Original Air Date: December 15, 1977
Tag: magic
“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…
Vegetarian Times Cover Story-Feb. 1985
Happy New Year Everyone! I hope your holiday season went spectacularly, and we’re all rested and ready for what 2022 has in store. Here’s hoping for good things as the website enters its fifth year! The above cover is one I sadly don’t have the article for. The magazine itself was up for auction last…
Telescope 1972 Promotional Postcard
In keeping with the clip of Telescope 1972 from a couple days ago, I thought it would be appropriate to feature this promotional postcard that was printed for the original broadcast. The whimsical drawing really captures Doug and Mars’s image and look at the time. It’s a great companion piece to an even greater program!…
Telescope 1972 Clip- Doug, Mars, and a Magic Wand!
The above clip once again comes from the CBC 1972 program “Telescope.” I have great love for this documentary overall, and one of the standouts for me in this scene is seeing Doug’s then assistant/girlfriend Mars Barrick on film. Mars is generally seen in a lot of early publicity photos of Doug in this early…
Carisa Hendrix and Doug on Facebook
Magician extraordinaire, Carisa Hendrix (aka Lucy Darling), was recently spotted via her Facebook account posing next to a fun part of Doug history. This nifty piece of backstage art can be found at the Fox Theater in St. Louis, and is representative of permanent art left by most touring productions of their time at a…
Doug’s First Letter to Dai Vernon
The above letter, as featured in “The Essential Dai Vernon,” is Doug’s initial contact with Vernon to inquire if the esteemed magician might mentor Doug during his time at Los Angeles’ Magic Castle. It goes without saying that Vernon accepted, and due in no small measure to Vernon, Doug blossomed under his tutelage. The rest…
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 …
Telescope 1972-Close-Up at the Magic Castle
The above clip comes from the 1972 documentary “Telescope.” The series, broadcast on the CBC, profiled Canadians and their lives and professions. The majority of the documentary is filmed at the world famous Magic Castle in Los Angeles, and the clip above is a perfect example of this It’s worth noting that Doug is only…
Hendoo Movie Theater Ad
The above newspaper ad comes from 1964, and shows just how enterprising Doug, or Hendoo, was at just 17! Not only was he going to be opening that afternoon’s screening of “The Lone Ranger and The Lost City,” it was going to be a repeat performance no less. These were the early days where Doug…
Cort Theater Expansion-Nov, 2021
Whenever I’m in New York City, I make it a point to walk by the Cort Theater off of 49th and Broadway. As you all know, it was the original home of “The Magic Show.” As these photos from a couple weeks ago can attest, it’s been going through a lot of changes as of…
World of Magic IV-Medieval Thread Illusion in Full
The above appearance was from Doug’s fourth “World of Magic” special in 1978. The special itself features co-hosts Brooke Shields and Tom Bosley accompanying Doug on a whirlwind journey through time, space, and various international countries. While some moments in the special may not hold up well viewed through a 21st-century eye, it definitely features…
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…
“World of Magic ’76” Rope Illusion in Full
Original Air Date: December 23, 1976
Winnipeg Illusion and Reality Ad-Sept 1977
The above ad was when Doug took his “Illusion & Reality” tour to his hometown of Winnipeg, Canada for a September 16, 1977 appearance. The venue itself was the famed Winnipeg Convention Center. Built in 1975, a massive 180 million dollar expansion has since doubled the size of the building and rebranded it the RBC…
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…
“Muppet Show” Opener in Full
Original Air Date: March 14, 1980
Maskelyne on the Performance of Magic-Doug Cover
The above cover comes from a 1976 abridged reprint of the Nevil Maskelyne/David Devant 1911 book “Our Magic.” As this was 1976, Doug was at his Magic Show/World of Magic peak. So, what better reason to put him on the cover of the classic book? The fact that he doesn’t feature in it at all…
Wonder Whims Two Page Ad Spread
The above rare image comes from the Panosh Place 1980s toy catalog, and features those masters of mirth and good cheer…The Wonder Whims. I’ve covered a bit about the Wonder Whims over the years, and I always find it’s always good for a relook when new items come to light. Below is the standard Wonder…
Chicago Sun Times: TV Prevue (Dec 1975)
Special Thanks to Michael Johnson’s insightful book “Magician Doug Henning Collectibles Guide.”
World of Magic ’77: Flower Illusion Closer
Original Air Date: December 15, 1977
David Copperfield’s History of Magic
For those wanting a chance to visit David Copperfield’s famed magic museum this is it! Released this week, “David Copperfield’s History of Magic” is a must read for those wanting a deep dive into magic’s illustrious history, and where much of it resides today. From Houdini, to Malini, to Thurston, and all points in between,…
CAM JAM with Chip Romero
I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that Henning collector extraordinaire Chip Romero will be giving a Zoom presentation this evening, October 27th (8pm EDT), on the monthly CAM JAM! The CAM JAM is from the fine folks at the Canadian Association of Magicians. Chip gave an amazing presentation some months back, and…
Wonder Whims TV Commercial
Hey everyone sorry for the long delay in posts. I’ll be easing back into things this week. So, I appreciate your patience, and let’s get back to things with a bang! A Wonder Whims bang if you will. I don’t think I need to go into the history of the Wonder Whims here. Only, this…
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…
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…
Saturday Night Photos with Doug!
Do you like Saturday nights? I do too. So much so, I wanted to post a couple rarely seen photos of Doug having a good time. The first is obviously staged, and the other during a performance. So, wherever you are, enjoy your Saturday. Let’s not sweat the small stuff. It’s not worth it!
Muppet Show Metamorphosis Appearance in Full
Original Airdate: March 14, 1980
1983 Merlin Fan Letter
The above fan letter was sent to me recently by Steve Schlanger who had no idea of its origins. But, as you can clearly see, Harriet Weston of 19 Willits Road throughly enjoyed her time at Merlin. So much so, that she put pen to paper to tell Doug about it. This letter is a…
Magic Collectibles: Performance Costume for Sale
It’s time to get out those checkbooks once again folks as another Doug costume is up for sale. $3200 will get you this beauty that even comes along with an interesting backstory to boot. If memory serves me right, this classic was worn by Doug on a morning talk show that Doug hosted with Debby…
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 