This magazine is published by the Society of Amercian Magicians, Rochester, NY Assembly #47. The first issue came out in June of 1978 and was dedicated to Curt Higgins and Bob Follmer. It was published bi-monthly and contained meeting minutes, book reviews, President's message and upcoming club news. I have searched through my back issues to bring you .......
Contributed by Ballard
Volume XI, Number 4, February 1989
Effect: Magician asks for four volunteers from the audience to assist by standing. He then introduces a tray containing five coin type envelopes, numbered one thru five. Magician states that one of the envelopes contains a twenty dollar bill and that he desires to share some of his money with the audience. He then asks the four volunteers to select any one of the five envelopes on the tray. This leaves one for the magician. He asks the four if anyone would liketo switch with him, for he states that he thinks the twenty dollar bill is in the one left to the magician. Envelopes are switched until all are happy with their choice. Magician then asks the volunteers to rip off the top of their envelopes and reach in with the first finger and remove the prize. He does the same and is surprised to find a stick of chewing gum. Magician unwraps his stick of gum to find the twenty dollar bill.
Explaination: Prepare five envelopes each with a stick of gum and mark each with a wide marking pencil, one thru five. Take a sixth stick and carefully remove the wrapper. Fold the twenty to the size of the stick of gum and seal it back up in the wrapper. This stick is palmed in the right hand under the tray from the beginning. When the last envelope is left for the magician, the right hand holding the tray with the envelope on it is tilted backward to the magician's waiting right hand. The left hand takes the tray away from the right hand leaving the special stick of gum behind the envelope. In reality the stick containing the money is pulled up from behind the envelope as if it were coming out of the envelope.
MagicDan Notes: This trick is my opening for all the shows I do. It plays well for both kid shows and adults. I use two packs of gum, giving me 10 sticks. I prepare nine envelopes and use the largest denomination bill I have at the moment. I use a plate to hold the envelopes and to also conceal the "special stick" underneath.
Invite 8 kids (or adults) up for a chance to "win a nice prize". I
don't tell them about the money. I tell them that in one envelope is "something
special" , but all the enveolpes have a prize they can keep. I'm "playing"
too, so I get to keep whatever is in one of the envelopes. The byplay with the trading is
the best part of this trick. Have fun with it.
After everyone is satisfied with their choice, I make a "big deal" out of
saying...."This is the envelope that nobody wanted. I get to keep whatever is in
here." Then let the kids open their envelopes to reveal the gum. Open yours to
also reveal the gum. Tell them, "Maybe the special prize is inside the gum
wrapper." Once the kids have all opened their gum, step forward and SLOWLY open
your wrapper to reveal the "special prize" that nobody wanted!! This works
especially well with a $100 bill. It will get everyones attention, guaranteed!!
Effect: Magician removes three cards from the deck and asks that they be remembered. Two of the cards are red and one is black. The magician places the cards in an envelope. He then removes one card and tosses it on the table. It is a red card. The envelope is turned over and the magician removes a second card which is also red. He asks if anyone can remember which card is left in the envelope. (Many times no one can remember the name of the card but they always remember the color.) The envelope is now passed to a spectator for him or her to remove the remaining card. To the surprise of all, the black card is gone!
Preparation: This trick requires the use of a special gimmicked card. You can make the card by taking two red cards the same and glueing them together back to back. A black card is then cut in half and glued to the face of one of the red cards. In reality you now have two red cards and a half of a black card all glued together as one.
Working: The special card is second from the bottom of the deck with another red card on the bottom. Turn the deck over and it full view of the audience, remove the bottom two cards. You will show these two cards to be three cards. Display them in "strip" fashion rather than a fan. The gimmicked card will show two faces. Tell the spectators that three cards will be used in this experiment, consisting of two red and one black. Place the cards in the envelope and then remove the regular red card and place it on the table. Turn the envelope over and remove the special card which is now in the correct position to be shown as another red card. Pick both cards up showing the regular back as you do so. Do not mention the back but be sure someone will see it. As you are picking up the cards from the table, hand the envelope to a spectator to remove the black card, which is now gone.
MagicDan Notes: Buy two decks of cards that are the same. (Brand and color) I prefer Bicycle brand cards. Remember when making the"special card"... You will need two cards that are the same. (Ex. two Five of Diamonds) These get glued together, back to back. Then cut any black card in half and glue it to your special card. From one side you will see a "regular" Five of Diamond. From the other side, you will see what looks like two cards.... half of the Five of Diamonds and half of your black card.
Once you have made this gimmicked card, one deck will be short two cards. Keep this deck seperate from your others and use it to make other gimmicks.
