Puff, the Magic Dragon racism… Puff, himself, if asked, would certainly agree." During the Vietnam War the AC-47 Spooky gunship was nicknamed the "Dragon" or "Dragon ship" by the Americans because of its armament and firepower—the nickname soon caught on, and one website without primary citations indicates that the American troops began to call the AC-47 "Puff the Magic Dragon". Robert Mason's "Chickenhawk" states, in reference to the Peter, Paul and Mary song playing on a turntable: ""Puff the Magic Dragon" was making me uncomfortable. It was the saccharine song that had inspired the naming of the murderous Gatling-gun-armed C-47s. I couldn’t listen." Elon
Piff the Magic Dragon as Piff the Magic Dragon at The Flamingo's Bugsy's Cabaret venue. He is assisted by showgirl Jade Simone, and "Francis the Squire". Van der Put has been magic consultant to Penn and Teller, Heston Blumenthal and his restaurant "the Fat Duck", and company Theatre-Rites for their production "Mojo", which played at The Barbican Theatre, the Salzburg Festival, and New York's New Victory Theatre. Van der Put won the 2008 British Ring "Close-up Magician of the Year", while The Magic Circle awarded him their 2011 "Close-up Magician of the Year", 2012 "Stage Magician of the Year" (as Piff), and 2013 "Carlton