Number 177 - 15th November 2003

 

The 32nd International Magic Close-up Convention is just a few weeks away (6th and 7th December). The Holiday Inn Hotel, Kings Cross, has once again been chosen to act as the venue and rooms are available at the convention rate of £90 per room per night (including full English breakfast). Click Here for hotel reservations. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Close-up Competition and also the introduction of the Kevin Reay Close-up Trophy, in memory of Kevin, the first ever winner back in 1984. There are still a couple of places available in the competition which offers £1,000 cash to the first prize winner. Contact Martin directly if you'd like to enter: martin@internationalmagic.com.

 

The following artistes have been booked to both lecture and perform, with more names to be announced:
J C Wagner (USA) www.jcwagnersmagic.com
Armando Lucero (USA) www.armandolucero.com
Carlos Vaquera (Belgium - photo) www.carlosvaquera.com
Jean-Pierre Vallarino (France) www.vallarino-magic.com
Ryan Swigert (USA) www.ryanswigert.com

A fine selection of dealers will be exhibiting their magic, several of whom attend no other UK conventions. Here are all the contact details for the convention: Telephone: +44 20 7405 7324 Fax: +44 20 7831 2927 martin@internationalmagic.com www.internationalmagic.com International Magic, 89 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5BX, UK. It'll be a great weekend. 15.11.03

 

David Blaine makes a welcome return visit to the studios of GMTV on Tuesday 25th November when, once again, he will be Eamonn Holmes's guest. There's no stopping these two once they get together - can't wait! TV Magic. 15.11.03

 

Magician Impossible is currently in post production. Starring Swedish magic star Joe Labero, this magic special was shot in the Mediterranean and will air in December. Dates when we get them. Carlton Television. 15.11.03

 

Men in Coats are live on stage tonight (Saturday 15th) at the Camberley Theatre at 8pm. Telephone the box office on 01276 707 600 for ticket availability. We've heard nothing but excellent reports about their current tour. Street Map. www.menincoats.co.uk. 15.11.03

 

Blaine's stunt helps researchers. "David Blaine's 44-day fast in a glass box in London will give doctors rare information on the effects of starvation and malnourishment, the specialist who treated him said yesterday. He said the stunt also highlighted the need for more nutritional support in hospitals. Professor Jeremy Powell-Tuck, who cared for the illusionist at the London Independent Hospital, used a picture of Blaine taken three days after his stunt to illustrate the importance of the campaign to raise awareness of the problem." Read the full story in The Guardian. 15.11.03

 

Nicholas Lezard enjoys Ricky Jay's elaborate portrayal of the celebrity-driven society of yesteryear in Jay's Journal of Anomalies in The Guardian. To order a copy from Amazon.co.uk Click Here. 15.11.03

 

The Magic Den are now advertising with MagicWeek. Founded by British Ring member Neil Smith, who'll be well known to members of the Nottingham Guild of Magicians, they aim to supply quality magical effects and offer online shopping and traditional mail order ordering. They also run Haywood Artistes, a very busy entertainment agency representing all types of entertainers, including magicians, in the UK and across Europe. Pay them a visit today! www.themagicden.com. 15.11.03

 

Diagnosis Murder has a magic theme on Wednesday. "Sloan's free tickets to a friend's magic show become an invitation to murder when the magician mysteriously dies on stage during his escape act." 11am on Hallmark, see TV Magic. 15.11.03

 

Policing illusionist David Blaine's 44-day starvation stunt cost more than £64,000, the Home Office said. Minister Hazel Blears said she had been informed by Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, that the bill so far was £64,135 before the costs of the final day have been calculated. Read the full story in The Guardian. His next stunt will be the "Dive of Death." For more information Click Here. 15.11.03

 

Wave of hope for flood-hit magician. "Conjuring couple Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee are hoping to magic away flooding problems from their Thames-side home by raising it up on stilts," reports the Reading Evening post, Click Here. More in The Telegraph, Click Here. 15.11.03

 

Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year winner Paul Dabek is going to help switch on the Christmas lights in Oswertry on November 26th, reports the Shropshire Star, Click Here. 15.11.03

 

Max Maven lectures at Another Escape! on Sunday - we're not sure if there are any tickets left, try www.magicinmind.com for contact information • Simon Cowell is to be sawn in half for Children in Need, Click Here • Alistair 'Monkey Boy' Cook was profiled in last week's Sunday Times Style magazine in a feature entitled "We're so in Love with" talking about his pet goldfish and how it keeps being used in his act: vanishing, reappearing and even reading people's minds • Paul Gordon's UK Magic Club listings can be found at ukmagic.net/clubs.htm and include details of both 'online' and 'offline' clubs An Ashton Sixth Form College student has taken the next step to ensuring his dream of emulating David Blaine is not just an illusion, reports the Tameside Advertiser. Andrew Walde, who at 16 is the youngest member of the Manchester Circle of Magicians, has just applied to join the Young Magician's Club run by The Magic Circle. To read the full story Click Here "David Blaine To Go 44 Days Without Publicity" not sure if even we believe this one from MSNBC! Click Here That's it for this week see you next week, Duncan. 15.11.03

 

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