Illusions, Escape & Stage in Magic & Conjuring

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...

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...

• Foreword
• Chapter I The Truth About Chung Ling Soo
• Chapter II The Romantic Story Of Carl Hertz
• Chapter III The Great Lafayette - The Most Hated Magician
• Chapter IV Maskelyne And The Psycho Sensation
• Chapter V Houdini As I Knew Him
• Chapter VI Did Houdini Fail?
• Chapter VII Some More New Facts About Houdini
• Chapter VII De Kolta's "Vanishing Lady" Secret
• Chapter IX The Truth About The Indian Rope Trick
• Chapter X Tricks Of Bogus Mediums
• Chapter XI Why I Am A Spiritualist
• Chapter XII Mediums I Have Sat With
• Chapter XIII Magic And Crime
• Chapter XIV The Great Kellar
• Chapter XV Howard Thurston's Rise To Riches
• Chapter XVI The...

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...

Learn to escape from handcuffs, sacks, straight jackets, boxes, chains, and many more.

• Publisher's Foreword
• Foreword
• Suggestions for Handcuff Escapes
• Publicity Handcuff Escape

• CHAIN EFFECTS
• - Outstanding Chain Escape
• - Always Ready Chain Act
• - Siberian Chain Escape
• - Extraordinary Chain Release
• - Lightning Shackle Chain Escape
• - Chain Handcuffs
• - Neck and Wrist Cuffs

• WRIST TIES AND PADLOCKS
• - Abbott's Rod Tie
• - Wire Wrist Ties
• - How to Open Padlocks

• SACK ESCAPES
• - Improved Sack Escape
• - Cloth Sack Escape
• - Triple Tied Sack Escape
• - Mail Bag

• ESCAPES FOR STAGE,...

This booklet covers a good selection of Houdini-style escape illusions. Among others you will learn how to escape from a safe or vault or trunk. It teaches several rope ties, how to pick locks and how to escape from handcuffs. This is a worthwhile addition to your escapology library.

24 pages.

1. Preface
3. No 1: A Great Handcuff Trick
5. No 2: Escape From A Safe Or Vault
6. No 3: The Vanishing Assistant
7. No 4: The Crack Marksman
8. No 5: The Marvelous Levitation Act
9. No 6: The Excelsior Rope Tie
11. No 7: The Wonderful Trunk Escape
12. No 8: Escape From 75 Feet Of Rope
13. No 9: The Siberian Chain Escape ...

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...

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...

Chuck Smith writes: "Twenty-four illusions as mysterious to audiences today as when they were performed years ago. Most are so easy to construct and execute that a teenager could do them. I know because I, as a student in highschool, built and entertained with several of them. A couple of three fold screens and a large sheet gives you the material for several of the illusions. Recently in a magic periodical I saw an ad for an illusion that looked extremely familiar. It was selling for over $5000. It's method, I'm sure, had it's roots in Grant's Super-Fine Suspension on pages 27-28 of this book....I...

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...

Although the original title of this manuscript is "Close-Up Floating Light Bulb", this is not a close-up effect but a stage effect. The method would not allow you to perform this in an intimate close-up setting.

With the aid of a hoop you let a light bulb float, rise and descend.

6 pages

Although published anonymously, this was very likely written by U. F. Grant. 19 easy to build illusions.

4. Atomic Sight
5. The Bunny Girl Illusion
7. Chen Lee’s Laundry Bag Illusion
9. Flat Model Head Vanish
11. The Gate - Way Illusion
13. Ghost & Witch
16. Resista
18. The Miracle Dove Act
20. Modern Sawing Thru A Girl
22. Nu-Way Doll House
24. Nu-Tronic Spirit Cabinet
26. Shooting Thru A Girl
28. Spot-Lite Girl Vanish
30. Superior Dove Vanish
32. The Girl In The Balloon Illusion
34. Torture Of A Princess
38. The Victory Girl Production
40. Witch's Broom & Rope Illusion
42. The Zig Zag

Five easy to build and practical levitations by the creative master of thrift, U.F. Grant. One could even be called an impromptu levitation because most supplies are available in a typical household. Every levitation is illustrated.

Paul Fleming wrote:

Self-levitations have been recently popularized by street performers like David Blaine and others. U.F. Grant as usual was way ahead. Here you will find a lovely self-levitation as well as four other easy to build levitation apparatus.

If you are into levitations you should also check out Modern Levitations by U.F. Grant.

14 pages

3. Contents
4. Introduction
5. Uncanny Self-Levitation
7. Casket Asrah
10. Girls In The Air
11. Easy-Do Board Suspension
13. The Floating Head Illusion

For the performer who plays carnivals, circuses, clubs or who just has a large stage show, this ebook is just what you need. The sensational illusions in this ebook can be built up after reading the directions. Add one or more of these effects for the coming season. Finely illustrated in detail, the clear instructions will enable you to build these feature illusions on your own at a small cost. A valuable manuscript for anyone.

• The Book Of Life
• The Rajah's Tent Illusion
• Two On A Park Bench
• Chen Lee's Screen Illusion
• The Man Without A Head
• Witch's Broom & Rope Illusion
• The Human X-Ray ...

This is one of the best books ever written on escapes and escape magic, bar none. Grant wrote this treatise for the average magician wanting to add an escape to his act, not the professional escape artist. The nice thing is that none of these escapes involve having to pick locks or for the performer to have muscular strength such as required in many escape feats.

All of these are easy to do, and none are life threatening. You can do all of these with no fear of killing yourself! With the information in this treatise an enterprising magician could put together an entire escape act full of...

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...

The important thing about these most practical and usable illusions is that they were created with the idea that the modern performer had to carry them in his car, use them on small platforms and stages, or in clubs, and yet had to give the impression of doing a big show. Here you have eleven easy to build illusions which fit all the above requirements, and they are mysterious, exciting and applause getting, to boot. Plenty of good illustrations will help you build these good, practical tricks. A minimum of carpenter work is required. Light and easy is the motto for this line of tricks.Large...

New and good illusions are hard to find nowadays. In this manuscript magic consultant and illusion designer Timo Dante publishes an illusion from his own collection.

As a magician you always want to look good and appear as such on stage. Air Dream is an appearance-illusion that even fools magicians: Just a thin platform with a frame attached to it. A cloth is held in front of the frame and the magician instantly appears in a mysterious way.

• Every artist’s dream!
• No black art, no darkened stage!

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.

Timo Dante has published in this e-book a small compilation of illusions that can be accomplished with little effort and budget. From appearing to hovering and sawing up to swords and escapes, one can use the book to present his first little illusion show, or take one or two illusions as an enrichment to a possibly existing show. For beginners who would like to present illusions with little budget, it is a small entry into the world full of magic.

The e-book does not contain any dimensioned blueprints but only simple concept illustrations. The following illusions are explained

• Mystery...

Do it yourself plans, patter, and complete routine.

Seven times a trophy winner at conventions. Invented, designed and routined by the famous professional, The Great Leon, this is not just a trick - it is a complete act - a show in itself. In fully illustrated building plan form, with every detail of the many brilliant effects, patter, presentation, plus many photographs showing the "House" in action. Large detailed Eugene Gloye drawings, all to make it simple to create your own "Haunted House." Act can run to 30 minutes. No assistants. Use anywhere; has been done before 7500 people. Sets...

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.

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.

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....

For Magicians, Law Enforcement & Urban Survivalist

As a performer, do you know how to get out of any pair of handcuffs manufactured - past, present or future models?

As an urban survivalist, do you know how to open standard handcuffs with a common drinking straw and other very innovative, real-world applications?

As a security professional, do you know which types of handcuff keys are designed to be invisible to the naked eye?

As an escapologist, do you know the 3 "universal" handcuff keys that all escape artists should have in their toolkit?

As a locksmith, are you familiar with...

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...

Known for his work in the field of mentalism, it may come as a surprise (unless you attended his first lecture tour), to know that Scott Creasey performed his first underwater handcuff escape in 1976 at just twelve years of age and that during the early part of his career he spent as much time hanging upside down wrapped in chains, tied in packing cases and struggling to escape from various types of handcuffs, as he did reading minds.

In this ebook for the very first time, Scott explains the various methods he used for his underwater handcuff and chain escapes to gain publicity during those...

This is the only all magic issue of Science and Mechanics magazine. It includes a cross section of magic effects from illusions with building instructions, to various close-up effects and mentalism. The emphasis with this magazine was to encourage readers to build their own. It therefore has a distinct DIY feel. The magic consultants for this issue were William B. Gibson, Sidney H. Radner, Litzka Raymond, and Victor D. Dressner.

• COVER STORY: Famous Knife Box Illusion
• EXCLUSIVE FEATURE: Escapes—Special Form of Magic
• GENERAL FEATURES
  • About Magic
  • Magic Black-Art Table
  • Magical Appliances ...

Build your own Shadow Box. A light shines through a box and there is clearly nobody inside. Then suddenly a shadow emerges and a person is standing inside the box.

These instructions are for magicians who want to build their own illusions. Clear 3D drawings are provided, showing all angles. Included is a complete part list. Exact measurements are given. These instructions are much easier to understand than normal plans available on the market today. A little woodworking skill and a few tools is all you need to start building.

1st edition 2015, 23 pages.

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.

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

The effect: Imagine this ....

Two large blocks are rolled on stage. Two people from the audience get some cans of spray-paint and paint their names on these blocks. The blocks are placed in the center of the stage. A large folding screen is roiled on, shown on ail sides and placed in a square around the two blocks. Before the front-screen is folded in place two assistants walk around the screens with a flashlight. You can see the light of the flashlight through the fabric. The front-screen is folded in place. The volunteers from the audience may walk round the square. There is nothing to...