Larry Minth started off the Extravaganza with his
own version of the 6 card repeat, followed by silks out of a rolled
news paper.
Ray Belz performed with boxes that fit inside each
other and water changed to snow inside them, but then his act hit a
brick wall.
Don Becker was a real cut up with his rope effect, had to see it.
He then proceeded to change 5 blank cards into a royal flush.
Harry Monti was in good form when he performed his
color changing silks.
Dan Todd performed a Santa's Cap change bag and a chimney sized
square circle production.
A family of rabbits were living in the chimney and Santa left his
bowling ball in it too.
Larry Becker executed the classic Egg Bag.
Dani Garci'a, visiting
from Spain, produced a signed card from his mouth folded.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Happy Holidays!
Dan Todd, Scribe
Nov 11th
Fall
Festival of Magic
Steve Finkelstein and Dan Todd performed close-up magic while Dan
Fleishman and Steve Barcelona
strolled around entertaining the audience between 6:30 and 7:30 before
the Stage Show started. Sorry performing so I did not get photos
of the close-up performers.
Steve Corbitt our Fall
Show Committee Chair and Emcee.
Chuck Lehr
was the first act and he killed....waaatch....! Very funny and set
the bar high for all that followed.
Marty Kopp performed "The
Train Stop" and it was a 1st class act.
Steve, upstaged?
Past
National President John Apperson's pom-poms were entertaining, but
his cute and adorable appearing rabbit impressed everyone.
Ronald
McDonald was a big hit and in top form.
Steve shared his father's advice with us.
Steve Barcelona
performed his comedy Jacket Escape.
Everyone enjoyed it
and laughed so hard while he continued his attempt to extract
himself. LOL
Past
National President, Andy Dallas entertained us and closed the show
with his sophisticated and classical magic.
The packed
audience of over 100 guests, said that they had enjoyed the show and
would come back next time. Same time, next year?
This was a very successful event, thanks to our Committee Chair,
Steve Corbitt and everyone else what contributed. Thank you all, Dan
Todd, Vice President
Nov 10th
Tom
CravenLecture
Tom Started off with his pitch for "Bottled
Air" and demonstrated with a balloon for visibility.
The Houdini Deck effect was not
new, but Tom's version actually works better than most.
Tom's Visible Ring Release utilizes two rings tied into a silk
hank, but a rope variation was also demonstrated.
Jailbird Jack, Michael DeMarco's Prediction in Change, Glass
Backwards and then Six Glasses. Just one phone call away, Tom's wife
knew what was up with the glasses.
The
Tom Craven lecture was sponsored by both
Assembly8 and
Ring 1, and Tom delivered effects that are easily incorporated into
most acts.
Oct 27th
Halloween Party
We had some visitors
from the SYM 50 meeting and we put them in the stocks.
Chuck Lehr told a spooky tale that
sent a chill down our spine....
Don Becker caused all of one suit
to turn over in the deck and the only card missing was Dana Scott's
chosen card.
Dan Todd performed several spooky effects including:
Vampire's Heart
ESP cards & a Gypsy finger
Rune Wisdom
Ending his show with:
"A Girls Best Friend"
( 2 in the hand and 1 in the pocket)
Steve Corbitt spun a tale of
elimination, all in the mind of our guest, until the end.
Larry Minth Spooked us out with
several effects including displaying Houdini's finger.
We had long sandwiches, Swedish meatballs, chips &
dip, crackers, cheese & sausage, cupcakes, soda, candy, and lots of FUN!
Oct 13th
Flea Market & Steve Daly Lecture
Larry Minth was responsible
for organizing the Flea Market on October 13th. He brought snacks, help
setup tables and everyone seemed to have a great time buying and
selling their magical bargains. We had at least eight tables of magic,
books, DVDs, etc.
At 8 Steve Daly started his DAYCARE DOLLAR$ Lecture. It was a very
informative and entertaining for the very large "kids".
Steve Daly
shared his insights on "Welcome to Las Vegas, now go home". He had some
great props and lecture notes for sale at the end of the evening. Special
thanks to Shirley...don't ask!
The meeting was
well attended and most
discussion centered around the up coming Fall Show, November 11th.
We were fortunate to have had
Sean Savoie,
and give us a lecture on Staging
and specifically Lighting. A very complicated issue that can hurt or
help your performance.
We learned the effects lighting has on the
background, illuminating an area, and highlighting or hiding things.
We got examples of the use of spot lights, Back lights, foot lights,
flood lights, direct vs. indirect lighting and much more.
Sep 8th
Favorite Magic Book
Both George Van Dyke and Ron White shared some
insights on effects they had performed.
Chuck Lehr performs his multi knotted rope
effect.
Dan Todd demonstrates how Larry Becker can divine
which cone has the sponge.
Harry Monty displays his Tortoise & Hare sponge
effect.
Jul 29th
Aaron Fisher Lecture
Aaron gave out some
key ideas from his "Personal Training to
Super Charge your Magic"
Don
Becker assisted Aaron with several effects. We sat back and enjoyed
the simplistic methods he employed for card control, that can be
executed unhurried and at the right moment with natural grips and natural hand and body
movement. As always - less is more.
With Aaron's style,
there is no need to "PANIC"!
He got a rise out
of everyone that came to his lecture. Check out his website,
www.AaronFisherMagic.com
We were invited to
come in close and see what it was all about.
Dan Todd, Scribe
Jul 14th
Copper to Silver Challenge
Dan Todd was the
only Copper to Silver Contestant and utilized the "Mother of All
Diamonds" props to transform a challis of copper pennies into silver
pennies.
Thus winning several items
from George Van Dyke's Copper to Silver Challenge. Including a bag
full of silver plated pennies.
James
Buffaloe still has it...
because
he never lost it!
Harriss Cook, on
right, is a former Assembly 8 member.
He is back in St. Louis from United Kingdom
visiting his family. Karl Grice,
on left, assisting with a safety pin that can move through fabric.
Matt Olson
demonstrates several effects with half dollars. They literally fly
from one hand to the other.
Ray Belz explains
to Harriss' son the trap door in his playing card, which allowed the
card to reverse it's self while he held the door tightly between his
fingers.
Adam Putnam visits
us again and closes the night by finding the selected card with
ease. Let's hope Adam joins Assembly 8 this year.
Dan Todd, Scribe
Jun 23rd
Help with Magic
The evenings participants elected to have their routines recorded and
critiqued for Help with Magic.
First
to perform is Don Becker explains to us that Destiny is comprised of
Choice and Chance.
He demonstrates this with the assistance of
Mareon Davis and two decks of cards.
It was well received.
The
tables are turned when Mareon Davis is
assisted by Don Becker, and performs the "Card in the Shoe".
Everyone loved it and had lots of ideas on how to add to or
otherwise alter the delivery to give it a comedic twist.
The
Great Todd is BLINDFOLDED with spoons and tape. Four members of the
audience place objects in a bag.
Then with a magical croaking frog and a little
bit of mentalism the individuals and their selected items are sorted
out one by one.
This looks a lot like my drivers license photo.
Rounding up the night of Help with Magic is none
other than Belzini - Ray Belz.
I
suppose you would like an explanation, but I'm not sure words can
describe this routine or do it justice.
You just had to be there.
One must see some things for themselves to
understand, and no, they did not have lice...
Dan Todd, Scribe
Jun 9th
App Magic
A few days after Eric Jacobson's
Birthday, he came to the meeting and demonstrated the first App of
the night on his iPhone,
iForce. This is a
great app for magicians. Versatile with lots of options and you can
even tailor it to your needs.
Ray Belz followed
with even more apps like those found below, like
Marty's Psypic
Randy Kalin
demonstrated the new
S.A.M. App which includes Card Insurance Tricky Photography and much
more.
Bronze medals went to Harry Monti, Mat Olson, Randy
Kalin, and Dan Todd for their participation over the year.
A silver medal was awarded to the out going
president, Randy Kalin.
Well, it's official. On the right hand side of
this page is the newly elected officers and board members as
installed by Randy Kalin.
Brian Boyd starts of the show with Steve
Barcelona's son and daughter assisting.
Mike
Hendrichs' predictions measure up and poorly worded news paper ads
meld together.
Our favorite uncle, Steve
Corbitt has his card effect "in the bag".
Columbus Smith executes coins across, standup
style.
Steve Barcelona has
us all laughing and then baffled with his prediction routine, code
named "Fruity
Pebbles".
Randy Kalin's Presidency has run out of time, but
he knows all about time!
Dan Todd
told us a true story of diamonds in the rough and used "The Mother
of All Diamonds" to illustrate. The audience donated $50 to
HDC for their
charitable work. Then the Great Todd closed the show with an
Appersonation...ala "Hippity Hop Rabbits".
Special thanks to Steve Corbitt for coordinating the event and
Virginia the Great, for Appersonizing it!
Dan Todd, Scribe
May 26th
Emory
Williams' Mobile Magic Shop
Randy
Kalin makes good on his promise...literally....
to
bring to Magic to Assembly 8!
Emory Williams pleads with magicians to support
local magic shops, seriously...but if you stray...
If you
can't get to Tucson AZ,
then Emory Williams brings magic to you!
Over
3,000 magic items in these bins.
Roger Linden "checks out" the shop.
"Magicians should ask questions,
I want
you to be a happy customer"
Dan
Todd, Scribe (and
satisfied customer of Williams Magic)
May 15th
Performing
for Mt Tabor Church
Our new President Elect
Matt Olson entertained the parishioners
last Sunday. Table hopping to their delight.
And our new Vice President Elect
Dan Todd performed magic around the room, then made balloon
animals.
May 12th
Election
Results
President Elect
Matt Olson performed several impromptu effects
utilizing what ever is at hand!
You had to be there.
Vice President Elect
Dan Todd performed "Time Stands Still" by Jeff
Prace seen in April Reel Magic Magazine.
Dick Blowers
↑
Secretary/Treasurer was reelected and even stayed for all of the
performances.
Sergeant of Arms
Elect
↑
Sandy Weis assisted
Dan Fleshman and his slippery olives in pocket.
↑
Board Member & Chaplin
Harry
Monti was reelected to both posts and found time to assist with an
effect.
Board Member Mike
Hindrichs makes some interesting points about impromptu magic.
↑
Board Member
Don Becker
assists Steve Corbitt in a card effect.
Adam Putman performs a coin routine for us with
Randy assisting then Derrick Daniels made silver dollars appear
and before finding a selected card.
John Apperson asks...What do you have in your
wallet? He seems to carry much more in addition to a few packet
effects in his wallet.
Phil Milstead performed a great rope routine
that ended with linking ropes before assisting Randy Kalin with a
card effect ending with all of the Aces.
Of
course we all enjoyed Ron White's Cannibal Card routine. Why one
card, really got into this one. It's not for the faint at
heart.
Congratulations to all newly elected Officers and Board members.
They
will all be installed on June 4th
at
the Annual Installation Banquet. A don't miss event!
Dan
Todd, Scribe
May 1st
David Regal
Lecture
David
Regal
"Lecturer of the Year".
A real
nice guy...pictures can be deceiving.
Aree
Meemungkit, caught off guard.
Steve Barcelona
thinks of a puppy...you had to be there to understand.
From serious to hilarious, that was how the
lecture went. Everyone seemed to get something from the lecture.
That was exactly what David had aimed for.
There were no lecture notes per se but David sold
copies of his latest book in which most of the effects were
included.
Dan
Todd, Scribe
Apr 29th
Magic
Charity Show
for the Volunteers
of the Girl Scouts
of America
Several
people asked about the Magician with the paddles! They were
referring to George Van Dyke who impressed them all with
personalized paddles.
Ray
Belz held court at the S.A.M. Assembly 8 both and mystified the
volunteers as they visited. Some of the ladies hung around for
several effects. It was addictive.
Steve
Barcelona, caught here by Randy Kalin, was performing for the staff
of the event as well as the rest
of Girl
Scouts of America volunteers.
Eric
Bausworth displayed his skills too by entertaining the volunteers.
He graciously took photos of me by I did not get a good one of him.
Photo by Randy Kalin.
The
Great Todd performed a Girl Scout version of
"Out to
Lunch" the scouts as well as adult volunteers.
Randy
Kalin, our out going president, was a hit as well. A high
level professionalism was displayed at the event.
Steve
Finkelstein raised cards and eyebrows and went on stage to perform
and teach the audience Magic.
They
all seemed to enjoy the Magic and applauded S.A.M. Assembly 8
enthusiastically.
