Lewis's third gore phase served to push the genre into even more outrageous shock territory. "The Wizard of Gore" (1970) featured a stage magician who would mutilate his volunteers severely through a series of merciless routines. By 1973, Lewis had taken the gore approach to such a limit that it began to lampoon itself, which is why "The Gore Gore Girls" (1972) (featuring an appearance by Henny Youngman as the owner of a topless club) would mark his semi-retirement from film altogether.