IT CAN'T BE DONE
by Arthur Leroy, Magician and Journalist, New York, USA. Reprinted from Sorcar: The Maharaja
of Magic, with permission from publisher.
"I am writing this on October 10, 1966 in New
York. To this point 1966 has been a bad year for the "It Can't Be Done"
fraternity. All over the world the magical performers are reporting that
it has been a difficult year to secure bookings for their mystical wares.
Performers who have worked for years to establish their sales values find
that their earning powers have become less potent.
In 1966 if one spoke of that one time glory of
the field - the full evening illusion shows - the answer was always, "It
Can't Be Done". In 1966 lack of public demand, economic pressures, union
demands, bookers' apathy all combined to make it virtually impossible to
sell a full evening illusion show.
By October 10, 1966, the Chang show had vanished
like its own Asrah assistant.
By October 10, 1966, the Fu Manchu show had reduced
its size to virtually a suitcase show, but even this heroic effort had
not solved the problem.
By October 10, 1966, the Kalanag show had changed
hands and Helmut had shuffled off muttering his last "Nicht Nazi". Richardini
Jr. had closed his own big full evening show and had made a try with the
Kalanag show under Mrs. Kalanag's management. It wouldn't work - it wouldn't
work at all. So the wondrous, the graceful, the "Dynamo of Deception",
Aldo Richardini went back to a short twelve minute act for Night Clubs,
revues and all points West and East.
By October 10, 1966, the wonderful Latin American
Tichardine show had "tossed in the towel", and Richardo Richardine, a charming
performer had attached his abilities as a dancer to his illusions, and
with the most salable act of our generation. In spite of this Richardo
is having booking problems.
By October 10, 1966, Blackstone had left us and
not a living soul in the whole world was interested in buying any part
of the Blackstone titles. There was no show to buy. Warehouse charges had
long since consumed it.
By October 10, 1966, the Virgil show, one of
the most beautiful in the world, had reduced its load and is operating
on its spot dates with the emphasis on the "Mental and Hypnotic". Virgil
and Julie are now "talking a show".
By October 10, 1966, the Cecil Lyle show had
lost its creator and is rotting away in its crates.
The Dante show - rotting, chopped, ruined.
Cantarelli - gone - forgotten.
Chefalo - gone - forgotten.
Tihanyl - stranded his big show in Mexico.
John Daniel - talking.
Arhtur Leroy - pulling puppet strings and looking
longingly at my unused illusions.
October 10, 1966, one of the finest illusion
shows in the United States, the Mac Birch show, sold pieces by piece. The
man who was the logical and planned successor to Howard Thurston has called
it quits. He wants no more of a big show.
October 10, 1966, Prince Charming SORCAR has
built the biggest, most stupendous illusion show of our times. "It Can't
Be Done" but Sorcar IS doing it.
From a small start just a few years back P. C.
has built, created, improved, borrowed, financed, and best of all sold
the illusion show to end all illusion shows.
When there appear to be no future for the full
scale mystical Razz Ma Taz P.C. has brought forth a "Wonder of the World"
that appears to be highly salable.
Sorcar has built, purchased, created opulent
sets, beautiful costumes, big time lighting effects, and best of all wonders,
mysteries, illusions, deceptions from every country, every age, every period.
Wondrous forgotten marvels such as "Birth of a Pearl" are part of Prince
Charming's world of enchantment.
Sorcar believes in his future, and unlike so
many others, in the future of MAGIC as a means of entertainment. He spends
fortunes in advertising. Some of his mailing pieces are brilliant beyond
belief. He invests as if his product was not general magic but GENERAL
MOTORS. He appears to be determined that fabled, fabulous India will once
again become the Home of Mystery, and Prince Charming Sorcar its High Priest.
October 10, 1966, the Sorcar show, product of
India, is not only the largest full evening illusion show in the world
today, but because one man appears to have "guessed right" while the rest
of us "guessing wrong", IT IS THE ONLY FULL EVENING ILLUSION SHOW EXISTING
in its dizzy old world. Sorcar, a product of India, a nation that exports
few theatrical attractions - Prince Charming Sorcar has produced for himself,
his country, his profession, his love, a show that at this moment is the
only one of its kind in the world.
Over a period of twenty years I've watched the
Sorcar show in pictures and advertising matter get bigger, glossier, fatter.
One thing bugs me, as I look over a collection of twenty years of Sorcar
photos I observe the show gradually becoming bigger - fatter and Prince
Charming he's moving along with his show - he's becoming bigger and fatter
too. The rest of us starve - Prince Charming Fattens.
This is confusing because it plays 'hell' with
an awful lot of rich nation - poor nation propaganda. My be P.C. is proving
that riches are creative, not material, but I do wish that Prince Charming
would continue to fatten his show but reduce his tummy.
October 10, 1966, It Can't Be Done But Pratul
Chandra Sorcar Did It. It Must Be Magic." (end)
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