Th following cover and article hail from the magazine “Top Hat (1963-1993).” The magazine itself once served the purpose (at different times) as the Voice of “Magical Youths International,” as well as the official program of the “International Brotherhood of Magicians.” Quite a mouthful to be sure. This cover story, featuring an 18 year old…
Tag: Magazine
“The New Tops” Magazine: March, 1981
Doug was the featured cover story on this 1981 issue of “The New Tops.” The monthly magazine itself was published by the famed Abbott’s Magic Company of Colon, MI. Abbott’s, of course, is the host of the yearly “Abbott’s Magic Get Together,” which brings together magic fans from around the world. The magazine itself ceased…
The Baffler Magazine: “Real Magic” Doug Article
Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to 2023! It’s great to be back into the swing of things, and starting the site’s 6th year. This was a longer than expected break, due to myself and family catching COVID over the holiday season. We’re all okay now, but it was definitely not what we were…
“TV Time” Cover: December 20-26th, 1975
“The Vidette-Messenger”-Porter County, Indiana Special Thanks to Jim Klodzen
Maggot Brain Magazine #7-New Doug Article
The new issue of the music magazine “Maggot Brain” is out, and its 7th issue has an article about, you guessed it, Doug Henning. The article “Within You Without You” is a fascinating read by writer Robert Dayton, and tells the tale of Doug’s early years figuring out his path in magic with some of…
Magic Magazine-World of Magic 40th Anniversary Part.2
To Be Concluded Tomorrow… “REPRINTED FROM MAGIC MAGAZINE WITH PERMISSION © STAN ALLEN, INC. 2022.”
Magic Magazine Dec. 2015-World of Magic 40th Anniversary Article
Several posts this week will be dedicated to the December 2015 edition of “Magic Magazine.” The featured article, by the late Tod Gerard, commemorates the then fortieth anniversary of the first “World of Magic” special. It’s a fascinating and eye opening article with contributions by David Collier, Brian Lumley, Regina Reynolds, and Chip Romero. The…
“Vegetarian Times” Feb.1985-Full Article
Thanks to Michael Whitecar, I’m able to complete yesterday’s post with the full article from the February, 1985 issue of the “Vegetarian Times.” As you can imagine, it’s an article that checks off all the boxes from Doug’s early history, TM, his food habits, his love of animals, and Houdini. Yes , Doug even speaks…
The New Tops Cover-July 1974
The above 1974 cover is from the venerable magic manufacturer Abbott’s. The magazine itself was a long time staple of the company and existed in various forms from the 1930-1990s. Through many monthly articles, the magazine kept the magic community abreast of the comings and goings of the magic world at large. Ending in the 1990s …
Vegetarian Times Veda Land Article-Sept. 1992
While the above article covers familiar territory in Doug’s never ending quest to get Veda Land off the ground. What I liked about it, was the rare and unseen photo of Doug at Niagara Falls hyping the park’s arrival. Doug’s enthusiasm for the project, like everything he did, was infectious. Whether the park was built…
Scholastic Newstime-October, 1974
The above cover comes from the October 17th, 1974 issue of “Scholastic Newstime.” The graphic design work of this cover is really on point, and one of the most distinctive images of Doug that I’ve seen. If you get out a magnifying glass and squint, you can even make out the fine print stretching around…
The Linking Ring-April 2000 (Doug Tribute Issue)
The article featured below was released two months after Doug’s death, and was the “Linking Ring’s” tribute issue for him. While, the article itself is brief compared to the rest of the issue, it is no less effusive in its admiration for Doug and his work. It’s definitely a moment in time, and one not…
“Crackers” Magazine Cover-Early 80s
Well, there’s definitely only one way you can go with a magazine called “Crackers!” This 1980s Canadian publication was popular in schools of the time, and was similar in nature to America’s very own “Dynamite.” The cover photo itself is one that we’ve all seen before. However, when used in a different context such as…
The Linking Ring: February, 1978
As we head off into that long July 4th holiday weekend, I wanted to post an editorial from the February 1978 issue of “The Linking Ring.” It’s a great piece by editor Howard Bamman, and really gives you a strong feel for the excitement and revitalized interest Doug was bringing to magic. It also shows…
Dennis Loomis Remembers Article: January 2013
The article below comes from the January, 2013 issue of “M.U.M,” and is written by the renowned magician and writer Dennis Loomis. Loomis himself had met Doug in the early 1960s at one of the “Abbot’s Get Together” magic conventions in Colon, Michigan. They soon became fast friends for many years after. Loomis’ columns for…
“Vanish” Magazine Special Edition: Jimi Steinmeyer
Vanish Magazine is offering a special edition issue for the month featuring magic legend and Doug protege Jim Steinmeyer as the cover story. The best part of it is, is that it’s totally free to download. In the wide ranging interview, Jim discusses many ideas of magic theory, and also a mysterious book he is…
Magic Magazine Magic Show 40th Anniversary Issue: Part 3
Today’s is the final part of Magic Magazine’s 40th Anniversary “Magic Show” Retrospective. Yes I know, it’s been a blast! But, they could only spare so many pages to this memorable show. This last part by Alan Howard, focuses on the various iterations of the show that performed to masses after its initial Broadway success. …
Magic Magazine Magic Show 40th Anniversary Issue: Part 2
After a brief hiccup, we are back with Magic Magazine’s “Magic Show 40th Anniversary” issue. In this edition, you’ll get to read more excerpts from John Harrison’s brilliant biography of Doug “Spellbound.” If that weren’t enough, David Charvet sits down with composer Stephen Schwartz about the genesis of the show’s music. All this,”Right Before Your…
One Wacky 1980’s “How To” Magic Article with Doug!
