KEY DECEMBER 2021

FOR MY LAST TRICK

COLLABORATIVE COLLECTION
COMEDY COLOURS l SECOND SHERLOCK
TURKEY TIME
www.britishring.org.uk
 DECEMBER 2021

RiNG officers
KEY

25

President: Alan MASKELL COUNCIL

40 Lanton Drive, Glasgow G52 2EW Richard CADELL
T. 07999 537686 E. richardcadell@hotmail.com
E. alan.maskell@gmail.com Clive MOORE
President Elect: Oliver TABOR T. 01332 763 206
Sutton Hall, Shopland Road, Rochford, Essex SS4 1LH M. 07711139479
T. 01702 543242 Email: otmagicfx@hotmail.com
E. clivejeanmagic@gmail.com
Vice President: Edwin DAWES
Carol TYNAN
Immediate Past President: Brian LEAD
T. 01704 533 768
55 Saunders Road, Blackburn, Lancs, BB2 6NP
E. ibmbritishring25reg@gmail.com
T. 01254 52070 E. b.lead@btinternet.com
Graham COLVAN
Executive Secretary: Moira FLETCHER
T. 0780 937 3746
40 Lanton Drive, Glasgow G52 2EW
E. graham.colvan@gmail.com
T. 07771 613894 E. moira1.fletcher@gmail.com
James HOBART
Assistant Secretary: Ajay VORA
T. 028 9185 2760
27 St Barnabas Road, Barnetby, N Lincs DN32 6 JB
E. j.hobart@btinternet.com
T. 07771752000 E. vora110@aol.com
John RUSSELL
Treasurer: Rick TYNAN
Communications Manager
12 Kempton Park Fold, Southport, Merseyside PR8 5PL
T. 0191 416 4152
T. 01704 533768 E. ibmbritishring25treasurer@gmail.com
E. john@kirsand.co.uk
Hon. Solicitor: Clive CULLUM
Oliver TABOR
25 Martin Grange 5 Otley Road Harrogate HG2 0DL T. 01702 543242
T. 01423 525093. E. magic.cullum@btinternet.com E. otmagicfx@hotmail.com
Chaplain & Welfare Officer: Alan CLARKE Aidan HERITAGE
Bear’s Den, 22 Blackcliffe Way, Bearpark, Co. Durham DH7 7TJ T. 07903 931967
T. 0191 659 9114 E. alanbearsden@gmail.com E. aidanheritage@britishring.org.uk
Webmaster: Aidan HERITAGE Robert MOSS
T. 07903 931967 E. aidanheritage@britishring.org.uk T. 07926 182 756
Key Ring Editor and Advertising Manager: Geoffrey NEWTON E. robert.mosseng@gmail.com
The Quills, 146 Ashton Lane, Ashton Upon Mersey, Sale M33 5EZ. Danny HUNT
T. 0161 969 8222. E. geoffreynewton@uwclub.net info@amethystmagic.com
Child Protection Representative: Rena FLETCHER 07957340617
T.07798 524662 renafindlay@gmail.com
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Benevolent Fund Trustees: The British Ring Moira FLETCHER Membership applications,
Eddie DAWES, John PYE, is proud to be a changes of address and general British Ring
Alan J CLARKE and Keith COOPER. member of FISM correspondence.
Rick TYNAN Annual subscriptions, benevolent
Past Presidents *Donald Crombie. *Tony Shelley. *John Palfreyman. fund donations and all financial enquiries.
*J. Milton *Will Ayling. Mike Gancia.
*Oswald Rae. Woodward. *Hamilton Kaye. *Cynthia Neptune. Aidan HERITAGE Website contributions.
*Herbert Collings. *Paul Graham. *Brian Miller. Don Beattie. Alan J CLARKE News of members recovering,
*John Ramsay. *Tommy Rowe. *Rovi. Mark Raffles. ill, or deceased.
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*W. G. Stickland MBE. *Geoffrey *Robert Sinclair. Trevor Lewis. advertising enquiries, copy, payments,
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*Oscar Paulson. *Ron Bishop. *Alan Shaxon. *Brian Miller.
and requests to switch over to
*Geoffrey *Alastair Oliphant. Geoff Ray. *John ‘Sly’ Smith the e. key ring etc.
Robinson OBE. Dr. Eddie Dawes. Terry Herbert. Neil Roberts Contact details shown above
*Eddie Dexter. *Alfred Gabriel. *Les Nottle. Alan Astra
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 RiNG contents
KEY

25 December 2021
The Official Magazine of The British Ring No. 25 of
The International Brotherhood of Magicians For Private Circulation

PAGE 6

Features
5 A Study in Scarlet: Holmes and Watson in harmony
6 Brian’s Bulletin: a Dickens of a Turkey
8 Collaborative Conjuring: Christmas collection
10 For My Last Trick: Show's over: a polished finish for your act
13 Three Book Challenge: Mike Driver’s selection
PAGE 10 14 Carol’s Convention Carousel: this month Terry Herbert goes back
16 A Bit Moore Magic: Moore embarrassing moments
17 Nonvention 2021: part two
22 Rick’s Magic Musings: Rick’s all Tic and Tac
28 Puzzle Corner: coins, matchsticks and jigsaws
IBC Beyond the Web: Aidan Heritage updates
Tricks
PAGE 14 24 Kids’ Corner: boxing clever
Regulars
2 The Editor’s View
3 President’s View
4 From the Executive Secretary

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 19 March 2022, President’s Dinner,
PAGE 17 Bar Hill Hotel, Cambridge.
Further details will be available very soon, or please contact
Cover our President for information.
Adapted from an Sunday 29 May 2022, Picnic Event, Ocean Room, Gorleston
image supplied by Further details will be released as soon as possible.
The Van Buren Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 September 2022, Annual Convention, Eastbourne
Organisation We are very excited to be returning to our face to face convention and plans are
already under way!
THE EDITOR and council accept no responsibility for the opinions expressed in articles appearing in the KEY RING. Its contents are copyright and
must not be reproduced in part or whole without permission of the author/contributor and editor.
KEY RING REVIEWS POLICY: As the KEY RING is a members only magazine, and space is limited, only items that have been advertised in KEY RING
(excluding Smalls) or the current convention brochure will be reviewed. Reviews must be submitted from a satisfied customer, or send the item to the editor
with a stamped SAE for its return.
KEY RING CONTRIBUTIONS POLICY: When sending to the editor enquiries or items for publication on flashdrives etc. and/or props that you wish
to be returned please enclose a stamped SAE. Also, please try to email the editor your effect, article etc. for publication. This should not prevent
members without computers from getting involved, but do enclose a stamped SAE for the return of ANYTHING that you would like back.
IBM FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/IBM.BritishRing25 BRITISH RING TWITTER PAGE: http://twitter.com/IBMBRITISHRING
 THE EDITOR’S VIEW
Ihiswould like to start this editorial with
a big thank you to Roger Woods for
series The Wizard in the Woods. In
this column, Roger has covered many
topics of general interest to magicians
and I feel confident that a good number
of members will have gleaned
information to help them with their
magic. Roger now feels this column’s
area is complete. He will continue to
write for Key Ring on an occasional basis and I
look forward to receiving these articles whenever
they become available.
Roger with a captive audience
I am pleased to inform you that Brian’s Bulletin
(by Brian Lead) will extend to two pages each
month as opposed to the alternate one page/ two
pages rota as has previously been the case.
Thank you, Brian, for your continued enthusiastic
support of the society magazine.
Key Ring receives favourable comments, of
which a number are published. I do this because
they are not just for me. They are for the whole
team, whose joint efforts pull it all together.
Knowing what an appreciative readership is out
there spurs them on to keep up the good work.
Thank you for making these feelings known.
On the other hand, it has been brought to my
attention that comments have been made by
people (some of whom are currently unnamed to
me) about the odd published humorous article
being a partner’s view, (and not ‘pure magic’) as
unsuitable for this magazine. Do you think there is
2 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021
enough diversity within the contents?
Magic performance has been in
extremely short supply for over
eighteen months now and so have
writers. Articles for publication have not
been arriving on the editor’s desk in
abundance. I feel it is a case, here, of
the syndrome of not being able to
please all the people all of the time. We,
fortunately, live in a free society with a
Your Say page available and criticism, as long as
it is constructive, can be aired there. No
anonymous letters please.
At this time of year there are, more than ever,
inserts in the way of flyers and small pamphlets in
magazines of all interests. One that I found was
for a puzzle company and which included an item
called Illusion Cubes. These are, in fact, hexagonal
‘tiles’ which fit together to make all sorts of
optical illusion configurations. There are 120
challenges included, but from
what it sounds the limit is
only as far as your
imagination will stretch. This
might be worth considering
for something to do during
the quieter times of your
winter break.
Whatever you are doing,
wherever you are going,
enjoy yourselves, but do it safely.
Geoffrey NEWTON editor
The Quills
146 Ashton Lane,
Ashton upon Mersey,
Sale M33 5EZ
T. 0161-969 8222 or 07769 884109
E. geoffreynewton@uwclub.net
When submitting articles send to the above
address. When writing to the editor, please
enclose a stamped SAE if you need a reply or if
you would like photos etc. returned. Thank you.
 PRESIDENT’S VIEW
D ecember and Christmas is almost
here! I hope that members are able
to get out and perform, helping to add to
the magic of this special time of year.
One Christmas treat is to read or watch
John Masefield’s magical book ‘The Box
of Delights’ which was dramatized by
the BBC in 1984 and is still available on
DVD and on BritBox. If you have not
read or seen this, the story features a
Punch and Judy man and has
many references to magic. Some
members will recognise actors
Charles Pemberton and James
Grout in the BBC version. They
were both interested in magic
and James Grout’s character in
the film discusses tricks with
the young hero of the story.
We have been getting out
and about again with a
recent break in the Highlands
near Braemar, and a visit to the theatre to see
‘Blood Brothers’. Although magic is part of the
Edinburgh Fringe, it seems a lot of the touring
magic shows do not get up to Scotland. However,
I see that Champions of Magic and Derren Brown
are both coming to Glasgow next year, so more
theatre trips are on the horizon.
It was good to see some of you at
Hinckley last month and I hope that
those of you who were there enjoyed
the chance to socialise with fellow
British Ring members again. There will
be another chance to meet up at my
Presidential Dinner in March and tickets
for this are available from me now. If
you prefer a less formal gathering, the
Picnic at Gorleston in May is something
to look forward to and then, of course, there is our
main event, September’s convention in
Eastbourne, which promises to be a very special
occasion.
December’s President’s Challenge is to post
a Christmas magic themed photograph on The
British Ring Members’ Facebook page. I look
forward to seeing them and hope there is a
better response than there was for the October
Challenge when there were not enough entries
for a competition.
Stay safe, and I look forward to seeing
you in 2022!
Alan
Alan MASKELL
40 Lanton Drive, Glagow G52 2EW
T. 07999 537686
E. alan.maskell@gmail.com
Alan and Moira wish you
a magical Christmas and
a Happy New Year
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING 3
 FROM THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
H ere we are again approaching the
festive season and hopefully things
will keep going this year. I have been
back performing and it certainly gives
me such a buzz that I really hope no-
one has to endure any cancellations and
we can all get on with enjoying the
magic of the season. It is fantastic
seeing many Facebook posts of our
members who are back performing and obviously
getting back to the lives they enjoy.
Our Convention Team is organising our
convention for September in Eastbourne. Next
month we are hoping to start making some
announcements so keep a look out for these here
in the Key Ring, on
Facebook and other
media outlets. We have
had a couple of
suggestions from
members which have
gone onto the list for
possible ideas. If you Eastbourne
would like to see something particular then now is
the time to get in touch. Please just send me an
email and we can take it from there.
To enable a fabulous re-launch of our
convention we are extremely grateful to two
members who have given substantial donations to
help towards the costs of acts. These will enable
us to look at acts from overseas to enhance the
programme of events. Our very grateful thanks
are extended to these members and we will
ensure this money is spent wisely to present a
convention which will be a real celebration of
magic.
It was lovely to
see some of our
members at the
event at the
Concordia
Theatre in
Hinckley last
4 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021
month, and a great time was had by all.
Thank you to those who attended, to
Richard Cadell for arranging the venue
and his talk, Wayne Dobson and Mike
Sullivan for their lecture, Alan Maskell
for being our quizmaster, and to those
who took part in the show. A full report
will hopefully be in the January edition
of the Key Ring.
We welcome another new member, Frank Allen,
and it was fabulous that he was able to join us at
Hinckley.
As we welcome a new member, I thought it
prudent to remind members of some of the
membership benefits. There is reduced
registration rates for the annual
convention; Members can enter the
various competitions at the convention
with trophies, cash prizes and
performance opportunities; our welfare
and benevolent services if a member is
in difficulty; access to the members’ area
on our website which offers videos and
access to past magazines. Along with the monthly
magazine and the friendships we feel we offer a
lot to our members. We are happy for our
members to be as actively involved as they like,
so if you wish to take part in any events, write an
article for the magazine or be part of any of the
organisation teams then please do get in touch. It
is always lovely to hear from members, and I love
getting the various phone calls and emails from
you all.
The art of a magician is to create wonder. If we
live with a sense of wonder, our lives become
filled with joy – Doug Henning
Moira FLETCHER
40 Lanton Drive, Glasgow G52 2EW
T. 07771 613894
E. moira1.fletcher@gmail.com
B A STUDY IN
eing an ardent Sherlock Method:
Holmes fan, I was As I have said, simple but effective.

particularly interested in the
Collaborative Conjuring item
from Chris Wardle and
James Ward in the
November issue. I have,
based on an old principle, come any over. At this point (with a
up with a follow-on item, which polite excuse) the performer, with
may be of interest. I am not
sure of the origin of the modus from the spectator, requesting the
operandi here, but will ask
Chris and James as they are
my usual first port of call with
any enquiry about principles
based on maths. Any
information gleaned will be
published in a future edition of
Key Ring.
As many of you will be
aware, A Study in Scarlet was
the first of Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle’s Holmes stories that
brought together Sherlock
Holmes and Dr Watson.
Effect:
The performer shows ten cards, in each pile and the same number
all with solid scarlet coloured
backs. There are five showing
items connected with Holmes:
deerstalker, pipe, magnifying
glass, microscope and a violin.
Then there are five cards with
items that could be associated
with Watson: bowler hat, fob
watch, doctor’s bag,
stethoscope and a copy of
Gray’s Anatomy. These cards
are held in the palm, face
upwards and the Holmes cards
placed on top, face down. The
performer demonstrates the
mixing of the cards and
requests a spectator to do the
same, but stresses not to turn
SCARLET
Your Editor turns detective
hands at the back, turns away
cards be returned either way up.
The performer then turns to face
the spectator again. Now, unable
to see the cards, a few
incantations are recited and the
cards brought forward.
They are dealt down in two
piles, one following the other (as
opposed to an alternate deal). I
cannot say exactly what the two
piles will show, as it will differ
almost each time (within the
realms of possible combinations),
but they will certainly match. For
example, there will be the same
amount of scarlet backs showing
of Watson face up cards in one
pile and equally the same number
of Holmes cards face up in the
other. Simple, but effective!
The Holmes Cards
The Watson Cards
l Set the cards, Watson cards
face up and Holmes cards on
top face down
l The cards are mixed by the
performer. Do what you wish,
but do not turn any over
l Allow the spectator to do the
same
l Turn your back to the spectator
whilst they are shuffling and
ask for them to be returned
to your hands, which are now
behind your back
l Turn to face the spectator, as
you recite your incantations
(a few words about the story
A Study in Scarlet wouldn’t
go amiss at this point) and, as
this is going on deal off five
cards and turn this stack over
returning them to the pile
l Bring the cards to the front,
deal down two individual
piles and the number of face
up and face down cards in
each pile will match
Thanks for the inspiration boys.
Elementary my dear Wardle or
should I say: elementary my
dear Ward(son)!
All cards with plain scarlet backs

DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING 5

 BRIAN’S BULLETIN DICKENS AND THE VANISHING TURKEY by
“Do you know know it, and here we
whether they’ve see him conjuring up
sold the prize the spirit of Christmas,
turkey that was as envisioned by ‘Kyd’
hanging up there? – (Joseph Clayton Clarke)
Not the little turkey: in The Dickensian in
the big one?” 1905. He established,
(Charles Dickens: among other things,
A Christmas Carol) the turkey as the
Christmas dinner dish rather than
Charles Dickens was a keen the traditional goose. On this
amateur magician. He first occasion, he had ordered a huge
mentioned his new hobby in a turkey, thirty pounds in weight (not
letter dated 3 December, 1842 dissimilar to the one bought by
(exactly a year before A Scrooge, which was said to be
Christmas Carol was published) twice the size of Tiny Tim) and
in which he spoke George Dalby, the manager of his Railway. It had been transferred to
of buying up ‘the reading tours, had arranged for it a horse box at Gloucester, it being
entire stock-in- to be sent from Ross-on-Wye to common practice to use this form
trade of a conjuror, his home in Kent. of transport for a dual purpose;
the practice and By Christmas Eve the fowl had the less attractive alternative
display whereof is not turned up, causing Dickens to being the use of an open wagon,
entrusted to me.’ write impatiently: ‘Where is that under tarpaulin.
His first appearance bird? It has not arrived!’ It would Anyway, just outside Reading
was to be on soon be too late to cook it in time the horse box caught fire, the
Twelfth Night. for the Christmas dinner. mishap possibly being caused by
Subsequently, Jane Carlyle It transpired that the sparks from the engine as the
described ‘that excellent transporting of the bird had been train passed through a tunnel. It
Dickens playing the Conjuror for entrusted to the Great Western was reported that the whole
one whole hour – the best structure had been destroyed.
conjuror I ever saw, and I have Some of the meat must have been
paid money to see several.’ A retrieved, however, (possibly
comprehensive study of this cooked in the fire) as parts of the
aspect of the writer’s life can be turkey were offered to the good
found in Charles Dickens; folk of Reading at six pence per
Magician, by Ring member Ian portion. No doubt its association
Keable. with Dickens provided a unique
At Christmas time in 1869, selling point.
however, Dickens encountered Dickens’s complaint was dealt
the strange tale of a with by James Charles Kingett,
disappearing turkey. He had superintendent of the Parcels
been instrumental in creating Department at Paddington station,
the festive season as we now who sent an apology along with

6 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021

Brian LEA D
an offer of compensation. Dickens
responded in February 1870, with
a handwritten letter from his
home at Gads Hill Place in Higham
by Rochester, Kent. He said: ‘There
is no doubt that my Christmas fare
was destroyed by an unavoidable
accident, and I have borne the
loss with unbroken good humour
towards the Great Western
Railway Company.’
Sadly, this would have been
Dickens’s last Christmas turkey,
as he died in June, 1870.
His letter lay buried in the
Company’s archives until it was
rediscovered almost four decades
later and published in the Great
Western Railway Magazine in
1908. In December last year,
almost 150 years to the day, it
was uncovered again; this time in
the archives of the National
Railway Museum in York.
Talking of Christmas fare, many
magic stockings this year will no
doubt be bulging with the new,
eagerly-awaited book David
Copperfield’s History of Magic,
which has just reached the shops.
I was involved
with the project in a minor way in
the early stages, trying to
establish the provenance of a gun
owned by Chung Ling Soo, so
David kindly sent
over a
complimentary pre-
publication copy a
few weeks ago. It
would be
inappropriate of me
to write a review, so
you will have to look
elsewhere for that,
but it does mean that
I can be the first to
tell you about it.
As it says on the
label, the book
traces the history of magic, but
uniquely using items from David
Copperfield’s extensive museum
of magic, beautifully
photographed by Homer Liwag
and supplemented with archive
images. On display are small
items such as Cardini’s
monocle and Koran’s medallion,
through to Richiardi Junior’s
buzz-saw which spattered
blood onto the curtains and
Alexander’s high-tech turban,
which conveyed information to
him via a hidden earpiece.
Over 28 bite-sized chapters,
David (along with co-writers
Richard Wiseman and David
Britland) covers the ‘greats’
(Kellar/Thurston/Houdini/Dante)
but also includes less well-
known performers such as Dell
O’Dell and Arthur
Lloyd, the ‘Human
Card Index’. The
theme of ‘costumes’
includes the flowery
dungarees of Doug
Henning and a dress
thought to have
been worn by
Adelaide Herrmann,
while influential
writers (Reginald
Scot, Professor
Hoffmann and the
mysterious Erdnase)
all make an appearance.
Personal props include iconic
items such as Malini’s egg bag,
Blackstone’s vanishing bird
cage and Buatier de Kolta’s
expanding die ... described as
‘a bomb waiting to explode’,
which can never again be
removed from its box.
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING 7
 COLLABORATIVE CONJURING
JAMES: Well, here we are again
with another festive mix of ideas.
CHRIS: Yes, it’s hard to believe
another Christmas is fast
approaching and that this is our
FOURTH festive column!
JAMES: We hope you enjoy the
mix of items and that you can use
some of the tricks, tips, gags and
festive silliness over the holiday
period.
CHRIS AND JAMES:Best wishes
and good health to all for 2022!
NUMBER 1
Write on eight Post-It notes the
following digits:
1, 2, 7 and 9
3, 4, 5 and 8
Line one, totals 19 and line two
totals 20. Ask a spectator to swap
two Post-Its, one from each line,
so that both lines total 18. They
will struggle until you show them.
Take the 9 and 8 and swap them,
but invert the 9 so it becomes a 6
in the process!
NUMBER 2
Why is a skateboarder like a
magician? Because they both do
skilful tricks!
NUMBER 3
When you visit your local garden
centre, look out for an accessory
called a ‘Trink’. It is an oversized
bulldog clip with a hole in
the top, which will clip
onto a table and also
hold a glass. It is
designed for picnics.
8 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021
This is very useful for holding a
tube, bottle, wine glass, ball or
any similar object securely and
gives you an extra space on your
magic table.
NUMBER 4
Draw a 5 x 5 grid on a piece of
paper and fill out the outside rows
and columns (see the diagram).
Give a spectator a die and look
away. Ask them to choose any
number and place the die in any
corner square with the chosen
number on the bottom. The
spectator now moves around the
grid as many times as they like,
moving one square at a time and
giving the die a quarter turn
forwards each time. When
finished, you turn around and
move the die as the spectator did,
A FOURTH 12 IDEAS
giving it a quarter turn forwards
each time until it lands on the
middle square of any row. The
number facing upwards will be
the spectator’s chosen number!
Number 5
At what age does a magician
become the perfect performer?
ANSWER: At forty years old
because then they XL. (‘Excel’ XL
being 40 in Roman numerals!)
NUMBER 6
Draw four lines on a pad: I I I I
Ask a spectator to add just five
more lines but to finish up with ten.
How do you do it? Add five lines
to write the WORD ten: T E N
NUMBER 7
Why are 1980 British pennies
worth almost £20?
ANSWER: Because if you had
1,980 pennies, that would equal
£19.80, which is almost £20.00.
NUMBER 8
Hand a spectator a Christmas
cracker. Every cracker has
surprise contents which is part of
the fun. Ask them for a number
BETWEEN 1 and 10. Then show
them the following list which has
been in an envelope on the table
the whole time:
1 Red
2 White
3 Lavender
4 Yellow
5 Indigo
6 Orange
OF CHRISTMAS by Chris WARDLE and James WARD
7 Purple
8 Green
9 Lilac
10 Pink
They say 7, for example, and so
choose purple. They pull the
cracker and find inside a purple
hat, a purple balloon and even a
joke printed on purple paper!
WORKING:
Simply load the cracker
beforehand by opening up one
end carefully and switching the
contents. If they call an ODD
number between 1 and 10 – i.e.
3, 5, 7 or 9 – then these are all
synonyms of purple and match
the prediction. If they call an EVEN
number, remove the list showing
them the OTHER SIDE, which has
the force words listed in the even
positions, 2, 4, 6 and 8!
NUMBER 9
Look at this sum:
1+9+1+9+1
Can you perform a simple
operation to turn this total into 15?
ANSWER: You don’t need to use
addition, subtraction,
multiplication or division, just the
operation of turning the question
upside down!
NUMBER 10
How many magicians does it take
to do magic?
ANSWER: Just one will do the trick!
NUMBER 11
Here’s a tip we got from the late,
great Steve Evans. If you want to
remove permanent pen from a
hard surface, e.g. a Sharpie
marker, rub over it with a dry wipe
pen. You can then rub this off with
a cloth and it removes the
permanent marker at the same
time!
NUMBER 12
Always remember these two
magical words. They will open
up the doors in your life.
‘Push’ and ‘Pull’.
Happy Christmas!
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING 9
FOR MY LAST TRICK
Your Editor discusses some finishing effects that have served time well and
some tailored unique ones
How you finish your act could well
be the item by which people
remember you. It’s not the ‘be all
and end all’ of your performance,
but an aspect I would like to deal
with here. The correct finale is
important in all acts, but it’s just
that, in close up, the size of the
props tends to be scaled down.
However, the impact needs to be
the same.
For many years, in my view,
there have been basically four
types of act: stage patter or silent,
in either case played straight (e.g.
mentalism) or for laughs. Then
close up for a relatively formal
seated audience and, finally, the
act of the Illusionist. I know there
are variations on these categories;
for example patter mixed with
illusion and close up in the form of
street magic, mix and mingle or
table magic (for functions). There
is technically one other, in effect a
non-magician, e.g. comedian or
vocalist, who puts in a good trick
and is appreciated more for
having a second string to their
bow. This is in no way
intended to deride the
official magician, as
conversely a magician
Multiplying Bottles
who can also sing or play a
musical instrument is equally
admired. You only need to look at
the success of Mel Harvey over
the years.
One of the all-time favourites as
a finisher has been the Multiplying
Bottles. Originally, a nine bottle
routine, but latterly some
manufacturers created a twelve
bottle version. Tommy Cooper
made a big finish of this effect by
adding additional loads, with each
steal making it easier, as more
cover became available. The only
problem I found with this whole
thing was when striking the stage.
Bottles, being a little unstable,
could fall over and give away the
secret when being carried off. This
is bad enough behind the tabs, but
imagine the embarrassment on an
open cabaret floor.
I found the answer in a prop
supplied many years ago by David
Hemingway. It worked like this:
You performed the routine on a
tray. At the end, a cover in the
form of a box which had no base,
went over the bottles and this was
trunk clipped to the tray. It was
lifted off with a handle and, as
your closing words were said, it
was turned round and revealed
the words, “Time Gentlemen
Please!” With a slight change of
wording, it would be equally
effective and suitable for use
today.
Over the years, there have been
some rather saucy props with
which to end an act. Chinese
Goodnight was popular at one
time, but times change and
attitudes with it. I do remember a
magician writing an article on
Fin Jon
such items, with the title X Rated
Props, but perhaps it is best to
leave it there; well, for the
purpose of this piece anyway.
A false tab ending, where the
audience thinks you have finished
and then you hit them with
something else, has always drawn
extra applause and maybe an
additional curtain call. Many
performers have finished on the
Zombie, but in many ways it
lacked a finish. Strong enough if
you had mastered slow moves
and the finesse of Fin Jon, with
10 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021

Norm Neilsen
appropriate music, but he was a
one off. I have seen Zombies at
the end of the routine split in half
to a ball of fire and sometimes a
total vanish. Talking of the vanish,
track your mind back to the act of
the late Norm Nielsen and the
floating violin, which vanished at
the end of his act. That was it, or
so we thought (the first time
anyway) then: by remote control
the violin returned to the stage on
wheels and also took a bow, with
a style of genuflection at the scroll
part of the neck. This was a
brilliant example of the false tab if
ever there was one.
In my opinion, there is no better
finish to a dove act than the Dove
Cage Vanish, containing the
doves. For a false tab, some
magicians would leave one dove
behind and you could actually
hear the audience talking about it,
as they saw the performer coming
downstage with the cloth, holding
the cage of doves. Come the
throw up, the performer left the
stage to thunderous applause. The
lonesome remaining dove was
picked up at the curtain call,
thrown up and came down as a
white scarf! This was an excellent
false tab finale to any
performance.
At this point, I’ll relate
something that happened on one
occasion to someone who is, by
now, almost a lifelong friend of
mine. His name is Scott Christian,
and he had a highly polished dove
act and was much in demand
during the 1970s. Working at a
sophisticated night club, at the
point of the finale he, rather over
enthusiastically threw the cloth up
and it became caught in the
lighting gantry. Everyone looked
up, but with all the
spotlights then
shining in the eyes
of the audience, they
could see nothing,
just like the black
hole you see from
the stage normally.
Coming back for the
final dove vanish
proved to be an anti-
climax, but he had to go
through with it, as it was
in the days of band parts and a
final drum roll had been written in.
As Clive (M) sometimes quotes,
“There’s no business like show
business.”
Straight patter acts (meaning
those not playing for comedy)
need an item that says “I’ve
finished,” without necessarily
actually saying so. A good
example of this is the
transformation of a dining type
chair to a small suitcase. You then
walk off, stop midway, turn the
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING
case round, where it can have
written something like, “Goodnight
All,” wave and depart, smiling.
This type of act can have, built
in, some form of sincerity as
finishing lines. A couple of endings
that have always registered well
with me are:
The greatest thing in life is
time. Thank you for sharing some
of yours with me. (slight pause) .
Goodnight.
When I left home tonight, my
five-year-old son/daughter (or
grandson/granddaughter,
depending on your age) said, “Are
you giving a magic show tonight
(Gran)dad/mum (Grandma)?” I
said “Yes.” Then the following
line is said “Will they give you
a big round of applause
when you are
finished?” Now say,
“Oh yes. They
always do.” You
then, personally
addressing the
audience, say, “Well you
wouldn’t want me to lie to
a child would you?” Leave
a short pause here to let the
line register and then go on
to say, “Goodnight everybody.”
Using a prop in conjunction
with finishing lines is equally
effective in the right
circumstances. If you have been
using liquids in your act, then it
would be reasonable continuity to
finish on the Hydrostatic Glass
(HG). Alan Shaxon produced
goldfish in his act and placed
them in a standard goldfish bowl.
His finish was with the HG lines, to
the effect of “That’s science, that’s
magic and that’s all Goodnight.”
This made the perfect ending.
s
11
Geoffrey Durham’s version, when
performing as Soprendo, used a
four pint vessel and you can
imagine what a splash that made
during emptying; same principle
used and an equally strong finish.
Comedy acts can finish on the
return of a borrowed item and the
more impossible the place from
which it is returned, the better the
finish. There are a number of
situations to create, where this is
the result. It is usually run along to
the end, with appropriate lines
along the way.
Be careful,
though, how
long you wind
someone up
with what you
may consider
funny. On
burning a
borrowed
banknote, the fact that the likes of
Terry Seabrooke could get away
with lines like, “It’s cost you a bit
more to come out tonight than
what you thought, hasn’t it?” does
not mean that you can. If you have
the personality, stagecraft and
confidence, by all means go for it.
I would suggest you test the water
on this when embarking on the
routine. You could try “Oh…er,
could you lend me another
tenner?” which is funny, but less
direct. It’s a case of working your
way up and being aware of when
to knock off poking fun at the
spectator’s temporary misfortune.
Once the note has been returned,
ask for the applause for the willing
good sport assistant. As you
escort them back to their seat,
encourage the applause to
continue. If it is strong enough you
12 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021
down the centre aisle from the
back of the auditorium to the
stage. Brilliant! The vanishing
motor bike and rider with the
same style of finish is equally
spectacular. You only have to see
Richard Cadell perform this to
appreciate the terrific impact on
an audience.
To me, the most unique false
Terry Seabrooke tab was performed by Fred Van
Buren and Greta in their heyday.
can finish on this, as the applause They would finish on the
is for you as well. If the applause Substitution Trunk. The speedy
has been mediocre, then you need transposition revealed Fred being
to return to the stage with a quick untied from a sack in the
one line appropriate for the previously examined crate. The
occasion. Seek one that suits you casual smoking of a cigarette
from one of the many gag books enhanced the effect somehow,
available. Something as simple as: although not considered so today.
“Time for me to go now, Fred would then escort the
everybody, as I have a long drive, volunteer, who had witnessed the
(slight pause) but only a small locking of the crate etc, back to
house.” their seat as the tabs were
To finish this article on bumped to accentuate the applause
‘finishing’ I’ll hark back to false cue. As Fred returned to the stage,
tabs. In my opinion, these are, at he walked towards the crate and
the best placed as part of an it changed to a wonderful floral
illusion act. Take, for example, the garden display, complete with real
return of the vanished assistant in water fountains. What a finish:
an Asrah, who comes running Follow that!
Asrah

THE THREE BOOK CHALLENGE
These three are the choices of
Mike Driver.
Book number one is Bruce
Elliott’s ‘Classic Secrets of Magic.’
What a resource for a learning
magician!
From age
nine years
I had learned
a lot through
other books
by Peter
Warlock,
Bruce Elliott
and Walter
Gibson. ‘Peter
Warlock’s Book of Magic’ was an
early favourite. It is well written
and taught me a variety of general
magic which Includes vanishes,
productions and transpositions.
‘The Royal Road to Card Magic’ is
another front runner. I liked the
progressive structure of the book
and worked hard developing my
skills and mastering some great
card effects. However, Classic
Secrets is the clear winner. It has
absolutely high-class effects
across a wide range of magic.
The explanations are good and
it is well illustrated. I loved the
way that within each chapter a
principle was explored and
taken to a higher level e.g. the
paddle move with matchsticks
progressed to Dr Sack’s dice
routine. I worked through virtually
every chapter of this book.
Particular favourites were the
Wally Dean wineglass and coin
T 5
Introduced by Alan MASKELL
PAR
production, The Four Ace routines, Monty Walks Again. The most
Card on the Ceiling, The Dice important outcome, however, is
routine, Chink a Chink, Ambitious that the book made me think
Card and Cups and Balls including much more widely about effects I
the Benson Bowl. Bruce Elliott’s would like to create.
choices challenged me and moved My third volume is The
my magic to a higher level as a Definitive Sankey (Gladwin & Jay).
result. The quality of the contents Jay Sankey is renowned for his
captured my interest so much that ‘off the wall ideas’. This huge
I was highly motivated to practise tome, (actually three volumes!), is
hard and master the effects. I still so broad in the range of the types
perform some of them today. of magic
My choice number two is discussed. It
Vortex’ by Tom Stone. Books such is a treasure
as the Dai Vernon Book of Magic chest of
and The Art of Close-up Magic all effects,
played a critical role in helping me techniques,
develop my technique and close- and ideas that
up magic skills. Vortex, however, one can use.
is the first book I bought which Like Vortex, it
revealed and explored the creative is a fabulous
process so openly. The book itself stimulus for
is like Tom‘s version of the Benson creative thinking to
Bowl. You open the book and it produce one’s own effects. For
explodes with a fountain of ideas, example, I particularly liked
not a single ‘final load’. As a Sankey’s point that a subtler
former teacher I am used change can be more magical than
a marked one. From just one
effect where four holes assemble
on the corner of the ‘same’
banknote (as opposed to a change
of currency) I came up with four
powerful effects not involving
banknotes or holes!
I have filled many notebooks
with ideas after reading ‘Vortex’
to thinking laterally to and The Definitive Sankey! I am
create engaging lessons. This having a great time developing
book provided a booster rocket. them and bringing the best ideas
Yes, there are effects I learned and to fruition.
practised from the book, such as
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING 13
 CAROL’S CONVENTION CAROUSEL EARLY ME
How many of you correctly identified ‘The Great over the room, and the
Fiasco’ mentioned in last month’s article for his announcement came – Fogel and
appearance in the Gala Show at the 1994 his Ghosts. Fogel then appeared
Eastbourne Convention? It was, of course, our very walking sedately across the room
own Terry Herbert. In her report for The Budget, followed by several white clad
Elizabeth Warlock wrote of the performance: figures. A very novel touch that set
“Immaculately dressed in top hat, tie, and tails, the evening off perfectly.
‘The Great Fiasco’ stumbles through such things I also remember the Americans
as the egg bag, linking rings, silk and dove that used to come to the
productions that, despite his air of nonchalance, never seem to go quite conventions, especially Dr Zina
as they should. The final disaster is when smoke pours from his table Bennett who did excellent
and it moves off stage of its own accord.” manipulations with Jumbo Cards
The Great Fiasco sounds such a wonderful character, and I only wish and who used to take an active
I had been able to see his act in person. interest in Eddie Dexter’s
Terry has taken an active part and Welfare Section by writing to
undertaken many roles at British Ring conventions everyone on it.
over the years, including President (1992-1993), I have a few more personal
competing in the Shield Competition, regular photographic memories that I’d
appearances in the Children’s Show, giving like to share, this time from the
lectures, compèring Outside Events, and 1954 Convention in Brighton. One
participating in the Ali Bongo Micro Marathon- is of myself and Al Wood, a dear
to name but a few! friend, being greeted at the
Terry has been in touch to share some of his Banquet by President Oscar
many memories of British Ring Conventions. The Great Fiasco Paulson, and Blanche Haxton,
who was acting as his Lady.
A FEW CONVENTIONS Claude Perry are watching a card In another photograph, myself
HIGHLIGHTS trick, but unfortunately I am and Al are pictured having a laugh
By Terry Herbert unable to name the card man. with Claude Perry – but I can’t
I have wonderful One of the stand-out events at quite remember what was so
memories of so many the convention was ‘Fogel’s interesting about the spoon! . The
conventions it is difficult Ghost Show’, billed in the
to collate them all. programme as ‘An hour’s
Here are a few Excursion to another World’ [with]
highlights that stand out. ‘Thrills and chills that will give you
I was a fresh-faced the creeps’. The scene for the
youth when I attended show had been well and truly set
my first convention at Hastings in the previous night at the Civic
1952 - and have photographs to Reception. A report in The Budget
prove it! Those I can identify with recalls that, as was usual on such
me in the photograph of the dove occasions, the guests were
pan demonstration are Jock announced and walked forward to
Armitage, Dennis Patten, Bobby meet the dignitaries. The
Bernard and Donald Bevan. In reception was well under way Terry, Claude Perry and mystery
the other photo, myself and when all of a sudden a hush fell card man

14 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021

MORIES BY CAROL TYNAN

Terry watching Dove Pan Demonstration Terry with President Oscar Paulson

Terry, Al Wood and Claude Perry
next one shows John Salisse,
Jim Peasy, and Redvers Dexter
admiring our medals from the
South London Magicians Guild,
now known as The South London
Magic Society.
The many varied and wonderful
Gala Shows over the years are
also special highlights, especially
the one at Eastbourne in 1986,
which featured Harry Blackstone
Jnr presenting The Floating Light
Bulb, which was, and still is, one
of the most amazing illusions that
I have ever seen.
However, Fringe Shows have
always been one of my absolute
favourite aspects of conventions,
and I remember ‘The New Era
Terry, John Salisse, Jim Peasy, Redvers Dexter
Magic Company led by their
Damaging Director Geoffrey
Robinson’ with his gang of
fugitives (mostly from the London
Society of Magicians) who would
put on a mad crazy show on the
last late night of the convention,
with proceeds from donations (in
lieu of an admission fee) for the
benefit of the Welfare Fund. These
would be held ‘somewhere in the
basement of the Convention hotel
– just follow your nose!’ I had the
‘dubious’ pleasure of taking part
in the show at Scarborough in
1969, being billed as ‘The poor
man’s Rin Tin Tin’!
I also recall attending a lot of
late-night/early morning sessions
held in the HQ hotels, which were
always full of fun and laughter,
usually featuring people like Ken
Brooke. Not a pack of cards in
sight!
The British Ring Conventions
have always been my favourite
magical gatherings. Not so much
for the magic but meeting up with
old friends we only see once a
year and for the fun and sociability
we have.

DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING 15

 ABITMOOREMAGIC
Tcheckhey say you
should always
your car
before you set off on
a journey, something
that a responsible
motorist would do
and this should also
apply to magicians
with our tricks/props.
Unfortunately I do not practise
what I preach. Most of my props had perished.
have been stored in my lockup
this last eighteen months. I have issue, some years ago, whilst
already fallen flat with my Ring acting as compère for the Derby
on Sword, where the
mechanism had seized up.
Luckily I was able to fix the prop nameless, were chatting back
mid show and I feel the
audience didn’t know the
difference. There were, though, there, they asked if they could
two magicians in the audience
who realised that I had a
problem. Fortunately, after a
good clean and a squirt of
WD40, the prop revived and it
has now been returned to
regular use.
A few weeks later, whilst
performing at a children’s
16 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021
BY Clive MOORE
birthday party show (a
rarity these days),
all was going well
with the Silver
Sceptre. The kids were
shouting out, letting me
know the wand had
risen in the air. Then, a Make room
for me!
quick twang and the
wand would rise no more and yes
you have guessed it; the elastic
On a non-related lock down
Magic Circle Dinner, a couple of
magicians, who will remain
well with the Ring on Rose trick
stage about a Three Card Monte and I presented an elderly lady
routine. As my cabaret table was with an artificial rose. I was quite
shocked when she realised that
borrow three cards from a pack I the head of the rose was a lacy
had in my box and I never thought red thong; she was quite
that they wouldn’t put them back. amused as she held it up.
I went on stage to force the I often wondered if she ever
queen of diamonds, not realising wore it. Fortunately it got a
that one of the cards they had laugh and it has taught me a
taken away was, unfortunately, lesson: to check my roses in
the queen of diamonds and this the future.
was the card in my Card Frame. Keep waving those wands.
Oops! Luckily I was able to locate
the queen of hearts flashing it
to the spectator and telling him it
was the queen of diamonds by
amazing good luck. I seemed to
get away with it.
Now just to round off: I had
bought a stash of silk roses
(obviously left over from St.
Valentine’s day) and, again, I had
OOPS!
not checked the quality of the
roses. I went to perform at a
care home. All was going
 THE 2021 NONVENTION PART 2
The 2021 Nonvention Part 2 (The Sunday events continue)
The Century of Deception – Birth of the Hoax

