*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New
Zealand)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #1592
Date: Sunday 18th October 2020
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================
1. Editors Message
2. Magic Shop In Azusa Closes After 100 Years Due To COVID-19
3. The Magic Word Podcast
4. Broken Wand - Bob Rossi
5. Open Sez Me! - John Carey #97
6. Ongoing Adventures Of Romany! #29
7. Free Print Giveaway
8. Body, Mind And Transformations
9. Masters Of Illusion
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-2020/1592-Oct18-2020.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. Magic Shop In Azusa Closes After 100 Years Due To COVID-19
--------------------------------------------
Article forwarded by Peter Phillips (US)
Eyewithnewss
News
Long-standing
magic shop in Azusa to close after 100 years due to COVID-19
pandemic.
An Azusa magic store that's been in Southern California
for more than 100 years is closing its doors after COVID-19
stalled business.
AZUSA,
Calif. (KABC) -- Owen's Magic Supreme in Azusa is a magic
store that's been casting a spell on audiences in Los Angeles,
Las Vegas and across the globe since it opened in 1903.
But the coronavirus pandemic has stopped the magic, and
the business is being forced to close.
"Kind
of coming to a halt and the coronavirus has been a major
part of that," said owner Alan Zagorsky. "I didn't
want to retire quite so quickly and move on, but with all
the shows closed in Las Vegas, throughout the world the
entertainment industry, this is what we're all about."
https://abc7.com/magic-store-close-covid-19-owens-m-agic-supreme/6423990/?fbclid=
IwAR1Gay7G59YfL6dz7jxt9iNslKdyOwM0rdCnhkGzxEaXej6ySPDnBpNbD3I
-------------------------------------------
3. The Magic Word Podcast
-------------------------------------------
Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star
Gabe
Fajuri (Potter & Potter Auctions) and Clive St. James
(Tommy Cooper Tribute) on The Magic Word Podcast.
Many
magicians from around the world have drooled over the many
historic artifacts offered by Potter & Potter Auctions
over the years and some of you may have purchased some things
through their auction. Last week on The Magic Word Podcast,
Gabe Fajuri, co-owner of Potter & Potter Auctions, was
our guest who talked about many of the items that have come
on the auction block and the stories behind some of them.
Gabe also gave us a lot of good tips on how we should prepare
for our eventual demise and the disposition of our collection
of magic books, props, ephemera, and "stuff."
You can view a video of Gabe, see some photos, read the
blog, listen and download the podcast on the website at:
https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/580-gabe-fajuri
And be sure to enter the contest for a chance to win one
of two sets of "The Golden Age of Magic Posters - the
Norm Nielsen Collection". The contest form is at the
bottom of Episodes #580 and #581 blogs.
This
week we chat with Clive St. James from the U.K. who has
a tribute act of Tommy Cooper. Arguably the greatest comedian
to come out of the U.K., Tommy Cooper has many imitators
who keep his name and humor alive. In addition to being
one of (if not "the") top tribute performers,
Clive also coaches people in laughter through his "laughter
yoga" classes. He also holds the Guinness World Book
of Records for telling the most jokes in one minute.
You
can listen to this week's episode wherever you get your
podcasts. But for more information, videos, photos, contest
info, and more, then please visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/581-clive-st-james
And
be sure to sign up for the weekly podletter where you get
information on each week's guest, notifications of who is
coming next week, suggestions from the archives, and more.
You can sign up for the podletter at the website.
-------------------------------------------
4. Broken Wand - Bob Rossi
-------------------------------------------
Message by Diana Zimmerman (US)
I
am sad to report the passing of Robert (Bob) Rossi who died
in his sleep from natural causes on Wednesday, October 7th.
He was 76. For those who knew and loved Bob - and there
are so many - he was one of the true gentlemen in magic,
incredibly kind and a REALLY great guy to be around. His
parties were the best. You never knew who or how many superstars
of magic or show business would drop by. But they always
did.
He
was one of the foremost collectors of obscure magic books
and antiques, including several Robert-Houdin clocks, as
well as a David Devant fan, and other rare pieces. In addition
to collecting, Bob was a veritable wealth of knowledge when
it came to magic history - the "go to" guy for
collectors and historians. He was also the world's foremost
expert on Joseph Dunninger, his friend and mentor. It was
Dunninger who inspired Bob to begin collecting books.
Bob
spent 18 years in Hong Kong in the toy business, and was
legendary for bringing the "Tickle Me Elmo" dolls
to the United States. After moving to Las Vegas, he spent
many years producing the beloved World Magic Seminars.
This
year, the magic world has lost far too many greats, and
Bob was certainly one of them - a wonderful man, a terrific
friend, and an all-around GREAT guy.
-------------------------------------------
5. Open Sez Me! - John Carey #97
-------------------------------------------
Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/
I've
always been enamored with the open prediction style effect
where you verbalize a prediction card at the beginning.
I wanted a strong and practical version from a spectator
shuffled deck where I could announce my prediction as they
are shuffling. Here is my solution.
Position
the two Jokers on top of the deck with the Seven of Hearts
beneath them and you are set. "Allow me to introduce
to you the two Jokers. We will use these a bit later, but
in the meantime would you please shuffle the deck?"
Suiting actions to the above words you push off the two
Jokers into your right hand in a spread condition. At the
same time secretly secure a left pinky break beneath the
Seven of Hearts. Flash the faces of the Jokers and then
flip them face up on top of the deck. Immediately grasp
all three cards below your break from above with the right
hand as the left hand moves away and passes the deck out
for shuffling. Set the three cards on the card box at an
angle for easy later retrieval.
As
your spectator is shuffling announce you will make an open
verbal prediction. Act out as if you are trying to think
of a random card and then announce the Seven of Hearts as
your prediction. Encourage your spectators to remember this.
"Jack, are you an impulsive person? Well, I'd like
you to use your impulse and intuition combined and start
dealing cards face down to the table and stop when it feels
just right for you." As they start dealing you pick
up the three cards on top of the card box, held from above
in the right hand.
Once
they stop dealing the left thumb peels off the face Joker
into its hand. The right hand descends to the dealt packet
and drops its double card on top of the packet to mark its
position. Ask your helper to continue dealing and stop one
last time again on impulse. Once they stop drop the Joker
you hold face up onto the tabled packet and have your spectator
drop their remaining cards on top. Your physical work is
done and you are so far ahead.
"So
Jack, as you were shuffling at the beginning I made an open
prediction. You then dealt cards and stopped at truly random
positions under your control. Let's take out the card next
to each Joker." Spread the deck and slide out the uppermost
Joker and the card beneath it and place that pair to your
right. Next slide out the other Joker and the card beneath
it - the Seven of Hearts and place that pair to your left.
Set the deck aside. Pick up the Jokers and discard them
too.
Now
we will execute a simple equivoque to bring the trick home.
"Two cards on the table, but we only need one. Please
push one towards me. If they push the target card towards
you casually toss the other card aside. However, if they
push the X card towards you simply slide it aside with the
other cards. Remind everyone that your open prediction was
the Seven of Hearts. Slowly turn over the tabled card and
the mystery is concluded.
--------------------------------------------
6. Ongoing Adventures Of Romany! #29
--------------------------------------------
Message by Romany (UK)
Hello
from the Magic Cottage!
But
in 32 minutes, I have a Zoom booked with Tim Wise from Las
Vegas. The Lake District to Las Vegas by the power of magic
and modern technology.
I
last saw Tim in 2011 when we had lunch after the Golden
Lion award competition, together with fabulous performer
Jason Andrews. Tim popped into the fun filmed chat I had
with Anthony Darkstone Brooks from S.A.M last Saturday.
If
you're very nosy you can watch the edited version here.
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7338941/video/467840948.
Anthony
had arranged Tim to pop in as a surprise and it was so nice
to see him. This world is too large and we don't see our
friends often enough.
So in 27 minutes now, we're going to have a chat and Tim
is going to tell me his best brainwave ideas to help me
market my book.
How
are you??? I'm tired! I've been working non-stop on this
Manifest a Million readers idea and my bottom is now armchair
shaped! I've blogged and podcasted and written articles
and been interviewed. I've improved my website and tweeted
and done everything I can think of to shift more copies.
There's
not been any time to do any magic and not much point since
here in the UK, COVID numbers are dramatically increasing
and the country is going into another lockdown.
Our
government seems to be totally unconcerned for the welfare
of artists and performers. Millions have been left without
any work or government support, it's all very strange. As
far as I can tell from Facebook groups of magicians and
artists, we mostly seem to be out of work without any idea
of when events will resume.
Ho
hum.
Well
my friends, I have a book to promote and while my vision
is advancing book by single book, I shall continue. I have
a kettle, a wood burning stove, and an armchair to sit in
while I work.
I
do hope you are well and can find a happy project to enjoy!
With
love
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.
Manifest a Million Blog www.romanymagic.com/blog
Book Depository Free Shipping bit.ly/2ONMFvB
Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3cTHpR6
Amazon USA https://amzn.to/34bohu5
Audible https://adbl.co/3dt7oiA
Book Depository -Free Shipping. http://bit.ly/2ONMFvB
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/romanydivaofmagic Please
subscribe!
--------------------------------------------
7. Free Print Giveaway
--------------------------------------------
Message by Jay Fortune (UK)
At
this time of uncertainty and disruption in our lives, I'm
excited to release this open-edition mini-print of my original
Vernon Smoke painting and offer it as a gift to magicians
worldwide. It's completely free.
All
you pay is post and packaging. To acquire yours, simply
enter the coupon code 'FREEVERNON' at check-out.' Open edition
A4 (8x11" approx.) size print of 'Vernon - Smoke' by
Jay. Printed on premium 350gsm silk, full colour, with white
border. Hand-signed by the artist.
Order
yours today for free, visit http://www.jayfortune.co.uk/product/vernon-smoke-mini-print/
--------------------------------------------
8. Body, Mind And Transformations
--------------------------------------------
Message by Steve Moyer (US)
"Body,
Mind and Transformations" starring magicians Alex Ramon,
Chipper Lowell, Nick Dopuch, Murray SawChuck, Kent Axell
and Shaun Jay is up next on Masters of Illusion, hosted
by Dean Cain, airing this coming Friday, October 16, 2020
at 8/7c on The CW Network, followed by and Encore Presentation
of "Window Panes, Ring Crushers, And The Magic Earthworm"
starring magicians Murray SawChuck, Chris Funk, Ed Alonzo,
Michael Turco, Krystyn Lambert and Hans Klok at 8:30/7:30c.
To
view performance highlights of the October 16th episode
airing from 8:00 - 8:30 p.m., please visit:
(Highlight Clip of magician Nich Dopuch) https://vimeo.com/463904742/aefb374496
and
(Compilation Clip of all the magicians in this episode)
https://vimeo.com/463904806/f38f57fd9f
To
view performance highlights of the October 16th Encore episode
airing from 8:30 - 9:00 p.m., please visit:
(Highlight Clip of Hans Klok) https://vimeo.com/460610309/4507e4ed19
and
(Compilation Clip of all the magicians in this episode)
https://vimeo.com/460635839/6337baa627
--------------------------------------------
9. Masters Of Illusion
--------------------------------------------
Message by Steve Moyer (US)
Masters
of Illusion returns for week twenty-two of seventh anniversary
season on The CW Network hosted by Dean Cain, the series
airs Friday nights with two 30-minute episodes airing back
to back, starting at 8/7C
8:00 - 8:30 p.m.: "Body, Mind and Transformations"
Starring Alex Ramon, Chipper Lowell, Nick Dopuch, Murray
SawChuck, Kent Axell and Shaun Jay
And
8:30
- 9:00 p.m.: "Window Panes, Ring Crushers, And The
Magic Earthworm" Starring Murray SawChuck, Chris Funk,
Ed Alonzo, Michael Turco, Krystyn Lambert and Hans Klok
Hollywood,
CA (October 9, 2020) - Masters of Illusion, produced by
Associated Television International and hosted by Dean Cain,
will return for Week Twenty-Two of their seventh anniversary
season on The CW with two 30-minute episodes airing back
to back on Friday, October 16, 2020. Masters of Illusion
features amazing magic performed by 45 acts, including 46
diverse national and international cutting-edge illusionists,
escape artists and performers, 10 of which are women. To
view a Sizzle Reel of Season Seven of Masters of Illusion
on The CW, please visit: https://vimeo.com/user4830612/review/412409400/879b91277d
This
week's episodes will include:
Masters of Illusion
"Body, Mind and Transformations" - (8:00-8:30
p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)
Hosted by Dean Cain, Masters of Illusion features amazing
magic performed by cutting-edge illusionists, escape artists
and performers displaying skills ranging from perplexing
interactive mind magic to hilarious comedy routines - all
in front of a studio audience. Magicians featured in this
episode include: Alex Ramon (Body Pass), Chipper Lowell
(Mind to Mind), Nick Dopuch (Fast Hands), Murray SawChuck
(The Rubik's Cube Prediction), Kent Axell (Mind to Mind
Again) and Shaun Jay (Random Objects Transformations) (#717)
Original Airdate 10/16/20.
To view performance highlights of the October 16th episode
airing from 8:00 - 8:30 p.m., please visit:
(Highlight Clip of magician Nick Dopuch) https://vimeo.com/463904742/aefb374496
and
(Compilation Clip of all the magicians in this episode)
https://vimeo.com/463904806/f38f57fd9f
Masters
of Illusion
"Window Panes, Ring Crushers, and The Magic Earthworm"
- (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)
Card
Fusion - Hosted by Dean Cain, Masters of Illusion features
amazing magic performed by cutting-edge illusionists, escape
artists and performers displaying skills ranging from perplexing
interactive mind magic to hilarious comedy routines - all
in front of a studio audience. Magicians featured in this
episode include: Murray SawChuck (Magic Wine Glass), Chris
Funk (Card Fusion), Ed Alonzo (The Ring Crusher), Michael
Turco (Metal Card Detector), Krystyn Lambert (The Magic
Earthworm) and Hans Klok (Through the Window Panel). (#715)
(Encore Presentation) Original Airdate 10/2/20.
To view performance highlights of the October 16th Encore
episode airing from 8:30 - 9:00 p.m., please visit:
(Highlight Clip of Hans Klok) https://vimeo.com/460610309/4507e4ed19
and
(Compilation Clip of all the magicians in this episode)
https://vimeo.com/460635839/6337baa627
Please
note, the television show, Masters of Illusion will be preempted
on Friday, October 16, 2020 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., or 8:00
- 10:00 p.m. in several U.S. cities due to sporting events.
As a result, Masters of Illusion will be broadcast instead
in Dallas, TX on KDAF on Saturday, October 17, 2020 from
8:00 - 10:00 p.m.; in Chattanooga, TN on WFLI on Friday,
October 16, 2020 from 10:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.; in Myrtle
Beach, SC on WWMB/WWMB-D2 on Friday, October 16, 2020 from
10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.; in Tallahassee, FL on WTLF on Saturday,
October 17, 2020 from 8:30 - 10:00 p.m. and in Odessa, TX
on KCWO on Saturday, October 17, 2020 from 8:30 - 10:00
p.m.
Masters of Illusion is produced by Associated Television
International (ATI) with returning Executive Producers David
McKenzie, Gay Blackstone, David Martin, and Al Schwartz,
along with Co-Executive Producer Jim Romanovich. For more
information about ATI, please visit www.associatedtelevision.com
For
more information on Masters of Illusion, please visit:
Website: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/masters-of-illusion/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cwmastersofillusion and
https://www.facebook.com/MastersofIllusion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cw_illusion and https://twitter.com/Mastersofillus
.@cw_illusion
#MastersOfIllusion
-------------------------------------
10. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
-------------------------------------
Written by the late Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)
Driving
a 'sick' car over the mighty Arthur's Pass to Timaru
I
mentioned that we had left our 1958 'Humber Hawk' car (page
67) in Greymouth, which is on the West coast of the South
Island, after 'Bloody Murphy' (you've got to blame someone)
had tinkered with the oil rings - they blew - in bits-and-pieces,
out the exhaust pipe! When we got back to Timaru after the
('Unspectacular' according to one lousy critic) . Spectacular
'74 had finished, we borrowed a friend's car and returned
to Greymouth to pick up the now 'oil guzzling'
Humber. Filling it up with oil, with a couple of extra gallons
in the boot, I headed back to Timaru with Veronica following.
Sometime
ago David J O'Connor (South Africa) an ex pat Kiwi like
myself said, via the Magic New Zealand-ezine, some nice
words about my writings which have quote -"brought
back tremendous memories, not only geographically.."
unquote. Well, here is some more New Zealand geography,
that perhaps will also be of interest to overseas magicians
who might be visiting my home country in the future, and
who may wish to take time out to visit/experience some of
New Zealand's beautiful, world famous scenery.
The
quickest way back to Timaru from Greymouth is to head south
for 18 miles on Highway 6, then turn left at the Kamara
junction onto Highway 73 - where you start the long climb
up through Arthur's Pass - and the Otira Gorge, to the village
at the peak (3,032-ft) at which point you begin the long
descent back down again to Christchurch, around 96 miles
away to the East. When we were touring Switzerland with
our show we were often reminded of the village at the peak
of Arthur's Pass - the area is renowned for its ski slopes,
and its sports a chalet style restaurant, much like you'll
find all over Switzerland. Driving through the Otira Gorge
is not for the faint hearted (caravans are banned), especially
in bad weather. With towering mountains on one side and
a sheer drop down the other, the Otira river far below looks
more like a thin watery thread the narrow road (with passing
bays) is very steep with a series of 'scary' hairpin bends
that are reminiscent of some of the roads around Monaco
and across the Pyrenees through to
the tiny principality of Andorra.
The
five miles long Otira tunnel is the only rail link through
the mountains that is covered daily between Christchurch
and Greymouth by the Trans-Alpine Express, and is renowned
as the most scenic trip, by rail, in New Zealand. It took
15 years of construction before it was completed in 1923,
and was by necessity, the first ELECTRIFIED line (in what
was then the British Empire) - because a normal steam locomotive,
whilst going through the tunnel, would have choked the passengers
to death with sulphurous smoke!
Talking
about smoke, looking out of the rear vision mirror as I
roared up the mountain pass, all I could see behind me was
what looked like a massive, black cumulonimbus thundercloud
- the bloody oil was burning faster than a sheet of flash
paper! Although the oil rings were gone there wasn't much
wrong with the engine itself - it still had plenty of power.
Veronica was amazed to see me pass a brand-new Toyota van
going up the steep incline - she was a couple of S-bends
back so was looking at my car more or less side on as I
zipped past and witnessed the Toyota being enveloped and
vanishing within the oily cloud.
Once
we had got over the other side of Arthur's Pass we turned
off Highway 73 and onto number 72, which would then take
us south across country to Geraldine and Winchester, where
we would join Highway 1 for Timaru. However, we turned off
for the town of Methven, to get some more oil. We found
this small garage and I couldn't believe my eyes; parked
outside the workshop was a car with a 'For Sale' sign on
its window. It was a beautiful, gleaming, 1957 'Humber Super
Snipe', in absolute mint condition. I just dribbled and
drooled all over the place!
It
turns out that the car belonged to the garage owner who
was an A-grade mechanic and had owned the car from new.
We were both dumbfounded when he opened up the car bonnet
- he had chrome plated anything and everything that could
be plated, it was a 'poetic vision'
of loveliness - the entire engine was so clean you could
have eaten a gourmet chefs meal off it. The interior of
the car, in fact the whole vehicle looked like it had just
been released from a Show Room. When he started the engine
you couldn't be too sure if it was actually
running or not, it was so quiet and when he revved it up
it simply purred with unbridled power! Then he took us for
run in it. Sheer luxury. This car was solid - they don't
build them like that these days. When you closed the doors
they shut with that nice, satisfying 'THUWUUNK' sound that
you just don't hear any more. THERE AND THEN, WE SAID GOODBYE
TO THE 'HAWK' and - BOUGHT THE 'SUPER SNIPE'! -
continues
-
--------------------------------------------
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.
© Copyright 2020 Alan Watson QSM
www.magicnewzealand.com
http://twitter.com/#!/magicnewzealand
www.watson.co.nz
www.magician.co.nz
www.balloon-twister.co.nz
