UNITY
M A G IG
No. 22
NEW
YORK, SEPTEMBER, 1914
MIGHT
Vol. 3
THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MAGICIANS
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
(INCORPORATED)
The 138th regular meeting was held on Saturday, July 11, 1914, at The Magical Palace, 493 Sixth Avenue, New York City, and the Martinkas had made the place as cosy and cool as their ingenuity could devise. Most 111. President Lionel M. Homburger opened the session in ceremonial form and proceeded with the business before the society as if he had done so many times before, instead of this being his first trial. There were present the following: Second VicePresident Laurens, Secretary Van Dien, and the P.Ps., Hatton and Werner, and the Illustrious Goodwin, Powers, Jarrell, Becker, Waring, Blackwell, Schneider, Domitz, Guissart, Ducrot, A. and F. J. Martinka.
HEADQUARTERS, MAGICAL PALACE, 493 SIXTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY.
ilimifjh} New York, September, 1914
ILLUSTRIOUS MAGICIANS: The next regular meeting will be held on Saturday Evening, Oct. 3rd, 1914, at the Magical Palace, 493 Sixth Avenue, at 8 P. M.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved, and there being no applicants for membership the Committee on Admissions reported the following as worthy, who were balloted on and declared duly elected: E L E C T E D TO MEMBERSHIP: 456. James Cecil Jones, of Fort Mead, Fla. 456. James Cecil Jones 457. Louis J. McCord—Silent Mora—of AlleFort Mead, Florida ghany, Pa. 458. Peter Augustus Vincent, Jr.—Gus Vincent— 457. Louis J. McCord of Brooklyn, N. Y. (Silent Mora) The Mysteries next claimed out attention, and Syd112 Charles St. ney P. Blackwell stood up well under the ordeal, for Alleghany, Pa. which he was congratulated. The correspondence was long, but none the less in458. Peter Augustus Vincent, Jr. teresting, as it brought news from the four corners (Guss Vincent—The Boy Magician) of the earth—Wm. A. Russell, Batavia, N. Y.; Robert 30 McDonough St. Brooklyn, N. Y. Spice, Bloomington, N. J.; Frank Ducrot, Philadelphia, Pa.; Prof. Hoffmann, London, Eng.; Frimini, Ohio; W. G. Pauly, Zebu, Philippine Islands; Dr. Richard Paulstz, Singapore, S. S.; Chas. Hout, Fraternally yours in M. U. M. Johannesburg, South Africa; Ed. McLaughlin, Clinton, Iowa, who tells of meeting T. Nelson Downes and the good houses his work drew; W. D. Leroy, Boston, Mass., who informs us that Mrs. Leroy is improving in health; Roltare, Philadelphia, Pa.; and M. I. PRESIDENT Attest: an exhaustive report of conditions in Cuba from the able pen of F. E. Powell, who will shortly leave the island, as he has about all the cash that conditions there permit him to carry away. R. I. SECRETARY
SOGIETY OF AMERIGAN Werner, as a committee to secure the Jewel for the retiring President, was requested by the Most Illustrious to make the presentation, which he performed very nicely with kind words that were impressive, to which Past M. 111. Henry Hatton in accepting expressed his appreciation of the honor conferred, and that he will wear with much pride the beautiful Jewel of the Past President. The Most 111. appointed a new personnel to constitute a Committee on Subordinate Branches of the S. A. M., to wit: Laurens, Chairman, Sargent, Werner, E. P. Ransom and Van Dien. This year's Auditing Committee will be Jarrell, Domitz and Harry J. Kline. The efficient work and unceasing efforts for the good of Magic on the part of the previous Representatives of the President, has merited its own reward, inasmuch that all have been reappointed by the Most Illustrious, and here is the Honor Roll alphabetically arranged: Max Berol-Konorah, F. W. Bilger, C. Victor Dealy, Geo. W. Heller, W. D. Leroy, Wm. A. Russell, David E. Stifft, Harry S. Thompson, Dr. A. M. Wilson and LeClair Zelleno. Harry Houdini's arrival on our shore, accompanied by his charming wife, on June 25th, per S.S. Imperator, was mentioned by Werner, who met him at the pier. Ex-President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt, who also was a passenger on the same vessel, had his mind set at ease through the kindness of our Honorary Illustrious Houdini giving the exact geographical position of the River of Doubt by the aid of Spirit Slates with the co-operation of the genial and willing spirit of the noted scientist lately called to his fathers, Mr. W. T. Stead. A photograph it was my privilege to see showed "Teddy" and Harry quite "chummy." Houdini's presence at Hammerstein's (indefinitely) was heralded by both sides of the large building being covered with showy paper. The Editor-President's first attempt with The M. U. M. was a success, which means that all who send in articles may share the glory with him; he invites all to collaborate with him for the common good of the cause of Magic. Now here is the chance for many to take their lights from under the bushel and let it shine for us all interested. M. U. M. is not limited to four sheets, an article contributed monthly will interest you, and the prompt payment of dues will interest the Secretary, the Society and you. G. G. Laurens, Second Vice-President, under good and welfare offered some suggestions that may bear fruit, along the lines to better the status of Magic as an Art. He was not alone in his thought. Bills were audited and ordered paid if found correct, after which we adjourned at 10:30 p. m. in Harmony. There will be no meeting till October, and may we then be strong and willing to resume the good work. FRANCIS J. WERNER, Official Correspondent.
