* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #13 Date: Sunday 19th March 2000 Editor: Alan Watson ================================= Contents ================================= 1. Henning and Houdini 2. Richard Webster - books for sale 3. The 1st NZ TV magic special 4. Copy of "The History of Mystery" 5. Ray Crowe performances in NZ 6. 27th Australian International Magicians Convention - update 7. 27th Australian International Magicians Convention - programme revised 13/3/00 8. Royal Road to Card magic 9. Who's planning to attend the S.A.M.convention? 10. Wayne's dealers stand at (S.A.M.) Milwaukee 11. Society of American Magicians National Convention Milwaukee 2000 12. Boycott petrol price rises - 6th to 8th April 2000 13. Authentic 'Charlie Chaplin' cane 14. Pat Sweeney recovering from a mild heart attack 15. New Zealand Magician Dies During Act 16. Magic on TV this coming week - by Ed Hall 17. 2001 New Zealand Magicians Convention 18. News Items 19. Benefit of subscribing to the MagicNZ e-zine 20. Subscription Management 21. Contact Information ------------------------------------- 1. Henning and Houdini ------------------------------------- Message sent by Tony Wilson "Reprinted by permission, The Wizard's Report, IBM Ring 39 Inc." Henning and Houdini A Collection of Coincidence Both names start with an "H" and have seven letters. Both died at the age of 52. Houdini was born in 1874; Henning was born in 1947 (the reverse of 74). Henning died exactly 74 years after Houdini. They were both born outside the United States but made their careers in America. Both were allied with a spiritual discipline apart from magic that dealt with levitation, Henning with Transcendental Meditation and Houdini with Spiritualism. Both featured the "Water Torture Cell" Both knew Dai Vernon. Henning wrote a book, "Houdini, His Legend and Magic" in which he pointed out that both he and Houdini engaged in callisthenics and breathing exercises. They were both married but did not have children. They were both at one time the most widely recognized magicians in the world. ------------------------------------- 2. Richard Webster - books for sale - esp@psychic.co.nz ------------------------------------- Thanks for the great response to last week's offering. Here are some books to tempt you: The Vernon Chronicles Volume 1 by Stephen Minch (hardback, excellent condition) $40.00 The Vernon Chronicles Volume 2 (hardback, excellent condition) $40.00 The Vernon Chronicles Volume 3 (hardback, excellent condition) $40.00 Selling With Magic by Michael Jeffreys (excellent condition) $20.00 Speaking with Magic by Michael Jeffreys (excellent condition) $20.00 ------------------------------------- 3. The 1st NZ TV magic special ------------------------------------- Part of message from Clive Court ...........I believe that still belongs to The History of Mystery broadcast over the NZBC TV system during January 1965. The hour long special was directed by Owen Leeming in the studios of WNT1 in Wellington in July 1964 and featured Bernard Reid, Frank Newmarch, Steve Willard, Graham Grant, Burns Scandrett, Jack Wood, Bill McKaskill, and Watson Raines. The host was Peter Read. And, as a matter of interest, the magicians were handed their cheques as they left the studio at 6am in the morning. They had worked all night to get the show taped. I received 18 NZ pounds for writing the script (and co-production details like selecting the cast) and immediately went out and purchased a deluxe Remington electric razor. I remember it well; I used it all the time between the 5 to 8 gigs a day in Auckland during Christmas season 1964. Don (Mime?) was my agent and I was working with artistes like Kiri Te Kanawa at the Colony nightclub. ------------------------------------- 4. Copy of "The History of Mystery" ------------------------------------- Message from Clive Court - funslinger@magicwest.com I left for Australia, a week or so before The History of Mystery went to air. So I never actually got to see the complete show. I have never been able to find a copy of it, someone once said that the late Watson Raines had some 8mm off-the-set footage but I didn't hear any more. I would be most interested to hear from anyone who has anything on it--film footage, pix, audiotape, clippings, etc. ------------------------------------- 5. Ray Crowe performances in NZ ------------------------------------- Message sent by Graham Etherington I have just seen the Hale & Pace show with Australian Magician Ray Crowe who performs the first half hour of the two-hour show. Ray was excellent and I heartily recommend magicians go along just to see the magic. Dates in New Zealand are April: Thursday 6 Hamilton Theatre Friday 7 Auckland Town Hall Saturday 8 Wellington Opera Theatre Tuesday 11 Dunedin Regent Theatre Wednesday 12 Christchurch Town Hall Aussie readers can check their localities at: http://www.mrtricks.com.au/events.html ------------------------------------- 6. 