|
List Of Magic Tricks
This article contains a list of magic tricks. In magic literature, tricks are often called effects. Based on published literature and marketed effects, there are millions of effects; a short performance routine by a single magician may contain dozens of such effects. Some students of magic strive to refer to effects using a proper name, and also to properly attribute an effect to its creator. For example, consider an effect in which a magician shows four aces, and then the aces turn face up one at a time in a mysterious fashion. This effect, recognized as ''Twisting the Aces'', is attributed to Dai Vernon, and it is based on a false count invented by Alex Elmsley. Some tricks are listed merely with their marketed name (particularly those sold as stand-alone tricks by retail dealers), whereas others are listed by the name given within magic publications. Magic tricks * Assistant's Revenge * Aztec Lady * Battle of the Barrels *Bill in Lemon *Book test *Bullet Catch * Cabinet Escape ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Magic (illusion)
Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural means. It is to be distinguished from paranormal magic which are effects claimed to be created through supernatural means. It is one of the oldest performing arts in the world. Modern entertainment magic, as pioneered by 19th-century magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, has become a popular theatrical art form. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, magicians such as Maskelyne and Devant, Howard Thurston, Harry Kellar, and Harry Houdini achieved widespread commercial success during what has become known as "the Golden Age of Magic." During this period, performance magic became a staple of Broadway theatre, vaudeville, and music halls. Magic retained its popularity in the television age, with magicians such as Paul Daniels, David Copperfield ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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] |
Sands Of The Nile
Sands of the Nile, also known as Hindu Sands or Sands of the Desert, is a popular magic trick performed since the early part of the 20th century. It was a staple of Doug Henning's stage and television shows. Effect A large transparent bowl is placed on a pedestal along with three small piles of colored sand. The bowl is filled with water, often with the magician drinking some or providing it to an audience member to demonstrate it is simply normal water. Stirring the water with his hand, the water turns murky or black. The colored sands are then poured into the bowl and stirred by hand. With a flourish, the magician reaches into the bowl to pull out each color of sand, separate and unmixed. With a last stir, the water turns clear again, with a few stray grains of sand left in it. Method The trick uses simple chemistry for all of its effects. The change of color from clear to opaque and back can be accomplished using any number of simple chemical reactions. Almost any acid/base invi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Radium Girl
The 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 indicate it might be one of the earliest examples of that type of trick. References and picture captions indicate it was the creation of British magician and designer Val Walker. Description The magician recruits several volunteers from the audience. A female assistant is then introduced and one or more of the volunteers are invited to help her into a series of restraints, which consist of leather straps with short chains or cords attached. Four short straps are fitted as cuffs around her wrists and ankles, a slightly longer one as a collar around her neck and an even larger one as belt around her waist. As the first group of volunteers complete the fastening of the restraints to the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quick-change (performance)
Quick-change is a performance style where a performer (often, a magician) changes quickly, usually within seconds, from one costume into another. Notable quick-change artists Arturo Brachetti When Italian actor and performer Arturo Brachetti started his career in Paradis Latin, Paris (1979) he was the only quick-change performer in the world since the legendary Leopoldo Fregoli (1867-1937). ''Guinness World Records'' lists him as the fastest and most prolific in the world. His last one-man show has been seen by more than two million people worldwide. The changing of his tailcoat from black to white live and close to public was a method invented by him and is considered his artistic signature. His wardrobe consists of more than 350 costumes but evolves show by show. His performances often involve a series of characters, played consecutively one after the other, or in spoken sketches in which he plays all the roles interacting with each other. In 2000, he was awarded the Molière Aw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Predicament Escape
A predicament escape is any form of magic trick or escapology stunt in which the performer is trapped in an apparently dangerous situation and is required to escape from it. Classic examples include the Table of Death, Houdini's Chinese Water Torture Cell, Princess Tenko's escape from an exploding boat and the Upside Down Suspended Straitjacket escape, in which a performer is suspended high in the air from a burning rope. While many such feats are pure and simple escape acts performed for real, the predicament escape is also employed as a set-up or theme for certain illusions. These can end either with the performer emerging from the escape prop or appearing magically at another point in the performance space. Examples include a trick in which Melinda Saxe escaped from a tank filled with snakes during the 1998 television special ''The World's Most Dangerous Magic'' and a performance in the sequel show the following year in which the magician Margo was shackled in a coffin filled ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Origami (magic Trick)
