I was wondering if anyone knew of any resources for Chinese fan productions. The only material I have been able to come across has been the Fan Dance in the Wakeling book. It's a fantastic routine but I was wondering if there was anything else out there. Thanks!

Kent

There was some stuff written up in a Genii Magazine years ago.

For sheer movement and blocking, get the movie "Ziegfield Follies" with Fred Astarie. I just picked up for a couple of bucks. But there is a very nice fan dance that might give you some ideas.

Richard

To answer your question directly from a magic source point of view, No!

There has been magical entertainers presenting this type of effects with oriental fans but nothing published. Shoot Ogawa comes to mind in his spots on YouTube and there have been FISM contestants producing oriential fans over the years.

It is something that has to be worked out using misdirection and manipulation techniques.

I have a routine with fans but I had to create all my own moves and productions.

Its taken 4 years but I now have a lot of fan magic! Just expeiriment yourself. You will be amazed with what you can come up with.

Best
Brandon

Hug ,
I never confirmed this with Alan, but I think Alan's Fan sequence was largely inspired by that film and specific sequence you mentioned (Lime house Blues). It came out a year or so before Alan developed that act. I also seem to recall that Alan's mother in law worked for MGM during that time.

There actually is a lecture note set put out by a Spanish magician in the 70's which outlined and taught a series of Small fan productions. The fans were about 6" long as I recall. I cannot recall tha lecturer, but the Magic Castle has (had) a set of the notes.

JNeal, are you speaking of the late 'Vic Jahn' from Holland I believe. He put out a very pref note on the producing small 3" fans. He also sold them, but I never got around to purchasing them. They are mentioned in his notes. It was kind of a Miser's Dream priduction as I remember. I have my books and lecture notes in a trunk so I cannot get to them easily.

Yeah, I assumed there wouldn't be much material on this, but thought I should ask anyways. I seems that many of the same methods for loads and steals are similar to parasol productions. I'm going to play around with these methods for a while to see if I can develop a routine for myself and my daughter. For now, I have found a very interesting video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KocQcjdmek

Kent

Yes, it was to "Limehouse Blues". That is an interesting idea that it influenced Alan. It is a very visual sequence. If I remember correctly, Harry Blackstone Jr. used the same music for his "Chinese Segment" which also had a fan seqment.

Richard

Wmhegbil, Yes I think it was Viggo Jahn now that you mention it. Viggo Jahn was an expert manipulator who among other things, manipulated cane tips like thimbles

Kent Wong, I used to do a fan prodcution bit many years ago and part of the technique was leveraging the fan to open by itself from a "flipstick' position. This was accomplished by having a "D" ring at the hinge point and using my thumb or middle finger (depending on which way the fan was to open) press down on the small end and causing a rapid expansion of the fan. Kinda' tough to explain in words but a very small action produced a big result.
Good luck!
JNeal

Keiko muto has a fan and bell routine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FQjyxIIXcY
also shoot ogawa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0XOagxhZLg

Thanks for the tip! I'm going to give this a try and see if I can get the positioning right.

Kent

Kent,
my description was a little weak, so here is an image I drew this morning to help you

Attached jpg

Click here to view attached image.

JNeal, your an accomplished illistrator as well. Very nicely proportioned drawing. Nice handling, as I mentioned previously, it takes someone with a little genius (like JNeil to come up with a workable method) to work out the handling.

I purchased many years ago self opening fans from Abbott's Magic. They attached a spring to the outer arms and attached the spring to 'D' ring. Now they open quickly, but keeping them closed until the production poses another problem.

I have made self opening fans with silks on the ribs not a full fan per say. The hard part is keeping them closed. I found a tube worked well to slide them out of. Solid tube on a table or a cloth tube for the body.

I would also suggest that you look at the work Karl Germain did with the flags and flag tiers. It might give you some ideas.

Richard

Thank you Wmhegbil! BTW- I like your new photo avatar!
Hug- thant's a great suggestion about Germain. He was brilliant and the ideas in those books by Cramer deserve reviving. Anyone for the "Chameleons" ala Germain?

JNeal

Where could one purchase the types of fans used in the Wakeling routine ?

Thanks

Oliver.

The Gold/Silver foil fans were available in 1981 at stores that sold accessories for the home. They were also available from some magic dealers back then. I have not seen them since. So unfortunately the answer to your question is no where currently. The best thing to do is find a Chinese store and look for them fans there that may work.

If you live in a large city, then the chances you will find something you can use.

Try this site.

http://silkfans.com/

Great quality, great sellections and the prices are good.

Thanks for your help.

Oliver.

Darkwing,

Have you worked with those fans in the link you provided ? How easy are they to open up with one hand ?

Thanks again.

Oliver.