Illusions, Escape & Stage in Magic & Conjuring

Supreme moves, Will Ayling's routine, Luis Gavilondo's "Sacred Sun Ball". Photographed and written by Lewis Ganson. This was part of the famous Ganson Teach-In series originally published by Supreme Magic Inc. Rights are now owned by Martin Breese whom we thank for the kind permission to reproduce this booklet.

[Get the full collection of all 17 Teach-Ins at a huge discount.

1st edition 1977; original 35 pages; PDF 44 pages.

4. Contents
5. Introduction
6. Supreme Moves
6. - Requirements
6. - Set-Up
8. Performance
8. - The Get-Ready
9. - The Ball Rises
10. - The Ball Rises Into View
11. - The Ball Floats Along The Arm
11. - Around The Body
12. - The Ball Suspends...

Dicky Dean first introduced this climax in his act in 1954. When you perform it you will find that fire still captivates an audience.

EFFECT: At the end of your Zombie routine, the ball is broken apart and fire burns mysteriously in each half of the ball.

1st edition 1979, 8 pages; PDF 7 pages.

At last, here is a new illusion effect and one that any performer may own. Yet, here is an illusion which will compete with the best of them and it will not cost you several hundred dollars to own it or even a tenth of that. In my opinion this is more effective than the Interlude Illusion at a fraction of the cost.

EFFECT: Setting at the center of the stage are four chairs, in a row facing the audience. There is a space between the two center chairs wide enough for the performer to walk through. A girl assistant is then placed in a reclining position across the seats of the four chairs....

As usual with Grant instructions, they leave a lot to the imagination and "know-how" of the magician. However, the method was a clever one, simple but very effective. Ken de Courcy has taken the original instructions and added to them his own presentation points, and not only that, his improvements and various novel dressings which lift the effect up and turn it into acceptable modern entertainment.

In the original effect, a committee was invited on the stage to examine a solid steel plate. Then circular drawstring curtains were placed at the front and the rear, the magician walked behind...

This is a beautiful and professional illusion. The effect is stunning and would fit into any Las Vegas type illusion show presented by headliners such as Lance Burton, Copperfield or Siegfried and Roy.

This ebook tells you how it is performed and how the apparatus works. However, this is not an easy illusion to build. This ebook does not include detailed blueprints you can immediately work from. You will understand how it works and you do get some very good illustrations, but you will need experience building illusions to actually build this.

1st edition 2008; 15 pages.

Few people consider paper, cardboard and carton high-tech products, but they are. Go visit any paper factory and you will find out that some of the largest and most complex manufacturing machines in operation today are paper machines.

Since my father worked for many years for a paper manufacturer, I have learned to respect paper from a very early age. This is part of the reason why I am so excited about this e-book. It describes 12 stage illusions which you can build entirely from carton. Carton is inexpensive, easy to work with, light weight, pretty durable and packs flat. These are characteristics...

One of the great publicity stunts. The box may be made by a local concern and placed on display for examination before being used. The magician is tied with a length of rope, placed in the box, and a committee is allowed to fasten the lid with either screws or nails. Nails may be driven into any part of the box. The box is lowered into the water and almost immediately magician is seen emerging from the water at some distance from the box. After he has been identified he sinks from view. The box is raised from the water, the lid removed, and out steps the magician.

PDF 4 pages.

This is the largest collection of U. F. Grant illusions and illusionettes every assembled. It took Devin Knight several years to compile this collection. Grant wrote a few books on illusions such as: 15 Great Illusions, Chinese Magic and Illusions, Modern Levitations, Victory Carton Illusions, Grant's Illusion Secrets, and many others. However, most of the illusions in this PDF were not included in those manuscripts.

Over the years, Grant sold many manuscripts that just contained one illusion along with building plans in most cases. (Some of these were released by Percy Abbott in his catalog without credit to U. F. Grant.) This compilation is a collection of those plans released by Grant and also in the early...

