Karmi Swallows a Loaded Gun Barrell

Joseph B. Hallworth (1872-1956) was born in Massachusetts but eventually donned an oriental costume and dubbed himself Kar-Mi. Along with the rest of his family, he performed stage illusions and daring feats involving guns and swords.

The final act of Kar-Mi’s performance, displayed on this poster, involved him putting a special rifle down his throat and then, bending downwards to fire the weapon, shooting a cracker from atop his son’s head.