Published hy LOUIS TANNEN 120 West 42nd Street New York 18, N. Y.
-D'BDICATION-
W
HBN we say the "Phoenix" Is dedicated to Bunny Elliott, without whose help these first fifty Issues could not have appeared, we mean Just that I Our Job, Bruoe Elliott's and Walter Gibson'a, has been the fun, the creation, or corralling of new effeots, the retailing of trivia, the cudgels taken vp In arguemenfc....Bunny's has been the actual hard work. It Is she who does the typing, she who does the layouts, all the million and one Irksome chores that have made possible what we, with all due modesty, think is as pretty a collection of conceits and hanky-panky as the most discriminating can desire....So we doff our hats and bow low to Bruoe Elliott's favorite wife....Bunny. Bruoe and Walter
Super-Duper Speller (See par. 8, p. 90) Scarne'e Drunken Deal (Surprise poker deal) Mickey Finn (Mathematical location) Sympathy (Coincidence) Bravo (Stacked speller) Deferred Coincidence (Colnoldenoe)
BALLS
B a l l - l e t l o s (See par. 10, p. 28 * p. 115) 13 In The Racket 55 Swallow Vanish 4 77 B i l l i a r d Ball Act (See par.10 p.28 & p.13)115 Pop Ball - p a r . 5 - 9 203
Bill Bet (Oaglet, par. 9) pcV
for* "lOaf
CARDS (Preparation)
Lost In The Shuffle (Two person mlndreading) 6 Scrambled Thought Waves Wovelty looation) 10 Cardee Foolee (Chinese prediction) 33 Magician's Nightmare (Location) (See p. 44, par. 1) 37 Gibson's Badge Telepathy (Two person mental) 38 Together Again (Four ace trick) Hegira (Two thought oard pass) Kiss and Tell (Marked & destroyed card restoration) Chance! Thought! Coincidence! (Triple prediction) Cremation (Burned and restored plus) Miracle Monte Clear Thru! (Card through handkerobief) "Peek Deck" (Prepared deck) (See par. 14, p. 126, p. 155, p. 188 & par. 9, p.199)103 Duolette (Three e f f e c t s with Himber's deck switcher 119 119 a. The Perfect Steal 119 b. Magician's Nightmare 119 c. The Pluperfect Steal 121 Psychic Ammeter (Looation)
6(J
68 Pencil Jump Superman Drinks Double Head? Face Card Turnup Fllpover Coin Pepper Repellant 81 Drink From Unopened Bottle 85 The Dime Is Removed /j Label Up 89 Fire! No Damage! 89 At Least A Dime 93 Boiled In A Bag 101 Enough For Another 101 One Is Not A Nickel (See par. 13, p. 118) 101 Flash Bet - par. 6 106 At The Drop Of A Match - par. 12 118 Neither Are Niokels - par. 1J 118 3ell - 1665 Vintage - par. 14 122 We Sympathise 132 Hot Hand I32 Twin Coin Removal 137 Cup Lifter DeLuxe 140 Bill Drop - par. 9 146 The Little Devil! Straw In The Wind - par. 6
IS V
BILL TRICKS Mind Over Money Bill Bet Inflation Possibility - par. 8 Change, Please! Trlcklet Upside Down Presentation (Oaglet) Hoomdangs Paper Money Bill Drop - par. 9 Change For Five - par. 3
If
Future Hue (Triple prediction) Past Present Future (Two person mental) Slate Sleights a. The Great Oriental Enigma (Spirit message)
m i
b. Ghost Writers Cramp (Installment s p i r i t message) Turnabout (Coincidence) Them's Fightln' Words. Stranger! (Card reading) - par. 11 Headline Speller (Last word in spelling tricks) The L i t t l e Devil (Betcha) Destined Dart (Prediction) (See par. 4, p. 171) Cute! Huh! (Spirit effect) (O.I.Stuff) Cagllostro's Spectacles (Spectator-Magician looation) "Peek Deck" Pappy (Two person mental) The 164.00 Word (Book t e s t ) Buckram "Out" (For that miracle) Visible But Unseen (Index) Bravo (Perfect speller)
84 96 123 145 146
183
BILLET READING Embers Blackout Magic Dunnlnger's Sealed Mystery Glasslc •- and having writ -•
26 62
£8 186
144 147
155 157 16 18 1
3 204 200
CARDS (Impromptu)..• Pay Off (Numerical prognostication) By-paeeed (Cover up for pass) it The Expert At The Card Table (Gambling or* three card dieoovery) (See p.28,par.9) Topper (Force) Card In Pocket Pocket Prediction Two (Chosen card ending) One Ahead Peek (Utility looation several cards) How'd He Find It! (Looation)
BOOK TEST3
What's On Your Mind (Book) t i 59 ) Blbllo Thot ((Book) Classified Section Twist (Telephone Dlr.) Webeterlan Wltardry (Dictionary/(O.I.Stuff) 168 The 164.00 Word (Dictionary) I89 CARDS (Arranged) Magician's Nightmare (Location)
79 95 140 177 200 206
37 -B-
Special Sale - par. 2 Half and Half - par. 18 Okito Outdone (Trick Box)
47 47 48
£•£2
uf
187 195 205
DESTROYED AND RE3T0RED
,po,1 t l o n )
Faoe Card Turnup Self-Shuffle^^
oontro by spectator) Force (Just that) It Ooes Double (Card reading; ?l PIUB (Streamlined 21 Card Trick) Getting Away From Card Tricks (Color change and production) Than Which No Vhioher (Location) Count Then Out (20 card trick variation) Threadless! (Rising oard) Bottom Second Deal TCount down sleight) Card-Incidence (You do as I do) Peeksle (Location) Pointer (Location of miracle type) Art Lyle'e Cute Cut (Gambling) Thrice Right! (Prediction) Middle Deal (Gambling demonstration) Pick Me Up (Discovery) Scarne Cut (To k i l l a oold un) Weirdo Double (Double prediction) Ode To The Jinx (Surprise location) Carlyle'e Card (Double or nothing) Deferred Coincidence (Coincidence) A Sucker Bet (Force)
65 67 77
21 Cut To Measure (Tape measure) Twister (Paper) Impromptu Cut And Restored Necktie (Gaglet} $ Over The Top (Cigarette paper) 56 Shear Nerve (Paper strip) The Purloined Rope Trick (See par.l, p.102) Ultra Wacky (Paper napkin) 111 Burned Dressing (Clothing) - par. 9 (See par. 4, p. 163) 15*
V9;
101
EGGS
105 107
Hardbolled Miracle A Yolk, No Lees! (Gaglet) Noteworthy Eggs - par. 10 Phew, Thru, Rue - Par. 11
120 124 129
Hi
Topper (Cards) Kiss And Tell (Cards) Force (Cards) Free Choibe? (Cards) (Gaglet) A Suoker Bet (Cards)
169 190 193 196 206 207
i 101 207
GAGLETJ By-passed (Cards) Wllllston's Pull (Kandkerohlefs) Henry's Paper Swltoh (Torn and restored napkin) Gibson's Badge Telepathy (Two person mental) Card In Balloon Morris' Impromptu Cut and Restored Necktie Bill Bet (Greenbacks) Black And White Color Change (Baker Salt Trick) Chemical Slate Writing A Yolk, No Less! Double Bowl Production A "Lota* Bowls Sweater Running Gag Goldln Fish Bowls Little Man That Was There Breakdown Explanation All Aoes Wand Vanish Swallow Vanish (Balls) Telephone Twist Folding Umbrella The Last Niokel Upside Down Presentation (Bill) Free Choice? (Cards) 3 Silk In Tip ] Lit Sans Lighter - par. 1'} 1 Watch Out 3 That Sleeve Again 1 Finger BowlT 3 Classified Section Twist (Telephone) 1
80 101 112 4
CIGARETTES Out Of The Smoke F l o a t i n g Smoke L i t Sans L i g h t e r - p a r . 13 Change For F i v e - p a r . 3 F i r s t Fumes - p a r . 8
199
FORCE
CARTOON COLLECTION No. 1 No. 2 No. No.
i
4l 85 110 I83 187
COIN TRICKS Hard Boiled Miracle Penny-tration Blow Up Slide-less Silver Arrow Two To One - par. 15 The Coin Dowser 25* For 10* Double Head Coin Thru Handkerchief Glamourised Palming Coins Fllpover Coin Change, Please! The Dime Is Removed (Betcha) Materialization Miracle Monte At Least A Dime (Eetcha) One Is Not A Nickel (Betcha) (See par. 13, p. 118) Thru and Thru - par. 14 Mystery On The Half Shell Neither Is A Nlokel (Betoh*) - par. 13 Gone with The Half - par. 15 Cute Coin we Sympathise (Betoha) Twin Coin Removal (Betcha) •«• Pennies - par. 9 Cup Lifter DeLuxe (Betoht) "•*. Maglsh! Cute! Huh! (G.I.3tuff) 91* Miraole (See p. 198)
HANDKERCHIEFS Williston's Pull Gibson's Wand Vanish Streamlined Hoffmann Silk In Tip (Gaglet) Oreer's Gadget Transition Silken Switch Suave Silk Tip On The Umbrella Trick - par.17
16
II
m
105
162 172 195
ILLUSIONS Voodoo Lineup!