Volume X Number 4 February 1988
The following tricks have a common thread in that they all utilize a double backed card matching the deck you are using. The origin of these ideas are unknown but appeared in some handwritten lecture notes by a forgotten lecturer at one of our assembly meetings. There has been some editing of the notes. A double backed card can be easily and quickly prepared by taking two Jokers from your present deck and attach them face to face with rubber cement.
This is a twist on a familiar theme in card magic. It is suitablefor a small audience of about one to six.
EFFECT: Five cards are dealt to a spectator and five more to the performer. Following exactly the moves of the performer, the spectator places his cards face up or under the others and gets the same results but on making the moves again exactly as the performerdoes, his cards come out quite differently. The trick can be repeated immediately.
SECRET: A double backed card is placed second from the top of the deck without the knowledge of the spectator.
PRESENTATION: Explain that you and spectator will each start with five cards and follow similar procedures. You will end up with identical results. Take top five cards for yourself and give the next five cards to the spectator. Caution him to do exactly as you do. Then do the following steps while checking to see that the spectator does the same.
You can say the results are predictable but now you will put a "hex" on the spectator and things will go awry. Now do the following steps, again making sure the spectator follows exactly.
You might comment that the "hex" worked. You can put a "hex" on someone else - (repeat the trick) by simply adding one step. Make sure the five cards in the spectator's hand are face down. Now both you and spectator shift top card of respective stacks to the bottom and you are reset to repeat.
EFFECT: Five cards are freely chosen and laid face down on the table. Performer writes a prediction and places it so all can view it but not read it. After mixing the face down cards one is selected by the spectator. Prediction is read and matches the selected card.
REQUIRED: Six identical cards - one is prepared as a short card. All must match backs
of deck in use. (Buy a one-way force deck from Empire Magic)
A double backed card matching the deck in use.
Pencil and paper.
PREPARATION: (We will assume identical cards are the Nine of Spades).
Place short card near middle of the deck. Place five identical cards face up on top of
face down deck. Place double backed card on top of face up identical cards.
PRESENTATION:
1. Place double backed card on top of deck. Place card or cards to be forced face up under the double backed card and you are set up. Shuffle the deck leaving the top stack of force card(s) and double backer in place on top. Offer deck to spectator to cut by placing it face down on the table. Have him reverse section he cuts from top and place it face up on bottom section. Now instruct him to carefully spread the deck and take the first face down card(s) after the face up section.
2. Place double backed card on top of deck. Place an indifferent card face up between two cards to be forced. Place these three cards randomly about center of deck with force card(s) facing same as remainder of deck. You are set. Now approach a spectator and hand him the top card to use as a marker. Reverse the deck so it is face up and instruct spectator to insert the card at a random location into the deck for a selection. Turn the deck face down and execute a few cuts. Spread deck so reversed card can be seen and have spectator remove the card above and below the reversed card.
Note: Illustrations shown with and without hands.
The Erwin Sloane Cut and Restored Rope Move
The first three steps are described in Tarbell, Volume 2. By bringing the end B up and grasping both ropes with ends exposed 3", the forming of the "center" is perfectly covered and no "move" can be detected.
by Ballard the Magician
(First presented in the Fall of 1981 at St. JohnFisher College Magic Class)
EFFECT: Mentalist displays six empty 35mm plastic film cans and a single foreign postage stamp. (Or any small object that will fit into the cans.) He selects a spectator to act as his assistant and instucts him or her to place the stamp in any one of the black cans while the mentalist's back is turned. The mentalist then takes each can and runs his finger over the top. One can causes his index finger to quiver. When this can is opened it is found to contain the postage stamp!
PREPARATION:
Most photofinishers will be glad to give you the empty plastic cans. These
cans have black bottoms and gray lids. Take a pin and on each can, make a small prick mark
on the cover as well as directly below it on the can. The design of these cans is such
that they are hard to open and when the assistant replaces the lid it is almost impossible
that they would realign the prick marks. (Remember at the start of the effect to have all
lids on and all marks lined up.
PRESENTATON: Take all six cans and give them an extra mix up. Then try to get as many as possible to lie on their sides. At once you should be able to see one or two and check for matching marks. Pass right index finger over each can about 2 inches above it, then begin to eliminate. Take each remaining can and eliminate each in the same way. Save the can with the mismatched marks until last. On that one, your finger will start to quiver. State that this is the one containing the stamp. Indicate that the stamp (or other small object) causes psychic vibrations in your body.
If you have any thoughts, suggestions, ideas, better ways of doing things, etc. send them to MagicDan to be included in "Idea Sharing".