Needle-through-arm is a magic illusion that was created by Bruce Spangler and later popularized by comedy actor/magician Harry Anderson. The trick can be performed as part of either a stage magic or a parlor magic routine. As the name would suggest, needle-through-arm relies on shock value to have a comedic effect.[1]
Although the trick popularized by Anderson is an illusion,[2] other magicians, such as David Blaine, have apparently performed the trick by actually sticking the needle through a fistula surgically created in the performer's arm.[3]
The effect was originally invented by Bruce Spangler, who debuted the trick at the premier of the 1960 movie Macumba Love and later sold it under the name "You-Do Voodoo".[4] Harry Anderson popularized the trick in the 1980s, performing it on television on Saturday Night Live in 1982[5] and selling his own version of the trick.
Presentationedit
In presentation, the magician produces a hat pin, roughly ten inches long, and demonstrates that it is sharp by using it to pop a balloon. He then proceeds to sterilize the underside of his forearm with alcohol and, holding his arm so that it is not facing the audience, insert the needle through the skin of his arm. From the audience's perspective, this is not very impressive until the magician lowers his arm for the audience to see. The needle appears to pass about two inches under the skin. The new wound then appears to bleed, with the blood dripping down the magician's arm. The needle can be slid back and forth through the wound. After the needle is removed, the magician cleans his arm which can be offered for inspection.[5]
Methodedit
The needle-through-arm effect uses a gimmicked needle and stage blood as well as a small quantity of adhesive, such as rubber cement or spirit gum. The bead at the end of the hat pin is hollow and made of rubber so that it can hold a small amount of stage blood. The needle is hollow and has a small hole in its side through which the "blood" can flow.
When the magician appears to sterilize their arm, they actually coat their arm with a thin film of adhesive. When the magician is supposedly inserting the needle through the arm, they actually fold up two sides of skin over the needle that will stick to each other, forming a channel of skin that the needle can pass under. The stage blood flowing out of the needle lubricates the "wound" so that it can be slid back and forth.[2]
Referencesedit
^Mead, Eric. "The magic of the placebo". TED. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
^ abCaveney, Mike (1993). Harry Anderson: Wise Guy from the Street to the Screen (2nd ed.). Pasadena, Calif.: Magical Publications. ISBN0915181258.
^Hawkes, Rebecca (16 November 2016). "David Blaine: the gory secrets behind some of his most mind-boggling illusions". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
^Rodriguez, Dan (May 2014). "Magic Moments: The Bruce and Kitty Spangler Story" (PDF). M-U-M Magazine. Society of American Magicians. p. 36. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
^ ab"SNL Transcripts: Ron Howard: 10/09/82: Harry Anderson". jt.org.
January 01, 1970
needle, through, magic, illusion, that, created, bruce, spangler, later, popularized, comedy, actor, magician, harry, anderson, trick, performed, part, either, stage, magic, parlor, magic, routine, name, would, suggest, needle, through, relies, shock, value, h. Needle through arm is a magic illusion that was created by Bruce Spangler and later popularized by comedy actor magician Harry Anderson The trick can be performed as part of either a stage magic or a parlor magic routine As the name would suggest needle through arm relies on shock value to have a comedic effect 1 Although the trick popularized by Anderson is an illusion 2 other magicians such as David Blaine have apparently performed the trick by actually sticking the needle through a fistula surgically created in the performer s arm 3 Contents 1 History 2 Presentation 3 Method 4 ReferencesHistory editThe effect was originally invented by Bruce Spangler who debuted the trick at the premier of the 1960 movie Macumba Love and later sold it under the name You Do Voodoo 4 Harry Anderson popularized the trick in the 1980s performing it on television on Saturday Night Live in 1982 5 and selling his own version of the trick Presentation editIn presentation the magician produces a hat pin roughly ten inches long and demonstrates that it is sharp by using it to pop a balloon He then proceeds to sterilize the underside of his forearm with alcohol and holding his arm so that it is not facing the audience insert the needle through the skin of his arm From the audience s perspective this is not very impressive until the magician lowers his arm for the audience to see The needle appears to pass about two inches under the skin The new wound then appears to bleed with the blood dripping down the magician s arm The needle can be slid back and forth through the wound After the needle is removed the magician cleans his arm which can be offered for inspection 5 Method editThe needle through arm effect uses a gimmicked needle and stage blood as well as a small quantity of adhesive such as rubber cement or spirit gum The bead at the end of the hat pin is hollow and made of rubber so that it can hold a small amount of stage blood The needle is hollow and has a small hole in its side through which the blood can flow When the magician appears to sterilize their arm they actually coat their arm with a thin film of adhesive When the magician is supposedly inserting the needle through the arm they actually fold up two sides of skin over the needle that will stick to each other forming a channel of skin that the needle can pass under The stage blood flowing out of the needle lubricates the wound so that it can be slid back and forth 2 References edit Mead Eric The magic of the placebo TED Retrieved 10 April 2015 a b Caveney Mike 1993 Harry Anderson Wise Guy from the Street to the Screen 2nd ed Pasadena Calif Magical Publications ISBN 0915181258 Hawkes Rebecca 16 November 2016 David Blaine the gory secrets behind some of his most mind boggling illusions The Telegraph Retrieved 24 September 2018 Rodriguez Dan May 2014 Magic Moments The Bruce and Kitty Spangler Story PDF M U M Magazine Society of American Magicians p 36 Retrieved 11 May 2015 a b SNL Transcripts Ron Howard 10 09 82 Harry Anderson jt org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Needle through arm amp oldid 1111963485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
