* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine
* www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #121
Date: Sunday 12th May 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. 74th Annual I.B.M. Convention San Diego Update
3. S.A.M Centennial Convention Update
4. This Is A Rip Off
5. Update On - This Is A Rip Off
6. Magic Collectors' Association Weekend
7. Fitting Rope Magnets
8. Review - 50 Greatest Magic Tricks - U.K. TV
9. "Searching Heaven's Vault"
10. MagicNZ e-zine archives
11. Subscription Management

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

I have been having trouble with my e-mail lately. If I have not
replied to your message or if your message for the MagicNZ e-zine has
not been published - Please send it again.

Check out item 8 - Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(ex-pat Kiwi
now living in England) wrote an extensive review on the programme "50
Greatest Magic Tricks" that went to air in the UK Monday 6th May. On
the show Tommy performed his famous 'Psychic Surgery' -'String Thing'.

----------------------------------------------------
Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line:
AW@Alan-Watson.com

----------------------------------
2. 74th Annual I.B.M. Convention San Diego Update
----------------------------------
Message from Mindy Burden (US)

The 74th Annual I.B.M. Convention is heading to San Diego California
July 2-6 and promises to be one you won't want to miss! The Town &
Country Resort in San Diego's Mission Valley is the headquarters
hotel, giving ample convention space as well as a lushly landscaped
property with close access to a premiere shopping mall and a
region-wide rail service.

Talent Coordinator Dale Salwak has put together a line-up that makes
Las Vegas pale. Here's a look at the talent booked for four fabulous
evening shows, lectures, and close-up: Danny Archer, Joaquin Ayala,
Carl Ballantine, Stephen Bargatze, Bev Bergeron, Rich Bloch, Gaeton
Bloom, John Carney, Todd Charles, Aldo Colombini, Steve Dacri, Danny
Cole, James Dimmare, Bob Fitch, Chuck Jones & Co., Lupe, Norm Nielsen,
Omar Pasha, Marvyn Roy & Carol, Alan Shaxon, Kevin Spencer, David
Stone, and Rick Thomas. Don't forget the IBM is known for surprise
guests! Our surprise master-of-ceremonies for Saturday's show is a
legend in his own time! Also, twenty-two years ago Norm Nielsen
performed his floating violin at the IBM Convention in San Diego and
we are proud to have him back with his flawless, enchanting act.

The rest of the committee has gone to great lengths to mould a
convention that's sure to suit anyone's palate. The Kick-Off Party on
Tuesday, July 2 is a new highlight that will get us off on a high note
that won't quit until the close of the Strolling Olympics on Saturday
evening. In between, you will definitely enjoy the competitions of the
Gold Medal Stage Contest and the Gold Cups Close-Up Contest. There
will be Dealers galore, along with a Museum featuring the collections
of JP Jackson and Norm & Lupe Nielsen. If you are a collector, a
Mason, potential judge, spouse, or autograph seeker, there are
activities for you too! The Banquet will be highly entertaining so be
sure to get your ticket. And if you are an Order of Merlin member, be
sure to order your breakfast ticket!

In addition to all the regularly scheduled events, the youth will have
more than five additional activities specifically geared toward them,
including a Workshop with the pros and a Jr. Member lecture.

We are expecting a larger-than-ever west coast gathering, so be sure
to get your registrations in NOW (for better seating than walk-ins).
Registration forms and convention updates are available at
www.magician.org OR e-mail Registration Chairman Steve Burton at
steburton@aol.com OR Convention Chairman Mindy Burden at
jam3rma@avolve.net

----------------------------------
3. S.A.M Centennial Convention Update
----------------------------------
Message from George Schindler- SAM Public Relations

Society Of American Magicians Centennial Convention
Hilton New York & Towers
July 2 - 6, 2002

Tuesday July 2
3PM - 8PM Registration Open
7PM - 10PM Dealers Open for Early Birds

Wednesday, July 3
9AM - 9:45AM Centennial Opening Ceremony
9:45AM - 10AM Preparation for Houdini Stamp Unveiling (Doors open to
general public)
10AM - 10:30AM USPS Houdini Stamp Presentation "A Magical Happening"
10:30AM - 5PM Dealer Exhibits Open
10:30AM - Noon "Uncle Harry and Me" Marie Blood Lecture (Public invited)
1:30PM - 3PM Welcome to Spouses
1:30PM - 3PM Mahka Tendo Lecture
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Close-up Contest
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Young Persons Welcome Autograph Party with the
Stars
7:30PM - 9:30PM "Coney Island Hilton Grand Ballroom Welcome Party &
Show" (Dealers open after the show)
9:30PM - 11:30PM Dealer's Show
9:30PM - Midnight Dealers Open during dealer show
Midnight - 1AM "The Nocturnal Trio" starring Max Maven, Eugene
Burger and Tina Lenert

Thursday July 4
8:30AM - 10:30AM National Council Meeting
9:30AM - 10:30AM Marshall Brodien Lecture
10AM - 5PM Dealers Open
10AM - 12Noon Young People Magic Workshop
10:30AM - Noon Tabary Magic Lecture
10:30AM - 11AM Magic Endowment Fund Meeting
12Noon - 3PM Historical Exhibit Open
1:30PM - 3:00PM Jay Marshall Lecture "Deans Seen By The Dean"
3PM - 5PM New York Magic Trifecta (3 concurrent sessions)
1. Close-up show
2. "Mostly Magic - Live Again!"
3. Magic Lecture
5PM - 6PM Magic Circle Reception
8PM - 8:10PM DRAGON Awards
8:10 - 9:30PM Marc Salem presents Hilton Grand Ballroom
"A Tribute to Maurice Fogel"
9:30PM - Midnight Dealers open after the show
10PM - 11PM Kids Do Magic For Kids
10:30 PM - 11:30PM R. Paul Wilson Lecture

Friday, July 5
9AM - Noon Stage Contest Grand Ballroom
10AM - 5PM Dealers Room Open Sutton Complex
12Noon - 3PM Historical Exhibit Open Nassau Suite
1:30PM - 3PM Mac King Lecture Grand Ballroom
3PM - 5PM New York Magic Trifecta (3 concurrent sessions)
1. Close-up
2. "Mostly Magic - Live Again!"
3. Magic Lecture
8PM - 9:30PM S.A.M. Centennial Magic Gala New York City Center
Dealers open after the show

Saturday, July 6
9AM - 10:30 AM Jorg Alexander Lecture
10AM - 6PM Dealers Open
10:30AM - 12Noon Boris Wild Lecture
1:15PM - 2:15PM Stars of Tomorrow Show
2:15PM - 2:45PM Contest Awards Presentation
3PM - 5PM New York Magic Trifecta (3 concurrent sessions)
1. Close-up
2. "Mostly Magic - Live Again!"
3. Magic Lecture
5:30PM - 7:30 PM International Reception & Banquet
8PM - 9:30PM International Magic Gala New York City Center
Dealers closed after the show
10PM - Mid S.A.M. Centennial Birthday Party Grand Ballroom
Bring your dancing shoes

----------------------------------
4. This Is A Rip Off
----------------------------------
Message from Tim & Sue-Anne Ellis (Aust)

Nicolai Friedrich from Germany has asked me to forward this email to
you.

Dear Magicians

My name is Nicolai Friedrich and I am a magician from Germany and a
member of the flicking fingers. During the last years I won several
national and international awards in magic; for example: In 1997 I was
magician of the year in Germany In 1998 we won the Siegfried and Roy
Sarmoti Award in Las Vegas and I performed at the Magic Castle In 2000
I won a FISM Award in Lisbon 3. Price Mental Magic In 2002 we got
awarded with the Fred Kaps ring

One of my signature effects is an effect with a puzzle of the Mona
Lisa where there is one piece missing and a spectator finds the
missing piece out of many different pieces. This effect was part of my
FISM act and in 1999 I sold the performance rights to David
Copperfield (but I am still allowed to perform this effect) which is
documented by a contract.

I came up with the idea in 1995 and there are documents (newspaper;
magic magazine `Magie`) that can verify my copyright back to this
time. In the last issue of the Magic Magazine there is an
advertisement of a magician from Israel who offers exactly my Mona
Lisa concept for sale. This is a rip off. I did not give this guy any
permission to perform and market my effect.

Because of the contract with David Copperfield I was not allowed to
market the effect myself till this moment; but I will do so as soon as
possible. At the moment it is very important to me that we can inform
the magicians around the world that the effect that is offered is a
rip off and that it was invented by Nicolai Friedrich. Please be
patient and do not buy this cheap imitation. I will put my version on
the market very soon. Thank you for your support

Sincerely

Nicolai Friedrich
http://www.nicolai-friedrich.de

----------------------------------
5. Update On - This Is A Rip Off
----------------------------------
Message from Tommy Wonder (Holland)

According to Rafael Cohen the version of the Mona Lisa trick which is
being offered for sale is one which has been performed by Sagiv Levy
for 7 years!

Rafael promised Nicolai he will supply proof of this in the next
couple of days.

Soon we will know if indeed this is a case of independent development.

Let's hope so.

All the best!

Tommy Wonder

----------------------------------
6. Magic Collectors' Association Weekend
----------------------------------
Message from Thomas Ewing

I am program chair for the Magic Collectors' Association weekend and
this year we have an outstanding line-up. Persons interested in
attending the convention in Fort Worth, Texas can contact convention
chair Arthur Moses at AEM@aol.com.

Thursday May 16, 2002
Guests of Honor Arthur Emerson and (the late) Ren Clark -

8:00 Introduction and official opening remarks
8:15 David Hira - Presentation on Ren Clark including lecture, film,
performance, and Q & A to follow.
9:30 Evening Events Close
9:45 Dealer's Room Opens
Midnight Dealer's Room Closes

Friday May 17, 2002
9:30 Dealer's Room Opens
Noon Dealer's Room Closes
Lunch
1:30 Bill Rauscher - S.S. Adams: High Priest of Pranks and Merchant of
Magic.
2:00 Stephen Forrester - New Discoveries About Reginald Scot
2:30 15 minute break
2:45 David Haversat - Jack Chanin - Man With the Magical Hands
3:15 Panel Discussion on Magic Land of Dallas" with Howard Hale,
Gloria Marcom, Ed Watkins (?) et al.
4:00 Afternoon session ends
Dinner in the Hotel
7:30 Bruce Chadwick - Arthur Emerson, guest of honor
8:30 Jim Matthews - "Edward Saint...or Sinner?" (Powerpoint)
9:00 Tricks Old or Seldom Seen (Claude Crowe-MC)

9:45 Evening program ends
10:00 Dealer's Room Opens
Midnight Dealer's Room Closes.

Saturday May 18, 2002
10:00 Dealer's Room Opens
10:00 - Noon Exhibit of Houdini-related items from the Arthur Moses
collection with comments from Mr. Moses. Derek Kennedy - P&L Magic
from his collection
Noon Dealer's Room Closes
1:00 Phil Schwartz - Thayer: 100 Years of Quality Magic (Powerpoint)
1:30 Michael Cannick - Odd and Interesting Experiences of a Magic Book
Dealer
2:00 15 Minute Break
2:15 Tom Ewing - Jim Wobensmith: Magical Patent Attorney (Slides)
2:45 Terry Wong - The Magic of Tenyo (products for display)
3:15 Patrick Culliton - Houdini in Hollywood
4:00 Dealer's Room Opens
5:00 Dealer's Room Closes
5:30 Reception
6:30 Banquet
8:00 Closing Stage Show - Richard Hatch and Chamber Magic.

----------------------------------
7. Fitting Rope Magnets
----------------------------------
Message from Graham Etherington (Aust)

Grant Tucker asked about fitting rope magnets into rope, in Issue No.
#120 of MagicNZ e-zine, dated 5th May 2002.

I have answered him direct but thought your readers may be interested
in the answer as well. So here it is;

Fitting rope magnets to rope is not easy if you need an undetectable
join, it takes a lot of patience.

The main secret is to wind a piece of masking tape around the magnet.
This allows the rope glue to hold the magnet. Most glues will stick to
the masking tape whereas they won't stick to the magnet itself. I
allow the glue to impregnate the end of the rope after the magnet with
its masking tape has been inserted in the rope. I then draw the rope
up and around the magnet into the position that I want it. Then let it
dry. Once dry, trim it flush with a razor blade. White out (sold by
stationers) can be used to whiten the exposed magnet at the end of the
rope.

As I said it's not easy and takes patience. If it was easy I'd be
manufacturing many more tricks. But at the moment nobody wants to pay
me $100 an hour to make them up.
www.mrtricks.com.au

----------------------------------
8. Review - 50 Greatest Magic Tricks - U.K. TV
----------------------------------
Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

U.K. Television, Channel 4, 6th May 2002.

Before I get started, let me state from the outset that I don't, and
won't, pull any punches! I'm going to be BRUTALLY HONEST, GIVE CREDIT
WHERE CREDIT'S DUE, AND IF I THINK 'IT'S CRAP', I WILL SAY SO! If you
didn't know before, I'll tell you now - I'm a New Zealander, and we
Kiwis are renowned for our straight-forward, down to earth honesty -
and if you don't like it, TOUGH!

The Radio Times 4 - 10 May 2002, columnist Jane Rackham, among other
things said "Presented by Adam and Joe (although you'll soon be
wishing that they vanish in a puff of smoke)" etc. After watching the
show, I totally agree with her sentiments. These two idiotic 'clowns
- and I use that term advisedly, and their amateurish and childish
behaviour, were the cause of many people switching channels
prematurely. I know this because I had asked several friends and
neighbours to watch the show, and give me an unbiased opinion today.
Fortunately a few sat through the excruciating shenanigans of these
two 'WANKERS', whose air-time would have allowed the complete Richard
Ross Linking Ring routine (And others) to have been shown could have
been called "60 Greatest Magic Tricks". The magicians were listed in
order from number 50 down.-

50 - Franz Harary - 'Vanishing a Space Shuttle' (1994). Not bad, but
what happened to David Copperfield's famous Lear Jet, which blew the
world, and magicians away!

49 - Juan Taramiz (1996) Performed a brilliant Card routine - 'Four
Blue Cards' shown and counted hand to hand, face down -with each
consequent count, the cards, all spot cards, turned one at a time,
face up. Then one by one they became four Jacks - one became a Joker,
and on next count, all the backs became different from each other.

48 - Shahid and Lisa Malik 'Cardboard Box illusion' (1991) With
Assistant in box, sticks are thrust through, at as a great rate of
knots. Very good, but not up to the standard of Hans and Helga
Moretti, the best version of all, where assistants from the audience
put swords through the box, and at the finale Hans emerges, in a
totally different costume, with a live hen on his head, and God knows
what else.

47 - Guy Hollingworth - Signed, 'Torn and Restored Card' (1997)
Excellent. Ali Bongo summed up his presentation perfectly when he
said, "He has great finesse - he's a gentleman performing magic, as in
Victorian times". Beautifully spoken English - I was so very
impressed. Please tell him not to hold his left hand in such a tight
fist at the finish.

46 - Harry Blackstone Jnr - 'Vanishing Bird Cage' (1997), Made famous
by his father - brilliant. Kids loved it, me too!

45 - Mark Mottram - 'Thumb Tie' (2000) "WHAT UTTER CRAP!"

