MAGI-GRAM

Official Newsletter of IBM Ring 50 -- The National Capital Ring Volume 62 No. 11 November 2008

Ring 50 member tells

what’s cooking in book
Ring 50 member Wayne Alan, a
professional magician who has
performed widely, is cooking up
something new. He has just finished
writing a magic cookbook.

R
I
FEATURED LECTURER--Chris Capehart
N
will be ringmaster as Ring 50’s special
G lecturer at November meeting.
50
International Brotherhood Wayne has compiled more than
Chris Capehart
of Magicians Ring 50
The National Capital Ring
100 healthy and delectable
vegetarian recipes collected during
billed as lecturer
President his career in show business. His Chris Capehart, an accomplished master
Louis Meyer “Magical Meatless Meals magician, will be the featured lecturer at
(703) 765-1923 Cookbook” offers everything from a Ring 50’s meeting in November. Members
president@ibmring50.org vegetable lasagna to a gingered will be admitted for free. Others will be
Vice President coconut créme brulee. There are charged a fee at the door.
Eric Redman many seafood dishes and those Chris has done it all. In 35 years he
(301) 927-7717 using dairy products. has performed on the big stage, become a
vp@ibmring50.org Wayne bills himself as a corporate famous, accomplished street performer,
illusionist--a term he coined himself. created routines and mastered the linking
Secretary In the cookbook, he includes more rings. His skill at closeup is no less than
Sam Brothers than two dozen easy-to-learn magic
(703) 550-9155 astonishing. His quick comeback verbal
tricks that can be performed in the skills sharpened on the streets of New
secretary@ibmring50.org
kitchen or at the dinner table. York City have made him an outstanding
Treasurer The publication date for the book comedian.
Bob Patterson is Nov. 21 just before the holidays. At the Abbott’s Convention in 2002 Chris
(703) 490-1222 You can contact him at was awarded the Senator Crandall Award
treasurer@ibmring50.org Wayne@WayneAlanMagic.com. for Comedy. At the CAM Convention he
Wayne has performed magic from worked with Jeff McBride, who noted
Sergeant-at-Arms the White House to Hollywood. afterward, “He is the only magician I’ve
Reggie Rice ever seen who can bring down the house
(240) 298-6077 NOVEMBER MEETING with a stock trick.” In Las Vegas at the
sgtarms@ibmring50.org SAM National Convention Chris
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008
Capehart again proved himself to be a
Magi-Gram Editor HOLIDAY INN
master of magic by serving as the emcee
Jim Flanigan IN ALEXANDRIA for the show.
(202) 554-3775 2460 Eisenhower Avenue
magi-gram@ibmring50.org Chris Capehart is a regular headliner at
Alexandria, VA “Monday Night Magic” in New York
Webmaster 6:00 Cocktails City. He has performed in Atlantic City,
Eric Henning 6:45 Dinner Las Vegas, New York, Philadelphia,
(301) 369-0025 Hollywood, Chicago, Denver and
eric@ibmring50.org 8:00 Meeting numerous other cities.
 Coming Events
Society of American Magicians
(SAM) Larry West Assembly 23
Date: Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
Theme: Everyone performs.
Place: National Press Club, 529 14th
Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Contact: Ray Eyler at 410/798-0176
ceyler1026@aol.com
Aldo and Rachel Colombini
Aldo Colombini Lecture Enjoy the
magic and comedy of Aldo and Rachel
Colombini.
Place: Barry’s Magic Shop, 5544
Nicholson Lane, Rockville, Md.
Date: Nov. 2 at 5 p.m.
Cost: $20
Visit Barry’s web site http://
www.barrysmagicshop.com for the latest
events.
Contact: 301/933-0373 or email
magic@erols.com.
The Comedy & Mystery Society
for uproarious participatory theater
and astounding sleight of hand.
Dates: Wednesdays and Fridays
at 8 p.m. on Oct. 31, Nov. 12 and 28
and Dec. 10 and 27.
Place: Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square
Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Cost: $15 for non-residents and $12
