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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: May 4, 2005 9:49am
So yesterday my dad say's:
"Frances, can we watch the DVD of our show?"
I said yes. Popped into the player and watched.
Missing the day's of doing the shows at times,
because it was part of our life full-time for
soo many years.
Still to this day, I never ever get tired of
watching my dad perform the Kuma Tubes.
I have only ever seen one of the magician
do it and it was long drawn out performance.
He sent us a tape for my dad to critque I guess.
Yet it's been said that my dad did the Kuma Tubes
the best ever, even better than Kuma himself.
I think its all about that bowl he used. There's
nothing like it ever.
But then my dad built it.
Anyone else ever seen it done by anyone else?
At the end its all about the bad tasting water!
(for those who catch my drift).
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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Pete Biro
V.I.P.
17759 Posts
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Posted: May 4, 2005 9:37pm
Other than seeing "Chinese Louie" do the Kuma tubes... I have seen that old, sadly deceased, ex-Chicago magician... JOHNNY PLATT... do the effect.
STAY TOONED... @ www.petebiro.com
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corpmagi
Elite user
New York
497 Posts
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Posted: May 5, 2005 9:58am
I recently saw Scott Alexander do the Kuma Tubes in his show at Fitzgerald's in Las Vegas. I hadn't seen it before.
A Modern Trade Show Handbook
www.trafficstoppers.com/handbook
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: May 5, 2005 10:31pm
Yeap Johnny Platt did them too.
Never saw him do it.
Heard it wasn't very good.
Never heard of Scott Alexander off hand.
No one does them like my dad tho.
r
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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Paul G
New user
76 Posts
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Posted: May 25, 2005 2:15pm
Why are Kuma tubes so hard to find? I can only find Owen's tubes, and they're very expensive.
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: May 25, 2005 5:05pm
I don't have an answer for that.
my dad made his own.
if you ever seen them,
his vase or bowl that
he used was something he
found and made it into it.
he made his own tubes and such.
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6550 Posts
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Posted: May 25, 2005 10:23pm
I am currently making silks for a Kuma Tube production for Jody Baron who will be putting it into a new act for his show in Hawaii. I did refer him to your Dad as the master of the tubes.
He got more out those tubes without the added table than anyone I ever saw.
Silks, bowls, Chickens...gosh what load.
I am going to bug you someday to see a tape of it all again so I can relieve the wonderful De Yip Loo. I only saw him once at Magi Fest but I was impressed.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com
email-hugmagic@raex.com
Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's.
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: May 25, 2005 11:23pm
Next time the collectors are in Chicago, I'll bring my laptop and the DVD.
I remember Jody Baron, but I can't remember him specifically. He won a competition I believe.
Posted: Sep 26, 2005 1:56pm
I was wondering...you know that long silk my dad uses in his Kuma's. You ever wondered how many feet that is?
It's looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong!
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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JL608
Regular user
188 Posts
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Posted: Oct 3, 2005 11:19am
Paul Daniels did an entertaining version as well.
Someone asked why they're hard to find and so expensive? I have a set of Thayer tubes in my collection (which were fairly expensive). But I've also found a much less expensive set made by Harry Stanley. And don't forget the smaller version made by Grant/MAK and sold as "The Nu Way Kuma Tubes", which show up from time to time.
Joe
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Oct 3, 2005 1:11pm
Quote:
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On 2005-10-03 11:20, JL608 wrote:
Paul Daniels did an entertaining version as well.
Someone asked why they're hard to find and so expensive? I have a set of Thayer tubes in my collection (which were fairly expensive). But I've also found a much less expensive set made by Harry Stanley. And don't forget the smaller version made by Grant/MAK and sold as "The Nu Way Kuma Tubes", which show up from time to time.
Joe
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I don't know who makes them these days, nor back then.
My dad made his own. I know people often ask what we
will do with them, espcially that vase which has a particularly
interesting story...and well we have it on display.
People are willing to buy it, because of the vase.
But nope, not for sale.
I don't know what other kuma's look like.
I'd like to see it. But I'm afraid I'd be dissapointed
as everyone who ever seen my dad do them, always
say he's done them the best...
then its true about all the things he's done.
And the rest is history as they say!
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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SantaClaus
New user
North Pole
28 Posts
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Posted: Oct 14, 2005 10:45am
Kuma Tubes are among the easier magic props to make; I'd have trouble justifying to my wife a purchase of an expensive set! Besides, as Marshall suggests, the final production (vase, bowl, whatever) is often a highlight on its own, and I feel it's best to custom make the tubes based on the size of the final production.
The production I use was sold to me as a "ginger jar" ... but it is not. (It would hold more ginger than anyone would care to keep in their home ... or even restaurant!) It is in fact some sort of Chinese wedding jar -- it has the "double happiness" symbol on it, which, my wife tells me (she is Chinese) is for weddings. As it turns out, there is a gentleman performing the Kuma Tubes on the new Penn and Teller DVD (Magic and Mystery Tour) and he uses a similar, though slightly larger, jar. I had a chuckle about that ... I thought the jar was perfect for Kuma Tubes, but I had no idea other people used it for that purpose, too!
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Jul 6, 2006 7:09pm
With someone's request...
I posted a clip of Dad doing
the Kuma Tubes back in the late
1960's on BOZO circus.
You'll see his unique vase he used.
And why people still recall that he
did it the best. Better than Kuma himself.
For all of you who know us personally will
enjoy a flashback to the past...
Enjoy!
LINK: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&n=2&videoID=905547473
ps if you have a myspace account...please
feel free to comment there or here.
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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Pete Biro
V.I.P.
17759 Posts
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Posted: Jul 6, 2006 7:18pm
Many thanks, great to see him looking so good... that's what my memory of him is and will always be.
I still have one of his fabulous BANG guns.... xoxoxo
STAY TOONED... @ www.petebiro.com
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ClintonMagus
Inner circle
Southwestern Southeast
3784 Posts
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Posted: Jul 7, 2006 7:32am
Thank you for posting that clip. I wish I could have seen your dad in his heyday.
Amos McCormick
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Jul 7, 2006 10:50am
I'm glad I was able to finally get it up there
despite the long wait. Thanks for you patience.
I'll get some more clips up soon.
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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Lee Darrow
V.I.P.
Chicago, IL USA
3594 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2006 4:18am
A simply wonderful presentation of that effect! It takes me back a LOT of years, to a show at the First Chicago auditorium, watching your Dad and family perform there as part of a magic night with Don Alan as MC.
I will never forget his handling of the knots off the scarves. It was beautiful. And watching him work is a real lesson in sight line management, too. So many younger magicians get in their own way, it seems, these days.... and block the audience's view of what they are doing - or work so fast that one can't tell what is going on.
Your Dad's pacing was always just right. Fats enough to keep things moving right along, but deliberate enough to allow people to understand what was happening.
Thank you so much for sharing that footage!
Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
"Because NICE Matters!"
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2006 10:38am
That was a really wonderful reply you wrote Lee.
I've heard that before about my dad and his
delivery and how everything just flows.
When Marshall & Tom were over a couple of weeks
back, we were watching the DVD. And Tom was blown away.
He mentioned the same thing.
The Cord of Fantasia (aka Dante's Lazy Magician) effect
is just fun to watch. I'll upload that someday.
I think you are right about watching him work, he's
got a flare about himself, and you do learn about pacing.
But then he had wonderful friends like Jay & Jack to help him.
I'll post more up and let you all know in the Video thread
I started here.
ps I think the Chicken Vanish would be a fun one or the entire
production with the appearance,vanish & reappearnce...
Any suggestions would be definitely taken into consideration!
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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61magic
Special user
588 Posts
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Posted: Sep 14, 2011 12:47pm
I'm not in the habit of resurrecting old posts but this one deserves more views.
The Kuma Tubes is just a fantastic classic effect and the performance by De Yip Loo is a lesson in great magic.
There just isn't enough attention paid to this effect so it is nice to see a performance of it.
Scott Alexander had a video posted of it at one time but that seems to not be available anymore, I did have the pleasure of seeing Jody Baron perform the effect in Maui on my last trip, he also is a master of the tubes.
Marshall kudos to you for posting such a valuable recording of historical magic and a great performance. More magicians need to watch this carefully and learn something from the perfect timing...