44 - Penn and Teller -'Truck Trick' (1991) Where Teller is run over by
a Truck. Very good, but not their best. Nicholas Parsons, amateur
magician, made pathetic and amateur statements; especially when he
said that: "THEY 'SHOULD BE CRUCIFIED BY THE MAGIC CIRCLE". For God's
sake - it was a one-off trick, invented by Penn and Teller, never to
be performed again - a throw -away! No wonder he's only an amateur.
What a sad man!

43 - Meir Yehid - 'Finger Fantasies' (1985) Fantastic! Left me feeling
very disjointed!

42 - Derren Brown - Made a train passenger forget what stop he was
getting off, and then, the poor sod actually missed getting off at his
stop! It was a pity that they didn't show the beginning, before they
actually started to film the sequence. As a professional hypnotist for
many years, it was obvious to me that he was using what I term 'waking
hypnosis'.

41 - Melinda Saxe - 'The Drill of Death' (1999). Apparently pierced by
giant revolving screw. Absolute crap! A corpse would have shown more
animation than she did -the noises she did make sounded more like
sexual climaxes, and even then, her face remained frozen in a 'deadpan
' expression!.

40 - Paul Zenon - 'Snooker Card trick' (2000). A version of the card
stabbing, using Billiard balls. Good but not GREAT -should not have
been counted as one of the best Magic Tricks in the World.

39 - 'Spoon Bending' - Began by showing The Amazing Jonathan doing
same - I love this guy - then Uri Geller - I raced for the toilet, and
lost my dinner - spewed up. I got back just in time to see Ian Roland,
who made Geller look like a fake - what a bullshit artist he is!
Intelligent man, that Ian Roland - I'd like to meet him.

38 - Stevie Starr - 'Regurgitator' (1992) Here they showed him
swallowing Goldfish, and bringing them up again totally unharmed. It
was a pity they didn't show more of him instead of the two 'clowns'
who took up so much time. He is absolutely fantastic! I know, as we
have worked together many times. In his show he really blows his
audience away!

37 - Fay Presto - 'Bottle through a table' (1996). Smutty
presentation. One of the spectators summed it up for me when she said:
"It's gone already", obviously referring to the bottle that was about
to apparently penetrate the table. I cannot believe that this
presentation was rated one of the best of the 50 Greatest Magic
Tricks. The Magic Circle's choice?

36 - Lance Burton -'Osmosis illusion' (1997). He should have been
among the top ten - say, number 2 or 3. Amazing illusion, performed by
the total, consummate professional! How dare they place him at only
36!

35 - Robert Gallup - 'Straight Jacket Escape' Performed in Melbourne,
Australia. (2000). Very impressive! Suspended at 1000 feet up.
Supporting rope set on fire - had 2 minutes 20 seconds in which to
escape. I was very disappointed by the fake straight jacket. Houdini's
used the real thing, 90 years ago!

34 - James Hydrick -(1980). Turned pages of a telephone book etc., by
a mere wave of his hand, apparently. I find it difficult to believe
that magicians, as well as so-called 'experts', were fooled by this
'dip-stick'. I, and I'll bet, so have thousands of other magicians,
been making cigarettes and matches roll across tables for years - two
at a time. Mind you, I did have two functioning lungs at the time.
They finally caught him out as a fake. Amazed it took so long.

33 - Penn and Teller - 'Snake Trick' (1991). Performed a la 'Cut and
Restored Rope' - you know, extra loop - blood and meat everywhere - I
just love these guys!!!

32 - Paul Daniels - 'Electric Chairs' (1989) Very good - first to
present this 'shocking' bit of fun.

31 - Geoffrey Durham - alias The Great Suprendo (1976 - 88) 'Torn and
restored newspaper'. Quite simply, I think Geoffrey is brilliant. I
would have a lot more respect for English magicians, if they were all
up to his high standard!

30 - David Berglas - 'The table' (1981), eight people seated around a
table, their fingertips just touching the top. On standing up, the
table moves up with them - apparently held by some sort of 'strange
force'. Moving, swaying from side to side or running around in a
circle, the table continues to stick to their fingertips - then
suddenly, the table drops to the floor! I HOLD THE GREATEST RESPECT
FOR DAVID BERGLAS - A GENTLEMAN AND, A TOTAL PROFESSIONAL.

29 - Amazing Jonathan - 'Skewer through tongue' (2001) I could watch
this very funny magician all day - and night - and day ad finitum
.
28 - Tommy Cooper -'Multiplying Bottles' (1967). A legend, forever!
Geoffrey Durham said it perfectly "He was a great magician, pretending
to be a crap magician, who actually was, a great magician".

27 - Paul Zenon - 'Tax Disc Trick' (2000). Apparently pulled a Tax
Disc through the car window screen. Very clever, but what happened to
the Tax Disc holder? It vanished too - another mystery. Very good,
Paul

26 - Derren Brown - again - 'Mind reading' effect, with a painting.
Reminded me of some of David Berglas's effects.

25 - Paul Daniels 'Disappearing Television camera trick' (1984).
Absolutely brilliant! Haven't got a clue how it was worked, but then
it is difficult to make a judgement without seeing the whole
presentation.

24 - Amazing Jonathan - Knife cutting into Arm illusion (1996). Pure
magical comedy. Give me more, more, and even more.

23 - David Berglas - 'Stopping the Pulse - in Both Arms' (1996). A
brilliant showman/magician/entertainer. A mind - blowing presentation.
Magic at its very best! I 'performed' this stunt years ago in my
doctor surgery. He immediately asked me to 'do it again' and brought
in two other doctors to 'see' it. "YOU SHOULD BE DEAD!" - he said.

22- Siegfried and Roy -'Interlude' (1994) (From the Magic, the
Mystery, Feld Productions Inc.) 'Spider Woman' penetrates through the
body of Roy then, a tiger that appears from nowhere, leaps through his
body as well! Great stuff. Well, would you expect anything less? Of
course not!

21 - Simon Drake - 'Sword Illusion' (1990). Apparently pushing several
swords and daggers into, and through, his body. Naah! He's done
better!

20 - Ishamuddin - 'Indian Rope Trick' (1999) filmed out of doors and,
with no buildings in the vicinity. Rope rose straight up into the air
to a height of approximately 20 ft - then a boy climbed only a very
short distance up before being ordered down again. It was an amazing
sight and I guess that all those who saw it, will have their own
theories on how it was performed. My suspicions were aroused right
from the beginning when the magician fed a short piece of rope into
the basket, that somehow became 20 ft long - two ropes? The other clue
I came up with, regarding methodology, was that at the finish, the top
of the very thick rope began collapsing first, followed by the rest of
the rope; it was as if some sort of support was being pulled rapidly
out from the central core of the rope. You'd have to see it for
yourself. Very impressive!

19 - Derren Brown - yet again (he must have shares in the Magic
Circle)! The following statement came from one of my neighbours! "Now
it's getting boring! Same sort of thing, just a different scenario -
some sort of hypnotism bullshit!"

18 - Robert Gallup - 'Death Dive' (1996) handcuffed, shackled and then
locked into a mailbag - then locked inside a eight ft-square cage
which contains a parachute. At 18,000 feet the whole lot is shoved out
the back of a Transporter Aircraft the idea being to escape, and, put
on the parachute before you put a huge dent into Mother Earth! Various
amateur magicians were giving comments during this performance, all
along the lines of 'What if.' - C'mon, fellas, if there WERE a 'What
If', no silly bugger would do it! I've never heard of anyone
accidentally 'killing themselves' in an escape stunt, but I stand to
be corrected! Let's face it - WHOSE Handcuffs, Shackles, Chains, and
Cage! - FOR CHRISSAKE, WAKE UP!

17 - The Amazing Orchanté - 'String Thing' ('Psychic Surgery') "The
Last Resort" (1987) Seeing that this is about myself, to avoid any
sort of back-lash, I shall write, word for word, the comments that
were made before, during and after my 2 minute, 20 second performance.
(Those two idiotic 'clowns' Adam and Joe got more air-time than
anybody else). PAUL MORLEY, Journalist and Magician said, "I remember
it VIVIDLY! I remember it happening! The unfortunate thing is, it is
SO vivid, that it DOES stay with you!" JENNY ECLAIR - comedienne,
said, "It was one of those - what we call nowadays, 'water cooler
moments', where everyone the next day says 'Did you see it - did you
see it?'" PAUL MORLEY again, said, "It is excruciating, but, but, but
in that sense, it is fantastic television." During my performance he
again quoted, "I quite like the moment when he swallows the string,
and everyone thinks that's the trick. The audience sort of applauds,
thinking, 'That's quite a good trick'."

During the segment where the string is being pulled out from my
stomach by members of the audience, PAUL MORLEY comments - " I'm with
some of the people in the audience, I mean, how some of those people
manage to touch that string and pull it out, because the way it pulls
on the skin - you don't want that in your life, because you're going
to carry it with you, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!" JEREMY DYSON,
comedian and amateur magician, said, "How are you doing that? What
have you done? Have you gone in there a week before, and made an
incision - and surgically put it in there" - (no, mate. I've performed
my String Thing three times a night on many occasions!), - "or are you
really doing it, which is even worse?" REECE SHEARSMITH, comedian and
amateur magician, immediately said "Don't do that - you're going to
get peritonitis, and die, if you keep doing that!" At the conclusion
of my 'String Thing', PAUL MORLEY quipped "I like the very last bit of
it - just as he pulls it all out - and it REALLY hurts him" (I'm a
good actor) "and you think 'Bloody Good' - it should hurt you - DON'T
DO IT AGAIN!"

16 - Siegfried and Roy - 'Vanishing and Appearing Elephant' (1994). I
can do no better than to quote Ali Bongo's comment, "ABSOLUTELY
STAGGERING".

15 - Simon Drake - 'Guillotine' (1992) Apparently he only performed
this once - he was taken to hospital with three cracked ribs
immediately after this performance. EXCELLENT - LOOKED REAL - GOOD
MAGIC!

14 - Lance Burton -In my opinion, absolutely the best magician in the
World today! 'Escape from Roller-Coaster Track' (1999) He managed to
escape from the track TWO SECONDS before the Roller-coaster, which was
going at a great rate of knots, would have hit him. At the conclusion,
he said "STUPID! THAT WAS REALLY STUPID!" I really DO believe that he
was within seconds of being killed! It was the first time, in a long
time - I've been on the edge of my seat!

13 - Harry Blackstone Jnr. 'Floating Light Bulb' (1977) THIS IS MAGIC!
MICHAEL BAILEY, President of the Magic Circle, commented, "As near to
a miracle as you can ever get" GAY BLACKSTONE former Assistant and
Widow, said "Oh - I think the Floating Light Bulb is the greatest
trick, because, it is the purest trick!"

12 - David Blane 'Card Revelation' - Forced card shuffled into deck,
then thrown at a café window -same card apparently stuck to inside of
glass. I cannot believe that this is at number 12, or even on the
'best of 50' list. What an insult to sleight of hand purists, and card
experts!

11 - Penn and Teller 'The Magic Bullet' (1996) A Double 'catching a
bullet in the mouth', trick. BRILLIANT! Haven't got a clue. Fantastic,
guys.

10 - Hans and Helga Moretti 'The Crossbow' (1995) William Tell, eat
your heart out! Whoever decided which were the 50 greatest tricks,
should have been shot! If they had any brains, they would also have
included Hans and Helga's 'Swords through Box', instead of 'Shahid
Malik's as the Moretti's is, without a doubt, the ultimate version.

