* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment
* www.magicnewzealand.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #1009
Date: Sunday 14th April 2013
Editor: Alan Watson
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================
1.
Editor's Message
2. Academy Of Magical Arts Awards - 2013
3. New S.A.M. Facebook Fanpage - 2,400 "Likes"
In 24 Hours
4. Final Curtain Peter Reveen
5. RIP Peter Reveen
6. Dante's Leading Lady Moi-yo Miller Is Turning 99
7. April 2013 Issue Of The Linking Ring Magazine
8. Remarkable Magic #296 - Nick Lewin
9. Magic - Art, Craft Or Neither
10. Simon Drake's House Of Magic
11. IBM British Ring Convention - Buxton Derbyshire, England
12. Milt Larsen's 'My Magical Journey'
13. Broken Wand - Johnny Lonn (Sweden)
14. Illusion Dream Team Set To Thrill Auckland, New Zealand
15. 2013 New Zealand Lectures - Diary Now
16. Magic New Zealand App
17. e-zine Archives
18. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
--------------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
--------------------------------------------
Sad to report that we lost two great legends of magic this
week Peter Reveen
and Johnny Lonn.
----------------------
For those who would like to read Magic New Zealand in a
HTML format go to:
Remember
if you have any magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com
--------------------------------------------
2. Academy Of Magical Arts Awards - 2013
--------------------------------------------
Message by Steven Peterson
Magicians
of the Year - Penn and Teller
Masters Fellowship - Juan Tamariz
Literary Fellowship - David Charvet
Creative Followship - Paul Kieve
Lifetime Achievement - Alan Shaxon
Special Fellowship - EMC Producers - David Britland, Luis
de Matos, Marco Tempest
Performing Fellowship - David Williamson
Special Fellowship - Carl Williams
Award of Merit - Nadje Williams
Stage
- Rob Zabrecky
Parlor - Helder Guimaraes
Close Up - Derek DelGaudio
Lecturer of the year - Harry Anderson
--------------------------------------------
3. New S.A.M. Facebook Fanpage - 2,400 "Likes"
In 24 Hours
---------------------------------------------
Message by Bruce Kalver, MIMC
The
Society of American Magicians is taking important steps
to increase
awareness and to provide more benefits to the magic community.
As part of this movement, from April 12 we will be launching
a new Facebook Fan page which will be open to all magicians.
This Page will provide important announcements, breaking
news and relay product information to the users. To see
this page go to https://www.facebook.com/TheSocietyOfAmericanMagicians
Their
goal is to spread the word with a bang on Friday they want
to get 2,400 followers in 24 hours on the new Facebook Fanpage.
If this goal is reached, 24 Corporate Friends of the S.A.M.
have agreed to offer some amazing discounts and deals. One
of those deals is that the S.A.M. is offering $24 off any
NEW registrations to the Annual Convention in Washington
DC this summer. This offer will only be good for 24 hours
IF AND ONLY IF they receive 2,400 "Likes" in 24
hours.
For
more information on who is offering what you have to go
to the new S.A.M. Facebook Fanpage.
--------------------------------------------
4. Final Curtain Peter Reveen
--------------------------------------------
Article forwarded on by Mel Kientz (US)
Peter
Reveen was a giant in the world of Magic. His Illusion shows
were lavish and innovative. As a stage Hypnotist he had
no peer, he was simply the best in the business. As my Manager
for 20 years he was my most trusted advisor. Reveen was
my very close friend for 30 years. I am sad today. I will
miss him.
Lance
Burton
on FaceBook
A
New Year's Evening with Peter Reveen
by Nick Lewin
It was with great sorrow that I heard of the passing of
Peter Reveen. He was a great man on so many levels. This
is an excerpt from a column I wrote a few years ago about
a surprise visit from Peter one New Year's Eve. I have never
been a great fan of New Year's Eve---most performers who
have worked them aren't, however this one proved a gentle,
surprise delight. It is how I will always chose to remember
Peter on a personal level Goodbye, my friend.
