While we're on the topic of dangerous, scary tricks (the guillotine post inspired this), I had a question. Have you (or do you know someone who has) done a buried alive trick exactly like or similar to the one that the Masked Magician did on the fourth special?

How was it received? Do you/they, do it repeatedly? Has your/your friend's performance of this trick been very successful? Is there anything you'd change?

Just curious.

I do believe I know someone who has actully done this and yes the person is still alive to tell about it. If you want PM me I won't post my findings here in case anyone tries it. Don,

Thanks for the PM...That's incredible. Was the guy okay after he came out? I ask, because the version I saw only had the magician buried for about 10 minutes.

Don,

I am going to venture a guess that you PM'd about my buddy Bill Shirk who is indeed still alive and well.

The downside is that Shirk's version was done a year earlier by Joe Burgess who did not live to talk about it.

Shirk did not use the MM method which was lifted from Lance Burton which (according to history) was lifted from Norm Bigelow. THAT is just a rumor however.

NEVER having done one myself I would not use the MM method which seems unreliable and very dangerous at best.

Shrik has done more buried alives then anyone I know and has stayed underground for DAYS at a time with boa constrictors and posionus spiders to accompany him in his coffin.

Shawn

I don't know if this is much help but I do know that there are many fakirs who, as part of their religion experiences, learn how to control their bodily functions.

An experiment was done with such an individual. I'm not sure where to point you to get the full details but I remember that what I read went something along these lines: the fakir was placed in a coffin after his body was rigged with electrodes and wires and such. On the monitors, his bodily functions began to slow down until they almost stopped. I don't remember if everything just stopped (but that's the way I think it was) or if his heart beat at some ridiculous pace of 1 beat per several hours or something. Anyway, he stayed in the ground (six feet under) for 10 days after which his heart began to beat again. His body returned 'to normal' and then he was dug out.

As far as I remember, this was not performance art or anything of the like. It was a man demonstrating his deep religious beliefs and practices. I believe the article said that he completely baffled scientists and everything and gave a new spin on the power of the mind in relation to the body.

Anyway, just thought that it was interesting.

Dorian Grey

Shaun it was not Bill Shirk; it was a guy from a radio station. They even had a camera and a phone in there with him. Don,

Don are you sure? Bil Shirk owns a radio station and they have had a phone and camera in with him.

Shawn

PS please PM the name of your guy.

I do believe Shawn is correct in stating it is Bill Shirk. The footage, along with Bill, is on the TV special we are on, "Inside The Houdini Museum," and the footage just aired on UPN's "I'm Still Alive." We are friends with Bill...pretty easy since we live in the same town. But yes, I believe it is Bill they are speaking of.

Nope it is not Bill Shirk. This guy that did it was doing it for the radio station he was working for at the time. The guy was nailed in a coffin and was buried for 3 days. I'm trying to see if the person still has the newspaper clippings from it. Don,

Wow Shawn, that's too bad that Burgess didn't make it out in time...I wonder what the stats are on Buried Alive, Chinese Water Torture and some of the other more dangerous tricks, as compared to catching a bullet in your teeth (which, as I understand, was the biggest killer of illusionist during one point in time).

I also agree that the MM method seems quite iffy...But then, the whole fourth special had a rather suicidal air, didn't it?

When you figure out whether it WAS Bill Shirk, or some other guy, I would be interested to know the whole story.

Dayanara: Lady of the Clayr

Shirk's story is a long and sorted one and he has written a book on it since he has done so many of the buried alives in his life, usually to promote his radio stations or the raise money for charity (or both). Bill even refused to go out of the ground one time until the White House made a donation (they did the next day). Bill is a master promoter and his buried alives all recieved worldwide coverage.

He reveals quite a bit in his book about his methods etc.

If you are interested in things like death stats/stories about real life close calls Valentina just drop me a PM and I can fill you in more.

Shawn

Once I get the clippings or a copy of them I'll fill everyone in and I'll try finding out when/where it was done. Don,

Nearly OT: I remember growing up and a local radio show had a woman buried in ice. She was wearing a bathing suit and my mom took us down there to see her. It was probably 24 hrs or so but it was neat to see.

Then to see Blaine do his 64 hr ordeal was incredible.
Love or hate him, that was some feat......

Ok it was done in (I believe I have the name of the town correct) Tupelo, Mississippi. Don,

My method of buried alive was published in Genii Magazine issue 666-April 1992. There is no other method like it. I designed it to save lives. Sometime after that Lance Burton did a buried alive and it looked like mine. Many people called to say it was. Bill Shirk wrote about it in the Escapist news letter Vol 1 Number 3 1997. Bill Shirk writes, "Norm It's a fact Lance Burton used your buried alive method. I have been buried alive more than any other human being on earth." If Bill Shirk says it's true that is good enough for me.

It kills me how impractical the REAL Masked Magicians buries alive is.

Impractical and apparently quite dangerous, too. But then, the whole theme of that particular special was death-defying escapes/illusions.

The book x-treem was talking about is called "Modern Day Houdini" and is a fantastic read. I thouroughly enjoyed it and some of Bill's methods are just devious. I have even more respect for the man after reading the book. I highly recommend the book. Check it out!

Kristen and myself had lunch with Bill Shirk yesterday. What a wealth of info he truly is. You name it, he has done it. Just seeing all the press about him him is awe inspiring. Soon you will see some new escapes from Kristen. We have some great ideas and will be working on them after our summer tour.

The masked magician speical where he did all of the death-defying escapes. I mean how many times can you do a trick with the same ending. Well I guess all but 2 of the illusions in 60 min.