m
MAGICAL BULLETIN OF The Magical Shop of the West Vol.I •mm
JANUARY, 1914
No. 1 •
MAGICAL NOTES Marco (Wright) is playing around Los Angeles. His show is very clever, while his personality is charming. Harry Applcgate is without doubt the hardest worker after new ideas that we have ever met. His latest is the visible production of a table, using no cover whatsoever. The Spirit Paintings, presented by J. B. Dane, recently appeared at the S. & C. house, and succeeded in fooling the people. Carter made a fine impression while here a short time ago. Thurston's Trippie Mystery was used to close with. It was fine. We wonder why magicians do not come out this way. The people certainly like magic. A number of small performers stay around, but they all do about the same act, and to see one is to see all. The Magical World, by Max Sterling, is certainly keeping things interesting. Every week brings an issue full of good things. We have a number of fine effects which will be published from time to time.
If you ever saw a busy place, it is our factory these days. Four men on machines, and three cabinet makers are doing over time, and no rest in sight. Not all magical work to be sure, but a good big per cent of it is, and growing more so every day. By the way, we just put out a new bunch of sand frames. Better ask us about them.
P. B. De Rochers recently gave a full evening show of magic and medium work. Rochers has many unique effects of his own. Eastern magicians who have dropped in the factory recently are: Hayes, Fowler, Hewes, Rosini, Yendis, and Alda. The Sphinx is certainly booming things in Magic. Every issue is full of something of value to the magician and artist who is on the watch foi something different. Hewes recently gave a big show for St. Paul's church in this city. His work is extremely graceful, and greatly enhanced by his own evident enjoyment. It is impossible to resist Hewes' smile, while the children watch him with keen delight. We should have more like Hewes for private work.
OF
The Magical Shop of the West Issued by
THAYER AND CHRISTIANER 255 So. San Pedro St. Los Angeles, Cal. Devoted to the interests of ourselves as a firm and to the interests of n.agic and u.agicians. With the intention to
Maintain the High Standard of Magic
This, our first issue of the Magical Bulletin, marks the realization of our most fondest dream. We are constantly bubbling over with good things for magicians that we could think of no better way to let them share these "good things" with us. Those desirous of receiving the Bulletin regularly, will please send their permanent address. We solicit all items and ideas of interest to magicians. It is our intention to issue the Bulletin every month. It will be sent free of charge to all those interested in the art of Magic. Like every one at this time of the year, we have made our resolutions. We are going to work hard to bring out new and absolutely practical effects for magicians. Let us all get in and push magic right up to the top. Why, there is no such thing as magic being dead. As long as people are on earth they will want to be entertained, and as long as they want to be entertained, magic will be popular in one form or another. Let us all practice a little more, brush up our properties, change our tricks a little, get new patters and the result is obvious.
A GOOD CARD GAG Effect: Pack given to any rerson with the request that they remove any card, look at it and place it on top of deck, and cu^ the cards as much as they please. Performer immediately produces the selected card in any manner he wishes. Method: When you hand pack to person note the bottom card. Of course when he places his card on top and cuts the deck the chosen card will be the one next to the bottom card. Now run thru the pack and ask person to see if their card is still in deck, and you watch for the card that you noticed on the bottom. When you see it, the card in front of it will be the one selected, and as you come to this, draw it back with the second finger. This leaves a space between the card and rest of back into which you run the rest of the cards. When pack is squired up the selected card is on top. After a little practice you can run the cards right along without a pause, but still have the selected card on top. Reproduce the card in any way. SUGGESTIONS A good card trick is as follows: Have on top of the deck a six of hearts, next a two spot of any suit, and last a four spot of any sort. Start in and force these cards one after another. The person who took the six of hearts is requested to place it in his pocket without looking at it. Request the last person to name the number of his card, which is a four, the next person must add four to the number of his card and announce the result, which will be six. The next persons tells the Suit of. his card, which is a heart. The result of all this will denote the six of hearts. You then request the first person to take the six of hearts out of his pocket, which he does. This trick is very easy and is extremely astonishing to all who see it. H. Syril Dusenbery has sent us an article on the uses of Black Art table, which will appear in the next issue.
A BILLET TEST The following is our method of reading sealed letters for a private home. 1 he principle is well known. Effect: A number of cards and envelopes are given around and questions are written on the cards and same placed in the envelopes which are sealed. The billets are then collected in a hat. The performer then sits on a chair with the hat on his knees. A heavy blanket is thrown over him. Performer immediately reaches one hand out in front of him with one billet and reads same and gives an answer. This is repeated with the others. Method: Simply use a small electric flashlight. By pressing this against the envelope you can read the contents, and the blanket hides the light. As soon as the blanket is thrown over you, read one billet and hold it out in front of you, where all can see it. You have plenty of time to read another when the first is taken from your hand. Have a sponge with Columbian spirits in your pocket in case of accident to the lisrht. The above is our method of working with wellknown methods. Give it a try and for private work you can't beat it. MYSTIC BRAN AND RING Effect: The performer introduces a glass which he fills half full of bran. The glass is then covered with a cardboard cover. An egg is then taken and vanished, next a piece of ribbon is made to follow the egg,, and finally a borrowed ring is loaded in pistol and shot at glass. Uncovering the glass, the bran is seen to have vanished, and in its place is the egg. Breaking open the egg, the bran is found
inside, also the ribbon, to the center of which the ring is tied. Instructions: Glass has celluloid fake the bottom of which is covered with bran to give the effect that glass is half filled with bran. Fake with egg in it is in the box of bran. When filling the glass, performer loads the fake in glass, after which he can pour out some of the bran, and leave the glass apparently half full. The egg must be blown and bran and the ribbon with a duplicate ring tied to it, stuffed in the egg. A duplicate egg and ribbon are then vanished by any means the performer wishes. The borrowed ring is changed for a substitute, and same loided in pistol. When cover is taken off and changed for the borrowed one which is then taken to the owner. "ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS" To the Magical Fraternity: We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the many people who have extended to us their best wishes and hearty good cheer, among whom are the following: Dr. A. M. Wilson Clyde W. Powers Louis A. Haley C. J. Felsman Hamley Bros. (Ltd.) A. W. Gamage (Ltd.) W. D. Leroy G. Wilhelm & Co. Dana Walden R. W. Read —and many others. Thanking our many friends for the enthusiasm displayed upon receipt of our catalogue, we are Magically yours, THAYER & CHRISTIANER.
Magical Woodcraft—the classy catalogue Price 25 cents
The catalogue that's different THAYER & CHRISTIANER
Magical Goods That Satisfy THE CHALDIAN MUMMIES The Prince of Pocket Tricks. The performer introduces a neat little coffin-shaped box, and three mummies. While he is out of the room any one places a mummy in the coffin and ties on the lid, and places the coffin on the table.Upon entering the room the artist immediatel> te Is the name of the inclosed mummy. He does not touch the coffin or go neir it in any way. A fine po:ket trick and one which will amuse and mystify any person. Complete with "patter" $1.25 "CLINGE" HANDERCHIEF B£ LLS These balls are corrogated and are very easy to palm. No matter in what condition your hands are you can't let go of these balls. The only reliable method of producing a flag or a handkerchief. Remember: they are made of light weight wood, are corro gated, and are fitted with a cat-gut loop. Better get one now. Price—1% in- Ball, two Han^er^-X^ 50c Price—1^4 in. Ball, two Handerchiefs 60c TRAVELING PENNIES A fine little effect for the pocket. Performer introduces a neat little wooden box, which is empty. Four or five pennies are then placed in the box, and the box placed in one hand. The pennies are seen in the box up to the last second. At command the pennies vanish from the box and appear in the other hand, or elsewhere. Better have one of these with you all the time. Price 25c THE SAND FRAME There is possibly no piece of apparatus that is as useful in combinations as the sand frame. Briefly the effect is: A card is selected and torn into a number of pieces Next a neat little frame is shown on all sides and placed on the table. The person who selected the card, retains one piece,while the others are loaded in the pistol and shot at the frame. Going to the frame the selected card is.found inside minus the piece, which is found to fit exactly. We tell you a number of different combinations wherein these frames can be used. These frames are mechanically perfect, work like lightning, and a rich red sand is used. Highly recommended. Price $2.50 THE GIANT SAND FRAME This frame is a great improvement over the card frame. Use this frame with a photograph instead of a playing card, and the effect is all that can be desired. Size of frame is 10x12 outside, and 6x8 inside. A very fine effect. Price $5.00 Further information regarding the above cheerfully given.
THAYER & CHRISTIANER 235 S. San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, California
MAGICAL BULLETIN OF The Magic Shop of the West Vol.1
LOS ANGELES, CAL, FEBRUARY, 1914
No. 2 il
MAGICAL NOTES A. S. L. Hewes, whom we spoke of last month, has gone to Alaska, as he is secretary of the Siskiyou Mining Co. Hewes expects to do a little magic work for the people up there, and we can well imagine the treat in store for them.
The Sphinx as usual was full of good magic this last month. A good combination with an egg and some confetti by Scott was featured. The Sphinx news column seems endless, and Uncle Felix, we cannot do without. Lots of suggestions for patter can be found here.
Martini & Maximillian played this city a short time ago. Their usual fun and fake magic made good. Great Henela is in town featuring the talking head. It is good and the papers are giving him quite a little space.
Next to the Spinx comes the Magical World, by Max Sterling. Every week the Magical World is full of good things for magicians. We hear that a new weekly is soon to come out. "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery" and the Magical World has certainly set a pace for others to follows.
Marshall Montgomery, the popular and entertaining ventriloquist, played here on the Orpheum time. He was a great hit.
The Magic Wand 4s certainly a fine little paper. It does not make a big splash, but in a conservative manner comes out steadily every month.
W. H. Dowsing is going on the road with spiritualistic stuff. Dowsing has a few things up his sleeve that will make the others hump a little. Des Rochers, Applegate, Marco and a few other local magicians are busy getting ready for the busy season. H. O. Jensen, a magician from Salt Lake City, dropped in town for a short trip. His was mostly a pleasure trip.
The Conjuring Record has sure jumped up and seems to be still on the jump. Watch it. A4exander, a well-known magician, is in town fixing up his new act. Alexander is, without a doubt, amongst the foremost in his particular branch of mystery. He does the thing and gets away with it that a less skilled performer would not do. Vernon, the ventriloquist, is in town with his fine act.
THE "PERFECTO" BLACK ART TABLE. OF
The Magic Shop of the West •'•—•«%
Issued by
THAYER AND CHRISTIANER 255 So. San Pedro St. Los Angeles, Cal. Devoted to the interests of ourselves as a firm and to the interests of magic and magicians. With the intention to
Maintain the High Standard of Magic EDITORIALS The great number of fine letters which we have received since the issue of our first Bulletin has certainly been gratifying- in the extreme. We thank every one for their expressions of support and appreciation. Chevalier Ernst Thorn has sent us a beautiful lithograph of his show, and also a couple of programs. They make a valuable addition to our collection. We are glad to receive pictures, posters, heralds and clippings of magicians for our store. Customers will do us a favor if they will notify us immediately of any breakage or unsatsfactory condition of the goods ordered. We guarantee satisfaction and will do all in our power to make everything right. Who ever thought that the old talking head would make a big hit ? Great Henela uses it and it goes great. Does that not make us think a little? Those who want a good, easy method to load dye tube, should get our Dye Tube Block for 50c.
(By H. Syril Dusenbery) Every modern magician has a table containing one or more traps. These traps are held closed by springs and when an article is to be vanished it must be forced through the trap. The modern black art table is a vast improvement over the old style trap table. In the black art table the traps are always open and yet because of the ornamental design are absolutely invisible, even in a parlor at close range. The "Perfecto" table is provided with such openings that may be left open or closed at will. I have often had to feel the top of the table to tell if the traps or wells were open or closed. The black art table has no moving parts and is therefore perfectly noiseless. With it everything that can be done by the old trap table can be done together with a host of other things. Among the many tricks that this table is especially adapted for is the vanishing glass of water. A drinking glass and a handkerchief containing a wire ring the same diameter as the glass are all that is needed. The glass is placed on the table in front of the large well and the handkerchief is thrown over it. Under cover of the handkerchief the glass is allowed to drop in the well. The handkerchief being held by the wire ring. The handkerchief is then tossed up in the air and the glass produced from elsewhere at the pleasure of the performer. Another novel effect can be obtained by making a five-sided paper shell to fit over a solid die. The dice and paper shell are shown together (i. e., the solid die being inside the sheil) and carelessly struck with the wand. The shell and dice are then placed on the table over a well so that the solid die can drop into the well leaving the empty paper shell on the table. This is wrapped in paper and vanished by crushing. A very handy thing in conjunction with this table is a bottomless glass. The glass is placed over a well and is partially covered with a paper tube or a cuff. Eggs, coins, billiard balls and other such objects that are dropped into the glass go through into the well thus serving as an effective vanish. Besides vanishing objects, here is a little
appearing stunt with a handkerchief and the bottomless glass. Put the handkerchief with a short piece of thread tied to it in the well. Stand the glass over this well with the thread running up through it and hanging over its side. Cover the glass with a tube and at the same time rull the thread. This brings about half the handkerchief into 1he glass, leaving the remainder in the well. 7 he audience cannot see this so the tube can be removed, showing that the handkerchief has arrived in the glnss. If the handkerchief is removed from the glass with more or less of a jerk, no one will be able to see that half of it comes out of the well. In connection with standard tricks let me suggest some of this table's uses: Vanishing billiard ball in the multiplicity ball trick. Vanishing the fake tube in the dyeing handkerchief trick. Changing a pack of cards for a prepared deck as in the rising card trick. This is done by having the prepared deck on the table covered by a handkerchief. Place the deck you are using behind the handkerchief, allowing it to drop into a well. Remove the handkerchief to wipe your hands, leaving the prepared deck on the table in full view. Other numerous uses suggest themseh es. NOTICE Performers are evidently waking up to the excellent combinations described by Donald Holmes in his book, "Some Modern Conjuring." Such evidence is exhibited by the numerous orders we have received lately to make up table tops pertaining to tricks as described in that book. We wish to say to those who have the impression that we make only those articles listed in our catalogue, that we can at any time make up such table tops, boxes, tubes and other sj ecial fakes that the performer desires, and they can be sure that such goods will be mechanically and magically perfect. WANTED The following numbers of the "Spinx." January, February and March of 1906., May and June of 1908. August of 1911. June and September of 1912. We will pay 2^ cents for each copy. THAYER & CHRISTIANER. FOR SALE A fine Ventriloquist figure. Made by Shaw. In fine condition, finely dressed and cost $12.00. Has one moving eye. Will sell for $5.00. THAYER & CHRISTIANER.
THE CHANGING BAG The following will be found an excellent use of the changing bag in connection with mind reading effects. First write on a number of slips of paper one line such as "Untie a gentleman's shoe" or something of a like nature which will cause some fun. These slips you place in one .iidt of the changing bag. You then write on another bunch of slips different things, such as "Untie a shoe," "Pull a lady's hair" and other foolish things. To perform : After you have worked a few mind reading effects with the lady being blindfolded, you corrie forward with the bag and the different slips of paper. These you pass around. Then show the bag empty and collect the slips. Then as you turn to a spectator, make the change in the bag and, of course, this person has to take the slip which says "Untie a person's shoe," or whatever you have written. This slip the person holds while you turn to another, at the same time make the change back and dump all the slips out in the person's hand. • Then, without any word from the performer, the medium goes to the audience and performs the feat requested on the slip of paper held by the spectator, and upon reading the same the medium is found correct. The above can be worked up fine and no end of fun can be had by writing foolish feats for the medium to perform. This is an idea worked by Alexander. CARD, ORANGE AND DOVE Effect: Selected card is placed in a pistol and shot at an examined orange. Card is found in orange minus piece which lady has. You fill a paper cone with confetti and shoot the card at the cone. Break open cone and a dove appears with card tied around neck. Preparation: Take a pip out of orange and place a rolled, card in same minus torn off corner. Put the green part of the stem back in orange. Tear corner off a duplicate card and tie card to dove and place dove and card in a small paper cone, which you place in the box of confetti. Force a dulplicate card. When you tear off corner give the corner of the card which is tied to dove. Vanish this card by card box, and find same in orange which can be examined. Load this card in pistol. Make a cone of paper and fill with confetti once. Fill again and this time take up the cone with the dove letting a little confetti be on top of this cone inside the other. Fold over this and give to some one to hold. Shoot at cone and tear it open and show the dove with card around its neck. Take to person who chose it and the corner will fit exactly. Marvelous !