Number 547 - 18th December 2010
David
Berglas to appear at The Session. MagicWeek can exclusively
reveal that the surprise guest for The Session in January 2011 will be
International Man of Mystery David Berglas. "David retired from
performing when we were both quite young so magicians of our generation
have never had the opportunity to see this amazing performer,"
organisers Andi Gladwin and Joshua Jay say, "He's one of magic's
greatest legends and we've finally persuaded him to talk about his
magic, exclusively at The Session. This is an event not to be missed.
It'll never be repeated and is an incredibly rare opportunity to meet
the man behind the mystery. It's going to be an amazing event with
plenty of surprises. We're not sure how we'll ever top this!" With a
month to go, tickets are already extremely limited, so secure your place
today. The Session, Gloucester, 15th, 16th January 2011.
www.sessionconvention.com.
18.12.10
Bernard
Bilis (France), David Ginn (USA), Hank Moorehouse (USA), Andrei & Ruslan
Fomenko (Russia), and Michael Rubinstein (USA), Richard Sanders (Canada
- photo), Scott Penrose (UK), and David Tomkins (UK) join the
already impressive list of artistes announced last week for the
Blackpool Convention in February 2011. In addition, 71 acts will compete
in the FISM European Magical Championships which will take place
throughout the convention, and there'll also be 125 magic dealers from
all over the world exhibiting and demonstrating the very latest magic!
Wow - this is going to be a biggie, and all for the bargain price of
just £85.00. Visit
www.blackpoolmagic.com to register or email
arthurcasson@aol.com. Acts
previously announced: Michael Finney (USA), James Dimmare (USA), Jupiter
(Hungary), Richard Osterlind (USA), Jay Sankey (Canada), Clive Webb and
Danny Adams (UK), Craig Dickson (USA), George King (UK), Victor Michaels
(UK), Dolphin Dancers (UK), Jimmy Tamley (UK), Rosemary Quaye (UK),
Milan (UK), Michel (Argentina), Xavier Tapias (Spain), Andy Eastwood
(UK) and Jan Rouven (Germany).
18.12.10
‘Hocus
Pocus’ - QI special festive edition. The BBC brings magic to our
screens this Christmas Eve with a special ‘Hocus Pocus’ festive edition
of QI. Daniel Radcliffe is the special guest contestant alongside
comedians Graham Norton, Lee Mack and Alan Davies, and special
contributions come from Vice President of The Magic Circle Scott
Penrose.
The Magic Circle worked closely with the production team to research and
construct questions for the show. Two of the QI’s ‘Question Wranglers’
toured The Magic Circle HQ, meeting with key representatives including
Museum Curator Lionel Russell, Archivist David Hibberd and Librarian
Peter Lane. They were looking for history, characters and quirks for the
show in which host Stephen Fry awards points for being interesting
rather than necessarily being correct. Having worked out a format, Vice
President Scott Penrose met with the producers to recreate one of the
tricks discussed by the contestants and also to provide special
illusions for the show’s finale.
Says Nick Fitzherbert, PRO of The Magic Circle: “I can’t reveal too much
because Stephen Fry swore us all to secrecy and, of course, they always
film much more than ends up in the edited version. However, the Question
Wranglers with whom we worked were truly thrilled in the green room
afterwards, saying they believe it is probably the best edition of QI
they have ever made and one that everyone will be talking about for a
long time afterwards. What I can report is that Daniel Radcliffe held
his own among the comedians, certainly knew his magic and charmed
everyone over drinks afterwards.” ‘Hocus Pocus’, QI’s Christmas special,
9.30pm on BBC1 on Christmas Eve, with an extended edition on Wednesday
29th, see TV Magic.
18.12.10
The
Northern Magic Circle Convention. As in previous years a free prize
draw will take place at the convention (April 16th & 17th 2011), where
10 lucky registrants will win an exclusive workshop with one of the star
magic performers. To qualify for the draw you will need to register for
the convention by February 28th 2011. Previous workshops were held by
Gregory Wilson and Kostya Kimlat. The convention will feature a host of
lectures, workshops, dealers, competitions and gala show and acts booked
to date include FISM Parlour Magic World Champion Marc Oberon (photo),
Will Houstoun with two lectures and Jay Scott-Berry. Visit
www.northernmagic.co.uk for competition entry forms and to register.
18.12.10
Introducing
Alakazapps.com. Founded in October 2008, Alakazapps brings over a
decade of magic expertise to the iPhone and iPod touch platform. With a
unique collection of magic trick apps for any age or skill level,
Alakazapps present cutting-edge digital conjuring. In 2005, at the age
of 17, owner Matt Leatherbarrow had his first commercial magic trick
published via JB Magic. Since then he has developed a large number of
magic tricks and written for popular magic magazines. Visit
www.alakazapps.com
today!
18.12.10
Blackpool
Magician buys Blackpool Hotel! It's not too late to book your
accommodation for the Blackpool Convention - at a very unusual hotel.
Popular Blackpool entertainer and collector of Punch & Judy ephemera,
Martin Scott Price has added an extra string to his bow - he is now the
proud owner of Pelham Lodge, General Street, Blackpool - just a two
minute walk from the Winter Gardens complex! Not content with just
owning the hotel, Martin already has plans for the hotel to house his
planned Punch & Judy museum. Visiting magicians will be given an extra
special welcome. To book your accommodation phone Martin on 01253 826318
or email
martin@pelhamlodge.co.uk.
18.12.10
Carl-Einar Häckner: Big
in Sweden. Delightfully shambolic comedy, magic, music
and illusion. A mega-star in the land of the midnight sun, Carl-Einar
Häckner is living proof that Swedes can offer more to showbiz than
bell-bottomed jumpsuits and 70s pop anthems. Apparently clueless, yet
full of brilliantly executed routines, this masterful fool - a star of
La Clique at the Roundhouse last year - has wowed audiences
worldwide with his unique brand of comedy, magic, music and illusion.
"This blonde-locked buffoon is a brilliantly silly Ikea Tommy Cooper,
pulling endless magic shop tricks out of his tatty bag." Evening
Standard. To 22nd December at 8pm (no shows Sundays). Tickets:
£12.50, £10 concessions and groups 8+ (groups by phone/in person only).
Venue: Roundhouse Studio Theatre, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8EH (Map).
Book online via
www.roundhouse.org.uk. Review: Carl-Einar Hackner,
Click Here.
18.12.10
Bob
Kohler's Lightning Box. "German magician Bruno Hennig invented the
'Signed Card To Box'. This powerhouse effect has seen countless
improvements and modifications over the decades since it's creation. The
effect has been used by thousands of magicians and has fooled countless
spectators. The effect is so powerful that many magicians close their
shows with it. But every magician that has used this classic has always
had a single thought in the back of their mind..." Carry on reading, and
watch the demo video at
www.waynedobson.co.uk (on the Close-up and Stand-up page).
18.12.10
Paul
Voodini - Reader of Minds. Paul Voodini's Reader of Minds
website is offering some very special deals on his ebooks from Saturday
18th December until Saturday 1st January. For details visit
www.readerofminds.co.uk.
18.12.10
Believe:
The Eddie Izzard Story is showing for the first time at 10.45pm on
BBC2 this evening. Mind reader and cold-reading expert Ian Rowland is
interviewed in the documentary and talks about his early days with
Eddie, the two having performed together at University and at the
Edinburgh Fringe under the banner "Sheffield University Fringe" (SUF).
Duncan Trillo's video footage of Eddie performing his street act in
Covent Garden in the eighties, along with other footage of street
performers that Duncan shot in Covent Garden back in the day can also be
seen.
18.12.10
Robert
Fox was personally invited to perform at The X Factor Wrap party,
earlier this week, for the 5th consecutive year. The event held in
central London was for all the judges, contestants and production team.
Pictured is Robert with the winner Matt Cardle.
www.robertfox.net.
18.12.10
The
Order of The Magi. The President, Council and Members of The Order
of The Magi (Manchester) send Season’s Greetings to Magicians everywhere
and also wish them all a happy and peaceful New Year. The society held
their Christmas Party on Tuesday 14th December where nearly 100 people
had a fun and festive evening complete with hotpot supper and
entertainment afterwards featuring Nick Barnes, Cooper (vocalist) and
Max Blake and Tony King. All under the careful wing of compere Peter
Moran. The photo shows President Alan “Snaggers” Russell with a
Christmas balloon wreath he had taught the members how to make at a
recent meeting. The Magi dinner is on 19th March 2011 and details are
now on
www.orderofthemagi.org.uk. Geoffrey Newton PRO.
18.12.10
Dare
to Be Remarkable by Andrew Murray. Andrew Murray emails: "Dare to Be
Remarkable is a new 32 page eBook featuring six professional card
routines including FTW (a very clean signed cards to pocket);
Thought of Card to Wallet; Twice as Nice (two spectator,
two-card transposition); Three (a triple thought of card
coincidence effect); Propulsion (signed card in balloon);
Reset Redone (a four card transposition combined with a repeat cards
to pocket) plus Andrew's 4 card Visual Instant Production (VIP).
'These effects have been designed for the stroll-around performer. A
very interesting collection, particularly the Thought of Card to Wallet
and Card In Balloon' - Justin Higham. 'Andrew releases very
rarely but when he does the material is tried and tested. He thinks,
creates and it's great material. His thought of card to wallet is direct
and something that will work for both mind readers and magicians alike.'
- Marc Spelmann." All purchases during December will receive Andrew's
manuscript 'Two For You' in e-format as a special free bonus. This
features 'Shockwave' his non-gimmicked approach to B'Wave and his
three-phase 'Following Oil & Water' routine. Price £10/$15. Email
magic@andrewmurray.biz for
ordering details.
18.12.10
Midsomer Murders
3pm on Wednesday 22nd December on ITV1.
Ghosts of Christmas Past. "It is Christmas and the
troubled Villiers family gets together nine years after the death of
eldest son Ferdy, a magician. A riddle in a cracker predicts that two
people will die before midnight on Boxing Day, then the frail Lydia
Villiers is hospitalised after a fall. As Barnaby abandons his Christmas
lunch with the in-laws to investigate, it seems as though ghosts from
the past and cunning sleight-of-hand are haunting the household."
See TV Magic.
18.12.10
"London's best magic men" Click Here • "Magician who enjoys playing mind games" Click Here • "We chat to Street Magician Dynamo" Click Here • "No trick to Rogue Magic and Funshop - only oodles of customers" Click Here • Wonderground - 'The Hub' of the Las Vegas Magic community! Once a month, every month, Click Here • "Vegas a star in 3-D Cirque film" Click Here • "Film Review: The Illusionist. The unusual partnership between two French filmmakers—Sylvain Chomet and the late Jacques Tati—results in a beautiful, touching feat of movie magic." Click Here • Look what Santa ordered for me. Finally released on DVD, and produced in the USA only so you'll need a Multi-Region DVD Player, The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series. Sublime. 18.12.10
Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers and
contributors worldwide - thank you for making it a very good year. And
Merry Christmas also to our advertisers (the finest magic dealers on the
web!) from the MagicWeek team, Duncan, Keiko, Amelia and Louis. Please
note: The deadline for news submissions next week (December 25th) is 12
noon Wednesday.
18.12.10