* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.Alan-Watson.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #710 Date: Sunday 8th November 2009 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Kevin James Command Performance For The Obamas 3. CIA To Declassify Mulholland's Manuals 4. Travels Around The World - Paul Romhany 5. More Remarkable Magic #17 - Nick Lewin 6. High Rollin' In Vegas - Anthony Darkstone 7. The NEW Paul Daniels Masterclass - New Zealand 8. A Tribute: The Amazing Ballantine By Steve Dacri 9. Magic Convention In Latvia - ABRAKADABRA 2010 10. Broken Wand - Keith Bruckner 11. Michael Ammar Lecture Two Nights Only! 12. Opportunity To Thank All Of Our Loyal Customers 13. CAMaraderie Convention, Canada 14. New Book About Ade Duval 15. e-zine Archives 16. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Thank you to all those that sent messages and tributes regarding the last of another great in magic "The Amazing Ballantine" would have loved to have published them all. Steve Dacri wrote an excellent tribute to Carl refer item 8. Links to his performances and articles in the Los Angeles Times http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqQVq-tfVaU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfurTYemJ6Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPpLoF7zudQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95MxMHQxhuo http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-carl-ballantine5-2009nov05,0,162389,full.story http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/afterword/2009/11/carl-ballantines-final-exit.html Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Kevin James Command Performance for the Obamas -------------------------------------------- Message by Kevin James (USA) Kevin James just finished special command performance for the Obamas and several hundred friends and family. It was their Halloween Party in the East Room of the White House. It was a very magical evening. Check out photo #10 of the New York Times. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/halloween-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/?hp -------------------------------------------- 3. CIA To Declassify Mulholland's Manuals -------------------------------------------- Message by Ben Robinson (USA) Ben Robinson, noted author of the cult hit, Twelve Have Died, has now released a 9-CD set of him reading his book on John Mulholland on the first anniversary of the book's release. Published by Lybrary.com, and proudly released on Halloween 2009, The MagiCIAn: John Mulholland's Secret Life is available on CD, and as an Mp3 download. As a bonus, Robinson also reads 10 in-depth letters from his private collection about the first magician to work for the CIA. During the Cold War Mulholland consulted on the infamous MK-Ultra program and the story is one of the wildest you can possibly imagine with the magician counseling government agents on psychics and writing two manuals that taught methods of trickery with pills, powders and potions. But there's much, much more in this detailed biography that Magic Magazine says "is not to be missed by anyone who loves magic history." Robinson's book even prompted the CIA to declassify Mulholland's manuals which have also just been released. The MagiCIAn: John Mulholland's Secret Life on CD is available by download to your computer or Mp3 player for just $14.99! Further information here: http://www.lybrary.com/magician-john-mulhollands-secret-life-audiobook-p-31966.html -------------------------------------------- 4. Travels Around The World - Paul Romhany -------------------------------------------- Message by Paul Romhany (NZ) I am currently performing on land in Asia with corporate shows. Now these shows are like no other in any other country. Tonight is a classic example. I have three performances - one at 8.30pm then off to another hotel for a 9.30pm show then off to another hotel for a 10.15pm show. Talk about tight!!! The ballrooms are filled with about 1000 people, all of whom are eating, talking and drinking while you are working. Imagine a kids party that goes on for a few hours, but for adults! You kind of get the idea. The minute the guests walk in to the ballroom the event starts with various games, non-stop food and entertainment. The moment I get to the gig I simply walk in, have my stage hand set up props, I am introduced by the MC and I'm on stage for 30 minutes. Then, as soon as I get off stage I have a team of three people packing my props, taking them offstage while I jump in the car and head to the next venue. On route I re-pack my show, touch up my make-up and it happens all over again. The Chaplin act seems to work well here for these particular type of functions because I managed to get my set up time down to the minimum and language is not a problem. These aren't like the theatre shows I am used to performing in where people turn up to watch a show. There have been many 'western' acts come here and try and work only to leave saying they will never return. It really is tough work and not for the faint hearted. The local entertainers say if you can work a 'dine and dance' then you can work anywhere. Thankfully we only do a few shows during the week so I get to sleep in and take in the amazing sights. We have been very fortunate to befriend many local magicians - many of whom are making a great name for themselves on the international market. This week I spent time with Frankie Yeo - an incredible puppeteer and artist. He has built me a Chaplin marionette that is absolutely incredible and will eventually become part of my new show. We started rehearsal the other day and came up with an act that is unlike any other magic act in the world. I am super excited and while it will take a while to rehearse and work it all out, it is still going to be worth it. To see photos of my travels and see some photos of where I am currently working be sure to visit my BLOG at: http://romhanyreport.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- 5. More Remarkable Magic #17 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (USA) It was Halloween; do you know where the kid in you was? Halloween is a great time of year to enjoy parties. It is also a particularly good time of year to get booked when you are a magician. However, some of my least favorite shows have occurred over the Halloween holiday. Someone always has the bright idea of hiring a magician to entertain for these events. Now in my opinion, the real excitement of Halloween is all about the candy and the parties; I guess I'm just a kid at heart when it comes down to it. This year I attended Amazing Jonathan's Halloween party in Las Vegas and I must say it was probably the most fun I have ever had during the Halloween holiday. This didn't surprise me, in fact I should have guessed that if anybody was going to give a great Halloween party then Jonathan would be the person to host it. It is just his kind of holiday. The haunted house that Jonathan created from his warehouse was just sensational. There was enough excitement and scary moments to keep even the most avid haunted house fan in a state of pure bliss. Things jumped, moved, lunged at you in a highly satisfactory manner; and knowing that Jonathan had put the entire project together made you wonder quite how far things would go. It wouldn't be like him to underplay this kind of opportunity to shock his public! I had chosen a rather obscure Halloween costume and attended the event as commander John Strangway. The more obsessed of the James Bond fans amongst you might remember that he was a minor character, featured in two of Ian Fleming's novels. Due to the fact that they filmed the novels out of sequence Strangway died in the first few moments of the movie "Dr. NO," However he had a much larger part in the novel "Live and let Die," which wasn't to be filmed until Roger Moore took over the role of 007 considerably later. One of the things that I found attractive about Strangway's character in the book was the fact that he wore a black eye patch over his right eye. Fleming described him as having "The dashing good looks usually associated with the bridge off a destroyer," The patch seemed like a great idea and I decided that he was just the ticket for my Halloween 2009 character. I put together a vaguely military outfit with a white Panama hat, hip flask, hand carved ebony walking stick from India and then applied the finishing touch-- my recently acquired black eye patch. The fact that the eye patch would half my vision had not occurred to me until I was inside the haunted house. A certain stubborn pride would not allow me to remove the patch while I stumbled my way through that extraordinarily complex haunted house. Ah, how we artists suffer for our artistic vision, or should I say, partial vision! I've always been a big fan of amazing Jonathan as a comedy magician; in fact it is true to say that he makes me laugh more than any other performer in magic. What I had not realized was what a talented haunted house designer and operator he is. It was a great party, with a gloriously eclectic set of guests, whom I had a blast mixing with. My only regret is that damn eye patch, and if I'm lucky enough to be invited to next year's party you may rest assured I will not voluntarily obscure my vision! Amazing Jonathan continues his run at the Harmon Theater in Las Vegas and I can only say that if you have never seen him perform live then you are missing one of the greatest treats available to any magician with a sense of humor. Maybe the more sensitive and easily shocked magicians might want to skip the show and possibly attend the 'Donny and Marie Osmond Show' at the Flamingo Hotel. However to my mind Jonathan and his highly talented cohort Penny Wiggins continue to deliver more laughs to the minute than any other Vegas show. Check out my new blog at my website www.nicklewin.com -------------------------------------------- 6. High Rollin' In Vegas - Anthony Darkstone -------------------------------------------- Message from Tony Brook (Portugal) High Rollers, as many will know, is a term used exclusively for high-class players. The word 'gamblers' is for tourists and thrill seekers who like to have fun at the slots and tables. Vegas treats its high rollers like Royalty. I was highly privileged and honored to be treated as such by my dear friends there. It was fun to lecture and perform and hang out with friends and meet new ones. In a recent October issue of our e-zine, reference was made to my forthcoming trip to Vegas. Jason Andrews met us at the airport and whisked us off to our hotel where a Queen Suite was awaiting us. After a swift shower and a change of clothes, he came by to collect us and we all went to meet my long time buddy, the one and only Frank Zak for a great dinner. After dinner, Jason took my brother (who was my Manager for this trip) and I to The Amazing Jonathan's show. I had met Jonathan and Penny before and it was a delight to see another dear friend Ariann Black, opening for The Amazing Jonathan. It was great to catch up after the show and hang out together. This was the perfect start to a great trip. I was invited to lecture by IBM Ring 257 at Boomers and was honored to have many well-known names show up to cheer and support. Gary Darwin looked better than ever and we had fun. The rest of our time was spent catching various shows and hanging out with friends. It would take too long to list them all but quality time was spent with Steve 'Tiny Bubbles' Daly who as usual knew everyone and arranged for VIP comps to several shows. Jason Andrews and Christian Doleshall did us really proud and were on hand to pick us up, take us places and arrange Comps for even more shows. A very special thank you to Christian who drove us everywhere, organized my lecture and everything else with great style and flair. Well he is, after all, The King of Dymonds. Special thanks also to Ariann who not only arranged for Comps to The Amazing Jonathan but also invited us to a very unique séance show that she was headlining in. I was first introduced to Ariann, several years ago by Cherie Kay, a mutual friend of ours from Houston, Texas. On my previous trip to Vegas, Ariann was very kind, looked after us and comped us for various shows. It was a true delight to spend time with her again. I have followed her wonderful career with great interest and I am happy to publicly state that she is just truly one of the greats. Not surprising that she won The Female Magician of The Year Award , not once , not twice, but three times . I predict it will happen again. Check out her site. www.arianblack.com On the subject of awards, I was honored to present on behalf of The Club Illusionists Fenianos four awards for services to Magic. One was to Ariann Black, the other to Frank Zak and the third to The Dymonds (Erin & Christian Doleshall). I presented the 4th at The Magic Castle in LA, to Gay Blackstone. More on this later. Eugene Burger and I have been friends for a goodly while and prior to Vegas we chatted and found that we would be in Vegas at the same time. We had a delightful dinner at PK Changs Eugene's favorite haunt in Vegas. Much to my delight he brought along three friends, Lawrence Hass, Bob Neale and Tobias Beckwith. Can it possibly get any better? Joining us were Christian and my brother. We even got a special after dinner performance from Eugene. I rolled imaginary dice and landed on a card that not only had my name but also Eugene's signature! Eugene then proceeded to treat us to another two jaw-dropping effects. A full report on that delightful evening will be forthcoming later. Prior to my trip, Norm and Lupe Nielsen had invited us to visit with them at their home. We spent an amazing afternoon there and Norm graciously showed us his vast poster and magic artifacts collection. I even got to see Misty (their amazing dog) perform. Yup! We have the video and pics! Look for a full article on this visit in a forthcoming e-zine. My good pals Steve and Jan Dacri invited us to their home and yes I raided his kitchen and left his bar high and dry.well he does make exceedingly good Martinis! Although he invited us as his guests to a special performance he gave at The Sahara a few days previously, he also kindly put on a special private performance for us at his home. Jan was gracious as ever and gave me a lot of useful tips and suggestions on Mind & Body Tune-Ups. If you look up the words Amazing and Wow! in a dictionary you will see her picture alongside. Next year she will be the subject of a major article of mine. However, why wait? Check out www.jandacri.com Part of the trip was a scheduled visit to The Magic Castle to meet with Gay Blackstone. We had been in touch previously and despite her busy schedule, she invited me to come by and visit. Another wonderful and memorable evening. More details on this later. Just before we left Vegas, we went to an awesome party given by The Amazing Jonathan. Nubile women fire-eaters and dancers, great food, high energy and a total blast! A lot of very cool people on the invite list and I got to spend quality time with Jeff McBride who dragged me off to one side and asked me to show him my Pythagoras Force. He was busy and couldn't make my lecture but had heard some cool things about my Force. Joanie Spina was delightful as ever and as I had forgotten my camera she took all the pics and kindly emailed them to me. Last but not least, the legendary Nick Lewin and I finally met and had loads of fun chatting about mutual friends including a certain AW from New Zealand! It was equally wonderful chatting to Nick's charming wife Susan. Last but not least, I know that both Nick and I have written rave reviews about Jason Andrews but I cannot conclude without stating that I got to see him perform again at The Krave and he is an 11 out of 10! He got a standing O. I will be featuring him shortly in a full article. Thanks to all my pals in Vegas for a great time. Time and space precludes mentioning you all. See you next year! -------------------------------------------- 7. The NEW Paul Daniels Masterclass - New Zealand ------------------------------------------- Message from - Mick Peck (New Zealand) President SCMC 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention Update "Inside the Mind of Paul Daniels": The NEW Paul Daniels Masterclass Watch Paul Daniels on any stage and you somehow know nothing can go wrong. It all looks so easy, so casual, and each effect flows with entertainment. For years Paul has turned down request after request to reveal his methods of arriving at this level of perfection. Many have tried to copy his style and have even copied his methods and routines but there is a very, very good reason why they have failed to have the same audience appeal. Now, for the first time, Paul is going to reveal HOW AND WHY his routines were developed by taking a small group through not only the methods but also the psychological thinking that creates that deceptively simple appearance. The Paul Daniels Technique for routines like the Chop Cup, the Linking Rings and other classics are revealed with ALL the details laid bare. You will not believe HOW much detailed thinking goes into his handling of "obvious" tricks like Professor's Nightmare, the Toss Vanish, the Classic Card Force, the Thumb Tip, making them utterly impossible to audiences large and small because, to them, nothing seems to happen, only the magic. At this very special happening you will have the opportunity to ask about the tricks that YOU want help with and to get the Daniels Touch added to YOUR routines! Do not hesitate if you want to get the greatest knowledge from one of the greatest magical entertainers of the last 50 years. Many of the biggest names in magic today credit Paul not only for their first big break (as a guest on his TV show), but also as their inspiration for getting started in the business! Due to time constraints there can be ONE Masterclass only, and numbers are limited. Don't miss your opportunity to spend a full day with international superstar magician Paul Daniels. The "Inside the Mind of Paul Daniels" Masterclass will be held at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre on Friday 4th of June, the day before the convention officially starts on Saturday. The fee for the full day's Masterclass is NZ$250 and includes lunch and tea and coffee. We've had such a great response from not only magicians in New Zealand but also those in Australia, so if you wish to attend the Masterclass I do recommend that you secure your position ASAP by downloading the registration form from our website and getting it in to us. --- Registration Update: Paying By Installments --- To everyone who has already registered - thank you for your support. We've had enquiries from people wanting to know if they can pay in several installments - that's absolutely fine. If you're paying by Internet banking please use the same reference and number each of your payments to keep things clear (ie JOHNSMITH1 / JOHNSMITH2 etc). For more exciting information including biographies and video clips of our all-star lineup, details about competitions and awards, the Paul Daniels Masterclass, our best-ever accommodation deal, the free registration prize draw and more, visit us online at www.scmc.co.nz This convention and the MasterClass by Paul Daniels is going to be a SELL OUT so register NOW! See you in June at the incredible 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention! -------------------------------------------- 8. A Tribute: The Amazing Ballantine by Steve Dacri -------------------------------------------- Message by Steve Dacri (USA) The phone rang, it was a little after noon. The familiar gravelly voice said, "Where are we having dinner?" It was Carl Ballantine. For a number of years, when we lived in Los Angeles not far from Carl's Hollywood house, we had dinner at least 5 times a week together. It would start with the phone call, and we would plan the location. Sometimes it was a restaurant, other times, it was his house where he would cook a fabulous meal, and sometimes it was our house, which meant Jan and I cooked for him. About an hour before the meal, I would drive to his house and pick him up. He would always have the cigar in his hand, and he'd climb into my car and I would say, "Carl, I have never smoked in my car." And he would say something like, "you should try it." Then he would re-light his stogie and off we went. He always had a few stops to make along the way (the news stand for the Daily Racing Form, or the coin change machine to cash in some of his seemingly endless supply of gigantic bags of money, for example.) After the meal, we would usually go back to his place and smoke a cigar together. During this time he would convince me that we needed to visit one of the local race tracks the next day as there was a horse he wanted to bet on. It was nearly impossible to say no to Ballantine, he was very persuasive, and besides, it was always a memorable experience to take him to the track (or anyplace for that matter). He liked Hollywood Park a lot, and Santa Anita. We would arrive at the club gate and all the people who we encountered, from the valet parking guy to the waitress in the turf club, they all knew him, and he always had a kind word for each of them. Of course, when they were not around him he would make some clever (and always hilarious) wise crack about them, but never so they could hear it. Going to dinner with him was always a fun ride as well, people always noticed him as we arrived, and would come up to him to say Hello and tell him how much they loved his work on McHale's Navy or in one of Mel Brooks' movies...he politely thanked them all, then he would lean in to me and insult them mercilessly. I still find it hard to believe that I will never hear that familiar voice again or spend time with him; I guess I expected him to always be there, like Vernon and McComb and so many others. As I think about all the time we spent together over the years, I recall a number of cool things that he told me that I will share with you here as a way of dealing with the incredible sense of loss I am feeling right now. A lot of the stories about his origins have been told, some of them true, and others completely fabricated. Carl himself would often change the stories he told, I think he enjoyed playing with people that way. One thing he told me was how he decided on his name. He was known as Carl Sharp for a while when he was doing a real silent manipulation act, but when he decided to switch to the comedic act (he hated to be called a comedy magician, he insisted that he was not a magic act, merely a comedy act) he called his agent and the agent listened as he described what his new act was about (a magician who never does a magic trick) and the agent asked him what the name of the act was. He said he looked around the room he was in, and spotted a bottle of Ballantine Whiskey, and immediately said, "Ballantine, The Amazing Ballantine is the name, and you have to also say, the World's Greatest Magician in the billing." He told me if things had been different when he looked at the shelf of bottles, he could've been known as Jack Daniels. And the inspiration for the act? He claimed all sorts of things, and it was hard to determine which one was authentic, but he told me this one more than all the others so I believe this was the real impetus behind his famous act. He recalled going to see an act when he was quite young, billed as "the world's greatest musician." The man (he didn't remember his name, only the act) walked onto the stage, dressed in an elegant tuxedo, the curtain opened and the stage was filled with every musical instrument you could imagine. The man walked to the tuba, picked it up and told everyone how he would be playing that particular instrument, and then put it down. He picked up a violin and described the music he could make with that instrument, and then he put it down. He did this with many of the instruments, but he never actually played any of them. He said that stuck in his mind, the clever premise of the world's greatest musician who never plays a single note. When he was struggling to find work as a legitimate magician, he came up with the idea of becoming the greatest magician in the world who never did a single trick. It was genius, and it made him a star. I first met Carl via TV like most people. My father loved him, used to laugh so hard he would cry when we sat and watched him on McHale's Navy as Gruber, and watching him do his crazy and hilarious act on Ed Sullivan and all of the other shows...never did I think, in my wildest dreams, that someday he would become a special friend who impacted my life as a performer and as a person. Life is funny that way. He influenced me so much, Harry Anderson and I used to talk about Ballantine a lot and how he encouraged both of us to be funny with our magic presentations. He really set the stage for magic acts to be funny. But he was always quick to point out that his was not a comedy magic act because he never really did magic. "If a trick ever works in my act, I'm outta business" he often said. Fast forward to 1985, and I was performing on the Tannen Jubilee convention and the Louis award was being presented to Carl Ballantine. At the cocktail party the night before, I met Carl for the first time, and my life was changed forever. We just hit it off, we talked for hours, had breakfast together the next day (the first of hundreds of meals together) and we were friends ever since that day. One thing that I noticed was that Carl said he was retired, he told me he didn't even have his props or table any longer, and at the Tannen event, he didn't actually perform, instead just walked onstage to receive his award. Shortly after, when we both were back in Los Angeles, I called him up and he invited me over to his house. I packed up a couple of fine Cuban cigars and headed over. We sat for hours laughing and discussing magic. I eventually convinced him to come out of retirement, as I could tell he still had that energy, that spark when he talked about various performances and memories. After all, he was still doing voice-over work as well as acting jobs, so why not bring the old act out again. It worked, it energized him, and he suddenly looked healthier. I brought him to Johnny Gaughan's workshop and had Johnny make a replica of his famous table and booked him as the special guest for a show I was producing in San Raphael, California. He walked onstage, got a standing ovation, which clearly surprised him. He looked out and said, "Sit down, are you crazy? Wait 'til ya see the act, you may want to take that back." Well, he went on and did the famous act, line for line, gag for gag, flawlessly, and received another prolonged standing ovation. He walked off and grabbed me backstage and said, "not bad for a retired chump, eh?" As a result, he declared himself "unretired" and I was able to book him in a number of shows, and he suddenly had a purpose again in his life. It was wonderful to see, his energy was unstoppable on stage, and although he did the same act he was so well known for, he always ad-libbed and through lines in here and there that were priceless and fall down funny. He was enjoying the work once again. Carl had three passions (after of course, his two beautiful daughters, Saratoga and Molly, each named after a race track) in this order; horse racing, cigars and magic. Back when he was doing McHale's Navy, he owned race horses along with the stars of the show, Tim Conway and Ernie Borgnine. I asked if they made him a lot of money. "Not a dime," he replied. But he loved being in the game and kept up what was a losing proposition for years, just because he enjoyed being at the track. He smoked up to 6 cigars a day sometimes, and enjoyed the Cubans I often brought him. He read every magic magazine, went up to the Castle regularly to see the shows and we talked endlessly about magic effects, acts, comedy and show business, he was as sharp as a proverbial tack. Add to all that his incredible comic timing, his brilliant mind for what was funny, and that voice. His delivery was perfect, I never saw anyone with such natural timing, almost everything he said was funny, all the time. He was always such a joy to be with. As an example of his comic mind always in gear, when we discussed doing a comedy magic lecture, we would get together and brainstorm what the lecture would be. After dozens of cigars and wonderful meals, we decided to do a talk show style presentation, and I would essentially interview Carl and ask predetermined questions while seated onstage smoking cigars. I went home and created a list of questions and the next day we convened in his living room. I pulled out my list. I asked him the first question, "Carl, everyone wants to know, how did you become interested in magic?" He sits back, takes a puff from his cigar, blows out a cloud and says, "When I was a young boy, my uncle gave me a Mysto Magic Kit.... (long pause)...and fifty thousand dollars." I fell off the couch, I knew this would be how we would start the interview, it was priceless. We presented the lecture at the IBM National convention in San Diego (in a smoke free hotel); there we were, puffing away in this ballroom filled with nearly 2,000 people. Carl comes alive in front of a crowd, and needless to say, the presentation was a huge hit. We did it a few more times, and then we were invited to present it in London at The Magic Circle, which really thrilled Carl. He told me he really would love to become a member of The Magic Circle, but figured they would never have him, because, he reasoned, he didn't really do any magic. I approached the then president of the Circle (Michael Bailey) and asked what he thought of The Amazing Ballantine and he immediately said "we would love to have him as a member" and brought it to a vote at the Council meeting. Not only was Carl invited to become a member, he was unanimously voted in at the highest level of membership, MIMC (Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star), which was to be presented to him when we were in London. Sadly, he never made the trip due to health reasons, I was already on a lecture tour in England, so I ended up presenting my own lecture in place of our scheduled comedy lecture, after which the president gave me Carl's award and made me promise that it would be presented to Carl in a very special manner. (I was then completely caught off guard when I was also presented with my own MIMC honors.) The following month, we arranged a special night at the Magic Castle, with many Magic Circle members in attendance, and we honored Carl and presented the MIMC to him in the Peller Theatre. He was clearly touched by the significance of it, he was proud of this honor; it meant a lot to him. The Amazing Ballantine touched a lot of lives, in and out of the magic world. Many of his fans of his TV series and movies didn't realize Carl Ballantine was also an accomplished variety artist (as he saw himself). Even Ed Sullivan told him he wasn't really sure what he did. "Sullivan didn't get it," he often said. But millions did, and he was loved and respected as an entertainer at the top of his field, a comic genius with an infectious smile and unmistakable voice. He was pals with Milton Berle and George Burns, and Mel Brooks called him "the funniest man on earth." I agree. Those of us who were privileged to know him personally will experience a deep loss of a friend and an artist. His legacy will live on in our memories, and I know that all of us will continue to smile as we recall his work and his friendship. Good-bye, my friend. "I want to thank you all for coming, and on the way out, if you would stop at the table in the back and check out some of our jams and jellies we have for sale." - Carl Ballantine -------------------------------------------- 9. Magic Convention In Latvia - ABRAKADABRA 2010 -------------------------------------------- Message by Enrico Pezzoli President Ring 376, A.M.B.E.R. (Latvia) We are going to organize "ABRAKADABRA 2010" the magic convention of our I.B.M. Ring 376, A.M.B.E.R. (Association of Magicians of Baltic - Established in Riga). The theme of the 2010 gala will be "Star magicians of the past, the present and the future". For this reason we want to make a selection of 4 young talented magicians that will represent the future of magic. This is not a competition; we will look at all the material that we will receive and the 4 chosen magicians will perform on the gala, together with all the performers. I will send you in a letter with all the information and what must be done to apply. Deadline is February 15, 2010. -------------------------------------------- 10. Broken Wand - Keith Bruckner -------------------------------------------- Message by Ian Baxter (Australia) I have just learned of the death of Keith Bruckner, at the age of 71. Ross McIntosh phoned me this evening with the news. Apparently Keith had been unwell for some months with cancer, although it was a heart attack that took him Monday evening. You would all remember Keith from his days at Will Andrade's, in the Allans Music building, Collins Street Melbourne. He and Johnny Blinkhorn ran the shop for owner Hilda Andrade. Details of a service planned will appear in 'The Age' and 'The Herald-Sun'. I have been informed that the Service is likely to be held at 'The Convent' in Abbotsford, this coming Monday. -------------------------------------------- 11. Michael Ammar Lecture Two Nights Only! -------------------------------------------- Message by Christopher Shelton (USA) Fantasma Magic - Lectures and Workshops Where: Fantasma Magic (entrance on 33rd Street) 421 7th Avenue - 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001 When: November 13th & 14th, 7:00pm If you have never been to a Michael Ammar lecture, you're in for a treat. For those who have seen him, take note that this is a Brand New lecture. Michael's lecture is the most sought after ticket in magic, so Fantasma asked him to perform it twice to give all of you an opportunity to attend. The Ammar Experience is a full scale multi-media lecture. According to Michael this multi-media aspect allows Michael to give the lecture he has always dreamed of giving! In this 2009 outing two new tricks will be taught, as well as a look back on Michael's unique handling of some classic effects. Even though there are two lecture dates, it is for the same lecture and the tickets will go very fast. Book your seat NOW! Tickets are $30.00 General Admission, $40.00 day of event (if available) $50.00 VIP (Must call the store for VIP) For more information visit: http://www.fantasmamagic.com/ Or call: 212-244-3633 -------------------------------------------- 12. Opportunity to Thank All Of Our Loyal Customers -------------------------------------------- Message by Jim "zee" Zachary (USA) Lakeland, FL. S.A.M. Assembly 266 Last evening we enjoyed one of the best lecture I have seen in many many years. Jim Pace is delightful, concise and entertaining. His material is insightful and straight forward and can be used by the vast majority of magicians. On another note I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our loyal customers over the last 50+ years and to inform those who do not know I have gone through many hand operations and no longer make much of anything. I sold out my coin box business some years ago to Daytona Magic. Their machinist came down and spent a week with me and learned the way I made them and what made them so special, which countless magicians attest to. For that reason and the fact that he listened and is doing things right I continue to handle them, and yes they still have the little "z" in the bottom. As for the woodworking, I sold that about 4 years ago and the man who bought it has not done a thing with it. I have no idea why he bought it and if I had known what he was, or was not going to do with it I would certainly not have sold it to him. I am very proud that you keep calling and e-mailing me for tables and other products and am sorry I cannot fill your wishes. Thanks again to all our loyal customers. Jim "zee" Zachary. -------------------------------------------- 13. CAMaraderie Convention, Canada ------------------------------------------- Message by Joan Caesar (Canada) CAMaraderie Convention, Canada April 28-May 1 I am delighted to announce our lineup of performers for our 2010 convention in Kitchener, Ontario just north of Buffalo, NY. FISM Winners: Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster, FISM winners from Australia Henry Evans FISM winner from Argentina Shawn Farquhar, the only Canadian Grand Prix FISM winner Lennart Green, FISM winner from Sweden Marc Oberon FISM winner from England Along with: Bill Abbott, 'maestro extraordinaire' Tim Drake, highlights stage illusions with original magic effects Charlie Frye and Company the funniest duo in North America Dick Joiner, comic magician all the way from Toronto Ryan Joyce, return appearance of one of Canada's top illusionists Mark Mason from England lecturer and dealer extraordinaire Mike Robinson, 4F performer, returning to his cruise ship after CAMaraderie Bob Sheets, internationally known magician from USA Stoil and Ekaterina quick-change artists from Bulgaria Steve Walker comedy magic from Australia Lennart Green will be available Wednesday evening, May 28 for an extra charge workshop for CAM registrants. The Awards Banquet highlights a different performer at each table, so everyone has an opportunity to sit with a star. It will also be the only occasion to see 4F entertainer, Mike Robinson, perform a hilarious act before he returns to his cruise ship. There will be 8 lectures, as well as Close Up and Gala Show Shows. Don't miss this opportunity to see many of the best performers, from 4 continents come together in Canada. Close-up and stage competitions and a great dealer's room will complete the convention. Visit our website www.CanadianAssociationOfMagicians.com or e-mail JCaesar@sentex.ca for more information. -------------------------------------------- 14. New Book About Ade Duval -------------------------------------------- Message by Dick Charvet Ade Duval is a name that seems to have been forgotten by the present generation of magicians. The new book, "Ade Duval - Silken Sorcerer" by David Charvet places Duval in his rightful place in history as one of the top magicians during the first half of the twentieth century. From 1928 to 1955, Duval headlined in theaters, including The Palace in New York, Radio City Music Hall (4 times!), The London Palladium, Wintergarden in Berlin, Rex Theater in Paris, and the Tivoli theatre circuit in Australia and New Zealand (for nearly a year in 1940 and again in 1947.) Duval's act, "A Rhapsody in Silk" created a sensation among audiences - and magicians of the day. The finale encompassed pulling hundreds of yards of silk from a 3 inch by 10 inch "Phantom Tube." The silks filled the stage and was a spectacle of color. After traveling thousands of miles for the U.S.O. during WWII, Duval developed an entirely new act, featuring his baffling and original "Smoking Thumb" routine. This act again took Duval to the top in theaters, nightclubs and on television; with multiple appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and other top programs of the day. Then, suddenly and tragically, Duval's career was cut short by a debilitating illness that eventually took his life in 1965. The book chronicles Duval's amazing career as one of magic's brightest stars. Much of the story is told in Duval's own words which gives the reader a better view of how Duval viewed himself and his magic. The second half of the book reveals the secrets of Duval's most popular routines, including the Multiplying Golf Balls, The Smoking Thumb (detailed for the first time), and the landmark "Rhapsody in Silk" production that could be the feature of an act, today. The silk routine is revealed by Duval himself, who explains every part of the act, step-by-step. The behind-the-scenes methods are as amazing as the act was to the viewers. Ade Duval - Silken Sorcerer is 144 pages, hardbound with a full color cover and over 130 photos and illustrations. Limited edition of 500 copies. The book may be ordered from www.charvetmagic.com For more information about David Charvet, see the cover feature story in the November, 2009 issue of Linking Ring magazine. -------------------------------------------- 15. 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) -------------------------------------------- 16. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand® E-zine at www.Alan-Watson.com Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday. The opinions expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson 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 they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed therein. Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted. 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