* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine
* www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #65
Date: Sunday 18th March 2001
Editor: Alan Watson
www.magician.co.nz
www.alan-watson.com
e-mail alan@watson.co.nz
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================
1. Editor's Message
2. Chuck Jones - Wizardz Theater in Tokyo
3. SAM Convention 2001 Update
4. Excellent postings on the "Blue Room"
5. Fireball Spitting
6. New Zealand Woman's Weekly, 12th March Issue
7. Magic Collector/Historian
8. Global World Festival
9. Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
10. Greetings fellow finger flingers!
11. Magic For Kids Sake On Line
12. Magician performing Norm Nielsons Floating Violin!
13. Wild Food Festival in Hokitika
14. The Orchante Saga #21
15. Diarise these events
16. MagicNZ e-zine archives
17. Subscription Management

------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
-------------------------------------
Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One

Congratulations to Graham Rogers (Kiwi) - heard through the grapevine
that he's getting married in the USA on the 25th March - I'm sure more
details will follow soon.

Great to catch up with Bill and Mandy Reid who are staying with Michele
and I. They are performing on stage this weekend at the Pet Expo in
Auckland.

While performing at the Lynnmall shopping centre this week I had the
opportunity to watch Walnut the clown - Mike Colonna - in action making
beautiful sculptured balloon. What a talented guy his creations are
awesome!

Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line:
alan@watson.co.nz

-------------------------------------
2. Chuck Jones - Wizardz Theater in Tokyo
-------------------------------------
Message from Reed Lucas (US)

Chuck Jones is planning a trip to Japan for two months at the new
Wizardz Theater in Tokyo. Chuck is going to put a stamp on this theater
to show the world that Wizardz always brings the best performers from
around the world to entertain.

In more gloomy news, Wanda Wood, Fred Wood's wife has just passed away
and we all were very shocked to hear it. She was a wonderful kind woman
who always put a light in our day especially over at Wizardz. We all
know now who will be working the bright lite at the end of the tunnel
for the rest of us to go to. We miss you Wanda!

I recently visited Victor and Diamond at their luxurious palace in Las
Vegas. They are a classy couple that exhibits pure love 24 hours a day.
They are also great performers who did wonders for the World Festival of
Magic Last year. I was lucky enough to take an Illusion off of their
hands and they have been nothing but supportive to me.

TC Tahoe has sold Mind over Magic to Jeff Ezell, a great performer as
well as a cool dude. You can visit his site at www.mindovermagic.com.

James Dimmare performed a double set doing his birds and his illusions
an entire month and killed everybody with his "Staire at magic".

----------------------------------
3. SAM Convention 2001 Update
----------------------------------
Message from George Schindler- Public Relations SAM

GREG FREWIN "International Grand Champion of Magic" has been added to
the list of performers at the Society of American Magician's National
Convention in July. (12-13-14-15) in New Orleans. Mr. Frewin, best known
for his dove magic, leaves the birds at home and presents three new
illusions to close the Saturday Night show.

Greg Frewin earned his title by winning first place in all three of the
top international conventions. He won the SAM, FISM and IBM first place
awards and the IBM's Gold Medal of Excellence, presented only four times
in their history. You will remember seeing Greg on both of the "World's
Greatest Magicians" TV shows. (NBC). He also appeared on Champions of
Magic "(ABC) and on other TV shows in more than nine countries. Frewin
just completed filming a TV special "Magic at Sea" on an Alaskan cruise
ship.

Convention information available at www.magicsam.com
To register click on "Shopping Cart"
Or phone John or Virginia Apperson at 618-451-9749

----------------------------------
4. Excellent postings on the "Blue Room"
----------------------------------
Message from Bob Loomis (UK)

There have been several excellent postings on the "Blue Room" in recent
issues. The contributions by John Evernden and Bev Bergeron, in issue
#64,were especially informative, and added to the existing knowledge of
the illusion. (Keep up the good work fellows.) I can't help raising one
minor, pedantic point, that could clarify one possible misconception.

John wrote:
>You won't find much info on this effect. There is just little in
>print. The "Blue Room" version was designed by Harry Kellar...

If you turn to page 141 of Will Goldston's 1933 book, "Secrets of Famous
Illusionists," you will see where Harry got the idea for his design.
Goldston explains that Harry saw Hercat performing his famous "Blue Room
Mystery" in London, in the early 1900s. Kellar offered Hercat
considerable money for the rights to present his illusion in America,
but Hercat (R.D. Chater) refused to sell them. Goldston then states,
"Shortly afterwards Kellar staged 'The Blue Room Mystery' in America
with all the polish of his rival's London show!" (Not wanting to
besmirch Kellar's reputation, I won't tell you that Goldston also said
he was known to engage in "bribing the assistants and mechanics
employed" by rival magicians.)

Sorry, John, but to be pedantically and historically accurate, (in these
days of political correctness gone mad) perhaps your sentence should
have read: "The 'Blue Room' AMERICAN version was designed by Harry
Kellar..."

-------------------------------------
5. Fireball Spitting
-------------------------------------
Message from Mike Rogers (US)

In Issue Number 63 Bev Bergeron's gives an interesting discussion of
Fireball Spitting in the early days of the Magic Castle. Here are a
couple more stories.

Back in the 50s the late Kent Richards used to do it in his act. Kent
always presented his magic as if everything were a deep mystery, and he
enjoyed such things as flash pots, smoke, and fire. He once had an
assistant blow himself right into a two week hospital stay from a
homemade flash pot using black gun powder and birthday candles. That's a
story for another time; back to the fire spitting. Kent used charcoal
lighter fluid as the fuel. It didn't always work. He would spit the
liquid at a candle and a ball of flame exploded, or the stuff would
simply put the candle out. When that happened the effect was that he had
just spit at his audience.

A couple of weeks ago I worked a trade show in Orlando and while there
had dinner at a spot I visit often when in Orlando. It's a trendy spot
on International Drive called Bahama Breeze. This place is always
packed. The food, music, and decor all reflect the Caribbean Sea. The
bartenders in their tropical garb put on quite a show. Several of them
are skilled in the assorted juggling stunts with the bottles of booze.
They twirl them around in various ways while mixing the drinks. Two of
these bartenders make wicks from rolled up paper napkins and insert them
in the mouth of the bottle. Then they soak the wick in 151 proof
alcohol, ignite it, and do the juggling stunts with the bottles having
flaming necks. They face each other standing about ten feet apart and
each does a fireball spit at the same time. The effect is stunning as
the two fireballs join together as one. The heat is also extensive and
on the night I was there one of the guys singed his eyebrows badly.

This is not a stunt I'd recommend. Moreover, it probably violates every
fire code in the books. If you like this sort of thing, though, check
out the Bahama Breeze in Orlando.

-------------------------------------
6. New Zealand Woman's Weekly, 12th March Issue
-------------------------------------
Message from Greg Britt (NZ)

New Zealand & Australian Subscribers may like to check out the above
issue page 66. titled ITS COOL TO BE KIND !!

Full details on Elgregoes (Greg Britt) Antibullying Show which has
received much acclaim with 82 school shows in Canterbury since it was
launched last July. The show features Magic, Vent, Stories, and audience
participation to get its message across. Sponsored by Cookie Time the
Large Cookies make ideal cool to be kind awards given out during a Quiz
at the end of the show.

The show travels to Dunedin, Nelson, and Kaikoura in March and the West
Coast in April On these trips Cookie Muncher will be joining Elgregoe to
help push the message along.

-------------------------------------
7. Magic Collector/Historian
-------------------------------------
Message from Larry White Magic Editor M-U-M

David Goodsell, Editor of the Society of American Magicians magazine,
M-U-M, asked me to post this on some of the magic newsgroups. Please
feel free to share it with anyone you feel might be interested in being
part of this. Direct your e-mail to David at SuperG13@aol.com or to me
and I will forward it to him.

-----------------------------------
Dear Magic Collector/Historian

I need your help!

As the SAM approaches it's 100th anniversary, which will be celebrated
at our National Convention in New York City in July, 2002, we are
planning on running a series of historical articles as outlined below.
Richard Cohn is providing the articles for July and August and Ken
Silverman has agreed to write the article for November. Each article
should be about 700 - 2500 words in length and should be accompanied by
appropriate photographs. Our intent is to collect all of these articles
and publish a 100th anniversary booklet to commemorate our centennial.

You can help by volunteering to write one or more of these articles.
You can also help by providing historic photographs depicting the
history of the SAM -- personalities, special occasions, banquets,
convention programs, etc. Anything you send will be returned if you
simply note that you wish it returned. If you have access to a scanner,
photographs should be photographed in grey scale at 300 dpi and saved in
TIFF format. Send them to me on a zip disk.

Below you will find a list of topics and a list of names and some ideas
for articles.

I hope to hear from you!

PLEASE NOTE THAT EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, MY ADDRESS WILL CHANGE TO:
David Goodsell, 329 West 1750 North, Orem Utah 84057. All mail prior to
that date should be sent to the address below.

July 01 Magic at the turn of the century - venues, stars, etc.
Aug 01 Magic organizations and magazines around 1902
Sept 01 The birth of the SAM. Why, personalities, etc.
Oct 01 The early years - the glorious banquet shows, the international
growth of the SAM, etc.
Nov 01 Houdini's early years as president: 1917-1921
Dec 01 Houdini's later years as president: 1921 - 1926
Jan 02 The thirties and forties - important personalities
Feb 02 The fifties and sixties
Mar 02 The SAM Magic Hall of Fame
Apr 02 The seventies and eighties, including the youth program
May 02 The nineties - the great conventions, the Endowment Fund, The
Greatest Convention of all NC 2002
June 02 The future of the SAM and a 24 page "best of MUM" magic section.

I need these articles well in advance -- all by December 31, 2001.

I am looking for photos of the following. Short articles about noted
personalities will be most welcome.

Some of our more notable SAM National Presidents.
W. Golden Mortimer Hardeen
John W. Sargent Thurston
Henry Hatton, Harry Houdini
Werner Dornfield
Nate Leipzig H. Adrian Smith
Cardini Herman Hanson
Bert Allerton Harlan Tarbell
Leslie Guest Milbourne Christopher
Cesario Pelaez

We will prepare a set of short articles about all living Past National
Presidents.
Our Deans have been:

Harry Kellar Frederick Eugene Powell Al Baker Hean Hugard Herman Hanson
Werner Dornfield H. Adrian Smith Jay Marshall

Some of the early annual banquets were very notable, with several famous
magicians performing on the shows. Those of you who like research can
find accounts of these occasions in early Sphinx magazines.

Here are some questions for you: When was the first woman admitted to
the SAM? When was the first person of color admitted to the SAM? Who was
the first non-American to be admitted to the SAM? When was assembly #2
established? When were associate members first admitted? When was our
first real convention? What was our first international assembly? Our
first assembly outside of North America? When did we run conventions in
partnership with the IBM? When was MUM first published?

What other questions can you come up with that might make for
interesting short articles?

Be a part of history. Come to the centennial celebration. Write for MUM!

David Goodsell
Editor, M-U-M

-------------------------------------
8. Global World Festival
-------------------------------------
Message from Paul Romhany (NZ)

Just another note to say hello while I get the chance to use the
computer here. Had the most amazing day yesterday. Yesterday was Ladies
only day at the Global World Festival I'm working at and it was like
something out of the Star Wars movie. As I walked in the gate 95% of the
women (thousands of women were there) were all wearing the same outfit,
covered from head to toe in black and only their eyes showing. It was
one of the strangest sights I've ever seen, and working in these
conditions and respecting their religion and do's and don'ts was
something else.

I couldn't look at them in the eyes, touch their hands (out goes many
effects for the walk around situation), but overall it went well. Thank
goodness for things that are visual and pack small and play VERY big! I
wish I could have taken a photo but of course it is a sensitive issue in
those kind of situations. All I could think about was the Star Wars
movie and the city which had those hooded people.

Tomorrow is my last day here at the Global Village performing, then I
start work every night at the Renaissance Hotel. I have been performing
here for Friday Brunches and going very well. I have already had
enquiries about working in other countries with my act, and it looks as
though I might come back here soon when I can fit it in to my schedule.

-------------------------------------
9. Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
-------------------------------------
Message from Susan Garfield (Lewin) (US)

Just a quick report to say that we were the guests of Billy McComb and
saw Amazing Jonathan, Rich Bloch and Billy at the Golden Nugget Hotel
and Casino in Las Vegas the last week of February. Billy, as always, was
hysterical and did a terrific routine with Humphrey the mouse, which
ended up with the disappearing bird (or in this case) mouse cage. Rich
Bloch (Collector's Workshop) was very entertaining and charming and
looked great in full tux.

Jonathan was so funny. He did everything that I know most comedy
magicians would love to do. Nick was in hysterics (but don't quote me on
this one) and our daughter (age 15) loved it. The show was fabulous and
the 450 seat theatre was packed out at about $30 per ticket. They had to
add an extra show on Saturday. It is so great to see Billy with a new
career in Las Vegas. I believe he has been with Jonathan 3 or 4 times to
Las Vegas. Would highly recommend this show to anyone who loves to
laugh! (Forgot to mention that Brian Gillis and Sisuepahn performed an
interesting mind over matter weight lifting demonstration with members
of the audience as a guest set.)

-------------------------------------
10. Greetings fellow finger flingers!
-------------------------------------
Message from Steve Dacri (US)

It finally stopped raining, just as we finished building an ark. It's
now parked in the driveway just in case. Growing up in Boston, we're
used to the rain. I didn't mind the rain here at all, I kinda enjoyed
it, because in Boston, it was snowing just as much (over 2 feet at last
count). At least you don't have to shovel rain.

The rain was continuous, it made LA look like London for a while. Which
is helping Jan and I get accustomed to the UK type weather. We have a
short lecture tour scheduled across the pond, as they say (who's
"they"?) in May, beginning with my first lecture for the Magic Circle at
their headquarters, on May 14. I am honored by their invitation to
present my lecture in their wonderful clubhouse. Should be lots of fun
meeting my fellow Magic Circle members and new friends. Jan and I plan
to arrive a few days earlier to soak up the rain and enjoy London a bit,
plus president Michael Bailey has promised we can hang around in the
museum and library, for me, a highlight of the trip.

This is followed by a mini tour around the UK, designed, I'm convinced,
to show Jan and I the countryside and test our driving skills. The next
lecture is in Winchester, not a difficult drive, the following night
(May 15) I understand that in Winchester, after the lecture, I will be
performing a late night show at the Wykeham Arms on the corner of
Kingsgate Street and Canon Street. Our dear friend (and Magic WebChannel
investor-partner) Nic Meredith hails from Winchester, and he has
arranged this special show for his family and friends. Jan will be
capturing this and the entire trip on video, and eventually we will
share it with you right here on the web site.

The next day we have a lecture in Derby - about 500 miles away! (Did
Daryl really start like this?) Luckily, I learned to drive in Boston, so
I should have no trouble with the UK drivers if I can just keep
reminding myself to drive on the left.

From Derby, it's on to Bolton (May 17) which is not too far, meaning I
will actually be able to sleep a few hours before this lecture. The next
one, on May 18 is in Dublin, Ireland, which means we must first drive to
Liverpool, have a few quick beers in the Cavern Club (I know, the
original burned down, but this one will do), then hop a plane to Dublin.
If we survive this far, we get 2 days off, allowing us to hang around
Dublin for a bit, then get ourselves back to England, find the car we
left at the airport, and drive completely across the country to South
Lincolnshire (May 21).

Our final stop is in Devon, way the heck down in the South, but we have
2 days to get there, as we go on there May 23. At this point, we have a
few days to rest, get back up to London for celebrations with the Magic
Web Channel Marketing Director, Marvin Berglas (yes, son of
"International Man of Mystery" David Berglas), who promises a tour of
the world famous Marvin's Magic headquarters and a glimpse at the future
magicians, Mack & Jack, his new twins.

BACK HERE IN HOLLYWOOD

Lots of activities for magic folk here, with the upcoming Magic Castle
Swap Meet on Saturday April 14. This is a chance for all the magicians
to unload the stuff they bought at the previous swap meet in January.
Don't miss it. For further information, contact Yvonne Smith at the
Castle (323-851-3313, Ext. 301) and tell her we sent ya.

Members will also be gathering at the Magic Castle on April 9th (7pm
until the cows come home) to celebrate the birthday of Castle founder
and chief nail pounder, Milt Larsen. Those who wish to celebrate or
serve Milt with papers should show up on April 9th for cake and
surprises galore.

Then there's the 33rd Annual Academy of Magical Arts Awards Show, Friday
April 20, 2001 at the beautiful Wilshire Ebell Theater. This promises to
be a great show, and producer Mark Nelson has many surprises in store,
including complimentary pajamas and breakfast for all who attend. More
details are available on the Magic Castle web site, so click on over and
get the scoop. Tickets are only $25. For loge or balcony, or $40 for the
main floor. There are 1200 seats, so bring some friends. Tickets are
only available at the Wilshire Ebel box office and Ticketmaster outlets.
The Magic Web Channel cameras will be there to capture the fun, as well
as at the private reception before and private party afterwards back at
the Magic Castle.

Enough already! Time to get back to work. We are taping an interview
with Fernando Keops today at the Castle, then off to Santa Anita race
track with the legendary Carl Ballantine tomorrow. I'll provide complete
details of our visit with Carl next week.

Stay well, keep checking back and be patient with our progress here on
the Magic Web Channel. It will be worth the wait, I promise!

-------------------------------------
11. Magic For Kids Sake On Line
-------------------------------------
Message from Rick Fisher

Magic For Kid's Sake is now online with a temporary web page! Reach us
at http://hometown.aol.com/magiconsul/myhomepage/business.html

We also accept Pay Pal....go to www.PayPal.com - our new e mail address
is: No1magickids@aol.com

This is THE publication for the children's entertainer. Published six
times per year - March/April issue has Warren Stephens on the cover.
Timely articles on all types of children's magic plus columns on
Ventriloquism, Clowning, Safety magic and more! Subscription price is
only $25.00 per year US and CANADA and $35.00 year outside US. Find out
why this is the fastest growing magic publication today!

Rick Fisher is editor and publisher. Toll free 877.998.1662

-------------------------------------
12. Magician performing Norm Nielsons Floating Violin!
-------------------------------------
Message From Paul Romhany (NZ)

Yesterday, just filmed two TV spots for 2 different television
programmes. One was for Indian Television and featured me as Charlie
Chaplin and the presenter. We did a special presentation with her and I
as Charlie, it was a lot of fun. The other was for Dubai Television and
a childrens programme. The presenters (5 children) were all dressed up
as Chaplin and we had a lot of fun while I trained them a little and
then did my show plus some close-up magic. I will be bringing back my
show on CD.

Also, I've worked this week with magicians from all over the world at
the Festival I have just finished. There were magicians from Russia (a
woman) and last night two from Iran. They presented sub-trunk and
squashed illusion. While I didn't get to talk to them because I was
working, I got to see their brochure and was very saddened to see a
photo of one of the guys performing what appeared to be Norm Nielsons
Floating Violin!!! I wish now I got to speak to them to question them
about it!!!

-------------------------------------
13. Wild Food Festival in Hokitika
-------------------------------------
Message from Ian, Karen, Joel and Tuianana (NZ)

Last weekend was a busy one for us at the Wild Food Festival in
Hokitika. I was employed to do two hours roving as Professor Hukarere
and the Blackwater Kids. Some magic, juggling fire, fire pois, devil
sticks diablo etc. The rest of the time we were very busy selling
balloons.

