* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand® * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.magicnewzealand.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #899 Date: Sunday 19th 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. Criss Angel Threatens To Knock Out Producer 3. Magician Online Contest | Ten Theories of Magic 4. Genii's 75th Anniversary Birthday Bash 5. Remarkable Magic. #20 - Nick Lewin 6. Head Rest and the Chair Suspension- #245 - Kyle Peron 7. Tony Brook in Conversation with Ray Parker #7 8. Jeff McBride In Bogota, Colombia! 9. Blackpool Magicians Convention - February, 2012 10. A Quick Update From Martin Breese 11. RG Smith To Emcee Gala Show In Las Vegas 12. Jeff Bibik's Magic Garage Sale!!!! 13. WANTED - IBM Linking Ring Magazine July 2006 14. New Zealand Convention Update 15. February Issue Of Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine 16. Lennert Green The Classic Green Collection In Six DVDs 17. e-zine Archives 18. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTICE - If you are planning to attend the New Zealand Magic Convention in Christchurch New Zealand Labour Weekend 2012 (19/10/2012 to 22/10/2012) Make sure that you book your room NOW as there is only a very limited number of rooms left at the convention hotel. For information on the convention go to item 14. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: Editor@MagicNewZealand.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Criss Angel Threatens To Knock Out Producer --------------------------------------------- Article forwarded on by Philip Jones Norm! Vegas Confidential Luxor headliner Criss Angel threatened to knock out one of his magic producers during an altercation Wednesday, according to an audio recording go to: http://www.reviewjournal.com/media/audio/angel_blowup_1-2.mp3 Magician Joe Monti, 52, filed a police report that alleges Angel "flipped out" and assaulted him while removing Monti from Angel's office complex at 3260 W. Sunset. For the full article go to: http://www.lvrj.com/columnists/normclarke/breaking_news/CRISS-ANGEL-THREATENS-TO-KNOCK-OUT-PRODUCER-139056994.html -------------------------------------------- 3. Magician Online Contest | Ten Theories of Magic --------------------------------------------- It was suggested that I email you to let you guys know about our Online Contest for Magicians. We just completed the first Contest and it went GREAT! We are holding a contest each month and are looking for more people to contend. Please check out our site and let me know if you have any questions. http://ten-theories-of-magic.com/ ------------------------------------------- 4. Genii's 75th Anniversary Birthday Bash -------------------------------------------- Message by Richard Kaufman Editor: Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine, is 75 years old, and we're going to throw a party to celebrate the oldest and best magazine published in our field. So, you're cordially invited to attend Genii's 75th Anniversary Birthday Bash, which will take place this coming October 4, 5, and 6 (Thursday midday through Saturday night) in Orlando at The Florida Hotel and Conference Center. Already booked are (in no particular order): Roberto Giobbi, Tom Stone, David Ben, Jim Steinmeyer, John Carney, Eric Mead, Max Maven, Jonathan Pendragon, Jon Racherbaumer, Eugene Burger, Charlie Frye and Company, Kisuk Lee, Paul Wilson, and Special Guest Dr. Sawa. More artists will be announced. And of course we'll have a great dealer room. Registrations are $350. Please visit www.geniiconvention.com to register. (If for some reason using the computer to register gives you the willies, feel free to call the Genii office at 301-652-5800.) Hotel rooms are $99 a night (pay only $147, excluding tax, for three days if you share with a friend). Rooms with two Queen beds or one King bed are available. The hotel has given us a special package that includes things which normally cost extra, but are included with your hotel room: *Free Internet service in your room * Free parking * Free bottles of water every day * Free use of the Fitness Center * Free use of the Business Center * Free daily newspaper We have a limited amount of space available. Please book your hotel room at the time of registration, directly through the hotel (details and links will be on our convention website: Expedia, Travelocity, and other internet discount sites will not will be offering rooms at a less expensive rate because we have blocked off the entire hotel). The Florida Hotel and Conference Center is attached to The Florida Mall, the largest shopping mall in central Florida. It has an enormous food court and four sit-down restaurants, so a short walk gets you right to the food court for cheap eats! Our hotel is six miles from Orlando International Airport, 10 minutes from Universal Studios (home of The Wizardling World of Harry Potter), and 20 minutes from Walt Disney World. Plan on arriving by midday Thursday since things will start early that afternoon-we're going to give you a full three day's worth. I like to think of everyone who will come to our convention as a unified group-we all have the common interest of having fun and celebrating Genii's long life by seeing great magic. I'm not going to have more than one event taking place at the same time; you won't have to choose between things. If you register, you'll be able to see everything. I also don't like overbooking registrants solely to make money, and so except for the performances of close-up magic, you won't be split into groups. If you want to sit next to your friends during every event, be my guest. For those who wish to break off and do their own thing, we'll have places for you to hang out, relax, sit, and session. Events will not start at 8 a.m. and drag on until 1 a.m.-you'll have time to get adequate sleep each night (but if you sit up all night doing tricks, don't blame me). Starting early Thursday afternoon will allow us to maintain sane hours on Friday and Saturday. My friends, and advertisers in Genii, are being extremely generous with goodies for you: DVDs, tricks, booklets, decks of cards, and more-we might even hit a baker's dozen items that you'll get for free. And we'll be having a raffle to give away many exciting prizes. I've thought about doing a convention for many years, and always put it off because of the work involved, but Genii's 75th anniversary is something special in the world of magic and it'll only happen once. So, please join us for what we hope will be a very special event that you'll remember for many years. www.geniiconvention.com -------------------------------------------- 5. Remarkable Magic. #20 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (US) Death of a Legend. This is a reprint of a column I wrote in 2008 about the great Tony Giorgio. As you can tell I was a great fan. He sent me a wonderfully eloquent response and told me I had it SO right with my description of his relationship with Dai Vernon. I got another email from him at a later point telling me how much he looked forward to my little columns in Magic New Zealand, it was an honor and joy for me to hear this. He said he especially loved the columns about the Magic Castle in the 70s and how many happy memories he had of those times when (as he put it) I loved the Castle and the Castle loved me. Well, Tony--the Castle never stopped loving you neither has any single magician who knew you. I like so many others feel proud to have got to know you even a little, you will be sorely missed by the real magicians in our community. One of the great delights that I enjoyed during the seventies in the Magic Castle was watching the interplay between Dai Vernon and Tony Giorgio. The appearance of confrontation that sometimes seemed to exist between the two was just that. An appearance. On a closer look it became very apparent that there was a bond of respect and friendship that linked these two very different characters. Tony would tease Dai and draw him out to reach deeper and deeper into his professorial bag of sleights and tricks. If, as Robert Houdin famously said, "A magician is an actor playing the part of a magician." Tony Giorgio is the perfect man to prove the point. Tony is one of that special breed of actors who is recognized by the vast majority of people who chance to meet him. He has been featured in more movies and television shows than I could even list in my column without Alan having forty fits. Tony was the perfect hood and villain throughout his acting career and to my mind made his greatest impact in 'The Godfather' 'Foxy Brown 'and 'Magnum Force'. To put it mildly he is a very imposing movie presence. To be absolutely honest he was also pretty damn imposing when you saw him perform his brilliant sleight of hand and gambling 'cons' in the Castle's Close-Up Gallery. I never missed a chance to watch him work his wonders. He was an amazing character with a full force talent that was second to none. Mind you he never quite abandoned his movie tough guy persona and I for one would never have dared to find the 'broad' he was tossing just in case he really was packing heat! I remember one evening I was standing in the back of the Close-Up Gallery enjoying the show. My hand was resting behind the back of the chair next to me. Ronnie Berg was occupying that particular chair and at one point he threw his entire weight against the rear of the chair and it resulted in the most unbelievable pain I had ever experienced. I screamed out at the top of my lungs causing more than a little excitement and confusion in the tiny room. Everyone turned around and stared at me, highly embarrassing! My eyes eventually met Tony's eyes and he was looking at me in a rather bemused manner. He politely enquired if he could continue with the show. I nodded and made a vague gesture towards my throbbing hand, the gesture failed to really indicate anything at all but the show began again. No sooner had the show started when Ronnie Berg whispered an apology to me and then said; " I can fix it for you, I am really good at setting bones." He then took my injured hand and gave it a hefty squeeze. This resulted in another lusty scream from yours truly and once again the show ground to a halt. Even more embarrassing and trust me if there was ever a show you wanted to avoid bringing to a grinding halt it was Giorgio's show. There was another, very unexpected, side to Tony that I was delighted to discover several years later. Aside from his other skills and talents he is one of the world's greatest authorities and performers in the truly occult area of 'Grifter Poetry.' I listened in fascination as he recited nearly lost odes to a lifestyle and era that has all but disappeared. It was a glimpse into world I scarcely knew existed. A man of many parts, a jack of several trades and master of any that took his fancy, there aren't many people who don't fade into insignificant next to Tony Giorgio. He is one of the richest and most unique threads in the tapestry of the performing arts and a very unique addition to my list of Remarkable Magicians. I re-read this column and four years after writing it I felt it still expressed my feelings rather nicely without needing to be changed to much by his sad passing. I hope you are somewhere now Tony, hanging out with Dai and talking magic... Email me at nicklewin1@mac.com -------------------------------------------- 6. Head Rest and the Chair Suspension- #245 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com I had a deep discussion with some friends the other day in regards to what I have been seeing come up more and more these days and that is the addition of a head rest being used as an extension on the chair suspension illusion. As you all know I have a deep love for this classic illusion and so I also have an opinion on it that may vary from most. My opinion is simply the fact that I feel there really is no need for a head rest at all, there really isn't. If you add a head rest, you are defeating the entire premise of the illusion. It not only looks wrong, but it is totally not needed in the first place. What we must remember is this is a "suspension" and not a levitation. In a suspension, the person is suspended at some point of the body. For example the broom suspension there is the support of the body under the arms. In the chair suspension, the proper illusion is that the helper is suspended totally outward from the point in their neck. This is a proper position and sells the illusion. If you add an extension onto the illusion for them to lay their head, you really are killing the impact of this illusion. Not only that, but the audience sees this extension and realizes it is totally