THE MAGIC

Magazine of The Magic Circle AUGUST 2014

KEVIN McMAHON
From Fake Conjurer to Genuine Magician
 THE MAGAZINE OF THE MAGIC CIRCLE
Issue 1177 Volume 108 AUGUST 2014
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 227 PAGE 235 PAGE 247 PAGE 252 DESIGN 020 8521 2631
ART DIRECTOR
John Hawkins
FEATURES john.hawkins.7@btinternet.com
104d Grove Road
236 Kevin McMahon – Will Houstoun Walthamstow E17 9BY
PROOFREADERS
248 Taking the Rise – Bob Loomis Paul Bromley, Julie Carpenter, Barry Cooper,
Tim Reed, Lionel Russell, Mary Stupple,
Rob James, Darren Martin and Timothy
REGULARS Dill-Russell
PHOTOGRAPHERS
226 President’s View Mark Hesketh-Jennings
ADVERTISING 07767 336882
226 Circular News
BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING MANAGER
229 Letters to the Editor Scott Penrose
Advertising@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
230 Cheeky Dog Chicanery – David Tomkins 17 Berkeley Drive, Billericay Essex CM12 0YP
MISSING AND BACK ISSUES
232 Crafty Conjuring – Chris Wardle 01923 267 057
Michael Candy
234 Circular Mentalism – Ian Rowland Sound of Music, Harthall Lane,
240 A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities – Edwin A Dawes Hemel Hempstead,
Herts HP3 8SE
244 Club Night Events – Mandy Davis PRINTED BY
Perfect Imaging Ltd 020 8806 6630
249 Magic in the Regions – Elizabeth Warlock Copyright © 2014 by The Magic Circle. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval
250 Reviews system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the
prior permission of the Editor of The Magic Circular.
252 Obituary Views expressed in The Magic Circular are those of the
contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of
The Magic Circle unless specifically stated. Whilst every effort is
253 The Magic Circle Cares – David Hatch 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.
254 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,
256 Forthcoming Club Events – Darryl Rose on computer disk or on CD whenever possible.

Cover
Kevin McMahon
The Globe Theatre
THERE IS A WAY
I started to think of my own developments right away!
Someone I knew The Magic Circle’s Membership would
Will Houstoun MIMC be interested to read about is this month’s cover feature,
Published by
The Magic Circle Kevin McMahon. In a relatively short amount of time, and
12 Stephenson Way from an unusual beginning, Kevin has achieved much of
London NW1 2HD
VAT Reg No 233 8369 51 interest and I hope you will enjoy reading more about

E
All enquiries very month it is a treat to sit down with a drink and him and his unusual career. His work is also a wonderful
T 020 7387 2222
read through all of the articles I am sent for reminder of how much can be done even from initially
publication, enjoying them as I hope you will, albeit faking it.
without John’s beautiful layout and the editing that have On a final note, I recently had the pleasure of attending
yet to occur. Normally I am reasonably good at knowing several public events at The Magic Circle Headquarters. I
which items will suit my taste but it is always a pleasant was particularly struck by the fact that, as well as enjoying
surprise when I start reading something I don’t think will live magic, the public were enthralled by our beautiful
particularly be of personal interest only to find myself building and, in particular, the spectacular magical
excited about the idea and keen to try it out. This artwork that we display throughout. Congratulations to
happened very powerfully with Chris Wardle’s the Museum Team for all their hard work.
contribution on the Magic Square that features in this
issue. I don’t want to spoil the joy of reading it for yourself
but I found Chris’s ideas interesting in their own right and
 CIRCULAR NE
PRESIDENT’S VIEW
IAN ADAIR HONOURED
A selected group gathered to
celebrate a prestigious award
Jack Delvin MIMC presentation at the luxury Park
Hotel in Barnstaple, Devon on
Monday 2 June. Member Ian Adair
was awarded a gold medal and
diploma from the Israeli Magical
Society twinned with Dr Dhotel

E very now and again The Magic Circle is faced

with a particular type of problem: those raised
in connection with commercial aspects of magic. If
appear on the front of The Circular and display
those; Members who are stars of stage, screen
and radio, plus winners of our competitions
(Paris), and was bestowed as a
President of Honour of both
societies.
the problem arises between two Members, The and awards. Eytan Ayalon journeyed from
Circle’s policy is to advise them to sort it out At least they would be Members who are Israel to present Ian with the
between themselves if possible; if they can’t The deserving of our support and whose promotion awards for his fifty years of service
Magic Circle will offer to arrange for a mediator to would be beneficial to magic in the twenty- to magicians and magic. He
try to settle the matter. first century. thanked Ian for his continuous
If a member of the public has a problem with Discussions are going on at the moment achievements as a prolific magical
one of our Members, our policy is to say The regarding the installation of two television screens originator, author, lecturer and in
Magic Circle is not a trade union but a social club in The Club Room. The recent appearance in the particular his partnership with
for all those who have a genuine interest in magic entrance lobby of a small screen showing current Edwin Hooper for thirty-six years at
as a performing art. But it does raise a point. To Members and details of forthcoming events the Supreme Magic Company.
what extent should The Magic Circle get involved has proved to be very successful and is a step
in the business of magic? in the right direction. COMMANDER
The acquisition of our own headquarters has The plan is to extend this very welcome move BRACHETTI
pitchforked us into making money from magic. We into The Club Room providing the opportunity to Congratulations to Arturo
are in the Magic Business. We rent out our promote The Magic Circle to potential Members Brachetti, who received the
premises to the corporate market. We charge and Apprentices and to attract the general public
people to enter our premises and we charge them to join the Friends and attend future
for seats to see magic performances. But do we performances. It is hoped to install them as an
get ourselves involved in helping our professional integral part of the environment and therefore not
Members to make a living from magic? looking out of place.
Professional magicians are helped simply by I was surprised to be asked by a leading
being able to claim Membership of The Magic Member why I am so keen on bringing in extra
Circle. Everyone knows that a Member of The money all the time; why can’t The Magic Circle
Magic Circle is extra special. That is why so many continue forever as we are? Nothing stops still
magicians claim to be Members when they are not and the cost of living is always rising.
– it is worth lying about! Buildings always need renovating. IT equipment
An essential part of our Mission Statement is to needs to be kept up to date. We are likely to want
bring magic to the public. This we do through the more space for our expanding Museum and
At Homes, Close-up Shows, the Christmas Shows Library. We may be forced to look for new, or at
and Experiences. least extra, premises. Our Theatre is not big
I am fully aware that several Members and enough to be a commercial success with a low
some public are happy to see the ancient posters ticket price show. We could well arrive at a
in our Club Room, even though some are there situation where we want to rent, or even buy, a
solely because they are good examples of bigger Theatre.
lithography that was all the rage in those days. To stand still is to decay. To expand is to
Not all of them were top performers; not all of blossom. I know what I would rather do. l
them were even Members. None of them does
anything for the performance of magic today in
the twenty-first century. Admittedly the posters
covering the past seventy odd years have not
been very pretty; so what can we do?
I know it isn’t but, if it was up to me, I would
get blow-ups of the Members’ pictures that President@TheMagicCircle.co.uk

226 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

WS
LONDON PRESENTS in order to get some feedback. On every year, has been re-released to
With London Presents, Member examination evenings when there coincide with the fiftieth anniversary
Laura London, brings you a series are spare slots Apprentices will be of its original release. A new
of unique workshops at the able to request to try out some of premiere took place recently at
Hippodrome Casino, Leicester their potential exam set in front of the Odeon Leicester Square with
Square. Featuring some of the the audience in The Devant Room, the Prince in attendance. The
world’s best magicians, sleight of immediately after the official Director/Co-Producer/Co-Writer of
hand artists and industry examinations and whilst the the film was Cy Enfield, the movie
consultants, the first event of 2014 Examiners are deliberating and is of course Zulu. Cy’s daughter was
is ‘An intimate Evening with Dani making their notes. Feedback will in attendance, she talks about the
DaOrtiz and Christian Engblom,’ be given by the audience who will movie and her father when
taking place on 13 and 14 August. have the chance to write two interviewed on camera at the event.
For more information and tickets compliments and one criticism. If you Here is a link to relevant
visit www.lauralondonmagic.co.uk/ are an Apprentice you should already footage.
LondonPresents be receiving information about this www.aol.co.uk/video/prince-
scheme but if not e-mail Hugh at harry-sees-favourite-film-zulu/
APPRENTICE HughNightingale@TheMagicCircle. 518265417/?ncid=webmail8
EXAMINATIONS co.uk The film itself has been
Hugh Nightingale has arranged a re-released for purchase in
new scheme in which Apprentices ROYALTY AND MAGIC Blu-ray format and apparently
will gain the opportunity to try out Prince Harry’s favourite film, which the technical restoration is
some of their examination material apparently he watches once a year, quite brilliant. l

highest honour available to a to, Commander Brachetti adds the recently become the first magician which took six months to create,
civilian from the Italian government honour to the “Knights of Arts and to be immortalised in wax at the changes 1000 times a day.
on Republic Day, 2 June. Arturo or, Letters” from the Cultural minister Grevin Museum in Paris since its Commander Brachetti we
as he should properly be referred in France in 2011. Arturo also opening in 1880. The character, salute you!

“Arturo with a wax imitator

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 227

 THE MAGIC CIRCLE THE MAGIC CIRCLE
STAGE MAGICIAN AWARDS
OF THE YEAR
Nominations for
Magic Circle Awards
The Awards Committee will soon
be deciding who are to be recipients
of the 2014 Magic Circle Awards
Competition Final to be presented at a ceremony on
Saturday 18 October 2014.
The Committee are asking the
7pm on the evening of Membership to be part of the
Awards process by suggesting
Saturday 6 September 2014. suitable names for consideration
(last year all recipients were
At The Centre for the Magical Arts. nominated by the Membership).
The Awards are:
Tickets are available via the l The Devant
Public Events Page of The Magic For International Magic
Circle website l The Maskelyne
www.themagiccircle.co.uk For services to British Magic
l The Carlton
For Comedy Magic
l The John Nevil Maskelyne Prize
Tickets £26. Please book early to For Contributions to Magic Literature
avoid disappointment.
Please send your proposals and
recommendations by e-mail
to the Secretary at
secretary@themagiccircle.co.uk
or by post to The Secretary,
The Magic Circle, 12 Stephenson Way,
Euston, London, NW1 2HD.

The deadline for submissions is

24 August 2014.

Previous recipients are listed on

The Magic Circle Website,
click on 'Clubroom' and then 'Awards'.

228 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 LETTERS TO THE MAGIC CIRCLE
THE EDITOR SHOWCASE
FIFTY YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP
Have you a fifty year unbroken Membership of The Magic Circle?
I volunteered to complete a survey of The Magic Circle
Membership of those who fall into this category and have now
created a database to assist me in the possible revival of an earlier
practice of having a social event at The Magic Circle to celebrate the
achievement of such long and valued Membership.
The task is quite formidable. There are at the time of writing 115
such Members! The distribution of these Golden Members is also
both nationwide and worldwide diverse. North and South of the UK
and from the USA to Australia.
sales
This note is to establish your feelings on this matter and whether
to proceed any further. l Magic Circle Playing Cards. Poker size with black backs
Would you be kind enough to let me know your thoughts, using and gold coloured logo. £3.95 each or £6.95 for two.
the following bullet points as a reference: l Magic Circle Key Ring. £1.95

l Are you interested to be part of the revival of this project? l Inside The Magic Circle. Souvenir booklet. £1.95
l Would you travel to The Magic Circle Headquarters, Euston, on a l Moleskine pocket ruled notebook with de-bossed
Monday to attend? Magic Circle logo, 192 pages £13.50
l What format would you consider appropriate?
l Moleskine large plain notebook with de-bossed
l Reception with lunch.
Magic Circle logo, 240 pages £17.50
l Reception with lunch plus show in the theatre.
l Stay on for the Club evening event.
l Would you expect wives/partners to be included in the invitation? MEMBERS ONLY
l There may be a cost involved even if we were sponsored. Would *please state your Degree when ordering
you be prepared to contribute? l Button Badge* £3.95
l To satisfy a more inclusive attendance would a two-centre event
l Deluxe Gilt Button Badge* £5.95
be a sensible idea?
l Would you volunteer to join a focus group to steer this project l Members tie: Limited edition hand made silk ties
along. NB. Not a committee! featuring The Magic Circle Logo. Available in Black,
Please just use the above to help in your reply but add your own Blue, Red and Grey. £20
thoughts, they will all be taken seriously.
l Jewel with or without Star* £13.50
This project has the approval of the The Magic Circle Council.
Your input should be sent to me at johnhill@themagiccircle.co.uk l Cufflinks* £13.95
I would like to have as many replies as possible by end September
2014.
Thank you,
John S Hill AIMC
These items can be purchased from the Showcase at
The Magic Circle Headquarters on a Club Night or can be
SIXTY YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP
sent by post to your address (P&P extra). Credit cards
I was very interested to read the letter in the May Magic Circular
(Visa and Mastercard) and cheques drawn on a UK bank
from Len Wilkinson AIMC regarding 60 years as a Member. I
accepted (cheques payable to “CMA Ltd”).
had my audition
to join in 1931 at
The Scala
Theatre. Very few
For more information Email
Members will
ShowcaseSales@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
now have heard
or telephone 020 7387 2222
of Foo Ming as I
only did this for
about two years.
Best wishes,
Dennis Fenwick

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 229

 Are you sitting comfortably?

N o matter how entertaining our performances are, our audiences

need to be sitting comfortably, especially children who otherwise
can easily get very fidgety if they’re sitting on a hard floor! (Of course
with a games and competition session underway, their energy is
directed into something more up on their feet and physical – I am
referring more to a sit-down show.)
Like no other convention At private house parties, providing they are not outside, which is
another subject, the children would probably sit on a carpeted floor or
in the world. in the lounge on nice comfortable chairs. I find many more parties
these days are held in halls or similar places. Whenever possible I like
the children to sit on chairs, or at least on soft mats. Some of you may
be thinking well, if there are say thirty children turning up to an
average size hall, that would be thirty chairs round the tea table and
another thirty chairs for the show... Sixty
If there are chairs to set up and put away again,
soft floor mats isn’t that a bit of an overkill? Agreed!
What I would do then is place about a
available, dozen or so chairs in a semi-circle. If
these go on they are adult size chairs and pushed
the floor in together, smaller children can easily sit
three bottoms on two chairs. If there are
front of the soft floor mats available, these go on the
chairs floor in front of the chairs. Some of
these chairs can be “borrowed” from around the tea table and a polite
request to any adults present after the show has finished, to assist in
placing them back round the table again, has never been a problem.
Especially in a bigger hall, having all the children sitting comfortably
on soft mats and/or chairs compared to just sitting them on a hard
floor in a big empty space made a big difference, I know which
option I’d prefer!
Sometimes I’ve walked into a venue to discover that the parents
have already put rows of chairs out for the show. I recall at one party
they’d laid out a very wide single row of chairs that stretched literally
from one side of the hall width to the other. I realised straight away
that any children sitting on either of the two extremes would have
restricted vision of the show. The row was soon broken down into two
narrower rows, one behind the other. On another occasion the row of
chairs had been placed in a big horseshoe shape, almost as if they
were expecting a circus act! At this point I would mention it can be
beneficial having two rows of chairs, especially if you have older
brothers and sisters attending the party. This establishes the front row
August 9–12, 2015 purely for the birthday child and his or her friends/guests.
www.MAGICmagazine.com/Live Some entertainers always like to place a number of chairs in front of
the show area and actively encourage the parents (if they’re staying) to

230 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 CHEEKY DOG CHICANERY
David Tomkins MIMC

sit with the children during the performance making it more of a family I may borrow age group to work for. If a very small
show. Whilst parents won’t always cooperate, it’s actually a great child comes up to help me in the
a small chair
idea. After all it’s the parents that book an entertainer in the first place. show, I may borrow a small chair (if
It’s been said before but having the parents sitting with their children, (if there is there is one) and ask them to sit on it.
does tend to have a quietening effect on them, as compared to one) and ask This works well because they usually
standing at the back chatting whilst you’re trying to entertain their “stay put!” Otherwise with say a
them to sit
children! On that subject, respected children’s performer John Kimmons three-year-old, there’s always the
said that one of the best ways to keep the parents quiet is to involve on it. chance they could start wandering
one of them in the show. A great idea! off if they haven’t got a focal point.
Having the children comfortable on soft mats or chairs also means Finally, I remember one occasion about a year back when I was
they are less likely to get up and wander about, especially round the booked for an hour’s puppet & magic show in one of the local halls in
back of your equipment whilst you are working, which is the last thing Harpenden. The client had already set up the food tables at the
you want. Sometimes, when and where appropriate, I have four opposite end to the stage near the kitchen area. Although there was a
coloured weighted plastic cones, linked together with a thick cord stage, it was quite high and as there were only about thirty children
threaded through each one. They are evenly spaced out in a row invited, I set up on floor level just in front of the stage. Having set the
between me and the audience and a boundary is established. This is an show I began to lay out two semi-circular rows of chairs ready for the
old idea but it has stood the test of time. children to sit and watch. (They hadn’t arrived at this point.) A few
When you invite a child up to help, where do they stand... Or sit? An minutes later the client came out of the kitchen and looked at the
excellent idea that many performers use is a “Magic Spot.” This can chairs with a puzzled look on her face. She asked me “Why do we need
simply be a round off-cut of carpet placed on the floor for the chairs?” An entertainer she’d seen last week had all the children
child to stand on, then they know exactly where you want sitting on the floor the whole time! I tried to explain that every
them to be, whilst they’re helping you with the magic. Under entertainer had their own way of working and maybe the “other
fives are a lovely entertainer” had the children up on their feet a lot more, so
didn’t need chairs! She wasn’t having any of it and was
expecting me to re-stack all the chairs again and sit the children
on the hard floor.
Isn’t it amazing! If you hire any other professional person to
do a job, you would leave them
to it and not interfere, but when I was politely
it comes to entertaining children, insistent that I
there’s always someone who still
thinks they know better than
needed the
you. I was politely insistent that I chairs just
needed the chairs just where where they
they were and that’s where they
stayed! As the children arrived, I
were and
invited them to come and sit that’s where
down on the chairs and they they stayed!
were as good as gold.
Comfortable too! Following the show, I requested the children
to go and sit round the table for lunch and off they went. I had
proven my point in a professional manner.
Like many other subjects, there’s much more that could be
said, but I’ve run out of space. See you next time! l

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 231

 THE ULTIMATE MAGIC SQUARE

O ver the last few years I have published several magic square
variations. Some can be seen on Circle Member Mark Farrah’s
dedicated Magic Square website, such as my ‘Reversible’ magic
clear force bag, along with random numbers in another pocket. Force
the four numbers by having different colours of ticket chosen from the
force side of the bag. Have some of the random numbers taken and
squares, using regular and calculator-style fonts, which produce shown to prove they are all different from the other pocket in the bag.
different totals when inverted and my ‘Reflections’ magic square, which Then reveal your ‘winning numbers grid’ (The Magic Square). Ask the
gives the same total when inverted and also when reflected as a mirror spectators if their tickets match any of the winning numbers – they do
image. In February 2013, I published my Instant, No Maths, Double not, but then prove, as each one is revealed, that you can add the
Magic Square in The Magic Circular, adding a double prediction routine numbers on the grid to total the four different chosen numbers! (For
to the use of a square, utilising my ambigrammatic digits. Recently, the reflected numbers, you could have your winning grid written on
after seeing a brilliant magic square routine by Andi Gladwin, and clear acetate, resting on a large white card, you can then turn over the
following subsequent discussions with him, I was inspired to return to clear acetate sheet to show the numbers as seen from the other side
the use of a calculator or digital font. By adapting an original square I for the third and fourth totals.)
had created some years ago, the following four-way magic square was 2 Force the four totals by using blank card stock with random two and
created. Look at the illustration. You can see that it is a digital font three-digit numbers written on them, using any card force of your
style magic square, made up of sixteen different numbers, which total choice, to give out the correct four number cards. On a pad of thin
91 when added horizontally, vertically, diagonally, the four corners, the paper, draw out the magic square, in a calculator display type font,
four quadrants and the centre four squares. Now turn this upside using a Sharpie marker pen. This will then bleed through. Say that you
down. It now totals 118 in all of those directions. If you now look at are trying to divine their numbers and have written your guesses on
this square in a mirror it totals 148 and if you now turn it upside down the grid. Ask if they can see their chosen numbers. They cannot, and
it totals 94! So this magic square can produce or force four different then reveal the first total by adding the digits across the square. Turn
totals! How can it be used? Well, here are a few suggestions: the pad upside down and add to give the second total. Now tear off
the page of the pad and turn it over, like turning the page of a book,
1 Print some raffle tickets with the force numbers on (94, 118, 148 and add the numbers again, which can be clearly seen as the ink has
and 94) using different coloured sheets of craft or sugar paper, as ‘bled through’ to the other side of the paper. Finally turn this upside
this looks and feels like raffle ticket book paper. Place these into a down and add for the fourth time to give the final total!
3 For close-up, have the magic square written with a Sharpie onto a
postcard-sized piece of clear Perspex and have a spectator choose a

20 08 11 52 10 22 05 81 line of numbers to add on their mobile phone. Turn to a second

spectator and have any other line of numbers added, you have of

51 12 00 28 01 85 12 20
course inverted the square as you moved around to them. Move along
the table to a third spectator and have another line added (you have
now secretly turned the Perspex over) and then have a fourth helper

02 21 58 10 82 00 21 15 do the same, again this time secretly inverting the reversed square.
You explain that with sixteen different numbers in the grid, many,

18 50 22 01 25 11 80 02
many different totals are possible. The spectators give you their totals
from their chosen lines and you open a prediction, which was in view
from the start, to show the same four numbers!
Original Square – Totals 91 Square turned upside down –
Totals 118
These are just a few performance suggestions to get you started. The

52 11 80 05 18 20 55 01
numbers are not difficult to add, especially if you add the ‘tens’ numbers,
then add on the ‘units’ afterwards and everyone has a calculator option
on their phone, so anyone can now follow along with a number-related

85 00 51 12 05 51 28 10 presentation. You could even have the square etched onto glass or
written with a fabric pen onto a large white silk, so that the numbers can

01 82 15 50 21 15 00 58
also be viewed from behind, although writing them on a pad with a thick
marker and then turning over the page to show that the digits have
changed, due to the ‘bleed through’ effect, is probably the easiest and

10 55 02 81 50 08 11 25 neatest way to reveal the four totals. I hope you enjoy my new type of
four-way magic square. With a regular square you get one outcome and
Original Square as ‘seen from ‘Seen from behind’ image
applause cue, with this square, you get four revelations — or one, plus
behind bleed through effect – turned upside down – Totals 94 three kicker finishes! (For the background to my reversible magic squares,
Totals 148 please see my article in the February 2013 Circular.)

232 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 CRAFTY CONJURING

Chris Wardle AIMC

straw in the envelope. They are led to pick the straw by the patter, as
this seems impossible, and he then produces a regular straw from a
tiny envelope. I thought that this was fun and filed the idea away in my
mind. I then found that Tiger stores (found around the UK or online)
sell jumbo, triple-length drinking straws and the two ideas came
together. I thought it would be more of a surprise to pull a giant straw
from a regular, sealed paper sleeve and you could even do it without
saying anything to surprise an audience as part of a silent act or as in
the cafe example above. I have performed this recently in lectures and
it has been very well-received, so I thought that I would share it more
widely through my column. You need to cut along the length of the
straw with a pair of nail-scissors until you reach the portion that will fit
inside the sleeve. You cut a hole in the base of the sleeve and push the
‘whole’ part of the straw up through the bottom, after removing the
normal straw which was inside, of course. You then open out and roll
up the rest of the straw and then keep this clipped in your hand, as in
the photo. To perform, tear off the end at the top and gradually pull out
the extra long straw, allowing the rolled straw to be unrolled between
the crook of your second finger as you do so. This is a lot easier to do
than to describe! Because the top third is normal, a spectator could
have this part of the straw to use, by you cutting this off with scissors,
as in the cafe example, then you keep the lower part of the straw. I
make a point of comparing the paper sleeve to the actual straw to
show that the straw is three-times the size of its holder at the
Just a Thought... THE LAST STRAW conclusion of the effect. If you put an enlarged paperclip over the rolled
The performer displays a take-away or fast food drinks straw, wrapped in end to keep it secure, this can sit, already set, in your inside jacket
its paper sleeve. He explains how nowadays you cannot buy anything pocket for the appropriate moment or for a walk-around situation. I
from a fast food outlet without being asked if you want to ‘super size’ or hope you like it! It was just a thought. l
‘go large’ or have ‘jumbo size’ portions. This is all very well, but when
your tower-sized drink arrives, it is far too big for the straw to reach to the
bottom of the cup. But not if you are a magician! So saying, he tears off
the top of the paper sleeve and pulls out a straw which is three-times the
length of the paper sleeve from which it was housed! As an alternative
presentation, as a bit of impromptu or ‘hit and run’ style magic, you could
arrive at your friends’ table at a cafe with your drinks, saying that you got
the last straw. You then pull out a straw which is much longer than the
sleeve it came out of, you take out some scissors, cut the straw in half and
give the top portion to them and you have the lower half of the straw for
yourself!
This works like the appearing poles, spades, ladders, etc which were
very common in stage acts a few years ago. The same principle also works
in miniature. I was inspired to produce a close-up version by reading an
effect entitled Think Small, Drink Tall by Joshua Jay in his One Man Parade
from The Linking Ring from May 2010. In his effect he holds a very small
envelope and asks someone to guess if there is a paperclip, a coin or a

