* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #574 Date: Sunday 27th April 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. The Magic Circle Collectors' Day 3. SAM Holly Land Assembly 184 Convention 4. Remarkable Magic #49 - Nick Lewin 5. Thoughts on Success in Magic! - Kyle Peron 6. Super Magic 2008 7. Information Wanted Re Repro And Its Publications 8. Las Vegas Magic - May, 2008 9. John Carney Lectures In The UK 10. Sugden - The Magician - The Wonder Show Of The Century 11. Exposure Of Magic On Brazilian TV 12. Straight Jacket That Was Worn By Tony Curtis 13. Houdini Film And Musical 14. 29th New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2008 15. e-zine Archives 15. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- New Zealand magician Theo de Leeuw rang today saying that he was deeply touched with all the get well messages that he received whilst in hospital after having a near death experience with asthma after having a knee operation. The good news is the Theo is now back on the road to full recovery. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. The Magic Circle Collectors' Day -------------------------------------------- Message from Prof. Edwin A. Dawes (UK) (Open to non-Members of The Magic Circle) Saturday, 31 May 2008 The Centre for the Magic Arts Chairman: Eddie Dawes Official Opening by President Alan Shaxon at 10.45 a.m. Speakers include: Anne Davenport - David Devant and the Maskelyne & Cooke Provincial Company Bill Spooner - A Study of Conjuring Wands Vanessa Toulmin - Some Early Magic Films Barry Wiley - The Thought Readers Craze Dan Dearing - The Ingenious Creations of J.F. Orrin Coffee will be served from 10.00 a.m. Tickets (including lunch and afternoon tea) £32.00 Tickets available from The Magic Circle, The Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD Tel. 020 7387 2222 Email cma@themagiccircle.co.uk Payment may be made by cheque (payable to 'The Magic Circle') or by Visa / MasterCard. -------------------------------------------- 3. SAM Holly Land Assembly 184 Convention -------------------------------------------- Message from Yosi Notkowitz (Israeli) The Israeli Society of Magicians and the SAM Holly Land Assembly 184 convention took place between April 9-11/08 in Holon, Tel Aviv. At the convention lecturers were: Ron Frhest (Israel) on close up and mentalism, Seth Kramer (NY) on convention's magic, Lior Rocman (Israel) about direction of magic shows, Ronen Nacman (Israel) on magic secrets, Dan Sylvester (LA) on stage magic, Henry Lewis (UK) on magic and mentalism James Biss (Canada) on magic and Saloon shows, Simhon Namanay (Israel) about mentalism and comedy, Professor Rafi Carasso with an interesting lecture about illusion and reality. In the Children's Gala show performers were: Liran Zeligman with Chinese rings and a splendid floating brush, Lior Rocman with a comedy snake and card routine, Yaniv with a musical and dancing act, Tomer Dodoai with a girl & cage illusion, Cris La artists with a comedy routine, Harel Pepo with paper rain act, Amit Chori with comedy magic. In the Gala show performers were: Liran Zeligamn with mental color cards and a nice caye voodoo, Shay Nasi with fire &doves routine, Cris La Artist with a ring in a wallet, Games Biss with spoons, keys routine, Sylvester the Jester with a splendid show with smoke, fire  and hammers manipulations. The close up first place winner was Doudi Shemer a 17 years magician who performed with cards and dancing. We had a successful professional convention. Shalom! -------------------------------------------- 4. Remarkable Magic #49 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) Garner, my origami instructor. One of the very first magicians that I got to know in the United States was John Garner. John was a devotee of Ken Brooke and seemed to have purchased the entire Ken Brooke Magic Place product line. He obviously had great taste in magic. John hailed from Chicago and, like me, and so many others, he had moved to Los Angeles to be close to the Magic Castle. John performed some very cool close-up magic and an excellent comedy magic act. The basis of John's stand up show was Don Alan's 'Garbage Can' act. It was a very commercial routine that was housed in, and performed from, a miniature garbage can. The act finished with the production of a bowling ball. John had really polished the routine and turned it into a twenty-minute laugh-fest. Garner and I became firm friends and he was one of the people to whom I could turn in order to explore new ideas and routines. He had a really amazing knowledge of magic which he was always pleased to share. In the late 70s I attended a Magic Castle lecture by Alex Elmsley where I bought a four-page manuscript that detailed his Torn and Restored Newspaper. The manuscript cost five dollars; which was a lot more expensive at the time than it sounds now. Looking back it may well be the best five dollars I have ever spent in magic. I worked on that routine extensively but it never quite got to the place I wanted it to be. One day John arrived at our apartment with a huge stack of newspapers and several glue sticks and told me to get ready to work! Work we did. For several hours we folded, glued, ripped and restored until I could really perform the effect. John taught me everything he knew about the Elmsley Tear and it proved to be plenty. I left the next week for a one-week engagement in Seattle and spent seven days in my hotel continuing the folding, ripping and tearing. Then finally one time I performed the trick and it felt right. The rest was easy. I don't know how many newspapers I have torn and restored since that day but it is definitely in the thousands. Every time those final pieces of paper fall into place I send a silent thank you to John for his kindness. Not everyone is as willing to share. I haven't been able to find out where John is since he returned to Chicago in the 80s. If anyone has any knowledge of his whereabouts I would love to get back in touch. As always send any bricks or bouquets to nicklewin1@mac.com and check out my website at www.nicklewin.com -------------------------------------------- 5. Thoughts on Success in Magic! - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message from Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com If you have been in magic for any length of time, you are sure to have come upon someone asking if you are successful. Maybe this person is even yourself. But how does one define success in magic? How do you know if you are successful in the magic that you do? I wanted to take a moment to talk about success in magic and give you some of my own general thoughts on the subject. I hope, if nothing more, it is good food for thought. Above all else, I define success as a very personal thing. This simply means that we are the only ones who can define what we feel success is for us. To some it means the ability to create an act and do it well while for others it means reaching and obtaining a certain set of financial goals. Whatever your own success is, success first can only be achieved if you define it. Defining your success is your road map towards getting there. Once success has been defined, the single most important thing you must be willing to do is to take direct and continuous action. Success will and cannot be achieved without action. No one is going to come to your door and hand you success on a silver platter. If you want success in magic, you must be willing to get up off your butt and seek it through action. Like learning a new move, it does not get better unless you pick up those cards and work at it continuously. So how does one reach a level of success in magic that we all may want and seek? A simple answer may largely be a matter of hanging on after others have given up. Too many people have grand ideas of success with the magic they do. They seek a certain level they want to obtain but what happens is that they give up after the very first failure. Failure WILL happen on the road to success. Without failure this is no success. Sounds strange doesn't it? Allow me to explain. The problem is that too many of us magicians see failure as a bad thing when instead we should see it as a powerful tool. When you fail you are given this golden opportunity to learn from it. Failure is only failure if you stop learning. If you learn even one thing from any failure, then failure really is a but a stepping stone to success. Too many of us have dreams of success but when we fail we stay down instead of getting back up. Remember that part of being a success in magic is the notion that you can have a fresh start anytime you choose. Now do not get the wrong impression that being a success in magic is easy. The road to get there is tough, hard and filled with challenges and roadblocks. If you want success you will have to work for it. But the great thing about success is that no one owns it. It can be yours if you are willing to pay the price for it. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy but hard work and determination does accomplish results. I hope this simple article opens your eyes and your mind if nothing more. I see so many magicians who have great ideas that they never take off the shelf. I see so many magicians with such vast potential but never realize it because they fear failure. Open your eyes wide and realize that success can be yours. It is there for the taking. Do not forget about your dreams you have as a magician and the goals you may once have had. Dust them off and go out there and make it happen. For winning isn't everything but wanting to win certainly is. 