Vanishing Birdcage

Vanishing Birdcage is a classic effect where a birdcage, containing a small bird, being held between the magicians hand instantly disappears.

Invented by magician Buatier de Kolta, who premiered it at the Egyptian Hall on May 1, 1875 as "The Flight of the Cage of Canaries". He sold a cage to Harry Kellar, reportedly for a large sum, who premiered in San Francisco on May 15, 1876.

Other performers known for their version:

• Charles Bertram - Allowed the bird to escape from the cage just before he was about to vanish it.
• Carl Hertz - Had to give a performance in the British House of Commons before a committee investigating alleged cruelty to performing animals, when charged that a canary killed every time he did the trick.
• Servais Le Roy
• Del Adelphia he would often repeat it and sold his to Harry Blackstone.
• Blackstone, allowed children from the audience to come up and place their palms all around the cage before it vanished
• Fred Keating
• John Mulholland
• Blackstone Jr.
• Bert Allerton, who used it table hopping.
• Billy McComb usually ended his show with his Slow Motion Vanishing Birdcage
• Tommy Wonder