* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #147 Date: 1st December 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. 2003 I.B.M. Convention - Kansas City 3. The Castle - 40th Anniversary Party 4. Jay Marshall Roast Video 5. RE: Magic For Children In Hospitals 6. 24 Horas Magicas 7. Alaska Magic Kids 2002 8. World Magic Convention In Las Vegas 9. "Magicana" Magazine Published In New Zealand Since 1953 10. The Zelzah Shrine Temple In Las Vegas 11. The Shore City Magicians Club Annual Open Night 12. Mysterium 13. Passing Of Mireya Montejo 14. News from Conjuring Lights 15. Re: Magic For Children In Hospitals 16. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Page 136 17. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives 18. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Reed Lucas (professional magician from California) and his fiancé Cathy (from West Germany) will be immigrating to Auckland, New Zealand early in the New Year. Reed is the originator of  the Raven and both he and Cathy are currently on tour through Australasia with the World Festival of Magic. Michele and I really enjoyed seeing this year’s World Festival of Magic featuring Chuck Jones & Company, Sylvester the Jester and Dave Holder. ----------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. 2003 I.B.M. Convention - Kansas City ---------------------------------- Message from Mindy Burden (US), IBM Convention Chairman The 2003 I.B.M. Convention will be held at the Kansas City Marriott, July 1-5. Kansas City has it all! Nicknamed “The Heart of America”, “City of Fountains”, and “Jewel in the Prairie”, it offers a myriad of cultural, historical, entertainment, and food cuisine diversity. The Marriott is an exquisite hotel with mosaic floors, mahogany walls, and of course, a breath-taking fountain. It is also a magician’s delight with two lounges promising the atmosphere you desire for sharing magic, stories, and laughs into the early morning hours. In addition to the standard room amenities, the hotel offers a health club, sauna, indoor pool, gift shop, and two full-service restaurants. The beautiful Lyric Theater will stage our four fabulous evening shows. The Folly Theater will host the Gold Medal Preliminary stage contest. Both theaters are a few steps across the street from the hotel. If you enjoy the gaming of Las Vegas, come to Kansas City! Four riverboat casinos offer full-service gaming, entertainment, and dining. The Ameristar, Argosy, Harrah’s, and Isle de Capri are just a few minutes ride from downtown Kansas City. Kansas City’s most notable Fortune 500 Company is Hallmark Cards. Its adjoining Crown Center is a three-level shopping complex with restaurants and theaters, along with chic and unique shopping. Union Station is a refurbished train station featuring shopping and the Science Museum. Just like its famous steaks, ribs, and jazz, Kansas City is spicy, sizzling, casual, and friendly. Join us July 1-5 for a fun, magical experience! Talent already booked: Danny Archer, Gay Blackstone, Rich Bloch, Tom Burgoon, Michael Close, Aldo Colombini, Fakelli & Kil, Bob Fitch, Arden James, Jay Marshall, Kenji Minemura, Obie O’Brien, Shoot Ogawa, Kevin Spencer. More to be announced soon! To find out more about registering and hotel information, please visit the I.B.M. website at www.magician.org and go to the ‘Convention’ link. Kansas City Here We Come! ------------------------------------ 3. The Castle - 40th Anniversary Party ------------------------------------- Message from Milt Larsen (US) January 2nd The Castle Will Celebrate with a 40th Anniversary Party. The Magic Castle opened its doors on January 2, 1963 and has been in continuous operation ever since. We will have a small Founder's Day celebration on Thursday January 2, 2003 and we hope many of our early members will join us for some cake and bubbly. We are also planning two or three major 40th Anniversary events in conjunction with the new revitalization of Hollywood. After forty years we are still a club filled with an amazing variety of members. --------------------------------- 4. Jay Marshall Roast Video ---------------------------------- Message from Sid Mayer (US) The Jay Marshall Roast Video Is Now Available. A once in a lifetime event was held on November 18, 2002. See Jay Marshall being roasted by some of the biggest names in show business (and some not so big). David Copperfield Mike Stratman (International president of I.B.M.) Dick Stoner (featured on TV) Chuck Gruberman (Chuck’s House of Magic) Penn Jillette (Penn and Teller) Sandy Marshall (Jay’s son) Jim Marshall (Jay’s son) Max Maven (mental genius) Mark Faje (Jay’s bastard son) Dennis DeBondt (Slippery Sam) Aye Jay (Mr. Ronald McDonald) Rich Laible (comic extraordinaire) Sid Mayer (the good smart comic) Joe Stevens (Stevens Magic Emporium) Lance Burton (Las Vegas Top Magician) Robbie Levensbaum (President, III Sheeters) Mac King (always with a beauty) Terry Seabrooke (S.A.M. International Ambassador) ORDER YOUR COPY NOW! Video … $25.00 (includes $5.00 shipping & handling) DVD … $30.00 (includes $5.00 shipping & handling) SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: JAY MARSHALL ROAST P.O. BOX 87575 CHICAGO, IL 60680-0575 Please include your name and mailing address. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery ---------------------------------- 5. RE: Magic For Children In Hospitals ---------------------------------- Message from Ken Reedy I do agree that you want to have them help you in any way possible. If you a leave small memento you need to first check with the head nurse what you plan on leaving and get her OK. Some illness's can be effected by some of the smallest items than you can ever imagine. Balloons can be very dangerous. Some people, especially children, can have a very nasty reaction to Latex so you may want to forgo them completely. Sometime they will not know themselves that they have an allergy to Latex until they are exposed. If you do nail or coin bending of any kind this is one item you can use. I like to use an item called "Change-O' that has you turning a nickel into a silver penny. You can then leave this with them. This item is made and sold through me. Good luck in your endeavor and I think that people who take time out of there routine to make little children feel better are very special. Bless You. Thanks Ken Reedy Magic by Ken Reedy magicbyken.com magicbyken@kc.rr.com ---------------------------------- 6. 24 Horas Magicas ---------------------------------- Message from Martin Kaplan History was made today with a video lecture presented in Glendale, California and viewed in Valencia, Spain. The lecture, delivered by Alfonso, dealt with the essential elements involved in constructing a routine. The lecture was part of the 24 hour annual celebration of magic put on by the Valencia circle of the Sociedad Espanola de Ilsuionismo. This was the eighth consecutive year that the CIVAC (Circulo de Ilusionistas de Valencia, Alicante y Castellon) has put on the event. Full details of the event will appear in an upcoming issue of THE LINKING RING. ---------------------------------- 7. Alaska Magic Kids 2002 ---------------------------------- Message from Kristoffer Olson (US) Kristoffer and Heather Olson www.KristofferOlson.com will be the Headline Guest Performers for the Alaska Magic Kids 2002 4th Annual Holiday Magic Extravaganza December 26 to 30, 2002 1pm, 4pm 7pm daily $3 Kids; $5 adults $10 Families Cyranos Bookstore & Off Center Playhouse 413 D St Anchorage, AK 99501 907-274-2599 The program is produced by the Anchorage Society of Young Magicians (SYM). the adult contact is Don Russell (www.alaskalife.net/magicguy) (magicguy@alaskalife.net). This group of Young Magicians is very active and involved in their community. For more information, check out their website: www.angelfire.com/ak3/magickids/ Kristoffer (age 19) and Heather (age 16) will be performing their First Place IBM 2000 Junior Stage Championship Act, entitled "Sibling Rivalry". Their metamorphosis routine is a hilarious act featuring numerous verbal and non-verbal jabs about being siblings, with a surprise ending (beyond the stunning transformation from Kristoffer to Heather). The Alaska Magic Kids will be hosting Kristoffer and Heather in their homes during this week, providing both the Alaska kids and Kristoffer and Heather with opportunities to meet and work with fellow young magicians. Some of these shows are reportedly already sold out, and additional shows have also been scheduled for private groups in Anchorage. ---------------------------------- 8. World Magic Convention In Las Vegas ---------------------------------- Message from Don Drake (US) Just a little reminder, the World Magic Convention in Las Vegas this year is going to have something very special. For the first time The Amazing Johnathan is going to be roasted by his peers! For complete details just look in any issue of Magic, Linking Ring or MUM. (My memory doesn't work any more). It will be in January in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. This is one that no one should miss! E-mail: dondrake@aol.com Web: http://blackartsecrets.com ---------------------------------- 9. "Magicana" Magazine Published In New Zealand Since 1953 ---------------------------------- Message from Michael Woolf – Editor Magicana Magazine "Magicana" Magazine has been published continuously in New Zealand since 1953. I have been Editor since June 2000. To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary, the first issue for 2003 will be a special souvenir commemorative edition. We welcome any contributions - memories relating to magic in New Zealand or New Zealand magicians; reminiscences of visits to this country or any other suitable material will be gratefully accepted. We particularly need any material relating to "Magicana" Magazine itself. We will be drawing on our files to reprint items of interest and intend to make the next issue a special item that will become a valuable collectors' item in the future. Please help with items, messages, scans of photos or other graphic material and any other items. We need this material within the next four weeks. Thank you. Michael Woolf Managing Editor Magicana Magazine michaelw@ihug.co.nz ---------------------------------- 10. The Zelzah Shrine Temple In Las Vegas ---------------------------------- Message from Wayne Bernath, Director of Publicity Lance Burton and his magician friends performed at the Shriners' Christmas party for the children who are being helped by the Zelzah Shrine Temple in Las Vegas. The party and show took place on Sunday, Dec. 2. Those performers included Mac King, Charles Bach, Bob Massey and Bram Blazer. This is the sixth consecutive year that Lance Burton has organized a show and performed for the Shiner's and the children. Lance Burton also does an annual benefit for Zelzah. "Lance Burton: Master Magician" at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino will be closed from Dec. 5-25 and reopen on Dec. 26 with shows at 7 and 10 p.m. thru Dec. 30 with a 7 p.m. show only on New Year's Eve. Be sure and get your tickets early for the final week of December. It's one of the busiest of the year for The Lance Burton Theatre. For reservations please call (702) 730-7160. Lance Burton will host "The Science of Magic II" for The Discovery Channel, which will air during the New Year. He appeared in "The Science of Magic I." He has also been chosen to host "Lance Burton: Guerrilla Magic: Taking it to the Streets" one-hour special to air next year. "Let's Make a Deal" is making a comeback with five one-hour specials and Lance will be featured. ---------------------------------- 11. The Shore City Magicians Club Annual Open Night ---------------------------------- Message from Mike (NZ) The Shore City Magicians Club will be having their annual Open Night on Friday the 6th of December, at our clubrooms at the Senior Citizens Hall (next to the library), The Strand, Takapuna. We are looking forward to a great turnout with all of our junior members performing and several senior guest acts including a juggler, ventriloquist etc. Supper will be served. Curtain rises at 7:30pm. Admission $5, family concession available. This will be a fun night so come along and support junior magic in Auckland! ---------------------------------- 12. Mysterium ---------------------------------- Message from John Taylor (Aust) Mysterium Global Productions. Are producing an illusion and dance show called MYSTERIUM at the Mercure Resort Surfers Paradise Queensland Australia. Starring International Illusionist JOHN TAYLOR "Be captivated by spellbinding magic and unforgettable illusions in this brilliant stage spectacular" Appearing in the Sandpiper showroom from December 27, disappearing on the 25 January 2003. Monday to Saturday Showtime 7.00pm Saturday Matinee Showtime 3.00pm *Adult $19.95 *Children (4 to 14 yrs) $9.95 *Family $54.00 Limited season only, reserve your seats now for MYSTERIUM The Mystery Has Begun...A show not to be missed! BOOKING ESSENTIAL - CALL (07) 5579 4442 MERCURE RESORT 122 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise Qld 4217 Australia ---------------------------------- 13. Passing Of Mireya Montejo ---------------------------------- Message from Maria Ibanez It is with a heavy heart that I report on the passing of Mireya Montejo, wife of colleague and long time friend Alberto. She had battled lupus and cancer which was spreading and invading at a rapid pace. Our prayers go out to the family and my personal condolences, love and prayers to my mentor, Montejo. ---------------------------------- 14. News from Conjuring Lights ---------------------------------- Photographs Of 90 Of The Greatest Names In Conjuring History For Less Than $200 A century ago a double leaf sheet of photographs of 58 'bright lights' of conjuring was printed. It was issued by a collector of magic rarities, Leo Rullman, as a limited edition, for performers and collectors, for their dens. Now, Conjuring Lights has updated this century-old classic, with a new landmark edition. With individually selected portraits of 90 'conjuring lights' from the earliest days of conjuring, through magic's "Golden Age", and the mid-20th century. Retaining the essence of the form and format established a century ago. This print is archival quality, and includes many of the most famous magicians in history. The announcement of this new Limited Edition is being made in this month's MAGIC Magazine. It has been in the works for quite a while, and also responds to inquiries from performers and collectors of magic, who wanted to obtain a Conjuring Lights limited edition, but wondered if they could obtain an historical panorama of images of famous historic magicians at a highly affordable price. The print is being produced in a limited edition of only 430 prints for public issue, on a special canvas fabric. [A Special Edition of 15 prints on silver metallic foil is also being produced for public issue]. It is available at www.ConjuringLights.com?n. Magicians included in this Limited Edition print include: Manfre Blaise . Cagliostro . Pinetti . Bosco . Phillippe . Robert-Houdin . John Anderson . Johann Hofzinser Signor Blitz . Ira Davenport . William Davenport . Compars Herrmann . Alexander Herrmann . Adelaide Herrmann . Robert Heller . Professor Hoffman . Harry Kellar . Charles Bertram . J. Nevil Maskelyne . Imro Fox, Servais LeRoy . Mercedes Talma . Buatier de Kolta . David Devant . Nevil Maskelyne . Frederick Powell . Louis Nikola . D r. A. M. Wilson . Carl Willmann . Janos Bartl . Ching Ling Foo . Chung Ling Soo . Horace Goldin . Will Goldston . P.T. Selbit . Frank Ducrot . Harry Rouclere . T. Nelson Downs . Conradi . Clinton Burgess . Ottokar Fischer . August Roterberg . David Leendert Bamberg . David "Papa" Bamberg . Theo "Okito" Bamberg . David "Fu Manchu" Bamberg . Jean Hugard . John Northern Hilliard . Si Stebbins . Max Malini . Nate Leipzig . Charles Carter . Leon . Harry Houdini . Howard Thurston . Cardini . Silent Mora . Hardeen . Edwin Brush . Maurice Raymond . Harry Blackstone . Floyd Thayer . Carl Owen . Percy Abbott . John Petrie . Max Holden . Lou Tannen . LaFollette . Burling Hull . Robert Nelson . Will Rock . Karl Germain . Dante . Birch . Richiardi Jr. . Al Flosso . Stewart James . Tommy Windsor . Eddie Joseph . Al Baker . Theo Annemann . Joseph Dunninger . John Scarne . Walter Gibson . Harlan Tarbell . Dai Vernon . John Mulholland . Milbourne Christopher . www.ConjuringLights.com ---------------------------------- 15. Re: Magic For Children In Hospitals ---------------------------------- Message from Geoff Williams For about 6 years now, I have been performing close-up magic as a volunteer in the Pediatric Ward of a local hospital on Sunday afternoons. I feel the tricks should be visual with lots of interaction. Some of the tricks I perform: Card Warp, Torn & Restored Card, sponge balls, Eraser Coin, ring & string, jumbo coins and almost every other type of trick except those that are dangerous, flammable, etc. Keep it light, funny and don't spare the jokes. As giveaways, I use "Fortune Telling Fish" (with an unbelievably-spellbinding story accompanying it), "Snappers", large rubber eyeballs ("when the nurse comes in, tell her it fell out accidentally"), colorful rubber bands (I teach them the old "Jumping Band" trick) and, for those who can read, a printout of a customized version of Jim Steinmeyer's "Remote Control" card trick which appeared in Genii several years ago. It can even be done over the phone. I encourage them to call their friends and try it out on them (which gives them something to do and helps them to take their minds off of whatever hospitalization issue they're experiencing). I even have a "Happy Birthday" version of it, too. Drop me a line at gwilliams@firsttech.com and I'll e-mail them to you to use however you like. Performing for hospitalized children is very fulfilling and a great way to practice new material. Also, your "audience" is often connected to a variety of medical equipment and/or under sedation/medication which means they won't be overly mischief making mad-grabs for unguarded props. With the lighting being indirect and subdued (PERFECT for invisible thread work and black art - right, Don?) and considering how starved for entertainment and company these kids can be, it would be difficult to find more accommodating close-up performance conditions. --------------------------------- 16. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga – Page 136 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) DEREK METZGER “The Biggest Talent and The Littlest Ego” So wrote one very respected actress about Derek! I wholeheartedly agree with her sentiments! Derek is one of the quietest, most unassuming men I know, who is very modest about his achievements. Case in point; the other week I was on the telephone to Sally (his wife) and Derek in Sydney Australia, having a very extended chat, and Sally was telling me about an award that Derek had been nominated for in Australia when, down the line came this cry of anguish and embarrassment as Derek, listening in on the extension, howled – “Awwww, SALLY”!!! I’m quite sure that if we’d both had a videophone set up, the screen would have gone a lovely shade of - ‘Blush’! Derek was born in Invercargill, New Zealand in 1962 but spent most of his early years in Dunedin, the economic and cultural capital of the South Island. Dunedin lies in Otago harbour, a natural harbour reaching far inland, surrounded by hills and mountains. Dun Edin is the Gaelic name for Edinburgh: the name is a reminder that the city was founded by Scottish immigrants, who originally thought of calling it: New Edinburgh . It is amazing that Derek doesn’t roll his ‘R’s, the custom of Dunedin - ites! He first came to national attention when he won a television talent quest called ‘The Entertainers’; unfortunately Derek, only 15 years old, was too young to take the major part of the prize, which was representing New Zealand at the Asian Song Festival. So the following year, when another contest: ‘The Singer For Asia’ was run on television, again looking for a representative from New Zealand, he entered, and won! This time as the winner, and being the ‘Ripe Old Age Of 16’ (old enough to go), he went to Hong Kong, and was the runner-up. After that, Derek appeared on every light entertainment TV show in N.Z., and was asked to join Howard Morrison and Co., to tour the U. S. A., representing the New Zealand governments’ tourism drive. Sir Howard (as he is now) was the leader of New Zealand's most famous Quartet during the late Fifties and Early Sixties – ‘The Howard Morrison Quartet’. They disbanded around the 1965/66. I am holding in my hands a record album that was recorded live at the Christchurch town hall, on the 17th August, 1975. It is entitled: ‘The Howard Morrison Quartet - Return of a legend’. The occasion was to celebrate Howard Morrison's 40th birthday and 20 years in show business. There are two cover notes on the back cover, one is written by John Berry, who was, for more years than I care remember, the Entertainment Columnist for the New Zealand Herald. This is what he wrote in the first paragraph. Quote: “In an industry like Show Business in which wildly exaggerated claims abound, it is difficult to express in simple terms the unique place the Howard Morrison Quartet held in New Zealand Entertainment. Certainly, it would not be possible to exaggerate the strength of their drawing power or the public impact they achieved” Unquote. It came as a shock when I realised that Howard turned 67 in August of this year, 2002. I first worked with the ‘Boys’ at the Xmas/New Year concerts of 1960/61 at the Mount Maunganui Soundshell, performing hypnotism. I was just ‘sweet’ ahem, 17yrs of age! After that ‘little’ interlude, it's back to Derek. When he returned to New Zealand from the U. S A., he was given his own one-hour TV special called: ‘Derek and Friends’. By this time, not surprisingly, he was a household name and a move up to Auckland city, the hub of N.Z. entertainment, was inevitable. Derek was 18 years old, and the year was 1980 when he arrived at the Auckland airport, where he was met by Sally Phillips, who was working for ‘Fullers Entertainment Bureau’. Little did he know that he had just met his future wife, and that six years later, they would be married in London, England! With Lew Pryme as his personal manager, Derek became part of the ‘Fullers Family’, which included a select group of other well-known performers at the time. One of them was female vocalist, Tina Cross. She and Derek performed a duet at the Pacific Song Contest in Canada, where they won the ‘Outstanding Performance Award’. Derek was also voted ‘N.Z.’s Rising Star’ by N E O A ( New Zealand Entertainment Operator's Association) in the same year – 1980; a busy year for a young chap with a wonderful voice, who was starting to climb his way up the ladder of international success.  -CONTINUES - ------------------------------------- 17. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives ------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand 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: magic Password: kiwi When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. ------------------------------------- 18. 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 Magic New Zealand e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Magic New Zealand e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors and not those of Magic New Zealand. Neither Magic New Zealand or Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand e-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree that they will not hold Magic New Zealand 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 Magic New Zealand for potential publication. Magic New Zealand 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 Magic New Zealand 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 Magic New Zealand. 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