Secrecy Surrounds the Circle’s Centenary
 |
| The Magic Circle Celebrates With New Book |
The Huddersfield
Daily Examiner notes one of the most important characteristics of being a
magician or a member of a magician organization is the ability to keep secrets.
Even if the secrets do not deal with magic tricks, per se.
“The penalties for breaking these rules can be severe,” is the ominous
warning of the Circle big wigs.
The secrecy this time surrounds the publication of a coffee table book
celebrating the centenary. The book is 18 months in the making and according to
the Magic Circle insiders, has only been
seen in its completed form by four people.
The book’s publishers along with co-authors Edwin A Dawes and Michael Bailey
- were the only four people to see the book prior to the launch at the Circle’s
headquarters in Euston.
The HQ – whose spiral staircase appears on the book cover – became
familiar territory to Jeremy Mills during the project. His meetings with the
co-authors were always conducted in the tiny Inner Sanctum, behind locked doors
- and could last as long as five hours.“Secrecy did surround the book’s publication. They did not want any other
member to see the book until it came out,” said one of the
publishers.
You can purchase a copy of Circle Without End The Magic Circle
1905-2005, Compiled and Edited by Edwin A Dawes and Michael Bailey,
published by Jeremy Mills Publishing Ltd from The Red House, 22 Occupation Road,
Lindley, Huddersfield HD3 3BD or via the website at ?35 plus postage and
packing.
Categories: Magic News Tags:
Marc Paul – Big Hit on Sun
 |
| Marc Paul |
As part of the Magic Circle’s centenary
celebration, The Sun
(UK), is going all out with stories, features, and even is promoting a six-part
documentary exploring magic from Egypt to Las Vegas.
The tabloid called on Magic Circle member Marc
Paul — whom they proclaim is “the man voted the world’s greatest
mind-reader” — to perform for their staff and set-up interactive tricks for the
readers of their on-line edition.
Mr. Paul describes his seduction into our art beginning at the age of seven.
He was given a magic set, found it unworkable, stowed it away, and rediscovered
its contents years later. By the time he was 12, the still young magician
performed for birthday parties and other gatherings.
He found mentalism brought the best response from audiences. “I would meet
other magicians to brainstorm about ideas and in the early 1990s I started
getting into mind magic, because I realized out of everything I was performing
that was getting the best reactions.”
Mr. Paul is quick to point out he does not have special powers:
“Whereas other magicians use slight of hand or illusions or optical
principles, a mentalist uses psychological trickery. The best way to describe it
is slight of mind.”
He opines mentalism is at the forefront of the new magic wave. “There was a
time for big stage illusions and rock magicians like David Copperfield, but
people realize it’s just a show. The lovely thing about mentalism and
mind-reading is it’s very raw and is a one-on-one experience – so it’s a much
more active type of entertainment.
While he’ll fight to the death to keep his secrets secret, he insists there
is nothing secret about The Magic Circle. Membership in this prestigious
institution is open to those who love the art. You may not make it to the Inner
Circle – reserved for the very best practitioners – but there is a place for
you, Mr. Paul explained.
All initiates are asked to perform to prove interest and knowledge of magic.
“If you’re a performer, then that’s fine, you perform. If you’re a collector
then maybe you can show some of your collection or do a talk about the history
of magic.”
This can be a stumbling block for some.
“Quite a few people fail at that stage, but those who pass become
full members and can attend meetings every Monday, where there will normally be
some sort of talk, lecture of demonstration and a social event where we’ll swap
new tricks and ideas.”
The Latin expression Indocilis Privata Loqui serves as the Circle’s
motto. It translates roughly as “not apt to reveal secrets.” The motto is a
serious admonition for all members. “If anyone breaks…
Read more…
Categories: Magic News Tags:
September Jitters
Photo Credit: Li'l Tom Hardy Collection
It was a tradition started with the first Thomas Hardy, Thomas Hardy I. (Ironically, his name was actually "Thomas Hardy I" due to a writing error at Immigration. After he had a child, he changed the family name to Hardy, and dropped the "I" but then added "II" for the Roman numeral for two.)
The first Hardy's version of "jail" or "prison" was time spent cooped up with his in-laws in a cabin on the south shores of Lake Superior. He also called it "Hell" or "A Reason to Drink."
The idea carried throughout the generations: you should suffer right before you begin your tour. Thomas Hardy I was never so motivated to get on the road as he was after leaving the cabin.
His son, Thomas Hardy II, and his son Thomas Hardy III, had their own version of "jail" or "prison." For The Deuce (as we called Thomas Hardy II), it was a retreat for colonics and wheat germ treatments in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Dr. Kellogg (brother of the cereal merchandiser) had a sanitarium specializing in colonic health and clean living. For the Deuce, it was just as hellish as the in-laws had been for his father.
He wrote in his journal while at The Kellogg Sanitarium ("The San"), "The only difference between my father's "jail" and mine is that I don't have to be nice to anyone while I am getting probed and injured."
For Thomas Hardy III (originally called "The Duecette" and then "Li'l Deuce" and then finally "Li'l Tom Hardy") the last week in September was a time for quiet reflection and meditation without in-laws, colonics, or wheat germ.
He spent hours sitting on a quiet porch outside a small third-story room in Charlevoix, Michigan. Often, he would remain in a trance-like state, staring (sometimes with the aid of binoculars) into the rooms of the cheap hotel/spa across road.
In later years, as the once free-wheeling days of Northern Michigan gave way to the puritanical hub it has now become, Dad was forced to do his meditation via video camera and an extensive system of mirrors.
Like Keanu Reeves' career, the tradition is tough to kill off. We look forward to each September with angst and medication.
Even though we haven't toured with Li'l Tom for five years now, we still get the knot in our stomach formerly associated with our medicinal use of tapeworms to lose weight to fit into last year's costume.
And so it is with some excitement we look forward to possibly getting out of Michigan for that last week in September. While we want to leave Michigan, we have no intention of leaving magic. Magic is as much a part of us as acne scarring is to our sister/aunt.
We hope to save enough money from bar bets and blood donations to visit Israel for the First International Magic Convention. …
Categories: Magic Stories Tags: