Historian’s
“Blast from the Past” September 2024

This month we take a 10 year look back to the September, 2014 meeting of the Ring. The President at that time was Aaron Acosta and the Secretary was Robert (Bob) White. The Ring met monthly at Shuffeld Auditorium, Little Rock.

 “On September 4, Ring 29 met for its regular meeting at the Sheffield Auditorium at Baptist Hospital. At the business meeting, we discussed Boo at the Zoo and the Tri-Ring meeting, which will be in Dardenelle on October 4.

The theme for the meeting was “Paper or Money Magic.” First to share his talents was Mike Jones, who had two volunteers, Jim Henson and Bob White, select cards. Mike had previously made predictions. The first card prediction was half of the value of the first selected card. The second prediction was double the value of the second card selected, the Fourteen of Clubs! Jo Jones, using Mike Curtis as her volunteer, had Mike select a word out of a magazine and letter by letter she divined the word he had chosen (“Glance”).

Joel Nicholson asked Jim Henson to come forward and perform “Matter through Matter,” where a ribbon magically penetrates a piece of Plexiglas. Joel then mentioned he and his wife, Janie, were about to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. He brought out two books which revealed the secret of their long marriage: Pleasing Your Wife by I.R. Single and Successful Farming Tips by I.B. Broke. The wooden books were made by Janie’s dad many years ago.

 Bob White amazed with his versions of a money puzzle where a five-dollar bill melted through a one- dollar bill and demonstrated “Psychic Surgery” on George Washington using a pen as a scalpel to tear and restore the one-dollar bill.

 With flare, Don Baer used Jan Hecke to tear and restore a napkin. After the restoration, he produced streams of colored paper out of their hands and created a Hawaiian lei which he placed around Jan’s neck.

 Cedric Morley with the assistance of Jo Jones was able to produce out of his pocket the correct amount of change Jo would have had after making a purchase. He then had Jo sign a coin which disappeared and later reappeared inside a small bag which was inside two more boxes sealed with rubber bands.

 President Aaron Acosta with the help of a guest, Gary Fambrough, was able to make visible and invisible coins pass back and forth between their hands. It was an impressive movement of coins. Last but not least,

 Jim Henson talked about the big house he and his wife wanted. He used a large drawing of the house which folded down to the house he could afford – an outhouse! Jim performed his favorite trick when he was traveling. He changed a one-dollar bill into quarters by using a miss-made bill. Then, with the help of Judy Martin, Jim performed “Feel a Color.”

 Come join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and magic. You can call Mr. Magic at 501- 455-6242 for location and/or directions.”


Paper, money and a few cards, with some skillful help from our Ring members, kept everyone entertained at that jam packed Ring meeting. Those that were there got to witness some excellent presentations with unique personal twists thrown in. It’s always a good idea to make it to the meetings because you never know what amazing feats you might behold. It’s also great to see that, since that meeting, the discussed Tri-Ring meeting has now progressed to a Quad-Ring meeting which several enjoyed this past month. in Morrilton.

 Until next time, remember the words from “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, “Things without all remedy should be without regard: what’s done is done.”