Sponge Balls in Balls, Eggs, Dice & Cups

Gregg Webb presents ideas using sponge balls and a folding box based on Slydini's "Paper Balls to Hat." The trick uses sponge balls and a folding cardboard box. Here, you will learn:

• How to vanish several sponge balls one at a time
• Cause the sponge balls to reappear from a small cardboard box

1st edition 2021, PDF 2 pages with illustrations by Gregg Webb.

This is a sponge ball routine with a very pleasant theme. The effect is:

Magician asks a female spectator: "Have you ever seen a clown?" As she answers, the magician removes a red sponge ball from his pocket. "You have probably noticed clowns always wear these silly little noses on their faces. What you may not realize is if you pull on one just right...it splits in two." The magician pulls at the one ball with both hands and produces a second one at his fingertips. "Now, clown noses are very lonely beings, when you place them into a dark place, like your hand," the magician sets one ball...

Sponge balls are some of the best props you can imagine. They are cheap, light, can be pressed tiny, easy to manipulate, appropriate for kids and adults, and are very visual.

This routine plays big for walk around, close-up and street magic. Collier used this one often as opener to gather a crowd. You will need three sponge balls! The manuscript includes Collier's entire patter.

9 pages; illustrated

A sponge ball magically travels twice from the magician's hand into the spectator's sleeve.

runtime 9min 5s

Audley Walsh teaches you two wonderful routines including script ("The big bad wolf and the three little pigs" and "Time marches onward") plus a set of sponge ball moves. He uses a bell which he and the spectator ring several times during the routine. This is a very interesting idea for misdirection as well as camouflaging moves and palms.

The moves you will learn are

• finger palm or finger pinch
• finger pinch with two sponge balls
• pick up
• ring the bell
• thimble move
• sleeving
• lapeling

1st edition 1936 8 pages; revised and enlarged 1940; original 12 pages; PDF 17 pages.

A practical and commercial routine without difficult sleights.

From the Introduction:

Six quick effects. Only two sponges are needed.

This routine can be performed with any type of sponge ball of reasonable size. In an emergency, you may even use two crumpled bills.

This is a strong routine and the final climax in the spectator's hand is the high point. Practice each section and then combine them into a smooth routine. Many of the moves are standard and you may already know them. It's one thing to know moves. It's another to routine them.

1st edition 1981, 7 pages; PDF 4 pages.

Just as Don presented it on TV. The move is so good you'll fool yourself. This trick had a lot to do with Don Alan's success on TV and in countless personal appearances. In fact, the very first time Don had a chance to do a trick for anyone connected with TV - in this case the director of a new show - he performed this effect. He was hired at once and began his long and sensational career. It's that good.

This beautiful routine uses a brass bowl (not supplied), or a single cup from your regular Cups and Balls set. The cup is not gimmicked in any way. Also needed are four sponges, which...

Contains twelve routines, plus a whole section by Al Goshman, King of the Sponge Balls. Featured is the famous Senator Crandall routine which Don Alan did for Ed Sullivan.

Other routines include: Ghost Balls, Three Ball Trick, Big and Little Balls, Silver and Sponges, Leaping Leprechauns, Passe Passe Sponges, Spicy Sponges, Crandall's Original Routine, Gen. Grant's Favorite, Surprise Finish for Rabbit Routine, Multi-ball, etc.

Tricks range from beginner's stuff to those for the expert. A little practice makes it possible for anyone to learn sponge tricks.

• Goshman's Sponge Routine
• The Ghost...

HERE IT IS! THE ROUTINE THAT EARNED SCOTT A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION...

With just three sponge balls, a purse frame and a "special something" (readily available from virtually any magic dealer), Scott has created a routine that is fun, charming, and extremely commercial. It has proven to be mystifying and tremendously entertaining for audiences of all ages, and has garnered praise from laymen and big name magicians alike. Many magicians have said that this is the best sponge ball routine EVER!

Thoroughly explained along with photo-illustrations, this routine teaches a couple of utility moves...

This routine appeared in The Art Of Close-Up Magic Vol. 1 written by Lewis Ganson. A Chinese bowl is shown empty and placed mouth downwards on the table, sponge balls appear and multiply repeatedly. Eventually there is a fruit or production. A top class routine that was performed by the late Fred Kaps in his close-up routines. This routine is not difficult to do and is performed by Cameron Francis as part of the Aldo Colombini Tribute series.

Sponge balls pack small and play as big as your imagination allows. Learn basic manipulations and routines. Use as close-up, walk around, with volunteers during your show or on the spot. This ebook gets you well on your way with some of the classic manipulations.

• What makes magic work
• Why sponge
• Palm vanish
• Place vanish
• Complete the vanish
• Classic pass
• Color change
• Pass through
• Change bag
• Classic 3 ball routine
• No sponge
• Wrapping it up

1st edition 2016, 22 pages.

When you think of Albert Goshman what usually comes to mind is his coins under the saltshakers. Unfortunately, this, like Rene Lavand's crumb trick, takes a lifetime of devotion to master. But Albert left us something else, his revolutionary take on the sponge balls. This startling effect is within the skill range of every serious student of magic. If you already perform this in some form, you can add his version in minutes, after acquiring a few easily obtained supplies. You may already have them among your props.

Also included is a suggestion for an astounding opening effect to add to your sponge ball...

The sponge ball routine, in the hands of a capable performer, is one of the most astounding feats one can do, as the magic happens in the hands of a spectator. Garcia's routines are among the best of the best. Illustrated by Harvan with 17 drawings to show you how to master the routines and moves.

The booklet includes The First Routine, Lesson in Misdirection with the Magic Count, Garcia's Krazee Sponges, Perfect Sponge Vanish, Basic Routine for Beginners, Color Change Routine, Square and Cube Routine, plus suggestions by a working pro.

Here's your chance to add new moves, ideas and...

This is a disarmingly simple yet baffling effect suitable for a close-up or parlor show. A simple cardboard tube is placed on the table and lifted to reveal that inside it is an inverted wine glass with a large red ball on top of it. The tube is freely displayed and can be examined by a spectator. The performer's hands are otherwise empty.

The tube is placed on the table and the inverted wine glass is dropped down inside. Finally, the ball is dropped into the tube so that it rests again on the base of the glass. A snap of the fingers and the tube is immediately lifted off again to reveal...

Transform a cap from a Sharpie pen into a sponge ball and back. The gimmick is easy to make, the rest are basic sleight-of-hand maneuvres.

1st edition 2023, video 9:30

This is the exact routine as used by Mark Leveridge in his commercial close-up work and also to open all his children's shows. No new concepts, no 'flashy' moves, just a thoroughly professional and entertaining routine that has proved its value over countless performances.

There are few more popular routines with lay people than the sponge balls, and Mark Leveridge's fast-paced sequence will provide you with a practical version that you will quickly learn and use.

1st edition 1984, PDF 11 pages.