Seven Doug Hennings World of Magic TV specials aired throughout the late 70s and early 80s, helping to make Henning a household name. I definitely owe a big chunk of my career to Jim, he says. On December 6, Doug and Debby were married at the University. With a curly mane of hair and a near-constant grin, Mr. Henning was one of the most famous illusionists in the world during the 1970's and early 80's, appearing in three Broadway shows and a dozen television specials. 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. The illusion has been around for more than a century, and Steinmeyer has mentioned its timelessness and layers of innovation. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. DOUG Henning the hippie magician who wowed the world with his amazing illusions on TV and on Broadway has died at the age of 52. So when I abandon something because its not working, I can go back and find it. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? Will Virtual Reality Ever Live Up to the Hype? He also dabbled in politics. Debby Henning was the wife, assistant, business partner and muse to illusionist Doug Henning. WebDoug Henning. The diminutive Doug Henning soon landed at Hollywoods Magic Castle, grant in pocket, for a three-month cram course. He was the face of magic, McNally says. When the safe is opened, the list matches up, item for item. Theyve just saw the world together again and seem comfortable in their relationship. This was after a show they did at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, Texas, outside the stage door. Canadas investment in the arts paid off. Sign up for reopening news, announcements, and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows! If it didnt, it wouldnt be a trick, it would be reality.. November 12, 1986, pages 6-7. In the 80s Henning also created illusions for others, including Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire and the Toronto rock band Lighthouse. "I had never felt anything like it in my life. When he watches performances, he tunes in not just to the magic but the way people respond to it. All of us wish them nothing but happiness and the joy that comes from a loving partnership. ''When I was in college, being a magician was not the classiest thing to be,'' he said. ", They were engaged within a week. I remember thinking that was a really good idea, but I had no use for it at the time, Steinmeyer says. He is survived by his wife of nearly 20 years, Debby. Solid metal, right?before doing another. Here is a miniature version of the cabinet used in the Disappearing Donkey illusion, a once-lost trick that Steinmeyerafter years of reconstruction via dusty tomes and informed intuitionunveiled to a roomful of confounded performers (Magicians are actually pretty easy to fool, he says). All Theres the script where you ostensibly say whats happening, which is often a lie. 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. I couldn't help myself. People Magazine Interview: Part Three Every magician thats out there working today owes Doug Henning a great debt.. WebHenning discovered TM while working on the Spellbound show in Toronto. Doug Henning His answer, at first, is that he doesnt really like the question. '', 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.''. They don't teach you anything.". A native of Fort Garry, Manitoba, he moved to the United States and became an international star. 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. Spellbound: The Wonder-Filled Life of Doug Henning 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. The energy ramps up once the doors open, the dressed-up crowd rolls in, and the performances start. Built in 1909, the building is a shambling maze, a classic chateau-themed manor with narrow passages, branching wings, antique banisters and Tiffany stained glass windows. His long-suffering wife is always willing to do everything he asks of her. Was nominated for Broadway's 1975 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "The Magic Show.". Its a great commercial in the sense that its most likely one of a few he used as he moved from town to town. Doug Henning Coincidentally, Id seen that exact trick at the Magic Castle the night before. Over in the larger Parlor of Prestidigitation, Bill Abbott presents a mashup of puppetry and magic featuring a lustful monkey. Moments later, a telegram arrives for Morritt. However, this married later ended in divorce. There are two walls of reference materials: books about magic, of course, but also books about furniture, graphic design, screenplays, and antique apparatus. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Henning exploded onto the magic scene in the 70s, bringing a modern touch to classic magic routines. 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). Debby became Doug's assistant, appearing as a singer and dancer, as well as designing all of the costumes, for Merlin and on tour. rights reserved. He was a writer and actor, known for The Magic Show (1983), If I produce a 450-pound Bengal tiger, its going to create a lot more wonder than if I produce a rabbit.. Henning liked the way it spun off a trick called The Zig Zag Girl, in which the performer divides an assistant into thirds. Everyone idolized him, and the age of modern television and stage magic began then. Among the judges are Olivier winner Amber Riley and Frozen star Samantha Barks. He posed for photographs, signed autographs and then disappeared once again. Thats why we press for answers. Cause of death: cancer. 