HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: batten@kodak.kodak.com (James Batten)
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: best trick ... magician
Date: 8 Oct 92 17:37:55 GMT
Organization: Eastman Kodak Company



   There are so many that it is hard to choose just one. But if there was one
magician with one effect that impressed me the most I would have to say it was
Al Goshman with his Half Dollar under a Saltshaker routine. (I'm sure there
is a real name for it, but darned if I know it.) If you have only seen this
on his video you have been robbed of a great experience. In person his 
misdirection was just so strong and yet undetectable, the camera just provided
a cold window that forces you to see every thing as it happened.

   For those of you who have not seen it, he would place a salt shaker on the
table to his right, a pepper shaker to his left. Throughout the routine he would
vanish a half dollar only to have it be found under the salt shaker. He could 
really play with his volunteers with this. The half would dissapear and the
spectator on the right would grab the salt shaker to find nothing there. 
Spectator would put the shaker back down, Goshman would chastise them for not
saying "please", after the magic word is said the spectator would lift the 
shaker to find the half. He would never have it appear under the pepper shaker,
but would play with the person to his left with it, only to have the half
reapear under the salt shaker.

    He would then pretend that he was going to let every one in on how it was
done by using a drinking glass in stead of the salt shaker. You still would not
see how he did it, but the half would suddenly appear inside the mouth down
glass. He would end it by producing a jumbo (around 4 - 5 inch diameter) half
under the glass.

   Now that I've seen the video I wish I could have the chance to see him do
it again. 8^(  The moves are not that hard, infact I do the same thing with
an Akido Coin Box, but I don't think I would be ready to perform his routine
for a long time. Like I said, his presentation and misdirection are really 
what made this a great effect.
Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: jhands@eng.clemson.edu (Matt Hands)
Subject: Re: Make it disappear - use a top (?)
Keywords: AMMAR, TOPIT, MAGIC CASTLE, VIDEO
Reply-To: jhands@eng.clemson.edu
Organization: College of Engineering, Clemson Univ.
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 23:13:06 GMT

First of all, information about the topit can be found in "The Topit Book" by
Michael Ammar as well as his "Topit Tapes" and his "Michael Ammar:Live from the 
Magic Castle" video.

Now about Copperfield's cards to box routine as seen on the Orient Express special.
I originally watched a version of that on Ammar's "Live" lecture tape.  He discusses
the moves he uses as well as a discussion of his presentation style.  The effect is
a very powerful one.  Copperfield strengthens the effect, but limits the angles when
he performed it on the Orient Express.  Once you see both methods, you'll know what
I am talking about.

Matt "Sleight of" Hands




Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: mjamroz@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Margaret Jamroz)
Subject: Correction on Penn & Teller Tour Info
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 11:30:38 GMT

I *was* wrong.  The Universal Studios dates are for the one in California.
Sorry for the mixup.					       ^^^^^^^^^^

Everything else is correct.

maggie
Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: stame@emunix.emich.edu (Stewart Tame)
Subject: Re: Videos, etc.
Organization: Eastern Michigan University
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 23:24:47 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.123814.8883@head-cfa.harvard.edu> ov@head-cfa.harvard.edu (Olaf Vancura) writes:
>
>While I'm on the subject, I'd just like to say that his "Big Black Box"
>illusion -- He shows a large box on wheels about a foot off the ground
>to be empty.  Hanging curtains in front, he proceeds to create
>two people from it, winding up with three shaggy dogs at the end, all
>	[stuff deleted]
>this "Big Black Box" thing is probably something obvious, but it's killing me.  Any thoughts?

Well, except for minor cosmetic differences, it's identical to Doug
Henning's "Things That Go Bump In The Night," though I'm sure *neither*
of them is the originator of the effect . . . 

****************************************************************************
 I understand it's obligatory to mention Kibo somewhere in one's postings.
****************************************************************************
		Email:  stame@emunix.emich.edu
****************************************************************************
Disclaimer:  Not only do my opinions represent those of Eastern Michigan
University, but also those of Dan Quayle, Richard Nixon, Frank Zappa,
Pee-wee Herman, Bart Simpson, Tipper Gore, Murphy Brown, Maggie Thatcher,
and the Easter Bunny.
Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: dulcinea@cwis.unomaha.edu (Shaene Steinauer)
Subject: Another please help
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 00:29:13 GMT

Please read the article on electronics help in newsgroup 1786,
fj.sci.misc, by Shaene Steinauer.