Roy Field watched
the live zoom – Ian
Keable gave us a
fascinating
PowerPoint
presentation about
his new book ‘The
Century of
Deception: the birth
of the hoax in eighteenth century
England’. He began by defining a
hoax and its differentiation from
magic. Hoaxes should be amusing
as well as fooling and non-
financially motivated. Scams,
such as ‘thimble rigging’ which
also began in the 18th century,
can still be found today in the
form of the shells and pea game,
or the ‘Find the Lady’ three card
monte. They differ from benign
but amusing pranks. Elaborate
hoaxes can be as difficult to pull
off as complicated magic tricks
or illusions.
Three successful 18th century
hoaxes were described as good
and well-known examples. The
first was the case of Mary Toft,
famous for seemingly giving birth
to rabbits. Mary, who worked as a
hop picker, certainly had a known
fascination with rabbits and this
fact made her eventual claims
unborn child. She was also
a good actress, convincing
the male midwives in
attendance, although they
could have been more
suspicious when only parts
of rabbits, rather than live
ones, were being ’born’.
The case of William-
Henry Ireland stirred memories
for me of historical bibliography
lectures when I was a student.
The end product of his hoax
was the ‘discovery’ of a lost play
by William Shakespeare,
Vortigern. The brilliance of the
deceit was that he produced
small scale forgeries
purportedly written by
Shakespeare such as
letters, notes, bills of
sale with references
to the forthcoming
play. By the time the
lost play was actually
‘discovered’ the
background
evidence had
theoretically verified
the claim. Vortigern
was actually staged
for one night at
Drury Lane Theatre
in 1796.
behind what we would now call
poltergeist activity. Pots, plates
and pans fell mysteriously to the
floor or flew across the room.
Even when Mrs Golding, the
frightened owner of the house,
took refuge with a friend and took
Ann with her, the pandemonium
followed. One would have thought
that the link between the
paranormal activity and the maid
would have caused suspicion, but
it was regarded, well into the 20th
century by many as genuine
poltergeist activity. Ann later
confessed her trickery with
many techniques still used
by magicians today.
Finally, Ian related
his favourite hoax –
the Bottle Conjuror.
An advertisement
appeared in a
newspaper saying
that a man would
climb inside a
standard sized
bottle on the stage
of a London
theatre. The
crowds turned up
for the
performance, but
the performer did

! seem more likely. It was a time of

the ‘maternal imagination’ belief
which postulated that a woman’s
The case known
as the Stockwell
Ghost began in
not. The annoyed
punters then rioted
and caused
abnormal and fanciful thoughts January 1772. Ann extensive damage
during pregnancy could impact Robinson, a maid at to the theatre. Was
adversely on the foetus of her the house was it 18th century
s

Ian in a bottle
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING 17
gullibility, or even today would an
intrigued audience turn up to see
what it was all about?
It was a fascinating afternoon
with, maybe, the realization that
people do not change and that
hoaxes, benign and malign, can
still be believed. Many of us will
now, I am sure, be ordering Ian’s
new book to learn more about
these and other historical hoaxes.
The Century of Deception: The
Birth of the Hoax in Eighteenth
Century England by Ian Keable is
now widely available. Check out
www.centuryofdeception.com for
details of where to buy it. If you
would like an inscribed copy, get
in touch directly with Ian Keable
(ian@iankeable.co.uk

THE LOCKDOWNUNDER LECTURE

John Russell writes- Alan
Maskell kindly arranged for Sean
Taylor to present his lecture from
his home in Australia. Sean is a
world-renowned magician,
mentalist, speaker and one of
Australia’s top corporate
entertainers. He is a Member of
The Inner Magic Circle with Gold
Star, the only performer in
Australia to hold the highest
degree. He is an all-round
entertainer with close-up, stage
shows, mentalism and children’s
magic to name but a few of his
talents. In his own words, he is a
‘GP in magic’. He has also written
several books and produced DVDs
on magic. Originally from Britain,
having been born in Cambridge
(there’s the Alan Maskell
connection), he grew up in
Newmarket.
As Australia was in a six-week
lockdown, Sean was not able to
Sean Taylor
obtain some of the items he
needed for the lecture, so
improvised with some of the
props. All the effects he showed
could be made up quite easily,
even by me and that’s saying
something. His presentation style
was very relaxed and the quality
of the video and audio made it
easy to sit back, relax and enjoy
his company.
The first effect was a novel way
to present your business card by
forcing a card. Then it appeared
on your business card, but in a
very novel way. Let’s say it was
the two of hearts, so two small
heart shaped cut outs would
magically appear, where
previously there were none. The
transition is also done whilst the
card is in full view. All carried out
with a small punch, easily
available at all good stationers
(and Amazon!!)
Next his version of Alan
Shaxon’s invisible card in
envelope, with some twists. He
called his version ‘One.’ One of
the improvements made possible
by modern printing techniques, is
to use thin cards, manufactured
by Card Shark. These cards are
half the thickness of a normal

18 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021

card, so the bulk of the envelopes
being much reduced, from seven
to four, all fitting in one pocket,
hence the name ‘One.’ With
Sean’s technique for finding any
card named, using natural
movements, this was a very
workable piece of magic.
Next was Sean’s take on Peter
Kane’s ‘Peaches’, except in Sean’s
version it was pineapple, but in
reality, could be anything, not
necessarily food related. This
revolved around the routine,
where something different is
shown to be written on the back
of every card and the prediction is
found on the back of the
spectator’s named card; thanks
again to the use of thin cards, with
half of them having the force word
written on the back. The beauty of
thin cards is that a pack of 104 is
the same thickness as a normal
pack of 52, so you can have two
of each. As a bonus, Sean showed
a method using normal cards, but
with the same effect. Useful if you
do not have thin cards and don’t
wish to buy them. This effect has
been produced commercially by
Card Shark under the title
‘Pineapple Surprise.’ Sean gave
credit to Trevor Duffy of South
Africa for bringing out one of the
original versions of this effect. The
methodology used was credited to
Roy Johnson’s effect Lucky Cards.
Finally, Sean showed an
example of making a Pro
envelope, a two-way envelope
with dual compartments, and
demonstrated an effect using this
principle, which could also be
adapted to many other effects.
If you want to take a look at
Sean’s magic, his web address
is:- seantaylor.com.au Two of his
books worthy of mention are on
mentalism: MindStorms and
MindCoaster.
The 45 minutes flew by, and
Sean’s presentation and
explanations were a joy to watch.
Our thanks go to Sean for such an
interesting lecture and to our
President, Alan, for arranging it.
THE NONVENTION STAGE GALA
2021
Neil Roberts was watching -
Conventions are all about seeing
good magic, learning (or buying)
new tricks, meeting old and new
friends and general socialising,
but it is the gala show that is the
highlight or, at least the icing on
the cake. This gala show was
indeed the icing, with lots of
sprinkles on top. All these acts
were winners in our Shield
competition over the years. I know
them all well, either as a fellow
competitor or, in most cases, from
cuing the act from the corner.
(Sharp eyed will have even seen
Philip Hitchcock
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING
High Jinx
me make a fleeting appearance).
To open the show was Philip
Hitchcock or, Philipe as he was in
1992. My notes say, “act as
known”, but that’s not quite true,
as this was an earlier version
although we still had the style, the
faultless handling of the doves
and his trademark “one that got
left behind” in the cage vanish.
This was to be built up in later
years, to include the reappearance
of the cage et cetera and a special
mention for the ultra-slow silk
blendo.
Then from 2007, was the
original line up of Michael and
Siobhan Jordan as High Jinx, with
their brother/sister routine. A
combination of small magic from
both performers, including a very
effective D’lites routine, along with
some larger illusions: sub truck
and tubes thro. Even at this early
stage, you can see the potential
shown by Michael that would lead
to him becoming one of our best
and busiest performers.
Alfonso Rios started with a
manipulation sequence of cards
s
19
Mark Shortland
and flowers with a Spanish flair.
Then into a dramatic solo sword
through body, stripped to the
waist and ending with the
butterflies on fan to snowstorm. I
felt, on this occasion, the audience
took a while to warm to the act;
was it too artistic for the audience
in 1988?
Mark Shortland was the only
“pure” patter act we saw that
night. From 2001, opening with a
series of sight gags that I had
forgotten and therefore seemed
new, leading into a combined
credit card/playing card sequence,
with interplay involving an on-
stage spectator and a bow and
arrow revelation. It was broad
comedy concealing clever magic.
By 2005, Roy Davenport had
tried a number of different styles,
but seemed to strike gold with this
recreation of his grandfather’s act
(with modern adaptions). It was
very much a classic manipulation
20 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021
Roy Davenport
act, but with a jovial presentation,
that is not so much “look how
clever I am” (and he is skilled), but
more “let’s have some fun with
this”. All the classics were there:
billiard balls, thimbles, the
“Davenport” mutilated sunshade
and a colour changing waistcoat
on the offbeat. For the magicians,
using a well table but proving it
isn’t. Slight problems with the
sync of the sound didn’t spoil the
enjoyment.
By way of an intermission,
Aiden added the classic “potter’s
wheel” from 1950s TV. I was going
to say that it may have been lost
on many of our viewers, but
looking at the membership
demographic, I expect most will
remember it.
Romany always knows how to
make a good-looking stage
appearance. A miscellany of
feathers, birds and cages, a
sequence of ring on and off
streamer, linking rings and into an
audience participation section of
jacket escape, with two spectators
and a “tunnel of love”. This was
an extended version of the act
that won in 2009.
As well as being an award-
winning children’s entertainer,
Fraser Stokes is a skilled
performer who has created the
character of Hamish, not quite a
clown and not quite a tramp. A
combination of mime, magic,
pathos and skill. A complex
manipulation act but presented
again not as “look how clever I
am” but this time more “why is
this happening to me?” He is the
current Shield holder as we have
Romany
not been able to hold a
competition since 2019.
I remember Paul Dabek being
annoyed, when he found he was
first act on in the 2006
competition, but I told him that it
just meant that he would set the
Ta Na Manga
Safire
standard that the others had to
beat; in the end they didn’t.
Looking smooth in a velvet frock
coat, Paul presents a fast-moving
sequence with cards, silks and
doves. Another performer with the
butterflies routine but ending, not
with a snowstorm, but a large
paper dove to live dove. A
vanishing cage with a tear-apart
cloth brought the act to a fitting
conclusion.
I recall being backstage with a
friend in 2009 and looking at the
rear of an act’s props, a mass of
gaffer tape and bent wire We both
looked at each other and said
“that’s the winner,” and so it
proved with Ta Na Manga. A
unique two (three) handed act
with live commentary to a series
of slick tricks; a study in black
and white with an unexpected
flash of red. A unique blend of
storytelling, magic and humour.
Safire are possibly the busiest
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING
illusion act in the UK. Having won
the Shield in 1995, this was a
more recent performance
including their classic illusions of
heads-off, legs-off and crystal sub
trunk. It was a fast- moving high
energy sequence, presented with
humour and Stuart’s facial
expressions that add so much to
the act. A fitting close to any Gala
Show.
Looking through the notes I
made whilst watching, the words
that cropped up most often were
“humour”, “fast-moving” and
“unique.” There has been some
discussion on-line recently
regarding the value and relevance
of competitions. I think these acts
showed the argument for. All that
was lacking was the frisson of a
live show; let’s hope we will get
that at Eastbourne next year.
21
 RICK’S MAGIC MUSINGS LOCKDOWN MAGIC PART T

Lnewsockdown insomnia black cards in any are dealt fairly, the blocking cards
was not all bad horizontal, vertical, or will fall into arrangements
and I utilised diagonal line. The resulting in four levels of chance
some of that extra black cards will be that the volunteer can win.
time to think about referred to as winning The worst-case scenario for the
routines that I used cards, indicating they performer is a pattern where 5/8
to do and revisiting signal success for the lines are blocked giving the
old lecture notes and volunteer no matter volunteer winning odds of 38%.
books. In one of Nick the performance plot. Fig 4 Other patterns have 6/8
Trost’s Gambling The performer Fig 5 and 7/8 Fig 6 lines blocked
Routines series, I stresses that there and give the volunteer odds of
rediscovered several are twice as many 25% and 13% of winning.
Tic Tac Toe challenges with winning cards as red cards so that However, if the three blocking
playing cards that I used to have a the odds are stacked two-to one cards form one of the diagonal
lot of fun with. One challenge that in the volunteer’s favour. The red lines there are no winning lines at
Nick Trost explained very briefly is cards will be referred to as all. Fig 7 If the volunteer shuffles
easy to miss, but I think it is worth blocking cards, as they prevent the cards and deals them, the
unpacking a bit more. It used nine the spectator meeting the odds of turning over no blocking
cards, six of one colour and three challenge set out in the cards are between 38% and 0%,
of the other. Fig 1 Incorporated performance plot. The volunteer with the average somewhere in
into playing card routines, this can ‘win’ on occasion, but when it between depending on the
challenge routine can be matters will always turn over a number of patterns at each level.
impromptu or ‘prepared’, close-up blocking card in the line. This is a However, as magicians there
or scaled up. In addition, if you good effect to entertain and ‘jazz’
don’t like gambling or card with and can combine smoothly Fig 1
routines you can adapt the with a Three Card Monte routine.
principles, theme and plot quite Fig 3
easily using numbers, letters, Even without any secret
symbols, or pictures instead. You intervention, the game is weighted
just use any cards that fall into heavily against the volunteer. The
two easily distinguished sets. The odds quoted to the volunteer (6/9
illustrations below use either or 2/3) are only true when turning
playing cards or blank and printed the first card. From there on the
business cards to demonstrate odds diminish rapidly. The Fig 5
how easy it is to personalise the volunteer must still turn two more
effect to the performer or a client’s winning cards, and they have to
wishes. be in a straight line. However,
The cards are handed to the from a magician’s perspective, it
volunteer. They are given the is the rule that the cards must be
opportunity to shuffle and then turned over in a line that makes
asked to lay them out in a three- things interesting. There are eight
by-three grid. Fig 2 lines to choose from in a nine-
The challenge is to turn three card grid, and, even if the cards

22 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021

HREE – TIC TAC TOE REVISED BY RICK TYNAN
are several principles that we can
invoke to influence the
probabilities. For sections of a
routine where you think it
important that the spectator
handles the cards and mixes them
freely there is a strong possibility
of the spectator turning over a
blocking card. Using marked
cards, either, pre-prepared or
marked in play, allows the patterns
to be identified as the cards are
laid out and alternative patter
lines adopted. If there are winning
lines possible, you patter from the
standpoint that this is a game of
chance, which you are going to try
and win but nothing is certain. The
cards may be dealt with no winning
lines. If so, you will be able to
state with absolute certainty that
the volunteer cannot meet the
challenge, even after they have
Fig 2
Fig 6
shuffled and set out the cards. If
the cards are not in that layout,
you can give the volunteer the
opportunity to mix the cards face
down on the table. Whatever the
result, prepare some entertaining
lines for all eventualities.
In performance, why not start
with the blocking cards in stack
positions 1, 5 and 9. Demonstrate
dealing the grid of nine cards and
collect the cards apparently at
random but without changing the
stack positions of the blocking
cards. Emphasise that there are
‘nine factorial’ or 362,880
different ways of dealing 9 cards
(true) and there is no way of
predicting which one is on the
table. You can false shuffle and
cut if you like. Then hand the pack
over and ask your helper to deal
the grid as demonstrated. Ask if
Fig 3 Fig 4
Fig 7
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING
they want to mix the cards,
pretending you do not care either
way. They may well go straight to
the deal. If so, you can patter from
the standpoint that you are certain
a winning line will not be the
outcome.
After each phase use a Three
Card Brag stacking technique.
Face down (if using marked cards)
or face up (checking the cards
have not been tampered with),
scoop the cards in groups of three
with a blocking card in the correct
positions to place them in a
diagonal line when the next grid is
dealt. You may need to mix the
cards face up to get ideal scoop
positions, but it will look different
each time. Fig 8
I hope this stimulates more
ideas on this Nick Trost gambling
challenge.
Fig 8
23
 KIDS’ CORNER COMEDY BACK AND FORTH SILK PRODUCTION by
A lthough the props used in
this feature routine are
completely different to those
the late Robert Harbin
originated in his effect ‘Ad
Infinitum’ the actual effect is
similar. However, I’ve changed
Bob’s method and have
introduced a real climax to the
effect. The original prop
consisted of two open-topped
boxes, positioned next to each
other, which rested on a tray. A
continuous production of single
silks magically appeared in one
box and rransferred into the
other.
In this presentation, the
children see two wooden open-
topped boxes on a clear
Perspex tray which has four
small clear feet on the corners.
The performer tips the interiors
of each box towards the
children to show that they are
empty, and then replaces them
back on the tray.
The children are told that
when a hand is waved over one
of the boxes, a bright coloured
hanky will magically appear. It
does! As this is removed and
placed into the other box say “I
only need one, no more”.
However, the children see
another silk pop up from inside
the box, shout out and point.
Taking notice of this, the
24 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021
performer removes this silk, turns
away, only for yet another silk to
pop up and make its appearance.
This is continued until five
different coloured silks have
appeared in this way. Each time,
the silks (called hankies during
presentation) are placed into the
other box.
The first box is shown empty
and you say “Well, it looks empty
now, as empty as Old Mother
Hubbard’s cupboard and we all
know that was really empty!”
Waving a hand over the other box
reach inside and instead of the
five discarded silks, there’s a large
24” Sunburst silk made up of all
five colours.
REQUIREMENTS:
Two square-type wooden boxes
which have open tops. One box is
painted red, the other yellow,
whilst the interior of both boxes
are painted matt black.
My method uses an old
principle: flaps, identical in both
boxes. These are diagonally
hinged centrally onto the bases of
each box. They can pivot back and
forth, from one side to the other.
The flaps are also painted matt
black, so the black art principle
comes into action.
A large 24” (600mm) Sunburst
silk. Colours can vary. In my
example it displays red, yellow,
green, blue and orange. Five 12”
(300mm) silks with each one
matching the colours on the
Sunburst silk.
Perspex tray: This long strip-
type tray has four knob feet on its
base, one in each corner. Four
blocks of Perspex are glued to the
tray to make it possible for the
boxes to stay secure and with a
gap between each.
SET-UP:
The red box (on the right hand
end of the tray) is loaded with the
five 12” silks, the corners being
entwined with each other. The flap
is then hinged over. The opposite
side is empty at this stage.
Into one side of the yellow box
place the 24” Sunburst Silk and
hinge the flap over.
WORKING AND PRESENTATION:
Explain that you require a magic
hanky for one of your tricks.
Lift up the red box and in showing
its interior, slant it downwards
slightly. For the best results (due
to the Black Art Principle, it looks
empty) keep it on the move as
you display the interior. Replace
the box onto the tray and whilst
doing so, the fingers of your right
hand casually flip over the hinged
flap
Reach inside and pull the first
loaded silk upwards. As you
Ian ADA IR

