South Canterbury Magicians Society

22/06/2024

My fellow magicians will know the significance of this shot - I'm in the process of 'sneezing' the flowers off my magic bouquet 😂

09/06/2024

Our magic society held a meeting today at Russell's home, showing each other a range of 'astounding' magic effects. Great fun!

16/04/2024

12/09/2023

Temuka magician Hartley Hope, 1966.

07/02/2022

Our banner 'vanished' when Bill Watson died. It was in his shed full of magic gear and collectables and only recently has re-appeared. We are pleased to get it back, it was kindly donated by Graham Dockrill a few years back. 😁

24/11/2021

These are great - I have some, they're brilliant...😄

23/10/2021

Today is Bill Watson's ninety-second birthday. We miss him and will always remember his cheerful manner and the magic he brought into everyone's lives. This was taken in 2013 when he entered the NZ's Got Talent. He was very well received.

19/09/2021

We have just spent an enjoyable afternoon talking about, and performing magic. Our club was established in Timaru in 1932 and is still going strong after 89 years. Pictured L to R: Michael Maynard, Russell Hendry and Graham Dockrill.

27/08/2021

A Society meeting in 1999 at Charlie Manhire's home in Christchurch. Pictured L to R: Bill Watson, Russell Hendry, Joyce Hodge, Ron Hodge, Doug George, Charlie Manhire and Ian Wallis. I am the only one surviving... 😧

01/08/2021

Every now and then a chance of a lifetime comes along. During a magic show today I had a little 4-year-old girl helping me. We were doing a trick with a change bag and she came clutching a little blue monkey, obviously her favourite thing. When we finished the trick and everyone clapped, she whispered, "Could Monkey do some magic too?" So I said, "Sure, put Monkey in this bag." She did so and to her astonishment, Monkey disappeared, only to reappear a moment later. The crowd applauded wildly, the adults realising this was 'impromptu' and yet...."How did that happen??" The look on the little girl's face was priceless.

03/07/2021

Hartley Hope was one of the founding members of our society and many of his props are owned by members, and used in their acts. It's great to think that his magic is still being seen by audiences today, some 89 years after the society was formed.

18/06/2021

I performed at a local kindergarten on Wednesday for about twenty 3-5 year olds. My "Run Cat Run" effect went down well (lots of screaming) and we eventually found the cat in the rubbish bin.

13/04/2021

The sales table was popular - something for everyone.

13/04/2021

Zappo in action...

13/04/2021

"Oh, come on Josh, don't be a wuss..." Josh Grimaldi and Melanie Phiskie

13/04/2021

Elgregoe, (holding "Zazu") Jonathan Usher and Zappo Bates - in action at the "Magic For You" show.

12/04/2021

We held a very sucessful "Magic Gathering" in Timaru on Saturday, attracting magicians from Dunedin, Timaru, Christchurch and even Wellington. Apart from lectures and demonstrations, we staged a public show, with a good Timaru crowd of all ages. Really enjoyable and worthwhile.