* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #270 Date: Sunday 20th June 2004 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. Peter Blanchard MIMC Passed Away   3. Siegfried & Roy's - Father Of The Pride TV   4. Tony Wilson’s Magical Adventures   5. New Zealander Scoops Australian Magic Awards   6. The Australian Convention Is Over But The Memories Linger On   7. The Palace of Magic – Scotland   8. A Big Thank You From The President Shore City Magicians Club   9. New Items On Martinka.com Auction XIII   10. Large Collection Of Magic For Sale   11. Midsummer Magic Festival - Richmond, B. C. July 2005   12. Telephone Interview With David Copperfield   13. Les Anneaux Magiques 2005   14. South Eastern Association Of Magicians Convention   15. A Ripping Good New Year!- Peter Marucci   16. Perfect Silk Flower Holder - Jamie-G   17. e-zine Archives   18. Subscription Management ------------------ 1. Editors Message ------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Bruce Munton passed on the sad news that Peter Blanchard MIMC passed away. Refer Item 2 from Michael Bailey for more details. ------------------------ Tony Wilson - IBM International President Elect will be traveling all though the States and Europe visiting IBM Rings after he is installed as the new IBM International President in July at Clevedon this year.  He will be sending a weekly message to Magic New Zealand about his magical adventures. In honour of Tony becoming the new IBM International President I have co-ordinated a large special Kiwi Linking Ring Parade which will be published in this coming July issue. The New Zealand contributors are: Tony Wilson Danny Phillips Ken Ring Bill Morgan Jon Zealando Bruce Allan Graham Bennett Malcolm Silverman Michael Woolf Paul Romhany Rod Rick Stan Goudge Wayne Rogers Alan Watson ------------------------ Message from Veronica Orchard - Tommy Orchard is (The Amazing Orchante)wife This is an update on Tom and his progress, which Tom would like you to publish in lieu of his Saga. Initially the operation was to take the top third of his lungs, one at a time, (going in from the side), with a period of 6 months or so between each operation. However, the surgeons decided that it would be better for him if they did both lungs at once. This became a much more radical procedure, and involved cutting through the sternum rather than the keyhole surgery originally planned. He came out of hospital on the 10th day after surgery, and is recovering at home. He has good days and bad days, but on the whole is doing well, apart from minor complications - like his feet and legs swelling like balloons, trouble breathing at night as he has to re-teach his lungs how to breathe, and obviously the pain, which is gradually easing. Bi-lateral Lung Reduction Surgery is still so new and experimental, even his Consultant and specialist respiratory nurse do not know fully what to expect, but everyone is pleased with his progress. Tom is overwhelmed by the number of 'get well' email messages he has received, many from people he doesn't know, but would like to, and he will answer them all when he is well enough to sit at the computer for any length of time. He sends his sincere thanks all who took the trouble to email him. I would like to add my thanks to Tom's, as I have had some personal 'good luck' emails, which I really appreciated. Thank you all. Veronica Orchard Messages for Tommy and Veronica can be sent to: orchante@theamazings.freeserve.co.uk ---------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ----------------- 2. Peter Blanchard MIMC Passed Away ----------------- Message from Michael Bailey - Past President - The Magic Circle Peter Blanchard MIMC, who died on 5 June 2004 at the age of 83, had served The Magic Circle well as a 'Monday Night Host' for many years, meeting and greeting visitors to the Headquarters. He instituted The Magic Circle Memorial Initiative that continues to ensure the graves of past magicians are will cared for. He also wrote a regular column for The World's Fair on magical happenings and always gave great support to up and coming magicians and to The Magic Circle's junior section, The Young Magicians' Club. Peter was an inventor as well as a magician and, as an ex-Navy man, held strong views on maintaining high standards. He fought his illness bravely and with great optimism, and was cheerful to the last. He will be sadly missed by his many friends at The Magic Circle and throughout the world of magic. ----------------- 3. Siegfried & Roy's - Father Of The Pride TV ----------------- Message from Craig Mitchell (South Africa) NBC.com have a video preview of Siegfried & Roy's upcoming Father of the Pride TV series along with behind the scenes footage of the cast. Check out: www.nbc.com/nbc/Primetime_Preview_04_05/video/father_pride1.shtml ----------------- 4. Tony Wilson’s Magical Adventures ----------------- Message from Tony Wilson – IBM International President Elect Mary and I left New Zealand on a fine winter’s day cool, but sunny. Our wait listing to fly business class to Honolulu from Auckland did not eventuate. Four seats available but eighteen registered