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: #1628
Date: Sunday 18th 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. I.B.M. 2021 Global Online convention
3. I.B.M. Global Online Convention Competition Results
4. July Genii Magazine
5. The Magic Word Podcast
6. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
7. Propheticaan - John Carey #126
8. Broken Wand - Pam Thompson
9. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #20
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-2021/1628-Jul18-2021.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. 2021 Global Online convention
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Message from Shawn Farquhar (Canada)

Magic New Zealand ezine Editor, Alan Watson: The major highlight for the week for me was attending the online Zoom I.B.M. 2021 Global convention.

It was fantasic and I asked Sean to send me a list of all the organisers so that I could thank them publicly.

Shawn: "Heres' the folks behind the scene that President Stephen Bargatze enlisted to make our event successful:"

CoChairs of the convention
Ken Scott & Oscar Munoz

Registration
Bob Patterson

Treasurer
Chuck Arkin

Contest CoChairs
Melody Munoz
Oscar Munoz

Technical Team
Ryan Pilling
Billy Hsueh
Alex Zander

Support Team
Simone Marron
Billy Hsueh

Dealer Room
Alex Zander

Talent Chair
Shawn Farquhar

Convention Program Team
Samuel Partick Smith
Rose Cardenas
Jessica Friend
Simone Marron
Rachel Strand
Shawn Farquhar
Sindie Richison

Office Manager
Sindie Richison

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3. I.B.M. Global Online Convention Competition Results
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Message by Oscar & Melody Munoz

Winners:

Youth:
First place - Leonardo Panetti - Italy
Second place - Anja Steyn - South Africa

Adult Close-Up:
First place - Andy Deemer - California, U.S.
Second place - Henry Tom - Canada

Adult Stage:
First place - Ding Yang - People's Republic of China
Second place - Rod Chow - Canada

People's Choice Award :
Ding Yang - People's Republic of China

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4. July Genii Magazine
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Message by Richard Kaufman - Editor of Genii Magazine

New edition of Genii! First off, one of my inspirations (David Regal) is on the cover. Second, my Magicana column is super swell. This month: a non-coin item from the legendary Curtis Kam, a great card routine from John Hostler, and a toilet paper trick that'll make you money from Mag Gerard!

Subscribe here-https://geniimagazine.com/subscribe-now/

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

Last week on The Magic Word Podcast we brought you a conversation with one of the younger, rising stars in magic. "Magical Katrina" Kroetch is a model and magician who has appeared on Penn & Teller Fool Us as well as making numerous online, virtual show appearances after performing at "Princess Parties" in her native California area. All of this and more before she reached the age of 30. In this episode, she shares her experiences of getting on the network television show plus her secrets of branding and social media marketing.

You can listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts. But for more information, videos and photos, please visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/620-katrina-kroetch

This week we take a rather bizarre turn as we chat with Saul Ravencraft. Formerly known as Chris Walden from Austin, Texas, he started as an award winning comedy magician before hearing and responding to the voice in his head that directed him towards the macabre of being a bizzarist. Along with that transformation, he changed his name to Saul Ravencraft who better reflected his actual persona both on stage and off. In this week's episode, Saul talks about his life's journey, his paranormal broadcast "The Shadow Hour" and his work with Austin's "Museum of the Weird."

You can download, listen and enjoy this episode wherever you get your podcasts. But for more information, view videos, get links, see photos and read the blog, then please visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/621-saul-ravencraft

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

Dania Diaz breaks down her process to create her new magic act which she performed on Penn & Teller Fool Us this year and which received a FOOL US award from the celebrity duo. With this win and the success of her America's got Talent, the Champions performances Dania proves she has staying star power.

Dania is on the cover and the feature article for Vanish Int'l Magic Magazine, July 2021. http://www.vanishmagic.com

Dania Diaz's life changed forever one night in 2018 after she appeared on Spain's Got Talent. The Venezuelan magician performed a magic number that told the story of her own personal journey with magic and cards. Her ability to connect with the audience and break through a virtual barrier, touching people in their homes was magical. Her magic added meaning to her words and her words added meaning to her magic. She was an instant success with her signature: skilled, story themed, sincere magic.

**Many thanks to Dania's and Magical Women's viewers and subscribers who sent questions to Dania for these talks

Dania Diaz Content

00:00 - 0:20 - Introduction
0:20 - 1:50 - Dania's wardrobe choices
1:50 - 6:47 - the story of the trick that won a Penn & Teller Award
6:47 - 10:20 - the differences between AGT & P&T
10:20 - 10:43 - Magical Women call to action
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7. Propheticaan - John Carey #126
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

Propheticaan is my humble attempt at a crystal clear prediction effect combined with the ever popular card at any number plot. It can be done with a regular deck, no stacks, no memory work and in fact hardly any work except for the all-important presentation. I was inspired by an effect called Stained Glass Plus by the talented Simon Caine. A strong selected card at a number that got my gears rolling.

You will need a regular deck and a small pay envelope. Inside the pay envelope place the Seven of Diamonds from an unusual back design. On the back of the envelope write in bold capitals YOUR NUMBERS! The only other preparation is to place the Seven of Diamonds from your working deck on top of the deck and close the box, but place the half-moon flap of the box under the top card.

Bring out the deck and remove the cards, but hold back the top card (7D) with your index finger. Hand out the deck for shuffling and proceed with some effects. This is important as you want to put distance between when you remove the cards and when you segue into this effect. Remove the envelope from your pocket and casually set it writing side down onto the table.

Have the deck shuffled and then tabled face down. "Let's try a little experiment of the mind with numbers. Numbers are truly everywhere. There's PIN numbers, door numbers, phone numbers and all manner of things that numbers play an important role in on a day to day basis. I'd like a few of you to each create a random number in your mind. Tom, would you cut off a packet from the top please and cover them with your hands? Dick would take out some cards from the middle and cover them and Harry, would you take some cards from the bottom and also cover them. Shuffle those cards and I will turn away. Would each of you count your cards silently and lock the random number you've created into your minds. Once you've done that I will turn back and face you."

Turn back around and ask for the three packets to be assembled and shuffled by the spectators. Casually shuffle the balance of the deck on the table by way of demonstration and then place that packet back into the card box- underneath the Seven of Diamonds. Then have one of the spectators place the remaining cards back into the box and close the flap. "So it's like I've just walked in off the street and you guys are just thinking of numbers that nobody in the world could have foreseen."

We are so far ahead here with our force card secretly positioned one number past the combined total of the three numbers the audience are thinking of. "Truthfully, would you guys be impressed if your numbers were written on the other side of that envelope?"

Of course they will have to agree it would be impressive, in fact pretty amazing. Turn the envelope over and you will get laughs and groans at the gag. "Actually, there is something inside that envelope. It's a card from another deck I placed in there earlier today."

Have the envelope opened and the Seven of Diamonds removed and tabled face up. Pick up the box and remove the cards. Casually spread them in the hands and Hofzinser cull any card near the top under the spread and secretly send it to the bottom of the deck as you square up and hand it to one of the spectators. "For the first time, would you guys each call out the numbers you are thinking of? If we add those numbers together we get?" (Whatever total it is)

Ask the person holding the deck to deal and count the cards face up into a tabled packet. Stop them at one number less than the total. Comment on how they shuffled the cards, they created random numbers and how fair everything has been. Pick up the prediction card from the table and then have the next card turned over to conclude a most perplexing mystery!

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8. Broken Wand - Pam Thompson
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Article forwarded on by Jason Phillips (US)

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Pam Thompson, Las Vegas magic icon, dies at 84

By John Katsilometes Las Vegas Review-Journal

As the sidekick in The Great Tomsoni and Company act, Pam Thompson had the gift of caring greatly while pretending not to.

"In her act with Johnny, she played it like, 'I'm so tired of doing this assistant role,'" says Thompson's longtime friend and Vegas entertainment professional Gabrielle Lyster-Allen, head of wardrobe at "Mystere." "That's how she portrayed it, and it was brilliant."

Thompson died just after midnight Friday, at the Las Vegas home she shared with her friend Steve Mullica, after a five-year battle with Alzheimer's. She was 84. Thompson had been in failing health since the death of her legendary husband, Johnny "The Great Tomsoni" Thompson, in March 2019. Her ashes will be laid to rest alongside Thompson's at the Magic Graveyard in Colon, Mich. Donations in her name are encouraged to Burlycares.com.

Pam Thompson appeared in The Great Tomsoni act shortly after the two married in 1973. The duo would grow into a popular specialty act on the Strip in the 1970s and 1980s. The two toured internationally and across the country and were a Vegas showroom favorite.

Vegas magic veteran Fielding West was among the members of Thompsons' inner circle who cared for the entertainer in her final days.

"She's a magic angel who would elevate any magician on the planet," West said. "She would walk on and off the stage with her chihuahuas behind her, which would break the place up. She played harmonica with Johnny onstage, which was really outside the magic realm but was just a brilliant routine."

A known dog lover, Thompson appeared onstage with the pooches Maddy, Muffy and Mandy Sue.

The Thompsons were ingrained in the magic community and worked with, and became friends with, an array of Vegas magic stars, including Penn & Teller and their assistant, Georgie Bernasek; Siegfried & Roy; David Copperfield; Lance Burton; Mac King; Criss Angel (appearing on the first three seasons of Angel's "Mindfreak" A&E show); Mac King; Mat Franco; Mike Hammer; and Murray Sawchuck, among many others.

"Pam was an amazing comic actor," Teller says. "When she first worked with Johnny, Johnny was a brilliant and elegant dove magician. The moment she walked onstage, the act became the funniest duo magic act ever."

Teller was among the last to see Thompson in her final days. He remembered her as the daughter of a tea-drinking, English mother.

"Even when she was doing the nuttiest stuff, there was a sort of underlying dignity and beauty that made the broad comedy more convincing," Teller said. "There was never a hint of self-awareness - it was perfect, deep acting."

Thompson was a classically trained actress, studying with Lee Strasberg at The Actors Studio in New York and appearing in several summer-stock productions. Teller mentions especially her early work with famous acting teacher Uta Hagen, and the "amazing insane" cult film "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar."

Thompson wrote extensively about the role of magician's assistant, so crucial to the success of any magic act. When Teller and Bernasek were working on a Tomsoni and Company tribute bit for the Penn & Teller show, Thompson took note of Bernasek's too-graceful gait.

"I know what the problem is!" Thompson called out. "Your shoes are too comfortable!"

Teller recalled, "She was den-mother and host to a huge number in the magic community, always funny, frank, kind and super-generous. Some magicians actually moved in and lived at their home for years."

Penn Jillette said, "Johnny and Pam were everything to us, our heroes, our mentors, our inspiration, our friend. The entire magic community seems to say that Pam was the funniest woman ever to walk on stage. I don't understand why there is any limit by gender. She was the best."

Copperfield has dedicated a piece of his famous Las Vegas magic museum to the duo.

"Pam was an amazing person and a beautiful soul," said Copperfield, running 15 shows a week at his eponymous theater at MGM Grand. "So kind, she was always willing to help anyone. I am honored to have a lovely exhibit of her and Johnny in my museum. Pam always made you smile."

In 2010 she became the first magicians assistant ever to be awarded a "Performing Fellowship" from the Academy of Magical Arts.

Burton directed Thompson in his 2015 movie, "Billy Topit."

"She was an amazing actress who nailed her scenes effortlessly," Burton said. "Her comic timing was perfect. She kept us all howling on set. Pam and John were family. I feel like I have just lost my parents again. It's a very sad day."

Angel, whose "Mindfreak" show at Planet Hollywood relaunched Thursday, said, "A beautiful, kind human being. Pam was so incredibly talented. She helped define comedy magic, with her late, great husband, Johnny. Forever missed but never forgotten."

King, now headlining at Excalibur, said, "She was so much more than the "and Company" in The Great Tomsoni and Company. She was a wife, mother, partner in crime, actress, instigator, and friend. I sure did love her."

Teller talked of the two working a show, and a stagehand noticed that they were bickering bitterly before they went on. Afterward, the stagehand asked Johnny, "Is everything all right between the two of you."

Johnny laughed. "Of course. That's just us getting into character."

https://www.reviewjournal.com/?p=2397188?fbclid=IwAR0nt94u5DcmCnj4-jvbi7ZX8z4k6YLe9pYEpGav0QZa-zqkobSoQjH5bek

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9. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #20
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

This week we got the sad news that Pam Thompson had died.

Although her health had been gradually deteriorating it was only three weeks ago that I was on a facetime video call with her and Lance Burton and although she was a little confused, she was her usual bubbly self, smiling and laughing.

And it is her smile and contagious laughter that I will remember most about Pam.

Pam was an accomplished actress and was the ideal assistant and foil for Johnny in their wonderful 'Great Tomsoni & Co' act.

The character she played was fabulous and it not only made the act unique but also provided the perfect misdirection for Johnny, not that he needed any, as he too was the consummate professional and his dove work was immaculate.

I was fortunate enough to book Johnny and Pam on several shows in Las Vegas and also a few across the pond in England too.

Pam loved to perform in England as she always reckoned that she was related to British nobility and insisted that she had a relative in England who was a Lord!

Johnny had always wanted to play the London Palladium Theatre and when I was able to make it happen in the 'Tribute to Siegfried & Roy' in 2008, it was like a dream come true for him and Pam.

To top it off, we had a 12 piece live orchestra on stage and Johnny wrote his own charts specially for the show, which he was very proud about. Johnny described it as the greatest experience of his life. Pam was on especially brilliant form that night too.

I'm delighted that we were able to film that show and so now we have a record for all time of Johnny & Pam at their brilliant best.

I mentioned earlier that I'll always remember Pam's smile because whenever you were in her company we were constantly laughing.

When Johnny & Pam officially retired their 'Great Tomsoni & Co' act at Stan Allen's Magic Live Convention at the Orleans Hotel & Casino a few years ago, I was in their dressing room together with Lance Burton before this final performance. We were there to help them get ready.

It was one of the funniest experiences of my life. Johnny & Pam were bitching at each other throughout and the banter was hilarious. It would have made a fantastic sitcom. Lance and I were in stitches. I have the photos and one day I'll put them in a book.

My favourite personal recollection of Pam was probably around 25 years ago. Johnny was working out of town and I invited Pam out for lunch at the Grand Lux Café at the Venetian Hotel & Casino. I took my eldest son Danny along too. He was a teenager at the time and didn't really know Pam well.

As we were waiting for our food to arrive, Pam was fiddling around with her hands out of sight under the table, and it looked very odd. Danny had noticed this and alerted me by kicking my shins! He didn't know what to make of it but it was obviously making him a little uncomfortable.

Pam sensed Danny's discomfort and uttered the classic and unforgettable line, 'Don't worry Danny, I'm just playing with my chihuahua!'

Needless to say Danny's face was a picture until Pam produced her bag complete with dogs huddled inside!

I'll really miss Pam, but I'll smile every time I think of her.

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

Richard Webster

1990, Richard Webster was named 'Mentalist Of The Year' by the Psychic Entertainers Association (U S A) and in 1997, the Variety Artists Club Of New Zealand presented him with the prestigious - 'Benny Award' for the Top Speciality Act! In the same year, La Sociétié Robert-Houdin awarded him - 'Le Grand Prix Robert-Houdin', for his contributions to magic.

Another achievement for Richard, in 1998, was appearing on 'Hard Copy', an American television programme that is similar to '60 minutes'. He says, "I had the dream job on that show - I had to 'Feng Shui' the apartment of a 'Playboy Playmate of the Month'! It was hard to pay attention to the job with several other playmates watching. At least twenty million people around the world saw the show, by far my biggest audience ever". In October 2000, he was named - 'Small Business of the Year', by New Zealand 'Sales People with a Purpose' (SWAP). Richard is a charter member of the National Speakers Association of New Zealand, and was one of their featured speakers at their annual convention in November 2000. He is listed in 'Who's Who in the World' and 'Who's Who in Magic'!

Richard used to conduct seminars on 'rapport' and 'body language' for business people, but nowadays, speaks mainly to promote his books. In the last 12 months he has spoken in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Germany, England and the United States. He is also dedicated to helping people progress in their writing careers, and has written three books for writers: 'Writing as a Business', 'Secrets of Ghost Writing' and 'How to Write for the New Age Market. ' For several years he has conducted 'Wake Up And Write'! Seminars for would -be authors.

The achievement that Richard is most proud of is his: 'Richard Webster Popular Fiction Award' which ran from 2000 to 2005. He provided a NZ $5,000 Annual Prize to the winner of a competition for the best unpublished work of popular fiction by a New Zealand writer. Richard says, "Ten of the entries have since been published, which is enormously satisfying to me, and three more are in the process of being published." Richard explained to me, "This award was originally designed to send two New Zealand magicians a year to 'Brian Flora's Magic Marketing Convention', in Albuquerque. I had received enormous benefits from attending these conventions and thought it would be good to help up and coming magicians with this award. However, the petty politics in the local club scene at the time, three professional magicians, including me, left the magic clubs in 1996, and the idea died before it got off the ground! It didn't so much die; I simply created the 'Popular Fiction Award' and gave 'IT' my annual NZ $5,000 instead."

To finish on a high note. Some great names have come out of New Zealand, in all fields of endeavour, including - MAGIC! The late, Great, Edgar Benyon, Alan and Michele Watson and Richard Webster to name just a few, are testimony to that fact. It has given me enormous pleasure to write Richard's story, most of which, I hasten to add, was provided to me by Richard himself; I have simply added my own 'twist' to things, as it were. I have to admit that I was more than a little nervous in this endeavour, after all, I am not a writer, I just scribble my thoughts and
memories as they come to mind but, Richard has been very encouraging to me, as is his nature. I am ashamed to admit that until I started on his story, I had no real idea of his amazing, personal achievements.

Veronica and I are privileged and proud to be able to say that Richard Webster is a very close friend, now and forever. Thank-you Richard, for your wonderful friendship!

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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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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.

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