Presidents Night - June 4th - Bill Spooner
[No comments]
Please note the change of date for Eddie's Presidents Night, it will now be Wednesday June 4th where Eddie will be delighted to welcome Dr Bill Spooner. Bill Spooner has been a member of the I.B.M. for 54 years. He served as International President in 1985-1986, and was the International Treasurer from 1990-1995. Bill is an author and inventor of magical effects and prefers close-up magic, but feels equally at ease with stage magic. He is a retired science educator. You can see his range of products and details of his Magical Spoonerisms on his website: Magical Spoonerisms.
Additional Lectures
[No comments]
We have booked Ali Bongo to compere and star at our Annual Dinner, we have also persuaded him to give a lecture the preceding evening on April 10th. Do not miss this lecture by one of the most inventive exponents of magic. Add the date to your diary now. In addition we have also filled the April 3rd date with a lecture and dealer dem from Magic Books By Post, starring our own member Steve Short along with co-owner Paul Cook, who will come and demonstrate tricks from the books that they sell.
2008 Syllabus
[No comments]
We have now pretty much finalised the 2008 Syllabus with just one date to fill in April (possibly with a very hot UK underground card-guy stay tuned). We have managed to get Dave Jones to lecture and perform at our Annual Supper. We have another well known UK Magician, Steve Dela, current holder of the IBM Zina Bennett close-up trophy, to lecture for us in May. Finally we have two American lecturers, Aaron Fisher in January and Joshua Jay in May, two extremely talented guys who you won't want to miss.
Anybody from another magic society is welcome to our external lectures for a door fee of £5, please contact us before hand if you intend to come along.
Anybody from another magic society is welcome to our external lectures for a door fee of £5, please contact us before hand if you intend to come along.
Syllabus
[No comments]
The new 2007-2008 Syllabus is now online. A new Young Magicians' Workshop section has been added along with the new Workshop Syllabus.
Spooner Trophy 2007 Results
[No comments]
After a tremendous competition on Saturday the result was a First Place win for Jack Gleadow and Second Place to Joe Harper. Congratulations to them, and to the other competitors David Hoyes, Alistair Kenyon-Brodie and Alex Pawinski. You can view pictures from the competition over on Jon Marshall's Flickr Page.
Spooner Trophy Competition 2007
[No comments]
This year's competition to find the Young Magician of Humberside, will be held on Saturday July 14th at 1.30pm at The Ferens Art Gallery, Live Art Space. Tickets can be bought on the door and are £3.50 for adults and £1.50 for children. Close-up magic will be performed before the show. Please come along and support our Humberside Young Magicians Workshop members.
David Hand to tour USA with Fourum
[No comments]
Our Honorary Treasurer David Hand is to tour the USA with male-voice quartet Fourum of which he is a member. I will let David tell you about this in his own words, we wish him luck on the tour:
Last September I was invited to join a close part harmony group from Scunthorpe called Fourum. I had to go a 2 hour audition (having previously been given 3 pieces of music to learn from scratch in one week). Immediately on returning home late that evening I received a call to say I had passed & they offered me the position. I was to take the place of the baritone who could not make a particular tour which the quartet had made twice before but not to the extent of this tour. In February this year the original baritone resigned due to other committments & I was invited to become a permanent member, which I accepted.
The tour involves 13 concerts in Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland & Virginia. We will be hosted in some areas, staying in booked accomodation in other areas. There will be 3 internal flights & we have hired a large mini type bus for the road movements. There will be various concerts at churches and retirement homes (for which the group have previously performed).
The highlight of this tour is the group being invited to perform at the Jamestown 400 celebrations which are commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first English settlers. Although celebrations are going on throughout the year, the weekend of 11-13th May sees much varied entertainment from about 70 orchestras, choirs and groups (even one magician) from the U.S.A including only 2 groups from England, our quarter being one of them. The organisers expect 30,000 visitors a day & we will be performing to agreed schedules on each of the 3 sound stages during the weekend. The weekend finishes on the Sunday night after a 1600 strong choir / orchestra have performed and a firework display, as the audince leaves the arena we have been asked to close the show. We will have somewhat of a captive audience to sell our CD (which was being recorded at the time of my original invitation so unfortunatley I am not on this one, but plans for another one including me are already being made). Buses will be used to transport the audience to their vehicles similar to Disney so those who missed us on the other concerts will certainly see us here. The Queen is making a state tour & visitng the Jamestown site but unfortunatley we belive she is going a few days before we are perfoming so she will miss us!
We perform all types of music & I have had to learn about 35 pieces of music - baritone line, as they do not use any music in perfomances. Some of the music is un-accompanied, although we do have our own pianist for some numbers & she will be with us on the tour. She is also a very accomplished violinst & both her & our Musical Director who arranges some of the musical numbers are ex London Royal College of Music, the other 2 members of the quartet are fine singers so I am very honoured to be a member of such a distinguished & talented group.
We are also officially busking during part of the weekend so I hope to incorporate some close up magic into some of those performances. We are finisihing our tour at a former 900 acre planation in which we are performing 2 x 2 hour concerts, one a private dinner party for the owners of the 6.2million dollar mansion that stands on the site. At that event I have been asked to entertain the guests with close up magic. We also have a tour manager & our wives will be with us on the tour.
We are appearing on Radio Humberside 2.00pm on Mon 30th April on Lara Kings show.
I have now performed 4 concerts with the group and at three of them we recived further bookings. I have a further 2 concerts with them tommorrow in Grimsby & Fri 27th April. Needless to say I have spent a lot of time rehearsing & so my other practice of new magic effects has suffered due to this.At least I have an interesting & tested close up repertoire for the trip.
For those who are interested www.fourum.co.uk will find our web site & all our biographies and concerts during the tour.
Last September I was invited to join a close part harmony group from Scunthorpe called Fourum. I had to go a 2 hour audition (having previously been given 3 pieces of music to learn from scratch in one week). Immediately on returning home late that evening I received a call to say I had passed & they offered me the position. I was to take the place of the baritone who could not make a particular tour which the quartet had made twice before but not to the extent of this tour. In February this year the original baritone resigned due to other committments & I was invited to become a permanent member, which I accepted.
The tour involves 13 concerts in Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland & Virginia. We will be hosted in some areas, staying in booked accomodation in other areas. There will be 3 internal flights & we have hired a large mini type bus for the road movements. There will be various concerts at churches and retirement homes (for which the group have previously performed).
The highlight of this tour is the group being invited to perform at the Jamestown 400 celebrations which are commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first English settlers. Although celebrations are going on throughout the year, the weekend of 11-13th May sees much varied entertainment from about 70 orchestras, choirs and groups (even one magician) from the U.S.A including only 2 groups from England, our quarter being one of them. The organisers expect 30,000 visitors a day & we will be performing to agreed schedules on each of the 3 sound stages during the weekend. The weekend finishes on the Sunday night after a 1600 strong choir / orchestra have performed and a firework display, as the audince leaves the arena we have been asked to close the show. We will have somewhat of a captive audience to sell our CD (which was being recorded at the time of my original invitation so unfortunatley I am not on this one, but plans for another one including me are already being made). Buses will be used to transport the audience to their vehicles similar to Disney so those who missed us on the other concerts will certainly see us here. The Queen is making a state tour & visitng the Jamestown site but unfortunatley we belive she is going a few days before we are perfoming so she will miss us!
We perform all types of music & I have had to learn about 35 pieces of music - baritone line, as they do not use any music in perfomances. Some of the music is un-accompanied, although we do have our own pianist for some numbers & she will be with us on the tour. She is also a very accomplished violinst & both her & our Musical Director who arranges some of the musical numbers are ex London Royal College of Music, the other 2 members of the quartet are fine singers so I am very honoured to be a member of such a distinguished & talented group.
We are also officially busking during part of the weekend so I hope to incorporate some close up magic into some of those performances. We are finisihing our tour at a former 900 acre planation in which we are performing 2 x 2 hour concerts, one a private dinner party for the owners of the 6.2million dollar mansion that stands on the site. At that event I have been asked to entertain the guests with close up magic. We also have a tour manager & our wives will be with us on the tour.
We are appearing on Radio Humberside 2.00pm on Mon 30th April on Lara Kings show.
I have now performed 4 concerts with the group and at three of them we recived further bookings. I have a further 2 concerts with them tommorrow in Grimsby & Fri 27th April. Needless to say I have spent a lot of time rehearsing & so my other practice of new magic effects has suffered due to this.At least I have an interesting & tested close up repertoire for the trip.
For those who are interested www.fourum.co.uk will find our web site & all our biographies and concerts during the tour.
Meet Steve Dela
[No comments]
Humberside Young Magicians' Workshop are hosting a 'Meet Steve Dela' morning on Saturday 31st March from 10.30am - 1pm.
Steve, current Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year, is appearing in the after-dinner theatre show at Hull Magicians' Circle Annual Dinner on Friday 30th March and has kindly agreed to talk, show some of his magic and demonstrate some of his original ideas to Humberside Young Magicians' group on Saturday 31st March. There will be items for sale. They would like to share this meeting with other young magicians in the region and extend an invitation to them, accompanied by an adult, to join them for this informal event. And bring a trick or two! There is no charge and light refreshments will be available. It’s at Hessle Town Hall, South Lane, Hessle, Nr Hull HU13 0RR (Map). Contact Richard Morrell if you would like to attend.
Steve, current Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year, is appearing in the after-dinner theatre show at Hull Magicians' Circle Annual Dinner on Friday 30th March and has kindly agreed to talk, show some of his magic and demonstrate some of his original ideas to Humberside Young Magicians' group on Saturday 31st March. There will be items for sale. They would like to share this meeting with other young magicians in the region and extend an invitation to them, accompanied by an adult, to join them for this informal event. And bring a trick or two! There is no charge and light refreshments will be available. It’s at Hessle Town Hall, South Lane, Hessle, Nr Hull HU13 0RR (Map). Contact Richard Morrell if you would like to attend.
Syllabus 2006-2007
[No comments]
Syllabus 2006-2007 The syllabus for the new season is now up on the site, apologies for the delay, I will try and update the site with some more content from The Oracle shortly.
9.5 In Town Tonight: Jack Le Dair
[No comments]
Variety acts had to have 'bill matter', the by-line that followed their name on the bills (never referred to as posters by professionals). What thought and stress must have gone into creating these. Turns would try to conjure up a catchy line that would capture the essence of the act, help sell it, and most important, be completely different to everyone else's. Jack Le Dair's 'bill matter' was “That Amazing Trickologist” and I saw him at the Hull Tivoli Theatre on February 18 1946. His act consisted of mainly small tricks presented in an entertaining manner. He opened with the Cut and Restored Newspaper which, instead of tearing, he cut with a paper knife making a neat bundle of cut papers. With a shake of his hands they became beautifully restored. Then followed 'Cigarette Making'. Jack selected a cigarette paper and made his hand into a fist, he pushed in the paper,followed by some tobacco and on pushing them through his fist, they were transformed into a cigarette. Jack lit the cigarette and performed some sleight of hand moves with it. But, suddenly, the audience were aware that he was no longer smoking a cigarette, it had changed into a cigar. Blowing a cloud of smoke he reached up and produced a shower of cigarettes. It's a good job that there was no ban on smoking in theatres in those days!
Members of the theatre band were often involved in an act's antics and occasionally were the butt of the comedian's jokes. Jack performed an intriguing mystery next involving the participation of a musician. Le Dair asked a violinist in the theatre orchestra to lend him his bow. Taking a piece of newspaper he wrapped the bow in it and then proceeded to crush the paper. The bow had disappeared. The violinist was not amused, but the magician
reached under his jacket and produced the missing bow. A spectator was then asked to take a playing card, tear it into eight pieces and to keep one. The other pieces were wrapped in tissue paper and put in an envelope. A cigarette was borrowed from a member of the audience, lit and smoked for a few seconds. The magician tore open the cigarette and a playing card was taken from it. The card was discovered to be the one selected earlier, minus the piece held by the spectator who was asked to fit the two pieces together. They fitted perfectly. When the envelope that contained the torn pieces was opened it was seen to contain tobacco.
The act concluded with an unusual demonstration. Le Dair presented a number of matchstick puzzles that he had adapted for the stage. The display board he used measured four-feet-sixinches square and the matches were
ten-inches in length and one-inch wide. After showing half-a-dozen puzzles he demonstrated 'Match Geography' - how to represent the names of towns and places using only four matches. The following are examples:
DUBLIN - Two matches taken from the board and laid on top of the other two - Doubling.
ALTRINCHAM - Move four matches about the board into any odd position - Altering 'em.
TRURO - Four matches set in perfectly straight row - A true row
ROTTEN ROW - All matches set askew
OLDHAM - Two matches held high - Hold 'em
CLAPHAM - “My last is without matches; I leave you to guess” - Clap 'em.
Well they were funny in 1946 - maybe someone could get some laughs with these even now. Closing Jack Le Dair's show was a Music Hall show, in miniature! This included a performer on a horizontal bar, a skeleton dancer, a chair balancer, two trick cyclists and a unicyclist on a tightrope. The artiste closing the show was a magician. All of the artistes were matchstick figures used as string puppets.
Jack Le Dair was born in Plymouth in 1880 and lived until 1952. His real name was John Albert Warton. The year I saw Jack perform in Hull (1946) he published his Tricks of a Trouper. Like many visiting magical performers Jack was invited to attend a supper with Hull Magicians' Circle members after one of his performances.