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 CARDS IN MIND

W e all have our preferred ways of wasting time. Some people

watch paint dry, some listen to rap ‘music’ and some watch the
England football team in action (perhaps that should be ‘inaction’).
There are a few points I’d like to make about this effect.
First of all, the demonstration video is good but I don’t think it really
does justice to the routine. It’s much better to see the effect performed
Mentalists have one particularly good way of wasting time, which is to live, and preferably on a muggle.
sit around arguing about whether it’s okay for mentalists to use playing Secondly, this is the sort of routine where magical purists could find a
cards. This non-debate has been around forever, never goes anywhere few things to quibble about. They could suggest there’s a lack of internal
and never will. The correct answer is that it’s purely a matter of logic and dismiss it as two separate effects that have been pointlessly
personal preference. If you want to use cards, use them, and if not, squashed together. However, we may leave such bickering to those who
then don’t. That’s all there is to it. wish to harmlessly indulge in it. The fact remains that laymen love this
Some mentalists venture to suggest otherwise. They say that as soon effect and are absolutely amazed by it, as they should be. I think it’s a
as you take out a deck of cards, audiences see you as just a magician very nifty piece of magic that will do what it’s supposed to do: mystify
doing tricks and will never believe anything you do is real. This and entertain.
assertion completely misses the You can get ‘Open Dreams’ from Davenports in London and anyone
This non-debate point, much like suggesting whom they supply. It’s always a good idea to support Davenports
has been around windmills push the air around and
cause windy conditions. Whether
because they are one of the oldest dealers in the business, they still
do a lot for magic and to encourage newcomers, and they’re really
forever, never people think you are just a conjuror nice people to deal with.
goes anywhere doing tricks or possess intriguing
Kerstein’s Miracle
and never will. mental faculties depends on you,
the performer, and not the props If ‘Open Dreams’ doesn’t take your fancy, perhaps this one will. Marc
you use. Some performers could do the most impressive propless Kerstein has developed a miraculous ‘think of a card’ effect that is simply
mentalism miracles of the age and still come across as tiresome misfits magnificent. In fact, if I hadn’t seen this with my own eyes I wouldn’t
who got a magic set for Christmas. David Berglas, on the other hand, have believed it’s possible.
could do a Pom-Pom Sticks routine and still convince people he has It goes something like this. You invite any spectator to take a look at
rare and remarkable mental powers. It’s the performer, not the prop. your website on their smart phone. They do, and they see that you have a
I mention this perennial non-debate because this month I’m going to few photos of you performing at various functions. You invite the
talk about two card effects that I think are worthy of your attention. spectator to name any card they want (no force of any kind). Let’s
The first is ‘Open Dreams,’ a frighteningly ingenious effect by Dan suppose they say the five of clubs. You mention that, as it happens, there
Young. There is a video on YouTube, but I’ll describe it in case you’re is only one playing card featured in any photo, anywhere on your website.
somewhere with chronically poor web access, such as down a Nepalese The spectator scrolls through two or three photos on your site and, sure
lead mine, or Croydon. enough, they see that in one photo the five of clubs is clearly and
A spectator names any time of day e.g. 4pm and shuffles a deck prominently displayed. This really is the only playing card featured
of cards while you write a prediction on your notepad. You set the anywhere on your website, as they can check for themselves. Remember,
prediction aside and never touch it again. You deal through the the spectator is seeing this on their own smart phone the whole time.
shuffled deck one card at a time, turning each card face up except There is no force, no pre-show, nothing written down. Whatever card
for one card, chosen at random by the spectator, which stays face the spectator names will be the one and only card they see, via their own
down. The one face-down card turns out to be, say, the four of hearts phone, on your website. This miracle works every time and is under your
and this is exactly what you predicted. What’s more, in the middle of complete control. It’s a solo item, with no need for assistance or covert
the 4H is a hand-drawn clock which shows the spectator’s chosen help of any kind. You don’t even need to have your own website, as Marc
time: 4pm. Those are the basics. You can dress it up using any patter can quickly fix you up with what will pass for one. Many tricks that utilise
theme you want. smart phone technology look like exactly what they are: an app that
Card magic fans (no pun intended) will recognise this as a variation anyone can download and so anyone can perform the trick. This doesn’t.
on the Open Prediction plot which features so prominently in the work It doesn’t look like anything except an inexplicable miracle.
of Stewart James and which has, over the past forty years, spawned The spectator is left with your website and contact details on their own
more variations than you can shake a stick at. phone, and with a darned good reason to show it to other people and

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 CIRCULAR MENTALISM

Ian Rowland MIMC

shout about your miraculous talents. It is very hard to think what else you real-life performing conditions, rather than a contrived studio setting.
could possibly want from a close-up miracle of mentalism. For full details, Other DVD producers, please take note.
simply go to: Kieron’s first release, To The Max, explains how to produce a solid
http://magicwebfx.com/ block of real ice out of thin air, more or less any time you want – even
I am grateful to Paul Martin for bringing my attention to this item, and if you have already been performing or table-hopping for hours. This
demonstrating its awesome power. was RSVP’s best-selling item in 2012 and it’s easy to see why. The
second, Chaotic, features ten of Kieron’s creations, including ‘Credit
Ice Man Crunch,’ which features one of the cutest ways to reveal a chosen card
At the recent Bristol Day of Magic, I had the great privilege of spending a I think I’ve ever seen.
couple of hours with Kieron Johnson (aka Kieron Lefever) and witnessing These are both very good DVDs, but I feel that with Kieron the best
some of his astonishing repertoire. In an era when many performers tend is yet to come. I suggest you keep an eye on his progress because he’s
to resemble clones of one another, Kieron has an engagingly distinctive one of those ‘breath of fresh air’ performers that come along all too
approach to magic, mentalism and bizarre effects. To take just one rarely, and whose ideas are always worth listening to and learning from.
example, Kieron showed myself and a few friends the most impressive
magical regurgitation stunt I’ve ever seen – during which he opens his QUICK TRICK
mouth wide and allows spectators to see the regurgitation in progress! This month, rather than a ‘Quick Trick’ as such, I just want to mention
Of course this rather visceral type of demonstration may not be to an idea that several mentalists are already using, but which some of
everyone’s taste, but it was certainly something ‘a bit different’! you may not know about. It is simply this: in recent years it has become
Kieron has released two DVDs so far, both produced by the eminently easier and cheaper than ever before to create your own gaffed books.
professional Russ Stevens. Russ has an admirable policy of only producing You can create a properly bound, printed book, with a full-colour cover,
DVDs in which the magician performs his material for real people under for less than ten pounds.
There are basically two steps. The first is to create the book itself. All
you need is some free page layout or “desktop publishing” software,
which you can find online. You don’t actually have to write a book –
you can import vast swathes of text from any online source (there are
many out-of-copyright books you can swipe from) and then tamper
with it to your heart’s content.
The second step is to use a print-on-demand service, such as
Lulu.com. These services have improved rapidly in recent years – cost
has come down while quality and ease of use have gone up.
The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and your
knowledge of existing gaffed book methods. For example, you could
create your own customised ‘Flashback’ or ‘Mother Of All Book Tests’
books. You could create a book where the first sentence on every page
is always the same, or always one of a limited range of sentences. Or
you could create a book in which the actual words on each page may
vary but the actions and characters described are always identical. The
possibilities are endless. 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
afford Derren and want to hire a fairly good also-ran mentalist, or you
Kieron Johnson just have time to kill, please visit www.ianrowland.com.

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KEVIN McMAHON

MIMC
st oun
u
re r by W
i l l Ho
n j u an
e Co agici
Fak e M
ro m uin
F Gen
to
236 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk
 From an unusual introduction into the world of magic Kevin McMahon
AIMC has had a remarkable career in conjuring. He has an entry in The
Guinness Book of Records, has performed in The Globe Theatre, works as a
busy gigging magician and is the founder of International Magic
Festival, now in its fifth year. Kevin took time out from last minute
Festival organisation to discuss his first decade in magic.

Will Houstoun: I think you are the only magician in the world who actually has
an interesting answer to the question: “How you got started in magic?” Can you
share it?
Kevin McMahon: Haha. I had a fleeting interest in magic when I was a child but
I know that you’re alluding to the Faking It story… Just under ten years ago I was a
research scientist, a physicist. I was working in Edinburgh and I had the opportunity
to go on a Channel 4 reality TV show called Faking It. The premise was to take
someone from one job and then train them for four weeks to do a job that they’d
never done before. So, they’d take a sheep shearer and train them to be a
hairdresser or a minister to be a secondhand car salesman. With me, they took a
physicist and trained him to be a magician.
I was taken from Edinburgh and was flown down to London, where I lived for the
most part with Nigel Mead, a Circle Member and wonderful performer, who was my
main mentor for the show. He was aided by Mandy Muden, another Member, and
by the late Patrick Page, the third member of the team that were tasked with
making me into a competent magician.

Will: Didn’t you also visit America?

Kevin: Mid-way through the four weeks, I was taken to Las Vegas, a surprise I
wasn’t expecting, and I got to spend a day with Penn and Teller. They invited me to
their warehouse where I had to try and perform in front of them, which was quite a
nerve-wracking experience. Then they taught me one of their effects which I
adopted into my act for the Faking It show.

Will: How did the show end?

Kevin: I had to perform an eight-minute act in front of a panel of expert judges
and convince them that I was a magician. They mixed me up with three other
magicians, who I won’t name, and I had to do my act and they had to try and pick
out who was the fake. I managed to convince all three judges that I was a proper
magician. That’s what got me started and yeah, you’re right, it’s completely unique.
No one’s had this experience, no one was thrown into the deep end like I was. It
was a life-changing experience for me.

Will: Reality TV has a reputation for using people then discarding them but Faking
It seems to have been very positive for you…
Kevin: I think the show, in general, is really positive. It teaches you a skill, it’s not
public humiliation for a few hundred quid, it’s something that’s genuine and
worthwhile – in my case I was taught how to do magic by some of the best
magicians in the world. Regardless of how they treated me afterwards or during the
show, that is the basic principle and it is a wonderful ideal. Now of course they need
to show a ‘journey’ with highs and the lows, so there were moments that I got
pretty wound-up at being manipulated, but overwhelmingly there was a positive
atmosphere.
I was also really lucky to be thrown into doing something that I was fascinated by
already. I wasn’t a magician but I had an interest in magic so it was really lucky that
I had the opportunity to develop this skill in a very short space of time. When I came
out the show had opened me up to a new way of life which I hadn’t considered
before. I decided, within a few days of coming back to my PhD, that I was going to
stop doing physics and start doing magic. I knew that I had to fully commit to one
rather than doing both without commitment.

Will: Skipping forward ten years, you’re working on The Edinburgh International
Magic Festival. How did that come about?
Kevin: I didn’t start out wanting to be an event organiser but I’d reached this
s

point, and a lot of close-up magicians would say something similar, where I had

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 wonderful history of illicit alchemists and
gamblers, so we put on bespoke shows that are
relevant to that. There is even a dining show
which I am really proud of. It has a narrative so
it’s not just magic for magic’s sake. There’s
something more to it.
I’m really pleased with how things are going.
I feel like in a small way I might have influenced
the magic landscape, certainly in Scotland, and
really encouraged people to get their fingers out
and think how about how they want their
magic to come across on stage.

Will: When you talk about a magic event I

think most people think about shows. Is there a
reason you decided you wanted to include a
teaching aspect to the festival? Do you think
that’s an important part?
Kevin: I think it’s massively important. There’s
Looking over Edinburgh a lot of kids out there that don’t have access to
actual magicians from whom they can learn
done enough weddings and private parties and Kevin: MagicFest happens over eight days. magic. It’s so important for me to inspire the
began to think: “Right, I need to do something There are two gala shows, which about 1,400 next generation of magicians, get them excited
else now. I need to think a bit bigger and try people come to see. We have workshops for about magic and getting them seeing live magic
and find out where my place is in the world of children. For younger children we run a five-day shows. This is why, for the five-day course that
magic and in life.” course and for slightly older kids we have street we run, we have a different MagicFest
At that point I had just met my future wife, magic-themed courses, based on the zeitgeist of performer coming in every day and showing
Svetlana, who had just graduated from her what is popular on TV. We also have performers them something. It doesn’t make money but we
Masters degree in festivals and events come up to Scotland and we put them in nice subsidise it every year because it’s so important.
management at a University here in Edinburgh. theatres and help promote their shows. This I don’t know how else magic is meant to grow,
She had this big dream of wanting to do a year we have Luke Jermay, Colin Cloud, Billy otherwise.
festival, and I was saying: “There’s really not Reid and Richard Wiseman, amongst others. We
much going on in the world when it comes want to promote excellence and we want to Will: And does it fit in with the idea you
to magic festivals.” Also, Edinburgh’s a really promote collaboration. We try to push people, mentioned of collaboration at the festival?
wonderful place for this kind of thing, it’s make them look good and help them find a Kevin: I think it’s so important for magicians
got this festival network already built and it’s message that they want to put into their show. to work with producers and theatre companies
the place that inspired Harry Potter. It’s a We also have historical shows, working with to make magic better, to make it more
magical city. venues around Edinburgh. We’re working with professional and to give it that gleam that you
We did some research, formulated a business Camera Obscura, a tourist attraction, to create a see when you go and see a theatrical
plan and, on January 15, 2010, we formed treasure hunt including magical puzzles. We production. That is really important.
Edinburgh International Magic Festival as a also work with Lauriston Castle, which has a With the kids attending magic school we
company and started to put together our first
festival. It was quite an ambitious project,
considering we didn’t really have any hands-on
experience, but I had an idea of a structure in
my mind.
Five years and five festivals later I can say it
has been hard but we’ve run it professionally.
We have to make sure that our festival is at the
same standard of the Edinburgh International
Film Festival, or Jazz Festival. People in
Edinburgh have an expectation of quality.
MagicFest is a massive part of my life just now,
it’s probably the thing I’m most proud of in my
career and we had almost 6,000 people come
along last year. That’s how many tickets we sold
and this year we are hoping to up it to five
figures – we’re hoping to get over 10,000
people seeing live magic.

Will: What sort of programming do you have

over the festival? Receiving Jewel AIMC from David Berglas

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might be getting someone excited about magic However, we thought, let’s explore this area of
who has never been able to do a trick before or misdirection a little bit more. So in between the
we might get someone who has read The Royal card going back in the deck and the card
Road to Card Magic but who has never had the appearing in the guy’s watch we have this
opportunity to meet another magician. It is all eight-minute diversion, which is kind of the
about introducing people to magic and helping misdirection, but people don’t realise it at the
their interest in it to develop. time. Gavin enters the stage with a bottle and
convinces myself, Colin, and this hapless
Will: I’m also curious as to how the audience member to play Spin the Bottle with
well-known Fringe Festival impacts on your him. After we finish playing, the sketch turns on
event. Does it make it easier to run your its head again and I pick up the bottle. We do a
event or harder? bottle through person and the bottle comes out
Kevin: The Fringe is massive. I think someone the other side. This gives Gavin the opportunity
showed me some figures recently and it was to escape from the stage and we swing back
three or four times as big as something like a full circle and reveal the card is now under the
World Cup final. In terms of the number of watch. It’s very hard for me to explain without
people that come to the event over the month, you witnessing the chaos so do try to come and
it’s huge. The Magic Festival happens at a see us if you can! We are performing at 7.40pm
different time, first of all, generally around the in the Caves for the whole fringe.
first week of July. There’s an audience in
Edinburgh that will want to come along and see Will: So how are you going to take something
magic shows and we anticipate around 65% of which you’ve developed as a live show, with
our audience are going to be from an quite a strong visual element, and turn it into a
Edinburgh post code. I imagine around 5% of people a little bit about what The Colour radio show?
the audience are from outside of Scotland and Ham is? Kevin: I suppose I would look at something
the rest are from around Scotland. So about Kevin: The Colour Ham is a three-man like Little Britain. I mean, Little Britain did it the
95% are from around Scotland. collaboration between myself, a magician; Colin other way – they started on radio and went to
We also offer something different. For McLeod, a mentalist; and Gavin Oattes, who is television. But if you watch their TV sketches, it’s
instance, our gala show. This is something that a sort of comedian – It’s hard to put your finger such a visual thing that it is hard to realise how
we invite performers to that wouldn’t come to on what Gavin does. We essentially create well it worked on the radio.
the Fringe or haven’t been to the Fringe before. sketches – long, silly sketches – that last about Anyway, we’ve been offered this opportunity
These ten-minute gala show acts are also ten minutes, that have magic in them. It’s kind by Radio 4, and they think we can make it work
something that the Fringe doesn’t really cater of like comedy with special effects. So we’re a and we think we can make it work.
for, so we give people a chance to come along sketch show with magic and mind-reading. It’s
and see these shows. incredibly ridiculous, incredibly silly, and very, Will: Who are your biggest influences from
There are also enough people to make it very playful. within the magic world and why?
work well. Say we have 5,000 people coming We started in 2010 and we’ve had quite a Kevin: I would go back to my Faking It days. It
and Edinburgh has a population of roughly good bit of success. The Fringe has been a focal was definitely Pat Page. I use a lot of his
500,000. That’s 1% of the population that are point for us. We’ve always had a show at the material and, for me, Pat was someone really
coming to see magic. And I’m sure if you asked Fringe Festival and this year’s no different. special in the world of magic. I miss him. I also
100 people, do you want to come and see We’ve also had a nomination in the Scottish love Penn and Teller, if we’re talking about
magic, more than 1 in 100 would say, “Yes, I’d Comedy Awards, which was wonderful, and who’s done it well. I just love what they’ve
love to see a magic show.” So I think there’s a we’ve got our own residency at the Stand accomplished. I love where they’ve come from. I
lot of room for growth there. Comedy Club. The Stand is an iconic Scottish like their ethos. I love their energy and their
Our biggest challenge is just getting the word comedy club and they gave us our own night, enthusiasm for magic.
out, letting people know about it. And not just which is a real honour, seeing as we’re not
in the magic community. The magic community’s really a pure comedy vehicle for performance. Will: How about your biggest influences from
important to us, but more importantly, is the We’ve also been commissioned for Radio 4, outside the world of magic?
community in Edinburgh, the community in which is massive. Kevin: From a MagicFest point of view, I’m
Scotland, the people that haven’t maybe seen a really in awe and respect of Simon Gage, who’s
magic show before and want to. Will: I’d like to talk more about the radio in a the artistic director of the Science Festival. He’s
We offer a gateway. Magic is like a gateway moment but before we do, can you give some taken the Science Festival from some sort of
to the theatre. It’s a nice, easy way to come sort of example of what happens in a sketch? quirky, this-is-never-going-to-work idea,
along into a theatre. Then maybe they’re going Kevin: I’ll just say, first of all, it’s certainly an twenty-five years ago into something that
to come back again to see more magic. Maybe over-eighteen show! now has over 200,000 people coming to it
they’re going to come back and see more in the Easter holidays. He’s now even
theatre. I don’t know. I want them to see live Will: One of the cleaner pieces then? franchised his ideas to different countries
entertainment. Kevin: Okay. There’s one we do about which is remarkable. l
misdirection. The whole idea is that it’s a card
Will: On a completely different topic, I’ve under a watch routine. I’ve got a volunteer who For more information on Kevin and his
heard a little bit about a project you’re involved comes up onto the stage, he picks a card and it work visit kevinmcmahonmagic.com
with called The Colour Ham. Could you tell appears under his watch. That’s the idea. magicfest.co.uk and thecolourham.com

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 239

 429. SIGNOR PHILIP RUBINI, THE IMPOSTORS, AND A QUESTION OF ORIGINALITY

A fter his foray in London in 1867 Rubini set out on a

tour of the provinces, the first such venue traced
being the Assembly Rooms at Cheltenham advertised for
Tuesday-Friday, 4-7 February 1868 although he may have
added the Saturday night too. He was billed as ‘The
Renowned Rubini, the Great Conjuror with his
extraordinary entertainment, the Marvels of Magic’ and
emphasising that ‘The New Wonders are performed
without the aid of machinery, apparatus, confederates or
assistants’ although the last of these seems disingenuous
considering that Beheading a Lady is the featured
illusion.
It was now that Rubini first encountered a not
unfamiliar problem and one that had plagued his father
too – the impostor, in his case using the Rubini name and
presenting the decapitation illusion which Rubini had
claimed as his own. In The Era of 29 March 1868 there is
what purports to be an advert from Rubini (billed as
‘Rubini, the World-renowned and only Rubini’) seeking
business, claiming to have registration rights on
‘Beheading a Lady,’ and advising he is at the New East
London Theatre (in Whitechapel Road, Stepney) until
Friday 3 April. Evidence that this advert was placed by the
impostor is furnished in the following week’s issue of The
Era (5 April) when ‘The Great Original Rubini’ riposted
with an advert headed ‘RUBINI – Caution to Managers of
Theatres, Town Halls, &c., in London and the Provinces’
warning of an impostor at work and advising that he (the
real Rubini) commences a twelve-night season at the
Royal Pavilion, Brighton, on Easter Monday (13 April). His
manager was listed as Mr George Manley.
Judging by The Era notices this Brighton engagement
was postponed until the week commencing 27 April and
what seems to be an advert for the genuine Rubini
appears in the Hampshire Advertiser for the week
commencing Monday 20 April at the Victoria Rooms,
Southampton.
Then, on 3 May, another impostor performance
emerged when The Era carried a brief note that at the
Co-operative Hall in Sheerness ‘On Saturday last Mr and
Mrs G. Rubini gave their entertainment of Marvels of
Magic and Life and Death; or, The Beheading of a Lady,
and which the audience seemed highly to appreciate.’
The following month finds Rubini in East Anglia at the
Corn Exchange, Ipswich (15-24 May), and the Lecture
Hall, Norwich (26-30 May).
In June the impostor situation became more specific
and on 12 June the Pall Mall Gazette recorded ‘Mr Phillip
[sic] Rubini, better known as Signor Rubini, the conjuror,
came before Mr Paget at the Thames police court this
morning, and complained that a man named Charles

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 A RICH CABINET OF
MAGICAL CURIOSITIES
Edwin A Dawes MIMC

Spencer Crowder had assumed his name and had been exhibiting himself Mr Paget now asked whether the name of the person complained of
at the Garrick Theatre in Leman-street, Whitechapel, as Signor Rubini. “It was Rubini or Olliver, giving Rubini the opportunity to reply ‘Olliver, sir.
was not likely,” said the applicant, “that with my reputation I should There is only one Rubini.’
appear before a Garrick Theatre Mr Paget then granted a summons
audience. I would rather be whipped.” against Charles Spencer Crowder for
Mr Paget granted a summons.’ (This affixing, or causing to be affixed, to a
theatre, which operated from certain printing a certain name, to wit,
1856-1896, was in the Garrick Public the name of Rubini.
House and more generally known as Following a report in The Era there
the Garrick Hall of Varieties.) More was an immediate response to the Editor
detailed reports appeared in the Police on 21 June, headed Rubini v. Crowder,
Intelligence section of the Morning written over the signature of Walter
Post on 13 June and other papers. Stacey, Acting and Stage Manager of the
Rubini submitted a Garrick Theatre bill Garrick Theatre, defending the character
which stated that ‘for a limited number of Mr Crowder which was ‘free from the
of nights Mr and Mrs Rubini, of the slightest taint of dishonour’ he being
Egyptian and St James’s Halls, will highly respected by the Profession and
make their first appearance, and the whole company engaged at the
perform their most marvellous feat of Theatre. Stacey claimed the facts were
beheading a lady, performed by Rubini that ‘Mr and Mrs G. Rubini were
150 nights. Rubini will vary his engaged for a period of not exceeding
entertainment each evening.’ Crowder twelve nights, and Mr and Mrs G. Rubini,
had copied the style of his (Signor NOT Mr C.S. Crowder, HAVE APPEARED
Rubini’s) announcements. He had just since the 6th inst.’ The letter demanded
terminated a brilliant London season of an immediate apology for mis-reporting,
150 nights and the “beheading of a otherwise ‘I am commissioned to state
lady” was one of his principal feats. that unpleasant circumstances will
In response to Mr Paget, Signor ensue.’ The Editor added a footnote: ‘The
Rubini said he had been present at the report was copied from the daily papers.’
performances of his counterfeit, and he The interpretation consequently
had written to him and requested him becomes somewhat cloudy: Rubini
to discontinue the use of the name stated that a man named Olliver was the
Rubini. He had also issued a placard counterfeit performer and Stacey says it
which stated: was a Mr and Mrs G. Rubini, who we
RUBINI – Public Notice. – Rubini, have already encountered previously at
the great conjurer of the Egyptian Sheerness, so are we to believe that it
and St James’s Halls, will not appear was Olliver who had adopted the Rubini
the Garrick Theatre, Whitechapel, name?
and also begs to state that Mr C. In the same issue of The Era Rubini
Crowder has used his name to had inserted a further notice cautioning
deceive the public, at the same time the Proprietors of Halls and Theatres
injuring his reputation, by allowing against persons using his name and
a person named Olliver, late thereby injuring his reputation. ‘This is to
ticket-taker at the Garrick Theatre, to carry out his imposition. Public give notice that the Titles, Drawings, and Lithographs of Signor Rubini’s
don’t be deceived; you will not see the original Rubini. There is but Entertainment are Copyright, as also his Great Feat, “Beheading a
s

one Rubini. Lady,” and any person infringing on same will be prosecuted with the

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 241

 a new one with great success, and called it “Beheading a Lady,” the
title of which I registered; also the drawings and woodcuts which were
afterwards engraved, representing the startling deed, were also
registered by me. “Cutting off Heads” was exhibited in London about
the year 1844 at two establishments – one, the late Saville House,
Leicester-square, and the other, the Adelaide Gallery, in the Strand. It
was performed thus:- A man laid his head on a block, when the
performer, with an axe, appeared to sever his head, which fell off the
block into a basket. Now my feat is entirely different, and of course,
being a conjuror, shall not be expected to give the manner in which it
is performed; suffice it to say that, on your own authority as well as
the other leading journals, it was pronounced to be really wonderful
and original beyond all precedent. I am, Sir, yours respectfully, PHILIP
RUBINI.

