Calling it BANK NITE, Floyd Thayer first released a most excellent
idea in an early issue of Genii. As is customary and to be expected with
all items of sound effect, improvements and variations began to follow.
The method to follow does away with the use of any arbitrary counting
to a selection, such as the word “Bingo”, etc., and makes of it a more
personalized trick with the audience. The variation also tends to impress
the watchers that the selection of envelopes is perfectly free and left
undeniably to chance alone.
Five envelopes are used. This number will be found most practical, as the
repetition beings to bore after the fourth count. The spectators have gotten
the idea by that time and want to see the climax. The envelopes may be
borrowed if wished, especially if at a home party, and after mentioning
the popularity of “Bank Nite”, “Bingo” and other similar forms of trade
stimulants, a bill of large denomination is sealed in one envelope. The
other envelopes are likewise sealed, but empty. An important point is to
secure a bill of as large a denomination as possible. It is psychological that
the bigger the bill, the heavier the interest.
The five envelopes are given someone to mix well, and he is asked to
arrange them all one way so they look alike in every respect. Taking
them back, the performer now asks the host, or a prominent member
of the gathering, to select the name of someone present, telling all that
by this means everything will be fair and beyond the pale of collusion
and trickery. This selected name is then used to spell out the envelopes,
removing one from the top of the stack with each letter of the name and
placing it on the bottom. The envelope on the last letter of the name is
passed out to someone. Four people thus receive envelopes, the performer
keeping the last as a “house percentage”. All open envelopes at the same
time, finding them empty. The performer opens his, and pulls out the bill.
Pocketing it for a laugh, he may finish “The only time I ever seem to win
at these things is when I run them myself”.
Using the name of someone present allows of an extremely simple
formula making it all possible with little effort. If the name has over ten
letters, ask for a nickname, or use the first name only in order not to make
the operations too long. With borrowed envelopes you need only to nail
nick the upper left and lower right corners of one, into which the bill later
goes. Before other audiences, have your own envelopes with one dotted
in the corners.
When you received the mixed lot back, fan a bit to locate the dotted one,
and when the name is given, cut the stack before beginning so as to place
the dotted envelope in the right spot.
The formula is simply 3-4124-4124. Thus if the name is of but two letters,
the dotted envelope should be third from the top to start. With a name of
three letters, place it fourth. With four letters, put it first or on top. With
five letters put it second. With six letters, fourth. Seven letters, fourth.
Eight letters, first. Nine letters, second. Ten letters, again fourth.
It is a subtle point to place the correct envelope fourth when you get them
back by cutting apparently at random while you ask for the name. There
are four chances in nine that it will be in the right spot. If not, you know
where it is and can cut them once more without looking at them after the
name has been selected. A trial will prove its effectiveness as a beautiful
impromptu number for any occasion.
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