Andre Kole’s article urging the IBM to sanction individuals stealing his illusions included a reference to the World Record for the longest magic show. Unfortunately, Mr. Kole credited Dr. Alex with the record.
(Although, if Dr. Alex claims the record for a single person performing, he may be right).
The Guinness people have not yet updated their information but the new official holders of this endurance feat are participants in the appropriately named World’s Longest Magic Show (“WLMS”) including Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster.
In fact, as we typed this late-breaking news, Mr. Ellis said he just received the certification from the Guinness people. It is now official.
Certainly Mr. Ellis and Ms. Webster can be considered ardent supporters of Mr. Kole’s cause to prevent theft of intellectual property. It is fitting they were instrumental in breaking Dr. Alex’ record.
As many readers of Inside Magic are aware, we were former holders of the “Magic Show that Seemed to be the Longest.”
The actual show is still being performed for birthday parties, Blue and Gold banquets, social gatherings, and anywhere we aren’t already barred.
It only runs 17 minutes actually but 13 of those minutes are filled by us pretending to not understand the audience’s demand to “Turn It Around!” It is a great bit but not for 13 minutes.
Said one critic, “After one minute, the audience loses the will to play along. After five minutes, they lose the will to pay attention. And finally, at 12 minutes, they lose the will to live.”
Mr. Ellis, Ms. Webster and their affiliated magicians coordinated the stunt among thirty plus magicians, stage crew and assistants to trounce the previous record of 25 hours. The effort was not merely for the vanity of the exhausted performers, but to raise funds for the charity Brainwave Australia — to help establish a neurological research center at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Mr. Ellis told reporters before the show began he had approximately ten hour worth of material. Under the strict rules Guinness set, no trick could be repeated within eight hours. In the end, Mr. Ellis performed 14 hours 7.5 minutes and Ms. Webster did magic for 2 hours 39 minutes.
The show entertained those willing to donate to the charity with more than 480 acts comprising more than 1,170 tricks.
The entire event was video taped but it is unlikely the official video record will ever be converted into a commercial DVD set. It would comprise more than 22 DVDs, and Mr. Ellis has suggested even the most dedicated magic fan may not wish to endure the 4,500 minutes of tricks.
Congratulations to Mr. Ellis, Ms. Webster, and the many others responsible for the record-breaking run. Please accept our apologies for failing to identify you as the appropriate record holders.
If you would like to see some great photographs and a nice essay by one of the participants, you’ll find all that and more on Mr. Ellis and Ms. Webster’s website.
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