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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Slydini was, arguably, one of the World's great masters of Magic. Perhaps that's the reason that some of his work was so prominently featured in the original Tannen's Stars of Magic Books, which are classics.
Meeting Tony Slydini at the Faucett Ross Magic Fest and hanging around with him for a couple of days was one of the most profound magic experiences I have ever had in my Magic Career.. For those of you who have seen Tony Slydini perform, or who knew him, could you please tell us your favorite Slydini story? I'm sure a lot of magicians would like to see what you have to say..., I know I sure would! |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
I was standing next to him in St. Louis when a guy fooled him with a dancing balsa wood skeleton (Pancho). I was young at the time, but understood that the look on his face probably wasn't something often seen.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Michael Baker:
Interesting story. When I was having lunch with Tony and we were talking and doing magic, I showed him my false cut. He said...."do that again"....I did, and he said..."That's beautiful..That's the best false cut I ever saw. Show me please how you do that.."....I was flabbergasted, to say the least..... |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Slydini had a holdout built in to the wall of his apartment in NY. He could dump or steal things behind his back.
WE went to dinner with a magician friend of his named Murray. Went to Mama Leoni's in NY and the staff went crazy over us knocking themselves out with great service. We finished and left WITHOUT GETTING A BILL When we got back to Slydini's apartment I asked him why no bill? He said, Murry is an accountant for the MAFIA.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Good stories! Keep 'em coming.....
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RS1963 Inner circle 2734 Posts |
I've told this before on there I believe. But I will again since if did it's been quite awhile back.
In 1982 at the Desert Magic Seminar (Now the W.M.S.) My friend Steve Pellegrino, Alan Alan, Two other English magicians, and myself sat in the coffee shop of the New Frontier Hotel/Casino. For several hours. Slydini performed several things for us. One of them that I will remember till the day I die wasn't even a magic effect it was a simple bit of mime but it proved how important it is to believe in what you are doing when performing magic. Slydini did the old mime bit of pulling a thread out from the tie that Alan Alan was wearing, and then Slydini mimed taking a sewing needle from his own lapel and proceeded to attempt to thread the needle. There were times when we swore that we could see the light reflecting off the needle, that we could see the thread even though neither item was really there. It all mimed. Why did we think we had seen the needle and thread? Because Slydini believed he was actually trying to thread the needle and that made us watching believe it too. It is something that I will never forget. That's my only Slydini story I have I'm very thankful that I do have it. |
Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
Slydini, Rick Johnsson, I and one other performer whose name escapes me (I think an officer with a SC IBM ring) were guests on a local Greenville, South Carolina TV talk show. This was when we were all at the S.E.A.M. (South East Association of Magicians) convention in Greenville. Rick did the "Spooky Key" effect, Slydini did his paper balls in box routine, and I did my "Collection of One-Hand Card Cuts and Shuffles" and my German-speaking, origami puppet "Wolfgang" card trick. Afterwards Slydini and I had a quiet session where he showed me an original card control. He also suggested that my origami trick might be improved by making the puppet unfold instantaneously. Although I appreciated his lesson and suggestion, I felt that the card control I was using was fine and less complicated than his, and his suggestion for the paper puppet trick--that I work out a way for the puppet to open with a flash/flick of the fingers--just wasn't practical because of the nature of the fold. But the memory of meeting him at that convention is one of the highlights of my many years in magic.
I've also always wondered who Blanca Lopez is/was. She was the editor of _Slydini Encores_. According to the book jacket, she was from Newport News, Virginia, right across the river from Norfolk, my hometown. Does anyone know anything about her and whether her connection to the Slydini book was purely from an editorial standpoint--or is/was she herself a magician?
----- Sonny Narvaez
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snushy Veteran user 338 Posts |
I was at the reception for my bar mitzvah back in 1974. I saw an old gentleman milling around and thought to myself "I didn't know I had a relative who looked like Slydini." Later there was announcement for everyone to take their seats for a performance of magic by The Great Slydini. It was him! As a surprise gift, my parents hired my idol, Slydini, to perform at my bar mitzvah. People who were there still talk about his performance, in which he ran through his entire close-up repertoire, as well as the Paper Balls over the Head and his rope routine. Some of his performance was even captured on video, which I had transferred to DVD!!!
L. Zaslow
YOU KNOW WHY YOU DON'T SEE? BECAUSE YOU DON'T WATCH! - SLYDINI
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