Gone For A Decade, But Still Influential
Ten years ago today, the world lost one of the greatest influences in the world of magic when Gary Ouellet passed away unexpectedly at the age of 58.
Gary Ouellet (1945 – 2002)
Gary succumbed to a heart attack while in the midst of producing a television special in Portugal, and his untimely death sent a shock-wave through the magic fraternity around the globe. Although the name Gary Ouellet (pronounced wal-let) may not be recognized by most people, nearly everyone who has ever watched a network television magic special has witnessed the influence that this talented man had on a multitude of magicians and illusionists from around the world.
Gary Ouellet was a very special person in the lives and careers of both Dave Hamner and Jim Barber. Jim first met Gary after a performance in Branson in 1999 and they quickly became friends. At that time, Gary was working as the Director for a new production show at the Remington Theatre in Branson called Magic Of The Night – starring Dave and Denise Hamner. The Hamners were especially close friends with Gary and they spent several Christmas holidays together in Southern California. When Gary suddenly passed away in 2002, Dave Hamner was one of Gary’s close magic friends who were asked to present a Eulogy at his memorial service at the Blue Note in Las Vegas.
Paying Tribute To Gary Ouellet All Year Long
In tribute to Gary, Dave Hamner has been performing a special card trick in this year’s Hamner Barber Variety Show, the secret method of which was passed along to Dave by Gary himself. The true storyline that accompanies the performance of the trick is especially touching, and the resulting applause at the end of the routine is one of the most powerful moments of the entire show. If you happen to be in the Branson area this year, be sure to make plans to attend the Hamner Barber Show to witness Dave’s recreation of this amazing card effect, originated by Gary Ouellet, for yourself.
What You May Not Know About Gary Ouellet
Born in Canada in January 1945, Gary became interested in magic as a young boy after receiving a magic set for a gift. As a teenager he performed magic at a popular cabaret venue in Quebec City. He later pursued his magic on a part-time basis while he studied hard to develop a career as a lawyer and government lobbyist. His love of magic eventually brought him to Los Angeles, California where he immersed himself into the entertainment business. As his reputation as a producer grew, so did his opportunity to make a permanent mark on the television industry by producing some of the most influential magic themed television specials in history.
Some of the national magic television specials produced by Gary Ouellet along with his executive producer Gary L. Pudney include: Champions Of Magic, Melinda – First Lady Of Magic, World’s Most Dangerous Magic (2 editions) and World’s Greatest Magic (5 editions). These programs originally aired in the mid to late 1990′s and are often replayed in syndication to this day. Together, the “Gary Specials” add up to over 50 hours of network television. Gary’s specials featured many of the top performers and upcoming stars in the world of magic and may have even influenced many of the popular reality based television series that followed such as America’s Got Talent, The X-Factor, and American Idol.
The list of entertainers who appeared on Gary’s TV specials or in live stage shows in Las Vegas or elsewhere, is a virtual “Who’s Who” of magicians.
A partial list would include (alphabetical by last name):
- Michael Ammar
- Harry Anderson
- Bob Arno
- Dirk Arthur
- Bruce Block
- Lance Burton
- Nathan Burton
- Jason Byrne
- Mike Caveney
- David Copperfield
- Brett Daniels
- Luis de Matos
- James Dimmare
- Greg Frewin
- Joseph Gabriel
- Paul Gertner
- Peter Gossamer
- Dave & Denise Hamner
- Franz Harary
- Jeff Hobson
- Penn Jillette & Teller
- Mark Kalin
- Mac King
- Hans Klok
- Peter Marvey
- Max Maven
- Jeff McBride
- Bret Michaels
- Tom Mullica
- Tom Ogden
- Jim Passe
- Jonathan & Charlotte Pendragon
- Melinda Saxe
- Marco Tempest
- Rick Thomas
- Kirby VanBurch
- Steve Wyrick
Share Your Memories Of Gary
Do you have a special memory of Gary Ouellet or any of his television specials that you would share with our readers? Please do so by adding a comment below. Thank you!
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