Present this trick in slow motion, explaining to your audience that, while you use sleight of hand just like any other conjuror, yours is the new invisible kind. Have a spectator cut any number of cards from the deck (any number is right), and look at the next card down. He puts his card on top of the pack, cutting it to the center. Now, in slow motion, without the slightest move of any kind, the performer runs through the cards and shows that the chosen card has turned face up in the deck. The spectator is asked to remove…
Quite a few years have passed since a forcing deck was placed on the market. Back around 1921 and through 1926 there was hardly a month but what saw a new type of deck make its appearance. All of these packs had a main fault. It was necessary to force the same card or cards always, and the only way to change was to buy another deck. The following deck can easily be made by anyone, and will admirably serve the purpose of forcing a card under certain circumstances. And, best of all, the card may be any one of…
Giving a plate full of walnuts to a spectator, the performer asks him to pass them out to the others in the audience, retaining one for himself. This having been done, the magus hands the assistant a pack of cards for mixing. Taking back the cards, the performer says "I want you to select a card from this pack in the following manner: you may deal the cards onto my hand, one at a time, until you have a desire to stop; or I can deal the cards onto your hand until you say 'Stop'; or, if you wish, you…
When one can do a trick with the assistance of a telephone operator, he is quite a person, and that is just what seems to happen in the case of this excellent home, office, or press stunt. It is short, simple and sweet, depending upon dial telephones and a bit of timing. Most cities of any size have dial phones now, so the inclusion of this feat is warranted. During the evening, or while you are in an office, you ask for the use of the phone and dial the operator. You speak into the phone "Ring back in a…
In this force, the moves are so natural and to the point that even you, yourself will, at times, wonder at its working. Take any pack and, noting the bottom card, overhand shuffle it to the top. Or, if you wish, use any peek so as to know the top card. Again, if you are using your own deck and intend forcing some particular card, have that card a short one so you can put it on top when ready. Hold the deck face down in the left hand between the thumb on one side and the fingers on the…
One of the cleanest, and most novel forces which I have seen is with the use of one of the novelty cigarette boxes of Japanese make and on sale at many five and ten cent stores, as well as novelty shops. From the sketch it can be seen (end view) how the box operates. The outside container has a center upright the length of a cigarette, and curved in at the top to allow of a cigarette laying there. Into this is put a sort of inverted container with a slot in the top to match the center upright. As…
Versions of a chosen card in an inflated balloon are many, but invariably by mechanical methods. The following was designed as an emergency method and its simplicity will be appreciated by all Club performers. Effect The performer exhibits four colored balloons on a small tray. A spectator who will act as an assistant is requested to select one of these after which it is inflated by blowing air into it. A tape ribbon is tied securely around the neck to keep it so. Another spectator selects a card, a corner is torn from it for the spectator to hold, and…
If one can use a clever force of a specific card with the appearance of a genuine selection, this is it. Two cards can be forced at the same time with no more effort. Suppose, for instance, you are going to force a deuce. Put the three other 2 spots on top of the deck and have near the center the one to be selected. To locate this from the back, it is best to dot the upper left and lower right corners. Fan the deck near the center and have 1 or 2 spectators take out three or four…
A most unusual test that can be introduced into a program at any time is one which needs no preparation in one version and but a little in another. It is one of those tricks that can be done before practically any sized audience and it is just as effective if presented for a single person. Professional performers know only too well how rare and hard to find such an effect is. The first version is impromptu with any cards that may be borrowed. The performer states that what he is about to do must not be confused with card…
I have a nice version of the sympathetic cards that allows it being performed before a goodly sized audience. It has enough flash to it in the working to interest the ones not participating and certainly the selection of the cards from their decks (especially the second) couldn't be fairer in appearance. It all boils down to two forces - of the same card - from two decks. When at a private party or club it may be possible to borrow one of the two decks, all of which helps in the build-up and after effect. Using a small stand…