Posts
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
Friday, May 11, 2007
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.
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| 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
Monday, March 12, 2007
2007-03 Famulus newsletter of IBM Ring 170
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 03/21/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Favorite Packet Tricks
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.
Next general meeting Wednesday, 03/21/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Favorite Packet Tricks
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.
2007-03 From the editor
Thanks to our contributors this month, Joe, Ian, Craig and as always Dennis. Don't forget to sign up for the Annual Show later this moth, see below or our ring web-site for more information.
2007-03 Ring Report
Ring Report Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
Prior to our regular meeting we had another open board of directors meeting. Joe Vechiarelli was elected to replace the late Charlie Cox as our Sgt. at Arms. We all miss Charlie and are thankful for the years of service he gave to our ring. President Craig Fennessey gaveled the regular meeting to order and we had seven quests:
Margery Knapp the guest of her son, Leah and Cory guests of Kerry Pierce, Jeremy Haak visiting from Ring 11, Philip Keiser visiting from Columbus, Ohio, Gary Morton from Youngstown, Ohio and Jim Garrison. Joe Vechiarelli was introduced as our new Sgt. at Arms and board member. Steve Hart, our hard working IBM territorial representative gave a short talk on the benefits of IBM membership. President Fennessey showed a recording of some funny ventriloquists on a recent special ventriloquist week on The David Letterman Show.
Dan Stapleton gave a review of some recent magic shows in the Orlando area. These included Marc Salem's appearance doing mental magic. Dottie's Comedy Club is a new magic venue in Orlando near the International Drive area. Dan gave a wrap up of the Saturday Night Show in Tampa for this year's Magic On The Bay Convention.
Dennis Phillips added a few words about the Friday Night show that featured Rocco, Sterling Steal, Mark Charles and Mr. Bones. Bev Bergeron has a new DVD out on the market.
Plans for the upcoming banquet and auction/flea market were announced. The business meeting concluded and Kerry Pierce volunteered to Emcee the evening's magic presentations. First up was visitor Jeremy Haak visiting from Ring 11 in Moline, IL. He began with the Dick Stoner paper-folding comedy bit known as "Grave Mistake".
He then presented his comedy linking rings with two volunteers and lots of funny lines. A standout was all the funny "impressions" he made with his rings. The funny impressions were in the fashion of David Williamson's Rocky. Dan Stapleton followed in the announced theme, Valentine magic, and presented an effect with 5 Valentine cards that had been handed out to spectators earlier in the evening. They were instructed to write a love-note on the card but not sign it. The cards where then sealed out of sight on Dan and he attempted to determine who had written each card. He was successful! This was a clever adaptation of Theodore Annemann's Pseudo-psychometry.
Steve Hart did a clever effect in the love them that he found in a Linking Ring Parade years ago. A female spectator played "He loves me-he loves me not" with a deck of cards and arrived at the card she had previously selected . Guest, Philip Keiser did a polished card routine where a signed spectator's card was revealed and later ended up in his wallet. Charlie Pfrogner had a cute prop with many colored beads. They were removed from their plastic holder and placed in a handkerchief only to disappear and reappear in the covered holder. For a while Charlie had a clever sucker explanation but he ended up with a real mystery.
Finally, Emcee Kerry Pierce, did a unique version of the "1089" trick using 3 spectators with pencils and paper. Random numbers were revealed. With the magic done for the evening we adjourned. A great Spring and summer of activities are planned. Join us when you visit Orlando! Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
Prior to our regular meeting we had another open board of directors meeting. Joe Vechiarelli was elected to replace the late Charlie Cox as our Sgt. at Arms. We all miss Charlie and are thankful for the years of service he gave to our ring. President Craig Fennessey gaveled the regular meeting to order and we had seven quests:
Margery Knapp the guest of her son, Leah and Cory guests of Kerry Pierce, Jeremy Haak visiting from Ring 11, Philip Keiser visiting from Columbus, Ohio, Gary Morton from Youngstown, Ohio and Jim Garrison. Joe Vechiarelli was introduced as our new Sgt. at Arms and board member. Steve Hart, our hard working IBM territorial representative gave a short talk on the benefits of IBM membership. President Fennessey showed a recording of some funny ventriloquists on a recent special ventriloquist week on The David Letterman Show.
Dan Stapleton gave a review of some recent magic shows in the Orlando area. These included Marc Salem's appearance doing mental magic. Dottie's Comedy Club is a new magic venue in Orlando near the International Drive area. Dan gave a wrap up of the Saturday Night Show in Tampa for this year's Magic On The Bay Convention.
Dennis Phillips added a few words about the Friday Night show that featured Rocco, Sterling Steal, Mark Charles and Mr. Bones. Bev Bergeron has a new DVD out on the market.
Plans for the upcoming banquet and auction/flea market were announced. The business meeting concluded and Kerry Pierce volunteered to Emcee the evening's magic presentations. First up was visitor Jeremy Haak visiting from Ring 11 in Moline, IL. He began with the Dick Stoner paper-folding comedy bit known as "Grave Mistake".
He then presented his comedy linking rings with two volunteers and lots of funny lines. A standout was all the funny "impressions" he made with his rings. The funny impressions were in the fashion of David Williamson's Rocky. Dan Stapleton followed in the announced theme, Valentine magic, and presented an effect with 5 Valentine cards that had been handed out to spectators earlier in the evening. They were instructed to write a love-note on the card but not sign it. The cards where then sealed out of sight on Dan and he attempted to determine who had written each card. He was successful! This was a clever adaptation of Theodore Annemann's Pseudo-psychometry.
