Two spectators are magically levitated by the Magician! They are floated into a glass box, covered and still float inside...
#18 The Levitation Illusion...
There are many, many variations to Levitation Stage Illusions
One Variation is easy to construct using heavy guage steel angle
bar and other steel materials...
The bar is connected to a small steel plate which
supports the person, up to 100 lbs, which is 1/4 inch
thick and 12 x 12 inches in size... the bar then
extends horizontally rearwards out for about 6 inches, then turns left and
runs about 3 feet, then turns rearwards again for about 6
inches then turns back right for about 3 feet, then
turns rearwards again and runs back to the Magicians leg, then
turns down and runs down to the floor where you can
fasten it whatever way you want...
Usually the plate starts out resting on the table or a
board, then after the person is covered, the board is
removed and amazingly the person remains in
Levitation, and a Steel Hoop when passed over the
person starting from the right end, slides in the "channel"
(created by the bent bar)... and moving the Hoop from the right end to the left, then
turning the whole Hoop back and circling it back behind the person,
keeping it within the "channel" in the bar and moving it around the
right end, then back over the person and off the left end... appears
to have been passed completely from one end to the other!
This gives the Illusion that it was passed completely
from one end to the other, but it was really not, but
it looks like it was!
The bar is not seen because the Magician hides it with
his leg, and spectators are too far away to be able to
see any of it...
Some Variations include a power motor below the floor which
can raise or lower the whole assembly up or down...
There are many other Variations to this assembly one of which includes
thin strong steel wires which replace the whole steel bar mechanism,
and which are connected behind the stage's curtain to a counter
balanced bar that runs forward to the steel plate beneath the person,
then run upwards to an overhead motor which is operated by an assistant off stage...
Another variation uses the thin strong steel wires directly connected to an object suspended from an overhead motor assembly... wires which are virtually "invisible" to theater audiences... when the Illusion first starts the wires are slacked and "limp" so that The Magician can pass his hands or arms around them, then as the Illusion continues they are tightened by the overhead motor and raise up the object... a levitated object can be levitated and then lowered into a large "glass box" and then covered with a glass top... the wires "slip thru" the corner and side edges and the object looks suspended within the box... and can be moved up and down... within it...
Stage lighting, Background Music and the Magician's performance all add to the MISDIRECTION away from these secret props and equipment!