Buzz
When executed perfectly, magic tricks can evoke a feeling of awe and amazement: Whether it's a skillful card trick or a classic David Copperfield illusion from the mullet era, we adore being deceived. However, not every magician emerges unharmed from their daring feats. Here are seven performers whose tricks took a tragic turn.
1. Charles Rowan and the High-Speed Vehicle
In the world of magic, suspense is key. As a performer struggles underwater, the audience holds its breath, anticipating a triumphant escape. South African magician Charles Rowan knew the power of drama, which led him to repeatedly agree to being tied in a straitjacket while a car raced toward him at 45 miles per hour. Rowan successfully completed this act multiple times, but a single mistake proved fatal. During a performance in 1930, Rowan couldn't free himself in time, and the car struck him, nearly severing his leg and resulting in his death. Before the stunt, Rowan had prepared a letter absolving the driver of blame in case of an accident.
2. Princess Tenko and the Swords
This Japanese illusionist, famous for her extravagant outfits, was performing in Sabae in 2007 when her act turned into a horrifying scene. Tenko was placed inside a box, where she was supposed to avoid ten swords thrust into it. She failed to escape in time, resulting in the swords breaking several ribs and her cheekbone. Remarkably, she completed her performance before heading to the hospital.
3. Joe Burrus and the Cement
Joseph Burrus, who likened himself to the legendary Harry Houdini, planned a Halloween night spectacle in 1990. He intended to be sealed in a glass coffin and buried under nine tons of dirt and cement. The event occurred at Blackbeard’s Family Fun Center in Fresno, California. After being lowered seven feet underground, Burrus, bound in chains, waited as a cement truck poured its load over the coffin. A first attempt failed due to a tight chain around his neck, but during the second try, the cement collapsed the coffin, leading to his suffocation. Ironically, he died on Halloween, just like Houdini.
4. Genesta and the Milk Can
Houdini had partly built his reputation on the milk can escape, a frequently copied trick where the magician is crammed into a large water-filled container, locked inside, and given mere moments to escape before drowning. Royden Joseph Gilbert Raison de la Genesta, known as “Genesta,” was among those honoring this illusion during a 1930 performance. The trick relied on the container’s neck being removable, rendering the locked lid ineffective. Unbeknownst to Genesta, the prop had been damaged during transport, creating a dent that jammed the neck shut. Despite briefly regaining consciousness at the hospital, Genesta succumbed to his injuries.
5. George Lalonde and the Overzealous Audience Member
Most people understand that magic tricks rely on clever deception. However, Henry Howard, an audience member at a 1936 Montreal show, became distressed when magician George Lalonde prepared to saw his assistant in half. Howard stormed the stage, seized a sword, and stabbed Lalonde in the neck, believing he was saving the assistant. Lalonde survived the attack, while Howard explained to police that he “couldn’t stand to see a woman cut in two.”
6. Balabrega and the Fiery Moths
Swedish magician Balabrega was captivated by an intricate illusion featuring six assistants dressed as moths who would appear before being “engulfed” in flames. After acquiring the rights to perform the act, he traveled to Brazil in June 1900 for a tour. The trick required gas for the flames, but the theater lacked the necessary setup. Balabrega substituted acetylene, which exploded during preparation, tragically killing him and an assistant nearby.
7. The Chinese Impostor and the Bullet Catch
Williams Ellsworth Robinson, a vaudeville star from the early 20th century, gained immense popularity in Europe by masquerading as the renowned Chinese magician Chung Ling Soo. Robinson claimed to speak no English, enhancing his mysterious allure. During his act, he sometimes performed a dangerous trick where two rifles were fired at him. The rifles were supposed to be modified to prevent real bullets from firing, but during his final performance, the guns malfunctioned and shot live ammunition. In his dying moments, Robinson revealed his true identity, exclaiming in perfect English, “I’ve been shot!”
