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As interesting as this may be.....dont .



http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7582/1285

and this one... is another one of those my god that's interesting sites....

http://www.swordswallow.com/

there are tons of magical links to be found on this site.
Ramo Samee for one.
Samee, was the man responsible for introducing the needle swallowing trick to the western world... Long before Houdini made it popular.

( google him. )

here, is the press clipping detailing his funeral...

here, is an image of Samee, playing to a packed audience in germany...



Note the Indian cups , along with other items.

I was lucky enough to learn some of the basics to Sword Swallowing at the hands of a master (Johnny Meah). Once you can overcome the gag reflex, so long as you are smart about things, it's fairly easy (though it feels strange). BUT, I don't recommend anyone do this without having an experienced performer (someone with more than ten years experience) working with you. The act can and has killed!

Johny Meah is in the hall of fame....

Interesting guy!

http://www.swordswallow.com/halloffame.php

Hi Dale,

I heard a story about a sword swallowing street performer.
I dont know how true this is as it is a story passed through street entertainer friends.. not that they're liers but they basically wont sure how true it was either

During a live performance a sword swallower dropped his sword on the floor and knocked a small chip out of his sword. He didn't check the sword for chips and upon swallowing the sword he cut his insides/throat etc in a bad way due to the chip in the sword. I cant remember what happened from there but I imagine the show ended pretty quick and an ambulance was called.

A horrible thought.

Joel.

daleshrimpton wrote:Johny Meah is in the hall of fame....

Interesting guy!

http://www.swordswallow.com/halloffame.php

Yep! When I left Wondercade I went to the Circus Unique side show that was hosted by Johnny and his "lady" (one of the most amazing knife throwers out there) with special guest Bill Fitch, the original Human Pin Cushion... at least, according to Ripley's and the old "You Asked for It" shows... Ward of course, was the bossman... a great guy to work for.

I noticed that Bobby Reynolds was on the list too... another amazing legend of the carney realm

BTW... Johnny was also a noted "Banner Artist"... he did those side show banners and some ride art such as you see surrounding side shows. Much of his stuff is quite collectible these days.

Wait, so sword swallowing is actually sword swallowing?
I suppose you would say it was even if it wasn't.
But, isn't that a bit too dangerous?

JakeThePerformer wrote:Wait, so sword swallowing is actually sword swallowing?
I suppose you would say it was even if it wasn't.
But, isn't that a bit too dangerous?

yes, which is the point
Its real, real, real, despite what teh masked one will tell you. No tape measures hidden in the handles.. no folding blades... real honest to goodnes cold steel...
amongst other things. check out some of the links on the site, particually the clips of Neon tube swallowing.
Absolutly the worst thing to swallow, because if it breaks, you get millions of tiny razor blades slicing your gullet into ribons... and toxic powders.

What about nuclear fuel rods?

spooneythegoon wrote:What about nuclear fuel rods?

HAHA! That comment did make me laugh I must admit haha.

Speaking of glowing things down the gullet...

Johnny used to visit medical schools during the off season. He'd drop a neon tube down the pipes, turn of the lights in the room and let the students see how things go... it was great fun...

I don't recommend it without taking certain safety precautions, however.

spooneythegoon wrote:What about nuclear fuel rods?

When I was in college twenty five years ago I was training on a small nuclear reactor. We also had samples of plutonium to mess with. All had to be handled with extreme care.
But at nineteen you are young, macho and stupid. For a bet I spent an entire lab session - three hours - with a small disc of plutonium inside my mouth.
Twenty five years later I am happy to report that there have been no side-effects, but it is a stunt I will not be repeating.
I have tried sword swallowing, and it is the most difficult and unpleasent thing I have ever tried. And I failed miserably. Fair play to those of you who can do it.

TonyB wrote:

spooneythegoon wrote:What about nuclear fuel rods?

When I was in college twenty five years ago I was training on a small nuclear reactor. We also had samples of plutonium to mess with. All had to be handled with extreme care.
But at nineteen you are young, macho and stupid. For a bet I spent an entire lab session - three hours - with a small disc of plutonium inside my mouth.
Twenty five years later I am happy to report that there have been no side-effects, but it is a stunt I will not be repeating.
I have tried sword swallowing, and it is the most difficult and unpleasent thing I have ever tried. And I failed miserably. Fair play to those of you who can do it.

This reminds me of an experiment the U.S. Military was conducting in the late 1950s and early 60's with radioactive isotopes and injecting them into the uterus of expectant mothers. I don't recall all of the details but the theory was rather homeopathic I believe, a kind of conditioning of the fetus to not be as sensitive to radiation, etc.

C'mon, we're talking about Cold War mentality coupled with McCarthy era paranoia back then.