Vol.
IV
TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM
NEW YORK, JUNE, 1920
SINGLE COPIES 20 CENTS
Whole No. 87
Sixteenth Annual Banquet, Society of American Magicians They say there's luck in odd numbers, but be that as it may, the Society of American Magicians is not dependent upon luck, for its sixteenth annual banquet was a success in every sense of the word. The big event was held at the Hotel McAlpin, New York, Friday evening June 4, with a large and representative attendance, a fine dinner, plenty of good music, and a brilliant array of magical entertainers, followed by dancing, all of which combined to insure an evening of rare enjoyment. One of the pieasantest features of the occasion was the informal reception that preceded the dinner. Everybody seemed to enjoy this hour or more of social converse even more keenly than in other years, and the fraternal, get-together spirit was most happily exemplified. The reception committee, consisting of Past President John W. Sargent, chairman. Past Presidents Richard Van Dien, Francis" J. Werner, Dr. Lionel Hartley and Oscar S. Teale, and Compeers George W. Heller, G. G. Laurens, Leo Rulman, Harry Rouclere. H. C. Weber, H. Rea Fitch, and Frank Ducrot, was untiring in its efforts to make everybody feel at home, and it was largely due to this fact the company was in such excellent humor when the signal was given to proceed to the banquet hall. In the absence of President Harry Houdini, in Europe, First Vice President George W. Heller presided, and welcomed as guests of honor Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Donaldson, Madame Adelaide Hermann, Harry Chesterfield, of the V. M. A., and Mr. and Mrs. Francis J. Martinka. Dean Harry Kellar, and Dr. A. M. Wilson, editor of the Sphinx, and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thurston had been invited to become guests of honor, but Dean Kellar was warned by his physicians that it would be equivalent to signing his death warrant to undertake a trip East at this time, while Dr. Wilson was detained in Kansas City by press of professional and other duties. Howard Thurston made a determined effort to be present, but a railway delay made ihim miss a train connection, so that he did not reach New York until the festivities were about over. Upon his belated arrival in New York, he promptly telephoned his regrets to the McAlpin, and assured the assembled compeers and their friends, how sorry he was not to be with) them. He also promised that he would certainlv be present at the annual meeting of the S. A. M., the following evening, and he made good by coming early and staying late on that occasion. The frontispiece for the menu was specially designed for the occasion by the famous cartoonist Hy. Maver, one of tlie most enthusiastic compeers, who seldom misses a gathering of the S. A. M. when in New York, and who is always readv to do more than his M l part to insure the success of all such affairs. This frontispiece was so happily conceived and so thoroughly in keeping with the spirit of the occasion that we take pleasure in reproducing it in this issue of M. U. M. In accordance with the time-ihonored custom of the Society of American Magicians, the dinner was preceded oy the usual impressive tribute to the denarted compeers who have bowed to the mandate of the Mighty Magician and passed on to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns. As the names of the departed were impressively read by Secetary Oscar
S. Teale, a plate was silently turned down, and overlaid with a white carnation. While the banquet was in progress, a cablegram from Most Illustrious President Harry Houdini, and telegrams from Dean Harry Kellar, Dr. A. M. Wilson, Professor Taylor of Boston, and others were read and received with enthusiastic applatise. Owing to the length of the program that had been prepared by the entertainment committee, consisting of Dr. Lionel Hartley, Chairman, and Compeers C. J. Nagle and John Mulholland, coupled with the keenness of all present to see some real magic, the customary post prandial exercises were omitted, and while tables were being removed from the banquet hall, everybody repaired to the grand ball room to enjoy a community song-festival, with Compeer H. Rea Fitch officiating as singing master. This was an innovation, and it proved a happy one, as everybody seemed to be in excellent voice, and entered with real zest into the rendition of patriotic songs and oldtime melodies. One of the vocal hits of the evening was the S. A. M. slogan, a lyric from the versatile pen of Illustrious Past President Sargent, sung to the air of "Tammany". Returning to the banquet hall with its dainty bijou stage, the curtain was rung up for the first number of a magical program of unusual excellence. First in order came Professor Bland and his mystifying Chinese cabinet. Professor Bland was followed by Most Illustrious Francis J. Werner who presented his favorite act in ''Chapeaugraphy" for the first time in five years. That he has lost none of his really extraordinary powers of mimicry, was fully attested by the enthusiasm with which his nearly two score of characterizations of people of all nations were received. Everybodv knows that Illustrious Werner is a wonderfully versatile entertainer, but with such a sure-fit hit as his "Chapeaugraphy" up his sleeve, why in the world is that he only produces it once in five years? Next came Leo Rullman, in what the master of ceremonies described a~s a lecture on "the co-ordination of muscular control." Compeer Rullman wasted little time in words, but proceeded to a physical demonstration, with a series of really amazing feats of jugglery, balancing and plate spinning, which evoked hearty and sustained applause. Then came the initial appearance in magic in New York of Compeer Werner F. Dornfeld, of Chicago Assembly No. 3, familiarly known to magicians as "Dorney," and we'll h e ' w a s given some enthusiastic reception, which was abundantly justified when he got down to business. "Dorney" is not only a clever magician, but he is a rarely endowed natural comedian and mirthmaker. His act "Painless Magic," aroused a veritable gale of laughter, which continued as long as he could be persuaded to hold the stage. "Dorney" is gaited to travel in fast company on the vaudeville circuits, and as_ he can "work in one" without any elaborate stage setting, his services should be in demand. The next number was furnished by Compeer Hy.