* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #204 Date: Sunday 12th October 2003 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com www.alan-watson.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor’s Message 2. Siegfried And Roy's Manager Confirms Closure 3. Cards, Letters, Flowers - For Roy Can Be Sent To 4. Hundreds Gather for Hospital Vigil 5. Lion Out Of Control In 1975 - Wayne Bernath 6. 27th New Zealand International Magicians Convention Update 7. Youth Member Performance - Ft Lauderdale 8. Sad News Tommy Hanlon Passed Away 9. New Zealand “World Festival Of Magic” Tour 2003 10. "Magic In Las Vegas" Update For October 11. SYMLACA Assembly Petition Submitted 12. "Saw-A-Woman-In-Half" - For Sale 13. MAGFI's 3rd Annual Open Stage Magic Competition 14. Be Thankful You're Not A Turkey! 15. e-zine archives 16. Subscription Management ------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One The full transcript of the interview with Siegfried on Larry King Live is on the CNN web site at: www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0310/08/lkl.00.html ---------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ----------------- 2. Siegfried And Roy's Manager Confirms Closure ----------------- Message from David Neubauer (US) October 10, 2003 3 pm PST Siegfried and Roy's manager confirms closure “We had one heck of a run" Bernie Yuman, long time manager of Siegfried and Roy, said Monday after delivering the definitive word that the long-running show has closed for good. Phil Misiura, general manager of the show for producer Feld Entertainment, agreed Monday that company head Kenneth Feld considered the show closed in lieu of "a medical miracle" that would accelerate the recovery of injured co-star Roy Horn. The Mirage show opened Feb. 1, 1990, and ran for 5,750 performances for an estimated 10.5 million patrons, Yuman said. Yuman said Monday the Secret Garden of Siegfried & Roy tourist attraction would remain open. "That will continue for many years" Yuman said. Source: reviewjournal.com -- Living: MIKE WEATHERFORD www.dnmagic.com ----------------- 3. Cards, Letters, Flowers - For Roy Can Be Sent To ----------------- Message from Maria Ibanez (US) This just in from Stan Lobenstern of Magic in the Hat Ranch. Stan sent his get well wishes to Roy c/o the Mirage via e-mail and received a very nice e-mail in return. Cards and letters Roy Horn c/o The Mirage 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 Flowers May also be sent to this address They will be placed with others displayed by the Siegfried & Roy Statue in front of The Mirage, in expression of the overwhelming concern we have received for Roy from all around the world. Donations University Medical Center Foundation, Inc., P.O.Box 26118 Las Vegas, NV 89126-0110 We all feel that UMC and its excellent medical staff saved Roy Horn’s life, and therefore ask that you send your donations in Rosy name to the above. ----------------- 4. Hundreds Gather for Hospital Vigil ----------------- Message from Tony Wilson (NZ) Steve Wynn Gives Exclusive Interview which you can view. Go to: http://klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1475112&nav=168XIQs2 Best if you have a high speed internet connection to view the above. ----------------- 5. Lion Out Of Control In 1975 - Wayne Bernath ----------------- Message from Wayne Bernath (US) The mauling of illusionist Roy Horn during Friday's Siegfried & Roy show at The Mirage was not the first time he had a close call. But this was the most serious attack after almost four decades of minor scrapes and scratches from working with the exotic big cats. A near-disaster occurred in 1975 at the MGM Grand, now Bally's, during a photo shoot, recalled local publicist Wayne Bernath, then the assistant news editor at the Review-Journal. Bernath arranged to have Horn bring one of his large male lions to the "Hallelujah Hollywood" stage to pose with a live lamb in a wooden stage set resembling a March calendar. "As we were putting the heads of the lion and lamb through holes in the calendar, the lion caught the scent of the lamb, reared up and broke the set apart and went after a lady from Mesquite, who was holding the lamb. "A security guard shoved the lady and the lamb into a closet as the lion went after them, while pulling Roy and his handler across the stage. "Roy had the presence of mind to grab a backstage elevator phone and call the kitchen, which was one floor above," recalled Bernath. "Two women brought down two buckets of meatballs to get the lion's attention and he calmed down." ----------------- 6. 