for Gaithersburg city residents.
Contact: 301-258-6394.
12th annual First Night Fredericksburg,
Date: Dec. 31
Featuring the Michael Taggert Magic
Show
This top-ranked New Year’s Eve
celebration draws thousands of people
to downtown Fredericksburg.
Glenn Gary Parlor Show in an
intimate 19th century setting
Dates: Wednesdays and Fridays
at 8 p.m.
Place: The Westin City Center Hotel,
1400 M Street NW, just off Thomas
Circle at 14th and M, in the Fireplace
Parlor adjacent to the dining room.
Cost: Pending available seating day of
performance, any IBM member can get
in at a discounted rate of $25 cash at
the door.
Contact: 703-963-0790 or
www.glenngary.com.
SAM Assembly 23’s Lecture
featuring Ted Brainard, a renowned
Boston-area based street magician, who
performs under the name Kozmo.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, at 8
p.m.
Cost: SAM members free. Others pay
fee at door.
Footnote: Kozmo has produced a line
of DVD’s for sale from
Kozmomagic.com, including the
quarterly DVD “magazine” known as
Reel Magic. Ted, or Kozmo, had a
dealer’s booth at Ring 50’s 2008 Magi-
Whirl convention.
The Second Theory and Art of Magic
Conference on Performing Magic
Place: Muhlenberg College in
Allentown, Pa.
Dates: March 19-21, 2009
Keynote presentations and full-evening
performances will be made by Eugene
Burger, Roberto Giobbi, Max Howard
and filmmaker Michael Caplan. Extra
events for magicians only will be held
on March 18 and March 22.
Contact: Conference Director Dr.
Lawrence Hass at his address
lhass@muhlenberg.edu or visit
www.lawrencehass.com.
Lectures at Denny and Lee’s
Denny & Lee Magic Studio, 9004
Yellow Brick Road, Suite H
Rosedale, MD 21237
Aldo Colombini and Rachel Wild
Date: Sunday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m.
Cost: $20. IBM Ring 179 members free
with reservations in advance.
Aldo Colombini, who moved to the
United States from Italy in 1993, has
performed in more than 50 countries.
Rachel, who established a magic shop
in Manchester, England in 1993, also is
a full-time performer.
A Brand New Lecture by Bill Abbott
Date: Monday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m.
Cost
This:$20
new lecture on “The Thing” and
“The Pocket Thing” will feature
excerpts from Bill’s new highly
acclaimed books “Cocktail Card Magic”
and “Cabaret Card Magic” and several
new releases including the Octopus
Deck.
Bill Abbott “The Thing” Workshop
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $40
Learn the reputation-making one-man
levitation that can be performed any-
where taught by the creator
.
Lecture by Jeff Hobson
Date: Sunday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m.
Cost $25
Jeff Hobson is one of the most in-
demand comedy magicians working
today. His television appearances
include Fox Family’s “Masters of
Illusion” and NBC’s “Magic on the
Edge”.
Rick Maue Marketing Mentalism
Afternoon Workshop
Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m.
Cost: $25
Rick Maue will be teaching some of
the real secrets of his success.
Diabolical Deception—A New Lecture
by Rick Maue
Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $20
Rick will present some of his brand
new pieces of Diabolical Deception
and will briefly touch on a few of his
signature pieces.
Contact: Denny’s at 410-686-3914
or email dennymagic@aol.com.
http://www.dennymagic.com/cgi-bin/
hazel.cgi
Coming to Denny’s Jan. 10-Kenrick
“Ice” McDonald and Eric T. Anderson.
THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER
We just returned from a five-day
Carnival cruise to Cozemel and Progreso
in Mexico to attend the annual
Creativity At Sea adventure sponsored
by hosts Barry Mitchell, who recently
lectured at Ring 50, and Tim Sonefelt.
It was not only great fun but a terrific
and magical learning experience. Once
we left from the port in Houston, Texas,
we were able to interact with guests
like Bev Bergeron, Julian Franklin and
Don Miller as well as Tim and Barry.
Some of us also returned with a tan
because we saw some of the most
beautiful beaches in the world. Early
October is an excellent time for a sea
voyage. This offered an opportunity
to bond
with some
v e r y
creative
minds and
to network
with some
of the top
children’s
and family entertainers today. I would
definitely recommend this trip to
everyone next year.
One of the big pluses was joining
together in Tim and Barry’s seminar at
sea to learn what they do to create
original magic and enhance
presentations. There was lots of
brainstorming dealing with the
marketing of magic to just plain fun
conjuring up ways to weave humor
into your own shows.
This was truly an awesome time with
master’s level presenters. Spouses and
significant others who accompanied
the magicians on board were able to
enjoy various group performances
while at sea.
This was like a floating magic
convention. While we attended high
Ring 50 Schedule
2008
Nov. 5……........Chris Capehart Lecture
Dec. 3……...........Duane Laflin Lecture
2009
Jan. 7..History of Magic-mini lectures
Feb. 4.............................Magic Teach-in
March 4…………...........................TBA
seas classes, spouses enjoyed a
scavenger hunt that was not magic
related. We were seated for dinner
each night at the same table as Bev
Bergeron. Every evening was a laugh
fest with him there.
This was just
another fulfilling
experience. I also was
at the Kidabra retreat
not long ago.
Now it’s back to
reality. Our next Ring
50 meeting will be a Louis Meyer
lecture by the great Chris Capehart. The
following month there will be a lecture
given by Duane Laflin.
Meanwhile, our ring is looking ahead
to the 2009 Magi-Whirl convention and
public show. Your help is going to be
needed to make this another wonderful
success as it has been in recent years.
Jeff McBride is coming to star in the
stage presentation.
You also should be thinking about
the movement we have put in motion
to incorporate young people who will
be our promise of tomorrow by
forming a youth program for budding
magicians.
I’m looking forward to seeing all of
you at our November meeting. If I can
be of any help or you have ideas to
improve our ring, please feel free to
contact me at any time.
Louis
Stay in touch always
Between Ring 50 Magi-Gram issues,
check out the latest news events and
performances at the official Ring 50
blog site: IBMRing50.org.
April 1 .Auction, nomination of officers.
April 17and 18…...…Magi-Whirl 2009
May 6…………….Dan Lacey Contest
June 3……...…….Winton Carroll “Most
Humorous Magician” Contest
July ………………No Ring 50 meeting
July 1-4……........81st IBM Convention
Nashville, Tenn.
SOME LIKE IT HOT--Jeff McBride
warms his hands over a roaring fire.
He will be the headliner at Magi-
Whirl 2009.
Magi-Whirl
promises to
be spectacular
Be sure to jot down April 17, 18
and 19, 2009, on your calender for
Magi-Whirl 2009. This new
convention sponsored by Ring 50
will feature a super lineup of
lecturers and performers.
Jeff McBride, straight from Las
Vegas, will be the show headliner on
Saturday night in the Bishop Ireton
High School auditorium. Other
performers will include Paul Green,
Bruce Kalver and our own Magician
of the Year Noland Montgomery. The
emcee will be Eric Henning.
A special session will be held with
IBM International President Joan
Caesar and SAM National President
Bruce Kalver at the convention.
There will be 10 magic shops in the
dealer room.
This time there also will be a
special four-hour workshop on
Sunday, April 19, with Jeff McBride
at an additional cost of $125.
Visit our www.Magi-Whirl.Org
website for details. And be sure to
register early and SAVE! Early Bird
registration, including the gala
public show, will be $50 through
April 5, 2009. The convention cost
after April 5 will be $65. The general
admission for the public show will
be $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
 Ring 50 Kid’s Show...

