Catweazle

The Wikipedia page.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 05, 2021 - Comments (0)
Category: Eccentrics, History, Historical Figure, Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand, Television, 1970s

The Camouflage Bat

On April 9, 1932, Leon "Goose" Goslin of the St. Louis Browns stepped up to the plate with a striped "camouflage bat" during an exhibition game against the Cardinals. The bat was "designed to confuse the pitcher and fool the infield players." The Cardinals didn't object so Goslin used it.

But when he tried to use the bat again three days later during the opening game of the season against the Chicago White Sox, the umpire declared "That's not our kind, Goslin!" and forced him to use a regular bat.

The next day, William Harridge, President of the American League, ruled out any further use of the camouflage bat.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Apr 14, 1932

Posted By: Alex - Sat Dec 19, 2020 - Comments (6)
Category: Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand, Sports, 1930s

Admiral Cigarettes Film

The cigarette genie appears!

Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 23, 2020 - Comments (2)
Category: Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand, Advertising, Smoking and Tobacco, Nineteenth Century

The Ames Window

Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 07, 2020 - Comments (1)
Category: Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Deliberate Obscurity, Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand

Follies of the Madmen #459

Sanitary pad endows woman with power to make flowers sprout from inanimate objects.

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 31, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Body, Genitals, Business, Advertising, Hygiene, Body Fluids, Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand, 1960s

George the Giant’s Strange Museum of Oddities and Wonders

I found out at the last minute about a weird "pop-up" museum that was opening for a few days in Bakersfield, CA: George the Giant’s Strange Museum of Oddities and Wonders. It was a four-hour drive from San Diego, but I figured I had to see it. So my wife and I did a road trip on Saturday to check it out.

It was an excellent collection of oddities, but the best part might have been the live displays in which George demonstrated sword swallowing and drove a long spike into his nose. He also performed the 'blade box' trick with an assistant.

George hopes to be able to return with his Strange Museum next year. So if you're in the Bakersfield area next October, check it out!

By the way, you might have seen George in the movies. He played the character of Colossus in Tim Burton's Big Fish.

Alligator Boy

Fiji Mermaid

More in extended >>

Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 22, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Freaks, Oddities, Quirks of Nature, Human Marvels, Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand

Mario Manzini, Escapologist

Do we believe the video, or the newspaper report?

Source of news report.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Mar 28, 2014 - Comments (6)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand, Homages, Pastiches, Tributes and Borrowings, 1970s

Black Art

A type of stage magic based on the principle that "bright colors show up on stage, and anything covered in black disappears." [via Deceptology]

Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 30, 2013 - Comments (2)
Category: Entertainment, Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand

Studiolo from the Ducal Palace in Gubbio

This fool-the-eye room at the Met in NYC looks full of 3-D furnishings, but is really a flat illusion.

More pics at the Met's site.

A 1945 feature from POPULAR SCIENCE.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 14, 2013 - Comments (3)
Category: Art, Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand, 1940s

Ames Room

Any WU-vie building a new home should definitely include such a space.

Wikipedia explanation here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jan 27, 2013 - Comments (1)
Category: Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand