ring 50 magi-gram may 2009 final

Official Newsletter of IBM Ring 50 -- The National Capital Ring Volume 63 No. 5 May 2009

MAGI-GRAM

R

I

N

G

50

International Brotherhoodof Magicians Ring 50

The National Capital RingPresident

Louis Meyer(703) 765-1923

[email protected]

Vice PresidentEric Redman

(301) [email protected]

SecretarySam Brothers(703) 550-9155

[email protected]

TreasurerBob Patterson(703) 490-1222

[email protected]

Sergeant-at-ArmsReggie Rice


Magi-Gram EditorJim Flanigan


WebmasterEric Henning(301) 369-0025

[email protected]

Magician of the Year ContestHOLIDAY INN

MAY MEETINGWednesday, May 6, 2009

featuring the annual

2460 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA

Ring 50’s Magi-Whirl 2009 endedwith a spectacular stage show and astanding ovation for headliner JeffMcBride. The Las Vegas star proved

he indeed was the master of masksand the king of cards. The stage --and the auditorium--at Bishop IretonHigh School in Alexandria, Va., wastransformed into a magical arena.

Jeff delivered an hour-long showthat many will remember for years tocome. His unleashed energy wasspectacular. Much of the action wasdone in an enchanted, fog-drapedsetting. But when the theater lightscame up he would easily bounce offstage and move into the audience tocreate more moments of wonder.

Perhaps the most poignant part ofthe program though was a young boynamed C.J. brought on stage by thesuperstar. The youngster evencaught the performer off guard as hemimicked his every move and drewloud applause for his delightfulbows.

The evening program wasemceeded by former Ring 50president Eric Henning. He alsoperformed several effects of his ownincluding an egg bag routine with alady volunteer from the audience.

Noland Montgomery, who haswon Ring 50’s Magician of the Year

rope trick with a young lady from the

for a befuddled male volunteer.The leaders of the International

Brotherhood of Magicians and theSociety of American Magicianscombined for a whimsical mentalismroutine. SAM President BruceKalver first “hypnotized” the entireaudience with his special spinning

head. He was then joined by IBM

Former Ring 50 President Mike Taggert,

Duane Laflin will be the headliner. Alsopresenting a lecture on restaurant magicand performing in the close-up show aswell as the gala show will be Jim Sisti.Giving a lecture on children’sentertainment and performing in the night

Magi-Whirl 2009 a big hit

Jeff McBride greets legendary magicdealer Al Cohen and his wife Rita beforethe show.

6:00 Cocktails 6:45 Dinner 8:00 Meeting

M

title four times, was the opening act.He presented a cut-and-restored

spiral illusion which deflated his

President Joan Caesar, who was able

I-95 ALEXANDRIA

who produced Magi-Whirl 2009, also announced the lineup for Magi-Whirl2010 which is already in the works.

show will be Linking Ring Editor andauthor Samuel Patrick Smith.

crowd and a Three Card Monte effect

to reveal the serial number on a spec-tator's $5 bill from across the stage.

Coming Events

Barry’s Magic Shop,5544 Nicholson Lane,Rockville, Md.Danny Archer Lecture Danny has lecturedand performed in 44of the 50 states as wellas worldwide. His

Lectures at Denny and Lee’sDenny & Lee Magic Studio, 9004Yellow Brick Road, Suite HRosedale, MD 21237.

Comedy & Mystery Society Shows Now in its 6th season, thisentertainment presentation is co-produced by Bob Sheets, Brian Curry,Barry Wood and Mark Phillips.Place: The Arts Barn, 311 Kent SquareRoad in Gaithersburg, Md.Dates: Last Friday performance of seasonset May 22. Wednesday shows plannedJune 3 and 17. Shows start at 8 p.m.Cost: Tickets are $12 for residentsand $15 for nonresidents forWednesday performances, and $18 forresidents and $21 for nonresidents forFriday performances. Tickets can alsobe purchased online atwww.gaithersburgmd.gov/RecXpress.Contact: www.comedymysterysociety.comfor details or 301-258-6394 for informationand tickets. Special Note: The family-friendly showsare perfect for ages 10 and up.Directions: For information anddirections visit the Arts Barn online atwww.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn.

IBM 2009 Nashville--“The GreatestMagic Convention on Earth”Date: June 30 – July 4, 2009.Place: Nashville, Tenn. -- Music CityUSA

If you only make it to one magicconvention in 2009, this is the onewhere you should be! More than$20,000 in prizes, trophies and awardswill be given for the stage and close-up contests. There will be outstandinglectures, events and performers.

