* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #145 Date: Sunday 17th November 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. Blackstone Magical Treasures Auction 3. SAM 2003 Convention 4. Paul Diamond Celebrates 5. Paul Green Lecture - Monday Nov. 18th 6. Terry Wong's Service 7. 3 Month Season Aboard Superstar Gemini 8. Christopher Auction In Cyberspace 9. Tony Brook In Conversation with Walter Blaney 10.  Don Drake To Lecture 11. The Munster Society Of Magicians – Ireland 12. T&J- Media Update! 13. Starlight Children’s Foundation 14. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Page 132 15. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives 16. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Please note that ALL contributions to the Magic New Zealand e-zine MUST BE SENT IN TEXT ONLY - lately I have received a number of contributions sent in HTML format and Graphics and I don’t have the time to convert or re-type these into the acceptable format. ---------------------------------- It has been brought to my attention that some subscribers are receiving two copies of the MAGIC NEW ZEALAND e-zine.  The problem appears to be with the software that I’m currently using. I hope the next upgrade will rectify this problem as I have notified the programmers. ---------------------------------- Timothy Hyde, Editor of MOZZIE e-zine has decided to call it a quits after three years of keeping Australian magicians up to date on the latest news. He did a marvellous job and I’m sure it will be greatly missed. ---------------------------------- Show Schedule For Lance Burton: Tues., Wed., Thurs. Nov. 19-21 one show at 9 p.m. only Closed Dec. 5-25 7 & 10 p.m. Dec. 26-30 New Year's Eve 7 p.m. Tues. show only $59.95 includes tax Dark Wednesday, Jan. 1 New Year's Day Returns to normal schedule on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7 & 10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday ----------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. Blackstone Magical Treasures Auction ---------------------------------- Message from Phil Lobel Blackstone Magical Treasures Readied For Sothebys.Com And Entertainmentrarities.Com Auction www.entertainmentrarities.com/Blackstone/Blackstone.htm-photos November 4, 2002 - Hollywood, CA - During their lives, Harry Blackstone Sr. (Born. 1885-Died 1965) and his son Harry Blackstone Jr. (Born 1934-Died 1997) created some of the most spectacular illusions of the past century. From the "Floating Light Bulb," to haunted handkerchiefs, the Blackstone name became synonymous with the word magic, and many of their most famous illusions delve into the realm of the supernatural. Says the widow, Gay Blackstone, "There is a great sense of pride in offering collectors this very unique opportunity to own a piece of history; hand-crafted illusions and ephemera that have mesmerized the world. The collection represents two generations of magic spanning three centuries, from the golden age of vaudeville to the digital age of today. Members of the press will have a first time ever chance to catch a glimpse of many secretive, one of a kind items, including Blackstone's signature, "The Vanishing Birdcage and "Tiger Cage Illusion," all to be included in the online auction. While the Sothebys.com auction doesn't officially begin until November 14, interest is building, as top magic historians and collectors ready their bids. David Copperfield purchased the last high profile magic auction of this type, "The Mulholland Collection" in 1991 for over 2 million dollars. GO TO www.entertainmentrarities.com/ Phil Lobel LOBELINE COMMUNICATIONS lobeline.com 8995 Elevado Ave. L.A., CA 90069 Phone: 310-271-1551 ext 13 Fax: 310-271-4822 Cell: 310-995-7552 ------------------------------------ 3. SAM 2003 Convention ------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler (US) Join Us In Las Vegas For The SAM 2003 Convention The Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, NV will host the Society of American Magicians Convention on July 7-8-9-10 in 2003 Hotel Rates will be at $79.00 for single or double room (Add $20 per extra person). For reservations, call 1-800-634-6753, or you may now BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM ONLINE with The Riviera by clicking this link: www.theriviera.com/resnet/magic.html Convention registration rates may be found in the chart below, www.magicsam.com/SAM2003/index.html#chart in the printable convention registration form. www.magicsam.com/SAM2003/index.html#printable Print this page, and mail with your check or charge info to the address listed at the bottom of the form.. or... If you prefer, you may Register Online www.magicsam.com/samshop/samshop01.html by clicking the link! You may also contact the registrar, John Apperson, at sam@appsmagic.com Dealers: Convention Dealer Chairman Craig R. Dickson, is taking email requests for a waiting list of dealers for the 2003 Convention. Please Email him at samdealers@earthlink.net or send your request via regular mail to PO Box 1557, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 if you wish to be placed on this list. Inquires by Post or Email only. For convention-related business, please contact 2003 SAM Convention Producer: Michael Douglass, samconvention@earthlink.net --------------------------------- 4. Paul Diamond Celebrates ---------------------------------- Message from Bev Bergeron (US) Paul "Mr. Humble" and Andy Diamond celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary over a two day period, November 9 & 10 at the Polynesian Hotel in Walt Disney World, Florida. Many magicians, friends and family gathered to wish the couple another happy 50 years. Paul put down his latest magic item that he was going to pitch to the group to thank all who had traveled far and wide to be there. Some had driven all the way from Cleveland, Ohio. But who wouldn't drive all the way from Cleveland to be at Disney? Andy said nice things about Paul and for those of us who have known them for years, it was a welcome experience. What is in the future for the couple who has toured the world with magic lectures for 40 years? They will start their 27th final tour in a very short time and in the meanwhile can be reached at their email address: mrhumble@prodigy.net ---------------------------------- 5. Paul Green Lecture - Monday Nov. 18th ---------------------------------- Message from Jeff Ezell (US) Just a quick reminder, Paul Green will be lecturing on Monday, November 18th @ 7pm. Here is a copy of the last e-mail sent regarding this: Paul Green (the classic force guy) will be lecturing for Mind Over Magic on Monday November 18th @ 7pm. It will be held at: Ramada INN Burbank 2900 NORTH SAN FERNANDO BOULEVARD BURBANK, CALIFORNIA 91504 818 843 5955 Call 818 562 1921 for reservations or simply show up the night of the lecture. ---------------------------------- 6. Terry Wong's Service ---------------------------------- Message from Ron Received the sad word on the passing of Terry Wong. We surely lost a wonderful individual, speaking not only from the magic community. I will truly miss him, his wit and innovation. Looking at the Tenyo magic will never be the same for he always was one to develop new routine for the new Tenyo effects. We shall miss him for we have lost a magic innovator who has created numerous effects. I'm sure the magic antique guild will miss one of their notable members. I will miss him as a friend, fellow magi, and as my physician. ---------------------------------- 7. 3 Month Season Aboard Superstar Gemini ---------------------------------- Message from Duck Cameron (Aust) Just finished a 3 month season aboard Superstar Gemini, sailing between China and Korea. After 3 contracts with Star Cruises, I have been lucky enough to been given my own show. The show is Magica Gemini and runs 45 mins. This is much more fun than doing just 'spots' in someone else’s show, and great that a company will put faith in Magic being the feature...not just the extra. I am currently aboard Superstar Pisces in Hong Kong for only one week, before returning to Gemini for another contract sailing to Vietnam. ---------------------------------- 8. Christopher Auction In Cyberspace ---------------------------------- Message from Ben Robinson (US) A significant amount of paper rarities have just been launched as auction items on eBay by The Christopher Collection. Perhaps the star of the auction is the Chaps Scrapbook which sold for $650 in 1990, and is starting for a small $100 with no reserve. Check the Magic listings, or search under the seller name "Annieabbott" to find these 18 auctions now running and closing on Friday night. --------------------------------- 9. Tony Brook In Conversation with Walter Blaney ---------------------------------- Message from Tony Brook (US) © Copyright - 2002 Part 3 Thanks Walter, it has truly been an enlightening experience. One last question. The stage is yours – in the audience are all the magicians in the world. What message would you wish to convey? Two important things...RESPECT...and PERSEVERENCE. Respect magic, respect its secrets, and respect its history and its past masters. Respect the rights of the magic creators and inventors. Play fair with them so they will have the incentive to continue creating new tricks, illusions and presentation styles. PERSEVERENCE is the key to final success. No matter how hard progress in a magic career may seem to be, just never ever, ever give up. And keep it fun along the way. Remember, we chose magic because we love it and have a passion