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Drill Of Death
The Drill of Death is a large-scale stage illusion in which a performer appears to be impaled on a giant drill. It was created by magician André Kole and illusion designer Ken Whitaker for magician Melinda Saxe. It was one of Saxe's signature tricks and featured as a highlight in her various ''First Lady of Magic'' shows. The illusion featured in several network television magic specials. It was first shown on television in November 1995, when Melinda performed it on '' The World's Greatest Magic II'' broadcast by NBC. It later served as one of the big set pieces in Melinda's own ''Melinda, First Lady of Magic'' special produced by Disney and broadcast on CBS in March 1997. The television special ''50 Greatest Magic Tricks'', broadcast by Britain's Channel 4 in May 2002, named Drill of Death as number 41 in its list of the 50 greatest magic tricks of all time. During Melinda's performing career she was the only magician presenting the illusion. She ceased performing in 2002 to rai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
André Kole
André Kole (born Robert J. Gurtler Jr.; September 30, 1936 – October 17, 2022) was an American magician and inventor of magical effects. He was also a committed Christian and a public speaker for the evangelical group Campus Crusade for Christ. He was also known for using his magical knowledge to debunk frauds and hoaxes. Biography Robert Gurtler was inspired to take up magic at the age of seven after seeing a performance. By the time he was 20, now known as André Kole, he was performing his '' Table of Death'' trick on the national network television show ''You Asked for It''. Among the illusions Kole is credited with devising are the Squeeze Box illusion (licensed to builder John Gaughan), and the Head Mover illusion (as performed by David Copperfield, Tim Kole and Kirby Van Birch). He also used his magical knowledge and skills to debunk frauds and hoaxes. He was reported in 2003 as offering one million dollars to the Rev. Dr. Donald Stewart if Stewart could prove ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melinda Saxe
Melinda is a feminine given name. Etymology The modern name ''Melinda'' is a combination of "Mel" with the suffix "-inda". "Mel" can be derived from names such as Melanie meaning "dark, black" in Greek, or from Melissa (μέλισσα) meaning "honeybee" in Greek. It is also associated with the Greek word ''meli'', meaning "honey", and with Linda, from "lind" meaning "gentle, soft, tender" in the Germanic languages. Pronunciation The typical English pronunciation of Melinda is . In Hungarian, the stress is on the first syllable: . Usage and popularity The name Melinda is used in English and Hungarian. In the United States, its popularity peaked in 1973 at No. 72. In 1990 it was in the top 1000 names in the US, and in 2002 it was in the top 100 names in Hungary. Since its peak the popularity of the name Melinda has been gradually declining in the United States, to last be seen on the top 1000 list in 2002 at No. 932. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The World's Greatest Magic
''The World's Greatest Magic'' was a series of American television specials showcasing magic acts. The first of five shows was broadcast by NBC in 1994, and continued with annual editions through 1998. These shows were most often first telecast during the Thanksgiving holidays when special programming would occur. These specials reran occasionally on ABC Family (then The Family Channel and Fox Family) from October 1996 to early 2002. The first episode was hosted by Robert Urich, the second by Alan Thicke, and the final three episodes by John Ritter. All of the specials were narrated by Don LaFontaine. During specials II, III, IV, and V, before each commercial break of every episode, in a segment known as the ''Mac King School of Magic'', Mac King showed viewers a simple magic trick, and would break its steps down after the commercial break so that the audience could perform the same trick for family and friends. The first special featured the same teach-a-trick segments which invol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt and Roy O. Disney as the Disney Brothers Studio; it also operated under the names the Walt Disney Studio and Walt Disney Productions before changing its name to the Walt Disney Company in 1986. Early on, the company established itself as a leader in the animation industry, with the creation of the widely popular character Mickey Mouse, who is the company's mascot, and the start of animated films. After becoming a major success by the early 1940s, the company started to diversify into live-action films, television, and theme parks in the 1950s. Following Walt's death in 1966, the company's profits began to decline, especially in the animation division. Once Disney's shareholders voted in Michael Eisner as the he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
50 Greatest Magic Tricks
''50 Greatest Magic Tricks'' is a one-off list show that was produced by Objective Productions for Channel 4. The programme counted down the fifty greatest magic tricks, as voted for by members of The Magic Circle (organisation), The Magic Circle. The illusion at number one was Death Saw by David Copperfield (illusionist), David Copperfield. The show was presented by British comedy duo Adam and Joe, who also wrote and narrated the programme. The show was first broadcast on Channel 4 on 6 May 2002. The list was noted for including Ishamuddin Khan, an Indian street magician, with his Indian rope trick. Khan's illusion was ranked at number 20 on the list. Magic tricks #David Copperfield (illusionist), David Copperfield – Death Saw (1995) #David Blaine – Levitation (illusion), Levitation #The Pendragons – Metamorphosis (illusion), Metamorphosis #Lance Burton – Doves (1982) #Robert Harbin – Zig Zag Lady (1965) #David Copperfield – David Copperfield's flying illusion, Fly ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a fourth television service in the United Kingdom. At the time, the only other channels were the television licence, licence-funded BBC One and BBC Two, and a single commercial broadcasting network ITV (TV network), ITV. The network's headquarters are based in London and Leeds, with creative hubs in Glasgow and Bristol. It is publicly owned and advertising-funded; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), the station is now owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation, a public corporation of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which was established in 1990 and came into operation in 1993. Until 2010, Channel 4 did not broadcast in Wales, but many of its programmes were re-broadcast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Christian Farla
Christian Farla (born May 5, 1970, in Rotterdam) is a Dutch magician from Rotterdam who specializes in illusions. In 2006 and 2009, he won the Merlin Award. Biography Christian was born in Rotterdam on May 5, 1970. He won the Dutch Junior Championships for Stage Magic aged 12 and decided to become an illusionist. During school holidays, he traveled with the circus and learned about performing for large audiences. In 1992, he met his future partner and magic assistant, Bianca, who was performing as a dancer in the same show he was performing in. On August 19, 2008, their son was born. In 1993, 1999, and 2001, the magic duo won the first prize in the Dutch Magic Championships. In 1996 they got their first big contract with Vd Ende Events to perform in many large productions in the Studios in Aalsmeer. After winning the Henk Vermeyden Trophy, Farla got a contract for 80 shows for the Sunflower Foundation Tour. They got spotted by Frank Wentink who offered them a place in the g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Circus Of The Stars
''Circus of the Stars'' was an annual television special, broadcast by the CBS network in the United States, in which celebrities performed circus-type acts. With 19 shows in total, the first was broadcast in 1977 and the last was in 1994. Over the years the series featured many leading movie and television stars. Towards the end of its life, the program title was changed slightly. In 1992, it was ''Circus of the Stars and Sideshow'', in 1993 it became ''Circus of the Stars Gives Kids the World'', and in 1994, it was ''Circus of the Stars Goes to Disneyland''. The concept has also been performed in other countries, notably ''Stars in der Manege'' (1959–2008) in Germany. Other versions and variations The concept of celebrities turning their hand to circus acts has proved attractive to program makers around the world. The German show ''Stars in der Manege'' began in 1959 and continued annually as a charity fundraising special until 2008. It was made each winter in the Circu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arabella Kiesbauer
Cosima Arabella-Asereba Kiesbauer (born 8 April 1969), known professionally as Arabella Kiesbauer, is an Austrian born German-Austrian TV presenter, writer and actress. She grew up in Vienna with her grandmother after her mother Hannelore (a German theater actress) and her father Sammy Ammissah (a Ghanaian engineer) separated. Career While she studied journalism and dramaturgy she started to work as presenter with the Austrian public service television broadcaster ORF. From 1994 to 2004 she hosted her own daily talk show ''Arabella'' on the German TV channel Pro7. On 17 January 2006 she started a weekly late night talk show ''Talk ohne Show'' on the Berlin TV station N24 TV. However, after 40 shows she resigned suddenly claiming that the frequent traveling between Vienna and Berlin was putting too much stress on her private life. Kiesbauer won several awards for her TV work, 1994 the Bayerischen Fernsehpreis in the category "Beste Talk-Newcomerin" and 1996 the media award ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Impaled (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 Belief". This version has become part of the stage magic repertoire and has been performed by many of the world's most famous magic acts. Australian-born magician Les Levante (1892-1978) is also credited with devising an impalement illusion but this was different from Whitaker's. Description of the Whitaker effect Presentations of the effect vary but a typical one is as follows. The magician presents a stand, placed stage centre, which supports a sword in a vertical position with the sharpened tip pointing upwards. An assistant is introduced and the magician (sometimes with the help of additional assistants) picks her up and balances her in a supine position on the tip of the sword. The assis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Escapology
Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists (also classified as escape artists) escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks, and other perils, often in combination. History The art of escaping from restraints and confined spaces has been a skill employed by performers for a very long time. It was not originally displayed as an overt act in itself but was instead used secretly to create illusions such as a disappearance or transmutation. In the 1860s, the Davenport Brothers, who were skilled at releasing themselves from rope ties, used the art to convey the impression they were restrained while they created spirit phenomena. Other illusionists, including John Nevil Maskelyne, worked out how the Davenports did their act and re-created the tricks to debunk the brothers' claims of psychic power. However, the re-creations did not involve overt escape, merely a replicatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