Members of the theatre band were often involved in an act's antics and occasionally were the butt of the comedian's jokes. Jack performed an intriguing mystery next involving the participation of a musician. Le Dair asked a violinist in the theatre orchestra to lend him his bow. Taking a piece of newspaper he wrapped the bow in it and then proceeded to crush the paper. The bow had disappeared. The violinist was not amused, but the magician
reached under his jacket and produced the missing bow. A spectator was then asked to take a playing card, tear it into eight pieces and to keep one. The other pieces were wrapped in tissue paper and put in an envelope. A cigarette was borrowed from a member of the audience, lit and smoked for a few seconds. The magician tore open the cigarette and a playing card was taken from it. The card was discovered to be the one selected earlier, minus the piece held by the spectator who was asked to fit the two pieces together. They fitted perfectly. When the envelope that contained the torn pieces was opened it was seen to contain tobacco.
The act concluded with an unusual demonstration. Le Dair presented a number of matchstick puzzles that he had adapted for the stage. The display board he used measured four-feet-sixinches square and the matches were
ten-inches in length and one-inch wide. After showing half-a-dozen puzzles he demonstrated 'Match Geography' - how to represent the names of towns and places using only four matches. The following are examples:
DUBLIN - Two matches taken from the board and laid on top of the other two - Doubling.
ALTRINCHAM - Move four matches about the board into any odd position - Altering 'em.
TRURO - Four matches set in perfectly straight row - A true row
ROTTEN ROW - All matches set askew
OLDHAM - Two matches held high - Hold 'em
CLAPHAM - “My last is without matches; I leave you to guess” - Clap 'em.
Well they were funny in 1946 - maybe someone could get some laughs with these even now. Closing Jack Le Dair's show was a Music Hall show, in miniature! This included a performer on a horizontal bar, a skeleton dancer, a chair balancer, two trick cyclists and a unicyclist on a tightrope. The artiste closing the show was a magician. All of the artistes were matchstick figures used as string puppets.
Jack Le Dair was born in Plymouth in 1880 and lived until 1952. His real name was John Albert Warton. The year I saw Jack perform in Hull (1946) he published his Tricks of a Trouper. Like many visiting magical performers Jack was invited to attend a supper with Hull Magicians' Circle members after one of his performances.
President's Night
[No comments]
Reminder to Members that President's Night is now on June 1st where Eddie will host a talk by Scotland's Gordon Bruce. Then our final meeting the A.G.M. will be June 8th, followed by two Summer Meetings on July 20th and August 17th.
Exciting Magic News - Have you booked yet?
[No comments]
If you haven't booked your tickets for Hull Magicians' Circle most exciting event, The Annual Dinner and Show Friday April 7th - please ring or e-mail David Hand now! Tel: 01724 850518 Email: davidh@nomanby.co.uk
We have a real scoop for our truly international show - Dale Salwak has played the top conventions, shows, theatres and television programmes, in the States and throughout the world. Our own, hilarious, Martyn James is compering and keeping it in the family Alan Hudson performs his own brand of comedy mentalism, fresh from his appearance at The Magic Castle. Amethyst featuring Danny Hunt and Annette are top-line illusionists and have played on cruise ships and on the continent. Jonathan Shotton may be young but he performs an exciting and colourful award winning act, he is a current finalist in The Magic Circle's Young Magician of the Year competition and appeared in St. Louis in the Society of American Magicians' Stars of Tomorrow show.

Dale Salwak - Wonderfully elegant magic from The Gentleman Magician (from California), “Dale Salwak doesn't just do magic; he is magic!”
We have a real scoop for our truly international show - Dale Salwak has played the top conventions, shows, theatres and television programmes, in the States and throughout the world. Our own, hilarious, Martyn James is compering and keeping it in the family Alan Hudson performs his own brand of comedy mentalism, fresh from his appearance at The Magic Castle. Amethyst featuring Danny Hunt and Annette are top-line illusionists and have played on cruise ships and on the continent. Jonathan Shotton may be young but he performs an exciting and colourful award winning act, he is a current finalist in The Magic Circle's Young Magician of the Year competition and appeared in St. Louis in the Society of American Magicians' Stars of Tomorrow show.
The Hull Magicians' Circle Annual Dinner 2006 And Magical Show
Featuring International Stars of Magic
Friday 7th April
Featuring International Stars of Magic
Friday 7th April

Dale Salwak - Wonderfully elegant magic from The Gentleman Magician (from California), “Dale Salwak doesn't just do magic; he is magic!”

Amethyst - International Illusionists present “The Power of Imagination”

Alan Hudson - That Cheeky Conjurer - Magician or Super Hero?

Jonathan Shotton - Dynamic Magical Manipulation, British Junior Stage Champion 2004

Compere - Martyn James, With a Twist of Comedy, 2003 British Magical Grand Prix Winner

The Living Half Lady - The Recreation of Jon Gresham's 1950s side show illusion.
Book NOW!
