It's Only Magic Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sawing a woman in half

The Goldin illusion is also known as sawing a woman in half. While there are now many variations of this trick, it originally involved one assistant laying in a box. The audience would watch her climb in and stick her hands and feet through holes in the box.

Her head would stick out of the end opposite her feet. This box lay on a table in which another assistant was hidden. This diagram shows you how the assistants were laying and how the trick was carried out.

Answer: Straitjacket

The straitjacket was originally designed as a restraint device usually for those who were mentally ill. Usually made of heavy duck cloth or canvas, this type of jacket has overlong sleeves in which the persons arms are inserted. The subjects arms are then crossed and the ends of the sleeves are wrapped around the back of the jacket where they are tightly secured.

This ensures that the arms are kept as close to the chest as possible and makes escape "virtually" impossible. Houdini convinced the world for many years that his escapes involved dislocating his shoulder in order to escape the jacket.

This was not the truth, but it sure did sound good and also prevented others from attempting the same trick.

Answer: Levitation

Levitation is one of magic's most popular tricks. The Asrah levitation involves the magician hypnotizing his assistant and having them recline on a table or couch. They are then covered with a cloth and appear to levitate under the cloth. The Balducci levitation is often performed by magician David Blaine who performs out in the city streets.

It is performed in an upright position and the magician appears to levitate a couple of inches off the ground.

Answer: Roy Horn

Roy Horn and his long-time partner Siegfried Fischbacher were a pair of German-Americans known for their spectacular magic shows that involved white lions and white tigers. For 12 years they were the most popular entertainers in Las Vegas. They performed live, on stage, with nothing between the audience and themselves.

In 2003, while performing at The Mirage, Horn was bitten on the neck by a white tiger who thought his Horn might be in danger from an audience member. A woman in the audience attempted to pet the tiger and Horn attempted to get in between the two.

He then stumbled, and the tiger grabbed him by the neck attempting to drag him to safety. The incident almost killed Horn, and put and end to the magic show known "Siegfried and Roy".

There will probably never be another show like theirs.

Answer: Uri Geller

Uri Geller has performed for over 40 years all over the world. During the 1970's he performed on American television. One of his most famous tricks was performed on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson in 1973. It involved bending a metal spoon, simply by stroking it. Carson's shock and amazement at this up-close illusion was obvious.

It was not until later in his career after being debunked, that he admitted his performances were illusions. For a time, he was the most talked about magician on the planet.

Answer: The Great Wall of China

David Copperfield may be the most successful entertainer of any kind in the 20th century. In 1986, on a television special shown around the world, he walked through the Great Wall of China. He has also made the Statue of Liberty disappear, as well as escaped from Alcatraz Prison.

He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has been knighted by the French government, and been listed in the Guinness World Records almost a dozen times. He has earned over three billion dollars, and won 21 Emmy Awards.

When relaxing and planning his next show, he disappears onto his 11 island hideout in the Bahamas.

Answer: She caught a bullet in her mouth.

Dorothy Dietrich is possibly the most prominent female magician of the 20th century. In 1988 she became the first female to successfully catch a bullet in a metal cup in her mouth. She has performed this trick several times in front of large crowds and on television. Her innovative routines have earned her the nickname "The Female Houdini".

Answer: Val Valentino

"Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed" were very popular television specials in which many of magic's biggest secrets were shown to the audience. Val Valentino, who often performs under the stage name "The Masked Magician" was criticized by many in the field who felt that magic would never recover the air of mystery that it held before this programs were aired.

Answer: Criss Angel

Criss Angel is stage name of magician/illusionist Christopher Sarantakos. He has produced a number of television specials which are filmed before live audiences. Some of his most notable tricks have been floating between two buildings, cutting himself in half, and walking up the side of the pyramid shaped Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.

As amazing as some of his illusions are, he makes it clear that he does not believe in the supernatural or in psychic abilities and believes they are just the illusion of skilled performers.

Answer: Circe

Circe, the daughter of Helios, the god of the sun, was known for her knowledge of herbal healing. She was also known to be able to use the same plants to make magical potions for both good and evil. By using her magic wand she was able to transform her enemies into animals. It is often thought that this is one of the earliest representations of the use of a magic wand.