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jackleg wrote:penn and teller did a tv special on this effect that if you can find it anywhere will go a long way to answering all of your question.

I watched this special a while back.

I recall them simply coming to the conclusion that magicians said it would be impossible to do. A bit of a silly thing to say. All magic is supposed to appear impossible. For magicians to suppose they have the knowledge of all possible methods is silly.

I think the fact speaks for itself: Magicians have been trying to perform it for over a century. Anyone who found a way would achieve undying fame and kudos (and cash prizes). And yet it's never been done. That says "impossible" to me.

There has been a few mentions of a cash prize on this thread for anyone who can perform the FULL Indian Rope Trick. I was unaware of this. Does anyone know any actual information on this ?

jim

Originally, The Magic Circle offered a reward of 500 guineas, in the 1930's, 'later augumented by 10,000 rupees, by The Times.
Never claimed.
Issamudin hoped for it in 1995 but the offer had long been withdrawn

Allen Tipton

Thanks very much for your information Allen.

jim

In the late 1940'S, John Booth, the famous American magician, was Special Corresponent for the Chicago Sun-Times and visited India. He placed an advert in Calcutta's, leading newspaper,'Star of India',offering 25,000 rupees ($8,000 at that time) to 'Any Jaduwallah, Holy Man or Indian Conjuror, in India, who will perfom for him,The Indian Rope Trick. This in the open air, away from stage sets or foilage in accordance with the form of presentation publicized so widely throughout the world'. This was published on 20th.Oct 1948

Mr.Booth sat in his hotel to await what a very upset sub manager prophesied would happen. 'Scores of street performers would invade the hotel'.
NO ONE came. The offer was broadcast and appeared in various newspapers throughout India---again--NOT one performer came forward.
And no one ever mentioned ever having seen it performed!

9 years later Mr. Booth was again in India, making 2 documentaries for TV and lecturing. The advert was again placed, in local dialect newspapers.
One offer came but the man needed to have 6 months preparation--a 'chilla'-- some kind of yoga process. JB couldn't wait 6 months so his friend, Jehangir Busla said he would investigate the situation.
18 months passed and JB recieved his friend's letter saying the magician had not been able to be contacted. 'He did succeed in the Rope Trick, climbed up the rope which was so long. He climbed so high he has not been able to come back'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahem!" Nuff said.
All this was published in Stan Allen's Magic Magazine--May 1996.

Re Karachi. His grand daughter (?) e mailed me, a couple of times, in 2008 (I think from Derby). Had I any details of Karachi. Her mother who was old wanted the family to know more. ? I told her the little I knew and sent her copies of the 2 pics I had.

Allen Tipton

That was very interesting and informative Allen. Many thanks for taking the time to write such a response

jim

Thank You Allen. That was a wonderful post.

http://youknowwhatwe.files.wordpress.co ... arachi.jpg

Here is a picture of Karachi's rope photograph.

Barefoot Boy wrote:http://youknowwhatwe.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/karachi.jpg

Here is a picture of Karachi's rope photograph.

The last time I saw this photograph was in peter Eldin's 'Pocket Book of Magic'. What a gem of a book Thanks for bringing the memories back!

I saw the trick being performed in Sri Lanka last year. Without the chopped up boy, naturally, but it was still very impressive.

Sri Lanka?? Well-- once one magician performs a trick-many others start to perform it as well

I wonder if your SL magician also stole Ishamuddin's method as well?

There is another pic of Karachi, sitting outside a house, his son beside him & some watching as he looks at the rope in the air biut this one is only about 6 feet up. There is another short rope lying on the ground in front of him!!

Allen Tipton

This is one of the videos of a Ishamuddin clone.


http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/ ... range+News

This is the magician--A. Khan that I believe nicked Ishamuddin's method.
Notice, as I have remarked elsewhere--the platform just behind the rope basket.
Ishamuddin performed in the MIDDLE of a field.!

Mr. Khan also claims to have 'hynotised' the crowd. I wonder which book he found that in? It was a very old explanation.
He also performs the Painting Book. I wonder if his family 'invented' that as well as the Rope Trick.
However, he has the looks to become a Bollywood star. Good Luck to him.
Ishamuddin also has the looks. Where did all of us go wrong!

Somewhere at the back of my mind is a thought-- Did I see ( on video) Ishamuddin perform his version in Ireland? Dublin?
Has anyone seen this?
I know he was hoping to claim the MC prize, to set his family up, but it wasn't as much as he thought it would be and had long been withdrawn.

Also at the back of my mind is a story told by DANTE. He talked to an old friend who claimed that he himself had started the story of the Indian Rope Trick, years before.
Now whether this was told to me by the late Val Andrews on one of his many visits to our home OR whether it is in my Dante memorablia, I cannot remember. There are too many items to search through

Allen Tipton


Allen Tipton

Here are a couple of nice photos of Ishamuddin Khan and the rope. Clearly the first is posed, and not taken during performance.. but you get a good look at the rope it's self.