This advertising idea was devised some 3 years ago and used by me at magical conventions and conclaves in case you've seen some "brother" doing it. Its simplicity is what makes it practical for you to always have it with you and ready. Too many such ideas require much preparation and after a trial the performer "can't be bothered". The cards are playing card blanks with your name and adjectives printed thereon. "You'd like my card ? Certainly ! But I'd like to explain a printer's error. You see, I told him I wanted them printed in red... I'm in…
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…
Although beautifully simple and practically automatic, this amusing deceit still has enough interest to hold any audience. Built about a topical theme the patter makes the effect run smoothly. Withdrawing ten new and crisp dollar bills from his wallet, the magus remarks that he has just come from the bank. When the teller cashed the check he reminded the performer of the counterfeit money now in circulation. The performer continues that because of late improvements in ink and printing it has become almost impossible in many cases for the Treasury Department to detect the real from the spurious. Actually, however,…
For publicity or close-up purposes the following series of three effects will impress those who see them as being produced by a magnetic quality belonging only to the magician. While extremely simple, the appearance of the ideas from the audience view makes for quite a bit of wonderment. The performer does some simple magnetic feat such as the mesmerized cards. Then he offers to explain everything and credits it to "electricity". He rubs his finger briskly up and down his coat, across the carpet, or through his hair. Touching its tip to a metal surface or object a faint but…
:: EFFECT :: This is one of those extremely effective stunts which the subject remembers for many a year and thinks about whenever he has you in his mind. It makes a nice number also for the press. A card is selected, replaced and the deck shuffled. The performer shows a card and asks if it is the chosen one. The answer is "no." This card is placed on the table and the spectator told to cover it with his hand. The performer now tells him to look intently at his (performer's) forehead and imagine he sees an image of…
During the past three years, I have often used the following as a publicity effect for newspaper offices, and many times as an impromptu stunt from homes after a performance. As will be seen, the working is far from difficult or out of the ordinary run of such tests, but the effect on the watchers and listeners is very striking. There is something about mental stunts on a telephone that makes talk and creates interest. The business of naming cards over a phone has been tossed around so much that it isn't of much value anymore, so my thoughts along…
Excellent for press and publicity work is this very effective and out of the ordinary trick. The preparation is very simple and quickly done with a minimum of material, all of which is essential to modern magic. Effect The performer hands a spectator seven blank cards, one of which he is asked to take and write upon it the name of a dead person. He is then told to shuffle the seven cards and they are placed in an envelope, sealed up and the envelope initialed, whereupon the spectator may pocket it. Then seven more blank cards are shown and…
Faked envelopes all run along the same basic principles but I think that I have a new variation and also a very practical improvement on the old style. I've never considered such envelopes as sound magic when used to obviously change an article. We know they do, but if an audience sees the Four of Spades go in, and the Ace of Clubs come out, they at once consider the envelope as the medium of exchange and center their interest upon it. However, if a card is freely chosen and sealed without being shown, and later removed to be revealed…
Dear Jinx Reader; I've been using this stunt for several years as a press and publicity effect. I can't claim it for myself as it is a variation of several ways. Offhand I can think of four methods for doing a cut and restored card in envelope. I've never run across anyone using it so will not apologize more for its inclusion here. When I use it, I ask for a business card as it is most effective when using the card of the witness. An ordinary letter size envelope is used and it is held open for the spectator…
In Tom's own words this simple feat has fooled magicians but is intended for the layman, upon whom the effect is amazing. You use a pack of about 30 cards which bear your ad but have playing card back. The U.S. Playing Card Company can supply these to your order. The backs are all of one color (say red) except for one card which should be of the opposite color (say blue). The cards are held faces down with the blue one on the bottom. Fan them, without exposing the blue card, and ask a person to take one. Impress…