-c-
9?
11*
LIQUIDS Grade "A" Vanish (Milk) (See par. 6, p. 8) 2 RehydratIon 16 Filtration 3* Cheater - par. 14 Double Bowl Production 62 A "Lota" Bowie 70 Superman Drinks ÂŤ5 Drink Prom Unopened Bottle 101 Boiled In A Bag (Betcha) 101 Enough For Another (Betcha) 106 FlaBh Bet - par. 6 11 (tone! 140 Finger Bowl? (Oaglet) 203 For Rent - par. 2
Speller History Rejection - 19*2 Style - l a s t par. Card Facts Shaman'8 Program Reproduced Chinese Victory Symbol - par. * Gysel Letter Head Men Of Daring - Annemann Dates and Stuff Odds On Craps Putting Across A Cross Croeeen - par. 1 Take That, Mefford, You Cad! - par. 1 Salesmanship - Col. II MISCELLANEOUS EFFECTS
The Farmer's Daughter (Blocks) 25 Call I t A Puzzle 29 C o n f e t t i Of Cathay (Traveling c o n f e t t i ) Two ( F i n i s h f o r r a b b i t vanish) Lady In Red (Nude d e a l ) The Window Washer's Dream ( P e n e t r a t i o n ) par. 1 60 Greer's Growth (Rice Bowls Finish) 69 Strong Man (Tearing cellophane wrapper) Big Man (Magical growth) Nuts! (You said it, brother!) Lineup.' (Vanish illusion T.T.T. (Thimble) 120 Flames From The Fingertips - par. Z 126 Found In An Old File (Heterogeneous collection) 167 Pin Perplexer (Linking and unlinking safeties) (See p. 192) 170 Marechal'e Mirage (Flower growth) 182 Carlyle's Card (Magical printing) 196 Confetti Spaghetti 197 Okito Outdone 205 NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS (Reproduced)
MATCHES Match Stickler Label Up (Betoha) At Least A Dime (Betcha) At The Drop Of A Hat (Betoha) - par. 12 Hot Hands (Betoha) Blitz-Match (See par. 16, p. 15*) Halving The Trlanble (Puzzle) par. 11 (See paro 5, p. 171 for solution) Popper Upper
I
66 89 93 118 132 1*9 167 I76
MENTAL EFFECTS (Impromptu-one person) Mind Over Money (Memory)
3
.MENTAL EFFECTS (Preparation-one person) Clip Color Embers Call I t A Puzzle Mathematios of Maglo What's On Your Mind Weighing Thought Waves - par. 2 (See par. *, p. 6* * p. 70) Geomanoy Of The Gods Dunnlnger's Sealed Mystery Blbllo Thot Glassic C l a s s i f i e d Section Twist (Gaglet) Disembodied C.P.A. 91$* Miracle (See p. 198) Cleromantlc Chicanery *- and having writ - " The *6*.00 Word Bravo Visible But Unseen
29 *3 59 60 125 133 139 1*8 1*8 153 I8p 18* 186 I89 200 20*
32. *0, 44, 53, 60, 64, 130, 132, 171. 175 NUMBERS Matheme tics Of Magic Hoomdangs Classified Section Twist (Gaglet) Disembodied C.P.A. Psychic Uncle Sam Dates and Stuff Cleromantlc Chicanery
Ducrot'e Forty Thieves - par. 12 The Card Rose - par. 13 Traveling Companion - par. 5 Nipped Nipple- par. 11 Oh, Come Now! - par. 12 The Janitor Was There - par. 7 Make Up Your Mind, Brother! - last par. Divine Beer - par. 10
2
6 19
S II
17? 184 54 5* 110 138 138 167 175 183
PROGRAM REVIEWS
109 120 121 136 1*0 160 17* 188 19*
The Blacks tone Show 6 Carl Roslnl 27 Knights Of Magic, April 25th, 19*2 30 Chicago Assembly, S.A.M. Annual Show, May 8th, 1942 36 S.A.M. Convention Shows, May 22nd and 23rd, 1942 39 La Vie Parlslenne ** Magic's-A-Poppln, I.B.M. Convention, Nov. 21, 1942 98 New York I.B.M. Ring Show, March 13, 1943 130 "Magic On Broadway", New York Times Hall May 8th, 1943 146
MISCELLANEA Mae Weet Telephone Stunt - par. 6 Tribute to Theo. Annemann The Utility Billiard Ball Dropper Carl Breme'e Back Room Magical Obituaries Tee Hee "No Coffin For the Corpse" Advertisement
*3
123 1*8 153 173
PHOENIX CHUCKLES
MENTAL EFFECTS (Two persons). Hew Finger! Finger! Lost In The Shuffle Forecast (See p. 31) On The Head Sooth Sayer (See p. 19) Gibson's Badge Telepathy Telephone Twist Digit-Telepathy Improved "The Eyes Have It" 13 Steps Past Present Future Cue It! Mental Mirror Collected Thoughts "Peek Deck" Pappy Primapara
