07 Key Ring July 2022

KEYRINGJULY22.
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KEY JULY 2022
BRADFORD’S BONANZA
CLAIRVOYANT CONJURING
MAGICON MEMORIES
PRELUNA PAUL
www.britishring.org.uk
KEYRINGJULY22.qxp_Layout 1 12/06/2022 15:12 Page 2
JULY 2022
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 Aidan HERITAGE
25 Martin Grange 5 Otley Road Harrogate HG2 0DL T. 07903 931967
T. 01423 525093. E. magic.cullum@btinternet.com E. aidanheritage@britishring.org.uk
Chaplain & Welfare Officer: Alan CLARKE Robert MOSS
Bear’s Den, 22 Blackcliffe Way, Bearpark, Co. Durham DH7 7TJ T. 07926 182 756
T. 0191 659 9114 E. alanbearsden@gmail.com E. robert.mosseng@gmail.com
Webmaster: Aidan HERITAGE Danny HUNT
T. 07903 931967 E. aidanheritage@britishring.org.uk info@amethystmagic.com
Key Ring Editor and Advertising Manager: Geoffrey NEWTON 07957340617
The Quills, 146 Ashton Lane, Ashton Upon Mersey, Sale M33 5EZ.
T. 0161 969 8222. E. geoffreynewton@uwclub.net
Child Protection Representative: Rena FLETCHER
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.
*His Honour Ernest *Revd. Michael *Peter Scarlett. John Styles MBE.
Wethered OBE. Seacome. *Clem Bailey. *Derek McFaull. Geoffrey NEWTON Public relations, news,
*W. G. Stickland MBE. *Geoffrey *Robert Sinclair. Trevor Lewis. advertising enquiries, copy, payments,
*Harry Kaye. Buckingham. *Ron MacMillan. Shirley Ray. Key Ring articles/letters, Broken Wands,
*John Gambling. *Harold Taylor. *Ken De Courcy. Keith Cooper.
*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
*Jeffery Atkins. *Ted Whebell. *Tom Owen. Paul Ray
*Les Levante. *Duncan Fletcher. John Pye. Clive Moore
*Archie Tear. David Berglas. *Bob Hayden. Richard Cadell
*Wilfred Tyler. *Edwin Hooper. Derek Lever. Brian Lead
THE DIGITAL KEY RING
*Francis Haxton. *Ali Bongo. *Richard Stupple. Direct links to websites, videos and other articles.
*Peter Warlock. *Cliff Townsend. *Louis Martelle. * DECEASED Help save the environment by going paperless
RiNG contents
KEY
25 JULY 2022
The Official Magazine of The British Ring No. 25 of
The International Brotherhood of Magicians For Private Circulation
PAGE 13
Features
5 A Bit Moore Magic: bearskins, crowns and a fly past
6 Collaborative Conjuring: Time travel
8 Brian’s bulletin: the secrets are in the books
10 Paper magic: the editor in the ‘REAMS’ of fantasy
PAGE 16
13 Derby Magic Circle Lecture: what a way to make a living
14 Carol’s Convention Carousel: Brighton, Buxton and Hastings
16 Magicon: when Irish eyes are smiling
18 Vanni: You'll like this, not a lot, but you'll like it
20 Ray Roberts: Bradford Magic Circle Show, one for the family
22 Rick’s Magic Musings: “What do you think of it so far”
24 Ormskirk: picnic prestidigitation
PAGE 20 28 Ideas time: Brian’s back on the magic trail
Tricks
26 Kids’ Corner: putting Humpty Dumpty together again
Regulars
2 The Editor’s View
3 President’s View
4 From the Executive Secretary
PAGE 24
PUBLICITY OFFICER
We are currently looking for someone to join our team to help assist with the
publicity of our various events to both members and non-members. You must be
fully aware of all aspects of social media to enable information to be circulated as
widely as possible. If you are interested please contact our Secretary, Moira
Fletcher, either on M: 07771613894 or E: moira1.fletcher@gmail.com
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

Lof astagemonth I reached the grand old
(or maybe not so old these days)
seventy five and have decided to
report.
Always looking for something
different for you, I came across this
retire as your Editor and Advertising floral illustration a short while ago. It is
Manager once I have carried out all apparently by an unknown artist and
duties as known to me, up to and dates back to around 1815. Can you
including the September 2022 edition. see three human face profiles amongst
It will have been an interesting seven the foliage?
and a half years bringing a blank sheet Following on from my invitation
(other than the then new name of Key regarding long service certificates, I am
Ring)
R to life with a pleased to record here a 75 year membership
dedicated
d team of certificate awarded to Terry Coates.
writers. By the time
w I attended an auction last month and
I actually hang up purchased a ‘lucky bag’. Seven books obtained
my quill for the last
m for a pound. How lucky was that? Probably not
ttime, I will have very for the seller! Amongst the hard backs,
ccompleted ninety leaflets, booklets and paper backs I found some
eeditions, so I think odd pages, salvaged from I know not where.
tthis is a fair Within these was a little gem, origin unknown.
ccontribution to The Ask someone to put 12345678 into a calculator
British Ring.
B then to give you a single figure number, for
Although I have example 5. Tell them to multiply the long number
aalready advised the by 45 and the answer will be a string of 5s plus a
MManagement rogue 1 (one) at the end. It works with any single
CCommittee of my digit number. The modus operandi is very simple;
ddecision, at the just multiply the single number they give you by 9
ttime of writing I do (eg for 6 it will be 54). This is the number to be
Can you find the faces? nnot know who my multiplied by the big number. Therefore:
successor will be. For the moment please send all 12345678 x 54 = 66666661.
your contributions to me in the normal way. I will Finally and whilst on the subject of numbers can
inform you further when I have something to you find the product of this Roman palindrome lVXVI?
I’ll leave you to scratch your heads.
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.
2 KEYRING JULY 2022

PRESIDENT’S VIEW
I2022
n last month’s Presidential we were
preparing to go to Belfast for MagiCon
and, after a forty-five-minute
in constant demand as a performer,
compère, and advisor on magic. His
hands can still be seen fanning cards
flight, what an enjoyable weekend it in the end titles of the 1968/9 television
turned out to be. Moira and I, along with series The Avengers. His biography,
the Tynan family, Oliver Tabor and other As One Stage Door Closes by
British Ring members including Denis Eric Midwinter, is worth a read and his
Clark, were made very welcome by the regular contributions
Ulster Society of Magicians who had put to Abra magazine
together a fine selection of lectures and describing his
shows. These included a number of young Irish bookings and related travels
performers who are already well known thanks to were the podcasts of their day!
TikTok and Britain’s Got Talent, alongside This Presidential is being
established performers including Jamie Raven, written a few days before The
Tom Crosbie, Fritz with a Z, Katherine Rhodes, British Ring Picnic in Ormskirk
Dave Taylor, and Chris Congreave. (See report by and I am looking forward to
Rick Tynan in this issue Ed) meeting with members
Next month will bring the Edinburgh Festivals and guests there. Of
and I have already been looking at the Fringe course, by the time you
programme to find out what we can book to go read this, the
and see. Not complete yet, the lists include Eastbourne Convention
around fifty magic and related acts so far, with will be much closer too,
more to be announced, I am sure. Several of the and I hope you will have
performers are regulars at the Fringe, some are booked your place for
well known, and others new to the Festival. what promises to be four
Amongst the shows at the Fringe this year is our days of excellent magic
President elect Oliver Tabor who is bringing his and enjoyable social times.
“West End Magic” with himself, compère Wayne Regarding the latter, I
Trice, along with a guest performer, to Edinburgh wonder how many of you
performing two shows a day from 5 to 20 August immediately think of the ice-
at the Surgeons’ Hall theatre. Oh, and there is the creams in the café across the
Edinburgh Book Festival too! road? It is somewhere that
The on-going President’s Challenge to write usually gets mentioned
about the three magicians who had the most eventually when Eastbourne
influence over you in a maximum of eight hundred conventions are discussed.
words is still open and I would like to hear your I will see you there!
choices. If I were to do this then one of my three Take care,
would definitely be John Wade, who sadly passed Alan
away recently. Author of Do Get the Name Right
the classic book on compèring and The Trade of Alan MASKELL
the Tricks, and a television regular, John was also 40 Lanton Drive, Glagow G52 2EW
a pioneer of performing magic on the radio. He T. 07999 537686
described himself as ‘a jobbing conjuror’ and was E. alan.maskell@gmail.com
JULY 2022 KEYRING 3

FROM THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
IBrian
am writing this having just returned
from our Picnic event in Ormskirk.
Lead is writing this up so you
1 When emails to are sent to members
these are sent as ‘round robin’ emails to
everyone who has given us their email
will find more details about our very address. Therefore, sometimes,
successful day elsewhere in this issue. although you might have already
However, some new members, Claire, responded to a previous email, you will
Chris and Emma, with Harry ‘a member still receive a reminder email. Please
in waiting’, who joined at Blackpool, never feel that we have ignored your
came along and I have received the initial response, we just want to make
following from them: sure that no-one misses any opportunity.
Thank you for a lovely day. This was our first event 2 Regarding long serving certificates, I have tried
since signing up as a family at the Blackpool to explain this previously and hope that I can
Magic Convention earlier this year. We’ve really clarify things here. In the past if you wanted a
enjoyed our day. We found the Q&A very certificate which indicated the number of years
interesting and informative. We all really enjoyed you had been a member, then the onus was on
the science behind magic lecture and even learnt you to request this when due. We have now
some new things! The show was fantastic! It was changed this. Last year we identified everyone we
suitable for all the family and really fun to watch! could from the information we have on file as to
The venue was lovely and the food was delicious. who was due a certificate in 2021 and these have
Thank you all for being so welcoming! been issued. We are not backdating certificates
and will only be carrying this forward on a yearly
I would like to extend my very grateful thanks to basis from now. If certificates were not requested
everyone involved in the day, the lecturers, the year they were due then I am sorry we are
performers and helpers, with special thanks to unable to back date these. Certificates will now
Rick Tynan who arranged the venue and made all be issued automatically each year and this should
the necessary arrangements. To those who therefore ensure that ALL members entitled to
attended, thank you, and we look forward to receive a certificate will do so. We are aware that
seeing you in Eastbourne. Our President Elect, unfortunately our database is not completely up to
Oliver Tabor, and I have had a chat about ideas for date so if we should miss you one year we can
the picnic next year, so we can hopefully give only apologise and we will be happy for you to put
some information about that soon. us right when a certificate is due.
We are delighted membership applications are All our dreams can come true if we have the
continuing at a steady pace and this month are courage to pursue them – Walt Disney
pleased to welcome Danny Lee Grew, Clacton-on-
Sea, Christopher Ashbrook, Cheshire, and Geoff
Partner, Kent. We look forward to you becoming Moira FLETCHER
involved with the Ring. 40 Lanton Drive, Glasgow G52 2EW
I have been asked some questions about two T. 07771 613894
things which I will try to explain here: E. moira1.fletcher@gmail.com
4 KEYRING JULY 2022

ABITMOOREMAGIC BY Clive MOORE
A s I write this, it is the audience was stage at the time and she was
time to get out leaving. The bus queue unaware of this. On finding out,
those flags again, dust outside became greater she was not very pleased as we
off that red, white and by the minute and had two more concerts the
blue bunting, which therefore my potential following weekend.
will appear from your top of the bill audience A few years later, at the
changing bag and got smaller by the celebration of the wedding of
prepare to perform minute as the compère Diana and Charles, I was
your Royal shows. announced me. performing at a local hospital.
Many tricks can be adapted, for I arrived at centre stage to the With bunting everywhere and
example the Supreme item the applause from the six who were left flags flying, it was a calm day
Crown Jewels. and the rattling of a bunch of keys and the show was going well,
It is good fun rummaging held by the caretaker, who made when a young lad of about six
through the shelves in your the comment “How long are you decided he wanted my Pop
magic room, as you will have likely to be as I want to lock up?” Away wand more than I did. He
boxes in there which you never It had by then gone 11 pm. What a grabbed it from the back of my
knew you had, all containing great night and all good fun! table and ran into the crowd, as
items from the auction you can’t For a few weeks before, Jean a large gust of wind blew
remember bidding for. had been making an ingenious several silks off the table into
Thinking back to one of the model of a guardsman. He stood something a cow had left
Queen’s previous Jubilees, I on the bottom step and greeted behind. They were a good crowd
remember it being a day everyone with a salute, which (the people not the cows), right
of street parties and concerts. brought much amusement to the to the moment when a display
One such show had been audience. Unfortunately Jean’s team did a fly past and yes, I did
arranged by Jean’s brother. brother mistakenly gave it away get my Pop Away wand back. It
His words to me were, “You as a raffle prize. Jean was back had been thrown on top of a
are to be top of the bill.” This, to stripy tent. As for the silks, well
a young enthusiastic amateur, we won’t go into that!
was really exciting, as the
programme of singers, dancers,
musicians and jugglers
contained some of Derby’s
finest. The audience of 200 was
sitting enthusiastically
through the concert, with plenty
of gleeful applause. At
around 10pm, the applause
seemed to slow down and, with
me being wedged in the
dressing room and the audience
being in the dark, I was
unaware that bit by bit
JULY 2022 KEYRING 5

COLLABORATIVE CONJURING TIME AFTER TIME by C hr
JAMES: Chris and I are both big bag. Open a few to show a variety
Doctor Who fans. We love the of coded messages. Return them
whole time travelling theme and to the bag, give it a shake and
thought it would be fun to come have them remove one. This is the
up with a time travelling magic message they must use when
CHRIS: This is one of those effects

trick. they meet their contact.
For the first time, ask them to
where we first threw together a tell you their rendezvous point and
storyline, then asked ourselves: their coded message. They reply,
how we can we make this ‘Room 3, The Peninsula Hotel,
JAMES: If we could really go back

‘magical’? ever-changing as you shuffle, and Hong Kong, and my message is:
opening up endless possibilities “The forgetful elephant swims
in time we’d wait to see what you for the future. Dealing cards face upstream in search of raspberries.”
think of this month’s offering then down onto the table, ask them to Remind them that all the
change it as necessary. Sadly, we call ‘Stop’ at any point, while decisions have been theirs and
can’t, so we hope you like what reminding them that their decision there is no way you could have
we’ve come up with and don’t may have untold consequences known what those would be.
want to set any Daleks on us! for the future. When they call However, what if they really did
EFFECT
‘Stop’, ask them to look at the keep their meeting, pass on their
card stopped on without revealing message and return from Hong
Displaying a large envelope on a it to you. Its value (1-13, Kong with plans for a time
stand, you ask your helper to depending on whether a number machine? A time machine you
imagine they are a secret agent, or court card has been arrived at), have been able to build in the
tasked with obtaining classified will determine at which of the 13 future which has allowed you to
documents that will allow the UK hotels they will meet their contact. return to this moment and show
to build a time machine. They check the hotel that falls them what actually happened.
Your helper will meet their at the card’s value and commit it To remove all doubt, take out
contact in a hotel room, where the to memory. They know the hotel your prediction from the envelope.
documents will be handed over. they will meet at, but now they On it is printed: ‘Room 3, The
You give them a card on which are need to determine the room Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong and
printed the names of 13 different number. In order that they can be “The forgetful elephant swims
hotels around the world and say sure they are in control of their upstream in search of
they will choose one in a moment. own destiny, have them shuffle raspberries.”
METHOD
As well as the rendezvous details, the pack, cut the cards and peek
they’ll also need a secret phrase at one. That will be the room
to identify themselves. number. The effect is simple enough and
Shuffling a pack of cards, you Finally, they need their secret achieved by a series of forces.
explain that each card represents phrase. Empty a dozen rolled-up First off, here is the numbered list
the randomness of time itself, balls of paper from a small cloth of hotels:
6 KEYRING JULY 2022

C hris WARDLE and James WARD
1 Grand Hotel, Bologna

2 American Hotel, Amsterdam
13). Our suggestion is 164 from being shuffled) and force it via the
3 Hotel Cavalieri, Pisa

Annemann’s 202 Methods of cross-cut force.
4 Dorchester, London
Forcing. Place a King at position 5, Finally, write a number of
5 Hilton, New York

7, 9 and 11 from the top of the ‘coded messages’ on small pieces
6 Hotel Regis, Mexico

pack. After a false shuffle, deal off of paper, ball these up and place
7 Hotel Victoria, Rome

the top four cards as you tell the in one side of a change bag. In the
8 The Balmoral, Edinburgh

spectator they can stop you other, place messages that are all
9 Hotel des Palmiers, Lausanne

wherever they like. Continue the same. We’re not providing any
10 Continental Savoy, Cairo

dealing slowly. When they stop – other than the force message –
11 Hotel de la Paix, Geneva

you, hand over either the card in as it’s more fun to let your
12 Hotel Claridge, Paris

hand or the top card of the deck imagination run free here!
13 The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong

so as to force the King. Now the Conjuringly
Retain a three of any suit before Collaborative Magicians Will Trot
you begin. After your helper has Quietly Into Next Month’s Issue.
Ensuring The Peninsula Hotel is shuffled, take back the deck, add See you there!
chosen requires you to force one the extra card to the top (palmed
of the Kings (i.e. with the value from your pocket while the deck is
JULY 2022 KEYRING 7

BRIAN'S
BULLETIN
short trousers, with a table
brimming over with traditional
magic paraphernalia, including a
large cigar.
Understandably, The Magic
A PRESTIDIGITATOR’S PRIMER
by Brian Lead Circle took exception to Mr
Cannell’s book, not least because
A
the first section, titled Secrets of a
Famous Magician Revealed,
exposed, with simple, easy-to-
long with the ubiquitous box purchases, each item needing a follow diagrams, Houdini’s most
of tricks, simple books on specified number of illustrated famous routines: Buried Alive, The
magic have always influenced coupons. Thus, you could get an Vanishing Elephant, Escape from a
the sorcerer’s apprentice. Mine Imp Bottle for four, or the iconic Milk-Can, Walking Through a Brick
was Will Dexter’s Secrets of the Seebackroscope (‘It fits into the
Conjurer’s Craft, bought with eye and enables you to see
pocket money from Woolworths directly behind you!’) for six.
at the age of nine or ten. Today, this would have
Brought up in the 1930s, represented a contravention of the
Eddie Dawes cites J C Cannell’s Trade Descriptions Act, implying
The Master Book of Magic that the user could see directly
(1935) as his earliest out of the back of their head. Even
inspiration. This was a volume so, one suspects that looking over
of modest dimensions the shoulder at any angle to spy
containing only 64 pages, four on the antics of those sitting
of which were advertisements behind you in the cinema (a Wall and Needles from Mouth. The
for other ‘free’ products. suggested Seebackroscope last of these seems singularly
The book itself was ‘free’ in activity) is ethically questionable, inappropriate for a budding
the sense that it was essentially and should not be encouraged. magician. Cannell’s best-selling
a publicity item, given away by Strangely for a book aimed at book was said to be The Secrets
Quaker Oats in exchange for children, even in those days, the of Houdini (1931), already into its
Quaker figures cut out from reader was encouraged to save up tenth edition, so he obviously knew
porridge packets. The novelties eight figures for a Cigarette Vanisher what he was talking about.
advertised required further using lit cigarettes; or four for a Other tricks range from the old
Cigarette Catcher, enabling dozens chestnuts of breaking and
of cigarettes to be caught at the restoring a matchstick in a
fingertips after the hands had handkerchief by means of a
been shown empty, back and duplicate concealed in the hem, to
front: ‘Very easy to work.’ Also on slicing a banana without peeling
offer were old favourites such as it; still being included in cutting-
the Floating Cube of Sugar, Black edge books such as Dynamo’s
Face Soap, Rubber-Tipped Pencil The Book of Secrets (2017).
and Plate Lifter, all of which could Another popular ‘oldie’, although
be found in the typical Ellisdons described as ‘a little known but
catalogue of the period. most puzzling trick’, is the use of
The front cover depicts a smart a matchbox containing a dried
young boy (of course), in tie and pea hidden up the sleeve to
8 K
KEYRING JULY
L 2022
LY
lump, by dipping one corner into

a small pile of cigarette ash.
After further study, the tyro
will be able to construct a
‘changing bag’, separate red
cards from black without
looking at their faces, memorise
a shuffled pack, use a coin slide
to introduce a coin into a ball of
wool and use both verbal and
visual clues in a telepathy
routine, with the adage: ‘If you
could read the mind of the boy
or girl who is anxious to
produce a rattling sound. The two Potentially the most amusing succeed, you would find that
boxes in sight are shaken effect is Removing the Table Cloth,
alternately, but the sound appears which begins with the sage
to jump from one to the other, advice: ‘I advise you to try this
depending upon which hand is trick when your mother is out
used for the shaking. shopping, otherwise there may be
Some dodges, of course, are so trouble! What you have to do is
old that they’re new. The book pull the tablecloth from the table
contains the forcing of a page by without spilling or breaking
using playing cards inserted at anything.’ It concludes: ‘Don’t
random, which is a part of the upset your dish of Quaker Oats, as
suggested presentation for one of it contains elements which will
the routines utilising the recently- sustain you throughout the day.’
produced ‘SNAPS’ deck from Elsewhere, the young reader is
David Jonathan and Dan Harlan. taught how to set fire to a sugar
they mean to keep strong and
healthy by eating Quaker Oats.’
No less questionable is the
assertion: ‘If you are nervous or
afraid of meeting people, eat
Quaker Oats. It will help you to
overcome this difficulty by
nourishing the nerves.’
Children are encouraged to
hurry along the token-collecting
(or oats-buying) process by
ensuring that the whole family
eats Quaker Oats for breakfast,
that mother makes Quaker Oats
biscuits and that a generous
portion of Quaker Oats is added
to every bowl of soup in order to
make it more substantial.
JULY 2022 KEYRING 9

P PER MAGIC
PA
creasing
creasin the folds as you go.
This has
ha now made the square
5 Hold the
smaller still. (fig 5)
F
th paper so the diagonal
Your editor looks at the thick and thin of it line across
acr it is horizontal and
facing you,
y fold bottom to top
6 Make oone straight vertical cut

or over seven years now I have corners. Crease the folds as you making the line internal. (fig 6)
written articles on a number of go. This has now made a
go
while ago, creating a lecture called 3 Fold the paper in half to make a
aspects of magic. Although quite a smaller square. (fig 3) as follows: start at the centre of
the long side of the triangle
this subject in Key Ring. Here goes 4 Holding the triangle with the
Paper Magic, I have never featured triangle. (fig 4) (hypotenuse) and cut through,
finishing at the apex (right
then with three effects which long side vertical, fold the angle corner). Shown by the
point of the right angle. Repeat 7 Separate the two pieces. Open
most of you will find easy to do. bottom point so it touches the dotted arrow (fig 6).
VISITING A & E
(ASIA AND EUROPE)
this with the top corner, again up one half and you will only
This interesting paper

folding/cutting effect tells a story.
It is all about two people who
decided to go on holiday together
but could not agree where to go. A
paper square is produced which is
divided into 16 equal smaller
squares (fig 1). In each square is
the name of a country either in
FIG 1 FIG 2
Europe or Asia and these are sited
in an almost random arrangement.
With a few folds and only one cut
an odd thing happens. (It is
important that you stick to the
locations and colours exactly as
shown on the illustration. If you
would like a full size template
FIG 3 FIG 4
please just email me.)
1 Fold the square from corner to

corner and open it out. Now fold
it again using another corner and
again open this out so you have
an X crease across the paper.
You will not be using this fold, it
2 Take one corner of the paper

is just to mark the centre. (fig 2)
and fold the point so it touches FIG 5 FIG 6

the centre of the X and repeat
this with the other three
10 KEYRING JULY 2022

have the names of the Asian different captions for this picture (Examples of the type of images to
be used)
countries. Do this with the other and each one vaguely describes it.
Vague captions (facing outwards)
half and it will only contain the Examples that come to mind are: to be attached to the rear of the
names of the European countries. 1) Christmas Card Scene, 2) The
1
respective pictures
Old Log Cabin, 3) A Winter’s Day,
Well as one person had a 4) Old Type Travel, 5) Trees and
selection of countries in Asia and Morning Sun. Make up these 5
the other from Europe they captions and paper clip them with
decided to go their separate ways. number 1 to the snow scene style
WE THINK WE THINK ALIKE 1 Christmas Card Scene

of image. Number 2, goes on an
2
image of just an old log cabin,
Don’t worry, there is not a typo in Number 3, a picture of a rainy day,
the title of this effect. It is a Number 4, of a picture of a pony
situation where the magician and and trap or horse and carriage
the assisting spectator are of the and Number 5, a picture of some
opinion they are thinking the trees with the sun glistening
2 The Old Log Cabin
same; hence ‘We think (that) we through. In each case, with the
3
think alike.’ paper clip, fix the caption, facing
A number of pictures are out from the back of the picture.
shown, all different and there is a You also need (for the switch,
title fixed to each by a paper clip. which I will come to later) four
The images are clearly shown one captions that relate individually to
at a time and the captions also each of the pictures that will not
shown but quickly, only to establish be choosen but describe each one 3 A Winter’s Day
4
that they are all different. The more accurately. These could for
captions are removed and placed example read: Woodland Mill, A
face down on the table and Rainy Day, Transport in Cuba and
genuinely mixed up. The paper The Black Forest.
clips are removed as these are no The set-up is as follows: keep
longer required. The performer the pictures with the vague
now secretly selects a picture and captions on in your hand. Place 4 Old Type Travel
5
places it face down on the table. the four captions with clearer
The spectator is allowed to freely definitions on, in your left hand
select any title sight unseen. jacket pocket. You are now ready
Strangely enough the title matches to present the effect. Show each
the picture and all the other picture clearly but casually, turn it
5 Trees and Morning Sun

