* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine
* www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #122
Date: Sunday 19th May 2002
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. Re: This Is A Rip Off
3. Latin America's First Street Magic Festival
4. Want Purchase Rabbit In Wallet
5. Absolutely Enjoyed Tommy Orchard's Review
6. Re: 50 Greatest Tricks - Review
7. Vancouver Magician Francis Martineau
8. David Ben Added To Roster Of Stars
9. Bristol Day Of Magic 2002
10. The Orchante Saga #105/106
11. Subscription Management

------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
-------------------------------------
Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One

I am astounded how many viruses being sent to me on a daily basis are
from other magicians! Remember your virus protection program is only
as good as your last virus definition update.

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

----------------------------------
2. Re: This Is A Rip Off
----------------------------------
Message from Peter Zenner (UK)

Nicolai Friedrich wrote of a mental trick with a jigsaw puzzle --
>there is one piece missing and a spectator finds the
>missing piece out of many different pieces.

Which sounds very much like a trick which British mentalist 'Romark'
(Ronald Markham) did in his series on TV circa 1974.

>I came up with the idea in 1995 and there are documents (newspaper;
>magic magazine `Magie`) that can verify my copyright back to this
>time. In the last issue of the Magic Magazine there is an
>advertisement of a magician from Israel who offers exactly my Mona
>Lisa concept for sale. This is a rip off. I did not give this guy any
>permission to perform and market my effect.

Corinda told me that he came up with the presentations for Romark's TV
show and he has been out of the business for a long time.

Tommy Wonder added --
>According to Rafael Cohen the version of the Mona Lisa trick which is
>being offered for sale is one which has been performed by Sagiv Levy
>for 7 years!

Can anybody beat 1974? The only problem is that I can't remember what
picture was on the jigsaw -- does it make a difference?

According to my information, an American mentalist called Robert
Dorian purchased the rights to Romark's effects from his widow, Ursula
Markham. Seems like one of our American friends should ask Bob Dorian
:-)

http://www.pzenner.freeserve.co.uk

----------------------------------
3. Latin America's First Street Magic Festival
----------------------------------
Message from Projeto Artes Mágicas (Brazil)

Magical greetings from Brazil!

The city of Pouso Alegre, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, will
host Latin America's very first street magic festival.

The STREET MAGIC 2002 is scheduled to happen on August 24th, under the
sponsorship of the PROJETO ARTES MÁGICAS (Magical Arts Project) and
the
Brazilian chapter of the International Magicians Society (IMS).

It will have:
- 3 lectures;
- Street magic competition (with prizes in money and magic effects);
- Street magic show;
- 2002 Cocktail of Magicians.

The event will presented at the Central Parque Hotel
(www.centralparquehotel.com.br)

All competitors will be videotaped in live action on the streets. It's
one more step towards the materialization of The Magic City in Pouso
Alegre.

Foreign competitors pay just U$ 20.

For more details, contact: PROJETO ARTES MÁGICAS
artesmagicas@uol.com.br

----------------------------------
4. Want To Purchase Rabbit In Wallet
----------------------------------
Message from Norm Twigg (NZ)

Does anyone out there have the old Tenyo item Rabbit in Wallet I could
purchase. Norm Twigge ph. 06 3578232 - normtwigge@xtra.co.nz

----------------------------------
5. Absolutely Enjoyed Tommy Orchard's Review
----------------------------------
Message from Bob Loomis (UK)

Absolutely enjoyed Tommy Orchard's review of the 50 Greatest Magic
Tricks program that appeared on U.K. TV. It was very stimulating to
read a review that was for once "BRUTALLY HONEST." In the main I
agreed with Tommy's comments. As no two people can possibly 
have the same opinions, obviously there are things
in the long review that everyone will disagree with. BUT, in the 
main, I (UK ex-pat Canadian)

agreed with Tommy especially about Adam and Joe. Most of the lay
people I questioned after the program had the same opinion about those
two individuals, and yes, many had switched off because of them.

I've only a few minor points to add to Tommy's review. First, it would
have been nice to see some of the real historical magic tricks, but
then there were obvious limitations on what film clips were available.
Second, with regard to:

> 43 - Meir Yehid - 'Finger Fantasies' (1985) Fantastic! Left me feeling
> very disjointed!...

Believe it or not, after 1985 Meir was involved in a car crash. He
survived it intact except for the loss of a finger! Yes, he can now 
do the finger removal bit for real (as he has been disjointed)!!!

> 35 - Robert Gallup - 'Straight Jacket Escape' Performed in
> Melbourne,
> Australia. (2000). Very impressive! Suspended at 1000 feet up.
> Supporting rope set on fire - had 2 minutes 20 seconds in which to
> escape. I was very disappointed by the fake straight jacket.
> Houdini's
> used the real thing, 90 years ago!

The originator of the burning rope version, (Alan Alan, 1948) once
fell on his head and was hospitalised due to not escaping before the
rope burned through. I won't get involved in your spelling of the name
of the jacket. (We devoted an issue of our newsletter to
the subject of "Strait vs. "Straight" some time ago, and proved that
Houdini himself actually spelled it "Straight.")

> 19 - Derren Brown - yet again (he must have shares in the Magic
> Circle)! The following statement came from one of my neighbours!
> "Now
> it's getting boring! Same sort of thing, just a different scenario -
> some sort of hypnotism bullshit!"....

Surely Darren's multiple appearances couldn't have anything to do with
the fact that the producer of the program Tommy reviewed also produced
Derren Brown Mind Control II.

> 18 - Robert Gallup - 'Death Dive' (1996)..... C'mon, fellas, if
> there WERE a 'What
> If', no silly bugger would do it! I've never heard of anyone
> accidentally 'killing themselves' in an escape stunt, but I stand to
> be corrected! ...

Joseph Burrus was killed on October 31, 1990 while trying to escape
from a buried coffin, in Fresno, California. - You may sit down now
that you are corrected. ;-D

> 13 - Harry Blackstone Jnr. 'Floating Light Bulb' (1977) THIS IS
> MAGIC!
> MICHAEL BAILEY, President of the Magic Circle, commented, "As near
> to
> a miracle as you can ever get" GAY BLACKSTONE former Assistant and
> Widow, said "Oh - I think the Floating Light Bulb is the greatest
> trick, because, it is the purest trick!"

I agree with the above but the fact that I saw Harry's father perform
the trick may have
something to do with it. (I was very young at the time!) This may also
be why certain tricks are in certain positions. Something that
completely fools you must be
the World's Most Difficult Trick To Work Out!

> 5 - Robert Harbin 'Zig Zag Lady' (1965) One of the greatest modern
> illusions! Geoffrey Durham summed up the man perfectly, when he
> said,
> "he had an extraordinarily brilliant magical brain, and his tricks
> have been copied, duplicated, and done by every other magician
> since,
> but his first version is the best"....

The Zig Zag that Harbin used in the TV clip can be seen today in The
Magic Circle Museum, at the Centre For The Magic Arts, in London.

> ...Remember, my comments were, in part, derived from friends
> and neighbours ....your normal, average, everyday people, the ones
> who,
> hopefully, come to see you perform and watch you on T.V. and, whose
> opinion is more important than anyone else's! ...

Those last few words should be tattooed on every magician's butt! Keep
up the good work Tommy, but if you can't, then give us another
instalment of your life story.

www.loomis.dircon.co.uk

----------------------------------
6. Re: 50 Greatest Tricks - Review
----------------------------------
Message from Steve Walker (Aust)

I really enjoyed Tom's review of the UK TV show (to paraphrase Butch
Cassidy "Don't sugar coat it Sundance (Tom) ...tell it like it
is.)"but would recommend readers (and Tom) check out the review at
www.magicweek.co.uk by Ian Rowland which may just put some of Tom's
comments into perspective.

The production company that produced the show also produces Derren
Brown's TV shows, just co-incidental he got 3 on the list? I think not
.....but I do think Derren is one of the best things to come along in
TV mentalism for a long long while. The Magic Circle Members were
asked to nominate Tricks not Presentations so the Thumb Tie should be
in there but every review I've seen criticises the presentation they
chose.

They do not have unlimited budget or access to every bit of TV magic
so the 50 greatest Tricks title is only a method of selling the show
both to the TV company and the general public. I agree with Ian and
Tom any "Greatest" type of show would have to include Dai Vernon and
Channing Pollack if you're really serious.

I understand from friends in the UK that there hasn't been too much
magic on UK TV in the last few years so I can forgive the grandiose
title and congratulate the team that got it to air .... and I look
forward to seeing the show.

PS Tom, I have it on good authority that Lance Burton was never in any
danger during his Roller Coaster escape!!

----------------------------------
7. Vancouver Magician Francis Martineau
----------------------------------
Message from Clive Court (Canada)

Vancouver Magician Francis Martineau To Be Honoured
By The American Academy Of Magical Arts

VANCOUVER,B.C.---When hundreds of young Harry Potter fans, bitten by
the curiosity bug, decide to delve into the mysterious world of magic,
they will visit their libraries or local magic shop to quench their
thirst for further magical knowledge.

In most of those magic shops* around the world (and on the internet
where the Harry Potter generation does their magic research) they will
soon discover The Encyclopedia of Silk Magic. This three-volume
classic of performance magic is largely the work of Francis Martineau,
a veteran Vancouver magician who completed the third volume forty
years ago.

On May 20, in Los Angeles, at the 34th Annual Awards celebration of
The American Academy of Magical Arts, Martineau will receive the
Academy's Award of Merit for his contribution to magical literature.
The Awards dinner will take place at Hollywood's famous
exclusive Magic Castle nightclub.

Martineau, 80, was a well known performer on the North American
cabaret circuit during the late forties and fifties when Vancouver was
a major West Coast entertainment centre--an important stop for most of
the world's great entertainers on their stage and nightclub tours.
Hollywood celebrities came to Vancouver to launch their cabaret acts.

Martineau developed his magic act while performing with the second
unit of the Army Show sent out to entertain Canadian troops during the
later stages of World War II. He followed in the footsteps of Wayne
and Shuster who were in the first unit of the Army Show.

The first volume of the Encyclopedia of Silk Magic was published in
1948, the second in 1953, and the third in 1962. It was a sixteen year
labour of love in which Martineau produced over 6,000 illustrations.
After completing his work on the Encyclopedia of Silk
Magic with Harold Rice, Martineau joined American illusionist Mark
Wilson as his art director on the TV series The Magic Land of
Alakazam. He also designed a successful illusion exhibit for The
General Cigar Company at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

For much of the sixties, Martineau worked in Hollywood creating
effects and production ideas for Johnny Carson, Jackie Gleason, Gary
Moore, Steve Allen, Art Linkletter and others. As the opportunities
for visual entertainers began to dry up during the late sixties,
Martineau returned to Vancouver to re-establish his commercial art
studio.

In retirement, Martineau still performs occasionally and remains an
active participant in the world of magic. He is a life member of The
Vancouver Magic Circle, the biggest magical society in Canada and a
key ring in The International Brotherhood of Magicians, a worldwide
organization with 15,000 members.

----------------------------------
8. David Ben Added To Roster Of Stars
----------------------------------
Message from George Schindler- SAM Public Relations

S.A.M Centennial Convention Update
Well known Canadian magician David Ben has been added to the roster of
stars performing at the S.A.M. Centennial Convention. (July 3-6)

David will combine Ross Bertram and David Ben effects in presentation
called "Platform of Miracles" with ballroom or banquet show material
to play big while working "out of your pockets".

Another great reason to register now. www.magicsam.com

----------------------------------
9. Bristol Day Of Magic 2002
----------------------------------
Message from Mandy Davis (UK)

Some of the best weather greeted registrants this year on their
arrival in Weston Super Mare last weekend. Once again, they found
themselves seated in the ballroom of the Winter Gardens as Mike Gancia
and President of the Bristol Society, Pete Ashby, opened the
proceeding with short speeches.

The Roy Darnley Memorial Lecture featured the day's International
Star - Whit Haydn. One of the founders of the Magic Castle's School
for Scoundrels, which teaches cheats and scams, Whit opened with a
well-honed penknife routine using two knives followed by his version
of Red Hot Momma/Chicago Opener which he calls Chicago Surprise. One
great difference was the use of a Classic Force instead of a Hindu one
for the second selection and Whit explained that he uses this trick
when he teaches beginners. He gave good examples of using the
Brainwave deck as an 'out' if the force doesn't work and gave us his
theories on the Brainwave deck in general. 'Routine for the Blind' was
worth the price of convention admission alone and used two standard
tricks plus coding ideas for a third to enable a miracle to occur
which would feature a blind person as its star. Finally, Whit
demonstrated Endless Chain or 'Fast and Loose' as it was called in
medieval times according to Shakespeare. He gave an intense session on
this to end what had been a very well explained, very interesting
lecture.

The close-up session before lunch was repeated later in the afternoon
and each registrant had a ticket to determine which time and room they
were to attend. I saw Martin Cox opening in my particular room,
performing the act which had won him the Rovi Trophy at last year's
IBM British Convention. Lots of gags and ad libs from the Cockney Hard
Man of Magic with a selected card spinning from the deck, another
sliding itself out onto the table (once the thread had been
untangled!) and some strong coin vanishes. Martin's own King of Warped
was next, and the act was ended by the appearance of a full sized
parking meter.

Sean Carpenter had won the recent Blackpool Convention Competition. He
started by making two modelling balloons penetrate each other and
continued with a card trick using a deck strung on a wide black
ribbon. The first selection was named by him then found inside an
envelope in his wallet; the second was the only card reversed in the
deck. Another selection was found in the spectator's pocket. This was
to be the Day of the Torn & Restored Newspaper and Sean was the first
to perform it. He then cut to four of a kind, changing them to the
four aces for a climax - all whilst blindfolded. To end his act, he
sliced a knife into a deck to reveal two cards which gave value and
suit of a card in a spectator's pocket.

It was good to see Whit Hadyn perform his Chicago Surprise out of the
lecture setting and as an opener for his set. He followed with a 'Card
to Pocket' routine and some great manipulations of one card into four,
something you don't usually see in a close-up session. Ambitious Card
started a well-honed finale which continued into Card in Wallet and
ended with Card on Ceiling.

Alistair Cook is always trying something different. Coin appearances
and vanishes were our introduction to him before he launched into
appearing ringing mobile phones and multiplying phones, ending with
appearing giant phones. He continued with his familiar miniature top
hat and ball routine, producing the ball over and over again from his
pen top. After a quick rope routine he vanished a volunteer's ring,
finding it inside a sealed walnut.

The Young Magicians' Club ran a Junior Workshop for all those under
the age of 18. Around eighteen boys and girls attended and, with the
help of Just Jayne, John van der Put, Richard Pinner and Tim
Shoesmith, we were able to have very small hands-on teaching sessions
covering stuff that the juniors themselves wanted to learn. Basic card
handling as well as advanced skills were covered, Hunters Knot and Cut
and Restored Rope, with coin vanishes and proper presentation of the
Appearing Wand gave all the attendees plenty to think about and plenty
to practise.

The afternoon lecture was given over to children's magic and words of
wisdom from Terry Herbert. I was unable to attend due to being needed
elsewhere but I head nothing but good reports about it afterwards.
Terry's newest item, The Silly Wand, was such a hit that he sold out
well before the queue for it had died down.

The nice thing about Bristol is that there is plenty of time for
shopping and socialising, without feeling rushed in any way. The
selection of goodies for sale was tempting as ever and the
twenty-three dealers present made sure that these temptations were
varied. The Bristol Society's own stand, where members had brought
along goods of their own which they wanted to sell, attracted a lot of
interest too.

So on to the Gala Show. Opened by the Daniel Dean Dancers, we were
able to witness Richard Pinner, the evening's compere, taking a
reasonable stab at being part of a chorus line. After a Tossed Out
Deck opening, Richard introduced Keith Cooper and Carol whose act as
known - including stole production, Torn & Restored Newspaper,
vanished head illusion, Cut & Restored Rope, Mutilated Parasol and
sword basket - did not suffer from the loss of their music soon after
their opening sequence.

Richard Pinner then returned to blow up an audience member's (!)
mobile phone before the curtains opened to reveal Rousseau standing
under his usual lamppost on Le Rue de Magie. Another Act as Known with
cigarettes, matches and lighters appearing, disappearing and
multiplying in elegant style. The final appearance of a dove from a
bouquet of roses is a lovely moment and was hugely appreciated by the
audience of magicians and members of the public.

A word here about magicians as an audience. Early in the proceedings
Richard had asked where the lay people were sitting and a great many
of them were front of stalls. This was made obvious from the sound of
the applause. However, the magicians seemed to curtail any that acts
might have got during sequences by not applauding themselves. The
public clapped, found they were doing so mostly on their own and
subsided in embarrassment! For goodness sake, Members of the Magic
World, show enthusiasm for your art. Encourage others who are up there
performing for your entertainment. So you've seen mutilated parasol
many times before, you know the intricacies of Cut and Restored Rope -
but that makes matters worse as you know the applause cues and should
react accordingly. There is talk of the public not applauding because
they are a TV watching nation - let's use gala shows to teach them how
to behave as an audience because we will all benefit from the lesson!

To continue - the first half closed with the infinite charm of
Geoffrey Durham. Torn & Restored Newspaper made yet another appearance
followed by a light bulb which shattered when stared at. Obviously
this made a mess of the stage - so what better way to clean it up than
to produce an Appearing Broom from a small paper bag! The three card
trick was performed with panache - and three gigantic cards; a Rubik
cube was instantly solved and then three borrowed wedding rings were
amazingly linked. Hydrostatic Glass finished Geoffrey's act, utilising
so large and heavy a jug of water that it was obviously a strain to
lift it. After seeing this snippet of performance, it is easy to see
why this expert performer's one man show is a constant sell-out.

After a short interval, the Daniel Dean Dancers were back again before
Richard Pinner returned to test the audience's mental rapport via
thought-of geometric shapes. Roy Davenport repeated his Great
Grandfather's act with Roy's all-enveloping enthusiasm and smile
lifting this collection of tricks, manipulations and colour-changing
waistcoats out of the dust sheets of the past and into validity of the
present.

Richard Pinner provided an interesting interlude with a 'Find the
Lady' effect - using three children from the audience and three Magic
Colouring Books. Then Whit Hadyn, still in sports jacket and tie as
his luggage had been re-routed to Hungary, aped the Masked Magician by
also revealing how standard tricks were done. His choices, however,
were cod explanations such as Silk to Egg, Cut and Restored Rope,
Equal/Unequal Ropes and then - the piece de resistance.

Whit asked for a young volunteer to help with Linking Rings. Onto the
stage ambled Ben, a Downs Syndrome boy, who absolutely stole the show!
Every time the audience applauded, Ben took an elaborate bow. Every
time Whit counted to three before the magic happened, Ben's voice
reverberated around the theatre too. Whit gave Ben absolute centre
stage - and Ben and the audience lapped up every moment. It was sheer
magic!

The final act, Martyn James & Company, opened with a flash of fire in
a cage which turned into two girls. A spears through box illusion
followed followed by Martyn changing a silk into a sock, the vanished
silk being revealed tied to his ankle. A little balloon
modelling/water juggling comedy sequence led into Heads Off and a
backstage 'how it's done' appearance of first one, then two girls.
Martin's 'Wall of Doom' showed him tied by several ropes to a brick
wall; in seconds he reappeared outside of the curtain with his
assistant imprisoned in his place. Finally he pushed one girl through
an old fashioned wringer displaying her as completely flattened. When
he reversed the process, both girls, Kelly and Kate were found
unharmed inside the machine.

The whole show was well balanced and well produced as was the entire
day - plenty of magic, plenty of laughs, plenty of wonder and plenty
of time to enjoy it all. Well done Bristol Society of Magic!

----------------------------------
10. The Orchante Saga #105/106
----------------------------------
Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

ABE PHILLIPS, the Eulogy continues

Our main reason for going was because my friend ABE had entered the
talent quest and, not surprisingly, was through to the Grand Finale.
The immense bar was packed! I couldn't tell you now what its capacity
was, but it was well in excess of 1,500 people! On quietish nights,
huge folding doors divided the bar in half so it didn't look empty, or
private functions could be held in one half while the other still
functioned as a public bar. If a show was on, to which an admission
was charged, by law, there had to be an alternative bar where patrons
could drink. The dividing doors solved the problem!

That night is as clear to me now, as if it was only yesterday. We were
sitting at a long table, which was on the left side of the room -
second from the front, facing the stage. I was sitting right next to
Abe, who was on my immediate left. On stage were the Mighty
'IMPRESSIONS' SHOW BAND, a fantastic show in their own right - they
were backing the various singers who were in the big final. I was most
surprised when Abe told me that he was - "Now singing professionally -
nearly four months". I guess the prospect of -World Fame, Fortune and
the 'Bright Lights', had finally got to him!

Noticing that Abe was becoming very edgy as his turn in the 'Grand
Finale' approached, I asked him if he was all right, " I'm just
feeling a bit 'nervy' Tom"! He replied. "You have to be kidding!" I
said, knowing that he had been singing for years. "I've never had to
compete before" he replied "Well" I said, "I can 'FIX' that if you
like?" - knowing that he had seen me perform my hypnotism show at the
Mayfair on occasions. "Do you mean the 'EYES' bit? " he said. "Well,
sort of" I replied, "all you have to do is to close YOUR eyes, and
listened to me for a couple of minutes." "Okay" he said, hesitantly -
"If you think it will work!" "No problem!" I said.

The 'IMPRESSIONS' were playing/backing some singer, and both are
'belting' it out at a hell of a volume - not the ideal conditions in
which to be giving hypnotic suggestions; I practically had my mouth
'glued' to Abe's eardrum so that he could hear me! However, two or
three minutes later, Abe was calm, relaxed and, RARING TO GO! I
wouldn't have the audacity to suggest that the 'hypnotic suggestions'
that I had installed in his subconscious had anything to do with it -
because they didn't (Maybe helped a tiny bit), but - BIG ABE WON - THE
SCHWEPPES $2000 TALENT QUEST!

It is now one month later! DECEMBER THE 18th - Saturday morning. We
are getting ready to head up North for a 2pm show at the Helensville
War Memorial Town Hall? Switching on the radio, I got the tail end of
a newsflash - something to do with a car smash and Abe. I rang the
station. ABE WAS DEAD, KILLED AT 5am THAT MORNING! Totally devastated
and grief-stricken, I cried my eyes out all the way to Helensville.
The Show Must Go On! It did, in spite of my bloodshot eyes giving the
audience the impression that that I was about to do a 'Dracula'
Impression'!

Next morning, the SUNDAY NEWS, December 19, 1971 - page 7, had a
great photo of Abe, taken while he was on stage at the Thunderbird
winning the talent Quest. (We were only feet away when it was taken)
The headline says - NEW SINGING STAR ABE DIES IN HEAD-ON CRASH!

ALL of the following is taken from- The Hawke's Bay Herald -Tribune!
On Monday, December 20 - page 15, they displayed a huge photograph of
Abe's coffin, surrounded by his immediate family, with TWO large
headings: 300 FILE PAST BODY OF SINGER. 'More than 300 people, Maori
and pakeha, have filed through the flower - decked marquee at Waipatu
marae where singer Abe Phillips's body was lying in state today. Mr
Phillips, 34, married with two children, died in a head - on car smash
with an aerial topdressing transporter truck on a mist - shrouded road
between Waipukurau and Waipawa about 5am on Saturday morning'.

The second heading reads: SHOW - BUSINESS PEOPLE COMING. 'Top
entertainer Howard Morrison (Now SIR), is expected to be among the
number of New Zealand show -business personalities who will attend
tomorrows funeral. Entertainer Max Cryer, and The Impressions Show
Band, who backed Mr Phillips when he won the $2000 Schweppes talent
quest last month, will fly from Auckland for the service. The
Shadracks, a top Hastings group with whom Mr Phillips sang for some
years, and Prince Tui Teka, will lead the Hastings contingent of
entertainers'.

Page 106
'There were EMOTIONAL SCENES in the Carousel Bar of the MAYFAIR HOTEL,
Hastings, on Saturday night when the entertainer Prince Tui Teka made
reference to the DEATH OF ABE PHILLIPS. SCORES OF MEN AND WOMEN WEPT
as Prince Tui sang "Unchanged Melody," a song Mr Phillips helped to
make popular'. 'Telegrams of sympathy have been received by Mr
Phillips family from numerous New Zealand entertainers - including
International Star, John Rowles'.

'Between 300 and 400 men from the Whakatu freezing works, where Mr
Phillips worked before turning to a professional singing career about
three months ago, will finish work at noon so that they can attend his
funeral. This means that the massive freezing works will virtually
close down!

Mr Phillips's former manager, Mr A. Karauria, said that 1971 would be
the first time in the last five years that Abe Phillips had not led
the men, working on the chains at Whakatu, in Xmas carols'.

ABE was of the 'Ngarauru' tribe, Waitotara, near Wanganui. He came
from a large family, as became evident when the newspaper reported
that: "15 brothers and sisters and, 40 nephews and nieces are expected
to attend the funeral service. Six brothers will be pall bearers."

Incidentally, I'm of the 'Ngai Tahu', the Maori tribe of the Southern
Islands of New Zealand! My ancestors came from Waimate, a small town
south of Christchurch, between Timaru and Oamaru, on the East coast of
the South Island.

This has been quite a long episode and yes, perhaps there was much I
could have cut out but - it would have been - AN INJUSTICE TO THE
MEMORY OF MY LATE FRIEND 'BIG' ABE PHILLIPS, IF I'D DONE SO! I
purposely went to some length in repeating the review from the Hawkes
Bay Herald Tribune, as they did a wonderful job in describing the
love, affection, admiration and respect that was held for him, not
only by his work mates but by his peers also, in all areas of the
entertainment industry in New Zealand, as was evident by the huge
number of people who attended his funeral!

Although Abe was well known in the Hawkes Bay area, and to many N.Z
entertainers, it was not until the release of his first and only
record "Don't Think You Remember Me", together with his success in the
talent quest, that he became known to the general public throughout
the country. In the space of just three or four short months, he had
won the hearts of all New Zealanders with his fantastic voice!
ABE WASN'T A MAGICIAN (ALTHOUGH HE LOVED WATCHING MAGIC) BUT HE SURE
WAS BLESSED - WITH A MAGIC VOICE!

I'm very proud to have known 'BIG' ABE, and to have been able to call
him, MY FRIEND! He was, without a doubt, one of nature's gentlemen!
Veronica summed him up beautifully the other day with three simple
words, when she said that he was -

"A LOVELY MAN"

"I'M SO SORRY ABE, THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND YOUR FUNERAL. PERHAPS,
NEARLY 32 YEARS LATER, MY TELLING OF YOUR STORY MAY, IN SOME SMALL
WAY, MAKE UP FOR THAT! ONE THING'S FOR SURE, OVER 4000 MAGICIANS
AROUND THE WORLD, NOW KNOW WHO YOU WERE!"

It IS SUCH A SHAME THAT 'THE WORLD' WAS DEPRIVED THE PLEASURE OF
HEARING ABE PHILLIPS SING. IF YOU HAD EXPERENCED HIS INCREDIBLE VOICE,
YOU TOO WOULD HAVE SAID -
"MAGIC!"

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11. Subscription Management
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>> This publication may be freely redistributed (but not sold) to
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© Copyright 2002 Alan Watson