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WesRay New user 96 Posts |
I've grown up watching a good amount of Copperfield's TV specials through the years, and I don't recall him ever using animals very much at all (IF at all).
Anyone know why this is? I realize animals aren't every magician's preference, but you'd think he'd do at least a few animal illusions once in a great while. It almost makes me think he's strictly against dealing with animals. Any thoughts? |
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KerryJK Special user Northampton UK 621 Posts |
How about Webster The Duck?
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WesRay New user 96 Posts |
Hmmm. I don't recall that one. How does it go and when was it performed?
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KerryJK Special user Northampton UK 621 Posts |
It was a long time ago, so I can't remember which special it was on or too many of the details (I can't be certain if his duck was called "Webster" or even if it was a real duck). IIRC, it was a comedy transposition with a kid onstage being distracted by David as his duck-billed assistant waddled between the boxes on cue.
Given DC's insistence on having every aspect of his shows and appearances totally scripted and controlled in advance (or so we hear), maybe he finds even the most trained animals to be too unreliable for his way of working. |
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Jack Murray Special user St. Petersburg Fl. 773 Posts |
It WAS a duck, and it WAS Webster.
Jack
Jack Murray
http://www.dream-illusions.com |
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MCM Elite user Minnesota 456 Posts |
He did produce a baby elephant as part of his opening act for one TV special. I can't remember which one, though.
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Mark Williams Special user Las Vegas, Nevada 513 Posts |
Yeah, I think DC still uses Webster in his 'live' performances. I saw Copperfield use a chicken and his duck Webster in an Illusion where he tore off their heads and placed them on the wrong body. After a bunch of comedy by-play, Copperfield restored the two heads onto the proper animal.
"Once is Magic!! Twice is an Education!!"
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Jeff Hayden New user 88 Posts |
Copperfield currently uses a Duck in his "Evening of Grand Illusion" that is touring right now. The ducks walks out onstage on his own. FYI
But your original point is that he is not known for animals, and that is true. You don't have to play with tigers to be a good magi. In fact, it's been done so much that I think you should be looking for something more original. Animal productions can be cool, but it's soooo cliché' -JH
Did you see that?
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The Mirror Images Inner circle Michigan/USA 1980 Posts |
Great SLOW-MO-DUCk.....please read it slow one more time.....
Michael
Steven and Michael, The Mirror Images
The MOST Identical Twin Illusionist http://www.themirrorimages.com Check out our latest new effect - Liquid Steel NEW - MotoBox NEW - MotoMation NEW - Voyager |
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Michael Dustman Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 1220 Posts |
I think it just got to be too much of a grind to travel with so many animals for him. I know on his early TV specials he used a giraffe, an chimpanzee, a baby elephant, etc. The first time I saw him live in 1986, he was doing Orange, Lemon, Egg, Parakeet, and 2 effects with Webster. One was the duck cannon and cage, and the other was a duck wringer.
Since then, he has traveled with a chicken, a pig, a cat, three sheepdogs, and Webster again. There was a great article in Magic Magazine in 1992 with him on the cover that was strictly devoted to his use of animals in his show. It talked about the great care that went into traveling with them, from feeding, bedding, caring for them at the theater, customs, etc. Actually, he travels with two Websters, and they rotate them out every four months with a number of other ducks at a duck farm to give the ducks a break on traveling. Oh...and let's not forget the scorpion. |
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BLSmagic New user 79 Posts |
He uses Webster now on his tour as well as a scorpion. I also remember him in an EARLY (I wasn't born yet) special making five or six small birds appear for a little girl and turning the birds into a dog. Don't know if that was on his tour though.
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WesRay New user 96 Posts |
Hmmm, I suppose he's used more animals than I've thought.
Oh, and I agree that it doesn't take an animal effect to make one a great magician. I'd just noticed that I hadn't really seen Copperfield do too many animal routines (though that's been proven false, it appears!) and was wondering if there was any particular reason for it. |
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magicaldj1 Regular user Madison, Wisconsin 122 Posts |
I remember the first time I saw David in April of 1984 (now I feel old). He was using Webster then. He did the Duck wringer (along with a kid wringer), and he did the duck bucket. He did the SLOW-MO-DUCK bucket after performing it at regular speed.
Andy |
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
On one of his TV specials quite some time ago, he used the orangutan from B.J. & the Bear. Mostly, he uses animals as a bit of comedy by play.
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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Whitewolfny Loyal user 216 Posts |
I saw him in Burlington VT with Webster the duck. What a funny routine! I almost think I kinda know sort of how he did it all. Especially the slow motion part. The duck almost upstaged DC. Maybe that's why he doesn't use too many animals. They can be such scene stealers.
Braxton Mannar
<BR>Just an old dog trying to learn new tricks |
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momentsofmagic New user Ontario - Canada 4 Posts |
Actually, David Copperfield has used quite a few animals over the years. There was the routine where he swapped a chicken's and duck's heads, an old special where he zig zagged a giraffe's neck and of course Webster the duck routines (awesome!). He also produced several birds and changed them into a dog during one of his specials where a little boy had had no friends and he was trying to cheer him up.
Cheers all!
"Why just perform tricks when you can create Moments Of Magic!" - Alan Moments Of Magic Inc. www.momentsofmagic.com
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JAEIII Veteran user 310 Posts |
David put Slo-Mo-Duck back in the show about six years ago. It is one of his favorite tricks to perform. Slo-Mo-Duck was also released in 2001 on his Tornado Of Fire television special, but made the cut only for the German and Netherland Versions. We didn't get to see it here in the U.S.A. However, if you paid attention, over the last few years he performed Slo-mo Duck on several occasions (Jay Leno, TODAY, Ford's Theater Celebration, etc.).
I think you all mentioned just about every animal above, but I didn't see Icarus. Icarus was the bird he used on his Flying special. According to David, Icarus was also apart of the live show for a few years. He said he got better treatment in between shows then his actual crew. I guess it pays to be a famous bird. (Oh, and of course, he's used probably hundreds of Goldfish over the last few years for "Tides".)
Believe In Magic....I do!
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magicaldj1 Regular user Madison, Wisconsin 122 Posts |
I seem to remember seeing SLOW-MO-DUCK on one of the T.V. specials back in the 80's as well.
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ThePartyMagician Loyal user Bristol, UK 216 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-02-16 13:54, magicaldj1 wrote: Me too! That was the first time I'd seen magic by Copperfield, and it literally changed my life! It was the TV special where he did his underwater escape before a big spike fell on him, if memory serves me correctly! Kind regards. Mike |
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Nick Wait Inner circle Lichfield, UK 1042 Posts |
He has used Orange, lemon, egg and canary. He's used two different versions of this. Two different types of canary. Webster the duck I believe is in his current shoe.
Nick |
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