* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #146 Date: Sunday 24th 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. Flicking Fingers Downunder 3. Jeff McBride To Be Featured At S.A.M. Convention 4. News From The Gallos And Europe 5. Ted Lesley's Wonder Workshop Studio Opening 6. Magic For Children In Hospitals 7. The Groby Prediction 8. I.B.M. Ring 39 Achievement Award 9. New Zealand “World Festival Of Magic” Tour 2002 10. Christopher Auctions On Ebay 11. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Page 134 12. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives 13. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Sandy Singer brought to my attention that the Blackstone link in #145 would not work. The correct link is: http://pages.sothebys.ebay.com/buy/single_auctions_browse/BLK.html ----------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. Flicking Fingers Downunder ---------------------------------- Message from Tim & Sue-Anne Ellis (Aust) Just an update on the FLICKING FINGERS DOWNUNDER in Melbourne (April 12-13, 2003) 1 - We currently have 40 booked in, we need 10 more to say "YES I HOPE TO COME!" by Dec 4, if we get them then we'll be accepting payments ($200) or deposits ($50) at Coopers Inn on Wednesday, Dec 4. 2 - The venue has been confirmed: DRACULA'S CABARET RESTAURANT. If you've never been before, you don't know what you're missing! For more info, check out www.Draculas.com.au 3 - Included in your $200 registration ($300 if you book AFTER December 31) will be fully catered tea & coffee breaks, a hot lunch on Saturday, and a Pizza Party lunch on Sunday. Plus, special FINGERS souvenirs! 4 - The Flicking Fingers have just put a preview of their upcoming DVD set on their website www.diefertigenfinger.com take a look! (Under the heading NEWS). Those attending the FINGERS DOWNUNDER may be the first in the world to be able to purchase this incredible new DVD/Video. ------------------------------------ 3. Jeff McBride To Be Featured At S.A.M. Convention ------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler SAM Public Relations Las Vegas is a COOL place for magic in July. The HOT SPOT for magic will feature Jeff McBride the Master of Masks and Magic as part of the 2003 Society of American Magicians 2003 convention. He will lecture, offer a special seminars and will appear on the Gala Show. Other great acts will appear in the "Soldiers of Sorcery" and "Stars of Las Vegas" shows in work, plus more close-up and special events soon to be announced. Convention dates are July 7-10 at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. For details www.magicsam.com --------------------------------- 4. News From The Gallos And Europe ---------------------------------- Message from Jahn Gallo We have just finished a 3000 km lecture tour in Germany - had the pleasure to meet many new friends and some old... Highlights of the tour was our lecture in München at Zaubere Zentrale München run by Mr Harold Voit who has a very nice magic studio just outside München www.zauberzentrale.de We also had the pleasure to work in the Gala show at the Magic Convention in Deggendorf and to Lecture at the same convention – This is a small convention arranged by Manipulix www.manipulix.de At this convention we also had the great pleasure to meet Hörbi from Switzerland who presented a very good lecture about street magic, highly recommended!!! www.zauberladen.com/ If you are a lecture organizer and should like to book our lecture – work shop or / and show please take a look at our new web site www.gallos-lecture.cjb.net – 30 years of international professional show experience at your service – just send us an e-mail for more details. ---------------------------------- 5. Ted Lesley's Wonder Workshop Studio Opening ---------------------------------- Message from Thomas Schuchhardt The Mind and Magic Forum would like to announce a very special event. On 17 November 2002, Ted Lesley's Wonder Workshop celebrated the grand opening of its studio with a party and open house at its location in downtown Berlin. Among the guests were several of the great minds and performers in German magic, including noted author Ralf Wichmann-Braco. The irrepressible Ted Lesley and the unbelievable Walburga Raeder (who often performs quite convincingly as Marlene Dietrich) unveiled their two-person thought transmission act. This was followed by a lecture by Texas magician Bill Palmer, translator of books by Punx, Ted Lesley and Borodin. Everyone had a fine time, and Ted has decided to have another open house in the near future. Watch the Mind and Magic Forum www.mindandmagic.com for future events. The Mind and Magic Forum would like to thank all of its members for its amazingly rapid growth. In less than two weeks, the membership has grown to more than 400 members. The forum offers its members the opportunity to discuss magic and mentalism with many well-known performers. ---------------------------------- 6. Magic For Children In Hospitals ---------------------------------- Message from Don Drake (US) I am thinking of writing an article on the best type of magic for kids who are sick and in hospitals. Nowhere, is there more joy than in perking up kids who are ill. It not only makes the kids feel better, but it also makes YOUR DAY! I used to do a lot of this in LA, but haven't done it much in Las Vegas, as our Children's hospitals are almost nonexistent. What I want to know is what my peers think the best tricks or effects would be to brighten up their days. IMHO it should include something that the kids can participate in; eg. "Cut and restored rope, where the kid holds one end of the rope", etc. And you should always leave them a small memento of the occasion. My friend Gary Darwin (of thumb tip fame) leaves a little beanie bag bunny. I would love to hear some ideas on this, and they could be posted here, or sent e-mail. Actually it's very selfish of me to want to feel that good, but it helps me as much as the kids. I would be grateful for any ideas for the article, which I hope someone will publish someday. E-mail: dondrake@aol.com, or ---------------------------------- 7. The Groby Prediction ---------------------------------- Message from Tom Craven (US) In the midst of my recent 12 stop lecture tour through New England, I had three individuals ask me if I've ever considered marketing my effect: "The Groby Prediction" outside of a lecture. To be honest, I've been selling it at the lectures, but never considered selling it otherwise. Those individuals have convinced me to try it through Ring 2100 and the EG only. No ads in the trade journals etc. Following is a description of the effect. Those who have seen this in the lecture can verify that the description is correct as written, and not disguised as a "dealer ad" with something missing. The spectator has a free choice... no "magicians choice" used. Effect: Five glasses are shown. Each contains a different colored silk handkerchief. The audience is told that one of these colors will be freely chosen by an audience member, but the magician already has predicted which color that will be. The magician states that he will prove to the audience that he knew the chosen color ahead of time. Once the color is chosen, the spectator is asked for his/her sign of the zodiac. Let's say they reply, "Scorpio.”The performer produces the astrology section from the local newspaper, and reads the spectators horoscope. The spectator is given several chances to change their mind. Once the color is determined (say red in this example), each of the other four hanks are removed from their glass and placed aside. Finally, the chosen hank is removed, and there is an audible "clink" that comes from the glass. This sound is made by a coin in the glass, proving that the magician knew which color would be chosen. The spectator is asked to hold out their hand. The coin is poured from the glass onto the spectators waiting hand. The spectator is asked what is on the coin. They look... and their sign of the zodiac (in this case Scorpio) is on the coin! You furnish the glasses. I can furnish everything else, but if I do the simple assembly... you'll have to pay for it, as well as the cost of the coins. You'll love the brilliant colors! Here's the deal(s). The five brilliant colored silk hanks (these are beautiful!) (They retail for $5.00 each.) The twelve very colorful zodiac signs (you attach to the coins- Half dollar size) Instructions and a secret gimmick never seen by the audience Newspaper Horoscope (Marked) All the above for $22.00 Ppd. Or....... The five brilliant colored silk hanks Twelve half dollars with the colorful zodiac signs attached (that's $6.00 worth of coins!) Instructions and the secret gimmick Newspaper Horoscope (Marked) All the above for $33.00 U.S. Ppd. in U.S. & Canada. Add $5.00 for other locations. The set without the coins can be shipped as soon as payment is received. The set with the coins... shipped within a couple of days of payment Send checks or money order to: Tom Craven 5217-G Cline Rd. Kent, Ohio 44240 ---------------------------------- 8. I.B.M. Ring 39 Achievement Award ---------------------------------- Message from Steve Burton (US) On November 7th, 2002 Houston, Texas' I.B.M. Ring 39 presented Steve Burton with its Bob Blau Achievement Award. This is only the 5th time this award has been given in the club's more than 50 year history. The Achievement Award is granted to persons who have significantly contributed to the art of magic in the Houston area and has served the club in a leadership capacity. Steve Burton is a full-time professional magician and has served either as club secretary or president of the Bob Blau Ring for past eight years. He is the Territorial Vice President of the I.B.M. for Texas and the newly elected Vice-President of the Texas Association of Magicians. He edits the club newsletter, "The Wizard's Report" and performs regularly at fund-raising events to benefit the Ring. He is also the editor (with Richard Kaufman) of Tarbell Volume Eight and The Tarbell Companion. Mr. Burton thanks all the members of I.B.M. Ring 39 for this honor and looks forward to working with the club when the 2004 TAOM Convention comes to Houston. ---------------------------------- 9. New Zealand “World Festival Of Magic” Tour 2002 ---------------------------------- Message from Gene McCarthy Sunday 24th November Tauranga Bay Court Theatre 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Monday 25th November Rotorua Rotorua Convention Centre 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Tuesday 