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: #1626
Date: Sunday 4th July 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. Vanish Magic Magazine July Edition #84
3. Golden Buzzer: Léa Kyle Performs Stunning Quick-Change Act
4. Who Is Lea Kyle?
5. The Magic Word Podcast
6. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
7. Think as I Think - John Carey #124
8. Broken Wand Martha Irene Stevens
9. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #17
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/2021-Jan-to-Dec-2021/1626-Jul04-2021.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. Vanish Magic Magazine July Edition #84
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Message by Paul Romhany - Editor Vanish Magazine

We have our double cover stories for July featuring Dania Diaz from Spain, and look at her incredible appearances on AGT Champions and Spain's Got Talent as well as her rise in the world of magic. Charles Bach also features with his story on what he did during the Pandemic building a new theatre and what it feels like to be performing live again after such a long break. We get exclusive photos of the process and what the theatre looks like now it just opened.

Ryan Joyce recently conducted a survey on The Top Virtual Magic tricks people performed for their online shows and reveals the top list of items.

Felicity Fields takes a trip to Faneuil Hall and shares her experiences of the performers and the audience's reactions post Covid lockdown.

Steve Spill continues his four part series on creating magic and routines.

Nick Lewin also looks at creating but he focuses more on creating creative comedy magic.

Ted Outerbridge shares a fascinating story about Signor Bosco who performed in his village over 100 years ago and what the theatre looks like now.

FISM Updates - find out the very latest information on FISM North America 2021 as well as FISM in Quebec 2022. Both conventions are moving ahead and this will get you all the information you need.

Family entertainers will enjoy the article by Christopher T. Magician and his routine for The Colour Change Hanky. If you perform any type of shows for families then you will need to check out this routine.

Louie Foxx shares an impromptu mentalism routine using a Ketchup bottle.

Aaron Matthews shares an amazing routine called Perfect mix-up which can be done virtually or live.

Product Highlights - we highlight some products that have really stood out this month including Harpacrown Too by Mark Chandaue

Product Reviews - the very latest products, downloads, and books are reviewed.

Available from www.vanishmagazine.com

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3. Golden Buzzer: Léa Kyle Performs Stunning Quick-Change Act
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Heidi Klum gives Léa Kyle the Golden Buzzer after this iconic quick-change performance! Léa performs to "Swish" and "Part of Me" by Katy Perry. Fantastic!

https://youtu.be/ddlImQbD-sI
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4. Who Is Lea Kyle?
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Article forwarded by Phillip Jones (US)

HITC

Quick-change artist Lea Kyle received the Golden Buzzer from Heidi Klum and secured her spot in the live shows.

America's Got Talent is known for finding incredibly talented people from various fields and last night's episode was a true proof of that.

A magician named Lea Kyle received praise for her iconic performance by the judges and viewers at home. Not only that, but her incredible act sent her straight to the live shows this year.
So, who is she? Here's what you need to know about her, from career to Instagram profile.

Meet the magician from AGT

Lea, who comes from France, received the Golden Buzzer after she delivered an iconic quick-change performance on Tuesday, June 29th.

During her act, the magician changed several outfits for less than one second, leaving judges and viewers gobsmacked by her talent and skills.

Speaking in her introductory video, Lea said:

"I became a beautician, it wasn't my dream job but it was a way for me to make a living. Eight years ago I met my boyfriend Florian. Last year he was in "America's Got Talent." One day Florian asked me to perform with him and it was my first time on stage."

Heidi Klum gave Lea the Golden Buzzer which left the magician in happy tears as she received a standing ovation by the judges and the audience.

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/06/30/lea-kyle-magician/

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

Eric Colleary, PhD on Houdini in this week's The Magic Word Podcast

Although we are not in the Halloween season when we typically feature episodes about Harry Houdini, it seems that anytime is a good time to learn more about this legend of legerdemain. Dr. Eric Colleary is our guest this week who is the curator of the Ransom Center in the University of Texas which, believe it or not, holds the largest collection of Houdini ephemera in the world. Their collection of books and other paper owned by Harry Houdini is available for the public to view (by appointment) and use for research. In this week's episode, Dr. Colleary talks about how the collection came to reside in Austin at the University as well as some of what is in it.

You can listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts. But for more information, links to the photos and video of the Houdini bookcase, and more, then please visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/619-eric-colleary

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

Anikó Ungáro, Hungary | Winning FISM act 1976 at Vienna, Austria | Blast from the Past

Hungarian magician and illusionist Anikó Ungáro's 1976 FISM act from Vienna, Austria.

At the time there was a "Ladies World Championship Magic Award" and Anikó won a first prize award. Anikó Ungáro

https://youtu.be/HpwOWuzcMU4

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7. Think as I Think - John Carey #124
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

I've always loved creating and performing the classic do as I do plot. There are so many ways and means of achieving this effect which actively involves a spectator. Think as I think may very well be my favorite version to date. It's so fair and strong and apart from the all-important presentation is self-working.

You will require two different colored decks. Ahead of time place the twelve picture cards on top of each deck in any order, except for the Jack of Hearts which is the lowermost card of each set up. Bring out both decks as you introduce the effect and offer a spectator a free choice of either
deck. "Let's work together as a team and see what happens." Riffle shuffle your deck and ask your helper to riffle shuffle their deck. Compliment the spectator and riffle shuffle your deck once more as you ask them to shuffle once more too.

"In a deck of cards there are two types of cards. Number cards and?" They will reply picture cards of course. "Yes that's right. I think the picture cards are the easiest to visualize with lots of colour and detail. I'm going to spread through my deck and think of the first picture card I see and I'd like you to do the same." Both of you spread through the decks with the faces towards you until you arrive at a picture card. Believe it or not, those cards will both be the Jack of Hearts thanks to this genius concept of Charles T Jordan which is usually applied to keep a larger run of cards in order after two riffle shuffles.

"Visualize that card in your mind as I do the same and let's each shuffle one last time." After you've both done this swap decks with your spectator. "Please take out the card you're thinking of from my deck and I will do the same with your deck." Both cards are tabled face down. Remind the audience of what has taken place and really sell the conditions to get the most from this. Then ask your helper to turn over their card as you turn over yours to reveal an inexplicable matching of two thought of cards. It doesn't get much stronger...

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8. Broken Wand Martha Irene Stevens
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Message by Trudy Monti

September 7, 1936 - June 21, 2021

Eastborough, Kansas - Martha Irene Stevens passed peacefully on June 21, 2021. No visitation. Funeral service at 2 pm Thursday, June 24, Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca. Martha was born Sept. 7th, 1936, in Hays, Kansas, to Gerald and Ruth McMillin. She graduated from East High in 1954. Martha later attended Wichita State. She married Joe Stevens. Martha and Joe opened Stevens Magic Emporium in 1975, which remains a locally loved store.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, George and Rose Sleichter, Ray and Octa McMillin; and her parents, Gerald and Ruth McMillin. She is survived by her husband, Joe Stevens, of Wichita; daughter, Amy Jo Stevens and her husband Barry Gordemer of Glenarden, MD.; son, Mark Stevens and his wife Cilene, of Wichita; and sister Rosemary Elizabeth Bunney, of Phoenix, AZ.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established with Good Sheppard Hospice, 7829 E Rockhill St #403, Wichita, KS 67206. View tributes at smithfamilymortuaries.com.

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9. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #18
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

This week I am featuring another wonderful entertainer from England, and whilst his name will likely be more familiar to any British readers of my articles, his incredibly varied career in the business has brought him in contact with several well-known magicians and comedy stars here in America too.

As I mentioned last week he is still appearing on TV in cameo roles at the age of 84, and shows no sign of stopping any time soon. His enthusiasm and knowledge of Show Business is second to none.

So, who is he? His name is Freddie Davies, or to be more accurate, Freddie 'Parrotface' Davies.

Freddie always wanted to be a comedian, and was inspired by his grandad Jack Herbert, a standup comedian or as they were known at the time, a 'front cloth comic'.

As a young man Freddie watched Jack perform at every possible opportunity and learnt much of his stagecraft from him.

When Freddie started performing his own act, at first in Butlins Holiday Camps and then the Northern Clubs, he began his act as if he were a magician, a talent he'd picked up as a teenager in amateur shows around the North West, making miniature billiard balls, cigarettes and thimbles disappear and reappear. He would produce the billiard balls then deliberately drop one which would disarm the audience and lead him into a gag.

The Northern Working Mens Clubs were tough to work and in a quote from Freddie Davies's autobiography, he pulls no punches.

'The first thing you notice in a club is that they're not all facing you. And that puts you on the back foot straight away. There's an old working mens club saying that 'a good turn gets his own order', which means that it doesn't matter if they've got their back to you; if they want to watch you, they'll turn round. Which is absolute cloth-cap bollocks: they should be turned round anyway, out of manners and respect'.

Freddie worked for several seasons at Butlins, becoming the Entertainments Manager at their Metropole Hotel in Blackpool but he was always destined for stardom. This eventually came with an appearance on a hugely popular British TV Talent Show called 'Opportunity Knocks'.

Freddie developed a comedy character called Mr Tweet, which had evolved from a gag that Freddie told about a parrot that he bought from a pet shop that wouldn't speak.

He became an instant hit, and was known from then on as Freddie 'Parrotface' Davies' and topped Variety Bills, Pantomimes and Summer Season Shows all over the UK for many years.

But there is so much more to Freddie Davies. When his fame dissipated a little after many years, he continually reinvented himself and became a successful actor with a career that encompassed appearing in Shakespearian plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company to starring in Pantomimes and many diverse roles on TV.

Freddie was also a successful show and pantomime producer, and amongst other projects brought Peter Reveen to the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh with his sensational hypnosis show. It sold out for eight weeks solid.

Perhaps the one project that Freddie is most proud of is the movie 'Funny Bones' which was directed by Peter Chelsom. This was a movie, the premise of which was conceived by Freddie several years before in 1974, but wasn't made and released until 1995.

The film was set in Blackpool, and had a stellar cast which included such names as the legendary Jerry Lewis, a brilliant young British comedian Lee Evans, Leslie Caron, and Oliver Platt - of 'Chicago Med' fame.

In 'Funny Bones' Freddie played alongside the wonderful George Carl, as the Parker Brothers, a comedy double act. George Carl was one of the greatest speciality acts that I have ever seen and another legend in the business who played every major theatre and nightclub around the world to great acclaim for many years.

George Carl lived his final years in Las Vegas where he was cared for by Charlie & Sherry Frye, (two more terrific performers). George died in 1999.

Freddie Davies has no intention of retiring. He's a brilliant After Dinner Speaker and can still deliver a gag with the best of them. Long may he continue to make people laugh.

'Funny Bones' is a terrific and emotional movie and is still available on DVD. I highly recommend it, as well as Freddie Davies' autobiography aptly titled 'Funny Bones' - My Life in Comedy. It is a fantastic read and tells the story of an amazing career in Show Business.

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

Richard Webster

Throughout in his incredible career, Richard has successfully made his living as: a magician, stage hypnotist, hypnotherapist, Ventriloquist, mentalist, psychic entertainer, palmist, puppets/
marionettes performer and a pianist. Any one, or just a few of these various talents and skills would have been ample for most, to make a full-time living for the rest of their lives; but for
Richard, his first love and passion has always been writing. When he was only nine years old, he wrote a small 'newspaper' which he distributed around his neighborhood, and when he was 10 years of age his parents invited Ronald Syme, a well-known children's author, for dinner. Ronald Syme was gently discouraging on the prospects of a writing career, but after that evening, Richard could imagine no other career than writing.

When he left school, Richard went into publishing, working for 'William Collins' for seven years. This was a good first step, and provided a solid foundation for Richard's later career, as he
worked in the editorial, book production and sales departments. Following this apprenticeship, Richard purchased a bookshop which he owned for a year. In that same year (1971) he also married Margaret, whom he had met in London four years earlier. Although she is from the 'Wairarapa' (this, and the Manawatu region, covers the lower third of the north island of New Zealand, approximately from Palmerston North to Greytown), they had to travel 12,000 miles to meet each other. Sounds, to some extent, how Veronica and I met. She was born in Scotland, immigrated to N.Z. (when she was three) with her parents in 1946, met me in 1971, then dragged me all the way back to Scotland, via Australia, fourteen years later -1985. Richard and Margaret have now been married for 36 years (2007); they have three children and four grandchildren. (I seem to have gotten a little ahead of myself).

After the bookshop, Richard moved on to a variety of other small businesses, which included a motel, printing company, a rubber-stamp manufacturing business, engraving business and
finally, a book importing business. Some of these ventures were successful, some not. In one of his 'down' periods (I think most of us have had at least one [I've lost count of mine] of those,
in our lifetime), he was working in a printing machinery warehouse during the day, delivering buns and doughnuts at night, and doing children's shows in the weekend's. About that time, 1975/76, Kreskin had a series on television, and Uri (the joke) Geller toured New Zealand.

Richard says: "It occurred to me that I could combine my knowledge of both magic and the psychic to make a living, so I borrowed a copy of Frances Marshall's - 'The Success Book' from
the 'New Zealand Society of Magicians' library, and read about 'Horoscope Parties'. I then bought Robert Nelson's manuscript on the subject and, a few weeks later, started offering them in New Zealand. The demand for them was insatiable, and for the next seven years I was out doing horoscope parties almost every night of the week. I would have been divorced, if I hadn't eventually given them up, as I was never home".

Although his first book was published in 1972, Richard's writing career really began in the early 1980s. The first seven years of the 1980s were Richard's most lucrative, as a performer. He would spend one week a month in shopping malls - reading palms, and the rest of the time was spent in performing mentalism and hypnotism shows, playing the piano in restaurants, and even doing children's shows as 'Riccardo the Magician'. In those early years of 1980, it was illegal to charge for palm readings in New Zealand, so to get around this problem, Richard wrote a small
booklet to sell. Everyone who bought one of his booklets received a free palm reading. However, Richard did not foresee the repeat business he would receive; about a month after starting these readings, Richard's customers returned, wanting another booklet!

After writing more than 30 of these booklets, Richard realised it was more fun to write than to give palm readings. He was also ghost - writing books for other people, and that was extremely
lucrative, so much so that by 1986 he was in a position to retire, if he'd wanted to. However, a year later the bottom dropped out of the share market, and he found himself impoverished again. The entertainment market contracted, particularly the higher paying shows, and the ghost - writing market disappeared completely; he found himself demonstrating products such as 'Kwicksilver Plate' and the Ginsu Knife, for two years until the economy improved.

Continues Next Week!

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E-zine Archives
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Click on the red button centre right "Archives"

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