Al Mann - Mental-Ettes - A Collection of Provocative Mental Effects

POST OFFICE BOX 144 • FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY

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Coffee/ion

06 Pn.ovocatilJe

JAefliaf ~Jiectg

BABLY !'RINKE

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(201) 431-2429 POST OFFICE BOX 144 •

FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 07728

:PORBWOllD

"the ke'1 to Hagic is energJ. BtlBRGY is aagio. Ifhe :magician oreatea a certain kind ot aagic 8.l'ound h1ma.elt us1D.g his merg. Be warps space and time with hie enerQ, he warps people I s perceptions. He oan eTen influence 50,000 people i f he's good enough -- aDd if' he oares to. If "!be magician simply changes the va,. beings per.eive this energy to dislocate their energy, to move them. trom. one plane ot illusion to another. Frail. this point ot view, magic 1s a oollective hallucination; but 1'rca. tbia aUle point 01' view, so ia all lite. If

The aboTe is quoted trom. the book, "i'.be Hagio Makers II by David Carrol. The anony.mous author ot the eaasing insight into magic is a magioian. The energy reterred to is not the energy one gets trom 1'ood and candy. Here we are ooncerned with the energy ot the ether, the pSlche and the magnetio personali ty. The magician oreates that energ bJ his magio thought, bia dyna:m.1c charisma and his master,. over 11.1. art. Heed the advise. The Mentalist must oapture his audience in the palm. of his hand and tl'ansport them into a dif1'erent plane. Into an enohanted world never betore seen. Into an enraptured dimension 01' thought where they remain tor many da18 atter the show.

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1lJU.4w&7 up_ 1;he j0U1'J'l87 01' 81 lU., I round . ,••I t vith.1:D. a torr.... dark - " Dant. "!'he aaa1e1aa, vhca I hael .....1" . ., h.tor., aaked . . to think 01' 811., meaber 01' .., r~l., vho had paa.ed mel who vu dear to ... I thought ot .,. lat. amt Carmeli ta. !'he ....gi.i. . then told.. the are •••,. aunt VOl". the la8t t~ I had .een h.r. Be to14 •• the 00101" ot h.r hair and e7e. and her age and then he to14 . . her exa.t It the -.ost m.1ra. oulou. thing I had .....r witne •••d."

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!fhat i8 what the ladJ .at4. fhat ls exaotl,. what she aaw in her mind. That vas exaotl,. the ottect that the magiolan want.d to oreat.1 '!'he tollowing 18 a true stor'J.

Tvent., .,eara ago, a ,.oUDS magiol . . vas entertainins a group or .peotators at a prlYate part.,. Th. _giolan had taken with hta a knockout .tt.ot,to present tor the grand tinale. ~­ ring the show the aaglolan p.rtol"Jll."" various .tandarel ett.ots suoh' as the d1a1n1ahing oarda, a 8imple book test with the 14deek. the prinoes card triok, oberohea la 1'.... , eto. !hi ideal situation. . . . about towards the end 01' the program when a laa.., ~lend 01' the taaU,. 0... calling unexpeoted tor a casual yisit. Th. lad,. vas inYit.d in and to her pleasure vaa aaked to b.e aeated as a aagio show vas in progre.s. !he great .oment arriyed aa the "gioian addr•••• d the lad, that had just dropped in. "Bave ,.ou and I ev.r aet betore?" ".0 answered the ladJ. "Did 70U know that there would be a aagic show h.re todq?" "1'01 It again. nyou just c ... b,. to s&7 hello, oorr~.t,n "Oorr.ot I ... "Would ,.ou 08.1'e to partioipate in a .oat unusual teat'" nYea r n "lIaJ I ha...e a aample 01' JOur hand wi tinge Here is a pad and p.noil. Pl.aa. aign ,.our tull nam•• n !he laq OQIILpli.d b7 signing h.r name on the pap.r pad. f:be magioian then took up the pad, atudi.d ,her handwritinS and gave tbe lady a short gr:-aphoanal,.sis. "Will ,.ou ple... just thiDk '01' a meabel" 01' ,.out" tamil,. who haa died and who was yer,. de8.1' to "ou. Do not tell .e the na.e but just think 1nten'ly ot the per.01l. I lUll going to put the lights out and then I vill .0'1'8 to 'he t81' .orner 01' the 1'0_. You w111 see m., taoe as I will sbiD. a tla.h l i f . on -r taoe and when I do, I want ,.ou to writ. the nam. o t d e a d peraem on. the paper pad and than seal it in this enve~. pe aild hold it .... ;;.. ,,~

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ewer 70F head. I will tbaD. put the 11ghts on. H ~be masi.ian then asked the lad7 to please oroas her ar..a. He then place" the paper pad 1D. tront ot her, the penoll to her right aD.4 the envelope to her lett. The .adcian then inatr1lOte4 the lad:J' Dot to de aJ'1;h1D.g until told to. -~'b.e magician then .alle. tor lights out and then walked back slowl,. towards the tar corner, 1;ook out a pocket fia.blight and shown it on his race. lie then mstl"Uoted the lad7 to take up the pencil and writ. the D.8lIle ot the dead person, tear ott the sheet and seal it in 1m. envelop. ad ho14 it o.er her head. th. aagioian sritched ott the pocket tl.ahlight and abort17 oallea tor 11ghta-on. Be r-.1aed in the tar oorner ot the roam, about 20 teet away traa the 1a4y and prooee4e4. HI ha.e an impression that you are tbiaktns ot a t..al., ia that oorreot?" "leat n replied the lady. "Pleas e reoall and thiDk ot the dr.as this person was weariDg the last time ,.ou saw her. I alao want '1ou to picture 1Jl yOU%' mind the oolor ot her hair and e,.es and her approxiaate ase when ahe 41e4. Y•• , ot couraet You are th1nk1n.g ot Car:m.en Paber. Who. 7au call.d Car..e11ta." !he la47 l.d out _ gaap and said nye. that was ..,. lat. and dear allDt Carmelit_! How aarvelousl iow .1mIiL "1 -.rvelousl· 1'he lady and the .pectatora ,,"0 were at the partf pe still talk1n.g about that one ettect. he'1 have torgotten the d1miah1ng card. which _used tbeJll greatl,.. and the prince.. oard trick and the reat ot the progrUl. The., oDJ."1 rem.-.ber the unoanny teat of the deadt In e.senoe, the aag1cian onl., re.eale4 the Daae ot the dead peraon. But the 1a47 olaimed that the ~cian had deaori_ed h~ allDt tul17, te11tng the 00101' ot her dreaa, hair and e7es plus her age. !hat is exaotly \he ettect ~e JD.&Siclan wanted to oreate .ad What he had strived tor. !.be aagician ereated that 1'mpreaaion b7 leading the lad7 along the lab'1l'inth o't thousht, "the ro~e8t dark." The rest ot the audience was 80 1'mpreased b7 the test that atter a while the., alao thoUSht the . _ . It the magician oan tell the exaot name ot the persan he JIluat also know e.erJ'thtag e1 ••• Bo one was aware that the ...gici_ alreacty knew the n ... ot the dead persan. T.he magiCian pretended that he was tl"1ing to le~ the identity or the dead peraon b7 reading the 4es.ription ot the person in the la41'a mind. The lad7 aasumed ~t attar the magician got a :ruJ.l desoription .r the person, he would then mow hal' exact D811.e. In her a1nd, the magioian waa reading thoughts hOlll her mind alone. whleh ahe had not written doVJl or told to an7one. It vas a airaole and when ahe later related. her stol"1 ahe said exactl)" that. ~ preponderance ot impossibilitie. that surrounds the presentation also add. to the leg8lld ot the sto1'T. '!he la41 ha4

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dropped ..., 11Dezpeoted aD4 .unvited and tid. Dot know there waa a magio ah.ov an. file 1&47 and the u.g!oian were de~1D.i te17 UDknown to each other. !lb.e _poian wu 20 ~eet away when the ladJ' vrete the _.e dowa. '!he ladJ' he1d ~ wri tteD . . . .eale. in an eDvelope .....1' her he ad. '!he aagioiUL bad DO Goea. to the writing pad ad did Dot eveD approaoh the 1ad7. Hew did the aaBician d1 YiJ:Le the - - ot the dead person' 'l'be reader can tind the aoluti_ to the lI17-t8r7 in Paul. CurPJ's masterful e~teot oal1e' -"70talopian in Jtnx 137 CR4 also in Arm8llLaDIl' _ Praotioal Hental lIt"t •• ta. In the presentation above. the aagioian asked the lad7 to tirst sip her naae tor a short handwriting anal7ai_. Actual17 the l18.8ician wmted to mow it the laa, was right 01' lett handed and U she wrote legibl.,. Bence the aag1clan knew where to pla.e the pencil and the . .vel ope betore the lighta were turned ot.t. ~ lad7 i_ the. told to oro.. her ar.ma and not to 40 8D7thing tmtil told. to and then the lights were extinguiahed. Por the auo.ess ot the test, the roo. .nst be in total darknesa. Aa aoon aa the light. are u:t1ngu1.hed, the _gioi_ exchaD.gea the writing pad on the table tor a prepared one which he hacl hidden in hi. 80at pocket. '!he prepared pad had an 1:apr••• ion g1ma1ck tmder the top aheet with a 20 tt. lellgbh or bla.ok tbract attaohed. A. the . .giollll walks baokwarda to the ru- oorner ot the 1'0_ he pa,._ out the thread. ~ he turna on the pocket ~la.h1ight and tnatruot_ the lad7 to piok up the penoil and write. !he magioiaR k ••p. up a line or patter to iRpre.a aD tb8 audienoe that be i. indeed tar aw8.J tram the writing ot the n.e. ~ magioiau then extingu,1shes the pocket tlaahlight and as aoem as the lad:f i. tiniahed writing, he instructs her to la,. dONn the penoil and piok up the envelope. !bia keeps the ladJt. hands oooupied tor a rew aaaent. during whioh the magioian pulls on the tread and .teals the impre.sion g11lmiok. As soon aa the magician haa the &i_10k in his handa he oalla tor 11ght.-on. 1'he draatio oonolu81aD toll .... the Living and Dead ~e.t has degenerated greatl,. with the .,ear•• Toda7 it ia presented bJ" :aaD1 magicians like a ample oard triok. At one time the "L and D Teat n was the talk ot the town and the exclusive property at a rew top notoh aediuma. Who pre.ented the efrect like a tull even1ng drama. The.e aedillllUl did this teat and nothing else. Tb87 not oDly told the name ot the 4ead person but alao told the disea.e whiOh oaused the death and alao the place ot death plus D_es ot tm relativea. The Muter Ifagio1ana throughout histo17 have oreate4 with litt1e or 80 t.tor.aation bQt .01e17 by tbe tore. ot theil' peraonalities aDd their oun»ing knowledge of the huaaa

