Number 403 - 15th March 2008
The
Robert Harbin Centenary Weekend will be held at
The Magic Circle
on 14th, 15th and 16th February 2009. "An exciting series of events are
being planned to honour this great name in the history of magic and The
Magic Circle. Further details will be announced but meantime please make a
note in your diary of these important dates." Chris Woodward MIMC,
Organising Chairman.
15.3.08
Marvin's
Magic - Live in the window at Hamleys! London’s most famous toy shop,
Hamleys of Regent Street, has teamed up with Marvin’s Magic to create an
eye-catching and interactive live magic window display. Launched by Marvin
and his team of award-winning magicians, the crowds of onlookers were
suitably amazed and intrigued to see live magicians performing hourly in
the window. These performances will continue in the main Regent Street
window at Hamleys every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 6th April 2008.
Meanwhile in New York the unique Marvin’s Magic moving 52ft billboard in
Times Square has now been shown everyday for the past seven years - twice
an hour, 24 hours a day! With an estimated 1.5 million people passing
through Times Square everyday this must surely have set some kind of
record for magic.
www.marvinsmagic.com.
15.3.08
Marc
Spelmann performed live on ITV2 and ITV1 at The Brit Awards were he
entertained, or should that be shocked, Matt Willis (Pictured), Alan Carr,
Will Young, Louis Walsh, Vic Reeves, Denise Van Outen and Kylie Minogue.
Marc lectures at
The DownTown Magic Club in Ashford, Kent on Monday 17th March. Doors
open at 7.30pm for a prompt 8pm start. This will be a great night - don't
miss it! Entrance is £5.00 for members and £10.00 for visiting magicians
who will be made very welcome.
www.marcspelmann.co.uk.
15.3.08
Jack's
Magic Shop launches: Jack Delvin has just launched a magic shop
featuring some of his favourite effects: "We only sell tricks that are
easy to perform, but have great impact, so that the magician can
concentrate on perfect presentation. All the tricks in this collection are
favourite effects that have been tried and tested in countless
professional performances." Here's what happens in Tarot Countdown:
"You show two packets of thirteen similar Tarot cards. You mix-up one of
the packets. You then give a spectator the opportunity to choose either of
the two packets for them to jumble up, which they do. Next you place the
two completely mixed-up packets of 13 cards side by side face downwards.
The top card from each packet is turned over and seen, in some
inexplicable way, to match! You continue to turn the cards over and, to
the utter amazement of the audience, it is seen that all the cards match!
A wonderful secret. It simply works itself." Visit the website for details
of this effect and many others:
www.jackdelvin.co.uk/shop.
15.3.08
Merlin
Magical Society Dealers Showcase. Saturday 26th April, 9am - 5.30pm,
entrance £10.00 (or £8.00 in advance - see website) Potters Bar United
Reform Church, Tilbury Hall, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6
1BZ (Map).
With ten dealers and demonstrations throughout the day, plus a couple of
small lectures including a special lecture by Keith Bennett.
www.merlinmagicalsociety.co.uk.
15.3.08
International
News: 2008 Magic Collectors' Weekend - Chicago. The 2008 Magic
Collectors' Weekend will be held in suburban Chicago, from May 1st-3rd,
2008. Harry Anderson will be the guest of honor, and John Carney will
present his one man show, Carney's Wonders, as part of the convention.
Extra tickets are available for the Carney show. Also on the program for
the convention are Max Maven, David Ben, Ross Johnson, Tom Ladshaw, Sean
Owens, Handsome Jack and David Charvet. For full details visit
www.squashpublishing.com (Events). Registrations can be purchased
there, along with extra tickets for the Carney show.
15.3.08
Damien
recently returned from Jamaica where he'd been invited to perform magic at
the Urban Music Awards official press launch. He also enjoyed a guest spot
on 'Smile Jamaica', Jamaica’s premier morning television show. "It was a
great experience going to Jamaica and performing on TV, I also had the
chance to meet Reggae and Dancehall artists such as, Sean Paul, Bennie
Man, Rihanna, Ziggy Marley and Spragga Bennz." Said Damien, who is
currently filming a new magic series with the BBC called "The Magic House
Party". Other magicians in the show, which will air in May, include
Richard Bellars, Dynamo and Pete Hathaway.
www.myspace.com/damiensmagic.
15.3.08
Magic
Circle Show - Caerphilly. On Friday 28th March at 7pm, Magic Circle
Members are performing in the South Wales town of Tommy Cooper’s birth as
a tribute to him and to encourage live family entertainment. The Show
takes place at The Workmen’s Hall, Castle Street, Caerphilly, just a few
yards from the recently unveiled statue of Tommy. The aim is to raise
funds towards the refurbishment of the venue, to be renamed The Tommy
Cooper Theatre, which will benefit local groups and societies involved in
the performing arts. Taking part in The Magic Circle Show are Alan Shaxon,
Brian Miller and Audrey, Peter Scarlett, Keith Cooper and Carol, Mike
O’Brien, Rob Page and David Ball. And performing close-up magic during the
interval Geoffrey Newton, David Beckley and James Fortune. Tickets are
selling fast and can be obtained from the Caerphilly Visitor Centre,
Telephone 029 2088 0011. All major credit cards accepted. "Magic way to
honour comic hero Tommy"
Click Here.
15.3.08
The
Oxford Murders. Alan York emails "I have just read a book called The
Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martínez who is a professor of mathematics at
Oxford. The interest to magicians is that one whole chapter is devoted to
attending a performance by René Lavand with a detailed description of his
act. A film of the book starring John Hurt and Elijah Wood is due for
release in April but René Lavand is not listed in the cast. As he seems to
be a gratuitous intrusion with nothing to do with the plot of the story
this is not surprising and one wonders if he was included simply because
the author is, like many of us, an admirer." Available from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here.
15.3.08
Easter
deals... Mike Danata's Magic Studio will be open throughout the Easter
Period with 10% off all purchases throughout the store! The 10% discount
will also apply to phoned-in orders on 0800 118 26 55 (with free worldwide
postage as well). "Why not come to Bournemouth, enjoy the sights, and
visit the Studio, we stock 1000's of items! You won't be disappointed, for
sure!" Emails Mike (the shop really is chock-a-block with magic). Visit
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk for details and special Easter
opening times.
15.3.08
El
Loco has been invited to perform his award winning show "The Dentist
Chair" at the Prague International Festival of Modern Magic. This
prestigious annual event takes place on the 10th and 11th of October.
"It's great to see the UK has produced a world class speciality act" Wayne
Dobson. www.elloco.co.uk.
15.3.08
Cardini:
The Suave Deceiver by John Fisher. "A master of sleight-of-hand, a
show-business success, a classic act that changed the course of his art,
and a builder of intricate miracles, Cardini is unveiled in depth and with
great insight by John Fisher, a wizard of words. Granted access to the
personal notebooks, scrapbooks, and memorabilia of Cardini, John Fisher
has crafted not only a revelatory biography but also a fine piece of
magical literature." Wayne Dobson has a limited number in stock - visit
www.waynedobson.co.uk for details and to order.
15.3.08
South
Downs Magicians welcomed back former presidents Ilona and Peter
Scarlett for the club's annual close-up competition last week. Ilona was
president in 1992/93 and donated the close-up trophy to the club. She
presented it to this year's winner Gordon Burtenshaw and Peter Scarlett
served as club president in 1988/89. Photo: Ilona Scarlett presents the
South Downs Magicians close-up trophy to winner Gordon Burtenshaw.
www.southdownsmagicians.co.uk.
15.3.08
Quick
Change Cummerbund. Lex Schoppi presents Rich Stephens' Royal Casino
Cummerbund - the Quick Change Cummerbund. Lightning fast colour
changes are possible with this Cummerbund making it ideal for magicians,
emcees, close-up magicians and children's entertainers. To find out all
about it visit
www.lexschoppi.com today!
15.3.08
Mark
Worgan heads off to Bonaire, located in the Dutch Caribbean, at the
end of March to pick up a ship. He'll be performing comedy cabaret and his
all new close-up magic show. On his return he'll be seen at the AWS
convention emceeing the show and lecturing. The following week he's
staging his Magic Rabbit Fun & Laughter Show at the Uckfield Civic Centre
on 8th April at 2pm (box office 01825 769694). The show features magic,
competitions and audience participation aimed at children and parents.
Then the week after that it's back to the Caribbean...
15.3.08
Illusioncraft
presents three brand new effects from Mark Southworth: "The Changer (an
examinable colour changing cardcase), Mercury Matchbox (a Card to Matchbox
effect with a kicker ending) and Cash Vault (a lost signed card is found
paper-clipped between two banknotes which have been in view from the
beginning!). All three effects come complete with custom made gimmicks and
full DVD instructions. Illusioncraft will be taking pre-orders in the next
few days when details will appear on their website.
www.illusioncraft.co.uk.
15.3.08
Max
Somerset Lecture. The AWS is pleased to announce that Max Somerset has
re-scheduled the lecture that was cancelled in February, and will be
lecturing in Southampton on May 6th. Non members £5.00, all magicians
welcome - contact Phil on 07739 407147 for details. Their one day
convention takes place on April 6th - visit
www.awsmagic.co.uk
for details.
15.3.08
Oakwood
Theme Park, in association with The Twins, are proud to announce the
launch of The Illusioneers. The show will premiere on March 20th at
Oakwood Theme Park in West Wales. This show will feature large scale
illusions that have been specially designed and built for the production
and a number of stunning special/visual effects. Tickets are disappearing
fast! More information:
www.oakwoodthemepark.co.uk and
www.theillusionists.com.
15.3.08
Keith
Bennet, Benjamin Earl, Michael Vincent and Matthew J Dowden all
lecture at the Liverpool Magic Circle over the coming months - see
What's On for details.
15.3.08
Justin
Lee Collins is seen here taking in some magic at Illusions Magic Bar
in Bristol last night. He also performed a few tricks too. Spotted
recently at the Blackpool Convention, it looks like magic has a new
convert.
www.illusionsmagicbar.co.uk.
15.3.08
Close-up Magicians wanted for cruise lines. IDEA International Entertainment, Norway, will be holding auditions at The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, on April 28th and 29th. Email Steve Redman steve@idea.no for an audition time. They also require street performers, clowns, unique acts and visual comedy acts. A small PA system will be provided. Acts should bring suitable promotional material. www.idea.no. 15.3.08
Guess
Who?: The Many Faces of Noma Bar, from Chaplin to Geller it caught my
eye. Available via Amazon.co.uk,
Click Here • "Magician trying something different"
Click
Here • Bernard Visgandis reports on Bob Swadling's recent lecture at
the Leamington and Warwick Magic Society,
Click Here • Mindwriter Ian Carpenter has a new blog up and running at
www.mindwriter-magic.blogspot.com • Congratulations to illusionists
Sarah and David Lewis on the birth of a beautiful little baby boy, Kyle
Rhys, on Wednesday 27th February • "Funny magician is serious about
getting children to read"
Click Here • "Death Defying Acts (video trailer)"
Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed - please remember
the 12 noon Friday deadline for all submissions. See you next week,
Duncan.
15.3.08