It’s a new year and another issue of the largest circulation magic magazine in the world -- The Linking Ring, the official publication of the International Brotherhood of Magicians -- awaits your attention. The issue is now on this portal, both in a digital format, as well as in PDF form, to download and read wherever you wish. Here are some of the highlights, while you wait for your hard copy, summarized by members Paul Lelekis and Dennis Schick:
This month’s cover story features the new President of the British Ring, Brian Miller – the only person ever elected more than once to the I.B.M.’s largest ring, Ring 25! Read all about the colorful career in magic of Brian and his wife and partner, Audrey!
Continuing this issue’s traditional British influence, this month’s Hocus Pocus Parade features the members of Ring 25, compiled by Ian Adair! Authors of the fifteen effects are: Peter Rooke, Peter Lamont, Ian Adair, Roy Field, Chris Wardle, David Tomkins, Paul Guy, Jack Skertchly, Alan Gardiner, Stephen Tucker, Peter Duffie, George Hills, Mike Hopley, Trevor Dawson, and Harry Reeve. A deep bow and thanks to Mr. Adair for coordinating this Parade, once again. And Tony Dunn’s great line drawings enhance the tricks considerably, making them so much easier to understand.
And a THIRD British item this month is the regular column THE LONDON EYES by Peter Scarlett. It’s always fun to read what fellow magicians are doing across the Big Pond.
Each month, The Linking Ring features special events of a half-dozen or so Rings, complete with color photos, in an up-front section -- Ring Events.. This month the featured Rings are: Ring 17, Toronto; Ring 23, Cleveland, Ohio; Ring 41, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Ring 71, Cincinnati, Ohio; Ring 197, Marietta, Ohio; and Ring 216 in San Jose, California. Read these to get ideas about what and how YOUR Ring can produce such special events. (Also remember -- we can’t publish your Ring’s event if we don’t know about it, and if no one sends in a report and photos.)
The Daytona Festival of Magic, in conjunction with the Florida State Magician’s Association Convention, held in Daytona Beach Florida, proved to be a fantastic weekend of fun, magic and stars with the honoring of three legends in magic! Co-sponsors are the Florida Magicians’ Association and Daytona Magic.
The names that headlined this statewide affair included, John and Tammy Calvert, Banachek, Johnny Ace Palmer, Celeste Evans, Jack Kodell. John Ekin, Scott Humston, Arthur Trace, Sylvester the Jester, and others! Read a review of this convention, and see lots of photos of some of the participants.
Le Grand David and his own Spectacular Magic Company will celebrate thirty-five years – the longest running magic show in history -- with a show scheduled for February 18, 2012 in Beverly, Massachusetts! Phil Willmarth writes a fascinating thirty-five-year timeline of the show, which will make you want to attend this year’s historic production.
A special article this month is called “The Trick That Can’t Be Explained EXPLAINED!” The Math Behind the Mystery was written by James F. Crisswell, Jr., and you’ll want to read it several times. It’s a follow up to a Paul Lelekis submiussion
In his column “CONVERSATIONS WITH CALVERT,” centurion John Calvert begins his second hundred years by continuing his description of one of the several special birthday parties and celebrations he enjoyed.
CUTTING UP JACKPOTS by Bev Bergeron provides readers with a wonderful history of the early years of The Magic Castle! This is some excellent reading with nostalgic history, and nobody relates history any better than the veteran Bev Bergeron.
In his new column THE KID-SHOW CIRCUIT, columnist Marty Hahne gives us Part One of “Using Audience Helpers.” Getting first-hand advice from a pro should be welcomed by thousands of kid show performers.
Another experienced pro -- Scott Humston -- takes over the “Business” beat in his column, BUSINESS OF THE SHOW. This month’s column is about “Getting Paid.”
Mike Power's CARD CORNER gives readers an excellent (and easy to do!) effect called I.C.A.N. (Invisible card at number) that is not only very clever but easy to do!
WAYS AND MEANS by Joe Turner presents an effect by Carl Karl called “Headquarters 37.” This is a very cool mentalist theme that is impromptu!
Peter Marucci's SHOWTIME presents another rendition of the classic, “The Runic Coins” -- a very powerful and easy-to-do effect!
STORYTELLING MAGIC by Ed Solomon provides readers with yet another excellent effect with fantastic story lines! This effect is called “The Twelve Months, A Slavic Fairy Tale!” This one is great! He attributes it to Alexander Chodsvko.
This month’s HOCUS IN FOCUS delivers reviews on twelve magic books, DVDs, and tricks which will help you make purchasing decisions. And speaking of purchasing decisions, please study all the ADVERTISERS in this issue, and say that you saw their ad in The Linking Ring when you buy something from any advertiser.
ADVERTISERS -- your products will enjoy unsurpassed worldwide promotion in The Linking Ring through the beautiful printed magazine, the dazzling digital edition, and links from the I.B.M. Web Portal. For details about advertising in The Linking Ring, contact BJ Hickman at advertising@magician.org.
We pay tribute to twelve magicians in the Broken Wand, by telling a little about their lives, and their survivors.
Finally, we publish RING REPORTS from eighty-nine Rings from around the world. Read these carefully for ideas about meeting themes, lecturers, special events, ways to run a meeting, etc.
And there are additional features in the magazine, so read every page. A big thanks to Editor Sammy Smith and his staff for providing the rest of us one hundred and sixty-four pages of interesting, entertaining, and educational magic material.
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