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.......,. UGLIOS'mO

J....

(1743-95)

Ia the . .oir. ot .cat •••• Mari. Be. . Du. iar1'7, the taTorlte ot 1t1ag Loui. XY, we read ot a v1.1t abe had vl\h the ..... er 11&,101811 Caglioatro. Ifhe . .polaD. 0 _ _ pitioeDtl., ctr.ased, with apekling d1aaonda on hi. lIreaat end tinger. and. prio.le.. ,as en the knob ot his walkiag stiok. Bis grand _tr"J with hia bold, gleaming .,.e. had W01l. hal.t the battle aa the Countess r.ali... that ~. vas no or dinar,. charlatan. Atter .zCbangtng pleaaeDtri•• ,Gagliostro took tram the brea.t po"et ot hi. ooat a leather oase vh10h he handed to ~ Couate •• , aa,ing that it ...taiDed a . .gio mirror whereta ahe aight read tbe .....t. ot the past and the hture. "It the naioD be not to ,our likins, It he remarked, !apreaaiv.ly, ado ~ot blaae ••• You use the mirror at your OND riSk." With these vorda Cag11ostro had s.wn the seeds ot amfnaaa thinga to ocae in the :mind. ot the Counteaa. She openn.4 the eaa. and aav a ....talli. slus 1n an elton,. t'raa.! orDamaJlte4 with a Tari8t., ot -&Sioal oharaoters in gold and s lTer. a Caslioatro r.oited aaae oabaliatic words, and bade h.r gaze int.ntl,. into the glasa. She did .0 aD4 in a t . . • aRents waa overoa.e with fright and tainted ava,. •.~ Count.aa retuaed to aee Caglioatro agaiD under an:,y oirouaatanoea. VAat 41d tu:. Counteas .ee in tba airrorZ She did not 'ell ua but ve oan very aoourately surmise. Cagliostro vaa &11181a kept up to date an the late.t gossip ot the oourts. the Count.sa lived in tear, that is vq ahe consul.ted with magicians. She knew her past and coulcl very vell 1aagine her tuture. Abere w.re nmora aIloat that the Gounteaa was guilt~ of treason, (tor whi.a ahe was e.xe'ClU'bed on Deo.. 7, 1 79.3 ) • The l'12III.or8 la d no dought reaohed her e81's. Bid. ahe ae. the shadowa of the suUlo'1ne in the Jairror as auggested ~ BeDrJ' R. "ans 'he magioal authDr' Did Cag1iostro plaoe the ahadow." in the mirror? Vh;r Dot' '1'h1a epiaode .&de Oa.sliostro t s tae grow tut aD.d tall right into th. pages ot histol"1 and h. 4id DOt;h1Dg acre thm allow the Oount.as to arrive at her own oonclusions!

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ClWlLE8 B. POSTER

(1838-88)

Charl •• H. Feater, the billet-ktDg ot all times, .no traveled aroun4 the world and atood betore orOND heada with nothing aore than a slip ot paper .and a pencil, Gould oreat. miraolea out ot nothtns. A oase on reoord 1s the ttme Yhen two 70ung gentl.-.n came into his den tor a reading. Poster 'old GR. ot the. that a apirit had caae in with him. and was ROV stan41.ng b, his si4•• Poster tbeD h8l1ded the young man a .ard and told him to read ott the Daae ot the apirit, letter by letter. tha young aan vaa ovel"Whelae4 .a he atarted to apell out the D_ .~ a recentl., departed aunt. He was griped with r_orae and orie4 protusel,.. Foater then delivered a oomforting messaae traa the

A LIB. WID BrERRIfY

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departe" auat. Po •••r had ro.orted to a Terr anoi. .t but praotical aeoret. III pre-AriatiaD. biblioal times. the high prieats wore a .etal plat. on their chesta with ahiWV . .tal lettor.. 1'he 'altter' w.a told to loOk at the plat. and that certain lett••a would ahine out toapen out th.ir wi she a • Post~r .0derDi.ed the ette.t b7 the 70ung g~ tleaan a card wlaioh oontaino. all the 1.tte.s 0 the alphab.t, not Dac.as ..i17 ta an,. order. Be waa to14 that the letter. would ~1aP out at hta. Po.ter did not know the n.... o-r the 4ea4 a\Dlt lrat he 1.t t;Ae 70uaa . . . t.ll 1t vo Ja1a. SuGh 1. the power 1 .-r aagg.atian a. pra.tioed by the

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!'hi. ettect waa oontribut.d to the _gum. ....etk" tor ...... 1at, 1974. ftle e41tor, Buo_ Jae., published it UDder the ti~le o-r ~el Oloud and tor aome oba.ur. rea.aD 414 not publiah the po.aibl. aolutian to it. PoUow1ng i. the ato1'7 in 1t '. _ti••t., vi th a sugseate4 soclus operan41. ~ atoJ7 vaa tirat prated in the magasine "lIEplor1D.g the Unknowa n tor Karch 1960 in an article titled "lIcm.ito.1na the Iletaph'Y8ical n ""7 Walter .(Jra., program direotor -ror BBl' a .0&8t-to-ooaat ~tor.· '!he artiel. tn...e.tigationa ot the fi'1ins .a. . . .....eaent, the pa,.ohioa, Peter Harko., eto. A paraaFaph whioJ:t. must be o-r keen intere.t to all would-be Hentall.ts or pa.,.at•• reads aa tollow.: nIt aa.e bad oarel manipulator tries to prOT. 1M has IISP b,. torcing the t e ot 41am.onda on _. I publi.l7 atah ur.vitll that I will not be responsible 'Eor arq ....u1ng

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... ".aw atateel tlI.a1; Pe•• r Barke. had ~raas.cl h1a 8114 tarther ata••el, "So 414 DJt. Rolt AJ.exancler who atooel in trcmt ot a large FOUP ot peopJ.e on the root ot a H1a1 bu11.1D& and a.e4 . . poiD. ou. a 010u4 - 8DJ' 010u4 in the 'b1u., blue Flol'icla ak7. On two cl1f'terent oooaaslcm.a he ocxae entrateel on the 8ubJeot 010u4 and 1t 41•• 01.oel. -one or ta. oloud. ar0UD4 it di.sol.e., but -- 0014so.1Ier -- I saw those two olouda dia. sol.e." It the rea4er is o_.era_' with the rud.iaents of' uteoroloa' he • • get .caa goe4 01... to the solution ot the IIJ'sta'1!7 trca the a'bo.e .tat...nt. Hr. HoOraw ata1;ed that he had poiD.teel to a oloud. in the "ltlua, blue Flori4a 1k7."'

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t'be "'bl. . alQ"" tell. 118 that it va. done during tail' .eather. .&Del Florida bappa.. to be the ieleal. plaoa tor auch a te.t. Dr. AJ.ex8D4er oould ne.er duplioate the a_e test ••er Ohioago .. .ew York, f'or ex_ple. 4ue to the aul tipl. and .arying heat souro.s vhieh eroat. a abaotio oloud layer OTer the city. !la "010u4 te.t" oan onl,. be clone in the t.-perate latitude. and under oertatn veather oonditiona. It must be a windlesa d.,., W8.1'Dl and ot noraaJ. hUlldc11t,.. These oonditlons produoe the ...ll puttr oloud that res . .bl•• a VQtt ot ootton. !.hese clauda are called tair-veather oloud. bJ' seaman and fiyer.. '!he latin name tor suoh a oloud i8 ".u.ul118 hu.1l1." ••e Pil.1. th•• e _all olouds are the .1slble top of' a imermal, rl.1Ds air eurrents. As all' ia heated OTer tbe hot earth, it expanda aa4 tendl to rise in eoluaa. as though throuSh invislble objmne,.•• A. the all' gains altitude it 0001. of'f' un.il it reaohes the le.el ot cCDldenaation, where the in.isible water .apor present in t_ rising alp beoGSas Yi81bl. as oloud tor.a. !be 010u4 remajns almost statiOZlAl'7 in the w1:ndl ••s "'81118, blue" sky mel r-.a.1J:ua in 11ght an top ot the ther.aal untIl the source of' neat stopa OZ' Changes. This souroe ot heat oan be dupllcated b7 artif'lclal •• ana. Seae ot the olouda e.er a saall 01ty are oreat.d that wa,.. A turnao. in a building tor exaaple. oan be 118ed to produo. a cloud bJ' directing the ~eat upwards- Whc the heat is shut oft the artitlol&1 oloud 41sapp.a~s. !he ps,.Ohio oan toroe the ahoi •• of a eloud or he can 8l'range to ha.e a n1aber ot art1.tioial olollds up in the air and 'hen •• cretl,. signal to his assistant. which heat souroe 'bo ahut ott. aee notea on page 25.

'.!!he pa7ch10 aust be a good slQ' watoher and JaU.8t allO be an 8Dlatev wea.her aan. !1:8 ouaulus hua1l1 cloud. tOl'D1S earl,. in the cia,. and Quall,. grovs larger and seaetimes turD. 1Dto a th'lm4erhead. So the 'oat .ust be done ounnin gl1, usually 1m the aorning hours. "Bol.e•• ," Goethe aoted, "has gen1ua, power md iD. ltl"

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Thia 1a a aetmo4 of gettiD& i;he drop OD. a"ODe t 8 thoughts while 8t8ll41Dg 1n 1me m.:t4Ue ot a 1'0_ or on the a1;re.t. !he !apr•• aion p_1 0k about to be 4e.or1_e. works alaost autama1;ioal11. 1I••de4 to construot the 8'-' ok are 2 pennJ .a:t;oh bcD:•• made ot oarOoarcl. !ake the drawer trOID. ODe 'box and oonstruct a "flap" like the one .een 1D I'1g. 2. On. end ot the bawer 1s retained wi th the botta. attached.. It ia then out to wedge shape as ahOlll1. 'lb.e "nap n ia tmen o.ent.d to the drawer trca the aeoond box. The whole aas_hl,. ia seen in Pig. 3 (with . .asage). to the bott. . ot the flap, c_ent a piece ot white paper. The white paper will'-ake the ouban !apreaaioD frOID. the oover. ~o prepare the Gover, 1t auat b. lmg1ued. and all 1;he oar4'board trca 1;he iDai4e 1s ramoved trOB eD8 a1de of the oover leaving onll the thin outside paper. &em..1; a piece ot carbon paper to the iDside or the oover and then re-slue the oover as 11; waa bet ore.

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PRBS~ATIOI': Baye the paper .a1;oh 'box tull ot matchea and oloaed so that the -flap - ~ woked into the oover and oat ot 81ght. !be ape.ta1;or is given a p1ece ot paper and the aatah box to write an. Atter 1;he question 1a written, apectator 1. to14 to told the ....... while the pertoraer take a back the box ot _tche •• The pertormer _ltea aure that the g1JDdok 1a at the right end as .een in PiS. 3. a. holda the aatoh box an the pa.l.a ot hi. lert hand and. pulls out the drawer w1th his right hand (all this ia a.sum1.ng the pertoser 1s right handed). The draver i . opeDD.ea wiele eaough to take out QlLe aatoh 'but vide enough ao that the flap mapa out. downwards agaiD. the lett pala. !'he flap i. Dot in .1ght. Bow' atter the .atoh i. 'aken out of the box, the box ia a10.ed and the flap aU'CID&ticall,. .ta,.. on the outa1de agataat the botta. ot the box. Tlle pertormer turDS the aatohboz on 1t'. ad. to strike the aatch to b'lJ1!ll1 the paper w1th the . . asage. As he strike. the aatoh \he ... sall w1l~ be expo•• d to him tor leadins' AJ.w.,.. use blaH pencil-oarbon paper and a short hard pen.il.

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8 • .A.SSI1fG THOUGHTS !hi. 1. the 14e&1 teat to do tor the perseD that inalata that th. pertoaer au.t DO' toue. the _ s ....-paper. BPFlICTs J. .peetator Wl'ite. hia thought. em. a maJ.l .oratch pad m4 then turna the pad. up.ide down on hi. pa.l.m.. 'l'h. pertoaer wi theu' touGhing the pad d1."ine. the thought.

PllBPARATIOBs J. ••ratoh pa4 2lI 'b7 JlI inohe. ls prepared 117 plao1ng a pie•• ot .arbon paper, carbcm. 8i4e clovJ1 1mbr the aeoond. aheet ot the pad IIBd c.-ented to it. !he pad 8Dl~ contain. theae two abeet •• A. pleoe of wbite paper .-aller ~ the pa4, about 2 b7 3 inche., which bas a aa11 plece ot rasor blade . . ..ated to an. en., 1. next placed UDder the o8l'boa paper in the pad. On ~ 'baok .arOoard. ot the PH, draw a ...,atal ball _ a .tand .0 that tha 'ball 1. toward. the looa. e4ge. ot the aheets, as shown in Fig. 4.

Q

You will alao ne.4 either a ••0ret&r7 tfP- billtold er a larger paper pad with a strip ot . .gootic tape ."eQte. to the outsid• • s shown in PiS. S br tl:le blaok pointed. ahape. WOUIlfG: Atter the .peotator has wri tten his worda tell him to turn the pad. ovor end-tor-end. Be will then be looking at the pioture ot the errstal ball on the back ot the pad U1Cl the loo.e end. ot the pad vill be pointing out, awa~ tram him. The performer than instruota the .peotator to gase at the Or7stal ball an4 1aagina that he aee. hi. words in the ball. Atter a tew .aBents the pertoaer take. his wallet and. ooyer. tbe or1stal ball and tell. the apa.tator to atop ooneentratiRs tor a bit. During this aaneUYer 't;h. perto:naer l1fts the vallet at hi. end a bit. Th1. oau... S the loo.e paper with tbe pieoe of razo~ blade P1S. to be attrao.ed to the wallet, lifting the baok ooyer ot the pa4 with it juat high enough tor the pertoZ'Jller l • tager tip. to sli4e the 100•• papal' with the tmpre.sion out ablt and attaohe. it to the _gnet on the wallet. 'fhe pel'toraer then just take. the wallet awa'J'. opel1. it to .ake Dot •• atter haYing pala.t the 100•• paper with the .es.age. !be re.t 1 • • .attar ot presentation.

