The Genii Forum

The best presentation I have ever seen of the Miser's Dream was by Doug Henning! He performed the routine beautifully and projected his usual wonder and awe at his own magic! :) Any other thoughts on this classic trick?
Paul Pacific

Al Flosso, Charlie Miller and Jeff McBride.

Teller, in a small venue, like the old Phoenix Theater in San Francisco where I first saw him do it during the AVCS days.

Dustin

Yes, Dustin, I would imagine Teller would have a nice presentation of the Dream based on what I know of his skill!

Billy Bishop and Al Flosso.

Hands down, Frakson. As a poll in an old Linking Ring reported, Frakson was listed by the respondents as doing two of the top ten effects: the Miser's Dream and the Rising Cards.

The details of his routine, the little things that make it work so well, have never been published.

My friend Ed Taytelbaum told me this:

THE BEST MISERS DREAM PERFORMERS I HAVE SEEN ARE : ALBERT LEBAS, GOGIA PASHA AND PATRICK PAGE. Eddy.

Does he always shout?

That's Almost as loud as his Jackets :D

I know others have said it all ready, but you really do have to go a long way to beat Pat Pages misers dream.
And, John Lenahan does a mean one too.

If you are interested in John Lenahan's Miser's Dream you should pop over to http://www.prestidigital.tv/ and order issue one, which has an excerpt from John's 1985 lecture video teaching the routine.

Take care, Ian

I Have issue 1. :)

Yes, Frakson had a wonderful routine! Henning's, to me, was the most magical! :)

Henning had the hands, those long fingers and flexible palms were made for either playing the piano or doing magic.

Oh I agree completely, Spellbinder. His entire approach to magic was reflected in every trick he performed. He looked as amazed and filled with wonder as the rest of his audience.
His style was refreshing for his time and very different from today's TV performers.

Teller did the Miser's Dream when he was working the Texas Renaissance Festival. He had a couple of ideas in it that I had never seen anyone else do before or since.

It was an excellent routine.

Can you give us an idea what Teller's ideas were?

I'm not sure if it's the same routine as the one you saw at the renaissance fair, but this is an essay written by Teller a while ago about the development of an elaborate (and beautiful) miser's dream.

Grant

Thanks for the LINK, very interisting. :genii:

Hey Vegas guys/ friends of Teller:
Is the miser's dream/goldfish trick not in the current show? I feel honored to have Mr. Thompson tell me about it shortly before seeing Teller perform it. It was breathtakingly wonderful, even knowing what was coming.

Mark

A legendary Miser's Dream was performed in the Uk for many years by Sheik Ben Ali.(Real name Mohari Ali 1906 to 1978) I first saw him, when I was a boy on Blackpool's Golden Mile. This was a long part of Blackpool seaside Promenade, which resembled an American Midway with every kind of sideshow for the passers by. He used, at that time, a square biscuit tin and had lines like 'Nobody inside, Nobody outside'. it was fast furious and very funny. The only other performer I've seen ( alas on video) obtaining this much comedy from The dream was the breath taking Al Flosso.
Pat Page's book on the real version of miser's Dream is a must for anyone who essays the effect.

Was Doug Henning's ever in his TV Shows ( I'm 2 missing of these)or on video ? Please.
Allen Tipton UK