Welcome to the Capital District's magic club. Members of our club include illusionists, close-up magicians, kids show magicians, clowns, magic collectors and magic enthusiasts who simply enjoy the performance. We meet at 7:00 pm on the second Tuesday of every month at The S W Pitts Hose Company of Latham, 226 Old Loudon Rd, Latham, NY. Member Dues are only $20 a year for 12 nights of fun, food and information plus a one time $10 initiation fee for new membership or renewal of lapsed membership. Active members also receive significant discounts on our assembly events such as: lectures, our annual banquet, our annual picnic, as well as other club sponsored programs.
The purpose of our organization is to promote the art of magic by learning to perform it well, to preserve its history and to assemble collections of past magicians and paraphernalia.
Assembly #24 is one of the oldest Assembly's within the Society of American Magicians which is the world's oldest magic organization. It is named after Past President Jay A. Gorham. Jay was a Professor and Mathematics Chair at Hudson Valley Community College. He is an active magician and magic collector. After moving from this area to Arizona, Jay became the National President of the Society of American Magicians in 2004.
THE CAPITAL MAGIC CONNECTION NEWS
The fire station in Latham has invited us back so IBM Ring 186 and SAM Assembly 24 are planning to meet at that facility. Both groups will start their meetings at 7:00 pm. SAM on the second Tuesday of the month & IBM on the fourth Tuesday of the month. We will continue to have one zoom meeting on the third Tuesday of the month and the Morning Magic Group will meet on the first Tuesday of the mon
THE CAPITAL MAGIC CONNECTION
April 27, 2025
RICHHARD MAROWITZ BACK IN THE NEWS
Compeer Richard Marowitz, magician, soldier, raconteur, and gentleman, is back in the news this week after being dead for eleven years. Some of us are fortunate enough to remember Richard as an active member of SAM Assembly 24, an MC at many magic shows, and a polished magician.
In 1945, Richard was a 19-year-old Jewish soldier serving with the 42nd Infantry Division in Germany. On April 29 Richard’s Division were the first liberators to arrive at Dachau Concentration Camp. On the next day, Richard and several other reconnaissance personnel were sent to search Hitler’s Munich apartment for “any papers of intelligence significance.”
Richard searched a closet and found a box containing a top hat. Inside the hat were the initials A. H. - Adolf Hitler’s Hat! Richard stomped on the hat, and later he put it on his head, used a black comb to simulate Hitler’s mustache, made a half-hearted Nazi salute, and someone shot the picture.
Richard brought the hat home with him and is reported to have used it when performing the sucker die box. I may have seen Richard do that trick, but I never knew he was using Hitler’s hat for the trick.
This week it was announced at the Marowitz family was presenting the hat to the NYS Military Museum in Saratoga Springs. That resulted in Richard’s name and his picture being back in the news.
BOB YORBURG PERFORMING IN CAMBRIDGE
Bob Yorburg sends us an invitation to see him perform at Burger Den Restaurant, 2869 State Route 22, Cambridge, NY. No stranger to self-promotion, Bob writes:
"Get ready for an enchanting evening of Magic and Margaritas! Join us on Friday, May 2, at 7:00 PM for a spellbinding show featuring the comedic sleight-of-hand expertise of the one and only Bob Yorburg. Expect laughter, surprises, and a touch of the extraordinary. Don't miss this magical mix of captivating tricks and tasty sips! Great dinner too. Admission free.”
However, the drinks and dinner are not likely to be free.
MORNING MAGIC GROUP
The next meeting of the morning group will be on Tuesday morning, May 6, at 8:30 am at the Ugly Rooster off exit 12 of the Northway. Everyone interested in magic is welcome.
If you need more information or directions, call Cliff Bruce, Dave McClements, or Ken Marcinowski.
MAY MEETING OF THE SAM ASSEMBLY 24
SAM Assembly 24 will meet on Tuesday, May 13, at 7:00 at S. W. Pitts Hose Company, 226 Old Loudon Road, in Latham, NY. Cliff’s suggested topics for this meeting are card tricks involving four ace assemblies or mental magic including any paranormal abilities. These suggested topics are meant to stimulate your imagination not to limit your selection. Whatever you would like to share will be fine.
Ken Marcinowski signed up to bring the refreshments. Ken, don’t forget to bring those little cream-filled cookies Norb always liked.
MAY ZOOM MAGIC MEETING
The magicians of the New York Capital region will host a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, May 20, at 7:00. Everyone interested in magic is welcome to join us by logging into this meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88548490202.
The meeting ID is: 88548490202
Cliff and Jean have agreed to bring electronic cookies for everyone to enjoy.
MAY MEETING OF IBM RING 186
IBM Ring 186 will be meeting on Tuesday, May 27, at 7:00 at S. W. Pitts Hose Company, 226 Old Loudon Road, in Latham. Cliff’s suggested topics for this meeting are tricks with balls (cups and balls, multiplying balls, ball and vase, etc) or tricks with paper. Remember, these topics are meant to stimulate your imagination not to limit your selection. Whatever you would like to share will be appreciated.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING SHOWS AND EVENTS
Tuesday, April 29: Michael Mills will be performing at Cafe Lena in Saratoga Springs. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the show begins at 7:00. For more information and tickets go to: https://www.caffelena.org/event/the-michael-mills-magic-show-2/
Friday, May 2: Bob Yorburg will be performing at Burger Den Restaurant in Cambridge, NY at 7:00 PM. See information above.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
If you know of a magic related event or show which might be of interest to capital area magicians, send that information to me in time for it to be announced in our next newsletter.
Also if you would like to contribute an original article, trick or review of a book, dvd, trick or internet site, send it to me for inclusion in this newsletter. PLEASE DON’T COPY WHAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS WRITTEN UNLESS YOU DOCUMENT THE SOURCE AND HAVE PERMISSION TO SHARE IT.
SAM Assembly #24 Member Directory: Fellow Assembly Member contact information is listed in the MEMBERS ONLY SECTION and can only be accessed by current active members with the password information provided on your membership card.