Number 403 - 15th March 2008

 

The Robert Harbin Centenary Weekend will be held at The Magic Circle on 14th, 15th and 16th February 2009. "An exciting series of events are being planned to honour this great name in the history of magic and The Magic Circle. Further details will be announced but meantime please make a note in your diary of these important dates." Chris Woodward MIMC, Organising Chairman. 15.3.08

 

Marvin's Magic - Live in the window at Hamleys! London’s most famous toy shop, Hamleys of Regent Street, has teamed up with Marvin’s Magic to create an eye-catching and interactive live magic window display. Launched by Marvin and his team of award-winning magicians, the crowds of onlookers were suitably amazed and intrigued to see live magicians performing hourly in the window. These performances will continue in the main Regent Street window at Hamleys every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 6th April 2008. Meanwhile in New York the unique Marvin’s Magic moving 52ft billboard in Times Square has now been shown everyday for the past seven years - twice an hour, 24 hours a day! With an estimated 1.5 million people passing through Times Square everyday this must surely have set some kind of record for magic. www.marvinsmagic.com. 15.3.08

 

Marc Spelmann performed live on ITV2 and ITV1 at The Brit Awards were he entertained, or should that be shocked, Matt Willis (Pictured), Alan Carr, Will Young, Louis Walsh, Vic Reeves, Denise Van Outen and Kylie Minogue. Marc lectures at The DownTown Magic Club in Ashford, Kent on Monday 17th March. Doors open at 7.30pm for a prompt 8pm start. This will be a great night - don't miss it! Entrance is £5.00 for members and £10.00 for visiting magicians who will be made very welcome. www.marcspelmann.co.uk. 15.3.08

 

Jack's Magic Shop launches: Jack Delvin has just launched a magic shop featuring some of his favourite effects: "We only sell tricks that are easy to perform, but have great impact, so that the magician can concentrate on perfect presentation. All the tricks in this collection are favourite effects that have been tried and tested in countless professional performances." Here's what happens in Tarot Countdown: "You show two packets of thirteen similar Tarot cards. You mix-up one of the packets. You then give a spectator the opportunity to choose either of the two packets for them to jumble up, which they do. Next you place the two completely mixed-up packets of 13 cards side by side face downwards. The top card from each packet is turned over and seen, in some inexplicable way, to match! You continue to turn the cards over and, to the utter amazement of the audience, it is seen that all the cards match! A wonderful secret. It simply works itself." Visit the website for details of this effect and many others: www.jackdelvin.co.uk/shop. 15.3.08

 

Merlin Magical Society Dealers Showcase. Saturday 26th April, 9am - 5.30pm, entrance £10.00 (or £8.00 in advance - see website) Potters Bar United Reform Church, Tilbury Hall, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1BZ (Map). With ten dealers and demonstrations throughout the day, plus a couple of small lectures including a special lecture by Keith Bennett. www.merlinmagicalsociety.co.uk. 15.3.08

 

International News: 2008 Magic Collectors' Weekend - Chicago. The 2008 Magic Collectors' Weekend will be held in suburban Chicago, from May 1st-3rd, 2008. Harry Anderson will be the guest of honor, and John Carney will present his one man show, Carney's Wonders, as part of the convention. Extra tickets are available for the Carney show. Also on the program for the convention are Max Maven, David Ben, Ross Johnson, Tom Ladshaw, Sean Owens, Handsome Jack and David Charvet. For full details visit www.squashpublishing.com (Events). Registrations can be purchased there, along with extra tickets for the Carney show. 15.3.08

 

Damien recently returned from Jamaica where he'd been invited to perform magic at the Urban Music Awards official press launch. He also enjoyed a guest spot on 'Smile Jamaica', Jamaica’s premier morning television show. "It was a great experience going to Jamaica and performing on TV, I also had the chance to meet Reggae and Dancehall artists such as, Sean Paul, Bennie Man, Rihanna, Ziggy Marley and Spragga Bennz." Said Damien, who is currently filming a new magic series with the BBC called "The Magic House Party". Other magicians in the show, which will air in May, include Richard Bellars, Dynamo and Pete Hathaway. www.myspace.com/damiensmagic. 15.3.08

 

Magic Circle Show - Caerphilly. On Friday 28th March at 7pm, Magic Circle Members are performing in the South Wales town of Tommy Cooper’s birth as a tribute to him and to encourage live family entertainment. The Show takes place at The Workmen’s Hall, Castle Street, Caerphilly, just a few yards from the recently unveiled statue of Tommy. The aim is to raise funds towards the refurbishment of the venue, to be renamed The Tommy Cooper Theatre, which will benefit local groups and societies involved in the performing arts. Taking part in The Magic Circle Show are Alan Shaxon, Brian Miller and Audrey, Peter Scarlett, Keith Cooper and Carol, Mike O’Brien, Rob Page and David Ball. And performing close-up magic during the interval Geoffrey Newton, David Beckley and James Fortune. Tickets are selling fast and can be obtained from the Caerphilly Visitor Centre, Telephone 029 2088 0011. All major credit cards accepted. "Magic way to honour comic hero Tommy" Click Here. 15.3.08

 

The Oxford Murders. Alan York emails "I have just read a book called The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martínez who is a professor of mathematics at Oxford. The interest to magicians is that one whole chapter is devoted to attending a performance by René Lavand with a detailed description of his act. A film of the book starring John Hurt and Elijah Wood is due for release in April but René Lavand is not listed in the cast. As he seems to be a gratuitous intrusion with nothing to do with the plot of the story this is not surprising and one wonders if he was included simply because the author is, like many of us, an admirer." Available from Amazon.co.uk Click Here. 15.3.08

 

Easter deals... Mike Danata's Magic Studio will be open throughout the Easter Period with 10% off all purchases throughout the store! The 10% discount will also apply to phoned-in orders on 0800 118 26 55 (with free worldwide postage as well). "Why not come to Bournemouth, enjoy the sights, and visit the Studio, we stock 1000's of items! You won't be disappointed, for sure!" Emails Mike (the shop really is chock-a-block with magic). Visit www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk for details and special Easter opening times. 15.3.08

 

El Loco has been invited to perform his award winning show "The Dentist Chair" at the Prague International Festival of Modern Magic. This prestigious annual event takes place on the 10th and 11th of October. "It's great to see the UK has produced a world class speciality act" Wayne Dobson. www.elloco.co.uk. 15.3.08

 

Cardini: The Suave Deceiver by John Fisher. "A master of sleight-of-hand, a show-business success, a classic act that changed the course of his art, and a builder of intricate miracles, Cardini is unveiled in depth and with great insight by John Fisher, a wizard of words. Granted access to the personal notebooks, scrapbooks, and memorabilia of Cardini, John Fisher has crafted not only a revelatory biography but also a fine piece of magical literature." Wayne Dobson has a limited number in stock - visit www.waynedobson.co.uk for details and to order. 15.3.08

 

South Downs Magicians welcomed back former presidents Ilona and Peter Scarlett for the club's annual close-up competition last week. Ilona was president in 1992/93 and donated the close-up trophy to the club. She presented it to this year's winner Gordon Burtenshaw and Peter Scarlett served as club president in 1988/89. Photo: Ilona Scarlett presents the South Downs Magicians close-up trophy to winner Gordon Burtenshaw. www.southdownsmagicians.co.uk. 15.3.08

 

Quick Change Cummerbund. Lex Schoppi presents Rich Stephens' Royal Casino Cummerbund - the Quick Change Cummerbund. Lightning fast colour changes are possible with this Cummerbund making it ideal for magicians, emcees, close-up magicians and children's entertainers. To find out all about it visit www.lexschoppi.com today! 15.3.08

 

Mark Worgan heads off to Bonaire, located in the Dutch Caribbean, at the end of March to pick up a ship. He'll be performing comedy cabaret and his all new close-up magic show. On his return he'll be seen at the AWS convention emceeing the show and lecturing. The following week he's staging his Magic Rabbit Fun & Laughter Show at the Uckfield Civic Centre on 8th April at 2pm (box office 01825 769694). The show features magic, competitions and audience participation aimed at children and parents. Then the week after that it's back to the Caribbean... 15.3.08

 

Illusioncraft presents three brand new effects from Mark Southworth: "The Changer (an examinable colour changing cardcase), Mercury Matchbox (a Card to Matchbox effect with a kicker ending) and Cash Vault (a lost signed card is found paper-clipped between two banknotes which have been in view from the beginning!). All three effects come complete with custom made gimmicks and full DVD instructions. Illusioncraft will be taking pre-orders in the next few days when details will appear on their website. www.illusioncraft.co.uk. 15.3.08

 

Max Somerset Lecture. The AWS is pleased to announce that Max Somerset has re-scheduled the lecture that was cancelled in February, and will be lecturing in Southampton on May 6th. Non members £5.00, all magicians welcome - contact Phil on 07739 407147 for details. Their one day convention takes place on April 6th - visit www.awsmagic.co.uk for details. 15.3.08

 

Oakwood Theme Park, in association with The Twins, are proud to announce the launch of The Illusioneers. The show will premiere on March 20th at Oakwood Theme Park in West Wales. This show will feature large scale illusions that have been specially designed and built for the production and a number of stunning special/visual effects. Tickets are disappearing fast! More information: www.oakwoodthemepark.co.uk and www.theillusionists.com. 15.3.08

 

Keith Bennet, Benjamin Earl, Michael Vincent and Matthew J Dowden all lecture at the Liverpool Magic Circle over the coming months - see What's On for details. 15.3.08

 

Justin Lee Collins is seen here taking in some magic at Illusions Magic Bar in Bristol last night. He also performed a few tricks too. Spotted recently at the Blackpool Convention, it looks like magic has a new convert. www.illusionsmagicbar.co.uk. 15.3.08

 

Close-up Magicians wanted for cruise lines. IDEA International Entertainment, Norway, will be holding auditions at The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, on April 28th and 29th. Email Steve Redman steve@idea.no for an audition time. They also require street performers, clowns, unique acts and visual comedy acts. A small PA system will be provided. Acts should bring suitable promotional material. www.idea.no. 15.3.08

 

Guess Who?: The Many Faces of Noma Bar, from Chaplin to Geller it caught my eye. Available via Amazon.co.uk,  Click Here • "Magician trying something different" Click Here • Bernard Visgandis reports on Bob Swadling's recent lecture at the Leamington and Warwick Magic Society, Click Here • Mindwriter Ian Carpenter has a new blog up and running at www.mindwriter-magic.blogspot.com • Congratulations to illusionists Sarah and David Lewis on the birth of a beautiful little baby boy, Kyle Rhys, on Wednesday 27th February • "Funny magician is serious about getting children to read" Click Here • "Death Defying Acts (video trailer)" Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed - please remember the 12 noon Friday deadline for all submissions. See you next week, Duncan. 15.3.08

 

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