Little Rock Ring 29 had fun Thursday, September 5, 2024, when we met at 6:45 PM at the Community Room of First Community Bank at 17820 Chenal Pkwy in Little Rock, AR. We are very grateful for securing this special meeting location.
Our newly elected President Marty Haughn opened the business meeting with info of upcoming events, such as our Christmas Party date, and an upcoming Fund Raiser Show to be held in early Fall. Derrick Rose has been kind enough to volunteer for the commercial side of things, with Dane Dover heading that committee. Sponsors and performers were another area of discussion.
Marty then reached into a bag and pulled out sequentially numbered tickets and passed them out to all Ring 29 members for Jim Henson’s drawing for gifts. Marty turned the meeting over to Jim Henson who had lots of items to cover. Jim mentioned the recent passing away of one of our former Ring 29 members Theron Nunley. Jim told a few funny short stories about Theron and his activities. James Kinsey and Theron once did a Dueling Magicians routine at a Christmas party that included some very funny things that happened before and during that performance. Theron knew Jim is hard to trick but trick he did when he got Jim completely fooled and ended the joke he pulled on Jim with the words “I got you!”
Jim made sure Ring 29ers received a book by Milbourne Christopher “100 Tips on Tricks” and “Strange Secrets” by Annemann. Jim had books to giveaway to ticket winners during the drawing included Magic as a Hobby, The Magic Book, Magic College, Playing in Traffic, Card Magic, Book of Magic, Miscellaneous Numbered Decks of Cards, and back issues of Magic Magazines. He then performed a trick, all the while saying “I’m not a performer!” He said “Did you like that? I’ve got one for everybody!” Jim pulled out a series of tricks and Marty called out numbers and winners got to pick their choice of prizes.
Mary Ann Campbell (Dr. MAC) gave us a report of the TAOM meeting she attended. She reported on lectures, vendors, young magicians, food, shows, Japanese magicians, best magic, incredible magicians, fellowship of magic, family shows, SAM, FISM, Gloria Dea (19 year old woman, first magician to perform in Vegas), David Copperfield show, David Copperfield Museum (Women in Magic Museum), Francis Marshall (tutored Mary Ann), Michael Claxton, Magic Circle in London, Magic with money. Mary Ann is willing to work (train) any lady in the Little Rock area that is interested in magic.
Dane Dover handed a spectator his prediction in a sealed envelope and with audience participation, he played Magic Bingo on a large notepad. Columns and rows were eliminated as spectators called out their letter choices until the choices left were totaled and they matched Dane’s prediction.
A visiting magician from New Jersey (Jack Morrowin) gave us his personal performance of the egg bag illusion. It was his own rendition with many original humorous energetic moves and patter lines. James Kinsey was his assistant. James was taught on stage how to perform the routine to the Theme song of 2001: A Space Odyssey (Thus Spoke Zarathustra).
Marty Haughn has learned how to spell Magician and now after 300 practice sessions he picked two assistants to take 10 cards each and mix them and pull from the magic of his Tarot card. They discarded about half of the ten cards they each held but did not count the number left. They were then instructed to look at bottom card and remember it. Now “as above” and “so below” routine was used to alternate moving card to top or eliminate a card until assistants had only one card left. Then Marty and the assistants all showed their cards all matched!
So everyone could go home quickly and smiling Joel and Janie Nicholson demonstrated how to strike and light a match under water.
Tomorrow may not come for you. This may be the last day of your life. Live it well.
Joel Nicholson, Secretary