captions can be clearly shown round to flash the caption. The
that they show no resemblance to idea is not to give anyone enough
the chosen picture. time to actually read it but just
Do not number your pictures or
There is no force here, only a enough time to see that all labels this is only for identification in
subtlety which when correctly captions are different. As you the instructions
executed makes a big impact. In show each caption remove it (and Detailed captions for the switch
(only 4 needed)
Woodland Mill
making up this trick, first of all you the paper clip) and place it face
A Rainy Day
need a master photo and an down on the table then mix up the
Transport in Cuba
example is shown as the snow captions. Now mix up the pictures
The Black Forest

scene. but keep them in your hand facing
You are going to make five you. Secretly select the snow
JULY 2022 KEYRING 11

scene (Christmas Card Scene) and thick paper! You may consider this could well provide the answer.
place it face down on the table. a tenuous link but I’ll continue Have the force cards on top of
Set the remaining pictures aside. anyway. the pack so you know where they
Allow any caption to be chosen The performer shuffles a pack are. Shuffle the pack keeping top
and ask the spectator not to let of cards and allows three control. Have the cards selected.
you see it. Collect up the spectators each to select a card. The work is obviously now done
remaining face down captions in The pack is then laid on the table but by letting the spectators return
your right hand and place them in and, each spectator is asked to their cards, shuffle and replace in
your right hand jacket pocket. remember their card and then the box, gives a convincer that
Now recap what has happened return it somewhere in the you have no control on what cards
and during this, nonchalantly put stacked pack. One spectator is have been chosen or where they
your left hand in the left pocket. then asked to shuffle the cards are.
Show your picture and ask for the and replace them in the box thus The only other matter that
caption to be read out. Explain the isolating everything from the needs to be attended to before
relevant point of the caption which performer. performance is to prepare the
appears on your picture eg point A Post-it note pad is then Post-it note. Write the names of
to the log cabin or horse and produced and clearly a blank sheet the cards on the note. Press on
carriage or whatever. Bring out the torn off and placed on the card box. reasonably hard and you will
switched captions and toss them Each spectator is asked to think of make an imprint on the next
on the table face up for their card and the performer starts sheet. It is best to use a hard
examination. to lightly shade pencil marks over pencil for instance a 2H or 3H,
I was initially inspired by a the note. One by one, images easily obtainable from an art shop.
similar principle in one of the Karl appear revealing the names of the Remove this top copy and throw it
Fulves books and made my own cards which have been selected. away. The only other item you
adaptation from it. Not an earth shattering miracle I need is a soft pencil a 2B or 3B.
THE MAGIC PENCIL

admit but it is one that needs very Simply tear off this now top sheet
little preparation and uses and place it on the card box as
Somehow, these days, everything everyday items. you ask spectator number one to
seems to lead to a card trick and You need to force three cards think of their card. Start to shade
my only reason for doing so here, and unless you are adept in using the top area with the soft pencil.
is because after all a card is only the Classic Force, then when Try to use the side of the pencil
forcing a number of cards I always rather than the point. The name of
find it better to use a the card will appear due to the
different force for each impression. Repeat with
one. For a three card spectators two and three.
‘selection’ my It is worth practising this with
favourites are the Slip various pencils and depending on
Force, Hindu Force and your own weight of stroke finding
the Cross Cut Force. If out what provides the best result
you are not familiar with for you.
these then a look at The There you are, a starter of tricks
Royal Road to Card with paper. You never know it
Magic or Annemann’s might inspire you to become
202 Methods of Forcing another Gene Anderson, after all
his book Newspaper Magic co-
written by Frances Marshall, has a
lot to offer.

TDerbyhesawevening DERBY MAGIC CIRCLE recordings

patrons assemble at the BERNARD RASMUSSEN Brian continued by
of 11 May quarters. These
members of the really brought
COMMEMORATIVE LECTURE
Magic Circle and the talk to life.
Victory Club, Chellaston, discussing the firearms

for the Bernard and the various methods
Rasmussen presented by Brian Lead by which the effect was
Commemorative Lecture, reported by Doug Gregg achieved, and why it
presented by Brian Lead. went wrong. A third
Brian titled his talk A recording was of Paul
Deadly Way to Make a Living, and in the first half Daniels, expressing his feelings whilst performing
concentrated on the events leading to the tragic the routine for television. He indicated he would not
death of Chung Ling Soo (William Ellsworth do it again, and Paul very rarely backed away from
Robinson) in 1918, apparently attempting to catch anything.
two bullets on a plate. He discussed the part played In the second part of the evening, Brian covered
the tragic and curious
ending of Lafayette and his
pet dog Beauty, along with
nine other members of his
Company. This was due to a
fire which broke out on
stage during a performance
of the Lion’s Bride illusion at
the Empire Palace Theatre in
Edinburgh on 9 May 1911.
by the two assistant marksmen, illustrating this with This tragic accident was
the recorded reminiscences of Jack Grossman, who less than a week after the
was one of them. Brian also played a recording of a death of the beloved Beauty,
young stage-hand, Alf Freeman, only fourteen at the after which Lafayette had
Lafayette
time, who witnessed the fatal event at close stated prophetically that his
own death could not be far away.
Ironically, the first body discovered and
Brian, Derby mistakenly sent for cremation was that of
President Doug Gregg Lafayette’s double. Concerns were expressed that
and a replica Soo valuable rings were missing, but these were found
plate
on the actual body of Lafayette which was
subsequently uncovered and identified.
The funeral was viewed by thousands of
people who lined the streets of Edinburgh
to say their farewells to this early
superstar of magic.
It was a very informative talk,
elegantly presented by
Brian and well received
by all who attended.

CAROL’S CONVENTION CAROUSEL EARLY ME M

Clive Cullum available finance. offered an hour’s show. This was
makes a The first thing which springs to completely unexpected but proved
welcome mind funnily enough about the to be well received, entertaining
return to the Brighton Convention is food! We and interesting. The audience in a
column this have never been so royally large circle in the Dome were to
month with entertained by a local Council! clasp their hands behind their
the first part One has to bear in mind that at heads. I did not do this because I
of his this time local authorities were was taking exams a few days
insightful rich, and many spent freely in after! He of course then chose
recollections of British Ring building new Council offices. One those most susceptible for his
Conventions in the late 50s and was greeted on entering the room antics. If you have seen a
early 60s. What a lovely era this devoted to catering by a splendid hypnotist’s act you will know the
was, and it certainly seems to hog’s head surrounded by heaps sort of thing.
have had its share of colourful of delicacies. In following years My father, a non-magician,
characters! If you have fond standards gradually fell to a accompanied me to the
memories of attending past couple of sandwiches on a plate convention and I particularly
conventions please email me at and a glass of wine, then to remember that he was very
ibmbritishring25reg@gmail.com. paying for a cabaret and impressed with the stand of
RECOLLECTIONS OF
eventually to nothing at all! Edwin Supreme Magic and
BRIGHTON 1956, BUXTON

Another instant recollection was knowing that this was a business
1959 AND HASTINGS

that there was an unscheduled just starting out even offered
1960
act. A visiting Canadian hypnotist
ypnot finance. Edwin said he would
By Clive Cullum
think about it! When the Mammoth
Dealers’ Demonstration took place
At the end of my article at this, and subsequent
about the 1955 Southportort conventions, Edwin had so much
Convention (see Key Ringg to show that he had invariably to
March 2022) I indicated that I be stopped over-running his
would follow with Brighton allotted time!
(1956), Buxton (1959) and At the time of the Buxton
Hastings (1960). This will be very Convention, I was
much long-term recollections.
These conventions as with many
thereafter were organised by Bill
Stickland and Jeffery Atkins. In
the brochures they look so young!
By this time convention patterns
were beginning to develop. Some
things were possible then
compared to nowadays because
of our change of habits, there
being less registrants and less

ME MORIES BY CAROL TYNAN
‘leapfrogging’ the car in front. I appearing in them and

believe that Bob Knight later immediately associate with them.
became a theatrical agent. Bob It seems in all spheres nowadays
Read became famous of course we have become robotic or worn
and we remained friends. He died down with regulations and the
shortly after the splendid Magic pace of living. Mystic Craig from
Circle Centennial in 2005 and I the U.S.A. would wander through
was so pleased that I had met him the convention rooms and hand
again on that occasion. Such a out here and there with a sense of
funny performer with his bowler fun some latest novelty. He owned
hat and unequalled knife through I believe some business
coat effect. connected with such
Looking back on things. I still have a
these conventions and small round disc
many immediately with the words
Bill Stickland afterwards I have to ‘TUIT’ (when I
stationed on Anglesey during my say that we have get around to
National Service, and having some lost the sense of fun it). I have put
leave was able to travel by train. which existed then. my name on
The return journey was not so To try to explain this the reverse!
easy carrying a Jack Hughes remark is difficult; it just Mystic Craig gave
SuTable! What a useful thing this seems to be the case. Was it the Ring the Dealers’
was, and I had it still in good because of the personalities? One Trophy to be awarded each year
condition many years afterwards. has only to look at earlier for the most attractive dealer
It proved useful at the camp’s brochures and then at the names stand. Another matter to mention
children’s Christmas party. The was the presence of Charlie
Brigadier commanding officer Spratt as one of the competitors
came up to me to say, “I can see for The British Ring Shield. He
you have done this sort of thing came from Prudhoe-on-Tyne and
before!” his sense of fun was soon
My main personal memory of apparent and was encouraged.
Hastings was that having been His act consisted of trying to
demobbed and living in throw up the bottom of ropes to
Bournemouth, I travelled by car. form knots not always with
Bob Read, Frank Hellings and I success. The audience would
travelled with Bob Knight. Bob shout “Come on Charlie” and he
was the local manager of would lap it up. All good fun
Mercantile Credit and drove like a expected each year.
salesman! Quite scary! This was I do not intend to detail all the
the time of ordinary roads and no events for these three conventions
M27! It was the habit of many but will mention some features
drivers to adopt the practice of Jeffery Atkins next month.

MAGICON 2022
TI.B.M.hisverywas
Belfast, Friday 29 April to Sunday 1 May by Rick Tynan
always going to be a Dawson. This was a sell-out

special occasion: the 70th public facing show that took full
Ring 85 Convention, advantage of Joel’s internet
hosted by the Ulster Society of followers’ desire to see him
Magicians (USM) in their 80th perform live! Colm Dawson’s
Year! It was also the first Irish strong comedy magic warmed up
Convention since 2019, before our the audience before Joel M
lives were turned upside down by delivered two halves of stylish and
Covid. It was good to see that confident mentalism.
MagiCon 2022 was so well On Saturday night, Ulster
supported by magic VIP visitors to Society of Magicians’ President
Belfast, including Alan Maskell, George Bleeks and Chairman
I.B.M. British Ring 25 President, Peter Gunn welcomed President
plus a small entourage of British Alan, Executive Secretary
Ring Members and Katherine Moira, conventioneers and other
Rhodes, Vice President of The guests to their 80th Anniversary
Magic Circle as well as fellow Dinner and Gala Show. After an
Magic Circle Members. excellent meal, Fritz with a Z
It was a packed magical Organiser James Hobart introduced young magicians
programme, but there was also particularly successful, an Jasper Cherry, Aidan McCann
plenty of time to renew old emphasis on encouraging young and Cillian O’Connor, who
friendships and forge new ones. magicians and the high quality of performed both as a team and
James Hobart, Alan Kennedy the artistes engaged. individually in the first half. Each
and the USM team are to be The theme of young performers demonstrated their own unique
congratulated on organising an was much in evidence in the style and personality entertaining
enjoyable and entertaining event. Friday night opening show and the with strong magic and the
In his foreword in the convention USM 80th Anniversary Gala element of surprise! Sarah Jane
programme, Pat Fallon correctly Show. The opening show was Smith provided a musical
identified two themes that I TikToK sensation ‘Joel M – interlude to close the first half.
believe made the convention Live!’, ably supported by Colm The dinner also exemplified Pat
British Ring Members with Jamie Raven – centre rear

adding a single (not for Oliver Tabor, presented his

the prudish) word. astounding dancing spirit
The dealers handkerchief as well as
supporting the Musician/Magician acts and
convention were Chris Katherine Rhodes performed a
Congreave, charming Bewildering Blocks
Magicbox, Peter routine and a novel card effect.
Pellikan and Retro Jamie Raven proved his star
Rocketeers. Another quality in a thoroughly enjoyable
Tom Crosbie personal highlight of and mystifying second half, to
Fallon’s second convention theme: the convention was the Q and A close the show and convention.
high quality participants! Pre- session with Jamie Raven. This In short, MagiCon 2022 was a
dinner close-up entertainment covered his start and early
was provided by Dave Taylor’s magical development, Jamie’s
Bunco Booth and, at tables, by Britain’s Got Talent experience and
David Lillie and Rick Tynan. what has happened since as well
Photos: Carol Tynan

Members and friends of the USM as some very funny celebrity
continued to entertain with close- stories that only Jamie can tell!
up at appropriate times throughout The Stars of The Magic Circle
the evening. British Ring Executive provided a fitting climax to the Moira and Alan with Peter Gunn
Secretary, Moira, gave an convention with the Sunday Night and George Bleeks
entertaining speech on behalf of Gala Show, supported by the very friendly and high-quality
the guests. The incomparable Tom McMaster Stage School. Skilfully convention. The next one is not
Crosbie, The Performing Nerd, guided by compère, Alan scheduled to be held until 2025,
delivered the second half of the Kennedy, the show opened with but I would recommend attending
after-dinner show and brought the energetic song and dance routines it without a moment’s hesitation!
house down! from Mary Poppins. In an
I must also pay tribute to the excellent and well received first
high standards maintained in half, magician and pickpocket,
other areas of the convention. Rodd Hogg, opened strongly,
Oliver Tabor, Katherine Rhodes, British Ring President Elect,
Tom Crosbie and Fritz with a Z
are to be commended for a The Oliver Tabor lecture
stunning Close-up Gala Show.
Oliver, Tom and Fritz also gave
lectures and Katherine presented The Fritz lecture
a session on The Magic Circle.
Chris Congreave had returned by
popular demand, after lecturing at
MagiCon in 2019. George
Firehorse entertained children
and families at the Magic George
Show on the Saturday morning
and, in his lecture the next day he
demonstrated how the same
routines can be simply adapted
for adult comedy entertainment by

VANNI PULÉ PRESENTS

THE ANGLO-MALTESE CONNECTIONS
PART 5
Iartiste
first met Paul Daniels in
February 1975 as a cabaret
at the Skyroom, a nightclub
name? I spoke to the manager
and insisted that I do not perform
on that same Thomsons Tuesday.
Hitchcock. Both Billy and I were
going to The Magic Circle
Centenary Celebrations.
in Malta’s tallest hotel, at the time, Yet I went to see his show and Back to 1975, the week after
The Preluna. I was on three times met him. Obviously he had heard Billy, Paul Daniels, whom I had not
a week. For their clients, Thomsons that I would not work with him heard of yet, was on. When I saw
added their own artistes, most of and the reasons. He insisted that I his promotion photo, I thought he
whom were comedians or singers, work on Thursday and I did. It looked like a magician because he
on two nights. Yet once, wasn’t that daunting after all and I was throwing a card in the air.
coincidentally, there were two did very well. Billy also gave a Since I had a choice of material
magicians in a row. surprise lecture to our Ring at the for my three nights, I was ready to
The first one was Billy Hotel Phoenicia that lasted two change my act slightly if we
McComb, who was known to me and a half hours. After that, I kept clashed. As soon as I met him, I
through magic magazines. I used in touch with Billy and visited him asked him if he was a magician.
to check the week before and, a few times at the Castle where He said, “No, I’m an unusualist.
when I discovered it was going to he treated me like royalty. The last You do your stuff and I do mine.” I
be Billy McComb, I froze. I already time I met him was on a felt that he was quite abrasive at
had his book and knew of his transatlantic cruise from New York the time. I finished my show and
reputation among magicians. How to Southampton. On the cruise, rushed out of the dressing-room
dare I, a nobody from a small there was another magician on to see his. He was absolutely
island work with such a big stage, our dear friend, Philip brilliant and, with his machine-
gun comedy, he had the audience
eating out of the palm of his hand.
The following year, I was in
London for my honeymoon and we
happened to see him on
television. Probably it was an
episode of The Wheeltappers and
Shunters Social Club. A few years
passed and, in the eighties, Paul
revisited Malta and we spent a lot
of time together. He came to see
one of my summer open-air
shows at the Hotel Excelsior. The
manager of the hotel, who used to
watch my show every week,
challenged me to repeat a line I
Mary Anne, Vanni, Paul and Debbie at Rimini used at the end of every

and, as a magician, he was up

there with the greats. He was not
an academic, but his common
sense, his knowledge and his
outlook on life were as valid as
that of a professor. His magic on
television was among the best
anytime, anywhere and yet his feet
remained firmly on the ground.
The last time he had to visit
Paul, Vanni and Debbie Malta with Debbie, in 2013, he did
performance, “If you’ve enjoyed beautiful Sherwood House which not turn up because his mother,
my show, my name is Vanni Pulé used to belong to Roger Moore. Nancy, was not well. Debbie came
and this is the Hotel Excelsior. If After that, they moved to on her own and we took care of
you haven’t, my name is Paul Berkshire. However one episode I her for a couple of days, until she
Daniels and this is the Ritz.” I had remember distinctly was, when took a cruise and joined the rest
to say it and Paul laughed, but Mary Anne and I were in London of her family. The last time we met
when the audience, mostly British, again. They came all dressed up, Paul and Debbie was during FISM
noticed he was among them they to our hotel, to say, ‘Hello’ before 2015 in Rimini, Italy. Less than a
bombarded him with autograph they went to a charity ball. They year after that, he passed away
requests immediately my show asked what our plans were and peacefully, a great loss for the
finished. we told them that we were magic world.
We then met again when I was looking for a good restaurant. Paul
performing in the opening show at booked a table for us at The
The British Ring Convention in Elephant on the River. When we
Harrogate. were about to have the main
In the meantime he had course, they made an appearance
become very big on television and at the restaurant to join us. They
I saw practically all his shows. We had found an excuse to leave the
met several times after that. Once ball to be able to be with us that
he came to Malta after a gig on an evening. We spent the rest of the
aircraft carrier and he was invited night eating and dancing to the
to a party by the British High live music.
Commissioner. He left the party We came to know Paul and
early to be able to join my family Debbie as a wonderful couple,
for a Chinese meal. When we Debbie always giggling at Paul’s
were in London, we were invited improvised quips. Paul was blunt Paul Daniels’s promo 1975 when in
by Debbie and Paul to their but honest, shrewd yet generous Malta first time

BRADFORD MAGIC CIRCLE HEY PRESTO

John Hotowka Craig Petty Taylor Morgan Rod Williams
MAGIC SHOW
reported by Ray Roberts
Deanna Gore

TSaturday
he Bradford Magic Circle Hey Presto Magic Show
is a yearly family show, which took place on
30 April in the Bingley Arts Centre, with an
registered very well with his effects, especially a card
revelation involving a lady from the audience, and
his mobile phone. This brought the first half to a close.
audience of approximately two hundred. Craig Petty After Deanna’s second act, Craig had an extended
made an offstage announcement to introduce the spot. Involving four men from the audience he had
first act, Deanna Gore, who is the eldest daughter of four cards selected, which were then revealed using
magician Steve Gore. Deanna has been attending comedy centred upon the Village People and the
dance classes most of her life but, in recent times song YMCA. Enough said!
has concentrated on interpreting dance using the John Hotowka started his career as a close up
Aerial Hoop and silks, with which she has become performer in restaurants. He won The British Ring
very efficient. This proficiency allowed her to start Close up Competition, with a finish producing a hat
the first half of the show with the Aerial Hoop and full of coins of the realm. He was a very successful
the second half with the Aerial silks trade
t show performer, before
very effectively indeed. becoming
b a professional motivation
Craig Petty was the compère for speaker,
s using his magic as a vehicle
the evening, interacting straight to
t promote his message. On the
away with the audience and show,
s John successfully performed
establishing a good rapport on his cut
c and restored rope where a
first appearance. He used his time member
m of the audience took the
on stage very efficiently, performing praise
p for the final restoration. A
good effects in between each act. block
b of wood through the head of
These included vanishing beer bottlee the
t spectator was performed, with
in paper bag, a Rubik’s cube effect, some
s very nice touches honed over
cards across, and cards over the many
m performances. He sent the
head without the sword, etc. helper
h back to his seat with a box of
The second act was Taylor Ray Roberts chocolates.
c John closed with a cod
Morgan, another act which was to explanation
e of the torn and restored
make two appearances. Taylor is a young magician newspaper to a large round of applause.
who, in addition to representing The British Ring of Taylor Morgan closed the show with a floating
the I.B.M. in FISM Europe championships, has linking ring effect, before producing his assistant
worked in Spain for a while and is now carving out a from a burning casket, who continued with body
career in circus and holiday camps. His first burning and fire eating. Gipsy Thread was performed
appearance made good use of his manipulation involving a child sitting on the apron of the stage.
skills with cards and billiard balls, registering well Taylor’s final illusion was the Substitution Trunk.
Thanks must go to:

with the audience.
Yours truly was the second magic act. Craig
introduced me as “having performed magic for Bingley Arts Centre theatre staff
many, many years and making my twelfth Bradford Magic Circle members
appearance in this year’s show.” This allowed me to Steve Hord – show organiser and stage manager
walk on stage to a tremendous welcome. I Stage Crew – prompt side: Dennis Calvert opposite
performed a predominantly silent act, consisting of prompt: Phil Howarth
torn and restored newspaper, Pavel’s Blendo full of Sound – Mark Jordan
holes, and a coloured rings on rope effect. I closed Lighting – Toby Davies
using my electric guitar featuring a very poorly Photographer – Gillian Grice
played, Happy Birthday with audience participation
to a member who was fourteen that day. Well done everyone.
Rod Williams who is a light hearted mentalist,

RICK’S MAGIC MUSINGS "...AND NOW FOR SOMETHING

“…and now for Normally, ‘f’ and ‘v’ front teeth and for the ‘v’ it
something completely sounds involve the top touches it just at the top of the
different” Part 2 front teeth touching the front teeth. Some authors suggest
Let’s pick up where I bottom lip and the ‘w’ the ‘m’ sound is best made by
left things last month: sound causes a change touching the base of the tongue to
If you tried earlier to in the lips’ shape and the roof of the mouth with the tip
say the alphabet tension. The amount of pushed against the back of the
without moving your explosive exhalation bottom teeth. Many find it more
lips, then you may have required to make the ‘p’ comfortable to use a soft tongue
been pleasantly surprised. Twenty sound is greater than a ‘b’ sound. flick for ‘m’ starting on the roof of
of the letters probably presented However, all these difficult sounds the mouth and moving over the
no issues at all, with only ‘b’, ‘f’, can only be made whilst breathing back of the top teeth. For the ’b’
‘m’, ‘p’, ‘v’ and ‘w’ causing any out. and ‘p’ sounds the common way
problems. In reality, the ‘f’ and ‘v’ sounds of making these sounds
The early solutions to making can be made behind the stationary ventriloquially necessitates the
these sounds ventriloquially lips relatively easily by touching use of a more explosive tongue
included substituting other sounds the tip of the tongue to the roof of flick over the semi-soft pad
that are easier to make without the mouth as you exhale. For an ‘f’ behind the upper front teeth,
moving the lips. This, of course, the tip of tongue finishes off the lightly for the ‘p’ and more firmly
generated a plethora of comedy sound by touching the roof of the to make a ‘b’ sound.
acts based upon the ‘gottle of mouth just behind the top of the Just to remind you that these
gear’ premise. Morcambe and bits of advice came from Puppet
Wise’s classic take on this was Ian Ashpitel and Jonty
one of my favourites, and it was a Stephens as 'Eric and
real treat to see the sketch Little Ern'
performed live on stage in the
touring production of ‘Eric and
Little Ern’ which is written and
performed by Ian Ashpitel
and Jonty Stephens.
However, this approach
reflected an early
ventriloquism dogma that these
six sounds were impossible to
make without some lip
movement. This was because
making ‘b’, ‘p’ and ‘m’ sounds
normally involves pressing
the lips together (labial
sounds) and opening them
again as you exhale. The real Eric and Ern

HING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT" RICK TYNAN
Voice by George include a tongue twister in their

Schindler. This is repertoire at some point. ‘Peter
not an exhaustive Piper’ impresses audiences
list of sources, because they are knowledgeable
and they often regarding the difficulties multiple
disagree on the ‘p’ sounds pose for the performer.
best way to Easier to start off with is the
reproduce alphabet backwards as another
sounds applause pulling demonstration.
ventriloquially. The late Oscar Paulson used a
More recent vent rhyming verse that helps learn
experts will have this:
more to add, but ‘z’’y’’x’ and ‘w’’v’
it is worth ‘u’’t’’s’ and ‘r’’q’’p’
remembering ‘o’’m’’n’ and ‘l’’k’’j’
Rick and Draig Goch
that ‘I’’h’’g’’f’’e’’d’’c’’b’’a’
Magic by Derek Lawrence ventriloquism is largely self-taught
supplemented by Ventriloquism once you get started. There is no One last thought.
for Beginners by Douglas real alternative to practising in Choosing your
Houlden, Ventriloquism from front of a mirror or using video ventriloquial partner
A-Z by Douglas Cragg, and recordings and trying out different is important,
Ventriloquism: Magic with your ways to reproduce sounds as because you may
realistically as possible. Some of spend a lot of time
the ways you discover will work in their company
only for you! and must enjoy
Many of the sources named talking with them.
above contain exercises and short It is a good idea
scripts for practice purposes. to get your
However, another approach when character
starting out is to only practice the custom made. My
material you intend to use. The newest puppet friend
thinking behind this is that it helps is a Red Dragon
identify tricky combinations of made for me by
words and enables you to Stuart Loughland.
substitute words to avoid these I hope this short
until you have mastered the exploration of a
original. Most related magical art
ventriloquists will stimulates a few
aim to people to have a go at venting
and if you do, have fun!

