Area man sneezes...
October 25, 2012 11:27 AM Subscribe
I liked where his head fell off and everyone laughed and no one called 911.
posted by found missing at 11:39 AM on October 25, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by found missing at 11:39 AM on October 25, 2012 [5 favorites]
Good Lord.
posted by SnuffyMcDuffy at 11:41 AM on October 25, 2012
posted by SnuffyMcDuffy at 11:41 AM on October 25, 2012
A 108-year old resident was heard to say, "Kill it with fire." But what she meant to say was, "When I was a child, I remember that we used to kill it with fire."
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:47 AM on October 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:47 AM on October 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
I like that he chose to do this trick in bubble gum alley.
posted by routergirl at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by routergirl at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I liked when he sneezed, but it would be cool to see him laugh his head off.
Call 911. I want to see how the paramedics react.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:05 PM on October 25, 2012
Call 911. I want to see how the paramedics react.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:05 PM on October 25, 2012
He needs to do this at night, it would amplify the entire effect AND PEOPLE WOULD SHIT.
posted by Brocktoon at 12:21 PM on October 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Brocktoon at 12:21 PM on October 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
When I first heard about this, I didn't know he'd done it here in SLOtown and then realized he was doing it in our local Bubblegum Alley, which, if I'd been there to see him do it, I'd offer to pull some gum off the wall and help stick his head back on...
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:44 PM on October 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:44 PM on October 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
If I knew how he did this, rest assured I would exploit this trick to no end.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:48 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:48 PM on October 25, 2012
You just need a frame in your coat.
posted by brokkr at 1:03 PM on October 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by brokkr at 1:03 PM on October 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
And the coat needs wider armholes at the shoulders or you'll tear the sleeves as you 'drop your head'.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:06 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:06 PM on October 25, 2012
Wow, Bubblegum Alley almost warrants a post of it's own. I had never heard of it before today. Thanks oneswellfoop.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:08 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:08 PM on October 25, 2012
The real version of the trick (as seen in the video) uses fake thighs, chest, and shoulders attached to his shins.
posted by karst at 1:19 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by karst at 1:19 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I get that it's California and the weather is...whatever it is, but I couldn't help but think "Halloween trick? How come everyone's in shorts?"
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:21 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:21 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Bulgaroktonos, Halloween forecast for San Luis Obsipo, California is 22C/11C or 72F/52F. It really is that nice out.
posted by blob at 1:36 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by blob at 1:36 PM on October 25, 2012
I'm glad he didn't do it to anybody carrying a baseball bat or other traditional zombie smashing weapons. Because I'm afraid I've played too many video games but I'm sure I'm not the only one who, if caught off guard by something like that, might smash first and ask questions later. And I'd feel really bad about it
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:44 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:44 PM on October 25, 2012
I built one of these a few years ago, just for something to do. A simpler one with a trench coat but still, same deal. I was working in a magic shop at the time and the owner helped me put some of the finishing touches on it. I put it on and everything seemed to be working pretty well. But we needed an objective opinion.
We called over the lady who owned the book store right next to us, asked if she would take a look at our "new trick" and give us some feedback. She agreed. We didn't tell her what was going to happen because we felt that would ruin her objectivity. She be looking for how it was done, rather than telling us how it looked. So, with no lead up at all I "lost my head."
She screamed.
And ran away.
And hid behind a counter.
I felt kind of bad. Not that you would have been able to tell because I was laughing so damn hard. We brought her back, showed her how it worked and showed it to her again. Apparently it looked pretty good.
On another note: I'm a juggler as well as a magician and I've always wanted to build a routine around a suit like this as well as some other silly juggling props and tricks. Though it presents some unique challenges. As you might expect, juggling your own head is more than a little tricky....
posted by Mister_Sleight_of_Hand at 2:03 PM on October 25, 2012 [12 favorites]
We called over the lady who owned the book store right next to us, asked if she would take a look at our "new trick" and give us some feedback. She agreed. We didn't tell her what was going to happen because we felt that would ruin her objectivity. She be looking for how it was done, rather than telling us how it looked. So, with no lead up at all I "lost my head."
She screamed.
And ran away.
And hid behind a counter.
I felt kind of bad. Not that you would have been able to tell because I was laughing so damn hard. We brought her back, showed her how it worked and showed it to her again. Apparently it looked pretty good.
On another note: I'm a juggler as well as a magician and I've always wanted to build a routine around a suit like this as well as some other silly juggling props and tricks. Though it presents some unique challenges. As you might expect, juggling your own head is more than a little tricky....
posted by Mister_Sleight_of_Hand at 2:03 PM on October 25, 2012 [12 favorites]
Wait for the drop.
posted by Kabanos at 2:09 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Kabanos at 2:09 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
You just need a frame in your coat.
This is much more intricate than you might be seeing. Notice that you can see the legs and arms at all times. Also, it can be viewed from more than one angle. It improves on a couple issues Cryil had in Japan... but neither of those illusions should be confused with the generic head drop popping up everywhere using a jacket and bent bar around your neck. That IS easy. Big difference. Enjoy!posted by kenko at 2:51 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
He needs to do this at night, it would amplify the entire effect AND PEOPLE WOULD SHIT.
Yep, in fact he specifically mentions the amplified effect at nighttime in the video's description. Great prank!
posted by ShutterBun at 2:57 PM on October 25, 2012
Yep, in fact he specifically mentions the amplified effect at nighttime in the video's description. Great prank!
posted by ShutterBun at 2:57 PM on October 25, 2012
He needs to do this at night, it would amplify the entire effect AND PEOPLE WOULD SHIT.
Here's your man.
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:18 PM on October 25, 2012
Here's your man.
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:18 PM on October 25, 2012
Oh man, I love this guy's stuff. He's given me a demonstration of the magic trick he showed Ellen awhile back, and loved the act. I still can't figure it out.
posted by jermspeaks at 6:34 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by jermspeaks at 6:34 PM on October 25, 2012
Bulgaroktonos, Halloween forecast for San Luis Obsipo, California is 22C/11C or 72F/52F. It really is that nice out.
I would just like to point out that it was that nice today in Toronto.
Anyway, yeah, it's a really basic trick, y'all. The coat is rigid, and his spine isn't. Ta-da.
(Neat, though!)
posted by Sys Rq at 6:52 PM on October 25, 2012
I would just like to point out that it was that nice today in Toronto.
Anyway, yeah, it's a really basic trick, y'all. The coat is rigid, and his spine isn't. Ta-da.
(Neat, though!)
posted by Sys Rq at 6:52 PM on October 25, 2012
jerm: that's easy! (I'm 95% sure I figured it out) The deck is drawn on both the top and bottom of the back side. one side has the card pulling sequence but for the last card, the other side has Ellen holding the final card for every single card BUT it's shifted up or down one card e.g. the 8 of clubs has the Ellen holding the 9 of clubs, 9 has the 10. For the trick, when he pulls out Ellen's card, he flips the following card and places it at the end of the deck.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:00 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by leotrotsky at 8:00 PM on October 25, 2012
KevinSkomsvold: Wow, Bubblegum Alley almost warrants a post of it's own. I had never heard of it before today. Thanks oneswellfoop.
It's a passing oddity without much solid history. The Wikipedia article on it is pretty good, and includes the best bit of gum art on the walls, at least as of Spring 2012 when I last saw it.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:31 PM on October 25, 2012
It's a passing oddity without much solid history. The Wikipedia article on it is pretty good, and includes the best bit of gum art on the walls, at least as of Spring 2012 when I last saw it.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:31 PM on October 25, 2012
From Wikipedia:
"While some bubble with joy at the unique spectacle, others consider this spot to be a giant cleaning project that a select few are getting stuck with."
*facepalm*
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 9:45 PM on October 25, 2012
"While some bubble with joy at the unique spectacle, others consider this spot to be a giant cleaning project that a select few are getting stuck with."
*facepalm*
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 9:45 PM on October 25, 2012
I would like to do this trick in the waiting room at the doctor's, when I've been waiting a long while. Just to freak his nurses. But it would require my head in my lap while seated, to work right. Hmmm.
posted by Goofyy at 7:38 AM on October 26, 2012
posted by Goofyy at 7:38 AM on October 26, 2012
Head drop illusion, Michael.
posted by owtytrof at 7:58 AM on October 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by owtytrof at 7:58 AM on October 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
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posted by notsnot at 11:34 AM on October 25, 2012 [4 favorites]