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…
Natural looking methods for the selection of a book page and word are seldom seen. With the following method, the principle of a recent illusion, and an older die and frame trick, has been brought into play, and provides a most perfect way of getting to the proper page. Some of the complicated methods seen should always be performed in a show where there is an intermission. Then one could start the selection before intermission, during intermission perform all of the intricate and complicated means of selecting the page, and after the intermission finish the test. By doing this, the…
Displaying a slate which is divided into five spaces by painted white lines, the performer also shows a crayon box with chalks of five or six colors, including one white piece. He says he will hypnotize the audience into a state of temporary color-blindness, and after a bit of mumbo-jumbo announces that it has been accomplished. To prove his assertion he asks for any color. When one is named, he takes the white chalk from the box, saying solemnly "Ah yes, here is the red chalk. (or whatever color has been called.)" And just as solemnly does he write the…
Once in a while a really good effect pops up and is found to be different in its psychological appearance to an audience. There isn't any definite part of this that is new or original except for the dress. Dr Jacob Daley first told me of the general effect using playing cards for both spectators used. Al Baker then came along with the idea of illustrating to one person how the slip should be torn for burning, and getting information in this ingeniously ordinary way. Finally, after using the stunt for a dozen or more times as an impromptu item,…
Jean Hugard has a clever and subtle method of handling a flap in this effect and I know it will find favor with not a few club and close-up workers. All in all, the general effect has not been changed much inasfar as a message or name or something appears on the slate. Mr Hugard's subtlety consists of making the conditions appear more strict by the application of a piece of newspaper cut to the slate surface size. After showing the slates as usual and rubbing off the sides if deemed necessary, a piece of newsprint is stuck to one…
Good methods for the appearance of spirit (?) writing on slates are many, and there seems to be no end to ideas. The method explained here was shown to me by one of the cleverest of amateur magic fiends and it has supplanted my present almost impromptu method. In his hands the psychic has four pieces of silicate of the flap type. With a handkerchief or dry cloth he casually wipes the upper surface of the top piece, turns it over, cleans the under side and puts the cleaned slate on the table. This is done with all four pieces…
One of the greatest effects in thought transmission is the coding of pictures freely drawn by the audience. It goes without saying that it is at the same time the most intricate of methods. Julius Zancig was most adept at this feat and developed it over a period of years through undisputed ability plus a thorough grounding in transmission secrets. What I am presenting here is a poor substitute for what that master could accomplish, but in itself and as far as it goes, the effect is quite marvelous to an audience and at the same time satisfying to the…
For many, many years dealer’s catalogues have listed ‘spirit slates’ where two slates and one flap make a spirit message possible. A moot question is “Why does a message appear only on one side ?” In this version , nothing else is used, but after the two slates have been shown and openly numbered on four sides, they are opened to show a genuine chalk message on the inside of EACH slate, and are left with the audience. It would be best to follow these directions with a pair of slates and flap in hand. Put a message on one…
801 N. Federal Ave. Mason City, Iowa April 30, 1935 Dear Mr Annemann; Having read your swell Dead Men Tell No Tales in Sh-h-h–! It's a Secret, I conceived a third method which is certain and, in my opinion, easier than using a mirror. So far as I know, it is quite unique. My first idea was to follow the presentation of the second method given for the effect, but work as follows: When stepping up to the assistant and pointing up and down the column with the index finger, run the finger slightly along the surface of the slate.…
This is one of those effects that can be built into feature proportions due to the many possibilities for spectacular presentation. It is strictly a one man stunt and needs practically no apparatus or preparation. I say again, and make it emphatic, that the secret is subtle and never suspected by the audience because it takes place right before their very eyes and in a natural manner. On the platform, stage or front of the room is a blackboard facing the audience. Chalk and eraser are at hand. The performer states that he will attempt a most difficult test of…