* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #129 Date: Sunday 4th August 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. The Academy For The Magical Arts Educational Foundation, Inc. 3. Martin Nash His Medical Situation Is Worsening 4. Ethical Behavior And Tolerance In Magic 5. IBM Convention - San Diego July 3 - 6, 2002 6. The Inside Story - Mark Wilson 7. Recently Returned From Barbados 8. Max Sutch Of Australia E-Mail Address??? 9. Auction - 1916 Personal Diary Of Harry Houdini 10. Eugene Burger All New Lecture 11. Workshop By Lee Asher 12. Magazines For Sale 13. The New Movie "Dirty Deeds" 14. 'As One Stage Door Closes' 15. Fox's "30 Seconds To Fame" 16. Ben Robinson Lecture - Seattle, Washington 17. The Ride Of Your Life 18. "Ahead Of The Pack" 19. The Orchante Saga #115 20. MagicNZ e-zine archives 21. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Last week Michele and I were invited to see Nigel Anderson and Anthony Demasi from Melbourne, Australia perform at the Auckland Town Hall. The show was for the Kimberley Awards for Just Jeans. It was a very high energy show, which included modern dance and fashion interlinked with their magic.  Well received from a young trendy audience. ------------------------------------- Ross Skiffington, Australia, received a great review with his latest show in the Canberra Times: Magical show not to be missed........... The Comedy of Errors - Bell Shakespeare Company, Playhouse, until August 10 http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/review_detail.asp?class=Theatre&sub class=Comedy&id=1398&calclass=Entertainment ------------------------------------- It’s made a huge difference having the Magic New Zealand e-zine connected to a high speed ISP and we are currently averaging five new subscribers a day! ---------------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. The Academy For The Magical Arts Educational Foundation, Inc. ---------------------------------- Reproduced from the Magic Castle Newsletter with permission of Milt Larsen - Editor Monte Carlo at the Magic Castle - October 13th, 2002 Experience an unforgettable evening as the Victorian elegance of the Magic Castle is transformed into a fabulous night on the French Riviera a veritable playground for the sophisticated. Join the elite of magic and Hollywood for a star-studded evening in "Monte Carlo" with magic, music, dining and "gambling." Nowhere will the stars shine brighter and the action at the tables be hotter than on Sunday, October 13th at our very own Magic Castle. It's an event that will make even Prince Rainier jealous. This lavish night of pure mystery and games is a black-tie fund-raiser with some of the most incredible magic you'll ever witness, celebrity casino tables, a very special dinner, a silent auction and prizes beyond belief. Not only will you be totally indulged throughout the night, but your tax-deductible contribution will go directly to help support the "Reach-out Thru Magic" Youth Scholarship Program sponsored by The Academy for the Magical Arts Educational Foundation, Inc. (AMAEF). For 28 years the Magic Castle has sponsored a youth program founded by AMAEF Board of Trustee member, Diana Zimmerman. Over 2,500 teenagers in the Los Angeles area have graduated through it. Now, through the combined efforts of the Magic Castle and AMAEF, it is our goal to expand this reach by making it possible for deserving young people all over America to be able to advance their studies, both magically and scholastically. The goal is to raise $250,000 annually, to provide scholarships for underprivileged, physically challenged and deserving teenagers who express both interest and talent in the magical arts. By attending this evening, you will be helping to do this. AMAEF is a non-profit, public benefit 501(c) 3 corporation created for the express purpose of preserving, perpetuating, elevating and advancing the art of magic. No Foundation member is salaried and proceeds will go directly to the Youth Scholarship Program. AMAEF works closely with organizations around the world, including the Magic Castle to benefit deserving youth, preserve artifacts, and advance our art. Through the generous donation of CBS, AMAEF is making it possible to preserve the Magic Castle's film and video library. For more information on this spectacular evening and to reserve your tickets, please log on to the Foundation's website at: www.amaef.com - then click on "Monte Carlo Night." It's a night that will be truly magical in so many ways. Just added direct form Las Vegas one of the funniest magicians in the world - Mac King! This may be your only chance to see Mac in Los Angeles as he has just signed an extended contract at Harrah's!!! Our special guest for the evening will be Las Vegas superstar, Lance Burton. --------------------------------- 3. Martin Nash His Medical Situation Is Worsening ---------------------------------- Message from Dave Jarrett I received a phone call from Martin Nash this weekend, and he told me that his medical situation is worsening, and the Doctor gives him 6-8 months to live. The bout with pleurisy/pneumonia that caused cancellation of his planned Lecture Tour has left him with a fungus in the lungs that cannot be cured. Sorry to bring you bad news, but thought you, and other friends in magic that I don't have contact with, would want to know of the situation. He is still on Vancouver Island, and his e-mail address manashis@shaw.ca works in case you wish to contact him. ---------------------------------- 