Origami is a magic stage illusion with a Japanese paperfolding theme, designed by Jim Steinmeyer. It was originally performed in 1986 by Canadian illusionist Doug Henning, using a working prop constructed by illusion builder John Gaughan. Illusionist David Copperfield later introduced presentational changes that would be widely copied by other performers. Effect Doug Henning version ''Origami'' was first performed by Canadian magician Doug Henning in 1986. At that time, designer Jim Steinmeyer was employed as a magic consultant by Henning. In the original presentation, Henning displays a small box, 12 inches square and decorated with Japanese-style prints, on top of a thin table. He explains that the box is held together by two ivory skewers and a wooden pole. At this point, a male assistant appears on stage carrying a large mirror, which is mounted at the rear of the table and reflects the back of the box. Henning explains that the purpose of the mirror is to allow the audienc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Needle-through-arm
Needle-through-arm is a magic illusion that was created by Bruce Spangler and later popularized by comedy actor/magician Harry Anderson. The trick can be performed as part of either a stage magic or a parlor magic routine. As the name would suggest, needle-through-arm relies on shock value to have a comedic effect. Although the trick popularized by Anderson is an illusion, other magicians, such as David Blaine, have apparently performed the trick by actually sticking the needle through a fistula surgically created in the performer's arm. History The effect was originally invented by Bruce Spangler, who debuted the trick at the premier of the 1960 movie ''Macumba Love'' and later sold it under the name "You-Do Voodoo". Harry Anderson popularized the trick in the 1980s, performing it on television on ''Saturday Night Live'' in 1982 and selling his own version of the trick. Presentation In presentation, the magician produces a hat pin, roughly ten inches long, and demonstrates tha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Metamorphosis (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 (for speed) by The Pendragons, among others. It is also known amongst magicians as the Substitution Trunk (often abbreviated to Sub Trunk). In the illusion, an assistant (Houdini employed his wife Bess) is locked inside a large box or trunk, often after being restrained with handcuffs, ropes, bags, etc. The magician stands on the trunk and holds a curtain up to momentarily conceal his entire body. When the curtain is lowered, it is now revealed to be the assistant standing atop the box, the magician and assistant having changed places instantaneously. When the box is opened, it is shown to contain the magician, restrained as the assistant had been. In some acts, the magician is locked in the box first, then appears standing atop the box. Variations include the Aquarian Illusion created in the 1970s by Ala ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Miser's Dream
Miser's Dream is a magic routine where the magician produces coins from the air (and often other places) and drops them into a receptacle they are holding, usually a metal bucket. It has also been called "Aerial Treasury". It was invented in the 19th century and popularized by T. Nelson Downs circa 1895. The trick is considered a crowd-pleaser, with an easy to follow plot based on a common desire. Its secret method usually involves palming. Selected Performers * Al Flosso * Jeff McBride * Penn & Teller (variation producing coins from a fish tank) * Robert-Houdin * T. Nelson Downs (using a hat) See also * Coin snatching Coin snatching, often nicknamed the Chinese elbow trick, consists of a simple illusion in which a coin is placed on the elbow, the hand of the same arm is placed on the arm's shoulder, and the hand is swung forward to catch the coin. The trick can ... References Coin magic {{Magic-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Levitation (illusion)
A levitation illusion is one in which a magician appears to defy gravity by making an object or person float in the air. The subject may appear to levitate unassisted, or it may be performed with the aid of another object (such as a silver ball floating around a cloth) in which case it is termed a "suspension". Various methods are used to create such illusions. The levitation of a magician or assistant can be achieved by a concealed platform or hidden wires, or in smaller-scale illusions by standing on tiptoe in a way that conceals the foot which is touching the ground. Of people Asrah levitation In Asrah levitation, an assistant lies down and is fully covered with a cloth. The assistant then appears to levitate beneath the cloth, before slowly floating down. As the magician pulls the cloth away, the assistant is seen to have vanished. The trick uses a structure of thin wire that is placed over the assistant at the same time as the cloth. The wire structure can be raised while ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Inexhaustible Bottle
The Inexhaustible Bottle is a classic magic trick performed by stage magicians. It dates to the 17th century and has since inspired many variations; well known examples include Any Drink Called For, The Bar Act, Satan's Barman, the Assassin's Teapot and Think-a-Drink. During the temperance movement it became The Obliging Tea Kettle, and the modern Magic Tea Kettle remains a common prop available at most magic stores. A slight variation is the Magic Funnel. Today, the trick is normally performed for children, although some stand-up shows retain a variation. Effect The magician produces a bottle or kettle and asks the audience to name any sort of drink: water, beer, tea, or any other liquid. The magician tips the bottle and pours out a glass of that drink. He then asks for another example, and another, with the bottle producing the drinks on demand, seemingly forever. At the end of the performance the bottle is broken open to reveal various objects. Kettles generally reveal a number o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
