By far one of the most celebrated illusions David Copperfield has performed.

As seen by millions on television and by a select group who were on site, the statue was clearly seen against the night sky, both with spotlights shining on it and a ring of lights at its base. The select group of participants sat on a small stage facing a small curtain. The curtains were then closed, when they were reopened, the statue was gone, while the spotlights were still blazing and the ring of lights were still lit. Above, a helicopter hovered, but no statue was in sight.

Moments later the curtains were closed. This time, when they reopened, the statue had returned. What a sight. Such a trick. The secret: Although there are actually several methods to this stunt, I will describe the one which is easiest to perform.

The staging area for the trick is really the seating area and not the statue. The seating area and the television camera bay are located a short distance from the statue. The seating area is a circular stage with curtain suspended between two pillars. The curtain area is between the sightlines of the seats and cameras, and that of the statue.

The spectators at home and those in attendance have a good view of the statue, through the open curtains. When the curtains are closed, the statue is completely blocked out.

Surrounding the statue is a ring of lights and in the immediate area are spotlights, focused on the statue. Actually, there are two sets of lights. One rings the statue, one rings an area next to the statue. More amazingly, the platform on which both the spectators and cameras sit, is nothing more than a large turntable.

Here are the inner workings: The ring of lights around the object (in this case the Statue of Liberty) is lit. The spotlights sweeping the area are focused on the object too. When the curtains close, the spectator platform slowly turns away from the object. The first set of lights ringing the object are turned off.

The second set, near the object are turned on. The spotlights are now redirected to the area above the lit ring of lights. A smoke machine is turned on to further hide the object and to make the lights dance in an eerie empty space. When the curtains are reopened, all that is seen is the smoke, the lights, the searchlights, but not the object.

Because no one can see around the curtain area, the audience is unable to make out the dark silhouette of the actual object. But to further diminish the chances of this happening, a bright flash of light precedes the opening of the curtains. Much like looking into the flash of a camera light, there is a temporary blindness which stays with people for many seconds.

In the meantime, hovering, the helicopter also has moved, and is now over the new empty area. Naturally no object is beneath it. Even photographs won't later reveal the trick. Any one around the outside of the platform taking photographs with a small flash camera, would not be able to pick up the dark statue because those small cameras have short flash ranges and do not have the distance required to photograph the object. But the photograph touch is a nice addition to an otherwise simple trick.

Returning the object to visibility is simply a reversal of routine. Unfortunately, the slow, steady movement of the seat platform makes for a slow paced and dull effect.

When you break it down, the Statue of Liberty vanish becomes a simple trick. Much like a black art illusion. But, more importantly, it just shows how gullible people can be. I'm sure that if people did feel the seating area move, they wouldn't say anything. No one would want to ruin such a good trick. This way, they felt like they, too, were in on the trick. And tricks were meant to be kept a secret, now, weren't they? Well, maybe not.