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On the Cover
By Karl Rabe |
Magic Messenger November 2023
Performers take a bow at the club's Fall Parlor Show. Left to right, Phil Mann, Bill Rabe, Karl Rabe, Dan Jones, Bou-yu Chen, Chris Johnson (with the Great Jacksoni), Mike Bogdas and Sean Naes.
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President's Corner
By Dan Jones |
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Secretary's Report
By Karl Rabe |
October Meeting
Our meeting was called to order by club President Dan Jones and we kicked off with our round-table question. The question of the month was, "what is your halloween Tradition". Answers varied from elaborate yard decorations, scary movies, handing out candy, costumes and bonfires.
Then it was on to our opening performer, member Bou-Yu Chen, who performed a portion of his card manipulation act planned for the upcoming club Parlor Show. He then demonstrated and taught members various card manipulation techniques including the card fanning, front palm, back palm, and Tenkai Palm. Bou-Yu also performed a jumbo Card Toon routine. Many members came away with a greater understanding and appreciation for card manipulation.
Our Treasurer Rob Krozal provided the results of our successful Flea Market which the club rebranded as a "Pop-Up Magic Shop" with an effort to generate more engagement from youth in the local community.
Then it was on to member performances.
- Ken Magee, as Sandy Wedge, performed a golf tee prediction from his golf act.
- Mike Bogdas performed a bottle in paper-bag comedy routine with the final production of a full bottle of soda. Phil Mann performed a portion of his Parlor act with a dancing hank opening.
- Chris Johnson performed his ventriloquism routine with his dummy Jack (who prefers to be called "The Great Jacksoni"). After a few lame predictions, the Great Jacksoni correctly predicted the selected card.
- Then, Ken was back with an elegant Color Vision prop and routine.
- Mike Doyle performed a spooky mortuary photo prediction and then a Sherlock Holmes book test.
- Ming and Barbara Louie performed a two person Cuba Libre routine from their act using a beautiful engineered prop from Germany.
- Dan Jones performed a comedy brick production from paper bag routine
- and finally Don Oesterwind performed his sponge ball routine before members mingled and said goodnight.
- Don Oesterwind and April Barrett
- Barbara and Ming Louie
- Mike Bogdas
- Sgt at Arms Mike Bogdas (left) picks up an autographed book from SAM President John Sturk at our annual Pop-Up Magic Shop (Flea Market)
- Bou-Yu Chen
- Bou-Yu Chen
- Bou-Yu Chen
- Ken Magee
- Dan Jones
- Mike Bodgas (left), The Great Jacksoni (center) and Chris Johnson (right)
- Mike Bogdas assists Chris Johnson
Parlor Show
The Club's Fall Parlor Show went off without a hitch. We had decent size crowds for both the 4pm and 7pm show. We had some great new variety with Bou-yu Chen performing card manipulation and Chris Johnson performing a vent act.
Production
- Sean Naes - Producer, Rehearsals, Marketing
- Tracy Howell - Stage Manager
Performers
- Phil Mann
- Bill & Karl Rabe
- Dan Jones
- Bou-yu Chen
- Chris Johnson (with the Great Jacksoni)
- Sean Naes
- Mike Bogdas
Front and Back of House
- Jim Molnar - Balloons and Stage Hand
- Brian Campbell - Balloons
- Carl Wallace - Sound
- Austin Peczynski - Stage Hand and Mirf Handler
- Frank Machniak - Usher
- Patty Rabe - Ticket Table & Popcorn
- Jackie Clark - Ticket Table and 50/50
- Rob Krozal - Finance and Concessions
- Mike Bogdas - Popcorn
- Bob Goodwin - Marketing / Poster Distribution
- Dan Jones - Marketing / Poster Distribution
- Karl Rabe & Dan Jones - Popcorn Machine Mechanics
- Daniel Kearsey - Graphics Art (https://www.sixtyfirststreet.com.)
- Karl Rabe - Online ticketing and marketing
- Bill and Karl Rabe perform their unique Duo-Sphere
- Dan Jones performs bricks in a bag
- Mirf takes center stage
- Mirf takes a break before showtime
- Bill and Karl
- Sean Naes performs Cups and Balls
- Mike Bogdas Straight Jacket Escape closer with Dan Jones assisting
- Sean
- Harriette and Sean
- That’s all folks!
- Harriette Jacobson assists Sean Naes
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Mathamagically Speaking
By Bob Goodwin |
Mathematically Speaking #3
Forcing the Number 9
Bob Goodwin
Last issue I explored using a Magic Square as a force. This month I will be covering the force of the number 9.
Using a 2-digit number selected by the volunteer, a couple of operations are performed, and the result is the number 9.
How to Force the Number 9
Have the spectator follow this procedure. The template below can be used for this purpose. Here is a PDF version of the template.
- Select any two digit number with two different non-zero digits.