4. Ethical Behaviour And Tolerance In Magic ---------------------------------- Message from Winchester Stuart of the Stuart Foundation September 11th has brought to mind the importance of ethical behaviour and tolerance in magic. As artists, we must be careful to be sure our acts do not unintentionally degrade anyone. In response to this area of concern, the Stuart Foundation is collecting suggestions for guidelines for ethical behaviour and tolerance in magic. Send your suggestions to: magicwin@aol.com Watch the website: www.dragonawards.org for updates on this important project and don't forget to check out the Magic Tip Of The Day. ---------------------------------- 5. IBM Convention - San Diego July 3 - 6, 2002 ---------------------------------- Message from Bev Bergeron (USA) It was a surprisingly good convention. Several problems did not develop as I anticipated. Shows were all good. Now for the downside: The Town & Country Hotel/Motel was not a good hotel for a magic convention. The property covered over four large city blocks. Yes, it had great convention facilities, super cool weather (great!) and the pool areas were pleasantly covered with beautiful flowers, however, a magic convention works best with a tall hotel. A magic attendee likes to come down an elevator turn to his right and enter the dealer’s room - turn to his left and the bar greets him with tables of friends talking magic. Well, that is what I like to see. I realize that the magic convention has evolved into a close-up session for the family magician and is no longer for the professional. My wife, Alouise, and I arrived on Saturday, June 29 with the expectation of lecturing to the local San Diego Ring on Sunday. The lecture was in Jack White's private magic/train museum. The private museum is something to see. All props and paper were properly displayed. Many items brought back memories of other times and shows. The lecture was a long two hours and it was mentioned that Sunday afternoon was the wrong time to hold a magic lecture - I agreed. Monday night had a party held at Terry Lunceford's home. With the help of a few members from the local Ring, there was plenty of Mexican bar-B-Q and drinks. A well-received vent and much close-up magic rounded out the evening. By the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2 the crowd started to arrive and much rumbling was heard about where their rooms were located in regards to the convention building. The rush was on to change rooms. Dealers opened at 6:00 PM and the big surprise was the room was full of well-stocked magic. There was the fear that because of the SAM holding its conclave on the same dates as the IBM, the dealers' room would suffer and also the attendance. The registration was over 1,400 a new mark for the IBM. Unconfirmed word had the SAM doing about 1,200, which is good news for magic. With both these numbers running high, it means that magic is still doing OK. Many magi attended the Kick-Off Party held at 8:00 PM. Wednesday, July 3 was the opening day. The stage contest began with over 20 contestants. Some very innovative ideas popped up every so often. Art Thomas and his wife Sue Jacoberger did the tech work to keep all the acts moving, while Jerry and Donna Schnepp coordinated the contest. While the contest was on the lectures began. I feel this is wrong. I was not the only voice that proclaimed that there were too many lectures. The lecturers were given too little time to present their ideas - the audiences were herded from one room to another. The lectures were: Danny Archer, Steve Dacri, David Stone, Tom Jones & Rachel Wild, John Carney, Kevin & Chindy Spencer, Aldo Colombini, Davey Marlin-Jones, Richard Huges, Gaeton Bloom, Alan Shaxon, Gay Blackstone and two special "lectures" Carl Ballantine being interviewed by Steve Dacri and Robert Fitch appearing three times with "The Big Three Event" talking about theatre in magic. The problem with lectures today at conventions is that too many acts and dealers makes deals to appear as a lecture as part of their pay. With the high price of everything today, it is a solution for the convention committees, but a problem for the registrants. All the lectures were well received, with a special one on balloon sculpturing pulling one of the larger crowds. The first day had not only the stage contest preliminary, four lectures, a dealers' show, museum opening, spouse gathering, youth welcoming, Board meeting, but a trolley ride to the theatre which was downtown. The Stars of Magic show was in a well-equipped theatre and good for magic. The acts were: Steve Bargatze, MC (love this man); James Dimmare (opening act and flawless with his cane, dove, etc. production - Standing O); Danny Cole then Todd Charles, both good acts, but following Dimmare was too much. After an intermission Chuck Jones brought out some big illusions. For some reason, the audience did not give him the acknowledgement his act deserved. The trolley ride back was nice in some ways - the delays waiting for the second trolley to come by was not as bad as it sounds. Day 2 - Thursday, July 4 The day opened with the preliminary Close-up Contest. Lectures and many meetings overlapped each other until 2:30PM that is when The Big Three took place each day for the next three days with the audience split-up. On close-up were: Steve Bargatze (this man was worked to death - his talent helped him through it.), Aldo Colombini, Steve Dacri, Lupe, Alan Shaxon, and David Stone. Robert "Bob" Fitch spoke about magic as theatre, which is much needed for magicians. I, Bev Bergeron, did a "one-man show?." I'll review my own act at the end of his report. I feel I'm the only one qualified to do this - I had to watch all three of my shows. Once again some overlapping of events and meetings, then the trolley ride to the theatre. The second Stars of Magic Show had Aldo Colmbini, MC (well received); Jay Scott Berry opened but was lost in his attempts; Aldo used his dialect to get laughs and brought out his wife to do the sham mind-reading act made famous by Jimmy Muri in the 1940s. Gaeton Bloom from France had the audience every second he was on stage. His comedy and misdirection is hard to match. His closing with the production of playing cards while wearing boxing gloves was a killer (yet the easiest thing he did). After intermission we were treated to a return of a great old act Omar Pasha. The son of the man who created this comedy black-art act was a hit and following in Steve Bargatze steps - fell off the stage while talking his bow. Steve cracked a rib - hopefully Omar made out a lot better. Gaeton and Omar both stopped the show. Day 3 - Friday, July 5 Spouse tour, Annual Meeting, lectures, close-up finals, dealers, etc started the morning; the afternoon repeated The Big Three. Board Meeting, Women's Forum, Youth Workshop, etc.; had the members rushing to the trolley for the evening show. Show was the Gold Medal Stage show with six finalist contestants from the earlier contest. All were very good acts, except for the over use of the Flip Stick move by most of the contestants. The winner was a girl from Japan who in the eyes of most of the audience should not have won first place nevertheless also won the Gold Medal, which is not awarded every year. The audience voted by ballot and cheering for a young man who should have won first place. Sorry for not having the names, but we had to turn in the ballots when voting. M.C. for the evening was Rich Bloch with help from Davey Marlin-Jones. As I've written before, if there were an award for improvement, Rich would take it. In the last five years he has taken giant steps with his stage work. Rick Thomas & Company closed the second half while the judges counted the votes. Thomas brought part of his Vegas show and everyone soon realize why he is one of the top workers in the City. His movements are funny, but he holds the audience with his smiles. Day 4 - Saturday, July 6 Ring 2100 Gathering, Merlin Breakfast, Promotion for Kansas City (next year's location), lectures and The Big Three was the venue for the day before the big banquet with the installing of the officers, etc. The show for the banquet was the best that I can remember since it has been reinstated as a convention event. Gala Show had a surprise M.C., Milt Larsen. There was a little mix-up with the M.C. and Milt stepped in after the program went to press. Milt was the best we have ever seen him. His work in Vegas opening for the Amazing Johnathan has greatly improved his stage presence. Joaquin Ayala & Company opened with his big illusions and fire. He has grown so big in physical statue and performance since we first shared a dressing room twenty years ago in Acapulco. Good opening for the convention - standing O. Carl Ballantine is the king when it comes to working an audience. He is a lesson in that department. Every time he would leave the stage he would return to bigger cheers - he played with the audience's reactions. Milt introduced a surprise guest who had just flown in from Vegas. Darren Romeo brought the audience to their feet with his singing "The Music of the Night" from the musical "Phantom of the Opera." Norm Nielsen closed with a few flaws, but quickly put it all together with his act and a standing O, then he returned for his floating piano and did it again with another big O. The evening did not stop there. At the hotel there was an Afterglow Party, where close-up workers strolled for an award - a magic Olympics. The set-up of the two hotel bars was slower then the magic performers. We liked to have never gotten a drink. It ended on a fun high note. INSIDE THE BIG THREE CABARET This is an inside report of what an act has to go through to get his show on the road at a convention. The basic idea behind this "one-man show" was to get several of my nutty friends to help with the Magic Shtick (I have now coined that word). With Karrel now deceased along with several others who have worked as Bananas and Jay Marshall in New York that left Abb Dickson as my second banana. Abb was a savior. Several others filled in and first timers, they were brilliant. Jack White from the San Diego Ring #76 volunteered his Ring and support in finding props and personnel to help put the show together. Sherry Luft worked as girl assistant and girl banana. Don Soul (using Larry Frankel's drums) acted as a sound-effect drummer in the "pit." Each show had different volunteers who came in to work the bits. The stage was very good for the show except that the platform was only about eighteen inches off the floor. For that type of room one needs nothing less then three feet off the floor. I like four and five even better. Rock groups get it - why can't magic shows? Art Thomas and Sue Jacoberger from Orlando Ring 170 were the stage managers running lights, sound and stage. Some of the staging was from the Orlando Ring's stage equipment (our Ring got no credits in the program). The Ring has been gathering stage equipment for over thirty years and now has a complete portable stage except for the platforms. Art and Sue had the tech finished for the show in a matter of minutes during rehearsal. The volunteers were walked through the routines each day, so that we had a mini-revue happening. The first day (Thursday) had about 200 in the room. Each day a different person introduced the event. With the stage set with most of the props I walked out and did about five minutes of story telling jokes. Gags out of my carpetbag, Spot Card, Broken Yarn, Kids up for Wands & balloons, Broom Suspension - a sham illusion, the broom rises not the girl (was doing other things the first day, but at suggestion of Terry Lunceford changed the order of the show - it worked), Bring a guest performer from the audience for rope trick - First day used Steve Hart (Bit has me hit in mouth and I spit out over a hundred "teeth" while drummer hits rim-shots.), Egg Bag with adults - produce glass of booze at end, Guest artist asked to float someone (me) - (I'm put under a sheet on top of a table and "float" upwards about three feet.), Abb Dickson up from audience to work Find the Piece of Cake, Cigarette/pantomime Act, Guzzler's Gin and finished with making up as Rebo the Clown while telling stories then doing clown bits until balloon floats Rebo about the stage - balloon burst and Rebo collapses. The first day was hell. With over two hundred in the room the reaction was like working to a wake. Many came to me and said they don't know how I could do all I did with such an audience. The next day got a polite standing ovation. The last day was more my group and got a real standing ovation. The first day I had as guest performers with me I had Steve Hart as my rope & teeth man. Second day Terry Luneford - third day was Steve Burton. Hart also acted as the Swami who "floated" me on first and third days. Terry Luneford was the Swami on the second day. All three days I had Sherry Luft from San Diego for my assistant and "Broom Suspension" girl. The broom came up not the girl. Richard Staub, Jr. also spent all three days with us doing all the stage assistants bits. Rick Bammam, Jr. helped as an assistant for two days with his sister teaching the cast how to tie a turban with a bath towel. Sunny Johnson's daughter, Kristen helped out a couple of days with girl assistant duties. Bob Ingalls of San Diego ran down tables and other props that were needed. Abb Dickson not only worked the great hilarious "Card/Cake" routine of Karrel Fox's, but also took over backstage direction and off stage announcements. Alouise helped with the goldfish, drinks, and wardrobe and moving all the props over from the room to the convention center miles away - well it felt like a mile. We could not leave anything of value in the stage room - all props & wardrobe (three coats & Rebo suit - they weighed a ton) had to be packed in and out every day. I was not the only one who got a cold audience. Steve Bargatze told me that every day while working close-up he was placed in two rooms with only a hand full of people who seemed to be elsewhere. For all the people who helped me, I would like to give you a big THANK YOU!!! I could not have pulled off the "one-man show" with out your participation. Bev - b ---------------------------------- 6. The Inside Story - Mark Wilson ---------------------------------- Message from Mark Wilson (US) Chapter 1 The Magic Land of Allakazam was the first and, as of this writing is still the only network television series devoted entirely to magic ever to air in the United States. The show debuted on October 1, 1960 and was seen every Saturday morning, first on the CBS network and then the ABC network for a total run of over four years. Nani Darnell, (Mrs. Mark Wilson), was the beautiful co-star who was made to float in the air, appear, vanish, and do other wondrous things on each show. Rebo the Clown (Bev Bergeron) supplied the comedy and fun. I was the Master Magician of the Magic Land. I was a high school senior when I discovered my goal. I wanted to be the first magician to have his own network television magic series. My love of magic had begun several years before, when I was eight years old. I had seen magician Tommy Martin perform his sensational act. He produced a wine glass from a handkerchief... then silver dollars came from nowhere, which he dropped, tinkling, into the glistening goblet. A piece of paper bounced on a fan grew into a real egg. Playing cards appeared, and appeared, and appeared. And finally a giant bird cage with real birds. From that moment on I was hooked. But it was in the late nineteen forties, when television was first broadcast in my hometown, Dallas, that my great dream was born. I knew in my heart, magic would work beautifully on television. Many years later the Magic Land of Allakazam would be the realization of that dream and the proof of my convictions. But I knew achieving that goal would not be as easy as waving a magic wand. So, I devised a plan. First, I would sell a local television series to prove that magic worked on TV. Then, I would sell other television markets... building to a network series. Maybe it wasn't much of a plan, but if you want to fulfill your dreams, you have to start somewhere. After graduating from high school, I began to set the plan into action. To achieve success, I would have to sell my ideas to advertisers and the television media. I enrolled in Southern Methodist University, majoring in advertising and marketing. By the time I graduated, I was fairly well known in the Dallas area, having just concluded the year as head cheerleader and president of my college fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi. I was paying my way by performing forty to sixty magic shows per month for civic organizations, church socials and birthdays parties, sponsored by a local potato chip company. In addition, I was carrying a full class schedule at SMU. I was a very busy guy. It was at this time that I met beautiful Nani Darnell Arends, then a stewardess for American Airlines, who soon became my wife. (Many people consider marrying Nani my greatest feat of magic, and they’re right.) Having completed my education, it was time to sell that local series. I called on all of the television stations in the area. Fortunately, most of the program directors knew who I was because of my many shows and through my activities as head cheerleader at SMU, a prominent position in football-oriented Dallas. Each program director patiently explained they really didn't need a new children's show. They already had Captain Bob and Alvarado and Romper-Room and whatever was on their station. In any event, if a company wanted to advertise to children, they would just buy a "spot package" on the station, which would give their product more exposure for less money. And, oh yes, there was one other thing... "Magic won't work on TV anyway... because everyone who sees your show will think the magic is done the same way they do it on Bewitched"...(or I Dream of Jeannie, or My Favorite Martian, or whatever television show was using a lot of trick photography at the time). I had reached a dead end. Where do I go from here? No station would touch my show. Actually, I really wasn't discouraged, just angry. Damn it, my magic show would be great on their station, much better than Captain Bob or Alvarado... and Romper-Room was just for little kids. I'll sell the show directly to a sponsor and have them put it on the air. And that's what I did. I had never made a presentation to a major corporation to sell a television series... or anything else for that matter. I would be walking in cold with a proposition requiring a sizable expenditure. I wanted to be sure I did it right. During my tenure as head cheerleader, I had come in contact with a local advertising agency. I called the president of the agency and asked for his help. He was kind enough to ask me to lunch. This would be my first real business luncheon. I'll never forget that lunch at the Dallas Athletic Club. I ordered Chicken Creole, a dish I had never had before. When it arrived, I was surprised to see it was a complete half chicken in one piece, covered with a maroon Creole sauce. Trying to look as if I had consumed a hundred Chickens Creole at business lunches, I attacked with knife and fork. The entire chicken squirted out as if I were squeezing a watermelon seed. It flew through the air and landed on the lap of the gentleman I was trying to impress. He was not a happy advertising agency president. In spite of my social blunder, (or perhaps because of it) he turned me over to a young lady on his staff who showed me the basics of making a presentation... interestingly, something that had not been covered in my college education. Armed with this new knowledge, Nani and I put together the first of what was to be hundreds of presentations over the years. My initial sales call was on the Dr. Pepper Company at their national headquarters, which were located in Dallas. They referred me to their advertising agency, an international organization with a branch office in a downtown high-rise. The show concept was well received by the Dr. Pepper account executive and my written presentation was a success as well. I had sweetened the deal by including one personal appearance at a supermarket each week. The agency liked this because that gave Dr. Pepper an opportunity to build a product display in a prominent location at the end of an aisle every week... a sure way to increase sales. We supplied photographs of our show, which were incorporated into the display. This not only sold more product for Dr. Pepper, but also promoted our television show in the local area. It was also a hell of a lot of work for us, but that was not the important part. The plan was beginning to work! Dr. Pepper agreed to sponsor the show for a thirteen week test. I returned to the television stations, and now it was an entirely different story. "Oh, you have a sponsor, well let me see what time we have available. Ah yes, here's a nice spot on Saturday mornings, and we have another on Tuesday afternoon..." Everything had changed because I walked in the door with a sponsor... and that meant dollars for the station. I had learned an important lesson. More to come in the next newsletter. Happy Magic! Mark www.markwilsonmagic.com ---------------------------------- 7. Recently Returned From Barbados ---------------------------------- Message from Joyce Basch "Ms.gician" Recently returned from Barbados where I was entertaining with Close Up Magic and some Stage Magic. Walking from my hotel room to the restaurants, I wear low heeled shoes. Because I always dress in fancy, lovely (black) clothes when I'm performing, I change to high heel shoes when I arrive at the venue. On two different nights, local waitresses saw me change into high heel shoes and asked me if the magic was in my shoes! During the winter holiday season, I usually go to tropical resorts to entertain. Most of my gigs are in the Caribbean area. Native people, there, have never seen magic....except voodoo which is known as black magic. So that they're not afraid of my entertaining, I sometimes explain a little of what I'm doing so that they know it's not 'real' magic. It's important that they are not fearful or the management might get anxious! My playfulness, while doing magic, also puts the native folks and tourists at ease. Around the world, the favorite effect by far is "Sponge Balls." Happy summer to the Northern Hemisphere....Happy winter to y'all down in the Southern Hemisphere. ---------------------------------- 8. Max Sutch Of Australia E-Mail Address??? ---------------------------------- Message from Chris Woodward Can someone please e-mail me Max Sutch of Australia e-mail address. Max has cartoons in Abra from time to time. ---------------------------------- 9. Auction - 1916 Personal Diary Of Harry Houdini ---------------------------------- Message from Leo Weltman (US) Announcing The Thursday, Oct. 31st, 2002, Halloween, Swann Galleries Auction Of The 1916 Personal Diary Of Harry Houdini! Along With The Rest Of The Well-Known And Coveted Rare Manny Weltman "Houdini Collection". This particularly large and rare Houdini Collection is known throughout the Magic Community. It includes the only known diary of Houdini’s, not to be in the Library of Congress. This vast collection has been collected over a 50 year span by Manny Weltman, one of the leading historians in the world on Houdini. Manny Weltman passed away in 1994. His collection represents a major slice of Americana. The collection includes many items. Such as Houdini’s personal Diary for the year 1916. Also many signed letters, documents, photos, posters, and personal scrapbooks owned by Houdini and his wife Bess Houdini. One of the most intriguing scrap books is one presented to Houdini as a gift from one of his contemporaries Henry Ridgley Evans, that Houdini used as research material to debunk the fraudulent mediums of his day. It contains things such as articles and research material on the supernatural and the occult dating back to the 1700’ s. It also holds many other fascinating items such as programs, calling cards of other Magicians of the day, playbills, letters, and notes in Houdini’s own hand. Complete sections on the Mediums of the day such as Margery, The Fox sisters, and even a complete section kept on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It includes a signed note from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Conan Doyle’s catalog of occult books sent to Oscar Teale, Houdini’s personal secretary who kept and continued the scrapbook after Houdini’s death. It includes the original letter correspondence from Teale to Conan Doyle that Teale sent under the pseudonym of A.L. Jackson in order to fool Conan Doyle into sending him info. Parts of the Manny Weltman Collection have been on display many times at the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. Manny Weltman as one of the foremost leading authorities and historians on Houdini throughout the world was in fact the Magic Castle’s Houdini Historian. The Library of Congress also recommended as suggested reading material for anyone interested in Magic and Houdini, Manny Weltman‘s book, "Houdini: Escape Into Legend, (the Early Years 1862-1900)." All of the photos in the book also come from the Manny Weltman collection. There have also been many documentaries made on the life of HOUDINI, and many of them use and license both film footage, and still photographs, that come from the "Manny Weltman Collection". The Weltman family still license film footage and photographs to this day. As one of the many documentaries made on Houdini, was the A&E Biography on "Houdini" that not only used the Manny Weltman collection as a main source for material, but was dedicated to Manny Weltman as a tribute right after he passed away in May of 1994. For further information, you can contact either Leo Weltman in the Los Angeles area, at (818) 901-0688, or Gary Garland at Swann Galleries in New York at (212) 254-4710. Then have a Happy Houdini Halloween. ---------------------------------- 10. Eugene Burger All New Lecture ---------------------------------- Message from Jeff Ezell (US) Eugene Burger will be lecturing for us on Tuesday, August 20th @7pm. Admission will be $25 per person and I do suggest you call soon to get your name on the list. This lecture will be held at the RAMADA INN in Burbank. The phone # for directions is 818 843 5955. It is less than a mile from the shop. The Address Is: Ramada INN Burbank 2900 N. San Fernando Blvd. Burbank CA 91504 If you have seen Eugene lecture before...this one is an all new lecture. Guaranteed to satisfy!!! Please visit his website @ www.magicbeard.com for info on him. I look forward to hearing from you!!! Also, upcoming lectures will be: Dean Dill cost is $25per seat Scott Hollingsworth on Monday, October 28th @7pm... cost is $25per seat Jeff McBride on Tuesday, October 29th @7pm....cost for this one $40 per seat (sorry, his fee is a lot higher but really worth it!!!) Also, Master Class with Jeff McBride on Wednesday, October 30th @1pm. The cost for the Master Class is $150 per person. (we need a minimum of 10 people for this to work for Jeff McBride) ---------------------------------- 11. Workshop By Lee Asher ---------------------------------- Message from Danny Archer (USA) Pulp Friction: The System Workshop by Lee Asher Date: September 15th @ 9:00pm Running time: Aprox. 2hrs+ Where: 2nd Annual LVMI San Remo Hotel Cost: $30 I am inviting just 15 people to come and experience Pulp Friction: The System, a special workshop presented by Lee Asher. Pulp Friction is a sleight of hand move created by Lee Asher that is truly revolutionizing card magic as we see it today. In this 2 hour hands-on, motivational and high-energy workshop you will be empowered with the knowledge and technique to perform and use Pulp Friction and the multitude of its applications. Lee Asher promises that you WILL learn the basic move and USE it the moment the workshop is over! You really will add it to your arsenal! Lee Asher prides himself on competent teaching abilities and believes so much in the material that he will be teaching that if you feel the workshop wasn’t worth the price of admission, Lee will return your money in full. This is a written GUARANTEE that you WILL love this workshop and the material being offered. Please take advantage of this rare opportunity now because we don’t know when it will happen again or how fast it will be sold-out. Seats are on a first-come first-serve basis and once the 15 spots are filled, there will be no more space If you would like additional information about this special workshop or would like to see Pulp Friction performed by Lee Asher….Please go to the link below www.leeasher.com/pages/lvmi/pulp.htm ---------------------------------- 12. Magazines For Sale ---------------------------------- Message from Peter Rawstrone (NZ) Magazines for sale on behalf of the junior section of the Hawkes Bay Magicians Society: 189 NZ Magicana magazines dated from 1958 to 2000. 135 Linking Rings dated from 1959 to 1997. Write to Peter Rawstrone for details: phraw@xtra.co.nz ---------------------------------- 13. The New Movie "Dirty Deeds" ---------------------------------- Message from Barry Goven (Aust) The new movie "Dirty Deeds" starring Bryan Brown and John Goodman features a cemetery scene and right in the middle of the screen it focuses on the headstone grave of Oscar Eliason the original Dante and one which Kent Blackmore wrote a booklet about. The set was obviously "on location" and in another surprising twist the central feature was the Gazebo Hotel in Kings Cross where one of the Sydney Conventions were held many years ago. It was where Andini (Andrew Morlock) got married in the tower at Midnight attended by myself, Lindsay Reitschel and a few other magicians. Pat Page was the guest as was Rovi at this convention. The movie is about the illegal gambling establishments of the sixties. ---------------------------------- 14. 'As One Stage Door Closes' ---------------------------------- Message from John Wade (UK) I am off to Texas for a long week from August 4th - 14th. Hope to catch up with Bill Palmer while there. When I return we will launch a biography that has written about me by Eric Midwinter, a social historian. The title is 'As One Stage Door Closes', the story of John Wade, Jobbing Conjuror. No tricks of course, just 50 years as a pro. Published by Third Age Press, 6 Parkside Gardens, London SW19 5EY at? 12.50 in the UK including p&p. More details whem I come back from the USA. I have been honoured to be invited to a Royal Garden Party at Bucking ham Palace on Tuesday, which means that I shall have to find a cleanish shirt and a pair of matching socks. ---------------------------------- 15. Fox's "30 Seconds To Fame" ---------------------------------- Message from Dan Birch (US) I will be appearing on Fox's "30 Seconds to Fame" on one of the next 2 episodes of the show (I think it'll air on Sept. 7, at 8:00 PM) though they couldn't give me a definite date). I was filmed doing some dove magic. ---------------------------------- 16. Ben Robinson Lecture - Seattle, Washington ---------------------------------- Message from Ben Robinson (US) Once a year I lecture for magicians. The 2002 lecture will happen Sunday August 11, 2002 at Seattle Washington's Veterans Administration Hospital at 2pm. The lecture is 70 minutes long where 7 tricks will be explained. Tapes of my concert in Central Park will be available ($15), plus my CD's on synchonicity ($20) and lecture notes ($10). The lecture is being sponsored by IBM Ring #52. I am giving this lecture commensurate with 4 other shows I am giving in the Seattle area Aug. 8-13. More information: http://illusiongenius.com/New-News.html or email the club secretary Alex Coydan at: coydan@wolfenet.com ---------------------------------- 17. The Ride Of Your Life ---------------------------------- Message from Andrew Gill (Aust) The world of corporate events and creative production is taking the front seat but I will be presenting with the Melbourne Symphony on August 17. Titled The Ride of Your Life it will feature music from ET, Indiana Jones, contemporary composers and even a little Harry Potter. So there will certainly be some magic and fun for all! ---------------------------------- 18. "Ahead Of The Pack" ---------------------------------- Message from Lewis Jones Just published: "Ahead of the Pack" by Jack Avis and Lewis Jones. Hardback book. 288 pages. 62 effects. 40 illustrations. The book is ONLY available from the following website: www.ian-rowland.com  Items To Buy Check this website for a comprehensive list of the entire contents; also for price, and details of how to order. "What a wonderful surprise! And such a beautifully produced book, too. I started reading it last night and couldn't put it down - such a diverse variety of material. Congratulations!" - PETER DUFFIE ---------------------------------- 19. The Orchante Saga #115 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Trevor King – QSM: “The Master” – The story continues One day Henri Roland (Jack Doyle) said: “Trev’, It’s time to head off to Australia!” but Trevor told him that they didn't have a show that was good enough, yet, to compete with the ‘BIG INTERNATIONAL STAGE PRODUCTIONS’ that were showing in Australia. While having a drink in a hotel bar somewhere, Henri met up with some carnival/sideshow promoters who told Henri that they could take him to Australia - they filled him up with booze - he believed them - and gave notice to Trevor to quit! Trevor was most upset, apart from all the hard work that he had put into the venture with Henri Roland, for the best part of one year (actually 10 months), he and Jack had shared hotel rooms/motels and had become good friends. Terribly hurt by Henri’s abuse of their friendship and lack of judgement, Trevor sadly said goodbye to Jack Doyle. He then headed back home to Christchurch and rejoined Amalgamated Theatres Ltd. as the manager in four Cinemas. Henri's deal with the carnival folk fell through - HE NEVER GOT TO AUSTRALIA, so he went up to Christchurch to ask Trevor to rejoin with him - but Trevor was happy to stay in the cinema business. “Jack rang me many, many times Tommy,” Trevor told me, “Wanting me to return to him but I declined his offer - his walking out on me really caused an upset to my health.” Jack went back to Auckland City and purchased a ‘War Assets Shop’ in Queen Street (the main street in Auckland city central) and gave away the hypnotist act. ‘HENRI ROLAND, HYPNOTIC MARVEL AND MASTER MENTALIST’ quietly vanished, as have so many others over the years, never to be seen or heard of again - that is, until somebody, such as myself (with the aid of Trevor King), reminds the world of their momentary ‘fame’! Three years later, Jack Doyle rang Trevor from Auckland to say, “ Trev’, I am coming down to the South Island for a holiday and I would love to meet up with you - take you out for drinks and a meal….” -- etc, etc. “ I waited to meet up with him” said Trevor, “but tragedy struck poor Jack - he had a fast ‘Million Dollar Car’ - and loved to speed! He had been down south and was on his way up north to Christchurch to meet me - then somewhere near Timaru, he apparently became frustrated from being stuck behind a milk tanker truck - he recklessly pulled out and passed him and, smashed head on into a tourist bus!” “It was a shocking accident Tommy - the police contacted me to visit the morgue to identify Jack’s body – I was ‘not myself’ for months after the accident. Jack and I had not been just Promoter/ Artiste; Even though we had parted company, WE WERE STILL, GOOD MATES!” Getting back to (the late) JACK SHANNON (The best publicity man in show business), he had made ‘FRANQUIN’ a household name with his fantastic publicity… - he rang Trevor to tell him that he had found another ‘hypnotist’ - he was called ‘THE MIRACLE PRIEST’, it turns out that he was actually a dry-cleaner who came from New Plymouth. According to Jack, he was very good as a dry-cleaner but no good as a hypnotist. They opened his show at Invercargill and closed in Gore! He was so bad as a hypnotist that Jack said that HE had put the subjects to sleep! Obviously Jack had learnt a thing or two after all his years with ‘The Fabulous Franquin’. Jack had always wanted to join Trevor in a partnership (they never did) - he just loved promoting hypnotists and spending money on publicity – ‘Somebody Else’s Money’!!! Harry Wren, International entrepreneur, gave him his next job in Australia - $1000 a week! Jack handled the publicity for all the big Japanese shows/productions from Tokyo that toured ‘Down Under’ as well as major Australian variety shows for several years then, Jack then went back to N.Z. and worked for Kerridge - Odeon Theatres, doing the publicity for Big Movies like “Laurence Of Arabia” and “Ben Hur” etc. With his health failing, he returned to Australia, and worked on the Stage Door of the Sydney Opera House as a security guard. One night Jack’s wife phoned Trevor: “Jack died last night backstage during a Rolf Harris concert….” In a letter to me “Trevor said: TOMMY, WE HAVE LOST A GREAT SHOWMAN!” ‘DORMIA’, THE WORLDS FIRST LADY HYPNOTIST, is how she was advertised! From Auckland, N.Z., her real name - Rhona Robson, was taught by WALTER BRAEMAR, the man who taught Tex Morton Van Loewe and, who claimed to have also taught FRANQUIN, although Pat Quin vehemently denies this! ------------------------------------- 20. 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: magic Password: kiwi 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 ------------------------------------- 21. 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 Magic New Zealand e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Magic New Zealand e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors and not those of Magic New Zealand. Neither Magic New Zealand or Alan Watson can 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 that they will not hold Magic New Zealand and/or Alan Watson liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed herein. We reserve the right to edit, correct or, in our discretion, choose not to publish any submissions provided to Magic New Zealand for potential publication. Magic New Zealand welcomes readers to submit timely articles or news items which appear to be of interest to our readers. 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