A fire eater is an entertainer, often a street artist or part of a sideshow. The performer places flaming objects into their mouth and extinguishes them by cutting off oxygen. They also practice controlling and transferring the flame.
Contents |
Fire eating was a common part of Hindu, Sadhu, and Fakir performances to show spiritual attainment. It became a part of the standard sideshow acts in the late 1880s and is often seen as one of the entry-level skills for sideshow performers, although skilled fire performers, such as those who can utilise the difficult and dangerous vapour transfers and produce large breaths of fire are regarded as equals in the circus community for their skill and devotion to their art. Such performers include record holder Preacher Muad'dib, Lucifre, Heavy Metal Pete, Murrigan Mystic Tom Black and Chris Riley all of whom are known as exceptionally skilled performers within the circus and sideshow industry.
Other than sound fire safety precautions and some practical advice regarding the laws of physics (i.e. "hot air rises"), there are few secrets to eating fire. Torches do not burn with "cold flames" nor is there any special substance in the performer's mouth other than saliva. According to Daniel Mannix's 1951 sideshow memoir Step right up!, the real "secret" to fire eating is enduring pain; he mentions that tolerating constant blisters on your tongue, lips and throat is also necessary. Many other fire eaters dismiss this, claiming that a skilled fire eater should not burn themselves, but since the art of fire eating is kept quite secret it is hard to ascertain exactly how it is done. Fire eating and fire breathing (and all variants) is a skill usually passed on for a skilled master to an appropriate student and almost all teachings include instructions on first aid, fire safety, chemistry and other appropriate skills.
The most famous fire eater in history is Robert Powell who not only swallowed fire but also red-hot coals, melted sealing wax and even brimstone. He performed, often in front of British and other European royalty and nobility, for nearly sixty years and was awarded in 1751 a purse of gold and a large silver medal.[1]
Although not the earliest, the first to attract the attention of the upper classes was an Englishman named Richardson, who first performed in France in 1667. His methods were subsequently made public by his servant.[2]
The most torches extinguished in one minute with the mouth by using only two torches is 83 and was achieved by Preacher Muad'dib on Nov 18 2010 at Potter's Field, UK. [3] [4]
The most torches extinguished in 30 seconds with the mouth by using only two torches is 53 and was achieved by Preacher Muad'dib on stage at the "Bizarre Ball" in London, UK on 27th MAy 2011. This has earned him the nickname "The fasted fire-eater on earth". Mr. Muad'dib also holds the record for "Most fire breaths blown in one minute" and is also nicknamed "The fastest fire-breather on earth".[5]
The most torches extinguished in one minute with the mouth (using multiple rods) is 89 and was achieved by Pascal Ackermann (Switzerland) on the set of Lo Show dei Record in Rome, Italy, on 1 April 2010.[6] The most torches extinguished in 30 seconds with the mouth (using multiple Rods) is 39 and was achieved by Hubertus Wawra alias Master of Hellfire, Germany.[7]
New York City-based fire performer Flambeaux (Chris Reilly) holds the world record for keeping a lit torch in his mouth for 55.53 seconds. This is not a Guinness world record.[8]
These are arranged in alphabetical order.
Vapor tricks utilize the fuel vapors held in the mouth during or before an extinguish.
Transfers are methods of moving a flame from one area to another, by using the body, or another surface or medium.
Extinguishes are methods of extinguishing torches, and are the traditional hallmark of fire eating.