Impalement arts

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The Impalement arts are a type of performing art in which a performer plays the role of human target for a fellow performer who demonstrates accuracy skills in disciplines such as knife throwing and archery. Ironically impalement is exactly what the performers endeavour to avoid - the thrower or marksman aims around the target rather than at him or her. The object is to land the throw or shot as close as possible to the assistant's body without causing injury. Impalement arts are often found in circuses and sideshows as well as occasionally in variety or burlesque shows.

It is important to note the distinction between knife throwing or archery practised as competitive sports and similar skills displayed as impalement arts. For example, organising bodies for competitive archery prohibit activity that involves deliberate shooting in the general direction of a human being.[1]

It should be emphasised that impalement arts are, by their very nature, dangerous and they should not be attempted by anyone who does not have the very high levels of skill and experience required.

[edit] Forms and variations

“ Remember, it's not the thrower that counts — it's the target. ”

— knifethrower Gabor in the film The Girl on the Bridge[2]

The human target is the essential distinguishing feature of the impalement arts. It has been asserted by a number of sources, including well-known knife throwers, that the power and appeal of this type of act lies as much in audience appreciation of the target as in admiration for the skill of the thrower or archer.[3]

Various theories have been put forward to explain the enduring appeal of watching a performer face danger in such an apparently passive way. These range from simple awe at the display of steely nerves and complete trust to more complex psychological and philosophical theories. While some point to overtones of sadomasochistic eroticism, others cite dramaturgical works and point to parallels with the story arc of the hero in classic drama.[4] In particular the assistant's performance is said to mirror the plot device of the hero's ordeal, in which the hero proves his or her heroic qualities through self-sacrifice or by facing extreme peril.[5]

The target or assistant role is most often taken by a female performer, sometimes known as a target girl, who commonly wears a revealing costume, thus adding an element of sexuality to the act. While a few contemporary acts feature a male in the target role, and some play upon role reversal, the traditional figure of a female target still prevails.[6]

Generally speaking the assistant, whether male or female, stands in front of a board, made of wood or some similar material, into which the knives or arrows are embedded. For some stunts the assistant is strapped to a moving board. There are several disciplines and a great variety of tricks and stunts that are performed within that basic format. Some tricks are done by performers in all disciplines while others are generally the preserve of one discipline. For example moving target stunts, such as the wheel of death, tend to be done by knife throwers but not by archers.

Impalement artists have adopted a variety of styles, including wild west, "gypsy" or cabaret. There have even been efforts to package impalement arts within dramatic productions, such as the play Pin Cushion, featuring knifethrower The Great Throwdini with actress Niabi Caldwell delivering a monologue while being a real target girl.[7][8][9][10]

[edit] Disciplines

Knife throwing: Knife throwing is the most common and well-known discipline within the impalement arts. It includes the throwing of axes, machetes and other sharp implements as well as knives.

Archery: Archery is the other main discipline. An archer might use bows or crossbows or both.

Sharpshooting: It is arguable that some sharpshooting acts fall into the category of impalement arts when they involve a performer holding up targets for a marksman. Even when sharpshooting is not performed as an impalement art it is sometimes grouped alongside knife throwing as a wild west art. It also has much in common with crossbow shooting in terms of the accuracy skills involved.

Whips and other disciplines: There are other performance disciplines which are not strictly impalement arts but which are sometimes grouped with impalement art disciplines because they involve human targets or because they are all placed within themes such as wild west arts. These disciplines include bullwhip displays and trick roping.

Some artists perform more than one discipline.

[edit] Tricks

There are many variations on the simple arrangement of having the assistant stand in front of a target board and remain still while knives, arrows or other objects land about them. Often the first type of variation in a routine is that the assistant will assume different poses. For example:

Profile: This is a classic done by many performers. The assistant stands side-on to the board and then bends backwards. The impalement artist then aims a series of knives, axes or arrows along the line of the front edge of the assistant, beginning around the legs and ending with the last throw or shot coming close to the assistant's throat. One aspect of this pose is that it accentuates the vulnerability of the assistant, particularly with the last impact tantalisingly close to the throat. Another important aspect for knifethrowers is that the upper part of the assistant's body is positioned so that a series of throws can be landed above it - a flexible target girl might be able to place her neck and the upper part of her chest in a horizontal line. A skilled thrower can use the way that a knife turns in flight to land it sloping at a downward angle from the board; thus, the point of the knife can impact safely above the assistant but the rest of the knife can slope down and come very close indeed to the assistant's body, even making contact on some occasions.

Headstand: An example from the repertoire of knife acts goes as follows: The assistant does a headstand against the target board; the thrower then throws two knives or axes, one into each of the two top corners of the target board; the assistant moves his or her legs apart until they touch the two implements embedded in the board; the thrower then throws a series of implements into the "V" formed by the assistants legs, progressing threateningly towards the crotch.

More complex stunts and challenges include:

The Great Throwdini throwing knives around target girl Astrid Schollenberger as she spins on the "Wheel of Death" at Monday Night Magic on Broadway in New York in August 2002. (image courtesy of Rev Dr David Adamovich)
The Great Throwdini throwing knives around target girl Astrid Schollenberger as she spins on the "Wheel of Death" at Monday Night Magic on Broadway in New York in August 2002. (image courtesy of Rev Dr David Adamovich)

The wheel of death: One of the most difficult and dangerous feats for a knifethrower. The assistant or target girl is strapped to a large circular target board which spins about its middle, like a wheel. The thrower must execute a series of rapid, consistent and carefully timed throws to land knives on the segments of the wheel not covered by the assistant's body. There are some variations in the exact configuration of "wheels": in some the assistant is positioned with their arms at their sides while in others the assistant is spreadeagled. Sometimes the "wheel" might not actually be circular: shield shapes and rectangular rotating boards have been known and all will work as "wheels" as long as they are correctly balanced to rotate smoothly when the assistant is in place.

The Devil's door: A moving target challenge pioneered by knifethrower Larry Cisewski. This time the assistant is on a door-sized rectangular board that spins about a central vertical axis. Again the thrower must execute a series of rapid, consistent and carefully timed throws to land knives on parts of the board not covered by the assistant's body. Sometimes the aim is to hit the back of the board in the moments that the assistant is turned away from the thrower. Other throwers have placed a vertical row of knives down the sides of the assistant at the moments when the assistant turns to face them.

Balloon bursting: The assistant stands in front of the target board and holds balloons which the thrower then attempts to burst. Balloons can be held in the hand, positioned under arms or between the legs and sometimes an assistant will hold a balloon between his or her teeth.

William Tell: There are various stunts inspired by the story of William Tell, who, according to legend, was forced to shoot an apple off of his son's head with a crossbow. Modern impalement arists have performed similar feats. In some ways the Tell legend can be seen as one of the earliest inspirations for the impalement arts.

Impaling a card or paper plate: The assistant stands in front of the target board and holds out a card, or paper plate which the thrower or archer attempts to pin to the board. The level of danger can be varied to some extent by whether the assistant holds the card at full arms length or keeps it close. The Jasters do a "William Tell" version in which the card is balanced on the head of target girl Elena Busnelli.

Harry Munroe throws a knife to cut a rose held in the mouth of target girl Vikki Velvet (image courtesy of Harry Munroe)
Harry Munroe throws a knife to cut a rose held in the mouth of target girl Vikki Velvet (image courtesy of Harry Munroe)

Cutting a straw or flower stem: An assistant holds a straw or flower in his or her mouth and the impalement artist attempts to cut the tip off of it. This is mostly associated with knife throwers and bullwhip artists.

Blind: The thrower or archer wears a blindfold. Generally the assistant positions the blindfolded impalement artist and points them in the general direction of the target board. The implication is that the impalement artist then has to aim on the basis of where they remember the target to be. There is a trick behind this stunt and would be impalement artists are warned not to attempt it unless coached in that by another experienced professional.

Covered target: The target girl or assistant is covered so that the thrower or archer cannot see exactly where they are. The covering is made of paper or some other flimsy material so that knives or arrows will pass through it. The implication is that the thrower or archer must estimate the position of the assistant using memory and other indirect guides and aim on that basis.

