# How is This Magic Trick Done? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462 "2005-10-22T23:21:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZomZom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zomzom/32/5620_2.png) [@ZomZom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZomZom)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/1 "2005-10-22T23:21:11Z")
Does anyone know how [this trick](http://media.putfile.com/mindfreak-throughtheglass0-6500/480) is done? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/2 "2005-10-22T23:32:59Z")
I don’t know but it wasn’t a very convincing one in my opinion. Too many cut aways - especially the whole taking off his shoes bit - and a rather obvious move by him to block the opening he’s just made in the paper. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Loblaw_1)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/3 "2005-10-23T00:21:57Z")
Yes, I know how it’s done. No, I’m not going to tell, but I will give some helpful hints to point you in the right direction. The guy who went inside with him is in on it. They use the paper to hide how it is done. Remember, it is a window. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/4 "2005-10-23T00:26:06Z")
Wow, that’s like, incredible, thanks Bob. I hadn’t even noticed the window, or the paper. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/5 "2005-10-23T02:00:11Z")
I don’t have a clue but let’s see what we know. Even if everyone on camera is in on the trick, it’s still a pretty good one. We know that it’s a window, appears solid. The paper is not taped to the window, it’s just held against it. The paper does not go edge to edge, so the window can’t be entirely taken out of place and put back. It does not seem reasonable that the accomplice inside could pull out a section of the window, let the guy crawl through, and replace it, without the seams being visible. The guy clearly went into the building so it’s not the case that he was between the paper and the glass the whole time. Well, I guess if it were easy to figure this out it wouldn’t be so astonishing to watch, ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/6 "2005-10-23T02:20:36Z")
I know a guy who claimed to have invented this trick. I suspect he knew about it but didn’t invent it. So. Keep in mind: 1. Yes, it’s a trick. 2. It doesn’t depend on videotape, but it does depend on perspective. 3. The people you see applauding aren’t _necessarily_ doing so because they’re mystified, rather than really impressed, or for some other reason. 4. Anybody who isn’t you might well be in on it. 5. Time flies. Sometimes in more than one direction. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/7 "2005-10-23T02:42:48Z")
I think this one has pretty straightforward mechanics. For my next trick, I’ll make ianzin appear. Hey presto! The glass is a few feet taller than the frame, and can be slid up and down, inside the wall. It has a large notch cut out in the middle, at the bottom. A lever inside the room raises the inner frame so that the notch is above the sill. This is worked while the boots are being taken off. Buddy walks around, pokes the paper, crawls through the hole, and as he jumps down with a flourish, the inside guy drops the window back to its original position. At a minimum, the inside guy and the paper-holders have to be aware of the gimmick. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/8 "2005-10-23T03:32:41Z")
I believe the window, after he removes his shoes is no longer perpendicular to the ground, but tilted, like a garage door; closer to us than the top. am I close? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/9 "2005-10-23T03:48:43Z")
I was thinking that might be the case, but the reflections make it appear as though the glass remains parallel to the frame. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/10 "2005-10-23T04:12:22Z")
> [@Bob Loblaw](#): > > Yes, I know how it’s done. No, I’m not going to tell, but I will give some helpful hints to point you in the right direction. > The guy who went inside with him is in on it. > > They use the paper to hide how it is done. > > Remember, it is a window. Hate these dickish posts. See Graham Wellington. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/11 "2005-10-23T04:46:48Z")
I’m thinking that **[Bob Loblaw](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)** ought to request a name change, to avoid folks confusing him with **[bob\_loblaw](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)**, who’s been posting here for over a year. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/12 "2005-10-23T05:24:45Z")