27th Australian International Magicians Convention - update ------------------------------------- Message from Paul Bowen Thank you to everyone that responded to our last update of the Melbourne convention in June this year. It is with great pleasure that I announce that we will be naming the Children's Magic Competition after Phil Cross. Phil (a.k.a. Patch the Clown) was a performer who gave so much to children's entertainment through out Australia not only as a performer but also in his writing. He wrote regularly for AMM, Hocus and several other publications. For those of you who are unaware, we struck a snag late last year when Australia Post lost about 500 registration forms that were posted out to registrants from the last Melbourne and Sydney conventions. So we have extended the discount period and sent out an extra 800 registration forms. The discount is $20 off the cost of full registration. A full registration is $230 but only until the end of March. The cut off date is strictly March 31st. If you have already sent in a registration form and missed out on the first 100 places this discount also applies to you and you will receive your $20 refund at the convention. Another thing we have had to alter because of this problem (and believe me I want to use a stronger word than problem) is the cut off date for competitions. It was originally April 1. But we have now changed it to May 1. So anyone who wishes to enter a competition has until May 1 to get their registration and if it is the Ken Littlewood or Phil Cross competition their video as well. If you are wondering what competitions are available please visit our home page at http://convention2000@tripod.com this will give you a full run down of competitions as well as the rules for each and the judging criteria. I have also sent a new Minute by Minute of the convention. This should be the final one but unfortunately things happen and changes sometimes have to be made. It does however show you what we plan to give you for the weekend and I hope you will agree it looks like an action packed weekend. Once again I must apologize to anyone who feels that they have been left out of the information loop with regards to the convention. I hope these updates go to some extent in keeping everyone informed. Thanks again. Paul Bowen President A.M.C.A. inc. ------------------------------------- 7. 27th Australian International Magicians Convention - programme revised 13/3/00 ------------------------------------- CONVENTION 2000 AT A GLANCE. Friday June 9th, 2000 2:00 p.m. Rego Desk Opens 3:30 p.m. Children's Entertainment Session 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:30 p.m. Cocktail Party 10:00 p.m. Ray Crowe Lecture 11:30 p.m. Magic in the Bar Saturday June 10th, 2000 9:30 a.m. Under 18 Stage Competition 11:00 a.m. Coffee Break & Wandering Magic Comp. A.. 11:30 a.m. Stage Magic Competition 1:00 p.m. Flea Market 1:30 p.m. Lunch 2:30 p.m. Rene' Lavand Lecture 4:00 p.m. Coffee Break & Wandering Magic Comp. B.. 4:30 p.m. Ken Littlewood Competition 6:00 p.m. Dinner 8:00 p.m. Public Show 10:00 p.m. Break 10:30 p.m. Michael Finney Lecture 12:00 p.m. Magic in the Bar Sunday June 11th, 2000 8:00 a.m. Collection of Auction Goods. 9:00 a.m. Auction 11:00 a.m. Coffee Break & Wandering Magic Comp. C.. 11:30 a.m. Phil Cross Competition Intensive 1. Cards 12:15 p.m. Intensive 2. History of magic 1:00 p.m. Lunch 2:00 p.m. Restaurant Magic Competition 3:00 p.m. Parlor Magic Competition 4:00 p.m. Coffee Break & Wandering Magic Comp. D.. 4:30 p.m. Under 18 Close Up Competition 5:30 p.m. Close Up Card Magic Competition 6:30 p.m. Break to prepare for Banquet 7:30 p.m. Banquet Drinks 8:00 p.m. Banquet 12:00 p.m. Magic in the Bar Monday June 12th, 2000 9:30 a.m. Stage Craft Lecture 11:00 a.m. Coffee Break 11:30 a.m. Phil Cass Lecture 1:00 p.m. Trade Session 1:30 p.m. Lunch 2:30 p.m. Promotion Lecture 3:30 p.m. Break 4:00 p.m. Closing Show presented by Adelaide 2001. 5:00 p.m. Official Closing The Ken Littlewood Competition is the $1000 Stage Magic Competition. The Phil Cross competition is the Children's Magic Competition. ------------------------------------- 8. Royal Road to Card magic ------------------------------------- Message from Hamish Timmins - HamishT@tepapa.govt.nz My name is Hamish Timmins and I'm reasonably new to magic. I have being looking for some good basic texts for card magic. In particular the 'Royal Road to Card magic' I've been told it's an oldies but a goodie. Unfortunately most online bookstores list it as out of print. Can you help find one, and/or recommend any other good books? Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers Hamish ------------------------------------- 9. Who's planning to attend the S.A.M.convention? ------------------------------------- Message from Wayne Rogers - chicane@nzmagic.com I am interested in contacting any magicians who are planning to attend the S.A.M. convention in June, and who might like to share the cost of a hotel room. The room rate is $US99.00. For 3 people sharing, this very reasonable. Just a bit steep for one New Zealander at the current exchange rate! 10. Wayne's dealers stand at (S.A.M.) Milwaukee Wayne Rogers form Chicane Enterprises will be attending the Society Of American Magicians convention this year in Milwaukee. He will be setting up his own dealers stand to sell his original, New Zealand made magic props. See the product page on Wayne's web site for the list of magic available. http://www.nzmagic.com ------------------------------------- 11. Society of American Magicians National Convention Milwaukee 2000 ------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler The 2000 convention will be held at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wednesday, June 21, Thursday, June 22, Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24, 2000. Tentative scheduling for those of you who need travel information is as follows. On Tuesday, June 20 registration will open at 3:00 p.m. for those that arrive early. This is a wonderful chance to visit and perhaps meet up with someone you have not seen since last convention. There are no activities