June is busting out all over (what musical is that from?), including at The Linking Ring. In the June issue, Past I.B.M. president Bill Spooner is on the cover, and you’ll read why in the cover story about this truly renaissance gentleman. In addition to one last push for registrations for the I.B.M. Annual Convention (a two-page house ad and an article and photos), the issue is packed with lots of great magic reading. While waiting for your hard copy, read the following preview, and then read the digital or PDF versions. Enjoy!
Editor Sammy Smith wrote the seven-page cover article -- “A Mind for Magic” -- about the newest recipient of I.B.M.’s highest award, the Medallion of Honor, Dr. William (Bill) Spooner. When you read about his accomplishments in and for magic, you’ll agree and understand why he received this high honor. Included are sixteen photos from Bill’s life.
Editor Sammy writes a clever column on what the platform would be if Magic was running for office during this (or any) political year. Read his column, “The Magic Candidate,” to be reminded of why Magic is such a terrific hobby, profession, and performing art. And across the page, I.B.M. President Vanni Pule' writes his last column as president, talking about his recent trips to England and Batavia, New York, and a bit about magic camaraderie and ethics. Be sure to thank both Sammy and Vanni at the I.B.M. convention, for all they do for magic.
This month’s Ring Events highlights lectures and banquets and other special events of eight I.B.M. Rings: Ring 19, St. Paul, Minnesota; RIng 21, Hollywood, California; Ring 123, Middleton, New Jersey; Ring 130, Jacksonville, Florida; RIng 183, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; RIng 202, Malta; RIng 211, Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Ring 257, Las Vegas, Nevada. How do you get YOUR Ring featured here? Write a report and send it, with some photos, to T.J. Shimeld at ringreports@magician.org.
Dr. Dale Salwak has been our Man in Asia for several years, so we are not surprised to have a first-hand report from him called “U.S. Magicians visit North (yes, we said NORTH) Korea.” Talk about a cultural exchange and magic ambassador! And you can view his efforts live and in person at the I.B.M. Convention, since he put together the very special All-Asian Show, featuring six performers, from China, Japan, and Korea. Prepare to be dazzled and blown away!
Jason Reiger brings us his report on the Thirty-eighth Annual Winter Carnival of Magic, which was hosted by Ring 58 and held March 8-10 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. That area is slowly becoming a mini-center of magic, not unlike Branson, Missouri was several years ago. KIDabra meets there, and several magic shows seem to come and go (like Branson). Anyway, read Jason’s article on this long-standing magic event.
Read all about Chicago History Museum’s new exhibit called simply, “MAGIC.” Don Wiberg’s article is called “Museum to Celebrate Chicago’s Place in American Magic.” The exhibit runs June 9 through January 6, 2013, so stop by when you’re in the area, or arrange to go there on purpose. In addition to telling us about the new exhibit, Don also shares some of his personal thoughts about magic in Chicago in a separate article, “Chicago Magic Reflections.” Thanks, Don, for both of these articles.
This month’s Hocus Pocus Parade is Part 2 of one started in the May issue, from Ring 103, the Earl Edwards Ring, in our convention host city, Norfolk, Virginia. You’ll enjoy reading about and learning effects from The Enchanted Walking Cane, and Mental Flip Flop, to Rhodora, Just Say Stop, the Card in Crayon, and Names to Conjure With. Thanks to Sonny Narvaez for compiling and editing them, and to Tony Dunn (as always) for his line drawings.
David Stone returns to give us a Bonus Parade, with “Surprise Index.” You remember that he was the cover subject of the May issue.
The Linking RIng columnists have come through again. Skip Way continues his emphasis on youth magicians in “Polishing the Rings,” with “Bridge Foundation,” giving us tips he learned from a former teacher.
Our resident historians also came through again , with John Calvert giving us insights into Alston Cockrell (Mars the Magician), in his “Conversations with Calvert;” and Bev Bergeron recalling Al Wheatley in his “Cutting Up Jackpots” column.
Scott Humston reveals “The Best-kept Secret to booking more shows,” in his column “Business of the Show;” and Marty Hahne emphasizes “Adding messages to your magic,” in “The Kid-Show Circuit.”
Peter Scarlett brings us up-to-date on what’s happing in the I.B.M.’s largest Ring (25), in “The London Eyes.”
In “The Card Corner,” by Mike Powers, he gives us “Jazz it up II,” a variation on John Neely’s Jazz It Up in the May issue. And Joe Turner says “It’s Showtime!” Warm-up, in his column, “Ways and Means.”
Veteran columnist Peter Marucci tells us about “The Four Cowboys” in his column, “Showtime;” and storyteller himself Ed Solomon gives us “Jacob’s Ladder,” in “Storytelling Magic.”
Finally, the June issue concludes with reviews of thirteen DVDs, books, and tricks, in “Hocus in Focus;” we pay tribute to six magicians who died, in Broken Wand, and there are ninety Ring Reports, a great source for ideas of what your ring can do.
And don’t forget to support all those advertisers throughout the magazine, who help pay for the magazine itself. Tell them you saw their ad in The Linking Ring.
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