Whit Haydn
Encyclopedia
Whit "Pop" Haydn is an American
magician, the winner of six "Magician of the Year" performing awards from the Magic Castle, the Hollywood clubhouse of the Academy of Magical Arts. In February 2006, he also became Vice-President of that organization, and served for four years in that capacity.
He has opened for Jerry Seinfeld
, the Smothers Brothers
, Loretta Lynn
and others, and performed on cruise ships of many different lines, including Cunard Line
's Queen Elizabeth 2
, and the Diamond Princess
. Haydn has worked hotels and casinos including Caesars Tahoe, and was one of the first acts chosen in 1996 to open Caesar's Magical Empire in Las Vegas
.
He was the chief magic consultant on Norman Jewison
's Bogus starring Whoopi Goldberg
, Gerard Depardieu
and Haley Joel Osment
as well as a consultant on multiple television documentaries including the Discovery Channel
's "Houdini, People Came to See Him Die" and David Copperfield
's television special, "Orient Express."
He is known as an "original performer," meaning that he is one of the members of the magic fraternity
who actually creates new methods and routines for classic magic effects, that are then performed by other magicians around the world. In recent years, his folksy, home-grown persona of a "refugee from the 19th century" have made him increasingly popular in the Steampunk
community, and he has headlined such venues as the World Steam Expo.
Three local North Carolina magicians—Dick Snavely of Raleigh, Bill Tadlock of Rocky Mount, and Wallace Lee of Durham—became mentors for the young magician. At fourteen, he borrowed money for a bus ticket to one of the major American magic conventions, Abbott's Get Together
in Colon, Michigan
, having convinced his parents to let him take the long bus ride alone.
He graduated from Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina
, and attended college at East Carolina University
in the 1960s, where he also became heavily involved in the civil rights
and anti-war movements. He left college in 1969 to challenge the draft
, and became one of Pitt County's first conscientious objectors. He did some alternative service at New York University
Hospital, but after being released from C.O. status, and the job, when he flunked the physical (due to poor eyesight), he started doing street magic in the West Village.
In 1970, he went back to school at Lynchburg College
in Virginia
, receiving a degree in philosophy
in 1972, after which he attended Virginia Theological Seminary
in Alexandria, Virginia
to become an Episcopalian priest, though he continued performing magic to help support himself at the school.
Dr. Reginald H. Fuller, a New Testament scholar, saw one of Haydn's performances at a faculty party, and suggested that Haydn's passion might lay not in the ministry, but in magic. A few weeks later, Haydn dropped out of the seminary and turned to magic full-time. Working as an actor/juggler/magician with a touring political theater under the direction of Bob Leonard, The Road Company
, Haydn continued to develop his magic performances.
In the mid-1970s he performed at the prestigious Magic Castle, where the Master of Ceremonies, Billy McComb
, stumbled over the name "Hadden", so he, Dai Vernon
, Kuda Bux
and some other well-known magicians encouraged Hadden to change his name to something easier to pronounce. They settled on "Haydn"--pronounced as "Hāden." McComb became a mentor and major influence on Haydn's career.
Haydn is the co-founder (with Chef Anton
) of the "School for Scoundrels". Since 1996, this program has held a four-week course once a year at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, to teach magicians, gambling experts and law enforcement officers the history, psychology and methods of street scams such as Three-Card Monte
, Fast and Loose, and the Shell Game
.
Haydn currently lives in Los Angeles
with his wife, Nancy. They work together on The Pop Haydn Post-Modern Medicine Show--a live theatrical variety show--and Pop Haydn's Radio-Medicine Show--a weekly, for-broadcast, syndicated radio show distributed by Jagger Peyton Entertainment Group.
Whit is named for his grandfather, Whitney Shumate, and is the grandson of the noted artist, Jessamine Shumate
. He has one grown daughter, Jessamine, and two grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
magician, the winner of six "Magician of the Year" performing awards from the Magic Castle, the Hollywood clubhouse of the Academy of Magical Arts. In February 2006, he also became Vice-President of that organization, and served for four years in that capacity.
He has opened for Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
, the Smothers Brothers
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
, Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
and others, and performed on cruise ships of many different lines, including Cunard Line
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
's Queen Elizabeth 2
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
, and the Diamond Princess
Diamond Princess (ship)
Diamond Princess is a large cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises. She began operation in March 2004 and primarily cruises in Alaska during the summer and the Asia in the winter. She is a Grand Class ship and subclassed as a Gem Class ship...
. Haydn has worked hotels and casinos including Caesars Tahoe, and was one of the first acts chosen in 1996 to open Caesar's Magical Empire in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
He was the chief magic consultant on Norman Jewison
Norman Jewison
Norman Frederick Jewison, CC, O.Ont is a Canadian film director, producer, actor and founder of the Canadian Film Centre. Highlights of his directing career include In the Heat of the Night , The Thomas Crown Affair , Fiddler on the Roof , Jesus Christ Superstar , Moonstruck , The Hurricane and The...
's Bogus starring Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
, Gerard Depardieu
Gérard Depardieu
Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu is a French actor and filmmaker. He is a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and has twice won the César Award for Best Actor...
and Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment is an American actor. After a series of roles in television and film during the 1990s, including a small part in Forrest Gump playing Tom Hanks' title character’s son, Osment rose to fame with his performance as Cole Sear in M...
as well as a consultant on multiple television documentaries including the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's "Houdini, People Came to See Him Die" and David Copperfield
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
's television special, "Orient Express."
He is known as an "original performer," meaning that he is one of the members of the magic fraternity
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
who actually creates new methods and routines for classic magic effects, that are then performed by other magicians around the world. In recent years, his folksy, home-grown persona of a "refugee from the 19th century" have made him increasingly popular in the Steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
community, and he has headlined such venues as the World Steam Expo.
Life
Whit Haydn was born to minister (Disciples of Christ) William James Hadden, Jr. and Margaret Shumate, an elementary school librarian. At a summer camp at the age of 10, Haydn witnessed a magic show by a Methodist minister who was an amateur magician, and Haydn reportedly stayed up all night trying to figure out what he had seen.Three local North Carolina magicians—Dick Snavely of Raleigh, Bill Tadlock of Rocky Mount, and Wallace Lee of Durham—became mentors for the young magician. At fourteen, he borrowed money for a bus ticket to one of the major American magic conventions, Abbott's Get Together
Abbott's Get Together
Abbott's Get Together is a long running convention for magicians in the United States and around the world, which is held each year in Colon, Michigan. It was founded in 1937 by Percy Abbott and his business partner, Recil Bordner. The Get Together is well-known within the magician industry as...
in Colon, Michigan
Colon, Michigan
Colon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,227 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Colon Township...
, having convinced his parents to let him take the long bus ride alone.
He graduated from Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...
, and attended college at East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
in the 1960s, where he also became heavily involved in the civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
and anti-war movements. He left college in 1969 to challenge the draft
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, and became one of Pitt County's first conscientious objectors. He did some alternative service at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Hospital, but after being released from C.O. status, and the job, when he flunked the physical (due to poor eyesight), he started doing street magic in the West Village.
In 1970, he went back to school at Lynchburg College
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg College is a private college in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, related by covenant to the Christian Church with approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The Princeton Review lists it as one of the 368 best colleges in the nation...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, receiving a degree in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in 1972, after which he attended Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
to become an Episcopalian priest, though he continued performing magic to help support himself at the school.
Dr. Reginald H. Fuller, a New Testament scholar, saw one of Haydn's performances at a faculty party, and suggested that Haydn's passion might lay not in the ministry, but in magic. A few weeks later, Haydn dropped out of the seminary and turned to magic full-time. Working as an actor/juggler/magician with a touring political theater under the direction of Bob Leonard, The Road Company
The Road Company
The Road Company was an improvisational touring theater company, based in Johnson City, Tennessee, and active from 1972-1998. Robert H. Leonard, the founder and artistic director of the Road Company originally envisioned it as a political theater presenting an alternative historical and political...
, Haydn continued to develop his magic performances.
In the mid-1970s he performed at the prestigious Magic Castle, where the Master of Ceremonies, Billy McComb
Billy McComb
Billy McComb was a magician and comedian. He was one of the United Kingdom's leading magicians in the 1950s and 1960s, before taking up residence in Los Angeles, California in the 1970s.-Early life:...
, stumbled over the name "Hadden", so he, Dai Vernon
Dai Vernon
Dai Vernon , aka The Professor, was a Canadian magician. His expert sleight-of-hand technique and extensive knowledge garnered him respect among fellow magicians. His influence was considerable in the magic world, and he was a mentor to numerous famous magicians...
, Kuda Bux
Kuda Bux
Kuda Bux was an Indian mystic and magician. One of his most famous tricks was one in which he would cover his eyes with soft dough balls, blindfold himself, swath his entire head in strips of cloth, and yet still be able to see. He was also a fire walker...
and some other well-known magicians encouraged Hadden to change his name to something easier to pronounce. They settled on "Haydn"--pronounced as "Hāden." McComb became a mentor and major influence on Haydn's career.
Haydn is the co-founder (with Chef Anton
Chef Anton
Chef Anton is the stage name of Anthony S. Riniti , a trained chef from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He is an award-winning expert with the pool cue, and a noted magician whose performance includes a unique mixture of magic, hustling tricks and billiard trick shots...
) of the "School for Scoundrels". Since 1996, this program has held a four-week course once a year at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, to teach magicians, gambling experts and law enforcement officers the history, psychology and methods of street scams such as Three-Card Monte
Three-card Monte
Three-card Monte, also known as the Three-card marney, Three-card trick, Three-Way, Three-card shuffle, Menage-a-card, Triplets, Follow the lady, Les Trois Perdants , le Bonneteau, Find the lady, or Follow the Bee is a confidence game in which the victim, or mark, is tricked into betting a...
, Fast and Loose, and the Shell Game
Shell game
The shell game is portrayed as a gambling game, but in reality, when a wager for money is made, it is a confidence trick used to perpetrate fraud...
.
Haydn currently lives in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with his wife, Nancy. They work together on The Pop Haydn Post-Modern Medicine Show--a live theatrical variety show--and Pop Haydn's Radio-Medicine Show--a weekly, for-broadcast, syndicated radio show distributed by Jagger Peyton Entertainment Group.
Whit is named for his grandfather, Whitney Shumate, and is the grandson of the noted artist, Jessamine Shumate
Jessamine Shumate
Ada Jessamine Shumate was born on March 31, 1902 as Ada Jessamine White in Horsepasture, Virginia and is an American Artist winner of the "Award of Distinction" in 1955 from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. She was a noted artist, historian and cartographer in Henry County...
. He has one grown daughter, Jessamine, and two grandchildren.
Awards
- Magic Castle:
- Stage Magician of the Year—1979
- Closeup Magician of the Year—2003, 2004
- Parlor Magician of the Year—1995, 2002
- W.C. Fields Bar Magician of the Year 2005, presented at Academy of Magical Arts Awards Banquet, April 1, 2006 http://www.whithaydn.com/magic_castle_awards_2004.htm
Works
- The Chicago Surprise copyright 2000
- Street Magic copyright 2001
- The Intricate Web of Distraction copyright 2001, also VHS and DVD http://www.magicwebchannel.com/mall_whit.html http://www.murphysmagicsupplies.com/catalog/books/html/intricatewebofdistraction.html
- The Mongolian Pop-Knot, copyright 1982 also VHS
- Comedy Four-Ring Routine, copyright 1976 also VHS and DVD
- Trio in Gold, East Carolina Poetry Forum Press, 1968
- Tar River Poets, East Carolina Poetry Forum Press, 1969
- School for Scoundrels Notes on Three-Card Monte, also VHS and DVD
- School for Scoundrels Notes on the Shell Game--Introduction to the Shell Game, also DVD
- School for Scoundrels Notes on Fast and Loose, also VHS and DVD