Steve Hart did a clever effect in the love them that he found in a Linking Ring Parade years ago. A female spectator played "He loves me-he loves me not" with a deck of cards and arrived at the card she had previously selected . Guest, Philip Keiser did a polished card routine where a signed spectator's card was revealed and later ended up in his wallet. Charlie Pfrogner had a cute prop with many colored beads. They were removed from their plastic holder and placed in a handkerchief only to disappear and reappear in the covered holder. For a while Charlie had a clever sucker explanation but he ended up with a real mystery.
Finally, Emcee Kerry Pierce, did a unique version of the "1089" trick using 3 spectators with pencils and paper. Random numbers were revealed. With the magic done for the evening we adjourned. A great Spring and summer of activities are planned. Join us when you visit Orlando! Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
2007-03 Supporting fellow magicians abroad
My Kind of Magic’ is an e-book amassed and brought out by Solyl Kundu.
In this .PDF file (1,277 KB) e-book 10 complete routines plus several effects collected from reputed magic journals and lecture-notes that Solyl has contributed to or created over the years has been lucidly explained within 48 pages, with several clear line drawings and color photographs. The e-book contains 28 effects of conjuring and close-up variety.
Magicians who know Solyl know him to be a versatile performer. There are routines to satisfy any magician, whether his/her interest is close-up, conjuring, Children’s party or school assembly and club shows.
There are routines / effects with Cards, Matchboxes, Silks, Confetti, and Feather Flower Bouquets, Calling Cards, Spring Flowers, and a Self-vanishing cane that is a Gem of a stage magic. There are effects that will amuse the lookers-on as well as fetch you bookings (keep your fingers crossed :-) too. The routines supplied are complete with presentation and patter suggestions. Solyl is a professional entertainer who knows what audiences like and will pay for.
Solyl (or Salil Kumar Kundu in real life) is TVP for India – N and collecting a little donation for raising funds to organize a Magic Convention in early 2008 in his territory under banner of PC Sorcar Ring #83 through this digest. Therefore if you care to learn or use (magic from this e-book) or just want to add an offbeat digest to your magic library just send a mail to ibmring83@gmail.com or solylkundu@gmail.com for additional information.
In this .PDF file (1,277 KB) e-book 10 complete routines plus several effects collected from reputed magic journals and lecture-notes that Solyl has contributed to or created over the years has been lucidly explained within 48 pages, with several clear line drawings and color photographs. The e-book contains 28 effects of conjuring and close-up variety.
Magicians who know Solyl know him to be a versatile performer. There are routines to satisfy any magician, whether his/her interest is close-up, conjuring, Children’s party or school assembly and club shows.
There are routines / effects with Cards, Matchboxes, Silks, Confetti, and Feather Flower Bouquets, Calling Cards, Spring Flowers, and a Self-vanishing cane that is a Gem of a stage magic. There are effects that will amuse the lookers-on as well as fetch you bookings (keep your fingers crossed :-) too. The routines supplied are complete with presentation and patter suggestions. Solyl is a professional entertainer who knows what audiences like and will pay for.
Solyl (or Salil Kumar Kundu in real life) is TVP for India – N and collecting a little donation for raising funds to organize a Magic Convention in early 2008 in his territory under banner of PC Sorcar Ring #83 through this digest. Therefore if you care to learn or use (magic from this e-book) or just want to add an offbeat digest to your magic library just send a mail to ibmring83@gmail.com or solylkundu@gmail.com for additional information.
2007-03 "Magical" tables
I saw this and thought that other members may be interested in it as well.
Michaels Crafts
They are about 22" tall and break down for travel very nicely.
As far as stability goes...I think they are pretty stable and go
together very easy. I was planning on taking the center spindle to Home Depot or Lowe's and seeing if they had a taller version that can be used when I want a taller table. If they don't have a taller version ready to go I don't see it as too much of a hassle to make one up. I also took two spindles, one from each set I bought, and attached them together to make a taller table. It looks pretty good and still seems pretty stable.
I will bring them to the next FAME meeting in case anyone want to see them.
Joe Vecciarelli
www.joeduhclown.com
www.bunniesinperil.com
www.itsunbelievablemagic.com
www.myspace.com/itsunbelievablemagic
Michaels Crafts
They are about 22" tall and break down for travel very nicely.
As far as stability goes...I think they are pretty stable and go
together very easy. I was planning on taking the center spindle to Home Depot or Lowe's and seeing if they had a taller version that can be used when I want a taller table. If they don't have a taller version ready to go I don't see it as too much of a hassle to make one up. I also took two spindles, one from each set I bought, and attached them together to make a taller table. It looks pretty good and still seems pretty stable.
I will bring them to the next FAME meeting in case anyone want to see them.
Joe Vecciarelli
www.joeduhclown.com
www.bunniesinperil.com
www.itsunbelievablemagic.com
www.myspace.com/itsunbelievablemagic
2007-03 Upcoming Events
This is a reminder of the up coming magic events for Ring 170, Orlando Florida in March. The F.A.M.E. banquet and magic show is back this year, do not miss out! A great bargain for a dinner and top notch magic show featuring M.C. and Headliner act Aldo Colombini.
We still are looking for two more acts to share the stage at this years event. If interested in performing this year contact Chris Dunn at: Youngdunns@yahoo.com or Craig Fennessy at cfennessy@lycos.com, 407-947-1182.
MARCH EVENTS:
1. Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - John Born lecture at Kirkman I-Hop
(See attached for more lecture details)
2. Wednesday, March 21, 2007 Normal Ring Meeting night – Theme “Favorite packet tricks”
3. Saturday, March 24, 2007 - Ring 170 Banquet & Magic Show – Featuring Aldo Colombini as M.C. and Headliner along with some of Florida’s best performers.
$20.00 per person get both a dinner & show. Reservations only!
E-mail reservations to: Art.Thomas@Disney.com Payment at the door.
We still are looking for two more acts to share the stage at this years event. If interested in performing this year contact Chris Dunn at: Youngdunns@yahoo.com or Craig Fennessy at cfennessy@lycos.com, 407-947-1182.
MARCH EVENTS:
1. Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - John Born lecture at Kirkman I-Hop
(See attached for more lecture details)
2. Wednesday, March 21, 2007 Normal Ring Meeting night – Theme “Favorite packet tricks”
3. Saturday, March 24, 2007 - Ring 170 Banquet & Magic Show – Featuring Aldo Colombini as M.C. and Headliner along with some of Florida’s best performers.
$20.00 per person get both a dinner & show. Reservations only!
E-mail reservations to: Art.Thomas@Disney.com Payment at the door.
2007-03 Tampa Bay Convention
The 2007 convention in Tampa sponsored by the Magic shop in Tampa had an impressive line-up of talent and in my opinion delivered. The highlite of the convention was Roccos internationally acclaimed F.I.S.M. act with productions of cards, coins, liquids, fruit, ice cream and transpositions all done at the fingertips with exciting music and a European flair.
This was followed by Sterling Steal technica metal act with chrome steel apparatus productions of steel balls, giant tubular rings and some great manipulation and futuristic mechanistic costume and music.
MC Tom Jones was just the right touch of mild comedy to do the transition between acts. Mr. Bones, a pirate ensemble of characters was a bit long but had some great illusions. Other competant acts were Garett Thomas, Sam Sandler, Danny Archer and Duane Laflin.
Saturday nights stage show, opened with Tony Chapek featured on Genii mag in January. The vanishing of a live video camera was a stunning beginning and then it got better with a large screen hi-def tv image of Chapeks mischeivous other self interacting with the live Tony
Chapek pouring the Tv image a drink, answering a phone by reaching into the image and doing silk vanishes and card effects perfectly timed to give an impressive depth to this performance. He then did a personna and costume transposition as a finale. You should have been there. This first act got the first of two standing o's for the night.
The second one came when Rocco did misers dream, snowstorm in China, card and coin productions and some of the bits from his FISM act. What a showman.
Sam Sandler did the second half with a vigorous barrage of effects, illusions and juggling. An energetic act and well done but the audience stayed seated.
The MC was Ronald McDonald, a lackluster, poor excuse of a performer.
That and some sound glitches were the only complaints.
The dealers rooms stayed opened til midnight but everyone attended the Rocco Lecture which was fantastic and lasted till 12:30 am.
---------
Other performance of note were Gregory Wilson who did some afternoon magic along with Danny Archer. Archer did a Mafioso accent while entertaining and it sold well.
Lectures of not were Sterling Steal, Gregory Wilson, Garrett Thomas, Magic Ian, Sam Sandler and Rocco.
This convention warranted better attendance that it got, producers Marty Capitano, and Aaron Michaels worked hard and delivered, so make sure you get there next year.
- Ian
This was followed by Sterling Steal technica metal act with chrome steel apparatus productions of steel balls, giant tubular rings and some great manipulation and futuristic mechanistic costume and music.
MC Tom Jones was just the right touch of mild comedy to do the transition between acts. Mr. Bones, a pirate ensemble of characters was a bit long but had some great illusions. Other competant acts were Garett Thomas, Sam Sandler, Danny Archer and Duane Laflin.
Saturday nights stage show, opened with Tony Chapek featured on Genii mag in January. The vanishing of a live video camera was a stunning beginning and then it got better with a large screen hi-def tv image of Chapeks mischeivous other self interacting with the live Tony
Chapek pouring the Tv image a drink, answering a phone by reaching into the image and doing silk vanishes and card effects perfectly timed to give an impressive depth to this performance. He then did a personna and costume transposition as a finale. You should have been there. This first act got the first of two standing o's for the night.
The second one came when Rocco did misers dream, snowstorm in China, card and coin productions and some of the bits from his FISM act. What a showman.
Sam Sandler did the second half with a vigorous barrage of effects, illusions and juggling. An energetic act and well done but the audience stayed seated.
The MC was Ronald McDonald, a lackluster, poor excuse of a performer.
That and some sound glitches were the only complaints.
The dealers rooms stayed opened til midnight but everyone attended the Rocco Lecture which was fantastic and lasted till 12:30 am.
---------
Other performance of note were Gregory Wilson who did some afternoon magic along with Danny Archer. Archer did a Mafioso accent while entertaining and it sold well.
Lectures of not were Sterling Steal, Gregory Wilson, Garrett Thomas, Magic Ian, Sam Sandler and Rocco.
This convention warranted better attendance that it got, producers Marty Capitano, and Aaron Michaels worked hard and delivered, so make sure you get there next year.
- Ian
2007-03 Dennis' Deliberations
My good friend, past ring president Richard Hewitt, invited me to tag along to Tampa to the "Magic on the Bay" Convention. This is a convention that is smaller but similar to the Fall Convention presented in Daytona Beach by Harry and Irv from Daytona Magic. This convention was held at the Doubletree Hotel and the big Saturday Night show was in the Jefferson High School auditorium across the street. The big act was Rocco, of "De-Light" fame. He was a recent winner of the FISM contest for originality and he presented his act on the Friday night Cabaret show. It was a minimalistic act with a small side table and an attaché case opened and on top.
Rocco accomplished almost all the act by "sleeving". His choice of hand items was almost bizarre, milk to ice-cream bar, lots of ice appeared, a red silk turns into a plastic strawberry and then a real strawberry. Rocco revealed his methods at his lecture the following day. Also on the Friday night show was Sterling Steal, a middle-age and pudgy bald gentleman with a chrome headpiece that was shaped like Max Maven's hairstyle. He also had a highly decorated full-evening dress tail outfit.
In spite of his over-the-top dance and posing , I enjoyed his act. I had seen him before at the Daytona Convention but for some reason I enjoyed this go around more.
Steal has a video he plays before his act begins and it is designed to make him appear to be an android from outer space. In his lecture the following afternoon he also revealed his methods and sleeving was a big part as well as clever drops and a toppit. His act uses 4 inch chrome balls, disks, doves and Linking Rings.
Also on the Friday Night show was Mark Charles, a well known East Coast promoter. He did a three giant mirror box Monte in a "Where is Carmen Santiago" routine.
It was a lot of heavy props and assistants for a small amount of effect. The closing act was Mr. Bones with a pirate themed act that mostly featured the Alan Wakeling sawing made popular again recently by Mark Kalin and Ginger. "Mr. Bones" is the photo model in most of the Douglas Tilford illusion advertisments in Magic Magazine.
My Saturday was spent in lectures, one good one was Duane Laflin. There was also a small dealer's room. I did pick up a used "Beads of Prussia" for a few bucks. It was made by my old friend , John Fedko, who is retired in California.
Saturday Night was the big show across the street at Jefferson High School. The Emcee was a somnambulistic Ronald McDonald. Duane Laflin and Mary are a journeyman silk and flower act and they got a warm response. Rocco had already done his FISM act the night before so he did mostly filler material such as the water in newspaper known as the 7 buck trick, "In the News". At this point several things became obvious to most of the audience. One was that Rocco acted stoned and the other was that the tech crew has incompetent. The microphone kept going on and off. The music was not cued up or coordinated. There was no logic to how they pointed the spotlight other than that maybe the operator had gotten his experience by pointing lights while poaching deer in Wachula.
After the intermission we came back and the entire second act was Sam Sandler and wife. In between Modern Art and a Sub Truck he filled with a few standard effects and a spectator and a mouth coil. It is surprising that in our day of modern hygiene anyone can find a slobbery -drooling mouth coil production entertaining. Somewhere in the act Sandler did a "Bullet Catching" using an air pistol and laser guided dart. Again, does anyone really find this entertaining, especially in a family show? It is important for every entertainer to be aware of their body shape and their movements and never engage in body movement that makes a pot belly obvious. The show wasn't a bust but could have been a lot better.
Sunday Morning was a short flea market. It was less than crowded. Richard and I headed home. I just don't know how long the "Magic on the Bay" event will last. Some said the attendance was less this year than last. I hate to see any magic event founder. The magic arts needs more person to person activitiesand event because the Internet will ultimately be self-defeating in promoting magic. The problem is the expenses needed to stage a convention and what can be afforded in ticket prices.
Tommy Jones got one of the best laughs of the Friday Night show. He did a great job as Emcee. I don't know all the details, but his long-time companion, English female magician, Rachel Wild, left him for Aldo Columbini. Columbini and Wild were recently married in Italy and back in America on the circuit. Tommy was introducing an act on the Cabaret show and dusted off his turquoise sport coat and said, "How do you like it?". He went on, "It was a gift from my ex-wife. I came home one night and it was draped over the bedpost. I had to have it taken in a little". He then opened the coat, "It even came with a Himber Wallet in the pocket!". Those in the know in the audience roared with laughter. It is good that Tommy can laugh about his personal turmoil. I was talking to him at his table and he said, "I am working on more lines. Maybe I will say the Himber wallet is made from Italian Leather!".
Apparently Tommy Jones intends to stay on the lecture circuit and he will probably appear at conventions with Aldo and Rachel also lecturing. There have been some seemingly amicable break-ups in the magic world, John and Irene Daniel is an example. Irene left John and married Bill Larsen Jr. of Magic Castle and Genii magazine fame. The Dick and Dianne Zimmerman break-up was another .
Show business is a business of dreams, hopes and emotional commitments and marriage partnerships can come unglued very easily. My high school friend, Wayne Alan had a FISM winning act with his wife Sandy and a very successful corporate and trade show business and later their own magic theater in Annapolis, Maryland. The pressures were too much and the marriage dissolved and Wayne took a long time emotionally getting over it.
Brittany Spears is an example of a show business emotional breakdown. So far, I do not know of any magicians shaving their heads on a whim. I do know more than one that needs to be in rehab. That is another whole discussion for another time. This is a crazy business or , at least, being in it will drive you crazy!
