Prophecy, in the form of what has become known as The Swami Test, since Claude Alexander first made magicians "Swami" conscious back around 1920, has been a much experimented with, and much mangled effect in many an instance. I have filed exactly 16 variations and methods that have been marketed at prices from $1 to $10. The following is my own method which is exactly twelve years old this month, and during that time I've certainly had ample opportunity to test it out under most of the possible conditions that will beset a club and close-up worker. You use one…
For an old trick, this has been but very little usage, and in this day and age, when publicity is freely given to those who apparently can see through all sorts of blindfolds, etc., it should be an excellent impromptu test. Argamasilla, the Spanish nobleman who confounded N.Y. critics for a short time with his reputed ability to see through metals, could have used this stunt to good advantage for press interviews. Two parties note the date on their own half dollar and place the date sides of the two coins face to face. The performer takes them in that…
Methods of improvement over old procedures persist in popping up. Dr Daley has gone far in making the forecast of a sum total as positive as present thought allows. Surely there is no loophole in the following for a spectator to locate. It is as fair as the genuine could be. The effect is practically the same as of old. Four people are asked to stand and think of a three figure number. The performer looks at each in turn and writes something on his side of an ordinary slate. He draws a line, is seen to be adding columns…
A number of coins are collected in a borrowed hat which the wizard places on the table crown down. Announcing the date of a coin, the performer puts his hand into the hat, and brings forth a coin which he immediately passes for inspection. It bears the date he named ! He repeats with the others. One advantage of this method is that no extra coin is used, and another is the fact that the spectators may note the dates on their own coins before dropping them into the hat. Thus each may claim his coin immediately after its date…
Just a few years ago I would have taken this idea, put a full page ad in the Sphinx, supplied a book and deck of cards, made a price of about three dollars, and sold from 100 to 150. I'm rather proud of the way it has worked out, and it is a direct result of the effect Between the Lines that received much in the way of plaudits in the May issue. Whereas Between the Lines was a straight book test with the word revealed at the finish, The Oss of Lhasa is a prophecy, fair and very square,…
All magicians who have bought and use the addition slate invariably do it the same way. I used it twice, up on the northern peninsula of Michigan, back in 1927, but stopped for two reasons. One was that I had personal reasons for not doing it, and the second was that everybody hopped on the band wagon when it was first sold, and made it too common. Dr Daley doesn't like the idea of prophesying the total, so evolved an entirely new presentation. Have four people stand. Each is to think of a four figure number. You hold a slate…
Many good methods of transmitting information have come along in the past years, but for simplicity of effect, and directness of procedure, this little routine of two items must be given a low bow. The assisting spectator thinks of any card, removes it from the deck, and holds it up for all to see. The medium, notwithstanding the fact that she is seated with her back to the audience, and is, if desired, blindfolded, takes the slate and chalk and immediately inscribes on the slate the name of the chosen card. The magus now hands the spectator a slate, and…
Effect : Two spectators are chosen from the audience, and one is handed a hatful of numbered cardboard squares. The performer explains that these are numbered from one to fifty-two, and they can be examined freely. The assistant is told to mix these thoroughly, and the performer never touches them again. A pack of cards is handed to the second spectator for mixing as much as he may wish, and the performer never touches them again. Spectator A, with the cards, stands on one side of the table, and spectator B, with the numbers in hat, or perhaps a bowl,…
Once more there comes along an effect which has been tested thoroughly before appearing herein, and the directness of its presentation has much to do with its success. One who can tell fortunes is always the lion of the gathering, and it is seldom that a magician is not asked if he is so gifted. Just giving a straight "spiel" reading is one thing, but I've found it 100% more effective if one can answer a direct question in giving the talk. And the following routine will be found attractive because it can be done practically impromptu. A pack of…
Do you happen to have a set of the old card from the pocket indexes among your souvenirs? And have you, by chance, one of the popular card in the pocketbook effect? If you have but the first, you have the makings for a stunning press and drawing room stunt. And if you also have the latter, a neat variation is possible. Fill the indexes, not with the usual cards, but with folded slips of paper on which are written the names of the cards, like this "The chosen stranger will think of the -------". Fifty-three of these papers are…