* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #245 Date: Sunday 28th March 2004 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com www.alan-watson.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi [FIRSTNAME] here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor’s Message 2. Young Magicians Wanted 3. Las Vegas Magic Breaking News 4. MAGIC Live! 5. College of Magic Newsletter 6. Kim Blowers Passed Away 7. Roy Horn's Condition?? 8. The Golf Bag - Peter Marucci 9. Greg Frewin DVD - Dove Magic 10. Coke Can Melt - Jamie-G 11. Creation Of 'The Magic Store Junior Magicians Club'! 12. Bergeron Multiplying / Nesting Wands 13. The Great Stage Illusions Of James Hodges 14. Terry Seabrooke’s Magical Travels 15. The European Magic Festival Jaromer 2004 16. Controversy Between Magicians And Appleton Houdini Museum 17. Houdini Museum Story In The Wall Street Journal, March 25th 18. The Amazing Orchante Saga 19. e-zine Archives 20. Subscription Management ------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Brenton Foale from Melbourne Australia e-mailed me a copy of their Junior Newsletter which is AREWSOME. If you are interested e-mail Brenton for a copy: monash_young_magicians_club@hotmail.com ---------------- Remember [FIRSTNAME] if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ----------------- 2. Young Magicians Wanted ----------------- Message from George Schindler - Society of American Magicians - Public Relations The Stars of Tomorrow Show is a paid performance opportunity for young magicians, ages 7-16, at the S.A.M. Convention, which will be held in St. Louis, USA, July 7-10. Young magicians who would like to be considered for the Stars of Tomorrow Show should send a video or DVD of the stage act that they would like to perform (about five to ten minutes) to Hope Anderson, 2617 Lawrence Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46227, USA. They should also send a brief bio, a photo suitable for printing in the convention program, and their contact information including email address. The deadline for receiving applications is April 20. Questions? Contact Hope at Hopemagic@aol.com or (317) 787-8530. ----------------- 3. Las Vegas Magic Breaking News ----------------- Message from David Neubauer (US) Amazing Jonathan will open sometime in the next few weeks in the 650 seat La Cage Theater at the Riviera. Dark Tuesdays ----------------- 4. MAGIC Live! ----------------- Message from Stan Allen (US) August 22-25, 2004 The Orleans Hotel Las Vegas, Nevada This summer marks the 13th year of MAGIC Magazine, so it seems like a good time to "try our luck" at another unconventional convention! Based on the success of our 2001 Live! Celebration, as well as the early response for 2004, this could be a very Lucky 13th. Hope you can join us! We will be periodically emailing updates about this unique event. If you prefer not to receive these updates, please respond to this email by typing "CANCEL" in the subject line. If you would like to attend, here are three good reasons to register early: 1. Theater seating is assigned in order of registration. And while The Orleans Showroom is a terrific place to see magic shows, why not have the best seats in the house? 2. There's really no risk. Registration is fully refundable up until July 22, 2004. 3. Enter to win free show tickets! On the 13th of each month between now and August 22nd, we will be drawing names from the early registrants and giving away Las Vegas show tickets, good during MAGIC Live! If you don't win, your name stays in the hopper for the drawing the next month, and the next, and the next. Of course, the sooner you register, the less competition you have and the more chances you have of winning! Our first drawing was held March 13th, and the lucky winners so far are: Jennifer Meyers - 2 tickets to "Lance Burton: Master Magician" at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino Frank Klein - 2 tickets to "Money and Madness" starring Jeff Hobson at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino Al "The Only" Ulman - 2 tickets to "Showgirls of Magic" at the San Remo Hotel and Casino David Kaplan - 2 tickets to "Steve Dacri Extreme Close-up Magic" at O'Shea's Casino And we have another dozen or so tickets to give away in the April 13th drawing! So, please join us for another "once-in-a-lifetime" event. Registration is $265 (through May 15, 2004) and our special room rate at The Orleans is only $49 per night. Check out our web site for all the details: www.magicmagazine.com/live ----------------- 5. College of Magic Newsletter ----------------- Message from Craig Mitchell (South Africa) For those of you interested in finding out what is on the go magic wise in South Africa and beyond, the College of Magic's 2004 April Newsletter is now available for download. Highlights include: * Viva Las Vegas - World Magic Seminar * Magic of Korea * 2004 Magic NOW! * Adopt-A-Student Program * Nelson Mandela Children's Fund * Khayalitsha Magic Festival And much more! Surf on over to www.collegeofmagic.com/newsletter.htm to download your PDF copy today! ----------------- 6. Kim Blowers Passed Away ----------------- Message from Maria Ibanez - Society of American Magicians, Regional Vice President, SA States It saddens me to report that Kim Blowers, daughter of S.A.M. National Administrator, Richard Blowers, passed away today, Tuesday, March 22, at approximately 1:00 pm. Richard and Mary Ann were with her as were S.A.M. National President Jay Gorham, President Elect John Apperson and his wife Virginia. No further details available at this time but I will send any further information as it becomes available. My family and I send our deepest condolence to Richard, Mary Ann and the family at this time of loss. ----------------- 7. Roy Horn's Condition?? ----------------- Message from Brenton Foale (Aust) I am President and Founder of the Monash Young Magicians Club, and our members and I have been keeping up to date with the details of Mr Roy Horn's (of Siegfried and Roy) condition, but I have heard nothing more from any of my magician brethren since Christmas, and wondered if anyone could please let us all know how his recovery is going. I have tried the official Siegfried and Roy web site, but it hasn't been updated with any news in a while. ----------------- 8. The Golf Bag - Peter Marucci ----------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) Dai Vernon said it; Erdnase said it; Sid Lorraine said it; hey, I even said it: In essence, no matter what you do, no matter how strange or bizarre it is, it must be natural and it must be logical in the context that you are presenting it. I have mentioned the dancing cane before; there's just nothing logical about it. Who carries a walking stick these days? Unless it's put in context - say, a turn-of-the-century gentleman (which isn't a bad idea, come to think of it) - then the cane is illogical. But a cane looks like a pool cue; so, a pool table routine (cane as pool cue, multiplying balls, old-style change bag as one of the pockets) is logical. But a cane as a cane? I don't think so. There are many tricks like that - the Linking Rings (just what ARE those rings supposed to be, anyway?), any box with dragons or Chinese symbols painted on it (unless you are, in fact, doing a Chinese act), and an old standby, the Egg Bag. Okay, I had you on my side for a while but you turned on me when I mentioned the egg bag. Hey, there's nothing wrong with the egg bag! I do it and it always gets a good response. But why eggs? Who do you know who carries an egg around with him or her? What's the motivation? Where's the logic? Well, here's one logical possibility: The Golf Bag By Peter Marucci Effect: The magus shows a cloth bag (ideally made out of a tartan material) and takes a golf ball out of it. The ball vanishes in the bag, re-appears and, finally, the magus takes a large, plastic Number 1, with a hole in it, out of the bag - a hole in one! Working and Presentation: There's not a whole lot here that you don't already know; it's more the "why," rather than the "how." You can use any egg-bag routine that suits you or that you are comfortable with. Personally, ever since I first came across it many years ago, I have stuck with the Roy Benson routine in Bruce Elliott's book Classic Secrets of Magic. I won't go into it here, since I have already done the routine in the April 1999 Showtime column. The important thing here is that the golf ball makes the whole thing logical. You might be carrying a golf ball with you - but there is no logical reason for you to carry a single egg! The Number 1 with a hole in it can be made of plastic (for longer use) or out of cardboard. It is in the secret pocket in the bag from the beginning, so that will determine the size of the number for you. There are endless good golf gags for you to build a routine around: "Golf is a good walk spoiled." - Mark Twain "An expensive way of playing marbles." - G.K. Chesterton "A game in which you claim the privileges of age and retain the playthings of childhood." - Samuel Johnson "If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf." - Bob Hope "Anyone who likes golf on television would enjoy watching the grass grow on the greens." - Andy Rooney But remember, you are building a routine here - not just doing a trick punctuated by some random jokes. Come up with a good routine that suits you and you've got an effect that you can carry in your pocket and yet it will play anything from a living room to a stage. And it's logical! Second Thoughts: The reason I suggested that the bag be made out of a tartan fabric is two-fold: First, it ties in well with a Scottish theme, since Scotland is where the modern game originated. And secondly, the pattern of the cloth effectively disguises the load chamber. Of course, if you can come up with a routine that explains why you are carrying an egg, then by all means do the egg bag with an egg. Or you could do it with big ball bearings. Or fruit (plastic or real). Or just about anything else that will fit in the load chamber comfortably. And that you can build a LOGICAL routine around. Have fun with it. But first be entertaining. ----------------- 9. Greg Frewin DVD - Dove Magic ----------------- Message from Art Frewin Greg Frewin the International Grand Champion of Magic has produced a three DVD complete course in dove magic. They are scheduled for release the beginning of April. In this course Greg will show everything you want or need to know about dove magic, starting from raising and caring for doves, chosing the right doves, training and will go on to show you dove productions, the making of pockets and gimmicks Greg uses in his show. Greg will show a special gimmick that he will be selling in the future that eliminates the big sleeves. There is nothing held back in this course and includes everything you need to know about dove magic. The course is available for $150.00 US by going to www.GregFrewin.com. ----------------- 10. Coke Can Melt - Jamie-G ----------------- Message from Jamie-G (Canada) To do this effect you will need my total magic foil system my wife and I now sell this system for $15.00 U.S. (you can do hundreds of magic effects with it well worth the price a whole new magic system that layman or the professional magician has never seen effects before for the price of a packet trick it's a steal.) Well here's the effect: Coke Can Melt Effect - Magician takes heat from a coin and puts it on the can. This causes the can to shed its metal and leave the mark of the coin on it. Props - Silver foil from the magic foil system, a piece of a can the same diameter of a fifty cent piece, a fifty cent piece and of course a can of coke. Method - Magician tells the spectator that heat from a coin causes magical properties. The magician then takes a fifty cent piece out of his pocket. Blows the heat on the coin and rubs it. He then takes the coin and places it on the can. He then removes the coin from the can and puts it in his pocket. The magician then peels away a layer of the can and lone and behold there is a silver coin mark left on the can. Set-Up - Take your foil and cut out a shape of a fifty cent piece. Then you are going to rub it on the can. Put a layer of clear nail polish on the foil so that it will not come off when you remove the layer of metal. Next you are going to take an empty can of coke and cut out a piece the same size of your foil. You are going to use either silly putty or stick tac and place it right in the middle of the piece you just cut out. Only use a very minute piece of putty or it will take the foil off. You should now have a can of coke with the foil on it and the piece of metal covering the foil so that you can't see it. Note - This effect is great for adult and kid shows. For an adult show you can use a beer can and for the kids any can of pop will do. Also be very careful cutting out the metal because it is very sharp. When you are done you will have a nice looking prop that will last a long time. This is a new and fresh idea and never been seen before by laymen or magicians. Special Note - If you need to know more information about the foil system you can either email me or you can go on the main web site of ring 2100. Look for Jaimie-G and click on it. This will explain how to get it and also other ways to use the foil. I am dedicating this trick to the Willmarth family. Thank you very much for all that you have done for me. Enjoy this special prop and have fun with it. Ringers please send me your comments on my card melt. I have a booklet that I am making regarding this effect. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank You. People that have not yet received the card melt yet please be patient with me. Our mailing system here is very slow and it takes a while for it to go through. Also for those of you who have ordered the foil system the same goes for you too. Have fun............Jamie-G ----------------- 11. Creation Of 'The Magic Store Junior Magicians Club'! ----------------- We are proud to announce the creation of 'The Magic Store Junior Magicians Club'! Melbourne, Australia. On the 3rd Saturday of every month, all budding junior magicians are invited to come along to perform, discuss, and share their magic with other young magicians. This will give the magicians of tomorrow a regular place to show off their latest trick, receive feedback, and gain some valuable performing experience in a friendly and encouraging environment. Bryan Wood, who has established himself as Australia's leading teacher of magic, will be co-ordinating the club meetings and sharing some of his knowledge and experiences from his countless professional performances. Bryan's in-depth knowledge of magic and its history are only surpassed by his willingness to advance the art through running this club. Meetings will be held on the 3rd Saturday of every month (starting April) from 2pm - 4pm in the Eureka Meeting Room at the Travelodge Hotel in Southbank (just around the corner from the store). Yearly membership is $70 (12 meetings per year), but for those who sign-up within the first 2 months, the price is reduced to only $50 for the year. Membership is open to all aspiring magicians between 8 and 18 years of age. Membership includes: - Special offers and discounts from The Magic Store - Special guest appearances from some of the worlds best magicians - Monthly newsletter - Participation in the annual magic show - Magic competitions - Many more surprises along the way! Membership forms are available at The Magic Store or for more information call (03) 9682 0153. ----------------- 12. Bergeron Multiplying / Nesting Wands ----------------- Message from Rick Fisher Would like all to know that we have secured direct permission from Bev Bergeron, the originator of the multiplying wands, to market the authentic and original Bev Bergeron Multiplying / Nesting Wands with his original routines! These have been ripped off in many forms and we felt it time to give Bev his due recognition of this widely used effect. Make plans to attend the Colon, Michigan People's Choice Awards during magic week August 4-7th..Over $3200.00 prize money/products will be awarded in Stage and Close-up Jr. and Sr. competition with the first place winners receiving the inaugural Percy Abbott And Monk Watson trophies. Registration to compete is only $35.00! Also during this week we will be making a major announcement that will rock the magic world! Stay tuned!!!! See more on our web site at www.fabmagic.com Rick Fisher, FAB Magic, Colon, Michigan..A New Era of Old Traditions! ----------------- 13. The Great Stage Illusions Of James Hodges ----------------- Message from Ricki Gray (South Africa) I am interested in a pair of illusion books called "The Great Stage Illusions of James Hodges". I am keen to know if any of our other readers have seen these books and if they contain practical ideas that can be built. I am still performing illusions in the extravaganza "Odyssey" at Sun City here in South Africa, we have been extended to February 2005, we are already nearing our 700th performance. If any magicians visit the resort, please call and say hi! Kind regards to you Ricki Gray magic@global.co.za ----------------- 14. Terry Seabrooke’s Magical Travels ----------------- Message from Terry Seabrooke Have had to pull out of FFFF for Obie O'Brien owing to clash of dates. Will be at Magic Castle end April in Palace of Mystery and honoured to be receiving Masters Fellowship at the Academy awards banquet. Touring in summer in UK with legend of comedy Sir Norman Wisdom. USA again for St Louis and the SAM thrash. Back to UK again for Music Hall shows with Roiy Hudd and then USA in August for Abbotts great convention in Colon, Michigan. Hopefully back to the Magic Castle around October. ----------------- 15. The European Magic Festival Jaromer 2004 ----------------- Message from Jaroslav Zach - director Dear friends of modern magic, Czech Republic has entered an important stage of its history – members of the European Union will accept Czech Republic into their family as an equal partner this spring of 2004. For us, this is a unique opportunity to invite all enthusiasts of the art of magic and other guests from all the European countries to visit our country and to participate in our festival. This festival will not only be a celebration of magic and folk culture, but also a celebration of mutual understanding and friendship. We are bringing up, at this special occasion, a name of Mr. M. S. Patrcka (1787-1838), an extraordinary personality that is believed to be a founder of the first theatre of magic arts in Europe. We are proposing that the community of European magicians officially recognizes Mr. Patrcka as their patron. We are meeting in the historical town of Jaromer also because where Mr. Patrcka’s last resting place and his monument are. Hence, Jaromer’s festival will also be a symbolic assembly of all who love the magic. We are offering to participants four days filled with the magic, concerts, street theatre, exhibitions, visits to historic sites, meetings of fakirs, etc. During these four days, the Mayor of Jaromer will hand over the town to magicians and the magic. Accept our sincere invitation to visit us in Czech Republic, the Heart of Europe, be welcome in the ancient town of Jaromer. We are awaiting you with open arms. The art of magic is part of the folk culture. One cannot treat as a narrowly defined genre of art. The program of the festival will consist not only of the magic shows, the performances of artists and entertainers and fakirs, but it will also offer concerts, theatre spectacles, visits of art galleries and the local historic sites and monuments. The collection of these events, visits, meetings will let you leave with unforgettable impressions and memories, with the new understanding and new friendships. There is a heated swimming pool in town; we are offering variety of aerial and bus sightseeing trips, horseback riding at a neighbourhood farm, golf, etc. There are some memorable sites at our vicinity – a military fortress Josefov, historic castles, world renowned Bethlehem made entirely of wood, the zoo-safari at Dvur Kralove, water dam Rozkos, sand stone rock region of Adrspach, Eagle mountains, Krkonose, etc. Why not to postpone your departure from our region and from Czech Republic? Stay longer and allow yourself several days of a wonderful holiday. Tell us, we shall ask a selected travel agency to look after your needs. Enjoy your stay – pass unforgettable days at our home. ----------------- 16. Controversy Between Magicians And Appleton Houdini Museum ----------------- Message from Walter Zaney Blaney Dear friends in magic: The long awaited story on the controversy between magicians and the OCHS Appleton Houdini Museum regards their planned exposure of the Sub Trunk (Metamorphosis Illusion) appears front page in the Wall Street Journal today (Thursday, 3/25/04). If you are a subscriber you can access it on the internet. It is mostly favorable to the magician's point of view. The reporter's editor at the last minute required the mention of the use of an "escape hatch" in the trick's description, despite our efforts to have it left out. One must be interested enough to turn to a back page to read the final part of the front page article. Those that do will hopefully skim through it by then and miss the real meaning of "escape hatch". To me it was unnecessary, but newspaper editors do what they want to do..and we all know that. Our hope is that business people in Appleton will read it and bring more pressure to bear on the OCHS Board to cancel their exposure plan before it begins. The publicity is making Appleton look bad. Let's hope they rethink their actions. That would make for a happy ending. ----------------- 17. Houdini Museum Story In The Wall Street Journal, March 25th ----------------- Message from Walter Zaney Blaney Dear friends in magic: Below you will see yesterday's (3/25) Wall Street Journal front page story on the Appleton Houdini Museum controversy. It caused quite a stir in the national press. The BBC had Mark Wilson speaking on the radio in England/Canada/Europe. CBS NEWS is planning a story on their Morning Show next week. But the best spot so far was on NBC's Today Show this morning, at the first of their second hour. Matt Lauer did a very good and very fair job as host to David Copperfield and Ms Terry Bergen. She is the Executive Director of the Outagamie County Historical Society (OCHS) which runs the Houdini museum in Appleton. It is her idea to expose the secret of Houdini's famous Metamorphosis Illusion in her museum exhibit. David did a splendid job for the magician's viewpoint. He was a great ambassador for magic, and he won this battle with Ms Bergen hands down. I have taken the liberty of transcribing here for you a small section of the six minute segment that I thought was most poignant: DAVID--- I think there are lot of young magicians, and magicians all over the world, who are still using this piece of magic..for me, I can change the illusion in every show..but people who are feeding their families, or kids who are trying to start in magic who invested a lot of time in that particular illusion, it will be spoiled, and it will really be hurting people's lives. MATT--- Terry, I guess what some people are saying (is) there aren't that many great mysteries and surprises left in our lives, so in some way, aren't you telling people there is no Santa Claus? TERRY--- (long pause) I guess we are, Matt. We've been accused of that over and over again.. MATT--- In closing, Terry, any chance you'll compromise some more and back off this? TERRY-- I don't think so, Matt..We will not change the exhibit. (Walter, again here) So there you have the jist of it..an unmovable lady on a subject she knows nothing about. I suggest you keep your kids away from her if you don't want Santa Claus, and magic, to be spoiled for them. We think the national spotlight will hopefully make the good citizens of Appleton pressure their museum board to cancel their exposure plan before it hurts their city even further as "spoil sports". Top magicians in our profession have offered the museum many other and better ideas for a "hands on" exhibit. David spoke of this generous offer when he talked on the phone with Ms Bergen several months ago in a two hour phone conversation with her. And David said today on NBC, "Terry, you didn't want to hear it.." So thanks to David Copperfield and to Mark Wilson and others for taking time to make their thoughts heard in the forum of national public opinion. Cheers, Walter..and now the WSJ story below ____________________________________ Appleton, WIS.: Magicians say Houdini exhibit will damage craft By Rachel Emma Silverman Wall Street Journal A small museum in Harry Houdini's boyhood hometown revealed plans to change an exhibit after 15 years. Then, some angry magicians appeared. They say the museum in Appleton, Wis., stands to jeopardize their livelihood by unveiling a big trick of their trade. As part of its exhibit, the Outagamie County Historical Society is planning a display of Houdini's signature "Metamorphosis" act in which a magician, handcuffed inside a sack inside a trunk, frees himself and switches places with an assistant standing by the trunk. Visitors will be able to climb inside the trunk to see how it works. The stunt, popularized by Houdini at the turn of the century, remains the climax of many magic shows from cruise ships to Las Vegas acts. Magicians argue that their code of ethics