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Right: in 1989, Ben Robinson zings a card into the air at the West 67th St. ABC-TV studio for the biggest star in daytime TV, Susan Lucci, on the long running series All My Children. Next to her is actor Walt Willy who was annoyed that Robinson's rabbit, named Willie, received more attention on the set than he did. He muttered, "Damn rabbit doesn't even act." |
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1989: Above left two images from Robinson's guest appearances on MTV's Big Show starring Weird Al Yankovic. Right: the one man show that Robinson brought to a theatre on the Lower East Side of NY after it debuted under the name Out Of Order in Stockbridge, MA the summer of 1988. Both productions had music by Mark Bennett. Nine months later, his one man show, After Magic? was attended by MTV scouts, talent agents and film directors, as reviews in Stockbridge called the show "A must see." He gave 7 sold out perormances at Theatre Club Funambules. 36 hours later he left on a 6-week journey to Nepal and Mount Everest. Photo copyright: Jim Moore, 2002 |
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1988: Ben Robinson tells the story: "I did several shows at the huge Jacob Javits Center on the west side of Manhattan for a student career expo. Probably 20,000 kids there from all over the NY region. I did roughly the same show 45 minute show 4 times a day for two days. Well, this guy sits in the 3rd row aisle for each show one day, and I can't figure it out, except he likes my show. So at the end of the show the guy with the heavy black rim glasses and Keds sneakers, nearly bald, sort of bony looking, gets up from his third row seat and comes over to me as I am cleaning up some stuff on the stage. He says, 'The kids really enjoyed your show and so did I.' I thank him. Then he picks up a joker that had fallen to the stage during my show. and scawls something on it with a black marker that he seemed to have a alot of. Then, somewhat awkwardly, offers it to me with a hesitant, 'Here, this is for you.' I accepted his small drawing having absolutely no idea that the bony looking guy was the famous pop artist Keith Haring who'd done the poster (left) for the show. His drawing of a man falling out of the ringmaster's hat is inspired like so much of his child-like art. Keith started out as a graffiti artist, and since his death, his paintings, sketches and drawings have commanded very high prices. " __________________________________________________________________________ The original Keith Haring Joker is now in the collection of Anthony Chaudhuri, and reproduced here with permission. All reproduction rights belong to Anthony Chaudhuri. |
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On a soundstage fashioned from an abandoned building, off Broadway Ben Robinson was part of the 1987 "Quick Hits" Levis 501 jeans campaign joining a top model, musicians and noted artist Mark Kostabi (with sun glasses). The talent was hand-picked by the famous director Leslie Dektor. Ad Age called the campaign extremely effective for mixing avant garde sensibiities with mainstream selling. |
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| received hundreds of calls. His mother could not get through on the phone. When she did, she said to her son, "So, are you happy now?" | ||||
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1987: The Hunger Artist, produced by the Music-Theatre Group, St. Clement's Theatre, on West 46th Street. Directed by MacArthur "genius" Award recipient, Martha Clarke. Robinson added illusions to the dramatic show. Robinson's contribution was reviewed by Clive Barnes of the NY Post as "some oddly charming mgic illusions brought to the stage." Throughout the years Robinson has lent his touch to TV commercials, theme park review shows and some current publications. |
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Right: Ben Robinson performed at Top of the Sixes at 666 Fifth Avenue for 11 months in 1986 as the House Magician providing 4 hours of close up magic a night. He left his position to tour Europe promoting his book, Twelve Have Died. |
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