Mordecai's Journal

The Society of American Magicians
Northern Connecticut Assembly #21
Newsletter for February 2007   page two of three

January Meeting Minutes, continued
(continued from page one)
Walt came back to do a block-off-rope.  Len described the classic Grandmother’s Necklace and his modifications and thoughts on it.  Charlie Hayden did his complete (and hysterical) rope routine.  Len described the Kellar rope tie.  Dan finished off the evening with his color-changing rope, stiff rope, and a mini-Zig-Zag.
Notes and Photos from the Gathering of Bizarre Magicians
November, 2006

Lst November 16-18, the Inner Circle of Bizarre Magick held their fifteenth Gathering, in Cromwell, CT.  I was able to attend only one day of this three-day convention, but it was an enjoyable day nonetheless.
I arrived Friday morning in time to attend a show by Charles Pecor.  He did a ring-on-rope routine—with a finger ring.  He also did "Karate Card," a finger chopper, an Earth-spirit trap, and the always bizarre (and slightly disgusting) "Four Flies."  He also shared some philosophies with the audience about performing.

After lunch, at 2:30 Blake Starr presented "Electronics in Magic," a lecture on magnets and reed switches.  He showed us how these can be used to ignite flash cotton, even when the spectator is allowed to wave the wand.  One of his creations uses a model rocket igniter, a single battery and alligator clips.  Another flash wand was created out of a Walgreens flashlight and some woodworking.  He showed us some movable props that he made by tearing apart radio-controlled cars.  He finished with the display (and demonstration) of some of his "interactive" puppets.

At about 4:00 that afternoon, attendees were invited to show us their “Works in Progress” and invite our comments.
Odes Odener performed “Acts of Violence” which was a detective story.  Weapon names are spelled out and eliminated.  The remaining object is the real weapon.
“Cyril the Sorcerer” (C J Mai) was working on a wand that flashes and bangs without being illegal.  He uses a hollow tube filled with “pops”—those things that pop when they hit the ground.
Brian Hatcher used six tarot cards—one selected card, set aside, later turns into the Death card.
Johnathan Forst did a trick with a doll.  A selected card, shown to the doll, rises from a wooden box.
“The Collector” (David Birtwell) did a version of “Dead or Alive” as an experiment in psychometry.
Shawn Phoenix and Dan Greenwolf did a comedy sketch in which Shawn escapes from a strait jacket before Dan can find five selected cards.  It was extremely funny.

We were all advised to hustle back from supper to catch, at 6PM, a video link from Scotland to talk with Karl Bartoni.  Unfortunately, there were problems with the link and he was not able to hear us, but we could see and hear him fine. He gave an excellent presentation on escapes done in the UK.
Later we were treated to a special presentation of David London’s kid show “Travels Around The World.”

At 8:15PM, there was a special lecture by Roni Shachnaey, “A Word From The Mind” showing us all how to do four intriguing mental effects.

Later that evening, the Hospitality Suite featured great food and conviviality. It was a great time.  Maybe this year I can attend the whole convention!
Blake Starr and some of his articulated creations.
Shawn Phoenix and Dan Greenwolf challenge each other in a re-creation of their RenFair routine.
David London’s kid’s show.