* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #180 Date: Sunday 15th June Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com www.alan-watson.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor’s Message 2. I Just Talked To Ali Bongo 3. Paul Daniels’ Bookings 4. They Had To Be Cut Out Of The Car 5. Ali Bongo and Jack Delvin - From Michael Bailey 6. SEAM 2003 Convention 7. 14 Months Aboard Different Cruise Ships 8. June 11, 2003 - Magic Road Trip - The Travel Channel 9. MAGFI's - Philippines 10. I Will Be In Paris Aug 26 & 27 11. The Utterly Fantastic Gay Blackstone 12. Help Needed In Obtaining Troublewits 13. Marketing Your New Illusion - Walter Zaney Blaney 14. Fast Jimmy Appeared On Channel Nines Y? Show 15. West Coast Magic Convention – Review 16. WWW.MARTINKA.COM Auction IX Begins June 16th 17. The Crooked Deck By Peter Marucci 18. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Vol. Two - The Australian Years     Magic New Zealand 19. e-zine archives 20. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Have been asked many times - Is there going to be a National Australian Convention in Melbourne next year? ------------------------------------- Re: Paul and Debbie Daniels house flood incident I have had a number of messages asking for an update. Paul tells me that they are currently still living like Hansel and Gretel in a Norwegian style log cabin. Planning approval has been given by the Environmental Agency and now await council permission to pull the house down and rebuild, higher, on the same site. ------------------------------------- Message from Peter Reveen along with Coral have been in a recent car accident : I'm glad that Ali is OK. It has been a bad season for magicians in cars. Coral and I were rammed from behind by a drugged out, stoned teenager, while we were stopped awaiting a light change. He was estimated to be driving at 60 MPH. His car was totaled. We were, luckily for us, in my Toyota Land cruiser. Its heavy steel frame absorbed the force of the impact. We are being treated by a Physiotherapist three times a week. ----------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. I Just Talked To Ali Bongo ---------------------------------- Message from Paul Daniels (UK) I just talked to Ali Bongo who sounded cheerful as always. He suffered a bust nose which will leave him with a small scar which he says his glasses will cover. That also gave him two black eyes so for a few days now he has looked like a panda. Jack has a dodgy shoulder but they were both very lucky having been side swiped by a truck. They did have to be cut out and that seemed to upset Ali the most because it ruined his suit! Best Wishes, Paul Daniels ------------------------------------ 3. Paul Daniels’ Bookings ------------------------------------- Message from Paul Daniels (UK) Visit www.pauldanielsmagicshop.com and www.timreedmagic.com These are public dates only and do not include the private bookings of Paul Daniels June 11 Leeds City Varieties Theatre 12 Williatt Centre, Potters Bar 14 Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay 15 Royal Hippodrome, Eastbourne 18 BBC West Midlands will phone to interview both of us at 10pm 19 Master Class for Magic Club of Great Britain 21 Carmarthen. This is a show for the town's Magical Festival. May be sold out. 22 RNLI show in Wargrave. Sold out in 1 hour! July 05 Palace Theatre, Southend 06 Bedford Corn Exchange, which is a theatre! 13 With Joe Brown on Radio Berkshire 1045 20 Portico Theatre, Shanklin, IoW. This is a 'replacement' booking from when I collapsed last time. If you can, spread the word as publicity is 'low' on the island. 27 Worthing Pavilion Theatre 31 Exmouth Pavilion Theatre August For the whole of August Paul will be performing at the Edinburgh Festival. His shows are really easy to find. If you look up at the Castle there is a large church with a spire standing below it. This is St. Cuthbert's, converted for the Festival into a theatrical venue with lots of free shows and coffee and all that jazz every day. Paul will be appearing there with his own show every night except Sundays in the main church at 8 pm. After that he will be appearing in the Lindisfarne Hall, which is in the same building both performing and talking about the life and magic of Max Malini. As the Fringe Committee forgot to print the advertisement in their programme/brochure please help to spread the word about this venue and its shows. September 01-14 Cruising and doing shows on the Oceana October 11 Haven at Bembridge, I o W 13-24 Fly to Vigo to join Oriana and cruise and do shows 31 DEBBIE'S BIRTHDAY November 04 Leeds Football Club Dinner 15 Warner at Home Lacey, Hereford 21 Newcastle Magic Circle dinner ---------------------------------- 4. They Had To Be Cut Out Of The Car ---------------------------------- Message from Peter Scarlett (UK) Just to let you know that I have just returned from The Magic Circle HQ where I saw Ali Bongo and I am pleased to report that he was in good form, and not suffering too much from the after effects of his accident. All the media reported that 'Ali and his passenger' were severely injured - and to correct their usual misrepresentation of facts Ali was the passenger because as many of you will know he doesn't drive. His driver was Jack Delvin and they had to be cut out of the car. They were both badly bruised and shaken up, and Ali's nose was broken but all now seems to be on the mend. ---------------------------------- 5. Ali Bongo and Jack Delvin - From Michael Bailey ---------------------------------- Message from Michael Bailey - President The Magic Circle Ali Bongo and Jack Delvin (who was driving the car at the time) are fine after having had a serious accident in which they both had to be cut out of the car after it was hit by a lorry. Ali suffered a hit nose and two black eyes, whilst Jack has a sprained ligament in his leg and a very painful shoulder. They are really very cheerful AND consider that they were lucky to escape with comparatively light injuries. Both are likely to be present tonight at our Club meeting. ---------------------------------- 6. SEAM 2003 Convention ---------------------------------- Message from Charlie Fenn We Have A Hot Time Planned This Year In Chattanooga, Tn At The Historic Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn - SEPTEMBER 18, 19, 20 2003. Gorgeous Theater and tiered lecture rooms. 8 lectures, stage and close up contests, dealers' room, 3 stage shows (2 public shows) 2 close up shows. Featured acts: Alan Ackerman, Harry Allen, Abb Dickson, BJ Harris, Michael P. Lair, Joe Lefler, Vito Lupo, John Measner, Tom Vorjohan and more. Hosted this year by Chattanooga Magic Club, IBM Ring 112. Excellent prices, great room rates, fantastic restaurants and you get to see the real , historic Chattanooga Choo Choo. The Hotel is in the Old Pennsylvania Station and is an absolute GAS!! Lots of SAM members will be in attendance and you can meet me, too (what a thrill). You can contact me or even better, go to the convention website for all the latest information. www.seam2003.org. You'll love the choo choo logo we've created. See you there!! Charlie Fenn ---------------------------------- 7. 14 Months Aboard Different Cruise Ships ---------------------------------- Message from Joshua Lee (Aust) After a total of 14 months performing aboard different cruise ships, Duck Cameron is currently back in his home of Melbourne, Australia for a short duration. During the month of June he is accepting bookings locally. Already confirmed this month is a private function for Glen Wheatley (one of Australia's most successful entertainment managers), a performance at ONE SIX ONE'S 4th. Birthday Celebration (Melbourne's most exclusive Nightclub) and a performance on the 15th celebrating (Australian recording star) John Farnham's last concert of his national tour. This invitation only event is being talked as the most important A-list party of this year in Australia. Duck was lucky enough to be asked to perform along with Kate Cebrano & Human Nature at Mr.Farnham's 50th Birthday Party, so to be included again at this event is a great honour. Duck is also organising a lecture in Melbourne some time in July. Date to be confirmed soon. Joshua Lee. Publicist. joshua@duckmagic.com ---------------------------------- 8. June 11, 2003 - Magic Road Trip - The Travel Channel ---------------------------------- Message from Wayne Bernath, Director of Publicity for Lance Burton Viewers Will Be Spellbound With The Travel Channel’s Magic Road Trip -- June 12 and 19 premiere episodes feature the magical wizardry of Penn & Teller, Lance Burton and Franz Harary, among others -- Forget pulling rabbits out of hats, hocus pocus and abracadabra! This month, the Travel Channel circles the globe in search of the world’s truly amazing magic acts with MAGIC ROAD TRIP. These two one-hour programs travel to the hottest shows in Las Vegas, Nevada, where magic legends Penn & Teller and Lance Burton reveal some of their closely-guarded secrets. The programs also travel to the Harry Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where Houdini’s most famous escapes are recreated; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for a display of 19th century Civil War magic; and London, England, where Harry Potter fans will get their fix at the Magic Circle where magicians have been conjuring up spells since 1905. Airing as part of the networks’ recently launched genre-based travel series, Road Trip, MAGIC ROAD TRIP debuts two new episodes on Thursday, June 12 and 19 from 10- 11 PM (ET/PT). Hosted by Christopher Knight (“Peter” from The Brady Bunch), MAGIC ROAD TRIP is sure to delight magic mavens and skeptics alike. Here’s a look at what’s in store this month: MAGIC ROAD TRIP – EPISODE 1 premieres Thursday, June 12 from 10-11 PM (ET/PT) First stop is the Rio hotel in Las Vegas where magicians Penn & Teller reveal how they use misdirection in their act. The program then showcases the world’s largest card shuffle act, with each card weighing 27 pounds! Next, master illusionist Franz Harary travels to Hawaii where he makes an SR-71 Black Bird plane disappear before moving on to India where he makes the Taj Mahal literally vanish. Crossing the pond to merry ol’ England, the land of Harry Potter, cameras enter a private club, known as The Magic Circle, that is open to the public only once a month for a special show and a viewing of the museum’s amazing collection of magic artifacts. In Plymouth, Massachusetts, a husband and wife team of illusionists known as The – more - 2-2-2 Pendragons use physicality in their acts, allowing them to do daring tricks that other magicians would never dream of undertaking, such as being impaled by a sword. Finally, the program visits the Big Apple where Monday Night Magic, New York’s longest running magic show, uses wit and humor in acts that continue to leave audiences in disbelief. MAGIC ROAD TRIP – EPISODE 2 premieres Thursday, June 19 from 10-11 PM (ET/PT) Las Vegas-based master illusionist Lance Burton kicks off this episode with a death-defying stunt as he chains himself to the tracks of a roller coaster and narrowly escapes being flattened. Next, it’s off to Hollywood where street magicians dumbfound crowds with their telepathic skills. Then it’s back to Vegas for a visit to Harrah’s Hotel and Casino to see the wacky world of Mac King, who incorporates mirth into his magic. The program then steps back in time to visit Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Joe Kerrigan demonstrates magic inspired from the Civil War era, such as the cabalistic clock. Kerrigan explains that the only difference between magic of the 1860’s and the magic of today is the incorporation of electronics and special effects. The final stop is the Harry Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, which houses artifacts such as the giant milk can from which Houdini escaped in 1895 after being submersed underwater, and books about handcuffing secrets which were used by American soldiers in World War I to outwit the Germans. The Travel Channel launched the ROAD TRIP series in late March, mapping out an entire season of memorable, globe-hopping, nostalgic tours tailored especially for TV fans, movie buffs, sports enthusiasts, magic mavens, ghost busters, theme park aficionados and much more. No ordinary by-the-book tours, these genre-specific journeys are populated by a mix of unforgettable personalities who breathe life into each destination. ROAD TRIP is produced for Travel Channel by Nash Entertainment Productions. Executive Producer is Bruce Nash. Andrew Jebb is Supervising Producer, and Matt Harris is Producer. Kathleen Cromley is Executive Producer for the Travel Channel. Travel Channel is the only television network devoted exclusively to travel entertainment. Capturing the fascination, freedom and fun of travel, Travel Channel delivers insightful stories from the world's most popular destinations and inspiring diversions. It is available in more than 70 million homes and is a service of Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc. Visit Travel Channel on the Web at www.Discovery.com. ### To access images of MAGIC ROAD TRIP, go to the Discovery Networks press website, www.press.discovery.com Log in. Click on the United States. Click on Travel Channel. Click on Photography and Artwork. Then scroll down to “R” for ROAD TRIP ---------------------------------- 9. MAGFI's - Philippines ---------------------------------- Message from Ronaldo B. Moraleta (Philippines) The Magicians' Foundation, Inc. or I.B.M. Ring 322's website has a new web address : www.magfi.com.ph MAGFI at the Kiddie Karnival, EDSA Shangrila Hotel on June 29, 2003 ( 1:00 - 1:30 P.M. - Show Time, but some members will be there the whole day ) 2nd Qualifying Round, Open Stage Magic Competition at 4th Flr Rotary Center, Roces Avenue, Corner Mother Ignacia Avenue, Q.C. on June 30, 2003 at 8:00PM. Tentative Schedules: MAGFI at Sanbyaku Bar, Pasay Road, Makati every Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11:00 P.M. for the month of July. MAGFI's 3rd Annual Open Stage Magic Competition at Abelardo Hall Auditorium, UP Diliman, Q.C. on September 26, 2003 at 8:00 P.M. ---------------------------------- 10. I Will Be In Paris Aug 26 & 27 ---------------------------------- Message from Barry Manley I will be in Paris Aug 26 & 27 and would like to go by G. Prousts' magic shop could someone help with directions? Thanx Barry Manley bandpm@comcast.net ---------------------------------- 11. The Utterly Fantastic Gay Blackstone ---------------------------------- Message from Don Drake (US) Having read the article in Linking Ring on Gay Blackstone, I would just like to make a few comments. First of all I was blown away, with all that this wonderful lady has done! Gay is the kind of person who makes me realize how little I've actually accomplished in life. I was totally amazed at the accomplishments of this wonderful lady, whom I have met on several occasions, but didn't really know. She has a degree in physics, she does special effects for superstars, she writes books, she's a consummate actress and she has produced literally some of the most amazing shows I've ever seen or heard of on TV. What a wonderful background. She was in the original Howdy-Doody Peanut Gallery, she was one of Dean Martin's Gold Diggers, and the list just goes on and on. I must confess that whenever I had met Harry in the past, I never realized that Gay was such a fantastic star in her own right. Of course I always liked and respected her, but I didn't realize just how fantastically talented she was. And I should have known more background on her many talents, as I've known Harry since we were little kids, although we were out of touch for a good many decades. This just brings me to the point that I'm trying to make: When we male magicians look at the wife or partner of a performing male magician, we tend to over-look the other half of the act, more than we should. The wonderful ladies that we refer to as "box-jumpers" should not be called that, and should be regarded with the same awe and respect that we give their male partners. Also I'd like to compliment the lady that wrote the article, Anne Robards! I've rarely seen such great journalism. Magic has been male-dominated far too long, for my taste, and I for one will be seeing the women's part in magic with new eyes. Thank you Gay Blackstone and Anne Robards, for opening my eyes, and improving my vision. I wish you the success you so richly deserve. I hope to see you at SAM at the Riviera. Yours in Black Art magic, DONDRAKE ---------------------------------- 12. Help Needed In Obtaining Troublewits ---------------------------------- Message from Bill Smith (US) Enjoy your newsletter and thought I would drop you a note to see if you might be able to help me out in obtaining Troublewits that are made in N.Z. It has been a vital part of my act for many years (20 or 30) and now I understand that the gentleman over there is no longer making them. I recently obtained 2 from a dealer (won't mention his name) that said he got them from England, but they are about an inch shorter and much harder to work with. If you know of anyone who has the ones that were made over there, it would be appreciated if you would put me in touch. I would purchase a few from them. Thank you. W. J. Smith (Bill) advbill2@netins.net W. J. Smith P. O. Box 3 301 Quince Ave. New Providence, IA 50206 Ph or Fax 641-497-5474 http://showcase.netins.net/web/bksadv/ ---------------------------------- 13. Marketing Your New Illusion - Walter Zaney Blaney ---------------------------------- Message from Walter Zaney Blaney - President Emeritus, WAM To Jim Hathy Dear Jim: You wrote in a recent SAM Talk that you have an idea for a new stage illusion. Congratulations. I know the exhilarating feeling you have when you invent something new. You asked the best way one could go about marketing your illusion. You suggested maybe featuring your new illusion in a magic magazine, possibly