DAI VERNON ROAST FROM 1987

Thanks to Michael Ammar for sharing this video from the 1987 roast of Dai Vernon at the New York Magic Symposium.. According to Michael :

If you are a magician or if you love magic this is a real treat.  This is the only known footage from the roast of Dai Vernon, the Professor, in 1987 at the New York Magic Symposium.  Tom Mullica is the MC and everyone who speaks is renowned in the world of magic. 

The footage is pretty rough at times; I was sitting on the floor while holding the camera.  It was only meant to preserve a genuine, meaningful experience shared with friends. Having found this VHS copy not long ago, this is a faded memory - and yet it instantly transports me to an exhilarating time and place!  

The batteries on the camera were so bad in those days.... I turned the camera off several times; one time missing the beautiful performance by Pat Cook.  Fortunately, he sang it just for the camera after the roast was over, so stay tuned after the final applause for the Professor!