Number 252 - 23rd April 2005
The
Leeds Magical Association are holding their 9th Magic Convention on
May 14th and 15th May at
The Ramada Leeds Parkway Hotel, Otley Road, Leeds LS16 8AG (Map).
With the Yorkshire Dales just on the doorstep, the convention weekend
would make an ideal family break. Saturday: President's Dinner and Cabaret
starring Wayne Dobson, Pat Page, Newton Willows and Peter Greenwood.
Sunday: Dealers Fair featuring: Albion Magic, Balloon Parade, Bradford
Magic Studio, Castle Magical Services, Deluxe Magic, Five of Hearts
Productions, J B Magic, K B Magic, The Magic Box, Magick Enterprises,
Merlin's Magic, Peter Diamond & Co, Practical Magic and Wayne Dobson.
Lectures from Wayne Dobson and Pat Page, Close-up with Stevie B, Jack
Diamond, Darren and Peter Roberts, "Learn With The Experts" featuring Tim
Shoesmith and Jack Henderson, and a closing Cabaret starring Peter
Greenwood, Wayne Dobson, Pat Page and Tim Shoesmith. Prices: President's
Dinner and Cabaret £27.50. Sunday Registration £20.00 if you book in
advance (£15 Under 14s), or from May 3rd £25 (£17 Under 14s). With special hotel
rates for those wishing to stay (ask for the LMA Convention rate)
telephone the Ramada Jarvis on 0113 269 9000 email
sales.leeds@ramadajarvis.co.uk
www.ramadajarvis.co.uk. For convention registration details visit
www.leedsmagic.co.uk. 23.4.05
The
International Brotherhood of Magicians Irish Ring 85 in association
with The Society of Irish Magicians present their Annual Convention from
April 29th to 1st May at the Plaza Hotel, Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin
22. Starring Marc Paul, David Ginn, Andrew Normensall, The Nardinis
(photo), Gay Ljungberg, Gabor G Szabo and a host of Irish talent. For more
information and to register email Brendan Byrne
byrnemail@eircom.net
www.online-usm.com. 23.4.05
Lee
Asher is now advertising with MagicWeek. Lee started out working in a
variety of magic shops and as he grew up had the opportunity to perform in
just about every possible situation. In 1996 he was one of the first
close-up performers to work at Caesar's Magical Empire in Las Vegas and
since has appeared on numerous prime-time television channels, including
the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and the World's Greatest
Magic show on NBC. Lee was placed 1st in the International Brotherhood of
Magicians Close-up Championships in 1991 and 1992. During the last five
years he has performed in Copenhagen, Berlin, Los Angeles, New York,
Paris, Tokyo, Glasgow, London, Tel-Aviv, Hong Kong and Vienna - and the
list continues. Lee's fascination with the art of magic started over 20
years ago and today he continues to develop and create. Visit
www.leeasher.com to see his product range. 23.4.05
Mark
Mason appears on 'Food on the Brain: a Tonight Special' (part two)
with Sir Trevor McDonald at 8pm on Friday 29th April (part one is on the
Monday). The filming took place at Mark's shop, J B Magic in
Blackpool, and the story revolved around three troubled teenagers who had
their diets changed to show how diet can affect lives. All
three boys are keen on magic so Mark performed several effects for them
and then taught them a basic trick, for them to present on the show. www.jbtv.co.uk. 23.4.05
James
Freedman's Stealing the Show is featured under
Magic DVDs this week.
Master pickpocket James 'The Man of Steal' Freedman delves deep into the
world of professional pickpocketing and reveals the very best methods and
techniques to use for both stage and 'walkabout' work. One of the country's leading
authorities on pickpocketing James is currently advising on two new feature
films. Look out for his handy work in the final episode of Hustle
on BBC1 on Tuesday 3rd May at 9pm. The disc can be ordered from
www.magictricks.co.uk. 23.4.05
Christopher
Williams emails: "Daniel Garcia from the USA would love to come to the
UK and tour with his highly rated lecture. Before he can do this however
he would like to know how many magic clubs would be interested."
