The following are the table of contents of the book The art of close up magic by Lewis Ganson along with a brief synopsis/comment. These tables used to reside at magicref.tripod.com . But seeing as to how tripod.com is now defunct (this turned out to be a rumour; see comments), I thought it worthwhile to archive a copy of this handy page on this site.
Volume 1
Comments (magicref): Well written close up magic by many contributors. There is no card magic in the bunch except as props. Each effect is well thought out and fully described with lots of practical advice. Each effect has been worked so that it can be performed. Some of the effects are performed using magic props that are available from dealers, most don't need anything special. In a few cases I'm not sure if the props are still available. Clear line drawing are provided where needed. Some of my favorites include: 53-85 Okito Box effects; 87 Loop Chain; 103 Shell Game (need walnuts); 113 Purse Swindle (need 3 purses); 118 Phoenix Pound: load folded dollar into envelope; 131 Paddles; 150 Color Change Knives; 174 Dual Control Pencil; 195 Ringer ring on wand/linking ring effect; 200 Thimble box: magnet/nesting thimbles; 208-231 Coins alone; 232 Cylinder & Coins (pivoting stack); 282 Imp Bottle; 316 Gozinta Pencils; 324 3 Little Pigs; 335 Beer Mats & Coin; 344 Sponge Ball Routine; 354 Chinese Bowl: Benson Bowl type. See Bruce Elliot's Classic Secrets of Magic; 369 Jardine Ellis Ring
Preface: Foreword by Fred Lowe
Contents: (The short descriptions below do not to justice to the magic contained here.)
| Page | Synopsis |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chapter 1: The Presentation of Close-Up Magic: essay on the presentation of magic |
| 1 | Introduction: presentation style varies depending on the size of the group |
| 3 | One Spectator |
| 6 | A Small Group |
| 10 | The Large Group |
| 11 | Containers: carrying and storing magic props |
| 15 | Working Surface: table surface, dice stacking |
| 16 | Music: Music, players, and a suggestion for a comedy bit |
| 21 | Close-Up Effects: choosing effects with a plot |
| 22 | Length of Performance: suggestions |
| 24 | Practice: suggestions |
| 26 | Economy of Movement: improving your performance |
| 29 | Borrowing: to borrow or not to borrow from the audience; also some suggestions on examination of objects |
| 34 | Chapter 2: Bangle Dangle: Presents ring and rope or silk routines. |
| 34 | Bangle Delight (Frederica and Rink): A ring becomes threaded on a rope and is subsequently magically removed. Uses a 36" length of rope and a bracelet sized ring |
| 39 | The Traveling Ring (Raymond Hafler): Ring jumps from knot to knot on a rope. Same props as above. |
| 42 | Ring Transposition (Glen Gravett): A red ring on a yellow ribbon and a yellow ring on a red ribbon switch places under a handkerchief. Uses bracelet sized rings, 38-42" ribbons, and a handkerchief. |
| 47 | Two Rings and a Silk (Glen Gravett): A yellow and red ring are tied on a silk. The ring selected by a spectator is instantly removed. Uses just two bracelet sized rings and a silk. |
| 50 | Ring, Rope, & Silks (Ravelle and Andree): Silks are tied to a rope and ring. The center of the rope is dropped into a hat, and the ring is dropped in. The ring is pulled out, and is linked to the rope! |
| 53 | Chapter 3: Boxes and Brass: Okito style coin box routines. Describes German Box, Okito Box, Boston Box, and Brass Coin Cap |
| 54 | German Box Routine (Jack Ganson): Six coins in box are held in a handkerchief. The coins penetrate both the box and the handkerchief and drop into the spectators hand. The box is shown empty. Uses a German Box with implanted English Penny. |
| 59 | Coins Through (Jack Ganson): As above (with a German Box), but the coins go through the table top. |
| 60 | Tea for Two (Ken Brooke): German box filled with coins is covered by a tea cup. After some byplay, the coins travel to underneath a second tea cup. |
| 62 | Okito Box Routine (Ken Brooke): Full Okito box routine using 2 coins and a box of cigarettes. Presents the "master move" as performed by Ken Brooke. Could substitute a box of cards for the cigarette pack. |
| 72 | Boston Three Step (Fred Lowe): Six English pennies and a smaller coin are placed in a Boston Box. The small coin penetrates them all, then re-appears back on top. Finally, all the coins penetrate. |
| 80 | The New Pocket Coin Trick (John Ramsay): A brass cap is placed over three coins. One coin penetrates the hand. Uses a specially gimmicked brass coin cover. |
| 86 | Chapter 4: It's a Gamble. Routines with a gambling theme. Advice to present as a lecture-demonstration to avoid offense. |
| 87 | The Figure 8 (George Blake): Also known as Loopy Loop, Chain of Chance, and Fast & Loose, this is a gambler's con in which the performer can seemingly control whether the spectator "catches" the loop in a string or ball-chain thrown on the table. Includes: The Move for Catching the Finger, The False Move, A Finger is Placed in Each Side of Figure 8, Laying Out the Chain with One Finger |
| 93 | Two Novel Moves (for The Figure 8): Knot off the Loop (a knot falls off the string/chain); The Ring Off the Loop (finger ring removed from string/chain) |
| 95 | Outline for a Routine (for the Figure 8): a nine-step outline with idea from Charles Kettle. |
| 97 | Triple Circle Routine (Fred Lowe): Using an idea by Jack Salvin (1952) for using three circles in the loop rather than the figure 8. Needs a 6 foot length of chain formed into a loop. |
| 103 | The Modern Shell Game (Harry Stanley): Includes basic instructions for making your own shells out of Walnuts, and how to make a pea. The routine is provided by Harry Stanley. It is presented as a demonstration as what you observed around a table at a racetrack recently, and climaxes with covering a shell with another shell and then a clear glass, and still the pea is not found. |
| 113 | The Great Purse Swindle (Frederica): Three coins are dropped in a purse. Magician offers to let the spectator buy the purse for less than the value of the coins, and it is found that the purse contains three different (less valuable) coins. This is repeated under more difficult conditions, and the entire purse disappears. Utilizes a special coin gimmick and provides instructions on how to make it. |
| 118 | The Phoenix Pouch (Pat Sprake): A borrowed bill is placed in an envelope. One of the four envelopes is selected, the others are burned. The bill is in the remaining envelope. Uses a TT. |
| 121 | Unfair Shake (Horace Bennett): A two in the hand and one the pocket type routine with dice and a dice cup, centered on a gambling story theme. The magician relates the story of an ex-gambling magician who used to switch in his own loaded dice. The "loaded" die ends up changing color and size, and by the end the gambler quits and takes a drink, that is produced from under the dice cup! Needs a padded cup to prevent talking and a variety of dice, but none gimmicked. |
| 131 | Chapter 5: Paddle Parade. Routines with the "paddle move". First section describes how to make a paddle, and the basic move. |
| 132 | Spots and Paddle Routine (Frederica): Spots are chalked onto a paddle, and mysteriously appear and disappear on both sides. |
| 136 | Sympathetic Matches (Bento): Matches disappear and reappear on a paddle, finally to return home to their matchbox. Provides instructions on how to construct this gimmicked set. |
| 143 | Bento's Bat (Bento): Paddle trick using a paddle with rubber bands. The idea is to use the rubber bands for other rubber band tricks, and this is a good way to introduce them. |
| 144 | Slippery Rocks (Dick Zimmerman): Uses one "stick" from a Jumping Gems effect, or you could make your own. Again, the spots jump, vanish, and reappear. |
| 150 | Colour-Change Knife Routine (Niberco): A two knife routine using a gimmicked knife and a regular knife of a completely different color. There are thus two color changes, and you are left clean at the end. (good) |
| 153 | Simplex Knife Routine (Rink): A three knife routine using a gimmicked knife and two regular knives. The colors of the gimmicked knife match each of the two regular knives. For example, a B/W knife, Black Knife, and White Knife. At the end, the knife under the handkerchief switches places with the knife in the pocket, and you are left clean. |
| 157 | Chapter 6: That Nut Again. Routines using the Brema Nut. |
| 157 | Brema Nut Routine (Jack Ganson): A solid nut penetrates a string. Uses the Brema Nut, and shields the moves with the performer's body rather than with a handkerchief. Also relates an anecdote about being asked to perform this same feat impromptu! |
| 160 | Bolted (Fred Lowe): A nut can be threaded onto a bolt even though a string apparently blocks it. Needs a bolt with the center drilled out (length-wise) so that a string can be passed through it. The effect is that the string is threaded through the bolt. A nut is placed on the end of the string so it comes against the Head of the bolt and cannot be threaded on. Spectator holds one end of string and Magician holds the other, and it is raised and lowered behind the Spectator's back. Quickly, magician "stretches" the bolt over the head so it is now found to be threaded on the bolt. (needs Brema Nut) |
| 164 | With the Brema Nut (Arnold DeSeiver): Sealed nut off ribbon routine. Performed seated (uses lapping). |
| 168 | Chapter 7: Weird Ones. Unusual routines. |
| 168 | The Thing (Dick Van Brummer and others): A ghost appears under a handkerchief lying on a table. A variation of Dik Van Brummer's Solid Ghost, or a more modern version known as "Glorpy". Includes an additional tip from Alan Alan. |
| 174 | Dual Control (GW Hunter and others): A pencil is rolled between the hands and suspends there. I sticks to the backs as well, with fingers spread wide. A second pencil does the same. Includes how to make the gimmick, which can also be used for other effects (see below). |
| 182 | Rising Card (Alan Alan): Use of the dual control gimmick for rising card. |
| 184 | Acrobatic Matchbox (Alan Alan): Use dual control for matchbox trick. |
| 184 | Voodoo (Albert Spackman): A stack of cards is shown with human figures drawn. One is placed in an envelope. The rest are shown to have an X marked on different places on the body. One is selected by spectator, which is found to match the prediction. With a business idea by Dennis Patten and patter by Sid Bergson. |
| 188 | A Telling Beat (Wizard Beal): Magician's heart beat reveals cards, answers questions, and so forth. Uses a joke plate lifter. |
| 189 | Spiritune (Frederica): A tune selected by the spectator (through a card choice) plays in a music box. When the box is opened, it is found empty. Uses a small musical keychain. This effect is likely not as strong today with the advent of miniature electronic music gadgets. |
| 195 | Chapter 8: Four Gems. Four routines that didn't fit well anywhere else. |
| 195 | The Ringer (Horace Bennett): A borrowed finger ring appears on a wand, then links to another ring, unlinks, and are inspected. Uses a more basic idea than the Himber ring. |
| 200 | Thimble Box (Bob Ostin): A thimble is removed from a box. It disappears and winds up back in the box. Features a thimble vanish and a clever box. |
| 203 | Peep-O (Dennis Patten): A word is written by a spectator on a small card. A matchbox is opened, and the inner box placed over the stack of cards with the spectator's card on top. The cover of the matchbox is used to "see through" the inner box and the face down card to read the word, but fails. A special seeing eye card is placed on top, and now the x-ray works. |
| 205 | Colour Magnets (Norman Gilbreath): Three colored magnets only attract a disk of the same color. Magnets are touched by a white disk, and now don't attract any of the colored disks. |
| 208 | Chapter 9: Coins Alone. Coin routines without props. |
| 208 | Coins from Hand to Hand (Horace Bennett): Four silver in right hand, four copper in left. Silver coins fly one at a time to left. Uses 4S, 3C, and a C/S coin. |
| 212 | Coins for Connoisseurs (Roger Klause): Four coins pass through table top one by one. Uses just the four coins. |
| 217 | Chinese Coins (Dai Vernon): Two rows of coins are counted in unusual manner. At each count a coin is placed in each hand, at the end, all the coins are in one hand. Uses 8 or 10 coins of any value. |
| 219 | Duplex Coin (Ken DeCourcy): English Penny changes to half-crown and back again. Repeated in a different manner. Finally, two pennies are revealed. Uses two English Pennys and on Half-Crown. |
| 222 | Four Coins and a Tumbler (Niberco): Four coins disappear one by one and appear audibly in a cup held in the right hand. Uses an expanded shell. |
| 224 | Will O' the Wisp (Roger Klause): Uncanny slow vanish and appearance of coin. Uses a single coin and a pen or pencil for distraction. |
| 227 | Coin In a Tumbler (Ross Bertram): Glass is held in left hand horizontally with the mouth of the cup to the palm. A coin is tossed toward the bottom of the glass with the right hand, and penetrates the glass. Clever method uses a single coin and glass. |
| 229 | A New Coin Change (Dai Vernon): Silver coin placed on left hand is pressed by the right and changes into an English Penny. Uses the two coins and the English purse palm. |
| 232 | Chapter 10: Coins and Things. Coin routines with props. |
| 232 | Cylinder and Coins of Poker Chips (John Ramsay and Dai Vernon): Dai Vernon's variation of John Ramsay's classic effect, updated for the lay audience and featuring the use of poker chips rather than a stack of coins and using a dollar bill cylinder rather than cardboard. Could be adapted to the standard prop set as well. A cylinder made from a bill is lifted to reveal a stack of chips with a cork on top. Chips taken in one hand, the cork is covered by the cylinder. The Chips vanish one by one, to reappear under the cylinder with the cork back on top. Cork is taken in hand and the chips are covered. The chips appear in the hand, the cork is gone. The cylinder is lifted to show the chips gone and the cork there. |
| 244 | Disappearing Hole (Fred Lowe): A paper is shown with a slit. Two English pennies disappear through the hole. A silver coin appears and disappears, and the English pennies come back. An updating of Brian MacCarthy's "Impromptu" (1939). |
| 249 | Self-Contained (Frederica): A coin vanishes and is found inside a: box in a box in a box, in a ball of wool, in a taped tumbler in another box. Does not use a gimmicked box setup, but rather depends on a sleight at the end. |
| 253 | Ganson's Cushion (Ganson): Description and construction of a seat cushion used as a lapping aid. |
| 255 | Coins Though the Table (Ganson): Three coins go through the table to join their friends. This is repeated under more stringent conditions. Uses 6 coins, a silver ring, and makes use of Ganson's Cushion (performed seated). |
| 264 | Migrating Pennies (Rink): 8 coins are shown in two stacks. 4 coins are covered with a box, and the other 4 with its lid. Coins travel from under the lid to under the box one at a time. Then coins vanish from the box, and reappear. They then pass through the table, and finally through the performer's fist. This is a modification of a Professor Hoffman effect from "More Magic", but Ganson suggests the use of an Okito box rather than metal covers. However, most of today's Okito boxes won't hold 8 coins. |
| 271 | Chapter 11: Big Little Tricks. Small tricks with a big impact. |
| 271 | Impromptu Pulse Meter (Roger Klause): Special instruments used to read spectator's pulse, then broken to reveal they are toothpicks. |
| 274 | Ashes to Ashes (Roger Klause): Smudge of ashes travel through the spectator's circulatory system to appear on the opposite hand. |
| 277 | Pin-e-tration (Roger Klause): A pin apparently penetrates spectator's wrist without pain. |
| 279 | Easier Gypsy Thread (Norman Rhodes): A thread is broken into several pieces and then restored. |
| 281 | Black and White (Val Andrews): The old Imp Bottle expanded and improved upon. A move by Jean Poisson is provided as a bottle switch, and a routine with patter suggestion is provided. |
| 287 | Torn and Restored Cigarette (Ken DeCourcy): an impromptu quickie requiring that you have a duplicate cigarette of the brand you are going to rip into three. |
| 289 | Necklace Necromancy (Ken MacFayden): A borrowed pearl necklace is held over a glass, and the bottom of the string is cut, allowing all the pearls to fall into the glass. The pearls and string are placed in the mouth, and when pulled out, the necklace is restored. Clever use of a TT. |
| 290 | Hindu Needles (Roger Crosthwaite): Separate needles are magically threaded. |
| 297 | I.O.U. (Edward Victor): Bill in small pay envelope changes to IOU, then back, even though envelopes is "marked" with a paper-clip |
| 301 | Chapter 12: Tantalizing Tubes. Routines with various tubes. |
| 301 | Cigarette Penetration (Ganson): Cigarette placed in a tube, pins are pushed through, and the cigarette comes out unharmed. Uses a commercial brass cigarette tube. |
| 304 | Three From One (Dave Campbell): Three cigarettes appear from a small tube (uses same commercial gimmick as above) |
| 307 | The Bill Tube (Ganson): Locking Bill Tube routine. With ideas for using different brands of bill tubes |
| 314 | Arnold DeSeiver's Routine: with the Bill Tube. Uses a special holder. |
| 316 | Gozinta Pencils (Cecil Keech): Red and Blue 3-inch pencils change places in a small tube. Uses three pencils, and a metal tube just large enough for one pencil. Utilizes some "cigarette" moves and includes an alternate ending by Fred Lowe. |
| 324 | Chapter 13: Moving Around. Objects perform transpositions. |
| 324 | Three Little Pigs (Frederica): Two in the hand, one in the pocket routine using toy pigs. |
| 330 | Capricious Corks (Hubert Lambert): Corks assemble beneath a hat. |
| 333 | Four Dice Chink-A-Chink (Bob Farrell): Dice and the dice pips transport one by one to the same corner. |
| 335 | Merely a Beer Matter (Al Spackman): A beer mat and coin routine. One beer mat is specially gimmicked. |
| 338 | Oil and Water (Eddy Taytelbaum): Red and Black backed cards when mixed keep separating themselves. Uses the Buckle Count. |
| 344 | Chapter 14: A Little Squeeze. Routines with Sponges. |
| 344 | Sponge Ball Routine (Remo InZani): Uses four large balls (1.5 inches or so) and two small half-inch ones, and a small potato and pencil. A six stage routine all in the performer's hands (performed seated). Includes description of two fake transfers. |
| 354 | Chinese Chow (Fred Kaps): Inspired by the Roy Benson's Bowl routine and Senator Crandall's Cups and Balls (from Tarbell's course). A routine using a Chinese bowl, a chopstick wand, and four sponge balls, with a lemon and orange climax. |
| 360 | Rice Bowls and Balls (Phoa Yan Tong): Another Bowl and Sponge ball routine with rubber ball climax. |
| 369 | Chapter 15: Jardine Ellis Rediscovered |
| 369 | Jardine Ellis Routine (Horace Bennett): Solid ring threads on and off a shoelace. Makes clever use of a finger ring for a surprising finish |
| 374 | Ken DeCourcy's Sheer Simplicity: Method for removing Ellis ring from a rope. |
| 375 | Cylinder, Ring, and Cord (John Howe): Ring passes through a cord to appear under cylinder, then passes onto a wand. Two balls then appear from the cylinder. Inspired by J.G. Thompson Jr.'s routine in Top Secrets in Magic. |
| 385 | Rope, Handkerchief and Ring Mystery (Ken DeCourcy): Handkerchief is tied to a silk rope and handed to spectator. A ring is vanished, and appears under the handkerchief. |
| 388 | Tong's Trick (Horace Bennett): Ring appears on the center of a ribbon in two mysterious ways. Uses the Jardine Ellis Ring set in a different manner than usual. |
| 395 | Finger Choice (Ken DeCourcy): Hand is shown empty. A ring suddenly appears on a finger chosen by the spectator. Does not need the gimmick. |
| 397 | Ring Appear (Ken DeCourcy): Ring appears instantly on the center of a rope (again no gimmick required) |
| 400 | Ringing the Change (J.B. Findlay): Ring vanishes and appears threaded on a napkin. |
Volume 2
Comments: The comments for Volume 1 apply here. Volume 2 is slightly shorter and had less routines that appealed to me, but this will, of course, vary according to taste. It has a long section on sleeving, and a linking ring routine based on Dai Vernon's Symphony of the Rings. Well written close up magic by many contributors. There is no card magic in the bunch except as props. Each effect is well thought out and fully described with lots of practical advice. Each effect has been worked so that it can be performed. Some of the effects are performed using magic props that are available from dealers, most don't need anything special. In a few cases I'm not sure if the props are still available. Clear line drawing are provided where needed.
