Hollywood – THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT

Pantages Theater 1981 Billboards

The above photo features the west wall advertising of the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. The year was 1981, and Doug Henning was about to play his still talked about, and legendary shows at this venerable theatrical institution. At the top right, you can see Doug’s small, but effective poster detailing the opening date of October…

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…

“A Death-Defying Escape” in Hollywood

Thanks to John Cox of Wild About Harry for alerting me to a new magic and comedy play currently running at the Hudson Guild Theatre in Hollywood starring Judy Carter. “A Death-Defying Escape” is a show that deals with Carter’s life and career in magic among other things. Why am I mentioning this? Well, according…

Chip Romero at the Magic Castle

For readers living in the Los Angeles area, I wanted to let you know that magician and Doug collector Chip Romero will be performing at the Magic Castle from October 12th-17th. Chip’s collection of Doug Henning artifacts is amazing, and a sight to behold. Do yourself a favor, and look up some of the tours…

Linking Ring- March,1972 (Doug in Hollywood)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Many of us have read about Doug’s early days in Hollywood studying with Dai Vernon at the “Magic Castle.” However, this my friends is the real deal. Written at the time it was happening, this article gives us a first hand account of the whispers and rumors surrounding this Doug Henning….

Vintage Pantages “World of Magic” Marquee Photo

The above vintage photo features Doug’s touring “World of Magic” stage show at the, you guessed correctly, “Pantages” theater in Hollywood, CA. However, what specific year this is is a mystery to me. Doug played there a couple times in the early 1980s in a “Best Of” show which highlighted his most famous illusions up…

Pantages Newspaper Ad

This newspaper ad comes from Hollywood’s famed Pantages theater and highlights Doug’s public performing debut on the West Coast. Doug performed several times at the Pantages over his career, and this ad is unique in the sense in that it highlights the more mysterious aspects of his stage persona. I’m sure we’ve all seen the…

Larsen on Henning: Part Three (Revisited)

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…

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…

Doug and Dai

This particular clip, taken from the CBC Archives, seems to be one of the few filmed examples of Dai Vernon teaching Doug. The two had become close friends when Doug traveled from Canada to train with Vernon after being awarded his legendary $5000 performing arts government grant. Their lessons, which took place at “The Magic Castle,”…

John Cox: Part Four

What was your reaction at the time to his retirement from magic and his surprising death in 2000? I don’t remember it being an announced thing. It was just Doug Henning seemed to have drifted away, and David Copperfield had kind of replaced him as far as the annual television shows…But, at some point it…

From The Magic Castle:

In the spirit of Milt Larsen, Doug, and “The Magic Castle,” please enjoy a selection of pictures highlighting some memorable moments over the last 54 years!