* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand
* www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #347
Date: Sunday 4th September 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. The Houdini Fund Funds Available
3. Racherbaumer Family Safe
4. The Fate Of The Christenberry's
5. Harry Anderson And Wife Are OK
6. News On Gary Hughes
7. International Magic Convention In Bangkok, Thailand
8. The Magic Circle 75th Commemorative Plate
9. Adelaide Convention Competition Results
10. New Zealand "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2005
11. Australian "Magic Show Tour" 2005
12. Magic Mountaineering
13. A Dice Stacking Retrospective, Part 5.
14. Bunny School - Jamie-G
15. Dates For New Zealand Magicians To Remember
16. The Amazing Orchante Saga
17. e-zine Archives
18. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice

------------------
1. Editors Message
-------------------
Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One

Watching the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina devastation shown on CNN 
effecting the lost people in the South especially the thousands of people 
who lost their lives, or were effected by losing their homes, property and 
families has left us shocked especially when we have had some wonderful 
times in New Orleans and the many magical friends we have there. Our 
thoughts and prayers go out to them all.

Maria Ibanez has done a fantastic job in keeping the magical community 
informed and up to date on this tragedy with regards to the local magicians. 
Thanks Maria - great job!

--------------------------------
Michele and I have really enjoyed reading Marvyn and Carol Roy's story "Mr 
Electric Unplugged" published by Mike Caveney's Magic Words. They are an 
inspiration to us all. This book is a must read!

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

-----------------
2. The Houdini Fund Funds Available
-----------------
Message from Maria Ibanez
Society of American Magicians
National 1st Vice President

This is being sent at the request of George Schindler.

Please let your magician friends know that there are funds available to 
assist any magicians who have incurred personal injury as a result of the 
Hurricane in the South.

The Houdini fund can be reached at showbiz10@aol.com. Inquiries are 
confidential; please leave a phone number with your request,

George Schindler

As an added note: you do not have to be a member of the S.A.M. to apply for 
assistance from the Houdini fund.

-----------------
3. Racherbaumer Family Safe
-----------------
Message from Maria Ibanez
Society of American Magicians
National 1st Vice President

Greetings everyone: Just received the following from the Racherbaumer 
family -- thankfully they are just fine in Natchez MS. His e-mail copied 
below.

Thanks for the well wishes...from Racherbaumer, safe in Natchez MS..no 
phone..just clothes on back..headed north next week...don't know about the 
rest of the crew from N.O. will keep everyone posted.. thanks again JR

-----------------
4. The Fate Of The Christenberry's
----------------- 
Message from Respectfully,
Maria Ibanez
Society of American Magicians
National 1st Vice President

Greetings: Received a copy of the following e-mail to Darleen at the I.B.M. 
headquarters and which is being passed on here with the blessings of Mr. J. 
Schnepp so everyone will be aware of the fate of the Christenberry's.

---------------- 
Dear Darleen:

We left home Saturday with $150 in my pocket plus credit cards. My daughter 
had gotten a reservation for me in Hazelhurst, Ms at a motel. Well, that was 
an experience. The electricity went off Sunday afternoon - no gas, no food. 
All the restaurants in the area were fast food places and used electricity. 
There was no ice either.

Hazelhurst is just across the Ms line about 35 miles south of Jackson. The 
hurricane hit us Tuesday morning. We spent the day watching the shingles 
blow off and parts of the roof. The rain blew the rain under the door and we 
had water half way across the room. The next day the water pressure dropped 
very low and no water would flow into the toilet tank so you couldn't flush. 
With no electricity, no food, no water we left and drove all the way across 
MS with no electricity. When we got into Georgia I was able to get gas, 
phoned my son in Atlanta and we finally got there that night.

So, we're safe staying with my son for, it looks like, at least a month. We 
left home figuring we'd be back in about three days with no check books or 
anything except with this new laptop - two changes of clothes and just 
enough medicine for Gladys (10 Rx) until Friday. Just returned from the drug 
store and they're now filling all our prescriptions, 10 for Gladys and 6 for 
me.

We're safe but devastated. As far as I can learn our home is flooded, 
possibly to the roof - everything lost - all magic, books, valuable 
financial files - everything.

I can be reached at my web site or mail at: 3166 Millash Run, Buford, GA 
30519.

Love to all and please pray for us.

Earle Christenberry

-----------------
5. Harry Anderson And Wife Are OK
----------------- 
Message from Maria Ibanez
Society of American Magicians
National 1st Vice President

From Ricker:

Posts from Jay Johnston on his site say that Harry Anderson and wife are ok.

Myself and Sydney only lost a ham Antenna from the storm. Bob Sanders from 
Selma and Michael Baker from Birmingham are all fine.

Tabby Crabb (Tabman tables) got lots of water in his shop and studio, and 
he's in TENNESSEE. But all is well there too. This was a bad Hurricane and I 
feel for so many people that have lost their homes and loved ones.

Syd has suggestions for places to give contributions on her web site at 
http://www.doctordirt.com/blog

-----------------
6. News On Gary Hughes
-----------------
Message from Maria Ibanez
Society of American Magicians
1st National Vice President

Greetings everyone:

You have all been asking for word on the Hughes' and on Brenda and her 
family. Last night through Rich Dooley, SAM National President, we received 
an e-mail which was forwarded from Brenda -- here is what she said in 
summary form:

This is Brenda. Gary asked me to try and get this email through to let 
everyone know he is safe. He, Fay and the entire family are in Ville Platte, 
LA with Fay's family. He may be moving to Lafayette for a while since it 
appears we won't have any utilities for approximately 2 to 3 months. As far 
as we know, Gary's house did not get any water damage. We aren't sure about 
wind damage but he is one of the lucky ones.

I am in Southaven, MS with my family and everyone is safe.

That's it for know. Please pass the word on for me to everyone else. I don't 
have my address book available and cannot recall all the email addresses 
necessary to contact them directly. Thanks and please ask everyone to say a 
prayer for us, we really need them.

Shortly after the above, Brenda wrote again to let us know that

Gary had called to say the news were not too bad for him. His home was fine 
but without utilities and it will be approximately 2 months before that is 
restored. Gary and Fay will be moving to their fishing camp until services 
at home are restored.

There is mixed information with regards to how the office fared.

Brenda's home had a small amount of water damage which is great news for 
them. They have relatives about 30 miles outside New Orleans and they have 
offered their home to them.

Brenda also wrote:
Although I am not a magician, I feel that I know each of you personally. The 
magical community is like an extended family and I know that we are in your 
thoughts and prayers.

-----------------
7. International Magic Convention In Bangkok, Thailand
-----------------
Message from John Teo (Singapore)

14 to 16 October 2005

Featuring:
Jonathan Neal, Henri Evans, Richard Kaufman, George Bar Magic, Makha Tendo, 
Mirko, Keiko Muto, Kojo Sugaya, P.J.Wang, Ren Wei Dong, Frankie, Yang Lu Lu,
Kenneth Chan, Byeong-Wook Roh, Kyoto, etc.

Highlights:
*Welcome Party on 14 October 2005 with special Thai cultural shows and 
dinner, and a magic show by Thai magicians

*Asian Night on 15 October 2005 where magicians from Japan, China, Taiwan, 
Hong Kong, etc will perform while you dine

*International Gala Night on 16 October 2005 where you dine and will be 
entertained by magicians from Europe, USA and other parts of the world

*More than 25 magic dealers from various parts of the world

*All the various activities take place at The Emerald Hotel - there is no 
need for transportation to other venues.

Competitions:
*Stage Competition
First Prize: US $ 2,000
Second Prize: 1,000
Third Prize: 500

*Close-up Competition
First Prize: US $ 1,000
Second Prize: $ 500
Third Prize: $ 200

For details, visit www.siam-magic.com and register as soon as possible to 
secure a place in this fantastic convention of magic. While you are there, 
enjoy the hospitality of the people of BANGKOK.

-----------------
8. The Magic Circle 75th Commemorative Plate
-----------------
Message from Richard Walls (NZ)

Rummaging around looking for somewhere to stack away some bits 'n pieces 
pending the arrival from Australia of two of our grandkids, I came across 
The Magic Circle 75th commemorative plate by Wedgwood (no less) that I had 
tucked away and forgotten about.

It is number 61 of a limited edition of 125. I was a member in those days! I 
do not know whether a matching one was produced for the recent centenary 
but, if anyone is interested, I will consider an offer for this obvious 
collector's Piece.

If it remains "tucked away", it will probably end up one day (at, I hope, 
some distant date!) in an auction room where no-one will know of its origin 
or value - if it has any!

I can be reached at rfwalls@xtra.co.nz.

-----------------
9. Adelaide Convention Competition Results
-----------------
Message from Roy J Hopwood (Australia)

We concluded a very successful Convention in Adelaide and will get you some 
news soon. We held three (3) contests, Junior Close Up; Open Close-Up: Open 
Stage.

The Winners were:

Junior Close up Joel Howlett from Newcastle in NSW
Open Close up John Turner from Adelaide
Open Stage Joel Howlett from Newcastle in NSW

-----------------
10. New Zealand "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2005
-----------------
Message from Gene McCarthy (NZ)

Sunday 20th November
Taupo 4:30pm & 7:30pm
Great Lake Centre

Monday 21st November
Napier 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Napier Municipal Theatre

Tuesday 22nd November
Gisborne 5:00pm & 7:30pm
War Memorial Theatre

Wednesday 23rd November
Rotorua 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Rotorua Sound Shell

Thursday 24th November
Tauranga 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Bay Court Theatre

Friday 25th November Travel to Auckland

Saturday 26th November
Auckland 11:00pm - 2:00pm & 5:00pm
Sunday 27th November
Auckland 11:00pm - 2:00pm & 5:00pm
Logan Campbell Centre

Monday 28th November
Whangarei 5:00pm & 7:30pm

Tuesday 29th November
Hamilton 5:00pm & 7:30pm
YMCA Leisure Centre

Wednesday 30th November
New Plymouth 5:00pm & 7:30pm
TSB Show Place

Thursday 01st December
Wanganui 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Wanganui Collegiate High School
(Prince Edward Auditorium)

