talkmagic.co.uk

I'm looking for information regarding Houdini's trick, Needles. Forgive me if he was not the originator, it's just that from what i've read it was a favourite of his and one he was known for.

I first read of it in Kalush and Sloman's book on Houdini, and again in Jim Steinmeyer's brilliant Hiding The Elephant. I've also seen footage of Teller doing it on Youtube.

I appreciate you can't expose on this Forum, so any pointers to the right place to look would be greatfully recieved.

As far as i am aware Houdini siezed the effect, and said that it was his, and that nobody else could do it.



But The hindu needles trick pre dates houdini by many, many years.

indeed, there are records of fakiers swallowing and regurgitating items that go back centurys.

I've got an idea that this is in one of Annemanns books but can't for the life of me think which one. Sorry not all that much help I know

I have a feeling its in one of the Tarbells




Yes, it's in Lesson 27. The needle swallowing trick.

yes, it is in tarbell for sure.( Tarbell vol 4 to be presice )

I think i have a book at home that gives a better history. Ill see, and if i can find it, ill write a bit up later on.

Lady of Mystery wrote:I've got an idea that this is in one of Annemanns books but can't for the life of me think which one. Sorry not all that much help I know

Its not, but i know what your thinking of. His yogi routine involves pushing a needle through the skin on the back of your hand.



( now where have i seen that done recently )

I found this remarkable site recently.

Mr_Grue wrote:I found this remarkable site recently.

I remember coming across that a while ago, very useful!

in 1818, Indian Juggler Ramo Samee was recorderd as performing an effect where he apparently swallowed a number of beads, and a length of thread.
within moments, he removed the beads, now threaded onto the thread.
This effect is clearly the effect from which the needle trick came. this effect however, is undoubtably much older than this.
T.A Walters credits samee, as also performing this effect with needles, and it's a reasonable bet that this was the inventor of this stunt.

Razor blades followed on from the needles, to add an extra edge of danger.

a variation of this effect invented by English magician Cyro, ( Cyril Baker) that uses a length of wire, and several small light bulbs. This effect was made famous, by Marvin Roy in his international smash hit " Mr Elextric " act

daleshrimpton wrote:in 1818, Indian Juggler Ramo Samee was recorderd as performing an effect where he apparently swallowed a number of beads, and a length of thread.

That's interesting. It suggests that the switch from beads to needles not only added a sense of jeopardy to the effect, but made it (if my understanding of it is correct) much easier to perform.

Though grue-some (hohoho), you can safely pass needles through the first two or three layers of your dermis quite safely with no pain at all.

It looks awful though.

The Anneman book that Lady of Mystery is referring to is "Buried Treasure" or one with a similar title.

John Booth also included a completely verbal description of it in Marvels of Mystery (I was told of this by Mark Lewis in a previous thread on the subject).

Apparently, Teller improved it to make it even more deceptive. I doubt he released his handling.

I learned the razorblades trick on a Geek Magic DVD and I decided to practice it.

I tried it and the hole in the center of razorblades gets stuck on my braces and holds my mouth shut. I ended up getting off eventually but I'm gonna wait until my braces are off.

Anyways just thought I'd share.

Mr_Grue wrote:

daleshrimpton wrote:in 1818, Indian Juggler Ramo Samee was recorderd as performing an effect where he apparently swallowed a number of beads, and a length of thread.

That's interesting. It suggests that the switch from beads to needles not only added a sense of jeopardy to the effect, but made it (if my understanding of it is correct) much easier to perform.

possibly, though the bead version was re- created,( using a different method ) by Carmo, and sold as the carmo bead mystery.

There are a number of gimmicked props that could be bought into play, in order to use beads.

maybe the bead version is due a revival.

I can see a pearl necklace wearing lady of mystery, performing it in a burlesque setting. It could be rather erotic.

Thank you all for your replies, i would really like to perform this effect.

It got me thinking however, is any part of it genuinely dangerous? And how far would you guys go in performing an effect? Do you think there's any room left for danger in magic, or are audiences harder to convince these days, thanks to violent movies/computer games etc?