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9 comments:
The first impalement act I saw was Sandra and Hank Thompson in the sideshow on Floyd King's...King Bros. Circus. A thrilling act to watch as a youngster...
None of my girlfriends were good sports. They wouldn't let me throw knives at them, or crack cigarettes out of their mouths with my whip. Most of them left and dated candy butchers.
Candy butchers always had ready cash
& they spent it very liberally which
gave them a leg up so to speak
Good friends of mine Betty
& Joe Eddie Fairchild were
accomplished illusionists
& they also has a rotating
heavy wooden circular knife
board that Betty played on
as the target but happily
always remained intact
Joe now designs & builds
illusion props for others
PS Roger I only lost 2
girlfriends to butchers
& I remember them well
(Digger Pugh broads)
Among the many effects I designed
& built for the Broadway revival
of "Annie Get Your Gun" starring
Bernadette Peters & Tom Wopat at
the Marquis Theater I provided a
Teepee wigwam curved backing with
7 spring loaded knife gimmicks
hidden behind surgical rubber in
small segments that were painted
to match the design of the front
I taught Andrew Palermo how to
palm knives in a large overhand
throwing gesture with the single
knife & how to make it seem as
it was taken from the fan array
held in his downstage hand
The very lovely Nicole Snelson
stood spread eagle as target
A few of those knife gimmicks
have been used in other shows
I wouldn't call these impalement
acts Charles unless things went
extremely badly but there are a
few illusion props with vertical
spikes that assistants are placed
across as if in a stupor before
they "drop" on the spike which
appears to "impale" them
Often very scary & effective
Chic: I have seen the impalement acts you mentioned. Back in the day, this act on King Bros. Circus was announced as an impalement act ( Maybe they thought that added excitement to the act). The impalement acts we see today, were still light years away. The Thompsons worked this act and I believe Punch and Judy for many Seasons.
THANKS CHIC FOR SHARING THE GIMMICK ON THIS. I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD YOU WERE YOU COULD BLOW IT ANY SHOW !! EXCEPT MY BROTHER BOBBY ! PHOTO TO YOU VIA E-MAIL
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