OUT IN ORMSKIRK
M
as seen by Brian Lead
ay 29 was the perfect day for Woods and myself) scored full
a magical picnic – and the marks, being rewarded with . . . a
Chapel in Ormskirk proved to be photograph in this edition of Key
the ideal venue. Ring magazine.
Initially, after a welcome from Following a generous buffet
President Alan, folk spent time lunch, the afternoon commenced
catching up with old friends, many with the intriguingly-titled ‘My
of whom they had not seen since Route to the Arctic and Beyond’, in
before the pandemic. Of course, which Alan introduced and
there was informal close-up. I questioned the magical innovator
Photos: Carol Tynan
spotted Rick Tynan linking rings at Philip Bond.

close quarters and Paul Silvester Beginning with recollections of
doing surprising things with cards receiving a David Nixon magic
and I’m sure Doug Gregg and box, Philip traced his progress into
Aidan Heritage were up to Neil Roberts
something as well. and ends with his nifty, award-
Then, Neil Roberts took the winning cups-and-balls routine.
floor to give a talk on... giving a Eschewing unreliable technology,
talk. A natural raconteur, Neil has Neil traced the evolution of his
been delivering his talk on ‘The presentation, peppered with
Secret Life of a Magician’ for a anecdotes and the sort of wise
decade, to a wide range of words which only experience can
audiences. He assured us that, provide.
although many have fallen asleep The morning session concluded
during his presentation, only one with a quiz, devised by quizmaster
has died. Neil slipped into his Alan Maskell, each answer
performing gear and transformed beginning with a different letter of
himself into ‘the speaker’, giving the alphabet. Only Team ORB
an excerpt from an amusing talk (comprising Oliver Tabor, Roger
which alternates chat with tricks
President Alan's Welcome
Thumbs up for larger magic as Bondini, and with
the quiz Winners the ‘Touring Magic Show’ and
Roger, Brian and
Oliver ‘Delusions of Time’, setting
illusions into a context such as an
Egyptian or Chinese scenario. This
was complemented by clips of a
combined Asrah and Zombie
presentation, with input from
Kovari. Philip discussed the
importance of the part played by

music, and ex expressed his concern fascinating look at

about the preprevailing attitude to the magic from a different
use of doves and the reduced angle, and nice to see
attention span
spa of modern youngsters Emma and
audiences. Harry lending a helping
nearer to an explanation
Getting nea hand.
Philip spoke about his
of his title, Ph After a tea break and
planes flying to Lapland
work on plan a chance to browse the
at Christmas time, and his welfare stand, Rick
creation of an open-air flying returned to compère the
reindeer illusion in Finland. final show, which
Pantomime creations included a opened with the award-
giant flying bat and a huge Rick Tynan and Emma winning act of Chris
serpent, again supported by film more slowly than an ordinary one) Taylor and the lovely Louise; one
clips. Particularly intriguing was a the popular Enlarging Head optical of only two female magic society
six-foot-tall rose which shed its illusion, Afghan Bands (the Mobius Presidents in the UK. Chris had a
petals in Beauty and the Beast rings) the Floating Hands very puzzling three-card
before a prone Beast was phenomenon and the blood-flow prediction and cut-and-restored
levitated vertically and method for detecting which hand rope with an original line of patter;
transformed into a handsome has been holding an object. These but the star of the act is the
prince within a single revolution. were related back to the animated Desmond Duck, who
Philip has also shot people from a deceptions practised by priests in survives impalement to the
cannon, provided a magical oven ancient times, with a glance at dramatic accompaniment of
for an operatic production of ‘The Fall of The Magician’ by Carmina Burana.
Hansel and Gretel and worked Bruegel the Elder. It was a Mark Roberts put an original
magic into ballets such as Don twist on the Five Card Repeat and
Quixote. An email had come made a convincing prediction
through from the Bridgewater Hall from a newly opened deck of
in Manchester to say that the cards, assisted by sorcerer’s
illusion of a vanishing satchel on a apprentice Connor. He concluded
table, created for Mr Tumble, had with his release from a hand
proved successful. Philip also had restraint, incorporating situation
some very illuminating things to comedy.
say about Britain’s Got Talent, Top of the bill was Steve Price,
having experienced it first-hand who has his own ‘Magic of the
with son Jezzo. It was a most Mersey’ show in Liverpool. Steve
stimulating session. treated us to the Geoffrey Durham
Next, Rick Tynan took to the presentation of torn-and-restored
stage to discourse on Science and newspaper, built a house of cards,
Magic, exploring Arthur C Clarke’s found a borrowed watch with a
contention that any sufficiently predicted time in a loaf of bread
advanced technology is and had a knotted silk which
indistinguishable from magic. To mysteriously untied.
illustrate this, he introduced the All in all, it was a relaxed,
Hydrostatic Glass, Newton’s friendly day with the feel-good
Nightmare (in which a magnetic factor.
pellet slides down a metal tube Steve Price

KIDS’ CORNER HUMPTY DUMPTY by Ian ADA IR
Tchildren
his routine is ideal for family
parties where there are often
in attendance. It works
couldn’t put Humpty together
again,” both sections (cards) are
placed inside the box so they
two pieces of stiff white card, just
snug enough to
fit inside the card box.
well when performed at tables show Humpty in a broken state. The picture of Humpty should
on these occasions and also in The lid of the box is now closed. be on one side of the cards, and
restaurants when there is the “It’s a pity he can’t be put the wall image should be on the
same type of audience. together again, but I’m going to reverse side. Now cut one of
EFFECT:
ask someone here to work some these in half,
SET-UP:
magic and make him feel better”
The performer opens a small the performer says. The box is
wooden box. Inside it is a lifted up and shaken and when it Place the solid one-piece card
cartoon picture of Humpty is opened, the two-piece jigsaw inside the card box, with the
Dumpty. It’s only when he takes has magically rearranged itself, image side uppermost. Place the
it out that those watching showing Humpty Dumpty all in flap on top. Finally place the two
realise it is a sort of jig-saw, one piece. I mean all in one piece, jigsaw pieces on top of the flap so
with only two pieces. The one solid picture card showing Humpty Dumpty looks complete.
reverse side of both has a stone him as he should be. The box is Close the lid.
WORKING AND PRESENTATION:

wall printed on it. casually shown empty at the end.
REQUIREMENTS:
Explain that it is an easy
jigsaw to solve and with wall The description under ‘Effect’
design uppermost, it is mixed A standard card box will be should help you to understand
up. The child is asked to needed. I use one which has a what should be done during this
complete the jigsaw without magnetic flap which means it can presentation.
seeing the picture of Humpty be freely handled by the children State that inside the box you
Dumpty. When it’s reversed it at the end of the presentation. keep a very difficult to do jigsaw
could well form the correct However, a card box with a puzzle. Open the lid and angle the
picture, or it could result in both regular flap will achieve the same picture of Humpty Dumpty
halves being arranged results. towards the children. Remove
incorrectly i.e. the bottom Log into Google and type in both pieces, it’s a jigsaw puzzle
section of Humpty’s face is ‘Cartoon Humpty Dumpty clip art’ and say “I wonder who could
above his head. This fits very (copyright free) and up will come complete this jigsaw puzzle?”
nicely when you are reciting the lots of examples. Select one which Several children will respond here,
well-known rhyme Humpty features his face and legs, one but the performer selects only
Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty without him sitting on a wall. Do one. Both pieces are placed face
Dumpty had a great fall. the same with Cartoon stone walls down onto a table then quickly
Explaining that “All the King’s (again copyright free) clip art, and moved around. It doesn’t really
horses and all the King’s men print off one of your choice. Use matter whether or not the

assisting child completes the

picture, it’s all fun.
Place both pieces back
inside the card box as a
complete picture of Humpty.
You recite the well-known
rhyme. When you say “Humpty
Dumpty had a great fall”,
switch the pieces around so the
picture of Humpty’s face is
distorted. Close the lid and pick
up the box and shake it.
Due to the fact that “All the
Intact Humpty card Humpty in two pieces King’s horses and all the King’s
men couldn’t put Humpty
together again,” the assisting
child is asked to do this by
magic!
The child makes a circular
rub over the top of the box.
When the lid is opened, not only
is Humpty 100% complete, but
so is the card. It’s no longer two
pieces just all one card.
The box can be causally
Stone wall on back shown empty.
Note: You may prefer to have

of all cards
Humpty card face up

the jigsaw solved within the box
still in two pieces. It’s up to you!
Standard or magnetic
card box
Flap, magnetic Humpty card in two

or otherwise pieces face up

Ideas Time
M
BY Brian BERRY THE P
emory loss “anticipated” at the better value in comparison too.”
seems to be a start that members She also remembers when a meal
common complaint would be glad to was included in the cost of your
these days. Whether contribute their pet Blackpool Registration ticket and
it’s the food, old age, tips or routine and not without complaint too! Kay
lack of performing share them with fellow added that the convention got
opportunities with members! Not so I’m concessionary rates because it
Covid etc. I don’t afraid. Promises, YES.
know, but I’ve been Action NO! Why not jot
surprised at my something down and
picking up a trick I’ve send it in for others to
done thousands of times, only benefit? You tell me!
to find I haven’t the faintest idea A couple of recent Ideas themes
how to start it! Two recent have attracted some memories. I
examples are Corner of was glad to hear from Kay Murray,
Piccadilly and Bottle whose mother performed as Trixy
Glass/Glass Bottle. Thankfully Queen and, I am reliably informed,
the excellent instructions with was also a siffleuse. Try a
each came to the rescue, but dictionary if, like me, you are was held early in the season,
even then I became muddled. mystified by this one! It’s rather when the waitresses and staff
This is probably due to the fact natural that Kay was brought up in were put “out to grass,” as they
that I anticipated what was the world of magic and show say. She remembers her father
coming in some cases and business, but she never took it up saying that the seats were very
missed out the important bit. as a performer. Commenting on close together and the common
Anticipation can be a fees and cost of props, Kay says, joke was: if you were lucky, the
dangerous thing. Take this “Yes, the very early days were waitresses spilt the gravy down
column, for instance. We cheaper by today’s money and your tie and not all over your shirt!
Photos: Kay Murray
Prestwich Clough Gala Day

E PRESTON PRESTIDIGITATOR
At home she was having some tried close-up for kids, give it a
building work carried out and the go; it’s very rewarding.
two workmen, father and son, It was nice to hear from
resembled Charlton Heston and Peter Robinson, from
Clint Eastwood. It struck her that, Hampshire, who responded to
possibly, they could have made my monthly invitation to ring
more money as look-alikes, than me for a chat (01772 421816).
clambering on roofs for a living! Peter was a former member of
Kay had attended the the Winchester Magic Circle,
(Manchester) Prestwich Clough but let his membership lapse
Gala Day recently and took the due to Covid. I’m glad to say he
photographs you see here. I’ve is thinking of re-joining. I
done close-up and walk-around at understand that many magic
this event since it first started, so clubs are suffering in the same
was sorry to say I couldn’t do it way. Would the odd phone call
again this year, being now unable Paul Gordon or visit renew interest,
to drive. Imagine my delight when especially when it makes them
especially liked Paul Gordon’s feel “wanted and missed?”
Corner of Piccadilly. It really has a Like many others, he misses
gob-smacking finish. The older the weekly publication of Abra
children and teenagers appreciate and so “couldn’t keep up with
it, whereas many scorn a “magic regular events on the magic
show” as just being for the scene”. I was glad to put him in
younger ones. Sponge Balls are touch with MagicWeek, with
still a winner, despite what some which he wasn’t familiar. I
folk say and Out to Lunch using a wonder how many others fail to
Brian back in action
knife, fork and spoon cards, with keep up with current affairs
relating to magic. Just google
the organisers rang me and said into MagicWeek and that’s it.
“No problem, we’ll send someone Even I can cope with that
to pick you up” and it was a computer wizardry!
seventy plus miles round trip. With Any thoughts on the above
good weather and a crowd, the and I’d be glad to hear from
day was another huge success. you (if only for a chat!)
Children as well as the grown- brianberry@tiscali.co.uk
ups were fascinated with the
close-up magic as it’s something the fork being bent, was firm (I’m very pleased to see Brian
the youngsters never see. A lot of favourite. A miniature set of Passe back in action after such a long
them like card tricks and can do a Passe Bottles caused a lot of fun, hospitalisation during
couple of simple ones, so that using the Dotto-Blotto routine, lockdown. He looks really
encourages them to learn more whilst the finale just has to be happy and brimming with good
and produce a little show. They Cups and Balls. If you have never health now. Ed)

Convention CORNER
The Welcome Party at Eastbourne will be held on the Bernardo Sedlacek is
evening of Wednesday 31 August 2022 at The the creator of the
Hardwick Suite of The International Lawn Tennis bestselling effect Good
Centre Devonshire Park. Just £15 for a buffet and Intuition. Bernardo is
entertainment, limited places still available. Contact known for his amazingly
the Registration Officer to book your place, strong magic, unique
ibmbritishring25reg@gmail.com. style, creativity, and
extreme card skills. He
Special Venue Shows will also be taking place and if has travelled the world,
any members would like to take part please contact performing side by side
Moira Fletcher at moira1.fletcher@gmail.com with some of the
greatest magicians such
Please also contact Moira if you would like to help at as Dani DaOrtiz, Bill
the convention by stewarding an event (or two) over Malone, Asi Wind, Lennart Green and many more.
the weekend, or to help on the Welfare Stand
(donations welcome). Our wonderful volunteers Brando and Silvana, originally from Argentina but
contribute enormously to the fun and success of each currently residing in Barcelona, Spain, have been
convention, so the more the merrier! professional magicians since 1987. They have
performed all around the world and their work is
Appearing at Eastbourne: based on a mixture of different artistic disciplines:
theatre, mime and juggling with magic. They have
Cameron Gibson is a world-class received several awards
event host, magician and mind- including the ’Magic
reader originally from Edinburgh, Comet’ Award for Best Gala
Scotland. He has travelled around Performance in 2005, Best
the world with his engaging and Comedy Street Magic
entertaining performances. award 2010 and 1st prize
After gaining experience as a Street Magic Festival in
resident in Glasgow’s famous Wild 2011 at St Wendel in
Cabaret, he travelled the UK as a Germany and Most Original
keynote speaker with Tree Of Stage Act in The European
Knowledge, performing to over Championship of Magic at
twenty-thousand people across Blackpool in 2011.
two years. Cameron is currently
based in Toronto, Canada, where he is the creative Brando and Silvana will be delighting us with their
lead, consultant and head magician on Illusionarium, stage act at Eastbourne and Brando will also be
Toronto – The world’s first immersive magic delivering his lecture on the paddle move, where
experience; and Magic Immersive, Chicago – a magic you can learn techniques to push the possibilities of
show in 360 degrees! the paddle to the limit!

07 Key Ring July 2022

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KEYRINGJULY22.

qxp_Layout 1 12/06/2022 15:12 Page 1

KEY JULY 2022

President: Alan MASKELL COUNCIL

THE EDITOR’S VIEW

Geoffrey NEWTON editor

When submitting articles send to the above

2 KEYRING JULY 2022

JULY 2022 KEYRING 3

FROM THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

4 KEYRING JULY 2022

ABITMOOREMAGIC BY Clive MOORE

JULY 2022 KEYRING 5

COLLABORATIVE CONJURING TIME AFTER TIME by C hr

CHRIS: This is one of those effects

JAMES: If we could really go back

6 KEYRING JULY 2022

C hris WARDLE and James WARD

1 Grand Hotel, Bologna

3 Hotel Cavalieri, Pisa

5 Hilton, New York

6 Hotel Regis, Mexico

7 Hotel Victoria, Rome

8 The Balmoral, Edinburgh

9 Hotel des Palmiers, Lausanne

10 Continental Savoy, Cairo

11 Hotel de la Paix, Geneva

12 Hotel Claridge, Paris

13 The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong

JULY 2022 KEYRING 7

lump, by dipping one corner into

JULY 2022 KEYRING 9

6 Make oone straight vertical cut

This interesting paper

1 Fold the square from corner to

2 Take one corner of the paper

and fold the point so it touches FIG 5 FIG 6

10 KEYRING JULY 2022

WE THINK WE THINK ALIKE 1 Christmas Card Scene

5 Trees and Morning Sun

The Black Forest

JULY 2022 KEYRING 11

THE MAGIC PENCIL

12 KEYRING JULY 2022

TDerbyhesawevening DERBY MAGIC CIRCLE recordings

Victory Club, Chellaston, discussing the firearms

JULY 2022 KEYRING 13

CAROL’S CONVENTION CAROUSEL EARLY ME M

BRIGHTON 1956, BUXTON

1959 AND HASTINGS

14 KEYRING JULY 2022

ME MORIES BY CAROL TYNAN

‘leapfrogging’ the car in front. I appearing in them and

JULY 2022 KEYRING 15

always going to be a Dawson. This was a sell-out

16 KEYRING JULY 2022

adding a single (not for Oliver Tabor, presented his

Photos: Carol Tynan

JULY 2022 KEYRING 17

VANNI PULÉ PRESENTS

18 KEYRING JULY 2022

and, as a magician, he was up

JULY 2022 KEYRING 19

BRADFORD MAGIC CIRCLE HEY PRESTO