Dave Bourne and the Medicine Show Band with their Jim-Dandy Old Time Music will be appearing at Soapy Smith Night at the Magic Castle on Sunday, July 8, 2012.
They will be performing in the Inner Circle from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
Category Archives: History
Silver Shells go to winner on Soapy Night at the Magic Castle!
On Soapy Smith Night at the Magic Castle, coming up on July 8th, the dealer who wins the most Soapy Money wins a set of School for Scoundrels Colorado Silver Shells.
These are made of solid sterling silver by Jurgen Maerz of the Platinum Guild, and the set weighs almost four ounces.
Dealers can work at one of our Faro or dice tables, or set up their own game. They must pay $20 to register as a dealer, and in return they each get $1000 dollars in Soapy money to start their game. They can purchase more money during the evening, but at the regular price–$5 US for 100 Soapy dollars.
The dealer with the most Soapy money by 9:30 pm wins the Silver Shells.
One year it was won by a shell game man, the next by a guy selling tickets to a non-existant lottery.
These beautiful shells are designed by Pop Haydn, and are our “top of the line” shells for the shell game at www.ScoundrelsStore.com. They sell for $450 a set.
These were inspired by the story of Nutshell Jim who won so much money from the silver miners of Creede, Colorado during the 1880’s that he had his favorite shell game shells cast in silver.
The sheen of the silver shells gliding across the table inflamed the avarice of the miners and cowboys who lost everything they had trying to “follow the little pea.”
The player who wins the most Soapy money will also win a great prize.
Players get 100 Soapy Dollars for five dollars US, and can buy more at the same price.
If you are not a member of the Magic Castle, and would like to come, you should private message me, and I will set you up if I can.
There is twenty-five dollar door charge for non-members, and a five dollar charge for members and the guests who are with them. The five dollars gives you $100 in Soapy Money to play with, and goes completely to the Vernon Fund.
People dress up in Gold Rush finery, Old West and Steampunk styles.
The normal Magic Castle dress codes do not apply to costumes, though if you are not in an obvious 19th Century costume, the standard dress code will apply.
Check any guns at the door.
¡feliz cumpleaños! Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez Presidente
Today is Benito Juárez Day!
Benito Juárez (Spanish pronunciation: [beˈnito ˈxwaɾes]; 21 March 1806 – 18 July 1872)[1][2] born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, then 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872.[3] He resisted the French occupation of Mexico, overthrew the Second Mexican Empire, restored the Republic, and used liberal efforts to modernize the country.
Juárez was born on 21 March 1806 in a small adobe home in the village of San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, located in the mountain range now known as the “Sierra Juárez“. His parents, Marcelino Juárez and Brígida García, were peasants who both died of complications of diabetes when he was three years old. Shortly after, his grandparents died as well, and his uncle then raised him.[4][5] He described his parents as “indios de la raza primitiva del país,” that is, “Indians of the original race of the country.”[5] He worked in the corn fields and as a shepherd until the age of 12, when he walked to the city of Oaxaca de Juárez to attend school.[3] At the time, he was illiterate and could not speak Spanish, only Zapotec.
In the city, where his sister worked as a cook, he took a job as a domestic servant for Antonio Maza.[3] A lay Franciscan, Antonio Salanueva, was impressed with young Benito’s intelligence and thirst for learning, and arranged for his placement at the city’s seminary. In 1843 Benito married Margarita Maza.
Today Benito Juárez is remembered as being a progressive reformer dedicated to democracy, equal rights for his nation’s indigenous peoples, his antipathy toward organized religion, especially the Catholic Church, and what he regarded as defense of national sovereignty. The period of his leadership is known in Mexican history as La Reforma del Norte (The Reform of the North), and constituted a liberal political and social revolution with major institutional consequences: the expropriation of church lands, the subordination of army to civilian control, liquidation of peasant communal land holdings, the separation of church and state in public affairs, and also the almost-complete disenfranchisement of bishops, priests, nuns and lay brothers.[citation needed]
La Reforma represented the triumph of Mexico’s liberal, federalist, anti-clerical, and pro-capitalist forces over the conservative, centralist, corporatist, and theocratic elements that sought to reconstitute a locally-run version of the old colonial system. It replaced a semi-feudal social system with a more market-driven one, but following Juárez’s death, the lack of adequate democratic and institutional stability soon led to a return to centralized autocracy and economic exploitation under the regime of Porfirio Díaz. The Porfiriato (Porfirist era), in turn, collapsed at the beginning of the Mexican Revolution.
