* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #89 Date: Sunday 23rd September 2001 Editor: Alan Watson www.magician.co.nz www.alan-watson.com e-mail AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. The Las Vegas Review-Journal - 1st Sept 2001 3. The cruise industry has certainly been affected 4. The Magic Malarkey in Melbourne 5. Aussie Magic "News" 6. George Kaplan - Broken Wand 7. The 2002 South African Magic Championships 8. Jay Scott Berry will lecture in Sydney 9. Sydney Magician - Demis Christo 10. Books for sale 11. Adelaide Magic Convention 12. Quicker Than The Eye 13. The Orchante Saga #44 14. Diarise these events 15. MagicNZ e-zine archives 16. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Our hearts go out to all the Americans and other nationalities around world who lost friends and family through the senseless terrorist acts in New York and Washington. I was in Japan at the time and was shocked and traumatised as the events unfolded. I was watching TV when they crossed live minutes after the first plane hit the World Trade Center. All I wanted to do was come home to be with my family. The highlight of my Japanese trip was meeting again fellow magician Ton Onosaka at the Japanese Magic Circle mini convention (JCMA), also at Wizardz in Tokyo - James Brandon, David Zirbel and Steve Marshall. In Singapore John and Betsy Teo, Patrick and Alfred Hayes. Incidentally John and Betsy Teo along with 4 others from Singapore are planning to attend our New Zealand International Convention (27th to 31st December 2001) in Auckland. ------------------------------------- Remember that the Jay Scott Berry Lecture Tour will be in: Auckland 9th October 2001 Wellington 10th October Christchurch 11th October Full details in next weeks MagicNZ e-zine ------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. The Las Vegas Review-Journal - 1st Sept 2001 ---------------------------------- Message from Wayne Bern (US) Lance Burton is trying to work his magic in the publishing industry these days, having purchased two publications with a Las Vegas focus. The Strip magician who performs regularly at the Monte Carlo recently paid more than $100,000 for the Vegas Visitor, and last year bought the Trip Sheet for $15,000. "I'm not retiring from my night job," Burton said about his new business ventures. "I just like investing in things that promote Las Vegas." The biweekly Vegas Visitor, the oldest tourism magazine in Las Vegas, was founded in 1963 by Robert Supin and passed on to his son, Charles, who sold it to Burton. Burton put more money into both magazines, turning them into glossy publications and upgrading their design. His thrust is to increase the distribution of Vegas Visitor in California. Acquisition of the Trip Sheet, a monthly magazine that gives 5,000 cab drivers in Las Vegas a place to be heard, came about from Burton's long relationship with cabbies, he said. It goes back to Burton's start 10 years ago at the Hacienda, where he had to advertise on a budget leaner than the $500,000 he spends today. "We comped all the cab drivers and they started recommending the show," he said. "I was an advertiser in the Trip Sheet. It goes to every taxi and limo driver and they are your first line of defense. Tourists always ask the cab drivers where the best restaurants and shows and hotels are." When Trip Sheet founder Dick Kawalder died in 1997, his daughter, Sue Kawalder-Marriott, gained the rights to the magazine and heard that Burton was interested in buying it. She said her dad, a former cab driver and dispatcher, found his niche in life with the magazine, providing an open forum for Vegas cab drivers to talk about safety and other issues. "At one point, there were a lot of stabbings and robberies," she said. Dick Kawalder would also place a symbol, Harry the Leprechaun, in the corner of advertisements in the Trip Sheet to let cab drivers know there was a kickback for bringing customers to those establishments. ---------------------------------- 3. The cruise industry has certainly been affected ---------------------------------- Message from Paul Romhany (NZ) Just a quick update on what is happening over here on board. It's been one heck of a week. While we were all glued to the TV and grieving on board, we went through some water spouts and some very rough seas. We managed to avoid 2 hurricanes but certainly had very rough seas. I managed to film the water spouts, there were about five of them, and when they come towards you, you can't help but be nervous. We will no longer be going in to New York, but Boston for