Number 71 - 3rd November 2001

This year's Magic Circle Christmas Show stars TV magician Dominic Wood, together with Larry Parker (Royal Variety performer), Rousseau (classic silent magic), John Archer (British Magical Champion of Comedy) and Daniel Dean and Company (Award-winning illusionists). Dates: 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th December. Times: 2.30pm and 7pm. Venue: The Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD. Prices: Adults £16 Children 6-12 years old £9 (Please note that the show is not suitable for children under 6 years of age) Credit card bookings: 020 7388 6480. 3.11.01

Earth's Largest Magic Shop one of MagicWeek's original advertisers, have a fresh new logo on their website (try 'clicking' the logo on the left). Their range of magic is huge - here are a few close-up items that are well worth checking out: Sponge Ball Magic by Fajuri, There and Back - clever visual magic from David Regal, and Swindle Shells (a friend showed me this set of shells a while ago - superb!) The site has a fast "search" facility which is very useful for finding anything out of the ordinary, or just seeing what they've got (I ran a search on "zombie" which produced 14 results!) For fast, efficient, online ordering, excellent service and insured shipping to the UK, visit www.elmagicshop.com 3.11.01

Lee Davis, current British Magical Close-up Champion has just returned from a very successful performance week at the Magic Castle, Hollywood. Although gaining new friends, advise, tricks and tips, Lee was also approached by a leading L.A entertainments manager which has led to discussions concerning further work, including possibly Las Vegas! Lee's diary is pretty much full for the rest of the year now, but you can catch him in action at this year's International Magic Convention (December 1st - 3rd) where he will be competing in the close up competition. 3.11.01

Salvano presents a new lecture on Sunday 18th November 2001 at The Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD. 11am - 2pm (Doors open 10.30am). Tickets £10 (Magic Circle and Young Magicians Club Members) £15 (non-members - but magicians only please). This is your only chance to see the brand new 2 hour lecture from one of magic's most popular magicians. Light refreshments are included in the ticket price. Cheques (made payable to 'The Magic Circle') should be sent, with an SAE to: Richard Pinner MIMC, The Magic Circle, The Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD. Tel: 07710 385195 or Email salvano@BespokeMagic.co.uk When ordering your tickets please specify if you are a vegetarian together with your preferences: tea, coffee or soft drink. 3.11.01

Hugh Levinson has produced and will present a programme titled "The Erdnase Mystery" on BBC Radio 4 at 3.45 pm on Wednesday the 12th of December. On the bookshelf of every card magician - and every card cheat - is a certain book, The Expert at the Card Table - the classic text on manipulating cards, published 99 years ago in Chicago. Card magicians commonly refer to it as "the Bible." It has never been out of print and it has inspired three books of detailed commentary, a piece of modernist music by Gavin Bryars and even a management text. It is a book of mysteries - filled with elegant sleight of hand and cunning psychological insights into deception and trickery.

But the greatest mystery is about its author. The title page says it was written by S.W.Erdnase - an evident pseudonym. Who was Erdnase? The leading candidate was once perhaps America's most wanted man. A lifelong pool hustler, card cheat, fraudster and crack shot called Milton Franklin Andrews, who spent three years on the run from the law, accused of two murders and one attempted killing. His come-uppance came in California in 1905, when he tried to kill his gambling partner in a fit of jealous rage. His accomplice went to the police and Andrews and his girlfriend spent two weeks lying low in a boarding house before dying in a joint suicide. (Recent research by a former CIA advisor suggest the police actually assassinated the pair).

Other investigators have found other possible identities for Erdnase. Perhaps he was a distinguished professor of law, a private detective, a mining engineer, or even a railroad worker called E.S.Andrews (which is S.W. Erdnase spelled backwards) who fleeced travellers on the train. But whoever Erdnase was, his writings will continue to delight and instruct both conjurors and cheats at the card table. 3.11.01

Professional close-up magician Kevin Gallagher lectures at MindMagic 2001 in London on November 11th. He is featured in this month's Magic Profile 3.11.01

Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold is now available in both book form and as an audio book cassette from amazon.co.uk in association with MagicWeek. "With romance, magic and science as its central themes, Glen David Gold's impressive debut Carter Beats The Devil is an inspired delight, a dazzling combination of fact and fiction." For the book Click Here or the cassette version Click Here. Highly recommended. 3.11.01

The Harrogate Society of Magicians meet every second Monday. If you live in the area and would like membership details contact: George R. Fowler, 8 Stone Rings Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG2 9HY or Email GeorgeRFowler@aol.com 3.11.01

An Evening with Wayne Dobson on Sunday November 18th at the Five of Hearts Magic Studio is now virtually sold out - so an extra date has been added Click Here for details. 3.11.01

The Lecturers page is still a little underused as far as I can see! There are so many magic societies and conventions booking lecturers all the time that I'm surprised that more lecturers don't place an ad in this section. There's just a small annual charge • I don't normally quote quotes (don't quote me on that) but sorting through a few notes the other day I came upon one that I'd jotted down from Steve Martin mid interview "There is nothing like being in front of an audience four times a day - that's where you learn it" - very true. If you want to become a professional magician, but don't know where to start, then have a look at Theme Parks, Magic Shops and licensed Street Performing - all offer the chance to perform all day long, and remember, you don't have to limit yourself to the UK, there's a big old world out there • Keep an eye on What's On to see what's on today! • See you next week, Duncan. You news is always welcomed. 3.11.01

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