The matter did not rest there, however, and in The Era on 19 July two
other correspondents stepped into the breach, both under pseudonyms.
The first, ‘An Old Playgoer,’ wrote:
For the enlightenment of Harry Payne, and Mr Rubini in particular, I
beg to say the decapitating trick was done in the Pantomime of
Harlequin Hudibras, at Drury-lane Theatre, in 1852-3, it being the
season of E.T. Smith’s Management of that Theatre. It was in a
Barber’s Shop scene, and well do I remember the acting of Tom
Matthews, who was the Clown, when he cut off the head of Mr
Halford, the Pantaloon. I was likewise in Paris, in the summer of that
same year, and seeing that they were playing an English Pantomime at
the Porte St Martin Theatre I went in, and, to my surprise, there was
Tom Matthews as Clown, Halford as Pantaloon, and Cormack as
Harlequin, performing the decapitating trick as at Drury-lane.
Therefore, I think we are indebted to the fertile imagination of some
property man for this wondrous piece of mechanism, and I think it but
right that the above be made public, or we shall have our Clowns and
Pantaloons threatened with legal proceedings for using the
time-honoured red-hot poker, or string of sausages, by any wandering
magician who declares he has ‘registered’ the same, and belongs to
utmost rigour of the law. Manager, Mr George Manley.’ And this him only.
declaration was about to bring a response from a totally unexpected
source in the following week’s issue. The second responder wrote from some personal experience:
MR EDITOR. – Sir, – I see by an advertisement in your paper, the great Seeing that there is a controversy going on in your paper between Mr
conjurer, M. Rubini, claims copyright of my Beheading Chair. Now, as I H. Payne and others about a trick chair used for the purpose of
was the first executioner in this pleasant feat, and the gentleman apparently cutting off a person’s head, I simply as a matter of truth,
upon whom I performed the pleasant operation still lives, after having beg to say that the trick as done in the Pantomime of The Forty
his head cut off upwards of a hundred nights in the Covent-garden Thieves, at Covent-garden Theatre the Christmas before last, was
pantomime of Aladdin, perhaps M. Rubini, as he is so tenacious of invented before even Mr H. Payne’s father was born, and has been
another person taking his name, will inform your readers how he availed of by others at intervals ever since. I myself constructed such a
claims that which belongs to your obedient servant, HARRY PAYNE, chair at Drury-lane, somewhere about five-and-twenty years back, and
Executioner A1, Royal Olympic Theatre. not long afterwards made one in London for use in Paris. But I lay no
Rubini was happy to do so and on 5 July his letter to the editor was claim to the invention. As a pantomime trick, the thing had been done
published: before my practical experience had commenced, and that is nearly
Sir, – Noticing in last week’s number of your valuable paper a letter sixty years since. Its origin is so remote that any knowledge of who
signed “Harry Payne,” which calls for a reply from me, I beg to say that really invented it, or whether it is an emanation of a British or
I was the first conjuror that ever “cut a lady’s head off,” and Continental brain, is lost in obscurity of remote period and
performed the feat for the first time at the Egyptian Hall on Monday, non-importance. But certainly not any one living is entitled to claim it,
September 30th 1867. I had been considerably over twelve months or else probably it might be by your humble servant, A VERY ANCIENT
inventing it, and, previous to the opening at the Egyptian Hall, wrote MAKER OF SUCH MATTERS. July 14th. And there the matter seems to
to your worthy self, asking the question, “Has the feat of cutting off a have rested, both the authentic and impostor Rubinis continuing on
lady’s head, and after being cut off, causing the head to speak at a their way.
distance from the body, ever been performed by any person
whatever?” Your answer, given to me in the Answers to Rubini had a very full date book for the rest of the year and in July alone
Correspondents of The Era, dated February 10th 1867, was, “The trick he appeared at Gravesend, Ramsgate, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone,
has not been performed as you describe it.” Taking that answer as the Canterbury again, and then a quick trip to France to play Boulogne on
best authority to be obtained on the subject, I brought out my feat as 24-25 July. He then moved north to the Midlands and the North of

242 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

England with engagements at Northampton, Leicester, Wolverhampton,
Liverpool, Leeds, Huddersfield and Sheffield. He had a six-week run at the
St James’s Hall in Liverpool which commenced on Monday, 7 September
1868. It was heralded by a big advert in the Liverpool Mercury with
panels highlighting the principal features of the show. By 14 October he
was proclaiming in the same paper:
THE GREATEST SUCCESS EVER KNOWN IN LIVERPOOL IN THE MAGIC
ART RUBINI’S SIXTH AND LAST WEEK
No Conjurer ever Performed for Six Consecutive Weeks in Liverpool
but RUBINI

However, in this last statement Rubini erred, none other than his own
father, the Wizard of the North, had done so in 1841.
In early December he returned to London, opening on Thursday, 3
December, at St George’s Hall, Regent Street, for what was originally to
have been a five-night engagement but which in fact continued through
the Christmas holiday season until Saturday, 2 January 1869. The
Standard (28 December) noted that his feats were achieved with so much
ease and cleverness as to give him a high rank amongst the professors of
his peculiar art. With regard to the Beheading illusion, the description
concluded with ‘The trick is well managed, and despite the flow of an
ensanguined stream and other horrors the exhibition was borne with
much equanimity by a large audience, of which ladies and children
formed a considerable proportion.’
Following this second London season, Rubini headed west for the
Assembly Rooms at Reading, and the Broadmead Rooms and
subsequently the Athenaeum at Bristol where he closed on 20 February.
The month of March 1869 encompassed some intriguing newspaper
references in the Rubini name. On an unspecified night during the week
commencing 1 March at the Music Hall in Worcester, and again on
Wednesday 3 March at Wrexham, a Signor Rubini appeared but in both
cases left audiences disappointed by failing to perform the advertised
decapitation illusion, in the latter case allegedly due to the small size of
the room; at Worcester, his ‘paraphernalia’ was ‘distrained upon’ by a
representative of the venue, presumably due to an unpaid fee.
Furthermore, at the Town Hall, Wellington, Shropshire, the following
week, it was reported that the same Rubini made his exit through one of
the windows at the conclusion of the show also in order to avoid paying
the room hire fee. This systematic behaviour seems somewhat at variance
with a performer who would rather be whipped than appear at the
Garrick Theatre and one might wonder if it was an impostor, but whether
the one of the previous year or another remains unknown. We do know
that the former was still operating in May 1869 with his decapitation
illusion at the Alhambra Music Hall, Shoreditch, at a time when Philip
Rubini was working in North-East England. Thus, in the month of May he
appeared at the New Theatre Royal, West Hartlepool, the Central Hall,
Darlington, the Music Hall, Hull, and (2-3 June) the Guild Hall, Doncaster.
Although there may have been a few more engagements that have not
been traced, there cannot have been many because in the summer of
1869 Rubini crossed the Atlantic for America and the New York Clipper
(11 September) announced that Signor Rubini, the famous Conjurer of
the Egyptian Hall, London, England, had made his U.S. debut at the Opera
House, Newark, New Jersey, on Wednesday, 1 September 1869. He was
also advertising for ‘A First Class Business Manager.’
Finally, although Philip Rubini had gone to America, impostors
continued to flourish in Britain. The Era of 5 December 1869 noted that
‘Signor Rubini and Miss Melnotte in their magical feats, particularly that
of beheading a lady’ (presumably G. Rubini) were amongst the new
engagements that week for the Steam Clock Concert Hall in Birmingham.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am indebted to Michael Dawes for assistance with the research. l

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 243

 27 April – 23 June

and still very impressive. Magicians do, after all, have some strange things
TUESDAY 27 APRIL 2014 in their pockets!
FLEA MARKET. Most important was that Chris made it all very entertaining. He has an
(There is no report for the Flea Market. Ed.) endless store of gags and one-liners for every conceivable situation and
this really helped to make the act.
MONDAY 2 MAY 2014 Chris also managed to telepathically transmit a chosen date from his
THE CHRIS HARE LECTURE diary and the identity of a playing card to Mike. In his inimitable fashion,
Reported by Hugh Nightingale Chris also remembered the birthday dates of many members of the
Chris opened with a presentation of his new act, The Telepathics, with audience, including your reporter!
Mike Stoner MMC. He introduced Mike and both looked exceedingly A word written on a card, then folded and sealed, was also revealed by
dapper in matching jackets, shirts and ties. Mike, blindfolded, remained Mike’s uncanny powers. This essentially closed their act and Mike then left
on stage with his back to the auditorium where Chris was borrowing the stage to sustained applause.
objects and holding them aloft for all, except Mike, to see. Chris would Now Chris began his lecture on Mentalism…
let Mike know he was holding ‘something,’ whereby Mike would use He held up a giant yellow card printed with a large question mark. He
all his telepathic skills to pick up the thought and reveal the identity of made us all do a little mental arithmetic and then suddenly asked us to
the object. Although the success rate was not 100% it was not far off think of a vegetable. Using the first couple of letters of our vegetable, we
thought of another word. When Chris turned the
card around he had correctly predicted the word in
most of our minds – not 100% but, then, magicians
do have some strange things in their minds!
In Double Thought two spectators on stage
thought of words from a list. Chris not only
predicted them correctly but knew the name of a
famous person who shared one of the spectator’s
birthdays. Chris explained the workings, and his
thinking, behind the effects as well as his deviously
clever diary trick, loosely based on Koran’s
dictionary principle.
In Rabduck we chose a seemingly random
two-figure number to help us choose an animal
from a numbered list. Yet again, by way of a giant
picture, Chris had correctly predicted our choice. In a
similar fashion Chris also knew which Monopoly
card we would choose.
His new book test Quantum Vision seemed
amazing as there was apparently no limitation as to
the line or page from where a word could be
chosen.
In Where in the World? a spectator said stop as
Chris riffled through a pack of alphabet cards. This
led to an animal being chosen, then a country and,
further, to a famous landmark and – you guessed it
– Chris had correctly predicted it!
Chris Hare This was definitely a recommended and
entertaining lecture.

244 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

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

We all know that we have to be ready to perform when asked; what’s

important is that it’s entertaining. Some of the humour and double
entendres may not have been to everyone’s taste but Nic explained
that his audience, for this type of material, was usually people in a bar
and not in any formal context where they might have hired his services.
There were a few struggles with some of what was on offer, and Nic
freely admitted that he didn’t perform all of them that often. He also
started with a survey of the London magic shops that had disappeared
over the last few decades; and a pitch to sell a folding table and a
couple of books – none of which seemed to have any connection to his
lecture. And, despite the evening’s title, he did borrow a deck of cards
to present a card-at-any-number inspired routine – barely a card in
sight might have been more apt.
Nic referenced Martin Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic,
and the books of Bert Allerton, as good sources for material; and also
recommended research on YouTube. So many items were on offer over
the course of ninety minutes, there was undoubtedly something for
everyone – even if only the inspiration to revisit some of our own
Nic Picot
books for yet further ideas. Since his early chastisement, I suspect the
Picot family holidays have never quite been the same.
MONDAY 9 MAY 2014
NIC PICOT: NOT A CARD IN SIGHT MONDAY 16 JUNE 2014
Reported by Tom Barnes BRUNO COPIN LECTURE
Nic Picot is probably better known in the UK for running a Reported by Kevin Bird
long-established entertainments agency and providing work for many of Members were treated to a masterclass by French magician Bruno
our Members; but he’s also been a performing magician for many years. Copin, well known for his use of Invisible Thread. Posing the question,
His lecture was inspired by his family objecting to him taking props with “Why do some magicians not use, or abandon the use of, Invisible
s
him on holidays. He then found, once away without any of his usual kit,
his wife and daughter would introduce him as a magician, and he would
find himself with nothing to perform. The consequence is a substantial
repertoire using nothing more than what he could borrow from a hotel
room or purloin from the buffet.
Through the evening Nic presented, and explained, several dozen
pieces: stories with matches and match boxes; a broken and restored
match; linking and unlinking corks; and a ten-count routine, with corks
instead of the usual sponges. A puppet rabbit was created from a
serviette and a thumb tie with a shoe lace. There was a copper/silver
transposition with coins and a self-knotting rope, using his tie. There was
a ring on pencil, a book test and a magic square. We saw a disappearing
knife, Knife through Coat and some cigarette manipulations. Cups and
Balls used paper coffee cups with balls fashioned from scrunched
serviettes. There was also a series of pieces with elastic bands, paperclips,
currency notes and pencils.
Most of what we were shown would probably be better described as Bruno Copin
puzzles or betchas, rather than magic, but that’s not necessarily an issue.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 245

 The World’s Largest-Selling Magazine for Magicians

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246 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

thread?” the general consensus of opinion was that the magician feared in handling, and the use of both non-permanent glue and Science
that the thread would either be seen or there was a danger of it breaking, Friction, took this into the miracle class.
matters that Bruno would later address. Invasion of the Body Snatchers was Peter’s take on Peter Kane’s Wild
Our host explained that he preferred to use single strands of thread Card; and Heartstrings was a version of Gypsy Thread, supported by music
which enabled him to control the tension of the thread – with a reel the and a storyline of relationships. In both cases he used the routines to
thread was permanently under tension. Bruno then demonstrated how he highlight his What, Why and Who of performance:
prepared a single thread for use, with the use of a small sausage of Blue Why is he making each move and why should anyone be expected to
Tac at each end, winding the thread around it and finally rolling the Blue watch it?
Tac into a ball. These were stored around a piece of card for future use. What is the piece about and what would it look like if done by real
After experimenting with several positions, Bruno found that the best magic?
place to position the piece of Blue Tac, attached to the thread, was Who is the audience and who are you in terms of a performing
behind his ear which allowed him to feel the tension being exerted on the character?
thread. The initial hook-up was to a Zippo lighter placed on the table; he Myth of the Phoenix was a bird formed out of a scrunched napkin and
called this the Fisher Position and it was this set-up that he used in his which was then burned and restored. Peter had the whole audience
initial tricks. creating the model and then practising his method for introducing, and
Bruno described that thread could be used for three degrees of effect, then ditching, the extra piece of napkin needed.
all of which he demonstrated (he’s also working on a 4th). Finally we were shown Ring and Rope and Rose – a finger ring and
1st Degree – the movement of an object: a rolling cigarette or a rising lace penetration, then the vanish of the ring. This was followed by a very
card clean retrieval from a tissue bag, tied to the stem of a rose and locked
2nd Degree – animation of an object out of view of the spectator: he within a small box held by an audience member. Small changes here
demonstrated stealing a card from a cup using thread whilst being included the removal of the borrowed ring, inside an oversized thumb tip,
covered by a silk long before the spectator was aware that it had vanished, and the use of
3rd Degree – to transmit information secretly: highlighted by the use of a top jacket pocket for retrieving and ditching the tip – enabling the
thread attached to a confederate’s ear as well as his own; which Bruno hands to be completely empty at key points in the routine.
secretly tapped to pass information regarding a chosen card, suit and This was a lecture comprising not only a set of highly impressive, and
value. well taught, magic but detailed thinking that I am sure left most of us
Using his Bow position hook-up, Bruno demonstrated a selection of there committing to give some serious consideration as to what we do,
card controls using the thread as the ‘smallest break in the world.’ This why we do it, and how we can make some of those small changes that
allowed cards to be peeked, shuffled and selected cards revealed. really do make a big difference. l
Addressing the problems raised earlier, Bruno
discussed lighting: avoid back light, including a
window behind you, and down light and also
demonstrated his ingenious IT Support, a simple
gimmick to allow a broken thread to be replaced in
the minimum amount of time mid-performance.
I have deliberately not focused on the effects
shown, all of which were all superb, and highlighted
his various techniques. This was an excellent lecture on
invisible tread delivered from the stage and superbly
explained for all to see.

