Difference between revisions of "Pre-internet penspinning videos"

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== Proto-Penspinning videos ==
 
== Proto-Penspinning videos ==
  
This section is dedicated to videos of early [[penspinning]] tricks performed without a [[pen]] or a [[penmod]]. The most common occurences of such videos are tricks performed by majorettes, magicians and drummers.
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This section is dedicated to videos of early [[penspinning]] tricks performed without a [[pen]] or a [[penmod]]. The most common occurences of such videos are tricks performed by majorettes, magicians and drummers. The goal of this section is not to be exhaustive but to present the earliest known videos in each discipline.
  
 
=== Majorettes ===
 
=== Majorettes ===
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Baton twirling is one the oldest disciplines in which penspinning-like tricks are performed. That's why the oldest known emergences of such tricks can be seen in videos featuring majorettes.  
 
Baton twirling is one the oldest disciplines in which penspinning-like tricks are performed. That's why the oldest known emergences of such tricks can be seen in videos featuring majorettes.  
  
An example of such a video is this archive from 1938, July 6 in California. In this video, we can see from 16 seconds a majorette performing a continuous "[[Pass]] 12-34 > [[Backaround|PinkyIndexBackaround]] 34-12", which is extremly difficult to perfom with a penmod.
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An example of such a video is this archive from '''1938''', July 6 in California. In this video, we can see from 16 seconds a majorette performing a continuous "[[Pass]] 12-34 > [[Backaround|PinkyIndexBackaround]] 34-12", which is extremly difficult to perfom with a penmod.
  
 
[https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675033915_drum-majorette-classes_girl-baton-twirlers_performing-steps_rolling-a-stick <Video on criticalpast.com>] (at 0:16) - baton twirlers in Long Beach, California
 
[https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675033915_drum-majorette-classes_girl-baton-twirlers_performing-steps_rolling-a-stick <Video on criticalpast.com>] (at 0:16) - baton twirlers in Long Beach, California
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A popular example is the '''Dai Vernon spin''' consisting in "[[Charge]] 12 > [[Pass]] reverse 12-T1" popularized by Silent Mora and Dai Vernon. The date of the videos presented here are yet to be determined.
 
A popular example is the '''Dai Vernon spin''' consisting in "[[Charge]] 12 > [[Pass]] reverse 12-T1" popularized by Silent Mora and Dai Vernon. The date of the videos presented here are yet to be determined.
  
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De2tyFK8WA0 <Video on youtube.com>] (at1:55) - Dai Vernon at the Magic Circus  
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De2tyFK8WA0 <Video on youtube.com>] (at 1:55) - Dai Vernon at the Magic Circus  
  
 
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeIBCLw4p8o <Video on youtube.com>] (at 32:29) - Documentary "''Dai Vernon: The Spirit Of Magic''"
 
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeIBCLw4p8o <Video on youtube.com>] (at 32:29) - Documentary "''Dai Vernon: The Spirit Of Magic''"
  
An explanation of this trick can be found in the book "''Dai Vernon Book Of Magic Magic''" published in 1957 by Lewis Ganson. This could be considered as one of the oldest penspinning tutorial. A copy of the pages 137 to 139 of the 1994 edition is available here : [[:File:Dai_Vernon.png]]
+
An explanation of this trick can be found in the book "''Dai Vernon Book Of Magic Magic''" published in '''1957''' by Lewis Ganson. This could be considered as one of the oldest penspinning tutorial. A copy of the pages 137 to 139 of the 1994 edition is available here : [[:File:Dai_Vernon.png]]
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 +
=== Drummers ===
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 +
As live performers, drummers use a lot of spin tricks for showmanship. Such tricks are often used during breaks to keep visual activity. Among these tricks, some came be related to penspinning. We can mention the [[Charge]] and the [[Drummer]]. Here are two examples.
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 +
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHZC6CLgnPc <Video on youtube.com>] (at 2:52) - in '''1966''', Lionel Hampton performs what could be a "[[Sonic]] > [[Neosonic]]"
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 +
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB-HtJ8o4vA <Video on youtube.com>] in '''1995''', Eric Singer speaks about the [[Charge]] and how it is used
 +
 
 +
Further researches could certainly exhume older videos showing similar tricks. Such researches came begin by investigating the drummers mentioned by Jayson Brinkworth ins [https://www.theblackpage.net/articles/drumming-and-showmanship this article].
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 +
The '''1948''' movie Easter Parad can also be mentioned. In a dancing and drumming scene, Fred Astaire performs [[Pass|Passes]] with a drum stick. He also perfom an incredible thumbspin, but he actually uses a nail inserted in the stick to perform it.
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 +
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVyuVuWNa2M <Video on youtube.com>] (at 0:35 and 1:29)
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 +
== Penspinning videos ==
 +
 
 +
The goal of this section is to present an exhaustive list known penspinning videos recorded before the internet.
 +
 
 +
=== BIC : stylo à 4 couleurs ('''1970''') ===
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[[File:BIC_ad.png|thumb|BIC : stylo à 4 couleurs]]
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The first known penspinning video is a french commercial for the "[[BIC]] 4 Colours"". The performer executes quick sequences of [[Pass|Passes]] between the middle finger, the index finger and the thumb.
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[https://www.ina.fr//video/PUB3212118004/bic-stylo-a-4-couleurs-video.html <Video on ina.fr>] - Sept 01 1970
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=== Billion Dollar Day ('''1985''') ===
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 +
Billion Dollar Day is a documentary about currency trading created by the BBC on 4 June 1985. In this documentary, a trader from Hong Kong perfoms pen tricks with impressive ease. Between the 8th and the 9th minute, we can see him performing [[Half Fake Gunman|Half Fake Gunmans]], [[Pass|Passes]] and [[Neosonic|Neosonics]].
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxlTHZ0GmxU <Video on youtube.com>]
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=== Dave Hodge ('''1986''') ===
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Dave Hodge is a Canadian sports announcer. He was known, among other things, to perform pen flips.
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx33a0u3gmg <Video on youtube.com>] (at 0:30)
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=== Top Gun ('''1986''') ===
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In the movie Top Gun, we can see Val Kilmer (as Iceman) performing [[Pass|Passes]].
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p890hIa1w9k <Video on youtube.com>]
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=== GoldenEye ('''1995''') ===
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In the James Bond movie GoldenEye, we can see Alan Cumming (as Boris Grishenko) performing pen tricks (mostly [[Pass|Passes]]). The character of Boris being a geek, this could have perpetuated the popular image of penspinners seen as geeks.

Latest revision as of 18:03, 8 February 2021

This article aims to list every known penspinning and proto-penspinning videos released before internet.

Proto-Penspinning videos[edit]

This section is dedicated to videos of early penspinning tricks performed without a pen or a penmod. The most common occurences of such videos are tricks performed by majorettes, magicians and drummers. The goal of this section is not to be exhaustive but to present the earliest known videos in each discipline.

Majorettes[edit]

Baton twirling is one the oldest disciplines in which penspinning-like tricks are performed. That's why the oldest known emergences of such tricks can be seen in videos featuring majorettes.

An example of such a video is this archive from 1938, July 6 in California. In this video, we can see from 16 seconds a majorette performing a continuous "Pass 12-34 > PinkyIndexBackaround 34-12", which is extremly difficult to perfom with a penmod.

<Video on criticalpast.com> (at 0:16) - baton twirlers in Long Beach, California

Further researches could certainly exhume older videos showing similar tricks.

Magicians[edit]

Magicians have been interested in spinning wands to draw attention of their audience for a long time. The tricks performed are usually not really sophisticated but may not be totally trivial.

A popular example is the Dai Vernon spin consisting in "Charge 12 > Pass reverse 12-T1" popularized by Silent Mora and Dai Vernon. The date of the videos presented here are yet to be determined.

<Video on youtube.com> (at 1:55) - Dai Vernon at the Magic Circus

<Video on youtube.com> (at 32:29) - Documentary "Dai Vernon: The Spirit Of Magic"

An explanation of this trick can be found in the book "Dai Vernon Book Of Magic Magic" published in 1957 by Lewis Ganson. This could be considered as one of the oldest penspinning tutorial. A copy of the pages 137 to 139 of the 1994 edition is available here : File:Dai_Vernon.png

Drummers[edit]

As live performers, drummers use a lot of spin tricks for showmanship. Such tricks are often used during breaks to keep visual activity. Among these tricks, some came be related to penspinning. We can mention the Charge and the Drummer. Here are two examples.

<Video on youtube.com> (at 2:52) - in 1966, Lionel Hampton performs what could be a "Sonic > Neosonic"

<Video on youtube.com> in 1995, Eric Singer speaks about the Charge and how it is used

Further researches could certainly exhume older videos showing similar tricks. Such researches came begin by investigating the drummers mentioned by Jayson Brinkworth ins this article.

The 1948 movie Easter Parad can also be mentioned. In a dancing and drumming scene, Fred Astaire performs Passes with a drum stick. He also perfom an incredible thumbspin, but he actually uses a nail inserted in the stick to perform it.

<Video on youtube.com> (at 0:35 and 1:29)

Penspinning videos[edit]

The goal of this section is to present an exhaustive list known penspinning videos recorded before the internet.

BIC : stylo à 4 couleurs (1970)[edit]

BIC : stylo à 4 couleurs

The first known penspinning video is a french commercial for the "BIC 4 Colours"". The performer executes quick sequences of Passes between the middle finger, the index finger and the thumb.

<Video on ina.fr> - Sept 01 1970

Billion Dollar Day (1985)[edit]

Billion Dollar Day is a documentary about currency trading created by the BBC on 4 June 1985. In this documentary, a trader from Hong Kong perfoms pen tricks with impressive ease. Between the 8th and the 9th minute, we can see him performing Half Fake Gunmans, Passes and Neosonics.

<Video on youtube.com>

Dave Hodge (1986)[edit]

Dave Hodge is a Canadian sports announcer. He was known, among other things, to perform pen flips.

<Video on youtube.com> (at 0:30)

Top Gun (1986)[edit]

In the movie Top Gun, we can see Val Kilmer (as Iceman) performing Passes.

<Video on youtube.com>

GoldenEye (1995)[edit]

In the James Bond movie GoldenEye, we can see Alan Cumming (as Boris Grishenko) performing pen tricks (mostly Passes). The character of Boris being a geek, this could have perpetuated the popular image of penspinners seen as geeks.