Magic New Zealand E-zine Issue Number: #1710

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* Magic New Zealand®
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Issue Number: #1725
Date: Sunday 23rd July 2023
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. 2023 Milbourne Christopher Awards
3. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #117
4. The Magic Word Podcast
5. Magic Museum Bellachini - Episode 40
6. Family And Childrens Entertainers, The Podcast
7. Tales From The Fantastic Magic Center - #50
8. What has Happened To Tony L. Lewis
9. A Perfect Six! - John Carey #206
10. The Mystery School Experience At MAGIC Live
11. E-zine Archives
12. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice

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1. Editor's Message
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The most magical part of our week was attending Inaki Zabaletta's excellent card lecture showing his clever methods, in Auckland, New Zealand. Both Michele and I along with everyone who attended absolutely loved being amazed by his incredible sleight of hand skills. His brilliant, creative and commercial mind truly shines through in his magic.

If you're interested, you can watch his impressive magic on Penn and Teller FOOL US 2020 by following this link: https://youtu.be/gAkjzTa2NGw

If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in HTML format go to: https://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2023-Jan-to-Dec-2023/1725-Jul23-2023.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. 2023 Milbourne Christopher Awards
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Here's a list of the 2023 honorees:

Illusionist Award - Jason Bishop
Close-Up Award - Bernardo Sedlacek
Mentalist Award - Brian Curry
Ambassador of Magic Award - John Cox
Literary Award - Jim Hagy
Masters Award - Paul Lembo
Lifetime Achievement Award - Craig Diamond

https://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2023/07/guess-whos-getting-milbourne.html

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3. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #117
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

Every performer is constantly searching for something to make their act stand out, and be different. That elusive USP, a unique selling point.

Vik & Fabrini achieved that, and in my opinion became one of the most entertaining and commercial speciality and novelty acts in Show Business.

Vik & Fabrini both grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil and started working together as teenagers in 1982. They first came to prominence in 1988 when they won the 1st Prize in General Magic at FISM in the Hague in Holland.

They also won the coveted Siegfried & Roy's Golden Lion Award at the Desert Magic Seminar in Las Vegas.

Their act caught the eye of well-known talent booker Monique Nakachian who ran the Tavel International Agency based on the Champs Elysee in Paris, and she booked them for several top TV Shows around the world.

In 1989 they began what was to become a record breaking 10 year contract at the Crazy Horse Night Club, the most famous Cabaret Club in Paris.

Further success followed with an appearance at the Royal Variety Show in London in the presence of HRH Prince Charles, now the recently crowned King Charles.

Prince Albert commissioned a commemorative postage stamp featuring Vik & Fabrini in Monaco. Pretty impressive!

If you analyze their act, the props are pretty standard, a dove pan, rubber chicken, feather flowers, and ribbon from mouth, to name a few, but of course it was never about the props!

So, why have they been so successful? Firstly, and most importantly, they found their USP, with Fabrini cleverly playing the part of a human mannequin who responds to commands and directions from Vik, and acts as a robotic assistant.

In fact, to say that Fabrini plays the part of a human mannequin doesn't do him justice. He literally becomes a mannequin, and for most people watching their act, they don't realise that he is in fact actually a live person until they take their bows at the end of the act, he really is that good.

And Vik more than plays his part too. His on-stage comedic character perfectly complements Fabrini, and there is a magical chemistry between them.

And Fabrini Crisci's talent seems to know no bounds. He is a consummate artist, whose artwork can only be described as stunning. Nowadays, he runs his own art studio in Sao Paulo, and sends his unique paintings to collectors and Art Galleries around the world.

Once again he's managed to find his USP, and his creative flair and skill is outstanding.

I highly recommend that if you are not familiar with Vik & Fabrini's act, you look them up, and whilst you're at it, check out Fabrini Crisci's artwork. It doesn't get any better than this!

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4. The Magic Word Podcast
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star (US)

Magic is a visual art that must see to be appreciated. Magicians have also been in the forefront of technology as we present our magic to the world. When the television was invented, it wasn't long before magicians saw the benefits of presenting their magic to a much wider audience while also expanding their notoriety.

This week we chat with one of those who pioneered magic on television in the early 1960's, Buddy Farnan. Now at age 89, Buddy can reflect on his career that cemented his place in history. He was the TV magician on the fledgling Atlanta channel owned by Ted Turner where he performed magic to a "peanut gallery" of children and showed cartoons. He later moved to Buffalo, New York where he was Buckskin Joe on the local TV who was universally loved by all the children who watched him. This week Buddy shares stories from his past and how his career twisted and turned and made him the legend he is today.

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, but for more content, please visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/770-buddy-farnan

This coming week the S.A.M. convention takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. Please be aware that new episodes will be posted each day of the convention commencing late Sunday July 23rd or early Monday July 24th. This will be before and in place of any episode for our usual time slot next Thursday. Then the non-stop convention coverage continues as we travel to Colon, Michigan, for Abbott's Get Together then we travel directly to Las Vegas for MAGIC Live! So, please join us and keep up with all that's happening on the magic convention scene over the next few weeks. All of this while I am in the process of moving from Houston, Texas, to the Austin area. Wish me luck!

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5. Magic Museum Bellachini - Episode 40
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Message by Wittus Witt (Germany)

When do you think was the first time in history that a magic show was shown to the public? What do you estimate? In the 19th century or just in the 20th century?

I don't want to put you on the spot. It was 1927, and who was the organiser of the exhibition? Well, it was none other than John Mullholland (1898-1970). He presented books from his collection as well as from the collections of Dr Milton Bridges, Leo Rullmann and Houdini at the Grolier Club in New York City.

Mullhollan organised another exhibition a year later at the New York Public Library. Here, besides magic books, magic wands were also on display.

I owe this information to colleague Michelle Ainsworth, who has meticulously researched magic exhibitions. She gave a talk on this at a meeting of Yankee Magic Collectors. When I heard about this, I immediately wrote to her and asked her if she would also make this lecture available for my magazine "ABC der Taschenspieler-Kunst".

Thankfully, she agreed immediately. With a few more entries from me, a bibliography of magic exhibitions has come into being, documenting a total of 250 presentations. In addition, there are about 100 catalogues and brochures that were produced for the magic exhibitions. A great piece of work, which I am very happy about and which I was able to provide with many photos. The entire article takes up more than half of the current volume (No. 12). The second part shows little-known posters of magicians from the Soviet Union, including several from the well-known Kio dynasty: Emil Kio, Sr, Emil Kio Jr and Igor Kio.

On YouTube, I present this volume on my channel:

https://youtu.be/TG56agxtpLo

If you want to know more about the magazine "ABC der Taschenspieler-Kunst", you can find information here:

https://www.zauber-pedia.de/index.php?title=ABC_der_Taschenspieler-Kunst

So much for today.

Best regards from the most beautiful city in Germany, Hamburg.
Wittus

www.hamburger-zaubermuseum.com

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6. Family And Childrens Entertainers, The Podcast
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The next episode of Family and Childrens Entertainers, the podcast has been released.
I am very pleased to say that it is the well-respected, Richard Pinner. If you would prefer to receive an email for the next episode then you can sign up on the website.

If you have any comments on the episode or anything that we say in it, please leave them on the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/facethepodcast/

Watch or listen to the episode now at: https://www.facethepodcast.com/latest - or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform

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7. Tales From The Fantastic Magic Center - #50
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Message by Kent Cummins, Director (US)

The Square Circle

The Square Circle is one of my favorite tricks. When I was in the fourth grade, I closed my show with it. Now that I am 80 years old…I still close my show with it!

The Square Circle was apparently invented by British magician Louis Histed in 1930. It was called "Square" because it had "an empty box," and "Circle" because it had "an empty tube." It uses the black art principle to hide a smaller tube which holds the load. These pieces sit on a small stand.

I got my first Square Circle in 1952, when my dad had a business trip to New Orleans, which had a magic store. (We still lived in Del Rio, the small town in Texas where I was born…and where my magic career started.) He apparently paid about $6.50 for it…and it came with two paper Production Garlands."

I called it my "Chinese Television Set," because in 1952 I had never seen a television set…or been to China. I used patter about the television cabinet and the picture tube (which when turned around became a sound tube), all sitting on a TV table. But after showing it empty, I pulled out a long string of 18-inch silks, all tied together.

I then apologized, saying that it was really "a Chinese Washing Machine!" I know, this would be really offensive today. But this was the era of Jap Hank Boxes and Chinese Laundry Tickets.
Today I use that same Square Circle with a story about its history, and I produce two paper Production Garlands before producing a long red silk streamer. The "red" does not refer to China.

The Fantastic Magic Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing the art of magic. But I can't do it without your help. My Patreon account is the same place as my free weekly podcast:
www.FantasticMagicCenter.com

kent@magichotline.com

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8. What has Happened To Tony L. Lewis
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Message by John Barton <cfa.johnbarton@gmail.com>

A friend and I attending the IBM convention were talking, and Tony L. Lewis came up in conversation... we knew him from long past from the Ring 2100 virtual ring.

He asked if I knew anything about his current whereabouts, which I didn't.

Does anyone know what has happened to Tony L. Lewis?

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9. A Perfect Six! - John Carey #206
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

Buy a lottery ticket with the following numbers printed on it: 11, 24, 37, 42, 8 and 17. Place the ticket inside a small envelope. In addition, you will require eighteen blank faced cards, six of which have each have one of those numbers written on or printed. The other twelve blank faced cards each have a different lottery number on them. Place your six force numbers on top of the face-down packet and you are ready to rumble!

Bring out the envelope and your cards. Hand the envelope to one of your spectators for safe keeping, without mentioning predictions or such things. You want to create an air of mystery. "Nearly everyone I know has played the lottery at some time or another. I've yet to meet anyone though who has won the jackpot! On these cards are some of my favorite numbers I've played down the years. Some of them have a meaning to me while others are purely random. You can see there is a wide range." As you deliver this monologue, casually display some of the numbers. Turn the packet face-down.

"Let's randomize those numbers a little." Run off the top six cards singly in an overhand shuffle and then shuffle off the balance normally. "In fact, so this is truly random, I will get a few of you guys involved and mix the numbers." As you say this, push off the top six cards of the packet casually and hand them to a person.

Push off six more and hand them to a second spectator for mixing and finally hand the remaining six cards, which of course are your force numbers to a third person. Once they have mixed their numbers take back the packets, the force packet first, followed by the other number cards going on top. Your force numbers are back on the bottom but the illusion of fairness is very convincing.

You have the option now of executing a false cut. I use the classic Jay Ose cut. You may even wish to let one of the spectators do it on themselves. "So a random group of lottery numbers has been mixed by many. Of course we only need six numbers to play the lottery." After you say this deal a left to right row of six face-down cards. Repeat this twice more, dealing again from left to right. Ask one of the group to reach over and take off the top card of each packet and then to hold them like a hand of poker, with the numbers facing them.

Direct attention to the person who has been holding the sealed envelope all along and ask them to open it and remove the contents, where they will find a lottery ticket. "Before I came here this evening, I went into a shop and bought this lottery ticket." Ask the person holding the ticket to
call out the first number.

Then ask the person holding the six numbers if they see that number? They will confirm they do and you take it from them displaying that number. Then repeat the above five more times, building up the speed of the revelations, culminating in an impossible finale! Hand the lottery ticket to one of your helpers as a gift- if you feel generous!

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10. The Mystery School Experience At MAGIC Live
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If you are going to be in Las Vegas on August 6 or August 10, we have a special event for you - an afternoon at the Magic & Mystery School, complete with a guided tour of our Museum of Wonders in the Library of Secrets. Consider this your personal invitation to come see our ferocious dragons and all the attractions! There will also be shows, lectures and other mysteries. If you've ever wanted to visit the Magic & Mystery School, now is your chance!

Jeff McBride

https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/events

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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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