In 1975, Mr. Henning broke through to an even larger audience when he performed Houdini's ''Water Torture Escape'' on a live television special. Though his thinning hair and beard have gone gray, at 61 Steinmeyer retains a striking youthfulness that manifests in an easy grin, a cheerful chattiness, and eyes that seem lit from behind. Steinmeyer immersed himself in Chicagos magic-shop subculture, popping in on Saturdays, hanging around, and talking to other magicians. Doug Henning A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? He starred on Broadway, toured with a large stage show, and popularized magic in his own television specials. Mr. Henning was one of the supporters of a $1 billion theme park, Veda Land, proposed for the Niagara Falls area. As one of the first illusionists to incorporate elaborate sets, Henning changed the way magic was presented. Debby also married Mexican artist Jose Carcamo, whom she divorced in 1980. The Magic Castle rules call for people to stow their phones, and there are no TVs. Theres no substitute for that, Steinmeyer says. Neil McNally and The Doug Henning Project 2017-2022 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this sites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. "I had never felt anything like it in my life. He vanished and gradually restored on stagefrom veins, to nervous system, to skinthe titular character of The Invisible Man. His answer, at first, is that he doesnt really like the question. WebAfter Falling Under the Spell of Wife Debby, Doug Henning Hopes to Charm Broadway Again (Part.2) My friends said there was practically a flash of light, says Henning, 35. He posed for photographs, signed autographs and then disappeared once again. In college, he started pitching tricks to Doug Henning, arguably the worlds most famous illusionist during the 1970s. Steinmeyer keeps his secrets out of reach as hours of conversation unfold. She was born and raised in Huntington Woods, Michigan, and is the daughter of Lorelei (Frygier), a nurse, and He also dabbled in politics. It usually involves revision upon revision, sometimes over several years. Here is all you want to know, and more! He died in Los Angeles on Feb. 7, 2000, from liver cancer. His battles with the church arent over, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! ''When I was in college, being a magician was not the classiest thing to be,'' he said. Magic renews that wonder.. Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. | Secrecy is the coin of the realm here, and Steinmeyer is an open secret himself: Most people who see magic shows assume the performers invent their own tricks, but its illusion designers like Steinmeyer who conjure most of the magic offstage. ), Hennings television shows won him an Emmy and seven Emmy nominations. I was a 13-year-old kid who just lost a father And it was like another door opening on an interest I already had, and opening in some bigger, grander way., In the following years, Steinmeyer dropped his own act; what he really loved, he realized, was conceiving ambitious illusionsthe flashbulb of an idea popping inside his head, the mental calisthenics of how it might work, the sketching and spitballing. Steinmeyer uses the mind-reading trick as a launchpad into a disquisition on how magic tricks evolve, which is fascinating, but it temporarily walls me off from a question Im eager to ask about the trick, or, really, any trick: How does it work? I had never felt anything like it in my whole life. The dazzler was Debby Douillard, 27, an abstract painter with bottomless blue eyes who was, In doing some online research I came across this fascinating article from the December 20, 1982 issue of People magazine. So when I abandon something because its not working, I can go back and find it. He was a writer and actor, known for The Magic Show (1983), World of Magic (1977) and CREDITS. Doug Henning Magic GIFs | Tenor However, this married later ended in divorce. Counting both sides of a page, thats 4,800 pages dating back to 1980 or 81. People Magazine Interview: Part Two Magician Doug Henning a favorite of TV, Broadway and arena audiences died Monday in Los Angeles after battling liver cancer for the past five months. So we went somewhere and talked a long, long time, and I remember having this powerful feeling of recognition. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 3 May. The truth of how magic works is that most of us dont know because we dont wantto know. When were little kids, were filled with wonder for the world its fascinating and miraculous, he once said. He was all over the newspapers, magazines, talk shows, and (had) yearly television specials. Taking its name from basketball star LeBron James, the work comes to New York after runs at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Center Theatre Group. In the 80s Henning also created illusions for others, including Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire and the Toronto rock band Lighthouse. Steinmeyer allows that historically, the trick is that the woman pulls her knees up to her chest when the sawing happens. The god-tier highlight of his career is arguably designing David Copperfields televised vanishing of the Statue of Liberty, but over more than three decades, Steinmeyer has engineered an entire pantheon of physics-defying, brain-exploding, how-is-that-even-possible feats. He wears a khaki vest over a tie and pinstriped Oxford, a look that combined with his affable demeanor conjures him as a boy haunting Chicago-area magic shops in the 1950s, hobnobbing with performers, probing for tips. May 2, 2023, By Henning went to India for a time to work with the maharishi, telling The Times by telephone in 1988: It was the fulfillment of my career to do this. He was 52 and lived in Los Angeles. Doug Henning's net worth Also sported long hair and a long bushy moustache. Will Virtual Reality Ever Live Up to the Hype? Had he lived, Henning would have surely become an elder statesman of magic, McNally says, one who would have consulted for other performers, possibly work on effects for movies and TV shows (or) lectured., Like the world of illusion, Hennings life had been full of possibility. One of his most impressive acts was ''Metamorphosis,'' an illusion borrowed from Harry Houdini, his idol. Magic is not about knowing how weve been deceived. Its a mind-reading trick, but instead of the magician playing the part of the clairvoyant, its the third-party burglar. Superstar magician Doug Henning led a wild life | The Star The illusion has been around for more than a century, and Steinmeyer has mentioned its timelessness and layers of innovation. Steinmeyer went and saw a performance by George Goebel, a veteran magician with a grand-scale stage act. For magic to accomplish the impossiblemaking something disappeara flaw in the magic has to be hidden, like a trick mirror or special compartment. is 5'5"(1.67m) . Harry taught Jim it was about more than propsyou had to engage the audience with a storyand between this tutelage and the television and Chicagos booming local magic scene, a fascination took hold. He had been ailing for five months. Education Steinmeyer heads to his board meeting and leaves me to roam the castle, still only occupied by staff hustling to prepare for the first dinner seating. | He erased an elephant from the center ring for Ringling Bros. His job is to think of something completely impossible, then figure out a way to apparently accomplish itand that process can be messy. Soldering 101: How To Bond Wires, Cables, and More, How the Microwave Was Invented by Accident, How Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Actually Work. Some days Steinmeyer is a mechanical engineer, building scale models with foam core, mirrors, and toothpicks; others, hes a historian and detective, reconstructing old tricks; still others, hes a graphic designer drawing up informal blueprints, or a playwright developing scripts to go with his illusions. United Archives via Getty Images / Getty Images Doug Henning is often credited with resurrecting magic as a theatrical art in the 1970s. Doug Henning was previously married to Barbara DeAngelis, a self-help author. Steinmeyer relies on both meticulous design and well-suited performers to construct tricks. ), He got his first professional job at 14, performing at a family friend's house. Henning spent his final years working with the Maharishi to build a meditation theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Id be remiss in not mentioning that yesterday, March 24th, was Harry Houdinis 147th birthday. Shackled hand and foot and encased underwater in a steel canister, he broke free in under a minute, emerging wet and beaming. He was married to Debby Douillard and Barbara De Angelis. The act won a few local awards. Henning Winnipeg-born Henning fell in love with magic as a child. His shows led to a general resurgence of interest in magic, said Phil Willmarth, editor of The Linking Ring, a magic magazine. Doug is unique in that he didnt copy anyone before or after him, he says. Hennings own sense of wonder fueled his professional success and personal appeal. We say hello to Steinmeyers wife, television producer Frankie Glass, whose many documentary credits include Ancient Aliens and a series called History vs. Hollywood. I realize Steinmeyer has been trying to lead me to this point all along. advertisement advertisement Cancer And Death Doug Henningwas diagnosed with liver cancer in late 1999. (December 6, 1981 - February 7, 2000) (his death), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. You want that thing where people go, Ohhh, theyre about to divide a person into three pieces, Steinmeyer says. Debby met Doug Henning at a charity benefit at the Transcendental Meditation Center at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. He was How a Legendary Magician Builds Illusions | Jim Steinmeyer By For years and years, I avoidedI just thought it was presumptuous to say, Heres how you create things, he says. Broadway. Reworked and retitled The Magic Show, it opened in 1974 at the Cort Theatre and enjoyed a four-year-run. Encouraged students of magic to make their own props and equipment, and not rely on ready-made magic kits. My brain fizzes with unsated curiosity. He was 52. Thats why we press for answers. Doug Henning (1947-2000) - Find a Grave Memorial This story has been shared 141,467 times. Canadas investment in the arts paid off. For example, the Mary Poppins illusion originated as an unrelated, sudden jolt of inspiration: a table that employs angled mirrors to conceal items within its folds. The box incorporates design elements that make it appear narrower to the audience than it actually is. According to new reports, Mr. Henning was diagnosed with liver cancer in 1999. Henning, the man who performed Harry Houdinis legendary water torture escape on national television before a live audience and later became a spokesman for the spiritual leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, died of liver cancer Monday in Los Angeles. Hes not going to let me flip over his mirrors or rifle through his drawers, and when I give him a straight-line question, he responds with misdirectionlabyrinthine tangents and looping alternate pathways. Doug Henning He made a real-seeming flying carpet for the latest turn of Aladdin on Broadway. There are careful sketches of rotating, hinging mechanisms, drawings of altered cabinets and wardrobes enveloping phantom figures and annotated with measurements and enigmatic notations. When Doug opened that show on Broadway, that was the starting point of a huge boom in magic that has continued to this day, Las Vegas magician Lance Burton said Tuesday. This was after a show they did at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, Texas, outside the stage door. Doug Henning was stiff as a board, and as he didn't sing, the musical numbers were never really landed in the show. Doug Henning (Douglas James Henning) was born on 3 May, 1947 in Fort Garry, Manitoba, Canada, is a Writer, Actor, Soundtrack. By almost any estimation, Steinmeyer is the greatest creator of illusions in the history of magic and theater, but describing Morritts idiosyncratic piece of stagecraft still animates and energizes him. When you gasp or scream in response to a card trick, its a hotwire to that emotion, to that sense of being incredibly pleased and feeling a sense, not only of surprise, but of wonder.. Doug Henning At 53 years old, Doug Henning height A writer and The safe is locked before anyone looks inside, and after a beat, a burglar appears. The two actors join the cast of the international hit musical in St. Louis, Missouri. In the Magic Castles showcase room, the Palace of Mystery, Greg Otto performs a comedy-laden routine (When a heckler pipes up, Otto looks toward the crowd and replies, I thought I told you to stay in the truck.) before Kyle and Mistie Knight deliver a classic big-stage performance heavy on audience participation. The parks is linked to Indian spiritual leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. To take the stage, Kyle passes through a giant fan with spinning bladesthe very trick Id spotted in one of Steinmeyers notebooks. What happens, he says, is that an idea branchesyou start working on something and you go, Oh, it would really be good if it was like this. And you pursue that for a little while and you go, Yeah, thats not right. And then you go back and you pursue this for a little while, and this starts working. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Neil McNally and The Doug Henning Project with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. He was 52. Doves became rabbits in Mr. Henning's hands, and horses took wing. If I produce a 450-pound Bengal tiger, its going to create a lot more wonder than if I produce a rabbit.. One shows an illustrated Harry Kellar, a sensation in the early twentieth century. December 20, 1982, pages 70-72. Doug Henning's Death - Cause and May 1, 2023, By Only when Steinmeyer finishes speaking do I realize weve barely moved from my starting point. Upon graduating with a psychology degree in McMaster University in 1971, Henning and then-girlfriend Marsden Barrick performed as Henning and Mars at Yorkville coffeehouses, a military base near the North Pole, LAs famed Magic Castle, and on a 1972 episode of the CBCs Telescope program. It was indeed Rich Hall playing Doug Henning, as he had in a few SNL sketches during that time, but the sketch you speak of was actually titled "Dueling Magis" Steinmeyer does it all. My secret, he says, is that I keep a messy notebook. We've received your submission. So, how much is Doug Henning worth at the age of 53 years old? This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Ramon had never performed original tricks before, but in Steinmeyers studio he understood for the first time how they were birthed. My heart was racing. In a room tucked behind the main entrance, I test Irma, the ghost operating the grand piano, and she nails my softball request (Hotel California). The guy very snobily said Mr. In 1992, he announced that he and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a spiritual adviser, would build a $1.5 billion theme park near Niagara Falls, Ontario. He is credited with reviving the magic show as a form of mass He later put an advertisement in a local newspaper reading: ''Magician: Have Rabbit, Will Travel. (His senior thesis was on hypnosis. On December 6, Doug and Debby were married at the University. He was 52 years old when he died. You know, in terms of explaining how things work, he told me, I cant get into too much of that.. ", They were engaged within a week. And the stories involve multiple layers of deception. Twenty-two years after his death he would have turned 75 this May Henning is still regarded as one of the greats by his peers, having blazed a trail for the likes of Siegfried & Roy, David Copperfield and Penn & Teller. My last day hanging around with him, I ask Steinmeyer straight up: How does the sawing-in-half trick work? He sold off all his illusions props, sets and secrets at auction to devote his time to Transcendental Meditation. For one it was written as Merlin was just about to open on Broadway, and the other being that it delves into Dougs new The cause was liver cancer, according to The Associated Press. So I press: But theres no room for her to., He smiles and shrugs as if to say, What more do you expect? In fact, theres just enough room for the woman to drop her knees to one side and avoid the blades. Will Self-Driving Cars Out-Smart Human Drivers? Two other Steinmeyer illusions soon made a Henning TV special, and Henning eventually offered him a job helping launch Merlin on Broadway. I think Rich Hall played the Doug Henning part in that skit. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? Jims bounty: a P&L Change Bag (turn one item into another, or pull something from an empty bag), an Ireland set of cup and balls, and a collection of mystifying instruction books. "Dougy was supposed to speak that night and do some magic, and I was supposed to tell him when to go on stage." They don't teach you anything.". ), Matthew Lawrence says his agency dropped him after he refused to strip for director, Ed Sheeran blasts music expert for criminal testimony in Marvin Gaye copyright trial, Roman Polanski and the woman he pleaded guilty to raping pose together 45 years later, Paul Stanley of KISS dives into debate over transgender acceptance versus kids transitioning, Has the Justin Timberlake Its Gonna Be May meme passed its expiration date? May 2, 2023, By His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. Steinmeyers older brother, Harry, nine years his senior, had a drawerful of abandoned magic props, and when Jim was about six, he says, I found that drawer.. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Doug Henning, a Superstar Of Illusion, Is Dead at 52, https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/09/arts/doug-henning-a-superstar-of-illusion-is-dead-at-52.html. In the trick, which Mr. Henning performed in Broadway theaters, on television and even on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, his assistant was handcuffed and tied in a sack. That led to his role in The Magic Show. WebWife: Barbara DeAngelis (div. Davis' Death of a Salesman co-star Wendell Pierce hosted a screening and talkback for the new film. Dubbed Veda Land, it would be the first theme park concerned with spiritual enlightenment and would include a levitating building and a journey into the heart of a rose. A magician friend often told Steinmeyer, If you want to keep something a secret, publish it., So why dont more of us know how magic works? NEW YORK -- Doug Henning, the mustachioed hippie magician who helped repopularize the craft in the 1970s with TV specials and Broadway shows, has died at 52. When Steinmeyer was 13, his father died, leading to what he describes as a hell of a year. As the family wrestled with grief, his mother encouraged him to attend a magic convention in Michigan with his friends, to plug into something that might distract or excite him. The feet are fake, he explains. WebDoug Henning seems unmarried yet he is married. "Those magic tricks you buy in stores are junk. Debbie Henning THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT Doug Henning & His World of Magic (Dec 11, 1984 - Jan 27, 1985) Performer: Debby Henning [Assistant] He launches into a commentary about how people dont just receive entertainment anymorethey see it as a challenge. Doug Henning . As happened with ''The Magic Show,'' the musical portion of the show received poor marks while Mr. Henning's ingenuity was hailed. Discover Doug Henning's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Spellbound: The Wonder-Filled Life of Doug Henning Its cool enough, but somehow learning the answer isnt as exciting as Id expected. Between 1975 and 1982, he created and starred in several television specials, aired on NBC and CBS, under the title of "Doug Henning's World of Magic." People who have been sawn in half - IMDb The mellow magic man famed for his trademark shaggy hair and tie-dyed shirts had suffered from liver cancer for five months. They become cynical and jaded, especially in modern-day society. A lot of people lose that. Debby Henning - Magicpedia - Genii Nobody else is working at this level. Henning spent his final years working with the Maharishi to build a meditation theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Because Zig Zag was so fresh in the 70s, things that felt like that were attractive.. He reveled in the intricacies of itthe different historical accounts, Charles Morritts possible motives, all the potential explanations. '', After his success with ''The Magic Show'' and on television, Mr. Henning returned to Broadway twice, in the 1983 musical ''Merlin,'' and in a 1984 solo show, ''Doug Henning and His World of Magic.''. Well, if the town of Appleton, Wisconsin means anything to, Today I thought Id feature a four minute vintage clip of Doug and Debby on the classic 1980s program Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Whats cool about it is that it gives us a glimpse not only into Dougs home, but his famed workshop where many of his illusions were developed. There are no dead ends.. Doug and Debbie Houdini Plaza 1986 Performance, Close Encounters of the Doug Kind: Part Three, Nathan Lane Discussing "Merlin" on Playbill.com, Remodeled James Earl Jones (Cort) Theatre Interior, Follow THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT on WordPress.com. For one it was written as Merlin wasjust about toopen on Broadway, and the other being that it delves into Dougs new marriage to Debby Douillard (Henning) and the, I love this vintage 1986 commercial not only for its obvious camp value, but for the fact that it gives you a glimpse into Dougs touring productions and promotions. entertainment in the 1970s and popularizing it on television. .