the magic

Matthew
Wright
An Independent
Magician
 THE MAGAZINE OF THE MAGIC CIRCLE Issue 1145 Volume 105 DECEMBER 2011

Features
356 Young Magician of the Year Fiftieth Anniversary,
Circular reasoning
n this, my

Page 355
360
364
Expanded – by Michael Colley
The 2011 Magic Circle Awards Dinner –
by Sarah Campbell
Matthew Wright: An Independent Magician –
by Matthew Field
I penultimate editorial,
I thought I’d write
about The Magic
Circular and what it
376 The Young Magician of the Year Revisited –
by Darren Tossell means, in my opinion.
The Magic Circle
Regulars thinks of itself as the premier magic
354 President’s View organisation in the world, and with
354 News good reason. The membership consists
356 Obituaries of a combination of professional
Page 361
357 The Magic Circle Cares – magicians, semi-pros, devoted
Rev. Peter Liddelow and David Hatch
amateurs, historians, enthusiasts and
358 Cheeky Dog Chicanery – David Tomkins
359 My Favourite [Under Appreciated] Magic Books – collectors. The list of well-known
Matthew Field magicians who are or have been
362 Magic in the Regions – Elizabeth Warlock members is nothing less than
363 Adopt, Adapt and Improve – Walford Taylor extraordinary. Our headquarters
Page 372
368 A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities – building is a gem, with a beautiful
Prof. Edwin A. Dawes
museum, library and archive as well as
372 Club Night Events –
Mandy Davis Convenor of Reports a fully-equipped theatre.
374 Circular Mentalism – Ian Rowland It is The Magic Circular which
378 In Review represents the face of the organisation
382 Council Minutes most often seen by the members.
384 Forthcoming Club Events – How can it aspire to less than the
Brian Sibley and Mandy Davis
Page 376 same lofty goals that the society itself
represents?
EDITORIAL 07910 317 902 DESIGN 020 8521 2631
EDITOR Matthew Field ART DIRECTOR The magazine’s 105-year history is
Editor@TheMagicCircle.co.uk John Hawkins impressive, and I am honoured to have
102 Priory Road john.hawkins.7@btinternet.com
Hastings 104d Grove Road
played a small part in it. I have tried to
East Sussex TN34 3JE Walthamstow E17 9BY represent members’ achievements, the
ASSISTANT EDITOR Tim Reed PHOTOGRAPHERS history of magic, the wide variety of
ASSOCIATE EDITORS John Ward
Anthony Brahams, Dr Edwin Dawes, ADVERTISING 07767 336882
categories of magic’s performance, the
Scott Penrose, Ian Rowland, BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING MANAGER magical creations of our members
David Tomkins Scott Penrose (and, occasionally, others), a record
Cover CONVENOR OF REPORTS Advertising@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
Matthew Wright Mandy Davis 17 Berkeley Drive, with photographs of our society’s
Mandy@TheMagicCircle.co.uk Billericay events and meetings, and reviews of
OBITUARIES Alan Snowden, Essex CM12 0YP
current magic books, videos and tricks
5 Folkington Corner, Woodside Park, MISSING AND BACK ISSUES
London N12 7BH 01923 267 057 that I think might be of some interest.
020 8445 7607 Michael Candy I was surprised and delighted to
PROOFREADERS Sound of Music, Harthall Lane,
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Paul Bromley, Julie Carpenter, Herts HP3 8SE award for which the President and
Barry Cooper, Tim Reed, PRINTED BY
Published by The Magic Circle Lionel Russell, Mary Stupple Perfect Imaging Ltd 020 8806 6630 Council have my deepest thanks.
12 Stephenson Way Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Copyright © 2011 by The Magic Circle. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
London NW1 2HD stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
VAT Reg No 233 8369 51 photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the Editor of The Magic Circular. to all.
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All enquiries of The Magic Circle unless specifically stated. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all
information published in The Magic Circular, the Editor, Art Director, Staff and The Magic Circle cannot accept
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President’s view Circular news
‘Roxy’ Award for
othing is impossible! When I was a boy, at heart. I know this to be true because my Research on the

N it was quite usual to see a police

constable walking his beat and even to
have a chat with him. Now, through the magic
wife is always telling me to act my age. When
one is young, one can enjoy the wonderful
‘wow’ feeling on seeing good magic. When
History of Magic
Masters of Magic, in
collaboration with the Circolo
of science, I’m talking to a PC sitting on my one is old, one can perform a trick, Amici della Magia di Torino and
desk and, with the aid of an e-mail and Matt immediately forget how you did it, and enjoy Libreria Antiquaria Mirabilia
Field, I am able to talk directly to you now. the feeling of wonder once more. have announced the
I like talking and there is nothing I like better Speaking of David reminds me of his great establishment of the Roxy
talking about than magic. When you reach a contribution to the fund we had going at the Award for Magic Research.
certain age, you have so much experience time to enable us to buy and furnish our Participation in the competition
that, no matter what subject comes up, you present headquarters. In his speech, he also is free – the only thing required
have a story to tell. You have probably been told us of the huge debt we owe to Michael is the passion for the History of
there, done that, and got the t-shirt. Bailey in this respect. At the time I was Magic and the desire to
In those days, people respected police Chairman of The Magic Circle Foundation describe, in at least 5,000
officers and anyone else in authority, or just which administered the Foundation Fund. We words, original research on the
older. You don’t see much of it now. However, managed to collect some thousands of subject of magic, in the spirit
just lately I have had the very great pleasure, pounds from donations and shows and, of the work of historical
with many other magicians, to show respect mainly due to the work of Rupert Connell, a research done by Giovanni
to some of our veteran magicians. First, there very large sum from the National Lottery. “Roxy” Pasqua.
was John Calvert during his visit to London All this makes me think of the current The judging jury will be
for the 100 Years of Magic at the Palladium situation regarding our property. Unfortunately, under the supervision of Arturo
show. Despite his own 100 years, John took due to the present economic situation, there Brachetti. The organisers stress
to the stage and performed the classic Wand is a worrying shortfall in the income we are that the prize is for original
and Silks Off Rope routine perfectly. able to achieve from the corporate hiring of magical research; derivative
Guest of Honour at the recent Annual our facilities. At the same time we are being works, which recycle
Awards Dinner was our much-revered David faced with the necessity to make repairs both information already known,
Berglas. We were reminded by clips, as if we inside and to the roof of the building. Magic will not be considered.
needed reminding, of some outstanding in all its forms is being affected by the poor There’s more information
achievements in his long magical career. At economic situation. However, magic has faced including contest rules at
the same event, we also took the opportunity difficult times before and has always managed http://bit.ly/nsxfBf and
to congratulate member Geoffrey Cooper on to cope. The CMA Board and The Magic Circle www.mastersofmagic.it.
reaching his 99th year! Council are tackling the problem on several The closing date is
On the same day as Geoffrey’s birthday, different fronts and, with your support, will 31 January, 2012.
I had a milestone birthday myself, but not no doubt win the day. Nothing is impossible!
quite as big as his. One great thing about I have said enough about the old ones. V&A Magic Worlds
being a magician is that one remains young What about the young ones? A couple of Exhibition
days ago I had the great pleasure to hand out
the prizes to the winners of the stage and
close-up competitions at the annual J-Day. It
was altogether a wonderful event leaving me
in no doubt that the future of magic and The
Magic Circle is in good hands. I was pleased
when the very successful organiser, Kevin Doig,
kindly passed the microphone to me for a few
words. I said that magic is always changing.
When I was young, people often asked me if I
was a member of The Magic Circle? Now they
ask me, is Dynamo a member of The Magic
Circle? I was delighted on that occasion to
announce that Dynamo is now a member of Barry Miller with the Zig-Zag
The Magic Circle. Everything is possible! Roy Marsh sent along some
photos taken at the press
launch of the V&A Magic
Worlds exhibition at the
Children’ Museum at Bethnal
Green (London). The exhibit
Jack Delvin MIMC will run for six months, until
President@TheMagicCircle.co.uk next April, and then tour for
four years. Included is a Zig-

354 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

s
ELECTION RESULTS 2011
The results for Election for Mandy Davis 312
Council 2011 are: Kevin Doig 278
President: Jack Delvin Andrew Eborn 286

Photo: John Ward

RETURNED UNOPPOSED. James Fortune 297
Vice President: Scott Penrose Roberto Forzoni UNELECTED 226
RETURNED UNOPPOSED. James Freedman 264
Secretary: Steve Price Matthew Garrett 253
ELECTED UNOPPOSED. Will Houstoun 334 Scott Penrose, Chris Wood, Brian Sibley,
Treasurer: Alexander Alan Maskell 365 Alexander Crawford, Jack Delvin
Crawford ELECTED UNOPPOSED. Richard Pinner 351 Convention, which will take magic stage show in the US
Fay Presto 303 place at the Gold Coast Hotel next year, starting at the Old
There were 16 candidates for Katherine Rhodes 255 & Casino in Las Vegas next Post Office Playhouse in
Council and 14 available Martyn Rowland UNELECTED 213 year. More details by emailing Hickory, North Carolina on
seats. The Candidates Brian Sibley 398 info@innovention2012.com. 27 January. More info at
in alphabetical order are: John van der Put 243 Paul has also announced the www.SammyCortino.com ...
Noel Britten 316 launch of the Vegas Magic Congratulations to our
Theatre™ at the Gold Coast President, Jack Delvin, who
Zag illusion lent by Member Magialdia festival prize in Hotel & Casino on 3 November. celebrated his 80th birthday in
Barry Miller, and consultant for Vitorio, Spain (along with The cabaret-style show plays October, and to Member
the exhibit is our own Vice prizes earlier in the year at the Thursday, Friday and Sunday at Geoffrey Cooper, who
President, Scott Penrose. IBM and the Golden Lion at the 7pm, and Saturday at 5pm and celebrated his 99th birthday.
Desert Seminar in Las Vegas) ... 7.30pm with a different show Appropriate cakes were
Semi-Circles Paul Stone has announced the every week ... Member Sammy served in the Club Room to
Congratulations to British Ring second Innovention Cortino will tour with his mark the occasions ... Member
25 officers elected at their Rich Bloch was the subject
convention in September, of a feature article in The
including Magic Circle Washington Post on Sunday
Members: President, 9 October ... Vanni Pulé,
Brian Miller; Vice President, IBM International President,
Paul Daniels; was at our headquarters on
Executive Secretary, John Pye; 26 September, the Monday
Assistant Executive Secretary, following the British Ring
John Palfreyman; Treasurer, convention, and gave special
Keith Cooper; and Council citations to Jack Delvin for his
Members David Ball, Eddie service to magic, and to
Dawes, Moira Fletcher, Elizabeth Warlock for her
Trevor Lewis, Tom Owen, ‘Our Side of the Pond’ column
Shirley Ray, Peter Scarlett in The Linking Ring, which she
and John Styles ... wrote for 26 years ... The Magic
Congratulations to Romany, Romany, Andrew Van Buren, Allyson Ford and Circle was the top of five “Truly
who won the 10,000 euro Paul Zerdin (with friend) Magical Places” chosen by new
Member Dynamo in The
Sunday Telegraph’s magazine
Seven on 16 October.

Brian Miller Jack Delvin, Geoffrey Cooper and cakes

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 355

Paul Daniels: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow [An internet glitch prevented Michael
Reviewed by Andrew Pearson and his father’s routine of the milk over Colley’s full report of the Young
It was nice to see my friend Paul again the assistant’s head with three audience Magician of the Year Competition from
with his wife, the lovely Debbie McGee members. In the second half, Debbie appearing in the October issue, in
and son Martin at the Whitley Bay returned to do Multum in Parvo and Paul which we featured the photographs,
Playhouse on 5 October. The show started did the Colour Changing Hanky with and we present it here now. Ed.]
with Paul’s classic Six Card Repeat. Debbie sucker explanation, followed by the
performed a new version of the Gypsy
Thread / Gypsy Balloon and Paul
comedy rabbit from hat and Card in
Wallet. He vanished a spectator’s £10
YOUNG MAGICIAN
performed the classic floating lady illusion note followed by the Electric Chairs, and OF THE YEAR
with a young girl from the audience. Next closed the show by finding the note in a FIFTIETH
it was time for Martin Daniels to entertain
the audience with comedy while spinning
walnut taken from an egg inside a lemon.
It was a great show from start to finish.
ANNIVERSARY
a glass full of Coke balanced on a rack Thank you Paul, Debbie and Martin for a COMPETITION 2011
used to hold the balls on a snooker table, great night of magic. by C. Michael Colley AIMC

There were no doves, no livestock, no

tailcoats or dinner jackets. Were we
really at the Final of the Young
Magician of the Year Competition at
The Magic Circle Headquarters on
Sunday 31 July 2011? Indeed we were.
The curtains opened for the first act
onto a stage littered with rubbish.
Through the door at the front of the
auditorium came a young man dressed
in worn jeans rattling a tin can and
carrying a sign saying “MONEY FOR
FOOD”. Joe Strickland, a seventeen year
old from Walthamstow, based his act
around the character of a homeless
person. After restoring a torn
newspaper, he plucked coins from the
air, and floated an orb.
Henri White from Gravesend, also
aged seventeen, was discovered on
Andrew Pearson with Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee
stage with his arms behind his back,
shackled in “handcuffs” – actually the
surgery on 30 September, the Jewish “Electronic Release”. He escaped from
Obituaries New Year. He was a hugely successful
businessman and a quiet philanthropist
his jacket, then freed himself from all
his bonds. Bottle caps vanished and
but also the most generous of collectors appeared elsewhere. A bottle was
Burton Sperber MIMC giving everyone who cared about magic produced and then vanished, to be
14 May 1929 – and history specially printed books and replaced by a larger bottle. A three-ring
1 October 2011 booklets mostly in colour on all aspects Linking Ring routine followed and to
The idyllic location of collecting. close he took a fan from his pocket and
of the blue Pacific He always knew me as ‘The London wafted two snowstorms across the stage.
Ocean lapping on Conjurer’, having a limited edition Oliver Ward entered wearing
the warm sands at facsimile copy of the original 1813 headphones and listening to pop music.
the backdoor with edition specially printed on one of His iPhone changed to a compact disc
dolphins lazily my visits. and more CDs were produced and
playing at a hand’s breadth is an Nadine and I wish ‘Long Life’ to manipulated. He performed the wrist
unlikely setting for one of the world’s Charlene and their children who will chopper, the Professor’s Nightmare, and
greatest collections of magic. At their miss him deeply just as we and attempted to make a bottle and a glass
beautiful home in Malibu California, hundreds will around the magic change places under two tubes. He
along with his wife Charlene of some collecting world. kept finding more and more bottles
sixty-two years, Burt Sperber the genial Burt you were indeed a one off ‘Real until his table was covered. Oliver is
mine host to the avid collectors who Miracle’. You were and always will be sixteen and lives in Brentwood in Essex.
attended The Los Angeles Conference ‘The Head Gardener’. A pirate appeared on stage and gave
on Magic History is, sadly, no more. Shalom Burt! us an extensive demonstration of his
Burt passed away following routine Chris Woodward MIMC drumming skills. After vanishing his
drumsticks he showed us some sword

356 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

swallowing. James Wilson, seventeen, is The final competitor was Ben Proos, compère the Fiftieth and gave us many
from Hazlemere in Buckinghamshire. He sixteen years old, from Blackburn, amusing anecdotes about his life in
tore up a pirate map and restored it, then Lancashire. Taking a handkerchief from his magic. He brought with him Sooty, long
performed a brief Linking Ring routine. A table, he produced from it two parasols. time children’s favourite and popular with
skull floated behind a cloth à la Zombie His sunglasses changed colour. Ben the adults too.
and was placed on a table which also magically merged four coloured silks into David Ball presented each competitor
levitated. When he shook the skull some a multicoloured handkerchief. Another pair with a commemorative Finalist’s Plaque.
coins fell out and, after some coin of sunglasses followed by a billiard ball, The results were announced and the
manipulations, a shower of coins fell from were produced. The ball passed through awards presented by President Jack
the flies to close the act. the silk leading to billiard ball manipulations Delvin. Third place went to Sonny
Sonny Pennington, sixteen, treated us and productions. Card manipulations Pennington, second to James Wilson and
to a succession of corny gags. Magic followed, and a Linking Ring routine. the title of Magic Circle Young Magician
lights were produced (D’Lite) and dropped Finally his sunglasses reappeared. Putting of the Year 2011 went to Ben Proos. He is
into a top hat on his central table, then them on and holding a parasol over his the twenty-eighth holder of the title and
changed into illuminated balls which he shoulder, he finished his act. is the twenty-second manipulator to win.
juggled. A volunteer was given a fizzy Judges for the event were Keith In addition to the cash prizes from the
drink from a can which was crushed and Cooper, Young Magician of the Year Magic Circle there were prizes for first,
discarded, then chose a card which was 1965; Colin Rose, Young Magician of the second and third from L. Davenport &
picked from the pack by a mechanical Year 1967; Michael Jordan, Young Co., long time supporters of the
duck. The drink can was picked up again Magician of the Year 2009; Janet Clare, Competition.
and shown resealed, whereupon the full former member of the Young Magician of The day was also the occasion of the
can was again opened, showing itself to the Year Committee; and Jonathan launch of The Young Magicians – The
be intact. A number was selected by the Speight, son of the Competition’s History of a Competition by Michael Colley,
volunteer and with it Sonny produced a founder, Derrick Speight. a lavishly illustrated 245 page account of
magic square. Sonny comes from Much Richard Cadell, who won the twelfth the fifty years of the Competition since its
Wenlock in Shropshire. Competition in 1983, returned to inception in 1961.

Peter Liddelow AIMC

David Hatch MMC

I am sorry to have to report the death which are affecting his mobility. Clyde Clayton AIMC – c/o Mr A.
of the wife of one of our overseas Clayton, 3 Drummond Road, Wanstead,
members, Bill Palmer MIMC. We send We also send our good wishes to other London E11 2JS
him and his family our heartfelt members and their families previously Eddie Dawes MIMC – 393 Beverley
condolences. mentioned including Eddie Dawes MIMC Road, Anlaby, East Yorkshire HU10 7BQ
Bobbie Bernard MIMC has had another and Peter Pinner MIMC. Our thoughts Peter Pinner MIMC – 30 Manor Park
stay in hospital recently, but Brian Sibley and prayers also go out to our Chaplain, Drive, North Harrow,
tells me he is now recuperating back in Revd. Peter Liddelow AIMC, whose Middlesex HA2 6HS
his sheltered accommodation. We hope wife’s health is slowly deteriorating.
we will see him again soon on a If you hear of members or their families
Monday night. Just a thought from Marcel Proust: who are sick or facing hard times please
David Ball MIMC is also out of hospital “Let us be grateful to people who make contact:
after major surgery and convalescing at us happy. They are the charming gardens David Hatch MMC (Welfare Officer)
home. who make our souls blossom”. 6 Darnley Road, Woodford Green,
Clyde Clayton AIMC has been treated Essex 1G8 9HU
in hospital for pneumonia, and is now Contact addresses: T. 020 8504 4134
at home awaiting a pacemaker. Bill Palmer MIMC – 7902 Roos Road, E. WelfareOfficer@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
Norman Gee MMC and his wife have Houston, TX 77036, USA Chaplaincy:
had to cancel their plans to move to the Bobbie Bernard MIMC – Flat 16 Revd Peter Liddelow AIMC –
USA because of his wife’s ill health. She Young Court, 175 Willesden Lane, 23 Kings Road, Barnet, Herts, EN5 4EF
has made a good recovery from surgery London NW6 7YX T. 020 8441 2968
and has now embarked on a course of Norman Gee MMC – 16 Mapleleaf Close, E. Chaplain@ TheMagicCircle.co.uk
chemotherapy which will continue until Selsdon, Surrey CR2 8BD Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler MMC –
the end of January. Tom Whitestone MIMC – 46 Devonshire 10 St Petersburgh Place, Bayswater,
Tom Whitestone MIMC is currently Street, London W1G 7AN London W2 4LB
recovering from heart bypass surgery. David Ball MIMC – 30 Sandy Lodge Way, T. 020 7229 6215
John Derris MIMC has spinal problems Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2AS E. Gshisler@TheMagicCircle.co.uk

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 357

 David Tomkins MIMC

GO GREEN

Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3 Fig.4 Fig.5 Fig.6

EFFECT: You begin by displaying an (A4) portrait picture of THE PROPS: All cards are on A4 strong card stock. All banana
one of your puppet characters (in this example, a dinosaur!). pictures are on a black background. All puppet/recycling bin
Three more pictures are displayed each showing a banana! A pictures and “Go Green” wording are on a pale green
short talk follows explaining the benefits of healthy eating – background. All cards are finished with a dark green taped
how fruit is good for you, etc. border around them.
You’re going to play a guessing game called “Find the
Dinosaur”. Holding the four cards, the dinosaur picture is You will require the following: 1. One card with a close-up photo
reversed, then placed on your card stand. Two of the banana of your puppet (in this example a dinosaur) (Fig. 1) with a
cards are placed on the stand, one each side of the dinosaur. banana picture on reverse (Fig. 2). 2.Three cards each with an
The remaining banana is hidden away inside a GREEN identical banana picture on one side, blank on reverse. 3.One
envelope which has been on display throughout. The two card with an identical puppet photo as in No.1. On the reverse,
banana cards are reversed also and the three pictures mixed in big letters GO GREEN. RECYCLE (Fig. 3). 4. One card with a
around on the stand. half-eaten banana on one side (Fig. 4). UPSIDE DOWN on the
The guessing game begins. They choose one. It’s a banana! reverse is a picture of your puppet peering out of a recycling bin
They choose another. It’s a banana! The third one must be the with the lid perched on his head (Fig 5).
dinosaur! It’s turned round to reveal another banana!! So
where’s the dinosaur? The green envelope is turned round to THE HINGED CARD: Take cards No.3 and No.4. Lay the GO
reveal the dinosaur looking out through a big (cut out) GREEN RECYCLE card down on the table. Position the ‘puppet in
window on the other reverse side. the bin’ picture underneath. Carefully tape-hinge these two
The picture is removed (envelope can be seen otherwise cards together leaving a small space between them. Turn the
empty, then discarded). Ahh, but could there be another cards over and apply a length of tape along the other side too,
banana on the back of the picture? (After all, you did turn the to complete the hinge and make it stronger.
envelope round just now didn’t you?) You confess that there IS Close up the two panels, so the puppet will be showing on
another banana, but look ... (showing the picture). He’s eaten one side and the half eaten banana on the other. Hinging open
half of it already!” the panels will reveal the Go Green wording and the puppet in
Asking the children what they should do with banana skins the recycling bin.
when they’ve finished with them, you give a short talk on
Food Waste Recycling. Suggest they put their banana skins THE ENVELOPE: Look at the illustrations which show you the
and fruit and vegetable peeling into the recycling bin and so front (Fig. 6) and back (Fig. 7). Remember to insert a matching
on. Suddenly allow the half-eaten banana picture to swing central divider inside the envelope. The cut-out window side is
open to reveal the words: GO GREEN ... RECYCLE! for the double card whilst the false back is to hide the double
Underneath, there is a big picture of a recycling bin. Sitting facer during the routine.
inside looking over the top at everyone is the dinosaur himself,
the bin lid balancing precariously on top of his head! A big SET UP: Place the folded double card inside the envelope with
laugh finish! Colourful, funny and educational. the puppet’s face looking out through the cut out. Place
There are many tricks that use the same mechanics as ‘Go envelope on display with the recycling logo facing outwards.
Green ...’ – Double Lifts and envelopes with false backs. Stack the three banana cards together face up. Place the
Nothing new here!. It’s the plot that makes it different. dinosaur/banana card on top (dinosaur face up). Reverse the

358 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 MY FAVOURITE
[UNDER APPRECIATED]
MAGIC BOOKS
by Matthew Field MIMC

These are very interesting magic books for those readers who
have already studied the major works (including, for example
the essential Tarbell, Bobo, Vernon, Marlo and Hilliard
cards and stand them upright
classics). Half the talk was spent explaining the Gray Code.
in front of the recycling
envelope.
1 The Book, or Don’t Forget to Point by the Flicking
Fingers (Thomas Fraps, Helge Thun, Jorg Willich) –
HANDLING: Pick up the four
featuring mentalism (Painting the Town Red), and card
cards and turn the stack round
magic, especially by Pit Hartling.
to display the dinosaur.
2 *Jacob Daley’s Notebooks Transcribed by Frank Csuri.
Remove this face card and
3 The Feints and Temps of Harry Riser by Ed Brown –
place it on display. Fan the
featuring marked card effects (Dealer’s School), ‘Ball,
three remaining banana cards
Cone and Box’, Homing Card.
and explain that your dinosaur
4 The Mental Mysteries and Other Writings of Willliam
Fig.7 is very keen on ’healthy eating’
W. Larsen, Sr. by William Larsen – featuring practical
etc. Bananas are his favourite!
advice for the working mentalist, contact and non-
Square up the three cards again, then replace the dinosaur
contact mind-reading, different types of readings you
card again where it was. Get a finger break behind the top
can do, Dr Q. effects.
TWO face cards and reverse them AS ONE. Immediately fan
5 Secrets Draun from Underground: the Card Magic of
the cards again, displaying three banana cards and one card
Steve Draun by Richard Kaufman – featuring the Fan
reversed on top.
Glimpse, Midnight Shift, Palms.
Slide off the top face down card, (everyone will assume it’s
6 *The Unexpected Card Book by Edward Marlo –
the puppet) and place this in the centre of your card stand.
featuring Faro effects, advanced Riffle Shuffle controls
Next, take the rear card of the fan and place it on one side of
and effects, Switches, “Stranger in a Harem”.
your stand. Take the next rear card of the fan and place it on
7 Seventh Heaven by Lewis Jones – featuring unbelievable
the other side of the stand. The card left in your hand is the
mentalism, stacks, and utilities.
double facer with the banana showing.
8 Histed by Louis Histed – featuring effects with cards,
Pick up the recycling envelope keeping the logo to the front.
illusions, and amazing tricks with liquids.
Place the double facer banana down inside the envelope
9 52 Lovers by José Carroll – featuring “Suit Appearance”
making sure it goes behind the false back, i.e. NOT in the
with 13 revelations, the Le Temps Change, a great stand-
same side as the hinged card. Place the envelope down again,
up Triumph, and his Economical Double Lift.
logo to the front.
10 Boudreau Trilogy: *Spirited Pasteboards,*Psymatrika,
Skullduggery by Leo Boudreau (now available from
THE GUESSING GAME: Reverse the two outer banana cards
Lybrary.com) featuring brilliant mindreading using
and mix the three cards around to ‘confuse’ the audience. Ask
advanced techniques, especially the Bracelet Code (also
the children to guess where the dinosaur is. Whichever one
known as the Gray Code or de Bruijn Sequence) in which
they choose, a banana is revealed. Eventually you end up with
one card is chosen from eight, and from the orientation
three bananas on display, but where is the dinosaur.
of the next three in the stack, you know the card.
Some of the children will guess he’s in the envelope. After
[*means not in The Magic Circle Library]
suitable byplay, the envelope is turned around where everyone
can see him peering through the cut out window! Lift out this
card and discard the envelope. Pretend to hear someone say
“There’s a banana on the other side!” (Oh no there isn’t!)
Explain, actually, they’re right. The picture is shown to much
amusement. There is a banana, but look, he’s already eaten
half of it!
To conclude, the children can be given a short talk about the
need for recycling. For example, when they’ve finished eating
Photo: Roberto Forzoni

a banana, where should they put the skin? In the recycling

bin! So don’t forget boys and girls ... GO GREEN. RECYCLE.
Allow the (double) card to fall open and reveal the comedy
finish.
[Dinosaur puppet character copyright Axtell Expressions.]