Double ladder of death: This involves two knifethrowers simultaneously performing a rapid sequence of throws at the same target board while aiming so that the trajectories of their knives cross. The throwers stand side by side facing the assistant at the board. The knives from the thrower on the right land to the left of the board while the knives from the thrower on the left impact on the right of the board. Each thrower aims their next knife vertically above where they placed the preceding one, so that a ladder of knives is formed up each side of the assistant. This stunt was pioneered by The Great Throwdini in partnership with Harry Munroe.[11]

[edit] History

Knife throwing performers appeared in Europe in the 19th century.[12] Buffalo Bill's performances in Europe in 1887 resulted in a wave of popularity for wild west shows and "western arts" and impalement acts were swept along in that.[13]

Circuses in their modern form began to take off at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, with Barnum & Bailey's tours of Europe from 1897 to 1902 being a particular historic landmark. The influence of American circus included bringing in more acts of skill and daring and impalement arts were part of that trend. Circuses and sideshows provided fertile territory in which the impalement arts could develop. In the USA impalement acts from circuses found a place in vaudeville and burlesque shows. In Britain the equivalent was music hall.

Moving targets were an innovation used by European artists in the 1930s. In 1938 The Gibsons, coming from Germany, introduced the Wheel of Death into the US.[14]

The advent of television in the latter part of the twentieth century brought a gradual decline in the venues in which the impalement arts had previously thrived, but a new home was created in the form of variety shows. Although television variety shows are no longer the central feature of network television that they once were, the impalement arts live on in modern versions of circus and burlesque and in many other live environments.

[edit] Myths

It is occasionally alleged that knife throwing acts are actually a trick in which the thrower palms the knife as he pretends to throw it and a knife springs out from the target, giving the illusion of perfect aim. Although this technique has been used by at least one magician to emulated knife throwing, the great majority of knife throwers perform genuine acts. There are secret tricks behind certain stunts, such as throwing while blindfolded, but they do not involve fake knives springing from the target board.[15]

[edit] Noted impalement artists

[edit] Knife throwing

  • Sylvester and Barbara Braun This husband and wife began performing their "Wizards of the West" act in the early 1940's. Sixty years later they were honoured by the International Knifethrowers Hall of Fame with the "Knife Throwing Pioneer Award" and the title "Wild West Duo of the 20th Century".[16][17]
  • The Brumbachs/Los Alamos A renowned German family act now in its second generation. They began with Fritz Brumbach as thrower and his wife Helga as target girl. Later daughter Sylvia joined the act as a second target girl and then son Patrick became a thrower. Fritz and Helga have since retired but Patrick and Sylvia continue the act. Fritz is a Guiness World Record holder for rapid throwing around a live target.[18]
  • Che Che Whitecloud (aka Kenneth Lawrence Pierce). Whitecloud is a native American whose father Lawrence Pierce (aka Chief Whitecloud) and great-grandfather Willett Pierce were also noted knife throwers.[19][20][21]
  • Larry Cisewski Cisewski provided knife throwing skills for the film The Fan. He also appeared on the December 1981 edition of Circus of the Stars with actress Sally Kellerman as his target girl.[22][23]
  • JS Colorados German couple Joe and Sonja Schleu do a western act that features whip cracking and rope tricks as well as knife throwing.
  • Elizabeth and Collins British thrower Martin Collins and his wife Elizabeth began performing in the 1940s. Collins later developed a signature trick that involved doing the wheel of death stunt while he balanced on a tightrope. Elizabeth retired from performing in the early 1960s and was replaced by their daughter Agnes, although the act was still billed as "Elizabeth and Collins". They performed on The Ed Sullivan Show three times and appeared as themselves in an episode of the 1960s spy series The Avengers[24]
  • Joe "Brokenfeather" Darrah Joseph Darrah began throwing at the age of five and at 19 was hired by a traveling circus as a knife thrower and bullwhip artist. He later became a highly successful tournament thrower.[25]
  • Ari Lauanne A Finnish thrower who does a range of western-themed acts.
  • Paul Lacross Once billed as "the world’s fastest, fanciest gunslinger, knife and tomahawk thrower", he made many television appearances, including one on Circus of the Stars in which movie actress Linda Blair was his target girl.[26]
  • The Gibsons This couple came originally from Germany but later performed in the United States and have been credited with bringing the wheel of death stunt to America. They featured in Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey's shows at Madison Square Garden in 1938.[27][28][29]
  • The Great Throwdini (aka Rev Dr David Adamovich). He started throwing later in life than many other top performers, following multiple careers that included exercise physiology, pool hall management and ordained minister. He is noted for fast throwing and for reviving the impalement arts amid the modern burlesque and cabaret scene in New York. He holds a number of world records.[30][31][32]
  • Dick Haines Richard Haines began throwing knives at an early age and became part of The Haines Family Circus. The show included high wire, a magic act, fire eating, and whips, as well as knife throwing. He has taught a number of other noted throwers.[33]
  • Jonny King A dutch thrower who specialised in cabaret work. He appeared on the final episode of the UK television show The Secret Cabaret.
  • Harry Munroe Munroe is best known as a maker of throwing knifes used by other performers. As a thrower he has performed alongside The Great Throwdini as well as with his own act Xtreme behaviour.[34]
  • Texas Slim and Montana Nell These were the performing aliases of Robert and Pearl Collins. Robert Collins began performing as a knifethrower around 1900 and by 1910 was working for Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. He married Pearl, a skilled horse rider, in 1929 and they formed a travelling act featuring a selection of western arts. They retired in 1950. They were posthumously honoured by the International Knifethrowers Hall of Fame in 2006.[35]
  • Two Tornados Irene and Rolf Stey are members of an old Swiss circus family who did a knife act between 1965 and 1985. They are the only performers other than Elizabeth and Collins to have done the simultaneous combination of throwing from a tightrope and the wheel of death.[36]

