Magic New Zealand® E-zine

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* Magic New Zealand®
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Issue Number: #1690
Date: Sunday 23rd October 2022
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 Major News
3. FISM FISM FISM: Get Total FISM Coverage In Genii
4. The Magic Word Podcast
5. Magic Museum Bellachini - Episode No. 7
6. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #82
7. Historic Plaque To Be Unveiled At Easley's
8. Tales From The Fantastic Magic Center - #14
9. Equicoins - John Carey #176
10. News From The Academy Of Illusions
11. Channing Pollock Book Update
12. Estate Magic Sale
13. E-zine Archives
14. 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: https://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2022-Jan-to-Dec2022/1690-Oct23-2022.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 Major News
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Message by Paul Romhany
CEO/Editor Vanish Magic Magazine

Major News

1) I have been working around the clock to give Vanish the biggest advancement of any digital magic magazine we have seen. The new feature for Vanish to be released in November will allow you to read the magazine on any mobile device. The coding will detect how you are reading the magazine - mobile, tablet, or desktop and will adjust automatically. If you read it on a mobile device, it will detect and automatically give you the articles as text. Vanish will be available as the regular desktop view but I've been working with developers to get this ready to celebrate the 100th issue and all is on track. This new feature is cutting edge in the digital magazine world and Vanish is once again leading the way.

2) Special Offer - Greg Gleason has just released what many are calling "one of the greatest releases in magic!" Here's what the professionals are saying ...

Mark Kalin says - No matter what the cost, Greg Gleason is about to give you a gift. Art Decko is a visual, mind-blowing effect unlike any other magic in your repertoire. Whether you are a close-up magician or a stage illusionist working arenas, Art Decko can close your show and bring you ovations.

You can't define Genius, but it stands up and shouts from Greg Gleason's Art Decko.
Steve Spill

This is too cool for mortals. Amazing!
Jeff Hobson

Art Decko - Timeless Collection by Greg Gleason is a great idea! You literally use the cards to paint great objects from history. This is a beautiful piece of close-up magic theater!
Kevin James

After seeing this on a TV show I reached out to Greg to commend him on an incredible routine, and he told me he was going to release a limited number. I was able to work with him and because Vanish is celebrating 100 issues I thought it would be good to offer something very different to the magic world. Greg's routine really is like no other - it's speed painting for magicians with a deck of cards. This is a limited run due to the cost of each deck (printed in the highest quality by the US Playing Card company, Bicycle) and as you can see from the performance is truly unique and never seen before. The skill required is minimal and the cards pretty much do it for you.

If you click here, you can get the Special Vanish Magazine discount https://artdeckocards.com/discount-2/
Check out the website at www.artdeckocards.com to see a performance but you will only get the Vanish discount if you click the link above.

Excited to let you see what the future of magic publications will be like with the November release of Vanish. The most cutting-edge magic magazine on the planet!!

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3. FISM FISM FISM: Get Total FISM Coverage In Genii
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Message by Richard Kaufman - Editor, Genii Magazine

Join us for as little as $35 a year at www.geniimagazine.com and get digital access to every issue of both Genii and MAGIC ever published.

We want to thank you for your patience as we struggle to come to terms with the sudden death of our beloved office manager, Donna Lucas. For the past five years she has done yeoman service in running all aspects of Genii and keeping our affairs in order. While we are searching for someone to take over the responsibilities of her job, things may be slightly delayed here and there, and we may not respond to your phone calls or emails as quickly as we would normally like. Please bear with us over the next three to four weeks. You will continue to receive the magazine (both digital and paper) on time as normal.

The giant double October/November issue has arrived, and features FISM, FISM, and more FISM. Grand Prix winners Simon Coronel (close-up) and Laurent Piron grace our cover. Inside, we cover every show, talk, and lecture, and Craig Mitchell tells you about each and every contestant at the World Championships of Magic. To go along with the stories, Genii has more photos of the event than any other publication. We also have a special piece on Simon Coronel (World Champion of Micro Magic, and winner of the aforementioned Grand Prix) and Shoot Ogawa (World Champion of Parlour Magic), who were sponsored by Max Maven and The Magic Castle.

Speaking of The Magic Castle, we also cover the first post-pandemic (live) AMA Awards Reception where 20 individuals were honored and special awards were given. One of those individuals was Max Maven, receiving his well-deserved Masters Fellowship, the AMA's highest honor.

Next, Richard Kaufman fills you in on all the new Tenyo products for 2023. Along with that, Yuki Kadoya covers the first post-pandemic (live) Tenyo Festival which was held in Tokyo.
The summer of '22 was not kind to magic. Mike Caveney remembers his friend (and ours) Martin Lewis. Arthur Trace shares his memories of Aye Jaye, and, in "The Genii Speaks," I tell you a bit about Bob Self.

"The Eye" by Vanessa Armstrong has six pages of news, and John Gaughan's "Chamber of Secrets" features "Astarte," an amazing illusion from magic's storied past and, you might be surprised to know, recent past. Shawn McMaster focuses on the AMA's terrific Junior Society in "Knights at The Magic Castle".

Rafael Benatar joins Genii as a new columnist. In his "Thoughts … " he looks at practice. David Kaye asks (and answers) a thought-provoking question in "Expert at the Kids' Table." And of course we have a lot of magic in this issue. Jonathan Friedman dishes up two items in "Magicana." Roberto Mansilla's "Artifices" has the finale to his routine for the spongeballs. In "Exhumations," Jon Racherbaumer digs up a magical ditty that pits the mathematician, psychic, and the magician against each other in a single card trick. Finally, as far as the magic goes, David Britland will have you not fearing the Pass with "Raynaly's Sandwich" in this month's "Cardopolis".

"Light from the Lamp" has David Britland reviewing books, Mark Phillips with the newest tricks, and Joe M. Turner on videos. There is all that and more, and it's all on the inside. Come and join us.

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4. The Magic Word Podcast
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Message by Scott Wells (US)

Interview with a Witch: Krystyn Lambert

As the Scottish Singer/Songwriter, Donovan, said in 1966, this must be the season of the witch. This week we chat with Krystyn Lambert, a self-avowed witch on this very interesting episode of The Magic Word Podcast. Some of you remember her as a pre-teen performing in magic competitions at conventions. Maybe you know her from the movies like "Make Believe" and "Desperate Acts of Magic" or from her many TV appearances on "Masters of Illusion" and "Penn & Teller Fool Us." Then again, still others may have caught her live performances with Criss Angel in "The Supernaturalists." But recently she has been performing at the Magic Castle, the Chicago Magic Lounge, the Stanley Hotel and Mystique where she has developed a rather bizarre, séance-type act.

You can listen to us chatting this week by downloading this episode through whichever provider you normally use to listen to podcasts. But for videos, photos, the blog, links, and to listen online, and more information about this week's guest, please visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/720-krystyn-lambert

As a correction to last week's posting on the Magic New Zealand ezine, the link to our chat with Kenton Knepper was not correct. In case you missed it, the correct URL is: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/719-kenton-knepper

Don't forget to sign up for our weekly podletter to hear about who is coming up from week to week plus some suggestions from the archives. In this regard, your DO NOT want to miss next week's episode!

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5. Magic Museum Bellachini - Episode No.7
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Message by Wittus Witt (Germany)

Today I present to you the last known Bellachini. It is Rüdiger Deutsch (March 28, 1941-May 19, 2015), whom many collectors know from his beautiful magic requisites. His collection was recently auctioned at Potter and Potter.

In his main profession, Rüdiger Deutsch was a trained confectioner. At an event he met his future wife Ute (March 20, 2018), learned photography. Influenced by her, Rüdiger also learned professional photography. Together they both built up a studio for industrial photography, with which they became very successful.

At the same time, he was interested in the art of magic. Here he was particularly fascinated by the history of magic apparatus, which became his passion.

Rüdiger Deutsch not only collected devices, but also learned skills of old masters to restore and rebuilt forgotten magic props, but only in a very small edition each time.

At the end of the 1970s, Rüdiger Deutsch, together with his wife Ute, created a performance as "Bellachini XIII", in which they performed exclusively with old equipment and in costume from the imperial era. With this performance they were both guests in the TV show "Ein Abend im blauen Salon" in 1982.

Here is a link to a report together with David Copperfield

https://www.stimme.de/archiv/schozach-bottwar/in-der-wunderkammer-von-herrn-deutsch-art-2479723

and here is a link to a movie I uploaded to YouTube. It is the 1982 broadcast: https://youtu.be/TykP3CzT6JA

With Episode No. 8 I finally continue with the Magic Museum, which I will open in Hamburg on December 18th.

www.hamburger-zaubermuseum.com

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6. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #82
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

This week the world of magic said goodbye to one of my very favourite magicians, Mark Raffles. Quite apart from being a great pro, he was one of the nicest men you could ever hope to meet. And he lived his 100 years to the full. I'll miss him a lot.

Mark's funeral took place in Blackpool, home of the world's largest annual magic convention which takes place every February. From what I've heard, the convention organisers have another terrific line-up of talent booked for their 2023 convention.

If you have never been to a Blackpool convention, it is unlike any other convention, and the quality of the shows, lectures and dealers is unequalled. Put it on your bucket list!

Blackpool was also the home base of Bill Thompson, and his intimate 'House of Secrets' magic studio, which was legendary. Bill mentored many young, and not so young, magicians, and several of them gathered recently to mark 10 years since his passing. Bill made a significant impact on the lives of all who knew him, and his memory lives on strongly with all of us who were fortunate to call him a friend.

In a few weeks' time, I'll be flying back to England to lecture at Chris Cross's new convention taking place from 11th-13th November in Newcastle, in the North East of England. Chris is a well-known and popular performer, particularly in that part of the world.

I'm really looking forward to being there. It will also be great to catch up with another old friend, Mark Mason, who is also doing a lecture. Mark is one of the good guys, and a wonderful demonstrator. The 'Geordies', (Newcastle people!) are down to earth, and great fun. But they don't mix words, they tell you exactly what they are thinking, and you definitely know where you stand! They are very similar to people from my own home city of Liverpool.

I well remember when I was starting out as a performer working the 'Northern Workingmen's Clubs' in the early 1970's, one of the big challenges was working a week in the North East. They had a reputation for being really tough audiences.

You would be booked to work 7 nights and one Sunday lunch time show. In those days it was especially hard if you were a magic act. If you survived until the Friday without getting paid off, you'd get a standing ovation. I never made it past Wednesday, but it was certainly character building!

Some Las Vegas Show news to end with. Criss Angel's AMYSTIKA Show at the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino closed its doors for the final time last weekend. It appears to have been quite a sudden decision. Sad to see any magic show close, but Criss's Mindfreak Show at the same venue is still doing good business.

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7. Historic Plaque To Be Unveiled At Easley's
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Message by Brad Zinn (US)

On Friday, October 28th, at 2:00 pm, a bronze plaque / "Historic Marker" / will be unveiled at 509 West McDowell Road to honor the location of Easley's Fun Shop for over 60 years and the contributions it made to the careers of countless magicians in the Valley.

ALL magicians are invited to attend and bring a trick! (Come in Halloween Costume is you care to) Remember, we are honoring Easley's and Harry Houdini who died on Halloween.

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8. Tales From The Fantastic Magic Center - #14
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Message by Kent Cummins, Director (US)

A Zombie Apocalypse!

Are you picturing a bunch of amateur magicians running around holding large foulards with silver balls floating around under them? I pretty much saw this one time at a magicians' convention, but the first time I saw Zombie performed, it was a thing of beauty. It was my first magic convention, the IBM in 1957 in Houston. I was 14 years old, and I saw the classic floating silver ball performed by Neil Foster.

I say "classic," but the Zombie floating ball effect is actually no older than I am. It first appeared in 1943, the same year that I first appeared, and since my birthday is January 6, I am probably just a little bit older than Zombie!

Joe Karson invented the effect, and sold the original rights to Percy Abbott. Like most magical inventions, it has been knocked off, ripped off, and mangled by many magic dealers. The first knock-off that I saw was the "Miracle Ball," basically Zombie with a small Styrofoam ball. It sold for $3.50, according to an old catalog.

My version of Zombie uses a plastic skull and a gimmick made from a coat hanger. (I couldn't afford to buy the actual prop from a magic store.) I called it, of course, the "Zombie Skull," and it was a feature of my Halloween shows. It floated around to the strains of "Song of India." I performed it at a Texas Association of Magicians convention in 1961, in the teen-age contest. At the time, I had never seen Zombie done with a skull.

The Zombie idea is now readily available from magic dealers as a floating ball, floating skull, dancing handkerchief, floating table, and even a floating lady! Truly a "Zombie Apocalypse!"
The Fantastic Magic Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing the art of magic. Check out my free weekly podcast at:

www.FantasticMagicCenter.com
kent@magichotline.com

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9. Equicoins - John Carey #176
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

The following piece was inspired by an effect of Christian Chelman's called Equivox in his book Capricornian Tales. The core method is based on Equivoque or Magician's Choice. I liked the premise, but the structure of the Equivoque didn't fit my style. If one is using this strategy, the last thing I believe you should mention is that you will try and influence or force someone to carry out an action. The best Equivoque I believe is carried out when one is casual.

You will require five different coins. I will describe this using British coinage. One of these coins is a 50 pence piece. Put these inside a small coin purse. In addition you will need an additional 50 pence, which you will put inside a folded up £5 note. Put this package inside the purse too and you are ready.

