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tomsk192 Inner circle 3894 Posts 
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On Mar 2, 2014, Jamie Ferguson wrote: Aye, there's the rub. |
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writeall Special user Midland, Michigan 930 Posts
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TStone, I thought about what you said (and thanks for the Genii link), and I had it wrong. I was an idiot to think the routine alone was the valuable thing, when the really valuable art here is in the man performing. Sadly, he is gone. Rather than griping, I should be happy there's something remaining at all.
So, anyhow, apologies for being a twit, and thanks again for the link. |
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TStone V.I.P. Stockholm, Sweden 774 Posts
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No need to put yourself down, and I'm in no need of any apology.
Stuff like this is seldom of concern for magic hobbyist, while it can be hugely important to those who have performing arts as a job. So, unless someone tell you, you can't really be expected to know it. And I see that you've understood, and that is highly commendable! |
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TStone V.I.P. Stockholm, Sweden 774 Posts
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On Mar 2, 2014, tomsk192 wrote: Since they've been tricked into buying something they have no rights to, by someone who had no rights to release it to begin with - the only option is to return it and get a refund, or find some other value in it. |
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RiffRaff Special user 670 Posts
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Wesley James V.I.P. Hazlet, New Jersey 372 Posts
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To all who may be concerned,
I am proud to say that Earl "Presto" Johnson was one of my dearest friends for well over fifty years. A more generous magician could never be named. His skill was incredible, his inventiveness limitless and his willingness to share all that he knew and created with other magicians was unwavering. He would teach any brother magician every detail of the magic he performed. He was confident that no one could perform his magic as he did but believed that others could use his material in their own way. He never sought fame or celebrity with magicians; he was a working professional who performed for lay audiences of all ages almost all his life. I have never known a performer who was more loved by his audiences than Presto. I am sad that someone has taken his routine and is selling it without giving him full credit for it. Presto didn't invent the Balls Over the Head plot but he was, to the best of my knowledge, the first and for many years the only performer that performed it standing with sponge balls. The footage on Youtube is an accurate reflection of the way he performed it beginning at least as early as 1958, perhaps earlier. He would have been willing to share it with the magic community but it would only be fair that he be compensated for doing so. There is no Johnson estate. Sadly, due to a serious heart condition, he died, after depleting all his resources, in poverty, in a nursing home paid for by Medicaid. The appropriate thing for Alakazam to do would be to give what would be the appropriate fee to a charity that helps people with heart valve problems, as that is what caused Presto's death. When Presto passed, magic lost one of its greatest unsung performers. I am pleased and honored that I was able to call him my friend for almsot all the years of his life and mine. Wesley James |
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts
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He's sounds like a great man...
so isn't that a nice healthy solution? that alakazam release this, credit him (or even 'in honour of'_ = and then donate a percentage of the profits to The Heart Foundation? everyone's happy that way...and such a shame the guy had to sell everything just to try and get well...
I've asked to be banned
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Steven Conner Inner circle 2720 Posts
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On Mar 8, 2014, IAIN wrote: Hey Iain I agree. Perhaps the dvd could be redone with Presto's performance included.
"The New York Papers," Mark Twain once said,"have long known that no large question is ever really settled until I have been consulted; it is the way they feel about it, and they show it by always sending to me when they get uneasy. "
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CarlMcCoy Elite user 465 Posts
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Sounds like a top idea to me. Like you say IAIN, eveyone will be hapy then...or at least, should be.
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ostadler New user Munich, Germany 62 Posts
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Hi all,
Hmm... I am in the situation that I bought this when it came out and now when I read the whole thread I had to come to a decision. Tough one! I really really love this routine a lot, it's fun for the magician to do it and it's a heck of fun for the spectators. Now as I am not a professional magician, just an hobby amateur doing routines for friends and colleagues only, I decided to do the following: I will perform it for my friends, but I just made a 45 Euro donation to the German Heart Foundation (Deutsche Herzstiftung). So that kinda picks up the idea of Wesley James. I hope that this is appropriate. Greetings all, Oliver |
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TStone V.I.P. Stockholm, Sweden 774 Posts
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On Mar 10, 2014, ostadler wrote: I don't think it is. Then Rajan is forgiven for stealing the work of someone else, without even having to do a single thing as restitution. That should not be rewarded. Alakazam never had any business publishing it. And despite what Wesley says, it is not his to give away either. Besides, if you desire to be a vulture and will steal the routine anyway, it is by far better that you take it directly from the source; Presto's performance on YouTube, rather than to dilute it by learning it from a 2-bit hack like Rajan. Tommy Wonder died in 2006. His act is all over YouTube, but so far no one have stolen his act. Earl 'Presto' was no less a master, and died three years later, in 2009. Why should his work not be shown as much respect as Tommy's work? Ponder over that. If several of Earl 'Presto's friends decide that it would be in Presto's honor to release his material - then they should do it, not anyone else, because they would make sure to let the viewer know who Presto was, instead of trying to hide away his existence like Rajan. And if 'Presto's closest friends decide they want to publish it via Alakazam, then it would be perfectly fine I guess - but that will in that case be a completely different project of a different nature. |
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Count Lustig Elite user 456 Posts
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On Mar 11, 2014, TStone wrote: If the routine is not Wesley James’ to give away, it’s certainly not yours to withhold. |
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TStone V.I.P. Stockholm, Sweden 774 Posts
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On Mar 11, 2014, Count Lustig wrote: What kind of odd reasoning is that? We should accept that 2-bit hacks put their own names as originators on the work of others? You defend Rajan's ripoff, and want people to forget that 'Presto' existed? If a friend of yours pass away, and some complete stranger in a different country decides to give away your friend's belongings - you sincerely mean that neither you nor anyone else should protest? I don't get your point. Are you so ghoulish that you'll rather ransack the pockets of the deceased than to earn your place in the world on your own merits? Or what is your point? |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts
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On Mar 11, 2014, TStone wrote: Only because his props are impossible to make, if you are speaking of his stage act. I don't believe he ever explained his stage act. The only item that was ever in print was his Belly Servante from his stage act. Otherwise, I am sure there would be a number of "tribute acts" out there. LOL |
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TStone V.I.P. Stockholm, Sweden 774 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 11, 2014, Bill Hegbli wrote: His props are not impossible to make. Expecially today with cheap 3D-printers and the small desktop CNC mills on kickstarter. Almost everything from his stage act is explained in his books, and the small remaining parts are easy to reverse engineer from the YouTube clips. With the exception of how the mechanical bird is built, everything else in the stage act is well known. Anyone without ethics could easily steal Tommy's act - still no one have. So why should not Presto be shown the same respect? |
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Jamie Ferguson Inner circle Alba Gu Brà th 3640 Posts
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We haven't heard Rajan's side of the story yet.
Please allow the man the courtesy of a response before picking up the pitchforks.
When the chips are down, the duvet is uncomfortable.
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tomsk192 Inner circle 3894 Posts
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Have you never seen Tom's pitchfork routine, Jamie? It absolutely slays people.
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Quentin Inner circle 1020 Posts
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On Mar 11, 2014, Jamie Ferguson wrote: Don't you think he has had plenty of time to put forward his story? I'm sure someone has told him about this thread. |
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Jamie Ferguson Inner circle Alba Gu Brà th 3640 Posts
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Remember, he's a busy working pro.
I'm sure he'll pop by when he's not gigging.
When the chips are down, the duvet is uncomfortable.
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Quentin Inner circle 1020 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 11, 2014, Jamie Ferguson wrote: How do you know that? |
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| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Latest and Greatest? » » Schrodinger's Balls (DVD and Props) by Rajan and Alakazam Magic - DVD (2 Likes) | ||||||||||
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Posted: Mar 2, 2014 11:12 pm 
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