Illusions, Escape & Stage in Magic & Conjuring

If you are looking for a detailed and informative plan to fabricate a deceptive base then Base Planning is the right ebook for you. On 25 pages with over 70 detailed diagrams and photos Aaron Chee describes everything clearly. Base Planning is suitable for beginner builders or professional builders. Even if you are not a builder Base Planning will guide you from scratch to the end product. The ebook covers: safety issues, positions and conditions, design and measurement, type of base, construction and finishes.

"The base planning ebook by Aaron Chee is one of the finest ebooks on illusion...

Two volumes and amongst the most valuable to the young performer who wants really practical professional advice right from the start. Alan Alan is one of the world's most highly paid escapologists and without revealing his very closest secrets he explains how the simplest stunt or effect can be built up into a great money-making act.

An extract from Alan Alan's death defying escape from a burning rope hanging over a cage of fierce lions is also included and completely analysed detail by detail by Alan Alan. Slightly muffled sound quality but the content is worth its weight in gold for anyone...

A massive collection of information with a huge amount of beautiful illustrations mostly compiled from the pages of Scientific American magazine. The introduction is by Henry Ridgely Evans.

During the 1890s, Scientific American magazine published detailed explanations of magic illusions. The informant for the magazine was no other than William E. Robinson, aka Chung Ling Soo, who at that time was the stage manager for Harry Kellar. Kellar was upset once he found out that he had a mole in his company who would feed the descriptions of some of his most popular illusions to the magazine, including the rope tie that formed the basis of his Spirit...

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...

The house is packed. Standing room only! Your music starts and you walk out to begin the show and everything goes wrong. The music fails, you forgot to load some of the magic. Your favorite routine comes apart and you are standing in front of a large audience with no clue what do to next.

Speak with any entertainer and they will confirm that mistakes and problems are part of the performance. These situations are not reserved for any specific magician. Young or old, just beginning or seasoned veteran, we all experience problems at some time or another.

This ebook helps identify ways to...

The art of rope tying and methods of obtaining releases from ropes, chains and shackles. New cut and restored rope effects including a number of original ties and releases.

• Houdini Did Not Steal This Book!
• Introduction
• Special Instructions For Beginners Suggestion As To Arrangement And Application
• Handling Committee
• Rope Tying And Release Methods
  • The Mysterious Knots
  • The Kellar Tie
  • The Improved Kellar Tie
  • The Figure 8 Tie
  • The Mysterious Tie
  • B. H. Strangle Rope Tie
  • Important Points
  • "New Spirit Tape Tie"
  • The Twentieth Century Tie
  • B. H. Triumph Tie
  • The Ten Ichi Thumb Tie
  • The Excelsior...

This is the first volume in Chris Stolz's Theatre Illusions series. This series is meant to provide theatre productions with solutions to those special effects so often called for in the story or script. These can be illusions, special theatre props, transformations and much more. Each ebook in the series focuses on a different popular show. In this first installment, Chris focuses on the magical props and effects for Beauty and the Beast.

Audiences are always prepared to suspend their disbelief. It's when they don't have to that you have something truly special.

Beauty and the Beast is...

From the preface:

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:

Jack Hughes was a master builder and craftsman who created and built props for some of the biggest names in magic for decades. Most of the items he built were his own inventions. The few that were not he most often improved significantly.

Every item is carefully described in terms of its effect, apparatus, and performance. Nevertheless, the emphasis is on the prop with detailed drawings and dimensions to allow anybody handy to replicate these wonderful magic tricks. (The drawings are not blue-print type construction drawings, but rather sketches and illustrations with the main dimensions...

The following illusions and apparatus are described in this volume:

• Auto-Rise
• Break-A Way Box
• Buttons
• Sydney Sterk's Patter Routine For Buttons
• Camera Dove
• Can Can Polka
• The Cardometer
• Card - Ring
• Card Rising Box
• Change-Over Ring
• Jack Hughes Clatter Box
• The Comedy Clock
• The Crown Jewel
• Jack Hughes' Crystal Screen
• More Crystal Screen Suggestions
• Dolls House Illusion
• Dovenus
• Doves To Dog
• Doves: Training and Breeding
• Drooping Daisy
• Evacuee Doll
• Fantastic Figures Of Foo
• Four Wrongs - Make A Right
• Ghost Glass
• Giant Dwarf
• Gloves To Dove
• Hats Off! The King!
• Improved Tele-Flash ...

The following illusions and apparatus are described in this volume:

• The Chinese Rising Cards
• The Wrist Spiker Illusion
• Needle Thru' Body
• Doves To Poodle
• The Sword Maiden Illusion
• Visibly Sawing Thru' A Person
• The Girl Through Glass Illusion
• The Buzz Saw Illusion
• The Card Target
• Edwin's Sponge Ball Routine 'Roger The, Lodger'
• Beado
• Knife Thru' Girl Illusion
• The Middle For Diddle Illusion
• The Modern Cabinet Illusion
• The Vanishing Cage And Girl Illusion
• Slicing A Slave Illusion
• Cabaret Girl Vanish
• The Striptease Illusion
• The Girl's Gone Illusion
• The Revolving Broomstick Suspension ...

The trilogy contains all of Jack Hughes creations, a staggering amount of illusions, apparatus and props. Each illusion comes with drawings that depict its construction and its main dimensions. While the drawings and sketches do show all the pertinent details, these are not blueprints that have every little dimension spelled out. Nevertheless, anybody who has built a box before will have no problem in building any of these apparatus. It is a tremendous source book for ideas for any prop builder and illusion builder.

If you haven't heard of Retro-Gravity, it was a self-levitation that Al Mann and Devin Knight created over 20 years ago. It has been kept under wraps all these years. Whispered about on the underground, and hinted that it would be released someday... That day is NOW.

Retro-Gravity allows you to levitate 2 to 4 inches in the air. It is a special gimmick you attach to your shoe and once done is completely invisible. Any time you wear your shoes, you are ready to levitate. Anywhere, anytime under any conditions! This means you can walk around in a restaurant, party or out door festival and levitate...

This is not your typical grandma's (ala Grandma's necklace) version of rope through body. Instead, this is ropes through body on steroids. It uses no gimmick rope either and everything can be examined. This is an illusion that fits into a briefcase and yet fills the stage with three spectators and yourself. Talk about playing big and packing small, this is the ultimate. It's based on an historical fact that pirates use to torture people for both information and for the entertainment of the crew. This is a historical fact that makes this version of the trick not only logical, but historically...

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

Every magician should know how to escape from any pair of regulation handcuffs at any time. You can even challenge people to bring cuffs from home to your show and yet, you escape. You can challenge any police department and yet escape from their cuffs.

Imagine you could do this without carrying lots of picks, keys, shims and without years of practice and study! Imagine you could do this for less than a dollar! Well, it's true. In this PDF you will learn two easy ways to escape from any cuffs within a few minutes. A secret source gives you everything you need for less than a dollar. This...

All my secrets of how to become invisible when I was performing as Jason Michaels and more. Never before revealed. You get invisibility secrets you can use on stage or outdoors. Methods by Al Mann, UF Grant, Tony Shields, Bill Neff, and myself. Methods for everyone. Learn how Bill Neff would become invisible while addressing the audience, how psychics walk thru the audience invisible. They can hear you but not see you. Disappear while walking down the street. Secrets behind my invisibility stunts that made the front page. No pipe dreams. All methods have been used. Visibly turn into a cardboard cut-out on...

A rare insight into Al Mann's least-known manuscript, The Sensational Boiler Escape. In 1987, Mann revised this effect and sold the exclusive rights to Devin Knight as a unique demonstration of psychic powers to be used on a TV show. The effect was as follows:

The performer is visibly locked into an examined metal boiler, which is then filled with boiling water! The performer claims he will be able to survive the scalding waters because of his psychic powers. The level of the water is seen rising on the indicators and the temperature is recorded on the boiler's thermometer.

The boiler...

A mind-boggling illusion that you can do without having to buy expensive props or building stuff yourself. Do it with any two screens at the venue you are performing at. This trick can be done almost anywhere and under almost all conditions.

They know it can't be done and so do you. However, you do it anyhow. This creates the perfect illusion that you have actually squeezed a lady from the audience into a tiny doll house and carried her across the room or stage! Unbelievable, but true.

This is a new and improved version of an old U. F. Grant idea. You have two folding screens on stage...

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:

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....

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...

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...

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.

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.

Gordon Miller compiled a great collection of magical illusions from various Abbott publications - most with complete and detailed workshop plans.

• Abbott's Guillotine
• Cyclops Lens
• Caliph's Cutter
• Abbott's Barrel Escape
• Don Rose Miniature Doll House
• Abbott's Packing Box Escape
• Where's That Gal?
• Levitation Deluxe
• Abbott's Modern Sword Cabinet
• Girl In Fish Bowl
• Spike Illusion
• Canvas Case Illusion
• Phantasmo
• Devil Illusion
• Twin Boxes
• Dancing Slippers
• Abbott's Amazing Shrunken Living Head Illusion
• Abbott's Mummy Cloth Of The Nile
• Abbott's Mignon Illusion
• Abbott's Enchanted Tent ...

This is one of the most important books on stage illusions. Many experts consider it among the best 10 illusion books ever published - some even have it in their top three. Besides describing a list of startling illusions Guy Jarrett mixes in stories about show business and there in particular his opinion about some of the big names in magic. Particular Howard Thurston receives a lashing from Jarrett. This book has a refreshing honesty and directness that is missing from most other magic books. Jarrett even describes a few card effects and other parlor tricks he has performed.

Unfortunately...

[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...

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 one of the best books by Houdini, because here he writes about something he really knows a lot about. With many of his escapes he had to be very familiar with the knots he was tied up. This book has many good illustrations and several photos where Houdini himself demonstrates certain ties. It is a great collector item as well as source of information. If you can only buy one book by Houdini, by this one.

1st edition, 1920, Will Goldston Limited, London; 80 pages.

4. Photograph - Ira E. Davenport and "Houdini".
5. Foreword
8. For Opening of Rope Act
11. A Simple Release
12. The Kellar Tie ...

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,...