Friday 2nd December Day off

Saturday 3rd December
Wellington 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Queens Wharf Events Centre

Sunday 4th December
Palmerston Nth 1:30pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm
College of Education

Monday 5th December Day off

Tuesday 6th December Day off

Wednesday 7th December
Nelson 7:00pm
Trafalgar Centre

Thursday 8th December
Christchurch 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Friday 9th December
Christchurch 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Theatre Royal
Saturday 10th December Day off

Sunday 11th December
Timaru 5:30pm
Theatre Royal

Monday 12th December
Dunedin 2:30pm & 7:00pm
Regent Theatre

Tuesday 13th December
Invercargill 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Stadium Southland

-----------------
11. Australian "Magic Show Tour" 2005
-----------------
Message from  Gene McCarthy (NZ)

Thursday 15th September 2005
Cairns 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Friday 16th September
Cairns 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Cairns Civic Theatre

Saturday 17th September Travel Day

Sunday 18th September
Townsville 1:30pm - 4:00pm & 7:30pm
Upper Ross Community PCYC

Monday 19th September
Mackay 2:00pm - 4:30pm & 7:30pm
Mackay Entertainment Centre

Tuesday 20th September Day off

Wednesday 21st September Travel

Thursday 22nd September Day off

Friday 23rd September
Rockhampton 2:00pm - 4:30pm & 7:30pm
Emmaus College Hall

Saturday 24th September
Gladstone 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Gladstone Entertainment Centre

Sunday 25th September
Bundaberg 7:00pm
Bundaberg North State High School

Monday 26th September
Nambour 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Tuesday 27th September
Nambour 2:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Nambour Civic Centre

Wednesday 28th September
Toowoomba 1:30pm & 4:00pm
Harristown State High School

Thursday 29th September Day off

Friday 30th September Day off

Saturday 1st October
Gold Coast 1:30pm & 4:00pm
Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre

Sunday 2nd October
Brisbane 12:00pm - 3:00pm & 6:30pm
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Monday 3rd October Off

Tuesday 4th October
Lismore 4:00pm
Lismore District Workers Club

Wednesday 5th October Drive Day

Thursday 6th October
Newcastle 1:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Civic Theatre

Friday 7th October
Gosford 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Central Coast Leagues Club

Saturday 8th October
Bondi 11am - 1:30pm & 4:30pm
Sunday 9th October
Bondi 11am - 1:30pm & 4:30pm
Sydney Convention Centre (The Tumbalong Auditorium)

Monday 10th October Off

Tuesday 11th October
Penrith 12:30pm - 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Panthers World of Entertainment

Wednesday 12th October
Wollongong 1:30pm - 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Woonona Bulli RSL

Thursday 13th October Off

Friday 14th October
Hurstville 11:00am - 2:00pm & 5:00pm
Marana Hall

Saturday 15th October Off

Sunday 16th October  Travel

Monday 17th October
Canberra 12:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Llewellyn Hall

Tuesday 18th October
Wagga Wagga 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Civic Theatre

Wednesday 19th October
Albury 1:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Albury Performing Arts Centre

Thursday 20th October
Bendigo 1:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Eaglehawk School

Friday 21st October
Ballarat 1:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm
1870 Founders Theatre (University of Ballarat)

Saturday 22nd October Off

Sunday 23rd October
Melbourne 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Monday 24th October
Melbourne 1:00pm - 4:00pm & (7:00pm)
Melbourne Town Hall

Tuesday 25th October
Geelong
4:30pm & 7:00pm
The Arena

Wednesday 26th October Ferry

Thursday 27th October
Burnie 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Burnie Civic Centre

Friday 28th October
Devonport
4:00pm & 7:00pm
Devonport Entertainment & Convention Centre

Saturday 29th October
Launceston 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Princess Theatre

Sunday 30th October
Hobart 1:30pm 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Wrest Point Hotel Casino

Monday 31st October Off

Tuesday 1st November Ferry

Wednesday 2nd November
Mildura 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Chaffey College Hall

Thursday 3rd November Drive Day

Friday 4th November
Adelaide 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Saturday 5th November
Adelaide 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Thebarton Theatre

Sunday 6th November Travel

Monday 7th November Travel

Tuesday 8th November
Kalgoorlie 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Town Hall

Wednesday 9th November Travel

Thursday 10th November Off

Friday 11th November
Perth 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Saturday 12th November
Perth 1:00pm - 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Sunday 13th November
Perth 1:00pm - 4:30pm & 7:00pm
Regal Theatre

-----------------
12. Magic Mountaineering
-----------------
Message from Chuck Henderson

THE M&M'S OF MAGIC August 29, 2005

Glad to see Pat Wagner's smiling face. She has been 'chained' to her bed for 
the last four months due to a serious back problem. Good guy Glenn Vodhanel 
brought Pat and her super funny hand puppet to the meeting for her first 
excursion since May.

Dr. Harvey Rosen has also been seriously ill for the last couple of months 
but forced himself to attend the meeting in an attempt to dissuade us from 
filing a grievance for non - attendance.

