Magic New Zealand® E-zine

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New Zealand)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #1566
Date: Sunday 19th April 2020
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================

1. Editor's Message
2. Special Online Australian FISM Magic Championships
3. The Magic Word Podcast
4. Potter & Potter Auctions - Coronavirus Pandemic
5. The Melbourne Magic Festival Cancelled For 2020
6. The Magic Will Not Be Stopped!
7. The Stealth Force - John Carey #77
8. Ongoing Adventures Of Romany!
9. One Of Magic's Great Characters Leslie St. Clair
10. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
11. E-zine Archives
12. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

--------------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
--------------------------------------------

If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in HTML format
go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2020-Jan-to-Dec-2020/1566-Apr19-2020.html

If you would like to write a regular column for Magic New Zealand or have some magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com

--------------------------------------------
2. Special Online Australasian FISM Magic Championships
--------------------------------------------
Message by Nopera Whitley

The Australasian Magic Championships will take place in a special Online Event on Saturday July 4.
Magicians of all ages and expertise from Australia and New Zealand are invited to compete with either a Stage Magic or Close Up Magic act.

This event is run according to FISM rules, and each contestant must present a complete act (not a single trick) of at least five minutes and not more than ten minutes.

Full FISM rules and judging criteria can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_OaJHSDN
fNzbDZqZWRuRE10MlU/view

The winner will receive a trophy, the title 'Australasian Magic Champion 2020', and a cash prize of $2,000. They may also be selected to represent Australia at the 2021 FISM World Championships of Magic in Quebec, Canada.

Second and Third place winners will also receive titles.

Our current deadline for entries has been extended from April 13 until June 28, giving you more time to prepare your act.

You need to submit your act on video via a private YouTube link and your performance will be aired live on July 4 as part of our online show. The Jury will be comprised of international FISM Qualified Judges and they, along with an online audience, will see your act for the first time as it goes to air.

So don't waste time, get to work on your acts and submit them online at

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfu-
125ijYI2WY6wG2WLfMTVfU7Ftus78ZLMFBzFd1INQdJq
g/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3JVMxK9n0eGE3IQZ0aCBD
9CCk5GUFFVouuD_YTGQeHjE5dYP_BwIH5Dkg

or email Tim@MelbourneMagicFestival.com to express your interest and have one of our limited number of spots held for you.

-------------------------------------------
3. The Magic Word Podcast
-------------------------------------------
Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

Love Melander and Meir Yedid on The Magic Word Podcast

Last week's episode featured our friend from Sweden, Love Melander, who talked about trade shows, the corporate market and performing close-up in his native land. Mix yourself a martini and enjoy a delightful conversation with Love. You can watch videos, see photos, get links and listen online at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/554-love-melander

This week we chat with one of our favorite magic dealers, Meir Yedid, owner of MyMagic.com. Meir is an award winning magician who broke onto the scene in the 1980's with his unique "Finger Fantasies" hand tricks. Ironically, he was soon thereafter in a tragic car accident where he suffered a severed finger. Not to be discouraged, he continued to create "finger miracles" and also re-invent himself with other, innovative ideas.

As the title of this week's episode implies, "Adapt or Perish" and he has done so in this age of dying brick and mortar magic shops and in particular right now while we are under this "shelter in place" edict across the land. And in that regard, we are seeing magic conventions being canceled. So, in part of this episode, Meir talks about his association with Obie's 4F convention (that was slated to begin on April 22) and of which he is on the Board of Trustees. So we talk about this and the future of other conventions.

You can listen to this and other episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Or you can visit the website for more information and to enter this week's contest for a chance to win five eBooks at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/555-meir-yedid

-------------------------------------------
4. Potter & Potter Auctions - Coronavirus Pandemic
-------------------------------------------
Message from Potter & Potter Auctions (US)

An update to our friends & customers:

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, we have been contacted daily by friends, consignors, and customers for information on how this will affect our ability to conduct and prepare for auctions.
We want to reassure everyone that Potter & Potter remains fully operational and open for business. Our specialists are busy cataloging future sales, orders continue to be shipped, and we continue to seek quality consignments.

The appetite for collectibles is strong, a fact which recent auction results and participation bear out on an almost daily basis. Bidding and buying in our current and recent auctions have been active. We have seen increases in site traffic, new bidder registrations, and most significantly, prices realized, with well over 95% of lots selling, generally at or above presale estimates.
The current market also creates an opportunity for those who own collectibles to convert them to cash. To prospective sellers, we offer competitive commission rates, cash advances, and will consider outright purchases. We are happy to arrange for no-contact packing and shipping in both directions.

All of our upcoming sales will be streamed live on potterauctions.com. Pre-sale viewing is available by contacting our specialists and arranging for video conferencing, additional photographs, or further information on the lots that interest you. And as always, you may leave absentee bids or arrange for telephone bidding.

Sincerely,

Gabe and Sami Fajuri, and the staff of Potter & Potter Auctions

-------------------------------------------
5. The Melbourne Magic Festival Cancelled For 2020
-------------------------------------------
Message by Tim Ellis (Australia)

As the whole of Australia is still indefinitely shutdown, we are putting the safety of our artists, our MMF Team, and especially our guests first and cancelling the 2020 Melbourne Magic Festival.

Obviously, this decision has not been made lightly. But in keeping with our current concerns about the spread of COVID-19, we feel that this is the responsible course.

We are now focused on bringing back the Melbourne Magic Festival bigger and better than ever for 2021 - with our International Magic Superstars Mahdi Gilbert, Mistie & Kyle Knight, and Shawn Farquhar - together with the very best magicians Australia has to offer.

And even if Australians are still unable to gather together in person by July this year, we will still be bringing you the magic with The Australian Magic Championships as a very special Live Online Event. Join our International Jury on Saturday July 4 as we decide who will be our Australian Champion of Magic.

https://melbournemagicfestival.com/special-announcement/

Please remember, the magicians who entertain you exist on the income that each show brings, and for the duration of this difficult time many have no shows at all.

If you are in a position to support them in any way - by buying their products or merchandise, by purchasing any livestream shows they might create, or by simply PayPaling them a "tip" to help them to survive this crisis - it will be greatly appreciated.

Until then, stay safe and believe in magic!

-------------------------------------------
6. The Magic Will Not Be Stopped!
-------------------------------------------
Message by Tim Ellis (Australia)

The good news is we will continue to entertain you 24/7 with non-stop magic shows and events online absolutely free of charge until we can all be together in person once more.

Keep checking our Facebook Page as we update it several times a day with all the latest news.

https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneMagicFestival/

The magic continues here too with lots of incredible shows to watch including the nightly chat show Laneway Live, which brings the magic into your home with a brand new episode every night at 8pm.

https://thelanewaytheatre.com/

So far our guests have included:

Episode 1 - Adam Mada (Sydney)
Episode 2 - Anthony DeMasi (Melbourne)
Episode 3 - Chi Han Yeo (Melbourne)
Episode 4 - Gaston (Bavaria, Germany)
Episode 5 - Bodane Hatten (Quarantine)
Episode 6 - David Regal (Los Angeles, USA)
Episode 7 - Joel Ozborn (Sydney)
Episode 8 - School Holiday Special - Learn Magic!
Episode 9 - Luke Hocking (Melbourne)
Episode 10 - Michael Close (Toronto, Canada)
Episode 11 - Brendan Dooley (New Zealand)
Episode 12 - Jeff Hobson (La Quinta, USA)
Episode 13 - Boris Wild (Paris, France)
Episode 14 - Dane Certificate (Albury)
Episode 15 - Special All Tricks Episode
Episode 16 - Harrison Greenbaum (New York, USA)
Episode 17 - Prue Spencer (Melbourne)
Episode 18 - Josh Staley (Melbourne)
Episode 19 - Caroline Ravn (Stockholm, Sweden)
Episode 20 - Dr Vyom Sharma (Melbourne)
Episode 21 - Nick Kay (Melbourne)
Episode 22 - The Coghlans (Gold Coast)
Episode 23 - Nicholas J Johnson (Melbourne)
Episode 24 - LJ the Magician (Melbourne)
Episode 25 - Mahdi Gilbert (Toronto, Canada)
Episode 26 - Mistie & Kyle Knight (Las Vegas, USA)
Episode 27 - Shawn Farquhar (Maple Ridge, Canada)
Episode 28 - Dom Chambers (Melbourne)
Episode 29 - Joel Howlett (Newcastle)

-------------------------------------------
7. The Stealth Force - John Carey #77
-------------------------------------------
Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

I'm of the opinion that you can never have enough good card forces in your toolbox. Certain forces fit particular routines and their structure. The Stealth Force is what I would call a layered force. By that I mean you stress the fairness and impossibility of your spectator's actions, covertly leading them down a mental roadblock.

Pass out the deck for shuffling and upon return casually glimpse the bottom card, say Seven of Diamonds. Slip shuffle, retaining it there by pressure of the pads of the left fingertips. "Peter, I want to try something with you under test conditions. Would you please reach over to the deck I'm holding and cut off some cards?

Not too few, not too many, somewhere in between. Now shuffle them." So as per above your spectator cuts off a packet, and, by way of demonstration you very casually run your force card to the top of your cards with an overhand shuffle and table the deck face down. "Would you please turn your cards face up and spread them across the table? A very good shuffle and array of cards!" Now for the layering or smoke which makes this force extremely deceptive: "If I was to ask you to take one of those cards out it would be silly.

I could see it! I guess I could ask you to think of one, but then you might believe I'm simply following the direction of your eyes? So I will turn away and ask you to look at the very next card in the deck and lock the image of that card into your mind. Once you've done that, lose that card, gather all the cards up and shuffle everything!" Naturally this will force your Seven of Diamonds on them, but everything appears beyond any form of deception. Continue with whatever routine you wish and melt their minds…

--------------------------------------------
8. Ongoing Adventures Of Romany! #5
--------------------------------------------
Message by Romany Romany (UK)

Adventures of Romany
www.romanymagic.com

A question for you! For me, for us both!

Who are you if you're not a magician?

You might answer husband, father, or perhaps you refer to yourself as a doctor, or IT specialist.
For the last 25 years I have called myself an Entertainer.

Yet in lockdown or the 'Time of Re-Imagining' as I'm calling this world event, I am a Gardener. Of course as a rebel self-employed artiste, I'm calling my own hours, which bit of the garden I choose to work and don't tell anyone but I'm meant to be digging this very minute. I'm working for free so I reckon I can do exactly what I like. As magicians and fellow rebels you would probably feel the same.

For the last two weeks and probably for the next six, I have been mowing, weeding and cutting back dead wood in the gardens of the Buddhist monastery where I'm staying. www.manjushri.org

As I mow and weed, I watch my mind argue. One side argues that I should be practising magic, re-working my show, creating new material or at least figuring out the new tricks the dealers seduced me to purchase at the Genii convention last September.

The other side of my mind says, 'This is the perfect time for a little holiday from the stress of a professional performing life. No props to pack and unpack, no stage fright, no air travel, no answering the same questions from cruise guests over breakfast. No worries that the airlines will lose your precious luggage or there'll be a traffic jam on the way to a gig. Phew!'

In any case, both sides of mind agree, when did you last have a proper holiday?

This time seems to me to be the perfect pause to reconsider what we would like our lives post 'lockdown' to be. Which bits would you like to lose forever, which bits are even possible to lose and which new opportunities would you like to take?

We have a chance right now, and it might not be that long, maybe it will be just a few months, to take a moment to think and re-create.

My favourite vintage children's TV is Mr Benn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cquTcec--u8 In the fancy dress shop, Mr Benn choses a costume, a spacesuit or a cowboy outfit. In this episode he chooses a wizard's robe. When he puts it on and goes through the 'green door that leads to adventures' he becomes… you guessed it, a wizard!

What new outfits might we choose to try out now?

You never know what extra satisfaction you could bring into your life that will enhance your life as a magician in the future.

We are magicians, we can create anything!

Green leafy magic love to you all.

Romany

You can read more about Romany's magical adventures in her inspiring memoir Spun Into Gold - The Secret Life of a Female Magician, available worldwide and as an audiobook.
Book Depository Free Shipping bit.ly/2ONMFvB
Amazon UK bit.ly/2kqB4G6
Amazon USA amzn.to/2m3XT2J
Audible audiobook read by Romany adbl.co/2qROlu5

--------------------------------------------
9. One Of Magic's Great Characters Leslie St. Clair
--------------------------------------------
Message by Quentin Reynolds (UK)

One of magic's great characters Leslie St. Clair. related by Billy McComb in The Magigram Vol 3 No.3 Jan/Feb 1971.

I wrote an obituary for a man who turned out not to be dead! I've known him from as far back as I can remember. He Is Leslie St. Clair, son of Morris St. Clair whose act is detailed in J.F. Burrows "Programmes of Magicians" which Davenports put out years ago. Leslie, or Bill, to give him his baptismal name, is a character. We have so few characters in the world we must nurture those we have. They are the ones who won't quite conform. Who won't run with the herd, who will dig their feet into the river bed and try to reverse the current, Often doomed to fail but, in the perverse way of things, often triumphing . . . and magnificently at that. History will see them as geniuses, contemporaries see them as odd-bods and weirdoes. If somebody sees a trick IS impossible, that's the one Leslie will be making.

Tentatively booked for a summer season, Leslie will belt off to the seaside with a Punch booth and have a ball surrounded by hordes of happy screaming kids. The summer season can go to pot. Leslie learned to make props by his father giving him a copy or "Modern Magic", pointing out the Card Sword and saying. "Make that and be able to show me the trick when I return or I'll beat the hell out of you". And he did. Leslie could go round Woolworths and come out with a rag-bag assortment of junk and end up with an illusion or a vanishing radio or an ink bottle and turnip because half a tin yo- yo is curved like the shoulder of an ink bottle.

Tools. Well, take a look at the set of tools DeBiere used, according to Goldston in one of his locked books. That's more or less the sort of set-up Leslie has. The props I have that were made by Leslie I'll never part with. Mostly because they are well made and will work and partly because he made them.

Edgar Benyon, the "Same man, different clothes" One Man Revue which became one of the biggest magical illusion shows in the 'forties, once stood on the stage of a church hall in Ireland after the evening performance and said. "I'd give twenty-five quid for a 'Where do the Ducks Go."

Leslie heard him and being a bit short of cash at the time, decided Benyon would have one. The next night when Benyon came in, there on the stage was a brand-new, beautifully painted duck vanish. And Leslie holding out his hand for the £25. Benyon was so delighted he put it into the act, tacky paint and all that very night.

Now the puzzle was this, how, in the wilds of Ireland and in the middle of the night had Leslie, a casual visitor to the show, got hold of the wood and the paint to make this speedy masterpiece? The wood part was solved at the end of the week when Benyon went to pay the parish priest for the use of the hall. The p.p. added an extra few bob for the fact that a hen-house in the backyard of the hall bad vanished halfway thru' the week. God knows where the paint had come from.

Once Duffy's Circus was nearly set on fire because of Leslie. It would seem that Leslie finished his act with the Card Sword and three chosen cards on this occasion. Starting the trick, he discovered he didn't have the forcedeck. It was an assorted deck of odd cards. Going round the ringside he had three cards selected by three local yobos and threw the pack, plus the returned cards, into the air. On the sword appeared three entirely different cards which Leslie displayed and departed to a big round of applause.

Slinging the props into his caravan, he made for the local with one of the Duffy brothers and they got stuck into the Guinness. Unbeknown to the revellers, the local yobos took ill the appearance of cards which were not their chosen cards and, moreover, had not the magician received his applause on pointing out the wrong cards. Credit where credit was definitely not due. They felt they had been wronged and made monkeys of in sight of their fellow men. They stocked up with Guinness at another pub and went in search of the "magishioner".

Leslie wasn't in the caravan pointed out as his. So they turned that over. Then, with a vanished magician on their bands (that's a lovely 'Irishism'!), they set about retaliation to the circus by putting fire to the tents. One helluva rumpus ensued with the police and fire engine and heaven-knows-who all involved. In the midst of this. Leslie and the Duffy brother roll back to the scene. All this because the wrong cards had been produced.

That's what I liked about being near Leslie in Ireland, Things always happened. And always fun.

In an accident on a motor cycle Leslie lost a leg, Typically. he didn't like the leg they made for him so he made his own. Complete with all sorts of springs and gadgets and a special foot which unscrewed so as he could unscrew one foot with one shoe off and another foot with another shoe on. To cover the slight limp, he performed one of the best "drunk." acts I've ever seen.

He rushed into the theatre a bit late one night and screwed on his evening shoe and put the mate onto the other good foot. Gathered up the props and galloped stage-wards. Going on-stage for his entrance, he caught the fake foot on the wire of the fire curtain and did the whole act with the good foot pointing forward and the duff foot pointing to the rear, It was taken as a terrific acrobatic gimmick and rousingly applauded.

When I was doing medicine we had him as a patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital with a fractured skull where a tent pole had fallen on his head. He lived because I knew he would. Hubert Lambert wrote me ten years ago, "Leslie Is no more. Vague rumours about his death. Point of departure supposedly somewhere in Wales". And here, once again, Ted Oldham tells me it's all nonsense. He's still alive. I sincerely hope he keeps it up, It livens this funny old existence a lot to know he's still around ... somewhere.

-------------------------------------
10. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
-------------------------------------
Written by the late Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)

"Those were the days"

Although this episode is aimed primarily at New Zealand variety entertainers, who were based in Auckland during the early Sixties and Seventies, many may find it interesting from a historic point of view and perhaps, bring up some faded memories for many kiwi 'old-timers' like myself.

A few months ago Sally Phillips, (nee Metzer) my dear friend of many moons, sent me a copy of a newspaper cutting dated July 1971, which also displayed various photographs that brought back some special memories for me. The write - up is headed "on with the show, they say." In the first 'pic', Sally is bending over me as I'm laying on my bed of nails, asking if I'm okay, (she actually remembers saying that) in the foreground is Peter Newberry, juggling his club's. (Sally and Peter worked together as 'Peter and Gaye' - a trick cycling and juggling act)

Beneath the photo, the newspaper report says quote, 'three of 12 Auckland entertainers staged a 10 minute demonstration at the intersection of Queen and Victoria streets this afternoon, before being asked to move on by the traffic department.

They were voicing their objections to a Licensing Control Commission warning that Live entertainment could be infringing the 'Sale Of Liquor' act at a North Shore restaurant, the 'Ranch House'. The entertainers, with their respective tools of trade, were not permitted to demonstrate. Traffic moved among them throughout the time they were on the intersection!' unquote.

Another photo, which again depicts myself lying on the bed of nails, shows a trolleybus going by - the huge right wheel is just inches from my head (I do remember that, I could feel the heat coming off the tyre, on the side of my face,) - a third picture shows magician, Jon Zealando, with cane in one hand and doffing his top hat with the other, standing on top of me - again with
Peter Newberry in the foreground, juggling three clubs - his unicycle lying in the middle of the road, as I was, just behind me. In the background are the other entertainers, unfortunately I can't recognise them.

Also pictured is Curly Del Monte, (he was, I think, the secretary of the New Zealand Variety Artists convention - V.A.C., at that time) he's carrying a large sign which says, 'ENTERTAINERS OUTLAWED BY LICENSING LAW'. The caption under this photo reads, quote, 'Auckland's lunch hour traffic was brought to a sudden stop when several local variety artistes decided to bring to the notice of the public that the licensing commission had announced its intension to exercise the existing licensing laws, prohibiting 'visual' performances in licensed restaurants. Hundreds of startled Aucklanders were intrigued with the performance'. Unquote.

I often wonder about this apparently incurable disease that strikes so many of those who have been voted into office - turning their brains and all sense of reasoning, into - mush. This disease is particularly virulent here in England and I notice that the current Presidency of the United States of America is absolutely riddled with it.

It wasn't just the Ranch House - every restaurant, hotel and nightclub in Auckland - in fact, the entire country, would have been affected. The potential effect this ludicrous law would have had on the livelihood of those artistes who entertained on a full-time professional basis, would have
been devastating.

This is a bit of a nostalgia 'kick' for me, and perhaps for many other Auckland entertainers also - here is a list of some of the nightclubs/restaurants that we all used to work during the Sixties and early Seventies, that would have been put 'out of bounds' if this law had come into effect.

The Toby jug, the Back Of the Moon, my personal favourite, The Dutch Kiwi, The Colony, the Poenamo, Peter Pan Ballroom, The Montmarte, Paris Boulevard, the Shiralee, the Mocambo, and the Sorrento. I'm sure there are many more, but offhand I can't think of them right now. The first nightclub in Auckland was, as far as I'm aware, a joint called the 'Heaven and Hell', I believe
that Ricky May, the famous Australasian jazz singer, (he died some years ago), began his career making toasted sandwiches etc. at the Heaven and Hell, and occasionally doing the odd singing spot as well. I had a list of fellow Artistes names to include from yesteryear - I'm out of room, so - NEXT EPISODE!

--------------------------------------------
11. E-zine Archives
---------------------------------------------
Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e- zine go to:
www.magicnewzealand.com

Click on the red button centre 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)

--------------------------------------------
12. 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 QSM 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 QSM, 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.