Doug Henning
Doug Henning helped bring a new sense of colour, warmth and wonder to stage and television magic.
From Canada to Broadway
Born in Winnipeg in 1947, Henning combined an interest in magic with theatre. Rather than presenting the distant, formal figure of the traditional illusionist, he developed a smiling, energetic persona with long hair and colourful costumes. The Broadway musical The Magic Show opened in 1974 and made this distinctive approach visible to a much wider audience.
Magic for television
His World of Magic television specials brought large illusions into family living rooms. Their appeal lay in the combination of theatrical production and his apparent delight at the impossible. He also appeared in Merlin on Broadway. Henning belongs to the generation that demonstrated how a magician could be the centre of a contemporary popular entertainment production.
A lasting influence
Henning died in 2000. His career remains a useful reference for performers studying stage character: the costume, music, movement and attitude can form one recognisable artistic identity. Collectors should distinguish original programmes and publicity material from later reproductions.
Sources and image credits
https://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/doug-henning/
https://www.cabbagetownpeople.ca/person/doug-henning/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doug_Henning_1977.jpg
NBC Television, 1977. Wikimedia Commons: public domain in the United States (published without copyright notice).