Current Web Sites

Over the years, there have been several attempts to establish and maintain a broader web presence for the assembly:

https://sam-35.blogspot.com/
This Blogspot site was updated as recently as April 2025. (Blogspot was also my original blogging platform when I first began publishing online in 2004)

• http://www.sam35.com/newsite
  It appears that the assembly owns the sam35.com domain, although it currently redirects to the Blogspot site.  It would be good to track down who has access to that so it could be redirected if a new site is ever considered.  I'd also suggest purchasing sam35.org.

• http://www.compumagic.com/sam35/
  This appears to have been an earlier website for the assembly created by Kevin Gough. While much of the information is outdated and some links are broken, the site still contains valuable historical material, including newsletters, member information, and content related to Al Baker.  Much of this could be incorporated into a new site.

These past efforts demonstrate both the interest and the potential value of creating a permanent and modern online home for the assembly.

Why This Matters

A strong web presence can help our assembly:

• Attract younger magicians and new members

• Promote public shows, lectures, and special events

• Preserve the history of our assembly and its members

• Showcase member achievements and performances

• Create a professional image for visitors and guests

• Improve communication beyond social media

• Highlight the legacy of Al Baker and magic history in Poughkeepsie

Today, many organizations are judged by their online presence. A modern website immediately communicates that our assembly is active, organized, and welcoming.

Potential Website Features

• Home page with upcoming events

• About SAM 35

• History of the Assembly - Sample Page

• The Legacy of Al Baker - Sample Page

• Member Spotlights

• Event Calendar

• Lecture Announcements

• Photo and Video Gallery

• Contact and Membership Information

• Links to Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube content

My Background

You can view some of my other work, developing websites, designing graphic and video ads and developing and coding applications by clicking the button below:

Al Baker Anniversary Presentation

This October marks the 75th anniversary of the passing of Al Baker on October 24, 1951. After Joe’s presentation on Al Baker, I became interested in doing additional research of my own. Digging through genealogical and historical records, I was able to pinpoint the location of Al Baker’s family home on Main Street, as well as his father’s business. That research eventually grew into the beginnings of a slide presentation on Al Baker’s life and his connection to Poughkeepsie.

Since I regularly attend local history programs at the library, I spoke with one of the librarians about possible research resources, including historical photographs of Main Street and whether there might be any images of Al Baker in the Vail Brothers collection. The local historian was very interested in learning more about Al Baker, especially since the library often highlights notable people born in Poughkeepsie, and this was apparently the first time they had heard about him.

That conversation sparked an idea. In recognition of the 75th anniversary of Al Baker’s passing, I think it would be wonderful for our assembly to partner with the library for a public presentation celebrating his life and legacy. The format could be similar to Joe’s presentation, combining stories and historical information about Al Baker with live performances of effects associated with him by members of our assembly.

The library has hosted magic-related programs in the past that drew crowds of more than 100 people, and I believe a presentation focused on a famous magician born right here in Poughkeepsie would generate strong local interest. It would also be a terrific opportunity to promote our assembly while sharing an important piece of Poughkeepsie history with the community.

If there is interest in pursuing this idea, I would be happy to reach out to the library to see whether this is something we could coordinate together. Since a project like this would require gathering volunteers, organizing performances and presentation content, we would likely need to begin planning over the summer in order to have everything ready by October.