tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post8531580717285513554..comments2024-03-28T03:39:00.025-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: The first Houdini stage musical, MAN OF MAGICJohn Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-83151205155964287152018-01-21T11:34:39.158-08:002018-01-21T11:34:39.158-08:00Fascinated to read all the comments as I have rece...Fascinated to read all the comments as I have recently acquired the OCR LP. I shall be putting up on Ebay tomorrow for anyone to bid. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552964225607968366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-1747434751718769672017-03-15T06:19:20.327-07:002017-03-15T06:19:20.327-07:00Wonderful story, Karl. Thank you for sharing.Wonderful story, Karl. Thank you for sharing.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-53631203517580680502017-03-15T06:17:05.581-07:002017-03-15T06:17:05.581-07:00In Glasgow during the late sixties I became friend...In Glasgow during the late sixties I became friends with Bobbie Willis (daughter of Denny Willis, the famous variety act, mainly in Britain)who appeared in the chorous line when the show was in London. She became famous herself in later year in Scotland. That how I became aware of the show and often listened to her LP of the show. Fast forward now to the mid seventies when I was working as head Karl Bartonihttp://www.dragonskull.co.uk/bartoni.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-11132349595861660972015-02-24T15:07:45.949-08:002015-02-24T15:07:45.949-08:00Wonderful memories, Alan. Thanks so much for shari...Wonderful memories, Alan. Thanks so much for sharing.<br /><br />Not sure I'll be posting any more tracks from the album. Don't want to push my luck with YouTube. They tend to be a little sensitive about music.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-33970885115745534232015-02-24T06:22:07.713-08:002015-02-24T06:22:07.713-08:00I saw this show in London for my 13th birthday. Th...I saw this show in London for my 13th birthday. That's a long time ago now. I had a copy of the original cast recording which I foolishly sold a long time ago. I came across this site while searching for a replacement. <br />I still have vivid memories of this production. It opened, as far as I can remember, with a spotlight shining through the gauze curtain, which I think was painted to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-21556187883800923512014-01-08T19:14:10.816-08:002014-01-08T19:14:10.816-08:00That's is cool. What a great memory. Thanks fo...That's is cool. What a great memory. Thanks for sharing, John.<br /><br />Tomorrow I'll be posting a clip of some music from the play. That might bring back some memories.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-35638513853181671092014-01-08T16:53:55.734-08:002014-01-08T16:53:55.734-08:00I was on a working holiday in the UK in 1966 and m...I was on a working holiday in the UK in 1966 and met a student working as a stage hand with the Piccadilly Theatre. I was introduced to Harry Pegg "head carpenter" who gave me a job in early September. I subsequently worked as a stage hand throughout the entire production of Man of Magic. One of my most enduring memories is of Stubby Kaye. At one point he entered the stage through a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-19839173500894626402013-12-26T23:25:49.622-08:002013-12-26T23:25:49.622-08:00Wow, you were a musician in the pit? That's gr...Wow, you were a musician in the pit? That's great. Thanks for commenting. You're part of Houdini history! :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-35931360906762274312013-12-26T17:06:20.502-08:002013-12-26T17:06:20.502-08:00Nice to see comments from the audiece. As one of ...Nice to see comments from the audiece. As one of only three women in the pit this was one of my first ventures as a professional musician into th world of musicals. Loved the Manchester try out, the company and learnt lots from the experienced old hands. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-40205816842000221692013-11-13T01:38:54.605-08:002013-11-13T01:38:54.605-08:00Before opening in London it tried out on Mancheste...Before opening in London it tried out on Manchester where I saw it. I recall one scene set on the Docks in Southampton where a crowd was awaiting the arrival of Houdini on the ( I think ) Queen Mary .At the rear of the stage came a small model of the liner pulled along by a rope. The model snagged on something and a stagehand had to crawl out to free it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-81126611554567721022013-01-02T07:53:46.010-08:002013-01-02T07:53:46.010-08:00Wow, I've never talked to anyone who actually ...Wow, I've never talked to anyone who actually saw this play, let alone attended opening night! Very cool. Thanks for sharing. :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-28113369650252437652012-12-30T01:43:56.721-08:002012-12-30T01:43:56.721-08:00Being then a very young but professional magician,...Being then a very young but professional magician, I attended the opening night by invitation. It has to be said that the musical did not have any real impact, either by didnt of its songs or generally of its magical scenes. The critics were less than impressed and alas the show closed early. I cant help feeling that there is a good musical to be made out of Erich Weiss's (Harry Houdini) life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com