At the Rialto Square Theatre

My magical assistant steps into the Basket. I then cover her with an attractive large cloth and she seems to melt down inside. The audience wonders, "is she really in there or not?" I then proceed to thrust (4) steel swords into the basket so that they protrude from the outside. "If anyone is really inside, for certain they are impailled by the swords." I then swiftly remove them and recover the basket. A cloud of theatrical smoke, and my able bodied assistant pops cheerfully upward from within!

I've been told that Howard Thuston, a forerunner of the legendary Harry Houdini, used to perform this Illusion in the same manner. I begin by displaying a hand held mirror. I place it into a cloth bag and then skewer the mirror with a needle. "7 years bad luck, but not for the Magician..." I then remove the mirror and show that no harm has come to it. "And now for something a little more spectacular!" I display a huge round plate glass mirror on both sides. My beautiful assistant situates herself on a pedestal accompanied with casters. I then proceed to pass her through the mirror. Upon completion of this great audience pleaser, the mirror is once more displayed on each solid side!