formed from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Polyethylene terephthalate is the basis of synthetic fibers such as Dacron, and terylene. Polyester film (PETF) is a semi-crystalline film used in many applications such as videotape, high quality packaging, professional photographic printing, X-ray film, floppy disks, Magic Asrah Rain curtains etc. Polyesters are made from chemical substances found mainly in petroleum and are manufactured into fibers, films, and plastics. With the rising price of oil, look for big increases in the costs of these products.
Source from: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpolyester.htm
The real star and glue that held the show together was comedy magician and emcee, Jim Moody. Jim's comedy approach is to use a barrage of one-liners , a running gag of teasing a couple of male audience members on the front row and self-effacing humor. "Mike, your babysitter is on the phone. She wants to know where you keep the fire-extinguisher!" Anyone will quickly surrender to this classic schtick and have fun. Jim, is a seasoned performer and was loved by the older crowd.
Our own ring member , Kendrix Adcock , was the big act and star illusionist . He asked me to help him stage The Asrah Levitation as his finale illusion at the end of the show. Now you know how I got to be backstage at the April 25th show . We used his Asrah table but the rigging was from my prop collection.
The Asrah Levitation was created near the turn of the 20th century by Servais LeRoy. Jean Henri Servais LeRoy was born in Spa, Belgium, May 4, 1865. He died at the ripe old age of 88. LeRoy's creations include The Asrah, the Duck Pan, Stolen Jam (now called the Palanquin ), The Costume Trunk, The Magical Farm Yard and The Master Tray. His contributions to stage magic were monumental. He invented the wedge-base in illusions and was masterful in his use of elastic webbed traps. (today we use spandex) The Asrah Levitation has the lady laying on a table and covered with a light cloth. She floats up 10 feet high and vanishes in mid air as the magician pulls off her cloth cover.
The Asrah demands a complicated stage rigging, lighting and expert coordination. Earlier versions of the Asrah were rigged a bit different from the modern versions but they all basically work the same way. I have been performing and staging the illusion for 40 years.
The secret is well-known: A bed-table is used and the female assistant reclines on it and sinks into it. A thin and lightweight wire form that looks like her profile is placed where she is supposed to be laying. It is covered with a thin cloth . She is wheeled off stage unknown to the audience. The form is suspended by four threads from a pipe baton high above the stage. In front of the baton is a "border" curtain that hangs down about 4 feet from another baton about 3 feet in front of the baton that is suspending the wire form. The border hides the black painted wire form when it is in the "up position".
That is not all! There needs to be a patterned curtain as a backdrop in back of the whole illusion to hide the threads. Since the 1950s and the invention of Mylar *, most illusionists now use a sparkly "rain curtain". So don't think that everybody is going to be doing this illusion! I forgot to mention that there needs to be an expert puppeteer standing behind one of the curtain legs on the side of the stage "flying" the form with a control rope. Timing is critical. Also the lighting is vital. It almost demands a "followspot" for proper lighting. In fact, I own an expensive followspot mostly so I can perform this illusion properly.
The Asrah has to be the perfect illusion. It has no "emotionally low" parts. Most levitations emotionally fall flat when the lady floats back down. It is anti-climactic. With The Asrah she flies up 10 feet and she vanishes in mid-air. Dr. Thaddeus Seymour, former president of Rollins College and a magician, once told me that his dream was to one day perform the Asrah. So far I haven't had the chance to set it up at the Annie Russell Theater on campus and have him experience the joy of pulling off the cloth cover and hearing the audience gasp!
As it is in life, things don't always go according to plan but experience, skill and ingenuity go a long way to getting back on track. The Savannah Center Theater is not so much as theater as it is a multi-purpose room with a stage. The stage has a 20' by 40' proscenium but it has no grid or flying system. Thus, we had to hang the batons on the top of the fixed curtain system by using a tall wheeled scaffold. Kendrix's helper Jim, was the brave soul that scaled the 20 feet and hung all the system. It was a
2 hour set up for just the pipe batons. Challenge number two was that the mid-stage traveler curtain was too close to where we had to rest the form on the floor during the beginning of the performance, so we had to use a half dozen stage stands to tilt the curtain back at an angle.
Challenge number three: I don't have a 20 foot high Mylar rain curtain so we had to pin my 12 foot by 18 foot rain curtain onto the Black Commando Cloth traveler.
Finally, after close to three hours, we had the Asrah ready to work. We went over the stage cues and the lighting cues with the lighting director and followspot operator and Kendrix. A quick walk-through and light check and we had to surrender the stage to the rest of the acts and their tech rehearsal.
Kendrix likes to set the mood for his opening illusion , The Quantum Leap ( a Modernistic type Palanquin), by using two large floor-mounted ornate candle-stands with lit candles. Jim Moody informed us that any kind of fire was forbidden. Bummer! Since the Rhode Island Night Club Fire a few years back, fire is now mostly forbidden on all theater stages, so folks toss away your Fantasio candles, Fire Cages and Dove Pans. Magic Ian had to slash his act to follow the rules.
Ken's choreography was done by Joannie Spina ( Copperfield's chief female assistant for years) and reflects a visual jazz and ballet fusion to the sound of rock music. Ken's two female dancers were superb in action on stage as was Michelle, Ken's wife and efficient backstage prop coordinator. Also well-trained was Anthony and Glen Foster as his male assistants. Glen is also an illusionist with his own show.
Illusions performed were Quantum Leap, Modern Art, Origami, The Blue Box, Twister, Arm-Vanish, Bits and Pieces and Asrah. Here is a montage on You-Tube of some of the illusions Kendix did at The Villages.
There were two shows, and early and a late. During the first show, we were very rushed in spotting the Asrah table and form and the back threads got twisted . As the form arose , I pulled the cord and it went up slightly tilted forward. Of course, I was in a panic with no way to communicate what to do to Ken and he was equally mortified. (Make a note! Next time have at least one assistant on stage with an ear piece to communicate with the stage coordinator).
The form rose up about 6 feet with an increasing tilt and when I felt that it was going to arbitrarily dump the cloth, I gave a pull and made her vanish. Spectators that watched the action from the front said that no one was the wiser that we were not doing the full classic Asrah vanish. The effect was that she rose and vanished with the cloth falling into Ken's hands.
On the second show, everything worked perfect. As Thurston said in his patter, "She vanished like a fading cloud!". This Asrah performance was captured on tape and hopefully will be on You Tube. All the other illusions went off flawlessly and Ken got a lot of compliments from the crowds and fellow performers. I was pleased.
Illusionists need to have a complete understanding of the age demographics of their illusion audience. That issue is more important that ever in today's magic climate. Ken was "right on" with the age of the crowd. Ken's style is still popular in Las Vegas, and Convention and Cruise venues but changes are happening as the younger generation replaces us old folks.
I found out this past month that younger audiences 15 to 20 are not at all enthusiastic about the illusion styles of the 80s and mid 90s. As many of you know, I am a fill-in teacher for Orange County Public Schools. Because of my qualifications in science I took a job for the final 6 weeks of the school year finishing up for a resigned teacher that had 2 honors Chemistry and 2 Integrated Science classes. The last day of class, after the test review, I told the science class that I would show them some examples of magic illusions to inspire critical thinking about what they see.
First of all "critical thinking" is a lost art for most high school students today. The biggest shocker to me was how much they loved Criss Angel and to a lesser degree David Blaine and how they hated almost everything from David Copperfield and the mid 90s "World's Greatest Magic" series. They poked fun at the dancing, the illusions and the style of that mid 90s series. I can not repeat what they said about Jeff Hobson and James Dimmar! The only "hit" of those show samples was "The Amazing Jonathan".
On a final note: The Kendrix Show was packed and out of the theater well within the time limit. The secret was that he uses a large utility trailer and the props are rolled off and rolled on with very little time-consuming assembly and disassembly. Almost all small-crew illusionists (Stan Kramien, Mark Evans, Phil Morris, Vince Carmen et.al.) simply carry a big enough vehicle to do this. It saves time and wear and tear on the props. If you can afford a large stage crew and you have over-built props then full crates can be the option. The advantage of crates is that if you roll your truck or trailer, your props will probably survive. Don't laugh! This has happened to Bill Neff,David Copperfield, Andre Kole and others.