Dennis Phillips
Rocco accomplished almost all the act by "sleeving". His choice of hand items was almost bizarre, milk to ice-cream bar, lots of ice appeared, a red silk turns into a plastic strawberry and then a real strawberry. Rocco revealed his methods at his lecture the following day. Also on the Friday night show was Sterling Steal, a middle-age and pudgy bald gentleman with a chrome headpiece that was shaped like Max Maven's hairstyle. He also had a highly decorated full-evening dress tail outfit.
In spite of his over-the-top dance and posing , I enjoyed his act. I had seen him before at the Daytona Convention but for some reason I enjoyed this go around more.
Steal has a video he plays before his act begins and it is designed to make him appear to be an android from outer space. In his lecture the following afternoon he also revealed his methods and sleeving was a big part as well as clever drops and a toppit. His act uses 4 inch chrome balls, disks, doves and Linking Rings.
Also on the Friday Night show was Mark Charles, a well known East Coast promoter. He did a three giant mirror box Monte in a "Where is Carmen Santiago" routine.
It was a lot of heavy props and assistants for a small amount of effect. The closing act was Mr. Bones with a pirate themed act that mostly featured the Alan Wakeling sawing made popular again recently by Mark Kalin and Ginger. "Mr. Bones" is the photo model in most of the Douglas Tilford illusion advertisments in Magic Magazine.
My Saturday was spent in lectures, one good one was Duane Laflin. There was also a small dealer's room. I did pick up a used "Beads of Prussia" for a few bucks. It was made by my old friend , John Fedko, who is retired in California.
Saturday Night was the big show across the street at Jefferson High School. The Emcee was a somnambulistic Ronald McDonald. Duane Laflin and Mary are a journeyman silk and flower act and they got a warm response. Rocco had already done his FISM act the night before so he did mostly filler material such as the water in newspaper known as the 7 buck trick, "In the News". At this point several things became obvious to most of the audience. One was that Rocco acted stoned and the other was that the tech crew has incompetent. The microphone kept going on and off. The music was not cued up or coordinated. There was no logic to how they pointed the spotlight other than that maybe the operator had gotten his experience by pointing lights while poaching deer in Wachula.
After the intermission we came back and the entire second act was Sam Sandler and wife. In between Modern Art and a Sub Truck he filled with a few standard effects and a spectator and a mouth coil. It is surprising that in our day of modern hygiene anyone can find a slobbery -drooling mouth coil production entertaining. Somewhere in the act Sandler did a "Bullet Catching" using an air pistol and laser guided dart. Again, does anyone really find this entertaining, especially in a family show? It is important for every entertainer to be aware of their body shape and their movements and never engage in body movement that makes a pot belly obvious. The show wasn't a bust but could have been a lot better.
Sunday Morning was a short flea market. It was less than crowded. Richard and I headed home. I just don't know how long the "Magic on the Bay" event will last. Some said the attendance was less this year than last. I hate to see any magic event founder. The magic arts needs more person to person activitiesand event because the Internet will ultimately be self-defeating in promoting magic. The problem is the expenses needed to stage a convention and what can be afforded in ticket prices.
Tommy Jones got one of the best laughs of the Friday Night show. He did a great job as Emcee. I don't know all the details, but his long-time companion, English female magician, Rachel Wild, left him for Aldo Columbini. Columbini and Wild were recently married in Italy and back in America on the circuit. Tommy was introducing an act on the Cabaret show and dusted off his turquoise sport coat and said, "How do you like it?". He went on, "It was a gift from my ex-wife. I came home one night and it was draped over the bedpost. I had to have it taken in a little". He then opened the coat, "It even came with a Himber Wallet in the pocket!". Those in the know in the audience roared with laughter. It is good that Tommy can laugh about his personal turmoil. I was talking to him at his table and he said, "I am working on more lines. Maybe I will say the Himber wallet is made from Italian Leather!".
Apparently Tommy Jones intends to stay on the lecture circuit and he will probably appear at conventions with Aldo and Rachel also lecturing. There have been some seemingly amicable break-ups in the magic world, John and Irene Daniel is an example. Irene left John and married Bill Larsen Jr. of Magic Castle and Genii magazine fame. The Dick and Dianne Zimmerman break-up was another .
Show business is a business of dreams, hopes and emotional commitments and marriage partnerships can come unglued very easily. My high school friend, Wayne Alan had a FISM winning act with his wife Sandy and a very successful corporate and trade show business and later their own magic theater in Annapolis, Maryland. The pressures were too much and the marriage dissolved and Wayne took a long time emotionally getting over it.
Brittany Spears is an example of a show business emotional breakdown. So far, I do not know of any magicians shaving their heads on a whim. I do know more than one that needs to be in rehab. That is another whole discussion for another time. This is a crazy business or , at least, being in it will drive you crazy!
Dennis Phillips
Monday, February 12, 2007
2007-02 Late addition
Lecturing for FAME of Greater Orlando
IBM Ring 170
Presents
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
7:30 - 10pm
Garrett Thomas
Garrett Thomas is one of the new faces of close-up sleight of hand magic. Garrett is a real world magician performing in restaurants and clubs all over Western New York, including the Forks Hotel world famed magic bar and restaurant. A member of the elite FFFF magic society, Garrett Thomas has performed and lectured at clubs and conventions all over the US and is now for the first time coming to our area. In addition to his busy performing schedule, he is also one of the magic consultants to David Blaine.
He brings back magic in its purest form, his effects are simple clean well thought out pieces of magical art that he teaches the how and the why of each effect. Coins appear and melt away and jump from one hand to the other in the purest three fly effect that words can't explain. A shuffled deck is dealt out randomly to find your selected card then instantly show the whole deck is now in sequential order. The tools you learn can be applied to many of your favorite routines. Garrett restores a whole new life to some of the moves and gimmicks you already use or may have in you magic drawer at home.
Some of the effects that will be covered are: “The Ring Thing”, “Soft Salt”,”Threasy”, “GT 3-Fly”, “Switchless”, “Match Back”,”Big Coin Little Purse”, Blind 'Em & Find 'Em, Flipper Coin magic and more…
ADMISSION:
Fame Members: $10.00
Non-Members: $15.00
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)
DIRECTIONS:
Take I-4 and exit at the Universal Studios/ Kirkman Road Exit. Go north pass the Vineland Road intersection and I-Hop is on the right 1/3 mile.
For more lecture information call Craig Fennessy, 407-947-1182
IBM Ring 170
Presents
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
7:30 - 10pm
Garrett Thomas
Garrett Thomas is one of the new faces of close-up sleight of hand magic. Garrett is a real world magician performing in restaurants and clubs all over Western New York, including the Forks Hotel world famed magic bar and restaurant. A member of the elite FFFF magic society, Garrett Thomas has performed and lectured at clubs and conventions all over the US and is now for the first time coming to our area. In addition to his busy performing schedule, he is also one of the magic consultants to David Blaine.
He brings back magic in its purest form, his effects are simple clean well thought out pieces of magical art that he teaches the how and the why of each effect. Coins appear and melt away and jump from one hand to the other in the purest three fly effect that words can't explain. A shuffled deck is dealt out randomly to find your selected card then instantly show the whole deck is now in sequential order. The tools you learn can be applied to many of your favorite routines. Garrett restores a whole new life to some of the moves and gimmicks you already use or may have in you magic drawer at home.
Some of the effects that will be covered are: “The Ring Thing”, “Soft Salt”,”Threasy”, “GT 3-Fly”, “Switchless”, “Match Back”,”Big Coin Little Purse”, Blind 'Em & Find 'Em, Flipper Coin magic and more…
ADMISSION:
Fame Members: $10.00
Non-Members: $15.00
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)
DIRECTIONS:
Take I-4 and exit at the Universal Studios/ Kirkman Road Exit. Go north pass the Vineland Road intersection and I-Hop is on the right 1/3 mile.
For more lecture information call Craig Fennessy, 407-947-1182
2007-02 Famulus newsletter of IBM Ring 170
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 02/21/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Valentine's 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
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.
Next general meeting Wednesday, 02/21/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Valentine's 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
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.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.
2007-02 From the Editor
This last week the Ring lost its Sergeant at Arms, Charlie Cox, one of our best loved members. All of us know him as one of the most friendly members of the ring. He was one of, if not the first, member to welcome when I first came to Ring 170 over five years ago. His sudden demise is a huge loss to the club. Many members were able to attend the Broken Wand ceremony last Friday. Beve Bergeron led this moving ceremony and a number of members spoke. A link to the video of the ceremony can be found lower down in the newsletter, or click here.
Apologies are also in order with respect to an last minute message that was sent out a couple of weeks ago. I was not aware that Yahoo Groups takes 3-6 hours to distribute messages to our mailing list. So a number of you received the message after the event in question. Now that we know about this delay, we have taken steps to reduce the effect of the delay as much as possible, and will take it into account when sending future messages.
Regards
Stefan
Apologies are also in order with respect to an last minute message that was sent out a couple of weeks ago. I was not aware that Yahoo Groups takes 3-6 hours to distribute messages to our mailing list. So a number of you received the message after the event in question. Now that we know about this delay, we have taken steps to reduce the effect of the delay as much as possible, and will take it into account when sending future messages.
Regards
Stefan
2007-02 Ring Report Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
January started off the new year with a productive board meeting where our New President, Craig Fennessy outlined his plans for the coming year in the ring.
When our regular ring meeting was gaveled to order a hour later, all the newly elected board members came to the front of the room and sat around the table and Craig repeated the plans we discussed in the board meeting and offered a chance for input from the ring. Each month's ring meeting will have a theme on which to base the "show-and-tell" portion after the business meeting. Famulus, our on-line ring publication will be offered in print by Chris Dunn at the monthly ring meetings. Our annual Flea Market and Auction will be in April. We will most likely have a banquet and show this year after not having one for the past couple of years. Jacki Manna will continue to do her fine job in charge of the ring Hospitality functions. We will institute a Youth and Adult "Teach-in" activity. We will have a membership drive with several incentives for new members. It was also suggested we have a tribute to two Orlando local magic legends, Harry Wise and Don Masters.
As the meeting continued, we had forty-two people present and six guests: Christopher Nash,Chuck Hedden,Sean Cinco,Sam Rubman, Zack Rapattoni and a former member renewing his interest in the ring, Brett Railey.
The business meeting concluded and Bondi was kind enough to donate all the items and magazines for our raffle. Sam Rubman was the MC for the show.
First up was Charlie Pfrogner. Charlie had another original idea. He used a saltine cracker as the classic "Hi-Sign". His story was about the "cracker stacker packer" who followed the arrow on the cracker to get them all stacked the correct way. The cracker stacker became a slacker but that was the way the cookie crumbled! These were the great lines and effect Charlie dreamed up this month! Following Charlie was young Sidney Mac had a polished routine with colored golf balls and a Four Aces effect.
