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: #1612
Date: Sunday 28th March 2021
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. Editor's Message
2. I.B.M. Online Convention - July 8-10, 2021
3. FISM NACM Quebec 2021
4. FISM Quebec 2022
5. Potter & Potter Auctions
6. Broken Wand - 'Romaine' (May 22, 1935- March 20, 2021)
7. Simon Drake's House Of Magic
8. Having A Clean-Out Of My Library
9. Clairvoyance - John Carey #113
10. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #4
11. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
12. E-zine Archives
13. 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/2021-Jan-to-Dec-2021/1612-Mar28-2021.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. I.B.M. Online Convention - July 8-10, 2021
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Message by Ken Scott and Oscar Munoz (US)

Online - Interactive - Magic

July 8th - 10th

www.ibmcomvention.com

The International Brotherhood of Magicians is excited to offer a premium online convention on July 8-10, 2021 on the Zoom platform. With innovative broadcasting technology, and international talent, we look forward to providing an experience for our Members unlike any other.

We know that times have been hard for so many, so we want to give our Members something special at a ridiculously low price. We are going to give you the entire convention for just $99 per screen/device, and that will include a one-year I.B.M. Membership, with digital access to our
premiere magazine, The Linking Ring. If your membership is already paid up - no worries...we will extend your membership by one year with registration.

Additionally, we want to reward our Life Members, as well as our Youth Members under the age of 18 with free registration to this event.

Our event will include lectures, shows, and a contest with prizes for Close-up, Stage, and Youth. If you wish to be considered as a contestant, please email Contest Chair Melody Munoz at
ibmcontestmunoz@gmail.com for more information.

Registration is now open. Sign up quickly, as we expect to sell out.

I.B.M. Current Members including Life Members and Youth Members under 18 - https://www.magician.org/convention/online-2021-member to register (includes one year extension to your membership with digital Linking Ring. Note that Youth registration does not include membership extension. Please contact the office if you wish to upgrade to the paper copy.)

Non-Members
https://www.magician.org/convention/online-2021-non-member to register (includes one year membership with digital Linking Ring. Please contact the office if you wish to upgrade to the paper copy.)

We look forward to seeing you online in July!

Ken Scott and Oscar Munoz
I.B.M. Convention Committee Chair and Co-Chair

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3. FISM NACM Quebec 2021
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Quebec City, Canada

North American Championship of Magic 2021

Qualification to represent North America at FISM World Championship in 2022.

September 29 to October 3, 2021

www.fismna2021.com

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4. FISM Quebec 2022
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28th FISM World Championship of Magic 2022

Quebec City, Canada

The most important magic contest in the world for the first time in North America

July 25 to 30, 2022

wwwfismquebec2022.com

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5. Potter & Potter Auctions
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Message by Gabe Fajuri, President, Potter & Potter Auctions

The Midwest's Premier Magicana And Gambling Auction House Expands To A Spacious, Flexible, and Easily Accessible Location at 5001 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago.

This new building - once home to a caramel apple company - adds great efficiencies to the company's operations, provides a sizable gallery for merchandise displays, and features a comfortable and welcoming area for live auctions.

Chicago, Il, March 23, 2021 - Potter & Potter Auctions is excited to announce that they have relocated their business about five miles west from their previous Ravenswood neighborhood site to 5001 W. Belmont Avenue In Chicago. The new 15,000 square foot brick structure, originally built in 1961, is one story tall and includes 18 parking spaces. The company's contact information, including their phone and fax numbers, and email address - which are noted at the bottom of this release - remains the same.

This new location is a win-win for Potter & Potter Auctions as well as its customers and consignors. Ideally configured for high volume transactions, auction items will be handled more efficiently as the footprint for producing catalogs, photographing lots, displaying objects, conducting sales, and shipping purchases has been significantly increased and optimized across all departments. Fortunately, the building's interior required only minimal cosmetic changes and a light, general refresh to get it ready for business. The cataloging office has been graced with a giant Alexander The Man Who Knows billboard poster to one wall, with further decorations planned as the year goes on.

According to Gabe Fajuri, President at Potter & Potter Auctions, "This move was long overdue. The business has continued growing through the years - it was started on my coffee table over 12 years ago - and finally outgrew the location we had been renting for nearly a decade. In moving to Belmont we more than doubled our space and increased efficiency in all departments. 2020 was a tough year for many businesses, but ours continued to grow, and is still on an upward trajectory. We will be able to continue on that path - smoothly - with our new, larger space. In fact, we already have."

Potter & Potter, founded in 2007, is a Chicago area auction house specializing in paper Americana, vintage advertising, rare books, playing cards, gambling memorabilia, posters, fine prints, vintage toys, and Magicana - antiques and collectibles related to magic and magicians.

The company's next sale, a Spring Magic Auction featuring the collection of Bill Trotter, will be held on April 24, 2021. For more information, see www.potterauctions.com. Follow Potter & Potter Auctions on Facebook (potterandpotterauctions) and Instagram (potterauctions).

Media contact:
Gabe Fajuri, President, Potter & Potter Auctions
email: gabe@potterauctions.com
phone: 773-472-1442
fax: 773-260-1462

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6. Broken Wand - 'Romaine' (May 22, 1935- March 20, 2021)
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Message by George Schindler (US)

Roman "Romaine" Szydlowski was born in Canada in 1936. His early showbiz years as a teenage ventriloquist in Montreal was marred by one of the mechanisms failing and he decided to add magic to his act. He added cards and billiard balls that were small enough to carry and would not bulge in his pockets. In time it became his new act of manipulation as a slightly tipsy drunk act . He consulted with Cardini who suggested he expand his act to becoming a broader "drunk" comedy act , allowing him to do larger "double takes" at the magic happening around him.

His manipulation act with cards and billiard balls brought him recognition and he played many of the Montreal Nightclubs in the 1970's. His trips to New York were highlighted with lessons from Slydini and he added many new close-up tricks and Paper Balls giving him broader audiences for other shows. Romaine appeared at magic conventions and developed his routines.
He worked as side-kick for George Schindler at Abbott Vent-o-Ramas, and in recent years became part of "Back in Time" with Phil Matlin in their magic/music senior citizen shows touring in Canada. He has contributed his original effects in Genii, MUM, and in 2004 did a DVD for Magic Makers called "Expert Card and Billiard Ball Manipulation". Romaine was a 60 year member of the SAM.

(Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vBbio_SvxU

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7. Simon Drake's House Of Magic
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Message by Simon Drake (UK)

After a year of staring at the wall, abandoning badly dubbed Netflix shows and rather disastrously acting simultaneously as a hairdresser and customer, I snapped out of my trance and ventured forth to delve deep into the archives in the cellar below my early Victorian theatre, Simon Drake's House of Magic, where original documents, plans and faded facsimiles are stored. These go into details of the formation of my work over 40 years in this industry and 25 years of running a busy theatre in London entirely devoted to magic and illusion for private, corporate and public events and the occasional Bar mitzvah.

I am therefore pleased to announce that I have launched a Patreon page which includes enthralling videos, rare and fascinating ephemera detailing secrets of The Secret Cabaret, mysteries of the spirits of The House of Magic, an on stage tribute to Teller and my hero worship of the one and only Kardor.

Patreon being a secure subscription interface seems the ideal medium for showing and discussing the many previously unseen videos of many original illusions. There is a special section for magicians ONLY in which many secrets, methods and the thinking behind the work is explained.

Here's the advert I made which I enjoyed immensely (let me know if you need one made as I got the bug and now want to make more!)
https://youtu.be/CcIm37Fvl-U

And here's the Patreon page:
https://www.patreon.com/SimonDrake

Also featured will be my work with the likes of: Iron Maiden, Oliver Reed, Harvey Keitel, Nic Roeg, Julian Lennon, Alexander McQueen, Katy Perry, Kate Bush, Richard Garriott, Terry Gilliam, George Harrison, Kenneth Branagh, Christopher Plummer, Andrew Garfield and Peter O'Toole as well as my shows and informal chats with much missed HRH Diana, Princess of Wales.

PS Catch me on 31st March where I will be chatting live in the excellent 'Conjuror Community'.

https://www.houseofmagic.co.uk

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8. Having A Clean-Out Of My Library
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Message by Ian Baxter (Australia)

Having a clean-out of my library, very necessary downsizing, and am asking if you would be good enough to announce in the Magic New Zealand ezine that I have some 80 books on offer; no e-books as such, but genuine, published titles. Am inviting readers to email me for particulars and a copy of said list.

Ian Baxter <ibaxter1946@hotmail.com>

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9. Clairvoyance - John Carey #113
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

Here's something I've used after lectures when the guys and I are having a beer. It uses a principle that's old as the hills. It actually feels like and looks like the trick that cannot be explained of Dai Vernon's. The good news is though that this CAN be explained! Whenever you want to get into this piece simply glimpse the fourth card from top on an offbeat. Let's say it's the Jack of Diamonds.

"Tonight Shannon, we are going to delve into the world of clairvoyance, or the ability to look into the future and see what can't be seen. I'm going to write a message on this piece of paper and fold it up. Let's place it underneath that glass for safekeeping." Execute a riffle shuffle retaining your set up. Hand the deck to your helper and have them do a Jay Ose False Cut on themselves (See Lorayne's Close Up Card Magic) and square up. Have them cut off about half the deck and place it in front of them.

"With this remaining packet, I will deal until you tell me to stop. Right there? I can deal more or even take some back? I want this to be totally under your control Shannon. Turn the card you stopped at face up. Ah the Four of Clubs. Not the best card, but certainly not the worst. Please
pick up the packet in front of you and deal and count four cards. So remember at the very start I said I would attempt to see the future and I wrote a message? Take it from under the glass and read it out. The Jack of Diamonds. Now remember after I wrote that message you shuffled the
deck and stopped at a random card? Turn it over. The future has now become the present!"

Notes:
If the card spells with four letters you would spell and deal, the last card being turned over to conclude. If it spells with three letters; deal and spell and reveal the next card. Finally if the card stopped at spells with five letters; drop that card face up onto the other packet then deal and spell
down. This principle was published in My Favorite Card Tricks by Harry Lorayne.

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10. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #4
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

I have spent nearly forty years specialising in producing one night Theatre Shows, large Corporate Events like Awards Presentations and Charity Fundraising Gala Dinners.

One night shows are certainly not for the weak hearted. Planning is essential as you only have one chance to get it right. There is no opportunity to do a 're-take'.

This is especially true when producing a theatre show.

I mentioned last week that I had the pleasure of producing several Gala Variety and Magic Shows at the world famous London Palladium Theatre.

The most memorable one for me without doubt was the 'Tribute to Siegfried & Roy at the London Palladium' that I produced in 2008.

It was one of those magical nights that I'll never forget and one that I suspect none of the packed audience of 2500 Siegfried & Roy fans will either.

There are so many elements that must come together to ensure the smooth running and success of a big production show like this one.

The key, of course, is that you must have a great team. The stage director, backstage crew, and the lighting and sound directors are all vital components.

What I've learned as a Producer, particularly on one night events, is that you are always up against the clock, and so you have to trust your team to do their jobs. That is why it is vital to work with professionals.

On this September night in 2008, we had even more challenges to face than usual. Normally for a one night show, we get access to the theatre at 8am and after setting up we have around 7 hours to stage and rehearse the show before curtain up.

On this occasion, we had several more hurdles to overcome, including setting up and sound checking a live 14 piece orchestra, and accommodating a large crew from French Television who were bringing 10 cameras into the auditorium to film the whole show.

And because there was a long running 'in-house show' - The Sound of Music - on stage six nights a week, we had to put down a temporary floor over the stage, as well as bring in our own sound and lighting rigs.

I managed to get us access at 12 Midnight on the night before and our crew worked all night on the get-in. We needed every minute.

I'd managed to get together an incredible line-up of talent for this show, ten of the world's greatest magic acts. They were not only some of the best magic talent, but they were also all great 'pros'.

This tribute show honouring Siegfried & Roy was a huge show for all the acts to appear in, especially at the London Palladium on stage at the home of variety, and naturally they all wanted to be showcased in the strongest way possible. This was obviously difficult as we were up against the clock.

But even though they only had limited rehearsal time, they were all top professionals and dealt with it magnificently and the show was fantastic.

The 'Tribute to Siegfried & Roy at the London Palladium' is widely acknowledged as the greatest magic show in the 100 year history of this iconic theatre.

If you'd like to know more about this memorable event, you should check out the Limited Edition Siegfried & Roy Collectors Box Set featuring this once in a lifetime show. Right now, it is still available, at sandrpalladiumtribute.com

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

The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand - Annual Celebrity Roast - 2002

On Tuesday the 27th of August 2002, the VAC (Variety Artists Club of New Zealand), held their annual 'roast' in honour of N.Z.'s Rock n Roll legend (leg-end), Tom Sharplin. The well - known N.Z. hypnotist, Guy Cater, who was officiating, asked me to 'do a few words' on Tom - that he would 'read out on the night'. From all accounts, my 'bit' was well received so, I thought that perhaps everyone might get a laugh, or at least a smile, from my 10 cents worth. Here goes.

Sometime during the years of 1972/73, I met Auckland promoter, David J. Mc Kee. David managed a band called 'Noazark', who had a minor hit record called 'Money's Made to Burn', which was produced on Dave's own label: 'Kontact' Recording Co. Ltd. He also managed and recorded various vocalists, among them, Brent Brodie, Angela Ayers, Maria Dallas and, Tom Sharplin! During those years we worked or toured with all of these wonderful entertainers, courtesy of Dave Mc Kee, who was also managing us at the time as well. The Fire/Yogi/ Mime acts worked well with 'Rock' Shows. Tom Sharplin is one of those people who, for one reason or another, kind of 'sticks' in your memory like a fly sticks to gum paper. Now remember, I'm talking 'Thirty Bloody Years Ago', so this story, like it's storyteller, may be 'A Little Rusty Around The Hinges'!

David McKee had organized an afternoon Kids Show in a hall or theatre, in Hamilton or Cambridge or somewhere like that. During the show, a little skit/pantomime was enacted that involved some of the members of Noazark and Tom Sharplin - where they were apparently
going to perform some sort of 'operation' on Tom.

From a 'Kid's'' point of view, and a hell of a lot of the parents, the scenario that was about to unfold would throw them all into the realms of a -'Psychotic Blood Bath of Horror'!

Terrible yells where emitting from Tom's mouth as he was 'forcibly' held down, then someone (one of the band members), wandered on stage, brandishing a bloody great handsaw! Tom's shrieks intensified as they apparently started to: 'Saw His Leg Off'!

Consequently, when Tom and his leg 'parted company', and he and his 'leg' were carted off to the opposite sides of the stage, amid realistic, bloodcurdling screams of horror and terror, several kids, who were by now scared witless, proceeded to 'Fill Their Pants'! The audience was in hysterics! The smell was atrocious! You might say that after that exemplary farce, the 'Proverbial', really did hit the fan!

I don't know about now, but in those days very few people were aware that Tom had/has a false leg, and even less would have believed it, after having watched the way he danced around during his performance!

After that never to be forgotten performance from Tom Sharplin, I decided that it would indeed be okay to perform various 'Dangerous Tricks' at 'Kid's Magic Shows' - demonstrating various 'Death Defying and Marvellous Effects' such as: 'Swallowing Razor Blades', only to regurgitate them back up, tied onto a length of cotton or, how to - 'Hammer a six inch nail up your nose' or, 'The String Thing ' (Psychic Surgery), where you - 'Swallow six feet of string, then cut an incision into your stomach, by stabbing yourself with a knife, so that you can pull the 'bloodied' string out from inside your stomach - Through The Bleeding Wound!

"I would like to take this opportunity to say - thankyou Tom Sharplin, for your innovative demonstration on not only how to get oneself rebooked for at least double your fee, but also a valuable lesson on: 'how to entertain sensitive little kiddies'!"

As you all probably realise, although based on fact, there is just a 'little bit' of colourful 'writers licence' in the above tale. Hey, this was a 'Roast' and - "That's Entertainment"! It's homeward bound for teatime - we went by tram or train how desperate were their battles, we fought them once again; "Bags I be the hero"; he never missed of course, you always knew which one he was - he rode the whitest horse…

The 'Hollywood' at Sumner, the 'Century' at St Albans,
The 'Rex' at Riccarton, the 'Metro' at Sydenham,
The 'Vogue' at Spreydon - unbreakable in their spell;
How strong was the enchantment, how willingly I fell.

I can't forget the 'Majestic', the 'Avon',
The 'Regent' the 'Grand Crystal Palace',
When they were in their prime -
All the cinemas - all day long
Ah, how sadly I recollect
The glories that are gone

But I remember the 'Avon', the carpet on the floor,
The manager who met you - The ushers at the door,
The music from the movies that introduced the show - Ah yes, I remember the 'Avon' but, that was long ago.

Thank you Trevor, for sharing your treasured memories with me. I treasure our friendship, one that has lasted - for 41Years!

By the simple expedient of altering Theatre names and places, your poem conjures past memories of the 'Flicks' for us all, like the unforgettable sound of rolling 'Jaffas', as someone spilled or threw them down wooden aisles; remember the stamping when the screen went dark! Oh, the memories! .

To be continued.
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12. E-zine Archives
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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)

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13. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
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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.

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Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted.

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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.