DECEMBER 2014

TAYLOR MARTIN
PAGE 36
 MAGIC - UNITY - MIGHT
Editor
Michael Close
Editor Emeritus
David Goodsell
Associate Editor
W.S. Duncan
Proofreader & Copy Editor
Lindsay Smith
Art Director
Lisa Close
Publisher
Society of American Magicians,
18915 East Briargate Lane, #1F
Parker, CO 80134
Copyright © 2014
Subscription is through membership
in the Society and annual dues of $65, of
which $40 is for 12 issues of M-U-M.
All inquiries concerning membership, change
of address, and missing or replacement issues
should be addressed to:

Manon Rodriguez, National Administrator

P.O. Box 505, Parker, CO 80134
manon@[Link]
Skype: manonadmin
Phone: 303-362-0575
Fax: 303-362-0424

To file an assembly report go to:

[Link]

For advertising information,

reservations, and placement contact:
Cinde Sanders
M-U-M Advertising Manager
Email: ads@[Link]
Telephone: 214-902-9200

Editorial contributions and correspondence

concerning all content and advertising
should be addressed to the editor:
Michael Close - Email: mumeditor@[Link]
Phone: 317-456-7234
Submissions for the magazine will only be
accepted by email or fax.
VISIT THE S.A.M. WEB SITE
[Link]
To access “Members Only” pages:
Enter your Name and Membership number
exactly as it appears on your membership card.

4 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

M-U-M DECEMBER 2014
MAGAZINE Volume 104 • Number 7

S.A.M. NEWS
Cover Story
Page 36 6 From the Editor’s Desk
8 From the President’s Desk
11 M-U-M Assembly News
22 Broken Wands
23 Good Cheer List
69 Our Advertisers

28

68
24

THIS MONTH’S FEATURES

21 Newsworthy
24 Nielsen Gallery • by Tom Ewing
26 John Giordmaine Tribute • by John Pellatt
28 Not Just Kid Stuff • by Jim Kleefeld
30 Ebook Nook: Come a Little Closer
34 Illusions of Grandeur • David Seebach 26
36 COVER STORY • by Deborah Martin
44 Hit the Road • by Scott Alexander
46 For Your Consideration • by George Parker
50 Cheats and Deceptions • by Antonio M. Cabral
52 Paranormal Happenings • by Charles Siebert, MD
54 The High Road • by Mick Ayres
56 Messing with Your Mind • by Chris Carter
58 Informed Opinion • New Product Reviews
68 Salon de Magie • by Ken Klosterman
69 Inside Straight • by Norman Beck
70 The Dean’s Diary • by George Schindler
70 Basil the Baffling • by Alan Wassilak
Cover photo design by Obtuse

M-U-M (ISSN 00475300 USPS 323580) is published monthly for $40 per year by The Society of American Magicians,
6838 N. Alpine Dr., Parker, CO 80134 . Periodical postage paid at Parker, CO and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to M-U-M, c/o Manon Rodriguez, P.O. Box 505, Parker, CO 80134.

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 5

 dletown, Connecticut, to celebrate PNP Father Cyprian Murray’s
Photo by [Link]

fiftieth anniversary of his ordination as a priest.

The joyous celebration included many S.A.M. luminaries.
Those in attendance were: PNP and current S.A.M. National
Chaplain Michael Douglas and his wife Lori, PNP Craig Dickson
and his wife Joanne, PNP and National Lifetime S.A.M. Dean
Editor’s Desk George Schindler and his wife Nina, S.A.M. Contest Chair Paul
Critelli, S.A.M. Assembly 194 President Monsignor Dermot
Michael Close Brennan, S.A.M. Assembly 77 Past President Steve Rodman,
S.A.M. two-time silver medalist Meir Yedid, Compeer Sister
I’ve known Taylor Martin for a lot of years. In performances, Carol Anne, and former S.A.M. Canadian Regional Vice President
Taylor plays many different parts: the brash and brassy Andrea Phil Matlin.
Merlyn, historical recreationist Rodney the Younger (and Elder), For those not acquainted with Father Cyprian Murray, he
Shammy Bay Fakker (whose magic is based on television scam was born John Harvey Murray in New Rochelle, New York.
advertisements), and Esmerelda, Gypsy Queen of Magic, who Fr. Cyprian is one of the leading historical experts of magic
is Taylor’s most requested female character. But Taylor’s most performed in movies. He has served as S.A.M. chaplain and
important role may be as a tireless champion for live magic in as the S.A.M. national president from 1989-1990. His other
central Indiana. Through his continuing efforts with his show honors include Member of the Inner Magic Circle (MIMC) from
Indy Magic Monthly, established professionals and up-and-com- The Magic Circle in London, and two cover stories in M-U-M
ing young performers have presented their acts to enthusiastic (February 1981 and August 1989).
and appreciative audiences. You’ll learn more about Taylor in our In the early 1980s, the S.A.M. needed to standardize and
cover story this month, which starts on page 36. restructure their international contests of magic. The national
This issue wraps up six years of editorship and seventy-two council at the time realized that there was only one person who
issues of M-U-M. I am happy to report that Lisa and I have signed could tackle this monumental overhaul and that person was Fr.
on for another three years; we look forward to bringing informa- Cyprian Murray. Cyprian restructured the concept of an artistic
tion that will be of interest to all members of the S.A.M., from contest; to this date the S.A.M. magic contests remain the gold
beginners to experienced professionals. standard of magic artistic competition. In 2012, in recognition
One of my sad, end-of-the-year duties is saying thanks and of all his hard work and contributions to the S.A.M and to the
goodbye to several regular columnists who are wrapping up their greater magic community, the S.A.M. national council unani-
tenures. George Parker, whose For Your Consideration column mously voted to rename the S.A.M. stage contest in his honor. It
constantly offered interesting, out-of-the-box thinking, has is now and will forever be known as the Fr. Cyprian Stage Contest
started a new business venture that requires a great deal more of of Magic.
his time. Consequently, his column this month will be his last. Congratulations again to Fr. Cyprian for this astonishing
Thanks, George, for being a part of the M-U-M team. milestone.
Ken Klosterman is also bringing an end to his three-year,
written tour of the Salon de Magie. As I said when I introduced
Ken’s column in January of 2012, one can only marvel at this
collection of props and ephemera and ask, “Where does he get
these wonderful toys?” If you’ve been reading the column, now
you know. Thanks, Ken; it’s been a delight.
This month, Scott Alexander finishes his twelve-month series,
Hit the Road. If you ever want to troupe your show, Scott’s
hints, tips, and real-world advice will save you time, money, and
heartache. The good news is that Scott has a new column up his
sleeve; you’ll see it in the January issue. We have several more
surprises for you next year, including some old friends who are
rejoining the M-U-M roster. I think you’ll have fun.
Because of the special Martin Gardner issue in October From left: Steve Rodman, Eric DeCamps, Phil Matlin, Farther
and the need to include some extra articles in November and Cyprian, George Schindler, Paul Critelli, Craig Dickson, Sister Carol
December, the schedule of regular columnists got a little jumbled. Anne, Robert Olson, and Michael Douglass
Steve Marshall’s I Left My Cards at Home column will return in (Photo courtesy of Bill Hoagland.)
January, alternating with R.D. Michael’s El Roberto Enigmatico.
Levent’s Stage 101 Practicum will be back on its quarterly basis Before I wrap up this column, I’d like to offer my heartfelt
next year. And I hope to showcase some of the performers who thanks to everyone who contributes to this magazine: the regular
will be featured at the national convention in Philadelphia. columnists, the reviewers, those who write assembly reports,
Just a note to those who write assembly reports: Print demands and those who have written cover stories and special articles.
a higher resolution photo than the Internet does. If you send a In particular, I’d like to single out Informed Opinion Editor Bill
photo snapped on a smart phone, there is a good possibility that Duncan, proofreader Lindsay Smith, Ad Manager Cinde Sanders,
the resolution will not be acceptable. If you’ve sent a photo with National Administrator Manon Rodriguez, National President
your report and the photo did not appear in the magazine, that is “ICE” McDonald, and my patient wife and graphic designer Lisa
the reason why. You may want to consider having someone with a Close, whose efforts make this magazine a reality. M-U-M could
digital camera bring it to your meetings. not get done each month without you.
Eric DeCamps sent along the following story and photo: On And to all my compeers in the S.A.M., I hope you have a safe
Sunday, October 12, 2014, friends and family congregated in Mid- and happy holiday season and a Happy New Year. 

6 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 THE PRESIDENT’S GOOD WILL PERFORMER
OF THE MONTH
My selection for this
President’s Desk month’s spotlight goes
not to a person, but to
Kenrick "ICE" McDonald an assembly. The Dallas
Magic Circle (S.A.M.
I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. As you travel this Assembly 13) was
season be safe and enjoy every moment. chartered on October 4,
“New York, New York...” I remember hearing this song as 1924. The following in-
a young man; the lyrics say, “New York, New York big city of formation on Assembly
dreams, but everything in New York ain’t quite what it seems.” In 13 comes from an article
fact, New York is more than what it seems. by Raymond C. Terranel-
In October, I had the opportunity to visit the city that doesn’t Assembly 13 charter certificate la, published in M-U-M,
sleep; while I was there, I didn’t sleep, either. A fast paced thirty- November 1968: “Dallas
six hours filled with assembly visits, getting a firsthand look at is a city often referred to
our Past President Houdini’s gravesite for restoration, and Rory as ‘Big D,’ a nickname born in the thirties when it hit the top
Feldman’s museum/collection of Past President Thurston items as the biggest town in Texas. Before that, as in 1924, it was just
– an incredible collection that everyone should see. Just when it plain Dallas. And that was the year the Dallas Magic Circle made
seemed it couldn’t get better, we entered the Cafe Edison and had headlines by having no less than Harry Houdini, the president
lunch at the famous Magic Table. Okay, let me slow down and of the Society of American Magicians, personally install it as
break down the trip for you. Assembly 13. On October 4, 1924, right after his night show, Mr.
It all began with my desire to visit Past National President Houdini graciously came to the club at the Adolphus Hotel and
Harry Houdini’s Gravesite to view for myself the wear and tear made the now famous installation of Chapter (sic) 13 – not at all
that time wrought. I invited President-Elect David Bowers to an unlucky number for this assembly.
make the trip with me. I flew to Pennsylvania on a Wednesday “The group numbered about fifteen, and the Circle may have
afternoon and lectured to a magic club Wednesday night. We got been two years old at the time. That evening Mr. Houdini offered
up early Thursday morning to catch a train to New York City, a to perform a little trick of his own. This he did with an old-fash-
three-hour trip. We were retrieved by Pat Colby, who graciously ioned hunting-case watch, handed to him with the lid closed after
drove us around to all the places we needed to go. Did I mention someone had set the hands. He touched it to his forehead and
that Mrs. Bowers came along with us? I think it was to keep Mr. correctly divined the time hidden under its lid.”
Bowers in line. (Yet I digress. Smile.) The first stop was the PNP
Houdini Gravesite; the purpose for the visit was to begin the res- THE PRESIDENT’S YOUNG MAGICAL ARTIST
toration process of the site. As the car pulled up to cemetery, the OF THE MONTH
grave was visible from the street. The excitement of viewing this
monument, this great part of history, and standing on this ground Megan Knowles-Bacon,
was overwhelming. I greeted and consulted with Mr. Jacobson, twenty-two years old, London,
the site overseer; I also invited the press. After the interviews and England. Megan has been interest-
photos, we headed to our next destination – the home of Dean ed in magic since the age of five. At
George and Nina Schindler for a brief repast. age ten she joined the Young Magi-
After a short visit, I had to leave for news interviews about cian’s Club (YMC), a youth initia-
the S.A.M. I later met up with the gang at New York’s Parent tive of The Magic Circle. During
Assembly 1. We attended the assembly meeting, then we were her time at YMC she won a schol-
honored with a show, presented by Parent Assembly 1 and arship from the S.A.M. to attend
their wonderful magicians; many thanks to all who performed. the Sorcerer’s Safari Magic Camp
Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brooks, of the Houdini Museum and in Canada. Megan also gained
members of the S.A.M. Houdini Gravesite Committee, were also second place in The Magic Circle’s Young Magician of The Year
in attendance. Competition, and performed at the S.A.M.’s annual convention in
The next morning we hit the New York streets again. We Atlanta in 2010. On reaching the age of eighteen, she joined The
visited the Thurston Museum; after seeing all the history that the Magic Circle.
collection could offer, we went to the Magic Table, held at the For the past three years Megan has been studying Wildlife
Edison Hotel Cafe. When we arrived at the Magic Table, lunch Conservation; she graduated in July. Her favorite genre of magic
was already in process. While there, I had the pleasure of meeting is stage. She enjoys the experience of performing to large groups
one of our oldest S.A.M. members, ninety-two-year old Jerry Op- of people, and feels it allows her to be more creative. She is trained
penheimer. From the Magic Table, we head back to Penn Station in classical ballet, so she performs her main stage act en pointe, as
for our train ride back to Pennsylvania. Good bye New York, New Odile (The Black Swan) from the ballet Swan Lake.
York. It was magical. On October 6, 2014, Megan was honored to be elected
I would like to honor and congratulate Presidential Citation Honorary Secretary of The Magic Circle. According to Megan
recipients Manon and Dan Rodriguez for their contribution to this makes her the first female officer in the Society’s history, and
magic. possibly the youngest! 

8 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 S.A.M. National Officers

Dean: George Schindler, 1735 East 26th St.,

Brooklyn, NY 11229, (718) 336-0605, Fax (718)
627-1397, showbiz10@[Link]
President: Kenrick “ICE” McDonald, P.O. Box
341034, Los Angeles, CA 90034,
(310) 559-8968, ICE@[Link]
President Elect: David Bowers,
(717) 414-7574, David@[Link]
First Vice President: Jeffrey Sikora, (402) 339-
6726 Jeff@[Link]
Second Vice President: Richard Bowman, 719-
527-0678, Professor1@[Link]
Secretary: Marlene Clark, 274 Church Street,
#6B, Guilford, CT 06437, (203) 689-5730,
Skype: [Link], Marlene@[Link]
Treasurer: Eric Lampert, (215) 939-5555,
Eric@[Link]

Regional Vice Presidents

New England: CT MA RI NH ME VT
Thomas D. Gentile, 413-533-7653,
tdgmagic@[Link]
North Atlantic: NY NJ
Eric DeCamps, (718) 896-5861,
rvpnorthatlantic@[Link]
Mid Atlantic: PA DE MD VAWV DC
Arlen Z. Solomon, 215-443-7908,
sam4Arlen@[Link]
South Atlantic: FL AL GA MS NC SC
James M. Driscoll, 770-603-9266,
[Link]@[Link]
Central Plains: KY TN OH IN MI
Steven A. Spence, (317) 722-0429
rvpcentralplains@[Link]
Midwest: IL MN WI MO ND NE KS SD IA
Shaun Rivera, (618) 781-8621
rvpmidwest@[Link]
South Central States: TX AR OK NM LA
Michael Tallon, (210) 341-6959
rvpsouthcentral@[Link]
Southwest: CA AZ NV HI
Ron Ishimaru, (808) 428-6019,
rvpsouthwest@[Link]
Northwest: WA OR UT ID CO AK WY MT
James Russell, (360) 682-6648
rvpnorthwest@[Link]
Canada: Lon F. Mandrake, 604-591-5839,
lon@[Link]
Society of Young Magicians Director:
Jann Wherry Goodsell, 329 West 1750 North,
Orem, Utah 84057 (801) 376-0353.
bravesjann@[Link]

Living Past
National Presidents

Bradley M. Jacobs, Richard L. Gustafson, Roy A.

Snyder, Bruce W. Fletcher, James E.
Zachary, David R. Goodsell, Fr. Cyprian Murray,
Michael D. Douglass, George Schindler, Dan
Rodriguez, Dan Garrett, Donald F. Oltz Jr., Craig
Dickson, Loren C. Lind, Gary D. Hughes, Harry
Monti, Jann Wherry Goodsell, Warren J. Kaps,
Ed Thomas, Jay Gorham, John Apperson, Richard
M. Dooley, Andy Dallas, Maria Ibáñez, Bruce
Kalver, Mike Miller, Mark Weidhaas, Vinny
Grosso, J. Christopher Bontjes, Dal Sanders

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 9

 ASSEMBLY NEWS DECEMBER 2014 Volume 104, Number 7

Society of American Magicians Monthly News

GO TO: [Link]
and use the easy submission form to file your report

4
DICK GUSTAFSON AND
selection of appropriate music and
the type of effects that lend them-
selves to the use of music, stage
(silk) accompanied by weird elec-
tronic sound effects, “the forlorn
call of a lonesome ghost.” Tony
alondon@[Link]
[Link]
details.
for
www.
more

STUART RUDNICK LECTURE

PHILADELPHIA, PA— Our

blocking, how best to open and
close your show, the effective use
of volunteers from the audience,
Anastasi had three helpers mys-
teriously link separate colored
beads, an effect he learned from
7
OCTOBER MAGIC
October meeting featured an the number of effects that should “Chief Sunrise” (and who can say
excellent lecture on the subjects be performed in a show and the ap- he didn’t?). Resident mentalist OMAHA, NE— The October
of routining a magic act as well as propriate length of a show for both Oneil Banks demonstrated pre- meeting started with the necessary
stage and audience management children and adults. cognition of three objects chosen housekeeping of reading the club
jointly presented by PNP Dick Dick and Stuart illustrated many by his helper. Howard Katz bylaws and the listing of officer
Gustafson and the very entertain- of their points by performing performed his dime to sealed nominees and recommended Life
ing Stuart Rudnick. Prior to the various portions of their own acts. sugar packet, an effect he markets Members. The new Life Members
lecture, President Eric Johnson For example, Stuart explained at Magic Warehouse. are: Ann Rourke, Ron Gerard, and
welcomed our members and their how to effectively utilize such Guest Justin Simpson performed Bob and Letha Pitlor. Congratu-
guests to the meeting; we had a effects as the Blooming Bouquet a fine finger ring on and off lations! The Officer nominated
great round table workshop on and D’Lites in a children’s show rope. Mark Wolfire had his for 2015 are: Jerry Golmanavich
rubber band magic presented by to create name recognition for spectators shuffle and cut red (President), Larry Brodahl (Vice
Johnny Mass, followed by a very the performer and to educate the and blue decks, then separated President), Tom Neddo (Secretary),
informative “Book Nook” review audience as to how to properly red cards from black, aiming for Walt Graham (Treasurer) and Bob
by Seuss Metevier of the Pete respond during the show. Dick three amazing coincidences (Juan Gehringer (Sergeant at Arms).
showed how to make the Six Card Tamariz’s Total Coincidence; we Jerry Golmanavich then took us
Repeat, which can be a boring and settled for one coincidence). Eric through a list of upcoming events,
repetitious effect in the wrong Hoffman had his spectator including the annual Wizards
hands, simply hysterical by virtue merely think of a card; its name banquet on January 17.
of his unique patter. All in all, the (“Dracula”) then appeared on After the paperwork, the magic
lecture was a big hit with the club the card back as well as in an started to flow. Jerry Golmanav-
and was accentuated by insight- “antique” picture frame previ- ich was up first with a dirty rotten
ful questions from the audience as ously shown empty. Hopkins trick involving a deck of cards
well as helpful suggestions from guest Ronann Carrero did a short transforming into a spider and
others in attendance, including and sweet Ambitious Card and scaring the assistant. Tom Zeph
George Hample, Calvin Tan, and his fellow guest Hyunjong Lee then gave his spooky science/
Steve Black on some of the issues performed an amazing one-hand- magic lecture, demonstrating such
presented. It was a great night for ed coin matrix. Craig Feinstein things as “Walking away from
magic! —Peter Cuddihy did his kids’ version of Miser’s your shadow,” the Electric Lady,
James Wobensmith Assembly Dream. and the penetrating scarf through
4 meets third Thursday at 7:00 Kenny Caplan was next, stabbing Broomstick set to a Harry Potter
p.m. at the Bustleton Memorial a knife right through a spoon bowl, theme.
Dick Gustafson lectures on the Post, 810 (American Legion) 9151 which then turned into a fork (Axel Tommy Hughes then performed
effective routining of a Old Newtown Road. Contact Hecklau’s Spoonaround). his take on a classic Nick Trost
magic show Contact President Eric Johnson Andy London used his lucky effect called The Detective, using
coinhandler@[Link] (267) number (13) to find all four the deck of cards as a portable lie
317-5675 [Link]/ for more Aces, after which all the other detector. Neil Bable (dressed as
McCabe book Scripting Magic. details. cards turned blank. Hmm. Jay an ax murderer) did a semi-silent
The main event of the evening
consisted of Dick and Stuart
presenting their very enjoyable
6
MORE OR LESS
Silverman performed
tipped) an interesting “count
to sixteen” card trick (Michael
(and trick (he did moan during the
trick) using a black deck of cards

and highly informative lecture, HALLOWEEN MAGIC DeMarco’s Sweet 16, totally
which involved a thorough discus- self working). Wrapping up
sion of routining magic for both BALTIMORE, MD— Of course the performances was Hopkins
children and adults. Just a few of there was serious sessioning guest Salomon Vainstein, who
the subjects which were covered going on even before our October performed even though his arm
in detail included the effective use meeting began, this time mostly was in a sling. He used a tiny
of preshow warm-ups to prime the dealing with the subtleties of the plunger to find and lift cards, ap-
audience for the show itself, trick Nines Force. We welcomed a large parently violating the laws of
selection, the proper placement contingent of Johns Hopkins Uni- physics. Another great evening of
of various effects within your versity visitors and kicked off the magic! —Eric Hoffman
program, how to seamlessly move magic with Ira Kolman doing his The Kellar/Thurston Assembly
from one effect to the next, the sponge balls to cube and rabbit (for 6 meets every first Thursday at
significance and benefit of patter – kids). Dean Joe Bruno, performed 8:00 pm at the Magic Warehouse,
especially when presenting a repe- his own Blue Phantom card effect 11419 Cronridge Drive suite #10 Tom Zepf pulls an
titious trick, the proper placement from fifty years ago followed by an in Owings Mills, Maryland. 410- “invisibility cloak” through a
of music within your program, the appearing and disappearing ghost 561-0777. Contact Andy London witch’s broom.

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 11

Assembly News
and a spooky Jack-in-the-box. works (and doesn’t) regarding our bill behind his back and correctly
Considering that he came into the meetings. (You can find a sample identified each bill. Everyone was
meeting in full garb, including here: [Link]/ so impressed that they asked for a
a facemask, his identity wasn’t S8DR3) repeat. The second time through
known until the trick finished, Nominations and elections for more bills were added, including
which added a great deal to the all positions will be held at the a denomination not in the original
spookiness of the night. meeting in November. S.A.M. four. Peter was not aware of the
Bob Charleston then performed a member Jack Nordin was pleased add-in and was as surprised as
spooky spelling trick to the theme to share with us an award of rec- were all of us when he called out
of “Scary cats.” Phil Hardiman ognition presented to him by the the unexpected bill.
then used Jerry Golmanavich, International Brotherhood of A great start to what is going
Betty Golmanavich, Avi Littky, Magicians. to be a great year at the Barn.
and Travis Newcombe for a Larry Kalow presented our first —Joe Berman
session in “channeling” Eddie mini-lecture. It was a seasonal Assembly 16 meets on the first
Fechter during a presentation of a (Halloween) rope and silk illusion. Monday of the month at The Magic
four Ace trick. He was followed by seven other Barn, 175R Main St., Ashland,
Travis Newcombe was up next Gene DeVoe SAM members presenting myriad Mass. Contact Dennis Pimenta
and performed a single needle other excellent illusions. —Steven (508) 881-1818 for more details.
version of the needle in mouth because I was a preteen then. He Peer
with a hesitant Ann Rourke.
Travis claimed that this was a less
“circus geeky” trick than his last
once asked Gene’s advice about
what he needed to know when pur-
chasing a tux for me to use for my
Assembly 12 meets at 7:30 p.m.
on the third Fridays (September
through May) at Eagle Magic,
17
FACING YOUR FEARS
year’s performance of walking on magic shows. One time he picked 11995 County Road 11, Burnsville,
glass, but I’m not sure. up my new Grant’s six-foot French MN 55337. Contact Steven Peer SPRINGFIELD, MA— October
Dick Sanders then performed a Guillotine that had been delivered speer@[Link] (612) 6368600 was our Scary Trick month, and
mummy trick, referring to Tom to Gene’s shop. When my mother [Link] for more there was plenty of spooky magic
Zepfs’s alleged background in ar- came home, it was setup in the details. to go around! The first shock
chaeology, which fit the evenings’ living room, with my head in the of the night came when Butch
theme perfectly. Jeff Sikora
finished off the evening with a
haunted house coloring book and
socks, and after saying “Hi Mom,”
I pulled the chain! Mom didn’t
like magicians or magic…
16
A GREAT START TO THE
announced he was performing
first! What a treat! He performed
a card routine called Reversal, in
a piece from his current library My father, William Howard YEAR which the Tens first reverse them-
program. Todd, supported my addiction selves, and then change into the
The Omaha Magical Society to magic and Gene DeVoe was WORCESTER, MA— An four Aces! Peter Lennis was next
meets at 7 p.m. generally on the the supplier. Life was good. amazing evening – we are back with a couple of cool scares: first,
third Monday of each month I miss them both terribly! in the Magic Barn. The place is a coin was dropped into a box
at the Southwest Church of —Dan (the Great) Todd truly magical, and Pete Lentrors’s that exploded and a previously
Christ near 124th Street and Assembly 8 meets at Mount Tabor renovation of the Barn is incred- selected card was inside. Next was
West Center road, right across United Church of Christ located ible. Come on down to a meeting a Brainwave effect with the Ace
from where Hooters used to at 6520 Arsenal in Saint Louis, just to see the Barn and stay for through Ten. Finally, a voodoo
be. Contact Jerry Golmanavich Missouri 63139. Contact Dick the meeting. This was the first effect with a straw man and a
golubki@[Link] (402) 390-9834 Blowers rmblowers@[Link] meeting of the new year, and what writhing, screaming club member.
[Link] (213) 846-8468 [Link] a meeting it was. Nice.
for more details. com for more details. We started with a teach-in. Peter Jeff performed and taught a
Lennis presented a mini lecture couple of effects. First, Tenyo’s

8
DANNY FLESHMAN, GENE
12
MINI-LECTURES A HIT
on thread work. He brought
enough thread for everyone, close
to twenty people. Peter Lennis
Eye of the Idol. Next was a nice
raccoon involving a rat, a box,
cards shooting out of the box,
DEVOE, AND DAD! covered everything from thread and a selection being caught
TWIN CITIES, MN— With our stripping to the use and prepara- in the mouth of the rat. David
SAINT LOUIS, MO — October October meeting we introduced tion of loops. It was an evening Williamson would be proud!
9: Danny Fleshman lecture. I mini-lectures, during which of ghost decks, floating bills and Rich Pinsonnault showed a couple
missed this only because my father someone volunteers in advance to coins, orbiting cards, and levitat- of new items: Noted 2.0, in which
started hospice and I stayed home demo a single illusion along with ing soda straws. a notepad changes into a complete
with him. I was told that Danny context, patter, convincers, and Next, the almost twenty of us deck of cards, and then Trans-
was in great form, as always. Dan even the genesis of that illusion, retired downstairs for dinner former Card, which is like origami
is a native of Oceanside, Califor- as well as sharing the method. and some lively discussion of the meets the magician-in-trouble
nia, but resides in St. Louis. He We also circulated a poll to goings on. plot. Awesome new magic!
taught practical close-up magic collect opinions about what The Steelgraves discussed Pj Pinsonnault performed R. Paul
that we could use and stressed the the upcoming second annual Wilson’s Gypsy Monte, a story
use of showmanship. Probably Oceanside Magic Invitational, effect using tarot cards in which
because when he was younger, April 9-12 in Cape Cod. It is shaping an unlucky gambler swindles the
he bought most of his magic from up to be better than last year. wrong witch one day and loses
DeVoe’s Magic Den, like many of This was followed by the histori- everything. Dylan, who didn’t
us in St. Louis did back in the ‘60s cal musings of Scott Martell. This expect to be screaming in pain
and ‘70s and that was how Gene month it was Al Baker, a magician (thanks to voodoo and Peter) when
DeVoe taught us. We lost Gene in who “never stopped thinking he came to the meeting, performed
1989. about a trick.” All the Baker a Triumph-meets-Glorpy routine
October 24: I missed this effects that Scott spoke about and he called Houdini’s Ghost. Then
meeting, too, because my father demonstrated were straightfor- he took a card and made it pass
had passed away the morning ward and direct. through a borrowed bill like a
of 10/21/2014. I should mention The evening ended with ghost!
that my father was a ninety-one- member’s magic. Peter Lennis Ed Kazar began by yelling
year-old WWII veteran, and that divined the value of four bills at Conrad to motivate him to
decades ago he had driven me to that were given to him by one of help out with the trick. He then
my magic shows and to DeVoe’s Jack Nordin: a friend of SAM the audience members while his had members call out random
Magic Den throughout the ‘60s, & IBM back was turned. Peter held the numbers, which he wrote down

12 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Assembly News
into three, three-digit numbers. Root milesroot@[Link] (832) every month (except December) at tors chose from a packet of photos
These were added up, and a pre- 6076678 [Link] for Angelo’s on Main, 289 South Main of passengers on the Titanic. One
diction he wrote earlier was shown more details. Street, West Hartford, CT Contact had selected all survivors; the
to have correctly guessed the sum. Dana T. Ring dana@[Link] other had selected photos of
Conrad was next with a nice the-
atrical handling of Envy-Lope,
an offbeat card effect in which a
21
PACKET TRICKS
(860) 5239888 [Link]
for more details.
those who had perished. Henry
Springer, in costume as the Ace
of Spades, did a four-Ace trick, a
selection is inserted into the pack,
which then vanishes leaving an
envelope in its place. Inside the
HARTFORD, CT— This
month’s theme was Packet Tricks,
22
NATIONAL MAGIC WEEK IN
card rise, and a torn and restored
card effect. Closing the show was
Ted “Suds” Sudbrack, who used
envelope? The selection! but with this proviso: no Three LOS ANGELES Glorpy the Ghost to find a selected
Finally, our newest recruit Brad Card Monte. card and, as an added feature, an
discussed ideas for an upcoming President Dan Sclare did a trick LOS ANGELES, CA— animated fat lady revealed the same
performance with the club before with pictures of cereal boxes, in Assembly 22 in Los Angeles has, card in a most humorous fashion.
showing off a slick card control which the chosen card had the only for most of its long history, had —Steven L. Jennings
he calls the Fear Control. Simple, blue back. Another packet had a close association with National Southern California Assembly
clean card handling at its best! pictures of famous magicians. A Magic Week: the final Houdini 22 meets the third Monday each
—Pj Pinsonnault die was rolled to pick one of the Séance at the Knickerbocker month at 8:00 PM, St. Thomas
Assembly 17 meets at the RP photos and the selection proved to Hotel in Hollywood, October More Parish Hall, 2510 South
Magic Shop, 69 East Street be Dan’s own picture. 31, 1936; Bess Houdini and Dr. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra,
Ludlow, MA 01056 Contact Rich Peter Lennis put money in an Edward Saint frequently attending California Contact Ed Thomas
Gilbert rgilbertmagic@yahoo. envelope and called it a packet assembly meetings; and National magicmred@[Link] (213)
com for more details. trick. Since it involved money, Magic Week officially incorpo- 382-8504 for more details.
he had our attention. Four bills rated into the S.A.M. constitu-

