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'''Gary Ouellet''' (9 Jan 1945 - 8 Jun 2002) was a French Canadian television producer and magician who lived and worked in the United States. He is probably best known as the driving force behind a number of network television specials that helped some of the top performers in modern magic to gain a national and international profile.  
{{Infobox person
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| image_size                =
| alt                      =
| caption                  = Cover of Genii (1988)
| birth_name                = Gary Quart Ouellet
| birth_day                = January 9,
| birth_year                = 1945
| birth_place              = Quebec, Canada
| death_day                = June 8,
| death_year                = 2002
| death_place              = Lisbon, Portugal (heart attack)
| resting_place            = Quebec, Canada
| resting_place_coordinates = 
| nationality              = Canadian
| known_for                = Magic television specials
| notable works            =
| flourished                =
| awards                    =
| box_width                =
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'''Gary Ouellet''' (b.1945-d.2002) was a French Canadian television producer and magician who lived and worked in the United States. He is probably best known as the driving force behind a number of network television specials that helped some of the top performers in modern magic gain a national and international profile.
                               
==Life and career==
Born in Canada on January 9th, 1945, Ouellet became interested in magic as a boy after receiving a toy magic set as a present. As a teenager, he performed a magic act that was the opening for headliners at a prominent cabaret venue in Quebec City. One of his specialties at that time was a bird act. As an adult he initially pursued magic part-time while making a career as a lawyer and as a government lobbyist.  


==Life and career==
In 1978, he co-founded [[The Camirand Academy of Magic]], a Canadian publishing house, with [[Guy Camirand]].


Born in Canada in January 1945, Ouellet became interested in magic as a boy after receiving a toy magic set as a present. As a teenager, he performed a magic act that was the opening for headliners at a prominent cabaret venue in Quebec City. One of his specialties at that time was a bird act. As an adult he initially pursued magic part-time while making a career as a lawyer and as a government lobbyist. Ouellet was a member of the successful and sometimes controversial Ottawa lobbying firm Government Consultants International, starting, in 1984 along with Frank Moores, Francis Fox, and Gerald Doucet.
Ouellet was a member of the successful and sometimes controversial Ottawa lobbying firm Government Consultants International, starting, in 1984 along with Frank Moores, Francis Fox, and Gerald Doucet.


After moving to the United States to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, he became a producer and was involved in founding several successful companies, including Area 52 Entertainment and his own firm Ouellet Entertainment Inc. In the 1990s he produced more than 50 hours of network television, including the five ''[[World's Greatest Magic]]'' shows and the two ''[[World's Most Dangerous Magic]]'' specials.
After moving to the United States to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, he became a producer and was involved in founding several successful companies, including Area 52 Entertainment and his own firm Ouellet Entertainment Inc. In the 1990s he produced more than 50 hours of network television, including the five ''[[World's Greatest Magic (television series) | World's Greatest Magic]]'' shows and the two ''[[World's Most Dangerous Magic]]'' specials.


He settled in Los Angeles but also spent a considerable amount of time in |Las Vegas because of its importance as a venue for magic shows. He wrote and directed a number of big Las Vegas stage shows, including ''Melinda "First Lady of Magic"'' starring [[Melinda Saxe]], and a show with magician [[Steve Wyrick]]. He was also responsible for Saxe's 1997 television special.
He settled in Los Angeles but also spent a considerable amount of time in |Las Vegas because of its importance as a venue for magic shows. He wrote and directed a number of big Las Vegas stage shows, including ''[[Melinda: First Lady of Magic]]'' starring [[Melinda Saxe]], and a show with magician [[Steve Wyrick]]. He was also responsible for Saxe's 1997 television special.


As well as contributing to magic through his production work he also wrote a number of books and made instructional videos and DVDs, in which he taught magic skills.
As well as contributing to magic through his production work, he wrote a number of books and made instructional videos and DVDs, in which he taught magic skills. He was also a columnist for [[Genii]] magazine from the early to mid 1990s (the series was called Fulminations).


He died of a heart attack in Portugal where he was working on a television production. Writing after Ouellet's death, magician [[Jonathan Pendragon]] stated "Some producers create problems by toying with a performers act. The great producers know how to frame and place a performer so that their work is seen in the best light. Gary belonged to the second group. He loved magic, all magic, and cared deeply about every performer and the vast spectrum of styles that was paraded before the camera on what came to be known as the Gary specials. This is the affectionate nickname coined by those who were fortunate enough to be booked on the specials. We called them the Gary specials because Gary Ouellet worked for legendary producer Gary Pudney. It can honestly be said that these two men are responsible for proving to the world that there were other great magicians besides David Copperfield."
He died of a heart attack in Portugal where he was working on a television production. Writing after Ouellet's death, magician [[Jonathan Pendragon]] stated ''"Some producers create problems by toying with a performers act. The great producers know how to frame and place a performer so that their work is seen in the best light. Gary belonged to the second group. He loved magic, all magic, and cared deeply about every performer and the vast spectrum of styles that was paraded before the camera on what came to be known as the Gary specials. This is the affectionate nickname coined by those who were fortunate enough to be booked on the specials. We called them the Gary specials because Gary Ouellet worked for legendary producer [[Gary Pudney]]. It can honestly be said that these two men are responsible for proving to the world that there were other great magicians besides [[David Copperfield]]."''


== Books by Gary Ouellet ==
== Books by Gary Ouellet ==
 
{{Youtube Thumb|SHVJ0PYtOW8}}
* (1978) [[Finger on the Card]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #1)
{{Youtube Thumb|wugyjUN4Wy0}}
{{Youtube Thumb|eipBA1Rub84}}
* (1978) [[Finger on the Card]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #1) (Note: Wrote first edition of this book under the pseudonym Kagliostro)
* (1979) [[Supershells]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #2)
* (1979) [[Supershells]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #2)
* (1980) [[Classy Close-Up]] (lecture notes)
* (1980) [[Classy Close-Up]] (lecture notes)
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* (1980) [[The Two Goblets]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #4)
* (1980) [[The Two Goblets]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #4)
* (1981) [[Threshold]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #5)
* (1981) [[Threshold]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #5)
* (1982) [[Meir Yedid’s Incredible Close-Up Magic]]
* (1982) [[Incredible Close-Up Magic|Meir Yedid’s Incredible Close-Up Magic]]
* (1983) [[The Homing Ring]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #6)
* (1983) [[The Homing Ring]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #6)
* (1986) Eric DeCamps’ [[The Coin Connection]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 2, #1)
* (1986) Eric DeCamps' [[The Coin Connection]] ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 2, #1)
* (1986) [[Finger on the Card]], '''Second Edition''' ([[Masters of Magic]], Vol. 1, #1)
* (1986) [[ProControl]]
* (1986) [[ProControl]]
* (1986) [[PowerSleights]] (lecture notes)
* (1986) [[PowerSleights]] (lecture notes)
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* (1991) [[The 1991 Lecture]] (lecture notes)
* (1991) [[The 1991 Lecture]] (lecture notes)
* (1992) [[Class Act: The Magic of Tony Binarelli]]
* (1992) [[Class Act: The Magic of Tony Binarelli]]
* (1994) [[The Pass]]
* (1994) [[The Pass (book) | The Pass]]
* (1994) [[Fulminations Plus, Vol. I]]
* (1994) [[Fulminations Plus, Vol. I]]
* (1996) [[Magic on TV: Performance Secrets]] (lecture notes)
* (1998) [[Fulminations, Vol. II]]
* (1998) [[Fulminations, Vol. II]]
* (199?) [[Music for Magicians]] (book with CD)
* (2000) [[Music and the Magicians]] (book with CD)
* (199?) [[Magic on TV: Performance Secrets]] (lecture notes)


== Other Marketed Products by Gary Ouellet ==
== Other Marketed Products by Gary Ouellet ==
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* (198?) [[The Ouellet Wand]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (198?) [[The Ouellet Wand]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (198?) [[Realistic Karate Coin]] ([[Sterling Magic]])
* (198?) [[Realistic Karate Coin]] ([[Sterling Magic]])
* (199?) [[Top of the Heap]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (1992) [[Top of the Heap]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (199?) [[Portent]], with [[Alain Choquette]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (1992) [[Portent]], with [[Alain Choquette]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (199?) [[The Proton Deck]], with [[Patrick Reymond]] and [[Jean Boucher]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (199?) [[The Proton Deck]], with [[Patrick Reymond]] and [[Jean Boucher]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (199?) [[Thingamajig]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
* (199?) [[Thingamajig]] ([[Camirand Academy of Magic]])
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*Snow ([[David Copperfield]])
*Snow ([[David Copperfield]])
*Fireflies ([[Melinda]])
*Fireflies ([[Melinda]])
*Buried Alive (performed by [[Lance Burton]] on [[Hidden Secrets of Magic]])
*Buried Alive (performed by [[Lance Burton]] on [[The Hidden Secrets of Magic]])
 
== Video Links ==
 
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ2QHYJ9xSk Gary Ouellet Performs Supershells]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl4VwGixpMY John Houdi Performs Gary Ouellet's The Two Goblets]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blvaQZKmkn0&feature=related Daryl Sato Performs Gary Ouellet's A Dream of Aces]


== External Links and References ==
== Video Clips ==
*'''Gary Ouellet''' performs his three-shell routine, [[Supershells]]
{{#ev:youtube|mQ2QHYJ9xSk}}


* {{Wikipedia}}
{{References}}
{{Wikipedia}}
* [[Genii 1988 May]]
* Cover [[Genii 1991 July]]
* [[Genii 2002 September]] - Several Ouellet tributes
* [http://www.camirandmagic.com/en_gary_inmemo.html Online memorial]
* [http://www.camirandmagic.com/en_gary_inmemo.html Online memorial]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1192870 Gary Ouellet] at the Internet Movie Database
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1192870 Gary Ouellet] at the Internet Movie Database
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[[Category:Canadian magicians|Ouellet, Gary]]
[[Category:Canadian magicians]]
[[Category:Biographies|Ouellet, Gary]]
[[Category:Biographies]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ouellet,Gary}}
[[Category:Featured Article Candidate]]
[[de:Gary Ouellet]]

Latest revision as of 04:10, 8 February 2024

Gary Ouellet

Cover of Genii (1988)
BornGary Quart Ouellet
January 9, 1945
Quebec, Canada
DiedJune 8, 2002 (age 57)
Lisbon, Portugal (heart attack)
Resting placeQuebec, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Known forMagic television specials
CategoriesBooks by Gary Ouellet

Gary Ouellet (b.1945-d.2002) was a French Canadian television producer and magician who lived and worked in the United States. He is probably best known as the driving force behind a number of network television specials that helped some of the top performers in modern magic gain a national and international profile.

Life and career

Born in Canada on January 9th, 1945, Ouellet became interested in magic as a boy after receiving a toy magic set as a present. As a teenager, he performed a magic act that was the opening for headliners at a prominent cabaret venue in Quebec City. One of his specialties at that time was a bird act. As an adult he initially pursued magic part-time while making a career as a lawyer and as a government lobbyist.

In 1978, he co-founded The Camirand Academy of Magic, a Canadian publishing house, with Guy Camirand.

Ouellet was a member of the successful and sometimes controversial Ottawa lobbying firm Government Consultants International, starting, in 1984 along with Frank Moores, Francis Fox, and Gerald Doucet.

After moving to the United States to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, he became a producer and was involved in founding several successful companies, including Area 52 Entertainment and his own firm Ouellet Entertainment Inc. In the 1990s he produced more than 50 hours of network television, including the five World's Greatest Magic shows and the two World's Most Dangerous Magic specials.

He settled in Los Angeles but also spent a considerable amount of time in |Las Vegas because of its importance as a venue for magic shows. He wrote and directed a number of big Las Vegas stage shows, including Melinda: First Lady of Magic starring Melinda Saxe, and a show with magician Steve Wyrick. He was also responsible for Saxe's 1997 television special.

As well as contributing to magic through his production work, he wrote a number of books and made instructional videos and DVDs, in which he taught magic skills. He was also a columnist for Genii magazine from the early to mid 1990s (the series was called Fulminations).

He died of a heart attack in Portugal where he was working on a television production. Writing after Ouellet's death, magician Jonathan Pendragon stated "Some producers create problems by toying with a performers act. The great producers know how to frame and place a performer so that their work is seen in the best light. Gary belonged to the second group. He loved magic, all magic, and cared deeply about every performer and the vast spectrum of styles that was paraded before the camera on what came to be known as the Gary specials. This is the affectionate nickname coined by those who were fortunate enough to be booked on the specials. We called them the Gary specials because Gary Ouellet worked for legendary producer Gary Pudney. It can honestly be said that these two men are responsible for proving to the world that there were other great magicians besides David Copperfield."

Books by Gary Ouellet

Other Marketed Products by Gary Ouellet

Major Illusions Created By Gary Ouellet

Last Illusions Offered on Ouellet Entertainment www.magictv.cc

  • Carnival Games
  • Nightmare at the Gallows
  • The Greased Lightning Stage Vanish
  • The Brett Daniels Appearing Aircraft
  • Shadowlands
  • Airtime
  • The Made in Japan Illusion
  • The Millenium Cabinet
  • Russian Roulette
  • Skewered

Illusions For Which Gary Ouellet Was a Major Contributor

Video Clips

  • Gary Ouellet performs his three-shell routine, Supershells

References

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