Absentee member 'Hi-Jack' Berman moved to Henderson, Nevada over a year ago. 
I understand it was because he 'liked the sound of my last name.' I received 
a copy of the Henderson, Nevada newspaper with a front page article about 
Jack including pictures in his clown make up that takes "an hour to put on 
and 3 ½ minutes to take off." Jack was famous in LA as a top Shriner clown. 
The article told how Jack loves to make kids laugh as 'Hi - Jack' the Clown.

He was a 30 year member of the Al Malaikah Masonic Shriners in LA. and was 
associated with their hospital. Shriner hospitals treat primarily children 
with severe burns, but some also offer care for complex orthopedic problems 
and spinal cord injuries. Jack entertained children at the Shriner hospitals 
for most of those 30 years with magic tricks, blowing up balloons and 
twisting them in the shape of funny animals and other antics that caused 
children, who were at a low point in their lives, to laugh.

'Hi-Jacks' wife Sandy was quoted in the article: "Every time Jack sees a 
child, no matter where we are, he has to do a little trick for the child." 
Hi-Jack enjoys his new home in Nevada and tells everyone, "This is the most 
wonderful time of my life." By the way, a few weeks ago Jack, while clowning 
around in a parade, was riding a motorized skateboard that slid on gravel 
resulting in six stitches in his forehead. He completely recovered and still 
says: "It is the most wonderful time of my life."

After enjoying Ampaporn's delicious food it was now time for The Magic 
Mountaineers to baffle and amaze.

Dr. Harvey Rosen's art of prestidigitation was in sync with three different 
coin effects. The first trick was kicked off by tossing four half dollars on 
the table and placing one in his left hand that he slapped against the table 
causing it to disappear and then reappear in his right hand that was under 
the table. Hey Doc! Would you do that again?

Hey Doc! picked up TWO coins in his left hand and slapped them against the 
table and, "Where did the coins go?" Both coins reappeared in his right hand 
that was under the table. This was repeated with three coins. When the 
effect was done with four coins all four coins disappeared but when he 
removed his right hand from under the table it was empty. He then picked up 
an invisible coin with his left hand and tapped it on top of the table and 
ALL FOUR COINS APPEARED IN HIS RIGHT HAND WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM UNDER THE 
TABLE.

Dr. Rosen's second effect consisted of four coins that were placed on the 
table at the four corners of an imaginary 15 inch square. He placed his 
right palm over one of the coins that promptly disappeared only to reappear 
under his left hand that was over a coin in the opposite corner. Those two 
coins then disappeared from under his left palm and reappeared with a coin 
in the third corner. Doctor Rosen now held his right palm over all three 
coins in one corner and placed his left palm over the one remaining coin 
and -- he socked it to us once again. All four coins appeared under his left 
palm when he raised it from the table.

Dr. Rosen, in an attempt to make up for his absence from the last meeting, 
presented a third coin effect. He tossed onto the table six beautiful (and 
expensive) Morgan Silver Dollars and a copper coin about the size of a half 
dollar. He caused each coin to penetrate the table, one at a time, and 
reappear in his other hand that was under the table. This was followed by 
picking up three silver coins with his right hand and holding them beneath 
the table. The three remaining silver coins and the copper coin were 
retained in his left hand until he slapped his hand on top of the table.

Remember, his other hand was under the table. The three silver and one 
copper coin disappeared from under his left hand. When he removed his other 
hand from under the table it held all six Morgan Silver Dollars plus the 
Copper Coin. He then slammed his hand, holding the coins, against the table 
and all seven coins disappeared but when he removed his right hand from 
under the table there were no coins. Instead, there was a small coin purse 
from which he removed a heavy 1 ½ X 8 inch long machinist's drill that 
weighed approximately four pounds. OK Doc! You are forgiven for your absence 
from the last meeting.

Member Pat Raskind, recovering from hip surgery, showed us an excellent card 
effect. She instructed a volunteer to shuffle a deck and then remove 15 
cards and deal them in three piles of 5 cards each.

"Look through the first pile and find a card you like and then put the three 
piles together and place your card in the approximate center of the stack." 
Pat then told the volunteer, "deal three piles of five cards each and then 
look at the first pile -- is your card in that pile?" The reply was 'No.' 
"Is your card in the second pile?" The reply was, 'Yes.' "Put your card on 
top of the middle pile and place another pile on top.and the remaining pile 
underneath." She instructed a different volunteer to mention a favorite 
name.

The volunteer responded with, "Albert." Pat instructed the volunteer to deal 
one card face down for each letter in Albert. Pat asked the volunteer the 
name of his selected card. He was them told to turn over the last card he 
dealt onto the table. Pat! You did it -- that was his selected card. Very 
good magic for a kid with a bum hip but who is recovering rapidly.

Albert 'Alberto' Raskind now stepped up to the table and told a volunteer to 
shuffle the deck and then cut them in half and give either one of the stacks 
to Alberto. The volunteer was told to hold his stack of cards under the 
table and to remove a card and give it to Alberto face down and without 
looking at the card. Alberto inserted the card into the stack he was holding 
under the table. Alberto then removed a card from his stack and handed it 
face down to the volunteer and asked that he place it face up inside the 
volunteer's stack of cards, that he was holding under the table, but without 
looking at the card.

