* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #542 Date: Sunday 9th November 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. Warning About South Africa 3. In Reply To Arthur Reed's Email Above 4. Martinka - Seeking Consignments For March 2008 Auction 5. Successful In The UK - Bruce Kalver 6. Remarkable Magic #28 - Nick Lewin 7. His Correct Name Is Robin Boltman 8. Entertaining On The Ocean #7 - Paul Romhany 9. Las Vegas Magic - November, 2007 10. 100% Royalty-Free For Magicians 11. Magic-Store Employee Not The Same Since Losing Virginity 12. Illusionist Murray Hatfield's Annual Canadian Tour 13. Ebay - Card Magic Books 14. Performing Magic Through The Ages 15. Miriam Montigue - Broken Wand 16. The Amazing Orchante Saga 17. e-zine Archives 18. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Sad to report that Richard Stupple (UK professional magician) has been admitted to a hospice near Northampton and is gravely ill. ----------------- Have recently returned from performing in Vanuatu - a wonderful tropical paradise which Michele and I and the family really enjoyed. One of the highlights of the trip would have to be performing for the local tribes and watching their eyes light up with excitement and wonder. Don McQuoid booked us to perform close-up magic at his restaurant "The Waterfront Bar & Grill" along with Ken Bates from Wanganui New Zealand. Don is also an avid magician and he and his wife Donna are an extremely caring and generous couple and a delight to be with. We had an awesome time thank you Don and Dona. They would like to book other professional close-up magicians to perform in their restaurant. They only book acts after viewing a DVD to see if they suit their unique place in paradise. For full detail on performing at the Waterfront Bar & Grill restaurant in Port Vila, Vanuatu - e-mail Don McQuoid at: waterfnt@vanuatu.com.vu ----------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Warning About South Africa -------------------------------------------- Message Arthur & Avril Reed (South Africa) This is a warning that South Africa is now the most dangerous place to live in and visit, second only to Columbia according to Interpol as the most violent society. 20.000 people are murdered in South Africa every year. I was driving out of my drive-way when I heard screaming coming from my neighbours house and saw that two hijackers were dragging him to his car and that meant he would most certainly be killed if I did not do something. He had a young family. I had a bull-whip in my car and went to his aid but as there were two and one had a gun I had no chance and got severely injured as I was hit four times about the head and then heard a 'CLICK' but the gun did not fire. The hijackers then drove off in my neighbour's car but he was left behind thank goodness. We had a show that night but I had to cancel as my face was a mess. We have never missed a show in thirty years. My face at the moment is changing to all the colours of the rainbow but thank goodness for stage make-up. We are hoping to leave South Africa sometime next year for Australia as we had re-applied to emigrate as Avril my wife/asistant had been given the all clear from cancer that stopped us last year. Please give this warning that South Africa is now out of control and in the hands of criminals. Regards, Arthur & Avril Reed www.arthurreed.co.za -------------------------------------------- 3. In Reply To Arthur Reed's Email Above -------------------------------------------- Message from Craig Mitchell (South Africa) While I appreciate that Arthur has been involved in a most horrendous event and am relieved to hear that he is okay -- his warning sends out the wrong message completely. South Africa faces an enormous challenge in bringing our crime problem under control ... of that there is no doubt. The truth of the matter, however, is that SA is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and tourists are just as safe here as they are in nearly all other major destinations. Crime - unfortunately - is hitting the local population hard -- and while the country still comes to terms in dealing with this major issue ... scaring tourists away serves nothing to aid the country which desperately needs the support -- especially as already mentioned key tourist areas are just as safe as any other international destination so long as normal common sense is applied. This is a key government priority especially as SA builds up to hosting the Soccer World Cup in 2010 which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors across the globe. Again, I don't in any way want to underplay the horrific nature of Arthur's event -- but it does need to be placed into context especially when such events can have enormous implications for tourism and be misinterpreted when not fully understood. Kind regards Craig Mitchell -------------------------------------------- 4. Martinka - Seeking Consignments For March 2008 Auction -------------------------------------------- Message from Ted We are currently cataloging items for the March 2008 auction which may turn out to be our biggest and best to date. If you have a single item, small group or entire collection that you would like to include, please contact us as soon as possible. Items that are doing particularly well at the moment include, early photographs, signed items from well known performers, mid level posters, and collector quality apparatus (especially if intricate in design). We are also seeing strong interest in magic automata and mystery clocks. Please contact me for additional details regarding the consignment process. Thank You, Ted Martinka & Co. 103 Godwin Ave Midland Park, NJ 07432 USA 201-444-7576 ----------------- 5. Successful In The UK - Bruce Kalver ----------------- Message from Mandy Davis Diva of Deception Professional Magician and MC Chairman YMC/Editor - Secrets Magazine http://www.mandydavis.co.uk Bruce Kalver, President Elect of the SAM, has just completed a very exciting three weeks combining a lecture tour of the UK with a visit to Beijing as part of the FISM delegation. Bruce gave nine lectures in total, not including one for the Young Magicians Club's annual one-day convention 'J-Day'. He travelled as far north as Manchester and also visited the Midlands (Wolverhampton) as well as Bristol in the west of England. He very much enjoyed lecturing at The Magic Circle where its members were able to witness at first hand - a live and transatlantic performance of the Samuel Woolf Code. Thanks to modern technology, and Skype, Bruce was able to link up with his daughter Wendy in Rhode Island, USA, who was able to see her audience at the same time as they watched and listened to her - definitely a coup for that theatre! Many clubs, who weren't able to accommodate Bruce on this first tour, are hoping he'll return to visit them in the not too distant future. -------------------------------------------- 6. Remarkable Magic #28 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) Remarkably Painful Magic. Platinum medallion wheels. Thanks for all those emails inquiring after my health after Alan mentioned my recent nasty fall onstage or to be more accurate offstage as I was going down the steps into the audience. I fell flat on my face and onto the floor just a few feet in front of the crowd. It got a lot of laughs but I don't plan to do it every show. The next two weeks were a blur of pain. Actually I'm not sure if the blur was the pain or the pain medication my doctor gave me. However pain and blur were a major factor until all the anti-inflammatory medication and cortisone shots kicked in. It was a truly miserable time. Weighing heavily on my mind was the fact that I needed to end my bed rest and ice pack regime with a really long air trip. During the course of this journey I needed to negotiate airports in Las Vegas, New York, Athens and Santorini. Even when you are feeling at the top of your game these are daunting airports. Very reluctantly I agreed to utilize wheel chair service at the various airports. The idea of being wheeled around was very foreign to my nature, in fact it made me age about two decades just contemplating it. Little did I know that this was going to be the silver lining in the entire situation? I arrived at Las Vegas airport and the machine slipped into place. I settled down in the wheel chair with my hand baggage on my lap and was whisked through the security line and arrived at my gate within 10 minutes of checking in. Those of you who have ever negotiated the early morning lines at Vegas security will be deeply impressed at this point. Upon arriving in JFK airport in New York there was a chair waiting and I was quickly dispatched to my correct gate. By now I was starting to experience the camaraderie of the 'wheel chair brigade' and was striking up conversations with my fellow chair bound travelers. While I was at least twenty years younger than anyone else being wheeled we had much in common and were happily exchanging tips and advice on meds and walking canes. Although I didn't realize it at the time I suspect we were all heavily medicated which was the cause of this unique island of airport bonhomie. Upon arriving in Athens I was whisked through immigration in a flash. While waiting for my attendant to pick up my luggage from the carousal I chatted with a charming elderly lady who had so lost her grip on convention that she was eating a burger with a spoon. She gave me a couple of pain pills that she had found invaluable. Next we sailed through customs to the front of the line at my connecting airline. Within minutes we were off to my next gate where they used a small car with an attached crane to get me onto the crane. I am executive platinum on nearly every airline but I have never had service like this. Frankly I have now found myself looking at my ankle braces and deciding to slip them in the outer pocket of my suitcase! The only thing that could of made this journey smoother or better would have been doing it without the pain and that was when the elderly ladies pain pills started to kick in..... As always send any bricks or bouquets to nicklewin@earthlink.net and check out my website at http://www.NickLewin.com -------------------------------------------- 7. His Correct Name Is Robin Boltman -------------------------------------------- Message from Bernard Dyer South African Magical Society Durban Kwa Zulu Natal Reading Paul Romany's Article On His Achille Lauro He Mentions "Robert Boltom" (Sic) Robin Is A Great Magician, Entertainer And Friend Of Mine And His Correct Name Is Robin Boltman. -------------------------------------------- 8. Entertaining On The Ocean #7 - Paul Romhany -------------------------------------------- Message from Paul Romhany (NZ) This week I introduce Mac Frampton who shares with us all two very funny stories. I first worked with Mac several years ago on Princess and have worked with him many times since. He is a concert pianist and gives one heck of a show with an ending that leaves the audience standing up chanting MORE! As well as being a favorite on ships Mac also performs in large theatre style shows around the USA and produces large orchestral shows. Here is Mac's story about working on his first cruise ship. "I think the funniest thing that ever happened to me on a ship was my very first cruise on Holland-America. I'll try to encapsulate it for you: "On my first cruise ever, I walked on stage in my tuxedo and started playing to a full house. When I rose from the piano after my first number, I heard something 'snap.' I didn't have any idea what it was, but suddenly I felt my pants beginning to fall. It was then that I realized that the adjustable piece that so many tux pants has had broken on mine, and I suddenly was wearing pants about 6 sizes bigger than I needed. There was nothing at all that I could do but hold my pants up with one hand and hold the mic with the other. Finally, I'd had enough, and I told the audience that I needed to leave the stage for a moment because of a 'wardrobe malfunction.' (This is well before the famous Janet Jackson Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction.) The audience laughed, I raced off, found a safety pin, gathered my pants together, and came back on stage. When I finished the show, the cruise director came to me and said, 'Mac, that is a great bit you have in your show where you pretend to lose your pants.' I looked at her and said, 'That was no bit! And I hope it never happens again.' So far, so good." The other good one is this: "I arrived at a ship having just barely made the plane from home. I literally had thrown my clothes and boots into a bag and raced to the plane. Well, show time arrived, and I hadn't even unpacked my clothes. When I did, I realized, to my horror, that I had pulled two left boots out of my trunk (I have two pairs). I had no choice but to cram my right foot into a left boot. I had to walk the entire length of the ship to get to the show room, and I was in pain. I told no one. After the first show, I decided to tell the band. They lost it completely, barely able to even play the second show