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Hi all,

This is my first post here and I appreciate if anyone can help me to find any info for the trick of standing tilted (inclined) without falling.

You know, it is like when you are standing, and slowly tilt your body forward as if you are gonna fall, but you wont. (as seen on the Japanese oldman stunt show).

Sorry but I even dont know its 'official name'. So please help me on that.

Thanks in advance.

4 pints of lager ?
It's the 5th that gets me.
Best,
Piers.

Check out this link:

http://www.malloymodernmagic.com/the_lean.htm

Thanks a lot Daniel

The site is calling it "The Lean", but is this a private or public name?

Is there other versions or types of the trick other than the one that in the link?

Please accept my apology for asking so many questions

Regards

That effect is very, very old and we had discussion threads here on it last year or perhaps earlier than that. At least 30 years ago I saw an old time stage comedian use it in a golfing sketch to 'lean' into the swing with great comic effect but it can only be done with great advance preparation. I doubt there's any one single name for it as it's more of a 'special effect' than a copyrighted illusion or trick.

The concept behind this bit goes back to the late 1800s and early 1900s (Vauldville) and was seen as a clown stunt. In the 80s (if I recall) Doug Malloy and a few others creative minds, started making some major improvements on the original idea that insure ease in operation, quality of construction (dependabilitiy), cleanliness/deceptivity, and most important -- SAFETY!

You MUST have some very strong legs and tummy strength to do this! In short, you'd best be the kind of person that has lots of energy, self-control, etc.

Doug Malloy is a very old friend and I can tell you, he lives his life on the edge and is always on the go. He's very athletic and "powerful" when it comes to body strength, which is why he can get as much of a lean as he gets in this bit.

There is another version (I forget who makes it)... if I recall it was a Danish performer I saw using it years ago, but he added to the gaff a small platform that was on a bellows type structure that would raise him up or lower him. When he did the lean, this accordian styled device would lean as well, creating a very interesting effect around the primary effect, so you may want to look around for footage on this... I believe it was a featured bit at FISM manyyears ago.

I remember Adrian Edmondson doing it in one of his 'Celebrity Fame Academy' performances earlier this year, though his method was plain to see and not disguised.

Could you please explain if there another way of doing this trick rather than the one described in the link above .

If I need a special prepared area to do the trick, then I wont be free to do it anywhere anytime. Is that right?

There is an American version available. Check out Linking Rings & Stan Allen's Magic mag about 4 years ago. One well known American comedy magician was famous for the effedt and was featured in I think magic mag. Back in 1969 I wrote with a friend, a modern musical version of A Midsummer Nights Dream. In it Bottom was hypnotised by Oberon (who owned the local Apothecary's Shop) shop and tilted well forward in the process. My Props manager simply took a pair of the actor's boots, made a metal plate for each heel, almost narrow horseshoe shape. In the stage he screwed 2 screws. The heels locked onto those and so the actor leaned. I have a pic of this but have never found out HOW to place pics onto our Forum. In the 19th. Century Little Tich , on the Music halls wore those 2 1/2. feet long flat shoes. At once point in his eccentric dance he leaned well forward. This has often been put out on TV in Old Time clips.
Addition on 7th. Dec. It is advertised in the Dec Stan Allen's Magic mag.
December 2005. page 25. The Lean (with pic) Costs $650 + shipping. Dealer is Malloy Modern magic. www.malloymodernmagic.com
Allen Tipton

this is an age old gag!