* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #366 Date: Sunday 13th November 2005 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. Magicians In The News This Week 3. Mac Magic Ripped Off My Appearing Ladder 4. The Magic Of Scandinavia-FISM 5. "Close-Up Magician Of The Century" 6. Seeking Magicians With Diabetes For Print Ad 7. Losander & Jeff Ezell Teaming Up For Shows 8. Darwin Ortiz Lecture & Workshop 9. Consulting On The Opening Ceremony - Commonwealth Games 10. New Zealand "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2005 11. Magic in Tokyo 12. Adam Steinfeld MagicLive! Celebrates 1,000th show 13. The Amazing Orchante Saga 14. e-zine Archives 15. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice ------------------ 1. Editors Message ------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Just recently met up with Trixie Bond, professional magician from Texas who was on a long overdue holiday through New Zealand. Today James Dimmare arrived to tour with the World Festival of Magic as a support for Chuck Jones & Company. -------------------------------------- As an added extra Magic New Zealand will be publishing links to news items from around the world.  If you click on the URL and if it doesn't launch your browser just copy and paste the hyperlink into your browser and push Enter. Refer item 2. --------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ----------------- 2. Magicians In The News This Week ----------------- True tiger fan http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/peopleinthenews/s tory/350A5C9D54B5D7B7862570B20013C7AE?OpenDocument St. Louis Post-Dispatch - St. Louis, MO, USA Two years and one month after a tiger attack that nearly killed him, magician Roy Horn and his partner Siegfried Fischbacher were back onstage, but as patrons ... £1.7m injury payout for circus magician http://www.middletonguardian.co.uk/news/s/205/205737_17m_injury_payout_for_c ircus_magician.html Middleton Guardian - Middleton, England, UK A FORMER circus magician who was left almost totally paralysed after breaking her neck when she fell off a wall has won a £1.7 million payout. 6-year-old magician does 'live' act http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=8470 Daily News & Analysis - Mumbai, India ... magic. He's already a professional magician and is fighting a fatal disease with his will to live and his own hard-earned money. ... Penn & Teller return with first network TV special in 8 years http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-11-08-penn-teller-nbc_x.htm?POE=LIF ISVA USA Today - USA There's just one thing he cannot pull off, despite repeated attempts: Jillette can't stop baiting fellow magician David Copperfield. ... Merlina The Magician http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/living/13103088.htm Monterey County Herald - Monterey, CA, USA ... "You have to see them (the audience) from the magician's point of view. ... After the show, a little boy asked the teacher if he could touch the magician. ... Siegfried fights bodyguard lawsuit http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/siegfried%20fights%2 0bodyguard%20lawsuit Contactmusic.com - Burley in Wharfdale, Ilkley, UK LATEST: Acclaimed magician SIEGFRIED FISCHBACHER has dismissed a former bodyguard's lawsuit against him, claiming he over-medicated injured partner ROY HORN ... In Suffern, New Orleans magician gives back http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051110/NEWS03/511 100353/1019/NEWS03 The Journal News.com - Westchester, NY, USA SUFFERN -- The preschoolers sat rapt on the floor of Rockland Community College's Cultural Arts Center yesterday, as magician Elliot Gorton performed an array ... Magician, guitarist to entertain at the Lighthouse Saturday http://www.thefridayflyer.com/FF-2005-11-11/FFS-3218.htm Friday Flyer - Canyon Lake, CA, USA Guitarist Michael Brittian, whom Canyon Lakers will remember from his Friday night gigs, will be featured, as well as a world renowned magician. ... ----------------- 3. Mac Magic Ripped Off My Appearing Ladder ----------------- Message from Wayne Rogers (NZ) Open letter to Jim King When Mac Magic ripped off my Appearing Ladder from Briefcase and repackaged their cheap copy in a toolbox, I wrote to them and complained, but got nowhere. So, I thought it was only fair to write again and congratulate them when they came up with a new product. This was my letter. So far there has been no reply. ----------------- Jim, Congratulations on making an original appearing product. I have just seen the video of your Appearing Stool From Briefcase. It looks smooth and quiet. Well done. Could you now please consider discontinuing the rip-off of my Appearing Ladder. Your Appearing Ladder from Tool Box is a cheap copy of my original creation Ladder from Briefcase. Now that your team has shown they can come up with something new, surely you can concentrate on developing more products that have not been done before, and leave my inventions alone. Mac Magic is a well established company, and only does itself and the magic fraternity a disservice by copying other people's property. Keep up the good work on original magic. Sincerely, Wayne Rogers Chicane Enterprises Ltd New Zealand ph/fax +64 9 483 9641 chicane@nzmagic.com --------------------------------------------- 4. The Magic Of Scandinavia-FISM -------------------------------------------- Message from Don & Joyce Wiberg (US) The Magic of Scandinavia-A Post FISM Tour August 6-August 14, 2006 Join us for an exciting extension of the magic of FISM with the Magic of Scandinavia. Nelson's Scandinavia, a division of Nelson World Travel, Inc. and the Wibergs invites you to experience the other Scandinavian capitals, Oslo and Copenhagen as well as several other historical sites and the beautiful Scandinavian countryside after your week in Stockholm. Tour costs include round trip air transportation on Scandinavian Airlines from gateway cities, Chicago, Newark, and Seattle, first class hotel accommodation, with hearty Scandinavian breakfasts. We'll travel from Stockholm to Oslo by comfortable motor coach with an English speaking driver/guide. Then we'll cruise from Oslo to Copenhagen aboard a Seaways spectacular cruise liner with full Scandinavian smorgasbord, dancing, entertainment, a casino and breakfast. Our travels from Copenhagen back to Stockholm will be by motor coach. We'll celebrate one evening with a special event including a traditional Swedish buffet dinner and entertainment. City tours, castle tours and a visit to the Kon Tiki museum and Holmenkollen Ski Jump are included. We will depart from the U.S. on July 29th  and arrive in Stockholm on July 30th, one day prior to the beginning of FISM. The post FISM tour will commence on August 6, 2005 the day after the FISM convention is over and conclude on August 14, 2005 with our departure back to the U.S. Although the tour is being arranged primarily for those living in North America, the post tour of the Scandinavian Capitals after FISM is available. Contact us for further information. Don & JoyceWiberg Email: magicdon36@comcast.net 815-464-0414 --------------------------------------------- 5. "Close-Up Magician Of The Century" -------------------------------------------- Message from David Beckley Press Officer The Magic Circle  "Close-Up Magician Of The Century" Elstree Magician scoops top award at The Magic Circle Elstree based magician Nicholas Einhorn was voted 'The Magic Circle Centenary Magician' after scooping 1st prize at the exclusive society's first ever All Winners' Competition. The contest was open to all previous winners of their annual Close-up competition. The special competition was one of a number of events held this year to celebrate The Magic Circle's 100th anniversary. To win The Magic Circle's Close-up Magician of The Year is regarded by many to be the ultimate recognition as a performer. Nicholas Einhorn did not rest on his laurels, instead he entered again and won again! Now he has achieved the ultimate by winning the 'All Winners' competition. He has proved, beyond doubt, that he is right at the top of his profession as a brilliant and talented close-up entertainer. His winning act displayed sleight of hand skills with cards, which appeared from thin air, coins which moved on their own and holes which appeared and disappeared from various objects. The Judges (all well respected and highly successful magicians in their own right) were unanimous in their decision to award Nicholas 1st place and also awarded him an extra Originality Prize for the way in which a big hole magically appeared in his necktie at the end of the act. The combined prize money of £600 was also accompanied with an exclusive invite to join the world's elite close-up magicians at an event held in upstate New York every April. ----------------- Nicholas has won The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year twice in previous years (1996 & 2002) as well as being awarded 2nd place at The World Magic Championships (F.I.S.M) in 2003. As a member of The Inner Magic Circle, Nicholas is one of the busiest magicians in the UK, performing his own style of close-up magic and cabaret at a myriad of corporate events, private parties, trade shows exhibitions. He is also the author of 5 books on the art of magic that have collectively sold over 250,000 copies worldwide. During 2005 Nicholas has performed for many dignitaries and stars of stage and screen including HRH Duke of Edinburgh, Cherie Booth Blair and Cliff Richard and this year has amazed people in South Africa, Holland and Istanbul, next year bookings are already coming in for events in the USA and Australia. With an ever-growing list of TV credits to his name and appearances on both UK and Japanese TV 2006 could just be the most exciting year yet. For further information visit www.einhorn.co.uk --------------------------------------------- 6. Seeking Magicians With Diabetes For Print Ad -------------------------------------------- Message from Strickman-Ripps Inc. forwarded on by Scott Wells We are looking for interesting Men and Women who are about 45 years old or older who have Diabetes and who take the drug LANTUS to appear in a Print Advertisement. This is a Paid opportunity. If you know anyone who may be interested and who qualifies, they can contact us at Strickman-Ripps Casting at 212 966-3211 or they can email us with a recent photo, a little bit about themselves and their most recent A1C level at research@strickman-ripps.com. Thanks again for your help. Best, Kristen --------------------------------------------- 7. Losander & Jeff Ezell Teaming Up For Shows -------------------------------------------- Message from Jeff Ezell (US) I hope all is well on your end! Losander and I are putting on our first theatre show together since my move to Michigan. Here is a link to the show: http://www.northvillemarquistheatre.com/UpcomingEvents.htm It is on November 18th and 19th only. Starts at 8pm. --------------------------------------------- 8. Darwin Ortiz Lecture & Workshop -------------------------------------------- Message from Darlene F. Bull forwarded on by Sam Martin The Hardcore Lecture Group Presents: Darwin Ortiz Lecture & Workshop Exclusively @ Magic Inc. For more information contact: Magic Inc. 5082 N. Lincoln Chicago, IL. 773-334-2855 www.magicinc.net You are invited to what will be the BEST lecture you have attended all year!!! This will be Darwin's ONLY Chicago area appearance so. Buckle, Crimp, Pass, Muck.do whatever you have to do. but get to THIS lecture!!! Darwin Ortiz is one of the world's best cardmen. He is the author of Strong Magic, Cardsharks, At the Card Table and Gambling Scams, which has been widely hailed as the definitive work on crooked gambling methods. As an entertainer and expert consultant he has performed on every continent except Antarctica. Darwin has been a featured performer at magician's conventions in the United States, England, Portugal, Argentina, and Japan, and has lectured on sleight-of-hand before countless magician's groups in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, England and Scotland. He is listed in both Who's Who in Magic and The Encyclopaedia of Magic and Magicians. He has appeared on over seventy television and radio programs, including The CBS Morning Program, shows on NBC, HBO, CNN, CNBC, A&E, The USA Net work, The Learning Channel, and both America's Most Wanted and Britain's Most Wanted (as an expert on card cheating - not as a fugitive). He has also been featured on national TV in France and Argentina and BBC-TV in England. Darwin Ortiz Lecture: Saturday December 3, 2005 @ 2:30 p.m. Lecture Price: Hardcore Members - $25.00 Non-Members - $30.00 Darwin Ortiz Workshop: Sunday December 4, 2005 @ 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Workshop Price: $85.00 You must reserve you space in advance for this special workshop. To maximize your learning experience only a limited number of spaces will be made available. We suggest you sign up now! For more information contact: Magic Inc. 5082 N. Lincoln Chicago, IL. 773-334-2855 www.magicinc.net --------------------------------------------- 9. Consulting On The Opening Ceremony - Commonwealth Games -------------------------------------------- Message from Ross Skiffington Following my return from New Zealand where I received the Magic New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Award it is handsomely placed on the wall in the office here. Many thanks to those who posted such kind words. I also have to say that I really enjoyed the Magic Day and thought that it was one of the friendliest gatherings I have attended in years. Congratulations to all involved with the organisation. I am also pleased to inform you that I am off to Sydney to be magic consultant for The Sydney Theatre Company. They are producing "The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekhov. Written in 1900 one of the characters, a governess, does "conjuring" so I have been invited to coach the actor and devise some magic sequences. I have consulted on this play several