A Real Magic Show!
A Real Magic Show!
BY FRANK LANE
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Da da (chord)
FRANK LANE: good evening, gents... and ladies, too... well, here we are for
the first magic show via a book... we have a great time in store for you, some
swell performers, some great ideas, some novel tricks... and so sit right back,
light your pipe, fill up your glasses, and be prepared to enjoy yourself... ME?...
well, I don't do much... I really was intending to sing a little song for you
tonight but I forgot how it went. I'm getting awful absent-minded lately. I
keep forgetting things. Well, to give you an idea... I went out auto riding with
my wife the other night AND WE PARKED in a lonely lane... Ha... you can
imagine how easy it is to forget... well, you'll see too much of me here tonight,
I guess, so I won't talk too much... I'm going to start introducing the boys...
give 'em all a good hand and they'll work hard for you...
And now, folks, we have a real treat for you. I could tell you millions of good
things about this chap, but anything that I'd say would be superfluous. He is
too well known for me to boost. The only thing I'm GOING to say is that he's a
friend of mine, and I'm proud of it. If JOHN NORTHERN HILLIARD were alive
today he would open one of the chapters of the book he intended to write with
this quotation: "If there had never been such a thing as magic, AL BAKER
would have made it," and I think we'll all agree on that. So here's our old
friend, none other than...
AL BAKER IN PERSON
AL BAKER SPEAKS: Glad to be here with you, Frank, and all the rest of you
boys; and I have a new one here for you that I think you might like. I thought
you had enough card tricks, so here's one a little different. Hope you all like it.
TO PREPARE
Cut nearly half of a dollar bill the width of the bill and paste this on one side of
a $5 bill so that the ends come even; and if the bill is folded it will look like a
$1 bill. (See drawing). You also prepare an envelope by cutting a slit in the
back of it with a safety razor blade. A $10 bill is folded and placed in the corner
of the envelope and a TWO dollar bill is folded and laid on the table and is then
covered with the envelope. This is your preparation.
TO PERFORM
Get the men in position... not TOO near... holding the bill so that the man on
the right sees the full side of the "5" and the man on the left sees the "1" (the
fingers cover the "5" on the other corner). Fold the bill in halves so that the
Walk over to the third man and, holding the bill in the right-hand fingers, with
the thumb push up the flap of the envelope... this will bring the bill behind the
envelope and the left fingers take it and the right produces the $2 bill... this
move is described in "Al Baker's Book".
Show him the bill, being sure that he notes the "2" on it... place it in the
envelope, letting it go into the slit... give him another look at it as the left hand
carelessly drops the fake bill in the coat pocket... wet the envelope with lips
and with the left hand pull the bill through the slit... the rest is all
showmanship. And all you have to do now is to produce the $10 bill from the
envelope after the proper patter.
You've just seen and heard, Ladies and Gentlemen, the incomparable AL
BAKER, the King of the magic entertainers. I'm sorry he didn't have more
time, but the judge'll give him that in the morning. Al's from New York. And
New York, as you all know, is the place where you can get off the subway at
Times Square, yell STOP THIEF, and everybody runs. Al's pretty well off
financially, too. He comes from a very well-to-do family. One of his Uncles is a
beggar at 49th Street. But we all enjoyed him and I think you'll agree that he's
given us something that we will not only like, but use. Thanks Al.
There's another chap who's as smart as a whip in more ways than one. He
knows magic from A to Z. He has invented tricks... and he's a hard boy to fool.
Three years ago he did something for me that I never saw him do for anyone
else... HE SHOWED ME A CARD TRICK. I liked the trick so well I asked him to
show it to you boys... and he consented to do it. He's a swell feller to get along
with... but don't ever call him "BROTHER"... call him anything but that. I
suppose you know who I mean now, but for the ones who don't, I'm going to
introduce to you now:
After the cards are noted, the performer passes each of them a small piece of
paper. Each spectator writes the name of his card on his piece of paper and
immediately crumples it in a little ball. These pellets are dropped in a glass and
left on the floor, or on the table.
Performer collects the five cards, face down, and has any one of them taken,
and without having this one selected card looked at, it is placed on the floor, or
on the table, face down. The rest of the cards are put on top of the deck and
forgotten. Now the pellets in the glass are shaken up by anyone, thrown out on
the floor, and then performer lines them up in a row.
ANYBODY names any number from one to five inclusive. Performer picks up
this pellet, tosses it to spectator who named the number. Spectator himself
opens it and reads what it says. The card on the floor is now turned over and it
corresponds with what was written on the paper.
METHOD:--Let the deck be shuffled as much as is desired and then have five
cards selected by anyone and in any way.
Pass out your small pieces of paper. These should be about 2-in. square. Have
spectators write the name of their cards on the papers. Instruct them to
crumple them and you illustrate what you mean by taking another piece of
paper and crumpling it so that it is in a small ball.
Now, with an ordinary tumbler, or cup, or some receptacle in your left hand,
you take each pellet with your right hand and crumple it up some more and
drop each one in the glass. BUT... when you come to, say, the third one, you
squeeze this one a little harder than the rest so that it is a little flatter. Then
drop this in; and if you have rolled the others in between your fingers so that
they resemble a ball, you can easily tell which pellet is the third man's pellet
because it will be a trifle flatter than the rest. DO NOT DO THIS TOO
NOTICEABLY.
After you have them all in the glass, give them to someone, let him put one
palm over the mouth of the glass, and shake them up. Now take the glass and
lay it on the table or the floor.
You now take up the glass, dump out the pellets on the floor, and then make a
row of them so that there is, perhaps, 6 inches or so in between each pellet.
See that the flat one (or the third man's pellet) is No. 2 from either your left or
your right.
Now have somebody give you any number they wish and stress the point that
they can give you ANY NUMBER: one, two, three, four, or five. We will assume
that the pellet that is flatter than the rest is second from your left. If they say
"two" simply count from the left and pick that up. If they say "four" count from
the right and pick that up. Now if they say any one of the other three numbers,
proceed as follows:
We will assume they say "three." Pick up the third pellet between thumb and
second finger tips of right hand, saying: "Very well, we'll pick up No. 2 so we
won't have any need of this..." and you pick up No. 2 in the same manner and
toss away No. 5 so that No. 1 is still in your hand. What you really do is
exchange them in a natural manner. Now reach down, and with your second
finger, snap or flip No. 1 away and then No. 4 and then No. 5. We have you do
this simply because you threw away No. 2 (?). Now all that is necessary for
you to do is to have somebody open the paper, have him read it, and then turn
over the card and show that it is the same card that was written on the paper.
The above proceedings are perfectly natural; and if you take the trouble to do
this for yourself three or four times, you will have a card trick that is out of the
ordinary and a trick that has been one of my favorites for five or six years. I'm
only too glad to give it to you and hope you'll like it.
Dear Old Stewart. At last he did a trick for us. You know, I've been trying for
years to get him to show me a trick, but this is the first time I've seen him do
one. You can show plenty to him tho', and he'll never say anything, and you
don't know whether he was fooled or not. Stewart's from Cincinnati, in case
you don't know. Last week a chorus girl in one of the hotels out there tried to
commit suicide in the bathroom by turning on the gas. She was saved tho', by
Stewart's watchfulness. Good boy, Stewart, good boy.
AL SAAL SPEAKING: Thank you very much, Frank, for asking me to be in this
Show. I'm glad to be represented and I know that you want something that is
along the line of effects that I do, so here goes...
Well, the short candle on the table in the holder is really a candle and a metal
shell. This makes the first two, then two more are introduced in the shell and
rolled out. This action LIGHTS THEM. It is a very pretty flash with four large
lighted candles in the hand at the finish of any act. You'll have to have Walker
draw the pictures, Frank, and put them in the book.
This is my latest effect, so consequently would be the newest and the best to
tell the boys. The candle that is in the holder (See Fig. 1) is made of light
wood, then reamed out to put in a small candle with wick. It is best to cut a
large candle down on account of its having a larger wick and naturally it will
make a larger flame.
Now look over to the right of Fig. 1 and this will give you an idea of how the
shell looks. This is a shell of metal and the top is filled with grease. It should
have a small recess and will have to be slightly longer than the other candles
to be produced. That is, for the additional space at top, for the grease, and the
wick. This illustration is not to scale, but it will show you the top partition in
the fake which is filled with the candle grease and a large wick.
Now, if it'll do you any good, we have another illustration there showing you a
side view of the candle and the shell in the space candle holder. Picking these
This is no pipe dream. This is practical. I have a set made up all ready and
intend to use them. I might say one more thing: and that is, to have the
candles all made up in a rough finish, as it facilitates handling and makes it a
little easier for the performer. I think this is a dandy trick for a "walk-off" in
any magic act. If you'll excuse me now, I have to get the 5:40 train to Toledo.
Take another bow, Al. Al really doesn't need anyone to talk about him, Folks.
His work speaks for itself. Always a hard worker, and always willing to help the
other fellow. Let's give him another hand. You're welcome Al, my Boy, you're
welcome. All Al is he owes to his Mother, except the mole on his back. That
was his father's fault. We never really thought he'd make a magician. When he
was young, he was very dull in school, until he started to eat onions. That put
him in a class by himself. And I guess you'll all agree, after seeing him work,
that he sure IS in a class by himself.
And now here's a young feller from Bangor, Maine. How he ever got the money
to come down here in these times I don't know. You've all heard of Maine.
They say that's where the hicks come from, and they're right in more ways
than one, because this boy's NAME is "Hicks." His first name is Herbert. We
call him Bartholomew for short. He's going to show us a brand-new stunt
entitled "The Dollar Bill in the Orange." It's funny how some magicians can't
get their minds off fruit. I s'pose they see so much of it; but then I shouldn't
throw THAT up to them. So here he is, folks, himself, in person:
Howdy, Friends! Never appeared before magicians in this manner, but I got
sumthin' yer might be able ter use, gol ding it. I call it:
THE HICKS ONE-HANDED BILL IN ORANGE...
It's a slicker. So's my raincoat. So when I get thru, if yer think I'm all wet, I
got sumthin' ter perfect myself, and this is it:--The orange can be thrown from
the audience, caught by the performer in one hand (after being examined)...
and the rest is easy. I guess I better go ter the blackboard and illustrate this.
No. 1 shows a bent piece of tin and a part of an 8d nail. The bill is wrapped
around the nail and inserted in recess in torpedo "warhead" which enters the
orange and remains there out of sight carrying in the dollar while the nail is
withdrawn and immediately "lost."
The "warhead" can be easily made from 1/2 iron, drilled and ground to shape.
Use two new dollar bills with the Fig. 3 on one of 'em made to look like an 8 on
the other. This can be done by using a fine pen and a blue ink. Just insert the
8d nail in bent tin, or zinc, and squeeze in a vice. It will stay put.
You can work your own routine on this. All yet have to do is to have the dollar
prepared, and when you go down in the audience to borrow a dollar bill, start
to roll it up, exchange it for yours, and then, as an afterthought, unroll it and
have some other spectator take down the numbers. Then you can vanish it in
any way you want. And when you return to the platform, throw out the fruit
and have it examined, tell your audience that you're only gonna use one hand
when you catch it... which you do. And I allers gets a goldinged big laugh when
I tell them they've thrown fruit to me so often I thought it would be about time
I threw some at them. And then I toss the orange.
This is my own idea and I hope you think it's right smart. Kinda a little
embarrassed to appear before a bunch of honest-ter-goodness magicians, but
hope you liked it, hope you're gonna use it, and I bid you all good night.
Years ago, when I was on the Canadian Chautauqua, I played two weeks in
Winnipeg, Canada. Winnipeg is a pretty place... has a beautiful golf course...
but no matter how pretty the city is, you can't help feel lonesome at times...
but I wasn't lonesome in Winnipeg because that's the place I met, for the first
time, the young man I'm going to introduce to you now. He made my stay
very pleasant... fooled me on all kinds of tricks... took me to his home to
dinner... and showed me the town. Everybody likes him... and I know now
you'll be pleased to hear from our old friend,
I present this at any social affair where beer is being served. Picking up a beer
bottle from one of the tables, I empty out any beverage that may be in it. Then
I borrow a half-dollar. Holding the bottle horizontally with one hand, I
announce my intention of passing the coin into it through its bottom.
Coin held in other hand is now brought forcibly against bottle bottom, which it
apparently penetrates, as coin is heard to fall inside. Bottle is then shaken
vigorously, so coin jingles around inside, and bottle is then shown at close
quarters to as many spectators as desired, special attention being drawn to the
bottom of the bottle being still absolutely solid and without trapdoors.
The coin (still in the bottle) is handed back to the lender. Then, apparently
hearing some remark from this gentleman, the bottle is taken from him and
broken in a surprising manner. He removes the coin from the bottom portion of
the broken bottle. The latter is also left with him for examination and to pass
around to any other curious spectators.
This effect depends more upon the manner and circumstances of its
presentation than anything else. In my club act, it is the trick most talked
about afterwards, so I have really found it worth the trouble.
A duplicate coin inside the bottle does the trick. Get a pint beer bottle and,
with a glass-cutter, make incisions around it as in Figure 1. These incisions are
made at varying heights from top or bottom of bottle. Now paste long paper
strips around it, above and below the glass cutter marks, as shown, which
helps to prevent any cracks from spreading towards either end of bottle when
you break it.
When you get a satisfactory break, soak off and discard the paper wrappings.
I have two bottles so prepared. One is of brown glass and one of clear glass,
as beer is sold in bottles of both colors, depending on the brand.
It is now necessary to get a supply of labels from the different local breweries,
to correspond with the brands of beer that are popular. (Of course, if you wish,
you can soak a label off any bottle and paste it on again after faking bottle.)
Before playing an engagement, I learn what beer will be served and label
accordingly whichever prepared bottle I will need to use.
However, you must first stick a half-dollar to the inside of the bottom of the
broken bottle. A very slight amount of wax is used--just enough so that coin
will not come loose when bottle is turned upside down a few times. Both parts
of the bottle are then put together and the label pasted on, which holds them
securely and enables bottle to be freely handled.
In presenting the trick, I claim that, owing to so many bank failures, I have
invented a new kind. My invention is simply a different form of "baby's bank."
All that's needed is the baby's bottle, which also has the big advantage of
allowing you to see how much money you have in it at any time, by simply
counting it through the glass. However, I say, as there don't seem to be many
milk-drinkers present, I'll demonstrate it with a beer bottle.
I now ask for the loan of rather a large coin--say, a fifty-cent piece. While
someone is fishing in his pocket for one, I approach the table on which my
bottle is planted. Picking it up, I pour the contents into a convenient tumbler,
and maybe I drink and maybe I don't (but he probably does).
Anyhow, I hold the bottle upside down so that the last few drops drain out,
then take it in my left hand so that the label faces audience and my hand hides
that part of crack in glass not covered by label.
Having obtained the half-dollar in my right hand, I return to the platform. The
Hands are held about two feet apart. They now approach each other, but hand
holding coin moves much faster than the one holding bottle. Coin is thumb-
palmed just as right hand bangs against bottom of bottle. Thumb-palmed coin
clinks against the glass, and the jar loosens the waxed coin inside bottle. Right
hand now takes hold of bottle momentarily, to enable left to shift its grip from
neck of bottle to centre, thus covering the crack at the back.
Jingling coin in bottle, I pass among the spectators to convince them that coin
is actually inside. In turning slightly to my right, thumb-palmed coin is got rid
of in trousers pocket. I now hand bottle to lender of coin but (working fast
here) I pretend to hear him say he'd rather have it without the bottle. So I
quickly take it from him before he discovers the crack in it. Then, holding
bottle high, with one hand at each end and label facing audience, I bend my
left knee, assume a determined look and strike bottle against it. As bottle hits
knee, it is turned so label is downwards. Bottle, of course, comes apart,
spectator is allowed to remove his coin and is handed the broken bottle as
well. (Any wax on coin should be almost unnoticeable but, if you are afraid of
it, you can remove coin from bottle yourself and give it a scratch with your
thumb nail before handing it to spectator.)
Should you have to use a clear glass bottle, when "passing" coin into it, bottle
must be held in left hand so that fingers cover that part of it below label.
Mouth of bottle must also be tilted slightly towards audience. This prevents
anyone at the side from seeing the coin that is already inside bottle.
Have tried several methods of holding coin inside bottle behind the label,
instead of against the bottom, thus enabling bottom to be shown at
commencement of trick, but none of these were without some drawback. This
is a rather "broad" effect and should be snappily worked. That is why I hardly
think it worth while going to the trouble of having the borrowed coin marked
and making a switch at the finish.
It is surprising how people will not only wonder how you got the coin inside the
bottle but will also marvel at the way you broke the bottle over your knee.
Up in Toronto where Tom lives now, they call him SPAULDING, he's been on so
many bats. I was surprised that Tom was able to do the trick so well tonight.
He was calling on a girl the other night, and a hoodlum threw a brick through
the window and hit the girl right in the ribs. Tom says it didn't hurt the girl but
it broke three of his fingers.
Well, the fellows out back are kicking because I'm not doing anything myself. I
suppose I'VE got to show you something... if I can... If there's any grapefruit
coming, I want it NOW... shut up, McGurk... Barnum was right... you can fool
some of the people all of the time and all of the people most of the time, but
McGurk you can fool all of the summer time... unless he smells your breath...
if you forget how my voice sounds when you get home, tear a rag... here goes
then.
I am telling you all this so that you will realize you are getting something; not
only a secret, but an effect that will absolutely knock your audience cold and
one that you will continually keep in your performance and thus bring you
actual cash besides prestige.
THE EFFECT: An ordinary deck of cards is used. The deck is shuffled. Three
cards are selected by three different men, with the deck in THEIR hands, and
WITH YOUR BACK TURNED TO THEM AND TO THE AUDIENCE ALL THE TIME.
The spectators write the name of the card on three different slips of paper.
These are collected by a fourth spectator, performer takes them in his fingers
one at a time, and without opening them, HE NAMES EACH ONE OF THE MEN'S
CARDS. Before I give you the secret, let me tell you this:
The effect is perfectly uncanny; and this, combined with the ease with which
you do it, makes it one of the best effects to offer an audience. Now... if you're
still interested, here it is:
THE SECRET: If there is no sleight-of-hand to it, and yet at the same time it is
so easy to do, we must have a set-up; so we have the deck set up for the Si
Stebbins System.
When the men come up on the platform you take out three pieces of paper
from your pocket, about 2-in. square, fold each one in halves, then fold it over
again, and with a pencil, mark one of the papers "1," another "2," and the
other "3" ON BOTH SIDES. Give one paper to each of the men and have them
place it in their vest pocket. As you do this you talk.
"I'm folding three pieces of paper, Ladies and Gentlemen, and I'm marking
each of them No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 on both sides. I pass one of the papers to
you, sir; one to this gentleman, and one to you. Will you kindly put them in
your pockets because I'm going to have you use your hands in a moment."
Pick up your cards and take them out of the case, fan them out, and let the
audience see that it is an ordinary deck.
Continue: "I have here an ordinary deck of cards, Ladies and Gentlemen, and
when I get through what I'm going to do, one of these men is going to have
this deck for himself. Which one of you gentlemen plays cards? You, sir? Very
well, then, the deck will be yours. Every time I do this trick, folks, I give away
a deck of cards--not because I like to give things away, especially to
strangers--but because I want everybody to know that I'm using NOTHING but
an ordinary deck; and you can see how foolish it would be for me to give a
deck of cards away to anyone if there was anything the matter with them. I
know that if anyone in this audience would like to examine these cards, the
gentleman here will be courteous enough to allow you to do so. Here's the
case, sir. I'll give you the cards later on.
"Now I'm going to ask the audience to help me out in this respect: I want you
to be sure that these gentlemen do EXACTLY as I tell them to do--no more, no
less. When I tell you gentlemen to cut the deck I mean to cut it--like this--and
then complete the cut. (An ordinary cut.) Later on, when I have you take a
card I'm going to ask you to show it to someone else. You may show it to the
audience, or to only one person--ANY person--and if I allow you this privilege
of showing it to ANYONE you want, or to the whole audience, you must realize
that I have no one to assist me in any way.
"Now, the first gentleman: Will you take the cards and place them on your left
hand? Don't do anything until I tell you. I'm going over here with my back
turned and I'm going to ask you to follow my instructions."
Walk away from him down to one side of the audience with your back turned
towards him and start giving instructions.
You walk back to performer, take deck from his hand... as described in "Two
Hours With Frank Lane"... thereby getting a peek at the bottom card, simply
REMEMBER that bottom card.
"Now I'm not going to run through this deck... I'm not even going to look at
it... I'm going to pass it to No. 2 man."
Here's where you get your peek at the bottom card, as you pass the deck to
the man with your right hand. Now turn to No. 1 man and say:
"I'm going to ask you, sir, to take your seat and when you are sure I'm not
looking at you to open your paper, write down the name of the card in any way
you desire on the inside of the paper, and then fold the paper again so that the
number will show on the outside."
Now you address No. 2 man and when you walk away you have him do exactly
the same routine as described above for the first man, with this one addition:--
Let him cut the cards twice, and then have him cut off about a THIRD of the
deck, and then complete the cut. This makes it a little safer for you, as he
might cut to the same spot where the other man put his card. When you have
him cut a third of the deck, the third time he cuts will eliminate any danger.
After the routine is over, have him take his seat in the same manner as No. 1
man, and when you have learned the bottom card, as you pass the deck to the
third man, you continue talking, as follows:
"Now, for this third gentleman I'm going to work a little different. I'm going to
ask you, sir, to shuffle that deck of cards as much as your heart desires. Later
on I'm going back to you and I'm going to say: 'You're the gentleman that
shuffled the deck as much as you wanted' and when I say that, I want you to
reply 'Yes.' So I want you now to shuffle them so you CAN say 'Yes.' Are you
satisfied that they are shuffled enough? Now, here's what I want you to do--
and I want you, Ladies and Gentlemen, to see that he does exactly as I say--
take the deck in your left hand, and with your right thumb and second finger, I
want you to pull out some cards from the center of the deck... take as few or
as many as you wish... and when you get this portion out in your right hand,
As you say the above, you demonstrate what you want him to do; and as you
say "Is that clear?" you get a glimpse of the bottom card of the whole deck and
then overhand shuffle the cards, leaving that bottom card on the top of the
deck--and hand the deck to him. Now don't you see that when he takes the
portion from the center and looks at the bottom card, then puts them on top of
the deck, that the card he looked at will be to the LEFT of the card you noted,
when you fan the deck later on.
Before you walk away from him and turn your back while he is doing this,
simply watch him for a second until you see that he is STARTING right. Then
turn your back. After he goes through the routine, have him cut the deck and
then tell him to lay the cards down on the table--that you don't even want to
touch them. Now continue talking:
"Now, sir" (after you come back to stage) "let's work with you a little different
again. Let's forget your paper. YOU MERELY THINK OF YOUR CARD. Then take
your seat, please."
You now walk down to No. 1 man and without looking at his paper, you stretch
out your right hand and take the paper from him. Hold it above your head. Ask
him to think of his card... and bring back to your audience the fact that your
back was turned, something like this:
"Now, sir, you remember you told me that as far as you knew there was no
possible way I could tell any card while my back was turned; yet you cut the
deck three or four times... you took some card... and you are now thinking of
it. The gentleman took a black card... it was a Queen... and you TOOK, sir, the
Queen of Spades."
Follow this same routine with the No. 2 man. When you get to the third man,
say this:
"Now this is the first time that I'm taking the deck in my hands I don't know
whether I showed you folks that this was an ordinary deck or not--but it is."
And as you run through them, faces towards audience so that they can see
they are all different, you locate the card that was on the top and then note
the card to the left of it--and that will be the man's card. You fan these cards in
"This is your deck, sir. Hold it in your hand, sir, just like this for a moment,
until I get through. Now I'm going to ask the No. 3 man to be serious. I want
him to really think of his card."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm going to try to SELL this trick to you, exactly the
same way a salesman would sell something to a business man. Remember, this
gentleman shuffled the cards as much as he wished. He took some cards from
the middle--he looked at one of the cards--and put them back. I have had no
chance to manipulate the cards--my back was turned--and you must realize
without my telling you that there was NO possibility of sleight-of-hand in any
way whatsoever. If it ISN'T sleight-of-hand, it must be something else. I'm
going to ask the gentleman to think of his card. You're thinking of a red card...
you're thinking of a heart..."
Put your hand up to your forehead and look at one spot, as if you were
thinking intently, and repeat:
"You're thinking of a heart, sir, and it's... the s--, the s--, the seven spot of
hearts."
BOW
NOTE:--Now you see how simple this is to do, but the preparation and the
salesmanship of it are what get me the engagements that I told you about. You
can sell it as good as I can, so go to it!
Now I'm going to present a young man who perhaps none of you know
personally, but he's the inventor of my favorite trick, "Charlie, the Wonder
Snake." He's also the feller that does all my drawings and he made the
drawings for this program tonight... I saw him do a trick at one of Dr. Calkins'
Conventions in Springfield. He fooled me on it and it's a clever stunt for
anybody who plays Clubs. I have asked him to show it to you boys... and not
SECRET: The hat is empty. Affixed to the back of the chair by two screw eyes
is a heavy wire frame (fig. C) which supports a specially made holder,
containing seven whiskey glasses two-thirds full of liquid (fig. B). In the
illustration only one glass is shown in the holder for clarity.
Fig. A illustrates the gimmick attached to this holder which is grasped between
the first and second fingers, thus enabling the right hand to rest on the back of
the chair while holding the hat, securing holder in the same manner as
described by Frank Lane in "Glass of Water Through the Hat" in Help Yourself.
To load glasses into hat merely lift hat and holder up, and away from chair,
tilting holder into hat as you do so. See Fig. D.
"I had twelve bottles of whiskey in my cellar and my wife asked me to empty
the entire lot down the sink."
Rest hand with hat on chair, and as you say the next sentence get the load into
hat, and casually sit down with hat in your lap.
"I always do as my wife asks, so I brought all the bottles up into the kitchen. I
pulled the cork out of the first bottle, and emptied the entire contents down
Wink, and take one glass out of hat, drink and set on table.
"Then I pulled the cork out of the second bottle and did likewise, emptied
every drop down the sink. Well, that is, all but one glass, which I drank."
Take another glass from hat and drink.
"Then I extracted the cork from the third bottle, poured the good booze down
the glass... down the SINK, with the exception of one glass which I drank."
Take another glass out of hat and drink. You are now getting slightly
intoxicated, and get "tighter" every drink from now on. Drink another glass
after each description.
"Next I pulled the cork out of the sink and poured the bottle down the glass,
with the exception of one glass which I drank.
"Next I pulled the bottle out of the cork, drank one sink, and threw the rest
down the glass.
"Then I pulled the sink out of the sixth cork and poured the bottle down my
neck.
"Then I pulled the bottle out of my glass, poured the cork down the sink, all
but the sink which I drank.
"Then I pulled the next glass out of my throat, poured the sink down the bottle
and drank the cork.
"Then when all the bottles were empty, I steadied the house with one hand,
and counted the bottles as they went by. And there was TWENTY-FIVE, so I
counted them again. And as the houses was going by too I counted them too
and there were Seventy-five! Then I proceeded to wash and wipe all the
bottles. I couldn't get the brush inside the bottles so I turned the bottles inside
out and washed and wiped every one. Then I went upstairs to my wife and told
her what I had done. And BOY! I got the WIFIEST little NICEY in the world!
(SAY THIS LAST LINE AS YOU GET UP, MUSS YOUR HAIR, AND STAGGER OFF
STAGE.)
A dandy, Lionel, a dandy--just a kid, Folks, just a kid--but a swell kid--he can
have anything I got--and I guess that goes for him, too--
Lionel says if you are run down, get the driver's license number. The only fault
I have to find with Lionel is the way he shakes hands. You know, he sticks his
You know I'm a pretty tough feller to make laugh... I'm supposed to dish out
humour myself... and I've trained myself NOT to laugh; but four years ago at
Fort Wayne, Indiana, I saw a man do a routine with two kids that was a
scream from start to finish. I laughed my head off; and that's why you're
going to hear next from the feller that made me laugh. If he doesn't affect you
the same way, there's something the matter with you. Here he is... play him
on, George... It's:
PREPARATION: Place real egg in right trousers or coat pocket. Conceal one
celluloid egg in secret pocket of egg bag so bag may be shown empty.
NOTE:--It is not absolutely necessary to use a zipper bag to have the egg
break. If a regular bag, closed at bottom, is being used, just as he drops egg
turn head a little and say something to girl as though you did not see boy, and
at the same time move bag a few inches toward right so egg misses bag
entirely. Or, you can do as above, only bring left hand holding rear of bag
open, forward a little to close opening of bag an instant.
6. A cover for the can, coming down over sides of can, takes out INNER can,
which sticks inside cover due to flange on the inner can, extending slightly over
the edge of the can proper. (See illustrations.)
7. A bag of rice.
Pick up uppermost one of inverted bowls and casually show, as you talk.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY ARE NOTHING BUT THE ORDINARY SOUP-BOWL
VARIETY.
Place bowl down on tray, right side up, and pick up bag of rice while you are
saying:
NOW IT'S A SCIENTIFIC FACT THAT EVERY GRAIN OF RICE FROM THE TIME IT
IS PLANTED UNTIL MATURITY REQUIRES 9-1/3 GALLONS OF WATER;
CONSEQUENTLY, IN CHINA THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE WATER, BUT LOTS OF
RICE.
Slowly pour rice from bag into bowl, as you talk.
NOW HOW LONG, THE MAGICIAN, FILLED HIS BOWL WITH RICE UNTIL IT
WAS ABOUT LEVEL FULL.
Level off surface.
THEN HE PLACED THE SECOND EMPTY BOWL ON TOP OF THE BOWL OF RICE
AND RAISED THE BOWLS ON HIGH WHERE ALL COULD SEE THE MARVELOUS
TRANSFORMATION TAKE PLACE, AND PRONOUNCED THOSE MYSTERIOUS
WORDS "FOOEY FOOEY KING" AND WHEN THE UPPERMOST BOWL WAS
REMOVED, THE RICE HAD MULTIPLIED UNTIL THERE WAS JUST DOUBLE THE
QUANTITY.
When bowls are lifted above head and reversed, say the words, lower bowls,
BUT DO NOT set bowls down on tray. Hold about 10 inches above tray with one
hand on bottom and remove top bowl with other hand, allowing rice to stream
out in a shower down onto tray. Then lower both bowls to table and say:
NOW THAT'S A VERY HANDY THING TO HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE. YOU
START OUT WITH ONE BOWL OF RICE AND IT MULTIPLIES TO TWO, AND YOU
STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL BOWLFUL WITH WHICH YOU STARTED. HOW LONG
WOULD THEN LEVEL OFF THE RICE SO THAT HE HAD THE ORIGINAL BOWL
JUST LEVEL.
With empty bowl slide it over the water bowl, pushing off all rice.
AND ONCE AGAIN HE WOULD PLACE THE EMPTY BOWL OVER THE BOWL OF
RICE, RAISE ON HIGH, BUT THIS TIME HE SAID: "FOOEY FOOEY KING, FOOEY
EXLAX." IT'S THAT EXTRA EXLAX THAT DOES THE WORK.
Raise bowls as before, but without turning over, place down on tray. Lift off top
bowl, taking disc with it, and place mouth down on tray, at the came time
lifting water bowl with other hand.
AND THE BOWL OF RICE COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED LEAVING CLEAR, CLEAN,
SPARKLING WATER.
Dip hand in, holding bowl down into water, lifting out what water you can, and
allow to run back into bowl. Pick up other bowl with the same hand, leaving
disc on tray, and pour water from bowl to bowl.
WITH WHICH TO DO HIS WASHING.
