The above marquee photo is from the opening night of “Merlin” which “officially” occurred on February 13, 1983. I say officially because the show had 69 previews before this “official” opening night…which was postponed 3 times by the way. All of this was unheard of at the time. Not least of which was never formally…
Month: April 2023
MuppetTrek Podcast: Doug Henning Episode
In my mind, The “MuppetTrek” podcast qualifies as one of the more unique mashup podcasts in terms of subject matters. If you find yourself ever saying “Hey, where can I find a podcast devoted to “The Muppet Show” and the animated “Star Trek” series?” Well, then you’ve come to the right place today. Episode 94…
Nathan Lane Discussing “Merlin” on Playbill.com
This newly filmed video for Playbill.com is a must for Doug fans. At the 1:33 mark, Lane reminisces about his time on the “Merlin,” and hints at the drama that ensued during its production. Other than a few jokes in other interviews, I’ve never heard Lane talk about the show so much. It’s fascinating getting…
Doug and TM Group in Switzerland Photo
The above picture comes from sometime in the 1970s, and shows Doug entertaining a contingent of TM followers from Latin America. According to Rafael De la Puente Araven’s Instagram account, this group had just met with the Maharishi at his academy in Switzerland. Afterwards, Doug entertained them with some magic to show the group “how …
Doug at Hollywood Magic Photo-Late 90s
Doug’s later years are the stuff of legend, even today. Having been told by the Maharishi to return to LA to fundraise for the theme park, Veda Land, Doug found himself in a curious situation. At fundraisers, prospective donors responded most when he would do close up magic. So, what began as a fundraising means…
Yoko One and Julian Lennon at “The Magic Show”
The above photo, and very rare photo, was taken on January 12, 1978, and, obviously, shows Yoko Ono and Julian Lennon leaving a performance of “The Magic Show.” How do we know it’s “The Magic Show? Well, it doesn’t take much investigating to see that Julian is carrying the deluxe souvenir program that was for…
Vintage 1968 Doug and Mars Performance Photo
The above photo comes from John Harrison’s in-depth biography on Doug, “Spellbound: The Wonder-Filled Life of Doug Henning.” It’s a great image, and one that’s been on my “To-Do” list of photos for some time now. Aside from Mars Barrick as his assistant, and the photo itself probably being from the late-60s, I don’t know…
“Magic on Broadway” Opening Credits
Don’t you wish every television show could begin with Doug Henning riding a motorcycle down Broadway? If you did, then you’re in the right place for today’s post! This unique and flashy opening could only have come from a Doug special, and ‘Magic on Broadway is no exception. In fact, it was actually Doug’s final…
Doug and the 1985 WDW Disney Easter Parade: Revisited
Happy Easter everyone! I very rarely repost items on this site. However, how could I resist doing it for today’s post? In 1985, the Walt Disney World Easter Parade featured Doug as its official “Grand Magical Marshal!” It’s a great moment in time for Doug as he’s about two years away from officially retiring. Also,…
“Double Dare,” Doug, and Charles Dickens
If you were a kid in the 1980s (myself included), there was nothing better each afternoon than watching the kid based game show “Double Dare.” From jumping in piles of questionable looking slop to rummaging around in giant nostrils, kids competed in what is still one of the most unique and gross out game shows…
“Oakville Beaver” Interview-March, 1982
Five years ago, I posted a 1982 interview Doug did with the “Oakville Beaver.” Oakville, as you may know, was Doug’s old stomping grounds, and where he lived and attended high school. Recently, that same article was sent to me again by chance. I realized that in the original 2018 post, I posted it as…
Paul Shaffer on Marc Maron’s “WTF Podcast”
Today’s post comes from musician Paul Shaffer of David Letterman and comedy fame, among other things. Appearing on Marc Maron’s popular “WTF Podcast,” Schaffer recalls his career and how he’s gotten to where he is today. However, an unexpected story along the way is how Shaffer spent a year as the bandleader in the original…
Newly Discovered Doug Costumes: Part 3
It was certainly an eventful week of posts concerning possible Doug costumes. Wasn’t it? So, what did we learn? Well, the general consensus was that the costumes that looked like they were originals from “The Magic Show,” were more than likely from the touring version. Abb Dickson, in addition to owning a generally massive costume…
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 