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Rennie Inner circle I think I have about 1826 Posts |
Who was the first magician to come up with adding the "INI" in their last name. I am aware everyone thinks it was Houdini, but I am not sure. Others I know of are,
Cardini, Slydini and Cantini. I know there are probably hundreds more. So who started it ? Rennie
The effect is the important thing, how you achieve it is not.......
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tom_stamm Loyal user Los Angeles 248 Posts |
I believe the "ini" started with Houdini. He was impressed with Robert-Houdin and wanted to be "Houdin-like" --- Houdini
Or so the story goes. Many years ago I wanted to be like Derrick Dingle, but couldn't see myself a "Dinglini."
Just Some Guy.
"For Seven Tons of the King's Tea, Six Fine Ladies to Fight a Great Jackass -- me." |
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Jimeh Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1399 Posts |
According to Milbourne Christopher's book Houdini confessed to a friend that his ambition was to be like Robert-Houdin. His friend Jack Hayman said it was easy enough if he simply added 'i' to the end of Houdin. Given the history I would attribute the whole 'ini' thing to Houdini as well. If you read the history books that name suffix doesn't seem to appear anywhere before Houdini.
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Which of Milbourne Christopher's books are you quoting? He wrote dozens of books.
If you are referring to The Illustrated History of Magic, then you are quoting one of the most error-filled books on the subject of magic. There were other magicians who used the "ini" ending to their names in order to have a name that was more in keeping with their positions, long before Erich Weiss was born. One example was Samuel Berlach (1828 - 1885), who performed for the Imperial Court of the Austro-Hungarian empire as Bellachini, starting in 1846. There were also magicians such as Albini and Torrini. These were around long before Houdini.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Jimeh Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1399 Posts |
You are correct sir! That IS the book I'm quoting and I'm happy you corrected me. That's a shame it's as error filled as you say. I have a love for magic's history as much as I do for the tricks. Being corrected is much better than being misinformed.
Not to hijack the thread but what books would you recommend Bill if I wanted have accurate history books on my shelf? thanks! James |
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Kevin Connolly Inner circle New Jersey 1329 Posts |
I'll go with Houdini bringing it to popular use. The few others that had used it never had the popularity of HH.
Please visit my website.
www.houdinihimself.com Always looking buy or trade for original Houdini, Hardeen and escape artist items. I'm interested in books, pitchbooks and ephemera. Email [email]hhoudini@optonline.net[/email] |
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manal Inner circle York ,PA. 1412 Posts |
Everyone just wants to be Italian I guess. I can't fault them.
Sincerely, James Manalli |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-07-28 01:38, agent61 wrote: I'd probably want to go with some of the more modern books about individual magicians. These are far better researched, for the most part, than Christopher's. However, Todd Karr's reissue of The Annals of Conjuring would be a good start. He corrected some of the errors in the original without losing the flavor of the book.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-07-28 12:22, Kevin Connolly wrote: He may have popularized it in the US, but he certainly didn't start it. There were several generations of Bellachini's, all related to Samuel Berlach. He was still known in Austria when Punx performed at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Punx did an impression of Bellachini performing the Six Card Repeat. The Jewish community of Salzburg rewarded him by bringing him champagne and flowers for remembering Bellachini. It has always been the practice of stage performers in various arts to adopt names that were more "interesting" than their own. For example, few people remember William Henry Palmer (no relation), but people of his day knew Robert Heller. Shortly after WW I, Rubini was the most popular mindreader in Austria, until Erik Jan Hanussen took the spotlight away from him. And Hanussen's real name was Chaim Steinschneider. In Argentina, Ricardo Rocau and his wife performed as Larry and Daisy. Here, Ricardo performs as Fantasio. Houdini knew that few would come to see Erich Weiss (or Weisz, if you keep the older spelling). Would you go to a show by David Kotkin? Probably not. But you would probably go to see David Copperfield. Look at the Bambergs -- Okito, Fu Manchu, etc. Or Max Maven. I would love to see someone use the name "Goldbergini." Incidentally, if Houdini thought that "ini" meant "similar to," then he made an error. It doesn't. It's a diminutive with a connotation of affection. But it doesn't imply similarity. Houdini would be closer to "little Houdin" than "similar to Houdin."
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Houdini was short.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Jimeh Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1399 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-07-30 02:39, Pete Biro wrote: LOL! Yes....yes he was... Thanks for the reply Bill and the info! James |
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Leslie Melville Special user Blackpool-U.K. 708 Posts |
In 1948, I won the junior trophy competition of The Staffordshire Magical Society - my working name in those far off days I blush to say was -'Leslini' and the trophy was called, 'The Burtini Junior Trophy'!
Burtini (Bill Powell) was a leading light of that society and also a manufacturer of chromium plated props - The Burtini Coin Bucket, Foo Can & Coffee Vase being now collector's items. He made and presented the trophy, which now stands proudly in my display cabinet! Leslie.
Stories....?....That's telling!
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Not to mention two distinctly different styles of cups!
I wish I could have met Burtini. He worked for the RAF during WW II and at the Royal Mint at other times. He had access to all sorts of neat tools and he knew how to use them. Many of the items Davenport's carried back then were made for them by Burtini. BTW, I used the name "Prestini" for about six months, when I was a teenager.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
"Would you go to a show by David Kotkin?"
If he performed and staged his shows like Kotkin (Copperfield), yes. After all, how impressive was the name, "Doug Henning"?
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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silverking Inner circle 4574 Posts |
Quote:
For the public at the time, VERY impressive. The general public's perception of magicians at that time was stereotypically one of a bit too much posturing, waving of arms, tux and tails, etc. (even if, as Mark Wilson demonstrated, it wasn't at all true it was the general impression Joe Public held of magicians). That regular guy "Doug Henning" could do everything and more that the "name" magicians could do was impressive. Here was a regular guy, in fairly regular clothes (for the time!), with a regular name, and behaving in a manner befitting a hippy kid from down the road wowing the world with his magic. For a public long exposed to magicians in the Thurston, Keller, Blackstone style, this was the revolution in magic that magi still talk about to this day. The name "Doug Henning" was very impressive indeed! (Note that even Doug was "The Great Hendoo" prior to his huge achievements, he didn't achieve his huge success until he became simply "Doug Henning") |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Regarding Kotkin -- you would never have seen him if he hadn't changed his name. Remember how he gained his fame?
Regarding Doug Henning -- The name was not impressive. The magician was. Don't confuse the map with the territory. Think about this -- would your wife have wanted to see a show by Gerry Dorsey?
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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silverking Inner circle 4574 Posts |
In an obtuse manner Bill, I think "Doug Henning" (the name) was marginally impressive to folks who could identify with this brilliant magician with the normal name.
The world had long been full of "ini's", guys in tux and tails, and cold stares into the audience, and for this regular guy with a regular name to be one of the greatest magicians in the world stood out for laymen. In general terms though, you're obviously dead on Bill, nobody's name is really impressive, but I do think folks saw him as a just a guy named Doug who was the greatest magician in the world. An aside, when I first heard of him, and later saw him, I had pegged David Copperfield as a lame copy of my favorite magician, Doug Henning. I couldn't believe this guy even had the balls to enter the realm that Doug occupied. I was totally wrong of course, and am looking forward to attending DC's show in a month or so! I do however, miss Doug. What a fabulous ambassador for magic he was. He would have aged well I think, and although the TM stuff made some folks uncomfortable, he had left that behind to some degree and had plenty of the "old" Doug shining through in those last months before his untimely death. |
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Rennie Inner circle I think I have about 1826 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-08-02 14:55, Bill Palmer wrote: Bill, Are we talking about Engelbert Humperdinck here ? Speaking of name changes, what about Fred Kaps, I believe his name was something like Abraham Bongers (may have the 1st name wrong)
The effect is the important thing, how you achieve it is not.......
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Magicray69 Veteran user Tampa Bay 369 Posts |
Why would you change your name from William Wallace to Ali Bongo
From Jacobus Maria Bemelman to Tommy Wonder From Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos to Cris Angel From Archibald Alec Leach to Cary Grant From Marion Morrison to John Wayne From Harry Boughton to Harry Blackstone From Milton Supman to Soupy Sales From Paul Rubenfeld to PeeWee Herman From Pete Biro to Pete Biro From Yugoslav Eustes Chariminko to Bill Palmer
There was a time I had the blues,
the reason was I had no shoes. Until I met upon the street a man who had no feet. |
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Kotkin is much shorter than 'Copperfield.'
Niether flows well off the tongue. For his style he should have gone with 'Davey Miami.' Because he had that 80's era Miami Vice style. 'Copperfieldini.' didn't he use 'Davini' or 'Davino' for a while? I got a coloring book from one of his shows when I was little, I think it mentioned it.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
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