A photo of the burning-rope trick, though I don't believe it's Alan Alan himself. (Image by Magicusb.)
Alan Alan (born Alan Rabinowitz) is a retired British magician and escapologist who gained fame in the 1950s for stunts in which he had to escape being buried alive and being suspended and shackled from a burning rope far above the ground. (The latter trick is one he is credited with creating.) I don’t really like such things because they can always go wrong and life seems dangerous enough already. But Alan Alan carved a nice life for himself with such suspenseful acts. In 2006, he was honored by the Magic Circle. Go here to see him performing the burning rope trick in 1959.
More Featured Videos:
- Jaw-dropping Glamour Boyz music video from the ’80s.
- Peter Lemongello sings in 1976.
- Bruce Lee screen test. (1964)
- Teaching English swear words.
- Breakdancing in NYC in 1898.
- Polanski weds Tate in London. (1968)
- Nick Gomez, aspiring comedian.
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle interview.
- Steven Lee really likes guns.
- Old dude loves Hedonism II.
- Helium balloon pulled through bladeless fans.
- Alan Gillett’s “All Shook Up” music video.
- Ryan smack talks the funny way you walk.
- Ryan smack talks your significant other.
- Girl water diviner. (1954)
- Tallest person ever. (1930s)
- Handsome guy mask.
- Teen girl rebels in 1958.
- Karate keyboard man.
- Mean jerks mock girls.
- Cringe-worthy 1978 telethon performance.
- Bay Area self-help video.
- School for aspiring beatniks. (1961)
- A ginormous three-year-old British boy. (1935)
- Phil Levine has been collecting cool crap for 52 years.
- Short doc about smartass NYC undertaker.
- Tiny Tim sings about the apocalypse to small children.
- A one-wheeled, electric car from 1932.
- Patti Smith sings Debby Boone on a children’s show in 1979.
- Ridiculously large vending machine in France.
- Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles. (1972)
- “Henry Ford’s Mirror of America.” (1962)
- “The Way Things Go.” (1987)
- Ricky Gervais hassles Elmo.