* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.magicnewzealand.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #896 Date: Sunday 5th February 2012 Editor: Alan Watson www.watson.co.nz E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. I.B.M. 84th Annual Convention - Norfolk, Virginia 3. S.A.M. National Convention In Las Vegas 4. The Linking Ring Magazine - February Issue 5. Remarkable Magic. #18 - Nick Lewin 6. How To Increase Your Business - #243 - Kyle Peron 7. Tony Brook in Conversation with Ray Parker #5 8. Winter Carnival Of Magic 9. Scams & Fantasies With Cards 10. Innovention 2012 11. Trying To Find A Copy Of Card Mondor's Autobiography 12. Adelaide Fringe Festival 13. Re The Illusionists Sydney Opera House 14. Adelaide Herrmann Book 15. Andrus House Listing in Albany, Oregon Update 16. Lennart Green Honored In Finland 17. Magic At The Beach Weekend In Review 18. Special Offer To Magic New Zealand Readers! 19. 31st New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2012 20. e-zine Archives 21. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTICE Magic New Zealand is now being sent out by a new e-mail address Editor@magicnewzealand.com. Please add this e-mail address to your friends list so it does not end up in your spam folder. Some Magic New Zealand subscribers will still receive Magic New Zealand by my old e-mail address AW@Alan-Watson.com Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: Editor@MagicNewZealand.com -------------------------------------------- 2. I.B.M. 84th Annual Convention - Norfolk, Virginia --------------------------------------------- Message by Becki Wells International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) The I.B.M. 84th Annual Convention will be held in Norfolk, Virginia on July 3rd - 7th, 2012. We are excited and extremely pleased to announce the following outstanding talent. The outrageously funny Geoff Williams will entice audiences with his mind-blowing sleight-of-hand illusions. You won't want to miss the amazing card magic of magician and author, John Bannon. From Spain, the incomparable Dani DaOrtiz will entertain you with his superb technique and crazy humor. Joining us from Canada is comedian and magician, David Acer (aka Doubting Dave on Mystery Hunters), who only has to look at you to make you laugh. The fact that he is also an accomplished magician is just icing on the cake. More than just an entertainer - Hannibal - captivates his audience with his combination of magic and storytelling. You won't want to miss Wayne Houchin - exclaimed "One of the hottest magicians on the planet" by Genii Magazine. Finally, I.B.M. attendees will be treated to Paul Gertner's Ten Fingers - A Play of Magic. Enough said. Don't wait, register today at http://www.magician.org/portal/en/node/6. Reserve your room at either the Norfolk Waterside Marriott (757-627-4200) or the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside (757-622-6664). Both hotels are within a block of each other. The Marriott is our host hotel. The Sheraton is right on the Elizabeth River with lovely waterside rooms. Be sure to tell them you are with the I.B. M. to get the special $99/night convention rate. Evening shows will be held at the beautiful Chrysler Hall Theater. Let the I.B.M. be your Passport to Magic! -------------------------------------------- 3. S.A.M. National Convention In Las Vegas --------------------------------------------- Message by David Goodsell (US) The S.A.M. National Convention in Las Vegas this coming July is shaping up to be the most exciting convention in years. An important part of the convention is the convention program. It offers a chance to thank the outgoing National President and other officers, and to congratulate the incoming new National president and officers. And it provides a chance to express thanks, respect and admiration to that person to whom the convention is dedicated. As many of you know, this convention will honor David Copperfield. By any measure, David has been the most successful and influential magician of the last 100 years, and very few of us have not been influenced by his career in one way or another. His television specials and touring shows no doubt started many of us on our road to magic. What perhaps many do not know is that David has always had strong ties to the S.A.M. and is making it possible for everyone who attends the convention to see his show at the MGM Grand as part of the convention registration. He is also making it possible for us to prepare a printed convention program with a special full-color section that will make this a true collector's item that we all will treasure. I have the privilege of editing the convention program. My goal is to take out all the stops. Let's make this the best convention program in our history. Attached you will find information about placing an ad in the program. Share it with your magic friends and with your assembly. Each person placing an ad of a quarter page or larger will receive a complimentary copy of this great program, either at the convention or by mail if he or she cannot attend. The deadline for receiving ads is April 25. Start planning now! ------------------------------------------- 4. The Linking Ring Magazine - February Issue -------------------------------------------- Message by Paul A. Lelekis February 2012 issue of The Linking Ring magazine, Vol. 92, No. 2: Editor: Samuel Patrick Smith Reviewed by Paul A. Lelekis The Linking Ring boasts the world's largest circulation of any printed magic magazine and has now launched a beautiful digital edition. I.B.M. membership is required to receive this monthly magazine. Members can access The Linking Ring at www.magician.org. This site allows one, portal entry into the world of magic! Each month in The Linking Ring, the Ring Events provide readers with the "scoop" on what is happening in different Rings around the world. This month's cover of The Linking Ring is features Lex Schoppi and Alina! This pair is probably the most visually stunning "Quick Change Artists" in the world! Their "Haute Couture" features the gorgeous, colorful clothing of top name designers like Dior! Read about the many I.B.M. ring events around the world, their special events and charitable activities. Learn of the long and illustrious career of Dick Nesfield, known professionally as "Dleisfen" - the first (and forgotten) Secretary of the largest ring in the I.B.M., the British Ring! Dleisfen was also the first editor of the popular British magic magazine, The Budget! Read about John Booth's Knock-Out Prediction! - An amazing prediction that involved the 1946 boxing match between Joe Louis and Billy Conn. Mr. Booth retired in 2000 from writing the longest running column in The Linking Ring history, "Memoirs of a Magician's Ghost". Great article! Ashley Tilston, a 5th year university student, utilizes magic in her doctoral dissertation, as a calming effect for "anxious"children undergoing dental work! Learn about special events at Rings from around the world! Below are articles in which you can learn some fantastic magic! Cutting Up Jackpots by Bev Bergeron relates a terrific story of magician, Milbourne Christopher, and his inspiration to many greats of T.V. and stage! Mike Power's Card Corner offers a very cool packet trick called "Thanks to Goldstein" by Andrew Loh Shang Hai. This trick is a very nice effect suitable for any close-up! Ways And Means by Joe M. Turner is called Silk Contact by the French master, Lawrens Godon. It is a beautiful coins and silk routine - not unlike that of Vernon! Peter Marucci's Showtime presents a very nice gag called - The Rapping! Storytelling Magic by Ed Solomon presents - The Prince's Valentine! This is beautiful story Carolyn Sherwin Bailey that ends in a dove production. Ed provides a great method of performing this effect in lieu of a live bird! The Linking Ring has a team of experts who review many new items of magic so that the magicians of the world may purchase wisely! There are too many articles and too much magic in this issue of The Linking Ring for me to list, but everyone is world class! Advertisers -- your products will enjoy unsurpassed worldwide promotion in The Linking Ring through the beautiful printed magazine, the dazzling digital edition, and links from the I.B.M. Web Portal. For details about advertising in The Linking Ring, contact BJ Hickman at advertising@magician.org. -------------------------------------------- 5. Remarkable Magic. #18 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (US) Getting the gig. The better gig. When I began booking shows things seemed a lot different. To begin with I was about 14 years old and my target shows were children's parties. It has been a long time since I booked a kid's show, but believe me I would do it again tomorrow if the price and location were right. I suspect the majority of paying shows in the magic community are still kid's shows. Magic has always been largely considered an entertainment for children. Even casinos and cruise ships, two other major markets for magicians, are really just playgrounds for adults with disposable income, they only occasionally where silly paper hats though. The general rule of thumb when I was booking those early dates in my career was to run a short classified advert in the local paper and then bedazzle the potential client when they phoned you in response to it. You usually had a glossy brochure that you could mail them to 'seal the deal.' I suspect this approach still does work rather nicely if you replace the brochure with a promotional video of some kind and throw a website into the mix. Back in the 60s, when I was booking these kind of dates the second line of attack was less proactive but even more effective---you did the very best show you could, priced it carefully and then waited for word of mouth to increase your workload with more dates. It was simple and seemed to work very nicely. Being a magician and raised on stories of Houdini, and his great publicity stunts, you probably also dreamed and strove to emulate his success by engineering some kind of publicity stunt to make your name better known through that curious beast known as 'exposure.' If you could pull of some great feat, which got your name mentioned in the local newspaper for free---then the bookings would flood in. Right. Hmmmm. Eventually if you wanted to expand your source of work you entered the scary world of agents. These were mysterious beings that seem to offer access to more clients, but at the cost of removing your personal access to the actual individuals who wrote the checks. Not only were you suspicious of the process but first you also had to find one! This step tended to stop a lot of performers who somehow felt that the agent was a person who actually somehow