* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #99 Date: Sunday 2nd December 2001 Editor: Alan Watson www.magician.co.nz www.alan-watson.com e-mail AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Milt Larsen Producing Shows Over The Past 42 Years 3. The Magic Circle Awards Banquet. 4. LIVE KIDBIZ 2 Book And Video Tape 5. Back To Canada For A Few Days 6. I Commiserate With His Experiences 7. Re The Banana/Bandanna Bit 8. Here Is An Addition To The Routine 9. Scott McKeon Passed Away 10. Uri Geller Website 11. Daytona Magic Planning Second Annual Convention 12. Magic Does A Disappearing Act 13. Women Stopped Buying Corsets 14. re; Article By Paul Romhany (NZ) 'True Story' 15. Looking To Share Room At Auckland Convention 16. The Orchante Saga #53 17. Diarise these events 18. MagicNZ e-zine archives 19. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Richard Pinner who is presenting a lecture, appearing on the public show and the New Years Eve function at the 26th New Zealand International Magicians Convention has just been presented with the "The Cecil Lyle Award" at The Magic Circle Awards Banquet. This is given to the author of the best trick published in The Magic Circular during the past year. The members of The Magic Circle vote for this and Richard's trick is one that is included in his lecture "Magnificent Octopus" that you will see in Auckland. ---------------------------------------------- The Castle's 38th Birthday Wednesday, January 2, 2002 The Magic Castle officially opened on the evening of January 2, 1963. At that time they had about 200 members. ----------------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. Milt Larsen Producing Shows Over The Past 42 Years ---------------------------------- Message from Chris Zamiara (US) The last two dates for the Annual It's Magic! shows produced by Milt Larsen and Terry Hill ended the season November 26th with sell out performances. The last two shows were in Santa Barbara and Thousand Oaks California. This years season set a new record with shows in nine different major theaters from Hawaii to Southern California. Milt Larsen has been producing the shows over the past 42 years. His other brainchild, Hollywood's Magic Castle, will celebrate its 38th birthday on January 2, 2002. Milt also conceived the idea for Caesars Magic Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Milt has been seen recently doing his crazy comedy magic act opening for The Amazing Johnathon at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. ---------------------------------- 3. The Magic Circle Awards Banquet ---------------------------------- Message from John Wade (UK) The Magic Circle Awards Banquet held on Saturday 17th November had the Right Hon. John Major CH as Guest of Honour. Speeches by John Wade, Michael Bailey and John Major (very funny). Cabaret compeered by John Wade featured John Styles, Nick Einhorn and Salvano who received a standing ovation. Awards went to Richard Pinner for the best trick published in The Magic Circular, Jon Allen for Close-up magician, Richard Kaufman for major contribution to art of literature in magic, and John Styles for the Comedy Award. The Maskelyne Award went to John Salisse and the Devant Award to John Gaugham who had flown over specially from California. I fly to Germany to do a bit in a magic show in Koblenz next Sunday (2/12/01), organised by Andino and featuring many magicians from Luxembourg and Germany. Wish me luck with my lack of the German language! ------------------------------------- 4. LIVE KIDBIZ 2 Book And Video Tape ------------------------------------- Message from David Ginn (US) In 1989 on my first visit to New Zealand, at Alan Watson's house I watched a number of video tapes of local NZ performers. One had a live rabbit he placed in a box. He then picked up the box, which had NO BOTTOM, and started to carry the box across the stage. Immediately the kids saw the rabbit still sitting on the table. They laughed and shouted telling the magician the rabbit was still there. The bit of business was hilarious, and I later used it about 300 times in my Georgia school shows. Now I am working on my LIVE KIDBIZ 2 book and video tape . . . and my routine (which includes) this bit is on the video. I sincerely wish to give credit to the magician who came up with this bit and certainly THANK HIM. But who is it??? I plan to finish this book the two weeks after Christmas . . . so if anyone knows WHO this NZ magic man is . . . please advise me RIGHT AWAY! ---------------------------------- 5. Back To Canada For A Few Days ---------------------------------- Message from Paul Romhany (NZ) Just a little note to say I finally made it to the Princess Royal Ship!! I still don't have a VISA and they might have to fly me off on the 28th of this month back to Canada for a few days!!! to get one. Not really a problem except I'm sick of flying now! ---------------------------------- 6. I Commiserate With His Experiences ---------------------------------- Message from Tom Ogden (US) I'm out on a ship, picking up your newsletter on the Rock of Gibraltar, so I don't have Paul Romhany's email address with me. But please let him know I commiserate with his experiences. His problem in Brazil might have been because of the wrong type of visa. The cruise line tells you that you only need a tourist visa because you are only passing through Rio to get to the ship. But Brazil considers that a business visa, even if you are only getting TO the ship. (A business visa is about 4 times more expensive.) Because there is no visa office in the airport, they often just refuse to admit you into the country and put you on the next plane back to wherever you originated. As for the last minute call to be on the next flight to Argentina, that is, unfortunately, the way Princess Cruises operates. I stopped working them because they would never confirm a booking more than a month in advance. I once got a call from them asking whether I had a valid visa for India in my