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Guillotin became one of the unfortunates who met the apparatus professionally, but that little tidbit may be apocryphal.
In any event, the guillotine has enjoyed a long and popular run in several European countries.
The severing and restoring of a head, human or otherwise, is an act much older than the efficient French apparatus,        but the instantly
recognized form of their instrument has made it the popular version for both          criminal          and          magical
presentations.
Since it is an object that no one in your audience will ever deal with except in the pretend world of motion pictures, television shows, and live theatre, it has none of the queasier drawbacks of similar devices such as electric chairs, gas chambers, and other still-current execution methods.
It is, quite honestly, one of the very best illusions available especially for comedy routines. I will not spell out my popular routine here, but, rather, give you some thoughts to consider. I hope you will favor me and, then, through me the rest of The NEW TOPS readers, with your thoughts on this act.
The simple situation of placing an innocent audience spectator in the vulnerable         position        that        the
variations of this illusion creates is classic humor. As long as you have shown yourself to be a skilled, competent performer up to this point so that your audience does not really fear for the assistant's safety, the laughs will come. They will, of course, be somewhat stronger for a seven foot guillotine than a Disecto, but they will be there.
For most of you the choice will have to be between the chopper effects
which are smaller, cheaper and easier to transport and the full size stage illusion which is the opposite on all three points. An exception, of course, is the Lester Lake device. These expensive items are very safe and among the most baffling versions of this effect.
Another type is the so-called Monster Guillotine which is similar to the more popular French Arm Chopper. It is most often done to the performer himself. The head falls into the basket and, often, the hooded executioner removes his cloth cap revealing himself to be the just decapitated illusionist. I like 'switch* illusions but there's much more entertainment        in        the comedy
possibilities          of          this          item.
Furthermore,            these           dramatic
presentations are better left to gallows props.
I presented my routine at the Magic Castle during my most recent week out there and discussed the effect with proprietor and Genii editor Bill Larsen. Bill had also seen my routine at last year's S.A.M. convention and, I'm sure, at Abbott Get-togethers over the years.
Bill is loyal to the Lester Lake version and finds it a better act than the large scale model I prefer. If he'd like to share his views with NEW TOPS readers, I'd be delighted to hear from him, just as I was delighted to share his warm hospitality on the West Coast. Of course, I can only suspect that he has enough writing chores with Genii so we'll look for his guillotine thoughts there.
The Lester Lake is a better trick, but the audience does not recognize a garishly lacquered head chopper for what it is. Ahh, but a seven foot, naturally stained behemoth is another matter.

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