the magic

DAVID BEN
ACHIEVER
 THE MAGAZINE OF THE MAGIC CIRCLE Issue 1133 Volume 105 MARCH 2011

Features Circular reasoning

72 Magic in India – by Dominic Twose
arious Magic

Page 67
76

Regulars
David Ben: Achiever – by Mathew Field
V Circle Members
have been
involved in TV magic
specials over the
66 President’s View – Jack Delvin past holiday season,
66 News notably on BBC’s
68 Letters to the Editor “The Magicians”, Channel 4’s “Derren
Brown: Enigma” and ITV’s “Penn and
68 The Magic Circle Cares – Rev. Peter Liddelow
Teller: Fool Us”. As is to be expected,
69 Obituaries there have been lots of internet
Page 72
71 Clever Devil Corner – Harold Cataquet comments from magicians and non-
74 The Cecil Lyle Award – Coin Bend by John Fells magicians about the various shows. Is
80 A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities – it right to use non-magicians in
Dr. Edwin A. Dawes performances? How have the illusions
84 Club Night Events – been shot? Is the concept sustainable?
Mandy Davis, Convenor of Reports As always, the perspective of the
Page 84 magician is more than likely to be a
86 Circular Mentalism – Ian Rowland
minority view, of little interest to the
88 Conjurors Collect – Tim Reed commissioning controllers who must
90 In Review try and garner maximum audiences in
94 Council Minutes target age and demographic groups,
96 Forthcoming Club Events – and/or sponsorship deals.
Brian Sibley and Mandy Davis Why the sudden flurry of magic
Page 85 programmes? It is more than likely
EDITORIAL 07910 317 902 DESIGN 020 8521 2631
that the Beeb and ITV had their
EDITOR Matthew Field ART DIRECTOR mouths watering over Channel 4’s
Editor@TheMagicCircle.co.uk John Hawkins Derren Brown franchise, and for this
102 Priory Road john.hawkins.7@btinternet.com
Hastings 104d Grove Road we must give our collective thanks to
East Sussex TN34 3JE Walthamstow E17 9BY Derren and his co-creator Andy
ASSISTANT EDITOR Tim Reed PHOTOGRAPHERS Nyman, as well as Andrew O’Connor,
ASSOCIATE EDITORS John Ward
Anthony Brahams, Dr Edwin Dawes, ADVERTISING 07767 336882 Michael Vine and Anthony Owen of
Scott Penrose, Ian Rowland, BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING MANAGER Objective Productions.
David Tomkins Scott Penrose The bounty of magic on television,
Cover CONVENOR OF REPORTS Advertising@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
David Ben, Mandy Davis 17 Berkeley Drive, and magic that does not pander to
with Julie Eng Mandy@TheMagicCircle.co.uk Billericay the easy-out of exposure, must surely
OBITUARIES Alan Snowden, Essex CM12 0YP
5 Folkington Corner, Woodside Park, MISSING AND BACK ISSUES help all of us who care about our Art.
London N12 7BH 01923 267 057 As the profile of magic ascends it can
020 8445 7607 Michael Candy not help but be good for us all in
PROOFREADERS Sound of Music, Harthall Lane,
Cheryl Bell, Hemel Hempstead, terms of bookings and moving
Paul Bromley, Julie Carpenter, Herts HP3 8SE projects forward, no matter what we
Barry Cooper, Tim Reed, PRINTED BY
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President’s view Circular news
Palladium Magic: A
MEMBER OF THE INNER MAGIC CIRCLE corporate world, hotels, restaurants, private Night of 100 Magicians
homes, etc. Others stand out by their Member Paul Stone inaugurated
When I became President, I was warned that I invention of new tricks, authorship of books, MagiCares, the registered
should expect to be approached by members and lectures at clubs and conventions. charity he started, with the
seeking promotion to MIMC. I was told that In The Magic Circle’s administration section Tribute to Siegfried and Roy at
the difficulty was trying to find the words to it is more obvious to the President who the London Palladium in 2008.
explain the situation so as not to offend the deserves promotion to MIMC; but not On Monday 19 September Paul
member. necessarily so obvious to members. There is is producing a new event at the
This came to a head when one member of an enormous amount of work continually legendary theatre titled
very long standing made it very clear on the going on in the background of an Palladium Magic: A Night of
official Mail List that he felt he had been organisation as big as ours, but in this field 100 Magicians to benefit
overlooked for this honour. I felt it my duty to the names of suitable candidates have a habit MagiCares. Already confirmed
provide him with the facts as follows: of naturally rising to the top. for the show are Mac King,
As far as MIMCs are concerned, promotion As President, I am making decisions every Marko Karvo, The Great
to this degree is in the gift of the President. It day. Very often I need help and advice I can Tomsoni & Co., and Paul
has been agreed, however, that the President trust. This is forthcoming from a small band Zenon. It will also include a
will take into consideration the views of of members who, for no personal reward tribute to the great John
fellow officers. The top degree is so coveted other than the satisfaction they get from Calvert, who will have just
that it is not surprising that the decisions of assisting the society, are only too happy to celebrated his 100th birthday.
the President are sometimes discussed – why spare the time to be helpful. One soon gets
this member as opposed to that member? to know who one can rely on.
Out of 1450 members only 300 are allowed My closest friends know me well enough to
to be MIMC at any one time. know that I will never make someone MIMC
How does the President decide? Presidents purely on the basis of friendship alone; but
of The Magic Circle have, normally, been service to the society is a totally different
members for a considerable number of years. matter.
They also have normally been on Council for I am sure you will agree with me when I say 100 tickets to the show are
a large number of those years. In any case that the honour of being an MIMC should being donated to London
they will have knowledge of contributions not be there for the asking. cancer charities, hospices, and
made by members to the magic world in The Magic Circle is unique in its degree needy individuals. Paul notes
general and to The Magic Circle in particular. system. It plays a very important part in the that, because it now hosts
In the magic world in general, members ethos of our society, acting as an long-running musicals, it is
can stand out by their performing ability as encouragement to members to get involved virtually impossible for any
proved by their appearances on television and in our activities, to increase their knowledge magician or variety show to
in the theatre. A little less clear is when they and performing ability, and to thereby appear on the London
work in private functions such as the improve their standing in the art. Palladium stage.
Top ticket price for the event
is £65. We’ll report more as the
information becomes available.

Magic on British TV
There was a burst of magic on
Jack Delvin MIMC UK television this past Holiday
President@TheMagicCircle.co.uk season. Channel 4 presented a
full evening devoted to Derren
Brown, including a TV version
of his stage show, Enigma, plus
a one-hour behind-the-scenes
look at the psychological
illusionist. Appearing in the
latter was Derren’s stage director
and writing collaborator,
Member Andy Nyman.
The BBC presented a five-
part series called The Magicians
hosted by comedian Lenny
Henry, marking a return of
magic to Saturdays on the
Beeb. The show, produced by

66 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 Semi-Circles March with Tim Shoesmith,
Julian James will present his Michael Vincent, Jay Scott
‘Late Night Magic’ evenings Berry, and Ian Keable. More
on Fridays at the Jermyn info at
Street Theatre on 1, 8 and www.ConjuringAtTheCourt.co
15 April. The shows feature m ... Former TMC Treasurer
and current President of the
British Ring of the IBM, Keith
Cooper graced the cover of David Bull centre stage as Le Grand David
the January Linking Ring ... the late Patrick Page ... Comedy Magic at the
Congratulations to Atlanta, Congratulations to Le Grand Amnesty International
Georgia magician and speaker David, whose company headquarters in London on
Joe M. Turner, who for the includes members Cesareo 4 March, where performers
second time was voted Greater Palaez, David Bull and will include our own
Michael Vincent Atlanta Magician of the Year Avrom Surath, on their 34th Jack Delvin, Fay Presto,
and Julian James by the combined membership anniversary performance at the Laura London, Nic Picot
Julian’s mentalism and his of Atlanta’s magical Cabot Street Theatre in Beverly, and Megan Knowles, as
special guest will be Michael organisations ... Derren Brown: Massachusetts on 20 February. well as comedians. More
Vincent. Info at Enigma aired on Channel 4 in Information about the two info from Colin,
www.JeremyStreetTheatre.co. January. The special was a 90- shows put on by the company ColinFrancome@hotmail.co.
uk ... In New York, Member minute version of his sell-out at www.LeGrandDavid.com ... uk ... Member George
Richard Stephen Cohn touring show and was co-written Andrew Van Buren returned Norrington’s Who’s Who in
produced and appeared in by Derren and Member Andy to the Showzam Festival in Magic is a 16-page magazine
the 10th annual Night of Nyman. Thanks were given in Blackpool in February presenting with colour cover produced
Magic at the Brooklyn the credits to our own David The Van Buren Magic Variety with his brother Robert,
Society for Ethical Culture in Berglas, Scott Penrose and Show. Also featured in Showzam who is also a Member. The
January with, among others, was Member Jon Marshall current issue, celebrating 32
mindreader Jon Stetson and with his sideshow illusions ... years of publication, features
international champion of Member Colin Francome is articles on Marc Salem,
magic, Rocco ... Russell once again running the London Criss Angel, and Ian
Levinson’s successful Marathon, aiming to be the Adair’s ‘Spotlight on British
‘Conjuring at the Court’ oldest person (66 years) to do TV Magicians’. It’s £2 from
continues monthly so, and along the way collecting George Norrington,
performances in West Ealing, for Amnesty International. He is 36 Lincoln Rd., Dorking,
London on Thursday 30 Joe M. Turner and trophy arranging a second evening of Surrey RH4 1TD ...

and Chris Korn. Magic Vegas to open for them on hand after he performed.
consultants included our own stage at the Rio Hotel. Among Michael returned the gesture.
Paul Cooke, Scott Penrose, those appearing were Members There was some growling
Angelo Carbone as well as John Archer and Michael about whether the Penn &
R. Paul Wilson. Vincent, and Noel Qualter Teller show did too much
ITV joined the magic-on-TV performed but didn’t make the exposing as they sketchily
© Shine TV

party with Penn & Teller: Fool final show. John Archer along explained what they thought
Us, in which professional with card expert Benjamin Earl the methods were, and they
Lenny Henry with dancer magicians performed for the fooled the pair (not without did expose a bit of the illusion
Ashley Banjo and Luis de Matos so-called Bad Boys of Magic, some arguments on the part of base secret in their own
on The Magicians
and those that could fool the P&T). A notable highlight was performance on the programme.
Shine TV, which mounts the duo would be flown to Las Teller kissing Michael Vincent’s Some complained that The
successful Merlin and Magicians’ use of celebrities
MasterChef series, featured demeaned the magic.
three magicians teamed with The overall consensus from
celebrities to perform three magicians (at least in person to
tricks each. The worst, as voted your Editor, and as posted on
by the studio audience, had to the on-line magic forums) was
perform a forfeit stunt, such as that magic on television helps
walking on red-hot coals. The raise the public’s awareness
© ITV

magicians included our own and appreciation of the art,

Luis de Matos, along with Penn, Teller, Michael Vincent and Teller and John Archer and was a very good thing
Scottish duo Barry and Stuart Jonathan Ross indeed.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 67

Letters to the Editor
Terry Seabrooke did not prevent a near-capacity house of ordinary version as once the torso section
Sadly, a fifty plus year-old friendship has children (both big and small!) attending had vanished the whole cabinet was
come to an end. It is typical of Terry to the Albert Halls Bolton (Lancashire) on the revolved. I remember Andrew’s father
choose the date of his untimely passing as date I visited to see the pantomime saying to me a long time ago that
11-1-11, for this was part of his patter Aladdin. It was a well-staged, fast-moving everything the Van Burens built had to be
when he used Pop Eye Pips! show with good layouts, excellent vocals, made capable of being presented in a
I shall miss his numerous telephone calls comedy and Magic! It was for the latter circus ring. Let’s face it – you cannot be
and all the many laughs we had over the reason I attended as our member Andrew more angle-proof than that!
years. He was always Mr Seaside and I Van Buren with Allyson Ford were playing He followed on with what I would call a
was always Mr Woodshed. the Genie of the Lamp and the Slave of hybrid, a levitation with all the hallmarks
The magic world is definitely poorer for the Ring respectively. of a sword suspension but ALL the swords
his passing as he contributed much to the During the performance these two had were removed and it certainly had an
successful running of a show where he many on and off appearances with impact on the audience.
was compère. dialogue but their main magic spot came If you would like to see him in action,
Our thoughts and prayers go to Hilda, in the cave scene at the point the lamp he is appearing at The Order of The Magi
Keith and Diane at this very sad time. had been discovered. Andrew entered and Dinner in Manchester on 19 March.
Chris Woodward MIMC fire turned into a Botania as an opener Tickets are £30 and available from me at
and this made the audience gasp with GeoffreyNewton@TheMagicCircle.co.uk.
Pantomagic delight. Then there was the production of Geoffrey Newton MIMC
The return of the pre Christmas ice and Allyson from a Temple Of Life. Next came
snow to the North West in early January the Disembodied Princess but this was no

by Peter Liddelow AIMC The Magic Circle Chaplain and Welfare Officer

We have recently said a sad farewell home following a spell in hospital with a Tracy Loigman and Sandra Cads
to Terry Seabrooke MIMC and fractured leg. (Nick Cohen’s daughters) –
Nick Cohen MMC, long-standing Roy Van Dyke MIMC is rather frail and has c/o Flat 2, Admiral Court,
members of The Magic Circle. been moved to a Care Home in Minehead. 8 Barton Close, London NW4 4QD.
Amy Dawes – Dane Hill, 393 Beverley
Terry Seabrooke, aged 78, has been Continue to bear in mind other members Road, Anlaby, E. Yorks., HU10 7BQ.
described as ‘The King of Magical of our Magic Circle family mentioned Stan Reynolds – 270 Chanctonbury
Comedy’ and was a celebrated previously for their ongoing support and Road, Burgess Hill,
entertainer of international fame. treatment, namely: W. Sussex, RH15 9HJ.
Bobby Bernard, Steve Dacri, Roy Van Dyke – The Windsor Nursing
Nick Cohen, aged 81, regularly Peter D’Arcy, David Haggarty, Home, 54 The Avenue, Minehead,
attended the Circle. An accountant by Derek Hilton and Somerset TA24 5AW.
profession, he was an accomplished Christopher Trollope.
magician and balloon modeller. If you hear of members or their families
Just a thought – It has been said, ‘We are who are sick or facing hard times please
They will be sorely missed. Keep their not put on this earth to see through one contact:
families and friends in your thoughts another – but to see one another through’. Peter Liddelow
and prayers at this time. Bearing this in mind, a condolence message (Chaplain and Welfare Officer)
or a greetings card can be a source of
Please also remember: encouragement and strength in difficult 23 Kings Road, Barnet,
times. Herts. EN5 4EF.
Amy Dawes, the wife of T 020 8441 2968
Eddie Dawes MIMC. Amy is far Contact addresses: E Chaplain@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
from well. For some time she has been Hilda Seabrooke (Terry’s wife) –
suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. 38 Beechcroft Road, Bushey, Watford,
Stan Reynolds MMC is convalescing at Herts., WD23 2JU

68 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 Obituaries
in banking, we hared Academy Of Magical Arts and a coveted
around the same place in the SAM`s “Hall of Fame”.
track, fortunately not Here at home, he toured the country
in the same race. My supporting such names as Lynda Carter
appearance was in (Wonder Woman), Harry Secombe, Jim
the 100 yards, while Davidson, Bob Monkhouse and Jethro,
Terry took rather entertained the troops in the Falklands,
longer completing the Royal family, and even did a season of
the half-mile. panto in Brighton.
We met up at TMC The resident MC at the International
once he, too, had Days of Magic for many years, his book
escaped from the City Beyond Compere is the definitive guide to
to make a career in this specialised role for which he was so
magic, encouraged much in demand.
by a chance meeting Terry appeared in most of the major
with Billy McComb shows of The Magic Circle over the years,
regarding the from the Annual Festivals, in various TV
settlement of an shows, a magical night at Buckingham
insurance claim! His Palace, and as a regular on our `Meet The
comic genius soon Magic Circle ` evenings. His contributions
brought him to notice to our art were recognised with the award
in the 1960s. Along of “The Maskelyne” in 2009.
with Paul Daniels and Widely known and loved in the
John Wade, Terry business, and an enthusiastic member of
Terry Seabrooke MIMC starred in TV`s For My Next Trick in the Grand Order of Water Rats, Terry will
26 December 1932 – 11 January 2011 1975/6, and the three of them have been be sadly missed in the showbiz world, as
It is particularly hard to learn of the loss of mates ever since. Terry became a he will be in our own magical one
one`s contemporaries, especially if they particular favourite in the USA, fell in love internationally.
have been close friends for much of their with The Magic Castle, and was to The sympathies of all of us go out to his
lives. This is especially so with the loss of become a regular flier, commuting to wife Hilda, daughter Diane and son Keith,
Terry, for we first shared a bill together America for all their major conventions, who have shared the suffering of recent
long before we both took up magic as a and setting records for appearances at the months and were with him as he passed
career. That was at the White City Athletic Castle. They showered him with awards, away on 11 January.
Stadium when, as aspiring athletes, both including a Masters Fellowship from The Alan Shaxon MIMC

Nick Cohen MMC always willing to share his knowledge

14 May 1929 – 15 January 2011 and experience. He will be sadly missed
I first met Nick in 1980 when, as he was a by his many friends and colleagues.
distant relative of my wife, I asked him Peter Altman MMC
whether he could put a magic show
together for a charity committee of which John Fanshawe (Steve) Stevens MMC
I was Chairman. I recall Nick coming to October 1923 – October 2010
our house and showing us some effects. Steve Stevens was born in Burton on
This was my first experience of seeing Trent and trained as a pharmacist with
professional close-up magic. It was truly Boots the Chemist. He joined the RAF in
amazing. Nick put an excellent show 1943 and served as an Air Bomber and
together with performances from Harold in Maintenance Command. After the
Taylor, Jack Delvin, Brian Sinclair, Chris War he returned to Boots and, later,
Pratt, John Peake, Eric Mason, and Nick Timothy Whites chemists, and remained
himself, billed as Nikolas. The show was active in the Air Training Corps.
very well received and was reported in the He became a Member of The Magic
local newspaper. It raised over £1,000. Circle at age 19 and performed a magic
I shall always remember Nick as an act across the UK. His specialty was his
extrovert personality and an immaculately Flower Act in which he filled the stage
dressed gentleman who excelled at with blooms.
entertaining magic and was a regular He is survived by his wife, Sheila, to
Monday night attendee at the Circle. His whom we extend our condolences.
home was always full of tricks and he was Matthew Field MIMC

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 69

 Kaufman and Company Present

THE
BERGLAS
EFFECTS
By Richard Kaufman
With David Berglas
Illustrated by Earle Oakes

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70 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 Harold Cataquet AIMC

Magic Moments
t’s nearly the end of January (not the trick itself) that makes

I as I start to write this column.

After the Christmas and New
Year’s rush, this is usually the
the magic moment. Sometimes
this can be distracting. For
example, at that very same
first moment that I get to reflect restaurant, I’ll go up to a table
on the previous year. Personally, where there is a family. If there
2010 was a great year – is a young child there, the alpha
professionally, personally and parent will just say, “Do it for
magically. As I say this (or any her!” in an almost dismissive
statement of potential hubris), tone. Clearly that parent doesn’t
I am always reminded of the like magic, but to make matters
Roman commander at his worse, they’ll then continue
Triumphal rite. Behind him on their conversation while the kids
the chariot stands a slave react to the performance.
holding a laurel crown over his Thankfully, what usually
head. As the crowd cheers the all- was incapable of understanding my happens when the alpha parent says
conquering hero, showering him with performance and/or reacting to it. The this is that they are more interested in
flowers, the slave continuously recites realisation that he could follow the trick how the child will react. As a result,
“Memento mori” (remember you’re was a revelation to them. Needless to say, they half watch the performance but
mortal). This image was implanted in I received loads of tips that night – not they are really focusing on how the
my mind when I was very young, and only from the people at that table, but child reacts. This is a difficult position
it’s always prevented me from boasting from others in the restaurant who had for me because my instincts are to tell
about (or even mentioning) success. witnessed the routine. On top of that, the the parent(s) to watch the trick not the
The tragedy has come in the form of owner paid me double my fee! child. The rationale is that they should
an accident my father suffered. Having Although the pay is good, the main share the magic – don’t watch the
mentioned the low point, I should reason that I work at this particular child, become the child! Of course,
mention one of the magical high restaurant is that I love their food. I find a I never actually say anything. But
points. I was performing walk-around at very strong relationship between the there were more magical highlights
a restaurant. There were about 20 principles of magic and that of cooking. for me in 2010.
people at one table, but one of them For example, I performed a trick for one of my
had both physical and mental ● A well presented plate of food will magical heroes. It was a trick he created
limitations. He was in a wheelchair and always be well received – no matter (and I had tweaked) and he told me
was pretty much ignored by everyone at how indifferent the food may be. that he loved the changes… In the past,
the table. As I performed, I could see he In other words, if it looks good, it’ll especially with Peter Kane, the original
was reacting to my performance, so I taste good. version was always viewed as the best
decided to do the next trick using him ● The environment in which you’re eating and my tweaks were dismissed as
as the spectator. I went over to perform the food fundamentally determines devaluing the impact of the original. This
the trick for him, and his father turned how that food is assessed. never put me off because every once in
to me and said, “Don’t worry about ● No one cares how easy or how long it a while I came up with an improvement
him. He’s simple.” Not wanting to go takes to make a dish. Often dishes that that earned Peter’s praise, and that
into the details of what I had observed, only take a few minutes to make can always meant a great deal to me.
I just asked if I could proceed anyway. look like they took days, and vice versa. I was asked to perform for a famous
For the next three minutes, I performed ● Amateur cooks are always interested in client (I can’t mention the name) who
a routine where the magic happened in the dishes that fall into the former was incredibly receptive to my magic.
his hands, and gave him all the credit category. That is part of the reason why They asked me how many people I
for creating the effects. As I proceeded, “Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals” has proven would like in the audience and how
he was laughing and squealing with to be so popular – at one point, selling I would like the room arranged. It was
delight. When the routine was over, five copies a minute for seven days. a dream performance environment, but
there were tears in the eyes of most of I did have a bit of a scare when the
the people at the table. I suspect that As we’ve discovered in the initial David security guards tried to take away
the people somehow thought that he Blaine specials, sometimes it’s the reaction my scissors.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 71

 MAGIC
IN
Buy books, DVD’s,
magazines, ephemera,
cards, silks, magic sets,
INDIA
by Dominic Twose AIMC

magicians for hire

n the pavement beside the beautiful Man Sagar Lake in
and more
Tel: 01362 859491
All available for sale online at
O Jaipur, pulling what look like home-made props from a
dirty bag, a ten-year-old boy performs a beautiful Hindu
Cups and Balls routine, splits a coin into two, and passes the
coins through his head. A local makes the point that there are
www.magicianslibrary.com plenty of beggars in the area; but this boy is trying to earn his
money though his skill. His assurance and skill belie his age;
and his handling of splitting the coin teaches me, who has
been studying magic for forty years, a valuable lesson. He is
clearly a name to watch, if only I knew what his name was.
The reality is, Indians love magic. India’s Magic Star, an
X Factor-style show featuring Franz Harary, has taken a Saturday
night prime-time slot over the summer. I’m on holiday
spending four weeks travelling through India. Everywhere
I go, when people hear I am a magician, interest peaks at
levels I’ve never experienced in England. Security in India is a
very thorough event since last year’s attacks in Mumbai’s
hotels, and passing through airport security is particularly
solemn; but on finding sponge balls in my pocket the guards
demanded to know what they were; I had no alternative but
to show them. The atmosphere was transformed, as the
guards called their friends across to watch.
In Delhi, Raj Kumar arranged a fabulous gathering of Delhi’s
finest magicians, including Rahul from India’s Magic Star, and
the family of Hare Krishna, including his grandson Yash and
his beautiful daughter Sangeeta Kapoor, winner of India’s Top
Female magician award. They overwhelmed me with their
hospitality, which involved speeches, around twenty bunches
of flowers, garlands, and a turban. Raj works tirelessly to
promote magic in India. He is the president of MAZMA, a
Delhi-based NGO working for the preservation of magic and
other traditional arts of India; he is also the Director of the
Delhi School of Magic, the General Secretary of the Society of
India Magicians, and the Programme Director for the Magic
Academy of India. He had brought the street magicians in off
the street for me today to show me their acts. As well as the
Cups and Balls, I saw the production of multiple mouthfuls of
iron needles, and an Indian take on the egg bag routine,

72 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 Raj Kumar and Dominic

Baba, a Delhi street magician, with Dominic

Dominic with daughter Olivia and the

street magician Farukh Shah

Snake charmer at Jaipur The young boy street magician

which ended with the egg being produced from under my arm. out three piles of seven cards…
I also saw the wonderful Indian Flying Man illusion, which I first However, while magic remains very popular in India, I’m told
saw described in Swami, but had never witnessed. the traditional magic may be becoming a lost art. Its secrets are
Elsewhere in India, magic flourishes too. Agra, home to the known to relatively few people and passed down only to family
Taj Mahal, had other treats as well. In a show arranged for me members who spend six to seven years learning and mastering
by Jadugar Jinesh (the founder of Jadu Sansthan Agra), and this art. Traditional Indian magic was typically performed for
widely reported in the Agra newspapers, I saw fire eating, and Royal Durbars, but now the magicians are reliant on what they
nails being thrust into a magician’s head. In Jaipur, a snake can gather on the street, where they are finding it increasingly
charmer charmed both me and my daughters. I saw the stage hard to compete with new forms of entertainment and make a
show of O.P. Sharma, who can boast of performing over 30,000 living. People have little time to watch street shows and modern
shows. Featuring a cast of around thirty, it was unlike any traffic does not provide room for such performances.
Western show I’d seen, with a rapid succession of illusions. Also But the magicians I met, notably Raj Kumar and the
in Jaipur, on seeing me with a pack of cards, one street vendor anonymous boy by the lake in Jaipur, give me hope that there
offered to show me a traditional Indian trick. Delighted, I handed are some who, with skill and determination, will keep the
over the cards; but my excitement soon dwindled when he dealt tradition alive.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 73

 Tricks submitted to the Editor for consideration for
The Cecil Lyle Award, a trophy given at The Magic Circle
Awards Banquet, are presented here for your enjoyment

Coin Bend by John Fells OBE AIMC

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6

Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9

would like to share with you my coin magnet to the top of the cap of a felt tip your right hand with the fingers cupped

I bending effect. This is the first time I

have explained the method to anyone.
I have been performing this in continental
pen, then use black nail varnish to colour
the magnet to match the rest of the pen
(Fig. 1).
around the cap of the pen thus obscuring
the five cent piece from view (Fig. 3).
With your left hand fingers pull on the
Europe so I use euro coinage. Additionally I wear, although this is not body of the pen. This will free the pen
I ask for the loan of a small copper strictly necessary, a PK ring on the third from the cap, which remains within the
coin such as a five euro cent piece. I have finger of my left hand. curled right fingers (Fig. 4). Hand the pen
the spectator mark the coin with a cross. For the sake of the explanation let us to the spectator and ask her to place a
I place the coin in the spectator’s hand say that the borrowed coin is five cents. cross over the face of the coin. Illustrate
and a moment later when the spectator Put a bend in one of these coins, draw a what you mean by using your hands. Your
opens her hand the coin is bent. cross on its face side and place it on the left fingers together imitate the action of
I mentioned that I use euro cent coins magnet on the cap of the pen (Fig. 2). holding the coin, while the right fingers
but this can equally be performed with Place the pen in your right trouser pocket imitate the action of holding the pen and
any other small ferrous coin. You will with the cap towards the pocket opening. writing on the coin, with the cap taking
need to construct a gimmicked pen, but You are set up. the part of the pen. The coin attached to
don’t panic, as all that is needed is to Ask for the loan of a five cent piece. the magnet continues to be obscured by
glue a small circular neodymium- Remove the pen from your pocket with the fingers.

74 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 As the coin is being marked, transfer from within your cupped left fingers. As In Continental Europe the one, two
the cap from the right hand to the left. the pen slides out the duplicate coin will and five euro cent coins are ferrous.
Just let the cap swing down so that it is be delivered to the tips of those fingers That is to say they respond to magnetic
now held within the left fingers as it was and will be held there (Fig. 8). attraction, as does the euro coin, so any
within the right, the pre-bent coin still The bend is obscured by the fingers. of these coins can be used for this
held by the magnet in the cap (Fig. 5). Only part of the coin will be seen. Gesture effect (although some extra care has to
Stretch the right hand forward to with your right hand, which now holds be taken when bending the euro coin
receive the borrowed coin. Look at the the pen, for the spectator to offer her as the centre tends to pop out). Also it
mark briefly and blow on it to dry the ink palm-up hand to you. The pen is in the is not as easy to hide. I now always go
(?). Look up at the spectator and ask for way, so place it in the left hand against for the cent coins and specifically the
the body of the pen. At the same time, the palm, allowing the coin at the five cents.
place the borrowed coin within the fingertips to be seen continuing to hold You can have a number of each of
cupped fingers of your left hand. If you the coin (Fig. 9). these coins prepared in your pocket
are wearing the PK ring, the coin will be Place the coin within the spectator’s and feel by touch when one is proffered
held there without the need for a palm hand as you close it around the coin. A by the volunteer spectator and place it
(Fig. 6). little acting now, as you pretend to put on the pen cap before taking it from
Stretch with your right hand to recover some energy into her hand before asking the pocket.
the pen and place it into the cap held her to open and reveal the bent coin. In
within your left fingers (Fig. 7). the meantime you have disposed of the [In the UK, new 1p and all 2p coins are
In a continuous motion pull the pen pen and coin in your left pocket. ferrous and may be used. Ed.]

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 75

DAVID BEN:
The first year with Ross was just getting
rid of the bad habits I had. He said to me,
“Your hands have to learn to work
together”. That is something you never
hear anybody talk about. He said that the

ACHIEVER
by Matthew Field MIMC
way you learn that is through Erdnase. We
went line by line over everything in Erdnase.
The greatest technique in Erdnase is (shh!)
in the introduction. I went page by page
with Ross through Expert at the Card
Table and Expert Card Technique.
David Ben MIMC is a most unusual man. purportedly resolve ... and that was me.
He trained and worked as a tax attorney, I did magic as I was going to school M Ross Bertram met with a sad end to
studied magic with the legendary Ross and Howard Lyons, who published Ibidem his life.
Bertram, worked as a close-up magician, magazine, had a conference where he D Not so much at the end – which was
mounted three one-man magic shows on made Ross Bertram, who was 70 years very positive – but during the twilight of
stage, and has authored some of the old, my roommate – the idea being to his life. In the 1960s he went through a
most important magic books of our time, pass some knowledge on. That changed nervous breakdown, due to the hardness
including the first of a two-volume my life. Ross invited me to his home in of show business. His books came out as
biography of Dai Vernon, the recently Toronto, about ten minutes away from a result of that and the recovery period. A
published Revelation book of Dai Vernon where I lived, and I asked if I could pay man named Msgr. Vincent Foy, a very
material, and Zarrow, with the magic of him for lessons. He said no, he didn’t take learned man who wrote magic under the
the man who gave us the world’s best- students like that, and I asked him about name Dr George E Casaubon, got him on
known false shuffle. He is also the author Derek Dingle, whom he had taught. He the road back.
of Advantage Play and Tricks. In addition, said he hadn’t taught Derek, Derek had Much of what I learned from Ross is
his charity Magicana promotes magic in his just asked a lot of questions. And then he what I call tacit knowledge – which are
native Canada and he recently took over added, “And you could ask me a lot of the underpinnings of technique, things
the operation of the Magic Collectors questions”. Eventually he passed stuff on workmen get through experience. For
Association. It was a real pleasure for me to me just so his magic could live for example, Ross is at dinner in a Chinese
to interview David on stage at the 39th another generation. I visited Ross virtually restaurant with about six or eight people.
MacMillan International Convention in every Saturday for about six years. My The bill comes and Ross grabs it and says,
London this past November, and I was father died when I was 17 and Ross “Let’s see; you had the eggrolls”, and
able to corner him for another hour became a father figure. tears off a piece of the bill. He continues
afterward to continue our chat. to go around the table tearing up the bill
M Bertram was a professional magician, and the waiter, standing by, is going nuts.
Matthew Field: You were on track to be doing close-up and lots more. There is a Ross then restores the bill. When did he
an attorney and actually practised as a tax picture of him in one of his books dressed get a duplicate? When everybody walked
attorney. What magical experience led in a crazy costume. in he just lagged behind and grabbed a
you into the world of magic? D Ross was known in magic circles blank bill off the cashier’s station. It’s
David Ben: I started relatively late in life, because of his material in the Stars of addressing those two questions that are
about age 13 or so, and gravitated Magic, but he really made his livelihood as so important in magic: How do you get
toward books and an early text for me a stage magician, a cabaret magician. The into it? And how do you get out of it?
was Royal Road to Card Magic. reason he developed his close-up was so
that he could perform after the show for M You graduated from three universities,
M But what led you into that? the people who hired and paid him. It’s a went to work at a law firm and then
D Doug Henning, seeing him on TV tough life doing magic. decided it wasn’t for you.
along with seeing Ricky Jay on the early D I produced the magic convention
Henning shows. NYCAN 90 and invited many of my
I was born in 1961. There was a famous friends to perform and lecture. It was
magic shop in town run by a man called great fun and I thought about leaving
Harry Smith and everybody went through law at that time but it was just the
there: Randi, Derek Dingle, Henning, and beginning of the recession. I spoke to
before that Ross Bertram. I was attracted the people at the law firm who told me
to close-up magic but vowed never to do that if I left I could come back, and I had
card tricks. I later discovered the beauty in a big database with the names of 400
card tricks. My parents were supportive; I meeting planners and agents on it. So,
got the Tarbell books – a volume at a time I thought I would take the plunge.
– as birthday and Christmas presents. I
think some people see the world M You had worked table hopping at
musically, some people think magically; restaurants previously, so you had
their brains are wired to see the world as experience. You wrote a book called
a series of paradoxes that they can Advantage Play in which you describe

76 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 Floating Ball www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

Photo: Arto Airaksinen

Left, bottom down: Casadega Proposition, ring off rope, looking mysterious, with Matthew Field at the 2010 International
Convention. Right: Needle trick

exactly what you just said, and how one Canadian broadcasting mogul and former and I’ve had several: Ross Bertram, Patrick
can apply the lesson learned in magic, sports team owner) at one of the Ibidem Watson, and Allan Slaight among them.
analytical thinking, to other non-magical Events. He was a rags-to-riches story and
pursuits by asking yourself the question, had started out doing a magic and mind M You did a third show, Tricks.
“What can I do to maximise my chances reading act when he was around 15 years D After The Conjuror we did The
of success in some area”. old. He and I bonded. He used to have the Conjuror’s Suite, where I explored the
D In Advantage Play I talk about the greatest parties of all time, and at one I Hofzinser parlour repertoire, and then we
difference between real risk and perceived met Patrick Watson, who at that time was staged Tricks. I enjoy the process of
risk. When I left the law firm, many the Chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting creating shows because until you are
people thought I was running away to Corporation. I described for him an idea I actually manipulating props in the studio
join the circus. In reality, I had no fears; I had for a show, The Conjuror, and he you don’t know how accurate or
had prepared. These days I give talks at agreed to work on it. It was set in the inaccurate the description of something
companies about this very subject, the early 20th century. The prestigious Shaw you are trying to recreate may be. I am in
difference between real risk and perceived Festival liked it and booked us into the the studio now working on another show
risk. 400-seat Royal George Theatre, a restored that will premier this June.
vaudeville house, where we did 95%
M Somewhat later a man named Patrick houses. It was great. Patrick became M Now you were involved in doing these
Watson entered your life. another mentor for me. Most people are magic shows and corporate speaking, you
▲

D I met Allan Slaight (the billionaire lucky if they have one mentor in their life had a wife and two children and you

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 77

 D Allan Slaight and I loved the Ibidem
Events that Howard Lyons put on and we
wanted to stage something similar, where
young and old could bond.

M And then, because obviously you

didn’t have enough to do, David Meyer,
the gentleman who was the head of the
Magic Collectors Association decided to
retire and guess who steps in to pick up
the reins?
D Well, as I like to say, “It seemed like a
good idea at the time”. David Meyer had
been at the helm of it for 15 years, and
with the quarterly journal, Magicol and an
annual convention to produce, it’s a tough
gig. My idea was to build an
infrastructure so that Magicana could
handle most of it. I learned from Slaight
John Thompson, David Ben, Jay Marshall
that the key is to hire great people and let
decided to go to work on a biography of idea for Magicana [www.magicana.com], them do their thing. One of those people
the famous Canadian magician who because I was competing against arts is the designer of Magicol, Michael
moved to the United States. organisations that were getting Albright, whom I met when he was
D Yes, Dai Vernon. That came about government funding. Magic didn’t fit into designing Revelation for Mike Caveney.
because Patrick Watson was the any of the existing organisations, so we
commissioning editor of the television created our own. One of our first M And now you have brought up this
series called The Canadians – Biographies programmes was My Magic Hands. Julie Vernon book, Revelation. There had been
of a Nation. I was retained as both the Eng, the daughter of magician and magic a Vernon book called Revelations, with an
magic consultant and the associate store owner Tony Eng, who was working ‘s’, the Vernon annotations to The Expert
producer. I put Vernon’s life on a timeline. with me on my shows, wanted to do a at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase.
We were in New York filming and I met community-based project and I suggested D As Vernon said, “The book I always
Vernon’s son, Derek Verner, who agreed that she broaden her scope and we work wanted to write”.
to speak about his father for the first with troubled kids in the community using
time. This got me thinking that maybe I magic as an introduction to decision- M There were rumours of photographs
should write the book. I got access to a making and to the arts. I put the proposal that Vernon had taken and that the
lot of material that had not previously forward to a government agency – the person who was to publish the book, Jay
been released. Ontario Trillium Foundation – to get seed Marshall, had lost them – twice. Then Jay
money. The programme has been very Marshall died, and lo and
M Were you very much into Vernon successful and is now in its eighth year, behold, Gabe Fajuri,
before this? now financed by the Slaight family. going through the Marshall
D No. I was a Marlo guy, as had been Magicana runs other programmes as effects, found both sets.
Bertram, who had known Marlo. Marlo well. ‘Senior Sorcery’ is one of them. We D I’ll never forget it. Gabe came
had given four lectures and I was at two also publish books on magic, including to Toronto to spend New Year’s and
of them. I started exploring Vernon, and I two recent reprints of early gambling he brought the original, typed manuscript
knew I was the perfect guy to write books. We also coordinate the magic and photos, which were in a pile. We
Vernon because I wasn’t in the LA camp component of the Luminato Festival in kept this under wraps for a while. It was
and I wasn’t in the New York camp. So I Toronto. I suppose it is all part of the the Holy Grail. It was tough matching up
started amassing the material and I got master plan. I wanted it to be like photographs with
lucky because Derek had a tonne of the Shaw Festival, but where most the text with no
Vernon material including silhouettes, and performing arts organisations start with key or index.
all the props from the Harlequin Act. the performance art and then develop You really have
George Daily put a price on the material, the community outreach, I wanted to to understand
and I bought it. Derek said, “You know, if reverse that and start with a community Erdnase, so thank you
you had offered me 500 bucks for the outreach, and then expand into doing Ross Bertram.
whole thing I would have thought it was other projects, like bringing performances
a good deal”. Derek did very well on that by Juan Tamariz, Mac King and Max M Then you decided that wasn’t
sale and, as a result, I also got to know Maven to Canada and the convention enough – the typescript, the photos – and
the other son, Ted. I then got more we produced called 31 Faces North. that there were a bunch of other things
involved with the family. that should be in there.
M 31 Faces North was a tiny, invitation- D In the Vernon photographs there were
M When did Magicana come into play? only convention on the order of the old his hands demonstrating Topping the
D In the late ‘90s I came up with the Ibidem Event. Deck, his famous Top Palm. In discussion

78 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

with Leo Horowitz, Vernon said he had a act”. I ask students to reflect on the scene
Palm that he thought was his best and they’re performing in because it – the
wanted it to be called the Vernon Palm scene – is the starting point for the choice
and there were photographs in the batch of material that you are going to do.
showing that. I also had photos of
something called the Ping Pong Shift that M Wouldn’t you say that 95% of magic
I had acquired in the material I got from today ignores that idea?
Derek Verner. D Absolutely. And they also ignore the
Tragic Rhythm. I can be quite flippant,
M You are one of the most analytical and say that the real secret of magic is
people I know and among the analyses that no one has told them that Ed Sullivan
you have done of magic are some “big” has gone off the air (a popular US
ideas about what makes magic work, television variety show host in the 1960s).
structure and things like that. They still think they’re going to get
D I’m not interested in just how things booked to do the Sullivan show, which
work, I’m interested in why things work. went off the air in 1972 because nobody
Ross Bertram used to say you want to learn was watching. I’m anti-competition, the
the principles inherent in the work you do FISMs and all the rest. The competitors
so you can apply them to other things, devote all that time to develop an eight-
Patrick Watson and David
something I wrote about in Advantage minute act for the Sullivan show that
Play. When I first met Teller we really got doesn’t exist. Yes, there are places in “sharing wonder”. We’re in the sharing
along and became great friends. He Europe where that sort of act will play. wonder business, with young, with old,
explained to me the notion of the Tragic I’ve had discussions with Patrick Watson with magicians because I believe that’s
Rhythm, a way of structuring material so about whether magic is an art or a craft. I how we all grow.
that it has an organic build and the now say it’s a craft but in the hands of
audience feels they are part of the process. the right person it can be an art. And M You’re at a watershed point in your
magic has produced very few great artists. life now, about to turn 50. Where would
M And this is a lecture that you gave at I once saw a statement in a Picasso you like to see yourself developing?
the November 2010 International exhibit that you need three things to be D I have a notebook with enough
Convention. an artist: a superb technical grounding, a projects to keep me busy for 10 years. I’ve
D Teller also recommended another sense of the history of the art, and the got a play I’ve mapped out, I have some
book, A Grammar of Motives by Kenneth vision for the future. My personal goal has television projects, the second volume of
Burke. I couldn’t get through it because it been to understand the past with my the Vernon biography to write, and the
was too dense. But one phrase struck a shows, The Conjuror and Conjuror’s Suite, new show. I’m looking forward to the
chord with me and when I teach, this is technique with my studies of Bertram and next years.
what I start off with. Vernon and now the question is what is
The main principle of the vision going forward. M We are living in an age fraught with
A Grammar of uncertainties about things like terrorism,
Motives is “the M You have a show you global warming and all the rest. Do you
scene contains the want to do, books that you think magic can maintain its sense of
want to write, and you want to wonder for people?
raise money for Magicana ... D More than ever! I think people need
D And here is an open invitation to that reassurance. One of the lines I often
everyone to visit www.magicana.com. We use at the end of my performance is,
have the technology and the people to “Several years ago The New York Times
create online exhibitions. We just did one devoted its Sunday magazine to secrets
on Ross Bertram, we’ve had a Sid Lorraine [3 December 2000]. Not just that secrets
blog and I want to use these as examples, exist, but why they are so important to us.
templates, for There, Luc Sante wrote, ‘People need
collectors and secrets because they need the assurance
people that there is something left to discover,
interested in that they have not exhausted the limits of
different areas of their environment, that a prize might lie in
magic to suggest wait like money in the pocket of an old
that we could work jacket, that the existence of things
with others interested beyond their ken might propose as a
in these areas corollary that their own minds contain
collaboratively to put their unsuspected corridors. It’s not that secrets
expertise in the framework make them feel small’, Sante wrote, ‘but
for a larger market. I hope we’re going to that they make the world seem bigger’.
David Ben and do an Erdnase-related exhibit with Jason That’s what we’re here for. To make the
David Suzuki England. The motto of Magicana is world seem bigger.”

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 79

 Edwin A. Dawes

389: THE LIFE AND CREATIONS OF JAMES HENRY STEELE, ‘THE MAGICAL NOVELTICIAN’ Part One
he creation of novel effects and of births of another daughter Mabel aged

T styles of presentation are essential

factors in the progression of the art
and practice of magic, yet comparatively
eight and a son Herbert aged six. They
were now living at 94 Charltons Terrace,
Boosbeck, and Edward had advanced to
few practising magicians are imbued with become ‘Iron Stone Deputy Below
the necessary inventive talents to devise Ground’, while James at the age of
them and consequently there is a sixteen was working as a ‘Labourer Below
dependency on their inventive brethren Ground’, an occupation that was not
and the ‘back-room’ inventors. In the congenial to him and he left home. His
present contribution we focus on a abandonment of the ironstone mining
Yorkshire magician for whom originality industry and departure clearly caused
was always a paramount consideration considerable friction with his father as he
and who did his utmost to foster it. told me he went to Tow Law in County
In the 1930s and 1940s readers of The Durham as a young man, without work,
Magic Wand and Eric Lewis’s The Magic and relationships prevented him returning
of 1937, Further Studies in Mystery to the family. He performed magic in a
(Further Magical Studies) and Part 1 of concert party there, while at nearby Crook
Modus Operandi first became familiar he displayed some versatility by playing
with the name of J.H. Steele as the the cornet in a band.
creator of some unusual tricks, though Jim Steele at Guisborough Empire (c. 1918) Following the outbreak of the First
comparatively little was known of the World War in August 1914 Jim (as he was
man behind the mysteries. always known to his friends) volunteered for the Royal Naval
He was born James Henry Smith at Charltons, near Division. After training in Kent he was sent out to Antwerp and
Guisborough in Cleveland on 22 March 1895 and an interest thence to Flanders, where he was involved in fighting, gained
in conjuring was aroused in boyhood. He was always the 1914 Star Medal (the so-called Mons Star), and thus
somewhat reticent about his early life but the census returns qualified as a member of the Old Contemptibles Association by
for 1901 and 1911 provide some relevant information. In virtue of being under fire before November 1914.
1901 at the age of six he was living with his parents, Edward From Flanders, Jim progressed to the Aegean Islands and in
and Maria Smith aged respectively 32 and 34, at 38 Charltons 1915 was involved in the Gallipoli campaign, where he was
Terrace, Stanghow, together with his sister Minnie aged eight. wounded and left for dead on the battlefield. The Turks went
His father’s occupation is given as ‘Ironstone Miner round bayoneting the bodies and he received a wound to his
Underground’. Ten years later the family had enlarged with the arm, extremely fortunate that he was not bayoneted in the
abdomen. He was found by the
Australian troops, transferred to an
Egyptian hospital where he recovered,
convalesced, and then was invalided out
of the forces.
It was at this time, in 1917, that his
magical career started to flourish with
appearances variously as J. Smith, Leo
Smith, J.H. Steele and ‘Catch ‘im, the
Original Conjurer’. He was able to see
magicians who appeared at
Middlesbrough Empire and was starting
to collect photographs, autographs and
general magic memorabilia, an activity
that continued unabated throughout his
long life.
His first appearance in print seems to
have been as Jas. H. Smith in Wilford
Harry Leat’s entry in Steele’s autograph album
Hutchinson’s Conjurers Chronicle for

80 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

MIMC

March 1920 with a trick titled ‘A Light Hem, or Shot Silk’. Jim’s enthusiasm for magic led him to write to friend Harry
Originality was already a passion with him and in a competition Leat asking for addresses of other magicians in the region with
for original titles for magic books that Hutchinson ran in the a view to forming a magical society in Beverley. However,
same journal he found himself (now as J.H. Steele) in good before that aim came to fruition, Hull Magicians’ Circle was
company, coming second to Sam Sharpe. But in a later founded in 1933 and Jim joined in the following year.
competition run by Hutchinson he was announced in the May- Romance had blossomed and in 1933 he married Gladys
August (1931) issue as the winner of the best combination trick Walker of Beverley and the couple were to enjoy 19 years of
making use of the Card Slide. He introduced a description of happy life together before his wife died in 1952. They had no
himself as a ‘Magical Noveltician,’ which he used on some of his children.
business cards. Living in Beverley, only seven miles from Hull, now provided
Jim was a good customer of Harry Leat and a recipient of all ready access to both the Palace and Tivoli Theatres where
of Leat’s Leaflets. Photographs of his apparatus and tables variety reigned, which enabled him to see the magicians and
disclose the use of Leat’s Charm Silks such as the signs of the ventriloquists currently touring the halls. Afterwards Jim
Zodiac (an irritant for The Magic Circle Council!) and the badge usually managed to meet them backstage and secure their
of Goldston’s Magicians’ Club. One of his children’s items for photographs and autographs for his rapidly expanding albums.
Christmas parties was ‘Santa’s Cottage,’ a huge production of He had good recall of the acts he had seen, a fund of
silks of various types that owed much interesting anecdotes regarding some of them, and in
to Leat. A photo of Leat standing at his response to my query (challenge!) to list all those he had
back door, which adorned one of Jim’s witnessed, compiled the following list of 73 performers,
albums, is inscribed, “To friend Steele testimony to the many magicians and ventriloquists who were
(provided he doesn’t) From Harry Leat. working the music halls prior to their general demise in the
Picture reproduction from his latest second half of the 20th century.
success ‘The Back Door’ or ‘The man
behind the scenes.’”
Magicians seen by Jim Steele
By the late 1920s work in Cleveland
had become scarce, so, seeking Horace Goldin Henri Becker Will Bland
employment elsewhere, Jim got on his Chris Charlton Chung Ling Soo Fred Culpitt
bike and rode to Beverley, where one of D’Alba Dante DeBiere
his sisters lived. According to his own Deveen Arthur Dowler Tom Fagan
account he arrived in Beverley in 1930, Douglas Francis Len Gazeka Gogia Pasha
although his nephew thought it was Jack Kinson Jack LeDair Lionel King
The 1914 Star (The rather earlier, around 1927. This latter Li Chung Soo Ling Foo Linga Singh
Mons Medal) Maurice David Poole John Popsie
date would be more in accord with the
fact Hutchinson’s editorial in the October-December 1929 issue Ali Shah Sorcar Sr Ten Ichi Troupe
of Conjurers Chronicle recorded that Mr J.H. Steele of Beverley Ormonde Penstone Charles Morritt Houdini
had sent to him an 1828 playbill for Ingleby’s last three Rigoletto Brothers David Devant Jasper Maskelyne
appearances at the Beverley Theatre on 23, 24 and 27 October, Walford Bodie Cecil Ducarel Robert Harbin
and described some of the feats to be performed. Walter C. Jeans Levante Lafayette
Jim’s sister was married to a painter and through this Signor Arvi Henri Hilton Bertini
connection he secured a job and settled in Beverley for the rest T.J. Anderson Murray Coram
of his life. After training, he became a painter, decorator and Mystic Saxbys Royal Raceford Great Raymond
sign writer, working initially for the East Riding County Council Arthur Prince Sun Yat Sen Ching Wu
painting and lettering signposts throughout the area. Edgar Benyon Cecil Lyle Cingalee
Very soon he had established himself as a popular entertainer The Hillards Fred Brezin Cyraldo
in Beverley and throughout the East Riding, appearing regularly Maurice Fogel Hassan Kyoto
at concerts, fetes, flower shows, garden parties and children’s Rafayelle Edward Victor Carl Hertz
parties. A very grainy photo in one of his albums reproduced Virgil Chris Van Bern Jack Kodell
here depicts him in the midst of a two-hour al fresco Carlton Artemus Carmo
performance for the 1931 flower show held at Weel, a small Masoni Yettmah Chefalo
hamlet near Beverley. His stage was a farm wagon fitted with a Howard DeCourcy
▲

curtained back drop and wings.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 81

 Performing at Weel Flower Show, 1932

From his albums it seems that the first of his ‘captures’ from
the Hull Theatres was Horace Goldin in December 1930,
followed by Edgar Benyon, Bertini, T.J. Anderson, Arthur Prince,
Ned Williams (later Robert Harbin) and Dolly, Murray, Coram, The
Great Hillards and Henry Bekker all in 1931, which gives some
idea of the flow of magicians and ventriloquists through the Hull
Theatres at that time. Jim treasured his albums and when at a
Llandudno convention he was offered £100 for one of these he Three more contributions followed in 1936. ‘Effects in
not only turned it down but also ensured that the offer received Continuity’ described the production of a paper coil from napkin
mention in the local paper! rings linked to a Torn and Restored paper strip, and ‘A Fan-ciful
Jim started to contribute some articles to The Magic Wand in Card Change’ proffered a method for changing an indifferent
1935 with ‘My Eggs from a Handkerchief’ routine in which a card protruding from a fan to a selected card. The third of these,
borrowed bowler hat is used as the receptacle for a duck’s egg, ‘My “Henry” Effect’ was a children’s production item based on
followed by a hen’s, pigeon’s and bantam’s egg, each in turn the then popular cartoon character Henry, featured on cigarette
shaken from a handkerchief shown on both sides before each cards by Kensitas. A framed door is opened to disclose an empty
production. The four different-sized eggs are then removed from interior, closed, and when re-opened Henry is seen carrying a
the hat and displayed. suitcase in each hand. From these cases are produced a string of

82 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

flags and silks and a collection of Leat’s Charm silks. This trick
was derived from J.F. Orrin’s ‘Flossie’.
The following year saw the publication of The Magic of 1937
compiled by Eric C. Lewis and Dan Bellman, for which Jim
provided ‘Vanishing Pips’, a ‘sympathy’ effect in which the
names of four cards from a shuffled pack, displayed on a stand,
are written on a slate which is then placed in an empty paper
bag. The cards are turned backs outwards and one is then
chosen. The other three cards are removed from the stand and
held in the hand, backs out. The wrapped slate is leant against
the stand and the cards in the hand are passed singly over the
slate and then turned face out to reveal they are now blank.
When the slate is removed from the bag it is seen that the
names of the three unselected and now blank cards have been
mysteriously erased and only the name of the selected card
remains.
The coronation of King George VI in 1937 had stimulated a
number of ideas for tricks suitable for the numerous celebratory
children’s street and house parties and Jim Steele was no
exception. In 1938 The Magic Wand carried his ‘A Crowning
Effect’ with the suggestion that, since its coronation topicality
was now spent, a photo of Napoleon, Anthony Eden, Winston
Churchill or other celebrity might be substituted for the King. In
essence a large photo of the King is built up in a frame from jig-
saw pieces and then covered with a Union Jack flag. A crown is
now placed in a Chinese puzzle box from where it disappears,
leaving in its place a God Save the King Silk, which is hung from
hooks on the base of the frame. The flag is removed from the
frame to reveal the crown on the monarch’s head.
Two further tricks by Jim Steele appeared in Eric Lewis’s Modus
Operandi Part 1, published by Davenport’s in 1944. The first of
these was ‘Swings and Roundabouts’, an apparatus coin effect
suitable for platform use which Jim had originally intended to
market. The eye-catching equipment comprised a miniature
roundabout with six animal figures, a fairground boat swing and
a stand displaying twelve coins in two rows of six. To fairground
operator patter, the principle of what you lose on the swings you
gain on the roundabout is demonstrated by placing six pennies
in wells in each machine. It is explained that today he is about to
lose on the swings and a spectator selects a number from one to
six, say four. The swing and roundabout are set in motion and
when they stop it is discovered there are now only two coins in
the swing and ten on the roundabout. The showman can thus
stay in business!
The second trick was ‘Nail Polish’, the idea for which
apparently Steele and Lewis had engaged in correspondence and
suggested different means of accomplishment. The published
method was that designed by Lewis which enabled it to be
suitable for platform work. A large, plywood cut-out of a lady’s
hand with flesh-coloured nails is examined and then placed
within a glass frame in full view. A handkerchief is then draped
over the top of the frame just sufficiently to cover the nails
leaving the rest of the hand exposed. Some half-dozen opaque,
screw cap pots are shown to contain nail polish of different
colours. With the caps replaced the pots are mixed up and one
chosen, which is then waved over the frame containing the
hand. On removing the handkerchief the nails are seen to be
painted with the chosen colour.
It’s rather amusing in the 21st century, when garish nails are
commonplace, to read, “By using for effect an unusual colour of
nail polish, such as green, the result is somewhat ludicrous.”
(To be concluded)

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 83

 Mandy Davis MIMC Convenor of Reports. Photographed by John

Monday 6 December 2010

Tag Magic – John Ward MMC

Reported by Brian Sibley

John Ward’s Tag Magic turned out to be
a bit like tag wrestling but with magic
instead of arm-locks and bear-hugs. A
series of magicians performed routines
with props passed on from one to
another. John Ward left Richard Pinner
with a piece of rope, Hugh Nightingale
John Ward David Weeks Chris Wood
inherited a deck of cards, Katherine
Rhodes got a wallet, David Weeks a
book, Chris Wood a £50 note and Will
Houstoun a silver dollar. An entertaining
cavalcade in which some of the best
magical moments were those in which
props were artfully switched during the
hand-over!

[Special thanks to Brian from your

Editor for filing this report after the
assigned reporter failed to show. Ed.] Will Houstoun Hugh Nightingale Katherine Rhodes Richard Pinner

Monday 13 December 2010 magician to perform at the venue, how Chris had a particular fondness for
The Magic of the Palladium – featuring the mid-air vanish and the dramatic and elegant performances of
Chris Woodward MIMC subsequent reappearance of a man, in Richiardi.
1897. Chris journeyed through the various Most recently Chris related how
Reported by Chris McGeever acts to have trod the famous boards perhaps the most ambitious, and
Recently the author of a book throughout the 20th century, supporting successful, magic show he had witnessed
chronicling the history of the iconic his talk with images of programmes and at the venue took place in September
London Palladium theatre, Chris posters advertising their performances. A 2008 – ‘A Tribute to Siegfried and Roy’,
presented an overview of the magicians notable turning point came in 1914 with produced by Paul Stone.
who have made the first royal show, the bill of which This was a stimulating and thoroughly
appearances on its stage featured Rameses, a performer of Polish informative presentation with an
since its beginnings in the descent but who portrayed an Egyptian important lesson: we magicians should
late 19th century. wonder-worker. Having been stamped know our history so we can build on our
Dedicating the lecture to with the royal seal of approval, magic – heritage. We can figure out where we are
the late Charles Reynolds, once seen as a gauche, music hall going so much more easily if we know
Chris reminisced about his diversion – gradually became respectable, where we came from.
weekly trips to the mainstream family entertainment fit for
Birmingham Hippodrome, the Palladium’s stage. Monday 10 January 2011
during his childhood years, The theatre also played host to familiar Keith Cooper MIMC: A Magical
Chris Woodward which fed his later names of the past, including Chung Ling Life – with Graham Reed MIMC
fascination with the Palladium. What Soo, Cardini, P.T. Selbit and, not least,
started as a brief one-page history for Houdini, who had a run of three daily Reported by Geoffrey Shisler
the theatre programme in 1990 one-man shows for a fortnight in 1920. For those of us who have ‘real’ jobs, it is
blossomed into a full-length tome Closer to the present day we learned always fascinating to hear how those who
which took Chris ten to fifteen years to how Tommy Cooper held the record for have been successful in our magic world
research and complete. the highest number of Palladium achieved their success. This evening we
Buatier de Kolta was the first appearances by a magician – as well as were treated to the story of an act that

84 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

Ward MMC

became one of the best, ‘Keith science fiction was shown in a number
Cooper’ and then, ‘Keith of his effects. Drawing on an episode of
Cooper and Carol’. The X-Files his approach, to a card
Interviewed by the genial and revelation, featured a delightful moment
popular Graham Reed, we of realisation for the participant. Red
were given many insights into and black cards were dealt into a 4x3
a life spent traveling the globe formation on the table, and the black
as an entertainer, and perhaps cards removed, to leave the reds
one of the most pleasant perfectly-arranged to outline the
things we learned was that, number and suit of the selection.
throughout his performing Taking the line that magic need not
career and appearing often just be for the eyes Oliver opted to play
with top stars of the Keith and Carol Cooper with the other senses. ‘Touching
entertainment world, Keith was very hard- Magic Circle for nearly five years and, in Transposition’ was a copper/silver
pressed to think of even one person he 2009, he was presented with a Silver routine that fooled a spectator’s sense of
worked with who was unpleasant or Wand recognizing services to the society touch. In another routine, which focused
difficult. I suspect this had as much to do over many years. He is the current on the taste buds, the spectator chose
with Keith as it did with those with whom President of the British Ring of the IBM. the same two flavours of jelly beans
he worked! This was a truly interesting and which had been predicted in advance.
We started with a compilation film entertaining evening Oliver also shared the creation he
showing a very young Keith Cooper who thanks to both most frequently used in front of real-
was the youngest registrant at The Magic interviewer and world spectators – the ‘Cardboard
Circle’s Golden Jubilee – he was eight! – interviewee. Birthday Cake’, in which a drawing of a
and showing many aspects of his career. [The Hands-On cake, complete with flaming candle is
Keith’s father, Norman, served as Deputy Pre-show in the shown, and the flame in the drawing
Treasurer and Deputy Secretary of The Devant Room disappears as the spectator blows it
Magic Circle in the ‘60s, so it was hardly featured Tim Sutton out. Midway through the lecture, we
surprising that Keith took up an interest in who taught some took part in a quick Creativity
conjuring. card effects.] Tim Sutton Workshop which featured insights,
Keith performed at many ‘At Homes’ from Oliver’s background, in the
and in 1965 became the Young Magician Monday 17 January 2011 advertising industry.
of the Year. At that time he was Plotting Away – Oliver Meech MMC Oliver challenged and inspired his
particularly influenced by Claude Chandler audience to think more creatively,
and Ron MacMillan, for whom he also Reported by Chris McGeever instead of using minor variations on a
worked for a time, and from whom he Wishing to be billed as ‘The Creative well-worn plot. It was refreshing to see
learned manipulation. It was in 1969 that Conjuror’, Oliver Meech described the a performer travelling off the beaten
he turned professional. pleasure he took in deploying existing, track and offering something different
Keith worked at seaside towns, holiday known methods to make new effects from the standard fare.
camps, clubs, and on cruises, for many which come across to an
years. In 1975 he met Carol when they audience as entirely different
were working in Torquay, and so the act and fresh. Not content with
‘Keith Cooper and Carol’ was born. As fooling magicians, using
Keith says: ‘She replaced my table.’ esoteric moves, he emphasised
However, it was not long before Carol how the most important
became an integral consideration is how the
part of the act that audience perceives the trick –
was to become very we must always attempt to see
busy, touring for it from their perspective.
many months at a Introducing himself via an
time. autobiographical story-deck
Keith served as style routine, with alphabet
Treasurer of The cards, Oliver’s passion for Oliver Meech

Graham Reed
www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 85
 Ian Rowland MIMC
MIMC

Bach & Bunnies

his month it’s about an obsession and some sponge guitarists such as John Williams and Julian Bream.

T bunnies. Please note that I said ‘and’ some sponge

bunnies, not ‘with’. This is an important distinction.
The obsession to which I refer goes back to my sixteenth
However, I also unearthed a version by the less well-known
Paul Galbraith, which turned out to be very interesting indeed.
Galbraith has a very unusual approach to his art. He often uses
birthday, when someone kindly gave me a tape of ‘Switched an eight string guitar (as opposed to the more normal six) and he
On Bach’ by Wendy Carlos (younger readers can find out what plays the instrument in the upright ‘cello’ position. There are
a ‘tape’ was by visiting a museum, or Matt Field’s music clips of him on YouTube if you want to see what I mean, though
collection). In case you’ve never heard of it, this remarkable sadly not of him playing the prelude itself. Galbraith’s
album consists of assorted Bach works played entirely on idiosyncratic approach to the guitar may look very odd, but his
synthesisers. It is considered something of a milestone in the playing is outstanding. His unusual approach allows him to
history of electronic music. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole achieve a purity of tone that would be next to impossible with
album, but the very first track is the one that had me utterly more conventional technique. Now, hold that thought for a
hooked. I’ll tell you more about it in just a minute. minute while I mention a miracle I saw not so long ago.
Before I go any further, I should offer the honest declaration I organised a special lunch for a
that I’m a musical ignoramus. What I know about classical friend’s birthday, and hired my
music would fit neatly on the end of a wand. Any ‘facts’ in the friend Dan Alexander to do some
following account have been culled from Wikipedia and other close-up for us. Dan delivered a
sources, and kindly corrected by Tim Sutton, one of those storming set, as always, but he
irritatingly multi-talented people who is not only a great finished with something I would
magician but an expert in all matters musical. not have thought possible. He did a
Around 1720, I gather, Bach wrote six instrumental pieces sponge bunny mentalism routine.
(called ‘partitas’) for solo violin. They were all works of genius, For adults. And it was wonderful.
of course, but the prelude to the third partita was something You may wonder if I’m being wry
special even by his standards. He ‘knocked one out of the or facetious, but I’m perfectly
park’, as refined music scholars like to say. The prelude serious. It was a very entertaining
consists almost entirely of semiquavers, which basically means routine that held the attention of
it’s like listening to a musical machine gun. The notes cascade half a dozen intelligent adults for
after one another in a spectacularly dazzling fashion, with one several minutes, and none felt the Dan Alexander and Bunnies
musical idea following another so fast it’s hard to keep up. It is least bit patronised. The climax to the routine was as impressive
apparently a very demanding piece technically, which is why a piece of inexplicable mindreading as anything else I’ve seen in
people trying to play it look like someone frantically trying to mentalism. I don’t want to mention specifics, because it’s Dan’s
saw a violin in half (tap ‘Bach BWV 1006’ into YouTube and routine and who needs copycats? But to give you the broad gist,
see for yourself). imagine saying to someone, ‘Think of any number you want, and
Bach must have liked this prelude quite a bit, because a few that’s how many bunnies you will be holding in your hand’. If
years later he re-cycled it. He needed an opening instrumental they say 3, they find they are holding 3. If they say 9, they’re
section for a choral piece, so he took the prelude, transcribed holding 9. This isn’t exactly what Dan does, but it’s near enough
it for organ, and added a few small parts for other for illustrative purposes. And all the muggles at the table found
instruments. Thus he cobbled together the ‘Sinfonia to it amazing and inexplicable.
Cantata No. 29’. It is this piece, rendered on synthesisers, that If you had asked me if it were possible to devise a serious
stunned my mind at the age of 16 and started my obsession. mentalism piece featuring sponge bunnies, I would have said no.
Find
To be fair, I think most books,
people DVD’s,
who know anything about
Guitar Star mentalism wouldmagazines, ephemera,
have said the same, because it sounds
Over the years, I’ve collected many different versions of both inherently absurd. However, Dan has a very creative approach to
cards, silks, magic sets,
the prelude and the sinfonia, and I never tire of listening to magic, and often does things that others would overlook. Even
new interpretations. In particular, because I play a bit of what one might callmagicians for hire
his ‘standard’ close-up work has a very
rubbishy guitar myself, I’ve tried to track down examples of classy edge to it, stemming largely
and from Dan’s love of improvising
more
brave souls playing this fiendish prelude on the guitar. Of and taking risks.
course the internet has made this hunt much easier. If you go When it comes to any 05601 259596
of the creative arts, those trying to do
to Amazon and select the ‘MP3 Downloads’ department, you things in a All available
different and unusualforway
sale online
are the at will take
ones who
can easily search every downloadable file they’ve got. Thus I the art to new places. I’m delighted that my interest in the
was easily able to find the prelude as rendered by well-known
www.magicianslibrary.com
magnificent Bach prelude led me to the amazing Mr. Galbraith