19
DAVID SOUSA LECTURES IN
of different denominations were
shown and swapped with equal
denominations of bills among
tion during the national presi-
dency of John U. Zweers from Los
Angeles. Much of the legacy of
30
FREE CUT PRINCIPLE
HOUSTON the spectators, so that each bill National Magic Week resides in
was now one that Peter had not Southern California. ATLANTA, GA— Our Profes-
HOUSTON, TX— This month previously touched. Holding Early arrivals at the assembly sional Development series was
we had a short meeting as David them behind his back, Peter was meeting were again treated to presented by John Miller. John,
Sousa was in town to lecture on our able to identify the bills by touch filmed bits of magic performed an expert in card magic, intro-
meeting night. David presented alone. Later he did a one-out-of- by great magicians of the duced us to the Free Cut Principle,
a fine lecture revolving around ten card selection he called Brain past. Assembly president Perovich published by Gene Finell. The
his FISM award winning Red Friction, and did a version of Bank again opened the meeting with twenty-five page manuscript now
Envelope act. A video of his act a lesson in magic, the art of per- lists for $125-150, if you can find
from a French TV show was shown forming the pass and palming it. The principle was originally
first on our big screen. David then small objects. First readings for presented in the Pallbearer’s
proceeded to go through much of assembly membership were then Review in a John Hamilton effect
his routine, explaining the inner completed for Robert Westgate, called Eyes of the Gods. John
workings of how the phases of the John Clougherty, and Patrick presented three effects using the
routine were developed. I really Murphy. The show for the evening principle, which is a mathematical
enjoyed David’s frankness with was produced and emceed by Tom principle to find a card.
his own mental development of his Meseroll, who also opened the Magical presentations began
act and explaining the process by show. Tom performed an act with with Rick Hinze presenting ten
which the final performance was a supernatural mood that included items used by a magician. Rick
produced. a coin and coin bank united while had someone think of a number
David kept a few of the secrets circulating through the audience, and Rick divined the item by way
to himself such as the final glove Tom’s presentation of a 1936 card of the chosen number. Matt Baker
appearance but overall shared the effect by Stuart James called harkened us back to Oedipus in
basics of his routine. He stressed Brian Scully performing Miraskill, and closing with the a card prediction. The card was
that he did not want someone just Haunted Key, using a storytelling initialed to seal its destiny and
copying his act, but rather taking Night in which the non-”winners” presentation regarding the sinking slid into the deck. The chosen card
his ideas and using them to create got a scratch-off ticket. He also of the Titanic in 1912. and initials appeared on a business
one’s own act or improve upon demonstrated a nut-and-bolt that Mike Perovich had the identity card.
the magic that they are currently unscrewed itself under a chop cup. of a spectator-selected ESP card Matt also gave a poker hand
performing. His explanations Brian Scully turned a packet revealed by a mysterious stranger demonstration using the Free Cut
were well presented and time of Aces into a royal flush, then called on the spectator’s own Principle. What else would you
was given to questions from the performed a Four Card Monte! cell phone. Mike closed with expect from our resident math
group as well. He also had an Rick St. Pierre did a “pinochle” a newspaper headline predic- professor? Merritt Ambrose gave
ample number of items for sale trick, well sort of. He had a packet tion from this morning’s edition us a lovely show with his three
which seemed to go over very of Queens and proceeded to show of the Los Angeles Times. Matt coins and glass transpositions.
well. Overall, I found it to be that each Queen had a small feature Savin, a true believer in ESP, then Martin Baratz demonstrated the
a very good lecture with good on the face that made her unique, presented a lesson in Tarot card mathematics of a deck of cards by
examples of how the creative mind and also was the only Queen to reading. Ed Thomas illustrated spelling out a number of cards.
can be used to obtain a vision of have a different color back than the the ability of Houdini to escape Jason Grech, one of our three
where one wants to go with his or others. Four times. Jason Abate using a red silk escaping from a visitors for the evening, presented
her own magic. —Miles Root turned a blank-faced blue-backed sealed glass, a tied loop of red rope a Jon Armstrong effect using a
Assembly 19 meets the first packet into a red-backed royal escaping from another rope loop, small plunger to reveal the selected
Monday of every month at flush. He also changed the backs and a block falling free after being card in a stack of cards. Our other
the International Alliance of of a four-card packet individually. impaled on a rod. visitors were Scott Edwards and
Theatrical Stage Employees Norm St. Laurent did a version Our fifth performer was Roy Tom Epps.
Local 51 Meeting Hall, 3030 of Oil and Water using a Ball, who performed ghost card, Steve Goldstein showed us a
North Freeway, Houston, TX. A packet of Tarot-style cards. a jumbo card vanish, Joe Monti’s prediction using the four Queens.
teaching lecture begins at 7:30 Dana Ring performed Larry Sakkaku Cat, an optical illusion Two Queens were removed from
pm with the meeting beginning West’s 1-2-3-4. —Dana T. Ring sequence, and closed his act with the hand and the face-up Queen
at 8:00 pm. Contact Miles Assembly 21 2nd Monday of White Star, in which two specta- was the predicted card. It was

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 13

Assembly News
sealed around a dollar bill. Upon have a base to get back to. that he trapped in a gruesome yet everyone!
further inspection, the chosen We finished with a series of charming box. Poor Scott, Anita’s Our first performer was Daniel
card had a yellow back while all breathing exercises that would husband, was afraid of small Jackson who vanished a dime
the other Queens appeared with have had anyone walking by on vicious clowns to begin with. and caused it to reappear (amidst
different backs. the street thinking that he was Chances are he didn’t sleep well bright yellow flames and the scent
Jim Driscoll combined science watching a yoga class. Bob had that night. Gregg Tobo was back, of sulfur) inside a matchbook
and music to perform some para- Frank Monaco and Professor dressed in full coveralls with a cover. Next came Samantha
psychology. He had a book of Platypus stand in front of tarp in tow. He carried with him Carignan, doing her first public
top-forty songs with numbered everyone to say a few words. He a six-pack of root beer cans to performance, and doing no less
cards. Cards were chosen to predict then had them do the exercises experiment with. President Matt a challenging effect than Matrix.
a page number in the book. More and speak again afterward. There shook them up further while Dave For both the trick and her daring,
predictions gave us the number of was a marked difference that they was the judge. Alas, his experi- she received a well-deserved
the song on the page. It was “Ain’t and everyone else noticed in the ment didn’t work too well as the round of applause.
No Mountain High Enough” by timber of their voices. Everyone audience felt a bit drippy in the Josh Theno did card manipula-
Diana Ross. The sealed prediction then joined in to try it. end. tions set to music. His split fans
from Jim showed us the name of Thank you Bob for an interesting Refreshments were to die for. and on-the-arm ribbon spreads
the song he predicted was correct. lesson in stretching our minds as Witches fingers, blood muffins, reminded some of us older
Dan Garrett presented the differ- well as our arms. —Darryl Bielski guacamole guts, and everything members that a time honored
ence between a trick, a puzzle, and Assembly 35 meetings are held else to keep a grisly body was art is still alive. Nicholas Theno
real magic with his presentation of at the Milanese Restaurant in provided by the clubs favorite followed with some well-timed
Crazy Eight. The evening was a Poughkeepsie, NY. Typically, creative lady, Karen Wake. After vanishing and reappearing card
magical success and enjoyed by meetings are held every 2nd the break everyone was delighted work. Between him and his twin
all. —Carol Garrett Tuesday of each month. Meetings to watch the creator of you- brother Josh, stage level card ma-
Assembly 30 meets on the second begin at 7:30 pm and include a do-voodoo, Needle thru Arm, nipulating still thrives.
Tuesday at Picadilly Cafeteria, short business meeting followed perform it. Bruce and Kitty Then it was Don Becker’s turn. He
I-85 at North Druid Hills Rd, by the evening’s main topic Spangler were just great with at demonstrated a Wellington Light
Atlanta, GA. For meeting or guest lecturer. Contact Joe least a pint of their famous movie
information contact Carol Garrett Zaritsky jizdds@[Link] blood. Rich was back with some
at carolmswiz@[Link] or 678- (845) 546-1559 [Link] monsters as the Wakes prepared
643-0250. for more details. their head-chopper routine with
the grim reaper right behind.

35
THINK
37
ODD OCTOBER
Mr. Strivings then obtained his
mind-reading hanky while Dave
picked eight fingers. That was
wrong, considering there were
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY— This DENVER, CO— In the beauty only two un-owned in the box. We
evening we had a most unusual of fall we had an evening of odd ended this bizarre evening of odd
lecture – unusual that not a single hosted by professional mentalist with five bags, five poker chips,
magic trick was taught. Obviously Mark Strivings. First up was and a row of Clorox, Drano,
most people would consider that to President Matt Brandt who, with Bubble Bath, bottle of water,
be a rather boring night. However, the help of Doctor Christopher and brake fluid. Rich Nakata
our lecturer tonight was Bob Fitch, Faria, brought out a jumbo deck promised to drink the unattended Victor La’Yon performing
and his words and thoughts did to prove that a heavy-duty stab choice. Audience members were card magic
indeed make it a magical evening. to the back could involve a card crossing their fingers and then
He started his talk by saying trick. Gregg Tobo employed counting them to make sure none Board, an attractive and fascinat-
that magic can change the world. Marty Jewell and Michael Anger were missing on this evening. ing electrical mystery that needs
People have a reaction to it, and to help with a red rope in his —Connie Elstun to be seen rather than described.
are affected by it. Affected in spirit box. Or wait, perhaps it Assembly 37 meets at the River- Victor Le’Yon did a very good
a good way when thought and was white. Oddness was implied pointe Senior Center in Littleton, ambitious card routine. Ambitious
meaning are put into the process. when a ghost appeared with a ring CO. Contact Connie Elstun card is so basic, and so extraor-
“Thought” is a key word for us to on the string. Dr. Faria continued con n ie@comedy mag icbu n ny. dinarily magical, that it’s hard
consider as much as “practice,” in on to take the audience on a com (303) 594-2555 www. to imagine anything eclipsing it.
order to make our magic better for magic journey to England’s White [Link] for more Karso also did card magic
our audience. Chapel district in 1881 to meet details. including Vernon’s Trick that
He focused on things that we
can look inward to ourselves for
a better outward effect, however
the infamous Jack the Ripper. He
gathered round the usual, or
should I say unusual suspects.
38
AN ECLECTIC EVENING
Cannot be Explained. No one
could explain it. John Hicks, who
never disappoints, told a story of
it wasn’t just thought-provok- Oddly, Mark came in with an some of our members with a card
ing ideas that he presented, but non-odd rope trick when Rich INDEPENDENCE, MO— Our trick. Very creative.
physical ones as well. Depending Nakata appeared with a horren- October meeting was called to Shaun Rivera and Bob Goodin
on the image that you wish to dous little fellow named Jack order by President Rod Sipe, who each performed tricks commemo-
display, would dictate whether announced upcoming lectures rating the 100th anniversary of
you enter from stage right or left. and the nominating commit- Martin Gardner’s birth. Has there
Plus, what you are doing as you tee’s proposed slate for our 2015 ever been another both as brilliant
enter makes a difference, because officers. RVP Shaun Rivera spoke and as clever as the late Mr.
Bob isn’t going to have you just about Magic Week’s “Magical Gardner? A sincere “Thank You”
walk out and that’s it. Oh no. Ryan Moment in Time,” when thousands to all the performers.
Dutcher found that out. Bob had of magicians will simultaneously Then it was time for a night owl
him walk out so many times that levitate just about anything from session at our Not Quite Five Star
we believe Ryan actually walked a playing card to another person. Bar and Grill, where late night
an official marathon. We’re still Should be great fun. magic had to compete with the
awaiting the certification. Bob Then it was time for our monthly televised World Series game. Hard
then went over what to do once “Parade of Magic” put on by our to say which one won the battle for
you are finally front and center members. It was good to see our attention. The Royals lost the ball
onstage. He is a firm believer in newest members and nearly all game. —Don Becker
scripting. There’s nothing wrong Gregg Tobo recruits Marty of our younger members partici- Assembly 38 meets at the
with adlibbing, but you should Jewell and Michael Anger pating. Keep up the good work, Westport Improv Theater, 4010

14 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Assembly News
Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas we ate. September also saw the sions, running the spotlight, and needle, and he demonstrated how,
City, Missouri Contact Don Diamond Jim Tyler lecture and the doing close-up magic. The turnout no matter how hard we tried, we
Becker joydonbeck@[Link] final two appearances at the River- was better than expected and the could not lift our ring finger off the
(816) 886-6780 for more details. front Market for 2014. audience seemed to really like the table. Thanks, Joe, for an infor-
Our October meeting began with show. Happy Magical Halloween! mative and entertaining teaching

47
ASSEMBLY 47
some business, mostly associated —Michael Baker
Assembly 51 meets the third
Monday of the month at 7:00pm
table
Door prize winners were Wayne
Kunkler, Matthew Orta, and Ray
at Schnucks Grocery, 4800 N. Adams. Wayne won a mystery
ROCHESTER, NY— Our first University Street in Peoria, prize, Matthew won magic
assembly meeting of the fall was IL. Contact Michael Baker flowers, and Ray won the DVD
jam-packed with magic! Dan themagiccompany@[Link] (205) Holy Moly.
Grayson tore a packet of four 612-3696 [Link] Brother John Hamman Assembly
cards down the middle and asked com/ for more details. 52 meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first
a spectator to mix the cards. Thursday of the month at La
Once mixed, the spectator dealt
the halves into four piles. To ev-
eryone’s surprise, all halves were
52
TWISTED AND WEIRD
Madeleine Restaurant, located at
722 N.W. Loop 410. The restaurant
is inside Loop 410 on the access
Kyle Bassett performs
matched with their original coun- for some Farmers Market road between Blanco Rd. and
terparts. Professor Rem conducted attendees, as Michael Couri SAN ANTONIO, TX— October San Pedro. For more information,
a para-sympathetic test in which and Grant Golden look on 2, 2014, Brother John Hamman contact douggorman@[Link].
he asked a spectator to place a coin Assembly 52 held its monthly
on any one of five circles. He was
able to correctly predict where the
coin was placed! Don Aman blew
with the Teach-in and Houdini
Tribute show. Scott Gardner won
meeting at LaMadeleine Restau-
rant. President Ray Adams called
the meeting to order. Welcome
56
OCTOBER MEETING
a soap bubble and was able to the drawing in our quarterly to guest Mike Melito, who just
make it bounce from hand to hand incentive program. recently moved to San Antonio DAYTON, OH— Our October
without letting it burst! President Our theme of rope magic was from Kansas City. President Meeting was well attended with
Mike Ihrig shared one of his new well represented, beginning with Adams reminded everyone that thirteen members and three guests;
ideas involving the use of a tiny an in-depth discussion and dem- next year’s TAOM will be in it was held at the home of compeer
plunger to pull out a spectator’s onstration of ropes through body. Austin, with the theme being Pamela Edwards. Pamela’s theme
chosen card from the deck! Regis Kormick, Jay Zentko, Grant Magic, Music, Weirdness, and was Colorful Magic and members
Nick Young tore a card into Golden, and Kyle Pfister all par- Women. The suggested theme were encouraged to dress up in
fourths and made all the pieces ticipated. Grant then demon- for our November meeting will be Halloween costumes.
vanish except for one piece; the strated and explained the Pretzel Heat and Smoke. After our business meeting,
three matching pieces were later Bow Knot that vanishes and Silk We were all deeply saddened to we had excellent homemade
found in his pocket inside a Chap Through Rope. hear of the death of Ed Solomon’s food provided by our hostess
Stick container! Mark Toker Michael Baker used pieces of wife, Dee. Ed has been a long time Pamela. After our refreshments
made four coins travel beauti- orange-and-black tissue paper and loyal member of Assembly 52. and conversation, we gathered to
fully from one hand to another. to make a jack o’ lantern mask. Please keep Ed and his family in do magic. We had performances
Joel Greenwich allowed several Brock Cassidy showed his furry your thoughts and prayers during by Pamela assisted by Thomas,
spectators to shuffle his deck of dragon pet and Rodney Nordstrom this difficult time. then the tables turned and she
cards. He asked a spectator to showed how two chosen card This month Joe Libby presented assisted him. We also had great
cut the deck in half and to then values come together in spite a review of an article in the performances by JoAnn Kinder
choose one of the halves. The of the deck being well shuffled. September 2014 issue of M-U-M assisted by Chief Larry Kinder
spectator was asked to call out Actually he showed us the .001% called The Justin Case, which as her ventriloquist dummy. Scott
any suit; he chose Spades. Joel of the time that it doesn’t work! spoke about an emergency kit Miller did some card and money
was able to correctly identify all It was kind of funny because the that every performer should have magic, Paul Burnham showed us
of Spades in the spectator’s hand! trick usually will work. with him, just in case. Some of a gambling demonstration, Fred
It was a great time had by all! On October 25 we held our Magic the items included gaffers tape, & Millie Witwer each showed us
—Joel Gallegos Greenwich Teach-in for kids. Char Gott, superglue, sticky- backed Velcro, some colorful magic that they are
Assembly 47 meets at St. Joseph’s Regis Kormick, Kyle Bassett, C.J. and Sharpie markers. Thanks, best known for, and Dave Davis
School at 39 Gerbhardt Road in Diamond, and Michael Baker each Joe, for a practical review. Next showed us some spooky magic and
Penfield, New York, the third taught easy-to-learn tricks. Brad month Claude Crowe will be our even trapped a ghost.
Tuesday of every month. Contact Borland and Rodney Nordstrom reviewer. After the show, Pamela hosted a
Mike Ihrig ihrigmagic@[Link] were on hand to assist. The turnout The suggested theme for this game where everyone went away
for more details. was low with only ten kids in at- meeting was Twisted and Weird, with a prize followed by a costume
tendance, but it seemed to be a fun and starting off the performances contest that was won by Patricia

51
MIDWEST HARVEST OF
time for all involved.
That evening, we had our Tribute
to Houdini show to kick off Magic
was Sal Manfredo with his Demon
Doll, followed by Ed Solomon,
who did a jumbo card effect. Ray
Griswald. A great time was had by
all. —Matthew David Stanley
Assembly 56 meets in various
MAGIC! Week. Performers included Grant Adams performed a transposition, locations, contact for details.
Golden, Troy Keefer, Jay Zentko, Wayne Kunkler did a Four Card Contact Paul Burnham
PEORIA, IL— Fall is in the air Brad Borland, Matthew Gardner, Monte, and Michael Tallon did a pburnham@[Link] (937)
in Peoria. Our September meeting Kyle and Mollie Sue Pfister, Kyle card trick titled Four of a Kind. 773-7409 for more details.
took the guise of our annual picnic. Bassett, Michael Baker, and C.J. Doug Gorman did a diminishing
As we have in the past, we held
this at Marquette Heights, and we
thank Barb Griffin for securing
Diamond, who graciously flew
in from Boston to be part of the
show. Each performed with a
card effect and Matthew Orta did
a card effect called Sweet 16. Paul
Mims entertained with Cigarette
59
DESMOND CONTEST
the use of the pavilion. There were tie-in to Houdini. Dennis Peacock through Card, Paul Amerson told
a number of members and guests, served as the emcee. Kyle Pfister a story about stone soup, and Mike PORTLAND, OR— On this fall
and lots of great food. The PMA supplied projection screens that Melito performed a card effect night there was magic in the air
supplied the chicken, the Gardner had clips of Houdini running called Personality Prestidigitation. when Assembly 59 held the annual
family supplied the drinks, before the show and during in- Joe Libby conducted a Teaching Desmond close-up contest. We
everyone brought wonderful side termission. Several other PMA Table on pseudo-hypnosis stunts. started the night with a few an-
dishes, and a handful of magicians members played integral roles He showed us how to hypnotize a nouncements and up-coming
supplied the entertainment after taking tickets, serving conces- person so they could not thread a events, and then the contest

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 15

Assembly News
was on. particularly Bill’s! pair going behind the back and Phil Schwartz, our Ring
The first contestant was Randy President Bill Brang was up next; someone betting on a card and historian, presented Magic
Stumman as a character named he demonstrated a series of effects. always getting it wrong. Shawn History Moment #62. This
Moloch. He presented a dark He began with a tale of evaporat- did a three-card trick con, and moment was a look at Houdini,
séance including tarot cards, spirit ed water that could magically be taught how he knew which card since October is the month of
hankie, acrobatic matchbox, and a transformed to real H2O, which the volunteer chose, even when Houdini’s death on Halloween in
few other surprising effects. Tom was accomplished via a mysteri- repeated. Glen LaBarre did a ten 1926. Phil mentioned many little
Waldrop was next on the ous kettle/lota bowl. With the red card and ten blue card Cards known facts about Houdini. As a
contest. He presented a piece call help of two volunteers’ arms, Bill Across con. real treat, he showed rare posters,
“A Stones Throw” and a cup and sliced and diced, employing a Del- Henry borrowed two credit cards window cards, and many photos
balls routine followed by a closing ben-type two-hole wrist chopper. and used the magnetic strips and autographs from Houdini in
effect with Japanese cards. Glen As with Karl and Bill, his scary his collection.
Bledsoe was next under his stage surgery was accomplished with Our monthly show began with
name Satie. He performed a four aplomb. Bill’s final routine was Dennis Phillips, who made a
Ace revelation followed by a coin/ woven around a Harry Potter handful of coins vanish. He did
card Matrix using the four Aces theme producing a spectacular a Halloween story of a young
and half dollars. quantity of Halloween-themed teacher who died in the Salem
President Mel Anderson closed silks from a seemingly empty witch trials and her haunted
the show performing multiple pen- chest/Tip-over Box. slates. The serial number of a
etration effects, an act with sewing Secretary Jim Folkl brought an borrowed dollar bill appeared on
needles, and the final effect using old box found in his attic. Sur- a slate. Finally, Phillips showed
a ribbon pushed through a pane his Abbott’s Phantasm. Assistant
of glass. This year’s trophy went S.A.M. 95 Members learning Lynn Fitzgerald’s head momen-
to our own Randy Stumman. Asian Multiplication from tarily vanished.
We had several members in at- Shawn Farquhar Charlie Pfrogner burned some
tendance along with our guests. matches and added some ingre-
November is our board elections to cause the two cards to cling
and the nominating committee together. Rod did an auction for
presented the nominations for a two-dollar coin with two rules:
2015: President, Randy Stumman the winner gets the coin and
or Mel Anderson; Vice President, the second highest bidder still
Jay Fredricks; Treasurer, Brian has to pay, but does not get the
Adams; Secretary, Andy Turner; Karl and Bill Rabe coin. With final bids of $4.25 and
Sergeant at Arms, John Edsall; $4.50, Rod ended getting $8.75
and members at large, Tom prisingly, it contained magically for $2.00, but ended up letting the
Cramer, Michael Jaffe, to be de- haunted stuff! A “hand sandwich” bidders off the hook. Ray Roch
termined, Mel Anderson (if not appeared, along with a very large did a three-box con with three of
president), Danny Schreiber. It Irish spider appropriately called a his Impossible Boxes, similar to
was an exciting night of fun and “paddy” long legs. After piercing the shell game, but with a mini
magic in the house and sure to be his thumb with a dangerous baseball. Anthony Young did a
another great night next month looking hatpin, a vintage rat bottle con with three piles of coins so
with the annual Thanksgiving was produced. Jim concluded with that whoever ends up with the last Assistant loses head
show presented by our S.Y.M. a comical vent routine, using “Mr. coin is the loser. Shawn taught
clubs, so be sure not to miss out! Bones,” his detached skeleton Asian multiplication, and also dients and a few candy kisses
—Andy Turner head. taught Toxic with an iPhone. Steve came out of a brass tube. He then
Assembly 59 meets at 3500 SW Vice President Scott Kindschy Dickson did a con with a handful of showed how audience’s selected
104th,Beaverton,Oregon at the closed the entertainment with a peanuts, inserting them magically cards matched his predicted
Beaverton Elks Lodge. Contact spirit routine employing a simple into different parts of his face. colors. Greg Solomon made a knot
Andy Turner mysteriesofmagic@ light bulb. After a complete ex- —Rod Chow in a rope vanish. Then Greg dem-
[Link] (503) 975-6139 www. amination of the device by the The Carl Hemeon Assembly No. onstrated the old novelty, the Red
[Link] for more audience, Scott called upon 95 meets the first Tuesday of Snapper, in which the audience
details. the spirits to answer members’ each month at members’ homes. is confounded when they cannot
questions by the bulb’s lighting Contact Rod Chow rod@rodchow. seem to snap back the insert with

88
OCTOBER 2014 REPORT
pattern. By the end of the pre-
sentation, we were all believers!
—Jim Folkl
com (604) 669-7777 www.sam95.
com for more details.
the rubber band. He then gener-
ously gave everyone one.
Chuck Smith did an impromptu

ANN ARBOR, MI— Boo!

October’s meeting showcased our
Assembly 88 meets at Faith
Lutheran Church, 1255 East Forest
Avenue, Ypsilanti, Michigan,
99
ASSEMBLY 99 IN
prediction of magazine pages
freely selected. He showed an
old and clever method that none
members’ “spooky” side. Club 48198 on the second Wednesday HALLOWEEN STYLE of us knew. He followed with a
webmaster Karl Rabe and son Bill of the month at 7pm. Contact Bill card selected from one deck that
presented a hilariously original Brang havewandwilltravel2002@ ORLANDO, FL— President matched the same value card
routine complete with original [Link] (313) 9371577 http:// Mark Fitzgerald called the in another deck. Finally he was
props. Their theme, appropriate to [Link]/wp/ for more details. meeting to order. He introduced able to draw a map to a specta-
the season, was amputation. Karl a guest from Newfoundland, Ken tor’s house. Felix Vasquez did an
was the “amputor,” with Bill the
reluctant amputee. Set to a creepy
soundtrack, Karl proceeded to
95
BAMBOOZLE MAGIC
Parsons. Mark went over the many
magic venues here in Orlando.
Dan Stapleton mentioned a new
effective version of The Princess
Card Trick.
Last was Dan Stapleton with a
separate Bill from his right hand, magic shop and theater in New great trick for banquet shows. He
with the requisite chainsaw and VANCOUVER, CANADA— Port Ritchey, called The Visual passed out a plastic knife, fork,
attendant antics. Bill’s hand The October 2014 meeting Magic Shop and Merlin’s Theater. and spoon to ten people. They
was placed in a box, which then was held at the home of Ray He performed there. placed them freely in any order on
did its animated best to escape, Roch. After coffee, drinks, Bev Bergeron did a teach-in and their chairs. He then asked them
lifting the lid and lunging at the and snacks, including tasty showed us a great dinner table to exchange them randomly and
audience. Finally, Karl removed hot wings, the evening of con stunt. Bev took a bite out of a pick up the left one. Dan revealed
the appendage and successfully magic started. Lon started ceramic plate and you could hear a giant spoon in his hand and
reattached it, to everyone’s relief, with a two-card trick with the the plate crunching. everyone was holding their spoon.

16 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Assembly News
—Dennis Phillips puzzle and put it into the bag. his many boxes, I found a large
Assembly 99 meets at 7:30pm Once again Rose removed the number of items I recognized from
at the International House of piece that fit the puzzle. my earlier days.
Pancakes, 5203 Kirkman Road Joe Noll told us about his friend Past National President Loren
Orlando, FL 32819. Contact who liked whiskey and gambling Lind and his son, James, arrived
Dennis Phillips dphillips13@cfl. and thought that Joe could do real just as the happenings started
[Link] (407) 341-9088 for more magic. The friend took Joe to a to happen and produced a large
details. private gambling hall and began box filled with great stuff. Other

104
A MEETING SWITCHED OUT S.Y.M. 124 Treasurer Nate
to play blackjack. The friend
said he needed to win big to pay
off his debts. The friend’s hand
sellers included Jerry Barrilleaux,
Larry “Zappo” Wright, John Gyl-
lenhaal, and guest Timothy James.
Nagem’s team wins first round showed two Nines and Joe turned Timothy had a really cool-looking
WITCH CITY, SALEM, MA— of Wizard Wars with his cups them into two Queens; not good prop duck for sale.
NE RVP Thomas Gentile attended and balls enough said his friend. Joe turned There was a bunch of great stuff
the Assembly104 annual picnic one Queen to an Ace and the other for sale, and it was difficult to keep
and contest this past August. There pop up anywhere else; and a tour- to a black Jack! Only two cards from buying a lot of it. I ended up
was a hot dog barbecue, flea de-force demonstration of dueling remained in Joe’s hands, the Ace with just a couple of items to add
market, great deals, and magic props conducted by Eddie Gardner and Jack. to the shelves at home. I just could
done by some great students of our and our host Vince. The latter was Lou Abbotiello told us the story not resist another Jay Sankey DVD
art. Camp Evergreen was open to a hilarious closer. Using wooden of the ghost of “Jenny” Wade to add to my collection. I believe
all members, family, and guests holiday versions of the Stoplight of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, some of the sellers bought as much
with swimming and ten acres of effect, Eddie’s Christmas Santa the only civilian killed during stuff as they sold (right, John?),
fun available to the members by segments and Vince’s three that momentous battle. It seems but it was all fun.
S.Y.M. adult leader Jim Loscut- Halloween skeleton pieces fell Virginia Wade had a music box At any rate, the evening was
off’s Camp Evergreen in Andover, through the wooden tubes just and when the moon is right the over all too soon, but it was great
Maine. Assembly 104 hosted a fine, coming up properly out of music can be heard in response to mingle with the magicians and
wonderful stage competition on order. When it was time for the two to questions asked of “Jenny,” a guests and talk about the good old
Camp Evergreen’s permanent magicians to correct the chaos, it corruption of Ginny. Jenny did days and the great days to come.
stage with beautiful curtains and wasn’t going to happen. The room respond as requested in a most —Bill Marquardtr
backdrop built by Jim Loscutoff roared and the meeting came to a magical manor. Diablo Assembly 112 meets on the
and volunteers for the S.Y.M. happy close. —Bob Forrest The contest ended in a double tie! third Wednesday of every month at
members to rehearse and perform. Assembly 104 meets on the Al Bienstock and Lou Abbotiello the VFW building n Pleasant Hill,
On October 1, Assembly 104 ex- first Wednesday of each month, were tied for first and John Sergott California Contact Larry Wright
perimented with a new location September-June, 7 p.m., at the and Joe Noll were tied for second. Zappo@[Link]
for its meeting. Gathering together First Baptist Church of Salem, Joe Homecheck, SAM Assembly (925) 685-5129 [Link]
at our unofficial clubhouse, 292 Lafayette Street, Salem, 110, meets 2nd Thursdays, for more details.
Diamond’s Magic in Peabody, Massachusetts. SAMCON details 7:00pm, at John’s Diner, 146
Massachusetts, were a goodly
number of compeers, and even
S.Y.M. 124 President Derek
at our website. Contact Bob
Forrest captainalbrightsq1@
[Link] (339) 227-0797 www.
Sheraton Drive New Cumberland,
PA 17070. Email: Secretary@
[Link]
127
HALLOWEEN MAGIC AND
DuBois, who was duly welcomed [Link] for more details. THEN SOME!
by all. When this report appears
in print, SAMCON 2014 will have
taken place and should remain a 110 112
FLEA MARKET
WALLINGFORD, CT— The
business meeting was rather
pleasant memory for attendees. CONTEST NIGHT quick this month, but the worked
On this night, plans for the arrival PLEASANT HILL, CA— got done. We discussed all the
of Jay Sankey, Oscar Munoz, and HARRISBURG, PA— Before September is the time for our as- workshops that took place in
Christian Painter and Katalina our contest of the evening Mike sembly’s annual flea market. This libraries, mostly in October for
were being finalized. In the wake Thomas wanted to show us a pre- year there was plenty of magic to magic month; we just can’t do it
of 104’s recent version of Wizard diction routine he devised, which be found on the tables, and we all all on Magic Week. We prepared
Wars, Derek DuBois reported has a working title of Voodoo had a great time examining the for our show for the church that
on the coming October S.Y.M. Mike – a very nice effect. Our first wares and deciding just which hosts our monthly meetings. A
meeting, during which he and his contestant of the evening was Al items we could no longer live NEMCON update was given, en-
young crew planned on presenting Bienstock, who had brought with without. Seventeen members and tertainers were set, and everything
their own version of the TV game him an Aladdin’s Lamp. Al had a a dozen guests showed up for the is falling into place.
show. card chosen, signed, and returned sale. After-meeting activities were of
For this night’s 104 meeting, the to the center of the deck which was Half a dozen or more tables were a Halloween theme for the most
relief at the end of our business set aside. Al showed a written pre- set up with literally hundreds of part. Jeff Doskos performed a
was the funny business offered diction of two cards, but neither items. Bruce Jordan in particular card trick with a box and a voodoo
by Eddie Gardner, Jay Fraser, was correct. Both the prediction had a huge array of magic tricks doll that rose out of his hand when
and Diamond’s Magic owner, and the deck were heated over the for sale, most of them going back his hand was over the selected
Vince DeAngelis. What could be lamp and magically the prediction several years. Thumbing through face-down card. Then the voodoo
more logical than a dealer’s show of one of the cards changed to the doll told him what the card was,
in our host’s dealer showroom? correct card. When that card was too! Mike Gagne opened his
With tongue in cheek and props located in the deck not only was it mini-casket and took our some
on table, some of the more inter- singed, but it was next to the other haunted wooden matches and they
esting items on display were dem- predicted card. danced in his hands. Of course, no
onstrated. These included colored John Segott brought us a puzzle ghost magic would be complete
ropes performed by Jay Fraser, out – a child’s twelve-piece puzzle and without a Glorpy, so Mike did that
of his own routine that results in an empty duplicate puzzle. The for us, too.
their becoming linked in a change pieces were in a clear bag. Rose David Wyskiel did a really cool
bag, instead of the usual mis-made was to select a piece from the bag ribbon through body with the help
flag; Fiedler’s Flier, the wonderful, (she could only see the gray backs of Ray Lorenzo as helper. As Jeff
impossible location effect using a of the pieces) while John removed and Bill pulled the ropes attached
Joker to help a spectator select a apiece from the whole puzzle he Roy Porfido and James Lind to the ribbon tied around Ray, they
card from a fanned deck, only to held. The pieces matched! Next, show off their wares at the seemed to slip right through his
have it disappear from the fan and John removed a piece from the Flea Market body. Bill Hoagland didn’t really

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 17

Assembly News
do a Halloween trick but decided very impressed with the Scouts’ pm in the basement of the Parish rope. He had a helper check it
to show us a work in progress respect and interest. House (on top of the hill) at Christ and tie it around his thumbs very
with Shear Luck from Shawn Episcopal Church in Columbia, tight. Bob turns around and
Farquhar. The show was over and Maryland. For more information is out of the rope. Jim Weyand
everyone was packing up...or was or to contact an officer, visit www. presents three Aces, two red, one
it over? [Link]. Contact for more black. Turns over the black one,
details. threads through the Aces. Dick
Recktenwald tore some tissue