aTA.L-XIRlISI3

:mt'P:IC!1 An u:8II1ne" spoon i_ pl••• d on the table. The

pa,.ohio ruba it abit and ia aeen to bend ccapletel,. over by itseltl

You do not have to be another S17d1ni to work this ettect but 70U viU have to practice plant,. betore a three-va,. mirror. MftBOD: The giJaiok that makea it appear that the spoon bent over viaibl,. and by itselt is the ~ Pig. 6 miok used in "!he Solid Ghost." It the reader does not own tiThe Solid Ghost" by Dick Van Bruaner and Sam Hughea, he should get one. The "Ghoat" ia inexpensive selling tor about $2.00. It ia uncann7. The visible movement at samething under the hankerohiet awea everyone vho has ever witnessed the etteot. The gimmiok is a short piece ot rubber tubing, about 3 inchea b,. 3/8 inch outside diameter, which is sewn into the hem ot a hankerohiet. POI" the presentation ,.ou vill need two spoons, although on.l:, one is seen by the audienoe. One ot the spoons i. unprepared. The second spoon is bent aa in Fig. 6. You will also need a table mat or thick table oloth and the prepared hankerohier with the "gimmiok." The bent spoon ia palmed in the right hand in the same position as shown in Pig. 6 • 'lb.e end ot the handle "An is anchored into the tleah ot the palm at the base ot the thuab. 'Phe tip ot the,~ddle tinger ia ourled around the bead ot the a~oan at nB". ,he hankerchiet i8 in your ooat t • brea.t pocket. ~e etteot is vorked While sitting at a table.

The PRESENTATION : The atraight spoon (unprepared) is passed out tor examiIation. It i8 found to be quit. 801i4. While the spoem is being examined, pertormer brings out the hankerchiet with his left hand and ahows it on both side •• The hankerohiet 1s spread out on the table by the edge on the performer's side and the tar corners are tolded baok to the middle. !he tore corner with the gimmick is then tucked under the hankerehiet, but not activated, and at the same tt.e the pa~d spoon is secretly lett under the .ankerchiet. Take back the straight spoon with your right hand and pretend to place it under the hankerchiet, but actuall,. drop it on your lap, and take the gimmiek and bend it and hold it down with your lett hand over the hankerehiet. Hake sase strokes OYer the gimmick and pass out the suggeation that the spoon will be aeen bending by itselt atter you remove your hands~ Step baok and let the 'spirits manifest'. Atter the

10 ••••• Gall'.

81_' ak stands up stl-Upt, .poon is bending, pull. baok

• ••

giving the impression that the on the hankerobiet to topple the glmmiok and oasplete the illusion. When the hanker.hi.~ ia raso.e. the bent spoon will be in sigbt' .A. double ootton hankereMet should be used. When ~.ld­ iDs the hankerohier, to14 it into a tent-11ke bundle. Suggestion and the eerie .0vaDent under the haDkerohi.t vill make the illusion perteot. DIDBR TABLB YOGA An impressiYe .tunt to perl"ol"l1 1 atter the elessert' i. the handling at live tir. with ,.our- bare hands. With just a little preparation, the magioian oan oreate a sensation. . Bee4e4 ia a .-all ballot cottQD or cotton swab, the ,i;1Pe used b7 ladies tor oosmetics. Carr,. ODe ot thes. balls in a aall tin 110 that it will r8DBin 1'01Dld. When read7 to perl"ora, br1D.g out the ootton ball and plaoe it on a dinner plate. Add halt a teallpoon 01" water to the plate and then sprinkle the ball with lighter tluid. these preparation. should be dane .ecretl1 without much tuss. Strike a matoh and 1igbt the ootton ball. !be 1"1... will be quite high and impressive. Now you oan piok up the ball wi th the thUII.b and tirst tinger ot yom' right hand and plaoe the burning ball in 70ur le1"t palm. The burning ball i8 held in the le1"t pala tor just a second or two and then it is tranaterred to the right p~ and baok again to the lett palm. Last, piok up tbe still burning ball and place it in your mouth where it is extinguished when 70U olose your mouthl The small aMount 01" water that is absorbed by the ootton ball allsists 70U in retarding the heat so that the ball can be held a bit longer on your pala than ord1narJ. i'he water and the naptha (oil) behave in the same JI8l1nor that the,. always do. The water stays on the bottom and the oil remains over it. When 70U swallow the burning ootton ball, you 01" oourse tilt your head baok like all good tire-eatera. Beware, tire is a dangerous thing. It can ruin an expansive table-cloth or it oan burn.the house down so dan't drop the ball. Practice plent7 betore attempting to present any type ot tire mag10. Practice will tell you just how long you oan hold the burning ball in 70ur palm. oomfortably and will tell 70u just how muoh water and lighter nui.' to ,us •• Betore picking up the burning ball with the tips ot 70ur tingera, wet 70ur tinger tips in 70ur mouth and then piok up the ball b7 taking it at the bottom where the water 1s.

11 DB MYSTERY OF THB TBIPLlIrS

BPP.aar.

Ihre. digit. • ••retly chosen by a sp ••tatar are added to thre. 41gi ts ahosen b,. the mentalist. T.be ••ntal1at 40e. not know the three 41gits anosen b,. the speotator and he does not know the tinal . .ver, ,.et the performer divines both nUlllbersl

-

MBfHOD. Performer u.es two paper pad. as shown 1D Pig.T. Spectator is giV*B B a ohoic. ot either pa4 OR he is handed ane of the pads, preter. abl,. pad "B • ~ectator is told to leeretl,. ou-ole an,. three d1gits together. Performer alao oiroles three d1g1t. on the other pad and calla out his 41gits. Spectator ia told to add the three digits called to his ohosen three digits. Spectator is then tnatructed to add two .eroe. to the &nswer to make a larger number ot tive or .ix d1g1ts. Pinall,. the spectator i. 1Dstruoted to aubtract the tirst three digits ot the &nawer tran the tinal nu:aber. ' UAMPLB: 6~ -- spectator l • nuaber ~ -- pertormer'a number 66600 -- two zeroe. added

~ -- ainu.

tirst three digits

oS9.3lj: -- tiDal answer

!he tinal &nswer is a predictable series ot digits. !he third nuaber is alwa,.s a "9". 'flit :tirst digit ot the an.ver will tell the mentalist what numbers were choaen bJ the spe.tator. get the tirst digit, tell the speotator to giye ,.ou the total ot the first and third digita, which in this oue is "1$" (6 +9). 1$ - 9 = 6 (the tirst digit). The .eoond digit is alwa,.s one les8 than the first. Tae tirst and the fourth digits are oampl_ent. ot 9. The se.ond and fifth digits are oompl..ent. of 9.

'0

In the above example, where the spectator gets the UB" pad, the performer alwa,.. circles the same three digits, "012." The spectator atter adding the two number8 alwa,.s ends up with three all-alike digit8 11k. 11666".

All the performer has to know to dviine the final anawer is one ot the digits other than the 9. To get the first digit pertormer prooeeds as already stated or resorts to pencil reading or puaping, oenter tear, eto.

12 THE laSTERY OP TO TRIPLBTS •••• oolt. Tbe entire __eUYer .e shown in the exaple i. that tJa. speotator has multiplied three all-alike digit a D7 991 !here are DiDe pOlsib1e answere aa to110we'

0Dl,

111 X 99 222 X 99 333 X 99 4lI4 X 99

• • • •

10989 21918 )2967 439$6

666 X 99 • 177 X 99 .. 888 X 99 • 999 X 99 •

6$934 1692.3 81912 98901

SSS

X 99 •

$4945

Onoe the pertormer knowe tbe tirat 4igit he will ala. DOW the tourth dip1;. The aeoond digit ia one 1eaa than the :tirst and 0 • • the a.o..d 41git ia known it wU1 alao t.11 what the last digit ie.

Seoaod exaap1e: ~ spectator geta pad "An and cir01e. the 41gita "678 +

BOTK:

678 -- apectator'. nuaber fil& -- Pertormer aa nuaber

(alwa,a the .... )

88800 -- two zero.a added

888 -- minua tirst three digita B7912 :tinal answer

1be

answer is alwqa ill tive digits. but in the patter perfor..er re:ter. to :tive or aix digits aa misdireotion. Pertor..er alwa,. circ1.. the three lowest 41git. on hi. pad. "012" or "210."

The tiDal anawer has great poasibi1itie. tor &n0NDaDahip sinoe lOU already know one ot the digits. the "9". Sf 41"tning the tiret digit. per:tormer Oaft tell the apectator what his original three digita vere. In the aecond example the tirst digit 1s "a" so the performer knowa that the three oho.en digit. were "678" atnce the spectator got pad "An with the 41gita tn aequence. With pad. "B" the ehosen numbers would be "a76" with the "8" as the tir.t digit.

1,3

.m CJII!KR ~ COI'lllQ'fIRSY !be rollowtDs 0011eote4 DOte. on the historr ot ~ • .nter-tear etteo' will 1atroduo. the reader one ot ~. tavorite passttae. ot the author, wh1&b 1. tr7iDa t. tathaa out the orlgiD ot the etteot. Karl Palve. remark.d to me "ton't be surpri ••d Al, it .ame 4&1 we tind o.t that the abln•• e were ustag the oenter teu principle in 1000 B.C,I If

'0

4L BAKBR

"Who •• mgen10ua brain it waa that de...ise« the stealiDg ot the .eDter portion ot a tolded . .saage alip in tho aot or tearing it to pie.ea, is Dot known and p~obably ne...er will be knawa. It se_ 1;0 be alaost certaiD that . .dluma an.d protessianal .indr.a4ers uae. this subtle procedure long barore it beo811.. known t. aafioi&na. ~e .ecret wa. renal.d to the editor of a m.agic pub 10ati011 b7 Sunshine, the well mow. lIleDtallat. It has ainoe beoa.. wide11 known "oDSst magicians and the seoret has be. publishe" in a ....eral popular . .gazines and eyen scae newspapera." Quot.d tram Al Baker'a book, ~ntal Masio." 'lbe abo...e .tat. .nt is about as olo.e one can get to the true taots, ~t the oontroversy does not atop there. ViSA that it did. 'lb. editor ot a JUgic publJ,oation"._. .tloned abo...e was no doubt Ifed AIm..... and his J1Dx:.

a.

J .G, ~CIIlp.on, Jr. writing in "Oenter.aental"

"Be (Am1eaum) tid introduce it to 'the world ot _gio in August ot 1932 when Plo,.ed !'ha1er published 'She' (oenter-tear) principle as a '!riok ot the Month Olub' it.., but he ga.,.. oredit tor it's inTention to !heodore H. Arnold ot Bev York OitJ." Then in rererring to Hartin Sunshin., J.G.T. Jr. atates " -- he r8lD8:aibers olea:r11 the da,. ·va,. back in the tAirt1ea, when he t07ing with a pieoe or newspaper and graduall,. reduoing it to bits in an absent :minded tashion. II - - "Then o..e the dawning and the tOl"D. oenter prinoiple was bo1"Jl in the mind ot Martin Sunshine." I have unclerlined the words "baek in the thirtI.s" beoause the.e are inocmgI'Uoua to the historr or the center-tear, sa vill be pointed out later. J .G. ~omps01l, Jr. further sta.ted that Sunah1ne had told him that he had reveal,d the aeoret to Theodore H, Arnold JDd SunshiDe surmis.d that Arnold told the leoret to ADnaaann. ~ed kr.mold wal a olose triend to AnnemaDD and JOhn X.rthe1"Jl Hilliard. Arnold lett hill magic trunk to Dai Vernon when he died in Sept. 17, 1938 a.Gording to tl:Le ma.gic mags. S•• Jinx #49 and So and the Sphinx tor Oct. 1938.

w..

14

HBII'lJ.L,.JIl'~BS

fIlE OICll'l:m !BAR aOftROVERSY

•••••on....

Si4 LoItaill, Ia the . . . J1DX tor Pelt. 1966. Vol. IY 146. _ arti.l. ot ADa.·'an b7 Lesli. Ha7 r.p.ats st.ilar taots as alr.aq etat ••• a •• di".r. B111 Mads •• iat.rj.o's by MntiQ111ns a l.tt.r he r ••• iy•• trca Sid. Larain. elat.d 1 f /2/64. In the l.tt.r S14 stat.e, III r.al1,. 'b.li.y. . . (Itm.ann) vaa the tirst to publiah ~. 'cent.r t.ar t and I alao b.liev. 1lt t11"et heard .t it tram. •• - al.though he DeT.r aentioned it in print. It vas s1 va to m. bJ' a atudellt in Oabridg. in 1 928 .n1l. I was Yisit1D.a BDgland - I a.nt it in a l.tt.r to tam. Bow"Ser. ~., Ann...,n ..d Je. Ot'.tt. - It It• . , student tr_ vhoa I obtain.d it had learn.d ot it traa a ohap tnt.reat.d in spirit tRY.stiaations an4 the student aak.d a. it I had .y.r h.ard ot 1t 'b.tor.... Another ot Si4 Lorain. fa l.tt.rs va. ••nt1oneci in lIag10k bJ' Baa• • Jan.s (Oot. 18. 1(74). JOIl.S .ta't. . . . toll. .s' ItPrClll Sid Lorain. oom•• thia int.resting bit ot .dJ.t. riria OODC.rn1ng the origin ot the o.nt.r 't.ar. It "Lorain. not.s that an Amerioan 1IMiltd Garrua, a student at Oambridg. Uni.erait-s, tirat show.d it to hiB, identlt-sing i ' a. a •• d1U1l'a moy. that h. had l.arn.d in Plorida. n "In 1928, Loraine wrote ot his aabridg. Yia1t and uaoriMd the ••nt.r tear in l.tt.rs to T.d AIm.aDD and Joe OT.tt •• " "In their r.spance 'bo~ r.port.d th.,. had not pr.yioua17 .n.o'JIlt.r.d it • .tam..ann. lat.r wrote it up, vhil. Ot'.tt. sold the secret." Betor. goinS aaJ farth.r let . . stat. her. that it i. quit. sat. to asSUll. ~at it a lIl'd1.ua kn.v ot the center t.ar 111 Plorida in 1928, it vaa al.o known in Vuh.inpon D.O. an4 in the X.w York Oity ar.a "S.ars b.tore that ainoe the I'!O ar.a has aJ.vqs been the o.~ter ot the spirituali.tio aO.aBeDt.

to

~. ~

DUDIBG.

In 1923_ Jos.ph Dwminger md Jo.eph Riml were appoill1;.4 to tbe pa70hie .CIIII1itt•• of the aagasine 'Science an.. InYentiOll.." That was a tormidabl. .-.biDation. T.be S.ienoe and. In.entian -a ottered $1 000 to an,. paTohi. that oould proY. his ola1aa b7 produoinS phenom.Da that oould not be exposed or dnplioat.d b1 BtDa aDd Duaninaer. R1na was