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Paul Harris

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Revision as of 12:45, 11 November 2008 by Jpecore (Talk | contribs) (Published Effects)

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Paul Harris is an inventor, magician, and writer. Described in Genii Magazine (December 1996) as "the most innovative magic mind of our day" and listed in MAGIC Magazine (August 1999) as one of "the 100 magicians who shaped the art of magic in America."

He has invented many original tricks including: Linking playing cards, a solid deck, a torn and restored card effect, coins materializing from mirrors, a card that appears to turning ninety degrees when pushed into the pack, and a torn and restored quarter.

MAGIC magazine (August 1999) states that "the feats of astonishments that Paul creates and teaches are in the repertoires of a multitude of working pros."

Harris has performed at the Dunes Hotel and at other locations on the Las Vegas Strip and was a technical advisor for David Blaine's Magic Man and Street Magic TV shows. He also wrote the screenplay for the abysmal 1987 film Nice Girls Don't Explode.

In 2006, Paul received the "Creative Fellowship" honor from The Board of Trustees of the Academy of Magical Arts.

MAGIC magazine did a Paul Harris cover issue on June 2007, which contained a great cover story "Living in Astonishment" by Eric Mead.

Noted illusions

Amongst the magicians who are known to have presented Paul Harris creations are David Copperfield and Doug Henning. In the field of card and close-up magic, Paul Harris more or less re-innovated the genre during the 1970-80s, and is held in very high regard among magicians in the western world.

Doug Henning performed a routine called "Twilight" on his third TV special (December 17, 1977). An effect using a coin and a mirror where the mirror image of the coin becomes real. A surreal piece.

David Copperfield in a 1984 special (the one where he made the Statue of Liberty disappear) performed a linking card effect "The Immaculate Connection." In this routine, the magician tears holes in the center of three playing cards in order to create three "frames." The illusion consists in causing the frames to appear to link and unlink without damaging any of the cards. At the conclusion, the cards are sometimes passed for inspection; to all appearances no extra cards or gimmicks are employed.

Rudy Coby, in his English TV series, used Paul Harris's odd idea of letting the helium in a balloon magically change place with the air in the performer's lungs—-so, as the balloon slowly sunk to the floor, the performer simultaneously went up in the air with an all squeaky voice.

Paul Harris has been a technical advisor/magic consultant for David Blaine's TV Shows.

Featured

Paul has been featured in:

  • Genii
    • September 1985 - Paul Harris Cover Issue
  • Tannen's MAGIC MANUSCRIPT MAGAZINE
    • Nov/Dec 1984 Paul Harris Cover Issue
  • Magic Magazine
    • August 1999 - Features / The Century / John Moehring / Page: 54 - Paul Harris listed as one of the top influential magician of the century.
    • June 2007 - Paul Harris Cover Issue
  • Reel Magic Quarterly DVD
    • (Volume 1 Episode 1) 2007 - Paul Harris Interview


Bibliography

Books

Lecture Notes

  • THE P. H. SUPER SAMPLER VOLUME 1 - Flash Fold, Solid Deception, Seductive Switch Flap Jacks Bleached Black Jack, Vacuum Cleaner Cards
  • THE P. H. SUPER SAMPLER VOLUME 2 - Super Swindle, Overkill, Ultimate Rip-off, Silver and Aces, Opern Revelation, Bizarre Twist.

Products

  • 1973 Vanishing Deck
  • 1976 SIGNED CARD IN MATCH BOX (Flash Fold) GEM & JANA PRODUCTIONS
  • 1979 Twilight
  • 1980 Screwed Deck
  • 1980 Hard Boiled Quarter / Half
  • 1980 Nightshades
  • 1980 Solid Deception
  • 1992? Portable Smoke, Viking Mfg. Co., was fashioned by Paul Harris, Charlie Hatchette, and George Robinson, Jr., with advice and aid from Eric Mead, Patrick Martin
  • 2000 Naked Angels on Bikes
  • 2000 Reality Twister
  • 2000 Lip Smacker
  • 2000 Twilight Angels
  • 2004 Deep Astonishment
  • 2005 One and Only
  • 2006 Deep Astonishment II