Next month I will walk down the memory lane of my 33 years in Orlando with stories of Harry Wise, Lee Bernard, Clarence Godwin, Wayne Scott, Michael Ramm, J.L. Harding, Joe Conrad, Carlton Beck, Mark O'Brien, Bev Bergeron and Dan Stapleton's 1976 Halloween Show in the Lake Eola band shell where we accidentally played "musical white shirts"!
Dennis Phillips
*Dupont's polyester research lead to a whole range of trademarked products, one example is Mylar (1952), an extraordinarily strong polyester (PET) film that grew out of the development of Dacron in the early 1950s. Polyesters can be formed from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Polyethylene terephthalate is the basis of synthetic fibers such as Dacron, and terylene. Polyester film (PETF) is a semi-crystalline film used in many applications such as videotape, high quality packaging, professional photographic printing, X-ray film, floppy disks, Magic Asrah Rain curtains etc. Polyesters are made from chemical substances found mainly in petroleum and are manufactured into fibers, films, and plastics. With the rising price of oil, look for big increases in the costs of these products.
Source from: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpolyester.htm
Friday, May 11, 2007
2007-05 Famulus newsletter of IBM Ring 170
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 05/16/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Rope Magic
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 05/16/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Rope Magic
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
2007-05 From the editor
Congratulations to the board again for another excellent club event. The Flea Market and Auction was a great success. I especially enjoyed the Alain Nu workshop and then the following lecture. About now the Orlando Fringe is taking place, do try to support our local entertainment scene.
Another lecture is coming up - Pavel - do not miss him!
Thanks to all contributors, especially the pictures. Keep those pictures and articles coming..
Stefan
Another lecture is coming up - Pavel - do not miss him!
Thanks to all contributors, especially the pictures. Keep those pictures and articles coming..
Stefan
2007-05 Ring report
Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
The April meeting had thirty-two attending with two guests, Dick Arbeitter and John Slusher. President Craig Fennessey gaveled the meeting to order and reviewed the upcoming events. With the quick business meeting concluded, we took a break for our monthly raffle and then John Crosby volunteered to be the Master of Ceremonies for our monthly ring show.
First on was Kerry Pierce , "KP". He showed 10 Superhero Comic book covers and gave an assisting spectator free choices of eliminating the covers. He ended with Superman and promptly unbuttoned his shirt and the logo of the Superman costume could be seen on his blue undershirt. This was an innovative use of Roy Baker's PATEO Force. Charlie Pfrogner always has an original gem. This time it was an effect using the important date of Houdini's greatest escape challenge. With a few eerie computations ,a page could be seen missing from a magic magazine. It was found in an envelope and the numbers all matched.
Luchin showed a quick trick with a length of rope wrapped around and penetrating his fingers. Dan Stapleton did a "Terry Seabrook" style effect where five spectators seal up their five twenty dollar bills in one envelope and pieces of newspaper in the other four envelopes. Four of the envelopes are burned and the one remaining,chosen by a spectator , had the bills unharmed. This is the second time Dan has tried to set off the fire alarm but the trick was worth it!
Mark Fitzgerald made some spectator selected cards appear in a sealed envelope held on a long white rope between two spectators.He then promptly pulled the rope through his waist. Bob Sheets is the creator of this rope penetration called "Hang 'em High'. He would have been pleased. Finally, John Crosby closed out the show with a clever coin trick. Join us whenever you are in Orlando.
Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
The April meeting had thirty-two attending with two guests, Dick Arbeitter and John Slusher. President Craig Fennessey gaveled the meeting to order and reviewed the upcoming events. With the quick business meeting concluded, we took a break for our monthly raffle and then John Crosby volunteered to be the Master of Ceremonies for our monthly ring show.
First on was Kerry Pierce , "KP". He showed 10 Superhero Comic book covers and gave an assisting spectator free choices of eliminating the covers. He ended with Superman and promptly unbuttoned his shirt and the logo of the Superman costume could be seen on his blue undershirt. This was an innovative use of Roy Baker's PATEO Force. Charlie Pfrogner always has an original gem. This time it was an effect using the important date of Houdini's greatest escape challenge. With a few eerie computations ,a page could be seen missing from a magic magazine. It was found in an envelope and the numbers all matched.
Luchin showed a quick trick with a length of rope wrapped around and penetrating his fingers. Dan Stapleton did a "Terry Seabrook" style effect where five spectators seal up their five twenty dollar bills in one envelope and pieces of newspaper in the other four envelopes. Four of the envelopes are burned and the one remaining,chosen by a spectator , had the bills unharmed. This is the second time Dan has tried to set off the fire alarm but the trick was worth it!
Mark Fitzgerald made some spectator selected cards appear in a sealed envelope held on a long white rope between two spectators.He then promptly pulled the rope through his waist. Bob Sheets is the creator of this rope penetration called "Hang 'em High'. He would have been pleased. Finally, John Crosby closed out the show with a clever coin trick. Join us whenever you are in Orlando.
Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
2007-05 June lecture
Be sure to mark your calendars for this great lecture coming in June….. tell a friend.
Lecturing for FAME of Greater Orlando
IBM Ring 170
Presents
June 6, 2007
7:30 - 10pm
Lecturing for FAME of Greater Orlando
IBM Ring 170
Presents
June 6, 2007
7:30 - 10pm
PAVEL
HOW TO INVENT A NEW TRICK !
PAVEL'S MAGIC is both astonishing to watch and easy to perform. He is the author of several books on magic and is known around the world for his magical creations. It is no wonder that the Academy of Magical Arts honored Pavel with the 2002 Creative Fellowship Award at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California.
For decades now, the name PAVEL has been synonymous with some of the most innovative magic around. The CABARET MAGIC and The CREATIVE MAGIC OF PAVEL videos are the most evident examples of his competency in the matter.
This brand-new lecture deals precisely with the subject "how to invent a new trick". It features a large range of his latest amazing creations using general props such as ropes, cards, silks, balloons, clothespins, ribbons, colored discs, bills… More than twenty different effects are performed and explained!
If you are weary of card or coin trick lectures and are seeking a simple but impressive stand-up magic, this is for you. It's an exclusive occasion to see and learn something new and completely different from the master himself.
ADMISSION:
Fame Members: $15.00
Non-Members: $20.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant at 5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819 across the street from Hooters near Universal Studios. 407-370-0597 (Back conference room)
2007-05 Just in Ring #258 Flea market
HI FELLOW MAGI,
THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM THE PREZ OF RING #258:
ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE FLEA MARKET THIS SATURDAY MAY 12TH
AT THE YOUTH AND RETREAT CENTER IN LEESBURG.
NOTICE: AN AUCTION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE FLEA MARKET.
IT WILL START ABOUT 2:30PM.
TAKE YOUR AUCTION ITEMS ALSO.
JIM MOODY
THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM THE PREZ OF RING #258:
ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE FLEA MARKET THIS SATURDAY MAY 12TH
AT THE YOUTH AND RETREAT CENTER IN LEESBURG.
NOTICE: AN AUCTION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE FLEA MARKET.
IT WILL START ABOUT 2:30PM.
TAKE YOUR AUCTION ITEMS ALSO.
JIM MOODY
2007-05 James & Joe @ Cranes Comedy
Members James Songster and Joe Vecciarelli will be performing as part of Cranes Comedy on May 22, 2007.
The venue is located behind the Altamonte Mall
Cranes Comedy
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Come and laugh the night away at Cranes Roost with the best local and national comedy acts. Join us in the Eddie Rose Amphitheater on the fourth Tuesday of every month for the areas best outdoor comedy show.
Eddie Rose Amphitheater
Cranes Roost at Uptown Altamonte
274 Cranes Roost Blvd.
Altamonte Springs
The venue is located behind the Altamonte Mall
Cranes Comedy
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Come and laugh the night away at Cranes Roost with the best local and national comedy acts. Join us in the Eddie Rose Amphitheater on the fourth Tuesday of every month for the areas best outdoor comedy show.
Eddie Rose Amphitheater
Cranes Roost at Uptown Altamonte
274 Cranes Roost Blvd.
Altamonte Springs
2007-05 Magic History...Orlando
Mark Your Magic Calendar's now!
Monday, May 21st...7:00pm...and it's free!
Place: College Park Baptist Church, Edgewater Drive, Orlando
In recognition of three of Orlando's early days of magic.
We don't see many of these guys much any more so come and listen to their stories of what magic was like in Orlando in the 1950's & 60's. Lots of fun stories to hear we promise.Did you know that Don Masters worked for Burling Hull?!?!
Did you know that IBM Ring 170 used to be called FAME?...and that Harry Wise (along with Burling Hull) was the one who came up with the name in 1958...when FAME was a club all its own?
Did you know that Club Juana (Casselberry strip club) had magicians and other acts perform there and that Lee Bernard was the manager?
We will have some photo's, scrape books, posters and who know what else there to see. This is not a show but a fun two hours of talk show format of Orlando's early days of magic with great stories to hear from our three "stars of the evening" who need to be recognised.Don't miss it....and bring your camera. Please forward this to all of your local magic friends who might be interested in this history. Or better still, email this to all on your (local) magic address book.
See you there.
Dan Stapleton(407) 491-3287
Monday, May 21st...7:00pm...and it's free!
Place: College Park Baptist Church, Edgewater Drive, Orlando
In recognition of three of Orlando's early days of magic.
- Don Masters (the Dai Vernon of Central Florida)
- Harry Wise (early television's Mr. Magic & Spook show star)
- Lee Bernard (early magic enthusist)
We don't see many of these guys much any more so come and listen to their stories of what magic was like in Orlando in the 1950's & 60's. Lots of fun stories to hear we promise.Did you know that Don Masters worked for Burling Hull?!?!
Did you know that IBM Ring 170 used to be called FAME?...and that Harry Wise (along with Burling Hull) was the one who came up with the name in 1958...when FAME was a club all its own?
Did you know that Club Juana (Casselberry strip club) had magicians and other acts perform there and that Lee Bernard was the manager?
We will have some photo's, scrape books, posters and who know what else there to see. This is not a show but a fun two hours of talk show format of Orlando's early days of magic with great stories to hear from our three "stars of the evening" who need to be recognised.Don't miss it....and bring your camera. Please forward this to all of your local magic friends who might be interested in this history. Or better still, email this to all on your (local) magic address book.
See you there.
Dan Stapleton(407) 491-3287
2007-05 Jay Marshall Auction & Magic History Conference
Just returned from the Chicago auction and conference and will give a review at the next meeting.
Dan Stapleton
Dan Stapleton
2007-05 Magic at the Orlando Fringe
Below are a few links to information on my show in this year's Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival. .
Will you folks be having a meeting during May? I may be able to attend. I should be getting to Orlando around the 10th.
Yours,
Taylor Martin
ANDREA MERLYN, THE QUEEN OF MAGIC
WFTV.com - Events
Shows 2007
Will you folks be having a meeting during May? I may be able to attend. I should be getting to Orlando around the 10th.
Yours,
Taylor Martin
ANDREA MERLYN, THE QUEEN OF MAGIC
WFTV.com - Events
Shows 2007
2007-05 Dennis' Deliberations
Annual Banquet Returns!
After a two year absence,the Annual Ring 170 Banquet returned in triumph! Most people never realize the planning and hard work that goes into being the event chairman on one of these things.
The biggest issue the Ring has had for the last two years has been finding an affordable place to host the banquet and show. Local hotels and their food and beverage departments have , for the most part, priced themselves out of the range of what local folks like us can afford to spend. Much of this is because of the return of the convention business and tourism to the Orlando area after the events of 9-11 and the triple hurricane season. The challenge for Event Chairmen, Craig Fennessy and Art Thomas was to find an affordable and appropriate place. The solution was our gracious friends at Christ the King Lutheran Church and connections that Chris Dunn has with The Shelly Garza catering service.
Almost one hundred people attended. The Parish Hall at the church was transformed into a classy banquet room and our club's extensive staging was used to create a stage . Many other helping hands were in the event. Linn Fitzgerald created the table decorations and welcome gift bags. Mark Fitzgerald coordinated the Close-up performers and handled the Ring Web site. Mark also worked with Craig on the printed program for the banquet. Stefan Bartelski does our web publishing and blog hosting. Joe Vecciarelli created the Advertising Flyer.
The Production Stage Manager for the show was Sue Jacoberger. Art handled the lighting set-up and Craig did audio. Randy Chappuis was the technician.
Four of our top Close-up Performers volunteered for some pre-banquet walk-around entertainment. these were Wallace Murphy, J.C. Hiatt, Al Coury and Mark Fitzgerald.
Following dinner, President Craig Fennessey conducted the Award's Ceremony . Bev Bergeron was honored by the FAME Board with "The Founder's Award" for service to FAME from the early 1970s to today. When Bev made the move from Hollywood to Orlando to take a staring role in The Diamond Horseshoe Review at Disney's Magic Kingdom, he continued his service to the magic fraternity and helped revive Ring 170 and establish FAME. Our Ring is what it is today because of the long years of hard work and service by magic legend Bev Bergeron. He deserves our gratitude.
Harvey Brownlow and M.J.Emigh were given Past President Awards for their labors and service in their two-year tenures as President of FAME Ring 170. Serving as President is a task with a lot of responsibility and leadership demands. They served us well.
Art Thomas then took the podium for the next award. I want to express my gratefulness for being honored by the FAME board with a Lifetime Membership Award. I am a rookie in great company with FAME legends like Bev Bergeron, Bill Rosenthal and the late Dick Randall.
The Big Evening Show began and featured magic legend Aldo Columbini as Master of Ceremonies. Aldo is a leading magic funny man using his Italian accent and mannerisms to great comedic advantage. The show opened with Wallace Murphy presenting his rarely seen dove act. He included some golf ball manipulations showing
the skills most of us know him for. Doves appeared from a cascade of ribbons and disappeared in a breakaway box as Wallace finished to a nice hand.
Life Member Bill Rosenthal took the stage with some gems of classic stage magic. He did the Vanishing Birdcage assisted by his rubber canary, Birdini. He used a spectator for the Malini Egg Bag and finally a comedy bit with cards and blocks and a spectator wearing a helmet with flashing lights. Bill was in good form and enjoyed by the audience.
Aldo and his new wife, Rachel Wild ,next performed a rib-busting funny bit. She was blinded-folded and played a Psychic as Aldo circulated through the audience having her attempt to identify objects and names. This is a classic vaudeville routine but they had many jokes I had not heard before. At one point Aldo said, "Madam Zola needs to consult the Spirits for more answers and Rachel "Zola" pulled out a small flask of whiskey and took a swig!
Bill Terry, "PJ" was the best I have seen him. He did an extended Sponge Ball manipulation routine, a clever Linking Ring routine with 4 rings and finally comedy routine where a jumbo card is selected by a spectator and revealed in many ways.
Closing out the show was Aldo with his comedy magic.He effectively used lots of audience participation. A spectator assisted in counting the cards in his Six Card Repeat. Another spectator helped him with a Ling Ropes routine using colored ropes. His final comedy magic sketch was with a dock of cards with a hole and a yellow ribbon running through the hole and a spectator's selected card escapes.
Annual Flea Market and Auction
This year's Flea-market and Auction was probably the best we have had in recent memory. Old timers with Ring 170 will recall the years we held a combination Friday Banquet and Show and Saturday market at the old ( long since gone) Elks Lodge on Oak Ridge Road. We moved for a few years in a Lodge in Longwood where we just held the Saturday market. Christ the King Lutheran seems to be the ideal location and facility for what our events.
The Flea market tables were loaded and we had a good mix of vendors. I always enjoy Stan and Sandy Lobernstern's bins of fun and other great deals from Rabbit in the Hat Ranch. Phil Schwartz and Dick and Phyllis Berry had some great collectables. It was great to see Tom and Donna Salvador from their magic shop and they were a big help with the clean-up. A big thanks for making the event a success also go to Bob Kimmel, Sue Jacoberger, James Songster, Joe Vecciarelli, Amanda Vecciarelli, Richard Hewitt, Chris Dunn, Jeff Pierce, Bill Rosenthal, Corinne Fennessy, Peggy Dever, Joe Zimmer, Anesa Vecciarelli, and the volunteers from Christ the King Lutheran Church.
The lecture was Alain Nu. Alain is a talented thinker in magic and I appreciate that. He opened his lecture with a strong example of how we don't know what is real and what isn't real. Some standouts in his presentation included his version of The Invisible deck with a shocking appearance of a wristwatch on his arm. His version of a Bob Hummer mentalism bit with a watch, ring and key was very good. Nu's signature act is his "spoon bending" demonstration. He had most people believing he actually could bend metal with his mind. He did not reveal his secrets on this portion of the act. This disappointed some of the crowd who misunderstood the flyer that indicated he would only demonstrate that part of his act. Regardless of this, everyone enjoyed Alain Nu.
