* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #110 Date: Sunday 24th February 2002 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. Magic in the Courtroom 3. Magi-Fest 2002 Talent List 4. Some News From Jahn Gallo - Sweden 5. Frank Zak - Bar Magician 6. Paul Romany - The Royal Princess 7. 28th Australian Convention Of Magicians - Update 8. Bev Bergeron's "One-Man Show" 9. Doc Eason's UK Lecture Tour 10. Atlanta's Magic Scene 11. The Orchante Saga #64 12. MagicNZ e-zine archives 13. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Trying to contact Richard Levin - USA can anyone help me with his e-mail address please? ------------------------------------- MagicNZ has created the MagicNZ web Ring, a new feature for New Zealand magic organisations and New Zealand resident and internationally based Kiwi magicians to enhance and increase visits to their web sites. Go to: www.magic.gen.nz ----------------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. Magic in the Courtroom ---------------------------------- Message from ©2002 by Steven Pradell, Esq. Alaskan Magician As an attorney and a magician I've always felt hesitant about combining my two professions in the courtroom, due to the lack of layperson's trust of either conjurers or criminal law lawyers. But the following case gave me the opportunity to display my talents in a way that may have helped my client's case. The prosecutor in a felony trial chose to give his opening statement by taking a few of the jury's empty Styrofoam cups and writing on them with a black magic marker as he told the interested jurors about his theory of the case. He wrote my client's name on one of the cups, discussed the alleged crime and wrote its name on another cup. He stated my client was guilty of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, wrote that on the final cup and sat down, content that the jury would be persuaded to convict my client. The most important decision of the case came at that moment. Should I perform magic, risking the jury's impression that I might not be a credible spokesman for my client? Knowing that many jurors make up their minds before witness testimony began, I stood up and walked over to where the jurors were seated. Taking a tissue from the box next to the cups, I wadded it into a ball and stated that from the words alone, the prosecutor's case sounded very convincing. I went through opposing counsel's statements one by one, placing a tissue in each of the cups that he had labelled. I informed the jury that the reason they were selected was because they appeared to be intelligent. I advised that their job was to keep an open mind until the end of the case, and that my client's only wish was that they would do so. As I indicated that sometimes things sound too good to be true, I slowly turned over each of the cups, showing that they were empty. When I came to the cup which stated "reasonable doubt," I turned it over, revealing that all of the tissues were there. I told the jury that I'd only have one more chance to talk to them, after the evidence was complete. I asked them to keep their promise and not make up their minds until that time, and sat down. Despite the fact that the jury never knew my client's confession had already been thrown out on a technicality, the jury did as I asked, kept an open mind, and returned a verdict of "not guilty" at the conclusion of the case. In the subsequent cases I've had with opposing counsel, he has never again used coffee cups to make his point. Unfortunately, although I had done my best to defend my former client, to this day he still owes my firm thousands of dollars in legal fees. When I called his parents to discuss the bill, they told me that he had disappeared. The final trick had been performed on me. ---------------------------------- 3. Magi-Fest 2002 Talent List ---------------------------------- Message from Kelvin Y.S. Chun (Hawaii) I returned from a great convention in Ohio! The Columbus Magi-Fest 71st Annual Magic Convention January 31st - February 2nd, 2002 Columbus, OH www.magifest.org/photo_gallery.htm Here was the line-up! Magi-Fest 2002 Talent List Close-up: Tom Craven, Joshua Jay, Maria Schweiter, Oscar Munoz, Tim Ellis & Sue-Anne Webster Stage: Peter Boie, Tom Burgoon, John Carney, Mike Caveney, Kelvin, Y.S. Chun, Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster, Bradley Foley, Tina Lenert, ArnoldoLeggi, Martin Lewis, Oscar Munoz, Jessica Reed, Sean Scott, Dan Sperry, Drew Thomas Productions There were over 1000 magicians at this event. I performed my award winning parasol/ balloon routine: www2.hawaii.edu/~kyschun/balloons.html in between award winning acts of Tim Ellis & Sue-Anne Webster, John (Mr.Mysto) Carney, and Oscar Munoz. I introduced the various sizes of parasols that can be produced like spring flowers, but bigger: www2.hawaii.edu/~kyschun/para/parasol.html They can even be linked together like a string of umbrellas. -------- Other Hawaii News: Our MAGI-zine is at: www2.hawaii.edu/~kyschun/sam.html -------- March 9, 2002 Creative Kid Show conference and March 10, 2002 Public Magic Show at the Neal Blaisdell Center Featuring David Ginn, Sammy Smith, and Steve Taylor ----------------------------- 4. Some News From Jahn Gallo - Sweden ---------------------------------- Message from Jahn Gallo (Sweden) Just back from a fantastic weekend in Porto (Portugal) I had the great pleasure to work at C.I.F. (Club Ilusionista Fenianos) S. Jean Bosco/2002 convention in Porto. During the convention I presented my lecture, did two work shops - worked in the close up show and in the Stage Show. To work in Portugal is always a pleasure. The Portuguese hospitality is world famous and I had a wonderful time. For information about my lectures and work shops please take a look at www.gallos-lecture.cjb.net ---------------------------------- 5. Frank Zak - Bar Magician ---------------------------------- Message from Don Drake (US) Let me put my 2 cents in for Frank Zak. Frank is the best bar magician I've ever seen in Las Vegas. I wish he'd do a lecture here for us (in Las Vegas). If you get a chance to see his lecture in Burbank, don't miss it. I'm thinking of driving in for it, if my car gets repaired in time. Frank is definitely worth it. ------------------------------------------------------- 6. Paul Romany - The Royal Princess ------------------------------------------------------- Message from Paul Romhany (NZ) Here I am in Vancouver having just finished another ship. I am here with my girlfriend Natalie and next week we both take a well deserved holiday in Mexico, then I am heading down to New Zealand to catch up with family and to work at Rainbows End over Easter. After that it's back here to Vancouver and to get back to the ships. I fly to Honolulu to join the Regal then join the Royal Princess, where I will tour Northern Europe and British Isles. Then it's back to Vancouver and to either do the Alaskan season or finish the Bermuda season, I have yet to decide. ---------------------------------- 7. 28th Australian Convention Of Magicians - Update ---------------------------------- Message from Kent Blackmore (Aust) The 28th Australian Convention of Magicians continues to break new ground in your national convention. On Friday night ... on Saturday night ... AND on Sunday night, there's a different full stage show in the beautiful Riverside Theatre, Parramatta! Friday night will be a night to remember as award-winning comedy magician PHIL CASS (and Friends!) takes the stage. Saturday and Sunday night brings STARS OF MAGIC featuring Australasia's top talent. Tickets will be available to friends, family, and magic fans - Check out full pricing details on the registration page of your convention website at:- http://come.to/sydneymagic Don't forget - Discounts for early registration finish at the end of this month! And if you want to compete, or place an advertisement in the souvenir convention brochure, get in early. See you in June..... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This convention information is sent as a service to magicians. If you prefer not to receive further updates, please send a message to kblackmore@bigpond.com ---------------------------------- 8. Bev Bergeron's "One-Man Show" ---------------------------------- Message from Bev Bergeron (US) I will do a one-man show, lecture, close-up and work the public show in Toledo, Ohio on March 14th & 16th. Will leave for the IBM convention in San Diego, California (July 3,4,5,6) where the "One-Man Show" will be presented. Will do a pre convention lecture for the San Diego Ring July 1 or 2 or ? check with Jack White. Will be in Palm Springs July 8-13 and working Magic Castle July 15-21. Lecture Castle on 21st. Will accept only a few lectures between Orlando and California - June 20 to July 31. Contact: bevbergero@aol.com or www.BevBergeron.com ---------------------------------- 9. Doc Eason's UK Lecture Tour ---------------------------------- Message from Doc Eason (US) UK Schedule Here is the latest on the ever developing schedule as of 2/17 My 16 year old son Ryan will be with me on the UK tour in May 2002. He will be a valuable assistant and it should be a fantastic trip for both of us. Arrival in London Saturday 11 May. Monday the 13th lecture at the Magic Circle. Contact information is Richard@BespokeMagic.co.uk Wed the 15th of May...Surrey Society of Magicians. Check out their web site at www.surreymagic.org. I will be doing a lecture and intensive in Surrey ...contact info is james@magicfun.co.uk Friday the 17th private party with friends in London. Saturday the 18th, head north to Leeds. Saturday night, the 18, banquet in Leeds Sunday 19th, Magic convention Leeds. Contact JonGordon@jgp-pr.fsnet.co.uk Tuesday the 21st -Edinburgh for a lecture and intensive Contact info...mcmullantony@hotmail.com I am also interested in any ideas you might have for getting from Leeds to Edinburgh. Ryan is interested in the Beatles so we are contemplating extending a day or so and heading to Liverpool and one final lecture before we head home from Manchester. Please feel free to distribute this to anyone you think will be interested. If they would like to receive these updates, just have them email me at doc@doceson.com and I will be glad to include their names. Doc Eason's Rocky Mountain Magic, Inc. P.O. Box 50 524 Park Circle Basalt, CO 81621 970 927-3197 Fax; 970 927-3749 ---------------------------------- 10. Atlanta's Magic Scene ---------------------------------- Message from Joe M. Turner First and foremost, we are hosting the 75th anniversary convention of the Southeastern Association of Magicians this August. This organization was strongly associated with Hal Martin for decades, and after his death it has had its ups and downs. This year, though, is a big UP! Our convention, August 8-10 in Atlanta, will feature a few of our familiar Atlanta stars (Dan Garrett, Robert Bengel, Eric Anderson) and our close-up headliner, Michael Ammar. For more information see www.seam2002.org Our two Atlanta magic clubs -- IBM Ring 9 (The Georgia Magic Club) and SAM Assembly 30 (The Atlanta Society of Magicians) --- both have web sites online. If you find yourself travelling through Atlanta, you can probably get in touch with most magicians by checking out the sites. Ring 9 is at www.gamagicclub.com and Assembly 30 is at sam30atlanta.tripod.com The Georgia Magic Club also has an online discussion forum you can use to interact directly with us whether you're coming to Atlanta or not. If you're planning a lecture tour, or if you have any other information you'd like to share with Atlanta's magicians, this is a good place to start: http://forums.delphiforums.com/ring9/start www.joemturner.com ---------------------------------- 11. The Orchante Saga #64 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi More of Timaru -Intro' to the 'Family Variety Spectacular '74'- tour Now it just so happens that Veronica had mentioned in the past that the door latch was getting sticky - difficult to open, and it chose this particular night to finally stick tight in the striking plate. With all the pushing and pulling, and the consequent foul language, the bloody thing still refused to open. By now I was fuming with the sheer frustration of John Cleese's portrayal as 'Mr Fawlty', in the TV series 'Fawlty Towers' so, when Veronica calmly produced a long screwdriver from out of a drawer, I attacked that goddamn door as if it was a living thing! Bloody door, it just 'laughed' in my face and stayed put! I defy anybody not to admit that they haven't sometime in their life, kicked an inanimate object in total frustration, as if the object in question had deliberately set out to test their mettle. A flat tyre in the middle of nowhere - without a repair kit, would be a pretty good example I would imagine. By now I was fuming as I dragged Veronica's table away from the door, got into the lounge then through to the kitchen and arrived at the other side of the kitchenette door. Once again I attacked the door with the screwdriver trying to force the door away from the latch but all I managed to do was to leave deep gouges in the doorjamb. I was beginning to hate that door with a deadly hate - storming back through the lounge and into the kitchenette - I again vented my pent up fury on that bloody door with the screwdriver, resulting in more 'decoration' on the doorjamb, with grooves and