Magic is often seen as a captivating and enchanting form of entertainment. The tricks and illusions performed allow the audience to suspend their disbelief and marvel at the impossible. However, sometimes a magic trick can go wrong, leading to unexpected and even dangerous consequences. One such instance is the infamous "Eif magic trick gone wrong". The Eif magic trick, named after the renowned magician Jonathan Eif, involves the disappearance and reappearance of a person. The trick begins with Eif selecting a volunteer from the audience and instructing them to enter a large box.
Night Magic was originally entitled The Hall.I think it was Robert Lantos the producer of the film who gave it the name Night Magic. The Hall a classic Cohenism was too prosaic for Mr. Lantos. He went on to become along with Garth Drabinski Canada’s most successful producer and yet when I asked him years later how it felt to have succeeded he told me he felt like a loser. “Why?” I asked?
We had a nothing budget and Robert Lantos who had produced the movie ran out of money so we the principal players threw some of our salaries back in. And like the Spurs after Game 1 this year with Tony Parker saying it felt like a European gym and Tim Duncan saying it was like the Virgin Islands where he grew up Bird said after the game he was used to this.
The trick begins with Eif selecting a volunteer from the audience and instructing them to enter a large box. The box is then closed, and Eif's assistant brandishes a sword, seemingly threatening to impale the box. However, when the box is reopened, the volunteer is nowhere to be found.
When the Finals got hot before: Game 5, 1984, Bird vs. Magic in “heat game”
BOSTON - JUNE 8: Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics passes against Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the 1984 NBA Finals played on June 8, 1984 at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston defeated Los Angeles 121-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1984 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO — It was hot, temperatures above 90 degrees, in the AT&T Center for Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals. LeBron James cramped up , the Heat players wilted and San Antonio went on a 26-9 run to end the game and win Game 1 .
It was wild — but it was not unprecedented.
Thirty years ago almost to the day, June 8, 1984, the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers in what became known as “the heat game.” It was reportedly 97 degrees in the old Boston Garden— a building that didn’t have air conditioning in it (why would you need that in an arena also used for hockey?). Boston was suffering through a heat wave and that made the building sweltering, more so that what the Heat and Spurs faced Thursday night.
The enduring image of 2014’s Game 1 is LeBron James being carried off the court with cramps. The enduring image out of 1984 comes at the 3:44 mark of the video above: a 37-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the oxygen mask over his face, sucking in air as he tries to get rested and back on the court.
“I suggest,” Abdul-Jabbar said after the game ( via NBA.com ), “that you go to a local steam bath, do 100 pushups with all your clothes on, then try to run back and forth for 48 minutes. The game was in slow motion. It was like we were running in mud.”
It was so hot referee Hugh Evans had to stop at halftime due to dehydration, reported Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe .
The 1984 NBA Finals was the one everyone had been waiting for, finally Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were going to square off on the NBA’s biggest stage (it was David Stern’s first Finals as commissioner, he certainly lucked into a lot of things early in his tenure). The series didn’t disappoint, going seven games (with Bird and the Celtics ultimately prevailing, the first salvo in the great rivalry of the 1980s).
Bird owned Game 5 — 34 points on 15-of-20 shooting, plus grabbing 17 boards. And like the Spurs after Game 1 this year (with Tony Parker saying it felt like a European gym and Tim Duncan saying it was like the Virgin Islands where he grew up) Bird said after the game he was used to this.
“I play in this stuff all the time back home. It’s like this all summer.”
(As a side note pointed out by my boss Rick Cordella , maybe the most classic part of the above video is near the end, at the 6:15 mark, when a guy just lights up a cigarette in the building as the fans celebrate, Mad Men style. That was just a different era.)
Stuff happens in an NBA Finals. Unexpected stuff. What matters is who adapts, who adjusts, who just finds a way to play through that and win.
In 1984 that was Larry Bird and the Celtics.
Thirty years later round one goes to the Spurs.
Article By Nick Mancuso
In one ill-fated performance, Eif was conducting this trick on a live television show. The atmosphere was electric as the audience eagerly anticipated the grand finale. Eif selected a young woman from the audience and guided her into the box. The tension in the air was palpable as the box was sealed shut, leaving the woman seemingly trapped inside. As Eif's assistant prepared to swing the sword towards the box, a technical malfunction occurred. The mechanism that was responsible for the disappearance of the volunteer malfunctioned, causing the box to become stuck. Panic ensued as Eif and his team desperately tried to rectify the situation. The audience watched in disbelief as the seconds ticked by, unsure of what was happening behind the scenes. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the box was reopened. However, instead of the volunteer emerging unharmed, a cloud of smoke billowed out. The young woman was nowhere to be seen. Chaos erupted in the studio as Eif and his team frantically searched for the missing volunteer. The realization that something had gone terribly wrong began to sink in. After an exhaustive search, the young woman was found unscathed but disoriented. It turned out that she had somehow been transported to a different location within the box. This unforeseen glitch in the trick had caused a tremendous scare for both the performer and the audience. The incident served as a cautionary tale for magicians and illusionists worldwide. It highlighted the importance of thorough rehearsals, stringent safety measures, and contingency plans for any unforeseen circumstances. While magic tricks are designed to provide awe and wonder, they also carry inherent risks that must be carefully managed. The "Eif magic trick gone wrong" remains a memorable and sobering reminder to performers to prioritize the safety and well-being of their volunteers and audience members. It serves as a reminder that illusions, no matter how captivating, should never compromise the safety of those involved..
Reviews for "The Spectacular Failures of Eif's Magic Tricks"
1. Mary - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Eif magic tricj gome wrong". The premise seemed interesting and I love magic, but the execution was poor. The tricks were unimpressive and predictable, and the performance lacked any sense of excitement or awe. The pacing was slow and the magician seemed unsure of himself throughout the entire show. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time and money on this performance.
2. John - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Eif magic tricj gome wrong" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The tricks themselves were okay, nothing particularly mind-blowing, but what really bothered me was the lack of showmanship and charisma from the magician. He seemed disinterested and detached from the audience, which made it difficult to connect with the performance. Additionally, the production value was very low, with cheap props and minimal set design. It's a shame because with better presentation and a more enthusiastic performer, this show could have been much better.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I'm sorry, but "Eif magic tricj gome wrong" was a complete disaster. The tricks were poorly executed, and it was clear that the magician messed up multiple times. It felt unprofessional and amateurish. The performer seemed nervous and uncomfortable on stage, which made me feel anxious and embarrassed for him. The lack of confidence and finesse ruined any potential enjoyment from the tricks themselves. Overall, this was a big disappointment and I would not recommend it to anyone.