* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #202 Date: Sunday 5th October 2003 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. A White Tiger Mauled Superstar Illusionist Roy Horn 3. Horrific Attack Last Night 4. Jack Flosso" Just Passed Away 5. Jackie Flosso Has Passed Away - Details Follow 6. The Inner Circle Of Bizarre Magick 7. Shanghai International Magic Festival 8. The Second 'Escape' From The Asylum 9. "Las Vegas Magic Invitational" 2003! 10. Prize Winners At The Southport Convention 11. "The Out Of Work Magician Blues" 12. “The Bold And The Beautiful” 13. "World Festival Of Magic" 14. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga 15. e-zine archives 16. Subscription Management ------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Message from Jane Stuart The J. Marberger Stuart Foundation, home of the DRAGON Awards, wishes to join all other magicians around the world in sending Get well wishes and prayers to Roy Horn, injured in the line of duty. We also wish to extend our love and support to Siegfried. ------------------- Message from David Neubauer Latest news on Roy: Roy has been upgraded to serious but stable and the surgery that was done has been called "successful." ------------------- Message from Lupe Neilson Enclosed is the link to an article about Roy's accident on-stage. http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1469279&nav=168XILwD ------------------- Message from Delarno CNN.com - Roy of Siegfried and Roy critical after mauling - Oct. 4, 2003 http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/04/roy.attacked/ ---------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ----------------- 2. A White Tiger Mauled Superstar Illusionist Roy Horn ----------------- Message from David Neubauer (US) Tiger attacks Roy onstage Illusionist listed in critical condition after bite to neck. A white tiger mauled superstar illusionist Roy Horn during a Friday night performance of Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage, severely injuring the Strip performer. Horn, who turned 59 on Friday, got out of surgery shortly after 11:30 p.m. He was in critical condition at University Medical Center after suffering severe blood loss from a bite wound to the left side of his neck. "The full extent of his injuries will not be known for two or three days," MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said late Friday outside the hospital. Horn had just brought the tiger onstage during the 7:30 p.m. performance and told audience members it was making its first appearance in the show. Audience members said the tiger, a 7-year-old named Montecore who actually has performed in the show for years, refused a command to lie down and then clamped its jaws on Horn's right arm. The magician repeatedly struck the animal in the head with a microphone, the sound reverberating throughout the auditorium. The tiger then lunged at Horn, clamped its jaws around his neck and pulled him out of the audience's view, horrified tourists said after filing out of the show. "He started beating the tiger with his microphone, and the next thing I know, Siegfried is running across the stage yelling, `No, no, no!' “said Tony Cohen, a tourist from Miami who was about 10 yards from the stage.”Then this thing, this tiger, it just took him right off the stage." Emergency crews were dispatched to The Mirage at 8:21 p.m. Paramedics with Southwest Ambulance were on the scene of the attack by 8:25 p.m. Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach said paramedics found Horn suffering from severe blood loss and labored breathing. Paramedics worked to stop the bleeding as they loaded him into an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. "On the way, he was conscious, talking, and he had trouble breathing," Leinbach said. "He was talking about how his throat was bothering him." Paramedics met resistance when they attempted to insert a tube into Horn's throat to help him breathe. "They were trying to intubate him. He was fighting them, which is a good thing because that means he could breathe on his own," Leinbach said. By the time the ambulance arrived at the hospital, paramedics had stopped the massive bleeding and Horn was rushed into surgery. Horn's partner, Siegfried Fischbacher, 64, was among the friends who rushed to the hospital following the attack. Other Strip headliners also were present. The Scintas, the family of singers and impressionists who perform at the Rio, were informed of the attack as they came off stage Friday night. Frankie Scinta was outside the hospital shortly afterward awaiting word on Horn's condition. "Whenever you work with animals it's a risk," Scinta said outside the hospital late Friday. "It's an unfortunate mishap, but they will bounce back. They're royalty in Las Vegas." Magician Lance Burton, a mainstay at the Monte Carlo, also was at the hospital. "I saw Roy just last night at his birthday party. He was in a fantastic mood. You just hate for anything like this to happen to anyone. You just hope for the best," Burton said. Mirage officials reported that the incident happened about 45 minutes into the magicians' 7:30 p.m. show before 1,503 people. The show was the first of two 90-minute performances scheduled for Friday evening. Horn was alone on stage when he introduced Montecore. "This is his first time on stage," Horn said of the white tiger. Feldman, the spokesman for MGM Mirage, said the animal actually has been performing in the show since it was 6 months old. "It's just a line in the show. It's meant to be a bit of a joke," he said. The tiger refused Horn's command to lie down, audience members said, and appeared to take a playful pat at Horn, swinging a paw at the entertainer. "He lost the chain (around the tiger's neck) and grabbed for it, but couldn't get it," Cohen said. The tiger locked his jaws on Horn's right arm as Horn unsuccessfully struggled to free himself by striking the animal with the microphone. That's when the tiger lunged at Horn, clamping his jaws onto his neck. "There were a couple of gasps, and people thought it was part of the act, and then it was real quiet," said audience member Paul D'Antonio, who sat about 15 feet from the stage. The animal ran toward the side of the stage, dragging Horn from the view of most of the crowd. Horn appeared to be conscious. "It literally drug him by his neck off the stage like a rag doll," D'Antonio said. The stage curtains were thin, and people near the front of the showroom could hear muffled sounds. Some people backstage were yelling. A security guard and three men in black clothing ran across the stage to help. Many of those watching were confused as to whether what was unfolding onstage was a scripted part of the duo's nightly spectacle. "I thought it was part of the show," said Holger Droste, a tourist from Heidelberg, Germany, who attended with his wife. "The audience went quiet." About five minutes after the attack, Fischbacher came out to address the audience. "He said he was sorry, but they had to cancel the show," Droste said. "That's when I knew something was really wrong." Audience members said Fischbacher, who then walked from the stage, was visibly shaken by what was occurring. As lights came on and the crowd began filing out, women near the front of the showroom could be seen crying. Men and women comforted each other. "People were in shock. They were just shaking their heads," D'Antonio said. The attacking tiger, which was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and raised by a private breeder, was quarantined at The Mirage following the attack. All performances of the show have been canceled until further notice. Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke interviewed Horn over the phone about four hours before the incident. Clarke said Horn was still excited about marking his birthday with about 600 friends and fans Thursday night in the same theater where he was attacked Friday. During the interview, Horn said his advancing years did not bother him. "Old is not old to me. It is the spirit of the mind," Horn said. Horn recounted Siegfried and Roy's debut at the Tropicana in the 1960s. The only cat in the act, a cheetah, got spooked by the new surroundings and ran off the stage, landing on orchestra leader Ray Sinatra, whose toupee fell off. As Chico the Cheetah took refuge atop a piano, the audience went crazy. "That was our first standing ovation," Horn told Clarke. In a 2001 interview, Horn told Clarke that his successful breeding program of the exotic big cats "is my legacy back to Las Vegas. Our children won't have to ask some day, `What happened to the animals?' If anything, I'd like to be remembered as the man who gave back the magic white lions and white tigers." Bernie Yuman, the magicians' manager for 28 years, said there was nothing in Montecore's history suggesting it would be prone to an attack. But Yuman noted, "They are exotic animals." The German-born entertainers made their American debut in 1966 as a featured variety act in the Tropicana's "Folies Bergere." They received their first star billing in 1978, as the headliners of the Stardust's "Lido de Paris." Their show "Beyond Belief" opened in 1981 at the Frontier and played for an estimated 3,500 performances over seven years. Steve Wynn offered them a $57.5 million guarantee in 1990 to perform for five years at The Mirage. In February 2001, MGM Mirage gave the act a lifetime contract to perform at The Mirage. At the time, the pair spoke of having periodically considered breaking up. "Many times," Fischbacher acknowledged. One of the most serious incidents came in 1975. "MGM was going to split the act," he said. "Roy was going to MGM-Reno and I was going to stay here." But it fell through and the partnership remained intact. Review-Journal writer Michael Squires contributed to this report. ENTIRE ARTICLE COURTESY OF WWW.LVRJ.COM www.dnmagic.com ----------------- 3. Horrific Attack Last Night ----------------- Message from Steve Dacri (US) As of this morning, Roy remains in critical condition at University Medical Center here in Vegas after the horrific attack last night about 45 minutes into the first of two scheduled Siegfried & Roy performances at the Mirage. We have published details on www.magicwebchannel.com if you wish to read the full story. http://www.magicwebchannel.com Our prayers go out to Roy (and Siegfried) for a speedy recovery and their eventual return to the stage. ----------------- 4. "Jack Flosso" Just Passed Away ----------------- Message from Mike Bornstein I just would like you to know that "Jack Flosso" just passed away. He ran the magic store after his father died some years ago. Jack knew magicians from around the world and he had a terrific memory. He was able to discuss all phases of vaudeville and night club acts. Also the circus. Over the years he met many top performers through his father "Al Flosso. I saw him many times discussing show business with big people in the movie, TV, and the magic business. ----------------- 5. Jackie Flosso Has Passed Away - Details Follow ----------------- Message from Maria Ibanez (US) Jackie Flosso, the last owner of a little shop of magical wonders that was once partly owned by Houdini, died on Sunday at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan. He was 77. The cause was kidney and heart ailments and other problems, said Ted Bogusta, a friend who took over the business. Mr. Flosso came from a long line of magicians, and the stage name of his father, Albert Flosso, was the one Jackie always used, on and off stage. Their real surname was Levinson, which they never used. In December 2000, Jackie Flosso sold the store, Flosso-Hornmann Magic, to Mr. Bogusta, who promptly closed it and began offering its merchandise on the Internet. Until it closed, it was a messy Aladdin's cave of magical marvels from trick cards and ropes to a live lion that one owner, the magician Carter the Great, kept in the back room. It was also an atmospheric fraternity house where a visiting European magician, a superstar like David Copperfield and a curious teenager from Queens might rub elbows, ideas and magic wands. The younger and older Flossos held court on an old sofa, both making smart comments in an accent not unlike that of W.C. Fields. Over the years, they, former owners and generations of customers liked to say that the store was the oldest magic store in continuous operation in the world, but it was not. With its dust and cobwebs, it just looked it. Richard Cohn, a magician who has studied the history of magic shops, said the oldest-store honor goes to Mayette Magie Moderne in Paris. But Flosso-Hornmann may have been the oldest in the United States. In a catalog in 1918, Martinka & Company, the original name of Flosso-Hornmann Magic, already called itself the "Oldest Magic Supply House in America." It was surely the oldest in New York, and earned a special place in the history of magic in 1902, when the Society of American Magicians was formed there. It was opened in New York in 1872, but it took over other magic stores going back to the early 1850's. Orson Welles, Danny Kaye, Jackie Gleason, Johnny Carson and even David Rockefeller were among its patrons. "It's a magician's heaven on earth," the Great Virgil, once a famous magician, said. Jack Levinson was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 11, 1926. His maternal grandfather was Louis Krieger, known as Pops, a magician renowned for his mastery of the ancient cups-and-balls trick. His own father became Flosso because his mother's maiden name was Flosterstein. Albert Flosso's friend Milton Berle later christened him "the Coney Island Fakir" - fakir being a Muslim holy man and, hence, a figure of mystery. This became his title for nearly a half century, as he became the first magician to appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and once played eight shows in eight different locations on the same day. Houdini, who bought a partial interest in the store in 1919 and held it for several years, cuddled Jackie shortly after he was born and gave him a present, Mr. Bogusta said. Jackie learned how to read from billboards as his father traveled with a circus. Albert Flosso bought the store in 1939 from the magician Frank Ducrot. It was started by the brothers Francis and Antonio Martinka in Germany in the 1860's. They came to America and opened their new store in the Chelsea district of Manhattan in 1872, absorbing even older businesses. Albert Flosso's first innovation was to stop tidying up the place. He said he didn't want to disturb Houdini's dust. Jackie loved the place and always said he grew up in the store. "When you first opened the door, a mechanical monkey would start whistling," he said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in 2000. "Rabbits were coming out of hats, and snakes would come out of baskets." Jackie learned to live by the store's motto, Mundus Vult Deipi Decipiatur, "The world wants to be deceived, let it be deceived," but only to a point. Like his father, he made sure every youngster left with at least enough money to take the subway home. Jackie's Flosso's performing career began in vaudeville, at the precise moment vaudeville was dying. "Just a soon as he played a theater, it would close down," said Stanley Palm, a magician and a friend. He inherited the shop when his father died in 1976. In 1982, he moved the shop a few blocks east on 34th Street, but not so far he could not keep his phone number, something he regarded as very important. In 2000, Mr. Bogusta filled three trucks with treasures like Houdini's business correspondence and took the business into cyberspace. Less than a week before he died, Mr. Flosso, who never married and had no survivors, said he was looking forward to renewing old acquaintances - magically, of course. In a chat with Mr. Bogusta, he mentioned his famous grandfather, Pops Krieger. "I'll be catching his act soon," Mr. Flosso said. ----------------- 6. The Inner Circle Of Bizarre Magick ----------------- Message from Robin DeWitt Joe Cabral Presents The Inner Circle of Bizarre Magick 12th Annual Gathering of the Magi The Shadows of Magic November 13, 14, 15, 2003 At The Radisson Hotel & Conference Center 100 Berlin Road Cromwell, Ct. Honoring Robin DeWitt Magick by the magi of the I.C.B.M. Also performing this year Eugene Burger * Bob Fenton Lectures Eugene Burger * Bill Fienning * Bob Neale * Larry White * Dealers * close-up show * Works in Progress Session * * Bizarre Evening Dinner Show * And some surprises Cost for November 13, 14, 15 $185.00 Send your registration in before Sept. 30, 2003 and pay only $165.00 One-day registration Nov. 14, $65 Nov. 15, $85 The Radisson Hotel & Conference Center I.C.B.M. room rate $89 per night - Telephone 860-635-2000 Further info contact: Joe Cabral, 115 Pinehurst Ave., Waterbury CT 06705 TEL. 203-757-1463 ----------------- 7. Shanghai International Magic Festival ----------------- Message from Albert Tam (Hong Kong) The 2003 Shanghai International Magic Festival will be in 15 - 18th November 2003. The guests in this Festival are very good and there are also both Stage and Close-up Magic Contest in cash prize, you can check it out in www.circus-world.com ----------------- 8. The Second 'Escape' From The Asylum ----------------- Message from Spyros Melaris (UK) On November 16th 2003 I will be holding the second 'Escape' from the asylum. A dedicated convention for mental magic held here in the UK. Last years event was so successful that this year we have really pushed the boat out! Max Maven is our star lecture, followed by David Berglas, Mike Austin, Jack Devlin, Luke Jermay, Jon Allen, Fon and myself, Spyros Melaris. You can visit www.MagicInMind.com for more information. ----------------- 9. "Las Vegas Magic Invitational" 2003! ----------------- Message from Dr. Marv Cutler Las Vegas! ~Robert Allen and Danny Archer have done it again with their third annual "Las Vegas Magic Invitational" at the San Remo Hotel. It was truly three days of great close-up magic with a terrific opening night party at Jeff McBride's Magic Studio where he introduced his new Wonder- dome. There were great seminars and lectures through out the day and fine magic shows in the evening with some of the world's greatest magicians. If you plan to attend next years convention pre-senting three days of close-up fun and magical mayhem in the most magical city on earth, Las Vegas, then you must reserve now as over one hundred possible attendees were turned away this year. A little note of an interest. As we entered the showroom on Sunday evening we were given a ticket for a drawing. The prize a wonderful magic wand created by Thomas Wayne. The 4th Annual LVMI will be held on September 12 -14, 2004. For more information the website is: www.lvmi.net ----------------- 10. Prize Winners At The Southport Convention ----------------- Message from Peter Following is the list of prize winners at the Southport Convention: The British Ring Shield - Richard Pinner Runner up - Shane Third Prize - Viva Best lady - not awarded Originality - Viva Manipulation - Shane Comedy - not awarded Close up - Richard Pinner Runner up - Mel Harvey Third Prize - Harold Cataquet Dealers' Trophy - Practical Magic Congratulations to Richard Pinner on pulling off the double! Geoff Ray did the double 33 years ago, the only other to do it. ----------------- 11. "The Out Of Work Magician Blues" ----------------- Message from Don Drake (US) I have just returned from driving over 8,000 miles, and lecturing to 12 magic clubs in the New England and Upstate New York area, as well as working at MAES convention (which was wonderful). Whew! I'm worn out. Because I suffer from a degenerative disease that makes it hard for me to get