* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand
* www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #276
Date: Sunday 1st August 2004
Editor: Alan Watson
www.magicianz.com
www.alan-watson.com
e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com

================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================

1. Editor’s Message
2. Magical Joke
3. Governor Doyle Announces Tourism JEM Grant For Houdini Days
4. Tony Wilson’s Magical Adventures
5. Asian Magic Association
6. TAOM Convention! Houston, Sept 3-5!
7. Re: Ethics letter - Nick Morton
8. IBM International Prez, Tony Wilson
9. Our Circus Quirkus 2004 Met With Good Reception
10. Magic Week Is Upon Us Here In Colon
11. S. S. Adams Company Announces Partnership
12. A Correction Re IBM Convention Reno 2005
13. Magic Superman Penny Bend - Jamie-G
14. You Call This A Pack Of Cards?
15. e-zine Archives
16. Subscription Management

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1. Editors Message
-------------------
Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One

The Petrick & Mia lecture of Australia and New Zealand for September
has been cancelled.

-----------------------------------------
"Magicana" #308 for August-September 2004 should be in the mail
later this week.  There has been a delay because Editor Michael
Woolf has been unwell but has now almost recovered.

This issue contains reports on the recent Conventions in Auckland
and Melbourne as well as a lengthy piece about Tony Wilson and his
appointment as IBM President.  There is also a feature-length
conversation with Billy McComb, the first in a series of pieces
resulting from the Editor's travels earlier this year.

Subscription details from:
Michael Woolf
michaelw@ihug.co.nz

------------------------------------
Steve Walker sent the following link for those interest in
Mentalism:

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml

Look up Men of Mystery it’s worth a listen on Real Player.

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

-----------------
2. Magical Joke
-----------------
Message from Tony and Juleen Laffan (Aust)

St. Peter's still checking ID's. He asks a man, "What did you do on
Earth?"

The man says, "I was a doctor."

St. Peter says, "Ok, go right through those pearly gates. Next! What
did you do on Earth?"

"I was a school teacher."

"Go right through those pearly gates. Next! And what did you do on
Earth?"

"I was a magician."

"Go around the side, up the freight elevator, through the
kitchen..."

-----------------
3. Governor Doyle Announces Tourism JEM Grant For Houdini Days
-----------------
Message from Chris Cochrane - Houdini Days Organizer

APPLETON, Wis. (July 16, 2004 Date) - Tourism promotional efforts in
the Fox Cities received a welcome boost today when Governor Jim
Doyle delivered a $29,750 check from the Department of Tourism to
members of Appleton Downtown Inc. The funds were awarded through the
Department's Joint Effort Marketing, or "JEM" program, and will help
the organization promote the Annual Houdini Days Magic Festival
scheduled for September 2-5, 2004.

The large return on investment is just one reason why Houdini Days
was chosen to receive the state promotional grant. Organizers
estimate the number of visitors expected to attend the two-day event
will double from last year to 15,000 to 20,000 people. It is
anticipated that the total economic impact for the event will top
$571,500, benefiting businesses throughout the Fox Cities area. The
Fox Cities Convention & Visitor Bureau estimates the economic impact
of room nights alone will be $144,000.

"The Houdini name still has a very broad appeal, and has become
linked with Appleton, Wisconsin," Governor Doyle said. "The
celebration of Houdini's amazing life will give families, magic
lovers, and visitors a new and exciting reason to come to the Fox
Cities and have a significant impact on area businesses."

The grant money, matched by local promotional dollars, will help
cover the cost of marketing the event through advertising and public
relations. These promotional efforts will target travelers within 90
minutes of the Fox Cities area as well as other major markets in
Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

The JEM program is available to non-profit organizations for
promotion of their Wisconsin tourism destinations or events. The
state funds up to 75 percent of a project's first year of
advertising and marketing costs. The program also offers grant
support during the second and third year of a new project, but in
decreasing amounts each year in hopes that the project will
eventually become self-sufficient.

For more information about the Houdini Days Magic Festival:
www.houdinidays.com

-----------------
4. Tony Wilson’s Magical Adventures
-----------------
Message from Tony Wilson - IBM International President 2004 - 2005

Our first morning in Toronto was spent unpacking for a six night
stay in Joan’s home in Elora in southern Ontario. We had lunch with
Gerrard Dietrich and his wife Jean as they couldn’t attend the
official afternoon IBM function in Joan’s home. Gerrard is a busy
performer as well as an agent and it was good to have a chance to
meet with him and his wife.

Thanks to Joan’s organizational ability she had invited nine IBM
Rings from Southern Ontario to a barbeque that afternoon as being
mid summer many magic clubs are not meeting regularly and over
thirty people attended .My standard 20 minute presentation followed
four featured performers from the Rings represented. I presented a
Ring 160 banner and a copy of the New Zealand Magic magazine
“Magicana” to one Ring representative from each Ring. A sumptuous
meal was also enjoyed before people headed for home which, in some
cases, was a three hour drive.

The next day Joan, Mary and I went to Niagara Falls for the day and
went on the Maid of the Mist to get as close as we could to the US
and the Canadian Falls (Horseshoe Falls is the name given on the
Canadian side) as well as the journey behind the falls to fully
experience Niagara.

Our full day in Toronto was spent visiting the York university
campus where I studied as a Rotary Educational awardee in 1978/1979
as well as having lunch with Julie Eng (Magicienne, Linking Ring
cover February 2003) and her husband Suley across the road from
Morressey Magic in Dufferin Street. We also visited this store and
met Dan Morressey and Richard Olsen, together with Dan’s wife
Phoebe.

A visit to Jeff Pinsky at Browser’s Den was also made. It just so
happened that Magic Mike (Mike Segal) dropped into the shop while we
were there. Mike is highly involved in running a magic camp in
Ontario. I was impressed with both of these shops in all respects.
If only New Zealand could support shops like this.

Our last full day in Canada was spent having lunch with Peter and
Helen Marucci and supper with Romaine and his wife Joan. Peter lives
in Fergus Ontario and Romaine in Cambridge Ontario. Our wonderful
hostess Joan Caesar provided us with door to door service in all of
our journey around Ontario and we were very grateful for her
wonderful hospitality. Thank you so much. Next stop Northern
Carolina!

-----------------
5. Asian Magic Association
-----------------
Message from Albert Tam (Hong Kong)

The milestone of Magic in Asia. First Asian Magic Convention is the
first convention presented by Asian Magic Association., an
organization established in 2003 which is similar to FISM in Asia
zone. AMA members are major magic societies in Asia cities and aims
to develop the art of magic in Asia.

The First Asian Magic Convention will be hosted by Guangdong
Acrobatic Association Details follow:
Date: 24th - 26th September 2004
Location: FuYong Town Art Centre, Shenzhen China (40 minutes by bus
from Hong Kong airport)

Talent:
Tommy Wonder (Holland)
Theo Dari (France)
Aldo Colombini (USA)
Richard Kaufman (USA)
Yumi (Japan)
Johnny Hiroshi (Japan)
Shigeo Futagawa (Japan)
Mahka Tendo (Japan)
Dante Law (Taiwan)
Simon & Vicky (Hong Kong)
Harry Wong (Hong Kong)
Yiu Wai Tung (China) and MORE to come.

Contents: The three days events will include International Magic
Masters Stage Gala, International Close-up Magic Gala, The First
Asia Magic Contests which will create the first Asia Magic Champion
in Close-up and Stage Magic, International Magic Lectures, and Magic
Dealers Exhibition etc.

Registration Fee: Early Bird US$125 (24th August, 2004 or before)
US$135 after 24th August, 2004.

Contest entry fee: US$30

Official hotel: Hanyong Hotel, Fuyi Hotel -Fuyong Road, Fuyong Town,
Shanzhen China.
Room rate: Renminbi 350 Yuan (around US$45) / night / double room.

All the registration can be made thru A.M.A. member societies in
different cities as below: Magicians Association of Hong Kong,
Taiwan Black Hat Magic Club, Thailand Siam Magic Club, Philippine
Inner Magic Club, Korean Alexander Magic Family, Singapore I.B.M.
Ring, Japan Close-up Magic Association, Malaysia Magic Ring.

Individuals who stay in the city without A.M.A. membership can
contact:

China Guangdong Acrobatic Artist Association, No.550 Tianhe Bei
Longkou Xi Road, Guangzhou, China. Tel / Fax: +86 20 38486857

Email contact: mrmagicalbert@yours.com (Albert Tam A.M.A. General
Secretary)

-----------------
6. TAOM Convention! Houston, Sept 3-5!
-----------------
Message from Steve Burton (US)

End your summer with a once in a lifetime experience at the 59th
annual Texas Association of Magicians convention in Houston, Texas,
September 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th! Look at this line-up!

Mac King will emcee one of our THREE big evening shows and joining
him will be Arden James with one of the most energetic acts in magic, 
Charlie Frye-the world's funniest juggler/magician, Amos Levkovitz 
with his award-winning dove act, Steve Draun and his ultra deceptive 
close-up and one of our professions most talented inventors Lonnie 
Chevrie.

Roger Klause will be there with his legendary event, "Midnight
Madness" where some of the greatest performers share their talents
in a late night no-holds-barred session. Eric Mead will emcee on
another night bringing his own brand of clever conjuring along with
Canada's premier illusionists, Murray Hatfield and Teresa with a
full stage show that will completely astound you.

Joe Givan and Carol Massie will also perform their fascinating act
known as "Dream Masterz" and Shoot Ogawa will make your eyes pop
with his visual creations. Corporate wunderkind Tim Conover will
star in his own one man show called, "Unbelievable!" which has NEVER
been seen at a convention before.

England's Wayne Dobson makes a rare appearance that is sure to be
one of the most talked about acts of the year. Close-up expert Geoff
Latta will show why he's such a respected performer, Tony Chapek
will delight you with his world famous video act and Dan Sperry will
serve up fast-paced manipulation in a modern manner.

Add to this the star from south of the border, Armando and the
unbelievable award-winning act of Oscar Munoz, the illusions of
Taylor Reed and James Austin Banner. And there's still more!!
Contests, a special Thursday September 2nd Luau party and Dealer's
preview, lectures (including one for mentalists by Larry Becker),
more than two dozen dealers (including the new Rings N' Things II),
and a Collector's Session.

The cost for this Labor Day Weekend extravaganza is $125.00, and
that includes the extra event on Thursday if you register now!

Go to www.taom.org and to pick up an online registration where you
can pay by credit card. You can find the convention schedule at
http://members.aol.com/taom2004. So mark your calendars for
September 3-5 and head to Houston, Texas for the greatest close-up
and stage talent in the world.

See you there!

-----------------
7. Re: Ethics letter - Nick Morton
-----------------
Message from Tim Glander (USA)

Dear Mr. Morton,

You’re chuckling about Mr. Blaney’s “getting upset” about someone
using the name “Magic Makers Inc.” when your group’s magazine down
under has been named that since 1946 is offensive to me. First of
all, you missed the point entirely. A magazine name and a business
name is “apples and oranges” (a different aspect altogether.) In
this case the magazine and business are not the same as such.

Mr. Blaney is no “Idiot Crybaby” who hangs around magic chat rooms
on the Internet, flinching every time someone steals a “pinky” move
from a former book on card magic. He is an ethical “gentleman”,
which is a real “novelty” in this magic world of yours, who has
spent countless hours, everyday with the WAM organization to help
wipe out theft and other unethical practices in "this half of the
world." Have people in your so-called “Brotherhood” read his
findings and appeals for reform? Have you supported any of them?
Some have, but many have not. Have dealers and organizations, such
as yours, done anything to clean this stuff up? Hardly. You guys
sometimes talk a good game, but rarely do anything at all. Talk is
cheap!

Back in the 60’s and 70’s, Ken Brooke was a victim of theft many,
many times. Mr. Brooke wrote to organizations such as the SAM, IBM
and the British Ring about all of the stealing by dealers of his
merchandise (most of the thieves here in America). They did not have
the decency or “Guts” to respond or make efforts to do anything
about his problem. Except for WAM and a few “ETHICAL” dealers, which
by the way are also few and far between today, no one really cares;
people just continue to buy knock-offs and the unethical dealers
continue to thrive and steal to their hearts content. The Internet
has made this crime easier than ever.

At the SAM convention in 1975, Don Alan during his lecture on ethics
said, “Magic is in trouble, we have created a monster.” In the 90’s
Don and I reminisced about that statement. He told me, “I (Don) was
talking about a “Frankenstein” in the 70’s and look, it has turned
into a “Godzilla” in the 90’s, and beyond anything I ever expected.”
Just think of what Don would say if he were to experience the
nonsense that is occurring today!

Also back in the 70’s, Ken Brooke mentioned that he felt that
magical organizations and clubs were the cancer of magic! He also
said they are a “Menace to the profession.” It is interesting that
Mr. Alan and Mr. Brooke have been found to be still correct with
both statements after so many years.

As far as Mr. Blaney is concerned, he is one hell of a performer!
You and everyone else in this magical world should get down on your
hands and knees and thank Walter for his tireless efforts to rid
this business of all the corruption. You should also thank him for
his creations of superb apparatus, which by the way, are probably
being copied somewhere in the world at this very moment! Also, Mr.
Blaney is correct. The people located in Canada who own "Magic
Makers Inc." should be able to keep their name, "soley" because they
were first (created in the mid 80's) and are also totally ethical.
Let the other guy come up with something else on his own.

Since the "majority" of the magical community refuses to take note
and act with integrity and compassion, people will just continue to
steal names, props, ideas, acts, presentations and anything else
they can get their hands on. They are bastardizing and whoring an
Art that does not deserve such treatment. Can you imagine what this
magical world will be 10 years from now? It has become such a
“monster” that now, like the drug problem of the world, it will
never be wiped out entirely.

-----------------
8. IBM International Prez, Tony Wilson
-----------------
Message from Richard Petrashek

I really enjoyed meeting Tony again at the SAM convention in St
Louis. I just sent Tony and Mary some photos of them on stage with
Steve Bargatze, the MC of the banquet show on Saturday night. I had
a great seat at my table next to the stage, and I took photos of
Tony and Mary and MC Bargatze, who used the two of them to help do
his $11 trick.

It was hilarious and I have sent the photos to Tony and Mary at
their Auckland address. I'm only sorry, they will not see them until
their 4 month tour of their IBM Presidency is over, and they will
return to their home in New Zealand.

At the end of the routine, Bargatze left the stage, mumbling about
loosing about $40 to the people from down under. Tony and Mary were
left on the stage wondering what they should do now and is the trick
over?? Finally, after about a minute, they walked off stage with
everyone applauding. It was a FUN convention!!

-----------------
9. Our Circus Quirkus 2004 Met With Good Reception
-----------------
Message from Gene McCarthy (NZ)

Good old-fashioned razzle-dazzle . . .

Ripples of amazement all the way to the back row . . .

That's entertainment!

Bob Finesses (Aust)

Hello Everyone

Just wanted to pass on my appreciation for putting on an awesome
show with Circus Quirkus this year.

I attended the shows at Penrith on the 30th of June. I was blown
away by the quality of the show and acts this year. I thought last
year was good but this far exceeds that. The acts are a great mix of
high energy & good humour (Go the Zimbabwe Brothers!!) and real
artistic majesty and professionalism of the trapeze acts. The
juggling French Woman is a hoot (I hear she is German), and
Christoff and Skip yet again delivering great performances.

The Rotary Club of Nepean were over the moon with the show, they
absolutely loved it....couldn't shut them up! 10 members were there
on the day for the three sessions and they watched and enjoyed every
one of them. They reckon it's heaps better than doing the film
festival! Attendances were excellent with approx 600 at 1pm, 800 at
5pm & 850 at 7pm (full house as only holds 850) so over 2250
attending for the day.

I have also spoken to Val Simmons President of the Rotary Club of
Albury after their show on the 7th of July. More of the same... I'm
better to Quote Val as I wrote it Down "The show was huge success
and all the acts were very enthusiastically received by all the
crowds. The 2pm show was choc full and the afternoon and evening
sessions were almost full. I met Chris Price and he is very in tune
with the Clubs and International Entertainment. It was wonderful."

-----------------
10. Magic Week Is Upon Us Here In Colon
-----------------
Message from Rick Fisher (US)

Magic week is upon us here in Colon and we invite everyone to the
FREE MARILYN ABBOTT LECTURE on Thursday August 5th at 1:30 pm under
the BIG FAB Magic Big Top tent. This is a once in a lifetime event
so don't miss it! Let us know if you are coming as there is limited
seating....lots going on ..... FREE magic close up contest on
Thursday nite at 7:30 pm , Friday night and Saturday night public
shows under the big tent - MAGIC FLEA MARKET under the big tent on
Saturday from 11 am - 5pm....for more information contact FAB magic
Colon, Michigan at 877.44.MAGIK or visit us online at
www.fabmagic.com ! See you in Colon!!!!

-----------------
11. S. S. Adams Company Announces Partnership
-----------------
Message from David Haversat (US)

The S. S. Adams Co. of Neptune, New Jersey is pleased to announce
that David E. Haversat has joined the firm as full partner on July
26, 2004. The Adams Co. is now owned by Chris Adams, grandson of the
founder and Mr. Haversat.

In 1906, Samuel Sorenson Adams founded the Adams Company. The
internationally known firm, which manufactures pranks, jokes and
magic tricks, is considered by many to be a national institution.

When Sam Adams died in 1963, the business continued under the
direction of his son Joseph (Bud). Since Bud's death in 2001, his
son Chris has carried on the traditions of the Adams Company in the
current large factory building which dates back to 1932, and was
occupied by his grandfather.

Under this new partnership, the Adams Company will develop
additional products, but will continue to manufacture many of its
signature pieces, including the one and only original world famous
Joy Buzzer, invented by Sam Adams. Other well known items which have
delighted generations include the Sam Adams Snake Can, and the ever
popular Mystic Smoke or Smoke from the Fingertips.

In a recent interview Haversat said, "Since I was a small boy I have
been fascinated by the many products of S. S. Adams. Like so many
children in past decades, my first tricks came from Adams. My large
collection of old Adams' magic, pranks, and puzzles is unique. Few
realize the vast extent of products produced by this company for
nearly 100 years. I am very proud of the company history. S. S.
Adams is a large slice of Americana, and with Chris we will work to
promote and enlarge our impact in the business community."

In commenting on one of their internationally known pranks called
the Dribble Glass, Haversat laughed and said, "It was invented by
Sam Adams in 1909 and took the country by storm. It's the glass that
drips while you drink. It was and is a gag that has appeared at
conventions on podiums, speakers stands, pulpits, cocktail parties
and just about everywhere. Sam Adams was once quoted on his Dribble
Glass philosophy, he said, "I invented the glass so that any
unsuspecting average person and especially a sophisticate could
unwittingly experience the feeling of being a slob!"

In 2002, Haversat, who is also a publisher and owner of 1878 Press,
published a colorful history of the firm titled S. S. Adams: High
Priest of Pranks and Merchant of Magic, written by William V.
Rauscher. The book presents a detailed history of Sam Adams' life,
and includes numerous photographs and reprints of old Adams'
catalogs. The book sold out, and ignited new interest in old-time
novelties made in America.

In 2006 The S. S. Adams Company will be 100 years old. When Chris
Adams was asked if there would be a large cake with 100 candles to
celebrate this occasion, he said, "Yes, but the cake may be made of
foam rubber, have candles that when blown out will relight and then
the cake will squirt water! I think my grandfather and father would
like that."

From Sam Adams, first product called "Cachoo" or Sneeze Power to
the Dribble Glass, magic sets, joke items, trick books, and packaged
magic tricks galore, the S. S. Adams Company retains a nostalgia,
which surrounds a remarkable ongoing history of merchandising.

-----------------
12. A Correction Re IBM Convention Reno 2005
-----------------
Message from Stan Goudge (NZ)

IBM Convention - Reno, Lake Tahoe, Nevada June 2005

I am compiling a list of New Zealand magicians who are planning to
attend the IBM convention in Reno June 28 to July 2 2005. Not only
will you attend a great convention but you will support our Kiwi IBM
International President Tony Wilson.

CORRECTION TO THE MESSAGE IN LAST WEEK'S E-ZINE.

Editor wrote: "For those that aren't aware you don't have to be an
IBM member to attend this convention." - This is not correct. You
don't have to be a member to Register ....

BUT YOUR REGISTRATION FEE WILL INCLUDE AN EXTRA AMOUNT WHICH IS THE
IBM JOINING FEE.

IBM member or family $US 145.00 Non Member $US 200.00 "Non member
fees include the first year membership of the IBM if an application
form is submitted."

You can get an IBM Membership Application Form from me, and a Reno
Convention Registration Form.

If you are attending make sure when you fill out the Registration
Form that you fill in the box for the "Grand Banquet" as Tony will
be presiding and it will feature NZ magicians. (More details later.)

E-mail me at: goudgems@ihug.co.nz if you are (a) Definite Or (b)
Possible attendee.

-----------------
13. Magic Superman Penny Bend - Jamie-G
-----------------
Message from Jamie-G (Canada)

Effect: You show a normal penny in your hand flipping the coin so
everyone can see the penny from front and then the back. (You can
tell no problems that there is nothing wrong with the penny. But
when your other hand comes over (you’re holding the penny with both
hands now) you give a hard push and pull and now the penny is over
half bent.

Props: You need two pennies, one normal one and one with a half bend
in it. (I take a penny and put half in a vice and hit the other half
with a hammer)

Method: The bent penny is in your left hand.(this penny hides here
until you need it), the penny is small enough it can just rest in
any way you want but it should look like nothing is there and you
don't call attention to this matter anyway. The normal penny is in
your right hand, you can flip this penny around in your hand to show
it to be O.K. (in other words just play with the penny in your
hand.)

When your left hand comes up to make it look like you’re going
to bend it, your hands are going to do two things: when your left
hand starts to come up your right hand starts to move closer to your
left. The normal penny in the right hand falls into a thumb pinch
and the bent penny gets pushed out in the left fingers ready to meet
the right fingers with the penny that is thumb pinched.

In Real Time: If this is done right it should look like you just
brought your left hand over to grab the penny. (But what you really
did is switched the two pennies.)You will have to practice this a
few times if you are not used to working with small coins. But this
is a pretty easy coin effect.

Method: (end of effect) You have you’re left and right fingers on
the penny (the bent penny) you make it like your’re bending it but
your just moving your fingers back and forth. You ask the person to
hold out there hand and you drop the bent penny in their hand.

Note: you can also hold the bent penny so it looks like its not bent
just cover over one half of the penny with your finger.

-----------------
14. You Call This A Pack Of Cards?
-----------------
Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi)

Whilst I was in hospital recovering from my lung operation, I amused
myself by working a bit of sleight of hand magic. I have already
related the story of how I bewildered the nurses with my ‘fun and
games’. They were rather perplexed with the mystery of the
‘Reappearing Morphine Pills’; by law (Here in the U. K. at least, I
don’t know about other countries), they had to watch me gulp them
down with a glass of water - the pesky things kept popping out from
my ears etc!

One of the night doctors whose shift was from 11pm to around 10am,
asked me fairly early on in the piece if I could do card tricks. My
reply, as always, was an emphatic - ‘NO’! ‘If you want to watch card
‘Tricks’, watch ‘so and so’ (Naming a very well known U.K. magician
and No, I’m not going to say who), ‘however, if you would like to
see some ‘Card Magic’ I’m you’re man’!

Again, as always, I explained that I never carry my own pack (‘deck’
, if you are American) because if I were to show you some ‘things’
with my own cards, that appeared to be nothing short of ‘miraculous’
, you would immediately assume that I was using ‘Trick Cards’, the
sort that you can get in those Magic/Trick Shops. After all,
everybody has heard of ‘Marked’ cards, and everybody knows that
magicians can’t actually do ‘Real Magic’. But if you were to buy a
cheap, brand new pack of cards from a corner shop, or better still,
you brought your own, well used pack from home, and I performed
apparent ‘Miracles’ with those – you would perhaps suspect that an
‘Invisible Goblin’ sat on my shoulder, and that maybe, just maybe, I
was the ‘Real Thing’ – SCARY!

Taking me at my word, the doctor turned up at my bedside one morning
after he had finished his shift and handed me a pack of cards (I use
the term ‘pack of cards’ loosely, very loosely), saying that he had
brought them from his home - they belonged to his children. Going by
the state of them, I think he must have scrabbled under the kids’
beds (and I’ve seen what it is like under kids’ beds, I used to be
one myself, once), to gather them together. In my forty years of
travels, I have been handed packs of cards from hotel bars, private
homes etc., ranging from almost new to utterly disgusting. Many were
so soiled and grotty, most competent magicians run for their lives!

One of the worst packs I ever came across came from a local pub here
in Doncaster. They were more akin to a block of wood than playing
cards! I described them thus in the foreword of my Saga - ‘The New
Zealand Years’, Vol. 1: ‘…these cards have been handled by
generations of miners and farmers, playing Poker etc. Just to
shuffle the cards took enormous strength, as they were stuck
together with an accumulation of booze, grime, coal dust and God
knows what else…!’

The ‘pack of cards’ the doctor presented me with had to be on an
equal par, as far as handling capabilities were concerned except,
where the aforementioned resembled a block of wood, these
monstrosities were almost twice the thickness of a normal pack, made
from very cheap cardboard. The cardboard tube inside a toilet roll
is a luxury by comparison. They were so pliable it was impossible to
palm one or more, as they would just fold over and over on
themselves.

Not only that, but practically every card was splitting; trying to
do double/triple lifts were nigh on impossible and trying to shuffle
them, well…! Worse still, the doctor didn’t just turn up on his own,
oh no – he had a troop of other medical types in tow who encircled
the bed on three sides to, ‘See what this guy could do with a pack
of cards’. The other ‘Medical Types’, included the two surgeons who
had successfully performed my operation! I’m not going to describe
what ‘miracles’ I worked with those horrible bits of cardboard,
suffice to say, I managed to entertain my ‘audience’, and kept the
good name of Professional ‘Magic’ alive and kicking.

The state of the cards did allow me to perform what was to the
doctors and surgeons, a real miracle, as it was right up their ally.
There is an old stunt where you get someone to take the pulse on
your wrist, and then you slow the pulse down to a complete stop, and
then slowly restart it again. Even better when you can do it using
three doctors – one on each arm and the third monitoring your
heartbeat with his stethoscope. As far as they are concerned, you
are dead! What do I mean that the state of the cards allowed me to
work this medical miracle? Well, if you know how it’s done, the
softness and pliability of the playing cards made it easy to
surreptitiously roll up a few of them into balls, to place ‘you know
where’. If you don’t know, TOUGH! It’s an oldie but a goodie!

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15. 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)

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16. Subscription Management
-------------------
Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or
individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy.

To subscribe or unsubscribe from the 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
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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 2004 Alan Watson