Читать книгу Modern Coin Magic - J. B. Bobo - Страница 74

There are many occasions when the magician needs a little trick to perform on the spur of the moment—an incidental effect that can be done quickly without special props. This is just such an effect. I will describe three methods.

(a) Clyde Cairy Method.

A half dollar is shown in the left hand. The hand is then closed on the coin and turned over so the back of the hand is uppermost. The fingers work the coin partially out of the fist until it is barely held by the tips of the second and third fingers and the heel of the hand, Fig. 1. Care must be taken here lest the spectators glimpse the coin. Hold the left hand rather low, and watch your angles.

Show the right hand empty and begin massaging the back of the left hand with the fingertips. The right thumb is underneath the left hand during this motion and prepares to steal the coin from the left hand. The right hand slows down its rubbing almost to a standstill. Then the left fingers release the coin so that it lies balanced horizontally on the top of the right thumb, Fig. 2. Suddenly lift up the right hand, then quickly bring it down, slapping the fingers on the back of the left fist.

Centrifugal force causes the coin to leave the thumb as the right hand is brought down on the left, the coin being transferred from the thumb to the inside of the fingers, and is slapped down on the back of the left hand. The right hand is then taken away revealing the half dollar lying on the back of the left hand. The right hand removes the coin and the left hand is opened and shown empty. Apparently the coin has penetrated up through the back of the left hand.

One of the first rules we learn in magic is never repeat the same trick before the same audience. But there are exceptions to all rules, and this one can be broken providing a different method is used to obtain the end result. The feat may be repeated in a slightly different manner by using the following version. The two versions blend perfectly.

(b) Show the left hand empty, close it into a loose fist, and turn it over so the fingers will be underneath. Hold the half dollar near its edge between the tips of the right fingers and thumb. Press its milled edge against the back of the left hand, Fig. 3.

Suddenly push the fingers of the right hand down over the coin. The illusion is that the coin is pushed through the back of the left hand. At this moment the coin is concealed behind the right fingers, which rest momentarily on the back of the left hand. Without changing the position of the right fingers and thumb, quickly move the hand about six or eight inches to the right, turning the left hand over and opening it at the same time. As the spectators see the empty left hand, say “Nothing in the hand.” Immediately swing the right hand back to the left, tossing the coin into the left hand as it closes and turns over. The right fingers assume the original position on the back of the left hand, as you add, “One more little rub and the coin goes right through.” Diminish the rubbing motion, finishing by separating the fingers and giving the last rub with the tip of the middle finger. This convincing move tends to show without saying so that the coin has left the right hand. Move the right hand aside as you open the left hand to display the coin.

In the first version the coin penetrates the left hand from the inside out, while in the second version it penetrates from the outside in.

(c) Ross Bertram Method.

Face the spectators as you show a half dollar lying at the base of the first finger on your open left hand, Fig. 4. Place the left thumb on top of the coin and turn the hand over and close the fingers. As the hand turns over the thumb moves inward toward the body, carrying the coin with it. Coin will now be outside the fist, clipped by its edge by the thumb and base of the first finger, Fig. 5.

Let’s go over that again. Actually the hand turns over before the fingers are closed. Begin by placing your thumb on top of the coin as described above and turn the hand over. The coin will then be lying horizontally on the side of the thumb, which now moves inward, carrying coin with it as the fingers close. These are the actual mechanics of the sleight, but to the spectators it must appear that you merely closed your hand and turned it over. The coin is now outside the fist and completely hidden from the spectators’ view by that hand.

Raise the right hand and hold it palm down over the left fist. Call attention to the ring you wear on your left third finger. Comment on its mystical powers and tell the spectators that by rubbing it you can cause unexplainable things to happen. Rub the ring with the tip of the third finger of the right hand and while doing so edge palm the coin in your right palm. In making this steal, pay special attention to hold the hands at such an angle that the coin cannot be seen at any time by the audience.

Lower the hands a few inches and place the right finger tips on the back of the left fist, then make a massaging movement. In this action release the coin from the right palm and allow it to slide down the right fingers onto the back of the left hand. Keep the right fingers together lest the spectators see the coin. Finally spread the right fingers slightly and show the coin on the back of the left hand, it having apparently penetrated the back of the hand.