False Bottoms

Dear Mr. Magic,
Are there really magic props that use false bottoms?

Dear Magician,
A generic explanation of how a magic trick is done is that the box or cabinet used must have a false bottom. This false bottom theory isn't as popular as the trick being done with mirrors, but both theories satisfy the spectators in that they know they've been tricked in some way or another.

In fact false bottoms are used in some props to allow the performer to show the interior empty while concealing on object that will appear, be switched for another object, or apparently has disappeared.

This false bottom setup is only useful when the spectators can look down into the box. While this is possible using small props while working close up, it is less effective for platform or stage work. So a card box or drawer box is easily shown empty. But a large trunk or other container usually has to be tipped forward to reveal its emptiness from stage distance. This is often awkward and unconvincing from the spectators' point of view.

Stage illusions do use what is essentially a false bottom but is most often referred to as a base or an illusion base. This serves the purpose of the false bottom in that a person or other large object can be concealed before its appearance or after its disappearance but the overall design of the prop is to disguise the false bottom from the side view of the prop rather than the view looking down at the prop, this latter view obviously not available to the spectators.

So the size of the prop and the angle and distance of the spectators' point of view determines the construction, design, and depth of the hidden area that needs to go on noticed. In using a false bottom or base the magician must determine that the illusion is really convincing otherwise he is just fooling himself.

A useful dodge is too have something already in the box, such as a handkerchief, coin, pencil or pen, which is removed and placed to one side so the box can be used for the effect to follow, the magician having created the impression and the illusion that he has emptied the box so it must be empty.

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