* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand e-zine
* www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #144
Date: Sunday 10th November 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 2002 Run Of It's Magic!
3. 10 Tips For Kid Show Success
4. Warren Kaps Named "Magician Of The Year" 2003
5. Excess Baggage
6. IBM Ring #21 Hosts Jay Scott Berry Lecture
7. The Best Mentalism Lecture Touring Today
8. Trevor’s Travels
9. 25th Anniversary Of The Death Of "The Great Levante”
10. Tony Brook In Conversation with Walter Blaney
11. Nicholas Einhorn Wins Magic Circle’s Close-Up
12. They Say Magicians Never Die, They Just Vanish
13. Tampa Bay Magic Club Booked The Cellini Lecture
14. David Copperfield - Edmonton Alberta Canada
15. First Five Playing Cards
16. The Daytona Beach Festival Of Magic
17. Wordsmith
18. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Page 131
19. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives
20. Subscription Management

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

Producers Milt Larsen and Terry Hill are be looking for top
professional acts for the next Its Magic! in 2003. Refer item 2.

Congratulations to Bill and Mandy Reid of Napier.  They’re expecting
their first child on the 30th March 2003.

Tommy Orchard & Veronica were overwhelmed with the response of
congratulatory e-mails from all over the world on receiving The
Magic New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Award. They tell us many of
their friends from out of the past have made contact and they will
endeavour to answer all the messages over the next two weeks.
e-mail address: tom@tvorchard.freeserve.co.uk

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

----------------------------------
2. The 2002 Run Of It's Magic!
----------------------------------
Message from Milt Larsen (US)

The 2002 run of It's Magic! was finished at the Center for the
Performing Arts in San Luis Obispo, California. It was a totally
sold out house with the same show playing to packed houses the night
before (Nov 2) at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara and the
October 27th at the Performing Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks. The acts
were Jason Byrne, Dana Daniels, The Magic Feets, Ray Pierce, Jim
Bentley as Houdini, Bruce Block and the incredible Jeff McBride.

An earlier edition of It's Magic! played the Ford Amphitheater in
Hollywood and the Performing Arts Center in Cerritos (Los Angeles).
Milt Larsen started producing the Annual It's Magic! shows in Los
Angeles in 1956. The show now plays theaters in Southern California
in October and November.

Producers Milt Larsen and Terry Hill will be looking for top
professional acts for next season. If interested send information
and tapes to Milt Larsen c/o The Magic Castle, 7001 Franklin Ave.
Hollywood CA 90028.

The Magic Castle will celebrate its 40th Anniversary January 2,
2003. A number of special events commemorating the magic that the
Magic Castle has brought to Hollywood throughout next year.

------------------------------------
3. 10 Tips For Kid Show Success
-------------------------------------
 Message from Steven Pradell (Alaska) © 2002

My last article included 10 tips for dealing with Murphy's law. This
article explores the kid show venue. Many magicians won't perform
for children for various reasons. But a kid show can be a rewarding
experience and a chance to hone your skills if a performer has the
right attitude and is prepared to do what it takes to succeed. Here
are ten tips for entertaining children:

 1. Like kids. Children will quickly realize if you don't like them
and they will turn off to your act if you don't respect them. If you
don't want to perform for children, don't do it!

 2. Turn the heckler's comments around. When the kid shouts, "I know
how you did that!" I say, "I know how I did it too!" When the kid
yells, "I've seen that one before!" say "I've seen it 100 times."
The adults will laugh at the joke and the kids, who are simply
testing you, will realize that you won't easily be flustered by
their outbursts.

 3. Control your audience. I use the magic finger and "shhhh" as a
magic word while they are pointing the magic finger. The kids quiet
themselves with this technique. Once the room is quiet, I tell them
that magic works best when it is quiet. We keep coming back to the
magic word when they get out of control and the kids are the ones
quieting each other down!

 4. Use positive reinforcement techniques. Tell the kids the only
ones who get a balloon are those who are quiet and, magically, you
can hear a pin drop. Tell the kids you only pick helpers who are
quiet, sitting, with their hands up and, voila, suddenly you get a
bunch of well behaved kids. The secret is that kids really want to
behave. You just need to give them an incentive. And magic works
like a charm.

 5. Pick up the pace. Kids today are bombarded with stimuli that hit
them at 100 miles per hour. Have enough material to keep your pace
up and they won't get bored and distracted. Keep them saying the
magic words, waving their magic wands or fingers, moving around and
looking at lots of visual stimuli and they'll stick with you for a
while.

 6. Have food served after the show. Kids who are buzzing from cake
and ice cream eaten before you begin are too hyper to sit through
your act. You are there to allow mom and dad time to get things
ready. Pitch this approach to the birthday party parent when you
book the show.

 7. When to perform. Ideally, your magic show should start 1/2 hour
after the kids arrive. Nothing is worse than you being all set to
perform but having to wait and do nothing until all the kids are
there. Also, it is distracting to start the show and have stragglers
coming in during the performance.

 8. Remain professional before and after the act. Unless you're
performing for your own family or best friends, don't accept the
offer of food or alcohol after the show. You are a professional and
your image is important. Shoving food in your mouth looks
unprofessional and brings your status from hired entertainer to
"freeloading guest". Drinking booze or smoking in front of the
children sends the wrong message. And don't think that they won't
smell alcohol or tobacco on your breath! Kids are very perceptive.
Be a good role model and you might inspire a child to take up magic
as a hobby.

 9. Make the show age appropriate. Find out in advance who will be
in your audience; young children, teens or a mixed group? Fire
tricks, swords through necks, guillotines and other scary items
should be reserved primarily for the older set.

 10. Enough is enough. The attention span of a very young audience
may not be as long as that of older children. You will sense when
the kids are getting bored of your show. A seasoned pro might be
able to keep them going for hours. However, for the rest of us, we
need to always leave the audience wanting more. Otherwise, you won't
get a call back for the next year's party.

---------------------------------
4. Warren Kaps Named "Magician Of The Year" 2003
----------------------------------
Message from George Schindler (US)

The Parent Assembly (#1) of the Society of American Magicians named
Past National President Warren Kaps as the 2003 "Magician of the
Year". Mr. Kaps will receive the award at the Assembly's annual
"Salute to Magic" show on April 5 at the Tribecca Performing Arts
Center in New York City.

Warren Kaps served as National President of the Society from July
2001 - to July 2002 and presided over the body at it's 100th
Centennial this year.

The "Salute to Magic" is the oldest continuing magic show in the
United States its first performance was in 1909. In 1967 the show
began to honor its most deserving members.

----------------------------------
5. Excess Baggage
----------------------------------
Message from Richard Walls (NZ)

I can confirm (one of my active business interests is serving as a
Director of Dunedin International Airport) that the info posted by
Shad Rutherford in relation to excess baggage charges on Air New
Zealand is correct and applied from 1 November. Once you are at your
baggage limit, then that's it and the excess of $5 per kilo kicks
in. NZ Post will carry your excess as freight at $3 per kilo, you
can check with your favourite courier, or become 'an expert
traveller' and carry less!

But don't overlook the lower airfares! They can more than compensate
as one traveller booking in at Dunedin on Friday morning with 60
kilos excess quickly worked out!

----------------------------------
6. IBM Ring #21 Hosts Jay Scott Berry Lecture
----------------------------------
Message from Jeff Ezell (US)

If you missed the Jay Scott Berry lecture at Mind Over Magic, here
is your chance to see him.

IBM Ring #21 hosts Jay Scott Berry Lecture!

If you're located in the Southern California area or are planning a
visit during the first week of December, IBM Ring #21
enthusiastically invites you to attend the Jay Scott Berry Lecture.
The particulars are as follows:

"The Caryl Fleming Ring" proudly presents the Jay Scott Berry
Lecture - Magician, Illusioneer, Artist, Inventor, Teacher, and
Creator of original 3

effects

- Featuring; Cloaking Device, Lightning Switch, Vortex Production,
EclipseTip, JSB Topit, Star Fountain and many more!

7:30pm Thursday
December 5, 2002
Monlux Elementary School Auditorium
6051 Bellaire Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91606

Admission: $10 (may be applied to Ring 21 dues)

There will be a seamstress onsite taking orders for JSB's
custom-made topits:
- Basic sleeve pockets - $40
- "The Works" - $130

"In my entire career, I have never seen anything as convincing. It
was real magic, delivered with precision timing and consummate
skill." - Mark Wilson

Call for Information
Tim Mannix (323) 848-8922
Lorraine Kriensky (818) 368-1326

Need a map? Visit our website at www.geocities.com/ibmring21
We hope to see you there!

Tim Mannix
President, Ring 21
"The Caryl Fleming Ring"
International Brotherhood of Magicians
(323) 848-8922

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I, Jeff Ezell, will be lecturing at Ring 280, the Mark Wilson ring,
in Valencia on Thursday November 14th. Please contact Jim Thomson @
JTHOMSON2@socal.rr.com for time, location and fee. Of course, I
would like to see you there!!!

-------------------------
Paul Green (the classic force guy) will be lecturing for Mind Over
Magic on Monday November 18th @ 7pm. It will be held at:

Ramada Inn Burbank
2900 North San Fernando Boulevard
Burbank, California 91504
818 843 5955

Call 818 562 1921 for reservations or simply show up the night of
the lecture.

----------------------------------
7. The Best Mentalism Lecture Touring Today
----------------------------------
Message from Lee Earle (US)

Those in the Northeast U.S. will have an opportunity to attend what
has been regarded as the best Mentalism lecture touring today. I've
listed the three cities in which SYZYGY's BEST! will be presented
this month:

Thursday, November 7th, Scranton, PA
7:00 pm, Radisson hotel
Contact: Dave Jenkins - 570-823-8750 daytime or 570-822-2460

Monday, November 11th, Green Brook, NJ
7:00 pm, The Willows, 1013 N. Washington Avenue
Directions on their web site: www.sam161.org
Contact: Mike Fordice - Office: 973-361-0840; Home: 973-361-3715

Tuesday, November 12th, Wallingford, CT
7:30 pm, Knights of Columbus, 279 Quinnipiac St.
Contact: Tom Prete (203)269-3009 Cell (203) 376-2993

----------------------------------
8. Trevor’s Travels
----------------------------------
Message from Trevor Lewis (Wales)

We're off on the Ninth Repro Magic Cruise 'drifting' around the
Caribbean next week. I'll send you a report when we return.

Next May the 2003 Tenth Repro Magic Cruise looks like being a real
winner. The Cruise includes visits to Oslo (Norway), Stockholm
(Sweden), Helsinki (Finland), St Petersburg (Russia), Tallinn
(Estonia), Rostock (Berlin) and Copenhagen (Denmark). Apart from
visits to all these fascinating places, there will of course be
plenty of fun, magic and shows. I'll send you more details in due
course.

----------------------------------
9. 25th Anniversary Of The Death Of "The Great Levante”
----------------------------------
Message from Steve Walker (Aust)

Just a quick note to place in your diary for Sunday January 19th
2003.

On January 20th 2003 it will be the 25th Anniversary of the death of
"The Great Levante". To commemorate the occasion the Geniis are
planning to hold a get together at Merlins Comedy Cellar in
Wentwortville on the day before January 19th There will be Levante
Memorabilia (His suit, his golf shoes even the 70th Birthday gift he
received from the Australian Golf Club), posters, slides and even an
exclusive video interview with the Great man by the late Peter Pitt
never before seen in Australia.

We may get to see and hear his famous Card Sword routine if Alan
Sullivan can find the 78 RPM record which resides somewhere in his
Rockdale residence!

The door prize will be a genuine, though by no means rare, Levante
Poster. The first 25 registrants will receive a Colour Glossy
Postcard reproduction of the "How's Tricks 'Poster plus a Levante
commemorative stamp on a first day cover.

Presentations by noted Levante Historians Kent Blackmore and Brian
McCullagh are only part of the day so keep in touch for details.

---------------------------------
10. Tony Brook In Conversation with Walter Blaney
----------------------------------
Message from Tony Brook (US)

Part 2

As President Emeritus and co-Founder of the World Alliance of
Magicians you have some very specific views on Trade Secrets,
Proprietary Rights and Intellectual Property Rights. Your thoughts
on these topics will be greatly welcomed.

Wow, where to begin? The history of our World Alliance of Magicians,
or WAM as it is called, is a whole other story in itself.

But briefly, when Fox TV presented their first prime-time TV
exposure special with the Masked Magician, 24 million people saw
some of our best stage illusions exposed. Most magicians hoped that
this was a "one shot show", and that would be the end of it. But a
second show soon occurred, and 20 million watched. When a third show
was announced, a dozen top magicians met at The Magic Castle to
discuss what might be done to try to stop Fox-TV.

Some helpful magician-lawyer friends explained to us that there must
be a public protest raised by magicians against Fox-TV before Fox
could prove a precedent had been set, thereby giving them free
reign. So we founded WAM, a non-profit California corporation. We
hired an entertainment public relations firm and were able to get
the magician's point of view out to the public nationwide just two
weeks before show number three aired.

Only 8 million watched this third show, and WAM played a substantial
part in this smaller viewing audience. We never claimed that WAM was
the sole factor, but sadly, a few well known magicians spoke out
against us, saying WAM brought more attention to Fox's show and
increased the size of the viewing audience. Amazing. I had always
thought 8 million was a smaller figure than 20 or 24 million.

The ‘naysayers’ then claimed WAM advocated "screaming and
hollering", boycotting sponsor's products, picketing on the streets,
and wasting our treasury money on futile lawsuits. All this was
absolutely, 100% totally false. Fortunately the IBM, SAM, The Magic
Castle and The Magic Circle stood behind WAM, as did many magic
societies all over the world who joined our alliance. This gave the
magic world far more clout in our fight than any single magic
society would have.

Before Show #4 was to air, we had time to plan, and our best plan
was to contact the CEO's of all the major corporate sponsors of
these exposure shows. In a cordial, quiet and rational way we gave
our best reasons why it is wrong to expose magician's secrets,
explaining how it not only hurts the livelihood of hard working
magicians and their families, but it takes away the wonder, surprise
and delight our magic brings to the public in a world with already
too little magic left in it today. The corporate response was
terrific.

Many companies wrote letters of apology, saying they had not
realized what problems all this had caused, and stating they would
ask their advertising agencies to remove their sponsorship from
these shows, and instead place it in the legitimate pro-magic
specials occurring on TV - exactly as WAM had suggested. To name but
a few...Coca-Cola, Kelloggs, McDonald's, Wendys, 3M and Robitussin.
On Fox's show #4 there were only THREE national sponsors. All the
rest of the commercials were just promos for other Fox-TV shows.

But the story doesn’t end here. Most magicians don't know that
Valentino went to Brazil to present his exposure show there. With
WAM's help, the Brazilian magicians got him thrown out of their
country. But he has now struck a gold mine in Japan, already
presenting THREE two and a half hour prime-time specials, in June,
October and December 2001. WAM was helpful in organizing magicians
in Japan to contact the commercial sponsors. But it was made more
difficult when top professionals there, like Princess Tenko and The
Napoleons, actually joined forces with Valentino on stage in these
exposures. This incredible fact is beyond our understanding.
Furthermore, it appears certain that Fox-TV is planning more
exposure shows in the USA in 2002. It's not a pretty picture.

David Copperfield, Lance Burton plus many other magicians have all
signed your license agreement. Please explain why you insist that
all purchasers of your illusions sign this type of agreement?

My illusion license agreement has to do with the second part of one
of your last questions, about trade secrets and proprietary rights
to one's intellectual property, etc. One could write a book about
this. In fact WAM has published a book on this subject entitled
"Protecting Magician's Secrets". A great deal of time and money was
spent to research how magician's secrets can be protected by
patents, copyrights, trade secret laws and the like, and also where
they cannot be protected. It is invaluable to any lawyer a magician
might hire to handle a case of magic-secret property rights.

I’m sorry to interrupt you Walter but can any magician get a copy of
this book?

Yes they can. To order one, they can go to WAM's website,
www.MagiciansAlliance.com . . It's only $25.00, sent by Priority
Mail anywhere in the world. Any profit goes towards WAM's cost of
publishing this book.

Thanks Walter. It’s good to know. Please continue.

Back to why I have every purchaser of my original illusions sign my
license agreement. It states that they acknowledge that my trade
secret still belongs to me, that they have a right to perform the
illusion anywhere. They must keep the secret from anyone else,
except on a "need to know" basis, like to their assistants. If they
ever choose to re-sell the illusion, they must have my permission.
Permission is readily given once it is established that the new
purchaser is a bonafide magician, and is willing to also sign my
agreement. This helps to protect my illusion from the likes of
Fox-TV or a Valentino who might want to expose the secret, or from a
magic builder who would try to make a rip-off copy. It also helps
protect the investment of every other purchaser of my illusions.

It's all part of what is required in a new law, "The 1996 U.S. Trade
Secrets Act". A company with a "trade secret" must be able to prove
in court that it has done everything possible to keep their trade
secret a secret. When correctly applied, this new trade secrets law
is used today more than the patent laws.

As you already know, my son is also a magician and so I can truly
understand and empathize with you some of the delight and pride you
feel when you watch your daughter Becky perform. It is truly a
unique feeling when our children not only follow the family art but
also carry it to the next level. We would just love it if you shared
some of your family history with us.

Thanks for a question about my favorite subject, my three beautiful
daughters. My youngest, Shannon, lives across the street from me.
She has three children, and still finds time to be a gold medal
winning ice skater. My middle daughter, Carol, is a Doctor of
Chemical Engineering, and has secured eighteen patents for her
former company, Kimberly Clark...so she is more of an inventor than
I am. Most magician friends know best my oldest daughter, Becky
Blaney, who has been a full time magician/comedian for over fifteen
years. Becky was just eight years old the year that I was testing
and perfecting my Ladder Levitation. I made her lie down on "that
darn board" over and over, acting as my trial "floatee". Sometimes
she would say, "Oh Daddy, do I have to?" I would always answer,
"Only if you want to eat."

At age 18 Becky was the first female to win the Senior Stage Trophy
at the IBM Convention in Little Rock. Garry Moore immediately booked
her on his "To Tell The Truth" TV show. She presented part of her
patriotic Red/White/and Blue themed magic act. Since few owned color
TV sets in 1975, it was interesting to see how Garry Moore got
around that problem. He simply narrated her act, describing the
colors of her various props as they appeared, and it worked out very
well. When they learned that her father was a magician, Becky got me
booked on the show a month later, and I floated panelist Kitty
Carlisle in the air. It was pretty neat to have a beautiful
18-year-old "agent" booking me on national TV.

After college Becky began learning the difficult trade of
professional show-business, first as a "Singing Telegram Magician",
having to work under all kinds of tough conditions. Then she was the
first hostess, emcee and talent booker at Houston's Magic Island.
She next began her own comedy act in Comedy Clubs, and ended up as
the headliner act on her shows, appearing in almost every state. She
now plays cruises, colleges and corporate dates. Two summers ago she
and Joanie Spina starred in their own "Women of Magic" stage show at
the Claridge Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City. I flew up to see them,
and it was a really fun show. They got very good reviews and were
held over a third month. So you can bet I am proud of Becky's
accomplishments in magic, just as I am with my other two daughters
in their respective fields. They are the sweethearts of my life.

You have made many kind remarks and positive comments regarding my
articles that deal with the topics of the Presentation of Magic. So
I know that the Performance & Presentation of Magic is of paramount
importance in your concept of good magic. After some 50 years of
performing all kinds magic all over the world please tell us what
Performance & Presentation means to you?

I guess performance and presentation can be defined in various ways
by different performers. I started out doing a two-hour stage show,
but it was near the end of the popularity of such stage shows. Most
of the grand masters of the stage were ending their careers in the
1950's. It was to be years later when Doug Henning and David
Copperfield began the revival of the big touring shows.

Luckily I learned that people actually paid good money to be
entertained at a banquet. So I took the best dozen tricks from my
stage show and built a thirty-minute banquet act. Each trick had to
have real "entertainment value". That eliminated most of the box,
flower and silk tricks. I found I was best at audience participation
and so focused on these routines. Simply by doing so many banquet
shows I kept finding bits of business that added more laughs. Soon I
had to cull out the tricks that got the least response. As the years
rolled by I realized I was doing only about six tricks, and it was a
forty-five minute act, perfect for the featured banquet
entertainment.

Early on I had the pleasure of seeing and meeting "Mr. Electric" at
the Mural Room of the Baker Hotel in Dallas. Marvyn Roy, before he
had met his fabulous Carol, graciously joined me at my table after
his show. He kindly gave me the advice to "come up with a theme for
an act"...whether it be with buttons, bottle caps or whatever, just
as he had found success with lightbulbs. Marvyn's suggestion got me
to thinking...I'm tall, I'm a Texan, and maybe I could become a "Mr.
Texas". So I set about "Texizing" my act.

Instead of pumping green liquid in my "funnel routine", I would pump
oil. In my pickpocket routine where four men are passing around
lady's hats in a comedy hat game, I could use Western hats. Soon
everything I did had a Texas/Western tie-in. And I have been doing
this act for about 47 years, and it still works for me, some 3800
banquets later. The "themed act" is not for everyone. It simply
worked right for me, and I am still grateful to my dear friend
Marvyn Roy for his helpful guidance.

Another thing I learned from experience is that "how you are
presented" is half the battle. Getting your physical arrangements
right is so important...the right size platform, platform placement
in the room, proximity to your audience, getting on at a decent time
in the overall client's program, your lights, sound, music and more.
I have discussed all these things in a chapter I wrote for a
wonderful book by my good friend David Charvet, "The Banquet
Magician's Handbook", available now through Mike Maxwell of A-1
Magical Media in California for less than $30.00. Another chapter by
the seasoned George Johnstone, and one by Charvet himself gives a
lot of information and experiences on how to be presented right. I
highly recommend it and wish I had had this book when I was starting
my career.

Another aspect of performing is to develop a likeable personality on
stage. I made a practice of observing other successful acts and the
stars of show-business. For example……Edgar Bergen. Besides his
ventriloquial skills, you liked Edgar, and you liked Charlie
McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd and Effie Clinker. They were all loveable
characters. Ditto for Jay Marshall and Lefty.

But I've seen some vent acts where you couldn't stand the brash
dummy, and the act was simply not a success. I've seen magicians
with tremendous skill flop because there was no warm rapport with
the audience.

I remember when my daughter Becky was beginning her Comedy Club
career; she was not successful and couldn't figure why. I watched
her at a club every night for a week and saw immediately why. She
had adopted a sardonic, derisive, cynical style, which came from
working with other comics who also had these characteristics. Becky
was a warm, cheerful, fun-loving gal with zillions of friends who
loved her to death. That was not the Becky Blaney I saw on stage. I
audio-taped and played each line for Becky to listen to after every
show. We'd go over each line on how the real Becky, the offstage
Becky, the friendly, fun-loving Becky would say the line. It took
over a year for Becky to finally get her real personality on to the
stage each night. That may sound easy...as in "just be yourself".
But I can assure you; it's very hard work.

I’m not going to put you on the spot by asking you to name your
favorite magician but if you could have a few hours of conversation
with three of your favorite people - either living or deceased – and
they don’t necessarily have to be magicians - who would you, choose?

For me, without a doubt, number one would be my dad. He was always
fun, supportive in everything I chose to pursue, and gave me
confidence to take risks and go for my goals. He taught me the
virtues of honesty, integrity, and hard work. Whatever virtues I
might possess have came from my dad, the best dad in the world. He
inspired me to always try to be the best father possible to my
children. I miss my dad, and I would dearly love one more good
conversation with him. Number two would be Thomas Edison. I was born
on his birthday, February 11th, and always wanted to become an
inventor. I'd love to say to him, "Tom, you light up my life." We
all owe him so much. What would we do without lightbulbs,
phonographs and motion pictures? Marvyn Roy might be doing a thimble
act. I might still be doing Grant's Chair Suspension...in the dark.

And number three, hmmmm. There are so many masters of magic in the
past I would love to converse with. I'll mention one who is still
going strong, John Calvert. When just a boy starting out in magic, I
loved to read about the exciting world travels of John Calvert,
never dreaming we would become good friends one day, starting about
a dozen years ago. At the last TAOM Convention in Corpus Christi I
got to spend most of my time with John and his lovely wife Tammy. He
is so easy to talk and joke with, has so much knowledge and
experience in his life in magic, as well as life in general. At 90
years of age, he is a constant inspiration. His show was the easily
the highlight of the Corpus Convention. John Calvert epitomizes a
philosophy I hold dear, "THE SECRET OF LIFE IS TO DIE
YOUNG........AS OLD AS POSSIBLE."

----------------------------------
11. Nicholas Einhorn Wins Magic Circle’s Close-Up
----------------------------------
Message from Nicholas Einhorn (UK)

Magician Of The Year Award For The Second Time

With a dazzling display of skill, Nicholas Einhorn won The Magic
Circle’s top close-up award for the second time. His success
established him as one of The Magic Circle’s outstanding exponent of
the art of magic and entertainment.

Having won this prestigious competition once in 1996, one would have
expected Nicholas to rest on his laurels but he is clearly made of
sterner stuff. He subjected himself to once more appear in front of
one of the most critical audiences for any magician but they were
very glad that he did. His display of skill and “pure magic” was
breathtaking and his act drew a sustained round of applause from the
assembled company.

This success could not have come at a better time for Nicholas as he
has just released a new book entitled “The Art of Magic and Sleight
of Hand” and he is currently rumoured to be working on a brand new
illusion which will be released some time next year. Nicholas
currently has a strong reputation for creating brilliant new effects
with top magicians such as David Copperfield already using his
ideas.

With the current release of the new Harry Potter film, there is no
doubt that the public interest will, again, be stimulated so
Nicholas Einhorn’s future looks very, very good indeed.

For further information contact:

Nicholas Einhorn, MIMC:
Tel: +44 (0)20 8386 5520
Mob: 07976 718 906
Email: info@einhorn.co.uk

David Beckley, MIMC:
Press Officer, The Magic Circle
Tel: +44 (0)1483 408 430
Mob: 07768 422 551
Fax: +44 (0)1276 855 037
Email: david.beckley@hays.com

----------------------------------
12. They Say Magicians Never Die, They Just Vanish
----------------------------------
Message from Rick Allen

Famous American Magician Macdonald Birch To Have Biography Done

They say magicians never die, they just vanish.

Professional American magician and author Rick Allen is trying to
prevent that from happening with Magician George MacDonald Birch,
who was one of America’s leading magicians.

"As time passes memories fade." Allen said, "Mac and his wife Mabel,
were very famous entertainers throughout the world, from the 1920’s
till their passing in the early 1990’s. No one has ever really
written anything about them and I thought it was time to preserve
their place in history."

The Birches traveled mainly throughout the United States completing
there long career with a tour of Europe. They presented what was
considered, even by today standards, one of the finest
demonstrations of magic and illusions ever. MacDonald Birch reviled
many of his contemporaries of the day for box office draw, including
notables like Houdini, Winston Churchill and others who were on the
lecture platform and Lyceum. He commanded fees of one thousand
dollars a day, in a time when income tax was not deducted.

The Birches semi-retired in the early sixties to their Birchwood
estate in Malta, Ohio.

Rick Allen, also a well known professional illusionist and circus
ringmaster, became friends with the Birches in the early eighties.
He’s collecting stories, memories and copies of photos for the book
that will be titled Mac and Mabel Birch, A Magical Remembrance.

"This is a labor of love for me" Allen said, "It will be a
collection of remembrances of the Birch’s from people who worked
with them saw them perform and called them friends."

If anyone has any information, stories or photo’s they would like to
share, Allen will give full credit in the finished publication. You
can email Rick Allen at: ShowTimeUSAProd@aol.com.

----------------------------------
13. Tampa Bay Magic Club Booked The Cellini Lecture
----------------------------------
Message from Mark and Michelle Byrne (US)

This is a special lecture. New date New place just for the night. So
far this is his only West Coast & Central Florida Lecture.

Thursday, November 21st 2002 7:00 pm at Cove Cay Club house in the
Grill room.
(same place the Executive Board meets.)

Free To Tampa Bay Club Members, $10 at the door to non-members.

Directions To Tampa Bay Magic Club
--------------------------------------
******NEW LOCATION**********
--------------------------------------
Cove Cay
2612 Cove Cay Drive
Clearwater, Florida 33760

Phone: (727) 536-1949
Fax: (727) 536-5810

www.covecay.com

---------------------------------------
DIRECTIONS TO TAMPA BAY MAGIC CLUB From The NORTH:

Take 75 south to 275 south.
Go over the Howard Franklin Bridge
After HF Bridge take 2nd exit SR 688 / Ulmerton (towards Largo).
Road forks, stay Right onto SR 686 (towards Largo)
Head West on SR 686
Pass St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport
Cross under 49th street / Bayside bridge.
Go North on US 19. looks for Haines Bayshore light
Turn Right into Cove Cay Condomiums Directly across from Walker
Ford.
Tell the gate guard you are there for the Magic Club.
Follow site map to club house
www.covecay.com/sitemap.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
From the EAST:
Take I-4 to 275 south.
Go over the Howard Franklin Bridge
After HF Bridge take 2nd exit SR 688 / Ulmerton (towards Largo).
Road forks, stay Right onto SR 686 (towards Largo)Head West on SR
686
Head West on SR 686
Pass St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport
Cross under 49th street / bayside bridge.
Go North on US 19. looks for Haines Bayshore light
Turn Right into Cove Cay Condomiums Directly across from Walker
Ford.
Tell the gate guard you are there for the Magic Club.
Follow site map to club house
www.covecay.com/sitemap.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
From the SOUTH:
Take 75 north to 275 north.
Go over the Skyway Bridge to the SR 686 exit.
Head West on SR 686
Road forks, stay Right onto SR 686 (towards Largo)
Pass St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport
Cross under 49th street / bayside bridge.
Go North on US 19. looks for Haines Bayshore light
Turn Right into Cove Cay Condomiums Directly across from Walker
Ford.
Tell the gate guard you are there for the Magic Club.
Follow site map to club house
www.covecay.com/sitemap.htm

-----------------------------------------------
From the WEST:
Cross the Gulf of Mexico to the beach.
Head East on SR 686/ West Bay Drive.
Go North on US 19. looks for Haines Bayshore light
Turn Right into Cove Cay Condomiums Directly across from Walker
Ford.
Tell the gate guard you are there for the Magic Club.
Follow site map to club house
www.covecay.com/sitemap.htm

----------------------------------
14. David Copperfield - Edmonton Alberta Canada
----------------------------------
Message from Brent Smith (Canada)

Copperfield is in Edmonton Alberta Canada December 6-7-8. Tickets
available at Ticket Master and will run you about $55-$75 Canadian

----------------------------------
15. First Five Playing Cards
----------------------------------
Message from Geoff Williams

I'm doing a specialized card survey and would like some input from
magicians (that would be YOU) and non-magicians alike.

Take a quick moment and send me an e-mail with the names of the
FIRST FIVE PLAYING CARDS that come to mind (from a standard 52-card
deck, excluding jokers). Don't think too long or too hard, just list
the first five cards right off the top of your head in the order
that they come to you:
-
-
-
-
-

PLEASE make this PRIVATE (don't post your card choices here) as I'd
rather your responses not influence anyone else. Send your responses
to one of my personal e-mail addresses below.

Thanks in advance for all who decide to participate in this survey.
If you can get some non-magician family, friends and co-workers to
join in with this, I'd love to hear from them as well.

I'll post the results here after I feel I've received a sufficient
number of responses (might be a couple of weeks or so).

I have an ulterior motive for such an survey as this and I'll
explain it all at that time. Maybe we can all benefit from this
exercise.

Thanks in advance,

Geoff Williams
geoff_williams@bigfoot.com
gwilliamsmagic@yahoo.com

----------------------------------
16. The Daytona Beach Festival Of Magic
----------------------------------
Message from Harry

The Daytona Beach Festival of Magic was a sell out convention.
We have the dates for next year. Oct. 24-26 2003 in a larger resort
to hold more conventioneers. Already booked is Daryll. He'll be
performing, lecturing, and will have 2 different teach-ins.
Futher details will be on our website. www.daytonamagic.com

----------------------------------
17. Wordsmith
----------------------------------
Message from Peter Marucci (Canada)

All too often, mental magic is very much like many card tricks: You
think of something (or pick a card) and I tell you what it is.

Ho-hum.

But there's nothing wrong with injecting a little -- or a lot -- of
humor into mentalism. (It wouldn't hurt with a lot of card tricks,
either!)

For some time now, I've done an entire act of comedy mentalism to
considerable success (he said, modestly).

WORDSMITH

Effect: The magician hands out a prediction in an envelope and never
touches the prediction again until the routine is over. He then
presents a list of a dozen words. The spectator freely chooses one
and -- you were expecting something else? -- the chosen word matches
the prediction.

Preparation: You'll need six cards from an Alphabet Deck -- A, D, R,
E, G, and N. And you'll need a list of 12 words. You can print these
on one sheet but I prefer to have them on individual cards; that way
you can focus on each word, one at a time, for the comic definition.

The words, in order from the top of a face-down stack, are: Backer,
Gander, Faulty, Ranged, Hearth, Puffin, Danger, Costly, Empire,
Gauged, Rocket, Widget. Note that the second, fourth and seventh
words -- Gander, Ranged, Danger -- are all made up of the same six
letters.

Presentation: Give out the six letter cards in an envelope as a
prediction of what is to come. Don't mention what is in the
envelope, other than it is a prediction.

Show the word cards, one at a time, and give a short "explanation"
of the meaning of the words:

Backer -- A direction, as in, "Do you want backer front?"
Gander -- Something you show to a goose, as in "Take a gander at
that."
Faulty -- An excuse: "It's not my fault; 'e made me do it."
Ranged -- Type of wedding, as in, "It was a ranged marriage."
Hearth -- Where you live, as in, "Home is where the hearth is."
Puffin -- Heavy breathing
Danger -- A warning, as in, "Danger dare do that!"
Costly -- The price Lee pays, as in, "You can have it for 10 bucks
but it will cost Lee 20."
Empire -- A guy who turns into a bat.
Gauged -- Where you are before marriage, as in, "He's in gauged."
Rocket --Something you do to a baby; you rocket to sleep.
Widget -- A small widge.

Have you spectator select a number between 1 and 12. If 2, 3, 4, or
7 is called, deal from the face-down packet. if the number is 2, 4,
or 7, the card at that number is shown. If 3 is chosen, the next
card is shown.

If 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, or 11 is called, deal from the face-up packet. If
the number is 6, 9, or 11, the cards are dealt off and that card is
shown. If 5, 8, or 10 is called, the cards are dealt off and the
next card is shown.

(This is a variation on the 10/11 force, expanded to 12 and offering
three outs instead of two.)

Count the cards to the chosen number (or next one) and show the
"freely" selected word. (Well, it is -- sort of.)

When the word has been selected, leave the card in plain sight and
ask the spectator to open the envelope and take out the six cards
that are inside.

Supposing the chosen word was Danger; ask the spectator, "Do you
have a D?" Take it and put it on a stand as the first letter in the
word. Continue asking the letters, in order, until all six have been
taken. "Do you have any more letters or anything else inside the
envelope?" When the answer is "no," again show the chosen word and
hold it over the predicted letters.

Take you bow to thunderous applause, as women in the audience swoon
and men toss huge amounts of money.

Well, maybe not -- but take a bow, anyway.

Second Thoughts: You may have noticed that, to further confuse the
issue for the audience, none of the words used starts with the same
letter and two are two-syllable words, while one is a one-syllable
word. In short, the more different you can make the words, the
better.

Peter Marucci
270 St. Andrew St. East
Fergus, Ontario, Canada
N1M 1R1
e-mail: showtimecol@aol.com

---------------------------------
18. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga – Page 131
----------------------------------
Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

Eddie ôThe Voice In a Millionô Low

Many, many moons ago, Eddie popped around home to give me a taped
copy of an hour-long radio documentary, “THE EDDIE LOW STORY”. The
programme, compiled and narrated by Neil Collins (And Eddie -
interspersed with various recordings), Disc Jockey, Compere and
Columnist from Dunedin, was broadcast via the NZBC (The New Zealand
Broadcasting Corporation) throughout New Zealand in 1971. Although I
was aware of most of Eddie’s story, much of what I’ve related has
come from the tape that Eddie gifted me, nearly thirty years ago!

October 1973. Eddie, together with his management - Joe and Dennis
Brown, arrived at the Country Music Association annual D.J.
Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, where he performed on the
‘International Show’. Eddie’s fabulous ‘Voice In a Million’, brought
the house down! The 3,000 plus hard-core music business people
roared their approval as they cheered, whooped and hollered him back
to centre stage for the show’s only encore!

At his guest appearance on the ‘Grand Ole Opry Show’ the packed
auditorium reverberated with applause as Eddie was introduced onto
the stage, his reputation had obviously preceded him, following his
appearance at the ‘International Show’. As Eddie came to the
finishing lines of ‘Out Of Reach Of My Two Empty Arms’, the applause
thundered, as the delighted crowd in that huge auditorium rose,
demanding an encore from the ‘Magic Voice’ of our own, brilliant,
Maori entertainer - Eddie Low. The Ryman auditorium was shaken to
its very foundations as the ecstatic audience voiced its approval,
as the compere/host recalled Eddie back to the microphone. As Eddie
finished singing: ‘I Can’t Sop Loving You’, the entire theatre again
erupted in frenzied exhilaration!

Just listening to the tape sends shivers up my spine. One can only
imagine what it must have been like to have actually been there,
physically feeling, experiencing the excitement and electrifying
magic of the moment! As Eddie said: “That was a moment of a lifetime
for me. It is getting back a bit now but, it is still fresh in my
mind and something I’ll never forget”! A treasured compliment for
Eddie came from the great Tex Ritter who remarked: “Eddie Low, he
was sensational, dynamic – he makes Tom Jones look like a
sharecropper!”

Whilst in Nashville, Eddie met many of the Country Music Greats. The
list of worldwide household names runs like a Who’s Who of C & W.
All of them had nothing but compliments for Eddie. What followed is
what Eddie himself describes as the fulfilment of his greatest
ambition. He was invited to record in the Nashville Sound Studios,
under the direction of Bill Walker, the musical director of the then
popular Johnny Cash television series. Grady Martin, lead guitarist
on many of Elvis Presley’s hits was also on the session Eddie also
travelled to Canada, staying for six months, recording in Toronto
and was a guest on a host of television shows.

John Rowles, Peter Snell, Kiri Te Kanawa, Colin Meads, Sir Edmond
Hillary, Bob Charles, Edgar Benyon, Tex Morton, Franquin; just some
of the fine New Zealanders who have carried the flag high for our
country overseas. Add the name of Eddie Low.

Eddie Low has been a mate and a friend for a great many years, as
has his lovely wife Bunny, whom we met when they immigrated to
Sydney. Like me, Eddie is proud of his Maori heritage, as well as
being a New Zealander. Actually, Eddie is half Scots as well, from
his fathers side. To celebrate his twin heritage, he produced a two
CD compilation about two or three years ago, which he very kindly
gifted to Veronica and I ; one disc covers various Maori songs, the
other, Scottish. The album is titled: Eddie Low – ‘Land of my
Mother… Land of my Father’. The little booklet that accompanies the
album has a cover story that was written by Eddie’s daughter, Maria
Cowin (nee Low). It is a most interesting, poignant and well written
discourse about Eddie and his family. I’ve been trying to reach
Eddie in Sydney but to no avail so far; so I’m taking the liberty of
repeating Maria’s cover story in my next episode. I know for sure
that Eddie or Maria won’t mind.

- CONTINUES -

-------------------------------------
19. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives
-------------------------------------
Back issues of the Magic New Zealand 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 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue
number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999)
Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to
gain access.

-------------------------------------
20. 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. Those
submitting to this e-zine agree that we have permission to publish
their submissions and that they have the full copyright to the
material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand are
fully protected by international copyright as provided by law, and
articles cannot be published for profit by anyone other than the
individual author without the written permission of Magic New
Zealand.

>>This publication may be freely redistributed (but not sold) to
other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY including the copyright
notice below and the above disclaimer.<<

© Copyright 2002 Alan Watson