times now over the years. Indeed I was in one production as an actor! I have always enjoyed working with actors as they learn quickly and understand immediately the concept of mis-direction. Every actor playing the governess has enjoyed the challenge of learning some magic and the whole cast always liked the secrecy element. I am looking forward to it. Talking of secrecy, I can't say anything except I that I am consulting on the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. The Games will take place when I am away on tour with The Bell Shakespeare Company so I will look forward to seeing it on TV in England. ----------------- 10. New Zealand "World Festival Of Magic" Tour 2005 ----------------- Message from Gene McCarthy (NZ) Sunday 20th November Taupo 4:30pm & 7:30pm Great Lake Centre Monday 21st November Napier 5:00pm & 7:30pm Napier Municipal Theatre Tuesday 22nd November Gisborne 5:00pm & 7:30pm War Memorial Theatre Wednesday 23rd November Rotorua 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:30pm Rotorua Sound Shell Thursday 24th November Tauranga 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm Bay Court Theatre Friday 25th November Travel to Auckland Saturday 26th November Auckland 11:00pm - 2:00pm & 5:00pm Sunday 27th November Auckland 11:00pm - 2:00pm & 5:00pm Logan Campbell Centre Monday 28th November Whangarei 5:00pm & 7:30pm Tuesday 29th November Hamilton 5:00pm & 7:30pm YMCA Leisure Centre Wednesday 30th November New Plymouth 5:00pm & 7:30pm TSB Show Place Thursday 01st December Wanganui 5:00pm & 7:30pm Wanganui Collegiate High School (Prince Edward Auditorium) Friday 2nd December Day off Saturday 3rd December Wellington 1:30pm - 4:30pm Queens Wharf Events Centre Sunday 4th December Palmerston Nth 1:30pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm College of Education Monday 5th December Day off Tuesday 6th December Day off Wednesday 7th December Nelson 7:00pm Trafalgar Centre Thursday 8th December Christchurch 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:00pm Friday 9th December Christchurch 1:00pm - 4:00pm Theatre Royal Saturday 10th December Day off Sunday 11th December Timaru 5:30pm Theatre Royal Monday 12th December Dunedin 2:30pm & 7:00pm Regent Theatre Tuesday 13th December Invercargill 5:00pm & 7:30pm Stadium Southland --------------------------------------------- 11. Magic in Tokyo -------------------------------------------- Message from Tashiro Shigeru (Japan) A website written about Japanese the magic scene... http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/scene/20051029TDY13002.htm This is the one of the major English newspapers in Japan. I produce a close up 2-day-convention in Tokyo, JAPAN in March 18(Sat.) and 19(Sun.), 2006, named JAPAN CUP. Actually Japan Cup is the one of the biggest close-up conventions in Asia since 2002. There will be international and close up contest, a gala show, lectures, Magic Circle Japan, and party. --------------------------------------------- 12. Adam Steinfeld MagicLive! Celebrates 1,000th show -------------------------------------------- Message from Adam Steinfeld Cast & Crew of Adam Steinfeld MagicLive! celebrates 1,000th show on the Island of Aruba. What started out as a 6 week booking is now one of the most successful Grand Illusions, Magic, Comedy shows on this or any other planet in the Universe! It's a tremendous accomplishment, however, I couldn't have done it without my professional team of backstage crew & dancers that make the magic happen every night. It looks easy, said Steinfeld; "but what you actually see on stage is a tip of the iceberg, a lovely girl floats to the top of  theater, disappears/reappears, sliced in two clear sepArate sections... expect lots of new surprises in the upcoming shows, including many original never before seen illusions, designed by Mark Parker of 4-effect (www.4-effect.com). This is not your grandfathers magic show, I don't stuff birds up my sleeve, and there are no tigers in my show! Adam Steinfeld MagicLive! show is known not just in Aruba, but around the world. If visiting Aruba take a few moments to suspend your disbelief and visit the Adam Steinfeld MagicLive! show; 9PM Nightly Mon.-Wed.-Thurs.-Fri.-Sat., at the Alhambra Casino, Aladdin theater. Families welcome in theater, and enter through the Divi Shopping Bazaar, next to Alhambra Casino. ----------------- 13. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 75 World Records, Cartoons, and a Minister of Finance! It all started when (the late) Lew Pryme, pop singer, television personality, M.C. and the proprietor of 'Fullers Entertainment Bureau' put a family show together, touring the holiday beach resorts over the 1970/71 Christmas/New Year period. He called it 'Carnival Capers' and the artists featured were, 'Crunchy', New Zealand's famous television clown, with Sally-Anne (Crunchy was actually Peter Newberry; Sally Anne was Sally Phillips, Peters assistant.). Then there Lew Pryme himself and, yours truly! 12 months previously I had set a new world record - sleeping on my bed of nails for two hours and nine minutes, but it didn't stand for long - it was beaten by a Scotsman only six weeks later. I decided to have another 'crack' at it! I arranged my new attempt outside a major supermarket at Mount Maunganui for Tuesday 29th December 1970 (we were already at the 'Mount' for a short season with 'Carnival Capers'). There were several reviews - but the one from the Auckland based 'New Zealand Herald', which was written up the day after my successful record attempt, is the report which is relevant to this particular episode in my life. The New Zealand Herald, (Wednesday 30th December) headed its review with - "records new mark after lying on bed of nails; An Auckland entertainer Orchanté, has regained his lying -on-a -bed-of-nails world championship. Resting quietly on a bed of five-inch nails yesterday, he broke by three minutes, the mark set earlier this year in England. Originally planning to lie on the nails for three hours, Orchanté was forced to give up the attempt after two hours and 20 minutes when he suffered cramp in his back. Mr Lew Pryme, of Auckland, The organiser of the Mt.Maunganui 5000 Club, said that the only training Orchanté had done for the bid was that he had been in Rotorua performing on Monday night and had not got to bed until 3a.m yesterday! Refusing breakfast, Orchanté drank only cups of coffee and when the attempt was over, a jug of beer awaited him at the local hotel. Crowds clustered around the bed during the attempt, fingering the nails to prove that they really were sharp!" The following morning (Thursday the31st), the New Zealand Herald's cartoonist- 'Minhinnick', drew a cartoon (I bought the original!) depicting (the late Sir Robert Muldoon) Mr Muldoon, the then Minister of Finance, in bathing trunks, lying on a bed of nails labelled, "spending pressures". The caption quoted Mr Muldoon, on holiday at Orewa, as saying: "I just get here and sit. Sometimes I cut the grass. For me that as a holiday." This is followed by another caption which reads, "Auckland entertainer breaks record for lying on a bed of nails" - News. As luck would have it, a few days later (Tuesday January the 5th 1971), I was at the 'Puriri Motor Camp' at Orewa. I had been booked some time earlier by the proprietor, Johnny Maire, who just happened to be a personal friend of- Robert Muldoon! Don't you just love it when, for a change, 'fate' decides to deal you a 'winning hand'! What happened next is best described by quoting the caption underneath the large photograph and write-up that appeared on the Front Page of the New Zealand Herald the following morning. (Wednesday, January 6th, 1971- section one) The caption reads -"Mr Muldoon, standing on a board studded underneath with nails while the entertainer Orchanté, lies on a similar bed of nails at a performance at the Puriri Motor Camp, Orewa, last night. Mr Muldoon is assisted by Karina, Orchanté s assistant. The review (slightly edited) reads as follows -"The entertainer Orchanté lay prostrate on a bed of five-inch nails, and standing on his chest was the Minister of Finance, Mr Muldoon. The children watching the spectacle were fascinated and horrified. They writhed in deck chairs or buried their faces in mum's dress. Fathers also, squirmed in sympathetic agony. Five seconds. . . 10 seconds. Mr Muldoon looked down from his wobbly perch at the prostrate entertainer. His Face was like a neon sign. Smiles flashed and vanished as forced pleasure was overcome by concern. CONTINUES NEXT WEEK ---------------- 14. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives ------------------ Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/fezine.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) ------------------- 15. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice ------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand® E-zine at www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html. Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday. The opinions expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson 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 they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed therein. Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted. Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e-zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 2005 Alan Watson