21 March is a day set to commemorate Juárez. This date has become a national holiday in Mexico, which has continued to grow in acceptance within Mexican culture.
In Washington, D.C., there is a monument by Enrique Alciati, a gift to the US from Mexico.[10]
Juárez’s famous quotation continues to be well-remembered in Mexico: “Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz“, meaning “Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.” The portion of this motto in bold is inscribed on the coat of arms of Oaxaca.
“Law has always been my shield and my sword” is a phrase often reproduced as decoration inside court and tribunals buildings.
–Wikipedia.com
Robert Burns Night, Tomorrow Night!
Robert Burns
We will be celebrating Robert Burns Night tomorrow evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the new Hat and Hare which is being first opened for this event–the first time opened since the fire.
The unexpected death of Mark Nelson, who seemed to put these things together effortlessly, and of course, the fire in October have complicated things quite a bit.
But we are set! There WILL be a Piper, AND yer Haggis! Neeps and Taters! Music and poetry! Scots Whiskey! Men in Kilts! Everyone is invited to wear Scottish costumes–they are good for the whole evening at the Castle.
Everyone is invited to participate! I have a limited number of spaces for non-member guests–please contact me at pop@pophaydn.com before 4:00 pm Monday (Feb 6) afternoon.
We would love you to bring something of Burns to sing or read or play. It is an easy-going, un-structured, single malt-centered kind of evening.
The photo of Burns you see here is a famous one. In our dining room, in the windows that line the outside of the Terrace, you will find the faint engraving of this portrait in the stained glass. These beautiful windows were taken from the Robert Burns Pub.
Great magicians have come from Scotland, including John Henry Anderson, the Wizard of the North, John Ramsay, Ron Wilson and many, many more.
This past week was Scots Week at the Castle, with magicians from Scotland performing. Burns Night tips a glass to them and to those that came before them, and to Ron Wilson who dedicated so much of his life to the Magic Castle.
Happy Birthday, Champ!
The Champ
Mohammed Ali turns 70 today. Happy Birthday, Champ!
Ali was one of the genuine heros of my generation. I was lucky to perform for him twice, and stole his watch both times. He has wrists like two by fours. He is the type of celebrity that makes me feel weak in the knees just being in his presence. I admire him so much.
“I’m expected to go overseas to help free people in South Vietnam and at the same time my people here are being brutalized; hell no! I would like to say to those of you who think I have lost so much: I have gained everything. I have peace of heart; I have a clear, free conscience. And I am proud. I wake up happy, I go to bed happy, and if I go to jail, I go to jail happy!” –Muhammed Ali, 1967
Talking with Joe Franklin…
Joe Franklin
Photo by Jim Herrington
Last week, I met the legendary Joe Franklin–once the undisputed king of Late Night television in New York City, and possibly the inventor of the television talk show. I was very impressed.
I was introduced to him in his office near Times Square by Alex Shlaferman.
What a charming and interesting gentleman Joe is! He welcomed us in to an ongoing discussion with two or three friends of his who are morning regulars in the office coffee gathering.
Franklin’s office is neatly stacked floor to ceiling with papers and tapes and vhs videos and other memorabilia.
He is extraordinarily friendly and interested, and knows everything there is to know about silent films, Tin Pan Alley and early show business.
Out of the stacks of tapes he found with ease a segment of his show featuring Bill Cosby and Kamarr the magician and popped it in a VHS player.
Kamarr was his good friend, he said, and had been on his show numerous times. In this sequence, he makes a stage size dove cage with three doves vanish close up at Cosby’s seat while Joe looks on bemused. Franklin said that he was the one who got Kamarr on Letterman years later.
I found this video on YouTube with Kamarr in Joe’s office:
From Wikipedia:
Joe Franklin (born Jose…ph Fortgang on March 9, 1926) is an American radio and television personality. From New York City, Franklin is sometimes credited with hosting the first television talk show. The show began in 1951 on WJZ-TV (later WABC-TV) and moved to WOR-TV (later WWOR-TV) from 1962 to 1993. After retiring from the television show, Franklin concentrated on an overnight radio show, playing old records on WOR-AM on Saturday evenings. He currently interviews celebrities on the Bloomberg Radio Network.
An author, Franklin has written 23 books, including Classics of the Silent Screen.
His 1995 autobiography Up Late with Joe Franklin chronicles his long career and includes claims that he had dalliances with Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and that Veronica Lake “threw herself at me, but I always refrained.”
He has appeared as himself in countless films, notably Ghostbusters and Broadway Danny Rose.
Frankin’s show was often parodied by Billy Crystal during the 1984–1985 season of Saturday Night Live. Franklin was also a pioneer in promoting products such as Hoffman Beverages on the air.
There is more information here:
The Weasel Wins!
Our New Mascot -- The Weasel
The election for the Greater American Confidence Party mascot has ended. The Weasel is the victor. From now on, we in the GACP will be represented by a weasel. Thanks for all of your participation. Finally, we can move forward as a party to victory!
Next we will have to choose a candidate for president of the United States.
I humbly put my name up for consideration.
The results of the month-long poll:
Who should be the mascot for the American Confidence Party?
| Answer | Votes | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weasel | 123 | 63% | |
| Wild Turkey | 32 | 16% | |
| Grey Fox | 18 | 9% | |
| Racoon | 13 | 7% | |
| Badger | 5 | 3% | |
| Opossum | 3 | 2% |
Herman Cain on Libya, today:
Herman Cain on Libya, in a quiet interview with print journalists. No comment. Stunned silence…
Magill said, ” He wanted to make sure they were talking about Libya and not Ubeki-beki-beki-stan.”
Thanks Vets!
“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” -Jose Narosky
Thanks to all the men and women who have faithfully served and defended the Constitution of the United States of America.
Mirin Dajo–the Amazing Human Pincushion
This video is not for the faint of heart. There are graphic images of swords and rapiers being pushed through a human body. It is truly amazing, but could be upsetting for some.
Mirin Dajo was a sideshow and stage performer in the 1940’s. He was by far the most amazing act of his kind that has ever been reported.
He’d stand bare-chested while his assistant would take fencing foils, and one by one, run him through–Dajo never flinched and never showed the slightest pain. He attributed this ability to his yogic training and faith in God.
The curious were invited to watch as closely as they liked, and to examine the blades even while they were stuck through him.
Dajo was invited to a medical center for tests.
Dajo’s assistant stuck a foil into his back–under doctors’ scrutiny, and then pressed it all the way through. The skin pushed outward on his chest and the foil finally broke through.
Dajo seemed well despite the event. With the foil stuck through him, Dajo walked to their X-ray lab, where they took shots verifying the foil did indeed pierce his abdomen all the way through, passing through and among major organs.
Mirin Dajo was born in 1912 as Arnold Gerrit Henskes. The first records of Dajo come from 1947 when he allowed an assistant to plunge a fencing foil right through his body at the Corso Theatre in Zurich.
The foil appeared to have pieced several vital organs, but Dajo was unharmed.
Mirin was forced to undergo many medical tests and to perform his act for baffled doctors. After x-ray tests were conducted, the legitimacy of his abilities was confirmed by the medical community. It could not be explained by any physician.
Mirin Dajo was a very religious man and some media outlets labeled him a “Messiah.”
His sideshow displays were often concluded with a lecture and a message of peace.
During his act he took to being impaled by three hollow skewers. He would then pump water through those skewers to become a human fountain.
On May 26, 1948, Mirin Dajo died from an aortic rupture.
He was not performing at the time, but his death could have resulted from previous acts.
More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirin_Dajo
Nancy Magill
Pop Haydn
Pop's Soapbox 