This is Magic by Lorring Campbell

THIS IS

LORING CAMPBELL

WILL ALMA M.I.M.C. ( L O N D O N )

LORING CAMPBELL

THIS IS

by

LORING CAMPBELL

9lluUnLAMV< COM

half

of

bag, h o l d i n g

blew

the

l o w e r h a l f o f t h e b a g to pieces a n d t h e rest w a s

re-

m o v e d b y assistant.

the g u n

close.

This

N o w I took the l i d off the j a r and

s h o w e d t h a t f h e c o n f e t t i h a d v a n i s h e d a n d i n its p l a c e

was

the

pig.

Next

I

opened

the

drawer

box

and

p o u r e d out the confetti. O n e t h i n g t o r e m e m b e r is t h a t t h e b o x h o l d i n g t h e c o n f e t t i m u s t be l a r g e e n o u g h so t h a t t h e c o n f e t t i

fake

is n o t v i s i b l e t o a u d i e n c e w h e n i t is i n t h e b o x .

Also

the t i n fake and the l i d must have a hole in the

top

center

his

first

of

each,

finger

so t h a t

the

performer

can

stick

d o w n t h r o u g h b o t h h o l e s at t h e s a m e t i m e

and remove the fake covered w i t h confetti along and under cover of the lid. permit

air

getting

The

with

h o l e s also s e r v e

to the g u i n e a

pig when

to

he is se-

creted inside the jar.

T h e Spirit M i r r o r E f f e c t : T h e M a g i c i a n shows a small f r a m e d m i r r o r a b o u t i> x 7 i n c h e s to be c l e a r a n d o r d i n a r y .

He

then

wraps

and

has

the

mirror

someone h o l d it. else, a n d sealed.

in A

a sheet

of

newspaper

c a r d is t h e n s e l e c t e d b y

i t is p l a c e d

i n an e n v e l o p e ,

someone

which

is

then

L a t e r t h e e n v e l o p e is o p e n e d a n d t h e c a r d is

r e m o v e d a n d is f o u n d t o be b l a n k . wraps the m i r r o r the m i r r o r .

It

m i r r o r , but in it.

and

finds

T h e spectator

a p i c t u r e of

is n o t s c r a t c h e d

below

un-

the card

or

above

T h e p i c t u r e is r a t h e r h a z y

in the

looking,

y e t d i s t i n c t , a n d t h e M a g i c i a n e x p l a i n s t h a t i t is m a d e of

ectoplasm. S e c r e t : O f c o u r s e , t h e e n v e l o p e is s i m p l y a d o u b l e

envelope flap

known

mirror,

the

to all flap

Magicians.

being

made

The of

mirror

another

is a

mirror

the exact size of the inside of the f r a m e and h a v i n g a n e w s p a p e r g l u e d to t h e b a c k o f i t .

T h e m i r r o r is t h e

p a r t t h a t has t o b e m a d e s p e c i a l . I

bought

picture

frames

and

removed

the

glass

they can do

sand

and took

i t t o a glass s h o p w h e r e

blasting.

T h e y c o v e r t h e glass w i t h a r u b b e r

This

hardens and a p i c t u r e of the card

coating.

is c u t o u t

of

the r u b b e r blasted.

with

The

a sharp

rubber

knife.

is t h e n

Then

this

is

sand-

r e m o v e d .and t h e

glass NI

is m i r r o r e d .

This

makes

the c a r d i n the m i r r o r . the f r a m e

a misty, silvery

and the c a r d b o a r d

t h e f r a m e , f l a p is

fitted

looks very o r d i n a r y .

picture

of

T h e m i r r o r is t h e n p l a c e d tacked

to the

back

into f r o n t p a r t and the Of

c o u r s e , t h e f l a p is

on a newspaper before m i r r o r

in of

mirror dropped

is w r a p p e d i n

another

p a p e r a n d g i v e n to spectator.

C a r d s in C a r r o t s Everybody

finds

a card

in

a cigarette

or

in

an

g r a n g e o r i n s o m e o t h e r u s u a l p l a c e , so s e v e r a l y e a r s ago

I

decided

to t r y

a carrot.

menting with

a long thin-bladed

it

to

is

possible

cut

around

the

After

may

be i n s e r t e d

I

green

carrot and cut out a l o n g s l i m cork. card

much

knife,

and the c o r k

stem

Then

replaced

a m a n n e r t h a t the c a r r o t m a y be g i v e n f o r

experi-

found

that

of a in

the

rolled such

examination

without

the

examining

spectator

discovering

the

se-

cret. H e r e is t h e r o u t i n e I u s e d : 1 p r e p a r e d t w o c a r r o t s ready

f o r cards and had t h e m on a small tray

stage.

back-

T h e n 1 h a d t w o cards f r e e l y selected and asked

eacn ot the spectators w h o

h a d selected the cards

w r i t e their names o n t h e i r cards, and after they

to bad

d o n e t h i s to p l e a s e t e a r o f f a s m a l l c o r n e r a n d to k e e p it.

1 then showed

a Devil's

sides a n d m a d e a b a g o u t o f

on

both

it by h o l d i n g the

Handkerchief

four

corners between the t h u m b and first finger of the left hand.

The

two

spectators w e r e

t h e i r cards in the bag. that they d r o p p e d

then

asked

to

drop

O f c o u r s e , 1 w a s c a r e f u l to see

them

into the d o u b l e side.

After

b o t h cards h a d been p l a c e d i n the h a n d k e r c h i e f

and

given

had

a flip, the t w o cards vanished.

Kathryne

b e e n s t a n d i n g b e h i n d m e a n d at o n c e t o o k t h e

hand-

kerchief

and

cards,

quickly

rolled

.went them

back

stage,

removed

and

placed

one

in

the each

carrot,

p u t i n t h e c o r k a n d w a l k e d o n t h e stage w i t h t h e t r a y a n d p l a c e d it o n the side table. W h i l e she w a s d o i n g t h i s , I small

Sand

Frame

with a handkerchief. the vanished mosphere the f r a m e .

and

had covered

invisibly

command

floating

would

in the

magically

atap-

1 gave the c o m m a n d and uncovered

I n s t e a d o f t h e c a r d s w a s a sheet o f

p a p e r and on it was the w o r d , " C a r r o t " "Spirits".

it

I e x p l a i n e d to the a u d i e n c e that

cards w e r e

a n d at m y

pear in the f r a m e .

h a d been s h o w i n g a

t o be e m p t y

and

white signed,

I l o o k e d a r o u n d t h e stage a n d s a w t h e t w o

carrots on the tray.

I

said t h a t since they w e r e

the

o n l y carrots in the a u d i t o r i u m , the S p i r i t s must

mean

these, so I h a d t h e m e x a m i n e d q u i c k l y a n d c u t

open

each one, then r e m o v e d the cards w i t h the names w r i t ten o n t h e m . corners

sec

I if

then let the spectators w h o held their

corners

fit.

They

p r o v e d they w e r e the v e r y same cards.

did

and

the this

A Closing T r i c k E f f e c t : M a g i c i a n s h o w s a l a r g e c a n a b o u t 12 i n c h e s h i g h a n d 8 i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r t o be e m p t y b y it upside d o w n on his table.

He

and empties a p i t c h e r of w a t e r i n it. i n t o the can and other

things,

produces

all

entirely

yards

dry.

having

turns the can

over

H e t h e n reaches

of

silks

He

and

throws

many

the

silks

o v e r the back o f a c h a i r , he d r o p s one o r t w o silks o n t h e f l o o r , a n d a f t e r p r o d u c i n g w h a t seems l i k e

more

a r t i c l e s t h a n t h e c a n w i l l h o l d , h e reaches i n a n d p r o duces

an

alarm

clock.

h o l d i n g a large clock.

Then

the

assistant

appears,

T h e M a g i c i a n hangs the a l a r m

clock on a h o o k on the face o f the l a r g e r c l o c k .

Then

he p r o d u c e s five m o r e a l a r m c l o c k s , o n e a t a t i m e , a n d hangs t h e m all on hooks a r o u n d the face o f t h e l a r g e r clock.

Then

he turns the can o v e r a n d e m p t i e s

w a t e r back into the pitcher. up

the silks

he

N e x t the M a g i c i a n

has d r o p p e d

on

the

floor

the

picks

and

also

g a t h e r s t h e ones f r o m t h e b a c k o f t h e c h a i r , a n d says he w i l l see i f he c a n g e t t h e m b a c k i n t o t h e c a n .

But

b e f o r e h e c a n d o t h i s , a l o u d r i n g i n g is h e a r d a n d a giant

alarm

clock

is p r o d u c e d

from

the silks.

The

silks are d r o p p e d on the c h a i r a n d the M a g i c i a n t h a t h e sees b y t h e c l o c k s i t is t i m e to g o .

He

says

thanks

the audience and bids t h e m " G o o d N i g h t " , b u t b e f o r e he c a n say, " G o o d N i g h t " , t h e assistant t u r n s t h e c l o c k with

the smaller

clocks

around

and

N i g h t " on the back in l a r g e letters.

it

says,

"Good

T h e y both

S e c r e t : T h e c a n is t h e s a m e p r i n c i p l e as t h e vase.

I t is a s m a l l e r c a n i n s i d e o f a l a r g e r o n e .

s m a l l e r c a n is a b o u t 2 i n c h e s s h o r t e r

than the

exit. flag The large

o n e a n d w h e n i t is s o l d e r e d i n , t h e r e is a space a b o u t 2 inches w i d e a l l the w a y a r o u n d . the water.

T h i s space

T h e s m a l l e r c a n is l o a d e d w i t h

holds

a nest o f

six a l a r m c l o c k s a n d t h e n s i l k s , etc. a r e p a c k e d o n t o p .

SuBBEA COVeR W A T SR G o e s »NTo TvAir S p a c e .

IMSVOE

CAM

\S P l U L t D WITV-L SvtKS", ALA AM CLOCKS. ETC

Tu^

Wooded

CLOCK

WooK-T r o V4AAJG ATARAA CLOCKS

r u e R e v e R S e S\DE. T u R N e o F o R Tv-IE. P I N I S U

A r u b b e r c o v e r is s t r e t c h e d o v e r t h e t o p o f t h e s m a l l e r c a n a n d a s t r o n g r u b b e r b a n d is s t r e t c h e d a r o u n d t h i s to k e e p

the load

turned upside

from

falling

out

when

the can

down.

T h e g i a n t a l a r m c l o c k is h u n g o n t h e b a c k a wire

hook.

is

The

silks

arc d r a p e d

over

the

with chair.

T h e silks on the

floor

are p i c k e d u p in the l e f t

hand

a n d t h e c l o c k a n d s i l k s o n c h a i r i n t h e r i g h t h a n d as M a g i c i a n stands o n t h e l e f t s i d e o f t h e c h a i r .

Then

one m o v e he b r i n g s his hands t o g e t h e r w i t h the a n d t h e c l o c k is l o a d e d u n d e r s i l k s . ward

he h o l d s silks a n d c l o c k

in

silks

A s he w a l k s

for-

i n his l e f t hand,

and

h i s r i g h t h a n d goes u n d e r l o a d a n d t u r n s o n t h e a l a r m . T h e c l o c k w i t h h o o k s o n i t is e a s i l y m a d e o u t

of

3 - p l y and painted by y o u r local sign painter.

How-

ever, if y o u w a n t a better c l o c k w i t h an a l a r m

ringing

f o r e a c h c l o c k p r o d u c e d , i t c a n be p u r c h a s e d a t y o u r Magic

dealer.

S o m e t i m e s w h e n I use a L o t a b o w l , I h a v e t h e c a n on a c h a i r and e m p t y the L o t a b o w l i n t o the can a f t e r each t r i c k u n t i l I reach the end of t h e s h o w .

Then T

m a k e t h i s p r o d u c t i o n as t h e c l o s i n g e f f e c t .

Some Ideas A

SHOOTING

of d o w e l

pin

tips made

screw

an o r d i n a r y

I f o u n d that a piece

a swell

shooting wand,

Bingo

device

about

black if

with

you

three

just

inches

end.

MISER'S Magician

—

15 i n c h e s l o n g a n d p a i n t e d

white

f r o m one

W A N D

who

D R E A M wishes

—

A

good coin pail for

a n easy m e t h o d

c a n be

the

made

by s o l d e r i n g a K e l l a r coin d r o p p e r near the top of an o r d i n a r y sand p a i l , o r better yet, get one of the n i c k e l plated

hats

used

by

musicians

and

solder

a

Kellar

d r o p p e r in it. S P I R I T S L A T E S — W h e n d o i n g a c l u b or school s h o w , h a v e t h e s p i r i t s w r i t e a message o n a s l a t e p r e v i o u s l y s h o w n t o be b l a n k .

W h e n t h e s l a t e is u n c o v -

e r e d , t h e message is " B u y W a r B o n d s a n d S t a m p s " o r some such slogan.

T h u s you have mystified y o u r

audi-

e n c e a n d at t h e s a m e t i m e h e l p e d t o f u r t h e r a cause. PISTOL

TUBE

—

You

can m a k e one of

these

easily by using the nickeled h o r n f r o m a bicycle horn. Just remove the r u b b e r b u l b and stick the g u n

barrel

i n the same hole. L I G H T E D

C A N D L E

FROM

POCKET—This

is t h e best a n d m o s t s u r e - f i r e m e t h o d I h a v e e v e r seen, a n d I have been u s i n g it f o r years. sandpaper about 4 x 5

w i t h t h e s a n d e d sides t o g e t h e r . d r y back adhesive tape the w a y

around

I t a k e t w o pieces o f

inches and place t h e m together

three

N o w , I take a r o l l of

(one inch w i d e ) sides o f

and tape all

the sandpaper

pack.

T h e t o p is o p e n a n d t h e o t h e r t h r e e sides c l o s e d .

Now

w h e n t h e w o o d e n c a n d l e w i t h t h e m a t c h i n t h e e n d is placed

in this

pocket

w a y you p u l l it out. in m y back pocket.

Another

being entirely covered tape, i t w i l l

it w i l l

light

no m a t t e r

with

thing —

the

the w a t e r p r o o f

n o t soak t h r o u g h

thing

sandpaper

not be affected if the w e a t h e r

perspiration w i l l

which

I usually place the w h o l e

adhesive is h o t , as

to the candle.

It

always lights. T H E

M A G I C A L

R A D I O — I once w o r k e d u p a

r o u t i n e w i t h a H a n d k e r c h i e f B o x a n d s e v e r a l s i l k flags of different countries. an o l d r a d i o d i a l .

I w e n t to a r a d i o shop and got

This I

fastened to the side of

b o x w i t h a b o l t r u n n i n g t h r o u g h the side. showing

the box e m p t y ,

I

would

turn

the

Then

after

the d i a l

to a

special n u m b e r a n d w o u l d tune i n some c e r t a i n country.

F r o m the p r e v i o u s l y e m p t y box I w o u l d

produce

a f l a g o f t h e c o u n t r y t h a t I h a d j u s t t u n e d i n , etc.

Af-

t e r p r o d u c i n g a b o u t s i x o r seven o f these ( a l l d i f f e r e n t countries)

I vanished the U n i t e d

States f l a g b y

plac-

i n g it in the box and t u r n i n g the d i a l in the opposite direction.

I

then reached in m y collar and

a duplicate flag that had

removed

been t h e r e a l l the t i m e .

I

had I

another

duplicate

in

my

right

trousers

pocket.

w o u l d push this u p in the corner of the pocket and

show the pocket empty, vanish the flag i n the box again, and p r o d u c e it f r o m the pocket. the

flag

up

into

Then I would

place

in pocket again and vanish it by pushing

it

the

in

the box.

corner.

This

Once more I

time

it

would

w o u l d vanish the

appear flag

in

box

a n d t h i s t i m e I f o u n d i t i n m y shoe, etc. SUCKER

DIE

BOX —

W h e n using a D i e

Box

i n s c h o o l s , c h u r c h e s , o r c h i l d r e n ' s p a r t i e s , I a l w a y s use a d i e t h a t is p a i n t e d w i t h l e t t e r s o n i t l i k e a n

A-B-C

block. T H E

COFFEE

VASE —

I

found that if a par-

t i t i o n is s o l d e r e d d o w n t h e c e n t e r o f t h i s vase, t h u s d i v i d i n g i t i n t o t w o e q u a l p a r t s , a n d o n e p a r t is l o a d e d w i t h s i l k s , etc., a n d t h e o t h e r w i t h l i q u i d , i t m a k e s a v e r y s u r p r i s i n g t r i c k t o s h o w t h e vase e m p t y a n d t h e n p r o d u c e t h e l o a d o f s i l k s , etc., a n d f o r a

finish,

pour

out the l i q u i d . T H E

RAT

BOTTLE

a live rat in this trick.

—

I t i s n ' t n e c e s s a r y t o use

A b b o t t ' s sells a w o n d e r f u l

tation

rat that crawls up y o u r

arm

and

alive.

B u t m a n y years ago, b e f o r e I k n e w o f

imi-

really

looks

Abbott's

r a t , I b o u g h t o n e o f t h e w h i t e r u b b e r rats s o l d i n t o y stores

and

5-and-10-cent

stores.

After

breaking

the

bottle, p i c k u p the rat by the t i p of the t a i l and w i g g l e i t j u s t a l i t t l e , at t h e s a m e t i m e r o l l i n g t h e t i p o f tail

back

and

t h e first f i n g e r .

forth

slightly

between

the t h u m b

the and

T h e rat w i l l look alive and I have had

m a n y p e o p l e c o m e a r o u n d a f t e r t h e s h o w a n d ask t o see t h e r a t . GLASS

OF W A T E R

PRODUCTION

—

Since

i t is i m p o s s i b l e to b u y r u b b e r c o v e r s f o r glasses i n w a r time

(as t h i s is w r i t t e n ) , I g o t o a b a b y s t o r e a n d g e t

a pair

of

synthetic

baby

pants.

I

cut

from

these a

r o u n d piece of r u b b e r q u i t e a bit l a r g e r than the top o f t h e glass.

Now

1 s t r e t c h t h i s o v e r -the glass

w i t h l i q u i d and stretch a rubber band t i g h t l y it.

T h i s makes a fine p r a c t i c a l cover.

—

This

ABBOTT'S

K N I F E T H R U

is a w o n d e r f u l

small

GIRL

i n g the k n i f e ,

I

fixed

a blank

b a r r e l to h o l d the k n i f e .

ILLUSION

illusion.

"Shooting a Knife Through a Girl."

filled

around

I

call

mine

Instead of t h r o w -

revolver

with

a

long

I have the g i r l stand i n f r o n t

of the target. - T h e n I l o a d the r e v o l v e r w i t h the k n i f e a n d a i m at t h e g i r l . table.

The

I shoot and lay the g u n on

g i r l screams, and the k n i f e

the

is seen t o be

s t i c k i n g in the bull's-eye of target behind the g i r l . T H E

M I L K

apparently Milk

pour

PITCHER a pitcher

It

Abbott making

Or

call it glue.

from

to

an

the b i g p r o d u c t i o n .

milk

gets a l a u g h

P i t c h e r into a b o r r o w e d hat just before

trick, have the pitcher

of

—

if you are d o i n g the filled

with a brown

necktie

liquid

C u t o f f t h e t i c a n d d r o p t h e pieces

the c h a n g i n g bag.

— into

P o u r the p i t c h e r of " g l u e " into the

bag and r e m o v e the tie all g l u e d together.

Anyway,

i t is r e s t o r e d a n d as g o o d as n e w . T H E

P A R A C H U T E

CARD —

In many

Wool-

w o r t h stores, i n t h e t o y d e p a r t m e n t , t h e y sell a c a r d board tube about a foot long w i t h inside.

a small

parachute

Y o u place the end of tube in y o u r m o u t h

and

b l o w , t h e p a r a c h u t e goes h i g h i n t o t h e a i r , o p e n s a n d then I and

floats

gracefully

fixed

down.

a f o l d i n g card by taking, t w o p l a y i n g cards

cutting

them

each

lengthwise

into

three

parts.

T h e n I c u t a sheet o f r u b b e r t h e s i z e a n d s h a p e o f a playing

card

and

glued

the

one on each side of the r u b b e r .

two

cards

(the

pieces')

W h e n this d r i e d , I had

a f o l d i n g card, w h i c h w o u l d fold into a long

narrow

c a r d and go into the tube. the parachute.

I

I fastened it to the e n d o f

w o u l d then force a duplicate

and have it placed back in the deck.

Next, I

card would

p i c k u p the tube and b l o w the parachute h i g h in air.

the

T h e f o l d i n g c a r d w o u l d o p e n u p a n d as t h e p a r a -

chute floated d o w n , the spectator w o u l d hanging below

it. E N D

see h i s

card