March Meeting Report

News

March Meeting Report

New York, NY - Friday March 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. Magic collector Sal Perotta, a new regular member of the Table, joined Lee and Jerry Oppenheimer, Torkova, Eric DeCamps, myself and Rabbi Noach Valley . Eric DeCamps and Torvoka had a conversation really that separated the pros from the amateurs. We shared magic as usual and talk drifted to the workshop of two weeks ago. The workshop’s subject was Mentalism and was well attended. It was nice to see Dr Norman Charles returning to the workshop and starting us off with several fine effects. George Silverman did a charming effect that channeled our old friend Joe Barnett. Harvey Berg’s presentations were amazing as usual and our MI President Don Engstrand mystified as well.

After the Table we gathered for our 7:30pm monthly meeting at Soldier’s and Sailor’s. As things came to order MI President Don Engstrand opened the meeting. First Seymour Hittner gave a report on the finances of the Salute to Magic last year. Then there was the special election of Mr. Albert Lasher for Treasurer of the Assembly. He was elected handily and in record time. 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.

Our after meeting delight this month was our annual Willie Schneider Memorial Lecture produced by Meir Yedid. Before Meir introduced our lecturer he gave us a refresher on the origin of the lectures. They were started in the back of Willie Schneider’s jewelry store with Dai Vernon and Harry Lorraine holding court. Many did not know it was actually the beloved Willie that paid the two to work on those nights for his fellow compeers. It has now become an honored annual event of the Parent Assembly. This year’s lecturer was Geoff Latta. Meir told us that this was Mr. Latta’s first 2-hour lecture in Manhattan. Although this may be true he is no stranger to our magic community and is a known as magician’s magician. Geoff presented both coin and card effects. With tremendous skill he performed his “trick with three coins” and two other dazzlers from his book “Seven the Hard Way”. A favorite was his “Sun and Moon routine”. It was clear to see why he is a technical influence on many fine performers. He left the room spellbound till the end.

We then adjourned to Sarges for bite to eat, conversation and magic late into the night.