In
this Magic Circus are some of the world’s greatest
magicians as guest stars: • the hilarious AMAZING CARL BALLANTINE,
“every move a picture”
• comedy magician ART METRANO
The
fifth MAGIC CIRCUS special is titled “MAGIC
WITH A PAST” and features magic history though
the ages. In the first dazzling mystery, Master Magician
Mark Wilson performs his legendary transposition, WHERE
IS MARK?, in which he instantly vanishes from the
stage and reappears
watching the show from the audience!
Following some excellent sleight-of-hand, the Wilsons then
present their most famous illusion, the ALLAKAZAM
TRAIN. Here we see the impossible, as engineer
Nani is divided into two parts in a miniature steam engine,
and then happily restored.
Equally amazing is “SUSPENSION DIMENSION,”
an exquisite version of the Harbin Levitation,
as Mark floats the mesmerized Nani high in the air in full
view of the audience. Based on Dante’s original mystery,
apparently explaining an illusion, young Greg Wilson and
Mark take the viewers BACKSTAGE WITH A MAGICIAN,
with a surprising climax.
For
the grand finale, Mark and Nani present their famed
CANVAS COVERED PACKING CASE ESCAPE,
in which, whiled surrounded by the audience, a wooden box
is built on stage by two union carpenters and enclosed in
a tight canvas cover. Then comes an amazing “TRANSFIGURATION,”
which you must see to believe.
The
final MAGIC CIRCUS special opens with the television debut
of the puzzling
GROWING ILLUSION, in which son Greg Wilson opens
the show and then
magically “grows up” and becomes Mark.
Now
comes Mark’s famous BILL IN LEMON
routine, as he has performed it throughout the world. This
precedes the charming Nani being mysteriously “misfiled,”
which is the first US performance of Robert Harbin’s
LITTLE BY LITTLE illusion, which has evolved
into Mark’s baffling MAGICIAN’S FILE
CABINET.
Rapid-fire
DOVE and SWORD PRODUCTIONS
follow, and then
Mark’s son Greg returns to the center ring to perform
his first solo illusion on television, a miniature version
of the DOLL HOUSE with a surprising finish.
Now comes magical guest RICO performing
elegant magic with silks and candles. Then Mark and Nani
present the miraculous COSTUME TRUNK, featuring
one of the most beautiful magic props ever made, designed
by Alan Wakeling and built by John Gaughan.
Mark’s
sleight of hand highlights his COLOR-CHANGING KNIFE
routine, which Mark has carried in his pocket since he was
13 years old, shot from many impossible angles.
And now we are treated to a powerful mystery designed by
Alan Wakeling, the sensational “COSMIC RAY
ILLUSION” in which Nani Darnell vanishes
instantly from between two sets of sharp spikes. After showing
the device completely empty, just as amazingly Nani reappears
for her final bow.
As
are all Magic Circus shows, these are first-generation transfers
from master broadcast tapes, which feature Mark, Nani and
all their magical guest stars performing their timeless
bits of wonder in sparkling color and scored by equally
legendary Hollywood musicians with a full orchestra in the
studio.
The
fifth MAGIC CIRCUS special is titled “MAGIC
WITH A PAST” and features magic history though
the ages. In the first dazzling mystery, Master Magician
Mark Wilson performs his legendary transposition, WHERE
IS MARK?, in which he instantly vanishes from the
stage and reappears
watching the show from the audience! 
