This rare Canadian article from the early 1970s touches on a relatively unknown time in Doug’s career when he wasn’t known as Doug Henning at all. No, this was the time of Chou Chou, the shoe selling mime.
As the article explains, Doug’s purpose in this 15 minute consumer presentation was to perform his various illusions. All the while, a speaker would extol the virtues and benefits of Canadian made shoe wear. Hey, we all have to start somewhere.
The character of Chou Chou would go on to to be Doug’s alter ego for a bit longer. That was until he shed it entirely to become the magician we all know and love today!
