Pages from the restless spook

RESTLESS SPOOK GORDON

HOWATT

PUBUSHED BY 1.1. IRELAND

T H E

R E S T L E S S

And

S P O O K

other

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tricks

by Gordon M. Howatt

(Author of the Travelling Ghost,etc.)

Many who built the SUB 11 illusions and tricks presented in The Travelling ghost and Other Illusions states a desire to see a second book based on similar "build i t yourself" plans. This manuscript is the r e s u l t . Because of the war, however, I have tried to limit the material to those available. As a result this book contains more of the easier-to-make variety of effects.

As is always true in magic books, you will find: something old (but in a new dress), and something new.

All manufacturing and distributing rights of tricks described in this book reserved by the publishers.

Published by L. L.

IRELAID

109 N. Dearborn St.

Chicago, Illinois 1943

THE PZIIETRATIJG RIBB01T. The performer shows both hands empty, except f o r an eighteen inch l e n g t h of red s i l k ribbon, which he pokes i n t o his l e f t f i s t Then, again showing the r i g h t hand empty, he reaches over and slowly draws the ribbon t h r u the center of the back of the left hand. When the far end drops f r e e , the l e f t hand can immediately be opened and shown to be emj:ty.

As a v a r i a t i o n the ribbon can a l s o be drawn from the eye, or from the ear of a s p e c t a t o r .

To prepare: Gut a h o r i z o n t a l s l i t in the end of one of the Ion? production type thumb t i p s j u s t wide enough to pass a quarter inch s i l k ribbon thru without binding. Thread an eighteen : length of t h i s ribbon thru the slot thus formed and t i e a kno t at end A, sketch 1, to keep that end from p u l l in 5 out of the t i p . At the opposite end B, secure a amall c e l l u l o i d disc or button and paint i t flesh c o l o r . Out a second unprepared eighteen inch length of ribbon t o match t h i s one.

To use: Pleat the ribbon i n t o the t i p as in drawiir 2, and place the t i p on the r i g h t thumb. Goat the outside surface of the c e l l u l o i d disc with rubber cement and a l i a s i t to d r y . Also piece a dab of the cement in the center of the back of the l e f t hand.

Place en unprepared thumb t i p on the l e f t thumb, and the "stage i s s e t " . Display the unprepared ribbon, holding i t between the thumb and f i r s t finger of the r i g h t hand. Show the l e f t hand empty,and form i t i n t o a f i s t , s t e a l i n g the unprepared thumb hand a t the same time, The ribbon is poked into the f i s t , r e a l l y i n t o the t i p , which is then olaced back on the l e f t thumb) where i t v a n i s h e s , ohow the right hand oasually to be efipty. Reach over to the back of the l e f t hand and press the c e l l u l o i d disc of that thumb t i p against the rubber cement on the back of the hand and draw the right hand slowly away. One end of the ribbon w i l l adhere to the back of the hand and the streamer w i l l unreel from the t i p , giving a perfect i l l u s i o n of being drawn out of the surface to which i t i s s t i c k i n g . When a l l t h e ribbon is out of the t i p , a sharp tug w i l l r e l e a s e i t from the back of the hand. Open the l e f t f i s t and show i t empty. In drawing the ribbon from the e a r of a s p e c t a t o r , use diachylon or magician's wax on the disc instead of rubber cement and draw the thumb part way out of the t i p so that the ribbon can escape e a s i l y 0

o,

THE UNPREDICTABLE DIE. Effect: A 27 inch silk is casually shown to be unprepared.lt is hung on a stand in full view and a three inch red die is brought forward for examination. This is vanished in a die box, chimney, or by any means at the disposal of the magician, and is discovered hanging under the silk by a green ribbon. It is removed and tossed into a paper bag, where it changes from red to black. The bag is crumpled and tossed away and the die is placed in a square bottomless and topless box, just large enough to oontain it, all six sides having been shown beforehandi Paper drumheads are placed over the open ends of this box. When they are broken open the die is seen to .have vanished again. It is re-discovered under the silk, having changed back also to its original red color.

Secret: In the table diagram here included A is the pocket or bag type servante, B is the die shell from the die box painted red on the outside and with the bottom and rear sides the open ones, 0 is the die box on top of which is the solid die similarly painted. D is an 18" high stand with a hook for holding the silk.E is a group of silks draped over the table, one of which hangs, gathered at the center, on a nail at- the edge of the table top in such a position that it oan easily be lifted off by means of a loop of fine black wire. Inside this silk hangd a third die that will be described later.

audience

c B A

In the presentation, a silk is shown. It ( X is performer) matches the one on the table edge. It is held by its center in the left hand, the four corners being allowed to hang down.An implication is made that something is apt to vanish from under it. Reach over with the right hand and pick up the solid die. At the saane time steal the die-loaded silk off the nail and carry it off behind tae first silk, handling the two silks as one. Hang the silk (s) on the hook as you give out the red die for examination-. When it is returned, apparently place it behind the die box with the right hand as the left picks up the box. In reality, the solid die is dropped into the servante. The hand immediately slides over and rests on top of the shell, which is seen when the die box is removed from in front of it. Now do your favorite die box routine and vanish the die when finished, lift one corner of the silk still hanging from the stand and show the die dangling therein from its length of ribbon.

The corners of the a ilk are now dropped and the die is pushed