Pet Peeve: Magicians and Motorcycles

 

Recently, I came across a promotional photo of a magician leaning on his motorcycle. Someone I had never heard of and I won't be repeating the name. Why? Because I've seen countless versions of this same photo by illusionists and every time I see it I think, "Really? The last person to make that photo look good was David Copperfield. And that was in the 90s."   I also think, "I bet they don't even have a license to operate a motorcycle, lol"

Let's take a deeper look. The Vanishing Motorcycle popular today began with David Devant. His original illusion was called, BIFF. It appears in the book, Devant's Delightful Delusions by S.H. Sharpe. In Devant's version, a motorcycle and rider drove the cycle into a large wooden crate. The crate was then hoisted into the air. The audience could hear the engine revving and then suddenly it stopped and with that the box began to collapse into individual boards and drop on the stage floor below, leaving no trace of the motorcycle nor the rider. 

There was also an illusion created by Oswald Williams called The Dizzy Limit or Cargo Net Illusion. In its original form, a large cargo net was shown hanging from the stage. One side was lifted up to make sort of a hammock. Then a woman would lay down inside the 'hammock' while the entire thing was lifted higher in the air. Upon command a flash was seen and hammock fell apart leaving the net hanging but the girl had vanished. A very effective mystery.

I am not sure when it happened, but at some point, illusionists took the Dizzy Limit idea and rather than use a cargo net, they made the 'net' out of metal instead of rope and you could see into it the entire time. It was lifted in the air and upon command it collapsed much like the Cargo net so that one side remained suspended but the rest laid open so you could see through the entire thing.

The first time I saw the Motorcycle Vanish was Doug Henning on one of his TV Specials. He used the Dizzy Limit version. BTW, the Vanish usually involves a vanish and transposition. So in Doug's case he reappeared inside a previously empty box. You can see that video below. You'll note that the presentation is quite dated. It was charming for the time, however.

Now contrast that to the version David Copperfield created a few years later. Same illusion to begin. When David Copperfield did the illusion, it took on bigger proportions. The entire special seemed to be themed around Harley Davidson, the shows logo used the HD Font. David wore a leather jacket. The vanish was done with the same sort of steel or metal net, but David reappearance was more dramatic. Watch.

David Copperfield took it up several notches! He made a much grander spectacle of the illusion. It's fantastic. And sadly, it is what tons of illusionists have tried to copy ever since. But I'm going to say, David was the last to make this look cool. He was believable. I honestly could see him riding his Harley around. But these other copy cat illusionists who don't bring anything new to the routine, they just look like, well cheap copies. At least try and bring something new to the routine. Look at the difference between Doug's vanish and David's. Same illusion, but David has these cool set pieces in the background that help to accentuate the 'see through' nature of the prop. He also has smoke and sparks going off before the vanish. It all blends together seamlessly.  David also has an illusion in a type of Shadow box where he appears on his motorcycle!

I guess my biggest pet peeve is the fact that no one brings anything new since the Copperfield days. With one exception, I think the Erhlich Brothers do a unique reappearance. Similar to David's Shadow box but different enough to make it special. I'm not sure if they do the vanish or not. Every other illusionist I have seen do the motorcycle vanish  looks like a Copperfield clone to me. 

Maybe it's time to do something different? Is that the only way to make a motorcycle vanish? Obviously, appearing in the audience isn't the only way to have it reappear. Motorcycles are certainly interesting props to do magic with, but maybe try and create something different. 

By the way, if you're curious what BIFF looked like. Here is a video of Lance Burton presenting the Vanishing Donkey and I believe this is BIFF, just presented with a Donkey rather than a motorcycle. 

Orson Welles Offended Johnny Carson

 

There is a new book out called, LOVE JOHNNY CARSON, by Mark Malkhoff, with David Ritz. The book includes many wonderful stories about Carson's career and as host of the Tonight Show. One of the more scandalous things in the book is the Carson Hit List. This was a list of guests that were essentially banned from appearing on the Tonight Show.

Among the guests was film producer, director, Hollywood icon, and part time magician, Orson Welles. Apparently, Johnny was a huge fan of the director and had him on many times. But the episode that got him banned was when Welles told Johnny he was going to do some of his mentalism on the show. Now, for those unaware, this became a regular thing for Orson Welles in later years. It seemed every talk show he went on, he did some sort of mentalism. I saw him do some very unusual effects on TV over the years. In his book, The Inventive Magician's Handbook, Judge Gary Brown starts with a story about one of Orson's appearances on DINAH!, which was the Dinah Shore Talk Show. He did a spectacular effect on that show. I'd seen him on Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin do magic as well.

So he is on the Tonight Show and gets two guests out of the audience to participate in the pseudo  mind reading demonstration. It failed. This wouldn't be the first time for Welles. But it sure was the first time with Johnny Carson. Is that what got him banned? Not exactly. 

The ban came about when Johnny learned the two spectators from the audience were plants, or stooges, put there by Welles. Yet still they screwed up the trick. Johnny was said to be furious at Welles, not for screwing up the trick but for being dishonest. In his view, magicians should never use stooges, it was just inexcusable, Mark Malkhoff relayed in his book.

Here is an interesting update: Prior to the banning of Orson Welles, it turns out, he was actually one of Johnny's favorite guests, in his top 10 favorites!

Magician Robert Olson Has Passed Away

 

I just heard the sad news that Robert Olson has passed away. He was a very interesting character from the New England area. He performed a historical magic show as Richard Potter, the early colonial magician. He shared stories and did magic from that time period. Of course, he dressed the part as can be seen above. 

I got to meet him briefly at the 2024 NEMCA Conference in Nashua NH back in 2024. He was very kind and complimentary to me about my lecture. We spoke a little bit about Robert Heller, and then later he emailed me all the information he had in his files on Heller for my future book. 

He worked for many years with the Old Sturbridge Village in Mass, this is the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast. It recreates the conditions of early 19th century living, with buildings, costumed presenters, workshops, lectures, performances and more. Robert was an active artist at this location.

He was the featured guest at last years NEMCA Conference and was interviewed about his life and career as a performer and character performer. A truly remarkable human being. Of course, I cover only magic related things, but he was a father, husband, friend, and so much more!

Robert Olson passed away on December 13th, 2025. He was 86 years young. RIP