Magic New Zealand E-zine Issue Number: #1710

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* Magic New Zealand®
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Issue Number: #1735
Date: Sunday 1st October 2023
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: Editor@magicnewzealand.com

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Hi here is the latest news
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1. Editor's Message
2. New Documentary 'M For Magic'
3. Magical Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Fundraiser
4. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #127
5. 2023 PCAM Magic Convention
6. Magic Museum Bellachini - Episode 49
7. Tales From The Fantastic Magic Center - #60
8. The Isolation Force - John Carey #212
9. Monday Night Magic
10. Magic By Famous Coach At Interview For Notre Dame
11. E-zine Archives
12. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice

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1. Editor's Message
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If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in HTML format go to:

If you would like to write a regular column for Magic New Zealand or
have some magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com

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2. New Documentary 'M For Magic'
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M for Magic Plot

Visitors are strictly forbidden at the Magic Castle unless formally invited by a member and members can only join after passing a performance exam in front of a panel of judges. Magicians and invitees alike must adhere to a formal dress code and abide by a strict 'no-photos' policy, before they enter the clubhouse through a trick door with a secret passphrase.

Almost six decades later, the club remains as mysterious and elusive to outsiders as the craft they practice inside. But now the Castle's never-before-told history is set to be revealed in a new documentary titled M for Magic. With unprecedented access, filmmaker Alexis Manya Spraic delves deep into the four generations of the legendary Larsen family who turned a decrepit gothic mansion into the infamous, 'mecca of magic' beloved by Cary Grant, David Copperfield, Orson Welles, David Blaine, Steve Martin, Penn & Teller, Ricky Jay and Dai Vernon. (Via Tate Delloy, Daily Mail)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1819591/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_ov_pl

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3. Magical Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Fundraiser
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Message by Trudy Monti / Monteith (US)

Event Information

About event

WeGotThis.org has partnered with the Society of American Magicians to spread joy to pediatric cancer patients through magic. 100% of the profits will be split between WeGotThis.org's mission and the SAM's initiative to restore and preserve the historical Houdini Grave Site.

https://donorbox.org/events/498632

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4. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #127
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

I don't go down to the Las Vegas Strip these days as often as I used to when I first moved to Las Vegas 15 years ago. Like much of Las Vegas, that area has changed considerably from the first days I visited the entertainment capital of the world back in 1981.

I've talked before in my articles how, in my opinion, the whole ethos of the Strip Casinos has dramatically changed from the days when Las Vegas was largely controlled by the mafia, was not only a safer and more welcoming place, but also certainly much better value than today.

Las Vegas is arguably transforming itself from the entertainment capital of the world to the sports capital of the world.

With the emergence of the huge Allegiant Stadium, the new home of the iconic Raiders, and the success of the Vegas Golden Knights in winning the coveted Stanley Cup, and the impending new Formula 1 Race, whose route includes driving down the Strip itself, and then the 2024 Super Bowl coming to town, there is a very definite shift in the feel of this unique city.

This is also reflected in the demographic of visitors who are now once again flocking back to Vegas, and are responsible for record profits for all the major Casinos.

One of the few magic shows I hadn't previously managed to get to see was SHIN LIM at the Mirage Hotel & Casino. The Mirage was always my favourite hotel when I visited Las Vegas, and I stayed there on numerous occasions. Of course, it wasn't a complete coincidence as it was also the venue for the greatest live magic show that I have ever seen, Siegfried & Roy.

The Shin Lim Theater was in the past the Danny Gans Theater, and has also since featured stellar performers like Jerry Seinfeld, Boyz to Men, and another AGT winner, ventriloquist Terry Fator.

Since winning AGT, and AGT Champions, Shin Lim has a massive online presence, as well as on social media, and has earned a huge following in Asia in particular.

His show is the greatest exhibition of card magic I have ever seen or am ever likely to see.

But this is where I might ruffle a few feathers, because Shin Lim's show is, again in my humble opinion, exactly that, an EXHIBITION.

The Mirage Theater is a fabulous room for a 'live' show, but the majority of Shin's card work is done silently to music, and projected onto a screen. The highlight of his incredible card work is performed with a cameraman's back facing the audience, so blocking any view of Shin Lim, making the only way to view it on the large screen.

