doughenningDoug Henning was a Canadian magician who is credited with reviving the craft of stage magician during the 1970s. Sadly, he died in 2000 of liver cancer, when he was only 50. Before Doug Henning burst on the scene, the typical stage magician wore a tuxedo and top hat, not to mention gloves, and carried a cane. If the magician happened to be a woman, she very likely wore the same type of outfit, and if not that, a sumptuous evening gown with sleeves.  Having sleeves is very important in how to play magic!

Doug Henning changed all that. He came on stage dressed in skintight outfits, and instead of a tophat and monocle, he had bushy hair, a Fu Manchu moustache, and was young and vibrant and clearly having fun. His TV shows all garnered excellent ratings, and many’s the child who decided to take up magic based on his act.
Read the rest of this entry »

 Mail this post