on Tuesday night so it is a golden opportunity to visit and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow magicians. On Wednesday June 21, 2000 registration will open at 8:00 a.m. and the first convention function will be at 9:00 a.m. This is generally a lecture. The convention will have a full schedule every day generally from 9:00 a.m. until after the final show on Saturday night, which will be over at approximately 10:00 p.m. In most cases the dealers will be open after the evening show. There may be one night that has something special scheduled therefore the dealers would not open that night. Evening Shows There is a show each night of the convention at 8:00 p.m. The shows will be at the Pabst Theatre, which does not have the seating capacity of most of the theatres we generally have for our shows. There will be approximately 400 seats available to the public, and your friends and relatives. These seats are in what is called the Gallery. Some might call it the nosebleed section. These seats are all wooden chairs with no cushions. We will sell these seats for $5.00 each. If you want to sit with someone and only plan on buying tickets for them you may want to reconsider and purchase a registration as we will not be able to accommodate special seating request for those that purchase extra seats for the evening shows. If you want them to have a seat with you or downstairs you should purchase a registration for them. Theatre The evening shows will be at the Captain Frederick Pabst Theatre. Located at 144 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Pabst Theatre, a National Historic Landmark, was built by the brewing magnate Captain Fredrick Pabst. It was designed by architect Otto Strack in a Victorian style with baroque decoration. The theatre was extensively renovated in 1928, and then restored to its original style in 1976, making it one of the most beautiful theatres in the United States. In 1989, the Pabst Theatre was interconnected with the new $120 million Milwaukee Centre development. With a full proscenium stage that includes a hydraulic orchestra pit, the theatre is suitable for virtually all performing arts including theatre, opera, dance, magic shows, and music as well as business meetings and seminars and public events. Hotel The convention will be at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 333 W. Kilbourn, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 Phone toll free 1-800-233-1234 or call the hotel direct at (414) 276-1234. May we recommend that you book your rooms early as on past occasions our convention hotel has sold out due to other functions going on in the area. The rate for registrants will be $99.00US per room for up two people in each room. Three to four people per room will be $109.00US per room. You will need to identify yourself as being with the Society of American Magicians Contest If you wish to compete in one of the contests, please contact Paul Critelli, 858 Iroquois S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan. 49506 Phone (616) 245-6835. Anyone wishing to compete in the contest must apply in writing to the above address. Packets for the competitors will be sent out after December 01, 1999. You may send in your request to compete anytime. You should plan on applying early to allow yourself enough time to comply with the rules that will be forthcoming. Registration Fees On or before March 31, 2000 ------------------------------------- 12. Boycott petrol price rises - 6th to 8th April 2000 ------------------------------------- Message from Brian Head Sounds a bit like carless days ... Last year on April 30, across the USA the American people staged what they called a "Gas Out" across Canada and the USA to bring down the high price of petrol .........and it worked!!!! It's time we Australian's/New Zealanders took a leaf out of the old American protest book and did something similar, only this time let's make it for THREE DAYS instead of just one. Lets see how many Australians/Kiwis we can get to band together for a three day period in April, NOT TO BUY ANY PETROL, during those three days. It will take a little planning but with a small amount of self sacrifice (i.e. ride your bike to work!) and some solidarity with the Canadian and American people as well, we have an opportunity to send a real world message where it's going to hurt the most. If you're happy about seeing your hard earned dollars stolen by a Middle East Oil Cartel and seeing your own Government rub its hands together while we're ripped off by them as well.......then do nothing!! If you're fed up with the constant rip off by Cartels and your Government tell them directly. Tell them you've had enough and .......... JOIN AUSTRALIA'S/New Zealand's GAS OUT. Do not buy any petrol from APRIL 6,2000, to APRIL 8, 2000. Buy what you need before the dates listed above, or after, but practice some restraint and put off some things you were going to do and don't buy any petrol during the GAS OUT. If you want help, just ask!! And mark these dates in your diary-organiser NOW! SEND THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND ASK THEM TO JOIN IN ... AND DO THE SAME. The Americans and the Canadians achieved a price cut once before and there's no reason why we can't achieve a similar result if we band together and fight against the people who profiteer from us. Come on Australia and New Zealand!! Let's stand together!! WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!! Even if you receive this 100 times keep passing it around, this way you know everyone is being informed and no one will forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------------------------------- 13. Authentic 'Charlie Chaplin' cane ------------------------------------- Message from Paul Romhany Tonight I had an incredible experience that can only be described as real 'Magic'. I did a Music Hall Show tonight but prior to the show I was given an authentic 'Charlie Chaplin' cane by Johnny Bond. It belonged to a Chaplin impersonator/magician from Australia (who I believe is still alive and in his 90's ... Billy McComb also mentioned him to me when I worked the Castle last time). It was such an honour to be presented the cane and it really gave me a huge buzz to use it while performing. It was a strange yet wonderful feeling to have part of the 'real' Charlie with me while I was performing. ------------------------------------- 14. Pat Sweeney recovering from a mild heart attack ------------------------------------- Message from Burns Scandrett Pat Sweeney (Paul Marcus) is recovering from a mild heart attack. He is progressing well, the doctors are waiting till they feel that he is strong enough to re-admit him for a major heart operation. I know that Pat would appreciate your messages of support and his address is as follows: Flat 1 7 Dawson St Christchurch ------------------------------------- 15. New Zealand Magician Dies During Act ------------------------------------- Message sent by Ed Hall .c The Associated Press HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) - An audience of hospital patients applauded when a magician collapsed and died during a show, thinking it was part of his act, his family said Friday. Ron Watson, known as Uncle Ron the Magician, was trying to cheer up stroke victims in the Tokoroa Hospital, including his wife Sheila, when he fell to the ground minutes into his act. The audience thought the collapse was part of it - except his wife, who tried to get up to help him, despite being partly paralysed. ``Everyone thought it was part of the act, but of course she knew it wasn't,'' said his son, John Watson. Doctors spent 45 minutes trying to revive Watson, 69, without success. John Watson said his father died doing what he loved. His magician idols had been escape artist Houdini and Englishman Tommy Cooper, who also died while performing. Watson was a former member of England's Bognor Regis Magic Circle and gave performances for charity since he retired 15 years ago. Greg Britt - sent a copy of the same article that appeared in the Christchurch Press Bruce Graham - sent a copy captioned - "Applause for conjurer's dying act" Which appeared in the Weekend Herald 18-19 2000 Bruce informed me in his e-mail that a friend of his had told him that I had died on stage. I can assure you I'm alive and kicking and Ron is no relation. Someone posted the article to alt.magic well the response has been over whelming from all over the world! ------------------------------------- 16. Magic on TV this coming week - by Ed Hall ------------------------------------- TV guide lists the following: Saturday 25th March, TV2, 12:00 (noon) World's Greatest Magic IV: Special on the latest in stage magic around the world. World's Greatest Magic IV starring Ayala, Jonathan David Bass, Kirby Van Birch, Lance Burton, Juliana Chen, Carl Cloutier, Raymond Crow, Dexion, Lennart Green, The Hamners, Mac King, Tim Kole, Sherry Lukas, Ken Mate, Max Maven, Tabary, and Rick Thomas Also, a reminder that the 'Masters of Illusion' series continues on TV4 at 3pm Sunday's. Ed Hall email: edhall@ihug.co.nz http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~edhall/magic/ ------------------------------------- 17. 2001 New Zealand Magicians' Convention ------------------------------------- Message from Brennan Sharp. The Convention Committee are seeking more contacts for lecturers. If you know of potential lecturers, maybe someone thinking about visiting New Zealand next year, please let us know. If you can help in this matter, please contact the Convention Secretary, Brennan Sharp. e-mail: brennanzl@xtra.co.nz web: http://mysite.xtra.co.nz/~NZMagic2001 ------------------------------------- 18. News Items ------------------------------------- If you have any news items that you feel the majority of our subscribers would be interested in please e-mail me so I can include them in the next e-zine. The magician who e-mails me a particular news item FIRST will receive full credit at the top of that item. If the news is of major importance I will send them out immediately as a Newsflash. ------------------------------------- 19. Benefit of subscribing to the MagicNZ e-zine ------------------------------------- You will now be informed well in advance of coming events and kept right up to date with the latest news. MagicNZ e-zine is published weekly, late on Sunday night. ------------------------------------- 20. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the MagicNZ e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors. Neither MagicNZ nor Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via MagicNZ e-zine. We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions as we see fit. >> This publication may be freely redistributed to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY << (c) Copyright 2000 Alan Watson ------------------------------------- 21. Contact Information ------------------------------------- Alan Watson Ph. (9) 483-9274 Fax. (09) 483-9274 Mobile 025 95-7070 e-mail alan@watson.co.nz www.magician.co.nz www.magicianz.com