Stage illusions

Stage illusions are large-scale magic tricks. As the name implies, stage illusions are distinct from all other types of magic in that they are performed a considerable distance away from the audience, usually on a stage, in order to maintain the illusion. [Hopkins, Albert A. Magic: Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography. Dover Publications. 1990.]

Stage illusions usually use large props and may involve the use of assistants and/or large animals. [Wilson, Mark. Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. Running Press Kids. 2003.] As this form of magic performance is very common on television, most lay people (i.e., non-magicians) will report that this is the only form of magic with which they are familiar. In actuality, only a small percentage of professional magicians are stage illusionists. Most choose to specialize in close-up magic and perform in more intimate settings. Grand illusions are usually very costly and, due to their size, are difficult to ship which would explain the paucity of professional stage illusionists.

Examples of stage illusions include Sawing a woman in half and Lady-to-Tiger.

Famous Stage Illusionists

*Siegfried & Roy
*David Copperfield
*Lance Burton
*Criss Angel
*Harry Blackstone, Sr.
*Harry Blackstone, Jr.
*Howard Thurston
*Chung Ling Soo
*Harry Houdini
*The Pendragons
*P. C. Sorcar, Sr.
*K.BABA

Stage Illusions

*Aquarian Illusion
*Asrah levitation
*Assistant's Revenge
*Aztec Lady
*Balducci levitation
*Battle of the Barrels
*Book test
*Bowl-A-Rama
*Bullet catch
*Cabinet escape
*Chinese linking rings
*David Copperfield's Laser Illusion
*Chen Lee water suspension
*Dagger head box
*Devil's torture chamber
*Guillotine
*Impalement
*Indian rope trick
*Interlude
*Metamorphosis
*Mismade Girl
*Origami
*Predicament escape
*Quick-change
*Radium Girl
*Sands of the Nile
*Sawing a woman in half
*Square Circle Production
*Table of death
*Twister
*Wringer
*Vanishing bird cage
*Zig Zag Girl

References