Why is it that the first image that comes into someone’s mind when they think of a magician is pulling a rabbit out of a hat? This image is used consistently when advertising for magicians. Pulling a rabbit out of a hat has got to be the most famous magic trick of all time, yet no one really does it anymore. Where did this come from? And why does it persist as the most used visual image for magicians?
Many magicians of yesteryear pulled many a rabbit out of a hat. One of the main reasons was that the tall silk top hat was a main staple in any gentleman’s wardrobe in the Victorian Era. It was very easy for a magician to borrow a gentleman’s hat and perform a magic trick. Nowadays most men, if they wear a hat, it’s usually a baseball cap and there isn’t much that a magician can easily do with one of those, especially with a live bunny!
Why the bunny you might ask. Well, in general rabbits are very calm and quiet. This makes then very easy to hide, move, and produce. And their small, soft bodies make them easy to hide in a magician’s coat. Think of how difficult it would be to conceal a larger, squawking animal. Bunnies were also very easy to get back in the 1800’s. Quite often they were used for food, and so they were quite plentiful.
The image of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat has stayed popular mainly because it’s easy to display. In one image the trick can be captured. Unlike other magic tricks that would require at least two images to convey. Such as restoring a cut rope, would require an image of the rope cut, and then one of the restored rope being produced. If you think about, this would be the case in most effects.
Pulling a rabbit out of a hat really isn’t done anymore simply because it is too famous. This minute a magician produces a top hat, the audience suspects this timeless trick. And one big reason that magic works is the element of surprise that is involved. If we know what the magician is about to do, it is less amazing. And much more difficult to perform.
Of course, using a bunny during this time of year, around Easter, could be a creative addition to your routine, especially for a kid’s show. Finding creative, non-traditional ways to produce your furry friend is the key.
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