MONDAY 23 JUNE 2014

PETER SAMELSON LECTURE
Reported by By Tim Barnes
Our lecturer, Peter Samelson, has combined his twin
passions of magic and theatre to carve out a unique
career. With slides and video clips he gave us an
insight into some of the films and stage shows for
which he’s created magic.
Then he produced a feather bouquet. Whilst a
hackneyed trick, its appearance was both a surprise
and mystifying. Peter showed that whilst the flowers
were concealed in the usual sleeve load, he pulled
them out, not along the line of his sleeve, but at a
right angle, towards his body. This not only made for a
more impactful display, it camouflaged the sleeve as
having been a potential hiding place. And this was the
underlying principle behind the lecture: how small
changes can make a big difference.
Next we were shown a powerful card routine New
York Transpo, based on a combination of Chicago Peter Samelson
Opener, Forgery and Red Hot Mamma. Small changes

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 247

 TAKING
Universale di Tutti Le Professioni in 1626. Magicpedia added that the
book mentions Colorni but does not give a method for the trick. Are they
all correct? I’ll leave it to you to verify. [Yes, that’s a challenge!]
Sidney W. Clarke’s above 1912 Circular article said the methods
employed to work the trick ranged from simple digital manipulation to all

THE RISE
sorts of mechanism, with at least forty-two different ways. Half a century
later, Milbourne Christopher’s above book stated that there were more
than 400 different methods for doing it. Whaley’s Encyclopedia says there
are now over 500 variations using thread, sleights, clockwork, wheel and
pendulum. I’m about to explain a new, completely different method that
by Bob Loomis AIMC took the rise out of the rising cards. What was it?

D id you know that someone once took the rise out of the rising cards?
Read on to discover who it was; but, first, a bit of background. Val
Andrews called his booklet on the effect The Most Popular Trick In Magic.
Well, according to my dictionary, “taking the rise” out of someone
means raising a laugh at his expense. Yes, a magical trickster pulled off an
impressive hoax involving the rising cards. Who was that practical joker?
Can the illusion, where the “cards visibly rise from the pack in obedience It was none other than The King of Gaffed Cards, Theodore DeLand.
to the performer’s command,” really be the most popular? Well, it has In the early twentieth century DeLand was famous for developing and
been performed by many magical Greats, ranging from Hofzinser, in the greatly expanding the concepts of double-headed cards, printed fans,
nineteenth century, to Howard Thurston, in the twentieth. double-faced and double-backed cards, in addition to specially marked
Several internet sites, and Claude Klingsor’s The Big Book of Rising cards. This prolific inventor produced large quantities of quality novelty
Cards (2010), declare that the rising card trick was first explained in an cards from 1905 to 1920. His trick
English book in 1635. Klingsor gives his source as both Houdini’s 1909 He told a few card output was so productive that
book, The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin, and Sidney W. Clarke’s article in the question of that era was: “Have
the December 1912 issue of this very magazine. I checked them out and, magicians in you seen DeLand’s latest?”
yes, they both refer to the classic 1635 book Hocus Pocus Junior. confidence about How did DeLand take the rise out
Wanting to give you the exact original description, I looked at that his hoax and of the rising cards? Well, the
historic book in our club’s wonderful library. What did I find? Well, after magicians of his day began to expect
reading it cover to cover three times, I decided the trick was not there! asked them to that DeLand could produce any
The nearest thing to it is a coin rising up out of a cup by means of a spread the miracle with cards. So he decided to
thread. According to my dictionary the word ‘hoax’ derives from the word rumour fool the foolers, by creating The
‘hocas,’ as in the book’s title. Was this an aptly named hoax? Balloon Cards. It was allegedly an
How did the experts get it so wrong? I suspect Houdini saw the trick in incredibly unique method for doing the rising cards. He told a few
Henry Dean’s 1727 book The Whole Art of Legerdemain. Most of that magicians in confidence about his hoax and asked them to spread the
book was copied from the above-mentioned Hocus Pocus Junior. Houdini rumour. What was DeLand’s hypothetical technique?
probably assumed the rising cards had been copied as well. Later authors He said that after much research he had developed a special
then did what they so often do – they copied Houdini without bothering undetectable coating for playing cards. Between the coating and the card
to check out the original source. The error was then repeated until it was an exceptional chemical powder, which would form a gas when
became the accepted truth. dampened. The mystery worker had only to bring the chosen card to the
Who actually invented the trick? Writing in The Sphinx (August 1934), top of the deck. Then by merely moistening his/her thumb, and touching it
John Mulholland declared that an Italian, Abraham Colorni, performed the to the back of the card, the dirty work was done. The wonderful chemical
rising cards in the middle of the sixteenth century. Milbourne under the coating would expand the
Christopher’s Illustrated History of Magic gave the date of 1574 for outer layer forming a balloon on the
Colorni’s invention of the trick. Whaley’s Encyclopedia said the first back of the card, which would then
description of the trick was in Thomas Gerzonus’s La Piazza float up to the waiting hand in the
classic rising card manner.
Walter B Gibson reported, in
The Conjurors’ Magazine (March
1945), that within a week of
word of this supposed miracle
leaking out, advance orders
for The Balloon Cards began
to roll in to DeLand’s magic
business. Not bad for taking
the rise more than a
century ago.
Now, the really good
news is after a great deal
of experimentation I’ve
Photo: Darren Martin

managed to actually
discover the authentic
process for producing
DeLand’s Balloon Cards. So, all you have
to do is send me your money…

248 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 MAGIC IN THE
REGIONS
T he past few months have seen much
magic in the regions with the annual
Bristol Day of Magic predominating, where it
Elizabeth Warlock MIMC
is always possible to meet up with so many
of our Members. This has to be the best
annual one-day convention in the country annual President’s Dinner, the most recent one much lower key. Donald Bevan, a stalwart of
and this year not even high winds and having taken place on May 16 at Tolley’s this convention, went along and enjoyed the
lashing rain could deter some four hundred Restaurant in Hambleton between Blackpool magic of the likes of Mark Shortland, John
magicians gathering in Weston-Super-Mare and Fleetwood. Organised by President Russ Archer, Wayne Goodman, Michael Jordan
on Sunday May 11 to enjoy some of the most Brown with assistance from Derek and Anne and, in a dual role of artist and joint organiser,
entertaining magic you are likely to see. Lever, some 70 members and partners enjoyed Danny Hunt with his well-known illusion act
Under the presidency of Barry Savage and a champagne reception followed by a feast of which he performs under the name of
opened by British Ring president Neil Roberts food, music and magic. Amethyst with his partner Stephanie.
it was once again a memorable day with a The cabaret was emceed by Bob Wooding Our congratulations must go to Canadian
glittering array of artists like Denis Behr who (this time without his balloons), and got off to a illusionist Darcy Oake in reaching the final of
can make a deck of cards seem like mere rousing start with the singing of Tom Ryan, but Britain’s Got Talent. It mattered little that he
putty in his artistic and long-fingered hands, it was the magic of the star of the illusion show didn’t actually win it, but the fact is that this
Gaetan Bloom with his very clever and novel in the Horseshoe Bar in Blackpool’s Pleasure was the first time a magician was able to
magic, Paul Romhany as Charlie Chaplin and Beach, the young and talented duo, Hi Jinx break this barrier (you may recall David Penn
fellow columnist Ian Rowland with a lecture (Michael Jordan and Tamzin), that was an equal narrowly missed being in the final on a
that included a very good song prediction, crowd pleaser. Opening with Split Press, an previous occasion). Darcy with his charismatic
psychometry test and eating a light bulb even illusion in which Tamzin was cut in three by personality and sex appeal combined with his
going so far as getting a member of the steel rods. Then extraordinary manipulative skills and
audience to try it. came Michael mystifying and fast-paced illusions managed
In addition to the lectures and close-up with the five to even extol praise from Simon Cowell who
shows Mandy Davis took the young card repeat with is not the greatest fan of magic. Some credit
magicians through their paces and Master jumbo cards for the success of the performances must go
Classes were held by Magic Olly and Dave followed by the to Russ Stevens who mentored Darcy
Hickory. But perhaps the star of the whole Sword Box throughout the competition and even directed
convention had to be Daniel Dean with using umbrellas in the studio. It is perhaps interesting to note
Destination Dance who in closing the Gala instead of that Darcy comes from Winnipeg, the same
Show wowed everyone with some great and swords, juggling town where the legendary Doug Henning was

Photo TMC Archive

entertaining illusions involving dance with three large born. It was Henning who in the 1970s shot
movement. It was slick and beautifully knives while to fame when he revolutionised the illusion
costumed. Girls appeared and vanished in riding a show culminating with two Broadway
quick succession, were sliced and floated. Michael Jordan unicycle, and productions and a number of television series.
There were the Substitution Trunk, the Cube, ending with a giant snowstorm. It was slick and We wish Darcy continued success.
the Three Graces and the comedy Cups and fast-paced and performed with the assurance of Magic clubs are always looking for new
Balls routine using the girl’s head appearing seasoned professionals. ideas for their meetings and particularly
under the cups. This time though the end was It is many years since Harrogate was the something that will involve the members. A
different in that when the curtain surrounding venue for a magic convention. Many may recall few years ago Mike Gancia had the idea of
the box was pulled away the girl had that in the ‘60s and ‘70s The British Ring held a presenting an evening of Tricks from Books
vanished. It was a great finish to another number of their conventions in this famous spa and Magazines for the British Magical Society
successful convention, which saw Mandy town, but perhaps it was most famously used here in Birmingham. It proved so successful
Farrell heading the group of organisers. year after year by the Northern Magic Circle for that he has repeated it almost every year
One always associates Blackpool their Easter Parades. But then Harrogate since. In the one held on April 29 it was
Magicians’ Club with the organisation of the expanded its convention business with a state interesting to see effects performed by
largest annual convention in the world, but of the art centre and it became too expensive various members like Gypsy thread, Platform
few realise that apart from that it is a very for a non-profit organisation like a magic club. Hofzinser Revisited, a Jardine Ellis Ring
active club with regular meetings taking However the Northern MC continued with their routine, the Murder Game and so much more.
place in their very own clubroom, many times annual conventions in various northern venues It was both entertaining and educational.
consisting of lectures by national and and dropped the word Easter. This year that I’ll be with you again soon with more
international magicians. There is also an convention returned to Harrogate although in a News from the Regions. l

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 249

 REVIEWS
Lewis Starnes AIMC
Ian Keable MIMC
Matthew Field MIMC
Marc Kerstein MMC
Will Houstoun MIMC

52 SHADES OF RED if like me, you enjoy watching magic (I must get INFAMOUS
by Shin Lim out more) then do follow the above link. It’s an By Daniel Meadows
Instructional DVD, cards and gimmicks. $81 ambitious routine; I’m not sure it’s 100% and James Anthony
(£47) from your favourite dealer. Dealers deceptive in places but overall it has some nice Instructional DVD, gaffed book and special
contact Murphy’s Magic supplies, moments of magic. cards. $79.95 (£47) from your favourite
www.MurphysMagic.com. To recreate this routine you’ll need the very dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic
Reviewed by Lewis Starnes gaffed deck of cards supplied, the special supplies, www.MurphysMagic.com
gimmicks included and some stationery. Over Reviewed by Ian Keable
It’s fair to describe Shin Lim’s 52 Shades of the two DVDs supplied Shin focuses on the
Red as a ‘project.’ This is a colour-changing colour-changing deck routine and variations you I suspect most magicians reading this will
deck routine which formed a seven-minute can apply. He also covers eight to nine different have a Book Test in their repertoire. So in
segment during Shin’s stage show in China. A utilities and applications focusing on the order to make an impact in this crowded
lot happens during this routine! I’ve ‘gimmicks’ supplied. field, it is really necessary to bring something
summarised the routine briefly below but If you do watch the video you’ll know that pretty impressive to the table. Sadly Infamous
anyone with the internet handy should check this card routine is a real performance piece. is not it.
out the full routine here: Shin performs it under spotlight on stage with It purports to be somehow a psychological
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfmKMV_a0nw everything projected onto a screen. There are justification for a spectator choosing a
Briefly, with a wave of the hand a ribbon- some aspects of the performance that require a specific word. The hook is the so-called
spread, blue deck of cards appears. Some stage set-up; the black art principle is used Stroop Test whereby if names of colours are
court cards seem to materialise from nowhere occasionally together with a servante. In short, written in a colour which is different to the
and are used to vanish three blue-backed you won’t be taking this routine around the word, it takes someone longer to actually
aces from the deck very cleanly. The aces tables with you! However, you could feasibly state what the colour is.
have ‘assembled’ under the fourth ace. Next, perform this in parlour conditions providing you You begin by showing a number of
the aces’ backs had plenty of control of the specially printed cards to ‘test’ if the
visually change performance/lighting. To get your money’s spectator can call out the correct colours:
to red before worth, I think performing a stripped-back these are then put to one side.
the faces version at the table using just the gaffed deck Next a book is introduced, A Study in
disappear and gimmicks supplied feels like the most Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (the fact that
leaving four sensible route. You’ll still deliver some great the title of the book has something to do
blank cards. visual magic which is practical and contained with colour doesn’t seem to be of any
The deck then within one card box; however it goes without significance).
follows suit, saying that nothing can be examined. Shin Your
with all invites viewers to build their own routines from
fifty-two cards the ideas and modules presented. Of particular
becoming note is a card box colour change, that is clean,
red-backed visual and a credit to Shin.
and the faces disappearing. To conclude, the In summary I think you’ll need quite specific
faces of the cards reappear and the deck performing conditions to consider really
returns to blue-backed before, finally, the working on this routine. If you do have these,
deck and box disappear. Even this short and a visual, multiple colour-changing cards
description doesn’t quite cover the full effect; routine appeals then do consult this project.

250 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

spectator is asked to stop at any page as you Stevens’s RSVP Magic, www.MurphysMagic.com.
riffle through and a marker, called an Isolation titled Modern Magic, Reviewed by Marc Kerstein
Card, is inserted which has a small viewing reflects the
window in it. This is dragged down the page components The effect: The magician writes a prediction
until the spectator says ‘stop,’ and he or she just named on his business card and places it aside. A
looks through the viewing window to read the and has spectator is then asked to name any song – a
chosen word. something free choice. The prediction is revealed and is
You then discern the word and, for the kicker for just about seen to be a radio frequency. The spectator
climax, the initial letter of the cards with colours any dedicated tunes their phone’s radio (or any nearby
on them that you showed earlier spell out the close-up or radio) to that frequency to find that his
same word. parlour chosen song is playing.
Most well-informed mentalists will be performer to Included with the DVD is the gimmick
familiar with the force of the word. And the benefit from. which allows you to perform the effect. The
provided gimmick doesn’t really add anything to The DVDs are devoted to coins, device is sturdy and compact, and is said to
existing methods, beyond making it rather more cards, moves and flourishes. There are 47 have been built especially for the trick. As the
fiddly to handle. The book does have Larry routines, some of them brief tricks, and four gimmick is powered by non-replaceable
Becker’s Flashback incorporated into it, which flourishes, totalling over five hours. There are batteries, a USB charging cable is also
could be of interest. But it is then not possible several versions of 3-Fly effects using both included although no wall plug is provided.
to have your Stroop Test climax. gaffed and un-gaffed coins, two beautiful You will also need to provide your own
The likeable inventor, Daniel Meadows, versions of Shadow Coins, one using a shell and phone, MP3 player or other device with an
admits at the outset that having learnt about the other a cover card (Will recently performed audio output jack as an audio transmitter.
the Stroop Test whilst at University, he tried to this on a BBC 1 TV programme), a ring and coin A radio is not supplied with the DVD but
create a trick out of it. But this particular Book transposition and a ring penetrating through any FM capable radio can be used. Whilst
Test, with the live demonstration by the one’s fingers, one at a time. some phones have radios built in, iPhones
co-presenter, James Anthony (to a group of four Card effects include a prediction which and many Android phones do not, and all
gorgeous girls), really isn’t the answer. morphs (via a Frixion pen), an assembly, cutting Internet-streaming radio apps cannot be used
The good news, though, is that you can to the Aces, four-Ace tricks, card to pocket, a as they are not receiving local broadcast
purchase the Stroop Test cards on their own – lovely Sympathetic Decks trick and much more. frequencies. The
that is, with the DVD but without the book. There are great tips on the Peek and the DVD demonstrates
There are twenty-four of them with all the mechanics of the Push-Through Shuffle. the magician
letters of the alphabet apart from X and Z: they The last disk contains a bunch of colour carrying his own
are nicely made and also marked on the back. changes, flourishes, several controls, Palm radio for the effect,
As an adjunct to a mentalist trick I could see Transfers, a tutorial on Negative Strippers – as well as using a
their potential: and a ‘bonus’ card trick at the including how to make them – and work on the car stereo and even
end of the DVD does indeed suggest one JW coin concealment grip. using a radio in a
practical idea. Some of this ain’t easy, but it is all attainable coffee shop to
with some diligence. The material is performed, perform RadioActive
MODERN MAGIC for the most part, before a close-up audience at with.
by Will Houstoun The Magic Circle Headquarters, and the Whilst the
3-DVD boxed set, 5 hrs. 11 mins. £50 plus explanations are also done at the Circle. Russ cleanest method for this effect uses an
postage via most credit cards and PayPal Stevens has done his usual excellent job of accomplice, other methods are taught for the
from www.RSVPMagic.com or your favourite directing and editing. solo performer allowing the magician to
dealer. The tips shared by Will are, alone, worth the conceal the gimmick and use it in the open
Reviewed by Matthew Field very reasonable price of this set. Some of the during the effect. If using an accomplice, it’s
tricks are fairly easy, some are more advanced. worth noting that the confederate does not
I first saw Will Houstoun, the distinguished All are powerful magic performed by a very have to be near the performer but can be
Editor of this very journal, in performance at the talented young man who deserves your assisting remotely, giving the impression of
2006 Blackpool Convention Close-up attention. an unaccompanied performance.
competition. He took first prize. Will combines I am especially fond of the prerecorded
extraordinary dexterity with an analytical RADIOACTIVE audio files provided on the DVD. These
approach to performance, and a love (and by Drusko and Titanas professionally recorded files include spooky
knowledge) of magic’s history (his doctoral Instructional DVD and gimmick. $49.99 (£29) clips for seances as well as clips of an
thesis has as its subject Prof. Hoffmann). from your favourite dealer. Dealers contact apparent radio host commenting on the
s

His new three-DVD boxed set from Russ Murphy’s Magic supplies, previous track before revealing a selection

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 251

(such as a playing card or an ESP symbol). Clear www.MurphysMagic.com that would have
instructions and screencast tutorials are given Reviewed by Will Houstoun been removed
that teach the magician how to customise these with even a
tracks using free audio editing software, placing The Definitive Guide to Restaurant Magic is cursory edit.
the clips between two songs as they would written by Wayne Goodman, a popular More
appear on radio. Combined with a card force restaurant magician in the UK who certainly significantly
(one of which is taught on the DVD) and a good seems to be busy enough to be qualified to there are a
presentation, this could be a very powerful write on the subject. As the title suggests the number of
playing card revelation. book claims to be a complete guide for any contradictory
Used with the right presentation, RadioActive magician who aspires to work in a restaurant pieces of advice
is a powerful tool that allows the magician to environment. Unfortunately, despite containing that are
perform a fooling revelation. Customisable to a significant quantity of practical advice, the confusing to the
the magician’s style, I recommend RadioActive book is hard to recommend. reader. For
for stage performers and strolling magicians The problem with the book seems not to be example, after
looking for a strong and modern effect that can Goodman’s experience or expertise but that the stating that terms and conditions – such as
be modified to specific requirements. book, in its final published form, is more like an requirement for parking at the gig venue – have
early draft of a product that needed more work been omitted from a sample contract the
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO to complete. The layout is bad enough that it following appears in the contract: “ADDITIONAL
RESTAURANT MAGIC sometimes makes reading difficult, with CLAUSES: Soft drinks while working, Staff Car
by Wayne Goodman changes in line spacing appearing Parking space and Access to staff area.” In a
9x6 in. softbound book, 86 pages. $30 (£17) mid-paragraph and random line-breaks inserted different part of the book what is a reader to
from your favourite dealer. Dealers contact in the text. In addition there are a significant understand from the following sentences? “I
Murphy’s Magic supplies, number of typographical or editorial mistakes have mentioned elsewhere in this book that I

manners were impeccable and he was foreign correspondent in Delhi, Rio de Janeiro,

OBITUARY invariably thoughtful and generous. Even in his

last weeks, when he found it difficult to move,
and Moscow, where he spent three years. He
was at another time their man in Austria. In
he took pains to get over to a local London 1971 he settled in London, where, in his fifties,
restaurant with Terry Guyatt and other longtime he took up magic and joined the Magic Circle.
Magic Circle friends to discuss the latest During the summer he liked to return to
international politics, talk about magic, and Switzerland to hike in the mountains with old
Roger Bernheim (1925-2014) laugh. He remained lucid till the last and when I friends.
by Tom Cutler MMC rang him to find out how he was doing he Wherever he went, Roger stayed not in fancy
explained that the end was near, and wished hotels but amongst the locals, eating with them,
My good friend Roger Bernheim, a magician me a beautiful formal good-bye. learning their languages, and, of course, showing
of charm and a journalist with an international Roger grew up in Central Europe at a time them tricks. A journalist of the old school, he
reputation, has died aged 88. Born in Bern, when books were being burned there, and understood people and wrote superbly. He
Switzerland, in 1925, Roger died in his sleep when people with names like his were in would have been the first to edit from this
on 5 June, as a result of the cancer with which danger. It is suggestive that he spent the rest of obituary any mention of his having ‘passed
he had lived uncomplainingly for a decade his life using words to report international away.’ He scoffed at such euphemistic clichés,
and a half. politics, as a journalist with the cheerfully insisting that he was not ‘battling,’
Roger was a true polymath: well-read, German-language Swiss newspaper of record, ‘fighting,’ or ‘struggling’ against cancer,
broad-minded, energetic, and liberal of outlook; Neue Zürcher Zeitung. From 1957 he was their preferring instead to say just that he ‘had it.’
a model of the Mitteleuropean ideal, and a Roger spoke many languages well, his native
citizen of the world. Cosmopolitan and tongue being a distinctive Swiss variety of
internationalist in his thinking, he was always German. He was fluent in several other
curious, and his interests ranged widely. European languages, including English, which,
Philosophy, art, culture, politics, plays, religion, with typical chutzpah, he learnt by taking a
film, science, and books were some of the teaching post at a language school in Oxford
topics he wrote and spoke about knowledgably. Street even though he was at the time unable
He loved magic and was unfailingly to speak a word of it. He also spoke Hindi and
entertaining with a few coins, bottle lids, or Urdu. India meant a lot to him and in his
sugar lumps: his favoured props. I well retirement he returned there to write about the
remember his smile as everyone gasped, the local problem of discrimination against women,
moment a burning match, with two forks a cause that concerned him deeply. In his
wedged onto it, went out, its tip balanced mid-eighties, and in declining health, he
perilously on the rim of a glass. It was a decided it was time to learn Turkish. Instead of
masterly piece of tomfoolery. doing it the easy way he moved to Turkey and
But Roger was essentially a serious man. learned it from the locals.
Although he could be incisive, and occasionally Though, when pressed, he muttered about a
critical, he was always kind. His continental PhD, Roger never boasted of his