prohibits revealing such secrets to the public. After word of the museum's pending changes spread last spring on magician Web sites, magicians started calling and e-mailing the museum to object. Ron Lindberg, a magician who performs under the stage name "Rondini," set up a protest Web site and urged boycotting the museum. One collector of Houdini memorabilia took back artifacts he had loaned the museum. Collectors are now talking about starting a rival museum in Las Vegas. "Houdini would have hated it," says David Copperfield, the illusionist, famous from his Broadway performances and TV specials, who called the historical society to protest the exhibit. The museum says it wanted to modernize its Houdini exhibit, a static arrangement of artifacts in glass display cases, to keep pace with other museums, which have become more interactive in recent years. Many of its 45,000 annual visitors requested a more hands-on exhibit, museum officials say. Houdini is a small but important focus of its collection. Another current exhibit: "Tools of Change: The Work, Workers, and Tools of Outagamie County and the Lower Fox River Valley, 1849-1950." "We had no idea we would have had this reaction," says Terry Bergen, executive director of the Outagamie County Historical Society. "The common words I've heard are betrayal, heresy, how can we commit such an atrocious deed in his house, on sacred ground." She and other museum officials met with two of the angry magicians last summer to discuss the matter. The museum says the contentious "Metamorphosis" display, which it plans to open in June and leave up for a decade, is a small part of a broader exhibit that will examine the life and times of Houdini. Houdini, whose real name was Ehrich Weiss, emigrated to Appleton from Budapest at age 4 in 1878, when his father became the town rabbi. To try to appease the magicians, the museum added a "spoiler alert," warning that secrets will be exposed. The museum changed its floor plan for the exhibit to put the mechanics of the trick in a separate alcove so that visitors wishing to avoid it can do so. Typically, for the illusion, also called the "substitution trunk," an assistant puts a handcuffed magician into a sack, which is tied shut and placed inside a locked and chained trunk. The assistant stands by the trunk which has been thoroughly inspected by the audience, and unfurls a cloth, covering the performer and trunk. The two performers, who must coordinate carefully and be speedy and nimble, change places in seconds, with the help of a hidden escape hatch to get in and out of the trunk. Magicians must master undoing handcuffs and getting in and out of a sealed bag before attempting the complicated stunt. Houdini and his wife, Bess, advertised that they could do the exchange in just three seconds. In reality, few museum visitors are likely to be able to do the trick anyway because of its acrobatic demands, and they'll be trying a simplified version of it. "Though we doubt seriously that they will be able to achieve the illusion, they will be given the equipment to try," says Bergen. "Houdini was in great shape, strong and agile and willing to withstand discomfort." The exhibit's curator, Kimberly Louagie, says she learned how the trick works from public-library books. The required trunk, along with instructions, can be purchased online or in magic stores. Blueprints to build a trunk cost as little as $25 and a complete trunk about $1,000. Code Of Ethics The magicians' code of ethics allows a trick's secrets to be told only to those serious about studying magic, and it is unlikely all museum visitors satisfy this requirement. That's why magicians say a museum display is more damaging than books and instructions purchased online. Learning the secret "robs you of the fun and delight," says Walter "Zaney" Blaney, president emeritus of the World Alliance of Magicians. He helped found the Alliance to prevent magic tricks from being revealed to the public after the Fox TV network ran a series of specials in the late 1990s called "Breaking the Magician's Code," which did just that. Houdini took steps to carry his magic secrets to his grave. In his will, he left his magic apparatus to his brother, an escape artist who performed under the name Hardeen. Protecting Mystery Upon Hardeen's death, Houdini instructed that the equipment be "burnt and destroyed." Hardeen, however, passed the bulk of Houdini's artifacts on to a young protege named Sidney Radner, whom he met at a magic convention in the 1930s. The Appleton museum's old display showcased Radner's collection. Today, Radner, 84 years old, says, "I know secrets about Houdini that nobody knows, and they are going to die with me. I think the mystery is better than the knowing." Last year, however, the museum, which has had its funding cut in recent years, didn't renew its contract to lease his items, which cost it more than $27,000 in 2003. He was told to pack up his collection. Angry, Radner, a retired carpet retailer who splits his time between Holyoke, Mass., and Palm Beach, Fla., cut the museum out of his will and began talks of setting up a rival museum, which are now gaining momentum from the fight over the "Metamorphosis" display. A few months ago, Radner shipped about 75 boxes of his Houdini goods from Appleton to Las Vegas. He placed the artifacts in the care of Geno Munari, a magic-store-chain owner who until recently also operated a small Houdini exhibit at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. Munari is spearheading the effort to found the rival museum. For now, Radner's collection sits in a locked and guarded warehouse. Radner says he isn't sure what to do with his collection, which he says is valued at about $4 million. "I am losing sleep over this," he says. He adds he doesn't want his goods to return to Appleton because "I don't want my name in a museum that has anything to do with exposure" of a trick. Some magicians urge other collectors to follow Radner. Last month, another major Houdini collector, Tom Boldt, took back the artifacts he had loaned the Appleton museum and says he is considering displaying them in Las Vegas as well. ----------------- 18. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 9 1956 - 57      Self Hypnosis & Hypnotism Am now boarding in Wairoa, home for the weekends, and have acquired two books on Hypnotism (my bibles). The first weekend home after my acquisitions I’m proudly showing off my Ralph Slater Hypnotism book (I’d inadvertently left Franquin’s book in Wairoa, thankfully); Mum’ s horrified! Playing around with ‘silly’ magic tricks was one thing, but this ‘Evil Eye’ Stuff was something else entirely. “It’s the work of the devil - Black Arts - Ungodly! (If there had been an Exorcist handy, she would have called him). Phew! Unfortunately, that’s what a lot of folks associated hypnotism with in those days. Mum pulled on a pair of heavy gloves, grabbed the fire-side tongs, and gingerly holding the ‘Evil’ book at arm’s length, opened the door of the wood-stove and threw it in! Blood Ran Cold as Odious, Maniacal Laughter issued from the roaring flames and echoed hollowly around the room! Okay, okay, I am exaggerating just a little bit - All Right - A LOT, but Mum Burnt My Book! AAARRRGH! Each week I was given enough money to buy school lunches etc. so, when I got back to Wairoa, I bought another copy, and went hungry - good practice for the future; Show Business and ‘Lean Times’ go hand in hand. Actors/Actresses declare, ‘I’m resting’ or, ‘… between jobs, lovey’; Bullshit, you’re out of work, you ‘Snobby Twits’! I was on the Phone to New Zealand the other day, for a chat with my dad, to glean any facts he could remember. Among other things, he said - “To put it mildly, son, you did cause some problems at college!” To hell with homework - I had much better things to do, and learn; practising Sleight of Hand, diligently studying and learning the art of Hypnotism, mastering Self-Hypnosis - which I found relatively easy to accomplish - because I Belived! A young mind will more readily accept ‘Ideas’ than an older one which is set in its ways, and sceptical. Your Imagination IS The Most Powerful Force in the World - Positive Thinking Gives Positive Results - Negative Thinking Gives Negative Results! It’s a strange feeling, the first time you go into a self-induced trance (using your imagination) and giving yourself suggestions such as; - ‘My arm is so light, it’s rising’ - and it does, without any physical effort on your part, to lift it! My favourite was suggesting that my body - ‘Is so light, it is floating ’. The sensation is very real, even though your conscious mind knows you are still lying on the bed. Fascinating stuff, especially when using Self-hypnosis to control pain! All this, brings me neatly to - Wairoa College. ‘Showing off’ my new found skill in pain control I managed to turn a few stomachs and make the girls scream, by pushing needles through my arms and cheeks, (without bleeding), and getting the girls to pinch me while I deadened the feeling in the appropriate spot. The teachers were getting fed-up with the constant banging of a penny being dropped onto the desk top - well, I am left handed, so I could still write and, at the same time, practice palming and flipping a coin across my right-hand fingers -they must have had a right ‘booze-up’ from all my pennies they confiscated - absolutely no appreciation of my skills – bloody cretins! Now, I’m not sure of the year, 1956/57 - I’m getting into some heavy stuff for a kid of 12 or 13 years old; I’m a bit of a rebel, and hav e a ‘Mind-Set’ for all things of ‘Magic and Hypnotism, and to hell with everyone, and everything else! I need ‘Subjects’ on which to practise Hypnosis Techniques! Word gets around, ‘it’s all happening down by the boys toilet block during lunch hour.’ That Tommy Orchard is doing ‘Weird Things’! Making people fall over and they can’t undo their laced fingers’, etc. I am of course, using standard ‘Stage Tests’ to find the ‘Best Subjects’ for a performance; techniques I’ ve learned from my Franquin and Ralph Slater Hypnotism books. ------------------ 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. 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