Friday 7th April 2006, Staff House, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull
Tickets £27.50
Available from David Hand 01724 850518
Friday 7th April 2006, Staff House, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull
Tickets £27.50
Available from David Hand 01724 850518
Arthur Setterington 1924 - 2006
[4 comments]

We are sorry to report the sad news that Arthur Setterington died on Thursday 26th January 2006 age 81. Arthur was a warm, generous magician who will be sadly missed by his many friends and correspondents throughout the world.
Arthur was acknowledged as the originator of the Penetrating Rubber Bands, the genesis of many of the modern elastic band tricks. He was prolific in his creation of tricks and ideas, he had over one-thousand effects published in many magazines beginning with Abra in 1947. His published books, pamphlets and manuscripts include The Book of Magic (co-authored with Eddie Dawes), The Life and Times of the Great Lafayette, Off Beat Mentalism, Joe Smith Mysteries, Straight Line Mysteries, Magic, Fun and Games and many more. Arthur's two books on mental and psychological mysteries, The Power of Persuasion and The Power of Perception, ahead of their time when published over thirty years ago, and now back in fashion, have been published, with additional material, by Paul Hallas under the title Arthur Setterington's Strange Powers.
In November 2003 Arthur was awarded the J N Maskelyne Literary Award by The Magic Circle.
Cube in a Tube, marketed by Edwin Hooper's Supreme Magic Company, was one of many originations that Arthur won the Hull Magicians' Circle Jasper Maskelyne Silver Wand for Originality with and he received one, of many, Linking Ring Awards for his idea. No one has beaten his record for winning the Maskelyne Wand or the trophy for Close-up magic at Hull Magicians' Circle. Arthur was, off stage, a quiet man who did not exploit financially many of his magical ideas. He was quite content that his trick had been published or manufactured and that would give him great pleasure. I was with him and remember when he handed a batch of tricks for publication over to a dealer - who said, “… if you won't accept money, pick anything on the stand”, Arthur, typically, chose a modest, inexpensive close-up item and was delighted with it.
Arthur was born in Hull (March 22 1924). Little did his parents, Jim and Hilda, suspect that their first born - Thomas Arthur Setterington would turn out to be known throughout the magical world as a prolific inventor, writer, historian, collector, lecturer, Punch Professor and a performer.
He was a Member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star. Arthur was the longest serving member of Hull Magicians' Circle; in November 2005 he celebrated sixty-years continuous membership. He was an Hon Vice-President of the Circle and had been Hon. Secretary and President.
His magical interests were stimulated by seeing a magician when he was four years old. By the time he was seven he had, by collecting cocoa tokens, acquired a book of tricks and was given the proverbial magic set - an Ernest Sewell Box of Tricks. After leaving school Arthur's career progressed from errand boy to ironmonger's shop assistant to assistant cinema projectionist. Drafted to work in the Cornish tin mines on the outbreak of WWII Arthur's health suffered and in 1944 he had to leave the mines.
1945 was a magical year in many ways for Arthur - he joined Hull Magicians' Circle and presented his first professional show, at the City Hotel - fee 2/6d (12.5p). Arthur attended the early British Ring Conventions (winning the originality prize in 1949) and the Abra Jamboree in Birmingham. 2005 was the first British Ring convention that Arthur had missed.
At a show for the Salvation Army in 1948 Arthur met Elsie Kirby and asked for her hand - not in marriage, that came later, but to participate in a Wrist Chopper trick, ask Elsie to show you the dent in the bracelet! 1953 was another landmark year; Arthur was the first winner of the newly awarded Hull Circle Connolly Shield for Stage Magic and, now Elsie had forgiven him for the Wrist Chopper routine, they got married and so Arthur has been assisted and supported by Elsie ever since - they celebrated their Golden Wedding in 2003.
Arthur was by now a very busy entertainer and at Christmas and on special occasions like Coronation Day they performed up to six shows a day dashing from one to the other. Punch and Judy and ventriloquism were just two of the allied arts that Arthur developed commercial acts with.
In 1958 Arthur became a Methodist Lay Preacher and with Elsie devoted much of their lives to work for their church especially with young people as Sunday School and Youth Group leaders. Arthur's annual Jimmy Jumbo Show at the Library Theatre raised many hundreds of pounds for the Sunday School movement.
Arthur's interest and generosity in assisting young magicians continued throughout his life, Arthur played a leading role in the Humberside Young Magicians' Group, a group that has helped nurture many successful, professional magicians. Recently, on January 5th 2006 Arthur was able to watch the annual competition for the Arthur Setterington Junior Award for Close-up Magic. He presented the trophy to Jack Gleadow, age 11, the winning competitor, right at the beginning of his magical life.
In 1960 Arthur won the Zina Bennett Trophy for close-up magic at the British Ring Convention and he won this national competition again in 1968. 1960 was also the year in which his son Ian was born. Ian who famously exclaimed that he would “…rather spend two weeks in Withernsea than watch the Linking Rings!”, especially when the many magical visitors got in the way of him watching Match of the Day.
Over the years Arthur has lectured to magical societies all over the UK and Ireland and he made a career of talks on magic and related subjects to lay groups - women's, church and voluntary organisations.
At 81, Arthur had no thought of retirement from magical activities, to the end of his magic-filled life he was still dreaming up tricks and routines, writing up his notes on magicians he watched in Hull's variety theatres in the 1930s and 40s, lecturing - his last lecture Over the Top! was given to Hull Circle members in November 2005 - and assisting with the Young Magicians' Group.
On a personal note - I knew Arthur and Elsie since I first came to Hull as a student and I can't count the many acts of help, friendship and hospitality that I have received from the Setteringtons - and I am not alone, all of Arthur's friends, and countless magicians and correspondents throughout the world have experienced the same warm generosity always given with no thought of return.
We can't do better than quote from Eddie Dawes' Foreword to grandson, Calum Setterington's (2003) biography of Arthur -
“When I moved from Glasgow to Hull and transferred from the Scottish Conjurers' Association to Hull Magicians' Circle the first magician to extend the hand of friendship was one whose name was very familiar to me, although we had never met - it was Arthur Setterington. Over the intervening years we have became very good friends and I had the opportunity to admire first hand his many sterling qualities as an author, lecturer, historian of magic, practising magician, clever inventor of tricks and Methodist Lay Preacher.
Arthur's ability to devise new tricks was awesome and his contributions to magic literature are an incredible achievement. Add to that the many books he authored and you have a measure of his versatility, clearly recognised by his election to membership of The Inner Magic Circle and recipient of The Magic Circle's Maskelyne Literary Award.
As a mentor to young aspiring conjurers, Arthur has for many years, shared his unrivalled knowledge with the Young Magicians of Humberside organisation and countless youngsters owe much to his instruction - I only wish that I had been so favoured when I was their age. Of Arthur's many other attributes, let me say simply that he is a loyal, dependable fellow whom I am privileged to call a friend.”
Our condolences go to his family and especially Elsie Setterington, son and daughter-in-law, Ian and Shelagh and grand-children, Callum and Lucy.
9.4 MAM - May 26: Lecture Michael Ammar
[No comments]
The President, Eddie Dawes introduced our lecturer for the evening, Michael Ammar. It was seven years since Michael’s last lecture at HMC.Michael began with a routine whereby he produced a bottle from a handkerchief; he then proceeded to put a large selected coin inside the bottle and then remove it. He continued by demonstrating a card routine which opened with a selected card being found on the sole of his shoe. This followed with a selected card being found in a chosen balloon, a variation of a Derek Dingle routine.
Michael then demonstrated a Silk to Egg routine which brought about an amusing discussion on the colour of eggs in different countries.Next Michael then talked through and explained the moves he uses with the Cups and Balls before going on to perform his excellent routine. This was followed by a trick involving two members of the audience giving a £5 note to Michael that he immediately tore in half. The money vanished and later turned up inside a peanut shell which had been freely selected from a full bag of nuts. Michael finished by demonstrating and explaining a Coin Through Scarf routine. Eddie thanked Michael on behalf of all present for an excellent evening.
Michael then demonstrated a Silk to Egg routine which brought about an amusing discussion on the colour of eggs in different countries.Next Michael then talked through and explained the moves he uses with the Cups and Balls before going on to perform his excellent routine. This was followed by a trick involving two members of the audience giving a £5 note to Michael that he immediately tore in half. The money vanished and later turned up inside a peanut shell which had been freely selected from a full bag of nuts. Michael finished by demonstrating and explaining a Coin Through Scarf routine. Eddie thanked Michael on behalf of all present for an excellent evening.
9.4 MAM - May 12: Lecture Mark Shortland & Kerry Scorah
[1 comment]
It’s always good to see Mark and Kerry on their occasional trips up to Hull. Kerry arrived fresh from her Sky television success and introduced Mark who began by demonstrating The Robber Jacks. This was followed by Signature Box where two signed pieces of paper changed places. He then demonstrated a card trick using a toy car and The Invisible Assistant.He then performed and explained an entertaining routine he uses for children’s shows in which he finishes by producing a large bag of cookies.
Mark then demonstrated his table-hopping routine, including Sponge Ball transposition, Jon Allen’s Destination Box, Ambitious Card and Omni Deck, and a Chop Cup routine.
Kerry joined Mark as they finished with a question and answer session. They were both very open and honest in giving advice and opinions on performance topics and Vice-President, Ray Burrell thanked Mark and Kerry for a most entertaining evening.
Mark then demonstrated his table-hopping routine, including Sponge Ball transposition, Jon Allen’s Destination Box, Ambitious Card and Omni Deck, and a Chop Cup routine.
Kerry joined Mark as they finished with a question and answer session. They were both very open and honest in giving advice and opinions on performance topics and Vice-President, Ray Burrell thanked Mark and Kerry for a most entertaining evening.
9.4 MAM - April 28: Lecture Roger Woods
[No comments]
Eddie introduced Roger who presented a lecture on Jesse Demaline - The Man and his Magic.Roger explained that when he was young student Jessie was a great mentor to him and led him into the world of magic. Roger spoke of Jesse’s book Demagic and explained how Jesse had always kept note books on his ideas, thoughts and effects. Roger talked about Jesse’s involvement in magic throughout his life and particularly of his encouragement of others. He was a generous man in the giving of advice, ideas, tricks and hospitality to those with a serious interest in magic.
The lecture included a PowerPoint presentation which showed pictures of Jesse throughout various stages of his magical and family life and career and gave a real flavour of the kind of person that Jesse was. He was certainly knowledgeable and an original thinker as evidenced by his copious notebooks of not just his own ideas but notes on acts he had seen. They were fascinating.A selection of Jesse’s tricks was demonstrated, including his card routines Curing Gamblers, Sympathetic Cards from Pocket, Reversed Card Between Glasses and an amusing effect which Jesse performed when he visited the Hull society in the Seventies, Grandma’s Tea Pot.Eddie also persuaded Roger to talk a little on his latest book Showmen or Charlatans? The Stories of ‘Dr’ Walford Bodie and ‘Sir Alexander Cannon. Written in collaboration with Brian Lead (ex HMC member) who wrote the section on Cannon.
The lecture included a PowerPoint presentation which showed pictures of Jesse throughout various stages of his magical and family life and career and gave a real flavour of the kind of person that Jesse was. He was certainly knowledgeable and an original thinker as evidenced by his copious notebooks of not just his own ideas but notes on acts he had seen. They were fascinating.A selection of Jesse’s tricks was demonstrated, including his card routines Curing Gamblers, Sympathetic Cards from Pocket, Reversed Card Between Glasses and an amusing effect which Jesse performed when he visited the Hull society in the Seventies, Grandma’s Tea Pot.Eddie also persuaded Roger to talk a little on his latest book Showmen or Charlatans? The Stories of ‘Dr’ Walford Bodie and ‘Sir Alexander Cannon. Written in collaboration with Brian Lead (ex HMC member) who wrote the section on Cannon.
9.4 MAM - April 21: Lecture Richard Sanders
[No comments]
Introducing our lecturer Richard Sanders, Eddie Dawes said Richard had lectured all over the world, including FISM, and worked as a corporate entertainer with a worthy reputation.Richard opened his talk with a number of eye catching card effects. The first was ‘Behind my back’ using a novel Riffle Force, followed by several different uses of a sticky card. Members applauded the demonstration and the explanations. Richard then moved on to an impromptu coin effect followed by a multiple bill switch. We then saw Slow Burn and Fibre Optics a development of Richard’s Three Ropes and a Baby routine, with a number of new moves and ideas.Throughout his talk Richard ensured we understood the subtleties of his presentation, and his off beat humour. Eddie Dawes thanked Richard on a wonderful evening of stunning magic. Judging by his DVD sales the members and guests certainly agreed.
9.4 MAM - April 14: John Gresham Request Night
[No comments]
Once again this popular night was organised by Arthur Setterington who wasn’t quite well enough to present the event in person. Michael Harrop stepped in at the last minute as a stand in for Arthur. The evening began with Adam Hembrough who demonstrated basic coin moves and combined them into a short routine. He really is an excellent teacher. Malcolm Bromwich then performed his version of the Sam the Bell Hop story deck routine in which he had decided to shorten it and simplify it by eliminating any sleight of hand, or any cuts and shuffles.Brian Wilson followed with his D’lite and Tambourine routine. Karen McIntosh and Debbie Griffiths, at one point brandishing a whip (that woke everyone up!), then performed a rope escape and quick change routine This was followed by Rex Stott who demonstrated and explained his adaptation of an Alex Elmsley routine based on binary mathematics. Did anyone understand this! Malcolm Bromwich then performed Arthur Setterington’s simplification of Gaeton Bloom’s Quarte prediction effect.
Richard Morrell then demonstrated Allan Ackerman’s Another Quick Coincidence and the use of the Bill Simon Prophecy Move. Roni Shachnaey performed a Linking Rings routine with his ‘oversize’ rings and gave members some tips on performing the Linking Rings. The ‘Chinese’ Linking Rings linking the last item - Eddie Dawes giving an interesting talk on Chung Ling Soo. Soo had a fascinating life and this was a brilliant talk revealing many of Soo’s adventures and culminating in his death in the infamous Bullet Trick at the Wood Green Empire in 1918.
Richard Morrell then demonstrated Allan Ackerman’s Another Quick Coincidence and the use of the Bill Simon Prophecy Move. Roni Shachnaey performed a Linking Rings routine with his ‘oversize’ rings and gave members some tips on performing the Linking Rings. The ‘Chinese’ Linking Rings linking the last item - Eddie Dawes giving an interesting talk on Chung Ling Soo. Soo had a fascinating life and this was a brilliant talk revealing many of Soo’s adventures and culminating in his death in the infamous Bullet Trick at the Wood Green Empire in 1918.
9.4 MAM - March 31: Lecture Walt Lees
[No comments]
Eddie Dawes introduced Walt Lees who has been a professional for forty years, has won many awards and is author of many books and publications.Walt opened his lecture with his ‘Fredward’ Victor Rope Routine, (from the names Edward Victor and Fred Robinson who inspired the effect) a cut and restored rope effect which used a great move from Fred Robinson. This was followed by A Chop Cup for Mugs routine in which Walt simulated Larry Jennings routine with a normal mug. Next Walt demonstrated Slynada’s Balls. This is a way of presenting Slydini’s Paper Balls in the Hat, without the need to do any lapping. Walt followed with Con Away Silk, a silk vanish with a come-back for any hecklers in the audience.His next effect was Plug Ugly, a version of the classic Chink-a-chink using bath plugs. He followed with Carmo with a Touch of Reelism inspired by Ken MacFadyen’s Necklace Necromancy. Next was Weight Loss, a version of the Rising Card.
Walt then demonstrated Bummeresque: a member of the audience was invited to cut the deck into four piles, and it was then found that the assistant had cut to the four Jacks. Nimrod was an effect Walt published about twenty years ago involving a small clockwork walking animal which correctly finds two freely selected cards.After a short break Walt performed Walcardlet, his version of the Card in Wallet in which the wallet is removed from the pocket with an obviously empty hand and never goes anywhere near the pack of cards. He then went on to show Deck Hand, based on some Paul Hallas and Malcolm Yaffe ideas. This effect utilises a rubber hand to reveal a card selected by a member of the audience.Slow Motion Aces is an effect based on a Nick Trost idea. The effect is of a slow-motion Four-Ace Assembly using blue backed aces and red backed indifferent cards. Walt then performed Second Delivery, an effect used at his children’s parties that tells a story about Fido the dog and Percy the Postman. No presentation from Walt would be complete without a performance of his signature trick – Cannibal Cards and it was with this that Walt ended the evening. Eddie thanked Walt for an informative and entertaining evening, the applause given by the members showing how much everybody had enjoyed this lecture.
Walt then demonstrated Bummeresque: a member of the audience was invited to cut the deck into four piles, and it was then found that the assistant had cut to the four Jacks. Nimrod was an effect Walt published about twenty years ago involving a small clockwork walking animal which correctly finds two freely selected cards.After a short break Walt performed Walcardlet, his version of the Card in Wallet in which the wallet is removed from the pocket with an obviously empty hand and never goes anywhere near the pack of cards. He then went on to show Deck Hand, based on some Paul Hallas and Malcolm Yaffe ideas. This effect utilises a rubber hand to reveal a card selected by a member of the audience.Slow Motion Aces is an effect based on a Nick Trost idea. The effect is of a slow-motion Four-Ace Assembly using blue backed aces and red backed indifferent cards. Walt then performed Second Delivery, an effect used at his children’s parties that tells a story about Fido the dog and Percy the Postman. No presentation from Walt would be complete without a performance of his signature trick – Cannibal Cards and it was with this that Walt ended the evening. Eddie thanked Walt for an informative and entertaining evening, the applause given by the members showing how much everybody had enjoyed this lecture.
9.4 MAM - March 17: Trick from HMC Library / Auction
[No comments]
There were seven competitors for this round of the Simpson Shield. Eddie Dawes performed a trick using coins and tea leaves. Walt Lees displayed ‘expert card technique’ using a borrowed deck of cards. Daniel Smith produced coins of various sizes from a purse frame. Gordon Stow correctly predicted a chosen card. Brian Waltham displayed a card trick where a member of the audience stood in as the magician. Brian Wilson performed his latest version of the Blake coin slide. Peter Bennett correctly selected a chosen card.The competition resulted in a win for Walt Lees with Peter Bennett as runner up. Auction - Ron Thompson acted as auctioneer for the evening and £31.20 was raised for club funds from the auction.