Christopher would welcome enquiries from magic club secretaries, telephone
Christopher on 07745 367897 or email
chris@magicman13.co.uk. 'Torn'
by Daniel Garcia is now available on DVD from
www.alakazam.co.uk. 23.4.05
Full-time
professional Lol James has just launched a new website. Lol
specialises in the corporate sector and wedding market, and recently found
himself on the guest list at 10 Downing Street entertaining Cherie Booth
QC and her guests!
www.loljames.com. 23.4.05
Aquarius
Magic have just been made sole UK distributors of Peter Loughran's
Relic of the Revenant. "Relic of the Revenant is quite possibly the
most advanced, realistic, practical, and stunning Poltergeist Activity
simulator ever created. This illusion is fully remote controlled, and
designed for close-up, stage, and parlor applications. No assistants
required, and no special backdrops or lighting needed." For a detailed
description visit:
www.aquarius-magic.com Aquarius Magic also run a non-magic website
that may well be of interest:
www.aquarius-gothic.com. 23.4.05
Natzler
Enterprises and Paul Gordon have just launched their new-look secure
online magic shop
www.paulgordon.net/acatalog promising new magic, a new look and
special offers. The 'home page' link details other areas of interest, including
Magic Club listings, a promotional video clip, lecture details and much
more. 23.4.05
Following
his excellent lecture at the 9th British Close-up Magic Symposium on
April 10th, Richard Sanders from Canada is currently on a lecture tour,
organised by Mark Leveridge. Richard, along with all the other Symposium
performers and lecturers, Boris Wild, David Stone, Mark Leveridge, Mark
Mason, Antonio Romero and Brian Glover, contributed to the brand new 9th
Symposium Book which is available from
www.markleveridge.co.uk. 23.4.05
Marc
Paul, star of TV's Undercover Magic, lectures at the Watford
Association of Magicians on Tuesday, 3rd May at the Bricket Wood Social
Club, Oak Avenue, St. Albans AL2 3LQ (Map).
Non-member magicians are welcome, admission £5.00. To book telephone Julie
Carpenter 01923 720040 or visit
www.wamclub.co.uk
for further information.
www.marcpaul.com. 23.4.05
Black
Artefacts are on the move. Following 14 months of careful planning
Black Hart Productions and Black Artefacts are moving to the Northern
Highlands of Scotland. Company boss Keith Hart told MagicWeek "Thanks to
the internet we can operate from anywhere in the world and as a large
section of our trade comes from outside the UK, and we are mail order
only, it makes no difference to the customer where we are based. We have
much more space available in Scotland and we will have more time to
devote to developing new effects. The tranquility and beauty of the
location is also a great aid to the creative juices. I am also looking
forward to the challenge of developing new markets for our entertainment
business 'Black Hart Productions.'" The web address
www.blackhart.co.uk
and email address kh@blackhart.co.uk
remain the same. From Saturday 30th April the new telephone number will
be 01862 850009. Keith asks customers to be patient during the next
couple of weeks whilst they get stock unpacked. 23.4.05
Cards4Magic.co.uk
have just about every conceivable variation on the original Tiger Deck in
stock! Visit:
www.cards4magic.co.uk. 23.4.05
Myles
Pollock MIMC invites you to The Magic Circle Roadshow 2005 on
Wednesday 22nd June at The Cubbington Sports and Social Club, Windmill
Hill, Cubbington, Nr Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 7LN (Map).
The format is yet to be confirmed, but the meeting will be in the evening
and Magic Circle President Alan Shaxon will be attending. There will be at
least one lecture, close-up magic and a cabaret act, together with a forum
with Alan Shaxon, Richard Stupple and Tim Reed, who will be happy to answer
your questions about The Magic Circle. The cost of the evening, including
a light buffet, will be £10 for magicians and £5 for partners and juniors.
For more information email Myles Pollock MIMC (The Magic Circle Midlands
Representative)
myles@magiktricks.com
www.themagiccircle.co.uk. 23.4.05
Philip
Partridge appears on Perseverance (ITV 1) on Tuesday at 1.30pm
battling with the other contestants for the £12,000 top prize... does he
succeed or does it all go horribly wrong?! Tune in and find out on Tuesday
www.philippartridge.co.uk. 23.4.05
David
Blaine plans easy and fun stunt. For his next stunt, David Blaine says
he'll perform an 'easy and fun' high-wire act in Manhattan on Halloween.
"Basically, it's something that's been done in the circuses, based on the
old high-wire acts," Blaine told The Associated Press on Tuesday. To read
the full story in USA Today
Click Here. 23.4.05
Dynamo
appears on the links between programmes this Sunday on Channel 4
performing magic for June Sarpong and Vernon Kay. Approximate times:
2.45pm (link to The OC), 3.50pm (Link to the Urban Music Festival), and at
5.20 (after Star Trek: Enterprise). Dynamo will be a familiar face to many
UK convention goers.
www.dynamoworld.com. 23.4.05
Di
Sato (Harry Thiery) passed away on Wednesday 20th April. Harry Thiery
was a two times
FISM winner, the first time in 1964 in Barcelona for Manipulation, and the
second in 1967 in Baden-Baden, working as "Di Sato" where he won the FISM
Grand Prix. "Harry Thiery, who had won the top Manipulation award in
Barcelona, won the Grand Prix. This time, he worked as "Di Sato," a
leering demon character in stylized make-up. The act involved the
production of large gold coins, a vanishing treasure chest, and the
levitation of a heavy gold ball that turned into a skull, all enhanced
with billows of fog and abrupt changes in lighting and music. It was
powerful, but a controversial choice for the big award. In the November
GENII, Herb von Heldt wrote, 'It's a weirdo, but it's also
entertainment.'" Excerpt from:
www.fism.org. 23.4.05
Fricto Fluid is a clever new product available exclusively through Mike Danata's Magic Studio in the UK. Fricto is not only a great substitute for Roughing Fluid when applied sparingly to playing cards (the smallest amount goes a very long way), but it also holds two cards together without them feeling sticky. Two cards that have been treated with Fricto can be tossed into the air as one, yet can be separated with no give-away sound. When applied it forms an invisible skin on the surface of the card and will only adhere to another specially treated card. Available exclusively from (and cheques payable to) Mike Danata's Magic Studio, 121a Palmerston Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 4HP priced £5.00 post free www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk. 23.4.05
A shop like no other. Kristin Skoog has recorded a radio feature on the MacMillan family which will air on Tuesday 26th April at 4.30pm on Resonance FM 104.4 (in London) www.resonancefm.com. "89 Clerkenwell Road is the home of International Magic, a place that has sold magic and tricks for over forty years. It was opened by magician Ron Macmillan in 1962 and has since been a place for magicians from all over the world. Ron sadly passed away on the 26th of January 2005 but his family is still running the business. Kristin Skoog produced this short documentary in December 2003. Ron was then retired and the shop was mainly run by his son Martin and wife Theresa. Together they tell the story about a family business that has stood the test of time." www.internationalmagic.com. 23.4.05
News deadline: Please note the deadline for all news/event submissions is strictly 12 noon Friday, for the following Saturday. 23.4.05
The
Magical City. A new generation of magicians mesmerize Chicago, by
Jamie Murnane. "Fifty years ago, Chicago was a magical city. Literally. It
was the bustling center of magic in the United States and the unlikely
birthplace of what would become known as close-up magic, in which
magicians would mesmerize and mystify viewers in lounges and restaurants,
stepping off the stage and right up next to their captivated spectators."
To read the full story from New City Chicago,
Click Here • "David Copperfield - No illusion: The man knows comedy,
too"
Click Here • "Theo conjures up cash for hospital"
Click Here • "For a 13-year-old, magic means everything in life"
Click Here and scroll down • "Dirty Tricks, the first studio-based
magic series to be commissioned in ten years, is tipped to fill Channel
4's Friday night entertainment slot. Alistair Cook, Pete Firman and double
act Barry and Stuart will attempt to shock celebrities and the public with
their tricks" (news from
BrandRepublic.com) • That's it for this week, your UK magic news is
always welcomed. See you next week, Duncan. 23.4.05