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"I came away from the DVD & text with the feeling that he was truly a great magician and an honest, hard working, innovative gentleman. My favorite performing magician by far was Dante. I saw him many times and he was exceptional. I get the feeling from your production that I would have thought the same about Thurston if I had seen him. An excellent documentary."
- Dr. Robert Albo, MD World Famous Magic Author, Historian, and Collector
- Bill Andrews Magician and Historian SAM President - 1987-1988
"Just finished watching "When Thurston Came To Town", for which I thank you very much! It was a thrill to see and hear so many names in magic talk about Thurston. He was before my time but I knew Jane very well. She would be very proud to see how you have honored his life. Once again thank you very very much."
- Don Arthur Magician and Ringling Brothers Circus Clown
"...tremendous and must have been a labor of love." - Seth Briliant (TheMagicCafe.com)
"Everyone who considers themselves a magician should see this DVD. Howard Thurston was my idol and this DVD brings back memories that I treasure." - John Calvert Legendary Magician
"I greatly enjoyed the Thurston DVD." - Eddie Dawes World Renowned Author and Historian Prominent Member of the Magic Circle
"The DVD is just great! It is fantastic and something to treasure. I loved it. The whole thing was great and wonderful. I especially enjoyed the rare footage of Thurston performing for the crippled children at Bellevue Hospital and Jane Thurston singing 'My Daddy Is A Hocus Pocus Man.' It was dynamite!"
Stage Magician and Illusion Builder
"The new DVD "When Thurston Came to Town" has now been released by noted Thurston collector Rory Feldman. This DVD is a broadened and visually enhanced version of William V. Rauscher's magic lecture of the same name, which he presented during a Magic Collectors' Association weekend back in the 1990s. Feldman has certainly put his heart and soul into this project. What you get is Bill's wonderful lecture supported by never-before-seen photos of Thurston and his memorabilia, every known archival film footage of Thurston including some never-before-seen, interviews with leading collectors and magicians who either saw Thurston or were influenced by him, recordings of Thurston's voice, his daughter Jane singing, "My Daddy is a Hocus Pocus Man," and much, much more. With Jim Steinmeyer's forthcoming book on Thurston, the timing on this DVD couldn't be better. It is not available through magic dealers but through Rory Feldman. Rory's website is: www.thurstonmastermagician.com. Bill and Rory are to be congratulated for this effort to elevate Thurston back on to the pedestal as America's favorite magician, a position he so justly deserves."
The above message from Tom Ewing was taken from "Alan Watson's Magic New Zealand - Issue Number: #756"
Click here to see Tom Ewing's comment poster on The Genii Forum.
- Tom Ewing Magician, Historian, and Collector
"Congratulations on a job well done. Thurston was truly an amazing person." - Art FriedmanMagician, Historian, and Collector
“The material is really quite wonderful. An unabashed homage to a one-of-a-kind entertainer, a man who was an enormous star in his prime, which lasted several decades. Standing out among all this captivating material are the film clips of Thurston. The entire package - a six panel sleeve with a slipcase and 32-page biography of Thurston - is beautifully produced.”
- Genii Magazine July 2010 -- Full Page Review
"You have produced a master piece in your DVD...When Thurston Came To Town. It is a great piece of magic history, very well documented. I thought I knew a lot about Thurston however I was pleased to learn even more from your DVD. You and your host, Bill Rauscher, are to be commended for the time and effort you both put into the making of this one-of-a-kind DVD. Anyone who enjoys the history of magic and magicians should have a copy in their collection. By the way, the packaging of your DVD is terrific, the best I have ever seen." - Ray Goulet Magician, Historian, and Collector
LETTER FROM RICHARD L. GUSTAFSON
- Richard L. Gustafson Magician and Historian SAM President - 1973-1974 Editor "M-U-M" - 1966-1968
"I genuinely enjoyed everything about your Thurston project. It was scholarly, entertaining, and beautifully produced. Thank you!" - Bjorn Hanson, Ph.D. Magic Historian and Collector
"I did purchase "When Thurston Came to Town" and love it. I purchased two as I have a friend that is 81 years old; who is a big fan of Thurston and had never seen any moving pictures of his performances. Thank you for putting this together, he loved it and am glad he had an opportunity to see Thurston while still with us. I thought you should know that the production truly made an 81 year old mans year!!!"
- Mark Jarvis Magic Collector
"A wonderful contribution to the history of magic and Thurston. They [the DVD's] are wonderfully done." - Ken Klosterman Magician, Historian, and Collector
"I have just spent a memorable evening with Howard Thurston...'When Thurston Came To Town' the DVD, is a GREAT contribution to our ART. Every magic aficionado must see it."
- Stan Kramien Magician and Illusionist
"Three years ago, Feldman approached Rauscher about creating a video version of When Thurston Came To Town. The result is this nearly three-hour DVD set that place Thurston squarely back on his pedestal as the greatest American magician of his time. Rauscher acts as host and narrator of the documentary, an annotated version of his 2000 lecture. The original talk has been greatly expanded through the use of hundreds of images from the Feldman collection, as well as nineteen rare film clips -- nearly every surviving piece of footage available.... this DVD set contains many rare treats -- among them Thurston's voice, not once, but several times. And then there's marvelous footage of Thurston in action, showing the scope of his mammoth show. Particularly fascinating is film of an outdoor appearance at Bellevue Hospital in the 1920's, when Thurston brought practically his whole illusion show to the patients. Seeing his handling of the Dove Catching net is a lesson in how the trick is supposed to be done, and it shows that Thurston was indeed as good as a performer as we've been told. The closing moments of the DVD, when Jane Thurston (in her eighties) sings the original song "My Daddy Is A Hocus Pocus Man," are a fitting finale that humanize the whole story. The production values of the DVD are very good. The tri-fold slipcase includes a 32-page color booklet with a previously unreleased press biography of Thurston. In all, it's a beautiful package... those who buy it will find new appreciation for Howard Thurston and his place in American magic."
- Magic Magazine Reviewed by David Charvet August 2010 -- Full Page Review
"A 'must have' item for historians and enthusiasts." - MagiGuy (TheMagicCafe.com)
"If you get the opportunity to purchase Rory's DVD on Thurston that he worked with Bill Rauscher on, I recommend it. It's very nicely done." -- "Buy the DVD. It's worth it." - Frances Mai-Ling
"It's really wonderful. Excellent work! The audio message from Thurston seeming to talk to his friend from heaven was fantastic. He really had superb voice. Never knew this existed." - John Martin Magic Collector
"The work you put into this production is impressive. Your Thurston collection, Rory, is the best and most comprehensive there is. But in particular we are grateful for your gathering, documenting and putting into video the statements of all those who had the opportunity to see and meet Thurston. The stories from people like John Calvert, Larry Weeks, and even the Dorny recordings gave us a glimpse of the magician. It was a particular treat to hear William Self telling us the story of how he won the magic contest and performed on stage with him. Your efforts will preserve the Thurston legacy long after all the witnesses are gone. THANK YOU again for such a contribution to magic history! May there be more installments by Rory Feldman Productions, and may there be more narratives and research by you, Bill! (BTW, your diction is impeccable!)" - Norm and Lupe Nielsen Magicians, Collectors, and Historians
"A visual and audio treat awaits the purchaser of this DVD that was created to honor the greatest magician who ever lived; Howard Thurston!" - Ron Pascu Illusionist, Historian, and Collector
"I spent a very enjoyable afternoon yesterday watching 'When Thurston
Came To Town.' Now, I know what you are thinking, I should have been
out playing tennis or running a marathon but no, I was lounging on my
sofa watching, with great joy, the story of the world's greatest
magician (the title really fit him like a glove). Like so many
others, I regret not having seen the Thurston show. I guess it was
about 1932 (I was 12) when I listened to the Thurston radio program
and sent away for his magic booklet. I remember his sponsor was the
Swift meat packing company. I don't know what happened to the booklet
but I still have a mental picture of the orange cover with a drawing
of the master. You did a great service to the magic community
with this DVD. It will be viewed and enjoyed by magicians for
decades. I can certainly appreciate the time and effort you put into
it." - Edd Patterson Famous Children's Magic Show Performer
"Thurston deserves every minute on this comprehensive DVD. He was the man people said he was and more." - Charles Reynolds Co-Author of 100 Years of Magic Posters
- Adele Friel Rhindress Harry Blackstone Sr.'s "Elusive Moth"
"A few days ago I received a copy of your DVD: When Thurston Came to Town. Unbelievable! I have watched and listened. It was like being transported into another dimension. You forget everything around you while you penetrate the soul and artistic life of this Maestro. I enjoyed every second of it, and I will treasure it. Also, I like the compendium booklet; the written biography you did. In my library I have 8-10 books of the Master, but I never enjoyed so much the "visual" life of Thurston as I did with your DVD. Please give my compliments to Rory Feldman for the beautiful cover, and all the work of graphic prints." - Silvan Famous European Magician
"The DVD is fascinating!" -Sammy Smith Editor of The Linking Ring Magician, Author Collector, & Historian
"Congratulations to you and Bill on a very pretty, informative, and well-produced collection of important material. You did a great job." - Jim Steinmeyer World Famous Illusion Designer, Inventor, Magician, Author & Historian
"I just finished viewing your Thurston DVD I only have one word to describe this most comprehensive collection on Thurston, MAGNIFICENT!!! I now know more about Thurston than I know about myself. Great job on this wonderful reference for the beginner or professional entertainer. As they say, the more you know about history the more you'll understand the workings about almost anything or anyone. Once again, congrats and wonderful job!"
Magician, Historian, and Collector
"There were magicians and then there was Thurston. Thanks to Mr. Feldman, this artist finally gets the attention he deserves. This DVD is required viewing for everyone with a true love of the theatre."
- Charles Windley Magician, Historian, and Collector |
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