deep scratches; then suddenly, like a well oiled piece of machinery, the door on its own volition, slowly swung open! I stomped off to bed, expanding the vocabulary of my second language at a great rate of knots as I went! The next afternoon 'Tangles', the first of the band up out of bed after a late-night gig somewhere, came down to the kitchenette for coffee. Veronica said it to him, "Were you and the other boys in my workroom (the kitchenette) last night? "Tangles replied, "Sure, we came in for a coffee, why?" Deciding to 'PULL HIS LEG', Veronica said, "Did you notice or did anything strange happen?" "Funny you should say that" said Tangles, "The door wouldn't open when we wanted to go to bed, but we noticed that your table had been moved so we went out that way - into the lounge and thro the kitchen". "The same thing happened to us" said Veronica, "SOMETHING' slammed the door SHUT" then, lying through her teeth added, "SOMETHING' - wouldn't let us open it"! Tangles shivered. Pointing out the scratch marks that I had made the night before with the screwdriver, trying to get the door open, Veronica says to Tangles, "When I came down this morning, all these terrible marks were all over the door jam - on both sides of the door, and I thought you blokes might have had something to do with it". "No way" Tangles said indignantly, as he closely inspected the deep grooves and scratches in the wood "We didn't do that". Then his overactive imagination took hold, no doubt boosted by the GENUINE phenomena that we were all experiencing within the house, - "OH MY GOD" Tangles whispered, "THEY LOOK LIKE CLAW MARK"! Poor Tangles, he was going to cop a lot more of the same, from all of us, before the up-coming extensive South Island stage tour was over! Looking around walls of our spare bedroom, which is where the 'workstation'- computer etc. is set up, and where I spend several hours each week working on the weekly 'SAGA' (apart from flying around the world to various exotic destinations in my Lear Jet 45, via my Microsoft Flight simulator 2000 - Professional Edition which is incidentally, good enough for Naval and commercial air pilots to practise with, at home), most of the available space is taken up with several posters. The oldest is dated July/August 1960, the latest probably 5-6 years ago, about the time I was forced into retirement - God, how I hate that word! The largest - in full colour, measures a whopping 5ftx3ft - this, one of several, cost in excess of an equalling whopping - £125 each (N.Z. $375), glad I wasn't paying for them! Directly in front of me, up where the ceiling joins the wall, there is a red A2 size poster displaying six black-and-white photographs. The names - top row from L to R are: CRAIG SCOTT - N.Z's.No.1 Television & Recording Star, - The Sensational 'REFLECTIONS', Girl Duo, - ANGELA AYERS, Resident Star of TV's. 'Happen Inn' - bottom row: - BRENDAN DUGAN, Country and Western Personality, - The North Islands No.1 at group, 'PRENTICE' and, N.Z.'s Amazing International Star - 'ORCHANTÉ' (with his beautiful stage hostess, Veronica). This then, was Eddie Brook's - 'NOD' to his friends, latest venture - Galaxy Enterprises Ltd, proudly presents - FAMILY VARIETY SPECTACULAR '74! - continues - ------------------------------------- 12. 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 ------------------------------------- 13. 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 and not those of MagicNZ. 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. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree that they will not hold MagicNZ and/or Alan Watson liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed herein. We reserve the right to edit, correct or, in our discretion, choose not to publish any submissions provided to MagicNZ for potential publication. MagicNZ welcomes readers to submit timely articles or news items which appear to be of interest to our readers. Those submitting to this e-zine agree that we have permission to publish their submissions and that they have the full copyright to the material submitted. All works published by MagicNZ are fully protected by international copyright as provided by law, and articles cannot be published for profit by anyone other than the individual author without the written permission of MagicNZ. >> This publication may be freely redistributed (but not sold) to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer.<< © Copyright 2002 Alan Watson