Del Ray

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Jackie Huang
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Del Ray

Postby Jackie Huang » August 30th, 2010, 4:00 pm

Is there ACTUALLY going to be a book on the legendary Del Ray?

James Foster
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Re: Del Ray

Postby James Foster » August 30th, 2010, 4:01 pm

Gary Plants reported last week that the book is almost complete and could be on the market before the end of the year.

James

Jackie Huang
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jackie Huang » August 30th, 2010, 4:19 pm

Thanks, James. That's a GREAT news! :D

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Magic Newswire
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Magic Newswire » August 30th, 2010, 11:01 pm

I hope that the video that I recently posted of Del Ray has played some small part in this conversation. I received another DVD the other day with an hour an a half of him doing close-up. AMAZING stuff! He is rapidly becoming one of my renewed favorites and I am looking forward to more on the book!

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Re: Del Ray

Postby DrDanny » August 30th, 2010, 11:25 pm

Any chance you'll be posting more like that, Dodd? That was simply wonderful footage, if only to see the audience!

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Tabman » August 30th, 2010, 11:53 pm

Gary Plants wrote:...The book is going to be roughly 425 pages....


Great news. Have you set a price for the book yet???

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jackie Huang » August 31st, 2010, 12:28 am

Thanks, Gary....and sorry to hear about John Moehring.

A 400+ pages book on Del Ray with a companion DVD selling for around $55-65.....sounds like a no-brainer. :D

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Tabman
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Tabman » August 31st, 2010, 1:06 am

Thats good news and an affordable price.

Thanks Gary.

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Magic Newswire » August 31st, 2010, 10:04 am

Hi Gary,
I meant that I hoped that the recent posting had generated this renewed interest here. Sorry for the confusion. I knew that it hadn't started a book or DVD project. ;-)

Dr Danny,
Yes.. I'll be dropping more clips soon!

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jonathan Townsend » August 31st, 2010, 10:16 am

The guy was a delight to watch.
Will this book openly discuss his creations and how they came to be?
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Terry » August 31st, 2010, 5:37 pm

Gary - you have a PM.

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jonathan Townsend » September 1st, 2010, 10:07 am

Is the PM reply function working again?
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Steve Bryant » September 2nd, 2010, 8:01 am

Meanwhile, give John our best on the health issues. It's a shame that, at our age, we have to face dragons.

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Re: Del Ray

Postby mai-ling » September 3rd, 2010, 7:35 pm

David Ben was also working on a book or project
on Del Ray too. Not sure how that is going, all
I know is that I received an email from him
about his time during the Blackstone, Sr. show.

I remember seeing Del perform at the IBM
convention celebrating the 100th
anniversary of Sr's Birthday and his time
one panel talking about him with Jr., Geo
Johnstone, my dad and a couple of others.

A book from anyone would be great.
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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Richard Kaufman » September 4th, 2010, 3:00 pm

Same book. David Ben went on to other projects and the Del Ray book was written by John Moehring.
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amp
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Re: Del Ray

Postby amp » September 5th, 2010, 8:27 am

Awesome !! Can't wait . Thank you for putting a great book together .

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Michael E. Abston » September 7th, 2010, 4:59 am

I had the great pleasure to see Del 4 times in the late 70's both in front and from the wings! He was just as amazing backstage as in the audience! He then, later, had everyone in a room and did close-up for well over an hour! BUT the BEST memory was his performance in Raleigh, NC, (1976 or 77). After the evening show, all these magicians were crowding around him. He noticed a small boy just sitting alone in the front row. He told the magicians to excuse him for a moment. Then this gracious and wonderful human being went over and sat with this small, budding magi and spent at least 20 minutes with him just talking magic, watching him do a trick and giving him his complete and undivided attention! This was one of the greatest moments in magic, for me!

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Re: Del Ray

Postby DrDanny » September 22nd, 2010, 4:17 pm

This is great news! Where and when can I send the money?

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jackie Huang » September 22nd, 2010, 5:35 pm

:D

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Tom Frame » September 22nd, 2010, 7:09 pm

Excellent news, Gary. I can't wait!

