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| ISBN-13: | 9780486169101 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Dover Publications |
| Publication date: | 05/23/2013 |
| Series: | Dover Magic Books |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 368 |
| File size: | 6 MB |
Read an Excerpt
Magicians' Tricks
By Henry Hatton, Adrian Plate
Dover Publications, Inc.
Copyright © 2002 Dover Publications, Inc.All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-486-16910-1
CHAPTER 1
WITH CARDS
Before the would-be conjurer may hope to mystify an audience successfully with a pack of cards he must master certain sleight of hand moves that are a part of every card trick that requires skill. These moves can be attained only by constant practice. There are a number of these sleights, but in this book only such as are necessary successfully to perform the particular tricks herein described will be explained.
Of late years a number of so-called "card kings" have appeared whose sole ability consists in making what is known as "the back-hand palm," a bit of card jugglery which is utterly useless in those beautiful and bewildering card illusions that may be shown with an audience on every side of the performer. Besides being useless this particular move has so frequently been exposed, intentionally or carelessly, that it is now very generally understood by the average theater goer.
The Pass:
One of the foremost artifices resorted to in card conjuring is that known as the "pass," "shift," or sauter la coupe, as it is called in French. By this sleight a card which has been placed in the middle of the pack is transferred to either the top or the bottom without any one perceiving it. The position of two or more cards may be changed as readily as that of one card.
In order to do this the lower part of the pack on which a chosen card is placed must take the place of the upper part, which, in turn, goes to the bottom; in other words the positions of the two halves or portions are reversed.
When a card that has been selected is to be replaced in the pack, the performer opens the pack, as shown in Fig. 1. The card is received on the lower portion of the pack, which is then closed. In closing it, however, the tip of the little finger of the left hand is inserted between the two portions. The pack is now lying in the left hand in the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, with the thumb on the top of the pack and the fingers on the opposite side, the little finger dividing the pack in two.
Placing his right hand over his left, the performer grasps the lower portion of the pack between the thumb at the bottom and the second finger at the top, as in Fig. 3. The top packet which is now held by the fingers of the left hand, the little finger below and the other fingers on top, is drawn away by opening out the fingers, and when it is clear of the lower packet the fingers are closed again, bringing it thereby to the bottom. So that the two packets may clear each other in passing, the right side of the lower packet must be raised a little, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The part marked A in Fig. 4 presses steadily against the root of the left thumb. At BB it is held between the ball of the thumb and the second finger of the right hand. While in this position if the lower part of the left thumb exerts a pressure at A, the side CC will be raised, the thumb and second finger of the right hand at BB acting as pivots. The movements of the two packets must be simultaneous, and be made noiselessly. The right hand acts as a screen to hide the manipulations and should be held motionless. The pack is held at an angle of about forty-five degrees.
The manipulations should be practised before a mirror and slowly until the exact moves are reached, but until then speed ought not be sought.
Instead of opening the pack bookwise to receive the selected card, it may be spread out like a fan between the hands, and the little finger inserted when closing it.
When it is desired to bring the selected card to the bottom of the pack instead of the top, the little finger of the left hand must be placed under the card.
The "pass" may be made with one hand, but as it is almost impossible to make it invisibly it is of little practical use, and need not be considered here.
There is still another method, an excellent one, whereby the position of a card is changed and it is brought from the middle of the pack to the top or the bottom or from the top to the bottom and vice versa. This is known as
The Clip:
The proper way of doing this is not so generally understood as the "pass" proper. The pack is held the same as for the "pass," and as soon as the selected card is replaced on the lower part of the pack the left thumb pushes the card a little toward the right, as shown in Fig. 6. At the same moment the pack is closed. The result is that the selected card protrudes about half an inch to the right. This can not be seen by the audience as the card is covered entirely by the right hand. The upper right hand corner of the card is now grasped between the base of the third and little fingers, the card is drawn entirely away from the pack and placed on the top or the bottom. By the same move the top card is brought to the bottom or the bottom one to the top.
The card is not palmed, but is grasped between the fingers, as described, and as shown in Fig. 7. The position of the hand is perfectly natural.
The "Diagonal" or "Dovetail" Pass:
While used for the same purpose as the two-handed "pass," the manipulation of this "pass" is altogether different. By its means not only one card, but several cards in different parts of the pack may be brought together to be kept on the top of the pack.
Let us suppose that several cards are selected by the audience. Holding the pack, as shown in Fig. 8, the performer presents it in turn to each one who has drawn a card, with a request that the selected card be placed in any part of it. He sees to it, however, that no card is pushed home entirely, but that about three-quarters of an inch of each protrudes from the pack. For this purpose the left thumb, which is on top of the pack, presses the cards together slightly.
The performer now places his right hand on top of the cards as if to push them flush with the others. What he really does, however, is to twist them to the left, by help of the thumb, first and little fingers, so that they are in the position shown in Fig. 9. The first finger then presses them downward as far as the left thumb, which is across the top of the pack, will allow. The cards are now in the position shown in Fig. 10.
Then the second, third, and little fingers of the left hand press against the side of the protruding part of the cards and straighten them flush with the rest of the pack, as shown in Fig. 11.
These movements must be blended into one and take up only a fraction of a second.
The right hand is now removed from the pack for a moment, ostensibly to show that the cards are well home in the pack, care being taken to conceal the protruding parts at the bottom. Then the right hand rests on the back of the pack, and the protruding cards are clipped at the left lower corner between the thumb and forefinger of that hand, as shown in Fig. 12. The left hand is moved forward a little from the right which move separates from the rest of the pack the selected cards that are held between the thumb and forefinger and they are now placed on top of the pack. A slight upward motion of both hands will completely conceal any suspicious movement.
If the trick requires that the cards should be at the bottom of the pack they may be brought there by the two-handed "pass."
The Card Palm:
By means of this sleight the performer is enabled to steal a card or cards from the pack without fear of detection and without even touching the pack with the right hand.
The pack is held in the left hand with the cards that are to be palmed lying on top. The thumb and third finger keep these cards in place and the little finger is under them. As the right hand approaches the left and is about three or four inches from it, the little finger pushes the cards up toward the right hand, the thumb and third finger relax their pressure, and the cards spring or shoot into the palm of the right hand, where they are retained by partly closing the hand. At the very moment the cards are palmed the left hand moves away slowly. This move which is known as "the spring palm" is absolutely imperceptible.
Should the performer wish to hand the pack to one of the audience with the right hand, in which the card is palmed, he places the left hand little finger under the card or cards that are to be palmed. The right hand grasps the pack between the thumb and the second finger, as if to make the "pass." The cards that are to be palmed are pushed by the left hand little finger into the right palm. Then the wrist of the left hand is turned outward, while the right hand grasping the pack at the left hand upper corner between the thumb and first finger hands it to the one who waits for it, as in Figs. 13 and 14.
The Bottom Palm:
In this method of palming a card the pack lies lengthwise in the left hand, the lower end in the fork of the thumb, the upper end against the first joints of the second and third fingers, and the tip of the left thumb resting on the face of the cards as shown in Fig. 15.
As the right hand approaches to take the pack the fingers of the left hand press slightly against the bottom of the pack, and then partly close, as in Fig. 16.
The result is that the bottom card of the pack is separated from the rest of the pack and is retained in the (left) palm by the bent fingers, while the right hand removes the pack.
The Change:
By this sleight one card is imperceptibly changed for another under the very eyes of the audience. There are several ways of making this exchange, but the following are about the best and apply to the proper performance of tricks hereafter described.
The Top Change:
When the top card is to be changed the pack is held in the left hand, the thumb resting across the back and the fingers at the bottom. The card that is to be changed for the top card of the pack is held between the tips of the right hand thumb and the forefinger, the thumb on top of the card and the forefinger below it.
