* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #477 Date: Sunday 18th February 2007 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. Academy Of Magical Arts Awards 3. The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician Of The Year Competition 4. Today's Comparative Prices On Magic Illusions 5. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 48 - Nick Lewin 6. Children's Magic: A Fun Simple Prop! - Kyle Peron 7. Martin Breese Would Like To Apologise 8. Broken Wand - John Miller 9. Broken Wand - Howard Molyneux (Kemter) Flint 10. Bob Sheets And Michael Close On The LVMI Convention 11. R.G. Smith's 20th Annual Comedy & Magic Spectacular 12. Winter Carnival Of Magic 13. M.A.E.S. Comest To Trevose, PA 14. Bill Bixby ~~ The Magician 15. John Taylor And Company Are Off To Europe! 16. Auckland International Buskers Festival 2007 17. A Copy Of "Spirit Messages" By George Marquis 18. The Amazing Orchante Saga 19. e-zine Archives 20. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Congratulation to Maria Ibáńez, President Elect of the Society of American Magicians President Elect for being this year's recipient of the "In The company of Women Award" Below is the criteria for the award which will be presented on March 7th at the Vizcaya Palace. · Professional Development: Women who have achieved professional success or industry recognition. · Community Responsibility: Women who give back to the community through social, educational, economic, civic or cultural involvement. · Leadership and Vision: Women who are proven leaders through their ability to motivate people, have exceptional communications skills, and demonstrate an innovative spirit. · Contribution to Women's Progress: Women who project a positive role model and are advocates of women's issues. · Promotion of Pluralism: Women who encourage pluralistic programs in the community and who encourage communication among the diverse ethnic/cultural groups. · Pioneers: The Pioneer award honors women who, in addition to the criteria, have played a significant role in paving the way for women in new areas. ----------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Academy Of Magical Arts Awards -------------------------------------------- Message from Mike Miller I would like to congratulate John Cassidy, Denny Haney and Chris Capehart for being nominated for the Magic Castle's Academy of Magical Arts awards in 3 different categories, John Cassidy for Comedy Magician, Denny Haney for Stage Magician and Chris Capehart for Parlour Magician. All three are first time nominees from the east coast and they all deserve to be there. Comedy Magician Ed Alonzo Stephen Bargatze Rich Bloch John Cassidy Mike Caveney Dana Daniels Doc Eason Fitzgerald Flicking Fingers Gazzo Bruce Gold Chris Mitchell Tom Ogden David Regal Romany Larry Wilson Rob Zabrecky Congratulations Mike Miller -------------------------------------------- 3. The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician Of The Year Competition -------------------------------------------- Message from David Beckley Press Officer of The Magic Circle Spencer Wood from Rochester wins The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of the Year Competition Last night at the magnificent Magic Circle headquarters in London, Spencer Wood, a young magician from Rochester in Kent, beat all comers to win the prestigious title of The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of the year. Spencer's act was described as pure entertainment by one of the judges. He produced a glass of liquid from thin air and then dazzled his audience with a delightful display of clever card magic finishing with the penetration of a glass bottle through a table. His routines were all 'classics of magic' but performed in his own unique style which made him the judges' favorite. Runner up was Martyn Roland from London, who also won the prize for originality He performed a highly unusual routine, based on an electronic 'Lie Detector', with a brilliant novel way of revealing the chosen card at the finale. Third was Mark Shortland from Northampton who impressed the judges with his excellent display of card control. -------------------------------------------- 4. Today's Comparative Prices On Magic Illusions -------------------------------------------- Message from Walter Blaney (US) Today's comparative prices on magic illusions and performance fees. Dear fellow magic builder friends and fellow magic performers: For years I have been trying to find a chart to see how much a certain priced magic item or act fee of years ago should cost today, in today's dollars in the USA after inflation. Voila, I have found a table that will tell you. If you don't already know how to compute this, here is where to find the simple table: First Google Computer Price Index. The third listing down is Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis-Consumer Price Index. Open it and you will see Computer Price Index Calculator. Fill in any year and a dollar amount, click and you will see what that amount is today (or in any year). It's exactly what I wanted for many