Clear Perspex blocks at locations shown to keep boxes in place

withdraw it, the following silks

make their appearance.
Remember to state that you
only require one hanky, so the
children will respond and shout
Base made from clear Perspex out that there’s another. Pretend
not to notice, but then give a
Clear Perspex ball foot at each corner
‘double take’. Pull out the silk
Keep open end sloping down on view and place it inside the
slightly when displaying
Hinged here yellow box as before. Another
Open end
Flap moves silk appears, until all five pop
across up in the same way.
Once all five silks are inside
Line of flap the yellow box, you casually
show the red box is now empty.
Wave your hand over the
yellow box – pause – and in
lifting it up from the tray, flip
Section view over the hinged flap. Produce
Open end of box
the large 24” Sunburst silk,
Load chamber opening it out fully to display.
Direction of audience Casually show the yellow box
Create black art flap
hinged at centre. empty.
See text

Both boxes open at top

Clear Perspex block to

both sides of each box to
keep it in place

DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING 25

 Ideas Time BY Brian BERRY THE

P erhaps
Christmas is the
most ideal time to
are Christmas packs of
cards, adaptable for
most packet card
down coins without a sticker
showing, until only one coin is left.
This coloured coin (with double
show off your tricks, whilst good stickers) matches the prediction
magical abilities quality Happy Family you made before you started. Was
either as a cards make card tricks it chance, intuition or magic?
children’s more suitable for While discussions are taking
entertainer, cabaret children. Various place, switch the double coin and
artist or close-up Christmas decorations, its mate for another colour and it
performer. It like small baubles, are can be done again!
reminds us how versatile magic ideal for Cups and Balls and One It’s always a pleasure to hear
can be and an ideal medium for in Pocket and Two in the Hand, as from Ian Adair and learn about his
“breaking the ice” and bringing well as Torn and Restored cracker latest ideas, especially twists on
folk together with a common hat, or Christmas card prediction. popular effects. This time he
purpose of enjoyment as well You’ll be amazed at the ideas wrote: “I am having fun
as being thought provoking and you’ll discover just by showing friends an old
entertaining. looking at the retail Betcha type stunt. I’ve
For those who don’t do displays in your added a magical climax
close-up on a regular basis is local shops. Save to it, which really
this opportunity taken seriously your old Christmas makes a difference.”
or do you just put something in cards, cut them down to The original
the pocket? Is it the same as playing card size and you stunt is one
years past and treated in a have your own unique pack which uses a
flippant or casual sort of way? of cards. square of paper with a
We all have our favourite ‘party Christmas is also an ideal hole through its centre. You hand
piece,’ but do we give it some time to bring out those effects someone a ten pence sized coin
thought to add to this, making which combine magic and and ask them if they can push it
up a theme of several effects? puzzles. Again, it’s a great way to through the hole. Of course, they
These could be seemingly get everyone in a group involved. can’t because the hole is smaller
casually performed, but taking For instance, use five coins with a than the coin. You explain it can be
the experience to higher and different coloured sticker on each. done by magic by folding the
more professional level. On one, put a similar sticker on square of paper in half (see
Many of the popular standard BOTH sides. Spectators take it in illustration) and holding both
close-up effects can be slanted turn to shake the coins in their sides. Then bend these up so the
towards Christmas, using hands and throw them on the coin falls through easily.
seasonal items on sale. There table. You remove all the face “My addition,” says Ian. “Is that

26 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021

PRESTON PRESTIDIGITATOR
once several folk have tried to
accomplish this and failed,
casually switch the genuine coin
for one which is bent (If you
cannot bend the coin in a vice, get
someone to do it for you.) Hold the
paper square flat and in an open
state and simply drop the
Paper folded in half
gimmicked coin through the hole.
Make sure you cover the curled
edges and casually show it (after
all, they have seen the real one
moments before). Then pretend to
bend it between the fingers back
and forth and drop it through the
hole in the paper. Tell the
Coin drops through
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING
spectators that this time you
can push it through the hole
without folding or bending the
paper. Watch the faces of
onlookers as they pick up the
paper square and the bent coin.
(The latter cannot be
straightened out!)
Thanks Ian for another great
idea. If YOU have any ideas to
add to this theme, please let me
have them. Who knows, with
this internet and lack of paper
instructions, all these “goodies”
could be lost.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.
brianberry@tiscali.co.uk would
be pleased to hear from you –
01772 421816
(I do not recommend you
deface a coin of current
currency as there are
conflicting opinions as to
whether this is or is not illegal.
It is, apparently, illegal to
deface a bank note. If you want
to play safe, use a couple of pre
decimal coins and there are still
plenty about. Alternatively, pre
Euro foreign coins from
countries which went onto that
system would appear to be a
safe bet. Just a thought and
Brian agrees Ed).
27
 PUZZLE CORNER
Lay out sixteen 2p coins
as shown in the head/tail
arrangement. The
challenge is to rearrange
the coins so that all coins
in each vertical column
are showing the same
side. Only two coins may
be touched.
(answer next month)

Make 3 squares with

matchsticks as shown.
The challenge is to take
away 1 and move 2 to
make 1.
(answer next month)

Now for a quick one liner: Take a piece of a jigsaw

puzzle which has indentations on all sides (purely for
best effect). Place the plain side on your scanner and
scan. Drop it into an A4 sheet on your computer and
drag it to fill the page as much as possible. Print this off
and glue to a piece of card. Stick some Fablon or similar
to the card side. Cut the shape out with a rotary cutter.
Be careful when using this tool as it is very sharp.
Have the piece in your performance prop box. Be looking for a prop whilst on stage, pick out
the piece, look surprised and say “I have often wondered what this is. It’s always been a bit of
a puzzle to me!” Ed.

28 KEYRING DECEMBER 2021

BEYOND THE WEB
Video library and facebook by Aidan Heritage
Iclickntwothethepages
members’ area, we have
with videos. If you
VIDEO menu choice itself
you will get to a page of general
videos. If you click the videos from
Bob Hamilton sub menu you will
find more. I’m not certain this is
the best layout but I’m also
conscious that pages with videos
on can take a while to load so I
wanted to reduce the load time.
These videos (being in the
members’ area) are specifically
for our members benefit. As you
know, we use the members’ area
to host our Nonventions and we
would love to increase the content
in the video area for the benefit of
members. Suggestion could
include even more Nonventions
(nice, but a lot of work for some!)
and having specific lectures –
perhaps from past conventions –
available for a limited amount of
time. The British Ring has never
had regular meetings and has
people from all walks of life with
different priorities. That was my
principle behind the Nonvention
planning that although it would be
“live” for those who wanted it,
there would be windows of
opportunity if other things had to
take priority. If you have content
you can offer to members, I’d love
to hear from you!
Just after Eastbourne, The
British Ring Members’ forum was
set up on facebook. I decided to
set myself a challenge of posting
a video a day (I like taking on
projects as you will have noticed).
At the time of writing, I’ve posted
in excess of 700 videos for
members to enjoy. These are all
publicly available on the internet,
I’ve just done the hard work
finding them. During the first
Nonvention I posted a list of all the
videos found so far. Going
forwards, I intend to build a
searchable archive of these in the
DECEMBER 2021 KEYRING
members’ area so that members
can watch them whenever they
wish. I would love some of you to
volunteer to help with this. For
each video I will need to have a
picture, a sensible title, and some
keywords to help people search. It
would be nice to have a brief
description as well. For any one
video, this shouldn’t take much
more time than it takes to watch
the video. However, as you can
imagine, if I do it on my own it will
take some considerable time! If
you can spare a small amount of
time to do even one video, then
that will speed up the process so
please get in touch with me. Don’t
forget to see them as I post them
join us on Facebook! I will keep
going as long as I can find
interesting videos and people
keep watching them!
29
 from
The Editor, Columnists, Graphic Designer,
Printer and Distributer of Key Ring
and may twenty, twenty-two be the year for you

Dates for your Diary

Saturday 19 March 2022, President’s Dinner, Bar Hill Hotel, Cambridge.
Contact Alan Maskell for details.
Sunday 29 May 2022, Picnic Event, Ocean Room, Gorleston.
Further details will be released as soon as possible.
Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 September 2022, Annual Convention, Eastbourne.

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