ar•ca•num - (ɑrˈkeɪ nəm) n., pl. -na (-nə). - [1590–1600; < Latin, neuter (used as n.) of arcānus arcane]
1. a secret accessible only to the few; mystery. 2. a powerful remedy; elixir.
Welcome Theurgists!
Please note that this is the inaugural column dedicated to:
Retrieving – Retaining – Reveling
…in the History of the AAMC!
Your humble scribe is honored at being asked to pick up this particular wand.
A Starting Point
From the AAMC Web Site History
Hank Moorehouse provided this reminiscence about the founding of the Ann Arbor Magic Club in an email in 2005 to member George Honer.
I believe it was in late 1969 or early 1970 that a few magicians got together in the home of Hank Moorehouse in Ypsilanti to talk about magic and starting a magic
club. Besides Hank, I recall Dennis Loomis, Charles Rulfs, Marcello Truzzi, a young Jeff Wawrzaszek and maybe one or two more.
Over the next couple of years magicians from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Jackson, Downriver, suburban Detroit and a few students from the U of M and Eastern grew this number to 27 including a few wives. It’s interesting to note that in that original group Dennis Loomis is a professional magician who is now putting out magic DVD’s. Charles Rulfs, deceased, was a world class collector, Marcello Truzzi, a professor at EMU was a world authority on the para-normal, witches, and other things related to the supernatural. Jeff Wawrzaszek has been a professional magician since graduating from College and Hank Moorehouse has been a full time magician and dealer for 35 years. Notable in the second group is Graham Putnam who’s the owner of Fun Inc. in Chicago. One of the largest magic manufacturers and distributors in the world. Daryl Hurst, who had a magic shop in Ann Arbor for a number of years and was a very busy professional magician.
Duke Stern, who worked for Abbott’s for a number of years and a friend to all was asked to give his name to our ring. A couple of events of note was when we received our charter in January of 1972 we had a party and show at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti. Performing in that show was Doug Henning who had just graduated from college and had a grant from the Canadian Government to study magic for a year. He was a good friend of Dennis Loomis. A couple of young kids too young to join named Jeff Boyer and Jim Fitzsimmons hung around when they could get a ride.
In 1972 we started another club, A SAM assembly; the membership of the club was smaller and included magicians from a greater distance. The stated reason for starting the club was that it was to be more performance orientated. Joining at this time were Jim Ruth and Jack Hartley. In reality it was just an excuse to have another meeting a month. In 1973 we sponsored the 3rd MMD at Cleary College in Ypsilanti. When Hank started a magic shop on Williams St. on Campus in the mid 70’s the club grew again with people like Bob West, Bob Hodder and Harry Coletock and others.
Present
With regards to history in general and magic in particular the following phrase comes to mind, “Almost as much has been forgotten as has been learned!”
Since the time of the founding of the AAMC, the club has benefited greatly from the contributions of its members both past and present as well as the stewardship of its officers. The future is dependent on the past. Preserving past contributions and the legacy of the dedicated magicians of the AAMC is a task that requires all of our efforts. Your humble scribe is prepared to be the bucket to collect and preserve the acquired wisdom of the club.
Back To the Future
So, cards on the table…
At the beginning of this column you read – “Retrieving – Retaining – Reveling”.
What does this mean and what is being asked?
Retrieving
The current AAMC membership is likely to have in their possession; paper documents or electronic media from past and current magical contributors. The goal is to collect as much of this information as possible. That information then goes in the bucket! Ego sum situla!
Retaining
As this information is collected, it will then be scanned into PDF document format (for paper documents). Other media will be reviewed and standardized in a current e-format. The goal at this stage is to have this information organized by Year, Style and Contributor. The information will then be uploaded to the Member Area of the AAMC Website.
Reveling
Moving forward – This column may serve as a guide and shining light to showcase past Marvel’s. It may also serve as an entry point to archive the magic, methods and contributions of our current Marvel’s!
Parting Thoughts
52 Card Symbolism: Encoded in a deck of cards: There are two colors (red and black) symbolizing day and night; four suits— spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds— one for each season. The twelve court cards correspond to the months of the Gregorian calendar. Each suit contains thirteen cards, for the thirteen lunar cycles. There are fifty-two cards in a deck, those being the fifty-two weeks in a year. And if you add up the values of every pip on all 52 cards, including the joker, you get exactly 365. Every day is MAGIC!
So…No need to wait for the next meeting! Reach out today!
About the Author
PH4CR: Is the nom de voyage of your typical middle age magic hack. The monthly statements claim him to be Mark P. O’Brien. Husband and father of two wonderful children and two miserable and vengeful Yorkies.
Oh, and enough card decks to stock a modest casino!