This is the first ebook to offer a complete course of instruction in preparing and performing rag picture shows, which make a highly entertaining act for the amateur - and professional - conjuror. Rag pictures are composed of shapes cut out of felt, foam plastic, or any other suitable material and placed on a display board covered with black velvet or any other stuff with a surface pile to which the shapes will adhere. A few basic shapes can be used in a remarkable variety of ways; for instance, the handbag which Cinderella takes to the Ball later becomes the skirt of her wedding dress, while the hands of the clock become her arms, and her glass slippers, placed vertically side by side, provide a body for Prince Charming.
The author gives full instructions for putting on several story routines, complete with the patter which accompanies the acts, and shows in the chapters 'Matches on Parade' and 'Rag Picture Games' how the rag-picture technique can be adapted to games and puzzles.
Eric Hawkesworth was a professional conjuror and the author of a number of very successful books on conjuring and related crafts.
- Foreword
- Preparing the Show
- Making the Display Board and Portable Easel
- The Picture Shapes
- Fun on the Beach—An Opening Routine
- Making the Picture Pieces
- Presenting the Routine: What to Say and Do
- Alice in Wonderland
- Making the Picture Pieces
- Head Shapes
- Rabbit Ears
- Shoulder Epaulettes
- Giant Matches
- Long Boots
- Cross
- Eyes and Mouths
- Building the Story Characters
- Alice with Bucket
- The Lamb
- A Rabbit in a Hurry
- Tweedledum and Tweedledee
- March Hare
- Baby Owl
- Mad Hatter
- The Queen of Hearts
- Toy Soldier
- Presenting the Routine: What to Say and Do
- A Family of Silks
- Making the Special Handkerchief Set
- Making the Model Church
- The Cottage and Accessories
- Presenting the Routine: What to Say and Do
- The Pet Show
- Making the Sock Shapes
- Eye Socks
- Large Socks
- Small Socks
- Frayed Socks
- Large Single Sock
- Small Single Sock
- Assembling the Animal Pictures
- Marmaduke Mouse
- Fido
- Ginger Cat
- Rabbit
- Wild Pony
- Teddy Bear
- Duck
- Jumbo the Pet Elephant
- Presenting the Routine: What to Say and Do
- Matches on Parade
- The Set of Matches
- First Order of Parade
- Proving that Nine Matches make Ten
- Presenting the Routine: What to Say and Do
- Rag Picture Games
- Preparing the Shapes
- Presenting the Routine: What to Say and Do
- From Rags to Riches
- Making the Picture Pieces
- The Ugly Sisters
- Two Dresses for Cinderella
- Cinderella at the Ball
- The Magic Pumpkin
- Making the Apparatus
- Cinderella Weds Prince Charming
- Presenting the Routine: What to Say and Do
- Special Effects
- Special Picture Frames
- Sentry Box
- Travelling Showman’s Cage
- Cinderella’s Gilded Frame
- Extra Display Boards
- An Instant Portrait
- The Laughing Cavalier
- Presenting the Special Effects: What to Say and Do
- Special Effects
- Other Programmes
- Children’s Party Show
- Adult Concert
1st edition 1974, 90 pages; PDF 53 pages.
word count: 15474 which is equivalent to 61 standard pages of text
