* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #51 Date: Sunday 10th December 2000 Editor: Alan Watson www.magician.co.nz e-mail alan@watson.co.nz ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editors Message 2. Why most Singaporean are not willing to come on stage 3. Guy Carter's article on performances in Singapore 4. An early Christmas present 5. The world's oldest magic shop 6. Replies to postings that appeared in Issue #50 7. Enjoying Tommy Orchards articles 8. Pride & Joy Cards 9. Cookietime Simply Magic Comes To Auckland 10. Magic Items For Sale 11. Some sort of scam based on sympathy 12. The Orchante Saga # 8 13. Diarise these events 14. MagicNZ e-zine archives 15. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- 1. Editors Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One CONGRATULATIONS to Ronnie Merota on the birth of their baby girl Tania. Ronnie has been driver/lighting assistant for The World Festival of Magic for the past three years through Australia and New Zealand. Really enjoyed seeing Chuck Jones (who in my eyes is a consummate professional) perform in Auckland last night. Chuck has been touring New Zealand since 1988 and was made an Honorary Member of the Society Magicians for his contributions to magic - a well deserved accolade. Ray Haddad (Aust) sent an interesting item in (see item 11) about scams based on sympathy. Like to know if any of our other members have had similar approaches asking for magic donations? Last week I inadvertently mentioned that Peter Levins was from the US but he hails from London, England. Mitchell Roy from Canada sent me an e-mail last week suggesting that we insert navigation hyperlinks to the contents. Mitchell must be a mind reader as we were looking at improving the layout of the e-zine by utilising the same method. Will try some tests in the early part of next year. NZ "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2000 - featuring Chuck Jones & Company, Victor and Diamond, and Skip Banks Monday 11 Hamilton 2.30pm - 5pm - 7.30pm Founders Theatre Tuesday 12 Rotorua 2.30pm - 5pm - 7.30pm Rotorua Convention Centre Wednesday 13 Gisborne 2.30pm - 5pm - 7.30pm War Memorial Hall Thursday 14 Napier 2.30pm - 5pm - 7.30pm Napier Municipal Theatre Friday 15 Taupo 5pm - 7.30pm The Great Lake Centre Complex Saturday 16 Tauranga 2.30pm - 5pm - 7.30pm Bay Court Theatre or Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre QE2 Sunday 17 Whangarei 5pm - 7.30pm Forum North Exhibition Hall Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: alan@watson.co.nz ------------------------------------- 2. Why most Singaporean are not willing to come on stage ------------------------------------- Message from Eric Leong (Singapore) After reading what Guy Cater (NZ) said, I would like to explain a little about why most Singaporean are not willing to come on stage to volunteer. Firstly we are quite conservative, afraid to lose face or worse if we unknowingly offend the other person. Secondly, we are not used to some of the western ways of handling a volunteer. For example: We have witnessed some performer refer to some kids running around during the show to - keep quite and sit down - good dogs. Not only that, they even say good now roll over. To tell you the truth it is not acceptable, but if you do that in a western atmosphere they think it's a very good gag. Thirdly, 80 % of Singaporean speak and understand English the other 20 % are the older people, may or may not be out there. I hope this explain a little bit so if other performer were to read this, it may be a passport to their success. Please feel free to reply if anyone who does not agree to the above. Eric Leong (Member of Singapore Association Of Magicians) I am writing on my own and not as representative of my Magic Club. ------------------------------------- 3. Guy Carter's article on performances in Singapore ------------------------------------- Message from John Teo President of Singapore Ring 115 It's interesting to read about Guy Carter's article concerning his performances in Singapore. If I don't get to meet up with him in Singapore, I trust he can get in touch with me. I'm the President of Singapore Ring 115 and I can be contacted via my mobile telephone 97509017. He can have fellowship with some local magicians. ---------------------------------- 4. An early Christmas present ---------------------------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) With Christmas just around the corner (now, there's a news flash!), this might be a good time to get out that old Gag Bag that's been gathering dust and work it into a Yuletide