stood in the way of you getting the gig. It didn't matter if you never even knew the booking existed. The main reason for this mistrust was because the agent represented several clients and one of their other acts might be more suitable and get the gig instead of you. That is the trade-off, if you don't like it tough-go back to the classified ads. The important part about working with a legitimate agent is to realize that this variety of clients and performers is what they bring to the table. It's how they earn their rather modest fee. They really don't care who gets the gig (unlike you, the performer involved) but they do have a very vested interest in making sure that the gig works out for the buyer. The client, make no mistake, is the booker who writes the check for the gig. If it is a success then that buyer might become a client for the agent. Of course you don't need an agent to work, but he doesn't need you either, so let me pass on four simple guidelines that help when dealing with an agent. 1 He is not 'the enemy' or a necessary evil, he is part of the route you need to become a more highly paid and fully booked performer. I hear many 'somewhat professional' performers rant about agents, when maybe they should look at their own acts and ethics more closely. 2 To steal a client from an agent is immoral, incorrect and foolish. If he gets a new buyer to purchase your services---then he deserves his percentage of any future booking made from his booking. Take a bunch of his/her cards to the gig and hand them out-not your own. 3 Do not expect an agent to care as much about you as he does himself or his revenue inducing contacts. Why should he? You work for the agent and not him for you. This isn't Broadway Danny Rose. Get real and stay there! 4 Give him the best publicity material you can and don't promise more than you can deliver. The first act will help you get the gig and the second action will screw it up if you do get the gig. Always remember you may lose that agent a long-term client and a steady source of income by a foolish promise or boast. I'm going to stop here, if you follow these basic steps you are already streets ahead of most of those strange creatures that describe themselves in the non-reality term 'semi-pros.' Email me at nicklewin1@mac.com -------------------------------------------- 6. How To Increase Your Business - #243 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com What do we need to do to increase our business? My response (like usual) will be much different than some people think or expect. Maybe that is in part because I like to think "outside the box." Perhaps it is because I am a bit deranged. However, it is more likely that I like to share what I know works for me in order to help others to think differently. One of the biggest factors towards anyone's success in a magic business is the sheer ability to consistently take action. Not just any old action. Consistent action on a daily level that leads one down the right path towards achieving or reaching an obtainable goal. So many of us can succeed and reach levels we never thought of if we simply had the ability to take action daily. Sounds simple doesn't it? However, it is not as simple as it may sound. The reason is that there are just so many things that hinder us from taking this type of action. It is really easy to become set in our ways. It is easy to be comfortable right where we are. Action requires work and work requires effort. This alone can lead many away from doing what they really know will help them succeed. The other problem folks have is that they simply get lost with how to get to where they want to go. They set a lofty goal and the goal seems so huge that they have no idea what steps to take to get there. Climbing that mountain seems impossible. So what have I learned that has helped make a HUGE difference for me? That is the ability to write down goals and to create a consistent daily to do list. I cannot tell you just how much this has changed my approach to my business and the success I want to achieve. It works and works amazingly well. Before you can have success, you must first define it for yourself. So the first step is to define the goals you are after for each part of your business. It is not good enough to just have them in your head. You must take effort to write them down and to be specific about each one. To state "to be a success" is not defined well enough. However saying "I would like to reach the profit goal of $25,000 by years end," is a goal that is specific and has weight to it. It is defined by you. When you have these written down, post them in your office so you can see them every single day. This is to remind you what you are after and seeing it every day helps you to take the next steps. The next steps is a means in which to get to the goals. In many ways we need to take steps or set up small tasks to help us reach the summit. How do I do just that? I use a daily to do list. I use a program called Evernote. Evernote allows me to create and update lists and have the ability to obtain that list file anywhere I am. I can look at it on any computer and on any phone as long as I have Internet access. My To Do list is then available no matter where I am. A to do list is as easy as it sounds. I write down small tasks each day that I need to accomplish and I assign dates for when I need to get it done