THE MAGIC

Magazine of The Magic Circle September 2013

JAMES
RANDI
The Spokesman
for Honest Deception
 THE MAGAZINE OF THE MAGIC CIRCLE
Issue 1166 Volume 107 September 2013
EDITORIAL 07507 275 285
EDITOR Will Houstoun
Editor@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
40 Derby Road, London, SW14 7DP
ASSISTANT EDITOR Tim Reed
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Anthony Brahams, Dr Edwin Dawes,
Scott Penrose, Ian Rowland, David Tomkins
CONVENOR OF REPORTS
Mandy Davis
Mandy@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
PAGE 263 PAGE 265 PAGE 273 PAGE 277 DESIGN 020 8521 2631
ART DIRECTOR
John Hawkins
FEATURES john.hawkins.7@btinternet.com
260 Secretary’s Report – Steve Price 104d Grove Road
Walthamstow E17 9BY
268 James Randi – Will Houstoun PROOFREADERS
273 Our Wanderful Award – Bob Loomis Paul Bromley, Julie Carpenter,
Barry Cooper, Tim Reed, Lionel Russell,
Mary Stupple, Rob James, Darren Tossell
REGULARS PHOTOGRAPHERS
John Ward, Mark Hesketh-Jennings,
258 President’s View ADVERTISING 07767 336882
258 Circular News BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING MANAGER
Scott Penrose
263 In This Month – Will Houstoun Advertising@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
263 Letters to the Editor 17 Berkeley Drive, Billericay Essex CM12 0YP
MISSING AND BACK ISSUES
264 Circular Mentalism – Ian Rowland 01923 267 057
266 The Cecil Lyle Award – Nigel Roberts Michael Candy
Sound of Music, Harthall Lane,
272 From The Magic Circle Collection – Scott Penrose Hemel Hempstead,
Herts HP3 8SE
275 Clever Devil Corner – Harold Cataquet PRINTED BY
276 Club Night Events – Mandy Davis Perfect Imaging Ltd 020 8806 6630

280 A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities – Edwin A Dawes Copyright © 2013 by The Magic Circle. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
283 Reviews mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the
prior permission of the Editor of The Magic Circular.
Views expressed in The Magic Circular are those of the
285 The Magic Circle Cares – David Hatch contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of
The Magic Circle unless specifically stated. Whilst every effort is
285 Obituaries – Henry Lewis made to ensure the accuracy of all information published in
The Magic Circular, the Editor, Art Director, Staff and The Magic
Circle cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.
286 Council Minutes Contributions must reach the Editor six weeks in advance of
publication if it is essential that they should appear in the
second month following’s issue and should be sent via email,
288 Forthcoming Club Events – Darryl Rose on computer disk or on CD whenever possible.

Cover
JAMES RANDI
THERE IS A WAY
Will Houstoun MIMC
Published by
The Magic Circle
12 Stephenson Way
London NW1 2HD
VAT Reg No 233 8369 51
All enquiries
T 020 7387 2222
C ompiling content for The Magic Circular each month
is always simultaneously exciting and challenging.
Having so many Members, with a diverse range of
and everyone involved with the magazine.
Autumn is now about to begin and there are several
popular Magic Circle events just around the corner. Late
interests, means that the expertise of a number of in October we have The Magic Circle Dealers’ Day, always
generous contributors is essential to try and provide popular and expanded this year as described in the
something to interest every Member each month. News Section this month. The other event is The Magic
A few months ago I introduced ‘From The Magic Circle Circle Awards Ceremony. Last year the new format, a
Collection’ to remind the regular Monday-nighters show and awards ceremony, was launched and turned
of the wonderful artefacts in our collection and also out to be a fantastic evening so I look forward to seeing
to try and share some of them with Members who what this year’s event holds. Again, details can be
can’t visit so often. Now the Museum Team has agreed found in this issue.
to take over the column and I look forward to finding
more about their favourite items and sharing them
with Magic Circular readers. Thank you to them
 CIRCULAR NE
PRESIDENT’S VIEW
THE LONDON FESTIVAL
OF MAGIC
Jack Delvin MIMC From November 11-15 The London
Festival of Magic, based at The
Bridewell Theatre just off Fleet
Street, will be featuring
international magical luminaries
such as John Carney, Dani DaOrtiz,
Charlie Frye, Christian Engblom,
What can The Magic Circle do about it? Rob Zabrecky, Miguel Gea, Terry
Ward, Mahdi Gilbert, Patrik Kuffs,

W e should welcome all changes with open

arms and exploit them to our greatest
benefit. If the public want close-up, and if our
attractive to the general public. Like with close-up,
there would be no need for a stage and most of
the problems that go along with one. Again one
Florian Severin, Peter Woerde and
many others alongside Magic Circle
Members including David Owen,
Members wish to do close-up, we should give could hire a local hall, or perhaps do a deal with a Will Houstoun, Richard McDougall,
them close-up. hotel, restaurant or a leisure centre. Noel Britten, Andy Reay and Andy
The close-up sessions in Meet The Magic Circle How about this for yet another idea? How Nyman in a series of specialised
have always been extremely popular. The Close-up about The Magic Circle putting together a touring one-day events. Topics that will be
@The Magic Circle shows, run so brilliantly by stage show and taking it all around the country by covered include Mentalism;
Chris Wood, are an outstanding success. coach? I have again tried this out on a top Character Development; Cards and
How can we bring our close-up to a far wider professional and the reception the idea got was Coins; The Magic of Magic; and
audience? How about this? What if all our most encouraging. This could be an all-magic Street and Alfresco Magic. Tickets
Regional Officers, or Members working on their show or, again, more of a variety show, which for each day can be purchased
behalf, each get together a small group of really could prove to be attractive to the general public, individually with discounts
proficient and entertaining Members to put on The especially those old enough to have attended available if you sign up to multiple
Magic Circle Close-up shows in their own many such shows in their youth. days.
particular area? I’ve mentioned this to one of A touring stage show would of course require a
them and they are very keen. lot more work but, centred on our Headquarters,
Close-up has several advantages over stage we would have the facilities for sound, lights etc
shows; logistics for a start. No big vans needed to and the opportunity to rehearse.
cart around big props. No stage or platform to Our theatre is excellent for lectures and
dress. No rehearsal needed. No lighting plot and one-man shows, but is not so clever when it
no sound equipment, etc. comes to full evening shows, especially when they
It would be nice if the organiser could hire a include illusions. More important than that though
minibus and arrange a pick-up point so that they is the limited number of seats available.
all arrive together. The shows could be held in Personally I would not go for the big theatres On the Saturday night there is a
church or school halls. Another possibility is in a seating over one thousand people. The likelihood double bill of close-up magic with
restaurant or hotel where the owners would of a sell-out in these hard times is nil. I would bar-based magicians working all
benefit from food and drink sales, and perhaps concentrate on small theatres of around three around the Press House Wine Bar
forego the hiring fee. hundred seats. If it goes well one could always and John Carney performing his
The performers might require expenses, but extend it to another day. I used to book a theatre one-man show at the Bridewell
would be free to hand out their business cards in on a Friday and extend it to the Saturday if it Theatre itself. Tickets for this event
the hope of obtaining professional bookings. looked like selling out. are strictly limited and are available
The fact that they would be official Magic Circle Undoubtedly The Magic Circle has the (as are tickets for the weekday
shows should make it easy to achieve advertising manpower and the expertise to put the above events) at
in the local press and on the local radio. ventures into operation, but have we got the www.internationalmagic.com
All this concentration on close-up does not willpower to do it? where full details can be found.
mean that The Magic Circle should neglect bigger
shows. How about this for an idea? THE MAGIC CIRCLE
What if the Regional Officer puts together a DEALERS’ DAY
cabaret show featuring, not only different types of Always a popular event, this year’s
magic, but also allied arts? Quite a few of our Dealers’ Day will take place from
Members also juggle or do ventriloquism. 10am to 5pm in The Galleon Suite
A variety of acts would make the show more President@TheMagicCircle.co.uk of The Royal National Hotel, 31-51
Bedford Way, London WC1H ODG

258 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

WS

on Saturday 26 October 2013. The be the option to simply enjoy a

event is free for Magic Circle social gathering, without attending
Members (on production of a the show, for £2.
current Membership card) and
many of the country’s most popular SOUTH DOWNS
dealers already have stands MAGICIANS
reserved. PRESIDENT’S GOLDEN
After the Dealers’ Day Magic WAND AWARD
Circle Members and their guests Congratulations to Member, and
are invited back to The Magic Circle Magic Circular proofreader, Paul
Headquarters for an evening of Bromley who was recently
magic and fun including a variety presented with the South Downs
show in the theatre and a fish and Magicians President’s Golden
chip supper. The show will cost just Wand Award for outstanding
£10 to attend and there will also services to the club. Paul Bromley (left) receiving President's award from Robin Carr

OFFICIAL OPENING OF DAVENPORT’S MAGIC KINGDOM by Fergus Roy MIMC

On Saturday 6 July, 2013, Betty is believed to be the largest public minute audiovisual presentation of Paul Daniels concludes the
Davenport, grand-daughter of museum of magic yet it currently the history of the Davenport family. museum visit – or does it? A
Lewis Davenport, formally only houses less than five percent After passing through a surprise awaits the visitor just
declared the Kingdom officially of the family’s extraordinary recreation of Davenport’s 1927 before they exit into the spacious
open. It has been a Davenport collection. Much more than a shop, complete with a cafeteria, surrounded by original
family dream to find a home for monotonous arrangement of demonstrator showing you tricks of posters and lithographs. Your visit
their private collection of magic magical ephemera the museum the period, you move on past then concludes with a half hour
ephemera accumulated over one offers a journey through time. A special displays into the Houdini show in St George’s Theatre, or a
hundred and fifteen years. witch takes you through a secret section. After yet more exhibits you special close-up presentation.
Amongst the seventy-five invited door into a sixteenth century street witness a classic fairground illusion, For more information on how
guests were Paul Daniels and from which you meander through The Headless Lady, presented you can become a part of
Debbie McGee, Lord MacGregor, the development of magic in Britain exactly as it was in the 1950s. You Davenport’s Magic Kingdom visit
Norman Lamb MP, Mayor of from 1584. You pass through a pass more optical illusions before the website at
North Walsham, Councillor huge recreation of the portal of you enter a passageway of rooms www.davenportsmagickingdom.
Jacqueline Belson, David Budd, Egyptian Hall from 1895 into set out in the periods when Cardini, co.uk and then go to “Friends”
Donald Bevan and Derek collections of the likes of the David Nixon and Tommy Cooper where you will find the details.
Robbins. The Chairman was Maskelynes, Arnold de Biere, were in their prime. A special For bookings phone
Fergus Roy who opened the Oswald Williams and Chung Ling cabinet with exhibits of Ali Bongo, 01692 405 254 or visit the
proceedings by outlining how the Soo as well as enjoying a fifteen David Berglas, Derren Brown and website.
Kingdom had evolved from a visit
he had made to family friends
Bill and Irene Larsen and Dai
Vernon at the Magic Castle in
1980. Roy Davenport, the
Managing Director of the
Kingdom, then gave his ideas for
the future as well as thanking all
those that had made this day
possible. He introduced his
mother Betty Davenport who
expressed her enormous pride in
Roy’s achievement before
unveiling a brass plaque
commemorating the occasion.
Davenport’s Magic Kingdom

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 259

 This is my second Annual Report as MacLean, John Southgate, Amanda Farrell and

SECRETARY’S Secretary. Again I shall try to outline

some of what we have achieved over
the past year, and the people that we
Trevor Lewis. Our international representatives
are Arthur Emerson, Bruce Kalver, Dale Salwak,
Jack Young, Andy Dallas, Dan Garret, Alfred

ANNUAL have to thank for it.

Firstly I need to prioritise thanking

Hayes, Joan Caesar, Pat Fallon, Dr Andreas
Michel-Andino, Domenico Dante, Mitsunobu
Matsuyama and Alan Watson.

REPORT David Hibberd for all his hard work in

The Archive (as I inadvertently omitted
him last year). A quick glance at the July
Circular will give you a small insight into
The Magic Circular
Our magazine is one of our strongest links with
our Members. Will Houstoun has continued to

2012/2013 the work that he does, storing and

scanning literally thousands of
photographs, programmes, brochures
and letters.
edit an outstanding magazine, introducing new
articles and columnists throughout the past
year.

Publicity
The Centre for the Magic Arts are A large number of opportunities arise for The
responsible for the running of 12 Magic Circle (and the Young Magicians’ Club)
Stephenson Way. Tracey Mullis and to be shown to the public in a positive light.
Peter Saturno de Menezes are responsible I would like to thank Darren Tossell for all his
for Events and Operations and are very work as Public Relations Officer, and of course
supportive and conscientious. Darren to the Publicity committee.
Tossell, the CMA’s General Manager, is
doing well with event sales despite Internet/Technology
the difficult economic environment. The IT committee put in many hours behind the
Together they look after Members and scenes, helping and assisting Members with
visitors to the highest standard. technical problems (especially at renewals time).
We are very grateful for this. Our thanks go to
We are also grateful to the CMA Board all those involved, especially to Chris Wood and
of which Terry Wright is Secretary, and Andrew Webb who are always willing to go the
particularly to the non-Magic Circle extra mile to help out.
Members – Peter Kyle, Kevin Laxton and
David Cheeseman – who are helping the Finance
continued turnaround in profitability. Stephen Kennard joined Council as Treasurer
By Steve Price MIMC at our AGM last year. A position such as this is
huge; very few people appreciate the amount
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES of time and effort that goes into all the
administration (particularly at renewals time
Returning Officer when some Members send money, but with no
We are very grateful to Clive Hyams for indication who it is from!) We really appreciate
handling the huge task of administering the the work that Stephen and the rest of the
Council elections, assisted by his deputy Gordon finance committee undertake.
Drayson.
Welfare and Benevolent
Examinations We are very thankful for all the work that
Throughout the year The Magic Circle receives a David Hatch has done as Welfare Officer this
large number of applications for Membership. year, supporting Members at times of difficulty.
We are very grateful to David Weeks At our AGM this year, Rev Peter Liddelow will
(Examinations Secretary) and Matthew Garrett sadly step down as one of our Chaplains
(Deputy Examinations Secretary) who are (after seventeen years). Council were very
responsible for arranging all the interviews and pleased to endorse Peter’s recommendation
examinations. for his replacement, Rev Tim Saiet. He will serve
alongside Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler. We thank
Regional Representatives them for all they do, along with the support
Our Regional Representatives provide valuable of the Benevolent Committee.
assistance to The Magic Circle throughout the
year. The UK representatives are Alan Maskell, Theatre
Keith Churcher, Myles Pollock, Geoff Ray, Alan As with any theatrical production, there is just
Taylor, Steve Short, Brian Lead, Margaret as much work going on back-stage as onstage.

260 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

It is therefore more than appropriate to express EVENTS The Magic Circle Christmas Show
our gratitude to all our stage crew, headed up Always popular; always sold out. This year’s
by Roy Marsh. Club nights show did not disappoint. Huge thanks go to all
The Club Night Committee has seen Noel the performers, Richard Pinner and Katherine
Heritage/Museum Britten step down as Chair and Darryl Rose take Rhodes for producing the shows, and of course,
Our Museum is something that all our visitors his place. An excellent programme of interesting all the technical crew and volunteers who gave
are fascinated to see. We thank Lionel Russell events has been arranged already for the next their time to ensure that we delighted our
as Executive Curator and Tim Reed as his eight months. Ian Vallance arranged a great audiences once again.
deputy for all the work they put in. Also we programme for the summer months titled “It’s
need to thank Henry Lewis as Curator Emeritus not magic but...” Again, we thank them for all Season of Summer Sorcery
and the rest of the Curatorial team for looking their hard work. Jack Delvin once again spearheaded this event.
after our very valuable history. Huge thanks go to all the performers, technical
Stage Magician of the Year crew and the army of volunteers.
Library The winner this year was John van der Put as
Those of us who use The Magic Circle Library Piff the Magic Dragon. The second place went Close-up @ The Magic Circle
value it very much. It is exceptionally organised to James More, with Oliver Tabor placed third. This event continues to be overwhelmingly
and maintained, and this is due to Peter Lane We’d like to express our gratitude to all those successful. We are indebted to Chris Wood for
(Executive Librarian), Terry Wright (Deputy who competed, to Michael Carr (Competition organising it, as well as the team of volunteers
Librarian) and their team. The presentations on Secretary), Keith Cooper (Chair of SMOTY) and who make the events possible.
“My favourite books” continue to be well all those involved.
supported and very interesting. The Magic Circle Experience
Close-up Magician of the Year Henry Lewis and Michael Alderman continue to
Registrar of Memorials Tim Shoesmith was our winner, followed by Billy provide an event on Monday lunchtimes that
We are very grateful to Geoffrey Newton who Reid in second place and Will Gray in third. Thanks allow members of the public a tour of the
continues to co-ordinate our Memorial Initiative. to all the competitors and to Richard Pinner and Museum, some close-up magic and a short
We thank the team who adopt the graves and Katherine Rhodes for organising the event. stage show. Our thanks to them for giving their
ensure that magicians of historical significance time so freely.
are not forgotten. Ali Bongo Saturday Shows
Mandy Davis continues to produce these events Friends of The Magic Circle
The Magic History Gathering which are always popular. They coincide with President Jack Delvin’s initiative to introduce
@ The Magic Circle the Young Magicians’ Club workshops thereby the public to magic (and particularly The Magic
(The new name for Collectors’ Day) This took ensuring good houses for all performances. Circle) continues to grow. Thanks go to Jack, to
place on Saturday 1 June. Speakers included Aidan Heritage for producing the newsletter,
James Hagy, Richard Kaufman, James Smith, Ian Dealers’ Day Sarah Campbell and Matthew Garrett.
Keable and Will Houstoun. Thanks go to Edwin The Annual Dealers’ Day took place in October
A Dawes and Peter Lane for organising another at the Royal National Hotel. It was co-ordinated Membership
successful event. by Katherine Rhodes, to whom we express our One of the biggest jobs of the year is processing
gratitude. Keith Pain has taken over the role for all the renewals. Despite the deadline being 31
Youth Initiative this year’s Dealers’ Day on 26 October and we May, at the time of writing there are still
Young Magicians’ Club wish him well. renewals coming in. The most accurate statistics
It is wonderful to know that there are now over are as follows:
five hundred and fifty members of the YMC. This Gala Celebration
is due to the enthusiasm and commitment of In October Katherine Rhodes superbly produced MMC AIMC MIMC TOTAL
the team – Kevin Doig (Chair), Clive Hyams our Gala awards celebration. The evening was Town 280 93 108 481
(Secretary), Stephen Kennard (Treasurer), full of surprises and celebrities. This year’s event Country 372 132 77 581
Katherine Rhodes (Workshops) and Steve Dela. promises to be just as exciting. Make sure you Overseas 141 84 105 330
Mandy Davis continues to edit Secrets are there! Many thanks to all those involved Total 793 309 290
magazine. We appreciate all they do. with the preparation and planning for this
splendid occasion. Overall 1392
Young Magician of the Year
Competition PUBLIC EVENTS Finally
Congratulations go to Sebastian Walton who With so many people contributing to The Magic
was our winner this year, Sonny Pennington Meet the Magic Circle Circle in so many ways I can’t possibly mention
(runner-up) and Elizabeth Rogan (third place). As director of Public Events, Richard Pinner has you all. Please accept my apologies and know
Dr Michael Colley oversaw proceedings and our been responsible for the running of the ever that your contribution is very much appreciated.
grateful thanks go to him. -popular MTMC events, with Rob Page arranging I’d also like to thank those who help me in my
stage shows and Peter Scarlett arranging the role as Secretary. Your support is much
close-up magicians. It’s much appreciated. appreciated. l

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 261

 A BRAND NEW BOOK ʹ JUST PUBLISHED

͞SUPREME͟>/&d/D/ED'/
&ƌŽŵƚŚĞƉĂŐĞƐŽĨ͞ĚĂŝƌ͛ƐŝĂƌŝĞƐ͟
BY IAN ADAIR
200 PAGES, 34 CHAPTERS, 25 PAGES OF COLOUR
PHOTOS AND LAMINATED COLOUR COVER
The author conjures up reminiscences, memories,
anecdotes, flashbacks, stories, tales and yarns about
ƚŚĞ ͞never to be ĨŽƌŐŽƚƚĞŶ͟ ^ƵƉƌĞŵĞ DĂŐŝĐ
Company, featuring hundreds of iconic magicians
and inventors ʹ filled with nostalgia.

The Magic Circle DISASTERS AND TRIUMPHS!

Featuring why (how) the firm became too BIG. First
Awards Ceremony time tribute to JOHNNY HOCKING, the master maker
of woodwork props. Customers ask the funniest

2013 things ʹ true, but unbelievable PLUS major disasters.

PRICE £18.00 (plus £1.60 UK postage)
Saturday 19 October 2013 European countries - postage £5.00
Other countries ʹ postage £7.50 sent Airmail
ŚĞƋƵĞƐƉĂLJĂďůĞƚŽ͞/ĂŶĚĂŝƌ͟
What have
PayPal or cash also accepted
Paul Daniels
For further info; magicianadair@hotmail.co.uk
Debbie McGee IAN ADAIR, Mystic House, 15 Oak Tree Drive,
Derren Brown Barnstaple, Devon EX32 0HE
Marc Almond
Steve Allen
and Harvey Goldsmith
to name just a few, all got in
It pays to
common? They were all at The Magic
Circle Awards Ceremony 2012. Make
ADVERTISE in
sure you’re there this year!

Champagne reception with stunning

close-up magic followed by a star studded
stage show and the awards announcements
and presentations To reach 1500 magicians around the world
costs less then you think
Doors open: 6.30pm Show Starts: 7.30pm
The Magic Circle
Full page from £100.00
12 Stephenson Way
London, NW1 2HD Half Page £55.00
Quarter page £30.00
Ticket price: £30 plus bkg fee (inc VAT) all prices subject to VAT
Tickets available from The Magic Circle
website (www.themagiccircle.co.uk) For full details contact the Business and
or call the box office 0871 220 0260 Advertising Manager Scott Penrose
on 07767 336882
or email advertising@TheMagicCircle.co.uk

262 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 IN THIS Geoffrey Buckingham

MONTH I n September, 1951, Magic Circle Member Geoffrey Buckingham

made Magic Circle history by winning a FISM Grand Prix when
the convention was held in Paris. The following day reports of his
victory made their way into newspapers such as The Times,
The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Daily Mirror and two
Will Houstoun MIMC political cartoons even drew inspiration from the competition.
Continuing his presence at FISM, Geoffrey would go on to appear
in seven further FISM gala shows.

If you haven’t seen any video of Geoffrey performing I strongly

suggest you look him up on YouTube but, in the meantime, the
following report of a lecture he gave, from the June 1952 edition of
The Magic Circular, will give you some idea of what you are missing:

“...suddenly there appeared the long and slender silhouette of

Geoffrey Buckingham, the Great Buckingham in person, the most
illustrious of the magicians of today, member of the Inner Magic
Circle (somewhat like the Saint des Saints Magique) and the winner
of the Grand Prix de Paris, 1951. For half an hour he held the three
hundred specialists present spellbound, with eyes wide open and
bated breath before his unbelievable performance.”

“With supreme elegance and characteristic British phlegm, he

manipulated twelve billiard balls at one time, made ten thimbles
appear and disappear at will, and caused heaps of money to
appear from nothingness.” l
Photos: TMC:Archive

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LOUIS NIKOLA Circle’ has been the answer to various quiz questions on radio and
The Editor rightly reminded us in the July issue of The Magic Circular how television. And if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we should be
the Society’s name came about, and how it might have been so different very flattered at the number of other magical societies, here and abroad,
had Louis Nikola not proposed such an inspired alternative to the original who have used ‘Magic Circle’ in their name.
suggestion. The Magic Circle has become as well known as many world-class top
Those three little words ‘The Magic Circle’ have everything; they’re brands, and today it still equates to excellence in magic. Members past
short, easily remembered, descriptive and mystical. The name proved so and present should be eternally grateful to Louis Nikola for what turned
good that the same words have been used to describe others such as the out to be a stroke of spellbinding genius.
big four accounting firms and even government ministries. ‘The Magic Michael Bailey MIMC

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 263

 MAGICAL RHODES SHOW

W ilton’s Music Hall is one of the most fascinating places in

London. Established as an ale house in 1743, it was expanded
and converted into a music hall in 1859. Today it is the world’s oldest
be of particular interest to readers of this column). Her two-hour show
featured a strong ‘Bank Nite’ effect with plenty of enthusiastic audience
participation, a beautiful origami divination, a watch prediction, a pure,
surviving Grand Music Hall, and as soon as you walk into the place you classic drawing duplication and a very neat twist on the lottery prediction
cannot help but be overwhelmed by a palpable sense of history. plot.
Some might say the place needs renovation and plenty of it. A kinder Another delightful aspect of the show, from my point of view, is that
view would be that the building’s rather ancient, dilapidated Katherine fooled me. What’s more, she fooled me using the best and most
appearance lends a truly unique charm to all the events held there. I versatile principle in mentalism: good acting. Using an old ‘sucker’ item
visited Wilton’s for the first time last month, and I thought it was that we all know, she fooled me into thinking it was just a harmless, if
absolutely wonderful. London has a generous supply of horrendously rather pointless, throwaway gag used to fill a few minutes between two
bland venues, such as the colossus of synthetic banality known as The other routines. In reality, she was ingeniously using the gag to set up a
Barbican. It makes a pleasant change to go somewhere full of genuine brilliant ‘twist’ climax to the show. I ought to have seen it coming, but I
character, with ghosts languishing in every dusty corner and the faintly didn’t. Why not? Because Katherine is a very good actor!
audible chatter of thousands of performances, spanning over one Katherine doesn’t encourage magicians to go and see her perform for
hundred and fifty years, imprinted into the brickwork. two reasons. One, she creates her shows for real people, not magicians.
I visited Wilton’s to see a full-length solo show of magic and mystery Two, she doesn’t need magi stealing her ideas. I’m in two minds about
presented by our very own Katherine Rhodes (MIMC Gold Star). I this. On the one hand, I respect Katherine’s preferences. On the other
would suggest there are at least two rather wonderful things about hand, I’m sure many magicians could learn a lot from her about how to
Katherine’s show and her approach to magic in general. perform magic in the real world, for real people (as opposed to putting
First of all, she’s a truly versatile together an act for a club competition). I suggest a compromise. Go and
It makes all-rounder. Having been a professional see her, but take a party of muggles with you to fill the theatre and make
a pleasant magician for over twenty years, she can it clear to the management that you are specifically coming to see
turn her hand to just about anything: Katherine. Enjoy her material, watch her break all the rules, see how
change to go cabaret, close-up, illusions, mentalism, much the muggles love her, learn a few lessons but don’t steal what isn’t
somewhere comedy… you name it. I know many yours. (See the Wilton’s Music Hall website, or Katherine’s own site, for
with ghosts magicians who would claim a similar details of her next magic shows.)
level of versatility, but not many who can
languishing in actually walk the talk. Black And White Lecture
every dusty Secondly, Katherine’s two-hour show Writing something in these pages each month is, of course, a privilege.
corner. quite cheerfully breaks all the rules What’s more, it’s a privilege that I am about to abuse by mentioning
you’ve ever heard of and is all the better something in which I have a direct financial interest. This is terrible. If I
for it. For example, there are experts who will solemnly inform you that were you, I would complain to the Editor in the strongest possible terms.
as soon as you take out a deck of cards you are perceived as ‘someone The only tawdry defence I can offer is that I’ve been writing for this
doing card tricks’ and can’t present any ‘serious’ mentalism. Well, magazine since 2005, and this is the first time I’ve committed such an
Katherine does, and it works just fine. Maybe the experts should learn offence. I’ve written ninety-eight articles that were fragrantly wholesome
from her. examples of selfless reportage and ethical rectitude, and now I’m
Other experts will tell you that you can’t mix too many different besmirching my record with this one isolated piece of grubby, sleazy
types of effects in one show because this will dilute your image or financially motivated self-promotion. It could be worse.
persona. Well, Katherine obviously didn’t get this memo. Her show I’m referring to the ‘Penguin Live’ lecture series. In case you’re
includes just about every kind of effect you can think of, from unfamiliar with the set-up, here’s what happens. The people at Penguin
mind-reading to a bottle production, from a neat rope routine (one of Magic invite someone to give a lecture from their neat video ‘den’ in
the best and cleanest I’ve ever seen) to a dead straight watch Columbus, Ohio. The lecture, typically running two to three hours, is
prediction. Guess what? The audience absolutely loved every second of broadcast live via the internet and anyone can pay to watch it. The lecture
the show, and would happily have sat through another two hours. then gets added to the Penguin library, and anyone who missed the live
I haven’t unearthed the exact quote, but I think it was Jorge Luis broadcast can pay to download it later. So far, Penguin have hosted about
Borges who said rules are very useful for the novice, because they eighty of these lectures, featuring a very wide range of talents and tastes.
illuminate the darkness, but after that they are best ignored because This year alone the series has featured lectures by Colin McLeod, Pete
they only hold you back. In other words, when you’ve reached a certain ‘The Perceptionist’ Turner and Marc Spelmann, which is a remarkably
level of expertise the rules hinder more than they help. Katherine’s healthy showing for British mentalism. These lectures are all still available
show is a rather brilliant example. She can tear up the ‘rules’ because via the Penguin site if you’re interested.
she has enough real-world experience to know what works. To the unmistakeable sound of a barrel being scraped, the Penguin
Despite being something of a versatile all-rounder, Katherine has a people were recently kind enough to invite me to give one of these
slight leaning towards mentalism (which is why I felt her show might lectures. Although I felt honoured to be asked, I did regard it as a slightly

264 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 CIRCULAR MENTALISM

Ian Rowland MIMC

intimidating prospect. I’ve given lectures before, but I’ve never given one QUICK TRICK
that was in effect going to be broadcast to the entire planet. I was also You show nine different cards bearing esoteric signs and symbols. Each
acutely aware that, since the whole thing is done live – without re-takes card bears a word relating to a specific feeling or emotion, such as
or edits – and then made available for download, all of the mistakes, ‘Desire’, ‘Strength’, ‘Anger’, ‘Joy’, ‘Determination’ and so on. A
errors, fumbles, failures and dropped cards (the famed hallmarks of my spectator mixes these, chooses one at random, looks at it and
lecture style) were going to be preserved for posterity. Awareness of these remembers it. It’s a free choice and you genuinely have no idea which
points, I discovered, was a quite wonderful spur to thorough rehearsal emotion she has looked at. The spectator replaces her card anywhere
and preparation. among the other eight and gives all the cards another good mix. The
In the event, my lecture seemed to go moderately well. The reviews nine cards are placed out of sight (e.g. under a handkerchief or cloth).
have been kind, and if you’re interested you can go to the Penguin site With your left hand you gently hold the spectator’s wrist as if taking
and download my three hours of shimmering wisdom any time you want. her pulse. You also gaze deeply into her eyes. You invite her to mentally
I get a small percentage of what you pay to download the lecture. focus on the emotion named on the card she selected, but not to
Even if you’re not interested in my lecture, and who can blame you, I outwardly give any specific clues. With your empty right hand, you
strongly recommend that you check out some of the others in the reach under the cloth and sort through the cards. You begin, hesitantly,
Penguin series. They are almost all of a very high standard, both in terms to describe the feeling that you believe the spectator is focusing on.
of production values and content. I particularly recommend Patrick You start to describe this emotion, and at the same time you extract
Redford’s lecture. Patrick is a great guy and a wonderful thinker and one card, and one card only, from under the cloth. It is indeed the
performer, and his lecture is well worth the asking price for the brilliant, selected card, corresponding to the feeling or emotion the spectator
practical material featured within. was focusing on.
You can make the cards any way you like, such as printing on to
blank card stock, but the designs have to be double-ended like playing
cards. In terms of method, you simply need to be able to find the
selected card from among the other eight by touch alone. One good
way is to pinprick each card at one end and secretly reverse the eight
non-chosen cards before the selection is returned to the packet. This
makes the selection easy to detect.
When you ‘describe’ the emotion you believe the spectator is
focusing on, you stop short of actually naming one specific emotion.
Instead, you offer a description that could fit any of the nine emotions:
“This is a feeling that you know well, but you don’t experience it all the
time or every day. Sometimes it has filled or overwhelmed you, but with
the passing of the years it’s a feeling you have learned to have more
control over. It’s a feeling that perhaps in some ways you feel more
intensely than most others, although you haven’t always been able to
show or express it fully, and I believe we’re talking about…” At this
point you pull out the correct card, read what it says as you turn it over,
and complete your last sentence accordingly, “…desire.”
The impression you leave is that you were zoning in on the correct
emotion, and describing it, even before you withdrew the chosen card
from under the cloth. l

Invitation
If you have items, stories, jokes or vicious rumours of interest to
mentalists, please drop me a line (ian@ianrowland.com). If you can’t
Katherine Rhodes afford Derren and want to hire a fairly good also-ran mentalist, or you
just have time to kill, please visit www.ianrowland.com.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 265

 Through The Bars

I devised this illusion at a time when I was doing a series of shows

which required carrying quite a bit of equipment in an estate car.
Although it looks quite big, the main piece, when closed, is only
Six holes, of a diameter that will easily take your dowel bars, are drilled,
as shown in Fig. 5, through the top bars of the ‘main’ frame, the ‘sliding’
frame and the ‘door’ frame so that they line up. Depressions of the same
4’ 8”x3’ 0”x4” and will lay flat on the floor of most estate cars. My wife diameter and through about half the thickness of the wood, that also line
and I performed it as a mini sketch, rather than as a magical illusion, in up with the top bar holes, are drilled in the bottom bar of the ‘door’
which one comic burglar teaches another how to pass between the solid frame. The three holes on the ‘sliding’ frame, on the side where the ‘door’
bars spaced evenly across a window opening with 5” between them. frame is hinged, are cut open to the rear edge to form ‘U’ shapes. The
The apparatus is constructed, almost entirely, from 50mm by 25mm bottom of the holes in the ‘main’
prepared timber and 6mm birch ply, and consists of a threefold screen frame are chamfered to guide the
with a large opening in the middle and two side doors which support rods through them easily.
the ‘window’ and hold the ‘bars’ in two small racks (Fig. 1) Felt pads are fixed along the
The main frame is a sheet of ply 4’ 8”x3’ 0” edged with the timber top of the sliding frame to deaden
on the back so that the timber sticks up from the ply rather than flat any noise when the frame rises to
with it. (Fig. 2) Moving within this ‘main’ frame is the ‘sliding’ frame, the top. The sliding frame is held
the width of which is determined by the internal dimensions of the to the top of the main frame by
‘main’ frame. It should move easily but without too much free play. The heavy-duty elastic cord which
length of this frame is 4’ 8 5/8”, and is made of the 50mm by 25mm passes through large screw eyes in
timber on edge, with the corners reinforced by metal plates. Within this the bottom bar of the sliding
frame is the ‘door’ frame, similarly constructed with additional internal frame and is fixed to two screw The Prop
reinforcing brackets or corner braces. The top and bottom bars of the eyes in the top bar of the main
‘door’ frame are cut on the diagonal in the middle of the bar and two frame by two spring hooks that are tied to the cord. (Fig. 6). It can be
magnets let into the faces of this cut. (Fig. 3) held in the up position by a swivel hook in the top of the sliding frame
In Fig.4, which shows the back of the frames, the right half of the which hooks into a screw eye in the top bar of the main frame.
‘door’ frame is fixed to the sliding frame while the left half is hinged, The doors are 6mm ply, 4’ 8”x1’ 6”, edged on three sides by 50mm x
using a long piano hinge, to open outwards. 25mm timber, with two 50mm x 25mm strips dividing the door into three.
The ‘sliding’ frame is held within the ‘main’ frame by a 36”x1½” These two strips each have three holes in so the three ‘bars’ are carried
strip of 6mm ply screwed to the ‘main’ frame on the side on the side in each door.
where the ‘door’ frame is fixed and by two smaller strips on the other The bars are ¾” dowels, 4’ 5” long and painted black.
side. These are positioned so that they do not obstruct the piano hinge The cloth, which is 3’ 0” by 4’ 8”, is fixed to the pelmet which hides
or the reinforcing plates when the ‘sliding’ frame is slid to both ends of the gimmick. It consists of three pieces of 6mm ply all 3’ 0” long. The
the ‘main’ frame. front piece, which is the only piece that the audience is aware of, is 4½”

Fig. 1 Fig. 2
1’6” 3’0” 1’6”

31/2”
25mm
50mm

4’8”
31/4” Fig. 3

11”

magnets

266 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 THE CECIL LYLE
AWARD
Nigel Roberts MMC

deep. Behind this is a 2” wide strip which is fixed to one edge of the front doors are opened so that the apparatus stands securely and six rods
strip. Below this is fixed the cloth and behind it is a 10½” deep piece which are shown to be solid, before being dropped into the holes in the top
is also lined up with the same edge. A length of timber, 75mm x 25mm, is of the main frame. With the assistant standing behind the ‘window’,
fixed to this piece and in this are drilled six holes to match the holes in the the performer explains that they have got to get through it. So the
top of the main frame. Two lengths of 10mm dowel, which fit into two assistant starts to lift the rods and splay the bottom of them apart, thus
holes in the top of the main frame, (Fig. 7) are near the end of this timber. showing that the rods cannot be moved in any way without the tops,
Six lengths of ¾” dowel, 4’ 3/8” long, are fixed to a 6mm ply strip which are above the top of the ‘window’, being seen to move. You can
36”x2½” which slides up the 10mm dowel and the ¾” dowels slide move the rods as much as you want because they effectively lock the
through the holes in the 75mm x 25mm timber. They are prevented from ‘door frame’ from opening prematurely.
falling out by small nails fixed near the top of the ¾” dowels (Fig. 8). The front is covered with the cloth by resting the ‘pelmet’ on the top
Two hooks, the same as that at the top of the sliding frame, are at the so that the 10mm dowels go into the holes in the main frame. Unhook
ends of the timber to match up with eyes in the top of the main frame. the safety catch and push the pelmet down. This forces the ‘sliding frame’
In performance, the main apparatus, with the sliding frame locked up, is down against the tension of the elastic, taking the frame and rods
carried on by the main performer and the cloth/feke by the assistant. The down so that the tops of the rods are just below the bar at the top of
the main frame. It also forces the six small rods up behind the pelmet to
give the impression of the pelmet being slid over the original ‘bars’. The
performer then locks it down by swivelling the two hooks into the eyes.
The assistant now goes behind the apparatus and, using the bars as
a handle, opens the door in the ‘door frame’. They step through the
opening, behind the cloth, and close the door behind them. The
magnets hold it closed. The assistant appears around the side of the
cloth and the performer goes behind the frames, unhooks the pelmet
Exposed view of the gimmick and lifts it off. As he does so the feke rod ends drop behind the pelmet
and the elastic lifts the sliding frame and rods back into position. l

Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 7

cup hook screw eye for hook cup hook peg hole top bar frame peg hole swivel hook 3”x1” swivel hook
101/2”
3” 3”
main
frame felt pads
51/2” 5” 5” 5” 5” 5” 51/2”
top bar of sliding door
internal swivel hook peg 8” 6mm ply 36”x21/2” rods 43/8” peg 8”
reinforced
brackets internal 3’0”
reinforced top and bottom bar of door frame
hinge brackets
Fig. 8 rod pelmet
guide door frame 485/8” two magnets let into wood
door frame
fixed fixed to Fig. 6
to outer door frame sliding frame
frame opens nail to rod
guide fixed to 41/2”
outer frame falling
internal through
reinforced
brackets

sliding
frame cloth

peg

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 267

 James Randi
The Spokesman for Honest Deception

Interview by Will Houstoun MIMC

James Randi MIMC has had a long and

successful career as a magician and
escapologist but is currently best known
as an investigator and debunker of
paranormal claims and pseudoscience.
He has written numerous books on
the subject and is the recipient
of a Fellowship from the John D and
Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, a
Lifetime Achievement Award from the
American Humanist Association, and a
Lifetime Fellowship from The Academy
of Magical Arts. I spoke with James on
Skype to find out more about his magical
background and current interests.

268 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 Will Houstoun: I know you started in magic very young.
Could you tell me how you got interested?

James Randi: I was a child prodigy, a very unhappy

circumstance for me. It didn’t give me a peer group, for one
thing, because I was allowed to essentially stay out of grade
school in Canada, where I was born and almost raised. I had
what they called a truant pass so that I wouldn’t be accosted
by a policeman in the street saying, ‘Why aren’t you in
school?’ I kept it until eight or ten years ago and then it got
lost someplace. If the police stop me now I don’t know what
I’m going to do.

Will: Immediate arrest I suppose. What were you doing

then, if not going to school? Was this when your magic
interest started?
James: I was able to go to the theatre if I wanted to on a
Wednesday afternoon matinee. I went to the Casino Theater
on Queen Street in Toronto because they’d advertised a man
named Blackstone. That was Blackstone Senior. His son was, I
think, only an idea at that moment. He performed the classic
Asrah levitation and said something to this effect: “You see
this young lady, suspended in the air between Heaven and
Earth. She could remain there should I so desire for a
thousand years and a day but, in the interest of time and
your patience, I will return her once more to the couch from
which she arose only a moment ago. Descend.”
Visiting Moscow
Up until that very moment in my history, I was more or less
determined that I was going to be an archaeologist or a
chemical engineer. Those notions vanished from my young and sinker and I have done reasonably well in the profession
head at that moment. I made my way backstage and got to since.
meet Old Man Blackstone in the alleyway at the back. He
took me backstage into the dressing room, through the Will: So what kind of magic were you doing at this point?
illusions and the props and whatnot, and instructed me on a James: I started off doing mentalism as that rather
very simple sleight of hand move, which I mastered almost attracted me. I found out that I was reasonably adept at it
immediately. Then, he gave me a poster of the levitating and I was able to deceive the hoi-polloi, and even some of
camel and signed it to me. my magician friends.
When I got home I noticed, to my horror, that I didn’t have One of my very first experiences in mentalism was, again,
the poster – I had left it behind on a bus. Someplace in as a teenager. I went to see an afternoon show by a man
Toronto, for all we know, there may be an ancient bus still named Chan Canasta. He had a book test – it was an
creaking around its rounds, and under the back window astonishing book test – that I saw him do it at this soiree.
there’s a rolled-up poster which, if anyone finds, I hope that The next day, I went right back and saw the show a second
they will identify it with me and let me know about it. time and it dawned on me what he was doing. Very
Old Man Blackstone also gave me the address of the local ingenious. Unfortunately his version wasn’t very good. It
magic shop, The Arcade Magic and Novelty Company, and I worked well, but it worked too well. He would reproduce one
got to know their proprietor, Harry Smith, very well. entire line from a book chosen off a shelf. One entire line.
Blackstone and Harry Smith have gone off to wherever That was too good and the audience had to suspect that he
people go, if they go anywhere, which I doubt they do, but had somehow seen the line. The way I do it is to ask
the influence is still there. I fell for this profession hook, line, someone to choose one word out of one line and I identify
s

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 269

 should be. Of course that’s not my business, it’s
theirs. But I think they make a big mistake if
they don’t keep it whimsical. I used to do a
straightjacket escape and there was a part of
the routine where I would be standing facing
the audience, get down on one knee and be
struggling away. Then I’d say “Excuse me” and
my hand would come out of the jacket, scratch
my ear and then go back inside before I said
“Ah, that feels much better.” That little bit of
whimsy takes the edge off of it because I don’t
want people taking what I do at face value.

Will: What do you think the magic fraternity’s

reaction to people who clearly overstep this line,
like fraudulent psychics, should be?
James: Let’s say their relationship to the
public that they serve, because after all, we are
public servants to a certain extent. We depend
upon that audience and their payment for our
services so I think we owe them something. The
Magic Circle has a wonderful reputation for
having skilled magicians but they, like the other
magic clubs, seem to have given up on the
business of exposing the frauds. The Magic
Performing with Jackie Gleason
Circle, I think, needs to be spoken to rather
vigorously, as does the SAM and the IBM and
that one word for them. The effect is not as the James Randi Educational Foundation as the other organisations. I think the magic clubs
huge but it’s much more convincing. Getting the well, arranging tests of so-called psychics. owe it to the public to come out against people
whole line made it too good. That’s a difficult Banachek has a very good disclaimer. who are claiming to have genuine supernatural
concept to get across to amateurs and to young Unfortunately he knows, and I know, that it just powers when they do not.
people in magic. They say, “Oh, that would be doesn’t work, people still believe it is real. Magicians are not liars. We don’t lie to
much better, if you could...” No. No, it wouldn’t. people to deceive them, to hurt them, to
Take my word for it. The version I do now is one Will: Right, with Derren Brown being so popular misinform them. We are actors, and we’ve got
word out of an entire book. in the UK one often meets people who believe to face that fact. We play the part of a conjurer,
in his powers regardless of any disclaimer. of a sorcerer, of a spellbinder. We’re limited in
Will: So were you performing professionally at James: I believe that I’m not telling tales out that part. We are not lying to people saying we
this point? of school here. I once had an exchange with have supernatural powers. That’s for the
James: I had a job in a nightclub in Toronto Derren where I said that I thought he had so-called psychics to do and I think it’s
that paid me a fortune! I think it was maybe as gotten off on the wrong foot when he began to reprehensible because they make their money
much as thirty dollars a week, a lot in those allow people to believe that everything he did solely because their audience believes them to
days. Then, I found that people were starting to was based on peripheral observation of habits
believe in my ‘abilities.’ I actually had people and gestures and whatnot. I think that was a
calling at my home who wanted personal bad approach because it commits you to a
advice, the same kind of thing they would go to course that you can’t really follow. I think that
a psychic for. That frightened me, because even Derren has come out of that very well now.
if I denied it they would look at me and say,
“No, no, no, I know what’s real. I know what’s Will: He has.
real, and what you do is real. Those aren’t tricks.” James: Good, because he’s a brilliant artist.
I started to get out of mentalism because of The great thing about Derren is the story that
that, I was being believed. I didn’t want to be he weaves. He has a wonderful way of weaving
believed, I wanted to be an entertainer. a story with the trick that makes it much more
than just: ‘How did I do that?’
Will: Do you think there is a way of performing
as a mentalist who is overtly doing tricks or is it Will: Do you differentiate between the
an inherent problem that you will be believed? fraudulent medium who uses magicians’
James: It’s rather difficult. One of what we techniques to convince people they are talking
used to call the Alpha kids is a man named to the dead and the performer who uses
Steve Shaw, who takes the professional name magicians’ techniques to convince people they
Banachek, a leading mentalist of today, I think are, say, an expert on body language?
probably the leading mentalist. Banachek is a James: I can’t dictate to people what their
very, very close friend of mine, and works with motivations should be or what their behaviour Escaping from a jail

270 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

have supernatural powers. I think this is James: The mentalist Banachek works with
absolutely wrong. I have always fought it and I JREF, designing and conducting tests for the
always will fight it, but I wish that the magic million dollar prize at each one of the TAM
community were more on my side and that the meetings and in between as well, if people are
occult committees of the various magical available for that purpose. There are many other
organisations would come back in full swing. people but not the magic fraternity, the
Sylvia Brown, in this country, for example, is magicians are not too enthusiastic about
very famous but her record seems to be working in this respect. The JREF claims, quite
abysmal. The most recent thing that has come correctly, that we are the leading sceptical
up with her is that many years ago she told a organisation in business right now. We’re very
mother, who subsequently died grieving, that proud of that particular position.
her missing daughter was dead. That daughter Every magic organisation can make a
just turned up, alive. Sylvia says: “Oh, well, I’m difference though. They should contact the
not always right.” In fact she seems to be media and tell them that they have a certain
wrong much of the time, the vast majority of the number of magicians who have expertise in
time, and she talks about things that it could be these fields. If the paper then gets a news item
very damaging to be wrong about. The magic relating to magic and fraud in some way, they
fraternity should be caring about these things will contact the society. In fact I encourage
and they should be getting after the media and everyone who reads this to contact their local
making it clear that this is something that Performing at The Scala for media, even if you’re only an amateur magician.
The Magic Circle Festival 1958
shouldn’t be allowed to happen. You’re not giving away any magical secrets if
them drop out very early, we never hear from you are exposing people who are claiming they
Will: What is the best way to show a psychic is them again and they won’t respond to letters have genuine powers.
fraudulent? It is hard to rationally argue with a and such. The rules also say that if you fail the
personal experience, that somebody’s had, preliminary test, you can try again within six Will: One final question. You stopped
which has been very powerful for them. months or a year – that depends on who they performing as a conjurer at sixty years old. Why
James: By setting up some frameworks for the are or what the claim is – and they never come and what do you do now?
press. They’re the only people that we can back. I think we’re having a certain amount of James: I retired because I was finding that
approach to get after these so-called psychics. an effect, but I wish we had more effect with struggling out of straightjackets was not quite
Unfortunately the media isn’t very fond of what the media, that the media would pay more as easy as it used to be years ago! I had set
we do in many cases. They’d rather have a story attention to us, really. sixty as a retirement goal for a long time and I
where a psychic is real. That’s a news item. But had a serious problem with a milk can escape in
prove a psychic to have feet of clay, no, that’s Will: You also have a foundation, The James a television special. As a matter of fact I badly
not a story. The media is very irresponsible in Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Was that injured my back which helped me make my
this respect, they just want stories that will sell created to oversee the challenge? decision. That was in my sixtieth year, and I said
newspapers. James: The JREF was formed so that we to myself “Okay. It is time to meet my
would have an organisation with which people obligation to retire from the active magic field.”
Will: Was this how the million dollar challenge could correspond. We also have a conference, Mind you, I do my lectures all around the
came about? The Amazing Meeting, that we hold in Las world, and I always throw some stunts into
James: Yes. Although it has not had the effect Vegas every year and that is like the them. I’ll even maybe do a rope tie occasionally,
that I thought it would have, to be quite frank organisation’s annual meeting. Then we have because it’s not too difficult for me to do, and I
with you. local meetings. I also receive people right here do a lot of mentalism. I do the mentalism in the
in my home in the Isaac Asimov library. That lecture that I give because I’ve got to show
Will: What had you hoped? comprises almost four thousand books and people that they too can be fooled by very
James: I thought that it would make a lot of started out as my library but then people simple methods. I don’t give away the modus
news. It was ten thousand dollars at one point started to add to it. We’ve had to shore up the operandi of these things, of course, because
and it is a million dollars now. The million walls in my home because books are heavy, the once you give away the secret, they say, “Oh, I
dollars really does exist in our bank account, walls were starting to look saggy. would have thought of that.” No, I think they
ready to be claimed at any time if someone can would not have thought of it.
meet our challenge to prove they have Will: What happens at The Amazing Meetings? I want them to leave the auditorium
supernatural abilities. James: We have talks from people like completely puzzled by what they have seen and
Richard Dawkins and Neil deGrasse Tyson, wondering if the other stuff people are showing
Will: Have you had anyone accept the anybody that you can imagine in the sceptical them, that they claim to be real, might also be
challenge? and scientific fields. We’ve also had tests of of like nature and quality. I want people to think
James: Oh yes, we get them all the time. so-called psychic powers as well. We promote about these things. That’s very important. l
There are two levels to the test. The preliminary rational thinking and examinations of claims of
test is a reasonably kindly one – we just ask the paranormal. A feature length documentary about
them to prove that what they say is true to a James Randi, titled An Honest Liar, is
certain extent. We’re just looking for someone Will: I think of you as the figurehead of currently in production. To find out more
who can indicate they do have something going sceptical thought, particularly with relation to about that, as well as The James Randi
for them. No one has ever passed that first level magic-related cases. Who else do you think is Educational Foundation and The Amazing
test and we’ve done hundreds of them. Most of doing interesting things in that line? Meeting, visit www.Randi.org

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 271

From The Magic Circle Collection
by Scott Penrose MIMC

A t first glance this item looks nothing more than a gold Hunter
pocket watch like those that many have inherited from family
members but never wear because fashions have changed. However, it
As for the Diamond Star the inscription makes reference to, the
November 1918 edition of The Magic Circular revealed that the
supposed £1000 challenge jewel was offered by Jeans to induce
is much more than this as the watch bears the following inscription on magical invention. The jewel was passed to The Magic Circle and it
the reverse: was then lodged in their bank safe deposit box. At the May 1919
“Presented to Harry McDougall on 1 October 1924 with sincere true Council meeting the Council prepared a set of rules governing the
good wishes from W C Jeans MIMC, London, holder of the £1000 competition for The Star and sent them to Jeans. At the July 1919
Challenge Diamond Star.” meeting the Council were informed that the jewel was to be returned
Harry McDougall was a talented wood worker as well as a semi to Jeans and that The Magic Circle were no longer concerned with the
-professional magician and, according to McDougall’s grandson, this matter. Six years later the inscription on the watch referred to Jeans as
watch was a gift from Walter Jeans in appreciation of the work that being the holder of the Diamond Star, so for reasons unknown,
was done on The Silver Hat, later known as The Million Dollar Mystery. seemingly he decided to award it to himself! l

Photo: Darren Tossell

272 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

OUR
WANDERFUL
AWARD
by Bob Loomis AIMC

D o you know the story behind our organisation’s

prestigious honour, the wanderful (sorry, wonderful)
Silver Wand Award? If not, then read on.
Why award a wand? Yes, along with rabbits out of hats,
laypeople associate magic wands with magicians, but how
did wands become connected with our illustrious art? Well,
to be absolutely honest, no one really knows for sure.
William V Rauscher’s 1998 booklet The Wand In Story And
Symbol (in The Magic Circle’s library) discusses the problem
in detail but here is my condensed version of the answer.
Although scholars are divided on the early roots of the
wand, I favour either the drumstick of the shaman (seen
today in a conductor’s or drum major’s baton), or the
chieftain’s spear (the forerunner of the policeman’s baton).
(As this is a cultured journal, I am deliberately ignoring the
possible connection between wands and phallic symbols.)
Pictures of wands appear on ancient Egyptian pyramid
walls. Their priests and Gods (such as Anubis) carried
wands, and even the Pharaoh held a wand along with a
sceptre.
In many cultures, their Gods had wands to help them
gain power over the elements. Typically the Greek God
Hermes (the Romans’
Mercury), who was the
The Druids, messenger of the Gods, is
and the early often shown with a wand, or
Chinese, had caduceus, in his right hand. It
had entwined snakes and a
wands as winged top. Celtic and Norse
part of their Gods also used wands. The
culture, Druids, and the early Chinese,
had wands as part of their
culture, and ancient Hindus referred to them, as did the
Buddhists. Even Christ is depicted in early frescoes
performing miracles with a wand in his hand.
Wands appear in many stories and fables. A modern
classic wand wielder was Walt Disney’s fairy godmother,
Photos: TMC:Archive

who magically transformed a pumpkin into a coach, many

years before Harry Potter appeared on the scene. But
perhaps the most notable description of wand
manipulation for us was in the Arthurian legend, where
s

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 273

Merlin used a silver wand to cast his spells. chose it as an award to bestow on it is usually only Geoffrey Robinson (1987),
By the mid sixteenth century the wand had worthy individuals. Before they and John Booth (1987).
acquired two distinct uses. First, it was seen as gave the first formal award in 1946
awarded to In 1997 the wand
an emblem of authority when carried by there were several other Circle Members, magically reappeared
high-ranking individuals, at formal ceremonies noteworthy presentations to Club in the early days when the Silver Salver was
and processions. In ancient Greece, judges, Members. In 1921, the Editor of replaced with a new Magic
generals, ambassadors and master teachers this magazine, Hubert Lea, was
the wand was Circle Gold and Silver
carried wands to show their elevated status. presented with a Silver Wand and a also presented Wand. Although today it is
Today our Lord Chancellor bears a white staff of canteen of cutlery on the occasion to visiting usually only awarded to
office. The second usage was by European of his wedding. In 1922 a silver Circle Members, in the
conjurers, who commonly carried wands to salver was given to Magic Circle
dignitaries early days the wand was
create their magic. Their wands’ caps were Entertainment Manager Arthur Ivey also presented to visiting
often magnetised metal for use in attraction and his bride. dignitaries. That is why the website list of
tricks, and for setting off secret actions. Even Our Club was certainly not the first to present recipients also contains people who were
Anton Mesmer, the father of hypnotism, carried silver wands to deserving recipients. As early as obviously non-Members.
a wand to put people to sleep. (No, he didn’t hit 1899, the Prince of Wales bestowed a silver For reasons of historical accuracy, I am
them over the head with it!) wand on magician Will Goldston, when Will including below the names of several people
In the late nineteenth century, magicians appeared before Queen Victoria at Windsor who were awarded the wand. I came across
used wands as the supposed power behind Castle. For the Prince’s other magic connections them while researching this article, but found
their sorcery. As well as being see my November 2010 article. In they were missing from our website’s list of
secret mechanical devices, 1960 our Members gave President wand recipients.
they helped hide objects held In the late Francis White a unique gift of a The missing Silver Wand Award recipients were:
in the same hand. Sadly, nineteenth gold wand. Dr. J. Dhotel (1951), Barrie Edgar (1951),
today, other than the odd In 1984, our Council replaced Roland Winder (1953), Herbert J. Collings
cups and balls performer,
century, the Silver Wand Award with a (1955), Kio (1959), John Mulholland (1962),
wands are seldom seen in our magicians Silver Salver, to be given for John Holt (1963), Harry Devano (1969), Arthur
Members’ palms. used wands as “outstanding service to The Magic Aldridge (1970), George Farrow (1971), Alfred
So, as the wand had a long
history of association with
the supposed Circle”. The Salvers I’ve managed
to trace were awarded to Leslie
G. Moore (1973), Henry Davies (1975), and Dr.
John Henry Grossman (1980).
power and position, as well as power behind Cole (1984), Geoffrey Buckingham Maybe one day you too will receive our
our magical art, our Council their sorcery (1986), Harry Devano (1986), ‘wanderful’ award. l

274 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 CLEVER DEVIL
CORNER successful that approach is in practice, but in
my opinion, it makes the magician look
cheap. An interesting variation is to give the
audience an envelope, which just happens to
also contain your contact details, with a trick
Harold Cataquet AIMC that they can perform. In most cases,
everyone at the venue receives the same
trick. But I do know a few magicians who
have a series of different A5 cards that they
give out. These cards have puzzles, simple
tricks, optical illusions, jokes, etc on them.
Because they vary in content, they are more
interesting to the audience and therefore
Selling Yourself go further down the list. There’s a have more of an impact. You could use your
One of most difficult things a working magic.about.com entry that lists the ten best business card, or more correctly the back of
performer has to do is ‘sell’ himself. Every close-up magicians. Maybe I should contact it, as a surface on which to perform a trick
performer needs to sell the magical effect; them. If I didn’t know anything about close-up (such as a magic square), and give the
that point should not need further exposition. magicians, I would now start looking up each of resulting card to your audience member. I
But selling yourself is a completely different these on the web to see which one I could book don’t think I’ve ever done this. If I am under
matter. I have previously for my event. If I were a layman, orders to give out business cards, I prefer to
written about getting the I am there to I would be thinking at this point perform a version of Daryl’s Presto Printo
audience to like you, but that perform and ‘They can’t be that expensive. with business cards. I start with one business
too is not the same thing. You when I am I’ve never heard of them.’ But as card and several blanks, and then I proceed
don’t want them to like you, I would eventually find out, none to produce several twisted business cards.
you want them to want you finished, of these guys live in England. If I The key thing is that the audience goes away
and your services as a I pack up had deep pockets, then I might with a novelty – not your business card, but a
magician! and go home just decide to fly one of these twisted version of your business card. That
If I had continued listing my guys out. But more likely, I would makes your business card, which they walk
weaknesses, the inability to sell myself would ask the first magician on the list (Johnny Ace away with, a talking point and something
have been on that list. When I perform an Palmer) to recommend someone in England. Or they are more likely to hold on to and show
effect, I am not scanning the audience maybe, realising that the best magicians are other people.
looking for my next meal ticket or trying to probably the most expensive, I’d skip this step Giving out the tricks or A5 cards are great
identify any potential big spenders in the and continue working my way down the ways of subtly advertising your services, but if
crowd. I am there to perform and when I am original webpage. The next two names that I you are just handing out your own business
finished, I pack up and go home. Magic is not come across are Luke Gravett and Phil Jay... I cards, even using a trick, be very careful.
my primary source of income (it’s not even don’t know how Google decides the order in Many times, especially when you are working
my secondary or tertiary source) so I’m never which to list websites (I’m sure for agents, you are not allowed
thinking about where my next magical pay there are detailed explanations the potential to give out your own business
cheque is going to come from. All my out there) but it should be obvious booker will cards; you have to give out
bookings come from friends (I cover when that having a good website isn’t their business cards. If you do a
they can’t do events or want help with big enough. Your potential booker has
ask for ‘Harry lot of this type of work, and
events), agents and word of mouth. to be able to find you quickly. So, the magician’ they won’t specially print a
If you are going to be a professional, a you need to choose the right not ‘a batch of cards for you, my top
website is essential. You could try listing keywords. For example, if I typed tip is to print some stickers to
yourself in the local Yellow Pages, but when in ‘magicians for hire’ the first
magician’ put on those business cards
was the last time you looked up something in name on the list is Mike Stoner. If I mentioned a with your name but not your contact details!
the Yellow Pages? You could try leafleting specific city in the search, then the results At least that way, when the agent is called,
and putting notices on bulletin boards, but would be completely different. To complicate the potential booker will ask for ‘Harry the
when was the last time you used services matters, if I used a different search engine, for magician’ not ‘a magician’, and you are more
that were advertised that way? In the example Bing instead of Google, I would get a likely to get that next booking. Sometimes
twenty-first century, if you want something, different list of magicians. bookers don’t like any advertising at their
you usually just go to the web and look it up. But let’s put the web aside and come back to events. They hired you to perform, not to
Or at least that’s what I do. Today, I’m selling yourself while you’re performing at a advertise your services. That’s why I usually
looking for a ‘close-up magician’ so I type venue. The easiest advertising mechanism is the only give my cards to people who explicitly
that into Google and the first name on the business card. I have seen various approaches ask for it, and if I am planning on giving out
list is our own David Redfearn. It’s in the ads over the years – some magicians just dish them any handouts, I make sure that I clear it with
section, and I’m a bit suspicious of those, so I out on the table like napkins. I don’t know how the bookers beforehand. l

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 275

 3 June – 24 June

MONDAY 3 JUNE 2013 the 1950s of Alan performing a short cigarette We were shown further film clips, including
A TRIBUTE TO ALAN SHAXON routine. His smooth presentation, immaculate Card to Pocket from Five Magic Minutes, a BBC
Reported by Tim Barnes dress, economy of movement and charismatic show from the 1970s; Smash and Grab from a
smile were already in evidence and were to performance at The Magic Circle Collectors’
This evening was The Magic Circle’s tribute to become the hallmarks of his performing career. Day; Robert Harbin’s Blades of Opah, performed
one of the greats from the history of our John Southgate was next on stage, alongside daughter Julia, from our own 2005
Society, and, indeed, the world of magic. Alan accompanied by his wife Sylvia, performing Centenary Celebrations; and an episode of Mr
Shaxon (1933 – 2012) was an author, Alan’s die box routine, culminating with the Bean featuring Alan as the now legendary Eddie
Maskelyne Award winner, recipient of a Life production of a rabbit from a top hat. I Spangle.
Time Achievement Fellowship from the introduced the Rabbit from a Top Hat into my Back on stage, Fay Presto performed the Torn
Academy of Magical Arts, former Chairman of own act a few years back and Alan helped me and Restored Drink Trick, Alan’s creation linking
the Council and Past President of The Magic with the method – not only with the drawings the torn and restored newspaper with Drink in
Circle – and of course a superlative performer. but giving me invaluable advice too. This the News. Richard Pinner presented Alan’s
Scott Penrose was our host for the evening readiness to share his knowledge, and help thumb tie routine using Alan’s own set of hoops
and we were joined in the theatre by several others, was so typical of Alan and mentioned to penetrate the plastic cable ties. Brian Miller
members of Alan’s family. through the evening by contributor after vanished a silk from inside a screw top jar, a
The tribute commenced with a film clip from contributor. routine used by Alan as an opener once he’d

Scott Penrose John Southgate Fay Presto

Ian Keable Richard Pinner Brian Miller

276 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 CLUB NIGHT
EVENTS
Mandy Davis MIMC CONVENOR OF REPORTS
Mark Hesketh-Jennings PHOTOGRAPHER

retired from his large illusion show. Ian Keable

presented Alan’s renowned prediction effect,
Confabulation. As well as hosting the evening
Scott Penrose also performed, sharing both
Alan’s Nudist Deck routine and Aerial Fishing.
Alan’s widow Anne joined Scott on stage to
receive The Academy of Magical Arts Lifetime
Fellowship Award before all the evening’s
performers returned to the
stage to watch a final clip,
Alan’s perfect closing
routine, his version of the
Hydrostatic Glass.
[The Hands on
Pre-Show in The Devant
Room featured Fergus 1648 words – 15 images
Fergus Anckorn
Anckorn.] Sean Lobban Mark Shortland and The Dragons

MONDAY 10 JUNE 2013 involving sixteen thumb tips.

MAGICIANS’ DRAGONS’ Mark Shortland, who followed, asked
DEN BY SEAN LOBBAN for a word to be freely chosen from one
Reported by Kevin Bird of two books and then attempted to
ascertain the word by playing a
Sean Lobban devised and hosted the humorous game of stage hangman. He
Magicians version of the BBC’s popular assembled a large set of gallows, one
TV programme, introducing the three piece for each letter he got wrong, finally
Dragons who had kindly given up their placing his head in the noose. Thankfully
time to appear: Peter Nardi (Alakazam), he correctly guessed the word before a
Marvin Berglas (Marvin’s Magic) and fatal ending occurred. Mark explained
Andi Gladwin (Vanishing Inc). All familiar that the two books could also be used
faces and respected magic dealers. Each for several other types of book test.
was asked in turn by Sean to give their Rather than a trick, Fay Presto
thoughts on what they would be looking selected to pitch two utility props to
for in a new product, whether they assist the Magician. Firstly lights which
s

needed to be fooled, or even had to like

the effect pitched.
First up was Steve Price who had a
two digit number randomly selected by
the Dragons. in this case ninety-six. Steve
selected sixteen cards from a box full of
cards printed with two digit numbers and
made up a four-by-four magic square, all
usual combinations adding up to the
Anne Shaxon receiving the
Lifetime Fellowship from chosen number. Steve explained two
The Academy of Magical Arts methods could be used, one
Steve Price
mathematical and the other using a ‘crib’

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 277

mounted onto a ladder to allow the Magician to psychokinetic touches, bubbles and ideo-motor
be seen in dimly-lit performing areas, the effects with pendulums.
second, a close-up table made out of a small A discussion on cultural barriers included
suitcase, where the table top fitted onto the ensuring that your patter was apt even in a
extending handle and all the pieces packed different country. For instance, the first vegetable
away into the case. often thought of in the UK is carrot yet in the US
Finally, Richard Pinner pitched a creation of it is more likely broccoli, the things you learn!
his father’s and drew our attention to an On TV and radio mentalism, Paul noted that it
over-sized brandy type glass filled with several was important to set up the expectations of the
hundred raffle tickets of various colours. Richard audience and the presenter. A forced card
invited a spectator to pick the winning ticket becomes a thought-of card, in their minds. On
and also one ticket for each of the four colours radio the presenter might need some off-air
of raffle tickets, which later decided what could training to correctly describe the effect as it
Paul Draper
have been won. The winner’s prize envelope proceeds.
contained a prediction of the exact number and For his next effect a spoon was chosen which Cold reading with playing cards was shown
colour of the selected winning raffle ticket. not only bent in a spectator’s hand but twisted and how to keep one’s statements positive.
Richard later explained some other applications its stem. Paul credited Banachek and Osterlind When you get it right, you’re right! When you
of the trick as a children’s or trade show effect. for their inspiration and later described metal get it wrong, the cards are wrong – never you!
After each pitch, Sean invited the Dragons to bending as ‘the sponge balls of mentalism’ – Finally, how to finish one’s act was ably
give their opinions of what they had seen, to brilliant! demonstrated by Paul as he performed a two
comment on whether they would be interested Paul, unusually, asked the audience what linking ring routine with emotive storyline
in investing in it and, in turn, they offered they would like him to talk about. Séance was patter and singing Pure Imagination.
valuable guidance as to the best way of first and Paul discussed his ‘PASTO’ system – It was good to hear lots of positive comment
marketing the effects shown. The significant Preparation, Action, Struggle, Turn and Outcome in the clubroom afterwards and I can certainly
advice given on the night would have been of – and how to create sensory moments using recommend seeing Paul lecture or perform.
interest to all those present and sometimes
provided lively discussion with the pitchers as
how best to market the product. MONDAY 24 JUNE 2013 Michael introduced each performer and,
This was an excellent evening, both very MICHAEL VINCENT PRESENTS between acts, treated us to one or two of his
informative as well as entertaining, and which I Reported by Geoffrey Shisler own items presented with his usual
hope will be repeated at a later date with new consummate skill and polish.
performances and products. Well done to all As a result of his appearance on Penn and Since for most of the performers we were
involved. Teller: Fool Us, three years ago, Michael Vincent being shown ‘work in progress,’ as would be
has set up his own courses for teaching magic – expected the standard of performance was
MONDAY 17 JUNE 2013 the Vincent Academy. Like many professional varied, with the best being very good indeed. In
PAUL DRAPER LECTURE magicians Michael gives private tuition; but he this respect both Steiner Thelen and Tilman
Reported by Hugh Nightingale is also amongst the few who give one-to-one Andris stood out: Steiner with cards and Tilman
lessons over the internet, mainly through the with ropes, Cups and Balls and Linking Rings.
Paul began by telling us how well known he medium of Skype. This means that he has They both demonstrated a considerable degree
was in Vegas and how he has appeared with students all over the world. This evening he of skill and are a credit to Michael’s teaching.
David Copperfield, Lance Burton and even Criss presented six of those students, some of whom Most of the other performers executed their
Angel. I began to think: “Oh dear, an American had travelled from abroad to perform for us. tricks competently.
standing on an English stage bragging about They were, in order of appearance, Jin Lee, This was a varied and mostly enjoyable
his accomplishments, this is going to go down Jonathan Allwood, Steiner Thelen from Norway, evening and Michael is to be congratulated on
well!” then found myself being swept along by Sam Reynolds, Dr Richard Field and Tilman being at the forefront of the future of magic
Paul’s bonhomie, and charisma, and quickly had Andris from Holland. tuition. l
to swallow my first impressions. This was his
first time in the UK, let alone The Magic Circle,
and it was soon apparent that Paul was actually
a very nice guy, smart, intelligent and
entertaining.
He told us that apart from being a
magician/mentalist he was also a cultural
anthropologist and could best introduce himself
with the opening effects from his show. He
showed he had some candies (sweets) in a
brown paper bag but only one had a gold
wrapper. Spectators each chose one, keeping it
hidden in their fists and all stated, “Yes, I have
the gold candy.” Paul now did a psychological
lie detector test to correctly reveal who had
Michael Vincent Tilman Andris Steiner Thelen
gone for gold.

278 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 THE MAGIC CIRCLE
SHOWCASE

sales
l Magic Circle Umbrella. Navy blue with silver coloured
handle and printed silver logo. Automatic opening. £14.95
l Magic Circle Playing Cards. Poker size with black backs
and gold coloured logo. £3.95 each or £6.95 for two.
l Magic Circle Key Ring. £1.95
l Postcards. Four styles depicting posters from The Circle
Collection, namely Soo, Devant, Le Roy and Hertz.
£2.00 for a set.
l Bob Read’s Magical London Map. £2.95
l Inside The Magic Circle. Souvenir booklet. £1.95
l Tie £10.00
l Moleskine pocket ruled notebook with de-bossed
Magic Circle logo, 192 pages £13.50
l Moleskine large plain notebook with de-bossed
Magic Circle logo, 240 pages £17.50

MEMBERS ONLY
*please state your Degree when ordering
l Button Badge* £3.95
l Deluxe Gilt Button Badge* £5.95
l Jewel with or without Star* £13.50
l Cufflinks* £13.95

These items can be purchased from the Showcase at

The Magic Circle Headquarters on a Club Night or can be
sent by post to your address (P&P extra). Credit cards
(Visa and Mastercard) and cheques drawn on a UK bank
accepted (cheques payable to “CMA Ltd”).

For more information Email

ShowcaseSales@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
or telephone 0207 387 2222

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 279

 418. MAGICIANS IN HULL IN THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES
Part 8. BARNARDO EAGLE, LOUIS DÖBLER AND SIGNOR ALFRED BOSCO

I t was said that copyists of John Henry Anderson, The Great Wizard of
the North, came from all points of the compass, but one who
particularly irritated Anderson was his rival George Barnard Eagle, the
“Jugglers, and exhibitors of very singular and very puzzling feats, are as
plentiful as blackberries; but the majority of these conjurors are men of
vulgar origin and manners, and every one of their exploits may be learned
self-styled Wizard of the South. He was some fourteen years older than from them at a price averaging
the Scot, believed to have been born at Barnet, Middlesex, c.1800, and from five shillings to a guinea –
started plagiarising him in the 1840s following Anderson’s triumphant few of the tricks usually
arrival in London. supplied for the entertainment
Barnardo, Professor of Natural Magic, arrived at the Victoria Rooms of an audience, requiring more
at Hull at the end of July 1842. On this occasion he announced that he than quickness of hand
would be presenting a variety of new experiments, “the same as those supported by assurance. In the
lately performed by Louis Herr Dobbler [sic] at the St James’s Theatre, case of Herr Döbler, on the
London.” Döbler had played his first London season from April to July contrary, we have an artist of
of that year, so Eagle had lost no time in his plagiarism of the Viennese refined and polished manners, a
magician, whose finesse and brilliance had astounded London man whose language and
audiences. dialect evince the liberal
However, a couple of months later Hull audiences would be able to education he has received, and
make their own judgment and comparison as Louis Döbler himself we have also a performer
came to the Theatre Royal in Hull in October 1842 during his provincial whose exhibition throughout
tour which followed the St James’s Theatre season. His arrival was not merely surprises for the
heralded by a very laudatory notice in the Hull Packet, principally based moment, but pleases from it
on a pamphlet containing comments culled from various newspapers. gracefulness, and is equally
One from The Argus is worthy of note for its somewhat condescending agreeable on repetition. In
appraisal of the majority of conjurers: short, Herr Döbler has so
completely driven his predecessors and his rivals out of the field – and, to
use a vulgarism, has so entirely ‘spoiled their market,’ that we are not
more obliged to him for what he has done than what he has prevented.
He has shown that an entertainment comprised of feats requiring
chemical and mechanical knowledge can be given in a form which, while
it preserves the excitement and interest of an educated audience, like that
which has nightly filled the St James’s Theatre, can provoke it by the most
legitimate means; and that, in fact, the public may be mystified without
being insulted.”
An advertisement in the Hull Packet on Friday 14 October 1842
announced that the celebrated Herr Döbler, Artiste in Natural Philosophy
to his Majesty the King of Prussia, would be at the Theatre Royal for Four
Nights Only, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 17, 18, 19 and 21
October. It provided details of his Programme which opened with the
famous lighting of two hundred candles with a pistol shot and concluded
with Flora’s Gifts, the distribution of small bouquets from a hat.
The reviewer for the Hull Packet wrote this very enthusiastic report in
the issue of 21 October:
“HERR DOBLER – This German professor of Natural Magic, who has
been performing his wonderful experiments and tricks of the Theatre
during the present week, is certainly the Prince of Conjurors. We have
seen all the eminent professors of the art of legerdemain for the last thirty
or forty years, – but none of them for dexterity, self-possession, and the
absolute defiance of the senses, involved in his various transformations, at
all equal Herr Döbler, – who, had he lived in the middle ages, would most
certainly have been consigned to the dungeons of the Inquisition, as
being too familiar with a certain old gentleman, who is not to be named
to ears polite...The first appearance of Herr Döbler is singularly romantic.
The curtain draws up, and shows a stage dark and gloomy, – when lo! –

280 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 A RICH CABINET OF
MAGICAL CURIOSITIES
Edwin A Dawes MIMC

a pistol is discharged, and instantaneously a number of candles burst from 23 to 30 July. Seven years elapsed before he returned, again to
forth into a brilliant blaze of light, – and a necromantic palace, rich in all the Zoological Gardens for a season starting at the end of May 1851
the appurtenances of the wizard art is disclosed to view; whilst the billed as Professor Buck, ‘The First Illusionist of the Age!!’ On Saturday,
wizard himself is seen, habited in the full dress of German student, – a 5 July, of that year Professor Buck appeared at the Queen’s Theatre for
black velvet tunic, with an open collar and trunk hose; as unlike, from his ‘The second time here’, although we found no evidence of a previous
youthful, gentlemanly, and prepossessing appearance, our preconceived engagement at this venue.
ideas of a sorcerer, as can well be imagined.” Then, in 1853, Professor Buck appeared at no fewer than three
“He then commences his feats; – and his appearance, – the use of the different venues in Hull, with three separate bookings at the Zoological
German language in which he speaks, – and the associations it conjures Gardens, the first commencing on 30 May as ‘The Renowned Wizard,’
up, – assist in making us the dupes of what our reason tells us to be the the second on 6 June as ‘Professor Buck, the Great Wizard,’ for the
clever, ingenious tricks of an unequalled artiste; but which fancy, at the Annual Gathering of Teetotallers, and the third on 4 July ‘in his own
moment, invests with all the attributes of supernatural achievement. benefit.’ Sandwiched between these appearances, in the week
Rings, watches, keys, handkerchiefs, are transported from one place to commencing 20 June he was at the Theatre Royal in Humber Street as
another with marvelous dexterity. For instance, two watches, several rings, ‘The Emperor of Conjurers,’ and then finally, week commencing 11 July,
and three cards selected by a lady in the boxes, but not seen by the at the Queen’s Theatre with ’Professor Buck’s Magic Delusions.’ And
necromancer, were, as supposed, securely placed under a vase at one that seems to have been Buck’s last visit to Hull.
extremity of the stage; when, presto, a pistol is discharged, and instantly A couple of years later, in 1855, Barnardo Eagle returned to the
the watches are seen occupying the place of eyeballs in a representation town for a two-weeks’ engagement from 29 October at the Mechanics’
of a gigantic face, placed on the table in the centre of the stage; the rings Institute, now with his ‘Art Magique or Carpet Bag and Parlour Magic,’
occupy the place of teeth, and the cards form a crest, like that of a and the addition of his clairvoyant daughter, Georgiana. She had been

s
cockatoo, on the crown of the head. A number of watches are thrown to
the back of the stage, – and a boy is then placed on a chair, which has
been previously exhibited in every way to the audience. He holds a candle
in each hand, and Herr Döbler manipulates round him, and suddenly an
electric shock causes him to start and stare with amazement. This goes on
for as many times as Herr Döbler has broken watches; and then the chair
is turned up, – and there are all the watches dangling from the bottom.”
“A lady’s bonnet is crushed into all manner of indescribable shapes; –
and at the discharge of a pistol it mounts aloft and attaches itself to the
proscenium; another discharge brings it down to the owner uninjured…
Watches are found attached to the roots of flowers, which had previously
supposed to be in quite a different place… Dead pigeons put into a
caldron, and boiled by the application of a spirit lamp, are transformed
into live birds, which flutter about the stage as if alarmed at the company
in which they find themselves… A dozen handkerchiefs are first washed
by a washerwoman, – who is abstracted form a basket which had been
previously exhibited empty, and after being burnt and the ashes
distributed,-they are then found in an empty casket, washed, ironed and
perfumed, fit for the pocket… “A shocking bad hat,” trampled upon, and
turned inside out, produces an almost inexhaustible supply of bouquets,
which Herr Döbler distributes with infinite grace. In short, there is no end
to his wonders;; and we can assure those who miss this opportunity, that
they will lose one of the most striking exhibitions of the triumph of art,
that was ever offered to the public.”
Döbler returned to Britain for another successful tour in 1844 but did
not include Hull in his itinerary, so citizens had to be content that year Dobler presenting the Gifts of Flora (1842)
with The Great Wizard, not Anderson but Buck, at the Zoological Gardens
s

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 281

performing as early as 1847 as ‘The Mysterious Lady, The Wonder of the ElectroBiology and Mesmerism in London and the vicinity. Address
Age.’ Posters proclaimed that bandaged and blindfolded, she would No.176 Tottenham-court road.”
“describe coins of all nations, their value, dates, impression etc., reading According to Clarke (2001), Georgiana married a man named Card and
blindfolded articles of all descriptions, foreign or English, described with subsequently performed as Mrs Gilliland Card, remaining before the
or without contact. Mental transfer of thought from any person to the public until about 1886.
Lady – the Whole World, or any country in the Four Quarters of the Globe In 1858 Hull experienced a succession of Boscos, the identification of
may be taken as a subject. Description of colours, metals, etc., and which is uncertain. The first was Signor Alfred Bosco, the Great Wizard of
concluding by giving the exact time by half a dozen Watches, though all the World and Ventriloquist, at the Music Hall in Jarratt Street. Clarke
different.” (2001) records that this individual performed at the Strand Theatre,
The Hull Packet on 9 November 1855 printed a long review under the London, in July 1857 to considerable success, and hazards that he might
heading ‘of CLAIRVOYANCE,’ from which a good idea of the style of the well have been Eugene Bosco, son of the original Bartolomeo Bosco, the
show can be gathered: famous exponent of the Cups and Balls. However, on 5 April 1858,
“Numbers of persons have each evening visited them for the purpose quoting from the Morning Post, the Birmingham Daily Post reported:
of questioning the clairvoyante on mysteries of the past, present, and
future, presenting by scores papers on which were written almost every ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY SIGNOR BOSCO, THE WIZARD
imaginable variety of questions, but chiefly as to the whereabouts of, and “During the present week Signor Bosco, the renowned wizard of the
circumstances of missing relatives and friends, the probability of their world, has been performing nightly before large audiences at the Free
return, &c.; receiving in many cases revelations which excited their utmost Trade Hall in Manchester, where he is also advertised to perform during
astonishment and established a firm faith in the mysterious powers the ensuing week. On Thursday night he had as usual a crowded house,
brought under notice. Besides these there have been, as usual at this and his performances and tricks were as clever as ever, and nothing
class of exhibitions, some who came incredulous and who departed extraordinary was noted in his demeanour. On his return to his lodgings
skeptics. Mr Eagle, the ‘medium, asserts that during the mesmeric sleep after the performance had concluded, something appears to have
he has the power to convey any idea presented to his own mind to that suddenly crossed his mind and tempted him to commit suicide, by
of his ‘patient,’ so that it shall be expressed by throwing himself into a pit in a brick croft
her, and in no case has he appeared to fail in situated about a mile form his lodgings, and
this. Names, dates, incidents of personal history, behind Strangeway Hall. This was about
suggested to him by whispers or in writing by half-past two on Friday morning. He appears
auditors, in remote parts of the room, were to have been followed by his wife, whose
accurately repeated by the young lady on the screams for help when she saw him in the pit
platform. Figures in arithmetical calculations attracted a policeman on duty to the spot.
were read off, as were the numbers of watches, With some little difficulty the officer
with the makers’ names and addresses. If hats succeeded in dragging the signor out of the
were handed to Mr Eagle, the name, address, water, who was then taken to the Police
and device on the lining of the crown were Station, where he now remains, apparently
described; coins, seals, books and newspapers “all right again.” He was to be taken before
in like manner. In that class of questions the Magistrates on Saturday morning.”
relating to matters of which Mr Eagle had no What happened then was reported in the
knowledge, and for the solution of which the Standard of the same date:
bulk of the audiences were most anxious, he “Signor Bosco was brought before the
said they must take the opinions or statements Ludwig (Louis) Dobler (1829)
Magistrates on the charge of having
of the clairvoyante for what they might be attempted to commit suicide. In reply to the
worth – he could not guarantee their accuracy. Many marvellous charge, Bosco said it was true that he got into the pit, but it was
communications were made. There were occasional mistakes. Some only with the intention of frightening his wife, who was in the habit of
questions Mr Eagle declined to put, and some which were put received no taking a glass too much. She had done so that night, for which he had
answers. The conjuring tricks, which form the first part, are exceedingly quarreled with her. He could assure their worships that he had not the
clever.” slightest intention of committing suicide; he had too much sense to
After closing at Hull on 10 November 1855, he then appeared at three drown himself. The chairman told him he must be careful for the future,
other East Yorkshire venues during the next fortnight, Patrington, Hedon and not create such an alarm again. We believe it was in Birmingham
and Beverley. where Bosco first became acquainted with his wife, whom he is said to
Eagle published a pamphlet of thirty-two pages, printed in Cheltenham have married after
by T.B. Shenton, titled Barnardo’s Hand-Book of Magic, or the Life and a three days’ courtship.”
History of the Royal Wizard of the South, which is now very scarce, Toole It was at the end of this same month that Alfred Bosco arrived in Hull
Stott (1976) recording only two copies, one of a stated Third Edition and after a couple of weeks at the Mechanics’ Institute (children under
(c.1846) and a Fifth Edition printed by Jenkin Thomas in four not admitted) transferred to the Royal Queen’s Theatre where on
Plymouth(c.1848), residing respectively in the collection of Milbourne 14 May he advertised his Farewell Benefit and Last Night in Town. l
Christopher and the Houdini Collection in the Library of Congress.
After her father died on 4 March 1858, aged 51, Georgiana Eagle REFERENCE
continued to work a solo act, and an advertisement in The Times on Clarke, S.W. (2001). Annotated The Annals of Conjuring. Seattle:
24 December 1859 announced: The Miracle Factory.
“Private Parties Attended for the Christmas Holydays – Miss Georgiana
Eagle, the celebrated enchantress, will give her wonderful, amusing, and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
scientific Entertainment in Magic (with splendid apparatus), I am grateful to Michael Dawes for assistance with research.

282 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 REVIEWS
reader who wants to further investigate deck
switches in any particular direction.
The Art of Switching Decks is, in many
Will Houstoun MIMC ways, one of the easiest books to review that
Lewis Starnes MMC I can imagine. If you are looking to use a
deck switch in your performances, or have an
interest in deck switches, then it is a must
read.

THE ART OF SWITCHING switches themselves, a table has been prepared EIN SPIEL KARTEN
DECKS: A GUIDE FOR THE listing each switch included in the book with by R P
BEGINNER AND THE EXPERT information on the type of clothing required, 76 page pdf download. $29.99 (£19.50)
by Roberto Giobbi whether the switch is performed standing or from www.shop.conjuringarts.org
153 pgs, 7 x 9 ins., hardbound with dust seated, whether the switch is built into a Reviewed by Will Houstoun
jacket, illustrated, with bonus DVD. $55.00 particular trick, and other pertinent details. This
(£35) plus p&p from your favourite dealer. feature will be very useful for anyone seeking to The Conjuring Arts Research Center is, quite
Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies, use the book as a work of reference making it rightly, renowned throughout the magic
www.MurphysMagic.com. very easy to, for example, quickly locate every world for the incredible Ask Alexander
Reviewed by Will Houstoun switch in the book that is performed standing, database – a fully searchable collection of
does not need a jacket, and does not fit only over two million pages of magic books and
The first thing to mention when discussing within a specific trick. magazines – as well as
The Art of Switching Decks is the types of The Art of Switching Decks contains Gibecière, the remarkable
deck switch that are explained. When I think explanations for thirty different switches and biannual journal dedicated
of deck switches I automatically think of the covers pretty much the full range of different to the history of conjuring.
kind of gambling moves that you can see switches magicians might use. Mechanical Now, however, they have
Steve Forte perform on the Gambling devices used to switch decks are mentioned expanded their output to
Protection Series or watch on YouTube if you only briefly as they are of no use unless the include high quality pdf
search for “Doc’s Cold Deck Expose”. These reader also has the required props. Switches are downloads of material
sleight-heavy techniques are not, for the included that are performed standing or seated, such as full files of
most part, the focus of The Art of Switching with and without a jacket, with and without the magazines and even, in
Decks which instead predominantly features use of pockets, and even that do not require cases where they have
switches that occur either during the actions sleight of hand. been able to make
of a specific trick or during the natural After providing clear and detailed arrangements with the
offbeat moments that occur during a descriptions for each switch, Giobbi often adds publishers, contemporary books like Harry
performance. In other words these additional thoughts or ideas in after-notes that Lorayne’s Classic Collection. The subject of
switches have been collected provide alternative methods or this review is, perhaps, even more interesting
based on their usefulness to applications as well as interesting than a convenient, pdf of a much-loved book
the performing magician. historical or theoretical – it is a convenient, pdf of a previously
Giobbi has constructed the information. Sometimes these do unavailable book, a translation of Ein Spiel
book brilliantly with perhaps not simply refer to deck switches Karten published in Prague in 1853.
the best structure I have come but are more widely applicable to The Conjuring Arts Center suggest that
across for a book dedicated to other areas of magic. A particularly this is the first book, in any language, to
a single move. First he lovely sentence describes the describe advanced card magic and also,
explains all the terminology, inherent balance that must be intriguingly, comment that it is likely to have
specific to deck switches, that struck when creating any magic been written by one of J N Hofzinser’s
will be used through the rest trick: “The performer’s reality, students. The material described is, indeed,
of the book. Second he which is concerned with the notably advanced and the book is written in
explains the underlying operative aspects of the trick, has a charming style that Lori Pieper seems to
requirements of a deck switch. At first glance to be carefully compared and balanced against have admirably maintained in her translation
this may seem simple but Giobbi’s the reality the visible actions are creating in the into English.
breakdown of the four issues that must be minds of the spectators.” Ein Spiel Karten opens with an
overcome in any deck switch – infrastructure, The book concludes with a bibliography of introduction in which the author laments the
logistics, technique, and clean-up – helps selected sources for further information on deck poor quality of existing instructional material
you, as the reader, to really understand on a switches along with notes on the type of switch and explains how he plans to avoid the same
fundamental level what a good deck switch that can be found in each source. The notes, in pitfalls in his own work. He then goes on to
must include. Finally, before moving on to the particular, make this a valuable resource for any explain a selection of core principles that he
s

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 283

will refer back to throughout the rest of the selected card is slipped between the two spot in someone’s handwriting, as well as the
book. These include passes, false shuffles, the secured cards and then is slowly pulled through character traits that they indicate. Each trait is
force, stacked decks and specially prepared cards. the sticker. The hole in the top card allows the very clearly explained and straightforward to
The main body of the book is split into four audience to see the selected card as it passes learn. With the help of a few exercises that are
sections covering tricks that require preparation, between the two cards and penetrates the included in the book, the basic system should
tricks that can be performed using sleight of sticker. be simple to memorise in a week with a little
hand and a normal deck, self-working tricks The trick itself looks good and is pretty work each day. Having covered the basic system
and tricks using a stacked deck. The first three magical. You receive the two special cards Frailich goes on to give more detail on each of
of these sections are charmingly introduced needed for the effect and the instructional DVD the traits and also gives examples of which are
with the setting of a scene at a social event in supplied, whilst basic, teaches the effect well. most telling in a given situation as well as
which a magician might be asked to perform. Unfortunately, when you introduce the two suitable lines that could be used to describe
The author then goes on to describe the feats cards that are to be stuck together, they them. This is a very clearly explained system that
that the hypothetical conjurer might couldn’t withstand even a casual inspection. efficiently gives you everything you need to start
demonstrate and also to explain the effects Mickael does, however, show you how to switch giving readings quickly.
following each description from the audience’s out the gimmicks at the end of the trick leaving Once the system has been learned and
point of view. Within this structure the author three examinable cards for the spectator. It’s understood Frailich explains how readings can
describes over eighty effects, as well as worth considering though, that this solution will be given in a
numerous hints and tips on their performance make resetting and table hopping difficult. variety of
that are neatly integrated into the descriptive This will certainly fool out in the real world settings from
sections of the book. but I can’t help but feel the set-up is a little graphology
It would certainly be possible to list a convoluted and there are more direct card parties to stage
selection of routines that it is surprising to see penetration type effects out there. When you shows and even
described at the time, and even some that one introduce these two ‘curious’ looking cards, by mail. He also
would be pleased to see in a current book on does it begin to feel like a ‘magic shop’ trick I gives a timely
magic, but to do so might lead the reader of wonder? This is perhaps a good ‘head scratcher’ reminder of a
this review to miss some of the charm and for your friends at the pub who’ve seen many of variety of
excitement to be found in reading the book and your tricks, but for a regular working magician, I “professional
making those discoveries for themselves. think this may end up unused in a drawer considerations”
Instead I will simply end by saying that anyone somewhere. for a performer
with an interest in card magic, or the magic of who is using
the nineteenth century, will not want to wait graphology for entertainment, particularly with
long before visiting The Conjuring Arts Research READING WRITING regard to the occasional client who will ask for
Center’s website, downloading their own copy by Ariel Frailich information of a more serious nature than it is
of Ein Spiel Karten, and discovering some of its 6” x 9” casebound book, 192 pages; b&w prudent to give.
secrets for themselves. illustrations. $55.00 (£35) plus p&p from The section of the book that places
www.isawthat.com. graphology within the context of effects
Reviewed by Will Houstoun includes a dozen mentalism pieces and six
HOLE magic tricks. The mentalism explained includes
by Mickael Chatelain Ariel Frailich’s Reading Writing is, as the title several variations on the living or dead test, a
Instructional DVD and Gimmicked Cards. suggests, all about reading writing: the kind of book test, a murder mystery themed around
$40.00 (£26) plus p&p from your favourite graphological reading that allows you to make Cluedo and a couple of psychometry-style
dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic judgements about somebody’s personality pieces. It is pleasing to see that Frailich is
Supplies, www.MurphysMagic.com. based on a sample of their handwriting. careful in constructing the routines so as not to
Reviewed by Lewis Starnes Frailich’s introduction to the book gives a claim that graphology can achieve too much,
powerful demonstration of graphology’s avoiding the common pitfall of the mentalist
Don’t worry, despite the name this isn’t another potential with a clever stunt in which you, the claiming that an extraordinary knowledge of
moving hole plot. Mickael Chatelain’s Hole is book’s reader, correctly identify the author of a body language allowed them to work out
actually a penetration effect. In summary, the particular piece of text. It may not be empirical someone’s grandmother’s maiden name based
spectator picks a card, which can be signed if proof that the concept is sound, but it is an on the way they blinked! The examples of
desired, whilst the magician introduces two interesting experience. combining graphology with magic feel a little
additional cards, one of which has a hole cut Reading Writing is split into three main more forced than the mentalism pieces but, if
into it. Mr Magic sections. The first presents a simple, easy to you are determined to combine traditional
aligns the two learn, system that can be used to give an magic with graphology, they will give you a
cards and uses a entertaining graphological reading. The second good starting point.
sticker which, contains basic information on the way in which No less than Lee Earle has commented that
again, can be a reading can be given as well as different graphology “will be the hot premise for a lot of
signed, to stick markets into which the service could be sold. future mentalism because it bridges the gap
these two Finally, a selection of mentalism and close-up between the believable and the impossible.” If
additional cards effects that offer the potential for the inclusion you agree with that idea then Frailich’s Reading
together at one of a graphological element are described. Writing will provide a thorough introduction to
end. Here comes Frailich’s system for handwriting analysis is the area as well as number of ideas on how to
the magic, the based on learning twelve variants that you can incorporate it into your existing work. l

284 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 THE MAGIC
CIRCLE CARES
Because of the deadlines required for submission for publication, many
David Hatch MMC
items below are unfortunately out of date by the time you read them.
For the latest welfare information please look at the welfare section of Contact Addresses:
the website, which you will find listed under the ‘clubroom’ section. (see website for Members’ details)

First may I apologise to Mel Moore, who celebrated his eightieth Leo Fletcher (Ian’s son) 43 Woodberry Grove, N. Finchley, N12 0DN
birthday recently, not his ninetieth as stated previously. Chris Blythe (Alan’s son) 4 Heaton Dell, Luton LU2 9TP

Sadly there have been two more deaths of Members since the last If you hear of Members or their families who are sick or facing hard
edition. Dr Ian Fletcher AIMC was a retired orthopaedic surgeon times please contact:
who later established an international reputation as the head of the David Hatch MMC (Welfare Officer)
limb-fitting centre at Roehampton. Alan Blythe MMC was chief 6 Darnley Road, Woodford Green,
project engineer with de Havilland, responsible for many of the design Essex IG8 9HU
features of the Comet, the world’s first jet airliner. He was a long-term T 020 8504 4134
contributor to The Magic Circular and author of the booklet Fly Me to E WelfareOfficer@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
the Moon.
Chaplaincy:
Brian Sibley MIMC is making a steady recovery from surgery, and Revd Peter Liddelow AIMC
Scott Penrose MIMC has fortunately survived a serious car accident 23 Kings Road, Barnet, Herts, EN5 4EF
relatively unscathed. Alan Tall MMC has been in and out of hospital T 020 8441 2968
but managed to get to the July Ali Bongo evening with his son Tony. E: Chaplain@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
Our thoughts are with David Ben MIMC on the death of his wife, and Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler MMC
with Andrew Eborn MIMC and John Fells AIMC on the deaths of their 10 St Petersburgh Place, Bayswater, London W2 4LB
respective fathers. Francesco de Cristofaro MMC (Franco) continues T 020 7229 6215
to suffer from health problems. E Geoffreyshisler@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
Revd Tim Saiet AIMC
Just a thought: “I have learned that to be with those I like is enough.” Philo Trust, 16 Butler Avenue, Harrow, Middlesex HA1
Walt Whitman T 07973 136 968 E: timsaiet@btinternet.com

mentioned that Ian was a friend of no less than outbreak of WWII he studied at Kings’
OBITUARIES David Devant, our first President, who Ian
visited many times in hospital. Our Archives
College and Westminster Hospital Medical
School. In 1941 he joined St John Ambulance
even contain correspondence between Ian and Service as Assistant Surgeon in Chief and was
David Devant. promoted from Commander to Knight of the
Dr Ian Fletcher was born in London and Order of St John. Later he joined the Royal Air
Dr Ian Fletcher: 1922 – 2013 educated at Westminster School. Before the Force as a graded Orthopaedic Surgeon, with
Remembered by Henry Lewis MIMC the rank of Squadron Leader, and also
qualified as a medical parachutist. After
Many of our younger Members may not have being demobilised he suffered a severe
paid much attention to the quiet, short, injury to his right eye and gave up surgery
smartly dressed elderly Member Dr Ian to become a Senior Medical Officer at the
Fletcher. Until about two months ago he Artificial Limb Centre at Queen Mary’s
regularly attended on Club Nights but, Hospital, Roehampton, London.
unfortunately, it was necessary a few weeks Personally I owe him a debt of
ago for him to undergo serious surgery. He gratitude. His knowledge of prosthetics
did not wish to die in hospital and went enabled me to continue performing stage
home to his house in Finchley, North London. and close-up magic to the present day. Ian
His adopted son Leo and Leo’s Uncle Max was a gentleman in every sense and our
devoted themselves to his care and this I Society should be very proud that he was a
witnessed on my many visits to see him. His Member until his death. I am proud to have
last appearance at The Magic Circle was his been his close friend and I will forever miss
attendance to a favourite book’s talk in The him. He suffered great pain with tolerance
Magic Circle Library, when the speaker and a smile.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 285

 MINUTES

Tuesday 2 July 2013

MINUTES OF THE MAGIC meeting held on 4 June were moved to Wednesday 9 October, service available to members via
CIRCLE COUNCIL MEETING approved. Those who did not due to the building being hired for the website. Council were delighted
HELD AT THE attend the last meeting abstained. a corporate event. and wish to acknowledge and
HEADQUARTERS 6.30pm thank Michael for his major work
4. MATTERS ARISING 7. PROPOSED RULE on this. Council considered making
PRESENT CMA had established a Stephenson CHANGES FOR THE AGM DVDs available (for those without
Jack DELVIN (arr 7.01pm) Way action group with regard to Clive Hyams (Returning Officer) had internet access) and decided to
Brian SIBLEY (Chair) HS2. A letter had been sent to HS2 asked about an interpretation of revisit the idea once it had “gone
Steve PRICE (Hon Sec) regarding our concerns. the rules regarding eligibility to live” on the website. Proposed by
Stephen KENNARD (arr 6.39pm) stand for Council (must be a StP, seconded by JF. All in favour.
(Hon Treasurer) 5. SECRETARY’S REPORT member for two years). Council
Keith PAIN i New Members – confirmed, in accordance with rule 9. ONLINE SEARCHABLE
Mandy DAVIS (arr 6.42pm) (See attached schedule) 5.2, that any Candidate for Council DATABASE OF MEMBERS
Alexander CRAWFORD ii Reinstatements. Orie Yeke MMC, or an Officer post must have been a Deferred as SH absent.
Fay PRESTO (arr 7.45pm) Dan Rodriguez AIMC, member for at least two years from
Will HOUSTOUN Kristina-Rose Sears MMC the date of their election as a 10. SINGLE ONLINE
Richard PINNER iii Resignations. David Goodsell, member of the Society to the date DATABASE
James FREEDMAN Paul Vernon, Raymond Snow of the AGM at which they could be The IT team would like a single
Kevin DOIG iv Promotions, Kevin McMahon elected to Council (or the date that database of members to be used
Katherine RHODES AIMC*, Sam Strange AIMC*, they take office if they are not (currently at least three are used
Alan MASKELL Richard Young AIMC* elected at the AGM). which often results in information
v Correspondence: Council further confirmed, in being out-of-date). Council agreed
David WEEKS (minutes Secretary) Geoffrey Newton (Registrar from accordance with rule 5.4.2, that that this is something that those
memorials and heritage) and any Proposer or Seconder of a involved need to discuss as they
1. APOLOGIES written concerning the grave of Candidate for Council must have have the technical expertise.
Sebastian HUNT, Scott PENROSE, Horace Goldin, which is in need been a member for at least two
Matthew GARRETT, of renovation. Council agreed, years from the date of their election 11. IT COSTS
Andrew EBORN but capped the amount at as a member of the Society to the Deferred as SH absent.
£500. date on which they propose the
2. DEATHS Candidate. 12. THE DOOR TO MAGIC
AE was absent from the meeting A member had written to JD had circulated a paper for
as his father had just passed Council thanking the Benevolent 8. CIRCULAR BACK ISSUES discussion. TMC had too low a
away. Members of Council stood Fund for the support he had WH informed Council that Dr profile on the internet. We could
in silence as a mark of respect. received. Michael Colley has, over the period entice people to our website by
of 10 years, scanned every copy of saying “visit us and learn magic”.
3. MINUTES 6. COUNCIL MEETING The Magic Circular into his JF agreed in part, but said three
On a proposal by RP, seconded DATE CHANGE computer in such a way that it is carefully designed pages would be
by AC, the minutes of the The date of our October meeting searchable. He wishes to make this a starting point. These would cover

286 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

stunts, illusions etc. StP was spending just over its income
worried that over 100 years of The (in supporting members). It was
Magic Circle keeping secrets could agreed to encourage those who are
be lost. JD said the emphasis would able to donate to the Benevolent
be on presentation. It would Fund.
encourage young people to become KD asked RP about the
members of the YMC. JF said Christmas Show dates. RP said the
releasing some simple secrets to dates that are publicised are the
encourage new and young same as last year. CMA and
members. If we want to be found performers are making themselves
by those searching for secrets available to extend before
online, we need to be “in that Christmas and after New Year if
space”. there is sufficient demand (but with
AM said we need to see a bit no commitment or financial
more development before obligation).
committing to anything. StP said if
we give away simple, unimpressive 14. FORWARD PLANNING Our Headquarters
secrets we lose credibility. BS said Under BS guidance, Council spent
we could have our heritage and time discussing possible visions of Conventions
history online – more than just TMC in the future. The discussion DRESS CODE
tricks. JF and JD will bring included individual committees Smart attire is required at all events in the
something back to Council. having goals and aspirations, Headquarters.
considering an artistic director, MOBILE PHONES
13. REPORTS shows and marketing. No decisions Please ensure that you switch off your mobile
MD reported that Noel Britten had were made (this was not the phone before entering the Headquarters. If you
stepped down as chair of the Club purpose) but rather avenues must make a phone call, please do so outside the
Night Committee. Roberto Forzoni explored. The strategy discussion building.
also stepped down. Council would continue at the next Council PHOTOGRAPHY AND
expressed their thanks to both of meeting, hopefully drawing some SOUND RECORDING
The use of any form of recording equipment, audio
them. Darryl Rose took the chair. conclusions.
or visual, including cameras and mobile phones, is
AC said there was a great not permitted in any part of the Headquarters
programme of events lined up. except by special arrangement.
SK said renewals had reached Meeting ended 9.47pm GUM
1140. Paying online had some Date and time of next Please refrain from chewing gum of any sort in the
technical issues, but these had been meeting: Headquarters.
sorted. Those yet to renew would Wednesday 7 August SMOKING
be contacted. 2013 at 6.30pm TMC HQ Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the
FP said that the idea of an event Headquarters.
at the end of Dealers Day (26 New members on We all benefit from these conventions, so please
respect and abide by them to avoid being turned
October) was well received. There 2 July 2013
away. Thank you for your understanding.
would be 4-5 acts, possibly with a
fish-and-chip supper afterwards,
with the bar open. FP to liaise with
Darren Tossell over finishing time
and set-up for “J Day” on 27
October.
KP said 10 dealers were booked
in for Dealers Day.
JF said Benevolent Fund was

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 287

 FORTHCOMING
CLUB EVENTS confusing disappointments to waste your time – these are polished
gems. Legends in magic such as Fantasio, J K Hartman, Michael Weber,
John Mendoza, Jerry Mentzer, Mike Maxwell and Don England have
endorsed variations of some of their miracles included in Geoff’s notes.
September 2013 Geoff guarantees that you’ll take away something from the lecture that
you can put to use immediately!

September Monday 23
STEVE EVANS LECTURE
Those who know Steve Evans will tell you that he is a very funny man!
He has been the Compere/MC for the British Ring IBM Shield
Competition for several years as well as a leading light of the
Wolverhampton Magic Society. His persona is pure comedy gold so

T he Headquarters is open on Club Nights from 3:00pm until

10:30pm. Unless otherwise stated, events start promptly at
7:30pm and are scheduled to finish between 8:45pm and 9pm.
come and enjoy a lecture from the Man from the Council
(Wolverhampton Council)! You will be guaranteed a great night of
laughter and fun, and you may even learn a trick or two on the way!
Club Nights are principally for Members, so entry is by Membership
Card. A bona fide magician guest may attend any evening that is not September Monday 30
marked ‘Members Only’ on condition that he or she is able to show AGM
membership of a magical society. A non-magician guest may only Strictly Members only. Admittance only on production of a valid
attend evenings that are marked as ‘Show’. Guests may only attend Membership card.
two evenings a year. No guest may attend unless the CMA is told
in advance, so if you wish to bring a guest please phone
(020) 7387 2222. All guests must pay a £15 entry fee at the door and Looking forward to October
respect our Conventions. Indeed, it is your duty as their sponsor to
ensure that they do. The Magic Circle reserves the right to refuse entry. October Monday 7
See our website for all the latest event details and to subscribe to a Practical Mentalism – Henry Lewis
weekly email reminder of upcoming events.
October Monday 14
September Monday 2 Magic Markets – Paul Craven
OUT OF TOWNERS PRESENT
Amanda Farrell, one of our hard-working Regional Representatives,
brings some of the best performers from outside London and the Home Change of address? Please login to your account at
Counties to our stage. This entertaining show will kick off our Winter www.themagiccircle.co.uk. Under “Quick links”,
click on “Profile”.
season and showcase Members not normally seen in our Theatre. At the top, under “Edit” you should be able to select
“update your profile”. You can contact
September Monday 9 webmaster@themagiccircle.co.uk if you encounter any
DIAMOND JIM TYLER problems.
Diamond Jim Tyler is returning to The Magic Circle! Diamond Jim has Member in need? Contact Welfare Officer David Hatch,
WelfareOfficer@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
made a living with his magic since 1986 and has won awards from the
TAOM and the IBM. He is one of the busiest performers in Dallas, TX,
doing close-up and stand-up magic and is also the author of four
books on magic as well as having marketed five DVDs and many stand
alone effects. He has performed in forty of the fifty US States plus
twenty-one other countries. In his lecture he will teach material from
his Bamboozlers books so attend Diamond Jim’s lecture and be
prepared to laugh and learn.

September Monday 16
THE LECTURE YOUR MOTHER NEVER GAVE YOU -
GEOFF WILLIAMS
Geoff Williams is a full-time magician and comedy writer (The Late
Show with David Letterman) from the United States. He’ll be sharing
some extremely impressive yet easy-to-do effects from his professional
stand-up and close-up repertoires. No pipe dreams or untested,

288 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR SEPTEMBER 2013 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JANUARY 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 000