As a “trick” it’s kind of lame because it’s overwhelmingly obvious that practically everyone in the video is in on it. I’ve seem better “surprised” acting on informercials. The glass tilts out/up/sideways/whatever. Watch the how the reflection of the “OPEN” sign changes slightly before (flat and easy to see) after he takes off his shoes (tilted and more difficult to see - Time sequence 1:34 - 1:40) . It stays changed while the trick happens and he crawls through the opening, and out of the paper. Then the reflection is back to flat after he hops through and the guy inside re-closes the window pane after him while he blocks the hole with his body. It’s all about perspective. The slight tilt can’t be caught be the camera or observers at a distance. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/13 "2005-10-23T05:39:06Z")
[Long step by step explanation (last post) in this thread](http://forum.ogrish.com/showthread.php?t=79803) ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Loblaw_1)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/14 "2005-10-23T05:50:51Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > I’m thinking that **[Bob Loblaw](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)** ought to request a name change, to avoid folks confusing him with **[bob\_loblaw](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)**, who’s been posting here for over a year. I was unaware I was stompting on an established user’s name. (and me being such an ass in the pit isn’t fair to him/her either, but, let’s just not tell them.) My guest status expires in about 10 days, so I’ll sign up permanently under a new name after that if I decide to join. Sorry to the other guy. Oh, and one of the posters above hit the nail right on the head. I’ll let you guys figure out which one, but Mange, it’s a window, it opens. Of course. He crawls through the opening, and then closes it again. It’s a standard trick although on a larger scale than the ones that come with kiddie magic kits. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/15 "2005-10-23T06:07:07Z")
**astro** , I’m pretty sure that the changes in the appearance of the “open” sign are incidental – the camera operator adjusted the white balance/exposure while shooting the boot removal. At no point is the reflection _of_ the “open” sign visible – the reflection of the sky _over_ the sign sometimes overwhelms it. It’s clear that the _angle_ of the glass is the same while he is climbing out and when the glass is returned to its original position – because you can see the boom mike reflected in it the entire time, and a change in angle would be obvious. It remains totally constant, and is visible when the transition takes place. Therefore, any motion that the glass makes must be along the plane. Beyond that, when he’s climbing through, it’s clear that his body extends more than a full foot into the room – and the edges of the glass go right up to the window frame, top to bottom. There’s no way that you could tilt the glass and still have it appear to meet the edges – unless the glass was considerably wider than the frame – _because_ of perspective. We can see in the close shots, though, that the glass is set in the _middle_ of the window frame. If it were tilted out of the frame to allow him to climb out, we wouldn’t see any reflections at the bottom edges while he climbed out. We do. _previews_ Ah, I see you’ve come around. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/16 "2005-10-23T11:51:02Z")
> [@Bob Loblaw](#): > > My guest status expires in about 10 days, so I’ll sign up permanently under a new name after that if I decide to join. Email a moderator about a name change instead. Technically, creating a second user name is a violation of the user agreement (even if the original is a guest name that no longer has posting privileges). It is better to just ask for a name change. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/17 "2005-10-24T17:02:51Z")
the “open” sign does not move because it’s not attached to the pane of glass. It’s attached to or suspended from the non-moving window frame. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/18 "2005-10-24T19:48:13Z")
I know it’s been mentioned, but the bit where he tells the cameraman to “keep the camera on me all the time, don’t cut away” just before he decides to take off his shoes and the camera … cuts away to his feet, is particularly cheesy. Anybody who thinks this is a good trick after that deserves it. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/19 "2005-10-24T20:00:50Z")
Actually the trick is nothing more than an enlarged version of [this trick](http://www.fljerry.com/flj0025.html) . The plane of glass slides within it’s frame revealing the opening in the glass hidden behind the sheet of paper. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-magic-trick-done/327462/20 "2005-10-24T20:34:15Z")
> [@Bob Loblaw](#): > > Yes, I know how it’s done. No, I’m not going to tell, but I will give some helpful hints to point you in the right direction. Well, thank goodness you protected the brotherhood of magicians; otherwise, somebody might have posted the answer, and then where would be? You might want to read up there, at the top of the page, what it says under “THE STRAIGHT DOPE”