Magazine of The Magic Circle JANUARY 2015

MIKE FAIRALL
Magical Undertakings
 THE MAGAZINE OF THE MAGIC CIRCLE
Issue 1182 Volume 109 JANUARY 2015
EDITORIAL 07507 275 285
EDITOR Will Houstoun
Editor@[Link]
40 Derby Road, London, SW14 7DP
ASSISTANT EDITOR Tim Reed
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Anthony Brahams, Dr Edwin Dawes,
Scott Penrose, Ian Rowland, David Tomkins
CONVENOR OF REPORTS
Mandy Davis
Mandy@[Link]
PAGE 3 PAGE 9 PAGE 21 PAGE 23 DESIGN 020 8521 2631
ART DIRECTOR
John Hawkins
FEATURES [Link].7@[Link]
104d Grove Road
12 Mike Fairall – Will Houstoun Walthamstow E17 9BY
23 The Hoffmann Memorial Lecture 2013. Pt. 1 – Brian Lead PROOFREADERS
Paul Bromley, Julie Carpenter, Barry Cooper,
Tim Reed, Lionel Russell, Mary Stupple,
Rob James, Darren Martin and Timothy
FEATURES Dill-Russell
2 President’s View PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mark Hesketh-Jennings
2 Circular News ADVERTISING 07767 336882
3 Letters to the Editor BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING MANAGER
Scott Penrose
5 Clever Devil Corner – Harold Cataquet Advertising@[Link]
6 Circular Mentalism – Ian Rowland 17 Berkeley Drive, Billericay Essex CM12 0YP
8 An Apprentice’s Journey – Roger Curtis MISSING AND BACK ISSUES
01923 267 057
8 Tips and Tricks – Pat Fallon Michael Candy
Sound of Music, Harthall Lane,
10 The Art of Psychological Illusion – Roberto Forzoni Hemel Hempstead,
16 The Cecil Lyle Award – John Fells Herts HP3 8SE
18 A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities – Edwin A Dawes PRINTED BY
Perfect Imaging Ltd 020 8806 6630
21 Club Night Events – Mandy Davis Copyright © 2015 by The Magic Circle. All rights reserved. No part
26 Reviews of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the
28 My Favourite Books – Michael Symes prior permission of the Editor of The Magic Circular.
Views expressed in The Magic Circular are those of the
29 Obituary contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of
The Magic Circle unless specifically stated. Whilst every effort is
made to ensure the accuracy of all information published in
29 The Magic Circle Cares – David Hatch The Magic Circular, the Editor, Art Director, Staff and The Magic
Circle cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.
30 Council Minutes Contributions must reach the Editor six weeks in advance of
publication if it is essential that they should appear in the
second month following’s issue and should be sent via email,
32 Forthcoming Club Events – Darryl Rose on computer disk or on CD whenever possible.

Cover
Mike Fairall
THERE IS A WAY
Will Houstoun MIMC Imaging and all those on The Magic Circular
Published by
The Magic Circle Management Committee for all their help in attaining
12 Stephenson Way this goal.
London NW1 2HD
VAT Reg No 233 8369 51 The beginning of a new volume is also a perfect time
All enquiries to remind you, the Membership, that the magazine lives
T 020 7387 2222

W elcome to a new year and a new volume of The

Magic Circular. When this magazine was founded
in 1906 it represented one of the steps that solidified the
both for and through you. If you have a trick that you
have created and think would be of interest to Magic
Circle Members why not submit it for the Cecil Lyle
fledgling Magic Circle into the institution it has become. Award? If you have an idea for an article why not email
Over the course of the last hundred-plus years the me to discuss how we might get it into the magazine. If
magazine has evolved in many ways, with new editors, you hear about a piece of news or something that you
changes to format and style, and a host of excellent think might be of interest to the Members why not write
columnists who have provided articles. This month’s issue to me so I can try to put it in the News section of the
represents another one of the major changes in the magazine? I look forward to hearing from you…
magazine’s history as we move permanently from partial
colour into full colour. I want to thank our wonderful
designer, John Hawkins, our printer, Steve Rynn of Perfect
 CIRCULAR NE
PRESIDENT’S VIEW
WANT YOU DEAD
It may be of interest to Magic Circle
Members who enjoy a good crime
novel that Peter James, one of the
Scott Penrose MIMC UK’s top mystery writers, has
released a series of books that
feature a detective called Roy
Grace. All ten books have the word
DEAD in the title and, of particular
interest, the leading character, plus

2 015 opens with a new edition of The Magic

Circular in full colour, thanks to a new
agreement struck between The Magic Circular
informal interview with a different magician and
to date various interviewees include Graham Jolley
(the most popular download so far), Noel Britten,
a second character, are both
close-up magicians. This means
there are quite a few magic
Management Committee and Steve Rynn at our Russ Stevens and Anthony Owen. You can listen to references in the storyline.
print supplier Perfect Imaging. The even better and download the Podcasts by visiting
news as far as our Honorary Treasurer Mark Lee is [Link] or by
concerned is that it comes at no additional net visiting the iTunes Store and searching for “The
cost to our Membership. Other new initiatives for Magicians Podcast.” So while you are driving to
the wider Membership are in store for 2015 as the your next booking consider listening to one of
members of the newly elected Council get feet these insightful podcasts, although perhaps do
under the table. More news will become apparent not listen to the Graham Jolley episode while in
as the year unfolds. control of a vehicle as it is so funny that you are
As highlighted in last month’s Presidential, The likely to be a danger to others on the road.
Magic Circle’s Young Finally it seems
Magicians Club forms an opportune to make use of
important part of the future the enhanced colour within
of magic and our our magazine by showing
Society. Members of the you an image of a recent
YMC are treated to a new addition to The Magic
bi-monthly magazine called Circle Museum Collection.
Secrets and editor Mandy It is of course one of Paul
Davies is celebrating a Daniels’s iconic Ken Brooke G4G EUROPE
milestone having just Chop Cups. As you can see No doubt many Magic Circle
completed ten years in the he kindly signed it for us Members will be aware of the
post. She is also a past too. Apparently when Paul annual Gathering for Gardner, the
Chair of the YMC and also spoke to Ken on the annual US convention that
arranged their workshops telephone at the Wardour celebrates the life and work of
Photo: Darren Martin

that are held at our Street studio he would tell Martin Gardner. If the event has
Headquarter each in which part of the always been of interest, but the US
month. So our thanks and country Paul had been was too far to travel, then the
congratulations go to performing that week. Ken announcement of a European
Mandy. always used to get a flurry Gathering may well be of interest.
It is with sadness that we of orders for his famed For more information visit
learned of the recent passing of Bobby Bernard. Chop Cups from magicians in the area local to [Link]/ev/rm/15
He was a very skilled sleight of hand artist and a where Paul had been performing. That said, none
stalwart of The Magic Circle for a number of of them would be able to come close to the way
decades and while he could be abrasive at times, Paul handled the trick – as is always the case the
he helped many performers along their way and real magic is in the heart of the magician and is
had an encyclopaedic knowledge of magic. not to be found within the mechanics of the prop.
Bobby’s passing is a reminder that we should Wishing you all the very best for 2015.
enjoy and make the most of the many wise owls
that surround us in the Society while they are with
us rather than read about them later on after they
are gone. On that note Richard Young has
launched a new initiative with a weekly Podcast
for magicians. Each free episode features an President@[Link]
Martin Gardner

2 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

WS
LETTERS
TO THE
EDITOR

THANK YOU
Following my letter in the
November issue concerning
the disposal of my props and
books.
I am most grateful for the
number of Members who
showed interest. I am pleased
to say that our new President
Scott Penrose with help from
Stephen Short, collected all my
props and books today. They
are donated to The Circle and,
where practical, will go into
The Museum or Library or to a
future Auction.
Rob Zabrecky After 64 years as a Member
I am still amazed at the great
BLACKPOOL Derek Lever and his team manage Omar Pasha already announced. friendship and comradeship
CONVENTION to organise a fantastic line-up of For more details and to buy that comes from The Circle.
Don’t forget that with the start artists and this year is no exception registration visit May I thank you all who have
of a new year the annual with names like Rob Zabrecky, Joe [Link] helped me now and over the
Blackpool Magic Convention is Barry, Charlie Frye, Luke Jermay, years.
fast approaching. Every year Chris Hannibal, Mel Mellers and Sincerely
Martyn Long AIMC

COVER CONTEST
Did I win the November
Magic Circular cover contest?
My submission is:
Troy is using a deck in new
pack order, except for the
duplicate nine of clubs. One
nine is next to his
right eye, while
the other is in Maga
zine
of Th
e Ma
gi c Cir
cl e

the middle of his NOVE

MBER
2014

jacket. As for
the trick, he is
obviously
John Hewer performing
an updated TROY A Fash

JUST LIKE THAT! recognition of the 30th anniversary the usual £15. If you wish to take version of
ionable
Magician

John Hewer, who plays Tommy of Cooper’s death several offers are advantage of this offer contact the 52 pickup,
Cooper in Just Like That! The available for the show. Magic Circle Museum of Comedy box office i.e. 53 pickup.
Tommy Cooper Show at the Members can make a group directly. Contestingly,
Museum of Comedy in London, booking of ten or more people and Bob Loomis AIMC
writes to inform us that in receive tickets for £10 rather than

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 3

 2015
The first solar aircraft circumnavigates the globe.
Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

NASA probe New Horizons reaches Pluto.

A self-regulating artificial heart is introduced.

Electric car ownership reaches one million worldwide.

The seventh MAGIC Live is held in Las Vegas.

August 9-12, 2015, Las Vegas | [Link]/live

4 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

 CLEVER DEVIL
CORNER
Are You Worth It?
A few years ago, I saw Armando Lucero give Harold Cataquet AIMC
a lecture. At the end, he argued that there
was [or should be] a correlation between
how much you pay for an effect [move] and
how much you value it. So, if something performing at about a dozen more events. don’t like performing, but I usually end up
comes cheap, then you don’t value it as much However, in the latter case, I will be attending performing when there is a lull in the action
and may not even use the effect [move]. The as a guest not a featured performer. Worse yet, and at that point during the night, I’m usually
simple proof is all those tricks that you when those evenings are over, I am hoping that thinking that it’s time that I went home.
bought at the last lecture/convention that I can avoid feeling the performing monkey at When this happens, it’s almost like the host
you attended which are still sitting unused the end. Needless to say, that was not the says “This party sucks. Bring in the
[and maybe even unopened]. Conversely, if intention of the host. They didn’t invite me performing monkey!” Worst yet, because I
you paid a large amount of money for thinking that they’d get a free magic show. But am going to perform, it means that I have to
something, then the theory says that you will at some point in the evening, someone will stay sober and when I do perform, I’m
value it more. That initial financial pain mention that I am a magician and that first probably the only sober person in the room.
should put additional pressure on you to seek request to “Show us a trick then” gets issued. Yes, there are
to get your money’s worth and thus learn As magicians, I don’t think we value our craft as I don’t want to some
[master] the effect. Moreover, because there much as we should. I never perform at that first risk it. And magicians
is a financial hurdle to leap, fewer people will request. My argument is that this first request is who can hold
be using the effect [move]. And to top it all a polite one. No one really wants you to
believe me, their liquor
off, you are also less likely to freely share the perform; they are just asking you as a knee-jerk there is nothing and perform
effect with others, and thus its exclusivity is response. My reply is always “Maybe later.” In worse than a when they
preserved. doing this, you are building anticipation and
The theory sounds great, but without preparing your audience. I don’t want to do a
drunk magician can barely
stand, but
knowing the secret, how can you tell whether routine and then instantly have to respond to performing for I’m not one
you would use the effect? You might love the someone who says “Can you do that again? I people who are of those
effect, but once you discover the method, you missed it.” Moreover, I don’t want to disrupt the magicians. Or
might decide that life is too short to spend rest of the conversation. In fact, I’ll almost
sober! more
that much time to master the move. In other always follow the refusal with a mention that I correctly, I don’t want to risk it. And believe
words, it’s usage that determines its value, am a beekeeper. That is far more interesting to me, there is nothing worse than a drunk
and you can’t determine that a priori. A few lay people than being a magician, and I can magician performing for people who are
people might almost guarantee spending thirty minutes sober! I vividly remember trying to do some
This makes be able to talking about bees and beekeeping. It’s not that dice stacking when I have had one too many.
purchasing see a move I bore people with details of my passion, but Naturally, you have to be selective about
and instantly rather, they start asking me questions about the timing of your performance. Don’t perform
magic a see its that hobby. If you can avoid performing at the while the band is playing, or get in the way
nightmare – the potential first request, you’ll often be subjected to a of people who are trying to set things up or
price has no applications similar barrage of questions about magic. take them away. And because you aren’t
to other Usually these will be about famous magicians being paid for this, try and minimise the
correlation with routines, or and what has been on TV recently. “Have you number of performances [ideally, just once].
its ultimate see an effect seen…?” “Do you know…?” And of course, You don’t want to be remembered as having
usability and instantly “Are you a Member of The Magic Circle?” The spent the whole evening performing for
calculate most important thing to remember is don’t speak people. You’re a guest, not the featured act!
how they could use it, but the majority of badly about a professional magician! I have And here is where I come back to my
magicians can’t. This makes purchasing magic been there when a fellow magician told an point: you must value the craft. Suppose I
a nightmare – the price has no correlation audience “I could do the same thing!” or “It’s was an ice cream maker. If I gave free ice
with its ultimate usability. all done with special effects. You can’t really do cream to everyone who asked me, they would
But Armando does have a point, and that.” You are part of the fraternity and your role enjoy the ice cream, but at the same time, the
although the following might be a natural is to support that fraternity, not try and replicate value of my ice cream would decline over
extension of his theory, it’s not something or discredit what they saw [or remember]. time. As the saying goes, why buy the cow
that he implied or suggested. Over Christmas You can continue to postpone your when the milk is free? Be more selective
I am scheduled to perform at about half a performance for as long as you want. If I’m about when you perform and always strive to
dozen events, but I know that I’ll also be lucky, I won’t have to perform. It’s not that I raise the quality of that performance. l

