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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

William “Billy” Dooley, born in Northampton, appeared in the thirties as comedy conjurer Billy Dooley. He made his British Ring Convention debut in 1933 at the third Convention in Northampton. Later he became Benson Dulay a professional comedy illusionist touring the UK variety theatres in the forties and fifties. He made many appearances in Hull . , Gordon Watts, former HMC member, ex-entertainment officer for Hull City Council and British Ring Shield winner, says that he was one of two locally recruited schoolboys who appeared in Benson Dulay’s comedy Head Chopper routine at The Tivoli Theatre. The act also featured a black school boy (who toured with the act) whose trousers fell down as he made his “escape” from the Chopper. Benson Dulay invented Multum in Parvo (the well known liquid and glasses trick) which Burtini (Birmingham based dealer and manufacturer) popularised in 1947 winning the 1948 FISM First Prize for Invention. Benson inscribed this picture – “To my friend Bert. Good Luck Pal. Benson Dulay”.

(Additional information from Whaley’s Who’s Who In Magic). Bert was the first President of HMC and he collected many photographs of Music Hall performers when they appeared in Hull.

As promised in the last issue, we are currently experimenting with the photographs on the HMC website (http://www.magician.org.uk/hmc) using new technology brought to you by a Canadian company called Flickr (http://www.flickr.com). The site allows you to upload them and share them with either the whole world, or privately amongst friends and family. You can group your photographs into sets, and tag them with key-words, and anyone can comment on them, not just by leaving text-based comments, but by adding tags and notes to the photographs themselves. You can see this in action on the main page, where it will always display the last three pictures uploaded. You can then click to see each photo and links to the latest sets. Currently we have a new HMC set and a Young Magicians’ Workshop set. Let me have your comments on this new way of delivering our photographs, I would be interested to see what you think.

So what’s next for the site? I’m always looking for ways to link technology with magic and I have been looking into Podcasting. Some of you may have heard this recent buzzword, for those that haven’t, read the Wikipedia explanation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting). It is a method for publishing audio broadcasts via the internet, which people can subscribe to, download and play on their personal audio players. Usually the audio (or even video) files consist of talking or music, and mostly on a specific subject. You can subscribe using Podcatching software such as iTunes or iPodder (http://ipodder.sourceforge.net/).Just as Weblogs have caught on recently in the magic community, I think Podcasting will enable the individual to easily publish their own thoughts, ideas and views on the magic scene, and even provide an information service. It also means you won’t have to be tied to a computer get these services, as you can listen to them anywhere you have a personal audio player, out jogging, in the bath, at the gym etc.I want to experiment in the future, by putting up parts of the Oracle as a Podcast, much the same as you can access it as text on the website. Again let me have your thoughts on this, and if it would be of use to you, do you own a personal MP3 player and would prefer to listen to the Oracle, whilst you do other things?

I will leave you with some examples of people already Podcasting in the magic world. The Go Magic Go Podcast (http://thetrapdoor.libsyn.com/) is talking about things as diverse as Derren Brown, Andre Kole, Criss Angel, and various product and show reviews. The S.A.M. (http://www.magicsam.com) are doing something quite unique and interesting, they are publishing regular Podcast updates on their 2006 convention to be held in Louisville Kentucky (http://www.samconvention.blogspot.com/). Lastly L&L publishing have just started experimenting with this technology, and have published their first Podcast on the L&L Blog (http://www.llpub.com/weblog/) which features an introduction to the new products and audio clips from their new DVD releases.

As Paul Kitchen walked through the curtains at precisely 4.30 p.m. to announce the start of the 2005 Spooner Trophy Stage Competition there was an air of expectation in the large audience. Six-times winner in successive years, Daniel Hargreaves was now too old to enter and was helping back stage. People knew that there had to be a new name on the trophy this year. Who would it be? Only time, and the judges, would tell.

First on, always a difficult spot, was Joe Harper from Driffield. He soon established good contact with the audience, using one of Brian Wilson’s inventions, which we’ll call the Tambourine of Delight (see Brian if you need an explanation). In fact, this was one of many examples of collaboration and co-operation between H.Y.M. and H.M.C. Joe then did a colourful Blendo effect followed by a version of Backstage with the Magician. Here was some attractive magic, confidently performed, and his running gag with Lota Vase got some good laughs. He finished with his version of a Russian Roulette/Just Chance type of effect using an apple and a sharp knife. The competition was off to a flying start.

Dale Constable made an imposing entrance in his black tails and his magic was as sharp as his appearance. We saw some very clever handling using ropes, cards and CD discs. He finished very strongly with his invisible juggling routine when to gasps of amazement from the audience the balls suddenly and dramatically materialised.

The third competitor was Jack Gleadow, who, like Joe Harper, was making his first Spooner appearance – though you would never have guessed it from his confident and cheeky persona. My mind immediately went back six years to recall the first time that the then diminutive Danny Hargreaves competed. Jack is a natural performer with a genuine feel for comedy and the audience was clearly impressed by his clever opening routine using different magicians’ names and his rope routine using a cored apple.

Next on was Thomas Collinson who performed to music, a very polished act, using a ring and rope routine. Thomas was another grateful beneficiary of the HYM and HMC link. He made very good use of a production box which Brian Wilson had made for him and also received help and advice from Malcolm Bromwich in the presentation of his act.

This high level of performance was maintained when another Spooner debutant, Sam Tasker, took to the stage. He is another one with that feel for comedy which is hard to teach but easy to detect. Sam moved about the stage well and used his volunteers skilfully. His strong magic included Cups and Balls and Rising Card and he finished strongly with the amazing reappearance of a previously-vanished marked coin.

The penultimate performer was Grant Constable, the current close-up competition winner. Grant had a good stage set and looked the part of a magician, wearing a fez and coloured waistcoat. Once again, we saw good magic, humorously presented. His rope tie sequence impressed the audience as did his Linking Ring Routine. His production of a glass of water and his clever handling of jumbo cards produced audible gasps of amazement.

Joe Hunter, the final competitor, did a series of baffling mental effects and this does appear to be his forte. His book tests and predictions baffled the audience and he finished with a very funny rope routine when his underpants appeared!

The show ran like clockwork due to the efficient stage management of Richard Morrell assisted by Brian Wilson, Danny Hargreaves and Tim Cockerill, who religiously followed to the letter Jon Marshall’s excellent stage notes. Paul Kitchen as compere ensured that there were no long gaps or pauses in proceeding with his funny sight gags, quips and ad-libs. He really has developed into a very professional performer.

A short interval gave everyone a chance to reflect on the quality of the competition and the judges, Joe Gray, Debbie Hargreaves and Joan Wadsworth time to add up all the points, under the watchful eye of their Chairman, Rex Stott.

After the break Walt Lees took to the stage and made a very funny, very professional and very baffling contribution to the afternoon’s magic. His Cut and Restored Rope routine and his version of Nap Hand were well appreciated but pride of place went to his rendition of a Joe Smith monologue. Walt had chosen to do it, fully knowing that Arthur Setterington, its originator, would be on the front row. He loved it, along with the rest of the audience.

It was time for HMC President, Eddie Dawes to make the presentation and we had the rare spectacle, in my limited experience, of both the Tadman Trophy and the Spooner Trophy going to the same person, - Grant Constable. All the competitors received certificates, a prize, and the warm congratulations of Eddie and the acclaim of the audience.Humberside Young Magicians’ thanks go to Domanic Li, Rex Stott, Christine Allan, Diane Mendham, Vik Pandolfi, Matthew Whitney, Kara Savage, Dan Taylor and Roni who entertained the audience as they entered the auditorium, to Elsie Setterington, Malcolm Bromwich and Sylvia Harrop who looked after front-of-house and to Mark Ogden, Hull Screen Manager and his helpful staff. On the evidence of this afternoon’s performances the future of magic in the area looks extremely bright. We must keep our fingers crossed that a suitable venue can be found for the 2006 competition. See you there!

Over two-hundred members and guests joined President Eddie Dawes in a standing ovation for, Hon. Vice-President, Arthur Setterington’s achievement of sixty year’s continuous membership of Hull Magicians’ Circle. Eddie presented Arthur with a unique mirror reflecting (from reverse writing) – “Sixty Magical Years” and encased in a hand-made, from rare hardwoods, case, inscribed with many of Arthur’s magical and literary achievements, including the, almost one-thousand, published tricks and ideas contributed to magical magazines, world-wide, principally Abracadabra magazine. The award was crafted by, member, Malcolm Bromwich. The moment was made more special for Arthur’s many friends, and many of his family who were present, as Arthur had only been released from hospital two days before and it was not certain that he could attend. Arthur’s son, Ian, made an acceptance speech for him, saying how much the award meant to his father. And this was not the only award that Arthur collected for he won the Hull Circle’s most recent competition, the Bob Moore Comedy Trophy, competed for earlier, and with this win completed his record of winning all of the Circle’s trophies, many on multiple occasions.

This ceremony was the high-spot of the awards, humorous speeches and toasts, and followed an, as usual, excellent banquet, supervised by Amy Dawes, who also made the table decorations. Don Beattie, President of The British Ring of The International Brotherhood of Magicians, proposed the toast to HMC and Eddie Dawes responded, Vice-President of Hull Magicians’ Circle, Ray Burrell proposed the toast to the guests and Dr Martin Sanderson responded. Alan Johnston was toastmaster. Presentations, made by Pam Beattie, were first to young magicians, the Tadman Trophy to Thomas Collison, the Arthur Setterington Trophy for Close–up to Grant Constable and the Spooner Trophy for Stage Magic, for the sixth time to Daniel Hargreaves. The senior presentations were the Connolly Shield for Stage Magic to Gordon Stow, the Shirley Watts’ Trophy for Close-up Magic to Richard Morrell, the Simpson Shield to Walt Lees and, as reported, the Bob Moore Trophy for Comedy Magic to Arthur Setterington.

And there was more to come as guests were invited to view the re-creation of Jon Gresham’s “Yvette, The Headless Lady” sideshow illusion. Last seen in the 1950s and brought to life by Jon Marshall and Pat Gresham with designer Dave Whatt, sound specialist, Phil Smith and with presenters, Billy Tempest, Tim Cockerill and Hayley Escreet as Yvette. The magic was non-stop; as guests assembled for the after-dinner stage show members of HMC entertained with close-up magic..As a pre-courser to the main entertainment the annual Jasper Maskelyne Silver Wand Competition compered by the immensely funny John Archer was held. The winner Gordon Stow. Runner-up Brian Wilson. Judges were Ken De Courcy, Don Beattie and Maurice Johnson.

Tim Vine, billed as The Man with the Golden Pun” compered with his quick-fire comedy, kept the show moving and, though a comedian, performed his original magic trick. He devined the table numbers where guests had been seated. After a couple of hits with Eddie Dawes and Don Beattie – on the top table, he had less success with his next victim which culminated in the comedy reveal of friend John Archer hidden behind the curtains with a table plan! In the last period of his reign as The Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year Paul Dabek with partner Rhian presented their act “Enchantment” , a colourful, fast moving presentation with canes, cards, silk effects and dove productions. With a change of pace, Paul presented a very effective version of the Walking Knot. This attractive couple finished with a fast Substitution Trunk illusion and costume change.On to the star attraction, Geoffrey Durham. Direct from his nation-wide theatre tour, Little Miracles, and his many television appearances. It’s great that Geoffrey, like a few of our countries top professional performers, take time to support many magical functions. Even at the late hour it was by then he gripped the audience and held them spellbound with real conjurering, presented with humour, brilliant timing and skill. From his flash in the hand start he enchanted the audience with many favourites from his repertoire including his signature Torn and Restored Newspaper, a Rubik Cube that was magically solved, a Giant Find the Lady routine, Linking Finger Rings, Signed Silk in Apple, a Card Stab and a big, splashing, finish with Hydrostatic Glass. Alan Hudson stage-managed seamlessly, the artistes were well and creatively lit and the sound perfectly cued.