26th November Gisborne War Memorial Theatre 2:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Wednesday 27th November Napier Napier Municipal Theatre 2:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Thursday 28th November Taupo Great Lake 4:30pm & 7:30pm Friday 29th November Travel to Auckland Saturday 30th November Auckland 11:00pm - 2:00pm & 5:00pm Sunday 01st December Auckland 11:00pm - 2:00pm & 5:00pm Logan Campbell Centre Monday 02nd December Whangarei 5:00pm & 7:30pm Forum North Tuesday 03rd December Hamilton The Gate Way Christian Centre 2:30pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Wednesday 04th December New Plymouth TSB Show Place 5:00pm & 7:30pm Thursday 05th December Wanganui Wanganui Collegiate High School 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm (Prince Edward Auditorium) Friday 06th December Travel to Wellington Saturday 07th December Wellington 1:30pm - 4:30pm & 7:00pm Sunday 08th December Wellington 1:30pm - 4:30pm & 7:00pm Monday 09th December Wellington 7:00pm Wellington High School Tuesday 10th December Palmerston North College of Education 1:30pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm Wednesday 11th December Travel to Nelson Thursday 12th December Nelson Trafalgar Centre 7:00pm Friday 13th December Travel to Christchurch Saturday 14th December Day Off (Setting up Christchurch Venue) Sunday 15th December Christchurch 12:00pm - 3:00pm & 5:30pm Monday 16th December Christchurch10:00am - 1:00pm & 4:00pm Theatre Royal Tuesday 17th December Timaru Theatre Royal 5:30pm Wednesday 18th December Dunedin 2:30pm & 7:00pm Regent Theatre Thursday 19th December Invercargill Civic Theatre 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm ---------------------------------- 10. Christopher Auctions On Ebay ---------------------------------- Message from Ben Robinson (US) MC lecture: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=738699665&rd=1 5 misc mags http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=738702376&rd=1 The Outlook of Magic http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=738706965&rd=1 Munroe Mags http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=738709479&rd=1 Swami mags http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=738713729&rd=1 Magic Mag of Wonder -- 1920's http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=738718318&rd=1 The Dragon -- 2 issues http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=738721892&rd=1 --------------------------------- 11. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga – Page 134 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Sally Ann Phillips Sally became Mrs Metzger when she married Derek Metzger in London, England in 1986. Derek is another, well-known New Zealand singer, who is making a big name for himself in Australia, where he and Sally now reside - in the beautiful harbour city of Sydney. I will be documenting Derek’s story later; meanwhile, it’s back to Sally - my very dear friend since 1965, which is now 37 years ago. That is one hellava long friendship! Born in Plymouth, Devon co, England, Sally’s family then moved to a village in Dorset called Wool, which is near Lulworth Cove. Her father went to New Zealand as a diver, working on the building of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Having seen what a great country it was, he decided that the family should move out there. They packed up their thatched cottage and set sail for Aotearoa (New Zealand). The year was 1957. Unfortunately, Sally's dad died in 1958, so he never saw the Bridge completed. It’s not surprising that Sally became involved in show business. Her great-grandfather owned a circus and her grandmother, her mother's mum, was a bareback rider. Sally’s mother was also in the business; she was a member of many repertory theatres and worked with the likes of Robert Morley and Rex Harrison. In fact, Robert Morley attended a V A C Ball (Variety artists' convention) one year and as Sally says: “He and my mum got on famously - he said it was a pleasure to see her again, whether or not he actually remembered her is unlikely, however, they did spend an hour together, chatting  away”. It was in 1963, at the ‘Crystal Palace’ dance hall in Auckland, when Sally (then just a wee slip of a girl), first became involved with New Zealand show business. She met and became friends with Helen Warren, and it was through Helen that Sally started working in the coffee shop at the Crystal Palace, which was owned by Helen’s brother, the late Philip Warren. He was later to become a major theatrical promoter – entrepreneur in Auckland, when he bought Fullers Entertainment Bureau from the late George Tollerton, famous New Zealand Ventriloquist during the 1940s and early 50s. ‘Fullers’ became a division of ‘Prestige Promotions’ – Phil being the Managing Director. He eventually became one of Auckland’s most famous, congenial and influential Businessmen. Sally laughingly recalls that there wasn’t a hot water system in the coffee lounge of the dance hall, so they had to heat the water up in buckets, using the gas rings on the small stove. I guess that if they were making coffee by the bucket load, and the punters were happily drinking it by the gallon (and knowing Phil as I