1981) Wife: Debby Douillard (m. Dec-1981) University: BS Psychology, McMaster University (1970) Transcendental Meditation Risk Factors: May 1, 2023, By When their mother was diagnosed with cancer, he spent several months caring for her in Toronto. ), 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? ''He was a kind of Peter Pan,'' Mr. Willmarth told The Associated Press, ''who led magic away from the tuxedo approach.''. 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. 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. He was a writer and actor, known for The Magic Show (1983), World of Magic (1977) and WebThe magician Doug Henning died at the age of 52. Only when Steinmeyer finishes speaking do I realize weve barely moved from my starting point. While attending elementary school in suburban Chicago, he went home every day for lunch, flipped on the TV, and watched Bozos Circus, a variety show sometimes featuring touring magicians. So as one of historys greatest conjurers of magic continues to explain and not explain the safe trick, I find myself wondering: If anyone can dig up the secrets behind many of Steinmeyers tricks, why is he so intent on hiding them? It earned monster ratings, and NBC made the Emmy-winning special an annual event. People always say afterwards, I had no idea the performances were going to be so strong.. 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" Thanks for contacting us. Shut out of basketball by his size, Henning revived his interest in magic. Magician Doug Henning Dies of Liver Cancer at 52 In college, he started pitching tricks to Doug Henning, arguably the worlds most famous illusionist during the 1970s. Ive spent my time learning new card tricks and entertaining all the kids in the mountains. Doug Henning's net worth December 20, 1982, pages 70-72. So we went somewhere and talked a long, long time, and I remember having this powerful feeling of recognition. Steinmeyer holds that feeling himself. To order copies of So, how much is Doug Henning worth at the age of 53 years old? Thats what this has become, he says, lifting Albert into his lap. He was 52 years old when he died. Whats striking, besides the polished performances, is the feeling in the building. Type any trick into a search bar and you can view explainers and deconstructions of its mysteries in secondsendless variations on invisible wires, trap doors, and rigged boxes. (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. Steinmeyer and I eventually wile away almost an hour analyzing the early-1900s illusion with the thief and the safe. Ramon had never performed original tricks before, but in Steinmeyers studio he understood for the first time how they were birthed. Rebecca Taylor Henning / AP. TV magician and escape artist who brought Merlin to Broadway and became known for his groovy mustache and rainbow-colored clothes. Its a mind-reading trick, but instead of the magician playing the part of the clairvoyant, its the third-party burglar. We have estimated We've received your submission. Today, running his own business requires an astonishingly disparate set of skills. Mr. Henning was one of the supporters of a $1 billion theme park, Veda Land, proposed for the Niagara Falls area. Biography - A Short Wiki. May 2, 2023, By Magic renews that wonder.. Henning eventually bought a piece called Modern Art, an illusion in which the magician stands inside a frame and, when the frame is moves, is subsequently split in halftheir legs stay in place while their torso and head slide with the frame. Andrew Gans Republication or distribution of this content is People Weekly. 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. Doug Henning It was an overwhelming experience. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. They become cynical and jaded, especially in modern-day society. Henning died Monday in Los Angeles, his business office in Toronto said. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Debby Henning - Magicpedia - Genii Of course, Im still hoping hell decide to lift the lid on his more guarded secrets, and Im alive to the fact that Im sitting in the room where much of his classified material is hiding in plain sight. Well, thosehe points to a stack of notebooksare all that. The secret of magic is not knowledge, its feeling. Henning was approached by Broadway producers Edgar Lansbury and Joseph Beruh about bringing a version of the show to New York. 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? is 5'5"(1.67m) . Steinmeyer began as an audience member. His job is to think of something completely impossible, then figure out a way to apparently accomplish itand that process can be messy. Debby met Doug Henning at a charity benefit at the Transcendental Meditation Center at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. By He was 52. As is customary for first-time guests, Im given the password that, when spoken aloud, opens the hidden door into the castle. WebHe was living with his second wife, Debby Douillard, and he had no children. If a magician cant conceal this secret, the trick is worthless.