The Close-up portion opened with a cabaret comedy sketch by Kostya Kimlat and Darren Rockwell . Phil Keiser provided some classy manipulation.
If you missed the Flea market you missed getting a lot of magic for pennies on the dollar. Erik Olsen's table was selling a brand new "Tying Shoelace" made famous by David Blaine. Erik loves the trick but he felt that his style of walk-around magic would not have him with untied shoelaces. I saw some great buys on magnetic rings at Tom and Donna Salvador's table. Bev had some classic Impression clipboards. Phil Schwartz had some great old photos of Harry Blackstone Sr.and so did Dick Berry.
Some amazing bargains for $1.00 were at Sandy and Stan's table. Richard Hewitt had some great classic books. Jim Moody and the gang from Lake County had good stuff... Everyone had great items for you to take home.
You made the Flea Market and Auction a great event this year.
Dennis Phillips
After a two year absence,the Annual Ring 170 Banquet returned in triumph! Most people never realize the planning and hard work that goes into being the event chairman on one of these things.
The biggest issue the Ring has had for the last two years has been finding an affordable place to host the banquet and show. Local hotels and their food and beverage departments have , for the most part, priced themselves out of the range of what local folks like us can afford to spend. Much of this is because of the return of the convention business and tourism to the Orlando area after the events of 9-11 and the triple hurricane season. The challenge for Event Chairmen, Craig Fennessy and Art Thomas was to find an affordable and appropriate place. The solution was our gracious friends at Christ the King Lutheran Church and connections that Chris Dunn has with The Shelly Garza catering service.
Almost one hundred people attended. The Parish Hall at the church was transformed into a classy banquet room and our club's extensive staging was used to create a stage . Many other helping hands were in the event. Linn Fitzgerald created the table decorations and welcome gift bags. Mark Fitzgerald coordinated the Close-up performers and handled the Ring Web site. Mark also worked with Craig on the printed program for the banquet. Stefan Bartelski does our web publishing and blog hosting. Joe Vecciarelli created the Advertising Flyer.
The Production Stage Manager for the show was Sue Jacoberger. Art handled the lighting set-up and Craig did audio. Randy Chappuis was the technician.
Four of our top Close-up Performers volunteered for some pre-banquet walk-around entertainment. these were Wallace Murphy, J.C. Hiatt, Al Coury and Mark Fitzgerald.
Following dinner, President Craig Fennessey conducted the Award's Ceremony . Bev Bergeron was honored by the FAME Board with "The Founder's Award" for service to FAME from the early 1970s to today. When Bev made the move from Hollywood to Orlando to take a staring role in The Diamond Horseshoe Review at Disney's Magic Kingdom, he continued his service to the magic fraternity and helped revive Ring 170 and establish FAME. Our Ring is what it is today because of the long years of hard work and service by magic legend Bev Bergeron. He deserves our gratitude.
Harvey Brownlow and M.J.Emigh were given Past President Awards for their labors and service in their two-year tenures as President of FAME Ring 170. Serving as President is a task with a lot of responsibility and leadership demands. They served us well.
Art Thomas then took the podium for the next award. I want to express my gratefulness for being honored by the FAME board with a Lifetime Membership Award. I am a rookie in great company with FAME legends like Bev Bergeron, Bill Rosenthal and the late Dick Randall.
The Big Evening Show began and featured magic legend Aldo Columbini as Master of Ceremonies. Aldo is a leading magic funny man using his Italian accent and mannerisms to great comedic advantage. The show opened with Wallace Murphy presenting his rarely seen dove act. He included some golf ball manipulations showing
the skills most of us know him for. Doves appeared from a cascade of ribbons and disappeared in a breakaway box as Wallace finished to a nice hand.
Life Member Bill Rosenthal took the stage with some gems of classic stage magic. He did the Vanishing Birdcage assisted by his rubber canary, Birdini. He used a spectator for the Malini Egg Bag and finally a comedy bit with cards and blocks and a spectator wearing a helmet with flashing lights. Bill was in good form and enjoyed by the audience.
Aldo and his new wife, Rachel Wild ,next performed a rib-busting funny bit. She was blinded-folded and played a Psychic as Aldo circulated through the audience having her attempt to identify objects and names. This is a classic vaudeville routine but they had many jokes I had not heard before. At one point Aldo said, "Madam Zola needs to consult the Spirits for more answers and Rachel "Zola" pulled out a small flask of whiskey and took a swig!
Bill Terry, "PJ" was the best I have seen him. He did an extended Sponge Ball manipulation routine, a clever Linking Ring routine with 4 rings and finally comedy routine where a jumbo card is selected by a spectator and revealed in many ways.
Closing out the show was Aldo with his comedy magic.He effectively used lots of audience participation. A spectator assisted in counting the cards in his Six Card Repeat. Another spectator helped him with a Ling Ropes routine using colored ropes. His final comedy magic sketch was with a dock of cards with a hole and a yellow ribbon running through the hole and a spectator's selected card escapes.
Annual Flea Market and Auction
This year's Flea-market and Auction was probably the best we have had in recent memory. Old timers with Ring 170 will recall the years we held a combination Friday Banquet and Show and Saturday market at the old ( long since gone) Elks Lodge on Oak Ridge Road. We moved for a few years in a Lodge in Longwood where we just held the Saturday market. Christ the King Lutheran seems to be the ideal location and facility for what our events.
The Flea market tables were loaded and we had a good mix of vendors. I always enjoy Stan and Sandy Lobernstern's bins of fun and other great deals from Rabbit in the Hat Ranch. Phil Schwartz and Dick and Phyllis Berry had some great collectables. It was great to see Tom and Donna Salvador from their magic shop and they were a big help with the clean-up. A big thanks for making the event a success also go to Bob Kimmel, Sue Jacoberger, James Songster, Joe Vecciarelli, Amanda Vecciarelli, Richard Hewitt, Chris Dunn, Jeff Pierce, Bill Rosenthal, Corinne Fennessy, Peggy Dever, Joe Zimmer, Anesa Vecciarelli, and the volunteers from Christ the King Lutheran Church.
The lecture was Alain Nu. Alain is a talented thinker in magic and I appreciate that. He opened his lecture with a strong example of how we don't know what is real and what isn't real. Some standouts in his presentation included his version of The Invisible deck with a shocking appearance of a wristwatch on his arm. His version of a Bob Hummer mentalism bit with a watch, ring and key was very good. Nu's signature act is his "spoon bending" demonstration. He had most people believing he actually could bend metal with his mind. He did not reveal his secrets on this portion of the act. This disappointed some of the crowd who misunderstood the flyer that indicated he would only demonstrate that part of his act. Regardless of this, everyone enjoyed Alain Nu.
The Close-up portion opened with a cabaret comedy sketch by Kostya Kimlat and Darren Rockwell . Phil Keiser provided some classy manipulation.
If you missed the Flea market you missed getting a lot of magic for pennies on the dollar. Erik Olsen's table was selling a brand new "Tying Shoelace" made famous by David Blaine. Erik loves the trick but he felt that his style of walk-around magic would not have him with untied shoelaces. I saw some great buys on magnetic rings at Tom and Donna Salvador's table. Bev had some classic Impression clipboards. Phil Schwartz had some great old photos of Harry Blackstone Sr.and so did Dick Berry.
Some amazing bargains for $1.00 were at Sandy and Stan's table. Richard Hewitt had some great classic books. Jim Moody and the gang from Lake County had good stuff... Everyone had great items for you to take home.
You made the Flea Market and Auction a great event this year.
Dennis Phillips
Monday, April 09, 2007
2007-04 Famulus newsletter of IBM Ring 170
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 04/18/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: tbd
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 04/18/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: tbd
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
2007-04 From the editor
Firstly congratulations to the entertainment committee for an excellent Banquet. I think I speak for all attendees, when I say how glad I am that the Banquet has been re-instated. It was a fun evening, with good food. What more could you ask for! My thanks to the photographers who sent me pictures, I have added a link to them in the blog (newsletter).
Do not forget our next major event is the Auction/Flea Market with headliner Alain Nu, be sure to reserve April 21st.
Thanks also to the other contributors, keep those articles, emails, etc., coming.