for it. Of course at anytime you can stop working hard in magic and go do something else. But I hope you won't. Please don't ever quit. Just remember, the secret word is PERSEVERENCE. In closing, I thank you, Tony, for asking me to chat about magic, the passion we both dearly love. And I thank the readers who have stayed with us long enough to read some of my ideas. And I thank my mother and my father for making it all possible. And I thank my daughters for making it all necessary. Conclusion The foregoing has been an enjoyable insight into not only one of the most experienced magicians but also slightly more than a cursory glance into one the most finely tuned magical intellects. It is a pity that the world of magic doesn’t offer Honorary Doctorates. If it did, Walter would have a dozen or so richly deserved PhD’s. If you ever have the pleasure of running into Walter at a convention or elsewhere make sure you shake him warmly by the hand. If you do you will not only have met one of the world’s most excellent Entertainers but also one of the nicest magical Texans you are ever likely to meet. Generally, at this stage it would be appropriate to conclude an article. However, as this article began to take shape, I began to feel that it would be right and fitting that the three most important people in Walter’s life - his daughters, - should add a few words of their own. So, unbeknown to Walter, I contacted them and asked each to write a short paragraph. Their words come straight from their hearts and speak volumes. Without any editing or further ado, here are their words: - Becky “My first memory of my fun and famous father, was an adventure he took us after supper in our living room. My 2 sisters and I would sit behind him on the rug, and he would take us on a fantasy journey. The rug became a magic carpet that transported us to as many fantastic destinations as Daddy's imagination could conjure up. From these storytelling journeys he taught me how to fly. Every time the characters fell, they got right back up and kept on going till they succeeded. As we were growing up, Daddy hit many stumbling blocks inventing the Levitation. Each time he would work out the problem and continue. When I first hit the road as a performer, I could always count on Daddy to pull me back up after a disappointing show. He had that showbiz knowledge to help me learn from it, and could always make me laugh about it and just go on. The best part was sharing the feeling of flying after a great show. Carol I have idolized my dad ever since I was a child, especially at the magic conventions where I could see what a celebrity he was. My childhood worship of him inspired a great curiosity in me to find out Why and How he attained such success. And living with him allowed me to learn, first-hand, his methods to success. Thanks to Dad, I got a strong case of claustrophobia from sitting inside of his sawing illusion over and over (and over…) while he measured and contemplated. But it was all worth it - to be able to observe first-hand, all the work, time, creativity and perseverance that are necessary to make such a great contribution in one’s field! … I much preferred ‘floating’ on his ladder levitation for long stretches of time as he built that masterpiece. I can remember those endless relaxing “floats”, which provided him with a ‘body’ as he created his most famous illusion, and which simultaneously served as great preparation for my current activities in yoga and meditation. Who would have thought? The scientist in me is always trying to correlate his ‘genetic traits’ with that of his offspring: One can see his influence in all 3 daughters: Like him, we all “perform” in our own unique ways, and each of our expressions appear to be a distinct facet of my Dad’s personality. Becky got his ‘comedian’ trait, Shannon got his ‘artistic presentation’ trait, and I got his ‘inventor trait’. When I was a child, Daddy used to challenge me on scientific questions, like ‘why does the same helium balloon sink down in the den, and float up in the living room?” and I would think hard and reply “because the air in the den is warmer?” - - and that was the s tart of my scientific career. Shannon My Dad, Zaney Blaney. How can I put it, say it, write it? The name speaks for itself: integrity, professionalism, attention to detail and love of life. I was so lucky growing up with a magician for a Dad. He was home during the day, my friends thought he was cool and I was introduced and educated to the world of entertainment. In school, my teachers never believed me when I told them my Dad was a magician. He had to write a note to the teacher so I wouldn't get in trouble. Best of all though was getting out of school so I could join him on road trips to San Antonio or Dallas for a show. I