THE LOTA

March 2010

Visit our NEWinteractive website at

www.ring55.org

Promoting fellowship and the advancement of magic as an entertainment art in metro Phoenix For over 61 years

In This Issue...● The Big Event!● Last Meeting● Members Classified Ads● Club Supporters

COMING IN APRIL 2010....

TOP SECRET!!!

The Lota

The monthly publication of the International Brotherhood of

Magicians Ring 55

Ring 55 OfficersPresidentVice President2nd Vice PresidentSecretaryLota EditorTreasurerSergeant at ArmsWebmaster

Phil TuttleRoland Perry Robert StephensDavid GoldbergLeigh HotzJay GorhamKim PhelpsLeigh Hotz

Message From the Prez...Hi guys,Hope you’re ready for our lecture .Eugene Burger, a wonderful magician, will provide an outstanding night of magic.Come prepared to learn. Additionally, there will be hands on, no-holds barred session taking place on Thursday March 18th at a secret location. Starting time is still in theworks, but most likely it will start about 7:00pmIf you are interested in attending, the price is $75 (per person) and in return, you will receive a 4 plushour teaching session from one of magic's greatest teachers.

This workshop will cover COMPLETELY DIFFERENTmaterial than what will be presented in the lecture so if you can, I would recommend coming to both events.

This special session on the 18th requires and RSVP to me480-985-4011. Remember dues are due and you can pay Jay at the meeting on the 16th if you need to. Happy St. Patrick's Day and have a great month.

Phil TuttlePrez Ring 55

PARTY POPPER NIKKO

One of my favorite silk gimmicks is the Nikko gimmick, invented by Harry Kellar and sold through Thayer Magic. Based loosely on the Stillwell ball that many may be familiar with (hollow billiard ball used for Silk to Ball or hollow ball with loop of catgut attached for vanishing or producing a silk). Nikko is a hollow ball with a stem and knob attached lending itself to many sleights not possible with the others. Painted a flesh color the performer can manipulate it much the same as a billiard ball with the additional ability of gripping the knob (generally in a "thumb palm" position but can also be gripped between the fingers at the front of back of the hand).

Glenn Gravatt proposed the use of a Party Popper to be converted for use as a Nikko device (later Nikko style gimmicks were closer in design to dye tubes with knobs making them less susceptible to visibility issues). All that is necessary is to empty the Popper of its contents and paint it a flesh color. The capacity would not be great but this could be increased by gluing a rolled tube of cardboard or plastic to the walls of the Party Popper and again paint the entire unit a flesh color.

There are many handlings possible with this improvised Nikko but a basic handling is this: The Popper is positioned mouth up in the left hand (stolen and placed there, transferred from right hand concealment, etc.) and the hand is closed into a loose fist. The silk to be vanished is tucked into the hand (Popper) and the last push is the first or second finger which curls around the left thumb during the push causing the neck of the Popper to exit the loose fist at the finger side of the left hand. From here the neck can be grasped in the right hand thumb palm during a turn to the left. The fingers of the right hand can be loosely (naturally) separated and there should be no view of the gimmick contained in the hand. If used as a vanish during a 20th Century Silk effect you can produce the vanished silk tied between the two others and the gimmick will not affect the handling of the silks in view and the gimmick can be disposed of with those silks.

Use the silk to vanish or produce and experiment with different handlings and positions. Check Rice's Encyclopedia of Silk Magic for additional ideas and handlings (Vol 1 has information in apparatus methods for producing a single silk). The gimmick is easily stolen from a clip on the body (body load) or in the act of picking up something from a table or something from a pocket. If silk magic is of interest to you then please play with this idea and make up one of these gimmicks, it is one of the better ideas and gimmicks.

By Craig Brooks

BROKEN WAND...By Larry Wilfong

Member Edward M. Rosenthal passed on February 12, 2010 at his home in Scottsdale, AZ. Ed was 82 years young. He was one of a handful of magicians recently acknowledged to have been active members of BOTH the S.A.M. & I.B.M. for over 50 years. He owned a successful hearing aid business in Boston until retiring to Arizona in the 1970’s. His performing name was EDWARDO. He became interested in magic as a small boy when his father made a coin disappear by rubbing it into his elbow. (That’s the ONLY trick he knew.)

Ed’s next step was to wisely visit the public library where he proceeded to write down the titles of ALL the magic books they had listed. His ongoing project was to methodically begin taking out and reading each one! In later years he became best of friends with SLYDINI. He became acquainted with most of Magic’s greats both here and abroad. Personally he performed the usual birthday parties and later stage and corporate events. Ed was the first magician in the U.S. to perform a Magic Show sponsored by the owners of a “new business model” a SHOPPING CENTER. He learned the how to produce successful large-scale Magic Conventions from Herman Hanson.

He eventually took over that responsibility from Hanson for the ongoing Boston events. Ed served many terms as President of the local Ring after retiring to Arizona. He brought his skills as a Producer out west, too, and produced several local Conventions that attracted attendees from all across the country. His shows/events were always well-balanced and the performers loved working with Ed. He mentored untold numbers of aspiring magicians and behind the scenes helped several pro’s hone their acts. His library and rare apparatus collection were among the finest in the nation. Ed was the world’s greatest salesman and had a heart of gold especially where his friends in Magic were concerned. Survivors include his son, Skip Rosenthal (Texas), sister, Nancy Larner and long time sweetheart Debbie Delawder.

THESE COMPANIES SUPPORT OUR CLUBTHESE COMPANIES SUPPORT OUR CLUB

www.wizardmagic.com www.easleys.com www.prestomagicstudio.com

Kenton Knepper

www.williamsmagic.comwww.wonderwizards.com

Shawn Greer

www.idealmagic.com

THE LOTAc/o Leigh Hotz

2950 E Blue Ridge WayGilbert AZ, 85298

NEW HOURS WIZARD MAGIC SHOPPOWER SQUARE MALL, MESA AZ

Fridays 10am to 3 PM and Saturdays 10am to 5 PM Only