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Rainboguy
Inner circle
1069 Posts
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Posted: Dec 19, 2010 1:26pm
Has anyone here seen Dick Oslund recently or know where to contact him?
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6563 Posts
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Posted: Dec 19, 2010 7:23pm
Last I heard he was in Louisana with Joe Harrison.
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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Rick Fisher
Elite user
Rick Fisher
435 Posts
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Posted: Dec 21, 2010 7:49pm
I talked to Dick about 6 months ago just before Jerry Conklin passed away. He usually comes to Colon in the spring for about a month. He was doing okay last time I saw him.
Rick Fisher, President FAB Magic
"One of the largest magic shops in the world!"
www.fabmagic.com
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Rainboguy
Inner circle
1069 Posts
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Posted: Dec 21, 2010 8:25pm
Thanks, Richard and Rick.
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Dec 23, 2010 8:10pm
Now that is a name I haven't heard in years.
he used to live in oshkosh long long long long ago.
I remember we visited him and ate at banaza or ponderosa.
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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Gerry Walkowski
Special user
816 Posts
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Posted: Dec 24, 2010 2:32pm
Dick Oslund is such a nice guy. Years ago I heard him lecture at Abbott's.
He is a terrific kid show entertainer and yet, many of the newer kid show "professionals" have no clue who he is, which is quite sad.
Gerry
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Rainboguy
Inner circle
1069 Posts
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Posted: Dec 27, 2010 5:21pm
Dick is a good friend and I used to have him over at the house for dinner often when he was in town (Green Bay).
At one time, Dick Oslund was the pre-eminent school assembly show performer in the United States, working an average of 15 to 30 school assembly shows a week, week after week, throughout the school year. He did this for many, many years, and his practical advice to me REALLY helped me with not only a wealth of practical tips and ideas for performing, but, even more importantly, the business end of magic.
Dick knows how to make a nice living as a magician, and his business advice to me has been, quite literally, invaluable.
I just wish he's doing well and in good health. I haven't seen him for probably 7 or 8 years and I miss the guy.
Since he hasn't been around much, I've been lucky to replenish my "old-time tips and ideas for a working magician" well with great advice from my friend Marshall Brodien...Marshall's another "Class Act", and a living legend, in my opinion!
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Dec 27, 2010 10:49pm
I remember the night dick did the milk bottle and pretty much
did the exact same routine he got from my dad...
I felt extremely uncomfortable.
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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omk
Regular user
Florida's Space Coast
108 Posts
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Posted: Jan 31, 2011 8:40am
Like Rainboguy Dick is also a good friend. When we lived in Roanoke, Virginia back in the middle 70's Dick was doing school assemblies in our general area. He'd stay with us a week or two doing local area shows then be gone for a couple of weeks. Then all of a sudden he'd reappear at our door and stay for another week or two. At the time I did mostly kid shows and seeing Dick's performances and the tips that he gave me were priceless.
We received our annual Christmas card from Dick last December. He said he was doing school shows in Louisiana. We did see him a couple of years ago when he was doing a lecture down here in Florida. I don't believe he will ever retire!
As far as contacting him - PM me and I will give you his mailing address.
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The Curator of the Unusual
Inner circle
Tampa FL
1394 Posts
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Posted: Feb 4, 2011 3:12pm
I remember meeting Dick when he fronted Franzen Bros Circus in the Late '70's early '80's...I hope he is in good health and spirits...
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel
contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com
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foolsnobody
Special user
Buffalo, NY
587 Posts
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Posted: Feb 5, 2011 2:32am
Dennis Loomis would know about Dick I think. He was a mentor of Dennis's I believe.
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andrew martin
Veteran user
381 Posts
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Posted: Feb 25, 2011 10:11am
He is down in Louisiana. Talk to him a month ago . He is doing well.
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Rainboguy
Inner circle
1069 Posts
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Posted: Sep 4, 2011 6:19pm
One of you sent me a private message with either Dick's address or phone number in Lousiana, but for some reason I can't find it in my in-box. Earlier today I was with Johnny Thompson at this year's Houdini Club convention in Green Bay, and Johnny asked if I could please send him Dick's contact information...so if you have it PLEASE send me a PM...I would VERY much appreciate it.
For those who missed this year's Houdini Club Convention, I will tell you in all sincerity that it was the best magic convention and magic shows I have seen in my entire life, and I've seen a LOT, coast-to coast, beginning in 1955 when I was 7 year's old.
WOW!!! What a convention it was~!
SIMPLY FABULOUS!!!
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
23793 Posts
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Posted: Sep 10, 2011 3:00am
Dick had a question he used in his lecture that completely turned my way of thinking about magic around. I won't mention it here, because if I do, it will highjack this thread.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC
My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups."
www.cupsandballsmuseum.com
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Michael Baker
Inner circle
Near a river in the Midwest
8558 Posts
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Posted: Sep 10, 2011 6:19am
Quote:
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On 2011-09-10 03:00, Bill Palmer wrote:
Dick had a question he used in his lecture that completely turned my way of thinking about magic around. I won't mention it here, because if I do, it will highjack this thread.
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Will you shoot me a PM or email with that question? Dick was one of the early lecturers I had a chance to see.
~michael baker
The Magic Company
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
23793 Posts
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Posted: Sep 11, 2011 8:56am
I have decided to share this information with the whole Café. I don't want anyone to misunderstand me when I give out this information. Many of you will simply look at it and say, "That's nice." or something similar. For me, it was one of those turning points in my life and career as a magician. I had been performing as a professional for a couple of years and thought I had a pretty good handle on what was what. But this one hit me smack dab in the head, and it gave me a new way of thinking about our art, profession, craft or whatever you want to call it.
Dick started his lecture by asking the club the following question: "How much magic do you own?"
The answers ranged from "about $400 worth" to "I have two storage lockers full of magic."
Dick's answer surprised me. He said, "No. You don't own ANY magic. You own props, books, videos, and so forth but you don't own ANY magic. Magic exists in the mind of the spectator when you use those props and the information in those books and videos effectively."
That was a focus-altering statement.
Another question he asked was "If you had a show on a specific date in a specific theater, and you had $1000 to spend, what would you spend it on?"
Those answers were also quite interesting. One fellow said, "I'd build an illusion to close the show with."
Another spoke about costuming.
Dick's answer was "advertising." If you said props, costumes, etc. he said, "if you don't have those, why are you putting on a show?"
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC
My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups."
www.cupsandballsmuseum.com
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Rick Fisher
Elite user
Rick Fisher
435 Posts
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Posted: Oct 11, 2011 8:39am
Dick has so much information to share. He was one of the real pioneers of children's magic and I've been lucky enough to learn a lot from him.
Rick Fisher, President FAB Magic
"One of the largest magic shops in the world!"
www.fabmagic.com
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Bob Sanders
Grammar Supervisor
Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama
19309 Posts
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Posted: Oct 31, 2011 11:55pm
Wow! I haven't seen Dick Oslund in about 30 years! He lectured in Birmingham for Chris Frings.
Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander
Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander / The Amazed Wiz
AmazedWiz@yahoo.com
SilkMagic@DoveLite.com
http://www.magicbysander.com/
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DoveDaddy
New user
54 Posts
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Posted: Nov 12, 2011 6:42pm
Dick Oslund story: About 15 years ago I used to travel with my teenage son to various regional and national magic conventions so my son could compete in the junior stage contests. We would always see Dick Oslund at Abbotts in Colon and at the Houdini Convention in Wisconsin. At one of the other Midwest Magic Conventions, my son was the winner of the junior stage contest and all the magic dealers in the dealer's room donated books, VHS tapes, packet tricks, etc. for his first place prize. After the contest, back in our hotel room we were looking at the grab bag of prizes and saw that Dick Oslund had donated five (5) of his business cards. We were totally perplexed by this prize and just threw the cards into my son's suitcase. When we got back home after the convention my son was emptying his suitcase and looked at Dick Oslund's business cards again. He happened to turn them over and discovered to his amazement that Dick had written on the back of each card "good for $5.00 credit towards magic purchase" signed Dick Oslund. Unfortunately we never caught up with Dick Oslund again and those cards still give me a chuckle. So if anyone knows where in the world Dick Oslund is please let me know!
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Nov 17, 2011 12:15am
My only recent memory I have of dick was when we were in oshkosh and a visited his house
he sat on a outdoor lounge chair... then we ate a bonanza for dinner.
obviously my memory could be a blur.
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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Alan Munro
Inner circle
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
5441 Posts
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Posted: Nov 18, 2011 4:49pm
He lectured in Grand Rapids a number of months ago. I think he still makes some of the props featured in his lecture.
http://www.sneakymagician.com/
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Dennis Loomis
1943 - 2013
2115 Posts
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Posted: Jan 25, 2012 1:38pm
Dick Oslund is alive and living back in Michigan's Upper Peninsula after a long stretch in New Orleans. With the help of his friend Jon Racherbaumer Dick is writing his life story. He says he's got 30,000 words on paper. He may have more school shows to his credit than any other living magician. Worked for every school bureau for years and years and generally did between between 300 and 400 shows a year. He has a great version of the Miser's Dream for kid shows and he is going to share it in the book. Dick has a vast knowledge of magic... he was up there with Jay Marshall and Pat Page in that regard.
I've known Dick for all of my life and he certainly was my "mentor" in the early days. He taught me so much... I doubt if I'd have had a career as a working magician if it had not been for him.
To Marshall Thornside... Dick did not steal the bottle or TIP-CEE trick from your Dad. (I believe the proper name is the Hydrostatic Bottle.) Dick and Louie were good friends and Louie taught Dick how to make the bottle and also gave him permission to use Loo's routine. In fact, Dick modified the design of the bottle in one important detail and it give you more control over the "flow." Dick is as honest as they come and does not swipe other performer's material. If you watched or listened closely you should have noticed that Dick has many new lines and bits of business of his own in that routine.