9 - Richard Ross 'Linking Rings' (1983) FANTASTIC! THE BEST EVER! I
remember when he appeared on the scene with his version of the Rings -
not only blew audiences away, but also the Magicians! Just three
rings - PURE MAGIC! They should have shown his full routine.
Unfortunately, the 'powers to be' thought that Adam and Joe were far
better than anyone else on this TV programme, and deserved far more
air time - they sure as hell got it!

8 - Paul Daniels 'Chop Cup' (1985) Very slick and entertaining.
However to a purist, such as myself, I can't be done with trick cups
and magnets. Only pure sleight of hand will do, and I think it is an
absolute insult to the memory of Dai Vernon that his version of the
'real cups and balls' - described as the finest routine ever evolved -
wasn't shown instead -especially if the Magic Circle had a hand in it.
The next best would be, without a doubt, Ricky Jay's routine. A
commentator said "I don't think anyone performs it better than Paul
Daniels". I totally agree, if he is talking ONLY about the Chop Cup!

7 - Tom Mullica 'Smoking Trick' (1996) Sheer brilliance, coupled with
belly-aching comedy, and wonderful sleight of hand. I could, and have,
watched this guy all night. Another performance that should have been
shown in its entirety!

6 - David Copperfield 'Flying' (1995) 'YOU WILL BELIEVE A MAN CAN FLY'
says it all.

5 - Robert Harbin 'Zig Zag Lady' (1965) One of the greatest modern
illusions! Geoffrey Durham summed up the man perfectly, when he said,
"he had an extraordinarily brilliant magical brain, and his tricks
have been copied, duplicated, and done by every other magician since,
but his first version is the best".

4 - Lance Burton 'Doves' (1982) This man, this magician, this
entertainer is total perfection - in every facet of our art. THE BEST
THERE IS!!

3 - The Pendragons 'Metamorphosis' The substitution trunk, performed
in under 2 seconds" Great - but where's the entertainment value?
Looking at a 'bird' with huge muscular legs, who shaves within an inch
of her life! What the hell are they doing at number three? Jonathan
Pendragon said the word himself "ARROGANT" (So did my neighbours)

2 - David Blane - again. 'Levitation' At Number Two? Dear God! I'm
puking up bile - my dinner went ages ago. I cannot believe they have
shown this - especially after the exposé on 'Secrets Of Street
Magicians Finally Revealed' showing how it was done, including the
camera tricks - which is exactly what was shown here. I am utterly
disgusted.

1 - David Copperfield - 'Death Saw', (1995), A brilliant illusion and
presentation. What spoiled it for me was - he got into a 'box affair'
and was temporally hidden from sight - tons of time for the 'dirty
work'! Same thing happened at the close. I much prefer the old
buzz -saw version that was developed by Harry Blackstone, where the
'body' is in full view at all times. Harry Blackstone Jnr. performed
his Fathers version as well. The Amazing Mr ROOKLYN from Australia
(now deceased) had a similar version as well - which I used and
presented for many months at 'The Magic Village' (now long gone) in
Sydney so I do know what I'm talking about!

So there it is! Hard - hitting - you bet ya! Truthful -you better
believe it! Remember, my comments were, in part, derived from friends
and neighbours (the ones who managed to sit through the stupid,
childish and totally unnecessary antics of Adam Buxton and Joe
Cornish), your normal, average, everyday people, the ones who,
hopefully, come to see you perform and watch you on T.V. and, whose
opinion is more important than anyone else's! If you don't like what I
've written, blame them!

----------------------------------
9."Searching Heaven's Vault"
----------------------------------
Message from Don Beach

Magic author Don Beach has just published a new novel: "Searching
Heaven's Vault." It's a humorous fantasy on magic. Houdini gets into
the action, the Magic Castle is included, and there is even an episode
involving Thayer's, one of the world's great magic shops. The novel is
available through the Internet at: Barnes and Noble.com,
iUniverse.com, and Amazon.com.

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10. MagicNZ e-zine archives
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© Copyright 2002 Alan Watson