It Was All About the Money in Indianapolis

Our theme was "Money Magic" and it turned out that the magic for the evening was right on the money!  But first we discussed our plan for inviting all clubs within a reasonable distance of Indianapolis to join us at our annual Magic Picnic on June 22. It is always a great event with food and magic in a beautiful outdoor setting at one of the largest city parks in the country. Feel free to check our website for details.

Our second "on the money" event was the formal initiation ritual of new member, Doug Jave. We all know Doug as a superb magician and he proved it to us with some astounding money magic later in the evening. We are proud to welcome Doug into our Assembly #31.

And then it was time to move on to  multiple miraculous effects with coins and bills. Daniel Lee showed us his take on the Extreme Burn 2.0. Our President, Taylor Martin, shared a "Brief History of Money," including a description of the origin of the picayune. He also did a nice four coins and a card, and taught us the "Taylor Twist", his method of moving coins through his hand one at a time.

Jim Croop asked for a dollar bill, but it turned out to be counterfeit and using the Scottie York Counterfeit Bill routine was able to save the owner from embarrassment and jail. However, the owner of the bill clearly imagined it was a dollar and four quarters were produced from the remains of the counterfeit bill which allowed Jim to move on to the Garrett Thomas Imagination Coins routine.

Very long time member, Tom Winterrowd did his version of a half dollar traveling invisibly from one hand to the other which he termed "Very Costly."  With two half dollars in his right hand he tossed one invisibly to his left hand. Unfortunately, he missed, leaving him with only one half dollar. He commented that he had been working on this effect for some time and that every time he misses, it costs him fifty cents!

Finally, it should be noted that newly inducted member, Doug Jave, taught us how to  transition a borrowed bill into a bill divided into four quarters. To top it off, he used the box which formerly had contained his membership pin, and which was presented to him earlier in the evening, as the prop for his magic!

Nathan Kranzo has just notified us that he could do a workshop next week in Indianapolis on either Monday March 24 of Wednesday March 26.

The cost is $45 but here is what you get.

$45.00 includes:

• Old School Kranzo Lecture DVD
• Grumble Glim DVD with glim and gimmick

Bonus download bundle

• Royal Oak Lecture notes
• Comedy for Magicians and Mentalists - Volumes 1 and 2
• Rice Crispy Coin (change a dollar into four quarters and back)
• Bill Plots (bill switch booklet)
• Age of Travel (solutions to Dai Vernon's Travelers plot with cards and then borrowed objects and food)

Over $200 worth of magic!

Please email Jim Croop by Friday (tomorrow) if you would attend the workshop and which days you would be available. Probably start at 7pm.

We know this is very short notice. If there are 5 who are interested I will confirm and get more details including location.

Jim Croop
jcroop@iu.edu

Beware the Ides of March! Also beware magicians tasked with presenting “Dangerous Magic” (this month’s theme). After a brief business meeting during which we approved the upcoming May 17, 2014 lecture by Joshua Jay and also once again nominated Steve Spence for Central Plains RVP, things got seriously dangerous.

President Taylor Martin presented “Truth”, an effect designed to discourage bullying in which the “bully” is required to promise that they will never bully another person in the future. The punishment for lying is being cut in half by a rope. Fortunately, the “bully” passed the test. Next up, Tom Winterrowd presented the mystery of a tube in which he placed a golden wooden cube. The tube was bisected with a dagger and yet the golden cube passed straight through the dagger, undamaged. Daniel Lee shared that he became fascinated with dangerous magic after watching Barry Rice perform his razor swallowing act at last year’s Winter Spectacle. Daniel’s mother made him promise right then and there that he wouldn’t swallow razors. Instead, Daniel dazzled us with his gut wrenching needle swallowing routine, ably assisted by compeer Jim Croop who verified that Daniel had truly swallowed the 20 or so needles before they reappeared from his mouth, threaded upon black thread. Jay Newby continued the theme using a switchblade, a brown paper bag and a deck of cards. After brazenly announcing what his real name was (for security reasons I won’t list it here) prior to entering the local witness protection program, he proceeded to find a chosen card by blindly sticking the knife through it. Don Miller, ever the professional, called Jay (if that is his name) back in front of the room to try out his rope through neck routine that he swore he’d only just learned that day. Fortunately for Jay, Don is a quick learner and no blood was spilt. Finally, although diverging from the theme, Doug Jave, after swearing us all to secrecy, demonstrated and explained his unique and original method of producing a sponge ball from the flame. What made it unique was that after the production the audience visibly sees smoke emanating from inside the sponge ball. Additionally, he demonstrated how he could do a double production using the same principle.

Thankfully, considering the theme of the night, all compeers left the building unscathed and unscarred!

Maria Ibanez shared the following sad news with S.A.M. members from Rachel Colombini through Simone Marron.

"Terrible news. Aldo suffered a catastrophic stroke yesterday. Left side of brain dead spreading fast to the right side, paralyzed, no speech, hospice taking over now.  It will be just days, nothing we can do.  Sorry to have to give you this news."

As Maria said, please keep our dear friends Aldo and Rachel in your thoughts and prayers.

Donâ??t forget that our annual SAM/IBM Magic Winter Spectacular will take place on Sunday, February 9.

The location and time are the same as last year. The show will start at 2pm at the Carmel Playhouse at Clay Terrace.

The show is being produced by Barry Rice and includes featured performers Ryan Siebert and Jamahl Keys.

All invited. Bring your family and friends!

The traditional pre-show luncheon will be at the MCL Restaurant and Bakery (1390 Keystone Way, East Drive, Carmel) from 12:00 until 2:00.

It is about a 10 minute drive to the theater.

See attached maps for directions.

Our regular first Monday combined SAM/IBM meeting at the Irvington United Methodist Church will not be held. Plan instead to come to our holiday magic show on Sunday the 9th.

Margy Riser, wife of Harry Riser, passed away three days ago. The funeral will be next Friday, December 12, 2013 @ Crown Hill Cemetery. Calling for 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM and service from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM.

A memorial will be either the following Saturday or Sunday at Highland Country Club.

My wife and partner for 66 years 8 months and 25 days died at 5:20 AM this morning,
October 31, 3013
 
We, our sons, Mike and Aaron, and daughter Ann, I plan to have a party celebrating her life.

It will be at Freeman Family Funeral Home, 819 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN (this is St. Rd. #  9)

Sunday, November 3, 2013 From 1 to 3 pm with a celebration of her life at 3 pm

Grave side services will follow at Flat Rock Cemetary.

You are all Invited to attend

Congratulations to Phil Dubbs who has recently been recognized by SAM for being a member for 35 years!  A certificate recognizing his magical longevity is being prepared.

Assembly #31 members and regional VP Steve Spence performed at the Veteran's Home in West Lafayette, IN, along with David Kirby and Irish Joe. Taylor Martin, as Rodney The Younger, mc'd, along with 30 year S.A.M.member Phil Dubbs. This all took place on Oct. 26. About 50 veterans who are residents, plus their families, were in attendance. The show was also streamed to the rest of the hospital for those that could not leave their rooms. David Kirby did his classic magic act with a straight jacket escape, Irish Joe did a set of children's magic, Phil and Steve did closeup before the show, and Taylor performed his famous Bullet, Block, and Ribbon. He also provided the music for the event. All that attended seemed to enjoy the performance. A fine piano player named Linda played patriotic tunes and incidental tunes. We thank David Kirby for arranging the show.