Nice one! I've just done my letter to Santa and details of the Birmingham dates are on it - hope the dear old gent can read my writing!
Something to look forward to.....
Moderators: nickj, Lady of Mystery, Mandrake, bananafish, support
by Mandrake » Dec 3rd, '03, 11:24
(something to look forward to) and backward to at the same time!
Purely by chance I spotted a prog on Sky 1 last night - Secrets of Psychics Revealed. I thought this might be the same as the recent shorter programmes with Alistair Cook but no, it was a USA programme along the same lines as the Masked Magician programmes. Once again, they took the opportunity to reveal some of the best secrets under the guise of saving us all from phony psychics but the vast majority of the routines and effects exposed were nothing to do with psychics, just darned good magic which we all know and love. In no particular order the effects exposed were:
1) Spec selects a card (free choice), magish says he will phone a friend and use only certain words so no codes are used, the call takes place, the words are used, the spec takes the phone and the psychic on the other end tells them the correct card.
2) Magish displays a sealed envelope which was sent to the programme producer by post/fed-ex whatever some days earlier - genuine and unfaked. He asks 3 audience members to think of numbers between 1 and 1000, a fourth member adds up the total and, lo and behold, the total is the same as the prediction in the sealed envelope.
3) Magish hands a white board to spec in audience, asks them to draw three simple items, and correctly divines each one.
4) Magish places wine glass on old table, concentrates from the other side of the room and suddenly the glass shatters.
5) Magish bends spoons (yes, in all it's glory - one way of doing Uri Gellar's main source of income revealed!)
6) Medium does cold reading to thee specs and her statements and observations are correct for all three.
7) Magish shows a wooden box with three recesses, asks spec to fit very sharp dagger into any of the three and cover all with plastic cups. Using his mental abilities, magish correctly smashes his hands down on the two empty ones. (A Wayne Dobson favourite, if I recall correctly!)
8. Psychic in studio gets spec out front and mentally divines her house, the rough layout, features of her garden, and an item in her kitchen. He has genuinely never met the spec before.
9) Yankee Tom will love this one! Needle thru Arm - I'm saying no more!
10) Magish is blindfolded, has hands tied behind back, spec selects card (free choice) places it in magish hands behind back and he correctly reads which card it is. No marked or special cards involved.
11) Again a Yankee Tom item - PK Matches - this time using the large household matches for clarity.
12) Medium takes a personal item from sucker, sorry client, in this case a ring and makes it levitate up a pencil to demonstrate her abilities (?) Asks a few questions and produces a couple of slates banded together, they are blank but on the next opening, show a message from the spirit world.
13) Psychic holds steel element from an electric fire and mentally makes the steel glow in his hands.
14) The Self Folding Bill - exposed in all it's glory - swines!!!
15) Psychic talks to audience members and reveals things about them as messages from dead parents/grandparents etc. They have genuinely not met previously.
Only items 6, 8, 12 and possibly 15 could be classed as psychic tricks - the rest are normal magic and, once again, USA TV shows it has no respect or regard for such secrets. And to cap it all, if you have Sky it's on again on Thursday, 9.00pm, on Sky Mix!
Purely by chance I spotted a prog on Sky 1 last night - Secrets of Psychics Revealed. I thought this might be the same as the recent shorter programmes with Alistair Cook but no, it was a USA programme along the same lines as the Masked Magician programmes. Once again, they took the opportunity to reveal some of the best secrets under the guise of saving us all from phony psychics but the vast majority of the routines and effects exposed were nothing to do with psychics, just darned good magic which we all know and love. In no particular order the effects exposed were:
1) Spec selects a card (free choice), magish says he will phone a friend and use only certain words so no codes are used, the call takes place, the words are used, the spec takes the phone and the psychic on the other end tells them the correct card.
2) Magish displays a sealed envelope which was sent to the programme producer by post/fed-ex whatever some days earlier - genuine and unfaked. He asks 3 audience members to think of numbers between 1 and 1000, a fourth member adds up the total and, lo and behold, the total is the same as the prediction in the sealed envelope.
3) Magish hands a white board to spec in audience, asks them to draw three simple items, and correctly divines each one.
4) Magish places wine glass on old table, concentrates from the other side of the room and suddenly the glass shatters.
5) Magish bends spoons (yes, in all it's glory - one way of doing Uri Gellar's main source of income revealed!)
6) Medium does cold reading to thee specs and her statements and observations are correct for all three.
7) Magish shows a wooden box with three recesses, asks spec to fit very sharp dagger into any of the three and cover all with plastic cups. Using his mental abilities, magish correctly smashes his hands down on the two empty ones. (A Wayne Dobson favourite, if I recall correctly!)
8. Psychic in studio gets spec out front and mentally divines her house, the rough layout, features of her garden, and an item in her kitchen. He has genuinely never met the spec before.
9) Yankee Tom will love this one! Needle thru Arm - I'm saying no more!
10) Magish is blindfolded, has hands tied behind back, spec selects card (free choice) places it in magish hands behind back and he correctly reads which card it is. No marked or special cards involved.
11) Again a Yankee Tom item - PK Matches - this time using the large household matches for clarity.
12) Medium takes a personal item from sucker, sorry client, in this case a ring and makes it levitate up a pencil to demonstrate her abilities (?) Asks a few questions and produces a couple of slates banded together, they are blank but on the next opening, show a message from the spirit world.
13) Psychic holds steel element from an electric fire and mentally makes the steel glow in his hands.
14) The Self Folding Bill - exposed in all it's glory - swines!!!
15) Psychic talks to audience members and reveals things about them as messages from dead parents/grandparents etc. They have genuinely not met previously.
Only items 6, 8, 12 and possibly 15 could be classed as psychic tricks - the rest are normal magic and, once again, USA TV shows it has no respect or regard for such secrets. And to cap it all, if you have Sky it's on again on Thursday, 9.00pm, on Sky Mix!
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by the_mog » Dec 3rd, '03, 11:32
i have to admit i use the second one (resisting all temptation to type... i do number2!... hehe) and it gets a great reaction from people.... until they discuss it between them... although this has only happened once.. and i have to admit ... some of the explanations were way too ridiculous.... especially the blindfold*coughshoe* effect.
Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music. - Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989.. 
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by the_mog » Dec 3rd, '03, 11:39
and if i remember correctly Q wouldnt be out of place with the number 3 either!
Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music. - Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989..
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by Mandrake » Dec 3rd, '03, 11:48
I almost expected to see he had a flask of tea and bag of sandwiches with him. Can you imagine how awful it would be if the spec surreptitiously broke wind? As he was totally enclosed by the table cloth, he'd be dead in seconds if he didn't get outta there sharpish!
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by Mandrake » Dec 23rd, '03, 13:57
Culled from Magicweek - select and enjoy (but please bear in mind that my Sky Digibox broke down last night and can't be fixed until 28th December - Waaaah !!)
23.12.03
Astounding Celebrities - 2
5pm on Tuesday 23rd December (30 minutes) on ITV1.
"Action-packed street magic show where young magicians perform close-up magic to some of Britain's best loved celebrities. Featuring Trevor McDonald, Carol Vorderman, Cliff Richard, Claire Sweeney and Jade Goody."
23.12.03
Mental Magic
8pm on Tuesday 23rd December (1 hour) on Sky One. "Mentalist Gerry McCambridge performs mindblowing stunts and feats on the streets of New York, using the power of his mind."
24.12.03
Paul Zenon's Trick or Treat (Rpt)
9.30pm on Wednesday 24th December (1 hour) on E4 (and again at 10.30pm on E4 Plus 1). "Street magician Paul Zenon travels to the atmospheric streets of Prague in a seasonal special. Armed with spiders, absinthe, tarot cards and daggers, he attempts to stun, baffle and amaze locals and tourists."
25.12.03
Derren Brown Mind Control 3 (Rpt)
9.30pm on Thursday 25th December (1 hour) on E4.
10.30pm on Thursday 25th December(1 hour) on E4 Plus 1.
The mind manipulator is back.
26.12.03
Derren Brown Mind Control 3 (Rpt)
1.10am on Friday 26th December (1 hour) on E4.
2.10am on Friday 26th December (1 hour) on E4 Plus 1.
26.12.03
Parkinson at Christmas (Rpt)
12.30pm on Friday 26th December (1 hour) on BBC Prime. "Michael Parkinson presents a Christmas edition of his award-winning chat show. He is joined by Tom Jones, Dame Edna Everage, Alistair McGowan and Martine McCutcheon, who sings White Christmas. Plus Nigel Havers, magician Marc Paul, poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Mica Paris, who performs live with the London Community Gospel
26.12.03
Paul Zenon Turning Tricks (Rpt)
9.30pm on Friday 26th December (1 hour) on E4 (and again at 10.30pm on E4 Plus 1). "Trickster and comedian Paul Zenon takes to the streets, using his unique brand of magic to amaze, confuse and bewitch the inhabitants of Britain's after-dark culture in a one-hour special."
27.12.03
Derren Brown Plays Russian Roulette Live (Rpt)
0.10am on Saturday 27th December (1 hour 5 minutes) on Channel 4 (and again at 0.35am on S4C). "Psychological illusionist Derren Brown performs his most dangerous stunt to date as a member of the public loads a handgun with one bullet. Brown will hold the gun to his head, pulling the trigger repeatedly until he comes to the live chamber."
27.12.03
Mental Magic
5pm on Saturday 27th December (1 hour) on Sky One. "Mentalist Gerry McCambridge performs mindblowing stunts and feats on the streets of New York, using the power of his mind."
27.12.03
Magician Impossible
6.25pm on Saturday 27th December (1 hour) on ITV1 London. "Pop star Louise, James Hewitt and Linda Barker join magician Joe Labero on a journey across the Mediterranean, with Joe entertaining them with magic along the way until they reach a Roman coliseum, where Joe attempts to catch a speeding bullet with his bare hands."
27.12.03
Mental Magic
8pm on Saturday 27th December (1 hour) on Sky One Mix. "Mentalist Gerry McCambridge performs mindblowing stunts and feats on the streets of New York, using the power of his mind."
28.12.03
Mental Magic
5pm on Sunday 28th December (1 hour) on Sky One Mix. "Mentalist Gerry McCambridge performs mindblowing stunts and feats on the streets of New York, using the power of his mind."
28.12.03
Best of Monkey Magic
8pm on Sunday 28th December (1 hour) on Five. Magic with a twist... Pete McCahon, Pete Firman, Jonathan Goodwin, and Ali Cook perform their sleight of hand in new and unusual ways featuring some of the best moments from the first series.
The Very Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever
9pm on Sunday 28th December (1 hour 25 minutes) on Five. "A showcase of the biggest, deadliest, most bizarre and unbelievable magic tricks as voted for by Britain's top magicians. Featuring interviews the magicians involved and celebrity fans, and the Monkey Magic Boys performing their own brand of magic trickery."
29.12.03
Astounding Celebrities - 3
5pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on ITV1.
"Action-packed street magic show where young magicians perform close-up magic to some of Britain's best loved celebrities. Featuring Trevor McDonald, Carol Vorderman, Cliff Richard, Claire Sweeney and Jade Goody."
29.12.03 - 2.1.04
Derren Brown - Mind Control Series (Rpt)
9.00pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on E4.
9.30pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on E4.
10.00pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
10.30pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
9pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4.
9.30pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4.
10.00pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4.
10.00pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
10.30pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
10.30pm on Friday 2nd January (35 minutes) on E4.
11pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
11.30pm on Friday 2nd January (35 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
30.12.03
Astounding Celebrities - 4
5pm on Tuesday 30th December (30 minutes) on ITV1.
"Action-packed street magic show where young magicians perform close-up magic to some of Britain's best loved celebrities. Featuring Trevor McDonald, Carol Vorderman, Cliff Richard, Claire Sweeney and Jade Goody."
30.12.03
Magic of Xmas: Paul Zenon's Tricky Christmas (Rpt)
9pm on Tuesday 30th December (1 hour) on E4 (and again at 10pm on E4 Plus 1). "Street magician Paul Zenon in a Christmas special with his distinctive 'hit and run' magic and stylish stings. Paul takes to the streets of London, Blackpool and Dublin on a mission to daze and amaze the public with a spree of festive hustling."
31.12.03
The Test - Magic
10.35am on Wednesday 31st December (30 minutes) on ITV1. Paul Zenon coaches supermarket manager Martyn Moore as he attempts to realise his dream and become a magician.
31.12.03
Solomon: the Escape Artist (Rpt)
9pm on New Year's Eve (1 hour) on Channel Four. Renouned escape artist Thomas Solomon displays his amazing skills with a variety of locks and keys. Feats include a breakout from a high security prison, and an escape from an underwater sealed safe box.
31.12.03
Derren Brown Plays Russian Roulette Live (Rpt)
10pm on New Year's Eve (1 hour 5 minutes) on E4. "Psychological illusionist Derren Brown performs his most dangerous stunt to date as a member of the public loads a handgun with one bullet. Brown will hold the gun to his head, pulling the trigger repeatedly until he comes to the live chamber."
