Water spouting is a sideshow regurgitation act in which a performance artist drinks a large amount of fluid, such as water, and regurgitates it in a controlled manner with muscle control. Typically, the act includes an element of stage magic in the transformation of the fluid; for example, ingesting water and regurgitating it as a stream of red wine [1] [2] or milk. [1]
Water spouting has been performed since the 17th century. During this time, performance artists such as Jean Royer (fl. 1657) [3] and Blaise Manfre [1] were known for their spouting technique.
Floram Marchand performed a "water to wine" trick, where he would drink 30 glasses of water on stage, then spout glasses of red "wine". [4] He had actually swallowed red dye in advance, in order to give the appearance of wine.
The act was revived by vaudeville artist Hadji Ali (d. 1937). [2] Ali was known to drink water and then kerosene which he would use to start a fire and then extinguish it. [2] Other performers during this time include Mac Norton, who was billed as the "Human Aquarium" due to his swallowing and regurgitating of goldfish and frogs. [4] The German performer Dagomarr Rochmann, known as the "Great Waldo", swallowed and regurgitated jewellery, coins, lemons, and mice. [4] Waldo performed at Robert Ripley's Odditorium in New York City. [4]
David Blaine performed Ali's water and kerosene act on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in November 2013. Blaine explained the process he took to emulate Ali on the show David Blaine: Real or Magic. [5] A British magician Kieron Johnson, also known as the "human fountain" has been performing this act on his TikTok and YouTube account. In 2018 he performed it on German talent show where he was water spouting over judges. He can also swallow and regurgitate small objects, like coins and bring them up on either heads or tails, chosen by the audience. [6]
In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair, or other such attraction.
David Blaine is an American illusionist, endurance artist, and extreme performer. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance and has set and broken several world records.
Fire eating is the act of putting a flaming object into the mouth and extinguishing it. A fire eater can be an entertainer, a street performer, part of a sideshow or a circus act but has also been part of spiritual tradition in India.
The Jim Rose Circus is a modern-day version of a circus sideshow. It was founded in Seattle in 1991 by Jim Rose and his wife BeBe Aschard Rose. The sideshow, then called the "Jim Rose Circus Sideshow", came to prominence to an American audience as a second stage show at the 1992 Lollapalooza festival. although they had toured the Northwest and Canada and had several US TV appearances before this time. Rolling Stone magazine called the show an "absolute must-see act" and USA Today termed Rose's troupe "Lollapalooza's word-of-mouth hit attraction".
Sword swallowing is a skill in which the performer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus to the stomach. This feat is not swallowing in the traditional sense. The natural processes that constitute swallowing do not take place, but are repressed to keep the passage from the mouth to the stomach open for the sword. The practice is dangerous and there is risk of injury or death.
Street magic falls into two genres; traditional street performance and guerrilla magic.
Professional regurgitation is the act of controlled regurgitation. The act consists of swallowing and regurgitating various unusual objects. The objects may consist of anything from live animals, to light bulbs, billiard balls and kerosene. The act also includes water spouting in which a performer will drink a large amount of fluids and regurgitate them in a controlled manner.
John Robert Fox was an American professional sword swallower and sleight of hand expert.
Stephen Wright, better known by his stage name Stevie Starr, is a Scottish performance artist who focuses on professional regurgitation. In his act, he swallows various items, such as coins, lightbulbs, balloons, nails, billiard balls, dry sugar, lighter fluid and goldfish, and then regurgitates them. The implausibility of some of his performances, such as regurgitating a "solved" Rubik's cube, have resulted in some observers believing that he is an illusionist. Starr has a busy international touring schedule for his solo act.
Todd Robbins is an American magician, lecturer, actor, and author.
Chayne Hultgren, known professionally as the Space Cowboy is a world record-holding sideshow, street, and freak show performer.
Captain Frodo, also known as “The Incredible Rubberman”, is a Guinness World Record breaking contortionist living in Australia. He is the son of a famous Norwegian magician known as “The Great Santini”.
Carnival Diablo the Ultimate Sideshow is a travelling sideshow operating primarily in Spencerville, Ontario, Canada. Performances by the troupe follow a traditional Ten-in-One format featuring such acts as fire-eating, sword swallowing and a human blockhead, with show times lasting two and a half hours. Carnival Diablo opened on April Fools' Day 1992 by Scott McClelland, whose family goes back three generations in the carnival and side show business. Shows have been performed across Canada, including shows at The Calgary Stampede, Edmonton's Klondike Days Regina's Buffalo Days, and the Canadian Tulip Festival. In 2008 and 2009, Carnival Diablo was a featured act at Carnivàle Lune Bleue, a dedicated revival of a 1930s old-time carnival located in Ottawa, Ontario.
Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close-up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural means. It is to be distinguished from paranormal magic which are effects claimed to be created through supernatural means. It is one of the oldest performing arts in the world.
Hadji Ali was a vaudeville performance artist, thought to be of Egyptian descent, who was famous for acts of controlled regurgitation. His best-known feats included water spouting, smoke swallowing, and nut and handkerchief swallowing followed by disgorgement in an order chosen by the audience. Ali's most famous stunt, and the highlight of his act, was drinking copious amounts of water followed by kerosene, and then acting by turns as a human flamethrower and fire extinguisher as he expelled the two liquids onto a theatrical prop. While these stunts were performed, a panel of audience members was invited to watch the show up close to verify that no trickery was employed.
Dai Andrews, is an American performance and visual artist, motivational speaker, director, producer, martial artist, and multiple Guinness World Record holder. He is also the proprietor of Dream Machine Arts and Unforgettable Entertainment, both entertainment agencies based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
The Inexhaustible Bottle is a classic magic trick performed by stage magicians. It dates to the 17th century and has since inspired many variations; well known examples include Any Drink Called For, The Bar Act, Satan's Barman, the Assassin's Teapot and Think-a-Drink. During the temperance movement it became The Obliging Tea Kettle, and the modern Magic Tea Kettle remains a common prop available at most magic stores. A slight variation is the Magic Funnel. Today, the trick is normally performed for children, although some stand-up shows retain a variation.
Claude Louis Delair was a French vaudeville performance artist and magician known as Mac Norton. He was called "The Human Aquarium" for his controlled regurgitation of live animals including fish, turtles and frogs as well as his ability to water spout.
Dagmar Rothman born as Dagobert Roehmann was a German professional regurgitator known by his stage name The Great Waldo. He was known to be able to swallow many animals including fish, frogs, mice and rats and was able to regurgitate them on will.