Foreword: Hugh Miller
Contents: (The short descriptions below do not to justice to the magic contained here)
| Page | Synopsis |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chapter 1: Destroyed and Restored. Routines where an item is recovered after being thought lost. |
| 1 | Cut and Restored Silk (Phoa Yan Tiong): Handkerchief is cut in half with both halves shown quite separate, then visibly joined (note: the handkerchief is really cut) |
| 5 | Yarn Trick (Orlando Bagley). Five foot length of yarn is torn into pieces. Hands are shown otherwise empty, and yarn is pulled apart restored. Uses a specially modified spool |
| 8 | Ten Shilling Note Trick (Norman Rhodes): Borrowed bill is accidentally burned. Five envelopes are produced and four are selected by the spectator. The remaining envelope is found to contain the original bill. |
| 14 | Torn & Restored Cigarette Paper (Howard Gower): to be performed under close scrutiny. No TT. |
| 16 | Bennett's Bones (Horrace Bennett): Paper napkin is torn to be restored in a paper cup, but a duplicate napkin is accidentally dropped from the cup. Magician has no choice but to restore both napkins. |
| 19 | Note in Cigarette (Roger Crosthwaite): A bill is accidentally burned in a bag. A balloon is blown up and popped with at lighted cigarette, but the bill does not appear. Finally the cigarette is torn open to reveal the bill. |
| 26 | Chapter 2: Three Rings for Dai Vernon by Lewis Ganson. This chapter is a routine adapted from Dai Vernon's Symphony of the Rings but using only three rings. The moves are explained well. Uses two singles and the Key. Recommends 10-inch rings. Describes Counting the Rings, The Twisting Move, Linking Two Rings, Spinning the Rings, Unlinking Two Rings, Sounding the Rings, The Crash Linking, The Pull Through, A Different Crash Linking, Linking the Two Single Rings and the Key Ring, Unlinking the Rings |
| 42 | Chapter 3: Mainly Mental. Routines using mentalism. |
| 42 | Seven Colors of Wisdom (Arnold De Seiver): Seven keys are placed in seven envelopes and only one will open the lock. The performer finds the key. |
| 45 | Elizabeth Arden (J. Pickstone): Spectator looks into a mirror, and then writes the first three digit number that comes to mind. The magician takes the mirror, allows the spectator one more look, and writes a number on a slate. The two numbers are the same! |
| 46 | The Taste Tells (Charles Cameron): Seven "drink" cards are shown. One is selected and placed in an envelope. The rest of the cards are also placed in envelopes and mixed up. The magician "tastes" each envelope and is able to find the selected one AND can name the drink inside. |
| 49 | Mollusca Mental (Tony Shiels): Uses an assistant in the know (but unknown to the audience of course). Gold coin is put under one of six shells. By listening to a Conch Shell, the magician's assistant can determine which shell holds the coin and who put it under. |
| 52 | Idento (Douglas Francis): Six disk ID tags are shown. Spectator write his license number on one, and random numbers are written on the others. Behind his back, the magician is able to pull out the real number. Uses a simple but novel concept. |
| 54 | Noted Number (Al Spackman): Magician predicts the sum total of four of the numbers taken off four bills, two of which are borrowed. Requires "modifying" some bill serial numbers. |
| 57 | Pseudo Psychometry (Tony Griffith): Six objects are placed in envelopes by six members of the audience. Performer is able to return the objects to their rightful owners in mysterious ways. |
| 62 | Transversale (J. Bragoli): A triple number sequence is selected from a roulette board. A number is spun or chosen at random and added to the total. The numbers are reduced to single digits, and it matches the prediction. Recommends purchasing a miniature roulette set, although a printed board could be used instead. |
| 65 | Licensed Telepathy (J. Bragoli): Ten drink cards are shown. One is selected and the deck cut in half. The selected drink card is removed and placed in the other half. The spectator names all six drinks in his hand, the magician tells him which one was selected. |
| 68 | Chapter 4: Novel Necromancy. Routines with a unique flavor. |
