Announcement of a Secret Project

[Joe Mckay]

Ok - back from work now. Had a chance to look up the age of this magician when he died.

And it is probably not him since he died at 80 and thus I am guessing didn't 'die prematurely' as Richard mentioned in his tease.

I officially have no idea who this is!

Joe

PS My guess was Bob Stencel.

[Richard Kaufman]

Someone else is doing Stencel, not me. Lips sealed.

[Smurf]

How about Tim Connover? (probably not famous enough)

[Pete McCabe]

The second to last letter of his surname was spelled with an 'e'. Yet - I often often saw it incorrectly spelled with an 'i'.

Is it Slydeni?

[Joe Mckay]

I don't think it will be Tim. Eric Mead is working on that book and he says it won't be ready for at least a couple of years.

Joe

[El Mystico]

I'm delighted there will be a book on Tim.

[Richard Kaufman]

Not Conover (the family is publishing that).
Not Slydini (I wish!).

[Tom Gilbert]

Skinner?

[AJM]

Mewis?

Oh no, he's still alive, sorry...

[Bill Marquardt]

Tommy Wonder, I wonder?

The suspense is killing me.

Okay, it's not Carl Ballantine. Let's start from there.

[RMajor]

Sicher?

No, not famous enough. Could be Skinner.

[Bill Mullins]

Tony Giorgio

[Ian Kendall]

Much as a collection of Tony's work would be welcome, I'm not sure he fits in with the 'died early' data...

Since it's not a book, I'm going with a holographic 'Pepper's Ghost' version of Vernon that you set up in your study and it shouts at you that you are flashing...

[Joe Mckay]

Looy Simonoff? Would be great to see more from him.

But it probably isn't him since he was quite old when he died.

[Bob Farmer]

I like Ian's idea -- in fact I'm sure some wag could cobble together some Vernon footage/audio where he makes various criticisms. This could be an app -- Vernon humiliates you. You would play it as you worked on a trick.

[Richard Kaufman]

It's not Giorgio. I published all of his best magic routines, with the exception of his three-card monte, in his special issue of Genii.

[Pete McCabe]

So you do not deny the Vernon Humiliation app? Interesting.

[Richard Kaufman]

I've been tongue-lashed by Vernon, so no thanks.

[Pete McCabe]

Would you deny me the same pleasure?

[Richard Kaufman]

You bet.

[Pete McCabe]

All right, but the next time we meet, you owe me a torrent of verbal abuse. In the interest of fairness, you should wait until I show you a trick.

[erdnasephile]

Was there ever a good magician who spent time with Vernon that he didn't tongue-lash?

[erdnasephile]

BTW, that wasn't meant to be a rehetorical, snarky question. I was asking because from what I've read, he was reputed to be a tough critic of pretty much everyone. I was just curious if anyone in particular seemed to get less of the business.

[Charles Spector]

I'll take a shot: The Bruce Cervon videos. Not that Richard is going to give in with a right guess...

[Richard Kaufman]

Not Cervon.

[erdnasephile]

Man, that would be cool!

[Ian Kendall]

I still think the Vernonator would be a good app to develop...might have to give David Ben a call.

[RMajor]

Perhaps a Skinner project with Hahne Magic?

[skmayhew]

Busby!

[Richard Kaufman]

Nothing with Hahne Magic.

[Bill Mullins]

It's not Giorgio. I published all of his best magic routines, with the exception of his three-card monte, in his special issue of Genii.

So publish his monte routine then.

[Richard Kaufman]

He put it out as a booklet and his wife still sells it.

[Jim Martin]

I purchased my copy from Byron Walker:

http://www.byronwalkermagicbooks.com/gambling.html

(toward the bottom of the page)

[Bill Mullins]

Ah. Thanks.

[Richard Hatch]

The Giorgio monograph on his Monte routine is also listed as in stock at my old company, H & R Magic Books:
http://www.magicbookshop.com/product_in ... s_id=15000

[Shaun]

It's Jennings Takes It Easy! Yay.

[Richard Kaufman]

I wish. Actually did a day's work on Jennings recently, but no, that's not it.

[Max Maven]

Was there ever a good magician who spent time with Vernon that he didn't tongue-lash?

The Professor was willing and able to criticize when he saw fit. But, it was rarely as abusive as people now imagine.

[Shaun]

I wish. Actually did a day's work on Jennings recently, but no, that's not it.

I can't wait though Richard, It's gonna be epic!

[Ian Kendall]

Giorgio showed me his monte when I visited him, and I still have the cards he used. His move was unbelievable to see, even from a couple of feet away; the top card seems to melt through. I can only imagine what it was like in his prime...