Used by Tina Lenert to animate her coat? I've seen others use it, including a clown in Cirque du Soleil, and always wondered if this technique had a name.

Thanks
matthew

Nope. As far as I know, no specific name, other than 'personification' or 'puppetry'.

In my experience, the only thing linking all the performers of this act is that they all claim to be its originator. In the spirit of this month of positive posting, I will admit that I am 100% sure that each performer discovered this technique of puppetry on their own, in a vacuum.

Tina Lenert, Kenny Raskin, Slava, and others.

Hope that helps.

-Brian

I would willing to guess that this technique goes back for a long, long time. Mime skills have been with us since the beginning of time.

I wouldn't be surprised if a caveperson didn't make a bear skin come alive one night around the fire.

Great to know. Sounds like lots of people have used it; in the Genii issue featuring her, Tina remembers seeing a stripper do it as well.

Thanks for the help guys.

Matthew

Tina lifted the technique/act from Kenny Raskin, and there was quite a hullabaloo about it.
Intellectual property is something that doesn't seem to exist in the magical world. A real shame.
Most magicians just walk around taking other peoples work without a second thought. Cheap.
Without consequences, I suppose it will all just continue as such. Sad.

As it has for over a hundred years.

I think different about "taking" things: Fortunately very often the original has invested much more time and energy then a rip off. So you feel the difference as an audience. And as a "taker" you always have to explain yourself.

On the other hand it could be so easy: Why not get in contact with a person and find an agreement. Very often the answer will be: "use it but create your own approach". Or you pay something for the idea and everybody is happy. But you have to accept a "no" too. That's the way it should be.

Red Skelton also did a version...(if my Monday memory is working)

This is Kenny Raskin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAib1e_qWSU

I noticed that this bit is being used in the new movie called "The Artist". Can't wait to see the movie. It's all done in silent. Looks like they took Mel Brooks idea. However, they are doing it all the way. They are using black and white and creating a setting that seems like it could have taken place during the silent movie era. The main female character walks up to a coat rack and inserts her arm into and does the Tina Lenert/Kenny Raskin bit.

Thanks for posting that link Pop - I always enjoyed watching Kenny work his brand of magic. This was superb!

This was on the 'The Magicians' last week on the BBC. I love this kind of stuff, it looks so simple but to pull it off is so hard.

See here also:- http://www.silentclown.com/donimo-gallery.htm



The name of this effect is 'one arm thru one jacket/coat/cardigan.....'

Kenny Raskin claims to have originated the bit in 1981:

"Signature piece of clown Kenny Raskin Created June, 1981 Filmed in Central Park, NYC June 2001." ~ youtube video



Anyone have information on an earlier version?

Very cool Pop! I had never seen this bit. Thanks for sharing...

Gary

Very nice!