Hey, everyone. I'm looking for a trick where the magician places a large paper bag over their head, and then collapses the bag, (thus vanishing the head).

Does anyone know what this is called?

I saw Mac King do it on one of the world's greatest magic specials. I think the 1st one. not sure if its his or not, but never seen it anywhere else.

It is his.

Its based off of an old clown gag and he turned it into a magic trick.

Its his.

It is in his book: Tricks with Your Head: Hilarious Magic Tricks and Stunts to Disgust and Delight if you were looking for it in print.

I think that the Detriot Lions fans have perfected this trick throughout the years of watching the worst team in pro football.

LOl BYUDAD!!! I think you are correct.

Thanks, guys! Much appreciated.

If you want to perform this in your own show, you should get permission from Mac King to use it.

If he's selling the method in a book, isn't that permission to use it unless it states otherwise?

He may have reserved television rights to it. Tommy Windsor used to sell his stuff but no one could do it within 50 miles of him.

It is a good effect but I don't want to be know as the guy that does the Mac King trick. Besides, I have too much respect for Mac to horn in on his territory.

Richard

Magic Tricks With your head - Mac King

I agree Richard...though most people probably do not know who Mac is, but that is one of his trademark pieces...a matter of fact I wanted to do aerial fishing, but didn't want to do it the way Mac did, that would have been wrong for me to steal the routine, so I came up with my own routine for an opener and it blew the audience away.

It is in his book so I don't think it is stealing but try to present it different.
It is kind of tricky to pull off convincing such as he does and I have seen it done REALLY bad.

"It is a good effect but I don't want to be know as the guy that does the Mac King trick."

Pretty much magicians know mac king.

As far as aerial fishing that is a GREAT routine. Whats the history on that effect, who first did it, what sources is it written up in, who currently does it besides mac, etc?

I have written a lot on the history of the aerial fishing. It goes back to Ching Ling Soo and before.

I have sold units to several working pros who are adding it to their acts. Alan Shaxon does a very good job of it.

I think that laymen also know Mac from his WGM appearances and the Burger King stuff.
Richard

Hmmm...yes, I definitely understand the ethical questions being raised here. Well, first of all, I don't know if this is even something I would be able to do in the first place, or if it would even work in my show. I've seen probably three or four magicians perform this piece (including Mac King, whose performance is by far the best), and I'm mostly just curious about the effect more than anything.

I really appreciate all the feedback, guys. But this does raise a broader question here. As magicians, we borrow / regurgitate / steal material (whatever you wanna call it) all the time. So, where do we as performers draw the line?

Draw the line where you believe it is ethical and honest.

Well, I certainly have several pieces in my show that are much older than me (doesn't take much). If it's a piece like "Cut and Restored Rope" or a straightjacket escape or a spirit cabinet or something like that, I tend to preface it with, "And now I'd like to show you a classic of magic" or some such.

But this is something different because this is apparently a trade mark piece of a PARTICULAR PERFORMER. If I, or anyone else for that matter, did a trick like this in our show, it would be hard to say, "And now I'd like to show you one of Mac King's signature pieces. He's this really great guy in Vegas, and you should go check out his show because, man...does he perform this a hell of a lot better than I'm about to!"

(This goes for any piece, mind you. I'm just using the Mac King bag trick since it's the current piece in question. I mean, if I were to ever consider doing an effect like this one, I would want to write my own patter, change the presentation, etc. But can you...CITE a magic trick??? Or just not do it altogether...?