If you don’t already know, but you probably already do, today would have been Doug’s 71st birthday. While it’s hard to really know what a 21st-century Doug Henning would be up to, it’s not hard to guess that it would be innovative, boundary pushing, and fantastic! So, from “The Doug Henning Project,” Happy Birthday Doug…
Category: Doug Henning
Rare Photo Wednesday!
For all those looking to get past the Wednesday doldrums, enjoy these vintage pictures from Doug’s always busy life!
“The Doug Henning Project’s” First Anniversary!
One year ago today I began “The Doug Henning Project” with a post called “Why Doug Henning Matters!”I obviously believe that’s still the case, and the last year has proven that even more to me! It’s because of readers and fans like you that keep this website going. Your words of encouragement, collection pictures, memories,…
The Electric Company Magazine in Full
This June, 1976 “Electric Company Magazine” cover story is memorable for many reasons. Not least of which is Doug’s levitation illusion at the very top of the World Trade Center. A record feat in magic and risk taking no doubt! Now I know I have published the front cover in a previous post. However, Doug…
Doug as Chou Chou the Mime
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…
Jim Steinmeyer Interview: Part Four (Revisited)
The closing part of our interview with Jim covers an interesting, overlooked, and ultimately bittersweet time in the life of Doug. After retreating from the spotlight for many years, Doug had returned to Los Angeles with a seemingly renewed sense of vigor and love of magic. What this may or may not have lead to…
Jim Steinmeyer Interview: Part Three (Revisited)
What was your reaction the news that he was retiring from magic? It was a really difficult situation…We had wind of it. Doug was spending a lot of time with TM stuff…and we had no idea what would happen to the company…Doug would go “No, no, no I’m really working.” He was kind of sending…
Jim Steinmeyer Interview: Part 2 (Revisited)
What were your impressions of Doug’s as a person? The thing about it was that that was 100% him. He didn’t come offstage and put on a three-piece suit, put his feet up, smoke cigars, and say “Hey, what do you think of this hippy look? What do you think I should be doing?” There…
Jim Steinmeyer Interview: Part One (Revisited)
(To commemorate the website’s upcoming first anniversary, I thought it would be appropriate to dip into the vault and reprint some of the initial interviews that launched everything. So, in that spirit enjoy this interview with Jim Steinmeyer from our second week) For many in the world of magic the name Jim Steinmeyer conjures up fantastical…
The $1,000,000 Illusion
As we close out the week, I wanted to showcase the “1,000,000” illusion from Doug’s penultimate special “Magic on Broadway.” The special itself, shot at the time of “Merlin,” serves as a kind of greatest hits special sprinkled with new takes on old illusions and a myriad of special guests. Reuniting with Doug on stage…
Doug Henning Canadian “Beginnings” Article
This article comes by way of reader Karen Kampen. It’s very unique in the sense that it’s more oral history than a straight article. In it, Doug reflects on his childhood growing up in Canada, his sisters, and his father. It’s a great read, and while it’s a mystery to myself and Karen which paper it…
1981 TWA Airline Newspaper Ad and Commercial
This vintage newspaper ad from 1981 was produced in conjunction with a tongue in cheek TV commercial that Doug participated in for TWA. As far as a I can tell, it’s only one of a handful of ads that Doug was featured in during his career. While we’re on that subject, here’s the actual TV…
Never Before Seen 1970s Performance Photos
Today’s incredible and previously unseen pictures come from photographer Frank Zak, and feature a mid-1970s performance in Pittsburgh. What’s stunning for me is their clarity and detail. You really do feel like you’re in the front row, or perhaps even on the stage itself. While I never had the opportunity to see Doug perform live myself,…
Original Magic Show TV Commercial from the Michael Grandinetti Collection
This commercial featured above was originally broadcast on October 10, 1978, and features Doug’s replacement Joe Ablado in the lead role. While Doug may not appear in the ad itself, his presence can be felt in the poster, the songs, and of course the illusions themselves. So, enjoy this rare bit of Broadway TV magicana,…
Original 1976 Magic Show Marquee and Billboard Photos
These fabulous photos were given to me by early Doug collaborator Brian Lumley, and feature “The Magic Show” marquee and billboard during Christmas, 1976. On my recent trip to New York I had tried to visualize what the theater and its surrounding areas looked like during that period, and these certainly give me a great…
Doug Henning/Billy Crystal Lake Tahoe Ad
To while away your Wednesday afternoon I thought I’d share a unique item from the collection of Michael Whitecar. While these sorts of casino show ads were common at the time, I’ve always been drawn to their very 1970s vibe and artwork. Think about it, who would do a hand drawn portrait of a performer…
“The Magic Show” on Amazon Prime Streaming
John Cox of Wild About Harry was kind enough to let me know that the 1981 filmed version of “The Magic Show” is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime. While this production has been available on DVD for a while, this is the first time anything by Doug has been available on a streaming platform. Notably,…
Cort Theater Photos
And I’m back! After a busy three weeks off, “The Doug Henning Project” is up and running for service. During this time, I had the pleasure of spending a week in New York City. NYC is memorable for many reasons, not least of which is that Broadway is the home of the Cort Theater. The…
A Little Hiatus
Hey All! Due to work commitments and an upcoming trip to New York, “The Doug Henning Project” will be on a little hiatus. Fear not, I’ll return on Monday, April 9th with many cool and wondrous things to share. So, until then…stay magical! –Neil
Brian Lumley: The 2nd Special, Doug’s Legacy, and Rare Photos!
c) Brian Lumley What are your strongest memories prepping the 2nd Special? This show was the one that would take us away from The Magic Show and we were all ready for it. The Broadway show had worn us down and we did not want to be part of the performances any more. Glen and…
Brian Lumley on Houdini’s Water Torture Cell
How did the First Special come about? Very early in The Magic Show’s run a very influential person came and basically fell in love with Doug’s performance. She asked him what he would do if he had a show at Christmas? Doug told her he would make people appear and disappear. He would do small…
Brian Lumley: “Magic Show” Secrets
How did Spellbound end up on Broadway? Ivan Reitman, Spellbound’s producer/director, put an ad in Variety which was published Dec. 19/73. This was the pre-production week. Joe Berhu and Edgar Lansbury saw the ad and came to take a look. By the end of the week Broadway was in the air. We set up shop…
Brian Lumley Interview : Part Two
Glenn Priest (far left), Brian Lumley (Middle), and Doug Were you interested in magic before you met Doug? In a word no. Not Lesley, Glen, or myself had any experience with stage magic. We had each seen or performed magic on our own but that is another story. It is also why we each had…
Brian Lumley Interview: Part One
Today we have a treat in store for you in the form of a brand new interview with one of Doug’s earliest technical collaborators Brian Lumley. From “Spellbound,” to “The Magic Show,” to Doug’s first two specials Brian was there all the way. He was more than gracious enough to answer a wide range of questions,…
Vanishing Elephant Illusion
While I had hoped to find a clip of the original “Vanishing Elephant” illusion from Doug’s second special, everything on You Tube is an inferior and grainy copy. Fortunately for us, Doug recreated the illusion for the 1981 filmed version of “The Magic Show” which is the origin of this higher quality clip. The elephant…
Society of Canadian Magicians: 1974 “Magic Show” Article
In addition to writing a great article this week, Richard Sherry has shared this issue of the “Levitator” from May/June 1974. The issue focuses on Doug’s groundbreaking success with “The Magic Show,” and even features an interview with Doug culled from “The New York Times.” Early interviews with Doug are always great to read, and…
Richard Sherry Remembers: Part Two
Growing Up with a Legend: Part Two By Richard Sherry Doug Henning was friends with a young director named Ivan Reitman who would go on to produce such blockbusters such as “Animal House,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Kindergarten Cop.” It was said that Ivan fronted him the money to purchase the props to create his stage show…
Richard Sherry Remembers: Part One
In this two part article, magician Richard Sherry has graciously agreed to recount for “The Doug Henning Project” the times he spent with Doug as a teen growing up in Canada. It’s a fascinating window into the life of a young Doug Henning and the positive effect he had on the people around him… Growing…
David Ogden Stiers
For most people, actor David Ogden Stiers is best remembered for “MASH,” numerous Disney projects (Beauty and the Beast), and a long list of notable television and film roles. However, most magic fans will know that Stiers co-starred with Doug in the original Broadway production of “The Magic Show.” Playing the villainous and washed up…
“World of Magic V” NBC Promo
There’s something to be said about this NBC TV promo for 1980’s “World of Magic V.” What it is I don’t know, other than that they don’t make commercials like they used to. That’s for sure. On that note, does anyone have a copy of the long lost gem “Valentine Magic on Love Island?
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 