did, they were surely paying over the odds for the stuff), it must have tasted okay! Sally still remembers Philip sitting in the tiny box Office, selling entrance tickets into his establishment, the Crystal Palace - for five shillings each; that’s probably when he started counting his first million! A quick aside. I remember another dance hall promoter who was also around in those days – Dave Dunningham. He had the ‘Orange Ballroom’ which, I think, was in Ponsonby. It was managed by Joe Wheeler. I remember Herma Keil and the ‘Keil Isles’ played there, with Herma being the lead singer. I think his brother Freddie was involved as well. What ‘Blast From The Past’ that is. Many Auckland entertainers of my vintage will remember the - ‘Orange’. Dave Dunningham had another venue on the North Shore, it was called - ‘Surfside’. I used to work my Hypnotism show there. That was fun! Many N.Z. singers, and other entertainers like comedian Ralph Cohen, worked at the Crystal Palace in those early days, all endeavouring to carve out a reputation for themselves. One of them was the late Lew Pryme, who was singing in various clubs and dances around Auckland. He and Sally became very close friends, which lasted right up to his much publicised death in 1990, from an aids related disease. It was either on the night of Wednesday 29th or Friday the 31st of December 1965, at the Rotorua Soundshell, that Sally and her friend Jenny (they were holidaying in Rotorua at the time), were first introduced to us - the ‘Demonos’ and Orchanté (Peter Newberry, the late Peter Taylor and myself), by Lew, who was the compere at the Soundshell Xmas shows that year. Some time after that, Sally and Peter Taylor became an item for a short while, and it was through Peter that Sally eventually ended up working with Peter Newberry. That partnership lasted for around 10 - 11 years. Page 135 To read the full story about this period, please refer back to pages  37and 38 of my Saga (was pages 27/28), entitled: ‘Memories - Friends and Acquaintances - Past and Present’. Incidentally, the dates are accurate – I still have my 1965 diary, which I found floating in the seemingly inexhaustible depths of my ‘bottomless’ aluminium trunk. I discovered for instance, that on the Thursday 30th December, I had performed two shows at Mount Maunganui. One at the Soundshell and the other, later that night at the ‘Peter Pan Cabaret’, another club owned by Auckland promoter Dave Dunningham. According to the diary, both venues featured my hypnotism shows. It was a busy, lucrative time during those wonderful years. Rotorua one night, Mount Maunganui the next then back to Rotorua; the Sixties were a very special era - a moment of time that will never be repeated. I really do feel sorry for the youth and entertainers of today. They can listen to the music of that period, but they will never live, feel or experience the heady atmosphere of ‘being there’, in those magical times of Rock’n’Roll, ‘Flower Power’ and smoky, marijuana - laced jazz clubs, like the ‘Montmarte’, now long gone, that used to be tucked away upstairs in a little back street in Auckland, behind the St. James Picture Theatre. I can still hear Marlene Tong hammering it out there with, I think, the Mike Walker Trio. I really am the nostalgic type and… I’ve digressed again, haven’t I? Sometime during the late sixties, early seventies, Lew Pryme bought Fullers Entertainment Bureau from Philip Warren. Sally says, “ I originally worked for Lew at the Agency on a casual basis but when I gave up the act with Peter Newberry, and went to England for a working holiday, Lew said, ‘When you come back to New Zealand, do you want to come and work full-time”? “So Tom”, said Sally, “That is how I came to work at Fullers”. During Sally’s ‘Show Biz’ days, she was the Secretary of V A C - the New Zealand ‘Variety Artists Club’ – at one stage she was also on the committee. She has received two Awards, one from the ‘VAC’, a ‘Scroll Of Honour’, and another from NEOA - the ‘New Zealand Entertainment Operator's Association’, which was started by Dave Dunningham and Phil Warren. Among other awards, they also originated the ‘Entertainer Of The Year’ award. Sally said, “It was very nice to be recognised by my peers, but more importantly, I made lots of very good friends and perhaps, helped a few entertainers along the way. There is so much that I can say about Mrs Sally Ann Metzger, nee Phillips. She is a lady whom anyone, male or female, would be proud to call - “My Friend”. On a personal level, Sally has always been there, whenever I have needed her, not only in my private life, but on a professional level as well. More often than not, she has, at a moments notice, stepped in as my assistant, bringing to bear all her charm and stage professionalism that comes naturally, from her ‘Show Biz’ heritage. I THANK YOU - LOVE YOU SALLY, FOR AN EVERLASTING FRIENDSHIP THAT HAS SURVIVED THE INEXORABLE, TRICKLING SANDS THAT HAVE FALLEN FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY, INTO THE GLASS OF TIME. TOM Next episode: DEREK METZGER, Sally’s very talented husband ------------------------------------- 12. 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. ------------------------------------- 13. 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