MY ACCOUNT
March Linking Ring Features Magic Collector
Category: Media Magic Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK
The cover story for the March issue of The Linking Ring is a profile of one of magic’s most interesting collectors -- Dr. Mark Horowitz, of Florida. He has huge collections of magic comic books, magic books, magic sets, magic DVDs, magic convention programs, magic posters -- you name it, he has a bunch of them. In fact, he has them organized in four rooms of his home, in what he calls a “Mini-Museum of Magic.” He practices doctoring during the day, and magishes at night. Read about him and see photos of his museum and collections. Mark (and his son Lee Asher) are also responsible for this month’s Parade.
We were wrapping up the March issue of The Linking Ring in mid-February when the shocking news of Tom Mullica’s operation-gone-wrong and sudden death February 18 came to us. Of course we stopped everything and prepared an obituary for the Broken Wand, as well as an In Memoriam for him, including tributes from some of his many friends.
Then just a week later, February 25, word came that Magic Castle Matriarch and Co-founder Irene Larsen had just died, and again we juggled pages and worked in an In Memoriam as well as an obituary in the Broken Wand. No other magic publication can or does that, although news of both of these untimely deaths spread quickly on the Internet.
Aside from these two sad news items, the March issue is packed full with its typical terrific features, including: a well-deserved Tip of Ye Ole Top Hat to T.J. Shimeld for a decade of editing the popular Ring Reports (and later the Ring Events); a review of a recent show by the venerable Amazing Kreskin; a remembrance of consummate Showman Fu Manchu; Part Three of “Making kids ROTFL” (Rolling on the Floor Laughing); and a review of the Daytona Beach Festival of Magic.
Of course the issue includes the always-terrific columns by Kent Cummins (Marketing Magic), Bev Bergeron (Cutting Up Jackpots), Adele Friel Rhindress (Magical Moments), Scott Hood (The Therapy of Magic), Skip Way (Polishing the Rings), Mike Powers (The Card Corner), Andrew Woo (Simple Diversions), Jeff Prace (The Expert at the Tech Table), Chris Beason (Situationally Yours), Michael Breggar (Auto-magic),
Be sure to read the special feature about this year’s (July 2-5) annual I.B.M. Convention in San Antonio, and the gazillion reasons why you should be there. San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and you will be within walking distance of several world-class attractions, including The Alamo and the River Walk.
In the Hocus in Focus this month are reviews of ten new magic products. In the March Broken Wand are obituaries for thirteen people who spent much of their lives making people laugh.
RING EVENTS this month are reported from Ring 115 (Singapore), 189 (Hawaii), Ring 216 (San Jose, California); Ring 251 Palm Coast, Florida; and Ring 257 (Las Vegas, Nevada). And there are RING REPORTS from sixty-one Rings throughout the world. Don’t just ignore these. They are full of great ideas for your Ring to consider.
And don’t forget to stop and read every advertiser in the issue. It is the income from these sponsors which helps pay for this magazine. When you contact them, or see them at a convention, please thank them for supporting magic and the I.B.M. Tell them you saw their ad in The Linking Ring.
Thanks to Sammy Smith, Tony Dunn, Jessica Friend and all the other staff members for another sterling issue.