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 5

 Karma Bites

A ccording to the law of karma, we get punished in this life for bad
deeds in the one before. This being so, it’s hard to imagine what
evil wickedness Martin MacMillan got up to in his previous incarnation.
performances, this is one of his finest pieces of laugh–out–loud material,
and deservedly won a fantastic reception. The gala show also featured a
very funny exponent of visual and physical comedy called Johnny Filion,
I can only suppose he spent every day stomping on kittens and tucking and a juggler who seemed to me to be in the ‘miracle’ class. I’ve seen
mousetraps into books written in Braille. It’s the only way to account juggling before and this was something else. His name is Alexander
for the fact that in this life Martin has to organise the International Koblikov and you can check him out on YouTube if you want to gasp in
Magic Convention every year. It’s a grim and unusual punishment for amazement.
sure, involving stress, sweat, madness and mayhem on a grand scale.
He seems to bear it with stoical fortitude. This is Magic
In fact, the scale gets a little grander every year. This time round, the No matter how good a Convention is, the best part is always the social
Festival of Magic plus the Convention itself spanned seven consecutive time spent with friends. One day, someone will organise a convention
days and evenings of lectures, shows and special events, spread across that has no lectures or scheduled events of any kind; it will serve purely
three different venues, each hosting multiple events in different rooms. as an excuse for magical friends from far and wide to get together and
If you want to know what it’s like running something like this, try share good times.
solving a Sudoku puzzle while juggling eels on a trampoline. The International Convention was no exception. Many hours after the
Martin has a small army of family, friends and helpers who work Convention was officially over, I found myself with a delightful clump of
through the year and round the clock to make friends in a hotel not far from the main venue. Despite minor practical
Two weeks this magical feast a reality, and none of them hindrances – such as the fact that it was silly o’clock at night on a wet
of poolside ever get a fraction of the thanks they deserve. Sunday – alcohol and snacks had been conjured from thin air for one and
If it were up to me, straight after the all to enjoy. The hotel staff had long since retired for the night, leaving us
massage Convention they’d all get carted off to a spa with a stack of clean glasses to use and a few instructions on how to
and free hotel in the Bahamas for two weeks of clean up after ourselves. Everyone was sharing their happy memories of
booze. poolside massage and all the free booze they the week, along the way proving that the best stories are found in the
can handle (which, let it be said, in the case deepest parts of the bottle. A skilled close-up worker was teaching a
of some of these helpers and associates, is no small quantity). children’s entertainer some simple but effective card forces.
This year’s Convention, the 43rd, was terrific. It was Karl Hein, as versatile as he is brilliant, was making
particularly good for close-up magic, with Henry Evans, Jon balloon bats and penguins upon request. Jon Randall
Armstrong, Doc Eason and the peerless Karl Hein delivering was his usual convivial self, looking after everyone,
immaculate brilliance and seriously good fun in equal sharing stories and indulging in very bad jokes (his
measure. I’ve been friends with Karl for years and I knew he sense of humour is even worse than my own).
was good. However, I think in the past few years he has Xavier Mortimer was demonstrating exquisite
really raised his game to new levels, and now delivers close-up sleight of hand skills and poetic motion, while
magic of a kind that takes magical Jonathan Pendragon reminisced about magic,
impossibility to new and remarkable literature, France and fine wine. Everyone was
heights, all the while remembering to tired, but not quite tired enough to want to end the
keep it fun, pacy and entertaining. party or go to sleep.
The gala show was also great this year. Outside, the magnificent city of London had gone to
Noel Britten, talent booker and sleep. St. Paul’s Cathedral, splendidly dressed in her
compère, was on sparkling pale night lights, looked down with a hint of
form, cementing my opinion disapproval at our hedonistic indulgence.
that he only has two Naturally, most of the sleeping souls of the
modes: brilliant and city had no idea a magic convention had just
extraordinarily brilliant. As come to its happy and slightly hazy
well as hosting the show, conclusion. Only those of us lucky enough
Noel treated us to his to stumble into this wonderful community
‘underwater chains we call magic, and who were to there to
escape’ routine. share it, live it and love it, cherished the
Honed over Convention experience and wished it could
countless street go on just a little longer.

Noel Britten
6 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]
 CIRCULAR MENTALISM

Ian Rowland MIMC

As I looked around the room, I was reminded that magicians are very QUICK TRICK
special people. We can put smiles on faces, place wonder in hearts and Here’s an idea that you could work up into a neat little routine. You
minds, and entertain across a table top or in a vast auditorium, show a spectator a list of popular contemporary websites. You invite
everywhere we go whether amateur or pro. Only we can do this, because her to just think of one. You focus on her thoughts, read her mind and
there’s nothing so versatile or scalable as magic. We tame the impossible, correctly identify the site that she is thinking of. How’s that for a quick
capture dreams, deliver visions and preserve the secrets that were old miracle?
when the pyramids were young. When we get together, we celebrate an The secret lies in the list, which you can display in printed form or on
ancient art, a curious world, a thriving trade and tales that would be a screen. It consists of fifteen supposed websites. Only six are real. The
meaningless to the rest of the world. Most of all, we meet old friends and rest are entirely fictitious, but they sound plausible. You show
make new ones. This is what a convention is all about. the list to the spectator, and ask her to think of one
The night grew cold, the sleepy city began to rouse itself into what that she has actually used or happens to like a lot.
would become the drizzled, grey madness of a typical Monday morning.
We said our goodnights, hugged our hugs and retreated to various rooms, TotalHotel
homes and beds. We’d been to the best party in the world, life was good Spotify
and we wanted only what we had earned: to sleep with a smile, dream GameGold
through it all again and look forward to next year’s Convention. Facebook
CelebWild!
Blank Night Amazon
Most readers of this magazine will be aware that John Archer took part in FlightFare
the ‘Penn & Teller: Fool Us’ TV show. John was dependably funny and AuctionYou
wonderful as ever, and fooled P&T with his new version of the classic TuneTunnel
‘Bank Nite’ effect (aka ‘Just Chance’). John’s version is called ‘Blank YouTube
Night,’ and I recently purchased it for my own use. FirstPostBet
I knew ‘Blank Night’ was good, but it’s actually even better than I Twitter
thought it was. There are several very neat and ingenious aspects of the MapTrawler
method that help to create an utterly inexplicable miracle. What’s more, I E-Bay
was very impressed by the way this item has been produced for the magic TVDelight
market. The explanatory booklet, put together by Andi Gladwin, Joshua
Jay and Raj Madhok of Vanishing Inc., is simply superb in terms of clarity, It’s easy to tell if she’s looking at top half of the list or the bottom,
illustration and neat presentational packaging. The supplied envelopes because there’s a nice, large gap in the middle consisting of three
are very sensibly left blank so that you can customise the routine to suit fictitious sites. From there on, you have an easy fishing trip. In each
any presentational theme or angle (and John supplies sixteen creative half, top and bottom, there’s a site where you can listen to music, one
suggestions just to get you started). that’s music only and one that also has video clips (Spotify, YouTube); a
There have been countless different ‘Bank Nite’ routines and methods, site that’s used for social communication, one with a character limit
all with their respective merits. For years, I’ve relied on the Richard and one not (Twitter, Facebook); and a site where you can buy things,
Osterlind method involving a thumb tip load. In my opinion, ‘Blank Night’ one a retail operation and one an auction (Amazon, eBay). Armed with
is the best of the lot, and I expect it will become the standard method this knowledge, you don’t need to fish for very long to identify the
from this point forward. In fact, I struggle to think of any reason to correct site. l
perform the effect in any other way. Since I know almost everyone
associated with this item, let me add that this is an unsolicited, genuine
testimonial and I have no vested interest, financial or otherwise. Invitation
If you have items, stories, jokes or vicious rumours of interest to
‘Blank Night’ is available from the wonderful people at Vanishing Inc. mentalists, please drop me a line (ian@[Link]). If you can’t
or your favourite dealer. I bought mine from Alakazam, which means I got afford Derren and want to hire a fairly good also-ran mentalist, or you
great service and prompt, reliable delivery. just have time to kill, please visit [Link].

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 7

 THE MAGIC CIRCLE
SHOWCASE

sales
H ello again and I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and
New Year. A lot has happened since my last column which focused
on practice and performance. The audition act has been decided upon
and either I have taken my exam or will shortly be performing it and
hoping to kick off 2015 with some good news! I haven’t been putting
off the exam, but equally I wanted to set myself a realistic timeline as
to when my performance was ready and when I felt I had practised my
routine to the point that it would impress a lay audience and more
importantly, the examiners.
The guidelines for MMC are clearly set out and it is important that as
a Member of The Magic Circle, you uphold the traditions and legacies
of the organisation. When you perform, it must be at a level where a
lay audience will walk away (hopefully not during the act) and feel that
they have seen something special. Yes, they may not believe in real
magic, but they will have enjoyed what they had seen and by word of
mouth, reference you and suggest to others that you are good. The last
thing The Magic Circle wants is for their organisation to be belittled by
poor execution or suggestions of ability that doesn’t exist. I totally
respect this which is why, some eighteen months ago, a week before I
was due to do my audition, I pulled out because I did not feel I was
l Magic Circle Playing Cards. Poker size with black ready to do myself justice. I’m pleased I did because this time I
backs genuinely feel I am ready. I may not pass of course – nerves, errors and
and gold coloured logo. £3.95 each or £6.95 for two. ability may all be below the standard required, but ultimately I feel I am
l Magic Circle Key Ring. £1.95
in a position to do the best I can and to enjoy myself so that hopefully
the audience can enjoy themselves too.
l Inside The Magic Circle. Souvenir booklet. £1.95
You will have read in my previous column one of the tricks I am
l Moleskine pocket ruled notebook with de-bossed going to perform and rather than let you in on the rest of my act, I
Magic Circle logo, 192 pages £13.50 thought this time I would touch on the performance and how
important this is. I have always liked public speaking and, while I know
l Moleskine large plain notebook with de-bossed
that some people get into a state about speaking in front of an
Magic Circle logo, 240 pages £17.50
audience, I seem to enjoy it as a large part of my approach is to make

MEMBERS ONLY
*please state your Degree when ordering
l Button Badge* £3.95
l Deluxe Gilt Button Badge* £5.95
l Members tie: Limited edition hand made silk ties
TIPS AND
featuring The Magic Circle Logo. Available in Black,
Blue, Red and Grey. £20 TRICKS
l Jewel with or without Star* £13.50
l Cufflinks* £13.95
Pat Fallon MIMC
These items can be purchased from the Showcase at The
Magic Circle Headquarters on a Club Night or can be sent
by post to your address (P&P extra). Credit cards Do Me a Favour
(Visa and Mastercard) and cheques drawn on a UK bank Back in the day before Dublin lost Quentin Reynolds to Manchester, he
accepted (cheques payable to “CMA Ltd”). spent a number of years as president of the Society of Irish Magicians.
On a regular meeting night if things were running a bit flat he would
For more information Email announce without any warning whatsoever that it was time for a Pat
ShowcaseSales@[Link] Fallon soap box. Quentin would always be aware of things that bugged
or telephone 020 7387 2222 me about magic that would make for a lively debate. If I am to be
perfectly honest, he was never wrong because there was always
something. It is not my intention to use this bi-monthly ramble as a
soap box, but this month I feel the need to get something really

8 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

 AN APPRENTICE’S
JOURNEY
Roger Curtis

people laugh. I do get nervous of course but the nerves are more down to on the best way for each individual to do this. I would only endorse the
the fact that I am unsure if people will like me or what I say and do, approach that you should pick effects that best reflect you as a person,
rather than the way I say it or do it. And that really for me is the single or the type of magic you are comfortable performing. Once you have
most important thing. If you are asked to make a speech or presentation, these and basic patter, keep practising the trick as though you were
it would be very rare to simply turn up on the day and speak off the top performing to a live audience. John Carney talks about his mentor,
of your head – some people are skilled enough and brave enough to do Faucett Ross, who would perform a trick ten times in a row to an
this but I’m not. I have to prepare and by preparing I start a long time in imaginary audience. He would perform it all the way through from start
advance so that I can work on my speech over time and work out the to finish, regardless of any mishaps and once finished would do it
most appropriate things to say and how to say again. If he kept stumbling over a
it. Much like patter and performance in a magic particular area or some mechanics
trick, this takes time and continual kept failing, he would take a time-out,
refinement/reflection during and post practise the mechanics or re-word
practice/performance of what works and what the patter and then go again. John
doesn’t. More alteration and refinement then Derris keeps his effects all over the
follows, over and over again until the theme house so that whenever he passes
works, the language you use is one you can one, he stops and performs it,
remember or easily adapt and the comedy built another great way to make the effect
in provides breaks in the patter to relax the second nature. Sadly if I did that, I’d
audience and hopefully get them on side. need two extensions to my house,
There is no secret to how one does this. I sideways and upwards, and I wouldn’t
have already addressed the choice of tricks that have any family or friends! So there
John Carney
I am using and many books and articles reflect we are, ready, steady, go… l

important off my chest. patter presentation and examine them closely to see how they could be
It has to do with the lack of patter and presentation for tricks; improved.
especially card tricks that appear on instructional DVDs. Recently many Taking card tricks as an example you could try the following. Begin
of them seem to consist of nothing more than continuous descriptive collating a list of different introductions you could use at the beginning
patter and worthless expressions like, “This is my favourite card trick,” of the trick to help create interest. It does not have to be earth-shattering
following by this riveting opening line of “What I want you to do now just a comment about card games, gambling, hobbies like card
is” or in my opinion the worst expression of all: “Do me a favour and collecting or even a funny line, anything except “I would like to
pick a card.” show you a card trick.”
What I don’t understand is how the creators of these projects can Some of my own introductions follow the line of a statements like: “I
look at the finished article and not see a glaring overuse of meaningless am here to warn you never to play cards with strange men, in fact if
expressions. If they were to look at it objectively or ever listened to you take my advice you should never do anything with strange men.”
constructive comments they would see the problem and hopefully not Or a question like: “Have we any gamblers at this table.” Or perhaps:
reproduce more of the same on follow-up projects. “Does anybody here have a favourite card game?” The answers to a
Perhaps I was lucky to have people like Quentin and Neville Wiltshire question can sometimes lead to interesting dialogue, although that is
around me when I started out in magic to drum into me that the tricks not what’s important. What is important is you did not begin your
alone are not enough. I was made to understand that most tricks need routine by saying: “Do me a favour and pick a card,” or some other
a hook in order to turn them into entertaining routines and that mindless statement that you just repeat every time you begin a card
presentation and good patter is all important. trick.
If the material you are currently using is reliant on some, or all of the I once had a computer with a spell checker and grammar correction
above expressions, then it is time to take some positive action. In order programme that would flag certain phrases underling them with a
to counteract this problem a good exercise would be to make a list of warning which said: “Stock phrase use sparingly.” Oh how I wish
your most commonly performed routines, including an outline of the video-editing programs these days carried such a warning! l

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 9

 THE ART OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL
ILLUSION THE MIND READERS
Roberto Forzoni MMC

Dunninger (1892 – 1975) Mysterious Dunninger” and his performances included escapology,
Joseph Dunninger, the Master Mentalist, ranks as one of the premier straight magic and illusions. In the mid 1920s he was picked up by the
mind-readers in American show-business history. His remarkable career Keith-Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit and it was during this tour that he was
spanned over 70 years, from 1899 to 1971. He has been the only inspired by the two-person mind-reading act performed by Mr & Mrs John
performer to have top-ranked shows on all three major US television T Fay. He developed an astounding one-person act which quickly became
networks and gained immense accolades in the period between 1929 a hit. He was soon headlining the circuit and was very much in demand
and 1956 with both his radio and TV specials, where he impressed his for private performances.
audiences with inexplicable feats of an apparently psychic nature. His Dunninger’s ability to read thoughts grabbed the attention of Harry
persona featured no obvious gimmicks; he simply wore a business suit Houdini and Howard Thurston and, inspired by Houdini and others, he
and used his charisma and persuasive nature to engage and amaze took part in the crusade against fraudulent mediums writing Inside the
audiences. Like many successful mind-readers before and after, his Medium’s Cabinet (1935) to expose the medium’s tricks. He claimed to
publicity was carefully crafted and he used press releases in a very replicate through trickery all spiritualist phenomena and also exposed
clever way. He would say: “I really read thoughts – I read minds
through the possession of extra-sensory faculties – what any child of
six could do with 60 years of practice,” and insisted that thought
reading was a serious science with no link to the supernatural or
spiritualism. During his career he became a household name,
performing for celebrities, presidents, the Pope and royalty; everyone
who was anyone wanted to have their minds read by Dunninger.
Joseph Dunninger was born in Brooklyn, New York City on April 28,
1892. He was the youngest son of Nickolas and Carolene Dunninger
and had two elder brothers Louie and Max. His father was a successful
Bavarian textile manufacturer and as a child Dunninger would spend
time at his father’s shop where, during one visit, he met both Buffalo
Bill Cody and Sitting Bull. Their tales of the Old West fascinated the
young man who would continue to be interested in this area
throughout his life. One fun tale from his schooldays was said to be
causing some wonderment among his schoolteachers when, not
seeming to be an extra brilliant pupil, he got all his arithmetic problems
correct. Dunninger later explained: “I just couldn’t get the wrong
answer. I didn’t have to work the problems out. The bright children in
the classroom just sent me thought waves, and consequently I got
everything right.”
Dunninger’s interest in magic started at the tender age of five when
he saw some street performers. He taught himself magic, beginning by
specialising in sleight of hand with cards, and reputedly performed his
first paid show at the age of seven at a Masonic Club in New York,
billed as “Master Joseph Dunninger, Child Magician.” After seeing a
performance by the great Harry Kellar, Dunninger knew that his destiny
was to be a magical performer. By his mid-teens he had developed an
enviable reputation and was invited to perform at the homes of both
Photo: TMC Archive

Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas A Edison, both of whom were avid

admirers of his mysticism. A short time later (around 1913) he
appeared for a year at the famous Eden Musee at 55 West 23rd Street
Dunninger flyer
in Manhattan, New York. In these early days he was billed as “The

10 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

how the Indian rope trick could be performed by camera trickery. Like them ghost-written by his good friend Walter B Gibson who also
Houdini, Dunninger was a collector of historical magic props and books collaborated with Dunninger on his final book, Dunninger’s Secrets.
and his library once held over 30,000 books. Unlike Houdini, who stood Dunninger used the wonderful phrase: “To those who believe no
only five feet five inches tall, Dunninger was six feet tall and weighed explanation is necessary. To those who do not believe, no explanation
almost 200 pounds. He had a powerful baritone voice and could be an is possible.” His performances or demonstrations were titled Mysteries
intimidating figure. He made a significant challenge of $10,000 to anyone of the Telepathic Mind or A Full Evening of Phenomenal Telepathy and
who could prove that he used confederates or stooges claiming that he interestingly he would always include a little magic, such as the linking
could raise that offer to $100,000 and still no-one would ever collect it. He rings, in his show even in later years.
also made a similar wager through Scientific American magazine and the In the eyes of the public, Dunninger filled the void left behind by
Universal Council for Psychic Research to any medium who, with the aid Houdini. Despite other magicians around at the time, including
of the spirit world, could disclose the translation to secret coded messages Thurston, Blackstone, Dante and others, in their minds Dunninger was
entrusted to him by Harry Houdini and Thomas Edison both of whom different. His type of magic, like Houdini’s escapes, was something that
wanted to investigate the possibilities of communication with spirits, or to seemed real to people. Plus he had a platform to promote himself that
anyone who could introduce to him a real ghost. none of the big illusionists of the day had, he had
Just as Dynamo’s fame rose exponentially with his My work is sixty mass media on his side. He also had a one-man
clever use of social media (particularly YouTube), show, which was easier to travel with and far more
Dunninger’s rise coincided with the advent of first radio
percent mind profitable than a touring illusion show. So tight had
and then TV. It is said that he was the first paid reading, ten the grip of Dunninger become on the imagination of
entertainer to go on the air and his debut was a percent the American people that while Life magazine, in its
demonstration of hypnosis by radio; he next played the 12 March 1944, issue, devoted five pages to the
role of a psychic detective but neither of these features
psychology, ten fierce battle for Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific, it
caught on. It was Daniel S Tuthill, Vice-President and percent hypnosis, committed eight pages to Dunninger’s radio show.
director of the Popular Division of the National Concert fifteen percent His 1943-44 programme Dunninger, the Master
and Artists Corporation, who successfully evolved the Mentalist on the WJZ Blue Network had achieved
Dunninger radio formula for thought-reading. The idea
self-hypnosis and explosive recognition, while at the same time
quickly caught the favour of Phillips Carlin, five percent magic igniting fierce criticism from magicians, academics
Vice-President of the Blue Network, and on September and journalists alike. Unlike the conjurors, Dunninger
12, 1943, Dunninger’s first broadcast as Dunninger the Master Mind was claimed to be the real thing, a genuine thought-reader with a stunning
produced. To say it was a huge success would be an understatement. Fan ninety percent accuracy. “My work is sixty percent mind reading, ten
mail flooded broadcasting offices, tickets were the most in-demand of all percent psychology, ten percent hypnosis, fifteen percent self-hypnosis
shows and within weeks, Sherwin-Williams Kern-Tone Paints secured a and five percent magic. All of which adds up to 100 percent
five-year option on the show, which received 1,157 letters in the first entertainment.” Not everyone agreed, for example magician Dr Jacob
week and double that number in each of the weeks following. The Blue Daley who said: “Why if I had a ten percent edge on other people –
Network soon moved the show to Wednesdays at 9:00 pm to compete not ninety percent as Dunninger claims – I could rule the world.
against Eddie Cantor and Frank Sinatra. In the 1940s, a poll showed that Dunninger can’t read the mind of a gnat, and he knows it.”
his voice was more recognisable than that of the President’s. In fact it wasn’t the relentless attacks of critics that finally led to the
Dunninger was also there when television started proving itself to be a cancellation of Dunninger, The Master Mentalist, on 27 December
popular form of entertainment. He tailored his act to fit the format of a 1944. The audience had simply become jaded with his unfailing success
television show and got his own TV series as well as countless guest with the ‘Brainbusters’ and other miraculous stunts, there was no
appearances on other shows where he appeared frequently in the 1950s dramatic tension to grip the listening audience’s imagination.
and 60s. The core of each TV show was the weekly ‘Brainbuster,’ an Producers tried other programme formats in an effort to revitalise the
apparently utterly impossible test of Dunninger’s mysterious powers, show with singers and dramatised events, but the ratings continued to
which would involve the judges who pledged their integrity regarding the drop over the final weeks until the sponsor’s final decision.
conditions under which the tests would be done. For these Dunninger was Dunninger’s private life was a quiet one and included collecting
assisted by David J Lustig, who had performed a vaudeville mind-reading Oriental art and an assortment of priceless Buddhas. His final series of
act himself. No matter how bizarre the test, which included divining programmes for the TV network ABC, were recorded in 1971, but were
objects sealed in cans frozen in blocks of ice or concrete, Dunninger never never broadcast. By that time he was suffering from Parkinson’s
failed. All the while he was involved in radio and TV he was also getting disease and decided to retire from performing. He seldom left his home
top dollar for his live two-hour performances. in Cliffside Park, New Jersey and, on March 9, 1975, Joseph Dunninger
As brilliant as he was at performing, Dunninger proved a genius in died at his home. He was 82. l
marketing himself – he knew how to sell his product. To keep himself in
the public eye, he wrote articles for magazines for both laymen and References
magicians. Soon the Dunninger byline was carried in such popular Atmore, Joseph. Dunninger Knows. (np: Privately Published, 2012).
magazines as Time, Life, Look, Reader’s Digest, Vanity Fair, Science and Browne, Ed. Biography of The Amazing Dunninger. Popular Division
Invention, True Detective, and Sphinx. He also authored a number of Publicity National Concert and Artist’s Corporation. 1944.
books, including What’s On Your Mind, Inside The Medium’s Cabinet, Rauscher, William V. The Mind Readers – Masters of Deception.
Monument To Magic and Complete Encyclopaedia Of Magic, some of (Woodbury, NJ: Mystic Light Press, 2002).

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 11

 Mike Fairall
Magical Undertakings
Interviewed by Will Houstoun MIMC

Mikey at a Harry Potter

film launch

12 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

Back in 2012 Mike Fairall AIMC gave a lecture at The Magic Circle
Headquarters which created quite a stir amongst the attending Members.
Mike is a very busy magician, working both for children and adults, but
took the time to discuss his career and magic with me.

Will Houstoun: I understand you started your working life Will: Why did you stop being an undertaker and start
as an undertaker… that strikes me as a rather unusual job! being a magician?
Mike Fairall: It is a very unusual job. I wanted to do two Mike: Well, fate took over. I was doing very well at the
things in my life – one was to be an undertaker and one was undertakers. I was about to be promoted to run my own
to be a magician – so I decided to try and be an undertaker branch, which would have been terrible because it would
first. I was sitting on a park bench one day when I saw a have been too good for me to just give up and leave.
hearse go down a little alleyway and followed it. Within 48 Late one night, however, I was confronted with an application
hours I had a job as an undertaker which I kept for three years. form to go on a television programme too irresistible to refuse.
I filled it out and within a matter of weeks I had a successful
Will: So … is there a connection between undertaking and interview to go on the most popular television programme at
magic!? the time, Blind Date. The show was at its height, twenty-plus
Mike: Very much so. I think that an undertaker is a performer million people watched the show every single Saturday. I went
and a funeral is a performance. The job taught me timing, it on it and I won. We went to St Tropez and I got to experience
taught me composure and it taught me respect. I was very the showbiz lifestyle. When I did go back I was bubbling with
young at the time so to become an undertaker was a very excitement but wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. Then suddenly it
grown-up job. It taught me to act, basically. Of course there is came on the television and I was exposed as the guy on Blind
also a strange sort of humour to be found in the job. I have Date. Very soon after I was fired from the undertakers, so I left
lots and lots of stories. and I went to work for Thomson Holidays.

Will: Can you share one? Will: What was your role with them?
Mike: Sure. On my second day on the job I was asked to Mike: I wound up working as an entertainer for a very nice
deliver some ashes. I was given the company car, a black hotel, The Thomson Gold, and I had a two-week training
Toyota Corolla, which at that time was pretty cool. You get this course in Spain where I learned loads. Arthur Smith was there,
little casket of ashes to go and deliver and on the top of the he was a very famous comic who taught timing and being
casket, on a yellow post-it, was the address of where they were funny and we had DJs from London. It was a very professional
to go to. Now, this is several weeks after the funeral and I’m intensive two-week training course. Afterwards I was very
the new kid on the block, so I was given relatively light duties. lucky to be placed in the flagship hotel, the Agios Gordios
I’m in the car which is a thrill in itself and I was coming hotel in Corfu.
down the road and I was looking at the numbers of the
houses, 34, 36, 40 there it is. I jumped out of the car, grabbed Will: So were you a general entertainer at this point?
the casket of ashes and rang the doorbell. I saw a figure Mike: Yes. My job was to bring on the act, take off the act,
behind the door then I suddenly realised I hadn’t actually look after the act and run a very mild daytime activity. There
thought of how to do this, what to say? As the door opened, I was lots of time to be on stage and find out about lighting,
looked at this lady and I said, “Mrs Smith?” She said, “Yes.” I sound and all those things. It was there that I met two very
said, “Mr Smith,” and handed her the ashes. I didn’t give influential people in magic, who shaped my career to where I
s

myself any time to plan which was the first mistake I made as am now.
an undertaker!

Will: Ouch. Presumably, as in magic, you learn from the

mistakes and don’t make them again.
Mike: You do. You learn how to perform. I learnt a lot about
how to perform and how to be in front of people. As a close-up
magician, and as certainly as children’s entertainer, you need
to be able to read your audience or the people you’re trying to
do business with. I believe I learnt a great deal about that then.

Will: So at this point were you interested in magic?

Mike: Absolutely. I would be sitting in the hearse
back-palming a card. I would be round the back of a church
developing my pressure fan. Everyone had to endure my
ghastly tricks at that point.

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 13

 magician. That was where I put together a stage
act, heavily influenced by Duncan’s work but
not exactly copying it… more using the same
DNA or something like that.

Will: Did you also do other kinds of magic?

Mike: Close-up magic has always been a
tremendous passion of mine, along with
mind-reading. I was really into mind-reading
when I was in my late teens and I’m very glad
that nowadays it’s very popular because I have
lots of chances to do mind-reading
performances. I also love close-up magic and
get a thrill from doing something that seems
super-human up close.

Will: Moving forward to today, you’re really

rather successful as a children’s entertainer,
doing lots of high-profile jobs.
Mike: I’m very lucky. A lot of my work is down
to the acts that I have. In my show, I try and get
rid of anything which is cliché for the children’s
party. I do card manipulations, ball
manipulation, a very funny Ping-Pong ball
routine and a Losander Floating Table which is
just the crowning glory of the show. In the
Magic Mikey show there are very quiet points,
there are incredibly loud points. There are bits
which will make the children clap and applaud
and bits that make their jaws drop. I also use
sophisticated music, that you might not expect
for a children’s show, and the whole thing is
done with a twinkle in my eye and a naughty
streak all the way through.
So it’s got all the elements a children’s party
Top: Magic Mikey at the Phantom of the Opera. Above left: Mikey and Ronnie Corbbett. Above show should have to make it successful and
right: Mikey Performing Ping-pong Poodle captivating. I think that, above all, it also grasps
the attention of the adult audience that will be
Will: Who were they? Will: So when you finished your summer in the room. Because, with a business head on,
Mike: A very young Duncan Trillo and a chap season you came back and got your box of they are the people that are going to book you
by the name of Steve Best. Steve is a comedy tricks… again. Every party is a business pitch for your
magician. Both of those people made a very big Mike: Yup. When I flew back to the UK I went next party and this is something that I think is
part of my being what I am now. Steve was a to see Steve Best and he gave me this box of largely overlooked.
comedy magician with a Rocky Raccoon and tricks, which looked like a treasure chest to me.
lots of props. He was a very funny, sort of surreal, I had the same feeling I had had when I was a Will: And is your style tailored to the kind of
comedian. I got on incredibly well with him and child and saw a box of fireworks. I did my first clients you want?
luckily, in those days, flights to Corfu were only show at my sister’s house which I still have on Mike: The people I do magic for are
twice a week so I got three days to spend with video today. It’s good, actually, but it’s just all professional people so my demeanour in front
him before he flew home. Steve used to be a over the place. I remember at the end of it, of them is important. I try and emulate them. I
children’s entertainer and he said: “Look, Mike, when the kids had gone home, I just had this could be Mrs. Such-and-such’s brother coming
when you come home, come and see me. I’ve huge grin on my face and, because it was just to the party, who’s a magician. It’s all a ploy to
got a whole box of tricks and you can have the before Christmas, more work was relatively easy continue getting bookings.
whole lot for 50 quid.” I did that, when I did to find. I made more money in one month than I
eventually get home, and that’s really what made all the time I was in Corfu. That was when Will: And how did you start to work for
started me on the road to being Magic Mikey. Magic Mikey was born. higher-end clients?
Duncan Trillo, on the other hand, came from a Mike: I increased my price and, if you do that,
very different angle. He came out with magic Will: How did he develop? naturally you will lose clients. But you get one
that I had never seen before and I couldn’t Mike: I got a job with P&O Ferries, on the really super job and then that will lead on to
believe my eyes. The card manipulation, the Pride of Bilbao. Bilbao went from Portsmouth to another one, if you do your job right. I’ve done
rings, that beautiful music. I just stood there. Spain, a three-day mini-cruise on a then state of parties for some pretty serious people and
That was a complete turning point. I was going the art cruise ferry. As well as children’s shows well-known celebrities so I’m very lucky. I never
to be a magician. we had a little cabaret show and in it I was the know what’s going to happen next when the

14 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

phone rings. I had a call recently to go to Will: I imagine there are quite a lot of people understand how it all works. I work from direct
Bangkok to do a party over there. I feel that I’m reading the magazine who know quite a lot bookings from people who have either seen me
in a position where I am doing parties that are about magic but very little about marketing. before or been recommended me.
worth the money and I think that is really Would you have any tips or advice for them? I’m not afraid to speak to people and I’m not
important. Mike: Marketing is at least 50% of the afraid to ask someone if I could be of service to
business. At least. I woke up one night and I them. I’m not afraid to tell sixty children: “Now,
Will: As someone who does close-up and thought I would give everyone I show magic to here is my business card, kids. Look after this
children’s parties do you have a problem with a business card. Simple. Everybody who I do a because you never know, you might want me to
people putting you in a box as the guy who trick for will get a business card for close-up come to your party.” If you do it with
only does one but not the other? magic or a little brochure for Magic Mikey. conviction, you’ll get away with that. There’s no
Mike: The trick is to market yourself as two I give every child at a show a brochure that harm in promoting yourself. Here is one thing
completely different people. Let’s say I’m at a is very carefully thought out. It’s got to be that is important – the wealthier people won’t
children’s party and the dad happens to be the appealing to the kids so they want to have it go to the person who booked you and asked
CEO of some big blue chip company, that is a and interesting to the parents so that it is not them for your details, it’s embarrassing for
position which you would not get yourself in just dropped on the floor. I never put them in them. I tend to find that with people with
under any other circumstances – alone as he party bags because they will never see the light money that they are too embarrassed to ask so
makes you a cup of tea in his own home. So at of day. I give them to the kids because the you’ve got to get the kids to go home and say:
that point I will say to him, “Hey, do you mind if children will hand them to mum or dad and “I want Magic Mikey at my party.” It is as
I show you a trick. This is a new trick that I’m then get the party bag. So your information has simple as that, after that it’s a done deal.
working on.” Then I do a little ambitious card gone straight to the source that you need it to
routine that I have worked on for the last go to. Then it has to be created so the parents Will: That sounds like valuable advice. I
twenty years. As soon as he has a smile on his get an overview of your work quickly without understand you are planning on doing a
face I will give him a business card and explain needing to read anything. training course for children’s entertainers.
that I also do close-up magic for adults. Magic Mike: That’s right, with Dominic Reyes.
Mikey is on one side and Mike Fairall, the Will: Do you do much internet marketing? Dominic is an incredibly interesting chap. He
close-up magician, is on the other – Jekyll Mike: To be honest, I’m not hugely computer started off with a handful of coins and now he
and Hyde. literate. I’m not geeky enough to fully has a little empire with an online magic shop.
He’s a very talented magician and he’s an
incredibly clever businessman. I told Dominic
that I’d like to do a one-day training course.
Children’s magic is so popular and I can tell
people how I do things. I would talk about how
to deal with mums, how much to charge, how
to become successful, how to keep children
quiet and busy, how to run your diary and so
much more. Dominic will be a guest and he’ll
talk about the business side of things. I think it
would be great for someone who’s starting out
perhaps. Someone who’s been going maybe
one or two years and wants to accelerate, to
gain a lift. I’m not going to teach people how to
do tricks as much as how to do business as a
children’s magician. The day will be advertised
with Merchant of Magic so take a look there if
you think you might be interested...

Will: Do you think of magic as your job, your

passion or a bit of both?
Mike: I’m not going to lie to you and say I
wanted to be a magician when I was six and
got a magic kit because that didn’t happen. I
wanted to be an undertaker and a magician but
I never thought I could do either. It’s ludicrous
really. Ridiculous. I ended up being a magician
and I can honestly say it took me ten years
before I could actually look somebody in the eye
and say: “I’m a professional magician.” Up until
then I still couldn’t believe that I was making
money being a magician. It’s not a conventional
job but the truth is that if you do it properly it’s
Top left: Mikey with Paul Daniels and Debbie. Top right: With Damien Lewis and below on everything anyone could hope for. l
the S S Canberra

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 15

 Anniversary Deck

T his is a kind of Anniversary Waltz effect

performed to a couple, let’s say a man
and a woman. A card is arrived at by a
the jack of hearts. Please place your finger on
the jack, and write your name and today’s date
on the face of the jack.
Take out
whichever card
Now
assemble the
pack of cards,
process of elimination. The spectator, let’s say Let me show you the remainder of the pack. they have face up, as
a man, is even given a chance to change his You can see that all the cards are different and finally chosen follows:
mind with the cards in view at all times. He you had a free choice of any card. What you Joker – the
proceeds to write his first name and the date didn’t see is the back of the cards. Every card and place it face 26 red cards
on the face of his chosen card. The backs of has a name written on the back, boy´s names up on the table with the
the rest of the cards are then shown. There is and girl´s names, and all the names are in front of them identical
a different first name written on the back of different. What is your wife’s name? name on the
each card. After the backs and faces of all the Linda. Please turn over your card. Linda! and keep your reverse
cards have been shown. He is asked to turn finger on the (Linda in our
his card over and written on the reverse is Preparation face of the card. example) –
the name of his partner. They keep the card This is an effect for that special occasion such the 26 black
as a souvenir. as a wedding or an anniversary, and you will They do likewise cards with
Not restricted to playing cards. You may need to know one of the names of the couple, different
use business or index cards also; but more but please keep reading. names on the back.
about this later. You will need to construct a special deck The duplicate 26 red cards with different
using two identical packs of cards. Separate the names on the back are kept separate in a
Performance cards into red and black and arrange them in pocket, together with the pen. Each suit is in
Today you are going to choose a card by a suit order. Write the known name on the back Ace to King order and the assembled pack of
process of elimination. We are going to of 26 of the cards, either all the reds or all the 53 cards is in its case.
eliminate all the cards except for the card of blacks. In our example Linda will be written on
your choice. To make it easier for you, the the back of all the red cards. Discard the Execution
cards are already separated into red and remaining black cards from this pack. They can Take the pack out of its case face up and
black. Which ones would you like me to be used to make up a different force deck. Now display the cards fanning them between your
have, the reds or the blacks? write 52 different first names on the backs of all hands, pointing out that they are already
The reds? OK. The reds are already the cards in the other deck. These are the separated red and black and in suit order.
separated into hearts and diamonds. Would names in my deck: Following the performance script above, you are
you like your card to be a heart or a now going to force the set of 26 Linda cards.
diamond? PHIL ULIA LORNA ANGEL PAM You ask for red or black to be chosen. Whatever
A heart. Very well. They are in ace to king ZOE AUSTIN OWEN JAMES CHLOE colour is chosen you place the black cards face
order. It is up to you again. You will now JOHN EMILY JACOB JULIA MICHAEL up in a pile on the table. Spread the red cards
choose one of the hearts, but let me tell you EMMA JOSE TIM JUAN OLIVIA (these all have Linda written on the backs,
that after, I will give you the opportunity to DANIEL LILY JACK SOPHIA ANDREW which are not shown). Point out that they are
change your mind. You have chosen a heart, SARAH DAVID LILIAN FRED LINDA already separated into hearts and diamonds.
which one would you like? MIKE SOPHIE TINA JORDAN TONY Ask them to choose a heart or a diamond. They
The jack of hearts. Very well. Would you MARIA IAN MEGAN JENNA TOM can choose either suit. Ask them to choose a
like to change your mind, would you like to LEAH JULIAN LUCAS HALEY JOY card and then offer them to change their mind.
choose a different card? ALEX FAITH CLAIRE KATHY JESUS Take out whichever card they have finally
Very well. Your instinct has guided you to ADAM BRIAN. chosen and place it face up on the table in front

16 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

 THE CECIL
LYLE AWARD
John Fells AIMC

of them and keep your finger on the face of the You can of course perform Anniversary Deck You can of front and
card. They do likewise. to just one person. To do so, instead of the force back just
Your other hand, which will be holding the name, write ‘Your Card’ on the 26 force cards. course have any as you
rest of the cards goes into your pocket to The patter is obvious with much repetition of other message would
retrieve your pen at which point you switch the ‘Your Card’ throughout until the final revelation. you wish appear expect;
cards in your hand for those in the pocket. Hand It could go along the following lines: except for
them the pen asking the spectator to write his Everyone has a card, or should have a card, on the card as this card
first name and date on the face of the card. The to fit their personalities. Today you are going to long as it fits. ‘Your
cards in your hand are casually placed on top of choose ‘Your Card’ by a process of elimination. For instance Card.’
the balance of the deck on the table. We are going to eliminate all the cards except At this
When they have finished writing, pocket the for the card of your choice, and that should be Happy Birthday, point you
pen. Pick up the pack and show that all the ‘Your Card.’ To make it easier for you, the cards Happy reveal
cards are different. As you spread the cards are already separated into red and black. So Anniversary; or ‘Your Card’
between your hands, you will have to bypass your choice, red or black? written on
the duplicate of the chosen card, in our example Red. OK. The reds are already separated into any product you the back of
the Jack of Hearts, easy to do because they are hearts and diamonds. Would you like “Your are promoting. the chosen
in suit order. They have already seen all the Card’ to be a heart or a diamond? card. The
faces when one was chosen, so it is just a A heart. Very well. They are in ace to king remainder of the deck can be examined.
casual spread. Turn the cards over, face down, order. It is up to you again. You will now choose I use Anniversary Deck and Celebration
pointing out, as in the script, that each card one of the hearts, but let me tell you that after, Deck as published in the June 2007 issue
bears a different name and that on their chosen I will give you the opportunity to change your of The Magic Circular; but never both
card is written the name of their spouse, mind. You have chosen a heart, which heart at the same gig.
partner, friend, etc. would you like ‘Your Card’ to be? You can of course have any other
The jack of hearts. Very well. Would you like message you wish appear on the card as
Notes to change your mind, would you like to choose long as it fits. For instance Happy Birthday,
Every time you construct your deck you will a different card? Happy Anniversary; or any product you
have 26 cards left over. You can use these to No. Very well. Your instinct has guided you to are promoting. Alan Astra, a Member of
prepare another force deck. If you perform this the jack of The Circle, prints custom playing cards and
often enough and you don’t give the cards I use hearts. Please you may find more information here
away as souvenirs, you will end up with a Anniversary place your [Link]
collection of many force decks, which you will finger on the The trick is also a great way to give away
be able to use in future performances. Names Deck and jack, and your business card. l
are often repeated. Celebration Deck write your
You can also build a set with the force name as published in name and
being ‘ME’ or ‘The Magician.’ You can use today’s date
telephone numbers instead of names; and of the June 2007 on the face
course you can use it to promote a product. issue of The of the jack.
I mentioned earlier that you may perform this Magic Circular; Let me
using business cards. You can for instance use show the
the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve but never both pack. The
months of the year. at the same gig. cards are

