30 mins with slydini

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30 mins with slydini

Postby daleshrimpton » Apr 1st, '09, 22:58

you're like Yoda.you dont say much, but what you do say is worth listening to....
Greg Wilson about.... Me.
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Postby dat8962 » Apr 1st, '09, 23:35

If you like Slydini then Cosmo Magic, the makers of Reel Magic Bi-Monthly produced a Slydini DVD a couple of years ago that I reviewed somewhere, and it's well worth taking a look at this title.

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Postby greedoniz » Apr 2nd, '09, 13:55

Just utterly brilliant.

He makes it all seem effortless

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Postby Craig Browning » Apr 2nd, '09, 17:41

The man is one of the greats I dread having never met. He was one of the most inspirational "artists" I've ever watched work.

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Postby Ian The Magic-Ian » Apr 2nd, '09, 22:21

greedoniz wrote:Just utterly brilliant.

He makes it all seem effortless


Of course it seems effortless Slydini's magic is real.

Barton: Have you read the Bible, Pete?
Pete: Holy Bible?
Barton: Yeah.
Pete: Yeah, I think so. Anyway, I've heard about it.
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Postby mark lewis » Apr 2nd, '09, 22:54

Very nice to see. Of course he was a very old man in that TV show and somewhat past his prime. His technique was as good as ever but alas his patter and showmanship seemed to have gone down the drain. I remember seeing him when he was much younger and he never mumbled like that.

When I first saw Slydini on British television I didn't know it was Slydini. It was only when the credits rolled that I found out that it was the legend I had heard about. I remember thinking at the time that he wasn't bad but I found it a little hard to follow the effect. I have never had good concentration watching magic. If I blink I miss half the trick.

I saw Slydini work a few times after that on the Max Jaffa show (black and white TV) and I thought he was pretty good, However the best I ever saw him was on a show where he appeared with Dai Vernon and Cy Endfield. I am not sure but I think Harry Stanley had something to do with producing the show. I swear that I must be the only person that ever saw it since I have never seen it mentioned anywhere and no other magician has ever told me that they saw it. It was around 47 years ago. The show was about half an hour in length. It is a pity that it could not be dug up again for historical purposes. It might still be in the BBC archives somewhere for all I know.

I remember that Slydini did the coin roll of all things. The best thing he did was the silks. He demonstrated it on the host who I think was Peter Haigh and when he finished he said, "is it good?" Before Haigh could answer Slydini said, "Don't tell me-I know it's good!"

Slydini was probably the best performer of the three on that programme. Vernon was pretty good and only a little behind Slydini. However Cy Endfield was pretty boring although as a young magician I was fascinated at his card technique.

Seeing Slydini on that Cavett show is better than nothing. However it really doesn't compare to watching him in his prime. Incidentally I never liked the description of that cigarette production in his book and I didn't like watching him do it on Cavett. Although the technique was perfect the phrase "conjuring for conjurers" jumped out at me. All that handwashing and fancy hand movements is all very pretty but it doesn't do anything for me. It is just a lot of fuss over two cigarettes doing not very impressive things.

I have studied Slydini's work and use quite a bit of his material. It really has to be adapted very strongly to your own style though.

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Postby daleshrimpton » Apr 3rd, '09, 08:17

I thought the same as you about the cigarette opener mark.However, i wonder if there is method in his madness.
once he finishes with the magicians stuff, he then does that incredibly clean restoration effect.
the contrast between the two styles, makes the restore even more effective.
Id hate to be the one that cleans up after him though. :lol:

you're like Yoda.you dont say much, but what you do say is worth listening to....
Greg Wilson about.... Me.
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Postby mark lewis » Apr 3rd, '09, 15:16

The other routine he is famous for is also done to music. The Paper Balls under the Hat. I never liked that either.

But then Ken Brooke amused me by telling me that Slydini didn't like it either! Ken said that the only reason he put it in the book was that it was a wonderful way of teaching his techniques and his misdirection!

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Postby daleshrimpton » Apr 3rd, '09, 15:30

ive seen more ham fisted amateurs atempt the balls in the hat than i care to mention.
they all do the huge, sweeping anglular movements that slydini did, not realising that those movements suited him, and that they should find natural movements that suit them.

though i have never seen it, from the books, i think his sponge ball routine is one of his nicer pieces.

you're like Yoda.you dont say much, but what you do say is worth listening to....
Greg Wilson about.... Me.
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Postby mark lewis » Apr 3rd, '09, 18:57

I use his sponge ball routine, more or less although I have added to it. It works very well. And if there is no table I can do it without lapping. I always use it at trade shows. Very practical and very good. I don't like the several small balls as a finale though. I find them a nuisance so instead I just use a giant grapefuit size spongeball.

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Postby daleshrimpton » Apr 3rd, '09, 19:39

i use ball to cube. :lol:

you're like Yoda.you dont say much, but what you do say is worth listening to....
Greg Wilson about.... Me.
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