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((Page 1) AL BAKER'S "BILLET READING EXTRAORDINARY" A number of slips of paper are passed out to the company with the request that each write thereon any question they wish and sign their full name. They are requested to fold them all well, when they are gathered up in an envelope. The performer selects one and holding it up to his forehead immediately divines the question and answers it. He opens it, reads it and then passes it out for examination, A second slip is answered in the same way and so on. At any time the performer may pass out a slip for examination. It is the answering of the first question and passing out for examin tion that bewilders those who know the old method of working this effect. A number of slips of paper about 1-1/2" x 6" are placed in a large envelope (document size.) In the same envelope is placed a doubled carbon paper with the sensitive side outwards. This doubled sheet completely fills the envelope. Thus it will be seen that if anyone uses the envelope for a "pad" no matter which side is face up, a carbon impression will result on the opposite inside of the envelope. Come forward with envelope and pass out slips. Before last slip is given out, moisten the finger tip as if to help slide out the paper, but in reality to SLIGHTLY moisten the flap. The last slip is taken out and placed on top of envelope (incidentally) sealing flap a trifle and both envelope and paper are handed to spectator. Naturally, he uses it for a pad. Watch him very closely and just as he finishes, say, "Now, fold up your slip so that no one may see it." AT THE^SatiE TIi E, casually take the envelope from him and unseal it with the forefinger behind envelope. Address the audience as follows: "Now, if all have finished writing, fold your slips in four, using a good crease so that they will not open. I will gather them up in this envelope, "WHILE YOU ARE S.iYIi-.G THIS, casually open the envelope, glance inside and read the carbon copy of the last question, while in the act of inserting the fingers to hold it open. Gather up the last party's slip -first and place in front portion of envelope. Place all the rest on the other side of carbon paper, after returning to your place, bring forth any slip from the rear portion. Hold it up to your forehead and after a little deliberation, give as the question that whose carbon copy you have read. WHILE YOU ABE DOING THIS the left hand, with fingers still in the envelope, palms the one slip in the front portion and holds same at back of envelope with the thumb; fingers at front. The right with the aid of the left (WHICH STILL HOLDS ENVELOPE) opens up the billet (to see if he is correct.) He memorizes the question and folds it up again. Then as an after thought, says to the audience, "Ferhaps you would like to see it," â&#x20AC;˘Suiting the action to the word, he takes envelope in right hand and passes billet to left with which hand he passes it out for examination. What he really does is to retain the billet behind the envelope with his right hand and bring forward the other which he has been holding with the left, and whose answer and question he has really given. The exchange is VERY ,EASY and absolutely indectable. The envelope should be passed in a very casual manner. A second billet is selected and the memorized question of the first billet selected is given. The billet is opened as in the first case (but is not given.out for examination) and question memorized and given as the answer to the next billet held up. This is continued untill all have been answered.
(Page 2
AL BAKJSR'S BILLKT HEADIMG EXTRAORDINARY
(2)
If desired, you may at any time, pass out the billet you have just read by the same method of exchange. In this case it is necessary to have a jar or other object several inches in height, into which you place each billet after you have read it (?). This gives you the opportunity to apparently place the billet just read into the jar with the others that hu,ve been read. In reality you retain the billet in your palm under cover of the jar. It is also necessary to fold up all the billets immediately after opening them to "see if you are correct." It should be understood that the slight sealing of the flap of the envelope before giving to the last party is merely by way of caution so as to crevent a sudden opening of the envelope by the spectator. If desired it may be omitted. I would be very glad to hear of the results you may have in presenting this excellent effect as also of any possible improvements.
AL BAKER'S TWO PERSON
SLATE
TEST
(Page 3)
Performer passes out small slips requesting that short questions be written on them. Slips are then folded, dropped into small basket and left in audience. Performer removes one slip at a time and requests a spectator to hold it. Medium on stage writes answer to one spectator is holding— a non-detectable switch. What you need: One thumb fake or tip, same as for torn paper trick, must be large enough to come down to first joint of thumb, a number of slips of paper and a small deep work basket, any sound deep willow basket will do, this basket is prepared in the following way; you line basket with some dark thick but soft material. The lining does not go all the way to bottom of basket and lining has a small pocket in it just large enough to hold a thumb tip. If you place your thumb in this pocket you can leave thumb tip in pocket facing open end up, or you can insert your thumb in pocket and remove thumb fake. Everything hinges on this move—slate is unprepared you start by passing out slips asking that short questions be written and then have them fold slips twice, so slip is ...bout 1/2" of an inch when folded—while they are busy writing,, performer gets thumb fake on right thumb, picks up the small basket and inserts thumb into small pocket in basket leaving it there. Walking to one of the writers he takes a slip from writer and says, "drop it in basket so", performer suits action to words by dropping slip into basket, taking another one he places this in basket apparently, but this slip goes into thumb fake and right thumb goes in with it and withdraws thumb and slip, and fake is now on his thumb, this is all done in a casual way passing basket right along, the rest of writers drop their slips into basket. The one performer has in thumb all he needs. When all slips are in basket, performer leaves basket with slips on a small table in audience. So basket never leaves their sight. Performer has a chair on stage turned so that a person's back will be toward audience when seated on it. Performer brings out assistant and seats assistant in chair leaving thumb tip and message in it, with assistant which is very easy to do. Tying a cloth over eyes of assistant, assistant is busy taking slip from tip and reading it and replaces slip, and holding it so performer while finishing tie gets tip back on his own finger. Assistant is blindfolded but can look down along his nose and see his hands in his lap very well. Remember he has read the first slip and returned it to the performer while being blindfolded— say those slips read "Shall I hear from my Brother" to audienceit looks as if nothing had happened yet--Performer now has the read message on his thumb, showing slate unprepared, performer goes into basket, pushes his thumb into little pocket withdraws own thumb and message, leaving fake in pocket and leaving message he withdrew from thumb fake lay alongside of pocket. Performer picks up another slip, place it in thumb fake and inserts his thumb with it and brings out tip on thumb containing the second message and also picks up the first message he left lying alongside of pocket and brings hand out of basket—holding message in thumb and fingers of hand-this can all be done as if performer just reached into basket and brought out a slip, handing the slip to someone to hold, performer picks up slate and now for the move(remember assistant already knows message spectator is holding) walking up to assistant's head-assistant reaches hand up and takes slate, performer's thumb is on side of slate away from audience when assistant reaches up for slate, assistant's fingers go upon performer's thumb, performer draws hand away and assistant not only has slate but fake thumb tip containing the second message, ALL assistant has to do is open message while slate is in lap and read and refold and place in fake again.