Number 205 - 29th May 2004
Richard
McDougall and John Archer have just been added to what is already a
strong line-up for Wednesday and Thursday's Magic
Spectacular 4: A Fistful of Broken Wands at the Bloomsbury Theatre in
central London (Map).
Featuring award winning magic, music and comedy from Alfonso
Rios, Jonathan Goodwin, Tim Vine, Milton Jones, Jessica Cornish, Stuart
Scott, Steve King, The Band and Paul Dabek. 2nd and 3rd June at 8pm. Tickets £15 (£12 concessions).
For full details visit:
www.thebloomsbury.com or call the Box Office on 020 7388 8822. 29.5.04
Comedy
magician and juggler Topper Martyn passed away peacefully on Monday
May 24th. Topper had been hospitalized for several months battling cancer.
Born in England in 1923 he had made Sweden his home since 1960, living in
Uppsala, a few miles north of Stockholm, Sweden. 29.5.04
Alistair
Cook of Monkey Magic fame has just finished filming a variety of coin
flourishes and sleights for the upcoming Hollywood Blockbuster Sahara
starring Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz and Steve Zahn. The movie is
due for release this Autumn. Meanwhile the
six-part Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever
series is currently being repeated on Channel Five on Tuesday evenings,
presented by the Monkey Magic team.
www.alicook.com
www.monkeymagic.tv. 29.5.04
The
Collected Secrets of Lubor Fiedler DVD is now available from
www.my-magicshop.com. "For decades, Lubor Fiedler's name has been
associated with some of the most innovative, magical, visual illusions
ever created. Now, for the first time, watch the man himself as he
demonstrates, and then reveals, the secrets behind some of his most
diabolical creations. Lubor Fiedler's magic is so ingenious that the
methods are just as magical as the effects themselves." 29.5.04
International
News: Following a successful
fund raising campaign throughout the magic community, Harry August Jansen (Dante the Magician) and his
wife Edna Herr Jansen were finally laid to rest at the San Francisco
Columbarium in San Francisco, California. An engraved cararra marble
frontispice, with Dante's name in 23 carat gold-leaf, seals their niche.
(For almost 50 years the Jansens have languished in the basement "communal
vaultage area" of a southern California cemetery). The San Francisco
Columbarium is a historical landmark, conveniently located in the city at
One Loraine Court. Invited members of the magic community who attended the
historic Jansen/Dante Memorial Service on Sunday, May 9th, 2004 included
Dante's 93 year old daughter, "Dolly" Jansen Haines and her two daughters:
Board Member Mary Haines Schreiber and her sister Helen Haines. The third
generation of the Jansen family was represented by Theresa Elaine
Schreiber. Dante Memorial Fund Board Members Dr. Robert Albo, Byron Walker
and Chairman Phil Temple were joined by Past International I.B.M.
President John Browne III, Dr. & Mrs. Gene Matsuura, Mr. & Mrs. Dale
Lorzo, Dom di Mento, Bill Brooks and numerous other friends of the family,
Board and press. Following the memorial service, guests enjoyed an elegant
reception at the Pacific Heights home of Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Schreiber.
Those wishing to pay their respects to "The Last of the Great Masters" at
the Columbarium are always welcome. 29.5.04
Award
winning magician Matthew Dowden was recently asked to perform at two
events for the Newcastle Falcons. Matthew appeared at Matfen Hall for the
Falcons Golf Day and attended the end of season awards where he astounded,
amongst others, Rugby World Cup winner and Falcons legend Johnny Wilkinson
(photo). Mandy Thompson at the Falcons said, "Matthew is amazing. He made
everyone's night and we are already making plans to use him again." 29.5.04
WorldMagicShop.co.uk
now have exclusive rights to Trevor Duffy's
Minds in Focus and
Blood Tricks in the UK. Visit the website for more information:
www.worldmagicshop.co.uk (Dealers enquiries also invited). 29.5.04
Congratulations
to Michael Carducci on winning the Northamptonshire Magicians' Club 'Magic of
the Mind' competition. Michael presented a set that demonstrated
'psychological control' over his audience and was awarded the John A. Lee
Memorial Salver by President Steve Dimmer. 29.5.04
International
News: Heavy mentalist amazes. Marc Salem reads body language to
astonishing effect. "Often when a show like Marc Salem's 'Mind Games on
Broadway' opens here, people question whether it qualifies as theatre or
whether it would be more properly classified as a variety act. If you
assume, as I do, that to be theater something has to radiate intelligence,
Salem's one-man show qualifies far more than many conventional pieces
being presented on stages all around him. Salem is, quite simply,
phenomenal." To read the full review from the New York Daily News
Click Here. And to read Justin Glanville's take on the show
Click Here. 29.5.04
Radcliffe
Suspects Potter Will Die! Daniel Radcliffe, who stars as the daring
schoolboy wizard, said Friday that Harry may die in the last book of J.K.
Rowling's magical series. "I'm going to be really unpopular for saying
this about Harry, but I've always had the suspicion - with everything
that's going on - that he might die," Radcliffe, 14, told a news
conference to promote the third film of Rowling's series, Harry Potter
and the Prisoner of Azkaban which opens across the UK this Bank
Holiday Monday, May 31st. What's on near you:
www.film.guardian.co.uk. 29.5.04
The
Blackstone Book of Magic & Illusion. Back in print, one of Americas
most famous magicians examines the history, science and art of illusion,
and tells the story of his family's life in magic. Includes in-depth
descriptions of the 10 basic magical effects, stories of the greatest
performers, analysis of the psychology of magic, with over 250
photographs. To order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here. 29.5.04
"Channel
4 plans biggest TV night in of the year"... and our man Mr Brown was a
part of it
Click Here • With assistance from Wayne
Dobson, Paul Gordon has just released a No-Tear Pad with alternating
regular sheets. It's ideal for children's entertainers and comedy cabaret
acts,
Click Here for details
• A short except from Luke Jermay's live show at The Magic Cavern at
Barons Court is being filmed for part of an E4 drama on Thursday 3rd May
at 8pm. See What's On for booking
details
• Members of the Wessex
Magical Association and members of
The Magic Circle
took part in a one-off show in aid of the Red Cross Celebration Week
on Thursday May 6th, at the Barrington Theatre, Dorset, and raised over
£600 - to read a review
Click Here
• That's it for
this week (the birthday party last week was great fun!) - your UK magic news is always
welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 29.5.04