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Hi, I'm not requesting a review, so I think Misc. is a better catagory for this. Mods, if you disagree, feel free to move it to where ever you see fit.

I'm fascinated by the needles trick. The effect where the performer swallows a hundred needles and swallows a few feet of thread and coughs up a hundred strung needles. The apparent danger and the great image near the end with the needles sparkling on the string as they leave the performer's mouth seems like the perfect crowd gatherer.

I've been reading "Secret Life of Houdini" and it said that Houdini did this effect. Until I read that, I thought the trick was unique to Teller, who does it wonderfully.

I don't know if it's marketed or not, but if this effect is available, could someone tell me what it's called and where I can buy it?

Thanks.

Yes version of this are sold. I do a version using razors instead- basically the same principal. But i have never heard or seen it using hundreds of needles. The most i have seen is 20, and thats even pushing it.

There is a full description of the needle trick in John Booth's book "Marvels of Mystery". He also describes the razor blades in the same book.

The needle trick is done by David Ben in Toronto and was a masterpiece in the hands of Houdini. However it has largely been superceded by the razor blades version.

Incidentally the best version of the razor blades I have ever seen is by the great magician Paul Potassy. It is very rare that I rave about a magician since most leave me cold. However in this fellow's case I will make an exception. He may even be the best talking magician I have ever seen doing a stand up act.

David The Cryptic wrote:Yes version of this are sold. I do a version using razors instead- basically the same principal. But i have never heard or seen it using hundreds of needles. The most i have seen is 20, and thats even pushing it.

Teller used to perform it (maybe he still does), with 100 needles that where stuck on an apple and he plucked them in groups of 20 or 25 and swallowed them to have 99 of them on the string and the last one loose (If I remember correctly, first when he did it he used a blood capsule and bled out the last un tied needle, but afterwards he left the blood part out).

CA also had an interesting take on the effect; he did it both with the needles and razors. But for the needles he had a different approach, one that I wasn't too fond of, where he did the needle effect only to have the needles on the string coming out of his belly button. Kind of loses the whole point of the effect if you ask me, but that guy would do any thing for some gore...

Anneman's Buried Treasure, too. That's twice today!

Tarbell, Vol 4, Lesson 48.

Barry

Mr_Grue wrote:Anneman's Buried Treasure, too. That's twice today!

I have this, and I have found his descriptiong to be a little vague.....maybe I am just a bit "Dense in the mind" when it comes to it as I am mainly a card worker......does anyone performan his version?

I would be interested in PM'ing you to see what you make of the desriptions, and wether or not it would be suitable in the venues that I perform in.

Anneman's method is easier but much much "dirtier" then the original method.

I experimented with this effect and the razor blades one last year and came up with a great cleaner way of ditching the needles so you end up totally clean, and still having the needles seen swallowed in a very clean manner. So PM me if you are interested in tips on my method.

Do any of them look like Teller's version?

Dang... I gag when I try this.

moodini wrote:I would be interested in PM'ing you to see what you make of the desriptions, and wether or not it would be suitable in the venues that I perform in.

iummydd's your man, I think. I glanced through it but not in too much detail, nor have I performed it. Armchair magician? Me?