This
year I enjoyed the quietest and most enjoyable New Year's
Evening that I can recall. My daughters had left Las Vegas
after the Christmas holidays and Susan and I were planning
to enjoy a 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' marathon. We had hosted
a highly enjoyable party for our Vegas friends a few days
previously and thought our socializing was complete. Then
the phone rang....
On
the phone was Peter Reveen and he had remembered a conversation
we had
during our party about my lifelong fascination with hypnosis.
I actually became a magician not through the usual chance
viewing of a conjurer but because of my repeated attendance
of the wonderful hypnotism show of Edwin Heath.
I
have written in this column before about my respect for
the enormous talent and charisma of Reveen as a magician.
I have always considered his version of the Knights Tour
to be one of the great theatrical magical presentations.
I mentioned to Peter that one of my great regrets was never
having experienced his legendary hypnosis shows.
Peter
has just finished yet another tour of Canada and on my recent
tours I saw an old record album of his in a music store
in Halifax. The young man who sold me the album told me
that he was going to be attending the Reveen show in a few
days. In fact he told me he had grown up attending Peter's
shows since his early childhood! Now that is the kind of
fan base to be really proud of.
On
New Year's Eve Peter arrived at our home with some DVD's
filmed during his hypnotic show over the years. We sat down,
had a glass of wine, ate some simple food and I got to see
the reason that Peter is a legend in the world of hypnotism.
The skilled manner in which Peter handled the audience was
a real eye opener and his pacing was a true lesson in show
business.
To
see the style with which audience members were brought onstage,
his induction and the speed at which non-suitable volunteers
were returned to the auditorium was breathtaking. Peter
along with his wife Coral and son Tyrone formed a well-oiled
and perfectly calibrated machine as they turned what is
often the least interesting part of a hypnosis show into
fascinating entertainment. Once the show began it was pure
entertainment all the way. Peter's command and presence
was magnetic as he turned that group of strangers into a
display of world-class entertainment. Everyone was treated
with a dignity that in no way interfered with the fun.
These
days Las Vegas is home to nearly as many hypnotists as magicians.
Most
of them present a dirty show that ultimately demeans its
unpaid stars. Sure it gets laughs, however compared to the
funny but family friendly Reveen experience this new breed
of hypnotists kind of want to make you take a shower after
watching them perform!
It
was a wonderful New Year's Eve: quiet, sober and in the
company of a good friend from whom I learned a lot. Perfect!
--------------------------------------------
5. RIP Peter Reveen
--------------------------------------------
Message by Paul Stone (US)
Peter
Reveen was undoubtedly the greatest stage hypnotist in the
world, but many others are far more qualified than I am
to write about his phenomenal career.
I
was fortunate to meet Peter around 30 years ago. At that
time the name Reveen was legendary and I have to admit to
being more than a little apprehensive when I was first introduced
to him. In fact, I needn't have worried as Peter was extremely
friendly and at the end of our first meeting I felt like
I had known him for years!
That
was the real magic of Peter Reveen. He was the kindest and
most generous of men who was always the first person to
step up to help anyone, especially magicians, when they
needed it most.
I
have so many fond memories of Peter including regularly
being woken up in the middle of the night in UK by a call
from Peter who would then spend the next hour rattling off
some of the funniest and filthiest jokes that I've ever
heard.
Over
the years Peter and I built up a close friendship, and I
count myself so fortunate for the many wonderful times that
we shared from London to Las Vegas. Peter even visited our
home in Liverpool.
Peter
was not only a wonderful performer and showman but also
a clever
businessman whose vision and expertise was to prove so instrumental
in Lance
Burton's spectacular career.
The
last few years became increasingly difficult and frustrating
for Peter as his alzheimers grew more severe and started
playing tricks with his incredible mind.
However
thanks to the support of a few of his close friends, we
were able to take Peter out for a 'Reveen' lunch almost
every week for 3 years, and it was something that Peter
looked forward to and greatly enjoyed.
Sincere
thanks to Lance, Gabrielle, Tommie, Bill and Norm &
Lupe, and also Michael H, Michael G, Johnny & Pam, Charlie
& Sherry, Fielding, Bob, Tihany and Dave Loban for helping
to make these lunches so special for Peter.
Peter
was a kind, generous, and warm hearted man whom I was proud
to call my
friend. I will miss him dearly. RIP Peter.
--------------------------------------------
6. Dante's Leading Lady Moi-yo Miller Is Turning 99
--------------------------------------------
Message by Kristina (Australia)
Dante's
Leading Lady Moi-yo Miller (Montes) - an icon in the magical
community - is turning 99 years young on April 24.
She
will be celebrating with family and close friends. Anyone
who would like to send along birthday greetings can do so
care of:
Bernard's
Magic Shop, Level 1/187 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC.
3000 AUSTRALIA. E-mails can be sent to kristina@bernards.com.au
--------------------------------------------
7. April 2013 Issue Of The Linking Ring Magazine
--------------------------------------------
Message by Paul A. Lelekis
April
2013 issue of The Linking Ring magazine, Vol. 93, No. 4:
Editor:
Samuel Patrick Smith
Reviewed by Paul A. Lelekis
The
Linking Ring has the largest circulation of any magician's
magazine.
Members can access TLR at www.magician.org.
Rocco
Silano is featured on the cover of this month's issue! Rocco
is most closely associated with one of the most popular
magician's props, ever.The D' Lite! This unusual utility
item was a creation of Roger Mayfarth and, in collaboration
with Rocco, whose photo is featured on the box, has produced
a seemingly endless array of effects!Rocco divulges his
progressions through life and his eclectic styles in magical
performance as well as his associations with notables such
as
Slydini and the Professor, Dai Vernon!
This
article will provide readers with incentive to pursue one's
own "style" in magical performance that just might
make a fledgling magician, more creative!
Read
all about the world premiere of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,
starring Jim Carrey, Steve Carell with Steve Buscemi, Alan
Arkin and Olivia Wilde! David Copperfield was technical
advisor for this film! This party featured three REAL magicians
performed for the VIP audience, Matt Marcy and David Neubauer
performed close-up and Dale Salwak performed stage to the
delight of all who attended.
The
2103 I.B.M. Convention in Phoenix this July 17-20 has slated
some remarkable talent! This convention is a "must
go" for those who want to stay on the cutting edge!
Get your reservations now!
There
is a brand new I.B.M. Ring 388 which reports its special
events on their Charter Day. This event is spear-headed
by Territorial Vice President, Fernand Ridel!
P.C.
Sorcar is remembered at his centenary celebration! I.B.M.
member Magician Subash is presented the P.C. Sorcar Award
for Magician of the Year!
From
The Editor, the monthly article, by our own Linking Ring
editor, Sammy Smith, provides some very sage advice with
"3 Ways of Getting Unstuck" which transcends just
the magic in our programs or routines, but in life in general!
Excellent article!
Polishing
The Rings by Skip Way discusses "Building a Youth Library"!
Skip discusses how books can give magicians a new insight
with ".the elusive creative sparks inspired by an author's
thought." I, too, am a firm believer in magic books
as a means of learning magic instead "blindly"
copying another magician's (often poor!) take of an effect.
The
Kid-Show Circuit by Marty Hahne discusses, performing for
the "family audience"! Not your own family.but
other families! Marty offers some excellent advice as well
as a variety of effects which work very well with this particular
type of audience!
Business Of The Show by Scott Humston gives readers an excerpt
from our own
editor, Sammy Smith! This all about "booking yourself
by phone"! You may want to pay very close attention
to these excellent words of advice!
Cutting
Up Jackpots by Bev Bergeron always has some amazing for
us to read! This month Bev provides readers with an essay,
"Wands Won't Work" that is a fascinating article!
Bev's relates his ventures to Disney World and Universal
Studios and how the children buy these wands by the dozens.only
to find they don't work! Well Bev gives readers another
epic, historical journey through time and includes his own
creation, The Multiplying Wands or Nesting Wands! Great
read!
The
Magic Section!
