Is the bird killing in The Prestige based on historical reality?

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In The Prestige (2006), there is a magic trick in which a bird is made to disappear and it is revealed that the bird is secretly killed by crushing it flat to make it "disappear". Is this trick from real history, or was it invented for the book/movie.










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    In The Prestige (2006), there is a magic trick in which a bird is made to disappear and it is revealed that the bird is secretly killed by crushing it flat to make it "disappear". Is this trick from real history, or was it invented for the book/movie.










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      In The Prestige (2006), there is a magic trick in which a bird is made to disappear and it is revealed that the bird is secretly killed by crushing it flat to make it "disappear". Is this trick from real history, or was it invented for the book/movie.










      share|improve this question















      In The Prestige (2006), there is a magic trick in which a bird is made to disappear and it is revealed that the bird is secretly killed by crushing it flat to make it "disappear". Is this trick from real history, or was it invented for the book/movie.







      historical-accuracy the-prestige






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      edited 5 hours ago









      Napoleon Wilson♦

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      asked 5 hours ago









      Tyler Durden

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          1 Answer
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          It is based on a real trick!



          It appears the general nature of the trick in The Prestige is a variation of the real life, Vanishing Bird Cage:




          The vanishing bird cage, also known as the flying birdcage, is a
          classic parlour magic effect that was invented by French magician
          Buatier De Kolta.
          The trick has also been used by magicians Carl
          Hertz, Harry Beardmore, Harry Blackstone (Sr. and Jr.) John
          Mulholland, John Angel, Sabrina Vera, and Tommy Wonder.



          The magician displays a bird cage, holding it between both of his
          hands. The cage is rectangular, about six inches tall by six inches
          wide by eight inches long, and made of wire on all six sides. Often
          there is a bird, though in modern performances of the act it is
          usually fake, inside the cage. The magician will offer the cage for
          inspection by an audience member, but he will never actually release
          his grip of it. Then, without covering the cage, the magician makes a
          sudden motion and the cage (and anything inside) vanishes from sight.
          A variation of the trick was featured in the 2006 film The Prestige.




          More Information:




          The Vanishing Birdcage was a sensation and was also quickly ripped
          off. In the Summer of 1875 Harry Kellar is said to have purchased a
          cage from DeKolta's cousin for $750. Of course this was unauthorized
          because Buatier never sold cages to anyone. This cage was probably
          the very first one outside of DeKolta's act
          , but it wouldn't be the
          last. In fact, Harry Kellar can probably be credited for the deluge of
          Vanishing Birdcages in America because he sold the secret to a magic
          dealer in exchange for props. In Europe a letter from Robert Heller to
          Charles DeVere the french magic dealer shows that the cages were
          already for sale in December 1875.



          Harry Kellar stirred up a bit of controversy while in Australia over
          his presentation of "The Flying Cage" as he called it.
          Harry Kellar's
          routine was simple and direct, he counted to three and the cage with a
          live canary inside would vanish! A rumor circulated that Kellar was
          killing a canary every time he presented the effect. An inquiry took
          place and Kellar proved that was not the case. He showed that he had
          one bird and one bird only that he had been using for a long while.

          But this same controversy would come to haunt other magicians across
          the globe. In fact, this controversy was used as a minor plot point in
          the movie "The Prestige" in which they give a rather fictitious
          explanation on how the cage works.





          Updated with some more information.





          share






























            1 Answer
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            active

            oldest

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            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            2
            down vote













            It is based on a real trick!



            It appears the general nature of the trick in The Prestige is a variation of the real life, Vanishing Bird Cage:




            The vanishing bird cage, also known as the flying birdcage, is a
            classic parlour magic effect that was invented by French magician
            Buatier De Kolta.
            The trick has also been used by magicians Carl
            Hertz, Harry Beardmore, Harry Blackstone (Sr. and Jr.) John
            Mulholland, John Angel, Sabrina Vera, and Tommy Wonder.



            The magician displays a bird cage, holding it between both of his
            hands. The cage is rectangular, about six inches tall by six inches
            wide by eight inches long, and made of wire on all six sides. Often
            there is a bird, though in modern performances of the act it is
            usually fake, inside the cage. The magician will offer the cage for
            inspection by an audience member, but he will never actually release
            his grip of it. Then, without covering the cage, the magician makes a
            sudden motion and the cage (and anything inside) vanishes from sight.
            A variation of the trick was featured in the 2006 film The Prestige.




            More Information:




            The Vanishing Birdcage was a sensation and was also quickly ripped
            off. In the Summer of 1875 Harry Kellar is said to have purchased a
            cage from DeKolta's cousin for $750. Of course this was unauthorized
            because Buatier never sold cages to anyone. This cage was probably
            the very first one outside of DeKolta's act
            , but it wouldn't be the
            last. In fact, Harry Kellar can probably be credited for the deluge of
            Vanishing Birdcages in America because he sold the secret to a magic
            dealer in exchange for props. In Europe a letter from Robert Heller to
            Charles DeVere the french magic dealer shows that the cages were
            already for sale in December 1875.



            Harry Kellar stirred up a bit of controversy while in Australia over
            his presentation of "The Flying Cage" as he called it.
            Harry Kellar's
            routine was simple and direct, he counted to three and the cage with a
            live canary inside would vanish! A rumor circulated that Kellar was
            killing a canary every time he presented the effect. An inquiry took
            place and Kellar proved that was not the case. He showed that he had
            one bird and one bird only that he had been using for a long while.

            But this same controversy would come to haunt other magicians across
            the globe. In fact, this controversy was used as a minor plot point in
            the movie "The Prestige" in which they give a rather fictitious
            explanation on how the cage works.





            Updated with some more information.





            share


























              up vote
              2
              down vote













              It is based on a real trick!



              It appears the general nature of the trick in The Prestige is a variation of the real life, Vanishing Bird Cage:




              The vanishing bird cage, also known as the flying birdcage, is a
              classic parlour magic effect that was invented by French magician
              Buatier De Kolta.
              The trick has also been used by magicians Carl
              Hertz, Harry Beardmore, Harry Blackstone (Sr. and Jr.) John
              Mulholland, John Angel, Sabrina Vera, and Tommy Wonder.



              The magician displays a bird cage, holding it between both of his
              hands. The cage is rectangular, about six inches tall by six inches
              wide by eight inches long, and made of wire on all six sides. Often
              there is a bird, though in modern performances of the act it is
              usually fake, inside the cage. The magician will offer the cage for
              inspection by an audience member, but he will never actually release
              his grip of it. Then, without covering the cage, the magician makes a
              sudden motion and the cage (and anything inside) vanishes from sight.
              A variation of the trick was featured in the 2006 film The Prestige.




              More Information:




              The Vanishing Birdcage was a sensation and was also quickly ripped
              off. In the Summer of 1875 Harry Kellar is said to have purchased a
              cage from DeKolta's cousin for $750. Of course this was unauthorized
              because Buatier never sold cages to anyone. This cage was probably
              the very first one outside of DeKolta's act
              , but it wouldn't be the
              last. In fact, Harry Kellar can probably be credited for the deluge of
              Vanishing Birdcages in America because he sold the secret to a magic
              dealer in exchange for props. In Europe a letter from Robert Heller to
              Charles DeVere the french magic dealer shows that the cages were
              already for sale in December 1875.



              Harry Kellar stirred up a bit of controversy while in Australia over
              his presentation of "The Flying Cage" as he called it.
              Harry Kellar's
              routine was simple and direct, he counted to three and the cage with a
              live canary inside would vanish! A rumor circulated that Kellar was
              killing a canary every time he presented the effect. An inquiry took
              place and Kellar proved that was not the case. He showed that he had
              one bird and one bird only that he had been using for a long while.

              But this same controversy would come to haunt other magicians across
              the globe. In fact, this controversy was used as a minor plot point in
              the movie "The Prestige" in which they give a rather fictitious
              explanation on how the cage works.





              Updated with some more information.





              share
























                up vote
                2
                down vote










                up vote
                2
                down vote









                It is based on a real trick!



                It appears the general nature of the trick in The Prestige is a variation of the real life, Vanishing Bird Cage:




                The vanishing bird cage, also known as the flying birdcage, is a
                classic parlour magic effect that was invented by French magician
                Buatier De Kolta.
                The trick has also been used by magicians Carl
                Hertz, Harry Beardmore, Harry Blackstone (Sr. and Jr.) John
                Mulholland, John Angel, Sabrina Vera, and Tommy Wonder.



                The magician displays a bird cage, holding it between both of his
                hands. The cage is rectangular, about six inches tall by six inches
                wide by eight inches long, and made of wire on all six sides. Often
                there is a bird, though in modern performances of the act it is
                usually fake, inside the cage. The magician will offer the cage for
                inspection by an audience member, but he will never actually release
                his grip of it. Then, without covering the cage, the magician makes a
                sudden motion and the cage (and anything inside) vanishes from sight.
                A variation of the trick was featured in the 2006 film The Prestige.




                More Information:




                The Vanishing Birdcage was a sensation and was also quickly ripped
                off. In the Summer of 1875 Harry Kellar is said to have purchased a
                cage from DeKolta's cousin for $750. Of course this was unauthorized
                because Buatier never sold cages to anyone. This cage was probably
                the very first one outside of DeKolta's act
                , but it wouldn't be the
                last. In fact, Harry Kellar can probably be credited for the deluge of
                Vanishing Birdcages in America because he sold the secret to a magic
                dealer in exchange for props. In Europe a letter from Robert Heller to
                Charles DeVere the french magic dealer shows that the cages were
                already for sale in December 1875.



                Harry Kellar stirred up a bit of controversy while in Australia over
                his presentation of "The Flying Cage" as he called it.
                Harry Kellar's
                routine was simple and direct, he counted to three and the cage with a
                live canary inside would vanish! A rumor circulated that Kellar was
                killing a canary every time he presented the effect. An inquiry took
                place and Kellar proved that was not the case. He showed that he had
                one bird and one bird only that he had been using for a long while.

                But this same controversy would come to haunt other magicians across
                the globe. In fact, this controversy was used as a minor plot point in
                the movie "The Prestige" in which they give a rather fictitious
                explanation on how the cage works.





                Updated with some more information.





                share














                It is based on a real trick!



                It appears the general nature of the trick in The Prestige is a variation of the real life, Vanishing Bird Cage:




                The vanishing bird cage, also known as the flying birdcage, is a
                classic parlour magic effect that was invented by French magician
                Buatier De Kolta.
                The trick has also been used by magicians Carl
                Hertz, Harry Beardmore, Harry Blackstone (Sr. and Jr.) John
                Mulholland, John Angel, Sabrina Vera, and Tommy Wonder.



                The magician displays a bird cage, holding it between both of his
                hands. The cage is rectangular, about six inches tall by six inches
                wide by eight inches long, and made of wire on all six sides. Often
                there is a bird, though in modern performances of the act it is
                usually fake, inside the cage. The magician will offer the cage for
                inspection by an audience member, but he will never actually release
                his grip of it. Then, without covering the cage, the magician makes a
                sudden motion and the cage (and anything inside) vanishes from sight.
                A variation of the trick was featured in the 2006 film The Prestige.




                More Information:




                The Vanishing Birdcage was a sensation and was also quickly ripped
                off. In the Summer of 1875 Harry Kellar is said to have purchased a
                cage from DeKolta's cousin for $750. Of course this was unauthorized
                because Buatier never sold cages to anyone. This cage was probably
                the very first one outside of DeKolta's act
                , but it wouldn't be the
                last. In fact, Harry Kellar can probably be credited for the deluge of
                Vanishing Birdcages in America because he sold the secret to a magic
                dealer in exchange for props. In Europe a letter from Robert Heller to
                Charles DeVere the french magic dealer shows that the cages were
                already for sale in December 1875.



                Harry Kellar stirred up a bit of controversy while in Australia over
                his presentation of "The Flying Cage" as he called it.
                Harry Kellar's
                routine was simple and direct, he counted to three and the cage with a
                live canary inside would vanish! A rumor circulated that Kellar was
                killing a canary every time he presented the effect. An inquiry took
                place and Kellar proved that was not the case. He showed that he had
                one bird and one bird only that he had been using for a long while.

                But this same controversy would come to haunt other magicians across
                the globe. In fact, this controversy was used as a minor plot point in
                the movie "The Prestige" in which they give a rather fictitious
                explanation on how the cage works.





                Updated with some more information.






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                edited 35 mins ago

























                answered 2 hours ago









                Darth Locke

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