* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine
* www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #98
Date: Sunday 25th November 2001
Editor: Alan Watson
www.magician.co.nz
www.alan-watson.com
e-mail AW@Alan-Watson.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================

1. Editor's Message
2. S.A.M New Members Will Receive
3. Shanghai China Convention Report
4. History of Jasper Maskelyne
5. "David Blaine - Street Magic"
6. The following story is TRUE
7. Greg Hudson's School Show Review
8. WIZARDS Japan Closing on January 14th
9. A 'Turbaned Bare Chested Pakeha'
10. Ear From Coin
11. The Bandanna Banana Comedy Tape
12. Jim Steinmeyer Interviewed
13. NZ "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2001
14. The Orchante Saga #52
15. Diarise these events
16. MagicNZ e-zine archives
17. Subscription Management

------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
-------------------------------------
Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One

The NZ "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2001 begins on Monday 26th Nov
in Hamilton.

The performers this year are: Chuck Jones & Company, Shimada & Skip
Banks. Refer item 13.

---------------------------
Kent Cummins (professional magician from Texas) is the key note
speaker at the New Zealand Speakers Convention in Auckland over the
weekend. Kent will also be launching his new book co-written with Tom
Britton "The Magic of Change" at the convention.

---------------------------
This week was a real challenge to get the MagicNZ e-zine out on
time....the Christmas rush with shows is in full swing. I swear
someone must be putting rocks in my sound system it seems to be
getting heavier each year. Must be getting older. <grin>

-----------------------------------------------------
Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line:
AW@Alan-Watson.com

----------------------------------
2. S.A.M New Members Will Receive
----------------------------------
Message from George Schindler - S.A.M. Public Relations

For the coming month ( effective immediately) all NEW members will
receive a complete set of the eight Poster Reproductions featured in
the August MUM - This is a $15 value not sold to the general public.

This is a test incentive drive for membership and will expire December
31. Please offer this to all potential members. ACT NOW! - Supplies of
reproductions are limited.

Magicians can join online at www magicsam.com and will receive the
posters with their New Member packets. - Please circulate this
information immediately.-Existing members can purchase the set at $15
from Gifts & Gadgetry. (Poster Reproductions are from the Nielsen
Collection and include Hermann- Houdini- Kellar - Raymond - Richiardi
Jr. - Ernest Thorn Thurston and Mle LeRoy)

----------------------------------
3. Shanghai China Convention Report
----------------------------------
Message from Hank Moorehouse (US)

Returned from Shanghai China early this week. Great world Class
convention. Like FISM the main thrust was on the Contest. They had
$14,500. US as prize money. 1st place Murray, $5,000. Two silver at
$2,500. each. Liu Qian, Taiwan, Richard Forget, Canada. 3 Bronze
awards at $1,500 each to Julius Frack, Germany: Futoshi Hayashi,
Japan and Ardan James, U.S.

Two great Gala Shows with mainly FISM winners and Circus and Acrobatic
shows. Great time and they will do again in 2003. I was lucky enough
to have been asked to be a member of the Jury.

-------------------------------------
4. History of Jasper Maskelyne
-------------------------------------
Message from T.J. Winick

I am a producer for the History Channel. I am putting together a story
on Jasper Maskelyne and I would very much like to contact his son
Alistair.

Would you have an email address or phone number for him?

T.J. Winick
office 617.338.3113
mobile 617.699.5866
email tjwinick@yahoo.com

----------------------------------
5. "David Blaine - Street Magic"
----------------------------------
Message from Burns Scandrett (NZ)

Wednesday 28 November at 7.30 on Channel 3, "David Blaine - Street
Magic."

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6. The following story is TRUE
----------------------------------
Message from Paul Romhany (NZ)

The following story is TRUE and it involves ME!!! It's just like a
wild movie except I'm the main actor. So here it is .... thought I'd
share this with you to show that Show Business isn't all glamour.

