Broken Perch Ceremony to be Conducted for MatildaInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Magicians mort_donna_and_matilda with Jay Leno

Mort the Mystifying lost his long-time partner, Matilda, in
February of this year.

Matilda was more than a partner and guest on the Jay Leno
Show. She was more than the World's
Oldest Chicken. She was an essential
part of Mort the Mystifying and Donna show.

The Judge Arnold Drennen Ring No. 35 will hold a Broken
Perch Ceremony to pay tribute to her contribution to her adopted family as well
as the greater magic community.

Ring Member Bob Sanders told reporters of the Birmingham
News how magicians differ from heathen professions or backward
civilizations. "In other cultures,
you might throw a shovel of dirt in the grave or crumble a flower and throw it
in the grave. What magicians do is break a wand and give it to the family."

Bill Pitts, former IBM President will celebrate the life and
work of Matilda the Chicken as leader of the Broken Perch ritual. The ceremony will begin at 3:30 tomorrow
(Saturday) at the absolutely beautiful Birmingham Hilton Perimeter Park Hotel.

Perhaps it is coincidence.
We have learned this is the very same hotel where the Southeastern
Association of Magicians will hold its annual conference.

In fact, further investigation revealed the SEAM conference
will not only be at the same hotel but they intend to meet this very
weekend.

What perfect timing.

We wouldn't imagine most lay-folks would get the
significance of a Broken Perch Ceremony or even a Broken Wand Ritual. But magicians will. In fact, they might make mention of the
ceremony to attendees at the convention.

It's just a thought.
We're not telling them how to run the convention or the Broken Perch
Ceremony.

Mort the
Mystifying a/k/a Keith Barton told reporters he and his wife, Donna, are
"honored by the recognition for Matilda, who was part of their magic act
for most of Matilda's 16 years. She had been listed by Guinness World Records
as the world's oldest living chicken in April 2004. Later that year she
appeared on the Jay Leno Show. She died in February 2006."

Mr. Barton informed reporters of the ritual's
significance. "We know that the
Broken Perch stems off of the Broken Wand," he said. "Harry Houdini
was the first one (when) they actually came up with the tradition. We really do
appreciate it."

Michael Baker is Ring 35's Secretary. From his comments to the paper, it sounds
like he's already hip to the great cross-promotion of the Broken Perch and the
convention. There will be two magic
shows open to the public: tonight at 8 and at the Cahaba Grand
Conference Center
(the former HealthSouth complex) on U.S. 280 at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are only $15 for adults, $10 for
juniors ages 10-17, and $5 for children 9 and under."

Make sure you check out the SEAM2006
web site for more information and the line-up. It looks great!

And speaking of looking great, Mort the Mystifying and Donna
have an outstanding web site. Great
navigation and content. Check it out at:
http://www.mortanddonna.com/