February Meeting Report

Magical Heritage Night Report

New York, NY - Friday February 3rd was the Parent Assembly Number One’s meeting day and as usually magicians gathered for lunch at the S.A.M. Magic Table at the Edison Hotel Café on 47th Street. Danny Reilly, Jerry Oppenheimer, Richard Bossong, Bob Friedhoffer, Eric DeCamps, Rabbi Noach Valley and I were joined by professional vent Gary Willner in town for the day. Gary, Eric and Bob recounted stories of performing around the country while others shared their latest effects at the Table. It was a great day. The kind of day Mike Bornstein, the former host of the Table who passed away only a year ago would have loved. What was also wonderful was that our January workshop in honor of Mike was standing room only with his friends lead by Torkova performing Mike’s magic.

After the Table we gathered for our 7:30pm monthly meeting at Soldier’s and Sailor’s. Before the meeting started the room was abuzz with talk of the new Spellbinder designed and written by Shaun and Jeremy Medows. As things came to order MI President Don Engstrand opened the meeting. New member Kevin Schweitzer was sworn in by Don and welcomed by the Assembly. 1st VP Ken Schwabe reported on the progress of the marketing of the Salute to Magic and upcoming lectures. With the conclusion of business the meeting was adjourned.

We were then treated to two fine presentations in a “Night of Magical Heritage” produced by Ken Schwabe. First author Karl Johnson spoke at length about his wonderful book The Magicians and the Cardsharp. With the use of slides this eloquent lecturer took us on a journey back to the 1930s as he traced Dai Vernon from his days in Wichita cutting silhouettes to his quest to find “Bill” Kennedy the man who could deal perfectly from the center of the deck. After the conclusion of his talk the question and answer period was quite lively. After a short intermission Ken introduced our second presenter the incomparable Charles Reynolds. Using a talk show style format Schwabe interviewed Reynolds about his rich life in magic. Charles spoke of first seeing Blackstone at the age of six, performing club dates in college, his work as an author and in publishing and photography. He told of first meeting Doug Henning at a S.A.M. meeting, which led to 15 years creating illusions for Henning and then others. Using a line for Higher Magic, “ it is just old wine in new bottles”, Charles claimed to have never have invented anything. Mr. Reynolds your “new bottles” were amazing. A beautiful short film was then shown of these illusions and the evening came to a close.

reported by Tom Klem, Reporter and Trustee of the S.A.M. Parent Assembly Number 1 - February 9, 2006

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Magical Heritage Night Report