A
A vertical and then a horizontal stroke, or vice-versa. Again, pretty obvious. Watch for the circle, but make sure that you allow enough time for the vertical stroke before you assume that the spectator has just drawn a circle. As you can see, there is almost no chance for confusion of the symbols if you simply watch the cues that I've just noted. The pencil reading is shamefully easy if you use the large markers and small pads I've already described. To convince yourself of the pencil read,...
Setup
Take the packet of cards and make sure that all of the red symbols are in the upper left comer as you arrange the cards. The red symbol will act as the key symbol for each of the cards. By starting with card 1 the card with the red circle in the upper left corner (the lowest value in the numerical cycle and the lowest color value) and counting through the cycle of 1 through 9, you can rapidly set up the packet until all nine are in order. The black symbol on a card placed down should be...
Dr Ross
Faucett Ross's Spook Show Advertising. thing that puzzles them is the blindfold itself and not the tests. This was very obviously the audience's reaction when Dai and I caught Tarbell's act in Brooklyn last winter. After a few tests the interest started lagging and remarks could be heard all over the house to the effect that it's just a trick. Now here's my theory of how the thing should be done and tell me if I'm right or wrong. The tests you present should fool the audience even if they know...
The Props
You'll need nine blank faced jumbo cards to make the card set. The standard blank Bicycle jumbos available through most magic dealers are fine. If you can't get them, thick white posterbpard in a size 7 by AYi will do quite well. You'll also need two pads of paper, each about 6 by 9 in size and eight colored felt markers two each in black, blue, red, and green. A word or two about the markers they are about six to eight inches long. In addition, the barrel of the marker should match the color...
The Cancellation Principle
The audience's awareness and degree of perceptiveness can definitely be controlled by the attititude of the performer and proper routining. You may think this is a strong statement to make, but as a professional hypnotist I can assure you that this statement is true. As a magician or mentalist. you should be able to control the ability of your spectators to figure out effects and create in their minds the perfect illusion of an impossible happening. How does this apply to blindfold work Let me...
Spectator Examination
I've just detailed how the blindfold can be put on so as to make vision impossible. Obviously the Apex Stainless Steel Blindfold can be placed on a spectator using these moves to prove that the blindfold is legitimate. I don't normally go to this extent, as it isn't necessary under normal working conditions. My normal way of handling it is this I call upon a spectator and show him the blindfold while talking about the fact that it is made of thick stainless steel and is impossible to see...
The Videtec Slate Mystery
YOU WANT SOMETHING EASY TO DO AND YOU WANT IT QUICK. Here it is The NIXON VIDETEC SLATE MYSTERY. NOTE One side of the slate furnished with this sale, is rough. That is the practice side. At first you will use this side to get the idea of what it is all about. Once you get it learn to perform the slate mystery using the smooth side of the slate. Later you will easily perform the mystery with just plain cards and a lead pencil. Then you will be doing real presentation. Practice makes perfect. YES...
Section III
TELEPATO II A Design Color Duplication Routine Jeff Busby I've long had an interest in mental design color duplication routines. I've even had a few in print in Bascom Jones' fine publication Magick. The routine you are about to read is to my mind one of the best you can perform with the Apex Stainless Steel Blindfold. However, it is not for the dabbler in mentalism. It's for the performer who would seriously like to present a strong color and design duplication effect that will definitely fool...
Figure Four
You may criss-cross two of these Band-Aids over each eye, as shown in Figure Six, to make it appear that sight is totally impossible. This is my preference. There are two reasons why I am partial to the use of these Band-Aids First, you bring them out of the standard box still secured in their original paper wrappers and have a spectator remove the wrapping. Second, there seems to be an almost universal belief that Band-Aids stick tightly and there is always pain when they are removed. When you...
Johnsonenglish
MUG OOMTAirr _ n T& T MAIN 14 Newspaper Publicity for the Blindfold Drive and Blindfold Walk for Paul Fox. LETTER FROM PAUL FOX TO FAUCETT ROSS Undated Remember the old number blocks in chest with the small magic tube for divining rotation of numerals This of course had a compass in tube. I have one of those sets from Thayer. Allowing the numbers to be arranged, box closed and clasped and wrapped in newspaper. You then show magic tube. This is switched for one with compass in it and held...
Background
In my other books published by Jeff Busby, I have always gone to pains to explain why and how I have come to develop the effects and methods that I use. This stems from a frustration borne from years of purchasing magic books and props which, while they contain wonderful methods, make me wonder why more magical authors don't consider the effect first I don't want to appear cynical. I feel that there are a great many truly marvellous effects being invented today. However, I also feel that if you...
Telepato Ii
In the Paul Fox Faucett Ross section of this book, there's a letter in which Faucett says the following The tests you present should fool the audience even if they know you had the use of your normal vision. In other words you could do the act without a blindfold and they'd still wonder how you did it. My handling of Telepato relies on the principle of pencil reading in combination with some other ideas. Pencil reading is usually very baffling on its own, but if used in combination with a...
Impossible Dictionary Test
Here is a routine for that special occasion when you want to do a blockbuster mental effect under almost test conditions. Prior to print here, I've only tipped it to two others Jeff Busby and Bob Baker. I'm hesitant about including it here I know it will read as chancy and impossible to do, however I do use it and it works like a charm. It's a combination of the use of the Apex Stainless Steel Blindfold and muscle reading. If you have experience in contact mindreading, you'll find this to be an...
The Balloon Murder
I'd like to briefly oudine one of my favorite uses of the blindfold one I use in my stage act. I have two audience volunteers come on stage up to the microphone. After the usual introductions, I have one spectator inflate a large yellow balloon while the other spectator examines the blindfold anu tapes the Band-Aids criss-crossed over my eyes. After the blindfold is placed on my head, the balloon is tossed into the audience and batted around for about half a minute. I ask whoever is holding the...
Additional Methods Of Sealing The Eyes
Many of the books and magazine articles written about the X-Ray Eye Act have covered additional safeguards when putting on a blindfold to prove that you cannot see, such as tape, coins, dough, additional bandages and the like. I have studied many of these methods and would like to offer some of my thoughts on the subject. Whether you should use additional methods of sealing the eyes depends entirely on the particular routine you are doing. You should first consider that there are two ways to...
Section IV
SEEING WITH THE FINGERTIPS The Faucett Ross Paul Fox Correspondence Commentary by Jeff Busby Two undeniably legendary figures in the area of subtle magic were Paul Fox and Faucett Ross. Over a period of three decades, these professional magicans kept up a voluminous correspondence on a wide-ranging variety of magical subjects. I consider myself fortunate to have many of these letters in my files. Richard Osterlind's Apex Stainless Steel Blindfold is so exceptional to me the best all-around...
The Apex Stainless
STEEL BLINDFOLD What It Is amp How to Use It Laymen are astounded when you perform any sort of magic or mentalism while blindfolded. Experienced performers know how much more effective mentalism, a Poker Deal or other gambling routine, psychic tests, the Card Stab, a Stop Trick, and even straight magic can be if you perform without the apparent use of sight. You can transform a simple effect into an applause-getting miracle through the addition of a blindfold. Over the past two centuries many...
History
The Blindfold Act or Sightless Vision, Seeing with the Fingertips, X-Ray Eyes, or whatever you want to call it has been an integral part of magic and mentalism since 1816 when British psychic Margaret M'Avoy pretended to see colors and words with her fingertips while blindfolded. Most blindfold methods published or marketed employ either the downward peek, or allow the performer to have straight-ahead vision through the use of an opening or some sort of alternately opaque transparent principle....