252 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

do not generally accept tips. This is not always
the case and depends on the restaurant and on
the clientèle, in some places I do accept tips.” THE MAGIC
Perhaps most worryingly the sample contract,
which the reader is told they can use for their CIRCLE CARES
work, seems to not address two of the most
important ways in which such a document can
protect a magician – dealing with payment and
David Hatch MMC
cancellations. Payment terms are specified at 30
days but no start date for the 30-day term is
detailed making the limit meaningless and
cancellations are not even mentioned. This does I have just been informed that Roger Revd Tim Saiet AIMC having recently been
not seem like a sensible template for the Bernheim AIMC, aged 88, died peacefully on appointed as Priest in Charge at St. John’s
budding restaurant magician to adopt. 5 June after a long illness. Born in church, Hildenborough and as the father of a
The Definitive Guide to Restaurant Magic Switzerland he was a retired foreign young family, has sadly decided that he
does have some interesting ideas and correspondent and was fluent in several cannot devote the time necessary to fulfil the
information which could be useful to the languages. He was an enthusiastic amateur duties of Chaplain and has reluctantly
aspiring restaurant magician. Unfortunately the close-up magician who took up magic in his resigned. We send our best wishes to him
book required much more work before it was fifties. We send our condolences to his son, and his wife Charlotte, who has not been in
published and readers interested in this kind of daughter, daughter-in-law and two good health recently. Fortunately Revd
material would be far better served by products grandsons. Peter Liddelow AIMC has agreed to resume
such as David Stone’s Close Up – The Real the position, at least in the short term, an
Secrets. l At this time of year we all get our offer which was gratefully accepted by
Membership renewal forms, and it is a hard Council.
time for those who are in financial difficulty.
accomplishments. He was totally un-pompous The Benevolent Fund is currently helping Just a thought:“You wouldn’t worry so much
and refused to put any letters after his name. around twenty Members with this year’s about what others think of you if you realised
When I recently handed him my card so he Membership fees who would otherwise be how seldom they do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
could jot down my new number he was relieved forced to resign. We hope their situations will
that I hadn’t put the word ‘Author’ on there. He improve and wish them well. Stewart Murray: Torkington House,
loathed self-importance. Creswick Road, Acton W3 9HF.
After his retirement in 1990, Roger continued I am glad to report that Alan Astra MIMC is T 020 8992 2187 Mobile 07766 700 153
to write regularly for Neue Zürcher Zeitung, making a good recovery after surgery and
chiefly from London, Berlin, where he often hopes to be back on Monday nights soon. The latest welfare news can be found at
went, and the USA, across which his wanderlust Janet Clare MIMC is also getting out and www.themagiccircle.co.uk where ‘Welfare’ is
led him. He had ten years’ unbroken attendance about and has been discharged by her a sub-section of ‘Club Room.’ Contact details
at Fechter’s Finger Flicking Frolic close-up consultant. Stephen Barry AIMC tells me for Members can also be found on the
convention on the East Coast, and whenever he that his son Harry, who was born to his wife website under ‘Membership List.’
was there he paid his way with authoritative Carly nine weeks early is now six months old
and thoughtful newspaper pieces about the and thriving. He thanks everyone for their If you hear of Members or their families who
States. good wishes. Keith Cooper MIMC has been are sick or facing hard times please contact:
Roger was also the author of several books, home from hospital for two weeks but is due David Hatch MMC (Welfare Officer)
including, he told me, a sometime bestseller to go back in again shortly to have his 6 Darnley Road, Woodford Green,
that had delivered healthy royalties. In gallbladder removed. Tony Western MIMC is Essex IG8 9HU
retirement his paper offered him a weekly making good progress and his wife Audrey T 020 8504 4134
column, which he turned down. He explained hopes he will be home before too long. E WelfareOfficer@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
that I should never accept a job of this sort, Brendan Rodrigues AIMC is also making a
because whole weeks could be ruined worrying good recovery after his road accident. Leslie Chaplaincy:
about what you were going to write. Gerard AIMC may have to return to hospital Revd Peter Liddelow AIMC
Towards the end, knowing his days were for further treatment. Ken Lee MMC is being 23 Kings Road, Barnet, Herts, EN5 4EF
numbered, Roger said to me, ‘When a man of investigated at St Thomas’ hospital for heart T 020 8441 2968
48 dies, that’s tragic. When a man of 88 dies, problems, but sends his regards to everyone. E Chaplain@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
that’s normal.’ It summed up his sanguine and Stewart Murray AIMC, now 90, has moved
philosophical approach. He said yes to into a care home with his wife. He would love Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler AIMC
everything in life and at the end he said yes to hear from any friends (address below). 10 St Petersburgh Place, Bayswater,
again, this time to death. Applying the London W2 4LB
measured rationality with which he had Our condolences go to Ian Thom MMC on T 020 7229 6215
embraced living, Roger took off with resolution the death of his mother following a long E Geoffreyshisler@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
on his final journey. illness and our thoughts go out to Angeline
Roger Bernheim is survived by his son, his Mystique MMC whose husband remains
daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and his seriously ill.
daughter. His wife predeceased him.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 253

 MINUTES

Tuesday 3 June 2014

MINUTES OF THE MEETING provided that all current people meeting should be made available viiiGiven the continuing demand
HELD ON 3 JUNE 2014 affected are given a separate deal. in one place on TMC website for for chaplaincy services RP
AT THE MAGIC CIRCLE’S AE agreed this would suffice as ease of reference by Members. AE proposed we encourage more
DEVANT ROOM long as the agreements are in pointed out that if there were any members to join the team. TMC
6.30 – 10.15P.M writing. Club Night Committee to particular areas of concern which is fortunate to currently have
ensure that any new photographers Council felt needed further both Christian and Jewish
PRESENT and videographers agree TMC clarification Council Members chaplains. Members of all faiths
Jack DELVIN standard terms in writing. ML should suggest these via the to be invited to volunteer to
Alan MASKELL(Chair) proposed that the agreed wording Council maillist and they could then assist as additional Chaplains
SCOTT PENROSE is posted on the website. be added online as further guidance. and/or to join the Pastoral
Mandy DAVIS Club Nights – Club Night Welfare team.
Kevin Doig Committee will make clear in The 5. SECRETARY’S REPORT
Geoffrey DURHAM Circular and on the website etc i Apprentices – Andrew 6. HS2
Hugh NIGHTINGALE who is taking responsibility for and Johnstone, Dave O Connor, Sho Council noted that TMC Trustee Ltd
Keith PAIN hosting each club night and will Kitamura, Joel Spaven has agreed that RP will represent
Richard PINNER ensure that doorman, visitors and ii New Members: See below TMC throughout the petitioning
Marvin BERGLAS members know who to approach re iii Reinstatements: None process. RP gave an update. JD
Darryl ROSE queries on each night. Same person iv Resignations: Trevor Lewis thanked RP.
Mark LEE will also be responsible for MIMC, Rob Page, MIMC
Steve PRICE enforcing our club night v Promotions: Laura London 7. RENEWALS UPDATE
Andrew EBORN conventions and giving any AIMC*, Troy Von Scheibner ML reported that LH had done a
Fay PRESTO necessary authorities. AIMC*, Mark Raffles Honorary tremendous amount of work
Katherine RHODES KD arrived 18.52pm Member MIMC regarding renewals. As a new team
Jenny MAYERS (Minutes Secretary) Devant room/Club room chairs – vi Correspondence was in place there had been a
1.APOLOGIES SP reported that many chairs need Sarah Campbell expressed her slight delay and CH would be
Lee Hathaway, David Fung replacing or renewing. Best option thanks for being made AIMC. sending out membership cards in
seems to be to replace all of the Mick Gurr thanked Council for the next few days. At the last count
2.DEATHS chairs for a net cost of £4-5,000 the card and basket of fruit. almost 800 members had renewed.
No deaths were reported. with supplier taking old chairs for Alan Watson (Australian Over 200 had done so by
charitable use. MD agreed to assist Regional Representative) post/cheque which was very time
3. MINUTES with fundraising for sponsorship of requested that Council consider consuming to process. The good
The minutes of the meeting held new chairs (with new plaques). We offering a lower priced news though is that many such
on 1 May were approved, with would need to secure £50 per chair. membership option for overseas members had included donations for
amendments. Proposed by ML SP will arrange for 4 chairs to be based members who only the benevolent fund. To date less
seconded by MD. All in favour. made with arms. All in favour. require electronic access to The than 50 members have renewed
Screen in clubroom: SP proposed Circular. using the new telephone facility.
4. MATTERS ARISING one screen to be installed where vii Tim Saiet apologised for having RP requested that a list of
New members – HN agreed to the David Devant poster currently to step down from the role of members who have not yet
liaise with DW and ensure that resides. £1-1200 would be the cost. Chaplain as his circumstances renewed be circulated to Council
future examinees are advised AE seconded. All in favour. AM have changed and he is no members so that they can each
within 24 hours of Council thanked SP. longer able to make sufficient approach those members thought
confirming they have passed and Use of TMC name and logo: AE time available to fulfil the role. likely to renew or where there may
are now members of TMC. pointed out that the rules are clear Peter Liddelow has expressed a be issues that can be resolved. A
TMC copyright issues – RP is and suggested that the willingness to take on the role list of members who have still not
now happy for the originally rules/guidelines including those of Chaplain again. Council renewed will then be circulated at
agreed wording to be adopted, unanimously agreed at the May agreed to thank Tim and Peter. the July Council meeting when

254 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

decisions will be required as to to be very popular. encourage members to stand for that might be helpfully proposed
exclusions from Club Night Summer shows – RP reported election. at the AGM. Decisions can then
events etc. that we are hoping to do six StP reported that an be made at the July meeting.
AM thanked ML and LH. Summer Shows (two per day on announcement would again be put RP proposed that future
3rd, 10th and 17th August) and out asking the membership for agendas include ‘matters arising
8. FISM that he hopes to secure nominations for TMC Awards. This from discussions on the Council
A TMC member would like to commitments such there is a had been very successful last year. email list’
participate in the FISM competition consistent cast which will make it JD proposed that Council THE MEETING CLOSED AT
next year (needs to be approved by easier to produce a programme recommend a rule change at the 10.15PM. NEXT MEETING:
the President). Majority voted in for sale to the audience. AGM to avoid needless delays in 9 JULY 2014
favour to support the member’s entry. Antique chairs – SP reported Apprentices becoming members.
on the condition of the eight AE proposed that Council NEW MEMBERS ON
9. REPORTS chairs we hold that were originally consider in advance of the next TUESDAY 3 JUNE 2014:
(ROUND-THE TABLE) in St. George’s Hall. Council meeting any other rule changes
SAM Convention – MD may now be agreed that TMC should consider
unable to attend on 1-6 July. If retaining four of the eight and
suitable substitute host can be sell the others in preference to
found and logistics resolved AM placing them into storage or
suggests we carry on and provide a repairing them. FP proposed we
TMC reception. MD to decide consider having replicas made of
following further discussion with any chairs we sell.
SAM. Magic Circular – SP has
Club Night reminder emails: negotiated a new deal with our
Following an enquiry by ML DR current printer that involves
advised that all salient details were changes in process and reduces
being supplied in good time but the costs to TMC whilst also
that there seemed to be a blockage enabling The Circular to move to
somewhere such that the website full colour throughout. AM
wasn’t being update and thus the thanked SP.
emails were incomplete (eg: CMA report – RP noted a
reporting TBC for confirmed correction was required as
events). DR to liaise with DF to Christmas show sales are 20%
resolve the issue. up, rather than only 20%, on this
Membership survey – MB time last year.
confirmed that hundreds of
responses have been received as 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
part of the renewals process and
that these will be reviewed and
FP encouraged Council to
consider future leadership issues
Our Headquarters
processed in the coming weeks. for TMC. AM asked everyone to
CMA/TMC structure review – GD indicate their current intentions
Conventions
reported that he had met with MB, as regards standing for Council DRESS CODE
ML and AE and that they were next year. A majority of members Smart attire is required at all events in the Headquarters.
agreed as to the format and intend to stand again but there MOBILE PHONES
content of their report which they will be still be opportunities for Please ensure that you switch off your mobile phone before
entering the Headquarters. If you must make a phone call, please
hope can be prepared and new candidates to join Council.
do so outside the building.
circulated for the next Council AM thanked everyone for their
PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOUND RECORDING
meeting. contributions whether or not The use of any form of recording equipment, audio or visual,
TMC merchandise – RP showed they intend to stand again. including cameras and mobile phones, is not permitted in any
the new TMC ties which are for MD expressed concern about part of the Headquarters except by special arrangement.
members only. Grey, blue, black and the recent absence of a security GUM
red. £20.00 each or £70 for a set of presence in Stephenson Way on Please refrain from chewing gum of any sort in the Headquarters.
4. club nights and was reminded SMOKING
Dealers Day – KP confirmed that it was the remit of the Club Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the Headquarters.
plans were progressing and that FP Night Committee. We all benefit from these conventions, so please respect and
would be lecturing towards the end ML reported that the article abide by them to avoid being turned away. Thank you for your
understanding.
of the day. Council agreed that a recently agreed via the Council
separate fee (£5) be charged for email list will be published in the
attending the lecture which is likely July edition of The Circular to

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk AUGUST 2014 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 255

 workshops. Whatever the case they will be mostly alternative and fun!

FORTHCOMING August Monday 4

CLUB EVENTS MORGAN STREBLER: MENTALISM AND METAL BENDING

August Monday 11
JAY SCOTT BERRY

AUGUST 2014 August Monday 18

JOHN LENEHAN, LEE HATHAWAY AND MYSTERY GUEST
Two Tops and a Bottom: Essential Card Moves for All

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. Club
August Tuesday 26
CIRCUS OF HORRORS: HANDS ON!

Nights are principally for Members, so entry is by Membership Card. A Looking Ahead to September
bona fide magician guest may attend any evening that is not marked
‘Members Only’ on condition that he or she is able to show membership September Monday 1
of a magical society. A non-magician guest may only attend evenings WAYNE FOX – CHATTERFOX
that are marked as ‘Show’. Guests may only attend two evenings a
year. No guest may attend unless booked in advance. If you wish to September Monday 8
bring a guest, please email cma@themagiccircle.co.uk. All guests must ANOTHER EVENING WITH MARC SPELMANN
pay a £15 entry fee at the door and respect our Conventions. Indeed, it
is your duty as their sponsor to ensure that they do. The Magic Circle Change of address? Please login to your account at
reserves the right to refuse entry. See our website for all the latest event www.themagiccircle.co.uk. Under “Quick links”, click on
details and to subscribe to a weekly email reminder of upcoming events. “Profile”. At the top, under “Edit” you should be able to
select “update your profile”. You can contact
This year’s summer programme at The Magic Circle is bought to you webmaster@themagiccircle.co.uk if you encounter
under the auspices of The Monday Night Committee and is promised any problems.
not to be like any other. We will have one unique event each week – Member in need? Contact Welfare Officer David Hatch,
some theoretical and some practical, some lectures and some WelfareOfficer@TheMagicCircle.co.uk

It pays to
ADVERTISE in

To reach 1500 magicians around the world

costs less then you think

Full page from £100.00

Half Page £55.00
Quarter page £30.00
all prices subject to VAT

For full details contact the Business and

Advertising Manager Scott Penrose
on 07767 336882
or email advertising@TheMagicCircle.co.uk

256 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR AUGUST 2014 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

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