by. By marking down these tasks, I am ways in line of getting them done. As I get them done, I erase them. As the status on a tasks changes, I can update it. It is simply amazing how much you can do and accomplish simply by using this system. It energizes you and it takes the confusion totally out of the picture. Each day I review my list and each evening I update it. Very simple and easy. The key is making sure that I do this every day and make it a habit. Imagine how much further you can be if you accomplished even one tasks a day, every day for a solid year? It could and can take you places you never thought of before. Suddenly those lofty goals do not seem so hard to reach. You tend to get there faster than you may realize. I challenge each of you to start doing this system for yourself. It is an amazing thing. If anyone has any questions or wants more information, PLEASE let me know. This is too good to keep to myself. 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. Please check out my product site at http://www.kpmagicproducts.com. Thank you. Kyle -------------------------------------------- 7. Tony Brook in Conversation with Ray Parker #5 -------------------------------------------- Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA ADB: You also did some stunts and falls way back then and that training was to serve you well later .. RP: I also did some comedy dance routines and some acrobatic stunts involving falls and using a chair as a prop. I continued to use acrobatic stunts and falls in a number of different acts through the rest of my career up until I was about 55 years old. Due to a shortage of teachers we had to leave school at 14 and join the wartime workforce. I went into aircraft production. We both also joined the Army Cadets and registered at night school. Very soon we joined a drama group at night school acting in plays and also began to put on regular variety performances for the army cadets. This continued until joining the armed forces in 1947, I began to appear in shows put on in the camps, finally taking over organizing the shows. ADB: That continued whilst you were in the Service . RP: Yes it did Tony. Whilst in Royal Engineers Army College in Chatham, Kent I joined a theater group at the local YMCA, appearing in variety shows and plays and in 1948 in Kenya, East Africa began organizing and performing troop entertainment. This led to a show called "Sorry Surrey." which toured army camps in Kenya. ADB: You left the Armed Forces in 1949 . RP: Yes Tony. On release from the armed forces in 1949 I began to enter talent competitions. During my service in the army I had developed a comedy impressionist act, this became the one that won "Opportunity Knocks," "Carrol Levis Discoveries and finally top prize in a talent show that ran for 10 weeks at the Wolverhampton HIppodrome. The prize was a sum of money and a theater run. this later led to appearances on BBC Radio and the first night opening of BBC Manchester TV Studios in a show called Top Town. Around that time many variety theaters were closing and many entertainers, (myself included) began to obtain work in the Working Mens Clubs. Working Mens Clubs were social clubs run by factories all over the UK. They were equipped with stages dressing rooms and musical accompaniment for the acts. The pay was good (much better than the theaters). Acts moved to a different club every night, the work was plentiful and for the next 10 years I worked full time at night and still held down a day time job. Many shows I worked were as part of a trio The Parker Brothers, Hal Ray and Peter. We performed variety show, Harmonica, song, comedy skits, impressions, crosstalk acts and a comedy harmonica act known as The Harmonica Maniacs. We also performed at night clubs and theaters. In the 1950s, I also took operatic singing lessons and incorporated it into my act with the Parker Brothers. In the last 3 years before I moved to Canada in 1965 I also began a new act in which I combined stand-up comedy and lip-sync, I called it Off the Record and it became my most requested act. I also performed as a vocalist and soon I was working a number of gigs with a back-up trio, incorporating all my acts in a pub show, which I also emceed and introduced other acts from the audience. End of Part 5 -------------------------------------------- 8. Winter Carnival Of Magic -------------------------------------------- Message by Mike Stratman Knoxville I.B. M. Ring 58 presents its 38th annual Winter Carnival of Magic in Pigeon Forge, TN. March 8, 9, & 10 2012. This year's lineup includes, The Great Tomonsi & Co.,Steve Beam, Steve Bargatze, Oscar Munoz, Joshua Jay, George Saterial, Devin Knight, Shin Lim, The Great Kaplan, The Crescent Circus, David Turner and Friends, Dinky Gowen, Jason Bishop, and Joe Lefler. Don't miss this year's "Phil Wilmarth's Collection Auction" First 200 full paid Magicians get souvenir WCM Tote Bag. Also included this year the free Sat. night Pizza Party. Registration just $135.00 for Magicians, Companion $70.00, Youth, $10-17.00 Register thru The Country Tonite Theatre (800)-792-4308 or (865) 453-2003 Plenty of Motels available at $51.00 or less. For more information, visit our website; www.wintercarnivalofmagic.com -------------------------------------------- 9. Scams & Fantasies With Cards -------------------------------------------- Message by Eddy Lester Darwin Ortiz Presents Scams & Fantasies with Cards at the Tobye Theater in the Sugden Theater Naples FL; Monday, Feb 6 & 7 and Tuesday Feb 13 & 14. Performances at 6:00pm and 8:00pm. Tickets $30. For tickets call Box Office: 239 263 7990. Lester Productions & Tin City Magic Producers. Scams & Fantasies with Cards is performed and written by Darwin Ortiz, an internationally recognized expert on card cheating, a world-class sleight-of-hand artist, and an accomplished entertainer. All three are on display in this show. Scams & Fantasies with Cards is a magic show, an exhibition of uncanny sleight-of-hand skill, and an autobiographical excursion into a fascinating life spent earning a living with a deck of cards. Stories about growing up playing cards in the inner city, roaming Times Square in the 1970s, and performing for Mafia mob bosses are intertwined with sleight-of-hand miracles, a crash course in card cheating, and even a lesson in three-card monte. The result is a fun-filled show loaded with audience interaction. You will see true impossibilities with a deck of cards that you will talk about for a long time. You will see sleight of hand raised to the level of an art form. You will see real magic. Darwin Ortiz has written books on card cheating and sleight of hand. He has worked as a consultant to gambling casinos in fourteen countries on how to prevent cheating. He has appeared on both America's Most Wanted and Britain's Most Wanted as an expert on casino scams. As an entertainer, Darwin has performed for Fortune 500 companies and entertained at both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama Presidential Inaugural Banquets. Local theatrical manager and show producer, Eddy Lester is co-producing the show in association with Tin City Magic. ------------------------------------------- 10. Innovention 2012 -------------------------------------------- Message by Paul Stone (US) Innovention 2012 will take place at the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino from September 30 - October 3. The Innovention is unlike any other Magic Convention. We carefully limit the number of attendees to just 275 to make sure that everyone has a great seat for all the shows, workshops and lectures. And we pride ourselves on producing a high quality and professional event with the very best talent and unrivalled technical support. At Innovention 2012 you will see many performers whom you will rarely, if ever, see at another Convention because we have specifically targeted 'working' entertainers who normally would never be available. We are delighted to announce that we are dedicating Innovention 2012 to the legendary performer and magic personality Peter Reveen, and many of Peter's friends will be appearing at the Convention in his honour. We will be releasing full details and names shortly but you will not want to miss this very unique and special few days. Remember once we reach 275 registrations, we will not accept any more. The Gold Coast Hotel & Casino is located close to the Las Vegas Strip, next door to the Rio and across from the Palms, and we have guaranteed room rates from just $34 plus Tax! We already have nearly 100 people registered so you need to move fast to make sure you won't miss out. For full details and to register contact info@innovention2012.com -------------------------------------------- 11. Trying To Find A Copy Of Card Mondor's Autobiography -------------------------------------------- Message by Barbara Lawson (UK) I am trying to find a copy of Card Mondor's autobiography, Dreams, Schemes, Nightmares and Illusion. He was a family friend and I have happy memories of him from my childhood. I have tried a couple of email addresses for John Williams in Tasmania, who supposedly e-published the book - but the addresses were defunct. If you can help me please email me: barbara_lawson@london.com ------------------------------------------- 12. Adelaide Fringe Festival -------------------------------------------- Message by Cath Jamison (Aust) Cath Jamison - "I Know What You're Thinking!"- Adelaide Fringe Festival. Women's intuition does exist! Cath Jamison, Australia's Leading female magician undoubtedly proves that conjuring, the paranormal and women's intuition does exist. In her new and hilarious stage show, Cath explores bizarre dating rituals and the "feminine mystique", with her trademark sass, style and mind manipulation. "When the other kids went swimming, I played with matches under the house! When the other kids played with Barbie dolls, I played with voodoo dolls, and when other kids played with Lego . I played with knives!" Often noted as one of the most "bizarre and unusual" women in Australia, Cath will delve and play with your mind, the only way a woman can and will leave you gasping from her infamous obsession with the blade and playful antics of the Voodoo Dolls. 