Wait a minute. I must polish the crystal and rub the black cat in the right direction. It is the year 1954 A.D. (After Diachylon) and the scene is a super magic shop of that era. Chairs are overflowing with non-buying magi. Two wizards are setting up decks; another is trying, for the fourth time, to locate the chosen card; the rest are trying to explain just why they played that two-dollar date. Chatter ceases when the inventive genius of the day enters/Elmer Slideslip. Recognized as the author of that monumental work Tracing the Thumb-tip to its Tepee his actions…
This is a routine of more or less standard items, which, when combined, offer an interesting experiment that can find a spot on almost any club or home program. The impression upon the audience, when numbers are merely thought of, is very good as I have proven to my satisfaction. The patter is based upon "the magic of numbers" (lots of material can be found on that subject) plus the fact that some scientists have been investigating the possibility of photographing thought waves, notably among them being Nicola Tesla. The performer starts by showing a chart containing 16 squares of…
The telephone trick, in one form or another, is ever-popular although a great many people are familiar with the original method of coding. As long as the performer must do the calling himself, or supply a name to be called other than his wife or a friend known to everybody present, no system, however ingenious, will allay suspicions. My methods for this are planned to mystify everybody as well as satisfy the hecklers. And I make use of a deck which can be found valuable in many other tricks. Arrange or purchase a Svengali deck, one in which all the…
2511 Cypress St. Columbia, S.C. May 21, 1939 Dear Mr. Annemann : It all started when Jenny Gayden called and asked if I'd come to her party that night. During the afternoon I went over to the neighborhood where Jenny lived and scouted around. At several filling stations, drug stores, and an all night restaurant I took down their telephone numbers along with names and addresses. Back home, in front of my own phone, I did some heavy figuring. Under each of the dial holes wherein you put your finger is a number and above each number are three letters…
3316 Center Street Omaha, Nebraska Jan 10th 1927 Theo Annemann Waverly, N.Y. Dear Mr. Annemann : I like your hair book test fine for stage. It is a deep mystery but the other slate chalk test is not easy enough for me to try. I sure made a hit with the Challenge mind test but have changed it to suit my type of work. I admire the clever ideas about Si Stebbins but for me simplicity is always best and if you can ever show me an effect more superior that I am getting with my way I will adopt…
Back on the day of March 1, 1929 I got a brain wave from a Charles T. Jordan masterpiece and proceeded to revamp a quite perfect force of his into a two person stunt with numbers and names. Now there are two types of effects which do not find sale with magi. Two person ideas and tricks using a dark room. I will grant the latter as being highly undesirable only because the condition is not easily attainable. The former, though, can be moderated by getting away from tedious study and rehearsal and allow of a friend or associate being…
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…
:: SYMMYST :: This is Symmyst, and it identifies a person who has been initiated into the Mysteries. A great favorite of mine since released in 1931 by Annemann has been what was called The One Man 'Genuine' Magazine Test. Peter Warlock, in a biography for The Magic Circular, referred to it "I cannot call to mind in any modern magical literature, any subtlety producing so great an effect." Only once was I "caught", by an alert friend, whose "flash of wisdom" one of those recurrent telepathic ideas gained no doubt from a guilty conscience, gave voice to the correct…
Have you read Hilliard's Greater Magic? In that gargantuan tome of ephemeral mysteries emphasis is placed on subtlety rather than on "finger-flinging", which Hilliardesque term is undoubtedly destined to live through the ages. Tricks of inspired artistry, gleaned from the minds of those high in subterfuge, seem to live for the sole purpose of refuting that misguided adage, "The hand is quicker than the eye". I feel quite sure of having here evolved a new and different effect for card table entertainment, but there is no reason why the presentation cannot be used before an audience of a size 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…