There are a couple of routines where Shin Lim uses volunteers from the audience on stage, and whilst the magic is of course excellent, you could see that these interactive situations were out of his comfort zone, and I found them difficult to watch.

In total contrast to this, Shin Lim's guest star, mentalist Colin Cloud, who incidentally performed at least half of the show, immediately connected with the audience with warmth and humour, and the whole energy in the room palpably increased whenever he appeared on stage.

Colin is a very experienced and talented performer, and his delivery and timing is impeccable. He is another performer who has that vital ingredient, 'likeability', and all his routines are strong, and move fast. This Mirage theater is perfect for Colin, and he was terrific. It was entertainment at its best.

Kudos to the producers of this show for recognising that as incredible as Shin Lim's talent with cards undoubtedly is, to sustain a show like his in a big theatre, it needed another live and contrasting element to make it work, and Colin Cloud does that in spades!

I've always loved live theatre shows, having been exposed to them at a very early age, and that is why for me, watching magic, however impressive it is, on a big screen for more than a couple of minutes, just doesn't do it for me.

I know we now live in different times, and the world has changed, and maybe I'm viewed as a bit of a dinosaur, but whilst I'm still able to produce Variety & Magic Shows, there will always be a spot for good old 'live' Speciality Acts!

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5. 2023 PCAM Magic Convention
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Pacific Coast Association
Of Magicians
90th Anniversary
November 9th - 12th 2023 o Carlsbad, CA

We are excited to announce that Magic Shop San Diego will be coordinating alongside Frank Padilla Jr. at this year's PCAM 2023 Convention! Their goal is to bring the same wonderful traditions from previous conventions that you all love while enhancing this convention to be a whole new experience, aiming to make it one of the most memorable conventions you will ever attend. Space is limited, so don't wait! This is something you don't want to miss!

Featuring...
Your Main Host:
Shawn Farquhar
The man who amazed Ellen and fooled Penn & Teller, Twice!
Kyle Marlett
David Regal
Doc Docherty
Gregory Wilson
Jon Allen
Erik Tait
Katrina Kroetch
Doc Eason
Paul Draper

https://magicshopsandiego.com/

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6. Magic Museum Bellachini - Episode 49
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Message by Wittus Witt (Germany)

In December, the third volume of the trilogy "Magic Cities in Germany" will finally be published: Magic City Berlin. Along with Hamburg and Munich, Berlin has been the most influential city for magic in Germany. Among others, the great magic dealer and specialist book publisher Conradi Horster (15 January 1870 - 30 August 1944) worked here.

He will occupy a special chapter in the book. I am particularly happy that I could win over his grandson, Dr. Waldemar Horster (* 11 September 1925), to write a very personal account of his grandfather's work. Conradi Horster published the second oldest magic magazine, Der Zauberspiegel, with a total of 13 volumes. In addition, he published around 50 other magic publications. I was still able to see part of his original rehearsal stage in Berlin in the 1980s.

In the 1920s, Horster really dominated the Berlin magic scene. He founded the magic club "Maja" and also published a monthly magazine for it. After the first two volumes, the reports were published in the Zauberspiegel.

Another special chapter in the book reports on patents of magicians and for magic tricks, which are located in the Berlin Patent Office. Here you can also discover a patent that shows the basic principle of David Copperfield's "Flying" illusion.

Of course, the Berlin book should not be without a report on Hanussen. I was able to win over THE expert author in this field: Dr. Wilfried Kugel.

Another highlight - among many others - is an article about Helmut Schreiber (Kalang) as a film producer. One of his best-known films is "Truxa", which was shot in Berlin in 1933. This film already shows a lot of what Kalanag later realised in his own shows.

The book is in large format 28 x 24 cm, hardcover, 260 pages with over 300 illustrations.

Here is a rare but very short film clip on YouTube showing Horster in front of his shop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMImnLvQ8rs

Further information (unfortunately only in German) is available in the Magic-Pedia:

https://www.zauber-pedia.de/index.php?title=Conradi_Horster

Goodbye until next week

Wittus Witt
www.hamburger-zaubermuseum.com

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7. Tales From The Fantastic Magic Center - #60
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Message by Kent Cummins, Director (US)

More Magic Auction

Last week, I told you about the beginnings of "The World-Famous Austin Magic Auction," which started in 1975 with less than $100 in sales.

