Is there an illusion for you that stands out as a personal favorite? I don’t think there’s any particular thing. His showmanship and some of the illusions he did on his shows were really old stock illusions. But, the way he did them and the approach to it he did them all in his own…
Category: Interview
Larsen on Henning: Part Two (Revisited)
In part two of our interview, Milt Larsen discusses Doug as a person, the magic community’s reaction to him, and the impact Broadway’s legendary”The Magic Show” had on the craft as a whole. Milt take it away… It’s been said that his enthusiasm for life and his work always bubbled up at the surface. What were your…
Larsen on Henning: Part One (Revisited)
Believe it or not, this May will be the one year anniversary of “The Doug Henning Project.” So, in honor of that occasion I thought it would be fun if I reprint the first four interviews that launched the very first month of the site. I’ll be doing this once a month, leading up to…
Looking for Brian Lumley
Hello All, As we approach our one year mark, I’ve been looking to expand our interviews for the website. At this point I am very interested in speaking with one of Doug’s long term collaborators and friend Brian Lumley. If anyone has any contact information for him I’d be greatly appreciative. Please privately contact me…
Toronto Star Article Sept. 1985
In the fine tradition of mid-1980s Doug interviews why don’t we do another one? This September 1985 piece hails from the Toronto Star and showcases some really nice action shots of Doug performing a handkerchief illusion. How about that 1980s skinny tie by the way?
1982 Oakville Beaver Interview
This article is unique in the sense that it comes from Doug’s very own hometown Oakville, Ontario. It’s 1982, and as you would guess, Doug’s life was in full swing with touring and preparations for “Merlin.” But, what I found interesting are Doug’s comments on the life of being a celebrity and some of the…
Calgary Sun 1986 Interview- Mr.Magic
It’s Saturday! Are you glad? I am! What better way to celebrate a Saturday than this interview with Doug from the “Calgary Sun?” In the piece, Doug discusses (you guessed it) magic, his marriage with Debby, and his thoughts on the concepts of fame and life. It’s a fascinating read. Sorry about the small print. If…
Henning in High School
You may have to squint your eyes a little, the above article comes from the Oakville Trafalgar High School’s 75th Anniversary commemorative newspaper. Doug, in preparations for “Merlin” at the time, speaks fondly of his formative years in high school and what they meant to him. While he wasn’t able to attend the reunion that…
Genii Online Interview
Hey Everyone! Are we all rested from the weekend? I wanted to let you know that I was recently interviewed by “Genii Online” regarding “The Doug Henning Project.” “Genii Online” is the online version of the esteemed magazine of the magic industry called, you guessed it, “Genii.” David Roberts did a great job with questions,…
Chicago Tribune Interview Conclusion
Well here we are. I’ve particularly enjoyed this article for Doug’s musings on the past, present, and future of magic as he saw it at that time. If you have any thoughts please drop me a line. See you next time! Doug Henning Pulls New Secrets From His Hat To Hold Off Competition By Larry…
Chicago Tribune Interview: Part Two
Welcome back! For our second round, the article delves a little more in depth into Doug’s views on current magic and, in particular, David Copperfield’s recent Statue of Liberty disappearance trick! Enjoy. Doug Henning Pulls New Secrets From His Hat To Hold Off Competition By Larry Cart Blowing minds has, of course, always been the…
Chicago Tribune Interview: Part One
In my internet travels I came across this fascinating Chicago Tribune interview from June 16, 1985. In it, Doug speaks of holding off the encroaching competition with new ideas and illusions. I really enjoyed the article, and I think you will too. Doug Henning Pulls New Secrets From His Hat To Hold Off Competition By…
David Charvet’s Doug Henning Photo Collection
In addition to giving a great interview, David also provided me with a trove of pictures illustrating the process in setting up the interview with Doug, a gift Doug gave him, and items from Doug’s memorial service in Beverly Hills. All of these really do paint a unique and touching picture of David’s interactions with Doug…
An Interview with David Charvet: Part Three
Doug Henning died a short six months after David’s interview took place. Their friendship, albeit brief, left a large impact on David’s life. As you will read, all of this came to a touching conclusion at Doug’s rarely talked about memorial service. Do you believe he would have returned to magic? I don’t think he was coming back to do…
An Interview with David Charvet: Part Two
Getting to the interview, can you tell me the backstory on how it came to be? It came completely out of the blue. I was sitting at home one day in early August of 1999 and my phone rang, and when I answered I hear, “Hi David? It’s Doug Henning!” (laughs)… It caught me completely…
An Interview with David Charvet: Part One
All this week I will be featuring my recent interview with magician and magic designer David Charvet. David, along with being an esteemed magician, has the distinction of conducting the very last and only full length interview that Doug ever did. The story of how that came to be will be revealed in tomorrow’s post….
Doug and The Washington Post: Part Three
“The Spellbound World of Doug Henning” By Richard Harrington June 9, 1982 The Heir to Houdini Henning is spending this week at Merriweather Post Pavilion with one of the last road shows he’ll be doing for a while. All his time and energy are going into “Merlin,” which he describes as a 6-year-old project about…
Doug and The Washington Post: Part Two
“The Spellbound World of Doug Henning” by Richard Harrington June 9, 1982 After graduation from college with a degree in physiological psychology, Henning traveled all over Canada and the United States searching out masters who could teach a young Doug old tricks; post-graduate work included opening for Canadian rock groups. He soon found backers for…
Doug and The Washington Post
I just came across this treat of a “Washington Post” interview I think everyone will enjoy. It was published on June 9, 1982 and takes place right before Doug was winding down touring to concentrate on the creation of “Merlin.” Compared to other interviews I’ve read it really delves deeply into Doug’s thoughts on the…
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 