Magicana

Where did the Levitation Illusion start? All the details… Have you ever wondered who was the first magician to float a lady, or anything in mid-air? We see magicians on TV and live stage shows, floating assistants, larger items such as cars and pianos and even levitating them selves. How did this all start? Who did it first? How was it accomplished? The following is the story of two Norwegian brothers, Alltid and Ikke Sann, who were performing a small illusion show in the mid 1800s. [Our Norwegian readers will remember this team as they read their story.] In the year 1884, a German scientist, visiting the popular tourist town of Ingensted, Norway, approached the Sann brothers after a matinee show at the local theater. He explained that he had worked on a project for Count von Zeppelin, just months ago. Away from his scientific occupation, he and his wife were lovers of the arts; in particular, the new illusion shows so popular in Europe at that time. He had conceived, he said, the illusion of the century. The Sann brothers listened as he continued. An airtight bag, he explained, would be placed into a costume identical to the one worn by an assistant. At each end of the costume would be a false head and feet, modeled to look exactly like the assistant’s. The bag would be filled with hydrogen. A thin wire, invisible to the audience, would be attached to the bottom of the gas filled figure to restrain it from floating up. Could the Sann brothers, the scientist asked, switch the gas filled imitation for the real assistant without the audience knowing? Both brothers smiled and nodded ‘yes.’ Finally, after the switch, an assistant, below the stage, would slowly unwind the wire holding the gas filled imitation, causing it to float mysteriously up in the air. Both brothers smiled, as they pictured the illusion. But Alltid shook his head, saying, “Too dangerous.” His brother, Ikke, announced, “I like it! I will do it!” Three months later, after hundreds of rehearsals, several finishing touches had been added. One of which was the illusionist passing a solid metal hoop over the “body” to show that nothing was supporting it. The local newspaper had announced that a spectacular new illusion was to be presented for the first time that night and the theater was packed. When Ikke announced the new illusion, the “Astral Maiden,” every mouth closed and every eye was open, looking towards the stage. Ikke introduced his beautiful assistant. She lay down on a long table and Ikke went through the motions of putting her in a ”hypnotic” trance. Two assistants came on stage and both of them and Ikke positioned themselves in front of the reclined assistant. At this point, the “switch” was accomplished. The assistants adjusted the table that held the hypnotized “assistant” and then with a nod of approval left the stage. The lights in the theater dimmed, Ikke walked behind his apparent “assistant” and as he stretched out his arms and slowly raised them up, the “assistant” actually floated up off the table! As he continued his gestures, the assistant, below the stage, continued to unwind the wire supporting the hydrogen filled “assistant.” Ikke now picked up a large metal hoop and proceeded to pass it over the floating figure to prove there was nothing supporting her. Unfortunataly, on the second pass, the metal hoop scraped against the metal wire supporting The resulting spark, caused by the contact, ignited the volatile hydrogen, seeping from the “assistant” and a giant fireball filled the center of the stage. The blast pushed spectators in the front rows back in their seats and Ikke was lifted off his feet and thrown onto his back. Ever the consummate performer, Ikke returned to his feet, strode to center stage and spread his arms wide apart, gesturing towards the spot his “assistant,” only moments ago, had vanished from in a ball of fire! After the switch, the assistant had made her way from beneath the stage to the rear of the small theater. She nodded to Ikke, indicating, that the unexpected explosion had not hurt her. Ikke walked to the footlights, extended his arm towards the rear and said, “Ladies and gentlemen please let my beautiful assistant know how happy you are to see her, unharmed and once again, amongst us!” The assistant walked through the audience, joined Ikke on stage and everyone rose to their feet, applauding, whistling and cheering the first presentation of the “Floating Lady.” This version of levitation was never seen again. Ironically, forty-nine years later, to the day, May 6, 1937, Count von Zeppelin’s Hindenburg, the largest airship to ever fly, exploded upon contact with the mooring tower in Lakehurst, New Jersey with a horrific loss of life. This tragic event will never be forgotten. The earlier, yet obscure feat of Ikke Sann, has become blurred and forgotten by time.