138 entries in Propless / Fakir Stuff
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
To thrust a bodkin into your head without hurt thin knife through head with blade that slips into handle, optional sponge with blood or wine for additional gore effect
Related to 1584 196
To thrust a bodkin through your toong, and a knife through your arme: a pittifull sight, without hurt or danger gimmicked knifes with bend in middle
1584 197
To thrust a peece of lead into one eie, and to drive it about (with a sticke) betweene the skin and flesh of the forehead, untill it be brought to the other eie, and there thrust out lead put in one eye (really into hollow wand) and brought out the other
1584 197
To cut halfe your nose asunder, and to heale it againe presentlie without anie salve gimmicked knife with gap, apparently cut through nose
Related to 1584 197
To put a ring through your cheeke ring apparently through cheek (with slit), is taken off and put onto stick that two people hold
Related to 1584 197
To thrust a dagger or bodkin into your guts verie strangelie, and to recover immediatlie false belly with animal blood
1584 198
To drawe a cord through your nose, mouth or hand, so sensiblie as is woonderful to see crotch with thread through it, really inside the wood around nose
Related to 1584 199
How to seeme to cut ones nose halfe off knife with half-moon cut out
Related to 1634 22
How to seeme to pull a rope through your nose crotch with thread through it, really inside the wood around nose
Related to 1634 23
How to seeme to put a ring through ones cheeke ring apparently through cheek (with slit and spinning illusion), is taken off and put onto stick that two people hold
Related to 1634 26
How to seeme to thrust a Bodkin in your fore-head knife through head with blade that slips into handle, optional sponge with blood for additional gore effect
Related to 1634 27
How to breathe fire out of your mouth
1634 29
Die Blutschrift der Fakire name of spectator appears on arm in red, chemical
Aug. 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 8)
127
Carl Willmann Briefkasten answering letters, opening spring flower loads, Prof. Hermann (Herrmann), fire eating, sealing filled glasses for productions
Nov. 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 11)
176
Der unverwundbare Zauberkünstler knife or nail through arm or hand, different gaffs
Sep. 1897
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 3 No. 9)
137
Ein Wunder der Fakire apple on hand of spectator, performer cuts it in two halves with a knife or sword without harming the hand
Jan. 1897
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 2 No. 5)
72
A Rather Dangerous Trick stunt
1902 300
Otto Werner Wie man sich eine Nadel durch den Kopf schlagen kann needle apparently pushed into forehead and removed from back of head
June 1904
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 10 No. 6)
94
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Der unverletzbare Zauberer nail through finger
1927 67
Pulse Stopping
1928 81
Shot in the Eye shot grains swallowed, they come out of both eyes
1937 98
Cutting the Thumb apparently cut in thumb with blood
1937 99
A Feat of Strength ropes with rings on the end are held by performer despite several men pulling on the ropes
1938 978
Theodore Annemann No Pain fakir stunt combination:
  • burning cigarette on tongue
  • needle through arm (real)
  • eating pepper
  • putting hand in trap
Related to Aug. 1939
The Jinx (Issue 59)
423
Yogi Stuff holding a cigarette at the burning end
Feb. 1939
Chap's Scrapbook (Vol. 1 No. 8)
2
Joseph Ovette Impaled thumb covered with newspaper is pierced with needles
Oct. 1939
Chap's Scrapbook (Vol. 2 No. 4)
2
John Houdi, Dr. George W. Crane The Houdini Breath Control Method
1940
The Jinx (Issue 92)
571
Joseph H. Fries Painless Chirurgery cut in thumb heals
1941
The Jinx (Issue 126)
730
Der Puls steht still... stopping the pulse
May 1942
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 4 No. 5)
4
Stuart Robson, James Mc Knight Horrors! pins through tongue, lamb's tongue
Jan. 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 27)
113
Tom Sellers The Disjointed Finger finger apparently disjointed with a cracking sound, spectator feels disjoint
1943 4
Herb Runge Iron Finger! stopping an electric fan with the thumb
Nov. 1944
The Phoenix (Issue 73)
298
Jean Hugard Foiling the Iron Grip escaping a strong man's grip
Aug. 1944 64
Laurie Ireland Betchas collection of bar bets, several reprints of the Phoenix
1945
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1945)
6
Bruce Elliott Make the Pulse Go Faster
Sep. 1945
The Phoenix (Issue 91)
371
C. R. Eaton Two Tips on Tricks
  • needle through thumb ( illusion of blood)
  • Silk to Egg (color of the eggs)
1946
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1946)
8
About... Cigarettes human blockhead with cigarette
May 1946
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 3 No. 12)
220
Fakir werden ist nicht schwer fakir tricks, needle through cheek and throat, nail in nose "Human Blockhead"
1946
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 8 No. 2)
9
Milbourne Christopher Milbourne Christopher's Column ideas for various tricks
  • Lit cigarette hold on thumb covered with handkerchief
  • idea for Al Baker's addition slate
  • on Lou Tannens shooting wand
  • Milk Pitcher
  • Brainwave Deck
  • gag with flash bill
  • Floating Ball
  • card location
Aug. 1947 341
George G. Kaplan The Bent Pin pin is stuck in table, performer slaps it and bends it instead of piercing his hand
1948 274
Joseph L. Barnett Fire Proof burning match held under hand without harm, cigarette in fist vanishes, hands are immune from injury presentation
Apr. 1948
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 5 No. 11)
407
Stuart P. Cramer Parlour Yoga
  • pulse stopping
  • blood flow
  • hand turns white
  • pin smashed in table with palm
  • hand removed from skunk trap
Related to May 1949
The Phoenix (Issue 178)
713
Fireproof Fingers holding burning cigarette between two fingers
1949 25
Ormond McGill Blood and Pulse Control stopping and starting pulse at will
1951 25
Ormond McGill Black Death pulse in both arms and heart beat stops
1951 27
Ormond McGill Yogi Anesthetic human pincushion, needles are pushed in arm, needle through the flesh of a spectator
1951 27
Ormond McGill The Trap Mystery activating a jump trap without being harmed
Related to 1951 8
Nelmar Levitation of a Bar of Iron bar of iron is held by two spectators, it raises and lowers at the performer's fingertips, suggestion
Related to
  • Nelmar's "20 Hypnotic Tricks"
1951 9
Michel Noayme Some Miraculous Manifestation of Dr. Dahesh describing some seemingly impossible stunts/effects
Aug. 1955
Ibidem (Issue 2)
18
H. R. Benfer Electroizm spectator feels special sensation on hand, electric shock
1957
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1957)
25
Dr. Spencer Thornton Pulse Control slow down, speed up and eventually stop the pulse, method without gimmick
1958 2
Edwin Leist-Bernini Eine unmögliche Möglichkeit light bulb lights up when placed inside mouth, eating candle
Also published here
  • in "Magie" 1938
1958
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 19 No. 5)
740
Dr. William Weyeneth Kein Witz temperature on thermometer increases a lot when placed inside fist
1959
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 20 No. 2)
800
Dr. William Weyeneth Tellerwackler als Herzwackler gag, pulse stops but heart beat is strong, using plate lifter gimmick
1962
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 23 No. 4)
206
Roger Klause Pin-E-Tration pin through skin of the finger and apparently painless into spectator's wrist
1967 242
Stuart P. Cramer The Parlor Yogi stopping pulse and blood flow
1969 1
David Ray Stigmata design cards, one design chosen with card sword (!), design appears on skin with luminous paint
1969 63
J. "Rink" van Rinkhuyzen, Somerset Maugham Grand Guignol thumb is cut with a knife until the performer bleeds, wound is healed
Variations 1969 126
Ken Samoray The Human Blowtorch gasoline swallowing presentation, flame from pipe and thumb
1970
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1969-70)
86
Das Spiel mit Papierkugeln small paper balls are pushed inside ears, eyes, nose and mouth, all end up in mouth
Also published here
  • "Magikeren" March, 1941.
1970
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 31 No. 3)
55
Acupuntura toothpick through finger
1975 65
Burling Hull Yoga Pulse Test and Volta Light Test pulse and blood flow demonstration
1976 43
John Greget Pinpoint pulse is stopped and pushpin jammed into palm of hand
1979
Magick (Issue 223)
1112
Cutting the Apple No. 26, apple on palm is hit by knife, apple splits in two but hand is unharmed
1983 8
Blood Writing No. 34, blood message appears on arm
1983 10
Real Blood Writing No. 35, blood writing appears on arm
1983 10
Stigmata! No. 36, hands placed on cardboards, blood imprint appears
1983 10
The Strangulation Test No. 59, rope is pulled around neck of performer
1983 16
The Brick Test No. 60, performer breaks brick with hand
1983 16
Bending a Bar of Steel! No. 61
1983 16
To Tear a Telephone Directory in Half No. 62
1983 16
Ripping a Deck of Cards No. 63
1983 17
The Nail Act: Driving a Nail into Wooden Plank with Your Bare Hand No. 64
1983 17
Driving a Nail through the Wall No. 65
1983 17
Bending a Large Thick Nail with Your Bare Hands! No. 66
1983 17
Bending a Nail with Your Teeth! No. 67
1983 17
Extracting Nails from a Wooden Board with the Fingertips! No. 68
1983 17
Pulling a Bus with Your Teeth! No. 69
1983 18
The Anvil Test No. 71, performer lies on bed of nails with anvil on chest, assistant beats on anvil with a hammer
1983 18
Breaking a Large Stone on the Chest of the Strongman with a Sledge Hammer as He Lays on a Bed of Nails No. 72
1983 19
A Car is Driven over the Body of the Strongman without Injury! No. 73
1983 19
Bending a Steel Bar with the Head! No. 74
1983 19
Breaking a Heavy Welded-Link Chain with the Chest Muscles! No. 75
1983 20
Lifting a Heavy Metal Tank Full of Water! No. 76
1983 20
Very Strong Ladies No. 77, several strongman stunts
1983 21
If a Young Lady Extends Her Arms and Places Her Hands Flat against the Wall, Half a Dozen Persons Cannot Push Her against the Wall! No. 78
1983 21
Eating Glass No. 84, dangerous method
1983 23
Wayne Kyzer Caught comedy routine with a bear trap, activating a jump trap without being harmed
Related to 1983 20
Tieneblas Time Lapse performers stops watch and pulse at the same time
June 1984
Magick (Issue 332)
1658
Neal Rider Mind Bender several different coins in hand, quarters bend in spectator's hand while pulse stops
May 1989
Magick (Issue 421)
2105
Rocco Silano Hot and Cold Cigarette lit cigarette touched on spectator's hand without burning him
1990 34
Harald Kurz D - Daumen, brennender burning thumb
1991 32
Richard Busch Perspectives: A Walk on the Wild Side on walking over broken glass, manuscript by Cliff Bacchus
Nov. 1992
Vibrations (Vol. 15 No. 5)
4
Steve "Banachek" Shaw Stigmata chosen card or symbol appears on arm, in "blood writing"
Sep. 1993
Magick (Issue 494)
2470
Richard Busch Perspectives on fire walking
Aug. 1993
Vibrations (Vol. 16 No. 2)
4
Joe Rindfleisch Needled #1 long needle pushed through neck, impromptu
1994 1007
Joe Rindfleisch Needled #2 long needle pushed through neck, impromptu
1994 1007
Gerd Winkler Makaber - Makaber performer removes his eye to find the selection, paper is stapled over eye
Also published here 1996 200
Bill "Dusty" Miller The Telltale Timber stopping pulse, block of wood falls over, using the Telekinetic Timber
1996
Syzygy (Vol. 3 No. 14)
242
John Swomley Real World Rat Trap comedy routine, performer apparently puts hand in rat trap
1997 1316
Robert LaRue Mania Pin hat pin is pushed into forehead and pulled out the back of the head
Oct. 1997
Onyx (Issue 1)
15
Andrew Mayne Lit cigarette is extinguished on tongue
1998 70
Karl Fulves Pulse Stopping with small skull that is produced afterwards
2000 159
Gerd Winkler Bizarre, Bizarre performer removes his eye to find the selection, paper is stapled over eye
Also published here 2000 215
Simon Lovell The Texas Chainthumb Massare or Grand Guignol Revisited thumb is cut with a knife until the performer bleeds, wound is healed
Inspired by 2000 135
Andrew Mayne Paperclip Through Arm
Inspired by 2000 16
Andrew Mayne Nail in Head Human Blockhead
2000 19
Andrew Mayne Spike Though Tongue Act 1
2000 25
Andrew Mayne Spike Through Tongue Act II spike through tongue and pulling it out
2000 28
Andrew Mayne A Simple method for profuse bleeding method for fake bleeding
2000 33
David Berglas Your Finger on the Pulse pulse stop with two spectators, stage presentation
2002 368
Luke Jermay For Andruzzi Magician stops their own pulse, then stops the pulse of a spectator
Also published here 2002 14
Docc Hilford Impromptu Pulse Stop No need for any props (balls etc.). Can cause pulse to stop or quicken
2002 21
Tony Andruzzi Impromptu Heart Stop Magicians apparently makes their heartbeat disappear
2002 23
Docc Hilford The First Experiment name of chosen object appears on card, pencil breaks on chest, sound in box, performer stops pulse in process
Inspired by
  • Ned Rutledge's "Green Bean Trick"
2002 11
Luke Jermay Stigmata to Go Please blood stigmata on palms of the hand
2003 69
Ted Lesley Shop of Horrors cutting in thumb, after blood is washed no injury can be seen
2003 11
Andrew Mayne Electric Lunch smashing light bulb in bag and apparently eating pieces
2003 16
Andrew Mayne Thumbtack pushing thumbtack in thumb
2003 18
Lee Earle Go For The Juglar pulse measured at neck stops, false pulse
2003
Syzygy (Vol. 5 No. 17)
426
Rick Bronson Needle Through What?!? needle through balloon supposed to be done blindfolded, when balloon is take with other hand, it is seen that the needle goes through the arm
Also published here
  • Genii, July 1991
2005 24
Darwin Ortiz The Fire Test lit match placed in hand
2006 134
Tom Stone Note 7 fake fire bowl for gag fakir stunts, then setting something on fire with it for real
Also published here Apr. 2009
Genii (Vol. 72 No. 4)
20
Tom Stone Note 7 fake fire bowl for gag fakir stunts, then setting something on fire with it for real
Also published here 2009 3
Andi Gladwin Pin thumb tack pushed in arm and removed
Also published here
  • "Scream", MAGIC, Dec. 2004
2009 2
Hoo-Doo Guru stopping the pulse
2011 36
Robert Cassidy The Tavern Show act, exploding light bulb, eating glass and Q&A using a crystal ball
  • The Bag
  • The Method
2013 227
Christoph Borer Die gerechte Strafe sword jammed in arm
2016 182
The Technique of Grasping Red Hot Iron chemicals applied to skin
  • Dan Sherer (additional comments)
  • Max Maven (additional comments)
Also published here
  • Hōkasen, 1764
May 2016
Genii (Vol. 79 No. 5)
80
The Technique of Biting Into A Pot eating metal
  • Dan Sherer (additional comments)
Also published here
  • Hōkasen, 1764
May 2016
Genii (Vol. 79 No. 5)
81
Alexander de Cova Pulstrick stopping one's pulse
2017 86
Wayne Houchin Thread Magician swallows thread, thread is pulled out of eye
2019 1
Wayne Houchin Control Pulse of magician is felt to slow down, stop, and then return to normal, no props needed, nothing under armpit
2019 13
Eugene Burger Retribution pentagram hole appears in one of three tarot cards, blade used to cut into performer's arm with stage blood, story presentation
Related to
  • Eugene Goes Bizarre video 1990
2019 139
Eric Leclerc, Rune Klan Chug Chug Goose bottle of vodka opened, shot poured for spectator, performer drinks rest in one go
  • Eric's New Preparation
  • The Original Method
  • Rune's Method
Inspired by 2022
Conundrum (Issue 1)
52
Andi Gladwin Scream thumbtack pushed into arm
Also published here
  • MAGIC, Dec. 2004
2022 358
Luke Jermay For Andruzzi Magician stops their own pulse, then stops the pulse of a spectator
Also published here 2022 600
Eric Leclerc Absolut Idiot bottle of vodka opened, shot poured for spectator, performer drinks rest in one go
VariationsAlso published here
  • MAGIC, Feb. 2008
2022 700