The volunteer then handed a different card to Alberto who placed it face up 
in the deck he was also holding under the table. This was repeated with the 
third card. Both Alberto and the volunteer now held three cards face up in 
their stacks under the table. The volunteer was asked to spread his stack of 
cards across the table -- face down Alberto also spread his cards face down 
at the approximate same time as the volunteer. The numerical value of the 
face up cards in each spread matched. In the volunteer's spread were the 
four of hearts, four of diamonds and two of clubs. In Alberto's pile were 
the four of clubs, four of spades and two of hearts. The ex-Hungarian Gypsy 
'done' did it again.

Harry "CPA To The Stars" Shaffer came up with a tremendous 'Bar Trick' that 
will blow your mind.

He placed a knife, fork, spoon and salt shaker on the table and next to each 
other. The volunteer was asked to mentally select one of the utensils and 
not tell anyone his thoughts. Harry then turned his back to the table and 
directed the volunteer to change the arrangement of the utensils and salt 
shaker. After the volunteer had done as requested he was asked to change the 
arrangement again and again. Now for the Mind Blower -- Harry turned around 
and immediately named the utensil selected by the volunteer. That was but 
another reason for Harry's long time membership in the Psychic Entertainers 
Assoc.

Glenn "Computer Whiz" Vodhanel has been working 12 to 14 hours a day seven 
days a week not only at his own computer company but also with Disneyland --  
engineering those beautiful firework displays highlighting Disneyland's 50th 
anniversary.

If you have not seen the magnificent Disneyland fireworks display, that will 
continue until the end of the year and is considered the most beautiful in 
the world by many aficionados, then perhaps you saw the spectacular 4th of 
July fireworks at Warner Park here in Woodland Hills. That was but another 
example of Glenn 'The Fireworks Kid' Vodhanel 's creative abilities.

Glenn managed to inveigle sufficient time for the 1:00 M&M meeting with a 
couple of darn clever effects before he headed out for Mickey Mouse Land.

Glenn showed us a clear plastic two inch high pill bottle. It was empty as 
were his hands except for the bottle. All at once a bright red silk scarf 
appeared in his hands from 'nowhere country.' He stuffed the silk inside the 
pill bottle and then placed the pill bottle (with silk inside) on a sheet of 
plain 8 X 10 white paper. After Glenn finished rolling the paper over the 
pill bottle and red silk, he folded the edges of the paper over the center.

Glenn quoted Einstein, "The only 'constant' in life is change." The paper 
was unfolded by a volunteer and we saw the pill box inside -- BUT WHERE IS 
THE RED SILK? It had completely disappeared.

Glenn explained this was but another Einstein 'Constant.'
Glenn's second effect was with a three foot piece of black twine and a round 
two inch diameter ring. While holding both ends of the string in one hand --  
with his other hand he slid the ring over one of the ends to the center of 
the string. Glenn informed us he was going to remove the ring without 
sliding it to the end of the twine. He said a few magic words and somehow 
managed to slyly slip the solid ring through the middle of the string 
without damaging the string. We examined the string and ring; there were no 
gaps or tears in either. To further confuse us he repeated the effect many 
times with the twine inside the ring. Each time with a different technique 
we saw the ring simply go through the twine without damaging either the ring 
or twine. Not bad magic for a firecracker popper par excellence.

The meeting wound up with lots of good cheer. A great group of guys and 
gals.
Many thanks to the late Dr. Harry Seagle for suggesting the magic meeting, 
in which he faithfully participated, until his demise.

The light of my life, Ampaporn, just returned from a two week trip to 
Thailand with a missionary group, Zoe International, from the church we 
attend. They visited several Christian orphanages and provided supplies and 
love for the wonderful children. The entire group of missionaries were truly 
inspired by the trip.

We will see you birds and birdettes at the next M&M get together on 
September 17 at 1:00.

-----------------
13. A Dice Stacking Retrospective, Part 5
-----------------
Message from Tony L. Lewis (US)

Hi fellow magic enthusiasts,

The previous article in this series described the dice stacking workshop 
that juggling guru, Todd Strong and myself conducted at the 2001 Lodi, CA 
juggling festival.

*          *          *
After we had completed our workshop Todd Strong and I got together to 
compare our dice stacking skills. We pretty much were equal to one another 
in all the various maneuvers that can be done with standard casino dice. We 
were both adept at what I call 'the takeoff' and what Todd refers to as 
'decapitation.' This is the move where the performer removes the dice one by 
one from a stack of four ( or more) with a moving dice cup. He/she then 
proceeds to restack them with a snap of the cup.

This is rightfully considered to be the move that separates expert dice 
stackers from the crowd.

It was interesting to note the difference between our two styles of 
stacking. In the style of the magician, my stack appears to be effortless. 
The forward lip of my cup barely touches the table as I stack.

In the style of he juggler, Todd¹s stacking uses much more muscle. He tells 
me that he has to regularly replace his cup when its lip gets too far worn 
down. My original leather cup bought in 1958 is still quite usable albeit 
somewhat worn looking. I still favor it for the most difficult moves, but I 
use a beautiful custom made, hand stitched cup when I am doing a show. This 
happens to be the only soft sided cup that the late, great Mike Rogers ever 
made.

At the conclusion of our round of friendly competition, Todd pulled out a
35 mm film cannister and four 5mm dice. He then proceeded to stack those.
That¹s when I conceded the point that he was indeed a more skilled dice 
stacker than I. I could barely see those damn dice, never mind stack them!

I have tried to duplicate Todd's feat at home with 8 mm tiny dice as 
stacking 5mm ones is clearly beyond my capabilities. I manage to 
successfully stack the 8mm ones about one time in 20. This is hardly 
material for use in a public demonstration. As an encore bit in my regular 
dice stacking routine I stack *one* 8mm die on top of three 3/4 inch casino 
dice. I thought that was pretty good until I met Todd.

Here is what makes stacking these tiny dice so difficult. Casino dice¹s 
measurements are guaranteed correct to within 1/10,000 of an inch. That¹s 
why they are such a delight to stack. If your stack is a little skewed, 
these dice will still hold due to their perfect balance and virtually 
flawless surfaces.

Tiny dice are made of molded plastic. You have to examine them with a 
magnifying glass to make sure that they come *reasonably close* to being 
perfect cubes. Hence they would be difficult to stack even if they were full 
size.

Todd is also able to stack four 8 inch foam dice using a trash basket for a 
cup. I am pretty sure that I could master this one, but it has no practical 
use in a magician¹s repertoire. It¹s a neat bit for a juggler if he/she is 
willing to schlepp all that equipment around with him. I would have a hard 
time just storing it in my 850 foot, two bedroom apartment.

Using a giant chimney cup given to me by Jim Zee (Zachary), I managed to 
learn how to stack 12 dice. IMO this has very little entertainment value, 
although other dice stackers are impressed by it. I feel a lay audience 
starts to get bored after the performer has picked up the sixth die. BTW 
picking 12 dice up one by one requires so much wrist action that mine gets 
quite sore after I try it for a while.

Todd Strong tells me, and I have always found him to be most truthful, that 
he has managed to stack *24 or 25* dice in a giant cup! WOW! That definitely 
ranks him as being one of the world¹s best dice stackers.

There is a pretty well substantiated story that an Aussie Magician by the 
name of Brad Manuel holds the record for the most dice stacked. Todd and I 
think that it is 25, but it may be 26. You can see Brad sitting behind his 
humongous stack at his web site at http://www.bradmanuel.com/rovingshows.htm

Note, that the giant cup Brad uses is markedly narrower than a normal dice 
cup. Todd is determined to at least tie Brad¹s record. From what I know of 
Todd, he will most likely succeed. I will go into more detail about multiple 
dice stacking later on in this series of articles. BTW, I damn near broke my 
wrist stacking 12 dice. That¹s all for me in that department!

WARNING. Todd Strong has backed off of multiple dice stacking because he is 
worried about developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Please keep that in mind 
before you attempt what IMO is a rather boring form of dice stacking.

In Japan there is a super-star named Masaaki Sakai. Every year he hosts the 
annual New Year's television special. Each year he learns and performs a new 
skill. In a previous year he performed a trick-shot billiard routine. In 
another year he performed card manipulation and card throwing. (Ricky Jay 
was his coach that year.)

Last November Masaaki Saka arranged to have Todd Strong flown over to Japan 
to teach him dice stacking. Todd, who doesn¹t like to talk about money, 
tells me that he received a pretty good chunk of change for the 21/2 weeks 
he spent tutoring Masaaki Sakai in dice stacking. Todd¹s new pupil was 
determined to break the record for the number of dice stacked, He had a 
custom cup made for that purpose. He didn¹t achieve his goal.

Well that¹s my evidence to support my contention that Todd Strong is the 
world¹s best dice stacker. You be the judge of whether or not my call is 
correct.

In ending this part of my series of articles on dice stacking, I just want 
to say one thing. During the 50 odd years that I have been a performing 
magician, I have met some very interesting entertainers. Some of them are 
legends of magic. I feel that Todd Strong holds a very high place in that 
group. I never tire of swapping stories about our respective areas of 
expertise with him. He is a juggler who is very interested in hearing about 
magic and I am a magician who is equally fascinated by juggling.

* * *
Next time we start to follow my 45 year history of dice stacking. I believe 
that there are some very interesting highlights there.

Regards,

Tony L. Lewis

-----------------
14. Bunny School - Jamie-G
-----------------
Message from Jamie-G (Canada)

Peter, Paul, Pat and Phil (basic sponge bunny routine)

(This basic routine is to get you started with some of the basics)

Effect:
The magician takes a sponge bunny from his pocket and introduces it as 
Peter. Peter, the magician notes, is a bunny magician from a large family of 
four bunny magician brothers. The magician grasps Peter with his other hand, 
blows on that hand and opens the hand to show that Peter has vanished. The 
magician then explains that Peter has, in fact, used his magic word to 
transport himself to the inside of the magician's pocket.

The magician reaches inside his pocket and pulls out the bunny that had 
disappeared. The magician asks the spectator to open their hand, and places 
the bunny there, closing their hand around the bunny, turning the hand down 
and asking the spectator to keep it tightly closed.

The magician pulls a second sponge bunny, Paul, from his right pocket, takes 
it with his left hand and says, "One plus one is what?" The spectator says 
"two". The magician reveals that Paul has gone, noting he used his magic 
word to jump in with Peter. When the spectator opens their hand both Peter 
and Paul are revealed. The magician takes the two bunnies and says, "See? 
Two," then returns both bunnies to the spectator's hand and again turns the 
spectator's hand over.

The magician pulls a third bunny, Pat, from his pocket and once again takes 
the bunny into his other hand, saying, "Two plus one is what?" The spectator 
says "three." The magician opens his hand, Pat is gone, having used his 
magic word to join his two brothers. When the spectator opens his hand he 
finds he has three bunnies in his hand!

The magician takes all three bunnies, counting them out loud "one" "two" 
"three". He once again puts them into the spectator's hand and turns their 
hand over. The magician reaches into the air to retrieve the truly 
remarkable magician bunny brother Phil, who is also invisible!. He throws 
the invisible Phil at the spectator's hand and says "Three plus one is 
what?" The spectator answers, "four," opens their hand and discovers four 
bunnies there.

The magician takes all four bunnies, counting them out loud, and puts them 
into the spectator's hand as before. The magician notes that the bunny 
brothers often like to play tricks on people, but their dad sometimes gets 
annoyed with them. The magician waves his hands over the spectators hand and 
motions for them to open their hand. The spectator now finds Peter, Paul, 
Pat and Phil have gone and one large daddy bunny is in their hand.

Props: Four small sponge bunnies and one large sponge bunny.

Setup: Four small sponge bunnies in the right pocket and the large bunny in 
the left pocket.

Method: Take one of the small sponge bunnies from your right pocket. While 
holding the bunny in you right hand you appear to take it into your left 
hand, but you actually retain the bunny in a thumb pinch in the right hand.

Note: I accomplish the thumb pinch by holding the bunny in my right hand 
with the two first fingers and bending the two fingers back toward the thumb 
just as the left hand approaches and covers the bunny as if to take it. The 
base of the right thumb clamps the bunny just as the left hand closes over 
it. The right hand falls to your side and the left remains high and "in the 
frame". If the timing is right and the movements are natural, the retention 
of the bunny is quite invisible.

Blow on your left hand and open it, showing the bunny has vanished. You tell 
the spectator that the bunny has jumped to your pocket, so you reach with 
your right hand into your pocket. Keeping the first bunny in thumb pinch, 
grab a second bunny with your thumb and first finger. Ask the spectator to 
open their hand and press both two bunnies into their hand.

Close the spectator's hand before the bunnies expand and separate then turn 
their hand over palm down (this helps insure they do not prematurely open 
their hand). You remind them that they have one bunny.

Reach into your pocket and grab another bunny. Show it to the spectator and 
repeat the thumb pinch move. Blow on your hand, ask, "One plus one is what?" 
and wait for the spectator to say "two". Then open your left hand to show 
the bunny has vanished. With a glance at their hand, they will open their 
hand and find two bunnies there. With your left hand, pluck them one at a 
time from the spectator's hand, counting as you go, and place each bunny 
into your right hand. This will add the spectator's bunnies to the one you 
still retain in thumb pinch in your right.

Counting out loud reinforces the idea of how many bunnies are in your right 
hand, the count of course being short by one. Press all the bunnies in your 
right hand together, take them as one in your left fingers and place them 
back into the spectator's hand, again turning their hand down to deter them 
from opening their hand. Note again that the spectator has two bunnies 
(really there are three).

Retrieve the fourth bunny from your right pocket and repeat the thumb pinch 
move. Blow on your left hand and ask, "Two plus one is what?" When the 
spectator says "three", open your hand to show that the bunny has vanished 
and let the spectator discover they now hold three bunnies.

Repeat the sequence of plucking the bunnies from the spectator's hand with 
your left fingers and placing them into your right hand, as before. Return 
all four bunnies to the spectator's hand as before. Reach into the air 
(grabbing nothing) and pretend to magically toss the invisible bunny into 
the spectator's hand, saying "Three plus one is what?" The spectator answers 
"four" and finds that they now have four bunnies.

Ask the spectator to count the bunnies carefully, just to be sure. As they 
are doing this, reach into your left pocket with your left hand a grab the 
large sponge bunny, keeping it closed inside your left hand. With your right 
hand, take all four sponge bunnies from the spectator and press them 
together. Bring your right hand to your left hand and pretend to transfer 
the four sponge bunnies to your left hand. Use your left hand to place the 
large sponge bunny into the spectator's hand, remembering to turn their hand 
down. Ask them to blow on their hand and look.

When they open their hand, they will find that the four small sponge bunnies 
have turned into a large one. As the spectator is doing this, you have time 
to casually ditch the four small bunnies back into your pocket.

Note: The more you elaborate on the story by using the magic words, acting 
out voices and such, the better this routine can be.

----------------
15. Dates For New Zealand Magicians To Remember
------------------
Thursday 22nd September
Lee Asher Lecture - Auckland
Time: 7.30pm

Friday 23rd September
Lee Asher Lecture - Palmerston North

Sunday 23 October 2005
Kiwi Magic Day
Venue: Dolphin Theatre, Onehunga Auckland
Registration form - go to: www.watson.co.nz/magic.html

20-23 October 2006
28th International New Zealand Convention of Magicians
Palmerston North
Convention website - go to: www.joel.co.nz/convention.htm

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

Page 65

- Fellow Artistes From Yesteryear -

Following on from the last page, the law never got changed, so Variety 
Artistes lost out, although special licenses were issued to allow other 
types of acts to perform on licensed premises - bands, singers etc.

Personally, I had no problem performing in hotels and other licensed 
premises the length and breadth New Zealand, until we left for 
Fiji/Australia in 1976. In fact, for some months I was under contract to 
Lion Breweries, working their hotels. As far as I know, I was the only 
variety 'Sight Act' in New Zealand working more or less permanently on the 
hotel circuit - from which the bulk of my income was derived. The other 
thing was that the breweries/hotels realized they could pack patrons in 
their bars without variety acts - but NOT Monday to Thursday! That's where I 
came in - with good publicity the 'Orchanté' Show could and did, 'Pack-Out' 
a week-night - the Pub/Hotel would sell lots more booze than they would have 
done otherwise, their customers were royally entertained, we got paid and 
everybody was happy!

Fellow Artistes - here then, in no particular order, is a list of New 
Zealand entertainers- nearly all were based in Auckland City - I worked with 
most of them during the early Sixties and Seventies. These names just might 
blow away a few cobwebs and perhaps bring back some memories of 
shows/concerts from times past, for those of you who are of my vintage. 
Although many of these artists are from memory, others, whom I had forgotten 
about, were derived from various old, yellowing posters and Christmas 
Carnival souvenir programmes from holiday resorts such as Orewa, Whitanga, 
Waihi Beach, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Whakatane/Ohope Beach, Rotorua, 
Taupo, Gisborne, Napier, Waikanae and Oamaru.

Bill and Boyd, Don Linden, Les Andrews, Jimmy Fagg, Byko, Pat McMinn, Rusty 
Greaves, George Tollerton, Hira Jeram, Greg Mason, The Yeoman, Des Gibson, 
Lou and Simon, Howard Morrison Quartet, John Daley, Alan and Jazzbo, Jim 
McNaught, Kim Krueger, Ken Farr, Toni Williams, Peter Posa, Ray Woolfe, Anne 
and Jimmy Murphie, Max Merrit and the Meteors, Ray Columbus and the 
Invaders, Ken Lemon, Sivo De Pra, Lani, Pat Dugan, Big MikeDurney, The 
Sheratons, Fia Chaplin, Ian Saxon, Normonos, Chistine Barnett, Cathy Howe, 
Chic Littlewood, Ralph Cohen, Rod Derritt, George Tumahai, Keith Bracey, 
Phil Shone, Selwyn Toogood, John Maybury, Movados/De Monos, Peter and Gaye, 
Allison Durbin, Freddie Keil and the Kavaliers, Max Roland, Gray 
(Graham)Bartlett, The Jumping Jacks, Sam Pehi, Rama White, Val Proctor, 
Warren Lambert, Jeannie Hartley, Sandy Edmonds, Terry Cosslett, The 
Clevedonaires, Bob Paris, Lew Pryme, Max Cryer, Peter Sinclair, Tommy 
Adderley, Robin Ruakere, Robert Gennari, Lyndon Ferris, Dave Cowel, Sonny 
Day, Marlene Tong, Kini Quartet, Lyn Peoples, Miss Lee Grant, Mr. Lee Grant, 
The Chicks, Jack Thompson, Ossie Cheeseman, Karina, Sylvia Sevana, Maria 
Dallas, Dinah Lee, The Convairs, John Hore, Eddie Low, Cecil Morris, The 
Keil Isles, Mike Walker Trio, Max Andrews, Tony Wilson, Ross Hill, Watson 
Raines, DeLarno, Trevor Hodson, Andy Loftis, Peter and Margo, Chris 
Parkinson, Delmere, Brody Brothers, Johnny Bond, Mike Dolan, Brendan Dugan, 
Kariba, Stan Wineera, Jack and Sylvia Riley, Toni Savage, Pam Seebold, Merv 
Smith, Bunny Walters, Craig Scott, Angela Ayers ,Tom Sharplin Bobby Davis, 
The Great Benyon, The Society Jazzmen, Paul Preston, Barry Knight, Sonia 
King, Derek Metzger, John Rowles, Kiri Te Kanawa, Alan Horobin, Suzanne 
Prentice and last but not least, yours truly, 'The Amazing Orchanté'.

I realize that very few of these names if any (with the exception of Kiri Te 
Kanawa) will mean a thing unless you are a New Zealander or an ex pat. Kiwi, 
but 'Down Under', many of these people were and some still are, 'Big Names'. 
I'm sure that I've said this before but it bears repeating; New Zealand, for 
the size of the country and a population of only around 3.76 million, 
produces an amazing array of skills and talent - I'm proud to be a Kiwi, 
and, I'm part Maori as well, a great heritage!

----------------
17. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives
------------------
Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to:
www.watson.co.nz/fezine.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)

-------------------
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