MAGICIANS
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS DR. L. M. HOMBURGER.
A modest magician is almost a rara avis, and yet, in the person of our new President, Dr. L. M. Homburger, the Society of American Magicians has just one of these rare creatures. So modest is he that he absolutely refuses to write a word about himself, although we have tried to- persuade him that it is his bounden duty to let the members not only see what he looks like, but also learn something about him. But our words were not persuasive, and might as well have been unsaid, for they were without effect. Not only would he not write about himself—fancy a magician who will not praise himself—but he was not desirous that any one else should do it. All this preamble is simply an excuse for the paucity of this sketch. However, we did get hold of the Doctor's photograph, and the above halftone will give the readers of M. U. M. some faint idea of his good-looking face. We have learned, too, that the Doctor was born in Philadelphia, December 30, 1876; his boyhood was passed in New York, where he attended the public schools, and subsequently the New York City College; his professional studies were made at the University of Pennsylvania, which is considered one of the best dental colleges in this country. By a mere coincidence it happened that a few days after the Doctor was elected President of the S. A. M. he was made President of the Dental Alumni of the U. of P. His acquaintance with magic began with a box of tricks when he was a very small boy, and, as generally happens, his love for the art grew with his years. One day, when seeking novelties at the shop of our brothers, the Martinkas, he met and was introduced to Horace Goldin, whose pupil he became there and then. Besides his excellence as a conjurer, the Doctor is a skilful photographer, and, as a further accomplishment, he has a g-ood musical education. His work in the S. A. M. speaks for the interest he feels in the society; he has been and is always ready for anything that calls for work, and he does the work most thoroughly and effectively. If any man in our organization deserves to be honored he certainly does, and he has fairly earned his present position. Those who know the Doctor best like him best. Happy days to our new President! p. H. C.
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MAGICIANS
OFFICIAL
ISSUED TO
MONTHLY
MEMBERS
BULLETIN
ONLY
EDITED BY THE PRESIDENT Send contributions to :
Dr. LIONEL M. HOMBURGER PRESIDENT
R. V A N D I E N SECRETARY
101 W. 80th STREET NEW YORK
93 CENTRE STREKT EAST NUTLEY, N. J.
VACATION TIME IS OVER And we hope each and every member has had his share and is now in prime health and ready to do his duty as an active member. Your President spent three weeks in a camp in Maine fishing, returning by way of Boston, at which place he stayed four days. During his stay there he tried to get in communication with some of our members, but failed. They must have been away on their vacations. We have returned full of health, and are now ready for a strenuous campaign; we want to make this year a banner year for the S. A. M. Let our watchword be despatch. If we have anything to do, let us do it with a will and have it over with. Your President wants all his special committees to always hold their meetings as soon as possible and make early reports. Reporting progress (another word for having done nothing) will not be accepted for several meetings running. This will lead to a dismissal of said committee, and a new one will be immediately appointed in its stead. The following gentlemen have been reappointed as your President's
Under this caption from time to time will appear notes of interest to our Members from our Secretary. We note with regret the death of 111. Theo. Bamberg's father, and extend our heartfelt sympathy in his bereavement. Elsewhere we print a letter from Bro. Bamberg, giving a short account of his father's life. Your editor wishes to announce that he still has some room in the future issues of the M. U. M. for contributions from members. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, if you have not as yet PAID your DUES DO IT NOW and avoid being dealt with, with DESPATCH.
REAL MAGIC The following was told me by 111. Theo. Bamberg when I met him in Philadelphia last June. It is selfexplanatory. A certain dealer whose windows are filled with tricks of all kinds showed some handkerchief vanishers priced at 25 cents.
OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES.
W. D. Leroy, Boston, Mass.; Harry S. Thompson, St. Paul, Minn.; George W. Heller, N. Y. C.; Dr. A. M. Wilson, Kansas City, Mo.; C. Victor Dealy, Philadelphia, Pa.; David E. Stiflt, Minneapolis, Minn.; Max Berol-Kenorah, Berlin, Germany; F. W. Bilger, Oakland, Cal.; Le Clair Zellano, Estherville, Iowa; W. A. Russell, Batavia, N. Y.
A boy entered the shop and purchased one. He was not given any directions, either printed or verbal. After about half an hour the embryonic magician returned to the dealer's shop and said: "This vanisher does not work. I have held it in my hand out in the sun for half an hour, and the handkerchief is still here."
SOGIETY OF AMERICAN MAGICIANS JUDGE NOT. There are so many real reasons to be grouchy that it gives me the grouchiest kind of a grouch to see people get grouchy over ungrouchable matters. I saw a man almost throw a fit the other day because he had heard one member of the S. A. M. roast another member's act. Wow! Does anybody suppose that every man who joins the society suddenly becomes perfect ? "Nay, nay," says the horse. Think back a few years and recall the state of things before there was an organization. In those days scarcely a magician could be found who had a single good word to say about any other member of the craft. Can any man with eyes in his head fail to see that this condition has been vastly improved? Now what has already been accomplished should show us the great possibilities that the future holds for us, and instead of grouching about the abuses that we have not yet been able to correct, let each man guard his own tongue as far as possible and we shall soon find a condition of harmony that the most optimistic has hardly dared to hope for. Like all artists, the magicians are a temperamental lot, and it will take time to bring them all together. Don't expect too much from human nature, especially artistic human nature; and instead of putting up a yell every time a member develops a naughty streak just let him see that that kind of badness isn't popular with you. Everybody wants harmony, but too many of us are inclined to hold back and let the other fellow try to work out the problem. Let us not forget that it is just as much our problem as it is his, and until we have done our full duty toward its solution we certainly have not earned the right to sit in judgment.
(The Netherlands). He started his professional career at the age of 18, and was associated with his father, Theo. Bamberg, until 28 years of age. He appeared at the age of 30 for the Prince FredericHendrick, the brother of King William III. (father of Queen Wilhelmina). Two years after he gave his performances for King William III., and was made "Chevalier" by a gold medal and the permission to use the Dutch coat of arms in his business transactions. He appeared nearly every year before the King and Queen. As the Princess Wilhelmina (now Queen) was born, he appeared more frequently. Later he appeared before the Emperor of Germany, Crown Prince Heinrich, the King of Denmark, the Shah of Persia, the Sultan of Turkey, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Albany. As King William III. died, he appeared for Queen Emma (Widow of William III.). As Queen Wilhelmina was crowned, from Princess to Queen, he appeared at the Court for nearly sixty distinguished heads at The Hague (Holland) for a performance of fully two and a half hours. Afterward he appeared on the occasion of the marriage of the Queen with Prince Heinrich of Mecklenburg Schwerin. He was the only authorized Court Magician of Holland, and he was a private entertainer for nobilities. Only once a year he gave a public performance, at the "Schonburg," in Amsterdam. He was a very polished and distinguished magician. He was remarkable in his patter in French, German and Dutch. His specialty was card tricks, with which he baffled all the leading magicians of his time—Hofzinser, St. Roman, Ludwich Seeman, Cornpars. Herrmann, Frickel, Prof. Verbeck and Bellachini, who were all his friends and admirers. He worked with ingeniously made automatons made by the eminent Dutch mechanician, Opre (mentioned in Houdini's book, "The Unmasking," etc.). My father was the inventor and maker of nearly his whole repertoire, and it was his greatest delight in his working in his workshop.
GRUMPY O'GROUCH.
Butte, Mont., August 21, 1914. L. M. HOMBURGER, ESQ., New York City: Dear Brother Homburger—You are perhaps aware that my beloved father passed away last month, after a few weeks of suffering. The following facts may be of interest to the readers of the M. U. M., as suggested by Brother Van Dien in his last letter of August 11. My father, David Tobias Bamberg, died at the age of 72 years. He was born and died at Amsterdam
DR.
One particular effect of his was the production of 24 eggs from the big egg bag, for a finale producing two live chickens from the bag. Neither myself nor my two other brothers could ever follow his movements or misdirection in this wonderful trick, and now he has taken the secret with him to his grave. Hoping these facts may be welcome to you, I remain, with sincerest wishes, Your old friend, THEO.