Barry's Magic Shop Featured in Comic Strip

"Zippy the Pinhead" strip takes Barry's plight nationwide.

Barry Taylor, proprietor, writes:
"Barry’s Magic Shop is the focus on Zippy the Pinhead in today’s Washington Post Comic section. Zippy’s writer, Bill Griffith, is aware of our plight with Montgomery County Government and wrote about smoke and mirrors used by the County.


Things do not look good for us right now. I will be writing you another letter in December asking you to write a letter or resend your letter to Ike Leggett, the new County Executive as of Dec. 4. Mr. Leggett has the power to reverse the decision to tear down our building. We are given until Jan. 31, 2007 to stay. I will also ask that you carbon copy your letter to press which I will provide links.

Warmest wishes,

Barry & Susie

Barry’s Magic Shop

Fantastic November Meeting Night for Ring 50

President Dwight Redman opened the November meeting and welcomed the guests. Jim Flanigan, TVP, on the behalf of International Brotherhood of Magicians, presented Roy Barnes with a certificate for his outstanding support of the IBM and The Linking Ring. Roy compiled the Ring Reports each month and maintained the Index to The Linking Ring. The presentation was made on behalf of International I.B.M. President (2005-2006) Roger Miller at the Ring 50 meeting due to Roy Barnes living in the Washington area. Mike Taggert, VP and Chairman for Magi-Whirl 2007, gave a progress report on Magi-Whirl. Magi-Whirl 2007 will be held on April 13 & 14, 2007. Four lectures, plus two close-up performances, and a Gala evening show. Magi-Whirl is being held at Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Rd, Alexandria VA. $45 in advance, $50 at the door. Details: http://www.magi-whirl.org/. Mike reminded everyone that if they wanted to put an ad in the Registration Program or the Gala Show Program to get the information to Bob Patterson as soon as possible. Amateur Magician, Tim Cannon was voted into Ring 50.

Dwight then introduced our lecturer for the evening, John B. Born, first place winner of the Golden Cups competition at the 2006 IBM Convention in Miami. Details of his lecture are below.

Award-Winning Magician John B. Born - Teaches His Craft!

John B. Born’s lecture focused on some of the most intricate and beautiful plots close-up magic has to offer. He divided the lecture into three main components (over two hours of instruction). The first session focused on how advanced preparation will reap great rewards in effect, and demonstrated how to construct routines and use principles (instead of difficult sleight-of-hand) in such a way that the performer becomes so far ahead of his audiences that it is not even fair. This included work on the “Any Card At Any Number” plot, as well as several other mental magic miracles appropriate for stand-up shows. The second session spotlighted beautiful magical offerings from the table, and demonstrated how to take full advantage of gaffs to create miracles not otherwise possible. This session included (but not limited to) extensive work on the “Bare-handed Matrix” and “Translocation” plots. The third session focused on sleight-of-hand techniques for the coin enthusiast. John created a whole new realm of coin techniques out of the development of his “Balance Palm,” and demonstrated techniques that range from easy-to-learn to extremely advanced. This session also included many great pointers on well-known coin techniques with regard to the importance of movement and motivation. The material covered varied in difficulty from nearly self-working to “I can’t believe he just did that.” John Born does for "Chink-a-Chink" what Derek Dingle did for "Triumph". He has added kicker after kicker, while at the same time enhancing the cleanliness and impact of the underlying effect. For all the talk we hear these days about "going the extra mile" and "showing no mercy", one sees very little of this sort of material performed or published. Thankfully, John does both. Whether one is interested in thought and motivation behind basic technique, fascinated by intense principles with (and without) a memorized deck, or engrossed in knuckle-busting sleight-of-hand, the lecture by John B. Born will be not be forgotten.

~ ~ Bob Patterson