157
PICNIC, NEW EVENTS,
paper down, curls around into a
ball, opens it up, it is restored into
a hat which he presented to our
WEDDING guest. —Judy Steed
The Mystic Magicians of
Danbury Top Hatters Fall BEAVER, PA— The Mystic Beaver Valley meet the second
Festival DES Magicians of Beaver Valley Thursday of every month at the
(Assembly 157) participated in Towne Square Restaurant in
Past Pres Magic Marty demoed the GPMN picnic with lots of Beaver, PA. Contact Judy Ssteed
a pinched coin effect shooting it good food, magic, flea market, heyjude1943@[Link] (330)
Jeff and his voodoo into his open shirt or jacket, Toppit and fun. Events upcoming 525-5389 for more details
Card Magic style. He then gave the great Bob are Christmas dinner for club,
Bill Hernandez decided to show
us a new app on his cell phone
Fitch a plug on his lecture to
Assembly 35 in Poughkeepsie,
focusing on stage presence.
several lectures, and shows in the
area. One of our members, John
Hromada, made the trip down the
160
OPEN HOUSE & FLEA
with a spider walking across it; January 19, 2015, will be aisle to wedded bliss. MARKET
he put the phone on David’s hand, our annual holiday banquet Doug Ries did a Teach and
waved his hand, and the spider at Chucks Steak House, Learn on dice. He showed the SCRANTON/WILKES BARRE,
walked across the screen. Nice Danbury CT. —Magic Marty effects he sells as well as other PA— For our October meeting
and fun, until he asked Dave to Steinberg he uses. Several members we held our annual “Open House
wave his hand over the phone and Assembly 131 meets at the joined in with their versions and & Flea Market.” I would like to
a real (fake) spider was on the Methodist Church in Back Parking ideas. Ray Lucas led the perform- thank everyone in attendance
back of Dave’s hand. I think the Area #5 Clapboard Ridge Rd, ers as emcee and performer. He for making the night a complete
scream was heard upstairs in the Danbury, CT. Contact Martin produced a Frankenstein bag and success. Several guests showed
church and down the street; I so Steinberg magicmarty@[Link] several scarves with body parts an interest in joining the S.A.M. I
wish I videoed the trick with my (845) 797-8363 for more details. on them. Scarves put in bag, would like to thank everyone who
phone. That was our Halloween waves hand over bag, says magic performed. I would also like to
meeting. —Bill Hoagland
Assembly 127 meet at the
First United Methodist Church
141
MONEY AND A MOVIE
word, removes scarf, monster
is misshapen. States he needs a
wand, removes scarf with monster.
thank our Mid-Atlantic Regional
Vice President, Arlen Solomon,
and our National Treasurer, Eric
(Downstairs). 941 Old Rock Don Zmoody handed a helper a Lampert, for their attendance and
Hill Road, Wallingford, CT 3rd COLUMBIA, MD— After a pack of forty-eight cards with all support. —Burt Ebel
Tuesday of Every Month Contact short business meeting focused on different words. Participant chose Assembly 160 meets the first
Bill Hoagland whoagland@ initial planning for a community a card. Don asked a few questions Thursday of every month at the
[Link] (203) 877-0157 show in December and a lecture and was able to guess chosen Iron Skillet Restaurant located
[Link] for more details. in February, the Columbia card. He then presented Cinema inside the Petro Stopping Center,
Conjurors enjoyed magic with Trick. He placed twelve cinema 98 Grove St, Dupont, PA. 7:00PM

131
HALLOWEEN OCTOBER
the theme “Take the Money
and Run: Tricks with Coins and
Currency.” Jacques Severe opened
poster cards on table and put
one aside as prediction. Helper
placed marker on one, all cards
Contact Burt Ebel ebel717@
[Link] (570) 894-8089 http://
[Link]/ for more
MEETING by completely disregarding the in that line, up/down and side to details.
theme to perform a mathematical side, removed. Does this two
DANBURY, CT— Our annual
fall church fest was excellent this
year, with record attendance for
prediction using Tarot cards. Matt
Neufeld performed a neat transpo-
sition of a Kennedy half-dollar and
more times. The numbers on
the remaining cards are added
up. Are the amount on the predic-
181
ROCC-TOBER
our two magic shows. Thanks a Mexican centavo using a small tion. Doug Ries showed a picture
to magicians Tom Demouth, box and a deck of cards. Bob of Lizzie Borden and recites a HIGHTSTOWN, NJ— When
President Bob Abel, Mike Bochar, Clayton then did a classic Coins poem. Has helper pick a card it comes to bizarre magic, there
and all the volunteers for two great Across, followed by Eric Hoffman from the deck he is riffling, placed is no one stranger than our
Shows. who managed to transpose in deck, shuffled, deals one. Not Rocco. Therefore, it seemed
Halloween magic for this a Kennedy half-dollar and a chosen one. Checks deck and quite appropriate for Rocco to
evening: Tony Spiro told a story Chinese coin using a windowed finds one cut in half, opens Lizzie’s conduct October’s workshop on
of his youth. Walked through a envelope. John Gazmen enter- picture, there is chosen one. magic themed for the Halloween
Spooky forest to an old abandon tained with a humorous ripped bill Bob Mullins had a piece of month. Taking time off from
house with friends. We all entered trick, and finally Rob Niccolini building illusions for a local
the house. A closed door with a key did a brief routine with an Okito Halloween store, Rocco presented
inside its lock. Tony tried to turn coin box. Performances were in- the dropping head illusion. It is
the key in the door. A noise was tentionally kept short so that the a quite stunning effect, watching
heard and Tony and his friends all conjurors could enjoy a movie a person’s head fall off their
ran out and back into the woods. night featuring Desperate Acts shoulders. As I looked around
It was then Tony realized that he of Magic, a fun comedy about the room, which was filled with
had the key and every year around magicians in love! Special thanks magicians, I heard gasps and
Halloween the key would turn by to Brent Morris and Peter Wood genuine expressions of true as-
itself, when held in the palm of his for making arrangements for tonishment. We have all seen
hand. the movie, and to Pat and Ralph many card tricks, and I have never
Des Desmond demoed a turning Fowler for the popcorn! seen a card effect get this kind
key and also told of his magic pre- Assembly 141, the Columbia of audience response. There is
sentation, to a Middlebury, Con- Conjurors, meet on the second nothing like seeing a head falling
necticut Scout Troop. Des was Monday of each month at 8:00 Congratulations John off up close and personal.

18 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Assembly News
After the presentation, Rocco meets the first Thursday of every There was a burst of flame and Osterlind named the card and told
went on to explain how to month, September thru June at the when the paper was opened the how far down it was from the top
construct this effect. With a couple First United Methodist Church, good wishes had vanished and of the deck. He then did some in-
of items that you can pick up from 187 Stockton Street, Hightstown, emanated out into the universe. credible spoon bending and shared
the hardware store for under ten NJ 08520. Doors open at 7:00PM. Roger Sylwester performed a feat his techniques. Stating that magic
dollars, Rocco built his working Contact Stephan Sloan lands10@ from Barrie Richardson’s Theater is not deception but rather the
model. [Link] (732) 757-5337 of the Mind by remembering creation of mystery, he mentally
Our meeting is not only about [Link] for where every card in the deck was bent a borrowed penny and left us
the workshops. We always have more details. located. Reymarx Gereda showed to ponder that mystery. He next
plenty of time for performances us an Aldo Colombini card effect performed some mental mysteries
by attendees. Mitch Geier started
with an electronic effect called
Cobra Light, which he modified
200
“HATOWEEN”
where the selected card is found in
a waterfall shuffle.
Jim Earnshaw performed a
using his “perfected center tear”
and taught us the technique. Then
he performed his versions of
and improved. Following was smooth three coin routine set to several effects from Annemann’s
Hank Strasser, who did a psycho- SEATTLE, WA— What a great music in which he kept placing Practical Mental Magic: a book
logical effect with spinning discs. week of magic in the Pacific coins in a hat only to have them test called 40,000 Words; Magic
Fred Walker was there, who Northwest! The week started on reappear in his hands. Mark vs. Mentalism, a mental effect with
with his wife and magical stage Sunday with the Emerald City Paulson predicted the selection cards; The Ultra Slate Message;
partner Heather, have been per- Wizards’ dinner show, where of a small skull by revealing and his much improved version
forming together for twenty-five we got to showcase our skills to a large skull under his hat. He of Numbers. He closed with two
years as the Magicwalkers. Fred friends and family members. We also performed Being There, by tricks from his Breakthrough Card
performed the Fortune Teller’s were joined by young magicians Christopher Taylor, in which he System and the Poor Man’s Book
Book of Days. The Book of Days from the Ring of Smoke, who predicted what a spectator simply Test from his Sapphire Collection
contains 366 short paragraphs and also amazed our audience. Special imagined. DVD. Osterlind was professional,
a playing card for each day of the thanks to Brian Cook for setting Happy Hatoween from the entertaining, and very personable.
year. When a spectator chooses up our stage and managing the Wizards in the Emerald City! —Roger L. Omanson
a card, the profile that appears production. —Chuck Kleiner The LMC usually meets at the
on his birth date and the card he Later in the same week we had Assembly 200 meets 1st Thu. 7:00 Kosair Community Center on
chooses amazingly match. our October meeting. The theme PM each month at a branch of Eastern Parkway. Contact Roger
Reba started her routine with was Hatoween. JR Russel started the King County Library. Check L. Omansn rlomanson@gmail.
a talking tennis ball gag and the fun by having five different website for locations: www. com (502) 296-6577 www.
then went into a BOGO coupon colored poker chips placed in his [Link] Contact [Link] for more details.
effect from the supermarket. She hat. After shaking them up and Chuck Kleiner chuckkleiner@
continued her paper magic routine
with a paper money effect, stretch-
ing a dollar and finishing with
holding the hat above his head he
retrieved the colored chip that was
selected. Dan Kennedy revealed
[Link] (206) 236-0608 www.
[Link] for more
details.
226
HALLOWEEN MAGIC
Extreme Burn. his Dracula cards and performed
Victim of the Vampire by Peter
Marucci.
John Cameron performed David
215
SHOWS AND LECTURES
WILLAMSBURG,
Michael Heckenberger opened
with a magic trick using the
VA—

Harkey’s Faces in the Crowd while paperback book The Exorcist by

wearing a wizard’s hat almost LOUISVILLE, KY— This William Peter Blatty in which
as tall as him. Michael Jacobs summer and early fall have been a page in the book is randomly
performed a Two Card Monte busy months for the LMC. Our selected, a blank piece of paper is
with the help of his hat. Ben annual picnic was held on August put into an envelope and sealed,
Eskenazi showed us five cards that 23 at the riverfront home of Sherrell then a exorcism is done on the
magically turned blank and then Nunnelley. The rain mostly held book; when the book is opened
ended up in his hat. off for the afternoon flea market the selected page is gone with only
Larry Dimmitt kept it spooky by and close-up show as well as for burn marks as the clue. When the
showing us how the shadow can the evening show, featuring Magic envelope is opened the selected
alter reality by keeping the same Adams, Sean McClure, Brad page is in it! Michael Hecken-
Rocco Losing His Head cards in four volunteers’ hands Lowe, Grace Lowe, and Reed and berger may have bought it in the
even though the deck kept being Ashton Masterson. late ‘70s, but it still works.
Rocco came back for an encore, mixed. Who knows? Gilbreath September 12 was our annual Our next performer was Vice
performing his versions of a knows. Tom Payne shared his fundraising show, It’s Magic, President Alexander Goldberg,
card at any number and invisible gaffed top hat and told us the featuring David Garrard, James who performed a trick from Jim
cards. Magic Mike finished the thinking behind it and how it Hargrave, Dennis Alm, Cody Baker’s Halloween Magic, which
performances with a dice stacking works. Comet, Graham Maupin, and I did know Jim wrote! The trick
demonstration and a card counting Chuck Kleiner, in a hat, had emcee Jim Harris. The show was called Aces to the Top; the
effect that revealed the selected good wishes written on a piece was so good that many attendees four Aces are lost in the deck
card. of paper and placed in an ashtray. thought the club didn’t charge and then jump to the top of the
Our poker chip performer of enough for the tickets! deck! Wonderful!
the month went to Rocco for his October 20 Richard Osterlind Next up was Bill Baber who
efforts. A close second place lectured to a smaller-than- performed Enigmatic Tarot or
went to Reba for her multiple nor mal-but-ver y-appreciative Tossed Out Tarot by Jim Stein-
effect routine. audience. Steve Spence, the meyer and Christopher Borer in
Later on in October, our S.A.M. territorial vice president, which five spectators are guar-
assembly met for a second time and Don Miller, both from In- anteed a fortunate future; five
at Tommy’s Inn at Millstone for a dianapolis Assembly 31, were selected Tarot cards are divined by
night with the original Wild Man special visitors. the magician! Bill also did a trick
of Magic, Bob Little of Guar- Osterlind started off with with the word “web” in the title
anteed Magic. One assembly, Hands Off, a trick in The in which by the end of the trick a
two meetings a month, which Sapphire Collection DVD in plastic spider is on the back of the
is what we do at Assembly which a spectator cuts the cards volunteer’s hand which produced a
181, and why not, magic is fun. several times, looks at the top very nice scream! Good job Bill!
—David Zboray Emerald City Wizards’ card, and places it in the middle of Last but never least was Scott
Assembly 181 of Hightstown Hatoween the deck. Without having watched, Fridinger who performed Perfor-

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 19

Assembly News
and a pair of miniature slates. The tricks that were all treats when
name of the selected card was the Lakeland wizards get together.
written on the slates after Glorpy Come visit us when your plans
did his act. Keith also demon- bring you to Central Florida.
strated his amazing finger chopper —Al D’Alfonso
and a brass die box that told which Jim Zachary Assembly 266 meets
side of the die was facing up even the second Wednesday of the
though the box was completely month at 7PM at the Lakeland
closed. I-HOP, I-4 & US 98 Contact
Richie Klein threw out a Al D’Alfonso keeper0499@
crumpled paper ball, and then had [Link] (321) 437-3814
a card selected from a group of for more details.
photos of individual cards. When The Voo Doo Magician
Scott Fridinger--Performed
Spineless by Chad Long
the crumpled paper was unfolded,
it revealed the name of the selected
card. He followed that with a dem-
277
WE WAVED OUR WANDS
Wabu Djambe
the doll. Wabu then revealed
mance of Spineless by Chad Long, onstration of the classic Skeleton that he predicted the place left
which is a slightly different book in the Closet effect he had hand STROUDSBURG, PA— The un-pierced. His last effect was
test (namely the spine of the book crafted. The skeleton’s three Pocono Mountains Magic Club his classic dingle-dangle wands,
is gone) with a failed mind reading parts reassembled themselves in met again in October for some which is the Wabus version of the
which manifests physically. Scott unusual order several times. fun and tons of magic. We Chinese Sticks.
also did an amazing Ambitious Greg Clements closed the welcomed back a guest who has Our own S. Patrick was up
Card routine that is very good! — evening with a demonstration of been away from the club for many last. S. performed his Cleansing
Michael Heckenberger his version of Six-Card Repeat and years. Mark Carbonaro stopped Ritual, in which he was able to
Assembly 226 meets the fourth then demonstrated his prowess at in to say hi and hopefully will draw out the blood, disease, and
Wednesday of each month (except juggling. Greg recommended the become a full-time member again. toxins out of a spectator and place
for August and December) at the sport as a means of warding off Before the business portion got it harmlessly into an egg. When S.
Williamsburg Library, Room B, memory loss and stimulating the underway, we did some close-up broke open the egg, you could see
515 Scotland Street, Williamsburg, brain. —Alan Wheeler magic. S. Patrick started off with to blood dripping out.
VA. Meetings start at 7:00PM. Assembly 252 meets at the a story of his great-grandmother Thanks for Jay Kraft for
Contact Michael Heckenberger Knights of Columbus Hall behind who was interested in magic. He emceeing the evening and keeping
heck_mike@[Link] (757) St. Leo’s Catholic Church, 3700 showed two old matchboxes that the flow going for the performanc-
812-3299 [Link] Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA. contained two different colored es! —S. Patrick
site/samassembly226/Home for Contact Tom Bohacek bohacek@ ribbons. With a snap of the fingers Assembly 277 meets each 3rd
more details. [Link] (703) 754-2005 www. the ribbon changed boxes, then Friday - “Art Space Gallery” 18

252 [Link] for more details. vanished.

Wabu Djambe (Odes Odhner)
N. 7th St. Stroudsburg, PA 18360.
Contact S. Patrick damagician@
SPOOKY MAGIC

FAIRFAX, VA— Skeletons and

266
SPOOKY TRICKS MAKE
was up next with the “Ritual of the
Body Parts,” an excellent routine
in which a spectator and Wabu
[Link] (570) 242-6821 www.
[Link] for more details.

ghosts made an appearance at

Assembly 252’s October meeting.
Bob Malinchock opened the
OCTOBER MEETING SHINE!

LAKELAND, FL— With an un-

choose body parts to eliminate
until only one is left. Wabu then
ate the body part. Wabus pre-
291
YOUR FAVORITE TRICK
evening’s magic performances characteristically crisp nip in the diction that he wrote beforehand FROM LESSONS IN MAGIC BY
with a recorded spooky voice that Florida air, the Lakeland magi had matched perfectly. TARBELL
correctly identified a previously a spooky filled October meeting. Jay Kraft was up next with a
selected card. He followed that President Jerry Kardos ran us great card effect in which a game LOS ANGELES, CA— We will
up with a “residual ghost” themed through another quick business of Monte was played with the start the article with the wonderful
trick using information from the meeting and then kicked off the Kings and the Jacks constantly interruption to our meeting.
current M-U-M article on Martin festivities with a trio of spine- switching places. Great job! S.A.M. National President
Gardner. He used the information tingling goodies. Jerry showed Our guest Mark Carbonaro was Kendrick “ICE” McDonald joined
on Gardner’s book Mathemat- us a mysterious spirit box in up next with a Monte routine of us to present to our founding
ics, Magic and Mystery to find which noises came from an empty his own called Find The Vegas father – Les Cooper – a Presiden-
a predicted word in the actual container. Then he showed what Queen.” The queen kept jumping tial Citation. This is the highest
book. Bob ended his performance the spirits can do as they invisibly all over the place. Joseph Raven honor issued to any S.A.M.
with a most effective demonstra- untied silks off of a rope, and then was up next with his dancing member because it espouses the
tion of clairvoyance that involved unlocked a lock with a spooky wand routine. This is a nice little virtues and his “extraordinary
a deck of Tarot cards and a pair of key placed on his palm. Scribe version of the dancing cane using support and promoting the goals
dice. Al D’Alfonso demonstrated his a regular sized magic wand. The and values of SAM.” Les has
President Keith Pass was next mental connection with a trip to gimmick allowed for a smoother many, many accomplishments in
with a clever combo of Glorpy Las Vegas with the help of Max handling and a greater flexibility his resume for magic. “He was
the ghost hank, a piece of chalk, Maven. in the floating. the founder of Assembly 291 in
Beverly Kenemuth showed how Wabu Djambe (Odes Odhner) 2009, founder of S.Y.M. Y141,
she magically picked out her was up next with a few spooky the founding director of Project
Halloween costume. The gang routines for the upcoming Magic, his service as a national
made all the decisions, yet Beverly Halloween season. The first was council member, and is the current
had already chosen her costume Blood from a Stone. Odes showed S.A.M. new assembly coordina-
before hand and it matched our a stone that he passed around for tor.” Thank you Mr. McDonald for
selection. everyone to see. He then squeezed your wonderful honor in acknowl-
Our closing act was card wizard the stone and it began dripping edging our crown jewel! Dear Les,
Ed McGowan, who reworked blood, proving that you can get the Westside Wizards all congrat-
a Ricky Jay effect and demon- blood from a stone. Wabu then ulate you in being who you are and
strated a no-Jonah poker deal, performed his Voodoo Coffin, in there for us.
which in this reporter’s humble which he showed a voodoo doll We welcomed a new member
opinion seemed even fairer than with four places to pierce, but into our fold, Dan Cray. Welcome
the original. only three needles. A volunteer to our family! We hope you enjoy
Keith Pass sees a ghost! Another night with plenty of chose which three places to pierce yourself as much as we do.

20 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Assembly News
Tonight was your favorite trick meeting, we looked forward to next show report, on his first stressful advance bid on proxy-bidding
from The Tarbell Course in Magic. month’s lecture by Shoot Ogawa, but triumphant experience as a Internet magic auctions.
Raul started off the meeting by and our evening snack at Norms. magic emcee. It was for a home- James (The Amazing James)
What did we take away tonight? coming show at his large high Lopez used personal-reference
We have an amazing founder and school, and required coping with patter with the classic Corinda
an all-around good friend for life. several last minute changes. mental effect My Word (often
And always bring a deck of cards, Show time! We were delighted to called Line, Position, and Number)
some rubber bands, silks, some have an opening performance by with both Marilyn Dutton and Ed
money, and a good sense of humor. talented eleven-year-old Michael Hurtubis assisting. James got a lot
—William Dow Jr. Toews, accompanied by his father of mileage out of one easy sleight.
Assembly 291 meets the second Peter. Michael impressed us with The meeting closed with two
Tuesday of every month at OPICA two rope effects he had learned effects performed with his
Adult Day Care Facility, 11759 from Rich Nakata: tying a knot customary professionalism
Missouri Avenue, Los Angeles, without letting go of either end by Lew (The Great Loudini)
CA 90025. *This is subject to of the rope (Knot A Problem) and Wymisner. The first was a strong
change.* Contact Les Cooper Ring on Rope. card revelation, Bob Cassidy’s
President Kendrick “ICE” Cooperl@[Link] (310) 473-1820 Reed Barrett, a young pro from diary effect Chronologue, with
McDonald with Les Cooper [Link] for Cheyenne, Wyoming, baffled us Brian Hallisey playing spectator.
more details. with his own impossible version of (It is described on Cassidy’s DVD
being our in-house comedian ACAAN. After the meeting, while Mental Miracles so you can make
emcee, and proceeded to do magic
with silks. “Mr. Always Carry
Rubber Bands” Egbok performed
292
ENJOYING TERRIFIC
car-pooling back to Fort Collins,
some wise old heads tried to re-
verse-engineer this miracle, and
your own prediction date book.
An excellent dealer version was
created by Collectors’ Workshop.)
his favorite rubber bands and TRICKS later one of them at least was still The second effect was an initially
money trick. Our magnificent working on it by phone. humorous book test with a double
Heather performed her favorite GREELEY, CO— Great With entertaining patter about climax, with Marilyn Dutton
card trick. Our card specialist performances character- guillotine history, Brian Hallisey assisting: Shawn Farquhar’s Sheer
Christopher followed Heather ized our October meeting. adeptly performed the Mickey Luck. —Ron Dutton
with another card trick. Wonderful During a business meeting over Hades version of a Finger The Dr. Ronald P. Dutton
Stephanie did some of her favorite lunch, we created a slate of Chopper. Then Teagan Brown did Assembly 292 usually meets at
money magic. Our “Get out of officer nominees for 2015, and the classic Here Then There card Kenny’s Steak House, 3502 West
My Plate” Phil, dazzled us with planned a December 13 holiday transposition made popular by 10th Street (corner of 35th Avenue)
his favorite card tricks. Alex, luncheon party in Estes Park. Rich David Blaine. Next, Rich Nakata at 11:00 A.M. (lunch optional), on
“No Gravity” entertained us with Nakata, Paul Noffsinger, and Lew did a clever Henry Evans card the second Saturday of the month.
another card trick. Our S.Y.M. Wymisner all shared tales from effect, Risky Bet, from his DVD Contact Jim Pope jlp1616@
member Eddy closed out the their recent adventures in Las The Other Side of Illusion, Vol. 2. [Link] (970) 339-3277 www.
evening by performing our final Vegas at MINDvention. In a change of pace, Ron Dutton [Link] for more details. 
card trick. As we adjourned our Teagan Brown gave the only explained a way to calculate an

Newsworthy Updates From Our

S.A.M. Members
PARENT ASSEMBLY ONE -
OCTOBER MAGIC FEST
On October 2, 2014, a fun October Magic Fest show
brought over one hundred guests, among them: National
President-Elect David Bowers and his wife Judy, RVP Eric
Decamps, and National President Kenrick “ICE” McDonald,
who thanked us for our hospitality.
Producer and funny emcee, Rene Clement, set the tone of Curtain call
the fun show and introduced our favorite Greek, the amusing
Kamarr who, after producing bursts of flame, did a Twentieth to Richiardi, doing a fast-paced Rice Bowl segment. Joe then
Century Silks effect with three spectators and three sets of silks. introduced us to a beautiful and original Linking Ring routine,
He followed with multiplying candles and closed with a Bank bringing gasps from the magic audience as well as the lay
Night effect, shredding selected envelopes and saving for himself audience. Assisted by the stately Bronwyn, Devlin closed with
the last one, which contained the $100 bill. Suave Frank Reyes his version of the classic Razor Blades. Dean George Schindler
followed with a musical turn, the Torn and Restored Newspaper, and Nina delivered segments from their comedy stage act. After a
and a Magic Tea Kettle routine. Frank closed with a spectacular standup joke, George did the baffling Karrell Fox Red Table effect
silk production and a large Good Night banner and accepted the and proceeded to remove the bubbles from a bottle of champagne
well-deserved applause. by passing the liquid through a spectator’s body and into a clear
The team of Bruce and Matthew Lish followed. The father and pitcher. The final act was Paul Hsaio, who passed a solid bottle
son team performed a short juggling display with clubs and cigar through “ICE” McDonald’s body before doing some amusing
boxes and then performed some cool magic. Great teamwork magic, including the production of real fruit selected from photos
brought loads of laughs and applause. The next performer, Harvey and the surprise production of a girl from his Victory Cubes
Berg, did not disappoint us. He is best known for innovative illusion. Rene Clement deserves a hand for his extra bits and the
mental creations and tonight was no exception. production of this show. All the performers were members of
The always exciting Devlin opened his routine with a tribute PA 1. 

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 21

 Broken Wands

BILL LEE ADAMS dunked more than once. He captured unique footage
(SEPTEMBER 24, 1928 – SEPTEMBER 29, 2014) of the Grand Canyon before the destruction brought
about by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam.
Bill Lee Adams, beloved husband, father, grand- Bill is survived by his wife June, his son, Troy, his
father and friend, died on Monday, September 29, daughter Crystal Boecker and her husband Brian
2014. He was born on September 24, 1928, in Santa Boecker, grandchildren Bayley and Isabella Boecker,
Barbara, California to Mildred J. Adams and Oscar brother Glen Adams and his wife Eleanor, sister-in-
Glen Adams. law Marjorie Kiefer, and many wonderful nieces and
Bill graduated from Santa Barbara High School, and nephews and their children.
was in his second year at Azusa Pacific College when
he was drafted to serve in the United States Army in LARRY WEEKS
the Korean War. One of Bill’s great loves, perform- (SEPTEMBER 24, 1919 – OCTOBER 13, 2014)
ing magic, was used to entertain and bring joy to the
servicemen during the war. He also loved making films Lester Fulton Weeks, best
and singing, and used both of the gifts to serve others known as Larry Weeks, was
during his wartime duty. born in Salem, Massachu-
After returning from his service in the Korean War, setts; he died at a VA hospital
Bill married Florence June Knight on May 3, 1953. June in New York at age ninety-
has been his faithful companion, magician’s assistant, five on October 13, 2014. His
fellow river runner, administrator of church she- family moved to the Bronx,
nanigans and presentations, melon salesperson, and New York, in 1929. When
devoted wife for sixty-one years. he was ten his father, Aaron,
Bill had a career as owner of Capitol Roof in Santa an importer who worked for
Barbara, but had many unique side hobbies as well. the Scandinavian Embassy,
He owned Lamp Productions, where he produced taught Larry a few magic
an evangelistic film for Youth for Christ called The (Photo courtesy Rene tricks. Larry performed at P.S.
Searching Generation and a documentary about Clement) 46 and attended Bronx Boys
Central America and the ancient Mayans. He also High School and Brooklyn
owned a magic shop and produced many fine magic College.
effects under the name Bill Adams’s World of Magic. Larry learned to juggle and earned the nickname
He belonged to the S.A.M. (life member), the “speedsational” for his amazing balance and rapidly
I.B.M., and the PCAM; he hosted three fun and paced act. He developed an act called “Juggling
fabulous conventions for the PCAM in Santa Barbara for Fun,” which toured in New York, Boston, and
and Page, Arizona. He brought joy and laughter to Montreal. In the late 1930s, Larry performed magic in
many as “Ling Lee” the Chinese magician, and through New York City parks with Abe Hurwitz and his Peter
the many magic conventions he hosted. He enter- Pan Magic Club.
tained and introduced many to magic, in places such In World War II, Larry found himself at Fort
as Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, Canada, and even Monmouth, where he was seen by Irving Berlin and
the bottom of the Grand Canyon. transferred to Fort Upton in 1942. He joined the
Bill was a man of great faith; he ministered in Mis- This is the Army detachment as part of the traveling
sionary Church of Santa Barbara as choir director, show that raised funds for the war effort. The show
Sunday School leader; he developed unique and crazy appeared on Broadway and played in twenty-one
events to introduce more people to the church and countries. Corporal Weeks, the baton-twirl ing juggler,
to a God who is not afraid to have fun! He and June was now juggling knives forks, potatoes, and apples in
moved to Green River, Utah, in 1991, and served in the an act built around the duties of the “Kitchen Police.”
Green River Bible church through creative Christmas It should be noted that Weeks was the originator of
Programs, Easter Egg hunts that spread out over their apple juggling in which he took a bite of the apple at
sixty-acre ranch, and any fun event that would invite each turn until he was juggling only the core. In 1943,
and intrigue people who were searching for meaning he repeated his role in the Warner Brothers film of
in their lives. the same name.
Bill also loved the wilderness and landscapes of Once back in civilian life, he both juggled and
Utah and took many youth groups and friends on did magic, developing a children’s show market. He
river trips down the Grand Canyon, Green River, San also found a way to make seamless sponge balls and
Juan, Cataract, Yukon River, and many more places, marketed them under the name of “Spongecraft.”
often with his longtime friend and river runner, Ken He booked other performers; in September of 1966
Sleight. He also filmed not only the many canyon he came up with the idea of producing the first ‘All
lands of Utah, but also the action of the rapids, getting Day Magic Convention” held at the hotel Lexington in

22 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Broken Wands

New York City. For a three-dollar registration fee the books, juggling and magic props, escape tricks, and films
attendees got a movie, close-up magic, a dealer demo, featuring Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, and Houdini.
an auction, a raffle, and a professional evening show. Larry always attended the collectors’ meetings and
He drew two hundred magicians; it was so successful was a regular attendee at Sid Radner’s Houdini
that he scheduled another one three months later. He Séances. He was very proud and boasted that his final
produced a total of forty-eight conventions during his resting place was a plot at the Machpelah Cemetery
lifetime. a few hundred yards away from the Houdini family
Weeks was a friend to many of the famous graves. He was interred there with a graveside Jewish
magicians of our time, including Cardini, Roy and service, a military honor guard, and The Society of
Connie Benson, Frakson, and Paul Rosini; in 1979 and American Magicians Broken Wand ceremony. He was
1980 he produced two of the New York Salute to also a longtime member of the I.B.M.
Magic shows featuring his friend Richiardi. – George Schindler
Larry Weeks was a collector of vaudeville props,

Good Cheer List

Please take a minute to spread a few words of cheer with a card or note to one of our less fortunate members. Send additions,
changes, or deletions to: Anthony Antonelly, Chairman, Sick and Convalescent Committee, (215) 820-3192 ext. 1512.
magicforfun60@[Link]
Daniel Cudennec Bob King George Gilbert Lott Jim Relyea
“Dany Trick” 304 Suburban Ct. 1725 Great Hill Rd. 241 W. Lakeshore
225, Stang-ar-Veil- Rochester, NY 14620 Guilford, CT 06437 Rockaway, NJ 07866
d’an-Traon, Mellac-29300,
Quimperle, France Dick Kohlhafer James J. Morrisey Harry Riser
408 Century Vista Dr. 24 Grove St. 11755 N. Michigan Rd. #313
Dan A. Dorsey Arnold, MD 21012 Wayland, MA 01788 Zionsville, IN 46077
98 Woodvalley Dr.
Fayetteville, GA 30215 Stanley R. Kramien Nahmen Nissen Pat Ryan
11205 SW Summerfield Dr. PO Box 1856 43 Fairbanks Rd.
Charlie Gross Apt 161 Colfax, CA 95713-1856 Churchville, NY 14428
16745 Gertrude St. Tigard, OR 97224-3391
Omaha, NE 60136-3023 Allen Okawa Jack White
Richard Laneau 2101 Nuuanu Ave., 4288 Arguello St.
Roy Horn 4020 55th St. N. Tower 1, #2203 San Diego, CA 92103
c/o Siegfried & Roy St. Petersburg, FL 33709 Honolulu, HI 9681
1639 N Valley Dr. Jim Zachary
Las Vegas, NV 89108 2801 South Creek Dr.
Mulberry, FL 33860

Need to Write an Assembly Report?

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Simply fill in the required fields and paste in your report from your word processor.
Upload a photo and a caption if are submitting one. Then hit “Submit Form.” You’re
done, and your report comes to us in a format that makes our job a lot easier, too.

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 23

 The Nielsen Gallery Okito “Floating Ball”
Dimensions: 1-sheet - 20" X 27" • Lithographer: Unknown
Date: 1924 • Nielsen Rating: Rare
Tobias Leendert Bamberg (known famously as “Okito”), has Goldin, and Blackstone were equally amazed by creations such
been covered repeatedly in the Nielsen Gallery over the years and as Spirit Paintings, the Talking Skull, and the Linking Rings. But
justifiably so. “Theo,” as he was called, was the sixth generation it was his Floating Ball that captured Okito that day; Abbott in-
of a magical family hailing from Holland and one of the true stars structed him in the act and presented him with one of the floating
in magic’s firmament. Rather than recount the story of his start in balls.
magic, origin of his name, and other well-known anecdotes, we Dr. E.G. Ervin witnessed Abbott’s full-evening presentation
devote this column to the illusion featured in the poster, an effect and spoke highly of the Floating Ball. In the October 1930 The
that helped make him famous: the Floating Ball. Sphinx, he wrote, “It would be difficult to realize or observe a
Many magicians have presented the Floating Ball, a beautiful more beautiful spectacle than the floating ball in Mr. Abbott’s
illusion in which a seemingly solid hands with its silken background of glis-
metal ball floats about the stage, rising tening stars. It seems to transcend human
or falling, floating away or back, all at skill. We knew why and how it defied
the command of the magician. To prove gravitation – and all that, but forgot it, so
the absence of wires, threads, or hidden intensely were we absorbed in watching
influence, the magician usually passes the many and graceful maneuvers he
a hoop over and around the sphere. In includes in his presentation.”
the cases of Harry Blackstone Sr. and From a purely artistic standpoint,
Jr., a light bulb floated around the stage, the Floating Ball was probably Abbott’s
down into the audience, and back. greatest creation and the one most widely
While Okito popularized the illusion, desired by magicians who witnessed it.
he did not originate it. Around 1917-18, Writing about it Abbott said, “For a long
he was touring with the Thurston show time I intended to keep my particular
as a mechanic and stage manager and method of working this illusion from
was performing shadowgraphs. While the rest of the world. There are many
in Omaha, Nebraska, Thurston intro- different balls used, and many methods
duced him to David P. Abbott, who employed; but the effects that I have
performed his amazing Floating Ball evolved are so superior, and the illusion
routine in the parlor of his home. is thus made so beautiful, that I took a
Abbott was born in 1864, and in certain pride in being the only performer
an interesting coincidence, his first using no assistant and producing it in
exposure to magic was watching a this manner. However, so many per-
David P. Abbott
magician perform the Obedient Ball. In formers admired it so much and urged
this effect “spirits” cause a ball threaded me so strongly, that I taught it to a few of
on a rod to rise or fall in response to questions from the audience. them. Mr. Theodore Bamberg was one of these, and I instructed
Abbott eventually took up magic and traveled around giving stage him some hours a day for three days. He mastered it thoroughly
shows. Over time his tricks centered on the occult, tricks of spirit and performs it beautifully.” What followed then was a move-by-
mediums, and slate writing. move description (with over thirty photographs) of the illusion.
Eventually he became a wealthy businessman, president of He even provided instructions on creating the ball itself.
one of Omaha’s largest banks, and devoted much of his savings to While Abbott entered the room with the ball held in his hand,
building a “House of Mystery” at 3316 Center Street in Omaha. Okito is credited with the wonderful flourish of having the ball
The home was a handsome Arts-and-Crafts-style model with brought on stage in a highly decorated and lacquered Chinese
a fashionable brick exterior and all the wooden moldings and box. The lid of the box mysteriously opened and the ball floated
columns that befit a prosperous business man. out of the box to begin its ethereal journey.
To all appearances, it was a normal home, with the exception The current master of this illusion is Teller, who performs his
of an oversized front parlor. Visitors who came to witness his il- own special version of it in Las Vegas. Recently he spoke before
lusionary miracles did not realize that the room contained hidden a gathering of magic historians and described his years-long
microphones, loudspeakers, and a giant electromagnet beneath research into the illusion and his efforts to present it effectively.
the carpet with terminals that connected to the legs of furniture. In 2005, Teller was instrumental in compiling and co-editing with
It was also furnished with exotic Japanese screens, an elephant- Todd Karr, a two-volume set, David P. Abbott’s House of Mystery.
head table, and ornate decorations. Anyone interested in this and other amazing illusions from the
It was in this setting that Abbott fooled Houdini with his creative mind of Abbott is encouraged to obtain a copy. 
Talking Teakettle. He likewise fooled Ching Ling Foo, who asked
the “spirit” in the kettle a question in Chinese. When the spirit —Tom Ewing
answered in Chinese he was astounded. Little did he know that
Abbott employed a Chinese cook. Others like Kellar, Horace

24 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 A TRIBUTE TO JOHN GIORDMAINE
(1898-1974)
by John Pellatt

I
n early 2008, I now a well-known
stared once again at physicist and former
the aging cardboard Princeton University
butterfly tacked up over lecturer. How would
my desk. It had been he respond? Not only
tacked or taped onto did he graciously give
various walls of mine the site his approval, he
for nearly forty years. also sent along a collec-
If you attach a couple tion of family photos.
pennies to it, it will These photos give the
suspend in midair at the site an added dimension
very end of your finger- it could not have had
tips as if by magic. So otherwise. His ongoing
why did I keep it? And encouragement for the
why was it always in Photo courtsey of Joseph Giordmaine site has made my work
such a prominent place? on it feel exponentially
That cardboard butterfly was a promotional giveaway from rewarding.
the predawn of time: my childhood. It continued to connect me What follows is an edited recollection of my phone conver-
to happy memories of that era and its originator, a wonderful- sation with Joseph about his father.
ly charismatic children’s magician born in Malta named John
Giordmaine. John Pellatt: What is the fundamental attraction of magic?
Johnny (as we all knew him) was probably the most popular Joseph Giordmaine: Magic is a universal language, a
Toronto-based Canadian children’s magician when I was a vehicle of communication between people. For a lay audience it
kid in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Certainly he was the most is about creating an alternate universe. As Dad often put it, he felt
beloved, an incontestable accolade since the time he turned pro as if he was creating something that people can enjoy because
in the 1930s. He was a member of the [Link]. from 1927 to his it’s so foreign, the rules are so different. And for that reason
death in 1974. He was also the reason I got into the hobby of it’s wrong to reveal the secret – not because the magician is
magic as a kid. Johnny was a mentor to possibly thousands of losing something, but because the audience is losing something.
us to the day he died, encouraging our interest in magic, and Because you’re suddenly struck by the fact that there is this
making each of us feel special. simple gimmick instead of what you’re supposed to receive: an
The faded butterfly was obviously still important to me. introduction to a new, mysterious world, completely different
Long after I had got out of magic as an active hobby, it had than our own. In my father’s approach he could guide children
stayed up to remind me of Johnny and of my everlasting love in this sense of wonder because he would express astonishment
for magic. And so it came into focus once again during early himself. His eyes would open wide; he obviously had the sense
2008 and got me to wondering if there was a website devoted of wonder himself. This was not acting. The things he could
to Johnny. do with his hands were wonderful. His sense of wonder was
A quick search revealed no such tribute site. How could this a sense of thankfulness, of gratitude for having these kinds of
be? Such an oversight was a disgrace! Somebody should put a skills.
site up to honor him, I thought. Yeah, somebody really should...
So I did...it’s currently at [Link] Pellatt: Your dad was well known for his joyous sense of
It was (and still is) a modest, homemade site originally humor. How did he start in magic and incorporate that humor
consisting of scans of my old files. But it started to bring the into his act?
magic of Johnny’s generosity of spirit back into my life. I began Giordmaine: In an interview years ago, he spoke of seeing
rereading some of my old magic books and magazines, and his first magician in Malta; he was fascinated. He started to
even started to develop a newfound interest in mentalism. order tricks by mail from London’s department store Gamage’s.
But was the site worthy of his memory? I decided to email He must’ve been in his late teens, so he was first exposed to
his family to find out. His only child, Joseph Giordmaine, is magic in Malta. His first job (after immigrating to Toronto in

26 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

1919) was as a glassblower. It was a tough, hot, dangerous job. show, but I did watch it. He had such misgivings about the
He found another job as an electrician at the Swift Meat Packing whole experience, because something went terribly wrong.
Company. He found he could interact with people through He came to New York and was waiting in the hotel for a call
magic. When you normally meet people you make small talk, to tell him when to arrive for the rehearsal. He briefly went
but if you’re from another country you’re probably not comfort- out and returned and there was still no call. It turned out that
able with small talk. In his case, he would meet somebody and there had been a call but it had never been relayed to him, so
almost after saying hello, he would pull out some tricks. He he missed the rehearsal. It was a disaster! So he did the show
did this all of his life. His humor endeared him to people; the without a rehearsal. When Ed Sullivan looked over to the wing
joke was always on him. He had that wonderful quote, “When on the show, my father came out from the other wing! Sullivan
I was small; I mean, when I was young.” I must’ve heard that handled it by saying it was magic, that he’d materialized over
a thousand times. He loved that kind of thing and people loved there! Everything went well from then on. He pulled Sullivan’s
him for it. famous polka dot handkerchief out from his pocket and made
all of the polka dots fall off. He pulled a shiny, red-and-white
Pellatt: Once he had turned professional, in addition to barber pole out of his pocket; it went twenty feet up into the
his countless live performances, your dad also ran the magic air! So it went very well but he got off to a shaky start. He
counter at Eaton’s department store in Toronto for decades got pleasant comments from Sullivan afterwards so he was
(1930-1960). obviously forgiven for missing the rehearsal.
Giordmaine: Tannen’s magic store in New York was famous
for twelve-year-old kids coming in every Saturday; I think Pellatt: Who were his role models?
Dad’s counter in Eaton’s was a kind of scaled-down, Toronto Giordmaine: People like Dai Vernon, Nelson Downs,
version of Lou Tannen’s magic shop. Both had a strong effect. Thurston, and Blackstone. Dad also had enormous respect for
James Randi came back again and again. Dad used to tell me Tarbell for his course, which is magnificent. His books are so
about him. He was well aware that he was having an influence. practical, in such simple English. When my father wrote up his
It gave him a lot of pleasure. effects, his prose was influenced by Tarbell; it was very clear
and simple.
Pellatt: How did he become so successful in magic? What
were the key factors? Pellatt: What do you think is your father’s legacy in magic?
Giordmaine: The first things that made his career in magic Giordmaine: His greatest achievements were his persona,
possible were his energy and ambition. He didn’t wear them on his absolute mastery of sleight of hand (which he kept out of
his shoulder; he was just working all the time. He did the real view, in the background), and his ability to share with his
work, the learning of the technical aspects of magic, early on. audience the joy and wonder of what was going on while at the
He learned through the Tarbell Course, which came out in 1927 same time making himself the subject of the humor. He did it
when he was twenty-nine. He subscribed to it; it was a type- in such a sincere and smooth way: “Nothing here, nothing here,
script edition at the time. By the early 1930s, he was performing and nothing here (referring to his head).” There may be greater
as a featured act at magic conventions. He was no amateur by comedians, there may be greater pure magicians in some
then; he had really done the work. absolute sense, but for the combination of humor in children’s
entertainment and the technical aspects of magic, I think no one
Pellatt: How is it that he related so well to children? could match Dad. I think he would consider that his greatest
Giordmaine: He got kids’ interest by challenging them to contribution – the demonstration that that kind of combination
figure it out. They loved trying to catch him out – the “gotcha” of arts was possible.
experience. He had so many effects. The Die Box was a favorite; The now defunct Society of Canadian Magicians was very
such a simple trick, but it really set them off, the kids took such kind to my mother and me after he died. They staged an auction
delight in it. And he always had a way of turning it around. sale of all of Dad’s equipment from his famous magic room in
The Torn & Restored Napkin was another favorite, one of his the basement. It was a wonderful tribute. The emcee was Sid
simplest tricks but I always loved it. You thought you were Lorraine, who was wonderfully warm and funny; I will never
learning how to do it, but there was more to it than you thought. forget it. Sid said at the time, “Magicians throughout the world
knew him as the perfect children’s entertainer. In a field where
Pellatt: Your dad was a pioneer of magic on television. Not competition and comparison often breeds enemies, one never
only was he the first magician ever to appear on television in heard a word of criticism or complaint when the Giordmaine
Canada but he later went on the top North American television name was mentioned. Those of us who knew him and worked
shows of his day, like Captain Kangaroo and the Ed Sullivan closely with him over the past forty years will always remember
show. him as a kindly, considerate human being who enjoyed every
Giordmaine: That first broadcast was a closed-circuit dem- moment of his very active life. He was a little fellow with a big
onstration in 1933 at Eaton’s in Toronto. It was very primitive heart.”
technology. He said there was nothing as hot as the lights for that I would like to thank Joseph Giordmaine for sharing his
show. They needed them to get enough light for the cameras. It memories about his father. Your memories of Johnny will
was viewed on another floor of Eaton’s and it did attract a lot of be very welcome, too. Contact information can be found at
attention. It really was a pioneering thing, but he didn’t give a [Link].
lot of thought to it.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a recording of the Ed Sullivan 

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 27

 Not Just Kid Stuff
By Jim Kleefeld

a school in my home town. Not wanting to you want to impart. It might be “Assertive
call attention to myself, I went incognito behavior often thwarts attempts at
and snuck into a chair by the back wall. His bullying,” or “Classic literature provides
show was called “The Magic of Reading” continued enjoyment,” or “There are four
or something similar, so it was obvious steps to becoming trustworthy.” Next, look
that he had tried to book it as an educa- for a routine in which the effect leads to
EMBED EDUCATIONAL tional program. a suitable culmination. You might present
CONTENT First, he presented some stock manipu- Jack Hughes’s Giant and Dwarf trick to
lations – good magic, good visuals, but no demonstrate changes in a bully and his
Many kid show performers focus content. Then he performed Kevin James’s victim. You could magically produce a
almost entirely on birthday parties. If you Bowl-A-Rama. He wrote the word “ball” helper’s favorite book, or turn coal into
are a birthday performer, you know that on a large pad, asked the kids to read it, diamonds with patter about how honesty
fun rules. Everything should be magical, and then added the word “bowling.” Then is rewarding. Rather than give a full de-
funny, colorful, and exciting. Kids (and the he produced a bowling ball. The kids scription of an entire routine, I’ll spend
parents who watch) want to hear laughter were amazed. He told them it was magic my remaining allotted space to describe
and see smiles. But there are many venues because they read those two words. Next, several examples of ways to embed educa-
available to performers besides birthday he walked into the audience and handed tional content into effects.
parties; most of those require you to Embed a dictionary to a teacher. He presented a Suppose you have a school assembly
Educational Content. book test, pretty much for her, as the rest of show on character and want a routine to
I have been a full-time children’s the audience could hardly see what he was teach a lesson about fairness, one of six
performer for decades, and I rarely do up to. After he correctly announced the positive character traits. You could use a
birthday parties. Of course, I will accept word she chose, he returned to the stage Wolf’s Magic prop called Blow Yur Stack
one if someone calls (and they do call). But and told the students that a dictionary is a (Figure 1). A giant box shaped like a wedge
I do not solicit or market birthday party book and you can find words in it if you of cheese sits on your table. You invite a
events. My reason is personal: I wanted to want to know the definition of something helper up to engage in a cup-stacking race.
reserve weekends for family time. Guys you read. Then he did some silk magic. You build a pyramid of six cups on top of
who make a living doing birthdays usually After forty minutes of decent magic, your side of the box while he builds a cup
have to spend every Saturday and every he closed his show by talking about how stack on his side. His cups continue to fall
Sunday working. I chose non-weekend he had learned some of his magic through over, so you always win.
venues: libraries and school assemblies. books. As the kids began to file out, one
School assemblies and library shows teacher walked directly to me, ignoring my
make up a large portion of magic show ball-cap-and-sunglasses disguise and said,
opportunities for children’s entertainers. “You are much better than he is.” Busted!
They pay well and can be very rewarding. But in a good way, I guess. For the most
You get seen by hundreds of people at a part, the kids were entertained and loved
time, tens of thousands of kids get excited the show. But the teachers were not fooled
by magic, and most of your clients want into thinking it had any educational value.
you to return year after year – if you embed His lame attempts to throw in some random
educational content. If not, you may get no catch phrases about reading were not seen
repeat bookings and no word-of-mouth as content. The principal called me within Figure 1
referrals. a month and hired me to present my show
Educational content may sound dry, but the next fall. She told me they had tried After three attempts, the audience sees
it does not have to be. In fact, your show another magician, but were not satisfied. a small puppet mouse poking up and down
will benefit most if the content is exciting Likewise in library shows, the idea of on the helper’s side of the box. The mouse
and interesting. One of the key components incorporating a message about books and has been knocking down the helper’s
is above, lurking mysteriously in the title reading is considered at least a “plus,” and cup stack. The moral is that it’s no fun
of this piece. Note the deliberate use of the in some cases invaluable by the librarians to play a game if someone cheats. In the
word “embed.” Not “add,” or “insert,” or who book performers. Although you could routine, you have fun staging the race, turn
“append.” Certainly not “toss in” or “stick easily do standard magic tricks and then accidents into magic, and reveal that there
on.” The content must be part and parcel close by telling kids to read, that kind of is strong value in playing fair. The key to
of your presentation. It must come from half-hearted attempt smacks more of info- this effective routine is that the core of the
the core of your effect, or at least from mercial than valuable advice. effect – staging a contest where someone
the core of your patter. The best way to So how do you go about embedding cheats – matches the content message.
embed content is to begin with an intended educational content into your show? Begin In another show you might have the
message and create the effect around it. by writing an objective, a message, or objective “Determination is a valuable part
Several years ago, I went to see a an affirmation. Define exactly what you of responsibility.” You need an effect that
magician whom I did not know perform at want your routine to say – what message demonstrates determination, so try the

28 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

Borrowed Ring in Nest of Boxes. Ask to hazardly added on to a trick, do not work each have a book. Show the bags with the
borrow a ring from a girl in the audience. at all. They are confusing at best, and are Pig, Turtle, Mouse, Bear, Sheep, and Parrot
When she gets front and center, borrow often simply wrong. They ruin both the printed on the outside. Now mention that
her ring and offer to polish it. Vanish it in magic entertainment and the educational the books and bags got mixed up. The Pig
the polishing cloth you use. This can be a content message. If you want to succeed in book might be in the Turtle bag or it might
Devil’s Hank, but a simpler method is to presenting a message with your magic you be in the Mouse bag, or the Mouse may be
simply sew a duplicate ring into a corner must Embed Educational Content. in the Pig bag or it might be in the Sheep
of a plain handkerchief and steal her ring There are many reasons and situations bag, or the other way ‘round. Mention that
while she holds the covered duplicate. when you may want to integrate content you have a duplicate of one of the six books
Offer to reproduce her ring inside a large into children’s shows. If you do Halloween and you put it in the rabbit-in-the-hat bag.
box. Have her open the box, but her ring shows, having a routine about trick-or-treat Have six kids come up; each takes
is not inside. Instead there is another box. safety may get you noticed by parents and a bag. Ask them not to look at the book
Normally, a magician would just instruct rebooked. In Christmas shows you may inside. Stand three on your left and three
the helper to open the next box, but here, want to leave a memorable impression that on your right (Figure 2). Tell them it would
to meet your objective, you behave as if the the holiday is about family, togetherness, be easy to look in the rabbit-in-the-hat bag
trick is over. Act apologetic, as if the trick and sharing more than decorating a tree and then look in all six bags to find the
had failed, and tell her to return to her seat. and getting gifts. Birthday party moms duplicate, but since this is a magic show,
She will refuse to go back without her ring. might be very impressed to hear that one of perhaps someone in the audience could
She will insist that she get to look in the your routines teaches the partying young- find the duplicate book by magic. Choose
second box. Trust me. She always insists sters to play well with friends, clean up a seventh volunteer to magically find the
on getting her ring back. Allow her to open after themselves, or thank their hostess. duplicate book. Using magician’s choice
the second box, and she will find another Educational content does not make your have that person choose one bag. Narrow
box. Try to send her back to her seat again. magic any better, and may not add expo- this down in steps, letting the child choose
She will insist on opening the next box, nentially to the children’s
and the next one, until she finds her ring. enjoyment, but it will
You’ve had success. The magic worked always be noticed and ap- Figure 2
and she gets her ring back. Everyone preciated by the adults in
applauds. But now you do a verbal recap the audience. And those are
and sell the objective. You tell the audience the people who will book
that the only reason the helper recovered you.
her ring is because of her determination. Here is another sample
She did not give up or quit after looking routine description. As you
in the first box. She persisted, even when read this, think about how
there were more and more boxes without the message or content is
a ring. Her responsibility and determina- embedded in the core of the
tion is what got her ring back. Again, in effect, not just added on as
this example the core effect of opening box an afterthought. Suppose
after box is also the crux of the objective. you are booked to do a show at a library. kids on the left or right side, then taking
In contrast to these descriptions, there Wouldn’t it be wise to promote books and two of the three bags on that side, and
are plenty of bad examples of content reading for this client? Bring out seven finally handing you one. To close, first
tricks. I’ve seen a magician do a bare-hand cloth bags with handles. One has a rabbit- have five kids show the books in the bags
salt vanish followed by salt production in in-a-hat design. The other six each have that were eliminated. Then show the book
a Long Salt Pour. It was nice magic, but a character from literature printed on the in the chosen bag, and finally show that the
he performed it silently to music; after he front. It is easy to find decent character book in the rabbit-in-the-hat bag matches
finished he gave a three-minute monologue pictures, print them on paper or printable the chosen one. Kids have seen six book
about how the salt represented drugs. He fabric and fasten them to the fronts of characters, they have seen six actual
said there was so much salt because there seven cloth bags. It may not be legal to books, and one of them has been magically
is so much drug use in the world. Then he use the Cat in the Hat, Skippyjon Jones, found to match a prediction book.
stopped, looked out and said, “So don’t do the Wimpy Kid, Curious George, Captain Notice how the core element of the
drugs.” Underpants, or others. So for this example magic effect – that of choosing a book –
In another show I saw a nice perfor- let’s use non-copyrighted animals and matches the intended message: kids should
mance of the Twentieth Century Silks pretend they are all classic characters like choose good books to read. This is how you
ruined with terribly vague and irrational Pinocchio or Alice in Wonderland. embed your content. Start with a message.
patter. The performer held each silk sepa- Suppose you want to motivate children Find an effect that simulates the message,
rately and told the audience that the blue to read one of several classic books at a and then write a script that makes a clear
one represented a bully, the red one was library show. Show the rabbit-in-the-hat connection between the message and the
a victim, and the green one was a teacher. bag and say that one of your favorite books effect. Not every effect in every show has
The red one vanished and then reappeared is inside of it, and that you will show it to to be a learning experience. But the more
tied between the blue one and the green the audience in a minute. Bring out the you add, the better you make your routines.
one. The performer said that this meant other six bags and tell the audience that You will enhance your show and increase
that victims of bullying should learn to be they each have a book, but that the books your worth as a children’s entertainer if
friends with bullies and teachers. and bags got mixed up. Bring out the other you Embed Educational Content into your
These morals and messages, when hap- six bags and tell the audience that they shows. 

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 29

EBOOK NOOK
STAGGERING
BY JOHN DERRIS
This all started with a simple prop sold to me by an American
dealer at a British Convention. As he performed it, he just placed
Excerpt From: a metal ring onto a shoe lace, swung it vigorously to show that it
Come a Little Closer really was on the lace, and then removed it. End of trick!
Edited By: The method was ingenious: a small, powerful, earth magnet
John Derris concealed inside the lace, a fake tie onto the lace, and the ring was
Description: removed. That was all that was described in the instructions that
Ebook, 106 pages accompanied the effect.
Available From: I played with this for some time and came up with a move
[Link] whereby the ring could be thrown eighteen inches through the
air, only to pass magically onto the lace. The effect was quite
I reviewed Come a Little Closer in the July 1998 issue of stunning. I showed it to Jack Avis who suggested that I publish
MAGIC. Here’s what I wrote back then: the item in a magazine, which I did.
“Back in the early 1950s, an enthusiastic group of magic Its publication brought a tirade of scorn upon my head from
hobbyists would meet on Saturdays in London. They would Simon Lovell, who chastised me in print by saying that didn’t I
frequent the magic shops and hang out in nearby cafes, talking realize that the effect was an original put out by Bob McAllister.
magic, swapping moves, and demonstrating their latest creations. Firstly – no I didn’t, because I’ve only returned to magic in recent
This little group published a small booklet in 1953, each member times and had no knowledge of his effect; and secondly – I bought
contributing a routine to the publication. This booklet sold quite it from the American dealer in good faith without knowing that it
well, and the members of the group became fairly well known was someone else’s idea.
in magic circles. You may recognize a few of the names. The However, since that time I developed a full routine with the
group consisted of Alex Elmsley, Jack Avis, Bobby Bernard, Ted prop, including the throwing move; it’s been big for me when per-
Danson, Roy Walton, Al Koran, John Derris, Arthur Holland, forming close-up in restaurants and at corporate events, as well
and Tommy Vanderschmidt. L&L Publishing has released an as puzzling a few magicians. (Ask Piet Forton of Switzerland his
expanded version of the original Come a Little Closer booklet that reaction when I first showed it to him.)
contains new contributions from those in the group who are still Anyway, here is the full routine as used by me very success-
involved in magic (which is almost the entire group). fully now for a couple of years – with apologies to Bob McAllister
“With a list of contributors that includes some of the cleverest (and Simon Lovell).
minds in magic, you can well imagine that Come a Little Closer Required: I recommend you buy the prop from a dealer adver-
contains some fine magic. The emphasis is on close-up magic tising the Bob McAllister routine.
with cards and coins. I will mention a few of my favorites. Jack I have a striped shoelace of the type used for trainers; they’re
Avis offers The Siva Fold, a method for folding a playing card into long and double woven (to allow a magnet to be pushed inside); the
quarters under the guise of natural actions. He then describes a striped pattern (mine is a high contrast black and white) conceals
card to wallet effect using the fold. Ted Danson’s Give Me a Ring any bumps that the magnet hidden inside might reveal.
is a great method for doing the Bank Night effect. Also explained The magnet is a small, round, earth magnet that is very strong
is It’s a Date, the trick that started the birthday book/diary craze. (keep it away from your credit card). This is situated in the center
I was glad to finally read this effect. The method is a bit cumber- of the lace.
some, but it’s a real fooler. The other requirement is a steel ring (not nickel, which has
“John Derris contributes some excellent routines. You’ll find no magnetic attraction). Mine measures around two inches in
Alex Elmsley’s famous routine Point of Departure here, as well diameter and I have had it gold plated. This allows me some
as a diabolical Si Stebbins trick and a funny card counting rhyme. byplay and funny lines about being my wife’s wedding ring. The
Roy Walton is also represented. other reason for plating it is that being gold, the notion of magnets
“The final chapter of the book is an essay titled ‘What is Wrong being used in the routine does not occur to the spectator so readily
with Magic?’ The title says it all. You will read this essay and as if it was silver steel.
think, ‘The author is absolutely right; these are the things that are Phase 1: Ask to have the ring examined and show the lace held
wrong with magic.’ Then you’ll get really depressed, because the at one end by the left hand while the other end is trapped by the
author of the essay is Oswald Williams, and the essay was written left foot and pulled to prove its solidity. The ring is returned.
in 1923. In seventy-five [now ninety-one] years almost nothing Place the ring over one end of the lace, which runs between
has changed, and this fact really bums me out.” the left first and second fingers with about six inches of the end
Come a Little Closer is a book that has slipped under the of the lace hanging down (Figure 1). The right hand goes palm up
magic radar, and that’s a pity. There is fine magic to be found below the left palm and grasps the lace between the right first and
within its pages. For the Ebook Nook excerpts, I’ve chosen a re- second fingers while the ring is gripped between the right thumb
markable ring and shoelace routine by John Derris (based on a and first finger (Figure 2).
prop – Ringo – once sold by Bob McAllister) and a color-chang- The right hand moves up away from the left hand, gripping the
ing knives routine by Roy Walton (who is much better known ring tightly and sliding the lace between the fingers. This move
for his exceptional card magic). Both are worth your time. My causes the short end of the lace to be pulled back through the ring.
thanks to L&L Publishing for allowing these excerpts to appear The right hand continues to move up to the center of the lace,
in M-U-M. —Michael Close where the magnet can be felt. When you feel that the magnet has

30 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

engaged with the ring, open in the center. Pull the ends
the left fingers and allow the until a knot is tightened and
lace to drop, but immedi- let go with the left hand, but
ately cover the ring and lace retain the hold with the right
with the open right hand hand. The ring appears to be
(Figure 3). very fairly knotted on the
The lace is now attached cord (Figure 5).
to the ring and can be Say a magic word, reach
dropped and swung from up with the right hand, and
side to side by holding the pluck the ring from the
two ends of the lace with the knot, which remains tied
left hand. The magnet will in the center of the lace. If
hold the ring in place. This you feel this is too obvious,
Photo 1 Photo 5
is an adaptation of a move place the ring and lace
shown to me by Pat Page behind your back with your
and published here with his left hand, then reach behind
permission, but I believe with your right hand and
that the origin of the move bring forth the released ring.
goes back to Anverdi. Either way, you’ll get a very
The ring and lace are positive spectator reaction.
now transferred to the right Phase 3: Say, “There are
hand and the swinging ring three ways to put the ring
is grasped by the left hand, onto the lace.” As you make
which is closed into a fist. this remark you drape the
A magic pass is made, and lace across your left second
the ring is removed from the finger and thumb with the
fist, leaving the lace behind. first finger gripping the
Phase 2: The lace is laid Photo 2 lace above so that it doesn’t Photo 6
across the open left palm move out of position. The
with the magnet resting magnet is located in the
on the center of the palm. center between the finger
Hold the ring in the right and thumb (Figure 6).
hand, display it, and place With the right hand, slip
the bottom in contact with the ring over one of the ends
the magnet inside the lace. of the lace and say, “That’s
Allow the lace to hang one way.” Then slip the ring
between the first and second over the other end saying,
fingers of the left hand “That’s the second way.”
(Figure 4). Now say, “There is a third
Grasp the nearest end of way, hardly worth mention-
the lace with the right hand, ing.” As you say this, you
bring it up to the bottom of hold the ring in your right
Photo 3 Photo 7
the ring, and trap it between hand and strike the lace
the left thumb and the ring. stretched between your
With the right fingers pull finger and thumb, sliding it
the end of the lace upwards, along the lace until you feel
retaining the grip with the the magnet (Figure 7). Then
left thumb and simulating pull the ring down with your
the tying of a knot. In fact, right hand between your
nothing has happened, but finger and thumb. Grasping
it gives the impression of a the ends of the lace with the
knot being tied. left hand, you can let the
Still holding the end of ring swing freely and even
the lace in the right hand, go rotate it through 180 degrees
round the back of the other to demonstrate that it really
end of the lace hanging is on the lace (Figure 8).
down and bring the end Photo 4 Phase 4: This is the final Photo 8
through the loop formed. stage in which the ring flies
Now let go of the ring, grasp the two ends of the lace between the through the air and visibly penetrates the lace held in your left
left and right fingers and display the ring hanging from the center. hand – a great finish to a strong piece of magic.
Because it is moving, the illusion is of the ring on the lace, knotted The ring is hung over the right thumb; the lace is displayed

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 31

EBOOK NOOK
between the fingers of the a fist; the yellow knife is pushed into it. The hand is then turned
two hands. The right thumb over, opened, and the yellow knife is shown to have changed to
and first finger grasp the lace red; the other knife is still white.
where the magnet is located The red knife is then taken in the right hand and both sides
and can be felt inside. are shown. The left hand (with the white knife) goes to the pocket
The left hand is out- while the right hand closes into a fist over the red knife. The white
stretched and the cord is laid knife now travels from the left pocket to the right hand. The right
across the left thumb and hand is opened and the knife shown to be white. The audience
between the first and second presumes the knife in the left hand to be red but this is shown not
finger with the right hand, to be the case because the knives have again changed places and
which still grasps the lace the white knife is shown to have returned to the left hand and the
and the magnet. The right red knife to the right hand.
hand pulls the lace down Both hands are again closed over the knives and the transposi-
about twelve inches between Photo 9 tion is repeated. The right hand is opened to reveal the white knife
the left thumb and first and and the audience is asked what color knife is in the left hand. On
second fingers to form a receiving the reply “Red,” the hand is opened and the knife is
loop so that the magnet is shown to be green.
located at the bottom of the The vanish of the red knife is explained by stating that it
loop (Figure 9). The left slipped into the pocket; both hands go to the pockets with the
hand holds the loop shoulder knives. The left hand comes out empty and right hand brings out
high. both the red and white knives.
The right fingers hold The white knife is taken in the left hand and the hand closed
the ring between finger into a fist. The red knife is then pushed into the lower side of the
and thumb about fifteen to fist and the white knife is pulled out from the upper side; this is
eighteen inches away from shown white on both sides and is placed in the pocket. The left
the lace, parallel with the hand is then opened and the remaining knife also shown to be
body and level with the white; this knife is rolled on the table or given for examination.
bottom of the loop. You Photo 10 Requirements: In right trouser pocket – one genuine knife,
now literally throw the both sides white; one faked knife, one side white, one side yellow.
ring towards the center of In left trouser pocket – one faked knife, one side white, one side
the lace; you aim to hit the green; one faked knife, one side white, one side red.
loop from above as the ring Routine: The right and left hands both go to the trouser pockets
descends (Figure 10). and bring out a faked knife which is shown to be white on both
The ring hits the lace; the sides by one of the familiar paddle moves. The white side of each
magnet attracts the ring and faked knife can be roughened or nicked to make it distinguishable
holds it in position. The lace by touch, or the hands can be brought out of the pockets closed,
swings under the impact of held up with backs to the audience and opened slightly with the
the ring, which conceals knives in the thumb palm position to allow the performer to check
the fact that the ring is that the white sides are to the front (Figure 1) and if necessary to
hanging under the lace. The make the necessary reverse while lowering the hands.
illusion of the ring passing
magically onto the lace is Photo 11
perfect (Figure 11).
The ring hand grasps the ends of the lace; you allow the ring
to fall into the open left hand, which is then closed around it. The
right hand now pretends to pull the lace free of the ring with the
aid of the left thumb. The lace and ring are now separate. This
move is also used after each of the previous phases to separate the
ring from the lace just prior to commencing the next phase.
Well, that’s Staggering; it has been very good to me. I hope that
you will also find success with this quite staggering ring routine.

KNIFED
BY ROY WALTON Photo 1
Effect: Both sides of two knives are shown to be white. The
audience is asked to choose one knife; whichever is chosen is taken Having shown the knives to be white, ask the audience which
at the fingertips of the right hand. The chosen knife is rubbed on shall be used; whichever knife is chosen is taken at the fingertips
the back of the open left hand and the color changes to yellow. of the right hand and rubbed on the back of the left hand still
The left hand (which holds the white knife) is then closed into held palm up with its knife exposed. When the right hand knife is

32 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

hidden by the back of the left hand it is turned over and brought State that you will repeat the transposition; close both hands
out to show the color has changed to yellow. reversing both knives. The right hand is opened to show a white
While showing the knife to be yellow on both sides, close the knife; the spectator asked what color knife is in the left hand. On
left hand at the same time, reversing the knife. The yellow knife is receiving the reply “Red,” the knife is shown to be green.
pushed into the left hand behind the knife already there. The right Whilst explaining that the vanish of the red knife was accom-
forefinger rubs the back of the left hand, which is then turned over plished by slipping it secretly into the pocket, both hands go to the
and opened to show that the yellow knife has changed to red. pockets. The left hand leaves its knife in the pocket and comes
The red knife is taken at the right fingertips and shown red out empty; the right hand reverses its knife and also picks up the
on both sides; while this is being done the left hand goes to the genuine knife and is withdrawn from the pocket showing a white
left pocket and exchanges the white knife for the knife already in and a red knife. The audience believes the red knife has just been
the pocket, the hand remaining in the pocket. The performer now removed from the pocket when actually it is the white knife that
states he will make the knife in the pocket change places with the was removed.
knife in the right hand. The right hand is turned over and opened The genuine knife is taken in the left hand; the hand is closed
to reveal the white knife; the hand is then closed again, reversing to a fist and turned over. The red knife is shown on both sides
the knife in the process. The closed left hand is brought out of and is pushed into the lower side of the left fist. The red knife is
the pocket and – after checking the color as detailed earlier to reversed in the hand, pulled out from the upper side, and shown as
ensure the knife will show white when the hand is opened – the white on both sides and placed in the pocket.
spectator is asked what color the knife is in the hand. On receiving To the audience the effect is that the red knife has been
the answer “Red,” the performer explains that the knives have exchanged for the white that was already in the left hand, but the
again changed places and the knife in the left hand is shown to be left hand is now opened to show that the white knife is still there.
white and that the red knife is back in the right hand. This knife can be rolled on the table for examination. 

The Society of American Magicians

CONTEST OF MAGIC
Philadelphia – July 1-4, 2015
Probably Warm – Probably Crowded – Definitely Exciting!
The Society of American Magicians Contest of Magic is open to all members of the S.A.M.; it will be a featured event
of the 2015 convention. As performers from all over the world who have shared their skill and art with us will attest, the
S.A.M. Contests of Magic are unique, fair, independent, welcoming, and hot – sort of like Philadelphia itself and what got
started there: The USA!
There are two contests: The Dr. Paul Critelli Close-Up Magic Contest and The Father Cyprian Murray Stage Magic
Contest. You may apply for either or both.
If you would like to be considered for this event, your first step is to obtain an application packet. To do this, email me at:
MagicPaul@[Link] with “S.A.M. – Contest” in the subject line. Please make sure to include your email address, your full
name, regular postal address, and your phone number. If you do not have access to email, send your request to:

Paul Critelli, 858 Iroquois SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

All application packets will be made available electronically or sent out on or after December 31, 2014.
Do not put any act on line or send it to me in any form before you read, complete, and submit the application form.
All requests for an application packet must be in my possession by or sent on or before May 15, 2015.
All applications and all videos must be on line as instructed in the application packet by June 5, 2015. (These videos must
be sent so that only I, Paul Critelli, can view them on YouTube or some other video service. More details will be given in the
application packet.)

Thank you and good luck!

Paul Critelli,
Chairperson,
Contest of Magic The Society of American Magicians

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 33

Awesome! by David Seebach

That’s Just Perfect! angled openings that reached the prop’s four corners. It resembled
a giant “X” plus the added vertical slit. The woman was placed
inside after the big front doors were opened. Her head was visible,

(Be sure to read all the way to the end.)

coming through the vertical opening. Her hands and feet came out
through the other four slits.
I’ll guess that she had to originally been sitting somehow
If you believe that the only thing that separates you taking since, if she wasn’t, she’d be levitating at this point, right? I have
a bow after your solo show and you taking a bow with a lovely never seen this version of the act presented.
partner after executing the Asrah Levitation is the thousands The magician would then move the assistant’s head up and
of dollars that any major stage illusion costs today, you would down and extend her hands and feet to the outer limits of the prop.
be mistaken. I am of the opinion that any reasonably motivated I’m sure many M-U-M readers have seen images of this design;
magician, earning moderate income from performing, can budget it’s on magicians’ posters of the early twentieth century. The act
and save enough to obtain a big illusion feature. was accomplished by having two additional assistants concealed
It’s just that the initial cost may be the cheapest aspect of adding at the very edges or sides of the prop; their hands and feet were
illusions to your repertoire. The real cost comes from actually seen. I have no idea how effective this illusion was. It all looks a bit
performing with them, moving them from venue to venue, and goofy to me and the size of that prop was anything but deceptive.
storing them. About thirty years ago, Owen Magic reinvented this concept
But let’s be reasonable; the average fellow probably can store with a very clever, and much more practical, prop. The prop is a
an illusion or two in his garage. The vehicle you already own may seven-sided, upright enclosure that’s mounted on a deceptive
be sufficient to transport the modest illusions that disassemble. base. It hinges open, exactly in halves (yes, three-and-a-half sides
And, if there is a significant other in your life, you may already per half!) to allow the assistant to enter. There are vertical
have the lady to saw in halves. openings for her head and her hands. It’s then up to the performer
However, most magicians who favor illusions quickly run out to come up with a routine in which these visible – and very real –
of garage space, need to own a vehicle that’s really a cargo van and body parts move in a manner that is anatomically impossible.
not a minivan, and require more than just one onstage assistant.
And, unless you live in Utah and practice polygamy, you likely
have only one other significant other.
“You’re gonna need a bigger cast.”
Like the bigger boat they needed in Jaws, some illusions
require more than a single assistant. A wife or girlfriend might
assist for free, but competent, talented assistants need to be com-
pensated, and that means a payroll and a cost every time you
wheel out the Costume Trunk or the Mis-Made Girl.
The moment you write a check to someone who has assisted
you, you have become an employer; don’t let anyone tell you
different. That other person is not an independent contractor (as
you are) unless he/she also does the same sort of work for other
magicians and sets his or her own fees (as you do). You’ll need to
comply with both federal and state regulations and file quarterly
returns on wages paid and money withheld. (And paying in cash
Stretching A Woman illusion
is not an option for avoiding this paperwork, because it’s okay to
operate that way. But you still have to comply with all the rules.)
If you’re committed, though, you’ll be able to do all of this This design is practical because the entire prop folds up, almost
fairly easily. Stay current and never think that ignorance of any of like a road map, in a way to make it easily transportable. This
these requirements is a defense. seven-foot two-inch prop fits in an ATA case measuring fifteen

A Great Novelty Illusion

by forty by forty-four inches. It weighs 245 pounds. A neighbor
saw me rehearse and pack this unit one time and remarked that
he didn’t know what was more impressive: the illusion’s effect or
getting it all in that case!
An illusion that will require multiple onstage assistants (seen I think I might have purchased the first one built. As regular
and not exactly seen) is Stretching a Woman. Here’s another readers know, I do not like to merely “shove a gal in a box” for
invention of the prolific P.T. Selbit, who called it the Elastic Lady. entertainment. I had to justify this bizarre form of torture. We
In its original incarnation this was truly a very big stage illusion. It decided it would be an exercise machine that was supplied with
was a square device with a vertical opening at its middle and four one of those ubiquitous aerobic programs. It would be called the

34 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

“Magicize Machine.” venue. But we’d
When the illusion arrived, my then-future wife Lisa started worked hard on re-
to figure out what could and couldn’t be done with it. A hidden hearsing it with new
assistant (from the clever base) would provide hands for most of ladies in the roles,
the routine. We decided that it was okay for my wife to not put her so we decided to
hands out at the beginning at all. The other girl would get hers roll it around the
out. But I was insistent that we make a switch during the routine stage and perform
so that at its end when the “heat” was on, we’d be one-hundred- it on the floor. The
percent clean as the machine opened up. front tables saw this
We figured out a pattern of both hands going down and then grand stage illusion
the head going up, followed by a reverse in which the hands in a close-up format.
went up to the top and the head went all the way down (always It worked just fine
eliciting a strong reaction). This was followed by the head and and the accompa-
hands returning to center and the head being twisted a full 360 nying pictures are
degrees (very audible audience response here, too). Finally, the from that unusual
head remained in the center, but one hand went all the way up situation.
and the other all the way down. The hands return to the normal The Owen prop
position and the machine is opened. uses bristles (like
But, we weren’t done thinking creatively about this prop. My those found on
long-time onstage partner, Peggy Peterson (she calls herself the a janitorial push
“Honorary Mrs. Seebach”), provided her voice to the audio track broom) to line both
for this effect. Accompanied by some background music with a sides of the three
strong beat, Peggy, as Bunny, directs the onstage assistant in how vertical openings.
to use/work the Magicize Machine. Peggy’s delivery is over the It’s not an issue for
top and way too energetic: “Lookin’ good, fitness fans!” and “Do the hands, but it is
you feel that stretch in your neck? I knew you would.” uncomfortable on
Next, we added some live sound effects. I obtained a slide the assistant’s neck, especially during repeated rehearsals. Make
whistle so that my stage manager could add impact to the head sure the woman is in a turtleneck garment.

Several Random Comments

and hands going up or down. Another instrument from the Spike
Jones family, a ratchet, was obtained to punch up the head rotation.
These live effects add much to the routine.
But, we still weren’t done. The assistant interrupts me at the
outset of this effect: “David, David, look what I just got!” I try I think that the Masters of Illusion program on the CW
to dismiss her, but she’s adamant that we should do the “newest, network has been good for magic. I wish the producers (and I am
latest” workout right now. She points out she’s dressed for it: not referring to Gay Blackstone here) didn’t have to clip almost
leotard tights, athletic shoes, and head and wrist bands. every artist’s TV time down to seconds. The magicians become
The big prop is rolled on. So, count with me: There’s the interchangeable and the impact is diminished.
assistant who has interrupted me and will perform the routine, the Much better is Penn & Teller’s Fool Me, also on the CW.
hidden assistant who will provide hands and hidden help for the Each magician is given plenty of time and Penn finds something
big surprise, one or two outside assistants who position the prop positive to say about every one of them. I think it’s the best magic
and open and close it, plus an offstage person with those instru- show I’ve seen on TV in a long while.
ments. Did your mental cash register ring for each person on the Finally, let’s all agree that America’s Grand Canyon, the Great
payroll? It should have. Wall of China, and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean are all
This is a funny illusion and it’s a novelty. Most people have awesome. But saying, “Awesome,” when a spectator counts seven
never seen it. We get several minutes out of it and it’s all fast- cards from a pack for you doesn’t really compare. And, when you
paced. And that big surprise? Bunny’s voice on the recording says, ask that helper to cut the deck, don’t say “Perfect!” You are not
“You’re all done with your magicize workout. Open the machine using these words correctly, and you are demonstrating that you
and go out and paint the town red!” When the machine opens up, really have nothing to say. It’s just verbal garbage. Sir Lawrence
the assistant is now attired in a long, elegant red dress; she has Olivier was a great actor, but he didn’t perform without a script;
heels on and is wearing a fur stole around her shoulders! you shouldn’t either. Write your patter and listen to yourself (make
I originally bought this prop when Alan Zagorsky was a recording of your show so you can hear exactly what you said
operating his Alan & Associates business. Owen Magic Supreme, onstage). I cringe at most of the patter I hear.
minus Alan, built it; although it worked perfectly, it was missing Most of you reading this can execute your magical effects
the superior Owen craftsmanship, attention to detail, and elegant competently. Few of you can actually present them and entertain a
appearance. When Alan later took over Owen Magic, he imme- public audience. You don’t need more tricks; you need to perform
diately produced this prop with his special flair. When I saw one the ones you already have with much greater verbal skills.
of them, I immediately knew that I wanted one of his models. And, I feel safe in saying that the above comments are not just
Within a few months I sold my original prop and bought the one my opinion; they’re cold, hard facts. 
I use today. David A Seebach
At a recent series of October performances we wanted to [Link]
include this effect, but discovered that its height wouldn’t clear david@[Link]
a ceiling obstruction on a temporary stage we were on at the Photos by Kathy Prince

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 35

 M agic – Taylor’d for You!
By Deborah Martin

Photo by Spring

“India-noplace” and “Naptown” have both been used to cease-and-desist order. A well-established publication already
describe Indianapolis, Indiana. Thanks to city planners and had the name Indianapolis Monthly, and they believed that
cultural benefactors, Indianapolis is no longer the town in the people would think that the magazine was sponsoring a magic
middle of a cornfield. Visitors have found the city teeming with show. The show hadn’t opened and it had already hit a major
a variety of arts and entertainment, thanks in part to individu- obstacle. After a simple name change and the absorption of the
als like Taylor Martin; his life’s goal is to make Indianapolis cost of promotional materials he couldn’t use, Indy Magic
the Midwest Mecca for magical arts. “Taylor Martin is one of Monthly launched on April Fool’s Day as planned. If you go to
those people whom every city should have,” says Tracy Forner, [Link], you’ll see Porcini the magical flying
co-host of Indy Style, a morning show on Channel 8 in India- pig as the show’s mascot. Taylor thought that when pigs fly,
napolis. there would be a show. Pigs do fly, as it turns out.
Now in its seventh year, Taylor Martin’s Indy Magic Monthly
is located in the heart of the theatrical district of Massachusetts
Avenue in downtown Indy. IMM presents local, national, and
international magic acts in a 120-seat arena theater. Audiences
enjoy local performers such as Dan Dygert, Glamente, Doug
Jave, and Patrick Smith. National and international acts have
included Eugene Burger, ICE McDonald, Jeff McBride, Jay
Scott Berry, and Vincent Hedan. Every month is a different
show. Magicians extraordinaire, such as RanDShine or Francis
Menotti, may be working on something new. Others may find
that Indianapolis is on their route to another show. IMM’s
mission statement is to bring a variety of entertainment to Indy
and to provide a friendly venue in which magicians can perform.
It’s a real theater with lights and sound; there are no interrup-
tions from servers during the performance. Patrick Thernes
(aka Sir Pat-Trick) has found a home with IMM: “Taylor Martin
has created a safe place for the performers with Indy Magic
Monthly. When I was starting out, he allowed me to do my first
real stage show there. He gives you the artistic freedom and the
support that a performer needs. As I tell Taylor, ‘I’ll work for
you anytime.’” But it hasn’t always been the well-oiled machine
it appears today. There have been growing pains as Taylor
learned how to be a producer.
Excited to have Theatre on the Square (TOTS) agree to rent
him their theaters during down periods, Taylor set about
promoting the show, printing T-shirts, and buying advertise-
ments for what was then called Indy Monthly Magic. Just days Years ago there had been Illusions, a magic dinner theater
before the first show opened on April 1, 2008, he received a in Carmel, Indiana, that had been well-known and loved for

36 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

many years. After it closed, the local magicians wanted per- at Chez Tay (as we like to call home). Because TOTS has the
formance venues. Taylor believed that someone should arrange two stages, in the earlier days he would sometimes discover at
for a show at which they could perform. He called on several the last minute that he had the small stage instead of the larger
of them to help open the show. For a few years the audiences one, which could affect what his performers had planned to do.
were small, but mighty appreciative, (Remember the three, big-box illusion
and TOTS provided the sixty-three seat acts?) Francis Menotti offered these
cabaret stage for IMM. Every month thoughts: “Many magicians and lovers of
it was a different stage set up: “hotel the art dream of producing a weekly or
room” sets, empty stages, and provoca- monthly public show, until they realize
tive scenery were some of the surprises the thankless, frustrating, grueling
magicians found themselves performing mountain of insanity that awaits them at
in and around. The most useful set was every phone call and behind every black
a “porch” scene, which provided award- box theater door. Fortunately for those of
winning Ryan Siebert the opportunity us who have had the pleasure of working
to produce a card on the “outside” of a with Taylor and his partner in absurdity,
window. The audiences gasped at that Deb, the experience of bringing unique
one. One show in the cabaret had three, live performances to unlikely audiences
big-box illusion acts all in one evening. is always a rewarding experience. Magic
It was a bit claustrophobic, but the show – good magic – is alive and well in the
was spectacular. As audiences grew, the Midwest, hugely due to the vision,
main stage at TOTS became, more often passion, and craziness of Taylor Martin.”
than not, the setting for the magicians. Normally self-deprecating, Taylor is
Sometimes the stage set was tiered. The grateful for his guests being so appre-
performers would use the stairs or the ciative. IMM has been fortunate to have
upper tier for appearances, or the set such consummate professionals who are
furniture became their tables. These willing to improvise and do what it takes
magicians didn’t know exactly what to make the evenings truly magical for
they were in for until they saw the stage, the audience. When the S.A.M. conven-
but their impromptu use of the facility tion comes to Indianapolis in 2016, IMM
was impressive to the audiences. Taylor as Rodney the Younger will celebrate its one-hundredth show.
As a producer, Taylor He’s hoping that compeers
Martin has learned that will be able to attend the July
no matter how sound the show prior to the convention,
planning, uncontrollable since it will be a very special
things can occur. Weather in evening for IMM.
Indiana is iffy at best. A slight Audiences at IMM have
snow may keep audiences a lot to do with how the per-
away. Forget election nights; formers feel about the show.
consequently, IMM doesn’t Each month it’s a different
have a program in November, set of performers. Because of
but has shows the first and last the variety of magical styles,
Tuesday in October instead. the audience has come to
In 2012, Francis Menotti was expect things they haven’t
delayed due to a hurricane seen before. Because there
that had crippled Philadel- are many repeat patrons, a
phia. Taylor had to cancel magician has to respect that
IMM that night, which had he or she can’t do the same
been dubbed the “Halloween” out-of-the-package magic
show. Francis had some tricks. Patrons are accus-
special magic planned for that tomed to seeing personally
Rice Bowls as Rodney the Younger - 2006 Fringe Fundraiser
night. Francis would eventu- created illusions that haven’t
Photo credit: Beverly Roach
ally do his “Halloween” show been done at IMM previous-
the following March. As ly. Taylor has had to pass on
Taylor rationalized, “If they can have Christmas in July, then some magicians who are good in their own right, but who just
we can have Halloween in March.” wouldn’t be unique enough for the show. I remember when we
He tries to make lemonade out of lemons when possible, but saw a nationally known traveling magic show with some spec-
sometimes that’s not possible. Mass Ave (as the street is affec- tacular performers. However, I couldn’t help but think that I
tionately called) can be busy with touring companies or nearby had seen that caliber of show before at IMM! IMM is also a
sports events. This can affect whether people want to deal with great starting point for appreciative performers getting a start
occasional sparse parking. He’s learned that young performers with their show. “The monthly magic show is what jump-start-
normally travel with their families, so hotel arrangements are ed my career...I got to be around other magicians (at Derby City
definitely a must. Otherwise, a single performer may opt to stay Magic in Louisville) on a regular basis, who like me, wanted to

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 37

 be ‘workers,’” says Cody Clark. “We wanted to practice per- Magic Shop. Taylor performed his first magic show when he
forming our material in front of a real audience.” was six years old; he continued performing off and on through-
The IMM audience members are welcoming and patient out his college years. He graduated with a speech and theatre
and have high respect for the performer for what he or she is major. Magic often was part of the theatrical performances he
attempting to do. Though they appreciate the highly polished was involved in, but it wasn’t until he found himself unem-
act, they love seeing an illusion that is in its beginning stage ployed that he threw himself into practicing close-up magic.
of presentation. They are very encouraging that way. Some of He was able to work for tips at a local night club and earned
the children have never seen a live performance of any kind his licks that way, performing under some of the least amicable
and one can hear their inability to keep their surprise to them- of conditions. I remember him explain, for example, when a
selves as they witness the sleights and illusions within inches drunk vomited into his magic case while he was doing close-up.
of their seats. IMM allows the performers an opportunity to Meanwhile, he had met Del Close of Chicago’s Second City, who
get audience feedback, too. There are several Assembly 31 and encouraged Taylor to develop his improvisational talent. Del’s
I.B.M. Ring 10 members who regularly attend IMM. One can coaching made Taylor a stronger, more confident performer.
see their obvious thrill at seeing their favorites perform and to Having a flair for the theatrical, Taylor accepted a job as
speak to them afterwards. And if you can take your eyes off magician at the Renaissance Faire in Thorntown, Indiana. This
the stage, you can observe the delight in Taylor’s face from the led to a friend inviting him to do magic at a historical fair at
sidelines as he watches the audience participation in the show. Fort Pitt in Pittsburgh. Taylor borrowed pieces of a Colonial
Taylor makes no secret that IMM is a low-dough operation. era costume from his friend and went to Fort Pitt with some
It could not exist if it trepidation – it was a
wasn’t for all of the rainy, frigid weekend.
artistic and supportive Hardly more than forty
people behind the scenes. paying visitors came to
Members of his produc- the event.
tion team are paid in Vowing never to do
tickets to the shows as that again, he unexpect-
trade-outs for their work. edly met a gentleman
He’s apologetic that he from Somerset, Pennsyl-
can’t pay his performers vania, who said he was
as much as they deserve, in charge of a little fair
but he tries to supplement called Mountain Craft
it by providing lodging Days. He invited Taylor
and a great venue. Every to perform the next fall.
show is videotaped and Once again, the weather
a copy is available to became his nemesis. It
the performers to use as rained before the fair
they wish. His goal is to and it rained out the first
encourage the I-65 circuit Andrea Merlyn at Zydeco's restaurant - 2013 day of the event. Pre-cell
with other producers so Photo credit: Deborah Martin phone days as they were,
that magicians can work no one called to let Taylor
Louisville, Indy, and Chicago, all within a few hours of each know that the first day had been canceled. However, the next
other. He also offers the magician the option of presenting a two days were dry and the benches made of felled logs and
lecture following the show, which can make the stop in Indy cinder blocks were full. He was a hit. He was able to make
more lucrative. “The great thing about having a lecture for the some very encouraging new friends and they invited him to
magicians afterwards is that the magician doesn’t have to redo return the next year. Mountain Craft Days is where Rodney the
the performance for the sake of the lecture. The attendees have Younger was born. To this day, Rodney is one of the strongest
already seen the show; now they’re ready to hear the lecture,” of his magic personalities. Donning his tricorne, the Cockney
says Taylor. accent pours out; before you know it, you’re learning about the
I’m often asked what it’s like being married to Taylor history of magical entertainment in the Colonies.
Martin. I reply that it is a lot like living with Sybil: I never Twenty-five years at Mountain Craft Days has made Rodney
know who he is until he puts his hat or wig on. His voice and a beloved character at that event. He’s now entertaining the
demeanor change with the donning of a hat, a wig, a shoe, or children of the first children who were in his audiences from
heels. The first time I saw Taylor was in an Indiana Central the beginning. He’s part of the Somerset family. Their joy is
College (now University of Indianapolis) production of Spoon his joy; their pain, his pain. When United Airlines Flight 93
River Anthology. He played eleven different characters. Little crashed at Shanksville, only a few miles from Somerset, the
did we know that much later in his life he would be performing lives of the people in that town were changed forever. The
various characters as a career. influx of government and media personnel steamrolled over the
Taylor became acquainted with magic through his father, quiet, innocent lives they had had. One of Rodney’s youngsters
Jack Martin, who had dabbled with a few magical illusions. told him that he had been the last good thing that had happened
Taylor’s curiosity rekindled his dad’s interest in magic. Jack to them prior to the crash. Many of the people of the area had
had a job with Wurlitzer, which had a store in New York City. been first responders. The bucolic community would thereafter
He bought Taylor what he calls “real” illusions from Tannen’s be shrouded by the 9/11 crash.

38 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Through Taylor’s network of newly found friends
at Somerset, he learned of more opportunities for
performing magic at historical events. He advertised
in Smoke and Fire, a magazine for re-enactors and
historical event planners. Before long he developed
a season of events and fairs from Illinois to New
York State, from Hamilton, Ontario, to Wetumka,
Alabama. We often joke at how he plays all the
“big” venues: Johnstown, New York, Eton, Ohio...
(He “opened” for Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln
Douglas Debate in Springfield, Illinois. I saw him on
C-SPAN’s coverage of the debate! You’ve hit it big
when you’re on C-SPAN. Take that, America’s Got
Talent!
Nonetheless, Taylor has carved a niche for himself
in the historical arena. No microphones, no auditori-
um, hay bales for seats, working nearly in the round,
and cannons blasting in the background. Weather Alabama Frontier Days in Wetumpka, AL: November 2013
doesn’t stop his performing for those brave enough Photo credit: Deborah Martin
to attend the fair. At a small local event such as the
Mooresville Victorian Christmas, Professor Cecil Rodney that audiences enjoy his storytelling as much as they enjoy the
strolls the sidewalks entertaining the dedicated audiences who magic. Consequently, he’s become the go-to person locally for
brave the December chill or sleet. Laura Staten of the MVC historical information. Taylor’s the last person to claim he’s an
affirms, “Taylor makes history come to life. His original and expert; in the past he would rather defer to Harry Riser, the late
delightfully entertaining performance makes our Victorian cel- Frank Dailey, or others who’ve come before him. He has come
ebration a bit more authentic.” to realize that the torch is being passed to him, though he’s a bit
Rain or snow, oppressive heat, or perfect weather days, he’s reluctant to accept being the vessel for historical information.
there, like all the other re-enactors, serving the public with Much like his zeal to make Indy the magic capital of the world,
mission-like zeal to bring history alive in an entertaining way. Taylor understands that keeping the history of the art alive is
He prides himself on doing only illusions that were done or necessary.
very possibly done in the historical periods he does: Rodney Taylor is a twenty-eight year active member in Harry Riser
the Elder (Elizabethan), Rodney the Younger (North American Assembly 31. Currently he is president. He’s excited that Robert
frontier/Colonial), and Professor Cecil Rodney (pre-Civil War). Sode, Steve Spence, and Jack Wiegle have increased member-
Some of his equipment is irreplaceable. He tirelessly walks ship in the S.Y.M. Indy Magic Monthly has been an effective
miles in the event between performances doing the ballyhoo tool in being able to promote the local assembly. Youngsters
for his show or for other’s shows as well. The occasional visitor who are fascinated with magic at the show are very receptive
begs for a trick since she missed his last show of the day. So he to hearing about the local meetings. Taylor’s goal is eventually
does. He’s an avid reader of magic history, and he’s discovered to have the SYMers “work” the lobby or serve as stagehands
in order to apprentice with the IMM performers. It’s a great
“classroom” for young people to see the importance of the per-
formance of the trick over the mechanics of the trick.
As part of his involvement with S.A.M., Taylor has developed
a lecture titled “Be Yourselves,” a session devoted to creating a
stage character and establishing a stage presence. It’s his way
of putting his college degree to use, but he also sees stagecraft
as being an essential part of a magician’s performance. The
persona is as much of the illusion as the magic is. Mark Presley
Hawkins commented that Taylor is “...a wonderful creator in
magic and (he) goes out of (his) way to help people and give
advice.” It’s not so much the illusion, but the verve with which
it is done. His creation of various characters has stemmed from
certain illusions that make better sense if done by a certain
character. One of his modern effects is the Pom-Pom Stick. The
magician tugs strings and pom-poms move up and down. But
what’s the purpose? Taylor makes it a baby’s toy, puts on his
oversized baby bib, and “Baby Taylor” performs the trick. Stage
characterization fleshes out his illusions and makes the perfor-
mance memorable. Mark Sparks of Triangle Talent had booked
Rodney the Younger to perform the duration of the Ohio State
Taylor performs Gypsy Cups as Fair. Rodney would definitely be unique in a modern venue like
Enid Breation (Drunk girl). Photo by Beverley Roach that. But as Mark says, “Taylor’s an original. He doesn’t concern

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 39

 himself with the latest trends in magic. Instead, he concentrates a hungry audience for magical entertainment. Out of Taylor’s
on his character development and what works for him. I can’t participation in the Fringe, the Winter Magic Festival was born.
wait to see what...well, ‘who’ he comes up with next!” Fringe Executive Director Pauline Moffat asked Taylor to get
Taylor, to me, is not just the name he goes by; it’s also a performers together for the first event. Though small at the
noun. He’s a multi-faceted human being who is difficult to label. onset, it has been steadily finding its audience. Now in its fifth
Taylor is Taylor. Like a good wine, it has taken years to develop year, the 2015 WMF will welcome FISM participants to the
into what he is today. His more controversial side, which very stage. Taylor has been proud to be part of this opportunity over
often makes people uneasy, is his proclivity for dressing in the years to bring high-caliber magic to Indianapolis.
women’s clothes. I have to admit that my only experience with I remember seeing a book about Taylor’s hero Frank Zappa,
this prior to my meeting Taylor was with Milton Berle and titled No Commercial Potential. I often think of that title and
Corporal Klinger. Had I been exposed to seamier examples, I how Zappa never really received wider audience acceptance.
probably would have run the other direction. I didn’t, and I’m Much like Zappa’s less palatable lyrics hampering his other
glad I didn’t. I believe there are others who are glad they didn’t work from getting air play, Taylor’s never pretending to be
as well. I don’t think there’s a magic convention dealer room anything other than who or what he is may have hampered
where Andrea Merlyn doesn’t make an appearance. She’s been his commercial acceptance. However, those fortunate enough
the life of some of the convention parties. She’s outspoken and to have seen one of his performances go away having been
witty and performs tricks – magic tricks – of her own. thoroughly entertained. “If you see Taylor, get to know him!”
From the personality of Andrea, other characters have remarks S.A.M. convention contest chairman Paul Critelli.
sprung: Shammy Bay Fakker, whose magic is based on televi- “You can find him at magic conventions telling jokes, perform-
sion scam advertisements; Drunk Girl (every performer’s most ing, capturing hidden (and not so hidden) glances, and most of
dreaded audience member); and Esmerelda, Gypsy Queen of all, helping his Brothers and Sisters. He is incapable of saying
Magic. Though Taylor would much rather perform as Andrea, no when asked for a favor.” People who know him appreciate
it’s Esmerelda who has emerged as his most requested female his loyalty and honesty.
persona. She was born out of a request to do something a bit Whether it’s at IMM or during one of his private shows,
different for a king’s banquet at one of the Ren Faires Rodney Taylor makes sure that his audience’s magical experience is one
the Elder was doing. Rodney wasn’t needed at this banquet, but for a lifetime. 
a gypsy would fit the bill.
A story that Taylor loves to relate concerns Esmerelda’s per-
forming a broken and restored necklace for a little volunteer
who happened to be the daughter of one of the event’s chair- PENN JILLETTE
persons. The child was so wrapped up in the performance that ON TAYLOR MARTIN
the next day she proudly showed everyone the necklace that the
gypsy lady had magically presented to her. One of the people
she showed it to was Rodney the Elder. Impressed with her
delight with the necklace, Rodney asked about how good of a
S omeone else will write about Taylor’s love of
magic. Someone else will write about his love
of characters, totally inhabiting his drag character
magician this Esmerelda was. The little girl said with great con-
viction, “Master Magician, you’re pretty good. But that gypsy and his various historical characters. But I don’t
was a lot better!” really think much about any of that when I think
Taylor Martin and his cast of characters have performed of Taylor. I’ve seen only a very small amount of
all over the continent. He’s performed magic off-Broadway; his magic, and although I’ve socialized with his
he worked with Alan Head and Ryan Siebert in Indianapolis’s
female alter ego many times, she never talked
Super Bowl Village; he’s performed illusions in two fetish con-
ventions in Las Vegas and New York City; and he was invited to about herself or magic with me.
make a presentation on the history of magic prior to the Masters Taylor and I talk about Frank Zappa. Yeah,
of Illusion performance in Indy. One opportunity that has made once in a while politics or art come up in passing,
a difference in the magic scene in Indy is the magic dinner and even a bit of magic and gender politics, but it
theater at the Propylaeum, a restored Victorian mansion that always seems to come back to Zappa with us. We
is now a small convention space/tea room. Several weekends a
month Taylor and several of the local magicians provide table both love Zappa in all his forms and styles – his
magic before dinner and an hour stage show following dessert. music, his philosophy, his comedy, and his im-
Taylor is deeply involved in the Indianapolis Theatre Fringe portance. I don’t care how great and rich Taylor’s
Festival, held the last two weeks of August. Having been cap- characters are; the only thing I want to hear him
tivated by the activities of the original festival in Edinburgh, do is his Zappa impersonation. He has the voice
Scotland, Taylor jumped at the chance to be in the Festival in In-
and style nailed.
dianapolis. For eight of the ten years, Andrea Merlyn, the Queen
of Magic (as Penn Jillette dubs her) found her venue with the When Taylor does a magic show in the
Fringe. Andrea became a very recognizable face among Fringe character of Frank Zappa, then, and only then,
performers and audiences. With the zeal of the Rodneys at their will Taylor and I really talk magic. I love Taylor,
fairs, Andrea combed Mass Ave handing out promo postcards and when you hang with him, make sure you ask
and drumming up her show. Never breaking character, she’s him to do his Zappa.
the social butterfly on the Avenue. Over the years, more magic
acts have presented at the Fringe, demonstrating that there’s

