Don Hudson, who would mentor such renowned directors such as Norman Campbell, Harry Rasky and Norman Jewison, was producing the Wayne and Schuster television show for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Wayne and Schuster were internationally acclaimed comedians, based in Toronto, but
Manolo Cañas, a magician from Málaga, performs the Cups and Balls.
Luna De Verano was a television program produced in Spain for Canal Sur in 1990. We would like to thank Juan Tamariz and Luis Piedrahita for making this content available.
Juan Tamariz demonstrates a close-up version of the "Chop Cup" followed by an unusual stage version by Sonny Hayes and Galina.
David Williamson defies description. Nothing to read here. Move along.
While his "Cups and Balls" routine uses only two cups, as opposed to the traditional three, that is not the reason this routine is unusual.
Argentinian magician René Lavand performs one of his most well-known pieces; the Three Breadcrumbs is the classic "Three Ball Routine" layered with rich poetry and symbolism.
What accounts for the longevity of this classic? A recent survey has been touted that suggests that the public supposedly dislikes the classics of magic. The results of this survey mean, well, absolutely nothing to me, because the survey simply measures participants’ preconceived notions about magic.
Louis Tannen, the founder and original proprietor of Tannen’s Magic in Manhattan, was the first person to teach me sleight of hand. He taught me sponge balls when I was about ten or eleven years old, and later dice stacking, and the Chop Cup. By the time I was about 13 I was performing the Chop Cup for my parents’ friends at home cocktail parties, behind our four-stool home bar....
Paul Gertner performs his celebrated version of the classic "Cups and Balls" using steel ball bearings. Recorded by Larry Thornton in San Francisco, CA.
Johnny Ace Palmer performing the Cups and Balls at a private recording session in Los Angeles, CA in 1978. Later in his career, he would become known for performing the Cups using live baby chicks.
Filmed by Larry Thornton
