Great magic causes happiness, and you can do this with sleight-of-hand, especially if you cause laughter and merriment. In doing this, however, it is best to get the laughs legitimately and not at the expense of others. Although there are instances where a slight badinage, banter or a little repartee may be indulged in, it should be done in a light and NOT a brusque fashion. No one should be made to feel unduly conspicuous, or stupid. Of course the fellow who tries to be "fresh" is expected and should be put in his place. Don't overuse the wand -…
I remember when as a kid in short pants with his first few magic mags and catalogues, the trouble and terrific (to me, then) expense of making my own apparatus. One source of trouble was tin tubes for the many effects which use such coverings. In the five and ten-cent emporiums today, there is a gadget which will go into your vest pocket. It's called Safety-Roll, Jr. It's a can-opener for kitchen use. The instruction card, upon which the device is stapled, says, "Sold the world over." It opens all sizes and shapes of cans quite miraculously and turns down…
Have you ever lamented the lack of nicely bound volumes when you looked at the many secrets and clippings which have piled up in each of your magic drawers, boxes, and cupboards? Have you said bad words when carefully pasted notices have pulled loose from the moorings in that loose leaf notebook? Few of us can afford costly bindings for these magical state papers, yet it can be simulated. Second hand book stores overflow with ten cent or sixpence bargains. We've always looked at the title, never the binding. Pick out a well bound tome or even a set of…
Brunel White's splendid book, Original Mysteries for Magicians, describes The B.W. Feke Hat on page 41. I naturally studied his fake from various angles because a tricked up hat can be of great value to magicians, if not alone for production possibilities, for use in any number of other tricks. I consider my idea superior, after having used it for a period of over 15 years when I was playing vaudeville, inasmuch as the hat can be left in the audience without anyone detecting the secret workings. Procure two derbies and from one sever the brim and trim the remainder…
Patents are costly but there's an ingenious way to protect an invention for pin money. Illusionary principles often make valuable commercial and advertising devices. Magicians have many ideas worth protection. A patent gives no more. Why spend hundreds of dollars for one that may not sell? Concentrate upon the following "patent" process. On the left-hand half of the sheet make a drawing or sketch of your idea. On the opposite half write or type a description. Date it. Fold face-to-face and paste the edges together. Now both sketch and description are known to you alone. Have a notary attest that…
Everyone, I think, likes to see a good trick performed. Many times, though, I have seen a clever performer, who could do the most difficult things with ease, fail to intrigue his audience for the reason that the tricks didn't join each other smoothly. The subconscious impression left behind was that his act lacked direction. In the theatrical profession good direction is necessary always in order that one's talents be brought out to best advantage. In the history of the business very few people ever have been able to direct themselves. I have liked magic since I was old enough…
A NEW TORN CIGARETTE PAPER WRINKLE Versions of the torn and restored cigarette paper with duplicate waxed to thumb nail were deceptive close-up methods. For a small audience and under more stringent conditions, try this. Wax rolled duplicate to front or ball of the thumb instead, this portion of thumb being kept downward while presenting. Thumb should be dry and free from perspiration. For best results, apply wax, either diachylon or magician's wax, after slightly warming. In presenting, after tearing and rolling the first sheet, remove the duplicate roll, squeeze the two together, and show them as one between the…
Since magic seems to get harder and harder to book, why not go in for an act in which the sleight-of-hands or effects are not so much the integral part of the performance, but rather an incident? Keating subordinated his tricks to patter and personality, and Mulholland has done the same with his lectures. Think this over. Be a little particular and see that no bulge may be noticed in your dress suit or Tuxedo. Don't think the audience will not notice this or that. All under the coat apparatus should be painted a dead black or covered with black…
If your appearance is O.K. and your first trick well selected, why not get away from the stereotyped introductory speech in vogue for a score of years or more? "Ladies and gentlemen, I will endeavor to entertain you with some experiments in the art of legerdemain, better known as sleight-of-hand or magic" with variations of the same doesn't mean a thing. Surely your ingenuity will prompt a neat way of making an introduction. There are many thousands of words and phrases from which to choose. Vary your methods and switch your systems. I mean by this, don't present an effect…