* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand
* www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #124
Date: Sunday 2nd June 2002
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. Looking To Book Convention Acts
3. Zodiac Magical Society Annual Dinner
4. House Belonging To The Great Levante
5. Magic Secrets And Their Exposure On Prime Time TV
6. Tony Clark Booked For S.A.M. Convention In New York
7. Paul Romhany In Hawaii
8. Frances Ireland Marshall Dies
9. Mona Lisa - No Proof
10. Frances Marshall’s Funeral Service
11. FMA Convention 2002
12. Steve & Jan Dacri Magical Travels
13. David Blaine Special " Vertigo"
14. Jasper Maskelyne
15. Conjuring Lights - OnLine Archive of Magic, Limited Editions
. . . and a special discount offer for Magic New Zealand subscribers.
16. New Show And Lecture Tour Schedule For Petrick & Mia
17. The Orchante Saga #108
18. Subscription Management

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

The 34th Annual Academy of Magical Arts Awards Gala. (The Magic
Castle)

And The Winners Are!
Close-Up Magician Of The Year
Steve Valentine

Lecturer Of The Year
David Regal

Parlour Magician Of The Year
Martin Lewis

Stage Magician Of The Year
John Carney

The Academy also awarded fellowship awards to those who have made
significant contributions to the advancement of the art of magic.

Master's Fellowship
Billy McComb

Performing Fellowship
The Pendragons

Performing Fellowship
Earl Nelson

Library Fellowship
Jim Steinmeyer

Special Fellowship
John Kasnetsis

Creative Fellowship
Pavel

Lifetime Achievement Award
Tihany

Magician Of The Year
Rick Thomas

-----------------------------------------
For the Magic New Zealand Archives back issues go to:
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Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain
access.
User Name: magic
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When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are
coded.

Eg 001nov6.txt first three numbers denote issue number then the date.

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

----------------------------------
2. Looking To Book Convention Acts
----------------------------------
Message from Peter J. Levins PLevins@aol.com

I guess now is as good a time as any to let you know, I have been
charged with the job of acquiring great acts for the I.B.M convention,
Ring 85 in Ireland for the year 2003, which will be held in Limerick
on the first weekend in May 2003.

This is usually an excellent convention as the host Society "The
Munster Society Of Magicians" always seem to have no limit on the
effort that they put into their conventions.

It is a very friendly convention and rapidly becoming famous for it's
popularity. Limerick, as "The Munster Society of Magicians" is known
as in Ireland has been host to many Great magicians from around the
world, Peter Marvey, Harry Blackstone Jnr, Paul Daniels, Alan Shaxon,
John Carney and Omar Pasha to name but a few and anybody wishing to
attend may contact Mr. P. Ward at +353 61 326 760

If anybody wishes to e-mail me please use Magic as the subject
otherwise I may delete if I don't recognise the name.

----------------------------------
3. Zodiac Magical Society Annual Dinner
----------------------------------
Message from Mandy Davis (UK)

18th May 2002

I was most impressed with the Jarvis Hotel in Ealing which hosted this
magical dinner - before the day we were given a choice of three items
per course, all of them tempting. In fact the quality and quantity of
food was excellent - and, unusually for mass catering, the soup was
piping hot.

President Peter Pinner used the numbers of items requested as the
basis for a quiz whilst Richard Pinner performed his randomly selected
'Card in Balloon' routine, always a stunning trick.

Close up was performed at tables by John Eaton, Jack Mayes, Richard
Pinner and John Charles who now lives in Canada but was a member of
the Zodiac many years ago, under the name of Chas Chamberlain. His
close-up show was impeccable. Starting and ending with a Ring, No Ring
bell, John passed coins through a felt 'hole', ending with the
production of enormous Chinese coins, continued with Professor's
Nightmare, Balls in Net with no net, a selected card found inside a
bulldog clip, previously placed on the table, and a very slick one cup
and ball routine.

Two of the Zodiac's annual awards were presented to Richard Pinner and
the third went to club secretary Jean Purdy before Freddy Firth
presided over the fastest selection of raffle tickets and distribution
of prizes I have ever seen. Then on to the cabaret!

Chris Hare came bounding onto the floor to present some of his own
style of mental magic and comedy. A calculator trick which didn't
quite work was swiftly followed by selected cards being counted to,
names of objects merely glimpsed at being named and the recall of a
swiftly memorised deck.

Emma Morris was a singer who Richard had met whilst working on some of
the best known cruise ships. Her repertoire was just right for her
audience that night - All That Jazz, Almost Like Being in Love, Judy
Garland's Johnny One Note and On a Clear Day - her fine voice enhanced
by a bubbly personality and huge smile.

The final act was the magic of Rousseau. Cigarettes appeared and
disappeared, as did lighters, matches, cigars, balls and even a glass
of alcohol. The polished routining and final appearance of a dove from
a bouquet of flowers once again ensured a huge round of applause and
brought the cabaret to an uplifting end leaving us all looking forward
to next year's dinner.

----------------------------------
4. House Belonging To The Great Levante
----------------------------------
Message from Ross Skiffington (Aust)

Recently I have been in Sydney, housesitting for a friend and the
house just happened to once belong to The Great Levante some years
ago. A wonderful example of 1930 deco still with some of the original
fittings. Situated in Bellvue Hill it looks out across Rose Bay
towards Manly and the heads. A wonderful view during the day and at
night. Access is via an inclinator or 200 steps. Needless to say the
steps did not get the workout they should have. Unfortunately the
ghost of dear Les did not materialise. It was a real pleasure to stay
there.

Off to Adelaide to assist Raymond Crowe with his new show for the
Adelaide Cabaret Festival. He has been working hard and has some great
new material. It’s always good to work with Ray and I am looking
forward to that. Then its up to Sydney where I start rehearsals for
The Comedy of Errors with The Bell Shakespeare Company. A combination
of Shakespeare and Illusion should be interesting and working with
actors is always great fun.

We open in Canberra then are off on tour around Victoria and New South
Wales finishing up at the Sydney Opera House. A run of about 6 months.

2003 already looks promising but more on that later.

----------------------------------
5. Magic Secrets And Their Exposure On Prime Time TV
----------------------------------
Message from Walter Zaney Blaney - Emeritus, The World Alliance of
Magicians (WAM)

TO: The magicians who still give a damn about magic secrets and their
exposure on prime time TV.

As most know by now, you have either heard about or actually watched
what was show #6 of the Fox-TV Masked Magician series. After the first
five shows in the first round, this is the first of a new planned
series.

Here are a few pertinent facts about show #6 that aired Wednesday, May
15, 2002, 7PM on the Fox-TV Channel.

The secrets exposed:
The Buzz Saw Illusion
I shudder to think what the Great Blackstone Sr. and Jr. would have
to say about this exposure, and all the other professionals currently
using this great illusion in their shows today.

The Broom Suspension
How do the hundreds of magicians who do this great illusion....on
stage, on cruise ships, in theme parks....feel after seeing their
illusion totally exposed? How about the builders who build and market
these suspensions....brooms, swords, lightpoles. How about the
designers of the improved harnesses. Now millions had a chance to see
first hand what you invested your money in.

How did you enjoy the tag line by the narrator host: "A trick so
simple even a child could do it".

Vanish Of A Girl On Table
For the third time in their Secrets Revealed series Fox-TV exposes the
mirror principle.

Walking Through A Mirror
At the conclusion of the explanation another great tag line by the
narrator: "As simple as that, once you know the secret."

Giant Truck Vanish
Another illusion designed to fool just the camera. And the narrator's
tag line: "Pretty good trick, pretty simple solution."

Spiked Cage Escape
A slightly different version of Andre Kole's great "Table of Death
Illusion", which sadly they already exposed on a previous show.

And that wonderfully insipid narrator again: "It's easy when you know
the secrets.....and they call this MAGIC?"

With these tag lines, think long and hard about Fox's attitude towards
magicians which they present to the viewing public.

Floating Table
Rods from the magician's wrist method, harness devices shown and
explained, balsa wood table principle.

And the narrator again: "Not a bad trick....unless you know the
secret". I believe that's as close to the real truth on all their
exposure shows as you will ever get.

And how about THIS for the next tag line:

"MANY MAGICIANS WOULD LIKE YOU TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE SUPERNATURAL
POWERS.....I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THEY DON'T. BUT WE WON'T BE FOOLED
AGAIN NOW THAT WE KNOW THE SECRETS."

This is my 52nd year in professional magic-show business. I have never
met or seen any magician who "would like us to believe they have
supernatural powers", other than Uri Geller. Maybe I just don't get
around much.

David Blaine's Ice-House Survival Stunt
No matter what methods David actually used, no matter what he denies
about Fox-TV's exposed method, to the TV viewing audience, they got
the answer as far as they are concerned.

AND THE FINAL TAG LINE OF THE WORLD'S MOST INSIPID NARRATOR, SPEAKING
OF THE WORLD'S MOST INSIPID MASKED MAGICIAN:

"But one thing's for sure, he'll be back to reveal more of magic's
biggest secrets."

The show "Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed" was produced by
the same people who aired the first five shows on Fox-TV, Nash
Entertainment.

Executive Producers- Bruce Nash and Don Weiner
Producer- Tom Boles
Director- Don Weiner
Associate Director- Peter Margolis
Writer- David John.
Illusion Construction- The Scenic Route, Ulf Henriksson, and Sean
Culhane
Announcer- Mark Thompson

SPONSORS (as seen in houston, Texas)

Circuit City
Pizza Hut
"Spider Man"- Movie Promo, Columbia Pictures
Miracle-Gro
Lean Pockets
"Mash Reunion Special"- Fox-TV Network
Degree Gel
"Undercover Brother"-Movie Promo, Imagine Producers
Taco Bell
Home Depot
Anti Smoking Psa
Motel 6
"Oliver & Co."- Video Promo, Disneyvideo
"Bachelorettes"- Tv Promo, Fox-TV
Ally Mcbeal- Series Finale Promo, Fox-TV
Round-Up Weed Killer
"The New Guy"- Movie Promo, Revolution Studios
Hot Pockets Pizza
"The Simpsons"- TV Promo Season Finale, Fox-TV
Nissan Trucks
Jack In The Box
"Spiderman", Movie Promo Tie-In, Cingular Wireless
Honda Accord LX
Lowes Hardware
"Winnie The Pooh"-Video Promo, Disneyvideo
Greyhound Bus
Church's Fried Chicken
"The X-Files"-Season Finale Promo, Fox-TV
"Fox 26 News"- TV Promo, Fox-TV
Mc Donald's Hamburgers
"The Nutty Professor"- TV Promo, Fox-TV
"Enough"- Jennifer Lopez Movie Promo, Columbia Pictures
Arbor Mist Winery
Gran Turusmo 3- A-Spec, Play Station 2
"Snow Dogs"- Video Promo, Disneyvideo
"Fox 26 Investigates"- TV Promo, Fox-TV
"Bernie Mac"-TV Season Finale Promo, Fox-TV

After the third show of the last series of five exposure shows, The
World Alliance of Magicians was formed. We contacted the CEO's and
Advertising Executives of all the first sponsors, and many more
corporate executives in addition.

We NEVER threatened boycotts of products or picketing, although we
were falsely accused of this by a few magicians who wanted us to do
nothing.

WHAT WE DID DO WAS THIS: In respectful letters we simply gave our
reasoning as to why sponsoring these shows was not a good idea, as
they take away the surprise, wonder and mystery that this old world
still wants to enjoy in a magic show, and in addition it also hurts
the livelihood of many hard working magicians and their families
around the world. Many of these executives wrote back, apologized,
thanked WAM for informing them of the situation, and said they would
not sponsor further exposure shows. Instead they would sponsor
legitimate magic shows on TV, as WAM had suggested to them. And this
they have done. You will note, to mention just a few, there was no
sponsorship this time by Coca Cola, Kelloggs, Robitussan, 3M, Wendys,
etc. Fox had to seek out virtually all new sponsors. The only company
who had made a promise to WAM NOT to sponsor these shows, and then
renegged, was Mc Donalds.

WAM would have liked to recontact all the old sponsors, and all these
new ones, and tell them our reasoned side of the story. But alas, the
magic community worldwide has apparently chosen not to further support
WAM financially. The few WAM workers who labored so long and hard
during the last "round of shows", and who had to spend a good deal of
their own personal money to see the work through, can now no longer
continue to fight this continuing battle. We wish magicians the best.
I hope they won't mind the further exposures still to come.

We wonder if there will ever be another voice in defense of our side
that had the initial clout WAM had from virtually every major magic
society in the world. The commercial sponsors we contacted were
awestricken that the magicians of the world had united to protect
their magic secrets. They appreciated our simple reasoning, and our
behind the scenes work seemed to be the best answer to this problem,
and it produced results.

For the small group of naysayers who claimed WAM had brought attention
to the Fox-TV shows, increased the viewership, and caused Fox-TV to
increase the number of exposure shows, the truth is that all five
shows were planned before WAM came into existance. The first two shows
had 24 and 20 million viewers. WAM wasn't formed til shortly before
show #3 aired, and it had only 8 million watching. Show #4 had a still
lower count, and they had only three national sponsors on that show. .
Show #5 that exposed Close-Up secrets (Cigarette Thru-Quarter) really
fizzled. For the few magicians who claimed the public just grew tired
of these boring exposure shows, and they would go away if we would
just "shut up", it seems Fox-TV is off and running again.

In closing, in case you have forgotten, here are some of the illusions
and tricks exposed in the previous five Fox-TV shows "Magics Biggest
Secrets Finally Revealed".

Previous Tricks And Illusions Revealed By Fox-TV, Nash Entertainment,
And The First Masked Magician, Valentino.

Lady To Tiger
Shadow Box
Aga Levitation
Strait-Jacket Escape
Zig Zag Lady
Linking Rings
Substitution Trunk
Selbit Sawing
Rabbit From Hat
Hindu Basket
Vanishing Elephant
Crushing A Lady
Teleportation
Walking Through A Wall
Shooting Through A Woman
Dove Vanish
Head Size Sword Box
Houdini Water Torture Escape
Table Of Death
Stretching A Lady
Doll's House
Vanishing Radio
Catching A Bullet
Mis-Made Girl
Vanishing Tank (Statue Of Liberty Vanish Method By Copperfield)
Cremation
Spike Cabinet
Guillotine (Hangman's Illusion)
Coffin Escape

They do add up, don't they? And of course there have already been
about six re-runs of each show so far, and have also aired in many,
many countries.

----------------------------------
6. Tony Clark Booked For S.A.M. Convention In New York
----------------------------------
Message from George Schindler- SAM Public Relations

Tony Clark had been added to the roster of stars to appear at City
Center July 6 as part of the S.A.M. Centennial convention.

The award winning magic "super star" had his own "Phantasy" full
evening show at the Horizon Hotel and Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

He has been a regular performer at the world famous Magic Castle and
has appeared in casinos in Europe, Japan, Puerto Rico and of course
Las Vegas.

----------------------------------
7. Paul Romhany In Hawaii
----------------------------------
Message from Paul Romhany (NZ)

Hi from Hawaii ...

Well now I'm in Bermuda but just finished working the Regal Princess
around Hawaii and now on the Pacific working Bermuda. While in
Lahaina, Hawaii.

I came across the most amazing poster shop. They had original magic
posters of Alexander and George and other famous magicians ... ALL
original and in top condition, circa 1910-15. They even had some
Chaplin Posters. Anybody who is interested in collecting original
magic posters should contact these people and they will email you
prices and pictures of ALL their magic posters.

The email is: posters@unforgettable.com

An update of my cruising schedule. I get off the Pacific Princess
(original Love Boat from the TV show) on 14th July, then back to
Vancouver for two weeks then Natalie and I come back to this ship and
here is our schedule travelling together for Princess until March next
near.

PACIFIC - Sunday 14th July to Tuesday 12th November - New
York/Civitavecchia SEA - Saturday 16th November to Saturday 23rd
November - San Juan/San Juan DAWN - Saturday 23rd November to Saturday
30th November - San Juan/San Juan SEA - Saturday 30th November to
Thursday 5th December - San Juan/Tortola REGAL - Saturday 7th December
to Friday 28th March 03 - Fremantle/Darwin

----------------------------------
8. Frances Ireland Marshall Dies
----------------------------------
Message forwarded by Ron London (US)

Friends:

Thought you all would want to know that Frances died last night. She
had not recognized anyone for four days. Jay was with her until eight
o'clock, she died at ten. Arrangements not yet made. Jay is busy
trying to notify all his and her friends.

Philip R. Willmarth
Executive Editor
The Linking Ring
linkring@aol.com

----------------------------------
9. Mona Lisa - No Proof
----------------------------------
Message forwarded by Scott & Muriel

Dear fellow Magician My name is Nicolai Friedrich and you may have
heared about the trouble concerning the Mona Lisa Puzzle effect, which
is being offered for sale by Alpha Magic. As you may know we tried to
figure out if the version of Mr Sagiv Levi is an independent
development, regarding the Mona Lisa Puzzle effect which I performed
at FISM 2000.

Already 21 days ago Mr Raphael Cohen from Alpha Magic promised me to
deliver proof that the version that is being offered for sale is
indeed a case of independent developement by Mr Sagiv Levi from
Israel.

They promised to do so in a matter of a few days. However nothing has
happened so far. In spite of the fact that neither Mr Cohen of Alpha
Magic nor Mr Levi have been helpfull in any way to clear the matter, I
have tried my very best to figure out on my own if Mr Levi is telling
the truth. Instead of confirmation that indeed we have a case of
independent development here, I found many contradictions instead.
For instance:1) I have contacted many magicians from Israel and asked
them if they could verify that Mr Sagiv Levi has been performing the
Mona Lisa Puzzle at least before FISM 2000. However so far NOBODY was
able or willing to back up this position. They only remember Mr Sagiv
Levi is doing the Mona Lisa Puzzle since several months!

2) Mr Sagiv Levi stated that there is a video tape that shows him
doing the Mona Lisa puzzle 7 years ago in front of members of the
Israeli Magic Association . A magician from Israel told me he asked to
see the video tape of Mr.Sagiv's performance on my behalf. He was
refused to watch the tape with the remark that it was not necessary,
because the tape would be sent to me. Why was he refused? And why did
they not send this tape to me?

3) Mr.Sagiv also stated that Mr Simcha Ajzner, an office-bearer of the
Israeli Magicians Association, posseses this video tape and is willing
to confirm his statements. However Mr Ajzner told me that he only has
a tape that shows a certain magician named Asi Wind performing the
puzzle at an israeli magic convention in December 2000!

4) This gentleman, Mr Asi Wind has admitted that he heared about my
performance at FISM. Maybe he got `inspired`?

5) And, this is very interesting: Mr Asi Wind told me that Mr. Sagiv
Levi contacted him, after having seen his performance of the puzzle
trick, with the request of buying the trick from him in order to
market it! How can that be if Mr Sagiv Levi developed the trick
himself ? So, the only conclusion I can draw from this, is that either
Mr Sagiv Levi or Mr Asi Wind is not telling the truth. Do I need to go
on? 

Because all of these facts, (and many more which I will not bother
you with), you will understand I have severe doubts here. Although I
do not believe the claims of Mr. Rafael Cohen and Mr Sagiv Levi any
more, I told them that I was still willing to give them the benefit of
the doubt and I even offered them to send a letter of apology if they
could deliver any conclusive proof. Though they had ample time, 21
days, to deliver any kind of proof that Mr Sagiv Levi has been doing
the effect at least from before FISM 2000, NOTHING has been produced
in that sense. Instead of sending me the promised proof, they
continuously found ways to delay clearing up the matter.

Since by now they have had ample time to deliver any evidence in their
posession, and because they have refused to do so, I consider the
matter closed. Please feel free to forward this message to anyone you
think would be interested in this message. Thank you very much for
your interest. Best greetings, Nicolai Friedrich

----------------------------------
10. Frances Marshall’s Funeral Service
----------------------------------
Message from George Schindler- Society of American Magicians

We have just received word that Frances Marshall died at her nursing
home in Chicago at age 92.- After the death of L.L. Ireland she
renamed the business Magic, INC which she operated with her husband
Jay Marshall until her illness. Jay is the Dean of the Society of
American Magicians.

In 1938 she founded the MAGIGALS. Frances Marshall authored many books
and was a columnist for the Linking Ring for many years.

Funeral Services will be held in Chicago on Friday May 29 Details
contact Magic, Inc 773-334-2850

----------------------------------
11. FMA Convention 2002
----------------------------------
Message from Niels Sayers

Link to this past weekend FMA Convention 2002. Where Niels was awarded
with First prize in the Stage Contest.

www.floridamagic.org/2002%20Convention%20Summary.htm

----------------------------------
12. Steve & Jan Dacri Magical Travels
----------------------------------
Message from Steve & Jan Dacri (US)

We're in Des Moines, Iowa, not sure why. Oh yeah, it's the US Lecture
Tour, my first US Performance/Lecture Tour ever. Having a ball, feel
like I am inspiring magicians here as I did for the last 2 months in
England and Ireland. Have 17 lectures this month throughout the US,
then back to LA to perform at the Magic Castle, Close-Up Gallery, June
17 - 24... join us during this fun engagement...

Jan is with me, she joined me in Rochester, after my first lecture in
the US (in Lansing, Michigan), and after her lecture for 3M in
Rochester.

Jan and I were in Chicago for the past week, did 3 lectures in that
area. On Saturday, spent the eve with Jay Marshall, first at dinner,
then taping an interview with him back at the magic shop. Before that,
we dropped him off at the hospital so he could visit with his beloved
wife, Frances. When he rejoined us back at the magic shop about an
hour later, he was sad. He told us that he could not wake Frances up.
He still wanted to do the interview, but we all knew that she was
gone. A very special lady, who will be missed by entire magic world,
but especially by Jay.

So, if you were wondering why we have been out of touch a bit...been
on the road so long I forgot where my home is. Check out my column on
MagicWebChannel.com for updates on the tour...I've been told it's fun
reading.

----------------------------------
13. David Blaine Special " Vertigo"
----------------------------------
Message from Leo Ward

Just a quickie to say that the latest David Blaine special " Vertigo."
aired last week on Wednesday and I happened to be overnighting in a
hotel, so had a chance to catch it.Some excellent magic during it
including a great glass penetration of a jewellery store window to
retreive a stolen watch.

The jump from a 100 ft. tower at the end was pretty spectacular & all
the people who saw it were talking about it the next day which is what
they want !

----------------------------------
14. Jasper Maskelyne
----------------------------------
Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

I have just picked up my monthly digital cable and satellite magazine
for June. On pages 20 and 21, they have featured an article that I
thought warrants a mention in your e- Zine.Here is the whole article
exactly as published. It is entitled:

THE WAR ILLUSIONIST! Magician David Copperfield once made the Statue
of Liberty disappear. That’s a pretty big trick you might think and
illusions surely can't come much bigger. Well think again. An
extraordinary Englishman called Jasper Maskelyne - perhaps the
greatest illusionist ever - made a whole town disappear!

Stationed in North Africa in WW11, Maskelyne was called upon to do the
impossible - to make the Suez Canal disappear and dupe German bombers.
He utilised washes of light from searchlight beams and miraculously,
pulled it off. But Maskelyne wasn't allowed to rest on his laurels.
The military then asked him to make - ‘Alexandria harbour disappear
and oh, could he magic up an army’?

When the war started, Jasper Maskelyne was a 38 year-old stage
magician, famous throughout England. In 1940 he joined the Army and
was posted to North Africa. There, he put his unique talents to work,
elevating camouflage from a casual art to a major weapon in the war
against the Axis. Maskelyne and his group, the ‘Magic Gang’,
accomplished a number of illusions that are almost literally
unbelievable. He was able to devise ingenious and, very large - scale
illusion systems using searchlights, shadows under dummy's structures
that virtually make tanks invisible from the air, hid whole buildings
full of ammunition and supplies, end even made an entire city vanish
to reappear several miles away!

When the 8th army was preparing for a massive counter-attack against
Rommel and his Afrika Corps - a battle that went down in history as
El - Alamein - Maskelyne perpetrated perhaps his greatest deception.
His group of illusionists created a massive array of supply dumps, and
artillery - all of it fake. The army of wooden guns, phoney dumps and
cardboard tanks that cast impressive shadows, was backed up with
specious radio traffic. Royal Engineers added to the sorcery by a
building up a dummy water pipeline - out of old petrol cans. The
disbanded 8th army division pretended to be the 2nd NEW ZEALAND
DIVISION, while THAT outfit trained for the forthcoming battle. Rommel
fell for the massive deception. The 21st Panzer Division end Italian
Ariete division remained in the south, along with the Italian Folgore
parachute division, pinned down by a non-existent enemy.

When the allied offensive commenced they were in totally the wrong
place. His subterfuge was of enormous benefit”, says an observer of
Maskelyne. He was a secret weapon. He probably saved millions of
lives. That's real magic!

An unsung hero, Jasper Maskelyne was unable to get a work as a stage
performer when the war ended so he took a career with the Kenyan
police service. He remained the master of illusion though, and
continued to amaze and amuse with his magical talents. He would
entertain at children's parties and give magic lessons to a lucky few.
Bizarrely he ended up running a driving school in Nairobi and died in
1973. In 1983, ‘THE WAR MAGICIAN’, written by David Fisher, was
published. There have been recent reports that Tom Cruise has acquired
the rights to the book and is thought to be interested in playing the
role of Maskelyne, in a film of his wartime exploits.


TO FIND OUT HOW MASKELYNE ACHIEVED HIS SENSATIONAL DECEPTIONS, TUNE
INTO THE HISTORY CHANNEL, ON JUNE THE 6TH, AT 20.00 IN THE UK.

----------------------------------------------------------
15. Conjuring Lights - OnLine Archive of Magic, Limited Editions
. . . and a special discount offer for Magic New Zealand subscribers.
----------------------------------------------------------
You are invited to visit Conjuring Lights
www.ConjuringLights.com/index.htm?nz, a new on-line archive of magic
from its Golden Age in gallery displays: vintage photographs of
legendary magicians, rare books, magical ephemera, and classic
effects.

Harry Kellar, Frederick Eugene Powell, Chung Ling Soo, Okito, Horace
Goldin, Harry Houdini, Howard Thurston, and many others.

CL LIMITED EDITIONS: A TRADITION REBORN:

Conjuring Lights also announces a Limited Edition series of true
archival quality portraits of historic magicians, resurrecting a
century old-tradition.

One hundred years ago, a collector issued a double-leaf Limited
Edition consisting of portraits of then-famous historical magicians -
the bright lights of conjuring. It was offered to collectors and
performers for their den.

Now, 100 years later, Conjuring Lights re-establishes the tradition,
with this new Limited Edition series of archival quality portraits of
historic magicians, for collectors and performers.

A SPECIAL OFFER TO COLLEAGUES AT MAGIC NEW ZEALAND:

AS A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY TO READERS OF MAGIC NEW ZEALAND, for one
week after the initial appearance of this announcement in Magic New
Zealand we are pleased to extend a 20% discount on the Limited Edition
to subscribers of Magic New Zealand interested in obtaining a Limited
Edition.

If you wish to take advantage of this discount, after placing an order
write to NZ@ConjuringLights.com, giving your order number, and
verifying that you are a subscriber to Magic New Zealand. This offer
is valid for one week following the initial appearance of this
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within that week. (Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice).

We've enjoyed reading Magic New Zealand for quite some time, and hope
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Or write to TheArchivist@ConjuringLights.com

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16. New Show And Lecture Tour Schedule For Petrick & Mia
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Message from Petrick & Mia (US)

Petrick & Mia are on the NEW Show and Lecture tour across the United
States. Se itinerary below. They still have few days available in June
22,23,24,25 and 26. If your magic club is interesting to host Petrick
& Mia's NEW Lecture please contact them as soon as possible.

PM MAGIC (702) 341-5843 FAX (702) 254-8026 OR EMAIL
pmmagic@pmmagic.com

For more information about the lecture visit us at:
Http://www.pmmagic.com

May
7 San Diego CA
19 Midland TX
20 Oklahoma City OK
21 Lincoln NE
22 Sioux Falls SD
26 Winnipeg Canada
28 Rochester MN
30 Springfield MO

June
1 Tulsa OK
3 Lexington KY
4 Dayton OH
5 Toledo OH
6 Syracuse NY
8 Albany NY
9 Allentown PA
10 Stanton VA
11 Northern Virginia VA
12 Jacksonville NC
13 Myrtle Beach SC
14 Augusta GA
15 Augusta GA
16 Birmingham AL
17 Knoxville TN
18 Nashville IN
19 Southbend IL
20 Chicago - Magic Masters IL
21 Kalamazoo MI
27 Tyler TX
28 Austin TX
29 Corpus Christy TX

July
11 Sacramento CA
26 - 29 Reno NV video taping for L&L Publishing

August
6-10 PCAM Convention AZ
other to be announced later

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17. The Orchante Saga #108
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Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

Trevor King - QSM, a Living Legend - the story continues.

Way back in 1925, in the city of Christchurch, which is, more or less,
halfway down the East coast of the South Island of New Zealand; a
certain Mrs King gave birth to her son, whom they (his mother and
father), endowed with the name of Trevor! He probably made more noise
at the moment of birth - yelling and screaming in righteous
indignation when he had his backside slapped, that he has done for the
rest to his life - he is the most quiet and unassuming man you could
ever meet, which certainly belies his ‘Power with the Press’
(newspapers) and his astonishing ability to get things done - FAST!

Trevor retired some years ago, and although he turned 77 this year
(2002), he is still doing ‘stuff’. He sends me a constant stream of
information about various show folk from all facets of ‘SHOWBIZ’
(including the ‘inside bits’ that doesn't appear in print), leaflets,
posters etc and various newspaper write - ups; keeping me right up to
date with Who's Who and, what's happening on New Zealand's
entertainment scene.

One of Trevor’s best mates is Burns Scandrett - better known as
‘DeLARNO’ - Christchurch’s foremost magician - now HE has a life story
worth telling some time, but I can tell you that Burns is one of the
few Australasian magicians to appear in the prestigious ‘WHO'S WHO IN
MAGIC’ a U.S.A. publication of ‘The Worldwide Biographical Guide Of
Magicians From Past To Present!’ Over the years Burns has bought out
or absorbed, NINE Magic Shops, as well as running his own shop
‘DELARNOS’ in Christchurch for 40 years, which he closed just over
five years ago in order to retire but - HE STILL WORKS LIKE A DEMON!

Every week Burns picks Trevor up from his home and they meet up with
John Sullivan (also retired), for a drinking session and have, I
understand, great discussions about entertainers and SHOWBIZ in
general. Wouldn't I just love that! John was also a Kerridge - Odeon
cinema theatre manager in Christchurch, at the Tivoli and Embassy
theatres when Trevor was at the Regent and Avon theatres; also worked
stage shows with Trevor. Both John and Burns have known and been
associated with Trevor, one way or another, for over - 45 YEARS! You
get less than that for MURDER! Just kidding fella’s! (Information
kindly supplied by Burns (‘De Larno’)Scandrett.

Burns graciously prints off a copy of my ‘Saga’ from his computer
each week for Trevor - which reminds me: Hey ‘Uncle’ Trev, how about
asking ‘HARRY FAGIN’ to brush the cobwebs off - shake the moths out
his wallet and, spend some of his ‘millions’, Ha Ha - C’mon old
friend, put your amazing talents to use, pull some strings and, get my
Saga published! I’m just kidding! ‘No he’s not’! SHUDDUP!

‘And just WHO IS this Harry Fagin’, do I hear you ask? Why, it was
Trevor’s ‘Nom De Plume’ - ‘HARRY FAGIN PRESENTS.’ (Not a lot of
people know that! Thanks, Michael Caine), which he used in his very
early days when he was working fulltime for the Kerridge - Odeon
organisation and, wanted to run various promotions for himself. His
extracurricular ‘activities’ would have been very seriously frowned
upon by the ‘BIG GUNS’ at K.O. - in fact it would have had drastic
implications in regard to his continued employment if they’d known
about his ‘extramural actions’ at that time! By the way, everything I
write about Trevor, including this ‘juicy bit of ‘Ancient’
information, HAS been OK’d by the ‘Great’ Man himself!

ON page 107, first paragraph, I said that - I may have bitten off a
lot more than I can chew! Although I do have quite a bit of
information about Trevor (most of which he supplied himself in various
letters over the years), I have asked Burns if he could also help in
chronicling Trevor’s life history; the stories and anecdotes that will
be ‘LOST FOREVER’, if they’re not recorded! I’m pleased to announce
that Burns, and John, who is a big bonus, have both consented to help
in this endeavour, which is beginning to show all the signs of
becoming a monumental task! Burns said to me, Between John and I, we
can provide you with enough material to fill ‘dozens’ of books! Dear
God, I wonder if computer keyboards can get writers cramp! This I CAN
promise you, it will be most informative and, knowing Burns and Trevor
as I do ‘HILARIOUSLY ENTERTAINING’! I ‘luv’ you guys 
THANKYOU!
- Continues -

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18. Subscription Management
-------------------------------------
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© Copyright 2002 Alan Watson