Number 230 - 20th November 2004

 

The 33rd Annual International Magic Convention takes place at the end of this week, Friday 26th to Sunday 28th, at the Shaw Theatre (part of the Novotel Euston), London. On the Saturday they'll be staging the Close-up Competition as usual with £1,000 first prize, and every evening the same gala show will play in the theatre, allowing registrants to pick an individual day or attend the entire convention. The line up: David Williamson (USA), Ray Grismer (USA), Vito Lupo (USA), Piet Forton (Switzerland), Flip (Netherlands), Mickey Silver (USA), Nina & Nikolai (photo - Russia), Leo Ward (New Zealand), Magic Wave (Netherlands), Vassily (Russia), Ailona (Russia), Lennart Green (Sweden), Mirko (Argentina), and Noel Britten (UK). Plus magic lectures and dealers from all around the world. For more information, and to book, Click Here or for telephone bookings call 020 7405 7324. 20.11.04

 

The Blackpool Magicians' Club are now gearing up for their 53rd annual convention in February 2005 - the world's largest! On the Friday night: a star lecture by Mahka Tendo, a star lecture by Doc Eason, a star lecture by Jay Sankey, the 'Mainly Mental Show' with four performers including Kenton Kneppper, The European Close-up Championships... and that's just the Friday night! Visit www.blackpoolmagic.com. 20.11.04

 

Seaside Sorcery organised by Blackpool Magicians Club last weekend proved to be a very enjoyable 'mini' convention that focused on inter-society Close-up and Stage competitions, with six different magic societies taking part, and The British Junior Magical Close-up and Stage Championships. The convention also featured lectures, two evening shows and 20 dealers. The whole event ran very smoothly under the guidance of convention organiser Derek Lever. Here are the results of the competitions: The British Junior Magical Close-up Championships 1st place Joe Ray, 2nd Dazzling Darren, 3rd Cosmo. The British Junior Magical Stage Championships 1st place Jonathon Shotton (photo, with Arthur Casson presenting the award), 2nd Magic Michael & Co., 3rd Josh Miller. The British Magical Inter-Society Close-up Championships 1st place Peter Roberts for Manchester Circle, 2nd Robert Temple for Durham Society, 3rd Will Gray for Leicester Circle. The British Magical Inter-Society Stage Championships 1st place Robert Temple for Durham Society, 2nd Shane for Nottingham Guild, 3rd Stuart Brown for Manchester Circle. The standard of all the competitors was high throughout. 20.11.04

 

The following performers have just been added to the line up for next year's British Magical Society Centenary Convention in February: In the stage show Paul Dabek (photo) the current Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year, in the close-up gala Sean Carpenter a former IBM British Ring close-up champion and Gavin Ross, who will both lecture and appear in the close-up gala. The venue is the recently refurbished Sutton Coldfield Town Hall in Birmingham. For more information visit: www.britishmagicalsociety.co.uk. 20.11.04

 

MAGIC - Programme Six: Violent Magic is on tonight (Saturday 20th) at 9pm on BBC 2. The magician destroys... and then restores "January 10th 1921, and a brand new illusion is performed in London. Sawing Through a Woman was to become an immediate and enduring sensation. It might be a magic cliché today but a member of that first ever audience described it as "like watching a murder in your own living room." The last in the series. Also features Paul Daniels, David Copperfield's sensational Buzz Saw illusion and rare archive footage. 20.11.04

 

TVMagic.co.uk is the new home of British television magic. On the site you'll find background information, interviews, exclusive souvenirs and products from all your favourite television magicians. Current exclusives include products from Derren Brown, Andy Nyman, Marc Paul, Anthony Owen, Thomas Solomon and the Monkey Magic team. You can also register to receive the TV Magic Newsletter which offers exclusive information on all the latest TV Magic, free interview downloads and new product details. Plus there's a special 'Magicians Only' area for bona fide magicians where, for a limited time, those who subscribe to the Magicians Only newsletter will receive a free trick download by Marc Paul. Visit www.tvmagic.co.uk today! 20.11.04

 

Martin Sanderson has just returned form the Telindus exhibition in Brussels. This is a specialist trade show dealing in "the latest IT switch technology" and Martin managed to weave the company's message into his magical presentations. The CEO said that they have used magicians before but "Martin was truly outstanding!" In the next few months Martin performs at three more trade shows, this time in Holland, and he also has a number of trips to the USA lined up. www.sanderson-magic.com. 20.11.04

 

If you missed Jim Steinmeyer's interview on BBC Radio 2 last week, he is being interviewed on BBC GMR on Dianne Oxberry's lunch time show between 12-2pm on Thursday, 25th (day and times to be confirmed). You can listen to BBC GMR on 95.1FM and 104.6FM, on DAB in the Manchester area and all over the world via www.bbc.co.uk/gmr. Jim Steinmeyer's Hiding the Elephant is now available in a hard back edition, with 30% off from Amazon.co.uk: Click Here. 20.11.04

 

Who's a cheeky boy then? Julian James, pictured here with the infamous Cheeky Girls during a surprise party celebration in Dover Street, Mayfair last week. Julian entertained with mind reading. www.julianjamesmagic.com. 20.11.04

 

Scott Penrose lectures at the Bexleyheath Society of Magicians on Wednesday 1st December. Visiting magicians are welcome (£5 charge). Doors open at 7.30pm, evening ends 10.30pm. The lecture is from 8pm - 10pm. Venue: Bexleyheath & District Club for the Disabled, Barton Close, Bexleyheath, Kent. If you need further information telephone Mark Styles on 01689 818984. 20.11.04

 

Derren Brown Trick of the Mind is being repeated on E4 and associated channels starting next Sunday "Psychological illusionist and former magician Derren Brown demonstrates his unique powers. In this first show Derren amazes magic fan Stephen Fry, appears to erase the 'knowledge' of a London cabbie and simultaneously plays chess with nine of Britain's leading chess masters." See TV Magic. 20.11.04

 

Issue one of the new glossy magic magazine Magicseen, due for publication in early 2005, will contain an exclusive interview with Alistair Cook and Pete Firman, prior to their new TV series being aired on Sky TV. The magazine is inviting magicians and fans to email any questions they may have for Alistair and Pete to: grahamnhey@aol.com. They are also looking for products to review for issues 1 and 2. Manufacturers and dealers should send products (with full details) for review to: Phil Shaw, Magicseen Reviews, 18 Portal Road, York YO26 6BQ. 20.11.04

 

James Dunn is a boy with a skin condition who lives in Liverpool. The 'Mersey Cats' (The Rock'n'Roll Children's Charity) have been fund raising to make his dream come true which is to go to Las Vegas and see the magic shows. BBC North West Tonight have taken a camera crew with him and he'll be meeting Lance Burton and the stars of Cirque du Soleil. The exact transmission date is still to be announced but it will be on one of BBC1's North West Tonight's between 22nd - 26th November, 6.30pm - 7pm. (Also Sky digital channel 948). 20.11.04

 

The Magic Circle Awards Banquet featured the following special presentations last Saturday, November 13th: The Cecil Lyle Award for the best effect submitted for publication in The Magic Circular during 2004 to David Howarth; The Close-up Magician of the Year 2004 to Andrew Murray; The Stage Magician of the Year 2004 to Duncan Trillo; The Carlton Award for Comedy to Paul Nardini; The John Nevil Maskelyne Prize (awarded jointly) to Anne Davenport and John Salisse; The Maskelyne for outstanding contribution to British Magic to Wayne Dobson; And finally The Devant, for outstanding contribution to International Magic, presented to Marvyn Roy. It was also announced that Ali Bongo, a long serving member of The Magic Circle, has been elected by the Council to the position of Honorary Vice President. 20.11.04

 

David Redfearn's magic was featured in Tatler last month "I had the arduous task of decapitating and levitating some of the world's most beautiful models for a photo shoot. The magazine called me, and asked if I could 'levitate some models in Hyde Park' and I just had to say 'yes!'" David revealed afterwards that he thoroughly enjoyed himself and would have done it for nothing! www.redfearn-magic.com. 20.11.04

 

Safire have just filmed some segments for S4C (Channel 4 Wales) for a forthcoming television Christmas variety special. It was filmed at the Lyric Theatre, Camarthen and not only features their 'Legs Off' illusion and Clear Sub Trunk but also a routine with the host who finds himself being compressed in their Shrinker! The transmission date is to be confirmed, but it will be Christmas Day or Boxing Day. www.magic-of-safire.co.uk. 20.11.04

 

Magician Geoff Brown, a member of the Associated Wizards of the South in Hampshire, sends in news of a 'Magic Chest' that he has developed that should be of interest to both magicians and mentalists. "Any item or message placed in the box by the spectator can be revealed..." For more information and wholesale and retail enquiries, telephone: 023 80 445212. 20.11.04

 

The Charity Magic Auction at Blackpool last Friday proved to be a marathon as the last Lot was sold at 1.45 am. Auctioneers Mike Shepherd, Derek Lever and Steve Eastham battled through hundreds of items over a 7 hour period without a break but everything was sold and Cancer Research will benefit by several hundred pounds. The next Charity Auction in Blackpool is on Friday 21st January, 2005 at 7pm at the Savoy Hotel, Queens Promenade, Blackpool. Contact Derek Lever on 01253 810113 or email deriko@skynow.net. Several Lots have already been booked in. 20.11.04

 

Alan Wakeling. 78 year old Alan Wakeling, who worked many years for Mark and Nani Wilson on TV shows such as The Magic Land of Alakazam and The Magic Circus as well as scores of industrial and amusement park shows, died peacefully on November 10th in hospital in his hometown of Westlake, California. He is survived by his wife, Helen, and three sons, John, Peter and Tom. Alan Wakeling's ideas have worked their way into the performances of many professional magicians and his inventiveness will provide inspiration to magicians and illusionists in the future. To quote Channing Pollock, "Alan is a one-of-a-kind genius. I see him as one of the best kept secrets in magic, someone who was so good at what he accomplished that you’d want to keep him a secret." Alan's creations and life are documented in Jim Steinmeyer's The Magic of Alan Wakeling. On November 1st Scott Penrose presented an evening at The Magic Circle dedicated Alan Wakeling's creativity and members witnessed the recreation of his Sawing a Lady routine, the Billiard Balls and Handcuff Escape. 20.11.04

 

The Ipswich Magical Society's 17th Annual One Day Convention, which took place just over a week ago, is reviewed on their website, Click Here • "Magic & the Power of the Mind" Click Here • Congratulations to 13 year old Michael Jordan, winner of the Huddersfield Circle of Magicians "Trick of the Year" competition. Michael presented an off beat zombie ball routine. Michael came second in the recent British Junior Magical Stage Championships with his sister Siobhan • "Kreskin Offers Services to N.J. Governor" Click Here • Next week we'll bring you a review of Everybody's Magic, that's it for this week, your news is always welcomed, Duncan. 20.11.04

 

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