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. -------------------------------------------- 6. Super Magic 2008 -------------------------------------------- Message from Amos Levkovitch (US) "Super Magic 2008" the annually, world class theater experience, sold out 7 performances, at the beautiful 1200 seats, Teatro Olympico, in Rome, Italy. Without a doubt Super Magic 2008 was the best organized Magic Extravaganza I've ever experienced. Not only because of the unbelievable warm hospitality of the organizers or the incredible lineup of international magic champions, but mainly because of the passion of the technicians involved in the show. The technicians are all dedicated professional magicians and were focused on the success of the show like I've never seen by any crew of a magic presentation anywhere in the world. The results were a huge coverage by Italian newspapers and television stations like never before seen in Italy. "Super Magic" is a creation of Remo Pannain and Cerchietti, who wrote the heart touching story-line of a young boy who is searching for the "Lost magic" in the world. Directed by the very talented Romano Marini Dettina and by FISM gold medalist Vito Lupo, the show featured: Pilou, Jerome Murat, Remo Pannain, Arthur Trace, Cerchietti (MC), Carlo Truzzi and Simona, Gianni Mattiolo with his tigers, Matteo, and Amos Levkovitch. Super Technicians: Sylvia, Tania, Mirko Menegatti, Matteo, Alberto Giorgi, Simone Angelini, Paolo Jacobazzi, Stanislao, Luca D'Agostini, Marco Lauria, and Alberto Giorgi. Check the show out at: http://www.supermagic.it (Click: _entra nel sito_ to enter.) Thank you, Best wishes, Amos Levkovitch www.AmosMagic.com -------------------------------------------- 7. Information Wanted Re Repro And Its Publications -------------------------------------------- Message from deryckolsen@xtra.co.nz For over a decade I have subscribed to Repro Magic's (Geoff Maltby U.K) excellent Magazines. This year to date I have received no copy of "The Magician" ( Walt Lees. Ed.) Nor have I been able to make contact on their website. Could anyone please provide information re Repro and its publications? -------------------------------------------- 8. Las Vegas Magic - May, 2008 -------------------------------------------- Compiled by David Neubauer - www.dnmagic.com Magic Production Shows: Amazing Johnathan 9 pm (Dark Wed. & Thur.), Harmon Theater - Planet Hollywood. David Copperfield Through May 7. Select 2:30, 4:30, 7:30 & 10 pm. MGM Grand. www.mgm.admission.com/cgi/guide.cgi?l=EN Dixie Dooley - Master Mystifier 7:00 pm (Dark Sun. - Tue.), Royal Resort and Hotel. www.houdiniexperience.com Gerry McCambridge - The Mentalist 7:00 pm (Dark Mon. & Tue.), Hooters Casino Hotel. Special Comp tickets for Las Vegas Magic readers: http://web.mac.com/gerrymccambridge/Mentalist/comp.html 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.) - The Showroom, 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 4 pm. (Dark Thurs.) Main Showroom - Flamingo. www.nathanburton.com Penn & Teller 9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio. www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rlv/entertainment/entertainment_detail_00.html Steve Dacri: Impossible Magic 7 pm, Sat. & Sun. $300 includes gourmet meal. 30 seats only. Six Tables Restaurant at Summerlin. 2110 N Rampart, Las Vegas. www.vegasinsidetips.com/MAGIC_impossible.html Steve Wyrick 7 & 9 pm. (Dark Fri.) Steve Wyrick Theater - Miracle Mile, Planet Hollywood. The Brett Daniels Magic Show: Wohscigam 3 pm (Dark Sun.) - Sahara. www.saharavegas.com/Shows/brett-daniels/ World's Greatest Magic Show Joseph Gabriel, Dan Sperry, Roy Shank, Jason Baney, Losander, Jeff Hobson hosts. 7 pm each night - Greek Isle. www.greatestmagicshow.com Xtreme Magic Starring Dirk Arthur Tiffany Theatre, Tropicana 2 and 4 pm. (Dark Fri.) Magic In Production Shows: Bite (Vampire Strip Revue) Antonio Restivo - 10:30 pm (dark Thurs.) Stratosphere. www.bitelasvegas.com Crazy Girls Tony Douglas - 9:30 pm (Dark Tues.), Riviera. www.rivierahotel.com/entertainment_crazygirls.asp Crazy Horse Paris Stephan Vanel 8 & 10:30 pm, (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand. www.mgmgrand.com/entertainment/crazy-horse-show.aspx Haunted Vegas Show and Tour Jac Hayden, Robert Allen, Adam Flowers 9:30 pm (Dark Fri.), Greek Isles. www.hauntedvegastours.com The Ultimate Variety Showcase Christopher Karpiak and "S". Roxy's Live - Sam's Town 6 pm - Midnight every Tuesday. Free. www.samstownlv.com/entertainment/event.cfm?EventID=332 V, The Ultimate Variety Show Jason Byrne (most Tues. - Sat.) & various others. 6 & 7:30, Planet Hollywood Resort - www.vtheshow.com Viva Las Vegas Max Clever and Katalin - Plaza. 2 & 4 pm (Dark Sun.) www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/special-events.php X Burlesque Seth Grabel (pre-show) 9:30 pm, Mon. - Wed. - Flamingo. Other Vegas Magic: Craig Keith performs behind the bar at various times - Dick's Last Resort, Excalibur. Paul Draper strolls at various times - Grand Canal Shoppes, Venetian. Jamie Porter's Radio Side Show Sat @ 5 am, KLAV FM 1230. Las Vegas Magic Organizations Fantasma I.B.M. Ring #257, 7 pm 1st Monday each month. www.ibm257.com Amazing Clowns, 3525 E. Flamingo. Darwin's Magic Club, meets 10 pm Wednesdays. Boomers, 3200 Sirius Ave. KIDabra Las Vegas, 7 pm every 3rd Monday. Amazing Clowns, 3525 E. Flamingo. www.kidabralasvegas.com Magic Lunch Club meets every Friday at 11:30 am - Sizzler, 307 S Decatur. Hosted jointly by IBM 257 and KIDabra Las Vegas. YMS (Young Magicians Society) 7 pm every 2nd Monday each month, IHOP Boulevard Mall on Maryland Pkwy. News April, 2008 April 25-27: Lance Burton Teen Weekend Workshop, Orleans Hotel www.WorldMagicSeminar.com. April 27-30: World Magic Seminar, Stephen Bargatze, Brando & Silvana, Norman Beck, Giacomo Bertini, Aldo Colombini, Derek Delgaudio, Sterling Dietz, Sonny Fontana, Larry Hass, Timo Marc, Shayna Reed, Paul Vigel, Penny Wiggins, Joanie Spina, Jay Sankey, Mark Kalin and Kevin James. Orleans Hotel. www.WorldMagicSeminar.com. April 30: Fantasma IBM Ring 257 hosts its annual magic auction at Boomers beginning at 7:00 PM Dealers and individual sellers welcome. Contact John McClenahan at 702-395-3856 or Al Jensen at 702-883-1980 for more information. www.ibm257.com. May, 2008 May 13-14: Focus on Stage Magic with Jeff McBride, McBride's Magic & Mystery School. Two afternoons with Jeff McBride at the House of Mystery, focusing on stage and platform magic. Jeff will tailor the sessions to fit the small group who is registered for the class. Intensive hands-on study with the Master. www.magicalwisdom.com. May 19: KIDabra presents: An Evening with Gospel and Comedy Family Magical Entertainer; Steve Varro, with special guest Harvey Barfenfloss. www.kidabralasvegas.com June, 2008 June 8-10: Las Vegas Magic Invitational "Saluting the Tower Bar" featuring Doc Eason, Eric Mead, Bob Sheets, Jay Scott Berry, Daniel Garcia and a special Erdnase Tribute with Jon Armstrong, Jason England and Allen Ackerman - Palace Station www.lvmi.net. July, 2008 July 21-27: Extended Master Class, McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride - Eugene Burger www.magicalwisdom.com. September, 2008 September 12: Criss Angel - Believe, opens at the Luxor, previews start Sept. 1. September 16-18: Focus on Martial Artists, McBride's Magic & Mystery School. www.magicalwisdom.com. September 19-21: Master Class, McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Tobias Beckwith - Eugene Burger www.magicalwisdom.com. October, 2008 October 10-12: Focus on Street Magic with Jeff McBride, McBride's Magic & Mystery School. This special 3-day class, Jeff will share his insights and special magic effects that are best suited for today's "Street Magic" venues. Both real "Street Performance" and "Street Magic For Television" will be covered. www.magicalwisdom.com. November, 2008 November 2-4: MINDvention - Palace Station. November 6-9: Magic for Medical Professionals, McBride's Magic & Mystery School - with Eugene Burger. Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger are pleased to offer a special seminar for medical practitioners of all sorts: physicians, nurses, therapists, holistic practitioners, and other professionals who wish to understand how to apply the powerful skills of performance magic to enhance the healing relationship. www.magicalwisdom.com. November 12-14: Master Class for Mentalists, McBride's Magic & Mystery School. Presenting their third annual Master Class aimed exclusively at mentalists, with special guest, Ross Johnson. Jeff McBride's Master Class is the premier program in contemporary magic where you and your performance take center stage in a safe and supportive setting. At this Special Master Class all of the performances and all of the talks and breakout sessions will be on the subject of Mentalism. Eugene and Jeff will share their thoughts on Mentalism for Magicians. www.magicalwisdom.com. December, 2008 IBM 257 hosts its annual Magician of the Year Gala, December 1, 2008 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino. Honoree to be named soon! February, 2009 Seigfried and Roy are set to perform for one show only at the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute's "Keep Memory Alive" Fundraiser in Las Vegas. Details to follow. -------------------------------------------- 9. John Carney Lectures In The UK -------------------------------------------- Message from John Carney (US) For updated schedule information and lecture details, visit http://www.carneymagic.com/seminars/index.html Check out Carney on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=carneymagic June 4 Edinburgh 7:30pm Costa Coffee 1 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 2DL Map to Costa Coffee from Waverley Station, walk west along Princes Street, turn right onto Hanover Street, and enter via the Costa entrance £15 at the door - No advance tickets June 6 Glasgow 7:30pm Scottish Mask and Puppet Center 8-10 Balcarres Avenue Kelvindale Glasgow, G12 OQF 01 41 339 6185 Map to Scottish Mask and Puppet Ctr £15 at the door - No advance tickets June 8 Newcastle 7:30pm Ouseburn Farm Ouseburn Road (off Lime Street) Ouseburn Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PA By road from New Bridge Street down Crawhall road, then Stepney Bank. From Byker Bank go along Lime Street. From City Road go onto Byker bank then Lime Street. On street parking and car parks available in the surrounding area. £15 at the door - No advance tickets June 10  Nottingham 7:30pm The Guild of Magicians Nottingham Ponds Hill Lane Arts Centre Arnold, Nottingham Map to Guild of Magicians Nottingham £15 at the door - No advance tickets June 11 Watford 7:30pm 18th Bushey and Oxhey Scout Hut Little Bushey Lane Bushey Herts WD23 4JS Map to Little Bushey Lane http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=514885&y=194711&z=0&sv=wd234js&st=2&pc=wd23+4js&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf%20%3Chttp://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=514885&y=194711&z=0&sv=wd234js&a £15 at the door - No advance tickets -------------------------------------------- 10. Sugden - The Magician - The Wonder Show Of The Century -------------------------------------------- Message from Gary Frank (US) You will read of the life of magician Ray Sugden from his early life as a performer in Pittsburgh to the stages of New York in the guise of Ta Yuan and the Chau Tung Mysteries and beyond. What started out as friendly advice to master magician Howard Thurston developed into a partnership that would change both their lives. Over 200 photographs, playbills, advertisements, and over 40 reproduced letters of correspondence are included. The letters will place you in the midst of their eventual contentiousness. Included is the only complete detailed information to date of the legal fight of Ray Sugden versus the Howard Thurston Estate. Over 300 pages _ Ray Sugden's journey from stage to radio _ Original drawings and ideas from Sugden's files _ Untold information leading up to Sugden's partnership with Howard Thurston _ Included are over 40 letters of correspondence _ Never disclosed details of the lawsuit between Ray Sugden and the Howard Thurston Estate _ Over 200 never before seen photographs, publicity and more _ 8 pages full color _ 80# glossy stock paper _ Hardbound and dust jacket _ Limited Edition of 300 Available Now: $75.00 plus $5.00 postage in the continental United States Outside the continental United States add $25.00 postage Gary R. Frank P.O. Box 33156 Granada Hills, California 91394-3156 I have arranged to accept MasterCard, Visa or PayPal for the purchase of the book. Those interested in using PayPal, use the following address: fantasticm@earthlink.net -------------------------------------------- 11. Exposure Of Magic On Brazilian TV -------------------------------------------- Message from Magi-Ken, AKA Ken Morrison, USA A Gentle Letter Concerning Exposure Of Magic On Brazilian TV Dear Alessandra Chevchuk, Executive Director: I just read in a magic news e-magazine about a TV show you are responsible for in Brazil. Here is a portion of what I was told and what readers were asked to write to you about. I care deeply enough about what you are doing to express to you my heartfelt concerns. "A masked magician (not Valentino) has been revealing the secrets of amazing illusions like the "floating table" and "walking through a mirror". It“s disgusting! A group of Brazilian magicians is evaluating the feasibility of suing the television network and the directors of the show. "To ensue this doesn't continue happening, the Brazilian Chapter of the International Magicians Society (IMS) is requesting that Brazilian and foreign colleagues send messages to the Executive Director of the show to express their feelings and concern." I am genuinely appalled. Just because you can reveal how things are done, that does not make doing so ethical, just, fair, or right. If you televised a course in how to be effective terrorists, then your show would be only just a little more irresponsible. Only a little more because such a show would have the potential of harming more than just one select targeted minority group, e.g. magicians. Furthermore, if you advocated racial or ethnic discrimination on your show, giving pointers on how to legally keep certain targeted people groups from making a living that would likely not be as bad as what you are doing to magicians through your current show. This