Watch the full episode (Nick’s segment begins at 19:35.)
Our April meeting will be held next week on Friday, April 19th, at 7:00 PM at Eagle Magic (4 lights east of 35W on Hwy 13, southeast corner, next door to the BP gas station).
With everything you’ve heard about the eclipse this week, did you know that magician Nevil Maskelyne’s film, titled “Solar Eclipse,” is thought to be the world’s oldest surviving astronomical film? Speaking of the eclipse, throughout literature and history there are stories of people using a solar eclipse to prove their magical powers. (Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, anyone?) This inspired our theme for this month: Magic That Might Convince Ancient Peoples That You’re a Wizard!
Plus, we have a special treat: there will be a drawing for a $30 gift certificate donated by Don’s Magic and Books. Speaking of treats, bring potluck snacks to share.
Connection information for the virtual view of the meeting will be emailed prior to the meeting.
See you on the 19th, either in person or online!
Categories
March 2024 Meeting Report
We started a new annual SAM12 tradition at our March meeting: Movie Night! Around 20 members joined us at Discovery United Methodist Church, in person and via Zoom.
Big Screen. Popcorn. The movie: Billy Topit. Special guest: Lance Burton!
Lance joined us via Zoom from his farm in Kentucky to introduce his movie. It’s about a Las Vegas kid’s magician, played by Lance Burton, who’s just trying to impress the cute waitress and ends up getting mixed up with the mob. Spoiler alert: It all works out in the end. The movie was jam-packed with cameos from Lance’s magician friends, and he challenged us to find as many as we could as we watched. We all enjoyed the movie and the popcorn.
Lance then joined us after the movie and answered our many questions. Big thanks to Lance Burton! He was very personable, had great stories, and answered all our (sometimes odd/silly) questions.
Special thanks to Adam Moore and Sandy Meyer for organizing the event!
You never know who’s going to show up at a SAM12 meeting. Join us won’t you? Get the full scoop at SAM12.org. See you next month!
Look for this in the May 2024 issue of M-U-M
Lance Burton will join us live via Zoom on Friday, March 15th, at 7:00 PM to tell us about making Billy Topit: Master Magician, the comedic film he wrote with Michael Goudeau, directed, produced, and starred in. Following that, we’ll watch it!
Assembly 12 will provide popcorn. Bring other movie theater snacks (e.g. candy, pop, etc.) to share. Connection information for the virtual view of the meeting will be emailed prior to the meeting.
Location address:
Discovery Methodist Church
275 Lake Drive East
Chanhassen, MN 55317
See you at the movies on March 15th!
Billy Topit (Lance Burton), a Las Vegas magician who performs at children’s birthday parties, convinces the woman of his dreams to be his assistant, while the local Mob guys (Rory Johnston & Johnny Thompson) try to make him disappear permanently. There are cameos by Criss Angel, Mac King, and others.
It’s awards season in Hollywood and time for our March meeting. Coincidence? Probably. Nonetheless, it inspired the theme for this month’s meeting. Lance Burton has given us permission to show Billy Topit: Master Magician — the comedic film he wrote with Michael Goudeau, directed, produced, and starred in. While it might not be up for any awards, we’re going to have a watch party on Friday, March 15th, at 7:00 PM at Discovery Methodist Church, 275 Lake Drive East, Chanhassen, MN 55317. Assembly 12 will provide popcorn. Bring other movie theater snacks (e.g. candy, pop, etc.) to share.
Billy Topit (Lance Burton), a Las Vegas magician who performs at children’s birthday parties, convinces the woman of his dreams to be his assistant, while the local Mob guys (Rory Johnston & Johnny Thompson) try to make him disappear permanently. There are cameos by Criss Angel, Mac King, and others.
The film’s premier was on September 24, 2015, at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. The black-tie
charity event benefited the SPCA, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and the Variety Children’s Charity. A red-carpet showing of the movie on July 11, 2017, at the Kentucky Center in Louisville was the opening event of the I.B.M./S.A.M. combined convention and a fundraiser for local
charities.
Between now and then, listen to Lance Burton discuss his movie, Billy Topit: Master Magician with John Gaspard & Jim Cunningham, and we’ll see you at the movies on March 15th!
Categories
February 2024 Meeting Report
At our February meeting we held the SAM12 Annual Auction. Seventeen people were in attendance at Eagle Magic in Burnsville. It was the annual opportunity to sell some unwanted magic AND just as good a chance of adding magic to your collection. There were bargains galore with bids starting as low as one dollar! A great time was had by all! It was a very casual auction with many laughs and stories. Some left with more magic than they came with, some left with less magic than they came with. As usual, refreshments and socializing brought the evening to a close. Join us, won’t you? Either in person or via Zoom. We’d love to see you! We meet on the third Friday of the month. More information at SAM12.org.
Look for this in the April 2024 issue of M-U-M
Society of American Magicians National President John Sturk presents a presidential citation to Assembly 12 President Kevin Smith at our 100th Anniversary Gala on October 15, 2023.
This month’s meeting will be the …
Assembly #12 Auction
Friday, February 16, 2024
Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
at Eagle Magic, 11995 County Road 11, Burnsville
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to find the magic props, books, videos, collectibles, etc. that you’d like to sell. This will help give your fellow magicians a nice selection of items to bid on and, the more you sell, the more new-to-you treasures you can win!
Fee:
- Assembly 12 members who have paid their local dues for 2023–2024 ($15) may participate for free!
- There is a $5 fee for any non-Assembly 12 member (buyer or seller).
Buyers:
- Fee allows you to bid on any auction items
- Bring cash or checks
Sellers:
- Fee allows you to sell any auction items.
- Sellers go in registration order.
- Each seller will have a limited time. Please bundle smaller items and be prepared with a minimum bid for each item (if desired).
- Sellers will pay Assembly 12 a commission of 10% of the selling price.
- All accounts are settled at the end of the auction.
- Sellers will be paid with cash and/or check.
Everyone is welcome!
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January 2024 Meeting Report
Welcome to 2024 everyone! Let’s make it a magical year! Fourteen magicians attended our January 19th meeting at Eagle Magic. Our theme was “Things You Found While Going Through Your Stuff For the Auction.”
During the business portion, we discussed who’s attending AbraCORNdabra in Iowa this year and the lineup of lecturers and performers. Several members of SAM 12 are planning on attending and are hoping for another great convention.
Paul Ladig is performing from his basement stage and got written up in the local paper recently, leading to more business. Old-school advertising for an old-school magician! BlackSmith Magic (SAM12 President Kevin Smith and SAM12 Scribe Paul Sedler) performed for an 8-year-old’s birthday party, with 16 kids and a handful of adults in attendance. Good show! Manny Betinis has been performing at various parties…for free. He’s just there. Might as well perform, right? The Amazing Hondo lecture is happening this weekend at Eagle Magic.
Peter Grendle joined us from the Minnesota Jewish Community Center. He’s hoping to put together a Houdini celebration in June and is looking for some help. That got us all talking about Houdini and things that can be done to help celebrate Houdini’s 150th birthday.
On to performances and show and tell: Eagle Magic owner and SAM12 Vice President Larry Kalow performed the Deception Paddle. Colored pips on a metal paddle. Larry says Eagle is the only place you can buy it right now. SAM12 Treasurer Adam Moore shared an old cigar box with some vintage magical treasures he got from his dad. Really cool! Paul Ladig performed a coin-in-glass vanish combined with his Mullica Wallet. The evening ended with the usual refreshments and socializing.
Next month is our annual auction! Sell some of your unwanted magic to other fellow magicians. Join us in person at Eagle Magic. More info at SAM12.org.
Look for this in the March 2024 issue of M-U-M
It’s time for our January meeting!
We’re meeting Friday, January 19, at 7:00 PM. Our theme this month, chosen in anticipation of next month, is “Magic you found while going through your stuff for the auction!” We will also learn more about a possible performance opportunity in partnership with a community group.
We’ll meet at Eagle Magic and Joke Store. (Eagle Magic is in Burnsville, MN, 4 lights east of 35W on Hwy 13, southeast corner, next door to the BP gas station.) Bring potluck snacks to share. Connection information for the virtual view of the meeting will be sent prior to the meeting.
See you on Friday, either in person or online!
Gather items to sell next month
We are hosting an auction in February, and now’s the time to find the magic props, books, videos, collectibles, etc. that you’d like to sell. This will help give your fellow magicians a nice selection of items to bid on and, the more you sell, the more new-to-you treasures you can win!