passport. I said, Yes, why? They said, Can you fly out tonight for Bombay. Well, no, but if you had asked me two months ago before I booked local gigs..... ---------------------------------- 7. Re The Banana/Bandanna Bit ---------------------------------- Message from Tim Ellis (Aust) Yes, Copperfield did it on his Chinese TV special, but credit must go to the originator of the bit, Tom Ogden. Tom did not want to part with the piece as it was one of his trademark effects at the time. But David decided to do it, and now everyone is cashing in on the routine except for, you guessed it, the guy who thought it up in the first place. ---------------------------------- 8. Here Is An Addition To The Routine ---------------------------------- Message from Dan Turcotte Here is an addition to the routine. After taking the ear out pretend to hand out the ear for examination but get rid of it by any means necessary or you can turn the ear into something else like a big coin etc... ---------------------------------- 9. Scott McKeon Passed Away ---------------------------------- Message from Maria Ibanez - President, Florida Magicians Association It saddens me to report that we have lost another member of the magic community. As reported this morning in Ring 2100 a member of the Tampa Bay Magic Club has passed away. The following are the details: Tampa Bay Magic Club member Scott McKeon passed away last Thursday. His wife is planning a memorial service on December 8th, 2001 at 1:30. It will be held in Tampa at the Wellswood Baptist Church. Directions to the church are - take I-275 to the Hillsbourough exit. Go west to Rome. Turn left on Rome and go a short way to the church on the left side. The address is 5701 Rome. On behalf of myself, my family and members of the Florida Magicians Association, our condolences to his family and friends. ---------------------------------- 10. Uri Geller Website ---------------------------------- Message from Yosi Notkowitz (Israel) Uri Geller Website www.urigeller.com. ---------------------------------- 11. Daytona Magic Planning Second Annual Convention ---------------------------------- Message from Harry Allen (US) Daytona Magic is planning our second annual convention 3rd week in Oct. 02. Details will follow shortly. Last year Harry Lorrayne (from New York City) was unable to fly to our convention. So some fast thinking and lots of phone calls we booked Harry on a train. He lives very close to ground zero and it seemed like an impossibility to get him to Daytona. Other performers were Harry Allen, Chad Long, Paul Cummins, Joe Leffler, Tom Yurasits, Ken Scott, The Beckers, Glen Girardi and Bill Whitmire. The convention was a near sell-out despite Sept. 11, and a tropical storm. My new book should be out after the New Year. I also shot 3 videos at L&L publishing in California. They are comedy magic, close-up and stand-up. The release date is not known. Hopefully in 60 days. ---------------------------------- 12. Magic Does A Disappearing Act ---------------------------------- Message from Alfred Hayes (Aust) Today's Australian STREET magicians attending an international magic conference in India have warned their profession is dying out because people prefer TV. Most of the 200 magicians attending the International Magicians Convention in Udupi in the southern state of Karnataka, were from India, but there were also representatives from the US, Britain, Canada and Switzerland. On the first day of the three-day meeting, they held a strictly private session to swap notes on new magic tricks. India's street magicians have a wide repertoire of illusions including the famous Indian rope trick - where a boy climbs a rope which is suspended in the air. They also perform the basket trick, where a boy, tied by ropes in a bamboo basket, disappears. Usually they perform in front of a village crowd or on the streets of large cities, earning around 200 rupees ($8.30) a day. But those at the conference said the number of street magicians in India had dwindled over the past decade. Chand Baba, 85, from Andhra Pradesh state, who says he is India's oldest street magician, is struggling hard to keep his ancient art alive. "It is hard to keep my family alive today as expenses have gone up. At the same time not many people are interested in street magic anymore. They prefer to watch television," Baba, who sports a long white beard, said. "The younger generation prefer to do other business as street magic does not pay anymore."Now I perform anywhere to keep my art and my family alive. More than the money it is the attitude of the people that is most disappointing. "In my younger days people used to watch magic with pleasure and used to give us money generously. That is no more the case," he said. ---------------------------------- 13. Women Stopped Buying Corsets ---------------------------------- Message from Bev Bergeron (US) One never knows when something that can be used in magic may pop up in real life. This morning while attending an "old folks" aerobics class, the instructor passed out to all participants a long sheet of rubber. The sheets were about four foot long and 5 and a half inches wide. The sheet could be pulled in all directions to great lengths and not break. However, if you turn loose of an end - it would snap you. How does this apply to magic. Well, many years ago we use to use elastic strips that were used to make corsets (for those that are not old like me - a corset was used by women and some men to hold in their tummies.) on the top of Asrah tables (some may have to read a book for this one), to make the camp stool jump (before the super spring ones were made) and the bottoms of animal vanishes. Women stopped buying corsets, therefore, the elastic material was discontinued. ---------------------------------- 14. re; Article By Paul Romhany (NZ) 'True Story' ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard I have read with interest, the articles from Paul - somehow, his various (mis)adventures seem vaguely familiar to me. It's nice to read how a 'young' fellow is treading familiar trails, following the footsteps of some of us 'old-timers'. His last 'true story' is very reminiscent of an episode which happened to us in Chile. Perhaps I'll tell the story one day. I feel very sorry for Paul, but at the same time, I am absolutely delighted that 'BLOODY MURPHY' - and his bloody laws - has finally decided to find somebody else to torment. Maybe now, I can get some peace! Good luck to you, Paul. ---------------------------------- 15. Looking To Share Room At Auckland Convention ---------------------------------- Message from Thomas (NZ) Hi everybody, my name is Thomas and if there is anybody out there considering the possibility to share the costs of a room at the convention in Auckland at the end of this month, please contact me on 021 663 650 or e-mail: tm.sriram@gmx.net Ideally I am looking for a quiet, non-smoking room!!!! Thanks and hope to hear from you. ---------------------------------- 16. The Orchante Saga #53 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) hypnotic 'high-jinks' at: The Wellington Opera House - and beyond Like Franquin, I have never 'acquired subjects' using 'hypnotic/suggestibility tests' (except for pure demonstration/entertainment purposes) such as the 'hand -clasp' - where you ask the entire audience to interlace their fingers and then, with the power of suggestion, tell them that -"you cannot pull them apart". Invariably, there are many who cannot! 'Unscrupulous' hypnotists take an unfair advantage of this, forcing these people, against their will, to go on the stage so that they can get their fingers unlaced - Most Unprofessional - they are not willing participants! Again, as with Franquin, all the folks who have appeared on my stage have always been - happy volunteers! I've digressed yet again. Can't help wondering if this constant digression is not some sort of 'sickness' that befalls those of us who used to be 'quite famous' (infamous?), who now consider themselves lucky to get a 'mention' (nice line - I stole it from Jon Zealando. "There you are Jon me old mate - a mention"!). Dear oh dear, I've done it again - digressed. I must be.'sick'. Where was I - oh yes the 'Opera House'. Like most other hypnotists, when doing two or more nights in one Hall/Theatre, I would give out free tickets to all my subjects for the following night(s) as I thanked them at the conclusion of the show. Most if not all would return, and consequently, of their own free will, would once again end up back on stage. The reason? Not only did they enjoy the experience it was also a 'ton of fun', for them as well as the audience. It's now Friday night and I've called for volunteers for the hypnotism show. Again there's the usual stampede for the stage. I couldn't believe it! Around 70 free tickets and there is not one familiar face, not one soul, none of the volunteer/subjects from the night before (Thursday), had returned! Unheard of, I was flummoxed! Before I wake up the 'subjects' at the end of my hypnotic show, I always give them the following Suggestions - quote, " tonight, when you go to bed, you will have the best night's sleep you have ever had in your life, and when you wake up, at your usual time in the morning, you will feel -you will be, incredibly refreshed and full of zing" etc. - unquote. This time I made a terrible 'faux pas' (it was also the last time; you do learn hopefully, from your mistakes)! For some reason, instead of just saying -"When you wake up in a morning" etc, I also added - the day! I said -"When you wake up on - Saturday morning". I totally forgot that this was only - Thursday night! To my 'subjects', this categorically meant that they - would go to bed that night -Thursday (the 13th) sleep through all the following day Friday (the 14th) and Friday night, finally waking up on the - Saturday morning (the 15th)! No wonder they didn't turn up! Now this is quite feasible, as I personally know. Like most hypnotists from the past, I have often done a 'window-sleep', where you put some body 'to sleep' (usually an attractive young lady) in a shop window for two or three days. It sure made for fantastic publicity! What was surprising was that neither myself or Veronica, or anybody else in the show/audience for that matter, had picked up my 'faux pas' . Even more astonishing, was that nobody contacted the theatre in a blind panic to tell us that 'so and so - was still asleep'! Oh well, Friday's night show swung along as usual - it's just a little easier and quicker when you have 'tailor-made' subjects from the night before. Once again at the conclusion of the show, free tickets were handed out to my happy volunteers and came Saturday night, most of them turned up - YIPPEEE! Although the show in itself was a great success... well, the scribble in my old diary of 1972 says it all. I had scrawled - 'mighty show but what a bomb. A financial disaster'! I'm sure glad it wasn't my money! I felt very sorry for Gerald and his partner. They just couldn't understand that the 'type' of publicity that they had used to promote their highly successful Motor Show just wouldn't 'cut it' for a - 'Stage Show', especially in a big city and at such a famous, prominent establishment as -'The Wellington Opera House' which caters for all the big international (as well as national) stage shows and 'Superstars' from the world of 'showbusiness! - Continues - ------------------------------------- 17. Diarise these events ------------------------------------- The 26th NZ Magician's Convention Auckland Friday 28th to Monday 31st December 2001. For The registration form, Convention programme & The Official Competition Form go to: www.magician.co.nz/convention2.html ------------------------------------- 18. MagicNZ e-zine archives ------------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------------- 19. 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 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 << © Copyright 2001 Alan Watson