"Wonder is a very subtle, precious emotion, often lost in the gross hustle and bustle of modern life. When we feel wonder, we are immediately reminded of the purity and innocence of our childhood. Then, everything was magical and mysterious. Magic should help us relive that wonder."
- Doug Henning
Before Criss Angel walked on water; before David Blaine took his Dive of Death; even before David Copperfield caused the Statue of Liberty to vanish... there was Doug Henning. Henning burst onto the scene in the 1970s and single-handedly changed the stereotypical image of the stage magician forever thereby paving the way for all the aforementioned others. Henning's Broadway endeavor, The Magic Show, ran for four and a half years and garnered him a Tony award nomination. Following his Broadway success, Henning moved onto television. His yearly specials captured the attention of over fifty million viewers and ultimately earned him seven Emmy nominations. Henning helped usher magic into the rock era of music videos and stadium concerts by creating mega-effects for Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind and Fire. He was on top of the magic world. Then something very curious occurred. Rumors of a sudden retirement: illusions and valuable antiquation collections sold off to highest bidder. Talk of a cancer diagnosis. And finally... his death.
At the height of his magic career, Henning made a trip to the East to visit Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (January 12, 1918-February 5, 2008) and returned a convert. Friends reported that he began referring to himself as Doctor Henning, a degree issued, presumably, by the Maharishi himself. Henning expressed disenchantment with magic as a performing art and a profound sadness over the business side of magic. He and the Maharishi announced plans to build a theme park in Orlando to be called Veda Land (the term refers to the Vedas, an ancient philosophy that influenced Transcendental Meditation) complete with Magic Flying Carpet Rides that would take passengers "deep inside the molecular structure of a rose", the Corridor of Time and the Courtyard of Illusion, all of which sounded like a magic lover's nirvana. Plans for other Veda Lands were announced in various countries including Henning's homeland of Canada. Land was acquired. Architects were hired. But Veda Land never materialized. The money never appeared despite the fact that the Maharishi's net worth was estimated at a cool three billion dollars at the time.
Then came the politics... First, they tried it in Britain. Then Toronto. The Natural Party entered several elections with Henning as their star candidate. He promised, among other things, that "no one will be required to work hard, get stressed, get taxed, lose heart, give up or remain in chaos". As for a defense budget, Henning promised "a system of invincible defense based on an invincible national consciousness". During one campaign, they invited the press to a demonstration of yogic flying where he and the Maharishi hopped around on mattresses while in a lotus position. They were trounced at every turn. Decimated. Prime Minister Doug Henning was not to be.
Many of us in the magic community will remember Doug Henning with fond affection and admiration. Unfortunately, history may remember him in quite a different light.