On the Cover By Karl Rabe

Magic Messenger April 2025

Phil Mann (M-A-N-N) the Magic Mann (M-A-N-N) (right) wows the members as he produces a bear (left)  from a bear bucket as our March featured performer. Or is it a duck bucket?

President's Corner By Sean Howell

I've sat down to write this multiple times and never satisfied with what I was writing.  It all seemed to come around to coming home so we're going to go with that this month.

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival (BARF) has closed its last show of the 2025 season. Adversity or more importantly, overcoming adversity.  It all started Sunday, the last day of BARF.  The morning looked ominous but the weather was holding out.  The first 3 shows were packed and the fourth was shaping up to be a great one also.  The rain came and it was torrential, pretty much getting everything wet.  Simultaneously at home an equally destructive storm was raging and took the power out.  Packing and loading wet equipment in the trailer Monday morning after it stopped raining is not ideal.  Everything will have to be opened up, cleaned, dried and put back.  The drive home took 20 hours through storms, accidents and a blown tire on Austin's truck.  Arrived home to no power since the Sunday storm and a wife equally as happy about it.  Two days after arriving home I still can't unload the trailer and dry everything as it's still raining…another storm and another tree down.

Sometimes we just need to put our head down and endeavor to persevere, even when it seems like the universe is talking to us we need to just push through to the end when the sun's ray break over the horizon dawning on a great new day.

Cheers.

Secretary's Report By Karl Rabe

We kicked off the meeting with magic from our featured performer Phil Mann the Magic Mann. Phil kicked us off with a little novelty paratrooper from magic wand. Then he displayed a bucket (duck) and proceeded to produce a variety of not-to-wild animals. First was a raccoon, which Phil (Mann, not to be confused with Punxsutawney Phil) has named Rocky. After producing an 8 foot pole, a variety of bunny rabbits were reproduced (sic). Then an unending fountain of silk flowed from the bucket. Phil showed the bucket completely empty and then wowed the audience by producing a four or five foot Teddy Bear from the seemingly empty bucket. Finally Phil did a bit of close up magic, a miniature version of Houdini's elephant disappearance with a few playing cards and a sponge bunny.

Then we attended to a few bits of business.

• A new prospective member Tom Johnson was introduced. Tom has returned to Michigan after living in Washington State. He now resides in Wixom.
• Several announcements of upcoming events: Our April Meeting will be our Close Up Showcase. Slots are filled but you can put your name on the waiting list. Remember to bring Friends and Family as we need audience members. Our May meeting will be a lecture by John Luka. You don't want to miss it. It is free to members. May 17 is Michigan Magic Day which is being put on by our friends Ring 22. If you haven't purchased tickets yet, get them now! If you have purchased tickets, let's help our fellow Ring by spreading the word any way we can. Remember the Evening Show is open to the general public with tickets only $20. A great opportunity to see some fantastic magic! Just one week after Michigan Magic Day will be our Parlor Show on May 24. Mark your calendars. Finally June 15 starts Magic Camp Week. We will be partnering with the Plymouth Community Arts Council for a Magic and Performing Arts Camp. Camp is Monday thru Friday from 9am to Noon. If you can teach at least one day, sign up now!
• Then it was time for a very special event. Member Ken Magee brought in a prize worth more than gold. One dozen farm fresh eggs. An impromptu $1 auction was held and Tom Johnson won the coveted prize. He kindly gave them to April Barrett having two dozen eggs in his fridge at home. Tom is indeed a wealthy man.

Then for our educational topic, we had an open discussion on Impromptu Magic and Every Day Carry (EDC).

• Mike Thornton shared that he no longer tends to carry magic in his pockets but always keeps a ten minute set of magic in a bag in his car "just incase". Mike also shared some impromptu coin moves including pretending to pick up a dropped coin but secretly sliding it under your shoe, performing a false transfer and depositing a coin on the back of your neck under the guise of rubbing it on your elbow, and a few others.
• April Barrett shared that having a similar kit of magic in her car has landed her a couple of great gigs.
• Phil Mann shared that he always carries a silver dollar. Phil recounted performing the French drop quite a few times for different kids in a serpentine ride line at Disney.
• Ken Magee recounted carrying duplicate coins and surreptitiously depositing one in the back of a young person's hoodie before making the duplicate disappear and reappear in that unlikely place.
• Dan Jones shared several items he always carries, including a 3-1/2 of Clubs, Card Warp using a dollar bill and a couple others.
• Johnny New York showed his discrete leather card holster so he is never without a deck of cards be it for practice or performance.
• Rob Krozal shared some coin moves he uses impromptu.

Then it was on to member performances.

• Mike Thornton performed his Gypsy Thread routine which utilizes UV Lights that make the thread glow.
• Dan Jones performed his 3-1/2 of Clubs comedy card reveal with Ryan Hoffman.
• Mike Doyle performed a birthday prediction effect with April Hubbs.
• Mike Bogdas produced an endless silk streamer from an empty tube.
• Johnny New York did a baffling gambling demonstration with a deck that was thoroughly shuffled by several spectators.
• Mike Thornton returned and performed his Professor's Nightmare routine.

Around the Town By Karl Rabe

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.

Show and Tell By Karl Rabe

For Show and Tell at our March meeting Dan Jones brought another piece from his magic collection purchased in the 1980's. It's titled "Mirage" and it's a unique display piece for a magic room or man cave.

The observer tries to press the button on the flying saucer shaped device but when they try to it isn't there. It's an optical illusion in which the button or other small object is placed inside at the bottom. The inside surface of the parabolic disc's is coated w/ a mirror surface which projects the image to the surface.

