Interlude

Interlude is the stage illusion in which one person penetrates the chest of another that is locked in a device, passing their entire body through the other.

It was originally submitted by Jim Steinmeyer in 1981 to a couple of magicians. Jonathan Pendragon gave the illusion its name when they developed it for the his Best of Magic, with John Gaughan building it. Steinmeyer also later sold it to David Copperfield

May be this illusion was inspired by a Buster Keaton's gag in one of his movie but I don't remember the title.

You can find it on Youtube in Best of Buster Keaton's greatest stunts at 4.30

Variations

• Impromptu Interlude by Tom Stone in The Warpsmith Returns (1996)
• Gut Buster by Andrew Mayne (2006)

References

• Interlude and Zig Zag by Jonathan Pendragon at the Genii Forum