and we missed out. Good flight but bumpy in parts. Waited for a taxi at Honolulu Airport and a limo brought us to Waikiki with our four checkins. Mess up (on the hotel’s behalf) with our room which necessitated a change of hotel the next day. Hit the beach and the shops on day 1 as well as reconfirmed some social arrangements with O’ahu magicians during our seven days of R&R before the real trip begins. My friend Glen Bailey kindly set up a dinner date for Mary and I to meet Bobby ‘Mr Magic’ Acoba, the magic bartender at Aaron’s restaurant on the 36th floor of the Ala Moana hotel last Tuesday night. After a delightful meal with Glen, his fiancé and her two children plus Robert Festa, our host for the evening, we gathered around the bar for some delightful bar magic performed by Bobby. Glen told me that Bobby was flown to a convention in Japan of 100 bar magicians and nobody believed Bobby was a real bartender as his magic was so good! Thank you Glen and Robert for this opportunity to meet Bobby and to experience his magic. The following night Mary and I attended a meeting of approximately 20 Hawaiian magicians to present a 20 minute stand up act and 20 minutes of close-up magic. Aaron Vermeer, President of the local SAM assembly co-coordinated the meeting and invited all magicians who wanted to attend. It was good to meet Curtis Kam once again plus Kelvin Chun and Bob Festa again. As this was the first group of magicians outside of New Zealand to trial some of the new items developed for this trip it was a good opportunity to test out the balance of the magic I have brought with me. Tony Wilson www.tonywilsonmagician.co.nz ----------------- 5. New Zealander Scoops Australian Magic Awards ----------------- Message from Lynnaire Johnston (NZ) A New Zealand magician has stirred up his Australian counterparts by walking away with half the gongs awarded at the Australian Convention of Magicians last weekend. Nick Nickolas, a long time Auckland resident who is currently based in Melbourne, won four of the eight awards handed out at the event. Original twists to the ancient cups and balls routine, combined with a warming wit, won him the "Best Close-Up Show" and "Best Line" awards while the comedic variety of his magic performances saw him score "Most Entertaining Act". He won "Best Moment" with a hilarious appearance as addled American celebrity, Ozzy Osborne. (The two share more than a passing resemblance.) Nick Nickolas, who started performing on the streets of London at age 15, calls himself a magic comedian and has been performing professionally at international venues for 20 years. He is well known in local street performing circles and has twice won the New Zealand Busker of the Year title. Of his wins, Mr Nickolas says: “As this was my first performance at an Australian convention I was completely blown away to have received this recognition from my peers.” He shortly leaves Australia on an extended tour of Canada, returning to Melbourne in September. For further information contact Nick Nickolas on 0061 3 9510 3073 or (mob) 0061 414 566 906 or visit www.nicknickolas.com. Distributed on behalf of Nick Nickolas by Lynnaire Johnston, Communications Specialist, (09) 483 5300 or 0274 926 470 ----------------- 6. The Australian Convention Is Over But The Memories Linger On ----------------- Message from Tim Ellis (Aust) Order your official souvenir DVD or VCD with edited highlights of the convention now from Orsino Images. 3 minute highlight reel set to music - DVD $20, VCD $10 bwhimpey@orsinoimages.com ------------AWARD WINNERS--------------------- The awards went to: Best Stage Act - Sue-Anne Webster Best Close Up Act - Nick Nickolas Best Trick - Simon Coronel Most Original Concept - Peter Cook (Laser Pen) Best Line Of The Convention - Nick Nickolas "I know what you want to see." Moment Of The Convention - Nick Nickolas as Ozzy Osbourne at the Dogie Awards Most Inspiring Performer - Pablo Kusnetzoff Most Entertaining Performer - Nick Nickolas ----------------- 7. The Palace of Magic - Scotland ----------------- Message from Tony Brook A truly International cast will be at The Palace of Magic this August. Amongst them are Jay Scott Berry, Columbine, Dr. Anthony Darkstone (Tony Brook), Charles Brook, Pat Page, Ali Bongo, Paul Dabek plus a host of other first class wizards and wonder-workers. Tons of Magical Entertainment at The Palace of Magic in Scotland this August will be filling this legendary centuries old Castle in Fife. Prior to the magical weekend, at a formal black tie dinner certain performers will be honored by being presented with the coveted and prestigious, The Circle of Palace Magicians Award. This annual event is fast becoming one of the great reasons to visit Fife, Scotland. The event Producer, Jay Scott Berry, has created a site which conveys some of the flavor and sheer magical excitement that this event generates. Visit: www.palaceofmagic.com ----------------- 8. A Big Thank You From The President Shore City Magicians Club ----------------- Message from Mick Peck - President Shore City Magicians Club Inc. Thank you to magic friends both old and new. I was able to match a lot of new names to faces at the recent convention and it was my pleasure to meet you all. Thank you to everyone who supported the event. Thank you to everyone who has been in contact with me recently, your kind words mean a lot, you have made all of the hard work worthwhile. ----------------- 9. New Items On Martinka.com Auction XIII ----------------- Message from Ted Bogusta The 13th Martinka online magic auction is now underway. There are hundreds of items already listed and more are being added daily. You’ll find vintage 8X10s, programs, posters, tokens, apparatus and more. There are items from Houdini, Thurston, Herrmann, Kellar, Blackstone and others. The apparatus includes fine items from P&L, Thayer, Owen, Himber , Merv Taylor, as well as other hard to find and unusual pieces. Among the many items still to come are a Stull fish bowl, a Walsh appearing table, a signed Kellar photo and a Lester Lake Guillotine once used by Orson Welles. You can view photos of all the lots by visiting www.martinka.com/view25 . If you are not already registered and wish to bid, please fill out the simple registration form on the site. If you have a question about a lot, please don’t hesitate to ask. I hope you enjoy browsing through the items. Regards, Ted www.martinka.com Martinka & Co., Inc. 103 Godwin Ave. Midland Park, NJ 07432 USA (212) 279-6079 ----------------- 10. Large Collection Of Magic For Sale ----------------- Message from Adolfo Perez - perezadolfo@hotmail.com I wanted to mention that my Godfather had passed away about 3 years ago and had left me all of his magic collection. There are lots of books by people like Frank Garcia, Derick Dingle Harry Lorraine just to mention a few. All the merchandise is new, nothing used or in bad condition. Also have lots of card gimmicks by Frost etc. and other miscellaneous things like video's too. Some I already have duplicates of and other things that are not of my interest. He was a long time magician and very active in the magic profession. He grew up with the big boys from the old school and having lived in Manhattan New York he knew all of the well known guys in the magic industries. He practically maintained Tannen's magic and Daytona Magic in business as well as many other stores in New York. He basically bought anything and everything he had an interest in. Again, I'm not going to get rid of everything but at least for the most part the things I have doubles of and no interest of. I will not be going to put a price tag on anything although they are new but rather issue a list with what was paid and let interested parties make me an offer. I do prefer to move these items rather than see them in my closet boxed up. Everything he purchased was the latest magic out and high quality, nothing of inferior quality. If you think this might be of interest please let me know. ----------------- 11. Midsummer Magic Festival - Richmond, B. C. July 2005 ----------------- Message from Clive Court (Canada) The month long Midsummer Magic Festival being planned for Richmond, B.C., Canada in July 2005 is looking for expressions of interest from magicians who are planning to be in North America at that time. This is a public festival that will feature stage, cabaret, and close-up magicians in a variety of venues. It is not, repeat not, a magicians' convention. These will be multiple performances in the same venue for a week or longer. The main stage will feature four weekly shows. To date, Murray Hatfield, Juliana Chen, and Dean Gunnarson have expressed interest. In August, we will enter the critical stage of pitching for sponsorship funding from the public and private sectors. For further details, please check the website at: www.midsummermagicfestival.com Richmond, British Columbia, is the Pacific Gateway to Canada for international airlines. The airport is 2.5 miles from the centre of Richmond and 12 miles from the centre of Vancouver, one of the world's most livable cities. Hotel accommodation is more reasonable in Richmond. ----------------- 12. Telephone Interview With David Copperfield ----------------- Message from Brenton Foale (Aust) 1. Friday 11th June, while most other Melbourne magicians were attending the 29th Australian Convention of Magicians, the Monash Young Magicians Club held it's first members only competition, the Librarian's Trophy, with 9 year old Meaghan Foale (aka Miss Tyque) winning with her rendition of a comedy sponge ball routine using a tale about tomatoes as her patter. 11 year old Elise Foale (Miss Daree) came second with a Sevengali routine, and 10 year old James Rissos was third with a sponge ball routine. The competition was judged by David Drowley and Jason Clarke, from the Magic Circle of Victoria, and Brenton Foale (club president) making up the three required MAGICIAN judges, and Jennifer Hughes, from New Zealand, making up the Lay judge requirement. An excellent job was done by all, and the judging was difficult. Meaghan will be presented a copy of "The Magic Book" by Harry Lorayne as her prize at the next meeting. The other contestants will receive encouragement awards. 2. Membership is now open to any junior magicians, aged 9 and over, for the Monash Young Magicians Club, in Glen Waverley, Victoria, Australia. Enquiries can be directed to Brenton Foale at Monash_Young_Magicians_Club@hotmail.com or via telephone on 03 95741393 3. On Sunday 30th May, Brenton Foale had a telephone interview with David Copperfield, courtesy of David's management team, transcript of which will appear in the next issue of "Out of the Hat". Anyone not on the mailing list yet, who wishes to receive the publication, can contact Brenton via email at Monash_Young_Magicians_Club@hotmail.com. 4. Professional magicians from Melbourne are being sought to perform with the junior members in an upcoming variety show. For details please contact Brenton Foale. ----------------- 13. Les Anneaux Magiques 2005 ----------------- Message from Jean Graf (Switzerland) The seventh international price for the illusion “LES ANNEAUX MAGIQUES” will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2005 at 20.30 in the Theater of Beausobre to Morges (Switzerland). “LES ANNEAUX MAGIQUES” are intended to encourage and to reward the best young magicians of talent during a public official gala night. The candidates of different country, in advance retained by a selection committee, will present their acts in front of a jury consisted of magicians and personalities of the world of the show business. In the course of evening, the three winners will receive the magic Rings of: Gold, Silver and Bronze, matched by prize in cash and by numerous contracts. The second part of this International competition will be assured by a magician of international class. “LES ANNEAUX MAGIQUES” is the most important spectacle of magic in Switzerland. For information and registration: Club of the Magicians of Lausanne. www.cml.ch ----------------- 14. South Eastern Association Of Magicians Convention ----------------- Message from B Manley (US) If you are visiting in the in the South Eastern US in September 2004; the South Eastern Association Of Magicians are having their annual convention September 2 & 3 in Nashville, TN at the Preston Hotel. Lecturing and performing are John Carney, John Mendoza, Steve Bargatze, Tom Craven, David Garrard and more. Dealer spaces available. Appears to be a real good line-up so far. Won't you come and join us? For further information e-mail: bandpm@comcast.net ----------------- 15. A Ripping Good New Year!- Peter Marucci ----------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) Despite the name: You can't park on a parkway. You're not likely to buy a garage at a garage sale. And you should never -- ever -- put mouth coils in your mouth. In fact, unless you include sword-swallowing in your act, you should never put anything in your mouth (or, conversely, take anything out of it) as part of your show. All right, you're going to tell me that a lot of big-name magicians do it. So? A lot of big-name magicians may beat their spouses, take drugs, or have a lot of other revolting habits. Does that mean that you should follow their lead? Of course not! So, you say, what's the point of mouth coils? Well, despite their name, they can be a very flashy, surprising part of your act -- and you don't even have to put them in your mouth. The following is a written as a New Year's Eve routine, but it can be changed to just about any holiday of the year or to a "happy birthday" routine for birthday parties. A RIPPING GOOD NEW YEAR! by Peter Marucci Effect: The magus shows a strip of paper that says Happy New Year (assuming it is a New Year's Eve party; otherwise, make the words fit the occasion). He tears up the papers and asks his audience for the magic words. When he unfolds the paper, instead of being restored it has turned into a multi-colored 25-foot streamer. Working and Presentation: This is dead easy, your can carry it in your pocket, and it will play for anything from a parlor party to a stage audience. All you need is a strip of tissue paper about 2 inches by 14 inches with the words "Happy New Year" (or whatever the occasion) printed on it, a mouth coil and our old friend, the thumb tip. Have the mouth coil and the thumb tip concealed in the left hand; the fingertips of that hand are also holding the Happy New Year strip of paper, so it's no big deal to conceal the coil and tip. Tell your audience (in this case, a New Year's Eve party) that, to make the magic work, some magic words are needed. You suggest, none too originally, the words "Happy New Year" and get the audience to shout out the "magic" words. You can have a lot of fun with the interplay here, telling the audience they're not yelling loud enough to make the magic work. This is great at kids' parties but it's also a great way to loosen up an adult audience, especially if they don't know you and don't know what to expect. Getting them all working together at your command gets them on your side -- and you've done 90 per cent of the job in winning them over. Show the strip of paper to the audience, pointing out that it's a memory aid in case they should forget the magic words (". . .which are . . .?" you say, as often as possible, getting them to yell the words). Matching your actions to your words, say: "I will now tear the paper into two pieces. I will now tear the paper into four pieces. I will now tear the paper into eight pieces. I will now tear the paper into (pause here and look mildly puzzled) . . . a whole bunch of pieces." As they are laughing at this bit of nonsense (we hope!), stuff the torn pieces into the thumb tip and pick it up on the right thumb. Ask the audience: "What were the magic words?" They will reply, "Happy New Year!" (If they don't, perhaps you might consider taking up golf or stamp collecting.) Smile confidently as you say, "And the magic words restore the torn bits of paper." Begin pulling the coil out of your left hand. Start slowly and build speed as you look more and more puzzled. If possible, start on your right where you are performing and walk across the stage area as you pull the coil out of your hand, leaving a streamer trailing behind you. Or, if you are working on the same level as your audience, drape it over the first row of spectators. When you run out of coil, just drop the end of the paper and shrug, showing your hands empty without drawing attention to the fact. "Well," you comment, "I guess someone said the wrong magic words." And go on with the rest of your show. Second Thoughts: There are a number of different types of mouth coils on the market and you'll just have to go by trial and error to see which you like the best. Me? I make my own. That way, I can control the length, colors, and variety and I don't look like every other guy or gal who's using mouth coils. Oh, yes. Just one more thing. Repeat after me: I will never put a mouth coil in my mouth. Because, if you do, you'll get a spankie! Peter Marucci 270 St. Andrew St. East Fergus, Ontario, Canada N1M 1R1 showtimecol@aol.com ----------------- 16. Perfect Silk Flower Holder - Jamie-G ----------------- Message from Jamie-G (Canada) Effect: Magician is holding a red rose. The magician then plucks the top of the red rose (the bud) and it unfolds into a 24 inch red silk. Note: If you take your time to make this prop it will look great. You first must find the perfect fake red roses. I just found these plastic red rose sat the dollar store. The store that I go to just came out with them they are about 18 inch's long and are just perfect for these type of magic effects. You might have to shop around until you find them. The one at this dollar store they sell 6 of them and they are together in a bundle for a dollar. (Great deal) Props: One plastic fake red rose, one roll of green flower tape and a bunch of garbage ties. Note: The garbage tie's are the ones with that come with garbage bags to tie the garbage bags closed. Set-Up# 1.First you have to take the red leaves off the rose these just pull off and your with the little bowl piece of the top part of the stem you need this. Now you need to go to the garbage ties you must strip off the paper that is on them once this is done your ready for the next step. You are going to make 4 of wire pieces as they are going to be the part that holds your bud (silk) in place. I have twisted these ties together after folding them in half. After you have done this you will wrap it up with the floral tape. Twist all four of the ties together at one end then spread the ties out to make it look like a claw. Tape it down to your stem with the floral tape and make sure that it is secure. Now you are ready to add your silk. I know that these silk holders are like $25.00 each at the magic stores now you can make them for a couple of dollars and they look just as good or better. Give it a try I make a lot of my own flower magic.Jamie-G ------------------ 17. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives ------------------ Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. User Name: magic Password: kiwi When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) ------------------- 18. Subscription Management ------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Magic New Zealand e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors and not those of Magic New Zealand. Neither Magic New Zealand or Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand e-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree that they will not hold Magic New Zealand and or Alan Watson liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed herein. We reserve the right to edit, correct or, in our discretion, choose not to publish any submissions provided to Magic New Zealand for potential publication. Magic New Zealand welcomes readers to submit timely articles or news items which appear to be of interest to our readers. Those submitting to this e-zine agree that we have permission to publish their submissions and that they have the full copyright to the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand are fully protected by international copyright as provided by law, and articles cannot be published for profit by anyone other than the individual author without the written permission of Magic New Zealand. >>This publication may be freely redistributed (but not sold) to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer.<< © Copyright 2004 Alan Watson