December Magic Clubs Meetings IBM, SAM, HAOM
OUR NEXT MEETING
Summary: The evening will begin with an optional dinner, desserts, holiday music, short meetings followed by the GRINCH GIFT EXCHANGE! There will be a photo op with special guests and free stuff!
Theme: Holiday Extravaganza Party
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024
Address: IATSE Local 51 Meeting Hall, 3030 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77009
6:00 PM Doors open for dinner ticket holders. Optional Dinner (You must purchase a $10.00 ticket per person). More details to follow on how to purchase your ticket! Watch for a future email update!
6:30 PM Doors Open for EVERYONE. Dessert Party! Bring your favorite desserts to share with the group!
7:00 PM Magic History!
7:15 PM Short Business Meetings
8:00 PM Grinch Gift Exchange (See Rules Below)
9:30 PM Special Guest Appearance
10:00 PM Done!
How To Purchase Tickets
To purchase a ticket for the Holiday Dinner, You can pay $10.00 per person by one of the following:
Email Jamie: jamie@magicbyjamie.com
Cash in Person to Jamie
Grinch Gift Exchange Rules
Here’s an overview of how to play the Grinch Gift Exchange:
Bring and Place Your Gifts: First, everyone brings a wrapped magic related gift in new or like new condition worth a minimum of $30.00 and places it in a common area. (Please make sure that the gift is complete with instructions.)
Random Order: Each player’s name will be added to a wheel of fortune to determine the order they will pick the gifts.
The Opening Move: The excitement begins as the first player selects a gift from the pile and unwraps it for all to see. This sets the tone for what’s to come, as each subsequent player decides their next move.
To Steal or Not to Steal: From the second player onward, you can choose to either open a new gift or steal an already opened one. If your gift is stolen, don’t fret! You can either steal someone else’s gift or unwrap a new one, but remember, a gift can only be stolen three times before it’s locked down and safe from further Grinchy thefts.
The player that goes first will have the last option to exchange their gift with any player whose gift is not locked down and safe from further Grinchy thefts.
LOSANDER Lecture October 15
He had a deep passion for magic; he was a dedicated member of the Houston Association of Magicians, where he was a Past-President and Sergeant-at-Arms, as well as a member of the Society of American Magicians. He generously spent his time performing for different organizations and groups throughout his life, including Texas Children's Hospital. Ronald also enjoyed dancing, playing in a bluegrass band, and exploring new places through travel.
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Do we have a great way to close out the 2024 Houston Magic Clubs' Lecture Series. Join us Tuesday October 15, 2024 at 7pm at the IATSE Local 51 Meeting Hall, 3030 North Freeway Houston, TX, as we welcome Losander! Losander, Master of the Art of Levitation, will takes you on a journey to discover the secret ingredient of your magic. On this journey, you will learn the most unusual magic you can apply to your show. This lecture teaches you how to improve your magic with simple tools, but you will also discover brand-new effects that will bring your shows to the next level. This will be the fifth and final lecture of the current lecture series. The price for members of Houston Magic Clubs who have not purchased the series is $20 and $30 for non-members. Directions Ron Jernigan
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Ari’s lecture will be a hybrid of traditional lectures and interactive hand’s on session.
You may learn
• Ari’s flash opener which he uses at every gig to immediately grab attention and establish himself as a ‘real’ magician!
• The one for the diary, which requires no force, no memory work and instantly resets which you can make up at home .
• A mind baffling card routine that you can do with any pack of cards! Magician Fooler too!
• How to make sure you always get your contact details into your future clients pockets!
• Learn Aris version of the popular hot rod and free will routines and much more.
• Ari’s unique handling of some popular effects that add the wow factor and leave your spectators with a real keepsake!
• Ari will break down his dice cup routine for his on the table and in the hand’s ‘chop’ cup routine.
• To make a paper napkin rose with a twist of the senses!
• And much more!
You will also be one of the first to see some of Ari’s / Grums new releases being launched specifically on his Grum to the USA tour!
As Its will be an interactive workshop Ari will be bringing several ‘special’ chop cups to practice the routines with and other items you May need during the lecture. But do bring a pack of cards!
This will be a unique lecture and full of variety full of every day magic you can and will do!
Ari will also have a small display of products to see and purchase at the end of the workshop.
Ari looks forward to seeing many of you there!
