re: Joe M. Turner's review of the Munari published Mike Skinner Home Movies

[Guest]

I think Joe did a good job with this review.

I would add some things, which Joe might have had he had the space. First, as a preface, let me say that I have been viewing these tapes over and over. Every word of respect for Mike Skinner voiced in the Nov. 2000 Genii I second the emotion. Also, I think much praise should go to Geno Munari for making these available.

Having said that, I noticed that Mike sort of botched the handling of Larry Jennings' Look. . .an Illusion. It goes to show that even Gods **** up. Be grateful that Roger Klause isn't filming your every move.

The main point I want to make is that it is very eerie to watch tapes of someone in his prime, then chuck an (A-1) tape in the machine and see how debilitating a short amount of time can be. Maybe only us 50-somethings can really appreciate this.

I can't wait for the further volumes.

[Richard Kaufman]

I apologize if anyone was offended by Crimper's foul language, since modified in the above post.
This warning applies to everyone: please avoid using those naughty four letter words that are going to get you booted off the forum.

[Terry]

Richard, thanks for the editing. Maybe the best thing everyone could do is to ignore Crimper's ramblings and he may dry up and blow away? To respond to him only gives him the satisfaction that he is annoying people.

[Matthew Field]

The second volume of Geno Munari's Mike Skinner set is currently my choice for best video of 2001.

Matthew Field

[Brad Jeffers]

I sure wish that these were avaliable in DVD format. Video tape is quickly going the way of vinyl records. I hate to purchase a video tape, only to have it come out later in DVD. Is it that the production cost of DVDs is that much greater than video tapes? L&L now put out all new releases in both formats, with a slightly higher charge for DVD. I believe that eventually, thier entire catalog will be available in both formats and in the future, be available ONLY in DVD. These Early Mike Skinner recordings deserve to be produced in the highest quality format available, which at this point in time, is DVD.

[ January 22, 2002: Message edited by: Brad Jeffers ]

[Geno Munari]

Matt, thanks for the nice comments. I appreciate them.

Brad, I am planning a release on DVD as we speak, and I will price it so that all who bought the VHS copies will not be disappointed. Plus there will be a complimentary Skinner Notebook Chapter.

When Michael died, many of his belongings went to the county administrator that handles intestate situations. A friend of the administrator called me and asked if I knew a Michael Skinner. I told him that he was a close friend. The county was holding a big collection of his magic and books. They had an auction and I purchased the entire lot. The proceeds went to his estate. The book colection is fabulous and what is interesting, Michael reviewed every book and gave a trick X, or XX, or XXX. XXX was the highest rating. He then put the page numbers of the effects at the front of the book and wrote the word complete indicating he had checked out every effect, and NIL if there was nothing he cared for.

At an effect that he performed he would scribe in his own handwriting his handling or added subtleties. This makes very interesting reading and great for the student of magic. I hope to add these to the chapters in the DVD release.

I am pleased to say that we have just finished the construction of The Houdini Picture Corporation Studios that is a state of the art sound stage and video production facility featuring professional beta quality equipment and digital online camera switching, with a Trinity Air Command chroma key effect generator. We hope to bring you some great new and exciting products this coming year.

[ January 22, 2002: Message edited by: Geno Munari ]

[ January 22, 2002: Message edited by: Geno Munari ]

[Geno Munari]

For some reason the last message has words that are not spelled as I wrote them. e.g. colection ???????

[Guest]

Geno,

When will your Jimmy Grippo videotape will be available?

[Geno Munari]

The video is being story boarded now and I have just cleared the hurdles with the Director's Guild and the Writer's Guild. 85% finished. One last hurdle and I will announce a release date.

I am also going to release 13 episodes from 1950's, called the "Turn of the Card", starring Sid Radner performing gambling demos. This is real cool material. This was a rare early television show when 50% of the population did not have TV.

This will be released on DVD and VHS.

[Richard Kaufman]

Geno, I can't tell you how much the magic community is looking forward to more Skinner videos! Lots of good comments to Genii about the tapes. Since most of us have DVD players now, and L&L is selling LOTS of its DVD releases, I think we all hope that you get the Skinner stuff out on DVD soon (and please watch those compression rates! :)).
Great news to hear that more volumes on Skinner are coming out!
Great news to hear that the Sid Radner TV stuff is coming out!

[Philippe Noël]

I have just bought the two Michael Skinner's tapes. They are great to say the less.
However in volume 2 I do not find the 11 Card Trick and Homing Matches & Penetrating.
Are there missing in every tapes or just in mine?

Philippe Nol

[Steve Bryant]

The lists on the backs of the boxes are slightly misleading. I've posted the complete list of routines on my current web site at littleegyptmagic.com

Both volumes are must purchases, and I trust the material you can't find will appear in future releases.

[Philippe Noël]

Thank you for your answer Steve.

Philippe Nol

[Brad Jeffers]

I am planning a release on DVD as we speak ...

Geno - you're killing me! It's been eight months already. How much longer? :(

[Jamie Badman]

Geno... out of interest, which of the books in Michael Skinners' collection has the most 'XXX' (highest rated) effects listed in it ?

Cheers,

Jamie.

[John Pezzullo]

I've posted the complete list of routines on my current web site at littleegyptmagic.com

http://littleegyptmagic.com/magic_jan2002.html

[Jackie Huang]

Originally posted by Jamie Badman:
[QB]Geno... out of interest, which of the books in Michael Skinners' collection has the most 'XXX' effects listed in it?[QB]

Sexy Magic? :D :D :D

[Glen Guldbeck]

Speaking of masters on tape...lately I've been reading references to Fred Kaps on tape. Does anybody know where to find such footage of him performing?

Happy holidays everyone!!

Glen

[Glen Guldbeck]

Speaking of masters on tape...lately I've been reading references to Fred Kaps on tape. Does anybody know where to find such footage of him performing?

Happy holidays everyone!!

Glen

[Jim Maloney_dup1]

Originally posted by Glen Guldbeck:
Speaking of masters on tape...lately I've been reading references to Fred Kaps on tape. Does anybody know where to find such footage of him performing?

Yeah...I'd love to see that, if possible.

-Jim

[David Alexander]

There is a commercially available tape of the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. Sells for around $10. Also included on the tape is Fred being wonderful.

[Philippe Noël]

David,
Can you tell us the name of this tape?
Thank you for your help.
Philippe Nol

[Chris Bailey]

Terry, maybe I'm missing something. I didn't think Crimper was rambling and I think he made an interesting point. When I met Mike Skinner he was definitely not in his prime. It IS eerie seeing someone change like that.

[Pete Biro]

Kaps videos. Too bad you missed the presentation we (Mike Caveney and yours truly) on Kaps at the Magic Castle.

We showed highlights of Fred from several hours of tape in my collection.

I have been thinking about producing the full tape set, but have to clear the hurdles with his widow.

[Geno Munari]

huangja

Sorry I did not see your question until now. This is very interesting to me and will be to all of the magicians that should know about Mike's interests. I will tell you one thing, Mike does not have a mark on Dai Vernon's Book of Magic, however this tome seems to be the most thumbed.

I am working on this. His comments are unbelievable. I hope to make his notes available to all.

Geno

[mrgoat]

Originally posted by Brad Jeffers:
[QB]I sure wish that these were avaliable in DVD format. Video tape is quickly going the way of vinyl records. I hate to purchase a video tape, only to have it come out later in DVD. Is it that the production cost of DVDs is that much greater than video tapes?

You can get DVD-R for about 50 cents each in the UK. You can get a brand new mac g4 laptop with DVD burner and iDVD software for just under two thousand bucks. Or a DVD burner for you PC for three hundred bucks. Capture the VHS and turn it into a DVD.

:)

[Brad Jeffers]

This thread will be 1 year old in a week and it still generates posts! Well, since you reminded me ... Geno, how much longer untill the Skinner tapes make it to DVD?! A year ago you said "I am planning a release on DVD as we speak." And what about volumes 3 and 4, which we advertised as "coming soon" over 8 months ago. Not to sound impatient ... but how much longer? The wait is killing me! :(

[Geno Munari]

I am sorry for not being so rapid, but we have acquired new technolgy to make it work even better. And each week we have been finding more info, until my cousin, Chris Kenton, who has been the editor of National Geographic has set me up with a better system than we had.

BTW I will comp you a free DVD of Skinner #3, and I will comp anyone that requests a copy within the next 1/2 hour, of this post, another free DVD of Skinner #3 when it is available, which will be soon.

Hurry.

Geno Munari

Happy New Year.

Geno Munari

[BrendanK]

Too late for the freebie?
Will you be at Blackpool this year?

Brendan