This book has an excellent illusion section, a decent chapter about escape artistry and also a fairly large trick section with all kinds of routines with cards, silks, ... The really good part are the illusions. You will find several clever ideas. Will Goldston was himself a craftsman and illusion builder. He can therefore write with authority.

1st edition, 1908?, George Routledge & Sons, London; 259 pages.

3. Introduction

   ---

   PART I - TRICKS
9. New Card Catching on Plate
10. The Floating Disc Mystery
11. The Devo Torn Card
12. The Hildyard Target and Cage Illusion
14. The Handkerchief and Sword
16. A Dancing...

60 illusions

• Artists' Dream Illusion
• Beauty and the Least
• Big Opener
• Bikini Girl Illusion
• Black Art Principles
• Book of Life
• Catch a Ghost Illusion
• Chest Escape
• Chinese Straight Jacket
• Church of Life Illusion
• Cinemagic (Motion Pictures to Life)
• Close-Up Illusion
• Club Performer's Spook Act
• David Devant's Hindu Rope Trick
• Don't Shoot, Mister!
• Double "B" (Box Ballyhoo)
• Double Exchange Illusion
• Dramatique
• Duel of the Ghosts
• Dunninger's East Indian Rope Trick
• Everything But the Kitchen Sink
• Floating a Strange Lady
• Floating Effects With Thread
• Gallows Illusion
• Gambol of the...

Build your own Tip-Over Trunk.

Contents:

• Effect
• Secret
• Sizes and parts required
• Step by step
• Examples of theming
• Trolley
• Pushbar
• Inside

1st edition 2015, 27 pages.

John Henry Pepper took a projection invention of Henry Dircks, called The Ghost, with his permission, and made it practical so that it could more easily be performed. He earned a lot of money staging it. Even though Dircks did not want any payments from Pepper, there was a falling out between the two because the invention became known as Pepper's Ghost. Dircks wanted to have his name associated with it. This prompted Dircks to write The Ghost. Pepper's answer to that publication and dispute came almost 30 years later in this work The True History of the Ghost.

He also includes the history and working of Metempsychosis...

Translated by Professor Hoffmann.

• PREFACE
• CHAPTER I. The Theatre Of Robert-Houdin
• CHAPTER II. A Conjuror’s Stage Arrangements
• CHAPTER III. Handkerchief Tricks
• CHAPTER IV. The Light And Heavy Chest
• CHAPTER V. The Hundred Candles Lighted By A Pistol Shot
• CHAPTER VI. The Ghost Illusion
• CHAPTER VII. The Indian Basket Trick
• CHAPTER VIII. Spiritualistic Manifestations
• CHAPTER IX. The Bust Of Socrates
• CHAPTER X. A Curious Effect In Acoustics
• CHAPTER XI. The Decapitated Speaking
• CHAPTER XII. The Protean Cabinet
• CHAPTER XIII. The Feats Of The Davenport Brothers
• CHAPTER XIV. The Enchanted...

Houdini never explicitly revealed the methods he used to accomplish his feats. After his death, it was too tempting to cash in on revealing his methods. This book can certainly be called informed since J.C. Cannell was a close friend of Will Goldston who in turn was a personal friend of Harry Houdini. A good amount of biographical information is included which makes this ebook a fascinating read for anybody who would like to know more about Houdini and his remarkable career.

CHAPTER I:
Harry Houdini, His Life-Story - Famous Spiritualist Leader Who Became His Friend - Accident Which Brought Him A Life-Partner...

The magician displays a medium-sized fancy box, saying that it is the home of a young lady who has no body. The box is placed on a slender type of table. The door of the box is opened, disclosing a head that is very much alive. A dialogue is carried on between the magician and the head etc. There does not seem to be any possibility of concealing the body anywhere, as the audience has an unobstructed view under the table at all times.

Simple workshop plans and instructions.

1st edition 1958, PDF 3 pages.