This weekend should be quieter up at Waiuta with 200 vintage car club
people. I'll be doing a goldminer interpretation act "Jimmy Martin".

Monday Jimmy will make another ghostly appearance from the past for Mt
Hut College who are visiting the coast. Next Month its off to Shanty
Town on the 7th to entertain for the Cripple Children society.

That about as busy as we can get in the entertaining field what with our
other jobs. Karen nursing, and me working as a Ranger for DOC and a
Pastor for the Union church. While the kids are busy at school in music
and bands. We seem to be often changing hats.

----------------------------------
14. The Orchante Saga #21
----------------------------------
Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

MAGIC - MOVIE MAGIC - The Spine Tingling Conclusion!

Harry Roycroft - Fire Chief, and Movie Theatre Projectionist, taught me
how to 'thread up' the film on the Cine-Projectors. This HAS to be done
with absolute precision. Briefly, the spool of film is loaded and
locked into the top holder of the projector, then the film is threaded
down into the 'gate', where a very bright light shines through onto the
frame, and MUST be perfectly lined up. The film is then brought down
through a series of sprockets, and spring loaded clamps are snapped
closed to hold the film against each sprocket. There are little pins
around the sprockets, which go through the perforated sprocket holes
that run along each side of the entire length of film. A half loop of
film of exactly the right size is made at each sprocket, otherwise the
film will become taut, and snap. Both projectors are loaded up, ready
for the start-up.

As the spool of film on projector number one nears the end, the light
source in projector number two is fired up; then, standing between the
two projectors, a hand on the shutter levers of each projector, you look
out of one of those little windows, intently watching the top right hand
corner of the screen, where a special mark will flash momentarily (it's
printed onto the film). That's the cue to flick a switch on the right
hand side of projector number two. This starts the motor, and the film
starts running.. Then a second mark flashes on the screen - at that
precise moment, you close the shutter on projector number one, and open
the shutter on number two - a seamless switch!

Spool of film number three is then loaded onto projector number one, and
the reel of film which has just been shown, is re-wound, ready for the
next session. Threading up a projector takes about 2 minutes, but
initially, it's more like an hour. It's quite a finicky process until
you've acquired the knack of holding the film in place with the fingers
of one hand, while the other forms the half-loops and then snaps shut
the clamps - everything has to be totally accurate, and in perfect
alignment. If not, the film will jump out of frame, the sprockets will
rip the film, which then snaps, and oh horror, the screen goes blank -
that's when the howls of derision and foot-stamping on floor-boards
starts, growing in intensity the longer the wait, until the film
restarts.

Up in the projection box, you are both frantic, and calm, as you unlock
the clamps, pull the film through past the break, and then re-thread the
machine - the faster you can do it, the better - one minute equates to
one hour to a 'rioting' audience!!! Later, when you're re-winding that
spool of film, it pays not to forget that it's broken somewhere along
its length - otherwise you'll have thousands of feet of film spilling
all over the floor, thus adding to your woes.

Because you know the running time of a particular film, you therefore
know how much is on a spool - e.g. 90 minutes = 3 reels of film = 30
minutes per reel - so, after 25 minutes, you have 5 minutes left to
thread up the 2nd projector (if you haven't already done it earlier).
As I mentioned before, it takes on average, 2 minutes to thread up. I
got it down to less than a minute; having the very supple and skilled
fingers of a sleight of hand artist was a big advantage. Threading a
Cine projector with total accuracy was a 'piece of cake' compared with
some of the intricacies of sleight of hand magic.

Talking about Magic, here are some technical details regards Cine film,
and Illusions. The Film is projected onto the screen by the Cine
projector at 24 frames per second. Each frame is held stationary 'in
the gate' for a split second It is persistence of vision - the ability
of the Human eye to retain an image for a fraction of a second -which
merges the advancing frames, creating the illusion of continuous
movement. (The sound track is printed along one side of the film).
Knowledge of this little known persistence of vision is used in many
sleight of hand moves - spectators will swear that a ball, or whatever,
when apparently thrown up in the air, actually went up and then,
vanished in mid flight.

The speed at which I could thread up a projector fascinated Harry, and
at the same time, frustrated the 'hell' out of him. "Tom - will you sort
out the projector" "Okay, Harry - in a minute". "Tom, you've got 2
bloody minutes - thread up the @$^%$&* NOW" "In a minute, Harry"
"God-DAMMIT!" screams Harry, having a mild 'heart attack' at the thought
of a blank screen and a rioting audience. "JEEEESUS KAAARIST, TOM"
"Okay, Harry" - and, 50 seconds later "It's done, Harry" "You *%&£"* M
AD BASTARD!!" roars Harry "ONE OF THESE BLOODY DAYS, YOU'RE GONNA BLOW
IT!!" (He 'loved' me really!)

I FIRST WENT 'SOLO' when Harry phoned one Saturday morning, in a panic.
Out fishing the night before, he'd ripped his fingers badly, on
fish-hooks. With bandaged fingers looking like sausages, no way was HE
going to be operating the projectors, for quite a while. Although by
then I knew my way around a projection box - backwards, and with my eyes
shut , the thought of being totally on my own, and in charge, was still
a little nerve-racking. There was a matinee at 2pm, then a showing of
the major attraction at 8pm. I was in the 'box' at 10am, sorting out
all the films, checking and double-checking that everything was right -
reels of films all in order, and wound correctly, and the slides (for
adverts.) in correct sequence. To cut a long story short, I went solo
for 2 weeks, without a hitch (not quite true - I've just remembered the
'Ma and Pa Kettle fiasco)

Up to that time, I was doing all this for the sheer enjoyment and love
of it. Then Harry suggested to the Theatre manager that I should get
paid for my 'work', so I was put on the payroll. All was fine for 3 - 4
months, then the proverbial hit the fan (seems like an awful lot of this
proverbial came my way over the years). Two officious, well-suited
blokes turned up at the Theatre, wanting to know who this Tommy Orchard
was, how come he was on the company's payroll, and where was his licence
as a projectionist, and why wasn't he in the Union!

THAT WAS THAT!!!
POST-SCRIPT Because it was quite obvious that I knew what I was doing,
it was suggested I sit the official exams and gain my Theatre
Projectionist licence - but, when I saw what was required, that you
practically had to a master electrician, mathematician, and know
everything there is to know about light-waves, refraction, and God knows
what else - WELL, TO HELL WITH THAT!

When I showed them to Harry, he couldn't believe it. Quote "I don't know
half of this crap. In my day, I learned the same way I taught you - if
you could do the job properly, good enough. You got a licence on the
'teacher's' say-so. If I, or most of the projectionists I know, had
to 'sit' this load of bollocks, we'd all be out of a job!!". Unquote.

I could and did do the 'job' as well as, if not better, that all those
'clever dicks', with their official stamps on bits of official paper
(and probably their arses as well).

BLOODY OFFICIALS - IT'S A WORLD WIDE CONSPIRACY! OBJECTIVE - TAKE THE
FUN OUT OF EVERYTHING!!!

LONG LIVE MAGIC!!!

---- NEXT WEEK ----
Johnny Cooper - Noumea - Tahiti - Peter Taylor

 -------------------------------------
15. Diarise these events
-------------------------------------
The 26th NZ Magician's Convention will be held at the Waipuna Hotel and
Conference Centre, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand from Thursday 27
December 2001, and concluding with a New Year's Eve Celebration on
Monday 31 December 2001

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16. MagicNZ e-zine archives
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Back issues of the MagicNZ e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html

Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain
access.
User Name: ezine
Password: newzealand

When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are
coded. Eg 001nov0699.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number,
then the date (nov06) and the last next two numbers the year (99)

If you want to print copies of MagicNZ e-zine go to:
www.watson.co.nz/ezine-archive

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17. Subscription Management
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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

MagicNZ e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday.

The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual
contributors.

Neither MagicNZ or 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 2001 Alan Watson