from all the laughter. But the audience never knew. My right foot definitely knew!" Mac Frampton www.chaplinmagic.com -------------------------------------------- 9. Las Vegas Magic - November, 2007 -------------------------------------------- Message from Compiled by David Neubauer www.dnmagic.com Production Shows: Amazing Johnathan 10 pm, (Dark Thurs.), Sahara. Reported to be the Final Year www.saharavegas.com/shows/amazingjohnathon.html America's Headliners Jeff Hobson (emcee) 7 pm. KRAVE Theatre - Planet Hollywood. Beacher's Madhouse Christopher Karpiak, Chuck Lane, Tyas Frantz 9 pm pre-show. Last Sat. each month. Hard Rock. Bite (Vampire Strip Revue) Antonio Restivo - 10:30 pm (dark Thurs.) Stratosphere. www.bitelasvegas.com Crazy Horse Paris Stephan Vanel 8 & 10:30 pm, (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand. www.mgmgrand.com/entertainment/crazy-horse-show.aspx Criss Angel - Cirque du Soleil Luxor Hotel and Casino. (Scheduled to open February, 2008) David Copperfield Nov. 15 - 28, Dec. 20 - Jan. 2 Select 2:30, 4:30, 7:30 & 10 pm. MGM Grand. www.mgm.admission.com/cgi/guide.cgi?l=EN Gerry McCambridge - The Mentalist 7:00 pm (Dark Wed. & Sat.), Hooters Casino Hotel. shop.vegas.com/shows/showtimes2.jsp?show=1056&lang=en Hans Klok - The Beauty of Magic Hans Klok (with Pamela Anderson) - Aladdin Theater - Planet Hollywood Resort. 7 pm & 10 pm, (Dark Sun. - Wed.) 2 for 1 Tickets: Enter code "FAM241" www.ticketmaster.com/venue/81953?brand=planethollywoodlv Haunted Vegas Tour & Show Robert Allen, Jac Hayden & Adam Flowers - Greek Isle. 9:30 pm tour and show (Dark Fri.) $10 off coupon: www.vegas4locals.com/couponhauntedvegas.html Jason Bird Miracle Mile Shops - Planet Hollywood Resort. Main stage, near the "V" Theater, Thursday - Monday Various times from 1:15 pm. to 8:15 pm. - Free. Keep It Funny starring Tim Gabrielson House of Blues - Mandalay Bay 3 pm (Dark Fri.) www.keepitfunny.com Lance Burton, Master Magician 7 pm Tues - Sat & 10 pm Tues. & Sat. Monte Carlo. www.montecarlo.com/entertainment/lance.aspx Mac King Comedy Magic Show 1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun. & Mon.) Clint Holmes Theater - Harrah's. www.mackingshow.com Free tickets (buy 1 drink) are usually available at the concierge desk or handed out occasionally by showgirls. Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show 2 pm every day, 6 pm Fridays V Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops - Planet Hollywood Resort. 2-for-1: www.vegas4locals.com/couponnathanburtoncomedymagic.html Penn & Teller 9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio. www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rlv/entertainment/entertainment_detail_00.html Steve Wyrick 7 & 9 pm. Miracle Mile Shops, Planet Hollywood Resort. The Ultimate Variety Showcase Christopher Karpiak and "S". Roxy's Live - Sam's Town 8 pm - Midnight every Tuesday. Free. www.samstownlv.com/entertainment/event.cfm?EventID=332 V, The Ultimate Variety Show Jason Byrne (most Tues. - Sat.) or Nathan Burton (most Sun. - Mon.) 7:30 & 9 pm, Planet Hollywood Resort - www.vtheshow.com 2 for 1 coupon: www.vegas4locals.com/couponvshow.html Viva Las Vegas Katalin provides the magic - Plaza. 2 & 4 pm (Dark Sun.) www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/special-events.php World's Greatest Magic Show Joseph Gabriel, Katalin, Kozak, Roy Shank, Losander. 6 pm Sat. - Thurs., 8:15 Fri., Greek Isle. www.greatestmagicshow.com Xtreme Magic Starring Dirk Arthur Tiffany Theatre, Tropicana 2 and 4 pm. (Dark Fri.) $10 off coupon: www.vegas4locals.com/Coupontropicana_dirk.html Other Vegas Magic RESTAURANTS: Eric Allan, Outback Steakhouse (Green Valley), Fri. & Sat. Jayden LaCross, TGI Fridays, Wed. & Sun. Jamie Porter's Radio Side Show Sat @ 5 am, KLAV FM 1230. Las Vegas Magic Organizations I.B.M. #257: 7 pm 1st Monday each month. www.ibm257.com Las Vegas Children's and Family Entertainers Association, 7 pm every 3rd Monday Both meet at Amazing Clowns, 3525 E. Flamingo. Darwin's Magic Club meets every Wednesday. Boomers, 3200 Sirius Ave. YMS (Young Magicians Society) 7 pm every 2nd Monday each month, IHOP Boulevard Mall on Maryland Pkwy. News: December 14th is set for the airing of the "World Magic Awards." Performances by Vegas winners include: Mac King (Goldfish), Rick Thomas (Tigers, Motorcycle & Inv. Deck), Kevin James (Chaplin Doll & Operation) and Hans Klok with Pamela Anderson (Various box tricks and a double levitation). November, 2007 November 1-4: Magic for Medical Professionals, McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger. www.magicalwisdom.com December, 2007 I.B.M. #257 presents a tribute for their Magician of the Year; JOHN CALVERT. ORLEANS Hotel and Casino, Monday Dec. 3, 2007. www.ibm257.com January, 2008 January 23-24: Focus on Manipulation, McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride www.magicalwisdom.com January 25-27: Master Class - Las Vegas, McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Tobias Beckwith - Eugene Burger www.magicalwisdom.com March, 2008 March 3-9: Extended Master Class - Las Vegas, McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Tobias Beckwith - Eugene Burger www.magicalwisdom.com March 11-13: Master Class for Balloon Twisters, McBride's Magic & Mystery School. Balloon Artists Todd Neufeld, Don Caldwell, and more. The class will include a business management and marketing session with Tobias Beckwith, and personal coaching by Jeff McBride and rest of his instructors. www.magicalwisdom.com Please email any Las Vegas magic updates/news to David through his website: www.dnmagic.com -------------------------------------------- 10. 100% Royalty-Free For Magicians -------------------------------------------- Message from Steve Saunders Hello! My name is Steve Saunders, and I'm a member of the Magic Castle and also a classically-trained musician & composer. Amos Levkovitch suggested that I contact you regarding a new product & service that I'm bringing to the magic community worldwide. Combining my passion for both magic & music, I've spent the last five months composing and producing a studio-quality CD of original music -- designed especially for magicians! The music covers a wide variety of styles, and is 100% royalty-free. Anyway, Amos has offered his personal endorsement of my "Sonic Sorcery" CD, and he thought your e-zine readers might like to know about this product & service -- which is why I'm writing to you. In case you're interested, I'll e-mail you a copy of my newsletter later today. In the meantime, you can find all the info (and music samples) at my website: www.Sleight-of-Sound.com. -------------------------------------------- 11. Magic-Store Employee Not The Same Since Losing Virginity -------------------------------------------- Message from Steve Walker (Aust) "Scottie's been working here almost three years, and he's always been responsible," said Sol "Merlin" Horowitz, owner of Merlin's Magicland, located in the Holiday Plaza strip mall. "But these past few weeks, he just hasn't been himself. It's almost as if serving the needs of the Orange County magic community is no longer his top priority.".... For the full article go to: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/27892?utm_source=EMTF_Onion -------------------------------------------- 12. Illusionist Murray Hatfield's Annual Canadian Tour -------------------------------------------- Message from Clive Court (Canada) The world's first lady of magic joins tour to raise funds for Canada's firefighters Toronto, Ont.(November 7) ---- The World's First Lady of Magic will join illusionist Murray Hatfield's annual Canadian tour beginning in Etobicoke On November 23. Juliana Chen, Canada's world-champion magician will be a featured guest performer with Murray Hatfield's 14th annual Magic and Miracles tour to raise funds for Canada's local Firefighters' associations and their support organizations like hospital burn units and food banks. Murray and Teresa Hatfield are Canada's premier touring illusionists. In the past decade, this annual tour has raised over $20 million for the Firefighters' associations. Chen, who became the first woman to win gold at the 1997 World Congress of Magicians in Dresden, Germany, has spent most of the last decade building her career outside Canada. She has returned to Canada mainly for corporate events and big-ticket gala fundraisers. Hatfield says his family-priced tour will give the Canadian public a rare opportunity to see Juliana live on stage. It has been eight years since Chen last toured Canada. This tour completes a very busy year for Chen who recently wrapped a summer season at Berlin's famous Wintergarten Theatre entertaining international tourists. In addition to being artistic director for the six-week Athens Art and Illusion Festival, Chen has also been working in Finland, Spain, France, Italy, Denmark, England, Holland, and China. Unable to find an agent or manager in Canada, Chen does it all solo as she negotiates her career around the world. Five years ago, she moved to Las Vegas and was quickly recognized by the American Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood who nominated her for Stage Magician of the Year in 2003. She was also awarded The Chavez Memorial Prize for professional excellence by The Society of American Magicians. Last November, she was proud to be named, by the Vancouver Sun, as one of a hundred Chinese Canadians making a signification to life in British Columbia. Chen will leave the tour after Victoria because she has to be back in Germany for a short tour of regional cities. The Magic and Miracles tour wraps in Winnipeg on January 12. The Tour schedule....... November: 23 Etobicoke 24 Etobicoke 25 Windsor 27 London 28 Kitchener 30 Brampton December: 1 Mississauga 2 Mississauga 4 Toronto 5 Newmarket 6 Oshawa 7 St.Catharines 8 Hamilton 9 Burlington 10 Markham 12 North York 13 Kingston 14 Brockville 15 Ottawa 16 Ottawa ----Christmas Break 27 Edmonton 28 Calgary 30 Kelowna January: 2 Abbotsford 3 Vancouver 5 Burnaby 6 Surrey 7 Surrey 8 Nanaimo 9 Victoria 12 Winnipeg There are at least two performances as most locations Schedule subject to change. There are several clips of both Chen and Hatfield on YouTube, -------------------------------------------- 13. Ebay - Card Magic Books -------------------------------------------- Message from Judy Webb Natzler Enterprises Dear Magician friend, Looking for some RARE and great Card Magic titles? Plus other non-card stuff! Fulves, Farelli, Marlo, Erdnase, Smith, Bob Read. See http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZnatzlerenterprises -------------------------------------------- 14. Performing Magic Through The Ages -------------------------------------------- Message from Henry Lewis MIMC Not only in the past few weeks have two excellent researched books been published, that on Cardini by John Fisher MIMC and by Chris Woodward MIMC on Maurice Fogel 'In Search of the Sensational'. Michael Bailey MIMC, Past President of The Magic Circle has now published a complete history of The Magic Circle 'Performing Magic Through the Ages', detailing with photographs etc, the full History of The Magic Circle from 1905 up to the present day. These are three books (all hardback which every magician worthy of his craft should possess. Members of The Magic Circle are indeed fortunate to have these three members who take the history, art skill and performance of magic to be cherished so long as people read. These three writers have enhanced in my view the scope of our art. ---------------- 15. Miriam Montigue - Broken Wand ----------------- Message from Michael Woolf Editor "Magicana" Magazine New Zealand Miriam Montigue, until a few months ago Patron of the Canterbury Society of Magicians, has passed away following complications after a fall. The Funeral was last Tuesday November 6th, in Christchurch. Geoff Diggs, President of the CSM performed the Broken Wand ceremony. Sometime advance manager for Levante, during World War II Miriam Montigue (then known as Miriam Peppler) edited "Conjuring Chatter" a magazine for New Zealand magicians. She was a beloved and respected figure in magic and theatrical circles. ---------------- 16. The - Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 23 Let me tell you about 'Little Bird'! He was a Corella. There are two variations of the species - the 'Little Corella' and, the 'Long Billed Corella'; 'Little Bird' was a 'Little Corella', also known as the 'Bared Eyed' cockatoo, the 'Blood-Stained' cockatoo, and the 'Short-Billed' cockatoo. About 15inches in length (38cm), their general plumage is white; with diffuse yellow bands under wings and tail. Unlike most cockatoos, they don't have a distinct crest, but they can raise the feathers on top of head in alarm or aggression. They have small red feathers between eye and bill. Bare blue skin around the eye, extending in an oval below the eye, varies in shape with age and possibly sex. Their eyes are a dark brown, and their bill is horn coloured - legs are grey. Little Corella's are excellent birds to keep as a pet, becoming docile and affectionate towards their owners, and are good talkers; Little Bird was no exception although we did have a big advantage. We bought him from a most reputable bird dealer/breeder 'The Ace Colony' (which is, was? if memory serves me correctly, out North Parramatta - Wentworthville way) when he was only a few weeks old - just a cute, tiny bundle of soft down and fluff. I have some wonderful video footage of Veronica hand feeding him with a special mushy mix for young birds. The beauty of hand rearing a cockatoo, or any bird for that matter, is that they grow up as part of the family; to them, you are their parents! In addition, your other pets - dogs, cats, etc accept and protect them. It is quite something to watch a cat and bird, traditionally sworn enemies, playing together and having fun! Although the bulk of our work was appearing/performing in R S L clubs etc. around Sydney (RSL - Returned Ex-Services Leagues), we were on tour quite a lot as well. Many times, we were on the road with Judy Stone (among others), one of the Top Country and Western singing stars in Australia at the time; perhaps she still is? Consequently, we took Little Bird with us, as he was far too young to leave with Doug at his pet shop, as we did with our other birds; besides, Veronica was still hand feeding him. It was during one of Judy's tours that Little Bird took his first flight around the motel room we were staying in. That caused quite a bit of excitement - everybody had to come and see Little Bird 'doing his thing' and, he was only too happy to oblige! The 'Judy Stone Show(s)' was always a lot of fun - Judy was a 'True Star', and you knew she was the boss but, she had none of the 'off-handedness', that seems to be the wont of many of those who have made it 'big'. Judy had a great team around her, and she had her own backing band which included two female backing singers. All of them were absolutely ACE! I can't remember all their names now, but the leader (and drummer) was John Clinton - he had his own business/shop in Crown St. East Sydney - 'Live Music Systems'; a hire, sales and service of Top Quality sound equipment - very expensive gear for professionals. I would drool all over the place whenever I was in his shop. Then there was Lance - he was the pianist in the group. The reason I remember Lance is that he lived just down the road from us, and we often got together after tours. Lance was brilliant pianist - a very unassuming, easy-going man; he went through hell and an awful lot of pain battling early baldness with very expensive 'invisible' transplants. Why does fate play such cruel tricks on those who least deserve it? It ain't fair! A little aside. One of the great things about typing on a computer is that you can play a CD on it at the same time. I have a very good speaker set-up that sounds fantastic, and right this minute, as I'm typing this, I'm listening to my all time favourite singer - Neil Diamond. He is singing a song called 'Morningside'. It is one of his songs - one of many, that really moves' me to tears. God, I really am such a softie at heart. In a recent interview, Neil Diamond divulged that most of his songs related to his life and incidents therein. What really gets to me is; the words of most of his songs strongly relate to my own life and the 'Incidents', as well! Another of his songs, called - 'I AM.I SAID', has a 'particular effect' on me. He sings about being '.lost between two shores.' That's me, lost - between the shores of New Zealand and England! Changing the names of the cities/countries in Neil's song - .'I'm New Zealand born and raised; England is fine but it ain't home; New Zealand's home but it's not mine anymore...!' Guess you will just have to listen to the words of the songs to really understand - 'If You Know What I Mean', the title of another ND Song. I seem to have slipped away from the cockatoos somewhat. What's that? Did I just detect a collective sigh of relief? Tut, tut! There is a little more to relate about Judy Stone, the gang and us. In those days, Veronica and I were mad on 'Backgammon', and we got everybody who knew us involved as well. Judy and the gang were no exception! Continues next week -------------------------------------------- 17. 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) -------------------------------------------- 18. 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 2007 Alan Watson