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Clifford the Red Inner circle LA, California 1941 Posts |
I just finished listening to the audio of Steve Martin's latest book - Born Standing Up. I gotta say, it was quite wonderful. Steve is a wonderful writer and his experience from performing on stage for an audience of zero (no I am not kidding) to audiences filling arenas is quite a tale of both success and personal tragedy and renewal. Steve is an accomplished magician and spent years in Leo Behnke's Merlin's Magic Shop (learning from him things like a perfect Faro shuffle) inside the Castle in Disneyland and also used magic as an integral part of his act. He goes into much of his history with Magic. The book is fantastic but even better is the audio book. It is not only read by Steve who does it with incredible feeling and even performs many bits he describes, but he also composed and performs the bumper music for beg, end and chapters on his banjo. It has the feeling of a Ken Burns film on tape. Highly recommended!!!
"The universe is full of magical things, waiting for our wits to grow sharper." Eden Philpotts
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Ron Crumley Elite user 1950 - 2012 448 Posts |
I was lucky enough to be a regular pre-teen customer of Steve's when he worked Disney's main street magic shop. Over the course of the years he sold to me (and then demonstrated in the back area) the wooden die box, the everlasting water urn, my first Wizard deck and Hippity Hop Rabbits.
I missed him when he left the magic shop, but saw him again when he performed regularly at the Bird Cage Theater at Knott's Berry Farm in neighboring Buena Park. I didn't realize his career path until years later when one night, while watching TV, Johhny Carson introduced "a new up and coming comedian, Steve Martin!". And on walked the guy I had only known as "Steve" by his Disneyland name badge, who had introduced me to a world of magic. I also own, appreciate and recommend the audio version of his book, Born Standing Up. |
magicmanfrank Inner circle 1127 Posts |
I read the book and enjoyed it thoroughly!
Looks like I will have to get the audio book now and listen to it since it is read by Steve HIMSELF! =Frank=
The Early Bird may get the Worm, but it's the SECOND Mouse that gets the CHEESE!!!
Frank Thurston www.FrankThurstonMagic.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-of-Frank-Thurston/116625117910?ref=nf |
Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2604 Posts |
I had the pleasure of designing some magic and building a few things for his first Vegas show. He is a great thinkier and understands more about audience psychology and the art of performance than most anyone I know. It was really exciting to see his path over the years and now to look back in this book. It is a must read for any performer.
Ray Pierce
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Heres Tony Loyal user Orlando 259 Posts |
Hey Ron, that is very cool that you have a Steve Martin story to tell!
I've read Born Standing Up twice and have recommended it to other performer friends. |
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