'I Know What You're Thinking!" is an intimate and comical peek into Cath's world of knives, mindreading and the paranormal. Step through the doors and discover for yourself the thrill and excitement that lies within... "Australia's number one female magician" The Age "Crazy Woman...How did she do that?" Tim Burton (USA Film Director) "One of the funniest and captivating magicians I've seen" Trent Evans, Producer - 9am with David and Kim (Ch10) ".striking the right balance between audience interaction and showmanship." Sama Hugo-Giali - Arts Hub Australia Adelaide Fringe Festival Dates - Thru 15 ,Fri 16, Sat 17 March 2012 www.adelaidefringe.com.au ------------------------------------------- 13. Re The Illusionists Sydney Opera House -------------------------------------------- Message by John Lawson Who said magic shows are not alive and well ... not a vacant seat. Cost was $112 plus $8.50 booking fee. Cheapest seat available at time of booking 3 weeks prior to the show and worth every penny. Well put together and Jeff Hobson mastered the show doing the simplest of magic but how he did it counted more than the trick itself. Magic is alive and well when a venue like the Sydney Opera House can pack them in with most tickets costing over $112 a head. The guys performing in the foyer before every show had the opportunity to see any performance they desired but told me they could not find a seat and had to stand up to catch any show. I spend a lot of time looking at the reaction of the audience rather than give my interpretation of any performer. The reaction of the audience was such that a return of a similar show should be a sellout also. Magicians are very critical of other magic performers but the show wowed the general public and that was where the money comes from. The Kevin James lecture and the Meet and Greet of the other artists @ Hey Presto's shop were a highlight. I was told 78 magicians attended the lecture and many had to be turned away as there was not enough room to fit them in. 99 out of 100 for both events from this old retired magician. Lawsoni ------------------------------------------- 14. Adelaide Herrmann Book -------------------------------------------- "Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic - Memoirs, Published Writings and Collected Ephemera" (reviewed in the February issues of MAGIC and Genii) is now available in paperback. While we still have a few copies left of the limited full-color, hardcover boxed Collector's First Edition, Bramble Books has just published a black & white paperback second edition, available for $30, which includes U.S. shipping. To order, contact www.bramblebooks.com. SYNOPSIS Madame Adelaide Herrmann (1853-1932) was a superstar of the Golden Age of Magic. With her husband, the brilliant magician Alexander Herrmann, the beautiful and fiery Adelaide developed the first Grand Illusion show, playing worldwide to sold-out crowds for over twenty years. The Herrmanns were colorful characters-fun-loving, energetic and multi-lingual entertainers who surrounded themselves with exotic pets, famous celebrities and an aura of glamour. At the height of their success they toured in their private railcar, relaxing during the off season at their Long Island mansion and aboard their private steam yacht. In 1896, Alexander Herrmann died suddenly aboard their railcar while in the middle of a tour, leaving Adelaide deeply in debt. Madame Herrmann stepped into the magician's role-unheard of for a woman in that time-and re-opened the show at New York's Metropolitan Opera house just six weeks after her husband's death. Taking the title, The Queen of Magic, Adelaide Herrmann starred as a magician in American Vaudeville and European theaters for another three decades, until her retirement in 1928 at the age of seventy-four. Now Madame Herrmann's story is finally told, and what a story it is! Entitled "Sixty-Five Years of Magic," Madame takes us on an amazing adventure, from her beginnings as a dancer and trick bicyclist, to her marriage to Alexander Herrmann and their subsequent tours of the U.S., Mexico, South America and Europe. She peppers her memoir with hilarious anecdotes, misadventures, accidents and the continuous outrageous antics of the husband she adored. She describes their show in minute detail, including Alexander Herrmann's magic repertoire and the baffling illusions which drew standing-room only audiences wherever they went. In heartrending detail, she tells the story of her husband's death. She then reinvents herself into the first great female magician, and takes us through yet another thirty years of solo adventures. After her death in 1932, the famous Madame Herrmann slipped into oblivion. While beloved among magic historians and collectors, who carefully preserved her rich legacy of photos, posters, and a multitude of ephemera, few beyond this rarefied world knew of her. She was known to have written a memoir, but after her death it did not appear. Then, in 2010, the manuscript of Adelaide Herrmann's memoir, having been passed among her descendants for seventy-eight years, finally surfaced. Adelaide Herrmann's memoir is published verbatim and complete. This volume also includes all five of Madame Herrmann's known published magazine articles, as well as selected letters to the editor, biographical articles, reviews, news stories and fashion pages. With an introduction and chapter notes by Margaret Steele, and 145 photos and images from many pre-eminent magic collections, this first-ever book on Madame Herrmann is a loving homage to the Queen of Magic. ------------------------------------------- 15. Andrus House Listing in Albany, Oregon Update -------------------------------------------- Message by Michael Roth Oregon Heritage Website of "Properties Recently Listed in the National Register of Historic Places" featuring Jerry Andrus' house on the National Register of Historic Places. http://www.oregonheritage.org/OPRD/HCD/NATREG/nrhp_recent_nominations.shtml The1893 Andrus House is an excellent example of Victorian-era design, which was popular in the Willamette Valley between 1885 and 1895. The building features a steeply-pitched multiple-gable roof, veranda, turned posts with diagonal braces, and decorative Eastlake- and Stick-style elements such as rows of spool and spindle work and knobs, turned columns, circular perforations and cutouts, sunbursts and curved brackets, and Moorish keyhole windows. These eclectic homes were popularized by period pattern-and-plan books that spread high style exotic Victorian taste to small communities across the United States. Called the Castle of Chaos by its former long-time resident and world-renowned magician of illusions, Jerry Andrus, the home served as the center of Andrus magic inventions and as a physical prop to help conjure up a sense of mystery via the exotic Moorish keyhole windows. The building figured prominently in Andrus publicity shots, and Andrus entertained other world-renowned magicians at the home, including David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, and a number of other talented performers. ------------------------------------------- 16. Lennart Green Honored In Finland -------------------------------------------- Message by Timo Kulmakko Suomen Taikapiiri`s Honorary Member Lennart Green (Jan 2012) Finnish Magic Circle has given the Honorary membership to World Champion Card Magician Lennart Green. Lennart`s unique magic and skill has been seen and witnessed several times in Finland during the last twenty years. As a lecture and a performer he is top professional and his personality and friendship is much beyond averige. He has been the favorite artist in Kouvola Magic Days as well as Varieté MAGICA shows, both magicians and audiences always admire Lennart Green very much. It is the great honor to Finnish Magic Circle to give the Honorary Membership to Lennart Green. -------------------------------------------- 17. Magic At The Beach Weekend In Review --------------------------------------------- Message by Mike Heidtman Magic at the Beach weekend in Review Magic at the Beach 2012 is a wrap. Looking back on the flurry of activity over this past weekend I'm not sure where to begin my review. I suppose at the beginning . first allow me to thank the incredible staff for their hard work leading up to opening day: Dave Tanner and Roman LePree our Co-Chairmen, Melena LePree as Logistics & Hospitality, Michelle Householder in charge of Marketing & Corporate Liaison, Matt McCoy as Talent Liaison and Stage Manager for all productions and Mike Heidtman as Event Coordinator. Jeff Miller and William McLean help us every year doing anything that needs done on the fly - you two are fabulous. Registration opened on time and ran smoothly. All guests received an incredible swag bag full of products and material. Magic effects, the MATB Magazine featuring articles and effects written by all of the invited talent, a poster, bottle of MATB water and more were given away. The contents of which were almost worth the price of admission. Buddy Farnan decorated the Main Ballroom for our Hollywood themed Welcome Reception Thursday night and it was beautiful. All of our guests walked down the Red Carpet to enter as they were met by the paparazzi and greeted by Eric Hall channeling the magnetic presence of Mandrake the Magician and Mike Heidtman on the microphone looking quite dapper in his tuxedo. A lavish dinner buffet was enjoyed by all prior to Gregory Wilson killing the room with his one man show. If you have not seen Gregory perform let me say that his wit, skill and presentation lead to infectious laughter from beginning to end. Following the reception the Dealer's Room opened where a cash bar was open for the entire weekend and tables were setup for sessioning. Friday morning started off with Stage Competitions for both Youth and Adults. Our Judges for all competitions were Obie O'Brien representing the magic community, Nathan Heron who is the headline entertainer at the Carolina Opry/Good Vibrations show and Brock Santa, a professional actor, dancer and costumer currently with the Theatre of the Republic and formerly toured with Tomsoni & Co. Youth stage contest results had Jay Temaat winning First Place and Christopher Quintero taking Second Place. Adult stage contest results ended with Michael Trixx winning First Place and Steve Owens taking Second Place. Mike Caveney then presented the first lecture of the weekend and following lunch the Close-up Show was performed by Gregory Wilson, Asi Wind, Jeff McBride and Paul Gertner performing his FISM winning act. Gregory Wilson and Jeff McBride presented their lectures later that afternoon. After dinner everyone reassembled in the Main Ballroom for our in-house Cabaret Show. Jade was our MC and presented her magic along with turns by Mike Caveney, Tina Lenert, Jay Mattioli, Jeff McBride and Xavier Mortimer. I'd like to add that MATB was very proud to provide Xavier his American debut. From France, Xavier is a complete package: magician, juggler and movement artist. I predict that this will be the first of many visits to the United States for this young man. Later that night Jay Mattioli presented the fourth lecture of the weekend. Saturday morning kicked off early with the Close-up competition with Hayden Childress as "Haydini" taking the First Place award