Lotayne's THREE DOLLARS
VOL 3 NO.
pocalyps ISSUE NO. 25
Scotty rarely contributes any of his magic to magazines these days. That's too bad. I'm pleased that he gave me this for Apocalypse - and for you. It is a BEAUTIFUL piece of magic. It is completely impromptu-looking, and can be performed under almost any circumstances - standing or siting - no surface is necessary. When the effect is over (actually, BEFORE it's over) you're absolutely clean. The effect is short, sweet, and terrific - but I have to use some space to explain how to make the gimmick, how to make a tube or cylinder with a dollar bill, and so on. Bear with me. You have to make a nickel gimmick, and you need a ballpoint pen with a strong magnet built into its bottom. Scotty uses a Flair pen; you may be able to obtain a "magnet" pen at your local magic shop. Once you make the nickel gimmick you can use it forever. When completed, the gimmick looks like a three-nickel stack - but is one piece and hollow inside. There are a couple of ways you can go about making the gimmick. I'll explain it to you just as Scotty explained it to me. Obtain the regular gimmick from a "nickels to pennies" trick. The newer ones are "nickels to dimes;" that one will take some extra work. Another choice would be to try to get the gimmick out of the ring that was sold with an outer ring and a nickel with tapered sides. This was to do "two nickels through hand" (out of three nickels that were covered by the ring). This gimmick was sold by Richard Himber at one time, I think. If you have this ring gimmick, cut off one nickel. If you have the nickels-to-pennies gimmick, cut off the top nickel. If you have the nickels-to-dimes gimmick, you'll have to machine out the inside diameter to make it wide enough to take pennies; then cut off the top nickel. Whichever you use, you end up with a ring, large enough to fit over one Lifesaver candy; two nickels high (or deep), with no top or bottom.
COPYRIGHT 1980 by H. Lorayne, Inc.
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JAN.. 1980
Before going into the performance, you have to know how to form a dollar-bill tube. Scotty folds the two long sides downward, anywhere from a quarter to half an inch. Slant the folds just a bit so that one end of the bill is slightly narrower than the other. (See Fig. 4.) Now tuck the narrow end into the other end's "slots" (formed by the folded sides). (See Fig. 5.) Push in the end until it's solidly "tucked."
Now you need a nickel shell; if it's magnetic, remove the steel shim. Place the shell onto the two-nickel ring and wrap the outside with Scotch tape to keep it in stack condition. Glue the shell in place from the inside. Scott suggests you use Epoxy cement or filler (not clear glue) which comes in two tubes and usually mixes gray. (He uses the brand name Deucon.) (See Fig. 1.)
RING
EPOXY Finally, glue a quarter-inch round STEEL (for good magnetic attraction) slug at the bottom, inside, center. (See Fig. 2.) The finished gimmick will cover a Lifesaver, the steel
SLUG
AMA •
I, personally, use a faster method. Simply fold the bill once, lengthwise. Then push one end into the other. (See Fig. 6.) Again, push the ends together until you have a solid tube. This is the fastest way I know to form a "bill" tube.
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EPOXY
To prepare: Have the magnetic pen in shirt or jacket breast pocket; you'll have to remove and replace it with your right hand, so place it accordingly. Place a Lifesaver candy inside the nickel gimmick and keep the gimmick in your right trouser or jacket pocket. Place a package of Lifesavers in the same pocket. You're all set. To perform: I'll sentation, patter, and is the sort of routine likely want to fit and ity. Here's the basic
leave most of the prehandling to you. This to which you'll most mold your own personalroutine:
Borrow a dollar bill. Scotty does an origami gag with it; he folds it into the tube and "flies" it by pinching and releasing the sides, etc. This is optional. You're standing face to face with your spectator. Place the tube over (onto) his right thumb as you ask for the loan of three nickels. Collect these in your left hand. Reach into your pocket with your right hand and remove the package of Lifesavers; finger palm the gimmick at the same time. Hand the Lifesavers to your spectator, who still has the dollar-bill tube on his right thumb. Ask him to remove one candy.
slug goes through the hole; the candy will NOT wedge inside - it stays loose. (Fig. 3) is a. bottom view of the finished gimmick. Remove the Scotch tape, of course.
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As you place the gimmick onto his hand, tell him to put the Lifesaver on top of the nickels. Let everyone see the situation - a Lifesaver on top of a stack of three nickels as you talk about trying to "push" the nickels through the hole in the Lifesaver.
Scotty doesn't do a "move" to switch the three nickels for the gimmick. Ask the spectator to hold out his hand, the one with the tube on the thumb - palm down. As he does this, your right hand approaches your left hand and squares the loose nickels into a stack. Simply leave these in your left hand, which turns palm down with the loose nickels held in its curled fingers. At the same time, your right hand comes out of your left hand holding the gimmick between thumb and middle finger tips. This is done CASUALLY as your attention is on HIS hand.
Take the "bill" tube off his thumb and cover the nickel-Lifesaver stack with it. Take out the gaffed pen, with your right hand, and poke it down into the tube - through the Lifesaver hole. Do the old gag about "pushing the nickels through the hole." During the "groans" over this old chestnut, remove the pen. The "stack" of nickels with the Lifesaver on it comes out with the pen, hidden by your right second, third, and fourth fingers. (See Fig. 8.) The original, hidden, Lifesaver is left on his hand, of course - inside the bill tube. Place the pen back into your pocket, leaving the gimmick there, too. (Hold the spectator's hand high enough so that neither he nor anyone else can look down into the tube.)
Your left hand moves toward his hand and holds, and steadies, it. Your left hand still holds the borrowed nickels hidden in its naturally curled third and fourth fingers. As part of the same actions, your right hand places the gimmick - as the three nickels onto the back of his hand. (See Fig. ?.) Obviously, you can switch in the gimmick any way you like. Just don't louse it up by making it "movey."
The work is done, you're clean, and your audience is still waiting for you to do the "magic"! Build it up however you like, then insert the thumb of your obviously empty right hand into the tube and press down with that thumb. As you do, release the borrowed nickels from your left fingers, letting them fall to the table, bar, or bar stool. (See Fig. 9.) The "miracle" penetration has occurred!
Lift the dollar-bill tube, exposing the Lifesaver still on the back of his hand, place the tube back onto his thumb, return the nickels, and eat the Lifesaver - the trick is over!
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Afterthoughts: There isn't much more I can tell you about this. It really is a classic piece of magic. Make up a gimmick, and you're ready to perform it at any time and under any circumstances. Once you've done the work making the gimmick, there's little work involved in performing the effect. You can put all your effort and energy into the presentation. Don't pass this by! All commercial and manufacturing rights reserved by Scotty York.
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