Milk Can Injury

[Voob]

I hope Randi doesn't mind, but I'm going to paste this first-hand, eye-witness account of Randi getting injured rehearsing the milk-can escape, from "David Alexander".

first, some words from Mr. Alexander :

Quote:

I participated in investigations with James Randi and conducted several of my own. I've written several magazine articles, contributed information to books Randi wrote, helped edit the newsletter of the S.C. Skeptics, and provided advice to Michael Shermer when he started Skeptic magazine. I remain on their editorial board.

and what he said about the incident:

Quote:

Well, I know more than a little about this episode and I will speak directly from experience.
My wife and I walked into the lobby of the Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles to be part of the audience for the taping of a special that Randi had helped put together. Steve Banachek was doing a Buried Alive stunt at a remote location, Dean Gunnerson was doing something on stage, there would be a sŽance, a number of noted performers were working Ð two hours of live to tape hosted by Bill Shatner. I found Randi in his wet suit laying on a gurney, attended by paramedics. He didnÕt look to be in good shape.
He told me that during the rehearsal of the Milk Can Escape he heard several pops in his back and felt a searing pain. (If you are privy to how the trick works, youÕll know how easily his back could be injured.) He was waiting until closer to air time and he was going have himself transported to the closest emergency room where he would have several injections of Novocain in his back so he could perform the trick.
A close friend was assisting Randi and I asked him to step away while I talked to Jim privately. I told him I thought he was out of his mind if that was his plan. I was insistent and really leaned on him, saying it was just an ÒFÉingÓ television program, not worth the risk. Did he have the check? Yes! Well then, screw them if they want you to perform. ItÕs not worth the risk. I pushed hard.
Fortunately, he listened to reason and had his assistant take Dean Gunnerson back stage to show him how to do the trick. Dean had about 90 minutes to work it up and he performed it flawlessly. Randi was brought on stage at the end on the gurney, which caused something of a stir and some unfounded speculation.

The next day Randi was diagnosed with two or three cracked vertebrae, fitted with a back brace and given specific orders about what he could and couldnÕt do. He stayed with us for a few days until he felt like traveling. He later sent his Milk Can Escape, something heÕd performed many times, to Dean, saying heÕd earned it.
That was my experience that day with RandiÉand I donÕt recall seeing Terry Terrell anywhere.

I have to admire Randi's "the show must go on" attitude, however possibly fatal....And what great showmanship, being brought out on the gurney at the end! Ah, the danger !

That's the whole post. If you go over there, you might get wrapped up in defending Randi against the kind of comments we're used to:

Quote:

He's not a skeptic, he's an adamant non-beleiver...

Edited to add this link.

[teddygrahams]

I thought that was part of his act, similar to the Happy Days episode where he is also unable to perform the milk can and instructs the Fonz so the show can continue.