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Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
Would you please drop me a PM. I have a question.
Thanks, Vandy
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
All questions have been answered. Thanks alot!
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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ronfour Regular user 162 Posts |
Does anyone know where I can get a video of Del Ray?
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
I worked with Del Ray a couple of times in Pittsburgh. The last time was for Ford Motor Co. in the '70's. He once said that he has parts of his props made by different people, (Jim Swoger was one), and no one person made any complete piece of apparatus.
I've never seen any videos of him, but perhaps some of the "old timers" in Pittsburgh would know. I suggest that you contact Jack Greenburg through the Pittsburgh IBM site. He might be able to steer you to one. While I lived in Pittsburgh, Del was never a member of any of the clubs there, (to the best of my knowledge), but he was always friendly and somewhat of a magic hero to most of us, (deservidly), so if there were any videos made, someone there might know. |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
There is a buy on ebay that offers some video of Del's stage act from time to time that is pretty good.
David Baldwin, Bob Escher and Bill Spooner are putting together a book on Del that will have dvd's of his work with it. There was only one Del. Both a great performer and genuis at figuring things out. He made a lot of the stuff himself with components from others. 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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Rimbaud Loyal user Saint Louis 291 Posts |
I saw Del Ray back in the early 80's, (At the '83 Midwest Magic Jubilee in Saint Louis) and all these years later, I still feel it was easily the best overall closeup performance I have ever personally seen.
The creativity, the timing, the humor, Del had everything. I thought his act was perfectly crafted. If I could show one magician to a laymen in order to prove that close up is a true and valid art form--that act would be the one I'd pick. I had to stand on a table to see over the crowd watching him and a couple of times I thought I was going to fall off it I was laughing so hard. Easily the high point of the convention. Easily the best close up show I'd ever seen. I would love to see a DVD of that act again.
http://www.DanLaddthehypnotist.com
"Saying 'Everyone is special' is just another way of saying 'No one is.'" --Dash from The Incredibles |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Some guy literally STOLE the entire close up act, showed up at the Castle and after Bill Larsen saw it was a ripoff, fired the guy.
There are some underground tapes of his act floating around.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
He was also a very skilled card magician, his unique electronics notwithstanding.
Julie |
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Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
He was also a very skilled dice handler, his unique electronics notwithstanding.
Vandy
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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Rimbaud Loyal user Saint Louis 291 Posts |
Pete, what a terrible shame it is to hear someone tried to steal Del's life's work.
And it's true that the electronics always get the most attention, but beyond that, he obviously had very serious card and dice chops. In fact, one of my favorite bits was his running gag with the card to pocket. After revealing the card for the first time, he'd very gracefully sail the card into the deck and then go on to something eles. Then, throughout the rest of the show, in between other bits, while shuffling the deck, he'd turn to that spectator and sort of absently say "What was your card again? 10 of diamonds? Oh, beatiful card, I love that card. I keep that one in my pocket!" then he'd reach back in is pocket and pull it out again and without missing a beat, sail it from about chin level into the middle of the deck. Each time he did it it got funnier and funnier. It was like Goshman's salt shakers where the timing was just exquisite...
http://www.DanLaddthehypnotist.com
"Saying 'Everyone is special' is just another way of saying 'No one is.'" --Dash from The Incredibles |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
The beauty of Del was you never knew what was sleight of hand or other methods. He could blend the two flawlessly.
A guy from Cleveland name Tazzi, ripped off Del's stage act. Del became s very reclusive about being around magicians for many years beacue of that. No one could blame him. Del's personality was incredible. You just loved the guy. Here was rough orphan kid who talked with a gravely stevadore's voice that you just had to love. I still can hear his words when rolling dice for the bird "You're in the finals." Bill Larsen was always one of the most staunch supporters of ethics in magic. If it was not original, he would call them on it. I remember when the guy ripped off Zig Zag, he refused to ever mention the guy's name again in his magazine...and he never did. We need more guys like him in magic today. 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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ronfour Regular user 162 Posts |
I think I saw Del Ray at a corporate event many years ago. I remember him being a little short with a slightly wide build. He would light a person's cigarette and the lighter would disappear up Del's sleeve. Does this description sound like Del Ray?
Is there a photo of him on the web? |
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
To me, Del looked like a boxer. Wide shoulders, nose that looked like it had been broken a few times. Original, and smooth, and one of the most entertaining close up workers I've ever seen work.
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-12-22 17:58, ronfour wrote: There's a photo on my Inventors Brief Biography Listing of him: http://magicnook.com/forum/bioCDE.htm and then scroll down to his stage name: Del Ray.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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truthteller Inner circle 2584 Posts |
The Del thief of which you speak took up shop in North Carolina for a while and did the act. CHeating Charlie was the name, I think. (Note, there was at one time a "Cheating Charlie" based in Ohio, this was a different person.) Jim Cellini ran into the thief once. Saw him walking from table to table carrying a tray and the bird.
For those who knew him, Del was a very giving and open person. Sadly, because of the behavior of a few, ALL of us missed out on what he would have probably offered willingly. Brad (Maybe now some people will see where I come from when I get so upset at people on the Café always looking to "help each other" by deconstructing another performer's act!) |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
One of the eBay sellers of Del's pieces and videos is a total fraud. Watch out for this guy. He changes names at the drop of a hat. He has been selling bogus remote controlled birds, claiming that they were like the ones used by "Del Rey."
He may be purposefully misspelling the name. That won't get him out of trouble, though.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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foolsnobody Special user Buffalo, NY 843 Posts |
There is a fabulous musician named Del Rey that you oughta give a listen to Bill if you haven't heard her: http://hobemianrecords.com/Del_press.html Boogie woogie dobro!
Not that this person has anything to do with Del Ray, the late magician. |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
It's his secret.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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DStachowiak Inner circle Baltimore, MD 2158 Posts |
I think Denny Haney might be a good person to ask about Del Ray, and this is the time to ask, since he is the Café's special guest this week.
Don
Woke up.
Fell out of bed. Dragged a comb across m' head. |
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Tom G Inner circle 2895 Posts |
Tom Craven has/had a dvd for sale of a performance of Del's.
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