Editing Doug Henning (section)

==Early life==
Henning was born in the [[Fort Garry, Winnipeg|Fort Garry]] district of [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]].

Henning became interested in magic after seeing the [[Peruvians|Peruvian]] magician [[Richiardi Jr]]. perform on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''.<ref name= "copperfield-2021">{{Cite book |last1= Copperfield |first1=David |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1236259508 |title=David Copperfield's history of magic |last2=Wiseman |first2=Richard |last3= Britland |first3=David |date=2021 |isbn= 978-1-9821-1291-2 |location=New York |oclc=1236259508 |author-link=David Copperfield (illusionist) |author-link2= Richard Wiseman}}</ref> He subsequently learned a variety of tricks and performed for his relatives.<ref name= "copperfield-2021" /> He began practising magic at Oakenwald School in Fort Garry. Later, his family relocated to [[Oakville, Ontario]]. Eventually he named himself "The Astounding Hendoo" and started advertising in local newspapers.<ref name= "copperfield-2021" />

After Henning graduated from [[Oakville Trafalgar High School]], he stopped doing magic, not wanting to do it for a living. He felt that there were only two kinds of magicians, "...magicians for kids, and magicians for nightclub acts. I didn't want to be either kind." So, instead, he enrolled and became a student at [[McMaster University]] in [[Hamilton, Ontario]], and studied [[psychology]],<ref name="query.nytimes.com"/> in preparation for a medical degree. There, Henning met [[Ivan Reitman]], when he appeared in the 1968 Reitman-directed production of ''[[Li'l Abner (musical)|Li'l Abner]]'' in the role of Lonesome Polecat.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

To support himself during this time, Henning worked at the [[Toronto International Airport]], loading and unloading crates. He found the work to be too heavy and tiring; so, with the help of his partner Mars Barrick, he formed the partnership of Henning and Mars, and they performed at local bars and nightclubs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Michael |date=2021-11-29 |title= A Magical Encounter: meeting magicians Doug Henning and Mars Barrick |url=https://doc-the-storyteller.medium.com/a-magical-encounter-meeting-magicians-doug-henning-and-mars-barrick-bac1880fea5b |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>

On May 19, 1967, Doug's father, an [[Air Canada]] pilot, was killed during a training flight when his DC-8-54 crashed near the Ottawa airport (CYOW).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19670519-0| title = ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-8-54F CF-TJM Ottawa International Airport, ON (YOW)| website = aviation-safety.net| publisher =| accessdate= }}</ref>

Henning graduated with honours, earning a degree in science and psychology. He subsequently decided to take a couple of years to concentrate on his magic before entering medical school.