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Why Didn’t East Coast Audiences See P&T’s Bullet Catch?

Penn and Teller wrapped up a few shows on the east coast over the Memorial Day weekend, but the rabid audiences excited to see the Bad Boys of Magic did not get to witness their signature effect. The famous bullet catch, performed as the grand finale to their Vegas show did not make an appearance thanks to local gun laws.

Penn explained to The Philadelphia Inquirer:

“You can’t do guns in Atlantic City,” Jillette lamented. “Even bribes couldn’t [help]. They get very jumpy about .357 Magnums in Atlantic City.”

We were told the Foxwoods show in Connecticut ended with a fire eating routine for similar reasons. No matter the intention of the law, it seems like a bit of a bummer that Penn and Teller couldn’t perform such a signature bit because of it, right?

Posted by Editor on Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 at 1:18 pm.

  • magicusa
    Years ago, while in her teens, well known magician Dorothy Dietrich, the first and only woman to catch a bullet in her mouth, did do the bullet catch in Atlantic City as a featured presentation at Resorts International for Donald Trump's special series of events there. It was written up in the Philadelphia Inquirer and was filmed for international television on a show called "Just For The Record, The Best Of Everything!" It was shot on slow motion film and shown throughout the world. The bullet was fired from a rifle not a pistol, so that may have made the difference, or times just change. At the time she did have a current gun permit for the rifle. They did check her ID as well as police records before approving it after some going back and forth. It was ok'd by the FBI, police and authorities at the time. Police were upset that she had carried the weapon across state lines into New Jersey until they found the rifle was transported in pieces in different suitcases, unloaded with a lock on the firing mechanism. The stunt did garner headlines in several papers and was shown on several news shows as well as the Montel Williams show. Actual photos of the event with the Resorts International Logo in the background can be seen at http://houdini.org/resorts.html. She has also done it in Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Los Angles, and Montreal for various television appearances.

    Dorothy Dietrich is a traveling performer who is currently a featured magician at The Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA in her magic show that includes doves, a rabbit, a duck and two poodles, along with audience participation and the levitation of an audience member. Dorothy Dietrich also performs along with paranormaiist Dick Brooks, in their evening Psychic Theater and Seance Show called "Haunted!... Mind Mysteries and THE Beyond!" Columbia University Encyclopedia called her one of the 'most noted magicians of the late 20th century."
  • pepka
    I saw Penn Twitter this a while back. It was the reason I didn't go see them in A.C. I caught them in Vegas a few months ago and it was a fantastic show. I kept watching so close thinking I would have SOME idea as to what was going on with the bullet catch. Of course, I have NO idea.
  • I saw them in AC this weekend. I had already heard on Penn's Twitter that they couldn't do the Bullet Catch, but I was bummed to not see the TSA bit.

    Phenomenal show though, my first time seeing them. They were awesome.
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