PEORIA MAGICIANS ASSEMBLY

IBM RING 48 - SAM ASSEMBLY 51 - PEORIA , IL

APRIL 2005

To access this site, just type in:

www.geocities.com/peomagic (or go.to/peomagic)

Peoria Magicians Assembly meetings are held on the 2^nd Friday of the month, except during the months of July and August and during months with special events (January Banquet, September Picnic and October Auction).

Next Meeting - Friday, April 8, 2005 - 7:00-9:00 P.M. Click here for map (From the east, use I-474 near Morton, to I-74 east in Peoria, to University St. south exit 91A, following directions below.)

West Bluff Christian Church, 2018 W. Kellogg Ave., West Peoria, IL

MAGIC ROUNDTABLE at Hardee's, Downtown East Peoria, 101 N. Main St. (at Washington St.) (From the east, use I-74 East Peoria Washington St. Exit 96, turn left and go about four blocks to Main St. From the west, exit I-74 in downtown Peoria at the Glendale Exit 92, go past the second stoplight at Main St. onto Kumpf Blvd., follow Kumpf about a half mile over the Bob Michael Bridge, continue straight past the stoplight for about a mile past Caterpillar and turn left at the four-way stoplight at Washington Rd., and go another half mile to Main St.)

Friday, April 15, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

This is a good opportunity to discuss and work on magic in a close-up, small group setting with other club members.

Lecture By: Michael Close www.MichaelClose.com

Legendary close-up performer and Magic Magazine reviewer for the last 10 years.

Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 7:00 PM

Apollo Theatre, Downtown Peoria, 311 N. Main St. (between Jefferson and Adams)

For more information on the historic Apollo theatre: http://www.historicpeoria.com/select.cfm?chose=82

(From the east, take I-74 to Exit 94 Riverfront Drive/Bob Michael Bridge to downtown Peoria (due to closure of I-74 at the Illinois River). Turn right at the light at the bottom of the bridge and follow Adams St. four blocks and turn left onto Main St. The Apollo Theatre is on the left. From the west, take I-74 to the Glendale exit downtown. Go to the second stoplight and turn left onto Main St., go four blocks and past the stoplight at Jefferson St. The Apollo Theatre is on the right side across from the Court House.)

$10 Admission per person

Michael Close is an accomplished performer specializing in comedy close-up magic. His routines are well-blended with audience participation and humor. Michael has performed in the piano bar at the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas (home of The Lance Burton Theatre). It’s been six years since Michael has lectured for magicians. Michael’s lecture has been hailed as “entertaining,” “educational,” and “inspiring.” You’ll laugh, you’ll be amazed, and you’ll leave knowing more about the art of magic.

Michael’s new lecture features routines from his groundbreaking ebook Closely Guarded Secrets. This is material that Michael developed during his three-year run at the Houdini Lounge in the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas. Michael will also discuss some old favorites from his critically acclaimed Workers series. Don’t miss this great opportunity to spend some time with one of magic’s modern masters.

Magic Show Reviews

John Calvert, Monday, March 28, Dragon’s Dome, Pekin, IL, 7:00 p.m.

Performing wonderful magic seasoned with recollections from his over 70 years doing stage magic and as an actor in Hollywood, John Calvert gave a large audience of over 70 folks a very entertaining evening. John, who at 93, is most likely the most experienced major stage magician performing today, began his performance with a beautiful cigarette production routine done with music. He also performed the vanish of a borrowed watch and its reappearance in a jumbo nest of boxes, several rope effects with audience volunteers including Cords of Fantasia, Rope through Neck (of a young boy in the audience) and a 100-ft. Rope Escape using a gentleman from the audience who was tied up in a chair, Dove Caught in Empty Net, Space-Age Torn and Restored Card in Orange (using a red laser light) and a Séance Room routine with a young man from the audience whose shirt and a shoe came flying out from behind the closed curtain along with several pie plates and an article of women’s clothing while John’s arms were securely bound and tied. The show concluded with John’s trademark effect, Casper The Dancing Handkerchief, using a borrowed white hanky which dances, jumps and flies around on stage.

It was a fun show with great memorabilia available at intermission including a biography book about John’s magic and acting career, DVDs of John’s stage show and one of his films using magic while solving crimes as The Falcon, and several color posters. John travels with and shares the stage with his lovely wife, Tammy. It was a privilege to have John and Tammy visit us and let us enjoy their magic. Upon looking at the photos in his book with jet planes, show dancers, lions and elephants, oh my, one can only wish that they could have seen John’s full stage show as well. A personal thank you goes to John and Tammy for visiting our club.

Max Howard, Sunday, March 20, Holiday Inn Express, Pekin, IL, 7:00 p.m.

Max gave a very enjoyable lecture on the art of showmanship and the theatrical aspects of performing magic. Several effects were performed using masks, costumes and accents. A major influence in the routines was the inclusion of characterization and storytelling. The routines were some of the most creative and entertaining our club has had in a lecture performance. Included were routines as a French man telling the tale of the Madame who was a fortune-teller of sorts and as a Chinese conjuror wearing a clear mask and a black robe, who told the story of the origin of the jumbo Chinese Checkers. According to the tale, the black checkers came from the wood of the trees in the forest along with a special golden checker, which vanished, reappeared and jumped positions in the stack of checkers when uncovered. The resulting effect was the creation of life once again through the vanish of the stack of checkers and the production of a glass of water and a goldfish. Max had available a very creative and descriptive list of the interesting effects and videos that he offers. These may also be found on his Web site: www.maxhowardonline.com.

John Calvert Links:

John Calvert Book (History of John's travels and adventures around the world performing magic.)

John Calvert History and the Guillotine (John has performed for over 60 million people for over 70 years and has appeared in over 40 movies, including a series of films in the 1940's, solving crimes as The Falcon.)

Siegfried and Roy Review (John was the first person to produce a major magic show in Las Vegas and Broadway.)

John Calvert Interview (SYM Assembly #29, John Calvert Assembly, Boston, MA)

Central Illinois Magic Get-Together - Saturday, May 7, 2005 - Springfield (in Peoria in May 2006)

Saturday, May 7, is the 2005 Central Illinois Magic Get-Together to be held in Springfield at the new Performing Arts Center, 420 S. 6^th St. All-day (9 a.m.-close) admission is $45. Evening show (7:30 p.m.) only is $12.50. Headliners include Jade (from Indonesia), Tom Burgoon, and Dan Fleshman. Friday, May 6, night-before lecture with Tom Burgoon, only $10.00. Visit the Web site: http://ibm239.4t.com. Registration and contact info on the Web site or contact Jeff Harpring at: [email protected].

MAGIC LINKS

MAGIC ON TV: http://www.tvmagicguide.com/

MAGIC NEWS: http://www.magictimes.com/

MAGIC WEEKLY: http://www.allmagic.com/

(Includes new magic effects each week you can learn, magic dealers, events, videos, etc.)

MAGIC VIDEO CLIPS: http://www.magicvideodepot.com/

MAGIC CHAT: http://www.themagiccafe.com/

MAGIC ORGANIZATIONS:

http://www.magicsam.com/ (Society of American Magicians)

http://www.magician.org/ (International Brotherhood of Magicians)

PEORIA MAGICIANS ASSEMBLY ARCHIVE

PAST ISSUES OF PMA WEB SITE!!!

2005 January February March

2004 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2003 January February March April May June July August September October November December

Central Illinois Magic Get-Together – Peoria, Illinois – Saturday, May 3, 2003

2002 January February March April May June July August September October November December

ABOUT THE PEORIA MAGICIANS ASSEMBLY

* The Peoria Magicians Assembly meets the SECOND Friday of each month at West Bluff Christian Church, 2018 W. Kellogg St., West Peoria.  The club does not meet during some months with special events, including July and August.  Please consult the web site for current information.  Guests are invited to our meetings at no charge.  Membership is available for $15 a year beginning in January each year and is prorated.  For a membership application, E-mail: Jerry Tupper, [email protected].

* For Directions to West Bluff Christian Church:  From the east, take I-474 near Morton to I-74 east in Peoria to University St. south Exit 91A (I-74 is closed at the Illinois River until Oct. 2, 2005).  From the west, take I-74 to Peoria, exit at University St. South (Bradley University) Exit 91A.  Both directions: take University St. to the second stoplight (Avanti's Restaurant).  Turn right onto Main St. and go past the overhead stoplight on the left at Bradley Field House and past the next stoplight at Bradley Park on the right.  Go two blocks further and Main St. curves left and continues on to Western Ave.  Go past the two stoplights on the right and past McDonald's.  Go two more blocks, past the Kentucky Fried Chicken on the right and just before the auto parts store, turn right (west) onto Kellogg St.  Go one block and park in back of the church.  We meet in the basement. For a map to West Bluff Christian Church, click here and enter 2018 W. Kellogg, West Peoria, IL.

2005 Peoria Magicians Assembly Board

President - Paul Buob  [email protected]
Vice President - Jon Gallagher [email protected]
Treasurer - Jerry Tupper  [email protected]
Secretary - Adam Shake  [email protected]
IBM & SAM Rep. - To Be Announced
Past Pres. - Gordon Snow  [email protected]

Know someone interested in magic? Tell them about our club and our Web site www.geocities.com/peomagic. Youth magic classes are listed at www.geocities.com/gjmagic. For Web site information, contact [email protected].

THANKS FOR VISITING.  PLEASE COME BACK!