2010-03 Ring Report

President Craig Fennessy called the meeting to order on February 17th and introduced the Ring's officers to the members and guests in attendance.

Craig informed the group that our esteemed member Jack Kodell was recovering from a touch of pneumonia at a local hospital and expected to be released shortly. He went on to say that the Ring's Flea Market will be held on March 13th and will feature Michael Ammar doing a lecture and workshop and Michael Eaton doing a mini-lecture. Several lectures have been scheduled already for the Spring and will include Chris Capehart on May 11th and Bob Sheets in June. The Ring's Annual Banquet is also planned for April. (Editors note: The banquet has been moved to May. More to follow soon.)

The Ring's informal get-togethers for lunch at the MacDonald's just west of I-4 on Sand Lake Road have been going along quite well and the membership were all invited to attend on Tuesdays at noon if they were in the area.

Mark Fitzgerald and Doug Otto are both performing at the Hard Rock Hotel on Friday nights.

Dave Koenig is doing a Podcast for Radioesp.com titled 'Dark Truth'

Bev Bergeron was up next with his technique in demonstrating the Vanishing Glass and Coin, an effect which he had observed the late Kerrel Fox and Slydini perform. Bev's handling of the effect was superb.

Phil Schwartz followed Bev with Magic History Moment #19 a treatise on Printing and Broadsides as they pertained to magic lore. The Ring learned that Printing with Woodcuts came as early as 200 AD and was used until the Intaglio process, utilizing etched copper or zinc plates, was developed in the 15th Century. This was the accepted method of printing until the close of the 18th Century (1796) when Lithography, a process of printing from a stone or metal plate based on the repulsion between grease and water was perfected. Phil had examples of broadsides (large posters printed on one side advertising magic performances) from the 19th Century and the early 20th Century of Harry Houdini, John Henry Anderson and Alexander Herrmann.

Kerry Pierce emceed the performance segment of the meeting with Charlie Pfrogner starting off with a very entertaining Cut and Restored Rope effect with a twist at the end. Dan Stapleton followed with a great trick from Grant's Brilliant Card Magic. James Songster and Mike Martin as 'Carnak' did a comedy routine that even “Johnny” would have enjoyed. Jim McNiff did a challenging mind reading determination with cards that mystified the audience. Will Wortman demonstrated his skill in coin manipulation and other sleights to an amazed membership. Ravelli closed out the performances with a variety of effects from Coin Magic for kids, dollar bill from tissue paper and torn bill restoration and finished with an extraction of all the paper, from the act, out of his mouth.

A fine time was had by all.

Sheldon Brook