A couple of years ago Walt found out how much he could sell his house for in London, and how much loose change he would have if he bought one in Scunthorpe. So he relocated ASAP!
London’s loss is Hull’s gain and we are delighted that Walt has become a member of HMC. Not just a member, but one who fully participates in our events. His popularity and reputation was demonstrated when, at his lecture for HMC earlier in the year, he attracted an attendance in excess of many of our international visitors. Walt Lees was born in Lincoln during World War II and lived at home until 1968. He decided to try his luck in London and fell on his feet, straight away, when Ron MacMillan took him on as a Svengali demonstrator. Walt worked for Ron for seven years, initially doing Ideal Home Exhibitions all over the place, then in Selfridges, Hamleys and Harrods. During that time Walt edited Ron’s magazine Info and then took over Pabular when the first editor, Fred Robinson, retired. Later he handed it to Stephen Tucker so that Walt could devote his time to establishing a business as a children’s performer and he’s been entertaining children since 1981. In 1984 Geoff Maltby asked Walt if he would consider helping him to revive Repro Magic’s Club 71 magazine. Walt agreed and expected that it might last a couple of years, but he’s been editor for twenty-one years! Along the way he’s written a number of books. That idea came from Lewis Ganson. He wrote a book of some of Walt’s stuff in 1980, and Walt learnt from watching how he did it.

What started your interest in Magic?

The first magician I ever saw was Wilf Smith of Lincoln. He came to my in fant school when I was f ve, with a road safety magic show. From that moment, I never wanted to be anything but a magician. Wilf dressed in Chinese costume, and I thought that you had to be Chinese to do magic. So when anybody asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I used to tell them a Chinaman.
A few years later I saw Harold Taylor at the Nottingham Empire. He did Edward Victor’s Rope Routine from Magic of the Hands. It really impressed me. Funnily, Edward Victor was on the same bill, doing hand shadows. Another strong influence was an act called Sunya & Sylvani who worked the open-air theatre on the seafront at Skegness. (I recently found out that his real name was Bob Nicholson and that he hailed from Blackpool way.) You could stand outside the fence and watch for nothing. They did three shows a day and I watched every one for two weeks. I was about eight then. I can still remember every detail of everything he did, including one routine that I have never seen anybody else work.

What type of magic do you enjoy?

I like to watch everything! My profession is being a children’s entertainer. I regard that as my ‘work magic’. My hobby is close-up, especially cards. I used to do professional close-up but stopped about fifteen years ago. I wanted to have one branch of magic that I did purely for my own amusement, free from the constraints of having to please anyone other than myself. Nowadays, I just do the things that entertain me. If other people enjoy them, all well and good, if not, tough! My other hobby is stand-up comedy magic. I was British Magic Champion of Comedy in 1992 – everyone seems to have forgotten that, so I thought I would just remind you. Not entirely true; I still occasionally get booked for society dinners but not as many as I would like.

Who is your favourite magician, and why?

I suppose my all-time favourite must be Fred Kaps. He truly understood how to get the most out of everything he did. On a personal level, my two favourites were Fred Robinson and Ron MacMillan. Both were good friends and, in their different ways, incredibly skilful and dedicated. I admired them for opposite reasons. Fred just loved magic for its own sake and never sought any form of
personal gain from it. Ron was the consummate professional. He had played top dates all over the world and understood the magic business, lay audiences, agents and bookers. Not many people appreciate that he gave it all up for Teresa and became a magic dealer so that he could work from home.

Have you followed another profession?

Since leaving school in 1960, I have had three ‘proper’ jobs. None lasted more than five years. I was a Civil Service clerk for a few years straight from school, then I joined the Lincolnshire Chronicle as promotions manager. I had to dream up and implement schemes to boost circulation. We used to arrange variety shows and I used to appear in some of them, beauty competitions and (the one that got me fired) the first ever pop festival. This was at Lincoln City Football Ground and nearly bankrupted the company. We booked every group in the Top Twenty that were in the country, plus Jimmy Saville to MC. I even got a letter from Kenny Everett begging to be allowed to come along and do a stint for nothing, just to be on the bill. I wish I had kept that. In 1976, while working on the magic counter in Hamleys, I got fed up one day and applied for a job with Rowntree Mackintosh as a sales rep. That lasted four years; then I decided to go back into magic.

What has been the highlight of your magical life so far?

I suppose winning The Magic Circle’s Close-up Competition in 1972. I have won more prestigious things since then but that was my first real taste of victory!

Do you have any other hobbies?

Not any more. I used to do a bit of amateur acting and went along to an evening class in Walthamstow in 1991 to brush up my technique. After going for a year or two, I gradually worked my way up
to assistant drama teacher and was often called upon to take classes when nobody else was available. So, although unqualified in any way, I found myself giving lessons to evening students, special-needs groups and all sorts, as well as producing plays, designing and building scenery. I also recently completed an Open University course and got a BSc (Hons). But I have now forgotten everything I learned! I just wanted to prove to myself that I was not completely stupid! I go jogging (six miles, three times a week) and do weight training at the local gymnasium. I suppose you could call that a hobby, although I regard keeping fit as an important part of my work.

What don’t you like in magic?

Self-serving people who just want to exploit it as a means of getting on in show business. The Magic Circle these days is full of sharp young(ish) folk whose only real aim is to become a celebrity. To me, these people seem to be milking magic rather than putting anything in it. If any of them invents something, their only interest is to market it and make money.

Do you have a favourite magic book?
I have just finished reading Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz, and I have been bowled over by it. Every magician should be forced to read it – at gunpoint if necessary. It is THE BEST book on showmanship and presentation that I have ever read and I have read Maurice, Maskelyne & Devant, Fitzkee, Nelms et al. Ortiz begins where they leave off.

Any comments about Hull Magicians’ Circle and its events?

I sometimes feel that things are a little bit too tightly organized. Some of my best nights at The Magic Circle have been when a few of us would sit around a table showing tricks and discussing
magic in general. But perhaps that’s just me. I am sure that if you were to have club nights where nothing was arranged, a lot of people would stop coming. Perhaps it can only work in a place like
TMC where over a hundred people turn up every week.
Have any amusing incidents occurred in connection with performing?

Lots! There was the time in Harrodswhere I mistook the Queen for my aunt. But it is a long story and has to be told verbally. Then there was the posh little five-year-old girl who, when I asked,
“Have you had your eyes checked, or have they always been that colour?”, replied, “Of course I have, my mummy’s an optometrist!”. It killed me!

What non-magical music, films and books do you enjoy?

I am not very musical but I like Gilbert & Sullivan and stage musicals generally. I do not go to the cinema much - I think the last time was twelve years ago. In my early teens, I discovered that live
theatre was much more immediate and gripping. However, anything with the Marx Brothers gets my vote; I also creased up the first time I saw The Producers - brilliant. If I still lived in London,
I would have gone to see the stage show by now. As for books, I mainly only read magic books nowadays, but in the past I have enjoyed anything by P.G. Wodehouse, The Dairy of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith and the poems of Ogden Nash.

Close-up or Stage?

My hobby is close-up, my work is stand-up. I like both equally.

Best night at HMC and why?

Pocket Trick Drive. You get to show a lot of close-up magic and to see other people doing it. You also get to talk to people in a way that is not normally possible at meetings.

Red or Blue backed cards?

Red – it’s a political thing!

David Copperfield or David Blaine?

Neither – I prefer magicians not creepy American icons!

Sawing in Half or Levitation?

Sawing in Half. I am fast coming to the conclusion that I am the only magician in the world who is not especially thrilled by levitations.

What is your favourite trick that you perform?

The Unequal Ropes – it must be because it is the only trick that has never been out of my repertoire since Peter Wentworth taught me how to do it in 1959.

What question haven’t you been asked that you wish you had been?

What would you have been if you had not become a magician? Answer Rich!

Anything else you want to add?

Do I get paid for this?

This performer appeared at the Tivoli Theatre, Hull in England, on a number of occasions; each time with the same act of small magic. .He was born, an Indian Moslem, in Calcutta on 26th August 1906, his real name was Mohari Ali. I watched Shek Ben Ali’s act at the Tivoli on 6th.August 1945. On stage he wore a traditional costume and turban. He had a catch-phrase which he repeated every time he had to show a prop empty – “Nobody inside, Nobody Outside”. He used the catch-phrase as his bill matter in his directory entries as you can see in the picture of his entry in The Performer in September, 1948. By the way at the Tivoli that week in September Naughty Girls of 1948 were playing!

