In the almost four years I’ve been doing this website I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned that Christian Slater was in “Merlin” as a child actor. Yup, that Christian Slater played the young “Merlin” in this infamous and fabled production. As he’s had a rich and varied career since, I’ve always wondered what he had to say…
Tag: magic
1985 Fox Theater St. Louis Dancing Handkerchief Photo
There’s a lot to love in this photo of Doug and Debbie performing the always fun “Dancing Handkerchief” routine. This was taken at St. Louis’s Fox Theater circa 1985, and really shows the fun the two were having performing this famous illusion. A dancing handkerchief, or a picture, really does speak a thousand words! Special…
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…
CAM JAM w/ Chip Romero this Wednesday!
Hey everyone! It’s great to be rested and relaxed after a week off and back in action. Let’s get to it! I’m particularly excited about today’s post as it features a very special live event this coming Wednesday, April 14th at 8pm EST. The Society of Canadian Magicians will be featuring Henning collector extraordinaire Chip…
Doug Henning Face Mask
You can chalk the above item to one of the most timely bits of Doug merchandise out there today. Yes for $15 you can be a proud owner of a Doug Henning “Magic Show” face mask. The poster art itself is from the 1981 filmed version of the musical, and it certainly makes for a…
Unseen Magic Show Publicity Photo: Part 4
Photographed by Martha Swope Cort Theater Marquee Photo by Brian Lumley
Unseen Magic Show Publicity Photo: Part 3
Photo by Martha Swope Cort Theater Marquee Photo by Brian Lumley
Doug and Debbie Houdini Plaza 1986 Performance
I’d be remiss in not mentioning that yesterday, March 24th, was Harry Houdini’s 147th birthday. In honor of that special day, I thought it would be appropriate to post the above photo of Doug and Debbie in May, 1986. Where was it taken you ask? Well, if the town of Appleton, Wisconsin means anything to…
Joe Abaldo “This is Broadway” Radio Interview
For those looking for a blast to the past, check out this radio interview with Magic Show understudy and star Joe Abaldo for the radio series “This is Broadway.” The program itself was recorded over 30 some years ago, and syndicated to stations across the country as a way to give listeners a taste of…
Doug’s Understudies-Peter DePaula Playbill
Over the next couple days I wanted to focus on the unsung heroes of “The Magic Show”…Doug’s Understudies! At the time, Doug had issues with the idea of the show continuing without him. As the show’s producer Edgar Lansbury said in John Harrison’s book “Spellbound:” “Doug was always convinced that nobody else could do these…
Haversat & Ewing Auction Results
Last month I profiled two very unique items featured in Haversat & Ewing’s February auction. The first being an extremely rare “Henning and Mars” signed publicity portrait (one that I’ve never seen). The other a vibrant hand drawn portrait by the great Gary Darwin. Who won these items you ask? Drumroll please… Chip Romero is…
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….
Original “Magic Show” Program
Magician Mumdo Marzouki was kind enough to share with me recently some items from his collection. What struck me with this item from “The Magic Show” was that there even was a larger program. I had seen the original Playbill from the Cort Theater before. However, I was even unaware of this tantalizing three page…
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
Cort Theater Renovation and Expansion
Some good news out of New York City is that Broadway’s Cort Theater is scheduled for a full renovation and expansion. Known for being one of the theater district’s smaller venues, the theater already has the hearts and minds of magic fans as being the original home of “The Magic Show” from 1974-1978. To read…
AI Animated Doug Head
This modern technological miracle comes to me from Doug fan Peter Ross. Click away! I’m sure you’ve been seeing this latest trending craze of turning famous people’s photographs into lifelike three dimensional renderings. In fact, it’s so popular that John Cox of Wild About Harry coincidentally did one of Houdini today. While it’s hard to…
Pantages Retrospective: Part 5
Well, the lights have turned on, the show is over, and it’s time to leave the theater doors, and venture back out into the dreaded real world. I can only imagine this is how audiences must have felt at the end of each Pantages “World of Magic” show, but what a high they must have…
Pantages Retrospective: Part 3
While at the Pantages Doug sat down with Danielle Roter of the “Los Angeles Herald Examiner.” This interview originally appeared on October 16, 1981, and includes a review of the show at the end. It also has the distinction of being one of the most serious and non-smiling expressions on Doug’s face that I’ve ever…
Pantages Retrospective: Part 2
And we’re back… As promised, today’s Pantages post involves Doug’s fabled 1981 performance at the venue. Running from October 13-25th, the show featured highlights from Doug’s career up to that point. Friends of the website Mark Willoughby and John Cox attended one of the shows, and spoke to me a bit about their memories. While…
Criss Angel Studio Sale
Sorry to interrupt our regular scheduled broadcast. I know I had started a Pantages performances retrospective yesterday. But, I’d be remiss in not mentioning that magician Criss Angel is currently having a studio sale of his many props and illusions. Notable among them, though I’m biased, are three of Doug’s more popular illusions: Water Levitation,…
Pantages Performances Retrospective
Over the past four years I’ve had the pleasure of featuring items from Doug’s various performances at Hollywood’s famed Pantages Theater. Known for being one of Los Angeles’s premier theatrical venues, it has been home to hundreds of Broadway shows, film premieres, concerts, and the Oscars. So, it goes without saying that in his career…
“Magicians in the White House” Book Announcement
A bit of very brief Doug news went out this past President’s Day via Broadway World.com. Author and Magician Wayne Alan has announced a July 19th, 2021 publication date for his book “Magicians in the White House.” Naturally, Doug features in this book, and is name checked in the article itself. To read the press…
“Doug and Tiger” Alternative Photo
Now, it’s par for the course that you have seen the above photograph. Everyone has, as its one of the best 1980s photos I think there is of Doug. But, did you know there is an alternative version? No, I didn’t either until recently. See if you can spot the change! Okay, well maybe it…
“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…
Haversat and Ewing Auction: Doug and Mars Autographed Portrait
Here’s one more fascinating item up for auction in this weekend’s Haversat & Ewing. Personally, while I have seen images from this photo shoot before this particular image is new to me. Its surreal nature fits well within this earlier time in Doug’s career. The signature itself reads: Hank, Vera, Kim Buddy & David. Thanks…
Haversat & Ewing Galleries Auction: Doug Portrait
Over the next couple days, I’ll be showing you some very cool items featured in Haversat & Ewing’s February 12th-13th auction. First up is this impressive portrait done by Gary Darwin, and signed by Doug himself. Darwin, of course, was an immensely respected magician, collector, and founder of the Las Vegas Magic Club. Estimated to…
The Magic Magazine-January 1975
The above cover and article hail from “The Magic Magazine” which ran from 1974-1977. Published by Joseph Cardwell, the magazine itself went on to publish a total of 26 issues, and even had mentalist Joseph Dunninger as a contributing editor. This issue features a sort of meeting of the magic minds as Doug, Dunninger, and…
“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…