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 359

 very popular Season of Summer Sorcery stage set with a treasure chest, ship’s
and the successful launch of Friends of wheel and mast. Mark Walsh entertained
The Magic Circle. Chris Hare responded with a variety of lively, nostalgic songs on
on behalf of the guests with a very the ukulele, ably accompanied by pianist
amusing speech. David Carter.
The raffle for a large selection of The final act was Paul Zenon, a master
donated prizes was drawn before the of self-deprecating humour. He told us
presentation of the Awards. Vinny Grosso, that he had been mugged on the way
who had travelled over especially for the there and that his valuables been stolen.
evening, presented Jack Delvin with a He put these items on the floor and then,
Presidential Citation from the SAM. The pretending it was a video from
Hoffman Award, given for the first time in Crimewatch, rewound and found they
some years, was awarded to Raj Rattan were all back where they belonged. He
for an essay on exposure of magical borrowed a spectator’s jacket and pushed
secrets. The essay will be published in The a knife and lighted cigarette into it before
Magic Circular and will be presented as a returning the jacket unscathed. As the
club night lecture in the near future. The spectator returned to his seat Paul called
by Sarah Campbell MMC, with photos J.N. Maskelyne Award for literature was him back to reclaim items he had
by Mark Hesketh-Jennings presented to William Kalush for his work pickpocketed during the routine. He
on the Ask Alexander search engine and finished with a stunt in which a pint of
The Magic Circle Annual Awards Dinner the Conjuring Arts Research Centre and beer, placed inside a pool table triangle, is
2011 was hosted by our President Jack his book on Houdini. The Cecil Lyle Award swung around above head.
Delvin on Thursday 13 October at The for the best new effect submitted to The It was a wonderful evening, enjoyed by
Royal National Hotel. 119 guests, Magic Circular in the previous year was all who attended. It was expertly
including Guest of Honour David Berglas awarded to Mike O’Brien for the second organised by Katherine Rhodes and Jack
and his family, enjoyed a delicious meal, time, for his Centre Tear. The Carlton Delvin with help from Babs Bruce who
excellent close-up and a splendid cabaret. Award for Comedy was awarded to Max created beautiful, magically-themed
Many of the Greats of magic were in Somerset. It was originally received for flower arrangements for each of the
attendance as were several Friends of The him by Paul Roffman but, luckily, Max twelve tables. Barbara and Alan Astra
Magic Circle. Before the meal the multi- arrived before the end of the evening to provided elegant printed menus and place
talented Franco entertained with receive his award in cards. Bob and Sue Hamilton recorded the
the accordion. Richard Pinner person. occasion and provided video presentations
acted as Toastmaster in his usual A well deserved of Max Somerset, John Styles and David
amusing, friendly and confident Silver Wand was Berglas. Rob Page and Kevin Doig were
manner. The President took wine awarded to stage technicians. Thanks to all involved
with the principal guests, Vinny Matthew Field for for a truly magical evening. Photographs
Grosso the President of the services to The were taken by Mark Jennings and can be
Society of American Magicians Magic Circle as seen at
(SAM), Brian Miller, President of editor of The Magic http://www.flickr.com/photos/62234117@
the British Ring of the Circular. The N02/collections/72157627894502674/
International Brotherhood of Maskelyne was
Magicians (IBM), the Davenports awarded to John Katherine Rhodes adds: In addition to
and the Berglas family. Styles for his the people credited above, I would like to
Between courses the guests Richard Pinner outstanding publicly thank Fay Presto, who loaned the
were entertained with stunning close-up contribution to lighting rig and additional staging
magic by Paul Roffman, Ben Hart and magic over many that was used; Rob Page for
Darryl Rose with a variety of card, money years. The Devant organising the rest of the
and rope effects. was awarded to technical side and who assisted
After the meal David Berglas treated the David Berglas, with the transporting of it all back
guests to an interesting potted history of fittingly on the 70th to HQ; Mark Hesketh-Jennings
The Magic Circle over the 62 years that he anniversary of who took photographs
has been a member. He talked about the Devant’s death. throughout the event; Samantha
long and successful presidency of Francis The award Blakey and Sarah Campbell who
White and of the many different homes ceremony was did a wonderful job selling the
that TMC has occupied over the years, the followed by a raffle tickets; and very special
purchase and development of Stephenson polished cabaret thanks to Tracy Mullis for all the
Way, and how, despite the early vision of show, entertainingly unseen assistance she provided.
the founders of TMC, it took nearly a hosted by John Chris Hare
century before The Magic Circle owned Styles. James Wilson, runner-up in the Lastly, I’d like to thank everyone that
their own headquarters. Young Magician of the Year competition attended and enjoyed the evening for
Jack Delvin paid tribute to David Berglas presented a swashbuckling pirate routine without you it would have all been for
and talked about his latest initiatives, the with atmospheric music and a wonderful nothing.

360 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 Below:
Darryl Rose,
Franco,
Marvin Berglas,
Paul Zenon,
Max Somerset,
Alan Astra
John Styles David Berglas Matthew Field Vinny Grosso

Jack Delvin and Mike O'Brien Raj Rattan Max Somerset

Paul Roffman and Ben Hart

James Wilson

Paul Zenon David Carter Mark Walsh

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 361

 Elizabeth Warlock MIMC

t seems only yesterday that we were ring on and off cord, and the Bottle people like Walt Lees, who can be seen

I hailing in 2011 and here we are again

on the brink of the dawn of yet
another year, a very significant one in
through Table. Garrett Thomas from
Buffalo, New York, also showed some
skilful effects, like his lightning solving of
with his camera at magic events around
the country. He is always interesting to
talk to as he has achieved fame not
fact with the first ever FISM convention the Rubik Cube, a stand-up version of the only through his writings as editor of
to be held in this country. This will take Three Card Monte with an assistant from various magic magazines (including
place in Blackpool during the second the audience, and a mind-boggling finger currently the Mystery Magazine
week of July and just prior to the ring routine whereby the ring jumped published by Magic Books by Post), but
Olympic Games to be held in London. instantly from finger to finger. as a performer. I recall seeing him some
This is in addition to the regular Andi Gladwin in partnership with four years ago when he appeared in
calendar of conventions and lectures Joshua Jay is Vanishing Inc, the company cabaret at the Donald Bevan Tribute
that go to make up our world of magic. located in the Cotswolds that produces Dinner in Solihull, when he performed a
It looks like being a great year. fine publications, DVDs and new tricks. A very humorous and entertaining act.
It was good to meet so many of gifted close-up performer for the past 15 Months later I was able to see his very
our regional members including those years coupled with having fine marketing interesting lecture that included some
from overseas at Eurocol 4 held for the skills, it is no wonder he is always in intriguing card work.
most part at our headquarters at the demand at weddings, banquets and It never ceases to amaze me that
beginning of September and organised corporate engagements. It was good to there are a number of skilled and
so well by Fergus Roy with assistance see him among the lecturers that day knowledgeable magicians around that
from the rest of the Davenport family. where he demonstrated his Master the majority of magicians have never
Despite the packed schedule we were Push Off, whereby he is able to deal heard of. Ian Barradell from Derby is
able to chat with such collectors as seconds and even thirds undetected just one of those magicians. This fine
John Gaughan, Mike Caveney, Bill and Timeless, an intriguing effect with card worker, who has sessioned with
McIlhaney, Linda and Hap Korsen, a watch whereby the time set by Harry Lorayne, is in much demand at
Wittus Witt, John Davenport, Jim a spectator is correctly predicted. corporate events, has a library of some
Cuthbert, David Booth and Trevor In addition to the lectures and various 5,000 magic books, and has one of the
Dawson among many others. However dealers, the hosts had informal chats with largest collections in the world of Tenyo
we sadly missed Eddie Dawes due to some of our famed fraternity who magic, numbering well over 300 items
illness, for a collectors’ event without presented one trick including Marc which he started collecting, along with
his presence and vast knowledge is Oberon who did a beautiful version of other magic, at the age of eleven.
unheard of, and also Jim Alfredson who Ring off Cord. At this kind of event one When he came to the British Magical
had to cancel due to a fall at his home can always be sure of meeting up with Society here in Birmingham recently to
in Pentwater, Michigan which resulted present his lecture on Tenyo it made for
in broken ribs. We trust that by the an exciting evening.
time you read this they will have fully We learned that although Tenyo was
recovered. founded in 1931, the modern Tenyo
The LADS (Lectures and Dealers) Day was actually founded in 1969 when
of Magic on 2 October held for the they started to use plastic instead of
second year running was another wood. But it was the performing of
success for the organisers – The World these beautifully crafted and intriguing
Magic Shop. Held at the Ramada Hotel miniature tricks that made it all so
in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, it memorable.
attracted some 400 registrants young This lecture was both highly
and old from around the country. entertaining and educational, and
Hosted by David Penn (part owner of should Ian be in your area any time, do
TWMS) and Craig Petty, there were not hesitate to go and see him. You will
lectures by Etienne Pradier, the not be disappointed.
charismatic Frenchman who never fails Have a great Festive Season, and I’ll
to impress with his great magic (like the be back again next year with more
chosen cards under the glass), a version News from the Regions.
of the Ambitious Card, the borrowed Ian Barradell

362 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 Walford Taylor AIMC

TIME, GENTLEMEN, PLEASE!

Christmas is a time for Magic and I was thinking about this recently and performer then recounts the story of
Mystery, games and puzzles. After the wondering how this extraordinary the coincidence I related above,
routine (if you are of a certain coincidence could form the basis of a substituting his own name for mine, or
generation) of turkey and bread sauce, magical effect. Of course, from very early saying that it happened to a friend of
Christmas pudding and brandy butter, days there have been tricks with watches. his. He declares that it would be a
followed by the Queen’s Speech, why There is a whole chapter on them in chance in a million if the same kind of
not sink into your armchair and exercise Hoffmann’s Later Magic. Of the many thing ever happened again. The watch
the little grey cells by musing on how other sources, Martin Gardner’s is removed from the box and the
the effect I am about to describe can be Encyclopaedia of Impromptu Magic spectator reads out the time at which
achieved, while the family clear the contains twenty alone (pp. 565-569). he had set it. It is forty-three minutes
table and the Better Half does the Some require a special watch (e.g. a Stull past ten! The audience is “knocked for
washing up? If you re-read that last a loop”, which I take to mean that
phrase before you complain, you will there is a stunned silence, followed by
see that it has been carefully crafted to wild and ecstatic applause!
be gender non-specific, proving that,
fortunately for magicians, false Please note the following:
assumptions are made only too The watch can be examined and is not
readily! gimmicked in any way.
I mentioned in an earlier Adopt, The spectators are chosen at random
Adapt and Improve, an amazing and are not confederates.
coincidence which happened to me a There are no secret notes of “Let’s
long time ago. Jeffery Atkins had fool the others…”.
invited me to give the Associated Watch or Geneva Watch) or a particular The times are not forced and are
Wizards of the South a lecture- make of watch as in Bev Bergeron’s different at each performance nor are
demonstration of Two-Person Telepathy Predicting Time (Exclusive Magical they written down at any time or
and whilst there I purchased some Publications, Houston, U.S.A., 1989) but I decided upon prior to their actually
tickets for a competition they were wanted something different from all these being announced by the spectators.
running to advertise their annual magic and I came up with the following which I The performer does not touch the
show in Southampton. A watch had immodestly think is a stunner. It is watch again between originally handing
been wound up and locked in a box intended as a stage effect. it to the spectator to set the hands and
which was on display in a local shop the watch’s removal from the box.
window, and purchasers of tickets were EFFECT Next time I will give my solution to
invited to guess at what time the watch The performer displays his wrist watch this problem, but until then if you have
would stop. I was present in the and gives it to a member of the audience nothing better to do you might like to
audience on the last night of their show who is asked to examine it, pull out the ponder about it over the holiday,
when the box was to be opened and crown and give the hands a good twirl keeping to the above conditions, and
the winner announced. Jeffery saw me first in one direction and then in the you may come up with something
and waved me down on stage to open other, to check that they are working better than I have. If so, do please let
the box and see fair play. I opened it freely. He is then to turn the watch face me know! In the meantime, have a
and called out the time at which the down and give the stem as many further Magical Christmas!
watch had stopped. He consulted his turns in any direction as he wishes and,
list of entrants to see whose prediction without looking at the face, to place the Correction
was the closest and who would win the watch in a wooden box. The lid is closed Paul Hyland has written to me pointing
watch as a prize. The look of and locked and the box remains on view. out that in Step 11 (“The Convincer”)
astonishment on Jeffery’s face and on Two volunteers are chosen at random in of my article “13 Steps to Contact
mine as he disbelievingly read out the the time honoured way by having a table Mentalism” last February, the wording
name “Walford Taylor” would have tennis ball tossed into the audience. The should read, “…did you, or did you
been worth recording! There I was, on first is asked to name any hour of the day. not, lead me at any time”, and not,
stage, as he had to explain to the We’ll imagine he calls out 10 o’clock. The “did I, or did I not, lead you at any
audience that the winner was in fact second is requested to name any number time”. I am grateful to Paul for spotting
the person now holding the watch! of minutes past the hour – say 43. The this unaccountable lapse on my part.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 363

 atthew Wright AIMC won the existed until I was 15 years old. I always

M 2008 Magic Circle Close-up

Magician of the Year
Competition and has gone on to win
believed magic was real. I thought that
one day I could graduate from the trick
stuff I was learning and be able to do the
real thing. That kind of happened to me
the 2010 International Magic
Convention and the 2011 IBM Close- when I met Eugene Burger many years
up Competitions making him only later. The first magic shop I went to was
the second magician to have won all JB magic in Blackpool, Mark Mason’s, and
three awards after the late Kevin Reay. I went back to that shop once a month
He started his own magic venue in for many years after.
Malta this past year and is currently
working at House of Illusion in Salou, F Were you on any kind of a career path
Spain. We spoke via a Skype video in terms of school, or your parents? Were
call in July. you expected to go into any kind of
career or trade?
Matthew Field: You grew up in W I went to art college and studied
Lancashire and you’re 36 years old. Magic Circle winner photography. I wanted to be a press
Matthew Wright: I was born in Burnley When I was about 10 years old one photographer, which I was for five years,
in Lancashire. Christmas I got the Mark Wilson working for local papers and freelancing
Complete Course in Magic. And that saw for the national papers. I didn’t like it
F How did magic enter your life? me through for three or four years. really. It didn’t allow you to be artistic.
W I think the same way it did for most There are only so many ways you can take
people my age. It was probably a Paul F Were you attracted to close-up the a photograph of a Women’s Institute
Daniels Magic set and watching Paul way most young people are? cheque presentation before it gets too
Daniels on TV. W Yes. I actually built everything weird for the newspaper to use. I realised
described in the Mark Wilson book. I I had to stop so I gave up photography
F Did you have any mentors or anyone made a lot of gimmick cards as well. I got for about ten years and am just getting
in your family to lead you into magic? a lot of my grounding from that book. I back into it now.
Was it books? How did you progress in think it gave me everything I needed.
magic? F At what point did you decide that you
W I got a few little tricks every F Was there a magic shop near you could apply the material in the Mark Wilson
Christmas. I got the Paul Daniels magic anywhere? book and start to actually entertain
set when I was six or seven years old. W I didn’t even know magic shops people either at a restaurant or at parties?

364 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

W Burnley, where I grew up, is not the magic in the UK only really became stuff and I wanted a book that told me
poshest area. It’s quite rough. I grew up popular in the last ten or so years. So at more about the theory side of magic so
around a lot of people you probably the time you were doing it in Lancashire it he sent me the book Magic and Meaning
wouldn’t want to associate with, but at must have been pretty ground breaking. by Eugene and Bob Neale. As soon as I
the time it was quite glamorous. There W I moved to Chicago to study with started reading that book I realised I had
was a guy who was known as the King of Eugene Burger for a while and went to to meet that man. I e-mailed him and he
the Gypsies, a big gangster type, and I many of the magic bars including the one invited me to go to Las Vegas to meet
used to see him at a working men’s club where Matt Schulien had worked. I him and Jeff McBride. Within a month I
where you could buy anything, legal or brought that experience back to Burnley. was on McBride’s porch. The first thing I
illegal. These guys were all playing big- did was enrol in a master class at Jeff’s
money games, poker and stuff, and I was F Did you approach Eugene through Jeff Magic and Mystery School.
16 or 17. I would pick up the cards and McBride, or directly?
dazzle them. I became the gangster’s pet. W It started off directly with Eugene. I F Some of the people who go to Jeff’s
I was going round nightclubs, pubs, clubs, called up Keith Bennett and told him I school already have an act that they’ve
almost like a David Blaine before David had enough books describing how to do been doing and they want to polish it in
Blaine, doing street magic around the some way. Romany is a magician who
clubs, just building up my audience comes to mind who pursued that course.
management. Some people attend without any real idea
of what they want to do. What did you
F What moved you from working as a go in with and what were your
newspaper photographer into magic? expectations?
W Actually the next step was that magic W I had no expectations whatsoever. All I
took more of a back seat. I had worked as knew was I had to meet this guy called
a club and pub manager and then my dad Eugene Burger. I didn’t really know much
and I opened a pub together. I started about Jeff McBride at all. Jeff has now
doing magic behind the bar. I really become my mentor. I’ve been to so many
started to get into it. It had always been a of these classes and it doesn’t matter
serious hobby but then I started to do what level you are at – you will be
two, three or four hours a day of practice. improved within minutes by listening to
Jeff. He is a genius teacher. Eugene is
F Although bar magic was very popular Jeff’s teacher – and I feel very privileged
in the US, starting in Chicago with to be able to call on both of them when

▲
magicians like Jim Ryan and others, bar Matt and Eugene I really need help.

An Independent
Magician
by Matthew Field MIMC

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 365

F So you were studying with McBride F That is astonishing. You were
and Burger – what were you trying to get competing with Will Gray, Martin Cox,
out of this? How did it affect you? Andrew Murray, Ivor Cole and other very
W I had been to the Blackpool experienced magicians. And you won!
convention several times but hadn’t really How did you determine what you were
been around many magicians so I really going to do in your competition
wanted to find out if I could get good at performance?
magic. They were totally inspiring and W There had been one piece, my pet
when I came back from there I decided I piece, that I was always going to do, that
had to become a magician. Within a I went to Jeff McBride with at the very
couple of weeks I had left the pub and in start, and that’s Guy Hollingworth’s
2001 was busking my way around Spain. Reformation. And I had a story-line that
was inspired by Eugene Burger’s Spanish
F Did you enjoy working in Spain? Inquisition patter for Card Warp – in my
W Yes. I had a friend working as a Club case the Pendle Witches, which was set in
18-30 holiday rep, drunken debauchery my home town, a home-town story. I did
really, I was about 23 years old and I went a Three Fly, which has been the opening
off to his holiday resort and he found me effect in my competition act for the last
all the work and I had a really good couple of competitions I entered, which
summer. The following summer I went to At a corporate gig has a very unusual finish with the last
Majorca where I spent the next three spent three years designing and building coin. I also did a Cups and Balls routine
years working tables, going around bars, magic tricks. They were happy and I was based on Michael Ammar’s version.
performing for tips and giving residencies, delighted. I was inventing tricks and
moving on to cabaret shows the following building things like the Tommy Wonder F Winning the competition can do
year. In 2004 I set up something called Nest of Boxes, an amazing and several things. It can give you something
the Magic Shak which was on an open-air complicated effect. I’m hoping to bring to include in your publicity to make you
terrace in Majorca. I bought a garden some things of my own out very soon stand out, and it can help you open
shed and plastered it over with cards and including a completely clear prediction certain doors.
got a big poker table with chairs around box. There’s a Facebook page that shows W It did give me a profile and agents
it. It was free – a parlour street magic this, ‘Perfectly Clear Prediction’. Also, that wouldn’t pick up the phone were
theatre. I was earning pretty good money. going to university meant I could move suddenly calling me and asking if I would
down to London in 2008 and join The go on their books, which was nice.
F Did you then go back to the UK? Magic Circle.
W Yes. I took a job as the first manager F How did this translate into the kind of
at Illusions magic bar; it was called Pure F 2008?! You won The Magic Circle work you did?
Magic Bar at the time and run by Mark Close-up Magician of the Year W I was at university at the time and was
Bennet. I did that for four or five months competition in 2008! doing corporate parties and the London
and then moved on to university in W I had only been a member of The scene, doing trade shows and all the
London. I was studying theatre practice Magic Circle for a few months. I awful business that comes along with
and puppetry at the Central School of remember I had my first interview with that. Then I had enough and didn’t want
Speech and Drama, one of the top drama Rob Cox on the day of the 2007 do that any more. I didn’t feel I had any
schools in the UK. competition and I told myself that the of my soul left to sell. I got in touch with
next year I would be doing that. And I Rodney James Piper at the House of
F Not every magician comprehends the did. Illusion in Salou, Spain. I went and
need for theatre skills: how to walk out
on a stage, how to present yourself, how
to project. What do you think?
W Those were things I learned later on.
At university I was learning more about
the backstage side of things – light and
sound and things like that. But it gave me
a massive grounding in the real work
behind theatre. I only managed to do two
years there. I had gone really to study
puppetry more than anything. But the
puppetry courses were more about
traditional forms – shadow puppets and
things like that, more artistic than the
commercial stuff that I was interested in
doing. So I left there and went to a
different university studying special
effects. The course was very open, and I Illusions magic bar

366 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

worked there for about six months doing most famous restaurants in Malta. You
two shows a night, five nights a week. did a show five evenings a week and
The year before they’d had a brilliant people had a meal and drinks and then
comedy magician, Matt Edwards, but he they watched a magic show. How did you
left and I became the comedy magician put together the show?
there. Rodney seemed to think that I was W I put a show together that I thought
funny, although I had never seen myself in was my best stuff and hoped people
that role. It was the first time I had been would like it. I included my mind-reading
on a proper stage and the first time doing puppet Eugene. I’ve been working on this
comedy magic. I learned it all at the act for about seven years. I did the act at
House of illusion. FISM and it’s a very funny routine which
brings something different to the show.
F Even more important than learning
the basics of stagecraft is developing a F And now you’ve returned to the
character. And that is something you have House of Illusion in Spain.
done in spades. You have a wild man, W Malta was amazing and was really
crazy persona, nobody really knows picking up business wise by the time we
what’s coming next; you’re sort of left but to be honest I really missed the
threatening in a comic way, you get a camaraderie that you get from having
strange look in your eye, and it’s a great eight magicians all working together. It’s
look. Did you develop that at the House Unusual Suspect for Alakazam? great fun and truly inspiring. Kind of like
of Illusion? W That was right before I went to Spain spending six months at a magic
W Yes, absolutely. That’s mostly where it and the House of Illusion for the first convention.
came from. time, before my character really
developed. F You competed in the FISM European
F You often say in your act that a Championship of Magic in Blackpool
certain trick might be dangerous for you, F At what point did Malta enter the against some brutally good people
that it would be terrible for you if the picture? including the man who won, Yann Frisch,
spectator doesn’t follow directions or if W I did the management job at the and you placed second, quite an honour.
things don’t work out, which is one of the House of Illusion, then I went to Andorra Does that mean you will be competing at
most charming aspects of your character. to open up a new House of Illusion for FISM in Blackpool in July?
That really sets you apart which, to me, is the ski season, and then I thought I might W Yes it does. Yann was brilliant, and
one of the real secrets of magic. try something on my own, something I totally deserved to win, but I came away
W Thank you. had always dreamed of doing. I remember with second and have been working even
Eugene Burger on his Gourmet Magic harder to do my best to win at FISM. The
F So now we’re into 2010. DVD saying he would never approach a competitions mean little, really, but they
W I went back to the House of Illusion in table. He said he would rather have a give you a deadline and it pushes you.
2010 as manager and director of magic. chair at the table or, better still, have
My first year I had been the comedy people come to him. That was the line F How do you feel about the state of
magician there for which I had won Act that always stayed with me: have the magic in general?
of the Year for the town of Salou, and the people come to him. From that day I was W My Chamber of Secrets was in many
second year I went back as director of striving to find a way for people to see my ways a throwback to magic the way it
magic. I was also performing and magic and have them come to me. once was: Robert-Houdin’s little theatre
compering, and helping the other guys that he had himself, and Egyptian Hall.
with their acts. I learned a tremendous F Why did you choose Malta to open Magicians of old built and performed in
amount helping others. your magic show? their own theatres. I enjoy working at the
W It’s an English-speaking country and a House of Illusion and I couldn’t imagine
F You also won the title of International tourist resort. You’ve got to have a going back to the UK to work in the
Champion of Close-up Magic at the constant turnover of people who have corporate scene. It was like the boring
MacMillan International convention. money in their pocket. I also did research assignments I got as a newspaper
W Straight after winning The Magic on TripAdvisor.com about what tourist photographer. I know all the top
Circle Close-up Competition, when I attractions exist in Malta for evening magicians working that scene are making
thought that was as good as it could get, entertainment and it seemed to me there very good money but I’m not sure any of
I first entered the International was an opening for something like what I them really enjoy doing the magic. The
Convention competition in 2008 and got had in mind. I was really proud that I and money they earn does allow them to go
a merit award. That brought me down a my girlfriend, Alarna, managed to take out and do the kind of show that they
peg or two. It made me determined to the Chamber to the Trip Advisor Number really want to do, their one-man shows
improve as a magician and to improve the One thing to do in Malta within three and comedy clubs etc and I feel very
act. That’s what I spent the next two years months. lucky that I’ve got to the point now
doing. where I can do the kind of show I really
F This was your Chamber of Secrets, want to do all the time. All I need
F When did make your DVD The which was in the lower level of one of the now is their money!

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 367

 Edwin A. Dawes M

A MAGICAL POT POURRI FOR CHRISTMAS

he Christmas Stocking traditionally had its fillers – an work may be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which

T apple, an orange and a bright, shiny new penny were de

rigueur in pre-World War II days. The Rich Cabinet this
Christmas has its own ’fillers’ with a selection of items that fill
possesses a superb marquetry cupboard with two inlaid doors.
The current Blickling House was erected in the reign of King
James I by Sir Henry Hobart on the site of the ruins of the
some of the gaps in previously incomplete knowledge plus residence of the Boleyn family. Consequently, I was interested to
two new items of insufficient length to warrant an individual know whether the cabinet might have been acquired by the
contribution. Hobart family in the 17th century. However, according to Jan
The gaps in previous articles have principally been related to Brookes, the belief is that it was purchased from a London dealer
birth and death dates, the searching for which has in recent by the 11th Marquess in the 1930s. After the outbreak of the
years been hugely simplified by the digitising of the official Second World War,
records. Similarly, the availability online of census returns up to Blickling Hall was
1911 has yielded much additional information, which is now requisitioned and served
presented for Ernest Sewell and Madame Patrice. as an Officers’ Mess for
the RAF Station at nearby
The Cabinet at Blickling Hall Oulton. And it was during
In 2010 my old friend and Magic Circle member Douglas the War that Blickling
Gregg phoned me in some excitement. He had recently visited House and Estate was
the National Trust
property, Blickling Hall,
at Blickling, near
Norwich, and had seen
there in the Chinese
bedroom or dressing
room on the first floor
a wooden cabinet
which, when specially
opened by the guide,
disclosed on the
inside of the door
a marquetry pattern
depicting “a magician
standing on a
stairway”. He
understood the
cabinet was of
continental origin
(16th or 17th century)
and, as the cabinet
was kept closed, it
was in remarkably
good condition, and
he was extremely
fortunate to have seen it. Douglas thought I should investigate
further, which I duly did.
Through the kindness of Jan Brookes, the House Manager, I
learned that the cabinet was of Dutch origin, dated 1680,
made in walnut in the style of van Mereken, and the interior is
rarely shown due to the conservation of the piece, and also
the instability of the cabinet which is top heavy when the
doors are open. Top: Blickling Hall. Above: Blickling Hall cabinet panel. Left: Detail
A fine example of Jan van Mereken’s 17th century marquetry of the performer

368 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

es MIMC

passed to the National Trust under the terms of the Country composition. Instead, far
Houses Scheme. more prosaically, it was the
Jan Brookes kindly arranged for a photograph to be taken of view from the east beach at
the marquetry panel, which is reproduced here together with an Selsey, West Sussex, across
enlarged image of the ‘magician’. It can be seen that there is a the sea to Bognor Regis, and
motif of three playing cards on the right leg of his trousers and commemorated there by a
he is holding up in his right hand a glass containing something blue plaque erected by Selsey
that appears to be covered with a white handkerchief or cloth, Town Council.
suggestive perhaps of a trick. But in his left hand he carries a As data for Desert Island
bow for the violin or similar musical instrument tucked under his Discs is now available the
left arm. The instrument indicates he was a musician too and missing information for
probably a member of an itinerant, better-class group of David Nixon’s can be
entertainers, a well-recognised phenomenon in Europe at that provided. The programme
period. The performer’s dress is interesting and distinctive, was on 6 February 1956 and
supporting the view that he was associated with a group our speculation that It’s
regularly appearing in the homes of the nobility and upper Magic would be one of his
classes. record choices proved to be
It is a lovely piece of 17th century marquetry which, thanks to Sewell’s Tricks for Boys (c.1919) wrong. The list chosen is as
Douglas Gregg, can now be recorded. follows: (1) Leigh Harline: Give a Little Whistle from Pinocchio;
(2) Tommy Dorsey: On the Sunny Side of
David Nixon’s Desert Island Discs the Street; (3) Joseph Haydn:
When Steve Short and I were working on the biography of David Symphony No. 103 in E flat
Nixon, which was published in 2009 as David Nixon: Entertainer major Drumroll, Royal
with the Magic Touch, we were aware that David had been Philharmonic Orchestra,
featured as the 268th subject on Roy Plomley’s popular, long- Conductor Thomas
running BBC radio programme Beecham; (4) Fats Waller
Desert Island Discs in 1956, and his Rhythm: Stayin’ at
but we were unable at that Home; (5) Sophie Tucker:
time to secure precise details. Life Begins at Forty; (6)
The premise of the Ruggero Leoncavallo: Vesti la
programme was that Plomley giubba (from Pagliacci), Soloist:
interviewed celebrities and in Harry Secombe; (7) Eartha Kitt:
the course of talking about The Day That The Circus Left Town;
their lives they were invited to (8) Bing Crosby & Johnny Mercer: Mister
nominate which eight Meadowlark. Selsey Plaque
gramophone records they Interviewees were allowed to choose one book to
would take with them if they accompany the ‘standard issue’ of the Bible and the works of
were to be wrecked on a Shakespeare, and David chose Lewis Carroll’s Alice in
desert island, each being Wonderland, while his luxury item was a photograph of his
played during the broadcast. wife and baby son Nicholas, who was five months old at the
Plomley had devised the programme, which was copyrighted time of the broadcast.
and first aired in 1942 with the signature tune of By the Sleepy
Lagoon by British composer Eric Coates, and Plomley continued Ernest Sewell
to present the programme until his death in 1985. In January 2007 another
There are two interesting facts in connection with the old friend and Magic Circle
programme. The introductory Sleepy Lagoon music was stalwart, John Dudley,
augmented by seagull cries until it was pointed out that there phoned to tell me that on a
are no seagulls on desert islands. However, after eliminating the local radio programme,
offending gulls a public outcry ensured their restoration, and ‘Good Morning Devon,’ he
their calls remain to the present day! The other point is that a had listened to an interview
desert island was not the inspiration for Eric Coates’s with a Mrs Mandy Harrison,
▲

Patrice at
www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk Niagara Exhibition 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 369
 was working as a commercial clerk. The family now resided in a
six-roomed house at 36 Rochester Road, Kentish Town. At the
1911 census they were all living at the same address, but Ernest,
now 24, was working on his own account as an Entertainer.
During his work as a conjurer Ernest met James John Avon, a
comedian and vocalist, whose daughter Elsie Mary Avon was to
become his wife. At the time of the 1911 census the Avon
family was living at 50 High Street, Broadstairs, in Kent, a private
house with 13 rooms in a parade of shops. Elsie Mary, who was
ten years younger than Ernest, had been born in Notting Hill,
Kensington, in the last quarter of 1896. Ernest and Elsie May
were married at St Pancras in the first quarter of 1914. Their
ages were recorded as 26 and 16 respectively.
The date of Ernest Sewell’s death had eluded us when the
previous article was written but can now be recorded as being
registered at Hendon, Middlesex, in the last quarter of 1964, at
the age of 78. His wife Elsie Mary Sewell died in January 1992 at
Okehampton, Devon, to where she had moved after her
husband’s death.
The Sewells had one daughter, Pamela R. Sewell, who was
born in the last quarter of 1920 at Westhampnett, Sussex, near
Chichester. She married Stewart N. Harrison in the second quarter
of 1946 at St Margaret’s, Westminster. These would be Mandy
Harrison’s parents. One discrepancy arises from the previous
information furnished by Billy McComb, the given name of Peter
Harrison as “a son-in-law of Ernest Sewell” who was running
Brookite when the merger with Seager & Seager occurred. As
Sewell had only one daughter and she married Stephen N.
Harrison, perhaps McComb’s informant had a lapse of memory.
The Brookite Company, which makes items other than kites for
outdoor activities, celebrated its centenary in 2007. Ernest Sewell
would have been proud.

Patrice with Billiard Ball Trick Charles Lang Neil and Mrs Lang Neil (Madame Patrice)
who, in the course of the broadcast mentioned that her The previous articles on Charles Lang Neil and Mademoiselle
grandfather was a conjurer who had appeared before royalty: Patrice, Charles Bertram’s Vanishing Lady for his presentation of
none other than Ernest Sewell. Buatier de Kolta’s masterpiece in 1886 and who subsequently
John promptly called her, had a lengthy chat and mentioned married Neil, lacked some of the essential bio-data for both
my interest and the article I had written about Sewell in The (Dawes, 1980; Rich Cabinets Nos. 66-68). This can now be
Magic Circular (2002). He obtained an address and Mrs Harrison’s provided although Neil himself was clearly a very private man
permission for me to contact her and send a photocopy of the and a photograph of him has yet to come to light.
article. This was a business address for Brookite Ltd at Brightley The earliest census in which Neil can be found is 1901 when
Mill, Okehampton, manufacturers of kites, and immediately he was living at 219 Brixton Road, Lambeth, with his wife,
linked up with my previous article recording information supplied Augusta Patrizio, his mother-in-law Augusta D.C. De Rella, aged
by the late Billy McComb, namely that the Tufnell Park company, 74, a retired teacher of languages, born in Germany and a
Seager and Seager, which made the Sewell range of boxes of
tricks, had merged with the old-established firm of Brookite, run
by a son-in-law of Ernest Sewell, Peter Harrison.
In my letter to Mandy Harrison I asked if she had any additional
information on her grandfather she might be able to add to that
in my article, but unfortunately that was not the case.
At the time when Rich Cabinet 283 (2002) was written there
was no bio-data available for Ernest Sewell. He was known to be
still alive in 1949 but that was the last positive sighting. The
results of a recent search of records now enable some of the
missing data to be provided.
Sewell’s birth was registered in the St Pancras district of
London in the last quarter of 1886. He was the second child of
John Sewell and his wife Rosetta (née Robins), with an elder
sister, Florence Sophia, three years his senior, and two other
sisters were to follow, Ethel Emily and Doris. Their father, John,
was initially a bookbinder but by the time of the 1901 census he Sewell Cabinet of Tricks

370 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

German citizen. Neil, an ‘Author (own account)’ was 24, and his
wife, listed as a ‘Professional entertainer,’ was 32 [sic]. There was
also a servant living in, 21-year-old Alice Keep, described as a
lady help (domestic), as well as two lady visitors, one of whom
was Sarah A. Norwood.
A decade later in the 1911 census they were living at ‘Neilcot’,
3 Church Road, Norwood (Brixton). Neil, now 38, was described
as a ‘Specialist in advertising, an employer’, who had been
married17 years. Here was it divulged that Neil was a British
subject, born in Jerusalem, Palestine, which on the basis of his
given age (38) would indicate his birth in 1872/73. His wife, now
aged 40 [sic], was an ‘Entertainer working on her own account’
and born in Middlesex. Her mother was not listed and the
inference that she might have died was confirmed for the first
quarter of 1909, when she was aged 83, the death being
recorded in Lambeth.
Neil’s birth in Jerusalem is significant for it links with his
relative, the Rev James Neil, a prolific author and lecturer on the
Holy Land, and involved with the Holy Land Exhibition at
Brighton in October 1892 where Charles Bertram performed
Eastern Magic. In Rich Cabinet 68 I speculated whether Lang
Neil might have met his future wife when she was assisting
Bertram at the Exhibition, or whether Bertram got the
engagement because she was Neil’s wife. The latter possibility
can now be excluded because, with the knowledge that Neil had
been married for 17 years in 1911, the marriage of Neil to
Patrizia De Rella was found in the second quarter of1893,
registered at St Pancras.
The De Rella family was traced back to the 1891 census but
not earlier. This afforded the additional information that Auguste
Derella [sic] was 64, a ‘Professor of foreign languages,’ who was
born in Hamlin, Germany. Her daughter Patrizia Derella, age 28,
was stated to be born in London, and described as an ‘Artist
professional. Vocal, conjuring, musical’. They lived at 76 Frithville
Gardens, Hammersmith, together with Sarah A. Norwood,
24 years, single, and a ‘working companion’. Also there was
Henriett Jonen, 15, ‘versatile artiste – pupil.’ Despite the census
claim that Patrizia was born in London, no trace of her has been
found in the register of births.
It was known that Neil’s wife predeceased him by virtue of the
memorial card he had printed, but the date was previously
unknown. The death was discovered in the fourth quarter of
1927, registered in Richmond, and her age stated as 64. We
thus have the interesting disparities of Augusta P. Neil’s given
ages in the years 1893, 1901, 1911 and 1927, namely 28, 32,
40 and 64. If we assume that her age at death (64) is accurate,
then she had managed to ‘lose’ four years in age between 1893
and 1927, and would have been 60 at death, presumably a
lady’s prerogative!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful for the information and help received from
Michael Dawes, John Dudley, Douglas Gregg, Keith Meddings
and Steve Short.

REFERENCES
Dawes, E.A. (1980). The Magic Circular 74, 83-86;
107-109; 127-130.
Dawes, E.A. (2002). The Magic Circular 96,154-157.
Dawes, E.A. & Short, S. (2009). David Nixon:
Entertainer with the Magic
Touch. Northern Arts Publications.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 371

 Mandy Davis MIMC Convenor of Reports. Photographed by John W

that they’d also been sitting in the only

chair with a ‘This Chair’ sign stuck to its
back.
The evening proved to be a real
cornucopia of magic and advice. As the
saying goes, there’s something there for
everyone; and tonight this
adage was most certainly
true.
[The Hands-On Pre-Show
in the Devant Room
featured Tony Hanscombe.] Tony Hanscombe

Monday 10 October 2011

Four Seasons Magic –
Martin Cox MIMC

Reported by Tim Barnes

Martin Cox was introduced to the stage
as the Hard Man of Magic, a label he told
us he’s been trying to shake off! What
followed was a cornucopia of approaches,
some of which positively dispelled his
former title – others which only seemed
to reinforce it.
Andi Gladwin Martin began with a question: Which
Monday 26 September 2011 Next followed a fifteen minute came first, the chicken or the egg? This
The Modus OperANDI Lecture introduction to The Master Pushoff. As was answered by a sight gag using a
– Andi Gladwin MMC the Vanishing Inc website states, ‘[this] wind-up chicken and a wind-up egg,
isn’t just a move; it’s an entire technique setting the tone for the madcap and
Reported by: Tim Barnes that will revolutionize your card magic. somewhat unpolished theme that flowed
Andi Gladwin’s lecture delivered tricks This one technique allows you to execute through the evening.
presented for sale, tricks taught, five a perfect double turnover (with no breaks A series of card routines followed with
pearls of marketing wisdom and stories or get readies), an elegant second deal, Martin’s larger-that-life approach
of magic plus lots of banter from the double deals, palms, switches, third deals
audience, all of which offered magical and so much more...’ Andi’s presentation
ideas as well as providing irreverent clearly inspired the Monday Night
heckles! This was more a gathering of audience – given the number sitting with
friends than a formal lecture – much to packs in their hands, working alongside
our enjoyment! him in this brief tutorial.
Andi demonstrated two marketed Finally Andi performed, and then
effects – Timeless, the prediction of the explained, a chair test / film star
time on a watch followed by the vanish prediction routine. With six spectators
of the watch hands, and The Prism randomly seated on stage, each chose
Deck, a utility Rainbow Deck marketed their favourite film star, and wrote their
by Vanishing Inc – the company he name on a label. The labels were collected
founded and runs with Joshua Jay. and mixed before being stuck to the
He also taught an impressive, and correct assistant. Then, through a series of
ultimately very simple, routine where pre-written instructions, the film stars
two cards, randomly selected by two were dispatched back into the audience,
spectators were shuffled back into the leaving just one person whose film star
pack but found within less than five name matched a prediction on view the
seconds! whole time. As a final kicker it was shown

372 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 Martin Cox www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

hn Ward MMC

disguising some very deft card technique.

