* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #140 Date: Sunday 29th September 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. Daryl & Alison Have A Baby Daughter 3. Canadian Tour Of ILLUSIONS 4. Are You A "Motivational Magician?" 5. Sun Tec Convention Centre Singapore - Re: Guy Cater 6. Mid Ulster Society Of Magicians 7. I Have Written A Monologue; 'The Rabbit' 8. Magic TV in New York 9. "Theater Of The Mind" 10. Reminder Of Halloween HOUDINI Auction At Swann Galleries 11. A Message To The Magic Community In The USA 12. Paul Romhany & Natalie - Cruising New York To Bermuda 13. My New Book 'S.S.Adams 14. Brendan Montana (Aust) - Schedule 15. Organization Of Remote Viewers Called PSITECH 16. Second Hand Books And Videos for Sale 17. The Thief Of Hearts 18. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Page 125 19. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives 20. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One CONGRATULATIONS to our very good friends Guy Cater (well known NZ magician/hypnotist) and Cynthia Haggerty (originally from Wyoming USA) on their marriage tomorrow in West Auckland. ---------------------- Its MAGIC Oct. 27 Sun. 2:30 p.m. - Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks Box Office: 805-449-2725 Featuring: Jeff McBride, Jason Byrne, Whit Haydn, Magic Feets, Ray Pierce, Jim Bentley as Houdini, and Bruce Block. ----------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. Daryl & Alison Have A Baby Daughter ---------------------------------- Message from Daryl & Alison (USA) What can I say... I have no excuse other than to say I'm a new father and it's my job. Alison and I are now the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. Our daughter was born on September 20th, she's 19 inches long, 6 pounds / 10 ounces, and her name is Laura Evelyn Easton (our legal surname). Of course *we* think she is the most beautiful baby ever, but I guess new parents are biologically programmed to think this! She has already gained back her birth weight and seems healthy and happy - we are even getting some sleep at night, which I understand is quite unusual. Life is good! Daryl ------------------------------------ 3. Canadian Tour Of ILLUSIONS ------------------------------------- Message from Murray Hatfield (Canada) Just a note that we are preparing for our annual Canadian tour of ILLUSIONS...A Magic Spectacular!, to take place Nov. 18/02 - Jan. 11/03. This years show is currently scheduled for 76 shows in 29 cities and towns across the country although this could change as additional shows may be added. The show this year will feature my special guests Ardan James (The Animated Illusionist), Dave Womach (Internationally Award-Winning Dove Act), Ed Alonzo (USA's Top Comedy Illusionist) plus of course the Illusions of Murray Hatfield & Teresa and our company of Wonder-Workers. In addition to several other new illusions and a few favorites of mine, I'm excited this year to be featuring a new creation from Australia's John Taylor - Suspended Animation. All in all it looks like it's going to be a very strong show and definitely a fun tour. --------------------------------- 4. Are You A "Motivational Magician?" ---------------------------------- Message from Steve Hart  Motivational Magicians are gathering together in Cocoa Beach, FL for an intense Live Workshop on Nov. 12-16th, 2002. During these five days, magicians will be learning the inside information of how to create a motivational program, how and where to market it, and the various levels of potential income in this industry. What is a "Motivational Magician?" Steve Hart says, "Anyone who uses a magic trick to motivate groups of people. Motivational magic is utilized by keynote speakers, sales trainers, educational trainers, workshop leaders, or product promotion experts. The opportunities are growing as motivational programs are created to communicate needed information for schools, associations, workshops, and corporations." Hart has gathered over 10 magic/instructors from within this industry to help train attendees who wish to take their magic into these markets. The instructors are coming from all across the US with various backgrounds and expertise. For details of this workshop, go to: www.magic2motivate.com/workshops.htm Or contact, Steve Hart, magic2motivate 1-800-504-4800 ---------------------------------- 5. Sun Tec Convention Centre Singapore - Re: Guy Cater ---------------------------------- Message from Duck Cameron (Aust) - Currently touring China Guy's Story reminded me of a job I did August of last year at the Sun Tec Convention Centre. As all who know this venue, it can hold up to 5500 seated guests and can be a technical nightmare to those that perform there. On this particular occasion I was booked by a client to perform a 30 min. spot and include as much fire and fireworks as possible. This venue has a no naked flame policy but allows fireworks when licenced and registered. Luckily the naked flame policy was wavered in my case due to the amount of functions I have performed there over the years and a certain trust has been granted...so...all is fine...the fireworks team arrive, we set for the nights