Capehart-sillybilly-capehart-sillybilly-capehart-sillybilly-, UGH!!!!

As a new guy here and a casual observer of your kids' forum, I just want to get a few things off my chest.

I've noticed that people here go lady gaga over kid performers Silly Billy and Chris Capehart. First, What irks me is that no one ever mentions their mentor/teacher Presto Johnston. I do not have a fincial stake (unlike other people who hawk their products here) in his lecture dvd, but please contact the Deleware ring as they are still trying to raise money for his headstone. You'll See kidshow-performer-chris uses the SAME jokes, gags, and some tricks as him. I've never seen Silly Billy perform but I bet dollars to dounuts he's cut from the cloth of presto. I just wish people would give credit where credit is due.

Second, what even makes me even more mental here is how people bow down to the British kid performers here. look, (most) British performs _ARE_ better than Americans because the British people do not coddle children like in america, actually I think kids there are boardline unloved when they used to be sent off to boarding school far away from loving parents, why else are those AWFUL 2 hour parties so popular? I think they crave an adult's attention.

Finally, While children are the same across the spectrum, they are not the same culturally. You know where in the world has the **BEST** children entertainers? India. I am not kidding. I wish they were better represented here and all your "championships". If you think Presto spawned some popular kid magicians, you should see what Prof. Vazhakkunnam has brought us.

I wish I can post here more often, but my group home limits my internet use. I think it's terrible and I can't take it. That's why I'm here.

HH

I agree, with an exception for Jolly Roger. He is related to royalty you know!

Careful!

There are some who worship the billy that is silly!

But I agree-over rated and underwhelming!

I live very close to Wilmington, De. and I have never heard of Presto Johnson. Is there more information on him? What the heck I'll contribute to his grave stone. I have known Chris Capehart for about 20 years, and I love him because he and I work the same, so there is nothing bad that I can say about the white haired magician.

The British magicians come from the theater, they do classic magic, and some here don't like to do the skilled stuff.

Silly Billy is great but he does get a bit too much play time here.

Roger is a bit too eccentric for this forum. After all he comes from royalty you know.

Tricky Ricky, and the man who can not be mentioned ML are incomperable.

Mentors are very important. I worked with a wonderful puppeteer, Emiline Dobbins, in my early days of puppetry. Back then I knew next to nothing about performing. These days I know even less. Today I am working on a workshop to present to 7th graders next week. Passing it on and giving credit (most of the time) where it is due.

Sometimes my influences aren't remembered, until someone is kind enough(or not so kind) enough to point it out. Back in the comedy club days, folks were very plain about not using other's bits. A recent example, was when someone on this forum, gave me the author of the Toast Song which I had heard and adapted for my mouth only puppet.(see my web site for examples of my nearly normal puppets)

Stepping out of the mold ...into another mold...(perhaps jello...said Nigel the puppet that rocks and talks)....


Harris
still 2 old to know everything...

Lovely. Another gods-gift-to-kid-performers with all the right answers conveniently locked away in a closed mind judging people he admits he knows nothing about. Just what this forum needs.

If Hank had bothered to read any of the many interviews given by Chris, he would see Presto mentioned prestigiously in every one. Chris openly and happily honors Presto as his mentor and role model. That said, Chris is no more a clone of Presto than David Copperfield is of Bob Elliott or Daryl. His talent and style are uniquely his own.

As for David Kaye: Like him or hate him, his incredible resume, book and DVD speak for themselves. David richly deserves accolades for his insight into performing for children whether or not you agree with his personal style. Anyone who gives of himself as freely as David deserves better.

Regarding the Brits - Let's all run out, review and bash a magic effect or act we've never watched. What fun! Clearly Hank's exceptional grasp of the British family structure justifies his public denunciation of performers he's never actually seen in action.

"Best" is a very subjective thing. How fortunate that Hank's inordinate wisdom allows him to qualify it for all of us less-endowed beings.

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Fools, indeed.

Very well said Skip.

I remember a new performer that I took to a library program a few years ago.

Afterwards he said, so simply you play "The Fool".

I answered yes, but it is not so simple.

These days, my programs are not as physical as "back" then. I have more quieter moments in my Doctor of Laughology Programs. I have seen Mr. Capehart share during a lecture. His philosophy and thinking behind his routines works for him and many others. Don't know much about Silly Billy's stuff. ..so I can't write or comment on that.

I do like to read and watch those that came many years before us. An example was seeing what looked like the "moon walk" in an old movie from about the 1930's...More recent examples are from Danny Kayes and Jonathan Winters works..and just prior to the wonderful silent comedians to Shields and Yarnell. (the later recently passed away)

Harris

Careful, Tommy...he probably just forgot to include you

Earl Johnson, aka Everett Johnson, aka Presto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIgZs21yB......index=12

WOW
What an artist, there were more laughs there than I could count, not a lot of unnecessary props there either.

My quiestion is how does a magician from the Nevada desert know so much about a dead black magician from the east. Was he a member of the Delaware Knights, and did they ever get a stone for his grave? Just watching him work was worth a couple bucks to me.
Thank you Professor

Please Al,

you don't want to fraternize with me, God knows I'm the only know-it-all here that doesn't know what he is talking about.

All I'm saying is that I wish more Indian performers were better repesented here. That's all.

HH

While I hate to generalize, I have found British performers to be rather condescending to kids. And while I like David Kaye personally, his magic IMO is just so-so (although I can't argue with success.)

I do not have a single favorite kids performer; however, I have found little things here and there from LOTS of performers that I have found appealing.

Hank
I already have a bad reputation here, so associating with you doesn't really bother me. I am going to go to a Wilmington Delaware Knights meeting soon, and ask around about him.

I don't believe that we have a lot of Indian children's magicians that belong here. This guy is not a kids magician but he is still pretty good, and he does it all without a back drop too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImSjQZDoixU

I don't know many Indian entertainers, but through my nearly normal wife, I have met quite a few professors and students. (She helped coordinate bringing in international students to one of our the University of Missouri system) I also have enjoyed sharing at 1 year old birthday parties.

I am "delighted" that we have a Café that bridges the gap between entertainers around the world. A few years back, I met someone from New Zealand (sic? and too lazy to use spell czech)at a magic event. I introduced my self as Harris Deutsch. He quickly quiped ah...the Laughologist. (The Café does make our world a bit smaller)

danke,

Harris
a legend in his on mind
deutsch

Info about Earl "Presto" Johnson and the memorial fund drive:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=36

I know that I have said many times that I never buy performance DVD's. Well this is one exception to my rule. I hope that they have a few left.

Thank you
Professor

I didn't read all the responses because hey, I don't care. My comrade Happy Hank is correct. Ed Presto was a fantastic performer, I saw was as he passed away not too long ago. He had significant influence on Capehart, not sure about Silly Billy, you would have to ask him. I will say without a doubt if I was to watch one video right now it would be of Ed Presto, they are on youtube from back in the 70s. He has been brought up by some of us more hipper types Hank.

Presto was also a BRILLIANT street performer and shared that trade with a lot of folks as well. Chris Capehart has always spoken very highly of Presto any time I have seen him lecture as well as on his DVDs.

I think great kids entertainers come from everywhere...as well as the bad ones.

I will say from my personal experience the magicians I know from India do not post here because they are very, very, smart.

Best,

Dan-

Danny knows...cuz he is also a brilliant performer who really is with it. I am only fit to be in the audience in the same theater as guys like presto or Danny.

Posted: Aug 19, 2010 9:11pm
I can't find the Ed Presto vids, does anyone out there have a link? He really is someone people should see performing.

Wait...I just realized that in the Capehart video he mentions Ed.