Читать книгу Modern Coin Magic - J. B. Bobo - Страница 53

H. ADRIAN SMITH

Effect: After showing several half dollars with the heads all uppermost, the performer places the stack on the fingers of his outstretched hand and closes the hand so that the coins are pressed into the palm. When the hand is opened, the coins are all found to have the tails uppermost. Repeating the process, the performer asks a spectator to guess whether the coins have the heads or the tails up. When the hand is opened, the coins are found to have disappeared and they are reproduced from behind the performer’s knee.

Method: Four or five well worn coins are used. After showing them to be heads up, square them and place the stack near the tips of the second and third fingers of the palm up left hand, which is held out flat with the fingers together, Fig. 1. Hold the right hand palm up, fingers together and the thumb parallel to the index finger and about an inch above it. Bring the right hand over to the left at a right angle, the fingers of the right going under those of the left and the right thumb about half an inch above the coins, Fig. 2. With the aid of the right hand, which is brought up rather smartly, close the fingers of the left hand, turning the stack over into the left palm. The instant the closing movement begins the right thumb is lowered onto the coins, holding them in place as the left fingers close, thus preventing the coins from making any noise. The right hand turns over in this process as though to press the fingers of the left hand firmly. Withdraw the right hand, then open the left hand, showing the coins in reverse order, tails up.

During the repetition, all moves are identical with the above except that at the exact moment the right hand fingers are under the left to close the left hand, the thumb of the right hand, which is directly above the stack, closes down upon the coins and grasps the whole stack between the first joint and base of the thumb, Fig. 3. The whole stack may thus be gripped quietly and with certainty. The closing of the left hand is carried out, this time minus the coins. The right hand moves away casually in a horizontal position, swinging in a short arc as it drops to the side. After the spectator ventures his guess, the left hand is opened and the coins have disappeared. The reproduction from behind the knee presents no problem requiring further explanation.