| 68 | Miniature Rapping Hand (Al Spackman): A doll's hand can rap out answers. Six clever ideas are provided. Makes use of IT to move the hand. |
| 72 | Chinese matches (Dai Vernon): A hopping match sticks quickie. |
| 74 | Boxology (Frederica): Marked coin ends up in nested boxes after being snatched by a novelty "coin grabber" bank. A different approach to the old coin in nest of boxes effect. |
| 80 | Glass Levitation (Douglas Francis): A glass suspends from a butter knife |
| 83 | Sawing a Fakir in Half (Hans G. Stumpf): A small doll is sawn in half. Requires a novelty I've never seen (a small "Fakir" that can be cut through without coming apart). |
| 85 | Match Sword Box (Hans G. Stumpf): A coin is placed in a matchbox and it just fits. Mini swords are then pushed through the matchbox, penetrating the coin. Utilizes a folder. |
| 86 | Flash Business Card (E. Deffenbaugh): A blank card becomes a business card in a flash (flashpaper). |
| 90 | Leipzig's Grindstone (C. Smith): Dinner table illusion, a plate seems to spin like a grindstone and a butter knife is sharpened. More of a dinner-time stunt than a magic effect. |
| 92 | Torn and Restored Napkin (C. Smith): Another "sucker" torn and restored napkin. A duplicate "falls" out of your pocket but all is restored. |
| 95 | Chapter 5 Rink In Close Up. Routines all by J. Van Rinkhuyzen (Rink) |
| 95 | Acrobatic Paper Clips: Paper clips and even a ring suspend from each other, then become linked. |
| 103 | Coins Apart: Eight coins are shown, four each of two colors. Spectator dumps them into performer's hand. A wand is pushed through twice, and the coins are now separated in each hand. 4 of the coins must be of a magnetic material. |
| 112 | Chink A Chink Simplified: Chink-a-Chink using any small lightweight objects and a tiny bit of double sticky tape. |
| 115 | Rope Through the Neck: Magician pulls a rope through the spectator's neck. Rope is specially prepared. |
| 119 | Grand Guignol: Magician's thumb is cut with a pocket knife, then healed. Sort of a bizarre magic effect with real blood! |
| 124 | One Cup Two Balls: Rink's simple and short cup and balls routine using chop cup and two balls, with two large ball climax. |
| 131 | Chapter 6: Bennet on Coins. Routines by Horace Bennett. |
| 131 | Dissimilar Coins Through Table: Four coins of different denominations penetrate table one at a time, the last penetrating upward. Needs one duplicate coin, and is performed seated with audience preferably at the right. |
| 139 | The Change Purse: Spectator empties contents of purse to find two half dollars and one dime. The dime is returned. The two halves are placed in the hand and touched with a wand. They disappear to end up back in the purse. Utilizes two identical "squeeze" purses, four half dollars, a dime, a wand, and a special little extra. |
| 143 | Coin Exchange: Five English pennies are placed in an Okito box. Four half dollars are held in the left hand, the Okito box in the right. The coins change places. Utilizes an Okito Box (the one used here can hold 5 Pennies with a little space left over; adjustments may need to made according to the capacity of your Okito box), 5 English Pennies plus one extra, 4 half dollars, and a 5-English Penny riveted stack. Performed seated. |
| 149 | In and Out Part I: A half and and English penny are laid in the center of a handkerchief. The spectator names a coin, and the magician pulls the selected coin through the center of the handkerchief. |
| 154 | In and Out Part II: The silver coin is placed in the handkerchief which is held by the spectator. The copper coin joins it by penetrating the handkerchief with an audible "click". Requires a duplicate penny. |
| 157 | Tea for Okito: Like Ken Brooke's Tea for Two in Volume 1, but using an Okito box instead of a German Box. Coins in the Okito box are covered with a tea cup. After some byplay, they magically appear under another upside down tea cup. Can be performed seated or standing. |
| 162 | Chapter 7: The Magic Sleeves of David Berglas. This is an entire chapter devoted to the subject of sleeving. It includes how to, tips, routines, and parts of routines that can be used in other acts. |
