Anyone have an opinion on falsifying history during the presentation of a trick? I present the Wellington Switchboard, for example, as a trick actually invented and performed by Thomas Edison. My script goes into a great deal of false detail on Edison's conjuring career.
Many spectators apparently believe it, even though I wonder why anyone would believe anything a magician said during performance.
I'd be curious to know if others have discussed the ethics of this.
Marc

I am very adverse to movies that falsify history - I am rather fond of history and if there's a false note I find it very jarring.

That said - Pirates of The Caribbean doesn't offend me - in fact I love it, so I think if you present your act as an entertainment - not a history lesson - theres no problem.

You should be careful though that what you say rings true with your audience in relation to what most already know of the character so that they are not distracted by something that seems incongruous.

Destiny

Also remember - much as I love it, history is only what the survivors remember it to be - and want to pass on.

There is a double edged sword in this. People should be getting history from history. Not from movies, not from magicians, not from sitcoms. I kind of like the idea of presenting a little education in each of these venues, but ultimately, that isn't their job. Their job is entertainment. Is your performance entertaining? If so, then you are doing what you should be. What is wrong with this story is not that they believe or trust what you are telling them, but that they regard it as a source of historical education, when you have given no indication that it is.

In the words of John Stewart "The Daily Show, where more people get their news than probably should."

Day 4

Wait... you mean you didn't actually go to Hogwarts?

Thanks for the replies so far. I gather my "Edison's magic trick" script doesn't raise any hackles, at least so far. I was worried.
In my Dean's Box presentation, I claim I discovered the box in an antique shop and while cleaning it discovered it was a box by Dill, a magician who died in the 1950s, but not before burning his props. I show the signature on the box as my proof.
Some have told me Dean would appreciate getting to be the ghost of my box (I've never met the gentleman) but I figure it serves him right either way for signing the outside of my prop and inspring me to incorporate him in the story.
But Edison, an icon to more than magicians, seemed to be pushing it, somehow. So I'm releived to have avoided a dressing down so far.
Marc the Magic Man

I don't think anyone really believes you are in possession of magic powers.

I hope it is not in the guise of a "lesson" of some sort. If it is just pure entertainment, then within the confines of your show, it is your world.

We lie for a living, what's the problem?
I tell the audience that I am pathological liar at the beginning of the show.
If they forget that I said that, I don't remind them.

"Quit?
Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?"

Germans?

Forget it, He's on a roll.

There is a difference between lying and telling a story. If you can't figure out where you have crossed the line, then you have a problem.

Most of the stuff about Tesla in "The Prestige" is total BS. But it's a good story.

Yes, but everything else is spot on right Bill?

I use the whole Tesla thing from "The Prestige". As a build to an actual routine I do with my electric touch. I have seen a lot of guys just use it to shock people, etc., it has such amazing potential as a full blown act. I guess I shouldn't say that now everyone will... it's really a bad routine actually, no one should experiment with this idea at all, yeah, that's right, just use it in bars to shock people. Ok, in looking back, I think the question was answered quite well by so many others, I will just say, "ditto."


Z

As long as the falsehoods are minor details (like a magic hobby or trick invention by Edison) this seems very harmless. I would try to avoid extra details that don't add to the entertainment of the show. This isn't just an ethical stance, but also because every line should add to the entertainment (whether it is true or not.)

If it really bothers you, a fairly simple way of getting around it would be by saying "when I acquired this item, I was told that it was built by Thomas Edison," or simply "I'm told this may have belonged to the late Thomas Edison."

Thanks for the additional input. I have had spectators comment on the whole Tesla thing, and I think the Edison patter taouches on some neat conections between magic and science as I've polished the script. So I am not personally bothered by it. (My wife, on the other hand is bothered by the fact that I'd lie about a historical figure.) And didn't David Devant have a quote to the effect that he would never lie to the audience?

The trouble with false histories is that there's always someone who knows the real history, or at least enough to know that what you're saying is a pile of old chutney. For example, any effects/presentations based on Tesla (as portrayed in the Prestige) wouldn't fool anyone who has studied physics.

They would immediately tune out and the effect of the trick would be diminished for them. That's how I would feel anyway.

Mark, (Mark Charisse, I mean) has a great presentation of the Wellington switchboard, and I think the Edison references add a lot to the routine. I think there are ways around the fudging of history in a magic trick. The addition of the phrases "I heard" or "The guy that sold me this claimed..." or even "what if" soften the fudge factor a bit.
Besides, IMHO people know that you are doing a trick, not giving a history lesson. I say, slice the balogna as thick as you like! Mark, I'll see you at Denny's next week,
Don

Don,
Good point. I'll add a couple of fudge-factor words. Shouldn't be too hard for a newspaper guy like me. (Grin.)
Marc

Let your conscience be your guide. But If one cannot separate performance from real life, they might consider another hobby.

I'm a liar when I'm performing. That's who I am, and they know it. When I'm doing anything else.... I suck at lying and don't do it much.

When starting a close up set I will say, “Today I will try to deceive you, but I will not LIE to you. This is a regular deck of playing cards- -------------."
I feel this line relaxes the spectators and makes for a less confrontational
relationship. After a few tricks with the regular deck I switch to some non card
magic. After that I will ring in the Gaffed cards making no claim that I'm using
a regular deck. I like to be honest and let the tricks do the lying, for the most part.

I believe as someone stated: there is a difference between Story telling and lying and I believe the spectators can pick up on that difference. They are
NOT STUPID and no one likes to be lied to.

It is a fine line and if you are on the wrong side of that line you risk being one of those magicians people just don't like. Instead of drawing them in you my be pushing them away.

I also like the Tomas Edison routine for the switch board. I feel this falls under the story telling category and spectators will happily follow along. We can all learn from Mark Charisse and really think about how our words are perceived by the audience.