Just when you thought you’ve seen everything. In my travels online, I came across this single page, and it’s a bit of a head scratcher to say the least. Alternately fun and frightening, the article clearly was a “how to” article for kids to learn “magic.” I love the design choices in this. Taken at…
Reno “Showtime” Magazine-August, 1979
Special Thanks to Michael Whitecar
“Abracadabra” Sept. 1974-Doug and the Larsens
The pictures below hail from the September 21st, 1974 issue of “Abracadabra.” Profiling that year’s S.A.M Boston Convention, the event was seemingly a who’s who of magic at that time. Most notable is the picture of Doug with Bill and Irene Larsen, co-founders of the “Magic Castle.” In fact, it was Bill Larsen who began…
1985 Doug Henning/Tom Jones Playbill
Special Thanks to Ken McCreedy
“Abracadabra Magazine” June 19th, 1974
This rarity comes from Vol. 58 #1483 of Abracadabra, and gives us a real insight into the buzz that was “The Magic Show” premiere at that time. If this article wasn’t enough to make you want to take a return trip to 1974, then photographer Irving Defor’s covertly taken dress rehearsal photo is worth the…
“Goodliffe’s Abracadabra” Cover-Aug. 1978
Today’s post comes from Andrew Van Buren, and is a August 1978 cover from the popular British magazine “Goodliffe’s Abracadabra.” Abra, as it was fondly referred as, was started in 1946 by magician and author Charles Goodliffe Neale. The magazine itself enjoyed a record sixty-three year run, and folded in 2009 after issue 3,296. Andrew…
Doug and Mars at the Magic Castle-Genii Magazine (Feb.1970)
Originally appearing in the February 1970 issue of Genii, this article was from the era when Doug would frequently travel between McMaster College in Toronto to perform at the Magic Castle. His girlfriend and assistant, Mars Barrick, is seen by his side decked out in timely hippie garb. Mars was an important part of Doug’s…
“Houdini’s Magic Magazine” Mystery
For all intents and purposes there shouldn’t be a mystery surrounding this January, 1978 issue of “Houdini’s Mystery Magazine.” I recently purchased this issue off of EBay for many reasons. The number one reason, of course, is for the cover and article previewing Doug’s upcoming “World of Magic” special. However, as I began to flip…
Earth, Wind, & Fire Thank You to Doug- Ebay Item
For all you collectors out there, I just came across this unseen item today on Ebay. As you can see, this 1978 trade magazine advertisement was from the popular band Earth, Wind, and Fire thanking Doug for creating illusions for their tour. It also works well as a double promotion for Doug’s then upcoming “World…
“Alla-Kazam”Fanzine- World of Magic ’78 Article
The following article comes from the second issue of the magic fanzine “Alla-Kazam.” The magazine itself was bi-monthly, and a product of MacDonald Magic located out of Spencerville, Ohio. By all accounts, it folded in 1981. But, let’s begin with that cover illustration shall we? By that I mean it’s certainly one of the more…
People Magazine- August, 1974 “Magic Show” Interview
The above pages come from the August 5, 1974 issue of “People” magazine, and are straight from the time when Doug was taking the world by storm. As you can tell from the article, nothing like the “Magic Show” had been seen before on Broadway, and Doug, like the show itself, was a unique commodity….
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 