Robert Harbin

The Zig-Zag Girl, introduced by Robert Harbin in 1965, is a stage illusion in which a female assistant is placed inside a vertical cabinet and then apparently divided into three sections that are slid apart in a zig-zag pattern. The assistant's face, hand, and foot remain visible through cutouts even as her midsection is displaced. It became one of the most recognizable and widely performed illusions in modern stage magic.

Yes, Harbin was a major popularizer of origami in Britain and wrote several books on paper folding, including "Paper Magic" and "Secrets of Origami." He is credited with coining or popularizing the term "origami" in English, helping to introduce the Japanese art form to Western audiences. His contributions to both origami and stage magic were significant and lasting.

Robert Harbin was born Ned Williams in South Africa before moving to England and adopting his stage name. He began his career in magic working with various illusion acts before developing his own original illusions and building his reputation. The name Robert Harbin became synonymous with innovative magic throughout his career.

Yes, Harbin appeared on BBC television in the 1950s, presenting origami segments and performing magic on programs that helped bring both arts to a wider British audience. His television appearances were instrumental in popularizing origami as a hobby in the UK. He was one of the first magicians to effectively use television to build a public profile for close-up and instructional magic.