• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Todd Robbins on "Oddities"

Am I missing something here? A guy talks a bit then we don't actually see him eat a light bulb as the clip ends?
 
Last edited:
well on the show he eats the light bulb... I couldn't find the entire show this is all that was online.

He's performed at TAM. The only thing I wonder is ...is it a real bulb...and what is he going to do now that hardly anyone uses old fashioned style light bulbs anymore?

Todd always said "what seems fake, isn't.. and what seems real, isn't" about his sideshow act.
 
Many new low energy bulbs contain mercury. Might er..reduce the choice if real bulbs are ever actually used.
 
so I emailed Todd and asked him about it, and he sent this reply!

The new bulbs are of no use to me. They are currently very dangerous when broken. I am guessing that traditional light bulbs will be around for some time to come and that the new CFL bulbs will be changed to something safer as soon as someone gets hurt and there is a lawsuit. When that happens, it might be possible for me to use them.
 
I don't know it for a fact, but my impression over years of tangential interest in sideshows and such is that there are legitimate glass-eaters and among them are legitimate light bulb eaters. My understanding if they are legitimate (and I stress I don't really know) is that there are methods to make it safer than simply chomping indiscriminately on any old piece of glass. I further suspect that part of making it safer is removing part of the eaten bulb as opposed to grabbing one off the store shelf.

But if I were a betting man (and sometimes I am), I wouldn't better either way on this one.
 
he claims he follows a special diet that allows him to eat the light bulb, and that the pieces need to be the "right" size. Could be true or could be trick!
 
kittynh said:
well on the show he eats the light bulb... I couldn't find the entire show this is all that was online.

He's performed at TAM. The only thing I wonder is ...is it a real bulb...and what is he going to do now that hardly anyone uses old fashioned style light bulbs anymore?

Todd always said "what seems fake, isn't.. and what seems real, isn't" about his sideshow act.
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
it's a real bulb. he unscrews it from a lamp in the shop.

( i guess it could have been a planted bulb, though)
 
The bulbs are in fact 100% real… It’s just very thin glass, crunch it up really good and down it goes. If you try it just have a banana after. It’ll help flush it out of your system.
 
skip said:
The bulbs are in fact 100% real… It’s just very thin glass, crunch it up really good and down it goes. If you try it just have a banana after. It’ll help flush it out of your system.
Click to expand...

Call that a trick? Do they not eat the filament? it's the most nutritious bit. I prefer mine slightly warm.
Save the fitting part and you can plant it and grow more from it.
 
Last edited:
joobie said:
use the filament to floss your teeth afterwards.
Click to expand...

Todd does. Just saw him performing at Monday Night Magic in NYC last week. He did the lightbulb bit and a few others... and yes, as far as I could tell it was a REAL lightbulb, I got to examine it for a good amount of time and saw it lit up and working.


I wonder if this whole episode will be available online at some point? Damn my lack of cable channels. :mad:
 
it should be. It's a great show. Sort of the antique store you wish was in your neighborhood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom