Patrick Differ
Inner circle
1540 Posts
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Posted: Aug 11, 2008 12:51 am
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... does not belong to Mike Skinner, as I've previously believed.
I received a message from Scott Guinn, who explained the real story behind this trick that appeared in Skinner's "Classic Samplers."
Here is a section of his message:
Quote: I saw you mention the "Skinner" version of Oil & Water in one of the topics.
You're right, it is a wonderful routine, however, it is NOT Michael Skinner's.
Underground legend Ray Grismer (uncredited creator of many modern card, mentalism, and finger ring and string effects) learned the O&W routine while touring Europe a couple of decades ago (late 70's, I believe).
Ray returned home to his then-residence at an apartment complex within walking distance of the Magic Castle. In these same apartments lived Dai Vernon, David Roth, Jeff Altman, T.A. Waters, and Michael Skinner (among other magic greats). Ray showed the routine to Skinner and then taught it to him, explaining that it wasn't his, but was the creation of a fine European magician whose name he couldn't remember.
Fast-forward 15-20 years. The long-awaited (and disappointingly slim!) Skinner book came out. I bought a copy. Mike sent a complimentary copy to Ray, who was now living in Northern Idaho. In the interim, I had met and befriended Ray, and we had bi-weekly phone conversations lasting as long as 5 hours each. Ray was horrified to see the O&W routine in the book. He had called Mike and chewed him out a bit about it, reminding Skinner that when he taught it to him he had explained the routine was the creation of a European magician he could no longer remember.
When Ray related this story to me, I had to smile, because I recognized the routine. I asked, "Would the creator have been a tall Italian fellow who went by the name of Fabian?" Ray said, "Yes, that's right! How did you know?"
The reason I knew was because I had been taught the routine by it's creator, who by that time had moved to America. I'd seen him at a convention and appreciated his magic and performing style and personality. We had become close friends, and like Ray, he was one of my magic mentors. In fact, it was this Italian expatriate who wrote the introduction to my "Great Scott! It's Magic!" trilogy. He had won just about every award you can win in magic, including a FISM award as well as the close-up, parlor and lecturer of the year awards from the Magic Castle, was a regular performer at Caesar's magical Empire in Las Vegas, and was in constant demand all over the world as a lecturer and performer.
He no longer performs under the name of Fabian, however. You've probably heard of him by his real name, which he now uses exclusively: Aldo Colombini.
You can find the routine (called "Whole Oil & Water") with the exact same handling (with the small variation that the cards have a hole in them and there's an added kicker) in his Mickey Hades Publications book "Impact". This book pre-dates the Skinner book, if memory serves, by more than 5 years. I believe that the routine also appeared in a British magazine a number of years before that.
I told Scott that I would go around the places I had mentioned this and include the information he shared with me. Credit where credit is due.
Will you walk into my parlour? said the Spider to the Fly,
Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to show when you are there.
Oh no, no, said the little Fly, to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair
-can ne'er come down again.
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Mr. Mystoffelees
Inner circle
I haven't changed anyone's opinion in
3623 Posts
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Posted: Aug 22, 2008 11:41 am
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Very interesting and a nice thing to do. Thanks! Now, I am off to find "Impact".
Jim
Also known, when doing rope magic, as "Cordini"
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