See everyone at the Auction,
Your editor
2007-04 Ring Report
Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Thirty four regular members filled the seats at our March Ring meeting. We also had four guests, James Minelli from the East Coast of Florida, Phil Swartz and Phil and Alex Tiedtke. President Craig Fennessey gaveled the meeting to order and announced the Flea Market Auction will be on April 21st.The featured lecturer will be Alain Nu. Dan Stapleton gave us an update on Pigeon Forge , Tennessee and his recent appearance at the Winter Carnival of Magic. Nicolas Tangredi is appearing at the Haines City Cabaret. The business meeting concluded and the fun began!
Ring Board Member James Songster was the Master of Ceremonies for our monthly after-the-business-meeting show. This month's theme was "Favorite Packet Tricks". First up was KP, Kerry Pierce. He dealed off 10 cards and had a spectator select cards for an imaginary poker hand. Even with a free choice, Kerry ended up with the best hand. Mark Fitzgerald was in fine form with some fancy coin moves and ending with four aces and a great coin and card matrix effect. Wallace Murphy had a whole paper sack filled with packet card tricks out of his magic drawer. He said the paper sack was a tribute to the late Bill Hoffman, who always brought his magic to the ring meetings in a paper sack. Wallace did a card trick with blank cards that soon mysteriously 8 Balls printed on them. Then billiard balls began to appear!
Joe Vecciarelli had two items for a show and tell. One was a side table he adapted from an inexpensive flower table be found at a craft store. the other was a writing pen that wrote in ink that would disappear if heat was applied. The pen is only available in England, with no plans to sell it here. It certainly has usefulness for magic. Information can be found at http://www.pilotpen.co.uk/ Joe Songster then assisted Jim in a comic version of "Who is smarter than a 7th Grader". Regardless of the questions drawn at random, the adult helper could not answer the questions but the youngster helping Jim could answer questions drawn for him.
Roger Reid had a good packet trick called "Flinch". A packet of number cards seemed to reverse order while he was counting off the stack even though a spectator told him which cards to deal. In the end the cards turned upside down and the backs changed to beer labels. James Minelli did a fast-paced routine with 2 female spectators from the audience. A card selected and signed by the spectator appeared in his pocket, then in the middle of the deck, the top of the deck and finally in his wallet. Billiard Balls appeared in the routine and he concluded with a coins-across routine. Young Sid had a Torn Chinese Laundry ticket routine with lines far beyond his years. A card he selected was also the card named by a spectator. Finally four cards produced happened to be the same four cards the spectator had previously selected.
 |
| Click here for more pictures |
Wrapping up the Ring Show was George Iglesias. Eight Queens were face up only to be found face down. Four of them then turned into four Jokers with four different colored backs. George showed a tube with a can of soda-pop covered inside. Six cans of soda pop were shown and a spectator merely thought of a brand. The prediction seemed to fail since a regular sugared soda was seen under the tube. George then popped the can and poured out a stream of dry sugar. Returning the tube over the can the correct selected brand was seen when the tube was lifted.
With the show concluded we adjourned and planned for the coming weekend's Annual Ring banquet and show. Good things are always happening in Ring 170!
Dennis Phillips
2007-04 Dennis' Thanks
Dennis expresses thanks!
Bev Bergeron was honored by the FAME Board at our March 24th banquet with "The Founder's Award" for service to FAME from the early 1970s to today. When Bev made the move from Hollywood to Orlando to take a staring role in The Diamond Horseshoe Review at The Magic Kingdom, he continued his service to the magic fraternity and helped revive Ring 170 and establish FAME. Our Ring is what it is today because of the long years of hard work and service by magic legend Bev Bergeron. He deserves our gratitude.
Harvey Brownlow and M.J.Emigh were given Past President Awards for their labors and service in their two-year tenures as President of FAME Ring 170. Serving as President is a task with a lot of responsibility and leadership demands. They served us well.
I want to express my gratefulness for being honored by the FAME board with a Lifetime Membership Award. Actually , I was stunned when Art Thomas emotionally read my name at the Banquet platform. I am a rookie in great company with FAME legends like Bev Bergeron, Bill Rosenthal and the late Dick Randall.
I think most of you know my association with FAME began in 1975 when I moved to Orlando from Charlotte, North Carolina. Through the years there were times when educational and employment demands kept me from regular attendance. In fact, I believe I was a "regular" for ten years before Bev made me officially sign up in 1986!
In the mid 1990s life settled down a bit for me and FAME needed a Secretary and ornery wordsmith to keep FAMULUS interesting , so Bev appointed me to the writing duties that he had labored at for so very long. Thank you for your honors.
As most of you know, there is an attempt to exhume the body of Houdini to see if he was poisoned by angry Spiritualists. Most scholars of Houdini see this as a ploy by the publishers of the latest Houdini book to boost sales. This is a national news story and I was invited to be interviewed by Bud Hedinger on his talk show on WFLA 540. The 15 minute interview was on the air in Tuesday afternoon March 27th and is available to be heard by clicking on Bud's section of the stations web site.
I detail how Houdini may have died from the effects of Leukemia (CML) due to a weakened immune system from heavy X-Ray exposure. His brother Leo was a radiologist and Houdini was fascinated with the machine that Leo kept in Houdini's home when he was living with Harry and Bess. My interview with Bud takes a few unusual turns!
Scroll down, the Quicktime link is on the right hand side of the page in the article description.
http://www.540wfla.com/cc-common/podcast.html
Have fun!
Dennis
Bev Bergeron was honored by the FAME Board at our March 24th banquet with "The Founder's Award" for service to FAME from the early 1970s to today. When Bev made the move from Hollywood to Orlando to take a staring role in The Diamond Horseshoe Review at The Magic Kingdom, he continued his service to the magic fraternity and helped revive Ring 170 and establish FAME. Our Ring is what it is today because of the long years of hard work and service by magic legend Bev Bergeron. He deserves our gratitude.
Harvey Brownlow and M.J.Emigh were given Past President Awards for their labors and service in their two-year tenures as President of FAME Ring 170. Serving as President is a task with a lot of responsibility and leadership demands. They served us well.
I want to express my gratefulness for being honored by the FAME board with a Lifetime Membership Award. Actually , I was stunned when Art Thomas emotionally read my name at the Banquet platform. I am a rookie in great company with FAME legends like Bev Bergeron, Bill Rosenthal and the late Dick Randall.
I think most of you know my association with FAME began in 1975 when I moved to Orlando from Charlotte, North Carolina. Through the years there were times when educational and employment demands kept me from regular attendance. In fact, I believe I was a "regular" for ten years before Bev made me officially sign up in 1986!
In the mid 1990s life settled down a bit for me and FAME needed a Secretary and ornery wordsmith to keep FAMULUS interesting , so Bev appointed me to the writing duties that he had labored at for so very long. Thank you for your honors.
As most of you know, there is an attempt to exhume the body of Houdini to see if he was poisoned by angry Spiritualists. Most scholars of Houdini see this as a ploy by the publishers of the latest Houdini book to boost sales. This is a national news story and I was invited to be interviewed by Bud Hedinger on his talk show on WFLA 540. The 15 minute interview was on the air in Tuesday afternoon March 27th and is available to be heard by clicking on Bud's section of the stations web site.
I detail how Houdini may have died from the effects of Leukemia (CML) due to a weakened immune system from heavy X-Ray exposure. His brother Leo was a radiologist and Houdini was fascinated with the machine that Leo kept in Houdini's home when he was living with Harry and Bess. My interview with Bud takes a few unusual turns!
Scroll down, the Quicktime link is on the right hand side of the page in the article description.
http://www.540wfla.com/cc-common/podcast.html
Have fun!
Dennis
2007-04 Vents Info
To all you "Vents" out there...
Just spent a delightful evening with Texas based Ventriloquist Ian Varella who just finished a month gig at Dixie Stampede. Small world all the people we both knew working ships. Ian did 30 min. for the "preshow" at Dixie with only two cloth figures and a simple cloth stand...I hate him (oh why do I love performing illusions?!?!) !He informs me that Jeff Dunham will be performing at the Orlando Improv again (seems to be annual now) this August. Saw Jeff two years ago there and he did 80 min. of nonstop very good material and most family friendly. Great show! Also...just saw that Ace Hardware is selling a bin of DVD's for just $1 each including the old Shari Lewis show. Luciano and I met her...in her Contemporary Hotel suite...at Disney World 30 years ago when her father Abe Hurwitz (sp?) visited. Abe was the Goodwill of Magic in New York City in the 40's & 50's better known as Peter Pan the Magic Man.
Dan Stapleton
Just spent a delightful evening with Texas based Ventriloquist Ian Varella who just finished a month gig at Dixie Stampede. Small world all the people we both knew working ships. Ian did 30 min. for the "preshow" at Dixie with only two cloth figures and a simple cloth stand...I hate him (oh why do I love performing illusions?!?!) !He informs me that Jeff Dunham will be performing at the Orlando Improv again (seems to be annual now) this August. Saw Jeff two years ago there and he did 80 min. of nonstop very good material and most family friendly. Great show! Also...just saw that Ace Hardware is selling a bin of DVD's for just $1 each including the old Shari Lewis show. Luciano and I met her...in her Contemporary Hotel suite...at Disney World 30 years ago when her father Abe Hurwitz (sp?) visited. Abe was the Goodwill of Magic in New York City in the 40's & 50's better known as Peter Pan the Magic Man.
Dan Stapleton
2007-04 Martin Nash in Accident
Thought you'd be interested in this [edited] email I received.
Bob Schvey
TVP-North Florida
International Brotherhood of Magicians
Dear Tannen's Magic Customers, We are sorry to report that Martin Nash has been involved in a car accident in Canada... his car was rear-ended by an 18 wheeler during a snowstorm... many other accidents occurred on that same stretch of highway around the same time. Martin has suffered a concussion as has his lady friend Heather (she may also have a broken bone in her neck)... his car is totaled and on the advice of his doctors he is not to travel, so he is forced to cancel his scheduled lecture tour. Martin feels horrible that won't be able to appear and share his magic with his many friends and fans. At this time we are unsure what the future will be in regard to his lecturing. I hope that you will all join me in wishing Martin and Heather a speedy and full recovery.
Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at Tannen's.
-- Tannen's Magic, Inc. 45 West 34th Street, Suite 608 New York, NY 10001
Bob Schvey
TVP-North Florida
International Brotherhood of Magicians
Dear Tannen's Magic Customers, We are sorry to report that Martin Nash has been involved in a car accident in Canada... his car was rear-ended by an 18 wheeler during a snowstorm... many other accidents occurred on that same stretch of highway around the same time. Martin has suffered a concussion as has his lady friend Heather (she may also have a broken bone in her neck)... his car is totaled and on the advice of his doctors he is not to travel, so he is forced to cancel his scheduled lecture tour. Martin feels horrible that won't be able to appear and share his magic with his many friends and fans. At this time we are unsure what the future will be in regard to his lecturing. I hope that you will all join me in wishing Martin and Heather a speedy and full recovery.
Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at Tannen's.
-- Tannen's Magic, Inc. 45 West 34th Street, Suite 608 New York, NY 10001
2007-04 Ring 258 Event
I.B.M. Ring # 258, The Lake County Magic Club
Presents
Our Annual Magic Flea Market and Swap Meet
Saturday, May 12, 2007, 12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM
At
The Youth and Retreat Center
33926 Haines Creek Road (Hwy 473)
Leesburg, FL
Entire collections may be sold at this event!
1. Sell the "Magic" that is gathering dust in your closet!!!
2. Buy someone else's junk and make it your treasure!!!
3. Get to know your I.B.M. buddies in Ring 258!!!
4. Get there early for a shot at the "best stuff".
5. What else have you got to do that day???
Directions:
From Orlando, Take SR 441 North toward Leesburg.
Make a Right on to Haines Creek Road/Hwy 473.
The Youth and Retreat Center will be on your Right,
just past the sweeping Left curve in the road.
For More Information Contact:
Jim Moody (352) 315-1100 or
crowdteaser@comcast.net
Presents
Our Annual Magic Flea Market and Swap Meet
Saturday, May 12, 2007, 12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM
At
The Youth and Retreat Center
33926 Haines Creek Road (Hwy 473)
Leesburg, FL
Entire collections may be sold at this event!
1. Sell the "Magic" that is gathering dust in your closet!!!
2. Buy someone else's junk and make it your treasure!!!
3. Get to know your I.B.M. buddies in Ring 258!!!
4. Get there early for a shot at the "best stuff".
5. What else have you got to do that day???
Directions:
From Orlando, Take SR 441 North toward Leesburg.
Make a Right on to Haines Creek Road/Hwy 473.
The Youth and Retreat Center will be on your Right,
just past the sweeping Left curve in the road.
For More Information Contact:
Jim Moody (352) 315-1100 or
crowdteaser@comcast.net
2007-04 John Scarne Video
Hi Guys,
Below is a link to a "video" of the Master, John Scarne, working with cards. It was sent to me by a magic buddy in Ring 244 on Long Island. This is some of the best card work you will ever see. I thought I would share it with those in Ring 170 for whom I have e-mail addresses. Enjoy!
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=a7f0f35744a1e5dc59649b8df9b8422d.2002252
Roger L. Reid
321-945-7500
Cigam the Magician
www.MagiClown.com
Below is a link to a "video" of the Master, John Scarne, working with cards. It was sent to me by a magic buddy in Ring 244 on Long Island. This is some of the best card work you will ever see. I thought I would share it with those in Ring 170 for whom I have e-mail addresses. Enjoy!
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=a7f0f35744a1e5dc59649b8df9b8422d.2002252
Roger L. Reid
321-945-7500
Cigam the Magician
www.MagiClown.com
2007-04 Banquet Photos
Thanks to all who sent pictures, they can be found by clicking on the picture below
 |
| Ring 170 Banquet 2007 |
2007-04 Dennis' Deliberations
Dennis' Deliberations..............................................
Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit . Sic transit gloria mundi *
A full moon was shinning on March 3rd and the sky was clear and the road was straight. I made my way down the Florida Turnpike to rural St. Cloud to the First Baptist Church. It was the first time in about 10 years I would get to see the full evening illusion show of Andre Kole.
I have known about Andre since the mid 1960s. We have met and corresponded a few times. He was known early on as Robert Gurtler, a young illusionist ,born in 1936, from the Phoenix, Arizona area. . At 12 years older than me he is almost from another generation. So, as I review his show keep in mind that I am talking about a 70 year old man who spent his magical formative years in an earlier time of magic. Also, keep in mind that we are dealing with a man who has had several deep emotional events in his life. The first involved a strong religious conversion experience in the early 1960s. As he tells it, his life was empty and without meaning and he had come to the end of himself (deep depression?) when he found a religious purpose and meaning in life in his conversion to Fundamentalist Protestant Christianity. He says that he dedicated his talents and life to God.
A second major stress must have been the loss of his wife, partner and chief assistant, Aljeana , to a brain tumor in the mid 1970s. Nevertheless , Andre has been on the road for over 30 years and has played all over the world. He has always been an ingenious inventor and original thinker. I can recall , a young Doug Henning, in 1969 at the Abbott's Get Together gushing to me over Andre's creations. Later Henning would use many of Andre's ideas such as Andre's "No-Feet" illusion on a TV special. During the early 70s Andre performed his "Table of Death" on Bill Bixby's TV series "The Magician". David Copperfield has used many of Andre's concepts. One was the "Squeeze Box" that was used to shrink David to just his head and feet. If you have ever used a "Spikes Through Balloon" you have used a invention from Andre for which I believe he says he never made a nickel !
So we are talking about a talented, experienced,colorful and complex guy when we talk about Andre. His college degree was in psychology and he enjoys quoting psychologists. He especially likes to show that they offer insights but are of little help to the human condition. For a while, his son Tim Kole was doing well in Las Vegas as a secular illusionist but he was severely injured in a motor vehicle accident while on a tour of Southwest Asia. That must have been another emotional stress for Andre.
Now...Please understand that I respect and like Andre. His program at First Baptist was totally appropriate and ideal for that venue or a sponsored religious college event . But, regrettably, most magicians and secular audiences would probably find his show very slow paced and oblique in current tastes in entertainment. He could never make it as a commercial secular illusionist with this type of act. Part of the reason is that first and foremost he is a preacher and evangelist, even though he rejects the title. The purpose of his show is to convert you to Fundamentalist Protestant Christianity. A trained theologian would tell you that his is a semi-Calvinistic , Revivalist form of Christianity. He is intent on this goal because this is what "saved" him and he believes that everyone has the same spiritual problem he had and needs the identical individualistic spiritual experience. Because his illusion show mixes magic, theology, psychology, geo-politics and religious doctrines, I will need to discuss all of these so you can get an insight into why you experience what you do at his illusion show.
A metacognitive analysis of his 90 minute show shows that it is designed to convince you that all claims of Supernaturalism are fake but Andre's mystical Fundamentalist Christianity is real. He constantly (non-verbally and verbally) tells you that you are gullible and incapable of understanding empirical reality and he tries to prove his proposition by fooling you with his illusions. Then, near the end he offers you a mystical way ( a conversion experience through a simple prayer) to link with God and come to understand that God alone is the great illusionist who does the real stuff- Does that make sense? Hang on! I will get to Andre's illusions in a moment.
Andre's illusion show travels under the banner of Campus Crusade for Christ. This is a massive international para-church ministry founded by the late Bill Bright and aimed mostly at college students. At the core of their theology is the practice of "Decisional Regeneration". This means that if you decide, in your mind and from your own free-will, to be a Christian , you are instantly going to Heaven, justified with God and ontologically a new spiritual creation. This is reflected in their Four Spiritual Laws:
Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit . Sic transit gloria mundi *
A full moon was shinning on March 3rd and the sky was clear and the road was straight. I made my way down the Florida Turnpike to rural St. Cloud to the First Baptist Church. It was the first time in about 10 years I would get to see the full evening illusion show of Andre Kole.
I have known about Andre since the mid 1960s. We have met and corresponded a few times. He was known early on as Robert Gurtler, a young illusionist ,born in 1936, from the Phoenix, Arizona area. . At 12 years older than me he is almost from another generation. So, as I review his show keep in mind that I am talking about a 70 year old man who spent his magical formative years in an earlier time of magic. Also, keep in mind that we are dealing with a man who has had several deep emotional events in his life. The first involved a strong religious conversion experience in the early 1960s. As he tells it, his life was empty and without meaning and he had come to the end of himself (deep depression?) when he found a religious purpose and meaning in life in his conversion to Fundamentalist Protestant Christianity. He says that he dedicated his talents and life to God.
A second major stress must have been the loss of his wife, partner and chief assistant, Aljeana , to a brain tumor in the mid 1970s. Nevertheless , Andre has been on the road for over 30 years and has played all over the world. He has always been an ingenious inventor and original thinker. I can recall , a young Doug Henning, in 1969 at the Abbott's Get Together gushing to me over Andre's creations. Later Henning would use many of Andre's ideas such as Andre's "No-Feet" illusion on a TV special. During the early 70s Andre performed his "Table of Death" on Bill Bixby's TV series "The Magician". David Copperfield has used many of Andre's concepts. One was the "Squeeze Box" that was used to shrink David to just his head and feet. If you have ever used a "Spikes Through Balloon" you have used a invention from Andre for which I believe he says he never made a nickel !
So we are talking about a talented, experienced,colorful and complex guy when we talk about Andre. His college degree was in psychology and he enjoys quoting psychologists. He especially likes to show that they offer insights but are of little help to the human condition. For a while, his son Tim Kole was doing well in Las Vegas as a secular illusionist but he was severely injured in a motor vehicle accident while on a tour of Southwest Asia. That must have been another emotional stress for Andre.
Now...Please understand that I respect and like Andre. His program at First Baptist was totally appropriate and ideal for that venue or a sponsored religious college event . But, regrettably, most magicians and secular audiences would probably find his show very slow paced and oblique in current tastes in entertainment. He could never make it as a commercial secular illusionist with this type of act. Part of the reason is that first and foremost he is a preacher and evangelist, even though he rejects the title. The purpose of his show is to convert you to Fundamentalist Protestant Christianity. A trained theologian would tell you that his is a semi-Calvinistic , Revivalist form of Christianity. He is intent on this goal because this is what "saved" him and he believes that everyone has the same spiritual problem he had and needs the identical individualistic spiritual experience. Because his illusion show mixes magic, theology, psychology, geo-politics and religious doctrines, I will need to discuss all of these so you can get an insight into why you experience what you do at his illusion show.
A metacognitive analysis of his 90 minute show shows that it is designed to convince you that all claims of Supernaturalism are fake but Andre's mystical Fundamentalist Christianity is real. He constantly (non-verbally and verbally) tells you that you are gullible and incapable of understanding empirical reality and he tries to prove his proposition by fooling you with his illusions. Then, near the end he offers you a mystical way ( a conversion experience through a simple prayer) to link with God and come to understand that God alone is the great illusionist who does the real stuff- Does that make sense? Hang on! I will get to Andre's illusions in a moment.
Andre's illusion show travels under the banner of Campus Crusade for Christ. This is a massive international para-church ministry founded by the late Bill Bright and aimed mostly at college students. At the core of their theology is the practice of "Decisional Regeneration". This means that if you decide, in your mind and from your own free-will, to be a Christian , you are instantly going to Heaven, justified with God and ontologically a new spiritual creation. This is reflected in their Four Spiritual Laws:
- God Loves you and wants you to be saved.
- Mankind is sinful , separated from God and needs God.
- Jesus has the answers to all your problems.
- You must individually accept and trust Jesus.
In fairness, Andre's approach does provide a path for many people who need a spiritual purpose in their lives. We live in a very complex and seemingly meaningless world. Strong religious faith is a bedrock for many of us. Andre articulates one religious form of a cultural and historic theological/methodology based on 19th Century Protestant Revivalism as found in D.L. Moody, R.A. Torrey and the Keswickians and recently the Neo-Evangelicals. So, give the guy a break. If you want to see his innovative illusions , cut him some slack on the religious pitch. In a quieter time, check out his religious advice. It may do you some good. He is not "pushy" with his direct pitch and offers anyone a chance to leave during his sermon portion of the program. In all the performances I have seen, I have never seen anyone leave. After all, he shows another magic trick as part of the sermon.
Andre's technical staging is ingenious. He carries a pipe and drape set and a 12 by 12 foot proscenium ,and a curtain traveler, with him. He transforms the front of a traditional church into a boxed stage for his illusions. On each upper side of the proscenium, on the inside end of the traveler is an intelligent light.He also uses a front footlight strip .He carries his own sound system with professionally done music and announcing tracks as well as a Hazer fog machine.
The program opens with a pounding musical overture. There is a recorded announcement by a deep-throated announcer about all the continents and countries that Andre has toured. The curtains open and an upright 4 foot by 4 foot box fan can be seen. Two main assistants wheel it forward. A puff of CO2 is blown through it into the audience. At each corner are 2 foot tinsel streamers waving in the breeze. The fan is rotated to a horizontal position and the two assistants place a 10 foot square thin red cloth over the fan and the breeze billows up the cloth like a parachute. The cloth is lowered down again and allowed to quickly billow up and there in silhouette with his hair blowing in the wind stands Andre! As the music builds to a crescendo Andre does a classic fist thrusting up for the applause cue. A very impressive opening.
Illusionists watching will appreciate that the secret was split second timing and the joys of working inside a small performing box set with side views blocked.
Andre walked out to the apron as the curtains closed behind him . He lighted a length of about 18 inches of black rope and as orange flames burned, he twirled the rope and it became a cane. This is one of several signature effects he does. The music ended and Andre welcomed the audience and told them that he was doing nothing supernatural. He mentioned that a million dollar prize offered by skeptics to anyone who could do the supernatural is still unclaimed. He said there were two professions where a person tells you that he is going to do something and then fools you. One is a magician, the other is a politician. The audience laughed.
He began with a tribute to the Broadway play, The Phantom of the Opera. The famous Andrew Lloyd Webber show-music played. The illusion is performed with his female assistant and is known as "The Head Mover". It is an original creation of Andre's and made popular on a David Copperfield special. The girl kneels in a framework and her head is encased in a box sitting on the top of the framework. A sword is passed through the neck area. The box is then moved to each side and finally removed showing that she is decapitated. Finally, the box is replaced and the girl emerges unharmed.
After the applause, the curtain closed and Andre invited a spectator to come in front of the curtain to help him. He did the Lester Lake Head Chopper with all the well-worn , but classic lines. The St. Cloud Baptist church audience ate it up.
The curtains opened after Andre talked about how he helped David Copperfield walk through the Great Wall of China. A young woman dressed in a very baggy Oriental style costume could be see laying on her side on a gurney-type table. She was assisted to lay flat. Andre took off his shoes and walked up a step ladder placed in the back and middle of the table. His male assistants placed two hand rails over the girl's body. Andre then stepped on her belly and slowly his feet and the legs melted down through the middle of the girl. The prop seemed to me to be a kind of horizontal "Interlude" with a fake body-side under the girl's baggy costume. The table had a lift built into it to allow Andre to lower through the girl and rise back up.
Next was Andre's version of Abbott's ( and John Calvert's) Spirit Tie. Andre does a long build-up by telling the complete story of the Fox Sisters . They made Spiritualism famous in America at the time of the psychological trauma in the post Civil War years. He invites 2 gentlemen up to help him and his hands are securely tied around him. He sits in a wooden folding chair and his ankles are tied to the chair legs. A TV tray with aluminum pie pans and a bell is placed in front of him. When the hooped cloth cabinet is raised around him, the pie pans fly over the top, the bell rings and the TV tray comes flying out. The cabinet is quickly lowered and Andre was still tied and in a trance. Here is where those two intelligent stage lights came in handy. They strobed while the spook action was happening. Next a borrow jacket place on Andre's lap was found on him. Finally one of the gentleman was blindfolded and placed in the hoop cabinet and ended up with his shoes off, pants legs rolled up and a bucket over his head. The theme from the film Ghostbusters was playing during the final spook scene.
One of the best responses of the evening was another of his signature acts. It is a routine you might expect to see at a child's birthday party. He invited 4 children up to help. A glass of water was poured into a small vase and inverted and eventually placed on the top of the head of one of the children. Another child was given an open handkerchief to hold up in an opened position in the air at the side of the group.This became a running gag as Andre frequently told the child to "hold it up a little higher!". Andre then went through a break-away wand and breakaway fan with one of the little girls. Finally he used an ice-pick and poked a hole in the boy's forehead and a long thin stream of water shot out of the boy's forehead into the audience. Andre then placed on a large chrome faucet on the boy's forehead. A funnel was placed under the faucet and water was pumped out of the boys brain as the girl assistant working the boy's arm like a pump handle. The vase was removed from the child's head and was empty. Andre walked over to the other child who was holding up the handkerchief and calmly wiped the water from his hands on the handkerchief. The St. Cloud Baptist church audience roared!
The next trick could best be described as a human-sized sucker-sliding die box. A large box was shown with two doors on the front and the back. A male assistant went in through the top and could be seen lying inside. Andre did the typical lines about "making him disappear". One door was opened and then the other and finally the back doors on each side. Just when the audience thought they had the trick figured out, he closed all the doors and the entire box was lifted from the table and a female assistant was seen reclining where the male assistant was.
Andre closed the first act of the program with another of his signature illusions, his self-levitation. He puts on a white robe and sits yogi fashion on a decorative box. the box has a huge 6 foot diameter open ring upright on the back and it is filled with small lights. Andre levitates up to the middle of the open ring. A Blaney hoop is passed over him. Finally the box and ring are pushed 5 feet in back of him, leaving him seemingly floating in the middle of the stage. He does not float back down but the curtain closes and the first act is over.
Intermission saw most of the crowd follow his suggestion to browse his sale table filled with books, posters, 8 by10 fan photos, DVDs and T-shirts.
I am not certain about his financial arrangements with Campus Crusade for Christ but I know several people that work for them and CCC does not pay them. I believe that they use the Campus Crusade name and 501 C-3 tax status to raise their own support. I would guess that Andre has a number of sustaining contributors around the country that help keep him on the road. I seriously doubt that he could perform with no admission charge to 400 or so people in St. Cloud without other means of support. Standard show-industry buying statistics reveal about $3 to $4 as an average concession, trinket take per audience member in his type of venue. I don't think only a sporadic $1,500 income could keep his program on the road, given his schedule of not playing every day. Several years ago I think his website said that he only required lodging for his crew . His show travels in an aging 24 foot diesel box truck with a king cab that holds four passengers. It was parked in the church parking lot.
The second act was shorter and featured Andre lowering himself through the center of the large fan. Again that same box fan was flipped up to a horizontal position and two poles with hand hold rings on winch cables were locked in place and Andre apparently lowered himself through the whirling fan blades.
He then went into the sermon part of the illusion program. He said that it was probably the most important part of his illusion show so I must deal with what he said and did. While doing the sermon he made a light bulb vanish from a break-apart box and reappear back in the lamp. It was an object lesson to that he wants you to believe that man has a soul, Jesus rose from the dead and you were made to live forever. I am certain that in a more secular setting , such as a college, he does not extend the sermon such as he did at First Baptist of St. Cloud. He included all kinds of current news events to convince you that the world as we know it today is in immediate danger of terrifying apocalyptic events. You are free to scroll down a few paragraphs to more of the magic review and avoid hearing his sermon about the doom facing us soon.
He preached that a Pentagon friend told him that Hugo Chavez is buying Russian submarines to attack the United States. I wonder if the CIA knows that? Would Chavez nuke his own American Citgo stations that are making him billions? He also told the audience that Turkey has many hydroelectric dams at the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates River which means that they could dry up the rivers and allow 200 million Red Chinese to invade Israel! I question if Andre knows global geography very well. Isn't the Himalayan Mountain Range or Russia in the way? If that many able bodied Red Chinese leave their factories and jobs, maybe there is hope for American manufacturing again!
It is a well known speculative conclusion that the state of Israel has a formable nuclear arsenal. Long before 200 million Red Chinese would undertake the long land trek across the Iranian and Iraqi and Jordanian desert, Israel ( and others) would unleash their weapons. Andre's military thinking is from the Napoleonic era. Today it is possible to totally easily destroy (annihilate!) a small nation-state using long range weapons. "Boots on the Ground" are needed only for long term occupations, such as we are doing in Iraq. Israel is a small nation and its land has little mineral value although a small section of Israel has some religious sites and shrines that are honored by Judaism, Christianity and Islam (none to the Red Chinese). A 200 million man Red Chinese army combined with another few million fighters from other unfriendly nations (that want the downfall of the state of Israel) seems to me to be a bit of a stretch in terms of modern rational strategic military operations.
In fairness to Andre, he is merely repeating what was said long ago by Bible footnoter, C.I. Scofield and more recently by Rev. John Hagee, Rev. Hal Lindsey and most other Fundamentalist Premillenial Dispensationalist Christians on religious radio and TV. They find proof-texts for all these predictions in their literal exegesis of the Bible. (one example is Revelation 9:16) Of course, when you read the verses literally, you find out that this 200 million man army will also have horses! Imagine the logistics needed to provide hay and water for 200 million horses! Imagine all the droppings!
He then asked anyone who wished to pray the special prayer for salvation with him to bow their heads and he led the prayer and passed out cards for people to sign their name and give their address for a follow up.
Anyway, this kind of doomsday talk , as exciting as it progressed, was a low point in the pacing of the illusion program but I believe appropriate for the ultimate purpose for Andre's program and the eschatological doctrines of that church denomination .
The finale act was Andre's "Vanishing Statue of Liberty" . It is a 10 foot high fiberglass copy of the monument. David Copperfield does the audio introduction.
It stood on a low platform and had two high posts on each side. Andre's assistants used two lines through pulleys and raised up a hoop with a cloth tube hanging from it. This was to hide the Statue. The tube was not long enough to completely hide the statue. When it was fully extended the head and arm of the statue could still be seen over the top of the hoop. Andre explained that he was going to vanish the statue from the bottom up! The hoop was raised and there was nothing where the bottom had been. The entire hoop was dropped and the top part was missing. Nothing was there. It was a dramatic show piece and well executed. Keep in mind that he is within his own small box set with all the side angles covered. The walls of the surrounding set had an odd aluminum strip pattern on solid flat black with small twinkle lights at various points. My friend Paul Osborne has written several plans showing clever ways of using a rigid set to load out items.
After well-deserved applause, Andre stepped onto the platform and the hoop was raised and dropped and he also was gone!
I think his final personal vanish was overkill and somewhat tipped off how both tricks were done but perhaps I was thinking like a magician and not like a member of the rural First Baptist Church of St. Cloud. In any event, the audience loved the show. Andre got a standing ovation.I also was on my feet. I again admired his ability, talent and presentation. I was entertained and glad I saw him again. I believe that his faith should be an inspiration to all.
I took the Florida Turnpike back home...the road was still straight, the sky was still clear and the full moon was still shinning and had not yet turned red like blood. (Revelation 6:12)
Dennis Phillips
Orlando, Florida
* Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit - If the end is good, everything will be good (all's well that ends well)
Sic transit gloria mundi - So passes the glory of the world
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