the magic

DEREK LEVER
Fire Eater to
Convention King
 THE MAGAZINE OF THE MAGIC CIRCLE Issue 1139 Volume 105 JUNE 2011

Features
167 Higher Mathematics – by Terry Guyatt
Circular reasoning
atching John

Page 162
168

172
Creating a Product that is Unique in
All the World – by Nick Lewin
Derek Lever: Fire Eater to Convention King –
by Matthew Field
W van der Put
win The
Magic Circle Close-up
Magician of the Year
Regulars competition led me
162 President’s View to consider once again
162 News the importance of choosing unique
164 Letters to the Editor (or at least seldom-performed) effects
164 The Magic Circle Cares – Rev. Peter Liddelow and a memorable persona if one
Page 171 165 Cheeky Dog Chicanery – David Tomkins wishes to maximise audience impact.
170 Circular Mentalism – I’ve seen lots of magicians doing
by Ian Rowland manipulation acts, throwing out
176 A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities – handfuls of split-fanned cards, but
by Prof. Edwin A. Dawes how many of them could you name?
180 Club Night Events – I’ve seen memorable Linking Ring
Mandy Davis Convenor of Reports performances, but too often it’s the
Page 180
183 Magic in the Regions – by Elizabeth Warlock same old (Vernon) routine.
184 Adopt, Adapt and Improve – Walford Taylor John van der Put chose among
184 The Cecil Lyle Award – his effects to include the Human
Clean Cut Triumph by Russell Levinson
Gasometer, something I’ve seen
188 In Review
performed only by Alan Shaxon
190 Council Minutes (the master) and Pete Firman. John
192 Forthcoming Club Events – Archer does a version of Shaxon’s
Brian Sibley and Mandy Davis
Page 183 Confabulation (or Don Wayne’s Room
Service) using a giant stuffed dog. He
EDITORIAL 07910 317 902 DESIGN 020 8521 2631
EDITOR Matthew Field ART DIRECTOR also plays a mean ukulele. Alan Alan
[email protected] John Hawkins did a straitjacket escape suspended
102 Priory Road [email protected]
Hastings 104d Grove Road upside down from a burning rope.
East Sussex TN34 3JE Walthamstow E17 9BY David Berglas is the International Man
ASSISTANT EDITOR Tim Reed PHOTOGRAPHERS of Mystery who can somehow cause
ASSOCIATE EDITORS John Ward
Anthony Brahams, Dr Edwin Dawes, ADVERTISING 07767 336882 a named card to appear at a named
Scott Penrose, Ian Rowland, BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING MANAGER number even while the deck has been
David Tomkins Scott Penrose on view the entire time. Derren Brown
Cover CONVENOR OF REPORTS [email protected]
Derek Lever Mandy Davis 17 Berkeley Drive, is the psychological illusionist.
[email protected] Billericay I am bemused by magicians flocking
OBITUARIES Alan Snowden, Essex CM12 0YP
5 Folkington Corner, Woodside Park, MISSING AND BACK ISSUES
to purchase the latest one-trick DVD
London N12 7BH 01923 267 057 or instant download of something
020 8445 7607 Michael Candy hundreds of other magicians will be
PROOFREADERS Sound of Music, Harthall Lane,
Cheryl Bell, Hemel Hempstead, performing.
Paul Bromley, Julie Carpenter, Herts HP3 8SE I’ll be speaking with John van der
Barry Cooper, Tim Reed, PRINTED BY
Lionel Russell, Mary Stupple Perfect Imaging Ltd 020 8806 6630 Put about this in a future issue of the
Published by The Magic Circle Copyright © 2011 by The Magic Circle. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, Circular, but in the meantime, it’s
12 Stephenson Way stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
London NW1 2HD photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the Editor of The Magic Circular. something to ponder.
Views expressed in The Magic Circular are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views
VAT Reg No 233 8369 51 of The Magic Circle unless specifically stated. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all
information published in The Magic Circular, the Editor, Art Director, Staff and The Magic Circle cannot accept
All enquiries responsibility for any errors or omissions.
T 020 7387 2222 Contributions must reach the Editor six weeks in advance of publication if it is essential that they should
appear in the second month following’s issue and should be sent via email, on computer disk or on CD
whenever possible.
President’s view Circular news
Friends of the Magic
I PREDICT... Secretly I would write these down on a bit Circle and Summer
rediction effects have played a large part of paper and fold it up to match the billet in Season

P in my repertoire over the years. My main

source of inspiration was the work of
Annemann. I think it was he who pulled a
the clip. I would draw the presenter’s
attention to the billet as follows. “Can you
see that bulldog clip at the end of the
Our President, Jack Delvin, has
been working very hard to
establish Friends of The Magic
lovely scam, which I believe is still being studio?” “Yes.” “Can you see the piece of Circle and a Summer Season
pulled today by phoney betting advisors. folded paper clipped inside it?” “I want you of shows on Saturdays in our
He would write anonymously to dozens of to take that piece of paper, open it up, and Theatre. Read more about it
newspapers predicting the winner of the read what is written in ink on the paper.” on page 168.
forthcoming Kentucky Derby. The trick was I give the impression that it is the presenter
that he would send the name of a different who collects the clip, actually it’s me. I am Steve Allen Visits
horse to each of the papers. holding my secret billet in one hand as I open The Magic Circle
When the race was over, he would write to the clip with the other. As I do this, I push LBC Radio host and Magic
the editor of the paper to whom he had sent against the original billet pressing it out of Circle Member Steve Allen took
the correct prediction, and just ignore the sight inside the clip using the new billet, an exclusive tour around our
rest. In his letter he would reveal who he was leaving this billet held in the clip in its place. headquarters, and his 3 April
and claim to have the power to predict the I ask the presenter to remove the piece of show was devoted to TMC.
winner every time. paper and read it. It appears that I have never Steve says, “I’ve been talking
This would normally lead to a headlined gone near the billet; the presenter has picked about The Magic Circle on my
article and on the back of this publicity he up the clip, and removed the billet himself.
would book a theatre in the area and play to Another prediction I use, which was shown
packed houses. me by Murray, is a multiple out. He took four
Of course there are hundreds of prediction tarot cards from an envelope and laid them
effects performed by several different face upwards in a row. He then showed a
methods. The most often is to force whatever lucky charm. I use a small slab cut from a
is being ‘freely’ selected. Another is to switch semi-precious stone. He asked a spectator to
the prediction once the result is known. Yet pass the charm over the cards and to drop it
another is to have multiple outs. on whichever card took his fancy. This done,
I found predictions very useful when doing he revealed that he had previously predicted
radio magic. When I had my series on London which card would be freely selected. The outs Steve Allen
Broadcasting I used my Bulldog Clip Switch are: on the back of one card it states ’you will show for more than two
which went as follows. I would prepare a select this card’. A similar notice is stuck on decades and I thought it was
billet, place it in a very large bulldog clip and the back of the charm. A third out is printed about time that my listeners got
hang it up in full view in the studio. During on the face of the envelope, and the fourth is a chance to see some fantastic
the phone-in programme, I would ask three covered by a smaller copy of the last card magic, visit our wonderful
listeners to select three different items – a which is found inside the envelope. museum and help raise much
colour, a town and a friend’s name. I am writing this several weeks before it is needed funds for The Magic
published. If only I could really predict the Circle’s charity.” Steve’s Allen’s
future, I would know how well Friends of The Magic Circle Mysteries, with
Magic Circle is doing and how many seats two performances on Saturday
have been sold for the Season of Summer 25 June, includes a stage show
Sorcery Shows. It is so important to The featuring John Archer, Graham
Magic Circle that these projects have your P Jolley, Duncan Trillo, Ben
enthusiastic support. Please see details Hart, Paul Zerdin plus close-up
elsewhere in this Circular. by Fay Presto, Chris Wood, Will
Houstoun, Robert Pound, and
Richard McDougall. Visit our
website,
www.themagiccircle.co.uk for
more information.

Jack Delvin MIMC Davenport’s Magic

[email protected] Kingdom in
North Walsham
Member Roy Davenport’s
planning application for
Davenport’s Magic Kingdom
has now been registered with
North Norfolk District Council

162 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 invited to a private tour of Associate Artistic Director, has teamed
David Copperfield’s museum Members of up with Luminato to present
collection given by ... yes, HIM Blackpool Natural Magick, David’s new
and later that week went to see Magicians’ show created with Patrick
his show. All very, very exciting!” Peter Eldin Club ... Watson and which runs
Member Paul Kieve devised 10-16 June; Vodavil featuring
Semi-Circles the special effects for Ghost The Great Tomsoni and
Johnny Thompson presented The Musical which premiered Company, Mike Caveney,
Roy Davenport Lance Burton with the Masters at the Manchester Opera Tina Lenert, Ardan James
and the public. Part of the former Fellowship Award from the House in March. Performances and Gaëtan Bloom which runs
Crane Fruehauf site on Cromer Magic Castle’s Academy of begin in London at the 17-18 June; and Bar Magic
Road, North Walsham, is Magical Arts ... Tickets are Piccadilly Theatre on 24 June ... with Eric Mead, a free event
planned for use as a theatre/ now on sale for organiser Russell Levinson and on 10-12 June. More info at
cinema, museum, cafe, shop, Paul Stone’s ‘Palladium Magic’ Stephen Barry’s Conjuring at www.luminato.com ... member
research centre/archive and Charity Show on Monday the Court celebrates its second Mark Wilson, who was the
workshop. If approved, it will be 19 September. Bookings at anniversary with a show on first to have a magic show on
the culmination of Roy’s five-year www.palladiummagic.com ... 30 June featuring Ali Cook, Hi TV, has a free newsletter with
dream of creating the tourist Member Alfred Hayes came Jinx, and others, compered by interesting and informative
attraction in his home town. across the fact that James Stephen Barry. The venue is the articles. Send an email to
Roy is quoted as saying, Bond, Ian Fleming’s icon of Drayton Court, 2 The Avenue, [email protected]
“There’s still a lot to do before sophistication, was modelled West Ealing, London W13 8PH ... Marvin Berglas was
we can open in 12 months, but on 16th-century English magician and tickets are £10 from featured in a story in the
I’m building a superb team to and agent Dr John Dee, www.conjuringatthecourt.com London Evening Standard on
get this off the ground. Everyone whose code name was 007 ... where you’ll find more info ... 31 March. The profile focused
is so upbeat about Davenport’s Andrew Van Buren has just Julian James’s Late Night on Marvin’s performances as
Magic Kingdom, and there is an completed his “Van Buren – Magic night at London’s Jermyn resident magician for the
immense amount of interest as Variety’s Alive” UK tour, which Street Theatre in April played Arsenal Football Club, his
it’s such a one off, internationally started in Wimbledon and to a packed sell-out audience, performances for celebrities
as well as for the UK.” and featured guest magician and royalty, and his
Michael Vincent. Julian and success as head of Marvin’s
Romany Writes Michael will be returning for a Magic, the UK’s only
Our 2007 Stage Magician of 4-week run in October ... dedicated manufacturer
the Year writes: “Hopefully you David Ben, who appeared on and global exporter of
will have seen the more than the cover of the March issue, magic tricks ... Patrick
amazing Blackpool Tower has been busy. Magicana, the Martin was the featured
Looy Simonoff
Ballroom on Strictly Come Canadian non-profit guest on Eye on the Bay,
Dancing? The Carnival Ball is a organisation for which he is a San Francisco TV programme
flamboyant evening with a Harry Hill with Andrew Van Buren on which he discussed his
variety show, beautiful dancers included ten days at the “undercover” appearances at
and a great band plus the Showzam Festival in Blackpool private affairs for First Lady
ballroom full of guests dancing ... Andy Nyman, whose Ghost Michelle Obama, Robin
the night away. This year, Stories is running successfully Williams and other celebrities
producer Professoressa Vanessa in the West End and whose ... sad to report the death of US
[Toulmin] gave me ten beautiful book Bulletproof completely university professor and magician
dancers to perform with and sold out its printing, is Looy Simonoff whose
the scrumptious Antony Johns starring in Channel 4’s Campus creations graced the pages of
© Monicker Pictures and Channel 4

as choreographer and it was a on Tuesday nights ... Michael Vincent and Julian James several Paul Harris books.
fantastic night. Three days later
I flew off to Vegas to fulfil a
long held ambition of meeting
Siegfried & Roy who style
themselves as ‘Masters of the
Impossible’ and are my heroes.
I performed for the 1,000
strong audience including
many amazing magicians and Andy Nyman
much to my surprise won the Former Magic Circular Editor
people’s choice vote for the Peter Eldin has been
Golden Lion Award and $5000. appointed Editor of the
(shopping!!!!) Plus ... I was quarterly newsletter for First Lady Michelle Obama with Patrick Martin

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 163

Letters to the Editor
Inspired! also had other tables eagerly waiting for

IT PAYS TO
I wanted to write to share an enlightening her to go over to them and wow them too!
experience with one of our members and I was left inspired to work harder in
to thank them through the Circular for an attempt to improve my own close-up
their generosity of time and for sharing
their expertise and insight into the art of
delivery and look at the whys and hows
of my own performance, and to wonder ADVERTISE
IN
working close-up magic. as to why Fay has not been invited to
I emailed Fay Presto for some advice on a major convention to lecture on how
an effect she does after being told (yet Close-Up Magic can enthuse, energise
To reach 1500 magicians
again) by a friend how they had been and excite a table and, for that matter, around the world costs
thoroughly entertained by Fay at one of a restaurant. Her real-world experience, less then you think
her many resident restaurants. It wasn’t knowledge and understanding on what
the first time I have encountered friends works and why should be compulsory
or colleagues who have seen Fay who are viewing or reading for any close-up
keen to describe some of the magic they worker.
Quarter page £30.00
have experienced. My email received a Thank you Fay for your generosity. Half Page £55.00
swift response from Fay to call and speak Roberto Forzoni MMC Full page from £100.00
in more detail about my questions. During all prices subject to VAT
the call, Fay invited me to see her work Info on the Larsens? For full details contact
and I promptly accepted the invitation for Years ago, when we (Hans Trixer) were in the Business and Advertising Manager
the next evening. At a rather nice Las Vegas, Bill and Irene Larsen did a very Scott Penrose
on 07767 336882
restaurant in Central London I had the clever and funny mind reading skit. or email [email protected]
privilege of seeing Fay work her magic I am interested to revisit it but cannot
(literally) on every table (“stand there and remember all the items held high and the Errata
you’ll get the best view”), complete with funny and obvious clues Bill gave to the The cover photo of Noel Britten which
a debriefing on the whys and hows of the blindfolded Irene. graced the cover of the May issue was
performance. She left every table with an Can anyone help? taken by Arto Airaksinen, whose credit
amazing energy level that you could feel. Dominic Lavin MMC, Cape Town was unfortunately omitted. My apologies
Not only that, as a true professional she [email protected] to him. Ed.

Liddelow AIMC
Peter Liddelowt

I have heard from Keith Cooper MIMC Continue to remember members of our a helping hand can be a great
that his mother, Gwen, who is aged Magic Circle family mentioned previously encouragement.
97, is in hospital having suffered a for their ongoing treatment and care:
stroke. Down the years Gwen has given Benjilini MIMC (New York USA); Contact addresses:
tremendous help and support to Magic Bobby Bernard MIMC Gwen Cooper – 23 Badger Green,
Circle events and to the magical career (Cricklewood, London); Marks Tey, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1XH
of her late husband Norman. Do hold Alan Snowden MIMC Steve Biddle AIMC – 33 St Helens Road,
Gwen in your thoughts that in her (Woodside Park, London); Hasting, East Sussex, TN34 2LQ
twilight years she may have comfort Alan Tall MMC (Stepney, London); John Wood AIMC –15 Alcester Court,
and peace. Jack Young MIMC (Florida USA). Alcester Road, Wallington,
Surrey, SM6 8BD
Steve Biddle AIMC is to undergo an Just a thought – the story is told of an
operation following a course of Arab trudging along a dusty desert road If you hear of a member or their
chemotherapy treatment. On a happier who said, ‘I wept because I had no shoes families who are sick or facing hard
note Steve and his wife, Megumi, who until I saw a man who had no feet’! It is, times please contact:
are specialists in origami, have recently perhaps, all too easy to bemoan our lot
celebrated their Silver Wedding but in comparison with many we are Peter Liddelow
anniversary. fortunate indeed. Let us bear in mind and, (Chaplain and Welfare Officer)
where possible, give practical aid to 23 Kings Road, Barnet, Herts., EN5 4EF
John Wood AIMC has been in hospital members of our Magic Circle family who T 020 8441 2968
with respiratory problems and is now are suffering affliction, loneliness and E [email protected]
convalescing at home. grief. A cheery message, a quiet prayer or

164 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 David Tomkins MIMC

Outside Extremes
will always recall by far the largest first thing that struck me was where the Originally put out by Supreme many

I outside show I ever did in my life –

up until now that is! Way back in the
‘70s, “The Year of the Child” Event
stage had been sited. Whilst we all
grumble about noise factors such as
parents chatting at the back at children’s
years ago, later a “roll up” version was
marketed by Edwin’s Magic Arts. The
competition consisted of four large
took place in Hyde Park, London. birthday parties, only a few feet away different pictures of, say, a gorilla,
Various children’s entertainers had been (literally) behind the stage was the “Rage ballerina, etc. with a circular cut out
invited to donate a half-hour show to Ride!”, a modern-style roller coaster. The for the face. Your helper places their
this very worthwhile Charity Event. The experience included an initial vertical ride face through from behind and gets a
organisers had erected a large platform up, followed by an equally vertical drop great laugh from the audience. It is
stage in the middle of the Park for the down the other side, along with loop-the- highly visual for the stage and I believe
performers to work, who were loops and fast corners. You can imagine these can still be found at magic sales
introduced in turn throughout the the regular screams emanating from the and auctions.
afternoon, creating a more or less riders throughout the show. Combined Working outside, something that can
continuous show. Two things always with all the other adventure park activities catch you out if you’re not careful is
stick in my mind since performing there. and distractions, it was important to when you place a prop on your table
Firstly, seeing what looked like hundreds remain totally focused on presenting the only to find a few moments later it’s
of people (possibly thousands), mainly show at hand. sent flying by a sudden gust of wind.
children of all ages, just pouring into Working in this kind of outdoor Yes, even in the Summer! On stage at
the park. Secondly, feeling so small environment is obviously vastly different the adventure park although it had a
and humble standing on a huge stage from, say, a regular birthday party, as roof and back section, there were no
comparing myself to the massive there are so many other things going on sides. (Fortunately though, I didn’t have
gathering of people below me. around you. The important thing is to too many problems with side breezes.)
What a stark contrast to my smallest keep the show visual as this will attract Props need to be carefully selected.
audience ever – four, four-year-olds at more people to come over and see what The Sliding Die Box would work well.
a birthday party! you’re doing. (Puppets still have great (I opened with it.) Lighter tricks that
Fast forward to this Spring 2011. A appeal, especially with children.) If you can be worked entirely in the hands,
contract of ten outdoor shows, this hold the children’s attention, their parents not needing to be put down during
time at the seaside! Sounds good? A are obviously going to stick around too. performance, are good too. For
large adventure park fairground. A five- My show was tailored to involve people handkerchief tricks such as 20th Century
hour session (including a 45-minute coming on stage to assist, which included Silks, why not try tucking the silks into
“comfort” break). Mostly, strolling adults, all helping to create visual changes your waist belt instead of laying them
close-up magic entertaining the in the show and keeping the interest on the table, which will stop them
families, including the children. alive. One game I used was where helpers doing their own “vanishing trick” if
Gorgeous sunny weather and the park hooked out wooden fishes (with blunt it’s breezy! Watch your magic table,
packed with visitors. As far as close-up hooks on their noses) from a small bucket especially if it has castors on! (You
was concerned, you couldn’t even using a rod with a short string and ring wouldn’t want it blowing off the stage
begin to scratch the surface as far as on the end. One game for two children, and falling on a child!) Locking castors
the numbers of families you could another game with two of the adults are a good idea.
entertain. It would be a tiny percentage (Mum -v- Dad), all helping to fill the time! To summarise, outdoor shows should
compared to the volume of people Here’s a crafty tip how to get a couple be colourful, varied, pacey and have
there. Fortunately there were other of adults up to help you! Say, “Hands up plenty of audience involvement. Above
performers such as stilt walkers and all the boys and girls who think their all of course ... Entertaining!
balloon artists, so collectively over the mum or dad would like to come on stage
day it all worked very well! to help?” Lots of hands will go up. Point
Part of my contract was to do a 45- out a child and say, “What’s your name?
minute stage show each day. In the (Robert.) Okay, Robert, please ask your
middle of the park was a platform/stage Dad to come up on stage.” Repeat this Invitation to Members! If you have
about half the size of our own MC with another child to invite a Mum up. any suggestions for topics relating to
Theatre. It had a back and a sloping Nine times out of ten this works! What any aspect of children’s
roof, with open sides. Excellent loving parent is going to risk entertainment, please email me at
amplification was provided which was disappointing their child? [email protected]
just as well! No matter how good your A really great audience participation .uk. The subject might be discussed
show is, you still need to be heard! The item and a great closer is “Funny Fotos”. in a future article.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 165

 Place the pack in front of a different
member of your audience and ask him to
cut exactly as was done on the two
by Terry Guyatt MIMC previous occasions, saying:
‘I’ll count to the fourth card below the
n this little self-working card trick, you we will assume to be the Nine of Hearts. point at which you cut, just as I did

I have the pack shuffled and haphazardly

cut into two piles by an onlooker. By
looking at the fourth card from the top of
Pick up the three dealt cards and replace
them on the Nine of Hearts as you say,
thoughtfully:
before.’
Pick up the original lower packet and
slowly and deliberately count three cards
one of the heaps you are able ‘This card tells me that the singly onto the table. On this occasion,
mysteriously to name the fourth card fourth card in the other leave the fourth card at the top and say:
in the other heap. After the trick is heap is…’ ‘But, this time, I won’t look at the
repeated with the same successful Point to the other fourth card; I’ll just feel its back with my
result, you offer to divine the card packet, the original fingertips.’
in a different way but, even when top half, act as if you Run the tips of your right-hand fingers
you succeed a third time, your are making a calculation delicately over the back of the top card.
audience is still none the wiser. and name the Extend the half-pack you hold towards
The entire operation is a barefaced remembered card: him but keep hold of the cards. Say:
swindle from beginning to end. Begin ‘…the Three of Clubs.’ ‘You try…. Can you feel anything?’
by borrowing a pack of cards and Replace the packet you Naturally, he can’t. Run your fingertips
having it thoroughly shuffled by a hold on the table and over the back of the top card once more
member of your audience. Take back pick up the original top and say:
the cards and spread them in a long half. Deal three cards, ‘It feels to me like the Ace of Spades…’
line face up across the table. Your singly and face down, into a Point with your right forefinger to the
excuse for doing this is to point out that pile and turn over the fourth, back of the card you just felt and
they are well mixed. During the spread, the Three of Clubs. Allow a continue:
note the card which will be fourth from few seconds for the effect to register ‘…not this one…’
the top after the spread is closed and the before placing the Three of Clubs to one Point to the other half-pack on the
pack is turned face down. Catch it in one side. Scoop up the three dealt cards and table and conclude:
glance and with no hesitation as you replace them, face down, on the packet ‘…but the fourth card in the other pile.’
spread the cards, then look directly at the you are holding. Now pick up the tabled Put the half-pack you hold on the three
spectators. Let us assume the fourth card half of the pack and put it on top of all. dealt cards, pick up the original top half
to be the Three of Clubs. Continue: The Nine of Hearts is now fourth from the and deal three cards face down on the
‘Four has been considered a magic top of the reassembled pack and you are table. Slowly turn the fourth face up on
number since time immemorial so, as set to repeat the effect. Say: the table, revealing the Ace of Spades.
there are four suits in every pack of cards, ‘This is not a fluke, the calculation will The trick
I’ll use the number four for this little work every time. Look.’ runs for two
experiment.’ Put the pack face down before him and minutes and,
Gather the cards and put the pack face have him cut the cards exactly as before. although it will
down in front of a member of your Once again count to the fourth card in stand alone, is
audience with one short edge towards the lower heap, glancing at it and probably best
him as you explain that there is a memorising it without showing its face to when
mathematical pattern in any pack, even anyone. This time let us assume that the performed as
one that has been shuffled. Offer to card is the Ace of Spades. Replace the Ace the first trick in
demonstrate. Say: at the top of the packet followed by the a routine of
‘Cut off about half the pack and put it three dealt cards. Put your half-pack back two, being
here.’ on the table, pretend to make a followed
Point to a spot next to the pack. When calculation and name the Nine of Hearts. immediately by
he has cut, point to the original lower half Pick up the other half-pack, deal three a more elaborate feat of sleight-of-hand,
and say: cards, just as you did before, and turn the perhaps a Four-Ace trick or an Ambitious
‘Our key number is four, so by looking fourth, the Nine of Hearts. When the Card. Well prepared and well presented
at the fourth card below the point at effect has registered, place the Nine face you’ll find it surprisingly deceptive. Run
which you cut, I can calculate the name up to one side and replace the three dealt through it a hundred times or so in
of the fourth card in the other packet. cards on the half-pack you hold. Pick up private and then give it a trial before an
Look.’ the other half-pack and put it on top of audience. Thoroughly rehearsed and
Pick up the original lower packet and all. The Ace of Spades is now fourth from confidently performed, this version of the
deal three cards, one at a time, face down the top of the reassembled pack and in ancient one-ahead principle will deceive
on the table, counting aloud. Glance at position for the final stage. and entertain laymen and magicians alike.
the next card, the fourth, without letting Now you change the effect somewhat Anyone with even the slightest hint of
anyone else see its face, and replace it and explain that it is sometimes possible larceny in their heart should feel a warm
face down on the packet you hold. It is to divine the card by the sense of touch glow whenever they perform this little
important to remember this card, which alone without making any calculation. swindle.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 167

 CREATING A
PRODUCT THAT
SPREAD THE WORD! IS UNIQUE IN ALL
With the new Friends of The Magic Circle scheme up and
running, now is the ideal time to get out and spread the
word about our great club.
THE WORLD by Nick Lewin

