Doug Henning "Spellbound"

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Guest

Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 5:02 pm

I need help.

I doing research for a book.
And I've hit a brick wall.

I need information regarding the show
"Spellbound" at the Royal Alex theatre.

Preferably Doug performing the
"Light Bulb Cabinet." This would
be the Fourth one my father built.

According to the letter from Doug,
it would have been late November 1973,
to early 1974.

What specifically am I looking for?

~ help contacting assistants who worked on the show.

~ a photo of Doug performing the illusion.
May it be something from your personal collection or newspaper clipping.

Even program notes would be great too.

Any help would be appreciated.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 3rd, 2007, 6:32 pm

Mai-Ling, it might help to give the readers here a little background about who your father is, etc.
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Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:26 pm

I was there opening night and for several other performances.

Doug performed what he called "The Neon Tubes Illusion" second-to-last in the opening half. The only photo I have is on the cover of the program for Spellbound, from The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto. It shows one of Doug's assistants being pierced by the tubes, but Doug isn't in the photo.

I believe the assistant in the photo is Maya.

Jennifer Dale, a well-known Canadian actress also performed in the show. I suspect she'd be easy to track down through ACTRA, the Canadian performer's union.

De Yip Loo is thanked in the program, along with Sid Lorraine, Owen's Magic, Gene Anderson and Dai Vernon, Slydini and others.

Thomas Baxter

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:32 pm

My father is DeYip Loo aka Chan Loo.

He assisted Blackstone, Sr & Dante.
Worked at Ed Miller's shop, Ireland
Magic and Magic, Inc.

As I'm told by so many. He's one of
those very rare magician's who was
a master craftsman when he was building
his show besides a performer.

Anyway, he built seven light bulb cabinets.
He figured out what was wrong that Sr.
had (I believe built by Owen) and re-created
it to work better.
Each time he'd finish one for himself,
someone wanted to purchase it.

So this book project is basically
chronolizing all the illusions and props my father
invented, re-created and built for himself.
This is more about the psychology and crafting
of magic built by the performer, and how he
became regarded as a quality builder, master
craftsman and master performer.
This will be a book will be like none other ever published.

One section will be devoted to all seven LBC he
built and the stories behind each one. So I'm
doing my best to track each one down, the current
and previous owners.

The rest of the book will be about the
three zig zag's he built for me,
the two different suspensions, levitation,
Kuma Tubes, and so much more that many people
won't know or forgotten. Even stuff I am
just learning about.

So right now I'm in search of what happened
to Doug's. I know it was used in the "Spellbound"
production.


I'm also in search of what happened to the
one that Bob Ellis bought as well.

Any help is appreciated.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:36 pm

Thomas,

Someone mentioned it could be Jennifer
Dale and not her sister Cynthia.

Would it be possible to make a photo
copy or a scan of the program?

The Neon Tubes might be the LBC.

I will try to find a way to contact Jennifer Dale.

Any help appreciated!

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:43 pm

Mai-ling:

As I mentioned, it was Jennifer Dale who starred in Spellbound. Both Jennifer and her sister Cynthia are well-known actresses in Canada.

The Neon Tubes was Doug's name for the LBC in Spellbound.

I'll send you a scan of the photo.

Thomas Baxter

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:46 pm

Fantastic!

I can't wait.

I'll definitely try to track down
Jennifer...which will be much easier
than Cynthia who I was trying to find
originally.

Thanks Thomas!

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:48 pm

How close to what we got as "The Magic Show" was Henning's show in Canada, "Spellbound" ?

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:51 pm

Mai-ling:

You'll have to send me your email address so that I can send a scan of the program cover. I've emailed you my address so that you can send me yours there.

Did your Father make the LBC that Orson Welles performed on Magic With the Stars?

T. Baxter

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:53 pm

Yes that's it!

I didn't know that it was called
"Magic with the Stars"

I thought it was just TV special
Doug did.

I'm looking for a copy of that.

Do you have that too?

I emailed you already.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 7:57 pm

Jonathan,

Acorrding to the Internet Broadway Database,

The Magic Show ran from 5/28/1974 - 12/31/1978
with 1920 performances.

When Doug came down to the Chicago to have
tea with my p's and Uncle Jay to see the
illusion it was in early October 1973.
And he needed ASAP...
Which mean there wasn't a lot of time
between the two shows.

From what I understand from talking Jim
Stienmeyer a couple of weeks ago. The producers
were revamipng "Spellbound" and the producers
came in bought th show and completely re-wrote it.

I ordered my copy of TMS the other day. I've
never seen it. But I found a 2nd playbill after
I sold one a couple months back.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 3rd, 2007, 8:25 pm

Spellbound was a completely different show than The Magic Show that appeared on Broadway. The Producers came to Toronto and loved Doug and his Magic, but not much else about the show. It was completely re-written, with new story and songs and choreography, and a new cast, except for Doug.

Several of the illusions from Spellbound made it to The Magic Show, including the Sawing in Half, Metamorphosis and the Lady to Lion (or tiger). In Spellbound he used a cougar.

Spellbound was an amazing stroke of luck for Doug, almost a fluke in the way that so many wonderful elements and people came together with very little time to put a show together that changed the face of Magic forever.

I do have a copy of Magic With the Stars, but Copperfield was a Co-Producer, I believe, and I'm sure he would have access to the rights for printing stills, if you'd contact him.

T. Baxter

Steve Snediker
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Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Steve Snediker » July 4th, 2007, 9:27 am

Call me nuts, but I recall Kirby Van Birch (Branson, MO) stating that he got his Light Bulb Box from Doug.

Could be stage patter hyperbole/exaggeration, but it might be worth an inquiry.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 4th, 2007, 10:38 am

Call me nuts, but I recall Kirby Van Birch (Branson, MO) stating that he got his Light Bulb Box from Doug.

Could be stage patter hyperbole/exaggeration, but it might be worth an inquiry.
What??? I don't know who he is, or heard of him.
You have a contact number, website or anything
where I can reach him personally?

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 4th, 2007, 10:40 am

Spellbound was an amazing stroke of luck for Doug, almost a fluke in the way that so many wonderful elements and people came together with very little time to put a show together that changed the face of Magic forever.
I totally agree...

Amos McCormick
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Location: Southwestern Southeast

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Amos McCormick » July 4th, 2007, 1:22 pm


Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 4th, 2007, 8:53 pm

Thank you Amos!

I will send him an email straight away.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 10th, 2007, 11:14 am

Kirby doesn't have it.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 16th, 2007, 10:04 am

Just to update y'all who was soo helpful on this thread...


1. I've been in touch Abb Dickson who will get me in touch with a couple of peeps.

2. I don't need to get in touch with any of Doug's assistants or
technical help because I found a letter that Doug wrote, inwhich he raves
about the illusions. Plus a bit of extra info on the show...

3. I still need a photo of Doug performing the illusion...besides the
spellbound program, an actual photo of Doug performing would be nice as well.

4. I am going to try to find out about the ravamping process from
"Spellbound" to "The Magic Show."

that's all...

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 26th, 2007, 4:54 am

I think I have Spellbound on DVD. It was a one camera shoot, the images are very poor, the angle very wide. Nobody is to know I have this, nobody will get a copy of this. You are willing to view this anytime in NYC, or I will be in Vegas next month. I have any and all magic shows that have ever been broadcast, many in the best conditions anywhere...willing to trade for nice copies of your stuff.

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Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Rick Ruhl » July 26th, 2007, 6:20 am

Max,

Why not put it up on YouTube. It can't be downloaded from there, since it's in a flash control.

Plus you can make it private and invite just the few of us to view it.

Rick

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 26th, 2007, 6:52 am

I would love to see it, too, though you're mistaken that it can't be downloaded from YouTube.
"Tubesock" does the job nicely, actually.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 26th, 2007, 9:28 am

Originally posted by MaxNY:
I think I have Spellbound on DVD. It was a one camera shoot, the images are very poor, the angle very wide. Nobody is to know I have this, nobody will get a copy of this. You are willing to view this anytime in NYC, or I will be in Vegas next month. I have any and all magic shows that have ever been broadcast, many in the best conditions anywhere...willing to trade for nice copies of your stuff.
Would you be willing to make a HQ still of
Doug performing the LBC?

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 26th, 2007, 9:35 am

Originally posted by Travis Winkler:
..... though you're mistaken that it can't be downloaded from YouTube.
"Tubesock" does the job nicely, actually.
And KeepVid and others. See http://geniimagazine.com/forum/cgi-bin/ ... 583#000002

Dave

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 26th, 2007, 9:41 am

And by posting that information (again) you've made it more or less likely that the collector would make the clip and put it on YouTube for us?

Hint... less.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 26th, 2007, 10:14 am

Doug is turning in his grave. I don't want this stuff out there. Take me out to dinner at the Orleans, and I'll show you stuff that will make your head spin....Let me view this tonight and see what I've got, I don't think I have ever seen the whole thing thru.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 26th, 2007, 10:19 am

Originally posted by Jonathan Townsend:
you've made it more or less likely that the collector would make the clip and put it on YouTube for us?
Neither. Since Tubesock had already been cited, my additional comments made not one iota of difference.

Excepting that, of course, they served as a warning to the collector. And that's something that I considered constructive when I posted them.

Dave

PS - Moderators, if you consider it advisable to do so, please delete the posts of TW, JT, and myself from this thread. That way, people will happily post their clips on YouTube, ignorant of that fact that they can be copied. Some would think that a good thing, whereas I'd prefer the potential YouTubers to be better informed.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 26th, 2007, 10:26 am

Originally posted by MaxNY:
Doug is turning in his grave. I don't want this stuff out there. Take me out to dinner at the Orleans, and I'll show you stuff that will make your head spin....Let me view this tonight and see what I've got, I don't think I have ever seen the whole thing thru.
You're not making any sense.
Make a HQ photo of just Doug performing the LBC.

I'll trade you by sending a copy of 'chronology.'
and you'll get credit in the book.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 26th, 2007, 12:32 pm

Leave the thread as it is: it's widely known (and easy enough to find out) that clips on YouTube can be downloaded and saved.
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Rick Ruhl
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Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Rick Ruhl » July 28th, 2007, 7:12 am

Max,

I don't think Doug is turning over in his grave. This is a part of magic history that needs to be cherished.

When I watch a biography, the most intereting part is how they got to where they are, flaws and all. I wish I had a video of my first performance at 10 years ago. That would be on youtube along with my other videos.

I wont be in Vegas, but maybe next year at IBM-SAM you could give a seminar on this and show the DVD. Making sure no camera's are there, of course.

If not, we'll go to dinner and I'll bring the DVD player.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 29th, 2007, 11:26 am

I agree with Rick.
I don't think Doug is turning
in his grave.

I don't know where I'll be,
but if you're in the Chicago area,
I'll take you out for a Chicago
style hot dog or buy you whole
Eli's Cheescake.

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 29th, 2007, 6:47 pm

I don't know anything about illusions, but is the Light Bulb Box also called the Shadow box?

Tom

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 29th, 2007, 7:51 pm

tomg: Nope, different animals entirely.

I'd be EXTREMELY surprised if Max (or anyone else) has a video of Henning's first theater show, SPELLBOUND. I could be wrong, but I think that Max is confusing it with something else.

- entity

Guest

Re: Doug Henning "Spellbound"

Postby Guest » July 30th, 2007, 7:00 am

Totally two different things:

Here's what the LBC looks like:

Image
link: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/pic/0005c883/g41

On another note:
a few people has told me that David Copperfield
might have Doug's LBC in his collection.
Probably in the warehouse in a crate.

I sent an email to the admin, does anyone have
a direct contact with his currator??


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