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ThomasBerger Special user 593 Posts |
Very interesting stuff.
Over the years, one of the only Magigram magazines I have held onto is the October 1972 edition. A really nice article by George Johnstone with a copy of a newspaper review of Korans act makes it a keeper. This is how George starts the article, shortly after Koran died: "Al Koran has gone home...He's back home in England...His American tour was not a success because he was not allowed the time to make it so. He was just at the threshold of national recogintion and the financial rewards that go with it when he was struck down. The world has lost a little of it's magic. The feeling was rather like seeinga most delightful act and then being told it could not be seen again. Al might best be described as a charming man, so debonair, so engaging, a great conversationalist and one helluva entertainer. He truly entertained. As cannot be said of many in his end of the profession, especially in the present era. His talents took him all over the world, the continent, The near East, the orient, and even Arfica. If, in 55 years, he enjoyed fame and the fullest of lives, for the rest of us it was all too brief. Jack Kodell, the magical parakeet (budgie) squeezer, introduced us at a barbeque in his backyard. They were buddies from Variety days. Al explained that he had left England a year ago and had been living in Cleveland, Ohio, to be near his wifes relatives. Professionally he had only worked a few scattered jobs for local agents. He was desirous to come into Chicago and resume his career. Chicago beiong the convention centre of the US...He and katie moved into our home for 3 weeks while we went appartment hunting. Al was determined to live in a hi-rise overlooking lake Michigan. I tried to convince him to take something cheaper until he became established. Al had immense confidence that bordered on ego that his act would be a success in the Mid-West area. He also discovered the American method os going way over your head with time payments. He bought expensive carpetting, a giant colored TV set, beautiful Spanish stylefurnishings, a wild stereo set for radio, tapes and records. Kodell and I despaired when he bought a gigantic salt water fiash tank and equipped it with two $30 discus fish. We tried to explain to him the ups-and-downs of American show business. One day you are on top nand the next day you are scrounging for stray jobs...."Once I get rolling, never fear", he'd say.....Then cam the summer doldrums. Al did not play outdoor fair dates so things became a bit desperate. He did not particularly care to work for magician functionsbut he jumped at an offer to appear at a West Coast function. He came back as proud as a peacock. His act and lecture was a hit. He came over one night, he lived only a few blocks away, and showed me the reviews from the Talisman magiazine. "THE FANTASTIC KORAN - and it should be in all caps!! Al worked for 30 minutes (it seemd like 10 to 15) under difficult conditions and held his audience spellbound. I asked Al when he lined up things for his lecture... "I didn't". I just got up there and talked". And Al was quite a talker. I used to kid him: "In America, you can say what you plaese, but don't be bothered if nobody listens". Later that summer, Al played at Abbotts get-togethet at Colon, Michigan. He was flushed with his West Coast success and maybe magicians functions werent that bad after all.... It just didn't jell...It was a stifling hot night, the audience was uncomfortable, he followed a tremendously powerful, non-magic novelty act that practicallt stopped the show (dont they always?). He himself, though he didn't know it,was suffering the first onslaught of the killer in his stomach. He thought it was his ulcer kicking up. He did a good job but it was not quite up to his usual standard.....he felt horribel about it.. Later, over a beer, he turend to me, "C'mon now, you can tell me-bloody awful wasnt it?" Later, Al told me that he didn't feel quite up to par and was lining up some carribean cruises for a rest cure.. Between one of the cruises he cam back to Chicago and told me he was such a hit he was getting $1000 a week. I told him to save the gaff for the bookers but don't try to fool an old hand that knows the top money is between $500 and $700 a week for these boat escapes. Last week, going through his effects, I came across ship contracts paying The Fantistic Koran $1000 per week. (I'm sorry, Al, you remember the bit about taking an acts salary that he tells you , cutting it in half, then....but, that's another story.) I have talked to Al's agent and he tells me that he had a college tour lined up with an ESP lecture for this Fall. $750 per lecture, with two to three sets per week.. So you see what I mean when I say that he was on the threshold of financial success. Al could never figure himself as a loser...One day, in the hospital, he was rasing so much Cain about coming home to recuperate that they finally had to tell him that the operation was quite the success that they had hoped it to be. "What do you mean? You know, they told me that I had a fifty-fift chance". He justcouldnt picture himself coming out at the short end. The last months were a series of emotional and physical catastrophies worthy of a Greek tragedy. It is not being harsh or cruel by saying Al should have died on the operating table and eliminated months of hell." The newspaper review describes Korans act, and writes about his finish...confabulation. Afterwards, he had a Q+A where students could ask him questions about his life and thoughts etc. An abbreviated article from the 1972 Magigram. Hope you enjoyed it. Cheers. Tom |
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not finished New user 31 Posts |
In answer to Mentathought's query Al Koran's real name was Edward Doe. He started out as a barber. I have no idea what religion he was but he certainly wasn't Jewish. Interestingly enough many of the greatest mentalists have been Jewish for some reason or other.
I do have another story about Koran. I posted it somewhere or other on some other group. I shall have to go and find it. It involves him being banned from working in a club for insulting a customer. Or so the customer told me. Years ago I once worked a stage card act in a cavernous club in Brig House, Yorkshire and after I finished the guy that I got up on stage told me the story.Koran had worked there in the past. I do remember that some backstage people told me that they found Koran a bit weird. Something to do with his eyes. If I find the story I will cut and paste it. |
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
Great stories!!!
"I have an audio CD, with a lengthy introduction by Goodliffe, that gives interesting background information about Koran (he was a barber at an upscale London hotel by trade) and then the rest of the CD is Koran himself performing before live audiences. If I recall correctly, one of the effects he performs on the CD is "One Word in a Thousand." Could someone who has this CD tell me if it is worth buying?
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rickmagic1 Inner circle MIddle Tennessee area 1544 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-04-06 04:45, Candini wrote: YES, YES, YES!!! It is one of my favorite items in my collection. It's one thing to hear or read someone's description of an act...it's completely different to hear it for yourself. I've noted somewhere else that Al's handling of the T&R cigarette paper (which he used as his opener) greatly influence my own opening routine (McComb's Half-dyed Hanks). Al seemed to be very much the gentleman when he performed. Rick
Richard Green
The Modern Conjurer Coming soon: Victorian Secrets: An Evening With The Spirits! |
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
I appreciate that RIck....looks like a winner.
Do you know if his presentation of Koran's Medallion is on the audio? Update: Disregard, I received it, very nice.
ClICK HERE for HOW TO MAKE TRANSITION FROM MAGICIAN TO MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER WORLD NEW BOOK!
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genemccarthy New user 82 Posts |
Anyone recall the wondrous act of Jahnny Hart? A Parrakeet and dove act? Before he later went onto illusions?
Would love a copy on DVD. |
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entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
In David Copperfield's collection there is a display of Al Koran material. You can see Koran's own original Medalion, Linking Finger ring, etc.
Also on display is a contract from when he was working in America. The contract was for a performance at a Service Club. The Date was 1971. The fee was $150.00. Sad to think that such an accomplished performer was making so little at that time in his life. In 1971 I was only a teenager wannabe magician, but I was making more than $150. for a performance. - entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1653 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-05-07 21:47, genemccarthy wrote: I caught Johnny's parrakeet act on the Ed Sullivan show twice. He performed to a fast jazz beat, and would tap his feet to the music during the productions. Richard Lyn |
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rickmagic1 Inner circle MIddle Tennessee area 1544 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-05-08 19:31, entity wrote: I agree that amount is low, but you have to realize that $150 in 1971 was a lot more than $150 is now... Rick
Richard Green
The Modern Conjurer Coming soon: Victorian Secrets: An Evening With The Spirits! |
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snushy Veteran user 338 Posts |
Both "The Magic of Al Koran" and "Al Koran's Legacy" have recently been re-published by Martin Breese in Enland. Both are must haves.
I have "Professional Presentations" put out by Supreme from years ago. L. Zaslow
YOU KNOW WHY YOU DON'T SEE? BECAUSE YOU DON'T WATCH! - SLYDINI
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
AL Koran...real name Edward Doe. He was only 58 yrs old when he passed away.
ClICK HERE for HOW TO MAKE TRANSITION FROM MAGICIAN TO MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER WORLD NEW BOOK!
Click here for NEW PROMO TRAILER! 90 seconds of pure laughs without a standing ovation! Click here for Magicians Austin Mentalist Performance https://www.facebook.com/AustinMagicians https://www.speakermatch.com/profile/gianicano/ Magicians Company Entertainers in Dallas, TX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sHW_zVuSc https://about.me/motivationalpublicspeaker |
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Hayre Regular user Arkansas 194 Posts |
Why are parakeets mixed with Koran ?
As to parakeets, I saw Hart on the Ed Sullivan show. A total sunny contract to Pollock's darker character. Like to Beach Boys compared to the Stones. As to the Koran books, an awful lot is left out, and at times, I got the feeling that the writer didn't have a total grasp on the methods. Despite that, some of this material has been in my act for over thirty years. You just have to be able to consider these writeups as raw ideas, and go from there. |
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Robin DeWitt Regular user 187 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-05-09 10:18, rickmagic1 wrote: I am reminded of a conversation I once had with Gerald Kosky in about the same tear range as above. During the conversation I asked how much he charged. He said $75.00. "75.00 dollars?! But you're Gerald Kosky!" "That's all it's worth", he said quietly. I learned something that day. There are people who perform just for the joy of the performance. Money is secondary. Living conditions, of course, need to be adjusted, but Gerry appeared to be happy with his life. After all, what elsre is there? Robin DeWitt
I am the fakir, you....
<BR>Robin DeWitt |
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Mr Timothy Gray Veteran user Rue d'Auseil 364 Posts |
Does 'Al Koran's Legacy' contain the contents of 'Professional Presentations'? I'm finding myself slightly confused what the difference is between the two volumes. 'Legacy' seems to be much larger and completer than 'Professional Presentations', which I have a copy of.
Yr. Obdt. Svt.,
Mr Timothy Gray Specializing in the Occult Arts of Fortune Telling, Magic & Mediumship; Est. 1986 |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
No. The books are fundamentally different and, IMO, Professional Presentations is the far superior of the two.
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Mr Timothy Gray Veteran user Rue d'Auseil 364 Posts |
I'll stick with it then. Don't need to be throwing any more money around.
Yr. Obdt. Svt.,
Mr Timothy Gray Specializing in the Occult Arts of Fortune Telling, Magic & Mediumship; Est. 1986 |
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