Dipped hand in water will naturally be dripping wet and probably have a few
rice grains sticking to it and probably a few on the bowl. Shake hand and open
and close fingers, shaking off rice and water on tray, and very openly pick up
piece of ink tablet and drop into bowl of water which you have by this time
As you reach the end of the paper coming out of the can, with one grand
sweep you should also reach the last word of patter, showing can empty, and
bow as you reach the climax you have been building up. It's never failed to get
me a big hand yet.
(Any tin maker can make the tin-can insert and cover cheaply, and you can
That was Bill Neff, of Indiana, Ladies and Gentlemen. I think he deserves much
credit for working up this laugh trick, and we all should thank him for GIVING
it to us here. Bill has a great little wife--if you don't know Virginia, you missed
something--this is his second one--I think it's his second one--he uses the
index system. Bill claimed years ago, when he first went around with a girl,
that he was disappointed in love. But who the hell isn't?
Now we'll hear from an author whom you all have either seen or read about.
He's published plenty of books on magic; and here's another lad who hasn't
been in the game long, but he's reached the top so quick we feel he's always
been there. Come on out, Howard--Ladies and Gentlemen,
HOWARD ALLBRIGHT
Performer takes an unprepared envelope from his pocket and removes a blank
card there from, writes something on it, and seals the card in the envelope
which is placed in Harry's hat for safe keeping, the hat being set, mouth up, on
Harry's head. He holds it there, with one hand, and the deck is placed in his
other hand.
Now, returning to Tom and Dick, performer says he will count 1-2-3 and on the
third count both are to shout out name of card each one chose. The fun comes
when both men call out the same card... say, the Queen of Hearts.
Harry is asked to find the Queen in the deck; in order to have use of both
hands performer removes envelope from the hat and hands to either Tom or
Dick, and the hat is clapped on Harry's head while he looks through the deck.
Performer steps away while this is done and eventually Harry announces that
the Queen of Hearts is not in the deck, whereupon Dick is asked to open the
sealed envelope and read the message, which says: "Harry has the Queen of
Hearts ON THE BRAIN." Harry raises hat off his head slowly, and the Queen of
Hearts is ON TOP OF HIS HEAD.
A good showman will find plenty of places to work this up with humorous
patter. It has the necessary elements of surprise and mystery and comedy.
ROUTINE: The deck is shuffled by anyone, and Tom has a free choice. As the
card is returned, performer controls same by his favorite method. (I crimp the
lower half, have card returned on this, drop up half on top, false shuffle, and
cut to crimp, leaving the selected card on the bottom, as in Frank Lane's
Book).
Now, the card is glimpsed and the same card is forced on Dick, and
subsequently brought to the top in the shuffle.
The deck is in performer's left hand and with right hand he reaches into his
vest pocket and removes an envelope from which he extracts a blank card. The
envelope is rested on top of the deck, while he lays card on top, and writes the
message. Card is then replaced in the envelope and sealed.
There is a small daub of wax or diachylon on the face of the envelope, and as
pressure is applied to seal same, this causes the selected card to adhere to the
Envelope is now picked up and placed in Harry's hat, sitting on the short end,
so part of it protrudes outside hat. At this time performer loosens the card with
a flip of the finger and it drops down flat in the hat, which is now set, mouth
UPWARD, on Harry's head; and he is told to hold it in that position with one
hand while the deck is placed in his other hand. (This is a funny predicament
for a spectator to be in, and a lot of fun can be had at this point if performer
works it up.)
Now, according to effect, performer says he will count 1-2-3, and on "3," Tom
and Dick are to shout out the name of the card which each one chose. Of
course, they shout out the same card, which is a surprise to them, and gets
another laugh.
Harry is told to look through the deck and find the card, which he CAN'T, as he
only has the use of one hand. (More laughs.) To relieve him, performer takes
the hat off his head (by holding high enough so he can't see down into it),
removes the envelope, and hands it to Dick; but before leaving, he claps the
hat on Harry's head and AT THE SAME TIME urges him to look through the
deck and find the card. (This prevents him from removing the hat prematurely,
since both his hands are employed with the deck.)
Of course, he must admit he cannot find the card in the deck, so Dick is asked
to open the envelope and read the message written there, which is: "Harry has
the Queen of Hearts on the brain." Nobody knows just what this means until
Harry is directed to lift his hat, when the card is seen balanced on the hair of
his head (unless he has a bald head, in which case the card will slide off the
dome to the floor... which will be funnier still.)
The card in the hat cannot be felt when the hat is placed on the head. (Try it
and see.) So Harry never knows it's there until the last minute. Besides, he is
kept busy and has no chance to investigate the hat before the climax.
Performer makes it a point to see that he doesn't doff the hat while envelope is
being opened and the message read.
More laughs can be gotten out of this by introducing the assistants to each
other as "Tom," "Dick," and "Harry" as they come up to assist... and calling
'em by those names.
Next we have with us a man whom you fellows in America have never seen
before, but whom you have heard of and read of, and learned from, time and
time again. I consider him one of the, if not THE, most widely read and most
thoroughly posted men on Magic today. When he gives you something, you
know it's good, and he's going to give us all something today. Can you guess
who 'tis?--Well, boys, it's none other than
ELLIS WRITES: Thanks boys, I appreciate your silent applause, for I realize
that while you read, the applause MUST be silent. I have prepared three new
tricks for you. They are all original and I trust you will gain from the reading of
them. I won't waste your time. I'm glad to co-operate with Frank in this most
novel magic treat, so here goes. My first one is entitled:
EGG, HANDKERCHIEF AND WINE-GLASS COMEDY..
EXPLANATION: The egg used is a real one, with an oval piece of red silk
glued on it, in imitation of a red silk handkerchief showing through the hole in
the side of the well-known hollow egg. The egg is introduced without
comment, care being taken to keep the red spot to the rear (the spot must not
be exposed at this stage of the trick on any account) and forthwith put into the
wine-glass, the stem of which is held between the second and third fingers of
the left hand.
In the act of covering the glass with a cambric handkerchief (a borrowed one
may be used), it is secretly turned upside down on the palm of the hand,
readily done owing to the manner in which the glass is held, by merely closing
the hand in the form of a fist. Thus the handkerchief falls over the foot, instead
of the top of the glass and, since the foot is the same size as the top, there is
nothing to disclose the fact. The covered glass is then stood on the table,
leaving the egg concealed in the hand.
The right hand now picks up the red silk square which is forthwith rolled up
between both hands, to be eventually concealed in the right hand, while the
egg is exposed in the left hand--the silk has presumably changed to the egg.
In showing the egg at this stage, its "spot" is accidentally (sic) exposed, then
quickly turned to the rear, when the egg is placed aside in full view. The
diversion thus afforded leaves the right hand still concealing the red silk above
suspicion, thus making this part of the working simplicity itself, AS ALL
BELIEVE THE RED SILK TO BE INSIDE THE STILL-VISIBLE EGG.
The left hand now picks up the covered glass and places it on the right hand,
thus secretly over the concealed silk, which is pushed up into it. In the act of
removing the cambric handkerchief, and trader its cover, the glass is turned
right way up; the red silk is then shaken out and the glass returned to the
table.
In conclusion the performer picks up the egg, visible all the time--never
changed, and remarking "No! this is an Easter Egg; I always use one of these
because I like the pretty spots they paint on them," breaks it into the glass,
thus proving it genuine; and the illusion is, or should be, complete.
The novelty consists of working the trick with the four ordinary aces taken
from any pack, i.e., without the aid of prepared cards or duplicates; and
further, ALL THE FOUR ACES ARE DEALT FACE UPWARDS.
EXPLANATION: The aces are dealt on the corners of the handkerchief in this
order: diamond, club, heart, spade--the performer standing behind
handkerchief and reading this order as the page of a book.
The half sheets of note paper are held (long side) one in each hand, thumbs on
top; they are first lowered (not released) over Nos. 1 and 2; then over 2 and
4. No. 4 still covered, the LEFT-HAND paper is lowered over No. 1. Nos. 2 and
3 are covered next (No. 2 with right hand), the performer explaining, as an
excuse for these movements, that the papers cover the cards in a satisfactory
manner; that if two be covered, two will be visible, and so on. Now for the
crucial move. The papers are again moved to cover Nos. 2 and 4 (No. 4 with
left hand). In doing this, the left hand secretly picks up the card under the
paper, while at the same instant and in a manner to cover the movement, the
right hand drops its paper over the vacant space at No. 4. The left-hand paper
with card beneath it is then dropped on to No. 1, thus covering 2 cards
(supposed one only).
The performer now picks up the Heart (No. 3) in the right hand and proceeds
to pass it under the left-hand rear corner of handkerchief, then suddenly struck
with an idea, he remarks, "But I think it will be better to pass a black card next
to the red one, so I will change this Heart for the Spade."
He accordingly raises the rear edge of paper covering the supposed Spade at
No. 4, and goes through the action of changing the cards, really bringing out
the Heart reversed (presumably the Spade). He now raises the left-hand rear
corner of the handkerchief and passes the card beneath it, again reversing it
and leaving it in the fingers of the left hand. The right hand is then advanced
under the handkerchief, the under side of which is filliped with the thumb,
indicating the passage of the card through the cambric to position under the
paper at No. 1.
The performer now picks up the club and, making the same excuse, again
seems to change it for the heart, supposed to be under the paper at No. 4,
thus preventing two black cards appearing together.
The supposed Heart is now passed through the handkerchief in like manner.
The paper at No. 1 is again raised, showing the Heart in position, and again
replaced, thus the Club is secretly placed in position for the next and final
move.
To conclude, the paper at No. 4 is struck a sharp blow with the fist, then
raised, revealing the fact that the Club has disappeared. Finally the paper at
No. 1 is raised and all four cards found beneath it.
While the lemon is being examined and to save time, the performer's assistant
obtains the loan of a coin, duly marked by its owner who is further requested
to drop it into a common matchbox of the slide and cover variety. The
assistant, having closed the box, shakes same to prove coin still inside it (the
fact); he then places it in full view upon the bottom of an upturned tumbler.
The assistant now goes off but returns immediately with a plate upon which is
a table knife. Performer takes the knife and, having shown both sides of the
blade, proceeds to cut open the lemon--the borrowed and marked coin is found
in the center of the lemon and is forthwith (not changed) handed back to its
owner. The matchbox is found empty.
EXPLANATION: All the objects employed are of the most ordinary description,
with the exception of the matchbox, which is slightly prepared by removing the
LOWER HALF of the wood (not the paper) at one end. The coin, duly placed in
the box, the assistant closes same and, while holding it with thumb at one end
and fingers at the other, shakes it up and down to prove presence of the coin--
very convincing--then, in the act of transferring the box from one hand to the
other, he allows the coin to slide out into the now-otherwise-empty hand; he
then places the EMPTY box on the tumbler and goes off to bring on the plate
and knife.
During his temporary absence, however, he sticks the coin onto the LEFT-HAND
side of the blade--looking at the back of the knife--on to a tiny bit of wax
placed on the blade in readiness, at a point within an inch of the handle.
Taking up the knife IN HIS LEFT HAND, the performer holds it downwards in
front of his body, showing the plain side. He then turns the point of the blade
upwards and to rest obliquely across his chest, presumably showing the
opposite side, but in reality, due to the fingers having imparted a half turn to
the blade, THE SAME SIDE IS SHOWN; this movement, which should be
repeated several times, is very deceptive.
The performer now, having transferred the knife to his right hand, and while
standing with his right side towards the audience, cuts open the lemon on the
plate, using the fore part of the knife blade; eventually he draws the whole of
the blade through the cut and, in doing so, dislodges the coin with his left
thumb.
The match-box vanish, together with this method of using an ordinary table
knife (of course wide enough to completely hide the coin) for this purpose, also
the entire combination, are my own.
A mechanical knife, i.e., one with a metal clip soldered on one side to hold the
coin, was formerly used for the purpose, but this has long since been relegated
to the shades.
Now, for the next number, Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm going to present to you
a young man whom I am sure you will like for his originality. His name is not
as well known as Thurston or Blackstone; but he's young yet, and if we give
him a little more time, he's going to be way up there with the big shots. He's
full of ideas and when he gets one he puts it into practice instead of getting an
idea and then promptly forgetting it, as most of us do. He's a swell kid and I'm
going to present to you now, Brandon, the Magician. Play him on, George.
BRANDON, THE MAGICIAN, SPEAKING: How are you, boys? Here's a new
one I thought you might like. When you were a kid you no doubt remember of
having played "Crack the Whip." The one on the end usually "cracked" the
ground and received a bloody lip or nose in the play (?). I assure you that in
the trick I am about to describe, the climax holds no such disastrous element;
on the contrary, it is a quite pleasing and mystifying one. I trust I have
aroused your interest and attention in a way that will make you relish the
following (would I be taking a liberty in saying) original invention.
The next part of the explanation is something like the last chapter in a mystery
novel. The climax is passed. But I must needs insert this chapter for the sake
of completeness, so I say, too, for the sake of being complete, that the tube is
inserted at the end of the whip, the cord string is fastened at the back end of
the tube (the pictures show this) and is then run out to just the end of the
tube. The rubber card is tied on the end of the string which allows the card to
hang at the end of the whip without the string showing. (I know this is
painstaking, but bear with me.) [WE WILL, KID.]
If you think this trick the least bit practical you may use it (as long as you paid
to get in) and if you decide to use it I shall be greatly complimented. Please
remember there are no springs or rubber bands to get out of order.
Lil Arthur says he has another one--want to see it?--Well, clap then, that's the
stuff--come on, Arthur, let's have it--and listen folks (whisper) I know what's
coming, so watch carefully, because it's GOOD.
The black one is as real as it looks; but the white one is faked in the following
way: It is painted black 1/4 of the way up (on one side only) and Mr. Lane tells
me that he's going to illustrate this, so when you buy the book you will see the
picture.
It will now be observed that when the two are together one can be shown
smaller; a great improvement over the old style, as they could not actually be
shown smaller side by side.
The "sticks" are really made of metal, or some other thin material, and if you
still have time, I'll be only too glad to give you my.........
METHOD OF PRESENTATION
The sticks are picked up from the table with fake side AWAY from audience
(make yourself two miniature ones and follow the routine with them as you
read) and shown as in the OLD method side by side when one looks smaller
than the other because of the optical illusion. (See illustrations.)
NOW TO FOOL THE WISE ONES!! The WHITE ONE is placed in BACK of the
black one with fake side still away from audience. Turn them over and the
Much as I hate to admit it, there is a flaw in my method. It is not perfect, even
though I believe it is much better than the old method. The flaw is this: The
sticks cannot be shown on both sides at the finish. With a smaller set one
could have the fake made of black tin so it could be palmed off of the white
one at the finish; or, in the act of stretching, it would be easy to palm the piece
off. The general audience is so familiar with the effect that this is not necessary
(don't you think so?) as they take it for granted that the one side is the same
as the other. Then again, psychologically there have been so many moves they
will be under the impression that they have seen ALL sides.
I value this idea very much, and only through my friendship for Frank Lane
would I consent to appear here tonight and give it to you boys.
You're all right Arthur, old kid--you know folks, when we asked Arthur to
appear here tonight, he didn't think he was good enough, but I guess he
proved himself that he was wrong. He's too modest. That's probably why he
isn't married. But, girls, he's willing to listen to reason--ME?--I'm married. I've
LOST my reason--So merrily on we go.
And now a swell trick by a swell fellow. You all met him at the Batavia
Convention. Never was on a convention show, but I expect he'll be on them
all, once he shows his stuff, he's a college man, but as he says himself,
ignorance is no excuse. He's outlived it, and if there's any one smarter than
this lad, show him to me... George, some music, please, and SMART MUSIC...
it's
CAUSE: Every effect has a cause and this time it is a lead-propelling pencil.
Secure a hard and soft lead. Break off about three-sixteenths of an inch from
each type, and load them into the pencil as follows: The long, soft lead first,
then the three-sixteenths of the hard lead, and finally the three-sixteenths of
the soft lead. With very little practice, the small pieces of lead can be ejected
when desired.
Hand the notebook and the pencil to three or four people as the pencil is now
prepared. Before offering the pencil to the party who is to write the dead
name, turn the working part of the pencil with the first and second fingers of
the right hand, holding the pencil with THAT HAND ONLY, and this causes the
small piece of soft lead to drop on the floor, and the other small hard piece to
appear in the pencil point.
Repeat this operation immediately after the party has written the dead name
so that the next few writers will be using the soft lead.
Of course it will be an easy matter because the lead being harder causes the
writing to be lighter than the other writings. This is quite a novel idea, and I
know that lots of other tricks can be worked out, using the same principle. See
what you can work out with it.
Now project those thoughts with the proper showmanship and ask different
people to call out the first idea that enters their heads. With the BLACK pencil,
write these thoughts on the second card. When completed, have this second
envelope initialled with the black pencil, the card enclosed and the envelope
sealed.
CAUSE: Again the propelling pencil takes credit for accomplishing this
delightful routine. Secure a red crayon pencil that is painted red on the
outside. Also a black propelling pencil loaded first with a black lead, then
three-sixteenths of an inch of RED lead (these can easily be obtained at any
stationers) and finally three-sixteenths of an inch of black lead.
Actually three cards are used but shown as two. On the lowermost card has
been written (The blank space is so you can fill this in later.):
"Make of Car"...................
Color.................
License................
Number...............
Now pretend to project the thoughts and when spectators offer their
suggestions write them down on the blank card in black, without the listing,
such as make of car, etc. Coach them so that for "license" they will name some
state that the car is licensed in. When completed, under cover of the envelope,
slip the top card under the other and also turn the pencil so the red lead is
showing. Now quickly pretend to be checking back, and fill in the blanks of the
other card with the proper information.
Again twist the pencil so that the black lead is in evidence and allow a
spectator to initial the envelope. Show the card (written in black) and seal in
envelope. The extra card is now held behind envelope. Collect the first
The other envelope may now be opened and the information on the two cards
agree. And you have successfully demonstrated to them, in simple language,
that you were able to (1) read their thoughts before they themselves knew
what they were going to THINK, (2) you were able to PROJECT the thoughts
that YOU had to their minds, so that they, themselves, had the same identical
thoughts that YOU had.
(Lane enters). Thanks, Jake, SOME STUFF, and the best part of it is NEW,
and has never before been offered in any form to magicians. Fellers, Jake is a
former Harvard quarterback, and has some sweet ideas that he'll give you in
another book sometime. He is the one who originated that card trick, "The
Devil's Whisper," and what a trick! I always offered, and still do, $100 to
anyone that could duplicate it, if they gave me their word they didn't know it
and hadn't bought it.
Incidentally, speaking about red and black pencils, here's a gag, Jake, that
ARTHUR MONROE thought of, and I think it would look well if Art gave it to us
here. Don't mind, do you?... of course not. Well, if he's sober, bring him out.
Here's Arthur, boys.
ARTHUR MONROE
LANE: Thanks, Art. And now, boys, it is getting late, it's time you were all in
bed. This is a great trick to close this show with. We KNOW you had a good
time. Give a nice sigh now, finish your Tom Collins, and then put your nightie
on, and slumber away. Thanks for coming, thanks for your patronage, good
luck always to you all and may success and prosperity make their yearly visit
to each and every one. If you liked this show, and incidentally this book, tell
your friends to buy one.
Tell them it's good. But if you DIDN'T like it, for 'evings sake, keep your mouth
shut.
So long,
FRANK LANE.