Magic Tricks

Every once in a while a magician comes along and changes everything. In the early 1800’s it was Robert Houdin. His magic elevated magicians into respected performers. In the late 1800’s Houdini came along and his escape act changed the world of magic forever.

In the early 20th century Dai Veron took everything everyone thought about close up magic and magic was never the same afterwards. Then, in the early 1970’s a young student of Vernon’s, who had also studied the greats of magic before him, including Thruston and Houdini, broke onto the magic scene in a little show called “Spellbound.”

I was in the audience and was called up on stage, at the age of 12, to help with the Metamorphosis Illusion. That experience not only changed my life, but the show evolved into The Magic Show and change the world of Modern magic ever.

There is no David Copperfield, who sat in the audience of the Magic Show on many occasions, without Doug. And the world of TV magic evolved to what it is today because of Doug’s specials,(some of them live), and allowed magicians like Copperfield and Lance Burton to to reach the heights of success they still enjoy today.

I think if I hadn’t seenDoug Henning’s Spellbound in 1973, I may not have had the modest magic career I enjoyed either. I built my first sub trunk out of scrap wood within weeks of seeing Spellbound and performed Metamorphosis in every stage show, along with the Milk Can and straight jacket escapes.

If you’re a student of magic and love the art and history of magic, you need to find this book, either on line or eBay. Maybe I’ll lend you my copy as long as you share it with the next person. There was no one like Doug Henning before or since. Do yourself a favor and grab this book when you can.