Ari’s GRUM products have sold all over the world with 5 star reviews by top magicians including 5 star review and pick of the month in Vanish Magazine! He will have a stand at the convention where you will. Be able to se the quality of his products for your self and even get yourself a bargain too!
Scott Wells Receives Special Fellowship Award from the Academy of Magical Arts
A "Night of Stars" in Los Angeles, California
Dateline: May 17, 2024
The stars were out in Hollywood for the annual awards ceremony of the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) as magicians were recognized for their various achievements, both throughout the past year and during their lifetimes. Members of the AMA voted on Close-Up Performer of the Year, Lecturer of the Year, etc. and the Boards of Trustees and Directors gave special awards to others who have made significant contributions to the art of magic over their lifetimes, such as Penn & Teller who received a Masters Fellowship.
Scott Wells received this Special Fellowship for his dedication in producing The Magic Word Podcast. The award reads as follows:
The Academy wishes to honor Scott Wells for his considerable contribution to the creative world of magician, mind readers, stage illusionists, and ardent admirers of the art of astonishment. In recognition of his Magic Word Podcast, beginning in 2011 and now numbering over 800 episodes, we celebrate those special conversations with esteemed colleagues and contemporaries that bring us insight, encouragement, and inspiration. The Academy of Magical Arts commends Mr. Wells for promoting not only the personal stories of fascinating individuals, but fellowship amongst our extended family of artists and entertainers everywhere.
Presented this 17th day of May, 2024 but Mark Wooster, President, Board of Directors, and Christopher Hart, Chair, Board of Trustees.
Congratulations to our fellow and brother magician, Scott Wells, for this exceptional honor.
A "Night of Stars" in Los Angeles, California
Dateline: May 17, 2024
The stars were out in Hollywood for the annual awards ceremony of the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) as magicians were recognized for their various achievements, both throughout the past year and during their lifetimes. Members of the AMA voted on Close-Up Performer of the Year, Lecturer of the Year, etc. and the Boards of Trustees and Directors gave special awards to others who have made significant contributions to the art of magic over their lifetimes, such as Penn & Teller who received a Masters Fellowship.
Scott Wells received this Special Fellowship for his dedication in producing The Magic Word Podcast. The award reads as follows:
The Academy wishes to honor Scott Wells for his considerable contribution to the creative world of magician, mind readers, stage illusionists, and ardent admirers of the art of astonishment. In recognition of his Magic Word Podcast, beginning in 2011 and now numbering over 800 episodes, we celebrate those special conversations with esteemed colleagues and contemporaries that bring us insight, encouragement, and inspiration. The Academy of Magical Arts commends Mr. Wells for promoting not only the personal stories of fascinating individuals, but fellowship amongst our extended family of artists and entertainers everywhere.
Presented this 17th day of May, 2024 but Mark Wooster, President, Board of Directors, and Christopher Hart, Chair, Board of Trustees.
Congratulations to our fellow and brother magician, Scott Wells, for this exceptional honor.
Zombie magic and gambling club Magic Island will come alive again this summer
The left-for-dead entertainment facility had been decaying on Southwest Freeway for years but it looks to have a new lease on life.
By Jef Rouner, Chronicle Correspondent
Dateline: March 18, 2024
Houstonians who have driven by Magic Island off of the Southwest Freeway as of late may have noticed some activity going on in the parking lot adjacent to the Egyptian-themed entertainment venue.
After the Astrodome, Magic Island may be Houston’s second-most famous abandoned entertainment venue. The club, shuttered for 10 years, will finally reopen this summer. Many Houstonians will be happy that stage magic is returning. And the club plans to offer private gambling tables this time around. By sheer luck, I got a chance to poke around the inside of the venue as it moves forward with its renovation. After hiking up from the Southwest Freeway feeder road, I expected to find locked doors. Instead, I met new general manager Michael Loneman, who previously worked at the South Shore Harbor Resort in League City.
Loneman, with his windswept hair and black button-up shirt, has a stage-magician's air about him. While he wouldn't allow me to take pictures of the current renovations, he did offer a short, guided tour. The space opened in 1984 and had its heyday in the late 1980s. Magic Island once showcased Vegas-style stage magic shows, close-up magic, clairvoyants and tarot readings.
Once it closed, the club became an odd mixture of opulence and decay. The garish Egyptian décor was covered in graffiti and littered with discarded fixtures. In 2018, Mohammad Athari, a local neurologist, bought the place with plans to have it open within a few years. But the pandemic derailed plans for the nightspot. However, late last year, signs went up heralding its return.
The biggest news Loneman could offer about the new Magic Island is that it will host private gambling. Black Club members will be able to play poker, blackjack and roulette in a bespoke room. No word yet on whether membership cards will still be taken by an animatronic snake, as they were during the club’s original run.
Is private gambling legal in Texas? State law is unclear on the question, and this ambiguity has allowed dozens of clubs to open around the state.
The Texas Penal Code, Section 47, prohibits individuals or establishments from receiving “any economic benefit other than personal winnings.” This statute prohibits establishments from taking a cut of gambling proceeds, colloquially called a rake.
At least 30 private gambling clubs have opened in Texas, citing a loophole in current law that allows them to operate if they charge membership fees instead of taking a cut of profits. Since May 2019, police have raided some of the private gambling clubs in Houston. Charges were dismissed, and it was revealed that even members of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office had visited the raided clubs.
While the legality is in limbo, Loneman seems confident Magic Island will be safe for VIP members. “We’re a private club, so having private members, different rules apply,” he says. “That doesn’t mean we won’t serve the general public, because we will. But if you’re a member of the Black Club at Magic Island, there are different laws that apply to you. You know, kind of like a teenage daughter who wants to drink wine with the family.”
The gambling is only part of the new experience at Magic Island. The venue will be geared toward hosting events and gatherings. Loneman is especially proud of the club's refurbished outdoor patio. He’s installed a retractable awning to protect partygoers as they mingle. The spot is custom-made for the selfie generation as it faces west, he pointed out. “Most restaurants in this area are not facing the right way,” says Loneman. “When it comes to engagements and special events, you’ll get a lot of great pictures because of the sunset. Plus, when you’re coming down the freeway, there’s no better form of advertising than to look over and see people dancing and having fun.”
Inside, the building is about 80% done. All of the graffiti is gone, and some of the original Egyptian-themed decorations have been preserved. The host stand is a tasteful marble structure that allows hosts to guide guests into a 500-person ballroom complete with a small stage. Upstairs is a lounge with an enormous bar. Here the Egyptian theme is even stronger, though there are fewer statues and more faux artifacts displayed museum-style behind glass. Loneman recently had a brand-new grand piano delivered. A disco room with a retractable ceiling lets visitors dance under the few stars that shine through at night.
It is a far cry from the rotting structure that urban explorers have been chronicling since 2008. Loneman says they are aiming for a summer opening and will be taking holiday bookings starting in July. And, yes, Loneman promises there will still be magic.
“A lot of memories were made here,” he says. “Presidents dined here, congressional representatives, movie stars, lots of people of notoriety. We’re excited to be reopening …. This is where the magic happens.”
The left-for-dead entertainment facility had been decaying on Southwest Freeway for years but it looks to have a new lease on life.
By Jef Rouner, Chronicle Correspondent
Dateline: March 18, 2024
Houstonians who have driven by Magic Island off of the Southwest Freeway as of late may have noticed some activity going on in the parking lot adjacent to the Egyptian-themed entertainment venue.
After the Astrodome, Magic Island may be Houston’s second-most famous abandoned entertainment venue. The club, shuttered for 10 years, will finally reopen this summer. Many Houstonians will be happy that stage magic is returning. And the club plans to offer private gambling tables this time around. By sheer luck, I got a chance to poke around the inside of the venue as it moves forward with its renovation. After hiking up from the Southwest Freeway feeder road, I expected to find locked doors. Instead, I met new general manager Michael Loneman, who previously worked at the South Shore Harbor Resort in League City.
Loneman, with his windswept hair and black button-up shirt, has a stage-magician's air about him. While he wouldn't allow me to take pictures of the current renovations, he did offer a short, guided tour. The space opened in 1984 and had its heyday in the late 1980s. Magic Island once showcased Vegas-style stage magic shows, close-up magic, clairvoyants and tarot readings.
Once it closed, the club became an odd mixture of opulence and decay. The garish Egyptian décor was covered in graffiti and littered with discarded fixtures. In 2018, Mohammad Athari, a local neurologist, bought the place with plans to have it open within a few years. But the pandemic derailed plans for the nightspot. However, late last year, signs went up heralding its return.
The biggest news Loneman could offer about the new Magic Island is that it will host private gambling. Black Club members will be able to play poker, blackjack and roulette in a bespoke room. No word yet on whether membership cards will still be taken by an animatronic snake, as they were during the club’s original run.
Is private gambling legal in Texas? State law is unclear on the question, and this ambiguity has allowed dozens of clubs to open around the state.
The Texas Penal Code, Section 47, prohibits individuals or establishments from receiving “any economic benefit other than personal winnings.” This statute prohibits establishments from taking a cut of gambling proceeds, colloquially called a rake.
At least 30 private gambling clubs have opened in Texas, citing a loophole in current law that allows them to operate if they charge membership fees instead of taking a cut of profits. Since May 2019, police have raided some of the private gambling clubs in Houston. Charges were dismissed, and it was revealed that even members of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office had visited the raided clubs.
While the legality is in limbo, Loneman seems confident Magic Island will be safe for VIP members. “We’re a private club, so having private members, different rules apply,” he says. “That doesn’t mean we won’t serve the general public, because we will. But if you’re a member of the Black Club at Magic Island, there are different laws that apply to you. You know, kind of like a teenage daughter who wants to drink wine with the family.”
The gambling is only part of the new experience at Magic Island. The venue will be geared toward hosting events and gatherings. Loneman is especially proud of the club's refurbished outdoor patio. He’s installed a retractable awning to protect partygoers as they mingle. The spot is custom-made for the selfie generation as it faces west, he pointed out. “Most restaurants in this area are not facing the right way,” says Loneman. “When it comes to engagements and special events, you’ll get a lot of great pictures because of the sunset. Plus, when you’re coming down the freeway, there’s no better form of advertising than to look over and see people dancing and having fun.”
Inside, the building is about 80% done. All of the graffiti is gone, and some of the original Egyptian-themed decorations have been preserved. The host stand is a tasteful marble structure that allows hosts to guide guests into a 500-person ballroom complete with a small stage. Upstairs is a lounge with an enormous bar. Here the Egyptian theme is even stronger, though there are fewer statues and more faux artifacts displayed museum-style behind glass. Loneman recently had a brand-new grand piano delivered. A disco room with a retractable ceiling lets visitors dance under the few stars that shine through at night.
It is a far cry from the rotting structure that urban explorers have been chronicling since 2008. Loneman says they are aiming for a summer opening and will be taking holiday bookings starting in July. And, yes, Loneman promises there will still be magic.
“A lot of memories were made here,” he says. “Presidents dined here, congressional representatives, movie stars, lots of people of notoriety. We’re excited to be reopening …. This is where the magic happens.”
Don't Forget...HoustonMagic is on Facebook
If you have a Facebook account (and if not, then you’re missing out on potential business opportunities), then please visit http://www.facebook.com/HoustonMagic and hit “Like” to be added to the group. Here is your chance to let the world know what you are doing on the local Houston magic scene. Please post your links, videos, photos, announcements, upcoming show events, and more. Join the group today!
Tweet me
You can now follow what’s happening in the Houston Magic Community by joining Twitter and following @magichouston which is our new Twitter account name. Updates of who is doing what and where will posted as they are relevant to our community. Follow us and we will follow you and retweet as necessary. Go to www.twitter.com/magichouston to begin following us NOW!
The Magic Word Podcast
The Magic Word is the weekly podcast hosted by Scott Wells filled with magic convention coverage that is not posted anywhere else on the internet. It also includes photos, chats and interviews with magicians about what’s going on in and around the magic world. Be sure to listen and subscribe to the RSS feed so you receive the latest as it is posted. Be sure to tune in and listen on iTunes or Tunein or Stitcher or Feedpress or Spotify or iHeart Radio, among other providers. You can listen online or by downloading any of these podcasts and carry it with you for your daily commute. If you have any news items, comments or suggestions, then please contact Scott at Scott@TheMagicWordPodcast.com with your newsbits. You can also follow The Magic Word on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/themagicwordpodcast/ and on Twitter @MagicWordPod and Instagram at ScottWellsMagic
The website address is: https://www.TheMagicWordPodcast.com/
The website address is: https://www.TheMagicWordPodcast.com/