86 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

and his weird, yet sublime, way of playing guitar. I’m delighted close-up book test with two spectators and two books that I
that Dan could come up with something as mad as ‘sponge think would prove very perplexing. It’s a limited edition of 300
bunny mentalism’, and actually find a way to make it work. I’m copies, available from lewis@susheela.eclipse.co.uk .
also delighted that we have younger stars of mentalism, such as
Chris Cox and Silence (or S1L3NC3, as he prefers to write it) QUICK TRICK
who are discovering how to bring mentalism to the younger This little demonstration is great for parties and other informal
audiences of today. situations. Let’s say you are at a table with half a dozen friends
So, let me try to salvage a few points from all of this. enjoying a drink or two. You arrange four objects on the table.
1. If recycling old stuff is good enough for Bach, it’s good You turn away so that you truly, honestly cannot see or hear
enough for us. See if you can take an old routine you haven’t any clues. You invite a spec to rest her fingertip, very gently,
performed for years and usefully re-cycle it into something new. on any one of the objects for just 15 seconds, and then take
2. If you need to search for music for your act, the MP3 search her finger away again. You turn back, look at the spec, look at
on Amazon is truly a thing of joy. Check it out if you haven’t the four objects, and explain that the psychometric energy will
already. always leave a faint trace. You then successfully tell her which
3. Go to YouTube and look at some of the people I’ve object she touched. You can repeat this three or four times,
mentioned, especially Paul Galbraith. He will inspire you to and it will drive everyone crazy. The objects can be any four
achieve something incredible. If you can spare 79p, download objects, no-one at the table is stooging or cueing you, and it’s
his version of the prelude (BWV 1006). He deserves your effectively impromptu. If you saw this demonstrated, would
support. you guess the method?
4. Approaching your art in an unusual or highly idiosyncratic The principle involved is wonderful yet seriously under-
way is A Good Thing. At first you may have your critics and utilised in impromptu mentalism. It is the remote confederate.
detractors telling you that you’re doing it wrong. But success is a Here’s how it works. Choose four moderately large objects
wonderful antidote to criticism. So long as you eventually (beer glass, handbag etc.) and avoid anything very small.
produce some great results, your critics will vanish like Visibility is important. Position them fairly spaced out on the
cockroaches when the light goes on. table, towards the four corners. Agree with your confederate
5. To borrow a note from Jeff McBride, your aim is to find not that the four objects are mentally numbered 1 – 4 clockwise,
just the greatness in you, but the greatness that is only in you, starting at your far right, from wherever you were sitting
and the contribution that only you can make by virtue of being before the demonstration began. Your confederate is nowhere
your unique, wonderful self. near the table where you are performing. He can be at a
different table, propping up the bar, in fact anywhere at all,
Top Jones even the other side of the room, so long as he can see which
I’ve often raved about the superb creative work of Lewis Jones, object the spec is touching. He signals to you via large, clear
for the simple reason that it deserves to be raved about. Well, signals you can see from a distance, such as hand touching
good news! Sound the gong, put out the flags and give the face = 1, raised glass in hand = 2, arms folded = 3 and
servants the afternoon off … he’s put out a new book! It’s called checking his phone = 4. You only need one quick glimpse in
‘Top Score’, and it’s very good indeed. It offers the familiar mix his direction each time. So long as you and your confederate
of card mysteries that rely on ingenuity rather than sleight of rehearse this well, you can perform it at any gathering where
hand, plus a gentle sprinkling of pure mentalism. The beauty lies you both happen to be present. When presented well, this can
in the depth of experience that be as baffling as anything else in mentalism. It is especially
Jones, a veteran of the magic delightful if those present at your table suspect there is a
scene, brings to his creations as stooge or confederate among themselves, which does
well as the raw cunning of happen!
the methods he dreams up.
One item in the book,
‘The Odd Couple’, Invitation
offers some fresh If you have items, stories, jokes or vicious rumours of
thinking on the old interest to mentalists, please drop me a line
‘37’ psych force, (ian@ianrowland.com). If you can’t afford Derren and
while ‘Double want to hire a fairly good also-ran mentalist, or you just
Booked’ is a have time to kill, please visit www.ianrowland.com.
remarkable

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 87

 Tim Reed AIMC

Magic in Advertising

88 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 agicians, and the image of magic my magical ads collection, and it is the jewellery brand, Tous, chose Kylie

M (conjuring), have been used in

magazine and newspaper
advertisements for many decades. Always
Guinness company that lead the way
here. I particularly like the ‘Cousin
Montagu The Prestidigitator’ poem and
Minogue to play a glamorous magician
in a Parisian theatre. The campaign was
shot by renowned photographer Ellen
safe and reassuring, it is an art form artwork from 1960. The poem, even then, Von Unwerth and the adverts and
which has excited generations and one mentions Maskelyne and Chung Ling Soo. stunning catalogues, entitled ‘Magic
with which corporations want to be An ad for Textron clothing has great, Show’, have Kylie, in full top hat and
associated. classy artwork. Shell used magic in the tails with wand levitating a handbag,
In my collection I have over sixty ‘Beauty & The Bomb’ campaign. Quaker producing a rabbit in hat, with crystal
examples, from the twenties to current Oatmeal, to reinforce the healthy qualities ball, the box trick and other images.
times, and what I find most fascinating, of their cereal, showed a packet of sugar You can see the two minute campaign
viewing them as a collection, is the being cut in half, with the tag, ‘Half The on www.YouTube.com. It is great fun.
recurring iconography of the magician Sugar – Full of Flavour’. Bounty kitchen In the next ‘Conjurors Collect’ I will
which is still used to this day: the suave towels told us ‘Bounty Absorbs Like cover the subject of the celebrity
man in evening attire; wands; rabbits and Magic’; The Metropolitan Life Insurance magician in advertising used to endorse
hats; silk scarves; colourfully adorned Company used an image of a magician products. As we will see, it is the
tables and an assortment of magical levitating a woman with the slogan ‘Can performer’s name and image which
cabinets in which the victim (usually a You Always Believe Your Eyes?’ In a are predominantly used. Such is their
woman) is being skewered, sawn in half quaint promotion for Marvel Bread, a fame, their occupation as a magician
or impaled with swords. It seems, even juvenile magician and friends were seen becomes secondary. Until then, happy
now, that this is the image of magic enjoying slices of Marvel, imploring the collecting.
which is portrayed and with which the reader to ‘Just Watch This Disappearing
readership instantly identifies. Why this is Act’. Bacardi was keen to emphasise the
still the case would be an interesting ease in which its drink could have other The Magic Circle Library
discussion for another time. Many of the uses: “It’s No Trick To Make a Bacardi
examples reflect the social and political
climate of the time. I would like to draw
Cocktail”.
Another great nostalgic image of a
MY FAVOURITE
upon a selection of my favourite
advertisements.
magician was used in a campaign to
promote sensible beer drinking,
BOOKS
A series of occasional 30-minute talks
Undoubtedly the most controversial reinforcing it as ‘America’s Beverage of to be given by individual members of
series of magic ads ever is the campaign Moderation’. Depicted in full colour is the The Magic Circle about their favourite
used by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco to promote painting of ‘Amateur Magician’ by John books on Magic.
Camel cigarettes in 1933. The tag line of Gannam, which was part of a series of
“It’s Fun To Be Fooled ... It’s More Fun To portraits of Home Life In America. I was The next talk will be given by
Know’ was a poor attempt to justify pleased to see the performer had a Sliding
explicit exposure. Full pages were devoted Die Box on his table of tricks! GRAHAM P. JOLLEY
to Sawing A Woman In Half, Fakir’s Sadly, exposure was again featured in a
Basket Trick, Duck Flies Out of Your Coat, 1970 advert for Talon Zippers with a full on Monday 14 March 2011
Dancing On Glass, The Vanishing Bird page devoted to The Vanishing Lady and at 6.15 pm in the Library.
Cage, Magical Beer Bowl, The Burning its method. Fictional magicians were
Lady, Girl Disappears In Thin Air, Burning created for use in promotions and Library: 020 7387 1533
Oven and Sewing A Living Body, and the examples of these include Baldoni The library@themagiccircle.co.uk
accompanying give-away booklet of ‘The Great for Doral cigarettes; and Zambini
Magicians Handy Book of Cigarette Tricks’ for Sanka Coffee.
understandably infuriated magicians. Other large organisations that have
One of the earliest examples I have used magic in their advertising include
promotes Budgetary Control, from a 1929 Kenwood, The National Lottery, Agfa Film,
Saturday Evening Post with the heading Timex Watches, Absolut Vodka, 7-Up and
‘The Magician That Turns Red Ink Into Labatt’s Pilsener Beer.
Black’. Last year magic in advertising was again
Alcoholic beverages feature heavily in high-profile when international fashion

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 89

 Bulletproof eventually appears covered in words to show principles and techniques,
by Andy Nyman smeared in blood. The atmosphere starting with the fundamentals (cuts,
288 pages, 8 x 10.25 ins., hardcover created here and in several of Andy’s breaks, steps, shuffles, false cuts,
with leather binding and dustjacket. other effects is one audiences will not controls), then to progress to a close
Illustrated, some in colour, with tipped- soon forget. examination of the Riffle Shuffle (with
in frontispiece and five sets of printed Along the way, Andy teaches how to transfer cut, glide, glimpse, use of key
props (25 total) for effects in tipped in make that perfect cup of espresso, how cards, double lifts and flourishes), auxiliary
plastic sleeves, plus 25 min. DVD and to change into your performing trousers sleights (thumb count, Secret addition,
48 min. interview CD. Limited to 750 when your ‘dressing room’ is the buckle, Hindu Shuffle, Overhand Shuffle
copies, signed and numbered. $250 communal loo, without dampening your and Forces), then the Palm, Spread Cull,
(about £160) plus p&p from The Miracle cuffs, and lots more. Andy discusses False Counts and displays (Elmsley, Jordan,
Factory, www.MiracleFactory.net. acting with Todd Karr on the included CD, Hamman, etc.), the Top Change, Crimp,
and shows his enthusiastic love for gore Reverse and additional False Cuts.
Reviewed by Matthew Field as his head is covered in plastic goo so a The work is presented in an interesting
With a preface by David Berglas and a realistic copy can be made in a DVD, also manner. Giobbi is a warm and
foreword by Derren Brown, this included. enthusiastic teacher, and the video work
spectacular book is a pleasure The package is breath-taking, and a by the team of Steinmeyer and Glass,
from start to finish. Subtitled “A fitting tribute to a very creative artist and with Richard Kaufman acting as behind-
Collection of His Mysteries”, the magician. Is it worth the price? Perhaps the-camera muse, makes everything as
book includes the three not for the merely curious, but for crystal clear as can be. Many excellent
previously published sets of collectors and those who will actually use subtleties are included from the likes of
lecture notes, newly illustrated the material, it is appropriately priced and Vernon, Ascanio, Tamariz and Giobbi
with photographs, plus 18 new full of imaginative and practical effects. himself.
effects and essays, plus reprints Even if you think you know all there is
of three interviews conducted in Card College 1 & 2 about the above topics, I can almost
magazines (including two from The by Roberto Giobbi guarantee that, no matter what your level
Magic Circular), a CD of an interview 4 DVD set, 7 hrs. 26 mins. total. $125 of expertise, you will learn a lot from this
with publisher Todd Karr and a DVD of (£99.99) from your favourite dealer, or set if you study seriously and do the
Andy being fitted with fake body parts direct from www.JimSteinmeyer.com. ‘work’, and that makes these DVDs well
for his role in the movie Dead Set in Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic supplies, worth the price. And this set covers only
which zombies tear him limb from limb. www.MurphysMagic.com. the first two Card College books. I
Andy is a joyous, upbeat lover of sincerely hope we’ll see more.
magic and horror movies (and cigars Reviewed by Matthew Field
and espresso), the collaborator with Elsewhere this month you’ll find my Secret Agenda
Derren Brown on many of his TV shows review of Roberto Giobbi’s new book, by Roberto Giobbi
and all of his live stage shows, and the Secret Agenda. Here is a quadruple DVD 430 pgs., 9.5 x 8.25 ins., hardbound,
inventor of several tricks which he has set devoted to material in the first two illustrated, with ribbon place-holder. $55
marketed. He is very self-deprecating volumes of Giobbi’s now classic collection, (£37) from Hermetic Press,
about what he does, undeservedly so Card College. Produced by Member Jim www.HermeticPress.com or your favourite
because Andy’s sense of the dramatic is Steinmeyer and his TV producer wife dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic,
essential to the secret of putting across Frankie Glass, who together produced the www.MurphysMagic.com.
good mental mysteries, especially of the wonderful four-disk set devoted to John
stand-up variety. Carney, these DVDs are absolutely Reviewed by Matthew Field
It is in this latter area that this book wonderful, the next best thing to personal Roberto Giobbi is the excellent Swiss
shows it is worth its high price. The instruction by Giobbi himself. magician, a student of Juan Tamariz best
final trick in the book is ‘The Stalking of Roberto Giobbi is an excellent teacher known for his highly-praised (and highly
Marie Ambrose: An After-Dinner and an accomplished recommended) Card College series of
Séance’ which Andy concocted with master of sleight-of- books. The restrictive demands of those
Richard Wiseman and which is a corker, hand. In addition to books, a step-by-step course of tuition to
complete with a full set of props such 29 effects taught on take a student from the very basics of
as a faux piece of sheet music which the DVDs, his aim is cardmanship to very high levels, did not

90 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

allow room for the asides and personal equivoque (magician’s John sweats his way through a one-
observations and opinions one would get choice) and the hour set before a live audience (next
if one were studying in person. present DVD is time, please open a window or powder
A bit of this personality is exposed in devoted to that topic his face!) and then, often in discussion
Giobbi’s column in Genii magazine, but as well as the ploy of with Peter Nardi, explains it all on the
what would it be like to spend a full year Multiple Outs. second disk. His ‘Blank Night’ is a Bank
under his tutelage, interacting with him These are powerful Night routine that uses a very clever
and learning what he likes, what he but often misused tools for the magician gaff (explained and with a pdf on the
doesn’t like, and what he has discovered and mentalist. At its worst, equivoque will disk that shows just how to make and
about magic (and about life!)? not fool anyone. “Here are three items. handle it) which allows for a squeaky-
And that’s what we have here, 366 Touch two. Okay, we’ll eliminate the third. clean handling, and the banknotes
lessons to be read one per day, absorbed, Hand me one. Okay, that’s the one we’ll come out of the envelope unfolded
thought about, sleights practised, posed use.” The problem is that inconsistent (i.e., no thumbtip is used). Four other
questions answered, or sometimes just consequences of the spectator’s choices stand-up routines are performed and
some photos to look at, some jokes to be make the mechanism transparent. explained along with a couple of close-
laughed at, some advice pondered and The proper way to force an item is up effects, including an Any Named
absorbed. taught on this extra-long DVD, with Max Card to Wallet. Two additional stand-up
The book is extraordinary. There are often appearing with Eugene Burger, effects are performance only, one
many sleights taught, mostly but not another master of the technique. And requiring a gaffed chest for a Seven
exclusively with cards, some tricks included, then there’s the Multiple Out, where an Keys to Baldpate-type trick and the
advice on how to deal with stage fright, effect concludes differently for each other John’s own separately marketed
how listening to Vivaldi choice a spectator might select. Simple in book test using an A-Z type book of
provides an epiphany concept, this is another powerful concept city maps.
about how to educate when intelligently applied. John is a superb performer, his
audiences to magic with Simplicity and Choice are the two main humour is very funny and the
exposing secrets, how to ideas Max shows lie behind effective use combination of that with some
best introduce an Okito of these techniques. More than two excellent mentalism (and
coin box to an audience, dozen effects are demonstrated and occasional ukulele playing,
what constitutes a taught which prove how effective they although not on these DVDs)
‘commercial’ effect, and a tonne of other can be. Part of the secret is the mental make his character both
excellent essays, some several pages long, attitude the magician adopts during the memorable and magical. You
some just a half-page. procedure, and Max reveals all. won’t be able to achieve that,
Your reviewer made the ultimate This is really a double DVD on one disk but you will be able to add
sacrifice and read this in a few days and is priced accordingly. It is worth every some powerful magic to your repertoire
instead of over the course of a year. penny and is a welcome addition to the (and maybe even fool P&T next time
Follow ‘Dr’ Giobbi’s advice and take it a magic literature, highly recommended. you meet them).
serving a day and the benefits to you and
your magic will, I believe, be substantial. Further Education Elements
by John Archer by Lance Pierce
Multiplicity 2 DVD set, 3 hrs. 9 min. total. £24.99 84 pgs., 8.5 x 11 ins., soft cover, wire
by Max Maven ($45) plus p&p from your favourite dealer bound. Colour photo-illustrated
3 hr. 15 min. DVD. $75 (about £59.99) or Alakazam Magic, www.alakazam.co.uk throughout. $25 (about £16) plus p&p,
from L&L Publishing, www.llpub.com or or www.alakazam-usa.com. Dealers or pdf version for $15 (about £9.50)
your favourite dealer. Dealers contact contact Murphy’s Magic, from the author, www.LancePierce.com.
Murphy’s Magic supplies, www.MurphysMagic.com.
www.MurphysMagic.com. Reviewed by Matthew Field
Reviewed by Matthew Field I’ve been an admirer of Lance Pierce
Reviewed by Matthew Field So John Archer fooled Penn and Teller and since he wrote Roger Klause in Concert
How clever is Max Maven? Very damn won a trip to open for them in Las Vegas. and produced and appeared in the
clever. Max wrote Verbal Control, one of How did he do it? The secret is on this Roger Klause tribute videos (reviewed
the best and most complete treatises on DVD set. in December 2009). These opulently

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 91

produced lecture notes are really a stand- described it before as mentalism gatherings organised by Dr.
alone book containing five card effects, a sort of horizontal Todd Landman.
two coin effects, and three essays. The Himber wallet, in other Stand-out items for me included the
card tricks are nice and well-taught, with words it can open in first routine, ‘Bookless Test’, in which the
the stress on detail which typified Lance’s either of two ways. performer divines two words merely
teacher, the late Roger Klause. They are Elbert sold the idea to thought of (nothing written down), and
variants, and good ones, of classics like Washington, DC dealer ‘Serial Prevaricator’, which has to be one
Oil and Water and newer effects, such as Al Cohen, who imaginatively named it the of the finest close-up mentalism creations
John Bannon’s Mirage Assembly, from Sho-Gun Wallet, and here the history gets of recent times. ‘£ottery’ and ‘Winning
John’s very first book. The coin effects are muddled. numbers’ are thematically linked routines
Lance’s handlings of Copper-Silver-Brass Member Craig Dickson, who operates about winning the lottery that can be
and Troy Hooser’s great Chinese Wizard Craft in the US, is partners with used either separately or together, and
Challenge, a coin-off-string effect which is ex-Member Jerry O’Connell in distributing ‘Any Number And Any Card’ involves a
a Joshua Jay stand-by. his JOL gaffed wallets (which are, to me, very well-managed forcing procedure that
All good material and well worth the world’s finest) has brought out the I think will find favour with many viewers.
studying. But the treasures in this volume Sho-Gun in what he calls an exclusive A few drawbacks and glitches. The
are the three essays, The Elements, from release, and this is backed up by his introductory and explanatory sections are
which the book borrows its title. These statement that the company now “own rambling, tedious and repetitive. For
deal with three important but too-often all manufacturing rights and intellectual example, Disk 1 takes over 16 minutes to
neglected elements in what makes great property rights to this effect and wallet”. get to the first trick, during which time
magic, as opposed to just a nice little Elbert confirmed this to me. we learn that Colin bills himself as a
trick. The first of these is What you get is a hip-pocket style Mindreader and he thinks
economy, the importance of leather wallet with the “JOL” embossed the audience need to be
clarity of effect. The second is logo, with six credit card pockets and the clear about who you are.
the use of psychology in banknote compartment, which is actually I think these points could
performance, and taking a switching gimmick. The wallet looks have been amply covered
advantage of something called innocent and the embossed logo means in one minute with time to
‘change blindness’ as well as you can feel which side of the thing is spare. Similarly, some of
the importance of the removal which before you bring it into view. the explanations are long-
of tension in one’s physicality, The three included effects, by Al Cohen, winded in the extreme. I’m
something also explored at length by Elbert Gardner and Steve Dusheck, are all for thorough and
Aaron Fisher. Finally, there is an good, and enable you to turn blank paper detailed explanations, but ‘Bookless Test’
exploration of the importance of into banknotes, a serial number could be explained perfectly well in five
‘connecting’ with one’s audience, how prediction, and a Monte-type effect, along minutes, whereas here it takes over
best to engage and draw audiences in to with several other ideas and tips. twenty. There is some repetition of
what one is performing. This is a beautifully made, very practical material, although the set still comprises
Within these essays are valuable and wallet that you can use every day and very good value for money, and Disk 4
detailed lessons regarding Marlo’s Deep with which you can perform miracles. For has a few minutes of blank screen where
ATFUS and Technical Side Steal. Together, this quality, the price is a real bargain. a performance bit is meant to be.
they constitute a master class in how to These slight imperfections aside, this is
make your magic better, with greater Opening Minds an excellent DVD set. It is well worth the
impact and more mystery. by Colin McLeod asking price given the range of material
This is a simply wonderful book by a 4 DVD set. £39.95 ($61.95) plus p&p on offer, and anyone looking for strong,
sensitive and talented magician who from your favourite dealer or Alakazam practical, contemporary mentalism would
deserves to be better known. This book is Magic, www.alakazam.co.uk or find plenty to enjoy here.
a great way for you to get to know him www.alakazam-usa.com. Dealers contact
better. Murphy’s Magic, The Master Pushoff
www.MurpheysMagic.com. by Andi Gladwin
JOL Sho-Gun Wallet 2 DVD set, 2 hrs. 36 mins. total,
by Jerry O’Connell Reviewed by Ian Rowland including 24 pg. pdf. £25.05 ($40) plus
Gaffed wallet plus six page instruction Colin McLeod is a young mentalist from p&p from Vanishing Inc. Magic,
booklet with three effects. $50 (about Scotland rapidly gaining a reputation as a www.VanishingIncMagic.com, or your
£31.50) p&p from Wizard Craft Magic, very skilled and creative practitioner of favourite dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s
www.WizardCraft.com. mind-reading arts. In this four DVD set he Magic Supplies,
performs and explains about 15 of his www.MurphysMagic.com.
Reviewed by Matthew Field finest creations, with Mark Elsdon on
In the year before I moved to these shores hand to help out in the explanatory Reviewed by Matthew Field
I moved from New York City to what’s sections. There are stage, cabaret and Member Andi Gladwin made a wise
called ‘upstate New York’, the Capital close-up routines, all good, all practical decision and decided to master one
District, where I became friendly with and all very effective. You also get a technique as well as he could, and he
Elbert Gardner, a magician who had a complete Colin McLeod lecture, as does it very well indeed. It’s a technique
great idea for a gaffed wallet. I’ve presented at one of the Tabula Mentis for executing a Double Lift or Double Deal

92 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 without the need for a more mystical and mentalism-oriented is “highly recommended”. That quote is
get-ready. In other than the dry use of numbers. There is accurate.
words, Andi can some work you’ll have to do with a
simply push off two Sharpie to get the symbols on the backs The Big Book of Rising Cards
cards as one, just like of the cards in the special deck provided, by Claude Klingsor
that, with nothing but nothing complicated. 211 page e-book (pdf), extensively
untoward going on. This is a strong, almost self-working illustrated. $39.50 (about £25) for
And that is a very useful skill to acquire. effect that is especially appropriate for download, or soft-cover printed version
On the two DVDs produced by Andi’s beginners. $74.50 (about £47) plus p&p from
company (Vanishing Inc., in which he’s www.Lybrary.com.
partnered with Joshua Jay), along with 21
Big Blind Media, he teaches the aspiring by Axel Adlercreutz, Reviewed by Matthew Field
student how to acquire the skill, solve Erik Nordvall, Johan Ståhl, I am not generally a fan of e-books,
problems, learn refinements (such as the Jonas Ljung, Joachim Solberg, perhaps because I don’t own an iPad or e-
beautiful Stuart Gordon Turnover), how to Anders Moden, Tim Star, book reader and don’t enjoy sitting at my
do a Second Deal, a Double Deal and lots Micke Askernäs, Tom Stone desk reading on a screen, or trying to do
more. A second disk is devoted to effects and Tomas Blomberg so for long periods with a laptop balanced
using the technique, about a dozen in all. 2 DVD set, 2 hrs. 5 min total. $39.95 on my knees (or belly).
Acquiring this skill will take work and (£31.99) plus p&p from your favourite That having been said, this is an
practice, but the result is worth it. It will dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic absolutely stunning book I can easily
open up a new world of possibilities, and supplies, www.MurphysMagic.com. recommend to anyone seriously interested
the DVD set is highly recommended. in methods for that very magical effect,
Reviewed by Matthew Field the Rising Cards. Written by Belgian
Thought Wave A very short title for a DVD, with a very magician Claude Klingsor (stage name of
by Gary Jones and long list of contributors, most of whom Claude Isbecque) in 1954 when he was
Mark Bendell you’ve never heard. In fact, these are just 25 years old, it was updated by him
30 min. DVD and special pack of cards Scandinavian magicians, most of whom in 2004, 50 years later, then translated
plus laminated plastic ‘symbol’ card. live in Sweden, and the DVD was shot at from the French and newly illustrated with
£19.99 ($32) plus p&p from your the Magic Bar in large computer-based diagrams and
favourite dealer or Alakazam Magic, Stockholm where striking photo-like pictures under the
www.alakazam.co.uk or www.alakazam- effects are direction of Fabrice Delauré.
usa.com. performed for local This is a compendium of effects and
audiences (these are methods for a single effect, 200 varieties,
Reviewed by Matthew Field subtitled, although and as such is probably not easy reading
Peter Nardi and Chris Harding are your everything else is in for many. It does not give methods for
on-camera guides for the DVD which excellent spoken tricks like the Hooker Card Rise (still a
accompanies this trick, a variation of English). And, of yes, secret), or the Nemo Rising Cards (a
another Alakazam effect, Brian Caswell’s you’ll have the pants marketed effect), or for Angelo Carbone’s
‘Trilogy’. What happens is that the fooled off you when you watch this. ‘Notion of Motion’ rising named card.
magician and spectator each choose a The excellent production is meant to But what is notable is what has been
symbol from a card-size chart containing emulate the TV series 24, complete with included. Here are methods using every
52 different ones. The magician now the musical note denoting the ticking of a conceivable method, from thread and
makes a prediction which he draws on a clock. There is use of slow-motion and backstage assistants to music box
piece of paper and folds it. He asks the close-ups as the ten magicians perform mechanisms, gaffed houlettes, plunger
spec to draw his chosen symbol on the and teach 18 effects along with several principles, gimmicked cards – even the
outside of the folded prediction. A second sleights. method for the extraordinary
prediction is made and the magus asks The tricks are varied, some original Ring Neyhart deck. There are still
the spec to name any card he likes and to and String moves, an unbelievable false some untranslated captions to
write it on the outside of that one. Riffle Shuffle (a variation of the one by illustrations, but that does not
He now shows a deck of cards with Lennart Green), a prediction effect, bottle in any way detract from the
different symbols on the backs. The symbol from mouth, a spoon bend, some value of this volume.
on the back of the thought-of card matches fabulous card Mucks and switches, the There is a full index and the
the magician’s prediction, and the card ‘sleeveless sleeving’ technique and two I’d book is a thing of beauty. If
with the magician’s symbol on the back like to single out. you are interested in the
matches the freely thought-of selection. Tom Stone is the very creative author of mechanics of magic, or in the Rising
This is a powerful effect, and the use of Vortex, and his routine for the Multiplying Cards as an effect, or in magic history, or
the symbols Bottles is just brilliant. Tomas Blomberg is simply in beautiful books, this is
(instead of the one of my favourite magicians and a something special. I believe it stands alone
numbers in the brilliant expert with cards who is relatively in examining this effect in such depth.
original Caswell unknown, but his ‘Time After Time’ might You can examine the contents and see an
effect) is good, just change that. It is superb. example of what’s inside on the Lybrary
making the trick I’m quoted on the DVD cover saying it website, www.Lybrary.com.

MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 93

 outlining how Friends of The website shortly.

Council minutes Magic Circle might be set up

and suggestions as to how to
The acting Treasurer reported
that there remained some
move forward. A discussion outstanding issues in relation
followed with many points about to the contract between TMC
features and benefits being and Octopus, but that he saw
raised. B.S. concluded by asking no reason that these would not
all Council members to forward be resolved before 31 January.
further points direct to N.B. It was confirmed that TMC
or performers will own the
CMA copyright. Recording will be
At a meeting earlier on kept by Bob Hamilton. JF asked
MINUTES OF THE MAGIC approved. Those not attending 6 January 2011 it was whether Octopus will be entitled
CIRCLE COUNCIL MEETING abstained. reported that: to claim any endorsement from
HELD AT THE HEADQUARTERS The anticipated replacement The Magic Circle and AE
ON 6 JANUARY 2011 6.30 pm 4. MATTERS ARISING operating agreement between replied that Octopus would be
AC proposed recommending to CMA and TMC will give TMC entitled to refer to the fact that
PRESENT the membership a change in additional powers of control, it had provided the streaming
Noel BRITTEN the Rules to remove the clause whilst respecting the CMA on this occasion. The future
Rob COX that does not require the Board’s obligations to control possibilities of live streaming
Mandy DAVIS Treasurer or Secretary to pay CMA’s destiny; will be reviewed after the
Jack DELVIN (President) membership subscriptions. It The CMA Board are happy initial trial.
Andrew EBORN was agreed that this be put to to accept additional board
James FREEDMAN the next AGM. members from The TMC 5. SECRETARY’S REPORT
Will HOUSTOUN Council agreed to send a Council, but believe that the There were no new members.
Alan MASKELL letter to HRH Prince Charles majority of its board should be There was one
Richard PINNER The Prince of Wales MIMC non TMC council members; reinstatement.
Fay PRESTO sending congratulations on the Once legal advice has been Terence WEBB MMC.
Katherine RHODES occasion of his son’s received regarding the details There were no resignations.
Martyn ROWLAND engagement and offering to of the letter of termination of Promotions –
Brian SIBLEY (Chairman) supply a team of magicians for the TMC-CMA management President’s Certificate of Merit
John VAN DER PUT the wedding celebration. agreement, this will be finalised (see attached schedule).
Chris WOOD (Secretary) Trustees of the Welfare and CMA will be placed to send Following discussion the
Alexander CRAWFORD Benevolent fund: The Secretary a formal letter of termination of secretary agreed to write a
(Acting Treasurer) is to ascertain which of the contract to Magic Management. proposal regarding renewals
Kevin DOIG current trustees wish to This is expected within the next for council’s consideration.
(Assistant Treasurer) continue and council to replace two weeks; Correspondence:
David WEEKS as required by maillist The new marketing manager Angelo Carbone requested
(Minuting Secretary) resolution so that their names is to start at TMC on that the tannoy is made live in
can be included in the annual 10 January 2011. the lavatories when an event is
The Chairman welcomed return due by 31 January 2011. Contrary to the assumption in progress, in line with West
Martyn Rowland and Kevin It was noted that we should of many Council members at End theatres. Unfortunately the
Doig to their first Council endeavour to keep experience the last meeting, Di Hendry loudspeakers can’t, at present,
meeting. alongside any replacements was not to be appointed as be isolated.
where possible. treasurer of the CMA, and was Graham Reed suggested that
1. APOLOGIES Currently Trustees are Keith rather appointed as a non- we have a dozen letters from
Scott PENROSE, and Cooper, Scott Penrose and executive Board member. Houdini which could be
Michael VINCENT. David Ball. James Freedman The Secretary apologised to reproduced and sold as a
and Chris Wood both stated Council for any confusion or collector’s item to raise money.
2. DEATHS their willingness to be Trustees. unintended misleading Council thought this a very
Frank R Furkey MIMC from statements arising from his good suggestion and James
Georgia, USA who generously Young Magician of the Year reporting of CMA’s request for Freedman is to look into the
bequeathed $1,575 to the Noel Britten is planning a approval which may have led proposal alongside a planned
Society in his Will. Members of special event on 18 September to this incorrect assumption. venture to reproduce some of
Council stood in silence as a 2011 – the YMOTY heats are the posters in TMC collection.
mark of respect. on 8 May and the final is the Live Streaming Michael Bailey had received a
31 July. The winner will be AE reported that everything letter from Alan Williams AIMC,
3. MINUTES invited to the line-up for the was set for the live streaming a solicitor, recommending that
On a proposal by Noel Britten, September event. of the Club Night event on we protect the use of the logo
seconded by Mandy Davis, the 31 January 2011 and that the of the TMC in regard to the
minutes of the meeting held Friends of The Magic Circle IT committee would receive the quality of items on which it
on 2 December 2010 were A paper was presented necessary information for the appears. Council re-asserted

94 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

that only proper licensing to resign and ask them again to come to study. It would have Fay Presto and approved
appropriate goods of quality reconsider their decision. to be sanctioned by four subject to agreement by
was intended and then only council members and would Marvin’s Magic. Alexander
after due consideration by 6. PUBLIC EVENTS need four council members to Crawford agreed to present
Council. Discussion focussed on the remove it, at a cost to the the revised proposal to
Two e-mails were read out in need to add new events to recipient of £100. Marvin’s Magic
which the resignations of David generate income streams for For: CW; MD; KR; RP; NB; JF;
Ball and Peter Scarlett were TMC. These would run Club night committee: MR; RC; AM; FP
tendered from the positions of alongside MTMC events and Presented its report of events Against: AE; JD.
The Magic Circle’s Director of Christmas Show and not planned for the future. Abstention: JVP
Public Events and Producer or replace these already successful
Deputy Director of Christmas events, and which it was very Publicity committee: Martyn 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Shows, respectively. Both were much hoped would continue to Rowland presented a paper Modernising the club room
unhappy that their positions be produced by David Ball and concerning brand guidelines appearance is to be discussed
had not been ratified by his team. which related specifically to the at a future date.
Council in the minutes or on Proposal: That we have a use of The Magic Circle logo. Fay Presto informed that
the organisation chart within public events committee with The guidelines will be placed 31 January has been suggested
the first four months of the Richard Pinner as its chair. on the TMC web-site for for another FATL (Food After
new council taking office Proposed Fay Presto; information. Before enacting The Lecture) but might be
pending an overall events Seconded, Katherine Rhodes. this Alexander Crawford better after the, ‘Pat Page
review in January. Passed unanimously. requested that we investigate Tribute’ evening. The club night
Some council members were the cost of any changes that committee have budgeted for
surprised and all were may need to be made to the two in the year (Summer and
disappointed by these 7. STAGE SAFETY use of the logo in The Magic Christmas).
announcements and resolved John Van Der Put presented his Circular, by the CMA and on The acting Treasurer is still
to apologise for what had been paper about the use of fire and TMC’s own web-site. awaiting budget requests from
an obvious misunderstanding flash-paper and our current The publicity committee Ali Bongo Saturday Show;
of the wishes of Council, which restrictions. Points that were commented they would like to Banquet; The Magic Circular
wanted to retain those considered included: each see news releases before they and Dealers Day. He has
excellent events such as the theatre and local council go out. received a budget request from
Christmas show and the having its own regulations; that the Club Night Committee and
MTMC evenings whilst looking we are designated as a no- I.T. committee: Chris Wood is in conversation with the
to extend into new areas of smoking building; that there raised the subject of companies Museum, Archive and Library.
events in order to raise much are insurance implications if advertising in the members Mandy Davis informed
needed finances. any of this were to change; section of the website and Council that the YMC has a
Some councillors were that the building houses a having links to external sites. newly designed web-site and
unhappy that the resignations valuable collection of artefacts; The idea was rejected. On the wished to formally thank the
had not been notified to council and that the smell of tobacco subject of members advertising I.T. committee for doing this.
members as soon as they had smoke puts off potential their activities it was felt that Will Houstoun asked that
been known about. The bookers. reporting after the event was any reports should be
Secretary replied that they had Council resolved to find out fine, but not before. Such circulated at least a week
only been received five days the exact regulations as they reporting could also weaken before any meeting at which
prior and had been shared with pertain to TMC building with a and dilute items that already they were to be considered.
the President immediately. The view to seeing what, if any, appear in The Magic Circular.
President and Secretary agreed flexibility they contained before The use of Twitter username Meeting ended: 10.40pm
that the resignations would not considering any change. ‘@themagiccircle’ should be Date of Next Meeting:
be shared more widely until the challenged. Wednesday 2 February 2010
council meeting. 8. COMMITTEE REPORTS at 6.30pm
Council resolved unanimously Development committee: 9. MARVIN’S MAGIC
not to accept their resignations Noel Britten presented a Revised terms for the proposed Members in line for a
at the meeting, to give them a proposal for a ‘Scratch Night’ agreement with Marvin’s Magic President’s Certificate Award
further opportunity to which would provide an to produce a magic set and Mick GURR
reconsider their decision opportunity for performers to other items with the TMC logo The ASTRAS
following a conversation with develop their act, over a week and branding were discussed. Peter ALTMAN
the Chairman who would of rehearsals, culminating in a The President proposed a
explain fully to David Ball and live performance with audience deal for a maximum term of Amendment to December
Peter Scarlett the Council’s feedback. four years but this failed to win Council Minutes (as printed
recognition of their hard work Fay Presto suggested the support from a majority of in the January 2011 Circular):
and successful outcomes and creation of an extended visitor’s Council. James Freedman Apologies to Andrew Eborn,
apologise for the lack of pass of six months duration, therefore proposed a two year whose name was inadvertently
communications by Council once in a lifetime, for those deal on otherwise identical left off the list of attendees.
that may have led them to who visit from overseas or terms. This was seconded by

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk MARCH 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 95

Forthcoming club events THE MAGIC CIRCLE
Club Night Committee: Brian Sibley, Chair; Mandy Davis, Secretary SHOWCASE SALES
The Headquarters are 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 Nights are principally for Members, so entry is by
Membership Card. A bona fide magician guest may attend any
● Magic Circle Umbrella.
evening that is not marked ‘Members Only’ on condition that
Navy blue with
he or she is able to show membership of a magical society. A silver coloured
non-magician guest may only attend evenings that are marked handle and printed
as ‘Show’. Guests may only attend two evenings a year. No silver logo. Automatic
guest may attend unless the CMA is told in advance, so if you opening. £14.95
wish to bring a guest please do not contact me but phone ● Magic Circle Playing Cards. Poker Size
(020) 7387 2222. There is a limit of ten guests per night. All with black backs and gold coloured
guests must pay an entry fee of £10 at the door and respect logo. £3.95 each or £6.95 for two
our Conventions. Indeed, it is your duty as their sponsor to ● Magic Circle Key Ring. £1.95
ensure that they do. The Magic Circle reserve the right to refuse ● Souvenir Pocket Mirror. £2.95
entry. See our website or subscribe to Big Reminder (free
● Postcards. Four styles depicting posters from The Circle
weekly emails) for any last minute changes to the schedule.
Collection, namely Soo, Devant,
Le Roy and Hertz. £0.50 each
MARCH 2011
● The Magic Circle: Performing Magic Through the Ages.
Book by Michael Bailey. Hardback. 288 pages. £18.95
Monday 7
ALI BONGO MEMORIAL LECTURE – Rafael ● Bob Read's Magical London Map. £2.95
Rafael from Belgium is a well-respected magician whom Ali ● Inside The Magic Circle. Souvenir booklet. £1.95
Bongo always jokingly referred to as ‘my adopted son’! For this ● Fridge Magnets. Four styles depicting posters from The Circle
inaugural Memorial Lecture, Rafael will show us that if you Collection, namely Soo, Devant, Le Roy and Carter.
look at familiar magical props from a new angle you can create £2.95 each or £9.95 for four
brilliant and often hilarious effects. MEMBERS ONLY *please state your Degree when ordering
● Button Badge* £3.95 ● Jewel with or without Star* £13.50
Monday 14
MAGIC OLYMPICS – Hosted by Alan Browne ● Cufflinks* £11.95 ● Tie £14.95
Imagine a magical Whose Line is It Anyway? in which anything ● Membership Certificate frames £26.95
can happen from tricks done in different styles to the assistant
These items can be purchased from the Showcase at The Magic
from hell! It’s magic – and fun!
Circle Headquarters on a Club Night or can be sent by post to your
address (P&P extra). Credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) and cheques
Monday 21 drawn on a UK bank accepted (cheques payable to “CMA Ltd”).
KURT FLEMMING
Scandinavia’s favourite magician and magic inventor (and
Guinness World Record Holder for 24 hours of non-stop magic)
brings his award-winning skills to The Magic Circle.
For more information Email
ShowcaseSales@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
Monday 28
or telephone 0207 387 2222
TMC’s ANNUAL CLOSE-UP COMPETITION
Arranged by Richard Pinner MIMC

Looking ahead to...

APRIL 2011
Monday 4
BILL ABBOTT
Monday 11
YMC ENTERTAINS – Hosted by Mandy Davis, MIMC

Change of address? Contact Secretary Chris Wood,

Secretary@TheMagicCircle.co.uk
Member in need? Contact Chaplain and Welfare Officer,
Peter Liddelow, Chaplain@TheMagicCircle.co.uk

96 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR MARCH 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk