If you still do not know the secret behind Michael Grandinetti walking through the steel plate stage illusion, then keep reading…
The intention of this post is to answer the question or query, how does he could apparently penetrate through the solid steel plate.
In other words, it reveals the secret of this stage illusion; how it done.
You find original and relevant explanations with supporting visual proofs how this stage illusion is done.
NOTE: This is an updated post. The original post was published back in August 5, 2021.
Welcome to another post from the Info Ruckus Magic Trick Secrets Revealed series.
There are various versions of this going through a steel plate penetration trick.
For instance, this popular Dan Wolfe’s Thru Steel illusion performed by many amateur and professional magicians.
Then there is this famous Through Steel Plate Illusion by Tim Kole and David Copperfield.
Not forgetting Canadian magician Ryan Joyce’s going through steel act, and Walking Through A Steel Plate PLUS plan by U.F. Grant & Ken de Courcy.
Michael Grandinetti Walking Through Steel Secret
Before I reveal how Michael Grandinetti walks through the steel plate wall illusion, let’s check out its effect.
Effect:
A heavy-looking steel plate is mounted onto the skeletal frame stand.
Then a rectangle frame with a piece of paper is slotted in the middle section of the stand.
Master Illusionist Michael Grandinetti walks behind the steel plate.
Amazingly, he manages to penetrate through the steel plate and comes out through the torn paper.
The frame together with the torn up paper is removed, and you can see the solid steel plate is still right there.
Watch Michael Grandinetti walking through the steel plate performance:
The two key secrets of this Michael Grandinetti walks through steel plate stage illusion are:
1. The steel plate is NOT ONE solid piece.
2. There are two hidden doorways in the steel plate.
Now, let’s go through master illusionist Michael Grandinetti act, step-by-step:
The Rectangle Steel Frame
The first thing is the rectangle shape frame in the middle section of the prop, where Grandinetti walks through.
That rectangle frame plays a key role in this penetration trick, which I would highlight soon.
The Steel Wall
Watch both videos of Grandinetti performing this illusion: Masters of Magic TV show & at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Michael Grandinetti focuses only on one side of the steel plate.
At Universal Studios Hollywood video, Grandinetti invites a member of the audience to examine just one side of the wall.
He keeps slamming his hand on this side of the steel plate, to indicate it is one solid sturdy piece.
But he never shows the other side of the steel plate to the public.
Similarly at the Masters of Magic TV show.
His two stage assistants wheel in the steel plate on a push cart.
Then they spin the wall around to show to the studio audience.
They do show both sides of the steel plate to the studio audience.
But, only one side of the steel plate is fully seen, as shown below:
While the other side is strategically blocked by the supporting frame of the push cart.
In fact, you never get to see this side of the steel plate wall completely throughout the show.
When it is facing the audience, this rectangle frame blocks it.
It is because there is a secret doorway on this side of the wall, as indicated in the picture below.
This secret doorway is well-hidden behind the rectangle metal frame.
Michael Grandinetti Walking Through Steel Wall Explained
I reckon there are two doorways to do this walking through the wall illusion.
From the side view in the picture below, you can see the slim steel sheet
That is the outer wide door which will open to another smaller door hidden inside the wall.
When Michael Grandinetti pushes his hands on this thin wall at 2:44 in the video clip, you can see it moving in and out.
Then again at 2:48-2:50, you can see the thin steel sheet door quivering or wavering by itself.
That’s why he needs the two wide screens and a roof to hide this wide steel door when he opens it.
It is similar to David Copperfield walking through the mirror trick with a big cabinet.
Walks Thru Steel Plate Gimmicks
This wide steel sheet door is fastened to the wall with two black hinges with four inconspicuous hollow rivets each.
To avoid being detected, these black hinges are camouflaged under the black angle bracket.
Now the whole narrow black piece appears like it is a bracket to hold the wall to the prop.
Then there is this angled metal piece jutting out which appears redundant to me.
Probably this piece is to hide the latch of the wide steel sheet door.
How Michael Grandinetti Walks Through Steel Plate
When he opens up the wide thin door, there is another smaller door, probably attached to it.
There is a rectangle hole in it, where Grandinetti could walk through.
The rectangle door comes with spring hinges, so that it can close by itself.
This is probably how Michael Grandinetti steel wall secrets look like as illustrated below:
I think the stage left side (the audience’s right) of the wall is where Grandinetti opens the wide steel door to get to the hidden door inside.
The concealed rectangle door is also opened on the same side.
I say this, is because of the way Grandinetti exits through the hole.
He steps his left leg out first, and using his body to block the left side of the gaping hole, while his right hand is still holding onto the spring-loaded hinge door.
At 3:29 of the video, you can see the hole right through to the blue stage backdrop between his legs, while he is pulling out his right leg.
It is because the self-closed hidden door is still in the midst of fully closing up.
NOTE: To see the hole clearer, slow down the YouTube playback speed to 0.25.
When his whole body is just out from the hole, Grandinetti stands still momentarily blocking the rectangle frame, under the guise of brushing back his hair.
This stance is not to gloat over the success of his penetration act.
It is just a precaution; to ensure that the self-closing door has swung fully back in place, thus closing up the hole, before he steps away.
This is how magician Michael Grandinetti walking through steel illusion is done.