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 month.
THE CAPITAL MAGIC CONNECTION
August 31, 2025
I have very little news for this issue. I missed the picnic this year, but I heard that it was a success. The weather was hot, but on the shore of Lake George, it was comfortable enough. The food was good, the magic was fun, and again, we thank Ken and Sara Beckley for hosting this annual event.
For the second time in four years, Assembly 24 has received The Leipzig Assembly Growth Award. We received the award for 2022 - 2023 and now for 2024 - 2025. Along with the certificate, we received this note form Mike Heckenberger, S.A.M. National First Vice President: “Congratulations! You won a close competition beating Poughkeepsie, Baltimore, and Williamsburg.”
MORNING MAGIC GROUP
The next meeting of the morning group will be on Tuesday morning, September 2, at 8:30 am at the Ugly Rooster off exit 12 of the Northway. Everyone interested in magic is welcome to join us.
If you need more information or directions, call Cliff Bruce, Dave McClements, or Ken Marcinowski.
SEPTEMBER MEETING OF THE SAM ASSEMBLY 24
SAM Assembly 24 will meet on Tuesday, September 9, at 7:00 at S. W. Pitts Hose Company, 226 Old Loudon Road, in Latham, NY. If you need a suggested topic to get you started, try one of these: rope magic, things that float, or magic with flowers. I threw that last one in just in case I get up enough nerve to do my Botania. However, anything you would like to perform will be appreciated.
Dave Lieberman has signed up to bring the refreshments for this meeting. NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO BRING REFRESHMENTS FOR THE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, OR DECEMBER MEETINGS. If anyone would like to volunteer to bring refreshments for one of these meetings get your name on the list. Thank you.
SEPTEMBER ZOOM MAGIC MEETING
The magicians of the New York Capital region will host a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 16, 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
SEPTEMBER MEETING OF IBM RING 186
IBM Ring 186 will be meeting on Tuesday, September 23, at 7:00 at S. W. Pitts Hose Company, 226 Old Loudon Road, in Latham. Everyone is encouraged bring some magic to share. Whatever you would like to share will be appreciated.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING SHOWS AND EVENTS
Nothing to report for this month. If you have something for October let me know as soon as possible.
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.