MARCH 2023 #104
VANISH
MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER Paul Romhany & Joomag
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & DESIGN LAYOUT Paul Romhany COVER PHOTO Photo by Perry Gallagher BACK COVER PHOTO Nils Bennett Thanks to Solange Kardinaly THANK YOU TO Chipper Lowell SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR Nick Lewin ASSOCIATE EDITORS Hal Meyers, Ben Robinson CONTRIBUTORS Paul Romhany, Dan Stapleton, Louie Fox, Nick Lewin, Connie Boyd, Pierre Hamon & Gus, Dave Attwood, Hal Meyers, David Regal, Romany, Puck, Alain Nu, Chuck Jones, Jeff Scanlan, Dibya Guha ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jennifer Holden CREATIVE DESIGNER & LAYOUT Paul Romhany VANISH CONVENTION DIRECTOR Steve Hocevar CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION Joomag ADDRESS PLEASE NOTE: New address so email prior to posting any product reviews to VANISH. editor@ vanishmagazine.com
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FROM THE EDITOR
BACK IN CANADA
Another incredibly busy month here at VANISH as I arrived back in Vancouver, Canada to live. Somehow, despite moving around the world I was able to get this issue of VANISH out on time, thanks to all the contributors who got me their articles in on time. I will have a new mailing address in April and that is where any review items will need to be sent. I have admired the creativity and inventiveness of Arthur Trace for many years, and he has become one of my favorite performers. It is an honor to have him on the cover and to get an insight in to his magic and how he creates so many wonderful routines for his act. Thank you to David Regal for the interview. I am still in shock at the passing of Scott Alexander. It just doesn't seem real, as we are both similar in age and I've been in contact with him about getting him to The Magical Mystery Show in Hawaii of which I am the booking agent. I have known Scott for many years and admired him for everything he has done. His legacy will live on through his amazing books, downloads and tricks he has left us with. When you bought a routine from him you knew it was tested in the real world and it would be a hit of your own show. This was a great loss to us all but even more so to his family and close friends. I'd like to thank Chuck, Puck and Alain for sharing their special thoughts with us about Scott. In the tribute section of this issue, you will see a GO FUND ME link to help support his wife and children. Let's get together as a magic community and show our support for somebody who was one our best and most giving magicians. I'd like to acknowledge the passing of Robert 'Bob' Orben this past week. If you don't know who he was make sure you Google him and find out. He was a legend comedy writer and magician who supplied comedy lines to every working magician in the day, and pretty much lines that are being used to this day! He further moved to politics where he started working as a speechwriter to the Vice President Gerald R. Ford and went on to become the special assistant and director of speechwriting department at the White House. "Every morning I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work."- Robert Orben
Paul Romhany
The Great Pokkus
BY PIERRE HAMON AND GUS
TABLE OF CONTENTS editorial - PAGE 05 ARTHUR TRACE - featre story - PAGE 08 BLACKPOOL 2023- by romany - PAGE 22 JAANA FELICITAS- by connie boyd - PAGE 28 ROBERT 'BOB' ORBEN- in memory by hal meyers - PAGE 34 DAN STAPLETON- roller coaster #3 - the de kolta chair -PAGE 36 PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT- overlayed - PAGE 42 SCOTT ALEXANDER - in memory - PAGE 46 IMPOSSIBLE ART - bottle magic by jeff scanlan - PAGE 58 STICKMAN & BALLOON - trick - PAGE 64 PADDLE BANDS- trick - PAGE 65 TRICKY MATCHES- trick - PAGE 68 DAMEON'S MAGIC MARKER- trick - PAGE 72 PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT- pensense - PAGE 86 THE POWER OF LESS IS MORE- by david attwood - PAGE 88 REVIEWS- - PAGE 92
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#104 March 2023
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BY DAIVD REGAL when, some years ago, a multitude of people acting independently of one another came up to me and said: “Did you see Arthur Trace yet? He’s in The Parlour. You’ve got to see him.” “Don’t leave without seeing Arthur Trace.” “Did you catch Arthur Trace’s act? You’re going to like it.”
A TRACE OF BRILLIANCE When one lives near the Magic Castle, as I do, one gets spoiled. The reason for this is simple: Magic comes to you. Every week The Castle books a new roster of magicians, so fifty-two times a year any member can swing by and have their magic cup filled to the brim. And The Castle is a magnet for good acts. Some weeks it’s an embarrassment of riches as noted magicians from different parts of the world or with different areas of expertise perform under the same roof. Cutting through that clutter is not an easy thing to do, so I was taken aback
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This sort of thing does not happen often. Needless to say, I went to see Arthur Trace, and I – like everyone else – was glad I did. An unassuming, slim young man wearing glasses and a wide grin, Arthur impressed on two fronts during the twenty minutes he shared with his audience: A sure mastery of technique, and a wealth of ideas. The latter was particularly impressive as it’s not unusual to see a polished, commercial magic performer who presents no original ideas whatsoever. But with Arthur, the ideas never stopped. A new premise was followed by a new plot that utilized a new method that