This is a very rare and seldom seen release of U. F. Grant. It was released in 1934 by Nelmar and was only available from him. In this short release Grant explains several methods for creating the effect of an invisible man on stage. The invisible man is heard walking out on stage and wearing a hat, but no visible body; which the performer removes. He is heard to converse with the performer and even rock in a rocking chair. The invisible man goes out into the audience and looks at cards selected by spectators and returns to the stage and whispers them in the performer's ear so the performer...

Stan Kramien has toured one of the countries largest and most successful Illusion Shows for many years. Magicapades, Magicazam, the Mad World of Magic, and now Shazam! After playing thousands of dates he has written a primer of success in the Illusion Show Business.

Stan's ebook takes you through his life story where he sets the stage for his life as an illusionist. For the first time anywhere Stan divulges patter for many of the illusions.

Kramien's patter for the levitation alone is worth more than the cost of the ebook.

He tells you how to start and routine a full evening show....

As produced in the spectre drama, popularly illustrating the marvellous optical illusions obtained by the apparatus called the Dircksian Phantasmagoria being a full account of its history, construction, and various adaptations.

Henry Dircks was the first who came up with the stage illusions that later became known as Pepper's Ghost. He had an arrangement with Pepper, they took out a patent in both their names, and Dircks did not want any monetary remuneration for it. John Henry Pepper improved the configuration to make it more practical and successfully staged it earning quite a lot of money with it. However,...

Including R. C. Buff's original routine for the Floating Walking Stick and Lewis Ganson's routine for the Dancing Walking Stick. This was part of the famous Ganson Teach-In series originally published by Supreme Magic Inc. Rights are now owned by Martin Breese whom we thank for the kind permission to reproduce this booklet.

[Get the full collection of all 17 Teach-Ins at a huge discount.

1st edition 1977; original 27 pages; PDF 34 pages.

4. Contents
5. The Floating and Dancing Walking Stick
5. The Stick Dances
7. The Stick Floats
9. The Floating Walking Stick
9. - "The Balance"
10. - The Floating Moves
10. - The Stick Rises And Falls
12. - The Stick Floats ...

Here's a stage illusion that fits in a suitcase. A miracle that your audience will talk about long after the curtain drops. Two children volunteers are selected and come up to the stage. A boy is dressed in a farmer's costume with mask and a girl is dressed in a witch's costume with mask and broom. The performer tells a story of how an old witch called at the farmer's door for food and water and how the farmer turned her away. But the old witch had magical powers and changed places with the farmer, to teach him a lesson.

The magician asks the farmer to remove his mask and in place of the...

Escape Artistry has just evolved into the 21st Century!

Imagine: Bringing the Houdini legacy of being a master escape artist into the 21st Century. Gone are the gimmicky props and all that remains is pure mystery.

You will learn time tested methods for escaping regulation handcuffs, thumb cuffs, zip tie cuffs, ropes and more. This video is not for criminal offenders. You must be a magician in order to purchase.

Audiences sometimes get bored with standard escapes. Professor Xavier takes you through a lecture on escaping and gimmicking regulation police handcuffs into quick release "Bridge...

The Briefcase Illusion has been the opening for Paul Romhany's World Class Act for the past twenty years. An illusion that is designed to set up in less than five minutes, and pack flat in less than two. The possibilities are endless! Use it as an appearance or vanish, as a solo illusion or with an assistant.

No mirrors or black art to worry about. The unique table design will allow you to use it throughout your show to retrieve or put away props, then at the right moment produce your assistant.

This illusion is designed to pack flat and play big, and best of all it is EASY TO BUILD, and...

A new take on Harbin's "Aztec Lady" and "Assistant's Revenge".

Excerpt from the introduction:

This is a classic work on illusions that focuses on the presentation and staging. The method of the illusion is explained often with illustrations but no detailed building plans with dimensions are included.

The following illusions are explained:

• Floating and Phantom Princess
• Sword and Chair Suspension
• Broomstick and Kellar Levitation
• Aga Illusion
• Temple of Swords
• Head Cremation
• Crushing a Woman
• Temple of Benares
• Broomwitch
• Golfer's Dream
• Eye of a Needle
• Rod Through Mediaeval Style
• Tiger
• Totem Pole
• Rod & Rope Release
• Guillotine
• Head Chopper
• Vivisection of a Clown
• Wrist...

The Arabian Tent Illusion was created by Gen Grant, explored in Mark Wilson's Course in Magic and marketed by Creative Magic. It presents a unique palette on which to design an illusion theme. The flat framework panels present a rectangular peaked "house" structure that can be painted in any of myriad designs. This ebook explores many design concepts for this illusion and presents here original artwork and routines. The routines are completely planned, and employ a variety of techniques that use the Arabian Tent to produce and vanish characters and objects in original plots. Some involve simple re-decoration...

With this method, you can cause a girl to vanish from a nightclub floor.

When this was first introduced, Thayer claimed it was the dream of every magician. We agree. It seems impossible. Perform it on a regular nightclub floor. No stage traps, wings, flies or other conveniences that you'd find in a theater environment. That's what makes this illusion seem so utterly convincing. You even invite a committee of spectators (not stooges) to supervise and ensure that all's fair.

The girl enters a box, sitting atop a four-legged table. The box is lifted from the table and falls to the floor,...

A fast, modern escape act you can present at nightclubs, casino floor shows, and TV.

It's an ever-changing world. And with these changes come new modes in everything, including show business. Houdini could be heavily shackled, then retire to a cabinet for thirty minutes, liberate himself and the audiences clamored for more. But that was then ... Paying customers today demand two things: speed and comedy. Many successful professional magicians throw good tricks away if the item won't produce at least six laughs and takes more than two minutes to perform.

This act has been streamlined to appeal...

How to build your own Subtrunk or Metamorphosis.

Contents:

• The history of Metamorphosis
• Houdini's Substitution Trunk
• Parts required
• Dimensions
• Step by step: framework, making the box
• Trap: toptrap, backtrap
• Performance

Yet again a new and exciting illusion from the magic consultant and illusion designer Timo Dante.

Ever wanted to penetrate a steel plate? With "Steel" you can do this from now on. A brilliant illusion for great magicians. And that with a base variant that is hardly used.

Go head first through the steel plate and show your audience an extravagant illusion.

1st edition 2017, 20 pages.

From the preface:

From the introduction:

[This is an edited and abridged version of a manuscript originally released by Harry Blackstone Sr. as The Spirit Handkerchief.

A borrowed white handkerchief takes on a life of its own, it moves and dances around the stage as though it has become a real spirit.

Exactly as performed by the great magician (and his successor son)! All the masterful comedy touches. Learn this electrifying effect as only the Blackstone's can perform it. Every beautiful move. Every innermost thought that has made the Spirit Dancing Handkerchief famous. Learn: The handkerchief in the cabinet. Learn: The handkerchief in the bottle. Learn: The handkerchief in the hat. Detailed directions for every move.

This...

If you are planning to add an illusion to your show this is required reading.

Is this ebook for me? Here is David in his own words:

Easy illusion projects for magicians for under $500.

While J C Sum is known for his modern illusion designs and solutions for working professionals, he has written an ebook for illusionists and magicians looking for simple but effective illusions for theatrical stage shows.

This ebook is a fantastic introduction to the world of modern grand illusion but also contains inexpensive illusion ideas for experienced illusionists.

If you have a theatre show, cruise ship show, charity show, talent contest or magic club performance where you want to stage a large-scale effect, you will find something...

THIS ILLUSION IS 100% SAFE AND NOBODY CAN BE HARMED. IT IS JUST AN ILLUSION, BUT ONE OF THE MOST CONVINCING YOU WILL EVER SEE.

"The method is brilliant! It is important to realize that in this trick, like in the buzz saw illusion, no one is hurt, injured or killed. Also, no state or federal laws are broken." - Ron Levy