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}Top 3 AI Image Generators. Among the judges are Olivier winner Amber Riley and Frozen star Samantha Barks. But even given Steinmeyers relative anonymity compared with the Cooperfields and Blaines of the world, magic as a whole exists now in the age of YouTube. The people are so pure. He also made guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and The Muppet Show.. Doug Henning hippie magician television tv Published by travsd Writer and performer Trav S.D. He was previously married to Debby Douillard and Barbara De Angelis. You want that thing to be very clear.. They havent been touched by cynicism. He also tried to help the maharishi develop a series of theme parks to be known as Vedaland with pavilions devoted to enlightenment and transcendental meditation--first in India, then in Orlando, Fla., then in Niagara Falls, Canada. Some of the more recent ones Steinmeyer wrote himself. Whats striking, besides the polished performances, is the feeling in the building. Copyright 1991-2023 Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. Henning sees no one at any. He earned a Best Featured Actor (Musical) nomination for his work in the conceptual tuner, The Magic Show, in the 1974-75 season. Steeped in the pop philosophies of the 1960's, Mr. Henning meditated daily and did yoga between shows. It was an overwhelming experience. Doug Henning: The Unbearable Lightness of Unbearability As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Henning had revived magic in a big way. Debby was born Deborah Ann Douillard to Roger and Ann Douillard, who ran a contracting firm in a New York suburb. Huh. But the boy was more interested in sports and then began premed studies and earned a psychology degree at Canadas McMaster University. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Actor: The Magic Show. Talaura Harms Steinmeyer has invented card tricks and box tricks and levitation tricks and ESP tricks and every other imaginable kind of theatrical deception, then some you couldnt imagine, and all this for the biggest names in entertainment, including Orson Welles, Siegfried & Roy, Doug Henning, and Ricky Jay. When their mother was diagnosed with cancer, he spent several months caring for her in Toronto. Seven Doug Hennings World of Magic TV specials aired throughout the late 70s and early 80s, helping to make Henning a household name. Self-Driving Cars Wont Save Us Anytime Soon, Memes Could Save Us From Superintelligent Machines, Why Train Derailments Are Happening All Around Us. | He felt he had achieved his goals in performing and he wanted to move along to other challenges, says Nancy. "I will not have that in our house," she said. In the Close-Up Gallery, Tom Craven peppers his card, rope, and metal-ring tricks with a stream of old-world patter. Doug Henning Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, If you know of a past magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them or Email us your suggestion. All of us wish them nothing but happiness and the joy that comes from a loving partnership. He was a writer and actor, known for. He crisscrossed the country with his show and returned to Broadway in the 1980s with Merlin, which was nominated for five Tony awards, and Doug Hennings World of Magic.. He is from Canada. But heres a list of everything inside.. In the studio with us are two of the trick tables. He returned often to visit family and to do the occasional performance. Its hard for people to comprehend this today, but he was like a rock star.. WebDoug Henningwas first married to Barbara De Angelis. See the article in its original context from. You can find books that lay out the mechanics of most illusions in sonorous detail, down to diagrams with measurements. Gone were the black capes and magic wands; Mr. Henning wore jeans, flashy jumpsuits, and tie-dye T-shirts onstage. It still coaxes grasps from a crowd. (Check out the Toronto Magic Companys work with the citys budding magicians), It was 1975, and 50 million viewers tuned in to watch the stunt on live television unheard of today, says Henning expert Neil McNally. Henning returned to Broadway in 1983 for the Tony-nominated musical Merlin, and the following year Doug Henning and His World of Magic toured across North America. In fact, the script sucked and the characters were mostly uninteresting. It just swept over me. No, he died on 02/07/2000, 23 years ago. Steinmeyer demonstrates a version of the sawing-in-half illusion. Our website is made possible bydisplaying online advertisements to our visitors. In college, he started pitching tricks to Doug Henning, arguably the worlds most famous illusionist during the 1970s. The family moved to Oakville when Henning was in his early teens, and in 1969, he lived in a third-floor apartment at 94 Winchester St. in Cabbagetown, where a plaque now commemorates his life as a magician, teacher and politician. There are 24 notebooks, 100 pages each. He was also the first to re-attempt Harry Houdinis dangerous 1912 Water Torture Cell, in which the magician, restrained at the feet, escaped after being lowered into a glass tank of water.
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