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So Inspired: Why Brian Gillis and Sisuepahn Rock

 

 

Brian and Sisuepahn – A National Treasure

In my travels around North America, people ask me two questions more than any other: 1) why were you thrown off the 1960′s sitcom “Flipper”? and, 2) why do you enjoy watching the magic of Brian Gillis and Sisuepahn so much? 

 

If you would like to skip the endless meanderings of my essay and get to the point of the story, my admiration for Mr. Gillis and Sisuepahn, skip to the last two paragraphs.  If you have time on your hands and care about how the past formed my answers to these two very common questions, read on. 

 

The Flipper Story

 

The producers of Flipper were looking for a blond haired kid who could interact with the five dolphins who played “Flipper” on the show.  I began life on a coastal island off Venezuela where my family had a dolphin farm.  I acted in summer stock in our village (I was Jet #2 in West Side Story) and appeared in television commercials in the States and in South America.  That is me in the Qantas Airlines ad where the little kid clutches the koala doll given to him by the friendly stewardess as he awakens over Australia. 

 

When I auditioned for the role of Bud Ricks for Ivan Tors, the casting director told my legal guardian I would have the role if I could interact with three of the five dolphins they were going to use in the series.  Because I was so familiar with dolphins from my family’s farm, we got along famously.  In fact, the Second Unit Director was going to use the audition footage in the series and so we did several takes of us just playing around. 

 

I signed with Mr. Tors and his production company a week later and we began filming at the end of the month for the 1964 NBC Fall season.  We were seven episodes into the series when the network forced me…
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November 16th, 2004 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment

Clowndoctors Provide Support for Young Patients

 

 

Wonderful Help from Wonderful People

The Scotsman has a wonderful feature article today about Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital and its use of the new Clowndoctors program to lift the spirits of their most seriously ill, child patients.  The article follows the antics of Dr. Sprightly and Dr. Soundsgood as they visit kids suffering often-fatal illnesses such as viral meningitis or severe, disfiguring burns. 

 

The Clowndoctors don clown-esque medical garb with musical instruments instead of stethoscopes.  The program has been in place for about five years and is based upon a successful project in New York. The established nature of the program allows new recruits to study the tried and true methods of clowning, counseling, magic and musical arts. 

 

The program trains the men and women in both the performing arts as well as illnesses they will help their audience confront.  Through the generous support of Edinburgh’s charity Hearts & Minds as well as the Scottish Arts Council, the program is succeeding. 

 

The feature describes seven-year-old Celda’s appreciation for the Clowndoctor program.  As soon as doctors recognized that her flu-like symptoms indicated the much more serious encephalitis they rushed her to the Royal Hospital to begin the treatment and often tragic vigil.  The young girl lost use of a portion of her body and could only move one arm within hours of her arrival.  Despite the pain and fear, Celda recognized one of the Clowndoctors visiting another child.  She asked if she could see the Clowndoctor at a moment when many encephalitis patients are on the verge of death or an irrecoverable coma. 

 

Celda’s family and the Royal Hospital’s staff credit Celda’s excitement for the Clown Doctors and her involvement in their activities for her progress.  She can now run and move freely. 

 

The program provides more than mere distraction.  The children gain some control over their own environment by interacting with the Clowndoctors.  According to Magdalena Schamberger, executive director and artistic director of Hearts & Minds, founding member and former Clowndoctor herself, “It is also about giving them some control over what is happening to them. It can…
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November 16th, 2004 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

Vanni Pule? Steps Down as Malta Magic Society Elects Committee

 

Brian and Lola

For us at Inside Magic, the mention of Malta causes thoughts of Magic and that leads to Vanni Pule?.  Mr. Pule? is to Maltese Magic what Class is to Jaguar Cars.  Mr. Pule? lead Ring 202 during the past year and served as emissary on behalf of Maltese Magic to so many visitors. 

 

Brian Role? has taken over as President, Geoffrey Buhagiar is the new Secretary, Noel D?Amato will be working as Vice President and Treasurer while Ivan Mallia takes the reigns as Assistant Secretary, and Leli Mangion will serve as Public Relations Officer.

 

Mr. Role’ thanked the former officers and committees for their hard work and singled out Mr. Pule? ?for his commitment during his presidency, that made Ring 202 so popular with various foreign magicians who visit Malta from time to time.?

 

The Incomparable Vanni Pule’

Mr. Role has an extensive history in magic and offers many different types of shows to fit his clients? varied needs.  As part of a Cine Magic held in the beautiful Sir Temi Zammit Theatre, Mr. Role and his wife and partner Lola presented their movie-themed act, Bond vs. Madonna.  The act?s concept and pictures are fantastic and we hope the duo will make it to the United States before too long. 

 

Congratulations to Mr. Role and thank you to Mr. Pule?.  Here is to another great year in the history of this fantastic society.    

 

Check…
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November 16th, 2004 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment