* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #57 Date: Sunday 21st January 2001 Editor: Alan Watson www.magician.co.nz e-mail alan@watson.co.nz ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editors Message 2. The "Electric Deck" 3. Don Wayne/Sean Bogunia Ultimate Dancing Hank 4. FOX, all greed and the worship of the almighty Dollar 5. Dale Salwak's new book, "Faith in the Family" 6. Hi from Los Angeles where I now live 7. Magic in the Rockies 2001 Convention 8. Star Studded SAM New Orleans\Convention 9. SMOKE & MIRRORS 10. Ericsson Stadium - performing for expect 50,000 11. Performing for new president George W. Bush 12. Christchurch Buskers festival 18-28 Jan 13. Can anyone help me? 14. The Electric Deck - History 15. The Orchante Saga # 13 16. Diarise these events 17. MagicNZ e-zine archives 18. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- 1. Editors Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One In the past the cut off time for submitting articles and news was 8.00 pm on Sunday. Due to my time restraints, it will now be Saturday 12.00 pm. The MagicNZ e-zine will still be published on Sundays. Welcome back home to Guy Cater and Shayne Thompson. Guy is home from a three month season performing in Singapore and Shayne a one month stint in Bombay. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: alan@watson.co.nz ---------------------------------- 2. The "Electric Deck" ---------------------------------- Message from Magic Christian (Austria) Concerning the "Electric Deck" I would like to give you a short description how it was used by Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser. It was not invented as a "gag" but to be changed with a normal deck after showing some card tricks. Then Hofzinser showed some of his card-etudes, including waterfall, bridges, throws and catches, fans. Most impossible stunts which can not be done with a normal deck. At the end the deck was changed into normal cards again and he continued with other card tricks. To make it appear as a normal deck he had some loose extra cards on top which he shuffled down and back on top. The whole idea of this deck got lost. Maybe a comedy magician who did not know better used the idea for his show and began to stop the cards in the "waterfall" or let the cards dangle down even. So maybe there will be someone who will use this deck in the original way again and baffle the lay people. ------------------------------------- 3. Don Wayne/Sean Bogunia Ultimate Dancing Hank ------------------------------------- Message from Wayne Rogers (NZ) With regards to the review of the new Don Wayne/Sean Bogunia Ultimate Dancing Hank has prompted me to write an account of my own experiences with the one-man-no-assistant-dancing-handkerchief. The original Don Wayne Dancing Hanky was sold by Supreme Magic in England about 30 years ago under the title of Pranky Hanky. I bought one and played with it over a period of 3 years, modifying the gimmick and adding other components to produce a workable (for me) routine. It can be performed under just about any conditions, close-up and surrounded. No special background required. I have worked the modified effect for 27 years and won several magic competitions with it both in New Zealand and Australia. It is worth noting that the Supreme model was "improved" by removing a certain rubber band and substituting a spring. On the first night that I opened the package and started practicing Pranky Hank, the spring broke and I replaced it with a rubber band! Some things just don't need improving. Over the years that rubber band has not needed changing as much as you might think, considering the number of performances and rehearsals it has been subjected to. In 1992 I published a book Commercial Chicanery that included my routine. The "effect" as described was as follows: "The magician ties a knot in the end of a silk handkerchief and drops it onto a folded foulard lying on his table. He snaps his fingers to animate the silk but nothing happens. The silk is placed under the foulard, and the foulard is lifted by the top corners. Suddenly, the silk handkerchief emerges dancing and cavorting around and about the foulard. As the performer attempts to wrap the silk up in the foulard, the silk gets out of control. In desperation he places the silk handkerchief and foulard into a box. The silk jumps out again and runs along the front of the box. Using the lid of the box to control the silk, the magician eventually manages to get it back into the box and place on the lid. The box is dropped into the top of an open table. A cane flies up out of the table with the silk handkerchief tied to one end. The magician catches the cane and waves the handkerchief at the audience as he acknowledges the applause." I still perform the effect just like that. In order to achieve the surrounded performance the foulard was modified and my hank was manipulated in a slightly different manner. Another change I made to the set up was actually suggested in the original Supreme instructions, but I have never seen anyone actually do it. I can't reveal that change here as it gives too much away! Because of the alterations made to the gimmick I soon built another from a wire hook used to hang baskets of flowers. 27 years on and I am still using the same home-made gimmick. Versions of the one man Dancing Handkerchief marketed by Don Wayne in the US have a much more streamlined gimmick than mine. Theirs is a brilliant piece of workmanship and puts mine to shame. But then again, no one ever sees it! I sent a video of my routine to Don Wayne and gained his permission to put my modifications into a lecture which I did, first at the Magic Castle in 1993. Copies of my book Commercial Chicanery with the full routine are still available for anyone interested in contacting me. The Ultimate Dancing Hank adds a new dimension to this "no assistant" classic. It will be a sensation in the acts of the handful that work at it, and it's definitely on my shopping list. However after 27 years experience with its predecessor, I've got to say that in the right routine the original still has a lot going for it, http://www.nzmagic.com ---------------------------------- 4. FOX, all greed and the worship of the almighty Dollar ---------------------------------- Message from Terry Baldwin (South Africa) The masked Magician has finally this last year hit our third world country, knocking our magic world into total mayhem. Approximately three quarters of a million people in this country are affluent enough to be able to afford our services, and we only have currently five TV channels, one of which the affluent watch, and where the Masked Magician was screened. I never agreed with our past political government, but the world is really hypocrites, because all the companies who sponsored Fox's programme boycotted this country in the Apartheid days. Little do they know how they have affected many Black, Indian, and Chinese magicians here. For example: A friend of mine, Rashid, who busks at one of our local waterfronts, saved up all his money for months to build a Zig-Zag lady, only to have the audience jeer at him when he first performed it. Many of us have been financially affected by the expose, especially in the corporate world for product launches, as most of the promotional agencies have latched onto this and advise their clients not to use magic as it has been exposed on TV. It really is a sorry state of affairs, but we persevere, and we still manage to entertain those little darlings in the kids market who have not been to Disneyland ten times, and who still have room for some wonder in their lives. I must mention that it is not through lack of trying to get the relevant authorities to can the series - I went as far as the Constitutional court, which is the highest we can go here, but unfortunately to no avail. Well done, FOX, its all greed and the worship of the almighty Dollar - HYPOCRITES!! Check out our new website www.exor.8m.com, we are still playing around with it, and would welcome constructive comment. ------------------------------------- 5. Dale Salwak's new book, "Faith in the Family" ------------------------------------- Message from Dale Salwak (US) Dale Salwak (director of the Chavez Studio of Magic) is pleased to announce the March 14th publication of his new book, "Faith in the Family: Honouring and Strengthening Home and Spirit" (New World Library). The book is chock-full of stories from his own family life--magical and other-along with the stories from people with very different backgrounds. He tells of Neil and Jeanne Foster, for example, who Dale first met in 1963 and who became for him (as for many other magicians) second "parents." And he relates the extraordinary courage shown by Jack Browne and his family after the tragic loss of his sister, then his mother and father--only a few months after Jack's assumption of office as IBM International President. Chapters describe the need for connection to family, making childhood a happy time, repaying and caring for our parents as they age, the place of God and religion in the family, when love is betrayed, marriage and divorce, and the place of family throughout out lives. The paperback trade edition ($14.95 U.S.; $23.00 Canada) will be available in bookstores everywhere--or may be ordered direct from the publisher (1-800-97-BOOKS or FAX 1-415-884-2199). Their web address is www.newworldlibrary.com. ------------------------------------- 6. Hi from Los Angeles where I now live ------------------------------------- Message from Tony Clark (US) Just wanted to say hi from Los Angeles where I now live. I moved here from Lake Tahoe when my four-year show contract ended. (Actually it was a one-year contract that was extended three times) Anyway, it was fun but after over 2200 shows I am happy to be in LA working on other projects and new products for my mail order company. My new address is PO box 237• N. Hollywood, CA. 91603 order-line is FAX/phone (818) 980-8921 Website: www.tclarkprod.com. (If they mention your newsletter they will get 20% off their orders) I will be doing a couple of "spots" on the next Masters of Illusion show for PAX TV. Airdate in the USA is Jan.27 at 7pm. ------------------------------------- 7. Magic in the Rockies 2001 Convention ------------------------------------- Message from Edward Hurtubis (US) Colorado - Ft. Collins - Ring 250 September 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2001 Ft. Collins Marriott, 350 East Horsetooth Road, Ft. Collins, CO 80525 For information, contact: Tim Pendergast, penderwiz@aol.com 970 225-0708 DESCRIPTION: IBM Ring 250 presents their eighth annual Magic in the Rockies featuring (talent booked so far): Doc Eason, Michael Finney, Lennart Green, Flip Hallema, Bob King, Bob Kohler, Eric Mead, and Bob Sheets. The $99 registration ($119 after 05/01/01, $129 after 08/15/01) includes: Junior Showcase Show, Cabaret Show, Public Show, 9 Lectures, 15 Dealers, Bar Magic, Close-up Show, and a dinner and two lunches! For complete information, visit Ring 250's website www.byrini.com/presto ------------------------------------- 8. Star Studded SAM New Orleans\Convention ------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler - SAM PA Publicity Chair Russ Smith (Producer of the S.A.M Conventions shows) just announced that he has added award winning Mark De Sousa to the list of close-up performers who will appear at the Society's convention July 12-16 in New Orleans. De Sousa is well known for his excellent teaching videos and innovative close-up and stage magic. Click on the convention page for details. You can now register on-line at our shopping site. ------------------------------------- 9. SMOKE & MIRRORS ------------------------------------- Message from Angelo Stagnaro (US) Dear Fellow Magician, My name is Angelo Stagnaro. I edit a free monthly international magician's resource e-zine entitled SMOKE & MIRRORS. It is sent out to 1500 magicians in 49 countries on six continents. So far, such luminaries of magic as Jarle Leirpoll, Aaron Smith, Carl Andrews, Ed Solomon, Mike Bornstein, Paul Gordon, Gene Poinc, Dondrake and Peter Marucci among others have written for SMOKE & MIRRORS. Every month you'll receive at least two new original effects and be able to read articles on magic, keep up to date on magic happenings, learn about magic trivia and explore new magic links. Magic announcements will be e-mailed out on a weekly basis and the subscription is free. You can request a subscription by sending an e-mail to me at RealMagic@mail.com. Thank you again, Angelo Stagnaro SMOKE & MIRRORS ------------------------------------- 10. Ericsson Stadium - performing for expect 50,000 ------------------------------------- Message from Guy Cater (NZ) Really great to be home after almost four months working in Singapore. It was fabulous to meet up with John Teo and the members of IBM Ring 115 along with Paul Romhany and John and ST have become special friends taking us out quite often. I'm looking forward to seeing them again. Special thanks to Alan and his e-zine that allowed us to contact each other. My first gig in New Zealand will be a bit of a laugh as I have been booked to play at 'The Big Day Out' tomorrow... it is a day long rock concert with many loud and comtempory bands ... and one Hypnotist. It is being held at Ericsson Stadium and they expect about 50,000 there. "Now if you could all be quiet for five minutes while I hypnotise these folk" ... Yeah .. Right!! Have an amazing (and probably stupid) schedule in a few weeks. I fly to Singapore on the 9th of Feb for one show on the 10th and then leave at 2am that morning for Dubai where I arrive at 5:35am their time. I have a show that night and then the next morning fly to Bahrain with my UAE agent for four nights work. On the morning of the 17th Feb, we will board a plane at Bahrain and fly back to Dubai. One hour later I will be on an Emirates flight to Singapore where I have a two-hour wait before boarding again to fly to Sydney. Three and a half hour wait there before an Air New Zealand flight to Christchurch getting in (God and Airline schedules willing) at 3:30pm on the 18th and perform at Canterbury University at 8:30 that night after spending 27hours and 35 minutes flying with six and a half hours waiting time between flights. A total of 34 hours and five minutes. Think I will be a wee bit tired!! Do another show at the university on the 19th and catch a plane back to Auckland next morning to be in time for my 2pm show at Sky City Casino that afternoon. Will probably sleep for the next couple of days!! But despite all the grizzles .. what a great industry we are in. ------------------------------------- 11. Performing for new president George W. Bush ------------------------------------- Message from Dan Garrett (US) In a message dated 1/13/01 7:50:19 PM, alan@watson.co.nz writes: << Message from Michael Finney I have just received a phone call and will be performing at our new presidents (George W. Bush) for those in Florida, inaugural party next Thursday in Washington, DC. Don't ask how cause I don't know. While I am not big into politics I think this will be a great experience. >> I am also with the select small group of magicians performing at this event with Michael Finney. I leave tomorrow, and we will be performing with Michael Ammar, David Williamson, Darwin Ortiz, Daryl and others. ------------------------------------- 12. Christchurch Buskers festival 18-28 Jan ------------------------------------- Message from Nick Nickolas (NZ) If you are in the South Island the next couple of weeks don't miss the Christchurch Buskers festival 18-28 Jan or the Nelson Festival 30-2 Jan/Feb. Featured at these events will be some of the worlds best street/comedy/vaudville performers These people are great to watch to learn performance skills especially audience interaction, or just to have tears of laughter rolling down your cheeks. Every night at The Dux de Lux in ChCh 18-28 There will be a 3hr show featuring up to 5/6 artists. This gets an audience of 3 to 4 thousand and is a dynamite evening, which should not be missed. I will be performing at both events so come up and say hi. ---------------------------------- 13. Can anyone help me? ---------------------------------- Message from Colin Bierton (Germany) colin@magie365.de Can anyone help me, I'm trying to find out who originally thought up, invented or created an effect principle. It's an effect that in German is known as 'CELLU' and possibly in English as 'VIS-ESCAPE' (or WIZ-ESCAPE). The effect: A 'Strip of Card' is fastened inside a 'Slide' by a 'Split Pin' (as is used to fasten postal packages). You explain that, as the pin goes through both pices, it is impossible to slide the strip of card out the 'Slide'. When the helper agrees, you remove the strip of card, leaving the pin still fastened through the 'Slide'. Click to see an illustration: http://www.magie365.de/cellu The effect has been traced as far back as an entry in the "Sterling" catalogue dated "1945". It is thought that the inventor was a man called 'Kenard' (?), but I need confirmation. [Information about Mr Kenard would also be appreciated.] ---------------------------------- 14. The Electric Deck - History ---------------------------------- Message from Reinhard (Germany) May I be allowed to draw your attention to further historical notes, to trifles which struck me: Electric Deck 1868 Robert-Houdin "To Spring Cards from Hand to Hand" (Hoffmann trans. The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic by Robert-Houdin, 1878, pp.194-195). The ends of the cards are glued together, alternately in pairs the upper and lower ends. 1872 Hofzinser's letter to Marchini (Magic Christian: "J.N.Hofzinser Non Plus Ultra", 1998, p. 257) 1873 "Electric Pack" in M. Hartz's Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of Conjuring & Magical Apparatus (Bart Whaley: Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Magic, 2nd edition CDROM, Oct. 2000) 1895 F.W.Conradi Horster in "Der Zauberspiegel" Vol.1, No.1, Sept. 1895, pp.6-10. The cards are joined by two threads in the way that there is a gap between the cards. 1896 F.W.Conradi Horster "Der moderne Kartenkuenstler", pp.167-169. On p.169 Conradi mentions "the old(!) way of this 'shuffle' deck". Here the cards are joined by two broader tapes. Now a jump of 80 years to 1976 "David Berglas Lecture 1876 Brighton Convention" pp. 16-18: "Cardcertina", the modern Robert-Houdin method, instead of pasting the cards together at there ends, they were stapled! Berglas: "A strung-together deck proved too limited, it could only be sprung a short distance, so I developed this multi-purpose deck...These cards stapled together by alternated ends, can be sprung a far greater distance...than either a normal or stitched deck." Perhaps Hofzinser's deck was also stitched at the ends? Harmonica - "Playing" Cards Lou Derman wrote in his booklet "Add Comedy To Your Act!"(1972), p.26, chapter "Quick Card Gags", (46) ORDINARY PLAYING CARD (harmonica in a deck of cards) "An oldie but a goodie:...". You see the gag was 1972 "an oldie", hence I think that Juan Tamariz in 1970 was not the first, who performed this gag. Can an "oldie" be two years old? ---------------------------------- 15. The Orchante Saga # 13 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) 1959/60/61 The Early Sixties - Magic, sex, drugs and rock'n roll (drugs? - well, I smoked cigarettes, and liked a drink!) - the years just zipped by. Sometime in 1959 - go to a private party; it was the usual 'Kiwi bash', booze and guitars, and people doing their party 'bits' - some sang, others told jokes, played guitar solos, and, a young magician 'did his thing'. Some bloke came into the lounge room, his face blacked up - eyes and mouth the most prominent features - white shirt, black bow tie and trousers - on his hands, white gloves. He carefully placed a 78 record on the old gramophone, turned the volume way up, dropped to his knees, and, he was AL JOLSON, singing 'Mammy'! His timing and lip synchronisation with the record, was perfection. You simply forgot that a record was playing. I was fascinated, what a great party piece - a stunner. For me, this was perfect - I couldn't sing or whistle in tune to save myself (have perfect pitch when listening to others - can tell when a record or tape is playing even minutely fast or slow). In the '60s some of my favourites were; singer Paul Anka, the comedian Stan Freberg, and Spike Jones and the City Slickers. Utilising some of their recordings, with the aid of my record player (I think every kid must have had one - they held 12, 45 r.p.m records or L.P.s, and dropped them down one by one as each one was played) and a mirror, I soon had an act together. Must have got it right - the first time I 'performed' the mime act in public was at the 1960/61 Mt. Maunganui Sound Shell - Christmas/New Year shows, with the Howard Morrison Quartet. Here's part of the write-up from the local newspaper: Quote - "last night 10,000 spectators attended 'The Mount' sound shell outdoor concert, the numbers no doubt boosted by the appearance of the fabulous HOWARD MORRISON QUARTET. Also on the programme was the young entertainer, ORCHANTE - who gave an astonishing demonstration of mass hypnotism, placing 100s of the audience to sleep, as well as the 50 or so crammed onto the stage! He also showed his skill as a magician with some adept sleight of hand tricks, and then proved himself as a singer of no mean ability. This talented young man who turned 17 just three months ago, is set to take the world by storm!" Unquote. "A singer of no mean ability"? - now that upset Howard and the Quartet - as well as the other singers on the show - I'm not surprised! Strange how audiences (myself included) disregard the fact that there is no band/orchestra on stage, when watching a mime act (Later, I invested in a reel to reel tape recorder - saved the embarrassment caused either by the needle occasionally jumping on the record, or some 'wit' giving the turn-table arm a 'gentle' nudge). Always thought that I had originated miming (to records) as a full act, to the New Zealand public, but I recently discovered that it was in fact DON LINDEN, who started professionally around 1957/58. Apart from being a great Mime Artist, he had a 'wonderful' natural gimmick. When he opened his mouth, it was like looking down the Grand Canyon - you could damn near see his feet - it was truly an Indian Rubber gob! A few years later another chap, STEVE STEVENSON arrived on the scene - he was the ultimate - fantastic sound system - everything recorded in STEREO - WOW!!, incredible sound effects - cars, planes etc., racing across the stage - what a mime act! Apparently, he had all his teeth pulled out because it enhanced his mouth movements for his mime act - now, that's dedication for you!!! During the 70s, the majority of my work was in hotels. The show was in three segments - the first being the MAGIC - pure sleight of hand - the second was the FAKIR act, which consisted in sequence of fire eating - sword swallowing - bed of nails, and the famed 'PSYCHIC SURGERY. The third segment was the MIME ACT, which by then was a far cry from the Mount. Maunganui Sound Shell days - it tended to be a little naughty! The Fakir act always got fantastic response, but it was the Mime act which blew the audiences away! Mind you, the Pub crowd was pretty well 'liquored up' by the third segment, so a 'slightly' naughty mime act was just what the crowd was ready for. I should mention, for non New Zealanders, that Lounge Bars in New Zealand hotels, are large - most that we performed in held at least 500 people, some, 1000 or more. Another thing, most people thought that the Fakir and the Mime artist were two different people! I guess the outfits had a lot to do with it - the Fakir was dressed in turban and Ali Baba style pantaloons in royal blue - cummerbund and curly toed slippers in silver and 4" wide copper armbands, and bare-chested, like a genie. (Years later, while performing in Mexico, I had armbands custom-made in copper and silver - expensive, but beautiful). When you've spent years developing a 'class' act, everything must spell 'quality'. 'Shoddy' is not acceptable on the World Stage scene. The 'Mime artist' was in a very slick, shimmery suit. 'TOMMY'S MILLION DOLLAR SUIT' is how my dear friend, TREVOR KING always described it. Trevor is, in Show Biz. Circles around the world, a much loved New Zealander - Tour manager for just about every major imported International show to come to New Zealand's shores - from Pop, to the Vienna Boys Choir. I've done it again - 'time tunnelled' into the future - I'll throw the Time Machine lever into reverse for next week. ------------------------------------- 16. Diarise these events ------------------------------------- The 26th NZ Magician's Convention will be held at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand from Thursday 27 December 2001, and concluding with a New Year's Eve Celebration on Monday 31 December 2001 ------------------------------------- 17. 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 ------------------------------------- 18. 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, on Sunday. 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 2001 Alan Watson