Being in a continuous state of “Jinx-Jordan vs. Four shows a night with one day off every two weeks” this column is in order that I may not have to concentrate on one particular effect. In the making are three complete routines along varied lines and they will, I hope, make up for a dearth of material of late which I could justly accredit to myself.
For those who might like to try the card on a ceiling effect (which is one of the most effective effects to say the least) I can give a most practical bit of information. Get a small (sample, if possible) size salve tin with a cover. Into it put some Woolco Paste, obtainable in nice large jars from Woolworth stores – for a dime. Be sure that it doesn’t come to the top of the tin. Just carry this around for the time when you’ll need it. Opportunity arising, remove the top, transfer it to the bottom and keep in your right trouser pocket. With the tin not too full, the paste won’t start sticking up things. Use any deck – have the card selected and replaced. Get it to the top and ask if anyone has a suggestion as to how you might find it. The stall serves you well. Your right hand drops to the pocket and the second finger gets a dab of paste which is then applied to the back of the top card. Now — after passing by any suggestions, remark that you have an idea (it will be more bizarre than any offered). Give the deck a last minute dovetail shuffle leaving the sticky card on top. Hold in your right hand with the second finger and thumb at the ends. Throw flatwise to the ceiling with a little twist to the right as you let it go. The circular or rotatory motion of the pack is what assures a nice flat contact – the deck falls and the card is there for all to see and remark about until the janitor or house boy gets a ladder. This particular paste works better than soap, etc., and all those things which have been written about before. And for the first time I think I’ve brought out the partial spin of the deck which makes this effect a sure thing.
From out of the past comes this tip. If you use tubes with which to cover glasses, etc., make them of heavy cardboard and make them square. Put them together with cloth tape and they’ll fold flat when not in use. Make two end rings for each tube from thin wood. Put these on the ends and they hold the tube in shape. When through everything packs flat for your suitcase. I found it more than practical. You should too.
Extremely strange is this thought. Get a book or two on lip reading. Play around with it if you go in for the mental type of work. People always talk and say things to their friends while you are working (especially when doing the private and intimate jobs) and it comes in mighty handy for the performer who can take advantage of situations. I know that not one out of a thousand will take this paragraph to heart. However, one has — and it has been worth plenty of money.
Rehashing is a bit of business always argumentative. Some readers heartily dislike it even though a redress of an effect may make it workable for them. However, if you do the Brema Nut Trick, use it with a glass mixing rod or ‘swizzle stick’ rather than a string or cord. Removing the nut from a glass rod is much more astonishing and the patter to use is that you are in possession of a strange bit of glass. Let them examine the rod and then introduce the nut as an incidental piece. Work the trick, leave the nut on the table without comment and keep your attention on the rod. The super-smart ones will check the nut to no avail, and although they may be certain the trick is there (it’s too bad it has to be a shiny brass nut because of being so uncommon – that’s why I started using a decoy away from it) they won’t discover anything. Dr Gordon Peck even went so far (more power to such showmen !) as to carry a half dozen rods wrapped up in chamois. He’d unwrap them and select one for the effect, putting the rest back.
Very practical as I have discovered is the idea of using a common cigarette dropper for the much played around with blindfold cigarette divination trick. There have been many methods for discerning the make of a smoked cigarette while blinded. My version was to have four brands dumped into a hat and shaken up. Show the right hand empty with a flourish and reach in and mix them a bit more. At the same moment the left hand secures a cigarette from the dropper under the coat edge. After mixing, the left hand follows the right hand in and apparently draws a cigarette out, places it between the lips and the spectator lights it. One inhalation and you name the brand. The spectator takes the cigarette from your mouth and checks. You repeat and that’s all. Merely have one of each brand in the holder and you know the order. This works.
Lastly, if you go in for chances, do your card tricks minus 3 cards – the 9D, AS and 2C. Whenever possible ask the spectator to name a card rather than select one. The moment one of these is named – and it will happen – hand them the deck to be mixed. Cause the card to vanish and then take it from your pocket. It stuns.
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