Because I'm a firm believer in using simple looking items in magic - not the fancy painted gadgets sold by dealers, I figured out a sort of billet switch that looks innocent. (I hate the change bag) After making several boxes, a cigar box with double lid, a turn-over device, and so on, this fool-proof and very plain looking idea was evolved and built. It has proven its worth in several ways. I use a Schrafft's Candy Box, 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 and in the top, at center, is cut a small slot to take the folded billets. Immediately…
As dictated to his private secretary Stuart Towne the effect is that, while a spectator shuffles his own deck, the performer writes a message on a slip of paper, folds it, and puts it someplace in full view. A second spectator takes the deck, cuts it, and deals out six cards from any places in the pack. The performer picks up these face down cards, fans them, and allows a third person to freely select any one of them. The prediction slip is opened by the fourth spectator and read aloud. "One minute after this is written a card will…
The sitter is ushered into the "reading" room of the medium. He is seated behind a flat top desk or table. The seeker of enlightenment is seated opposite and invited to write his or her most important queries, not upon a pad or file-board, but upon a plain blank business card. From a small box the seer takes a crystal ball. He gazes into the sphere of so many hidden mysteries, shakes his head and then advises the sitter to drop his card into the now empty box, writing side down. The box is closed and remains in full view…
A subscriber's letter fits into place now, and the answer, The Ballot Box Divination, is forgotten proof of the date when my indexes were in constant use. In the Sphinx for May 1926 was published a note from me asking priority claim to the effect. No method was given. A miniature revolving ballot box of the standard type (screening around the drum to leave contents visible) contained wooden counters of the Lotto type numbered from 1 to 50. It could be turned by a small crank. It was entirely unprepared. The performer would attempt to forecast a drawing of a…
While this effect has been sold under different names and credited to as many different people, no one as yet has published the presentation which I first used over 25 years ago. (Back in Jinx #6 I used this principle with a torn out piece of newspaper. Previous to that, I supplied Thayer's Trick of the Month Club with the effect as eventually made quite popular by Mogul. Previous to that Joe Ovette sold the idea in a slightly different form via the manuscript route. Previous to that Martin Sunshine used it for private readings. And Martin told me subsequent…
(Editor's note : If anyone yells "rehash" I am going to be awfully mortified. This titled effect appeared in one of my books about 7 years ago and now out of print. Always a pet I've tried to find who might be using it. Only 4 such magi have been discovered. The others didn't remember it, or admitted not reading it carefully enough to appreciate the good points. After all of these years, NORMAN ASHWORTH has supplied a colored chalk subtlety of high value. Combined with the lettering subterfuge, adapted by AL BAKER from a little known medium's dodge, and…
This is Tervil, a prophetic demon. The effect is one of prophecy. Six or seven years have passed since Annemann first produced his Dead Name Duplication test, one which has since found much favor because of its directness in working. This test uses much of the original technique but the picture to the audience is far different. I shall describe the working along with the effect as presented. I hardly think it necessary to describe pellet switching to readers of these pages for it has been detailed before. Three papers are used. They are about 2 1/2 by 3 3/4…
Effect: The performer writes predictions on two blank cards and seals each one in separate envelopes. A spectator steps forward and seats himself at a card table. He cuts a pack of cards into three heaps according to the directions of the performer. Then he cuts the center heap into two piles, but before the cutting is completed, one envelope is placed between the sections so that two cards are touching, one above and one below. The spectator then removes these cards, shows them to all, and reads the sealed prophecy. It is correct. A second person is asked to…
Every once in a while a principle makes its appearance and allows of being used in many varied ways. Over a year ago Dr Daley, in Jinx pages, introduced a method of using four pieces of plain silicate (four flaps) to obtain a spirit message. The following effect combines that with another idea which has found favor, and thus a magician's dream easily becomes a reality. In an impromptu manner and at any time or place, you can produce a phantom answer THAT IS A DIRECT REPLY to any question written by the spectator! Carry with you merely four silicate…
An assistant from the audience distributes nine numbered slips of paper, the performer asking each person to write a question or bit of personal data. The written slips are collected in an unprepared envelope by the distributor and sealed. In full view at all times, the envelope is placed before the audience by the performer and another assistant recruited to watch it. The medium is now introduced and seated with her back to the audience, well blindfolded. During this, the envelope and slips are burned by the spectator. A large slate is shown to contain a square divided into nine…