81 102 152 163 167 171 171 I79 183 191 195 203
4 * 18 2* 40
PUZZLES
53 57
Halving The Triangle - par. 11 -D-
Square
5, P- 1 7 1tor s°iu* l o n ' D ar cSt (See par. 4 for solution)
RELEASES 104 Bias-trick (Rubber bands) 162 Cut (Rings) 3 (Paper band) j Spoof (Safety pins) Isee p . if 01 RING _0N STRING 42 108
S«falaljla, III
ROPES The Purloined Rope Trick (3ee par.l, p.102) 8
Knots To You
ft
On The Barrel Head Take It Off
202
SLATES Mathematics Of Magic Chemical Slate Writing Hoomdanga Slate Slelghte a. The Great Oriental Enigma b. Choet Writers Cramp The Backward Ohost The Message From Nowhere Cute! Huh! (G.I.Stuff) Special Sale - par. 2 SPIRIT EFFECTS
PART I - CONTRIBUTORS
167 i°< 203 203
43
Key to credit symbols: Name In caps - 5 tricks or ideas Name in caps and boxed -10 trickfc or Ideas Asterisk - an additional 5 A ANNEMANN, THEO. ARMSTRONG, GEORGE
Baker, Al Baker, Harry Barkann, Roger Barkeeper Berg, Joe Board, The Boyko, John Brain Guys Breraa, Carl Brent, Lu Buff, .R. C. Burns, Harry
174
Calry, Clyde F. ChanIn, Jack Chanslor, Forrey Cheebro, Verne Christopher, Mllbourne Chris, Al Churchill, Byron E. Cohn, Al Coward, Noel« Crospen, Ken
123. 177, 193 14, 96 138 176 66, 145 203
5 152 168 187 61 83
DeLand Dodd, Frank Dunninger
150 151 152 log 182
ELLIOTT, BRUCE**
Elray
61 113
TIPS AND IMPROVEMENTS Making Your Mirror Glass - par. 11 Bird Cage To Flag - par. 14 Card In Balloon Tips Tip On A<] Sm8 Snake Can - last par. The Hat Changing Bag - par. 5 Glamourized Palming Coins Chinese Makeup - par. 8 "Think Ink" Tip - par. 6 Daub Patriotic Tip On "Seven Keys To Balpate par. 2 With Whiskers Improved "The Eyes Heve I t " Deck Softening For Palming - p a r . 7 New Dress For P & L Vanishing Wand (Gagleti About Those War Pennies - p a r . 9 Idea For Puppeteers - par. 3 Tips On Knife Throwing - l a s t 4 p a r s . Umbrella-Servante - p a r . 8 Expose Double Talk Style - p a r . 10 Tip On Umbrella Trick - p a r . 17 Buckram "Out" (For t h a t card miracle) "or Question Answerers - par. 1
37, 119 38
109 149,
179
17?, 114
190
46, 47, 77 166, 189 42
187 68, 132 132
102, 104, 191
9? 114 123 143
SUPER NORMAL POWER ACTS
Blackout Magic (Number One) Horrors!
11
|
<
Blackout Magic (Number Two) Ball From Beyond Voodoo Ohoet! Hoomdangs Slate Slelghte a. The Great Oriental Enigma b. Ghost Writers Cramp Table Lifting - par. 2 The Backward Ghost The Message From Nowhere Cute! Huh! (G.I. Stuff) The Similarity Is In The Difference
3, 19, 60, 81, 83, 93, 125, 126 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 59. 80, 125
87
124 133, 175 2, 4 5, 8, 12, 16, 17, hi, 54, 61, 63, 86, 89. 130, 131. 13^, 139, 150, 198, 204 141, 142
FETSCH, HENRY
135. 136, 137. - . 1 % . 157, 165. 168 Flnneran, Francis (Carlyle) 196 Fitzgerald, Tom 202
12 32 38 §4 60
B
Gane, Arthur Gerber Germalne, Karl GIBSON, WALTER B. ••••
86 101 110 114 120 130
a
158 167 175 179 195 198 203
Goldln, Horace Goldston, Will Grant, U. F. Oresham, William Grlppo, Jimmy Gable, Robert
89 157 1, 3. 6, 7, 13, 21. 27, 30, 31, 33, 3*. 35. 38, 55, 77, 79, 85, 99, 101, 105, 112, 115, 116, 117. 129, 140, 147, 155 169, 180, 206 66 114 59, 112, 114 167
97 203
-E-
SHAMAN Smith, Wlllard S. Sorensen, Jerry Splndell, Dave Stein, Solomon Swann, Russell
168, 173, 184 67, 70, 178, 197 30 74 118, 119 129 62, 77
Hammlll, E. E. Hanko, Bob Henry, S. S. Herplck, Jimmy Hlraber, Richard Hoffman, E. 3. flang Ping Chlen Hopkins, N. M. Houdln, Robert Howcani Hugard, Jean HURWITZ, DOC
U
Tannen, Lou Taylor, Frank V.
