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peteyboston
New user
17 Posts
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Posted: Sep 30, 2005 7:52pm
I'm looking for information on "Think a Drink". I believe is was developed in the early 1920s. Can anyone help. I would like to know Who, Where and When.
Thank You in advance for any help.
peteyboston
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6548 Posts
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Posted: Sep 30, 2005 8:33pm
The act "Think a Drink" was performed by Charles Hoffman. I believe there is a tape of a short excerpt of his performance on one of the "You Asked for it " television shows.
I believe the time frame for this act was the 1940-50's during the nightclub era. I am away from my library right now.
Mystic Craig (William Vagel) also did this act in the 1920's. It was called the "magic bar" or "any drink called for" I think David Devant also did this with a tea kettle.
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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Ed Hutchison
Regular user
Madison, MS (orig. CNY)
121 Posts
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Posted: Sep 30, 2005 9:19pm
I was just a kid in the early 1950's, but about that time I can recall seeing someone--perhaps Hoffman--doing the famous "Think-A-Drink" routine.
There was a brief revival of vaudeville in those days and a theater in my home area of Syracuse offered this magic act along with other variety acts. The other acts that I recall featured Buddy Ebsen--later to become Jed Clampett--doing a dance routine, and the Three Stooges--or maybe a knock-off act--doing a skit in which they played inept carpenters trying to build something.
Funny what one remembers--and what one forgets--over a half-century.
Edward Hutchison
Madison, MS
Home Page: http://www.ERHutchison.com
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peteyboston
New user
17 Posts
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Posted: Oct 1, 2005 12:34am
Richard,
Thank You. Any suggestions on locating subject in books?
peteyboston
Posted: Oct 1, 2005 12:36am
Ed,
Thamks, I follow up on Hoffman.
peteyboston
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David Charvet
Elite user
www.charvetmagic.com
461 Posts
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Posted: Oct 7, 2005 8:13am
I believe the late Al Sharpe ended up with Hoffman's bar and props used in the act. The act entailed a LOT of preparation. Hoffman had several imitators (Val Voltaine, for one) and sued one in the 40's over the billing "Think A Drink." Hoffman won and ran big ads in Variety and also Sphinx. He billed himself as "The highest paid bartender in the world."
Milt Larsen told me once that Hoffman was on an SAM show at the Wilshire Ebell theater in L.A. (1950's.) Everyone took a break to go to lunch before the show. Before Hoffman left the theater, he sealed the edges of his dressing room door with strips of wide, gummed paper tape. He wanted to know if anyone tried to get into the room while he was gone to see how the act was done.
Then there's the story (apocrypal, I'm sure) of the person casually standing arond backstage once before Hoffman's act and polishing the glasses on the bar to get the "spots" off of them! Little did they know, the "spots" were the secret.
I've heard Hoffman was very temperamental and rarely hung-out with magicians. I think he got tired of protecting his act all of the time.
Today, there are simpler ways to do the bar act. Alan Wakeling's method (in his book) and Jim Steinmeyer's "Hospitality" (which we build) are both a lot easier. I remember Magic Hands in Germany sold a bar act, with essences, in the early 80's.
Still, I would have loved to have seen Hoffman's act. I understand it moved fast - lots of beautiful girls handing out the drinks to the audience, and Hoffman's big finish with the production of a giant glass of "Bromo Seltzer" and then tossing the glass - and contents - through the air to an assistant - for his final bow. Must have been a showstopper!
Ah, those were the days!
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peteyboston
New user
17 Posts
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Posted: Oct 7, 2005 4:36pm
David,
Sounds like Hoffman is/was quite a guy. Thank You for the information.
I'm going ot read up on Hoffman, any suggestions which books.
Thanks,
peteyboston
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David Charvet
Elite user
www.charvetmagic.com
461 Posts
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Posted: Oct 8, 2005 9:03pm
I believe Hoffman died in the 1970's. He was born in 1896 in Providence, Rhode Island. There is a little bit about him in David Price's book, "Magic." A few articles in Sphinx and Genii. Not much else, sad to say.
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peteyboston
New user
17 Posts
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Posted: Oct 8, 2005 10:14pm
Thanks,David
It seems such a interesting person would have a great deal more written about him.
I'll check out your suggestions.
Again Thanks.
peteyboston
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6548 Posts
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Posted: Oct 9, 2005 1:02pm
Great post David. I love these kind of stories.
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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DonDriver
Inner circle
1642 Posts
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Posted: Oct 10, 2005 6:13pm
I have footage of Hoffman doing his "Think a Drink" on You asked for it with Art Baker as host. It's one of my favorite TV magic footage.
Later, Don
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peteyboston
New user
17 Posts
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Posted: Oct 11, 2005 3:04am
Don,
Your a lucky man. It would seem you have some very rare footage. It must have been tapped in the 50's or very early 60's. You look to young to have tapped it yourself, how did you find it?
peteyboston
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DonDriver
Inner circle
1642 Posts
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Posted: Oct 11, 2005 9:29am
Peteyboston,
Hmmm don't remember I've had it so long. Thanks for "you look too young to have taped it yourself" I didn't tape it myself but I'm surely old enough to have.
I sent you a PM that you haven't read yet.
Later, Don
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6548 Posts
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Posted: Oct 11, 2005 10:51am
It might be included on BIll McIlhanney's Mystic Craig tapes.
I have the same clip in my files and I did tape it myself. And I look old enough too.
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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Vandy Grift
Inner circle
Milwaukee
3505 Posts
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Posted: Oct 11, 2005 12:39pm
That really is a mind boggling act. I've also seen the "You asked for it" footage. When I watched it I figured that the drinks weren't real. I didn't believe that they grape-ade really tasted like grape etc. But the guy who gave me the video (You know who you are, Thanks) tells me that the drinks were really what he says they are.
At first it seems easy enough to figure out. The fruit drinks don't seem so hard to do, but then he does milk and coffee. It's excellent.
Hugmagic is correct, I've read that this was a favorite of David Devants which would put it before 1920 for sure. I think I also read somewhere that Dell O' Dell did a version of the trick?
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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Todd Robbins
V.I.P.
New York
2686 Posts
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Posted: Oct 15, 2005 11:10am
The weird Docc Hilford has been making some coin at Florida country clubs with his Dr. Cocktail think-a-drink act. I hear it's great and really fits the whole neo-swing scene.
Quote:
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On 2005-09-30 21:19, Ed Hutchison wrote:
and the Three Stooges--or maybe a knock-off act--doing a skit in which they played inept carpenters trying to build something.
Funny what one remembers--and what one forgets--over a half-century.
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That carpenter act was Willie West and McGinty. There's footage of them doing that act in the Big Broadcast of 1930.
Todd Robbins
www.toddrobbins.com
www.playdeadnyc.com
http://coneyislandtodd.blogspot.com/
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Pete Biro
V.I.P.
17740 Posts
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Posted: Oct 15, 2005 1:03pm
Todd: Nice work on Mindfreak.
STAY TOONED... @ www.petebiro.com
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dan bivaldi
New user
61 Posts
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Posted: Oct 17, 2005 6:19pm
Can anyone supply the footage to the think a drink effect,I have the steinmeyer book but would like to see a performance of somekind.
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Shane Baker
New user
neither here nor there
77 Posts
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Posted: Oct 18, 2005 4:28pm
Of course, Steve Cohen does a nice job with a version of Think-a-Drink in his Chamber Magic show. He uses a tea kettle, for what it's worth.
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Todd Robbins
V.I.P.
New York
2686 Posts
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Posted: Oct 19, 2005 12:04am
Somewhere I have an old Supreme Magic manuscript on the act. I don't know who wrote it, but it had a nice version of the act.
Thanks Pete for the nice words about the Mind Freak stuff. Criss needed some help and I was glad to do it. He took good care of me. We are now talking about season two of the series.
Todd
Todd Robbins
www.toddrobbins.com
www.playdeadnyc.com
http://coneyislandtodd.blogspot.com/
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John Pezzullo
Veteran user
Sydney AUSTRALIA
355 Posts
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Posted: Oct 19, 2005 5:25am
Quote:
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On 2005-10-19 00:04, Todd Robbins wrote:
Somewhere I have an old Supreme Magic manuscript on the act. I don't know who wrote it, but it had a nice version of the act. |
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"The Magic Kettle: Any Drink Called For" by Jeffery Atkins.
Published in 1972.
"One arrow. One life."
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Todd Robbins
V.I.P.
New York
2686 Posts
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Posted: Oct 19, 2005 10:57pm
Quote:
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"The Magic Kettle: Any Drink Called For" by Jeffery Atkins.
Published in 1972.
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That's it.
Todd Robbins
www.toddrobbins.com
www.playdeadnyc.com
http://coneyislandtodd.blogspot.com/
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Stuart Hooper
Special user
Mithrandir
760 Posts
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Posted: Oct 22, 2005 1:29pm
Whats all this about the twenties, and Hoffman? As far as I know, it goes as far back as Robert Houdin!
Come friends, don´t tell me that somewhere in your mind you cannot see a theatre almost shaking with life, as a thousand of the ´rougher´ folks from Manchester (rougher than London or Paris) call out drinks to a rapidly pouring Robert Houdin?
I loved that scene.
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Jonathan Townsend
Eternal Order
Ossining, NY
25244 Posts
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Posted: Oct 22, 2005 3:49pm
Water, water, water, mud, water, water, water, blood for you, water, mud, mud, okay who ordered the clean glass of water?
