Articles - Stage & Platform Magic Illusions Classic Illusions - A List of the Great Illusions of All TimeThis article is an introduction to some of the more common stage illusions used by magicians and gives you a quick explanation of the illusion and some video footage so you can see what the illusion looks like. Please use the comments below to provide suggestions of additions and changes.
Asrah Levitation
Invented by Servais Leroy, a magician from Belgium, in 1892. It was patented by Howard Thurston in the United States in 1927 and is one of the oldest levitation illusions and is still performed today. A woman lays upon a table and is covered in a cloth. She then slowly begins to rise and float in the air. At the conclusion of the trick, the sheet is pulled away and lady has vanished.
Lucille Ball Performs Asrah Levitation on Magic with the Stars (1981)
Blammo Box
A Blammo Box is simple illusion where the front of the box is open and can be seen to be empty. The top of the box is pulled over and all the side fall open to reveal the girl. You will also see Blammo boxes used on a small scale such as in the “Doves to Rabbit.”
Broom Suspension
This is another classic which can be performed in tight situations and is virtually angle proof. In the traditional performance, the assistant is balanced on 2 brooms with one under each arm. One is taken away and the assistant is still suspended. She is then moved about to a horizontal position and she is still suspended. There are have been many variations using sticks and rods other devices in place of the brooms but effect is the same.
Pendragons Perform Their Broom-Type Suspension
Buzz Saw
The Buzz Saw illusion is truly one of the few illusions that really appears to have a danger factor in that a large rotating blade is used. The other factor contributing to the illusion is that no boxes or cabinets are used to hide what is going on. The blade slices through the girls mid-section while lying on a table.
PC Sorcar Performs the Buzz Saw Illusion
Cube Zag
A variation on the famous Robert Harbin Zig Zag illusion. This uses a more compact cabinet with only 2 sections. A lady assistant occupies the cabinet and then 2 large tubes are inserted into the cabinet and then the bottom section slid out away from the top. Small compact illusion which is also angle proof.
Richard Ross Performs Cube Zag
De Kolta Chair (Vanishing Lady)
Invented by Buatier de Kolta in the late 1800s and was know as the Vanishing Lady trick. In its time, this trick created quite a sensation. A lady sits down in a chair and is covered in a cloth. The cloth is suddenly pulled away and she has vanished.
David Copperfield Perform the De Kolta Chair
Disembodied Princess Illusion
This illusion was invented by P.T. Selbit, although the modern version that does not rely a specially equipped venues, is credited to Carl Owen. A lady is placed into a box which is divided into 3 main sections. A large blade is placed just under the head and another at about waist height. The center is opened to find that the lady has no torso and the audience can see right through the box. The top and bottom is opened to reveal the head and legs are still there.
Paul Daniels Performs the Disembodied Princess Illusion
Doll House
This illusion was invented by Fred Culpitt. A toy doll is place into an otherwise empty dollhouse. When it is reopened, a real life girl is produced. There are 2 basic versions, one where there is a back door so you can see completely through the house and one where there is only a front door.
Chris Angel Performs Doll House Illusion
Flying
This was a signature illusion for David Copperfield for many years. It was invented by John Gaughan who holds a patent on the workings. It is a truly magical display of simulated flying without any visble means of support.
Rick Thomas – Dancing in the Air
German Magician Franklin - Flying
Hindu Basket
This is a classic illusion that involves a wicker basket where a girl seemingly vanishes after swords are place inside the basket. Some new versions are made from fiberglass and other materials, but the basic trick is always the same.
Kovari Performs Classic Hindu Basket
Eli Kerr – Modern Hindu Basket Illusion with a Surprise Ending
Impaled Illusion
Ken Whitaker designed this illusion in the 1970s and is one of the most startling illusions ever produced. It is almost enough that a girl is balanced on the tip of the sword but when she is then plunged through the sword the effect goes to a completely different level. Check the video and see for yourself.