The hands are brought together for just a moment, and the left thumb pushes the top card of the pack an inch or so to the right. At the same time the card held in the right hand is laid on the top of the pack and slid back by the left thumb. At that moment the first and middle fingers of the right hand clip and carry off the original top card of the pack, as shown in Fig. 17. Care must be taken to bring the forefinger, which, with the thumb is on top of the card, to the bottom, thus replacing the second finger, so that the card will be between the thumb and forefinger. The slight noise which is unavoidable, must be reduced to a minimum, and as soon as the change is made the left hand is drawn away, but not too quickly, while the right hand is held motionless. The body must not be turned sideways to the left at the critical moment, nor should the hands be brought together suddenly and then separated in a jerky fashion, as if something were snatched away. The necessary moves ought to be made in a natural, careless way in the course of the remarks that accompany the trick. While it may seem that these moves will be apparent to every one, they are, in fact, almost imperceptible.
The Bottom Change:
In this change the card to be changed is left at the bottom of the pack instead of at the top. It is somewhat easier of execution than the top change, and has the advantage of being almost noiseless and the still greater advantage that instead of one card, two or more cards may be exchanged equally well.
The pack is held in the left hand, as in the top change. The card to be changed is in the right hand between the thumb and first finger. On its way to meet the left hand, however, the fingers are shifted. The first finger, which is below the card, is brought to the top to join the thumb, and, consequently, the card is held between the first and middle fingers. In this position the thumb and first finger can grasp the top card of the pack, while the card to be exchanged is brought to the bottom of the pack where the second, third, and little fingers of the left hand are extended to receive it. At the same moment the first finger of that hand, which is between the pack and the card which is substituted for the one that is to be exchanged, is brought to the bottom, as shown in the illustration, Fig. 18.
A New Top Change:
The pack is held in the left hand, as in the other changes. The card to be changed is held lengthwise in the right hand between the forefinger and the thumb, the forefinger at the upper end and the thumb at the lower, as in Fig. 19.
As the hands come together to make the change the left thumb slides the top card of the pack about an inch to the right. The right hand lays the card it holds on top of the pack, where it is held by the left thumb, and at the same time carries off the top card of the pack between the first and second fingers and the thumb, preserving the same position as that of the first card. The card is laid on the table or handed to one of the audience. This change is noiseless and very little known.
The Single Change:
This is made without the help of the pack. It is useful when a selected card has been replaced in the pack and passed to the top, where it is still to remain though the pack is shuffled. The performer takes the two top cards, holding them so that they appear as one, and lays the pack on the table.
The cards, slightly bent inward so as to keep them together, are held up between the forefinger and the thumb, as shown in Fig. 20, and the audience are asked if they recognize the selected card. As they see only the card that was the second on the top and now conceals the selected card behind it, they are not slow to declare that the performer has made a mistake. Naturally he is somewhat crestfallen, but at once sets about remedying the mistake. Taking the card, face down, between the forefinger and thumb of his left hand, he gives it a fillip with the first finger of the right hand, and when the face of the card is shown again it proves to be the chosen card.
When the performer transfers the cards to his left hand, the thumb of that hand rests on the top card, while the fingers are on the bottom one. Then the thumb draws the top, the chosen, card into the left hand, while the fingers push the bottom card into the right hand, where it is palmed. See Fig. 21.
As the right hand is advanced to strike the card the fingers naturally contract or partly close, thus concealing the palmed card.
False Shuffles:
Without a knowledge of the false shuffle the conjurer would be obliged to omit most of the best card tricks from his program. By its aid he can, apparently, mix up the cards of the pack in a most hopeless manner and yet not disturb their arrangement in the least. By another variation of this shuffle he may leave undisturbed in their original position two or more cards while appearing to shuffle them thoroughly.
To Leave a Prearranged Pack Undisturbed While Seeming to Shuffle It Thoroughly:
The pack is held lengthwise in the right hand between the thumb at one end and the second and third fingers at the other, the forefinger bent over the upper side. The left hand, palm upward, is under the pack. The right hand drops a few cards from the top of the pack into the left hand, which places them at the bottom of the pack, where they are held by the right thumb, assisted by the second and third fingers, as shown in illustration, Fig. 22. Again the right hand drops some cards from the top into the left hand. Then the right hand appears to drop more cards in front of those in the left, but merely goes through the motion without dropping any. Then a few are really dropped but behind those in the left hand, and this is continued, pretending to drop them in front and really dropping them behind until all the cards in the right hand are used with the exception of the first parcel which is dropped in front (the top) of the pack.
The pack is now in the order it was before the shuffle. To heighten the deception the cards in the left hand should be kept moving backward and forward. When cards are apparently dropped in front of the cards in the left hand, the left thumb pushes the cards already in the hand toward the fingers, and when cards are really dropped behind those in the left hand the fingers tilt them back toward the thumb. This tilting motion is continued until all the cards in the right hand are disposed of.
Another Method of Shuffling a Pack Without Changing Its Order:
The pack is held in the left hand, the thumb on the top, the fingers at the bottom. The left thumb pushes a few cards into the right hand. Then the rest of the pack is placed in batches of five or six cards alternately above and below the cards in the right hand, but in the following way: The cards that go above are taken from the bottom of the pack, whilst those that go below are from the top. While there will be no difficulty in pushing the top cards of the pack below the packet in the right hand it will not be found so easy to push the cards from the bottom of the pack above those in the right hand. The difficulty may be overcome, however, by placing the right hand thumb against the right side of the pack while the left fingers push the bottom cards on top of the right hand packet. In this way the right thumb will act as a check, as shown in illustration, Fig. 23.
It only remains now for the performer to run his eye over the pack in order to find the card that was originally at the bottom, and making the pass at that point bring the pack back to the order in which it was first arranged.
To Shuffle the Pack so as Not to Disturb the Position of the Top or the Bottom Card or of Both Cards:
In order that the bottom card of the pack may be in the same position after the shuffle as it was before, the pack is held in the right hand as is usual when shuffling. Then the left hand squeezes it between the thumb and fingers, the thumb on top and the fingers below. Now if the rest of the cards are lifted out from between the top and the bottom cards by the thumb and second finger of the right hand, as if to shuffle the pack, it will be found that the top and the bottom cards will be clipped together by the left hand, and the pack may be shuffled over these two cards, leaving the bottom card in its original position.
The same procedure will keep the top card in its place, but two shuffles will be necessary, for after the first shuffle the top card will be next to the bottom card of the pack. By repeating the same shuffle the top card will be brought to the bottom of the pack, and then by shuffling it may be brought to the top.
As will be seen, this shuffle keeps both top and bottom cards in place.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Magicians' Tricks by Henry Hatton, Adrian Plate. Copyright © 2002 Dover Publications, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Dover Publications, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
I WITH CARDSThe Pass
The Clip
"The "Diagonal" or "Dovetail" Pass"