the rest of the season. When we arrived in Boston our ship was surrounded by army and divers, there had been a bomb threat at the terminal ... quite a sight to see armed guards and divers around us ... another nervous time indeed. The cruise industry has certainly been affected by the tragedy, and from what I hear most ships are travelling very light indeed, so it's all up in the air right now as to what will happen in our business. I am thinking about heading to Canada after I finish this contract for 2 weeks that I have off, then fly to Rio. Will keep you all updated on what I am doing, we are just taking one day at a time. ------------------------------------- 4. The Magic Malarkey in Melbourne ------------------------------------- Message from Pat-Trick and Melissa (Aust) Melbourne's Magic Malarkey was a great success, all had a great time and enjoyed lectures from Joshua Jay USA Andrew Wimhurst and Chuck Fayne. Close-Up Magic Competition winners were Open Close-Up Simon Coronel and The Junior Close-Up Competition Timophy Fenshaw The great finali of the day was the mind blowing, entertaining international close-up show starring Joshua Jay, Barry Govan, Chuck Fayne, Tim Ellis and Andrew Wimhust. Close of convention and we all headed down the road to a very happy pizza shop owner where 20 of us continued to party on into the night. Special Thank you to Joshua Jay, Andrew Wimhurst, Chuck Fayne, Tim & Sue-anne Ellis, Barry Govan, Graham & Nolene Etherington, All who came along, the interstaters from Adelaide and Sydney without you all, it wouldn't have been a success. Watch out for the next Malarkey coming soon. ---------------------------------- 5. Aussie Magic "News" ---------------------------------- Message from TIM ELLIS (Aust) If there is sufficient interest, I am happy to put up a page of Aussie Magic "News" under the following headings: NEWS (Who's doing what) GIG GUIDE (Where to see magic regularly in your city) UPCOMING SHOWS, LECTURES & EVENTS (Shows coming up...) I'll put the news on an unlinked page which anyone can link to their sites and I'll update it as often as people send in any news. To submit news, people simply have to email it to me and I'll put it on the news page. If I get enough initial emails over the next week, I'll email you with the site address and we can begin. http://www.MagicUnlimited.com ------------------------------------- 6. George Kaplan - Broken Wand ------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler (US) BROKEN WAND!- Parent Assembly #1 of the Society of American Magicians mourns the passing of it's Dean GEORGE KAPLAN. - Best known for his book "Fine Art of Magic" published in 1948, the 99 year old (Born on April 22, 1902) Kaplan, was also a prolific writer and contributor to numerous magic publications such as Hugard's Monthly, Sphinx, M-U-M, Linking Ring, Greater Magic and the Tarbell Course.- He was the contributor for the magic section of the New Book of Knowledge. Mr. Kaplan began his interest in magic in more than 70 years ago. He joined the Parent Assembly in 1928 (# 1503) George Kaplan has been very active in both the IBM and the SAM where he served as Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Controller and served as the Chairman of the Board. George loved to watch "well presented" magic and had many magic students following in his footsteps. He was named as Dean of the Parent Assembly #1 as well becoming their " Magician of the Year" on his 93rd birthday in April of 1995. Funeral Services and a "Broken Wand" ceremony were held at 11:AM on Tuesday Morning September 4 at the Riverside-Nassau Chapel at 55 North Station Plaza in Great Neck, New York ---------------------------------- 7. The 2002 South African Magic Championships ---------------------------------- Message from Craig Mitchell (South Africa) Are you ready for four days of non-stop magic? Are you ready for a truly African adventure? Are you ready to be dazzled by some of magic's greatest performers? Are you ready for this ... The 2002 South African Magic Championships is to be hosted by the College of Magic from the 21st - 24th March 2002 at the Grand West Casino & Entertainment World in Cape Town. Superb facilities, a gem of a theatre, plus cinemas, ice-rinks and restaurants to suit every taste and budget. And with the most beautiful city on earth as a setting, delegates are sure to experience the magic that is Cape Town. And did I mention our FISM award winning International Artists? That's right .... We are proud to have as our guests: *Tim Ellis & Sue-Anne Webster (Australia) ---------------- "They have won more awards for their mind-blowing illusions than any other Australians in history. Tim is world-renowned for his highly original take on some of magic's best-loved classics ... and at the 2002 SA Magic Championships you'll see why magic & mayhem go hand in hand with Tim Ellis & Sue-Anne Webster! Voted "Most Valuable Performers" at the highly prestigious FFFF conference in 2001, Tim & Sue-Anne are a dynamo unlike any other. Two time FISM Championship winners, over 80 television appearances and performances in nearly every major city - Tim & Sue-Anne pack energy, comedy & surprise into everything they do!" But don't take our word for it ... check out www.magic.org.za/2002/ellis.htm *Tommy Wonder (Holland) ---------------- "Welcome to a world of wonder ... experience the magic of Tommy Wonder! We are privileged to have one of magic's most influential performers of all time join us at the 2002 SA Magic Championships. A Magician With Passion Tommy Wonder is a man who needs no introduction. He has appeared in over twenty six countries. Featured on numerous television specials and has performed from Monaco to Las Vegas, New York to Japan. Author. Performer. The epitome of elegance. And most of all he is a magician with passion. At the 2002 SA Magic Championships, Tommy will demonstrate the sheer impact that true magic can have. You won't find the unnecessary glitter and glamour. But rather simplicity of structure. Acting, emotions, music & charm all combine into a poetic piece of beauty. Personality & Imagination Tommy Wonder develops all his repertoire himself, as he believes that it is the only way a performer can express his true personality & imagination. Tommy's reputation amongst his colleagues is without equal. His two volume series "The Books of Wonder" has been classed together with some of the greatest magical literature ever written. Join us at the 2002 SA Magic Championships and learn from this living legend ... experience the wonder of Tommy Wonder" Check out www.magic.org.za/2002/wonder.htm And that's just the beginning !!!! Surf on over to the official 2002 SA Magic Championships Website ... www.magic.org.za/2002 PLEASE NOTE: *Delegate numbers are **extremely limited** due to the intimate theatre setting - we will sell out! Register as soon as possible ... secure, online registration as well as download forms are to be made available shortly *We have managed to secure a limited number of rooms at a greatly reduced rate at the City Lodge Grand West Hotel - the official hotel of the 2002 SA Magic Championships. Situated within the entertainment resort, delegates are guaranteed of being right in the heart of the action ... visit the website to find out how to qualify for a 30 % saving on your accommodation booking! So .... if you were thinking about taking that ideal African adventure ... March 2002 will be better than ever! www.magic.org.za/2002 ---------------------------------- 8. Jay Scott Berry will lecture in Sydney ---------------------------------- Jay Scott Berry will lecture in Sydney on October 3, following the Adelaide Magic Convention. From close-up to stage, gimmicks, sleight of hand. Sponge, coin and silk magic; to psychology, mystery, astonishment and pure wonder! A 2-hour private workshop, cost around $50, may be organised also. Further details closer to the date. Date - Wednesday October 3, 8p.m. Venue - Merlin's Comedy Cellar, Station St. Wentworthville Cost - $15-00 More information about Jay is at http://www.jayscottberry.com ---------------------------------- 9. Sydney Magician - Demis Christo ---------------------------------- Message from Sam Powers (Aust) I've just received a flyer for show that is being held by a Sydney magician by the name of Demis Christo. The show is called "Simply Magic" being held on October 6 at the Roselea Community Centre, 645 Pennant Hills Rd Carlingford. $15 Adult $10 Concession/Child Bookings: 0410 624 421 or 9630 7393 ---------------------------------- 10. Books for sale ---------------------------------- Message from Sefton Pryce (NZ) Could you please advertise these item for sale on your web-zine they are all in excellent condition if any interested parties, contact SPryce@xtra.co.nz or Ph (06) 758-7841 all stock must go try and better these prices especially the way the exchange rate is at present. NZ $ Books Big Black Book (first collection) Paul Osbourne $300. 00 The art of invisible thread by Jon LeClair $65.00 DonDrake's Blackart breakthroughs $50.00 Device & illusion by Steinmeyer; Jim $65.00 Illusions evolution & revolution / Paul Osbourne $100.00 New make - up of Magic not to be confused with make up for theatre $40.00 Reel Magic - Albenice $20.00 Illusion Systems Catolque $8.00 Card Fantasies By Edward G Love $4.00 ---------------------------------- 11. Adelaide Magic Convention ---------------------------------- Message from Roy J Hopwood (Aust) Haven't booked Yet for the Adelaide Magic Convention? September 29 - 30 2001 (Also friday night the 28 September) You don't know what your missing ... Jay Scott Berry Illusioneering 2001 The Art and Science of Wonder You've seen the rest , now see the best Charles Gauci Reputation Makers The Man is Back Peter Thorpe Mindset: Attitude vs Plattitude Count von Dazzle and Fritz Sandwich reveal all! and there's more! Junior Close up comp Sunday Auction Close up Comp Stage Comp dealers Plus Saturday night dinner and Gala Show featuring Jay Scott Berry Peter Thorpe The awarding winning Darren Schutz Corey Morris Need even more information ... then contact: Garry Dunn gdun@arcom.com.au Roy hopwood hopwood147@bigpond.com or visit our web site http://www.adelaideconvention.20m.com ---------------------------------- 12. Quicker Than The Eye ---------------------------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) Effect: A basic, two-in-the-hand, one-in-the-pocket routine, full of awful gags and puns, and finishing with a double-laugh climax. Preparation: You'll need four little plastic feet and a little plastic hand. These can be found in the doll-making section of almost every craft shop. As well, you'll need a fake eyeball from your local gag and joke shop. The hand and eye are in your right jacket pocket, three of the feet are on the table, and the fourth foot is concealed in your right hand. Presentation: Extend your left hand, palm up, and point to it with your right forefinger: "You'll notice that my hand is eight inches long. If it were four inches longer it would be a foot." (First hilarious gag.) Point to the three feet on the table: "But it wouldn't be like these feet, because they are magical. Let me show you what I mean." With the right hand, pick up one foot and toss it into the left hand. Count: "one." Pick up the second foot and toss it into the left hand, adding the concealed foot from the right hand. Count: "two." Pick up the third foot and put it in your right pocket, palming it out again. "And the third foot goes in the pocket. "Open the left hand, showing that the three feet have magically joined together again. Repeat the sequence but this time, instead of palming the third foot, drop it into the pocket and palm out the hand. Show the three feet have again magically come together. Casually pick up one foot with the right hand and pretend to toss it into the left, actually switching it for the palmed hand (Bobo switch). Pick up the other two feet with the right hand and drop all three into the right pocket, palming out the eyeball. "Don't you think something that magical deserves a hand?" you ask, as you open the left hand and drop the little plastic hand onto the table (Yet another hilarious gag.) Pick up the plastic hand with your right, show it around, then pretend to toss it into the left, actually switching it for the eyeball. As you do, say, "Now there are some people who believe that the hand is quicker than the eye - but I'll let you be the judge of that." Open the left hand and show that the hand has turned into the eyeball. (Final hilarious gag.) Second thoughts: Of course, you don't have to use the feet: Anything you used in a two-in-the-hand routine will do, finishing with: "Don't you think something that magical deserves a hand?" and continuing with the eyeball gag. This plays better than you may think, even though it sounds corny. Just don't analyze it too much. As one wag once put it, "Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog: Nobody much cares - and the frog dies." ---------------------------------- 13. The Orchante Saga #44 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Murphy's Law - what can go wrong will go wrong, with a vengeance! Calamity - my diaries for the years 73/74 have vanished, lost somewhere within the swirling mists of time that pervades my bottomless aluminium trunk. Therefore, although my memories of various incidents during this time period are accurate the actual dates and time lines cannot be verified. At one period during the years of 1972/73 I met David J. McKee, who was based in Auckland. Dave managed a band called 'NOAZARK', they had a hit record called 'Money's Made To Burn', which was produced on Dave's own recording label - Kontact Recording Co. Ltd. He also managed and recorded various vocalists - among them, Brent Brody, Angela Ayers, Maria Dallas, and Tom Sharplin. As an entrepreneur /promoter Dave organised various shows mainly in hotels but also produced and presented rock concerts in civic theatres and town halls around the north island. We worked with David on many of these shows, both hotels and concerts and in fact, I think David may have been one of the first to combine a visual/speciality act with a rock show - my rather naughty mime act was particularly successful! He also toured my hypnotism show around the north of the North Island of New Zealand - more of this later. As I explained at the beginning, the actual year/dates are lost, however, during one late December there were two shows that we will never forget. We had been booked for a private function in Wanganui on a Saturday night and, for the Sunday night Dave had booked us to perform our hypnotism show at one of his rock concert's in Tauranga. The concert was to be of three hours plus in length, starting at seven P.M. The first half, to run for approximately 90 minutes, was rock bands and singers then a short interval followed by my hypnotism show. Veronica and I decided that after the show in Wanganui ( we figured around midnight ) we would drive right through the night to arrive in Tauranga early-morning, a seven or eight hour journey and a distance of around 440miles. We could then sleep all day and be nice and fresh for the show later that night. That was the plan - HA, 'Murphy' and his bloody laws had other ideas! Wanganui is on the Lower West coast of the north island of New Zealand and the trip involved travelling up through the central area to Taupo, on to Rotorua then across to the east coast to reach Tauranga. The first 100 miles, Wanganui to Raetihi was the worst part - a tortuous, narrow, winding twisting road, all loose stone chippings with occasional passing bays. On one side of the road there are hills/mountain's, on the other, a drop of several hundred feet straight down to the Mangawhero River - average driving speed is around 30/40 mph. It is a very desolate, rugged area. If you broke down, tough - you just had to wait until another car came along to get any kind of help - there were no mobile phones in those days! It wouldn't surprise me if the road has since been tar sealed and straightened out a bit - after all, I'm talking about 30 odd years ago. We actually lived in Wanganui for a short time and travelled on that road many times - you sure heaved a sigh of relief when you got to the end of it. The reason why I have tried to 'paint 'a reasonably descriptive picture of this road/area is relevant to the nightmare that was to befall us, and which will become clear to you later on. 'Cold Duck' this drink had just come onto the market in New Zealand - it's a long time since I've drunk it but I seem to remember it was a sort of 'bubbly', like champagne. They had cases of the stuff at the show we did in Wanganui. Anyhow, our 'dressing room' for that night was a largish broom cupboard that we just managed to squeeze into and all during the evening somebody would stick his/her head into the cupboard to say 'g'day' and pass in a bottle of this ' cold duck'- the show was great and we became very, very happy! So, around midnight as we had predicted, the show was over and we had packed all our equipment into the car - the weather was lousy the rain was absolutely hissing down. (I'm sure that should be spelt with a P). We had a long drive in front of us and there was no way we could hear 'MURPHY' clapping his hands and laughing with glee above the thunderclaps as we headed off. ext episode - what the hell have we done to deserve this! ------------------------------------- 14. Diarise these events ------------------------------------- Jay Scott Berry Lecture Tour Auckland 9th October 2001 Wellington 10th October Christchurch 11th October ------------------------------------- The 26th NZ Magician's Convention Auckland Friday 28th to Monday 31st December 2001. For The registration form, Convention programme & The Official Competition Form go to: www.magician.co.nz/convention2.html ------------------------------------- 15. 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 ------------------------------------- 16. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the MagicNZ e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html MagicNZ e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. 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 << © Copyright 2001 Alan Watson