For those who have one how is the reaction with the audience? What is the weight limit on it? Your thoughts?
Some magi like it some don't I have always liked it.

Don't listen to what other magicians think, listen to your audience...
A real Pole Levitation (build by Gaughan or EDF) is a great illusion!
Of course you will need to find a good presentation for it.

Doug Henning (who was the first to present this), David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Mark Kalin & Jinger, Phillipart & Anja all have had great succes with this illusion!

The weight limit can best be discussed with the builder as I am sure they can modify it for your needs.

It's received a fantastic reaction in my show. Ease of operation/comfortable for assistant/impressive height--all big pluses! Not sure why some wouldn't like it--is it because you can't take the final pole away?

Really? May I suggest do some research before making such statements.

So who was first then? Love to know more...

As far as I know Doug Henning presented Steinmeyer's version of this illusion. It was added to Doug's final tour around 1985-86.

The weight limit was around 175 pounds as I recall. I believe it was beefed up for Copperfield's use, most of the time you'll see a girl on there. There is also a difference in speed at which a person will "rise." The lighter the subject the faster they will go up!

Steve

I think what William might be referring to is that the Hindu fakirs did a pole levitation years before. I do believe Henning was the first to do Steinmeyer more practical version.

One limitation is the height of the illusion. You need to have a high enough ceiling to present this in. Some high school stages might not work. I remember a photo I saw of Luis De Matos doing at Mike Caveney's house where his head vanished in to the suspended ceiling upon full lift.

Richard

I read years ago Andre Cole invented this illusion.

Was Steinmeyer even born yet?

Am I wrong again? Apologies if I am.

Jim Steinmeyer's site says its one of his creations, at least the one we are seeing performed today.
Now there is at least a ten year gap between Jim and Andre but I don't think ten years would mean its not possable that its Jim's. But like all illusions there is always a possable variation in effects invented and leaves us second guessing who was the original inventor. SHRUG....so who knows!

Rick Anderson

Steve is dead-on correct. Andrea Kole's levitation is a seated and cross-legged one, but there is no pole involved. (He levitates within a lighted ring which is them moved upstage and away from him. The Pole Levitation was indeed invented by Jim Steinmeyer, and was in fact first performed by Doug Henning. I remember clearly the tour it was introduced, and sitting with Willie Kennedy backstage before the show and him telling us to look for it in the show. That and Origami were the big additions to that final tour.

Yes, you where wrong... again! ;-)
You see, I did my research before posting my statement - lol

This picture was taken in Luis (old) office/ rehearsal studio in Portugal not in Caveney's house.

It will work in most places. The pole is one of the more practical levitations out there.
It packs small in two cases, plays big and can be performer surrounded.

Man!!!! I got real excited when I saw this topic!!! Then I opened it up and realized you were just talking about an illusion.

Though it was funny to see the great hegblini stick his foot in his mouth. Going up against Tristan when discussing magic is like going up against a Sicilian when DEATH IS ON THE LINE!!!!!

INCONCEIVABLE!!!!

Andre Kole's levitation is a whole different thing ... I could see the confusion if you weren't an expert in the field. Stienmeyer's Pole Levitaion is a very different illusion, Andre's is more old-school .. with a twist!

Steve

I was an associate of Andre' Kole for 9 years from 1987-1996. I was also on stage at times to assist with his levitation. My biased opinion is that it is the best levi out there! It even blew me away when I was one of the assistants standing right next to him, moving the ring of lights away from him.

I never liked the pole illusion that much, as I always felt the remaining pole left something to be desired.

Terry

Yes, it was very cool ... but you have to have just the right conditions to make the "magic" happen. Jim's version could be done just about anywhere ... even surrounded, now that's magic!

Steve

Yes, Steve. You are right about about that.

Terry

My two cents on pole levitation:

I don't own one, it's not one of my favourite illusions but I wouldn't mind receiving one as a gift

But I have to admit that my opinion about it has been very different than it is now. When I was about 10 years old I clearly remember watching D Copperfield performance on TV. At that time I knew nothing about illusions but I remember I was not impressed because I immediately figured a method to accomplish the illusion. Some years later I discovered that my child idea was not so wrong.

I also remember some years later, when I already had some magical knowledge, being astonished the first time I watched Charlotte Pendragon pulling herself straight forward the poles (the second time I saw it, was not so magical, but the first impression was awesome)

So as I had my first impression being lay people, I'm conscious it's a very practical illusion but the fixed pole always contacting with person's arm is a very important issue that could make many people infer the method.

I've been using the Pole Levitation for about a decade now I totally understand the concerns that some people are suggesting. But I also have to say that in my experience it plays very well. It's not the impact per se of the Ashra Levitation or perhaps the water levitation but it has some strengths that dwarf the other ones.

You can literally stand next to it and not see the method. You can see thru the wire grill of the table and there is literally nowhere to hide anything. It's also good in almost any theatrical setting and any lighting.

Having performed it for hundreds of thousands of people in the last decade I have never had a single person who came up and knew how it was done. Not to say that no one ever figured it out but I've found that if something is fairly obvious enough people will discern a method that at least a few will talk to you and brag that they figured it out.

The big drawback with the Pole Levitation is that it doesn't really have an ending. In my case we combined it with an instantaneous vanish of Teresa that is quite powerful.

I would highly recommend the piece. It's a strong one.