watched him pack and unpack tons of props. I watched him methodically prepare for a show, checking lights, music and sound, over and over...and over... and over again. I loved being backstage and watching all the goings on of a performance. By the time I was 10, I wanted to be on stage performing and it wasn't long before I was old enough to assist him on many occasions. My favorite show was on the QE2 in 1979 when The Love Boat was the most popular television show and all my girlfriends were extremely jealous of me. Like my sisters, I was always used for a "dummy" when Daddy was building his illusions. The levitation was the most excruciating because I just couldn't lie still. He made me lay there for what seemed like hours but I am sure it was probably five minutes tops. I would try to sneak around the house so he wouldn't see me; once he did.... there was no escape. "C'mon Shannon, I need you to lie on the board for a minute" he'd say. I had no choice but to hold still. I was lucky when it came to the sawing. My legs were too long so I couldn't fit. Yea! But my poor sister Carol got the brunt of that trick. Hum! I wonder, maybe we should charge him royalties. Daddy was, and is the best Dad ever. He has three daughters that love him dearly. We never once have questioned his love for us and we are so fortunate that he taught us how to have a passion for something in life. Something that keeps you awake at night. Something that only dreams are made of yet our dreams came true because we persevered like our Dad. _______________________________________ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tony Brook Tony Brook got the magic bug at age 5 when his father showed him a card effect. It was the beginning of a passion that has endured to date, which is some 50 years. Currently, he performs as 'The Magical Mind of Tony Brook ' or as Anthony Darkstone. Having Native American connections he also performs as a shaman called Tony Two Eagles. He has covered all the areas of magic from close-up to illusions. Over the last 15 years he has become well known internationally for his special brand of magic that he refers to as ' Magic of the Mind'. He is also well known for his lateral thinking, has created several interesting effects and was invited to contribute to Paul Hallas' book 'Mindful Mentalism II'. His current manuscript is entitled “The Direction of Mis-Direction". He was honored, to be on the front cover of the January 2001 issue of m-u-m, a leading International magic publication, which is published by the Society of American Magicians. This is a rare honor that is given to certain World Class magicians including David Copperfield. He has been featured more than once in Dan Garrett's prestigious column entitled ' World Class Magic'. He is a Member of many International magic organizations and is on the Panel of Magic Advisors and The Director of International Operations for The Magic Web Channel in the USA. He is also the President of Assembly 272 of The Society of American Magicians. He is a highly experienced magician and his advice is eagerly sought as a Magical Advisor. He moved to Portugal in 1987 he has become well known as a Producer and Director of Magic Shows, several as fund-raisers for charitable institutions. He is also a Marketing Strategist & Communication Specialist. Over the years, he has been involved in Radio and TV. At one time he was both the Producer and Host of the only English speaking nationwide radio show in Portugal. He has appeared several times on RTP1 the International Portuguese TV channel with many original mental effects. He has been a judge at magic contests including S.A.M in New Orleans 2001. He lectures and writes on magic. His work on magic has been featured in many publications and sites including ABRAcadabra, The Linking Ring, MUM, The Wizard's Report, O Magico, Smoke & Mirrors, Mr.Gadfly, The Banshee, taom.org, magicwebchannel.com and he was the author of the FISM 2000 article published in the March 2000 issue of MAGIC. He has acquired a reputation for his interviews entitled ' Tony Brook In Conversation With …' - a series of articles, which has featured several leading names including - Dan Garrett, Eugene Burger, George Saterial, Bob Blau, Bob Knigge, Scott Wells, Walter Zaney Blaney, Joaquin Ayala, Mike Stratman and Jon Racherbaumer. Last, but by no means least, he is the proud father of Award winning International magician Charles Brook. Tony Brook sums up his philosophy on magic as follows:- “ Magic must always be pure Entertainment. The real magic begins after the curtains close and they being talking about your act. What other profession in the world has 2000 people on their feet giving you a standing ovation for intriguing them?” ---------------------------------- 10. Don