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: #1620
Date: Sunday 23rd May 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. MAGIC Live 2022!
3. FISM WCM Rules Are On Our Web Site!
4. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
5. Criss Angel Dives Into The Restaurant Business
6. Little Shock - John Carey #119
7. Invitation To View The Service Of Bernard Reid
8. Potter & Potter Auctions
9. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #12
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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IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL READERS:

Unfortunately the ISP that I have been using will no longer be supporting Domain Names and Mail Lists. Therefore I am trialing this issue with the following two email addresses:

Please whitelist the two following email addresses so you can receive the weekly Magic New Zealand ezine:

editor@magicnewzealand.com

awmc87@kinect.co.nz

You can always receive at link to Magic New Zealand ezine from the Web via a Twitter account:
http://twitter.com/#!/magicnewzealand

and the link is also posted to a number of Facebook groups.
Members of the Magic Circle
Academy of Magical Arts
Magic New Zealand
IBM Ring 160
Official S.A.M. Members Group
Vancouver Magicians Network
Daily Global Magic News
Magicians Around the World
S.A.M. Compeers Group

It's hard to believe that the Magic New Zealand ezine is in its 21st year of publication.

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-2021/1620-May23-2021.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. MAGIC Live 2022!
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Message by Stan Allen (US)

General Registration is now open for the next MAGIC Live, May 15-18, 2022.

Registration is $455 per person, with a convenient payment plan available. We've also arranged the amazing hotel rate of just $54 per night (plus resort fee and room tax).

Each registration includes tickets to all performances, access to all sessions, workshops, special events, parties, and our dealer room, as well as giveaway items. There are no extra-charge events.

Your registration is 90% refundable through March 1, 2022.

To find out more about why MAGIC Live is like no other convention in the world, please visit our website. Or better yet, just ask a friend.

Look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas, May of 2022!

Stan
MagicConvention.com

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3. FISM WCM Rules Are On Our Web Site!
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All competitors should make sure they read and understand the rules that will apply during FISM WCM from July 25 to 30, 2022, in Québec City.

They are available on our website: www.fismquebec2022.com, section rules. You will also find the rules for the use of fire, confetti and live animals.

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4. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
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Message by Connie Boyd (USA)

Exclusive Interview from the Magic Castle, Gay Blackstone interviews Connie Boyd | Magical Women #46

Exclusive, rare, footage of Connie Boyd interviewed by Gay Blackstone for the members only "Behind the Bookcase" series at the Magic Castle & the Academy of Magical Arts in Los Angeles. Shoot Ogawa hosts the virtual talk from Japan. Connie Boyd offers more than thirty years magic experience and is an award winning magician, a mentor, a director & producer.

She has enjoyed a highly successful international career. Connie is credited for her original magic, magic routines & presentations. Connie has developed a unique niche market with female magicians & magic production shows. Connie Boyd Magic has created four different, proven magic shows starring female talent: "Chicks with Tricks", "the Beauty of Magic", "Illusions" & "Illusionista" many thanks to the Magic Castle and the Academy of Magical Arts for graciously allowing us to upload their exclusive footage to our Magical Women Interview Series.

Contents

00:00 - 00:30 - Introduction by Connie Boyd
00:30 - 01:20 - Introduction by Gay Blackstone
01:20 - 02:40 - Connie's favourite magic routine
02:40 - 03:37 - Connie's magic start
03:37 - 04:00 - Favourite place to work
04:00 - 05:22 - Least favourite place to work
05:22 - 06:37 - Speaking & working internationally
06:37 - 07:01 - Call to Action please subscribe

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5. Criss Angel Dives Into The Restaurant Business
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Article forwarded by Peter Johnston (US)

Eater Las Vegas

'Mindfreak' Magician Criss Angel Dives Into the Restaurant Business in Overton
Criss Angel, the Mindfreak magician with a show at Planet Hollywood Resort, is going into the restaurant business. Angel bought Sugar's Home Plate for $280,000 some 65 miles northeast from Las Vegas in Overton, Nevada, with fast-casual fare.

Angel discovered the restaurant while dirt biking with his family in the Moapa Valley near Valley of Fire State Park. He teams up with his brother Costa Sarantakos and pizza maker Mike Baram to convert the restaurant into the fast-casual Cablp (pronounced Ca-blip), short for Criss Angel's breakfast, lunch, and pizza. Sarantakos ran his father's New York restaurants for years while Baram owns Baldwin Pizzeria & Restaurant in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Angel's 7-year-old son Johnny Crisstopher was diagnosed with leukemia five years ago and Moapa Valley became a place to take him to ride the trails. "My family and I fell in love with the area when we took our son, Johnny Crisstopher, dirt biking nearby," Angel says in a press statement. "The more time we spent there, the more we got to know the town and the amazing people. When the opportunity came to invest in the community with this restaurant, we jumped at it."

Angel and his team plan to reopen the restaurant in July with dine-in service, a walk-up window, and takeout. Breakfast items include Belgian waffles, French toast, pancakes, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches, while lunch features burgers, sandwiches, calzone, wraps, salads, and pizzas. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that entrees such as Moapa chicken-fried steak, chicken Parmesan, and Long Island fish and chips also make the menu, along with beer, wine, and cocktails such as the Mindfreeze, concocted with vodka and one of more than 100 flavors of Italian ice.

Aside from fast-casual food, the restaurant will periodically convert into the Magic Room with entertainment from Angel and his friends. A free meal outreach program will help underprivileged and pediatric cancer families. Cablp will also be part of a youth job program.

Down the road, Angel plans to build Criss Angel's Escape Camp Adventures on 14 acres at the start of the Logandale trails. As he describes it, it will serve "families going through the most challenging times a beautiful escape to camp, ride, and eat for free."

Sugar's Home Plate opened for business on April 10, 1991, with nearby Lake Mead Resorts, Overton Beach, and Echo Bay bringing in the customers. Owners Ray and Judy Metz showcased a collection of sports memorabilia, particularly from the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with burgers, chicken fried steak, and Saturday night prime rib feasts.

Angel's Mindfreak show reopens on July 7.

https://vegas.eater.com/2021/5/18/22442484/magician-criss-angel-cablp-opening-restaurant-moapa-valley-overton

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6. Little Shock - John Carey #119
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

Here's a minimalistic approach to a beautiful John Bannon effect called Future Shock that he had in his book Mentalissimo. The nice thing here is that the spectator can shuffle the cards after they have thought of one.

Remove the two Jokers and set them down face up. Hand out the deck for shuffling and then ask your spectator to deal 7 cards face down onto the table. Next ask your helper to mix that packet and then spread the cards with the faces towards themselves and think of one. Finally have them shuffle the packet once more, so even they don't know where their thought of card is. I turn my head as I give the above instructions.

Turn back and state that to prevent any manipulation or sleight of hand you will trap their packet between the Jokers. Do so, placing the packet face down between the face up Jokers. Spread the packet displaying the situation. Flip the packet over and make a wide spread in your hands with the faces of the 7 possible thoughts towards you.

Feign some concentration as you look at your helper and ask them to send you their thought mentally. First colour, suit and then value. Pause a beat and then up-jog the first face up card about 2 inches. We will now use Bannon's brilliant touch switch to bring the piece home: "I've made a commitment, Ryan, now it's your turn. What card are you merely thinking of?" If they name the up-jogged card, have them remove it and take a bow. However if they name one of the other 6 cards, simply get a left pinky break beneath it as you square up the packet.

Bring your right hand over the packet and push the jogged card square as you lower the hands. Lift away at your break and turn your right hand palm up.

The left thumb peels off the top card of this packet and allows it to drop to the table. Assemble the cards and flip them over and spread, showing 6 face down cards between the Jokers. Then ask your spectator to turn over the tabled card to reveal their thought of card.

Notes:

The actions of the touch switch must be seamless with no hesitation. It is extremely deceptive.

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7. Invitation To View The Service Of Bernard Reid
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Message by Godrey Reid (New Zealand)

Invitation for the service of Bernard Reid - UPLOADED at North Shore Memorial Park

https://www.oneroomstreaming.com/family-and-friends

Email: 10godders@gmail.com
Password: A0NLN7

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8. Potter & Potter Auctions
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Summer Magic Auction o Catalog Now Online

Our June sale of magicana brings together an array of ephemera dating to the Victorian era and beyond, features props and memorabilia from the careers of many heroes of magic (Cardini, Paul Daniels, Chan Canasta, Jay Marshall, Ricky Jay and others), includes a wide array of choice Houdiniana (signed photos, ephemera, pitchbooks, and letters), and concludes with the third offering of vintage and modern magic apparatus from the collection and workshop of Rüdiger Deutsch.

Place your bids now at potterauctions.com

Additionally: We have moved! Our new address is 5001 West Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60641

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9. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #12
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

Whist it is really exciting to see the emergence of new magic performers from all over the world, it bothers me that unfortunately many of the younger magicians don't know, or seem to care, about the great magicians from the past who blazed the trail and kept magic in the forefront of the entertainment world.

I feel very strongly that these great performers should not be forgotten.

In my last couple of articles, I featured a couple of highly regarded American magicians from the past, Bud Dietrich and Johnny Paul.

This week I am writing about an iconic British magician, Ken Brooke.

A great deal has been written about Ken Brooke. He was a superb performer whose comedy and magic were outstanding and commercial.

Ken was also a legendary magic dealer; building his reputation firstly in the Veroni House of Magic which he started in Bradford, before working for Harry Stanley's Unique Magic Company, and finally opened Ken Brooke's Magic Place in Wardour Street, in London's West End.

I was lucky to be introduced to Ken when I was thirteen years old. He became my mentor and was without a shadow of doubt the best magic teacher that I have ever seen. He was also, in my opinion, the greatest magic demonstrator of all time.

The late 1960s was a fantastic time to be getting into magic, and Ken Brooke's Magic Place was definitely the place to be, for no matter which day you visited Ken's magic studio, you were virtually guaranteed to meet a world-class magician who was there to visit with Ken and buy his latest miracle.

Ken was awarded a Fellowship by the Academy of Magical Arts in 1981. Although at that time he hadn't enjoyed the best of health, he was given the all clear to travel to Los Angeles to receive his award. Together with Barry Stephenson, a well-respected magician and an old friend of Ken's from Yorkshire, we flew on Laker Airways from London to LAX.

We stayed in Hollywood; it wasn't long before we met up with another big fan of Ken's, Ricky Jay, and also one of Ken's former pupils, Nick Lewin, who had moved from England to live and perform in the USA.

Along with the other out-of-town award winners - Gene Gordon, Harry Lorayne, Brother John Hamman, Peter Reveen and Terry Seabrooke - we were invited to the Magic Castle, where Bill and Irene Larsen were the kindest and most gracious hosts imaginable.

Ken really enjoyed walking along Hollywood Boulevard, even though Barry and I were not so sure it was such a good idea. Back in 1981 it was even seedier than it is today and didn't have any of the new developments around the area of the Kodak Theater (now called the Dolby Theater) and Mann's Chinese Theatre.

Ken was a renowned practical joker and never missed a "photo op." There were plenty to be found on Hollywood Boulevard and at Disneyland, which Ken absolutely adored. I can still vividly remember going through the Pirates of the Caribbean ride with Ken. He could barely speak he was so excited, and was only able to utter his trademark expression, "Gerraway!"

The awards banquet at the Beverley Wiltshire Hotel was a high-class, black-tie affair; Ken really enjoyed meeting so many of his old friends there. While we were in Los Angeles, Johnny and Pam Thompson (the Great Tomsoni & Company) held a small party at their home and both Johnny and Charlie Miller performed.

We almost didn't make it to the party because we were driven there by Canadian Mel Stover, who wore eyeglasses with lenses like milk bottle tops! We only found out later that he was legally blind! The ride to Johnny and Pam's house was scarier than anything at Universal Studios or any of the theme parks!

After the excitement of L.A., we flew to Las Vegas for the Desert Magic Seminar. Our good friend Johnny Paul threw a surprise party for Ken and invited, among others, Dai Vernon, Tony Slydini, Daniel Cros, Gaetan Bloom, and Roger Klause. It was at this party that one of the funniest things that I've even seen took place. (I alluded to this in my previous article on Johnny Paul).

Ken was sitting down chatting to Tony Slydini and Roger Klause when Slydini offered to show Ken his classic Safety Pin through Handkerchief effect. Ken watched intently and when Slydini had finished Ken told him that he had his own unique handling of the trick. Ken asked Slydini if he could borrow his handkerchief for the trick; Tony handed him his silk handkerchief.

Ken took a safety pin from his pocket. Very slowly and deliberately, Ken showed both Roger Klause and Slydini the safety pin and the handkerchief and carefully put the pin through the handkerchief. Slydini was watching Ken's every move.

On the command "Watch," Ken proceeded to pull the safety pin along the edge of the handkerchief, ripping it to shreds! When he finished, he left the torn handkerchief on the table, looked at Slydini with his trademark grin, and walked away, leaving everyone watching in fits of laughter and Slydini looking totally bemused and not at all sure what had just happened!

You had to be there to fully appreciate the moment, but it was an experience that I'm sure Slydini never ever forgot.

The highlight of our Las Vegas trip was an invitation to visit Siegfried & Roy's incredible Jungle Palace, where Ken was presented with a special award by the Masters of the Impossible themselves. Ken was very emotional; there was hardly a dry eye in the house. It was an unforgettable trip, and one that I will always fondly remember.

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

No one could have written this cover story better than Eddie's daughter, Maria. It is a wonderful discourse on how things were in New Zealand in the 1900's, and how the Maori integrated with
the white (pakeha) settlers through marriage. My own family history runs along more or less similar lines, as do hundreds, possibly thousands of others, I warrant.

Previously I made mention of the 2 CD that Eddie recorded. There is one particular track on disc 1, entitled 'Songs of Home' that every New Zealander who lives overseas should listen to. I wrote about another Maori singer, the late 'Prince' Tui Teka, and how he and Eddie had played 'IL SILENZIO' as a duet on their trumpets at a Sydney club concert. I also told how Eddie, with his guitar, came around to our home in Sydney and sang 'Songs of Home', wanting to know what we thought of it. The tears running down my face gave him my answer. I recorded that little session on my reel-to-reel tape recorder. It is a most valuable treasure, and I don't mean that in a monetary sense. If you are an ex pat Kiwi, I implore you to seek this CD out; I can promise you that your heart strings will be mightily plucked, and more than likely you, like me, will sob your heart out!

Eddie loves magic, and we have a 'deal'. I teach him some simple tricks to fool his friends with - and in return, he gives me his latest recordings. In a recent E mail from Burns Scandrett, he said that whenever Eddie was in Christchurch performing, he and his wife always made a point of popping into his, Burn's magic shop, for a chat and to buy yet another thumbtip. Burns says he doesn't know what the hell he did with them all, but over the years he bought a hell of a lot of them! Well I guess that being partly blind, he just lost them - now, about my commission Burns!

In New Zealand, fish and shellfish are pretty much a staple food for us kiwis, especially if you are a Maori. I'm an exception when it comes to oysters, a particular delicacy in N.Z. Late one night, Eddie and I decided to 'raid' the kitchen fridge of some hotel that we were staying in, somewhere in the South Is. Perhaps I should mention that we were very drunk at the time. Eddie whooped with joy on discovering a very large jar filled to the brim with oysters. Being totally smashed probably explains why, after protesting my utter dislike for oysters, that I let Eddie, who was howling with laughter, hand feed me the dreaded things. I was so drunk it didn't matter - we both were. That was the last time I ate oysters.

Although Eddie is blind he does have partial vision in his left eye, and he took full advantage of that fact. Back in those wonderful, heady days, most of our work was in hotels, touring all over in N.Z., and now and again, Eddie and I would be booked together. It just so happens that I was a reasonably good pools player - well when you have spent years in hotels, and have time on your hands, the pool table and a few beers was just the ticket.

Eddie was also one hellava good pools player as well, far better than I. When we walked into the local bar and put our money down for a game, the quiet sniggers became louder when Eddie approached the table and then announced: "Hey Tommy, where's the white ball". Of course, he could see it, as well as all the other balls. We had it well worked out. After a few 'pathetic' misses from Eddie and myself, with me advising this 'blind' man in which direction the red balls lay. Talk about pulling the suckers in. Suddenly the room would go quiet as Eddie started to faultlessly pot red ball after red ball until finally - "How many are there left". "Just the black ball Eddie", and he sunk that as well! God we had some fun.

There are a 'million' stories that can be told about Eddie, but I have to finish this sometime, Like Now!

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11. 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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12. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
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Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday.

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