Ex-pat Nick Lewin describes the journey to realisation of

For the first time ever, fans of magic have an amazing
opportunity to visit the Circle regularly and purchase tickets Member Diana Zimmerman and publisher Robert Gould’s
for events at special rates, see amazing performers, and extraordinary book devoted to Members Siegfried and Roy.
support the magical heritage and youth initiatives.
t is fun tracing a good idea back to its roots; the genesis of
So next time you’re featured in the local newspaper, on the
radio or local TV, doing a gig or asked by fans of our craft
how they can get involved, encourage them to visit The
Magic Circle website and become a Friend.
I this one began during a Friday lunch at the Magic Castle in
the spring of 2008. The luncheon party consisted of Diana
Zimmerman and distinguished publisher/art director Robert
For many, this could be the beginning of an exciting new Gould. They were there casually discussing a possible Disney-
journey of discovery and their first step to becoming style ‘Vault’ book about the Castle.
members of The Magic Circle so its success plays a vital role
in providing a healthy future for our Club. Neither Robert nor Diana left that luncheon with a single
thought that they would soon be locked into creating a book
Get out there and spread the word ...The Magic Circle is as complicated and complex as the magic world has ever seen.
opening its doors and encouraging everyone to explore the
world’s premier magical society. After attending the MagiCares tribute to Siegfried & Roy at the
London Palladium, it occurred to Diana and Robert that a book
Friends of The Magic Circle leaflets are available from The about magic’s most successful duo was what they really wanted
Secretary of Friends of The Magic Circle:
[email protected] as well as at The Magic Circle to commit to. The two of them planned a companion book to
and, of course, our website. the Palladium show. It was to be approximately 68 pages long,
with inserts, gatefold, and reproduction of ephemera.
In the fall of 2008, an idea for the book was submitted to
Siegfried & Roy. A tentative ‘green light’ was given to the
book, based upon them seeing a more fully fleshed-out
outline. Several months later, upon seeing this outline, the
project got the official go-ahead. Siegfried and Roy opened up
their entire archives to Gould and Zimmerman, under the
tireless direction of Lynette Chappell and Joe Clarke.
Both Robert and Diana credit Lynette and Joe with being a
non-stop source of encouragement and assistance in the
publication of the book. The masses of archival material were
housed in a building close to the ‘Jungle Palace’ and Lynette
patiently guided them through the massive amounts of
fascinating material that was for the first time available for
research.
The resulting treasure trove of unique memorabilia started
to inspire and shape the project that was to finally emerge.
The size, scale and scope of the book started increasing on a
regular basis. When you write about larger than life
perfectionists, your plans take on the same characteristics.
Diana invited a highly eclectic group of writers, associates
and performers to contribute short essays, each one
highlighting different aspects of Siegfried & Roy and their
legacy. She decided that the lifework of these two great artists
was best reflected in a prism of contemporary voices to
accompany the reader through the book.
Siegfried & Roy spent hundreds of hours recording
interviews that became the core of the book. Each step of the
journey they encouraged Diana and Robert to create a book
that was not just full of flattery, but really went to the heart
and soul of who they were. Robert and Diana continually
discovered themselves, being surprised by the depth of both

168 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 arrived in Los Angeles, where each book was signed and
numbered. Listen and you can hear an echo of a collective
sigh of relief.
The first copy of the book was actually placed in Siegfried’s
hands en route to its official delivery. Robert and Diana
stopped to eat at a small Italian restaurant close to
the Jungle Palace where Siegfried liked to dine. In
fact, when they walked inside there was Siegfried
sitting at a table with a small group of friends
enjoying an early supper.
A copy of the book was brought in from their
Robert and Diana working on the book’s title page parked car and immediately Siegfried began to
open the elaborate packaging with a childlike
sense of joy and often a hint of tears in his eyes.
As Siegfried started to thumb through the pages,
he seemed to be seeing the contents of the
book for the first time and said repeatedly as he
dipped into the contents, “I did not know, I did not know!” The Book cover
Quite what it was that Siegfried “Did not know,” will
probably always remain a mystery but somehow the book had
put everything into place. It did what all the very best tributes
do and revealed what was known and what was unsuspected
about its subject. The book can be read on many levels, but is
Joe Clark, Lynette Chappell and Robert Gould ultimately a motivational force about the wisdom of
men and their tireless dedication to this latest project. surrounding yourself with the very best and continually
Not all interviews were easy to obtain, it took nearly a year to moving forward and upward.
arrange a 15-minute meeting with famed casino mogul Steve
Wynn. It was Wynn’s trust and faith that had been so instrumental Siegfried & Roy: Unique in All the World was reviewed last
in turning Siegfried & Roy from stars to Superstars. Once the month. Published in a limited edition of 500, it costs $695
meeting began, Wynn postponed appointment after appointment (about £435) plus p&p from Noesis Publishing,
and spent well over an hour adding his www.NoesisPublishing.com
invaluable input to the emerging story. US tel. number 1-310-645-5604.
Diana had an obvious motivation for
wanting to create this book, she had grown
up in magic influenced by the warmth and
vision of ‘Siegfried & Roy’ and wanted to
create a project that would share her
enthusiasm with other people who had
enjoyed this experience.
Robert added quite a different element
to the mix; he had never seen Siegfried
& Roy perform onstage and this gave
Young Siegfried and him an objective viewpoint quite unique
Roy with Chico
to everyone else connected to the book.
Robert’s fresh eyes were immediately caught and intrigued by
the frequently misconceived ideas about the dyadic.
He was highly impressed by the balance of their partnership
and how, although they were a true partnership, each lived his
own separate life. Gould realised how easy it was to fail to
notice the drive that Roy adds to the team. Both men shared a
vision and each had the steel to achieve it.
The book had by now grown to three times its original size
and this expansion had also trebled the cost of publication;
however there was never a doubt that any compromise was
acceptable to its creators. If the book was to be done, it had to Top: One of
the four mini
be done right and compromise was not an option. They decided books. Centre:
not to cut a single corner. Mirage costume
The research, interviewing writing and editing continued for sketches
Bottom: One
another full year and raised the cost of publishing the book to of the seven
nearly $250,000. In late December 2010, 500 sets of books gatefolds

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk
 Ian Rowland MIMC
MIMC

Thugs And Heavies

iff Rydberg was a popular ‘60s character actor best- one dark corner of my office. Every three years or so it falls over

B known for playing thugs and heavies.

That isn’t true, but it sounds like it should be. ‘Biff
Rydberg’ is in fact a traditional Swedish dish made from beef,
and kills something, at which point I snap into action: I bag it all
and dump it at the local ‘community recycling station’, or a
stranger’s garden if no-one’s looking. Perhaps, you might say, I
potatoes and onions. There are no swedes in it, but it’s inside a should adopt a more responsible and conscientious approach to
lot of Swedes (ha ha ha). I only know about this culinary gem life’s vital paperwork. Then again, perhaps there’s a daytime
because a few weeks ago I stuffed my face with it in the repeat of ‘Knight Rider’ to be watched, while discovering if it’s
restaurant of the Grand Hotel, Stockholm, in the company of actually possible to eat a litre of ice-cream only using chopsticks.
Uri Geller and Frank Sinatra. You make your lifestyle choices, and I’ll make mine.
How did this come to pass, you ask? Well, most of you will Anyway, this confidentiality thingy probably contained swathes
be aware that Mr. Geller owns the format to a TV show called of adorable legal jargon regarding what I can say about my
‘Phenomenon’. It’s basically like ‘The X Factor’ except that meagre involvement with Uri’s show, and I’m probably breaking
instead of singing, the contestants perform various mind- the rules right now. That having been said, one could argue that
reading tricks. There’s some sort of weekly voting process and technically the crime only occurs when some information is
the eventual winner then soars to the dizzy heights of fame passed to another human being. In other words, by reading this,
and fortune that only a career in mentalism can bestow. Uri you’re just as culpable as I am. I don’t know if this argument has
has sold this format to over a dozen broadcasters around the any legal merit, but I’m just making the point that if I go down,
world, the most recent being Sweden’s ‘Kanal 5’. (Ukraine is I’m taking you all with me.
next, if you’re interested in auditioning.) So, to cut a long story tedious, I found myself with a minor
I have acted as a ‘consultant’ on three previous versions of role in the Swedish production of ‘Phenomenon’, which they
this show, in Greece, Germany and Holland. Just for the called ‘Fenomen’ for some bizarre reason. This entailed precisely
record, I had nothing to do with the American version, where one visit to Stockholm, a city I had only previously visited during
they added Criss Angel to the mix for no good reason and a FISM 2006. The TV people paid for me to stay in Hotel Hellsten,
fair stack of bad ones. (Nothing against Criss, whom I like, but which is close enough to Hotel Hell to almost, but not quite, be
he wasn’t a good fit for the show and vice-versa.) funny. The place had been converted from some sort of barn,
I’d love to tell you what being a consultant on a show like retaining most of the original timbers. This meant every single
this actually entails, but to be honest I’m still not really sure. All step produced a rich, cacophonous creaking sound of the kind
I know is that from time to time some nice TV production people that is quaintly charming for a little under five seconds, and
pay me to go to meetings, nod a lot and agree that their ideas thereafter drives you insane.
are utterly brilliant. I’m always happy to do this for cash. Far be Mr. Geller wasn’t staying at the creaky Hell Hotel. Being the
it from me to blow my own kazoo, but I truly believe mine is VIP star of the show, the TV people had stashed Uri in a very
one of the very finest opinions that money can buy. lavish suite at the top of the Grand Hotel, Stockholm – a suite
By the way, I’m pretty sure that at some point I signed a once occupied by Frank Sinatra. From the tender crooner to the
confidentiality agreement about my involvement with Uri’s bend-a-spooner, you might say. (I think if I played with that for
show. I can only guess what this agreement said, given that (a) about half an hour I could probably make it work and it might
I never read it and (b) I’ll never find it. The reason I’ll never find even come out funny. However, I’m at deadline day + 3 as it is,
it is my filing system – a menacing, teetering stack of paper in and I just don’t have the time.) It was after some production
meeting or other that Uri insisted on treating me to dinner at
the Grand, which is where I discovered and devoured the afore-
mentioned Biff Rydberg.
I’m glad that the ‘Phenomenon’ show has been seen in so many
countries around the world. The production values are high, and
it provides a pretty good showcase for the mind-reading arts. In
this country, ITV spent a while developing a version of the show
that sadly never went into production. This is understandable,
given that there’s only so much airtime available and the ITV
schedules are just stuffed a-plenty with televisual gold. For
example, there’s The Zone (described as ‘shopping and
interactive gaming’) and Countrywise (‘Rachel spends time at a
This article mentions Stockholm, so here’s what a bit of it looks garden’). ITV say they produce hit television and I largely agree,
like from far away although my own opinion differs by just one letter.

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 I enjoy being used as a consultant once in a while (especially eyes and think of a number. It has to be a strange, unusual
by TV producers with a fairly generous budget to burn). I may number that couldn’t possibly mean anything, with just three
not know much, but I know that creative collaboration is fun or four digits, such as 239, or 4173, or 107. Ask her to do this
and generally very fruitful. I’ve learned a lot over the years by when you lightly touch her forehead with the piece of paper.
consulting others smarter and more talented than I am myself, She closes her eyes, you tap the paper to her forehead and
which is to say pretty much everyone in the business. So that’s she says the first random number that springs to mind, e.g.
my handy tip for this month: if you want to learn the business, ‘337’. She opens her eyes and you ask her if this weird
consult people with a bit of experience. You might learn how to number means anything to her. It does not.
read minds rather well, or at least discover clever things Swedish You talk to her for a little while about morphic resonance
people do with beef and onions. theory, which is about people absorbing knowledge without
knowing how. You unfold the paper and show that you wrote
Curtain Down a few simple words: ‘area code Louisiana’. You explain that
Barrie Richardson is one of the nicest guys and finest thinkers in you were in Louisiana just a few weeks ago, and you
mentalism. His Theatre of the Mind volumes stand rightly happened to make a lot of phone calls and you’ve been
regarded as classics, and his DVDs are full of smart, baffling thinking about this lately. You invite your spec to take out her
smartphone and Google the telephone area code for Louisiana
(or just tap ‘337’ into Google). She finds to her astonishment
that the area code is 337 – the exact number that just flashed
into her mind. An inexplicable miracle.
The right circumstances to perform this won’t often come
along, but it’s still worth knowing. To prepare, take two
identical pieces of paper and fold them into identical packets.
Keep one for yourself and give the other to your secret
collaborator. To perform, your collaborator stands behind your
victim, maybe playing the part of ‘innocent onlooker’. He also
has a smartphone with access to Google. What you write on
your piece of paper is irrelevant as it will never be seen. As
soon as your spec says her number, your collaborator taps it
into Google and sees what comes up. He chooses the first
piece of usable information, and summarises it in bare
keyword form on his piece of paper. He refolds his paper so it
Barrie Richardson performing for the residents of Sark looks identical to the one you’re holding.
routines. I’m lucky enough to have spent a bit of time with You secretly switch the piece of paper you’re holding for the
Barrie, partly because both he and his lovely wife Janie belong to duplicate held by your collaborator. A momentary over-the-
the prestigious Sark Magic Society, of which I’m also a member. shoulder switch would work well. If you cannot contrive such
Barrie’s great message to the mentalism world is this: magic is an opportunity, then either this trick or mentalism generally is
great, but magic as metaphor is even greater. His great not for you. Having done this, open the piece of paper and
achievement has been to show, through his work, how magic show it to your victim. Pretend it’s what you wrote before, and
lends itself to metaphor and persuasive narrative. that you had a reason for writing it. This calls for spontaneous,
The good news is that a third and final volume of Richardson’s improvised acting. The rest is astonishment.
work, ‘Curtain Down’, is to be published soon. Start saving your Morphic resonance is a real theory. It’s utter claptrap in my
pennies. It will be a wonderful book from a very wise, kind and opinion, but it makes for a good yarn. Credit for this trick is
thoughtful man whose work repays careful study. shared between myself, Neil Henry and Dan Alexander.

