Weekly Round-Up
by SCOTT WELLS
October 6, 2008

Howdy friends.  I am so glad to see that other cities (San Diego and Chicago) are now reporting what's happening on their local magic scene. Magic is a big house with many rooms and I am happy to visit as many as I can.  I look forward to seeing this web portal grow to include happenings in other major cities, too. You can go elsewhere to read about the new Masked Magician TV series or reviews on Criss Angel's new Las Vegas shows.  But here you can see what the local "workers" are doing so you can join us when you are in town.  For example, there is a lot of magic stuff going on around Houston: the Magic Island remains closed for repairs; Julian Franklin goes to sea; magic club meeting; magic lectures; spooky séances, and; who's working where and when. (Read More...)

For a number of years, a column written by one of the nicest ladies in magic, “Around Chicago with Frances” appeared in The Linking Ring. Frances Ireland Marshall’s column was the source of news and all that was happening in and about Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Frances had been married to Laurie Ireland and after his death, she continued running the Ireland Magic Company in Chicago’s Loop. A few years later, Fran married Jay Marshall, moved to a new location and changed the name of the business to “Magic Inc.” Frances was one of the busiest people I knew; writing books about magic, publishing books about magic, selling magic effects, keeping everyone informed about magic and always maintaining a positive attitude about everything. Her legacy continues at Magic Inc., a shop that still exists today. (read more)

MagiCurrents
San Diego Magic Notes
by Don Soul & Jack White

Amazing news for San Diego and Ring 76...We have learned that David Sandy, I.B.M. Site Selection Chairman, has signed a contract with the Town & Country Convention Center in Mission Valley as the location for the 2010 edition of the annual I.B.M. Convention in late June of that year. This will be the fourth time the Town & Country Hotel has hosted an I.B.M. Convention in San Diego. The last I.B.M. Convention in this city was July 2002. Next summer's 2009 convention will be held in Nashville, Tennessee at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Resort. Stay tuned for more information as we begin the countdown to the I.B.M. Convention 2010! (read more)

David Sandy's
MAGIC CRUISE 2009
By Roger Miller

Producing shows, events and conventions seems to come naturally for David Sandy.  He produced his first magic convention in 1983 at the age of 19. Sheila and I attended and were more than impressed. This farm kid from Missouri hired an unbelievable line-up of talent for this stellar event (a partial listing of performers included Charlie Miller, Dai Vernon, Slydini, Michael Ammar, John Cornelius, Fantasio, Mark Wilson, Shimada, Norm Nielsen, Petrick & Mia, Ross Bertram, Jay Marshall, Roger Klause, Paul Harris, Marvyn & Carol Roy, and the list goes on).  (read more)

THE BUZZ - Latest Links
To Magic Info...
by MEL KIENTZ

There is certainly a ton of magic information floating around the Internet this month. I made it a point to miss Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (MyNetworkTV). If you have something to say about this other than it's a shame to reveal a secret you may want to hit  the comment button at the bottom of this blog. Meanwhile there are other stories that have come across my desk and I pass them along to you. Ellis & Webster, • Kent Wong • Partick Page • Criss Angel • Greg Bordner • El Duco •  Elizabeth Warlock • Dorothy Dietrich • David Blaine • Mark Wilson • Dan Morrissey and Pheobe Hancock...have a look... .(read more)

Merlin The Series
by Mel Kientz

Every magician worth his or her pixey-dust knows the story of Merlin, the great magician of the Arthurian romances. If you have somehow escaped this principal figure of our entertainment art form, I would direct you to the writings of T.H. White (1906-1964) and his 1939 masterwork, The Once and Future King. Within these pages was another smaller abridged work later completed and turned into a stand alone book, the original manuscript of which now resides in the Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas in Austin. The finished work was finally published in 1958 and called The Book of Merlyn. Please note the spelling. (read more)

New M-U-M Editor Announced
September 19, 2008
George Schindler

Michael Close has been selected as the new Editor of M-U-M Magazine the official organ of the Society of  American Magicians. S.A.M. President, Bruce Kalver, announced that  Mr. Close will succeed John Moehring as Editor beginning in January 2009. Michael Close is a magician, a writer and a fine musician. His books for magicians have become modern classics. He has performed and lectured around the world. (read more)  

Magic At The Edge
Jeff McBride in Las Vegas
by Mel Kientz
September, 2008

You may recognize I.B.M. Member Magician Jeff McBride as a judge from the recent television series "Celebracadabra".  He has also made appearances on A&E's "Mindfreak," as Joran on "Star Trek - Deep Space Nine," and on many other shows on every major television network. Now Jeff McBride returns to Las Vegas (Palace Station Hotel and Casino) with an extended run of his "Magic At The Edge" show. (read more)

No Convention Romance
in the U.K.
by Foreign Correspondent,
Lincoln Rings

The magic community in jolly ole England is a buzz with thoughts of jinxs, curses and spells the like of which has not been seen since Alastor Moody flit the Avada Kedavra in Goblet of Fire. It seems that Collin Richardson and Geoff Pescud, in a story tipped by The Times, have grown bored with the legendary Blackpool magic gathering to start their own magic convention three weeks prior the rival event next February. (read more)