Number 289 - 7th January 2006
Very
sad news to report. Alex Elmsley (March 2nd 1929 - January 8th 2006)
died on Sunday of a heart attack. With a background in computer
programming his ever inventive mind was put to great use in devising
brilliant close-up moves, sleights and routines for magicians across the
globe. Most famous for the classic "Elmsley Count" (as it became known),
many card routines that we now take for granted depend on moves developed
by Alex. After a break from magic for many years he came back to the magic
scene just over ten years ago, recently performing at The Magic Circle
Centenary convention in London. He will be sadly missed by his many
friends in magic.
10.1.06
Subliminal
messages and sleepless nights... "I am filled with an irresistible
urge to buy a Derren Brown book. I've even been on Amazon to try and find
one, but all they had was a DVD. Frankly, it's worrying. Not the lack of
mind-control books available to buy online, but the niggling feeling that,
during last night's TV experiment, Brown subliminally manipulated me into
desiring his products..." writes Louisa Pearson in Scotsman.com
Click Here. "Anger over fake heist"
Click Here. "Guards condemn hypnotist band raid"
Click Here. "A case of banking on human nature?"
Click Here. "Union attacks illusionist's Heist"
Click Here. If you missed Derren Brown: The Heist it is being
repeated this week, see TV Magic for
times.
7.1.06
James
Brown will be performing at the now sold out
Session Convention on January 15th, but for those of you who can't
make it he also offers a lecture entitled No Fluff. "A lecture
about modern magic designed to leave the audience truly gob smacked. In a
world of MTV, remote controls and short attention spans No Fluff
hits the audience with killer effects that require virtually no gimmicks.
Impromptu, out of the pocket, and off-the-cuff!" For more information
visit our Lecturers page or contact
James via his website
www.jbmagicman.co.uk. 7.1.06
Doug
Segal's two mind reading spots on BBC1's New Year's Eve show according
to BARB viewing figures achieved an audience of 7.6 million viewers and
5.8 million viewers respectively. Crucially it would seem that Doug had a
very positive effect on viewer retention, as in the 5 minute segment
following Doug's second spot (post midnight) viewing figures dropped only
slightly to 5.3 million compared with a slump to 2.7 million last year.
Photo: Doug and presenter Clare Balding in front of the Millennium Wheel.
www.dougsegal.com. 7.1.06
Practical
Magic January Sale! Exclusive to readers of MagicWeek the sale will
run to 12 noon on Saturday 21st January, after which time prices will
revert to normal. Most of the items are close-up, but there are some
larger items on offer as well. Because stocks are limited, orders will be
dealt with on a strictly first come - first served basis. Simply email
Jeremy via
info@practical-magic.com with Sales List as the subject heading and
you will be sent a special Sales List as an email attachment by return. 7.1.06
Andy
Nyman's Killer Elite Pro is now in stock at
www.alakazam.co.uk.
Very strong first time around this all-new 'pro' version features a custom
designed high quality leather wallet, real poker chip and full colour
movie cards that have been specially produced on credit card stock. Also
back in stock, a new batch of Assassin Wallets... see
www.alakazam.co.uk. 7.1.06
David
Lang lectures on close-up and restaurant work in "Magic without
Bunnies" at the Middlesbrough Circle of Magicians on Monday April 24th.
For details contact the club's secretary, Edward Loughram:
edward.loughran@ntlworld.com. 7.1.06
He's
off again! Following on from his booking last New Year's Eve at the 7
star Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, close-up mind reader Mark Cairns is
heading back out to Dubai again this year, at the end of January. Mark
will be reading the minds of Olympus executives from all over the world as
part of their launch celebrations for a new product line. Then in February
Mark's off to New Zealand, where he will be combining a little performing
with a lot of holiday!
www.markcairns.co.uk. 7.1.06
Paul
Gordon has been a member of
The Sussex
Magic Circle for 30 years. To celebrate, he is presenting a special
"30 Years Later" lecture on Thursday 2nd February which will be open to
non members. The club meets in Lewes, Sussex and full details can be found
on this PDF
Click Here. Paul also has a number of other lecture dates lined up,
including for the first time a lecture in Northern Ireland - see
What's On for details. 7.1.06
Philip
Partridge will be appearing at
BETT 2006 from
Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th January representing PC World Business.
He'll be introducing expert speakers in the PC World presentation theatre
and performing close-up magic on their stand.
www.philippartridge.co.uk. 7.1.06
Confessions
of a Hypnotist: Everything you ever wanted to know about Hypnosis
but were afraid to ask by Jonathan Royle is now available as either a
513 page paperback, or as an ebook, from
www.diggorypress.com
(see 'Hypnotism'). Royle says "In short this manual teaches everything
there is to know about Stage Hypnotism, Hypnotherapy and even
Hypno-Tricks" See
www.diggorypress.com for more information. 7.1.06
Ulster Boy John turns to making magic for a spell. "Ulster magician John Ussher is hoping that his new show Carnival for the Mind will cast its own good spell on his future career. Magicians from across the world will be jetting into the Province for Carnival for the Mind's world-wide premiere at the Lyric theatre next Thursday. It then goes to the rest of the UK, Netherlands and the US." To read the full story in News Letter - The Pride of Northern Ireland Click Here. 7.1.06
Andy
Nyman can be seen in the upcoming movie 'Played' starring Val Kilmer,
Patsy Kensit and Vinnie Jones - we'll let you know when a release date has
been set • On Tuesday January 31st magic4you2c will hold another open night at
their shop at 101b Eastbourne Road, Birkdale, Merseyside PR8 4EH (Map).
Magicians are welcome to bring along some magic that they are working on
to "brainstorm" ideas with others. Snacks and drinks available. For details visit
www.magic4you2c.co.uk • Visit
www.magic-frediup.com for "the ultimate silicone thumb tip" • "Oedipus complex was a tricky knot for Houdini to untie"
Click Here • That's it for this week, your UK magic news is always
welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 7.1.06