World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

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Mark Jensen
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World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Mark Jensen » March 29th, 2004, 6:40 pm

Hi,

I know it's only opinion, but I would like some input into who you think the top 5 Cups and Balls Performers in the world are today and a brief explaination why.

Thanks,

Mark

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby MaxNY » March 29th, 2004, 7:11 pm

The pre-show at Ringling Bros (couple years back) had clowns doing human sized cups and balls, with garbage cans. The catch was a couple of clowns were able to expand themselves inside the cans, so that when lifted by two other (really srong) clowns, there appeared to be nothing inside! Very very funny!

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Jeff Haas » March 29th, 2004, 11:01 pm

Bob Sheets.

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Q. Kumber » March 29th, 2004, 11:27 pm

I'm lucky to have seen many cups and balls performers

Al Scnneider has a superb, magical and easy to follow cups and balls routine.

Michael Ammar lectured in Ireland a few years ago. I always liked his routine but he had recently completed a long run of layman performances and it put a high polish on his performance.

Who can forget Tommy Wonder's two cup and ball routine?

When I was twelve I saw Dick Richards (from Cardiff in Wales) perform at the Butlin's holiday camp in Ireland. He did a stage version of the cups and balls that must have lasted ten minutes. The balls changed colour, grew and became multi-coloured giant balls. I beleive he once won the manipulation award at the British Ring Shield competition with this act. I wish I could remember more of it. I do know the theatre was full (about 800), mostly children and he held their attention throughout. He was also the only magician I've seen where he held the ball at his fingertips, displaying it to the audience and it just vanished without any cover or moves.

The fifth and final must be Prince Charles' cups and balls which he performed at the Magic Circle when he was made a member back in the seventies. Or more so, what happened backstage. He set up backstage, putting the loads into his pockets before turning to the stage manager, looking him straight in the eye and asking, "Do any of my balls show?"

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete Biro » March 30th, 2004, 9:50 am

Of those I have seen:

Gazzo, Gazzo and Gazzo

Tommy Wonder

Dai Vernon

Alex Elmsley

Bob Sheets

Galli Galli (not for skill but presentation)

Ace Palmer

Bob Read (near the top)

Ken Brooke (a riot with Vernon routine)

Johnny Paul (toally original)

Fred Kaps (what can I add)
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Danny Archer » March 30th, 2004, 10:03 am

Gazzo is the best I have ever seen ... great skill and a hilarious routine to boot ...
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pepka » March 30th, 2004, 1:18 pm

OK, of those I've seen, video or live.
Vernon, Wonder, Gertner, Williamson, Ammar, Jay....oops that's 6.
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Dustin Stinett » March 30th, 2004, 1:44 pm

In no particular order (and sticking with the living):

Tommy Wonder - Even when you know what's coming, he gets you.

Johnny Ace Palmer - It is said that the cups and balls are all about the final load: the rest is just window dressing. J.P. is a great example of that.

Paul Gertner - C'mon, steel balls? How can that not be great?

Ricky Jay - A presentation that gives the effect meaning.

Bob Sheets - Just plain fun to watch.

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 30th, 2004, 1:53 pm

Get yourself the Johnny Paul video from Joe Stevens and watch his KILLER cup and ball routine with sponge balls.
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete Biro » March 30th, 2004, 2:22 pm

Yah, Ricky's ain't to shabby... had forgotten.

But Kaufman is correcto... the Johnny Paul routine smokes most all others.

And I know where you can get the special cups! (blatant plug) :D
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby BlueEyed Videot » March 30th, 2004, 2:22 pm

Pete -- Didn't you forget Johnny Platt?

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Randy » March 30th, 2004, 3:59 pm

Johnny Ace Palmer has been mentioned here already. Just wanted to add that he is at the Castle all this week. If you have not seen his cups & balls, make it to the Castle this week.

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete Biro » March 30th, 2004, 4:52 pm

I hate to say this, but I was really disappointed when I saw Johnny Platt do the cups... he flashed his final loads badly, etc. etc.
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Pete Biro
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete Biro » March 30th, 2004, 4:53 pm

Although I personally never saw John Ramsay, I was told by Vernon, and others, that his routine was superb. As was Ross Bertram's.
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Jonathan Levey » March 31st, 2004, 4:58 am

I haven't seen it, but I'm told Jason Latimer has quite a nice routine...

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Steve Bryant » March 31st, 2004, 5:25 am

Others fun to watch: Mike Skinner, Duvivier performing with his daughter. And yes, Jason Latimer's routine is great.

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Guest » March 31st, 2004, 9:14 am

I've seen Johnny Ace Palmer's routine maybe 100 times, and it's still exciting to watch.

I've never seen Alex Elmsley's routine with a salt pour as a final load, but on tape, it's ingenious. I've often thought of trying to find a venue for it, but it's so preparation-intensive that I've never found a place for it.

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Dustin Stinett » March 31st, 2004, 10:07 am

Originally posted by Steve Bryant:
Duvivier performing with his daughter.
Dominique was performing at the same time as Alexandra?

Hmmm, I hadn't noticed....

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Bob Walder » March 31st, 2004, 10:48 am

Yes, she could probably load a couple of small elephants under the cups and get away with it.... ;)

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Guest » March 31st, 2004, 1:23 pm

David Regal

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pepka » March 31st, 2004, 3:25 pm

How could I forget cups and balls and cups and balls?! Fantastic story!!!
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete McCabe » March 31st, 2004, 9:49 pm

I can't say if I would nominate David Regal as the very best Cups and Balls performer in the world, but his routine is the best I've seen.

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Tom Stone
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Tom Stone » April 1st, 2004, 7:33 am

Max Milton is the best I've ever seen on cups and balls. The only one who might top Max is Tommy Wonder.

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 1st, 2004, 7:36 am

Who is Max Milton?
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete Biro » April 1st, 2004, 9:24 am

Perhaps he meant Max Minton?
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete Biro » April 1st, 2004, 9:29 am

Shankar Junior doing his Indian Cups... beautiful, artistic, and very different to our Western style.

I learned it from him and feel it is well worth study.

Did anyone mention David Williamson?

Also, not known for C&B, but if you can get Dean Dill to do his routine you are in for a treat.

Scotty York, too did a very unusual routine.

I had not seen him, but his writing on the subject is more than worth study... Eddie Joseph. He has more original thoughts and ways to do the effect than anyone I have ever seen or heard of.

Nice to see Bob Read featured in Genii.
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Philippe Noël » April 1st, 2004, 11:36 am

I would say Michael Ammar for the choreography of the routine, Eric Decamps for the final appearance of a bottle of Perrier. I saw Eric Decamps at Tannen's Jubilee in 1993 and was baffled by his final appearance. I wish I could watch his routine again.

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Guest » April 1st, 2004, 12:43 pm

Paul Daniels does a very entertaining routine with Cups and Balls that everyone enjoys. Not a lot, but enjoys it none the less. :D

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Jonathan Levey » April 1st, 2004, 10:38 pm

Helge Thun has a funny storyline for his cups and balls (fruit cups)...

You have to see the uncensored version... ;)

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete Biro » April 1st, 2004, 10:59 pm

ONe of the lads of the FLICKING FINGERS does a very very funny story with the cups.

Oh, and Tim Ellis' "RUN AROUND SUE" is a very very commercial routine.
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Jonathan Levey » April 2nd, 2004, 4:44 am

Originally posted by Pete Biro:
ONe of the lads of the FLICKING FINGERS does a very very funny story with the cups.
That is Helge Thun ;) ...

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Guest » April 5th, 2004, 3:18 pm

Anyone :whack:
Does anyone here know what make of Cup Paul Gertner uses in his routine? Thanks in advance!

J

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Guest » April 6th, 2004, 1:38 pm

I've heard so much about Ricky Jay's Cups and Balls routine and would love to see it or read it, does anyone know if it's available anywhere?
Thanks in advance,
Jim

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Brad Jeffers
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Brad Jeffers » April 6th, 2004, 3:32 pm

You can see Jay's performance of the cups and balls on his HBO special Ricky Jay & his 52 Assistants . His is a great routine. I like his use of the chop cup in the opening sequence. Another very strong point of his routine is the large time delay between the loading of the fruit and the revealing of the final loads. And when you view the tape, try to catch from where he steals the first ball at the begining of the routine ... very clever!

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 6th, 2004, 4:35 pm

Forget watching that abridged HBO special: Ricky Jay is bringing 52 Assistants to Washington DC later this year!
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Guest » April 6th, 2004, 10:46 pm

In case I can't see him live in DC ( much as I'd like to ) is the HBO version available for purchase or do they just run it from time to time??

Thanks again ,
Jim

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Glenn Farrington » April 7th, 2004, 7:08 am

Gertner, Kaps, Sheets, Conover, Veron, Gazzo
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Pete Biro » April 7th, 2004, 8:49 am

Bob Read. Book him Glenn.
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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Guest » April 7th, 2004, 8:51 am

Hey Richard,
Strangely when I got to work this morning I was informed that I'm going to DC in May! I'm just sorry you didn't tell me Ricky Jay was going to be in Hawaii or maybe I'd be going there!

Do you have any details on the performances in DC? Perhaps a website?

Much Thanks!
Jim

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Re: World's Best Cups & Balls Performers?

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 7th, 2004, 9:04 am

I can't recall the name of the theater, but it's at the END of the year.
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