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 17

 434. PHILIP ANDERSON IN THE LATE 1880s: ANOTHER WORLD TOUR

P hilip Anderson was now appearing as “The Great Wizard of the

North, Philosopher, Scientist and Traveller.” A good idea of the
composition of his show in Australia may be gained from a very
found him again, he was within some 80 miles of Brisbane, in which area
he played engagements in Warwick, Ipswich and two weeks at the Gaiety
Theatre in Brisbane, ending on 12 November.
detailed advertisement for the Gaiety Theatre placed in the Sydney The next sighting found for him was not until six weeks later, just after
Morning Herald on 20 August 1887 for his “New London St James’s Christmas. By then, he was back down in Victoria, and, given he had
and Egyptian Halls Entertainment augmented by Louise Maude previously taken holiday time out in the Melbourne area three years
Anderson, the Marvellous Clairvoyante.” earlier, perhaps he had been doing the same again.
Listed was the “First Time of the Wonderful Bank Note Mystery,” Through the early part of 1888, Philip Anderson seems to have been
followed by the “Silent Transmission of Thought (this is the most giving mostly short engagements in smaller country settlements in
astounding Phenomenon on record, and cannot be witnessed in any Victoria, and eventually up around the border with New South Wales. No
part of the world except the Egyptian Hall, London, and the Gaiety major city engagements have been found and only the venues of Kilmore,
Theatre, Sydney).” The influence of Maskelyne was also apparent with Portland, Bendigo, Echuca, Tatura, Prahran, Warragul and Albury were
Professor Anderson’s “Zoe, the Mysterious Sketching Automaton,” and identified.
“an extraordinary and amusing scene – Miss Scrivens in two Pieces. During this period, his billing for the week at Bendigo is most
During this act the head of Miss Scrivens is taken off, when, to the interesting, starting as follows:
surprise of all, the head still goes on talking.” This appears to be a
slight variant of Maskelyne’s “Farmer Screvins in two pieces” (first PROFESSOR ANDERSON
introduced in 1879). Other items noted were “Extraordinary Table 
Floating,” “Total Evanishment of Anita,” “Mephisto’s Umbrella,” “The I Came to you as a Child
Lovely Nautch Girl reclining in Space,” and “the New Odic Force, the Now I Come as a Man.
Floating of Furniture, Tables, etc.” 
After Philip Anderson completed his engagements in the Sydney 1857 Re-appearance after an 1888
area, he then moved further north on the New South Wales coast to absence of
work the Newcastle area during the period from 26 September to 8 31 (THIRTY-ONE) 31 YEARS
October 1887. He 
appeared at the RETURN OF THE FAVORITE
Victoria Theatres in With something New.
West Maitland and
Newcastle, and at Thus here Philip is implying that he was with his father, John Henry
the Plattsburg Anderson, on the occasion of his (J H Anderson's) visit to Bendigo more
Mechanics’ Institute than a quarter of a century earlier. There are two issues with the veracity
in Wallsend. of this, of course. First, we have no evidence that Philip was with
Unlike his Anderson on his late 1858-59 Australian visit and plenty of evidence from
previous visit, Philip newspaper reports and shipping lists that the only son with him on that
now took an occasion was John Henry Anderson Jr. (Dawes & Dawes, 2014). Second, it
overland route north was actually August 1859 when J H Anderson played Bendigo; in 1857 he
into Queensland, was still in the UK.
rather than the As Philip must have been well aware he hadn't been in Australia then,
coastal steamer he perhaps here he had opportunistically picked up on some local memories
had used in 1881. of his father long ago coming to the town with a son (John Henry
This very probably Anderson Jr and Philip were near-identical in age, of course), although
meant he played no-one had bothered to check the back files of the Bendigo Advertiser to
various one or verify the actual date of that visit.
two-night stints in Also, a near-identical version of the previously-mentioned 'Travels'
a number of smaller article (which was originally located when it appeared in Auckland in
interior towns, 1888) seems first to have appeared in the Bendigo paper in January
which have not 1888. This also inaccurately starts “When Professor Anderson left here
come to light in the with his father some 31 years ago he visited the United States, and
newspaper archives. thence to England, where he remained some years…"
By the time we Some further John Henry Anderson dates in the 'Travels' are also

18 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

 A RICH CABINET OF
MAGICAL CURIOSITIES
Edwin A Dawes MIMC

inaccurate, along with the notion that Philip was in her role as stage assistant from
with Anderson for them, e.g. “a trip throughout September of the previous year. Whether
England” in 1862 (when Anderson was still in during the earlier stages of her illness
America) is clearly incorrect; a reference to an she continued to travel with Philip or
1864 tour of Ireland will presumably be that of whether she remained in Melbourne
Philip himself as Rubini (not with Anderson); throughout the final year of her life
Anderson is correctly stated as appearing at St remains uncertain.
James' Hall, London, in September 1864, but, far Philip seemingly then returned to
from Philip appearing with him, the young man Tasmania to honour his missed
(who was in London at the time) was advertising commitments there. He arrived back in
for work as Rubini. Launceston aboard the Pateena on 28
Taken together, all of this misinformation August, remaining until finally leaving
seems to have been centred on creating an again on the same vessel on 13
illusion that Philip started his career appearing September 1888. The only one of his
with his father as a child, blurring exactly when (presumably several) engagements
and how he started on his own account, and during this fortnight traced was on 6
nowhere mentioning use of the Rubini name. Since, from his earlier 'only September at Waratak, He had originally also planned a second show
surviving son' tag, Philip was presumably aware of John Henry Anderson here for Saturday, 8 August, but cancelled because, as the local paper
Jr's death a decade earlier (if not of Oscar, Arthur and indeed Josie's put it, "the counter attractions proving too strong."
continuing lives), he would feel no risk of contradiction as to the identity After a week back in Melbourne, on 22 September 1888 Philip took
of the son who was with Anderson in Australia in the 1850s. The lack of ship from there to Sydney aboard the S S Burrumbeet, en route for New
actual personal recollections of the childhood visit, to share with others, Zealand. The only Anderson name on the passenger list published in
could doubtless be ascribed to the passage of time. the newspapers is that of the Professor, but the list also contains the
On 16 July 1888, Philip left Melbourne for Launceston, Tasmania, name Mdlle de la Cour, the lady who became the third Mrs Anderson.
aboard the S S Pateena; Mrs Anderson is not mentioned in the newspaper Her real name was Jane Ann Plunkett, a Sydney-born widow, and the
passenger list. Certainly his advertisements in Tasmania still featured a marriage in Fitzroy, Melbourne, on 17 September 1888 turned out to
female assistant, but utilising Anita more prominently now, and billing her be a brief one.
also for the clairvoyance routine; Valentino had gone. Anderson’s advertisements from now onwards featured “Mdlle de la
Engagements traced for Tasmania were of short duration, the longest Cour” as the billed assistant in the clairvoyance act, and all the reviews
being five days at the Theatre Royal in Hobart, and four days at the in New Zealand mention Madame or Mdlle de la Cour (“a remarkably
Academy of Music, Launceston; other places visited were New Norfolk, pretty young lady”) as Anderson's principal assistant, plus one which
Oatlands, Campbell Town, Latrobe and Leven (now Ulverstone), running refers to Mrs Anderson in this connection.
from17 July until 7 August. Then, around this time, the tour of Tasmanian They reached Sydney from Melbourne on 24 September, then
country districts was interrupted; the Launceston Examiner of 10 August transferred to the steamer Rotomahana, departing onwards to
1888 carried the following item in its miscellaneous advertisements: Auckland on 27 September, and arriving in that city on 2 October
1888. On this leg of the journey, the published passenger lists record
Professor Anderson – In consequence them as Professor and Mrs Anderson.
of the alarming illness of Mrs Anderson, There now followed a tour of the North Island of New Zealand,
Emu Bay and Mount Bischoff cannot opening with an engagement at Abbott's Opera House, Auckland, from
be visited. 6 to 13 October 1888. Owing to tempestuous weather the house was
not well filled on the opening night but, as the New Zealand Herald
By then, Philip had already left the island, having sailed from Launceston expressed it, “the Professor carried out his programme faithfully.” The
for Melbourne aboard the Pateena on the afternoon of 9 August. Sadly, “Critic” of the New Zealand Observer (13 October 1888) noted “The
his wife Louise died of cancer in Richmond, Melbourne, on 30 August Professor possesses a pleasant face, good voice and excellent ‘stage
1888, her illness presumably being the reason for her inability to continue presence.’ His age it would be difficult to guess, for while his hair is
s

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 19

grey, his eyes are bright and his step elastic.” performing in South African venues through the early months of 1889.
It was in Auckland that a trapeze act, Miss Jargerine, was introduced From there they would have had to travel halfway around the world to
for the first time, and Philip’s advertisement for Friday, 12 October, another of Philip’s old haunts, China, reaching there by July. We know he
proclaimed: “All the Clergy Will Attend Tonight” though whether this was had previously twice played Shanghai and an audience before the
intended as an inducement or a warning to others is perhaps debatable. Emperor at Peking seems not beyond the bounds of possibility.
The subsequent North Island tour, lasting from 15 October to 17 His most likely route from there to reach Paris by September 1889
November 1888, initially embraced Helensville, Onehunga, Pukekohe, would have been ship across the Pacific, transcontinental railroad across
Cambridge, Hamilton, Te Aroha, Coromandel and Thames. They then North America, and then transatlantic ship, more or less a reverse of his
returned to Onehunga, a west coast port adjacent to Auckland. Anderson 1885-86 westbound journey. By this means, he would then have
was reported travelling down this coast to Wanganui, aboard the completed four circumnavigations of the globe since 1881, in line with his
principally-cargo vessel S S Wanaka, arriving there on 31 October for a subsequent claim in advertisements.
three-night engagement. It later transpired that Philip left Wanganui The Paris Exposition of 1889, for which the Eiffel Tower (then the
without paying all of his rent; bailiffs were appointed to seize his world's tallest structure) was newly-constructed, was open between May
'paraphernalia' in lieu, but were fobbed off with some cash and a and October, but Philip's advertisement mentions September specifically.
promissory note for the balance. The creditor then took his bailiff to court The implication is that Philip performed, as well as touring the exhibitions
for accepting the promissory note, against instructions. to acquire new ideas and equipment. There would certainly have been
Two further venues were played, at Napier and Palmerston, and by 17 many amusements provided in conjunction with the event, so plenty of
November the Andersons were on their way to Wellington to catch opportunity (there are agents’ advertisements in The Era at the time,
another ship; after more than 18 months in the Antipodes (an unusually seeking novelty acts, etc for Paris, although no references to Anderson
long time for them to remain on any one continent!), they were heading were found). The Paris Expo would very likely have been the source for his
for the Indian Ocean. They took the S S Waihora, departing Wellington on “Edison's Discoveries” item, which was billed in Australia the following
19 November, arriving at Sydney on 23 November, where they summer: Edison's phonograph was apparently one of the sensations of
transhipped to the S S Yarra, a French liner. On 25 November 1888, they the Expo.
sailed out of Sydney Harbour bound next for Mauritius, last visited five Philip’s implied claim to have met the great explorer H M Stanley, then
years previously. a very topical name (in summer 1890, he had just published a best-selling
Unfortunately, at this point they also sail autobiography) is less certain. His advertisement
out of our view. Not until July 1890, when states, within a list of other notables he has
Philip, now accompanied by a new Mrs appeared before, “Africa with H M Stanley, Esq.,
Anderson (Blanche), reappeared in Australia, the famous Explorer, in ’89." If this is wholly
have we found a confirmed sighting. Helpfully, accurate, the meeting would have had to be in
however, his advertisements at that stage December 1889, because throughout 1889
contained some pointers as to where he had Stanley was 'up country' in East Africa/the
been during the intervening time. Congo on one of his expeditions, and mostly
Whilst statements made in Anderson completely out of touch with civilisation, Stanley
advertisements always need to be treated only emerged back down to the East African
with caution, Philip's track record in this coast, to great acclaim, in early December, before
respect appears much sounder than those of leaving for Egypt at the end of the month. The
the original Wizard of the North, and three only feasible point of contact between Philip and
new claims made in these July 1890 Stanley in 1889 is therefore December, perhaps
advertisements should be considered at Mombasa.
seriously: that he had appeared before the In a later advertisement, Philip merely stated
Emperor of China at Peking the previous July, that he had come to Australia “straight from the
had been at the Paris Exposition last Paris Exhibition, stopping only in Africa en
September, and was in Africa with H M route,” but as he seems not to have arrived in
Stanley, the famous explorer, in '89. He further Australia until June 1890 this would imply some
now noted that he had brought new effects six months spent in Africa, although the details
straight from the Paris Exhibition, stopping of his itinerary were not specified. During this
only at Africa en route, and had travelled four times around the world period contemporary evidence was found of Anderson’s divorce from
since 1881. Madame De La Cour at Kimberley High Court as a two-line item in a
In seeking to reconstruct his movements, we also need to take into Portsmouth (UK) newspaper of early April 1890. This was probably copied
account his divorce from Madame De La Cour (Jane Ann Plunkett) and from an untraced newspaper report elsewhere, so the precise timing of
the acquisition of a fourth Mrs Anderson (Blanche Louise Daniel), both of the divorce is uncertain although possibly indicative of the marriage
which events are elsewhere reported to have occurred in South Africa, starting to break down in 1889. l
during this time period.
Philip and De La Cour would have arrived in Mauritius perhaps two REFERENCE
weeks into December 1888; the departing passenger list from Sydney Dawes, E.A. & Dawes, M.E. (2014). John Henry Anderson, The Wizard of
definitely records them as passengers for Mauritius, although the ship the North. A Revisionary Biography. New York: The Conjuring Arts
itself was going on to Aden (reached 21 December) and Marseilles (30 Research Center.
December). We may speculate that the most likely scenario would be that, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
as in 1883 (but now in the reverse direction), they did a few shows in I am greatly indebted to Michael Dawes for assistance with the research.
Mauritius, and then took another ship onwards to South Africa, which we
know they had visited twice before. This theory would have them To be continued

20 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

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

been closely intertwined with the culture of the only through lessons and encouragement but
age and the local populace, giving it relevance through gifting props and routines, as well as
and accessibility. Meanwhile, illusions have also numerous gigs that enabled new magicians
been used to reflect parts of what that society to get their feet on the performing ladder.
holds dear. This ranged from biblical stories in Whilst their gratitude was clear, Jack offered
the form of a tableau of the beheaded John the another perspective: “If you teach them to
Baptist through to both Lafayette’s and work, you may as well then get them to go
Devant’s use of the teddy bear in routines. and do the work!”
Magic has of course also been used to First were four performers from Jack’s
complement other performing arts such as magic school, in most cases performing on
theatre productions, concerts and TV stage for the first time anywhere! Georgie
programmes and films. For instance, Brian retold Wonder was our able and confident host and
how John Nevil Maskelyne had consulted on performed a dictionary book test, the Clarity
the dramatic sword fight in Henry Irving’s Faust Box, a Scrabble tile prediction and his version
revival at the Lyceum in 1902, supplying of Jack’s Grandma’s Necklace. Dan Quick
Brian Lead electrically-charged rapiers which sparked and made number predictions, Ben Hart
shone with blue flames. performed with cards and Chris Ball
MONDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

s
Brian explored the long-standing link manipulated balls and concluded with a neat
THE HOFFMANN MEMORIAL LECTURE between magic and paranormal themes, such as
delivered by Brian Lead the conjuring of ghostly apparitions in stage
Reported by Chris McGeever plays, the Davenport Brothers’ Séance Act and
the (apparent) psychic demonstrations of today.
Brian’s topic was ‘Discuss the ways in which He suggested that the public’s fascination with
magic is, or has been, used in society.’ His mentalism stems from the lingering credibility
lecture had started life as a 4,000-word that it retains with the savvy audiences of
essay, before being adapted into this spoken today.
presentation before the Membership. As his To conclude, Brian reflected on magic’s
opening motif, Brian highlighted the enduring current place in the world; he illustrated how
popularity of the venerable ball vase. He certain iconic images were entrenched within
traced its passage from the repertoires of the public consciousness with a recent political
magicians of yesteryear who inspired cartoon in a British broadsheet newspaper
accusations of witchcraft from some featuring the ‘rabbit out of a hat’ staple. The
onlookers, into the majority of children’s Monday night audience left with an enhanced
magic sets in the modern day. What followed appreciation of the potential reach and the
Jack Delvin
from Brian was an enjoyable and informative numerous possible applications of our beloved
tour through magic history, from Dedi’s craft.
decapitation illusion as narrated in the
Westcar Papyrus, which toyed with the primal MONDAY 22 SEPTEMBER
notion of death and rebirth, through to Penn GOODBYE MR PRESIDENT: JACK DELVIN
and Teller, and their contemporary treatment Reported by Tim Barnes
of (essentially) the same plot.
Brian illustrated how magic can be, and Jack Delvin introduced us to his career and, in
indeed has been, deployed by its various particular, highlighted his real passion –
practitioners to serve multiple purposes – teaching magic to those new to the art. As the
some nefarious, others innocuous, still others evening progressed, one after another spoke of Megan
Knowles-Bacon Ed Hilsum
even therapeutic, at times. At all times it has the extraordinary support Jack has given, not

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 21

 Martin Cox, Wayne Fox and Will Gray. Tributes
to Jack followed, starting with Peter Liddelow,
whose words were accompanied by the
production of boxes of flower petals. Written
messages were read from Bob and Sue
Hamilton, Clive Turner, John Kenton and Peter
Nardi. Video was shown from Russell Levinson,
Dennis Patten, Keith Fields, Dom Chambers and
Roy Davenport Nick Nickolas. Romany spoke from the stage, as
did George Kovari Junior, and commendations
from Brian Sibley were accompanied by the
playing of a radio broadcast of Jack escaping
from thirty feet of chain at the BBC.
With the evening deeply over-running, and
technical difficulties affecting both the lighting
and video clips, Max Somerset took to the stage
to present probably the longest card trick we
Brian Sibley Roy Marsh Max Somerset
have ever witnessed! Finally Roy Davenport,
story woven around a Squared Circle tube Joe Rankin put a coin into a sealed bottle and whose family Jack has worked closely with over
and frame. transposed playing cards; and Steve White many decades, closed the show. Set to music,
One of the innovations of Jack’s Presidency offered a nice version of Troy Hooser’s Charming we witnessed the beautiful magic and
has been the introduction of Apprentices, Chinese Challenge. manipulation of billiard balls, silks, plates,
providing a channel for new magicians to learn Our next group had been handpicked by Jack. umbrellas, wands, thimbles, newspaper, rings
en route to full Membership. Next on stage Bernard Pinnock predicted time on an old and streamers.
were three of these Apprentices, gaining the mantle clock; Megan Knowles-Bacon produced The stated aim of The Magic Circle is “To
valuable opportunity to perform for The Magic silk handkerchiefs from a Demon Wonder Box; promote and advance the Art of Magic.” Under
Circle, as well as joining the tribute to the man Roy Marsh’s larger handkerchiefs magically tied the Presidency of Jack Delvin this has undoubtedly
who has championed their cause. Keith Hall and untied sympathetically; and Ed Hilsum been the case; and the tributes from the
performed Oswald Rae’s Hold-Up plus a ring pushed a borrowed phone into a balloon. numerous people who graced the stage over
vanish and reappearance on a chain. Japanese Jack then presented an MMC certificate to the evening were fitting testimonies to his
Associate Sho performed the Thai Linking Rings, Jon Randall, and then MIMC certificates to Zap, talent, passion and many achievements. l

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22 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

THE HOFFMANN MEMORIAL LECTURE 2013 PART 1

The Oldest Trick

in the Book by Brian Lead MIMC

I n the middle of the

seventeenth century, a
mountebank was about to be
subsequently morphed into a ball. The Magic Man
from Marvin’s Magic has the ball as his bald head
under his top-hat, while the most recent plastic
flung to his death from a reincarnation from the USA has a bandaged severed
second-storey window. His head as the box, the bandages being lifted to show the
capital crime was to perform a brain as the ball. Always evolving, the original ball box
magic trick, The Egg Box, now to was transformed by Morison (correctly spelt in
be found as the ‘ball and vase’ in Hoffmann’s Modern Magic, but becoming Morrison in
virtually every child’s magic set, Clarke’s The Annals of Conjuring) who managed to
from Sewell to Sooty and from connect two halves of a sphere (one hidden in the lid
Brian Lead David Nixon to Paul Daniels. and the other in the base) to form a second complete
The unnamed witch (for that was what he was ball. Since then, the ball in its ‘egg-cup’ has been
accused of being, in spite of his gender) had deceived vanished when hit with a specially constructed
the eyes of the spectators, and had the magician not hammer and been transformed into a silk.
exposed the secret of his apparatus he would not have Early exposures in print, of course, could be seen as
escaped summary execution. This simple evolution of part-and-parcel of the move towards enlightenment
the ball vase, from the condemned cell to the nursery, instigated by the Justice of the Peace Reginald Scot in
exemplifies the way in which magic has become his seminal work The Discoverie of Witchcraft,
embedded in our culture and has been employed by published originally in 1584. His stated mission was to
different people for different purposes. prevent the execution of innocent elderly women who
The apparatus described in the book Sports and had been falsely accused of dabbling in sorcery; a
Pastimes of 1676 looked like “two bee-hives put one campaign vigorously counteracted by James I’s

s
upon the other,” and the writer known simply as “J M”
commented: “The Egg Box is looked upon to be as
good a trick, and as cunning a sleight as any that is
done, by those that know not the manner of doing it. I
saw one show this, and the globes and the melting
box, so well that the ignorance of the people cried out
he was a witch, and had he not prostituted his
implements to their view, that they might discover his
sleight, he had been thrown out of a window two
storeys high.”
Any self-respecting museum of magic will have a
collection based on this effect, and there is a selection
of such wooden items, fashioned by Professor Norris,
on display in The Devant Room at The Magic Circle. The
globes had a colour-changing element, while the
melting box appeared to melt a silver coin, which was
in fact replaced by mercury (then termed quicksilver)
which was used alarmingly frequently for medicinal
purposes. In the original routine a real egg was
borrowed from a member of the audience; suggesting
the use of a confederate (even in an agricultural
setting how many people would have an egg on their
person – and how closely would it fit the box or be of
exactly the correct colour?) and that a literal ‘shell’
Reginald Scot
was used. This was followed by a wooden egg, which

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 23

 I must admit to a degree of scepticism with regard to Scot’s motives
and apparent reluctance to reveal secrets, which seems to be rather
disingenuous. In the popular imagination a witch was a woman who had
sold her soul to the Devil and, accompanied by an evil spirit in the shape
of an animal, could cast spells and had the power to kill of main men or
cattle. In fact, a so-called witch was usually an old woman who was
mentally deranged or physically disfigured. I can’t imagine any of these
sitting down to make a magic colouring book.
Nevertheless Scot, acting as history’s earliest incarnation of the Masked
Magician, continued to present “a confutation of the common conceived
opinions of witches and witchcraft, with dissuasions from such fond
credulitie.” In the words of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, however, (who,
ironically, was as stubborn as the next man when it came to a belief in
the spirit world and the Cottingley Fairies): “Some people will persist in
believing what they want to believe,” and ten men and women were
subsequently hanged, at Lancaster Castle in 1612, for the crime of
witchcraft.
1656 saw the publication of Thomas Ady’s A Candle In The Dark –
described as A Treatise Concerning the Nature of Witches and Witchcraft;
Being Advice to Judges, Sheriffes,Jjustices of the Peace and
Grand-Jury-Men, what to do before they passe Sentence on such as are
Arraigned for their Lives as Witches. In his introductory “Reasons for the
Book,” Ady referred back to Scot’s work, lamenting the fact that its
message had faded: “[Mr. Scot’s] Book did for a time take great
impression in the Magistracy… but since that time England hath
shamefully fallen from the Truth which they began to receive; wherefore
here is again a necessary and illustrious discourse.” Ady based his tract on
biblical teaching, citing twenty claims against witches for which there was
no biblical authority. Like Scot, he exposed some typical legerdemain and
harked back to the type of fraudster mentioned in the opening paragraph,
who capitalised upon the idea that a witch would operate with a
‘familiar’ in the form of an animal: “He carrieth about him the skin of a
A collection of Ball Vases Mouse, or some like thing, stopped [ie stuffed] with feathers, and in the
hind part thereof sticketh a small springing Wire… and when he begins
Daemonologie in 1597. The King spoke of “the damnable opinions of one to act his part in a Fayr or a Market before Vulgar people, he bringeth
called Scot, an Englishman not ashamed in print to deny that there can forth his Impe, and maketh it spring from him once or twice, and then
be such a thing as Witchcraft, and so mainteines the old error.” For his catcheth it up. He maketh his Impe spring up three or four times to his
part, Scot exposed such cherished items as the magic colouring book shoulder, and pullet it down again every time, saying ‘If you be gone I can
(“how to make a booke, wherein you shall shew everie leafe therein to be play no Tricks,’ and then holdeth it fast in one hand and beateth it with
white, blacke, red, yellow, greene etc.”) and card in nut (“how to tell the other, slyly making a squeeking noise with his lips, as if his Impe cried,
what cards anie man thinketh, and how to convey the same into a kernel and then putteth his Impe in his breeches, or in his pocket.” What better
of a nut or cherry stone.” Similar in concept to ring in walnut, egg, lemon description could you have of a Rocky Raccoon routine, or the traditional
etc.) How many bona fide witches practised these tricks of parlour magic animated mouse?
it is difficult to ascertain – and, if so, how much they valued this It is perhaps significant that the semi-anonymous J M in his epistle to
intervention to undermine their credibility. Indeed, it is thought that the the reader at the beginning of his Sports and Pastimes says: “The design
tricks exposed by Scot owed more to the French conjuror Jean Cautares, of this was for the recreation of youth, especially school-boys, whose wits
working in London at that time, than to examples of diabolical are generally sharpened on such whet-stones.” Even though
intervention. witch-hunting was still a serious contemporary problem, with the Salem
Arthur Watson, who Gordon Bruce and Bob Read have proved to have witch-trials taking place sixteen years later, in 1692, J M makes no claims
inspired much of the work of Sidney Clarke, remarked: “The publication of of any deeper motive for his work than to amuse and occupy children.
Scot’s book marks a great advance in the abandonment of the attribution He says that many more tricks could have been added to his forty-page
to magic or supernatural aid those feats which appear wonderful. Scot
himself does not disbelieve in supernatural power or the devil’s, but he
shows the way in which a number of conjurer’s tricks were performed.
He is not antagonistic to the performance of conjuring tricks which,
exhibited in the proper spirit, are ‘neither impious nor altogether unlawful
if they are done for mirth and recreation.’ He says ‘the doings of conjurers
are not only tolerable but greatly commendable, so long as they abuse
not the name of God, or make the people attribute unto them His
power.’ His sympathy with conjurers is shown by his regret that it fell
to his lot to reveal their secrets, and to make it more difficult for them to
earn a living.” Zombie head advertisement

24 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

book, but “since there are many things of this Nature, I have omitted for the notorious
the major part those I knew were in print before, of such you may be “Witch-finder
furnished out of Hocus Pocus Junior etc.,” so he was obviously aware of General” in East
other texts on the market. Indeed, more than half the tricks between Anglia. At the same
these covers had not appeared in print before, and the pieces of time, however, local
apparatus mentioned were clearly forerunners of equipment used today. It practitioners of
is the first time a reference to a ball and shell appears in magic literature. benevolent magic,
J M also gives a detailed description of the creation of Trouble Wit with referred to as
detailed illustrations, and although he repeats the colouring book effect “cunning folk”
first seen in Scot he offers more precise detail. His book comprises 49 provided small-scale
leaves, with seven changes, and the dimensions are seven inches by five, but valued services to
so that each inch represents one change. The same basic principle, of the community. They
course, was at work behind the later ubiquitous Svengali pack. helped people with
Incidentally, Sports and Pastimes was the first to name the their everyday
manufacturer of magical apparatus and the location of his place of problems: finding lost
business – Robert Spooner, an ivory turner at the Acorn in Long Walk, objects, advising how
between Christchurch and the Lame hospital. This is surely the first dealer to escape bad luck or
ad in the history of magic. a suspected spell and
To pick and mix your own favourite metaphors, magic runs through the how to attract a lover
veins of history and society, as strata through the bedrock of our culture or keep the love of a
or as a name through a stock of seaside rock; from the Druids to Dr Dee wife or husband.
and from the earliest Arthurian legends to the works of Tolkein and J K Decollation of John the Baptist While these cunning
Rowling. Whatever its course, however, it was conceived as a method of folk sometimes fell
wielding power and exerting control and emerged eventually as foul of the authorities, church and state often turned a blind eye to their
entertainment. practices, distinguishing what they did from the more sensational cases of
All of the texts one may consult, from Secrets of the Conjurer’s Craft by malevolent witchcraft.
Will Dexter (picked up by this writer from Woolworths at the age of ten) In an interview for The Magic Circular, Brian Sibley has commented
to Eddie Dawes’s definitive The Great Illusionists, take us back almost that the art of magic is dealing with deep-seated desires, superstitions
5000 years to King Cheops of Egypt and the decapitation of a goose and and beliefs which are as old as civilisation: “Producing coins, cards,
other creatures by the magician Dedi, as described in the Westcar flowers, animals and human beings out of nothing and nowhere is,
papyrus, so the oldest trick in the book wasn’t actually in a book at all! perhaps, an unacknowledged simulation of the creation stories common
Only recently this effect provided a segment on the television programme to many cultures. And when magicians saw people in two and put them
Q I and was used by Ali Cook in his attempt to fool Penn and Teller. back together – or simply restore a rope that’s been cut or a newspaper
Around AD 62 Hero of Alexandria explained the temple illusions of talking that’s been torn up – they are, in essence, playacting that most primal
statues and mysteriously opening doors in terms of pneumatics and and persistent myth concerning death and re-birth.” Indeed, Roan Taylor
hydraulics, while Seneca, whose dates crossed the boundary between BC called his study of magic in society The Death and Resurrection Show,
and AD, wrote of the sleight-of-hand required to perform the tracing show-biz back to the performances of the shamans, while the
cups-and-balls trick, suggesting that the performance of magic had origin of magic in religion is the central theme of Fraser’s seminal study
already been established as a form of entertainment; although its The Golden Bough.
appearance among the hieroglyphics of the ancient tombs has long been Miracles have always been integral to biblical teaching, from the
discounted. transformation of water into wine onwards, and when the medieval world
In the absence of rational explanations for illness and the forces of chose to dramatise these stories magical effects were required. These
nature, people believed in a parallel world which encroached upon their eventually gave rise to tableaux such as the Decollation (or beheading) of
everyday lives, causing sudden deaths, storms and earthquakes, and John the Baptist, as presented in a side-show by Kingstead of London at
related phenomena such as eclipses, which showed the displeasure of the Batholomew Fair in 1582 and recalled by Scot two years later.
gods. People desired miracles, and thus dishonest religious leaders It was reported that some patrons fainted at the realistic sight of the
created their fake mechanical toys and churchmen such as Chaucer’s severed head, the neck being augmented with soft dough impregnated
pardoner produced relics of saints which could not possibly be genuine. In with bullock’s blood which bled afresh when pricked with a quill. A similar
this way, the early church depended upon deception for its very effect, with similar results, was to be created later by P T Barnum and was
livelihood. carried into the twentieth century by such performers as Richiardi Junior and
This is Arthur Watson again: “The Egyptian, Roman and Greek priests Simon Drake – and indeed by Penn and Teller in their latest stage show.
kept in their hands the knowledge of physics and mechanics, and devoted The fact that Scot describes with such apparent relish these gory details
their skill to the construction of ingenious automata which impressed the to heighten the reality of the performance, and warns the presenters to
uninitiated with a feeling of awe and mystery. Probably a small make sure that the cloth covering the table reaches the floor, and not to
percentage of people now understand the workings of a allow the viewers to remain too long in the booth so that they may be
penny-in-the-slot-machine [maybe we could update that to a computer!] able to work out the illusion, suggests that he has an eye on the
but it inspires no awe. Everyone knows that, although he does not show-business aspects. He is not only giving away the secret, but advising
understand its workings, it could easily be explained to him if he had time upon the way the illusion should be performed. Again, one cannot
to listen to the explanation. We understand things by proxy.” imagine his endangered elderly ladies mounting such a spectacle in their
As we have seen, during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the back parlours.
whole of Europe and other parts of the globe were subjected to a wave of l
witch-hunts – a paranoia which led to the excesses of Matthew Hopkins, To be continued…

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 25

 REVIEWS Anne and how he eventually retired from
performing.
The middle section of the book then gives
Harry De Cruz MMC another perspective on Alan and his magic
through a series of short pieces on his early
Will Houstoun MIMC mentors and influences: Ernest Noakes, Edward
David Hibberd MIMC Victor, The Great Levante, Raoul, Maurice Fogel,
Marc Kerstein MMC Al Koran, John Booth and David Nixon. There is
then a longer section on Robert Harbin,
reprinted from the January 2008 issue of
MAGIC Magazine. Further developing the
reader’s perspective of who Alan was and how
his magic influenced others Alan Shaxon – The
TRAVELLING DECK 2.0 single (but thick) card, and ditching it would be Sophisticated Sorcerer also contains a selection
by Takel easy for most performers to accomplish. The 2.0 of reminiscences from his friends and family. His
Instructional DVD and gimmick. $29.99 gimmick makes the end result a lot less clean wife and two daughters both talk about Alan as
(£17.99) from your favourite dealer. and doesn’t allow you to be as free as the a person, as well as a magician and a host of
Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic supplies, original. Most of the presentations that are magical friends and colleagues share their
[Link] taught are using the original travelling deck recollections of Alan as a magician. Those who
Reviewed by Harry De Cruz gimmick which confirms my worries about the share their thoughts include Marvyn Roy, Brian
2.0 vanishing box effects not being as strong as and Audrey Miller, Scott Penrose, Leslie Melville,
a whole deck vanishing. Andrew Van Buren, Michael Bailey, Tony
Repairing and remaking the gimmick is also Markey, Norm Nielson, Nicholas Einhorn and
taught, should it not be pre-made in the desired Kevin Doig.
playing card or back design. At the beginning of The second half of the book is dedicated to
the DVD they teach how to make the gimmick Alan Shaxon’s magic. Before discussing the
stronger, which felt like an afterthought as the material that is described in the trick section it
gimmicks, being hand made, could have had is probably worth mentioning two items that
that addition before the sale. fans of Alan might expect to be included but
Despite not using the 2.0 gimmick as much which are not (and were not in the draft
as the supplied original, purchasing this DVD material Alan had worked on). They are Alan’s
can allow you to accomplish incredible tricks Thumb Tie and The Human Gasometer, the
and routines, including a pickpocket routine effect in which Alan would light a gaslight using
that can be found in Paul Harris’s True only his breath as a gas supply. In the case of
Astonishments DVD set. the Thumb Tie it seems likely it was not included
because Alan used a standard method (Ten
ALAN SHAXON – THE Ichi’s, described in The Dai Vernon Book of
SOPHISTICATED SORCERER
by Alan Shaxon with Scott Penrose
and Steve Short
The effect: A deck of playing cards vanishes 10.25” x 7.5” hardbound book with dust
from between the magician’s hands with the jacket, 208 pgs. £35 plus P&P from
exception of a single card. The rest of the [Link]
cards then appear back inside the box, in Reviewed by Will Houstoun
your pocket or any other location you wish.
You receive two gimmicks along with an Alan Shaxon – The Sophisticated Sorcerer has
extensive 90 minute DVD. The first is the been designed to give the reader a complete
original Travelling Deck gimmick which understanding of Magic Circle past-President,
vanishes the full deck down to one card. The Alan Shaxon, and his magic. In my opinion, it
second gimmick is what makes this release succeeds like no other magic book I have ever
“2.0.” This allows you to vanish the card box read. The book proper commences with a
to either reveal the 52 cards, ready to biography, partly written by Alan himself and
perform, or the box and its cards so you’re then completed by Steve Short. Areas that are
left with their one chosen card. touched upon include how Alan decided to turn
The DVD supplies you with many different professional, why he always made himself
presentations so you’ll be sure to find one available for ‘low profile’ events, such as
that fits your style, from card sandwich children’s parties, what the lifestyle of a cruise
routines, to turning the deck into a bank note ship performer was like and why he began to
or even a 52 on 1 joke card. The gimmick is a perform as a solo act rather than working with

26 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

Magic) and his contribution to the piece was need to carry a regular, permanent ink
largely in terms of the timing and the patter Sharpie that won’t rub off on your own skin.
whilst, in later years, the Human Gasometer A small quantity of water is required in
was becoming harder even for Alan to perform order to perform the effect and apparently
as the necessary items grew more scarce. move the drawing. The DVD suggests and
Despite these omissions, however, the vast teaches moves to secretly obtain water from
majority of Alan’s well-known repertoire is a nearby glass as well as water stored on a
explained, along with a selection of sponge concealed in a thumb tip. However,
lesser-known pieces. Amongst the better known more time is spent teaching a move to
routines that you will learn are the Aerial secretly wet your finger with a small quantity
Fishing, Ultimate Nudist Deck, Confabulation of your own saliva. I feel that secretly wiping
and Hydrostatic Glass. Amongst the less known your own saliva on a spectator’s hand to
items, at least to me, were Alan’s handling for accomplish the effect is hygienically immoral,
the production of a rabbit, his combination of though other effects are taught that don’t
the Torn and Restored Newspaper with Drink in require this procedure.
the News and a few Harbin items that he The best effect with the Sharpie is one
performed and lectured with. where you move the drawing from your hand
Alan Shaxon – The Sophisticated Sorcerer is a to the back of a spectator’s arm, where it can
nicely produced and reasonably priced book. then be examined and shown to be
The layout and writing are clear and the permanent ink. However, this effect requires
illustrations, with a combination of photographs an additional non-included prop to be
and line drawings, are effective. More Virgil and The Zancigs. crafted. Brief instructions are given to do so,
importantly the book really gives you a feeling From a personal point of view I was pleased but as the prop is fairly complex to create I
for Alan and his magic as you read it. By the to see mention of Lester Sharpe and Iris who would have preferred it to have been
time you have finished you will know about his appeared at Aldershot in 1949. They were the included.
life, his influences, his magic and his first magic act that I saw a year or so earlier at I also found that the drawing wouldn’t
interactions with those around him – it is hard the Brighton Hippodrome. always completely disappear; often a faded
to think of a magician who would not benefit The magical highlight at the Hippodrome was residue of the drawing remains. This even
from reading this book. probably the 1937 appearance of Dante whose seems apparent in a promotional video of the
pre-war show was unsurpassed. effect where the heart can still be seen
THE ALDERSHOT HIPPODROME Altogether a well worthwhile addition to
AND THE MAGICIANS WHO magical history literature.
APPEARED ON ITS STAGE
by Robin Maddy SANSMINDS SHARPIE
8” x 11.25” inches softbound book, 77 pgs. by Will Tsai
£12.50 plus £2 P&P. For availability contact Instructional DVD and gimmick. $35 (£22.35)
[Link]@[Link] from your favourite dealer. Dealers contact
Reviewed by David Hibberd Murphy’s Magic supplies,
[Link]
I enjoyed reading this book which tells the story Reviewed by Marc Kerstein
of a provincial variety theatre from its first
performance in February 1913 until its closure In the basic effect, the magician draws a cross
in March 1955. It was not among the most on the spectator’s hand with a Sharpie. He then
attractive theatres externally but the interior places his finger on the cross and begins to
was opulent and absolutely delightful with a apparently drag the cross towards the
seating capacity of over 1300. spectator’s fingertips. As he does this, the cross
In theatrical terms the Hippodrome was a is seen to have disappeared from its original slightly as the magician apparently moves it
second circuit theatre being the junior partner place. The magician continues to drag the cross away with his finger.
of the better known Kingston Empire which was further to the back of his own hand, where the As with many Sansminds products, the
in the same ownership. cross is now seen to remain in permanent ink. DVD is clear and well structured but is a little
In the book the author mentions over one SansMinds Sharpie comes with a DVD and a short with its entire runtime totalling less
hundred magic acts that appeared on the stage. specially gimmicked Sharpie. On the DVD, it is than fifteen minutes. However, moving an
There are dates and brief details about each claimed that the ink in the provided Sharpie is apparently permanent drawing from one
one together with some photographs and permanent when drawn on paper and card but person to another is a strong effect. There are
reproductions of coloured posters. Among those not when drawn on glass and skin, and several competing products that produce
mentioned are Amasis, DeBiere, Carlton, Carmo, therefore says that you don’t need to carry similar effects, but Sansminds Sharpie gives a
Dante, Maurice Fogel, Goldin, Carl Hertz, multiple Sharpies for different effects. However, convenient and reasonably priced option
Levante, Lyle, Jasper Maskelyne, Masoni, to end the effect with the drawing on your hand contained within a publicly-recognised
Selbit, Murray, Raymond, Edward Victor, examinable and non-removable, you will still Sharpie. l

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 27

 It pays to ADVERTISE in MY FAVOURITE BOOKS
Michael Symes MIMC
Reported by Terry Wright MIMC

but shortly thereafter he was

ready to get into a more
To reach 1500 magicians around the world advanced treatise and he
costs less then you think mentioned the “Open Prediction”
competition (pg. 230; he
Full page from £100.00 demonstrated his own solution at
the end of this talk). Referring
Half Page £55.00
especially to the Misers Dream
Quarter page £30.00
his final “learning magic” book
all prices subject to VAT
was Magic Page by Page by
Patrick Page, containing great
For full details contact the Business and routines and thinking by a highly
Advertising Manager Scott Penrose Michael decided that he would experienced professional.
on 07767 336882 choose books from the span of Michael’s sixth book was
or email advertising@[Link] his 42 years at The Magic Circle Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz,
rather than his favourite books of a really practical book, which
the present. He chose to review addresses the audience needs
those books in three sequential (intellectual and emotional
sections covering: tricks (learning beliefs) and suggests solutions.
magic), theory (thinking about Shattering Illusions by Jamy
magic) and history (magic Ian Swiss, taught him that “see, I
experiences from the past). fooled you” is not the way to
He reminded us that his first treat an audience.
book, Modern Magic Then moving on to history, an
Manual by Jean Hugard, was area of study which he
published in 1939 and therefore introduced by “we are all
is not really “modern” but dependent on what has gone
indicated that he found this before,” he chose The
book’s range of magic (with card Davenport Story, Volume
tricks at the end!) extraordinarily One by Fergus Roy to comment
inspirational at an early stage. He on how magic had developed,
liked the format of his second the Davenport family’s way of
choice, Classic Secrets of living, and Pat Page’s invaluable
Magic by Bruce Elliott, with help when in their amazing shop
each chapter dedicated to an (with the crypt) opposite the
effect but with several ways of British Museum. Germain the
performing that effect, and Wizard by Stuart Cramer was
written in a true magic journalist his ninth book, a romantic story,
style. The Encyclopaedia of which Michael illustrated by
Silk Magic by Harold R Rice talking about Germain’s frame of
was a formative publication mind when performing the
bringing him into the real colour Orange Tree. Finally came
of magic, four books not Cardini: The Suave
containing much in terms of Deceiver by John Fisher, a
presentation but excellent with beautifully written book, giving
instructions. His fourth book was such detail that the reader can
World’s Beyond by Paul Curry, obtain a clear picture of Cardini
a book of really good thinking as a person and performer.
and ideas. Michael had used Another fascinating half-hour for
The Royal Road as a primer the audience.

28 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

 THE MAGIC CIRCLE CARES

David Hatch MMC

As I write (November) the death of Bobby Benevolent Fund committee is prepared to Chaplaincy:
Bernard MIMC has just been announced. consider written applications for financial support Revd Peter Liddelow AIMC
Although I only knew him in his later years from people who have been subscribing Members 23 Kings Road, Barnet,
when he was struggling with health issues, of the Magic Circle for at least five years. Herts, EN5 4EF
tributes have been pouring in to this great T 020 8441 2968
character and great magician from others Just a thought: “Don’t cry because it’s over, E Chaplain@[Link]
who remember him in his prime. He was smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler AIMC
clearly much loved by all who knew him. 39 Cranmer Road
The latest welfare news can be found on The Edgware,
Happily, I am not aware of many new cases Website [Link] where Middx., HA8 8UA
of Members in need this month, and I always ‘Welfare’ is a sub-section of ‘Club Room.’ T 020 8958 1776
of course respect the confidentiality of those Contact details for Members can also be found E Geoffreyshisler@[Link]
who do not wish their problems to be made on The Website under ‘Membership List.’ Fr Bernhard Schmitz MMC
public. If, as a retired doctor, I can help Bruederstr.17, 42853 Remscheid, Germany.
Members in any way please do not hesitate If you hear of Members or their families who T 0049 2191 4609460
to contact me. All the members of the are sick or facing hard times please contact: E BernhardSchmitz@[Link]
chaplaincy team are also happy to talk to David Hatch MMC (Welfare Officer)
anyone who needs their help and advice. Can 6 Darnley Road, Woodford Green,
I remind Members that the Benevolent Fund Essex IG8 9HU
is available to assist present or past Members T 020 8504 4134
and their immediate families and the E WelfareOfficer@[Link]

OBITUARY
brief stint as manager of the magic department Ganson ‘Teach-Ins’ and The Coin and Card
in Hamleys toy store in the seventies, and as a Magic of Bobby Bernard, Bobby was a
Bobby Bernard MIMC 1931-2014 cruise ship magician. Known for his immaculate marathon lecturer and teacher of many
Remembered by Justin Higham coin work and dice stacking, published in the successful magical acts, as well as a session
Bernard Samuel Lerner, better known as man, raconteur, and film buff.
Bobby Bernard, died on Monday, November For over twenty years he played the
10, 2014 at Coplands Nursing Home, eighteenth century magician, Isaac Fawkes at
Wembley. He was 83. He was born on March conventions and The Magic Circle At Homes.
19, 1931 in Hackney, East London, to Leah A lonely soul, Bobby nonetheless enjoyed the
and Joseph Lerner. Bobby belonged to the company of many close friends including Alan
school dramatics society, and from 1947 to Alan, Val Andrews, Jack Avis, Alex Elmsley,
1950 was a member of the Bransby Williams and other members of the London magic
Theatre Company. As a child, he couldn’t say scene of the past sixty years, together with
‘Bernard’, so he was always called Bobby. His the friends he made around the world on his
mother, a theatre costume designer, international travels to conventions. Bobby
suggested he put Bobby and Bernard (with was an Honorary Life Member and Member
an accent) together to form a stage name, by of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold [Link]
which he was known thereafter. will be greatly missed by the worldwide
Bobby worked in many different roles community of magicians.
throughout his colourful life, from a magician, Bobby is survived by his nephew, Ivor
Photo: TMC Archive

ventriloquist and mindreader in variety, to Solsberg and family. A funeral service was
small character parts in film, theatre, and the held at The West Chapel, Golders Green
English National Opera. He also worked in a Crematorium on 28 November 2014.

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 29

 MINUTES

Thursday 6 November 2014

MINUTES OF THE MEETING of the meeting held on 8 October Ballot papers were discussed and thanks for thanks for their
HELD ON THURSDAY 2014 were approved after Council were sorry to hear that Silver Wand awards.
6 NOVEMBER 2014 AT THE amendment. some members had not received vii Keith Pain MMC wrote to say
MAGIC CIRCLE’S DEVANT their papers. The new returning he felt dealers day had been a
ROOM FROM 6.37 – 9.50PM 4. AGM MINUTES officer is aware of this situation and huge success, and that he
Following approval via online is expected to put systems in place would be willing to organise it
PRESENT voting earlier in the month, the to ensure this does not reoccur. again next year. Council agreed
Scott PENROSE PRESIDENT minutes from the 6 October 2014 A recent lecturer had requested he should.
Richard PINNER VICE-PRESIDENT AGM were passed unanimously. use of the video footage for viii Geoffrey Newton MIMC wrote
Alan MASKELL CHAIR commercial purposes. Council to ask for a re-consecration
Megan KNOWLES-BACON 5. MATTERS ARISING/MAIL agreed this was acceptable upon service to be organised for the
SECRETARY LIST MATTERS return of the lecture fee, plus restored Grave of Horace
Mark LEE TREASURER Following queries from last payment for video services. Any Goldin. Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler
Mandy DAVIS meeting, the Organisation chart mention of TMC will be strictly AIMC has been contacted and
Kevin DOIG 7.17PM was fully updated. ML suggested prohibited. is dealing with the matter.
John HAYNS Council review it every 3 months. Issues regarding the published
Hugh NIGHTINGALE Council agreed. Council meeting minutes for 7. REPORTS
Katherine RHODES KR intends to have the IT Tender September had been discussed on (ROUND-THE-TABLE
Darryl ROSE ready for next Council meeting. the clubroom mail-list. Fay Presto ROUND-UP)
Brian SIBLEY. In response to the issue of guests and Andrew Eborn’s concerns were SP: Honours board is going to be
David WEEKS MINUTES SECRETARY visiting too frequently, the CNC fully discussed and Council agreed updated on Monday 10 November.
have trialled a new entry system on they remained satisfied with the CMA: Results are extremely good
1. APOLOGIES a Monday night, with everyone minutes that had been approved. with a surplus of about £12,000 in
Lee HATHAWAY, signed in online via an iPad. This the first quarter. Money is being
Marvin BERGLAS. has been working well. MD noted 6. SECRETARY’S REPORT reinvested in the building. Attention
Kevin DOIG SENT APOLOGIES FOR that members need to be reminded i Apprentices: Lee Palmer, has been drawn to Council
BEING UNAVOIDABLY LATE. of the rules for bringing guests. Paul George Howes concerning petty theft and vandalism
Prior notification of all guests by ii New Members: Colin Phillips taking place on a Monday Night.
2. DEATHS email still necessary and that a £15 MMC, Elizabeth Rogan MMC Security measures, sadly, will be
The death of former member charge applies. CNC to talk to Will iii Reinstatements: John Mason increased. In response to club night
Christopher Wray, who was Houstoun about this being MMC, Paul Caley MMC, Jerry issues, Darren Martin MIMC is to be
assistant stage manager for published more clearly in the O’Connell AIMC*, Mervyn copied in on emails with upcoming
Tommy Cooper and later ran a Circular. RP asked what the current Heard MMC, Raj Virdi MMC events information, including who
chain of lighting stores, was process is for registering guests iv Resignations: None will be the contact person for that
reported. Sylvia Liddelow, the which led to a suggestion that v Promotions: Ben Hanlin to evening. Council requested that a
wife of our Chaplain Rev. Peter there be one point of contact. All AIMC*, Lee Hathaway to full breakdown of what is
Liddelow AIMC* had also sadly members and guests should be AIMC* happening and who is in charge be
passed away this month. Council reminded of our conventions when vi Correspondence: Gordon made available in good time.
stood in respect. registering with CNC. Drayson AIMC* had thanked KD: J Day was very successful. 90
AM confirmed an official apology Council for acknowledgement YMC members attended, and with
[Link] had been sent to the CMA of his work as deputy returning guests it was a full house.
On a proposal by ML, seconded regarding the article published in officer. Terry Wright MIMC and Highlights included a talk with Luis
by RP, all in favour, the minutes the Circular. David Hibberd MIMC had sent de Matos MIMC*, lectures by Henry

30 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

Evans and Wayne Fox MIMC*, and THE MASKELYNE, and MD noted the Circular published a few improvements are to be
a surprise appearance by Troy David Copperfield MIMC* that there were ‘no summer school made before we start to use it
AIMC*, as well as an excellent gala THE DEVANT. reports’, although some had been for general Council Matters.
show. Following this with The YMC RP: Updated the current position written. An editorial decision was RP: Peter Scarlett will be asked
Entertains at TMC on the Monday and ongoing discussions jointly made to publish no reports rather to direct all enquiries for work,
night was also successful, and KD between TMC and CMA and the than some, and those who had including unpaid events, to the
would like to see this happen again agencies involved in HS2. RP will written one were notified. In future, Find a Magician Page on our
next year. Council thanked KD for draft a statement for inclusion in when reports are missing, the website.
organising this day. RP noted the the Circular outlining our key editor will be asked to include a An A3 printer to be kept at TMC
mess left behind afterwards, options for the future of TMC in line for record in the Circular. was suggested to speed up the
suggesting TMC provide extra relation to this. RP noted Terry DR: A non-member has been certificate presenting process.
money for a cleaner after the event Wright MIMC is invaluable. advertising ‘taught by a Member of
in future, to avoid the organisers Council agreed in principle to The Inner Magic Circle’ in a THE MEETING CLOSED AT
doing the clear up. Council agreed. spend £5,000 for ongoing expert misleading way. MKB to contact him. 9.50PM. NEXT MEETING:
KD: A system should be in place to advice. Details to be provided RP: Online voting for new members TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER
allow high-profile YMC members of online for Council to consider. and reinstatements was working 6.35PM – DEVANT ROOM
sufficient standard to progress more HS2 to be added to agenda for well using Survey Monkey, although
easily to TMC. KD to present a next meeting to allow time for a
proposal to membership committee. more detailed discussion.
MD: Noted that the December
issue of Secrets would mark her
HN: More mentors are being
sought for Apprentices.
Our Headquarters
10 year anniversary as editor. ML: As Treasurer he would like all Conventions
Council congratulated her. those running committees to
CNC: All is going well. A meeting provide estimates of financial
DRESS CODE
with the new members of the requirements for the coming year.
Smart attire is required at all events in the Headquarters.
committee will be happening soon. Although the auditors had been MOBILE PHONES
MD: The new system for Ali Bongo aware of the deadline for Please ensure that you switch off your mobile phone before
Show ticket sales is working well. finalising their review all had entering the Headquarters. If you must make a phone call, please
RP: The Awards ceremony was run gone quiet in recent days and do so outside the building.
brilliantly by KR. All award winners the accounts had not been PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOUND RECORDING
are to be published in the next finalised – equally he was The use of any form of recording equipment, audio or visual,
Circular. Council thanked KR for the unaware of any amendments including cameras and mobile phones, is not permitted in any
evening. The winners were; from the draft figures circulated part of the Headquarters except by special arrangement.
Terry Wright MIMC, at the AGM. Final accounts for GUM
David Hibberd MIMC and last year and projections for the Please refrain from chewing gum of any sort in the Headquarters.
SMOKING
Dr Michael Colley MIMC SILVER WANDS current year should be ready for
Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the Headquarters.
Chris Wardle MIMC* December meeting. We all benefit from these conventions, so please respect and
THE CECIL LYLE AWARD, abide by them to avoid being turned away. Thank you for
Mark Shortland MIMC* CARLTON 8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS your understanding.
AWARD FOR COMEDY, MKB: An eBay listing had been
Roberto Giobbi misusing TMC logo. eBay had
THE JOHN NEVIL MASKELYNE PRIZE, been contacted and this has now
George Kovari MIMC* been removed.

[Link] JANUARY 2015 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 31

 FORTHCOMING
CLUB EVENTS
JANUARY 2015

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

10:30pm. Unless otherwise stated, events start promptly at
7:30pm and are scheduled to finish between 8:45pm and 9pm.
perform a trick satisfactorily he will then explain it for those that were
not watching. This of course depends on him being able to remember
how he did it as his short term memory is not what it was. I’m sure that
Club Nights are principally for Members, so entry is by Membership if you come to the lecture you will gain something from it even if it is
Card. A bona fide magician guest may attend any evening that is not only an extra hour’s sleep as his voice is monotonous and soporific.
marked ‘Members Only’ on condition that he or she is able to show
membership of a magical society. A non-magician guest may only January Monday 26
attend evenings that are marked as ‘Show’. Guests may only attend THE MAGIC CIRCLE CLOSE-UP COMPETITION 2015
two evenings a year. No guest may attend unless booked in advance. If Who will claim the title? Who is good enough to win in 2015? Come
you wish to bring a guest, please email cma@[Link]. All along and enjoy the coverage as the contestants battle it out. One of
guests must pay a £15 entry fee at the door and respect our the guaranteed great nights on our annual calendar so don’t miss it!
Conventions. Indeed, it is your duty as their sponsor to ensure that they
do. The Magic Circle reserves the right to refuse entry. See our website Looking Ahead to February:
for all the latest event details and to subscribe to a weekly email
reminder of upcoming events. February Monday 2
THE DAVE JONES LECTURE

January February Monday 9

MARTIN S TAYLOR
January Monday 5
UNBELIEVABLE – TIM BARNES
In 2013 Tim Barnes developed his stand-alone show ‘Unbelievable’
which he performed on two nights at the Leicester Square Theatre in Change of address? Please login to your account at
London’s West End. Now the highlights of this cabaret/parlour style [Link]. Under “Quick links”, click on
event are being presented at The Magic Circle. This will be followed by “Profile”. At the top, under “Edit” you should be able
an explanation/tutorial of one of the routines, and the opportunity for to select “update your profile”. You can contact
a Q&A. webmaster@[Link] if you encounter
any problems.
January Monday 12 Member in need? Contact Welfare Officer David Hatch,
MODERN MAGIC – WILL HOUSTOUN WelfareOfficer@[Link]
Will Houstoun is back with a new lecture based around his recently
release DVD set, Modern Magic. During the lecture Will will teach a
selection of card and coin magic that is suitable for close-up and
parlour and on which he has been booked to lecture around the world,
including multiple appearances at The Magic Castle in LA and, of
course, The Magic Circle. The material that will be taught ranges from
easy to intermediate difficulty and will all be taught thoroughly, with a
view to explaining the details that really make the effects work. Join us
to delve into the world of Modern Magic.

January Monday 19
CARDS, COINS AND BITS OF PAPER – MIKE O’ BRIEN
When Mike lectures he never fails to disappoint. The lecture will
contain self-working effects and others requiring a certain amount of
sleight of hand. Usually he fumbles through the self-workers and
attempts effects which are beyond his technical ability. Should he

32 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR JANUARY 2015 [Link]

[Link] DECEMBER 2013 THE MAGIC CIRCULAR 000