If anyone wants to contact Dick, you can do so through me.
Dennis Loomis
deloomis@mindspring.com
925-429-5201
www.dennisloomis.com
www.loomismagic.com
Itinerant Montebank
http://www.loomismagic.com
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Gerry Walkowski
Special user
816 Posts
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Posted: Jan 25, 2012 7:29pm
Dennis,
This is great news.
It's somewhat sad, though, when the current crop of kid show magicians don't even know who he is. This certainly isn't a reflection upon Dick Oslund. However, it speaks volumes about how uneducated these so-called kid show experts really are about their craft.
I know I've said all of this before, but it's still worth repeating.
Gerry
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Rainboguy
Inner circle
1069 Posts
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Posted: Apr 1, 2012 10:42am
Dennis Loomis:
Could you please PM me Dick's contact information?
And, for everyone else, let me share a tip I got from Dick many, many years ago, regarding "making a buck in Magic"..
Once Dick and I got to know each other, he suggested that I try performing The Nemo 1500 Wallet Trick....and that when I did it...to "Over-Do" the trick, by putting $1,000 in cash on the card,,,,for those who know this trick, you will know what I mean...
The reason he told me this is that Dick said..."If you want to get people's undivided attention, putting out $1,000 in cash will do it"...
Secondly, Dick told me that after doing the trick, when someone asks you how much you charge to do a show, you can answer "Just enough to do the trick."
It's worked for me every time.........
Dick taught me more about ENTERTAINING and MAKING MONEY DOING MAGIC than any other magician I've ever known......
What a guy!
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Marshall Thornside
Inner circle
chicago
2019 Posts
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Posted: Apr 7, 2012 8:50pm
If you are on Facebook, you can find Dick.
I've been in conversation with him lately.
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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Rainboguy
Inner circle
1069 Posts
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Posted: Apr 8, 2012 6:16pm
Marshall Thornside:
Thank you......
Not a Facebook user here...
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Bill Hegbli
Eternal Order
Bill and Bill in Fort Wayne Indiana
13078 Posts
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Posted: Jun 19, 2012 11:06pm
Dick Oslund lives in an RV last I seen him at a Kansas Convention, years ago. He is always on the move, and that is why no one can contact him. He is not a very sharing person unless he is doing a lecture. A real "loner" in the industry, a man who goes his own way. I did not find him very personable to be around. Just my observation when I was around him.
He was doing the Hydrostatic Milk Bottle back then, I only heard the audience reaction to the trick. So I missed what he was doing. Later when I asked him, was that the new milk jug on the market, he turned his nose up, put a grin on his face, and walked a way.
That was my experience, I was very disappointed, because I heard what a great person and magician he was. As I heard it, he mainly did school shows and not having a residence was more of a cost move to make the school show profitable for a living.
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Rick Fisher
Elite user
Rick Fisher
435 Posts
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Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:32am
Saw Dick a couple months back .. he stopped by the shop and we had a nice conversation. Here is a wealth of information - everything you need to know about kid show magic and then some! He tells me a book is in the offing! About time!
Rick Fisher, President FAB Magic
"One of the largest magic shops in the world!"
www.fabmagic.com
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Rainboguy
Inner circle
1069 Posts
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Posted: Jun 27, 2012 10:43am
Rick Fisher:
Just out of curiosity, did Dick indicate whether he was going to be in Colon for the Get-Together in August?
I'd really like to see him......it's been too long......maybe you can PM me his telephone number?
For everyone else........here's an interesting Dick Oslund story.....
Per wmhegbli's post above, yes, Dick both lives in and travels extensively throughout the US in his RV. Dick did REALLY WELL as America's premiere school assembly performer....so well, in fact, that when he went to go buy his RV, and the RV dealer asked him how he wanted to finance it, Dick pulled out a big box of CASH.
Cash for an RV!
As I said, Dick did pretty darn well for himself!!!
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Rainboguy
Inner circle
1069 Posts
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Posted: Oct 4, 2012 1:07pm
Wow:
I see that this post is almost 2 years old....so..
After 2 years, finally, a friend from the Houdini Club gave me Dick's current contact information...
I just got off the phone with him, and Dick is in Escanaba, Michigan, doing well, and retired.
Hopefully I'll drive up to see him soon and have lunch with him. Meanwhile Dick's sending me an E-Mail, so I can hook him up with Johnny Thompson, who asked me about Dick Last Labor Day when we both performed at the Houdini Club Convention here in Green Bay. Meanwhile Dick tells me that he's got about 55,000 words written for his upcoming book by John Racherbaumer, and Dick expects to have the finished manuscript done and to John Racherbaumer by the end of the year.
This is great news for all Dick Oslund fans!!!
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