[accessibleimage] Blind magicians

Hi,
Not sure if this is off list or not. It's sort of, you could
say its about the inaccessible image.The visible is made
invisible and the invisible visible for the sighted by the
blind, or here the blind having the control over what the
sighted see.
I was reading another article which mentioned the uncle of
Paul Daniels who was a blind magician and wanted to find out
more. I came across some articles about another blind
magicians. Also came accross a biography of a blind magician
called "Fly like a bumblebee. A blind magician shares his
most powerful secrets" by R.W Klamm. And a website of the
Amazining Jeffo.

Articles follow links

Regards,
Lisa

Links
The Amazing Jeffo
http://www.amazingjeffo.com/
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0803/is_1_46/ai_76812357
http://www.geocities.com/lenny_mchugh/text/lennymagic.html

Amazing Haundini - the blind magician, Gary Haun - Brief
Article
Accent on Living,  Summer, 2001  

* Making the choice -- Choose how you will live your life.

* Do not give into self-imposed limitations. If enough
people tell us we cannot do something, we sometimes make
those limitations become a reality. We must keep trying and
find "The Magic Within."

* Overcoming adversity. We must accept challenge, whether
they are mental, physical or spiritual.

* Adapt and overcome. I learned this phrase in the Marine
Corp. I learned the true meaning after I became child.

Above are some of the program highlights from Gary Haun's
"Vision from the Heart." In his presentation, Gary, who is
blind, relates his challenges from climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro
to shark diving in the Bahamas. His perspective is, "Never
give up -- and smile while you're at it! Gary, who is a
magician, takes his message to school children as well as
adults. The only thing he asks before doing a show is that
the audience not be told he is blind until after the
performance.

When he appeared on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, which was
broadcast live, and he performed magic, he was comfortable
and relaxed. Rosie was impressed with Gary's card magic.

"That's a little freaky, Gary," O'Donnell said, as Haun
completed a trick.

Gary came to the attention of O'Donnell when scientist and
conservationist Jane Goodall raved about him during her
appearance on the show. When Haun had Goodall earlier, they
became friends.

Goodall started Roots and Shoots, a worldwide environmental
and humanitarian program for young people. She said, "One of
my goals is to bring amazing people from all different walks
of life to the kids. When Gary wrote me and said he was a
magician who wanted a signed photograph for his office and
then said he was blind, I thought he must be an amazing
person." Goodall said, "Haun was a big hit with the kids.
Then he said he was blind and the kids were more amazed."

"You are a real magician," said Muhammad Ali when he met
Gary. Just a few accomplishments for Gary include earning a
Masters Degree and earning a Master Sword Instructor
license. The letter of his instructor appointment summed it
up. "This appointment should serve as an example as to what
one can achieve through dedication, practice, loyalty and
ability."

Gary has written a book "Vision From the Heart," that tells
the story of his life including his stint in the Marine
Corps and how he became blind.



Written July 2001

Motivational Magic - How I Got Started In Magic
By 
Leonard A. McHugh

 
How did I get started in magic is a question I have been
asked many times. For as long as I can remember I have
always had an interest in magic. I can remember as a small
child taking a trip to the Pottsville Library. I was issued
my library card, and the first book that I brought home was
titled "101 Magic Tricks".

I read this book from cover to cover, practicing the tricks
and mentally picturing myself in a top hat and silk cape
performing. (Funny, I never did get that hat and cape).

In the early 1980's, my wife and I attended a Halloween
party and I chose a costume with a "magic" theme. I went to
the Magic Shop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and talked to
the owner, who also happened to be a magician. I asked him
if he thought it possible for someone who is blind to learn
magic and perform in front of an audience. He said that yes,
it would be possible, but it would require three to four
hours for every thirty minutes a sighted person would spend
practicing, and that there would be some illusions that I
wouldn't be able to accomplish due to my blindness. Normally
a magician would practice in front of a mirror so he can
tell if an audience would be able to guess the secrets
behind his illusions. Being blind, I wouldn't have that
advantage. I left the shop with a few small things just for
the party.

At the party there was a woman dressed as a gypsy telling
everyone's "fortunes " with tarot cards she brought along as
props. When it was my turn she happened to pull up the
"Magician" card. Years later when I spoke to her, I asked
her if she arranged the cards to match the person with the
fortune, and she told me that that night was the last time
the "Magician" card appeared for anyone; it never came up
again. 

Using small illusions I began doing magic for my family and
friends. Before long, I was entertaining the kids in my
neighborhood and several scout troops. Gradually I saw the
irony of using magic to illustrate that being blind wasn't
going to stop me from pursuing my interests. When a magician
performs, he depends on the fact that he can see what he is
doing and the audience cannot. In my case, the audience can
see what I'm doing but I cannot. A successful magician lets
the audience witness the magic without revealing his
secrets.

One of the highest compliments I ever received was written
on an evaluation form after a performance I did a few years
ago. It was in front of an audience of about six hundred
people attending a CQI (Continuous Quality Improvement)
Seminar for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
When asked to evaluate the conference, someone wrote on his
form that he didn't think the magician was really blind.

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