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Miracles filled our television screens when, on December 15, 1977, Doug Henning triumphed with another surprise-power-packed "World of Magic" special, telecast live from the NBC studios in Burbank, California, to an estimated 60 millions viewers. And what a show it was! Like his two previous specials, this program was an all-new theatrical stage show of spectacular illusions and mystifying sleight-of--hand. Elaborate sets, special lighting, and original music helped Doug to create a sense of wonder with his truly beautiful mysteries.
Glen Campbell, the special guest host, opened the show by emphasizing that there would be no electronic trickery, and that we at home would see exactly the same thing as the live studio audience saw. Hand-held cameras used throughout the show would al-low the viewer the closest possible inspection from every angle. We will be taken on a journey into a magical reality -- a reality where dreams come true. "We will see," he said, "magic as it's never been seen be-fore."
And indeed, the opening illusion was just that. A stage bathed in red light, a powerful spotlight, and bright, modern music greeted Doug Henning as he roared on stage atop a motorcycle. A huge cargo net was lowered. Four dancers appeared and treated the audience to a dance number while Doug displayed a large empty cabinet. With the sides closed, the cabinet was raised high into the air. Doug re-mounted the motor-cycle and rode it into the net, entrapping himself and the bike. Then the net was raised. On cue, Doug and the bike visibly vanished as the net fell open, only to re appear in the cabinet as the sides fell
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away. The audience applauded long and loud. It was, indeed, a spectacular opening for the show.
Now the camera took us to a table where Doug, dressed in black, was about to show two members of the audience some close-up magic. Soft music played, the lights dimmed, and Doug explained, "The difficult must become habit, the habit easy, and the easy, beautiful. Then it really looks like magic." He demonstrated this principle with one of the smallest illusions in magic. As the camera panned in so close that only Doug's hands filled the television screen, he tore up a cigarette paper, wadded the pieces into a ball, and then opened it to show the paper was fully restored. Next, Doug had three cards selected from a deck. "Some people think the mind actually has the power to make physical objects move," said Doug. He showed what this might look like by waving his hand over the cards. One-by-one, the selected cards appeared as the deck separated mysteriously in the middle, pushed out the selected card, then squared itself. Now, Doug said he would like to create the illusion of destruction. A silk handkerchief was cut in half, the halves were put together, and like magic Doug restored the handkerchief! Finally, three Canadian silver dollars were shown. He borrowed a gold finger ring and ex-plained that the ring has the ability to attract silver. To demonstrate this, we watched as the coins passed magically from his right hand to join the ring in his
Caricature, of Doug Henning by Facemakers, Inc., 140 Fifth Street, Savanna, Illinois 61074,
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