Bring out the purse and firstly take out the folded banknote with the coin concealed inside and set it aside casually. Tip out the coins from the purse onto the table and comment on their different values. Ask your helper to line the coins up in a horizontal row. "Mick, they say all good things come in threes. Please slide any three coins towards you" Now we will discuss
the variable situations that can arise and how we deal with them efficiently and deceptively.

If they slide three non-force coins, not including your 50p force coin, towards themselves, simply extend your hand holding the opened purse towards them and ask them to drop the three coins inside. Then ask them to pick up the remaining two coins and hand you either as you extend your other palm up hand. If they hand you the non-force coin simply drop it inside the purse, close the purse and comment on the fact just a 50p remains. No mention of the words choose or pick or eliminate are mentioned. Proceed to the finale.

But if they hand you the 50p, you close your hand around this coin and bring this fist back towards you as you casually extend the other hand with the purse towards them and direct them to drop the non-force coin inside. Then table the purse and focus attention on the 50p remaining.

However, if they slide three coins that include the 50p towards them, a slight variation in action will be utilized. Simply pick up the two remaining coins and drop them inside the purse. Then ask your helper to pick up two of the three tabled coins on impulse. If they pick up the two non-force coins simply ask them to drop them inside the purse then close it and table it.

But if they pick up a non-force coin and the force coin you simply pick up the remaining non-force coin and put it inside the purse. Then ask them to hand you either of the two coins they are holding. Then deal with this as described earlier, culminating in the 50p being stealthily forced.

"Mick, you have simply made decisions and carried out a few random actions totally under your control. As a child I often daydreamed and wondered what the future would be like." Focus attention on and pick up the banknote. Pause a beat, look them in the eyes and smile. Then allow
the 50p coin inside to drop out onto the table and your mystery is finished.

Notes:

A big thanks to my dear friend, Mick Wilson for his help with this piece. It was his suggestion to have the spectator slide three coins towards themselves at the start. Much better than pushing towards me as I originally did.

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10. News From The Academy Of Illusions
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Message by Jay Scott Berry (Australia)

This week we've reached the Magical Milestone of 500 Private Training Sessions! We can now safely conclude that this experiment of serious Mentoring, via Zoom, is an unqualified success.

Some Students started out as complete beginners, while others were already working pros. In their own way, each has shown substantial improvement, across all aspects of the Art, from Technique, Effects, Routines, Scripting, Character and Costume as well as Promotion, Websites and the overall Business of the Show.

Two of my students are honing their Magic Castle Parlour Acts with high hopes of debuting there next year. Others are spread around the globe, performing locally and internationally. It's gratifying to see their enthusiasm for the Art, setting the goals and working to achieve them.

Besides passing on my original effects, I'm having a great time teaching the Classics. Currently, three of my students are working on Cups and Ball Routines. From the outset, I always emphasise taking the best of what's been done, assimilating it, and then applying it to develop an original routine. We are very fortunate that, with Cups and Balls, there's an incredible range of videos to watch, from masters and grandmasters.

So we're studying the Routines of Michael Ammar, Suzanne, Paul Gertner, Johnny Thompson, Gazzo, Ricky Jay, Shawn Farquhar, and many others. There's a reason why the Cups and Balls has stood the test of time. As such, there's much to be learned from each great performance. The next step is to apply the best concepts into a Signature Routine.

As always, the common denominator of all great magic routines is that they are built upon a solid foundation in sleight-of-hand skills. Like a grand puzzle, every piece is indispensable, from basic vanishes and wand spins to the nuances of presentation and misdirection.

We're also working on Linking Rings. But that's for next week's News.

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11. Channing Pollock Book Update
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Message by Dan Stapleton (US)

Although the book is presently being edited, much more info and photos are pouring in. It's quite a daunting task in looking over the 200 photo's that we have (unfortunately...can't use 'em all) and it's especially exciting to see photo's that have never been published before. If you would like to get on the list when we announce the launch date of publication, or if you have a Channing Pollock story you wish to contribute (and hopefully a photo you have with or of him), please email author Michael Pascoe at mtpascoe2002@yahoo.com.

This limited/numbered hardbound edition will surely become a collector's item and comes with a very cool surprise "tip-in". We can't wait for you to read this year by year account of one of our most admired and respected performers of our day...Channing Pollock.

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12. Estate Magic Sale
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Message by Steve Varro (US)

Estates of Magic

"Last Chance"

Happy Birthday Sale

October 23rd is my birthday so what better time than now to have a flash birthday sale, where everyone else gets the gifts.

Every order for the rest of the month gets a discount.
5% or 10% or 25%

Just go to
Estatesofmagic.com

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13. 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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14. 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.

Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson QSM, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions or statements contained therein.

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

Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e- zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted.

All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®.

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.