The Card Palm
The Bottom Palm
The Change
The Top Change
The Bottom Change
A New Top Change
A Single Change
False Shuffles
To Leave a Prearranged Pack Undisturbed While Seeming to Shuffle it Thoroughly
Another Method of Shuffling a Pack Without Changing Its Order
To Shuffle the Pack so as Not to Disturb the Position of the Top or the Bottom Card or of Both Cards
The Force a Card
The Second Deal
The False Count
"The "Ruffle"
To Spring the Cards From One Hand to Other
The Slide
The Forcing Die
The Prearranged Pack
The Color Change
To Make a Card Disappear From a Glass
The Transformation of the Jack of Clubs
The Prediction
To Discover a Card Drawn From the Pack
A Flying Card
A Greek Cross
A Selected Card Appears at Any Desired Number From the Top of the Pack
"A Card Apparently Placed at the Bottom of the Pack, Appears at the Top"
A Question of Sympathy
The Card in the Pocketbook
The Disappearing Queen
The Changing Card
A Wonderful Change
With a String-A Reminiscence
The Obedient Cards
The Rising Cards in a Case
"The Rising Cards, as Exhibited by Buatier de Kolta"
One More Version of the Rising Cards
The Seven Heap
The Sympathetic Kings and Queens
Correcting a Mistake
Thought Anticipated
The Spots on a Freely Selected Card Will Indicate the Number of Cards Secretly Removed From the Pack
The Ace of Diamonds Changes to a Trey
The Four Aces
From Pocket to Pocket
The Vanishing Card
The Cards in the Envelopes
A Missing Card Found
A Feat of Divination
To Tell in Succession all the Cards in a Shuffled Pack
To Call Out the Names of the Cards While the Pack is Behind the Back
Another Method of Discovering Every Card in a Shuffled Pack
"To Call Out Cards While the Pack, With the Faces of the Cards Toward the Audience, is Pressed Against the Forehead"
The Choice of a Card
The Reversed Cards
A Subtile Touch
The Sense of Touch
A Mathematical Problem
The Reunion
Dr. Elliot's Variation in the Rising Cards
To Tear a Pack of Cards in Two
II WITH COINS
Palming
The Miser
The Peripatetic Coins
The Walking Coin
The Wandering Coins
The Disappearing Coins
How Money Attacks
To Pass Five Coins From One Tumbler to Another
The Penetrating Coin
A Coin and a String
To Pass a Coin Through a Hat
"A Coin, a Card, and a Candle"
III WITH BALLS AND EGGS
To Pass an Egg From a Tumbler Into a Hat
To Pass a Billiard Ball From One Goblet to Another
The Changing Ball and Flag
Novel Effect with Billiard Balls
The Changing Billiard Balls
The Patriotic Billiard Balls
"A Spherical Paradox, Not so Clear as it Seems"
IV WITH HANDKERCHIEFS
To Make a Handkerchief Disappear From the Hands
The Stretched Handkerchief
The Handkerchief with Seven Corners
The Mysterious Knots
The Transit of Old Glory
A Succession of Surprises by Le Professeur Magieus (Adolphe Blind)
The Three Handkerchiefs
"A Silk Handkerchief Placed in a Cornucopia Disappears, and is Found Tied Around a Candle"
V SOME AFTER-DINNER TRICKS
An Adhesive Nut
An Elusive Ring
A Borrowed Bank Note that is Destroyed by Tearing or Burning is Found Imbedded in a Lemon
A Disappearing Knife
A Match Trick
The Moving Ears
The Talking Glass
The Suspended Glass
The Tilting Goblet
A Broken Match
VI MISCELLANEOUS TRICKS
Paper Tearing
The Torn and Restored Strip of Paper
The Cigarette-Paper 'Trick
A Japanese Trick
"The Disappearance of a Glass of Water, by Okito (Theo Bamberg)"
A Temperance Trick
The Chinese Rice Bowls (With Variations by Conradi)
Firing a Girl From a Cannon Into a Trunk
A Fruitful Experiment
Something From Nothing
The Adhesive Dice
The Antispiritualistic Cigarette Papers
The Spirit Table (by Germain)
The Needle Trick (by Clement de Lion)
The Vanishing Glass of Water
Phantasma
A Traveling Wind
A Mysterious Flight
The New Die and Hat Trick
A Girl Procuded From Empty Boxes
The Nest of Boxes
A Floral Tribute
A Curious Omelet
The Coffee Trick
The Growth of Flowers
The Secret of Rope Tying
A Knotty Problem
A Knot of Mystery
The Afgan Bands
Mnemonies as Applied to Conjuring
Memorizing at One Reading a Long List of Words Suggested by the Audience
Kellar's Cube Root Trick
With Apologies to the Audience
The Clock
Wine or Water
The Blackboard Test
A Water Trick
Appendix