Stage illusions
Encyclopedia
Stage illusions are large-scale magic
tricks. As the name implies, stage illusions are distinct from all other types of magic in that they are performed a considerable distance away from the audience, usually on a stage, in order to maintain the illusion
.
Stage illusions usually use large props
and may involve the use of assistants and/or large animals. As this form of magic performance is very common on television, most lay people (i.e., non-magicians) will report that this is the only form of magic with which they are familiar. In actuality, only a small percentage of professional magicians are stage illusionists. Most choose to specialize in close-up magic and perform in more intimate settings. Grand illusions are usually very costly and, due to their size, are difficult to ship, which would explain the paucity of professional stage illusionists.
Examples of stage illusions include sawing a woman in half
and Lady-to-Tiger.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
tricks. As the name implies, stage illusions are distinct from all other types of magic in that they are performed a considerable distance away from the audience, usually on a stage, in order to maintain the illusion
Illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
.
Stage illusions usually use large props
Theatrical property
A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is an object used on stage by actors to further the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The difference between a set...
and may involve the use of assistants and/or large animals. As this form of magic performance is very common on television, most lay people (i.e., non-magicians) will report that this is the only form of magic with which they are familiar. In actuality, only a small percentage of professional magicians are stage illusionists. Most choose to specialize in close-up magic and perform in more intimate settings. Grand illusions are usually very costly and, due to their size, are difficult to ship, which would explain the paucity of professional stage illusionists.
Examples of stage illusions include sawing a woman in half
Sawing a woman in half
Sawing a woman in half is a generic name for a number of different stage magic tricks in which a person is apparently sawn or divided into two or more pieces.-History:...
and Lady-to-Tiger.
Famous stage illusionists
- Siegfried & RoySiegfried & RoySiegfried & Roy are two German-American former entertainers who became known for their appearances with white lions and white tigers....
- David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield (illusionist)David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
- Lance BurtonLance BurtonLance Burton is a stage illusionist. He has appeared on numerous television programs, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth and President Ronald Reagan...
- Jeff McBrideJeff McBrideJeff McBride is an American magician from Monticello New York. He is known for his sleight of hand skills and specializes in the manipulation of playing cards, coins, and other small objects. His stage performances blend elements of kabuki, a Japanese theater form, with traditional conjuring...
- Dante (Harry August Jansen)Dante (Harry August Jansen)Harry August Jansen , was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and settled in the United States. He traveled the world as a professional magician under the name Dante the Magician.-Biography:...
- Criss AngelCriss AngelChristopher Nicholas Sarantakos , better known by the stage name Criss Angel, is an American illusionist, writer, director, musician, and actor...
- Doug HenningDoug HenningDouglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
- Alexander HerrmannAlexander HerrmannAlexander Herrmann was a French magician, better known as Herrmann the Great. He was part of the Herrmann family name that is known as the "first-family of magic". Those who witnessed Herrmann the Great perform considered him the greatest magician they ever saw...
- Harry Blackstone, Sr.Harry Blackstone, Sr.Harry Blackstone was a famed stage magician and illusionist of the 20th century. Blackstone was born Harry Bouton in Chicago, Illinois, he began his career as a magician in his teens and was popular through World War II as a USO entertainer. He was often billed as The Great Blackstone. His son...
- Harry Blackstone, Jr.Harry Blackstone, Jr.Harry Blackstone, Jr. was an American stage magician, author, and television performer.-Career and life:Blackstone was born in Three Rivers, Michigan, the son of noted stage magician Harry Blackstone, Sr. .As an infant, he was used as a prop in his father's act...
- Howard ThurstonHoward ThurstonHoward Thurston was a stage magician from Columbus, Ohio.-Life:Thurston had the largest traveling magic show for the time, requiring more than eight entire train cars to transport his props across the country...
- Guy BavliGuy BavliGuy Bavli is a mentalist, illusionist, and lecturer. He owns the entertainment company "Master of the Mind", based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
- Chung Ling SooChung Ling SooChung Ling Soo was the stage name of the American magician William Ellsworth Robinson who is mostly remembered today for his tragic death after a bullet catch trick went wrong.- Biography :...
- Harry HoudiniHarry HoudiniHarry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
- The PendragonsThe PendragonsJonathan and Charlotte Pendragon were an award-winning husband-and-wife team of American illusionists who called their work "physical grand illusion"...
- P. C. Sorcar, Jr.P. C. Sorcar, Jr.P. C. Sorcar, Jr. is an Indian magician based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He is the second son of legendary Indian magician P. C. Sorcar, and is today considered the most prominent magician in India...
Stage illusions
- Aquarian IllusionAquarian IllusionThe Aquarian Illusion is a variation of the Metamorphosis or Substitution Trunk magic illusion. It was created by Alan Wakeling for Mark Wilson, who performed it in The Magic Circus series and a HBO special Mumbo Jumbo! It's Magic, and in closing his Las Vegas shows.The illusion begins with a...
- Asrah levitationAsrah levitationThe Asrah levitation is an illusion effect whereby the magician hypnotizes an assistant and commands them to recline on a table or couch. The assistant is then fully covered with a cloth and levitated under the cloth. The form of the assistant is still visible while levitating. Moments later, the...
- Assistant's RevengeAssistant's RevengeThe Assistant's Revenge is a transposition illusion in which two performers change places. It was created by magician and inventor Robert Harbin.-Description:...
- Aztec LadyAztec LadyThe Aztec Lady is a stage illusion designed by British magician Robert Harbin. It is a classic "big box" illusion that involves an assistant in a cabinet and is probably best categorised as a restoration-type illusion.-Description:...
- Balducci levitationBalducci levitationThe Balducci levitation is a levitation illusion that was first described by Ed Balducci. Its inventor is unknown. It is an impromptu magic trick, which has been popularized by many magicians, such as David Roth, Paul Harris, Alex Magic, and David Blaine....
- Battle of the BarrelsBattle of the BarrelsThe Battle of the Barrels is a transportation illusion also known as Barricaded Barrels, Through the Eye of the Needle or the Black and White Barrels....
- Bullet catchBullet catchThe bullet catch is a conjuring illusion in which a magician appears to catch a bullet fired directly at him—often in his mouth, sometimes in his hand or caught with other items such as a dinner plate...
- Cabinet escape
- David Copperfield's laser illusion
- Dagger head boxDagger head boxDagger Head Box is a magic trick.The performer/magician is joined by an assistant. The assistant's head is put in a small metal box with a hole in the front. The hole is then closed by two doors at the side of the box. The rest of the assistant's body may be clearly seen. A large sword is plunged...
- Devil's torture chamberDevil's torture chamberThe Devil's Torture Chamber is a magic stage illusion of the classic type involving a female magician's assistant in a large box and is probably best categorised as a penetration or restoration-type illusion.-Description:...
- GuillotineGuillotine (magic trick)The Guillotine is a magic trick where it appears that a blade of a guillotine passes through a person's neck without harming him/her.-History:...
- ImpalementImpaled (illusion)Impaled is a classic stage illusion in which a performer appears to be impaled on or by a sword or pole. The name is most commonly associated with an illusion that was created by designer Ken Whitaker in the 1970s and which is sometimes also referred to as "Beyond Belief" or "Impaled Beyond...
- Indian rope trickIndian rope trickThe Indian rope trick is stage magic said to have been performed in and around India during the 19th century. Sometimes described as "the world’s greatest illusion", it reputedly involved a magician, a length of rope, and one or more boy assistants....
- InterludeInterlude (magic trick)Interlude is a stage illusion where one person appears to pass through the torso of another . Invented by Jim Steinmeyer with collaboration of John Gaughan and Jonathan Pendragon, and was originally staged, choreographed and performed by The Pendragons, it has since become a part of many...
- MetamorphosisMetamorphosis (illusion)Metamorphosis is the name of a stage illusion invented by John Nevil Maskelyne, but most often associated with famous escape artist Harry Houdini and performed to some renown by The Pendragons, among others...
- Mismade GirlMismade GirlThe Mismade Girl is a stage illusion, designed by American magician Chuck Jones.-Basic effect:Four cubes with open tops and bottoms are stacked to form a cabinet. An assistant stands inside and the cabinet is closed. Metal blades are slid into the cabinet, apparently slicing the assistant into four...
- OrigamiOrigami (magic trick)Origami is a magic stage illusion with a Japanese paperfolding theme that was designed by Jim Steinmeyer. In the 1980's Illusion builder John Gaughan refined the concept and constructed the first version for Doug Henning....
- Predicament escapePredicament escapeA predicament escape is any form of magic trick or escapology stunt in which the performer is trapped in a dangerous situation and is required to escape from it...
- Radium GirlRadium GirlThe Radium Girl is a stage illusion of the classic type involving a female assistant in a large box and is probably best categorised as a penetration or restoration-type illusion. Its origins and history are much less well documented than those of many other "big box" illusions but some sources...
- Sawing a woman in halfSawing a woman in halfSawing a woman in half is a generic name for a number of different stage magic tricks in which a person is apparently sawn or divided into two or more pieces.-History:...
- Square Circle ProductionSquare Circle ProductionThe Square Circle Production is a well used magic trick on stage and also close up in smaller versions.Effect: The magician shows a square box with a window in front and a coloured cylinder which fits in the box...
- Squeeze Box Illusion
- Table of deathTable of deathThe table of death is a predicament escape that is alternately considered as falling into the categories of a magic trick or an act of escapology.-Description:...
- TwisterTwister (magic trick)The twister is a famous stage magic trick. A girl is placed in an upright cabinet, with her head and feet visible. The magician spins the cabinet, then opens the front. The girl's body is now a narrow, twisted rope from which her fingers protrude. The magician closes the cabinet, rotates it in...
- WringerWringer (magic trick)The Wringer is a stage magic trick. The magician places his assistant into a large box with a set of rollers in the front. The magician turns a crank, and the assistant emerges through the rollers, now flat as a pancake. The magician then opens the front of the box, revealing it to be empty...
- Zig Zag GirlZig Zag GirlThe Zig-Zag Girl illusion is a magic trick akin to the more famous sawing a woman in half illusion. In the Zig-Zag illusion, a magician divides his or her assistant into thirds, only to have the assistant emerge from the illusion at the end of the performance completely unharmed.Since its invention...