Magia Giuseppe
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
23786 Posts
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Posted: Sep 15, 2011 10:29am
I saw Looie do the Kuma Tubes at a TAOM convention (Austin?) back in the 1970's. There were several secrets to what he did. The most important one was revealed by Frances Marshall in one of her books (can't remember the title). It has to do with the way he handled the tubes. The handling was ALWAYS CONSISTENT.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC
My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups."
www.cupsandballsmuseum.com
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Sep 15, 2011 10:26pm
61magic... thank you.
I knew Jody did the kuma tubes, but I can't remember if I've seen them.
Bill, I love your stories from the TAOM.
I need your stories in my book!
I still hear that dad did the kuma tubes better than kuma himself.
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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JNeal
Special user
784 Posts
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Posted: Sep 16, 2011 12:32am
Johnny Platt's routine was structurally almost identical to De Yip Loo's ...but lacked the pacing that makes the routine 'sing'.
Johnny's set of tubes were only about 2/3rds the size as well...of course, Johnny was ALSO about 2/3rds the size...clocking in at about 5 feet tall!
Johnny had always planned on doing a larger version , because he had the vase 'gimmicked' and waiting...but never got around to making the tubes.
He eventually gave the brass vase to me and I made up the tubes later.
Johnny had an interesting way of starting with his special table and the handling is outlined in one of Dr. Albo's books.
And on the subject of Kuma himself, Kuma had a fantastic ending wherein two lines with clips came down from the flies and he would attach them to a large silk that was then drawn out rather quickly and instantly created a backdrop like cloth. Which temporarily obscured him. While briefly out of sight, he would immediately change from his Asian garb...into a white Panama suit and hat for a bow! Pretty spectacular!
Regards-
JNeal
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6550 Posts
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Posted: Sep 16, 2011 7:52am
I think Mac Birch used a similar clip line to raise a backdrop at the end of his silk routine.
Richard
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com
email-hugmagic@raex.com
Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's.
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
|
Posted: Sep 16, 2011 12:01pm
I've never seen johnny's routine
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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JNeal
Special user
784 Posts
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Posted: Sep 17, 2011 12:55pm
[quote]
On 2011-09-16 07:52, hugmagic wrote:
I think Mac Birch used a similar clip line to raise a backdrop at the end of his silk routine.
I always wish I had seen Mac BIrch. Read a lot about him tho'...
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Harry Murphy
Staff
Maryland
4853 Posts
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Posted: Sep 22, 2011 9:27pm
Thanks for bring this thread back up. I love watching it. I'll never tire of watching one of the true greats work his magic!
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6550 Posts
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Posted: Sep 23, 2011 7:40am
I only met Mac once and saw a brief movie clip of him performing on movie for Wally Dean who bought the show. It was enlightening.
Lee Jacobs was going to do a book on Mac but it never came to be. It really should be done by someone.
One of the beauty of Louie's tubes is the seemingly haphazard manner he handles the tubes. It is so casual. And then suddenly the tubes begin to act up but then he whips them back into shape. A great lesson from a pro on how to present a magic effect to be entertaining.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com
email-hugmagic@raex.com
Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's.
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Dennis Loomis
1943 - 2013
2115 Posts
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Posted: Jan 25, 2012 1:20pm
You can see Johnny Platt doing the tubes on an episode of Don Alan's Magic Ranch. He vanishes the vase at the end of his routine, as does Loo. But Platt just doesn't have the energy that Loo did. Loo's music is vibrant and up-tempo which helps to sustain and point up the high energy with which he works. Thanks for posting the clip. I'd love to see him do the "Lazy Magician."
Dennis Loomis
Itinerant Montebank
http://www.loomismagic.com
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
|
Posted: Jan 25, 2012 9:03pm
I have my dad doing the 'Lazy Magician' when he was Bozo.
Except he did sit down like Dante did.
Since Dante was a mentor/father like figure, he was
his inspiration, along with the Egg Bag.
I might have seen Johnny doing the Kuma's as I do have
the complete set from Don Alan's Magic Ranch but it's
vague. I'll have to check it out someday when I dust
off the VHS player.
My dad help Okito remember how the working of the Kuma's
were for when he writing his book.
As far as the bowl, that's an interesting story.
Several people have asked if it's for sale.
It's the highlight of the entire routine.
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista
7th greatest pianist in the world
Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador
www.mai-ling.net
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Scotty Walsh
New user
70 Posts
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Posted: Aug 25, 2012 7:06am
Thank you for sharing this footage. My family and I watched it together. WONDERFUL!
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