The Modern Mystic League
DECEMBER 2021
Blackburn & District Society of Magicians
Unfortunately, owing to unforeseen circumstances I was not able to attend the December meeting, and so had to organise things by remote control. My thanks to Roger for stepping in to oversee the event, and for providing this report:
‘Due to the coronavirus restrictions, the Christmas Party had a different flavour this year as we confined ourselves to members and friends. Nevertheless, we were determined to see the MML year out with a bang.
Brian B was eager to start the magic with a number of tricks on a Christmas theme matching cards, Christmas pictures and finding Santa’s favourite reindeer. He also showed us a unique box of Paul Daniels Christmas crackers, still unopened and dated 1983!
Harry followed with several card tricks, demonstrated with great confidence which belies his young age.
Paul showed us some Christmas magic with his usual ‘bits of business’, including pictures of animals when the one placed into a frame changed to the chosen one, despite the pictures being all the same, unbeknown to his helper. He produced a skipping rope from a Christmas stocking and, with the assistance of Hannah and Lorenzo, did a cut and restored rope routine complete with various comedy scissors along the way. His take on the ‘Chinese Compass’ was a Christmas card, and he finished off with Rudolph the red nosed reindeer finally being restored with his glowing red nose, ably assisted by Donald playing the parts of about six helpers!
‘Due to the coronavirus restrictions, the Christmas Party had a different flavour this year as we confined ourselves to members and friends. Nevertheless, we were determined to see the MML year out with a bang.
Brian B was eager to start the magic with a number of tricks on a Christmas theme matching cards, Christmas pictures and finding Santa’s favourite reindeer. He also showed us a unique box of Paul Daniels Christmas crackers, still unopened and dated 1983!
Harry followed with several card tricks, demonstrated with great confidence which belies his young age.
Paul showed us some Christmas magic with his usual ‘bits of business’, including pictures of animals when the one placed into a frame changed to the chosen one, despite the pictures being all the same, unbeknown to his helper. He produced a skipping rope from a Christmas stocking and, with the assistance of Hannah and Lorenzo, did a cut and restored rope routine complete with various comedy scissors along the way. His take on the ‘Chinese Compass’ was a Christmas card, and he finished off with Rudolph the red nosed reindeer finally being restored with his glowing red nose, ably assisted by Donald playing the parts of about six helpers!
MAGIC AT CHRISTMAS
Apologies were given on behalf of Brian L, who had sent a magical quiz which Roger then organised. There were fourteen questions on topics of magic history, and the team of Allan and Harry scored the highest with twelve points. However, the twist was that the winner of the prize was the quickest to rearrange the initial letters of the answers into the name of a well-known magic club.
The answer was ORDER OF THE MAGI, and once again Allan and Harry triumphed, which meant Harry went home with the prize of a Tommy Cooper mug.
Suitable Christmas refreshments followed, donated by Allan, Carl and Roger along with some delicious home-made sausage rolls sent by Margaret Guy. Thanks to everyone.
Allan arranged a raffle draw in which everyone won a prize; thanks, Allan.
To finish off a convivial afternoon, Craig showed us a DVD of ‘The David Nixon Christmas Magic Show’ from 1974, which featured Fred Kaps, Robert Harbin and Shari Lewis along with illusions from David Nixon himself. We spotted John Palfreyman in the audience when David performed a card trick involving a large number of audience members. It was a nostalgic look back to those days when a magic variety show at Christmas was a must for Britain’s television viewers.
We hope you have all had a good Christmas and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.’
Thanks for that most comprehensive account, Roger.
ROGER WOODS
The answer was ORDER OF THE MAGI, and once again Allan and Harry triumphed, which meant Harry went home with the prize of a Tommy Cooper mug.
Suitable Christmas refreshments followed, donated by Allan, Carl and Roger along with some delicious home-made sausage rolls sent by Margaret Guy. Thanks to everyone.
Allan arranged a raffle draw in which everyone won a prize; thanks, Allan.
To finish off a convivial afternoon, Craig showed us a DVD of ‘The David Nixon Christmas Magic Show’ from 1974, which featured Fred Kaps, Robert Harbin and Shari Lewis along with illusions from David Nixon himself. We spotted John Palfreyman in the audience when David performed a card trick involving a large number of audience members. It was a nostalgic look back to those days when a magic variety show at Christmas was a must for Britain’s television viewers.
We hope you have all had a good Christmas and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.’
Thanks for that most comprehensive account, Roger.
ROGER WOODS