* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #115 Date: Sunday 31st March 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. S.A.M. Centennial Convention - Preliminary Schedule of Events 3. Balloons Around The World 4. First Place Magic is preparing to go live!!! 5. Card Magic Of John Quine Books 6. US Lecture Tour - Charles Gauci's 7. S.A.M. 100th Birthday Bash Line Up 8. News From Sweden 9. The Orchante Saga #96/97 10. MagicNZ e-zine archives 11. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Appearing at this year's Royal Easter Show in Auckland: Childrens Theatre - Nigel Kennedy Roving - Mr Concrete (Dave Sheridan), Cookie the Clown (Shane Thompson), Booboo the Clown (Elaine Bracey), Jon Zealando. Stage - Nick Nicholas. From Tuesday 2nd to Sunday 7th April the Alan Watson Family Magic & Illusion Show will be on Centrestage at Meadowbank Shopping Centre, showtimes 11am and 1pm. ---------------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. S.A.M. Centennial Convention - Preliminary Schedule of Events ---------------------------------- Printed with the permission of David Goodsell Editor of MUM Magazine JULY 3-4-5-6 www.magicsam.com Wednesday, July 3 Opening Ceremony Lecture/Presentation Welcome to Spouses Houdini Stamp Presentation Lecture/Presentation Close-up Contest Young Person's Autograph Party Coney Island Night - Party & show Late Night - The Nocturnal Trio Thursday, July 4 National Council Meeting Magic Endowment Fund meeting Magic Workshop for Young people (only) International Dealers show New York Magic Trifecta I - Close-up Magic of the World - "Mostly Magic" - Live Again! - Performance Lecture Magic Circle Reception Marc Salem Tribute to Maurice Fogel Magic Collectors Meeting Late Night Lecture/Presentation Friday, July 5 Stage Contest Lecture/Presentation NY Magic Trifecta II - Close-up Magic of the World - "Mostly Magic" - Live Again! - Performance Lecture Kids Do Magic For Kids "The Legends" Gala Show - New York City Center Magic Collectors Meeting SAMtalk Meeting Saturday, July 6 Lecture/Presentation Stars of Tomorrow Show Contest Awards Presentation New York Magic Trifecta III - Close Up Magic of the World - "Mostly Magic" - Live Again! - Performance Lecture Reception and Banquet International Gala Show - New York City Center After Show Birthday Party Our first Centennial Convention event is Wednesday morning, July 3 at 9AM. Dealers will be open Tuesday night for early birds. Join the party and become a part of history. Register now! For more information and to register go to: www.magicsam.com ---------------------------------- 3. Balloons Around The World ---------------------------------- Message from Jeff Brown (US) Hello from Alaska! It's happening again! Balloons Around the World, the annual event in which balloon artists donate an hour or more to a non-profit or other good cause in their community. People for the last two years have twisted and decorated in schools, churches, libraries, malls, streets, and more. There's even been clown parades taking part! It's fun, it's free (you even get an OFFICIAL TWISTER button!, and you get to change the world (don't we try EVERY day?). Get all the information you need and sign up today, all on line, thanks to Larry Moss and the people at Balloon HQ. If you have any other questions, please e-mail me! Otherwise, happy ballooning! ---------------------------------- 4. First Place Magic is preparing to go live!!! ---------------------------------- Message from Danny Archer (US) Hi All. First Place Magic (firstplacemagic.com) is preparing to go live!!! Now is the time to contact Danny Archer or Steve Draun and let us know what new products you have in development and would like to sell on the First Place Magic site. We would like to get a sample so we can prepare artwork and/or video for the web site. Then we determine the quantity available for sale and you send us the finished, packaged product and we will take care of the rest. We plan to start slowly and let the idea circulate and grow at a natural pace. We are venturing into uncharted territory and we are very excited as all the advance idea testing we have done has been very positive from both the creators and potential buyers. Any questions, please feel free to call or e-mail (contact info at the bottom of this e-mail), and Steve and I look forward to working with you to put some more money in your pocket. ---------------------------------- 5. Card Magic Of John Quine Books ---------------------------------- Message from Tom Craven (US) I extended an offer to Ring 2100, and the EG, for a reduced price on the Card Magic of John Quine books. John Quine had a lot of his items published in Jerry Mentzer's, Card Cavalcade series of hardbound books. Harry Lorayne, in Apocalypse said, "The Card magic of John Quine is so good I hate to recommend it, as I'd like to keep it for myself and a select few others!" The two books are: The Card Magic of John Quine (Original retail was $13.50 US) plus postage and B.S.timations (Original retail was $12.50 US) plus postage Here's the offer.... Any of your readers who want both, can send me $22.00 PPD US and I'll send them right out. Send to: Tom Craven 5217-G Cline Rd. Kent, Ohio 44240 USA ------------------------------------------------------- 6. US Lecture Tour - Charles Gauci's ------------------------------------------------------- Message from Charles Gauci (Aust) On the 19th April Australian magician Charles Gauci begins his tour of the US presenting his lecture "Reputation Makers". His itinerary is: 19 April - 8 May Texas 9 May - 12 May Missouri 13 May Illinios 14 May Kentucky 15-16 May Indiana 17 May Ohio 21 - 23 May Michigan 24 -27 May Florida 28 May - 7 July California 8 July Honolulu There are still some odd dates available. For more information contact Charles on E-mail: charlesg@ozemail.com.au ---------------------------------- 7. S.A.M. 100th Birthday Bash Line Up ---------------------------------- Printed with the permission of David Goodsell Editor of MUM Magazine WELCOME to our birthday bash! July 3-4-5-6, 2002-03-29 Come early - stay late! By George Schindler and RG Smith Here's a preview of things to come as the S.A.M. celebrates it's 100th anniversary in New York City, where it all began in 1902. Become a part of history at the convention of a lifetime. It's the party you don't want to miss. Even if you arrive at the New York Hilton the night before (July 2) you'll find our registration booth open and you' ll even get to see a preview at the Magic Dealer's exhibits. Start packing your bags. Our first day and evening mark a departure from the old convention formulas, and will set a new standard for the next 100 years. We're combining the old and the new in a fresh approach, blending our history with the future and preserving all the fun of modern magic as well. Early in the day the three-level stage in the column free Grand Ballroom will rise for a welcoming ceremony to prepare you for the next four days of history, magic, parties, and special events. "In the beginning" . an historical multi-media retrospective of the magic of the S.A.M. through the years from the vaudeville days to the video era. Magic and featured speakers will bring us up to "today". Be prepared to receive your Houdini Postage Stamp First Day Cover which will be issued to every attendee and postmarked at the Hilton as it is introduced to the public by the U.S. Postal Service. The postmaster promises a special event at it's introduction. Have your lunch in one of the many walk-to restaurants in the area or at the Hilton Coffee Shop. Be back in time to meet Marie Blood, Houdini's niece, whose "My Uncle Harry" lecture is filled with great stories and a memorabilia exhibit giving us a warm view of Houdini. She offers a delightful question and answer session. The afternoon brings you the Dealer's Room Lectures, Close-up Contests, a Young Persons Workshop and Autograph Party, all before you break for dinner. The first night is devoted to our roots in and around Coney Island. The Bond Street Stilt Band will play us into the ballroom (you can join if you wear stilts). Bring your souvenir trading cards. Todd Robbins is our barker and he introduces us to the Gala evening prepared by Richard Steven Cohn. This opening night will set the tone for the rest of the week. Souvenirs will be presented to each attendee each day of the convention in addition to the 100 page Souvenir Program, all destined to become collector's items. Richard Steven Cohn is a magician, musician, writer and historian whose specialty is "The Magic of Brooklyn". He helps arrange this "visit" to Coney Island, the magical wonderland by the sea. Roltair, Hugard, Flosso and even Al Baker performed at Luna Park and Dreamland. Todd Robbins - No other entertainer could play the perfect role of barker than Todd, who is known as the Coney Island Wonder Worker and is an authority on sideshows, as well as being a fine emcee and performer. Stuart MacDonald won the SAM contest in 1982 and competed in the 1985 FISM in Madrid. He is a winner of the Ben Chavez Memorial trophy for sleight of hand and the Jack Gwynn Award for showmanship. You will enjoy his high-energy manipulation act. Puck (Malcolm Puckering) is a corporate worker and cruise ship regular from the Washington DC area. His dove act won high acclaim at Abbott's Get Together and he is a "repeat" performer in New York's "Monday Night Magic". Slapstick & Lipstick are a husband and wife comedy juggling team guaranteed to "kill" at the convention. He is the bungler while she stands between him and imminent disaster. Huttoch Drei is the name of a three person chapeau act whose work with hats brings us back to a look at vaudeville. (Andreas Roemer, Wolfgram and Gernet Bohnenberger) Junge-Junge (Bohnenberger Brothers) is an S.A.M. favourite brought back by popular demand. They present their now classic "Englishman in New York" illusion. WOW! What an opening day. We'll need some relaxing time in the dealer room before we crash a few parties and head for bed. Thursday evening hosts a full evening performance by Marc Salem offering a "Tribute to Maurice Fogel". Marc first met and saw Maurice Fogel perform at the 1978 S.A.M. Convention in New York. This was an inspiring experience he has never forgotten. Marc is pleased to have this opportunity to present a tribute to this master showman. GALA SHOWS Friday and Saturday evenings at the City Center will allow the New York public to join us. "Legacies" is the working title of Friday evening's show which features George Sateriale, magic's only two-time gold medallist, having won both the S.A.M. and the I.B.M. contests. He also placed third at FISM (Lisbon 2000). A full time pro, George's great dove and manipulation act is in demand around the world. Matthius Rauch is one of the premier manipulators in the world today. Young Rauch is a new face to American audiences. In 1999 he won the German Master of Magic Award. At FISM in Lisbon (2000) he took the 4th place prize in Manipulation, the Best Presentation award in Amsterdam and in 2001 was the stage contest winner in Lusanne, Switzerland. Max Maven has credentials a mile long for his magic and mentalism on stage and television. In addition to this appearance he is playing a major role in our 100 year anniversary. Shintaro Fujiyama represnts the S.A.M. in Japan and was the driving force in organising the SAM Japan conventions. He is one of the major names in Japanese magic circles and in addition to working the close-up gala he honors us with this stage act. Tabary is a fascinating Frenchman who took the magic world by storm with his incredible rope magic. His stage performance will present magic from his FISM act. Tina Lenert. The arts of mime and magic are universally appealing to everyone, crossing the barrier of language and age. Tina Lenert's "Maid in Heaven" brings the touch of comedy and theatrical mime together with the help of Sinatra music. The frumpy cleaning lady finds happiness and magic. The Majestix take the art of grand illusion into the 21st century. This fast paced, young Las Vegas illusion team offers us unique new effects. The "Legacies" show will also have a number of surprise guests to shepard us in and out of the 100 years of our Society's life. The "International Gala" show is another blockbuster. Consummate compeer Mike Caveney is a fabulous magician and juggler as well as being one of today's most knowledgeable collectors and historians. Mahka Tendo. Without other magicians or magic shops, Mahka grew up in Japan and taught himself how to manipulate cards and perform magic. It paid off handsomely as today he is rated as one of the world's premier card manipulators. His charming stage presence and amazing magic has charmed audiences around the world. Ardan James is a lovable mime magician who took the magic world by storm in the 90s and brings audiences to tears of laughter when he appears. Vito Lupo, a native New Yorker, is also the first American to win the World Cup at FISM. Aside from many other awards, he is recognised around the world and is a favourite of the royals of Monaco. His silent and styled magic act is currently known more outside the USA than in. We are pleased to have him back home at our convention. Mac King is the only magician to appear on all five of the World's Greatest Magic TV specials. His book Tricks With Your Head is widely acclaimed and full of stunts and magic tricks. He is a corporate entertainer and currently has his own show at Harrah's Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. Mac has a degree in anthropology, is a good cook and neither of these talents has anything to do with making him the premier comedy magician of our time. Jay Marshall - The Dean of the S.A.M. Our centennial would not be complete without an appearance by Jay Marshall and his old friend "Lefty". David & Dania are described as the most exciting magic variety act in the world today. Their incredible quick-change act will amaze you even though you know what's coming. Don't look away for a moment or you'll miss the excitement. CLOSE-UP, LECTURES AND MORE What are we doing between shows? We'll be watching great lecturers, seeing modern close-up artists, and attending the "happenings" around the hotel. Here is a list of some of the people who will be doing their thing. Boris Wild comes to us from France. His FISM award-winning card act starts with a "kiss", a unique touch to card magic that you may have experienced watching his videos or from his excellent book. Joerg Alexander is one of Germany's most sought after magical artists. He is from Munich and is a member of the famous Flicking Fingers group. He won awards in both cards and mentalism at FISM. Considered a modern day Hofzinser, his lecture will focus on close-up and parlor magic. Paul Wilson comes to us from Scotland. He does work with cards and coins which has become legendary, having fooled the best in our business. His videos have won high acclaim and his lecture offers many innovative sleights and routines. Bob Sheets is the Jolly Jester who made his reputation in Washington D.C. as a bar magician but is now working corporate and trade shows and everything from dinner theatre to renaissance festivals. His unique "off the wall" magic borders on lunacy. He won first place at the International Magic Competition in England. Additional lecturers include Shintaro Fujiyama, Francis Tabary and Vito Lupo. Contests: Paul Critelli and Peggy Palermo set up and run the Wednesday and Friday morning Senior & Junior Stage and Close-up contests. Judges will select a Centennial Winner to compete at FISM 2003 (registration and airfare, hotel and incidentals worth over $2000).Other winners can receive as much as $2500 inc ash and/or incentive awards. This includes the "People's Choice" award in both Senior categories. Awards will be presented on Saturday afternoon. SPECIAL EVENTS: What happens when two of the world's best known voices join together with an artist who specialises in eloquent silence? Eugene Burger joins Tina Lenert and Max Maven presenting a special late night performance: The Nocturnal Trio. We have already told you about Max and Tina. Eugene delights audiences around he world and has won the Academy of Magical Arts Close-up Performer of the year award in 2000. He has written 14 books on magic. You won't want to miss Hank Moorehouse's multimedia interview session with Marshall Brodien, whose experiences cover every aspect of commercial magic performance. Imam, the founder of New York's "Mostly Magic" popular nightclub in Greenwich Village, joins a host of his "regulars" in a special retrospective performance of the "old days". Participating are Eric DeCamps, Devlin, Mark Mitton, George Schindler, Meir Yedid and Margaret Steele. The annual "Stars of Tomorrow" show, produced by Andy Dallas, bring new young performers into the limelight. You won't want to miss the "International Dealer Show" to get a chance to see the latest magic on the market. Another must see is the "historical Exhibition", a mini museum featuring some of the "Milbourne Christopher Collection" and the famous Saram Ellison Wand Collection (82 wands from yesteryear) among other items. All this and Many More. The President's Reception is open to all attendees. The Banquet is an extra charge. Oh yes, be sure to plan to attend the LATE NIGHT BIRTHDAY PARTY for all registrants after the Gala Show on Saturday night. Join us for a music-filled evening of great fun, another chance to frolic and meet with new and old friends before packing and leaving the city where it all started. ---------------------------------- 8. News From Sweden ---------------------------------- Message from Curtelle (Sweden) The Swedish Magical championships were held last weekend the 23rd of March in Uppsala Sweden. The competition had attracted a lot of participants; however no one stood a chance against 16 year old Axel Rutstam. With a totally unique act with rings and ropes Axel outclassed everyone, even those a great deal older than himself. He had made the whole act with completely new moves all by himself and charmed the audience with his warm charismatic appearance. We can be sure to hear from Axel in the future, not only has he got a nice appearance on stage but also a very innovative mind. ---------------------------------- 9. The Orchante Saga #96/97 ---------------------------------- Message from Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Goodbye Timaru -Home - the N.Z. hotel circuit - Adventures Without going into a whole swathe of details, Eddie Brooks and Galaxy Enterprises went 'BUST', so Veronica and I packed up our Super snipe, and the sign written, colour matched trailer we towed behind it, which some 'wit' knick-named - 'The Queen Mary'-because at night, with all the running lights on, it resembled a cruise liner sailing down the H/way; said goodbye to Timaru and the haunted house and headed for home. Although I call Whakatane - a town on the East Coast of the North Island, in the Bay of Plenty, 'Home', I was actually born in Auckland city. When Veronica's parents left Scotland for New Zealand, (Veronica was only two and a half/three years old) they settled in Whakatane. My grandparents from my mother's side, came from the Te Teko -Edgecume area, which is only 13/20 miles from Whakatane, consequently when I met Veronica and eventually her parents, I felt very much at home, geographically as well as personally. After years of temporary planting 'grass roots' all over the place, we eventually settled in Whakatane - home base from which to carry on 'stampeding' around the country with our shows. It was a nice place to come home to, trout fishing in the lakes and rivers, from Whakatane to Rotorua (just one of the many sports for which New Zealand is internationally famous), deep sea fishing as well; pig shooting and deer stalking in the bush or just plain 'chilling out' at home, or relaxing/ sunbathing on the pristine, glistening white sands of Ohope beach. WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE! Then we emigrated, via Fiji, to Australia. I've got way ahead of myself, that's a whole, New 'Book'! Working the hotel circuit from one end of N.Z. to the other was fun; I met all sorts of interesting people, like the two helicopter pilots at the 'Haast Pass' motor hotel one night. The Haast Pass is on the West coast of the South Island, 370km(230mls) H/way 6, south of Greymouth or, around five hours driving NW on State H/way 6a/ 6 - unsealed, from Queenstown. How do I know all this? Because I travelled those roads so often, I could have done a GENUINE 'blind fold drive', backwards, with my eyes shut! Sounds Irish! We spent a lot of time in Ireland - it rubs off. Where was I, oh yes - the helicopter pilots. I met them at the bar after the show, during my usual close-up magic session - while having a few drinks with the local 'natives'. Nobody ever accused me of being a snob. They were deer culling around the area and invited me to spend the following day with them, warning me that it most definitely was not the usual - 'Tourists Scenic Sightseeing' scenario. These guys were today's modern-day version of the 'Old Wild West' cowboys - the helicopter was, metaphorically speaking, their horse! The whole sky was their 'riding range' and they could throw that tiny 'bird' around with total, 'apparent' abandonment, in reality, it was absolute, controlled precision, you were left gasping at their amazing 'daredevil' flying skills and the sheer excitement of it all! To them, it was 'just part of the job'. Both doors had been removed from the helicopter to facilitate shooting their rifles, and they took turns flying while the other shot the deer. It got rather 'hairy' at times when the pilot had to hover on alpine slopes while the other jumped off to secure the deer by a length of rope underneath the helicopter. They would pick up three at a time - which was all the mosquito sized helicopter could handle, fly back to base camp to drop them off then straight back out again. Talking about mosquitoes, the ones down the West coast have their own landing strips - there're the biggest buggers I've ever seen, not to mention the sand flies. When the day's business was over (some business) I said," What the hell do you guys do for fun?" They laughed and one of them said, "come on", leaping into the helicopter, "I'll show you". Flying over dense natural forest, he suddenly dropped down below the treetops; the next second we were racing flat out along a river, inches above the water. Straight ahead a wall of green was rushing up towards us - I'm thinking, 'my God, can't he see that where're about to crash' then, at what seemed to me to be the last moment, he threw the 'chopper' into a steep turn, whipping around a bend in the river! He did this several times, following the natural curves of the river - okay, he's done this god knows how many times before, for kicks, I hadn't, and I was now sitting a little higher in my seat - just as well the doors weren' t fitted! Page 97 Now he starts to climb out of the river, skimming across the tops of the impenetrable forest of the 'Mount Aspiring' National Park - Mount Alba looms up ahead of us and he starts climbing up through the canyon - like valleys, over snow covered slopes and ridges, diving straight down into rugged passes - solid rock only feet away on either side, ducking, swerving, diving and climbing up towards the peak which is 2355 metres - damn near 8,000 ft above sea level, and it was freezing! When these guys told me that what they did was - 'NOT FOR SIGHT SEEING TOURISTS', they weren't kidding! The Theme/Leisure Park Ride has yet to be invented, and never will be, that could even come close to what these young New Zealand pilots called, for sheer exhilarating thrills, - FUN!!! Did you know that most, if not all of the WACKIEST fun games/sports that have hit the world - stage, originated from the inventive minds of New Zealanders. To name just a few -'Bungee Jumping', 'Bar Fly', where you wear a Velcro 'suit' and run the full pelt at a large board, that is also covered in Velcro, and take a 'flying' leap at it so that you stick to it! I remember this particular one was all the rage at various universities we performed at. The controversial 'Dwarf Throwing', was another one. And people think I'm mad! Well, I AM A 'KIWI'! ------------------------------------- 10. 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 ------------------------------------- 11. 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