For
those of you who love to learn new magic will be thrilled
with the wonderful contributions of magic, fully explained,
in the following columns below:
Fechter's
Finger Flinging Frolic Parade (FFFF Parade!) gives readers
a wonderful variety of magic from some world-class magicians!
All
I have to say is "Wow!" The famous magicians in
this Parade are too many to list. Great magic with cards,
coins, Linking Rings, etc. in this Parade will thrill anyone.no
matter what level they are! Joan Caesar has graciously provided
routines from people like Rocco, coin-master Giacomo Bertini,
Tom Craven, Vanni Pulé, Dan Garrett and many others.
Mike
Power's Card Corner - This month features yours truly, ME!
I submitted an Ace cutting routine with a "magician
in trouble" phase that (I feel) is quite funny! It
features a favorite creation of mine I call The Simplex
Bottom Reversal!
Ways
And Means by Joe M. Turner is always a treat! Joe has show-cased
Josh
Janowsky with, Pass the Mustard, Pass the Mayo! This is
a double revelation of the Jokers trapping the selection
- twice! Very well done!
Peter
Marucci's Showtime gives us another wonderful effect, Robin
Hood's Coins Across. The four coins jump from the left to
the right - with the use of an Okito Box! A very engaging
patter line and a clever effect!
Storytelling
Magic by Ed Solomon - Ed has provided readers with, yet
another, magical and colorful adventure of his alter-ego,
DeNomolos called, Time Was! Ed has provided fascinating
references about time, both scientific and mythological
with the use of an ordinary pocket-watch!
Hocus
in Focus has a team of experts who review many new items
of magic so that the magicians of the world may purchase
wisely!
The
Broken Wand pays a monthly tribute to our fellow performers
who have passed.
There
are too many items and too much magic in this issue of The
Linking Ring for me to list, but everyone is world class!
I.B.M.
members can access each issue on the I.B.M. Web Portal either
by downloading the PDF or by reading the digital version.
Advertisers
-- your products will enjoy unsurpassed worldwide promotion
in The Linking Ring through the beautiful printed magazine,
the dazzling digital edition, and links from the I.B.M.
Web Portal.
For
details about advertising in The Linking Ring, contact BJ
Hickman at
advertising@magician.org.
-------------------------------------------
8. Remarkable Magic #296 - Nick Lewin
--------------------------------------------
Message by Nick Lewin (US)
'Adam
London at the D,' a great new Las Vegas magic show!
Las
Vegas has a lot of magic shows going on, actually there
are really way too many! However a new one has opened that
is really worth your time to visit. 'Adam London at the
D' is a really enjoyable show, and it is also a bargain.
Best of all it will give you a chance to see a relatively
new comedy magician who is definitely going to be around
for the long haul. There is nothing more satisfactory than
being able to boast, "..but I saw him when."
What
exactly is the 'D' you might well ask, and why is Adam London
there? The answer is simple; The 'D' is a nicely renovated
hotel in Downtown Las Vegas about a city block from Freemont
Street. Adam performs a 4:00PM show there seven days a week.
Ticket prices are listed at $24:95, however there isn't
a show in town where it isn't worth checking for a better
price than the advertised one! The website for the 'D' is
www.thed.com/entertainment/
Born
and raised in Ogden City, Utah, Adam London has carefully
honed his craft in comedy clubs and other venues across
the country and is a skilled comedian as well as a talented
magician. His biggest asset though, is the fact that he
is a genuinely likeable person who is obviously thoroughly
enjoying what he does. He radiates a simple and genuine
quality that transforms his act into something rather special.
Audiences
warm to London within a few seconds of his walking out onstage,
and in a city where you can scarcely throw a deck of cards
without hitting a magician this counts for a heck of a lot.
It is amazing how many of those magicians forget to charm
their audience as well as fool them. There is plenty of
bite in Adam's comedy too, don't let me paint an incomplete
portrait. You didn't get soft or mushy working in comedy
clubs, and there is a pleasant amount of edge behind his
quirky combination of jokes and tricks.
When
I saw the show, there were quite a few youngsters in the
crowd, and they were really enjoying what was going on;
and so were the adults with them. This is my idea of a real
family show. The 60-minute show moved along effortlessly
and held the attention of everyone present. From the pre-show
video 'till the closing trick, things never got dull for
a second.
London
opens his show with some great observational comedy about
himself and his background. The crowd enjoyed the slightly
askew element that arose from his good-natured jokes about
his Mormon roots. It also set up some great future callbacks
for the comedy in his show. There was excellent use of music
cues and sound effects to heighten the comedy.
The
(sort of) theme of the show revolves, in a slightly hazy
manner, around London's love of those little yellow rubber
ducks that kids like to float in their bathtubs, or throw
hoops around at carnivals. Hey, I'm just telling you the
theme of the show, not trying to explain it! The only way
to fully grasp it is to see the show - and you might not
succeed in getting it too straight even then.
London
is a published author of a popular children's book about
the adventures of one of these plastic ducks, maybe it all
makes more sense if you've read the book. There was a line
of youngsters after the show who were delightedly waiting
for Adam to sign their copies, he was also signing $1 rubber
ducks as souvenirs. Mostly the kids just seemed to want
to spend a few minutes talking with London, who was gracious
and generous with his time.
The
magic in the show varied from a very strong handling of
the 'Tossed Deck' and the 'Hydrostatic Glass,' to a truly
surreal segment where he draw a characterture on a board
and sang a spirited duet with it as it came to life. He
also performs a unique version of a destroyed and restored
ring in M & M package. Oh, and did I mention there were
rubber ducks!
Over
the years I have become rather jaded watching comedy magic
- heck I've made a living doing it for over 40 years, but
I found the show fresh and funny. Is there room for the
show to get a little tighter and more focused? You bet there
is, and I have no doubt that it is doing so day by day.
This is a smart performer with a great career ahead of him
and I strongly suggest if you are visiting Las Vegas you
head down to the 'D' and catch the comedy and magic of Adam
London.Check out his website at www.quackmagic.com
I
have some great products and videos online. Check them out
on my web site.
www.nicklewin.com
-------------------------------------------
9. Magic - Art, Craft Or Neither
--------------------------------------------
Message by Anthony Darkstone - USA/Europe
This
week I am delighted to continue with words from Ivonne Perez
Montijo. For just over 3 decades, Ivonne has been active
in Film & TV. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild
and has also written and produced independent short films
and theatrical productions. Her "day job" has
been as "Pinky the Clown", performing magic and
entertaining young children all over Los Angeles. Ivonne
has a B.A. in Spanish Literature with a minor in Theatre
& Film from U.C.L.A.and a M.A. in Religious Studies
from C.S.U.L.B. She is currently studying music theory,
piano, and guitar at Long Beach City College. Ivonne is
first and foremost a writer and a story teller. She has
written numerous poems over the years and her work can be
found on :-www.ivonnemontijo.wordpress.com.
I
have not read all her written work but from the writings
that I have perused, it is indeed praiseworthy. Her conceptual
thinking and phraseology are superb. I have publicly stated
that some aspects of her work flow in a similar vein to
Kahlil Gibran. She is also currently developing her thesis,
"Mary Magdalene: Beloved Wife and Disciple of Jesus
of Nazareth" into a book. I am eagerly looking forward
to this as the topic has interested me for some 50 years.
She also has a page dedicated to inspiring thoughts on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ForTheLoveOfYou.April2012 .
For
reasons that will become apparent as you read the following
words, I am both deeply appreciative & delighted that
she responded to my request to contribute to the topic.
Of necessity, The Editor and I have chosen to publish it
in installments over the next few weeks.
The
Art of Magic - Part 2
By
Ivonne Perez Montijo, M.A.
While
pursuing my M.A. in Religious studies I took a course called,
"Gender, Magic, Witchcraft and Religion." For
the first class my professor asked me to perform my kids'
party act to open up the discourse on what is real magic?
In religious studies magic and religion go hand in hand.
Emile Durkheim, in The Elementary forms of Religious Life
states, "that magic is full of religion just as religion
is full of magic." He also states that, "the magician
is for magic what the priest is for religion.
Durkheim
is referring to magic as ritual practice but the birth of
the performance arts had their inception in the early religious
rituals of the shamans. Joseph Campbell states, "The
mythmakers of earlier days were the counterparts of our
artists.". Mr. Campbell is referring to shamans. Bill
Moyers poses the following question to Campbell, "In
these early elementary cultures, as you call them, who would
have been the equivalent of the poets of today?" and
Campbell responds, "The shamans. The shamans were the
first storytellers and the first performers acting out myths
to inform the tribes. These first performances were the
religious/spiritual rituals in which the shamans led the
community.
Theater
grew out of myths, ceremony and ritual which took place
in daily life and theatre evolved from the performance of
ritual in which the community was not a participant but
a spectator. "According to the historians Oscar Brockett
and Franklin Hildy, rituals typically include elements that
entertain or give pleasure, such as costumes and masks as
well as skilled performers. As societies grew more complex,
these spectacular elements began to be acted out under non-ritualistic
conditions. As this occurred, the first steps towards theatre
as an autonomous activity were being taken. The shaman/priest
was the magician.
Magician
Christian Engblown states, "That when you have the
ancient shamanic drawing in a cave depicting the end of
the world, that's magic.". Now some of you may be saying
but magicians are not shamans. Shamans by definition travel
between altered states of consciousness to do acts for the
benefit the community or society. (We will come back later
to this idea of altered states of consciousness as it pertains
to the ideas of art and transcendence.)
-
End of Part 2
--------------------------------------------
10. Simon Drake's House Of Magic
--------------------------------------------
Message by Simon Drake (UK)
Simon
Drake opens his small but select on-line magic emporium
from his London venue 'Simon Drake's House of Magic', established
18 years ago and still packing them in. The store opens
with a special limited edition effect for magicians only
based on Karl Germain's Faust Padlock: http://www.houseofmagic.co.uk/shop/
Simon's
full evenings of magical entertainment are listed here:
http://www.houseofmagic.co.uk/public-nights.php with an
excellent description of his monthly public shows in this
review:
http://www.greatlittleplace.com/place/simon-drakes-house-of-magic
10% ticket
discount for magic club members till autumn 2013.
--------------------------------------------
11. IBM British Ring Convention - Buxton Derbyshire, England
--------------------------------------------
Message by Geoffrey Newton (UK)
Things
are now really moving for the IBM British Ring Convention
to be held from (Wed to Sun) 4th - 8th September in Buxton
Derbyshire, England. It all starts at 12 noon on the 4th
September with the opening of the registration desk and
dealers hall. Most events will appear either at the Opera
House (photo) or the adjacent Pavilion Gardens. After the
official opening on the Wednesday there is the traditional
welcoming short show to herald a few days of great magic.
The first lecture is from Tim Wright from the USA.
The
early evening commences with the now very popular Micro
Marathon after which follows the "Gala of Youth"
featuring Megan Knowles-Bacon, Sonny Pennington, Mandy Fletcher
and Ed Hilsum, all under the careful eye of compere Paul
Dabek.
There
will be the IBM competitions with prizes of up to £500
and details of these will be made available when the full
list of competitors is to hand.
There
will be a wide variety of lecturers including the Jeffrey
Atkins Memorial one, this year presented by Fergus Roy on
the Davenport Story. Also a tribute to Alan Shaxon will
be presented by Michael Bailey.
There
is more to come and the latest information is on www.magicconvention.co.uk
where you can also register. The Peak District is a lovely
area and I feel sure you will enjoy Buxton and its surroundings.
I'll
be back next month with the latest news.
--------------------------------------------
12. Milt Larsen's 'My Magical Journey'
--------------------------------------------
Message by Milt Larsen
Of
the many side projects that Larsen is involved with - he's
also the author the book, My Magical Journey: The First
30,000 Days - he seems quite excited for the upcoming movie.
Few details have emerged, but production is set to begin
soon. Larsen said it will be directed by McG, whose previous
credits include This Means War, Terminator Salvation and
the Charlie's Angels reboots. Larsen characterized him as
"one of the hottest directors in town."
"It's
an action, family-oriented movie," he said. "And
the theory is: What would happen if you were in this Magic
Castle and kind of get lost and discover maybe a secret
door to a . and all of a sudden, it's more of a Harry Potter
type of thing. You know. We go far beyond the limits of
the walls of the castle, but it's a wonderful story. And
I think it's just going to be a dynamite picture."
Visitors
to the Castle . well, let's stop right there. Visiting the
Castle is possible but difficult. It serves as a private
club for the Academy's members and their guests, so those
who dine there on a nightly basis need to know a magician
to get in the front doors. If one is lucky enough to be
ushered into the mysterious rooms of this mansion, they
might find Larsen sitting at the bar. He's there almost
four days a week, and then he spends the rest of his time
at his proper home in Santa Barbara. He was actually away
from the Castle on one of its darkest, darkest days.
It
was Halloween (of all nights) a couple of years ago, and
the Magic Castle had made the local news. It was a fire
that threatened to take away Larsen's 50 years of magical
history. "And so I found out about the fire when my
director here at the Castle called me, and he said, 'Are
you sitting down?'" Larsen said. "He said, 'Sit
down and turn on your television set and watch the news.'
. But you know it's kind of scary to look at your life with
smoke coming out of it. It's not pleasant."
Larsen
said the blaze was confined to the attic floor, which sits
above the three full floors where patrons congregate. The
water damage was extensive after the sprinkler system kicked
in and the firefighters doused the flames. Throughout the
craziness, there was a strange development - one that probably
could only happen at a place like the Magic Castle.
"And
the fire actually started the morning of Halloween day,
Oct. 31," Larsen said. "And in magic history,
Oct. 31 is the date of Harry Houdini's passing away in 1926.
And so the fire actually started, according to the fire
department records, almost to the minute that Harry Houdini
passed away in Detroit, Mich., at 11:45 or something Pacific
Time."The Castle's Houdini Room wasn't damaged at all,
Larsen said. Whereas a room dedicated to Houdini's chief
rival suffered some of the worst damage. "So we figured
that's pretty spooky," he said. "Anyway, all was
well because we have very, very good insurance. And about
a half million dollars later, the Castle looks great."
The
mystique of the Castle is kept intact largely because of
the difficulty of securing a dinner reservation. Larsen
seems to like this "private nightclub" feel, but
he also is open to the public enjoying his magical playground.
"To be a magician member, you have to prove yourself
to be a magician," he said. "But people can be
associate members, and they are from any walk of life in
the world. And we have 5,000 members, and about half are
magicians and about half are non-magicians. So you don't
have to be a magician. The thing is, you just can't walk
in off the street and say, 'Oh, hi, I'd like to come in
and enjoy the wonders of the Magic Castle.'
After
gaining entry into the Castle, patrons find themselves in
a room with no door other than the one they came in. It's
up to them to head over to a little carved owl on a bookcase
and say the secret words.
After
that elaborate entrance, it's like "Alice in Wonderland
crawling through the key hole, and suddenly you're in a
different world." Inside, visitors enjoying food and
libations, plus several magic shows from nine different
magicians during any given week. There's everything from
close-up card magic to more elaborate stage shows. If there's
an open table somewhere, chances are a magician will sit
down and entertain the crowds.Larsen said he still watches
some of the magicians, especially the acts he hasn't seen
yet. He's always been surrounded by this profession, ever
since his mother and father brought him on the road as part
of the Larsen Family of Magicians. Today, he usually enjoys
the magic rather than performs it. But occasionally he'll
offer his comedy-magic act; he opened for The Amazing Jonathan
in Las Vegas several times.
"I'm
one of those hams that you know you put a flashlight on
me, I start dancing in it," he said. "So I've
done a lot of things, but it all comes down to enjoying
magic, and magic is my life."
--------------------------------------------
13. Broken Wand - Johnny Lonn (Sweden)
--------------------------------------------
Message by Sam Rogers
Sad
news from Sweden that top comedy magician and FISM winner
Johnny Lonn has passed away.
I
am sure more details will follow shortly.