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Doc Dixon » September 22nd, 2010, 8:30 pm

Gary,

Will there only be a "standard" edition of the book or will there also be a limited "deluxe" edition with various and sundry extras?

Best,

DD

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Gregory Edmonds » September 23rd, 2010, 12:36 am

Excellent to learn that Del's story is now becoming reality. For me, too, this is a must have. As a long-time writer (sometimes of biographical pieces), I understand what a tedious and often frustrating task this process can be. With David and John involved, however, I truly expect wonderful things in this publication.

I've written before that Del was a truly remarkable man is so many ways; but the statement bears repeating. Every magician (and every human being) is a unique entity, those genuinely incredible spirits like Del come far to few and far to infrequently. The latter, of course, is what makes them all the more "special." I shared before Del's kindness toward me.

Del's departure left a sadness in our community, and a hole in the world of entertainment at large. A tome doing his legendary life justice has been long coming, and I for one anticipate it with great interest.

John Moehring is another quite remarkable individual. I spent very little time when getting to know him (not nearly as much as I'd have liked), when he resided in the Charlotte, NC area. Subsequently, John has parted with many of his highly-collectible magic publications, and it's been my privilege to acquire more than a few. John had (and has) good tastes in selecting magic-related literature, and I've been pleased to possess some of his cast-offs.

I, too, have had physical challenges disrupt my life over the past few decades. Through it all, I've been blessed with a group of friends and acquaintances who've helped to keep me, during the more difficult periods, on a more even keel. I encourage all reading this to pray for John and keep him in their thoughts as we go about our own daily challenges. Just knowing others, no matter how tenuous the relationship, are there and supporting us in this fashion, I can comment from experience, helps to keep our thoughts in a positive place, and expressing this care for others, I believe, gives those offering the support a spiritual, or you prefer, and intellectual "lift' as well.

Greg
Celebrate the Art of Magic

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Ivanovich » November 3rd, 2010, 9:29 am

Are we getting close to the release? For a book on Del Ray, I'd camp out in line waiting for a copy. Del's close up show was one of the best that I've seen in 30 years.

Chris

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Steve Bryant
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Steve Bryant » November 3rd, 2010, 10:06 am

It is currently advertised on Hank Lee's web site.

Terry
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Terry » November 3rd, 2010, 6:42 pm

It's on Steven's Magic Emporiums site too

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 3rd, 2010, 7:37 pm

Why don't you post some links to the sites where it can be purchased?
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Steve Bryant » November 3rd, 2010, 9:52 pm


M Petersen
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Re: Del Ray

Postby M Petersen » November 3rd, 2010, 11:53 pm

I spoke to the publisher today. It is on its way to Murphy's and will be available to dealers sometime late this week or next.

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Juha-Matti » November 4th, 2010, 1:47 am

I just ordered it from Hocus Pocus. However, from reading the description I have to admit that I am hugely dissapointed... It seems that none of the real stuff is explained or even covered. Ray did good card stuff but thats about it, it was very very common and most card men could easily follow up what was going on just from watching the few years old video. What fooled most people were the frog, the bird, the mouse and the dice thing. At least I would have loved to know more through information about em although I know that they arent really that practical due to electronics used....

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 4th, 2010, 8:07 am

I think most magicians were fooled by Del Ray's excellent Blackjack deal. He was an expert card handler.
What purpose would it serve to explain the electronic tricks? You know they're electronic ... did you want schematic plans so you could build one yourself?
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jonathan Townsend » November 4th, 2010, 8:19 am

Yes Richard, at the very least rough schematics and a detailed discussion of the technical design issues he faced and choices he made so we can move forward from his thinking. The Harbin book might be a pretty good model - taking into consideration when it was written.

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Re: Del Ray

Postby DrDanny » November 4th, 2010, 10:09 am

I have the feeling that few people could do what Del did even if they had access to the original props. The one time I saw him perform (in St. Louis, standing next to a young Richard Kaufman, BTW) I was enthralled not by the effects themselves, tho they were great. It was the persona he adopted, and the LIFE he gave that bird. It was apparent to all that the props were controlled by some mechanical means, but that wasn't important at all.

And I thought his repeat card-to-pocket was astonishingly good.

Brad Henderson
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Brad Henderson » November 4th, 2010, 2:34 pm

I remember the first time a saw Del. I was transported into another world. Everything he did was magic.

The irony was, I also knew how much of it worked. I say this not to pat myself on the back - the only reason I knew these things was because I was from the Lousiville area and knew of one man there and some of the interesting things he also made - but to give credit to Del.

When I watched Del, none of that, not for one second, entered my head. I just didn't go there. That bird was not mechanical - it became real. Those dice weren't being controlled - the bird somehow KNEW. I was completely fooled. NOTE: I'm not saying I "knew" but it didn't matter. I'm say, he fooled me - again and again - and I had no idea what was going on.

It was only a few days later that the connection was even made.

Del did not use electronics.

Del created magic.

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Kent Gunn » November 4th, 2010, 3:41 pm

Just put in an order with Byron Walker.

Saw him one time, when I was a kid. I still don't know how he did ANY of his magic.

Gary . . . Thank you for your work on this. It's the card stuff that matters to some of us.

KG

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 4th, 2010, 7:30 pm

I remember seeing Del in St. Louis--that was my first time, and before he was ill. He was a real magician with a rich personality and killer presentation. It's the effect, not the method. Damn, I might have to buy this book!
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jonathan Townsend » November 4th, 2010, 11:32 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote: "It's the effect, not the method."

And so we need proper instruction on how to model what he did in terms of character, pacing, leading and routine design - to learn how to elicit that sort of effect.
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Kent Gunn » November 5th, 2010, 12:29 am

Jonathan,

Even with proper instruction most of us will never elicit the response great magicians evoke.

Some things can't be learned no matter how much we study or contemplate. Most students of magic, like me, remain duffers until the day they die.

I don't think greatness can be learned. Innate charisma, dedication to becoming a great performer, getting a break or maybe two; these traits collide all too rarely.

We can model the greats, we can try to emulate all they did. Most that follow that path end up as hollow satirists that don't even realize how their attempts have only lead them to pathos.

Let's celebrate the folks like Del Ray and Jay Marshall who stars shone oh so brightly. I'd rather bask in the memories of their performance. I will never, in a hundred years approach their level. Let's ask ourselves, "who were they emulating?". The answer . . . they weren't. They'd found their own sense as performers.

I lost my desire to magic as a living long ago. I kind of like being a grumpy old retired sailor/Nikon guy.



Don't really know where that rant came from. I don't think I meant to aim it at my old pal Jonathan either.

I'm going to go read the big Cardini book. There's a guy nobody ever thought to emulate.

G'night all,

KG

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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jonathan Townsend » November 5th, 2010, 10:11 am

Kent, gushing fanboy commentary about people to whom for the reader it really could not matter whether they were real or fictional ... may as well be fiction. Let's leave our literature to the instructional and leave fiction to those who have shown far more/better effect than we have so far - like J. K. Rowling, Greg Egan, Alistair Reynolds ...

So if you want to write a book discussing tricks - it really would help if it taught the craft rather than merely showed what it might look like sometimes - which is IMHO more like porn.

I don't care if "they made a gesture, leaned back and then turned to the side". What I want to know is how specifically their audience was set up to find that action congruent and appropriate in context.
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Re: Del Ray

Postby Jonathan Townsend » November 5th, 2010, 10:53 am

Brad Henderson wrote "I remember the first time a saw Del. I was transported into another world. Everything he did was magic.

The irony was, I also knew how much of it worked. ....It was only a few days later that the connection was even made.

Del did not use electronics.

Del created magic.


That and the writeup/report of the quasi recalled peformance of 51 faces North have the makings of a pretty good imitation of an H. P. Lovecraft story. Just add mention of odd sensations as you considered touching the cards were they offered and then the bits where the guy had supposedly imaginary friends and that his familiars had the glamour of mechanical toys, yet even those which appeared to be dice were clearly participants in the activities. Maybe throw in a hint about why his pal Hooker removed the head from that Teddybear and we've got a LXG type story for magicdom.

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Re: Del Ray

Postby David Alexander » November 5th, 2010, 11:05 am

Jonathan can play Pickman's model.


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