proceedings and then the client arrives and requests we do everything he had seen at a previous function...but without the fire 'stuff' or fireworks, due to an oversight by the committee in regards to one week a year (this particular week) when it is Chinese tradition not to light any fire, as it will bring out evil spirits...so we did the show...got the same payment...but missed out on the chance of raising the dead! ---------------------------------- 6. Mid Ulster Society Of Magicians ---------------------------------- Message from Peter J. Levins (US) I would let like to you know that the Mid Ulster society of Magicians are holding a one day convention at the International Hotel at Belfast Airport on October 12 all magicians will be welcomed with open arms. ---------------------------------- 7. I Have Written A Monologue; 'The Rabbit' ---------------------------------- Message from Greg Ward (NZ) I have written a monologue; 'The Rabbit', and am performing it as part of the 'Fresh' season of new NZ plays at the Covert Theatre, 84 K ' Road, Auckland from the 2nd to the 12th of October, and would love you to come along and support the arts. It's a rollicking story of a life-changing moment in a boy's life. Short, but poignant. Further information can be found at the URL's listed below Fresh: www.freshnewworks.co.nz/ Covert Theatre: www.coverttheatre.com Looking forward to seeing you there! P.S. for those of you OUTSIDE NZ, this is just an update on what I'm up to. I'd love you to come, but I understand the difficulties of international travel etc...! ---------------------------------- 8. Magic TV in New York ---------------------------------- Message from Igor and Danny T (US) It’s time again for a quick update from Magic TV in New York. ==> NEW LOCATION: If you plan to be in New York in the month of October you may consider coming to one of our four live events at the Den of Cin in lower Manhattan. Place: The Den of Cin (below Two Boots Video) 44 Ave A, corner of E 3rd St, Manhattan Dates: WE Oct 02 from 7 to 10pm WE Oct 09 from 7 to 10pm WE Oct 16 from 7 to 10pm -- contest shooting date WE Oct 23 from 7 to 10pm -- contest screening date ==> MAGIC CONTEST: If you are a magician you may wish to consider entering our first television magic contest. Our contest is unique because it is judged as a television event. For more information about our TV contest please visit our web site at http://magicTV.org ---------------------------------- 9. "Theater Of The Mind" ---------------------------------- Message from Philippe Piet van Putten (Brazil) This is to let you know that we are about to make the first monthly meeting of the Teatro da Mente ("Theater of the Mind"), (a study group specialized on mentalism, mental magic and psychic entertainment) in Pouso Alegre ("The Magic City"), Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Teatro da Mente will promote meetings, competitions, public presentations etc for the development and diffusion of mentalism in Brazil. We already have the MentaLista, a discussion group for Portuguese and Spanish speaking mentalists, hosted by YahooGroups. The group has a small library of some 200 books, booklets and hundreds of magazines, lecture notes and video tapes. Some titles are very rare, like Dunninger's "Inside the Medium's Cabinet", Lewis Ganson's "Magic of the Mind" We would appreciate to keep information exchange with foreign mentalists once we intend to promote international gatherings. Our mailing address is: Projeto Artes Mágicas Caixa Postal 177 Pouso Alegre - Minas Gerais - 37550-000 - BRASIL In magical tune, Mahatma (Philippe Piet van Putten) Mentalist Editor - Artes Mágicas (Magical Arts) Director - Projeto Artes Mágicas (Magical Arts Project) President - International Magicians Society (IMS) of Brazil Moderator - MentaLista Discussion Group (YahooGrupos) Member - IBM - SAM - ICOM - AMI ---------------------------------- 10. Reminder Of Halloween HOUDINI Auction At Swann Galleries ---------------------------------- This is a reminder to all interested parties of the Auction of the coveted Manny Weltman Houdini collection at Swann Galleries on the morning of Halloween October 31st, 2002. The Catalogs should be available soon and can be ordered now. Just some of the many items up for auction are: 1) Houdini's 1916 Diary. This is a Standard American Journal Diary Houdini kept for the year 1916, which contains Houdini's hand written entries that include deep personal thoughts Houdini had in regard to both his mother and father as he visited their grave sites, and even visited his old childhood home. Correction to mistake in earlier notice - There are NO OTHER KNOWN Houdini Diaries in the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS; the only other known Diaries are in possession of one estate that remains anonymous. As far as is known, no Houdini Diaries have previously been for sale. There is one small pocket sized book that was a railroad handout log, given to Houdini in which he also kept notes, which is in possession of collector Stanley Palm. The Diary in this auction is very distinguishable as being a full size Standard American Journal, kept by Houdini specifically for the year 1916. As far as it is known, this is the first Houdini Diary ever to be available for sale to the public. 2) Also available is a very impressive Scrap Book on Psychic Phenomena, the occult, and spiritualism, kept by Henry Ridgley Evens, and then given as a gift to Houdini as one of Houdini's research tools to debunk many of the fraudulent mediums of the time. Houdini then kept, used, and added to this scrapbook until his death, when it was passed on to Houdini's personal secretary, Oscar Teale who continued the scrapbook from then on. This Scrap Book also includes a vast number of interesting magic items, from programs, playbills, banquet menus of magic conventions featuring Houdini, calling cards Houdini collected from other contemporary magicians of his day, letters, including a brief two line letter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, along with a catalog of the Psychic books Conan Doyle sold in his book store, and the list goes on. The Scrap book is well organized in portions that devote entire sections not only on the Occult, Magic, and Houdini, but to people like Conan Doyle, The Fox Sisters, Margery, and many others. Much of the information in this scrap book would be beneficial even today in exposing the fraudulent mediums and psychics of the present that permeate our culture, and media waves, claiming to be able to talk to the DEAD. (I'm sure you know the Frauds of whom I speak) This scrapbook is a RESEARCHER'S DREAM come TRUE. 3) Posters - Including an Authentic Original "Houdini King of Cards" Poster, and an Authentic Original "Man From Beyond" Movie Poster. 4) An "OPEN" Signed letter from Houdini to President Calvin Coolidge as a petition to block the repeal of Legislation to control "False Spiritual Practices". 5) Houdini signed contract for 8 week lecture engagement with the Lyceum & Chautauqua Assn. Theater group for a rate of $1,500.00 a week to lecture on spiritualism. 6) Houdini's original Manuscript of His Lecture on Spiritualism that he gave during his lecture tours. This lecture comes accompanied by a set of slides that he would show during the lecture. 7) Many Rare Houdini Challenges. Including a German and French Challenge. 8) Rare Copies of Houdini's Books, and rare Houdini pamphlets, including many copies Signed by Houdini. 9) Other Houdini signed letters, programs, and photos. 10) Rare Houdini advertising materials, including a very rare Houdini widow decal transfer to be applied with water to a window, advertising Houdini for the towns where he appeared. The decal is in mint condition and was never used as it still has the original tissue backing on it. This is just a small sampling of what is available in the collection that Manny Weltman spent 50 years of his life collecting. There are well over 150 different lots from the Manny Weltman collection that will be auctioned on Halloween Morning. So whether your budget is a few Hundred Dollars, or a few Hundred Thousand dollars, there are items for any and all Houdiniana, Magic, or "Slice of Americana" collectors. Bids can be made also by mail in advance or by prearranged phone registration by contacting Swann Galleries in advance to register for their live phone line bidding. Also pre-auction bids can be made online by going to the Swann Galleries web site when the catalog is online, which should be the first week of October, and entering a bid for any item listed in the catalog online before the auction. For further information on the Collection, you may contact Leo Weltman at (818) 901-0688 or Gary Garland at Swann Galleries (212) 254-4710. Or for Catalog info and bid registration, you may also contact the front desk at Swann Galleries at (212) 254-4710. You may also visit the website for Swann Galleries at "www.swanngalleries.com" which should also have the catalog online there soon. You may click here to go to their web page: www.swanngalleries.com/scripts/schedule2.cgi?type=schedule --------------------------------- 11. A Message To The Magic Community In The USA ---------------------------------- Message from Walter Zaney Blaney, President Emeritus World Alliance Of Magicians (WAM) I want to discuss the growing problem of a few unethical magic builders overseas who are building cheap rip-off versions of many of the proprietary illusions invented by USA magicians. They are marketing them both overseas and in the USA. I will name names, and I will suggest what can be done. But first let me explain. I will begin by quoting the pertinent passages from the IBM and SAM joint "Universal Code of Ethics". Indeed most magic organizations, including the Academy of Magical Arts (Magic Castle) and the English Magic Circle, also subscribe to these stated ethics. 1. "We shall exhibit moral and ethical behavior....in our general conduct as magicians, including not interfering with or jeopardizing the performance of another magician, either through personal intervention, or by THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF ANOTHER'S CREATION (my emphasis)." 2. "We must recognize and respect the rights of the creators, authors, inventors and owners of magic concepts, presentations, effects, literature and recorded materials, and their rights to have exclusive use of, or grant permission for the use by others of such creations." 3. "The organizations discourage advertising in magic publications for any magical apparatus, effect, literature or other materials for which the advertiser does not have commercial or distribution rights." With that said, as the first president of the World Alliance of Magicians (WAM), after our attempts to thwart the Masked Magician TV exposure shows on Fox-TV, I helped shift WAM's focus onto this "other half" of our Code of Ethics. It began when a magic builder in Belgium named ROCA started building a cheap rip-off of my Zaney Blaney Ladder Levitation in 1992. He sold them through several European magic dealers, primarily Select Magic in Belgium. At first they even advertised it as the "Zaney Blaney Ladder Levitation as seen on David Copperfield's TV Special". When I protested, they simply removed my name from their ads. The owner of SELECT MAGIC, JEAN GARMINJ, then asked me to send the blueprint plans of my illusion, and if what they were selling was EXACTLY like my invention, they would stop. I suppose GARMINJ and ROCA figured I was just a dumb Texan, but I certainly didn't fall for that stupid ploy. ROCA had figured out less than half my secret, and he wanted it all. Their prop did not work properly and they were getting many complaints from their customers who wanted their money returned. The several European magicians who had bought my legitimate illusion from me were understandably upset to see my levitation advertised at less than half the price they had paid. And the rip-off was advertised as "greatly improved". I suppose if someone is going to steal, they would have no qualms about lying as well. When later my customers saw the rip-off copy they told me, "No problem, it doesn't work, it's a piece of junk." More recently, a company in England, Illusions Plus, was selling still another rip-off of my llusion. When I protested to the owner, JAMES ANTONY, he told me there was no court in the world which could stop him from what he was doing. I explained I had no intention of going to court. I instead simply told my many friends in the Magic Circle about it, as I am a proud MIMC member. They checked on ILLUSIONS PLUS and found there were many customers who had never received the props they had ordered and paid for. When the word spread, soon MR. ANTONY "had a problem". As things turned out, there was indeed a court which promptly put him out of business...the bankruptcy court. Now today in the USA there is a magic dealer named WOLFGANG WOLLET, with his company in Henderson, Nevada, "ILLUSIONS & MORE, INC". He is advertising at least a dozen rip-off illusions, including my Ladder Levitation, Jim Steinmeyer's Origami and Interlude, Jim Steinmeyer's Windshear (built and marketed by Bill Smith's Magic Ventures), Mark Wilson's Train Sawing, Andre Kole's Pole Levitation, Dan Summer's Compressed, and a host of other proprietary illusions. In fact he actually uses Dan Summer's illusion by name, "Compressed", and also the photo that appeared in Dan's first ad in Magic Magazine. He cleverly pasted another lady's face over the face of Dan's assistant. Maybe not so clever, as Dan now plans to sue WOLLET. In October of 2000, two years ago, WOLLET called me on the phone and asked the price of my Ladder Levitation. When I told him, he said he could get one from a builder in Palermo, Italy for less than half my price. It took me a year to learn that WOLLET was the dealer in the USA selling the rip-off from Italy. The rip-off builder is named FRANCESCO MARTORANA of MAGIC STUDIO DOMINIK. He is building everyone's proprietary illusions without anyone's permission. I have written WOLLET twice in recent weeks asking him to remove my illusion from his catalog along with all the other rip-offs. He has not answered either letter, even after I told him I would write this letter to the magic world if he refused. So he was fairly forewarned. I have been told that MARTORANA has been quoted as saying, "I am a magic builder. I will build anyone's illusion for anyone who wants to buy one. If they wish to pay extra money to the inventors, that is their business, don't bother me with it." Okay, so much for the ethics of FRANCESCO MARTORANA and his STUDIO MAGIC DOMINIK, and the ethics of WOLFGANG WOLLET and his ILLUSIONS & MORE INC. Now, what do we do? Back in July, 2000, WAM arranged for a dozen top magician lawyers to meet together in Cincinnati, along with the international presidents of IBM and SAM. We had an excellent discussion on the subject of rip-offs and secrets exposure for over three hours. Subsequently WAM arranged for many hours of legal research to see how magicians could be protected by patents, copyrights, trade secrets laws and such, and we published a book titled "PROTECTING MAGICIAN'S SECRETS". (If interested, see our information on how to purchase a copy on our WAM website: www.magiciansalliance.com The bottom line is, it is difficult and expensive to try to legally protect our secrets and our intellectual property. However WAM has written proposed legislation that we want to take to the U.S. Congress, which if passed, could materially help magicians in this respect. We hope one day to get enough contributions to move forward on this plan. Meanwhile, Plan B is to do something that I have found works: TELL THE WORLDWIDE MAGIC COMMUNITY WHO THE "BAD GUYS" ARE, NAME THE NAMES. There will always be a MARTORANA or a WOLLET around to take and take and never give, to break our Code of Ethics, to show no respect to those who create our new magic. But I have faith that the honest magicians of the world will choose NOT to trade with the "bad guys" when they learn who they are. All we have to do is TELL THE TRUTH, expose them just as they have stolen from us and exposed our secrets. There will also always be those magicians who freely choose to deal with these "bad guys". To save a few bucks they show no respect for our magic inventors. They help take away the incentive of those who create, and thus they harm the future of the art of magic. No one but those relatively few who have created a new illusion or trick can fully comprehend the amount of time, hard work, inspiration, money invested and passion it takes to perfect and market a successful new magical creation. My bet is that the vast majority of magicians WILL have the proper respect for our art and our inventors. And for those who don't, they take a real risk on an inferior product, one that may not even work (or actually be dangerous in its construction) , and one that may not even be delivered. While trying to get their money refunded, they join a long line of other losers. They end up getting ripped off themselves, which they justly deserve. I know immediate past international president of SAM, Warren Kaps, formed a Blue Ribbon Committee to work on this very problem, and I'm sure IBM also is considering something similar. I know the editors of MUM and The Linking Ring are working hard to carefully weed out advertising from the "bad guys". I recall one very good magic magazine editor who recently said, "With the internet, there is no place left to hide." It's time we take a strong stand now. I hope this letter will be just the beginning. Walter Zaney Blaney President Emeritus World Alliance of Magicians (WAM) zblaney@aol.com ---------------------------------- 12. Paul Romhany & Natalie - Cruising New York To Bermuda ---------------------------------- Message from Paul Romhany (NZ) Natalie and I are still cruising New York to Bermuda, our double act is almost ready and next week will see the first performance. Bill Smith from Las Vegas just sent me a new illusion for the act and the quality is amazing. In about five weeks we cruise to Ponta Delgrada, Portugal; Lison, Barcelona, Cannes, Florence, Rome and then three weeks cruising the Carribbean before heading down under to cruise NZ and Australia which we are both excited about. This will take us until end of March next year, and then we are taking a few weeks so I can introduce Natalie to all my friends and family in New Zealand before we head off on another ship. One of the great things about cruising is that it not only gives me a chance to perform my Chaplin Stage act but also close-up magic under 'formal' conditions which I love. ---------------------------------- 13. My New Book 'S.S.Adams ---------------------------------- Message from William V. Rauscher I would tell you that my new book 'S.S.Adams: High Priest of Pranks and Merchant of Magic' is out. Magic magazine has an article by me on Adams in this Oct. issue. Book published by 1878 Press, Oxford CT. contact: dhaversat@snet.net numerous photos...nostalgia..the story of Sam Adams and how he created his company still in business almost 100 yrs. ---------------------------------- 14. Brendan Montana (Aust) - Schedule ---------------------------------- Message from Brendan Montana (Aust) I do have a couple of dates: Dec 27 Canterbury leagues Dec 28 Fairfield RSL Jan3 Narooma golf club Jan 4 Bomaderry RSL Jan 5 Woonona Bulli RSL Jan 10Batemans Bay Soldiers Jan11 St Georges Basin Country Club Jan12 Shell Harbour Workers Magic to the max 2 hr show Check for dates on www.magictothemax.com Is anyone using Tong & Cheek in NZ? ---------------------------------- 15. Organization Of Remote Viewers Called PSITECH ---------------------------------- Message from William Perron It seems Randi was doing his usual irritating best to get an organization of remote viewers called PSITECH to take his million dollar challenge. At first they tried to ignore him but after he called their founder "dumbo" they countered with a challenge of their own saying that if they can't do what they say they can that they will give him one hundred thousand dollars. They will get retired federal court judges to judge the whole affair. They would put their hundred thousand in an Escrow account and that Randi is to do the same and winner take all. They gave Randi 30 days to take their offer. Now after hounding them he turns tail, at Randi’s site he is coming up with reasons why he can't to it. They called his bluff and he is waffling. If you go to the psitech web site they have put up copies of Randis rude letters to them. Go to the site and click on news then after that comes up click media somewhere there will be a list of events and one of them will say million dollar challenge that is the one you want. ---------------------------------- 16. Second Hand Books And Videos for Sale ---------------------------------- Message from Sefton Price (NZ) I'm selling dramatically below the original purchase price books and videos. Interested parties contact: SPryce@xtra.co.nz for a list. ---------------------------------- 17. The Thief Of Hearts ---------------------------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) This is a delightful little number that takes up almost no room, resets immediately, and leaves your special spectator with a memento of the occasion (and of you). It's based on the old chestnut of apparently showing all four sides of a pair of slates as being blank, while there is a message on one side. The added touch here with the fingerprints is the addition of Maurice Deighton in the British Ring Parade in the Linking Ring magazine of January, 1994. And the further spin of using hearts and the balloon is your humble scribe's addition to the effect. The Thief Of Hearts Effect: The magi shows two cards, with a large heart on each side (for a total of four hearts). A female spectator (assuming the magi is male) is chosen -- one who is having a special evening out, like a birthday, anniversary, or ksome such special event. Ideally she would be the guest of honor for the evening. The magi shows both sides of the cards -- all four hearts -- and the spectator is given a free choice of either card. It is placed on her hand, "to pick up her special vibes on this special day." The magi takes the card back, shuffles it with the other card (and if you can't get a laugh shuffling a "deck" of two cards, consider some other line of work), and says he will find which card she chose. He shows one card, both sides, and discards it. He says it is the other card -- to the laughter of the audience who recognize the ridiculousness of this bit of nonsense -- and he will prove it. The magi then turns over the card revealing the spectator's fingerprints instead of the heart, which has vanished: "And this charming lady has stolen my heart." The magi then produces -- magically or otherwise -- a small heart balloon, which he inflates, signs with the woman's name, and presents it to her as a souvenir (along with his business card). Working: You'll need two double-blank cards, three self-adhesive hearts all the same, and an ink pad. Put one heart on each side of one card and one heart on one side of the second card. Press your fingertips onto the ink pad and then put your fingerprints on the blank side of the second card. Show the two cards, heart sides out, to the audience. Square the cards and lay them on the palm of your left hand, double heart on top, single heart on bottom with the prints side up. Point to the heart on top, saying: "One heart." Turn the packet of two over, showing the heart on the bottom, saying: "Two hearts." Take the top card off with the right hand, showing a heart, saying: "Three hearts." Slide the card in the right hand under the card on the left palm and turn over the top card, showing another heart, saying: "And four hearts." Now it is simply a matter of mixing the cards, having your spectator choose one, and laying it on her palm-up hand so that it covers her fingertips. Have her concentrate on the card to "load up the vibes," and then take the card back and pretend to lose it in the deck as you shuffle the two cards. Take the double-heart card, showing both sides, and discard it, saying it was not the card she chose. Show the other card and say that it was the chosen card and, to "prove" it, turn it over, showing her fingerprints and the vanished heart. Finish with the line about her stealing your heart. You can end it right there, or you can continue and take out a heart balloon, inflate it, sign her name on it, and give it to her as a souvenir, along with your business card. Second Thoughts: This could, of course, be done in a children's show with the birthday boy or girl, using some other type of sticker -- Power Rangers, Disney characters, whatever is current and suits your style -- and ending with your presenting the birthday youngster with some small prize to replace the vanished sticker. And there are many, many other occasions when this would fit in perfectly -- from trade shows to service clubs, where the company or club logo is used instead of the hearts and the prize at the end is -- well, whatever the client wants it to be. If you use this, I'd be interested in hearing from you on what original spin you put on it. After all, magic progresses by building on what has gone before. One final note: When putting your fingerprints on the card, after you have made the impression, let it dry then cover the prints with self-adhesive clear plastic, available in rolls at most craft stores. This will keep the prints from smudging or even wiping right off the card. Peter Marucci 270 St. Andrew St. East Fergus, Ontario, Canada N1M 1R1 e-mail: showtimecol@aol.com --------------------------------- 18. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga – Page 125 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) A CLOSE MISS AND A ‘HYPNOTIC COMMAND’ The expense that I go to, verifying incidents from my distant murky past, knows no bounds. Case in point - I telephoned my brother in law Robert (better known as Bob around Whakatane - he is Veronica’s [my wife] brother), in New Zealand the other day! I’m going to wander off course a bit now, but what follows is relevant, sort of, to the: ‘INCIDENT AT WHAKATANE’! Sounds like one of those old matinee ‘Yippee’ cowboy and Indian westerns, that we all used to watch on Saturday afternoon down at the local cinema/ ‘flea house’! Picture this. A young, good looking chap about 5ft 8in, stocky build and as strong as an ox - make that two, who went through all the horrors of the Vietnam war, luckily coming out of it unscathed (although many of his mates didn’t), whose idea to settle an argument was to simply knock you out with a single punch, no matter if you were ten feet tall and built like a brick shithouse! That’s Robert! Veronica and I tied the knot on Tue. 1st June 1976. That afternoon, at our home in Whakatane, a small gathering of friends and relatives got together for drinks etc and as usual, Magic, the ‘Sleight of Hand’ sort, started - well I am a magician! My dad took umbrage to this and an almighty argument ensued. Dear me, it was our wedding day, is nothing sacred! Apparently, my mouth and tongue were in high gear, as was my father’s, so - Robert decided it was time to ’Settle The Argument’! Now I’m not sure if it was out of respect for an older man, (my father), or not, but Robert unleashed his infamous one punch ‘Knockout Drop’ straight for MY jaw. According to Veronica, I, without missing a beat, or a word, shifted my head fractionally to one side and Robert’s missile laden fist, loaded with a ‘deadly warhead’, streaked harmlessly past my ear. Veronica says she will never forget the look on Robert’s face, as he gazed disbelievingly at the offending fist, and muttered to himself ‘I missed - I can’t believe it - I missed’! Now that was a digression, but, it does demonstrate Robert’s idea of - ‘Keeping The Peace’. It’s Christmas Eve - 1972/ 3, Robert is not sure which. Sometime after midnight, Robert decided that we should take a ‘cruise’ around the town and have a ‘nosey’, as you do, or did, in those days. The town was quiet so Robert drove back up the main street heading for the family home (Veronica and I were, naturally, staying there for Xmas). About half way up we saw that a police car had pulled in and two police officers were trying to get two Maori ‘fella’s’ into the back of the police car - without much luck, they were putting up a hell of a struggle (Unlike the Australian and American police, the N Z police are unarmed, as in the UK as well). Without hesitation, Robert pulls in behind the police car - deciding whether to give them a hand or not. He had many friends in the Whakatane police force - he went to school with many of them. His mind was made up for him! One second the street was empty, the next, a whole tribe of Maoris - well that’s what it seemed like, suddenly ‘appeared’ from out of nowhere. It was amazing. They must have come out of the woodwork! I’m guessing, but I would estimate that there was 20 or 30 of them. They attacked the two ‘coppers’. Without hesitation, Robert leaped out to give them a hand. Within seconds, Robert’s in the middle of them, dropping Maoris left, right and centre –Robert just ‘loved’ a good scrap! I sat in the car, ‘Crapping’ myself. I knew that if I was to jump in there, I wouldn’t last a second - besides, Veronica and I had a hypnotism show coming up on Boxing night, two nights away. Imagine the scenario - “I want you to look into my eye, you can’t miss it - nobody else did - it’s on the back of my head, all swollen up, just below the other deformed one”! “You are getting sleeeepy” etc… To my horror, I saw an arm go up - with a beer bottle clutched in the hand; It smashed, full force, down on Robert’s head – he dropped like a stone! To this day, I cannot remember getting out of the car, or what was going on in my head, I just found myself standing on the footpath, and then I heard myself say - NO, NO, NO, IT WAS - A ‘COMMAND’ ! “HOLD IT”! Instantly, the Maori boys, the police, the entire tableau - FROZE! It was as if time itself had stopped, and the only thing that was moving, was me - as I stepped around and over bodies to reach Robert, who was ‘flat out’ on the ground! NOBODY moved a muscle, not a word was spoken as I helped Robert to his feet. You could have heard a pin drop! I got him over to his car and pushed him into the passenger seat - leaped around into the drivers seat and started the car. Then, and only then, the ‘SPELL’ - that is the only word I can call it, WAS BROKEN! All hell broke loose! They began to surround the car, kicking it and the doors - strangely, nobody tried to open them - as I drove off. Somehow, during that distraction, the police had managed to handcuff the lads, finally getting them into their police car, and off ,ahead of us! Page 126 I have no real explanation for what happened that night. In those days, I was doing an awful lot of hypnotism shows, and I’m quite convinced that that is what was involved. As many Stage Hypnotists will confirm, you do develop, after a period of time, what can only be described as a ‘hypnotic voice’. You KNOW you can influence - that you CAN hypnotize, and that calm certainty reaches out to those you are seeking to influence, even subconsciously, and has the desired effect. It’s all to do with a positive state of mind. Well, that is what Franquin taught me, via his wonderful book: ‘Open Your Mind’ - my ‘bible’! While I’m on the subject of hypnotism, I’ve just recalled an amusing episode (Although it wasn’t as far as Robert was concerned - in fact he became quite upset, I’m not surprised really), involving Robert and his mother - my mother in law, Vera. She was Scottish thro and thro, and the most delightful woman you could ever hope to meet. All those old ‘Mother In law Jokes’ just didn’t apply where she was concerned. Not only that, she just ‘loved’ my magic, in fact she loved anything to do with ‘Show-Biz’. At the drop of a hat she would pull out her mandolin and start up a ‘sing song’ with Veronica, or anybody else who was present, joining in. I kept my mouth shut - I can’t even whistle in tune, let alone sing! Having gotten herself into the mood, she would grab the telephone and, before you knew it, an impromptu party was in progress. Oh happy days! She would always ‘egg me on’ to do something and on this particular occasion she said: “Lets see you hypnotize somebody - Robert, lets see if Tom can put YOU under”! Now Robert hates being ‘put on the spot’ at any time, and apart from that, he thought, then - that hypnotism was all a big fake anyway. Here WAS a challenge - an out and out sceptic, who was also, utterly ‘pissed off’ for being singled out as ‘THE VICTIM’! Robert’s idea of ‘hypnotism’ to put somebody to sleep - was to ‘whack’ them with one, pile driving ‘haymaker’! He glared at me; his eyes said it all - ‘I DARE YOU, YOU -- xxx**??! ‘Death’, was staring me in the face! “Don’t be silly Mum” Robert said, “I’m not doing that”! “Aw go on,” she said, “Give it a go - you’re not scared are you”? Now that WAS calculating, she knew that Robert wasn’t ‘scared’ of anything. Robert ‘knew’ that nothing would happen and he would get his ‘revenge’ at seeing me fail, dismally and, make an utter fool of myself. He sat down. “Do your worst”, he said. In my Stage Show, I used to delight in getting very ‘stroppy’ sceptics in the audience. Once I’ve gotten them on stage - they have entered my ‘playground’ as it were. I had several psychological techniques on hand, and more often than not, within a minute or two, they would finish up on the floor, slumbering at my feet - but this was in the kitchen/dining room - no atmospherics here! I was already drafting out excuses in my head - It was rather ‘off putting’, with Robert glaring at me! Sometimes, you really do have to believe that ‘Something’, is looking out for you! Robert reluctantly followed my requests to ‘put his feet flat on the floor, hands on his knees, relax and take in two or three slow, deep breaths’ then - I started the hypnotic induction. Within seconds, HE WAS OUT! I couldn’t believe it. He was a ‘DREAM’ subject. I was, to say the least, elated! After various tests, I asked ‘Mum’ if there was anything she would like him ‘to do ’. She said, “Tell him that I’m going to challenge him to an arm wrestle, can you fix it so he loses”? “No problem” I replied. After giving Robert the appropriate suggestions, and telling him that he would have no memory of ever having been hypnotized, I woke him up. “See”, he said, “I told you it wouldn’t work, its all a big fake”, he gleefully announced to everyone. “How about an arm wrestle”, says his Mother? “Aw Mum, don’t be silly”, said Robert, obviously embarrassed by the ridiculous suggestion, but finally, at her insistence, Robert gave in. Proud of his strength and prowess, he gently took his mothers hand and, equally as gentle, applied a little pressure. Shock and disbelief chased each other across his face, as his mother pushed his arm and hand down onto the table. “Lets do it again” Mum says, and again, the back of Robert’s hand hit the table. He became very upset - and it wasn’t funny any more, so I told him that I had actually hypnotized him. He refused to believe it, so I said, “Look Robert, I’ll prove it. Go and fill a glass of cold water from the tap and bring it back here”. He did so, whereupon I said, “ Now take a sip to make sure it really is water”, which he did, then I said to him, “ The next sip that you drink, you will find that it has become - ‘Straight Whiskey”, touching him on the forehead as I did so. “Bullshit” he said, unceremoniously, as he took a Big Drink, to ‘prove’ me wrong. Instantly, he was ‘DRUNK’, and feeling very sick - I didn’t know it then, but Robert and Whiskey don’t mix! ROBERT BELIEVES IN HYPNOTISM THESE DAYS, AND WOE BETIDE ANYONE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO SAY, “IT’S ALL A LOAD OF BULL”! ------------------------------------- 19. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives ------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand 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: magic Password: kiwi When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. 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