Dan Stapleton had a spectator shuffle cards and separate them into three piles. He was always able to predict which pile had more cards of a color and the number of cards. George Bernard presented the "Wheel of Mind". A large wheel-shaped marker board is used and the audience calls out many combinations of numbers that are jotted around the edge of the wheel. Then the wheel is turned over and a clock numbers can be seen. One of the clock numbers is randomly selected and the wheel flipped over. An envelope contains a word. The word corresponded to the exact location of words in a magazine.
JC Hiatt had a clever chop cup routine with a paper coffee cup and two tennis balls appearing as the finale. Bev Bergeron told a cute story about his grandfather cheating him in a four card monte game. Grandpa always won. Sam our MC is a newcomer to the club and provided the riotous laugh of the evening. He began with an excellent "cards across" routine with two spectators and then he called a assistant to help him with the classic "Crazy Man's Handcuffs" rubber band penetration.
Unknown to Sam was the fact that his audience assistant was Lynn Fitzgerald, wife of Mark Fitzgerald who is an old friend and collaborator with Dan Harlan on the creation of the famous effect Copperfield used on his CBS-TV special. The longer Sam was in the dark about this, the funnier it became. Finally, Josh from Daytona magic brought some dealer effects to demonstrate. The meeting ended on a high note. Good things are always happening in Ring #170.
Dennis Phillips
When our regular ring meeting was gaveled to order a hour later, all the newly elected board members came to the front of the room and sat around the table and Craig repeated the plans we discussed in the board meeting and offered a chance for input from the ring. Each month's ring meeting will have a theme on which to base the "show-and-tell" portion after the business meeting. Famulus, our on-line ring publication will be offered in print by Chris Dunn at the monthly ring meetings. Our annual Flea Market and Auction will be in April. We will most likely have a banquet and show this year after not having one for the past couple of years. Jacki Manna will continue to do her fine job in charge of the ring Hospitality functions. We will institute a Youth and Adult "Teach-in" activity. We will have a membership drive with several incentives for new members. It was also suggested we have a tribute to two Orlando local magic legends, Harry Wise and Don Masters.
As the meeting continued, we had forty-two people present and six guests: Christopher Nash,Chuck Hedden,Sean Cinco,Sam Rubman, Zack Rapattoni and a former member renewing his interest in the ring, Brett Railey.
The business meeting concluded and Bondi was kind enough to donate all the items and magazines for our raffle. Sam Rubman was the MC for the show.
First up was Charlie Pfrogner. Charlie had another original idea. He used a saltine cracker as the classic "Hi-Sign". His story was about the "cracker stacker packer" who followed the arrow on the cracker to get them all stacked the correct way. The cracker stacker became a slacker but that was the way the cookie crumbled! These were the great lines and effect Charlie dreamed up this month! Following Charlie was young Sidney Mac had a polished routine with colored golf balls and a Four Aces effect.
Dan Stapleton had a spectator shuffle cards and separate them into three piles. He was always able to predict which pile had more cards of a color and the number of cards. George Bernard presented the "Wheel of Mind". A large wheel-shaped marker board is used and the audience calls out many combinations of numbers that are jotted around the edge of the wheel. Then the wheel is turned over and a clock numbers can be seen. One of the clock numbers is randomly selected and the wheel flipped over. An envelope contains a word. The word corresponded to the exact location of words in a magazine.
JC Hiatt had a clever chop cup routine with a paper coffee cup and two tennis balls appearing as the finale. Bev Bergeron told a cute story about his grandfather cheating him in a four card monte game. Grandpa always won. Sam our MC is a newcomer to the club and provided the riotous laugh of the evening. He began with an excellent "cards across" routine with two spectators and then he called a assistant to help him with the classic "Crazy Man's Handcuffs" rubber band penetration.
Unknown to Sam was the fact that his audience assistant was Lynn Fitzgerald, wife of Mark Fitzgerald who is an old friend and collaborator with Dan Harlan on the creation of the famous effect Copperfield used on his CBS-TV special. The longer Sam was in the dark about this, the funnier it became. Finally, Josh from Daytona magic brought some dealer effects to demonstrate. The meeting ended on a high note. Good things are always happening in Ring #170.
Dennis Phillips
2007-02 Photos from Charlie Cox's Wake
Picture of Ring members in attendance at the Broken Wand ceremony for Charlie Cox
2007-02 Changing Tastes in Parties
How will these websites effect your livelyhood
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-15-birthday-parties-side_x.htm?csp=34
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/50273/kids_birthday_parties_life_in_the_suburbs.html
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070117/137/6b7uv.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070117/us_nm/life_parties_dc
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/16245751.htm
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/070117/us/usreport_life_parties_dc
http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/58433
extreme party
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/puffymtv.html
Jerry Darkey
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-15-birthday-parties-side_x.htm?csp=34
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/50273/kids_birthday_parties_life_in_the_suburbs.html
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070117/137/6b7uv.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070117/us_nm/life_parties_dc
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/16245751.htm
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/070117/us/usreport_life_parties_dc
http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/58433
extreme party
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/puffymtv.html
Jerry Darkey
2007-02 Andre Kole - Free Show
I thought this would be of great interest to our ring.
Andre Kole is coming to town the first weekend in March and admittance is free!!!! http://www.andrekoleshow.com/tour.htm
When: Fri. and Sat. March 2-3 7:00pm both nights
Where: St. Cloud, FL at First Baptist of St. Cloud
Directions: located at 1717 13th Street, St.Cloud, FL 34769 on 192(13th Street) between Missouri Ave and Connecticut Ave.
Everyone is welcome to come,
Thanks,
Marc Vergo
Andre Kole is coming to town the first weekend in March and admittance is free!!!! http://www.andrekoleshow.com/tour.htm
When: Fri. and Sat. March 2-3 7:00pm both nights
Where: St. Cloud, FL at First Baptist of St. Cloud
Directions: located at 1717 13th Street, St.Cloud, FL 34769 on 192(13th Street) between Missouri Ave and Connecticut Ave.
Everyone is welcome to come,
Thanks,
Marc Vergo
2007-02 Dennis' Deliberations
"The magician and the politician have much in common: they both have to draw our attention away from what they are really doing - for us, and to us." -Ben Okri
It is sad to think that anyone would compare a magician with a politician!
This also from my old magic friend and critic, Larry Thornton who lives in Calgary, Canada:
The Ten Worst Offenders in Magic
1. The Wandering Street Magician with a Messiah Complex ("Hey, ma'am, wanna see something amazing?")
2. Magic convention misfits who get their kicks pulling pranks on unsuspecting people in the hotel lobby.
3. The kiddy magician who wastes half or more of his show twisting and handing out lame balloon animals.
4. David Copperfield groupies who not only expect free tickets, but annoy attendees in the lobby doing tricks and handing out their business cards.
5. Magicians at the same show who insist on telling everyone around them how the magic is being done.
6. The same idiots who keep whispering loudly, "Nice move!" and "Did you see that steal?" 7. Restaurant magicians "without a clue" that some people go to a public eating establishment -- to eat!
8. Bad (as in Stinkereeno!!) club amateurs who put on an "annual public magic show", just to show how lousy they can really be.
9. Magic addicts who seek out parties in order to bug the guests with 10,000 card tricks
(actually its their favorite twenty card tricks performed 500 times...)
10. Local magic geeks with zero talent and no gigs, who spend their time dumping heaps of criticism on professional magicians they see on TV.
Now that I have malaligned magicians, let me turn to a long overdue tribute to our ring Hospitality leader, Jacki Manna. While Jacki is an excellent magician, she is best known as a professional ventriloquist.
She displayed a bit of her talent at the December Gift Exchange when she opened up her MC role with a cute ventriloquist routine with a Santa Claus dummy. Jacki has been a steady fixture at our ring banquets, shows and ring meetings. Her mentor was the late ventriloquist Howie Olson , a dummy figure maker. Howie had retired in Florida. Jacki has steadily worked as an entertainer and also has had a "day job" as a French and English high-school teacher in Seminole County. She is a gifted children's performer and equally at ease with an adult audience. I am nostalgic for the days in the 50s and 60s when all local TV stations had afternoon children's shows. I often have thought that Jacki would be great on an afternoon children's show.
Near the end of that era , Bev Bergeron tried setting up Jeff McBride with a local children's show TV gig here in town. I wonder if Channel 9's "Cousin Jeff" would have ever made it? Hugh Turley, "Uncle Hubbie" was the last magician in this market with a kid's show on the old channel 35 (WSWB-TV). That station went off the air in the late 70s and came back on a few years later under new ownership from a studio in a converted bank building on the South Orange Blossom Trail. Allan Duckworth, my mascot manufacturing foreman and I used to have fun occasionally helping out Bob Goldberg on his Friday Night Horror Movie show called "The Count"....Bob's show faded to black and Channel 35 moved to its present location on the side of I-4 in Lake Mary and now every Halloween week I do a bit on their Morning news show about costumes and my costume shop.
With video-streaming, video I-Podcasts and You-Tube, how long will it be until some creative people begin a local internet TV station?
Most people are not going to get their TV programming from an over-the-air broadcast signal. With video compression some TV stations are now 4 TV stations! They have an entertainment channel, a news channel, a movie channel and -hold your breath- a local programming channel!
Maybe Rebo will be back on Channel 9c, 1080i and maybe Jacki Manna will be on Channel 6b 720p......?
We can hope!
Speaking of kid's entertainers: I did attend the Barry Mitchell lecture-dealer show. He is a fun guy. He had a lot of creative ideas for the kid's entertainer and the Gospel magician. For a minute I thought he was going to take up an offering and baptize a few converts. I can't fault him for that. He is from under the buckle of the Bible Belt in East Tennessee where even the Episcopalians still handle snakes. But he was gentle with the religion.
I would normally get upset paying 10 bucks to go to a dealer's lecture but he did reveal all the things he was selling and even gave some insights into how he created the routine. His basic concept of "thinking like an entertainer" and "not thinking like a magician" was invaluable. We all know that we often fall into the trap of doing stuff we like rather than what is most entertaining for the audience.
He had one item that all kid's show people should consider making or buying: 12 inch squares of indoor-outdoor carpet with a pair of shoe-prints stenciled on them. He used four carpet-squares spaced on the floor around his table. When the kids come up to help he tells them to "Stand on your spot!". They stand on the square and will not leave it. It was a clever "kid-control" technique.
Dennis Phillips
Sunday, February 11, 2007
2007-02 Broken Wand Ceremony for Charlie Cox
For those who were not able to attend the moving broken wand ceremony held for Charlie Cox last Friday (2/9), this is a video of the event. Thanks to the many members who were able to make it.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Charlie Cox
It is with deep regrets that the Board announces the passing of the Ring's Sergeant at Arms, Charlie Cox. Details about memorial service, broken wand ceremony and funeral to follow.
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