Bangor magic man’s invention flourishes Skyliner makes words seem to float in air

BANGOR – Deane Stern has long had the gift of drawing people’s attention. Now he’s passing that gift on to others.

Stern, a magician, and his partner, Hal Myers, a stage illusionist, are the creators of the Skyliner. The toy resembles noisemakers used at parties, but when swung around, it reveals one of 10 prerecorded messages, such as “Let’s Party,” “Happy Birthday” and “Go For It.” It also can be programmed with three personalized messages.

Now the sleek, black Skyliner can be found nationwide at Spencer Gifts, Hallmark, Learning Express and Zany Brainy stores, along with theme parks including Disneyland, Disney World and Universal Studios. Locally, it is available at the Maine Discovery Museum gift shop. Stern expects to sell a half-million Skyliners this year.

“We’re successful in a very hurting market,” said Stern, 57. “We would have sold more if not for companies going Chapter 11.”

He said orders have come in from around the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, China, Israel, Singapore and most of Europe.

The device is drawing considerable ink, including articles in upcoming issues of Money and Playboy magazines.

The toy has thrust the Bangor resident back into the world of celebrity as well. Jay Leno demonstrated it on the air. Sony ordered Skyliners that spelled out “Willennium” to promote Will Smith’s most recent album. Actor Joe Mategna ordered a shipment.

The Skyliner allows Stern to continue his lifelong love of magic. He started teaching himself tricks as a child, but his real education began in Los Angeles’ Magic Castle, where he learned from Dai Vernon, considered the guru of magic.

He founded a company, Corporate Program Development, which specialized in using magic as an attention-getting device for corporations.

“I would tell clients, ‘I have a way to get your message across, and to get the result that you need,'” he recalled. “My motto was ‘magic that means business.'”

Stern returned home in 1995 at the request of his brother, Marshall, when their mother was ill. During that visit, Marshall was killed in a car accident. Their mother died six months later.

Stern’s first child was born that year, and he wanted to raise her in Bangor. So he decided to move home permanently.

There wasn’t much call for a magician with high fees in Maine. So Stern decided to develop an idea he’d been kicking around for 20 years.

“I did the business here because there was no other way to make a living,” he said. “I didn’t want to travel anymore.”

Inside the Skyliner, a microchip controls a column of eight LED lights that, as they move, blink out patterns that look like words. Because of the principle known as “persistence of vision,” the human eye doesn’t see the individual lights but instead perceives a lingering image of letters and words that appear to float in the air.

Stern and Meyers launched Versatile Visions in 1999. They found the exposure they sought when the Skyliner was featured on two 23-minute segments on QVC, selling a combined 7,300 units. (QVC wants the Skyliner back for another appearance, he added.)

“That gave us credibility,” he said.

After a member of a Disney consulting group flashed a crudity concerning Mickey Mouse with a Skyliner, the parent corporation called for a specialized version, without the programmable option. All it takes is an order of 25,000 to get a customized version, Stern said.

Stern has concentrated on placing the toy in specialty shops rather than mass marketers such as Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart.

“They don’t have the time to personally [demonstrate] the product,” he explained.

Stern is working with Rick Eason, a University of Maine professor, to employ his persistence-of-vision patent in a new product now with his company’s engineers in Hong Kong.

“We feel it could be hotter than the Skyliner,” he predicted.

Displaying some unexplainable tricks with dice and cards, Stern shows that he keeps in practice with his magic. He even performed at a Fourth of July party for a friend on Long Island.

But don’t call him to be your spur-of-the-moment entertainment at a birthday party.

“I still get calls, but people don’t understand the caliber of the magic I do,” he said. “I’d need to prepare for three months to get back in shape. I have high standards.”