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Beth Loyal user Missouri 277 Posts |
Great stories guys! Okay my favorite "Best Story in Magic" is one told to me by my Dad which was told to him I believe by Dennis Loomis. I call it the Jesus Christ hotel story.
The way it goes if I remember it correctly, is that Ab Dickson, Doug Henning, and Dennis Loomis would stay at this really opulent hotel in Atlanta GA back in the 60's. Amongst themselve the hotel was always called THE JESUS CHRIST HOTEL. It got this moniker because without fail whenever they took someone new there the person would look around at all the high ceilings, over done glitter and glam of the lobby and go... " Jeeeezuz Christ!!!" Hence the Jesus Christ Hotel haha Peace Beth
"All creative art is magic, is evocation of the unseen in forms persuasive,enlightening, familar, and surprising."
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-06-29 01:17, Marshall Thornside wrote: I didn't mean to spill the beans!
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Dennis Loomis 1943 - 2013 2113 Posts |
To Beth,
Who is your dad? He had the story essentially correct, although it was Abb that first called the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta the "Jesus Christ" hotel. The first time we stayed there it was Doug Henning, Charlie Reynolds, Glen Priest, and myself. We had flown down to Atlanta to see Abb's show: "Presto." Abb didn't have to stay at the Hyatt because he lives in Atlanta. Abb has assembled a great collection of Houdini memorabilia for the lobby display at the theatre he was performing in. One item was Houdini's Water Torture Cell. (Actually one of several Houdini had built.) When the show was over and the lobby was locked up, we took down the top and examined the gaff. A couple of years later, Doug did the Water Torture Cell escape on his first network television special. Dennis Loomis
Itinerant Montebank
<BR>http://www.loomismagic.com |
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Beth Loyal user Missouri 277 Posts |
Hey Dennis, I sent you a PM. Thanks for the corrections. My apologies for the mistakes. It's been a long time since I heard that story, about 5 or 6 years I think, and I was afraid I might have parts of it wrong. But it's a great story and a great era. I bet you have a lot of great stories. I would love to hear more. I would have loved to have seen Doug Henning perform live. How amazing!
Peace Beth
"All creative art is magic, is evocation of the unseen in forms persuasive,enlightening, familar, and surprising."
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Dennis Loomis 1943 - 2013 2113 Posts |
Beth,
Doug Henning was amazing. He did not change at all in front of an audience or a camera. He was full of enthusiasm for magic and life in general. I'll share one other story about Doug here: We both attended the Abbott Magic Get-Togethers and stayed at the home of Jerry Conklin where we shared a guest bedroom. One year, Walter Blaney performed and did his then new Stepladder Suspension. Like most of the magicians, Doug and I were flabergasted and could talk about nothing else after the show. We went to the showroom after the show, but sat in a corner and speculated on how Walter had accomplished this miracle. When the showroom closed, we followed the crowd to the Legion Hall which was the late night get-together place. Again, all we spoke about was the Blaney Stepladder Suspension. When the Legion hall closed at 2 AM, we still were in conversation and didn't want to return to the Conklin house as our conversation might keep everyone else awake. We found that the only place left open in Colon was the laundromat. There was no seating, so we sat on top of some washing machines and continued our talk. This went on another hour or so and then we finally went back to the Conklin house to get some sleep. Flash forward years later to the time that David Charvet's book on Jack Gwynne came out. In it was the story of how enthralled Gwynne was with the Blaney Stepladder Suspension. Gwynne saw it in Colon for the first time... that was the same show that Doug and I had attended. Then, David mentioned that Walter, who idolized Gwynne, late that night, after the Legion Hall closed, took Jack over to his car which was parked on a side street, got out the Stepladder and set it up on the sidewalk and showed Gwynne how it worked. The amazing thing was that at precisely the same time, Doug and I were in the laundromat discussing the effect and trying to dope out how it could possibly work. Just a couple of blocks away, unknown to us, Walter had it set up on the sidewalk to show it to Gwynne. Had we known, we could have walked there in a couple of minutes and all would have been revealed to us. Dennis Loomis
Itinerant Montebank
<BR>http://www.loomismagic.com |
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Marshall Thornside Inner circle chicago 2016 Posts |
This morning while driving I was remember a funny incident
with my dad back about 15 + years ago. For anyone knowing my dad's monolouge and style, you would know about the 'Hand Laundry' bit and stuff. We were working a London fair at the grand stand, and there was another magician working on a different stage up the road. He didn't know who my dad was, but heard of him. So we went out that evening to see him after our show was over with. It rained that night and there weren't many people there. Maybe about 12 at most. We sat probably 3rd row watching. He was good, a bit this and that he added and such. Then he needed someone to participate in the crowd. Of all the people in the world. He choose my dad. I can't remember specifically what the trick he was doing, but he had my dad shuffle invisible cards, and whatever. My dad doesn't do card tricks. But every magician, does know how to shuffle a deck of cards good. After he was finished, he through the deck back to him. He said: You shuffle those well for someone who's not a magician. What do you do for a living? My dad replied: I work in the Hand Laundry business He laughted, as did the crowd. Eventually he realized who my dad was after the show. Got a laugh too. I wish I could remember the guys name. Anyway, p's couldn't remember that story, but it always stuck in my mind. :)
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista 7th greatest pianist in the world Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador www.mai-ling.net |
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MagiClyde Special user Columbus, Ohio 871 Posts |
The story I always heard regarding Robert-Houdin and the Maributs(sp?) was that he had a steel box that he could lift any time he wanted, but the Maributs couldn't lift. The secret, of course, was electromagnetism. Considering Houdin's inventive genius, I don't doubt this story.
As for the ball of wax and blood, that's one I've never heard. As for liquids in wax, think back to the little wax bottles with juice in them that we used to buy as children (boy, am I dating myself!). There has to be a way to do it.
Magic! The quicker picker-upper!
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Marabout. And Houdin was Robert-Houdin's father in law. It is incorrect to refer to the magician as Houdin, even though some Englishmen who did not understand how this hyphenated name thing worked have referred to him as such. The magician's last name before he married was Robert.
Regarding the bullet -- the problem isn't getting the liquid into the wax. It's getting the ball with the liquid in it to go down into the barrel of the gun without breaking it prematurely. The other trick was the Light and Heavy Chest.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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irossall Special user Snohomish, Washington 529 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-06-24 15:39, DonDriver wrote: It seems the first pay toilet was used in 1910. Here is a site to check out if interested. http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1079975 Iven
Give the gift of Life, Be an Organ Donor.
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