around physically, I'm afraid that it is no longer possible for me to do lectures for the magic clubs around the country. Although it was a pleasure meeting all the wonderful magicians in the magic community, I am physically unable to make this kind of trip again. Therefore in the future I will be only able to work some conventions, and possibly some foreign tours, although that's still up in the air. I will continue to write books, make DVD's and I even have a song being published on CD called "The Out Of Work Magician Blues" (that's right), which I hope to market in the future. It will be the first song written entirely for, and about, magicians. So I'll be here, and PLEASE check out the web page when you get a chance. There is much that is new on it. With love to the entire magical family, not only in this great country, but the world, I remain, yours in Black Art Magic. PS I'll always be here for my friends, clients and customers. If you have a question about Black Art, please feel free to contact me. I'll still do custom work, and I'll still be working with MagicCrafters in Tucson AZ, and Ross Horowitz. DD The Magic of DONDRAKE 1412-A Santa Margarita St., Las Vegas, NV 89146-9306 Ph. 702-880-5370 dondrake@blackartsecrets.com See us at http://blackartsecrets.com ----------------- 12. “The Bold And The Beautiful” ----------------- Message from Tom Lecorchick Illusionist Michael Grandinetti Hired As “Magic Coordinator” For The CBS Daytime Drama “The Bold And The Beautiful” Los Angeles, CA - September 30, 2003 - What happens when the dramatic world of daytime television meets the mysterious world of magic? Illusionist Michael Grandinetti can answer that question. Michael recently brought his magical know-how to the set of CBS’s long-running daytime drama, The Bold and the Beautiful. For an episode scheduled to air on October 10th, Michael was hired as “magic coordinator” to create and teach a magical illusion to actress Adrienne Frantz. The storyline of the episode has Adrienne’s character, Amber Moore Forrester, desperately trying to convince her friend to keep his nightclub open. To do this, she attempts to perform many different types of acts - from singing, to dancing, to magic - to show him that great entertainment will draw the crowds. “I wanted to create a simple visual effect that Adrienne could learn and perform that would go with the theme of the scene,” Michael said. “It was an interesting challenge taking the writer’s ending outcome and working backward to create a magical effect to fit. I had a great time.” Since its first airing in March 1987, The Bold & The Beautiful has become the most watched show in the world - with over 450 million viewers in 98 countries. The series recently aired its 4000th episode on March 7. On the show, Adrienne Frantz portrays both Amber Moore Forrester and Amber's twin sister, April Knight. Since joining The Bold and the Beautiful in 1997, she has received three Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actress in 2000, 2001 and 2003. In 2001, she won the coveted award. Adrienne also recently completed two motion pictures, Jimmy Zip and Speedway Junky. Becoming interested in magic at the age of five, Michael has been featured on several network television specials and talk shows, including NBC's The World's Most Dangerous Magic, recently performed his original illusions on the 2003 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, and had his hands filmed for a national commercial for the United States Treasury which begins airing this fall. ----------------- 13. "World Festival Of Magic" ----------------- Message from David Lyster Just a note to let you know what is happening to these ex-pat kiwis. Last night Myles and I were privileged to get given tickets to see "World Festival of Magic" staring Chuck Jones at the Gold Coast Arts Centre. We enjoyed the show and it was great to see the show as last time we caught Chuck Jones was in Wellington about 15 years ago when Rena was in it with Marvin Roy. Chuck Jones performed a lot of his great illusions but the one we were most taken with was his Floating table. As usual he included some of the top local talent in the form of Sam Angelico and Christof the clown. We remembered seeing Sam Angelico in Sydney at one of the Convention Gala Shows. The audience of mostly children really enjoyed the entertainment and Magic is truly alive and well when you see these shoes. We took a friend and she was blown away with it all Dad is currently in Las Vegas and returns next week after 3 weeks with Gabrielle then I leave in 2 weeks for my vacation and spend 6 weeks in Las Vegas. Regards to all in the Magic world on your side of the ditch. --------------------------------- 14. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 20 “Hello mate, G’day, Howzit goin” I replied, more than a little edgy I might casually warble - I was fully expecting a ‘Mike Tyson’ job on my ear! Hanging onto the ladder, I gradually descended through the tree branches, feeling a little bit like ‘Long John Silver’! All the while, I ‘chatted’ away to the oversized cockatoo - who was quite happy, to all intents and purposes, to sit balanced on my left shoulder. Reaching the ground, I walked very slowly out of my neighbour’s gate, down the footpath and into our front yard. Veronica in the meantime had raced ahead and opened the front door. As I climbed up the short flight of steps and onto the veranda, I fully expected the cockatoo to take off, but no, he just sat there on my shoulder, obviously quite at ease as I entered the house, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do. It was quite apparent that this cockatoo was very tame and had escaped from its owners. ‘Aussie’, our pink cockatoo, was outside sitting in the tree, so the ‘cocky’ stand was free; I lowered myself down so the that the cockatoo was level with it - he stepped off my shoulder and perched himself onto it, then walked along to one end and got stuck into the sunflower seed - evidently he hadn’t eaten for quite a while. For those of you who are unaware of what a cocky stand is, I try to will describe it. You have a large rectangular tray made out of aluminium (the whole stand is aluminium - less weight), that sits on the floor; it has a hollow pipe attached to the centre of it, that rises up to about a height of about four feet, to which another hollow pipe, centred and horizontal to the floor - is soldered. At each end are two aluminium dishes; one holds water and the other, birdseed. All cockatoos throw birdseed all over the place as they eat - the trays’ supposed to capture most of it Yeah, right! In spite of placing an advertisement in the local newspaper - nobody ever rang or contacted the paper to claim him. We now found ourselves with two cockatoos - ‘Aussie’ the Pink cockatoo, and now a magnificent Sulphur-Crested cockatoo; I named him ‘Big Bird’ because of his larger than average size. Veronica called him ‘Big Bastard Bird’ as he took an instant dislike to her, especially when she was wearing her glasses, and she still has the scars to prove it! He preferred men to women; birds are like that for some reason, showing a preference to one human partner from the other. Veronica and ‘BBB’ as she called him, came to an amicable agreement in the end - she stayed well away from him, and he only bit her when she had to walk past the cocky stand - although Veronica remembers an instance, shortly after he’d arrived, when I had the cocky stand, complete with Big Bird, at the doorway into the kitchen. Veronica was doing the dishes, when she heard a human voice, with an impeccable English accent, say; “What are you doing?” She began to answer, “Just washing the dishes” looked round and there was BBB, leaning precariously around from his stand, trying to see what was Veronica was up to. He was so damn intelligent and curious (like all cockatoos) - he once took a friend’s typewriter to pieces, screw by screw, when he offered to look after the birds while we were on a tour. When I was away for a month performing in Darwin, which is right up at the top end of Australia (can’t remember why Veronica wasn’t with me), I received a three-page letter from Veronica, most of which was about Big Bird and the shenanigans he got up to while I was away! By now it must be quite apparent to all, or at least to those of you who have enjoyed my on-going narrative about our cockatoos and parrots; that they played a big part in our lives during our nine, going on for ten years, in Australia. We finished up with six cockatoos and one parrot, apart from two poodles and two Siamese cats! There was ‘Aussie’ and ‘Big Bird’, whom you have already ‘met’ (I’m not counting the first sulphur crested cockatoo we bought from the unscrupulous market dealer), then there was ‘Little bird’, ‘Beauregarde’,’ Jackie’, ‘Tutu’ - a ‘Peach Faced’ parrot, and another sulphur-crested cockatoo. Then there was ‘Misky’, a toy poodle, ‘Shannon’ a standard poodle and, not forgetting ‘Sheba’ our Siamese and later, her son ‘Spook-Easy’. There are a few (?) more stories to tell, about each of them. Veronica said, “Don’t you think that folk might be getting a little jaded with all this burble about our birds?” “Maybe” I replied, “but they were a big part of our lives. C’mon, I am writing about my, our life story, in which our pets have always been a major part. I want to get everything down on paper, while we can still remember incidents and things - before it is too late! Not just for the thousands of magicians who are reading this (courtesy of Alan Watson’s ‘Magic New Zealand’ e- Zine), BUT FOR OUR OWN RESPECTIVE FAMILIES (and friends) AS WELL”. So, on the stories go - with all the little details. Am I sorry about that? Nah! ------------------ 15. 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) ------------------- 16. 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 2003 Alan Watson