Aerial suspension

The aerial suspension, ethereal suspension or broomstick illusion is an illusion in which the performer appears to be suspended in mid-air for some minutes, with either inadequate support or no apparent support of his or her weight. This trick was first recorded in India in the early 19th century.[1][2]

Aerial suspension illusion
Sheshal performing aerial suspension illusion
MediumFunfair, circus, theatre
TypesMagic (illusion)
Originating cultureIndia
Originating era1830s

Early performers

This illusion was first recorded by Thomas Frost in Lives of the Conjurors, 1876, as a performance by an old Brahmin in India in 1828 or 1829. The Brahmin died in 1830 without explaining his trick. He was followed by Sheshal, the Brahmin of the Air, who exhibited the illusion at Madras in 1832, apparently using only a stool, a hollow piece of bamboo, a piece of hide and some beads (pictured). Frost thought that it was "probably not very far from the truth" that there were supporting steel rods concealed within the bamboo and the hide, and that the rods were connected with a seat concealed within the performer's robes. The performer was set in place behind a screen.[1][2]

Ching Lau Lauro
Main article: Ching Lau Lauro

The first recorded instance of it in Europe was performed in 1832 or 1833 by Ching Lau Lauro in England, and known as sitting in the air upon nothing.[3][4][5] In an early version, he appeared to be just touching his hand against some beads hung on a hollow bamboo pole, which in turn was set in a wooden stool. In reality the bamboo, his hand and loose Chinese or buffo costume concealed iron bars, connections and supports. He had to be placed in position behind a screen, and where necessary would forbid sales of tickets to a particular theatre gallery to prevent the audience from seeing any iron bars or supports protruding behind him.[6] By 1835 he had omitted some of the singing from his act and worked up the illusion as a climax. He developed it so that he could juggle with golden balls at the same time.[4]

Robert-Houdin
Robert-Houdin's ethereal suspension
Main article: Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin

In Robert Houdin's version, known as ethereal suspension, he appeared to administer ether to an assistant who was then shown to balance horizontally in the air with an apparently inadequate support at the shoulder only.[6] Robert-Houdin asserted that he was the first to perform this type of illusion in 1849, but this was later discredited by Harry Houdini.[7]

Later performers

In the 1870s and 1880s, Alexander Herrmann (1844–1896) and his wife Adelaide performed an adaptation of aerial suspension which they called Trilby.[8] P. C. Sorcar (1913–1971) performed a Floating Lady routine featuring aerial suspension in 1964.[9]

References
  1. Houdini 1908, pp. 228–230.
  2. Frost 1876, pp. 206–208.
  3. During 2004, p. 109.
  4. Houdini 1908, pp. 230–232.
  5. Encyclopædia Britannica 1911: Conjuring Ching Lau Lauro was first to perform Aerial Suspension Illusion 1835. The same encyclopedia entry for conjuring can also be seen here
  6. EB Classic Encyclopaedia 1911 Retrieved 14 December 2013
  7. Houdini 1908, p. 230-232.
  8. Waters 1988.
  9. "Magic of PC Sorcar Senior Website of the late magician P.C. Sorcar, maintained by his son Manick Sorcar". Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014.

Bibliography
  • Project Gutenberg collection List of links to images from Robert-Houdin publications, and Harry Houdini collection. Some are related to aerial suspension illusion.

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