QUICK TRICK Invitation

You are with friends at a party or in a bar. To demonstrate some If you have items, stories, jokes or vicious rumours of
of your uncanny gifts you take out a blank piece of paper interest to mentalists, please drop me a line
roughly 4 x 5 inches. You write something on it, then fold it up ([email protected]). If you can’t afford Derren and
with the writing hidden on the inside. You hold the folded piece want to hire a fairly good also-ran mentalist, or you just
of paper between your finger and thumb. You say to your have time to kill, please visit www.ianrowland.com.
chosen spectator that in a moment you will ask her to close her

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 171

 by Matthew Field MIMC

swallowing razor blades and things like

that which fascinated me and that
inspired me to get involved in magic.
When I was eleven I went to a circus in
Manchester and saw a gentleman called
receive the parcel, the first thing you did Tagora who was a fire eater, and a very
was spend a half hour reading all the good one, and I went home and started
adverts on the outside of the parcel. to manufacture what I thought was a fire-
eating brand using a bicycle spoke with
M Had you been inspired to pursue cotton wool wrapped around it, dipped in
magic by something you saw, or a friend? petrol. I went out in the back garden and
Derek Lever MIMC has had an amazing D I’d always liked jokes and novelties, had a go at putting it in my mouth. I got
magical journey, from performing ‘geek’ puzzles and that sort of thing from a very a few blisters, but I was still determined
tricks to organising and booking the early age. My father knew I was to do it. Three months later I had learned
largest magic convention in the world interested in magic and every Christmas the way to do it by trial and error and
each year at Blackpool. On 26 May, Derek and for my birthday he employed a local billed myself as the world’s youngest fire
became President of the Blackpool magician called Tom Roache who did the eater. The problem was that I was so
Magicians’ Club, a position he will hold young nobody believed me and it was
for two years. I tried interviewing Derek in very difficult to get bookings. I did get a
person at this year’s convention, but he’s lot of publicity in the papers and got
just too busy, so we hooked up by phone professional bookings at eleven years old.
in March. At age16 I turned professional. My first
professional date was at the Bolton Grand
Matthew Field: I know you were born in Theatre. I was doing a complete yoga act
the Lancashire area and at age 11 you including the fire eating routine, bed of
became the world’s youngest fire eater. nails, chewing broken glass, hat pin
You also had an Ernest Sewell magic set. through the throat, knocking a nail into
Derek Lever: I started when I was eight- my face, etc. I kept that act up for quite a
years-old with the Boys’ Own Magic time.
Service in Prestatyn, North Wales, and
I used to purchase items from their M Who during this era were you seeing
catalogue, with every penny that I earned to inspire you? Who were the magicians
as a schoolboy doing jobs for my father. of the time whom you remember seeing
Their clever bit was that the wrapping at this tender age?
paper which they used for the parcels D The influences I suppose would be
was printed with all the items from the people like The Great Lyle, The Great
catalogue with illustrations. So when you Derek and wife Anne Levante. I never got to meet any of these

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people but every week I would go to the in Manchester and finished
Bolton Grand Theatre if I was not up booking so many clubs,
performing somewhere, sit in the front normally for week-long
row and watch all the great illusionists of bookings, that we offered
the day. The one regret I have is that I 52 weeks of work a year to
never saw Dante, who was probably the any act that came to
best performer of his type in the world. Manchester, which was
quite incredible. After a
M After the war you were in the Air period, clubland started to
Force for two years, and made it known fade away, so I closed the
that you were a performer and through agency and carried on as a
that got into booking the shows on performer.
service bases. Derek with part of his collection
D I was sent out to Germany for M When you were around
eighteen months, and when I arrived, the 30 you began to amass magic apparatus Howarth, who is unfortunately no longer
commanding officer sent for me and said and from that, Taurus Magic Supply with us, and he was very clever with
he had heard I was an entertainer. He began. electronics. We developed all kinds of
asked how I would like to organise troop D I’ve been lucky in that I’ve always wonderful and weird things, and now I
shows throughout Germany, for British found niches that needed someone to wish I had retained some of them. We
and American forces, so I was heavily fill them. As clubland was fading away, were sort of on the level of Anverdi but
involved in that. We put on some I started to look at the magical apparatus doing different things. Then I found a
tremendous shows. side, and there were only a couple of man who created some wonderful props
second-hand dealers in those days, but for me out of mirror finish stainless steel,
their businesses were fading. Overnight I which we shipped all over the world.
opened an office in Lancashire and heard Many of these pieces have become real
of a large collection of magic that was for collectors’ items.
sale. There was a big Horace Goldin
sawing illusion, a Maskelyne and Devant M Was there a Blackpool Magicians Club
Sword Cabinet, and much more. Much of before Derek Lever?
the apparatus had got wood worm and it D Oh yes. At that time they had a one-
was a very difficult period for me because day convention which had 100 to 120
I had paid £7,000 for the collection and I people attending. I used to attend the
needed to turn it over to recoup some of convention but was not a member of the
the money. Blackpool Magicians’ Club at that time. I
was still performing magic at that time.
M You started selling off these pieces My act then had been refined down to a
through your Taurus Magic Supply, and couple of tricks with jokes and I always
also started manufacturing your own finished with the fire eating.
apparatus, including electronics.
D We pretty much led the field with M At what point did you win the New
electronic apparatus. We were ahead of Faces show on TV?
our time. I had met a chap named David D That was quite late in my lifetime
really, when I was 42 years old or so,
With chicken ...
around 1979 or 1980. It was a pure fluke.
M You came out of service knowing I was still acting as an agent at the time
something about booking shows, and also and representing a female comedian who
having done performing, and then you the New Faces producer was keen to have
had to make a decision about what to do on the show. On the day of the audition
to earn your living. she had a panic attack and said she
D I carried on performing, basically the wouldn’t go, and the producer suggested
yogi act and fire eating for about twelve that I do my act instead. I went on the
months, mostly in nightclubs. I realised show and won it, which amazed me more
that while the act was going down okay, than anyone else. That made me a star,
people really wanted to laugh as opposed because in those days New Faces pulled in
to being horrified and watching someone millions of viewers. Overnight I was
knocking a nail into their face. I felt I had topping bills all over the country, my
to start doing comedy, and I did. I money had increased five-fold and for a
developed a comedy act that lasted for couple of years it was stardom for me,
about 45 minutes and it was a hard which was quite incredible. I was still
training ground. I realised there was a doing the same act I had done for the last
niche for a clubland agent, a theatrical ten years, but being paid a lot more
▲

agent, so I opened an office in Piccadilly ... and duck money.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 173

 M You also did some stage hypnotism, organised by Tom Owen who was well-
didn’t you? known in The Magic Circle, and Bill Lamb,
D It started when I opened a clinic in and they were doing an extremely good
Bolton doing medical hypnosis and, while job. At some point they decided that they
it was a lucrative business, you start to would move to a bigger venue and that
worry about the problems that your was the Winter Gardens. When Tom and
patients have got. It was beginning to Bill retired, they gave me an opportunity
affect me, so I changed to stage to take the whole thing over and
hypnotism, which is totally different to experiment in increasing the number of
medical hypnosis, and did a lot of holiday magic dealers, which at that time was
parks and clubland work, doing a two- 35 or 40 dealers. We’ve expanded beyond
hour stage hypnotism show. that with a total of 135 magic dealers
from all over the world.
M I’ve gone into this detail about your
background because I wanted to convey M In doing this, you’ve kept the prices
the unusual combination you present as a Receiving the Berglas Award from for the attendees very low so that it’s a
magician, manager, yogi stunt performer, David Berglas tremendous bargain and the experience
fire eater, hypnotist, magic dealer, British Magical Championships name, and of Blackpool attracts the largest number
manufacturer, author and collector. At the first one we had was a complete sell- of delegates of any convention in the
what point did Anne enter your life? out on the Saturday night prior to the world.
D I met Anne when I was about 17- Sunday convention. The clever bit about D We have 3,200 to 3,400 people
years-old and it was love at first sight. It the whole thing, I think, was that attending every year. Over the last five
sounds corny, but it’s actually what entrance was by invitation only. Some years we have sold out completely. Every
happened. She was training to be a people said that was not a proper year I say the numbers have to go down,
teacher in Liverpool at college so we competition. Well, that may be an that you can’t stay at the top forever. But
didn’t see a lot of each other, but we argument, but the fact was that it it still keeps happening and four weeks
corresponded by letter. When I came out ensured that every act on the show was after this year’s convention we had taken
of the forces, she carried on teaching but top-class material. The winner was Mark £25,000 in registrations for Blackpool
helped as my assistant in my act when I Raffles, Clive Webb won the comedy 2012. People book blind. They trust the
was working locally somewhere. At that award and all the people involved in it brand. They know they’re going to get
stage in my career, I wasn’t really doing were absolutely top-class. That set the lots of dealers, lecturers, close-up, stage
illusions, it was more comedy magic with standard, and that’s the way we’ve shows and all of it will be quality. It’s
the fire eating finale. operated ever since. lovely to be trusted by so many people. I
am so grateful that people trust me in
M One last bit of background has to do M At what point did you begin to take a that way. Halfway through the year we’re
with publishing. You had a magic stronger hand in the Blackpool convention normally almost sold out.
magazine, didn’t you? itself?
D Magic Mag it was called, a bit of a D At that time the convention was M In addition to your affiliation with the
corny title. I like to think we led the way
in magazines at that time, in 1981. We
had Simon Lovell, who was fresh out of
university, who did a series of articles,
David Howarth did a series on electronic
magic and we had people like Ken Brooke
and others writing for the magazine.
Eventually it became too much to keep
producing it on a bi-monthly basis.

M Getting back to Blackpool, in the mid-

1980s you established the British Magical
Championships at the Blackpool magic
convention. Why did you do that and
how happy was the club to accept you in
to start these events?
D At first they weren’t too happy
because they saw it as a threat to the
established convention itself, and I can
understand that. The British Ring still had
their competition, but I felt people didn’t
appreciate how strong a competition that
was and I felt a prestigious title was
needed. I registered and copyrighted the With some of his many awards

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Blackpool Magicians’ Club, you are also a Thomases, actively creating negative items
past president of the British Ring, a past on the internet and calling me and the
president of the Order of the Magi, town names, that I found it very sad. It
honorary vice president of the British was so negative. Surely, looking at our
Magical Society, and honorary life pedigree and what we have done with
president of the Manchester Circle of the Blackpool convention, it would have
Magicians. And I’m under the impression been obvious to everyone that we will put
that you actually started the Manchester 150% into making sure that the FISM
Circle of Magicians. World Magic Championships will be the
D I did. I felt the Manchester area best ever. But some people in magic can
needed a different kind of magical society. only talk negatively about everything.
One of the problems is what to do when
someone applies to join the society and M In addition to the FISM events in July,
they’re not quite up to the level of an you are also putting on the Blackpool
audition. The answer in my opinion is convention in February 2012.
bring them in, show them the right way D (Laughs.) We’ve got great plans for
to perform magic, and we then have that Blackpool convention in that for the
another magician of strength out there. It first time we are going to do three gala
was incredible. I advertised that we were shows with different themes – Friday will
having a meeting in Manchester, I did a feature magic of Japan and the Far East, Needle Through Neck
lecture that night myself, and 200 people Saturday will be the magic of Europe, and
joined in one night. We now have over Sunday will be the magic of the USA. a 20-minute spot as well as the close-up,
400 members. As far as the World Championships are that would benefit the performer in that
concerned in July, one of the things we he would get a bigger fee, and would
M At this year’s Blackpool convention, are planning is that every FISM registrant also benefit the actual gig itself because
which I attended and had a great time, will receive a copy of the complete works they would now have a cabaret show as
the FISM European Magic Championships of Jack Hughes’ World of Magic, three well as close-up. It’s a whole different
were integrated into the convention and volumes bound as a single hardback ballgame to what it was in my day.
everyone was surprised to see that the book. The individual volumes were priced
venue, the Winter Garden complex, had at £135 pounds originally. M You’ve written quite a bit about the
been completely redone and modernised importance of having something
and the entire town of Blackpool was M You’ve gained quite a bit of popularity memorable about one’s act.
going through a resurgence with the in recent years doing lectures on Hughes’s D It’s not about the trick; it never was.
promenade being redone and creations and other inventive magic props. My advice to young magicians when they
construction going on everywhere. This D Last year I did the Jeffrey Atkins say there’s no training ground, how can
will now be the setting in July for FISM, Memorial lecture at the IBM British Ring they learn to get an act together, I tell
which has been called the magic convention in Eastbourne on Jack Hughes them to go from door to door selling
Olympics, held every three years. And that and it went down very well indeed. I was encyclopaedias or anything you like and
prestigious event will be held in Blackpool lucky enough to become good friends when you’ve heard “No” in 54 different
because of Derek Lever. And company, of with Jack. languages and learn to overcome that
course. But you are the person who ‘No’, then you can start to be a magician,
showed that Blackpool could host a major M In some of the books you have because you will have developed a
event over a long period of time and this written you express strong opinions about personality and that’s what the game is all
is going to be a spectacular undertaking magic and what works. This is not based about. You must have a sense of humour
for you; just what you needed, some on armchair reasoning but on your when you’re entertaining people, and
more work. personal experience as a booker and as a even in everyday situations. Life is all
D (Laughs.) Consider that the Blackpool performer. For example, you have strong about being somebody a little bit different
Town Council is spending in the region of things to say about close-up magic and its without being too outrageous. On stage
fifty million pounds on improving various viability as a way to make a living. or in close-up, if you don’t have a
aspects of Blackpool. For example the D Unfortunately, a lot of bookings these personality, forget it. Magic is not for you.
Blackpool Tower has been sold to Merlin days are done by theatrical agents who
Entertainment, a phenomenal worldwide have never been on a stage in their life. M 2012 is going to be a very busy year
entertainment company, who are They don’t go to the venues or meet the for Derek Lever. Are you looking forward
upgrading the tower and adding to it. people that they’re supplying the acts to. to it and the years beyond that?
The Winter Garden has had more than As a consequence, stage magic is much D I am blessed in that I have a
five million pounds spent on it, the less than it was many years ago so I wonderful wife in Anne who is behind me
promenade itself is being altered accept that close-up magic is one of the 100%, and without whose help I would
enormously with a new tram system few ways to earn a living as a magician. struggle. As long as that partnership lasts,
and so on – it’s all happening. The sad But if those agents for one minute would and I hope it will last for many more
fact is that when Blackpool got the bid say to a prospective booker that one of years, I’ll carry on doing what I’m doing
for the FISM world championships there his acts was a very good cabaret and hopefully succeeding.
were so many people who were doubting performer, why don’t you allow him to do

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 175

 Edwin A. Dawes

391. MAX RASKIN: FOUNDER AND ARCHITECT OF THE SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION OF MAGICAL SOCIETIES. Part

ith his television credentials established by the David Top Left: Max

W Nixon programmes, Max now turned his attention to

television north of the border with the result that on
1 July 1959 Scottish Television launched a fortnightly series of
performing his Six
Coins trick. Above:
First illustration of
Six Coins (Magic
Circle Magic). Left:
15-minute programmes titled Magic with Max, which ran on
Second illustration
Wednesday evenings through until September. The format of Six Coins (Magic
adopted was that of Max selecting for each show an Circle Magic)
experienced Scottish magician together with a young aspirant
to fame, and then Max concluding the show with some of his
own magic. The shows were hosted by Michael O’Halloran, a
well-known Scottish TV presenter at that time. The performers and the local press were happy to report the occasion. TV Guide
on the first show were the genial Albert Elrick (brother of the headed a column with ‘Meet Magic’s G.O.M.’ which related
noted band leader George Elrick) of Aberdeen and 16-year-old Max’s boyhood visits to Ramsay’s shop and also told of a
Russell Brownlie of Rutherglen. For the second programme European experience at the Holland-Belgium border when Max
Max brought in the man who had inspired him as a boy, John told an official, “I think your uniform is magnificent but there’s
Ramsay, who at the age of 82 could still amaze with his only one thing that spoils it.” “What’s that?” asked the officer.
wonderful sleight of hand and Max moved nearer to him and produced a hen’s egg from the
misdirection, officer’s jacket.
Later shows in the series included Frederica (Tommy Frederick),
Mae Howie and Eddie Dawes, and especially noteworthy was
teenager Ian Adair’s appearance. Ian had recently won the
Macmillan Shield for the best stage act at the SAMS convention
at Largs with a polished dove act in white tie and tails, presented
with charm and assurance. Max Raskin invited him to present a
four-minute dove act, which posed some difficulties as Ian’s
standard act was of 15 minutes duration. He trimmed this down
to include dove productions and vanishes, using a Bengal net to
vanish two doves which were transformed into two white silk
handkerchiefs. The act was enhanced by his lovely female
assistant who, he later divulged, was someone’s wife he had
“borrowed” for the occasion! (Adair, 2010).
On 2 November 1959 at The Magic Circle’s HQ, under the title
of ‘The Magic of Max Raskin’, Max provided a Monday Night
TV Guide, July 1959 that delighted members with “an evening of real magic, superb

176 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

MIMC

Two
manipulation and some excellent deservedly accelerated through the ranks to the
misdirection.” To quote from Cyril Capon’s Society’s top degree.
report, “Max was showing us how to do There was a second series of Magic with Max in 1960
magic, not just how tricks are done and, and in that year he was also involved with a children’s
although his explanations were somewhat TV show called Hopscotch, which led to controversy
lengthy, it was obvious that he had made with The Magic Circle and plenty of press publicity for
a deep psychological study of his effects Max. At a Council meeting on 6 September: “The
and how to get them across. It was very Honorary Secretary reported a letter from four members
simple – at least it looked simple enough stating that Mr Max Raskin, also a member, was
– but one could see how necessary it is deliberately exposing certain principles of magic on
to master the art of palming. Max held a Scottish television. Mr Newcombe [Honorary Secretary]
quantity of coins in his hand and they had written to Mr Raskin pointing out that he was
were indetectable; and then he dropped contravening the rules of the Society, and in particular, the
them singly on to the table – a move clause he had signed when he was made a member. In his
that must entail enormous practice. I reply Mr Raskin stated he would not divulge the secret of
have seen Max Raskin’s ‘six pennies’ any magical principle which he might perform in the future
trick done by others, but you would Evening Tim and he had publicly announced his intention on television.
es,
think it was another effect, as he has 1 September In view of the circumstances and Mr Raskin’s action it was
1960
got it down to a masterpiece of magic. We liked agreed not to enforce the rules, and Mr Salisse expressed
that bold palming move which brought about the appearance of thanks to the officers for dealing with this matter so promptly,
an egg in place of the coin, and Len Wallace’s ‘Passing the Buck’ efficiently and courteously.”
had us all guessing. In spite of the explanations that Max so The Evening Times headline on 1 September ran ‘The Magic
freely gave, it was still baffling, and once again he floored us Circle puts Max in a spot’ and listed some of the tricks he
with his ‘The Gambler and the Magician.’ Again, with excellent had used, namely
palming and audacious misdirection, he showed us coins making a cigarette
apparently passing through the table. As a finale, his paddle unbreakable, walking
move was a magnificent climax. He chalked the spots on to the through a postcard
paddle, and after rubbing the spots off they reappeared and and breaking a pencil
vanished and reappeared until we completely lost account of with a pound note.
what they would do next. This, in my opinion, was one of the Max told the
evenings that that should be chronicled by the Monday Night reporter, “On TV
Committee as ‘raising the standard of Magic.’” I was introducing
After that encomium, it was surely no coincidence that the something that made
following evening at a meeting of Council Max Raskin was thousands and
promoted to MIMC with Gold Star. In four years he had thousands of children
Max installs Dr Cannon as happy. In performing
Hon. Life President of SAMS the tricks they
become little personalities in their own right. By not explaining
how to do them I know I will be depriving children, including
those in hospital, of a lot of happiness.” Six days later the ‘Talk
of the Readers’ column in the same paper carrying a letter
from a Mrs Mary O’Neill referring to the topic, was headed
‘Max’s magic blackout.’ Mrs O’Neill concluded by writing,
“The Magic Circle, including Max, should think again. How do
they expect the youngsters to take any interest in ‘Magic’ if
they don’t gratify their curiosity a bit?”
Even the broadsheet Glasgow Herald entered the fray with
its Editorial Diary, no less, when Alastair Phillips wrote an
amusing piece around his own experiences as an amateur
conjurer that had led many years ago to such discouragement
that “we stopped carrying in our pockets an orange out of the
▲

SAMS representatives with Dr Cannon and Magicians of Mann

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 177

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Another collection of superb artistes performing mind-defying close-up magic

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178 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

middle of which we could draw out two yards of white tape, a appearance at a SAMS Convention. It occurred at Aberdeen in
tumbler which we could push through a dining-room table, a 1967 when reporter Tom Johnston recorded the presence of
pack of cards with specially trimmed edges, and a coil of clothes “Honorary Life Vice-President of SAMS Max Raskin, as suave as
rope to be cut in two and then restored to its full length.” ever and still coining miracles with the classic palm.” Max spoke
Reverting now to SAMS affairs, the officers decided to invite at the Farewell Luncheon and, confessing
Dr ‘Sir’ Alexander Cannon to be their Honorary Life President that he had never envisaged that SAMS
and, to install him in that office, and in October 1955 a party of would grow to such a size, recalled some of
four SAMS representatives flew to Douglas, Isle of Man. There the early days and mentioned some of the
they were guests at Cannon’s residence, Laureston Mansion House, now deceased important supporters, not
for a long weekend of magical activities which included a civic least John Ramsay.
reception. Max Raskin led the group consisting of George Pigott, The following year Max Raskin died of a
Johnny Geddes and Eddie Dawes, and other guests for the event cerebral haemorrhage on 1 March 1968.
were Tom Harris of Derby (the then-President of the Magicians of In an appreciation, Jim Hynd (1968), a
Mann) and John Sands from Belfast. There were shows on Past President, made a final assessment
Saturday, Sunday and Monday evenings in the Enchanted Hall of Max’s magical abilities, pointing out
and on the last of these, Governor’s Evening, Dr Cannon was that while his principal reputation was
installed in his new Scottish office. To mark the occasion he as a marvellous close-up worker, his
presented SAMS with a magnificent trophy which, as the Cannon talents in the field of mystery were Program
Trophy, ever since has been presented to the club deemed to many and varied. Jim recalled Max’s me for
Show
have contributed the most to Scottish magic during the past year. frequent visits to Fife and mentioned a
In 1955 Max Raskin stood down as SAMS President and was specific example of him holding a crowded ballroom in Kirkcaldy
elected Honorary Life Vice-President but naturally maintained his spellbound with his stage magic when he performed for a Boy
interest in its affairs. Scout’s function sponsored by the Troop with which Jim was
Although Max did not travel abroad on business, in the early associated. There could be no better testimony to the founder of
1960s he visited America and the family belief is that he SAMS.
appeared on the Jack Paar Show (presumably Tonight) although Happily, magic did not entirely disappear from the Raskin
no documentary evidence has so far come to light. What is family and his grandson Giles, the youngest of Linda’s four
certain, however, is Max’s contribution to Play Your Hunch, for children, who was born eight years after Max’s death, has
his name is included in a list of magic celebrity participants inherited his grandfather’s love of magic and is an accomplished
thanked for their appearances during 1961-62 and recorded in performer.
an advertisement placed in Genii magazine in 1962. He is the We close appropriately with the final verse of Henry
only British representative in the group and the background to Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem The Day is Done which Max liked
his inclusion in this game show remains obscure. As Jack Paar to quote, having made some slight modifications to suit his
was never associated with this show, his purpose, principally changing music to magic in the first line:
link with Max Raskin is likewise And the night shall be filled with magic
opaque. When the cares that infest the day
The British magic community was Shall fold their cloaks like an Arab
shocked by the tragic deaths in And silently fade away.
consecutive years (1961-62) of Lewis
Davenport, founder of the famous ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
magic dealers business, and his son I am greatly indebted to Max Raskin’s daughter, Linda Woolfson,
George, who presided behind the for her invaluable assistance with recollections of her father and
counter and was the familiar face details of her family background, and to her son Giles for his
who greeted customers to the shop generous assistance. Also to Ian Adair for his recollections of
and demonstrated the miracles on Magic with Max, Jim Cuthbert for relevant minutes of Paisley
offer. As a tribute, The Magic Magical Society, Jim Alfredson for his help with American TV
y
nii (1962) (Pla Circle published in 1963 Magic shows, and to Bill Kalush and the Conjuring Arts Research
in Ge
Advert ch) Circle Magic, a festschrift to these Center for the resources of Ask Alexander.
un
Your H two scions of magic who had both been prominent
members of the Society. Edited by Will Dexter, the handsome REFERENCES
volume presented a wide selection of magic from many Adair, Ian (2010). “Dealing” with Magic.
members and amongst them was Max Raskin. His contribution Pages 2 Stages Publishing
(pp.191-194) was The Passe-Passe Coins, the routine that he had Cuthbert, J. (2008). Paisley Magic Circle,
turned into a masterpiece. Here he gave detailed instructions for 70 and still going strong. Author’s publication.
its performance accompanied by five photographs. Dawes, E.A. (2003). The Conversion of a Magical Loner.
During the early 1960s Max Raskin had become a less familiar Sun Dog Press.
presence at SAMS Conventions. This led Johnny Geddes in his Dawes, E.A. & Short, S. (2009). David Nixon:
column ‘Convention Corner’ in the SAMS Magazine for June Entertainer with the Magic Touch. Northern
1964, to include in a wish list of ‘Things we’d like to see’, “the Arts Publications.
return of people like Max Raskin … to our Conventions”. Dexter, W. (1963). Magic Circle Magic. London: The Magic Circle.
Three more years had to pass before Johnny Geddes’s wish Genii 27, 160 (1962).
would come to pass, but very sadly it turned out to be Max’s last Hynd, J. (1968). SAMS Magazine 17 (2), 20.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 179

 Mandy Davis MIMC Convenor of Reports. Photographed by John

Monday 28 March 2011 audience deservedly earned him 3rd place revealing that the previously signed card
The Magic Circle Close-up in the competition. was now in the capped bottle of water –
Competition 2011 Joe Stone turned blank paper into £20 a strong and surprising ending.
and a clean and entertaining version of Tim Sutton did some card tricks worked
Reported by Rob Cox ‘Any Card at Any Number’. He closed to a backing track that first revealed the
Congenial host Richard Pinner with a Chop Cup routine using a small toy amusingly unwelcome thoughts of his
introduced a very high quality and mouse for a ball and climaxing with lots inner self and then provided musical
entertaining competition of mice! Jon Allen opened with a backing which matched the cards he
with many moments of ‘splashed’ production of a plastic bottle of produced. He made some mistakes
originality to enjoy. The mineral water and followed it with a (difficult to recover when working to a
competitors performed in signed card effect. Turning to coins he backing track) but it is an act well worth
front of a lay audience in performed a nice version of ‘3 Fly’ before working on and must surely have been
the Devant Room while the
rest of us watched on the
screen in the theatre,
courtesy of Bob Hamilton.
Richard Pinner First up was the laid back
Chris Wood who performed a selection
of card effects with a gambling theme
including colour changes and cutting to
the Aces. After transforming a note to a
matchbook, the also laid back Andrew
John van der Put Marc Spelmann Chris Wood Andrew Murray
Murray also turned to cards with ‘Twisting
the Aces’, climaxing with a royal flush
amongst other effects and finishing
with a magically re-boxed deck.
James Freedman also started his act
with a pack of cards in hand, but it was
just a quick gag with a strung deck
before he went into a coin transposition
effect and closed with a variation on
the Williamson Ring and Rope trick. His
energy, humour and rapport with the James Freedman Joe Stone Jon Allen Tim Sutton

Monday 4 April 2011 performance showed both his expertise Bill seemed to struggle at times with
Bill Abbott as well as some nice design touches. the demeanour of his audience. It was
Celebrity Smart Ass was an entertaining, evident that the typically conservative
Reported by Tim Barnes and very baffling, revelation of a celebrity Monday nighters were not his normal
Canadian Bill Abbott immediately name and was followed by a card stab in fare although those present clearly
dived into his a bag, including the kicker ending of a lapped up the magic on show, both in
rendition of the Five shot glass drink production. the theatre and on sale afterwards.
Card Repeat, a clean He also demonstrated Mind Control – There’s surely only one Bill Abbott,
and very visual version a fun prediction using items from the and we were lucky to meet him tonight;
of an old classic. audience – and, to finish, we were even if he was a little
Next we witnessed presented with Bill’s signature effect, unsure about us.
“The Thing” – a Chico the Mind Reading Monkey. A small [The Pre-Show
zombie-style levitation hand puppet, an adult assistant, and a Hands-On Session
of an invisible form not particularly baffling prediction should in the Devant Room
from its Perspex box have led to disappointment, but this was featured
Bill Abbott ‘home’. Bill’s a joy to watch. Tony Hanscombe Tony Hanscombe.]

180 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

Ward MMC

considered for the Originality prize. background and a spectral voice, Joe
But that prize and 2nd place went to did a fine newspaper tear, Miser’s Dream
Marc Spelmann, who revealed two sides and floating ball. James Wilson was
to his performing persona. Marc was the perfectly attired as an old-time soldier
‘good’ magician who plucked a real deck Jack Taperell Oliver Ward with magic to match. We were taken
of cards from a flat picture and performed on a mystery treasure hunt via vanishing
an effect in which a chosen card was drumsticks, sword swallowing, torn and
revealed as scorched with a burnt hole in restored map, a Zombie skull float
it. It was his ‘evil’ alter-ego with spooky which developed into a delightful
eyes who closed the act, showing a blank- floating table, ending with the discovery
faced deck remaining. of a load of pieces of eight – good
The final performer was the winner of music, good characterisation, altogether
the competition – collecting the Devano a fine presentation.
Joe Strickland Nicholas Lee
Trophy, a cheque for £500, an invitation Last was Nicholas Lee, a young
to the FFFF convention in Buffalo, New magician who will go far. With hilarious
York and the title, The Magic Circle Close- patter he romped through a good
up Magician of the Year 2011. That person soul/naughty soul prediction, a card
was John van der Put with some original trick, finishing with pushing a sword
ideas and plenty of off-the-wall humour. right through the neck of a poor
His act included a four Ace production to unsuspecting lady from the audience.
music, an effect in which the deck changed Nicholas is a natural.
James Wilson Mandy Davis
completely to double backers and a modern This was an evening of pure original
version of the ‘Human Gasometer’. He with aplomb and retired to the sound of magical entertainment for which we have
closed with his own effect, ‘VDP,’ in which loud applause from a very appreciative to thank Mandy Davis for a most
a signed card transforms, in his hands, audience. successful production, ably assisted by
quarter by quarter, into a different card The three stage acts were outstanding the YMC Team – Kevin Doig, Clive
still bearing that signature. in their originality. Joe Strickland chose Hyams, and Steve Dela – and the Tech
So, a worthy winner and, for once, no- the character of a beggar on a deserted Crew of Roy Marsh, Kevin Doig and
one in the clubroom was complaining! street. Working to an excellent music Dave Andrews.

Monday 11 April 2011

The Young Magicians’ Club
Entertains

Reported by Jack Delvin

Whenever we get a write-up of the YMC
we get old clichés like ‘stars of the
Roy Marsh Scott Penrose Max Somerset Kathryn Rhodes
future’, but not this time. They were no
way stars of the future – they were stars Monday 18 April 2011 dumped in Room 101.
of the present! Magic’s Room 101 – The choices were extremely varied
First on, with a huge smile and bags of Roy Marsh MIMC and ranged from The Bra Trick, The
confidence, was Jack Taperell with the Zombie Floating Ball, magicians’ tables
production of a bottle of wine performed Reported by Graham Reed (music stand style), jugglers, gaudy
with an original slant that made it a real The night’s entertainment was based on ‘magical’ ties, and even Houdini.
surprise. A nice card effect followed and the popular television show Room 101. It was a fun night, extremely well
he concluded with another clever twist on The organiser, Roy Marsh, introduced the planned and organised, and
the Chop Cup, which was very well three contestants (Scott Penrose, Max will hopefully become a
received. Oliver Ward’s card effects Somerset, and Kathryn Rhodes), each of regular event.
showed a lot of originally and fitted in whom was asked to suggest three [The Pre-Show Hands-
perfectly with his pleasant personality. He magical items which, in their opinion, On session in the Devant
handled his assistant from the audience should be relegated into oblivion and Ron Escott Room featured Ron Escott.]

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 181

182 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk
 Elizabeth Warlock MIMC

here has been much going on in the three days. Of course he does have a Frank Sinatra songs combined with

T the Regions during the past few

weeks with the annual Blackpool
Magicians’ Club annual convention
great team behind him like his wife Anne,
Arthur Casson, Russ Stevens, David Plant
and many others from the Blackpool
magic. He is probably better known as
the dealer Zane.
Congratulations to Romany on
among the events, where it was good Magicians’ Club. We thank them for winning the Gold Lion’s Head Award at
to meet up with so many of our continually giving us such great and the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas
members both performing and as mere memorable days of action-packed magic. in March, thus adding another trophy
spectators. Taking place the penultimate In addition to that there have been a to her already crowded sideboard. This
weekend in February, this time the number of dinners including those of the bubbly performer who did not take up
format was slightly different as it Shropshire Society in Shrewsbury magic until she was in her twenties has
incorporated the FISM European organised by Geoff and Pat Ray, that of carved a niche for herself as one of our
Championships with the result that the the British Ring President, Keith Cooper, in leading stage performers with an act
close-up and stage competitions took Stafford and the British Magical Society that is both colourful and magical. But
up the whole of the Friday and the here in Birmingham where the David then she did study at the Jeff McBride
morning and afternoon of the Saturday Berglas Trophy for services to British magic School, and has taken lessons from
with the evening devoted to an All was made to this year’s recipient – Derren Joanie Spina who is one of the world’s
Winners Show. There was certainly leading producers of magic shows
some spectacular and eye-popping including that of David Copperfield. I
magic to be seen, both stage and close- had the occasion to meet up with
up. Although there were many prizes Romany when she appeared in the
for the different categories, unusually evening show alongside Peter Wardell
there was no overall winner. and Jay Scott Berry at the Wessex
Particularly outstanding in the close- Association of Magicians Day of Magic
up was Yann Frisch from France. Using held in Bournemouth on 3 April. It was
unlikely objects like a teapot, a small at this event that she also gave her first
jug and a ball, he performed a version ever lecture which proved to be both
of the cups and balls, with the ball entertaining and instructional, including
appearing, disappearing and multiplying lots of practical advice as well as
under the jug, often to his own surprise demonstrating effects she has made so
and bewilderment. It was a virtuoso much her own like Coins Across and
performance. Brilliant too was Vittorio Gypsy Thread.
Belloni from Italy in a matrix routine David Berglas presents his Trophy to When newly-elected member of
Derren Brown
where the coins not only changed their council of TMC, Will Houstoun, came to
denomination but the cards became Brown. Unfortunately, due to touring with Birmingham recently to lecture to the
transparent. his new show, Svengali, he could not be BMS it made for an exceptional
It was good to see the current Young present to receive it. However it was evening. Just 25 years old, he is already
Magician of the Year High Jinx (Michael presented a few days prior to the dinner an established close-up worker,
Jordan assisted by Siobhan) in an by David on stage at the Woking theatre historian, lecturer and author of two
excellent new illusion act with a toy where Derren was then appearing and then books – The Notebook, which is a
soldier theme, which won third prize in projected onto a large screen at the dinner. collection of over 80 tricks with cards
the illusion category. This multi-talented It was good that David was able to be from around the year 1800, and Hellis
young man is a rising star, and I am present on the evening, as he has attended in Wonderland. Hellis flourished in the
sure we are going to hear a lot more of nearly every BMS dinner since the inception 19th century, and was a popular
him in the future. of his Award in 1988 when it was presented performer, inventor and the teacher of
Needless to say the convention was to Peter Warlock. Later recipients have Professor Hoffmann. So it was that Will
once again organised by Derek Lever, included such names as John Fisher, Paul combined history with skilled sleights
who has to be the best organiser of Daniels and Wayne Dobson. and effects. It was a fascinating and
magic conventions in the world. It is no In the cabaret Michael Jordan (High enjoyable lecture presented in a clear
easy task being at the helm of a Jinx) again showed his versatility and also and understandable way.
convention of this magnitude and with appearing were Brian Sefton with his very I’ll be with you again soon with more
so many events taking place throughout slick manipulations and Joe Swing with news from the Regions.

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 183

 Walford Taylor AIMC

CONTACT MINDREADING – A CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW – Part 1

George Beard Max Dessoir Stuart Cumberland

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

CLEAN-CUT TRIUMPH BY RUSSELL LEVINSON AIMC

n this Triumph-type routine, the cards are cleanly displayed

I alternating face up and face down, yet they can

immediately be squared and shown to be all face down.
Turning the pack over, they are all face up.
There are no secret sleights. The only move needed is a Faro,
which is not hidden or disguised, and it doesn’t matter if it
isn’t perfect.
The effect differs from the standard Triumph, which is a
take-a-card trick with an attractive sub-plot. In Clean-Cut
Triumph, the effect is much more direct; it is purely that the Fig. 1
magician can mix the cards and straighten them out.
The drawback to this routine is that it requires a set-up
beforehand and the pack is not usable for anything afterwards
without a reset. I think the effect is strong enough to be
worth it.
The original Triumph is of course Vernon’s in Stars of Magic,
and Matt Field tells me that my approach is a variant of U.F.
Fig. 2 Fig. 3
Grant’s ‘Cheek to Cheek’.

184 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 f the previous articles in this column have aroused your and explaining various tests which could be performed, including

I interest in Contact Mind Reading, you may wish to delve

more deeply into the subject. There are many publications
available for study, and what follows is a list in chronological
finding a chosen key amongst a bundle of many, and one
particular pin out of a dozen stuck in the side of a table.
The June 1877 issue of Popular Science Monthly contained
order of some of the better-known works with a few an article by Dr William Carpenter entitled Mesmerism,
comments on each, including the number of pages which are Odylism, Table Turning and Spiritualism, which referred to
devoted to and indicating where they are to be found in The muscle-reading in a single paragraph at the end, and unusually
Magic Circle Library (for which information I am indebted to described a performance using two Transmitters, each placing a
Peter Lane). I have included, necessarily selectively, a few of finger on the performer’s shoulder on either side, or,
the many earlier reports, as opposed to instruction manuals, alternatively, one placing his hand on the front of the
because they are of historical interest. The list does not performer’s body and the other on his back.
pretend to be exhaustive, but I hope that I have not omitted This was followed, also in the same magazine, in July 1877
any works of major importance. (pp 362-363) by publication of a letter entitled Mind-Reading
John Randall Brown began to acquire a reputation for his by the Ear from Dr George M Beard pointing out that there
performances of muscle reading around 1873 and not long were three general methods of mindreading: by touch, eye and
afterwards articles began to appear describing demonstrations ear, and he cited a letter from a correspondent who wished to
using his method. remain anonymous in which he described muscle-reading
In the February 1877 issue of Popular Science Monthly, experiments he had carried out of a non-direct contact variety.
Dr George M. Beard wrote a contribution entitled The only condition the author required was that the subject
Physiology of Mind-Reading which was an early 13-page should follow him at a distance of about three or four feet,

▲
exposition of muscle-reading as practised by Brown, describing keeping his mind on the object. He could tell when the subject

Effect down or all face up. Roughing does not affect the ability to
A pack is spread out to show the cards face down, then Faro the cards.
turned and spread face up. Half is turned face down, and
shuffled fairly into the face-up portion. The cards are spread to Set-up
display them all alternating face up / face down, and squared 26 face down cards roughed on the face, followed by 26
cleanly. Yet with no moves at all, the magician can double-face cards, roughed on the undersides. So if you spread
immediately spread out the pack, face up or face down, to out the pack, you would see 26 backs and 26 unroughed faces.
show all the cards facing in the same direction. Do not do this in performance! Select the cards so that if you
The presentational theme I use is a self-deprecating one: were to turn the pack face up, there would be no duplicates
that I use magic to reconcile my personal dilemma of wanting between the face-down cards and the roughed faces of the
things to be tidy while being too lazy to actually tidy up. If you double-facers.
like the trick, I’m sure you’ll find your own presentational The unroughed upper faces of the duplicates should include a
approach. selection of all the suits with some Aces, number and court
cards. They will be displayed briefly at the end of the trick to
Method in Brief represent the whole pack.
The trick relies on rough and smooth cards and double-facers. I suggest that the two centre cards of the pack – the last face-
Faroing double-facers into face-down regular cards creates down card and the roughed underside of the top double-faced
26 roughed pairs that can be spread out to show all face card – be a matching pair, such as 10H and 10D, to make it
▲

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 185

 Involuntary Guidance without Contact, revealed that he
was the author of the anonymous letter sent to George M Beard
in 1877 (above) which was set out again and he added further
▲

followed him readily and when reluctantly. When near the details of “actions which are performed without contact with
object, no inclination to move in any direction was shown. His the person willing”. He stated, “Here the involuntary guidance
previous experiments were with a rigid rod, then a wire, a by the eyes of the rest of the party, or other indications of
stretched string, and a string with a loop. He next worked an almost imperceptible character, are swiftly and probably
without contact, not blindfolded, walking backwards, holding unconsciously interpreted by the guesser and lead him
out his right forefinger, and directing the subject to hold his right hesitantly to do what is being willed” on which Dr Beard
forefinger at a distance of six inches. When moving in the right comments, “the doubtful interpretation of the best results
direction the gap would be rapidly closed between the two obtained in this group has compelled us to attach comparatively
fingers. To pick out any letter on a page of a book or to spell out little importance to them.”
abstract thoughts he held a sharp pointed stick in his left hand On 22 July 1884, The Brisbane Courier, in what I assume to
pointing downwards to an alphabet board with the same hand be a syndicated column, reported a demonstration headlined
grasping the left hand of the subject. Muscle Reading by Mr Stuart Cumberland performed at the
In Vol. I of the Proceedings of The Society for Psychical offices of The Pall Mall Gazette in London. This is an interesting
Research 1882-3 pp. 291-293 there appeared a Note on six column account of the famous mentalist’s show which is
Muscle Reading by the Rev. E.H. Sugden in which he reported noteworthy for having been performed in front of Oscar Wilde,
on experiments he had carried out, similar to those performed amongst others, who declined to act as a Transmitter, declaring
by Stuart Cumberland (see later), listing the tests, which included that he was “not a good subject”!
“the localisation of pains”: passing the patient’s hand rapidly Max Dessoir’s Experiments in Muscle-Reading and
over his body until some “preferential point” was discovered. He Thought-Transference in the Journal of the Society for
took the subject’s left hand (the subject being right-handed) as Psychical Research (pp 111-126) followed in 1886.
“being more automatic than the right hand” and to find the It referred to a detailed explanation of muscle-reading by Dr.
numbers on a bank note he moved the Transmitter’s hand W. Preyer of Leipzig entitled The Explanation of Thought-Reading
rapidly to and fro over figured cards on the table until he found and described Dessoir’s own experiments in 1885 using the
where it “most contentedly rested”, so obtaining the five figures hand-on-shoulder contact. His conclusions in three tests were:
in succession. Alternatively he would lay the Transmitter’s hand (1) that there could be guidance upwards by the pressure on the
on the back of his own, following his indications to write the shoulder diminishing when the subject’s thoughts were fixed on
numbers successively on a blackboard. He commented on his a higher position and the subject’s hand involuntarily rose a little;
failures which were at a rate of one in four (early days!) (2) in considering why there had been a hesitancy on his part,
attributing this to not having ladies as subjects. He did not the chief condition was that the Performer should above
recommend tests with boys or persons with cold, dry hands, or everything be as far as possible “without thought” in order to
persons with a sceptical view! Interestingly, he found that very submit completely to the helper’s guidance; and (3) it was
often when an article had been hidden in one place and then detrimental for the Performer to depend upon deliberate
transferred to another, the Transmitter almost always took him reflection instead of following his instinct. The remaining tests
to the first place and then, after a short search, suddenly went involved guessing numbers and drawings which were,
to the correct place. unsurprisingly, unsuccessful.
In May 1884, Mr A.E.Outerbridge, in a letter published in In 1888, Stuart Cumberland (formerly known as Charles
the Journal of Society for Psychical Research, headed Garner, assistant to John Randall Brown) published his well-

and also, if you are using regular two-index cards, makes it

possible for the spectators, rather than the performer, to read
the indices, which is what you want unless you are performing
▲

easier for you to remember where to split the spread. Pencil dot to yourself. “When anything goes out of place, it’s almost
the card third from the bottom of the set of 26 face-down cards physically painful. This is probably why I don’t have any kids.”
on the left-hand corner (the non-index corner) on both ends. Break the spread at the centre between the two matching
The pack is in its case face down with the half-moon cutout cards (Fig 1). Take the top half (double-facers) in your left hand,
side up. the lower half (the regular cards) in your right hand. Square each
packet and turn the right hand’s packet over (Fig 2). “So if
Method and Presentation someone would mix up a pack of cards like this, it would destroy
Take the case with the left hand, open the flap with the right, my world!”
and take out the pack, face down. Place the case down with the Out-Faro the face-down cards in your right hand into the face-
left hand. “Some people are obsessed with neatness. Do you down cards in your left. In other words, the top face-down card
know anyone like that? Well, I’m one of them.” of the left-hand packet goes beneath the top card of the right-
Spread the top 26 cards between the hands The pencil-dotted hand packet. If the shuffle is not perfect, you will have an
card in 24th position lets you know there are only two more opportunity to correct it later.
cards to go. Take care not to display any face-up cards. “It’s a Push the cards half-way together leaving the face-up cards
kind of obsession. Everything has to be exact and in order. “ outjogged for half their length.
Square the deck and turn it face up. Spread all the cards face Spread the pack between your hands, displaying the face-
up from right hand to left hand. This makes the later cut easier down cards nearest you and the face-up ones outjogged

186 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

known A Thought-Reader’s Thoughts (Sampson, Low,
Marston, Searle & Rivington: London, 326 pages) which can be
found online. This is an interesting and justifiably-egotistical
record of Cumberland’s extraordinarily extensive global travels
and his encounters with the crowned heads of Europe. Readers
hoping to discover lost secrets will be disappointed because it is
not until page 314 that he turns his attention to the modus
operandi and when he does so he gives no details, being
content to say “thought-reading, so far as I am concerned, is
simply the perception of touch”. Worth reading for its
historical interest.
A Complete Course in the Art of Mind-Reading
(Part I – Muscle Reading) published by The Psychic Research
Company, (Chicago, 1900) (now re-published by Kessinger
Publishing’s Rare Mystical Reprints (Undated) 9 1/2”x 7 1/2”, soft
back) was the first widely available course (18 pages and nine
short lessons) on the technique of muscle reading. This gives an
adequate overview of the art, although later works are much
more detailed. The author, referring to the grip, baldly states Buy books, DVD’s,
that the volunteer “will put his right hand in the left hand of the
performer”. One interesting comment not appearing in other magazines, ephemera,
works is that “by feigning excitement while you perform these cards, silks, magic sets,
feats you throw your guide rather off his guard, rendering him
as impulsive as you seem to be, and so increase the strength of
magicians for hire
the clue he gives you.” A variation on the “finding a pin” test is and more
given, in that a volunteer makes a hole in the wall with a pin,
Tel: 01362 859491
withdraws it and hides it somewhere. The Performer finds the
pin, then the hole and places the pin exactly in the hole. An All available for sale online at
unusual test described is the forming of tableau or living www.magicianslibrary.com
pictures. Several members of the audience arrange themselves as
a group and then disperse to their seats. The Performer first
picks out those taking part in the test and then arranges them in
their correct positions. A section touches briefly on how to
replicate numbers thought of and the drawing of an animal. In
conclusion there is a section on “true” mindreading which was a
subject of much discussion at that time and which has since
been completely discredited.

[Walford Taylor’s survey of CMR Publications continues in

August. Ed.].

towards to the spectators (Fig 3). “A pack of cards in this

condition would drive me crazy. “
If any of the cards are not correctly alternated, take the spread
in your left hand as a large fan. With your right hand, move any
outjogged cards as needed to the correct positions. Take care
not to let spectators see the undersides of the double-facers.
Cover this by saying, “Face up, face down … I’m so obsessive
that even my messes have to be perfect. Look, these aren’t
properly alternated, I need to correct them”.
Slowly square the outjogged cards into the left hand. Do this
very cleanly so the audience can follow and see that you are
making no moves. “The thing is, people like me who are
obsessed with neatness are also often far too lazy to clean up. I
used to solve this by inviting my girlfriend round. But when she’s
not there ... the only solution is this.”
Make a mystic pass with the right hand. “And look …”
Ribbon spread the cards on the table, or spread them between
your hands. The roughed pairs will cling together showing all
face-down. Square, turn over, and spread, to show all face up.
“If only that worked in the real world ...”

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 187

 The Berglas Effects required, or possess the unique such as Roy Marsh, are mostly variants,
by Richard Kaufman with personality necessary to recreate all The often good ones, of established material.
David Berglas Berglas Effects here so fully described. Hey – did I mention that this is FIVE
394 pages, hard backed with However any reader of this outstanding POUNDS? I know I recommended getting
dustjacket, illustrated (some in 3D, volume cannot fail to be inspired by the it while you can. It’s a worthwhile book
glasses included), with 3 DVDs. valuable lessons it contains, and apply for magicians of any level of expertise.
$125 US postpaid, $155 (about £95) these to their own approach to magic.
postpaid worldwide via PayPal to Those who do will surely be on the road The Last Greatest Magician
[email protected] or to converting their card tricks into in the World
www.GeniiMagazine.com/kaufman/store. impossible happenings their audiences by Jim Steinmeyer
Or directly from David Berglas for will relate to others and remember 378 pages, 9.5 x 6.25 ins., hard cover
£110.00 (inc. UK and European p&p) for all time. book with dustjacket, 8 pages of photos,
via PayPal from [email protected], This is a major work by the author, not index. $26.95 from booksellers
or cheques payable to David Berglas, only for persuading David to disclose his (discounted to $17.25 (£13.31) plus p&p
PO Box 3538, Herts. EN5 9NG, with cherished secrets, but also for the clarity on amazon.co.uk and amazon.com).
autographed bookplate by request. with which he has related these to his Published by Tarcher/Penguin.
readers. This collection is a great addition
Reviewed by Alan Shaxon to the legend of David Berglas. Reviewed by Matthew Field
Over 40 years ago I wrote a glowing Member Jim Steinmeyer continues to
report in Abracadabra of a performance What Do I Know? write the most illuminating and engaging
by David Berglas at the Dome By Jack Delvin books about magic’s astonishing history
Theatre in Brighton. On that 103 pages, e-book (Word document). and magnetic personalities. In the present
occasion and throughout his £5 via PayPal or credit card from book he tells the story of Howard
amazing career, he featured www.JackDelvin.co.uk. Thurston, who was the most successful
many of the card routines so magician of his era (the turn of the
carefully detailed in this Reviewed by Matthew Field 20th century until the 1930s), more
wonderful book by Richard Can this be right? A fiver for a more than successful even than Houdini. Yet, as
Kaufman and demonstrated 100 page e-book from the President of magic began its perhaps inevitable decline
on its accompanying DVDs. The Magic Circle, filled with solid advice as movies (and later television) caused
David Berglas has always been an and about twenty effects. live theatrical productions and even
enigmatic figure, a star name of our It is true, and my advice is to get this nightclub performances to
magical world who retains that status in while you can (while Jack is still in some disappear, Thurston attempted,
his retirement years, and the legends sort of trance). The advice is good, solid unsuccessfully, to adapt and
relating to his signature pieces seem to mentoring from a man who has today it is Houdini, not
increase as time passes. His methods performed in every conceivable type of Thurston (and not Dante or Soo
and all the many stratagems and environment, from close-up to children’s or Kellar), who is remembered as
variations have been developed and shows to arenas, with stints on radio and the ultimate icon of the art.
honed over the years to accompany his TV, and teaching magic at Davenports and Steinmeyer tells the story in
own unique personality. The detailed now at his own London School of Magic an engaging manner and, even though
presentations he employs to reach the as well as advising on magic acts. the book is aimed at the general (as
desired effects are fully disclosed here, This latter pursuit is much in evidence in opposed to magic) market, touches on
as are the ways he leaves any audience the section of the book called ‘Act some of the issues regarding illusions
fully convinced that they have Factor’, solid advice on how to put Thurston included in his act, including the
witnessed a totally impossible event. together an act (as opposed to just doing Kellar Levitation (based upon, to use
And so the legend continues. tricks) which Jack will be publishing as a polite language, the Maskelyne
Cardicians may not learn many new stand-alone book later this year. The Levitation). Several myths are exposed,
moves, but will learn the real secrets effects in such as the oft repeated mistake that
from a master who has always upheld the book, Thurston had trained to be a preacher,
his reputation as the `International Man some by when actually he was a rough-and-tumble
of Mystery`. guest youth who grew up in an orphanage.
Few will devote the time and study contributors Why Thurston’s star faded and why he

188 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

is, after his great successes, not better non-card material, including Lennart’s piece of paper which he holds in front
remembered today are subjects work on the Three Shell Game, some coin of him for the audience to see. The last
Steinmeyer seeks answers to and the effects, paper to money and more. spectator names a card, and this is
search, and the tales, are riveting. The totality of all this is breath-taking. removed from another deck (not the
Lennart Green is a true master of magic “Prediction” deck) so he can hold it in
Lennart Green Masterfile with unbelievably refined card handling front of him like the number-chooser is
by Lennart Green skills, all wrapped in a package that looks doing. So we have a card and a
4 DVD set in slipcase, total 7 hrs. 35 min. like a bumbler is at the card table. His number. The first spectator is
$150 (£115) plus p&p from your favourite techniques, including the Lateral Palm and handed the “Prediction”
dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic Lapping, are, in many cases, for the pack, she counts down to the
Supplies, www.MurphysMagic.com. advanced intermediate (there’s a phrase) number, et voilá, there it is.
card handler, but there is something for To get to the end point is a
Reviewed by Matthew Field virtually anyone seriously interested in real adventure. The Birthday
There are already six DVDs of Lennart card magic to be found here. theme for the number choice
Green’s brand of magic in the This set is, as promised, the real work is there to keep the number
marketplace. Do we need four more? behind the extraordinary magic of Lennart chosen to 31 or less, although there is a
The answer is an unreserved ‘yes’. Here, Green, presented in an elegant production version included with an unrestricted
for the first time, is Green’s complete act, by Luis de Matos that befits one of the choice. The book is nicely produced,
explained in uncompromising detail. finest magicians of our time. although the photos illustrating what’s
The first of the four DVDs is Lennart’s going on are quite small, but
professional blindfold act, which he ACAAB: Any Card at serviceable. I should mention that no
performs seated for a spectator seated to Any Birthday table is needed, there are no stooges,
his right. He is unmistakably unable to see by Boris Wild no memorisation or mnemonics are
yet he names cards, performs a Card at 52 pgs., 8.5 x 6 in. hard backed book, needed, no sleights are required, no
Any Number and lots more, all two colours, photo illustrated. $29 gaffed cards, can be repeated.
accompanied by his gentle humour. (£18.50) plus p&p from your favourite I agree. ACAAB is a clever,
Explained with Green alone in the studio dealer. Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic entertaining routine with a method that
are his false deals and shuffles and his Supplies, www.MurphysMagic.com. is astonishing.
beautifully deceptive Angle Separation (a
move he has explained previously). In the Reviewed by Matthew Field Look No Hands
first of four interview segments with Having spent a couple of months helping by Wayne Dobson
producer Luis de Matos, we see the Richard Kaufman with The Berglas Effects, 36 pgs., 8.25 x 6.75 ins., softcover.
human side of Lennart, including a you might think that the last thing I £15 ($25) plus p&p from
moving account of his late mother would need would be another version of www.WayneDobson.co.uk or your
which brings him to tears. the Any Card at Any Number plot (which, favourite dealer. Dealers contact
The second disc, ‘Controlled Chaos’, by the way, is not The Berglas Effect). But Murphy’s Magic Supplies,
goes to the heart of Green’s technique. Boris Wild is a very clever card man and www.MurphysMagic.com.
What appears to be absolute random he has devised a version which I am glad
mixes of the cards, in which they are he has put into print. Reviewed by Matthew Field
spread all over the table, is shown to be This version of the trick is not in any Wayne Dobson was one of the UK’s
carefully planned to preserve order. way impromptu. It takes some room in most popular magic entertainers before
Green’s Rosetta Shuffle, steals and more the pockets, you must be wearing a MS forced him into a wheelchair and
are taught. Disc three contains ‘Personal sports coat (jacket) and it is meant for made him reconsider the types of magic
Favourites’, some marketed tricks (Stolen platform or stage performance. You select he could (and wanted) to do. The
Cards), some self working effects, a three random spectators who join you on physical frailty in no way diminished
fabulous version of Out of This World and stage. You show one a deck of cards in Wayne’s creativity and ebullience (or his
a couple of non-card your jacket pocket labelled “Prediction”, potty mouth, either).
tricks, including the and she looks to make sure that the The present book, with a rude and
Penetrating Matchsticks. pocket is otherwise empty. A second very funny cover, contains ten card
On disc four we get spectator names a number (more on this effects which do not require the
▲

miscellaneous, mostly in a moment) and this is written on a magician to touch the deck. In some

JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 189

 Council minutes
cases the cards are gaffed, but in such a manner that the
spectator will not notice anything amiss. There are variations
of Out of this World, McDonald’s Aces, matching effects, the
Tossed Out Deck and a bunch more. There are touches in
every trick to make them memorable and funny. The
highlight for me is the complete routine for Wayne’s
Echo, right out of his act, in which the spectator
becomes the magician with lines fed to him by the
magus and who succeeds in locating a chosen card. MINUTES OF THE MAGIC Michael Colley was granted
This is ten minutes of brilliance on stage. CIRCLE COUNCIL MEETING permission and given
Yes, these are basically self working tricks, but the HELD AT THE HEADQUARTERS appreciative encouragement by
subtleties and clever touches take them into a much ON 1 APRIL 2011 6.30 pm Council, to continue with his
higher stratum. In fact, what we have here are real gems that work compiling ‘The Young
would fit into any magician’s close-up platform or stage act. PRESENT Magician of the Year’ book.
Some of the material might be a bit blue, but the book itself is Jack DELVIN (President) Haven exposure show was
solid gold. James FREEDMAN discussed with the conclusion
Will HOUSTOUN reached that we should
EMC (Essential Magic Conference) 2010 Alan MASKELL respond by starving the project
Various Artists Scott PENROSE of any ‘oxygen of publicity’
8 DVD boxed set. More than 16 hours of material. $150 Richard PINNER from TMC.
(£120) plus p&p from your favourite dealer. Dealers contact Fay PRESTO Car Security: in the light of
Murphy’s Magic Supplies. Martyn ROWLAND budget recommendations, a
Brian SIBLEY (Chairman) discussion took place on the
Reviewed by Matthew Field Michael VINCENT question of whether the cost
Confession: I did not watch this DVD set after it was sent to Chris WOOD (Secretary) of employing a security guard
me for review. No, I watched most of it as it happened, as an Alexander CRAWFORD to police parked cars in
attendee of the first Essential Magic Conference held last (Acting Treasurer) Stephenson Way on Club
summer at Luis de Matos’s television production centre in Kevin DOIG Nights was a justifiable
Coimbra, Portugal and streamed live on the internet to its (Assistant Treasurer) expense. The Club Night
subscribers. The videos were made available on the EMC David WEEKS Committee had been divided
website after the fact, then the DVD set here under (Minute Secretary) on the issue and there was,
consideration was posted to those who ‘attended’. similarly, no consensus view on
So, in a word, “Wow!” We have performances, lectures and 1. APOLOGIES Council. CNC were asked to
video visits with, to name just a few, Apollo Robbins, Barry Noel BRITTEN, Rob COX, reconsider the issue in
and Stuart, Cyril Takayama, Dani DaOrtiz, David Britland, Mandy DAVIS, Katherine RHODES reviewing their budget while
De’Vo Vom Schattenreich, Eric Mead, Finn Jon, Gaetan Bloom, John VAN DER PUT, other options are also to be
Gazzo, Guy Hollingworth, Helder Guimarães, James Freedman, Andrew EBORN investigated.
Jason England, Lennart Green, Luis de Matos, Max Maven, Graham Reed’s suggestion
Mike Caveney, Paul Kieve, Ponta The Smith, Richard 2. DEATHS about events linked to card
McDougall, Richard Wiseman, Stan Allen, Ton Onosaka, Topas Roy Curry in October 2010 gambling web-sites and possible
and William Kalush. To name just a few. Derek Travis, MMC money raising events we could
Yes, there’s some of that dreaded ‘theory’ here, the non- run to tie in with these is to be
trick material which might actually make you into a better 3. MINUTES passed to the Events
magician, as well as some spectacular magic by people I was On a proposal by Alan Maskell, committee. Graham is again
less than familiar with, such as Dani DaOrtiz, seconded by Will Houstoun, thanked for his suggestion.
whom I am grateful for having been exposed to. the minutes of the meeting The publishers of the
There’s a visit to Bill Kalush’s Conjuring Arts held on 1 March 2011 were forthcoming book, Illusionology
Research Centre, a visit with Lance Burton, great approved. Those not attending have been given our guidelines
performances by Gazzo – I don’t have room to the last meeting abstained. about the use of the TMC logo
even begin to describe the variety and spirit which and the book will include links
prevailed at the conference and is captured in 4. SECRETARY’S REPORT to TMC web-site. Two copies
these sixteen hours. i) There were six new members. of the book will be given to
The first Essential Magic Conference was a worthy foray into (see attached schedule) the TMC library.
deconstructing what a magic convention might be like in the ii) There were no
21st century. I highly recommend this set, and I also reinstatements. 5. TREASURER’S REPORT
recommend you check out iii) There were no resignations. Budgets 2011/12
www.EssentialMagicConference.com to see what Luis de iv) There were no promotions. Alexander Crawford presented
Matos and his cohorts might have on tap for this year. v) Correspondence: the 2010/11 flash report on

190 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk

 library maintenance budget be magicians for corporate unanimously, on a proposal
approved and that a portion of bookings now that CMA would from Jack Delvin, seconded by
the full budget for digitisation be marketing the building. Brian Sibley. Alan was asked to
of video tapes be approved for Devant room PA: forward their congratulations
the 2011/12 year. Proposal: CMA can use the to Megan.
He recommended that the portable audio equipment in
museum budget proposal be the Devant Room and if 8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
approved. He noted that members of staff are trained Friends of TMC:
proceeds from past and future can use this equipment without A lengthy discussion ensued
sales should not be formally the need for a technician being covering numerous aspects of
ring-fenced for the museum, present. the launch, organisation and
but that future budgets be set Proposed: Jack Delvin, running of FoTMC. Any launch
financials and the 2011/12 having regard to the proceeds Seconded: James Freedman. date needs to avoid bank
budget recommendations. that had been raised. Passed unanimously. holidays and the Royal
He noted that the full books The Chairman proposed a James Freedman asked that Wedding.
for the year have been vote of thanks for the obvious the CMA report be amended
transferred to an online hard work and detail that as Magic Management have Meeting ended: 10.18pm
accounting package which Alexander Crawford had nine, not four, confirmed Date of Next Meeting:
should lead to significant brought to the submission of bookings with six provisional Thursday 5 May 2011
efficiency and timeliness his budget recommendations. bookings. at 6.30pm
improvements in the future. Proposal: that we accept the
He also proposed that Kevin budget recommendations 7. COMMITTEE REPORTS: New members elected on
Doig join the finance subject to the various Events Committee: 4 April 2011
committee and that he should committees reporting back to A report on the latest Close-up James Hoyland
be authorised to seek another the Acting Treasurer. Proposed: Magician of the Year had been Yeovil, Somerset
member to replace Chris Weller Richard Pinner, Seconded: circulated. Each year the Mohammad Jawaheri (Jav)
Proposed: Chris Wood, James Freedman. Passed marking process is adjusted, South Ockendon Essex
Seconded: Alan Maskell. unanimously. seeking to find the best. This Simon Lane
Passed unanimously. The Acting Treasurer year the lay and magic judges Bath
He noted that the full report recommended that we change coincided in awarding the Grant Maidment
and accounts will be presented banks from Lloyds who are not winner. The committee Bath
to the Council for approval at responding to our needs to recommends separating the Carl Scut
the July meeting. Handelsbanken who will originality prize from the main Horsham, W. Sussex
He requested that, whilst he provide Direct Debit facilities competition and making it a Edward Sumner
understood the need for the without personal liability of the discrete category on its own. Stafford
Club Night Committee to officers. Feedback to competitors,
maintain and build upon Proposed: James Freedman where requested, about their Reinstatements
previous success, they seek to Seconded: Jack Delvin. Passed strengths and weaknesses on 4 April 2011
scale back some some of the unanimously. would be useful as would Julian Ronnie MIMC
additional new expenditure responses to those whose Barry Harris MMC
included in their proposed 6. CMA: DVD didn’t get them through Richard Morse MMC
budget, having regard to the Expenses for volunteers: to the final.
freezing of subscriptions. The existing flat fee payments Tickets for YMOTY on sale
He noted that the Magic for volunteers of both ‘MTMC’ from 1 April 2011. 150 sold
Circular formed a very evenings and ‘The Ali Bongo already.
significant part of the costs Saturday Show’ do not fit with 1 May are the heats (free to
borne by the Society – he the current legislation. The only members) 31 July finals.
requested that the Magic practical alternative is to pay Richard Pinner has another
Circular management committee, expenses instead of a flat cash potential member to join
together with the editor, review payment. The treasurer of events committee.
the cost base and future CMA and the acting treasurer
strategy in the broadest terms of TMC realise that it is Irving Schneider Youth Award
with a view to reducing its cost important to be sure that Of the three applicants, Megan
or justifying its value for volunteers recognise that their Knowles-Bacon has been
2012/13 year at the latest. valuable contribution is selected to receive the award,
He recommended accepting appreciated, but do not see which will fund her to go to
the budget proposals in respect any alternative to the proposed the Jeff McBride Mystery
of Dealers Day, the awards change. School including flights,
dinner, the Ali Bongo Saturday Selecting Magicians for accommodation and
show, Archive, IT committee, Corporate Events: subsistence. Alan Maskell
YMOTY event. A paper was received outlining asked Council to endorse this
He recommended that the an approach to supplying decision which they did,

www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk JUNE 2011 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 191

Forthcoming club events
Club Night Committee: Brian Sibley, Chair; Mandy Davis, Secretary Monday 20
GOING WALKABOUT – Mark Leveridge MIMC
The Headquarters are open on Club Nights from 3:00pm until Working without a table, completely surrounded, with spectators
10:30pm. Unless otherwise stated, events start promptly at 7:30pm who may move, leave or join at any moment during a
and are scheduled to finish between 8:45pm and 9pm. Club performance, is a challenging situation. Mark Leveridge’s new
Nights are principally for Members, so entry is by Membership lecture offers a host of tips, techniques and ideas, born from
Card. A bona fide magician guest may attend any evening that is experience, to help meet the challenge effectively.
not marked ‘Members Only’ on condition that he or she is able
to show membership of a magical society. A non-magician guest Monday 27
may only attend evenings that are marked as ‘Show’. Guests may AN AUDIENCE WITH DAVID BERGLAS MIMC
only attend two evenings a year. No guest may attend unless the Special Event. A living legend in the world of magic, our Past
CMA is told in advance, so if you wish to bring a guest please do President David Berglas MIMC Professional has very kindly agreed
not contact me but phone (020) 7387 2222. There is a limit of ten to share his experience, some stories and one or two secrets, as
guests per night. All guests must pay an entry fee of £10 at the only he can.
door and respect our Conventions. Indeed, it is your duty as their David has also agreed to take questions on any subject.
sponsor to ensure that they do. The Magic Circle reserve the right NOTE – This unique event is strictly for members only and will
to refuse entry. See our website or subscribe to Big Reminder very likely finish later than a normal Monday show.
(free weekly emails) for any last minute changes to the schedule.
Looking forward to July and August…
JUNE 2011 Club Nights presents the second season of MAGICIAN’S CHOICE,
a weekly offering of activities for members who’d like to try
Monday 6 something different or find out something new. Details to follow
IDEAS AND INVENTIONS Part 1 – George Kovari MIMC in The Circular.
The Great Kovari will present the first of two evenings in which
he will show (and explain) many of the original items he has Change of address? Contact Secretary Chris Wood,
created during the 50 years of his amazing career as a [email protected]
professional magician, adviser and dealer. Member in need? Contact Chaplain and Welfare Officer,
Peter Liddelow, [email protected]
Monday 13
SCRATCH NIGHT – Hosted by John van der Put AIMC
Three acts have been given the chance to work intensively with a
director, vocal coach, movement director and writer for a whole
week on a ten-minute piece of new work. The Club Night
audience will follow the performers’ progress through video
diaries before watching live performances of their newly created
acts.

Saturday 18
ALI BONGO SATURDAY SHOW
Great close-up and stage magic. Doors open at 5:15. Show
finishes at 8:30. All invited. £8 from TMC Box office in advance

Wednesday, 31 August 2011

(The day before the EUROCOL Convention starts!)

A large assortment of rare posters, books, props

and ephemera from The Magic Circle Collection
will be offered for sale; as well as choice lots
from other vendors.
An illustrated catalogue will be available soon.

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Auction Manager: Tim Reed AIMC

192 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JUNE 2011 www.TheMagicCircle.co.uk