years. As an example, I filled in the year 1986, the year I first began selling my Ladder Levitation, at a price of $6000. Today the same amount would be $11,250. So my current price of $11,000 is less than it was in 1986. I'll have to raise the price another $250 just so it's the same amount as it was when I started selling them. The calculator looks like this: If in (fill in year) I bought goods or services for $ (fill in amount) then in (fill in year) the same goods or services would cost $..... It can't be any simpler that that. Knowing where to look for information like this is the hardest part sometimes. I'm glad I found it, and I thought it might be useful to you as well. I occasionally have a customer say, "Wow, you've really raised your price!" This way you can show him what the old price is in today's dollars, whether it's the magic props you build, or your performance fee. I hope this may be helpful. Cheers from Texas, Walter Walter Blaney -------------------------------------------- 5. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 48 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) David Copperfield and a genuine treat. Last year I got to see a very different side to David Copperfield. Nobody in the magic world is unaware of what a giant David is to magicians and lay audiences alike. I enjoyed a chance to see what a unique person he is and how his personal charm and attention to detail are not limited to his onstage persona. I am one of those 'die hard' Bob Dylan fans who line up to buy bootleg CDs of him coughing or ordering pizza from Dominos. To my delight he was playing in my hometown of Las Vegas and I was lucky enough to get an invitation from a journalist friend to attend the concert with him. On the afternoon before the concert my friend Mike phoned up and said that David Copperfield had invited him to a special tour of his warehouse and museum. "Would you like to go?" he asked me. Needless to say I replied in the affirmative. This was shaping up to be an evening I would never forget. After getting the all clear for me to be included on the visit all I had to do was enjoy a very special evening. It turned out to be better than I could have ever imagined. For starters Dylan was on fine form and gave a sensational performance that evening. After the concert we drove over to the location of David's HQ at midnight to start our tour. Well, I'm not going to give away any of the great surprises that are part and parcel of the tour that David gives of that amazing building. Sufficient to say it was a treat from the moment we arrived till the time we left. The museum itself was without question the most exciting place I've seen. There were books and props that I had only heard about. It was an amazing experience for anybody. To a magician it was a once in a lifetime treat. David had performed two shows that night at the MGM Grand and yet he gave the tour with the genuine enthusiasm that brought every phase of it to life. I was well aware that he had just suffered a huge personal loss in his family and I felt rather guilty about him taking up so much of his time and energy guiding us around his private kingdom. However there was never a sign of anything but his love of magic and all things magical. His manner was so open and genuine that he made an incredible impression on me. I even got to make a little donation to the museum. In my possession was one rather special prop; the broomstick harness that Orson Welles had made for Rita Hayworth for their USO tour. Welles also used the harness for an appearance on the 'I Love Lucy' show. Looking at the care and attention lavished on David's collection I felt rather guilty about having this very special prop sitting in a duffle bag in my cluttered garage. On the spot I made a decision and offered it to David for his collection. He was delighted and accepted my offer eagerly: probably wondering why a non-collector like me would have such a unique prop. A month or so later my daughter Natasha and I visited David after a show at the MGM and I gave him the harness. I was delighted to think that this fine and historic prop was going to have a new home where it would be truly appreciated. Please send any bricks or bouquets to nicklewin@earthlink.net -------------------------------------------- 6. Children's Magic: A Fun Simple Prop! - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message from By Kyle Peron (US) E-Mail: Magic4u02@aol.com I thought I would share an interesting and simple prop I use at my shows that is really not magical in nature at all but serves several purposes. I was talking to a friend about it the other day and thought I would share it with you all. It is interesting to note that when doing children's magic, it is often the journey you take people on that is often times more fun for the audience then the main effect itself. This tends to be the nature of kid show performances. Kids want to have fun and the journey you take them on should be as much fun if not more fun then the main trick itself. With this in mind, I love the use of funny props or comedy props used in the course of the show that really have nothing to do with magic but are used to make the journey and experience a fun one for all who are watching, both kids and adults. If we are there to entertain, then we do not always have to spend 100% of our time entertaining with just magic alone. There are also times in a kid show performance where you know people are going to do certain things. This can't be any truer then when performing for a birthday party. You just know from the nature of a birthday party performance that certain things will happen in the course of the show by the adults or parents. These are often things you cannot control and are not in nature wrong by any means but can slow down the performance. One of these situations that happen for me all the time is when people want to take photos during the performance. When little Joey is up on stage, mom and dad are inclined to want to snap photos left and right. This really does not bother me at all because I am there to make Joey and his parent's day the most magical possible while solving the problems they hired me for. I started thinking that there must be a way in which when this happens, I can be prepared so that I can add humor to this moment and not cause the show to slow down the pace. I wanted to devise a way in which the situation was prepared for by me in some fun manner. When parents did take photos during the show, the problem for me became that the shots and flash would go off leading to a kind of bad photo because the parent has no idea when to snap a good shot. This happens simply because they do not know the show or what I am going to do next. I tried to figure out a fun way to give them a cue to take a good shot but have it play for laughs and be entertaining to the show format itself. The solution was a simple clapper board used in movies. I got mine at a novelty store for a few bucks. You can probably find them most anywhere if you keep your eyes open. Now I place my stage name on the board and my website URL. I keep this behind my table at all times and I am ready to go. This can be used in several ways. If you see someone about to take a shot, you can scream, "WAIT!!!!!" then run back get the clapper board, pose and get the laugh and a decent shot at the same time. The other way is if the parent does not know when a good shot might be there for the b-day party child. This is when you can cue them and take out the board, pose and say, "Kodak Moment Take One!" In both ways it gets a laugh but serves a purpose. Now I have created comedy in the show and the show still flows even when a situation like this comes up. It not only helps the parents, but it shows how much of a professional I am that I have thought of something for the situation when it occurs. Also, the beauty of having your name and URL on the board is that now every single photo that is taken is branded with your information. You know they will show the picture around long after you leave. This is effective marketing done in a fun manner. Long after you are gone, the photo on the fridge will be marketing you and anyone they show the photo to. It is a fun little prop that I have had a lot of fun with and hope you all may as well. Enjoy. As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to hear from you. Kyle Peron Magician and Illusionist Graphic Designer and Illustrator (Specializing in Logo creation) www.kyleandkellymagic.com -------------------------------------------- 7. Martin Breese Would Like To Apologise -------------------------------------------- Message from Martin Breese (UK) I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to a handful of magicians who have recently purchased my Horwitz Add a Number Pad and instructions and found that they had been sent the right instructions but a Horwitz Wallet instead of the Horwitz Add a Number Pad. I won't go into details but the problem and mix up was all my fault and certainly not the fault of Hocus Pocus Magic or Magic City - the latter have been distributing my products for something like 30 years. Only a handful of people have been affected but to make up for the mistake we will be sending them the right prop and, with this, the instructions also for the Horwitz Wallet which I would like them to keep with my best wishes. The idea being that the purchasers will now end up with a Horwitz Wallet and the instruction book worth $90 absolutely free of charge and they will also, of course, end up with Add a Number Pad and its instructions as well as that is what they wanted in the first place. -------------------------------------------- 8. Broken Wand - John Miller -------------------------------------------- Message from Fr. Photius Bouton Chaplain, Invisible Lodge I was just notified by the Dallas Magic Clubs mailing list that our International President of the Invisible Lodge, Br. John Miller has died. I don't know how to contact Bro. Foerester in Corpus, and do not know if he is aware of this yet. ----------------- 9. Broken Wand - Howard Molyneux (Kemter) Flint ----------------- Message from Bob Durante Howard Flint has passed away. He was a great magician who emceed many of Tannens magic conventions, toured around the country and was the main close up guy in the mid west for many years. When you walk into Abbot's his poster is the first one you see surrounded by a flock of penguins and Howard in his tux as the main bird in the middle. Howard Molyneux Flint (Kemter) left his earthly stage at 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 February, 2007. He lived for the love and "majik of my life": Veronica; the joy of his life: his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and wonderful friends; and the passion of his life: his magic. ---------------------------------- Message from Charlie Fenn It is with much regret that I report the passing of Howard Flint, a friend of 40 years, magic inventor, true magic genius, personal student of Dai Vernon, close friends with Harry Blackstone, Jr., Harry Anderson, Paul Diamond, Don Alan, Bev Bergeron, Ali Bongo, Tom Mullica, Abb Dixon and countless others. Howard invented the Bowling Ball from Briefcase and countless other items. He Was my "in house" magician at my restaurant and magic bar in Florida and was in residence for over two years, His card stab, which most of you have seen is the best presentation of that effect ever done. The Clue Game Prediction I now manufacture is from Howard's original manuscript. He was ill for years and on dialysis three times a week, but still performed from his wheel chair. A great loss personally and to magic. Howard left the stage at 12:20pm EST on Wednesday Feb. 7, 2007. -------------------------------------------- 10. Bob Sheets And Michael Close On The LVMI Convention -------------------------------------------- Message from Danny Archer (US) "The LVMI Convention is a great little gathering. Danny and Robert always line up a terrific roster of talent, and the Las Vegas regulars always drop by to hang out. Because this is a smaller convention you really get the opportunity to have 'face time' with the talent. I have enjoyed all the LVMI Conventions and I look forward to them each year." Michael Close LVMI was a great convention and the organizers unique approach was that they really care about the attendees. They will do what ever it takes to make this work for you. The size of the convention makes it a great "hang". I attended their other convention and I found these guys really go all out. Keep up the good work. Bob Sheets ================ We are pleased to present another 3 days of incredible cutting edge magic, lectures and shows. The fun and magical mayhem never stops, in the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas! The seventh annual West Coast close-up convention will showcase the very best Close-Up and Cabaret Magic you'll see at any convention anywhere! In addition to the booked talent, LVMI always draws a who's who of top name talent hangin' and jammin' all night long. Lecture Talent Jason England, Jon Armstrong, Jeff McBride, Wayne Dobson (From the UK), Gaston Quieto (From Dubai), and Gregory Wilson! Just found out that Daniel Garcia will be making the scene as well. Details can be found at lvmi.net Hope to see you all in Las Vegas! Danny Archer -------------------------------------------- 11. R.G. Smith's 20th Annual Comedy & Magic Spectacular -------------------------------------------- Message from RG Smith R.G. Smith's 20th Annual Comedy & Magic Spectacular is set for: March 10th-East High School, West Chester, PA 7PM March 16th-Maryland Theatre,Hagerstown, MD 7PM March 17th-Capitol Theatre, Chambersburg, PA 2:30 & 7PM April 21-Scottish Rite Cathedral, Harrisburg, PA 7PM April 27-Eichelberger Center, Hanover, PA 7PM April 28-Lampeter/Strasburg High Arts Center, Lancaster, PA 7PM Featured on this landmark show: Germany's Antje Pode Magic Comedian Ron Geoffries Interactive Media Magician Tony Chapek Creative Illusionist Jay Sterling Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger MC & Producer R.G. Smith Tickets available at each venue. -------------------------------------------- 12. Winter Carnival Of Magic -------------------------------------------- Message from Mike Stratman (US) I.B.M. Ring 58 of Knoxville, TN is gearing up for its 33rd Annual Winter Carnival of Magic, March 1-3, 2007. The location will be in Pigeon Forge, TN at the beautiful Country Tonight Theater. We have another outstanding lineup for this year featuring: Dan Stapleton, Shoot Ogawa, Jay Mattiol, Joshua Jay, Andy Dallas, John Carney, Craig Dickson, Boris Wild, Tom Vorjohan and Daniel Herron, Steve Bargatze, Michael Platt, and Kohl & Co. Add in Six lectures, 2 evening stage shows, a close up show, plus a stage and close up contest along with a fine array of Dealers. We are also planning a surprise event that you will not want to miss. All of this for just $95. Did I mention we will have 2 very special workshops for an additional fee? Shoot Ogawa will be doing one of these workshops, including the Ninja Rings, which you will get to keep. Debbie Deputy will be doing a face painting workshop offering tips on how to make extra dollars in this lucrative field. Call now for registration including reserved seating. Country