Words don't do it justice. It must be seen in person.

Thanks Dan. That was fun.

Spotlight By Karl Rabe

As a reoccurring feature of the Magic Messenger we will highlight a member and ask them to answer a few questions about themselves. This month the "Spotlight" is on April Barrett.

April may only have joined the club a few years ago, but she is an active participant as you can see from the photos below. April started out at ground zero in magic and is a great example of how being a member of the club can jump start your magic career.

Where did you grow up / where have you lived? 

Wayne County, Michigander

How did you get started in magic? 

Getting confused as the magician when I would show up to balloon twist / face paint paint at Kids birthday parties. Made sense to start to learn this amazing journey.

What type of magic do you perform? 

Kids participation and engaging magic.

What is your favorite magic book? 

I have both David Ginn's Kids Love Animal hard cover books.

Who is your favorite Magician of all time? 

I don't have an answer yet. I am humbled and very appreciative to start following several important kinds of magicians.

Do you have any words of wisdom for newer magicians?

Ask questions, invest in yourself, join a group, support other magician's shows and.....just have fun on this journey.

Funny Business By Karl Rabe

Funny Bones

We are making some security updates to the AAMC Website. Viewer's will be presented with a challenge to ensure they are human and not robots.

Rings of Yore

Today a special article from the August 1971 Linking Rings reporting on the clubs Charter Day.

"Linking Ring Vol 51 Issue 8", Aug 1971, p. 50

Charter Day - Ring 210

This fledgling Ring with less than 20 charter members drew an enthusistic and loyal group of 136 paid registrants by the simple expedient of using the magic words, "Duke Stern.”

The presentation scroll read:

In recognition of his lifetime of devotion to magic, his many contributions to this art and his friendship with magicians everywhere, Ring 210 proudly assumes the name, The DUKE STERN Ring.

The afternoon began with an illustrated talk by Charlie Rulfs of Ann Arbor on "Magical Nostalgia," indicating the collector's interests and his role in preserving books, posters and apparatus relating to our craft.

The indomitable Roy Kissell performed his usual smooth role as M.C. of the afternoon and sprinkled his own brand of mystifications between tracts, Dennie Loomis premiered a juggling display and an impressive fire-eating demonstration.

Detroit's “Lenardo, Jr.” shewed his nice manipulative routine with balls and a clever egg bag sequence. John Osbourne forsook ventriloquism and featured "Trcublewit" with a veryeffective patter, proving himself a versatile entertainer. The Amazing Conklins, from Colon, contributed lheir fine “Circus Act,” a wonderful family in a polished and well-paced act. The Duke Stern Lecture capped the afternoon’s events.

The curly-topped Shirley Temple of magic explained the Guatemala Rope Cut, a non-slate spirit-slate writing and his justly-famous “nothing happens” ten card count. This, betwixt sage and hilarious advices and asides on matters of presentation.

Hank Moorehouse sparked the evening show with his experienced M.C. bits and banter. Dennis and Bonnie Loomis opened with their smoothly- routined “Fantasy in Red and Black.” Plumes, silks and canes seemed to do their whimsical bidding in a nicely flowing and most magical manner. Henry and Vera Moorehouse followed, aided by two of their nicest productions, the graceful and lovely Kim and young born-to-theatre Buddy Moorehouse. A chair suspension and the production and vanish of doves and a rabbit highlight a very pleasing act.

Gene Anderson was easily persuaded to astonish with his impossible restoration of a torn newspaper. Our local pride and delight, young Jeff Wawrzaszek, performed a revision of his award-winning thimble routine. Jeff reaffirmed and widened his circle of admirers, gaining special commendation from an ageless thimble-king named Duke Stern.

The chaos which followed could only have emanated from a Pixie named Duke, sometimes confounded by a very large Imp named Karrell Fox. The 20 foot streamer from a slip of paper went into the shade with the resurrection of the Duke’s 1930 mime of a first-time manipulative act. The arthritic multiplying billiard balls and spilled cards, climaxed with a “flying" bird cage, leaving an audience strewn with limp magicians. Help (?!) arrived from the dainty Fox of Detroit. The waterless Lota (in the face), and a non-cooperative serpent silk were followed by Harrell's more serious (?) presentation of how he would have done a repe trick — had there been any need for another rope trick — which didn’t seem to be the case. How do you build this to a climax? Obviously, by locating the selected card in cne of two Custard cream pies.

A charming young couple, all the way from Toronto, Doug Henning and Mars, Canada’s sensational illusionist, came to honor Mr. Stern. In their capable hands, lighted torches changed to flowing silks. The beautiful Mars entered the Zig-Zag Girl box and survived the incredible, to a round of applause that was only topped by their rapid-fire package-box (substitution trunk), presentation. Here’s to more illusion shows presented in such a smoothly professional manner!

The subsequent letters, honors and presentations to our beloved namesake Duke Stern were numerous, sincere and deeply moving; not of such stuff as one records in cold print. TheFoxy one was busy at this point bringing on the 20-ft. crying towel for Duke, and finally alleviated all of the sweet suffering by returning with the remains of two sightly-used Custard pies and bestowing same in appropriate places.

Three or four guest hucksters materialized to assist Duke in a flurry of effect on behalf of a worthy dealer. Impromptu close-ups, balloon sculpturing and socializing went on. Tired but happy Ring 210 faithfuls assisted our generous (and unpaid), visitors in loading their properties, thanked the many beautiful people who came long distances to support this event and went homo reflecting on the middle word in I.B.M.