#magic acts

P.T.Selbit performs "Sawing through a woman"

Did you know that this year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the “Sawing a Woman in Half”?

Well, "celebrate" may sound a little exaggerated, but it is pretty cool that some popular media (Reuters or The Guardian) paid attention to this fact this year.

This illusion was first performed in January 1921 by an English magician P.T.Selbit (who invented a lot of other cool illusions, e.g. "The Mighty Cheese") and soon was copied by an American performer Horace Goldin. Goldin did everything that he could to make sure the in the US he was known as the originator of this trick.

Selbit's original version was done with a regular (ungimmicked) wooden box, which I think is pretty cool. This illusion fit well in the trend of "naturalistic horror": audiences of the time loved performances that involved violence, blood and gore (google "Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol" for another example of this trend). Fun fact: there were ambulances waiting near the theatre (if the saw slips) and Selbit's assistants took buckets with fake blood out of the theatre after each show and poured it into the gutter.

Introducing a woman as a passive victim (which was also quite a new idea) added a controversial element (it was the time of women actively fighting for their rights) + created the image of a "pretty&sexy female assistant" which became one of the key elements of magic shows in the XX century.

This trick became extremely popular and soon was associated with magic. Here is an ad by Camel cigarettes using it in their ad campaign in 1933.

And here are some links for you to enjoy different versions of "The Sawing"

The original Selbit's version - recreated by the great Paul Daniels

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceFtQw8Vr4I&t=1s

Harry Blackstone, "The Buzz Saw" - this one was created by Horace Goldin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUOgOROGd2k

Doug Henning and his "Double Sawing" - a variation on the classics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns-NoqwJ5wQ&t=230s

Penn & Teller Sawing - well, it's Penn and Teller :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNsGGTt9CTs

David Copperfield - Death Saw - I think this is one of the greatest versions ever performed because in this act everything makes sense and there is an actual story (unlike in many other versions which are just about a magician showing his cool magic box)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SefD84fbEE&t=2s

And that’s amazing and everything but this is Kaito and we all know that little shit likes his mind games and god would he play them. It’s the same situation, he calls someone up, a plain but nice bespeckled person, and gets them to sign their name on a card they drew and with a slight of hand makes it disappear and it’s cool and everyone claps and they forget about it but at the end of the show the card doesn’t resurface and of course the person doesn’t know any different- they forgot all about it- and then after the show they go home. It’s late so they decide to take a shower and go to bed. They take off their glasses and place them in their case by their bedside for safety before they sleep (they’ve broken many a pair via wearing them to bed so they make sure to take them off now). When they finally lay down a soft scratching at their bedroom door makes them realize they forgot to give their dog fresh water when they got home and so they get up to get him some, sighing as they take their glasses out and put them back on. They refill the water dish to the dog’s happiness but unfortunately the running water of the faucet makes them realize they now have to pee. They do so. As they flush and stand up, yawning, they take a quick glance at themselves in the mirror and do a double take. What is…is there something stuck between the glasses and their skin? Not glued to the glasses, simply slotted between the plastic and their temple. They pluck the folded paper from their face and unfold it to reveal- yes- their signed card from Kaito Kuroba’s magic show. They run to their glasses case in the other room and open it to see another scrap of paper laying there reading:

“Is this your card? ❤ KK”

Victorian Mystics, Illusionists, and Conjurers Postcard/Greeting Card Set, Exclusively Designed by Ebon et Noir Correspond in style! Send your best wishes, thoughts, and greetings with these Victorian postcards featuring legendary feats of legerdemain and magic. These cards are printed on professional quality, matte 330gsm (15mil thick) silky smooth cardstock and feature a custom design in the back. These post cards look great framed as well. • Set of 12, double sided postcards (12 designs, x1 of each) • 4" x 6" premium 330gsm (88lb) acid free super heavy cardstock • Luxurious matte finish on both sides • Postcard sets are packaged in cellophane bag • Envelopes and postage not included • 100% USPS compatible Thank you for supporting my shop.

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