[edit] Archery and crossbow acts

  • Aldebaran He is part of the troupe "Velocity Circus" and performs with a target girl who is also a contortion and balance artist. He shoots apples, balloons and other objects which she holds while performing acrobatic balances.[37]
  • Duo Grey Arrow Catherine Jamet, the 39-year-old target girl in this experienced French husband-and-wife act, suffered a serious injury in 2001 when she was hit under her eye while her husband was trying to perform a "William Tell" stunt at the World Circus Festival in Paris. The couple were reported to be planning to continue performing the act once she had recovered.[38] [39]
  • The Jasters Elena Busnelli and Giacomo Sterza, who feature knife throwing as well as archery, are both from old circus families. They have worked in various major circuses in Europe.[40] [41]
  • Guy Tell A french crossbow performer who, along with his partner Regina Bouglione, has worked with Circus Louie Knie in Europe and with Barnum's Kaleidoscape in the United States.[42] [43]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ For example, impalement arts contravene rules 101(b) and 102(a) of the UK Grand National Archery Society (GNAS) Rules of Shooting (see Copy of Rules of Shooting on the Berkshire Archery Association website (PDF). Retrieved on February 11, 2007.) and represent "substantial" or "intolerable" risk under GNAS Archery range health and safety policy (see Copy of health and safety policy from SportFocus website (PDF). Retrieved on February 11, 2007.)
  2. ^ "Girl on the Bridge quotes" at Knifethrower.com. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  3. ^ Dr David Adamovich, aka The Great Throwdini, has stated this in posts to the Dangerous Circus Acts groups on Yahoo!
  4. ^ The most extensive evidence of the debate on this topic is to be found in various online forums including the Dangerous Circus Acts groups on Yahoo!
  5. ^ Dr Joachim Heil PhD, "A short philosophical essay on the art of knife throwing", in Adamovich, Heil & Schollenberger, A Day on Broadway: The art of being a knife thrower's assistant, pp.83-114
  6. ^ Stanley Brion in the foreword to A Day on Broadway, p.x
  7. ^ Pin Cushion was written by Clay McLeod Chapman and performed as part of the Pumpkin Pie Show at The Red Room Theatre, New York, in May and June 2002.
  8. ^ For official website see "Horse Trade Theater Group Presents: The Pumpkin Pie Show". Horse Trade Productions. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  9. ^ For review see Bacalzo, Dan. "The Pumpkin Pie Show in Big Top". Theatermania. Retrieved on March 30, 2007.
  10. ^ For images see "Maximum Risk performed at The Red Room Theatre on 5/25/02". Knifethrower.com. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  11. ^ "Bindlestiff Family Cirkus" page at Knifethrower.com. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  12. ^ Stanley Brion in the foreword to A Day on Broadway, p.vii
  13. ^ Brion, A Day on Broadway, p.viii
  14. ^ ibid. p.ix
  15. ^ This text is a version of the position on this subject that evolved on Wikipedia's knifethrowing entry. The magician who demonstrated the fake knives trick was Val Valentino in the TV series Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed . The genuine nature of most knifethrowing can be established by looking at the substantial number of websites devoted to knifethrowing, including those referenced elsewhere on this page.
  16. ^ 2003 Knife Throwing Pioneer Award. International Knifethrowers Hall of Fame. Retrieved on March 30, 2007.
  17. ^ Gracia, Scott, "Issue #102", The Great Throwzini Newsletter, Scott Gracia
  18. ^ "Los Alamos Messer-, Lasso- und Peitschen-show". Patrick Brumbach. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  19. ^ "2003 International Achievement Award". International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  20. ^ "2004 Outstanding Knife Thrower of the 20th Century". International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  21. ^ "Che Che White Cloud and family". American Knife Throwers Alliance. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  22. ^ Larry Cisewski at the Internet Movie Database
  23. ^ "Larry Cisewski". Ten Years Productions. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  24. ^ Elizabeth and Collins at the Internet Movie Database
  25. ^ "2003 Silver Life Achievement". International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  26. ^ "2006 pioneer award". International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  27. ^ Quotes and stories about Knife Throwers in the Circus. David Adamovich. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
  28. ^ 18 April 1938, Time magazine
  29. ^ Brion, A Day on Broadway, p.ix
  30. ^ Hartzman, Marc (2005), "The Great Throwdini", American Sideshow: An encyclopedia of history's most wonderous and curiously strange performers: 258, Tarcher/Penguin, ISBN 1585424412
  31. ^ Smerd, Jeremy (Spring 2006), "A Fling and a Prayer", Columbia: The Magazine of Columbia University: 6&7
  32. ^ "2003 Outstanding Achievement". International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  33. ^ "2006 Pinnacle Award of Success". International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  34. ^ Xtreme Behaviour. Harry Munroe. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
  35. ^ "2006 Pioneer Award". International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Retrieved on March 30, 2007.
  36. ^ "Die Geschichte der Dynastie Stey". Zirkus Stey. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
  37. ^ The Acts: Oddities. Greg Angelo. Retrieved on March 27, 2007.
  38. ^ Artist 'undeterred' by crossbow accident. BBC News (16 January 2001). Retrieved on March 27, 2007.
  39. ^ Circus act turns into horror. The Tribune (copy from Reuters) (17 January 2001). Retrieved on March 27, 2007.
  40. ^ The Jasters. Retrieved on March 27, 2007.
  41. ^ Circus Arnardo - Arendal 2005. Circus Scandinavia. Retrieved on March 27, 2007.
  42. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (2 December 2000), "Circus Review: Three-Ring Thrills Distilled to One", The New York Times
  43. ^ Circus Louie Knie 2001. A&M Veress Entertainment. Retrieved on March 27, 2007.

[edit] Further reading

  • Adamovich, Heil & Schollenberger, A Day on Broadway: The art of being a knife thrower's assistant, Turnshare (London, 2005), ISBN 1-903343-73-9,
  • Bobby Branton, "Last of the Professional Throwers", Blade magazine, (January 1996)
  • Harry K. McEvoy, Knife Throwing: A Practical Guide, Tuttle Publishing (August 2004), ISBN 0804810999
  • Marc Hartzman, American Sideshow: An encyclopedia of history's most wonderous and curiously strange performers, Tarcher/Penguin, (2005), ISBN 1585424412

[edit] External links

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