Jim Flanigan clowns around

in show’s opening act.

Glenn Gary floats card case

Eric Henning holds audience
under his magical spell

Laurie Curry charms young assistant

Louis Meyer creates a balloon sculpture

Larry Lipman shows the ropes

Reggie Rice startles even himself with snake act

Mike Taggert produces a colorful coil from his mouth
Photos by Jim Flanigan
...wows Ring 50 crowd
Children’s Magic was in the spotlight
at the October meeting of Ring 50. Jim
Flanigan, the evening’s opening act,
came out sporting a red sponge nose
and a tall, colorful hat. He pulled a small
white rabbit from the hat followed by a
long glittering snake. He finished by
producing a six-foot-long yellow No. 2
pencil. He ended by sketching a chosen
card picked by a young audience
member.
The next set was Ring 50 President
Louis Meyer. He opened his child-
friendly act with assistance from a very
cute girl named Madison. Louis
inflated a balloon and asked for her
favorite animal. A befuddled Louis tried
to make her a penguin but declared
he only knew how to make a giraffe.
Then Louis inflated a larger balloon --
placing it in a magical funhouse
machine that he said would transform
any balloon into an animal. He turned
the crank on the machine and a live
dove was produced to the delight of
all.
Laurie Curry, looking stunning with
a bright red boa and red feather hat,
stepped up next. She chose two little
girls to assist her with making a black
and white handkerchiefs change places
in a bag. After some magical assistance
from the girls, the handkerchiefs
became imprinted with spots and the
bag transformed into a darling puppy.
Then Laurie did her rendition of the
Professor’s Nightmare with a Goldilocks
and the three bear’s storyline. She
concluded with an empty picture frame.
Little Madison took a magical picture
of Laurie that turned out to be a
MONKEY!
A classy Glenn Gary, dressed in his
evening tuxedo, produced a green
cloth and asked one of the older boys
in attendance what sport he would
play on a green field. The boy replied
“soccer”. Glenn produced a small
basketball that transformed into a
soccer ball. He then did some fantastic
ball manipulations with the soccer ball
by making it appear and reappear.
Glenn then brought out a small paper
bag and claimed this was his pet “ball
house”. The invisible ball was thrown
to the audience and back to Glenn.
Then he caught it in the bag several
times to the astonishment of the
audience. The ball became visible for a
short time until Glenn tossed it back in
the bag, folded it and put it back in his
pocket. Finally, two volunteers--John
and Michael-- were called up to the
stage to assist with a card trick. The
volunteers were called to provide “pixie
dust” and “wiffle dust” to aid the
magician in lightening the cards. The
cards were “discarded” and Glenn
proceeded to baffle all present with an
amazing floating card box routine.
Mike Taggart opened with a great
Ceramic Lota-Pot with a Tibetan monk
theme in which he offered chants. To
the amazement of all, water was
produced from the previously drained pot
several times with prayer and
incantations from the audience. All
were stunned when the final load of
water was poured in a red cylinder
where it defied gravity and changed to
red in color! Mike closed with a paper
tear with the assistance of a young
male volunteer that resulted in a
restored napkin as well as a beautiful
20- foot coil of colored paper.
Reggie “SuperMagicMan” Rice
began with a very loud, fast and funny
recorded introduction. He asked for a
young volunteer. Reggie tried to make
her vanish behind a small curtain. He
then called three boys to the stage and
performed a rope through jacket
penetration. Finally, he did a card trick,
where his pet snake Jake was going to
find the card selected by his female
volunteer. Jake popped out of a basket
with a sign that read: “Your Card is Not
in Here!” The card was finally
produced out of a sealed prediction
envelope labeled Jake’s Magic Card.
Jason Goldberg filled in during a brief
lull between acts and wowed the
audience with a father-son card
prediction! He helped the father and
son explore the power of their
connection by having the son
magically locate in a deck two cards
matching those his father held.
Lorenzo the Great (Larry Lipman)
told everyone that magic was in books.
He then proceeded to perform a variety
of effects he found in those books.
He asked a young man named Solomon
to assist in a cut-and-restored rope
trick. Solomon cut the rope in half and
Larry returned the rope to its original
condition to the delight of
everyone. Next, Brianna was called to
the stage to pick a card. Hilarity ensued
as the young girl did not know what a
suit was. Like a true pro, Larry recovered
and asked her older brother, John, to
assist in making a successful card
prediction. The deck was placed behind
Larry’s back and the card was placed
back in the deck. Finally, the card was
found reversed in the deck. Larry’s
final routine was Barry Mitchell’s
“Reach for a Star” production routine
complete with musical background and
a recited poem.
Eric Henning performed the Magic
Rainbow Silk Production followed by
Bruce Kalver’s “Shrinking/Growing
Head” to the delight of all! He then
proceeded to demonstrate how to make
a purple silk handkerchief change into
a yellow one while making the silks
disappear (Patrick Page’s “Comedy
Color-Changing Silk”). The audience
was then wowed by his rendition of
Martin Lewis’s “Cheap Cup,” ending
with a full size tennis ball production!
Eric closed the show with his own
creation, “The World’s Best Birthday
Trick,” wherein touching patter
combined with the beautiful
transformation of a soap bubble into
a solid sphere. --Sam Brothers
Hap
Happpy
Halloween
 Earliest Reference on Egyptian Bowl
Potrays Christ as ‘Magician’
Marine archaeologists working in
Alexandria, Egypt, have discovered
what may be the earliest reference to
Jesus with a bowl referring to Christ
“the magician”.
A team of scientists led by renowned
French marine archaeologist Franck
Goddio recently announced that they
have found a bowl dating to between
the late 2nd century BC and the early
1st century AD engraved with what
they believe could be the world’s first
known reference to Christ, Discovery
News reports.
If the word “Christ” refers to the
Biblical Jesus Christ, as is speculated,
then the discovery may provide
evidence that Christianity and
paganism at times intertwined in the
ancient world.
The full engraving on the bowl reads,
“DIA CHRSTOU O GOISTAIS,” which
has been interpreted by the excavation
team to mean either, “by Christ the
magician” or “the magician by Christ.”
“It could very well be a reference to
Jesus Christ, in that he was once the
primary exponent of white magic,”
Goddio, co-founder of the Oxford
Center of Maritime Archaeology, said.
Bowl holds clues to past
Goddio and his colleagues found the
object during an excavation of the
underwater ruins of Alexandria’s
ancient great harbor, The Times of India
adds. The site also includes the now
submerged island of Antirhodos,
where Cleopatra’s palace may have
been located.
Both Goddio and Egyptologist
David Fabre, a member of the
European Institute of Submarine
Archaeology, think a “magus” could
have practiced fortune telling rituals
using the bowl. The Book of Matthew
refers to “wisemen,” or Magi, believed
to have been prevalent in the ancient
world.--Discovery News
Larry West, left,
performs with Russ
Glover, a lifetime
member of IBM Ring
50, in their national
award-winning
comedy act “Professor
Baldini & Witch
Hazel”. West played
the witch.
Larry West
Larry West profiled
on SAM’s local site
The late Larry West, the namesake
of Larry West Assembly 23 of the
Society of American Magicians in
Washington, is now profiled on the
group’s blog site. The assembly was
renamed in West’s memory in 1993.
As the years passed, West began
developing his expertise in card magic,
which was his forte. His full-time work
was in broadcasting. After college,
marriage and military service, in the
1950’s, he started in radio in his home
town of Pittsfield, Mass.
West moved to Springfield, Mass.,
and for more than two years produced
a weekly television show for children
on WWLP-TV (Channel 22) called “The
Mad House” under the guise of “MAX
the Mad Magician.” After working
briefly for General Electric Broadcasting
in Schenectady, N.Y., West moved to
Washington, D.C., joining the Voice
of America, where he was an announcer
and producer-director of docu-
mentaries and special English language
programs.
With the appearance of Alex
Elmsley’s famous “Ghost Count” in the
Dai Vernon “Twisting the Aces” routine,
West found fertile ground for his
inventiveness. Add this to his move
to Schenectady, N.Y., where he met Vern
Chesbro, who had combined “Oil and
Water” with the Elmsley Count.
Chesbro and West joined forces to
write “Tricks You Can Count On,” a
book of card effects using the Elmsley
Count and other counts. The book,
currently in its third printing. is still
considered a classic of this genre of
card magic.
At a 1967 national magic convention
in Philadelphia, West met Art Emerson.
The birth in 1968 of Emerson and West
paired an inventive mind and a master
salesman, and introduced a line of
exclusive magic effects under the
Emerson and West banner at the
Columbus Magifest in 1969.
For the rest of the story, visit
SAM Assembly 23 on the Internet at:
http://assembly23.blogspot.com/
 Halloween
at the Magic Castle
A photo essay by Jerry Foster

