Monday, July 25, 2011

Gone Into History

 Cannons Great Escapes
This year has been tough on those who manufacture magic. First to go was Cannon's Great Escapes, owned and operated by Mark and Sheila Cannon. I was fortunate to spend some time with Mark and though I never met Sheila, I did get a number of emails from her over the years. They were super nice people and always helpful. Their company sold Escape Equipment to the magic industry. This included some rather spectacular escape props as well as handcuffs and keys and other misc devices. I believe they single handedly moved the escape business forward by leaps and bounds through their high quality products. They announced in the Spring 2011 that they would be closing shop. Sheila was involved in another venture and beyond that there was no explanation. I don't know if Mark is going to continue doing his escape act or if he has let all that go as well.

Creative Magic
Next was Brian and Rebecca Daniels from Creative Magic. They were the ones who usually had ads on the back page of many of the magic magazines promoting their illusions that could fold up into a bag. That of course doesn't describe all their products but most of the big illusions they sold could indeed fold up or fold down as the case may be to travel much easier. They also offered some radically brilliant smaller pieces like their Change Cap, and Mesh Change Bag as well as a set of temporary tattoos that looked like Bruises. Everything they did was 'out of the box' and highly creative, hence their companies name. I met them both and like the Cannons they were just super nice people. They sold off ALL their inventory to their customers in an unprecedented move. It was just like them to close the doors by doing something no one had ever done before.

Wolfs Magic
Finally, word just came this past weekend that Chance Wolf from Wolfs Magic is involved in a 'different' project and there is a good chance that Wolfs Magic will be no more soon. I never met Chance, but I have seen his incredibly inventive and colorful props. I own one of them and will tell you that it's a thing of beauty.

The Wolfs Magic line of products were mostly new takes on older props. They were often done in a very cartoonish style which gave them a refreshing modern appeal. Not everything was cartoonish, but everything was extremely well made. I HOPE he sticks around but I can't blame him for trying other things.


WHY?
Each of these companies are run by one or two or a handful of people. They each have their reasons for closing down and I respect all their decisions and wish them all well. Each one will be missed and each one leaves a giant hole in the magic community. The why is something you'd have to ask them individually. But I thought it would be nice to acknowledge the actual people who were brave enough to venture out with these companies. A standing ovation is certainly deserved for each of their efforts!

Mark & Sheila Cannon of Cannons Great Escapes
Brian & Rebecca Daniel of Creative Magic

Chance & Shelly Wolf of Wolfs Magic

WILD ABOUT HARRY: William Kalush discusses Houdini's enduring fame a...


During this years Essential Magic Conference, William Kalush (above) author of the The Secret Life of Houdini and director of the Conjuring Arts Research Center gave a short abbreviated talk on Houdini and what made him so successful. It turned out to be one of the highlights of the conference for me. This past weekend, Mr. Kalush was at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles to give the hour long version of this fine lecture.
John Cox of WILD ABOUT HARRY was there and covered it quite well. Please click the link below to read John's blog about the Kalush talk on Houdini.

WILD ABOUT HARRY: William Kalush discusses Houdini's enduring fame a...: "William Kalush, author of The Secret Life of Houdini and director of the Conjuring Arts Research Center , gave a talk on 'Houdini and His ..."

Friday, July 22, 2011

The Elusive Moth BOOK


I was quite excited when the mailman delivered a package to me yesterday containing a brand new book. The title, Memoirs of an Elusive Moth by Adele Friel Rhindress. I've mentioned Adele before in my blogs, but in case you don't know she worked with Harry Blackstone Sr. for several seasons. This book is about her adventures from that time period.

First thing I want to say, is it ok to give a book a standing ovation? I loved this book!!! For one, though it is about the Blackstone show, you really get the see the show through Adele's eyes. She has a number of her own adventures that she shares as well. I got a kick out of the 20 hour sleeping story. Actually, I enjoyed all the stories! I also had the honor of hearing a number of these stories in person last summer when I was in Pigeon Forge and Adele and I went to lunch one day.

She describes in the book, a letter that Harry Blackstone Sr. sent her about the new season and how he wanted her to come back to play the part of 'The Elusive Moth', a new routine they were creating specifically for Adele.  I actually got to see the letter during our lunch last year. Also, Adele was a featured speaker during my 'Magic Detective' Session at KIDabra and she shared a couple stories about Harry Blackstone JR. that also appear in the book. But there are many things I had not heard before and she captures them so well. She talks about Del Ray and Nick Ruggerio as well as a number of her fellow female assistants in the show. Adele also shares stories about the non performing cast members and helps the reader to see how important each and every person is/was in the production of the stage spectacular known as Blackstone And His Show of 1001 Wonders!

Besides giving the reader a sense of what it was like traveling with the Blackstone show,  she also gives a glimpse into her own life as well, which I was really happy to read. The book is about HER and her experiences and I'm so glad that she included some none magic history in there as well.

If you love history, get this book. If you know Adele, you must get this book. But if you just want to just read a book that will make you smile, then without a doubt get a copy of this wonderful book, The Memoirs of an Elusive Moth!

To order: http://www.squashpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=256&osCsid=d4fac40e497eb5d7bf8baa0a530d8c39