in a one man parade. Chances are the pirates out there will quickly consider it to be public domain, and take your idea before you can blink twice. Going back to when Jim Steinmeyer invented Origami, I remember he made a deal with Johnny Gaughan to make the first model. Jim is not a performer or a magic builder, but instead is one of the all time great magic illusion inventors. The actual builder, Johnny Gaughan in this case, and the inventor must spend a great deal of time, money and effort to build and oversee the first working model. It is then usually rebuilt and improved, maybe over several models, till finally it is perfected. Then it must be advertised in the magic magazines, and this establishes the date of its invention and introduction. I remember Steinmeyer and Gaughan including in their ads the caveat that this is still Steinmeyer's trade secret, and that Gaughan has the exclusive rights to build it. It was something like $8500 total, $7000 to build it, and a $1500 royalty fee collected for Steinmeyer. This was made 100% clear to everyone. I remember when I first saw this wonderful illusion I was fooled by it, and I loved to be fooled. Origami immediately became a best seller. Steinmeyer gets his deserved royalty for each prop sold, just the one time per each prop produced. The magician-performer who purchased Origami then goes on to use the illusion over and over for many, many years to come, making profit from it each night. But shortly after Origami became popular the pirates began building cheaper models, poorly made, and sold them without permission all over the world with absolutely no thought of compensation for Jim Steinmeyer's and Johnny Gaughan's long work and effort in its creation. The rip-off guys needed no inspiration, had no research or development or promotion costs. They just "stole" (yes, this is the correct term to use) someone else's work out from under them, and to hell with the poor inventors. The rip-off builders then get dealers to sell the rip-offs all over the world. They are usually smart enough to not advertise the rip-offs in the magazine ads, but rather tout customers to see their catalog on their websites. And there you see color photos of the illusions that appear to be almost exactly like the original legitimate illusions. Magicians see this and figure they are getting a bargain, at often less than half the price. Often the illusion does not even work, half the secret is not even built into the prop, and the customers want their money back. Ah, but no one gets their money back on a rip-off prop. So the buyer ends up getting ripped-off himself. The inventor and the magic builder who has the permission to build the illusion both lose. The buyers of the rip-offs lose. And only the rip-off builder and dealer make the undeserved profit. The World Alliance of Magicians (WAM) has spent a lot of work the past few years on trying to thwart the flagrant selling of rip-offs. The best method seems to be in refusing magazine ads from those dealers who handle these rip-offs. WAM has just spent a good bit of money to get a legal ruling from a top "intellectual property" law firm in the USA. The ruling simply says a magazine or magic society can individually make a decision on its own (not in concert, or banding together with others) to refuse ads from those who break our code of ethics. If such a dealer complains, he can agree to drop his handling of rip-off props, as per our stated Code of Ethics. He then would have the privilege of advertising again in that magazine. One other point... WAM and other magic societies are at work on a "Magic Inventors Database". This will be available for posting on the websites of WAM, IBM, SAM, Magic Castle, Magic Circle, or anyone who wishes to do so. It will list the name of a new illusion, its inventor, a photo, a brief description, its history and dates of the invention, the first advertisement, the first public showing. This database will be like a recorded history of illusions (and later the smaller magic tricks as well). It will make it easier for magazine editors to determine who has the rights to an illusion or trick. Magicians contemplating where they wish to buy a new illusion...from the inventor, or from a rip-off builder, can be more fully informed in their decision. It's really a pretty simple plan. It has taken, and will continue to take, a great deal of work to get the plan into action. Stay tuned. There are many wonderful and honest magicians out there who want to do the right thing. They have seen a need for this for a long, long time. Of course there will always be a handful who will work against honest magic. If the plan succeeds, there will be increased incentive for those who are capable of inventing the next great illusion. Maybe it will be you, Jim. I wish you the best of success. Walter Walter Zaney Blaney President Emeritus, WAM zblaney@aol.com ---------------------------------- 14. Fast Jimmy Appeared On Channel Nines Y? Show ---------------------------------- Message from Fast Jimmy (Aust) Australian magician Fast Jimmy appeared on channel nines Y? Show on the 12th of June performing a bill switch with a borrowed signed 20 dollar note changing it into a 5 dollar note. The signed 20 dollar note was then produced from inside a sealed packet of chips. ---------------------------------- 15. West Coast Magic Convention – Review ---------------------------------- Message from Michel Fouche (Aust) The West Coast Magic Convention was held in Perth last weekend, and it was a great success. The three overseas guests were Whit Haydn, Paul Green and Eugene Burger. Added to these wonderful magicians, were Patrick and Melissa McCullough, Phil Cass, Dean Atkinson, James Sleight and balloon artist Narelle Fouche. That made eight great lectures on magic and a full days worth of basic and advanced balloon twisting. With small numbers attending, there was plenty of time for conventioneers to talk to and learn from the guests outside of lectures as well. Competitions were held in Stage, Close-up, Strolling, and Children's magic. With the exception of the Stage competition all had a good size field of contestants. It bodes well for the future of magic, that all the winners were under 25. Of course we couldn't bring such a great line-up of guests to a convention without having them perform. In Perth this year there were in fact two shows. The first was the close-up show held on Saturday night. With Whit Haydn, Paul Green and Eugene Burger, it felt like a night at the Magic Castle. It really was a great show. The second of the shows was open to the public. It was the Gala Show "International Stars of Magic" held at the Regal Theatre. Although the show was not sold out, there certainly was a good turn out. The line-up was James Sleight, Sean Taylor, Whit Haydn, Ola, Eugene Burger and Phil Cass. The M.C. for the show was Steve Walker. With a line-up like that you can imagine there were laughs and gasps the whole way through the show. Hopefully, in conjunction with the TV coverage the convention received, the show will have lifted the profile of magic in Perth. Finally, for a small convention the turnout of dealers was just amazing. Conventioneers really were spoiled for choice. Let's hope we can reward the dealer’s efforts, by continuing to order our magic locally, rather than going overseas. All up a great convention. ---------------------------------- 16. WWW.MARTINKA.COM Auction IX Begins June 16th ---------------------------------- Message from Ted Bogusta The next martinka.com auction will be online from June 16th - 22nd. The Auction will include a wide range of material which will be of interest to both collectors and performing magicians. There will be posters from Kellar, Okito, Deli Martell (with Alexander), Helman, Dell O'Dell and others. Other rare items include a very interesting copy of Jarrett's Magic and a Thurston surprise. Vintage apparatus from P&L, Thayer, Martinka, Merv Taylor and Anverdi to name a few. Also dozens of vintage and modern books. Old and New Videos and DVDs at bargain prices. Many items will be sold without reserve. The items will be available for viewing and bidding beginning Monday June 16th by visiting: www.martinka.com/auction. To bid and receive updates, please register if you have not already by visiting: www.martinka.com/auction. Martinka & Co., Inc. has been buying and selling vintage magic for over 100 years and was once owned by Houdini. The company is now accepting consignments for their next magic auction, if you have items that you would like included, please contact Ted at: magic@martinka.com. ---------------------------------- 17. The Crooked Deck By Peter Marucci ---------------------------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) showtimecol@aol.com There are card tricks and there are tricks with cards -- and there's a big difference between the two. Card tricks usually involve finding a selected card and, after one or two times, boring the audience. Tricks with cards, on the other hand, involve using the cards as implements, tools that make up part of a story or plot line. Now, before all the cardicians and finger-flingers start writing nasty letters, let me point out that I do the occasional card trick in my close-up routine and across the bar. But the word here is "occasional." There are four -- and only four -- that have stood me in good stead over the many years: The Ambitious Card (with a story line about my Uncle Linguini joining the circus), Elementary, My Dear Watson (a card sandwich with a Sherlock Holmes theme), Name The Magician (a comedy routine where the magician apparently fails several times) and the following: THE CROOKED DECK By Peter Marucci Effect: The magician takes out a deck of cards and says that he wouldn't insult his audience by using trick cards or what they might call "a crooked deck." He then shows the cards and does a double-take -- the deck is, in fact, crooked, with a double bend in it and the faces and back printed in a crooked fashion to follow the shape of the deck. Nevertheless, the magician perseveres; the deck is shuffled and then cut by a spectator who freely selects a card. The magus instantly tells her the name of her card. This is repeated once. The third and last time, a card is selected and the magus turns his back -- "so you'll know I'm not using marked cards and looking at the back of your selection" -- and again instantly reveals the chosen card. Working: You will, of course, need a Crooked Deck. Your favorite magic dealer may be able to supply you or you may find one in a novelty shop. The deck is distributed by U.S. Games Systems Inc. of Stamford, CT, 06902. The deck is stacked in a Sty Stebbins set-up, although you may want to use some other system. The Stebbins one simply works best for me. (For those unfamiliar with the set-up, it is as follows: The cards are arranged in suits using the CHaSeD system -- that is, a Club, followed by a Heart, then a Spade and finally a Diamond. The first card, for example the Ace of Clubs, is followed by a Heart -- the 4 of Hearts in this set-up. Each card is three higher than the one before it and all follow the CHaSeD system. Done correctly, if the first face-down card in the stacked deck is the Ace of Clubs, then the bottom card of the deck will be the Jack of Diamonds.) The cards are false shuffled and then given to a spectator to make one or more single cuts. This will not affect the cyclical order of the deck. If you want to get really fancy, you can use a Charlier Shuffle, which is really an elaborate way of giving the deck a single cut. After that, it's just a case of the spectator taking a card, you breaking the deck at that point and putting the top section on the bottom, and then you get a peek of the bottom card. The chosen card will be three higher in number and one suit along in the CHaSeD system. For example, if you peek at the 9 of Spades, you know the chosen card is the Queen of Diamonds. Second Thoughts: This is really just a "pick a card and I'll find it" routine, although it's dressed up to the point where audiences won't recognize it as such. The whole thing is presentation -- and it's set up right from the start with the appearance of the Crooked Deck, which should get a laugh on its own (either that or you should get into another line of work). If you can't find the Crooked Deck, you can use the more common Round Deck, with the line: "I don't use any kind of trick cards. I use a square deck," and then display the round deck. Once you've got their attention with the odd deck, the pace should be fairly fast-paced. The first two cards are revealed with you facing the audience; the third card is done with your back to the audience, "to make it harder." In fact, it makes it easier for you to get a peek at the bottom card. And PLEASE! don't do more than three choices; you're out there to entertain your audience members, not bore them to death. After you've done it three times, they believe you can do it and you don't have to prove it again and again. If someone wants to look at the cards when you are finished, give the deck a quick shuffle to destroy the set-up, although it's unlikely they would spot it in any case. But most of all, remember the whole point of this is presentation, showmanship and entertainment. It can be done close up, in a club act, or even on a stage. And it can be done as straight comedy or comedy-mentalism. All you need is a deck of cards (simple) and the ability to really sell the trick (not so simple). Peter Marucci 270 St. Andrew St. East Fergus, Ontario, Canada N1M 1R1 e-mail: showtimecol@aol.com ---------------------------------- 18. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Vol. Two - The Australian Years Magic New Zealand ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page - 11 Mike Walsh and producer David Price are sitting in Mike’s office. It's the only room in ‘The Cottage’, which actually looks like an office. It’s comfortable, but certainly not what you might expect from the man who is the host of Australia's most Networked TV show. The rest of the cottage is a happy fusing of a private dwelling, in a ‘nice’ suburban street in Artarmon and, a mad house! It seems to work well for all who work in it. A quick briefing on the day Show - segments on acupuncture, a man who says he can catch arrows in his hands, personalities... The phone rings, David takes the call. Mike finishes his coffee: white no sugar. Mike Williams is watching the first run-through with the orchestra. The singer stops while musical director Geoff Harvey makes a pencil mark on the arrangement and they start again from the top. The cameras try all angles. Director Brian Phyllis walks through the studio; on-camera wardrobe is checked for the cameras and lights. Sound level marked. In make-up, the girls open their little cases and turn on the monitor set by habit. “A well oiled machine…” the words of David Price. “Everyone knows his or her job. They are specialists. Good ones”! As Mike Williams returns from the studio, Sue is hunting down a visiting guest who has disappeared somewhere between ‘Hilton’ and the studios. It is 10.33a.m. As he walks past the switchboard, Rosa calls out to him: a call is waiting. The first of about 25, he will take in the next hour. Agents and artists are looking for dates. “The ones that are the hardest of all to handle are the mothers who think that ‘Little Johnny’, is going to be a star, it is always a question of evaluation. Of all the calls, 40 % are successful in their goal - to get a talent on the show. Coping with some calls takes effort, diplomacy - it is wearing”. In the past year, since the show moved to Channel 9 and Mike Williams became talent co-ordinator - as well as keeping his role of Production co-ordinator - he has settled in, and has seen his part as a member of the team assume broader perspectives. “ I am more involved now than ever. There is quite a lot of planning and discussion about the variety content”. At Channel 10, he was working for the station. Now he works for ‘Price Hayden Productions’, who package the show for Channel 9. He’s now one of the family. So are the journalists, researchers and assistants - all 12 or so permanent staff. Invariably after the show there is lunch. Its length depends on outside factors, but sometimes it grows into dinner as well. Mike slots in a young singer on his schedule board and glances at his watch. Time to get back to the studio, where he joins Mike Walsh in his dressing room. It is 28 minutes to midday. Mike Walsh is preparing, - Mike Williams cracks a gag. They laugh and somebody knocks, to pass Mike Williams a brief message. The two Mikes chat for another 15 minutes about the day’s show. Make-Up has just finished de-shining faces and balding heads, and touching up eyes and lips. The studio audience fills every seat. Mike Williams is clowning around – the ‘Warm-Up’, which precedes every show. Mike Walsh joins in. Geoff Harvey shouts across the floor. Camera crew come to a stop, and hands are poised for the ‘Count-Down’, as the control booth issues instructions to the floor. ONE MILLION HANDS REACH OUT TO TUNE INTO CHANNEL 9. THE 1324TH MIKE WALSH SHOW IS - LIVE ON AIR! The pressure changes intensity, but it won't burst until 1.30 E S T, about 20 guests later. Of these, at least two will be performers; two out of a staggering total of over 3600! Not all different, of course, except they are all different, if you see what I mean. “We try to get a balance in the variety programming. And do more and more attention is paid to the production of the entertainment segments”, comments Mike Williams. “We have a unique format – unique in the world”, adds Mike Walsh. “It is not like any other talk-show, it is informative and varied”, but as David Price points out, “There is no editorialising, just information and, Variety”. ------------------------------------- 19. 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) ------------------------------------- 20. 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