Magic Shows on Broadway

Discuss the historical aspects of magic, including memories, or favorite stories.
P.T.Widdle
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Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby P.T.Widdle » December 5th, 2014, 8:21 pm

The Illusionists magic show is on Broadway. Got me wondering...

Since Doug Henning's The Magic Show first appeared on Broadway, how many others have there been?

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Richard Kaufman » December 5th, 2014, 9:41 pm

Blackstone, Jr.
David Copperfield

and in a basement in Times Square, Criss Angel. When he still cared.
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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Bill Mullins » December 5th, 2014, 9:43 pm

Henning:
The Magic Show: 1974-1978
Merlin: 1983
Doug Henning World of Magic: 1984-1985

Harry Blackstone:
Blackstone! 1980
Boys Choir of Harlem and Friends: 1993

Penn & Teller:
Penn & Teller: 1987-1988

David Copperfield
Dreams and Nightmares 1996

Chinese Acrobats and Magicians of Taiwan 1979

Jim Steimeyer has credits for at least 6 shows that aren't listed above

Ricky Jay's shows were off-Broadway

You might find more at the Internet Broadway Database.

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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Richard Kaufman » December 5th, 2014, 10:08 pm

Penn & Teller were Off-Broadway.
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Doug Thornton
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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Doug Thornton » December 5th, 2014, 11:12 pm

Penn & Teller were first off-Broadway at the Westside Arts Theater (in the basement, as I recall) then later on Broadway in the Ritz Theater.

(And on an extremely self-aggrandizing note, I made my Broadway debut onstage with them at the Ritz - as a spectator.)
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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Dustin Stinett » December 5th, 2014, 11:22 pm

Doug Thornton: Renaissance Man! :)

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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby P.T.Widdle » December 6th, 2014, 3:06 pm

Well, that's a short, but prestigious list.

I find it incredible that Henning's The Magic Show was the first magic show to appear on Broadway.
Was there no other magician of suitable stature from the turn of the century until 1974 to have an opportunity to mount a production on Broadway? Thurston, for example? Blackstone Sr.?

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Brad Jeffers
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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Brad Jeffers » December 6th, 2014, 3:29 pm

Dante produced and starred in the Broadway show, Sim Sala Bim, at the Morosco Theatre in 1940.
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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Bill Mullins » December 6th, 2014, 3:32 pm

Houdini was on Broadway, at the Hippodrome in 1918 and at the National Theater in 1926.

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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby P.T.Widdle » December 6th, 2014, 4:08 pm

Houdini at the Hippodrome in 1918 was part of the "Cheer-Up!" musical revue, so I don't count that as a Broadway magic show. Was the National Theater performance a full magic show?

After a check in Steinmeyer's Thurston book, it appears Thurston did indeed finally mount a magic show at the Globe theater on Broadway in 1918. Incidentally, the NYC reviewers weren't very kind to the show, and revealingly, also didn't like the idea of magic shows appearing on Broadway in general, thinking they were a form of antiquated entertainment for those times.

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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby P.T.Widdle » December 6th, 2014, 6:46 pm

So, anybody on Broadway between 1940 and 1974?

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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Bill Mullins » December 6th, 2014, 8:20 pm

Signor Blitz did his full magic and vent show at 629 Broadway in Dec 1853
Carter did a full show at the Belmont in Apr 1918.

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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby P.T.Widdle » December 8th, 2014, 8:18 am

According to producer Edgar Lansbury, Broadway hadn't seen stage magic like Henning since Blackstone (Spellbound, Harrison). So, that begs two questions:

When (if ever) did Blackstone Sr. appear on Broadway?

Were there really no magic shows on Broadway in the 30 years plus, prior to 1974's The Magic Show?

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Brad Jeffers
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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Brad Jeffers » December 8th, 2014, 11:41 am

Milbourne Christopher had a Broadway show, Now You see It, in 1954 at the Longacre Theatre.

Image

Any mention of Blackstone performing on Broadway would be referring to Jr., not Senior.

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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Brad Jeffers » December 8th, 2014, 12:39 pm


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Re: Magic Shows on Broadway

Postby Bill Mullins » December 8th, 2014, 3:19 pm

Rajah Raboid headed the "Knights of the Orient" magic show at the Belmont Theater in Jan 1931.
Orson Welles's production of "Around the World" at the Adelphi Theater in 1946 included a short magic show.


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