routine. So herewith is an early Christmas present; it has appeared in print before but many, many years ago. (Yes, I'm that old!) Although few people wear ties on a regular basis anymore (at least, in North America), the idea of a gift tie for Christmas can still draw a laugh -- or more. Regular readers of my Showtime column in the Linking Ring will be well aware of my fondness for outrageous gags, puns, and such like. The late, great Sid Lorraine was also a fan of that sort of thing and the following routine uses a punch line of his from many years back. The whole bit will work for almost any holiday where gifts are exchanged -- Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, you name it. Okay, since you asked, I'll name it: THE GIFT TIE Effect: The magi shows a colored bag that he says he got for his spouse for (whatever the occasions -- Christmas, anniversary, etc.). As he turns the bag inside out repeatedly, it continues to change color. As he is doing this, he says that his wife was undecided whether to get him a new computer or a new color television. After several color changes of the bag, the magi turns it inside out one last time and reveals the ultimate bad-taste necktie. "She couldn't decide whether to get me the computer or the TV," the magi says, "and it ended in a tie -- this one!" Working: All right, the "magic" here is not going to give Lance Burton any sleepless nights worrying about you. But audiences get a real kick out of it. You'll need a Gag Bag (the usual dealer item -- the Van Cleve model is one of the truly well made props in magic; it will last longer than you will, probably.) For those unfamiliar with the Gag Bag, it's a bag about 10 inches square with a tartan pattern on the outside. When you turn it inside out, the lining is red. Then, when you turn it inside out again, it become blue -- and so on for five color changes. (If you can't find a Gag Bag, there are alternatives, although not as good. See Second Thoughts at the end of this column.) And, of course, you'll need a tie -- the most outrageous, ugliest, flashy piece of neckwear you can find. Second-hand shops are best for this (assuming you didn't come across a suitable tie in the back of your own closet). Load the tie in the inner section of the Gag Bag, reset the bag, and you're ready to go as in Effect above. Second thoughts: As I said, this isn't mind-boggling magic but it does make a great bit for emcees, clowns, and as a short interlude for an adult magic show. If you can't find the Gag Bag anywhere, you could use a standard change bag, showing it empty and then producing the tie on the punch line. It's not a very satisfactory alternative and I wouldn't recommend it -- but it might do in a pinch. The effect, above, is sketchy on purpose; there are almost limitless gags that can be worked into this routine -- lines about gifts, lines about the specific gifts, lines about spouses, and on and on. This is truly a routine that every performer can put his or her own personal stamp on. And, after all, that's what's supposed to happen, isn't it? Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com (We interrupt the magic for this message:) Bar Magic: Fourteen pages including how to get started in the lucrative field, what to do and how to do it. Routines that have been proven across the bar thousands of times. $6.00 "Six tested effects along with pithy and 'right on' advice. Well worth the money." - Phil Willmarth, Linking Ring review. Peter's Patter: with eight comedy-filled routines, including Marucci's famous Snake Basket on a Budget. Plus how to write your own comedy routines. $6.00 "Some favorites from (Marucci's) popular Showtime column (in the Linking Ring). Highly recommended." - Phil Willmarth, Linking Ring review. Funny Business: Seven laugh-filled original routines, 12 pages; an audience-tested act in itself. All with that special Marucci touch. $6.00 "Typical, easy-to-do Marucci tricks and fun presentations."- Phil Willmarth, Linking Ring review. NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! Bizarre Magic: Meet the OTHER side of funnyman Peter Marucci as he takes you on a tour of the occult world with seven fully scripted routines of bizarre magic. This will take your magic to a new, emotional level. (Includes routines, but not props, for Finger of Fate and Message from the Titanic; see tricks below) $8.00 "If you are looking for ideas on how to use some old (tried and true) simple tricks to weave a spooky story BUY THESE NOTES." - Larry White, magic editor, M-U-M magazine. SPECIAL: Real-Life Table Hopping: Everything you ever wanted to know about performing magic at tableside in restaurants and bars, from magicomedian Peter Marucci, who has been performing at tables and across the bar for more than 10 years. From how to get the job to how to approach tables to the act itself, this is everything you need to know to get into this lucrative field. All that - plus seven tricks that make up a working table act; tricks that have been proven in real-life situations hundreds of times. This is 20 pages of the most useful information you're likely to get. Only $10.00 All prices are in U.S. dollars. All items are shipped post-paid, the same day. Please make cheques or money orders payable to Peter Marucci. Send to: Peter Marucci 270 St. Andrew St. East Fergus, Ontario, Canada N1M 1R1 For more information, e-mail: showtimecol@aol.com ------------------------------------- 5. The world's oldest magic shop ------------------------------------- Message from Ted J.Bogusta As you may have read, the world's oldest magic shop, Flosso-Hornmann-Martinka (est. 1877) was recently sold. While cleaning out the old shop, we found many interesting items, some of which we have included in an online auction that will run until this Sunday: www.martinka.com There are posters, books, photos and more from Houdini, Thurston, Soo and others, all are original and many are over 100 years old. The auction will only run until this Sunday (12/10), please feel free to stop by and take a peek. While at the site you'll also find exhibits of vintage magic sets, throw out cards, images from our 1898 catalog and Houdini material (he owned Martinka's in 1918). Thanks for reading. ------------------------------------- 6. Replies to postings that appeared in Issue #50 ------------------------------------- Message from Bob Loomis (UK) Just two replies to two friends' two postings that appeared in Issue #50. (A) In reply to Jim Fish's: >Pardon my density, but I wonder, instead of doubling the tube into a >u-shape, wouldn't it be much easier to just run the wires for the bottom >end down the side of the tube, and insulate the heck out of the part >that goes into your gullet? Hi Jim, you are absolutely correct. In the early 1950s I visited the sideshows at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. I was very young at the time, still in my mother's arms. (O.K., O.K., I was a mere teenager.) I recall seeing an elderly, lady, sword swallower doing the down the throat bit with a neon bulb. (Yes, she was probably half my present age!) I can still see the red glow through the base of her neck. She used a single narrow tube only, with the end covered in black electrician's tape. It wasn't until much later that I discovered how dangerous the act was, and that several sword swallowers had died for their art. (B) In reply to Jack Poulter's posting on Joe Stuthard: >..... Stuthard's >Trilby Deck, was also produced around 1948, I understand. It was a (one) >end stripped Svengali which allowed handling which fooled those familiar >with the regular Svengali.... Hi Jack, how's life on your island? It's kinda damp on mine! In case you didn't know it, Stuthard also produced a variation of the Trilby Deck which he called BI-CO TRILBY. It included a further additional 24 cards with different coloured backs, i.e. if your Trilby Deck had red backs, then the Bi-Co cards had blue backs. Although they were bevelled the same as the identical "key" cards, the face of each Bi-Co card was different. It allowed you to also use the Trilby Deck as a colour changing deck. You sent Stuthard one of the key cards from your existing Trilby Deck so that he could match the bevelling and colour. If that is a bit confusing, and you want the full break down of the deck let me know. (Stuthard wasn't the only magic nut to leave Canada and travel across the pond to the U.K. Hey, maybe by selling trick decks I can save enough to go home!...) ------------------------------------- 7. Enjoying Tommy Orchards articles ------------------------------------- Message from Guy Cater I have been thoroughly enjoying Tommy Orchards articles and although I saw him perform in New Zealand some years ago. I had hypnotised Derek Metzger at a show in Avondale one night. Those were the days when Rob Guest was 'between jobs' and he was there in his capacity of photographer. Derek went to 'sleep' in the audience as I was hypnotising my subjects onstage. I would never embarrass another entertainer by bringing him or her up on to the stage but when I went to wake Derek, his (soon to be) wife Sally said, "Go ahead Guy .. use him". They were leaving in a couple of days time as Derek was to perform in the West End in London. That was enough for me ... Derek became Shirley Temple and sang and tap-danced beautifully and Rob took some great shots. The next day Derek and Sally came round home and I hypnotised Derek again. Jump now to some months later ... in London. Sally-Ann Phillips (now Metzger) as most kiwis are aware was the beautiful lady who worked with Crunchy the Clown and a host of other performers. Sally also looked after Fullers Entertainment Agency for our late friend Lew Pryme ... and Sally knew the infamous Tommy. They all got together in London and Derek and Sally told Tommy of Derek's experience with me and my Hypnosis. So Tommy then Hypnotised Derek... and discovered what an excellent subject he was. Then they went out. They went out other nights too. Derek said that he was puzzled because he seemed to spend more than he meant to. Anybody guess what Tommy's suggestions to Derek had been... Yep ... "You buy ALL the drinks"!! The following year I went to London to act as Toastmaster at Derek and Sally's wedding. Was a marvellous time except that Derek would never let me hypnotise him after he had told me Tommy's story!! Wonder Why? By the way, last week I forgot to mention that New Yorker Comedy Magician Russ Merlin who is also working here in Singapore is the same Russ Merlin who toured NZ with the World Festival of Magic about six years ago, so many Kiwi magis will know him. Next week he and I and a couple of local guys are driving up through Malaysia to check out the Casino in Genting. Fancy a Casino in a Muslim country!! ---------------------------------- 8. Pride & Joy Cards ---------------------------------- Message from Kristina (Aust) info@bernardsmagic.com.au Just thought that you may want to mention to your readers that Bernard's stock the "Pride & Joy'' cards. We also sell the one where you can show them a picture of ''The Kids''. It's a photo of two goats. A great follow up after showing the ''P & J'' card, saying that you are now going to be serious and did they want to see a picture of your kids? Just a little laugh! ------------------------------------- 9. Cookietime Simply Magic Comes To Auckland ------------------------------------- Message from Greg Britt (NZ) Christchurch Magician Elgregoe will be making a one off appearance at a special childrens Christmas Party at Greenlane Xpo Centre Sunday 17th December 2000. The Magic show with Cookie Muncher will be presented to 1000s of children from various charities around Auckland, sponsored by corporates the children get the most fabulous Xmas gifts, plus a day of activity and food that is truly MAGIC! Cookietime Simply Magic with Elgregoe plans to attend a lot of large events throughout New Zealand in 2001/2002 details will be posted on this site. ---------------------------------- 10. Magic Items For Sale ---------------------------------- Message from Greg Britt (NZ) Elgregoe here I have 4 Items for sale if you are interested email me at elgregoe@inet.net.nz 1. Arising Cards, Brand new, any card called for will rise from deck, advertised in magic, Very clever, not suitable for strolling which is what I need. I paid $137 New Zealand landed will sell $ 85 post paid anywhere in New Zealand 2. Elducos Rubber band Card, signed card is linked to a rubber band which is wrapped around deck. Brand new I paid $51 will sell for $30 Post paid in N.Z 3. Books, Rices Encyclopaedia of Silk Magic Volumes 1 and 2 only $40 each or $75 for the 2 post paid in N.Z (Mint Condition) 4. Book, Greater Magic 1006 pages, Book in very good condition, Paper cover a bit tatty, $50 post paid in N.Z Books would be good for a magic club library. ---------------------------------- 11. Some sort of scam based on sympathy ---------------------------------- Message from Ray Haddad (Aust) I don't know where to begin this note to you regarding the last issue of Magic-NZ and your appeal on behalf of that poor Bulgarian lad. First off, I guess, is to let you know that the note you received is a form letter that I have received 3 times before getting this same one you got. The first time I got it was from a lad allegedly writing from Tunisia where his money can't be spent outside of his borders so he has to beg for magic books. The next came from a lad living in Egypt who was the victim of political violence if he did more than travel to and from his postal box. The third came from the Ukraine where there is no money available for anything other than food. I wondered how he was educating himself as I now wonder about the Bulgarian boy who can afford college but not books on magic. This appears to be some sort of scam based on sympathy from folks like you and me. This latest appeal has many holes in it but the heart wrenching appeal has made this a discussion of note on GeMiNi, USENET newsgroups and several other places where I am a subscriber. The trouble with this particular scam is that it appears not to be a scam at all but a legitimate appeal. However, on closer examination by an avid collector of magical literature such as myself, I can see where the scam actually lies. Here's my take on this. I have purchased many an estate of books and magazines from other magicians, families of magicians, auction houses and yard sales. In every case, I have found at least one book, magazine or document worth many times more than the price I have paid for the entire lot. This is not an isolated occurrence and not at all rare. Most of us have books and magazines on our shelves worth more than what we paid for them. This fact is known to serious collectors and when someone offers to sell us a bulk buy of old magic books, we leap at that chance like hounds to a fox. I believe the folks perpetrating this scam are banking on the concept that many magicians will find it within their means to send one old magazine or book. The odds of receiving a book or magazine later found to be worth hundreds of dollars in an auction are about 20%. I once bought a book of magic by Will Goldston for a dollar a few years back at a flea market. At home later, I found that inside the flyleaf was a note from Howard Thurston to his dear friend Nelson Downs, the apparent owner and original recipient of the book. There was also a bookplate inside the cover that was so ornate as to have obscured the owner's name from casual examination. Nelson Downs' name was made up of little imps in various poses to represent the letters of his name. I later gave this book to a dear friend of mine for his collection. He estimates the value to be over $2000.00. I also think that many magicians don't really know the value of what they own sometimes. When I visit magicians and we share stories, show each other props and books and lovingly examine scrapbooks, there are always surprises there. I have autographs from some of the most famous magicians of my lifetime in my scrapbook along with newspaper articles, photos and other ephemera gathered during 40 years in this business. Some of those autographs are going to be discarded after I'm gone unless I reinforce to my wife and heirs that to the proper collector, they have value not to be lost. It's just a sad fact that the most tatty looking book or magazine that some of us are nearly ready to discard may have the greatest dollar value. I think this is the scam. Trying to pry those seemingly worthless things from your collection with a heart-tugging plea. Remember, this is allegedly coming from someone so poor he can't buy a magic book from an on line source yet he can afford a computer and Internet access. I'd be more inclined to help the traditional beggar holding his hand out in the street before I helped someone making a pitiful appeal from any on line source. ---------------------------------- 12. The Orchante Saga # 8 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Self Hypnosis, Hypnotism, The Wairoa College Incident 1956-57 Am now boarding in Wairoa, home for the weekends, and have acquired two books on Hypnotism (my bibles). The first weekend home after my acquisitions I'm proudly showing off my Ralph Slater Hypnotism book (I'd inadvertently left Franquin's book in Wairoa, thankfully); Mum's horrified! Playing around with 'silly' magic tricks was one thing, but this 'evil eye' stuff was something else entirely. "It's the work of the devil - black arts - ungodly! (If there'd been an Exorcist handy, she would have called him) Phew!! That's what a lot of folks associated hypnotism with in those days. Mum pulled on a pair of heavy gloves, grabbed the fire-side tongs, and gingerly holding the 'evil' book at arm 's length, opened the door of the wood-stove and threw it in; blood ran cold as maniacal laughter issued from the roaring flames and echoed hollowly around the room. Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating - but - MUM BURNT MY BOOK - AAARRRGH! Each week I was given enough money to buy school lunches etc. so, when I got back to Wairoa, I bought another copy, and went hungry - good practice for the future - show business and 'lean times' go hand in hand. Actors/actresses say "I'm resting between jobs, lovey" - BULLS.....T, you're out of work, you snobby twits!! Rang New Zealand last week for a chat with Dad, also to glean any facts he could remember. Among other things, he said "To put it mildly, son, you did cause some problems at college!" To hell with homework - I had better things to do, practising Sleight of Hand, studiously learning the art of Hypnotism and mastering Self-Hypnosis, which I found relatively easy to accomplish, because - I BELIEVED! A young mind will more readily accept 'ideas' than an older one which is set in its ways, and sceptical. YOUR IMAGINATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE WORD, - POSITIVE thinking gives POSITIVE results - NEGATIVE thinking gives NEGATIVE results! It's a strange feeling, the first time you go into a self-induced trance (using your imagination) and giving yourself suggestions such as;- 'my arm is so light, it's rising' - and it does, without any physical effort on your part to lift it! My favourite was suggesting that my body was so light it was floating. The sensation is very real, even though your conscious mind knows you are still lying on the bed, fascinating stuff, especially when using Self-hypnosis to control pain! - which neatly brings me to WAIROA COLLEGE. 'Showing off' my new found skill in pain control I managed to turn a few stomachs and make the girls scream, by pushing needles through my arms and cheeks, (without bleeding), and getting the girls to pinch me while I deadened the feeling in the appropriate spot - Woh! The teachers were getting fed-up with the constant banging of a penny being dropped onto the desk top - well, I am left handed, so I could still write and, at the same time, practice palming and flipping a coin across my right-hand fingers - they must have had a right 'booze-up' from all my pennies they confiscated - absolutely no appreciation of my skills - bloody cretins! Now, I'm not sure of the year - 1956 - 57 - I'm getting into some heavy stuff for a kid of 12 or 13 years old - I'm a bit of a rebel - have a 'mind-set' for all things Magic and Hypnotism, and to hell with everyone and everything else! I'm needing 'subjects' to practise Hypnosis techniques on - word gets around - 'it's all happening, down by the boys toilet block during lunch hour - that Tommy Orchard is doing weird things, making people fall over - can't undo laced fingers', etc; I am, of course, using standard 'stage tests' to find the 'best subjects' for a performance, techniques I've learned from my Franquin and Ralph Slater Hypnotism books - in fact, I'm developing what FRANQUIN called 'MESMERIC ABILITIES', where subjects are fully conscious, yet by suggestion or touch alone, are just as influenced as if under complete hypnosis. Already endowed with a strong personality, mastering self-hypnosis boosted my self confidence - you KNOW you can influence - CAN hypnotise - this assurance reached out and has an effect on your subject (s). The next step was sitting 'volunteers' on the toilet seats, and walking up and down intoning "You are getting sleepy, sleeeepy" etc,. The surroundings were, to put it mildly, rather inappropriate and totally inelegant - it was all I had to surreptitiously practise the 'Hypnotic arts' but, it was under those awful conditions that I first successfully induced the 'hypnotic sleep' in my volunteers. Unfortunately I've run out of the space to include 'MAJOR INCIDENT' at Wairoa College. DON'T MISS NEXT WEEK'S NAIL-BITING, ENTHRALLING EPISODE. I'll leave you with one CLIFF-HANGING word --- --- --- E X P U L S I O N --- --- ------------------------------------- 13. Diarise these events ------------------------------------- New Zealand National Magicians Convention - December 27th 2001 to January 1st 2002 - Auckland ------------------------------------- 14. MagicNZ e-zine archives ------------------------------------- Back issues of the MagicNZ 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: ezine Password: newzealand When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001nov0699.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (nov06) and the last next two numbers the year (99) If you want to print copies of MagicNZ e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine-archive ------------------------------------- 15. 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 MagicNZ e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html MagicNZ e-zine is published weekly, late on Sunday night. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors. Neither MagicNZ or Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via MagicNZ e-zine. We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions as we see fit. >> This publication may be freely redistributed to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY << (c) Copyright 2000 Alan Watson