By 1985, sales were nearly $8,000. We added a Silent Auction, so that I did not have to demonstrate everything from the stage.

By 1987, the auction grossed more than $10,000. In 1990, when the auction included liquidation of the stock of The Clown Factory, auction sales were $26,237.50. More than 1,000 volunteer hours were expended in order to inventory, transport, organize, price, and display the tricks, gags, and costumes.

Gust auctioneers have included C.J. Johnson, Ray Anderson, T. Myers, Bobby Cordell, and Peter the Adequate.

1995 was the 20th anniversary. There were 74 sellers, 249 bidders, and 332 registrants. Sales included 3,378 lots which sold for more than $34,000, and $1,571.00 from a "Celebrity Auction" was personally accepted by Margaret Dailey for the scholarship fund of the Society of Young Magicians. (IBM Ring 60 sponsored the auction, but the money was donated to the S.A.M. youth group!)

The Celebrity Auction received donations from David Copperfield, Walter "Zaney" Blaney, Mark Wilson, Michael Ammar, David Goodsell, Stan Allen, Bob Markwood, Anne White, and several other well-known magicians. One of the many interesting items offered for sale was a set of the foam rubber truck tires that ran over Teller in Penn & Teller's 1990 television special. (The set went for $200.) The estate of Frank "Kovar" Mann was also liquidated at this year's auction.

The auction will continue on November 4, 2023. I will tell you more next week, but if you want more information more quickly, just go to www.AustinMagicAuction.com

The Fantastic Magic Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing the art of magic. But I can't do it without your help. My Patreon account is the same place as my free weekly podcast:

www.FantasticMagicCenter.com
kent@magichotline.com

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8. The Isolation Force - John Carey #212
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

Sometimes card ideas pop up by accident. Most times though they come by way of setting oneself a particular task and experimentation. Some time back I set myself a particular objective. I wanted to be able to spread a face-down deck across the table and have any card pulled from the spread and yet still wind up forcing a card. Thankfully a very pleasant and deceptive solution quickly sprung to mind, using a brilliant idea of the great Brother John Hamman.

Let's say you want to force the Ten of Hearts. It starts out on top of the deck. Execute a riffle shuffle retaining it on top. Ribbon spread the deck widely face-down from left to right. Ask your helper to pull any card from the spread towards them. Gesture with palm up hands over the spread as you comment on how they had total freewill.

Now for the window dressing and switch. The switch we will use is Brother Hamman's sandwich switch from his routine the signed card, published in his book written by Richard Kaufman. "Let's isolate your selection between two others, so that I can't be accused of doing anything sneaky." Take the top card of the spread- force card with your right hand and the bottom card of the spread with your left hand.

As you talk about trapping and isolating their card, the two hands come over it and scoop it up, the right hand card going on top, the left hand card underneath. Raise both hands a few inches and pull out the bottom card with your right hand, turn it face-up and place it square on top of the packet. Immediately and with no hesitation slide out the new bottom card, turn that face-up and slip it back to the bottom. Drop the three card sandwich in a spread condition onto the table, a face-down card isolated between two face-up cards. Your work is done and your force card is set for use in a routine of your choosing.

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9. Monday Night Magic
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Monday Night Magic is New York's longest-running Off-Broadway magic show, now conveniently located at The Players Theatre (at 115 MacDougal Street, that's between West 3rd and Bleecker), right in the heart of Greenwich Village. The show takes place every Monday from 8:00 pm until approximately 10:15 pm.

How to get your ticket to Monday Night Magic

Please call the Monday Night Magic Production Office at (718) 575-1349 or send us an e-mail
to: admin@magicalnights.com.

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10. Magic By Famous Coach At Interview For Notre Dame
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Message Jane Stuart (US)

Magic by famous coach at interview for Notre Dame football game

Notre Dame played Ohio State yesterday 9/23/23.. OSU won, Yay! I watched the pre- game interviews this morning with both Ryan Day (Ohio) and also the one with former Notre Dame coach the very famous Lou Holtz and I was shocked to see they started doing magic in the Lou Holtz interview. The clip is available on Youtube.com. The magic starts with the interviewer at about 6:15.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3pACV-kyqg

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11. E-zine Archives
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Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e- zine go to:
www.magicnewzealand.com

Click on the red button centre 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)

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12. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice
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