Hugard's DEVOTED
SOLELY
TO THE INTERESTS
Vol. Xm, No. 1
OF M A G I C
AND
J U N E 1955
MAGICIANS 40 CENTS
MY $2.00 TRICK By SAM AARONSON
Effect: Four half dollars, placed in one hand, change to a small rubber ball. The performer states that the four half dollars are inside the rubber ball and to prove it, at his command, the four half dollars drop down, one at a time, into the other hand, apparently coming from inside the rubber ball. Sleights: Two special coin sleigths are required, one which might be called the "Multiple Coin Thumb Palm", and the other the ability to hold four coins in the standard or "clasic" palm, and to release them one at a time. Neither sleight, in my estimation, is too difficult, but serious practice is needed to give the performer the necessary ease in handling. The practice required is well worth the effort as these two sleights can be utilized in many effects and routines: 1) Multiple Coin Thumb Palm: This is simalr to the regular thumb palm with coins but its adaptation to four coins is, I believe, original. In fact, Henry Hay states in the "Amateur Magicians Handbook": " T h e o n l y drawback to the flat thumb palm is that it rather cramps the position of your thumb and it cannot be used for
more than one or two coins". Henry Hay to the contrary, I have done this sleight with five coins, and the thumb is not too cramped. To perform the sleight proper: The four coins are held slightly fanned, between the tips of the first and second fingers of the right hand, resting on the second finger (Fig. 1). These two fingers curl inwards until the edges of the coins touch the crotch of the thumb, which automatically brings the four coins into position (Fig. 2). Bring the thumb, down and clip the coins by the edges as the fingers straighten out. (See: "Modern Coin Magic" by Bobo, page 3, for the thumb palm with one coin. The moves are almost identical with four coins). 2) Multiple Coin Standard Palm: The coins are held in the palm of the right hand, in the same way as when palming a single coin, with the fleshy part at the base of the thumb holding the coins securely in place so that they do not "talk" (Fig. 3). It will be found that a slight relaxation of the fleshy part will allow one coin at a time to be released. Practice will teach the performer just how much effort is required to release the coins one
at a time. Once ease is acquired, the hand may be held horizontally (parallel with the floor) or vertically (at right angles to the floor). NOTES: a) Two additional though minor sleights are used, in connection with the small ball; the regular palm and the finger palm, but these should give no trouble, b) Throughout the effect, performer should stand facing slightly to the left, so that there will be no tell-tale flash of the coins or the ball when palmed. Preparation: Four half dollars and a small rubber ball are in the right hand coat pocket at the start. Presentation: Come forward and announce that you will do your "TwoDollar Trick", for which you need — reach into your pocket and bring out the four half dollars, meanwhile getting the ball into the standard palm, in the right hand. State that for the $2. trick you use four half dollars. Count them out one at a time and drop them into your outstretched left palm. As the fourth coin drops, hold up the four fingers of your right hand, back to the spectators, counting: (Continued on page 299)
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