THE MAGICIAN: The TV Show THE MAGICIAN: The TV Show Welcome to the Web Page for THE MAGICIAN This page will be devoted to the TV series which originally aired from October 1973 to May of 1974. CURRENT AIR SCHEDULE: 7/ 29/1996 THROUGH 8/27/96 DAILY AT 12 NOON ON THE SCi-Fi CHANNEL (Series Collection) Pilot air date: March 17, 1973 Series Debut : October 2, 1973 (NBC) It was shown on Tuesdays at 9:00 P.M. EST until January 1974 when it moved to Monday night at 8:00 P.M. It was shown in 1975 or 76 as part of ABC's Late Night line up. Sci-Fi Channel: The show is a part of the SCi-Fi Series Collection and has been shown in 1993, 94 and 96, usually beginning in March or April CONTENTS Cast Plot Episode List Trivia Episode Guide Sound Clips Future Additions CAST Anthony Blake : Bill Bixby Max Pomeroy : Keene Curtis Jerry Anderson : Jim Watkins Dennis Pomeroy : Todd Crespi Dominick : Joseph Sirola PLOT Anthony Blake is a very compassionate and wealthy magician, who uses his talents as an illusionist and escape artist to help people in trouble. Max Pomeroy, a friend who is a syndicated columnist, describes him as "One of the few individuals in this age of numbness, who can still regard the suffering of a fellow human being as his own." He is motivated to help because he had been falsely imprisoned in South America for espionage. EPISODE LIST Pilot The Manhunters The Vanishing Lady Illusion in Terror Lightening on a Dry Day Ovation for Murder Man on Fire Lady in a Trap The Man Who Lost Himself Nightmare in Steel Shattered Image The Illusion of the Curious Counterfeit (part I) The Illusion of the Curious Counterfeit (part II) The Illusion of the Stainless Steel Lady The Illusion of the Queen's Gambit The Illusion of Black Gold The Illusion of the Lost Dragon The Illusion of the Deadly Conglomerate The Illusion of the Fatal Arrow The Illusion of the Lethal Playthings The Illusion of the Cat's Eye The Illusion of the Evil Spikes A really great article by Ed Robertson about the show appears in the April 1996 issue of Television Chronicles (#5). Television Chronicles can be reached at http://www.general.net/tvchronicles The article is loaded with lots of background, interviews, pictures and an episode guide with original air dates. TRIVIA Spirit: The name of Tony's Corvette Stingray as well as his jet plane (which was his home in the series pilot and first 10 episodes). The show was non-violent. Only once during any of the episodes did Tony hold a gun. (Lightening on a Dry Day). He took it from the "bad guys" and held it on them for a few seconds. He held it left handed (he was right handed). Some of the guest stars included: William Shatner, Brenda Benet (Bill Bixby's wife at that time),and Mark Hamill (pre-Star Wars). Joseph Stefano, who wrote the story for the series pilot also wrote the screenplay for "Psycho". Jimmy Sangster, who wrote the episode "The Manhunters" was a screenwriter for the Hammer films. Tony's address at the Castle: 315 Vinewood. (The series was produced before the 555 telephone prefix was used and the phone numbers were 'normal' telephone numbers. Skills and Characteristics: Does all kinds of magic: large illusions, sleight of hand, mentalist act, card sailing, and escapes. Can sketch a very good portrait of someone after seeing only a glimpse of them. Can appear to read someone's mind by observing their body language and facial expressions. Has a photographic memory. Hobbies include scuba diving, chess, pool or billiards and hang gliding and possibly fishing and mountain climbing. Can read backwards by using a mirror to see the information he needs. Very physically fit and agile. He has moves that seem similar to gymnastics. Has a magic workshop and builds his own illusions. Teaches a magic class. Can send a coded message using the inflection of his words. Usually asks for white wine. Can improvise with whatever is available. Drives very well, even an RV. Differences: There were an number of differences between the pilot episode, the first half of the series and second half of the season. That, and the scheduling, (first opposite Hawaii 5-O and then Gunsmoke), no doubt hastened the show's cancellation. The main character is named Anthony Dorian in the pilot. It changes to Anthony Blake in the first episode. Max Pomeroy has a mistress in the pilot, who is introduced as Dennis' mother (Max may or may not be his father). In the series Dennis is Max's son and no mention is made of his mother. Tony has scars on his wrists caused by shackles as a remembrance of his imprisonment in South America. Max's house in San Francisco is a three story with white siding. In the series it's a two story stone. Tony's jet is much more elaborately customized in the series. Jerry's name in the pilot is Jerry Wallace. In the series it changes to Jerry Anderson. When the series returned in January for the second half of the season Tony was living on the top floor of "The Castle," a club for magicians in LA Max and Dennis fade out and are rarely seen. Jerry is present longer, but no mention of the plane is made, and eventually he is not seen. SOUND CLIPS "One mustn't study a magician too closely..." From the pilot. wav format, 113KB Theme music wav format, 845KB EPISODE GUIDE> (Under Construction). THE MAGICIAN (pilot - 90 minutes) Director: Marvin Chomsky Writer: Story by Joseph Stefano, Teleplay by Lawrence Heath CAST: Anthony Dorian: Bill Bixby, Max Pomeroy: Keene Curtis, Jerry Wallace: Jim Watkins, Joseph Baker: Barry Sullivan, Nora Coogan: Kim Hunter, Sally Baker: Elizabeth Ashley, Mary Rose Coogan: Anne Lockhart, Lulu: Joan Caulfield, Dennis: Todd Crespi, Madame Parga: Signe Hasso, Jim: Michael Clark, Lorraine Ellis: Holly Irving, Lucien Baker: Don Brit Reid, Maurice: Johnny Haymer, Dr Fryer: Tol Avery, Rather: Robert Mandan, Francine Powers: Nancy Stephans, Senator: Bill Quinn, Marcy: Arline Anderson, Crowley: Jeff Morris, Truckdriver: Dale Tartar, Gorman: Bruce Welson Cabbie: David Moses. Magician Anthony Dorian helps a woman who comes to one of his shows. He uncovers a web of deceit involving a faked plan crash and a plot to sell a bomb that was developed for the government. After a dramatic escape by boat and plane from Baker's island, Tony reunites Mary Rose and her mother. THE MANHUNTERS Director: Sutton Roley Writer: Jimmy Sangster CAST: Diane Thompson: Marlyn Mason, Manning Hargrove: Stephen McNally, Stanley Owens: Vincent Beck, Hit man(?): Scott Walker, Driscoll: Mort Thompson, Edith: Lenore Stevens, Reporter #1: David Brandon, Woman: Marcia Mae Jones, Chief Box Man: Tony Cristino, Casino Cashier: Sandra Wirth, Al: Jerry Quarry. As Tony and Max are leaving a visit with Manning Hargrove (a friend of Max's), someone tries to kill Max by dropping a load of cargo on him. Tony sees the crane just in time, but is unable to catch the man at the controls of the crane. Even though Max would rather he didn't, Tony sets out to find out who is behind the attempted hit. Max has been investigating illegal gambling, and is about to testify before a grand jury. Tony tracks down the car that the hit man drove and finds that it was rented to a woman named Diane Thompson. Tony uncovers the person behind the attempt on Max's life and helps Diane get out from a gambling debt. THE VANISHING LADY Director: Marvin Chomsky Writer: Harold Livingston CAST: Julie Carter: Amanda McBroom, Ray Weaver: Peter Brown, Jim Russel: John Carlin, Anna: Lilyan Chauvin, Eddie Tarlow: Byron Mabe, Lt. Cocoran: Ramon Bieri, Jane Roberts: Lenore Kasdorf, Sgt. Drake: Craig Morton, Woman Driver: Pattie Elder. A singer is kidnapped on the night of her debut at Caesar's in Las Vegas. (She is opening for Tony’s magic act). She is someone that Tony helped 2 years ago when she was burned in a fire. Tony has to find out who is behind the kidnapping and get to her before the kidnappers kill her. ILLUSION IN TERROR Director: Paul Krasny Writer: Walter Brough CAST Walter C. March/Canfield: Cameron Mitchell, Joanna Marsh/Osborne: Brenda Benet, Rich: McDonald Carey, Luis: Claudio Martinez, Malcolm Gregorian: Tom Geas, Matt Osborne: Bill Zuckert, Hannah Osborne: Barbars Collentine, Minister: Carleton Young, Sheriff Studivant: John Richard, Deputy Harold: Jerry Strickler, Nurse: Sonja Danson. Tony's girlfriend is injured by a hit and run driver while they are in a parking garage. When Tony gets to the hospital (she requests to be taken to the hospital where she works) the administrator tells him that she died and her body was already claimed by her uncle. Tony believes that it wasn't an accident and sets out to find out what was behind her death. (No Spoiler). LIGHTENING ON A DRY DAY Director: Reza S. Badiyi Writer: Walter Brough CAST Ian Keefer: Mark Hamill, Sheriff Platt: Neville Brand, Maggie Platt: Susan Foster, Mrs. Eleanor Gilpin: Frances Reid, Vic: Geoffrey Duel, Connie, Camiey Gwyn Sebring, Doctor: Quinn Redeker, Mrs. Thatcher: Beah Richards, Steve Yates: George Wallace, Tom: Kurt Grayson, Nurse: Leigh Hamilton. When a young man who is patient at a mental hospital sees Tony make his assistant vanish in a flash of fire he becomes upset and has to be sedated. Tony is disturbs that his performance caused it and tries to find out what happened to the boy to traumatize him. He goes to Elm Ridge, a small town in the mountains to try and trace his movements. FUTURE ADDITIONS: Complete Episode guide Pictures Episode Trivia and quotes You are visitor number since October 14, 1995. Please send me comments! (C. Rohnacher) ARSU14A@prodigy.com Note: Some of this material may be copyrighted. if so it is held by the original writer, studio, production company, etc. This information is provided in order to celebrate a neat and under appreciated program and share it with whoever might be interested and not for any gain.