Martin shared with us his philosophy for
performance. He seeks the billing of an
entertainer rather than a magician. As for
his comedy style, he mixes in the surreal,
the slapstick and the clever. We were also
taught magic from his alter ego act – Mr
Biscuit, a family (rather than a children’s)
entertainer. This included some nice gags
with modelling balloons.
Next followed some theory – a short
PowerPoint presentation on the benefits
of routining, with the aid of mind
mapping, and Martin’s views on the
importance of researching the provenance
of ideas. He showed us two further
routines: firstly the Pat Fallon-originated
Mystery Card Trick, which was offered for
sale at very modest cost afterwards, and
then his presentation of Bucket Head.
Finally, Martin explained the

Photo: Roberto Forzoni

construction of his own shows. Often
writing the content just two days before
performing, he rarely knows what he will
do in advance. This almost freeform
approach means that he has never been
Matthew Garrett
able to present an ‘Act as Known’ –
something that he feels has held him back Monday 17 October 2011 speech. In this way he can entertain
from many types of booking. This said, Magic at the Dinner Table – people who do not speak English and
Martin seems far happier to sacrifice a Matthew Garrett AIMC also find out quickly what the level of
more traditional, and perhaps lucrative, understanding is. This enables him to
approach for one that lives more on the Reported by Geoffrey Shisler choose suitable material for his follow-
edge and relies on the spontaneity of Matthew Garrett, The Magic Circle 2010 up items.
whatever comes to mind. Close-up Magician of the Year, spoke Matthew likes to use borrowed items,
about his approach to entertaining at so he will link a Ninja Ring onto the stem
tables and demonstrated, as well as of a wineglass, a very wide bangle,
explained, some of the effects that he even a Polo Mint, and, wherever
uses. He started by saying that when he possible, he likes people to believe that
begins his performance he likes to get they have examined everything.
people to hold something as this attracts He found that the easiest way to get
attention around the table. a table to clap and cheer was to simply
The first effect we saw was Matthew’s ask them to! However, if you do, then
version of Ninja Rings. It is short and to you have to make sure that you do
the point, and not only does he ask something to earn it.
people each side of him to hold the rings, We saw a Magic Square, cleverly
they even remain in their hands while he made up as a publicity piece, and a
performs the link. Matthew has added his simple-to-make balloon heart that will
own ‘Ninja Plus’ in which he links a finger make sure that the performer is always
ring onto one of the Ninja Rings. His going to be in the wedding album of
Ambitious Cards routine followed which the bride and groom!
culminated in the revelation of five chosen This was an enjoyable evening from
cards. He said that he likes to begin with a performer who clearly enjoys
effects that are visual and require little what he does.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 373

 Ian Rowland MIMC
MIMC

Talking Talk

L ast week I did something I don’t normally do. In fact, I did

it twice. There are, of course, many items on the list of
‘things I don’t normally do’. For example, I generally
manage to get through the day without sticking my head in a
blender, watching a Dancing Cane routine or sharing a jacuzzi
tea-break. Very important, biscuits.
It’s not a large society, but it’s a very friendly one. They meet in
a purpose-built private clubhouse complete with bar, lounge
area, swimming pool, spa and business bureau. Shows and
lectures are held in the state-of-the-art theatre that can seat up
with Jacqueline Bisset. However, in this particular instance I’m to 240 comfortably, although they partition off about 80 seats
referring to ‘lecturing at magic clubs’. for more intimate shows. There is a perfect view of the stage
There are several reasons why I don’t do many club lectures. from all seats but, just in case, they also have a comprehensive
The most obvious and understandable reason is that I’m not three-camera HD video relay system feeding two large plasma
often asked, since not many clubs are in the desperate, barrel- screens. It’s all very nice.
scraping position where a couple of hours of me starts to look At the lecture I had the great honour of being introduced by a
like fun. However, even when the occasional invite does waft hero of mine, Michael Pearse. Michael is a brilliant juggler and
my way, I have my reservations. For one thing, as everyone entertainer, as funny as laughter itself, but also one of the
knows, lectures are not as well attended as they were in the kindest, most charming and delightful people in the magic
past, largely because almost everything is available on DVD world. The lecture seemed to go well, and I certainly had a good
and YouTube. Traipsing half-way across the country to lecture time.
to eleven guys and a dog gives rise to a certain air of My second lecture was for the Blackpool Magician’s Society,
pointlessness, no matter how much one may love ‘giving and the special reason in this case was that the invitation came
something back to magic’. I do feel sorry for the poor souls from club President Derek Lever, who happens to be one of my
who actually try to run clubs and organise lectures these days. oldest friends in magic. When I say ‘oldest friend’, this isn’t a
It must be a lot of hard work, and I expect they are as reference to Derek’s gentle slippage into the dappled twilight of
disappointed as the lecturer when hardly anyone shows up. his advanced old age. I mean that I’ve known him for about 35
Then there is the issue of financial viability. I’m not years. In fact we worked out that our friendship is actually older
mercenary, but if you factor in the preparation and travel time than some of the stuff he has on his stand at conventions, which
then doing a lecture somewhere can easily burn up the best is saying something.
part of a couple of days. Given that I work for myself and Blackpool welcomed me with rain like bullets and the kind of
every day counts, this can be hard to justify. The traditional gale force wind that could turn back time. Quite mild weather,
deal is that the lecturer gets a modest fee plus the chance to by local standards. I’ve lectured for the Society before and they
make some extra money selling merchandise. Unfortunately I always give visitors a warm welcome at their splendid Theatre
don’t have any merchandise to sell. Club. I think it went well and it was certainly an enjoyable
I did try to embrace this system some years ago when I got evening. I always find it rather humbling to be in the presence of
invited to do a few regional lectures. I wrote some lecture the team that puts on the biggest magic convention in the
notes, prepared illustrations, laid everything out quite nicely world, and does it so well.
and tried to produce a quality product. I printed a few sets up My third and final UK lecture for this year is scheduled to be at
and took them to sell at the lectures. On every single occasion, the Circle on December 5th. At the time of writing this is still six
I heard a club member say, ‘Tell you what, guys, I’ll buy one set weeks away and anything could happen between now and then.
of the notes and copy them for the rest of you’. These are the Assuming it does go ahead, I’d love a good turnout so I hope to
same people who at other times will moan and say, ‘The see you there.
trouble with this club is we never get any decent lecturers’.
It’s different when I get invited to lecture or perform Lens Flair
overseas. I leap at such chances with rabid enthusiasm because When I did the South London lecture, Mark Hesketh-Jennings
I love travelling to foreign countries. You may have noticed took a lot of photographs of the evening. Like all non-
this, given that I mention it once or twice per column. photogenic people, I don’t particularly like having cameras aimed
at me. I worry that images of my over-sized Orc-like visual
Special Reasons hideousness might get into the public domain and scare small
All that having been said, I did nonetheless do a couple of club children.
lectures last week, in both cases for special reasons. However, Mark is a very gifted photographer and he did an
The first lecture was for the South London Magic Society, and excellent job. He even managed to make me look okay-ish in
the special reason is that they hold their meetings about 10 some shots, which I regard as more magical than anything
minutes away from where I live. This is quite magnificently actually in my lecture. Mark has several galleries of his work
convenient of them. They also serve nice biscuits during the online. Go to www.flickr.com, select ‘People’ in the Search box

374 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

and tap his name in. If you need a great photographer to take by saying, ‘You’re only allowed to see them once’. Ask the
some shots of you, for promotion and publicity purposes, I highly Spec which one of the five words is most important for
recommend Mark’s services. success in business. Whatever he says, say it’s quite a wise
choice. Next, ask him if he can remember all five words.
Discovering Paradise Whether he can or not, explain that there’s a fairly simple
If you’re into mentalism, it helps if you can chat to people in a mnemonic that makes it quite easy: METAL. Verbally recap the
reasonably well-informed way about anything to do with the five words and show how their first letters spell METAL. Ask
mind. I’m referring to subjects such as psychic research, him if he noticed this. He will say he didn’t.
motivational theory and spiritual development. For this reason, I At some point during this relaxed chat, you need to switch
highly recommend two books by Isabel Losada. They are The the packet of five cards for the second, near-duplicate packet.
Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment and her more recent book Having done this, leave
that has the same title but with the word ‘Paradise’ at the end. them face down on the
Both available on Amazon and cheap as anything. table. Say, ‘Actually,
They are both brilliantly well-written, funny and informative there’s more to this than
books in which the author explores different fields of learning, meets the eye. The most
therapy and enlightenment and reports on what she finds. There important thing for
is no finer way to learn a bit about T’ai Chi, astrology, tantric success in business is the
sex, NLP, silent retreats, Tony Robbins and the mind-altering ability to spot
(literally) experiences available deep within the Amazonian opportunities. Would you
rainforest. believe that you missed
The opening chapter of the ‘Paradise’ book describes Losada’s two clear opportunities?
meetings with Feng Shui practitioners. It’s hilarious and had me It’s very surprising what
guffawing out loud. This was a bit inappropriate because I was we miss when we’re
on a train at the time, in the designated ‘Quiet’ carriage. I focused on other details.
expected to be ejected by the Noise Gestapo, but I got off with Check it out.’ The Spec
one or two disapproving frowns and a distant ‘tut tut’. picks up the five cards,
Get Isabel’s books, read and love them, and you’ll find yourself which he believes are the
a little more knowledgeable than you were before about the ones he just looked at.
workings of the mind. ‘Quick Trick: example of possible As he goes through
card design’ them, he sees the two
QUICK TRICK ‘opportunities’ that he missed. This is your cue to talk about
How can you carry round a little packet trick and use it to get your expertise in how the mind works, and all the ways his
booked for £1,200 per day business seminars? Here’s how. company would benefit from some of your know-how. Sell
Take five blank-face playing cards. On them print the words him a one-day seminar for £1,200. I’m not kidding. Do it.
Money, Effort, Time, Attitude and Luck. Add a few shapes, How do you secretly switch the first packet of cards for the
symbols and other elements that look as if they have some sort second? There are at least half a dozen good ways, most of
of psychological significance, and vary these on each card. which are variations on Juan Tamariz’s ‘Crossing The Gaze’
Make a second set that is absolutely identical except that the switch, Bob Cassidy’s ‘Microphone’ switch, or a palm-to-palm
Effort and Attitude cards also have the word Opportunity written false transfer. I leave you to research and perfect these moves
on them, in smaller writing that isn’t as immediately obvious. I’ve in your own good time. The challenge of switching one small
illustrated one possible design, just so you get the general idea. packet of cards for another, during a relaxed and informal chat
Let’s suppose you’re chatting to someone who works for a when the Spec has no idea what’s going on, shouldn’t really
company that hires outside speakers (i.e. any company with terrify anyone reading this magazine.
100+ employees). Hold the first set of cards face down and say,
‘I’m going to show you five words. Tell me which you think is Invitation
most important for success in business. You don’t have to If you have items, stories, jokes or vicious rumours of
memorise all five, but that would be impressive. They go by fairly interest to mentalists, please drop me a line
fast, so you’ll need to concentrate.’ Deal the cards face up on to (ian@ianrowland.com). If you can’t afford Derren and
the table one at a time, on top of one another, allowing your want to hire a fairly good also-ran mentalist, or you just
Spec to see each word for about two seconds. have time to kill, please visit www.ianrowland.com.
Cover the cards and pick them up again, justifying this action

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 375

THE YOUNG MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR
REVISITED, 18 SEPTEMBER 2011
Reported by Darren Tossell MMC, photos by Arto Airaksinen

n
Nixo
h David
it
art w
ny H Bertie Pearce Russ Stevens
John

Amethyst Angelo Carbone Richard Cadell (and Sooty)

Graham Jolley

Scott Penrose

376 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 ifty years ago, The Magic workshops at The Magic Circle. Angelo Carbone, Michael Colley,

F Circle held its first ever

‘Young Magician of the
Year’ competition. The
Richard Wiseman, Russ Stevens, Scott Penrose, Graham Jolley,
Richard Griffin, Nic Einhorn and Richard Cadell were among the
fifty Members who spent months putting together one of the
winner was Johnny Hart, highlights in this year’s Magic Circle calendar.
whose dazzling card
manipulation routine won
o
Event Organiser Noel Britten adds: I would like to publicly thank
over the judges and set everyone who participated
Johnny on course for an and supported the day and
international career taking that includes all the speakers:
him from London to Las Michael Colley, Angelo
Vegas, via New York, Carbone, Richard Wiseman,
Shanghai and every major Russ Stevens, Richard Griffin,
city in the world. Jack Delvin David Owen, and Paul Kieve.
MIMC, President of The David Owen The close-uppers: Ben Hart,
Magic Circle, said “On Marc Oberon, Steve Dela,
behalf of the Council and Michael Jordan, and Nic
Members of The Magic Circle, Einhorn. The stage
I am delighted to bestow performers: Matt McGurk,
Johnny Hart with Honorary Martyn Rowland, Scott
Professional Membership of Richard Wiseman
The Inner Magic Circle. His Penrose, Amethyst, Bertie
style and talent inspired a Pearce, Russ Stevens, Richard
generation of performers and Cadell, Graham Jolley, and Paul
he joins a short but impressive Dabek. The technical crew:
list of the world’s very best Kevin Doig, Roy Marsh, Dave
magicians”. Andrews, Jon Robinson, and
Russ Stevens MIMC who Bob Hamilton. The helpers: Alan
won the title of ‘Young Maskell, Dave Maskell, Michael
Paul Kieve Magician of the Year’ at The Jordan’s dad, Amethyst’s folks,
Magic Circle in 1977, presented Johnny Hart with his certificate Dawn Miller, Tracey Mullins,
and Membership in Blackpool. Russ had the opportunity for a Mandy Davis, James Freedman,
rare interview with Johnny that was played to an appreciative and Richard McDougall. Those
audience at ‘The Magic Circle Richard Griffin who helped publicise it: Duncan
Young Magician of the Year Trillo, Darren Tossell, and Matt Field. Martin MacMillan for the
Revisited’ Day which took loan of the spider frame. Those who helped with the Johnny
place at the Club’s Hart Interview including Martin Scott Price, Jeff Soltzing, John
headquarters on 18 September. Houdi, Bill McIlhany, Max Droge, Bill Goodwin and Jay Niemi.
Russ said: “People say, never I would also like to thank all the attendees, but especially Olavi
meet your idols, you’ll be Airaksinen, who won the competition in 1963 and overcame his
disappointed. However, Johnny fear of flying to be with us on the day. Olavi mentored Marko
was my inspiration and driving Karvo, and I can only guess at Olavi’s pride in watching Marko
force for getting me into Karvo take the roof off the Palladium on Monday night’s show.
magic and finally getting to Speaking to Marko afterwards he said that Johnny Hart (winner
meet him and present him in 1961) was one of his heroes, and it was another highlight of
with the honour of the event on Sunday to hear an interview with Johnny when last
Membership of the Inner week he was presented with Honorary Professional Membership
Magic Circle was far from of The Inner Magic Circle (joining only 11 other magicians
disappointing. Like all of us, he Noel Britten worldwide, the other three British performers being David Berglas,
may have aged just a little, but his digital dexterity is as eye- Paul Daniels and Wayne Dobson).
popping today as it was half a century ago.” Having Johnny suitably feted for
Noel Britten MIMC, organiser of The Young Magician of the his outstanding achievements
Year Revisited said: “Seeing Johnny suitably feted for his was my second principal reason
outstanding achievements was an inspiring reason for organising for organising the event, and
the event and it’s wonderful to see him honoured in this very the third was to celebrate the
special year”. Johnny Hart joins just three other British magicians accomplishments of many of
who hold the title of Honorary Professional Membership of The the other participants in this
Inner Magic Circle (David Berglas, Paul Daniels and Wayne prestigious Competition over
Dobson) and eleven worldwide including David Copperfield, its 50 year history.
John Calvert, Silvan and Lance Burton. I felt we ticked all three
The Young Magician of The Year Revisited featured a line-up boxes.
of past winners and contenders for a day of magic and Michael Colley To another 50 years!

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 377

 A Book in English Phew! That’s an awful lot of material said, “Where did
by Woody Aragón for the serious student of card magic. you get that lousy
375 pgs., 9.5 x 6.25 ins., hard backed Woody has a great sense of humour haircut?” ’ ”
with dust jacket, photo illustrated. which infuses his work and adds a great Heh Heh Heh.
$49.95 (£38) plus p&p from your spirit to the book. His first language is This further
favourite dealer. Dealers contact Spanish and this book is a translation, compilation of the
Murphy’s Magic Supplies, with some wrinkles that the proof readers great Tommy
www.MurphysMagic.com. might have better smoothed over. The Cooper’s jokes
many photographs are helpful, but they arrives just in time
Reviewed by Matthew Field have been over Photoshopped, often to purchase as a
Woody Aragón is one of the new breed adding unnecessary and distracting Christmas stocking stuffer for a loved one.
of Spanish card magicians. A student of textures where none were needed. Other It has a gazillion great jokes, (not all of
Juan Tamariz, who wrote the book’s photos show Woody with his friends and them original with Cooper, as John
foreword, Woody is an cohorts. explains in his excellent introduction),
engaging character who I’ve seen Woody Aragón in action (at accompanied by many photos previously
applies sophisticated the International Convention) and his unseen (at least by me). They are
mathematical principles to tricks are astonishing. An unmistakably arranged alphabetically by subject, the
come up with tricks that mixed deck is suddenly dealt out so, for way Cooper did, for easy access when a
are both amazing and example, they spell a message with letters laugh was needed.
decidedly non- on the faces of a blank-face deck. His John Fisher has done a masterful job
mathematical looking. trick ‘Postcards’ is a mentalism effect that with this book. The material is prime
This very big book is a miracle. fodder for any working professional
contains nine sleights, This is a book full of ideas and great magician, comic or compere, and priced
some original, the highlight of which is effects, and if you’re serious about card laughably low.
the Separagon. This allows you to magic it should be on your shelf.
separate cards into two categories (such Talisman
as red / black) while dealing through Tommy Cooper’s edited by Jules Lenier and
the deck onto the table. 14 tricks which Secret Joke Files Gerald Blount
can be done with any deck follow, then compiled by John Fisher 560 pages, 7.25 x 10.25 ins., hardbacked,
six tricks with ‘special cards’ including 168 pgs., 8.75 x 6.5 ins., 2 colours illustrated. $70 (about £44) plus p&p,
standard gaffs (blank backs and double throughout. £9.99 plus p&p from most or $15 (about £9.50) plus p&p with a
facers) and some you’ll have to make, booksellers (discounted on 3-year subscription to Genii magazine.
such as transparent cards. www.Amazon.co.uk). Published by
Next follow two chapters on the Preface Publishing, a division of Reviewed by Matthew Field
application of maths to card magic, Random House. This is another special publication by
specifically Faro shuffles and an advanced Richard Kaufman’s Genii corporation, a
course on the Gilbreath Principle. These Reviewed by Matthew Field big book available at a silly price if you
are important additions to the literature “I was telling my barber how I was take on a 3-year subscription to Genii
of card magic. Seven tricks using the planning a trip to Italy on one of those magazine (or extend an existing sub).
application of these principles explore economy flights. He said, ‘You don’t want Although the book’s cover says that the
an amazing Aragón discovery – the to do that. The plane will be crowded, the Talisman was “Magic’s only weekly
Permanent Deck Principle. This allows a heat is terrible and besides if you think magazine”, it’s clear
deck to be shuffled, either Faro or riffle, you’ll get in to see the Pope, you can that what was
then Anti-Faroed – dealt into multiple forget it.’ Three months later I was back meant was
piles and reassembled – and the order in the same barber’s. I told him the trip America’s only
of the deck remains the same! That’s an was terrific, the plane was very magic weekly, since
over-simplification, but it is quite comfortable and the weather was just England had its
amazing. Five essays, excellent ones, right. He said, ‘Okay, but did you get in to Abra.
follow, as well as construction details see the Pope?’ I said, ‘Yes, and what is I was unfamiliar
for a “change box”, a card box which more I got a private audience.’ He said, with the magazine,
can switch a bank of cards. ‘And what did the Pope say?’ I said, ‘He which was edited

378 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

by the popular Associate Editor of Genii, high-margin items that provided much of already familiar. It was the construction
the late Jules Lenier. The magazine began Mark’s income, and he was very good at and design of these routines that fooled
in 1970 and ran for 75 issues, the final this – so much so that he hired other me and made me appreciate the great
two arriving after a seven year gap! grafters to work other venues at which he thinking evident here. “Dealers Choice”
The magicians who contributed tricks had made deals to set up stalls. This is a is a stunning progressive Poker Deal
and articles to the magazine are fascinating story, and when Mark based on Stud Poker, Seven Card Stud
impressive, including the likes of Ron concentrates on this aspect of his life, it is and climaxing with a Texas Hold’em
Wilson, J.C. Wagner, Jon Racherbaumer, illuminating reading. Deal.
Clarke Crandall, Gerald Kosky, Bill Miesel, However ... a great deal of the book Only one item isn’t
Mike Skinner, Ed Marlo, Joe Berg, Bruce falls into what I label “WGAS”, which explained and that is
Cervon – there’s even an issue devoted stands for “Who Gives A Toss” (that’s the “Miracle Aces” which is an
to Hideo Kato! clean version). There is excruciating detail excellent interpretation of
This is a valuable reprint of a hard-to- about the love of Mark’s life, a disturbed Marlo’s Miracle Aces
find magazine. The format reproduces the woman who eventually left him. There is Cutting. This routine is a
unusual layout and is a real treat for the too much about aspects of his friends and performance only; however
magic lover. travels which are, frankly, boring. any card man familiar with
Mark Lewis is a character, as he would Marlo’s work will be able to
The Lives of a Showman be the first to admit (I believe). One of his see the subtle additions Tony has made
by Mark Lewis hobbies is going on magic internet forums to this already great routine.
322 pgs., 9.25 x 6.5 ins., hard backed and winding people up, getting thrown What makes this DVD a worthwhile
with dust jacket, some photos. $40 off, and coming back under a investment for all students of card
(about £25) with free US and UK pseudonym. A character. He is also a very magic is that the contents feature
shipping, $10 extra elsewhere, via PayPal successful performer and reading about excellent sleight of hand skills combined

© MVP-Michael Vincent Productions 2011

from www.MarkLewisEntertainment.com his success as a Svengali pitchman is with a delicious mixture of subtleties
(the Magicians Only section). educational and entertaining. and finesse for totally deceptive and
entertaining card magic.
Reviewed by Matthew Field The Usual Suspect I am delighted this DVD has been
Grafter. That’s the word Mark Lewis uses by Tony Cabral released, I have met and sessioned with
to describe how he has 2-disc DVD set. 2 hrs, 53 mins. $39.95 Tony Cabral and he is an outstanding
earned much of his living (£34) plus p&p from your favourite dealer cardician. This is the sort of DVD that
over the years, pitching or directly from Tony Cabral, e-mail will add to your database of knowledge
Svengali Decks and other antoniomcabral@yahoo.com for details. and provide you with some great
‘slum’ tricks to crowds in routines for your repertoire.
department stores, fairs, Reviewed by Michael Vincent Highly recommended.
conventions or any place This new DVD set from Boston card man
he was allowed to set up Tony Cabral is an excellent contribution Pack Flat Illusions for Kids
his stall. from someone relatively unknown. His work & Family Shows
Mark was born in has been endorsed by the likes of Jack by J C Sum
Scotland as Ronald Lewis and moved Carpenter, Darwin Ortiz and Lance Pierce. 53 pgs., 8.5 x 11 ins., soft cover,
to England when he was 17, where he These two discs cover 12 items; the illustrated. $45 (about £28) plus p&p
changed his name to Ronnie McLeod. He contents lean heavily towards gambling from http://magicboutique.sg or your
loved card tricks and decided to try to related material but there are some favourite dealer. Dealers contact
make his living as a performer. A barrister excellent routines featuring straight card Murphy’s Magic Supplies,
he befriended introduced him to David magic like Tony’s version of “Triumph”. www.MurphysMagic.com.
Berglas, who gave him an evening’s worth Some of the highlights are his “Memory
of professional guidance. He expanded his Expert at the Bridge Table”, a routine Reviewed by Matthew Field
repertoire to include children’s magic and called “Fuggeddaboutit”, and an J.C. Sum is a popular illusionist from
eventually emigrated to Canada, where outstanding impromptu Bridge Deal from Singapore, who performs with ‘Magic
he still lives. a shuffled deck. This particular routine Babe’ Ning. You may recall my positive
As I noted, it was pitching Svengali caught me off guard although it used a review of his book Urban Illusions. The
▲

Decks, the Wonder Mouse and other number of key principles with which I was book to hand is a similar format, with

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk HE MAGIC CIRCULAR 379

 Riebe had arrived. wrong! But, hey,
▲

Then to the fraternity’s amazement, he you’re a magician,

completely vanished. Wolfgang had so you kind of stare
some illustrations in colour. There are decided that a life at sea was the one for at the writing and it
eight illusions described with basic plans him, and he spent the next few years visibly morphs to
which enable you to produce a birthday performing his cabaret/illusion act on the show the correct
cake, balloon animal or other item, show world’s leading cruise liners. After time card. The spectator
a magical-looking contraption with two spent on the ocean’s wave, he settled in can erase the writing
compartments Cape Town, South Africa, where he on the box.
and produce established himself as the most successful This looks like
things, magically magician on the African continent, with some kind of real-world, strange
produce a child his own prime-time magic show. He still animation. It is a brilliant idea which uses
from a ‘wizard’s lives in South Africa, but spends many hidden motion to animate a drawing.
trunk’ or giant top months travelling around the world Despite some claims to the contrary, reset
hat, change a performing his magic and motivational is not instant, and some practice (of what
giant cereal box talk shows. to draw and how to set everything up
into a different Wolfgang has produced this superb and activate it) will be necessary.
cereal and then to book of over 400 pages, containing every The video is one of those wordless
an aquarium full of fish, and conclude the routine that he has previously published. productions, with written text over well-
Head Twister illusion by completely They are now here all together under one shot video. Taught are the Hindu Shuffle
vanishing the assistant. roof, covering every aspect of magic from Force, Trevor Lewis Force and Riffle Force.
There are precious few books on close-up cards and coins, to comedy Uh, in case it wasn’t clear, there’s a force
constructing illusions and, even though I cabaret, illusions, mentalism and children’s involved. Also shown is how to repair the
question how flat some of these pack, magic. Each section has several routines, gimmick if it breaks.
there is a lot of information here. The including tips on how to construct, This is an eye-popper, and first-class all
illusions are meant to be performed in routine, and present the tricks. Patter lines the way.
venues ranging from a living room to a are given, gags are listed, ideas given on
stage, for a school show. For the most advertising, The Magic Square
part, they can be performed surrounded. planning, designing, by Luis de Matos
Some of the diagrams are sketchier than organisation; every 44-min DVD plus two temporary tattoos
others, but this is a great resource for aspect of magic and (cribs) and pdf files for props. $35 (£28)
ideas for illusions that don’t look like its performance is plus p&p from your favourite dealer.
everyone else’s Square Circle. covered in this Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies,
Actually building these illusions and comprehensive www.MurphysMagic.com.
props will require a basic workshop and publication. And of
the ability to work with wood and metal, course, there are Reviewed by Matthew Field
although several are very simple indeed. tricks galore, gems You know the effect. You have a big
I believe this book is a valuable resource scattered throughout this book of good, square on a drawing pad resting on an
for the working children’s performer. solid, practical working magic for the easel. It is divided into a 4x4 grid, 16
performing magician. squares. You either have someone pick a
The Complete Works of The Complete Works must rate as one number or make a prediction, or do the
Wolfgang Riebe of the finest publications on the art of effect and make the revelation of the
Available as a softback book for € 32.00 magic. number as the denouement. You fill in
from www.ComedyIllusionist.com or as the grid with numbers and, miraculo,
an e-book for € 9.95 from Ink every set of grouped squares adds up to
www.MartinBreese.com. by Mickael Chatelain that number – the rows, columns,
54 min. DVD plus gimmicks. $44.95 diagonals, small groups of four cells.
Reviewed by Jack Stephens (£29.50) plus p&p from your favourite Miraculo!
Throughout the eighties, I was a regular dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic How you choose the numbers that go
Monday night visitor to The Magic Circle, Supplies, www.MurphysMagic.com. into those squares is the trick, and how to
first at Chenies Mews and then at the present it so it is entertaining is the real
Victory Services Club. One evening, Reviewed by Matthew Field secret of the trick. This is a piece right out
sometime in 1988, a guest performer, Maybe if your computer has been broken of Luis de Matos’s
Wolfgang Riebe, took to the stage to for the past several months you haven’t stage repertoire. A
perform a short magic spot. Nobody in heard about Ink. The ‘Paul Harris Presents’ similar version can
the audience paid much attention – we production is all over the Internet. What be seen on a recent
had never heard of him. Twenty minutes happens is that you draw something with video by John
later, his performance was the sole a dry-erase marker on the cellophane Archer, with a similar
topic of conversation. His act was covering on a Bicycle (or Mandolin back) method and similar
simply stunning – a breath of fresh air. card box, say a prediction of a card. A crib method to
Superb magic, a good line in patter, card is selected and lost in the pack and provide the cues to
easy to follow and appealing. Wolfgang you show your prediction. Whoops! It’s the wonder-brain.

380 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 Luis has adjusted the method so the written on the card and Jeremy Le Poidevin features a live
numbers which get filled into the grid are box! Further, when puppet performance, followed by a full
a bit less unwieldy than in some other the card is turned explanation on the art of puppetry. Topics
methods. He has a very clever method to over, the second such as how to choose which puppet to
hide those cribs, an effective presentation, spectator’s freely- buy and how to present and animate your
and nice pdfs to allow you to print out named card is seen puppet are included, as are tips and ideas
the props, so all you’ll need to purchase written on the back. on how to show your puppet’s emotions,
(along with the DVD) is a large drawing You’ll spend and your hosts share some wonderful
pad and easel, and you’ve got something about a half-hour in magic routines to perform with your new
you can add to your stage act! a one-time fluffy friends.
preparation of the cards. The DVD is very To perform and
iContact well produced, as is always the case from entertain with
by Chris Congreave Russ Stevens. There’s a bonus, on which puppets requires
45 min DVD plus special Bicycle deck. iTouched is based, “Touched” by Gary more know-how
£19.99 ($29.99) plus p&p from Jones. Richard Bellars is the on-camera than raw talent and
www.RSVPmagic.com or your favourite performer, showing the trick to spectators this DVD will
dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic in a pub setting. provide you with
Supplies, www.MurphysMagic.com. This is good, easy-to-do magic for non- that know-how. The
finger-flingers. beauty of the lesson
Reviewed by Matthew Field given here is that it
Here is a very clever, almost self-working The Magic of Puppets is not only for ventriloquists. There are
effect that uses a special deck I’ve written by Colin Dymond and also routines and ideas for non-vent
about here before, but which is not Jeremy Le Poidevin performances too. Purchase a puppet,
generally available. 2-DVD set, 2 hrs. 25 min total. £30 (plus watch the excellently produced and easy
A spectator choses a card as you dribble £2.75 UK p&p) from Practical Magic, to follow DVD with the sound advice
the deck and another spectator merely www.practical-magic.com. given by Colin and Jeremy and with just a
thinks of a card. (There’s a tiny bit of little practice, before long you will be
equivoque here.) The magician finds the Review by Jack Stephens putting on your own show.
first card, and shows the name is also This double DVD set by Colin Dymond

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 381

 6.48pm. He welcomed new (See attached schedule)
Council minutes members, regretted the loss of
Martyn Rowland and Michael
There was one promotion.
On a proposal by Alexander
Vincent, and expressed regret Crawford seconded by Kevin
at the personal problems Doig it was agreed to invite
currently encountered by Larry Becker to be an Honorary
another new Council member, Member.
James Fortune. iv) Mary Hart, the widow of
deceased member, John Hart
5. ELECTION of HONORARY MIMC of Alton thanked TMC
VICE-PRESIDENTS, for their donation which has
HONORARY MEMBERS and gone to Great Ormond Street
HONORARY MEMBERS Hospital.
PROFESSIONAL
(See attached schedule) 10. THE CIRCULAR
Jonathan Pendragon to be re- EDITORSHIP
instated Honorary Member Mandy Davis and Will
Professional. Houstoun, the two candidates
for the post of Editor of The
MINUTES OF THE MAGIC 1. APOLOGIES 6. MINUTE SECRETARY Magic Circular, left the room
CIRCLE COUNCIL MEETING Andrew EBORN, On a proposal by Fay Presto, during a discussion about how
HELD AT THE HEADQUARTERS James FORTUNE (J Fort), seconded by Mandy Davis, the to proceed with the
ON 4 OCTOBER 2011 6.30 pm James FREEDMAN (JF), minute secretary, David Weeks appointment of this post.
Richard PINNER, was reappointed for another It was agreed that a small
PRESENT John VAN DER PUT year. committee comprising the
Noel BRITTEN members of the Circular
Alexander CRAWFORD 2. DEATHS 7. MINUTES management committee; AC;
(Treasurer) Jeffrey Hugh Miller and Life On a proposal by Noel Britten, and if he was willing Matt
Mandy DAVIS (6.54pm) member, Burton Sperber MIMC seconded by Alexander Field, the current editor, meet
Jack DELVIN (6.44pm) were remembered. Members of Crawford, the minutes of the with the candidates for an
Kevin DOIG Council stood in silence as a meeting held on 7 September initial briefing/interview
(Assistant Treasurer) mark of respect. 2011 were after amendment, including discussion of financial
Matthew GARRETT The President welcomed approved. Those who did not matters before the candidates
Will HOUSTOUN newly elected members to attend the last meeting make a presentational pitch to
Alan MASKELL (dep 9.43pm) Council, Steve Price (StP) Kevin abstained. the whole Council who will
Scott PENROSE (SP) (6.56pm) Doig (KD) and Matthew Garrett The Minutes of the AGM 3 then decide on the
Fay PRESTO (6.37pm) (MG). October were tabled, subject to appointment.
Steve PRICE (StP) (Secretary) approval at the next AGM in Candidates returned to
Katherine RHODES 3 & 4. ELECTION of 2012 Council Meeting (8.10pm)
Brian SIBLEY (Chairman) CHAIRMAN & DEPUTY The presentation to Council
CHAIRMAN 8. MATTERS ARISING by the candidates will be 31
David WEEKS Brian Sibley was re-elected YMOTY Revisited was October 2011 at 4.00 pm.
(Minute Secretary) Chair and Alan Maskell as reviewed and AM stated that
Deputy Chair, respectively. the response was most 11. APPOINTMENT OF
Meeting opened at 6.44pm Voting was unanimous. enthusiastic: A very successful COMMITTEES
with Jack Delvin in the chair. Brian Sibley took the chair at day with events crossing the Treasurer. It was agreed that
generations and attendees the Treasurer would be referred
coming from all parts of the to as ‘Honorary Treasurer’.
country. After CMA costs there Likewise, the Secretary should
was a profit of £1,020.60. Noel be listed as ‘Honorary
Britten was congratulated and Secretary’.
thanked. Deputy Secretary. Two names
Discussion followed about were suggested and Secretary
taking some of the positives was asked to approach them to
from this day and applying ascertain their willingness to
them to Dealers’ Day. serve.
Deputy Examinations
CMA/TMC A meeting has been Officer. Matthew Garrett was
arranged for 6 October 2011. proposed as an examiner and
Deputy Examinations Officer by
9. SECRETARY’S REPORT Brian Sibley, seconded by
There was one reinstatement. Mandy Davis.

382 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

Buyer. Alexander Crawford by the planned expansion of
proposed and Fay Presto Euston Station.
seconded, a motion to appoint
Clive Hyams as TMC buyer
The appearance of the
interior of TMC HQ to be
Our Headquarters
who would work, project by considered in an attempt to Conventions
project, to source best deals for make appear more ‘magical’. Dress Code
things like printing and hire of Investigate how TMC Smart attire is required at all events in
rooms. He would report to the might take advantage of the the Headquarters.
Treasurer. This motion was need for entertainment Mobile Phones
passed. (MD abstained) during next year’s Olympic Please ensure that you switch off your
Games in London. mobile phone before entering the
Headquarters. If you must make a phone
(AM departs 9.43pm) call, please do so outside the building.
Date of Next Meeting:
KD expressed surprise that in Wednesday 2 Nov 2011 Photography and
the circulated list of at 6.30pm Sound Recording
committees “Secrets” The use of any form of recording
equipment, audio or visual, including
magazine had been listed New members on
cameras and mobile phones, is not
separately to Young Magicians 4 October 2011
permitted in any part of the
Club and said that the editor of Nigel Mansell MMC
Headquarters except by special
the magazine should be arrangement.
included in the YMC team; not Reinstatements on
as a separate Youth initiative. 4 October 2011 Gum
Please refrain from chewing gum of any
Due to pressure of time, the Tim Saiet AIMC with silver star sort in the Headquarters.
chairman of Council asked the
chairman of YMC and editor of Promotion on Smoking
Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the
“Secrets” to discuss the matter 4 October 2011 Headquarters.
outside the meeting for Andy Gladwin AIMC We all benefit from these conventions,
discussion at the next Council Larry Becker MIMC so please respect and abide by them to
avoid being turned away. Thank you for
meeting. to Honorary Member your understanding.
Following a conversation
between the Chairman and the
Honorary Chaplain Reverend
Peter Liddelow, Rabbi Geoffrey

IT PAYS TO
Shisler, had been invited to
share in this work. Rabbi Shisler
had accepted and Council
unanimously endorsed this
additional appointment. A
suggestion that the title
‘Pastoral Care’ be used in place ADVERTISE
IN
of ‘Chaplains’ was discussed by
Council, but rejected.

Public Events. The CMA

committee is working with
CMA regarding the Public To reach 1500 magicians
Events agreement which will
around the world costs
impact this.
less then you think
12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Date of Next AGM was
discussed. On a proposal by Quarter page £30.00
Kevin Doig, seconded by Fay
Half Page £55.00
Full page from £100.00
Presto it was agreed that the
all prices subject to VAT
next AGM in 2012 be 1
October. All agreed with MG For full details contact
and NB abstaining. the Business and Advertising Manager
The Following issues, raised Scott Penrose
under AOB at the last AGM, on 07767 336882
were tabled for Council’s future or email advertising@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
consideration:
Possible impact on TMC HQ

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk DECEMBER 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 383

Forthcoming club events resulting exhibitions based on his accumulation and how it
revived a lapsed performing career. Best known as the proprietor
of the bookshop “Pleasures of Past Times” he will soon
commence Ghosts Through My Doorway. The Memoirs of an
The Headquarters are open on Club Nights from 3:00pm until Actor, Bookseller, Clown.
10:30pm. Unless otherwise stated, events start promptly at
7:30pm and are scheduled to finish between 8:45pm and 9pm. Monday 19
Club Nights are principally for Members, so entry is by Membership BAR STUNTS AND SCAMS – Alan Astra MIMC
Card. A bona fide magician guest may attend any evening that is The regular night just before Christmas to give you a whole
not marked ‘Members Only’ on condition that he or she is able bunch of tricks, bits of fun and hoopla to keep your friends and
to show membership of a magical society. A non-magician guest relations amused over the festive period.
may only attend evenings that are marked as ‘Show’. Guests may
only attend two evenings a year. No guest may attend unless the Monday 26
CMA is told in advance, so if you wish to bring a guest please do Closed
not contact me but phone (020) 7387 2222. There is a limit of
ten guests per night. All guests must pay a £15 entry fee at the Looking ahead to ...
door and respect our Conventions. Indeed, it is your duty as their JANUARY 2012
sponsor to ensure that they do. The Magic Circle reserve the right
to refuse entry. See our website for all the latest event details and Tuesday 3
to subscribe to a weekly email reminder of upcoming events. THE YEAR STARTS HERE!
A Social evening in the Club Room for those who have had a
DECEMBER 2011 surfeit of Christmassing and New Yearing!
Monday 5
BECAUSE JOHN ARCHER WAS SADLY UNAVAILABLE – Monday 9
Ian Rowland MIMC A CELEBRATION OF SEABROOKE! – Tim Shoesmith MIMC
Ian has lectured at the Magic Circle once before. The Circle said, An evening of surprises and fun in celebration of the life and
‘If you’re any good at all, we’ll be keen to get you back in a year times of Terry Seabrooke. What will it be? Who is taking part?
or two.’ That was in 1998. Hopefully we’re not rushing things by Who will be in the audience? Don’t tell ‘em, let ‘em buy a
having him back so soon. Ian does mind-reading tricks and talks programme!
a lot. It promises to be an evening.

Monday 12
THE MAGIC OF PANTOMIME PAST OR WHERE HAS Change of address? Contact Secretary Steve Price,
THE MAGIC GONE ? – David Drummond MMC Secretary@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
Brian Sibley discusses with David Drummond his enthusiasm for Member in need? Contact Welfare Officer
the subject which led to him collecting its ephemera, the David Hatch, d.hatch@ich.ucl.ac.uk

THE MAGIC CIRCLE SHOWCASE SALES

● Magic Circle Umbrella. Navy blue with silver coloured

handle and printed silver logo. Automatic opening. £14.95
● Magic Circle Playing Cards. Poker Size with black backs and
gold coloured logo. £3.95 each or £6.95 for two
● Magic Circle Key Ring. £1.95
● Souvenir Pocket Mirror. £2.95
● Postcards. Four styles depicting posters from The Circle Collection, namely Soo,
Devant, Le Roy and Hertz. £0.50 each
● The Magic Circle: Performing Magic Through the Ages. Book by Michael Bailey.
Hardback. 288 pages. £18.95 These items can be purchased
● Bob Read's Magical London Map. £2.95 from the Showcase at The Magic Circle
● Inside The Magic Circle. Souvenir booklet. £1.95 Headquarters on a Club Night or can be sent
by post to your address (P&P extra). Credit
● Fridge Magnets. Four styles depicting posters from The Circle Collection, cards (Visa and Mastercard) and cheques
namely Soo, Devant, Le Roy and Carter. £2.95 each or £9.95 for four
drawn on a UK bank accepted (cheques
MEMBERS ONLY *please state your Degree when ordering payable to “CMA Ltd”).
● Button Badge* £3.95 ● Jewel with or without Star* £13.50
For more information Email
● Cufflinks* £11.95 ● Tie £14.95
ShowcaseSales@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
● Membership Certificate frames £26.95 or telephone 0207 387 2222

384 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk