Can we see this guy in Vegas?

kittynh · 4th July 2003, 11:17 AM

I remember seeing a magician on tv who was some bumbling old guy who had a kind of slutty tart for an assistant. I only caught a few moments, but it was so funny. I was wondering if he was based in Vegas and maybe at the TAM I could get over to see him.

No clue who he is!

Brown · 4th July 2003, 10:40 PM

A funny "bumbling old guy?" The only one who comes to mind is Carl Ballantine. I believe Carl is in his eighties, but he's still performing.

Carl would get huge laughs for messing up a trick (and he would often lose his temper at his assistant and the unseen "guys backstage"), but in reality, he was a pretty good magician.

Carl had a regular role in the 1960s TV comedy, "McHale's Navy."

bignickel · 4th July 2003, 10:47 PM

I don't think that who's Kitten's talking about. I saw the magician she's referring to perform on one of those series on 'magic' that they have every now and again.

The 'mistakes' were definitely intentional, and he had no respect from his smoking-on-stage assistant. I remember him doing a bird act that left his tuxedo with more than a couple of white spots.

teddygrahams · 7th July 2003, 07:49 PM

The Amazing Jonathan does something similar, but he's not that old. He was in Vegas this year.

RSLancastr · 7th July 2003, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brown
A funny "bumbling old guy?" The only one who comes to mind is Carl Ballantine. I believe Carl is in his eighties, but he's still performing.

I shook hands with Mr. Ballentine at The Magic Castle a couple of years ago. I was there to see a comic magician (the name escapes me for the moment), and Mr. Ballentine was in the audience.

Halfway through his act, the man on stage4 pretended to spot allentine in the audience, gasped, and introduced him as one of his idols. Ballentine graciously stood and smiled at the audience, and sat back down.

At that point, the man on sage said "And I promise, Mr. Ballentine: from this moment on - only my own material."

Ballentine got a big kick out of it

NoZed Avenger · 7th July 2003, 09:21 PM

I think Kitty refers to the Great Tomsoni (Johnny Thompson).

One of my personal favorites.

NA

Edited to add: I shamefacedly add that it is actually "The Great Tomsoni and Company," which includes the talented Pamela Hayes as his assistant. Leaving her out was a momentary - but unforgivable - oversight. She was a full partner in the act and very talented in her own right.

4th July 2003, 11:17 AM	#1
kittynh The Hupsu Detective auctioneer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: If I told the aliens could find me, and you know they read this forum Posts: 20,274	Can we see this guy in Vegas? I remember seeing a magician on tv who was some bumbling old guy who had a kind of slutty tart for an assistant. I only caught a few moments, but it was so funny. I was wondering if he was based in Vegas and maybe at the TAM I could get over to see him. No clue who he is!
	__________________ "The Bible is like a person, if you torture it long enough you can get it to say anything" (some minister on National Geographic! I don't know his name but he rocks in my book) WWW.BADALIEN.ORG - not all the buttons work yet, and the science content is coming...but it's ALIVE!

4th July 2003, 10:40 PM	#2
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,025	A funny "bumbling old guy?" The only one who comes to mind is Carl Ballantine. I believe Carl is in his eighties, but he's still performing. Carl would get huge laughs for messing up a trick (and he would often lose his temper at his assistant and the unseen "guys backstage"), but in reality, he was a pretty good magician. Carl had a regular role in the 1960s TV comedy, "McHale's Navy."
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

4th July 2003, 10:47 PM	#3
bignickel Mad Mod Poet God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,582	I don't think that who's Kitten's talking about. I saw the magician she's referring to perform on one of those series on 'magic' that they have every now and again. The 'mistakes' were definitely intentional, and he had no respect from his smoking-on-stage assistant. I remember him doing a bird act that left his tuxedo with more than a couple of white spots.
	__________________ "You can find that book everywhere and the risk is that many people who read it believe that those fairy tales are real. I think I have the responsibility to clear things up to unmask the cheap lies contained in books like that." - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

7th July 2003, 07:49 PM	#4
teddygrahams Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 275	The Amazing Jonathan does something similar, but he's not that old. He was in Vegas this year.

7th July 2003, 08:07 PM	#5
RSLancastr Philosopher www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Los Angeles Area Posts: 8,071	Quote: Originally posted by Brown A funny "bumbling old guy?" The only one who comes to mind is Carl Ballantine. I believe Carl is in his eighties, but he's still performing. I shook hands with Mr. Ballentine at The Magic Castle a couple of years ago. I was there to see a comic magician (the name escapes me for the moment), and Mr. Ballentine was in the audience. Halfway through his act, the man on stage4 pretended to spot allentine in the audience, gasped, and introduced him as one of his idols. Ballentine graciously stood and smiled at the audience, and sat back down. At that point, the man on sage said "And I promise, Mr. Ballentine: from this moment on - only my own material." Ballentine got a big kick out of it

7th July 2003, 09:21 PM	#6
NoZed Avenger Bitter Whiner Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 8,411	I think Kitty refers to the Great Tomsoni (Johnny Thompson). One of my personal favorites. NA Edited to add: I shamefacedly add that it is actually "The Great Tomsoni and Company," which includes the talented Pamela Hayes as his assistant. Leaving her out was a momentary - but unforgivable - oversight. She was a full partner in the act and very talented in her own right.