the griffin - the north wales magic circle · luke jermay in which he went into great detail of his...
TRANSCRIPT
Cylchlythyr Hud Gogledd Cymru
The North Wales Magic Circular
Close-Up
Magic
Competition
Harlan Tarbell
Podcast of the Month
News
And More
The
Griffin Vol. 74 No. 4 February 2017
Free to Members
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3 From the Lectern
Thoughts you never wanted in a way you never wanted them.
4 Hail to the Chief(s)
We’re on our way to Blackpool
5 Magic News
What’s new in the world of magic and mystery.
7 Harlan Tarbell
Eddie Hughes gives us an insight into the man behind the course.
10 The Session
A convention report from roving reporter Graham Land.
13 From the Vault
Alex Elmsley remembered.
15 The Close-up Competition 2017
Didn’t they do well!
21 Review
B’Voque from Mark Elsdon reviewed by Coberman
20 The Next Meeting
The Children’s Magic and Comedy Magic Competition.
24 Podcast of the Month
The Magicians’ Advice Podcast
25 Profile
Your very own Griffin Editor
28 Diary
Keep up to date on what’s happening in your society and others.
In This Issue Vol 74 No 4
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From the Lectern
Tinkety-tonk, Old Fruits, Yes we’re a little late this
month because, well, it is attributed to John Lennon that Life is what happens when you’ve made other plans.
The fact is I have been stupidly busy, with both my day job as a supply teacher but also I have been fortunate enough to do some performing this month. Yes, I was able to perform my séance themed magic show (what won the Mental Magic Comp last year), filled out to a full hour with additional “dark séance” section at the second oldest building in Flint. The old courthouse café, it is a lovely building, call in for a cuppa.
But as you will see in this issue,
it isn’t just me that has had a busy time of it. Some of our members have been putting their acts together for the Close-up Competition (page 15.), and some of us will be lucky enough to be attending Blackpool this month. I have been once, twenty years ago, I met Jerry Sadowitz (charming and self effacing at the time) and Joe Pasquale, I was with Rory who was mistaken for Wayne Dobson a number of times and I bought four effects, two of which I still use in my performances to this day (and one of which was in my séance the other night). Everyone should go at some point in their careers, and if you are please let me know what you did or saw with a quick note to [email protected]
As ever, I remain,
Your Faithful Servant
Prof. Llusern Pp.
Chris Baglin Et Salve ad Iasonem Isaacs
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Hail to the Chief(s)
reetings one and all.
I write this moments before I jump on a train and head
off to the entertainment capital of the UK…BLACKPOOL! Ok so maybe it’s not all that, but as we all know this time of year means but one thing. That thousands of magi from around the globe swarm this seaside town for the Blackpool Magic Convention! Even more in this case as this year marks the second time the town hosts the European FISM Championships.
Sarah and I have not been to the convention for a few years at this point, so we’re both looking forward to it immensely. Though thousands attend it is a convention that is very personal to all who grace the dealer halls
and theatres. Everyone gets something different out of the experience. For us it’s a chance to learn some new ideas from the lectures and enjoy the magic placed upon the stage. While in between times diving into the plethora of magic available at the dealer halls (oh my poor wallet).
With talk of worldwide competitions and the like, this month we had our own annual close-up competition. Four contestants entered the ring, Joe Daly, Chris O’Brien, Scott Prior and Steve Ashcroft. All were excellent, showing off the variety of performers our society has to offer and giving us a fab night of entertainment. But as the old saying goes, there can be only one. And the crown this year went to Steve Ashcroft, well done sir, a well deserved win, you left us all laughing and astounded.
And that’s all for now. If you’re attending the convention this week then I hope to see you there. But as always come on down to this year’s meetings as much as you can, catch up with friends, learn something cool and of course have fun. We’ll see you there.
Allons-Y!
G
Mad
am P
residen
t gets in
the sw
ing
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Magic News
75th Anniversary Gifts
Bob has arranged for certain 75th anniversary memorabilia. Here are some of the examples and mock ups, all will eventually have the image of the dragon you see on some, even if they do not in these images. If you would be interested in any of these items, please contact Robert Scott.
The Annual Dinner
Dance and Cabaret.
Remember you are now able to pay for your tickets by instalments! This means the opportunity to spread the cost of the Dinner over the next few months. If you wish to take up the payment plan, please see Bob Scott.
Tickets are priced at £35 for
dinner and cabaret. Cabaret only
tickets are £20.
Merlin Competition
The good people of the town of Carmarthen or Caerfyrddin (lit.
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Magic News
Merlin’s fort) are holding their annual Merlin festival, a part of which this year will be a magic competition. It's all part of the Wales Year of Legends. As well as a cash prize and the title of Merlin Magician of the Year for the winner, entrants will also get £250 expenses to travel down.
Entrants will need to send a 5minute video showcasing their street magic skills for shortlisting to [email protected]
Closing date for entrants is Feb 28th.
Blackpool 2017
It’s that time of the year again when the biggest magic
convention in the world is taking place practically on our doorstep. pages with news, reviews, articles and the Griffin hopes to continue to provide you with top notch content. This is where you all come in as, even if you can’t write yourselves, you can at least send some constructive criticism our way. Please get in touch at [email protected] and let us know how we are doing!
All items are accurate at the time of going to
press. We try our best but sometimes
mistakes will creep in, please bear with us.
Please address any complaints to British
Airways, London N1
All items are accurate at the time of
going to press. We try our best but keep
sometimes mistakes will creep in, please
bear with us. Please address any
complaints to British Airways, London
N1
No
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n sa
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Tu
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is Ma
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ats.
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One shed-load
of Magic Available now from the NWMC library
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“I don’t want the audience to think I am clever. I’d rather have them think I’m as surprised and
awed as they are.”
Harlan Tarbell was born on February 23rd in Delavan, Illinois. He served as a medic in the second world war with the 24th Air Company in France. He married Martha in 1920 and they lived in Elmhurst with their two children Harlan Junior and Marion until his death in 1960.
Tarbell had bee interested in magic at a young age and performed magic shows for family and friends. He eventually became an internationally renowned magician who performed for audiences around the world.
Tarbell invented over two hundred mysteries including one of the Hindu rope mysteries. Tarbell’s speciality was Eyeless Vision also known as the Radar Vision Illusion. He once drove a car through the streets of Chicago during the rush hour completely blindfolded. He became one of the world’s most successful mentalists.
Tarbell became an illustrator in 1911 and was hired by the magic
company Read and Convert to work on their Illustrated Catalogue of Superior Magical Apparatus. Publishers T Grant Cooke and Walter hired Tarbell to in the mid 1920s to develop a magical correspondence course the result of which became the Tarbell Course in Magic. (Which we have in the NWMC library).
This is probably the best magic literary work ever produced. The complete Course was 1,300 pages long and included 60 lessons with over 3,000 illustrations. It was originally published as an illustrated correspondence course
Harlan Tarbell
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The Man Behind the Course
in the 1920s and eventually in book form of eight volumes in 1941. The first five volumes were the correspondence course with the remaining 3 volumes being added later.
The course covers every form of magic and goes well beyond magical techniques to include enhanced skills such as;
Patter
Marketing
Magical ethics
Making people laugh
Attaining professionalism
History of Magic
Importance of good Speech
Tarbell began his course with fundamental drills and practice sessions that include body position, movement, and sleight of hand techniques. It is imperative that the student learns the basic techniques before moving on to future lessons in later volumes. His books have excellent drawings and clear and concise explanations.
The Tarbell Course in Magic is a fantastic reference book for magicians at all levels of magic. Although it was written many years ago it is, in my opinion, an essential set of books for magicians to read and learn from. Tarbell also taught magic and offered tuition to famous magicians such as Harry Blackstone and even Houdini himself.
Many famous British magicians have based their careers on the Tarbell course, could you be the next?
Eddie Hughes
Next time Eddie reviews the first volume of Tarbell and looks at why it should be
borrowed by someone every month!
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The Session
This year’s Session convention
took place on 6-8 January. The
NWMC’s Graham Land was
there and reports back..
There aren't many conventions that can be said to have increasing numbers of registrants but this is one. The Session started twelve years ago with about 50 interested close-up magicians. I have attended each year for the last ten years as the Session has steadily grown in size moving from Gloucester to Cheltenham and now London Heathrow where 500 registrants attended at the Thistle Hotel, with many staying at nearby hotels.
The quality of the performers attending is part of the success story, indeed some attend as registrants as they enjoy the Session so much. Andi Gladwin is a superb organiser and, assisted by Joshua Jay and the rest of the Vanishing Inc team, produce a very slick, organised weekend.
Friday morning kicked off Mentalism day with the opening lecture from Vincent Hedan
which was quickly followed by the Chris Rawlins lecture. Chris had loads of good practical suggestions involving envelopes and cards. Next were quick talks from Josh Jay, Kennedy and Eric Mead. Alex Ray then treated us to a brilliant lecture on metal bending followed by a talk by Jamy Ian Swiss on mentalism and mental magic. The last address before the early evening break was a tremendous lecture from Luke Jermay in which he went into great detail of his pre-show work. The evening lecture was from Banachek after having first been interviewed by Luke Jermay. A great day of mentalism closed with Andi Gladwin hosting a surprise event with Luke
Andy Gladwin
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Convention Report
Jermay, Michael Weber and Max Maven. What a line up we have seen today!
Saturday commenced with performances from Anthony Owen, Bill Cheung (absolutely stunning!), Vincent Hedan, Roberto Giobbi and Luke Jermay.
There then followed a lecture from Woody Aragon which was amazing and showed what a skilful performer he is. Next up was Jamy Ian Swiss who presented his act followed by him being interviewed by Josh Jay. Closing the afternoon was Ben Earl. Ben spoke about simplicity, psychology and movement and his hand to hand coin transposition whilst spectators held both wrists was something to behold! Ben also showed a four ace production from a constantly shuffled deck. Brilliant!
Following the evening meal break was the Late Night Event compered by the excellent Danny Buckler. We saw Chas Long perform dollars across, Kieron Johnson (the human regurgitator!) and the hilarious Rune Klan.
Sunday morning started with a lecture from Stephen Long (Hector Chadwick). Both Stephen
and Anthony Owen have worked closely with Derren Brown on his live and television shows. Guy Hollingsworth donned his barrister's wig to inform the audience of property, patents, designs, copyright and performers' rights in a short talk. Kieron Johnson then treated (?) us to more demonstrations of regurgitation and other delights such as Tic-tacs produced out of ears, nose and eyes!
Themed talks from Josh Jay, Pit Hartling, Denis Behr and Woody Aragon were given on memorised deck work and this was followed by a lecture from Eric Mead which went into great detail on his obsession effect: three silver dollars across. The final event of the afternoon session was an interview with this year's guest of honour - Dynamo. Following the interview all registrants were given an A4 size print. Dynamo then patiently signed prints and posed for photographs for a long
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The Session
queue of registrants. Sunday evening closed with the Gala Show compered by Danny Buckler and acts from Bill Cheung, Eric Mead, Woody Aragon, Guy Hollingsworth and Dynamo. Standing ovations one after another!
As always at the Session, there are always late night card magicians who probably stay up most of each night enjoying the weekend. I was in the hotel foyer at 6am on Monday morning in order to get to London Euston and work around the Underground industrial action,
there were half a dozen still sessioning as I left, and not a drink in sight! A great weekend of real top quality magic.
Graham Land
Have you been to an event, bought a
new trick, book or magic download?
Why not share your thoughts on it with
your fellow magicians through the
Griffin.
Go to http://tinyurl.com/griffinreview
Or email [email protected]
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From the Vault
One of the World’s Greatest Legends of Magic and a true Gentleman.
An appreciation by John Derris
At this moment, wherever magicians are counting three cards as four, there is an enveloping sadness. The man who came up with a simple sleight that bore his name which is used by thousands every day is no longer with us. Alex Elmsley,
acknowledged around the world as one of the greatest and most inventive brains in magic, died of cancer on 8th January, ironically the same date as his close friend Jack Avis who passed away two years ago.
I knew him for nearly sixty years, as a cravat wearing, Cambridge university student, rolled umbrella over his arm and a cigarette between his slender fingers. He used to join our Saturday group of magic aficionados always bursting with fresh, innovative thinking about our common passion. Later when doing his National Service in the army he would turn up in khaki uniform, forage cap and big, shiny boots but still with his inherent, sartorial style and a cigarette still between his fingers.
Later he worked for the Patents Office and lived in Chelsea with his mother Joan and his brilliant inventiveness erupted upon the magic scene with a white-hot
It seems almost inconceivable that one of the legends of magic, who lent his name
to sleights and manoeuvres should only have left us eleven short years ago. Here
by way of tribute the Griffin is proud to reprint...
Alex Elmsley
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Griffin Vol 64 No 2 Feb 2006
intensity that quickly won him a world reputation amongst the magic elite. His output was prodigious. Cards, coins, cigarettes, billiard balls, penknives, rubber bands, thimbles, newspapers, cups and balls, ropes, business cards, every item in the magician’s repertoire both on stage and close-up, all fell under his brilliant brain and took on new heights of wonder. He also had firm and profound thoughts on presentation, psychology and misdirection. The world was in awe.
He had a gentleman’s upper class English accent (although he was born in Scotland) with a voice slightly reminiscent of Boris Karloff and bore a strong facial resemblance to the philosopher Bertrand Russell, a comparison that delighted him. In his retirement years he was occasionally seen at magic gatherings recognizable by his bushy eyebrows, check sports jacket, carpet slippers (far more comfortable he said) and a large glass of whisky in his hand. But always happy to talk with anyone, beginner or professional about magic, a trait that endeared him to everyone.
I would often get calls from
Americans visiting London asking if there was any way they could privately meet this magic Brain of Britain, an appeal that was usually delivered with a solemn deference as if asking for an audience with the Pope. Alex was such a gentleman he nearly always acceded to such requests.
His writings, performances and originality were quite unique as proven when later his work filled two hard-backed volumes totalling nearly a thousand pages, painstakingly compiled and edited by Stephen Minch, two books which are now amongst the definitive works on magic. He devised new sleights and new plots that have achieved status as modern classics. Talk to any card aficionado and he will instantly recognize Elmsley gems Between your Palms, Point of Departure, Diamond cut Diamond, En Voyage, Brainweave, The Four Card Trick and many others that take their place alongside the card classics of yesteryear Everywhere and Nowhere, The Ladies Looking Glass and The Danbury Deviler. In ten prodigious years between 1949 and 1959 over seventy original Elmsley tricks and sleights appeared in print;
(Continued on page 26)
The Close
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The Close-Up
Magic
Competition 2017
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The Close-up Competition 2017
It was a dark and stormy night when a cabal of strange men and women gathered together to worship at the altar of Marlo. And as the high priest donned his inscribed and intricate metal symbols of office stepped up before the congregation and intoned the words of the rite.
“Alons-y!”
Yes, it was the NWMC annual close-up magic competition last week, and your Griffin was there. And what a competition it was. The standards were high, as were the spirits as we came together to recognise the and acknowledge the time, work and talent that goes into this branch of our art.
There were four contestants this year and each made good report of themselves before their fellow magicians (the most difficult and nerve-wracking audience we can perform before) and some perhaps less intimidating public i llefni'r braw as we say in Welsh.
Before we come to the winner and champion for 2017 the Griffin will take you through some of the highlights of their sets. But please bear in mind that no written record can truly do justice to the performances these individuals gave. There are a few highlights up on the Facebook group and the website, but if you want the full effect I’m afraid you had to be there!
Th
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The Report
Contestant 1: The Daily Daly
Reigning champion Joe Daly stepped into the ring with a point to prove. When he last performed for his fellow magicians (President’s Night), he had attempted a newly updated version of a trick which went wrong. We all have one of those. Undeterred mighty Joe came back for another crack of the whip. The original version of the trick (we are unable give credit due to a memory lapse), Joe told the Griffin, was good but involved a lot of envelopes and was a bit fiddly in the handling. Especially getting the cards in and out of the envelopes. What Joe presented was a refinement on this using cards and pebbles of
all things!
Joe’s sleights were top notch as ever, as his deft fingers flicked, twisted and no doubt changed in and out cards and pebbles. This legerdemain is Joe’s real strength in performance, and you could really see him settle into his performance once the jokes were out of the way. This type of slick performance should eventually generate a more confident performing persona and the Griffin watch Joe’s future with interest. And he’s already sponsored by Pepsi!
Contestant 2: Coberman
One who is certain of his stage persona is the self-styled sit-down magician Chris O’Brien
Jo
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Ca
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aka Coberman. Chris is a stalwart supporter of every competition going. In fact it is written that if every Chis doesn’t compete the Circle will fall! Despite this he never seems to repeat a trick, a fact which means the audience gets a surprise and a new toy every time, but can mean we lose the slickness which comes from performing an effect over and over again.
Chris’ delivery is paced and unhurried, often self-deprecating too. His storytelling puts one in mind of Eugene Berger or Peter Ustinov as he took his audience into a torn corner effect using a signed card. Thence to what seemed like a Miser’s Dream
with the twist of using a leather purse. Finally there came a card counting prediction using a random number from the audience.
Contestant 3: Beam-me-up, Prior
Scott Prior is fast becoming another stalwart of competitions like Coberman above. And you have to appreciate the gall of someone who is willing to open in front of a room full of magicians with the Dynamic Coins. (I still have a soft spot for this trick – Ed) He moved on from this into an interesting card routine with a fantastic four-ace kicker finish. But he may have met his match when he asked
Ch
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O’B
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n
The Close-up Competition 2017
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Jade up to help him (she’s a natural).
Scott’s style plays more to his youthful exuberance and there is something about his openness that draws you in, right up to the point when he pulls the rug out from under you. This would explain his success at last year’s Stage Magic Competition It will be interesting to watch how his style develops in the future.
Contestant 4: The Birthday Boy
Yes, it was Steve Ashcroft’s birthday on the night of the competition. He didn’t specify which one but the Griffin suspects he’s in double figures by now. Steve had an ambitious card routine with more phases than the
moon, including a Doc Eason-esque card-under-glass, a chop-cup routine which refreshingly had little to do with the Paul Daniels routine. There was even a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it use of a topit (That is the point of a topit – Ed)
Steve’s style is more of the cheeky-chappie kind with machine-gun joke delivery that could put the likes of Wayne Goodman to shame. His routines seem to have been performed many times which means a fluidity and flexibility in performance which paid off well, as nothing seemed to put him off kilter and he was able to instantly adapt his patter to the situation, a fluency of familiarity, if you will.
Sc
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The Report
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And the winner is…
It was a great pleasure to watch this fantastic evening of magic, but every competition must have a winner and the winner this year was the Birthday Boy, Steve Ashcroft.
It was a masterful performance and well deserved , the Griffin looks forward to next month’s competition with interest.
Next month’s competition should be a very different affair with the Children's and Comedy Magic
Competition. We hope to see you all there.
St
ev
e A
sh
cr
of
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The Close-up Competition 2017
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B'Voque By Mark Eldon
Sounds too good, works so well, it blows them away!
I make no apology for reviewing another Mark Elsdon effect, so soon after I reviewed his Forksaken trick. However, this one is more in line with what we have come to expect from Mark, local mentalist, prolific magic creator and our friend. This releases is one of his lower priced effects, but I promise you will find this is no less incredible than any of his other, more expensive, first class mentalism effects.
B'Voque is a 'Four Card
Brainwave' effect! which is a super-strong version of Max Maven's seminal plot. Previously Mark only shared this with attendees at his exclusive one-day courses, but now this super mentalist effect can be yours for around £16, just as it was mine last Christmas! (But please don't buy it until after the club mental competition, as I have been working on it, and have added 2 extra bits to the beginning and one extra stunner at the end. So I really want to put it in my set! not that anything extra is needed with stunning effect, I just wanted to put my spin on it. Grovel over! )
Effect: You ask a spectator to imagine that they can remember that they saw you putting four cards in an envelope. They then make various choices of what they remember you doing every step of the way - they are in control of what happens to the four cards - and amazingly:
1)Their chosen card is the only one reversed in the envelope! But there's more!
2)You then reveal that the named card also has a different
(Continued on page 23)
Review
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Our Next Meeting
March 7th 2017
Children’s and Comedy Magic Competition
Following on from the success of last month’s Close-up competition, March’s meeting will be a Children’s and Comedy Magic Competition.
As this combination is a bit of an anomaly we have had to adapt the existing rules as follows.
Competition Rules: Children’s and Comedy Competition
i. Providing there are at least 3 entrants, the Competition
Organise has discretion to arrange a Children’s Magic Competition.
ii. The contest shall take place on a stage if possible.
iii. The performance will run for one hour without an interval or two forty minutes halves with one interval. The total time will be divided by the number of contestants entering, allowing sufficient time for announcing. The number involved will therefore dictate the time allowed for each act.
iv. A warning signal will be given at 3 minutes before the time elapses. Any over-run shall be penalised as follows:- • 1 point to be deducted for each 30 seconds or part thereof. • After 3 minutes the competitor shall be disqualified
v. Judging will be by a panel including children that are present who will mark on entertainment only, i.e., how much he/she was entertained by the contestant, excepting occasions where children present are too young to understand the requirements Adults in charge of them will
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be asked to judge in the latter case. There shall be at least one magical judge for each act who shall mark under three headings: (a) Skill and Technique, (b) Strength of magical effect upon the Audience. (c) Originality in method of presentation. Magical Judges may use their
discretion as to whether or not an effect is suitable. If not suitable, the Judges will not mark that effect.
This is an open meeting so tell your family and friends, and your family’s friends, and your friends’ families.
coloured back to the other three! There's still more!
3)You then destroy their minds completely by showing that the other three cards are actually BLANK!
From our point of view, the best thing about this is, that whilst you will surely need to keep your wits about you whilst performing this effect, as a certain amount of
mental gymnastics may be required, the mechanics could be described as self-working
Chris O'Brien aka COBERMAN
"The Sit-down Magician”
Have you bought a new trick, book or magic
download? Why not share your thoughts on it
with your fellow magicians through the
Griffin.
(Continued from page 21)
Our Next Meeting
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Podcast of the month
What is it? It does exactly what it says on
the tin.
Why you should listen:
Every episode, they take a theme or subject and talk about it for the whole episode.
They speak from a place of knowledge being working magicians in the midlands.
Each episode is only about half an hour long so perfect for the commute.
There is even the occasional interview episode.
What are the downsides?
Sometimes the time limit means that some subjects are given short shrift.
The volume levels can be
highly variable, even from one speaker to the next.
Number of Episodes?
21 currently. But possibly more by the time this issue goes to press.
Highlights so far?
Episode 21 on Storytelling in Magic
Episode 17 Pocket Management for Magicians
Episode 15 Pricing for Wedding Magicians
How can I find it?
It is possible to find it on iTunes or just type the URL below into your browser and enjoy
http://tinyurl.com/griffinpod744 Heard a podcast you like? Let the
Griffin know at [email protected]
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In Profile
Name?
Christopher John Baglin, aka, Professor Llusern, Hey you, and Stop thief!
How and when did you first get into magic?
I was introduced to the old disappearing coin by a friend of the family who promised me one day she would make 100 pennies appear from my bellybutton (different times). That never happened but I was already hooked.
What keeps you in magic?
The money! I like the society and community side, people coming together with a shared interest.
What is your Go-To effect?
Chicago opener these days or a coin transfer I got from Daryl.
Who are your influences in and out of magic?
I love the storytelling of Master Payne and Eugene Berger in magic, but a lot of influence came from Richard Davies who
was my mentor for a while. Otherwise I like to be influenced by people I know, and my kids of course.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
Magically, my first séance. In life my children.
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
To become the go to guy for Welsh magic (what a huge market that is!)
What was the last film you saw?
The Book of Life, I don’t tend to watch whole films these days.
When you hear the words the book, which book comes to mind?
Allen Carr’s Easyway to Give Up Smoking
Best sandwich?
Corned beef, cheese and pickle.
Next time– Competitions Officer Steve Ashcroft
Griffin Editor
Chris Baglin
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From the Vault
few magicians achieve that kind of output in a lifetime. His skill and fame attracted the greats from the USA and many names sought sessions with him Dai Vernon, Paul Le Paul, Slydini, Ed Marlo, Charlie Miller, Persi Diaconis and many others who often openly admitted to being fooled.
Born in St. Andrews, Scotland in 1929, the second son of a naval officer, he was introduced to magic as a young boy when he was given a set as a gift during a short stay in hospital. It was an introduction that turned into a lifelong passion of sleight of hand and manipulation. Then came Eton, National Service and Cambridge University where he graduated in mathematics and physics. Whilst at university he was a highly regarded and active member of The Pentacle Club both as secretary and as producer and performer in the university Theatre Club. Then in 1960 he disappeared! Science fiction and computer technology supplanted his interest in magic and he travelled the world for a leading British computer company although he kept some contact
with close friends like Jack Avis, Peter Warlock and Francis Haxton.
With constant travel and the need to look after his widowed and ageing mother in London, his magic took a back seat but was reawakened in 1991 with the publication of the first volume of The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley. The second volume followed three years later containing a further 110 original Elmsley sleights and tricks including his acknowledged card masterpiece The Dazzle Act. Following the death of his mother he moved into a basement flat in Chelsea (affectionately named by his close friends as “Wuthering Depths”) with occasional rises to the magic surface prompted by his friends of many years. A voracious reader he consumed detective novels, anything about Noel Coward and the theatre, wrote poetry, smoked far too many cigarettes and was given a jump start into magic from time to time by his friends.
For the past five years he came to my house once a month along with Jack Avis, Lewis Jones, Tom Whitestone, Bernard Weller and Michael Symes when the conversation and banter brought
(Continued from page 14)
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The Griffin
Griffin Vol 64 No 2 Feb 2006
about a visible change in him. The fire was still smouldering. While Alex or Bonzo as he was known to his family never married he endeared himself to his brother Michael’s family and various cousins with his loyal support, humorous stories and ditties and the occasional display of card and coin tricks. His brother, nephew Simon and nieces Alex and Nedda and grandnieces Corrin and Thea all had great affection for this humble, modest and kind man. (Note for magicians: The Bonzo Count doesn’t quite sound the same does it!)
He drank generous portions of the amber nectar of Scotland, largely to quell his lifetime torment of clinical depression which he referred to along with Winston Churchill as his “Black Dog”! But he was never offensive, never loud, English to the core with all the courtesies and elegance of his middle class, early last-century upbringing. He was a magic gentleman and it was my privilege to have enjoyed his friendship for over fifty years.
The lasting impression many will have of Alex was his appearance at The Magic Circle Centenary Celebrations last July
when John Fisher induced him to perform some of his classic card effects and speak of his memories of the past. His Romans, Christians and Lions theme which cloaked his four-ace routine was classic and showed his Peter Pan sense of fun that turned a staid card routine into entertainment. Next time you perform the Elmsley Count, give silent thanks that you are a better magician because of Alex Elmsley.
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74.4/02.2017
Next Issue
16tth Feb Chester Guild Meeting
7th March: Comedy Night & Children’s Entertainment Competition
9th March: Mahatma Magic Circle Challenge Cup
4th April: Lecture TBC
2nd May: Mental Magic Competition
6th June: Summer Social
4th July: Lecture – Shoot Ogawa
1st August: Stage / Cabaret Competition
5th September: Lecture TBC
3rd October: President’s Night
7th November: AGM
25th November: The Annual Dinner Dance and Cabaret
Tarbell volume 1
News from Blackpool
Highlights from the Children’s and Comedy
Competition.
And much, much more!
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