Accomodations: Special hotel ratesat the Gaylord Opryland Resort andConvention Center of only $120 pernight plus tax.

Contact: Bob Patterson, I.B.M.Registration Chairman, by emailing himat [email protected].

Glenn Gary Parlor Show in anintimate 19th century settingDates: Wednesdays and Fridaysat 8 p.m.Place: The Westin City Center Hotel,1400 M Street NW, just off ThomasCircle at 14th and M, in the FireplaceParlor adjacent to the dining room. Cost: Pending available seating day ofperformance, any IBM member can getin at a discounted rate of $25 cash atthe door. Contact: 703-963-0790 orwww.glenngary.com.

Society of American Magicians(SAM) Larry West Assembly 23Date: May 20 at 8 p.m.Theme: Escapology, math-magic, streetbizarrePlace: National Press Club, 529 14thStreet NW, Washington, D.C.Contact: Ray Eyler at 410/[email protected]. Footnote: Kosmo has rescheduled hislecture for June 18.

Lecture by Giacomo BertiniGiacomo Bertini is the hottest performerof coin magic in the world today!Date: Thursday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $20

Lecture by Chris Capehart

Contact: Denny’s at 410-686-3914or email [email protected].

S.A.M. National Convention in Buffalo The Society of American Magiciansconvention is filled to the brim withmagic, fun and even some surprises. Italso includes a day trip to Canada forsightseeing and a visit to the fantasticGreg Frewin Theatre in Niagara Falls,where convention participants see EricDeCamps in his critically acclaimedOne Man Magic Show.Dates: July 15-18Place: Buffalo, N.Y.Special Event: Norm Nielsen honoredCost: Register on line with credit cardor Paypal.Contact: http://www.magicsam.com/samshop/convreg.asp. More informa-tion at www.magicsam.com.

The annual Parlor Magic Foray ofFamous Unknown Magicians andClowns featuring Bruce Kalver, 2008S.A.M. President, Mike Miller, 2009S.A.M. President, and Andy Dallas, 2007S.A.M. President.

Date: June 5 and 6.

Cost: $35. Checks may be sent toCharlie Zuis, Hall of Fame of FamousUnknowns, Box 72, Schuyler Lake,New York 13457

Place: Hall of Fame of FamousUnknown Magicians and Clownslocated near Cooperstown, New York.Contact Charlie Zuis (Chazoo) at 315-858-2576 for more information.Danny Archer

lecture is filled with solid, audience-tested effects.Date: May 15 at 8 p.m.Cost: $20. Tickets are non-refundableand may not be exchanged There are always fun things happeningat Barry’s. There are magic classes andmagic shows plus lectures andbirthday parties. Check the shop’s website for the latest happenings. Visit Barry’s web site http://www.barrysmagicshop.com for the latestevents.Contact: 301/933-0373 or [email protected].

Chris will present his“ K i d d i n ’ A r o u n d ”lecture.Date: Thursday, May7, at 7:30 p.m.Cost: $20

Lecture by Ben RobinsonRobinson now enthralls with acompletely new lecture built around hisnewbook ”The MagiCIAn: JohnMulholland’s Secret Life”.Date: Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m.Cost: $20 Lecture by Axel Hecklau of GermanyDate: Wednesday, June 24, at 7:30 p.m.Cost $25

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Louis Meyer

Louis Louis Louis Louis Louis

May 6………..….Dan Lacey Contest,

Election of Officers

June 3.......................Winton Carroll “Most

Humorous Magician” Contest

July ………..........No Ring 50 meeting

June 30-July 4….81st IBM Convention

Ring 50 Schedule

Ring 50 elections set

Magician of Yearcompetition readyto pick title holder

Dan Lacey

Two former winners of the DanLacey Memorial Trophy for Ring 50’sMagician of the Year will be back tocompete at the May meeting. Noland

Montgomery andDwight Redmanhave both indicatedthey will beperforming for thetitle.

The winner willreceive a rotatingtrophy and a spot toperform at the 2010Ring 50 Magi-Whirlstage show.

Other entrants expected to seek the titleare both new and veteran members ofRing 50. A panel of judges will declarethe winner.

The late Dan Lacey was a presidentof Ring 50 who inspired others--especially newcomers to magic--tohone their skills.

Louis Meyer is seeking a secondterm as Ring 50 president in electionsset to be held in May. The officerschosen will be sworn in at the Junemeeting.

Positions to be held besidespresident are vice president,secretary, treasurer and sergeant-at-arms.

If you are interested in holdingany of these offices, contact LouisMeyer.

Magi-Whirl 2009 is over. Wow!Wasn’t this yearly convention andshow great fun? Weren’t you bowledover by Jeff McBride? His lecture andshow were incredible! And our specialguests—including Joan Caesar of theInternational Brotherhood of Magiciansand Bruce Kalver from the Society ofAmerican Magicians—were an addedtreat. Then there wasthe Magic Castle’sClose-up Magician ofthe Year Paul Green.

I just want to take amoment to thank all ofthe volunteers whohelped make Magi-Whirl a success. Youall did so much to helpmake our club stand out and I want tothank you for your work. You ushered,set up and tore down, assisted ourspecial guests, helped sell tickets,entertained show attendees before thetheater doors opened and much more.

We hope that the success of thisyear’s convention will entice moreRing 50 members next year.. Those whodidn’t join this biggest event of theyear missed a very special time.

* * *We will have our competition for

Magician of the Year at our meetingthis month. Whoever wins this Maywill be featured in next year’s Magi-Whirl gala show! Noland Montgomerydid a wonderful job this year and iscoming back to defend his crown.

If you would like to compete pleaseemail me and let me know ASAP.Come to our meeting and watch thecompetition. You will witness a greatmagic presentation.

Also, the following month, the MostHumorous Magician competition will bestaged. If you have a comedy magictrick or act please email me and join thecompetition. I know Reggie Rice islooking forward to performing again andonce again defending his trophy!

* * *Lastly, this is the last call for people

interested in joining our officer ranks.Several people have let me know thatthey are interested. If that is you pleaseemail me and remind me that we spoke.If you are willing to give of your time

and service, please contact me beforethe May meeting so that we canspeak. I would love to hear fromsome of you. This is just anotherterrific way to help out our club overthe next year. I have indicated I willserve as your president again ifelected but I am looking for a greatcabinet to back me up.

The host of “The Dick CavettShow” — which aired on ABC from1968 to 1975 and on public televisionfrom 1977 to 1982 —recently recalledhis relationship with the card andcoin master Tony Slydini in hisregular New York Times blog.

“He was a rare artist ofincomparable skill and style,” Cavettremembers. Cavett was made alifetime member of The Magic Castlefor conducting two interviews withSlydini on his show.

“Tony was a bit bowled over bythe reaction on the street the dayafter the first show aired,” Cavettrecalls. “At his tobacco/newspapershop, where he said he’d beenanonymous for decades, he wasnow lionized.”

“An element of Tony’s personalitywas his goodness,” he said. “Hetaught kids who couldn’t continueto pay instead of taking newstudents who could — although heneeded the income.”

Johnny Carson of the “TonightShow” – who himself was anexcellent card man and all-aroundmagician—took Cavett to TheMagic Castle in Hollywood his firsttime. The legendary Dai Vernon satwith them.

Cavett, who brought a Svengalideck at the Nebraska State Fair whenhe was 11, said. “Magic became mylife.”

Noted show hostrecalls Slydini

Slydini Cavett

Ring 50’s annual auction sparked alively evening as more than 120 itemswere sold as auctioneers Dick Christianand IBM Past President Bill Wells did afantastic job coaxing out the best dollarfrom bidders.

Overall lucky bidders bought somefine magic equipment, publications andvideos. A Berglass book drew veryactive bidding but Wayne Alan gavethe final bid of $250 and walked awaywith it. A head twister was another pieceof magic that was purchased for only$175.

Reggie Rice succeeded in winning agumball machine effect. A lot of activebidding took place on the 25 items thatan anonymous magician donated toRing 50 for the live auction. He alsodonated 48 items for the silent auction.

Mike Wolfson took home DoubleCoincidence. Kevin Sievers was topbidder for a vintage Tannen’s Stars ofMagic book.

Another 151 items brought in morerevenue in the silent auction.

Ring 50 made $1,624.80 from boththe live and silent auctions includingdonations of magic items.

A special bonanza of books, videos,magic tricks and other material wasdonated to Ring 50 for the auction byPeter Porrazzo.

Auction sparks bids

PRESS CLUB SHOW--The Society ofAmerican Magicians presented a freefamily-friendly magic show at theNational Press Club in mid-April.Performing were Noland Montgomery,winner of the Magician of the Yearcontest sponsored by Ring 50; HughTurley, a top children’s magicalentertainer; “Lorenzo the Great”(Larry Lipman); Allen Cleveland, arestaurant entertainer; Laurie Currywith illusionist Greg Clements;Dwight Redman, another winner ofRing 50’s Magician of the Yearcontest; and Cristian Vidrascu (notpictured).

Joseph Friedrich stuck his neck out for Ring 50’s auction,but in the end didn’t lose his head. Glenn Gary was at theguillotine.

