* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.magicnewzealand.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #828 Date: Sunday 10th April 2011 Editor: Alan Watson www.watson.co.nz E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. A Must Have App For Magicians Booking Shows 3. Paul Daniels And His Stoic Wife Debbie McGee 4. A Magic Treasure for Sale!!! 5. David Ginn Surgery Report 6. Remarkable Magic #31 - Nick Lewin 7. Your First Effect - #204 - Kyle Peron 8. Tony Brook in Conversation with Vinny Grosso (Part 7) 9. Gary Darwin Is Back After a Life-Threatening Episode 10. Shawn Farquhar's European Lecture Tour 11. Magic Appraisal & Auction Roadshow 12. Jon Allen's Malaysian Lecture 13. An Evening with Michael Finney - Ohio 14. Last Call For The Branson Magic Bonanza! 15. Jim Oakley Passed Away 16. The oldest magic shop in Vienna closed 17. The Reprint of the 1722 Henry Dean's Book 18. GeniiCon April 15-17 19. 42nd Annual Magic Collectors Weekend 20. Magic Consultant for "The Next Fairy Tale" 21. e-zine Archives 22. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- The membership of Magic New Zealand worldwide as of today is 16,452. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. A Must Have App For Magicians Booking Shows -------------------------------------------- Message by Alan Watson I am honored to say that I can now tell you about a project that I have been working on the last couple of months. Bruce Kalver contacted me a while ago about an app that he designed for the iPad and was looking for working magicians to test it out. After using it for a couple of months, I can honestly say that if you are a magician who books his own shows, you MUST get this app. It's called Magic Gig Slips and it does everything you need at the push of a button. Yesterday, Bruce contacted me to say that it is now available in the iTunes App Store. As a full time performer, I understand how hard it usually is to keep track of your shows and mail out contracts. This app is a lifesaver. You put in all the client information and with one button, it sends out a contract to the client. Another button puts the event on your calendar. A third button sends a show slip with all the information to your home computer. The information can be placed on one of two lists: Pending or Booked. There's even a button for you to get Google map directions to the show. Everything is backed up on the internet so if you lose it, you can recover it. You can write various contracts to use and select them from a wheel of all the letters that you've saved. This app is truly magical. The app is very intuitive and really easy to use. Now with your iPad, you can book shows wherever you are. No more waiting until you get home to take down all the information. From the first time I tried Magic Gig Slips, I knew this was a winner. When Bruce told me that this app will sell for $4.99US, I was shocked. It is worth so much more. As a preforming magician, I highly recommend that you check out Magic Gig Slips at the iTunes App Store. Congratulations Bruce! -------------------------------------------- 3. Paul Daniels And His Stoic Wife Debbie McGee -------------------------------------------- Message by Debbie McGee (UK) The Life and Current Times of Magician Paul Daniels and his Stoic Wife Debbie McGee. Well England must be very quiet at the moment as on March 5th Paul and I departed its shores to travel across the world in search of adventure and of course magic. Little did we know that earthquakes and tsunamis would surround us. First of all we stopped for one night in Auckland to leave luggage including show props, any magician who travels through airports these days knows only too well how difficult it is getting through Customs. Our lovely friend Alan Watson collected us from the airport in his famous "Magic Van" - it didn't quite fly to our hotel but was close to it as we sped there in no time. The next morning we headed to Australia's Gold Coast, the first thing we did on arrival was buy Indiana Jones style hats, and then we were ready for anything. We stayed with the English comedy act "The Krankies" who spend four months there every year. It was great to chat and swap stories about old English showbiz. After three days there we headed back to Auckland. In Auckland we spent a joyous day with Alan and Michele Watson and much magic was discussed and discussed and discussed. Today Sunday 13th March 2011 the Daniels are due to join the Saga Ruby cruise ship. At this moment in time it is delayed due to the Japanese Tsunami and so I will write more when we find out what is going to happen. Bye for now Debbie McGee -------------------------------------------- 4. A Magic Treasure for Sale!!! -------------------------------------------- Message by William V. Rauscher (US) A Magic Treasure for Sale!!! http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/24688/page6 -------------------------------------------- 5. David Ginn Surgery Report -------------------------------------------- Message by David Ginn (US) Resting at home. Surgery is easy. Just close your eyes. Wake up in hospital and people make a fuss over you. Recovery is (pick one): A. Difficult B. Slow C. Maddening D. Hard E. Tiring F. Interesting (not a choice). G. An experience. H. Easy as pie (not a choice). I. Slow. J. Not Fast. K. Never as planned. L. Never exactly as planned. M. Fun (not a choice). N. Boring the first 2-3 days. O. Oh . . . Q. Quaint. But today Tuesday is my 4th day after the surgery, I have walked 10 times around main level of the house, eaten normal meals, watched two TV movies, and pasted up a dozen pages of old pictures for the next book/CD/DVD project I've planned for months, talked to several friends and family members on the phone (while Jeannie & Becca downstairs without my help shipped about 15 orders). Lynne has allowed me 30 minutes on the computer. My time is up. Tomorrow is another day (and yes I watched part of Gone with the Wind last night). Scarlett O'Hara is still a beauty 150 years later! Excellsior! David -------------------------------------------- 6. Remarkable Magic #31 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (US) Sorting through the props. It is astonishing how props build up in a magician's cupboard. They just seem to multiply like 'Tribbles' in a Star Trek episode. There doesn't seem to be any rule or guideline to the way it happens. I think of an idea to include in my show and then let it simmer for a while, usually years or decades. I have never found it easy to put a new 'bit' into the show; it has to seem organic and needs to be regulated entirely by my subconscious mind. Or that's my story! This week I am sorting through my magic props prior to packaging them away before/during/'till after we move homes again. There seems to be several kinds of boxes to create. 1 Props that I own, to replace other props that I am currently using. If you are a working magician then you had better have duplicates of everything you use. Inside these boxes I also include supplies that I need to frequently replace, such as; Glue Sticks, Envelopes, Rope, Silks, Flash Paper, Playing Cards, etc. etc. 2 Props that are items that I want to incorporate into future working routines. These are the biggest problem/blessing to be stored as some have been around for many, many years and have never been used. Usually if I like an idea enough to want to put it into my show, then I like it enough to buy numerous copies everything needed to perform it. "Oh, is that ten sets of bags I own to perform Fogel's 'Second Spot!" Why do I own 33 tricked out wallets? 3 Sentimental props, useless but still satisfactory to own. I usually find these ones to be the toughest to categorize. Sometimes you don't realize wherein their appeal lies. Sentimental props are often the 'grubbiest' of props and can often pose a physical health problem. Certain items should just go when you realize that they are never going to work again. Personal note: no, they are never going to start using wrappers on the individual sticks of chewing gum again! Let that 'Card in Gum' collection of props go. Especially the old packages of gum that have started to turn seriously 'Ickky'. 4 Things that you don't know what they are but look vaguely useful. Ah, here is a slippery slope on which to balance on the edge off! The only things less easy to misjudge in this department is electronic equipment. I have several boxes of that too. I guess the rule should be, if you haven't used it in ten years then throw it away. Hmm, sounds harsh to me. 5 Bits of paper, some useful and some not. The tough part is discovering which is which. My favorite 'Zen Story' is about the farmer who hires a man to mend the fences on his property. In an amazingly short time, the man returns to the farmer and says he has completed the job. The next day the farmer asks him to mow all the grass on the property - unbelievably the man is finished by mid-day! In the afternoon, the farmer asks him to go to the barn and divide the pile of potatoes inside, into three piles 1) Saleable, 2) Cattle food and 3) To be used as mulch. Within two hours the man returns to the farmer and says he is quitting working for him. "This potato thing is too much for me." he said. The Farmer replied 'But you did the two other jobs for me so quickly and well." "Well they were just work" said the man "This potato thing is just decision after decision after decision. I'm worn out!" However, we need to keep making those decisions with our magic. Performance is like a shark, it dies if it doesn't move forward. I make a point of doing one new joke or bit every show. Hey, I've been saving up the props and bits of paper with the jokes on it for long enough; I'd better use them eventually. Even more exciting to me than something brand new in my show is being able to re-find a prop/joke/trick from the past that has become fresh and viable again. Yeah, familiarity coupled with freshness, my perfect plan for comfortable innovation. I just wish they hadn't gone cheapskate on wrapping that gum though! Say "Hi" at nicklewin1@me.com -------------------------------------------- 7. Your First Effect - #204 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com As a family and children's performer, there is often much debate as to what is the first effect you do in the show and why. There are many different reasons why magicians choose to do what they do. However, I think it is important to take a few things into consideration when choosing that first effect. The first actual trick I open up with varies according to the show and audience I am performing for. For kid shows, I usually like to open with either 1 of 2 routines. My comedy mouthcoil routine or my version of Pet Store Pranks. The reason is not so much the trick itself as it is the routine. Of course I want the trick to be magical, but that is not my number one criteria. I want the effect to be fun, engaging and very interactive. I think the key to any opening trick, is that it needs to establish that 1) you are a magician and do have skill, 2) that it is fun in such a way that it gets kids smiling and laughing 3) it shows my personality to the children and 4) it is as interactive as I possibly can make it. Early on in the show, children are still trying to figure you out. In many ways you may be the only magician they have ever seen and so are not 100% sure of how to react towards you. So in this light, my first trick has to be one in which I can get them to see the fun we are to have and trains them (throughout the routine) how to act and react. It encourages engagement between them and what they are seeing. This is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the show. I think it is also important that I get a child helper up early on in the show. I do this because I want the children to see that helping is fun and to get them to see their peers up on stage having a great time. It allows them to get into the show and immediately breaks that wall between me and the audience. However, the trick you first do has to be one in which you know so well that you never have to even think about it. You should know it frontward and backward and have it be one of the effects that you love to do, gets a great reaction and one in which you can improvise off of. By having your first effect meet the criteria above, you allow yourself to calm down and get into a rhythm. It allows you to "see" your audience and get a feel for them and how the show will be. It also allows you to change the pace if you need to. Just like the children are feeling you out, you too are feeling out the audience. It is this first trick that allows you to set the tone of the show but also set the tone of the audience. You can tell if you need to slow down the pace or to change things up based on what you experience. If you have a first effect that you know so well, it allows you to relax enough to be able to see these things and react accordingly to them. I also choose a trick that does not embarrass the child or does not get a ton of laughs at the expense of the child. I can do some of these types of effects later in the show once they realize I am having fun with them and build that trust and report. However, the first helper who comes up (usually my first trick) I want them to be the star. I want them to laugh so I place the jokes and the comedy on myself. If they see me not taking myself as serious as a scary adult, they can have more fun. By also empowering them, it allows other children to want to participate later in the show. Whatever your first trick is, make it one in which you love to perform yourself. If you really enjoy it, it will show through your body language. If you are having fun, the children will have fun with you. As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to hear from you. I am VERY proud to announce the launch of my new product website: http://www.kpmagicproducts.com. I hope you find it of help to you. Please stay tuned to the site for sales, news and upcoming product launches. - "Blue and Gold! The Complete Guide to Working The Scout Market!" is now available as a soft cover printed book as well as an ebook download. http://kpmagicproducts.com/Blue_and_Gold.html - "Encore! Creativity in the Art of Magic" Ebook. Order online now at: http://kpmagicproducts.com/Encore.html - "Tips and Techniques on the Chair Suspension" Ebook. Order online now at: http://kpmagicproducts.com/Chairs.html -------------------------------------------- 8. Tony Brook in Conversation with Vinny Grosso (Final Part 7) -------------------------------------------- Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA TB: How do you see the future of Magic evolving? Not just in the US and Canada but in many of the places you have visited. VG: Great question...difficult question! With technology I think the social and learning aspects of magic will be ever changing with what's available. Performance mediums will certainly evolve but not as quickly. I think there will always be a desire to see magic live and in person but there are already people like Marco Tempest and Cyril Takayama who are having success with magic and new media. It will be very interesting to see how it develops over the years. TB: In my introduction I made reference to your travel schedule. You are always on the move. This because of the various activities that you are involved in; always interesting for others to know how you manage the logistics of all that . VG: Well Tony, with the exception of my trips to Italy, it is always tied to some sort of work. The key is that I am in control of my travel. I don't have a corporate travel agent making up my travel arrangements. I have spots I have to be in at certain times, I then look to see what else I can do or who else I can see around that and then plan my trip accordingly. TB: Without revealing too many plans can you tell us some of the major happenings you are working towards between July 2011 and July 2012. VG: Yes, it's difficult to talk specifics about what we're going to do because as you know things have way of changing. I will say our focus is providing new and unique benefits to our membership that will ensure the relevance of the S.A.M. into the future. And by the way they will be very cool! TB: I and indeed all of us at The S.A.M look forward to all of that. Thank you Vinny. All of us wish you great success and lots of happiness in your upcoming Presidential year. VG: Thank you Tony. I look forward to hanging out together again real soon. Send comments & corrections to:- tbrook47@gmail.com -------------------------------------------- 9. Gary Darwin Is Back After A Life-Threatening Episode -------------------------------------------- Article Forwarded on by Mel Kientz (US) lasvegasweekly.com Magician Gary Darwin is back after a life-threatening episode Local magician, magic collector and magic club founder Gary Darwin is back in action. He just had a leg amputated, but the guy's in characteristically good spirits. On the plus side, he jokes, he's lost weight, and after he gets fitted with a new prosthetic, he'll have one hell of a place to hide the proverbial rabbit. Good to know his sense of humor is intact following a potentially life-threatening ordeal: Eight weeks ago, Darwin, a diabetic, stepped on a screw. A giant water blister formed, then a blood blister, then a bad diagnosis-the doc said he'd be fine with an antibiotic-and then an ER surgery. The operation slowed Darwin down for a couple of weeks, but now he's back to his collecting, his research and his comedy writing. "Currently, I'm working on 30 books," Darwin told me. "101 Death Jokes, 101 Rope Jokes, 101 Rabbit Jokes . . . ." His best rabbit joke? "How do you catch a rabbit? Hide behind a bush and make a noise like a carrot." Last week also marked Darwin's return to Wednesday night magic club at Boomer's Bar. "I was in pain, and I was supposed to stay in bed," Darwin said, "but I just had to come. Hopefully the nurse will give me permission to come back next week." Darwin says he only got through the pain with the help of his fellow magicians: "When Lance [Burton] heard I was in the hospital, he came over and slept on the floor beside me. All night long. He followed me to surgery. And when I got out, there were 20 magicians in my room to misdirect me from the pain." Once he's healed and walking again, Darwin knows exactly what he's doing first: "I'm going to IHOP." -------------------------------------------- 10. Shawn Farquhar's European Lecture Tour -------------------------------------------- Message by Shawn Farquhar (Canada) July 28-31, 2011 M.A.G.I.C (Magic Arts Gathering In Canada) is happening in Vancouver, BC Canada. www.magicianconvention.com The lecture listings is as follows: Velden, Netherlands May 10 Anvers, Belgium May 11 Lieges, Belgium May 12 Lille, France May 13 Seine et Marne, France May 14 Paris, France May 17 Angers, France May 21 Bordeaux, France May 22 Lisbao, Portugal May 25 Porto, Portugal May 26 Toulouse, France May 28 Rome, Italy May 31 Milano, Italy June 1 OK Torino, Italy June 3 Lausanne, Switzerland June 4 Dijon, France June 6 My Birthday! June 7 Namur, Belgium June 8 Bennebroek, Netherlands June 9 Nancy, France June 11 Lyon, France June 14 Grenoble, France June, 15 Marseilles, June 17 magicianconvention.com www.magicianconvention.com magicianconvention.com - CAM PCAM Magic Convention -------------------------------------------- 11. Magic Appraisal & Auction Roadshow -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (US) Another "First" at the S.AM. Convention. Pittsburgh - Friday July 15 at 1 PM - 1st Annual Magic Appraisal & Auction Roadshow - Presented by the S.A.M. Magic Center Foundation An entertaining show of magic appraisals - Similar to TVs popular Antique Roadshow followed by a magic auction of vintage and collectible props, posters, books, and ephemera. Watch the show - or BE in the show. Five Ways to Participate: 1. Watch the show and learn the history and value of magic 2. Bid and buy magic at the auction 3. Bring an item to be appraised for free 4. Bring an item to be auctioned and make money 5. Bring an item to be appraised and auctioned See the Convention news page at www.magicsam.comn -------------------------------------------- 12. Jon Allen's Malaysian Lecture -------------------------------------------- Message by Barry Khoo (Malaysia) Hello Magic Club, GREETINGS from me! My magic friend and UK's top close-up magician and World IBM close-up magic champion, Jon Allen is planning to travel to Asian countries to do his lecture, interested to host his lecture for your club?.you can check his website at www.close-upmagician.com and for more details, you can contact him at jonallen@close-upmagician.com In the meantime, check out his classic 'Nail Roulette' with a twist called "The Pain Game" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy8a1jwX8L8&feature=channel_page Have a Magical Day! Best Regards, Barry Khoo Barrini Magical Productions Penang, Malaysia -------------------------------------------- 13. An Evening with Michael Finney - Ohio -------------------------------------------- Message from Bill Bishop The Akron (Ohio) Magical Arts Society is presenting an Evening with Michael Finney, winner of the 2009 World Comedy Magic Act of the Year. Michael is a world class magician and standup comedian with as impressive a list of credentials as any magician/comedian in the world. He has made six appearances on Fox's Comic Strip Live, HBO Comic on the Road, Sunday Comics with Lenny Clark, Bud Friedman's Evening at the Improv and two NBC specials hosted by John Ritter "World's Greatest Magic" and "World's Wildest Magic". Michael has also made two appearances on the George Lopez Show. He has been named both the Comedy Magician of the Year and the Parlor Magician of the Year by the Magic Castle, was a Silver Lion Head recipient for excellence in comedy and magic from Siegfried and Roy, and performed at the 2004 Presidential Inaugural gala for President Bush. This performance will be held one night only, on Sunday May 15, 2011 at 5pm, at the Annunciation Greek Community Center at 129 South Union St, in Akron, OH. Tickets are only $35 and include dinner and close up magic before the show. Also featured on the same stage are illusionists John Steven Bloom, Nate the Great and the fabulous Bill Bishop. For complete details or reservations, go to www.akronmagic.com, or call 330-759-8592. Don't miss this show! -------------------------------------------- 14. Last Call For The Branson Magic Bonanza! -------------------------------------------- Message by Marty Hahne (US) Last Call for the Branson Magic Bonanza! The Branson Magic Bonanza takes place April 28-30, in the live show capital of the world, Branson, Missouri! This year we feature a terrific lineup of talent, including John and Pam Thompson aka "The Great Tomsoni & Co; Denny Haney, Dan Stapleton, Stoil & Ekaterina, Mark Wade, Dave Hill, Jason Hudy, Al Moessinger and Greg Wood. Three shows included: the exciting all star show, the great Tom Mullica with his Red Skelton show and finally, the high energy musical experience of the Haygoods. Lectures, dealers, magic fashion show, ice cream party, pizza party and more, all taking place in Branson. And for early arrivals, special prices for the Hamner Barber Variety Show, the Kirby VanBurch Illusion show and Todd Oliver and Friends, with his amazing talking dogs! It all takes place April 28 - 30, at the Best Western Branson Inn and Conference Center. Rooms are just $55 a night! For more information, go to www.bransonmagicbonanza.com. -------------------------------------------- 15. Jim Oakley Passed Away -------------------------------------------- Message by John Luka (US) Jim Oakley Comedy juggler and great guy, Jim Oakley, passed away on Monday, April 4, 2011 at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI Jim was 64 years old and is survived by his widow, Gerry Hendrix, and many friends and family. On Sunday, March 13, 2011 Jim was rushed to the hospital after suffering a subdural hematoma (bleeding on the brain). Not expected to make it through the night, Jim proved to be stronger than the doctors thought and held on for three weeks. He spent most of that time in ICU and was later transferred to the hospice section of the hospital where he passed peacefully in his sleep. Known for making audiences laugh while juggling 3 rubber chickens, an axe, soccer ball, M&M and apple (not all at the same time!), Jim had appeared as the opening act for The Everly Brothers, The Captain and Tennille, Engelbert Humperdinck, Chubby Checker, Weird Al Yankovic, Jerry Lee Lewis, Smokey Robinson, The Smothers Brothers, Michael Bolton, The Oak Ridge Boys, Pam Tillis, magic legend Harry Blackstone Jr. and many more. Jim was also chosen as the opening act before a speech given by former President George Bush, and was a feature performer with Bobby Vinton and The Gatlin Brothers at their theatres in Branson. After retiring from and selling his family's furniture store, Jim devoted more of his time to performing. Jim was a proud graduate of Albion College and loved golf, music, sushi, ice cream, chocolate, chocolate and chocolate! -------------------------------------------- 16. The Oldest Magic Shop of Austria Closed -------------------------------------------- Message by Peter Glass (Austria) The oldest magic shop of Austria the "Zauberklingl" in Vienna closed. The shop was established in 1876 by Michael Klingl and had a well-known reputation all over the world. It gave help to generations of beginners and was comparably to Davenports or McMillan in England. The owner closed the shop today and transferred all magic props to his main shop which contains mainly fun articles and costumes. So a legend ends. -------------------------------------------- 17. The Reprint Of The 1722 Henry Dean's Book -------------------------------------------- Message by Burton S. Sperber Dear Fellow Collector: Under my imprint, A Real Miracle, I will be publishing a facsimile of the rare first edition of Henry Dean's The Whole Art of Legerdemain, or Hocus Pocus in Perfection, published in London in 1722, using a copy acquired from the Bob Rossi collection in Las Vegas. The reprint of the 1722 Dean also seems to present a good opportunity to provide some historical commentary on Dean's book and to update our collective bibliographical knowledge of the various editions and variants of his work, using Tootle Stott's admirable conjuring bibliography as a launching point. To do this I have assembled the team of Dr. Eddie Dawes, Byron Walker and Clay Shevlin, all of whom are well known in collecting circles. Eddie, who is in my opinion the finest living conjuring historian, will write an essay on Dean and his book. For the updated and corrected bibliographical checklist, Byron Walker has very kindly volunteered access to his incredible collection of Deans (about 30 of them, all different!) and generously agreed to share the knowledge he has acquired over the years through studying his Deans. And Clay Shevlin will lend his bibliographical expertise to the project by compiling the Dean checklist, in addition to photographing the title page and frontispiece for each entry. I believe the result will prove a very useful addition to conjuring literature, which will be published as a companion volume to the Dean facsimile. But the most gratifying part of this project is the fact that a significant portion of any profits from this project will go to weSPARK, a cancer support group based in Los Angeles, and Bob and believe this will distinguish the publication as one of the few magic books ever published where the profits there from are designated for a charitable organization. Most research projects benefit greatly from the assistance of fellow collectors, and this project is no exception. So I would appreciate hearing from you if you own any editions of Dean, and which editions you have, using Toole Stott's entry numbering. And if any of your Deans are different from those listed in Toole Stott, please let me know how they differ. For each entry in the updated checklist, we will note the owners, in the same fashion as Toole Stott. You can contact me at bsperber@valleycrest.com, or Clay Shevlin at chshevlin@sbcglobal.net. Your assistance and input will surely help to improve the Dean checklist by making it more complete. With my thanks in advance for your assistance, Burton S. Sperber, MIMC -------------------------------------------- 18. GeniiCon April 15-17 -------------------------------------------- Message by Kent Blackmore (Aust) Registration prices for the Geniis Magical Society's GENIICON weekend have been held at $200, so if you're thinking on coming, best be quick - it's only two weeks away! Stephen Bargatze and Rick Merrill head up a lineup of great talent for close-up, parlour and stage shows with lectures and public shows not to be missed. Find the registration details and more information at http://sydneymagic.net under the GeniiCon link. -------------------------------------------- 19. 42nd Annual Magic Collectors Weekend -------------------------------------------- Message by Julie Eng (Canada) May 19 to 21, 2011 Chicago, IL - Westin O'Hare $210/subscribers to Magicol $225/non-subscriber Convention Registration: www.magicana.com/mca/weekend Guests of Honor: Ray & Ann Goulet and Dr. Gene Matsuura Programme Of Events By Convention Chair: David Ben We are pleased to report that we have finalized the roster of presenters for the 42nd Annual Magic Collectors Weekend to be held at the Westin Hotel in Chicago from May 19th to 21st, 2011. The Westin offers our conference superb facilities with an amphitheater for our formal presentations, a dealers' room right across the hall, and plenty of other amenities. We can accommodate 200 delegates, and at present, just weeks from the opening event, we have 140 registrants. With over twenty presentations scheduled over the three days, there is something for everyone with an interest in magic and its history. Unofficially Although the MCW doesn't start officially until Thursday, May 19th, many delegates arrive on the Wednesday to relax at the hotel, see some sights in Chicago, or visit the Knights of Sleights' 28th Annual Flea Market to find a bargain or two. Every year a few stories circulate around the MCW about the treasures unearthed at this magical flea market. Opening Day Line Up - May 19 Registration for the MCW will open Thursday morning at 11:00 am. The Dealers' Room will open around 12:30. We are pleased to have several new faces in the Dealers' Room this year, as well as those we've come to expect and whom we all appreciate. We'll do a separate blog entry about the various dealers further down the line. We can say, however, that we will also have a couple of mini-exhibitions in the room, as well as the tables where attendees can converse, and that were such a hit last year. We will also stage both a Dealers' Show and TOSS (Tricks Old & Seldom Seen) on Thursday afternoon. Both will be under the capable direction of MCW stalwart Tom Ewing. TOSS is not meant to be a formal show, but rather a fun gathering of collectors who walk through the demonstration of apparatus to inform and amuse. On Thursday evening, we will fete and hear from our Guests of Honor: Ray and Ann Goulet, and Dr. Gene Matsuura. It's the East Coast (Boston) meeting the West Coast (San Francisco) in Chicago, providing insight and stories from in front of and behind the scenes, garnered from a lifetime of collecting magic. A mix and mingle reception will follow the presentation by our Guests of Honor. TGIF - May 20 The focus on Friday morning will be Advertising Magic. We have invited several speakers with expertise in this area to address the subject in novel ways. We were inspired to explore this theme at the MCW after reading The Ultimate Thayer, the magnum opus by Phil Schwartz and the late Dr. Robert Albo. As Phil has a background in marketing and communications, it should come as no surprise that he would touch upon how magic dealers - in this case Thayer - cultivated a 'brand name'. We have asked Phil to elaborate on this concept: How dealers have - or have not - created a brand in their advertising, catalogues and wares. We have also asked Adam Rubin - a frequent contributor to the pages of MAGIC magazine, and one of those 'creative guys' who has worked in the advertising industry - to come up with modern day advertising campaigns for magic props from a by-gone era. It is always a curse to say that someone is funny in advance. Well, Adam has just been cursed. He's a funny guy. Most of us have heard of "The Trick That Cannot Be Explained". How about "The Prop That Cannot Be Explained"?! Readers of Magicol will know of John Carney's quest to ferret out and photograph exactly that: props that cannot be explained. John will be joining us Friday morning to showcase some of the Gimmicks, Gadgets and Gizmos that defy description, and that he has culled from various collectors throughout the world. Friday Afternoon When asked to name "the oldest trick in the book", the Cups and Balls would be high on the list. As a collectible, Cups and Balls come in a variety of forms and price ranges. While we may differ on what is the oldest trick in the book, when it comes to naming the authority on collecting cups and balls, the list is singular: Bill Palmer. Bill will be joining us Friday afternoon to take us through his collection, and let us know - from his perspective - what makes one set more desirable than another. Friday afternoon will also feature a presentation by author, performer and frequent MCW contributor David Charvet on a rarely seen, at least in this day and age, kindred accomplishment: Rag Pictures. In addition to tracing the history of the rag act, David will delve into Balda Art Service, the main supplier of pictures to this rag trade. One of the twentieth century's most fascinating characters and creators of magic - comedic and bizarre - was Timothy McGuire, aka as Tom Palmer, Tony Andruzzi and Masklyn ye Mage. Jim Magus, with Tony Nosek and Neil Tobin, has recently released a book, Unspeakable Acts, on this man of mystery. Jim Magus will be with us Friday afternoon to shed some light on the many lives lived and the magic created by this enigmatic figure. We will round off the Friday afternoon program with The Kodells, a presentation by Jeff Pierce about Jack and Mary Kodell and their life in magic. Jack and Mary will be on hand to talk about their life in show business and answer questions from the audience. Friday Evening Friday night is technically "free", but for those who choose to stay in, we will be screening some very special films for those who elect to roam the dealers' room and stay at the hotel. We are very pleased to report that one of the films will be a one-time screening of Patrick Watson's interview with Charles Reynolds at 31 Faces North in Toronto. Several years ago Charles, like Billy McComb, was a Guest of Honor at 31 Faces North. There, Patrick Watson, a broadcast icon whose pioneering on-air style spawned such programs as 60 Minutes, interviewed Charles about his life, and his interest in magic. Allan Slaight and Magicana, co-producers of 31 Faces North, are pleased to provide attendees with the opportunity to hear Charles discuss his life and career with candor and humor. There will also be one or two other short films screened prior to the Reynolds interview. A Solid Saturday - May 21 Gninrom Yadrutas For many sleight-of-hand magicians, particularly for the new generation, the book most coveted is a first edition of S.W. Erdnase's The Expert at the Card Table. Even though the book is not particularly rare, it is probably the most sought-after magic book published in the 20th century. Recent auction prices have seen copies sell for $5,000. As the book was published originally in Chicago in 1902, and its illustrator, Marshall D. Smith was from the Second City, and made an appearance at the 1947 SAM Convention in the city, we thought it is now time to focus our attention at the MCW on this perennial favourite. To that end, we have invited several of the world's foremost authorities on Erdnase to Chicago to discuss the book at the 42nd Annual Magic Collectors Weekend. Our first presenter Saturday morning will be Jason England. In addition to being one of the world's foremost authorities on advantage play, Jason is also obsessed with Erdnase. He has collected almost every edition of the book, and he will be bringing them with him to Chicago to show - as a display in the Dealers Room - and tell, with a keynote presentation in our theatre. We are also pleased announce a new name on the Erdnase-scene: Hurt McDermott. A writer/director by trade, Hurt has many new and interesting ideas about the book and its author. His focus at the MCW will be on why the book was published in Chicago. It is a fascinating story, and one that will shed new light on a host of other publications. For many, the seminal question regarding the book is the identity of the author. Seasoned history conference attendees will recall the spirited debate on this subject at the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History some ten years ago. Although David Alexander is no longer with us - he had been scheduled to present an update for us at the 42nd MCW - we are pleased to have Richard Hatch and Todd Karr on hand to provide both an overview of the candidates and their considerable insight on the subject. A lot has changed in the past ten years as technology has given Erdnase-scholars the opportunity to access an unparalleled amount of records and data. These sessions will bring us up-to-date. The morning session will conclude with a panel discussion and Q & A session with our presenters on this most elusive subject. Saturday Afternoon We have four wonderful speakers scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Leading off will be Jeff Taylor, the new curator of the American Museum of Magic. The Museum, founded by Bob and Elaine Lund, should need no introduction to this crowd. There has been much speculation, however, about what has happened to the collection and the access to it since their passing. Jeff is going to give us an update on what he and the Museum have been doing, and the plans for the future. A large part of collecting magic is also disposing of it. We often acquire duplicate items to upgrade the condition of the item in the collection. Sometimes we buy a large amount of material in order to acquire just one particular piece, and are left with items that are not within our primary range of interest. We may have reached an age, economic circumstance, or be in a relationship where it is prudent to dispose of parts or all of our magic holdings. Holding an auction is a tried and true method of selling magic. To take us behind the scenes and detail the process involved, we have asked Gabe Fajuri to address our group. Gabe is the founder of Potter & Potter, a firm specializing in the disposition of magic-related material. After Gabe's presentation, we will have a panel discussion that will include David Goodman, The Magic Auctioneer, and others, to discuss this subject and address questions from the delegates. The penultimate presentation will be about the magical mind of Del Ray, presented by Bill Spooner, one of Del's close friends, and co-publisher of the critically acclaimed magic bestseller Del Ray: America's Foremost. Bill has probed the principles that Del devised and is going to explain to us what made Del and his props tick. We are particularly pleased that Bill and another of Del's close friends, Bob Escher (who, along with David Baldwin, were the other co-publishers of the Del Ray book), will be bringing several of Del's props from their personal collections to display at the MCW. The final presentation scheduled for Saturday afternoon is the talented, charming and indefatigable, Celeste Evans. With over fifty year's experience performing and promoting magic, Ms. Evans will talk about her life on both sides of the footlights, address questions from the audience, and launch her new book, I Can Still See Me. Saturday Night As is the custom, we will provide the MCW with a magical finish - an evening stage show held in the intimate surrounds of our amphitheatre. The show will be hosted by David Charvet and, in addition to being the Master of Ceremonies, David will perform an interlude with Rag Pictures, the subject of his presentation the day before. Also on the bill, will be multiple Magic Castle Award Winner John Carney, presenting some of the classics of parlor prestidigitation with that light and playful touch for which he is famous. Headlining the show will be Murray Hatfield and Teresa, making their MCW and Chicago debut. Murray and Teresa are one of the hardest-working touring professional illusion acts in North America. Residents of Victoria, British Columbia, where they are also the proprietors of Murray's Trick & Joke Shop, Murray and Teresa perform primarily for the public. Although they have been featured at several of the larger magic conventions, and just recently at both the Magic Castle and It's Magic! presenting excerpts from their full show, Magic 'n Miracles, they have never performed before a group of our ilk. What makes their debut at the MCW even more special is that Murray and Teresa will present their own twist on an illusion described by Tad Ware in Magicol No. 161 (November 2006), namely Edward Stowell's Confounding "Chinese Torture Cabinet". Murray stumbled upon the illusion several years ago, remembered it being performed by Mark Wilson, and acquired the prop. It came to him in an old wooden crate stamped on the side with the name Lee Edwards. It is now one of his favourite illusions and, after you see Murray and Teresa perform it, it will be one of yours. I'm pleased to say that Murray and Teresa will be with us for the entire Weekend. Not only are they fine practitioners of the "big stuff", they are enthralled by the history. I hope that once they see the nature of the group and the Weekend, they will become regulars. After the show, we will have our just desserts, and the opportunity to mingle, drink and sample a dessert or two at a reception outside the Dealers Room. All in all, a fun-filled and informative Weekend: don't you agree? Register For The 42MCW: www.magicana.com/mca/weekend May 19-21, 2011 | Chicago, IL | Westin O'Hare -------------------------------------------- 20. Magic Consultant for "The Next Fairy Tale" -------------------------------------------- Message by Joyce Basch (US) Ms. Magician, Joyce Basch, Magic Castle performer and a favorite international entertainer, has been hired as the Magic Consultant for the world premiere musical, The Next Fairy Tale . The story begins at the dawn of a new century where everyone hundred years, the fabled magic mirror chooses which "hero's quest" shall become the next fairy tale. This hilarious and charming new musical comedy is playing through May 8, 2011 at Celebration Theatre 7051 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, California. -------------------------------------------- 21. e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are Coded, e.g. 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) -------------------------------------------- 22. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand® E-zine at: www.magicnewzealand.com Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday. The opinions expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson 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 they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed therein. Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted. Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. 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