How do I make the illusion of "Thing" from The Addams Family?

Question

Halloween is coming up, and I'd like to set up an illusion on my porch to hand out candy. I'd like to do "Thing" from The Addams Family. I know the illusion won't be perfect, but I know it can be done, probably with mirrors. It has to be a real person, real hand, just appearing disembodied. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Can you have a person with a black sleeve in front of black fabric reflected into a mirror or piece of glass with black behind it?

You can always do it like the show: have a person under a table with a hole cut in it and a box placed over the top!

Answer 2

Wow...I just got a really good idea! U put a person in a box, cut a hole through the box so the persons hand can fit through. Place a chair in front of the box, with a fake person (made by stuffing some old clothes with leaves and tie the sleeves and pants and top them off with boots and gloves). Make a hole through the torso of the fake body. Put real hand through the hole with the candy dish in front of it. You can diguise the box by by putting hay around the outside. Make sure there is a hole near the bottom of the box so u can see trick or treaters but they cant see you! Put up a sign that says take one piece and as they reach for the dish grab or poke their hand. I almost forgot if u should paint your hand a pale tan to make it look fake.

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