I am aware of two marketed versions of the Linking Coathangers: The Delben (Ben Stone's) and Mike Caveney's.

Does anyone know the history of the effect? (It may be discussed in one of my magazines that featured Mike Caveney, but I'm not sure where to look right now).

Terry

Well, here is the scoop.

I don't know the date of the Delben version, however... many years ago I stumbled onto a coat hangar in a department store that was made of aluminum and the material was almost 1/4-inch thick. I bought about a dozen of them.

Taking them home, I worked out a way to make an invisible-ish key, similar to Jerry Andrus' linking pin, hiding it in the curl of the hangar near the hook.

I made up three sets, gave one each to Fred Kaps and Terry Seabrooke, keeping one.

Caveney saw these and worked out his own routine, making up some of the same hangars, and I was told he literally bought out all he could from the manufacturer.

I understand that Richard Himber had made up some custom sets of stainless steel with a locking key, similar to his locking key linking ring set.

I kick myself daily for not marketing this first (Before Caveney) and not buying a 300SL Mercedes Gullwing that was offered to me for $7,000 (they now fetch well over $100,000).

Thanks for the info Pete. A very interesting story! So do you think we will see a set from Magic Makers?

Terry

Wouldn't that just CHAP Mike Caveney's Donkey!!!!

The Delben version was withdrawn from the market, because of pressure from Mike. This would, indeed, be a "battle of the deep pockets."

Ok But what Version is the first/original Don,

Merlin Eifert an amateur magician on the Left Coast had a trick with a thin wire that stuck out of the top of your trousers (I have this) and I think THAT was the first ever linking of plain, cheap wire coat hangers.

I don't know when, but Richard Himber made up a few custom sets with the locking key like his linking rings. This, I believe was the first to "make" special hangers.

One day I found these alloy hangers and made up a few sets, one each for Fred Kaps and Terry Seabrooke, and one for myself. I patterned the key after the Andrus setup for the linking pins, using the TWIST area to have a "springy" way to link/unlink.

Delben made a similar set, I don't know which of us was first, but I had NEVER SEEN or HEARD of any others making sets like I did. Independent thinking? Probably.

Caveney came after, and I believe after he saw mine. I did NOT develop much of a routine, just using the setup for a 3-ring type routine.

Caveney worked out a very nice, commercial routine and added the Supreme gag, with the hack saw.

In retrospect I wish I had developed my idea and marketed it FIRST.

I do not know anything about Caveney putting PRESSURE on Delbin, but he could have if he had been BEFORE they were?

I don't know.

As I recall, Mike thought he had this coathanger thing as original and then he later found out that someone else had had the idea years before. He told the story once in a lecture.

Mike's routine is the key (pun intended) and one of the few patter written routines I use verbatim.

But I have learned that it does not play well for kids. They never hang up clothes anyway so how would they know they get tangled together?

Kids? Then you need a routine with all the props scattered on the floor

I once got CHASTISED for a comment about a messy stage. A kid did an act at the WMS Jr. competition. When he finished the stage was littered with CRAP... snowstorm, cards, balloons... junk, etc.

As he finished and came back for a bow I said, "Clean your room."

Which got a great laugh. Except a reviewer said "Biro was RUDE to a performer."

:kermit:

Funny. They never think about how they leave the stage for the next act.

When you go pro and do a review show you MUST leave a clean stage. I think anyone that works leaving a messy stage should learn ways to NOT do so should they get a good gig and they will kill it fast with any mess.

Well said Pete. I try to get that through to the guys I talk with.

I still remember working with one act and getting Glitter out of my stuff for two years afterward.

It is hard to make glitter "disappear" indeed. I stopped using it in my shows because it is so hard to clean up.

Regan

It has been four years since Steven Youell worked following Rocco, and Steven still finds glitter on his clothing.

I bought a set from Ben Stone when he FIRST started making them.... in fact, I contacted him and asked if he could make a set, since I had just heard about Caveneys and they were so expensive at the time. So Ben made me a set for less than half the cost.... he also said that it was the first set he had made. He sold a few more set after that, and he told me he stopped for the exact reason alluded to here in other posts. I sold mine years later to Bob Spray, who sold them to Joe Stevens (I am unsure if the provenance followed them).

In the introduction to Jim Steinmeyer's "The Magic of Alan Wakeling", Caveney credits Wakeling with the hacksaw gag.

Mr Biro,

My coathangers and DVD just arrived from Mike Caveney, and on the DVD he credits you for the idea.

I'll add my personal thank you for a great idea.

Thanks for your kind words.

When I joined Ring 50, way back in 1955 or 56, I did Linking Coathangers that I put together myself. I found out later someone in GA was doing them, also.

Mike Caveney's hanger routune using a spectator with their eyes closed is hilarious and brilliant in so many ways.

An excellent piece of clean entertainment for adult audiences.

Stephen

That's "Powers of Darkness, Come Out of the Closet".

Steve