Robert Harbin - The Zig Zag Girl Illusion

Robert Harbin invented one of the most astounding, iconic magical illusions of the 20th Century - The Zig Zag Girl.  Briefly: a cabinet is examined by an audience member. A girl assistant enters the cabinet , with holes for her face, hands, and feet.  The cabinet is tri-sected with stainless steel blades and the girl's middle is slid over to one side.  Then she is restored to normal.  It is one of the most widely copied/pirated illusions. (See article: The American Zig Zag Scandal by Mike Caveney, MAGIC magazine , March 2009).  Only those magicians who purchased Harbin's limited-edition book The Magic of Robert Harbin had permission to build and perform the effect, among them the world class magicians Harry Blackstone Jr., Doug Henning, and Mark Wilson.

Harbin's own presentation of his original illusion remains the best version of it you will see.

Other (authorized) magicians who performed The Zig Zag Girl , included Harry Blackstone Jr., Doug Henning, and Mark Wilson.

Harry Blackstone Jr. performs The Zig Zag Girl Illusion

Doug Henning performs The Zig Zag Girl Illusion in
THE MAGIC SHOW on Broadway, Cort Theater 1974

Collage of Doug Henning illusions performed in THE MAGIC SHOW
(from the Time Magazine article The Magic Boom, July 22, 1974)

Mark Wilson performs the Zig Zag Girl with singer John Denver (Mark Wilson was the magic consultant on a segment of a John Denver television special where Denver and guest star Dick Van Dyke performed magic)

Magic Shop Photos

 Some photos of old time brick and mortar magic shops.

Abbott's Magic Co., Colon, MI over the years -

Exterior of the Abbott's Magic Co. Colon, MI over the years

Daytona Magic Co. , Daytona Beach, FL c. 1980's

(this shows about 2/3rds of the store ; there was additional space behind where the photographer would be standing to take this photograph)

Hollywood Magic, Hollywood, CA , c.1990's 

Bill Bixby The Magician

The Magician was an American television series that ran during the 1973-1974 season. It starred Bill Bixby as stage illusionist Anthony "Tony" Blake, a playboy philanthropist who used his magic skills to solve difficult crimes as needed.

The Salt Trick - Jack Chanin

 Two photographs of the great magician Jack Chanin , at different points in his career, performing the vanishing and re-appearance of a shaker full of salt.

Some quotes about Jack Chanin from the book "Chanin: The Man with the Magic Hands" by David E. Haversat -

“Because of their unusual cleverness and originality in presentation, Chanin’s books will live as long as magic-and that is forever.” 

– Edward M. Massey

“Chanin could pick up a silk with a brick in it, and you would never know.”

– Dai Vernon

“I had never before seen such an impromptu performance, nor have I seen one since. They don’t make ’em like Jack anymore.” 

– Jay Marshall

“Jack was not simply a great magician; he was the greatest.” 

– Max Maven