and Ron Conley taking home Second Place. After Paul Gertner presented the fifth lecture of the weekend the Main Ballroom was transformed into the Asi Wind Theater as Asi presented his special one man show for all of our guests. The audience gave Asi a well-deserved ovation at the conclusion and one of the many positive comments overheard was, "That man is not a magician, he is a true sorcerer!". Asi then presented the sixth and final lecture of the weekend following his show. But wait, there's more. All of the guests registered for MATB also received a premium reserved ticket for the "Champions of Magic" show Saturday night. The show was presented on the stage of the beautiful Gilmore Auditorium, home of the Carolina Opry. MATB guests and the people of Myrtle Beach filled the theatre and were presented with an awesome show. From the prelude laser light show to the final bow by the cast this show surpassed all expectations. Bravo indeed. After the show all MATB guests returned to the resort for the Farewell Party. Heavy hors d'oeuvres, beverages and a cash bar were provided while music and lights set the atmosphere. This party carried on until the wee hours of Sunday morning and yet some of the same guests that were present until the end still managed to attend the Super Session taught by Jeff McBride which began at 9:00AM. This Master Class was available for an additional fee however all who attended know that any amount of time spent with this teacher and mentor is worth twice the price. Re-reading what I just wrote I am sure there are still things I haven't mentioned and perhaps some folks I have failed to thank and yet the biggest thanks goes out to each and every one of you who came down to beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for Magic at the Beach. The MATB staff will meet soon and begin making plans for 2013. MATB is held annually in January on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend. We look forward to seeing all of our old friends back and hope to meet many more new friends next year. Thank you all once again for making Magic at the Beach so special. Submitted by Mike Heidtman, Event Coordinator, MATB2012 Tuesday, January 17, 2012 Myrtle Beach, SC, USA -------------------------------------------- 18. Special Offer To Magic New Zealand Readers! --------------------------------------------- Message by Shawn McMaster The newest issue of The Mandala is out! Special Offer To Magic New Zealand Readers! Magic's hottest new magazine is also magic's first all-digital magazine. "The Mandala" offers compelling reading told in a straightforward and edgy style not found in most magic magazines, coupled with contributions and columns from some of magic's top names! In our January/February 2012 issue you can read our cover story about a location in the Canadian woods where top name magicians gather each year, turning down the possibilities of attending conventions or booking high-paying work. Why they gather there will impress you. "The Mandala" is committed to relevant, timely, and frank reporting covering topics and personalities that should matter to you, only you might not yet know it. A number of "The Mandala's" articles and essays have been picked up and reprinted in publications like MAGIC and Genii, but you can read them FIRST by subscribing to the original source. Don't Miss Another Issue. Subscribe Today And Take Advantage Of This Special Offer: Use this link http://themandalamag.com/subscribe-mnz.html to subscribe and not only will you receive our most current issue, but we will also send you Volume One, Issue One (featuring our now infamous Charlotte Pendragon interview) and Volume One, Issue Two (featuring Doc Eason and excerpts from his upcoming book) Absolutely Free! Don't wait! This offer is limited so subscribe today! http://themandalamag.com/subscribe-mnz.html "The Mandala" Magic with an attitude. -------------------------------------------- 19. 31st New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2012 -------------------------------------------- Labour Weekend 2012 (19 October to 22 October 2012) in Christchurch, New Zealand We have four headliners confirmed Nick Lewin, Mark Mason and Ken Scott. Convention registration is now open and you can download it from http://www.ibmring160.com/media/7578/registration%20form.pdf Competition forms can be downloaded from http://www.ibmring160.com/media/7515/competitions%20.pdf For full information go to: http://www.ibmring160.com/media/7626/christchurch%20nz%20labour%20weekend.pdf -------------------------------------------- 20. e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.magicnewzealand.com click on the red button center right "Archives" When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order in folders for each year 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) --------------------------------------------- 21. 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 and statements 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 or statements contained 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. By submitting articles to this e-zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 2012 Alan Watson www.magicnewzealand.com www.facebook.com/magicnewzealandnewsflash http://twitter.com/#!/magicnewzealand www.watson.co.nz www.corporatemagic.co.nz www.magician.co.nz www.magicianz.com www.balloon-twister.co.nz