Reggie Rice drew a bead on theyoung volunteer who once againescaped injury as a knife penetratedhis neck. Dick Christian looks on.

Bill Wells offers a set oflinking rings as he invites bids.

Magicians are finding themselvesdigging deeper into their bag of tricksin the hope of conjuring up new gigsin the down economy, the Los AngelesDaily News reports.

Between Ring 50 Magi-Gram issues,check out the latest news events andperformances at the official Ring 50blog site IBMRing50.org.

Magic gigs downfor performers

An article written by Daily News staffwriter Barry Sokolsky, who is a magicianhimself, noted that magicians acrossthe country are seeing their workvanish. Event organizers, conventionplanners and moms and dads are cuttingback to make ends meet.

“There is still that desire to bemystified,” said Jack White, incomingpresident of the 12,000-memberInternational Brotherhood ofMagicians.

Magi-Whirl 2009Magical Moments

Photos in portfolio by Dwight Redman, Kevin Curry and Jim Flanigan

featuringLas Vegasheadliner

Jeff McBrideSponsored by National Capital Ring 50

April 17-18

Magi-WhirlOpening Night

The opening night lecturer at Ring 50’s annual “Magi-Whirl” conventionwore a light green shirt and a dark green tie. He performed rope tricks--including theProfessor’s Nightmare”--with green rope. He showed his favorite classic cardforce with a green-backed deck.

It wasn’t difficult to know who was keeping his audience spellbound. Theywere watching Paul Green, who was the Magic Castle’s 2008 Close-upMagician of the Year.

He invited convention attendees to put themselves in the position of laymen.“I want you to say, ‘Wow, how did he do that?’ How do you want an audiencemember to react? If you can’t think like a lay person, your experience here at theconvention will not be fulfilled,” Green declared.

“Our magic is a gift that we have,” he stressed.After the lecture, some of the convention dealers opened shop and showed

their wares. Some of them even performed on a makeshift stage to demonstratetheir own magical skills.

While the dealers hawked their merchandise, a rehearsal was taking place inan empty auditorium for the big show to come on Saturday night. Studentsfrom Bishop Ireton High School’s Theater Department, under the direction ofKevin Curry, worked with performers to make sure lighting and sound cueswould be perfected by the time the theater was filled with convention andpublic attendees.

A total of 145 magicians attended the two-day convention. They experienceda terrific weekend of wonder. Nearly 600 people attended a grand stage showon the final night that was opened to the public.

Laurie Curry with Paul Green after his lecture

Bob Sanders of DoveLite Silks unfurled his wares indealer demonstration show as convention opened.

Richard Hughes of Hughes Magicproduces a rainbow bouquet.

The 2009 DEALERS

DoveLite Silks - Bob SandersFred’s Magic Books - Fred MitchellGreen’s Magic - Paul GreenHughes Magic, Inc. - Richard HughesKalver Magic - Bruce KalverMagic, Balloons, & More - John ReidMagic Goods - Pravin PonnuriMagic Vault - Mark ReedMcBride Magic - Jeff McBrideSorcery with Class - Scott Correll

Magi-Whirl Lecture by Jeff McBride

Attending the Jeff McBride lecture were, from left, IBM Territorial Vice President JimFlanigan, IBM International President Joan Caesar, former IBM President Bill Wells andformer Ring 50 President Dwight Redman.

Jeff McBride and Mike Taggert, producer of the2009 Magi-Whirl convention and show, chatted afterJeff’s lecture.

Jeff McBride stands in the back of the lecture room coaxing achosen card to rise from a slide held by a spectator in the front.

Jeff McBride admonished a crowded room ofmagicians at the 2009 Magi-Whirl “to give magic fromthe heart, not just your hands” when performing.

Jeff shared some of his best moves as well as hisphilosophy in his presentation. “I love teaching mymagic, sharing my magic,” he declared.

“Magic is much more powerful than we think it is,”he emphasized.

Several times during his lecture he showered confettiinto the air as he produced a silk and did other effects.“Confetti is the new fire,” he told his listeners.

Lecture by Bruce Kalver

After calling his daughter at home in Rhode Island, BruceKalver asked her to predict the serial number of a dollar billheld by a volunteer from the audience.

Bruce showed off his popularshrinking and growing head illusionwhich he invented.

Bruce Kalver has taught hismagical craft at colleges anduniversities and other venues aroundthe country. The New England nativehas lectured at the Magic Castle in LosAngeles and London’s prestigiousMagic Circle. And he has appeared atother magic groupselsewhere.