23.12.03
Astounding Celebrities - 2
5pm on Tuesday 23rd December (30 minutes) on ITV1.
"Action-packed street magic show where young magicians perform close-up magic to some of Britain's best loved celebrities. Featuring Trevor McDonald, Carol Vorderman, Cliff Richard, Claire Sweeney and Jade Goody."
23.12.03
Mental Magic
8pm on Tuesday 23rd December (1 hour) on Sky One. "Mentalist Gerry McCambridge performs mindblowing stunts and feats on the streets of New York, using the power of his mind."
24.12.03
Paul Zenon's Trick or Treat (Rpt)
9.30pm on Wednesday 24th December (1 hour) on E4 (and again at 10.30pm on E4 Plus 1). "Street magician Paul Zenon travels to the atmospheric streets of Prague in a seasonal special. Armed with spiders, absinthe, tarot cards and daggers, he attempts to stun, baffle and amaze locals and tourists."
25.12.03
Derren Brown Mind Control 3 (Rpt)
9.30pm on Thursday 25th December (1 hour) on E4.
10.30pm on Thursday 25th December(1 hour) on E4 Plus 1.
The mind manipulator is back.
26.12.03
Derren Brown Mind Control 3 (Rpt)
1.10am on Friday 26th December (1 hour) on E4.
2.10am on Friday 26th December (1 hour) on E4 Plus 1.
26.12.03
Parkinson at Christmas (Rpt)
12.30pm on Friday 26th December (1 hour) on BBC Prime. "Michael Parkinson presents a Christmas edition of his award-winning chat show. He is joined by Tom Jones, Dame Edna Everage, Alistair McGowan and Martine McCutcheon, who sings White Christmas. Plus Nigel Havers, magician Marc Paul, poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Mica Paris, who performs live with the London Community Gospel
26.12.03
Paul Zenon Turning Tricks (Rpt)
9.30pm on Friday 26th December (1 hour) on E4 (and again at 10.30pm on E4 Plus 1). "Trickster and comedian Paul Zenon takes to the streets, using his unique brand of magic to amaze, confuse and bewitch the inhabitants of Britain's after-dark culture in a one-hour special."
27.12.03
Derren Brown Plays Russian Roulette Live (Rpt)
0.10am on Saturday 27th December (1 hour 5 minutes) on Channel 4 (and again at 0.35am on S4C). "Psychological illusionist Derren Brown performs his most dangerous stunt to date as a member of the public loads a handgun with one bullet. Brown will hold the gun to his head, pulling the trigger repeatedly until he comes to the live chamber."
27.12.03
Mental Magic
5pm on Saturday 27th December (1 hour) on Sky One. "Mentalist Gerry McCambridge performs mindblowing stunts and feats on the streets of New York, using the power of his mind."
27.12.03
Magician Impossible
6.25pm on Saturday 27th December (1 hour) on ITV1 London. "Pop star Louise, James Hewitt and Linda Barker join magician Joe Labero on a journey across the Mediterranean, with Joe entertaining them with magic along the way until they reach a Roman coliseum, where Joe attempts to catch a speeding bullet with his bare hands."
27.12.03
Mental Magic
8pm on Saturday 27th December (1 hour) on Sky One Mix. "Mentalist Gerry McCambridge performs mindblowing stunts and feats on the streets of New York, using the power of his mind."
28.12.03
Mental Magic
5pm on Sunday 28th December (1 hour) on Sky One Mix. "Mentalist Gerry McCambridge performs mindblowing stunts and feats on the streets of New York, using the power of his mind."
28.12.03
Best of Monkey Magic
8pm on Sunday 28th December (1 hour) on Five. Magic with a twist... Pete McCahon, Pete Firman, Jonathan Goodwin, and Ali Cook perform their sleight of hand in new and unusual ways featuring some of the best moments from the first series.
The Very Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever
9pm on Sunday 28th December (1 hour 25 minutes) on Five. "A showcase of the biggest, deadliest, most bizarre and unbelievable magic tricks as voted for by Britain's top magicians. Featuring interviews the magicians involved and celebrity fans, and the Monkey Magic Boys performing their own brand of magic trickery."
29.12.03
Astounding Celebrities - 3
5pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on ITV1.
"Action-packed street magic show where young magicians perform close-up magic to some of Britain's best loved celebrities. Featuring Trevor McDonald, Carol Vorderman, Cliff Richard, Claire Sweeney and Jade Goody."
29.12.03 - 2.1.04
Derren Brown - Mind Control Series (Rpt)
9.00pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on E4.
9.30pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on E4.
10.00pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
10.30pm on Monday 29th December (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
9pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4.
9.30pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4.
10.00pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4.
10.00pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
10.30pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
10.30pm on Friday 2nd January (35 minutes) on E4.
11pm on Friday 2nd January (30 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
11.30pm on Friday 2nd January (35 minutes) on E4 Plus 1.
30.12.03
Astounding Celebrities - 4
5pm on Tuesday 30th December (30 minutes) on ITV1.
"Action-packed street magic show where young magicians perform close-up magic to some of Britain's best loved celebrities. Featuring Trevor McDonald, Carol Vorderman, Cliff Richard, Claire Sweeney and Jade Goody."
30.12.03
Magic of Xmas: Paul Zenon's Tricky Christmas (Rpt)
9pm on Tuesday 30th December (1 hour) on E4 (and again at 10pm on E4 Plus 1). "Street magician Paul Zenon in a Christmas special with his distinctive 'hit and run' magic and stylish stings. Paul takes to the streets of London, Blackpool and Dublin on a mission to daze and amaze the public with a spree of festive hustling."
31.12.03
The Test - Magic
10.35am on Wednesday 31st December (30 minutes) on ITV1. Paul Zenon coaches supermarket manager Martyn Moore as he attempts to realise his dream and become a magician.
31.12.03
Solomon: the Escape Artist (Rpt)
9pm on New Year's Eve (1 hour) on Channel Four. Renouned escape artist Thomas Solomon displays his amazing skills with a variety of locks and keys. Feats include a breakout from a high security prison, and an escape from an underwater sealed safe box.
31.12.03
Derren Brown Plays Russian Roulette Live (Rpt)
10pm on New Year's Eve (1 hour 5 minutes) on E4. "Psychological illusionist Derren Brown performs his most dangerous stunt to date as a member of the public loads a handgun with one bullet. Brown will hold the gun to his head, pulling the trigger repeatedly until he comes to the live chamber."
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by Mandrake » Jan 12th, '04, 10:59
As I may have casually mentioned last year, Paul Zenon and I are very close friends. (OK, to be accurate, I once sent him an e-mail and he replied!!) Having sent him the TalkMagic Christmas card he's e-mailed with an update of his TV appearances and the latest message is thus:
Hi y'all,
Just another quick line to let you know that yours truly will be appearing on 'Crafty Tricks of War' this Tuesday, 20th, 8-9pm on BBC2, talking about World War 2 magician Jasper Maskelyne.
Best wishes,
pz
So there you are!
Hi y'all,
Just another quick line to let you know that yours truly will be appearing on 'Crafty Tricks of War' this Tuesday, 20th, 8-9pm on BBC2, talking about World War 2 magician Jasper Maskelyne.
Best wishes,
pz
So there you are!
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Mark Waddington - Elite Member
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by Mandrake » Jan 12th, '04, 17:18
If it's anything like my relatives, the further away the relationship, the less likely they are to want to borrow money!
I see on the Magic Week website that Tuesday 13th is also mentioned as a screening date for PZ's appearance.
I see on the Magic Week website that Tuesday 13th is also mentioned as a screening date for PZ's appearance.
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by Mandrake » Jan 14th, '04, 13:47
I didn't get round to mentioning it in time this week but Sky Channel 289, FX TV, on Monday evenings at 10.30pm are showing the Penn & Teller Bullsh*t series which aired in the US this time last year. The first program dealt with cold reading and fake psychics and details of the rest of the series can be found on:
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/Ep ... wid-17579/
It has more to do with exposing myths/fakes/tricksters than magic but these guys are good at whatever they do so, if you have the facility, don't miss 'em. Incidentally, nice legal thingy here is that P&T (or, to be more accurate, P only!) can use extreme profanities to refer to fake mediums and get away with it. If they just say they are fakes and are misleading the punter, they could be sued for squillions of dollars!
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/Ep ... wid-17579/
It has more to do with exposing myths/fakes/tricksters than magic but these guys are good at whatever they do so, if you have the facility, don't miss 'em. Incidentally, nice legal thingy here is that P&T (or, to be more accurate, P only!) can use extreme profanities to refer to fake mediums and get away with it. If they just say they are fakes and are misleading the punter, they could be sued for squillions of dollars!
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