* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #49 Date: Sunday 26th November 2000 Editor: Alan Watson www.magician.co.nz e-mail alan@watson.co.nz ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editors Message 2. Alan Watson's 50th Birthday Party 3. Weatherman on TV 4. Information on the early origins of the expanding pole trick 5. Osaka Yakuza Boys are Fun - not! 6. David Blaine will be encased in a 6-ton block of ice 7. Why do you hand out business cards? 8. Appearing Pole technology 9. The History of the Magic Wand 10. Tenyo's "Moving Hole 11. He's only seventeen years old 12. Connecticut College Magazine Fall 2000 issue 13. Society Of American Magicians To Set Up Special Assembly 14. My thoughts - Bev Bergeron 15. The Orchante Saga # 6 16. 14. The Orchante Saga The very early years. #5 17. 15. Diarise these events 18. 16. MagicNZ e-zine archives 19. 17. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- 1. Editors Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One The web page we set up showing The Bar Stool Gag being advertised in The Gen Magazine 37 years ago had hundreds of hits. Thanks again to Peter Zenner for his excellent detective work. Great to meet up with Ron Lee (The Corporate Ninja - Aust) and Max Hitchins (Aust) who used magic when presenting their keynote speeches to add emphasis to their presentation at the National Speakers conference in Auckland. If your website which has a links page can you please include a link to the MagicNZ e-zine: http://www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html NZ "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2000 Monday 27 Christchurch 5pm - 7.30pm Tuesday 28 Christchurch 5pm - 7.30pm Theatre Royal Thursday 30 Nelson 7pm The Trafalgar Centre Saturday 2nd Wellington 2pm - 4.30pm - 7pm Sunday 3 Wellington 2pm - 4.30pm - 7pm Michael Fowler Centre Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: alan@watson.co.nz ------------------------------------- 2. Alan Watson's 50th Birthday Party ------------------------------------- Message from Richard Webster (US) On Friday night, more than a hundred people gathered at Bronco's Restaurant to celebrate Alan's 50th birthday. Four generations of Alan's family were there, joined by New Zealand's leading entertainers and other friends. The evening began well and continued to get better and better as the night progressed. Chris Parkinson read e-mail messages from most of the leading lights in magic around the world, including emails from the Presidents of the Magic Castle - Dale Hindman and the IBM - Jack Greenberg. After a magnificent buffet meal, the guests adjourned to another room where the entertainers performed to a highly appreciative audience. The show was MC'd by comedian Adey Ramsel (Auckland's leading master of ceremonies), performers included Ken Ring, Jonathon Acorn, Shayne Thompson, Walnut the Clown, the Jeff Clarkson family, Bill and Mandy Reid, Chris Prowley, the Amazing Chicane, Stephanie Lorell, and Richard Webster. After the show, the music and dancing carried on to the small hours of the morning. What a great show, Alan! ------------------------------------- 3. Weatherman on TV ------------------------------------- Message from Richard Webster (NZ) Ken Ring, alias Mathman and Weatherman, will be on the "Holmes Show" tonight (Monday 27th) talking about his recently published book: "Predicting the Weather by the Moon". A fortnight ago, Ken sent the programme his predictions for the weather for the following two weeks, and has been 100% successful. Ken's book is also being released in the United Kingdom this week, and his next book, containing weather predictions for every day of next year will be published in the next couple of weeks. This completes an extremely busy year for Ken. In addition to performing as Mathman in schools around New Zealand and Great Britain, he has written several new titles for his range of cat books. New Zealand entertainers are nothing if not versatile. I saw Paul Romhany, co-author with Ken Ring, of the best selling book "Pawmistry", in Singapore a few weeks ago. He and Guy Cater are performing there until the middle of January. Paul is doing his Charlie Chaplin act and Guy his hilarious hypnotism show. I saw their scheduleand was amazed at how busy they are. It's great that New Zealand entertainers are making such a good name for themselves internationally. Congratulations Ken, Paul and Guy on raising the profile of New Zealand entertainers around the world. ---------------------------------- 4. Information on the early origins of the Expanding Pole trick ---------------------------------- Message from Walter Zaney Blaney (US) I first learned of the principle in 1967 when I contacted De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, Ltd. I have in my files a letter from the sales manager of their "Ground STEM Products Division", dated October 4, 1967. It was an answer to my inquiry for their STEM products, for which I had a secret use in mind. They sent me various data and catalogs on their products. They were stainless steel tubes that wound up and were contained in a device that allowed it to unroll by its own spring energy, making a pole up to 36 feet tall. A motor in the unit could then rewind it back into the container. They were used as radio antennae on army trucks in desert warfare, and other such uses. The antennae could be opened (raised), messages sent and received, then wound down and hidden from view again when necessary to do so. They were also used in satellites. The satellite-sphere was launched into space, the pole inside was released, forming the antenna. There were a number of them in the sphere, shooting out in every direction, making the sphere appear as a porcupine when fully deployed. When more strength was needed in a longer antenna, you could nest more than one "pole" together, so there would be essentially several poles inside each other giving it more strength against desert winds, etc. If Wayne wishes to contact me I can give him the address of De Havilland Ltd., and he can contact them for more information...assuming they are still in business and at the same address as 37 years ago. www.WalterBlaney.com ------------------------------------- 5. Osaka Yakuza Boys are Fun - not! ------------------------------------- Message from Jonathon Acorn (NZ) It was so good to take a day off work. 'Seven days straight is a bit serious 'I thought and so a little R&R was definitely the call. A little sleep - in, followed by a long, hot shower and a ' bought breakfast' (for a change) at a small noodle bar just down the road. In my neighbourhood ...everything is so handy, convenience stores x 3 (24hrs) within 1 minutes walk away, supermarket, Laundromat (a lean out of the window and a short throw away!), coffee house, tea house, bento box bar, fish bar, supermarket, subway, vending machines offering, beer, whisky, sake, coffee (hot or cold) tea (hot or cold), soft drinks, batteries, stockings! snackies etc. Unfortunately the alcohol machines cut off at 11pm. Fortunately the Convenience stores DONT and they have a HUGE range of alcohol! Very convenient for that first beer of the evening after work (11.30 pm). So anyway, the day off was a delight as was the weather. Warm, sunny, (smoggy!!), crowded...of course this is Japan. The funny thing about the Japanese I have found is that no matter how many of them are thrown together into an area there is ALWAYS space! Respect for personal space is extremely high. The sleeping room resembles a morgue! 20 pods with doors and bodies (Living!) Each pod has a power point and a light. There's enough room for me to sit up and read and even close the door but poor old Christian...an Australian English language teacher is quite tall and has to stick his feet out of the bed. Being short is ok!!!!!!! Back to work...it' night time 8pm the shops are dropping their shutters, and by the eighth stroke of the clock.... Wallah! Time to set up my table a tripod and homemade table top with servant very easy and quick set up-3 minutes in fact. People are coming from their dinners and off to the bars for a drink or business get together...whatever it is they do! The show has to be short and to the point this has been a long and painful lesson for me! A small audience so as not to block off the walkway and thereby attracting the police etc!!!!! I'm on short show number 3 and I have a perfect audience i.e. Slightly tiddley, mixed and playful. I have loaded my second orange (still I'm amazed that no-one sees this!!!!) I'm heavily into doing the Vernon wand spin and want to practice it as much as possible, I disappear the third ball and get this huge reaction...I'm impressed (it wasn't that good!) Suddenly I hear this noise from my right and the Table is lifting up into the air and the cups are actually flying just like flying saucers!! 'Wow this wand spin is truly magic'! To give you an idea of how it felt at the time if you quickly flicker your eyes open and closed and move your hand across your face you get this 'silent movie' effect. Next thing there is a large, scarred face approx 6 inches from mine and not smiling !!!!!!!In fact screaming. My Japanese is not very good but the general impression I got was that he was very hungry and I was possibly going to be part of his next meal of Sushi and something was going to make a very good toothpick! He was wearing a very fine suit of some type of silk and shoes that would easily be traded in for a very good New Zealand car! He had associates (5) Young men all wearing Nike Track Suits and applicable shoes and applicable Tattoos .At this point the movie 'Black Rain 'flashed before my eyes (I made a mental note at this point to avoid the Vernon wand spin in future) So there I was feeling a tad vunerable and wondering if gigs aren't so bad after all. Meanwhile the dialogue was continuing into dessert and after dinner some things. I realised at this point that he was looking to find a clean 'out' for this display so I raised my hand to my inside pocket (to offer money). This seemed to interest the track suited trainee sumos and they also came within 6 inches of my face. My theory of Japanese people have the highest respect for personal space was about to become a Burmese Rainforest! Realising my mistake I quickly decided to hold my hands up and gesture that I was only too happy to go wherever whenever in fact how about now? This seemed to please the Boss man and my personal space was returned to me. For some reason they left me without touching me (though they did kick my table on their way!) I realised that all of this time the Boss man was standing with his hands in his pockets. As he walked off he removed his left hand, low and behold! One little pinky was not where it should be...........Neither so it seems, was one little magician! ------------------------------------- 6. David Blaine will be encased in a 6-ton block of ice ------------------------------------- Greg Hudson (Aust) Starting next Monday, New York illusionist David Blaine will be encased in a 6-ton block of ice for 58 hours on Broadway at West 44th Street near Times Square, with only a tube running in to provide air and water... ... Hey, it's safer than standing ON THE STREET on Broadway and West 44th... ------------------------------------- 7. Why do you hand out business cards? ------------------------------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) No, that's not as silly a question as it seems. Most of us would say that it's to get our name in front of the public to drum up new business. But, to do that, the cards have to be effective. Probably 99.9 per cent of all business cards are taken out of politeness and thrown away within a day or two. To be really effective, the cards should be something that the recipient will want to keep for a reason other than the fact that you gave it to him or her. Cards with pictures of wands, rabbits, top hats, and an alphabet soup of initials of the various organizations you belong to may stroke your ego -- but they don't do much to catch the prospective client's attention. So let's look at some cards that the potential customer will keep, even though he or she isn't planning to book a magician in the foreseeable future. Cards That Do Business Some time back, magician Tony Wilson of New Zealand sent me a package of his promotional material, with the kind permission that I could use it as part of a column. I was so impressed with one item -- a business card -- that I immediately had my printer turn out a couple of hundred for my own use. (And, yes, before you ask: I used my own name and not Tony Wilson's!) Unlike most cards, it is printed vertically rather than horizontally. At the top, it says: "Push a coin through the hole without tearing, bending, or folding the card." Beneath that is a hole punched through the card about the size of a cigarette. And under that, it says: "If you wish to learn the secret, call:" followed by your name, address, phone number, and whatever other "bumpf" you think is appropriate. It's an old gag but I was surprised the number of lay people that didn't know it and were truly puzzled. The secret, of course, is that the coin isn't pushed from one side of the card to the other, through the hole. You run a pencil or straw through the hole and then push a coin that is lying on the table. Simple? You bet! But believe me, it is truly effective. You know the recipient isn't going to throw this card away until he or she has pulled the gag on dozens of other people -- and probably not even then. An oldie but still a goodie -- and one of my personal favourites -- is the Pride and Joy card by Lee Jacobs. I rubber-stamp my name and pertinent information on the back. When I'm looking for a card, or anything else in my wallet, I stop, chuckle a bit, and says: "Did I ever show you a picture of my pride and joy?" Beaming, I hand over the card. The reaction is always great and 99 times out of 100 they hand the card back. When I tell them they can keep it (pointing out the info on the back), they are always genuinely pleased. Does this work? You bet! I have had people tell me that they have heard of me solely from one of the cards still kept by someone else. And it one case, it was more than two years later! For a more magical effect, you could have your cards printed so that about a third at either end is blank. Then set up a stack of them in the Out To Lunch fashion. (Two-thirds of a blank card covering the printing and an elastic band around the pack to hide the cut card.) Then have someone sign the "blank" card, slide it out of the pack and give it to them face down to hold between their hands "until the magic begins to work." Then have them look at the card. After which, they fall down and worship you. ---------------------------------- 8. Appearing pole technology ---------------------------------- Message from Keith Harris, Secretary Ring 194, Huntsville AL, USA The timing of your post to MagicNZ newsletter regarding your use of the "appearing pole technology" was amazing. As an engineer, I frequently read technical textbooks on fields related to my own as a means of expanding and keeping current on my technical knowledge. Within the last two weeks I read of a non-magical use of this principle. Noted mechanical engineer Lawrence J. Kamm wrote a book on design of mechanisms in 1990 entitled "Designing Cost-Efficient Mechanisms". The appearing pole technology is shown in figure 3.7 and described in Section 3.5.1.6 as having been used for long antennas on spacecraft. He describes the unfurling of the metal poles as "explosive" which I can easily imagine. Just thought you might like to know... ------------------------------------- 9. The History of the Magic Wand ------------------------------------- Message from Bob Bluemle (US) Re the enquiry re the history of the magic wand: I give a mini-lecture on this subject (illustrated with dozens of different types of wands). The best basic source I have found re the subject is a monograph written by the Rev. Canon William V. Rauscher. I shall attempt to locate my copy and forward the correct name of the publication to you in turn to be forwarded to the enquirer, but it is something like "The History of the Magic Wand." ---------------------------------- 10. Tenyo's "Moving Hole ---------------------------------- Message from Artie Kidwell (US) Wouldn't it be fair to say that John Cornelius likely got the idea for his pen from Tenyo's "Moving Hole"? I'd be interested to hear a response. ---------------------------------- 11. History of the Appearing Pole ---------------------------------- Message from Wayne Rogers (NZ) Phil Willmarth forwarded the text of my "History of the Appearing Pole." to Tom Vorjohan who wrote the following note: You Pole History was fascinating...I had no idea. In September this year, two other magicians and I formed a company called RC Depot, Inc. One of our first products is called Burnt Out. (See the November issue of the Linking Ring...page 17). This is an appearing pole-type jumbo cigarette. It is two and a half feet long. Our addition is in the use of a special type of paint/coating that won't chip or peel. It is on the "butt" end of the cigarette. We also provide a box of "Nicoburn RC" patches . . . a 4" by 5" box only 1" thick that the cigarette is produced from. The premise is that many people have tried to quit smoking using the patch, but now there is a new one that guarantees the addict will be down to ONE cigarette within the day. You remove the giant cigarette and remark there is no way you can finish this one! I certainly had no idea that the "appearing pole" plot had been around so long. When I read your history I was relieved that we didn't accidentally invent something that had been done before! We realized there was a straw, a pencil, a pole, a ladder, and a spade. In fact, we loved the concept of pulling a big thing out of something little, but it was our perception that these past versions all lacked a presentation that made sense. Burnt Out has a great "No Smoking" message for use in school presentations ("Say No" shows for drugs) but it also plays great with a room full of smokers! Thanks for your information. Sincerely, Tom Vorjohan ------------------------------------- 12. He's only seventeen years old ------------------------------------- Message from Aaron Balcom (US) "He's graduated from high school, written a book, appeared on television, won numerous awards, and, oh yeah, he's only seventeen years old!" That's Aaron Balcom, his amazing career is ever changing, and he's preparing to un-veil yet another extravagant miracle. Titled, "2-2-1," it's his latest full stage production; the fifth one of it's kind produced by Aaron. The show is filled with on-stage "optical illusions" as Aaron likes to call them. These illusions aren't like what you're used to seeing though. And the show's title is somewhat of a hint as to what they deal with. For further information about this "boy band illusionist," check out his official web-site, at http://www.gatecom.com/~aaronandco ------------------------------------- 13. Connecticut College Magazine Fall 2000 issue ------------------------------------- Message from Ben Robinson (US) Big full-page colour story on me in my college magazine with a subscription of 50,000. Connecticut College Magazine Fall 2000 issue. More info: illusiongenius.com or www.conncoll.edu. Am working on two movies now. One will play in all HMV stores worldwide; another will be released for home video market. First run 1/2 mill copies. ------------------------------------- 14. Society Of American Magicians To Set Up Special Assembly ------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler - Public Relations and Publicity - SAM Program To Use Magic As A Teaching Tool For Mentally Challenged And Disabled Individuals. At the October National Council Meeting in Philadelphia, the National Council of the Society of American Magicians approved a Special Assembly program to use magic as a teaching tool for those who are mentally challenged and for other disabled individuals. A Five Point program has been designed for use in schools, facilities or homes that are providing extended care for those groups. A leader/instructor will lead each group. The groups will learn magic and will become members of a Special Assembly learning three levels from basic magic to platform magic and larger illusions. The initial funding for the program will be supplied by the S.A.M Magic Endowment Fund which is committed to fostering, promoting and improving the advancement of magic in the fields amusement, entertainment and education. This program is in keeping with its goal of supporting magical activities and will benefit the mentally challenged, retarded or disabled population who may wish to participate in the program. For further information on this project contact: Harry Monti MontiMagic@aol.com ------------------------------------- 15. My thoughts - Bev Bergeron ------------------------------------- Message from Bev Bergeron (US) Good information on the three-legged act. I first saw a three-legged act on an ice show in the 1960. I was trying to work it into a Vegas show at that time. The history of the magic wand was well written-up by Rev.Wm. (Bill) V. Rauscher of New Jersey, U.S.A. He wrote a booklet on the subject about fifteen years ago. I have a copy, but I'm sure that one can be gotten from Bill. About the appearing pole, etc.: About 20 odd years ago my Multiplying Wands (or Nesting Wands) was ripped off and put on the market using covers for bathroom shower rods. When I sent a copy of them to Frank Herman, he told me that I could roll the plastic up and produce them - He had bought one that rolled up many years before he told me. ------------------------------------- 16. The Orchante Saga # 6 ------------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) The White Yogi and the Canadian Magician 'THE WHITE YOGI' - FAKIR EXTRAORDINAIRE - real name was Maurice Jarvis - fire eater, sword swallower, bed of nails, - and swallowed neon light tubes. These tubes have to be specially made, in a 'U' shape, so that both connectors are at one end - this means you are swallowing double the width - a lot more difficult than a mere sword blade! In those days they were filled with a gas, which was poisonous. Not a problem if it broke in the atmosphere, but inside your body.........! Because of the tube's shape, the bottom of the 'U' bend is very fragile, the glass itself quite thin. The slightest twitch - inadvertent swallow (gulp) and "SNAP!" To perform this feat is rather tricky - quite apart from being able to swallow the thing in the first place. You need a transformer, usually off stage, the power lead runs from it to an on-off switch which is fixed to your belt or cummerbund; from the switch two leads run up to the connections at the top of the tube. Having this switch on your person gives you instant access and total control re turning the power on and off. A bit of trivia - it is very difficult, if not impossible to swallow the tube if it's very warm or hot - Why? - because it 'kind of' sticks to your insides, and, if you try to force it, "SNAP!" Not many people know that - (Michael Caine).. An awful lot of Sword-swallowers who included the neon light tube in their acts, wound up seriously ill, or worse - you know, 'kinda' dead! The usual presentation is, - dim lights - turn tube on - show it works - turn off to cool down - position it just inside your mouth - turn on via switch on belt - and slide it carefully down - pull it out before it gets too hot - otherwise you have to leave it inside and stand dead still until it cools down. One poor chap died because as he touched the switch it shorted, giving him an electrical shock. He jumped, and "SNAP!"; the tube shattered - electrocuted, and gassed, the entire length of gullet and throat riddled with splinters of glass. Not Nice! From a sword-swallower's point of view, the Neon tube act is the ultimate stunt. I've always wanted to do it - could never find a manufacturer in New Zealand or Australia to make them for me - afraid of adverse publicity if things went wrong. However when we were living in Sydney, I found a chap called Otto Butkus (retired) who had performed a Fakir act years ago, including the Neon tubes He had several he was willing to sell to me - but insisted I practised with one first, to find out if I could swallow the thing before committing myself. Now, I've been swallowing swords for years, but swallowing the Neon tube, by comparison, was like trying to push a very thick broom handle down, because of the double width of the tube - (they're in a 'U' shape, remember). At that time, things were going pretty well in Australia Had a regular slot every morning on Sydney's Channel 10 Television, performing 'Close-up' magic. The programme 'Good Morning Australia', was a Live Nation-wide broadcast, so no room for mistakes; was also working the 'Close-up' 3 or 4 nights a week at Sydney's most exclusive restaurant, 'The Manor House' (you had to be driving at least the latest 'Jag' to be able to afford to dine there. Several 'Rollers' were always parked outside da joint!), as well as performing our act in the RSLs (Returned Services Leagues) Clubs and Football/Rugby clubs - they were good times. But I digress: Veronica, my wife, partner, assistant, etc. (it is she who types all this, and corrects my spelling and grammar) - stamped her little foot, and said "No"! Veronica was well aware of the dangers involved with the Neon light tube, and the deadly "SNAP" factor, so, THAT WAS THAT! THE CANADIAN MAGICIAN - real name Joe Stuthard - I didn't know his name until years later when I met him at Maurie and Connie Rooklyn's home (we lived about 10 minutes away and it was my second home) at one of Maurie' s many 'Magic Get-together' parties. Joe invented the Trilby deck (the name Trilby was the lady who was hypnotised by Svengali in Daphne DuMaurier's book) which was a tapered Svengali deck. In London, Kaymar Magic was started by Harry Baron & Joe Stuthard - Joe's wife was Kay, and Harry's wife Margaret, hence Kaymar. (Thanks, Burns). Next week - Major Marshall and the bus - Wairoa College, Hypnotism and 'The Great Benyon'. ------------------------------------- 17. Diarise these events ------------------------------------- New Zealand National Magicians Convention - 27th 2001 to January 1st 2002 ------------------------------------- 18. MagicNZ e-zine archives ------------------------------------- Back issues of the MagicNZ e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. User Name: ezine Password: newzealand When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001nov0699.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (nov06) and the last next two numbers the year (99) If you want to print copies of MagicNZ e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine-archive ------------------------------------- 19. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the MagicNZ e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html MagicNZ e-zine is published weekly, late on Sunday night. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors. Neither MagicNZ or Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via MagicNZ e-zine. We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions as we see fit. >> This publication may be freely redistributed to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY << (c) Copyright 2000 Alan Watson