And apart from the beautiful 8 TV Specials, there is the opening of Merlin The musical on the Tony Awards 1983 and of course The other Broadway Musical, The Magic Show,; obtainable on a dvd: distributed by Image Entertainment..Corinth Films No. ID0697/CODVD.
It lasts 105 minutes.
I have also got the LP of the The Magic Show.
Have 7 of the 8 Specials on video but alas, the first one with the Water Torture Cell was on TV just before we purchased a recorder. Never repeated.
*****But in 2011 an American magician sent me his First Special. Hurray!
Such a pity that Merlin was never videoed. Alas, it was at a time when family audiences were avoiding Broadway & not even the the legendary Chita Riveria could save the show.
I did find a copy of the Song Album (published in America) but the local library wouldn't sell it to me. Don't tell anyone but I did photo copy it!
Paul Daniels once used the opening, .Think About Magic' on one of his TV Specials.
Craig. How great to have met him. The late David Price (the owner of the American Egyptian Hall Museum) wrote to me, when he sent me the Dante 'Trunk press book' saying what a great lad he was but 'would never be accepted as a Great Master Illusionist, because of his 'squeaky voice' and boyish personality.'!!
There is also the Twin Sawing on one of the awards shows assisted by Maureen Stapleton & Ricky Schroeder and a TV Programme made in Germany;
I think as it has German dialogue superimposed on it on my copy.
*******NOTE: In March 2012 there are sets of his Specials and other work offered on E Bay. 3 DVDS.
Allen Tipton
Began magic at 9 in 1942. Joined Staffs M.S at 13. Nottm.Guild of M. (8 times President. Prog Director 20years)IBM. Awarded Magician of Month 1980 By Intern. Pres. IBM for reproducing Dante's Sim Sala Bim. Writes Dear Magician column for Abra. Mag.