talkmagic.co.uk

While viewing the David Blaine parody for the millionth time, had these classic videos run through my mind:

Not really magic, but bloody funny nonetheless:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtbWMDRxLLY&mode=related&search=

and The Great Flydini:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJCtOz32dnw

Believe it or not, after viewing the second video, I honestly had no clue of how he achieved the "effect" ...The future isn't bright for this young one.

Apologies if these have already been posted, the search function returned upwards of 800 results.[/url]

ok.

He was into magic. Quite a few actors were at one time or another into magic.

My old mentor, has pictures with a few old celebrities that were into magic. I believe one of them was Carry Grant. But I havent been by his house lately. I plan going next week.

David The Cryptic wrote:He was into magic. Quite a few actors were at one time or another into magic.

My old mentor, has pictures with a few old celebrities that were into magic. I believe one of them was Carry Grant. But I havent been by his house lately. I plan going next week.

I remember reading a post somewhere here at TM but he used the comedic side of magic. Its funny then you end it with laugh and gasps

its really funny, almost every movie hes in he does a magic trick, in a movie with a family reunion he scares the kids away by pulling his finger off

In his autobiography, Cary Grant wrote:At one performance while I held that splendid job I decided to wander out to the front of the theater and "assist" the man who worked the large center arc in the balcony, known as the dress circle. And, well, come to think of it, I might as well see the show at the same time.

The star attraction that week was a famed magician, The Great David Devant, the originator of many spectacular illusions which are still used by magicians today. I sat spellbound alongside the limelight man until he tapped my arm and indicated for me to hold his lamp steady a moment while he lighted a cigarette. I later learned that during certain magic tricks the balcony spotlight was supposed, according to strict instructions, to stay unwaveringly directed onto a center point of the stage; but the man didn't tell me, and I was so raptly watching to learn how the illusion was done that I unconsciously allowed the beam of light to drop downward slowly and -- holy cow -- suddenly there was a blinding flash of light reflected from under a table, where two mirrors were fixed that otherwise would have remained undetected by the audience.

The trick was ruined. Mr. Devant shot an exasperated look toward the source of the light, the operator yanked it out of my hand and, with some choice swear words ringing in my ears, I stammered an apology and slunk off appalled at my blunder."

Grant was also a board member of the Magic Castle many years ago and pictures can be found in old Genii issues of Grant giving out awards.

Steve Martin was/is a magician and his "Flydini" routine is classic. Any layman will have no idea of what "Flydini" refers to (other than the fact that the whole act is out of his fly), but magicians immediately understand the reference - rather an inside joke for us!

Quite a few actors have magic backgrounds and sometime last year Jason Alexander (George Castanza of "Seinfeld" fame) made his debut with a very entertaining mentalism presentation at the Magic Castle. From everything that I've heard, he did an excellent job of it. Of course, Mr. Alexander has had a life long love of magic, so it wasn't just something that he did to fill time between Hollywood gigs. Unfortunately for us, Alexander is an actor first and foremost, so we won't be seeing any lecture tours from him - he is talented and has formal theater training, which is a true loss for us since we could learn a great deal from the man.

And, of course, Johnny Carson was a magician too. He helped us to remain in the lime light during his time on "The Tonight Show" all through his tenure with that show. Carson also allowed Lance Burton to over-run the time alotment that everyone is given, because he was that impressed with Burton's dove act - something that Carson never before allowed, nor allowed at any time after. That's a pretty big thing.

So, it isn't rare in acting department for the folks who are now famous to have dabbled with magic at some point in their carreer. It is, after all, entertainment, eh?

Mike.

i cant stop crying that great flydini was hillarious. The phone, and cotton balls, and the little opera singer. priceless

TheAge wrote:Not really magic, but bloody funny nonetheless:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtbWMDRxLLY&mode=related&search=

Ah, Steve Martin with brown hair, truly a rare sight.

Return. Return! Return, you fool! Dear God, it's headed for the John!

I thought that was hilarious! And plus, it was real "magic".

^^

Yeah I know, I was meant to write that for the great Flydini. But then again, this could spark a debate on what is and what isn't 'magic.;

And rickyt, my intial reactions were exactly the same