?
194
Terraneau, Charles Thomas, Frank THOMPSON, JR., J. 0.
59 172 68, 70, 77, 81, 85, 89. 93, 101.
James, Stewart
89 Thurston, Howard 65. 89, 162 162, 195 156
Kattner, 'Wilbur Kolmar Krank, Paul C.
Walsh, Audley Weiss, Dr. Aaron Williston, Bill
Mario, McCormick, John McKnlght, James Melrose, J. A. Moetolloy, Fred Meyer, Orvllle W. MORRIS, DAN
MOUB, Ann
Y.
158 60, 69, SI, 127, 182, 183 65 149 113 179 200 110 32, 38, 59, 62, 68, 70, 77, 81, 25, &9
Balrd, Bill Baker, Al Ballantlne Birch, Sammy Blackstone, Harry Brent, Lu Burns, Harry Cardinl Carrer, Charlie Cole, Judson Dubols, Richard Elmer, Arthur Garland, Ann Glordamlne, Johnny Harrison Haskell Lane, Frank LlvlngBtone Lloyd, Arthur Marshall, Jay Mlaco Killer, Jack O'Dell, Dell Page, Sid Raweon, Clayton Rlgoletto Brothers Roslxil, Carl Rose, Lee Sandra Shaman Smith, Wlllard 3. 800, Tung Pin Terrel, C. Ray Weeks, Larry Yaohandee
183 101, 108. 133
O'Dell, Dell Osborne, Tom
Perry, Warner PHOENIX, JR. Plough, Alvln R. Proskauer, J. J.
RAWSON, CLAYTON
126, 198 6, 27. 30, 36. 39, 98 16, 54, 148 101
9, 18, 41, 58, 106, 143, 144, 151, 152, 197, 207 106, 113 65, 172
Robeon, Stuart Rosini, Paul
Saint, Edward St. John, Vivian Sander6, Fetaque Soarne, John
9, 106, 108, 170
ll
Part H I - Program Reviews
18 Nash, Ogden Nyqulst, Charles W.
If
Annemann, Theo. 171 ChrlBtopher, Mllbourne 145 Dante * 64 Dunnlnger 130 Elliott, Bruce 175 Gyeel, Robert l7l Keating, Fred 53 Knoll, Leo. 132 McChOBulon, William 132 Roberts, Lucille and Eddle6o Scarne, John 95 Swann, Russell 32 Thompson, Jr., J. G. 107, 188
it
Morrle, Paul
34 11. 91, 103. 155, 204 124 23 26, 38, 61. 62, 63, 101, 107, 108, 109, 112, 118, 120, 133. 138, 154, 176, 188,
Part II - Press Comment ana "Rogues Gallery11
Lafolette (Rush Ling Toy) 62 Lyle, Art 77. 120, 153. 182 LYONS, L. V0S3URGH 29, 83, 164, 167, 171, 192, 198, 205 Majahara, N. HARECHAL, GREER
25, 73, 101, 112, 121, 160, 185, 195 187 136 41, 60 92 12
64, 70 95, 96, 183, 184
36 40 146 97 p 40 32 40 36 130 97 97 97 39 39 39 130 39, 36, 39, 97 97 36, 36 39 36 27 39 130 163 39, Jo 40 32 39
40 130 97 39. 98
97
-pPOR THE SPLENDID JOB OP INDEXING WE ARE INDEBTED TO J. 0. THOMPSON, JR.
You have meanwhile picked up tne other heap, and to prove your statement, you count its red cards, while he counts the black cards in his. To his amazement, you are right. It turns out that you have, for example, fourteen reds, while he has only ten blacks.
3on«t confuse this trick with any other that you say deem similar, because It Is definitely different. It's an Idea that has been simmering for years, waiting only for the touch that would turn It Into a real baffler, and recently the answer was found. So here goes, with as capital an impromptu myatery as has ever seen the light.
Now comes the remarkable sequel. Exchanging heaps., you each proceed to ehuffla your cards separately, 'so that there can be no telling the rotation of reds and blacks in each. To make it even fairer, you do nothing except extend your heap, tnA have him deal on some cards from his, calling "red or "black", With each card dealt.
Asking a spectator to shuffle an ordinary pack, you have him cut It into two heaps, fairly close in site. Since he is going to guess the colors, without looking at the faces, you give him the •mailer heap, so the process will take less time. ? ^i™ t o d e a l n i s cards, one by one, calling *loud "red" or "black" with each card dealt, Just ai may occur to him.
Again you shake your head, and tell the spectator: "You only guessed, whereas I know. Almost all the cards you gave mi* were blacks. Why, I now have three more blaoks than you have reds I" To prove this, you oount the blaoks In your heap, while he counts the reds in his. Right againl For Instance; you now have twelve blaoks, while he has only nine reds.
When he has finished, and gathered up his n«ap, you shake your head and tell him he was way °"• ?or> instance, you say, "You went far too heavy on the reds. Why, my heap has four more reds than 70^8 has blackal" or, you may say It this way, 1 have four nror* reds than you have blades." Page 1
Without going into the history or mechanics of this double-barreled problem, we shall give the key to the trick, and let the reader worry over how and why it works, after he has demonstrated to his own satisfaction that it doe3 work, simply and without fail. All you have to know is the number of cards in each heap. You learn this, very subtly, while the spectator is dealing his cards and guessing' "red" and "black". Thus engrossed, he doesn't count his cards as he deals them, but you do.
FINGER! FINGER! We're all familiar with Bruce Elliott's trick, "Flnger-Pinger", wherein two persons each hold up some fingers of one hand, and when the total is named, the magician - with back turned - names the number of fingers shown by each person.
Your balance number is 26. If he deals 22 canis, he ia four under that number, and you are therefor four over. Which means that you will have four more reds than he has blacks. It also happens that you will have four more blacks than he has reds, so that you can state the proposition either way. However, you only state it ine way, giving the impression that while he was guessing; colors, you were telling them.
Briefly reviewing the basic system: One person is a confederate; the first time he lifts a set number of fingers, say three. After that, he always shows the number that the othsr man did the time before. A very clever stunt, but, like all such, helped through the insertion of a varlatlo -.
The sequel is equally important. The reason you exchange heaps, is so that when he deals cards from his to yours, he will be building up the smaller heap into the larger, again giving you the favorable balance. Suppose from the pile of 30 carets you give him, he deals seven onto the 22 that you hold.
The surprising success of "Finger-Finger" brought home the realization that an alternate method was simply to have a set batch of figures that the stooge could flash In rotation, producing the samf result. The trouble was the memorizing of such fioures, inasmuch as the magician frequently used n.ew confederates, who helped him, after very brief instruction.
Subtract four (the previous difference) from aeven (the number dealt) and you have three, which is the new differenoe. So now you have three more blacks than he has reds. Oddly enough, you likewise have three more reds than he has blacks, so you can put it vice versa, if you wish. The best system is to state it one way the first time; the other way the next. Just follow the method given, and the cards do the rest I
This is solved by using a sure and simple code word: ABRACADABRA. A stands for 1,, B for 2, 0 for 3, ÂŁ for 4, and since R is'further on in~the alphabet, it merely means all fingers, namelv, 5, The mystical word is easily remembered, and the" plant merely spells through it, showing the proper fingers according to each letter, while the magician subtracting the known number from the total, gets the amount of fingers shown by the other man.
Remember only this: Whatever your margin over 96, you will have that many more of one color than le has of the other. By exchanging heaps, before he shuffles and deals more cards to you, a smaller heap is built up to a larger, thus giving a new result through substruction instead of addition. This is the point that sells the sequel. Adding cards to the larger heap, would produce too great a difference. The other way about, the whole thing is kept within Dounds, and since no one knows that you are working from the balance number, 26, the mystry is complete,
-E Evanish
naturally, the joker is discarded before beginning the trick. You can use a pinochle pack, in which case, the balance number is 24. Or, the trick can be varied by usine less than a full pack, provided that reds and blacks are first discarded equally. Your balance number, in any case is, simply half of the total cards used.
Maybe you've thought of this one; maybe you haven't. In either case, it's worth a few paragraphs for future reference. Just a case of vanishing a glassful of milk, without a sloppy process, and with very little delay. A glass, a cardboard cylinder, and a pitcher of milk. The magician starts to pour the milk into the glass; then digresses long enough to show that the cylinder fits over the glass. Having only two hands, he lets the cylinder stay over the glass while he pours the milk from the pitcher.
WALTER GIBSON ... .EDITOR
Laying the pitcher aside, he lifts the cylinder, shows the milk in the glass. Again: cylinder over glass, and when the cylinder ia lifted,the milk has vanished.
Bruce Elliott ....asa't editor ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:
That's it. The cylinder contains the usual celluloid fake, painted white, about three quarters up. Left around the glass, the fake makes It appear that the glass is full of milk; when the fake is lifted with the cylinder, the milk is gone, and the cylinder appears empty.
THE P H O E N I X 4 2 WEST 64 STREET NEW YORK CITY
The added implement-is the very popular pitcher that pours back into itself. It is used for the pouring, and the milk never leaves it. The showing of the "milk" in the glass, is Just the added touch that thoroughly convinces the witnesses.
price isf Pase 2
MONEY absolutely set for the baffling bill trick. Let us suppose that the bill bears the numbers B12374048A, Covering the right half, as earlier described, treat the left half as a phone number. Give the letter an exchange name: for instance, Berwick, or any other B name that strikes you. Thus, you first remember, Berwick 1237. Hepeat this mentally while you fold. Then, covering the left half of the lower serial number, spot the right half. Treating the letter as a name, you have Allegheny 4048. Note that you should read the figures from left to right, as it is easier and simpler. From these two "phone numbers", mentally repeated amid some set patter about the trick, you can call off the serial of the bill. Always effective as an impromptu memory trick, is thp repeating of the numbers - and the letters on a dollar bill, after borrowing the bill, and returning it to the ovm^r, The stunt involves two factors: Pirst, that of noting the numbers, almost in a glance; second, the actual memorizing process.
To make the trick effective, let people call for any figure: say the third from the right, the second from the left, or what-not. Prom your "phone numbers", you easily give these. Then wow them by naming the whole number from right to left, figure by figure, which isn't hard at all, with the "phone numbers" fixed. Gall them then, from left to right, and give the letters for a climax.
Cnly a few months ago, Ted Annemann discussed a very neat method of spotting the numbers, and upon it, this present system is based. Take the bill, and hold it with the right thurao covering the last four figures, and the final letter, at the upper right. This enables you to read the first half of the serial number.
Now for an added point: After the bill is folded if you hold it top up, you will see a little "key letter" near the dollar numeral. It is very easyÂťto remember that letter independently, helped sometimes, by giving it a person13 name. For Instance, instead of Just remembering L, you can call it Louise. After working the serial number to the limit, concentrate, tell them to Jook for the tiny letter, and when they find it you name It,
Now fold the left half of the bill under; then fold the top half down, frontward. Turn the bill over to the right, and the lower serial number comes into sight. Let the left thumb cover the left half of the number, and then you can concentrate on the right half of the serial.
Some performers who use the bill trick as their favorite, also call off a lot of things, such as the portrait of Washington, the signatures on the bill, the date of issue, etc. These are all good points; being uniform on every bill, they can be learned beforehand, and kept for reference.
A brief pause and you fold the bill from right to left, covering the serial number entirely. Calling attention to the fact that you have hidden the number, pass the bill back to its owner, let him unfold it, check, when you name the numbers. So far, so good. Wiat held the trick in abeyance, was the problem of memorizing the numbers. It either meant learning a mnemonic system or using the brute method of grouping the figures In threes and a pair. Both are quite good for those who like them, but neither constitutes a quick, practical way for the usual performer, who wants something of which he can be reasonable sure.
A nice addition is to take the bill again, glance at both 3ldes, and state how many times the term "one" appears on it, both as a word, or as the figure "1 , excluding of course, its chance appearance in the serial or issue date. That is, the number of times that "one" appears in reference to the dollar value. Your listeners won't believe you when you give the total. Even after they have counted, they'll argue that you're wrong, until you show them a few ones they missed.
It was Ted's mention of fours, with letters, that brought home a new angle, too late to be contrlbuted to "The Jinx". So it is included on the present budget of magic.
Try this for yourself, out don't go by your first count. Better check it over, to see that you haven't missed any.
Here is the idea. No one ever has trouble remembering a telephone number consisting of an exchange and four figures. Nor is it very difficult to remember two telephone numbers, when neoesaary. At least, the latter is something that can be practiced as much as wanted with any phone book. In practicing with a New York directory, leave out the special figure figure included with the name of the exchange. If you find it rather easy to remember a phone number, and a second one on>top of it, you will bG
This is the way to fold the bill in order to memorize the last four numbers... Page 3
Roam
Again, New York magi will have their chance (two weeks of it), to view a big time magic show. Closing in Wllliamport, Pa., on January 28th, Blackstone will open at the Flatbuah Theater, in Brooklyn, on the 29th, for one week. Prom there, he will move for another week, to the Windsor Theater, in the Bronx.
Russell Swann, who gets publicity where none grew before, hit the columns wflto a notice that he Is to be Gypsy Rose Lee's danofcg partner in a Broadway show! Magical strip tease?While we're on the subject of Swann, there is a gambling expose featuring him in a factual detective magazine, called "Keyhole Detective Cases".
In as much as Blackstone's show attracts magicians to every town he plays, this sheet will try to keep the clan posted as to his route, during the remainder of the coming season. His present show embodies a number of important changes since last season, and these will be covered in a review, to appear in our earliest possible issue.
"Stirring Detective Cases", another fact magazine, has what is probably the last publicity story on Ted Annemann'a bullet catching trick. Both these magazine are now on the news-stands, A pamphlet.of "Rope Magic" by Jarrow, has Just appeared. If on sale at 25 cents (the price stated on the cover) its material is too good for the money. If used as a give-away by the rope company which publishes it, the material is far too good. The illustrations, photographs posed by the maestafc personally, render some very good tricks all too clear.
Speaking of Blackstone brings us to publications. A surprising number of magicians have so far overlooked the dime publication called "superMagiclan" Comics, which features Blackstone as its principle character. It's adventure material with magical background that* keeps away from any harmful exposure. Originally published as a quarterly, it now appears every other month, on sale, on at news stands.
We anticipate a dervish howl from many magi, if "Rope Magic" gets around, with plenty of charge flinging by any societies that are in a charge flinging mood. Our own reaction, in advance, is Joan Brandon, playing the Iceland Restaurant on this. Before the critics blast, let them first reBroadway, is doing magic and doing It wÂŤii. This call how much Jarrow haa done for magio and magioreminds us that a couple of ians, compared to the little years ago she tried to do a With the departure of Ted Annemann, Magic lost appreciation he has received Houdlnl. She had a packing its best friend. No man gave more to the art, nor in return. ease built and had all her shared, so unstintlngly, whatever credit he felt plans made for an underwater No more clever magician belonged to others, even though, in many instances escape. than Jarrow has ever appeared it was rightly his. on the American stage. If every tyro who bungled Jarrow^s It would have been a This was one reason why Ted's magazine, "THE swell publicity stunt butâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; JINX", was held as indispensable, by so many magic- celebrated "Bill anf Lemon" had paid him royalties for the at the last minute the polians. It represented the spirit of magio, and it was the magnet that drew workable ideas from many misuse of the trick, he could ice interfered. The escape turn the profits into enough sources toward the common good of all. was cancelled. One cannot defense bombs to build a bondhelp wondering what Houdini** reaction would have been. That a frequent publication, dispensing magio er . Instead, many have just Probably he would have cult among magicians, is now a necessity, goes without gone on using It, souring it ed more agate lines by not saying. "THE JINX" proved that fact, and its sus- in their own sweet way, during all of the thirty or more doing the escape. Perhaps pension, whether temporary or peranent, leaves a years that Jarrow has perfoanmodern magi have lost the great gap,Indeed. ed the Lemon Trick. knack of getting publicity? It is hoped that this magazine, "The Phoenix". A cute stunt that's been may in some degree provide magicians with the The next time magicians kicking around New York for things that they expected from "THE JINX". For the start scrambling around, trya while, is a telephone gag. present, it has but one purpose: to supply a buding to locate another Dean Ask a man if he knows Mae get of workable magic, bi-weekly or weekly, depend of Magic, they can count our West's telephone number. nomination as already listed. ing upon the demand of our readers. Naturally, he doesn't. Tell We nominate Jarrow. him to dial M-A-E W-E-S-T. Staunch contributors to "THE JINX" have promThe numbers which corresContributions from magicised their support to this effort, "The Phoenix" pond to these letters are a will also carry current news of magic, as rapidly ians will be welcomed. And, telephone company test num- as such items become available. Beyond that, all as in the case of the "JINX", ber. When your victim has payment will be in kind. That the future policy is as yet unsettled. dialled the letters, he will la, we will give subscriptions get a busy signal. Raise To sum the thoughts which the preceding para- for usable material. your eyebrows and tell him graphs have, perhaps, conveyed: No one connected with this publication feels that "The Phoenix" can to try later on. She's a very ever fill the unique place occupied by "THE IINX", busy woman, you declaim. for there w-ae only one Ted Annemann. But we can, Generally it takes a couple at least attempt to carry on some portion of the of tries before your victim good that "THE JINX" did for magic, and will do so, catches on and even then he to the best of our ability trill be puzzled by the busy signal. Page 4