Jerry Foster, a Ring 50 member who now lives in California just a

half hour from the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, recently visited the landmark.
“The place is ready for Halloween...It was a blast,” he says.

The Magic Castle decked out in Halloween finery.

Richard Turner, left, who bills

himself as “The Cheat,” greets
Ring 50’s Jerry Foster at the
The Magic Castle at night Magic Castle.
 Russ Glover,
aka Dr. Chang,
dies in Indiana
Russell Glover, an honorary lifetime
member of Ring 50, died on Monday,
Oct. 20, at a hospice in Valparaiso,
Indiana, after being injured in a fall just
a few days short of his 91st birthday. He
was a resident of Sterling House, an
assisted living facility, in Valparaiso. He
was best known for performing magic
as an Oriental character named Dr.
Chang while living in Washington, D.C.
Veteran Washington magic dealer Al
Cohen remembers Russ well. “I met
Russ in the late 40’s. He was a cop on
the beat then in uniform,” Al recalls.
“Since Russ was also a part-time
magician, he would drop in the store
on a pretty regular basis. A few years
later – I don’t remember exactly when
— he became a detective.”
Russ was on the Washington police
force for more than 30 years and was
an officer during the Washington riots
in the late 1960s.
“I remember when he first developed
the ‘Dr. Chang’ act,” Al says. “He
constantly changed and honed it
through the years. Russ, in his prime,
was one of the busiest performers in
the Washington area. He was in
constant demand and absolutely
wowed every audience he played for.
Russ would bring the house down with
his terrific routines.” Russ Glover performed as an Oriental figure, Dr. Chang
Russ would do almost anything to
evoke a laugh. He did various comedy Barry remembers Russ coming to the expand on two levels—as an officer
sketches with the late Larry West. They new Barry’s Magic Shop just before he and as a magician. George retired from
performed at several magic went back home to Valparaiso and how the police force in 1988 about 10 years
conventions, including Abbotts in pleased he was to make the visit. George after Russ had left it. Both George and
Colon, Mich., and, locally at Ring 50 Woo, a fellow police detective who later Russ lived in Tacoma Park in Maryland.
meetings as well as SAM Assembly 23 became a highly skilled close-up “I’m saddened by the passing of my
gatherings. magician, brought Russ to the shop. friend,” George says of Russ. He
Russ also was an avid golfer, “The first time I met Russ he was a learned of Russ’s death from his niece,
according to Barry Taylor of Barry’s fellow officer to me, not a magician,” Nancy St. Clair, who lives in Chicago.
Magic Shop. “He loved the game,” George reflects. Later, George Ray Eyler, who also was a close
Barry recalls. “He was beating me when discovered Russ was a magician when friend of Russ, remembers that Russ
he was in his 70s. I played with him over he saw him perform. George developed first developed an interest in magic at
many, many years.” an interest in magic himself when he flight school in Florida from a fellow
“He was such a great guy,” he says. began hanging out at Al’s Magic Shop. serviceman during World War II.
“He created an original persona with His friendship with Russ also began to “I have a lot of fond memories of
his Dr. Chang character.” Russ,” Ray says. “He was hired by
most of the Chinese restaurants in
Washington during Chinese New Year
celebrations to do his Dr. Chang even
though he wasn’t Chinese.”
Hugh Turley, another Ring 50
member who is a well-known children’s
performer in the Washington area,
visited Russ’s home a few
times. “We’d get together with Larry
West sometimes and joke around.
We’d call each other to share jokes and
gags. Russ gave me the cape he
wore as “Professor Baldini” and I still
wear it in my act.”
Russ, who was active in Ring 50 for
many years until his health
deteriorated, also is rumored to have
learned how to twirl a rope when he was
young from the legendary Will Rogers.
Russ was preceded in death by his
wife Jackie. They met when she was
working at Woodward and Lothrops
department store in Washington. She
was a collector of fine Oriental art.
Some veteran members of Ring 50,
including Dick Christian and Bill Wells,
are now investigating the possibility of
a Broken Wand ceremony for Russ in
Indiana, according to George Woo.