--------------------------------------------
14. Illusion Dream Team Set To Thrill Auckland, New Zealand
--------------------------------------------
We hear magicians from all over New Zealand are planning
to come to Auckland
to see one of the biggest selling magic shows on earth today.
The Illusionists.
22th
May - 2nd June | The Civic, Auckland
Tickets: www.buytickets.co.nz
Or 0800 Buytickets
Performance Times
Wed to Sat 7.30pm, Saturdays 2pm,
Sundays, 11am & 3pm. Tues 28 May, 6.30pm
******If
you are planning to see this fabulous magic show make sure
you also attend the Kevin James & Jeff Hobson Joint
Lecture in Auckland on Monday 27th May.*******
The
Illusionists:
* The Anti-Conjurer aka Dan Sperry - Shock illusions
* The Enchantress aka Jinger Leigh - Skills of grace and
gravity defiance
* The Escapologist aka Andrew Basso - Death defying escapes
* The Gentleman aka Mark Kalin - Classic magic reimagined
* The Inventor aka Kevin James - Magic inventions and ground
breaking illusions
* The Mentalist aka Philip Escoffey - Master of the unexplained
* The Trickster aka Jeff Hobson - Comedy magic. The biggest
selling magic show on earth will appear on The Civic stage
in May for a two week season featuring seven world grand
master magicians in The Illusionists: Witness the Impossible.
The
Illusionists: Witness the Impossible launched in January
2012 with a sell-out season at Sydney Opera House reaching
an audience of 31,000 in nine days, followed by a Mexico
City eight-day season with an audience of 42,000. More recently
the show packed out Adelaide Festival Centre and Queensland
Performing Arts Centre, and will visit Auckland before a
launching world tour from London's West End.
The
hand-picked cast of internationally renowned illusionists
together create a blockbuster stage show featuring a stunning
mix of their most outrageous and unbelievable optical illusions
including nail-biting Russian roulette, jaw-dropping acts
of levitation, mind-reading, disappearance and escapes.
This
show sees the magicians take their cue from the showmanship
of the great illusionists of the past - such as Houdini
- and combine it with contemporary sets, costume design,
technology and live band Z, best known as touring band for
Hip Hop legend NaS, to create a spell-binding family-friendly
blockbuster. Creative Producer Simon Painter says the show
is a world first, with each of the seven international illusionists
the best in their niche and together creating a 21st century
stage spectacular that will leave audiences spellbound.
"From
Dan Sperry's shock illusions to comedy magician Jeff Hobson
to Escapologist Andrew Basso who performs the Houdini inspired
underwater escape live on stage, there is no other group
of magicians who can deliver the mind-blowing entertainment
that The Illusionists do at every show.
"Kevin
James, The Inventor, is the man who created most of the
famous illusions and tricks that you'll see performed anywhere
in the world by top magicians, and we have him bringing
his favourite illusions to life as part of the show."
Robbie Macrae, Director of THE EDGE Performing Arts Centre
says that The Illusionists is a magic show like never before
seen in New Zealand and another major stage show for Auckland
and the rest of New Zealand to enjoy.
"We're
incredibly excited to have secured The Illusionists for
a season at The Civic. We haven't had a blockbuster magic
show of this kind in Auckland before and we know that the
theatricality and artistry of the show will completely
astonish our audiences."
To
book or for more information go to:
http://www.the-edge.co.nz/illusionists.aspx
YouTube
clip - The Illusionists - Witness the
Impossiblehttp://youtu.be/nAqq_OCC-3Y
--------------------------------------------
15. Magic New Zealand App
--------------------------------------------
Magic New Zealand now has its very own app that can be launched
on any tablet.
Go
to: www.app.cat/magicnewzealand on your tablet to download
the FREE Magic
New Zealand app.
--------------------------------------------
16. e-zine Archives
--------------------------------------------
Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to:
www.magicnewzealand.com click on the red button center right
"Archives"
When
you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order in
folders for each year and are Coded, e.g. 001 Nov06 1999.txt
first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the
date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999)
---------------------------------------------
17. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
--------------------------------------------
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Subscribers
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