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 who would eventually make over twenty-five appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Hudson approached Ross Bertram, a Toronto-based magician, about creating and presenting some visually startling close up magic that would be intermixed with live interactive dance sequences. Bertram went on to create a superb magical sequence—surreal at times—using virtuoso cup and ball technique to make balls appear, multiple, vanish and reappear beneath cups coupled with a faux explanation in which miniature dancers appeared to move the objects around.
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In 1953, the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada created a weekly documentary series, specifically for television, called “On the Spot.” It was designed like a short newsreel, only fifteen minutes long, and it was filmed on site with a skeleton crew of three.
Ross Bertram presents his own produced film on the Egyptian Cups and Balls. Here, he presents a beautiful sequence of cups and ball moves, some of classic origin and others of his own creation.
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Ross Bertram demonstrates one of his pet coin tricks, Rub Down, which was featured in the Stars of Magic series in 1951.
Learn more about Ross Bertram.