I have always wanted to know how this illusion got it's name? "Things That Go Bump In The Night" Can anyone give insight on this?

I thought Doug Henning came up with it during one of his stage shows.

Seems that it is from a line in a novel, or play, and was appropriate to decribe the blobs that end up on the stage "things that go bump".

Anxious to hear if there is more of a story to it. Was Doug the first to use this title???

Blair

I believe Doug Henning deserves the credit for this.

Not sure about that.

Blair

The phrase has been around far longer than the trick it has been applied to. Not sure of the literary reference but I am certain it comes from literature. Harry Blackstone Jr. did it for years in his stage act as well, Henning was the first I saw perform it, for some reason I thought it was much older but I do not know and will defer to the historians in the Café.

As I said Frank I will keep checking also.

Blair

There is an old Scottish Prayer that goes:

From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!

Richard

Thank-you for that one. That poem would actually make a nice intro for the illusion as the lights dim!!!

Blair

I believe the Henning reference came from a new source than the aforementioned Prayer... Unfortuantely my mind ain't working so well these days... sadly, I used to use some of the music from the play I'm thinking of (and I can't recall the name of the song either...)wish I could be of greater service.

Nonetheless, I do believe Doug borrowed from said musical and it refers to "Things that go bump in the night" (or "dark" depending upon which version you're looking at.)

Do bear in mind, the original routine with said cabinet (the MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY) had a sequence that was "Spirit Cabinet" like (very creepy when done right... Unfortunately, I don't think anyone has done it that way (other than myself) since Will Rock.) This correlation could be one of the reasons Doug applied the term/name. After all, he did seek to imply some metaphysical qualities to the act.

Just my two-cents worth.