Thanks!


--Shaene M. Steinauer (Dulcinea)
From: ajc@doc.ic.ac.uk (Adrian James Chung)
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: favorite tricks - ?
Date: 13 Oct 92 16:11:05 GMT
Organization: Department of Computing, Imperial College, University of London, UK.
NNTP-Posting-Host: finch.doc.ic.ac.uk

I'm posting this on behalf of my brother, Nicholas, who does magic as a hobby...

His favorite tricks are:
"Twisting Aces" by Dai Vernon
"Devil's Elevator" by Bruce Cervon
"Haunted Pack" by Eugene Burger
"Flying Ring" by Al Koran
"Oil & Water" utilising Hammau(?...) Count
"$100 Bill Switch" by Roger Klause
"Card Warp" by Roy Walton
"Invisible Hole" by Johnny Hirose

I don't know most of these tricks by name so I am not sure whether Nick has
performed them in front of me yet. But I do recognise Card Warp, and I
especially like tricks in which you can examine the apparatus to your hearts
content before or after the trick.

BTW, Nick plans to purchase (by mail order) the following:
Card Finesse II by Jon Rachembaumer
	from L & L Publishing
Out of Control by Chris Keneer
	from Kaufman & Greenberg

Any comments or reviews of the above books are welcome.
What new books would anyone suggest that my brother get?


-- 
Adrian. (ajc@doc.ic.ac.uk)
[ Pondering... "Can 'no' be a truthful answer to this question?" ]
Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: mjamroz@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Margaret Jamroz)
Subject: Penn & Teller Tour Information
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Distribution: alt.magic
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 19:49:08 GMT

Okay, here is the latest with Penn & Teller:

They're starting a long schedule of shows and they'll be in a few major cities
hawking their new book, HOW TO PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD, which comes out in the
beginning of November.  First the show dates..

10/09	Kirby Center, Wilkes Barre, PA
10/10	Proctor's Theatre, Schenenctady, NY
10/11	Allentown Symphony Hall, Allentown, PA (2 shows)
10/14	Bailey Concert Hall, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
10/15	King Center, Melbourne, FL
10/16	Van Wezel Peforming Arts Hall, Sarasota FL
10/17	Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, FL
10/21	Universal Studios, (I'm guessing this is FL but I'll post soon to make
to 24	sure)
 and
10/29	"								     "
to 31	"    								     "
11/04	Indiana University Auditorium, Bloomington, IN
11/05	Assembly Hall, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
11/06	Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL
11/07	Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids, IA  
11/09	Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO
12/05	Ulster Performing Arts Center, Kingston, NY
12/10	Symphony Hall, Springfield, MA  
12/11	Flynn Theatre, Burlington, VT
12/12	Worcester Auditorium, Worcester, MA
12/26	Stamford Center for the Arts (2 shows)
12/27	"				      "
12/28	Stamford Center for the Arts
to 30	"			   "
12/31	Stamford Center for the Arts (New Year's Eve, 2 shows)
01/14	Bally's, Las Vegas, NV
to 20

-----
Whew.  In between, they'll be "pimping" the book and will be at bookstores
autographing copies and stuff.  Check your local papers for the particulars.
(Penn didn't give me the specifics, sorry.)

Book Tour

11/11	Los Angeles, CA
to 13	"	      "
11/16	San Francisco, CA
to 17	"      		"
11/18	Chicago, IL
to 19	"	  "
11/20	New York City, NY
11/22	Miami, FL (Book Fair)
11/23	Washington, DC
11/24	Washington, DC OR Philadelphia, PA
11/30	New York City, NY
12/01	New York City, NY
12/07	Boston, MA
to 08	"        "

----

I'll double check on the Universal Studios stint, in case folks are
interested.  Penn says they've added some new bits and their live show is real
hoot.  See 'em if you can.

ObFaveTrick:	Has to be Penn & Teller's Handstab.  "...take a standard wimpy
		card trick and add just a little bit of class."  I really dig
		when he gives the audience member the bloody handkerchief,
		just for being "such a good sport."



Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: tenney@netcom.com (Glenn S. Tenney)
Subject: Magic group in Palo Alto, CA
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 08:15:01 GMT

The Peninsula assembly #94 of the Society of American Magicians (SAM)
meets the second monday of each month in Palo Alto.  The meetings
are open to anyone with a sincere interest in magic.  

Scheduled meetings: 2nd Monday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
at the First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto (near Stanford).
This is at the corner of Homer and Webster.

The October meeting (12 Oct) theme will be Halloween magic.

We have an annual Houdini banquet, as near as possible to
Halloween.  This year, our banquet (with a sumptuous feast
and a magic show of members and guests) will be on 8 November.
For that reason our scheduled November meeting will be cancelled
in lieu of the banquet.

The December meeting (14 Dec) will be focusing on winter holiday magic
(or new year's, depending on what interests you).

If you're visiting the area from out of town, and can drop by,
please do.

Thanks...

-- 
Glenn Tenney
voice: (415) 574-3420      fax: (415) 574-0546
tenney@netcom.com          Ham radio: AA6ER
From: knepley@CS.ColoState.EDU (Ranseus (Jim Knepley))
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: Magic pick-ups (was Re: Help with marriage proposal)
Date: 15 Oct 92 16:57:22 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University

In article <Eer5wSW00VpgM5qUtS@andrew.cmu.edu> "Kishor K. Rao" <kr1i+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>Well, since we're on the subject of trying to impress your lucky lady
>with magic, has anyone ever done magic to pick them up?

Pseudo-amusing story follows:

  I've got a reputation with my friends as being a pretty killer magician
(well deserved?  well, no, not really).  One day I was going to visit
them and when I got there they (and many, many others) were standing in 
the hall doing some really basic (yet reasonably good) stuff with cards.
  As soon as they saw me, they said "here's the man if you want to see
some magic."  It was at this time I saw some new faces (laymen, as it
turned out) in the crowd, so I threw my 2 best impromptu card effects
at them: 51 cards to pocket and pick-off-pip.
  Upon taking my bows, one of the women turned to may and said "What was
your name again?" and the rest, as they say, is history.  

Accidental pick-up.  If I could have only had that problem when I was
younger, eh?

Jim

-- 
----- knepley@cs.colostate.edu ----------------------------------------------
 Jim "Ranseus" Knepley                |  Never forget that you are the only
 Programmer, magician, computer geek  |  person in charge of your life.
------------------------------------------------------ Boycott Microsoft ----
From: ab56503@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Major Tom)
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: Close-Up Tapes..
Date: 9 Oct 92 19:51:31 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

I've been looking for some possibly used tapes on close-up a la Paul Harris
(Close Up Adventures) -- All of the perhaps, etc,..If someone could provide me with
names or titles (or actual tapes for a price) I would greatly appreciate it..


+------------------------------------------------+----------------------+ 
|  Ari Braginsky (Major Tom)                     |  "Making Time In A   | 
|  Email to: roboman@uiuc.edu     	         | A Low Rent Highrise" |	
|  At University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana +----------------------+ 
+------------------------------------------------|  "My god, it's full  |
                                                 |   of stars!"         |
                                                 +----------------------+
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 21:39:28 EDT
From: <HCM100@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: Re: Help with marriage proposal

[Statements of marriage proposal ideas to produce the ring via magic deleted]

I am planning on doing the same thing with my sweetheart in the future.  I am
going to show her my *new* (not really) ring on string routine.  She'll
inevitably say "That's your old routine" to which I'll respond Yeah, but
it's weird.  It's the RING that changes.  At this point I'll do a simple
shuttle pass of the regular mens ring that I use for the engagement ring.

If you don't do a ring/string routine, how about an object under a glass
routine?  Simple enough using very basic sleights like the French Drop,
etc.  Have an item keep reappaearing under the glass, and on the last
time have the engagement ring appear.  That'll get her.  :-)

Or, just load up a Ttip and pull it out of a handkerchief or something...

Good luck, let us know what she says, and what you ultimately do!!

*  Hans C. Masing        |  "When you go in for a job interview, I  *
*  HCM100@PSUVM.psu.edu  |   think a good thing to ask is if they   *
*  Penn State MIS Dept.  |   ever press charges." - Jack Handey     *
From: HCM100@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: Re: Please Help
Date: 15 Oct 92 17:29:59 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

In article <13190006@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com>, kingsley@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com
(Kingsley Morse) says:
>
>Oops! My apologies for posting my previous "Please Help" survey to this
>group. It was an honest mistake and won't happen again.
>
>Kingsley

That message appeared in almost all the groups that I read. And it WASN'T cross
posted.  Each group only had one header.  How can that be an honest mistake?

*  Hans C. Masing        |  "When you go in for a job interview, I  *
*  HCM100@PSUVM.psu.edu  |   think a good thing to ask is if they   *
*  Penn State MIS Dept.  |   ever press charges." - Jack Handey     *
Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: shaman@cix.compulink.co.uk (Leo Smith)
Subject: Re: (Ronald Mc Donald)
Reply-To: shaman@cix.compulink.co.uk
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 18:33:00 +0000


>Shootings seem to occur in McDonalds & post offices for some reason.

>>"Ronald McDonald is a child molester" as they say :-)

>Probably. Now how would this work in the UK where (according to
>Chris) its common etiquette to ignore anything touchy, (except on the
>football/soccer field I gather)? (If you didn't follow the RJ
>Stewart/Merlin Tarot posts, you won't know what I'm referring to.)

1/. I received private E-mail from an anonymous source claiming to :-
        (a) be 8 years old
        (b) have met Mr McDonald who told him that
        (c) He could get 9 ring donuts on his private member.

   However since the source was an academic establishment I tend to
   think that a Scottish sense of humour has crept in..:-)

2/. The original quote was reported to me as graffiti on a bridge in
    Chester.

So that is how we handle it in UK, Graffiti or Jokes.

:-)


- Peggy -



Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: cragaisi@nyx.cs.du.edu (Chris)
Subject: Re: Make it disappear - use a top (?)
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 14:13:17 GMT

The device referred to here is called a TOPIT.  The book was probably
Michael Ammar's (the most famous, but not the only, Topit book).  I replied
with a bit more info to the original poster of this thread, but any others
out there might want to check out the Ammar book and even pickpocket lore
(Ammar certainly wasn't the first to come up with the idea - it's hundreds
of years old).

Chris
--
	"The plan was simple.  Unfortunately, so was Bullwinkle."
From: kingsley@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Kingsley Morse)
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 15:34:06 GMT
Subject: Re: Please Help
Organization: HP Western Response Center
Newsgroups: alt.magic

Oops! My apologies for posting my previous "Please Help" survey to this
group. It was an honest mistake and won't happen again.

Kingsley
From: HCM100@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: Re: Videos, etc.
Date: 9 Oct 92 18:43:19 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

In article <1992Oct9.123814.8883@head-cfa.harvard.edu>, ov@head-cfa.harvard.edu
(Olaf Vancura) says:
>While I'm on the subject, I'd just like to say that his "Big Black Box"
>illusion -- He shows a large box on wheels about a foot off the ground
>to be empty.  Hanging curtains in front, he proceeds to create
>two people from it, winding up with three shaggy dogs at the end, all
>to the reverberations of Big Pig.  -- has got me stumped.  This was on the

Great tune, mediocre illusion.
I've found that Copperfield has a propensity towards using Peter Gabriel
stuff, mostly from his SECURITY album.

>special two years ago -- the same one with the disappearing train.  I've
>been able to determine how the rest of the tricks on both shows are done.

Including Airtight?  (The one with the card in the balloon)  If so, then
please email me his handling.  They take the camera off him at the crucial
moment when he does the second placement.  I have the Sankey handling
from his first book and don't really like it.

>(My wife and I saw him live in Baltimore recently after seeing last year's
>TV special and were disappointed both by his prolific sexual connotations
>and the fact that he didn't do anything new.) I have the feeling that

"Flying" wasn't new?  Hmmmmmnn.  He also did the one where the two babes
go through his midsection, a la The Pendragons.

>this "Big Black Box" thing is probably something obvious, but it's killing me.
>Any thoughts?

Yes, but not on the network.  If you convince me on email that you are a
magician, I will explain the illusion.  Explanations of illusions have no
place here on alt.magic.  :-)

>Olaf

*  Hans C. Masing        |  "When you go in for a job interview, I  *
*  HCM100@PSUVM.psu.edu  |   think a good thing to ask is if they   *
*  Penn State MIS Dept.  |   ever press charges." - Jack Handey     *
From: s8825171@macgraw.mqcs.mq.oz.au (Mark Dras)
Subject: Re: Favorite tricks - LAYPERSONS
Organization: Macquarie University, School of Mathematics, Physics, Computing and Electronics
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 04:55:27 GMT

In article <718064382.21914.0@unix3.andrew.cmu.edu> "Daniel S. Efran" <de0t+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>James "The Amazing" Randi's spoon-bending trick is damn impressive.
>(I like to perform it, too.)  David Copperfield has done a bunch of
I tried to find out a while ago (from this group) how the spoon-
bend is done. Can you please post how to do this trick?

					-J
From: hoefer4739@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: Crazy Man's Handcuffs
Date: 10 Oct 92 12:48:57 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

  Where can I find the solution to Crazy Man's Handcuffs?

                                            -Tim
Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: arthurc@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Arthur Chandler)
Subject: Card cuts and shuffles
Organization: California State University, Sacramento
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 03:57:05 GMT


   Can anyone recommend a good book and/or video on slick, cool, or
amazing card cuts and shuffles?  Not looking for card magic: only deft
manipulation in full view-type moves.
   Thanx in advance!

  -- arthurc the visiting juggler
Newsgroups: alt.magic
From: j3david@student.business.uwo.ca (James David)
Subject: Engagement Ring
Organization: University of Western Ontario
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 18:54:34 GMT

Just had a thought...you might try incorporating the ring into a 
'Spellbound' routine.  For the finale, you could transform the coin into 
the ring using the Paul LePaul modified French Drop (which BTW is a heck 
of a lot more realistic than the standard French Drop).  This would look 
absolutely fantastic...in fact, if I wasn't already married, I'd do it 
myself.

--James "Still Waiting for Super Swindle" David - London, Ontario, Canada

j3david@student.business.uwo.ca (James David)
Western Business School  --  London, Ontario
From: blake@acsu.buffalo.edu (Brian C. Blake)
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: ...
Date: 7 Oct 92 13:44:59 GMT
Organization: State University of New York at Buffalo/Comp Sci

Coupla things...

- Anyone going to NYCAN '92 in Binghamton this weekend?  If so, drop me a line
  and we might be able to meet...

  If you don't have time to meet, just stop by our table - Four Jokers Magic
  Shop and ask for Brian...

- RE: Favorite tricks, posted by Hans Masing...
  I gotta agree with these folks on this one... Color Monte is excellent...
  and we just got a whole bunch of them in and they're all poker size Bicycle
  backs, thank God...they used to make them on a crappy bridge back, but now
  they switched to the good quality Bike backs...I think we've got them for
  $5.95 or something like that...but like Hans and the other poster said, it's
  well worth it!!

  The other little thing I'm starting to use is the Invisible Thread Reel
  (a.k.a. ITR)... this gimmick is one of the best to hit the market in a LONG
  time!  Float virtually any small object on this thing and be able to
  clean up in an instant and walk away!  Excellent for table-hopping close-up!
  The thing sells nationally at around $40, but I think we're selling 'em for
  $34.95... but well worth it if you have ever wanted to get into thread work
  or floating illusions.  It comes with a nice dollar bill levitation.  Also
  put out by the same company is the ITR Video...which is basically a companion
  to the gimmick.  It sells for around $19.95 and we're offering a deal of the
  reel and the video for $49.95.  The video shows a bunch of nice routines
  to do with the thing including an "impromptu" finger ring levitation.
  The only real drawback to the gimmick is you need to wear some sort of
  dress shirt -- where the two parts of the shirt come together to button and
  form an overlap...thats where the thread "exits" from, and it just pins
  inside your shirt.  One helluva nice item!  Anyone who does, or has
  wanted to do, thread work should have one, if they already don't...!

Well...I'm outa here...

Brian
From: gary@astro.as.utexas.edu (Gary Hansen)
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: String Book
Date: 8 Oct 92 15:01:13 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: McDonald Observatory, University of Texas @ Austin
Originator: gary@astro.as.utexas.edu


Dear Friends,
	I am looking for:	The String Book
				Floating Routines for Table and String
				By Ralph Wickmann

	If anyone out there in cyberspace knows of a source for this book
please let me know.
						Thanks





	Gary Hansen
	Astronomy Dept, U of Texas @ Austin
uucp:	cs.utexas.edu!utastro!gary
inet:	gary@astro.as.utexas.edu
at&t:	(512) 471-8414
snail:	University of Texas
	Astronomy Department
	RLM 15.308
	Austin, Texas 78712

*********> Practice Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty <*********

Newsgroups: alt.magic