The William W. Larsen Memorial Library

Seven Basic Secrets of Illusion Design, The

Author/Editor: Van Duzer, Eric

Introduction

Chapter One – Hiding Behind

I. Overlapping Planes
The Burglar
Victory Cartons
Three Kings and a Queen
Bilder’s Tip: Drawing Large Designs

II. Swinging Doors
Who’s There?
Little Stinkhouse
Triangle Illusion

III. Impossible Events
Tip-Over Cabinet
Girl from the Light

IV. Tilting Panels
Builder’s Tips: Sizes of Equipment for Hiding Behind illusions

Chapter Two – Hiding Spaces / Deceptive Detailing

I. Body Position
Bangkok Bungalow
Hindu Basket
Zig Zag
Builder’s Tip: Positioning the Assistant

II. Tapers
Dollhouse I
Crystal Casket
Staircase Vanish
Builder’s Tip: Tapered Bases

III. Segmenting Visual Space
Dollhouse II
New Palanquin
Cutting in Sixths
Builder’s Tip: Painted Segmentation
Builder’s Tip: Base Construction

IV. Swinging Doors
Burned Alive or Cremation
Elastic Lady

V. Expandable Space

Chapter Three – Masking

I. Black Art Theater
Tabletop Vanish
Bare Stage Appearance
Builder’s Tip: Black Art Materials
Flash Appearance
Builder’s Tip: Preparing Roller Blinds for Instant Release
Two Assistant Arch
Spirit Theater I
Builder’s Tip: Lighting Black Art

II. Full Frame Above the Stage
Artist’s Dream
Cargo Net

III. Removable Masking
Phantom Black Art Platform

IV. Breaking Up the Masked Area
Appearing Bride
The Chamber

V. Matching the Inside of the Cabinet
Spirit Theater II
Phantom Cargo Case
Lion’s Bride

VI. Matched Anything
Overflowing Coconut
Raceway

Chapter Four – Mirrors and Glass

I. V-Mirrors
Sphinx
Blue Box
Builder’s Tip: Positioning the V-Mirrors inside a Cabinet

II. 90 Degree Applications
Morrit Plank Illusion
Million Dollar Mystery

III. Horizontal-Diagonal
Living Torso
Mabel Illusion
Builder’s Tip: Concealing Mirror Edges
The Metempsychosis

IV. Periscope
Builder’s Tip: Periscope Angles
Vanishing Head

V. Odd Angles
Pendulum Illusion
Vanishing Elephant
Mirrored Platform

VI. Scrim
Shape Shifter

VII. Glass as Mirror
Pepper’s Ghost
Ghostly Piano Player
Transporter Illusion
Tichbourne Claimant
X-Rays

Chapter Five – Trapdoors

I. Trapdoors in the Stage
Instant Appearance
Appearing Chorus Line
Alternative Sword Box
Bare Stage Vanish
Vanishing Lady

II. Trapdoors Through the Backdrop
Vanity Fair

III. Trapdoors Through the Equipment
Woman through Glass
Substitution Trunk

IV. Trapdoors From One Cabinet to Another
Crystal Casket Revisited
Break-apart Cabinet
Builder’s Tip: Trapdoor Mechanics

Chapter Six – Fake Form

I. Wire Forms
Asrah
Builder’s Tip: Wire Forms

II. Prosthetics
Disembodied Princess
Builder’s Tip: Casting a Fake Form
Mismade Girl

III. People as Fake Forms
Assistant Switch in Sheet
Two Performers Change Places
One Performer Vanishes and Reappears Elsewhere
Two Performers Enter. One Vanishes and Becomes the Other

IV. Twins
Here There
Transportation

V. Silhouettes
Spiked
Instant Vanish
Builder’s Tip: Constructing Silhouettes

Chapter Seven – Secret Mechanical Devices

I. Visible Support Suspension
Broom Suspension
Sword Suspension

II. Hidden Support Suspension
Super-X
Flying Carpet

III. Floor-Based Levitation
Aga Levitation I
Platform Levitation

IV. Backdrop Aga Levitation
Aga Levitation II
Abbott’s Aga Levitation

V. Wire Arrangements
Kellar Levitation
Flying

VI. Sliding Blade
Abbott’s Chinese Chopper

VII. Duplicate Blade
Visible Sawing
Kifer

VIII. Combined Sliding and Duplicate Blades
Guillotine

IX. Swinging Blade
Arm Chopper

X. Flexible Blade
Sword through Neck
Ribbon through Woman

Appendix

Bibliography