Dai Vernon The Spirit of Magic

[Bill Mullins]

I just was able to watch this, and I have two questions:

1. An opening and closing sequence is a youngish (30s) Vernon doing a very open vanish and appearance of some playing cards. What's going on here?

2. Near the end, Vernon is doing the Cups and Balls (probably at the Magic Castle). Is the spectator sitting with him the character actor Richard Deacon (Mel Cooley from the Dick Van Dyke show, Lumpy Rutherford's dad from Leave it To Beaver)?

[Richard Kaufman]

My VHS player is no longer hooked up or I would take a look.

[Ian Kendall]

The section at the beginning, showing the slow card production, is of moves that appear to be part of the 20 dollar manuscript (the pictures of the manuscript seem to show the method for the vanish).

I have no idea who Richard Deacon is...

[Michael Close]

Mel Cooley on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

[Ian Kendall]

Oh, him.

Thanks. That clears it up.

[Michael Close]

Do they not show reruns of that show in Scotland?

[Ian Kendall]

They didn't even show runs.

To us, Dick Van Dyke was the murderer of the Generic British Accent (until Keanu was in Dracula, natch).

[BrendanK]

...I agree with the sentiment, Ian, but I DO remember DvD Show in the early 60's prior to his Mary Poppins appearance - aaaaaaah Mary Tyler Moore....

[AJM]

I remember reading somewhere that when he was born his parents, Mr and Mrs Van Lesbian, chose censored as his first name - alhough, as he embarked upon his career in show business, he decided to change this to something less embarrassing.

That's what I read anyway...

Anyways, we will now return to our regular programming...

[Ian Kendall]

"but I DO remember DvD Show in the early 60's "

How old do you think I am? I have no memory of the 60s (and that's not because I was there...)

[Zambolini]

Yes, it is Richard Deacon at he Magic Castle.

[Edward Pungot]

Just out of curiosity since I did donate a legit copy to the Magic Castle Library during my Junior days:

Why has the 1974 Interviews with Dai Vernon at the Castle never republished so that the younger generation could see and hear the Professor in what I think are some great footage of him. It was a real treat to read Vernon's books and getting all hyped-up on the legend attached to his name, only to later stumble upon these 2 set VHS tapes at Aladdin Books in Fullerton. Come to think of it, it probably has something to do with copyright issues and who happens to hold the rights. I could be wrong.

[Richard Kaufman]

In answer to your question, Sprongshift, I saw Tony DeLap at the History Conference in LA last week and thought to ask him that question, but then didn't see him again after that. I believe he still owns the rights.