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
23786 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2006 5:46am
I wish I had seen this post earlier, because I know some inside skivvy on this one. I got it from the horse's mouth. The main source for Hoffmann's act was a fellow who has often been equated with a different portion of the equine anatomy -- Burling Hull.
Although Robert-Houdin had done a similar effect, Burling had seen an opportunity for ongoing employment by taking advantage of a problem unique to the US -- Prohibition. He started importing "essences" from Schenley's in Canada, and these were the big secret of his act. His essences were of a concentration that would allow them to be placed into the bottom of a glass, and they would adhere, even when the glass was inverted. Then you could pour "the special formula," which people made in their bathtubs, into he glass, and it would taste very much like the drink requested.
This act was perfect for the audiences in nightclubs during Prohibition, because he was giving away free booze!!! They loved it!
Then he started selling the essences, along with the recipe as the Any Drink Called For act. One day he got a call from Charles Hoffmann (who Burling noted had changed his name from Karl because of the anti German sentiment after WW I). Charles said, "They never call out any of the drinks I have the essences for."
Burling replied, "Don't tell them to call out a drink. Tell them to think of a drink. Ask them who is thinking of a particular drink. You could call yourself 'Think of a Drink Hoffmann.' No, that doesn't scan well. Call yourself 'Think a Drink Hoffmann." And that's where the name came from.
Burling did two straight drinks, then a gag drink. He kept this up during the whole routine.
I got this information from him on May 1, 1980, as I was driving back home from working at the Florida Renaissance Festival in Largo. I paid him a visit on my way to Pensacola.
Here is a link to some previous material about this meeting.
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/search_post.php?topic=86576&forum=109&post=3831229
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC
My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups."
www.cupsandballsmuseum.com
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peteyboston
New user
17 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2006 7:44am
Bill,
Thank you for the imformation. It would seem the Burling Hull is/was quite a guy.
His inovation fooled a lot of people over the years. I understand people who considered themself experts on booze were fooled along with everyone else. He made "Think a Drink Hoffman" a famous act. I have heard Hoffman mentioned many times however this is the first time anyone has mentioned Burling Hull. Has he written anything about himself or his career?
Again thank you,
peteyboston
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
23786 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2006 1:22pm
The Blind Edison of Magic is his autobiography.
I should add that he wrote a series of pamphlets called The G.. D... Truth About Magic. He took all of the copyists to task. He also took Robert Nelson to task for selling things for fraudulent mediums (so he said.)
I only met him the one time. I had read his columns on showmanship that ran in The Linking Ring, and enjoyed some of his ideas.
He had a heck of a sense of humor. He was cordial with me. I figured that I would drop by his place, with permission, and spend about a half hour. Then I would ask him if he could autograph a playing card for me. I expected a dour, humorless old man. He was old, but neither dour nor humorless. He had a mind like a steel trap. He really understood the magic business, as well as magic, itself. That 30 minutes turned into three hours. He didn't want me to leave, and I didn't want to leave, either. But I had obligations I had to attend to.
He could be vicious, though. One magician crossed him, and Burling got some friends of his in the Mafia to put the guy's eye out. Ironically, a few years later, a waitress in a Roy Rogers Roast Beef shop accidentally hit him in the side of the head with a tray, which detached his retinas, blinding him almost completely.
Karma is a weird thing.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC
My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups."
www.cupsandballsmuseum.com
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Pete Biro
V.I.P.
17740 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2006 6:56pm
Who nicknamed him "Hurling Bull?" Merv Taylor sold a think a drink act with all the essences, which I got but never got around to doing it.
STAY TOONED... @ www.petebiro.com
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
23786 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2006 8:57pm
I think Julian J. Proskauer was one of the first. It might have been Judge Dowd or Robert Nelson. Bev Bergeron would know.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC
My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups."
www.cupsandballsmuseum.com
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noriaki_kakyouin
New user
Colorado Springs
1 Post
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Posted: Sep 15, 2008 12:05pm
I know this topic is old, but I was wondering if anyone who "is in the know" thinks that one effect is better than the other?
I am working on a Mad Hatter Tea Party show and have been pondering over "Hospitality" but was advised that "Think-a-drink" might work too. I know it is cheaper, to be sure, but I do not know if it is "better".
What do you think might be a stronger effect?
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Donal Chayce
Inner circle
The City of Angels
1771 Posts
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Posted: Sep 15, 2008 2:02pm
According to the Levante biography by Kent Blackmore, Levante did his own version of this routine in which he gave away the tea kettle at the conclusion. The method he used was exceedingly bold.
The MacGician ®
***********
The fates lead him who will...him who won't, they drag.
-Seneca
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