* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand® * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #310 Date: Sunday 23rd January 2005 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. Jahn Gallo - I am still alive!   3. Iceland Escape - Dean Gunnarson   4. Urban Male Magazine   5. Circus Artists/Actresses, Twins For Magic Shows   6. Fast Jimmy - Magic Castle In Hollywood   7. Re Ventriloquist Scripts   8. The 6th Annual Banquet Of The Magic City Conjurers   9. College Of Magic's 25th Celebrations - Michael Vincent Added To Line-up!   10. Chuck Fayne's Magic School   11. Wizards Of Winterhaven Annual Banquet   12. Upcoming Shows in Invercargill   13. Nathan Burton (Watch Your Back David Blaine)   14. Magic-Fete 2005   15. Update On Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante) Health   16. Moving Objects Using Magic - Jamie-G   17. The Amazing Orchante Saga   18. e-zine Archives   19. Subscription Management ------------------ 1. Editors Message ------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Looking to book a high profile magician to be the headliner/feature performer/lecturer for the IBM Ring 160 day of magic on Sunday 23 October 2005 Auckland, New Zealand. Any one interested please e-mail Tony Wilson President Ring 160 tony@twmagic.co.nz with your details. ------------------------- Another Exposure Program Featuring British Magicians!!!! BBC2 TV - Secrets Of Magic Sat 22 Jan 2005 6:50 pm - 7:35 pm 45mins Nick Knowles introduces a team of magicians who perform incredible illusions all over the UK before revealing the secrets of how the magic was done. I'm interested in hearing the reactions of British magicians who watch the latest "Secrets of Magic" show on Saturday night. It's sad that any magicians would participate in a show of this sort, especially after the uproar created by the previous shows. ------------------------- Mind Reading Site That You'll Enjoy Message from Roger Miller IBM President- Elect www.dslextreme.com/users/exstatica/psychic.swf It my opinion the best one yet! - using an old magic principle and disguise to keep the secret deceptive. -------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ----------------- 2. Jahn Gallo - I am still alive! ----------------- Message from Jahn Gallo (Sweden) This is to make known that I am still alive! There’s unfortunately some gossip going around the magic community stating that I am dead in a cancer-related illness. The truth is that I had two operations – The first one was related to some stomach problems. At that time the doctors found something suspicious in my liver. It could be anything from something totally harmless to something very dangerous. I had to undergo all kinds of tests where they were looking for possible cancer tumours. This lasted for some months time and then, nothing was found, never the less my doctors and I decided that the thing growing in the liver should be removed. So, I had some surgery. The tumour in the liver was send away to be analyzed – result? A bundle of small blood vessels – Totally harmless. I am now slowly recovering from the 10 hour surgery and my wife and I am looking forward to starting our 2nd lecture tour in England. Opening at The Magic Circle London the 4th of April. We are so happy and we hope that this will stop the gossip! Best regards to all of you Jahn & Gun Gallo Magic lectures & Workshops: www.gallo-magic.com jahn@gallo-magic.com ----------------- 3. Iceland Escape - Dean Gunnarson ----------------- Message from Dean Gunnarson One of the greatest experiences for me as an escape artist has been to travel around the world performing for tens of thousands of people who speak a totally different language to me. To be able to get people to see, feel, believe, and be entertained from my escapes is extremely self-rewarding. I just returned home from Iceland where I preformed on a benefit television show to help raise money for the Tsunami Relief fund. It was a two-hour live show that was broadcast on all three major networks at the same time. There were all kinds of local celebritiess, politician’s, musicians, and then myself and an amazing magician and a long time friend from Las Vegas, Alaya. Alaya made a car appear (that was totally cool!!!) and I did a police challenge from the Chief of Police of Iceland (thanks Ian for your last minute help!). On TV things can get out of hand quickly, especially when not understanding the host or the Chief and reacting to what you are hoping they are saying. You still have to try and keep control of the situation. It went very well and I escaped. The audience were totally mesmerized and responded loudly. Alaya and I helped raise nearly 2 million U.S. dollars for the benefit fund. Even more amazing when the whole country has less than 300,000 people. That’s $6 from every man, woman, and child in the country! Later that night we went for a walk and everyone had seen us on the show and wanted to know how to get out of handcuffs. The real test for me would come the next day. I wanted to attempt a new and daring escape to help promote the start of our new world tour beginning there in March. I was chained spread across the roof of a car with my arms and legs separated. My waist was chained down and then my neck was chained to the steering wheel. The car had been placed on a wooden stage with another car dangling about 12 to 15 meters above from a crane. I had to escape in 90 seconds or the car, hooked up to timer and loaded with lots of explosives (pryo), would come crashing down on top of me. I had the stage designed so that it would crash apart and add to the dramatics’ of the destruction of the car I was chained to. It was also –3’C inside the half-open arena filled with people who had come to witness the event. It had been snowing all day so the crew had to shovel snow off the car. When I lay on my back on the roof to get chained up I could feel the icy cold steel stabbing through my clothes. The chains where numbing my arms, wrists, and hands. Needless to say I escaped. I leaped from the hood at the last moment just as the car crashed down and everything blew up. The escape was a combination of drama, music, lighting and special effects all while overcoming all the elements you could only imagine!!! The escape was on all the T.V. news and newspapers. Here is a link to one of the papers. Hope you can read Icelandic! Sadly the online version only has one photo of me getting chained up. The real paper had 5 color photos of the whole escape including me diving away as all the destruction was happening. I will have my web master on my web page next week. Or if anybody wants a color photocopy please contact me, so I can make arrangements to send you one. The main thing I have found in my travels is that people need to be treated with respect, kindness, and understanding. It goes a long way in this business and in life!!! www.mbl.is/mm/folk/frett.html?nid=1120905 Stay safe and I hope to see everyone at Cannon’s Escape Artist Convention Oct. 7, 8, & 9 Always escaping, Dean Gunnarson P.S. Please do not try and copy this escape. It is extremely dangerous and copyrighted!!!! ----------------- 4. Urban Male Magazine ----------------- Message from Patrick Drake Attention Canadian magicians..I will be writing a column in Urban Male Magazine (UMM) starting in their next issue..the article will deal with teaching people simple tricks that they can perform in social situations. I will also be doing a video teach-in at www.umm.ca upcoming in the spring. Visit www.patrickdrake.com ----------------- 5. Circus Artists/Actresses, Twins For Magic Shows ----------------- Message from Walter Zaney Blaney (US) Dear friends in magic: This email was sent to me today, and it sounds like these young Russian lady twins would be of interest on some magician's stage show. You probably do not have such a need yourself, but I am sending this to a host of friends who might think of someone in the business who might have such a need for their show. If you have already received this message from others, I apologize..just trying to help out to my mailing list of magic friends around the world. Best wishes to all, Walter Walter Zaney Blaney --------------------- Begin forwarded message: From: "Irina" Date: January 21, 2005 3:18:02 PM CST To: Subject: to Agency, circus artists/actresses, twins from Magic Show, collaboration Alan Sands Entertainment ---------------- Good day ! to Artistic director We are female twins (circus artists, assistants in Magic Show). We want to continue our artistic career to appear on the stage at the Illusion Show at Magician very much. We are looking for job. We've known that you collaborate with artists. Perhaps YOU need twins/new artists in performances or in other projects (as circus artists or assistants). Or you create the new performances with twins - we are ready to take part in it.. If you collaborate with illusionists, organizers of shows or know of agents who will be interested, please advise if anybody needs twins in their shows. Please write to us by e-mail the contacts (e-mail/ postal address/telephone) of impresario of circuses/artists's agencies/festivals which you know (if it's possible). It's very important to us. We will appreciate it. About us: We are female twins, strongly resemble one another, year of birth is1982. We live in Russia (Moscow). 1989-1996 - we sang in chorus, played domra (folk Russian instrument) - we performed and also in orchestra. We also played violin .We graduated in music (piano). 1989-till now - professional sportswomen in table tennis. 2002-till now - We act in films. 2002-2003 - "The Big Magic Show" - Performed magic and dance routines for the  famous Russian magician Igor Kio. We appeared on the stage in circus at The Great Magic Show of Igor Kio (Russian illusionist). We have: - Theatre training and stage experience; - Strong improvisational skills; - Excellent physical shape. - Experience in gymnastics, acrobatics or long-term practice of a sport. We dance well. 2003-2004: "The Magic Show" - Performed magic and dance routines for the Russian magician Vlad." Hobby: SPORT: We play tennis professionally. We have taken the prized championship in table tennis. We are members of our united ping-pong team. We also swim, are into fitness, cycling, tennis, skiing and figure skating, hiking and callisthenics for many years. Music: we play piano, guitar. ----- Please keep our email address in case and contact us if something comes up in the future. We hope for a mutually beneficial collaboration in future. With respect, Irina and Dasha! irasik1@mail.ru a-b-c@nm.ru http://www.ira-dasha.narod.ru/eindex.htm http://www.ira-dasha.narod.ru Moscow Russia ----------------- 6. Fast Jimmy - Magic Castle In Hollywood ----------------- Message from Fast Jimmy (Aust) Australian comedy magician Fast Jimmy will be performing in the Close-up Gallery at the Magic Castle in Hollywood California nightly from the 14th of February 2005 through to the 20th of February 2005. To check time schedules please visit the Magic Castles website at www.magiccastle.com ----------------- 7. Re Ventriloquist Scripts ----------------- Message from Paul Romhany (NZ) In the last e-zine somebody asked if there were any good ventriloquist script books available. As it turns out this week one was made available! While on a cruise ship about 6 months ago I met a well known TV script writer Alan Allan. He writes for TV shows such as Drew Carey Show, Howie Manell, and so on. We were discussing different things and ventriloquism came up and the lack of professional scripts. So Alan sat down and wrote a book! We are publishing a series of new, up to date, funny, and original professionally written ventriloquist scripts. The first book contains SIX scripts and was released yesterday to the public. For more information check out www.chaplinmagic.com and head to the products page then click on the bottom line where it says "for professional magicians and ventriloquists". As I said, this is the first in a series of new books for the working ventriloquist who performs on cruise ships, adult shows, comedy clubs and so on. ----------------- 8. The 6th Annual Banquet Of The Magic City Conjurers ----------------- Message from Maria Ibanez – S.A.M. National 2nd Vice President Greetings: The 6th Annual Banquet of The Magic City Conjurers -- also S.A.M. Assembly 280 will be taking place this coming Sunday, February 6th, 2005 at Miami Banquet Hall - 13758 SW 84th St, Miami, FL 305-385-3644 - at 6:30 p.m. Featured performer will be Dan Fleshman, who will perform both stand up and close up magic. Most Illustrious John Apperson and First Lady of the S.A.M. Virginia Apperson, National 1st Vice President Andy Dallas and Barbara, SYM Director Jann Wherry Goodesll, P.N.P., Life Member Chair Clem Kinnicutt and Jean, as well as SYMBOL editor/SAMtalk Moderator Bruce Kalver and Shirley Glass will be attending the event. I've asked John, Andy, Bruce, Clem and Jann to please perform and they have graciously consented to doing so. John will also be installing the officers for the assembly for the coming year. We normally get 80 or more to attend the banquet and we are limited to 100 maximum so if anyone would like to come, please send me an email to merlina17@aol.com and let me know -- it is $30.00 per person and I need to finalize all accounting with the hall by Wednesday February 2 so I need to have everything in by then. The cost is all inclusive and includes open bar for the 4 hours. The adventures will begin on Saturday February 5 when we take a trip to the southern most point of the US, Key West to visit with Captain Bill Grosscup, Alan Gold and Frank Everhart Jr. After a day of visiting the Florida Keys, we will head back up to Miami to prepare for the festivities of the next day. Sunday will find us spending the day together, doing brunch, etc., and then going to the banquet. Monday we are supposed to attend a meeting of Assembly 274, Sam Schwartz Assembly in Boca Raton and then head up to Orlando to visit Disney and Assembly 99 and Luciano de Pazos, President. Much more is being planned but I don't want to give you all the information up front so more will follow. Respectfully Maria Ibanez, MM.C. Society of American Magicians National 2nd Vice President www.merlina.com ----------------- 9. College Of Magic's 25th Celebrations - Michael Vincent Added To Line-up ! ----------------- Message from Craig Mitchell (South Africa) Some questioned whether the College of Magic's 25 Years of Magic celebrations could possibly get any BIGGER? With more international stars of magic ever in South Africa's history attending, how could we possibly top the line-up??? Well - you spoke and we listened .. We have just confirmed that Britain's MICHAEL VINCENT - FISM Champion - will be joining our stellar line-up of international stars of magic! Michael is a Life Member of the Magic Circle with Gold Star, named Magic Circle Magician of the Year three times and named as Best British Performer in the International Grand Prix. Michael brings with him years of experience and will be sharing with us his performances and lectures that saw him receive a standing ovation at both The Magic Circle in London and The Magic Castle in Hollywood! In the world today, there are very few magicians who possess the magical combination of superlative sleight of hand excellence and great theatrical presentation. Michael Vincent is one of the chosen few. Over the last thirteen years, Michael has earned the enviable reputation of being among the top elite magicians in the world. His sublime magic has been showcased at the world's top venues. Michael would be the first to admit that great technique counts for nothing if it is not supported by a meaningful theatrical presentation. "I believe that great magic combined with a good plot and presentation can make all the difference between the audiences acknowledging that they have experienced something extra-ordinary." It is this simple philosophy that has defined Michael's place in the history of magic. The secret to Michael's magic is very simple; you have here a man who possesses the heart and soul of a magician. This spirit and passion for this honourable profession is what makes the Michael Vincent experience so unique in this modern era of entertainment. A rare commodity indeed! A written description like this one can do him no justice - you have to see it to believe it! With magic's BIGGEST international names attending the 25 Years of Magic celebrations - from The Evasons, Nicholas Einhorn, Pit Hartling, Shawn Farquhar, Michael Vincent and more - it promises to be a truly phenomenal event - South Africa's most exciting ever! The countdown has now begun .. see you in February! Craig www.25yearsofmagic.com 25th - 27th February 2005 - Cape Town, South Africa ----------------- 10. Chuck Fayne's Magic School ----------------- Message from Tim Ellis (Aust) Just to let you know that Chuck Fayne has re-opened his Magic School here in Melbourne and those who would like to attend his Monday night classes can call him on 0418 573 745. ----------------- 11. Wizards Of Winterhaven Annual Banquet ----------------- Message from Kelly Forkner – President - Wizards of Winterhaven Wizards of Winterhaven Annual Banquet January 22, 2005 Chain of Lakes Complex, Winterhaven, Florida. We would like to invite you to our annual Banquet and Evening Show. We have a really great show scheduled, and the evening is always a lot of fun. 6:30 P.M. - Social Starts, with some close-up magic at your table. 7:30 P.M. - Buffet dinner with some outstanding food. 8:30 P.M. - Evening Show. Our special guest M.C. for the evening is Bev Bergeron. We would like to thank Bev for being a part of our annual banquet. Entertainers include the fabulous Steve Hart, Jason Worthington, Elmo Bennett, Michael Kent, and the illusions of the Weatherbee's. Tickets are only $25.00 for the dinner and show. Tickets are available for the show only for just $10.00. Come join the fun, eat some fabulous food, and see a really great show. Contact: Kelly Forkner (863) 604-6289 for ticket information and directions. ----------------- 12. Upcoming Shows in Invercargill ----------------- Message from Dave Upfold (NZ) After a very successful first time in Invercargill in October 2004 doing Magic and Hypnosis Shows, I will be returning to do Magic Shows at 4.00pm and my Family Magic / Hypnosis Show at 7.30pm on Thursday 27th, Friday 28th, and Saturday 29th January. All the Shows are at The Ascot Park Hotel and proceeds from the Shows will be going to Springz Trampolining. The venue only holds 400 people. The first night 27 Thursday, the Magic / Hypnosis has already Sold Out. If there are any Magicians that would like to see the Show and you are in the area contact me, it would be great to meet you. Phone 021 453 202. ----------------- 13. Nathan Burton (Watch Your Back David Blaine) ----------------- Message from Wayne Bernath (US) Magician Nathan Burton (Watch Your Back David Blaine) Suspended 7 Days, 7 Showgirls In Box At Aladdin’s Desert Passage Magician Nathan Burton starring in Wayne Newton's "The Entertainer" on E! is undertaking his most provocative stunt yet: 1 Magician, 7 Showgirls, Sealed in 1 Box for 7 Days. The reality series featuring 10 entertainers airs beginning this Sunday and the next nine Sundays at 10 p.m. for a 10-part series culminating in Las Vegas’ next headliner and a $1 million contract to star at the Las Vegas Hilton. Burton has bravely accepted the life-threatening stunt while suspended in mid-air in the Desert Passage of the Aladdin Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip from March 9-15 in front of the “V!” Theatre. Houdini submerged himself while shackled in chains; David Blaine was enclosed in a box by himself; but Nathan Burton will be accomplishing this feat Vegas-style -- sandwiched between seven sexy, scantily-clad showgirls. No food, no water, only an endless supply of energy drinks and affection! Upon completion of the seven-day challenge, the glass box will be transported under heavy security to Hollywood for a network television studio to be opened before a live national audience. Hopefully, Burton will emerge victorious from his glass enclosure in a challenge that no one has been brave enough, lucky enough, or dumb enough to try. Burton can currently be seen E! Entertainment Television's hot new reality show, Wayne Newton's "The Entertainer". He and nine other hopefuls will compete for the gig of a lifetime -- headlining their own Las Vegas show. Burton currently stars in the sold-out show "V - The Ultimate Variety Show" at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas and has been a staple performer in Las Vegas for the better part of the decade, performing everywhere from Caesars to The Venetian. ----------------- 14. Magic-Fete 2005 ----------------- Message from Solyl Kundu (Salil Kumar Kundu)(India) PC Sorcar Ring # 83 - Kolkata, India invites you all to join and enjoy the fun-filled days of Edu-Tainment on 16th (Saturday) and 17th (Sunday) of April next. Proposed program is: 16th April: Registration of delegates, distribution of kits Coffee and snacks break Official inauguration of the function Lecture/'demo' by Gora Datta - creator, inventor and int'l award winner for his creations. Stage magic performance by selected magicians. 17th April: Opening of the function Breakfast break Lecture / 'demo' by Nakul Shenoy - A multi-faceted genius in magic Dealers' demonstrations Lecture / 'demo' by Solyl Kundu Lunch break Stage Conjuring Competition for 'juniors' Lecture /'demo' (name to be announced soon) Stage Conjuring Competition for 'seniors' Coffee Break Gala Show by selected performers Thanks giving. Six competitors in the juniors' group and ten competitors in the seniors' category will be accepted in the first come first accepted basis. (The program is subject to addition and / or alteration) A souvenir will be published to commemorate the festival that would be unique in nature. There will be a section on magic effects contributed by the eminent creators of Art of magic. It is expected to be a treasure trove of magic. All advertising matters have to be Camera-Ready proportionate layout and in Black & White. For Advertisement tariff and colored matters please contact. Delegate fee for magicians is US$ 30.00 only (spouse US$25.00 only sans the kit), and for dealers US$ 40.00 only. That includes Coffee with snacks on 16th, and Breakfast, Lunch and Coffee with snacks on 17th. Only 200 delegates will be enlisted in first-come-first-accepted basis. All queries should be aimed to Solyl Kundu (Salil Kumar Kundu), TVP – IBM (USA) for India - N) at solylkundu@vsnl.com. ----------------- 15. Update On Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante) Health ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Veronica and I went down to Birmingham three weeks ago for my first, six month check up (since the operation in June 2004), with the surgeon. I’m happy to report that he’s over the moon with my progress! I now have 65% of normal lung capacity, against 28% before the operation, so apart from infections, which will take their toll each time; the surgeon says that I should now only lose a normal amount of lung power each year, the same as anybody else. He has been getting regular reports on my progress from my specialist (Doctor Vaughn) here in Doncaster, who is also astonished at my recovery. He keeps saying - 'Remarkable, remarkable'! Mr Vaughn was so impressed with his handiwork (and my progress), he called in a couple of other surgeons into his office while we were there, to 'show me off' to them, and to look at the X-rays. I said - 'Well, what do you expect, we are both ‘Great Magicians’, in our own right'! That made them laugh. Mr Vaughn then went on to explain that I was/had been, a professional magician, fire-eater etc (now retired), and that it was the ‘Petroleum Ether’ that I had used as fuel for many years for my fire-eating act, which had damaged and weakened my lungs, thus causing the disease.. (I only used this fuel here in the U.K. as I couldn’t find the equivalent I had been using in New Zealand and Australia) So the bottom line is that I'm as well as can be expected, considering that my disease is incurable. The operation has extended my life and quality of.. from five to ten years, so I can't really complain; except I wish I could go back to performing on stage again. Oh well.. ----------------- 16. Moving Objects Using Magic - Jamie-G ----------------- Message from Jamie-G (Canada) Effect: Magician takes a plastic empty cup and places it on top of a table. The magician then rubs his hands together to generate heat. The magician then puts his hands besides the cup and the cup starts moving all over the table. Props: A package of invisible elastic threads (loops) and an empty plastic cup. Method: Make your loop line and now you can move the cup by crossing the loop line and the cup. You can now move the cup around the table. At the end of the routine what I do is make the cup fall off the table. At the end of the routine just let the loop line go and the loop will return back to your wrist. Note: This is a basic routine that I use to move most objects with loops. Use light objects because the loops will break if you put to much stress on them. You can practice making your loop line with an elastic band (rubber band). Patter: Today I would like to show everyone what happens when you to generate heat and control when that heat goes. Some people call it telekinesis and some might even call it a form of E.S.P. (at this point you would do the effect.) Note-#-2: Loops are a great way for doing magic. As you can see I just love the effect. ----------------- 17. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 36 THE EXOTIC POLYNESIAN ISLANDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. MAGICAL ADVENTURES IN PARADISE She Wore Red Feathers and a ‘Huli -Huli’ Skirt” is how the old song goes. The only Red Feathers I observed were the ones on Parrots and Cockatoos, but the Grass Hula skirts – ‘MM-mmm’ – I raced out and bought a lawn mower, and hedge clippers! I got my first passport May 28th 1964. Two weeks previously (around the 11th May) my then agent in Auckland, the late George Tollerton, telephoned. “Tom got a booking for you – New Caledonia, on to Tahiti, then back to Noumea. Want it?” “YES, PLEASE!” Panic Stations; TWO WEEKS! Visa needed, and a passport. Strings were pulled, passport sorted in record time, but no Visa, yet. Also needing Vaccinations – Typhoid, Hepatitis A, etc my Doctor says, “Good God, man, you should’ve had these at least a month ago”! He ‘bangs’ them in, saying “Come back on Monday” (the 1st June) Still no Visa for Tahiti - bloody French Embassy! Monday - “I don’t think they’re going to ‘take’,” says the Doc. “I’d better give you another shot”. “Thanks a lot,” I said. Visa finally arrives on the 3rd June; I arrived in Noumea, the Capital City of New Caledonia, on the 5th June. Now that was really pushing it! The ‘Doc’ was wrong! Woefully wrong! The first batch of inoculations took and, God help me, so did the second! Bloody Hell, I copped the lot. A full-blown fever! Christ, I was so ill! GILBERT THONG (pronounced Joollbear Tong), famous entrepreneur /promoter throughout Polynesia at the time, was a worried man. HE was worried? I should have been hospitalised. At the Hotel, I couldn’t walk; I practically had to crawl, up the stairs to my room! Gilbert owned a nightclub, the ‘CABARET TAHITI’. Situated just off the beach, all on one level, it was designed like a Tahitian Beach hut, and the atmosphere was fantastic – ‘An Entertainer’s Paradise, in Paradise’. There was a small flat attached to the Club, where MARITA, the Club Manageress (a most beautiful young woman of Chinese/French-Tahitian mix), lived. Gilbert installed me there, with Marita playing nurse. What a nurse -I wanted to be ‘sick’ (well, not that sick) forever! Aw c’mon, I was a virile, twenty years old red-blooded Kiwi male, still ‘feeling’ (excuse the pun) his way in life. Well, with a name like Tom (cat), what do you expect? Thankfully the shows, to be held at the ‘Au Rex Theatre’ which was situated on the main street of Noumea, were not due to start for a week. Gilbert had brought me over early so that we could rehearse the Hypnotism show. French is the official language, (I can only speak two – English and swearing). I’ll expound further later on. NEW CALEDONIA; is in the tropical South Pacific. The average temperature fluctuates around a balmy 30 deg. C. There I was, fluctuating between uncontrollable shaking and shivering, to ‘burning up’ with the seething heat of a fiery furnace! Gilbert was panic-stricken. He had brought over, apart from me, a band that played like the Beatles (wore wigs, etc.), and singer, JOY YATES. After 4 or 5 days I’ve settled down a bit – just a little bit – still shaking with ‘cold’, and then breaking out into a steamy sweat. However, I got to the Theatre where the Band and Joy Yates were rehearsing. Behind the stage’s main backdrop was a mountain of black velvet curtaining, piled up against the back wall – it must have weighed a ton! Just what I needed. In my shaking, freezing cold cycles I’d bury myself under the world’s biggest velvety duvet (nothing but the best), trying to get warm in 85 Plus deg. F heat! How incongruous! Ten minutes later, I would ‘Explode’ out, as the ‘Heat Furnace’ cycle hit me once again! Bloody Doctor! He was NOT exactly in my good books, and that HAD to be the understatement of the year! The concerts’ programme was much the same as Johnny Cooper’s – first half, the Band, Singer, and I, performing the Magic – Yoga acts. Second half, all Hypnotism. Gilbert had booked six shows into the Rex Theatre, afterwards flying us out to Tahiti for shows in Papeete, the Capital. Then back to New Caledonia for shows at his Night Club. THE SHOW JUST HAD TO GO ON! ------------------ 18. 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) ------------------- 19. 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® nor 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 2005 Alan Watson