40 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Hit The Road
With Scott Alex ander, Puck,
Jenny Alex ander, and Adam Ace
mately led to the end of our theater, as well SCOTT AND JENNY
as my dream of having a permanent place
to perform. ALEXANDER – MAKING
“I found myself with no work, in a AN ILLUSION REALITY
HITTING THE ROAD new home, and not really sure what to
do. I started thinking about my days as During the spring of 1997, I was
Over the past eleven months, I have an assistant to Denny Haney in the Denny working at Malone’s Magic Bar in Boca
given you what I have found to be the & Lee touring show. I recalled how he Raton, Florida, doing close-up magic. At
ins and outs of hitting the road with your made a successful career performing the time, Jenny and I had been working
show. We have covered everything from on the road. I used all the experience I on our illusion act in hopes of taking it
packing smartly, to getting through the learned over those years with the show to on the road. My goal for a very long time
airport and customs with ease, effortlessly put together my own ‘pack small, play big’ was to have our name in lights on the Las
trouping your sound and equipment, and illusion show. I had learned how to pack Vegas Strip. While I would do close-up by
showing up to the gig looking fresh and the show, find agents and event planners, night, Jenny and I were doing illusion and
feeling good. But even armed with all this and even bought a van like Denny to stand-up shows at colleges and corporate
knowledge, perhaps you haven’t made troupe the show. events during the day. At the time, I didn’t
the decision to actually go for it and take “Once I made the decision to take realize that diversifying by doing both
your show on the road. Well, it’s time to my act on the road, I never looked back. close-up and stage magic would pay off in
decide! In fact, the word “decide” comes There’s a lot of work out there if you’re just a few months.
from Latin and means to “cut off.” If you willing to travel; it’s been a great career In March of 1997, one of our clients in
are on the fence about taking your show that’s still going strong.” South Florida was producing a franchise
out there, you have to cut off all the in- meeting for the TCBY company in Las
decision, doubt, and insecurity about not ADAM ACE – COMEDY Vegas. Jenny and I flew to Las Vegas and
being ready and just go ahead and hit the did the show, but we had two days to take
road. Puck, Adam, Jenny, and I all had a
ISN’T PRETTY in the sights of Las Vegas. It was our first
moment in our careers when we decided As a budding comedian, Adam was time there and we could feel the energy
to go for it. Perhaps you can find some in- doing some juggling and physical comedy and excitement in the streets. Our first
spiration in our “Hit the Road” moments. routines; he longed to get out there and night off, we walked the strip looking at
take it on the road. He had graduated from every magic showroom and theater we
THE MAGIC OF PUCK – college and was performing local shows could sneak our way into. It is amazing
at nearby fairs and festivals. At one of the how many places you can get into if you
HOPEFULLY fairs, he met an agent who booked comedy look like you know where you are going!
As Puck relates, his “Hit the Road” clubs. “After the show he asked if I would We even helped ourselves to a backstage
moment went down like this: “I finally be interested in doing a middle spot at a tour of the Siegfried and Roy Theater!
thought I’d made it when I was asked to comedy club in Atlanta.” This was a long But it wasn’t until we wandered into the
headline at a brand new theater in Orlando, haul from his home in Virginia. “I was newly opened Caesar’s Magical Empire at
Florida – Magic & Mischief. I had to make pretty excited, so that day I just decided Caesar’s Palace that we really caught the
a choice whether to stay at my steady job to go for it. I loaded up the minivan and Vegas bug. We walked into this place and
as a professional waiter or take the plunge headed out there. I called a few other I immediately turned to Jenny and told her
to become a full-time entertainer. This comedy clubs that were on the way there we have to work here!
would mean relocating from Maryland and and back and was able to line up a few gigs At the time, Jeff McBride was the
leaving all job security behind. It started based on the one I had just booked. I never headliner. I was able to contact Tobias
out great and was everything I expected it looked back. It all began to snowball from Beckwith, Jeff’s manager, and offered to
would be. My poster was in the light box, making that one decision. I remember a take him to lunch. Over coffee and a tuna
the dressing room was perfect, I had a full quote by Steve Martin about making the sandwich, he was kind enough to give me
tech crew at my disposal, and everything decision to pursue comedy and try to make the contact information for the booker of
was going my way, so I thought. it big that guided my ambition to go on the venue.
“Unfortunately, I was soon to learn the road. Martin said, ‘Well, I just figured After sending my VHS tape to the
a valuable lesson in the realities of show somebody had to be next, so why not me!’” booker (yes, I said VHS), they informed
business. Only one day after our opening Adam never approached it thinking he us that they really liked the show and that
night, Central Florida was hit with its wouldn’t be successful. He had a positive they were looking for someone to fill in for
worst hurricane ever, Hurricane Charley. attitude and he thought to himself, “I’m the Pendragons on the main stage one day a
Two more storms immediately followed gonna do this; this is how I am going to week, and Michael Ammar and Daryl two
and tourism crashed in Orlando. This ulti- make a living.” days a week in their parlor room. Since I

44 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Castle and was able to talk them into
letting me do a Sunday Brunch show. My
intention was to invite the booker to the
Castle to see me that Sunday. We bought
plane tickets to L.A., did the audition, and
then four weeks later we were booked for
one month as a fill-in act. That one month
booking was enough to pay for rent and
living expenses for six months, so we
packed up and moved to Vegas. One month
as a fill-in act led to a seven-year headlin-
ing engagement and our names up in lights
at Caesar’s Palace on the Las Vegas Strip!
It is possible to take your show on the
road and be a success with it. You are now
armed with our technical, nuts-and-bolts
knowledge of how to troupe your show
successfully. You’ve heard tips, tricks, and
stories from my closest partners in crime
that will save you countless hours of frus-
tration. Now, you just have to make the
was a double threat and did both styles of was back in Florida and the bookers were decision to go for it! If luck, preparation,
magic, they were interested. The only snag in Los Angeles. and timing are on your side, you may just
was that although they liked our video, I was not going to let that stop me. I had “Hit the Road” running and never look
before they hired us they wanted to see a a goal in mind to take this show to Vegas back. 
live performance. However by that time, I and I was determined. I called the Magic

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 45

 For Your Consider ation
By George Parker

VERSATILE OPENERS
(PART 2) Figure 18
This is the continuation of last month’s
Figure 17
column about my 12321 rope routine,
which I use as a “versatile opener.” I’m
publishing it for the first time and only
now I realize how complex the routine is rope (Figure 17). Turn your attention to
(for the magician). For the audience it’s a your left hand while bringing it up again.
very clear, flowing, multiple-magical-mo- The audience sees what they expect to see:
ments type of routine. a middle-length rope and a long rope. Pull
out the middle-length rope in the same
COUNTING THREE way you counted the three equal parts.
That is, give it a little tug when the rope
UNEQUAL PARTS almost leaves your left hand. Do the same
In Part 1 we started with one red rope, with the last, long rope. Since you count
cut it into three equal pieces and counted three ropes at three different moments in
them one by one, fair and square. Then we the routine, you want the gestures to look
shrunk one piece and stretched another alike; that helps to hide the sneaky parts.
one. The audience sees a short piece, a
middle-length piece, and a long piece. PREPARING TO RETURN
We’re now ready to count these three Figure 19
unequal pieces.
TO THREE EQUAL PIECES
Figure 16 shows you how you pretend You will be visually transforming
to pull out what the audience perceives as the three unequal ropes into three equal
the short piece. You take the top part of ropes. The technique I use was published
the short rope and pull it out, counting to by James Lewis in the late ‘90s on a VHS
one. When you pull it out, move your right tape, Million Dollar Mysteries. The tape
hand up and to the right. Follow it with hasn’t been available for a long time and
has never been published on DVD as far as
I know. It’s an incredibly elegant, open, yet
deceptive move.
Figure 16 Take the long rope and put one end
between your left second and third fingers.
One end of the middle-length rope goes Figure 20
between your left first and second finger.
One end of the short rope goes into your
thumb crotch (Figure 18). Open the gap
between the second and third fingers of
your right hand. Put the other end of the
long rope between those two fingers. The
other end of the middle-length rope goes
between the first and second fingers of
your eyes and head, leading the attention your right hand. Finally put the other end of
of the audience while you count to one. At the short rope into your right hand thumb
the same time you lower your left hand ten crotch. Take your time doing this to allow Figure 21
inches or so. While you separate your two the audience to follow what you’re doing.
hands and focus on the short rope, your left Open your hands towards the audience to
thumb repositions the top end of the long lock in this very fair picture (Figure 19).

46 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 The next gestures will help to camou- rope between your first and second fingers. is an exposed view and I tried to draw the
flage the switch that’s about to happen. Your left hand holds the other end of the situation as clearly as possible. In reality,
Pivot both hands, showing the back of your middle-length rope between its first and the ropes are not quite as neatly organized.
hands while you turn to the audience on second fingers. It also holds the two ends The left and right hands come together.
your right side. Position your right hand of the short rope. One end is still in your Feed one end of the short piece into your
behind your left hand (Figure 21). Again, thumb crotch. The other end lies between left hand. Your left thumb will cover the
do this very slowly and deliberately. While your third finger and pinky. The long rope gap and hold the pieces together. Your right
you return to center position you open your runs behind it. thumb and first finger grab the long piece
hands again until they are in the position at the blue “X” mark. Once your hands are
that’s shown in figure 19. VISUAL RETURN TO
Repeat this for the audience to your left.
It appears like you’re doing the same thing.
THREE EQUAL PIECES Figure 25
But this time you will switch the ends of Slowly move your hands apart, palms
the long and the short rope. Because you’ve towards you. It’s a very visual effect to see
already proven the fairness of what you’re the ropes transforming into three equal
doing the audience will be more relaxed. pieces. Allow that moment sink in. Stress
It seems like a bold move but it’s almost it by letting go of the three ends in your
automatic and it happens while you’re right hand one by one after you’ve reached
moving resulting in the audience missing the end. Reposition the three ropes in your
the switch. left hand so your left thumb covers the
So turn to your left while pivoting your “dirty” part. You can flash the palm of
hands. This time, while moving your right your hand so the audience sees that nothing
hand behind your left hand, you secretly fishy is going on. Start counting the three in position, you quickly move your hands
put the end of the short rope (clipped in “equal” pieces as you did the first time. apart. Figure 25 shows you how you seem
your right thumb crotch) between the third After you’re done, put the dirty side on the to hold two solid pieces of rope in your
finger and the pinky of your left hand palm of your right hand. The other ends go hands. Again, you can show this from all
(Figure 20). Just open the gap between on the palm of your left hand (Figure 23, angles. As with any rope work, I feel that I
your third finger and pinky slightly and the exposed view). Put your right thumb over should hold joints as loosely as possible. If
end of the short piece will automatically the dirty part so you can clearly show three you hold those types of joints with a whole
fall into place. Your right thumb and first equal ropes. fist, you almost destroy the illusion. But if
finger are in a perfect position to grab the you practice enough, it’s possible to hide
end of the long rope that’s protruding from the joint with your thumb and hold the rope
between the second and third fingers of with your fingertips, raising no suspicion
your left hand. When you open your hands at all.
while turning back to center position
you’ve invisibly switched two ends. The ONE ROPE
audience sees the picture they expect
(Figure 22) and won’t notice the slight dis- Next you will tie the ropes and make
Figure 23
crepancy (one end is no longer clipped that knot vanish so you will finish with one
between the second and third fingers where rope in your hands. At least that’s what the
it’s supposed to be). audience believes happens. You will switch
two ends, tie the short rope around the long
Figure 22 rope, and then steal it. Start by putting the
small rope that extends from your left
hand on top of the end of the long rope
in your right hand (Figure 26). The blue
arrows show you what’s going to happen.

Figure 24

TWO EQUAL PIECES

Position check (Figure 22; I used three
different shades of red). Your right hand You’re going to create the illusion of
now holds one end of the long rope between changing three equal pieces into two equal
your second and third fingers and the other pieces. You will do that by adding the mid-
end in your thumb crotch. Your right hand dle-length piece to the short piece. Refer
also holds one end of the middle-length to Figure 24 to see how you do that. This Figure 26

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 47

FOR YOUR CONSIDER ATION
illusions tend to become reality, once you
give them lots of attention (count unequal
Figure 29
parts). So if you want to experience magic,
you need to acknowledge that all three
parts play an equal role (stretch). The
outer world, our inner world, and what
happens between them (count). Still, we
need to be reminded of this every day.
Figure 27 Before we know it we are stuck in either
the tangible world or in the world of our
own imagination (two ropes). We need to
connect them every day (knot) and we will
see that the real nature of life is magical
(one rope).”
The premise of the second script is
about cooperation/teamwork.
“Some people think everything in life
is about them (one rope). Other people
think it’s about other people as well (fold
rope). Personally, I think it’s about what
happens between people (cut). I’m more
Figure 28 interested in what can happen between a
sperm and an egg cell if they meld (start
counting two ropes) than I am interested
You turn the palm of your right hand down in them separately. They create something
while opening your left hand just a little they couldn’t have created on their own
Figure 30
bit. Two things happen when you do that. (show third rope). Don’t allow yourself to
The big blue arrow shows how the top end lose focus by diminishing that part (shrink
of the long rope will move into the palm of one rope) in favor of focusing too much on
your left hand. The little blue arrow shows yourself or another person. Your life will
how the lower end of the short rope auto- become unbalanced (count unequal parts).
matically swings forward, if you let go of Just acknowledge that there is this invisible
it. You will end up holding the short rope force field between people that balances
between the thumb and first finger of your Take your applause while bowing. It’s us (three equal parts): you, me and what
hands (Figure 27). It looks like the ends of very natural to move your hands behind happens between us (count). Unfortunate-
the two ropes are intertwined in prepara- your back at this point. Put the knot into ly, negative stress causes us to separate
tion to finish the knot. Tie the short end your left hand. When you stand up, take an ourselves from others (two ropes). And
around the long rope (Figure 28). applause position swinging out your arms. although it provides a lovely livelihood
Next you’re going to create the illusion Your right hand can be open now. for lawyers and generals, I’m personally
that you’re pushing the knot into the rope. much more interested in what happens
We’ll make use of the fact that the joint SCRIPTS when I connect with another person. I start
between the two ropes is off center. This to see that what happens between us helps
allows us to show the “restored” middle My definition of magic is: “When imag- us to rise above ourselves (one rope).”
of the rope very clearly. Let your hands ination touches reality, magic is created.” Postscript: When I joined the M-U-M
“crawl” to the middle. In the process your The following script is based on that. team as a columnist in January this year
left hand steals three or four inches of rope. “Some people think that the real story I expected to be contributing much longer
Your hands end up in the middle covering line in life consists of the reality around us than just a year. But my new business ac-
the knot. You’re going to move your hands (one rope). Things we can see and touch. celerated in a way that I didn’t anticipate.
apart, slowly, while making a rubbing Other people think there’s a second part I had to drop every project that wasn’t
motion, as if you’re rubbing the knot into (fold rope). Things we can’t see or touch directly related to it. I’m sorry to have to
the rope. Figure 29 shows how your right such as our thoughts, subconscious mind, say goodbye in this issue. I can honestly,
hand takes the knot with it on its way to and imagination. I think there’s a third part and with a little sadness now, say that
the right. The left hand lets go of the slack (cut). There’s our outer world and our inner contributing to M-U-M was the best time
you picked up. The audience starts to see world, but also what happens between our I ever had writing a column – creative
that the knot has dissolved in the middle of outer and our inner worlds, between imag- freedom, two pages, doing my own illus-
the rope. When the joint in your left hand ination and reality…the magical world trations, being supported in an easy and
almost leaves your left hand, stop. Tug the (count). Some people diminish that world wonderful way. You can’t ask for more.
rope with both hands to prove it now has a (shrink one rope), and stretch the impor- Thank you Michael and Lisa; I’m grateful
solid middle. Put the rope in your left hand tance of either the tangible world or our for your support and for the opportunity.
(Figure 30). Move your right hand to the imagination (unequal parts). Thank you readers! I hope you enjoyed it
ends of the rope stealing away the knot. “Is this an illusion? Of course it is! But as much as I did. 

48 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Cheats & Deceptions
(For Entertainment Purposes Only)
By Antonio M. Cabr al
If you’re the kind of performer who em- the readers of this column, it’s a no-brain-
phasizes otherworldly abilities instead of a er. You do a short shuffle. Basically, you
gambler’s skill at manipulating cards, then split the cards for a riffle shuffle, keeping
you’ll probably have an easier time down- track of the top half, and you riffle shuffle
playing what happens when you handle the such that the four or five cards that were
EVERYDAY I’M cards. If you’re more like me, a performer originally on top end up back on top.
SHUFFLIN’ who has “Card Cheating” in big red capital That’s a ton more convincing because
letters on his business cards, then you have the cards are actually being shuffled –
I’m fond of saying “Ya can’t beat the to work a little harder. The only way that except for the top few. If you want to be
classics.” One of those classics is The getting cards in your control is interesting even more convincing, you want observers
Expert at the Card Table. In the entry titled to an audience – let alone impressive – is to see the top of the deck being lost during
“Primary Accomplishments,” Erdnase if they truly believe those cards are out of the shuffle.
writes: your control.
“Perfection in performing the ‘blind’ Luckily, it does take very little effort THE STRIP
shuffle […] makes it impossible for the on your part to convince an audience that
smartest card handler living to determine the cards are “thoroughly shuffled and CONTROL
whether the procedure is true or ‘blind.’ genuinely cut.” The best way to do it is to One of the more accessible techniques
This ability once acquired gives the let someone else actually shuffle thorough- that made a huge difference in my table
expert ease and assurance in any kind ly and genuinely cut the cards. As Ascanio shuffles is a control from the blackjack
of company, and enables him to lull into said, in one of my favorites of his quotes, table called “the strip.” It’s a variation of
a state of absolute serenity the minds of “There’s nothing more overwhelming than the standard strip cut or running cut, and
many players who may be naturally sus- the truth.” If your audience is wary of works essentially like an overhand jog
picious. Nothing so completely satisfies you handling the cards, let someone else shuffle done on the table. And subsequent-
the average card player as a belief that the handle the cards. ly, it’s very convincing.
deck has been thoroughly shuffled and What happens when you can’t let Place the deck in front of you in
genuinely cut.” someone else shuffle or it’s not the most position for a tabled riffle shuffle. Lift off
Erdnase was talking about players efficient approach? It follows that, if you about half of the cards with your left hand
around a card table, who typically have can’t let someone else shuffle, then you the as your right hand moves forward with the
very little reason to suspect any shenani- performer should shuffle as genuinely as bottom half in a short motion.
gans. A magician’s audience, on the other possible. If there is a certain portion of the Bring the right hand back above the
hand, knows they’re up against someone deck that you need to maintain to make the tabled half, and take around ten cards or so
who’s going to try to “do something.” trick work, then you should shuffle the rest and drop them onto the tabled half, jogged
Erdnase’s words still hold up. of the deck as genuinely as you can. to the right about a half an inch. Continue
I had the privilege of being part of an Early in my card magic studies, I would by taking small packets of cards from the
online discussion during which some very come across descriptions of tricks wherein top of the right hand pile and dropping
knowledgeable and successful magicians a single card or a small stock of four or them onto the tabled pile without disturb-
made the point that it takes very little five cards needed to be maintained on ing the jogged portion (Photo 1). Continue
effort to convince an audience of normal top of the deck during a shuffle. The sug- until you run out of cards.
people that the cards are shuffled. I won’t gestion was usually to do a push-through The first group of cards you placed side-
disagree with that. For many audiences, or Zarrow shuffle. While these are both jogged is directly above your stock, and is
it’s as simple as spreading the cards face fine techniques when done well, they’re acting as a "brief" to mark it off (Photo 2).
up to show some kind of random order. working too hard towards the desired If in the act of squaring the cards, you hit
(Of course, you’d point out that there are effect. Even if you’re trying to control a the outer corners of the deck with your two
no duplicates or some other element tan- stock of a dozen cards, you’re better off ring fingers, that brief will pivot and pop
gential to the fact that the cards are in your shuffling the bejeezus out of the remaining out the rear of the deck towards you, at
memorized stack.) forty cards in the deck if you want to the opposite inside corner. It’s a very easy
The real question is: what does “thor- convince your audience that the cards are action to acquire; you’ll likely hit it your
oughly shuffled and genuinely cut” really really mixed. (Search YouTube for any per- first try (Photo 3).
mean to a card performer? Unless your formance of Lennart Green’s for proof of Once the brief pops out the back, lift
audience has taken post-graduate courses this concept.) up on it with your left thumb and take a
with Persi Diaconis, they’re not interested break underneath it. You can now split
in the full seven shuffles it takes to create TAKING STOCK for a riffle shuffle and shuffle the stock
statistically significant randomness in the from the middle back to the top. Taken all
deck. Your audience wants to know that So, let’s say you have four Aces or a together, it’s a very disarming and con-
the cards are out of your control, if only for royal flush on top of the deck and you want vincing sequence, and requires very little
the moment. to appear to shuffle the deck. For most of effort.

50 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 control instead. I don’t have a table to work on (strolling
Say, for example, you’re performing situations, for example), I still have similar
a version of the classic Gardner-Marlo options available to me. The good news is
Poker Deal; the Lorayne Poker Deal from those options are just as convincing and
Close-Up Card Magic is a good example. are just as accessible (if not more so).
After the first round of dealing, once I mentioned before that the strip control
you’ve gathered up the cards, you have a is essentially an overhand jog shuffle,
twenty-five card stock waiting to go. You performed flat on the table. It’s also very
can very easily appear to shuffle and cut easy to do an in-the-hands riffle shuffle and
the cards by performing an overhand jog maintain a small stock on top of the deck. I
shuffle. Undercut less than half the deck discovered a neat way to combine the two
Photo 1 and shuffle, jogging the first card or cards. ideas using an idea of Dai Vernon’s.
Finish by getting a break under the jog and The key is Vernon’s method of shuffling
genuinely cutting to the break. a card to the top after a peek (Ultimate
However, if you’ve spent time working Secrets of Card Magic, page 131). Start
up a decent push-through, strip-out, or with, say, four Aces on top of the deck.
Zarrow shuffle, you can essentially do the Start an overhand shuffle, undercutting
same thing while appearing to shuffle all half the cards, but before you start the
the cards. shuffle, in-jog the top card of the left-hand
Try this, if you do a decent push- portion slightly with your left thumb. Now
through: cut the top half of the deck to the shuffle off the right-hand cards and let the
right and riffle shuffle the left-hand cards deck settle into dealing position.
(the original bottom portion) into the right At this point, you should have a card in-
hand cards (the stock). Push the two halves jogged. Take the deck by the ends with the
Photo 2 through one another, and as you strip out right hand, and as you do, push in on the
the original bottom cards with your right inner left corner of that injogged card with
hand, go into a strip control. Now, once your right thumb. That’s going to work
you’ve gotten the break under the brief at much the same as moving the brief in the
the back, you can do a genuine cut. strip control, only here the card should pop
If you prefer a Zarrow shuffle, try this: out the side of the deck under your right
cut the top half to the right and Zarrow hand.
shuffle under three cards. As you square Now Vernon’s idea comes into play;
up, get a break between the two portions riffle the cards off the right thumb just as
and go into a strip control using the cards you would to split for an in-the-hands riffle
beneath the break. Once you’ve gotten the shuffle. When you hit the side-jogged card,
break under the brief at the back, cut the you’re going to hear a “click,” just as if it
cards above that break to the right and do were a short card. That’s the original top
another Zarrow under three cards. Get of the deck. Split for the shuffle and shuffle
a break between the two portions like those cards back to the top of the deck.
Photo 3
before, and give the cards a genuine cut.
This has other applications beyond SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR
poker deals. These sequences make very
convincing ways to maintain a divided With that, I’ve come to the last column
HEAVIER LIFTING deck set-up (red/black, odd/even). And of my first year writing for M-U-M. I’d like
if you do memorized deck work, you can to publicly thank Michael Close for asking
I mentioned that learning the strip check out either Mnemonica or Expert me to be a bigger part of a terrific publica-
control made a huge difference in my Card Technique for some very powerful tion. I also want to thank everyone who’s
shuffle work, and it really did, particularly ideas and tricks that use only half of a read my ramblings this past year. I look
once I realized I could combine it with a memorized stack. forward to providing another year’s worth
push-through shuffle or a Zarrow shuffle of ideas, tips, and routines for lovers of
and do some serious shuffling. CARDS ON (AND OFF) card magic – for entertainment purposes
Typically, full-deck shuffle controls only, of course. 
are combined with some kind of false
THE TABLE
running cut, usually the Up the Ladder cut I should point out a fact that magicians I welcome any questions or comments.
(Expert Card Technique, page 78). Again, tend to forget: only magicians handle If any M-U-M readers want to get in
if you have a full fifty-two-card stock to playing cards in complete absence of some touch, please feel free to contact me at
maintain, it’s a fine technique. But if you’re kind of surface to place them on. Normal antoniomcabral@[Link]. I look
only maintaining twenty to thirty cards, people use playing cards to play games, forward to answering your questions and
you have a whole portion of the deck that and those games typically need a place opening a dialogue or two.
can be genuinely shuffled using the strip for the cards to rest. For those times when

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 51

 Par anormal happenings
By Charles Siebert, MD

of today grew out of the use of the alphabet marked around the base of the plate or had
and alphabetic pasteboards during nine- moveable letter wheels. This fell out of
teenth-century spiritualistic séances and favor quickly and evolved to a form of spirit
WHAT IS A OUIJA not from pendulum oracles or other devices writing using a small basket with a pencil
used many centuries earlier. In 1848, the attached to one end. The medium simply
BOARD? Fox sisters realized that calling out indi- had to establish contact with the basket and
vidual letters and having the spirits knock the spirit would take control, writing the
By the time you are read this, the new accordingly was easier than asking lengthy message. Others did away with the basket
Universal movie based on the Hasbro- yes-no questions. The use of alphabet altogether and performed what came to be
licensed Ouija board has hit the theaters, pasteboards became common among table- known as trance writing. The pencil basket
vanished, and reappeared on DVD. I tippers, who came to the same conclusion. evolved into a heart-shaped planchette,
thought this would be a great time to The medium and attending sitters would with two rotating wheeled casters under-
look at the phenomena of talking boards, rest their fingers lightly on a table and neath and a pencil at the tip, which formed
spirit boards, mystery boards, oracle wait for spiritual contact. Soon, the table a third leg. It was very quickly discovered
boards, witch boards, or as they are more would tilt and move, and knock on the floor that in addition to writing messages, the
commonly known, Ouija boards, and to letters called from the alphabet. Entire planchette could perform as a pointer.
to touch on the some of the many myths messages from the spirits were spelled out Planchette is a French word meaning
about its origins and abilities. in this way. “little board.” It is also claimed to have
The Encyclopedia of been first used by a party of
Psychic Science states that French monks in the early
such devices were in use 1800s in one of their monas-
in the days of Pythagoras, teries. A Dr. Henry Francis
about 540 BCE. According Gardner in 1859 brought one
to a French historical account home from Paris to Boston,
of the philosopher’s life, his where it soon became the
sect held frequent séances, craze.
or circles, at which a mystic The New York Daily
table, moving on wheels, Tribune, March 28, 1886,
moved towards signs, which had an article titled, “The
the philosopher and his New ‘Planchette.’ A Mys-
pupil, Philolaus, interpreted terious Talking Board and
to the audience as being rev- Table Over Which Northern
elations supposedly from the Ohio Is Agitated,” which
unseen world. Unfortunately talked about this method
for the story, Philolaus was being used at Spiritual-
not even born at the time of ist camps throughout Ohio.
Pythagoras and this doesn’t About the same time, W.S.
fit as a talking board. But we do know from It wasn’t long before this, too, became Reed Toy Company of Massachusetts put
other sources that “Ouija like” devices tedious, and mediums soon relied on out a device strikingly similar to the new
were being used in ancient times. These “divine intuition” instead. “During a com- planchette. Named the “witch board,” it
would include pendulums, dowsing rods, munication between the medium and the was described like this: “Upon the four
and writing instruments similar to planch- supposed spirit, the former passed his corners of the board are respectively ‘Yes,’
ettes. While not truly talking boards, they hand over the alphabet until he found his ‘No,’ ‘Good-by’ and ‘Good-day,’ while the
do all have in common the method of facil- finger sensibly and irresistibly rested at a alphabet occupies the center of the board.
itated messaging. One of the first mentions certain letter, and so on, until the word, the A miniature standard, which rests upon
of these automatic writing methods is sentence, was completed.” – The Rappers four legs, stands upon the ‘witch board,’
found in China around 1100 CE (or as early (1854). upon which the hands are placed, and then
as 550 BCE depending on your source), in Also tried, and more popular in Europe, the spirits begin their work. Should an
historical documents of the Song Dynasty. were alphabetical dial plates or psycho- answer be ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ the small table
The method was known as fuji or “planch- graphs, which typically were contraptions will travel to the respective corner, et
ette writing.” in which a round dial with a pointer would cetera. Communications are spelled out
As relationships go, the talking boards spin and stop at different letters that were by the diminutive table resting over such

52 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

letters as may be wanted to spell out the 19, 1892. Over the years the manufacture of the individual. In 1853, chemist and
message.” Boston Globe, June 5, 1886. of the Ouija board moved from Kennard physicist Michael Faraday, intrigued by
William Fuld has most often been cited Novelty Company to multiple iterations table-turning, conducted a series of ex-
as the inventor and father of the Ouija with William Fuld at the helm, all with tre- periments that proved to him (though
board. Actually, the first patent on the mendous success. The Fuld dynasty over not to most spiritualists) that the table’s
talking board (No. 446,054) was granted the Ouija board ended in 1966 with the sale motion was due to the ideomotor actions
to Elijah Bond on February 10, 1891, and of the manufacturing rights and trademark of the participants. Planchettes, in particu-
assigned to Charles Kennard and William to Parker Brothers and then to Hasbro in lar, are well-suited for their task – either
H. A. Maupin, two of the founders of the 1991. constructed of a lightweight wooden board
Kennard Novelty Company of Baltimore, How do Ouija boards work? There are with small casters or the modern plastic
Maryland. The trademark on the word two leading contradictory theories. One with felt feet; they slide over the board
Ouija (No. 18,919) was granted to the is the Spiritualist theory as quoted in this easily. With Ouija, not only does the indi-
Kennard Novelty Company on February response from Catholic Answers: “The vidual give up some conscious control to
3, 1891. The name Ouija is often falsely fact of the matter is, the Ouija board really participate – so it can’t be me, people think
attributed to Fuld to be a combination of does work, and the only ‘spirits’ that will – but also, in a group, no one person can
the French oui and the German ja meaning be contacted through it are evil ones...The take credit for the planchette’s movements,
yes. Charles Kennard stated that he named Ouija board has an objective reality that making it seem like the answers must be
the new board after a session with Miss exists apart from a person’s perception of coming from an otherworldly source.
Peters, Elijah Bond’s sister-in-law. The it. In other words, it’s real even if you don’t Moreover, in most situations, there is an
story according to Kennard is; “I remarked believe in it. And we know this because expectation or suggestion that the board
that we had not yet settled upon a name, God himself tells us so.” is somehow mystical or magical. “Once
and as the board had helped us in other The other theory relies on the the idea has been implanted there, there’s
ways, we would ask it to propose one. It ideomotor effect. In 1852, physician and almost a readiness to happen.”
spelled out O-U-I-J-A. When I asked the physiologist William Benjamin Carpenter So I’ll end with this famous quote:
meaning of the word it said ‘Good Luck.’” published a report for the Royal Institu- “If there really is an afterlife, I’ll bet the
William Fuld filed for his own patent tion of Great Britain, examining these best way to contact it is through a plastic,
(No. 479,266), which made improvements automatic muscular movements that take mass-produced board game from Milton
to the talking board; it was granted on July place without the conscious will or volition Bradley!” – Mad Magazine 

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 53

 The High Road
script writing, char acter
development, and act construction
for the modern conjuror

By Mick Ayres

probably heard in the news that scientists face down.

are cloning sheep, dogs, and mice. Since With your thumb, draw the top card
As the year 2014 comes to a close, anything organic can be cloned, magicians slightly to the right and lift straight up
please accept my annual gift of scripted have jumped right on that concept and while your middle finger levers the bottom
conjuring. The following drama is derived have already applied it to playing cards. card over and face up into your left hand.
from a popular plot in card magic and Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Since cards Your right hand slides the card it is holding
offers many opportunities to employ the are really paper made from trees, the underneath the tabled pile of cards and
theatrical principles and concepts one science still works. Now, I won’t tell you uses it as a scoop to pick them up from the
learns when traveling the High Road. how we do it because that is still a trade table. Say, “Five.”
Happy Holidays to you all. secret. But I’ll certainly demonstrate it for To finish the display sequence, just look
you. Watch.” at the remaining Ace in your left hand and
THE WILD ROVERS Spread the packet face down for a turn it face down. Cleanly drop it on top of
moment; then close the spread and turn the the packet in your right hand. Say, “Six. No
Over time, the Wild Card plot has packet face up in your left hand. Spread the more, no less.”
become a classic of card magic – right top three cards to the right. Say, “Of the Pick up the Jack of Diamonds from the
up there with Curry’s Out Of This World seven cards, I have here, all are duplicates table. As you display it, say, “To hide the
and Vernon’s Triumph – so there are a – except this one.” Freely display the top idea that we’re using the science of cloning
multitude of variations to consider. Thirty Jack of Diamonds. Place it face up on the to create a trick, magicians use the term
years ago I created The Wild Rovers to table to the right as you say, “And this card wildcarding. It comes from the game of
meet the quick-turnaround needs of trade is the important one.” poker. You know – where a wildcard can
show and hospitality suite work. This pre- You now perform a deal that will become any card in the deck? So, using
sentation involves no specially printed or cleanly show the remaining six cards as this Jack of Diamonds I will now give a
gimmicked cards, offers plenty of audience all Aces. This deal is a variation of Val- brief demonstration of clon – I mean, wild-
participation, and resets with a cut of the larino’s Rumba count. Say, “There are carding.” Say this with a wink.
packet. several Aces.” Grip the right side of the Rub the back of the Jack against the top
You will need to assemble a seven-card top Ace with your right thumb on top and card of the packet as you say, “Just a little
Wild Rovers packet: four duplicates of one your fingers on the bottom. Pull this card contact on the molecular level – I mean, a
card and three duplicates of another card. slightly to your right. Lift the Ace straight little magical rub and look...” Put the Jack
The packet I use consists of four Jacks of up, but as you do, your middle finger also aside and do a double turnover to reveal the
Diamonds and three Aces of Clubs. The lifts up the right edge of the packet and packet’s top card has turned into a Jack.
backs must be of one design and color. levers it face down into your left hand. “See? It’s nearly identical to the real Jack
Using my cards as a working example, The Ace is now dropped face down on the of Diamonds. Once they are ‘wildcarded,’
your packet is assembled face up from top table. Say, “One.” these things have to be handled as little as
to bottom in this order: Jack, Ace, Ace, Now your right hand grips the side of possible. Temperature is important; you
Ace, Jack, Jack, Jack. Turn the packet face the face-down packet and lifts the top card don’t want to overheat them.” Turn the
down in your left hand (so the single Jack straight up a few inches. Your middle finger double card face down and deal the top
is now on the bottom) and you are ready again levers the packet so it falls face up in card face down in front of the guest. Say,
to begin. your left hand. Without showing its face, “Are you in good health? Then cover this
Say, “Do you know where magicians your right hand places the card face down Jack with your left hand for a few minutes
get a lot of their secrets? We keep up with onto the tabled card. Say, “Two.” and I’ll show you what I mean. Don’t move
current events – particularly in the fields of You are holding the packet just as until I tell you, because the card needs to
science and technology. Think about it. If a you were in the beginning. Repeat the reach 98.6 degrees.”
magician can exploit some new invention procedure described above as you count Once the card is safely ensconced under
and create a trick around it long before “Three” and “Four”. When complete, you the guest’s hand, count the packet from
most people know it even exists, then he will have four face-down cards piled on one hand to the other to reverse the order
can baffle quite a few audiences while the the table and two face-up cards (with an of the cards. Say, “That’s one down, but
rest of the world catches up. Want to see Ace on top) held square in your left hand. I have five more volunteers here.” Again,
an example?” Now you will do the Rumba count to pick up the Jack of Diamonds and rub the
Look side-to-side as if checking the display the last two cards. Turn your right back of it against the top card of the packet.
room in a conspiratorial manner. Now hand palm down and grip the packet along Put the Jack aside and then honestly turn
lean forward and, in a stage whisper, say, the right edge – this time with the fingers over the top card of the packet to show it
“Cloning.” above and the thumb below. Revolve your has also changed into a Jack. “Fortunately,
Continue by saying, “You have right hand palm up so the packet is now clon – I mean, ‘wildcarding’ gets easier as

54 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

you go.” Deal this new card face down to a up the tabled packet and turn it face up. Now your thumb comes back and does the
new spot on the table. Perform an Elmsley count to show four same thing with the second card. However,
Reverse the order of the cards by Jacks as you say, “The detail is amazing, when your thumb comes back to obtain the
counting them from one hand to another isn’t it?” Turn the packet face down and third card, a switch takes place. The packet
again. Pick up the Jack of Diamonds and reverse deal the cards into a pile on the remaining in your right hand is really a
rub the top card of the packet. Again, table. Say, “I only need a few of them for block of three followed by a jogged card
honestly turn over the top card to reveal this next demonstration.” Pick up the top on the bottom. As your left hand comes in
another Jack. Deal this card face down on three cards from the tabled packet. Turn contact with the packet, the first two cards
top of the other card. “I bet scientists can them face up and spread them in a fan. are secretly added back to the bottom of
do this in their sleep.” Point to the Jack of Diamonds on the the packet while the three-card-block is
Once more, reverse count the remaining table and say, “Up until now, I’ve been taken away into your left hand. The angle-
three cards but, just before you drop the using this card to clo – uh, ‘wildcard’ the jogged card makes this switch consider-
last card on top of the other two, revolve other cards. However, once a duplicate ably easier to perform smoothly.
both hands palm down and flash the faces has been made, those duplicates can then This leaves three cards in your right
for an instant. The guest will see Aces in be used to ‘wildcard’ as well. Watch.” Pick hand. Your left thumb peels them off
both hands. Say, “Just a few more to go.” up the Ace and insert it face up into the one at a time into your left hand. Do this
Revolve your hands back to position and spread just above the bottom card. Close without breaking rhythm and you will
drop the single card on top of the packet. the spread and immediately do another cleanly display all six cards as Jacks.
Pick up the Jack of Diamonds and rub its Elmsley Count to show four Jacks. “See? Leave the packet face up in your hand and
back against the top card. Perform a dou- These Jack-copies are just as efficient as say, “At the end, it’s best to leave one card
ble-turnover to show another Jack. Say, “I the original. That Ace is history!” Turn the different from the rest. You know – so you
wish the magician’s code of secrecy would packet face down in your left hand. can perform it again on demand.”
allow me to tell you more – but I will say Pick up the Jack of Diamonds and drop Your guest is still hiding a card under
that once you understand it, it almost it face down on top of the single card you her hand. Look at it and say, “Hey, wait
happens by itself.” Turn the double cards left behind a moment ago. Now pick up a second; it’s been long enough, hasn’t it?
over and deal the top one onto the tabled those two together and drop them on top of I’m sure that card has warmed up plenty
pile. the packet in your left hand. Say, “I believe by now. Is it still a Jack or did it change
You are now holding two cards in your that’s the last of the Aces.” back? Take a look.” All that remains is
left hand. This time, do not reverse their You will now show all the cards in to smile generously as the guest looks at
order. Just take one card in each hand to your hand as Jacks using a variation on the card under her hand and sees that it
show their singularity and simply restack the Hamman count. Turn the packet face has indeed changed back to an Ace. Take
them in the same order. Say, “No extra up and hold it from above with your right the Ace and drop it face up on top of the
cards. Just two more volunteers.” Revolve hand. Specifically, your right thumb and packet. Act relieved as you say, “Man, I’m
your left hand and reach over to innocently middle fingertip will grip the packet at glad that worked out; now I can do this
hike your sleeve back on your right arm. the lower and upper right corners, re- again later. Thanks!”
This flashes the bottom Ace of the packet. spectively. You are going to use your left The presentation is over. To reset, just
Pick up the Jack of Diamonds and rub the thumb to peel the cards off the top and into cut the bottom three cards to the top. If you
back of the top card. Say, “You’d think it your left hand. However, as your left hand are strolling, you are ready to perform The
would wear off after a while.” Turn the top comes over to get the first card, use the Wild Rovers at the next table a few steps
card over to reveal the fifth Jack. “But ap- pad of your left index fingertip to push the away. 
parently, it doesn’t.” Turn this card face bottom card of the packet to the right at a
down and deal it on top of the tabled pile. slight angle. The upper right corner of this The Wild Rovers copyright 1984 by Mick
Turn the remaining Ace face up and jogged card is held secure by your right Ayres. Mick is a conjurer, tunesmith and
table it just to the left of the tabled pile. middle fingertip. tale swapper. He welcomes opinions and
Say, “This last one I’ll use to demonstrate Your left thumb slides the first card dialogue. He can be reached at: mick@
another aspect of wildcarding.” Pick off the packet and into your left hand. [Link].

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 55

 Messing With Your Mind
By Christopher Carter

is a missed opportunity to authentically This standardization could one day be the

connect with the audience. If you use stock death of our craft.
lines, the audience may like your show and So how do we respond to this issue? One
they may like your material, but they’ll way is by looking at what everybody else
never like you. How can they? You’re not is doing and resolving we will do anything
even there to start with. else but that. When I began in the campus
This discovery didn’t come in single market, the most successful mentalist
THE CHOICES WE MAKE moment. Rather, it came from a growing made a feature of the Floating Table. It
dissatisfaction with my shows, and the was amazing how many newcomers to the
I’m looking at an old promotional vague feeling that I wished I could share market did (and still do) that effect. My
photo of myself. Like many old photos, more of myself with my audiences. This resolution was to find my own signature
the emotion it evokes is less nostalgia feeling reached an intensity I could no piece nobody else was doing, but that
and more a pang of embarrassment. If longer ignore. But it wasn’t until I made would create a similarly memorable visual
you didn’t know the clichés of mentalism, the decision to use only my own lines and image.
you would assume I had a migraine when jokes that I really discovered who I was Within the last several years I’ve had
it was taken, because I have my fingers onstage. to drop several pieces I had long relied on
up to my forehead in the universal body A related decision was the choice to because they have become too common
language symbol for “mind-reader.” As avoid, as much as possible, doing effects in the acts of other performers. Do I like
for the expression on my face, you might that are featured by other performers in having to change like that? Certainly not.
charitably call it “mysterious.” A more my market. For several reasons, this choice But in the long run, I think it’s worth it.
objective description would be “constipat- is particularly difficult for mentalists to Don’t misunderstand; I’m not suggest-
ed.” It’s a photo I would un-take, if such a make. First, there are relatively few plots ing we never ever tackle classic effects. I
thing could be done. for us to choose from, so doing effects that can think of many mentalists whose work
In contemporary jargon, the photo is are truly distinctive is very challenging. I respect hugely who’ve had success with
an “epic fail.” But I don’t mind, because After all, in the eyes of the layperson, one the classics. I do, however, think each of
it served as a life lesson, and helped shape book test is like another, and one blindfold us should constantly strive to develop a
who I am as a performer today. Indeed, routine is like another. Just by choosing core of material that is uniquely our own.
it’s impossible to look back on your life to perform in the genre of “mentalism,” I believe when an audience member or
without seeing a few changes you wish we’re necessarily making ourselves at least buyer describes what it is you do, he should
you had made, or at least a few choices somewhat similar to our competitors. be able to describe something nobody else
you wish you had made sooner. I’d like to In addition to scarcity of plots, there does.
explore a few of those choices that directly is also the fact that new mentalists are The final choice I wish I had made
pertain to the performance of mentalism. I encouraged to study and perfect the earlier was the decision to always eat with
hope they’ll provide food for thought about classics. This is excellent advice – until the client at a corporate banquet show.
your own work. you confront the possibility of dozens of I don’t know where I picked it up, but
For me, the most significant choice I performers chasing the same clients with it seemed to be common advice during my
wish I had made sooner is the decision to essentially the same material. youth to never eat with the client before the
never use a stock line or joke again. Let us not kid ourselves, this has show. The idea was that eating with them
I would imagine most of us have, at one already happened. If you are thinking to humanized the performer and he lost his
time or another, asked to see “the clean yourself, “Really? What are the odds of mystique in the eyes of the client. Since
hand,” or joked about the way someone an audience seeing multiple mentalists in I was a mentalist, this made sense to me.
shuffled the invisible deck. How many of their lifetimes?” the answer is “quite high, After all, didn’t I want to be perceived as a
us have asked a volunteer if he’s “happy actually.” “man of mystery?”
with the mind he has?” Surely each of I’ve had more than one corporate One day I was listening to a radio
us has had some occasion to drop in a meeting planner ask me, worriedly, interview of a woman who was an expert
standard “bit.” “You’re not going to do that trick where on relationships, and she mentioned how, in
When you’re young, your reasoning the numbers add up in every direction, most cultures, relationships are cemented
is simple and logical. What each of these are you?” Or, “You’re not going to do that around food. Unlike my previous choices,
stock lines has in common is that it’s one where you predict what phone number this really was a “lightbulb above the
generally successful. Building an act is they’re going to select from a phone book, head” moment. I realized immediately that
difficult, and failure onstage means you are you?” The situation among the buyers when a client asked if I would join them
don’t get repeat bookings. Why not go with of campus events is pretty much the same. for dinner before a show, the answer they
the tried and true? There exists a more or less “standard rep- wanted to hear was, “yes.” They wanted
Why not? Simple! Every stock line ertoire” buyers can recite from memory. to develop a relationship with me, and if I

56 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

cared at all about my career, I should want to develop a relation-
ship with them.
Since that time, not only do I always eat with the client, I
specify exactly where I want to be seated: next to the boss or
other important decision maker. I have my store of funny stories
and answers to questions they always ask, and I bring these out
when needed. But mostly I listen. I ask about their kids and their
hobbies, because I actually like these people and I want to get to
know them better.
Of course, I also ask about their business. And when they
describe some need I can fill, I happen to casually mention how
I might be able to fill it. This process has been responsible for
easily fifty percent of my corporate bookings. It’s also been re-
sponsible for some long friendships.
These days whenever I hear someone say, “I never eat with
them before a show,” I find myself mentally responding with,
“Then you don’t really want to work.”
Looking at these three choices, and looking at the old promo
photo, I find myself searching for a through line, some single
piece of advice that can be distilled from all of them. It seems
to me what the first two have in common is they emphasize the
singular importance of being uncommon. And why not? Our
business as mystery performers is to demonstrate the extraor-
dinary. But the last choice speaks to the importance of being
human and relatable.
Are these things reconcilable? I believe they are. Taken
together, they amount to one simple piece of advice. Whatever
you do, don’t become a cliché. 
 INFORMED OPINION
LATEST PRODUCT REVIEWS
Compiled and Edited by W. S. Duncan
Art Decko Book and intelligent use of gaffed cards, and the effects he presents
By Simon Aronson in this chapter are no exception. The four tricks in the chapter
Available from: [Link] titled Totals require stacks, and for that reason will probably be
Price $50.00 performed less often. But if you don’t mind going to a little extra
trouble, you’ll find some inexplicable effects here.
REVIEW BY MICHAEL CLOSE The next two chapters (Birthdays and Memorized Decks)
contain the items of most interest to me. If you have been avoiding
In the interest of full disclosure, I Birthday Book/Datebook effects because the best versions require
want to let you know that I have used a memorized deck, you’ll appreciate No-Stack Datebook, a calcu-
Simon Aronson’s routines to fool lation method for preparing a datebook so you know what card
and entertain laymen and magicians appears on each day of the year. Simon has figured out a method
in both professional and casual per- that creates a random-looking arrangement of cards, with the
formances for almost forty years. added bonus that the same date in different months (i.e. January
Before I ever met Simon, my per- 15 and March 15) are different cards. John Bannon swears by this
formances of his great trick, Red method. Also in the Birthdays chapter is a commercial idea for
See Passover, helped sell copies of those of you who already perform a datebook routine.
his first book, The Card Ideas of The Memorized Decks chapter has four great items, and I’m
Simon Aronson. Simon and his wife going to add all four of them to my repertoire. And that’s all I’m
Ginny are old friends, and I’ve spent going to say about them. Nothing else to see here – move along.
time visiting them in their beautiful The final two chapters contain some exceptional routines. My
condo overlooking Lake Michigan favorites are Square Deal (which requires a large stack and some
and the Chicago Loop. But our friendship does not influence my table real estate – but wow what an ending; the two-person card
opinion of his new book, Art Decko, in the same way that Simon’s location Medium, Well Done; Random Sample Shuffle-bored, a
friendship with his Chicago-session cohorts, David Solomon and very commercial version of Simon’s famous trick; and Two by
John Bannon, does not influence their critical examinations of Two, in which two freely selected cards are found at two freely
each other’s effects. Simon knows that if I didn’t like something selected numbers. The latter routine requires a special something
about his book, I wouldn’t hide it. And there is exactly one thing I (available from Simon’s website), but it is worth the extra expense.
don’t like about Art Decko; but I’ll mention that at the end. This trick will fool anybody.
It has been thirteen years since Simon has released a big book Reading through Art Decko was a joy and a refreshing change
of his magic, so the publication of Art Decko is a happy event for from the products currently flooding the marketplace; it was like
his many fans. I could save a lot of words by simply saying that if being offered a steak dinner after having to survive on junk food.
you’ve enjoyed Simon’s previous efforts, you’ll enjoy Art Decko. Like all of Simon’s books it is deep and will reward repeated,
Everything you’ve come to expect from an Aronson book is here: thoughtful study. And believe me; if you don’t learn these tricks,
a variety of effects, using a variety of methods – including, but someone who has is going to fool the crap out of you. Highly rec-
not limited to, stacks, easy-to-intermediate sleight of hand, gaffs, ommended.
math, and a small bit of mental gymnastics; clear, thorough, (Oh, yeah. I said there was something about the book I didn’t
thoughtful explanations; and well-reasoned essays. care for: Why in the world would you use the Comic Sans font for
Those of you who are unfamiliar with Simon Aronson’s style the back cover text? I can only assume this was Mergel Funsky’s
should check out the March 2012 issue of M-U-M and a trick called choice.)
Triple Play. This trick exemplifies Simon's penchant for combining
a variety of methods to produce a baffling mystery. (This effect Entertaining Education: A Comprehensive Guide to
appears in Art Decko under its new title, Not a Chance.) A few of Creating & Performing Educational Magic Book
the other effects in Art Decko have also appeared in publications, and DVD By Doug Scheer
so check out back issues of MAGIC and Genii. If you need further Available from: [Link] [Link]
persuasion, here’s a brief rundown of what you’ll find: Price $75.00
Art Decko kicks off with chapter of techniques, including some
ideas for the Bedwell Control, a bluff version of Karl Fulves’s REVIEW BY PAYNE
Oracle procedure, a nifty four-for-four switch by Simon’s friend(?)
Mergel Funsky, and an updated handling of the Aronson Strip-out Doug Scheer is a performer from the Detroit area who is well
Shuffle. The next chapter, On the Spot, offers impromptu effects; versed in the art of children’s entertainment. These days, however,
none of these are difficult, and they all pack a punch. he focuses mainly on school assembly programs; he has eleven
The next chapter, Two-Faced, features three tricks using different shows from which to choose from. He is a man after
double-faced cards. (You can find the gaffs for the tricks in Art my own heart; all of these shows are thematic, character-driven
Decko on Simon’s website.) As is well established by effects like programs with an extraordinary attention to detail and superb
Red See Passover and Sideswiped, Simon is a master of the subtle scripting. I have heard it said that no one can wrap a presentation

58 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 around a message the way that Doug Purchasing Entertaining Education also allows you access to
Scheer can, and after seeing this book an online forum that currently contains eighteen video downloads,
and DVD combo pack I have to agree. as well as access to the original Clips and Scripts routines.
A few years back, regarding Mr. If you are interested in getting into the educational magic show
Scheer’s book/DVD combo Diversity field, I would recommend investing in this book. If you are going
Circus I wrote, “Now before you to learn the trade from anyone it might as well be the best. And
get too excited by thinking that Mr. Mr. Scheer is one of the best currently in the business.
Scheer has finally released one of
his excellent programs to the magic Angel Killer Book
community at large, you should be By Andrew Mayne
made aware that this is definitely not Available from: [Link]
the case.” Well, unlike then, you can Price $15.00
allow yourself to get excited, because
in Entertaining Education Mr. Scheer has released many of his REVIEW BY JIM KLEEFELD
well-thought-out routines.
Not that you should perform any of them, of course. After Many magicians like to read fiction,
all, they are Mr. Scheer’s routines and not yours. He has only and mystery stories rank high among the
graciously included them in this volume as examples of how to most popular genres. When I come across
convert standard routines and effects into custom routines and a good mystery that involves a magician
effects to be included in an educational-based magic show. I take notice. Those that are written by
As many assembly and school show performers know, the magicians garner even more attention.
era of the standard magic show is pretty much over. Schools now So I was first in line to get a copy of
require that the programs they book have an educational element Andrew Mayne’s Angel Killer: A Jessica
or theme. These can vary from drug awareness programs to an- Blackwood Novel. I loved it.
ti-bullying shows. This, of course, leaves many a magician in a Jessica Blackstone, pardon me, I mean
quandary. How does one put together a magic show with an edu- Blackwood is a third-generation magician,
cational theme? [Editor’s Note: See Jim Kleefeld’s column this her grandfather being famous for big stage
month for some excellent advice.] Fortunately for the perplexed shows and her father being semi-famous
prestidigitator, Mr. Scheer shows you how, though I wouldn’t call for smaller stage shows. After spending her childhood and teenage
it a comprehensive guide. After all, there is only so much material years working as a walk-on assistant, then box-jumper, then an
one can cover in ninety-four pages. Still it is a good start, and will award-winning performer in her own right, she left entertainment
get you on your way. to become an FBI agent. Now the feds have a serial killer on their
The volume is divided into three sections. Part One concerns hands who creates puzzling tableaus with each murder. They call
the whys and wherefores of performing an educational magic in Blackwood as an agent and analyst to explain the mysterious
show: the nature of the show, and how to create routines and circumstances of each death, and (they hope) to catch the killer.
structure a program. He covers the Five Types of Education- Mayne’s novel joins a checkered catalog of magic-themed
al Magicians, and the importance of having a clear message to fiction books. In 1937, Walter Gibson, writing under his shadowy
deliver by having a concise beginning, middle, and end for your pseudonym Maxwell Grant, had a short story published in Crime
routines, and your overall show. It’s a lot of material to cover in Busters Magazine called “Norgil – Magician.” It was the first
the scant eleven pages that he has devoted to the subject, but it is in a series of detective tales featuring a magician as the main
more than enough to get you on your way. character. Norgil was a stage magician and amateur detective
Part Two is the meat of the book. This section contains a smat- who solved crimes that baffled the police. Gibson went on to
tering of Mr. Scheer’s routines from his various programs. Here write numerous fictional mystery stories that revolved around
you can see in great detail how he is able to take standard props Harry Blackstone Sr. and were published in the comic magazine
and routines and convert them into magic with a message. For me SuperMagician. Since then, many books have been written with
this was the most interesting portion of the book because I am magic as a theme or with a magician as the central character. No
always interested in the creative process of others. Even though doubt many of you have read some of James Swain’s series that
Mr. Scheer doesn’t delve too deeply into his process in the pages began with Grift Sense, Jeffery Deaver’s masterful novel The
of this book, you can still study and admire the end results. Vanished Man, or Glen David Gold’s Carter Beats the Devil.
Section Three deals with the so-called meat and potatoes of Magic fiction is almost a full-blown genre of its own, going back
the educational magic market: marketing. Here Mr. Scheer points as far as Robert-Houdin’s autobiography, King of the Conjurors.
out the importance of building one’s brand and establishing re- I have collected and cataloged 1,100 magic-themed fiction books.
lationships with one’s client base. Granted he does this in less Although half of them are children’s books, of the adult fiction,
than ten pages. But he pads it out by including with the book a I can only recommend a couple of dozen as great reading. Angel
sampling of his promotional material so you can see firsthand the Killer makes the upper echelon of that small collection.
importance of having Grade-A, high-level postcards and mailers This is a modern murder mystery novel in the tradition of James
that have all been professionally produced and printed. Patterson, Patricia Corwell, or Lee Child. There is a modicum of
This section of the book also contains a very informative and personality profiling, but it is mostly police procedural, with de-
important chapter on performing for and with children who have scriptions of the events of each murder, and the investigation. In
special needs. This portion alone should be read by anyone who many instances the killer has used some secretive actions to make
performs regularly for children, because sooner or later you are the deaths appear mysterious or unbelievable. The first body, for
going to find yourself in a situation where this essay could have example, is found half-buried in a cemetery, extruded from the
helped you out. ground as if the dead body had woken and crawled up through

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 59

the dirt and out of the grave. The second body found is that of a Giovanni Livera interviews Mr. Ward, asking mostly about his
pilot sitting in his WWII airplane, which had mysteriously disap- career in magic, choice of material, and his approach to perform-
peared while flying over the ocean seventy-five years ago. Agent ing. The production values are very good, and the discs are quite
Blackwood uses her background in magic to determine that those watchable. Giovanni is an energetic and enthusiastic interviewer
deaths were staged like magic illusions. who seems to really know and enjoy his subject.
In many cases Mayne cites magic illusions and principles So will you find value in this? I think so. There is always much
to explain how events occurred in the mystery. Very few actual to learn from the small, yet important changes a working pro
secrets are exposed, because he often cites trick titles but does not makes to routines that you already do. To the Chicago Opener,
go into detail about how those tricks would work. For example, for instance, Ward has added a third beat. Although I’ve often
when explaining how a body dropped from the sky without thought about satisfying the “Rule of Three” in this way, the third
buildings or aircraft in the vicinity, Jessica simply states that it’s effect that Ward adds is not one I would have chosen. In fact, it
like the old magic trick of baking a cake in a hat. She then goes seems that it would force the routine to end on a smaller effect
into detail of how the killer accomplished the body drop but never that’s not easily appreciated by the audience. (It involves reading
actually tips the cake in hat routine. The facts and procedures ring the fine print on the Guarantee Joker) However, the reactions that
true, perhaps because the author’s father and brother are both FBI Ward gets from this ending are surprisingly strong, and do seem
agents. to provide a climax to the trick. And therein lies an uncommon
Mayne’s writing is surprisingly fresh and clear. His text moves value in these discs: we see several shows filmed before different
the plot constantly forward and wraps all the events together. audiences, showing us what we would be seeing if we were there,
Thankfully, he has avoided the current trend of writing a novel on the street with our kids in a Disney theme park, or at the Magic
in crisscrossing patches of varying locations and timelines. His Mansion Theater in Orlando, or the more intimate parlor setting
descriptions are clear and readable, but not flowery. He spends of the Magic Estate. It is from these shows that I am able to say
just enough time giving personal details that we begin to know the that the reaction to this trick is consistently better than I expected.
characters, but not so much that we have to empathize with their I don’t know who the first person was to combine Francis
past interpersonal relationships. Carlyle’s Homing Card from Stars of Magic (aka the repeat card
Angel Killer is a fun read that goes quickly, holds your interest, to pocket) with David Williamson’s 51 Cards to Pocket. Perhaps
and spices up your week with both a great story and some solid it was Terry Ward? I’m willing to say it was everyone at the same
magic. And, yes, it is a legitimate book, published in trade time, and Terry Ward was among them. His approach is, again,
paperback by Harper Collins, not self-published at a vanity press. to add a third beat; this time by performing the trick with three
The book’s subtitle leads me to believe that there will be sequels, selections rather than just one. This is a substantial routine that
and I’m up for any more that Andrew Mayne wants to write. could close a set, and it appears to serve that function when Ward
performs it. The handling is not overly difficult, but you will have
The Art of Play Three-DVD Set to palm the entire deck under the cover of broad misdirection.
By Terry Ward The explanations are clear and complete, and the discussion intro-
Available from: [Link] duces the concept of playing with the audience.
Price $60.00 The second disc is entirely dedicated to Ward’s handling of
the Three Shell Game. As with the card material, if you perform
REVIEW BY CURTIS KAM this trick already, you’ll not find much drastically different here.
However, you might find a touch or two that will improve what
These three DVDs you’re already doing. I know I did. His use of the bell is inter-
showcase the magic of esting, and his handling of the sucker phase, where the audience
longtime professional sees the pea sneak from one shell to the other, is superior. The
performer, magic instruc- routine itself is solid and reliable. It’s not as audacious as Phil
tor, and mentor, Terry Cass’s routine, not as funny or charming as Pop Hayden’s, nor is
Ward. I was not familiar it as much fun as Bob Sheets’s. It is however, better than most. So
with him prior to this, unless you’re one of the three guys I just mentioned, I think this
but I did recognize many is worth your attention.
of the people, including The last disc shows a number of performances. Ward is
Giovanni Livera and Jon Armstrong, who do call Terry Ward excellent in front of audiences of adults. He is comfortable and
teacher, mentor, and friend. And after viewing the set, I think loose, and I got the feeling that these tricks were designed for
you’ll understand why they do. performance in these venues, for these audiences. In front of
The discs give us a good sense of the man’s style and material. children in the street, and in character as a New Jersey Wise Guy,
To be precise, Disc One shows, explains, and discusses just two he is less facile. In the long interview section on the third disc, he
card tricks: Ward’s take on the Chicago Opener/Red Hot Mama, talks about changing characters without changing material. This
and his three-selection variation of the (Carlyle) Homing Card/51 explains why he’s doing adult card tricks for children aged three
Cards to Pocket combination that has become almost standard. or four. He does as well as could be expected with that, however,
These tricks are familiar to most readers, and if you perform ta- one has to wonder how much better he’d be if he were working
ble-to-table, or strolling magic on any regular basis, you probably with material that was tailored to the age and attention span of
have your own versions of one or both of these already. Disc Two the audience. During the performances, it is clear that some of
is entirely concerned with Ward’s routine for the venerable Three the children don’t have any idea what the point of the Three Shell
Shell Game. We see him perform it multiple times in different Game is. Many barely have the motor skills necessary to select a
settings, and then alone in the studio he performs the routine card and show it to the audience, and some don’t have any idea
again and explains every bit of it. Disc Three gives us more per- what card they’ve selected. Accordingly, I would not recommend
formances before live audiences in different settings, and then this if you are looking specifically for street magic to perform

60 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

for really young children. However, if you work for adults in any talking (very positively) about being on the Penn & Teller: Fool
setting where you can interact with the audience, there are lessons Us TV show and the aftermath of “winning” the right to perform
here that were obviously gleaned from years in the trenches. You’d in Las Vegas.
be foolish to ignore that sort of resource, even if you don’t adopt His next teaching trick is very strong. Using red and blue
his changes. decks, he and a spectator each shuffle their deck and deal down
I have to admit that at the end of it all, I have only a vague the top cards. They match. Again they shuffle and deal; the top
sense for Ward’s performing philosophy – the “Art of Play” – and cards match again. For the third time, they trade decks and the
I’m not able to put it into words. I don’t think he ever really did top cards still match. For a finale, the spectator chooses one of the
explain it, at least, not to any length. Certainly, he encourages us three cards and Archer shows he had predicted that card would be
to follow his example and interact with the crowd. You see him selected. Not only is the trick strong, the story line that precedes
do this in the live performances. He gets to know them by asking it is remarkably memorable. Archer closes the lecture with a dem-
where they’re from, and riffing off of that. I suspect there’s more onstration of Streets, his commercial book test. It is a great test
to it than that, but I can’t really say. (that we reviewed in March), but you cannot do it without buying
the gaffed books, so this bit becomes nothing more than a dealer
At the Table: John Archer Live Lecture demo.
Available at Vanishing Inc. and other online sites The video and audio are of the very best quality, and Archer
Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies is in top form, showing and teaching some memorable magic
Price $24.95 and comedy. Gladwin interjects a few times during the session
to bring forth comments and questions sent in to the original live
REVIEW BY JIM KLEEFLED lecture via texts and emails. These are mostly praise and do not
really add anything significant to the lecture, especially since you
Spend an afternoon with will be watching it after the fact. That aside, there is a lot to like
John Archer; you will be very about this almost-three-hour-long video session with John Archer.
glad you did. In this download- It is well worth the modest cost. If you aren’t hooked yet, I’ll just
able video, British comedy icon tease you with this: My favorite item was a card prediction with a
Archer teaches several tricks, very free selection and an impossible hand-written revelation. It’s
adlibs through some funny bits, near the end of the session, and I won’t say anything more about it
shares tips on performance, and because it is too good.
generally speaks to you via the
camera as if he was hanging out Revolution of Jumbo Card Manipulation DVD
in your den. Andi Gladwin quietly By Lee Ang Hsuan
and modestly hosts Archer, wisely Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies
staying clear of the wit and in- Price $39.95
terjecting only occasionally with
comments or suggestions. REVIEW BY MARC DESOUZA
Archer begins by swallowing a fully blown 260-balloon,
slowly, a bit at a time, until it is completely gone. He has too small This is the second DVD on the
of a studio audience to get much of a response, so it comes across subject of card manipulation by the
as mildly funny and somewhat wondrous. I get the impression splendid Korean magician Lee Ang
that with a larger studio audience it would have gone over much Hsuan, aka Anson Lee. This disc
bigger. He teaches the technique and then goes into his version of contains material of an advanced
Anniversary Waltz. The tricks are good, but the post-explanation nature, as compared with his
discussion is great. Archer discusses not just the mechanics of first release. Although the title
the trick, but also the nuances of setup, table usage, and spectator says “Jumbo Cards,” the first two
management. There is also some very important advice about techniques taught are for normal-
creating visual reveals. size cards with colored faces. The
Archer then talks about billet handling and teaches a great remaining techniques and sequences
utility move, though without a specific polished routine. Next are performed with special-size jumbo
he presents a stand-up card and mentalism routine based on cards. These are not the standard jumbo cards we
Kenton Knepper’s Kolossal Killer, the prediction of which he has are accustomed to. They are much smaller than a deck of Bicycle
narrowed down to one card in a wallet. He sits to discuss theory jumbo cards. They are of a similar size to what are sold as jumbo
with Gladwin, and tips some great advice and ideas in a wonderful cards in a dollar store. Hsuan has actually produced for sale a
informal session. Archer talks about the value of committing to a very high quality version of that size card; each deck contains
gag to get more out of it, the nuances of comedy writing, and how cards with regular faces as well as colored faces. The backs are
writing differs for magic shows and television. He next presents black, allowing for some of the black art techniques to be used
a routine with ESP cards in which the spectator matches several (and some are shown on the disc). Although manipulation of
face-up cards to several face-down cards. It is a very nice routine, standard jumbo cards has been performed for many years by such
but to present it you will need a table with a fair amount of space. magicians as Zina Bennett, Earl Ray Wilcox, Toyosane Sanada,
Blank Night is next. This is Archer’s commercial routine with Takamitsu Uchida, and Mahka Tendo, these techniques are quite
which he fooled Penn and Teller on British National Television. It difficult and not always deceptive. The size of the cards used in
is a commercial product (sold by Vanishing Inc.), but with some this product and the techniques associated with them make the
time and attention to detail you could conceivably make it up addition of this material to an act attainable to the dedicated
yourself from his instructions here. He also spends some time magician with average size hands.

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 61

 Produced by Magic Soul, this disc has fine video quality. The Collision V2 DVD
audio track is appropriate music; there are no vocals contained By R avi Mayar
herein. All of the teaching is done via visual demonstration of the Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies
techniques and subtitles. These combine to teach the material in Price $25.00
a very clear manner. Again, I must commend the producers for
supplying superb crediting for the moves and their history. The REVIEW BY JAMIE SALINAS
explanations often make use of a mirror to provide simultaneous
front and back view of the moves. The disc begins with a section Variety is the spice of life. This DVD
on the preparation of the cards and moves into the Cross Color Fan has a variety of effects. Ravi Mayar
Production, done with regular size cards. Here Hsuan details the has compiled a series of impromp-
method used to accurately separate stocks of cards into individ- tu-looking effects for the close-up,
ual colors. This is a core system that will be used throughout the street performer, and party-strolling
remainder of the disc. The sequence is simultaneously done with magician. Each effect uses common
both hands. First a single production of four different color cards objects that you will already have or are
with a display in square formation is explained, and then produc- readily available.
tions of color fans follow. The next sequence also uses regular size Ravi is a good teacher and covers
cards and is titled the Waterfall Production. This is a very pretty both the performance and explanation
interlocked production of singles followed by cascades of cards portions well. Included on the DVD are routines
divided into separate colors. using bills, coins, business cards, matches, bottles, cans, Smart
The first jumbo production technique is called Normal Pro- phones, finger rings, chewing gum, and Tic Tacs. All of the
duction, This is based on Jahn Gallo’s Osaka Bills. Single Pro- routines have an impromptu feel.
duction combines back palm technique with the Tenkai palm I felt that several of the routines looked somewhat unnatural,
technique to produce single jumbo cards in each hand, followed and even awkward, in the handling and presentation. There are
by double fans. The Perfect Production is a technique Hsuan uses a few good items included here. The single match routine looks
often to produce jumbo cards singly with both hands. The position good and there is a match and coin routine that is simple and
used allows for a quicker and easier production than Tenkai palm, direct. The routine with a finger ring vanishing and jumping from
but it is a bit angle sensitive. Not such an issue if you work more finger to finger can sometimes be confusing.
upstage, as favored by most Korean performers. The crossed arm While there are a few items that are good (not great), most
position seems to hide many of the angles well, but there are no of you may want to pass on this offering. If you are looking for
details given concerning stealing the stacks of cards and getting some impromptu magic and you have never performed a finger
into that position without flashing. This seems to be an issue with ring routine, you may want to invest in this DVD, but if you are
many of the teaching videos of this nature; I am not singling looking for performance material for your paid performances,
Hsuan out, but I think that type of information is crucial in per- you will probably want to look elsewhere.
forming material of this nature.
Dual Production covers producing jumbos in singles and pairs Santa’s Magical Lump of Coal Manuscript
with both hands. This combines a variant of Perfect Production in By Roy Eidem
the right hand, with the cards held in more of a back palm position, Available from: [Link]
with the Perfect Production in the left hand. The idea of producing Price $25.00
a card and holding it in position while producing a second card is
a lovely visual conceit; it makes this sequence look very different. REVIEW BY JIM KLEEFELD
Again, I wonder how you can convincingly get into this position
without flashing. Multi Production uses the Perfect Production to Roy Eidem is a serious student of sleight
produce and vanish cards, creating the illusion of cards jumping of hand, as evidenced by his presentations
from hand to hand. The technique section finishes out with Jumbo at the invitation-only Fechter’s event. His
Color Fan. This is a single-hand production of four different color routines are always carefully structured
card fans from a back palm position. He uses the system shown and theatrical. He previously released
earlier on the disc to produce the separate colors. He also uses Coins by Roy, a large book with plenty of
a fan held in the left hand for additional cover. This is a great great routines. I own it and recommend
sequence. it. This latest is a manuscript of twenty-
The final section of the disc teaches an entire routine using one pages that delineates a single close-up
some techniques that differ from those already taught. He begins routine themed for Christmas parties; but
by showing the pockets and holders he uses to conceal the cards, it is certainly doable any time of the year.
and then goes through the full setup of the routine, as well In the routine, you first show a magic wand, and then vanish
teaching these other techniques. He finishes by teaching the full and reproduce it. Tapping your hand with the wand makes a lump
performance of the entire routine. The steals and blocking are of coal appear. The coal vanishes, reappears, and then transforms
fully covered here. There is some great teaching, with excellent into two and then three lumps of coal. Two are put away and the
attention to detail. third magically changes into a diamond, which is given to the
If you have any interest in the subject of card manipulation lady spectator as a gift.
for the stage, you will want to purchase this disc and study its This is a simply structured routine with many magical changes,
contents. The majority of this material is challenging, but certainly reasonably easy to do, and fairly straightforward. It is written up
not beyond the capabilities of the average magician who will dili- in succinct steps and fully illustrated with photographs showing
gently pursue this study. Highly recommended. hand positions and exposed views. One nice feature is Eidem’s
constant crediting of various segments, including vanishes and

62 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

productions based on work by Cellini, Roy Benson, David Wil- Americas for him and his new flame Lucy aboard the luxury liner
liamson, and Al Schneider. He gives enough of a patter outline Titanic, thus giving the story a more macabre finale as well as (for
that you can get the gist of the presentation, but leaves the full all those who own a copy) the perfect segue into the trick White
script up to the reader to develop. This is not for the novice, but Star. If you don’t wish such a downer ending for your presenta-
is well within the grasp of anyone who has performed cups and tion, the letters used in the original Heirloom are provided to use
balls or similar routines. I particularly like that he has outlined the instead.
presentation as a three-act play. Not only has he structured the set When they say Heirloom Deluxe, they truly mean deluxe
correctly, he also describes it as such and explains why. because everything you need has been provided. You get two sets
The booklet is short but nicely home-produced with wire of letters (the original and the new ones with the Titanic twist), a
spiral binding and stiff covers. Grab your magic wand, round up new set of photographs featuring Emily and Charlie holding the
a few lumps of coal and some fake diamonds, and you will have lucky card, and a detailed DVD that not only contains all of the
a fine piece of magic to show off this holiday season. If you like video instructions and tips one would need but also PDFs of the
the routine, check out And His Name Was…Houdini, another of original instruction manual, as well as many other manuals and
Roy’s fine products, where you even get great props along with instruction sheets teaching alternative handlings and routines that
the routine. have been developed for the Heirloom cards over the years. There
are also PDFs of the original Charlie cards and letters as well as
Heirloom Deluxe: Emily’s Revenge Trick the new letters and Charlie and Emily cards. I can’t really think
By Jamie Badman and Colin Miller of anything else one would need that hasn’t been included on the
Available from: [Link] DVD.
Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies I would use a wallet devoted to this trick; I know people
Price $50.00 who keep the setup in their day-to-day wallet, ready to go at a
moment’s notice. So as you may already have determined there is
REVIEW BY PAYNE no setup for this trick. One simply has to throw one’s wallet on the
table and begin the story. Reset is instant; you just put the picture
Magic, like a fine wine with and letter back where they came from and you’re set to perform
time can mature and acquire a it again. It will take a bit of practice so you can pull the correct
depth and richness it may have picture out of your wallet with no fumbling or pausing to think
lacked at its inception. Or it can exactly where it might be. But once you learn the indexing system
just go completely off and turn and become familiar with this, it should become second nature.
into vinegar. Fortunately for us, My only complaint about this new version is that the producers
Heirloom Deluxe: Emily’s Revenge were a little heavy handed on the patina. So the playing card isn’t
achieves the former status instead as clear as it was in the original set. If you are thinking of per-
of the latter. forming this in dim light, you might want to have a secondary
The original Heirloom came out light source and a magnifying glass on hand. But apart from that
a dozen years ago or so and quickly became minor issue, this is a great atmospheric piece of magic that you
a magic classic, especially among those who will be tempted to keep on your person at all times.
perform bizarre magic. For those who might be unaware of this
effect the routine is as follows. The magician tells the story of Fair & Square Trick
his great, or great, great uncle Charlie: a rogue, scoundrel, and By Jeff Alan and the Royal Mint
raconteur. He was the very reason you became a magician. You Distributed by Fun Incorporated
tell the story about his involvement in a game of cards, how ev- Price $19.95
erything came to a head, and its ultimate outcome, which was
dependent on the final card of the draw being his lucky card. The REVIEW BY CURTIS KAM
spectator is asked what they think the identity of this card might
be. After the card is named the magician opens his billfold, which Picture this: You show the
has been sitting in plain view throughout the entire presentation, audience a half dollar sitting
and removes from it his family heirloom: a photograph of his on the palm of your hand. You
Uncle Charlie holding the card he drew in that fateful final hand. say, “This might look like a half
This is placed face down on the table. Next a letter from Charlie is dollar, but it might be counterfeit.
taken from the wallet and read aloud, proving beyond a shadow of The only way to tell is to bring the
a doubt, once the photograph is turned face up, that the spectator coin to the US mint.” You open
has indeed named your uncle’s lucky card. your other hand, revealing a roll of
This, of course, is Kenton Knepper’s Kolossal Killer with a breath mints. Pause for the laugh.
lot of window dressing to give it atmospheric charm, all of which The wrapper of the roll does say,
is retained in Heirloom Deluxe. Not only is Uncle Charlie back, in fine print, “manufactured by
but for the first time we get to see Emily. The routine also has a the US mint,” which you might
darker, more sinister bent to it, perfect for the Halloween season. point out if nobody gets the joke. (Performance note: if people
The storyline for this deluxe version is basically the same. All aren’t laughing, it doesn’t mean they didn’t get the joke.) Regard-
is dependent on the turn of a card. However in this version Uncle less of the reaction, you continue, “Yup, the mint is the only way
Charlie is both a gambler and a philanderer; he has a squeeze on to tell if the coin is fair and square.” At this point, you tap the half
the side. Emily, of course, knows all about his extramarital affair. dollar with the candy roll, and the coin visibly changes to a square
In the end, seeing the writing on the wall, she bids her beloved coin. Pause for laughter and surprise.
Charlie adieu and in her farewell letter provides tickets to the That’s it; that’s what this does. If you share Jeff Alan’s fondness

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 63

for puns, this might be for you. If not, I’ve probably already lost Yves’s DVD, and have for some time. There are, in fact, no credits
you. For those on the fence, a few observations: 1) The half dollar at all, which prompts another question: how can this handling be
doesn’t change to a square version of a half dollar. It’s more like “the ultimate” if nothing came before it?
someone cut a square section out of a regular half dollar. In fact, So the good news is that this does what it says, assuming it
that’s it exactly. 2) A little bit of tape, judiciously applied to the works. There are also considerations that you might call bad news.
inside of the gaff, will eliminate the mechanical clinking sound The part of The Answer that is new requires a fair bit of prepara-
at the moment of the change. I’m not sure this will improve the tion, and while you could do most of it well in advance of per-
overall effect, but it can’t hurt. 3) This is a comedy reworking of formance, there’s another part you’d probably want to do closer
a familiar effect. Like that effect, this one could probably be done to show time. (Again, I don’t speak from extensive experience.)
on the spectator’s hand, which, as we all know, always, always This work is not too difficult for anyone who has ever made his
increases the impact at least a bazillion times. 4) The instruc- own double face or double back cards. Each time you perform
tions are adequate, but a photo or a line drawing would have been the effect, you will use two prepared cards, and these cannot be
helpful. 5) The gimmick that you’re provided with is pretty nice, used again. With a lot of thought, I suppose you could work out
and could be used in other routines. It won’t fit over a half dollar, a way to carry these gaffs and use them in a strolling or restau-
but there are several other applications. rant environment. That doesn’t sound like a good time to me, but
it’s entirely possible that you’re not as lazy as I am. Finally, there
The Answer One-trick DVD are angle considerations here that are comparable to those of any
By Ron Salamangkero of the piece-by-piece restorations developed so far. Basically,
Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies you want everyone in front of you, and no one to the sides. The
Price $30.00 handling requires a delicate touch, but is not beyond the average
card handler.
REVIEW BY CURTIS KAM Bottom line: practice and preparation are required, consid-
eration of prop and audience management is advised, but this is
According to the ad copy, The potentially a very strong mystery. But there is a shocking lack of
Answer is the answer to the question, credits.
“Want the ultimate torn and restored
card routine?” And sure, let’s say I Flatline Trick
do. Is this it? I suppose that depends. By Jay Sankey
If you have no other experience with Available from: [Link]
torn and restored card routines, this Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies
will be “the ultimate,” as far as you Price $35.00
know. Those who have been paying
attention to the piece-by-piece resto- REVIEW BY DANNY ARCHER
ration ever since David Copperfield
did it on television (more than two decades ago) would probably Flatline is a prop plus DVD release
rephrase the question to be, “Can you do Yves Doumergue’s from the prolific magic creator Jay
Ripped and Restored, or Garcia’s variant, Torn, but end clean and Sankey. It includes a fifty-six-minute
immediately hand out the signed, restored card?” And those same instructional video, a special Sharpie
people would be interested in The Answer, because it would be marker (each hand-crafted by Roy
pretty amazing if you could do that. Kueppers), and a matching Sharpie
The good news is that even if you’re inclined to be that picky marker.
about the question, the answer is yes, this solution does that. A The video, sound, and disc naviga-
card is selected and signed across the face (not just in the margin). tion are all fine, with the usual one-cam-
It is convincingly torn into four pieces, which are shown sepa- era shoot and style (some cursing) that
rately. Two are pocketed, leaving your hands free to cleanly put are Jay’s trademarks. The basic effect is
the first two pieces back together. You get the third piece and that a Sharpie marker, which has been
restore this to the other two. You then reattach the last piece. To used in another effect, is magically
this point, the effect looks pretty much like Doumergue’s original smashed and flattened. The spectator can examine the
handling. However, as soon as you have restored the last piece in flattened marker. Jay starts out by showing a very easy method of
The Answer, all you’re holding is the signed, restored card. And switching the regular marker for the gimmicked one – a method
Mr. Salamangkero says that you can hand the card out for exami- anyone can do. Then he moves on to a basic handling in which a
nation, and the spectator can take the card home and examine it lighter is held under the marker when it is held between the palms.
later. Jay shows other handlings using a napkin and a bill to effect the
I’m not saying I don’t believe him; I just want to be clear that change.
I haven’t tested this myself. I do have some experience with the He teaches a way to use it with the classic change of an
“adhesive technology” involved (I assume most magicians do) and incorrect card into a selection using a double lift. It adds another
although I know of performers who use this principle regularly, I strong moment into an already strong effect. Next he incorporates
don’t, because my own results have been hit-or-miss. the gimmick into the Leipzig Card Stab routine. Jay is a solid
What I don’t believe is the claim that this restoration is “unlike performer and shares some moves, gags, tips, and advice as he
any that have come before” and “a totally new method,” when in explains the various routines and effects.
fact, it, like most handlings, seems to be based on Doumergue’s The Sobriety Test challenges a spectator to pass his ring
routine. But there is no mention of that here. This is hard to excuse, over the marker. The Paddle Move is explained and used in a
since World Magic Shop, the producers of this item, stock and sell mentalism application of the gimmicked marker. Jay leaves no

64 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

stone unturned as he shows many uses for this unique prop. You The online tutorial says you can get a hundred decks or so
may come with your own ideas, but if you don’t you will still have out of a single stick. I have no way to verify this, because I’m
plenty to choose from. not going to sit down and make up a hundred decks. But the stick
There are five bonus effects taught; some of which have showed little wear after making up a single deck, so I have no
nothing to do with the markers. Captain Crunch allows you to reason to doubt their claims. If you use a rough/smooth deck in
eat a toothpick and Magnetic is an update of the old Snapper idea any of your shows, you really should keep one of these on hand.
applied to the cap of the marker. Remarkerable allows you to take
a single Sharpie and split it into three separate markers. (This Blind Date One-trick DVD and Props
needs a jacket, but it saves time if you have to have multiple cards By Stephen Leathwaite
signed.) In I.Q. Test you draw a black dot onto a playing card with Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies
the marker. For a moment the dot becomes a real hole and the Price $35.00
performer slips the marker through the hole! To finish, the hole
transforms back into a drawn black dot. REVIEW BY DAN GARRETT
To sum up, the marker and the included routines will give you
many possible uses; there may be more that you will come up The male performer shows a female
with using this unusual prop. Altering an item and leaving it in its spectator a dozen or so “dating”
changed state is strong magic and Flatline fits the bill. game cards (included), about the
size and feel of Trivial Pursuit
Roughing Stick Utility Product cards. One is placed aside as a
By Harry Robson & Larry Turner prediction; the spectator chooses
Available from: [Link] one of the other cards through a
Price $14.99 “random process.” The eliminated
cards are shown to be photos and
REVIEW BY PAYNE statistics on potential dates, similar to
what can be found on an Internet dating
This is a nifty little item. site. The woman sees all the guys she didn’t
I regretted not purchasing choose – a wide variety of types. The chosen date is
one at the last convention I found to match the prediction, but there is a bonus surprise.
attended. So I was thrilled to Who is not likely to perform Blind Date? Female magicians
find one in my box of things will not. Married guys (ahem) probably won’t. Magicians with
to review. If you do any sort chops perhaps will not. Magicians at trade shows or high-class
of trick that uses a rough/ venues likely will not. Young magicians (minors) shouldn’t, but
smooth deck, you’re going to I wouldn’t put it past them. The trick is a thinly veiled attempt to
want to have one of these in pick up or get a date with a member of the opposite sex.
your kit. If you use any sort Blind Date, as you may have guessed, uses a force to lead the
of trick, or have been thinking of trying out a trick, that uses female participant to a particular card. The “choice” matches the
partially roughed cards, then you are going to want to pick up one prediction, and the surprise is that those two cards contain a photo
of these. If you’ve ever needed to rough cards on the fly or touch of the performer, implying she has found a “perfect match.”
up an already roughed deck that isn’t working as well as it once The main force uses three dice (not included). The odds of
was, you’re going to want to pick up one, or maybe even two of success with this force are not favorable, so Leathwaite has a
these. backup force that is almost sure fire, allowing for the axiom in
While far from being a complete replacement for the classic magic that nothing is fully certain. He describes his own force,
spray-on treatments, this roughing stick does things the spray which parallels the thinking of a Jerry Sadowitz technique. A
can’t. For instance, you can make a very serviceable Brainwave glide force is also described. This is weak, in my opinion. There
or Invisible Deck on the fly. The online instructional video shows are better ways.
a guy making up a Brainwave from a new deck in less than two Leathwaite prefers the routine using dice. One of the reasons
minutes. There’s no muss, no fuss, and no toxic smell. cited is that it “almost always works.” Stephen must be luckier
It does leave a noticeable and somewhat uneven sheen on the than the rest of us, because I did a little math. You need to hit
cards, which is particularly noticeable on low number cards that one of two totals with three dice for this force to work. There are
have a lot of white surface showing. So I wouldn’t recommend “six cubed” or 216 combinations of the numbers on three dice.
this stick for a full-face coating. But for a partial roughing this Twenty-five percent of those permutations will yield the desired
stuff is hard to beat. You simply rub the stick down the middle of result. The probability of success on any of three rolls is just over
the face on one card and the middle of the back of the card below forty-two percent So, nearly six times out of ten performances
it and you have a rough/smooth pair. Best of all you have a rough/ this approach will fail. Then you go to the backup force, but you
smooth pair that sticks when handled by the middle but separates are in the awkward position of having to explain why you were
freely when handled by the corners; this gives you a much more rolling the dice in the first place.
natural appearance when handling the deck. There have been worse “pick-up tricks” put on the market in
How many times have you taken out a rough/smooth deck only the past. Blind Date does have a lighthearted approach and could
to discover it’s not sticking together as well as it should? You’d be a great ice breaker and laugh-getter in the right hands. It is
have to handle the deck gingerly or leave it out of your set all clean, and performed correctly, does not demean the spectator.
together. But now, with one of these in your emergency fix-it pack, There are no gimmicks to hide and it is easy to perform.
you can touch up that troublesome deck in a minute or two and On the other hand, Leathwaite admits that he does have
keep that routine in your set. risqué lines for certain settings. During the closing credits, it is

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 65

suggested that if you do score with Blind Date you should practice for, and what wonderful effects could be accomplished with it.
safe sex. Unfortunately, I can envision this routine presented by If you sit and think long and hard enough you might be able to
lounge lizard magicians who will bring to it all the qualities that come up with something to do with it. But don’t hold your breath.
makes the public image of magicians slip to the negative. Even after watching all twenty-three effects on the included DVD,
My apologies to Stephen for having the doubtful luck of which show everything its creator has concocted with this unusual
drawing an old fuddy-duddy like me to review his trick. This one contraption, I am still at a loss for what one can do with this thing,
is not for me. or a reason as to why anyone would want to.
Granell shows us that as a block of sixteen cards it can be used
Domino Effect Trick as a locater card. Why one would want to use a clunky stack of
By Alex Pandrea sixteen cards as a locator when such classic methods as a corner
Available from: [Link] short, a marked card, or a crimp can do the same thing with a
Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies lot less effort? There are some card revelations shown on the
Price $35.00 DVD, most of which, with a modicum of practice can be done
with a regular deck of cards. There are also some juggling feats
REVIEW BY DANNY ARCHER involving the tossing, kicking, and catching of the sixteen-card
packet shown on the DVD. Again most of these can be accom-
Here is the basic effect as expe- plished with a bit of practice without the aid of the device. There
rienced by the spectator on this is a clumsy coin routine and a strange card stab routine, as well as
half-hour DVD from Blue Crown. a completely unexplained resting of a packet of cards atop a bottle
Alex displays two packets of arti- while you shuffle the rest of the deck; this utilizes the magnetic
ficial sweetener, one pink and one qualities of this device. But oddly, most of the effects taught on the
yellow. The spectator holds one DVD don’t use the hinged or magnetic properties of the Magnetic
in her closed fist, while he holds Deck and could all be accomplished simply by gluing a stack of
the other. Visibly, the packet in his sixteen cards or so into a block with a glue stick.
hand changes from yellow to pink; the The tricks that employ the hinging nature of this device are
spectator is now holding the yellow packet mostly used to replicate (badly) some of those fancy flourishes
in her hand. The same effect has been popular for made so popular recently by the Buck Twins. I suppose that makes
many years using silver and copper coins. the Magnetic Deck a modern day equivalent of the old Electric
After the live performance, Alex shows you how to construct Deck. Except for the fact that there are things one can do with an
the gimmick and how to perform the routine (the DVD includes Electric Deck that are either funny or magical.
one handmade gimmick). The change is very visible, but after the The only useful things I can think of for this gimmick are to
change the packet cannot be examined. Alex provides several addi- use it as a document holder or to stick notes to your refrigerator.
tional tips and bonus ideas (with the change happening in a coffee All right, in all honesty it could be used as a magnetic holdout
cup and a card box). He also teaches a completely impromptu and that you could put in your back pocket. But the magnet isn’t that
ungimmicked transposition of sugar packets (rolled into balls). strong, so it even falls short on that front. So the only use I can
Picture, sound, and navigation are all up to par. I played with think of for this device is if you need to fill a playing-card-shaped
the included gimmick; you must take care to not flash it after the hole in the bottom of your disused-magic drawer. 
change has occurred. Angles will need to be carefully considered.
He explains, but does not really demonstrate, how to switch the
packets after the change.
I will keep this short and sweet. It’s a neat idea but it has angle
problems. I would have been happy to have learned this in a set
of lecture notes or on a longer compilation DVD. For thirty-five If you wish to have
bucks this left me sour, not sweet.
your product reviewed,
Magnetic Deck Prop
By Geronimo Granell please send it to:
Distributed by Murphy’s Magic Supplies
Price $29.95

REVIEW BY PAYNE
Bill Duncan,
Magnetic Deck is a gaff that
consists of four small card packets
P.O. Box 50562
that are hinged together accordion
style on their long sides and which
can be locked together as a single
Bellevue, WA
packet when folded up. If you
can think of a use for a gimmick
of this nature, then rush right out
98015-0562
and buy yourself one. As for the
rest of us, we shall sit and ponder
what such a device might be used

66 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 Treasures from
the Salon de M agie
By Ken Kloster m an

land, the fabulous Aga Khan invited me to entertain his guests at

his table after my show. Later he gave me and the hotel manager
the idea to entertain as a table magician, which I did with very
good results for very good money.
DR. JAKS’S BOOK OF MYSTERIES “Suddenly, I was faced with problems I had never had to
think about before. How to bring my materials to the table, what
routines to use, and how to stage and present my effects? First,
how to bring the little miniature cups, balls, magic wand, and
cards to a table? First I used a zippered case. I didn’t like that, so
I changed to a little suitcase; but going through a hotel hall or a
dining room in a tuxedo or tails with a suitcase looked even sillier.
Then came the idea of a book – a big red book, divided into com-
partments for each trick. In addition, this constituted excellent
publicity. Who wouldn’t wonder about a well-dressed gentleman
(that’s me!) walking through a room with a big bible? Naturally,
they would ask the Captain and he would explain: ‘That’s Dr. Jaks
and his Book of Mysteries.’ I would introduce myself, sit down at
the table, and after a little speech of introduction, I would open
my Book of Mysteries, and voila – about ten or fifteen minutes of
close-up magic would begin.”
The book, fourteen by eleven by four inches and bound in red
leather, not only attracted attention to Jaks, it held that attention
by being a finely crafted item, an object of distinction. The cover
is tooled with a large East Indian motif and two seals at the end
of the mysterious word “PACABA.” Lifting the seals reveals the
letters CO and NA on each end, making the word “Copacabana,”
the name of one of the best-known nightclubs in Manhattan. That
suggests this may be a replacement version of the prop, because
Jaks had created his original Book of Mysteries before he came
to New York.
The book was full of mysterious and unfamiliar props. For the
Cups and Balls, he had a meticulously crafted set of pure silver
cups. And in lieu of balls of paper or cork, Jaks used small skulls,
carved from ivory, to work his magic. When he had finished
one trick and was replacing the props in their place in the book,
someone was almost sure to point at something and ask, “What’s
that?” or “What do you do with this?” Jaks let this kind of interest
determine the sequence of effects he presented – by far the most
effective kind of audience involvement.
This will be the last column from the Salon de Magie. It has Unfortunately, not all the items originally contained in the
been my pleasure to open the Salon visually to the readers of Book of Mysteries have survived along with it. Gone are several
M-U-M. For this column, we focus on the fabulous Stanley Jaks. pages of celebrity autographs originally bound inside the front
At one time in his early cabaret work, Jaks carried his tricks from cover. At one time, these pages included the signatures of Al
table to table in a leather pouch and the pockets of his suit. He Jolson, Harry Truman, Lana Turner, and many other well-known
found, however, that carrying his props in an oversized book – individuals for whom Jaks had occasion to perform. But much
one that looked like a large rare volume – was more appropriate of the old master’s repertoire is still represented inside its thick
in “high-class” venues and aroused the curiosity of his specta- covers.
tors. Here are a few details surrounding the origin of his Book Upon Jaks’s death his Book of Mysteries went to Ed Mellon,
of Mysteries, from the transcript of a talk Jaks presented to the who had published and marketed some of Jaks’s effects. The
Magician’s Guild on October 17, 1951, in New York City. subsequent line of provenance includes Felix Greenfield, Sam
“Close-up magic has always been a favorite of mine, but I never Schwartz, and Robert Bluemle. It was purchased from Bluemle
dreamed of doing small effects professionally. While playing the for the Salon de Magie. 
Palace Hotel at St. Moritz, a swanky mountain resort in Switzer-

68 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014

 INSIDE STRAIGHT BY NORMAN BECK
OUR ADVERTISERS
B. Happie Entertainment 2 POP QUIZ
Burgoon Magic 9 I don’t like tests. I don’t like to study for tests or to
Clyde Cronkhite 57 take tests. I do like to give tests. In the past couple of
Genii Magazine 49 weeks, three groups of people have come to Dallas in
an attempt to get my company to buy into a project. For
George Parker 4 some reason, I was put in charge of dealing with the
Jim Kleefeld 53 incoming salespeople.
Joe Mogar - Magic Stars 55 My rule is very simple: I want to eat with you before
I do business with you. In an office environment, people
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L&L Publishing 41 the case. My first salesperson raised a red flag for me
Michael Close 55 early on when she told me, “I will email you my flight
information in ten minutes.” I received it three days later.
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Nielsen Magic 72 not do what she said she would do? Yes. Was the fact that
S.A.M. Advertising 4 this happened a deal breaker? No. Not everybody is as
anal about time and doing exactly what they say as I am.
S.A.M. Convention 2015 67 Now let me tell you about dinner. We had reservations
S.A.M Facebook 10 at 7:30 p.m. I was early and she was on time. This was
S.A.M. Gifts and Insignia 41 a good thing. She had asked that I meet her for dinner,
S.A.M. Life Membership 7 block out the entire next day for her, and block out any
other people I work with and for as well. All of this was
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Show-Biz Services 9 selling.
The Magic Bakery 3 Dallas has many places to eat, but this was no ordinary
meal; we needed a good place, with good service and we
Theory and Art of Magic 42, 43 needed to be left alone to talk business. The place that
T. Myers 57 was picked was Stephen Pyles. I eat at SP a great deal
and they know me. The food was great, the service was
perfect, and we were left alone. The meeting went well; I
liked everything she had to say. During the course of the
meeting it was clear I knew a great deal more about her
than she knew about me. One of us had studied for the
test and one had not.
My dinner companion flunked when they brought the
check. The waiter, Bejone, handed the check to me; he
brought it to me because I always pay. He did not know
that this time I was the one being wined and dined. The
saleslady asked me if I wanted to split it. I told her no;
I was happy to pay for dinner. That was a lie. I was not
happy to pay for dinner. I was the customer; she was
trying to sell me. In that case, the customer does not pay.
I told a friend of mine about it the next day and he told
me, “You should have thanked her.” He is right. From the
way she handled the check, I learned early on that she
was not someone that I wanted to work with. That night I
got an email that she needed to push back the next day’s
meeting by an hour so she could make some phone calls.
That hour turned into being late by ninety minutes.
In many ways, this was like a first date. Going into
the meeting, we both knew that this could turn into a
long-term relationship. Both of our companies stood to
make a great deal of money. But my thought was, “If she
acts this way on the first date, what will it be like on
down the road?” I am about to send her a nice email to
let her know that we will not be moving forward with
her company and to thank her for her time. I will never
tell her that the reason the deal fell through was that she
flunked her test. Telling her would serve no purpose; she
won’t be back in my class any time soon. 

DECEMBER 2014 - M-U-M Magazine 69

 The Dean's Diary
By George Schindler
room, a library, an exercise room, lounges, website nowadays.
and a bar; it reminded me of life aboard a Milt must be pretty popular; his
luxury cruise ship. No small children are “few friends” numbered at least sixty. I
seen anywhere, but there are many canes was happily surprised to find a grateful
and walkers. audience of healthy men and women
A FEW FRIENDS The transition from the West Coast to retirees, not the usual group one finds at
the East was a great one. When I work at senior citizen shows. Earlier that morning
My cousins Milt and Ditte (Dee-teh) the Magic Castle in the evenings, Nina and I had been at the harbor area, where a
moved from their longtime home in I spend the early part of the days in Venice. few tourists from Vermont spotted the
Venice, California, to an independent adult This year we were at the Castle and missed emblem on my S.A.M. hoodie. “Are you a
residence in Camden, Maine, to be closer seeing my cousins. One Sunday in June, I magician? My son loves magic; is there a
to their daughter. As with many retired and called Milt to tell him that we were driving show in town?” So, I invited them and they
aging citizens, as Milt and Ditte got older, up to Maine to visit on the following showed up.
the families living so far apart presented Friday. He was delighted and asked for a I would have had a great time, except
difficulties in extra care. In the area known small favor. Would I be able to do a few everything seemed to go awry. The loop
as Quarry Hill, there are small cottage tricks for a few of his friends? Of course slipped on the cut and restored rope, one
homes, apartments for retired seniors, and I would! spot remained on the table when I picked
an assisted-living facility for those who The following Wednesday, I received up the What’s Next panel, and the mic I
need medical care. Anderson Hall, where a phone a call from a woman who intro- borrowed came undone. I had no idea
Milt and Ditte live, has a large dining duced herself as the recreation director it was hanging loosely at my side. Nina
of Anderson Hall. “Mr. Schindler, I un- sat cringing in the audience, but it seems
derstand you are doing a show for us we were the only ones who knew. The
Saturday; would 2:00 p.m. be okay?” And audience loved every minute and Milt’s
so I put away my sponges and a deck of friends still talk to him about the great,
cards and threw some rope, a few props, funny show they had seen. The tourists
and my Harbin Table in a bag along with from Vermont promised to buy my book.
my suit and tie. When we arrived on Friday The guy whose mic I borrowed was
evening and walked into the lobby, there a videographer who taped the whole
was a sign at the elevator announcing the show (some of which had no sound). He
upcoming magic show. The elevator door promised to send me the tape; I assure you
opened and facing me was my PR photo. it will never be seen on YouTube! 
Anderson Hall at Quarry Hill It’s amazing what people can steal from a

70 M-U-M Magazine - DECEMBER 2014