Past Ring 76 President and current Ring Board member, Diane Lane, died at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla. Diane had been in failing health for several months. She and her doctors were searching for a donor kidney for a much needed transplant. Her family was with her at the hospital. Diane's son Kenny told MagiCurrents that his mother did not want a formal funeral service but a celebration of her life will be held for friends and family on Saturday, November 8th. (read more)

Word that a donor kidney was found came this past weekend. Diane was taken to the hospital and was found to be in good enough health to undergo the transplant procedure. Early on Monday morning following the transplant surgery Diane's liver began to fail and doctors started aggressive measures to turn that situation around. Diane then suffered a massive stroke.

In recent months she had been undergoing kidney dialysis treatment while medical professionals searched for a matching donor kidney. She never let her personal health problems interfere with helping and entertaining others. It would be impossible to list all of the charity groups and non-profit organizations she has tirelessly worked her magic in support of over the years. She took her duties as a board member and President of Ring 76 in a very serious manner. She once told Jack White that if there was one thing she wanted to be remembered for in her work with the I.B.M. It would be her efforts to help her fellow magicians become better performers. It was her goal to have more teach-in sessions for Ring 76 members.

Diane Lane was the only woman magician in San Diego, to have her own weekly television magic show that appeared on Time-Warner Cable stations in Southern California for many years. In addition to doing magic on the program and acting as host, she also featured other professional and amateur performers each week on the program. Diane wrote and produced the program as well as being the lead talent on the weekly show. It was a labor-intensive program to produce each week but Diane never complained and some how worked it into her busy schedule.

In January of 2004, The Linking Ring Magazine, the house organ of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, recognized Diane's efforts in overcoming adversity in her life and continuing to help others by entertaining with magic. The magazine featured her on the cover of the publication.

Phil Willmarth, the Executive Editor of the Linking Ring, flew to Las Vegas to personally present Diane with the first copy of the magazine off the press that bore her photograph. The presentation of the magazine was made as Diane was checking into the hotel for the start of the Desert Magic Seminar. The honor of appearing on the cover of the magazine came as a surprise to Diane and she later said: "Being on the cover of the most widely read magic magazine in the world was a true high point in my magic career."

Ring 76 President Terry Lunceford noted: "Her loss will leave a void in the Southern California magic scene because she was known and admired by so many people."

In other news...

Joe Mystic did a guest appearance on the Channel 5 Fox Morning News. The first cut-in went so well the producer asked Joe to stick around for a later segment of the news. Joe was in his Wizard costume and presented a great TV image as well as some good visual magic. Joe and his wife left a few days after the TV show for a cruise to the Caribbean, a little rest and relaxation before the beginning of the Holiday season of shows he has booked.

In early October, Magic Mike Stilwell and Terry Godfrey worked for 2000 members of the brokerage house, Price-Waterhouse, who were meeting at the Hotel Del Coronado. Mike did a special teach-in class for the children and family members at the Price-Waterhouse annual meeting. Terry Godfrey did a special show for the children and then did some strolling magic for the adults before the evening banquet. Terry Godfrey is back in San Diego after a very successful summer season working fairs in California, Oregon and Arizona. Mike Stilwell says the current economic nosedive by the stock market has made booking new shows during the coming holiday season difficult. Mike tells us that most of this year's holiday business is coming from former clients and includes very few new customers.  

Several Ring 76 members and their families were traveling during the month of October. Don and Donna Soul are driving from San Diego to Muscatine, Iowa where their sports-broadcasting son is living. Rob Soul is getting married November 1st and that event has prompted the trip by his parents to the mid-west. Muscatine, Iowa is a famous city on the Mississippi River because it was the manufacturing center for circus and carnival calliopes for nearly 100 years as well as being the pearl button capital of the world. Meanwhile, Bob and Judy Ingalls took a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands but before Bob boarded the ship he spent a couple of evenings at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and says he had more fun visiting friends and seeing shows than he has had in years. Ralph Mauzy joined him on that visit to the Castle. Terry Lunceford and his wife, Lynn, spent several days visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Terry says they had one day of wind and rain but the rest of the time was sunny and beautiful.

New Ring 76 Board Member Robert Meigs has had a very busy October. In addition to getting a Halloween act ready for the Ring October meeting, he and his troop of Boy Scouts of America were scurrying to build a Haunted House that they open every Halloween season in the North County. Funds brought in from the Haunted House attraction help to keep the troop going all year long. A lot of illusion techniques are employed in the production of the Haunted House.

Former San Diego and magic legend Richard Turner, better known as "The "Cheat", will be working the Magic Castle October 13 -19. If you plan on attending the Magic Castle Swap Meet, October 18^th and stay over for the evening shows be sure to see Richard. Richard is currently living in Texas and is working in a new show that is headed to New York. The show is called "Hoodwinked". After a run in New York, it will go to Las Vegas for an extended run. We hope to have more on the show in a future issue of MagiCurrents.

Craig Stone was back in San Diego for a few days in October. He pitched a trade show at the convention center on Oct 10 then worked at the Gathering Bar and Grill for one evening. He says he is still getting his feet on the ground in North Carolina and that he likes living there very much.

Big Tiny Don Bromley appears (then disappears) November 2nd from 6:30 'til 8:30pm presenting his show "Big Time: Illusions with a Message" at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Ave., San Diego. There is an admission fee of $12 but it includes a lot more than the show.