Videos

  • Stars of Magic Video #3-Paul Harris One / A-1Multimedia
  • Stars of Magic Video #4-Paul Harris Two / A-1Multimedia
  • Stars of Magic Video #5-Paul Harris Three/A-1Multimedia
  • Stars of Magic Video #6-Paul Harris Four/A-1Multimedia
  • Stars of Magic Video #7-Paul Harris Five/A-1Multimedia
  • PAUL HARRIS #1 – Tannen’s Video Tape Series No. 2 (Same as Stars of Magic Video #3)
  • PAUL HARRIS #2 – Tannen’s Video Tape Series No. 5 (Same as Stars of Magic Video #4)
  • PAUL HARRIS #3 – Tannen’s Video Tape Series No. 10 (Same as Stars of Magic Video #5)
  • PAUL HARRIS #4 - Tannen’s Video Tape Series No. 12 (Same as Stars of Magic Video #6)
  • PAUL HARRIS #5 - Tannen’s Video Tape Series No. 14 (Same as Stars of Magic Video#7)
  • PAUL HARRIS IMMACULATE CLOSE-UP (Same as Stars of Magic Video #6)
  • Art of Astonishment Video
  • Cardian Angel Video Tips: Handlings and perfomance tips: Includes like "Double Animation". "Tug-Of-War", "Packet Cardian", "Foreign Cardian", "What About Girls?" Hosted by Mike Maxwell.


Published Effects

Paul has published hundreds of his effects in books, magazines, videos and manuscripts.

Paul Harris Presents

These are products developed by others, sometimes in coordination with Paul and marketed under the "Paul Harris Presents" product line.

  • Darryl Vanamburg's "Black Widow" - The Black Widow enables you to invisibly exchange objects on a spectators hand
  • Ultra Visual Nightshades by Mark Allen and Paul Harris - an update to Paul's Improv Nightshades. Includes Ultra Peeler, Mark Allen's up-grade of Paul's peeled and restored playing card from AOA.
  • Ladybug by Paul Vigil, Paul Harris and Roy Kueppers - Placing the blade on bare flesh, you pierce a fingetip and squeeze out a single drop of blood. The drop of blood turns into a real ladybug.
  • Linking Laces by Harris, Jockisch, and Goodwin - link someone's shoe laces
  • The Incredible Shrinking Finger by Dan Hauss (Additional handling by Paul Harris) - Shrink your pinkie down to a weird stumpy thing
  • Daniel Garcia Project DVDs
  • Dis Jointed by Joe Russell - new method for "Shinko's classic Arm Twist"
  • Escalator by Gaetan Bloom, Paul Harris, Rodney Whitlock
  • Gut Buster by Andrew Mayne
  • Juan Hundred Dollar Bill Switch (with Hundy 500 Bonus) by Doug McKenzie
  • Puncture by Alex Linian
  • Strange Travelers by David Blaine
  • Warp One by David Jenkins
  • Torn by Daniel Garcia
  • UV Nightshades by Mark Allen and Paul Harris, includes Ultra Peeler, Mark Allen's up-grade of Paul's peeled and restored playing card from AOA.

Contributions

Books, videos and products that Paul Harris has provided contributions:

  • Cros Bones by Daniel Cros and Paul Harris. (1978) - a modified, miniaturized "Talking Skull".
  • Encore III by Michael Ammar (book) - Cards Into Case (Mark Lefler) Page 46: Cards are fanned when the magician suddenly realizes he forgot to take them from the case. Contains a Paul Harris' presentation and handling.
  • Magic for Dummies by David Pogue (book): Paul is in the credits and includes a card tick called the shuffling Lesson by Chad Long which is from AoA.
  • Robert Neal Folding Money Fooling (book): Included in this book is Robert Neale’s famous “Bunny Bill,” long sold as a separate manuscript. (A bunny magically appears from a top hat folded from a bill. Paul Harris adds presentational tips.
  • Stars of Magic Video #11-All Stars/ Garcia, Roth, Harris, Dingle/ A-1 Multimedia: Paul Harris (Cards Across, 4 Ace Revelation),
  • Stars of Magic Video #16-Sampler / Garcia/Harris/Dingle/Roth/Bilis& DeCamps / A-1 Multimedia: contains Harris’ Super Swindle
  • Eye Exam by Danny Archer (product): Includes a page of additional tips and hints called Eye Exam Extras that give hints and tips, and a finish where the cards are examinable (thanks to a Paul Harris suggestion).
  • Blister Book by Jack Kent Tillar: contributions by Paul Harris.

External links and references