27th New Zealand International Magicians Convention Update ----------------- Message from Mick Peck - President, Shore City Magicians Club 27th New Zealand International Magicians Convention Queen's Birthday Weekend - 5, 6, 7th June 2004 Takapuna, Auckland. Competition Update: The competitions that will be held are: - Close-Up Magic - Children's Entertainer - in real-world conditions at a local shopping mall. - Stage Magic Competition - MC Competition - between acts in the Stage Competition - Strolling Magic - real-world conditions at a local shopping mall. - Walk On/Walk Off Competition (AKA "Quick Trick" event). Also: Shore City Magicians Club 30th Anniversary - The SCMC are putting together a history of the club to coincide with the 30th Anniversary of its formation and the hosting of the NZ International Convention next year. Anyone with any old newspaper articles, photos, memorabilia etc relating to the club and its history is encouraged to get in contact with Secretary Bruce Allan at tophatmagic@clear.net.nz, phone 027 289 0596. ----------------- 7. Youth Member Performance - Ft Lauderdale ----------------- Message from Maria Ibanez (US) Who: Wesley Taylor -- a/k/a "Wesley the Wizard What: Performance at Broward Museum of Discovery and Science When: Saturday, October 11, 2003 1 - 4 P.M. Where: Broward Museum of Discovery and Science Broward & 5th Avenue - Ft. Lauderdale 954-467-6637 Wesley has been involved in studying, learning and performing magic for the past 5 years. He is a volunteer tour guide at the museum every Friday. The museum has expanded their Saturday shows and Wesley was chosen as the person to spearhead the magic portion. He has applied to become a member of the SAM through Assembly 274, Sam Schwartz Assembly, and is one of the youth of the group who will be signing the application for a new SYM Charter in Boca Raton this coming January when both Jay Gorham, SAM National President and Jann Goodsell, Director SYM will be making their Florida tour. If you are in the Ft. Lauderdale area or within driving distance, come out and support him and magic. ----------------- 8. Sad News Tommy Hanlon Passed Away ----------------- Message from Tony & Juleen (Aust) Just received word Tommy Hanlon (ex Silvers Circus) TV celebrity, passed away today. No other details yet. ----------------- 9. New Zealand “World Festival Of Magic” Tour 2003 ----------------- Sunday 23rd November Taupo 4:30pm & 7:30pm Great Lake Monday 24th November Napier 2:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Napier Municipal Theatre Tuesday 25th November Gisborne 2:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm War Memorial Theatre Wednesday 26th November Rotorua 2:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Rotorua Convention Centre Thursday 27th November Tauranga 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm Bay Court Theatre Friday 28th November Travel to Auckland Saturday 29th November Auckland 11:00pm - 2:00pm & 5:00pm Sunday 30th November Auckland 11:00pm - 2:00pm & 5:00pm Logan Campbell Centre Monday 01st December Whangarei 5:00pm & 7:30pm Forum North Tuesday 02nd December Hamilton 2:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm The Gate Way Christian Centre Wednesday 03rd December New Plymouth 5:00pm & 7:30pm TSB Show Place Thursday 04th December Wanganui 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Wanganui Collegiate High School (Prince Edward Auditorium) Friday 05th December Travel to Wellington Saturday 06th December Wellington 1:30pm - 4:30pm Queens Wharf Events Centre Sunday 07th December Palmerston Nth 1:30pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm College of Education Monday 08th December Blenheim 7:00pm Marlborough Centre Tuesday 09th December Day Off Wednesday 10th December Nelson 7:00pm Trafalgar Centre Thursday 11th December Travel to Christchurch Friday 12th December Christchurch 10:00am - 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm Theatre Royal Saturday 13th December Day Off Sunday 14th December Timaru 5:30pm Theatre Royal Monday 15th December Dunedin 2:30pm & 7:00pm Regent Theatre Tuesday 16th December Invercargill 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Civic Theatre End of Tour ----------------- 10. "Magic In Las Vegas" Update For October ----------------- Message from David Neubauer (US) PLAYING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: AFTERNOONS: Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas - Tropicana. Mac King Comedy Magic Show - Harrah's. Ronn Lucas and Friends (Vent) - The Man Who Can Make Anything Talk - Rio. EVENINGS: Amazing Johnathan with various magician openers - Flamingo. (Dark Thurs) Andre-Phillipe Gagnon (Impressionist) - Paris Las Vegas. Danny Gans - (Impressionist) - The Mirage. Dirk Arthur "New Art of Magic" - Plaza. Dr. Scott's Outrageous Comedy Hypnosis Show. Monday nights - Riviera. Greek Isles: That's Magic Show. Jayden LaCross - TGI Fridays (Wednesdays - Sundays). Jamie Porter's Radio Side Show - every Saturday @ 5 am, KLAV FM 1230. La Femme - Various magicians (see schedule below) - MGM Grand. Lance Burton, Master Magician - Lance Burton Theater - Monte Carlo. Larry G. Jones - Man of 1002 Voices (Free w/$3 drink) - Fitzgeralds (5 pm). Michael Close - Houdini's Lounge - Monte Carlo Tuesday - Thursday. Outback Steakhouse (Green Valley) - Erik Allan, Friday & Saturday. Penn & Teller - Rio Samba Theatre. Richard Muna & Co. - Fox City Show - Tropics Lounge, Tropicana. Scott Lewis (Hypnotist) "Mindblowers" - Riviera's Le Bistro Theatre 11:30p.m. Mondays. Showgirls of Magic - San Remo. Siegfried & Roy - POSTPONED INDEFINITELY - Mirage. Simon Winthrop - Casino Royal. V - The Ultimate Variety Show - Jeff Hobson, Nathan Burton and Sarah - Venetian 6 pm. World's Greatest Magic Show - Sahara Xtreme Close-Up Magic - Steve Dacri - SAZIO Restaurant at The Orleans NEWS: Due to Roy's recent injuries, Siegfried & Roy's show is postponed indefinitely. The World's Greatest Magic Show will open at the Sahara on October 15th with 7 to 8 World-Class Magicians doing their best 10 minutes each. Grand Opening acts are: Jeff Hobson, Majestix, Joseph Gabriel, Sylvester the Jester, Nicholas Night & Kinga, Kevin James, Zaida Lavavootnesh. Talent coordinator is Kevin James. PLAZA: Dirk Arthur "New Art of Magic" (formerly at Silverton) opened. Steve Wyrick -- who left his Sahara showroom last month -- has been rumored to have already signed a deal to "four-wall" the Center Stage Showroom at the Aladdin at the space until at least February, when new owners are expected to take over the bankrupt property. XTREME CLOSE-UP MAGIC starring Steve Dacri has been extended until New Years at SAZIO Restaurant Showroom at The Orleans Hotel and Casino Friday through Monday at 8 pm All New Halloween Show Oct 31 Special New Year's Eve Edition, Dec. 31 Orleans Box Office (702) 365-7075 OCTOBER, 2003 October: Gaetan Bloom and the Quiddlers - La Femme - MGM Grand. October 10-14: Christopher Hart opens for Amazing Johnathan - Flamingo. October 15: The World's Greatest Magic Show will open at the Sahara. October 17-31: Joaquin Ayala and Sophie Evans open for Amazing Johnathan - Flamingo. October 26: Treasure Island or TI opens new show "Sirens of TI" to replace Pirate Battle show. The new show will involve female performers who will battle with a band of male pirates. (Don't tell anyone, but the girls will win over the male pirates.) Present pyrotechnics and ship - sinking sequence will remain. October 29 - Nov. 2: Las Vegas Comedy Festival - Stardust: http://www.lasvegascomedyfestival.com/htmls/lvcf.html NOVEMBER, 