The muscle pass gained popularity under the performances of magician John Corneilus. Now it seems that everyone is doing it. It basically is a method for shooting a coin or a poker chip from one hand to the other by flexing the muscles at the base of the thumb. There even is a new DVD out explaining all the ins and outs of it. Just a couple of thoughts though.
If you learn the muscle pass for secretly moving a coin from one hand to the other then you shouldn't do it as a novelty; i.e., here's how a coin can fall "up." Then it is simply a puzzle and in doing so, you've given your audience the secret to subsequent effects.
Here's a tutorial on the muscle pass:
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Robert-Houdin's Orange Tree
Those of you who are well-versed in magic may remember the Orange Tree illusion created by French magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. Houdin was the David Copperfield of his day in 19th century France. Magicians up to that point appeared with all their apparatus on stage along with their medieval wizard robes and pointy hats. Houdin presented his evenings of magic, the Soirees Fantastiques, in evening clothes. One of those presentations was to borrow a ring, vanish it and have it appear tied to a silk handerkerchief being flown above the tree by two butterflies.
In this you tube clip, (the embedding was disabled so you will have to watch it there) magician Paul Daniels recreates this wonderful illusion. Let me warn you... Daniels will fool you and fool you badly!
It's done with Twins
I stumbled across this you tube video of an automata (automaton?) vanishing a Chinese princess. What a great little mechanical wonder. Must be done with twins.
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