Drake To Lecture ---------------------------------- Message from Don Drake (US) Picture the old beer in a bag trick, only this time, not only does the beer disappear, but so does the bag! Instantly, visually and without leaving the sight of the audience! This is just one of the many new effects in my Fantasy In Black 2003 Black Art lecture. Or perhaps you would like to learn how to make a Black Art table, without any backdrop? These and many other new effects are shown and explained in my new lecture. I'll be heading for Florida in late May, 2003 and would like to pick up some clubs along the way. Please e-mail me privately and I'll send you a brochure, this may be the last time I tour, due to my wife's illness. I'll be driving the southern route (I-10) and returning on I-40, so please let me know if there's a spot in your club for a really unusual lecture. Thanks for your time, and keep up the great magic. E-mail: dondrake@aol.com, or ---------------------------------- 11. The Munster Society Of Magicians - Ireland ---------------------------------- Message from Peter J. Levins (US) On may 3rd and 4th 2003 IBM ring 85 will hold their annual convention at the Limerick Ryan Hotel, Limerick Ireland where there is a special rate for magicians attending the convention. The convention is hosted by The Munster Society of Magicians and the highlight of the convention is.............. Alex Elmsley.............. Will lecture. The Munster Society of Magicians has always had a humdinger of a convention and it looks as this one will be another, I believe this is the friendliest convention in the world. if you need any further details please contact me PLevins@aol.com and please use the word magic as the subject, otherwise I may not read it. ---------------------------------- 12. T&J- Media Update! ---------------------------------- Message from Tony & Juleen (Aust) After a busy couple of weeks of publicity with the Merlin Award for International Illusionists of the Year 2002, (Channel 7 Sunrise Program, Sydney Radio Nova 96.9, Sunday Telegraph, and local newspapers) the rollercoaster still continues. We are in the latest "Who Magazine" this week in a double page spread as well. This weekend we will be appearing on Channel 7 Sydney Weekender 5:30pm Saturday, 9th Nov, with a story with the shows host Mike Whitney. Story features the Merlin award, the snake, and the head twister on Mike. Just letting you know we are in a small article in the latest issue of Ralph out now. In the Ralph mag. they always have through out it a "How to.." section. He asked me if I would reveal a magic trick of which I said no. I told them I could go through the steps you take, to get out of a Straight Jacket as all I was doing was explaining what people see, so this way it was not really an expose but in his eyes he was happy with that. So it has been a great month for us! We will also be appearing on Good Morning Australia at the end of the month in Melbourne on Wed the 28th November so set your VCR. ---------------------------------- 13. Starlight Children’s Foundation ---------------------------------- Message from Steven Bye (Aust) 60 South Street, Telarah NSW 2320 Australia Ph (02) 49323486 Mobile: 0401 019 195 Email sbye@bigpond.net.au We are looking for Magicians who would be happy to either donate something for our auction / Raffle as well as items to place in shownbags Dear Please allow me to introduce myself; my name is Steven Bye of Magical Moments. I am organizing a Magic Show called “International Stars of Magic” with proceeds received from the event to be donated to the Starlight Foundation. We are proudly supporting the Starlight Children’s Foundation with funds raised from the event going to putting smiles on the faces of Starlight’s seriously ill children and their families. This show is to be held on Saturday the 10th of May 2003. We are seeking the help from magicians like yourself that would like to donate special items that can be donated for the auction and raffles that will be held between performances. Anything that you could donate would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me with any assistance, suggestions or comments, as all will be greatly appreciated for such a worth cause. Yours sincerely Steven Bye Fundraising Co-Ordinator Magic Moments --------------------------------- 14. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga – Page 131 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) NEW ZEALAND’S One And Only EDDIE LOW As told by Maria Cowin (nee Low) Eddie Low never knew his birth mother. Her name was Rangi Ratana, and her brief, poverty-stricken life ended a little more than one month after she gave birth to Eddie - her second child. The then 18 year-old beautiful Maori maiden from Rotorua, New Zealand, had developed tuberculosis shortly before Eddie was conceived. In those days tuberculosis was generally fatal, but as if that wasn't enough, the young woman was dealt another blow when, during her pregnancy with Eddie, she contracted German measles (Rubella). The rubella infected her unborn child and so it was that the baby was born blind on 14th May, 1943. The tuberculosis claimed Rangi’s life soon after, and on 19th June of that same year, Mrs Rangi Ratana McRoy quietly passed away. Just a few years earlier, towards the end of the 1930s, young Robert McRoy from Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, Scotland, sailed into New Zealand waters as a chef in the Scottish navy. He became enamoured with the country and the people of New Zealand, and it wasn't too long before he began a new profession as a soldier in the New Zealand Army. Robert was fond of country and western music, and from all accounts, he was a pretty good yodeller, trickster and storyteller as well. Robert McRoy was 28 when he fell in love with Rangi Ratana. Rangi, the youngest child in a large family, soon married this man with the ‘funny’ accent. She was barely 16 when, on the third of January 1942, she gave birth to her first child, a son named David Robert. After her death in 1943, the young father found it impossible to care for two little boys, and when it seemed that all hope was lost for this family, fate finally smiled and Mrs Maria Low came into their lives. Maria was already raising a family of her own, and even though baby Eddie was blind Maria adopted both boys - without hesitation - and David and Eddie grew up with a loving family and the only mother they ever knew. Several years later, after Eddie had achieved international success, he wrote two songs in Maria’s memory: ‘I Remember Mama’ and ‘Look At Me Now’. As a toddler Eddie loved music and was playing the ukulele at the age of 4. He was sent to Sunrise Home, a boarding kindergarten for blind children in Remuera, Auckland. When he reached school age, he moved to the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind (NZFB) in Parnell. Eddie was not an outstanding scholar – to say the least – but he performed well on the sporting field and he enjoyed learning and playing musical instruments. His older brother Bob Low recalls, “Each time Eddie came home for school holidays he could play another instrument, even though he didn’t, and still can’t, read a note of music”. When he was 12 years old a series of three operations were performed on Eddie’s left eye. His right eye was dead and could not be saved. Eddie did not expect the operations to be successful and prepared himself for a lifetime of darkness. However, fate smiled once again on Eddie and limited sight was gained in his left eye. I asked him once what it was like to suddenly be able to see and he simply said, “I just didn’t bang into things anymore”. He can see only partially and his eyesight is deteriorating, but every day he counts his blessings. On the 1st of April 1965, when Eddie was 21 years old, Maria Low passed away. Eddie was just carving out a career in Australia. In his music and in his life Eddie often wonders if Maria can see him now – or if Rangi and Robert somehow know that the little blind boy they brought into the world has surpassed all expectations against overwhelming odds. Eddie may never know the answer to his questions, but it is a dream he has long had, to bring together the music of the land of his father, and the land of his mother, into the compilation of songs that he has recorded on his recent CD. It is the best way he knows, to pay tribute to his father Robert, his birth mother Rangi, and his adopted mother Maria. I know Eddie’s quest to fulfil this dream has been exciting for him, and at times a little frightening, How do I know this? Because I don’t usually call him Eddie – I call him Dad. I am the eldest of three children. We never knew our grandparents Rangi or Robert, and Maria died two years before I was born; I am in no position too say they somehow know what Dad has done with his life, but one thing I am sure of – if they do know, they are most certainly very, very proud. ------------------------------------------------------ Page 133 No one could have written this cover story better than Eddie’s daughter, Maria. It is a wonderful discourse on how things were in New Zealand in the 1900’s, and how the Maori integrated with the white (pakeha) settlers through marriage. My own family history runs along more or less similar lines, as do hundreds, possibly thousands of others, I warrant. On page 131, last paragraph, I made mention of the 2 CD that Eddie recorded. There is one particular track on disc 1, entitled ‘Songs of Home’, that every New Zealander who lives overseas should listen to. Back on page 103, I wrote about another Maori singer, the late ‘Prince’ Tui Teka, and how he and Eddie had played ‘IL SILENZIO’ as a duet on their trumpets at a Sydney club concert. I also told how Eddie, with his guitar, came around to our home in Sydney and sang ‘Songs of Home’, wanting to know what we thought of it. The tears running down my face gave him my answer. I recorded that little session on my reel-to-reel tape recorder. It is a most valuable treasure, and I don’t mean that in a monetary sense. If you are an ex pat Kiwi, I implore you to seek this CD out; I can promise you that your heart strings will be mightily plucked, and more than likely you, like me, will sob your heart out! Eddie loves magic, and we have a ‘deal’. I teach him some simple tricks to fool his friends with - and in return, he gives me his latest recordings. In a recent E mail from Burns Scandrett, he said that whenever Eddie was in Christchurch performing, he and his wife always made a point of popping into his, Burn’s magic shop, for a chat and to buy yet another thumbtip. Burns says he doesn’t know what the hell he did with them all, but over the years he bought a hell of a lot of them! Well I guess that being partly blind, he just lost them – now, about my commission Burns…! In New Zealand, fish and shellfish are pretty much a staple food for us kiwis, especially if you are a Maori. I’m an exception when it comes to oysters, a particular delicacy in N.Z. Late one night, Eddie and I decided to ‘raid’ the kitchen fridge of some hotel that we were staying in, somewhere in the South Is. Perhaps I should mention that we were very drunk at the time. Eddie whooped with joy on discovering a very large jar filled to the brim with oysters. Being totally smashed probably explains why, after protesting my utter dislike for oysters, that I let Eddie, who was howling with laughter, hand feed me the dreaded things. I was so drunk it didn’t matter – we both were. That was the last time I ate oysters. Although Eddie is blind he does have partial vision in his left eye, and he took full advantage of that fact. Back in those wonderful, heady days, most of our work was in hotels, touring all over in N.Z., and now and again, Eddie and I would be booked together. It just so happens that I was a reasonably good pools player – well when you have spent years in hotels, and have time on your hands, the pool table and a few beers was just the ticket. Eddie was also one hellava good pools player as well, far better than I. When we walked into the local bar and put our money down for a game, the quiet sniggers became louder when Eddie approached the table and then announced: “Hey Tommy, where’s the white ball”. Of course, he could see it, as well as all the other balls. We had it well worked out. After a few ‘pathetic’ misses from Eddie and myself, with me advising this ‘blind’ man in which direction the red balls lay. Talk about pulling the suckers in. Suddenly the room would go quiet as Eddie started to faultlessly pot red ball after red ball until finally - “How many are there left”. “Just the black ball Eddie”, and he sunk that as well! God we had some fun. There are a ‘million’ stories that can be told about Eddie but, I have to finish this sometime, Like Now! ------------------------------------- 15. 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. Eg 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. ------------------------------------- 16. 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 Magic New Zealand e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Magic New Zealand e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors and not those of Magic New Zealand. Neither Magic New Zealand or Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand e-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree that they will not hold Magic New Zealand and/or Alan Watson liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed herein. We reserve the right to edit, correct or, in our discretion, choose not to publish any submissions provided to Magic New Zealand for potential publication. Magic New Zealand welcomes readers to submit timely articles or news items which appear to be of interest to our readers. Those submitting to this e-zine agree that we have permission to publish their submissions and that they have the full copyright to the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand are fully protected by international copyright as provided by law, and articles cannot be published for profit by anyone other than the individual author without the written permission of Magic New Zealand. This publication may be freely redistributed (but not sold) to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer.<< © Copyright 2002 Alan Watson