Marc Paul & Ali Bongo let Ged know what they think

of his magic !!

The GriffInThe GriffInThe GriffInThe GriffInVolume 63 No.3: Marc h /April2005

Ivor word to say. . .

THE COMMITTEEPresident

Ivor NethercottRoe Parc

St Asaph, DenbighshireLL17 0LD

tel: 01745 584 793President Elect

Don GilroySecretary & Welfare Secretary

Arthur Booker4 Bodelwyddan Avenue, Kinmel Bay, Rhyl,

LL18 5BWtel: 01745 330733

TreasurerRobert Scott

3 Pendyffryn Road, Rhyl, LLI8 4RU01745 351918

Book LibrarianEddie Hughes & Paul Hughes

“Taklakot”, Craig Road, Old Colwyn,Conway. LL29 9HNtel: 01492 516712Video Librarian

Mark Thurold8 Avon Court, Connah's QuayDeeside, Flintshire CH5 4UN

tel: 0779 353 0634Entertainments Secretary

Noel MasseyThe Stables

Brookpark Farm, Chester Road, Northop HallMold. Flintshire. CH7 6NJ

tel: 01244 812813Competition Organiser

Russell Roberts17 Maes Cynfaen, Brynford, Holywell

CH8 8LAtel: 01352 716 845

Photographer & Griffin EditorHowie Fay

"Witzend" 10 The Rowans, Broughton, Chester. CH4 0TD

tel: 01244 534894(home)tel: 01244 520101(office)

email: editor@griffinmagazine.co.ukCommittee Members

Paul EdwardsSteven Clayton

Dave Baker

I hope everyone has had a good start to the year. we have had a cool start weatherwise but I’m sure it will improve before long. I had a pleasant surprise recently, when switching on my TV and switching to S4C. There was Paul Edwards performing his tricks for all to admire and enjoy. Recapping on the Theatre front it was a little disappointing to see such a small attendance. However we were all treated to a wonderful show by our members. Let’s hope that those who were there spread the good news to their friends and family in the hope that we have a bigger audience for any future show. It is good to see that things are happening to prevent the threatened closure and we can only hope that our present home will be safe for the forseeable future. Has Mark taken the cloth? or is it a gimmick? One finds it hard to believe some of the things you read in your favourite magazine but keep on reading as there are many good things to learn. The sale at the beginning of the year did not seeem to go down so well. As it was the first meeting of the year and just after the Chrismas holiday maybe there was not enough cash!! Maybe we can hold one later in theYear?! That’s all for now,more next month. Ivor

MagicseenA New Magic Publication

Early 2005 will see the launch of a new magic magazine Magicseen. “The top-quality publication is produced by an experienced publishing team who has previously launched five successful national magazine titles. The Bi-monthly title, priced at £3.50 will be UK biased, and will also include magic from around the world. Issue one will feature exclusive interviews, magic tricks, celebrity pieces, reviews and lots more. Contributions will come from some of the world’s leading magicians – and if anyone would like to contribute editorial material for consideration – they are welcome to send it in! Editor is Mark Leveridge, and the writers are professional journalists with extensive experience on the national press. ‘Magicseen will be a real breath of fresh air to the magic world,’ said Mark Leveridge, ‘The aim is to make Magicseen more entertaining than the current magic magazines – and one that will not take itself too seriously. The standard of journalism is brilliant, and we are receiving lots of support from people such as Sky TV and the major production companies, to get those behind-the-scenes exclusives.’” Subscriptions will be available from January 1st. Editorial material should be marked ‘Editorial’ and can be sent to: philshaw@email.com . Advertising and wholesale enquiries to Peter Salter:peter.salter@costcutter.com It still won't beat your monthly (well, almost every month) magnificent magnaminous mystyfying magical mag. . .

"GRIFFIN !"

DERREN BROWN -

SOMETHING WICKED COMES

THIS WAY TOUR 2005

will be coming your way - book early to see this all-new show

from the master of mind manipulation. Box office numbers in brackets. March 20th: Brighton Theatre Royal (08700 606650), 21st: Stoke On Trent Victoria Hall (01782 213800), 22nd: Kings Lynn Corn Exchange (01553 764864), 24th: Croydon Fairfield (0208 688 9291), April 1st: Northampton Derngate (01604 624811), 2nd: Nottingham Royal Concert Hall (0115 989 5555), 3rd: Hull New Theatre (01482 226655), 4th: Darlington Civic Theatre (01325 486555), 5th: Bradford St Georges Hall (01274 432000), For North Wales/ North West fans on the10th he'll be at Liverpool Empire Theatre (0870 606 3536), 11th: Manchester Lowry (0870 787 5790), 12th: Buxton Opera House (0845 127 2190), 13th: High Wycombe Swan (01494 512000), 14th: Crawley The Hawth (01293 553636), 16th: Stevenage Concert Hall (08700 131030), 17th: Chatham Central Theatre (01634 338338), 19th: Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall (01892 530613), 20th: Leicester De Montfort Hall (0116 233 3111), 21st: Birmingham Alexandra Theatre (0870 607 7533), and for Mad Dog Mansell: on the 22nd: Birmingham Alexandra Theatre (0870 607 7533), 23rd: Barnstaple Queens Theatre (01271 324242), 24th: Truro Hall For Cornwall (01872 262466), (some dates omitted)

DVD REVIEWRichard Thompson, once again has pulled all the stops out to contribute this great little article. . . Thanks Richard

Daryl’s Fooler Doolers Vol 1.

Available in your Video LibraryThis is the first of three volumes in Daryl’s “Fooler Doolers” series which contains good, practical routines with everyday and inexpensive props, such as sponge balls, ropes and cards, all delivered with Daryl’s inimitable style and humour. If you are looking for good routines, based on sound magical principles, which are within anyone’s capabilities, this DVD is strongly recommendedProgramme

1. Bennett’s Boner (Horace Bennett)A classic torn and restored impromptu napkin effect with a standard “sucker” finish. It’s done with a napkin (or two) and a cup and starts off with the trick apparently going wrong but the explanation provides the misdirection for the actual magic. 2. Instantaneous Knot. You take one end of a piece of rope in one hand, and the other end in the other hand and with nothing more than a slight sneeze a fully examinable knot magically appears on to the rope. This can lead very effectively into a “Do as I Do” routine, incorporating the Pretzel knot below. 3. Pretzel Knot. A normal looking knot on a rope can be dissolved by a simple massage of the hand.The pretzel knot can be used as part of many other rope routines.

4. Dai Vernon’s Climax to a Dice Routine (Dai Vernon)This is a lot of fun where one die, becomes two, becomes three, and then one of them changes size (drastically). 5. Daryl’s Color Changing Knives (Daryl) A yellow penknife is shown on both sides. It is pushed into the hand and comes out red. The red penknife is shown on both sides. It is pushed into the hand and comes out yellow. This is repeated through various stages with increasing number of probabilities. Daryl’s very practical approach takes you through each stage in meticulous detail.

6. Four of a Kind (Dai Vernon)This is a “do as I do” type of card trick where you fan a deck of cards showing them to be all different. You shuffle them, split them in half and hand one half to a spectator. You then ask the spectator to do as you do. You each shuffle your cards, and then select two face down cards from anywhere in the half deck. You place your two cards face down in the spectators face up deck, and you take their two cards and place them face down in your face up deck. The two halves are then spread – by some bizarre coincidence, the two face down cards in your half are two aces and the two in the other half are also two aces.

7. The Trick Question (Brother John Hamman, Daryl) Based on Dr Daley’s last trick, the Four Aces are shown cleanly but a magical transposition takes place between the aces much to the surprise of the spectator.

8. Chinese Laundryman (Eric D. Widger) This routine has a nice line in patter telling the story of a Chinese laundryman and how he ties a piece of laundry (a silk) on to a laundry line (rope) and

the silk is also tied around the rope. He then claims that in the event of rain, the laundryman would need to take the laundry off the line very quickly, and the silk magically passes through the rope.Very effective use of simple methods. 9. Mystery of the Travelling Marbles (Silent Mora, Daryl) If you want a lesson in misdirection then simply watch this and admire the mechanics and timing of the moves.Four cubes of sugar on one side of the table are covered with a napkin, another napkin is placed on the other side of the table. A cube is magically plucked from under one napkin and placed under the other one. The napkins are lifted and indeed there are three on one side, and one the other side. Remarkably simple, relying on Daryl’s master class in misdirection, which is strong enough to repeat the move four times. It really is that good.

10. As Many and As Much As You (Jon Racherbaumer, Daryl) This is simply a money prediction. You predict not only how many coins the spectator has, but how much it all adds up to. 11. Sponge Ball Routine (Daryl) This is the standard comedy sponge ball routine but, done with Daryl’s amazing presentational skills, it is quite special and entertaining. It starts off with a purse frame and a sponge ball production and the sponge ball is magically split into two followed by nice comedy bi-play with a spectator.

12. Cup and Ball Routine (Daryl) Impromptu and funny cup routine done with everyday items such as a coffee cup, a borrowed dollar bill (rolled up into a ball) and a knife substituting for a wand. Study Daryl’s timing and misdirection for loading techniques. Absolute quality.

There you are, you probably think that I’ve overdone the use of the old hyperbole, but take this DVD out and judge for yourself.

P.S. If you have been impressed or encouraged by a book, video or DVD from our Libraries why don’t you drop Howie a line with a brief resume – he sure would appreciate it!! Richard

TRICK REVIEW BY RICHARD THOMPSON

ShinkansenThis is an easy but extremely visual version of the all time classic “cards across” routine from the fertile mind of Phil Goldstein, which is well within the scope of most beginners. It plays very strongly and will leave your audience absolutely bemused. The purists will, perhaps, justifiably argue that the effect could be achieved with sleight of hand, leaving all cards examinable at the end, but this stunning effect, as described, is still very strong and convincing magic.

The Really Rewarding

"Richard Reveals" Reveiw

EFFECT:Four red cards are openly displayed, and counted on to a spectator’s hand. To emphasise the fairness, the spectator counts them back into the magician’s hand. The cards are then handed back to the spectator for safe-keeping, face down on the table. A set of 4 blue cards are shown to be all different, and a second spectator is asked to randomly select one as the cards are they are shuffled. This is a free choice, and the spectator can even change his mind before his card is revealed. It could have been any of the four and the spectator then keeps the four blue cards for safe-keeping in a similar manner to the previous procedure.To the audience it seems that the trick has barely begun but for the magician the trick is over! It is reassuring to be so far ahead so that one can then concentrate purely on the presentation. You pantomime taking one card from the blue cards and take it across to the red cards, still protected under the spectator’s hand.The spectator is asked to uncover the blue cards, and you clearly show that there are now only three cards in the pile. Yes, that is not a misprint, it is only three cards. They are placed face up on the table, in clear sight of everyone. This is surprising and very strong and as you walk over to the first spectator you can sense that the audience is now rapidly getting ahead of you.

You ask the first spectator to open their hands and uncover the cards. The backs are spread to clearly show that there are now FIVE cards! Moreover, in between the 4 red backed cards there is now a blue backed card. This is even more effective if done very slowly. You take out the blue backed card and ask the second spectator to again name their card. At the same time slowly turn over the blue backed card which matches the spectator’s selection.

In the accompanying text there is one move, at a critical phase of the trick, that could be considered a difficult sleight, for beginners especially. Bob King demonstrated during his lecture last year (2003), that this move can be eliminated, as there is a simpler and more effective handling that takes all the heat off during the critical phase. Ask me at any future meetings should you want more detail on this handling.It is fair to say that all the cards cannot be handed out for examination but it does not detract from a well constructed trick that normally sells from most dealers at around £10.

Well, well it seems the ranks have grown.By J.L. GatlingLast month (as you know) was the annual Debut Night, where some of the newest talent to enter the circle performed to us for the first time, (including yours truly).The night got off to a running start with Mr Noel Massey preparing to show us a card trick of jumbo proportions, but after looking at them for a brief period he thought that maybe he’d try later, so went on to

introduce the first act.Note for Howard Fay: Can’t really report my own act. Not vain in that way, (what do ya mean liar) lol.

Well, I have to admit that Tim did write some notes but I seem to have lost them, however, I do remember the Gatling Gun vanishing coins and doing some lovely stuff with cards. If I come across more detail, I'll fill you in Sorry . . ED

After that was the beautiful young Miss Sarah Jones, a little nervous, she asked for some assistance, so some weirdo in a long black coat and hair to match stepped up to the plate.( yes yours truly.)It, like most that evening was a short

performance with some great effects, starting with a couple of card tricks, inc the chosen card with the only red back, and ending with a precious stone prediction, all very nicely done.Stepping up to the mark after Miss Jones was Barry Trestain, beginning with a little gamble, with his transforming casino chips, after which he swiftly moved onto a little table card magic, starting with a smooth prediction & then he called for a doctor in the house with Dr Jacks four blacks.Following that impressive piece, was the smooth voice of Irishman Bob Kirk, he entertained us with a variety of feats

including cane spinning and balloon dogs selecting chosen cards. Also he amazed with his sowing abilities and then a plastic pane penetration, there were ropes, silks and mentalist magic all this mixed with some excellent dry one liners.After a short break Master Elliot Carty stood up front performing some classics, he proved his taste for cards with the selection in the mouth, an ancient piece of magic followed with the Chinese linking rings, performed with a masterful flair, finally the young man ended with some teleporting sponges, which after a miscommunication

Weds 6th Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 01902 429212

Thurs 7th Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 01902 429212

Fri 8th Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 01902 429212

Sat 9th Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 01902 429212

Sun 10th Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 01902 429212

Sat 16th Retford Majestic Theatre 01777 706866

Sun 17th Stoke Regent Theatre 01782 213800

Sat 23rd Leamington Spa Royal Spa Centre 01926 334418

Sun 24th Aldershot Princes Hall 01252 329155

Sat 30th Swindon Wyvern Theatre 01793 524481

Sun 22nd Liverpool Empire

with his prop (which he showed who’s boss), went off without a hitch. Comment, a great performance.Following the round of applause was a nervous Albert Harrison, but warm smiles from the crowd spurred him on, he showed rope, money and card tricks, these included a nice little £5 and card mix, and a lordful control of the reds and blacks.So the newbie’s had been on and now Noel wanted his turn, his Jumbo cards now happy to play ball, a neat feat of turning, changing five, 5 of diamonds.But there was still time left, so old favourites came up to the front. The Master Terry

astounded with his fantastic card feats, making everyone truly believe, he’s too good for this place, and to complete the night was Mark Thrould, continuously scaring audience members by smashing diamond rings and putting a KNIFE through MY jacket.Although nervous all the new members performed very well and with fabulous flair, this was a great evening of magic and mystery, introducing some new talent.And personally I’m glad that I’m now part of the North Wales Magic Circle.By The Gatling.

Safire are on tour with The Chuckle brothers once again. . . Here's where they'll be in April. Be sure to go and see them if you can. They're in Liverpool on Sunday 22nd so take your Grannie & the kids, you'll have a ball!!

Fri 1st Skegness Embassy Centre 01754 768333

Sat 2nd Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall 01892 530613

Sun 3rd Worthing Pavilion Theatre 01903 206206

Safire On

Tour

The Rise of the Indian

Rope Trick’: The Grift of

the MagiBy TELLER

WHEN John Elbert Wilkie died in 1934, he was remembered for his 14 years as a controversial director of the Secret Service, during which he acquired a reputation for forgery and skullduggery, and for masterly manipulation of the press. But not a single obituary cited his greatest contribution to the world: Wilkie was the inventor of the legendary Indian Rope Trick. Not the actual feat, of course; i t does not and never d i d exist. In 1890, Wilkie, a young reporter for T h e Chicago Tribune, fabricated the legend that the world has e m b r a c e d from that day

to this as an ancient feat of Indian street magic. How did a silly newspaper hoax become a lasting icon of mystery? The answer, Peter Lamont tells us in his wry and thoughtful ‘’Rise of the Indian Rope Trick,’’ is that Wilkie’s article appeared at the perfect moment to feed the needs and prejudices of modern Western culture. India was the jewel of the British Empire, and to justify colonial rule, the British had convinced themselves the conquered were superstitious savages who needed white men’s guidance in the form of exploitation, conversion and death. The prime symbol of Indian benightedness was the fakir, whose childish tricks -- as the British imagined -- frightened his ignorant countrymen but could never fool a Westerner.

When you’re certain you cannot be fooled, you become easy to fool. Indian street magicians have a repertory of earthy, violent tricks designed for performance outdoors -- very different from polite Victorian parlor and stage magic. So when well-fed British conquerors saw a starving fakir do a trick they couldn’t fathom, they reasoned thus: We know the natives are too primitive to fool us; therefore, what we are w i t n e s s i n g must be genuine

magic.

This idea of genuine magic in a far-off place filled a void in the West. Physics, biology, geology and archaeology were challenging traditional beliefs, especially religion. Hungering for the unexplainable, but eager to consider themselves enlightened, Americans and Englishmen were turning to spiritualism, which promises ‘’scientific’’ evidence of immortality, while providing satisfying shivers in a darkened seance room. Other new religions, like theosophy, proved their truth by citing the miracles that were supposedly commonplace in India. ‘’It was from this imagined India, rather than India itself,’’ Lamont writes, ‘’that the legend of the rope trick would emerge.’’

Stage magicians, at that time the stars of entertainment, either loved or hated this Orientalism. White conjurors smeared on brown greasepaint to perform under such names as ‘’The Fakir of Ava, Chief of Staff of Conjurors to His Sublime Greatness the Nanka of Aristaphae!’’ Others, in particular John Nevil Maskelyne, the British magician and inventor of the pay toilet, made headlines by railing against fakirs, ‘’those oily mendicants,’’ taking advantage of innocent imperialists.

In 1890 The Chicago Tribune was competing in a cutthroat newspaper market by publishing sensational fiction as fact. The Rope Trick -- as Lamont’s detective work reveals -- was one of those fictions. The trick made its debut on Aug. 8, 1890, on the front page of The Tribune’s second section. An anonymous, illustrated article told of two Yale graduates, an artist and a photographer, on a visit to India. They saw a street fakir, who took out a ball of gray twine, held the loose end in his teeth and tossed the ball upwards where it unrolled until the other end was out of sight. A small boy, ‘’about 6 years old,’’ then climbed the twine and, when he was 30 or 40 feet in the air, vanished.

D e r r e n B r o w n has actually been nominated for two Royal Television Society awards. They are Best E n t e r t a i n m e n t

Series for Trick of the Mind, and Best Entertainment Performance for Séance. And Trick of the Mind has also been nominated for a Rose d’Or by the Festival Rose d’Or, Switzerland. An incredible achievement.

The artist made a sketch of the event. The photographer took snapshots. When the photos were developed, they showed no twine, no boy, just the fakir sitting on the ground. ‘’Mr. Fakir had simply hypnotized the entire crowd, but he couldn’t hypnotize the camera,’’ the writer concluded.

The story’s genius is that it allows a reader to wallow in Oriental mystery while maintaining the pose of modernity. Hypnotism was to the Victorians what energy is to the New Age: a catchall explanation for crackpot beliefs. By describing a thrilling, romantic, gravity-defying miracle, then discrediting it as the result of hypnotism -- something equally cryptic, but with a Western, scientific ring -- The Tribune allowed its readers to have their mystery and debunk it, too. Newspapers all over the United States and Britain picked up the item, and it was translated into nearly every European language. Four months later, a letter to the editor forced The Tribune to come clean. The tale, the newspaper confessed, had not been reporting at all, but ‘’written for the purpose of presenting a theory in an entertaining form.’’ In other words, it was phony. But where the original story had

caused an international stir, the retraction attracted little notice.

How did Lamont, a research fellow at Edinburgh University, discover the identity of the story’s anonymous author a century later? He found a long-overlooked article in a British weekly, People’s Friend, whose editor had written to The Tribune to contact one of the Yale graduates in the newspaper article. In response, the British editor received a personal note from the author: ‘’I am led to believe,’’ the writer admitted, ‘’that the little story attracted more attention than I dreamed it could, and that many accepted it as perfectly true. I am sorry that anyone should have been deluded.’’ The letter was signed, ‘’sincerely yours, John E. Wilkie.’’ It seems fitting that the same

John E. Wilkie, then a cub reporter at The Tribune, should later make his mark as a director of the Secret Service renowned for ruthless disinformation and unstoppable self-promotion.

Wilkie’s story had remarkable staying power. In 1904, for the first time, a living person claimed to have seen the Rope Trick. A young British gentleman, Sebastian Burchett, reported to the Society for Psychical Research that he recalled having seen the trick a few years earlier. After lengthy cross-examination, the society dismissed his testimony as illustrating ‘’once more the unreliability of memory.’’

But once the possibility of actually seeing the Rope Trick had been established in the press, more people started to ‘’see’’ it. A few months after Burchett’s report, an unidentified woman announced that she too had seen the trick, but a much flashier version: after the boy had vanished, ‘’bits of his apparently mangled remains fell from the sky, first an arm, then a leg, and so on till all his component parts had descended; these the juggler covered with a cloth, mumbled something or other, made a pass or two, and behold! There was the boy smiling and whole before us.’’ Sightings reappeared in flurries every few years. In 1919, The Strand Magazine published a photograph of the miracle in progress with a boy high atop a rope. That was a big hit until the photographer confessed that his picture actually just showed a child balancing on a pole. In 1925, the aptly named Lady Waghorn suddenly remembered witnessing the trick in Madras in 1891, although for 34 years she had somehow thought ‘’nothing about it.’’

Magicians capitalized on the public’s belief in the trick. Horace Goldin bragged about risking his life in India to wrest the secret

from a fakir, but Goldin later admitted, ‘’All I cared for was . . . the profit. Having failed to discover anything . . . I decided that the only course left to me was to invent it myself.’’ Of course, doing a version of the trick on a stage with overhead rigging and limited viewing angles was a far cry from open-air street performance. But that didn’t stop Howard Thurston from advertising the ‘’World’s Most Famous Illusion First Time Out of India’’ with a lithograph of Thurston waving his hands at a boy on a rope rising into open sky, while a turbaned man prostrates himself before the miracle.

Other magicians saw the Rope Trick as a dangerous myth that ‘’gave the appalling impression that Indian jugglers were superior to Western conjurors.’’ Members of Britain’s magicians’ alliance, the Magic Circle, systematically hunted down and discredited eyewitnesses, and even offered a 500-guinea reward for anyone who would actually perform the trick.

Naturally, the nuts emerged. ‘’His Excellency Dr. Sir Alex-ander Cannon’’ offered to bring over his favorite yogi to perform the trick at the Albert Hall, if the Magic Circle would pay him £50,000, provide a shipload of genuine Indian sand and heat the Albert Hall to tropical temperatures. Karachi -- the exotic stage persona of a ‘’lamentable’’ Plymouth magician named Arthur Derby -- offered to do the rope part of the trick in the open air, provided he could prepare the grounds 48 hours in advance and keep the audience at least 15 yards away. Karachi declined to make the boy vanish (that being the impossible part). By 1934, historians were thoroughly confused. Some claimed that Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, had scoured India for the trick in 1875 (he hadn’t) and that same year Lord Northbrook had offered £10,000 for a performance (he hadn’t).

Antecedents of the trick, resembling it about as much as ‘’Jack and the Beanstalk,’’ were found in Australia, Siberia, Germany and China. Researchers in India proudly quoted rope-climbing metaphors in eighth-century philosophical commentaries. But, Lamont argues cogently, though one or the other of these obscure references may have inspired Wilkie, the Indian Rope Trick as we know it did not exist for the world until the hoax of 1890. Lamont relishes the bizarre theories suggested to explain the trick that’s never been done. In the 1930’s, Erik Jan Hanussen, Hitler’s secretly Jewish personal psychic, declared that the rope in the trick was actually a segmented pole made of sheep bones. In 1955 an American journalist, John Keel, went to India and came back with a ‘’simple explanation’’ involving a boy and a fakir hanging on a rope suspended between two hills by means of a thread of human hair, and pretending to argue while the man throws to the ground pieces of dead monkey. In the 1960’s, an Indian offered to teach a secret mantra of the trick to any penitent who would avoid eating meat and having sex for three weeks -- and who could prove that was true. In the 1970’s, Uri Geller’s biographer declared that the Rope Trick was a mass hallucination induced by telepathy. ‘’One could choose,’’ Lamont remarks, ‘’between the views of a Jewish Nazi clairvoyant or those of an ambassador for psychic aliens, between chopping up a monkey or becoming a vegetarian celibate.’’ ONE question haunts Lamont: did the various ‘’eyewitnesses’’ actually witness anything or were they simply lying? He offers a plausible middle ground. Indian street repertory includes pole balancing and simulated child mutilation. Lamont detects a pattern in the eyewitness narratives: ‘’The longer the period between when the trick had been seen and when it had been reported, the more impressive

Safire are an award winning spectacular act - taking the world of illusion into a new dimension. Their hard work has produced a breathtaking and amusing live show, resulting in them being in great demand and gaining them an excellent reputation throughout the magic industry. Not only have Safire established themselves here in Britain but they have been fortunate enough to break through to America - one of the highlights of

Spotlight On Safire

the account of it.’’ So, he speculates, perhaps the true secret of the Indian Rope Trick is the way the supple human memory combines events we’ve really seen with legends we’ve only heard, and shapes them into the best possible story to tell our grandchildren. ‘’The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick’’ is a labor of love. Lamont disentangles the gargantuan knot of lies and sets the record straight with a joyful vengeance. Plainly he relishes the irony of writing history about bogus history. He includes a thoughtful quotation on the subject of annotations from Oxford University’s George Matlock. Then Lamont confesses that Matlock and his quotation are his own fictitious creations. This, he says, clearly demonstrates why he must include footnotes -- particularly in this story, because ‘’many of the events and characters in this book are so bizarre that you, the reader, might wonder . . . whether I can be trusted. And that would hurt my feelings.’’ Some might find such shenanigans insolent, but that’s just the way I like my historians. Teller is the shorter, quieter half of Penn and Teller.

MadCowCornerMadCowCorner

Oh her? she's on her hols!

their career was to receive an invitation from world famous illusionists Siegfried & Roy to appear in their Convention at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.As the Safire phenomenon continues, so their C.V. grows. Safire’s experience and ability to adapt their performance to any situation makes their act ideal for any style of event, from large theatre shows to corporate product launches.Safire have worked extensively throughout the world of entertainment, creating many of their own illusions to ensure they are always at the cutting edge of their craft. Their popularity has resulted in an impressive list of shows, including: Touring for six years with The Ken Dodd Laughter Show, and appearing on many Variety Bills. Safire have performed at over 120 British theatres. Performing at the largest “number one” venues throughout the UK including The Birmingham Hippodrome and The Palace in Manchester, and supporting some of the top names in show business including Billy Pearce, Bobby Davro, John Inman, Keith Harris, Phil Cool, Richard Branson, Jeremy Beadle, Kim Wilde, Wayne Dobson, Hinge and Bracket, Cannon and Ball, The Grumbleweeds, Jimmy Cricket, Danny La Rue and Rory Bremner. With seven Pantomimes under their belt they are one of Britain’s top theatrical illusion acts.Their Summer seasons have included Frank Carson’s “Its a Cracker” at the North Pier Theatre, Blackpool and two years with Ken Dodd at the prestigious Blackpool Opera House. Whilst performing in Germany Safire, by Royal Appointment, were invited to appear before Prince Lutipold of Bavaria.Safire’s Television appearances include: Pebble Mill, The Pyjama Party, On the Road with Gaz Top, The Quest, The Sooty Show and Top Banana. Safire also performed on Granada Tonight’s Christmas Special - The Crusaders, with Noddy Holder (Slade), the cast of

Coronation Street and magically produced ‘Warrior’, star of the hit TV show Gladiators.Safire’s magic ranges from small intimate close up tricks to large scale illusions many of which are unique. Their corporate clients include: Virgin, Nat West, Granada, Channel 4, Anderson Consulting, Magex, Jaguar, Hilton Hotels, Euro Dollar and Mercedes, (where they not only presented their illusion act but also made a car appear!) Safire (Stuart and Jayne) are members of Equity and have no sole agent.Top Trick?“As an illusionists my top trick has got to be the Substitution Trunk. It is such an old illusion, it’s new. I don’t think you can get a much better finale to your act. I’ve found that if all else has failed to impress your audience, the Sub Trunk normally wins them over.”Top Book?“My top book has got to be U F Grant’s 20 tricks with a Victory Carton, as this saved my knee caps 10 years ago. (It’s a long story but very interesting!!) Also thumbs up to the Pan’s Book of Children’s Magic for the same reason. I also enjoy Rand Woodbury and Andrew Mayne.”Top Magician?“I would say that of my favourite magicians is Doug Henning. He epitomized the era he was in and wasn’t afraid of not being stereo typed as the regular magician that everyone expected. He was creative, and bought humour and light heartedness to all his illusions. My biggest regret is that I was so close to having the chance of meeting him when we appeared at the Magic Seminar in Las Vegas 2 years ago, where he was to be attending, and unfortunately he died a few months previous. I also enjoy Otto Wesley for his outrageousness.”Top Magic Quote?“My favourite Magic Quote came from

"Almost Final Thoughts" The Vikings have an old proverb:

"Always pillage before ye burn!"

"Hmmm makes ya think"

Have you ever wondered if you really know somebody

Do ya eh?. . .eh? Here's a few little known facts about the dazed Editor of The

Griffin. . .His Former majesty, Howie Bartholemew

Tarquin Dwayne Harry Paget Elvis Fay JP MMC ACIBSE(lapsed subs) 25yds

breaststroke. cycling proficiency

Former King of Norway; Mountaineer; Inventor of the fridge; Solo Round-the-World yachtsman; Ambassador to Prussia; Discoverer of the planet Neptune; Brain-Surgeon; Matador; Poet Laureate to Her Majesty; Veterinarian; Concert Pianist; World Champion Arm Wrestler and Ballroom Dancer; Marine Biologist; Stamp Collector; Cordon Bleu Chef and compulsive liar is the author of seventy-seven books, all of which topped the best-seller lists.Speaks nineteen languages, all but eighteen of them fluently.He spends most of his time on the west coast, living in the luxurious Faze Manor, performing vital research on small animals and postmen, having splendid adventures and behaving eccentricly. sometimes edits a local magic magazine.Your comments are welcome at: editor@griffinmagazine.co.uk Being the sensitive artist that he is, he guarantees to take them all far too seriously, and, if you provide your name and address, will actually come to visit you where you live, unexpectedly one day, (probably when you’ve just shampooed your hair) in order to deal with any criticisms personally.

Ken Dodd. He said ‘You can do funny tricks...or you can do tricks funny!’”Top Magic Moment?“Our own Top Magic moment was performing at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas in front of not only the general public but some of the top names in magic, including Siegfried & Roy, Pendragons, Penn & Teller, Jeff McBride and many others.”

Blackpool '05What a great time I had in Blackpool.with Ged, Mad Dog Mansell and his son Mad Pup Mansell. I didn't spend much but I did get a new wand, 20 cheap, and I mean cheap (£1 each) thumbtips and the Buy of the Year, a wonderful wooden. . .Yes wooden chop cup, for £15 as well!

If you went, how was it for you? Why don't you write your experiences, the highs and lows of the premier magical weekend of the year.

Ged got beaten up by the greats of magic, as usual and water poured over his head by Bill Malone. Can you top that? You know the address, so get scribbling. Photos are great as well!

Amazing Star Gazing

by

Mystic Arthur Booker "friend to the stars"

Taurus: (20th April~20th May)On Tuesday those closest to you will continue to try to edge away as quietly and politely as possible

Gemini: (21st May~21st June)Recent events have strengthened your resolve to finally get around to disposing all those bodies you've got lying around.

Cancer: (22nd June~22nd July)As much as you try to control your destiny, the Hands of Fate will intervene several times this month knocking you into puddles for their own amusement

Leo: (23rd July~22nd August)Your excitement over the new arrival in your life is shattered when it's born with antlers

Virgo: (23rd August~22nd September)Some people are visual learners, others are auditory learners, but this month you discover you learn best when things are beaten into you

Libra: (23rd September~23rd October)Sometimes it's ok to be treated like a child, but it would be nice if your fellow magicians didn't mime the naughty words when you're around.

Scorpio: (24th October~21st November)It's been three long difficult months., but take heart: This month you will shatter the world record for the time spent trapped in a burning bus.

Sagittarius: (22nd November~21st December)What most people don't seem to understand is that normal dentures lack the air of excitement and danger of your prosthetic badger jaw.

Capricorn: (22nd December~19th January)People will fail to understand that your motto "Kill them all and let God sort them out" is only aimed at germs that cause coughing, sneezing and congestion.

Aquarius: (20th January~18th February)While no one will ever take your place in her heart, two rugby players, a traffic warden the Coldstream Guards and several of your friends have taken your place in her other areas.

Pisces: (19th February~20th March)You will undergo a crisis of faith when your vicar cannot explain to you why everyone at the last Supper was sat on the same side of the table?

Aries: (21st March~19th April)You will successfully foil a secret plot to infiltrate your house and surprise you with birthday gifts, cake and good wishes