We wish to acknowledge the recent contribution of Alan "Ace" Greenberg. Alan is our newest Sustaining Donor. This level of donation is for contributions of $10,000 or more. Alan's name will grace the Wall of Donors as a Sustaining Donor. Thank you "Ace". Also, we want to acknowledge the recent financial contribution from Gene Cowell. Gene is currently a Magic Donor.He has also contributed his lifetime scrapbook of magic to the magic center and we look forward to displaying it once we open our facility.
The magic center wishes to ackowledge the efforts of Pat Miller of Louisville, Kentucky for the beautiful renditions of the Magic Center. They were displayed at our board meeting in Buffalo, New York in July. Pat's gererous contribution is literally worth $1000s of dollars.
Also, we wish to thank S.A.M. Past-National President Michael Douglass for doing an excellent job on the voice-over on our promotional video. Michael is a real pro.
A big thanks goes to the S.A.M. Magic Endowment Fund for the recent grant of $5000 to the S.A.M. Magic Center Foundation. We are excited about the new Richard Garriott Space Station Assembly #17210 and their generious contribution of $2180 with more money to come. This assembly is 'out of this world'. S.A.M. President Mike Miller has graciously donated an original Silent Mora vanishing pool cue that will be displayed in the museum area of the magic center. Louis Jerome McCord, who later adopted the stage name Silent Mora, was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1884 and passed away in 1972. Silent Mora was known for two magic acts. The first was his famous Chinese act which was performed silently to music. The second act was for club dates for which he would wear a tuxedo and used comedy and audience participation. Silent Mora will forever grace the halls of the magic center thanks to Mike's donation.
Our largest contribution of historical significance comes from Gene Cowell. He has contributed a magnificent collection of 26 three-ring-binders of magic reference materials dating from 1933 to 1996. This collection is filled with playbills, newspaper clippings and so much information of the performers of magic of the past and present. This collection is the work of one man who still enjoys the art of magic and all that it has to offer to the performer and the audience as well. The S.A.M. Magic Center Foundation thanks Mr. Cowell for this magnificent gesture. You can look forward to the Gene Cowell display in our future research library.
The Foundation Board thanks S.A.M. Assembly 206 in Austin, Texas for keeping the dream alive and keeping the Magic Center idea afloat. This project has evolved over the past few years and history will show that Austin played a major role in the development of the Magic Center.
A mega-thanks to Stan "Doc" Seaton for his substantial financial contributions to the Magic Center project. Doc is our first Charter Foundation Donor. His funding gave the S.A.M. Magic Center Foundation its jump-start in its fundraising and development efforts. The Board of Directors is indebted to this gentle giant for his support and grand vision of a world-class Magic Center.
S.A.M. Past-National President, Jay Gorham has contributed a complete M-U-M magic magazine collection to the Magic Center. Instead of being boxed and stored in Jay's garage, this wonderful magazine collection will grace the shelves of the Magic Center library. Thank you Jay!
Prior to his passing, Magic Circle President, Ali Bongo had made a personal financial contribution to the Foundation making him the first Charter Supporting Donor. We are honored to have his name forever etched onto our Wall of Donors. Heather Poggi Mannis is also a Charter Supporting Donor and we thank her for her continued involvement.
It is not to late to be a Charter Donor on our famed Wall of Donors. Click here and make your contribution, today.
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Video Feature
Channing Pollock (August 16, 1926 in Sacramento, California, USA – March 18, 2006) was an American magician and film actor.
As one of the most sophisticated and charismatic practitioners of his craft; strikingly handsome with an enigmatic stage presence, he was best known for an act in which he would elegantly produce doves out of thin air and he was often billed as "the most beautiful man in the world". He first became interested in magic at the age of 21. He trained at the Chavez School of Magic in Los Angeles, graduating in 1952. Pollock's early work as a magician was on the nightclub circuit, where his talents were enhanced by his good looks.
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CAN Magicians do the Impossible?
David Copperfield vanished the Statue of Liberty on national television; David Blain held his breath under water for eight minutes; Criss Angel demonstrated his ability to walk on water. Now, as an encore, magicians of the world have their eyes focused on the Society of American Magicians Magic Center Foundation, Inc.
The prediction is . . . A major announcement will be made VERY SOON about a permanent location for this world-class magic project.
Our vision is a world-class magic center that includes the largest museum of magic in the world, a magnificent research library, performing arts theatre, gift shop, visitors center, and the world-wide headquarters of the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.)
The S.A.M. was founded in 1902 in New York, and has become a worldwide organization dedicated to the wonderful world of magic. The S.A.M. actively supports the advancement of the magical arts through the S.A.M. Magic Endowment Fund, the Houdini Fund, the Society of Young Magicians (S.Y.M.), the S.A.M. Magic Center Foundation and other unique programs. Houdini himself, the greatest showman the world of magic has ever known, served as National President of the S.A.M. from 1917 until his untimely death in 1926.
The S.A.M. Magic Center Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation with the purpose of promoting magic by developing a world-class magic center for the benefit of the Society of American Magicians and magic enthusiasts from around the world.
One major feature of the future Magic Center will be to honor the great names of magic of the past and present, including Houdini, Keller, Thurston, Carter, Devant, Cardini, Harry Blackstone, Mark Wilson, David Copperfield, Criss Angel, David Blain, Siegfried and Roy, Mac King and Lance Burton. We envision featuring a spectacular audio/visual presentation honoring their contributions to the art of magic and actual magic props used in their acts. Unlike other magic museums that are closed to the general public, the S.A.M. Magic Center Museum will have several areas open to the public and will certainly become a ‘must-see’ tourist attraction.
The vision of the S.A.M. Magic Center is not that far away from reality. We are only weeks away from announcing the host city. Yes, we are in negotiations, but mum's the word for now.
How can you be a part of magic history in the making?
You can stay in the loop and be the first to know what is going on. Sign-up now for email updates.
You can m ake a contribution and become a Charter member of our Wall of Donors. This opportunity will be closing soon.
Yes, magicians CAN do the impossible!
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