Number
38 - 17th March 2001
Some very sad news
has just come in. Jeffery Atkins died suddenly on Monday afternoon, March
19th, 2001. Jeff was the Honorary Secretary of the International
Brotherhood of Magicians British Ring, a past President of the British
Ring, and a past International President of the International Brotherhood
of Magicians. Jeff was the President of the Associated Wizards of the
South in Southampton when I joined the Society as a school boy in 1974,
and I have many happy memories of that time, how he encouraged me in those
early years, and of performing in the annual 'Whizz!' shows together. Many
readers will remember his illusion presentations as 'England's Premier
Illusionist - Jeffery Atkins and Company - Magic of the Masters' that he
gave each year at the British Ring conventions. A great ambassador for
British Magic, Jeff both performed and lectured at overseas conventions.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. To his wife Catherine and
family go our condolences. The assistant secretary of the British Ring,
Tony Shelley, can be contacted on 01922 625009.
19.3.01
International illusionist
Russ Stevens will be presenting a brand new lecture at the British Magical
Society, Birmingham, on Tuesday March 20th at 7.30pm. Russ has just
returned from a Cruise taking in Tahiti, Hawaii, and Vancouver. Magic
visitors are welcome to attend the talk for
which there is a £5 charge. More information from Pamela Buckley,
telephone: 01827 715660.
17.3.01
Bizarre
Bath - The Comedy Walk hosted by Noel Britten and JJ alternately will
start its tenth season on April 2nd, and run nightly right through the
Summer until September 30th. The walk, which takes a sideways look at the
beautiful city of Bath, features some unexpected magic along the way and
some brilliant comic moments. Bizarre Bath leaves the Huntsman Inn,
North Parade Passage, every evening at 8pm. For more information
telephone: 01225 335124.
17.3.01
Norman Wisdom, seen
on the right 'picking a card,' appeared in Thursday afternoons BBC2 movie
'Up in the World' (1955). During the sequence Wisdom created five minutes
of havoc during a magician's night club act, played with great accuracy by
Edwin Styles. The classic 'mallet and watch' routine being very funny, and
perhaps ready for a revival?
17.3.01
Keith Fields, pictured here with
Ready Steady Cook's Ainsley Harriott, has just celebrated his 800th 'warm up job' for
this highly rated TV series. Keith combines both comedy and magic in his routines.
Remember when you see a cut-away of the audience laughing that these shots
were taken during Keith's magic act!
17.3.01
Anglia TV, the makers
of Hoax Busters with
John Lenahan have announced that the show is 'coming soon.' John Lenahan goes undercover to reveal the tricks of the conman’s trade and discovers just how easily we all fall for the simplest stings and swindles in this special hour-long programme on ITV.
We'll let you know when.
17.3.01
Magic
meets science fiction in Equilibrium a
1994 episode of Star Trek - Deep Space
Nine now available on video that features magician Jeff McBride.
Available on video from Amazon.co.uk Click
Here
17.3.01
Breaking The Magician's Code
is showing again on Carlton & LWT at 4.25pm today, then on Tuesday The World's Greatest Magic V
is being repeated, see TV Magic
for details. The Cool Magic
section has now expanded to two pages as more magic dealers advertise with
MagicWeek - do take a look. MagicWeek's For
Sale and Wanted pages continue
to be very popular with readers - remember it's free to advertise for all
private advertisers. Browsing the Web (left) is a great little
pocket sized book that has absolutely nothing to do with magic but is
invaluable for anyone using the web for the first time, or anyone looking
for the answers to internet browsing questions. Published by Dorling
Kindersley: Click
Here. If you'd like to run a link from your site to MagicWeek Click
Here. That's it for this week, your news is always welcomed, see you
next week, Duncan.
17.3.01