Dan
Todd, Scribe
Apr 28th
Magic Action
Ray Belz, Steve Corbitt and Steve Barcelona
conducted all of the auctioneering. The contents of boxed magic was
examined piece by piece.
There were signed posters, programs, props, packet tricks, DVDs,
video tapes and even a wizard marionette.
The stage and several tables were full of magic
props, that sold for extreme bargains. Not all of the minimums
were met, but most everything sold. Special thanks to Dick and Mary
Ann Blowers for handling all transactions.
Dan
Todd, Scribe
Apr 14th
Parlor Magic
Ron White performs his version of a Floating Table
and then Card Through Glass with Randy Kalin and Harry Monti
assisting.
Steve Finkelstein first divines one chosen card
and tops it off by divining 20 more cards chosen by 10 more audience
members.
Dan Todd was pelted with darts thrown at him by Mike Hendrichs
but still managed to predict Mikes free choice of ESP symbols.
(Credited to Robert Campbell)
Don Becker executes
the McCormick Card Prediction assisted by Mareon Davis
Mike Hendrichs
restores a signed card after tearing it up and burning it.
Harry Monti
describes some interesting "news clips" he witnessed one day.
Randy Kalin was MC
for the evening and
after the show, he gave a lecture/discussion on parlor
audience handling.
Dan
Todd, Scribe
Mar 24th
Coins & Cards Teach-In
We extend a warm welcome to Ron
White, our newest member. Mathew Olson gave Ron his membership
package.
John Apperson said he is feeling
better but not fully recovered.
Mathew Olson gave Ron and his lovely assistant
lessons on coin magic.
Matt taught whole
routines utilizing only one sleight, simplifying and yet effectively
pulling off seemingly difficult feats of prestidigitation.
Dan
Todd, Scribe
Mar 20th
The
Banachek lecture was great. It had lots of audience participation.
Images, numbers and even words in a book were all as predicted.
Shaun brought his beautiful young lady with
him from Kansas City and she was the first to join Banachek on
stage. The lecture notes are very professionally printed with
several pictures to help you remember what you saw or should
remember.
Multiple audience mind readings selected by Chuck
were further reduced to one, by artist and regular visitor to
Assembly 8, Amber.
Dan
Todd, Scribe
Mar 10th
Phillip Morris Lecture
Phillip Morris
It was an evening of mystery
and deception with ghosts, spiritualism, and of course
BIG FOOT!
History lessons with films and
props, nothing but the best.
The largest costume
manufacture and expert on hoaxes as well as those who perpetrate
them for fame money and sometimes just for the fun of it.
Dan
Todd, Scribe
Feb 24th
Potpourri of Magic
Columbus Smith walks currency down a rubber band for Paul White
Paul White checks
out a paper bag and then produces a Bowling Ball.
Don't try this at home!
Harry Monti causes a rubber band to pass through
his fingers...
then
produces a steel ball from empty hands and it appears to defy
gravity...
momentarily!
Paul
Rygelski taught us a very visual card swap. The BLACK aces change
into RED ones when you blow on them.
Ray Belz uses
jumbo cards cut into quarters to show that when Randy Kalin
randomly turns over rows of cards, all cards face one way except
one... ops!
...but it still matches
the prediction!
Randy Kalin
mystifies Columbus Smith and later
all of us, with just nine cards each.
Later that night
at Steak & Shake, Ray Belz balances coins for
Paul White.
Hope those who missed this night are feeling
better, we missed you!
Dan
Todd, Scribe
Feb 10th
Video Night
After a short meeting, we saw
lots of videos of magicians on old Ed Sullivan Shows, on NOVA with
"How the Brain Works", and many others.
Magic 101 was led by Randy
Kalin and a panel of experts.
Zi Wong
started the magical portion of the evening by giving us an
entertaining story of cards.
Mr. Hoyle himself Bud
Dietrich honored us with a Paratrooper card from and empty tube.
The
Great Todd demonstrated how to use of a ring placed on a random
page in a book and guided by the audience encircled a word.
When Zi opened the last of three nested boxes, he found a card
with the same word written on it.
(Banachek, Reel Magic #20)
Mat Olson explained his
predicament of preparing for a "Trip to Vegas". He asked
everyone what cards should bring.
Lots of fun was
had by all.
Note: Banachek
Lecture to be held in St. Louis this March!