He entered stage right, carrying a large, empty Nutall’s Mintoes (sweets) tin to which he drew attention saying, “Nobody inside, Nobody outside”, and then plucked a coin from the air and dropped
it in the tin, occasionally repeating his catch-phrase, “Nobody inside, Nobody outside”. Taking a coin he did a few coin sleights which were well received by the audience. Then followed a comedy
routine in which a small boy from the audience assisted. After removing more coins from the air the magician began plucking coins from various parts of the boy’s anatomy. One of the biggest
laughs was when he produced a stream of coins from the boy’s nose (the Miser’s Dream remained the trick for which he was best known). Thanking the boy for his help, the magician took a pack of cards and showed more sleight of hand culminating in the production of fans of cards. As he dropped the last fan of cards something coloured appeared in his hand, a billiard ball. Again he showed some sleights with it, and then produced another ball. These were followed by two more which were deposited between the fi ngers of his left hand. Shek Ben Ali signalled that this was the conclusion of the magic with billiard balls by dropping the balls into a container, then standing perfectly still, and receiving his applause which was generous.

After this ovation Shek Ben Ali showed a stand on which was displayed anumber of razor blades. Removing one of them, he took a thin card and sliced off a piece, showing the sharpness of the
blade. He placed the blade on his tongue and apparently swallowed it. This same procedure was carried out with the remainder of the blades. He took a glass of water, drank the water, and in placing the glass on the table showed it to be empty. Taking a reel of thread he broke off a length which he put in his mouth, making sure that the audience could see that his hands were empty at all times. About an inch of thread was left hanging over his lower lip. Turning sideways to the audience and making sure that the spot-light was focussed on him, he took the piece of hanging thread and slowly pulled, drawing the thread from his mouth. The audience were amazed to see that the razor blades were tied at intervals along the thread. Having drawn them from his mouth the magician held the glittering pieces of metal between his outstretched arms, bringing more applause.

For his concluding effect Shek Ben Ali took three eighteen-inch silks and placed them in a velvet bag, and with a, “Nobody Inside, Nobody Outside,” he waved his hand over the bag and withdrew the contents showing that they had changed into a Union Flag, which he displayed. Instead of bowing at the end of his act he stood at attention and gave a left handed salute. Roy Hudd, in Roy Hudd’s Cavalcade of Variety Acts, has Shek Ben Ali’s birth date as 1912 and says that in 1936 he produced and appeared in an all-Indian show at Yarmouth which he toured all over the world. But he is best remembered as a solo act that played all the leading UK venues. According to Bart Whaley’s Who’s Who in Magic this professional variety performer died in March 1978 – this information, his birth date of 1906 and name is annotated ‘Daw2’ which means its source is HMC President Eddie Dawes, so it must be right! Coincindentally – in The Linking Ring (Vol 85 No1 January 2005) Eddie Burke has contributed Ezee Miser’s Dream to the British Ring Parade inspired by Shek Ben Ali’s own Miser’s Dream routine.

This was the second time that HMC had hosted this quiz, generously sponsored by Michael Shepherd of Castle Magical Services. A good time was had by all and not just because of the result. Hull’s team of magical all-stars – Eddie Dawes, Arthur Setterington and Richard Morrell – beat off strong competition from Huddersfield, York and Barnsley to retain the Castle Magical Services Trophy.

Mike was, as usual, an entertaining question master and Bob West somehow managed to convert all the responses onto a score sheet.There was an excellent mix of questions based not only on magical knowledge but also on a team’s ability to identify strange-looking props and come up with their value. At the end of the first few rounds of questions three points only separated the York, Hull and Barnsley teams and a thrilling finish looked to be on the cards. The teams nervously enjoyed the excellent refreshments provided by Dave Foster and, as is now the tradition on these occasions, the chips arrived spot on time.

Whether the sausage rolls were spiked or not, their effect on the teams after the break was quite dramatic, with Hull emerging worthy winners by quite a distance. This was a superb evening of fun and magical fellowship which helped bring local societies closer together. Quick wit and ready repartee were the order of the evening and there were times when the room rocked with laughter. I think Tom Wilkinson should have been given a special prize for his razor-sharp ad lib to the question “What magical society did Rudyard Kipling belong to?” Quick as a flash Tom said “I don’t know but I expect it was an exceedingly good one.”

Mike Shepherd was at his best, and I can say no more than that! He encouraged participation throughout the evening and even had twenty questions for the audience. Our own knowledgeable Walt Lees won the prize. On a couple of previous inter-society quiz evenings held in Huddersfield there was only me and Joan Senior in the audience. On this occasion thirty or so members of HMC came to give their support, making it a very successful and convivial evening. Well done to everyone.