Arthur MacTier Lecture - ‘Gems of Card Magic’ - 7th May 2008

Written by Martin Key (http://www.magicword.com)

There was a full house for our own member Arthur MacTier´s lecture on “Gems of
Card Magic” on 7th May. Arthur is, of course, the author of “Card Concepts”, a
veritable encyclopaedia of mathematical principles applied to card magic. We had a
number of those kind of tricks but Arthur astounded us all by showing that he doesn´t
just rely on maths!

First off was a very clever card effect based on a Mike Powers card trick from “The
Linking Ring”. Then one of the best Oil and Water effects in existence taken from
Derek Dingle´s book. The routine is short, easy to follow, and, unlike many versions,
entertaining. Arthur followed this with a very funny Irish Poker trick in which the
cards were mixed every which way but still allowed the magician to come out with
the winning hands. This was credited to some chap called Walt Lees and published in
“Pabular”.

Arthur then moved on to a number of Ace effects including transpositions,
discoveries and Twisting the Aces shown to Arthur by our remaining founding
member Stewart Williams.

Then on to a number of card discoveries in which at times we though Arthur had
“lost it” only to discover that he was leading us up the garden path.
A trick based on mathematical odds was followed by a memorised pack and
prediction effect. Our President Mick McCreath was called up to try and win some
money off Arthur at a gambling effect. He failed miserably with Arthur beating him
easily.

The Gilbreath principles (1 and 2) were explained and a number of tricks shown
using these principles which defied belief.

Arthur was very clear in identifying all the sources for the tricks which were
explained in detail in his lecture notes (well worth getting). Arthur also had his
amusing book “A Compendium of Saucy Songs, Dotty Ditties & Monologue Mirth”
for sale which showed another side of Arthur.

An excellent lecture which was still going on after 2 and a half hours when I had to
leave!

A Compendium of Saucy Songs, Dotty Ditties, & Monologue Mirth

Magic lovers!  Would you like to include a little more mirth within your Magic and Mystery repertoire?? Yes??

Then the good news is, that help is at hand, through the medium of Arthur MacTier’s new 254pp book entitled:  ‘A Compendium of Saucy Songs, Dotty Ditties, & Monologue Mirth’, comprising of over 150 humour related bits of business; much refreshingly new, as well as audience tested, and all for the give away price of only £7.99 [plus £2 re p & p, if ordering by post]!
 
Although not a magic book, Abra editor Walt Lees, was still sufficiently impressed, to include a full page review within Abra No. 3245, and as Tracy, the widow of the late lamented English comedian Les Dawson, ordered a copy a short while ago, you will certainly be in good company!
 
So what are you waiting for? Give your chuckle muscles a treat, by ordering your own copy, now  -  either at a Leamington & Warwick Magic Society meeting, or by posting your cheque [inc. p & p], to the author at: 3, Oaks Corner, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 5XJ

P.S.   Should you be just one of many folk, with friends and relatives, for whom you find it so difficult to come up with something refreshingly new each year, within the sphere of Christmas/Birthday presents etc, then what better than to send them a copy of this eminently affordable book!!

Balloon Modelling Lecture - 16th April 2008

Written by Martin Key (http://www.magicword.com)

Members enjoyed the second “Trick of the Month” competition for our juniors. Two competitors took part, Angela Hicks and prospective new member Charlie Floate. It was close but Charlie’s Houdini Card Escape won the day and a £20 Kaymar Magic voucher donated by President Mick McCreath.

After this Charlie did his Juniors audition which he passed easily with a shuffled pack prediction, Houdini Card Trick, Irish ‘Tree of Hearts’ trick and finishing with appearing wand.

On with the lecture which featured Thelma Levett, one of the UK’s top balloon modellers and a lovely lady. Her challenge was to demonstrate models using only 260 balloons and no more than 2 balloons. Thelma achieved this with one exception! The models included a swan (a rather nice one for presenting at weddings), a baby seal (slightly cheating on this one as she used a round balloon for the head), cat, elephant, pirate sword, snake, lady, laser gun and dolphin. Thelma also gave some one-to-one tuition for those who needed it during the interval and after the lecture.

Each model was shown slowly so that members could learn them properly and all were either very easy or fairly easy. For those with poor memories (that includes me these days) Thelma is preparing a CD with all the models, and more.

This was a pleasant change from card tricks and possibly more useful when called upon to entertain the adults’ kids at weddings, parties and so on. Vice-President Keith Pearson gave a vote of thanks and led the well-deserved applause for a very entertaining and different evening.

President’s Night - 2nd April 2008

Written by Martin Key (http://www.magicword.com/)

Members, friends and relatives gathered to enjoy a social evening for Mick McCreath’s President’s Night. In the audience it was nice to see Past President Mel Harvey and past member and top-class magician Jim Gregory.

The first half was a magic performance by members of the society. Spike, aka Matthew Redmond, fresh from a cruising engagement amused us all with Pom Poms performed to a cruising theme, Phil Goldstein’s B’Wave, a colour streamer from fist and an amusing Tommy Cooper joke effect he had just reviewed in his position as Honorary Librarian for the British Ring of the IBM. Next we had a smooth presentation from Mike Price of some mental effects (chair prediction, clock trick with cards, Dead Zone from Andy Nyman and a lucky choice effect). Finally we had Stephen Buxton and Keith Pearson performing their well-honed hydrostatic glass and human pump effect. Keith also acted as MC filling in with John Archer’s Chinese Choice.

After a filling buffet supplied by members Mark Shortland took control and provided first-class entertainment with his Pot Noodle card prediction, cut and restored rope, the mousetrap card discovery, a three-way prediction, his very funny Catching the Bullet trick with sponge bullets, and finishing off with a hangman book test in which he nearly managed to hang himself with a scary looking gallows. Luckily he survived to take a well-earned ovation. A very enjoyable evening.

Roy Davenport Lecture - 19th March 2008

Written by Martin Key (http://www.magicword.com/)

There was a large gathering for this meeting to enjoy the magic of Roy Davenport plus a selection from the massive Davenport’s catalogue. Before the lecture the first of a new venture for our Juniors – the Trick of the Month competition. This month’s competitors, Angela Hicks and Jamie Koronkiewicz - performed in front of the full membership. Jamie opted for an oil and water card effect whilst Angela performed a vanishing and reappearing coin. The vote gave a narrow win to Angela who won a £20 voucher for Kaymar Magic kindly donated by our President Mick McCreath.

After that, a whirlwind of magic hit us which turned out to be Roy Davenport. Enthusiastic, fast-talking, laughing, arms shooting in all directions Roy never stopped for the 2 hours of his lecture/demonstration. Starting off with a history of the family business Roy gave a brief résumé of all the family members – grandparents, parents, brother, grandchildren and so on – and a fascinating history it is. Roy’s dad Fergus is compiling a 5 volume history covering the 100 plus years of the business and the first 2 volumes should be out by the end of the year – or early next year.

After showing the proper way to produce a bunch of feather flowers to get maximum impact, Roy shot through a bewildering array of effects, some new, some old – and some very old. Surprisingly some old tricks still turn up in the Davenport vaults.

In addition to the many tricks and books Roy also talked about Davenport’s pride in their own produced products – over 90 of them. The wood used in many of the props is not kiln-dried but stored in Roy’s sheds for a minimum of 4 years to prevent warping. Roy also regaled us with numerous anecdotes. I particularly liked the tale of Roy’s grandfather asking for a commercial sample of **** stearate (aka fanning powder) which he claimed was going to be used as a coating for an industrial process. The huge sample barrel of the stuff which turned up kept them in fanning powder for decades. Also, the memory of Roy’s mum Betty and Pat Page, who was working for them at the time, lugging large bags of the old pennies from the bank into a taxi just before decimalisation as Betty thought that they might come in useful later. They are still on sale at Davenports for 20p each.

Roy also enthralled us with his dexterity and skill performing his incredible thimble routine and finishing off with a performance of the Great Wong’s linking rings.

I took a note of all the tricks but there were far too many to list so I will just mention a very nice looking race trick for children by the late Richard Stupple (one of six of Richard’s tricks that Davenports chose to produce and market), and the book “Card Concepts”, published by Davenports and written by long-standing member Arthur MacTier who was on hand to sign a copy if required.

All in all a wonderful evening with reminisces, tricks to buy, a brilliant performance and loads of laughter – what more do you want from a lecture? A free magazine? Well, we had that too as Roy gave every member a copy of the latest “Abracadabra” – published by Davenports of course. A vote of thanks was given by ex-President Graham Anker.

And the picture? This is Roy demonstrating how, as a very young lad helping behind the counter, he was unable to reach the top of the counter.

Bob Swadling Lecture - 5th March 2008

Written by Martin Key (http://www.magicword.com/)

The first meeting of the new season had a large turnout to hear the legendary Bob Swadling (together with his wife Valerie) talk about his magic and demonstrate some astounding effects. Before proceedings began President Mick McCreath announced that Past President David Budd had been made a life member in honour of his contribution to the Society and to magic. Then it was down to business with many of Bob’s precision effects. Introduced by programme booker Bernard Visgandis, Bob first showed us a number of miracles performed using a variety of his changing cards. Bob related the tale of a well-known corporate magician who ordered a large number of ‘blank card to blank card’ from him which puzzled Bob at the time. We were let in on the secret why they were required – something which proved a big money spinner for the magician in question. Then we saw a masterful aces to packets routine (incorporating a flash torn and restored card). A clever Lewis Jones force was noted down by a number of members.

After the break we saw a Fred Kaps cigarette in handkerchief idea followed by Bob’s coin box routine which did away with the Okito move by employing a special gimmick. Finally we got to see Bob’s Ultimate Power Pack which took some 10 years to get perfected. This gadget allows thing to move without any apparent reason such as a jumping origami frog and a card spookily turning over. Bob finished off with his Kristal Card Stab which is a work of art. Along the way we also saw Coin through Handkerchief, Coin into Bottle and Pat Conway’s Sympathetic Matchboxes along with a number of tips and ideas.

A vote of thanks was given by another past president, Graham Anker which should have completed the evening. However, Bob continued to entertain a group of members reluctant to go home with a coin on and off string and his lovely three shell game. A great evening thoroughly recommended to other societies.