Tonight Theater, 1-800-792-4308 Looking forward to seeing you there. -------------------------------------------- 13. M.A.E.S. Comest To Trevose, PA -------------------------------------------- Message from Phil Milstead (US) I just wanted to add to Bill Ragsdale's post. The Magicians' Alliance of the Eastern States' (www.maesonline.org) 2007 convention is just barely out of the city limits of Philadelphia. The listing of entertainers Bill provided is only partial. The Thursday night show will be an all-Canadian show with Richard Sanders and Alain Choquette. This is the place to spend your autumn 2007 magic budget! MAES is a friendly, laid-back convention that is loved by all who attend, including the performers. The lectures are great, the performers are great, the youth participation is great, and everybody is glad to see you again, even if it really is the first time! It has been this way since the 1938 founding of the Alliance. This "secret" of magic is finally being revealed to broader audiences. Hope to see you there! I also hope to see you at the S.A.M. convention in Dallas this July! -------------------------------------------- 14. Bill Bixby ~~ The Magician -------------------------------------------- Message from Sandy Singer (US) TV Guide Cover Portraits. Large, full color "Eastman Dye Transfer" Print. Every week TV Guide would do a new issue with a NEW cover. VERY LIMITED production, and limited release. NOT available to the general public. RARELY seen on the market, if ever. All official estimates, is that these early ones were produced in quantities of LESS than 80 each! Color dye transfers are very high quality, true to life, bright, brilliant colors. An expensive process. These are QUITE large. Overall, matted dimensions are approx. 16" by 20". The actual picture itself is a bit bigger than the 11" by 13" that displays. If you collect this person, you would be hard pressed to find a more attractive or SCARCER item! Would be a fantastic piece to display with an original autograph! In the lower left, is printed TV Guide cover portrait. This is not an add on, but is actually as issued. GREAT display piece. The picture is minty, the mat board has minor age soiling. $160 -- Includes Packing And Shipping By Ups Sandy Singer SinatraDJ@juno.com -------------------------------------------- 15. John Taylor And Company Are Off To Europe! -------------------------------------------- Message from Mark Loyd -Personal Manager for John Taylor John Taylor & Cherry have just completed their final performance of "Spellbound" on Feb 11 at the Reef Hotel Casino, Australia. After just 3 months, Johns show proved to be another huge hit and was extended another 3 months due to popular demand. The Reef Casino General Manager Mr Tan called the show "the Jewel in the Casino's crown and his favorite show!" "Spellbound" - 2006/2007 was John's 3rd season at the Reef Casino, the first being "Firefly Magic" -1997 and "Mysterium" - 1999. John Taylor has completed more shows at the Reef Hotel Casino then any other Magician! Management has already asked for John to come back again for a 1 year contract when he's available to return! The show was very popular with the locals and the Japanese tourists alike and although the room is intimate, John managed to work the room like no other act, his comedy is very funny and his original illusions are just amazing, his ability to speak different languages when required was also a huge plus in the show! Before Christmas two of the biggest show producers in the world based in London heard about and watched John's show on a Wednesday night unbeknownst to John, after the show they offered John Taylor & Co a 7 month contact cruising around all of Northern Europe and the Mediterranean! So on Feb 24, John will travel to London with his Principal Magic Assistant Cherry for rehearsal and then head over to Italy to jump onboard the ship. John Taylor will be headlining his own production show with 7 other dancers from Australia and London. It just goes to show why you've gotta give it 110% every show because you never know who's going to be in the audience. -------------------------------------------- 16. Auckland International Buskers Festival 2007 -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Nickolas "Twenty One, Twenty Two, Twenty Three, and one for luck" was the final cry as birthday boy Scoot was lowered to the ground and more drinks were drunk during a Buskers lock in after the Monday night show at O'Hagens. This years Busker Festival was more than a success. We had 4 packed night shows and over 80 Street Shows around Auckland, including 2 nights at the Classic comedy Club. The Cast this year included Site Acts - The Space Cowboy (AUS) www.thespacecowboy.com.au - Gary Knights (UK) ) - Scoot Show (AUS ) - Brant Matthew's (Canada) - Arizona Jones (USA) www.arizonajones.net - Basketball Jones (NZ) www.basketballjones.co.nz - Tony Roberts (AUS) - English Gentleman (UK) www.ullart.com - Andrew Elliot (AUS) www.eastindianmagic.net - Lurk ! (USA) www.antigravitytheatre.com - Oz Star Airlines (Aus) MC - Nick Nickolas (UK) www.nicknickolas.com Pavement Artists - Ulla (AUS) ) www.ullart.com) - Debbie (UK) Special Guests -Shelley Swttzer- Canadian Festival Producer -Mackenzie Mulddon-Canadian Festival Producer -Captain Keaneo- 5 Star veteran Street Performer Crackerjack Team -Pam Glaser -Emily -Clare I arrived with Ulla the evening before, we met Andrew Elliot and Captain Keaneo at Auckland Airport and shared a Taxi to the digs, sipping Captain Morgans and Coke. The Columbard Hotel we have used the last 2 years has been taken over by a motel chain Formula I and they have 10 staff trying to do a 2 man job, with what seems like no training. After gentle persuasion we took the path of the least resistance and paid 'em a few bob for the extra night and checked in. Same as last year bed, cooker, TV, stereo, shower, washing machine all compacted into 20sq meters, but this year the washing machine didn't work, nor did the phone and you were required to pay a $40 deposit and $15 fee for cutlery, pots, pans etc. The first night started with a few drinks in Shelley's room, then food and more drinks at a restaurant at the Viaduct Harbour. It finished for me with Keaneo and Andrew in a room 8 floors up finishing Captain Morgans and seriously denting a bottle of Grants, fun and frolics finishing I retired at 5ish I think. Night one at the Classic Comedy Club showcased, Tony Roberts, Andrew Elliot, English Gents, Basketball Jones and Brant Matthews. The venue was 3/4 full, we rocked the room, people stayed for drinks, photographs were taken, some autographs were signed and liquid consumed. I felt like a cat with a molten fur ball on the way home, Captain Morgan was seriously repeating (personal note stay away from Rum). The rest of the cast played the Classic on night two, slightly smaller crowd but the room rocked again especially when The Space Cowboy swallowed a neon tube. Street Shows took place at the usual pitches Aotea Square, Vulcan Lane, Westfield Downtown, Princess Wharf, Viaduct Harbour and O'Hagans Market Square with pavement artists outside BNZ Tower and the Ferry Building. The BNZ Tower is Queen Street Auckland's oldest pavement art pitch (as far as I know). It has to the side of it a jewellers whose boss hates any sort of pavement artists (why is it always the jewellers and the fur shops?). I found Ulla nearly in tears after the jewel man had stood over her and let forth a barrage of verbal negativity and finger shaking, Keaneo was sitting close by taking notes, the building manager came down apologised and was furious wanting to take action against him for verbal assault. After 5 hours of work Ulla decided to call it a day. The next morning I get a call from Pam saying she is having a meeting with the building manager at 10am. Arriving at around 11am I find Ulla and Pam standing on as the wishing well fish pond is being hosed away. Apparently part of the picture (12inches) was on private land not council oh bureaucracy and bigots. It was a large hiccup but Ulla battled on, starting again a few feet over and went on to have a successful festival. The spineless jewellery man went on holiday! My job was to mc the 4 night shows and keep the crew happy, I'd wake up around 2pm have coffee and go and check on the acts, not straying too far from the hotel I'd pop up to Aotea Square a fantastic pitch especially on Friday and Saturday market days. Tony Roberts was there Saturday Afternoon, Tony's a cook turned car salesman, turned comedian, turned magician, turned street performer. He certainly turned some heads bound in 2 tennis rackets, handcuffs, electrical tape, padlocks and chains. A curtain was put up to his chin and dropped after 2 minutes. Tonys left standing hands in pockets an escape Houdini would have been proud of. I'd pop in and see Ulla and her fish pond then go across the road to Vulcan Lane, arguably Auckland's oldest pitch. Martin Ewen? Lurk!? played it 20yrs ago, So I thought I'd schedule him to be on first and last. 10ft tall, whitefaced, and a bag of cynical bitterness. Lurk hides round corners waiting for his comedic prey. When the crowd has hit maximum he may wander into the streets and clean a windscreen or line some kids up for a car wash. ?20 years ago they tried to stop me now people are waiting with programmes to see me. Who would have believed it?? Martin Exclaimed. Gary Knights also worked Vulcan Lane, as it's a perfect Street Magician's pitch. Gary the maker of the Animal Cups has immigrated to Auckland he has a pavement artist wife Debbie who worked the pitch outside the ferry terminal and a daughter called Auckland (really). He performs blinding sleight of hand finishing with the cups and balls all the while chatting about how the world is against him? I'm half bipolar? he says? I'm always depressed? Very funny. Oh yeh so after getting up at 2 wandering a bit I'd find myself at Westfield Downtown Canapé, the entrance to the shopping mall. Two coffee shops on either side, steps in front and a glass roof, the crowd would come in waves when the traffic lights changed. Saw some packed shows there, Basketball Jones is a cheeky Kiwi of Maori descent who has been doing it hard round the traps for a few years. It shows. Basketball juggling and balancing tricks finishing on a high unicycle dunking baskets, the crowd loved him. I'd pop back to room 807 around 5ish chill out have a shower and think about the evening show. Dressed and on my way down to the O'Hagens market sq outside Danny Doolans I see Arizona Jones on his pole cracking whips crowd blocking the path way. I must admit I do prefer his straight jacket escape show which rocked on Monday night. Our sound man each night was Bob a young Gerry Garcia look-alike, Main contact in the Bar was Tommy a top chipper Irishman. I'd get there about 6.30 check sound, lights, hospitality, etc. Write 2 run sheets, one taped to the pole and the other on the sound board. As the people were filtering in we had 15yr old Josh a sax virtuoso banging out some beats. Lurk then kicked in and warmed them some more. I'd come out and do 15/20mins announcing the show was open by tying a bow tie round my neck while balancing a machete on my face reciting the alphabet backwards. Andrew Elliot opened a couple of nights, an act which starts by him tying a turban, then performs audience interaction involving a womans' ring and a cobra climaxing with a sword swallow. The whole thing has you believing he's the real deal from Delhi until the end, great show. One of our closing acts was always going to be The English Gentlemen. Two strapping young chaps decked out in suits and bowler hats perform the most amazing acrobatics. Only to strip down to their Union Jack jocks to reveal all, bodies like waxed statues. The characters of monkey boy Rupert and Pendaville are great, but the one hand handstand on the head with a fold up is out of this world. We also had a girl duo Oz Star Airlines Stacey and Tracey, high energy, hula hoops, acrobatics and juggling combined with great costumes and shoes. These Aussie chicks made me laugh every time. I think they closed the final night show. My mind was a bit of a blur by then, the past 6 nights finishing work in a bar at 11pm. I must say the bar staff hospitality was amazing especially on Scoots birthday. I remember Space Cowboy in the middle of a group bending the venues spoons and forks by body heat. They were believers, well why not he's just been in front of 1500 people doing double whip cracks, swallowing a sword and juggling on a unicycle blindfolded, definite festival highlight. Scoot bought new clothes for his birthday, and looked well smart in the show. I introduced the birthday boy, he came out we passed 7 clubs and then did the knockout from the mouth with celery in her mouth, two hits didn't fall, mmmm next time use breadstick. He then climbed the 11ft freestanding ladder, juggled, ate the apple, just after juggling 5 clubs. Later on that night after Brant Matthews, a charming Canadian from Montreal with a ringmasters costume. flipped fire, ate fire, blew fire and had the audience totally with him crying? Oooh yeah!? I got up and had the crowd of 1500+ singing happy birthday to Scoot, a cake was brought out by the crackerjack girls and candles extinguished. After the masses were gone and cash was divided, the evening would carry on, some would close earlier than others, me I would normally go on. A couple of nights ended as morning started, sitting on mine or others balconies contemplating life. One night a menagerie went to the strip club and a group of us went to The Fiddlers, a Pub across from the Casino that gogoes off. People dancing. people singing , people conducting, a true Irish feel, catering for the hospitality trade it's open late. The last I saw Shelley Switzer was hugging her, Ulla and Keaneo, singing. You'll never walk alone? aloud with 70 others at The Fiddlers. That is so true my street performing brothers and sisters, we will never walk alone. The wrap party was wrapped and extremely well catered for. We were to find out. Taxied to Pams house there was food, drinks and home hospitality being provided to the max. A few speeches, thank yous etc great food, great festival and we didn't run out of beer. Nice one guys. Nickolas 2007 ----------------- 17. A Copy Of "Spirit Messages" By George Marquis ----------------- Message from Joel Howlett (Aust) A copy of "Spirit Messages" By George Marquis. Willing to pay a fair price for it! If you know of where I could get a hold of one or if you have one you are willing to sell please let me know on 07 409 76235 or by emailing jdandfriends@hotkey.net.au Many Thanks Jim McKeague Queensland. Australia ----------------- 18. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 142 To read the full story about this period, please refer back to pages 37and 38 of my Saga (were 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 which was 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 in 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 for nearly half a century, have fallen into 'the glass of time'! Tommy -------------------------------------------- 19. 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) -------------------------------------------- 20. 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