Doug Henning, Bill Cosby, &
Julie Newmar
performing
Cutting in Thirds**

The first episode of Doug Henning's World of Magic first aired in December of 1975. The show featured many acts with guests stars Gene Kelly, and Lori Lieberman.  Another guest, Bill Cosby, assisted Doug in performing an illusion with an unwilling assistant, Julie Newmar.

Julie is produced in
a previous illusion
to join Doug and Bill
on stage.

Assistants bring out
scrub suits for Doug and
Bill to wear as part
of the next illusion.

Doug begins to explain
that he is going to
saw an assistant in
thirds.

Julie realizes that she
is to be the assistant...

and makes an attempt
to escape her fate
while Doug has his
back turned.

Her efforts fail as
Bill catches her
and...

brings her back
to the table where
he and Doug
help her upon.

At Doug's direction,
Julie reclines with some
hesistation...

complaining that she
was not aware that
this was what
Doug had in mind.

Two assistants bring
out a long box...

and place it overtop
of Julie...

then secure it in place.

Two saws are brought
out to Doug...

and shown to the
audience.

Doug and Bill
begin to saw through
the box...

and Julie.

The saws are
removed and
collected.

The saws are traded
for four blades.

Doug gives two of
the blades to Bill.

They each set a blade
into place...

and slide it through
openings in the box.

They each set the next
blade in place...

and slide it into the
box.  However, Bill
expresses some
difficulty in completing
the task

Doug leans over
to help, but finds
difficulty as well.

Doug then has an
idea.

He steps off of the
table and...

tugs on Julie's head.

The blade drops into
place.

Doug returns to his
position behind the
table.

With all of the blades
in place, Doug decides...

to remove the center
section of the box.

He pulls on the
center section...

lifting it out...

until it has been
completely separated
from the rest of
the box.

He hands the
section to Bill...

who takes it from
the table as Doug
shows that the
center of the box is
completely open.

Bill shows the
center section as
Doug tickles Julies
feet.

Doug joins Bill
at the front of
the table...

and opens a small
door in the front
of the section revealing
Julie's midsection.

Doug takes advantage
of the situation and
tickles Julie's
midsection.

Doug closes the door
and leads Bill back
behind the table. 

He takes the section
from Bill...

and carefully
slides it back...

through the center
of the box...

until it has been
returned to its
original position.

The blades are
pulled out...

and the box is
removed...

revealing Julie
returned to one
piece below.

Julie kicks a leg...

and sits up on the
table to show that
she is fine.

Doug and Bill help
her from atop the
table.

They take a bow.

    **Special thanks to Terrence Keenan for providing me the tape.