Posts
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 05/18/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Meeting Performance Theme - Danny Garcia lecture
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
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 – artthomas31@Earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.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, if you wish to submit to the newsletter, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
2011-05 From The Editor
Summer is almost here and the temperatures outside must be heating up, because the stream of submissions for the newsletter is drying up. Come on folks, do send me your thoughts of recent events (Kostya Kimlat's Festival of Magic, anyone?) or recollections of times gone by.
Thanks to our reliable scribe, Sheldon, for the Ring Report. This month's newsletter also has a video which will make you card-throwers want to start practicing ....hard.
Don't forget, this month's ring meeting is a lecture by Danny Garcia, not to be missed.
Your editor
Stefan
Thanks to our reliable scribe, Sheldon, for the Ring Report. This month's newsletter also has a video which will make you card-throwers want to start practicing ....hard.
Don't forget, this month's ring meeting is a lecture by Danny Garcia, not to be missed.
Your editor
Stefan
2011-05 Ring Report
President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order and opened with the sad announcement of a Broken Wand for long time Ring member Chan Alyea who just recently passed away. Craig also noted that our recent lecturer, Steve Marshall, had returned to his home in Japan and was welcomed by yet another 7.0 aftershock. Both he and his wife then decided that it might be in the best interest of their family to leave Japan and relocate back to Florida and hopefully to the Orlando area.
Lecturers, Tony Clark and Danny Garcia have been booked for appearances here in May. Valerie Swadling was very impressed with the performance of our Ring's Jackie Manna at a birthday party she had arranged for her grandson. Mark Fitzgerald will be off, shortly, to the Fechter 4F Convention in Batavia, N. Y. and Doug Kalcik will be entertaining at a charity event at Lake Eola here in Orlando. A discussion by the group and Craig Schwarz concerning the book, Spellbound, which depicts the life of Doug Henning, ended the general meeting.
Bev Bergeron was up next with his monthly teach-in and he stressed the importance and effectiveness of entertaining audiences with simple "magic" props and effects that, if properly performed, can be just as effective as more elaborate illusions and apparatus. Bev and his wife, Alouise, had just come off of a Caribbean cruise and were very happy with the experience.
Phil Schwartz presented Magic History Moment #30. Phil's opening remarks concerned the recent on-line auction of the Collection owned by the late Christopher Milbourne, who had passed away some years ago, in 1984. The items auctioned included not only 20th Century books, photos, letters and other memorabilia but items from the 19th Century. The value of the collection was indicated by the premium prices received by the
auction. Phil's main subject this evening was Edward Maro, The Prince of Magic, nee Walter Truman Best born in Montpelier, Vermont in 1869. Maro was the first Lyceum magician and was very successful at it. He started out in music as an entertainer but through his brief life he learned magic, much of it from A. M Wilson. Maro lived only 39 years succumbing to typhoid fever in 1913. He is buried in St. Charles, Illinois under a 5-1/2 ton rock brought there from Leland , Michigan.
After a brief intermission, Chris Dunn emceed our performing Magi, starting with Jacki Manna, who demonstrated her magic and ventriloquism by predicting which of 3 different roses an audience participant would select as a favorite. She did have help from a 'genie' in the roses' vase who assisted her in the prediction. Dan Stapleton followed with his performance of Equivoque, where he predicts which arbitrary item one of ten volunteers has been selected by an eleventh impartial participant. Dan methodically eliminated each object held by the volunteers until the last when the match between the last volunteer and the eleventh participant is revealed. It made for a very strong effect. Charlie Pfrogner performed next and placed ten coins in his closed hand followed by as many marbles. With the help of a few magic words he opened his hand and to the audiences' amazement the coins had disappeared. Bev Bergeron capped off the evening with a die penetration through a glass tumbler.
A fine time was had by all!
Sheldon Brook
Lecturers, Tony Clark and Danny Garcia have been booked for appearances here in May. Valerie Swadling was very impressed with the performance of our Ring's Jackie Manna at a birthday party she had arranged for her grandson. Mark Fitzgerald will be off, shortly, to the Fechter 4F Convention in Batavia, N. Y. and Doug Kalcik will be entertaining at a charity event at Lake Eola here in Orlando. A discussion by the group and Craig Schwarz concerning the book, Spellbound, which depicts the life of Doug Henning, ended the general meeting.
Bev Bergeron was up next with his monthly teach-in and he stressed the importance and effectiveness of entertaining audiences with simple "magic" props and effects that, if properly performed, can be just as effective as more elaborate illusions and apparatus. Bev and his wife, Alouise, had just come off of a Caribbean cruise and were very happy with the experience.
Phil Schwartz presented Magic History Moment #30. Phil's opening remarks concerned the recent on-line auction of the Collection owned by the late Christopher Milbourne, who had passed away some years ago, in 1984. The items auctioned included not only 20th Century books, photos, letters and other memorabilia but items from the 19th Century. The value of the collection was indicated by the premium prices received by the
auction. Phil's main subject this evening was Edward Maro, The Prince of Magic, nee Walter Truman Best born in Montpelier, Vermont in 1869. Maro was the first Lyceum magician and was very successful at it. He started out in music as an entertainer but through his brief life he learned magic, much of it from A. M Wilson. Maro lived only 39 years succumbing to typhoid fever in 1913. He is buried in St. Charles, Illinois under a 5-1/2 ton rock brought there from Leland , Michigan.
After a brief intermission, Chris Dunn emceed our performing Magi, starting with Jacki Manna, who demonstrated her magic and ventriloquism by predicting which of 3 different roses an audience participant would select as a favorite. She did have help from a 'genie' in the roses' vase who assisted her in the prediction. Dan Stapleton followed with his performance of Equivoque, where he predicts which arbitrary item one of ten volunteers has been selected by an eleventh impartial participant. Dan methodically eliminated each object held by the volunteers until the last when the match between the last volunteer and the eleventh participant is revealed. It made for a very strong effect. Charlie Pfrogner performed next and placed ten coins in his closed hand followed by as many marbles. With the help of a few magic words he opened his hand and to the audiences' amazement the coins had disappeared. Bev Bergeron capped off the evening with a die penetration through a glass tumbler.
A fine time was had by all!
Sheldon Brook
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
2011-04 Famulus Newsletter
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 04/20/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Meeting Performance Theme - April Foolers
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
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 – artthomas31@Earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.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, 04/20/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Meeting Performance Theme - April Foolers
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
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 – artthomas31@Earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.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.
2011-04 From the Editor
Spring is almost sprung and we are getting into the hot season. Things tend to quieten down for our art during the summer, but Craig has livened things up with a couple of sizzling lectures in May. Be sure not to miss them.
Your editor
Stefan
Your editor
Stefan
2011-04 Ring Report
President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on March 16th and introduced the Ring's officers to the 23 members in attendance. He acknowledged the Broken Wand of Dr. Robert Albo; and Phil Schwartz, a member of our Ring and co-author with Dr. Albo of The Ultimate Thayer, expressed his thoughts and sentiments on the Doctor's passing.
Craig announced that lectures by Tony Clark, a student of Slydini, and another lecture by Danny Garcia would be coming in on May 10th and 18th, respectively. He also encouraged the membership to magically participate later this month in the Walk for Wishes, a charity event in downtown Orlando. Those members who participated in the recent Ring Flea Market and Auction as well as the SAM Convention Banquet thought that both events were well attended and are looking forward to our event next year.
Charlie Smith had available copies of MSM (MagicSceneMagazine) a UK publication for those members who were interested in them. Dan Stapleton distributed 3 packet tricks to Rings members who promised to learn and perform them at our next meeting. Dan also announced that he will be performing in Branson, Mo. in the near future. Mark Fitzgerald is appearing Friday nights at the Hard Rock Cafe here in Orlando.
Bev Bergeron presented an entertaining bit of restaurant magic using just a paper napkin for a prop and he was quickly followed by our in-house Historian Phil Schwartz with Magic Moment No. 29. Not surprisingly, his subject that night was our Ring's namesake, Bevely (Bev) Bergeron, a past President(1996-97) of the IBM Born at the start of the Great Depression in Baytown, Texas, Bev started in magic at the age of 10 and had his first professional gig at the age of 14. We are quite fortunate to have Bev with us as he has one of the most experienced and creative minds in magic. At the age of 17, he started doing tent shows with Willard the Wizard. He later graduated from the University of Texas and went to work for a Houston ad agency. After a military stint, during the Korean War, he pursued his entertainment career. In 1957 he portrayed Rebo, the clown, with Mark Wilson and Noni Darnell in Texas that culminated in the 60's with TV's The Magic Land of Alakazam. In addition to Magic, Bev is a prolific writer, an example of which can be found in a monthly article in the Linking Ring. He has done numerous TV shows, portrayed Ronald McDonald and for 16 years he was at Disney' Diamond Horseshoe Revue as a star, writer and director. His other accomplishments are too numerous to enumerate but we are indeed fortunate to have him in our midst.
Chris Dunn emceed our members performance program starting off with George Bernard doing a two-card transposition in plexiglas. Richard Hewitt and Wayne Dowling entertained with a card selection effect. Charlie Pfrogner put down a 12 card spread and also guessed correctly the selected card. Joe Zimmer was excited and enthusiastic in demonstrating Tenyo's 4-D surprise, and Dan Stapleton got twelv big laughs when he listed "Twelve Reasons Why You Know You Hired The Wrong Clown For Your Kid's Birthday Party. Kerry Pierce ended the evening with Patrick Paige's Diary Booklet with Cards.
A fine time was had by all.
Sheldon Brook
Craig announced that lectures by Tony Clark, a student of Slydini, and another lecture by Danny Garcia would be coming in on May 10th and 18th, respectively. He also encouraged the membership to magically participate later this month in the Walk for Wishes, a charity event in downtown Orlando. Those members who participated in the recent Ring Flea Market and Auction as well as the SAM Convention Banquet thought that both events were well attended and are looking forward to our event next year.
Charlie Smith had available copies of MSM (MagicSceneMagazine) a UK publication for those members who were interested in them. Dan Stapleton distributed 3 packet tricks to Rings members who promised to learn and perform them at our next meeting. Dan also announced that he will be performing in Branson, Mo. in the near future. Mark Fitzgerald is appearing Friday nights at the Hard Rock Cafe here in Orlando.
Bev Bergeron presented an entertaining bit of restaurant magic using just a paper napkin for a prop and he was quickly followed by our in-house Historian Phil Schwartz with Magic Moment No. 29. Not surprisingly, his subject that night was our Ring's namesake, Bevely (Bev) Bergeron, a past President(1996-97) of the IBM Born at the start of the Great Depression in Baytown, Texas, Bev started in magic at the age of 10 and had his first professional gig at the age of 14. We are quite fortunate to have Bev with us as he has one of the most experienced and creative minds in magic. At the age of 17, he started doing tent shows with Willard the Wizard. He later graduated from the University of Texas and went to work for a Houston ad agency. After a military stint, during the Korean War, he pursued his entertainment career. In 1957 he portrayed Rebo, the clown, with Mark Wilson and Noni Darnell in Texas that culminated in the 60's with TV's The Magic Land of Alakazam. In addition to Magic, Bev is a prolific writer, an example of which can be found in a monthly article in the Linking Ring. He has done numerous TV shows, portrayed Ronald McDonald and for 16 years he was at Disney' Diamond Horseshoe Revue as a star, writer and director. His other accomplishments are too numerous to enumerate but we are indeed fortunate to have him in our midst.
Chris Dunn emceed our members performance program starting off with George Bernard doing a two-card transposition in plexiglas. Richard Hewitt and Wayne Dowling entertained with a card selection effect. Charlie Pfrogner put down a 12 card spread and also guessed correctly the selected card. Joe Zimmer was excited and enthusiastic in demonstrating Tenyo's 4-D surprise, and Dan Stapleton got twelv big laughs when he listed "Twelve Reasons Why You Know You Hired The Wrong Clown For Your Kid's Birthday Party. Kerry Pierce ended the evening with Patrick Paige's Diary Booklet with Cards.
A fine time was had by all.
Sheldon Brook
2011-04 Dennis' Deliberations
The calendar showed that we are in the spring season but the snow storms continue. I am referring to real snow and not the classic messy magic effect! I am writing this on March 29th and we are due for 3 inches of snow tonight! It is not really bad. They plow and sand the roads and are prepared. Wes Iseli a local fulltime professional seldom loses shows due to weather. If they do cancel, they reschedule.
David Seebach, the Milwaukee area illusionist and Midwest magic legend, just gave details in the March MUM about the Owen’s Chinese Tea for a Potentate illusion. The column was at the prompting of another Milwaukee legend , our own Dan Stapleton. Of course, in the early 70s Dan left the Milwaukee area to move here to warm and sunny Central Florida and create a career as a theme park and cruise ship entertainer.
Seebach is an old friend and on his tours to Florida he would stop in and visit my illusion warehouse and costume factory and store. The theme of his MUM story was about his love affair with brightly decorated and exotic looking Oriental Props and how he acquired a rare and difficult-to-perform illusion. In typical Seebach style, he themed the illusion with costumes and sets, added music and performance elements and made it an intriguing stage illusion. It was one of those illusions that “was created for the paint job”. In other words, the effect was not that strong but the visual eye-candy made fun to watch. I have a couple of those in my big show, the Color Changing Plumes, my large blooming flower trellis and my rose-petal snowstorm.
When I was a kid, I also loved brightly colored props with strange designs and especially Chinese words painted on them. I think we all did! I also bought lots of magic because of the paint job.
One day, while I was a college student, I was painting a big mirror box and I copied some Chinese Letters (不要在巷子里小便) I saw on a street sign in a Chinese newspaper that I had picked up where my mother worked. She worked as an assistant manager at the Chinese Restaurant in Bowie, Maryland. I was so proud of my artwork and the lettering on my Magic trick, so I showed a Polaroid photo to Mr. Chin, the owner of The Golden Pagoda Restaurant. When Mr. Chin saw the box in the photo he started laughing! Chinese people are very reserved and rarely laugh like he did.
He said in a thick accent as he pointed to my artwork, "Do you know what that says?" I said that I didn't but that I just liked the Chinese letters and that I had found them in one of his Chinese newspapers. Still laughing he said, "This says, 'Do not pee in the alley’! "
That is what I got for not knowing what I was copying!
A year or so later, Mr. Chin had expanded his restaurant to a chain and he hired me to be his event and advertising coordinator. I did several Chinese New Year celebrations for him and I did all his print and radio commercials. I also learned to read some Mandarin characters and speak enough Chinese to get along. I still have a soft spot in my magic thinking for Chinese magic and design.
Locally in Harrisonburg, President Eddie Tobey did a spectacular job on his magic radio debut. Eddie joined Hobart at 7:45 in the morning in the WQPO “Q101” studio and did some magic.
I have been helping Eddie with ideas for magic-on-the-radio. Many of you know that I work for VerStandig Broadcasting which owns Q101 as well as WSVA and “Bob Rocks”. Carson, the morning man at 105 “Bob Rocks” is a magician and visited Ring 320.
Eddie did a trick I gave him and since it is appropriate for this year (2011) I will share it with you. It requires a build up! This is 2011, the year before the Mayan calendar ends and the year that all things come into convergence. The convergence number is 111. Remember that number. Almost everyone is in the convergence! This is the only year in a hundred that has 1/1/11 and 1/11/11 as well as 11/1/11 and 11/11/11! Here is how you can check to see if you are in the cosmic convergence: Take the last two years of the year you were born in. For example if you were born in 1948 take the “48” and add it to the age you will be on the birthday that you have in this year. If you have already had your birthday, use the age you are now. If you are going to have a birthday this year, then use the age you will be. Again, add the two numbers in the year you were born and your age. Hum “111” ! You are a part of the convergence!
In my last year in college in Maryland, I needed a female assistant for my magic gigs and there was a tall thin student who always dressed covered up like a Victorian and she always acted like she was really stuck up. I would smile at her and most of the time she would wryly smile, raise one eyebrow like Max Maven and look away. She was not in any of my classes. Sometimes I would walk with her from the parking lot in the mornings or see her in the student union at lunch time. She was friendly but distant and fearful.
All the guys thought she was hot but would not approach her. One female student said, “Yea, you should have seen how she was in High School! She’s changed”
She used to come to school made up like a model with false eyelashes and would always wear clothes that covered her up. I remember her walking to class with a tight long gray maxi-coat and always a neck scarf and black stiletto heels (out of fashion at that time in the early 70s) with one foot paced in front of the other and walking in a straight line. Her hips would sway and turn every guy’s head. Her face looked very much like Bernadette Peters.
I could tell that she had been to a finishing school because she walked and stood with perfect posture and her fashion and makeup were professional.
I was in desperate need for help with my magic show so I went over to her in the student union where she was sitting alone. Her maxi coat went almost to her ankles and she was wearing high heel black boots as she sat on the couch. I walked over and said, “Pat, you look and walk like you would make a great magic assistant with me. I have some shows coming up. Do you want some work?” She got a real sour look on her face and spit back, “Oh go away!”
Instead of accepting her answer, I plopped down next to her on the brown leather couch and took her hand, squeezed it and puffed up my chest and got about 6 inches from her face and said, “I need your help, Pat!”. Her eyes darted wildly from side to side and she pulled back and some sort of look of terror filled her face and her pupils fully dilated and she took a deep breath, her eyes rolled up and she moaned, “YES!”.
Her father was an Air Force Colonel based at Andrews Air Force Base and her mother was a tall stately woman who looked a lot like Grace Kelly. I went over to her house and insisted that I talk to her mother who was very supportive of Patty helping me.
While Patty was upstairs getting into the show costume (borrowed from Chuck and Shirley Windley, illusionists who lived near us), her Mom brought out pictures and explained how Patty had been fat, clumsy and teased in School with no interest in how she looked. Her parents spent a fortune getting her top-notch training and direction in all aspects of female beauty.
Patty came down the stairs with a bathrobe covering the show costume underneath. The costume was a bit like an Esther Williams swimsuit with some rhinestones and bead work and fringe. Her Mom and I stood in the living room as she slipped off the bathrobe. Patty again had a real sour look on her face. “This is ridiculous!” She protested. Mom chimed in, “Now Patty, be kind, listen to him and don’t be embarrassed.” We were pinning her on the sides and got to her middle and it was solid like a sheet of steel. I thought, “she has on a girdle!” It was to firm extra skin from the weight loss. She had a birthmark on the side of her bust just at the line where the costume top ended. So I did the old trick of cutting up a band aid and sticking it on her. In my makeup costume kit, I always carried Band-Aids and other things needed for helping someone look good on stage. If you see Preparation H in my makeup kit, realize that a dab on the face removes crow’s feet and tightens the skin! It is a professional model’s trick.
Her Mother was thrilled, “Oh Patty, you look so good!” She continued to be sour and said, “Please don’t make me do this”.
She blurted out to me, “You may as well know that I used to be a fat slob and now I am all strapped together.” That comment sort of put me in a tough psychological spot. Women often do that with statements. If I said, “Well, you look good now!” she could say something like, “All you care about is my body”. If I said, “I think we can work around it”, she could say, “See, you think I am a slob too!”. If I say, “This is about a job and if you can function in it”, she would get mad at that. Nothing I could say is going to not get me in trouble. So I did what I thought would be the least area of verbal exposure. I just ignored her comment and said, “You have to sit crossed legged in this Doll house illusion so I needed to see your range of movement”. She shot back at me, “You are like all men, and you ignore what any woman says!” So I repeated what worked in the student union. I took her hand, squeezed it and puffed up my chest and got about 6 inches from her face and said, “I need your help, Pat!”. Same response: Her eyes darted wildly from side to side and she pulled back and some sort of look of terror filled her face and her pupils fully dilated and she took a deep breath, her eyes rolled up and she moaned, “YES!”. She fit the illusion fine.
