Assuming the following report is correct, what tricks might have been used?
"I have personally put Geller to the test in front of witnesses, two of whom were extremely skeptical engineers. Geller bent a sturdy, stainless-steel spoon which one of our group had purloined from the Avanti Restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona only a few hours beforehand. While he bent the spoon, I watched him from behind, out of his sight, my eyes a foot away. Seven others watched from a position in front of him. He did this in the lobby of the Phoenix Convention Center, not on stage where lighting and access could be controlled. When finished he returned the spoon, which our most skeptical engineer immediately examined for signs of heating at the bend, or an acid, or signs of metal fatigue.
The spoon bent only about 20 degrees, upward. Geller promised to do a better job later, if we could wait, claiming that it was difficult to work in the Convention Center, He went off to meet with some people. Our skeptical engineer controlled the spoon in Geller's absence.
When Mr. Geller returned we all went outside, about 50 feet from the building. He stopped beneath a light pole, clearly illuminated by the bright light of a 5000w sodium vapor lamp.
By the way, Geller is an informal sort. He was wearing tight Levi jeans (I read the label while behind him) and a tightly fitting yellow polo shirt which could not have concealed a cigarette. No capes, no shirt-sleeves, no big pockets, no stage, no props, and no restrictions on his audience. He did not object when again I moved behind him to watch his hands from a foot way, at eye level, under very bright illumination. Only then did our skeptic return the spoon to Geller.
Geller simply took it without engaging in any conversation, flourishes, or unnecessary body movements of the sort that magicians employ for distraction. He did not rub it against his clothing or body. When I parked myself behind him he did not reposition himself so as to block my view.
Geller's technique was to hold the spoon inverted with the thumb and two fingers of his left hand, and gently rub the back of the handle with the index finger of his right hand at the point where he wanted it to bend. This time, he chose a point about a half inch higher on the handle, past the first bend. The bending began sooner than before, and occurred more rapidly, moving (again, contrary to the force of gravity) to a nearly vertical position in about 15 seconds.
Geller immediately returned the spoon for inspection. No heat, no acid residue, no signs of metal fatigue. "
What comes to my mind is "I will show even greater bending power in a few hours, but i have to first meet some people. Where can i shop strong magnets and tape in this town?"
But i think it might have been something else. Any ideas?
And are there any manuals online, how to perform such tricks?
"I have personally put Geller to the test in front of witnesses, two of whom were extremely skeptical engineers. Geller bent a sturdy, stainless-steel spoon which one of our group had purloined from the Avanti Restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona only a few hours beforehand. While he bent the spoon, I watched him from behind, out of his sight, my eyes a foot away. Seven others watched from a position in front of him. He did this in the lobby of the Phoenix Convention Center, not on stage where lighting and access could be controlled. When finished he returned the spoon, which our most skeptical engineer immediately examined for signs of heating at the bend, or an acid, or signs of metal fatigue.
The spoon bent only about 20 degrees, upward. Geller promised to do a better job later, if we could wait, claiming that it was difficult to work in the Convention Center, He went off to meet with some people. Our skeptical engineer controlled the spoon in Geller's absence.
When Mr. Geller returned we all went outside, about 50 feet from the building. He stopped beneath a light pole, clearly illuminated by the bright light of a 5000w sodium vapor lamp.
By the way, Geller is an informal sort. He was wearing tight Levi jeans (I read the label while behind him) and a tightly fitting yellow polo shirt which could not have concealed a cigarette. No capes, no shirt-sleeves, no big pockets, no stage, no props, and no restrictions on his audience. He did not object when again I moved behind him to watch his hands from a foot way, at eye level, under very bright illumination. Only then did our skeptic return the spoon to Geller.
Geller simply took it without engaging in any conversation, flourishes, or unnecessary body movements of the sort that magicians employ for distraction. He did not rub it against his clothing or body. When I parked myself behind him he did not reposition himself so as to block my view.
Geller's technique was to hold the spoon inverted with the thumb and two fingers of his left hand, and gently rub the back of the handle with the index finger of his right hand at the point where he wanted it to bend. This time, he chose a point about a half inch higher on the handle, past the first bend. The bending began sooner than before, and occurred more rapidly, moving (again, contrary to the force of gravity) to a nearly vertical position in about 15 seconds.
Geller immediately returned the spoon for inspection. No heat, no acid residue, no signs of metal fatigue. "
What comes to my mind is "I will show even greater bending power in a few hours, but i have to first meet some people. Where can i shop strong magnets and tape in this town?"
But i think it might have been something else. Any ideas?
And are there any manuals online, how to perform such tricks?