Lecture by Paul Green

Paul Green opened the 2009 Magi-Whirl convention on Friday nightwith a lecture that included hisincredible mastery of the classic cardforce. He has appeared everywherefrom Hollywood to Hong Kong.

Paul Green does a bit of card magic for convention participants.

Close-UpMagic

A classroom was turned into a close-up casino for a brief moment as atrio of magicians showed their skillsat intimate performing.

The entertainers were:--Bill Warren, from Hampton, Va.,

who has been performing for more than25 years.

--Jeff McBride, the guest star at thisyear’s Magi-Whirl convention.

--And Paul Green, who was chosenlast year as the Close-Up Magician ofthe Year by the Academy of MagicalArts at the Magic Castle inHollywood.

Jeff McBride recruited IBM President Joan Caesar to help him.

Bill Warren captures the attention of a young assistant as he performs.

Paul Green kept his audience laughing.

Q&A Session with magic’s leadership

to Washington. She and SAM President Bruce Kalver, right, were guests at anafternoon question-and-answer session before the evening’s gala program.

The presidents of the InternationalBrotherhood of Magicians and theSociety of American Magicians offeredinsights into their own introductionsinto magic at a question-and-answersession moderated by former Ring 50President Mike Taggert.

Joan, who is from Eastern Canada,said her interest was sparked when shetook a young son to a magic show. “Itjust blossomed from there,” shedeclared.

Joan, who has traveled the worldsince assuming the helm as the IBM’sinternational president, confessed sheloves magic conventions.

“I do kids shows,” she said. Sheperforms parlor and close-up magic atbirthday parties, libraries, schools,corporate family events and fall fairs.

SAM President Bruce Kalver was

literally born into a world of magic. Hisgrandfather, Samuel Woolf, was amagician who built magic for HarryHoudini. Bruce started magic when hewas 4 and first performed when hewas 10.

By the time he graduated fromcollege he was doing dinner theatersall over the country and he went fromthere to performing on cruise ships. Hiswife Arlene was his assistant.

Bruce is an inventor of magic as well.He is best known for his Growing andShrinking Head illusion.

During the discussion both the IBMand SAM presidents emphasized theneed to embrace more young peopleinto the world of magic. “Youth is ourfuture,” Joan stressed. Bruce said thatSAM now has 100 youth assembliesworldwide.

Joan Caesar performs

Moderator Michael Taggert presents IBM President Joan Caesar a memento of her visit

StrollingMagicians

A band of close-up magic performers entertained the pre-theater crowd at Bishop Ireton High School before the gala showon Saturday night.

Dwight Redman

Sam Brothers

Eric Redman

Teo (Theo Rushin)

Lorenzo The Great(Larry Lipman)

Capt Token(Louis Hofheimer)

The Big Show

Magician of the Year Noland Montgomery did a cut-and-restored rope effect with the help of a young assistantfrom the audience.

Jeff McBride proved he is the master of masks.

Bruce Kalver

Joan Caesar

Eric Henning served as master of ceremonies.

The respective presidents of theSociety of American Magiciansand the InternationalBrotherhood of Magiciansoffered a clever mentalismroutine.

Jeff McBride’s show provided asignature fusion of mask, myth,drama and illusion. His act showedhis own personal fascination withJapanese Kabuki theater.

A group of young people watch as Eric magically adds color to a flower silk.

Jeff McBride’sSpecial Workshop

Jeff McBride gave a special post-convention workshop for a group ofmore than 30 magicians. The 4-1/2-hour session ranged from philosophyto prestidigitation.

Jeff shared his own life story andlessons learned along the way tobecoming a Las Vegas headliner andnoted performer around the world.

The classroom session began witha brief video on McBride’s Magic &Mystery School in Las Vegas. Jeffexplained how participants there learneverything from presentation and propconstruction to pantomine and publicrelations.

The school is held in an intimatesetting. There are both group andone-on-one sessions. Eugene Burger,who is considered one of the finestcloseup magicians in the world, is thedean of the school.

Jeff demonstrated his own skills asa pantominist in his class here. Hispiercing eye contact and nonstopagility were mesmerizing. And he wasa stickler on insisting that his classtake copious notes.

He told how he scouts an auditoriumor theater before a show looking forpossible candidates to come on stagewhen he is performing. He emphasizedhe never calls for volunteers.

While giving his presentation, Jeffoffered recommendations on variousresources to help performers includingbooks and computer sites.

The master magician kept his class in rapt attention as he shared his ideas and thoughts.

Former Ring 50 President Eric Henning watches as Jeff McBrideexplains an effect to a young participant in the unique magic class.

ring 50 magi-gram may 2009 final

Documents