Author: Steven Peer

Categories
M-U-M Reports

February 2009 Meeting

Theme: Magic I saw/learned from Television

The assembly moved that we accept the gracious offer of Larry Kahlow to host the meetings at Eagle Magic.  It was decided that (with Larry’s final approval) we would start meeting there in September, after the three-month summer hiatus.

Adam and his lovely wife (and capable assistant) Lisa performed a wonderful version of metamorphosis.  Don French used two chairs and a rope to illustrate a story about a one-semaphore town in the 1940s.

Jack Nordin (left) demonstrated his latest moves in the now-infamous rope routine.

Darnay “took us home” (literally) with video of a complete performance from his home-theater during a SAM Assembly-12 meeting in the mid 1980s.  In that Halloween-themed performance, Darnay performed death defying illusions and a levitation with (then teen-age) Suzanne.

Categories
M-U-M Reports

January 2009 Meeting

Justin Alan was our featured guest.

Prior to Justin’s lecture, we applauded the success of the November meeting held at Eagle Magic.  We voted against having meeting-locations rotate between member-homes.

The obituary that Darnay had graciously prepared for Jerry Johnson was read aloud.

It was agreed that the March meeting will feature and acknowledge past presidents of SAM Assembly-12. 

Then it was time for Justin.  In addition to a delightful sampling of his routine, Justin also shared some of his observations and rules on restaurant magic.  We saw a here, then there signed-card routine, a card-to-wallet using his preferred “Real Man’s” brand wallet, and a vanishing tissue sucker routine using a roll of toilet paper (one-ply).  We also were entertained with a teathered-folded card illusion and the “Instant M.C.” routine.  Justin closed with a tic tac toe prediction.  Thank you Justin.

Categories
M-U-M Reports

November Meeting at Eagle

Minneapolis, MN  This month’s meeting took place at the new location of the oldest, continuously-operating magic store in the U.S.A. — Eagle Magic.

Meeting at New Eagle Magic Store
Photo: Jennifer Kahlow

Owner Larry Kahlow shared with the members some of the rich history of the store since it’s inception in 1899 including visits by Houdini and Thurston.  On this night he performed two knots-on/off rope trick.  Jack Nordin followed with a different kind of rope trick; that of a cowboy, swinging and twirling a lasso.  Darnay shared a bent-nail puzzle similar to one that fascinated him as a small boy.  Aaron Timmerman  flashed all of us with a wad of bills that changed from ones to hundreds.  Geoff Williams entertained with Hart’s Link and Adam Moore performed a thumb-cuff escape and vanish.  Bob Miller closed with an entire routine he has been developing that included versions of Feeling Flushed, Shuffleboard, and a BAM method of tracking five cards.  Thank you Larry for opening your doors to us.

Categories
M-U-M Reports

Sept & October Meetings 2008

The October meeting was our annual auction, where deals were the theme of the evening.  Value of the items was boosted when a few of the sellers offered to instruct bidders on the methods and nuances.
We noted that attendance was less than our 2007 auction: the economy, attrition, and reduced promotion were cited as reasons.
Categories
M-U-M Reports

Obituary: Gerald B. “Jerry” Johnson

 

 
 

Jerry Johnson of Richfield, Minnesota, died October 30, 2008 after an eight-month illness. He was 76.

Jerry grew up on a farm in Forest Lake, MN, and began studying magic at age eleven.  He built many of his tricks and wrote his own patter which resulted in his unique style of comedy stage magic.  He began performing as a young teenager and continued to do shows until his retirement in 1997.  He was known for his original moves, quick wit, and humor.

After graduating from Forest Lake High School, he attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN for two years before being drafted into the Army.  He was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where he played the trumpet in the 74th Army Band and performed magic in shows for Special Services.  He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1958 with a degree in education.  The family moved to San Diego, California where, for two years, Jerry taught English and Speech at La Jolla Jr. Sr. High School.  He then took a job with Retail Credit Company as insurance inspector, was able to transfer to Minneapolis, and work a total of twenty two years.  In 1983 he returned to education and worked with computers in a special education school district until he retired.

During his years in San Diego and later in Minneapolis, he belonged to the SAM and IBM, holding offices in both organizations.  He won the Silver Medal for stage magic at the 1983 SAM Convention, and in 2000 he won the First Place Award for Comedy Magic at the Houdini Club of Wisconsin. 

Jerry is survived by his wife of 55 years Connie; four daughters: Pam, Ann, Leslie, and Kim; and two grandsons: Phillip Morley and Leo Plumer.