SAM#112 - Community Outreach

"Which member of our own assembly is famous for his association with a piece of cloth? Exactly what is this piece of cloth, and what is its significance?

Lee Grabel is famous for receiving the Magician's Mantle from Dante and for conferring that same mantle on Lance Burton.

The untimely death of Alexander Herrmann, renowned as Herrmann the Great, in 1896, left Harry Kellar as the pre-eminent magician in the world. Although no physical mantle existed at the time, it was said metaphorically that the mantle had been passed from Herrmann to Kellar.

Kellar decided that when it was time to pass on his mantle, he would confer an actual cloth mantle on his successor--who he decided should be Howard Thurston in 1908. Thurston, in turn, conferred his mantle on Dante (born Harry Aiugust Jansen) in the middle 1930s.

When Dante reluctantly retired in 1947, he began his search for his successor in The Royal Dynasty of Magic. Since Blackstone was only two years younger than Dante and was also heading towards retirement himself, Dante settled on
a strikingly good looking young classically grounded traditionalist by the name of Lee Grabel.

Following his own retirement, Lee agonized long over finding a successor who could carry on the unbroken chain started by Kellar, in 1908. The performer had to be an original, an innovator, and yet firmly entrenched in the full classical style. He found his man in 1993--Lance Burton

At 2:40 P.M. on May 12, 1994, witnessed by over 50 assembled dignitaries from the world of magic, the mantle was passed from Lee to Lance Burton!

A recent addition to S.A.M. #112's special recognition and awards ceremony is the Magician of The Year Award presented to a distinguished Club Member annually. The Magician of The year Award is the Best Representation of A Magician that our club has to offer for that year. Each Magician of the year has been chosen with careful considerations based on a number of factors: Club participation, Magical Skill, Professional Appearance, Style, Patter, Knowledge and skill improvement, etc ...