- Add the two digits of your number together
- Subtract the number obtained in step 2 from the original number in step 1
- Add together the two digits of this new number
The result will always be the number 9.
How To Use the Number 9 In A Mentalism Test
Tell the spectator you are going to attempt to divine a though of number. In order to make the process as scientifically random as possible, you will use a double randomizing method. Walk the spectator through the above procedure (or provide them the form to use). When they have arrived at their "chosen" number, add one more element of randomness. Have them roll an imaginary die and subtract the dice number that from the number that was obtained above, and announce the difference. Assume 5 is "rolled"; the number four would be announced. Nine minus four leaves 5 -- the roll of the die. and add the number that comes up to their number and to announce the total. You then say, "I couldn't possibly know the 2 numbers that you started with, or the 1 number you ended up with, but I'm sensing that you rolled 5 with your imaginary toss of the die."
Source: Martin Gardner's book: 'Mathematics Magic And Mystery'.
Edited by Karl Rabe.
For those interested, here is every possible combination of two digit numbers..
A | B | C | D |
12 | 3 | 9 | 9 |
13 | 4 | 9 | 9 |
14 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
15 | 6 | 9 | 9 |
16 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
17 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
18 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
19 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
21 | 3 | 18 | 9 |
23 | 5 | 18 | 9 |
24 | 6 | 18 | 9 |
25 | 7 | 18 | 9 |
26 | 8 | 18 | 9 |
27 | 9 | 18 | 9 |
28 | 10 | 18 | 9 |
29 | 11 | 18 | 9 |
31 | 4 | 27 | 9 |
32 | 5 | 27 | 9 |
34 | 7 | 27 | 9 |
35 | 8 | 27 | 9 |
36 | 9 | 27 | 9 |
37 | 10 | 27 | 9 |
38 | 11 | 27 | 9 |
39 | 12 | 27 | 9 |
41 | 5 | 36 | 9 |
42 | 6 | 36 | 9 |
43 | 7 | 36 | 9 |
45 | 9 | 36 | 9 |
46 | 10 | 36 | 9 |
47 | 11 | 36 | 9 |
48 | 12 | 36 | 9 |
49 | 13 | 36 | 9 |
51 | 6 | 45 | 9 |
52 | 7 | 45 | 9 |
53 | 8 | 45 | 9 |
54 | 9 | 45 | 9 |
56 | 11 | 45 | 9 |
57 | 12 | 45 | 9 |
58 | 13 | 45 | 9 |
59 | 14 | 45 | 9 |
61 | 7 | 54 | 9 |
62 | 8 | 54 | 9 |
63 | 9 | 54 | 9 |
64 | 10 | 54 | 9 |
65 | 11 | 54 | 9 |
67 | 13 | 54 | 9 |
68 | 14 | 54 | 9 |
69 | 15 | 54 | 9 |
71 | 8 | 63 | 9 |
72 | 9 | 63 | 9 |
73 | 10 | 63 | 9 |
74 | 11 | 63 | 9 |
75 | 12 | 63 | 9 |
76 | 13 | 63 | 9 |
78 | 15 | 63 | 9 |
79 | 16 | 63 | 9 |
81 | 9 | 72 | 9 |
82 | 10 | 72 | 9 |
83 | 11 | 72 | 9 |
84 | 12 | 72 | 9 |
85 | 13 | 72 | 9 |
86 | 14 | 72 | 9 |
87 | 15 | 72 | 9 |
89 | 17 | 72 | 9 |
91 | 10 | 81 | 9 |
92 | 11 | 81 | 9 |
93 | 12 | 81 | 9 |
94 | 13 | 81 | 9 |
95 | 14 | 81 | 9 |
96 | 15 | 81 | 9 |
97 | 16 | 81 | 9 |
98 | 17 | 81 | 9 |
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Around the Town
By Karl Rabe |
Calendar of Events
IMPORTANT: For our December meeting we will be holding a Pizza Party at the PCAC. Arrive at the normal time and come hungry! We will also be holding a white-elephant gift exchange.If you'd like to participate, bring a magic trick, book or prop from your collection. ($20.00 limit). Wrap it or put it in a gift bag and bring it to the meeting.
Other Calendars
- Check out John Luka's Magic page and his well maintained list of Michigan Events
- All AAMC Events and details can be viewed on the website calendar.
![]() Visit the club website for past issues, calendar of upcoming events, and other features and articles. |
Join our Private Facebook Group to connect and exchange ideas and information with other members. |
Like our Public Facebook Page and share it with Friends and Family. |
The Ann Arbor Magic Club Board
- President Dan Jones
- Vice-President Sean Naes
- Treasurer Rob S. Krozal
- Secretary Karl Rabe
- Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Bogdas
Contact the board using these email addresses
- krabe@comcast.net
- dmjones0701@yahoo.com
- rkrozal@yahoo.com
- bogd19@me.com
- sean@howell.cc