16th November - up at 5.30am get ready to go to airport from Vancouver
in Canada after a marvellous stay. I am now ready to head to my next
job on the Royal Princess leaving out of Rio in Brazil, bags packed
and I'm off! Leave at 8am heading on a 5 hour flight to Houston where
I wait at the airport for 6 hours to catch my flight to Rio.

After a 9 and a half hour flight arrive at Rio where the fun begins.
As I stand in immigration they look at my passport then ask me to step
into a small room where there is man with a cigarette hanging out of
his mouth asking me questions in Portuguese.

 Sadly this was not my first language and he spoke no English. From
his gestures they must have thought I would be working in Rio, so I
tried to tell him, "Cruise ship - 3 months". I now realise they
probably thought I'd be in Rio for 3 months. Thinking my documentation
from the cruise company would help as it had my contract which said I
would be going straight from the airport to the ship, but of course
not only did they NOT speak English, but they couldn't read it
either!!!! For SEVEN hours I sat in Immigration room by myself not
knowing what was happening and also realising I had missed the ship
... not only did this guys cigarette smoke bother me, but I hadn't had
anything to drink or eat since leaving Houston (by now that Wendy's
hamburger was looking great). During this time, I tried to make
contact with the Port Agent who looks after any troubles in each port,
but the phone numbers were all wrong that I was given, and if it was
the port agents who answered, they didn't speak English!

7.30pm ... Finally I meet one lady who speaks English and she works
for Continental!! They have a flight leaving for Houston in one hour
and they want me on it! I pay a ridiculous fee of $1100US for a one
way flight to Houston ... but all I wanted was to get out of there and
find somebody who spoke English.

For the first time before I'm about to leave I'm allowed to use the
phone, so I call my agent (Robyn) in Australia who calms me down and
reassures me (I needed that) and after many calls back and forth to LA
I am told just to hop on that flight.

What was meant to be a 20 hour flight time to catch the ship has
turned in to a 27 hour journey and it's not over as I have a 9 and a
half hour journey back to Houston.

8.25pm 17th November - about to board flight and was told to collect
passport at check in, but they have misplaced it .. plane leaves in 10
minutes ... 3 people (who still don't speak English) go and find it!
Finally get on plane.

9.30pm .. while flying captain tells us the plane is experiencing
technical difficulties and so we land in Sal Polo where we board
another plane. Now I realise I haven't seen my luggage since 2 days
ago so who knows where it is! Fingers crossed.

10.30pm at the next airport now where we catch a bus to the new
plane - my bag and myself have been searched over 10 times by now at
various points in this journey.

11pm - board bus with angry mob of passengers ... not me though, by
now I just don't care and want to get on that plane ... ooh, another
inspection. 12pm - leave for Houston. 6am November 18th (I think) ...
about to go through US customs ... realise I haven't slept for over 48
hours and in desperate need for shower and shave ... must be why the
flies are hanging around me!

Need to get to duty free to spray myself so I don't stink:)) 6.10am -
Pulled up to Immigration in USA!!!! NOT AGAIN!!!! Try to explain what
happened and they wanted to see my letter of employment with Princess
... sadly this was left at Immigration office in Rio ... At least they
speak English here!!

Finally let me go and I phone Robyn who again calmes me down (great
agent) and I go to my hotel where I am now and have a long bath and
shave etc. Plan of attack today ... SLEEEEEP!!!

Tomorrow I will fly to meet the ship in Argentina where I don't need a
VISA and so I'm sure things will work out ... stay tuned for PART
TWO!!!

Just a wee note about Part II. I was in my hotel tonight when a call
came through at 5.20pm to get the next flight to Miami at 6.50pm then
catch a flight to Argentina then one to Montevideo where I would pick
up the ship. Within minutes I was out the hotel door on my way to the
airport, all 5 of my bags with me. I check in and because it was an
international flight they go through every piece of my luggage with a
fine tooth come, remember I had to catch the flight at 6.50pm! At
6.45pm they were still going through 4 of my bags, one had already
gone through to the plane. By 6.50 they told me I had missed the
flight!! but at least my bag made it:))

So now I am back at the hotel, minus a bag, which will be picked up in
Montevideo and tomorrow I fly to Miami then Argentina where I hope to
catch the ship, and pick my bag up the next day when we are in
Montevideo with the ship ... well that's the plan!

----------------------------------
7. Greg Hudson's School Show Review
----------------------------------
Message from (Jon Zealando (NZ)

I have just seen Greg doing his school show for the third time...All I
can say is I should change my name back to Trev Hodson so that I can
possibly get the benefit of his reputation by confusion. He has been
visiting schools every year or so for some years now, sold though an
Australian lady agent who must be very persuasive to get tours lined
up and having the kids paying almost twice as much as they seem to be
prepared to do for local acts. Something Elaine (BooBoo) and I plus
rabbit, doves, background screens, amps, Illusion, van and trailer
...couldn't rely on even after we had done one tour, which we would
have hoped made a strong enough impact to be wanted back. I digress
well don't I always.

Greg certainly makes an impact both on the teachers as well as the
kids with unique presentations of standard effects, all out of one
suit case not much bigger than my rabbit production case. Plus one
radio mike and buskers type amp..one trip into the hall from his
rental car..Here is his Program full of lots of lovely lines, and bits
of business, all timed to perfection.

Sucker colour change silk...Columbini type rope routine with nightmare
finish ...Houdini running gag..Mindreading (failing in fun, something
few could do to kids without receiving there wrath} ...Sponge balls
with two kids Sponge rabbit finish...Bob Driebeek's goes into Dice box
ala Fred Kaps...Hilarious routine with needle through balloon ...More
failed mindreading...

A mini play with prediction finish using Three teachers and kid
Policeman...A watch steal...A great routine with "Furry Thing" Rocky
Raccoon scaring the teacher..using warble (Shades of me there)..Six
ring routine with a terrific vent bit using two Kids from the
audience. This has to be seen to be believed...it goes on for about
five minutes and has everyone rocking with laughter..Finally after
showing that the mind reading bits did really work a very funny strait
jacket escape with the teacher pulling the crutch strap etc..a
galloping escape to the lone ranger music. (William Tell Overture).
Show runs for about an hour.

If Greg visits your area make sure you see him he is definitely not
just for the kids....and he really makes an impact that will be
remembered like the Fun Doctor of my youth. I went to the Zoo with
Greg to see "Nitwit' alias Tara Okan (which we both enjoyed] and one
kid spotted Greg who was wearing almost a disguise sun glasses, cap,
Swandry etc he yelled out from some distance.."Hi Gregg show us
trick"..We discovered Greg had done his school two weeks
before..Needless to say even with me blowing my whistle all day nobody
recognized me! By the way I'm Jon Zealando was quite famous, now
consider myself lucky to get a mention....There was a teacher at the
school who said "Hi are you going to the convention" he has been in
N.Z. a few years as a Hobby magician...I asked if he had ever seen my
work "Oh yes singing the magicians song at the Dolphin". Enough said.

----------------------------------
8. WIZARDS Japan Closing on January 14th
----------------------------------
Message from Doug Thornton

I saw Steve Marshall mc at Ikspiari's WIZARDZ (magic restaurant).

Unfortunately, they are closing on January 14th.

The performers now - the last ones - are Christopher Hart and Peter
Gossamer. I hope to catch the show this weekend.

By the way, Peter Marucci wrote about the "Bandanna/Banana" routine.
David Copperfield did a similar bit on one of his specials and I
believe that it is available from Denny of Denny and Lee's Magic.

----------------------------------
9. A 'Turbaned Bare Chested Pakeha'
----------------------------------
Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

I've just received news that there is a television ad running in New
Zealand, for some bed manufacturer, or something like that - which
shows a 'turbaned bare chested pakeha' about to lie on a bed of nails.

My informant, who doesn't know me personally, was wondering if it was
me, as the nails segment looks as though it was done 30 odd years ago,
going by the clothing of the spectators.

Would you please keep your eyes open and if you spot it, try to
ascertain if it was me or not. Could you please pass the word around -
the more who are looking, the better. If it is me, then maybe some
money is due to me - that would be nice!

----------------------------------
10. Ear From Coin
----------------------------------
Message from Peter Marucci (Canada)

Anyone who performs for children on a regular basis knows that
youngsters go wild over really gross stuff.

How else to account for wiggly-worm candy, ghoulish video-game plots,
and other such childhood delights?

The following falls in that area -- without being overly disgusting.

The reaction that I have had is that adults will find it somewhat
amusing -- but kids will go downright nuts over it!

It's not suitable for stage work or even a club-type act but plays
well as a (supposedly) impromptu close-up piece for youngsters -- an
area in which there is very little material.

EAR FROM COIN

Effect: The magician is asked to show a young spectator "some magic."
He obliges by saying that a lot of magicians might do something like
pulling a coin out of a spectator's ear.

As he says this, the magician pulls a coin out of the youngster's ear.

"But," he adds, "I like to do it a little differently."

He shows the coin in his otherwise empty hand.

"I like to pull an ear out of a coin," says the magi and, with his
free hand, reaches into the hand with the coin and pulls out a
life-size ear.

Adults go "Yuk!" while the kids fall all over themselves, laughing.

Working and presentation: As usual, nothing particularly difficult
here. In fact, the hardest part of this whole thing will be finding
the plastic ear.

I came across mine in a party shop that had boxes of small items to be
used as giveaways at birthday parties. These included the usual things
like tops, whistles, rings -- and a bunch of soft plastic body
parts -- fingers, noses, and ears. I don't want to think about what
these were supposed to be used for -- and I really don't want to think
about the mind that decided to produce them in the first place.

However, they did intrigue me and -- after coming back to the shop a
dozen times and looking at these things -- an idea started to
germinate. So I bought a couple. (You can never have too many plastic
ears or rubber chickens.)

Have the ear and a coin in your right pocket. Before you work your
wonders, reach into the pocket and take both out, concealing them in
your right hand -- the ear in sort of a classic palm, the coin in a
finger palm. There's no real work here in hiding the pieces, since no
one knows what you're going to do yet.

Reach over to the youngster's ear with the right hand and push the
coin to the fingertips, apparently taking it from her ear. Toss the
coin in to the open and empty left hand, as you say, "A lot of
magicians will pull a coin out of year ear." Then reach over with the
right hand, as if you are taking something from under the coin. "But I
prefer to pull an ear out of a coin."

As you say this, the right hand turns palm down over the left hand and
the ear falls to the fingertips. From there, simply pretend to pull
the ear out from under the coin.

As I said, there is no heavy magic here but your audience will
certainly remember you.

And, no doubt, those who try this will come up with their own
handling. With sleeving, for example, you could make the coin vanish
and be left with just the ear. Or you might want to start by showing
both hands empty. (You work out the handling!)

The main thing is that you -- and your audience -- will have fun with
this.

----------------------------------
11. The Bandanna Banana Comedy Tape
----------------------------------
Message from Don Drake (US)

I would like to suggest another way to have fun with the Bandanna
Banana comedy tape.

Have your assistant get angry with you for something, just before you
are about to perform this great comedy effect. So after you announce
to the audience that you are going to do the famous bandanna trick,
your assistant substitutes the banana. This gives added emphasis to
the effect, and your audience will laugh all the more, when you
produce the banana, instead of the bandanna. Gary Darwin of Las Vegas
(and thumb tip fame) suggested this, and no one does this effect
better than Gary, you have to see his facial expressions to believe
it. If you are ever in Las Vegas, look us up.

----------------------------------
12. Jim Steinmeyer Interviewed
----------------------------------
Message from Richard

I'm Richard Internet Magic Guide of SuperEva.it (most popular Italian
internet portal).

I have interviewed many magicians as: Silvan, Tony Binarelli, Aldo
Colmbini, Erix Logan, Clown David Larible, Ennio Marchetto, Scott The
Magician and now Jim Steinmeyer.

This is the Url for the exclusive interview of Mr. Jim Steinmeyer:
http://guide.supereva.it/magia_e_illusionismo

----------------------------------
13. NZ "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2001
----------------------------------
Message from Gene McCarthy (NZ)

Includes Chuck Jones & Company, Shimada & Skip Banks.

Updated Friday 25th May 2001

DATES & VENUES TOWN SHOW TIMES

Sunday 25th November ARRIVE NEW ZEALAND

Monday 26th Nov HAMILTON 2:30pm-5pm & 7:30pm
The Gate Way Christian Centre

Tuesday 27th Nov NEW PLYMOUTH 5:00pm - 7:30pm
TSB Show Place

Wednesday 28th Nov TAURANGA 2pm-5pm & 7:30pm
Bay Court Theatre

Thursday 29th Nov WHANGAREI 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Forum North

Friday 30th Nov DAY OFF

Saturday 1st December AUCKLAND 11am-2pm & 5pm
Sunday 2nd December AUCKLAND 11am-2pm & 5pm
Logan Campbell Centre

Monday 3rd Dec ROTORUA 2pm-5pm & 7:30pm
Rotorua Convention Centre

Tuesday 4th Dec GISBORNE 2:30pm-5pm & 7:30pm
Gisborne Intermediate School

Wednesday 5th Dec NAPIER 2:30pm-5pm & 7:30pm
Napier Municipal Theatre

Thursday 6th Dec TAUPO 4:30pm & 7:30
Great Lake

Friday 7th WANGANUI 2pm-5pm & 7:30pm
Wanganui Collegiate High School

Saturday 8th Dec WELLINGTON 1:30pm-4:30pm & 7pm
Sunday 9th Dec WELLINGTON 1:30pm-4:30pm & 7pm
Monday 10th Dec WELLINGTON 7pm
Wellington High School

Tuesday 11th Dec PALMERSTON NORTH 1:30pm-4pm &7pm
College of Education

Wednesday 12th Dec TRAVEL TO NELSON

Thursday 13th Dec NELSON 7:00pm
Trafalger Centre

Friday 14th Dec TRAVEL

Saturday 15th Dec DAY OFF

Sunday 16th Dec CHRISTCHURCH 2pm-5pm & 7:30pm
Monday 17th Dec CHRISTCHURCH 12:30pm-4:30pm-7pm
Theatre Royal

Tuesday 18th Dec TIMARU 5:30pm
Theatre Royal

Wednesday 19th Dec DUNEDIN 2:30pm & 7:00pm
Rent Theatre

Thursday 20th Dec INVERCARGILL 2pm-5pm & 7:30pm
Civic Theatre

----------------------------------
14. The Orchante Saga #52
----------------------------------
Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

Variety Stage Show at-'The Wellington Opera House'

The last time I had graced that 'Mighty Stage' was on Joe Brown's-
'Search for Stars - Grand New Zealand Tour,' in 1960 - I was then just
16 years old - now, 12 years later, I was back. The Opera House was
available for three nights in July - Thursday the 13th, Friday the
14th, and Saturday the 15th (I will explain the significance of the
dates later). The cost of hiring the Opera House was, oh dear God, a
$1,000 per night! That did not include the extra expenses for staff -
lights and sound men, usherettes, front of house, etc., etc. and to
top it off, my 'angels' also wanted other artists on the show - that
was not my idea at all, I've always been a -'One Man Show'!

Against my wishes, I set about getting support acts and a band
together. My first choice was SYLVIA SEVANNA, an exceptionally
beautiful young blonde, originally from Germany, who had a fabulous
fire dancing routine. I can't remember how we first met, but she was
still going to school at the time. She would often come up to my flat
after school, still in her gym dress, and before everybody starts
jumping to conclusions (you dirty-minded buggers), she was always
accompanied by her (late) father Harry, who guarded her like a demon.
That didn't stop a certain, very charming Welsh magician (who had
quite a way with 'birds'- the feathered kind) from 'poking' his 'magic
wand' at? her a few years later, the 'dirty, filthy, lucky bastard';
which not surprisingly, resulted in the bringing down of - 'Harry's
Germanic wrath' upon his head! I do remember my mate, Murray Hobson,
and the rest of the guys I was flatting with, 'drooling' all over the
place, as did most of the male population, whenever she turned up! I
have a rather large record collection of Hawaiian/Island/'Exotic'
style music, and I was taping a collection of tunes for Sylvia's
fire - dancing act. Dear oh dear - that was so long ago, I'm beginning
to feel positively ancient!

My next choice was a young magician from Napier whom I had met
somewhere along the line. His name was JOHN DENNING - he did illusions
and some escapology. Next was a pop singer/guitarist - BRIAN SWANSON;
he had his own band with a female singer, ANNE MICHELLE. I'd known
Brian for a long time - he used to be with a band from Hastings
called, ' The Shaddracks'. Brian had two slight problems, he thought
he was God's gift - to everything, and compared to him, Stirling Moss
was a rank amateur.

Veronica and I were on some tour down in the South Island. We were in
the back seat of the car and Brian was driving-as usual, like a bloody
maniac! We were out in the country - miles from anywhere, going down
this narrow, steep and dusty road, when a sheep wandered out into the
middle of the roadway. We all yelled and screamed but Brian was going
so fast (there was no way he could've stopped in time), that when we
hit the sheep, we hardly felt the bump. The force of the impact upon
the sheep however, was so great it was cut completely in half! When he
finally did pull up, we all piled out of the car and refused to get
back in again until Brian agreed to let somebody else do the driving.
WHAT A 'NUTTER!'

The first half of the ' INTERNATIONAL STAGE SHOW' was all variety and
music, with myself closing, before the intermission, performing the
'Fakir' act. During the intermission it was all -'go - go-go'. I had
to have a fast body wash after performing the Fire-eating etc. and
then get 'dressed up' ready for the hypnotism show, which took up the
entire second half - approximately 90 minutes. The opening night -
(THURSDAY the 13th) had been well 'PAPERED' so although 'The House'
was almost full the actual 'door take' was pretty thin, none the
less - the show was well received.

When I called for volunteers for the hypnotism show there was, as
usual, a mad stampede for the stage, with over one hundred excited
people, enthusiastically 'panting at the bit'- willing to 'go to sleep
' the 'ORCHANTE' way! I set about sorting the 'wheat from the chaff,
with various 'hypnotic tests' and some amusing 'Waking Hypnosis'
stunts. I finished up with around 70 subjects on stage, of various age
groups, with several university students among them. One chap was over
sixty years old! He was an exceptionally good subject and talking to
him after the show, it turns out that he was one of FRANQUIN'S 'Super
Subjects', and that he, along with several other 'Super Subjects', had
toured the world with - THE FABULOUS FRANQUIN - SHOW!

Continues -.

-------------------------------------
15. Diarise these events
-------------------------------------
The 26th NZ Magician's Convention Auckland Friday 28th to Monday 31st
December 2001. For The registration form, Convention programme & The
Official Competition Form go to: www.magician.co.nz/convention2.html

-------------------------------------
16. 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

-------------------------------------
17. 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
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© Copyright 2001 Alan Watson