The Harry Riser Assembly has chosen The Classics in Magic as its theme for the year.  At our September meeting we focused on the Cups and Balls.  Our October classic was the Professorâ??s Nightmare.

President Steve Spence acted as host for the evening.  He began by briefing us on the history of the Professorâ??s Nightmare with which Bob Carver won the IBM Originality Trophy in 1957.  He is credited with having invented Professorâ??s Nightmare several years earlier, probably around 1952.  The nightmare has to do with the professor trying to teach his student that the sum of three unequals will always be unequal.  And with this trick it never is!  Steve then demonstrated his version based on the handling of Our Most Illustrious, Bruce Kalver.  Steve accompanied his presentation with a sweet story of the three â??unequalâ?? brothers.

We were then treated to the magic of Taylor Martin who demonstrated his quite advanced version of the â??Nightmareâ?? accompanied by his own vocal rendition of the chipmunk song.  He also demonstrated his â??years agoâ?? version.  We were all impressed that he could still perform it flawlessly.  Taylor was very generous with tips regarding using the ropes.

The final demonstration was performed by Jim Croop who accompanied his rope manipulations by talking about the small, medium, and large problems of life and how with praying hands it is better to live life on an even keel.  Jim showed us how the â??dirty workâ?? went on behind the praying hands!

As demonstrated during the evening, the Professorâ??s Nightmare lends itself to a variety of patter and there was discussion regarding other options for telling this fascinating story of the three ropes.

Prior to the Professorâ??s Nightmare activity, assembly member, Bob Vasileff, the Wizard of Magical Mysteries, entertained us with an original patter to the Endless Neck Rope and then astounded us by demonstrating the Kruskal Count, based upon the mathematical Theory of Convergence.

Next monthâ??s classic:  McDonaldâ??s Aces.

Submitted by:  Dale Benson, Secretary
October 10, 2008