The Modern Mystic League
APRIL 2023
Blackburn & District Society of Magicians
MAGIC ON SCREEN
Members were treated to a nostalgic ‘Magic and Mystery Tour’ at our April meeting, courtesy of the technical wizardry of Craig ‘Electrickery’ Docherty.
First up on the huge silver screen came a beautifully-crafted sequence of pencil sketches depicting past and present members, which morphed into colour photographs . . . then we had a mixed collage of still images and video footage taken from our Chorley Bowling Club show in March 2020, on the very eve of Covid.
The first full act was that of Ron Baron, filmed at the Thwaites Empire Theatre and featuring all his favourite routines, including Willie the Wellington Boot. ‘Volunteer’ assistants were Ron’s son Jonathan and grand-daughter Elizabeth.
Travelling further back in time, we encountered Roy Widdup in two clips, one of which featured an interview with Sally Naden about the League as part of our popular Cable TV programme. This led into a skilful and entertaining presentation of the classic cups-and-balls and the inevitable hieroglyphics gag.
Next in line were dear Mo Howarth, with his cut-and-restored inner tube and patter which we could all join in with, a very young-looking Roger Woods and Les Brooks with a prediction effect typical of his style.
Harry and Martin (Robson and Nuttall) popped up at this point with a cross-talking double act, Allan Clarke was seen on stage at St Silas’s with large-card mentalism and Shaun McCree reintroduced us to Trevor the Ferret, which looked and behaved a lot like David Williamson’s Rocky Raccoon.
First up on the huge silver screen came a beautifully-crafted sequence of pencil sketches depicting past and present members, which morphed into colour photographs . . . then we had a mixed collage of still images and video footage taken from our Chorley Bowling Club show in March 2020, on the very eve of Covid.
The first full act was that of Ron Baron, filmed at the Thwaites Empire Theatre and featuring all his favourite routines, including Willie the Wellington Boot. ‘Volunteer’ assistants were Ron’s son Jonathan and grand-daughter Elizabeth.
Travelling further back in time, we encountered Roy Widdup in two clips, one of which featured an interview with Sally Naden about the League as part of our popular Cable TV programme. This led into a skilful and entertaining presentation of the classic cups-and-balls and the inevitable hieroglyphics gag.
Next in line were dear Mo Howarth, with his cut-and-restored inner tube and patter which we could all join in with, a very young-looking Roger Woods and Les Brooks with a prediction effect typical of his style.
Harry and Martin (Robson and Nuttall) popped up at this point with a cross-talking double act, Allan Clarke was seen on stage at St Silas’s with large-card mentalism and Shaun McCree reintroduced us to Trevor the Ferret, which looked and behaved a lot like David Williamson’s Rocky Raccoon.
David Snell then presented his colourful, award-winning silent act employing silks, records, parasols, liquids and a cocktail shaker, while Anne Walmsley made a table float as only she can.
We were then treated to substantial Thwaites Theatre sequences from the hilarious acts of the anarchic Peter Dean and Donald the Average.
One particularly poignant moment was when a 90th birthday cake was presented to Jack Ledwick, who had joined the League in 1939, before his wartime adventures. Jack was still on top form patter-wise, and presented a faultless number prediction.
It was good to be reminded of Joe Gilmour, assisted by Norman Greenhalgh with a close-up routine which involved a magical spectacle case, before Paul Guy was seen in action with a younger helper in a display of his trademark children’s magic.
The MML nostalgia section concluded with still images taken from our very first VHS video recording, arranged by Ken Ashburn when such things were in their infancy. We caught glimpses of Paul Fleming, Colin Cook and Reg Parkinson, still trimming his knots. It was also nice throughout the afternoon to catch the sights and sounds of other past members in the audience.
As an admitted piece of self-indulgence, Craig ended the day with equally poignant reminders of the ground-breaking Las Vegas show of Siegfried and Roy and the emotionally charged and iconic flying routine of David Copperfield.
Craig was congratulated upon assembling such a rich archival source, which will continue to be viewed and enjoyed by members over the years to come
Brian Lead
We were then treated to substantial Thwaites Theatre sequences from the hilarious acts of the anarchic Peter Dean and Donald the Average.
One particularly poignant moment was when a 90th birthday cake was presented to Jack Ledwick, who had joined the League in 1939, before his wartime adventures. Jack was still on top form patter-wise, and presented a faultless number prediction.
It was good to be reminded of Joe Gilmour, assisted by Norman Greenhalgh with a close-up routine which involved a magical spectacle case, before Paul Guy was seen in action with a younger helper in a display of his trademark children’s magic.
The MML nostalgia section concluded with still images taken from our very first VHS video recording, arranged by Ken Ashburn when such things were in their infancy. We caught glimpses of Paul Fleming, Colin Cook and Reg Parkinson, still trimming his knots. It was also nice throughout the afternoon to catch the sights and sounds of other past members in the audience.
As an admitted piece of self-indulgence, Craig ended the day with equally poignant reminders of the ground-breaking Las Vegas show of Siegfried and Roy and the emotionally charged and iconic flying routine of David Copperfield.
Craig was congratulated upon assembling such a rich archival source, which will continue to be viewed and enjoyed by members over the years to come
Brian Lead