unnatural. It is supposed to be 2 chairs and a board. Why would you have some funny attachment on the chair? It's not logical in their minds. The look of the illusion should simply be that there are 2 chairs and a board. The child lays on the board and it is this board that gets removed to have the child magically "suspended" outwards without anything holding the child up but a simple point on the neck and the chair. So with this thinking in place, if you have a head rest that the audience can clearly see, and you never remove this head rest (or act like you are) then there is no rhyme or reason for it being there. I mean you remove the board but not the head rest? It's an awkward thing for an audience if you think about it. The other problem I have with it is that the headrest draws attention and focus right where you do not want the focus to be. You want to draw the attention away from the gimmick area. By having a head rest attached, you are causing an audience to focus in the area where they should not be. By allowing the child's head to naturally and gently lay over the side, you create a natural appearance in the illusion. The head also covers up and hides the gimmick for you. By doing this, you have less risk of anyone seeing anything they should not. In fact, by doing it this way, you almost can do the illusion surrounded. The child's head hanging over the chairs is not uncomfortable to them. It is a position in which they use at play all the time. Watch children on the "monkey bars" and you will see what I mean. It is done casually and gracefully with no force. This causes no harm to the child at all and actually helps you in the course of the illusion. Because their head is hanging over gently, they are less apt to see what is going on, to look around and it is harder for them to move around. It gets them in a more relaxed position for you. So if you are thinking of doing the illusion or own the illusion, think long and hard before adding a head support to the illusion itself. I am positive you will get a much better response and will gain more out of this classic of magic. If you would like more information on this topic or on how to work with the chair suspension illusion, please see my book "Chair Suspension Tips and Techniques" at http://www.kpmagicproducts.com. Thanks. 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. Kyle Peron Magician and Illusionist www.kyleandkellymagic.com Join our Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/kyleandkellymagic -------------------------------------------- 7. Tony Brook in Conversation with Ray Parker #7 -------------------------------------------- Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA ADB: Ah yes! Stage Hypnosis. We both have similar views on that. There's a much debated topic. For all kinds of reasons, let's avoid that discussion here. You and I have several friends in common. One of them is Shawn Farquhar. He was a guest at my home for dinner and more recently in September this year one of my Superstar guests on my Live Talk Show at The British Ring 25 Convention. Shawn is well known for his skills and FISM Championship status but what a lot of people don't know is that he has over the years been very helpful to a great number of Magicians including a few International Vegas headliners. He played a great influence in your life. RP: Shawn is great. In the mid '80s I joined the Vancouver Magic Circle IBM Ring 92. In 1985 and 1990 I won The Wilf Rutherford Trophy for children's magic. At club meetings, I was given some valuable advice on card forcing by Shawn Farquhar, so much so that in my very first attempt at competing for the Ray Gamble Trophy, Impromptu magic with a previously unopened deck, I won! In 1986 Vancouver hosted Expo 86. I worked at many different functions some as an actor, once playing the oldest gas pump jockey in the world on Esso's corporate day, stage magic and many appearances as the Mad Hatter performing walk about sleight of hand. The character drew great attention, so much so, that when I had to provide a substitute, while I honored a booking in an Alberta Fair the manager insisted my replacement had to wear a costume. In 1993, I secured a principle role in Jack's Place an hour long TV drama and worked with Hal Linden and many other stars including a scene with Sheena Easton, playing Artie a magician, I produced six doves by throwing open my cape and prevent her from auditioning for Jack (Hal Linden) The magic advisor for this show and a sequel was Shawn Farquhar and the dove handler on the day of shooting Ray Roch. Most of the extras cast as magicians in the show were played by members of the Vancouver Magic Circle. ADB: I am indeed very fortunate to have lectured in Canada and had a many kind things said about me. You are all a great bunch of folk. I loved my time there. Thanks to my pal Michael Roth who organized it all. Now, you have a really nice philosophy about attending lectures. RP: Ever since I joined my first Magic club I have tried to attend every lecture available to me, I consider them to be the most valuable asset a magician can utilize to improve his act. If you only learn one move or an idea to present your act in a better way, then the cost of the lecture is well worth the expense. In 2002 I moved to Victoria where I presently live and am a member of Victoria Magic Circle, Ernie Crockford IBM Ring 183. You lectured there and I was fortunate enough to spend most of the day in your company, I learned much from you, but most importantly began a friendship I treasure. ADB: Me too Ray. Thank you. It was one of the best ever. We had fun at my workshop and one remarkable memorable moment for me was at my lecture when the late great Tony Eng gave me a standing O. All you guys joined in. I really had a lump in throat. Yes Sir! I had a truly wonderful time there. A very treasured memory. The funniest part was that I am not a card Magician but managed to get whoops and hollers of delight from Tony Eng and the other Card experts!!!! Simple is best eh Ray? RP: Yes that was indeed an enjoyable day. You, Michael Roth and the rest of the gang .It was just one of those days that just rolled together and very entertaining from both a personal and professional viewpoint. End of Part 7 -------------------------------------------- 8. Jeff McBride In Bogota, Colombia! -------------------------------------------- Message by Jeff McBride (US) Hola! Jeff here in Bogota, Colombia! I have been touring and doing my shows in South America in theaters and on the streets! One of the joys of travel is meeting other interesting magicians and getting them to be guests on our web-TV show. The recent topic: Street magic around the world See this new episode, featuring some street magic direct from Bogota. Go to: http://m1e.net/c?90047593-Mbe.IIjgDu0sU%407227212-iyvJTS81ZXakk "Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth." - Theodor Adorno What is artistry? What makes an artist? A few thoughts by Henry Miller: But there is a class of hardy men, old-fashioned enough to have remained rugged individuals, openly contemptuous of the trend, passionately devoted to their work, impossible to bribe or seduce, working long hours, often without reward or fame, who are motivated by a common impulse - the joy of doing as they please. At some point along the way, they separated from the others. The men I speak of can be detected at a glance: their countenance registers something far more vital, far more effective, than the lust for power. They do not seek to dominate, but to realize themselves. They operate from a center which is at rest. They evolve, they grow, they give nourishment just by being what they are, To live beyond the pale, to work for the pleasure of working, to grow old gracefully while retaining one's faculties, one's enthusiasm, one's self-respect, one has to establish other values than those endorsed by the mob. It takes an artist to make a breach in the wall. An artist is primarily one who has faith in himself. He does not respond to the normal stimuli: he is neither a drudge nor a parasite. He lives to express himself and in so doing enriches the world. (H.M.) What is "artistry?" and what is it that makes the difference between an "entertainer" and an "artist?" We will explore this next Monday on the show. I have been collecting interviews from illuminated magicians on my travels. You can experience the reflections of master magicians on the upcoming show and listen to their words of wisdom and experience. Join Tobias Beckwith, George Parker, Bryce Kuhlman and the faculty and friends of our Mystery School for an evening of Artistry and Wisdom. Remember, "Monday is a school night!" - Monday, Feb 13 at 7pm PST. "Art is magic... But how is it magic? In its metaphysical development? Or does some final transformation culminate in a magic reality? In truth, the latter is impossible without the former. If creation is not magic, the outcome cannot be magic." - Hans Hofmann Wonderground - February 16 Tim Wise hosts the 8pm comedy magic show. Christian Diamond will host the 9pm close-up gala show DJ Shinobi spins the deep chill out grooves Abbi will host the 10 pm "stage extravaganza!" DJ Shinobi (aka Leo Diaz) Tim Wise For details, directions and the full line up of amazing talent, go to: www.vegaswonderground.com This month Scott Steelfyre will help Tim and Christian stream the show live on www.mcbridemagic.tv. We will go live at 9pm Pacific/Vegas time. "The art of art, the glory of expression, and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity." - Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of Grass -------------------------------------------- 9. Blackpool Magicians Convention - February, 2012 -------------------------------------------- Message by Peter Eldin (UK) Blackpool Magicians Convention 17th, 18th, 19th, February, 2012 At The Opera House And Winter Gardens, Church Street, Blackpool. Blackpool may not have got the Super Casino but every year for the last 60 years they have had the Super Blackpool Magicians Convention which brings 3,500 magicians from all over the world for a weekend of magic and mystery. The Blackpool Magicians Convention is the world's largest as authenticated in the Guinness Book Of Records and every year it is a complete SELL OUT. Amazingly, the Blackpool Magicians Club who promote the event has a membership of just 42 magicians. The Convention Organizer and President is 74 year old Derek Lever from Preesall who has spent over 55 years as a professional magician and fire-eater performing all over the world. Organizing this event takes more than 9 months' work with over 50 artistes contracted from 15 different countries. His hard working P.A. is his wife Anne who organizes the hotels and flights for all the artistes as well as e-mailing contracts all over the world. Registration Officer Arthur Casson still performs at many of the leading Hotels in Blackpool. However for the past 8 months he has been inundated with phone calls, faxes and e-mails from countries as far away as South Africa, Iceland and America as desperate magicians tried to obtain tickets for the World's Largest Magic Convention. So desperate are some magicians to obtain tickets they are offering Black Market prices and trying to purchase any spares on EBay. Honorary Life President of Blackpool Magicians Club is star comedian Ken Dodd who turns up every year to appear on the Gala Show to present his Ken Dodd Comedy Award to the best up and coming Comedy Magician. Of course he can never resist telling a "few stories" whilst handing the trophy over, to the delight of the capacity crowd in the Opera House. This year the Convention is 60 years old and to celebrate there are three International Gala Shows rather than just one. Friday's Gala Show is very innovative. It is called "The Magic of Asia" and features eight South Korean magicians most of whom have never appeared in the U.K. before and all of them are major prize winners at other Magic Conventions. The compere is Steve Walls one of the North-east's favourite comedians. Korean magicians have suddenly emerged, in the last few years as superb performers with very unusual acts so this show will have lots of originality. Saturday's Gala Show is titled "The Magic of USA and Canada" because all the performers hail from that area. Charlie Frye & Co. is a crazy juggler, acrobat and magician who has worked all over the world, Dirk Losander has an incredible Floating Table, Danny Cole makes a live dove appear from an I-Pad, Andost uses music and light effects to enhance his magic, Chris Hart was the original "The Thing" in the "Munsters" television shows, The Evasons are probably the world's greatest mind-readers, Richard Forget was voted Canadian Magician of the Year, and Jason Larimer has been starring in "The Magicians" television series on BBC television for the past 6 weeks. The very funny compere is ventriloquist Jimmy Tamley. Sunday's Gala Show is named "The Magic of Europe" and stars Jean Garin from France with his interactive magic screen, Aaron Crow who has just been seen on "The Magicians" firing an arrow through an apple held by Arlene Phillips, Campagnie Poc from France with his "under the table juggling", Sebastian Nicolas from Germany presenting magic with watches and clocks, Ken Dodd who will present the "Ken Dodd Comedy Award" and "say a few words", Les Chapeaux Blancs from France has also just appeared on "The Magicians" with their black art act, Marc Metral from France who has just completed a season at the prestigious "Moulin Rouge" in Paris with his fantastic ventriloquism act. Danny Hunt and Annette perform as "Amethyst". He has escaped from Dick Turpin's prison cell in York and has been working as a magical adviser and stunt arranger on the recent "The Magicians" TV series. Danny has a very special illusion which has never been performed on the Opera House stage and which will shock the audience and his finale is the death defying Head Spiker escape which could easily kill him. Top of the bill is Christian Farla from Holland who has just perfected a brand new illusion called "The Scorpion" which uses a circular saw built into a huge metal model of a scorpion - highly dangerous. A very special spectacular finale has been arranged with the innovative Lumina performing music on her laser violin, the Dolphin Dancers and the incredible water fountains. The compere is Ken Dodd's favourite comedian John Martin On Friday, Saturday and Sunday 130 Magic Dealers from all over the world will be selling the latest magic tricks and illusions and doing a roaring trade to 3,000 magicians eager to buy the latest miracle. On Saturday morning it is competition time with the United Kingdom Children's Entertainers National Championships wherein six professional kids' entertainers compete for the title, Ł500 and a trophy. The entrants include one from Norway and one from USA. The prestigious Murray Award is being awarded to local entertainer Russ Stevens for his services to magic. One will also be awarded to Gerrit Brengman from Belgium. Wayne Dobson presents a 2 hour show on Saturday afternoon with some of his friends, including Joe Pasquale and Russ Stevens and there are 15 star lectures by famous magicians plus three international close-up magic shows and a wonderful exhibition of show business posters by Ken Bowe. With a "Beat The Wand" competition late on Saturday night and an After Show Party Cabaret on Sunday night there are going to be a lot of exhausted magicians travelling home on Monday morning. If you fancy attending the Convention there is some bad news it is nearly sold out but there are some Friday night and Saturday night show tickets still available. These can be purchased at the Winter Gardens BMC Registration Office from 2.00pm to 5.00pm on Thursday and from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm on Friday. The next Blackpool Magicians Convention will be held on 22nd, 23rd, 24th February, 2013. The FISM World Championships Of Magic will be presented by Blackpool Magicians Club on 9th to the 14th July, 2012. Bookings for both these events are now available. Further details of the Conventions can be found on www.blackpoolmagic.com ------------------------------------------- 10. A Quick Update From Martin Breese -------------------------------------------- Message by Martin Breese (UK) When I last went to hospital for a routine test I was told to come straight back in as my Leukaemia had returned but I refused to do so at that point since I had a DVD recording session lined up with Graham Jolley. Begrudgingly the hospital allowed me to check in a day later than they wished so we could make the DVD. The DVD shows live performances of Al Koran material performed by Graham Jolley in front of a top group of industrialists. Graham Jolley performs and then explains many of the Al Koran routines that he uses on a regular basis in his acts. The DVD gives you a chance to see and understand the Al Koran material as performed in front of a highly receptive audience. The recording quality is sensational and well worth waiting the 20 years it has taken for the two of us to get together to produce this fantastic recording series. At the time of the recording I looked pretty grey and weak but made a rapid recovery in the week that has followed. Tony Davenport has done a two-camera shoot and the quality is outstanding. I cannot wait to return home to help put the finishing touches to this 20 year project to give fans of Al Koran and Graham Jolley a fresh opportunity to see and learn some fantastic material. This new DVD plus the existing Al Koran Blindfold Card Act Brian Barnes, plus the 5 Al Koran books that I have already released are, I hope, a fitting tribute to this great magician. Meanwhile John tells me that following an initial frenzy the remaining old and second-hand magic items that we released a few weeks ago are gradually being taken. There are still some great items unsold. The CDs that I have published over the years that contain complete copies of many classic magic magazines are also still selling well and are still at half price! -------------------------------------------- 11. RG Smith To Emcee Gala Show In Las Vegas -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (US) Smith At Smith! From 1998 to 2011, RG Smith was the convention show producer for the Society of American Magicians. You may not have seen much of him as his dedication was to be "with the shows, the crew and the acts" backstage to make certain that you had fun each evening. Dividing his time between his small business and his annual "Comedy & Magic Spectacular" Tour, Smith stays quite busy. Shows are in six cities each spring. Year 25 has just been staged and over $2,500,000 has been raised for child abuse prevention. Plans are underway for the 26th! RG has MC'd all 25 and will share some of his experiences with the tour and the S. A. M convention shows. Smith will Emcee the closing gala show at the Smith Center during the convention (July 23-26). See the complete list of acts and events at www.magicsam.com ------------------------------------------- 12. Jeff Bibik's Magic Garage Sale!!!! -------------------------------------------- Message by Jeff Bibik (US) Save The Date!!!! As my career path leads me to work more with Hypnotism and Hypnosis Shows, I have decided it is time to pare down my magic stuff, especially my library. I'm hosting an indoor Magic Garage Sale at my home on Sunday February 19 from 12 noon to 4 pm. Come by and browse some great magic books, some rare, comedy books, and other interesting books and ephemera, including a "Mad Magician" 1 sheet movie poster from 1953. Also offering a few props incl. O'Dowd/Town House Guillotine, and 10 years of MAGIC, Linking Ring & other magic magazines. Also offered (for the right price)---Rare-- Wicker Sword Basket - Karrell Fox had these made for auto shows in the 60' & 70s, there were only a few made. This is in great shape and is still an excellent illusion. Also other odds & ends and collectables, including some Charlie McCarthy pieces. Light drinks will be served, and everyone that stops by will receive for free an original movie poster from "The Illusionist", (while supplies last, 1 per person, ya greedy ebay dealers) We'll have some laughs and you may find just that item you're looking for. 5870 N Harlem Ave in Chicago. Parking is allowed on Harlem Ave, park in front and come around to the side door! Sale must end at 4, I have a gig later, so don't come late! Jeff Bibik "Chicago's Comedy Conjurer" and now--- www.AmericasGreatestHypnotist.com* ------------------------------------------- 13. WANTED - IBM Linking Ring Magazine July 2006 -------------------------------------------- Message by Rod Junor I would like to obtain the IBM Linking Ring Magazine for July 2006. I will pay for the item and any postage. Rod JUNOR rod@rodjunor.com ------------------------------------------- 14. New Zealand Convention Update -------------------------------------------- Christchurch New Zealand Labour Weekend 2012 (19/10/2012 to 22/10/2012) Convention will start on Friday night 19th October and finishes on Monday 22nd October at 2.30pm. Time is running out Questions you should be asking yourself ... Do I want to stay at the convention hotel? If the answers is YES then it's best that you reserve your room NOW! As the rooms are now very limited! Christchurch Free phone: 0800 808 999 (Within New Zealand) Toll (03) 348 8999 No deposit is required But they need a credit card number, valid at date of stay, i.e. October 2012 The convention hotel is The Chateau on the Park, 189 Deans Avenue, Riccarton, Christchurch. When booking convention hotel accommodation Make sure that you tell them that it is for the "Magicians Convention" and then you will pay the special convention rate of $115 for a double room. If you try and book online on their website you will end up paying their full room rate. You have a choice of either a King or Queen size bed and Twin rooms consist of two double beds. Do I want to save $50 on the convention registration price?? If the answer is yes then make sure you register before 19th April 2012 The headliners confirmed are Nick Lewin (US), Mark Mason (England) and Ken Scott (US) Gillam Family (US) This is a convention that you will not want to miss! **Book your accommodation NOW** Christchurch Free phone: 0800 808 999 (within New Zealand) Overseas: +64 3 348 8999 Toll To download the Convention registration form go to: http://www.ibmring160.com/media/7578/registration%20form.pdf Competition registration form go to: http://www.ibmring160.com/media/7515/competitions%20.pdf -------------------------------------------- 15. February Issue Of Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine --------------------------------------------- Message by Richard Kaufman Editor: Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine The February issue of Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine, is now in the mail and online for your reading and viewing pleasure. There are audio and video supplements in our free-to-subscribers digital edition, so make sure to register your email address with us if you're a subscriber so you can take advantage of all we offer every month. What can you say about René Lavand that has not already been said . or written? Plenty, as it turns out, and David Britland has done a remarkable job with our cover story this month in capturing much about René's life and remarkably calculated manner of performance. I'm embarrassed to admit that my book on René, Mysteries of My Life (1998) would have benefitted from some of David's incisive analysis. Perhaps on the next one! In the meantime, your appetite will be amply whetted in advance of the Essential Magic Collection's release of a multi-DVD set devoted to René that captures all of his famous routines. The digital edition of this month's issue also has three short videos for you to see, so look for the "watch" buttons in the article, "René Lavand: Maestro." Essential Magic Collection also brings you a free DVD inside this issue, with more magic from Dani DaOrtiz and Lennart Green, along with trailers from their other projects. This is the second DVD in Genii from Luis de Matos and Murphy's Magic and we hope you enjoy it. There will be several more free DVDs in Genii during its 75th Anniversary Year from the Essential Magic Collection. Every week is like a magic convention at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, but every once in a while they have some truly different events. One of those occurred recently when Jim Steinmeyer and Alex Ramon shared a show in The Palace. Steinmeyer performed several historical pieces, still amazing almost a century later, and Ramon performed new illusions (most created by Steinmeyer). Dustin Stinett was there and felt it was not-to-be-missed moment, with photos by Najee Williams of Hocus Pocus Focus. Sid Radner died at age 91 last year and I missed having a timely obituary in Genii. This month he receives his well-deserved memorial from his friend Ken Silverman, author of the authoritative biography of Houdini. A very lucky editor am I with such an august group of columnists. Deep powers of persuasion (combined with ordinary begging) have convinced Tom Stone to return for another year of columns in Genii. His "Lodestones" is never less than fascinating, and often much more. No matter what the subject of the column, whether it's essays or tricks, Tom spends an enormous amount of time working on it and we are lucky indeed to have him appearing regularly in Genii with his provocative ideas and wonderful magic. This month he digs into his notebooks and explains three unusual effects. Max Maven reaches into the past and retrieves a practical cinema-related piece of mentalism in "Lost Horizons" that many of you could add to your repertoires using current films. Aaron Fisher continues his series teaching the subtle points of basic card handling, with Part II of his essay on establishing and holding breaks. Well performed mathematical card tricks always fool me. That's because, if they are well done, there's no hint that math is involved. And so it is with Jim Steinmeyer's "'One Fortune' Think-of-a-Card" in this month's installment of "Conjuring." And more tricks! In "Magicana" David Acer describes three effects and routines, all good. David Britland reviews books, Danny Orleans reviews tricks, and Joe M. Turner reviews videos, while Jon Racherbaumer so easily writes about subjects far and near in "Slant," I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we're in our 14th year of publishing Genii! And, yes, that was both my non-sequitur and run-on sentence for the month. Hope you enjoy all of it and would like to hear when you receive your paper issue by snail mail, or when you have viewed the digital issue online or on your iPad or iPhone. About the Audio and Video Supplements in Genii's digital edition: Thousands of people have downloaded Genii's free iPad and iPhone apps, and the issues on the iPad and iPhone are free to all subscribers as well. We're not greedy at Genii: I feel that when you subscribe to the paper magazine, you should get the digital version free. One of the things I enjoy about our iGenii digital edition of the magazine is the opportunity to include audio and video supplements. As I meet Genii readers at magic conventions, I ask if they've looked at the digital edition and they sometimes say, "I'm a paper guy." Well, even if you prefer to read the paper edition of Genii, the digital iGenii edition offers at least an hour of video in every issue. We give you more than any other independent magazine in magic for your money. And you don't need an iPad or iPhone--you can view the digital edition on any computer--desktop or laptop. Subscriber to Genii for only $56 for one year and you receive: * 12 paper issues delivered to your home. * The current issue online, free to all subscribers, with audio and video extras. (Subscribers can read these issues weeks before the paper issue arrives.) * Access to every single back issue Genii has published from 1936 through December 2008. That's almost 1000 issues! Tens of thousands of columns, tricks, illusions, and articles. And it's all absolutely free to every Genii subscriber. Of course you will have to be on the internet for access, which will be through the Conjuring Arts Research Center. The issues are simple pdf documents which can be read on most electronic devices including newer Kindles, Sony eReaders, Nook, iPhone, iPad and of course any desktop or laptop computer. (So far, unfortunately, tablets running Android cannot read pdf files embedded in a website--we're hoping a patch will be created soon.) Every subscriber will have access to an electronic version of every issue for the duration of his or her subscription. Digital-only subscriptions are available for $56 to residents outside the United States: http://geniistore.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=35&product_id=57 If you are a subscriber and haven't sent us your e-mail address yet, please do so to: genii@geniimagazine.com). If you want to access to all of this astounding material and you are not a subscriber, please join us as we make available to you untold magical riches at www.geniimagazine.com. All digital content is free when you subscribe to Genii. And we've got a great offer for anyone who wants to subscribe or renew: the three-DVD set "Houdini The Movie Star" from Kino is now available from us for a limited time for 50% off the retail price of $40. YOU pay only $20, postpaid anywhere in the US. (Add $11 postage anywhere else in the world.) This 3 DVD set includes most of the surviving films and footage of Houdini. We don't sell it separately: subscribe today or renew your existing subscription for one year and you can receive this extraordinary value. If you subscribe to Genii for 3 years, or renew your existing subscription and bring it up to a total of 3 years, you can purchase our brand new book, Talisman, for only $15 (or you can select either The Vernon Touch or The Lost Notebooks of John Northern Hilliard). Details here: http://geniistore.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=36&product_id=59 Remember that the price of Genii drops from the $6 cover price to only $4.50 per issue when you subscribe for one year AND new subscribers get a free copy of the Harry Anderson/Jon Racherbaumer 32-page Jinx). Please visit the Genii website and subscribe today at www.geniimagazine.com. Visit The Genii Forum, the "smart" online discussion group: www.geniimagazine.com/forum Visit MagicPedia, the most complete online encyclopedia of magical information with almost 5,000 entries. It's a living encyclopedia to which you are welcome to contribute! www.magicpedia.net -------------------------------------------- 16. Lennert Green The Classic Green Collection In Six DVDs --------------------------------------------- Reviewed by Joel A. Moskowitz M D Caution: Mesmirizing Effects For Those With A Passion For Card Magic Lennert Green at first glance is a rumpled Uncle like person. His hands are not elegant and his style is slow moving (but part of that may be a matter of different cultures (he is Swedish). He is serious but evokes astonishment from audiences and disbelief. So masterful is he that when he competed in FISM the judges thought that he was conning them, used stooges and therefore disqualified him. He returned two years later with the same act but insisted the judges shuffle the cards themselves and wallah! He won First Prize. With this success and world acclaim under his belt, he abandoned his profession as a physician (he had been in practice 15 years) and turned to being a First Class Card Magician. Dexterity is infinitely more surprising when you consider that Green s fingers seem short and stubby and his hands somewhat puffy. He seems to maul the deck. But his manipulative ability with cards has no match. This collection of his favorites, put out by Max Maxwell, A1 Magic and offered wholesale by Murphy s Magic is misrepresented as 8 and one half hours (with six DVDs). This reviewer challenges the determined student to spend only 8 1/2 hours watching these challenging and mystifying wondrous card symphonies I have had the honor of seeing Lennert Green live at a national magic meeting in Hawaii. I admired his miracles and he admired my shirt. This Nordstrom short sleeve was a lovely shade of Green! Lennert said he wanted my shirt! Disinclined to disrobe, I promised to send him a new shirt when I returned to San Diego. Sadly, this very model was not available anymore. I didn't want to send my used shirt. I purchased a similar green shirt and sent it off to Sweden. Several years later my wife and I were attending FISM in Sweden when across a crowded room. This fellow sent me the wrong shirt! This true anecdote is a testimony to the superior memory of Lennert Green. How cardicians especially remember a myriad of dexterous manipulations with pasteboards is a wonder in its own right. Mr. Green is a testimony to a mind and fingers to match with an amazing repertoire of devious stunts with cards. This collection is a marvelous exposition of the finest deceptive effects with 52 assistants . To demonstrate his capacity to astound his audiences with other than cards, he leads off on the first DVD with: Appearing Glass Of Liquid L.G. demonstrates the loading of the glass which is filled with dark liquid, between his legs. By elevating the glass it comes into his hand protected by the screening foullard and drops the empty glass behind the location of the filled glass. It can be done more safely with little risk of spilling by producing a liquor bottle or the magician's shoe. And here is a sample of other presentations and explanations. Lennert Green takes pains to teach and for this he is to be complimented. In his personal history, he spent some time working nights in a mental institution and another time in a prison facility which gave him ample time to perfect his stunts. The DVD viewer/student might seek a similar position where he/she might obsessively practice the L.G. finest machinations; Without further digression: Here is Lennert Green's: Producing Items From A Deck as a modification. False Shuffles Greek Shuffle no cards change places. By covering the pack from the spectator s view, he just changes one half pack for the other. Circulation shuffle is his. Every card remains in same order. The illusion that the cards are mixed is visual. Rapid Cuts Shuffles - it's a kind of a flourish shuffle. By combining a Hindu shuffle with a Charlier pass it is amazing. The dexterous magician is made! One card riffle shuffle (based upon an effect in Expert Card Technique by Hugard and Braue) l and a variation by Dai Vernon allows only one card to be displaced. Table Cut Shuffle (Spanish cut) which the card sharks work when they seek to find key cards. He calls it Table Chaos When he does magic for magicians he will use an Eternal Chain Suffle. A very picturesque effect which seems that the cards are exceedingly well mixed but they are not. False Cuts and Passes and Palms Pinch Cut a deceptive steal of the bottom half first. Elegant Cut Flourish Z cuts inspired by Herb Zarrow Float Pass and Center Windmill Cut Lateral Center Steal Lateral Palm Praises the inventor Steranko but Lennert Green thought he had invented it. It is preferred to the Tenkai palm. Center Shot - by making a shot noise from the deck held in the left hand, simultaneously produced from the lateral palm. DVD Volume II Includes The Poker Deal, The Temple of Shiva, Deceptive Perception, The One-Two Separation, False Angle Riffle Shuffle and The Swedes Deal The Temple of Shiva Pressed to prepare a trick with fortune telling as the theme, he invented this effect. He normally has a statue of Ganosh the elephant god and Shiva with the many arms. Best to do for a small group with their deck. He has morphed an old hand written manuscript devised by himself as a prop. He simulates reversing the pack but under subterfuge he only reverses one card. Pretending to do some ritual moves with his hands - in the process he glimpses a few cards as he places them down in the table with picture cards to one side, black vs reds. He pauses to refers to his ancient document. And the interpretation is very favorable. It particularly plays with young girls, Lennert Green advises. The Swedes Deal is an especially sweet maneuver. L.G. regrets that he included this exposure because he valued keeping it for himself. Actually, it is extremely helpful in concluding Three Card Monte because the magician can display that all the cards are the same - and the Queen is missing or that all the cards are Queens! DVD Volume Three Fractal Harmany, 2nd Birthday Gift; Impromptu Royal Flush and One in Fifty-Two Bet. DVD Volume IV Introduction to False Shuffles; Calvacade of False Shuffles; Mirror Shuffles; Mirror Cross Shuffles; Never Mind Shuffle; False Angle Shuffle; Real Green Shuffle. Slug Force Shuffle; Soaring Shuffle; Joker False Shuffle; False Rosetta Shuffle... DVD Volume V Windmill arcing card steals and controls; Side Center Steals; Multiple Card Controls; Samurai Move; Max Milton Top Change; The Drop Pass; The Russian Cut; Three Heap Gamblers Cut; Index Swing Cut; Crab Cut; Six Heap Fancy Cut; Flip Over Cuts; Back Layers Cut; Explosion Calculator Cut; The Rope and Nut etc etc DVD Volume VI Laser deal; Lateral steal color separation; Flexible Deck Lateral Vanishing Deck: Color Separation; Selection Transposition; 5Q RS Royal Flush Routine; Snap Deal; Angle Separation Variation; Drop Cull Separation; 5Q Separation; Estimation Deals; XRITM etc etc. Magicians with time and inclination will enjoy Lennert Green s clever original even fantastical methods for astonishing audiences. Not for novices, however. For those with passion for card magic, Dr. M recommends this collection (Rx Rx Rx Rx Rx 5/5) -------------------------------------------- 17. 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) --------------------------------------------- 18. 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