Well folks, it’s that time of the year where I close up shop and reflect on the year that just passed and the one that is just upon us. As always, I wish you the happiest of holidays and sincerely thank you for all your support over the past two, almost three years. It’s everyone’s…
Month: December 2019
Kiel Opera House Advertisement
The above advertisement was printed on June 1, 1980 in the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch.” The Kiel Opera House, now known as the Stifel Theatre, was opened in 1934 and enjoyed a healthy and long life until it was closed under financial disagreements in 1991. Reopening in 2011, the theater seems to be back to its…
Derren Brown “Doug” Name Check!
Mentalist Derren Brown, whose current Broadway show “Secret” is smashing records, was recently interviewed by “Long Island Weekly.” In it, Derren discusses the show’s history, and a certain other magician is mentioned regarding their time on Broadway. “Recently, breaking the record as the longest-running magician on Broadway, Brown made his U.S. debut with Secret, which…
Statue of the Pharaohs Today
If you ever wondered where a lot of Doug’s illusions have ended up over the years. Well, the short answer is that they’re mainly still around, just not always in one place as they used to be. In the case of Doug’s “Statue of the Pharaohs,” let’s get a bit of a refresher before we…
Genii Online: Jim Steinmeyer Interview
In the annals of Doug Henning history, the name Jim Steinmeyer looms large. Having been discovered by Doug at the age of 16, Jim went onto help shape the latter part of Doug’s career from the specials, to Merlin, and beyond. In 2017, Genii Online sat down with Jim for a wide ranging six-part interview….
World of Magic III-Newspaper Article
In honor of this being our 500th post, here’s Doug levitating a motorcycle!
Cooper-Hewitt Archives: World of Magic Poster
While some of you may already be aware of this promotional poster, I’m featuring it because this version comes straight from the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Archives in New York City. It’s colors and quality are highly preserved, and this is definitely one of the most pristine versions I’ve ever seen. For me, this poster has always…
World of Magic V: Compressed Illusion
The above clip originally aired on February 14th, 1982 and is the final “World of Magic” special. As it goes with any magician, looks can be deceiving, and Doug had one more special up his sleeve called “Doug Henning: Magic on Broadway.” But, that’s another story. Now back to this one. While no one could…
Plymouth Magic Wagon Doug Billboard
The above image caught my eye via a sale currently featured on EBay. The item being sold is an original 16mm copy of Doug’s classic Plymouth “Magic Wagon” television commercial. However, it is this image from the campaign that made me do a double take. While I was aware that the original commercial had a…
Vintage “Hendoo” Newspaper Article
Special Thanks to Ken McCreedy
Unseen Merlin Production Publicity Photos: Part Two
Special thanks to Michelle Ainsworth These photos are from the collection of Michelle Ainsworth. Any unauthorized usage of them for profit or personal promotion is in violation of copyright laws.
Henning “Animaniacs” Appearance
Welcome back from Thanksgiving folks! Did you know that Doug Henning appeared on Steven Spielberg’s beloved 90s cartoon series “Animaniacs?’ Or more to the point, a suspiciously Doug like character named “Merlin!” To be truthful, I haven’t seen this episode before. But, if I were a betting man, I’d say someone on that writing staff…
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 