2009-02 Ring Report Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring

Our January ring meeting was at the International House Of Pancakes on Kirkman Road. The weather outside was unusually cold for an Orlando January but the crowd of 28 magicians were warm inside the meeting room. We will be at the IHOP again in February but we expect to again have a permanent place to meet in March.

President Craig Fennessy gaveled the meeting to order. He and Treasurer, Art Thomas, remind everyone to pay their yearly dues since our future meeting location will be requiring rental fees. We had one guest, Michael Eaton. President Fennessy announced many upcoming lectures and magic events. The up to date information is available at our Ring 170 website.

Elliott Hitchcock announced his “Magical Arts and Design Studio” will host a Michael Finney lecture and he intends to have Jeff McBride, Gay Blackstone and many other guest lectures in the coming year. “Hitch” is trying to promote Orlando as another magic hot spot. We can hope he succeeds. He also sadly announced that Lyle Balcom had died. Lyle was a rotund clown and magician. He appeared on stage with his act at the Florida State Magicians Convention a few years back when we hosted it here in Central Florida. Lyle was professionally known as “Blumbo” and was noted for his children’s shows and balloons.

The business meeting was adjourned so we could give the balance of the meeting time to the guest lecturer of the evening: Chastain Criswell the inventor of Tag and Deface. Chastain has been performing these effects and others for laymen all over the south. He has appeared at private parties, public events, to corporate engagements with all of the items in the lecture. They are real crowd pleasers and foolers for magicians. His wacky style and charming personality, with a touch of a southern drawl, added to his delightful presentation and explanations. His featured effects included a unique use of the Scotch and Soda gimmick with a coin purse. He did some incredible moves with an Okito Coin Box and his Enigma Triumph card routine was baffling. Criswell has an amazing way to take a classic routine and develop it into a unique and baffling new presentation.

With the meeting concluded we look forward to the New Year and hopefully an economic renewal. Good things are always happening in Ring 170

Dennis Phillips