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NITE-CLUB ILLUSIONS & ILLUSIONETTES Here is a collection of Illusions that can be worked on a nite- club floor while surrounded by the audience. I have taken a selection of Illusions that, in my opinion, will work out perfectly. The majority of them are small and those that are larger can be made light and to pack flat. In some cases I have given the dimensions, not in all, however as it has been found in most cases, and especially for nite-club work that the illusion should be as small as possible, and then too, in an illusion using a girl, the size of the illusion is governed by the size of the girl, whether tall, slender, heavy, light weight, etc. It is suggested that you use your own idea in regard to decorations and designs so as to have it in keeping with the rest of the Act. I have included one illusion that cannot be made to pack down easily and one that would have to be made fairly solid, nevertheless, it is, in my opinion, a marvelous effect and could be featured alone on any nite-club floor and would make a name for a present day Nite-club magician, so that he could be held over for several weeks in one spot. This is the Golem Illusion. This illusion is just as mysterious close up as at a distance and by giving some thought to the presentation and by using a more modern form at the top in place of the usual paper-mache head, the magician could build this into a 30th Century Marvel.
ABBOTT'S CHINESE CHOPPER This has proven a banner small illusion since brought out by Percy Abbott. I have seen many magicians get a lot out of it and in the hands of others, it was just another trick, so it is up to the individual to get a good presentation on this and he will have a swell little feature stunt for a Nite Club Act. The outfit is made up to represent a "Chink" A person’s head is locked in the center section - the mouth of the chink A blade is forced down through the person’s neck and blade is seen to pass by the "Chink's ears" as it goes down, thus proving that the blade must be passing through the victim's neck. Prior to placing the victim's head in the chopper, the operation of the blade has been shown by placing a vegetable in the mouth section and cutting it in two with the blade. The secret is in the blade section of the trick. It consists of three sections set in the handle of the framework. "A" is short piece fastened in top part and coming out of the top. This is fastened permanently. "B" and "C" pieces fit in frame loose and both slide up and down. At the start "C" is slid up to the top and "B" down to the bottom. Pin Holes through the frame and corresponding ones in the blades with small wires going through make these blades now solid, so that you can cut the vegetable with the "B" blade. Then pull the pins and allow "C" to fall down in back and along side of "B" ...Now, when the blades are pushed down onto victim's neck, the neck stops "B" and pushes it up into top frame and behind "A" and "C", continues on down and around neck and shows in the ear sections of the "chink" as it passes on down and apparently through the person's neck. Now, by pulling blade back up, the "B" section slides back down into place and in front and along side of C, sO when it is removed, the blade appears perfectly solid.
THE CHINESE STRAIGHT JACKET This is the old coat, tape and ring trick dressed up into a flash stunt with an Oriental flavor. Get two long ribbons about an inch wide, sew these together at the center as in the second drawing. Only a couple of stitches are necessary in the sewing as they have to pull out in the course of the trick. Coil these ribbons up. You will also require any type of Chinese Jacket or Coolie Coat. In this stunt you can use a girl assistant, if you carry one, if not get a couple of boys up from the audience, saying that you will demonstrate the latest Chinese Mystery Straight Jacket. Take ribbons and throw the coil out so they unwind. Have one boy hold the ends of the ribbons in one hand and you hold ribbons at the other hand, being sure to keep the ribbons close together so that they appear as two separate ribbons. Stretching these ribbons out is only momentary. Have the boy drop the ends of ribbons and examine the jacket. While he is doing this, pull the ribbons thru' your hands until you reach the stitches, then reverse the ends of each. Note first drawing by following the ’A's and 'B's you will see what we mean. Hand stays over ribbons at center where ribbons are doubled back. Ribbons are now threaded thru' the sleeves of jacket, then have boy place the jacket on so ribbons hang out of sleeves, then have him cross his arms around his sides. Have the other boy hold two ends of the ribbon and you hold the other two. Now, turn the boy with his back to the audience so audience can see ribbons coming out of the sleeves. Take one ribbon end from the boy assisting and one of yours and tie into a single knot across the victim's back, being sure the other boy gets the end you formerly had and you get the end he had. Note last sketch shows how this should be done. Tell the boy assisting to get a good hold on the ribbons, as when you say three you and he are to pull hard and the friend in the Straight Jacket will make his visible escape, in full view of the audience. So you count to three, and both pull hard. This breaks the stitches in the ribbons and they come right out of the sleeves of the jacket and clear of the boy’s body, right out straight between the hands of the other boy and yourself. The boy in the jacket is now a free man...a second Houdini...etc. Excuse the boys and tell them not to tell anyone how it is done etc., as they leave the stage...You will find the trick, dressed up in this manner really appeals to an audience. Where you are working a flash act with two assistants, you can build this into a flash trick by having one girl place the jacket on, with the ribbons thru’ the sleeves and you and the other girl hold the ends of the ribbons and she escapes in full view, etc.
CUTTING A WOMAN IN HALF This is almost an impromptu trick that can be worked, with the right presentation, for a Nite-Club stunt. A girl holds a large dagger with the point pressed against her waist. A long rope is passed over the knife, then twice around the girl's waist and crossed in front of her. The ends of the rope are held by two spectators. At command, they pull on the rope and it passes clear through the girl's body. A rope about 8 feet long and an ordinary table knife will do. Have the girl stand and hold the knife pressed against her waist. Lay the rope over the knife - the ends hanging down on each side. Stand in front of the girl and grasp one end of rope in each hand. Pass the ends around the girl's waist and cross the end in the right hand over that in the left, then bring the ends to the front. Cross the rope ends under the knife, the end in the left hand passing over that in the right hand. Bring both ends up over the knife and across the end in the right hand over that in the left...Once more pass the ends around the girl's waist, passing the end in the loft hand over that in the right. Bring the ends to the front and cross them once more. Place a spectator on each side of the girl and give each of them one end of the rope to hold. The manner in which the rope has been passed around the girl disguises the fact that its middle is really doubled in front of girl, the two loops being held by the point of the knife. When you order the two volunteers to pull; all the girl has to do is move the knife point an inch or so away from her waist, and the rope pulls clear and appears to have passed right thru' the girl. This has been successfully used by a few club performers and was recently described in Hugard's "Annual of Magic"
WALKING THROUGH A RIBBON This is a very popular illusion as it can be worked up close and is light in weight. Here, we give you the very little known method, the pulling of the thread that has fooled plenty of magicians. You make use of a cabinet affair similar to the one shown in the sketch on the following page and about the dimensions shown. Note the way the thin black thread goes around inside of the cabinet and is held in place with daubs of wax. One end of the thread is in a slip knot loop and loop is held open around hole a. and goes around the side and back over other side and just outside of cabinet at hole B. Along with this is used a 2" wide ribbon of a bright color. Performer's girl assistant stops into the cabinet and the ribbon is threaded across the front of her and thru' the two holes on each side, to the outside of cabinet. Front door is closed and girl's hands are resting on the outside of cabinet near the holes. Her left hand secretly grasps the end of the thread at B end. The performer and another person draw the ribbon back and forth and when the performer's end of ribbon gets right up to hole B., his body screens this and at this point the girl raises her hands high above her head. AS she does this, she pulls the thread right up and clear of the cabinet and lets it drop to the floor unseen. This causes the performer's end of the ribbon to go around the girl and back out to his hand again. He instantly retakes this ribbon and continues pulling it back and forth along with the aid of the person at the other end. Mow, the door of cabinet swings open and the girl walks out clear of the ribbon, having apparently walked right through it.