2003 November: Kevin James and the Quiddlers - La Femme - MGM Grand. November 1-12: John Cassidy opens for Amazing Johnathan - Flamingo. November 13-20: Amazing Johnathan on vacation - Flamingo. DECEMBER, 2003 December: Kevin James and the Quiddlers - La Femme - MGM Grand. December 17: Amazing Johnathan's final show at the Flamingo. January 2004 January: The Quiddlers and Stephan Vanel - La Femme - MGM Grand. APRIL, 2004 April 2004: New Cirque du Soleil show opening in the old EFX Theater - MGM Grand. www.dnmagic.com ----------------- 11. SYMLACA Assembly Petition Submitted ----------------- Message from Chuck LeFever I'm delighted to announce that a petition to form a Society of Young Magicians (SYM) Assembly in Tarzana, CA along with five (5) new membership applications from new members ages 7 to 16 were submitted to Richard Blowers (SAM) the Society of American Magician's National Administrator on October 3, 2003! This charter group and prospective new members will meet at the Encino/Tarzana Library on the following Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. during the fourth quarter 10/22, 11/26, 12/10. Through the study and performance of magic these young magicians will be given the opportunity to develop their reading, social and public speaking skills. They will offer service to their community by performing for charitable events, hospitals and senior care facilities. Our new Assembly will need magicians, especially SAM members, to donate their time to demonstrate magic and lecture, old books or publications for a library and magic materials to grow and prosper. If you would like to help please contact me by email at SYMLACA@aol.com , Phone (818) 708-7112, fax (818) 865-3126 or post 5930 Reseda Blvd. Apt. 47, Tarzana, CA 91356. Please say a little prayer for the success of the Society of Young Magicians of Los Angeles California (SYMLACA) Assembly. ----------------- 12. "Saw-A-Woman-In-Half" - For Sale ----------------- Message from Shad Rutherford (NZ) I have a son, Daniel (27), who used to perform illusions some years back but is now married and living in Japan and busy teaching English. He has asked me to find a good home for one of his biggest projects; the building of a "saw-a-woman-in-half" box. It is sturdy and well made, brand new and about 90% finished, mainly just needing a coat of paint. If anyone is interested in making an offer for it, email me directly at: parkesplace@ezysurf.co.nz I will accept any reasonable offer on his behalf. It would be great to see this box, that is somewhat of a 'work of art', actually being used. I also have digital photos available for viewing If anyone is interested please reply soon as I will be endeavoring to contact others also. By the way I'm in Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand Regards, Alan Parkes. parkesplace@ezysurf.co.nz ----------------- 13. MAGFI's 3rd Annual Open Stage Magic Competition ----------------- Message from Ronaldo B. Moraleta, M.D. Hello Magic Fans and Friends, Just a reminder! October 24 - MAGFI's 3rd Annual Open Stage Magic Competition Abelardo Hall Auditorium, UP Diliman, Q.C. 8:00 P.M. We have the following tickets for sale: Orchestra Right - Yellow tickets - P150 Orchestra Left - White tickets - P150 Balcony Right - Green tickets - P100 Balcony Center - Orange tickets - P100 Balcony Left - Blue tickets - P100 Thank you very much for your support! Magically, Ronaldo B. Moraleta, M.D., DPCGG 91 General Avenue, GSIS Village Project 8, Quezon City 1106 Philippines Telefax: (632) 455-9403 (ask for fax tone first) Cell. No.: 0920-2364131 / 0918-9283187 magicdoctor@bigfoot.com www.magfi.com.ph ----------------- 14. Be Thankful You're Not A Turkey! ----------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) Thanksgiving is a bad time of year -- if you happen to be a turkey. With that festival on the horizon, hundreds of thousands of gobblers are getting ready to walk that last mile. And, when Thanksgiving and turkey is on everyone's mind, why not take advantage of that, by incorporating the theme into your magic? BE THANKFUL YOU'RE NOT A TURKEY! by Peter Marucci Effect: The magician talks about getting ready for Thanksgiving and cooking the holiday bird. Following a series of awful gags, he produces -- not a turkey, but a rubber chicken! Preparation: You'll need that old dove pan that's been sitting in the back of your magic closet, gathering dust. And give it a good cleaning, okay? And you'll need our old friend, the rubber chicken. You'll also need a shaker of "Instant Turkey." This is just a cardboard salt shaker (the kind you take on picnics -- if you should ever be forced to actually go on a picnic) with a label pasted over the outside, saying "Instant Turkey." And, finally, you'll need a page from a calendar, preferably from the month Thanksgiving falls in (October in Canada, November in the United States), a small handful of half-inch metal nuts, and a can of lighter fluid, with a label on it that says "WD-40" or some other kind of workshop oil. Load the rubber chicken into the load chamber of the dove pan, have the rest of the stuff close by on your table, and you're ready to go. Presentation: "It's getting close to that time of year when your days are numbered if you happen to be a turkey. Thanksgiving is always a big day around our house and, this year, I offered to cook the holiday bird. It was really easy -- once I figured out that a goblet wasn't a small turkey." Pick up the shaker of Instant Turkey. "And it's extra easy if you use this new product on the market -- Instant Turkey. Just sprinkle some in your roasting pan." Shake the shaker over the base of the dove pan. "And don't forget the stuffing. I have my own special recipe. I throw in a handful of nuts." Toss the metal nuts into the pan base. "Add a few dates." Show the calendar page, tear it up, and sprinkle the pieces into the base. "And a little oil." Show the can of "workshop oil" to the audience and squirt some of the lighter fluid into the pan. "I hope this is better than last year, when we had an octopus for Thanksgiving dinner. It didn't taste very good -- but at least everybody got a drumstick." Ignite the fluid in the pan and put on the cover. "Cook this for 45 minutes at 350 degrees -- or, if you've got lots of time, for 350 minutes at 45 degrees." Remove the lid from the pan, with a flourish. "Okay, Martha Stewart, eat your heart out!" Do a double-take as you look into the pan. Then pull out the rubber chicken and wait for the laughs. "Well, I knew we were going to have some sort of a foul (fowl) dinner." Finis. Second Thoughts: Faithful readers (both of you) will note that this routine is similar to a cooking bit I did in my column in the Linking Ring a couple of years ago. The difference is that it has been updated to make it timely for Thanksgiving. And that's the point: With a little thought, much of what we do can be re-scripted to fit many different occasions. This routine will naturally work with the Christmas turkey; can be re-jigged to bake a birthday cake for a birthday party; cooking the main dish for a Fourth of July picnic; or -- well, you get the idea. The other thing I like about this is that it provides a logical use for the dove pan -- it's supposed to be a piece of kitchen equipment, which is exactly what it looks like. But, you say, I don't have a dove pan. No problem. You can use a drawer box, painted to look like a kitchen range, with the drawer as the oven. Or you can use a square circle, with the outer square made up like a stove (with a Plexiglas, see-through panel in the front) and the inside tube covered in tinfoil, to represent a roasting pan. So I hope you see what I'm getting at: Most props can be adapted for most occasions, with a little work and a -- most importantly -- a little creative thought. Have fun with this -- and have a Happy Thanksgiving! Peter Marucci 270 St. Andrew St. East Fergus, Ontario, Canada N1M 1R1 e-mail: showtimecol@aol.com ------------------ 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) ------------------- 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 2003 Alan Watson