She was a good assistant but a little sour with an effective sneer. It was actually kind of sexy on stage. She would get an aggravated look like Pam Thompson only Patty’s was real. I played off of it with a deadpan and double-take and it got laughs. I never could get her to show a joyous smile. Her ballet and dance training helped a lot. She knew how to walk and stand. Her Mother and I used to talk about her psychological problems. They even sent her for psychological treatment.
In 1971 no one had yet identified Bulimia but she would purge after eating. We would stop to eat on the way back from a show and she would empty her stomach. Her parents spent a fortune on dental work to keep her teeth looking normal from the stomach acids that eat away the teeth enamel.
She was one bundle of psychological problems but still a good assistant. Today medicine has a big tool chest of drugs and techniques to help with psychological problems. Still, in show business you have to learn to deal with all types. We do have strange ones!
Dennis Phillips
David Seebach, the Milwaukee area illusionist and Midwest magic legend, just gave details in the March MUM about the Owen’s Chinese Tea for a Potentate illusion. The column was at the prompting of another Milwaukee legend , our own Dan Stapleton. Of course, in the early 70s Dan left the Milwaukee area to move here to warm and sunny Central Florida and create a career as a theme park and cruise ship entertainer.
Seebach is an old friend and on his tours to Florida he would stop in and visit my illusion warehouse and costume factory and store. The theme of his MUM story was about his love affair with brightly decorated and exotic looking Oriental Props and how he acquired a rare and difficult-to-perform illusion. In typical Seebach style, he themed the illusion with costumes and sets, added music and performance elements and made it an intriguing stage illusion. It was one of those illusions that “was created for the paint job”. In other words, the effect was not that strong but the visual eye-candy made fun to watch. I have a couple of those in my big show, the Color Changing Plumes, my large blooming flower trellis and my rose-petal snowstorm.
When I was a kid, I also loved brightly colored props with strange designs and especially Chinese words painted on them. I think we all did! I also bought lots of magic because of the paint job.
One day, while I was a college student, I was painting a big mirror box and I copied some Chinese Letters (不要在巷子里小便) I saw on a street sign in a Chinese newspaper that I had picked up where my mother worked. She worked as an assistant manager at the Chinese Restaurant in Bowie, Maryland. I was so proud of my artwork and the lettering on my Magic trick, so I showed a Polaroid photo to Mr. Chin, the owner of The Golden Pagoda Restaurant. When Mr. Chin saw the box in the photo he started laughing! Chinese people are very reserved and rarely laugh like he did.
He said in a thick accent as he pointed to my artwork, "Do you know what that says?" I said that I didn't but that I just liked the Chinese letters and that I had found them in one of his Chinese newspapers. Still laughing he said, "This says, 'Do not pee in the alley’! "
That is what I got for not knowing what I was copying!
A year or so later, Mr. Chin had expanded his restaurant to a chain and he hired me to be his event and advertising coordinator. I did several Chinese New Year celebrations for him and I did all his print and radio commercials. I also learned to read some Mandarin characters and speak enough Chinese to get along. I still have a soft spot in my magic thinking for Chinese magic and design.
Locally in Harrisonburg, President Eddie Tobey did a spectacular job on his magic radio debut. Eddie joined Hobart at 7:45 in the morning in the WQPO “Q101” studio and did some magic.
I have been helping Eddie with ideas for magic-on-the-radio. Many of you know that I work for VerStandig Broadcasting which owns Q101 as well as WSVA and “Bob Rocks”. Carson, the morning man at 105 “Bob Rocks” is a magician and visited Ring 320.
Eddie did a trick I gave him and since it is appropriate for this year (2011) I will share it with you. It requires a build up! This is 2011, the year before the Mayan calendar ends and the year that all things come into convergence. The convergence number is 111. Remember that number. Almost everyone is in the convergence! This is the only year in a hundred that has 1/1/11 and 1/11/11 as well as 11/1/11 and 11/11/11! Here is how you can check to see if you are in the cosmic convergence: Take the last two years of the year you were born in. For example if you were born in 1948 take the “48” and add it to the age you will be on the birthday that you have in this year. If you have already had your birthday, use the age you are now. If you are going to have a birthday this year, then use the age you will be. Again, add the two numbers in the year you were born and your age. Hum “111” ! You are a part of the convergence!
In my last year in college in Maryland, I needed a female assistant for my magic gigs and there was a tall thin student who always dressed covered up like a Victorian and she always acted like she was really stuck up. I would smile at her and most of the time she would wryly smile, raise one eyebrow like Max Maven and look away. She was not in any of my classes. Sometimes I would walk with her from the parking lot in the mornings or see her in the student union at lunch time. She was friendly but distant and fearful.
All the guys thought she was hot but would not approach her. One female student said, “Yea, you should have seen how she was in High School! She’s changed”
She used to come to school made up like a model with false eyelashes and would always wear clothes that covered her up. I remember her walking to class with a tight long gray maxi-coat and always a neck scarf and black stiletto heels (out of fashion at that time in the early 70s) with one foot paced in front of the other and walking in a straight line. Her hips would sway and turn every guy’s head. Her face looked very much like Bernadette Peters.
I could tell that she had been to a finishing school because she walked and stood with perfect posture and her fashion and makeup were professional.
I was in desperate need for help with my magic show so I went over to her in the student union where she was sitting alone. Her maxi coat went almost to her ankles and she was wearing high heel black boots as she sat on the couch. I walked over and said, “Pat, you look and walk like you would make a great magic assistant with me. I have some shows coming up. Do you want some work?” She got a real sour look on her face and spit back, “Oh go away!”
Instead of accepting her answer, I plopped down next to her on the brown leather couch and took her hand, squeezed it and puffed up my chest and got about 6 inches from her face and said, “I need your help, Pat!”. Her eyes darted wildly from side to side and she pulled back and some sort of look of terror filled her face and her pupils fully dilated and she took a deep breath, her eyes rolled up and she moaned, “YES!”.
Her father was an Air Force Colonel based at Andrews Air Force Base and her mother was a tall stately woman who looked a lot like Grace Kelly. I went over to her house and insisted that I talk to her mother who was very supportive of Patty helping me.
While Patty was upstairs getting into the show costume (borrowed from Chuck and Shirley Windley, illusionists who lived near us), her Mom brought out pictures and explained how Patty had been fat, clumsy and teased in School with no interest in how she looked. Her parents spent a fortune getting her top-notch training and direction in all aspects of female beauty.
Patty came down the stairs with a bathrobe covering the show costume underneath. The costume was a bit like an Esther Williams swimsuit with some rhinestones and bead work and fringe. Her Mom and I stood in the living room as she slipped off the bathrobe. Patty again had a real sour look on her face. “This is ridiculous!” She protested. Mom chimed in, “Now Patty, be kind, listen to him and don’t be embarrassed.” We were pinning her on the sides and got to her middle and it was solid like a sheet of steel. I thought, “she has on a girdle!” It was to firm extra skin from the weight loss. She had a birthmark on the side of her bust just at the line where the costume top ended. So I did the old trick of cutting up a band aid and sticking it on her. In my makeup costume kit, I always carried Band-Aids and other things needed for helping someone look good on stage. If you see Preparation H in my makeup kit, realize that a dab on the face removes crow’s feet and tightens the skin! It is a professional model’s trick.
Her Mother was thrilled, “Oh Patty, you look so good!” She continued to be sour and said, “Please don’t make me do this”.
She blurted out to me, “You may as well know that I used to be a fat slob and now I am all strapped together.” That comment sort of put me in a tough psychological spot. Women often do that with statements. If I said, “Well, you look good now!” she could say something like, “All you care about is my body”. If I said, “I think we can work around it”, she could say, “See, you think I am a slob too!”. If I say, “This is about a job and if you can function in it”, she would get mad at that. Nothing I could say is going to not get me in trouble. So I did what I thought would be the least area of verbal exposure. I just ignored her comment and said, “You have to sit crossed legged in this Doll house illusion so I needed to see your range of movement”. She shot back at me, “You are like all men, and you ignore what any woman says!” So I repeated what worked in the student union. I took her hand, squeezed it and puffed up my chest and got about 6 inches from her face and said, “I need your help, Pat!”. Same response: Her eyes darted wildly from side to side and she pulled back and some sort of look of terror filled her face and her pupils fully dilated and she took a deep breath, her eyes rolled up and she moaned, “YES!”. She fit the illusion fine.
She was a good assistant but a little sour with an effective sneer. It was actually kind of sexy on stage. She would get an aggravated look like Pam Thompson only Patty’s was real. I played off of it with a deadpan and double-take and it got laughs. I never could get her to show a joyous smile. Her ballet and dance training helped a lot. She knew how to walk and stand. Her Mother and I used to talk about her psychological problems. They even sent her for psychological treatment.
In 1971 no one had yet identified Bulimia but she would purge after eating. We would stop to eat on the way back from a show and she would empty her stomach. Her parents spent a fortune on dental work to keep her teeth looking normal from the stomach acids that eat away the teeth enamel.
She was one bundle of psychological problems but still a good assistant. Today medicine has a big tool chest of drugs and techniques to help with psychological problems. Still, in show business you have to learn to deal with all types. We do have strange ones!
Dennis Phillips
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
2011-03 Famulus Newsletter
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 03/16/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Meeting Performance Theme - Pot Luck
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
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 – artthomas31@Earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.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, 03/16/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Meeting Performance Theme - Pot Luck
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
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 – artthomas31@Earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.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.
2011-03 From the Editor
Last months meeting was quite shocking, what with a large number of Broken Wand announcements, and the news of Art Thomas' resignation from the club. Art will be sorely missed, I think many people do not realize how much he did for the club. It was especially hard to lose him just before the Flea Market, which has always been one of the events that had his stamp on it. And while the rest of the crew did a great job this year again, Art's absence was felt.
There are a couple of videos in this months edition, both very worthwhile watching.
Thanks to our regular contributors Dennis and Sheldon, without them this would be an empty newsletter. Come on members, how about some input? It could be reviews of (new) magic effects, reviews of a TV program or reminiscences from times gone by. Go on, hit the keyboard and email your submission to famulus@illlusioneer.com.
Your editor
There are a couple of videos in this months edition, both very worthwhile watching.
Thanks to our regular contributors Dennis and Sheldon, without them this would be an empty newsletter. Come on members, how about some input? It could be reviews of (new) magic effects, reviews of a TV program or reminiscences from times gone by. Go on, hit the keyboard and email your submission to famulus@illlusioneer.com.
Your editor
2011-03 Ring Report
President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on February 16th with 27 members and guests in attendance. He sadly announced that in the past month there were Broken Wand Ceremonies for Pavel, Terry Seabrooke and Tim Conover all of whom had either lectured or appeared in our area. He next reported that Art Thomas, our Ring Treasurer had submitted his letter of resignation which was read by Bev Bergeron. Art did many fine things for the Ring and his absence will be deeply felt. Craig went on to say that any member wishing to replace Art should contact him (Craig) for consideration.
He further announced that we had two lectures scheduled May, Tony Clark and Danny Garcia. We were encouraged to participate in the Make a Wish Foundation's Walk for Wishes which will be held in late March.
Our Annual Flea Market and Auction will be held on Feb 21st with Joe Zimmer and Phil Schwartz handling the Auction. Twenty-four (24) tables have been reserved for the Flea Market.
It was announced that John Calvert would be lecturing at Abbott's Convention in Colon, Michigan on August 5th and several of our members will be attending.
Phil Schwartz was up next with his Magic History Moment #28. The subject was Carl De-voy Williams whom Phil held in high esteem. Born in 1922 and still active today, Williams, raised in Pasadena, California, had an interest in puppets and magic. He spent much of his leisure time watching the lathe workings of Floyd Thayer, a nearby neighbor.
Educated, after a stint in the Navy, at Cal Tech he joined Lockheed as an electrical engineer. After a long professional career, he retired in 1988 and began making magic. He is a skilled craftsman and is known for many creations, including Wands of the Masters, the Houdini Wand, and cages for Lance Burton.
Following a short break, six of our members performed, starting with Chuck Smith, who with the aid of an audience volunteer, predicted the outcome of a random number calculation. Doug Kalcik followed with 2 well performed card effects. Chuck Pfrogner demonstrated an intriguing coin transport. Dan Stapleton, with the assistance of three volunteers and IHOP place settings entertained the group with a seemingly impossible exchange of utensils. Richard Hewitt closed the show with finding a selected card by an audience volunteer.
A fine time was had by all.
He further announced that we had two lectures scheduled May, Tony Clark and Danny Garcia. We were encouraged to participate in the Make a Wish Foundation's Walk for Wishes which will be held in late March.
Our Annual Flea Market and Auction will be held on Feb 21st with Joe Zimmer and Phil Schwartz handling the Auction. Twenty-four (24) tables have been reserved for the Flea Market.
It was announced that John Calvert would be lecturing at Abbott's Convention in Colon, Michigan on August 5th and several of our members will be attending.
Phil Schwartz was up next with his Magic History Moment #28. The subject was Carl De-voy Williams whom Phil held in high esteem. Born in 1922 and still active today, Williams, raised in Pasadena, California, had an interest in puppets and magic. He spent much of his leisure time watching the lathe workings of Floyd Thayer, a nearby neighbor.
Educated, after a stint in the Navy, at Cal Tech he joined Lockheed as an electrical engineer. After a long professional career, he retired in 1988 and began making magic. He is a skilled craftsman and is known for many creations, including Wands of the Masters, the Houdini Wand, and cages for Lance Burton.
Following a short break, six of our members performed, starting with Chuck Smith, who with the aid of an audience volunteer, predicted the outcome of a random number calculation. Doug Kalcik followed with 2 well performed card effects. Chuck Pfrogner demonstrated an intriguing coin transport. Dan Stapleton, with the assistance of three volunteers and IHOP place settings entertained the group with a seemingly impossible exchange of utensils. Richard Hewitt closed the show with finding a selected card by an audience volunteer.
A fine time was had by all.
2011-03 magician creates a storm of protests
Based on Dennis' comments about YouTube magic, this posting is perhaps very timely. If you have not yet seen the Chinese fish trick, then be sure to view the video, it is dynamite. Unfortunately no subtitles for the Chinese language soundtrack, but not needed! Babede-babede-ba!
2011-03 Dennis' Deliberations
There are good reasons why I stay away from using the term magician, especially in any public school shows that I book.
You should hear the nightmare stories that I hear about totally incompetent performers as well as people who book shows and are horrible.
I was at the Hookah Lounge and was using my closing line:
If you liked the show, remember my name is “Dennis Phillips” if you didn’t like the show my name is “Criss Angel”! It gets a laugh… One guy called me over and said, “Whatever happened to that guy who used to vanish the Statue of Liberty? I saw him on TV when I was real young.”
I said, “You mean David Copperfield”. He said, “I think that was his name…Uh I heard somewhere that he is in jail for raping a girl or some famous model. No, he tried to kill his wife!”
It is tough for any “magician” to be seen in a positive light. We are seen by the public as freaks and kinks.
The old Duck and Chicken “Changing Heads” trick is back. Fu Manchu did it, David Copperfield did it 20 years ago on one of his network specials.
Penn and Teller had a magic special on English TV in January and it was called “Fool Me”. The invited magicians from all over to come and “fool them”. One magician did the Duck and Chicken Trick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0RRSgfBJpw&feature=player_embedded
Penn and Teller acted like they had never seen this effect before. The look of delight on their faces was an indication of how much they appreciated good performance. It wasn't so much the TRICK that amazed them (P&T could do it blindfolded), but from their perspective (and ours) the Ali Cook's gestures were cool. People in the "know" enjoyed the performer as much as the trick! The magician who virtually wrote the book on COOL was Larry Wilson. As the cliché saying goes, "I'd watch that guy eating lunch." ... This short bio tells it all:
Larry Wilson doesn't take magic seriously. But that's no surprise to anyone who's seen him starring in his psychedelic extravaganza, "Wonderland," at Harrah's Hotel & Casino in Reno. The debate over whether Larry Wilson is a comedian or magician leaves him unconcerned. Audiences are laughing so hard they don't even seem to realize that the astounding and freaky visuals taking place all around them are actually magic. "I don't want to fool you," Larry Wilson candidly admits, "I just want to blow your mind a little." His latest creation, "Wonderland," does that in full measure. His high-energy performance combined with a gift for lightning-fast ad-libs makes it all the more impossible to determine what's really planned and what's simply a spontaneous happening. And that's what "Wonderland" is all about. As Larry Wilson explains, "It's not a place; it's a state of mind."
How did Larry Wilson, this self-professed refugee from the Summer of Love wind up producing his own theatrical spectacles? Larry is the first to admit it's been an unusual career. He began his performing career at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, a private club for magicians. He was somewhat apprehensive about presenting his mix of comedy and magic because of the Castle's reputation as a reserved and dignified forum for magicians. Fortunately, his satirical advertising pitch for the "Famous Magicians School" was an immediate success and even the most diehard magicians were delighted with his spoofing of the art.
In no time at all Larry Wilson found himself in places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe performing with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr., Ann-Margret, and The Pointer Sisters. This, in turn, Ied to a long string of television appearances with his zany assistants, the Flying Cavettis, and it was an appearance with this stage troupe which garnered Larry Wilson his first Emmy nomination as a performer.
Larry Wilson is also quite in demand as a technical consultant for magic and special effects.in movies and T.V. He's taught sleight of hand to a host of famous actors including Patrick Dempsey, Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton and Brooke Shields. He was hand-chosen to create the now famous comedy-magic sequence that Leslie Nielsen performed in the classic comedy hit "Airplane!" Larry Wilson has displayed his sleight of hand skills on "Hard Copy," as a crooked casino dealer on ABC's "Line of Fire" and on the A&E special, "Stealth Technology," where he demonstrated how the military uses many of the same principles of illusion in modern warfare.
"Eventually Larry Wilson realized that if I broke away from the preconceived ideas of magic and did something that was true to what I am it would be something really unique," Larry says. "So I did a little inventory on myself and decided that the things I have such great fondness for all came from the 60's-the music, the clothes, the lifestyle. All at once, it seemed so clear, the perfect theatrical framework to combine these fantastic cultural influences was just ready and waiting for me-"Alice in Wonderland." It's the trippiest, most surreal, otherworldly tale. And everybody knows all about it. Or, at least, they think they do." That was the jumping off point for "Wonderland." His long history with Harrah's casinos made it a natural choice to launch this ambitious project and the response has been phenomenal right from the opening night performance.
Years and years of working in gambling cities also allowed Larry Wilson plenty of time to hone his card-playing skills and he is well known on the poker tournament circuit. "I got to play with some of the top Hold 'Em players in the world, and, fortunately, some of them took pity on me and were kind enough to point out everything I was doing wrong. Gradually my game began to improve enough until I started winning small tournaments. I may be the only guy whose job actually coincides neatly with his love of playing poker."
Larry Wilson is very pleased about the public's acceptance of his peculiar mix of magic, comedy and theatricality. "Nowadays audiences crave a more intense theatrical experience. When they go out to see a show, they want to be immersed in something, they want to feel something." That's why "Wonderland" has been received so enthusiastically by audiences of such a broad spectrum. "Magic isn't about the tricks; it's supposed to be about going on a little trip to an alternative reality." Does that make Larry Wilson the next Houdini? "Oh, no," he's quick to say. "That stuff with the handcuffs I leave to the pros... like Paris Hilton."
Now that is a superb quote that all magicians should take to heart, and more -- put into action! : "Magic isn't about the tricks; it's supposed to be about going on a little trip to an alternative reality." How many performers can you say actually fulfill THAT requirement? When you stop looking at the props (the half-naked babes excepted) and find yourself riveted by the magician, then you know you're watching good magic! Do we watch Channing Pollock's act, or do we watch the complete package that includes his ever bodily nuance and suave facial expression? Another point (this could be turned into and essay!) -- when we see a magician, say, an illusionist, do a "standard" routine and think, "That man has turned it into a masterpiece that only HE can do!" -- then, and only then, do we have CLASSIC MAGIC presented in all its glory. Richiardi's Broom Suspension is a case in point, and I'm sure you can think of other examples. (The Blackstone Floating Lightbulb? I dunno: It always seemed to me that a bulb with the screw-end at the TOP screams "hanging" from something but the overall effect is amazing and poetic, especially sending it out over the audience)
One of the true sad things is that YouTube videos are watchable again and again and again. The magically naive can do exactly that, including "freeze frames", and then jump in there with some semi-revealing feedback on the aspects that don't look quite right." Magic seen only once, LIVE, doesn't have that problem. THAT'S WHY -- if I did any magic that relied on being seen only ONCE for best effect (an effect that FOOLS) I sure as heck wouldn't want it to be put on YouTube.
You should hear the nightmare stories that I hear about totally incompetent performers as well as people who book shows and are horrible.
I was at the Hookah Lounge and was using my closing line:
If you liked the show, remember my name is “Dennis Phillips” if you didn’t like the show my name is “Criss Angel”! It gets a laugh… One guy called me over and said, “Whatever happened to that guy who used to vanish the Statue of Liberty? I saw him on TV when I was real young.”
I said, “You mean David Copperfield”. He said, “I think that was his name…Uh I heard somewhere that he is in jail for raping a girl or some famous model. No, he tried to kill his wife!”
It is tough for any “magician” to be seen in a positive light. We are seen by the public as freaks and kinks.
The old Duck and Chicken “Changing Heads” trick is back. Fu Manchu did it, David Copperfield did it 20 years ago on one of his network specials.
Penn and Teller had a magic special on English TV in January and it was called “Fool Me”. The invited magicians from all over to come and “fool them”. One magician did the Duck and Chicken Trick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0RRSgfBJpw&feature=player_embedded
Penn and Teller acted like they had never seen this effect before. The look of delight on their faces was an indication of how much they appreciated good performance. It wasn't so much the TRICK that amazed them (P&T could do it blindfolded), but from their perspective (and ours) the Ali Cook's gestures were cool. People in the "know" enjoyed the performer as much as the trick! The magician who virtually wrote the book on COOL was Larry Wilson. As the cliché saying goes, "I'd watch that guy eating lunch." ... This short bio tells it all:
Larry Wilson doesn't take magic seriously. But that's no surprise to anyone who's seen him starring in his psychedelic extravaganza, "Wonderland," at Harrah's Hotel & Casino in Reno. The debate over whether Larry Wilson is a comedian or magician leaves him unconcerned. Audiences are laughing so hard they don't even seem to realize that the astounding and freaky visuals taking place all around them are actually magic. "I don't want to fool you," Larry Wilson candidly admits, "I just want to blow your mind a little." His latest creation, "Wonderland," does that in full measure. His high-energy performance combined with a gift for lightning-fast ad-libs makes it all the more impossible to determine what's really planned and what's simply a spontaneous happening. And that's what "Wonderland" is all about. As Larry Wilson explains, "It's not a place; it's a state of mind."
How did Larry Wilson, this self-professed refugee from the Summer of Love wind up producing his own theatrical spectacles? Larry is the first to admit it's been an unusual career. He began his performing career at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, a private club for magicians. He was somewhat apprehensive about presenting his mix of comedy and magic because of the Castle's reputation as a reserved and dignified forum for magicians. Fortunately, his satirical advertising pitch for the "Famous Magicians School" was an immediate success and even the most diehard magicians were delighted with his spoofing of the art.
In no time at all Larry Wilson found himself in places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe performing with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr., Ann-Margret, and The Pointer Sisters. This, in turn, Ied to a long string of television appearances with his zany assistants, the Flying Cavettis, and it was an appearance with this stage troupe which garnered Larry Wilson his first Emmy nomination as a performer.
Larry Wilson is also quite in demand as a technical consultant for magic and special effects.in movies and T.V. He's taught sleight of hand to a host of famous actors including Patrick Dempsey, Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton and Brooke Shields. He was hand-chosen to create the now famous comedy-magic sequence that Leslie Nielsen performed in the classic comedy hit "Airplane!" Larry Wilson has displayed his sleight of hand skills on "Hard Copy," as a crooked casino dealer on ABC's "Line of Fire" and on the A&E special, "Stealth Technology," where he demonstrated how the military uses many of the same principles of illusion in modern warfare.
"Eventually Larry Wilson realized that if I broke away from the preconceived ideas of magic and did something that was true to what I am it would be something really unique," Larry says. "So I did a little inventory on myself and decided that the things I have such great fondness for all came from the 60's-the music, the clothes, the lifestyle. All at once, it seemed so clear, the perfect theatrical framework to combine these fantastic cultural influences was just ready and waiting for me-"Alice in Wonderland." It's the trippiest, most surreal, otherworldly tale. And everybody knows all about it. Or, at least, they think they do." That was the jumping off point for "Wonderland." His long history with Harrah's casinos made it a natural choice to launch this ambitious project and the response has been phenomenal right from the opening night performance.
Years and years of working in gambling cities also allowed Larry Wilson plenty of time to hone his card-playing skills and he is well known on the poker tournament circuit. "I got to play with some of the top Hold 'Em players in the world, and, fortunately, some of them took pity on me and were kind enough to point out everything I was doing wrong. Gradually my game began to improve enough until I started winning small tournaments. I may be the only guy whose job actually coincides neatly with his love of playing poker."
Larry Wilson is very pleased about the public's acceptance of his peculiar mix of magic, comedy and theatricality. "Nowadays audiences crave a more intense theatrical experience. When they go out to see a show, they want to be immersed in something, they want to feel something." That's why "Wonderland" has been received so enthusiastically by audiences of such a broad spectrum. "Magic isn't about the tricks; it's supposed to be about going on a little trip to an alternative reality." Does that make Larry Wilson the next Houdini? "Oh, no," he's quick to say. "That stuff with the handcuffs I leave to the pros... like Paris Hilton."
Now that is a superb quote that all magicians should take to heart, and more -- put into action! : "Magic isn't about the tricks; it's supposed to be about going on a little trip to an alternative reality." How many performers can you say actually fulfill THAT requirement? When you stop looking at the props (the half-naked babes excepted) and find yourself riveted by the magician, then you know you're watching good magic! Do we watch Channing Pollock's act, or do we watch the complete package that includes his ever bodily nuance and suave facial expression? Another point (this could be turned into and essay!) -- when we see a magician, say, an illusionist, do a "standard" routine and think, "That man has turned it into a masterpiece that only HE can do!" -- then, and only then, do we have CLASSIC MAGIC presented in all its glory. Richiardi's Broom Suspension is a case in point, and I'm sure you can think of other examples. (The Blackstone Floating Lightbulb? I dunno: It always seemed to me that a bulb with the screw-end at the TOP screams "hanging" from something but the overall effect is amazing and poetic, especially sending it out over the audience)
One of the true sad things is that YouTube videos are watchable again and again and again. The magically naive can do exactly that, including "freeze frames", and then jump in there with some semi-revealing feedback on the aspects that don't look quite right." Magic seen only once, LIVE, doesn't have that problem. THAT'S WHY -- if I did any magic that relied on being seen only ONCE for best effect (an effect that FOOLS) I sure as heck wouldn't want it to be put on YouTube.
Monday, February 07, 2011
2011-02 Famulus Newsletter
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 02/16/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Meeting Performance Theme - Valentine's Magic
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
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 – artthomas31@Earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.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, 02/16/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Meeting Performance Theme - Valentine's Magic
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
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 – artthomas31@Earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.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.
2011-02 From the Editor
February remains colder than normal, what happened to global warming? After spending a few days in a VERY cold Denver I was glad to get back to Central Florida, where recently it has been quite hot. Maybe not in temperatures, but certainly in magic. Wizardz Monday night shows are drawing full houses time after time, especially when the big names come. This week was Jon Armstrong, originally from Orlando, who has made it big on the magic scene of the West Coast. Jon was back in town and joined us for the excellent Jonathon Levitt lecture, as well as performing at Wizardz. If you missed either event, you missed a lot!
In addition, we were treated to Penn & Teller performing at the Hard Rock, and quite a number of members were able to attend and enjoy another evening of magical entertainment.
Coming up soon is another not to be missed event, the Annual Flea Market and Show. Great performers and lectures, do not miss it.
Your editor
Stefan
P.S. Remember, clicking on the Google ads at the top of this newsletter helps support the club!
In addition, we were treated to Penn & Teller performing at the Hard Rock, and quite a number of members were able to attend and enjoy another evening of magical entertainment.
Coming up soon is another not to be missed event, the Annual Flea Market and Show. Great performers and lectures, do not miss it.
Your editor
Stefan
P.S. Remember, clicking on the Google ads at the top of this newsletter helps support the club!
2011-02 Ring Report
President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on January 19th and announced that because of a scheduled lecture this evening by Geoffrey Williams that the business meeting would be brief. He announced that our annual Flea Market and Auction would be held on February 19th at the usual location. There will also be a lecture and workshop by Rachel and Aldo Columbini. A second lecturer will be announced. (Kostya Kimlat - Ed)
The membership present enjoyed the lecture and expressed their enthusiasm with Geoffrey's presentation.
Dan Stapleton announced that the S.A.M. National Council will be holding An Evening of Magic and Dinner at the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration in Kissimmee on Friday, March 11, 2011. Reservations are a must (407-491-3287) and everyone is welcome.
The meeting broke up at about 10:30.
A fine time was had by all.
Sheldon Brook
The membership present enjoyed the lecture and expressed their enthusiasm with Geoffrey's presentation.
Dan Stapleton announced that the S.A.M. National Council will be holding An Evening of Magic and Dinner at the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration in Kissimmee on Friday, March 11, 2011. Reservations are a must (407-491-3287) and everyone is welcome.
The meeting broke up at about 10:30.
A fine time was had by all.
Sheldon Brook
2011-02 Ring 170 Flea Market & Auction
*Attention Magicians,*
It’s that time of the year again!FAME of Greater Orlando
IBM RING 170
PRESENTS
Saturday, February 19, 2011
9:00AM – 5:00PM
Magic Flea Market / Auction
with 2 Free Lectures
GENERAL ADMISSION: Still only $10.00 !!!**
*PLEASE PASS THE WORD ONTO ALL YOUR MAGIC FRIENDS…*
A full day of magic…great deals…two lectures…and still only $10.00 admission
*Great Fun…Great Deals…New & Used Magic*
*- Plenty of ** FREE ** parking –*
*Rent table space and sell your old unused magic*
*For full table $15.00, plus $10.00 per person admission*
E-mail: CraigFennessy@gmail.com to reserve a table. Payment at the door
SCHEDULE:
8:30am- Flea Market Load-in & set-up
9:00am – Flea Market Opens
10:00am – 11:30am – Private workshop, Aldo & Rachael Colombini
(Workshop is limited to 12 people, $25.00 extra. Reservations recommended)
11:45 – 12:45 – Mini FREE lecture with Kostya Kimlat
12:00pm – Flea Market Closes
1:00pm – 2:30pm – Headliner lecture, Aldo Colombini, Free with admission
2:30 – 4:30pm – Auction
5:00pm – Events ends
*Food & Drink available on site*
*LOCATION:*
Christ the King Lutheran Church – Barnabas Hall
4962 Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando, Florida 32819
*DIRECTIONS:*
* Take I-4 to Exit74A-Sandlake/International Dr. exit.
* Turn west onto Sandlake Rd. go 1.3 miles to Apopke-Vineland Rd.
* Turn right onto Apopka-Vineland, go north 3 miles (4 traffic lights)
* First left driveway after Woodbreeze Rd. traffic light.
The optional workshop with *Aldo Colombini* is up close and personnel.
Submit in advance your suggestions of what you would like Aldo to teach during the workshop.
E-mail: CraigFennessy@gmail.com for workshop reservations…*LIMITED SEATING*
Go to www.Ring170.com
Call: 407-947-1182 for more information
2011-02 Evening of Magic Dinner
An evening of Magic presented by the SAM National Council, starring:
Bev Bergeron
Dan Stapleton
Phillip Kaiser
Nathan Coe Marsh
6:00pm Mingle & Cocktails
7:30pm 3 course served dinner
8:30pm Dinner show
$25 per person (dinner included)
RSVP a must - 407 491-3287
Radisson Resort Orlando Celebration
2900 Parkway Blvd
Kissimmee, FL 34747
Bev Bergeron
Dan Stapleton
Phillip Kaiser
Nathan Coe Marsh
6:00pm Mingle & Cocktails
7:30pm 3 course served dinner
8:30pm Dinner show
$25 per person (dinner included)
RSVP a must - 407 491-3287
Radisson Resort Orlando Celebration
2900 Parkway Blvd
Kissimmee, FL 34747
2011-02 Hardcopy of the Newsletter
Would you like to print all the Newsletters of one year in a professionally bound book? Then take a look at: http://blogspot.sharedbook.com/serve/blog2go/bridge.html?blog_domain=ring170-famulus.blogspot.com&source_referer=google_blogger
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