Number
1068 - Saturday 12th December 2020
Marvin's
Magic Live: Sunday December 13th. On a mission to give everyone a
touch of magic this Christmas season, Marvin’s Magic is to a host
special
Marvin’s Magic Live event this Sunday, December 13th via a
live-stream over Facebook and YouTube. The show will run from 6pm to
7.30pm (GMT) and promises to be a "live celebration show packed with
magic, master magicians, and amazing prizes", that include the chance
for a family of four to win a three-night stay at the luxury Forte
Village Resort in Sardinia where kids can learn magic at the Marvin’s
Magic Academy.
Marvin’s Magic Live will be co-hosted by magicians Michael J
Fitch and Marvin Berglas, the creator of Marvin’s Magic. An hour and a
half of magic featuring a behind the scenes look into the famous magic
brand together with an array of magic celebrities including Debbie
McGee, Marc Paul, Pete Wardell, Nick Einhorn, Ben Hart, Charlie Frye and
Andy Nyman. Marvin Berglas will also interview his father, the original
Man of Mystery, David Berglas, with news of the exciting official launch
of David’s Digital Scrapbooks. For more information on Marvin’s Magic
Live and to make sure you don't miss it, visit
www.marvinsmagic.com.
12.12.20
In
the Mind of David Berglas "Nothing is Impossible" - launches Sunday.
The brand new David Berglas website launches Sunday, December 13th, see
www.davidberglas.com.
12.12.20
Edinburgh International Magic Festival 2020
- online 16th-20th December. From the organisers: Edinburgh International Magic Festival
is delighted to present a programme of events delivered entirely
virtually this winter, supporting Scottish performers, from 16th-20th
December 2020. Enjoy winter wonder with a lineup of talent, most of whom
live in Scotland and are past MagicFest favourites. With live venues
closed we’re presenting shows the only way we can, digitally, and we’d
love for you to join us.
Kevin Quantum, magician and festival organiser, said "I’m delighted
that we’re able to offer an 11th year of magic to the world, and this
year you don’t even have to take off your slippers to enjoy it all!"
Gary James’ Magic School returns for the 11th consecutive year alongside
other Edinburgh favourites Magic Gareth and Tricky Ricky - who’ll be
performing family shows - a perfect diversion for the kids. Fringe
favourites Elliot Bibby and Kevin Quantum join Glasgow based magician
Ryan K Davidson and past Scottish Magic Champ Billy Reid for virtual
close-up magic performances. Vincent Gambini completes the bill with a
unique show performed entirely by telephone!
This year all tickets will cost £10 'per screen' and we’re offering the opportunity to buy a MagicFest Pass that will let you see all shows in the lineup for just £50. Festival Producer Svetlana McMahon said "We really want to support Scottish performers as much as we can this year and thanks to a generous donation to the festival combined with support from Creative Scotland, it is possible for us to offer all festival participants fixed fees as well as 100% of takings from ticket sales." We know artists aren’t the only ones having a tough time, so Kevin Quantum has decided to offer half the tickets for his show The Trick That Fooled free of charge to those who aren’t able to afford a ticket at the moment. Those who would like a ticket need only pay the booking fee of £1 to secure a place. www.magicfest.co.uk/whats-on. 12.12.20
"Lance
Burton’s disappearing act takes him back to Kentucky"
www.reviewjournal.com. Here's a brilliant performance from Lance
Burton from just over 30 years ago on The Royal Variety Performance
on 25th November 1989 (from The MagicWeek Video Archive)
YouTube.
12.12.20
Ian
Adair: Celebrating 75 Years in Magic.
Magical inventor, author and lecturer Ian Adair celebrates his 80th
birthday on 20th December, having been heavily involved in magic for 75
years.
Ian received a Christmas present from his Grandmother when he was five
years old, which changed his life completely - an Ernest Sewell
Cabinet of Magic.
He presented his dove act during the 1950s and won the top award at the
S.A.M.S. (Scottish Association of Magical Societies) annual convention
held in Largs in 1958, and appeared on many S.T.V. (Scottish
Television) shows before leaving his home town of Kilmarnock to join Edwin
Hooper at his Supreme Magic Company in Bideford, Devon. Ian enjoyed 36
years at Supreme, becoming a business partner, originating scores of
marketed products, with over 1,000 marketed effects to his credit,
manufactured and sold by magic dealers worldwide. His first book on
magic was published in Kilmarnock 'Magic with Doves' when he was just 14
years old, and over the years he published over 300 books covering
all branches of magic, including his massive five volumes of his
Encyclopedia of Dove Magic.
He has contributed thousands of trick ideas to many of the magical journals. When Supreme folded in 1994, Ian launched his magic dealing firm 'Abracadair Ltd' from Barnstaple, Devon and toured many magical societies throughout the UK, demonstrating his latest ideas. Ian was the guest lecturer at the I.B.M. 40th Blue Ribbon convention held in Chattanooga, U.S.A. He presented his lectures at British Ring conventions, the Blackpool convention, Kidology and many others.
Although retired from performing live shows, Ian is still very active in
the world of magic, writing several regular columns for
various magic magazines, originating new effects and appearing on Zoom
type interviews and presentations, such as the recent Kidabra
(U.S.A.) convention for children's entertainers.
As a member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, in 2015 Ian was
awarded the John Nevil Maskelyne Prize for literature, presented by The
Magic Circle.
"So far, I've done what I always wanted to do. I always wanted to be in
magic dealing. I've met a lot of magicians and seen a lot of magic
during those 75 years of my life" Ian said, with a smile on his face. (Photo: Ian displaying his two sets of
Ernest Sewell Cabinets of Magic.).
12.12.20
Martin Lewis: The Price of Fame - Debbie McGee. From the programme makers: Martin talks to Debbie McGee, the former magician's assistant who became a fully fledged star in her own right, but also faced accusations of being a gold-digger. She gives her thoughts on that, reveals how much she was paid for jobs throughout her career and how she and husband Paul Daniels capitalised on their fame. Friday 18th December on Channel 5. See TV Magic for details. 12.12.20
Pure
Magic - Wednesday 23rd December on BBC One Scotland. Magicians Colin
Cloud, Katherine Mills, Magical Bones and Ben Hart present a series of
jaw-dropping illusions and dazzling acts of mentalism in four different
Scottish locations: The Forth Bridge; Blackness Castle; Edinburgh's
Botanic Gardens and Dynamic Earth, before coming together at the end to
stage a show to an audience of four hundred at Glasgow's Fruitmarket.
See TV Magic for details (later also
on iPlayer). Trailer:
Click Here.
12.12.20
Alakazam
Christmas Party - this Friday, 18th December at 7pm. Join us on
Friday 18th December for our online Christmas Party. We will be giving
away tons of magic, we'll have a fun quiz and there'll be lots of the
usual banter! We will be going live on Facebook and YouTube at 7pm and
you're invited. So grab a glass of mulled wine and get in to the holiday
spirit with the Alakazam crew.
www.alakazam.co.uk
YouTube.
12.12.20
Zoom Magic Made Simple by Andrew Green.
Andrew writes: Are you considering doing virtual magic shows but fear
that they are too complicated for the not-so-tech savvy?
Do you worry that the live experience of magic will be lost during an
online show?
I can help make those concerns disappear.
Having performed over 150 virtual shows during the course of 2020 and
appeared on BBC TV when I was first testing the concept, I have
developed an easy to set up, interactive virtual magic show that leaves
audiences of any age with a unique magical experience.
I have discovered all of the pitfalls you may encounter along the way...
so you don't have to!
In this 2 hour simple step by step video download tutorial I cover:
Basic equipment set up.
Step by step in show guide to Zoom (without the need for any additional
software).
Virtual Performance Techniques. Children's Show Ideas.
Marketing and Booking Shows.
Live ETicket Event Resources and much more. Plus, learn these 4 amazing easy-to-do effects direct from my virtual
corporate close up show:
Gypsy Thread,
Virtually Invisible,
Shopping Online (Virtual Confabulation) and
Virtually Ambitious. I’ll also walk you through my children’s show props
and routines.
Get started creating your virtual show today with Zoom Magic Made Simple.
Video Download £25.
10% Early Bird Discount until Midnight on Sunday 13th December (GMT).
Discount Code: ZOOMDISCOUNT10
www.modernmysteries.co.uk/store.
12.12.20
Eugene
Burger books. Jay Fortune writes: Early January 2021, I begin work
illustrating the second posthumous book of Eugene Burger’s life and
magic. The author and publisher, Larry Hass, has written and produced
some excellent, quality books, that have received rave reviews. With the
shipping rates being high from USA to UK, I recently ordered a small
quantity of Larry’s books, including his latest work WandCraft
(co-authored by Judge Gary Brown). If any magicians would like to own
this new book and any of the following, please email me and I’ll provide
details. The titles I have are Eugene Burger: From Beyond (the
first of Eugene’s post-humous books), Life Magic, New Favourites
(Larry’s lecture notes) and WandCraft. If you buy the whole set
of four books I’ll throw the lecture notes in for free (worth £15). Just
to say, I don’t have any financial interest in any of these works, only
offering it to save magicians high postage costs on these excellent
books. Email mail@jfortune.co.uk
for info.
12.12.20
Rudy
Coby Talking Shtick with Mark James. After a hiatus of 14 years,
Coby returned to performing in 2009. Here he is today, talking shtick
with Mark James. Via your favourite listening platform including
Podbean.
Also see John Fisher's The Magic Comedy Strip series, in which
Rudy starred:
YouTube.
12.12.20
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This week
Chantal Valery on 3-2-1 hosted by Ted Rogers on 14th January 1984
(and no, the answer to the clue isn't Paul Daniels). See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with more from The MagicWeek Video
Archive
Click Here.
12.12.20
The magic of...podcast with Paul Roffman. Episode 21 Joshua Jay. Joshua has performed on stages in over 100 countries. His first residency in New York was the show, Six Impossible Things. Joshua was awarded the top prize at the World Magic Seminar and has fooled Penn & Teller on their hit show, Fool Us. He holds a Guinness World Record in card magic and has performed magic on numerous television shows, most recently Good Morning America and The Today Show. Most recently, in January 2018, Joshua was recognized by the Society of American Magicians with their highest proclamation, for his contribution to the art of magic. On Apple podcasts: www.podcasts.apple.com and Spotify www.spotify.com and watch clips on YouTube. 12.12.20
Magicians Advice Podcast. Host Phil Taylor is joined by returning guests Lee Smith and Paul Martin, and writes: If you don't know Lee and Paul, they are two of the top professional magicians in the UK who are forging the path for magic in the real world and on Zoom; entertaining some of the biggest clients around. See Podbean. 12.12.20
Magician
& Illusionist Andrew Melia has been keeping his fingers nimble
during the lockdown period by merging his passion for playing the
keyboard with his nostalgic interest in classic arcade and computer
games. Andrew writes: "Playing an instrument is a great way to ensure
that our hand to eye coordination is at the ready, for when we conjurers
finally get to go back to work." To view his new media gallery and to
see the hypnotic/music act that helped him win TV show The New Uri
Geller visit
www.club-magic.com/arcade.
12.12.20
Alchemy
by Roni Shachnaey - Merlins Premier Range. Merlins write: Alchemy is
an influential tradition whose practitioners have, from antiquity,
claimed it to be the precursor to profound powers. The defining
objectives of alchemy are varied but historically the most prized of all
is the ability for making Gold. Here, Roni has produced a piece of
magical theatre which is a delight to perform, and witness. Talking
about the Dead Sea Scrolls, the plight of the Israelites, Moses and the
Golden Calf Roni weaves a magical tale that ends in the production of
Alchemy. With beautiful aged props, the story unfolds, with the stunning
climax of the production of Gold right in front of the spectators eyes.
Everything is contained in a mystic box, and when finished, can all be
packed back in for the next performance. Not difficult to perform, this
is ideal for small groups in intimate surroundings to produce a real
wow. Comes with certificate, Roni's full routine and contains everything
needed to perform straight out of the box. Find out more and watch a
video:
www.merlinswakefield.co.uk.
12.12.20
Tripod
Table - Magic Box. We have searched high and low to find the perfect
table for stand up, cabaret, stage and kids shows, and we have found it!
This is the perfect table for all performances. Super sturdy. Metal
construction. Height adjustable. Packs flat. Includes carry bag.
www.magicbox.uk.com.
12.12.20
Impossible
- Mark Leveridge Magic. The impossible becomes possible in this
impossible card routine from Mark Leveridge. Watch the demonstration
video at
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
12.12.20
Fantasy
Film Awards - Mr E Enterprises. A stunning effect that you can work
up into a feature in your show. No skill is required, save that of
presentation. Comes with laminated picture cards table-hopping size and
instructions. Find out what it's all about, visit
www.mreenterprises.co.uk.
12.12.20
Best
Illusion of the Year 2020. The results of the Best Illusion of the
Year Contest were announced yesterday. Now in its 16th year, the
international competition celebrates new sensory illusions that reveal
something about the workings of the mind. Not only are they amazing in
themselves but these illusions can often be a source of inspiration for
magic tricks; both presentation and method. This year magician Matt
Pritchard was one of the ten finalists with his contribution "The Real
Thing?" which came in second - very well done Matt! His creation played
with how easily the brain can jump to the wrong conclusion when viewing
a mirror's reflection. See
www.illusionoftheyear.com.
12.12.20
Triad
Coins - Zane's Magic Shop. Euro Coin Version (gimmicks and online
video instructions) by Joshua Jay and Vanishing Inc. Imagine what it
would look like if you could really vanish coins into thin air. Then
watch this trailer. This is how it would look. No funny moves. No fast
motion. No camera edits. You roll back your sleeves. You show three
coins. One by one, they just... disappear. Triad Coins is a revelation
in coin magic. Watch the video and find out more:
www.zanesmagicshop.com.
12.12.20
Congreave’s
Curiosities by Chris Congreave - Magicseen. The name Chris Congreave
is synonymous with commercial close-up routines and ideas. As a full
time close-up pro, he has learned how to hone his magic in order to make
it totally practical for performance to lay people in the real world,
and this book brings together a collection of 40 of his best ideas, as
well as providing you with three essays that offer sage advice. This
excellent collection of close-up, which is a combination of some
previously published and released material as well as items that are
being revealed for the first time, should be in the hands of every
discerning performer who aspires to present commercial close-up magic.
www.magicseen.com.
12.12.20
Darcy Oake: Edge of Reality. Christine Bleakley presents a magic special starring illusionist Darcy Oake. Recorded before a live theatre audience, it is an evening of breathtaking, logic-defying, spectacular illusions in the grand old tradition of stage magic. Prepare to be amazed as Darcy promises three things: some things you will have never seen before, some things you will never see again and some things you will have to see to believe. (Repeat) Wednesday 16th December on Virgin Media Three. See TV Magic for details. 12.12.20
The
December E-Video Newsletter. Lasting just over half an hour, Mark
Leveridge's latest online video programme is ready for you to watch,
featuring: The Teach In – a simple gimmick provides a strong finish
for a coin or ring routine. Pro Peeks – Mark delves into E-Club Pro’s
Vintage Vault to deliver a cool card routine. Keeping Control Unplugged
– taking a look at why having control of moves and sleights is
important. Web Offers – learn so much from Audio File Compilation 2 and
get a killer version of paper to bank note, both items being discounted
in December. 60 Seconds To Success – why magic magazines have more value
than may at first be imagined. The Review Corner – A Letter To Santa
from George Iglesias is discussed. To watch the E-Video Newsletter
you simply need to be signed up for Mark Leveridge's free E-Club Lite.
This not only means you will get a monthly email newsletter full of
interesting news, advice and special offers, but it will also give you
access to the current E-Video Newsletter. To sign up today go to
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
12.12.20
"Fife
magician produces clothing range after 'losing everything'"
Click Here • "Tunbridge Wells magician's fury after 'razor sharp'
Marks & Spencer shelf savages £75 coat"
Click Here •
"Georges Méliès: The magician of early cinema"
Click Here • "Magician Helder Guimaraes and Frank Marshall Reteam at
Geffen Playhouse"
Click Here • "L.A.’s storied Magic Castle shaken by allegations of
sexual misconduct, racism"
Click Here • "In New Show Virtually Impossible, Durham Magician
Joshua Lozoff Brings the Magic of the Stage to the Small Screen"
Click Here • "Review: Strictly Christmas at Cromer Pier"
Click Here • "NY man descended from Harry Houdini to accept honor on
magician’s behalf"
Click Here • "Murray The Magician – Only Magician Performing on the
Las Vegas Strip"
Click Here •
And finally, not magic, but as good a time as any to escape to a galaxy
far, far away...
YouTube •
That's it for another week. It's so good to see how enterprising so many
magicians have been in recent months. Support them if you can. See you
next week, Duncan.
12.12.20