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Anverdi-museum Inner circle 1195 Posts |
I dug some props out from storage...some original and unique Grant/Mak effects...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qupHc6sGEUM Chuck |
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
FUN trip down memory lane. Thanks Chuck!
Julie |
Anverdi-museum Inner circle 1195 Posts |
Gen Grant was a genius....loved the simplicity of his ideas yet the effectiveness of the magic...I have a lot more of his effects packed away....would like to get them on video. Maybe it will inspire others in the creativity process..
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
I remember visiting his store/workshop in Columbus, Ohio. He was a very pleasant gentleman.
Julie |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
I only met Gen Grant once (at the IBM conv. in Chicago in 1950), He was very nice to me. At the same convention, OKITO lectured. He showed me how to use a foulard, to produce "something"! ANVERDI-MUSEUM would have benefited! (That bowl production!)
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Anverdi-museum Inner circle 1195 Posts |
Never met Gen....would have liked to. The productions via foulard is per instructions from original effects, not my own.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hnnnnn..interesting. Okito was adamant about covering the arm which would do the steal. Then the load could be "unveiled", far from its hiding place. Okito illustrated his point by scratching his left ear with his right hand. (I can still see him doing that! His line while scratching: "Very unnatural"!
At the time, I was using John Booth's production routine (bouquet, and stack of glasses). I had been doing it like you did in the Grant bowl production. When I followed Okito's "advice", it made a marked difference, visually and artistically. Foulard productions seem to be "out of fashion", now!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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goodingda New user 56 Posts |
I loved ordering props from those old U.F. Grant catalogs. But, sometimes the catalog drawings were misleading. I remember the first prop I ordered, the Silk Cylinder. The drawing showed the base on the clear tube as being very thin. When I got the prop, the base was at least 3 times thicker than it looked in the catalog! Also, the drawing shows the metal cover laying on its side when the performer places the silks in the tube. You can't do that with the real prop!
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Well, I must come to ol' U.F.'s defense here a little. Yes, the illustrations sometimes took a bit of literary license and showed what the audience was "supposed" to see (effect vs reality and all that), but overall no purposeful attempt was made to cheat his customers. His livelihood depended on repeat business, mostly from hobbyists (some things never change).
As for the base on the Crystal Silk Cylinder, it's staggered construction--it was designed to look like the cylinder was resting on top of a couple of diagonally placed wooden squares--was/is VERY deceptive. It looks thin. Even the more recent MAK remakes were made in the same design and looked thin just like their Grant era ancestors. As for the metal covering cylinder lying on its side b-4 the transformation, yes there is a way. Now along comes the copy cats (ha! I just mistyped "copy rats". Maybe I should have left it ). These very beautiful metal copies have extremely misguided gigantic bases that must leave no doubt in the minds of onlookers where the silks go. A waste of money for the performer hoping to fool his sudience. As to the metal covering cylinder lying on its side with the opening facing the audience b-4 the silks are transformed, yes there is a way. Grant didn't describe it, but we worked up a very practical routine/handling combining the Crystal Cylinder and Strat-O-Sphere's. With kindness in my heart: "sometimes you just have to think beyond the basic instructions." Julie |
goodingda New user 56 Posts |
Thanks Julie. Appreciate your thoughts and insights on this.
Another Grant item I both loved and hated was the Kimmy King Block Vanish. I got mine out this evening (great memories!) and compared it to the Ed Mishell drawing in my 1970 catalog. I don't mean to be critical, but this one wins the prize, IMO, for the most disproportionate drawing as compared to the prop. I think I see your point however. As magicians, we know what to look for in terms of size, proportion, base thickness, etc. The audience doesn't understand the principles involved so they don't know notice these things. |
Anverdi-museum Inner circle 1195 Posts |
Personally I got the most out of Strat o sheres more than any other effect I ever had and I have had alot! As a working pro I use this in EVERY stage or platform show, children and adults....it never ceases to amaze! As far as brillant Grant effects go I really like the workingd of Bowl on a Pole and Bamboo Chest and Glass.
The one item I have never personally seen or on video performance is Grants/Mak Capain Kidd's Treasure Chest...I think this was a later Creation...Jimmy King came up with it. If anyone has this or knows about the workings let me know! This looks pretty cool. Chuck |
BCS Inner circle 1083 Posts |
Chuck,
Thanks for posting your videos... I really enjoyed the Grant/Amal effects, oh what memories you brought back. Take care, Bruce |
Anverdi-museum Inner circle 1195 Posts |
Your welcome Bruce...I am digging things out of the closets all the time. I found a few more rare Grant/Mak items I will put up in the near future!
Chuck |
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