is because your TV show robs magicians of the respect of audiences and of their personal prestige. You also not only steal the magician's employment, research and development costs, materials and labor or the purchase price of their equipment, as well as considerable time in learning, rehearsing, and keeping their skills sharp through constant practice, but you are also taking away the wonder, excitement, joy, and hope from countless audiences who will never be able to enjoy watching magic in the same way again. Here are some of the reasons behind my personal concerns: Magicians have typically guarded their secrets. Why?? Perhaps you do not know. There are many reasons. Some of which will have a profound negative impact not only on magicians, but on audiences, including yours. Magicians' livelihoods are based on the very secrets you are exposing. Magicians do not generally have legal protection against such exposure. They rely on the ethics and good will of others, particularly those in your position, to protect their secrets. Some movies on DVD have special features showing how some of the special effects of the show were done. Some people like to know. They have the option of watching it. Knowing these secrets does not detract from the main story or diminish the adventure. Most rely on camera trickery, miniaturized models, green screen techniques, or cables later digitalized out, etcetera. Many of the effects could never be reproduced in a live real-time setting. Unlike movie and theatrical special effects which enhance a story line and make the make-believe more engaging, but which are not intended primarily to be the entertaining element in and of themselves, stage magic relies on the surprising appearance and mystery of the effect itself as the main feature of its entertainment. Magic can be personable, personal, and experienced live. However, unlike movie magic, once a theatrical magic trick is known to an audience, it ceases to hold the charm, mystery, and enchantment; it fails to produce the wonder the audience seeks and often retains long after the show. If the secret is exposed, the audience feels cheated instead of rewarded for their kind attention. The magic is raped. The spell is broken. Instead of being a treasured memory for years to come, it is just another shattered dream. Please stop raping and ruining magic for your TV viewers. They may watch your show now because they do not realize, any more than you seem to have, the long term effect which knowing such secrets will have on them. They will lose something they can never recapture; something we all long for; something you will have robbed them of forever. Informing the your audience of how the effects of the magician are done is of no real benefit to them, the general public. It is unlikely that they will buy or properly build the very expensive equipment required. To perform some of the effects properly, and with justifiable return on investment, additional expenses in lighting, staging, sound equipment, assistants, agents fees, marketing, etcetera may also be required. Nor is it likely that your TV viewers will put in the hours of practice required to present these effects properly. This is partly because you do not teach them the need for competent instruction from both theatrical and magic specific professional educators. BUT, the bottom line is: they will not do the effects themselves, correctly or otherwise, because you have told everyone else how the effect is done and therefore neither audiences nor booking agents will pay for shows with diminished entertainment value. Magicians do not typically patent secrets, such as the ones you are exposing, for several practical reasons: 1) Patents did not exist when some of the basics were invented. 2) New patents are not available for ancient secrets which are widely known; even if these secrets are known only within a small exclusive trade group and considered public domain within the confines of the magic society. 3) Valid patents protect only for a limited number of years, after which they do become public domain. Significant changes in certain areas of design or application can also void full protection. 4) Patents typically protect only manufacturing and sales rights to a product. Manufacture for personal use is not generally restricted. Even for magicians that is a gray area. Only by shunning and restricting access to exclusive magical societies have magicians, in some limited cases, been able to ostracize fellow magicians who have broken the understanding that public performance is not a personal use. And Most Importantly 5) While patents protect against commercial manufacture, they open the secret to public record instantly. All patents are viewable by all persons, magicians or not. However, patented or not, you have no ethical right to expose what is not genuinely yours; to give it to someone else. You are behaving like those who install hidden cameras in girls locker rooms and publish the "ever changing" results on porn websites without the knowledge or permission of those being viewed. Looking at this from another perspective, unlike the works of modern playwrights or the music industry, most magic is not licensed. Recently, some magic routines, including the effects and scripting, have required legal performance rights to be purchased before an effect can be presented publicly in any form. With other materials, the dialogue or monologue only is copyrighted, but there is an unwritten understanding that the effect is also not ethically usable without first paying the royalty for the script and instructions that come with the effect and props. Your audiences will value magic based on what they paid to learn it (FREE) and not upon the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars the originators and dues paying magicians have expended. You cheapen magic by exposing it. I have been a magician for over fifty years. I have had the privilege of knowing or meeting some of the finest magicians alive today and many of the greats who have passed on during my lifetime. I know most of the secrets of magic. There are a number of effects and illusions which I know I will never personally perform. Most of these I have deliberately shielded myself from learning, even when opportunities presented themselves. You may ask, "Why?" My answer is that through these I can still enjoy the beauty and mystery that magic was always intended to be. I know them to be tricks; I do not know how they are done. Yet, for me personally, without these preservers of wonder, so much of the joy of life would be reduced to cynicism within my soul. An audience can know the entertainment is just a trick and still appreciate it; still come away with a sense of wonder. However, to know the secret behind the trick is not glamorous at all. For the lay audience, knowing just sucks. Therefore, Alessandra, I beg of you, please stop discriminating against, terrorizing, and jeopardizing magicians through your ill thought out exposure of magic secrets. I also ask you to stop crippling the spirit of magic and wonder your audiences still need and upon which so many souls thrive. Stop killing your audience's soul sense of magic within them; that which shrivels with the exposure of each professional magician's secret. Stop stealing things you have not invented and then giving them away like some thieves who might videotape your shows and sell them for a cheap profit. You would not like that, but what you are doing worse. Stop treating the precious art form, known as theatrical magic, as though it was worthless; as though it would be harmful to people if its secrets were left unknown. Stage magicians are not con-artists. We are not cheating people. We are giving audiences what they want and need, a sense of childlike wonder. For most people, the real harm comes in knowing, in the loss of the thrill and the joy. Knowing becomes a let down. Most magic is relatively so easy that, as magicians have for many years said, tongue in cheek, "A child of six years of age could do it flawlessly with twenty years of practice." The principles are easy and often disappointing to the lay audience. Yet, a well practiced magician makes them look far more effortless than they really are in order to make them genuinely entertaining as well as enchanting. Please stop exploiting magic. Please help inform others in your industry to stop. Please do not rerun or sell copies of the expose' shows you have already produced. I do not consider you a bad person. I do not know you. I hope you were simply misinformed. Now armed with this elementary understanding of the art and culture of the magic of magicians, I trust that you will do the right and ethical thing even to your own pecuniary pinch if need be because of the intrinsically good person you really are. If you are fascinated by decent theatrical magic, why not produce / direct shows which help audiences appreciate magic as an art without the exposure. I am sure Brazil would love a well directed magic show series if it were done right. You would gain far more reward (in acclaim and money) by helping magicians and in turn charming audiences with things that could touch them deeply, even change their lives for the better. That is the "real" magic. It is something you could do. In the spirit of good, healthy, and entertaining magic, Magi-Ken, AKA Ken Morrison, USA -------------------------------------------- 12. Straight Jacket That Was Worn By Tony Curtis -------------------------------------------- Message from Henry Lewis (UK) The actual straight jacket that was worn by Tony Curtis in the original Houdini film in which Tony Curtis took the lead can be seen in our 'Houdini display case' in the Devant Room at The Centre for The Magic Arts, The Magic Circle, London UK. Henry Lewis MIMC Curator Emeritus, The Magic Circle. -------------------------------------------- 13. Houdini Film And Musical -------------------------------------------- Message from Jon Zealando (NZ) Proposed Houdini Musical is not the first. Back in the late fifties "Man Of Magic" very loosely based on Houdini, opened in Manchester, and then played in London for nine months at Piccadilly theatre. I personally have a copy of the music on cassette taken from a long playing record, held in New Zealand, by a vocalist, actor, Brian Gidley who was understudy to the lead. I am not sure if he would part with it, but it's got to be a Houdini collector's item. For me personally its great news to hear The Tony Curtis version of the Houdini story is being released again. It inspired me and is still my favourite. I must credit it with being responsible for many scary highlights in my 50 years as a pro down under. The publicity generated by me attempting to duplicate some of the stunts lifted me into legendary status, in the small but biggest city in New Zealand. Thanks for these Memories. 1. "The Great Who Done It" In the Auckland town hall as 14yr old escaping from unfaked school packing case, chains & sack. My Grammar school concert. (Assisted by Tony Wilson) 2. Striate Jackets escapes four times a day along with fire walking for two weeks on the roof of Auckland's largest department store. Numerous upside down escapes, on cranes, at fairs, including our largest N.Z. Convention. (Assisted by Ross Hill and Alan Watson.) 3. Under Water Escapes from sponsored Cases, Steel drum (Ala John Calvert) chains etc. at Boat shows twice a day assisted by fellow entertainers. The late Peter Evans and Rusty Greaves. Which in turn led to international television experiences in Australia and in Japan on "The World Surprise Show Fuji TV. A 25% Rating possibly gave me my greatest number audience. Doing an original method 40 gallon drum, plus chains and sack. Chosen in preference to another Milk Can escape artist because of my translucent screen showing more visual actively during the almost a minute period of the escape, but retaining the dematerialization theme. Where locks shackles, sack, and drum were still secure. It was the Tony Curtis film that built this possible explanation into the Houdini legend. I also believe Tony and Janet Leigh actually fell in love during the making of the film and this added greatly to the realism of emotions portrayed, I must be a Romantic. Finally does anyone know why the last time I saw Tony Curtis compeering on a TV. Magic Special. Absolutely no mention of his part as Houdini, was made by him, or anywhere else in the programme ???. I could not believe it! Answers Please. Like John Calvert, Tony was my hero back in the fifties and I still love the Hollywood treatment and presentations of the standard tricks used. Not to be missed. Jon Zealando N.Z. Email info@jonzealando.co.nz -------------------------------------------- 14. 29th New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2008 -------------------------------------------- The 29th New Zealand International Magicians Convention will be held in Auckland, New Zealand from the night of December 27th 2008 to January 1st 2009, 1.00am. The venue will be the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre in Mount Wellington where we last ran a successful Convention in 2001-2002. Bookings can be made for convention accommodation by contacting: Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre, 58 Waipuna Road, Mt.Wellington, PO Box 14 164, Panmure, Auckland, New Zealand. Phone: +64 9 526 3000 Fax: +64 9 527 1937 Toll Free Reservations (NZ): 0800 924 786. http://www.waipunahotel.co.nz/ We have been able to secure a very attractive room rate of $NZ110 per night (Incl GST) for single or double rooms with registrants being able to book direct with the hotel. *************************** PLEASE NOTE that 75% of the ALLOCATED rooms have already been booked by conventioneers. If you are planning to attend best to book NOW! This convention will be a SELL OUT! *************************** Six Confirmed Headliners John Shryock (USA), Marty and Brenda Hahne (USA), Ross Skiffington (Aust), George Schindler (USA) and Steve Walker (Aust). The official registration form for the convention can be downloaded from: http://www.ibmring160.com/ If you don't have internet web access contact Ross Harlick, Secretary, 91 Panapa Drive, Meadowbank, Auckland 1072, New Zealand Or by: Phone: +64 (09) 521 3327 Fax: +64 (09) 521 3327 -------------------------------------------- 15. 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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 2008 Alan Watson