SPIKES THROUGH THE WRIST An upright stock arrangement as per Fig. 1. A girl's wrists are locked in these stocks. Then two long spikes are shown and by the aid of a mallet are driven right through the young lady's wrists so they emerge at the bottom. Following this ordeal, they are visibly withdrawn and girl's wrists removed from stocks quite uninjured. Fig. 2 gives you a general idea of how the stocks are fixed on the interior. There are really two holes. One of them runs into a piece of bent tubing. The spikes are made of aluminum so that they will bend easily and follow the course of the tubing and bend around the wrist, then they hit a plate and this in turn pushes out a duplicate end of a spike. Top of stocks has a sliding strip of strap iron so at start the real hole that goes straight through only shows up and spikes can first be dropped through the holes to show that they go straight through and later when wrists are placed in stocks, strap is pulled over so that the real hole is covered and the fake can be used. After spikes are driven in etc., to remove them, you require a block with steps on, as shown in sketch. This is used to pull the spike out. By using the steps, in stages, to pull the spike out, it straightens the spike as it comes out of the top of the stocks.
THE GIRL WITH THE PINCUSHION HEAD This has proven a very popular number since its introduction by the Author several years ago. A small chest, 16" deep and 12" wide and 12" high with front hinged door and back hinged door and sliding stock arrangement as shown in fig. 1. Cabinet should have handles on the sides also. To the inside of the cabinet are hinged two metal mirrors that swing out to the center at a 45 angle and when back against the sides of cabinet are not noticed as the back of mirrors are painted the same color as the inside of the cabinet. Ten daggers are used the 4 that go in the rear are slightly shorter than the rest...Slots in sides and back of cabinet as pictures in Fig 3. To present, show the box freely and have your assistant sit on a chair and you place the box over her head - she holds it in place by aid of handles on the outside of cabinet. Than slide rear stock in position, drop rear door. Finally close up the front door. As you do this, the girl tips her head back slightly. How, in the action of pushing the side blades in the cabinet, they push the mirrors over to center of cabinet. After getting all blades into cabinet show a long spear-like rod and force that down into center of cabinet from the top. This goes right in front of the edges of the mirrors to hide these edges. Now, you can open the front door and show all the blades in place. (the four blades nearest the mirror, at front will reflect and they apparently see the four blades going in the rear) but the young lady's head is missing entirely. How, close up the front door and remove the spear and daggers quickly. As soon as they are removed the girl slides her head forward and by tipping the head first to one side, then the other she pushes the blades over to the sides of the chest. How, all that remains is to open the chest and show the girl's head restored and remove it from the chest and again show the chest all around.
THE DONI ROSE MINIATURE DOLL HOUSE This is the best type Doll House the writer has ever seen. I have had 3 made up and the last was most perfect and Magicians that saw this house said it was impossible to produce a girl from it. It is so designed as to make the smallest and lightest apparatus for producing a Doll House effect. There is practically no waste space. A different method of concealment is used. Girl is in a kneeling position as shown in Fig. 2. Her feet and lower part of legs extend out through the hinged door E. and are hidden by a small detachable back shed at rear of the house...the rest of her body is concealed in the house behind flaps A, B, and C. The front of the house is hinged so the lower part lifts up to show the interior which is lined with a figured or checked cloth. After showing the interior the front is closed and fastened and flaps released under cover of fastening the door. Catches that hold A and B in position are operated by rods extending out the front of the house. The girl is in such a position and in so small a space that it is impractical for her to set off any release. When released, flap A. drops to the front, flap B. drops against flap C and both of those (B&C) fold flat against the floor. H. indicates where the flaps are hinged. X is the position of the catch screwed to each side of the house to hold flaps in a raised position. With the flaps folded down out of the way, the girl draws her feet in and the door E at the rear closes. House is then turned around and the back shed removed and house shown freely all around. House is then swung to the front. Girl stands up and pushes open the roof and looks like a young giant coming out of such a small affair. Dimensions will vary somewhat according to the size girl used. For a girl about 5 ft. 2“ tall and weighing 110 pounds we suggest this size house. House will measure 19 inches wide, 34 inches long and 26 inches high to the peak of roof. These are inside measurements. The extension on the back of the house will be 12” to 14” long. The platform is 3/8 inch plywood with two side pieces 44” to 48” long of 1” by 4”. Mount the platform on 3” or 4” casters. The whole house can be made of 1/4" plywood and will pack in the platform. Fasten it together with "lift off” or loose pin hinges. A catch to hold the roof shut can be made of an angle iron bent to fit the angle of the roof. The catches to hold the flaps up are made by screwing half of a loose pin hinge to the inside of the house and the matching half to the flap. A heavy wire or small rod runs thru' these and holds all secure. The end of this rod extends through the front of the house slightly and is bent so in the action of fastening the front door those rod can be pulled forward and releases the flaps.
ABBOTT'S ROD THROUGH GIRL This light-weight Illusion recently brought out by Percy Abbott is ideal to work under all conditions and packs in a suitcase. A stock arrangement with shoulder straps, as pictured on next page, with correct dimensions. A telescopic chrome tube is used. This is threaded at one end and has a hole at the top of the other end. Stocks are hinged at center with hasp and staple at the other ends. Stocks are hooked around any girl's waist and shoulder straps hold these in place. Rod is shown and thread end of rod is screwed into 'B' section of stocks, then rod is gradually telescoped into the frame and apparently the girl's body ... When telescope section gets up next to stocks, push hard on same and that pushes the piping inside outfit so that the fake rod comes out the rear at 'A', which looks like the end of the original rod ... the illusion being that the rod was forced right thru' the girl's body. Now, small funnel is placed in hole at 'C' end of rod and a glass is placed in wire clip as illustrated and this clip is hooked on to 'A' end of pine. Now you can pour milk or any liquid into 'C' and it runs out of 'A' into glass, apparently passing right through the girl. After this you remove the glass and funnel and pull the rod out and open stocks and release girl. Patter is to the effect that this is a reproduction of a new Chinese Torture recently brought to light and is your conception of how a Magician would go about making such a torture harmless by using modern magic.
THE HINDU BASKET TRICK An ideal Illusion for Nite-Clubs as it can be worked up close and with folks all around you. The performer places on the floor a large wicker-work basket, oval in shape and very much narrower at the top then at the bottom. Performer introduces his girl assistant and has her step into the basket. He then forces the girl right down into the basket and it is noted that she can just squeeze through the opening, which helps that illusion very much. Now he places a shallow cover over the top of basket, then exhibits a long sharp sword and plunges it through the basket at all angles. Not satisfied with this he takes a large oriental cloth and throws it over the opening of the basket in place of the cover, then he jumps into the basket on top of the cloth, forcing the cloth down into the basket. He crouches right down into the basket, just his head showing, to prove that the girl has vanished. Performer then steps back out and makes passes over the basket. The cloth is seen to slowly rise and as it is whipped away, the missing girl appears, quite unharmed. She jumps out and proceeds to carry basket off on her head, as the performer takes his bow. With appropriate music and showmanship this is still a banner illusion that will go over big in any Nite-Club act. The basket must be specially made, oval in shape as in the drawings. Note the sketch shows the way the girl coils around in the basket and she moves around accordingly to miss the blade as it is forced through the basket. The performer and the girl have moves and positions in the routine so no mistake can be made. When the sword is pushed in through the upper sections of basket, he can do this much faster as there is no danger of touching the girl.
NITE-CLUB GIRL VANISH A table as shown in sketch that is draped around four sides, with a hole in the top and fastened around the hole is a bag arrangement with a wire hoop at the top so that when held up it forms a bag affair. Two mirrors run from rear corners of table, to the center behind the post at a 45-degree angle. To work, wheel the table out on the floor and have girl step up on the table, by aid of a stool, and stand in the center of the bag, on the edge of the trap hole. Performer gets up on the table beside the girl and pulls the bag up over head. As soon as the bag covers the girl, she slips down into table behind the mirrors. Performer fires a shot and let bag drop flat to top of table and girl has apparently vanished. But all will be of the opinion that she is merely down inside the draped table. Performer gets down off the table and rips off front section of the drape and thanks to the mirrors the girl cannot be seen, and the reflection of the side drapes make it appear as if they are seeing the rear drape at back of table. The illusion is perfect, even more so when worked right up close. Performer can then spin the table around at all angles and roll it off the floor.
THE SWORD BOX A box mounted on four short legs. Performer opens the door at the front and top and places a girl in the box, then closes the doors. He then pushes 13 swords through the box at all angles. Finally a large spear is thrust down through the top of the box and comes out of the bottom. The swords and spear are then withdrawn and box is opened out and girl steps out unharmed. For the base obtain a piece of hardwood 19" square and 3/4" thick. Then on this place four wooden legs 12" in length with good casters on. For the sides of the box make four wooden frames 34" by 19" using wood about 3/4" thick. The frames should be 3" in depth. Then take four pieces of three ply wood 34" by 19" and screw one piece firmly on each of the wooden frames. Through two of the sections which are to form the front and the back cut ten holes 2 inches long by half an inch wide as shown in Fig. 1. Then through the other two pieces that will form the sides of the box, cut eight holes in the way shown in Fig. 1. Fix the sides together, then hinge the front on to form a door, attaching a catch to keep the door closed. For the top of the box construct a frame of the 3" wood 19 inches square and on this firmly fix a piece of plywood 19" square. Construct the box so the frames face inward. Cut a hole two inches in diameter through the center of the top and bottom. Paint cabinet so as to make it attractive and appear small. You will require 18 swords and it is best to use theatrical property swords. You will require also a spear which is made by attaching a spear head to a thick poIe about six feet in length. Girl enters the box and sits down. She would wear rather tight fitting clothing. Then as you push the swords in the box, the girl guides them into opposite holes. Swords are pushed in from all angles, first from one side, then the other, Fig. 3. When you have pushed all the swords through the box push the spear thru' the hole in the top, passing it down between the girls legs and out through the hole in the bottom. Al Baker once made a suggestion for a quick presentation on a sword box. Have the girl already in the box and the swords all in place. Wheel the box out on the stage with the swords all in and show it around. Remove the swords, fire a shot and open box and out stops the girl ... A good snappy presentation and a way to introduce your lady assistant.
THE CANE CABINET Another very effective and mysterious illusion that can be worked on a Nite-Club floor and right up close. Cabinet is on casters and of the correct size for your assistant to stand in. Made of beaver board or 1/4" plywood, in panel form and decorated. Cabinet has 21 holes in the back and corresponding holes on the cover as illustrated. You need 21 canes and you are all set. Cabinet is rolled in and shown all around. Girl steps into cabinet as shown in sketch 1. Front door closed. As soon as it is closed and locked, the girl turns sideways as in sketch 2. Now, you can force all 21 canes right through the cabinet from the front to rear. Girl can help guide them so they hit the opposite hole. With all those canes through the cabinet, it appears to the audience that it is impossible for the girl to escape them. Now all that remains is to pull the canes out fast, girl goes back to her former position and front is opened and there's the girl smiling and unharmed.
SWORD CABINET ILLUSION This is a cabinet on four short turned legs with casters. Cabinet is made of plywood and is about 24” wide by 29" long by 30" high, as per sketch on next page. To the back sides of chest are hinged to large mirrors that swing out to the center of cabinet at a 45 degree angle. You also require 15 swords and a spear that will go down through the center of the chest to hide the front edges of the mirrors when they swing over to the center. Front door hinges up and top door hinges back. Girl is placed in chest where she kneels to the back rear section, then pulls the mirrors in front of her. You then proceed to force the swords through the cox at all angles as shown in sketches. Open up front door and show that the girl has vanished completely. Now, all that remains is to close up the front and remove the spear and swords, then the girl pushes the mirrors back into position and you open cabinet up and show that the girl has returned, uninjured.
THE GOLEM ILLUSION This is a most clever Illusion. Originally it came from Germany and four were used across the vaudeville houses of this country most successfully. This one illusion was the only thing used in the entire Act. It was presented, not as an illusion, but in the form of a mechanical marvel. Note the drawings and dimensions on the next page of sketches. These are accurate in every form. Top head part is made of paper- mache. The front of same has four small lights that work on a dry cell and flash on and off. Front also has a series of clockwheels that run so as to give the illusion of a mechanical effect. A small girl is cleverly concealed in this outfit. The lower part of her logs, up to her knees, are hidden in the front corners of the cabinet. Construction of the inside hinged corners is shown in the upper left hand corner of the drawings. Note in upper right hand drawing it snows a top view. Girl sits on this strap at rear so that upper part of her legs and feet are concealed in the upper part of cabinet and rest of her legs and feet go down into the front corners of cabinet. Paper-mache bust is on top rear of cabinet so upper part of girl's body is up in this bust and head section. The girl is dressed in black tights and the interior of cabinet is lined with black velvet. Girl wears black gloves, fingers outlined with silver, so they will appear as mechanical hands. With the girl in position, cabinet can be rolled out on floor with audience all around and the four doors of cabinet opened out. A stick can be pushed thru' the doors to show that the cabinet is empty. Now, with the doors still open, the clock-work is started up and lights flashing off and on. As this starts two hands gradually come out of the bust and move about slowly. In this manner the hands will pick out selected colored silks or ribbons, play on a Oxlyphone, snare drum, write on a slate and perform all sorts of apparently mechanical marvels, all of which will prove most interesting. Now, allow the four doors to swing closed. At this point the girl slips down into cabinet proper and cannot be seen due to the black art effect - front door is left open at this point. Remove the bust and place on top of the place the bust formerly occupied. Girl then goes back to former position and again all doors are opened. Next, show a mechanical type of girl's head and place down in box. As it goes in, girl takes it and pulls off black flap from her head which is made up to represent the fake head just shown placed in the box. This chest has a small front opening that is now opened out and audience believe they see the fake head just placed in there. They are really seeing the girl's head of course. Performer starts the clock work going and the head slowly comes to life, sings songs etc., as the cabinet is wheeled slowly off the floor. The audience are left with the impression that they actually have seen a mechanical marvel ... I claim that someday a bright magician will take this illusion into a night club and make a hit with it.
MODERNISTIC AMPUTATION Note illustration of the effect on next page. A Modernistic cabinet, open at the front with the exception of a small section in the center. Spectator is invited forward and removes his coat and his hare arm is pushed into the cabinet where it remains in full view at all times. Two solid steel blades are shown and are proven to be the full depth of the cabinet. These are visibly forced through the person’s arm and wrist. Now the center section of the cabinet is opened up and it is seen that this section of the arm is missing - completely amputated. performer even pushes his arm through this very section to prove that no mirrors are used. The victim may look through this section and then another spectator is allowed to push his arm through the opening and wave at his friends etc. All in all, this is a most mystifying illusion. At the finish the blades are removed and the victim pulls his arm out quite uninjured and he goes back to his seat as mystified as the rest of the audience. This is a new illusion, created by the Author and Recil Bordner and manufactured in the Abbott Modern Plant. It has proved to be the most popular close-up illusion that has ever come out. One reason for this is the beauty of the apparatus and also the baffling mystery. It can be worked under any and all conditions. Due to the fact wo just recently brought this out and are charging $5.00 for the plans and secret, we feel as if we cannot disclose the secret in this book, but wo can truthfully say that if you want a good close-up or Nite-Club illusion, Here it is! This can be supplied to you already made up, complete with carrying case for only $37.50.
