Illusions, Escape & Stage in Magic & Conjuring

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 ...

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...

Houdini shines in this book. Handcuffs are his passion. He knows every little detail about them and every nuance in their mechanism. Houdini was not a particular good magician, but as an escape artist he is still unsurpassed. Thus, if you would like to know more about handcuffs and their inner workings, this book is for you.

1st edition, 1909, George Routledge & Sons, London; later reprinted by Magico Magazine, New York; 110 pages.

9. Preface
1. I.Introductory
8. II.Opening Sealed Handcuffs
13. III.Blunders of some Handcuff Exposers
25. IV.Fake or Spoof Manacle
33. V.American Manacles
42. VI.French Letter...

This is not an ebook of illusion blueprints, and it is not intended to be complete. As the title suggests, it is a book of "secrets", illustrating how each levitation is performed. The illustrations and descriptions are sufficient for an experienced builder to translate into finished illusions. This ebook also satisfies the merely curious who would like to know how some of these illusions are accomplished.

Featured are:

• INDIAN LEVITATION
• FLOATING GIRL
• MYSTERY OF LHASA
• AGA
• SWORD AERIAL
• BED OF ARROWS
• FAN ILLUSION
• WALKING ON SWORDS
• FLYING CARPET
• ONE MAN LEVITATION
• CHAIR SUSPENSION ...

This is not an ebook of illusion blueprints, and it is not intended to be complete. As the title suggests, it is a book of "secrets", illustrating how each sawing is performed. The illustrations and descriptions are sufficient for an experienced builder to translate into finished illusions. This ebook also satisfies the merely curious who would like to know how some of these illusions are accomplished.

Illusions featured:

• Sawing a woman in halves (Selbit's Method)
• Horace Goldin's Method
• Horace Goldin's method (Using one girl)
• Abott's Method
• Using circular saw and a plank
• Vertical Sawing Illusion ...

Magic with choppers, guillotines, cutters, knives, etc., found a place in the programs of famous magicians like Virgil, Dr. Satan, Sorcar, Kalanag, Blackstone, and many others. In this compilation, we give you the secrets of more than ten such tricks. With some magical sense, you can get your illusions of decapitation or beheading made by a good carpenter, or else you can buy one ready-made for your show.

Illusions featured:

• Just A Few Words
• Cigarette Cutter
• Finger Chopper
• Wrist Chopper
• Mino Hand Wrist Guillotine
• Goodliffe's Leg Chopper
• Will Ayling's Leg/Head Chopper
• Virgil's Head Chopper
• Lester Lake...

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

Table of Contents

3. Content
4. Enchanted Rickshaw
4. Walking Through a Window
5. The Death Penalty
7. The Living Cremation
8. Cheating the Hangman
9. The Flying Huntsman
11. Vanishing Carload of Girls
12. The Scrap Book
13. The Sword Box
15. The Devil's Cage
18. Sawing Through a Woman

1st edition 1931; 22 pages.

Table of Contents

3. Content

   Publicity Feats

4. Introduction
4. The Blindfold Drive
6. Under Water Escape
7. The Living Burial

   Escape Tricks

9. The Mail Bag Escape
10. Paper Bag Escape
11. Straight Jacket Escape
11. Upside Down Escape
12. Regulation Handcuff Escape
12. Packing Case Escape
14. Unprepared Packing Case Escape

15. The History of Magic (part 8)

1st edition 1931; 18 pages.

Table of Contents

3. Content

   Audiences

4. Children's Entertainments
6. Church Socials
6. Smoking Concerts
7. Hotels

   Stage Presentation

7. Technique of Stage Magic
9. Music and Magic
10. Getting Volunteers on the Stage

    Stage Illusions

11. Stage Illusions
12. The Vanishing Ghost
14. The Bathing Beauty
15. The Haunted Sentry Box
16. Walking Away From Your Shadow
17. The Floating Lady
22. Performing Animals Regulation Act 1925

1st edition 1931; 23 pages.

Table of Contents

3. Content
4. Introduction
4. The Hindu Needle Mystery
7. Oriental Productions
8. The Indian Basket Trick
9. The Hindu Mango Tree
10. Flowers by Request
12. The Wonderful Fertiliser
14. The Hindu Turban
16. Sands of the Desert
18. The Chinese Rings

1st edition 1931; 23 pages.

Clearly 'Oudini' is riding Harry Houdini's coat tails with his escape act. However, this publication is quite good and does describe a good number of escapes including how to escape from handcuffs, iron boiler, mail bag, glass case, iron box, coffin, band box, paper bag, iron bottle, rope chair, tramp chair packing case and straight jacket.

1st edition 1909, this digital edition 2013, 54 pages.

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 ...

For entertainment purposes only!

This ebook is divided into three sections: how to make tools, how locks operate, and the secrets behind lock picking.

1st edition 1988, 26 pages.

[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...

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...

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.

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...

I recommend you do NOT purchase this, unless you are a die hard fan of Jerry Andrus, connoisseur of optical illusions, and or a collector of strange and rare publications.

Essentially this ebook has 7 pages of squiggly lines. That's it. If you know what they mean, if you have seen or experienced Jerry's optical illusion which goes along with this, then it will probably make sense to you. Otherwise I doubt you will know what it is for and what it all means. There is no explanatory text. These were the lecture notes for a seminar Jerry gave in April of 1986 at Harvard University.

1st...

This is NOT a complete account of optical illusions created by Jerry Andrus. We are collecting here explanations and instructions for a few of Jerry's optical illusions. We simply do not want to have these things get lost. If you do have other instruction sheets of this kind, please contact us.

Illusions described are:

• Tri-Zonal Space Warper
• Nut and Bolt Optical Illusion
• Box Impossible

1st edition 2015, 8 pages.

Black light or ultra-violet light allows one to create fascinating illusions and visually stunning entertainment. While this publication is certainly dated when it comes to contact addresses and some of the technical information, it is a unique source and collection of information for the black light enthusiast and performer who wants to make use of its properties.

1st edition 1969, 17 pages; 1st digital edition 2016, 21 pages.

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...

From the preface:

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

This is called the Marvelous Devil Illusion because you will marvel at its cleverness. Imagine producing the Devil, surrounded by a committee from the audiences, under test conditions. This is an almost forgotten U. F. Grant idea that has been revised and updated for today's magicians by Devin Knight.

Here is the original Grant ad copy:

• 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...

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....

NOTICE: This is an expanded version of Santa Clause Arrives in Grant's Lost Illusion Secrets. There are more ideas in this PDF.

Yes, Santa Clause arrives - and in such a manner that any performer can bring about his appearance. There is no elaborate or expensive equipment required. Indeed, you can build the necessary items right in your own home without any difficulty. If desired, some of the items may be purchased at a very low cost. Yes, you can have a full stage illusion for less than you have to pay for many club effects.

Here is an illusion which has eye appeal, will mystify your audience and, most important,...

NOTICE: This is an expanded version of an illusion described in Grant's Lost Illusion Files. It gives you far more information.

Although this illusion can be done year-round, this makes a great illusion for spook shows or Halloween shows. For those affairs, it is the perfect illusion and it would be hard to find an illusion more suited for those occasions.

EFFECT: The magician shows a three-fold screen with a black interior. He forms the screen into a three-sided cabinet with opening at the front. The performer says that he is going spook hunting. As the saying goes, it takes a thief to catch a thief.

The performer...

From the introduction:

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,...

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...

This is a very clear description of how to build a Houdini-style Sub Trunk from readily available parts. Matt added several clear photos to illustrate various stages and subassemblies. If you have never built an illusion or if you don't know the secret of this classic trick, you will find this ebook very useful.

1st edition, 2004

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: