Number
1048 - 25th July 2020
Derren
Brown returns to Channel 4 this summer with a live stunt and a
viewer-voted retrospective. Celebrating twenty years on Channel 4,
the multi-award-winning trickster will surprise one unsuspecting viewer
as part of Derren Brown, 20 Years of Mind Control: Live, a
dedicated night honouring some of his most jaw-dropping moments on TV.
The audacious psychological illusionist will perform his latest mind-blowing feat as well as revealing some of the heart-pounding moments of the stunts he has performed over the years. In the two-hour special Derren will reveal the incredible stories behind each one and talk through the meticulous logistics involved.
From headline-grabbing moments like Russian Roulette Live and correctly predicting the National Lottery result, to hypnotising a member of the public into attempting to assassinate Stephen Fry, this celebratory night will have viewers stuck to their sofas – again. Immediately after the show, Derren will also introduce the nation’s favourite Derren Brown special, as voted by viewers, who will be able to choose from a shortlist of five of Derren’s favourites (Russian Roulette, The Heist, Hero at 30,000ft, Apocalypse, Pushed to the Edge) and the vote will open in the weeks prior to transmission.
Derren Brown said, "Twenty years! That was quick. And what a treat to
be given this night by the broadcaster that have been so very supportive
and nurturing over that time. I can't imagine two decades with anyone
else. It's going to be a fun night." The one-off two-hour special will be made by
Vaudeville Productions and the Executive Producers are Martin Turner and
Andrew O'Connor.
25.7.20
Ben
Hart - An Evening of Magic at The Royal Victoria Patriotic Building,
London. From the organisers: Acting as your magical host, renowned
magician Ben Hart will display some of his most exciting, baffling, and
socially-distanced miracles, accompanied by special guest magicians
(including legendary magician Fay Presto and international magician and
comedian Danny Buckler) in the informal surroundings
of the New Normal Festival. A rare chance to catch world class magic
stripped back to its purest conditions, outdoors and right under your
noses (well, 2 metres under your noses).
Audiences can expect Hart's signature
storytelling magic and pieces taken from his suspended sell-out tour.
Watch him conjure with the elements as he works his wonders with such
unusual items as eggs, water, rice, a pane of glass and even snow.
Expect to see his famous routines as featured on Britain's Got Talent
and America's Got Talent: The Champions. There will even be a
socially-distanced interactive trick that happens entirely in the hands
of each and every audience member.
"After five months without shows, I am so excited to be able to work for
a live audience again. A magic trick without an audience is lifeless. I
hope the evening will be a reminder that nothing beats the thrill of
live entertainment and of a shared experience. Lockdown has been
fantastic for my creativity and I've been developing some exciting
routines. I'm grateful to The New Normal Festival for being so quick to
give performers like myself a platform to make our returns to the stage.
The evening is a chance to laugh together in a safe environment as we
all emerge from our cocoons.
I'd better start practising - it's been a while! Time to dust off my
costume and fill my pockets with wonders!" Ben Hart.
The shows will take place outside in the walled courtyard of the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, Wandsworth, London on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August 2020 at 8pm. Tickets £20.00. More info: www.newnormalfest.co.uk. 25.7.20
Free
Magic Lecture for all Magic Clubs worldwide! Ollie Mealing writes:
I’d like to offer a free 60 minute lecture to all clubs worldwide via my
virtual venue The Ollie Hour. During this lecture, I'll be sharing
highlights from Mealing's Membership - my library of 52 original card
items. To book Ollie's free lecture email
admin@theolliehour.com. For
more information about The Ollie Hour visit
www.theolliehour.com. For more information about Mealing's
Membership see
www.mealingsmembership.com.
25.7.20
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! Here's
David Blaine 23 years ago on Channel Four's Planet Showbiz. From 30th
April 1997. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with more from The MagicWeek Video
Archive
Click Here. 25.7.20
Loosley
Speaking with Dave Loosley - this week: Phil Smith. Join magician Dave Loosley as he chats with
some of the world's best magicians. Always laid-back and fun. Available
every Friday via your favourite listening platform including
Apple Podcasts and
Spotify.
25.7.20
The
MagicWeek Monday Matinee! On Monday I added the original full length
TV pilot movie of 'The Magician' starring Bill Bixby to the Archive. If
you grew up in the 70s then I'm sure you'll remember Bill Bixby and 'The
Magician' with great affection. Partly shot at The Magic Castle and with
magic consultant Mark Wilson on board the show enjoyed real success,
despite only running for a single season. I made this recording on 25th
August 1984 when the film went out as a repeat on ITV. And if you are
wondering where the opening title sequence is, it's there, but it
doesn't kick in until 8 minutes and 45 seconds into the film!
YouTube.
25.7.20
Ricky
Jay's card throwing demonstration form a guest appearance on The
Paul Daniels Magic Show on 26th October 1985; added to The MagicWeek
Video Archive on Tuesday:
YouTube.
25.7.20
The
Amazing Johnathan on Jack Dee's Christmas Show on 23rd December 1995.
This is the act in full. I'd previously uploaded a shorter version,
where the start of the act had been missed, that was a repeat that went
out in 1996. This is the full act that went out in 1995 that I'd
recorded, but have only just discovered! So here is the full act:
YouTube.
25.7.20
Too
Many Hats - A Practical Magic Exclusive. A fabulous card trick for
children! One… two… three times a rabbit disappears, each time leaving
you with too many hats! Each time you throw away a hat and pick up
another rabbit you’re left with too many hats! See how they run! At the
end, you have 4 hats in your hands and not a rabbit in sight! But what’s
this? On my back? There on your back are the 3 missing rabbits! (If your
working conditions are unsuitable for card on back, a simple solution is
also included.) Jumbo-sized cards, digitally printed on hard wearing
plastic. Comes with a DVD showing the performance, followed by the very
simple handling. No Elmsley Counts – the moves are utterly simple but
eye-popping! 3 vanishes using 3 separate methods! Our grateful thanks to
Quentin Reynolds for his input into this trick. For more information and
to order visit
www.practical-magic.com.
25.7.20
Mystery Diners: Magic Hassle. The team helps restaurant owners who suspect their employees are not doing their jobs correctly. Rosele, boss of Sergio's Italian Gardens in Las Vegas, is concerned about a conflict between her long-time pianist and recently hired magician. Thursday 30th July (30 minutes) on Food Network. See TV Magic for details. 25.7.20
Join
Mark Leveridge's E-Club and get a Summer Bonus! The E-Club is one of
magic's real treasures containing as it does hundreds of online pages
featuring routines, advice and help suitable for performers of all
standards and experience. It's a fabulous resource and a constant
inspiration that will help you to enjoy your magic to whatever level you
wish to take it. Every month Mark updates and adds to the E-Club so
there is always something new to pique your interest, and since members
also get a 50% price reduction on all MLM purchases as well as benefit
from other offers and freebies, being a member makes sense on all
levels. Signing up is easy and only takes a few minutes. Payment is made
by an automated PayPal transaction and there is no fixed subscription
term. If you join before midnight on Monday 31st August 2020, you will
receive a special magic gift for each of your first three months of
membership, namely The Tube Of Wonder in month 1, The Coin And Purse
Collection in month 2 and the Keeping Control E-Book in month 3. For
more information and to join go to
www.markleveridge.co.uk/#e-prices.
25.7.20
Mark
Leveridge's Free-Buys. Week 15. A card is freely selected, signed
and openly slipped into a small pay envelope that has a square hole cut
right through its centre to enable the card inside still to be seen.
Holding up the envelope the performer waves his hand in front of it and
instantly and visibly the card vanishes from the envelope so that you
can see right through the hole! Immediately the envelope is torn up to
further prove the card has gone. Spreading the deck across the table
reveals one reversed card in the centre and it is the signed selection!
This routine is called Instant Card Flight and is available as a FREE
video download this week if you place any order with MLM before midnight
on Friday 31st July 2020. For more information and to watch a dem go to
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
25.7.20
Columbo: Now You See Him. Another feature-length outing for the shabby yet cunning LAPD detective. During an evening of unusual entertainment, there is magic, illusion, sleight of hand - and murder. Lt Columbo sets out to find out how the crime was committed. Sunday 2nd August on 5USA. See TV Magic for details. 25.7.20
"Did
this British magician defeat the Nazis with magic?"
Click Here • "What is it like watching a socially distanced West End
performance?"
Click Here • "Study: Magicians’ priming techniques are effective at
influencing choice"
Click Here • "Coronavirus: Edinburgh Fringe shows rescued by new
outdoor theatre festival"
Click Here • "Magician Penn Jillette: Coronavirus-era Las Vegas
without entertainment is 'jack s--t'"
Click Here •
"Class is a part of every scene of The Prestige"
Click Here •
"Magicians in the UK and China find new audiences online amid pandemic"
Click Here • "Vizag illusionist takes part in American reality show"
Click Here • "British magician Dynamo remembers the time he met Shah
Rukh Khan"
Click Here • "10 best Easter eggs in The Prestige"
Click Here • "Magic show with tigers approved over Clark County
staff objections"
Click Here • "Penn and Teller call Edmonton escape artist’s routine
‘perfect’"
Click Here • That's it for another week - your UK magic news (big
and small!) is always welcome. See you next week, Duncan.
25.7.20