Mismade Girl
The Mismade Girl illusion was designed by Check Jones and probably made most famous by Doug Henning who performed this illusion in many of his shows including the Broadway production “The Magic Show.” The illusion involves 4 stacked cubes which have doors. A girl steps inside and blades are placed inside diving the cubes. The cubes are taken off and rearranged in a different order to reveal the girl in the mismade position. Finally, everything is brought back the way it was and the girl exits unharmed.
Doug Henning Performs Mismade Girl Illusion
Modern Art
This is an upright sawing in half mixed with the zig-zag illusion. It was invented by Jim Steinmeyer and the secret was published in his book “Modern Art and Other Mysteries.” A girl enters the cabinet, which is divided in 2 sections. The face and hands are visible at all times. The top half of the box is slid over on the integrated table leaving the legs behind. The bottom cabinet is then opened to reveal the legs and the top cabinet opened further to reveal the torso.
Origami
This stage illusion was invented by Jim Steinmeyer which was patented in 1994. The illusion involves a small box on table approximately 12 inches square and a mirror at the back so as the magician explains “that spectators can view what is happening.” It unfolds (like Origami) into a box approximately 4 times as large. A lady enters the box which is subsequently folded back to it original and then penetrated with swords. The box is then unfolded back to the larger size and the assistant exits unharmed.
David Copperfield Performs Origami
Shadow Box Illusion
This is an elegant illusion attributed to Fu-Manchu, which involves a frame box covered in cloth or paper. The box is turned around on its base and then opened to reveal it to be completely empty. Hand held lights are shown through the fabric to show there is nothing hidden. The box is closed and a light is placed inside. Shadows begin to appear inside the box and then the assistant or magician is produced. In some cases, the person bursts through the paper at the end.
David Copperfield’s Shadow Box Illusion
Substitution Trunk
This illusion is was a staple of Houdini’s show and is still popular today based on the seemingly impossible substitution of a person locked inside the trunk with the one standing on top. The assistant is handcuffed and tied inside a bag and then locked inside the trunk The magician stands on top of the trunk and pulls up a covering. Suddenly, the assistant is standing on top of the trunk and magician is gone. The trunk is unlocked and the magician is found handcuffed inside the bag.
Doug Henning Performs the Substitution Trunk (Metamorphosis)
Super X Suspension
The Super X suspension was invented Percy Abbott and UF Grant around 1942. It was one of the first practical and portable floating woman effects released to the public. It is still sold by Abbotts Magic today.
Percy Abbott Performing the Super X Suspension.
Sawing and Woman in Half (Thin Sawing)
Sawing a lady in half is perhaps one of the most famous illusions of all time. P.T. Selbit is credited with the modern-era sawing circa 1921. The illusion had many improvements over the years and the so-called thin sawing eliminated the more bulky boxes and made for a much more baffling illusion. The thin sawing also allowed for the entire table to be separated into 2 pieces, a feat many earlier versions could not accommodate.
Doug Henning Performs the Double Sawing
Things that Go Bump in the Night
A classic illusion where the magician holds up pieces of cloth and under them appear “bumps” that move about the stage. This is repeated several times. They are later revealed to contain the magician’s assistants. In a surprise finish, the final “bump” is then revealed and it is the magician.
Lance Burton Performs – Things that Go Bump in the Night
Water Torture Cell
This dramatic illusion was Houdini’s signature escape. It involves leg stocks placed on the performer and lowered from chains upside down into a sealed water tank. Doug Henning made this part of his act with great success. Normally, great drama is part of the escape where it would seem the escape has reached dangerous levels for the performer.
Paul Daniel’s Son Martin Performs the Houdini Water Torture Cell
Zig-Zag Illusion
One of the most performed and copied illusions of all time. This illusion by Robert Harbin was an illusionists dream since it could be performed in nearly every situation as it has no bad angles. A girl is place inside a box with 3 sections. Her face, hands, and foot are visible at all times. After some blades are thrust though the box, the entire center of the box is slid to one side. The girl is of course restored to her normal shape.
Robert Harbin Performs the Zig-Zag Illusion
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