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weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
When I was much younger, I attended a circus side show trick called Metamorphosis. This was not the one made popular by Houdini. In this effect, which was done in a tent, so light conditions could be controlled, a beautiful woman in a cage changed, right before your eyes, into a tiger. (Also saw a man turn into a gorilla or caveman). Usually the cage boke open and the lights went out, ushering everyone to the exit.
Does anyone know the real name for this effect and where it can be learned?
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Kerry Kistler Loyal user Springfield, MO 234 Posts |
Hey Willie,
This is an oldie. I was just reading the book "Seeing is Believing: America's Sideshows by A.W. Stencell. The chapter "More than an Illusion: Ghosts, Floating Ladies, and Gorilla Girls" will answer many of your questions. There is a great illustration from Mahatma magic magazine (from the turn of the 20th century) that shows the working of an early precursor of the Girl to Gorilla sideshow illusion. I love this quote from page 139: "A key to the smooth operation of the show was choosing employees with enough brains to keep the gorilla behind bars when toddlers, cripples, and folks with babes in arms were in the audience!" The illusion probably had as many names as there were sideshows featuring it. You will get more info than you want on this by going to the Carnival of Fun forum and posting a query under the Believe it or Not area, especially if Todd Robbins sees your post. Cheerio, Kerry
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The Donster Inner circle 4817 Posts |
The gorilla man can be easily learned in a book if I'm correct how to make your own haunted house. try morris costumes for the book.
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ssucahyo Inner circle 1954 Posts |
Yes, that effect also populer in my country when I was child. So interesting and eeire, the beautifull woman can visibly change into rotten body...then skeleton.
I always want to do it... |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Thanks a lot,
How about Haunted Illusions? Has anyone any advice on the expense of constructing the illusions in that book? I might be able to find what I want there. I am working on a stage show incorporating the old illusions into a bazarre show in about 3 years.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Yes, you are referring to Girl to Gorilla. It can still be found on carnival midways. It's a great illusion and was in my show Carnival Knowledge. I just recently had a conversation with a very famous magician who is building one the these illusions.
You can find the plans for it in Paul Osbourne's Haunted Illusions. It seems that many of the plans in that book have been revised and improved from the old Brill plans that A. B. Brill sold to the carny trade years ago. As for expense, you can build some of those illusion very cheaply. It all depends on the choice of materials you use. If you are going to do it in one location for a limited time, such as for a single Halloween season, then you can get away with murder with what you use. If you need to move it around from venue to venue, and want to use it for years, then you need to build it so it will last. There is a cheaper and simpler way to do the G2G. Private message me and I will lay it out for you. To do a good G2G takes a bit of showmanship. The timing and lighting has to be perfect to make it effective. It will take a some rehearsal, but the results are worth it. There is NOTHING better than a G2G done well and NOTHING that looks worse than when it's done poorly. |
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