Anyone remember The Secret Cabaret?

[Grumpmeister]

Dont know if any of you will remember this show, back around 1990, a guy called Simon Drake pitched an alternative magic show with an extremely twisted theme also including explanations from con artists on how they pulled their schemes. I used to watch this when I was a kid, and saw the episode that was shown over the weekend as part of Channel 4's 25th. If they ever show the series again its well worth a look. The first clip is part of a concert he did with Iron Maiden, the rest are from the series.

The 12 half-hour programs consisted of a fast-paced mix of the bizarre and surreal along with traditional magic illusions, often performed with gruesome twists. Originally conceived by Simon Drake, this unique TV series was the collaboration of Simon along with executive producer Sebastian Cody, line producer Frankie Glass, magic consultants Jim Steinmeyer, who also produced and old friend of Simon's Patrick Page. Other contributors included Ricky Jay, Mark Williams, Heathcote Williams and others. Together they created some of the most visually stunning and shocking illusions ever to be seen in the history of television.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vabMSSysws0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdb0a_jnPI0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdb0a_jnPI0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YtJQSURK4c&mode=related&search=


Just found out that they have released the DVD 

[Nick]

No

[Darwins Selection]

No

Ditto

[Barman]

No

Ditto

Thirded...

Anyway, in 1990 when you were 'a kid' we were too old for scary TV. 

[Bar Wench]

And again no.

But I was in foreign land.

[Snoopy]

Nope










You sure you were not conned into thinking you remember a programme that no-one else has ever heard of?

[Grumpmeister]

Nope I'm sure Snoops, and compared to some of the tricks that he did on the show those ones were pretty tame.

[Grumpmeister]

Amazing what can randomly pop up on a youtube playlist 

https://youtu.be/SBvFxo9Qdwc

[Steve]

Not I, was it worth watching?

[Grumpmeister]

I loved the show when I was younger and enjoyed that episode. Sadly because of the licensing it will never make it on to DVD as I'd love to see the entire thing again. Magic shows on television back then were Wayne Dobson and Paul Daniels. Simon Drake came up with something darker, more fast-paced and rock-and-roll, more weird.

It wasn't just the tricks or other acts though, there would be segments from people like James Randl, Ricky Jay and Frank Abagnale who would talk about con tricks (in Abagnale's case ones he had performed himself, including the one that ended up being made into a major film by Spielberg. 

[apc2010]

Dont know if any of you will remember this show, back around 1990, a guy called Simon Drake pitched an alternative magic show with an extremely twisted theme also including explanations from con artists on how they pulled their schemes. I used to watch this when I was a kid, and saw the episode that was shown over the weekend as part of Channel 4's 25th. If they ever show the series again its well worth a look. The first clip is part of a concert he did with Iron Maiden, the rest are from the series.

The 12 half-hour programs consisted of a fast-paced mix of the bizarre and surreal along with traditional magic illusions, often performed with gruesome twists. Originally conceived by Simon Drake, this unique TV series was the collaboration of Simon along with executive producer Sebastian Cody, line producer Frankie Glass, magic consultants Jim Steinmeyer, who also produced and old friend of Simon's Patrick Page. Other contributors included Ricky Jay, Mark Williams, Heathcote Williams and others. Together they created some of the most visually stunning and shocking illusions ever to be seen in the history of television.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vabMSSysws0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdb0a_jnPI0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdb0a_jnPI0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YtJQSURK4c&mode=related&search=


Just found out that they have released the DVD 

Saw it ..was it one with Rose circus ..with disgusting acts.....

[Grumpmeister]

Dont know if any of you will remember this show, back around 1990, a guy called Simon Drake pitched an alternative magic show with an extremely twisted theme also including explanations from con artists on how they pulled their schemes. I used to watch this when I was a kid, and saw the episode that was shown over the weekend as part of Channel 4's 25th. If they ever show the series again its well worth a look. The first clip is part of a concert he did with Iron Maiden, the rest are from the series.

The 12 half-hour programs consisted of a fast-paced mix of the bizarre and surreal along with traditional magic illusions, often performed with gruesome twists. Originally conceived by Simon Drake, this unique TV series was the collaboration of Simon along with executive producer Sebastian Cody, line producer Frankie Glass, magic consultants Jim Steinmeyer, who also produced and old friend of Simon's Patrick Page. Other contributors included Ricky Jay, Mark Williams, Heathcote Williams and others. Together they created some of the most visually stunning and shocking illusions ever to be seen in the history of television.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vabMSSysws0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdb0a_jnPI0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdb0a_jnPI0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YtJQSURK4c&mode=related&search=


Just found out that they have released the DVD 

Saw it ..was it one with Rose circus ..with disgusting acts.....

They were never on the show as far as I can remember, they did make it onto The Word though.