Magic New Zealand® E-zine

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* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New Zealand)
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Issue Number: #1593
Date: Sunday 25th October 2020
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
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Hi here is the latest news
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1. Editors Message
2. United Magicians For The World
3. Broken Wand - James Randi
4. Vince Wilson On The Magic Word Podcast
5. Simply Predictable - John Carey #98
6. Ongoing Adventures Of Romany! #30
7. World Festival of Magic New Zealand online
8. Broken Wand - Ken Klosterman
9. Masters Of Illusion
10. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
11. E-zine Archives
12. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

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1. Editor's Message
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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-2020/1593-Oct25-2020.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

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2. United Magicians For The World
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Message by Marco Pusterla (UK)

United Magicians for the World is launching the largest crowdfunding project ever made to help young magicians, who have suffered the most during this international pandemic - so that they can participate in FISM competitions. From October 22, you will be able to access 100 hours uninterrupted of magic, with some of the greatest names in the industry, to witness and learn some amazing magic and participate in a "virtual" magic convention.

Magic History is part of this event!

These are some of the speakers on Magic History and/or Collecting. More names may be added: please refer to http://unitedmagiciansfortheworld.com/ for the full list and updated times. Please note that the times below are Central European (Summer) Time.

This dream event will be held on four days: 22, 23, 24, and 25 October

We envision a website with a number of online "magic rooms"

A primary performance area which would feature 100 hours of live shows

A range of rooms for live "Jam sessions" where all enthusiasts can interact and share ideas in a variety of areas of interest, such as:

o Close-Up
o Stage Magic
o Mentalism
o Bizarre Magick
o Escapology
o Comedy Magic
o Spoken Magic
o Zoom Magic
o History & Collecting

Each user can invite other participants to join in "Breakout Rooms", making these virtual sessions even more personalized, combining live and digital elements across the world.

To help this happen, we will make available for free all of the assets of the live Masters Of Magic World Tour

https://mastersofmagicconvention.com/umw/

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3. Broken Wand - James Randi b
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Article forwarded by Rob Thomas

The New York Times

James Randi, Magician Who Debunked Paranormal Claims, Dies at 92.

Known professionally as the Amazing Randi, he dedicated his life to exposing seers who did not see, healers who did not heal and many others.

James Randi, a MacArthur award-winning magician who turned his formidable savvy to investigating claims of spoon bending, mind reading, fortunetelling, ghost whispering, water dowsing, faith healing, U.F.O. spotting and sundry varieties of bamboozlement, bunco, chicanery, flimflam, flummery, humbuggery, mountebankery, pettifoggery and out-and-out quacksalvery, as he quite often saw fit to call them, died on Tuesday at his home in Plantation, Fla. He was 92.

His death was announced by the James Randi Educational Foundation.

At once elfin and Mephistophelian, with a bushy white beard and piercing eyes, Mr. Randi - known professionally as the Amazing Randi - was a father of the modern skeptical movement. Much as the biologist and author Thomas Henry Huxley had done in the late 19th century (though with markedly more pizazz), he made it his mission to bring the world of scientific rationalism to laypeople.

What roiled his blood, and was the driving impetus of his existence, Mr. Randi often said, was pseudoscience, in all its immoral irrationality.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/obituaries/james-randi-dead.html

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4. Vince Wilson On The Magic Word Podcast
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

This week we begin a two week abbreviated "month of Boo!" on The Magic Word Podcast beginning with a conversation with Vince Wilson. He performs bizarre magic shows in Maryland in the "Poe's Magic Theatre" in the Lord Baltimore Hotel. Of course, Baltimore is known for one of its favorite "sons," Edgar Allan Poe. Vince also conducts a variety of interactive experiences in his murder mystery dinner shows featuring a variety of subjects like Sherlock Holmes, the Mummy, the Titanic, and many more. He has a completely different twist on this form of traditional evening.

This week Vince talks with us about setting up his theatre plus we discuss the differences between storytelling magic and bizarre magic. You can watch some videos, read the blog, see some photos, listen to the podcast and download the episode at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/582-vince-wilson

This week we also congratulate the two winners of the set of books, "The Golden Age of Magic Posters - the Nielsen Collection volumes 1&2": Colby Higgs and Chu Alisha. Be sure to subscribe to the podletter so you don't miss out on entering contests like this. Details are on the website.

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5. Simply Predictable - John Carey #98
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

Simply Predictable was born out of the need to create an effect which would help some of my magic students better understand the power of Magicians Choice, or as it is popularly known today, Equivoque. The effect is almost hands off and strong and has found its way into my regular performing repertoire.

You will require a deck of cards containing the Jokers and a business card, or failing that a simple scrap of paper and of course a pen. Hand the deck to a spectator for shuffling. Take it back and ribbon spread it face up and compliment your helper on their shuffle. Remove the two Jokers and use this time honored ruse to glimpse the top card. Let's say it is the Two of Clubs. Gather up the deck and table it face down. Ask the spectator to cut the deck into four roughly equal packets. As they do this keep a visual check of the packet with the Two of Clubs on top.

"Today I'm going to make a prophecy about the future. In fact I will write my thoughts down." Take a business card and write secretly the Two of Clubs on the blank side. Table this card writing side down to your right away from the deck. "Fifty two cards will become one courtesy of you!" We will now Equivoque to our target packet. Ask the spectator to push two of the packets towards you. If one of the packets is your target packet simply gather up the other two packets and set them aside. However if they push two X packets towards you, simply gather them up and set those cards aside as if that was your intention. Be relaxed and casual as you do this and do not mention words like eliminate or get rid off.

Now to get the two remaining packets down to one: Ask your helper to pick up either packet. If it's the X packet direct them to place it with the earlier discards. But if they pick up the target packet you simply brush the other packet aside. Either way, you are now in pole position to bring the effect home. "I want you to now use your intuition and start dealing cards face down into a packet. When it feels right for you please stop." By way of demonstration, you deal four or five cards into a face down packet and then drop the remaining cards on top, secretly placing your target card on the bottom. Once they have stopped dealing pick up your business card and drop it on top of the dealt packet. Then have them drop their remaining cards on top.

Ribbon spread the face down packet and comment on how they had complete freedom on where to stop dealing. Further comment on how there is one card above the business card and one below. Take away all the cards except those two and the business card in between and discard
them. Pull the business card out from between the two cards and set it forward slightly. Then slide the upper target card to the right of the other card. "You've reached a fork in the road sir. When I snap my fingers simply hand me a card." If they hand you the X card toss it aside with the discards. But if they hand you the target card you simply brush the other card aside. "So at the start I made a prophecy about the future and you shuffled the deck. We started out with 52 pieces of paper and entirely through your choices we now have only one. Pick up the deck and ribbon spread it face up.

Ask your spectator to turn over the business card and read out the message. Then turn over the card you hold to reveal the Two of Clubs and comment on how their future is looking very good! Notes: An added bonus of this effect is that the faces of the deck are never disclosed during the routine. With that in mind you could have a force card on top of the deck, the rest of which consists of fifty one blank faced cards. If using this approach you would shuffle the deck retaining the force card on top. Proceed from there and after the prediction climax you could reveal how fifty two cards really have become just one and show a deck of blank cards! Another customization would be to have happy birthday or someone's name on the force card. Lots of nice options...

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6. Ongoing Adventures Of Romany! #30
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Message by Romany (UK)

Hello from the Magic Cottage!

Blimey!!!!

This week has been exciting! Ups and downs and all about!

Blimey! If I do have to say it again!

As you'll know, I was inspired at the beginning of September to use this time to spin Spun Into Gold out to millions of readers. I thought it would cheer us all up and balance the doom and gloom with hope and sparkle and fun. And honesty.

We need honesty especially now. What confuses me the most about the world situation is that our politicians and policy makers are not, for the most part, honest. Is that too much to ask?

I know as magicians we are the first to deceive and lie and cheat but hey, we do it with the best of intentions! At least, we're honest about being dishonest!

So here I am working harder than I've done in my life to manifest opportunities to share my book. I'm doing podcasts and interviews, I'm writing articles in magazines and posting my daily blog. www.romanymagic.com/blog.

Ooh, before I forget, I'm a guest on Scott Wells' Magic and Martini's Virtual Happy Hour with David Parr & Dan Fleshman. You can see the replay on https://m.facebook.com/themagicwordpodcast

My bottom has become armchair shaped.

On Monday, the BBC called!

Great excitement!

Out of the blue, Front Row, the BBC's flagship arts radio programme invited me to talk about the effect Covid has had on magicians. Fantastic! I can tell their 2 million listeners about my pivot from showbiz to book promotion! I can tell them that I'm inspired to cheer up the world and instead of getting a job as a pizza delivery driver, I'm living on my savings and working to inspire millions!

It's a great story. Or so I thought!

I decided to pluck up all my courage and ask the presenter, live on air, to read my book.
I had the collywobbles but I did it. Mission accomplished!

In the morning, I wrote to the producer offering him the idea of a feature. What if Front Row supports an out of work magician by inviting them back to talk about their book that the presenter absolutely loved!

Following the programme, a couple of thousand people read it, word gets out, the book gets more and more popular and 'Hey Presto!' A million readers! Fantastic!

Except.

The producer replied to say that he was uncomfortable that I sprang the request on the presenter. He said that me talking about my book meant that there wasn't time to highlight the plight of magicians.

Ah. At first I felt embarrassed and stupid. I told my friends.

"So why can Nicole Kidman talk about her film but you can't talk about your book?" Asked one.

"They wanted a click bait, 'magician becomes delivery driver', not a positive story." Said another.

Yes. They had a chance to feature a positive story about a magician making the best of a difficult situation but… they didn't want to.

One of my favourite sayings is: Every 'no' gets you nearer to a 'yes'.

It took me a day to recover from having the wind knocked out of my sails but the next day I was excited again. I'm a magician! I don't depend on anyone to make my luck! I'm going to create my own channel and interview artists that are continuing to inspire the world. I'll put it on my website and other media!
And because I'm a magician, the next day Tim Wise from Vegas phoned to offer me my very own channel.

Magic!!!

More next week.

We are the dreamers of dreams and we are the stuff that magic is made of!

Never give up and hold fast!

Love to you all,
Romany

Ps Have you read Spun Into Gold - The Secret Life of a Female Magician? Because I'll keep reminding you until you're the 9,999,999th person who hasn't!

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!

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7. World Festival of Magic New Zealand online
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Our New Zealand Lions Clubs are proud to bring this year's exclusive online World Festival of Magic directly into your home.

The Magical Season is Upon Us Now!

Magical Fun for the Entire Family!

Colouring Competitions!

Learn a Mind boggling Magic Trick!

Be Prepared to Be Dazzled!

Where the Magic Never Ends!

The following Lions Clubs will be hosting a personalized video especially for their Club and their local community.

Let's Make Magic Together!

Christchurch South Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/WorldFestivalOfMagic

Dunedin Host Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/DunedinHostLionsClub

Fitzherbert Lions Club (Palmerston North)
https://www.facebook.com/fitzherbertlionsPN

Gisborne Host Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006006705366

Hamilton Dinsdale Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/DinsdaleLions

Invercargill Host Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/Invercargill-Host-Lions-Club-359983131119025

Napier Host Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/NapierHostLions

New Plymouth Koru Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/Koru-Lions-New-Plymouth-586539468365931

Ngongotaha Lions Club (Rotorua)
https://www.facebook.com/WorldFestivalOfMagic

Remuera Lions Club (Auckland)
https://www.facebook.com/remueralions

Taupo Lakeland Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/WorldFestivalOfMagic

Tauranga City Sunrise Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/Tauranga-City-Sunrise-Lions-Club-110208514144941

Wellington Host Lions Club
https://www.facebook.com/WellingtonHostLions

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8. Broken Wand - Ken Klosterman
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The following is reposted on the IBM - International Brotherhood of Magicians Facebook group

The I.B.M. is saddened to announce the passing of Past International President Ken Klosterman at his home on October 21, 2020

The following is reposted with kind permission from Phil Schwartz's post in the Thayer Forum on the Thayer Magic website.

Ken Klosterman (1933-2020)

One of magic's greatest friends and a momentous figure in magic collecting died at his home yesterday.

Introduced by his uncle to magic at the age of 9, Ken became a professional magician and performed along with his wife Judy until his obligations to Klosterman Baking Company became too great.

Almost by accident, Ken became a serious magic collector. Here's the story in his own words: (originally posted elsewhere on the Thayer Magic site) Charlie Kalish and I first met at a magic collectors' meeting in the early 70's. I will never forget meeting Charlie."

"I was on business to try to sell some bread to a chain coming into Cincinnati. I went to Ireland Magic Company to see if there was anything happening. I walked in and met a John Henry Grossman and a Robert Lund for the first time. (Later John Henry along with Charlie and John Braun became my mentors for collecting magic.) They asked if I was up here for the magic collectors. I did not know they were having a magic collectors meeting. At the counter of this magic company, now Magic Inc., I asked, How do you become a collector?"

"Mr. Lund said 'collect everything pertaining to magic and if you run out of room, store it under you bed." The Doctor I think gave me little better advice "buy good things now for your act now, and in years to come they will be collectable."

Charlie Kalish later directed Ken to the vast magic collection housed at Cypress Gardens, Florida. Ken acquired it.

After that, he continued amassing one of the largest magic collections in the world. He displayed much of it in the lower level of his Loveland, Ohio farm. Called Langsem Farm, it was founded by the Klosterman's in 1987 and consists of over 250 acres.

Ken hosted three international collectors' events in Cincinnati which included tours of his collection. One event was the Magic Collectors' Association in 1993 where Ken hired Del Ray to entertain poolside as we waited for our turns to tour. Two more (unaffiliated) events were called the Gathering of Vultures in 2015 and 2018.

By the time of the second Gathering of Vultures, there were two sites to tour. First was the 'mine shaft' (aka basement) of the Langsem house called the Salon De Magie. The second was Whitehall Mansion & Thompson Mill in Georgetown, Ohio where Ken maintained a collection of illusions, German magic, gambling-themed items, hundreds of books, and an entire upper floor furnished with a sampling of his beautiful magic memorabilia.

One of Ken's most cherished items was Robert-Houdin's Light and Heavy Chest, featured as the 'magic trick that prevented a war.' The entire Klosterman collection has been carefully cataloged and displayed.

In 2006, Ken and Gabe Fajuri published The Salon De Magie. He authored articles in Apocalypse, The Linking Ring, and other magic publications.

Ken was 1995-1996 president of the I.B.M., and a life member of the SAM.

Ken's wife of 58 years, Judy, passed in 2016. He is survived by daughters, Kim Klosterman and Jayme Klosterman; son, Kenneth "Chip" Klosterman, Jr. and grandchildren Katie, Ellen and grandchildren Katie, Ellen and Olivia.

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9. Masters Of Illusion
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Message by Steve Moyer (US)

Supercharging Your Very First Magic Tricks

"Supercharging Your Very First Magic Tricks," is up next on Masters of Illusion, starring magicians Louie Foxx, Nick Lewin, Richard Turner, Shoot Ogawa, Anna DeGuzman, Eric Eaton, Trigg Watson and Dan Sperry, hosted by Dean Cain airing at 8/7c on The CW on Friday, October 23, 2020, followed by an Encore presentation of "A New Twist On The Classics" starring magicians Dan Sperry, My Uyên, Shoot Ogawa, Trigg Watson, Douglas "Lefty" Leferovich and Alexandra Duvivier at 8:30/7:30c.

To view performance highlights of the October 23rd episode airing from 8:00 - 8:30 p.m., please visit:

(Highlight Clip of magician Louie Foxx) https://vimeo.com/463953525/19de7872b1 and
(Compilation Clip of all the magicians in this episode) https://vimeo.com/463953750/ad2de02e1d

To view performance highlights of the October 23rd Encore episode airing from 8:30 - 9:00 p.m., please visit:
(Highlight Clip of magician Dan Sperry) https://vimeo.com/462864555/63ce6543e1 and
(Compilation Clip of all the magicians in this episode) https://vimeo.com/462864616/981ab6fbbc

Please also note, Masters of Illusion will be pre-empted on Friday, October 30, 2020 by "The 13 Scariest Movies of All Time." Masters of Illusion will return the following week on Friday, November 6, 2020 on The CW at 8/7c.

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

Timaru - Big Stereo Sound, and a Top Country Singing Star!

Driving on to Timaru In the Humber Super Snipe - with its long bonnet stretched out in front, was an absolute pleasure. It sat on the road as if it was glued to it and, it had a 'magic' switch called 'overdrive', which essentially was a 5th gear - when you flicked the switch 'on', the motor dropped by several revs and the car just rolled silently along. We, or rather the car, got many admiring glances!

When I was describing the haunted house in Timaru I also mentioned that we shared the large parking space out the back with the St John's Ambulance station, which was next door. It didn't take long before they noticed the 'new' car, with the 'Spick-and-Span, Showroom Gleam', in the yard. Now as you might imagine, their mechanics were top-notch - they had to be, keeping the ambulances mechanically sound and in perfect running order, so when it came to - "Open up the bonnet and lets have a look at it then", they were suitably impressed with all the chrome, saying - "It sure looks 'Snazzy', but what does the engine sound like?"

I said, "let me put it to you this way, the only way you can tell if the engine is running, or not - is to either stick your hand into the radiator fan or wrap your mouth around the exhaust pipe!" They stopped laughing when I fired it up. "Sounds like a Rolls Royce engine" they whispered, "you can't hear anything!" From then on, we were forever getting knocks on the back door with requests to, 'start up the engine' so that - 'so and so' could inspect the mechanical wonder and 'listen' to how an engine should really sound! 'Mechanics' !

In 'A Perfect Storm Is Brewing In Paradise', I spoke about how I was a bit of a 'Nutter', in regards to exotic, rather expensive stereo hi-fi systems. I had such a system, set up in the massive lounge room in Timaru. Nobody, on 'Pain Of Death', was allowed near it! If anybody wanted a particular record played, they had to get me to put it on for them. My 'record-player' wasn't your normal - 'stack 10 records and push the 'ON' button' type, it was a 'State Of The Art', 'Technics' direct drive turntable, with a separate 'Shure' S M E precision pick up arm (rated as the best in the world) fitted with a Broadcast Quality 'Stanton' phono magnetic cartridge (alternating with a 'Shure' V 15, type three); delicate, precision equipment, definitely not for the heavy - handed!

The speakers were professional 'J B L' studio monitors; the bass speakers were 15 inch, and that is massive - it took two strong men to pick up just one of the speakers cabinets -they weighed a 'ton', it was a big sound! The professional 'Sansui' separate amplifier and pre-amplifier - rated at 110 Watt's r m s per channel, actually tested out at 150 watts a Ch.! Most people are happy with a 'normal' home stereo system of around 10/20 watts. I've always considered myself as normal - most people seem to disagree! One night, during a music session with some friends, there was a knock on the door - it was The Police! No, it wasn't the neighbours complaining, they were, and demanded that I turn the volume down - they could hear my music at the police station, which was - oops, a block away, on North Street! We were on King George St. I lowered the volume - fast!

Suzanne Prentice - A most attractive young lady and, one of New Zealand's Top Country Stars! Endowed with a Strong, Distinctive Voice, she had a huge recording hit called -'Snowbird', which put her well and truly on the road to stardom. We haven't seen or heard of Suzanne for many years; in fact the last time was back in Australia when she appeared at the famous 'Tamworth International Country Music Festival' and caused quite a sensation there! We can't remember how we met Suzanne, more than likely on some show in the South Island; I think
she lived in Invercargill. She used to drive - accompanied by her mother, up to Timaru - where I was giving her some therapeutic treatment, using hypnosis; can't remember why now, but even if I could, I wouldn't say, that's strictly confidential.

One of my favourite songs from yesteryear is - 'The Wayward Wind', and I was always asking Veronica, who just happens have a nice singing voice herself, to sing it for me, along with 'High Noon', and 'The Man From Laramie', both from the films of the same name. I asked Suzanne if she knew 'The Wayward Wind' as I thought it would be a great song for her to cover, especially with HER powerful voice. She didn't, so I persuaded Veronica to sing it and teach her the words. I don't know if Suzanne ever got around to actually recording it commercially, but I did record (on reel to reel tape and cassette) Suzanne and Veronica singing together - playing their guitars for accompaniment, in our lounge room in Timaru. Fantastic! Wish I knew where Suzanne is now, I'd love to send her a copy - I think she would be 'tickled pink'! What 'magical memories' those old recordings bring back.

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