| 162 | It's Up His Sleeve: a short treatise on sleeving including three general methods: gravity, manual propulsion, and mechanical propulsion. |
| 166 | The Berglas Gravity Method for Sleeving a Small Object Invisibly: using a pocket knife as the example |
| 175 | Intelligent Use of Sleeving: don't over-use it |
| 176 | Master Move for the Homing Ball: shows where one sleeving move can be substituted into the commercial "Homing Ball" routine with Ball and Cone. Does not provide the whole Homing Ball routine. |
| 179 | The Torn and Restored Tissue Paper: This approach eliminates need for a TT and no "stacking" of the papers is required. |
| 185 | The Cups and Balls: describes a couple of approaches to ball manipulation using sleeving during a cups & balls routine. |
| 187 | Production and Vanish of Silk Handkerchief: requires use of a changing tube or handkerchief ball |
| 191 | The Vanishing Stick: sleeving a collapsed "vanishing wand" or cane |
| 192 | Producing a Pen, Pencil or Cigar |
| 193 | The Autograph Hunter's Nightmare: Good routine to be used when asked to sign something. The spectator's pen disappears and reappears in playful ways. |
| 198 | Switching One Object for Another: provides some ideas for objects to switch |
| 199 | Switching a Long Object: David Berglas' method for the vanish and recovery of a wand |
| 202 | The DeManche Switch Used in Conjunction with Sleeving: for effectively switching two similar coins without detection. The DeManche Switch appeared in a booklet by C. Lang Neil After Dinner Sleights and Pocket Tricks. |
| 205 | The Vanish of the Stack of Pence: an enhancement idea for the Stack of Pence effect. The routine is not provided, just an idea for the switch |
| 206 | Sleeving Coins for "The Coins in Glass": using sleeving for the Coins in Glass routine. Again, the routine is not provided. |
| 206 | Production of a Cigar: yet another idea |
| 208 | Chapter 8: A Session with Bobby Bernard |
| 209 | Bernard Switch: allows one object to be switched for another; first object is in palm position. |
| 211 | Mirage: Penny changes to half-crown and back again. A routine using the Bernard Switch. |
| 214 | Melted: A penny melts, leaving the melted remains and a unique transparent coin. Make the unique coin with perhaps part of a folder and a clear plastic disk. |
| 217 | School for Croupiers: A coins, cards, and dice routine covering the training of a Casino worker. |
| 228 | Chapter 9: Two Classics |
| 229 | My Routine with the Devano Pack (Lewis Ganson): Ganson's routine for the Devano Rising Card deck. Includes description of the deck, testing the pack, and full details of the routine featuring three card rises. |
| 242 | The Egg Bag (Lewis Ganson): Uses a soft felt bag with the pocket about 1/2 way up (describes construction). Includes moves to prove the bag empty: standing on the bag, folding the bag, slapping and twisting the bag, turning the bag inside out, and allowing the spectator to feel inside the bag. Provides a full routine, and a suggestion for producing multiple eggs from the bag. |
| 258 | Chapter 10: The Last Chapter |
| 258 | Roulette (Jens Korth): A routine using poker chips and a roulette cloth. The chips vanish, penetrate, change places and colors. Uses a few gimmicked chips. Phased routine includes a penetration, a Chink-a-Chink sequence, flying counters, a color change, and a climax. |
| 272 | The Magic Ring (Gerald Kosky): Red, white, and blue stones and a ring switch places; finally the stones end up mounted in the ring! In interesting effect using inexpensive costume jewelry. |
| 278 | The Story Teller (Will Ayling): A routine with an electric pack. Routine provides a complete "story" to go along with the effect. |
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Comments
Tripod is alive and well!
It's fine that you used the table of contents listings, but I just wanted you to know that my site at magicref.tripod.com is alive and well! Tripod has not gone away. Thanks for the thoughts of keeping the pages alive!
Doug A.
Thanks for the note, Doug. I
Thanks for the note, Doug. I guess I was one of the people who fell for this! I've added a link to your site now. Cheers!