Design by Andrew Mayne 95i
EFFECT
The Magician offers to give the audience a
demonstration of his abilities to fuse through
objects. Alarge mirror is brought an stage and
shown to be thoroughly without gimmick. The
mirror is backed into a tall U:shaped curtain
with the magician in back of it. With his arms.
on either side of the mirror, he grasps a cloth
and holds it before Lhe mirror and himself. The
top of the mirror is visible at all times, as are his
hands. In one smoath gesture, the clath moves
forward and is lowered. The flagicfan is now in
front of the mirror.
METHOD
The mirror and curtain are un-gimmicked. The
sloth however is of the seance type. IL has a
fake hand at the right carner. This allows the
Magician to let go with his right hand and pass
his body around the left side of the cabinet
Although the audience can see above the cloth,
they can't see around the frame.
y
-O 10s
=<MIRROR
7
5p — L_ 20"
CLOTH QW HAND)
74
ag
CURTAIN
A244Magician
steps around
AUDIENCESHRINKEFFECT
The latest wonder of science is introduced to
the audience. The Magician explains that the
device makes people more economical in size,
so they'll consume less and use less space. He
offers to give a demonstration. He steps into a
frame work and closes the front with a roller
shade. His feet, hands, and face emerge from
holes in the front. In one swift motion his feet
and hands brought together at the middle of the
framework. The audience can see that there is
nothing above or below him.
METHOD
The illusion is accomplished by a combination of
black art, bevel masking, and prosthetics. The
torso of the Magician his concealed in the mid-
section of the cabinet by the base formed from
the top and bottom joining together. His legs
are hidden in the walls of the cabinet. The feet
the audience sees during the shrinking process
are mechanical in nature.
2
|
ao oS
x<poe al
74
FRONT VIEW
APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS
ShrinkBOY
Plate IFRONT DESIGN CABLE ~
Head hele
SIDE VIEW
FRONT EW INTERIOR PosmioN
SIDE
ShrinkBOY
Plate
Design by |
Andrew Mayne |
3s
23
|ENC.
‘When one goes through the insidious ist of possible/impossible tortures
that can be visited upon a human body, one eventually comes to the
{dea of shrinking someone. Oddly enough, Im only aware of two other
illusions that accomplish that. One of which Im not sure of the origin,
the other is by Andre Kole. Andre Kole’s shrinking has been performed
very successfully by himself and a few others who have been granted
permission to do so.
ShrinkBOY was one of my first do it yourself illusion ideas. Currently itis
third in line in my own private list be built (The next is something from a
future book, the second fs ultra top secret (Know anything about patent
+#324-4886622))._ Ive got several illustrations of different variations on
the effect, some using mirror, others bases, this method however
appeals to me the most. Youve really got to squat down in front of a
mirror before you can appreciate how little space your body takes up in
the position
The space in the frame at the beginning and end of the illusion allow for
the possibility of a costume change (to shrunken clothes?).
Much like TRIPLEX, | think this illusion might be served by the wacky
approach. But that's entirely left up to you.
25
|Box Trick
Design by Andrew Mayne 95
56EFFECT
Before one can walk, one must crawl. Before one can
fly, one must be able to float - the Magician explains.
A wooden dolly with a cardboard box resting on it is
wheeled out. He pulls out a few items and tells the
audience that the box serves as training wheels to
aspiring levitators. It gives them a point of reference to
keep from floating to high. He offers to demonstrate
and sits in the box. He appears to be sitting somewhat
higher than the floor of the box. The Magician tells the
audience that he’s floating - only not very high. Since
they can't see what's happening in the box he offers to
show them. The box is lifted several inches off the
ground and the open top is revolved forward to show
the Magician floating in mid air.
METHOD
The gimmick is exactly the same as used in a Super-X or
other standard levitation, with one exception - It’s much
lower to the ground. The box has a slit in the back
which allows the support to pass into it. A flap covered
with package tape serves as camouflage for the stit.
The support is hidden fram the audience's view by a
paper sack haphazardly left on the dolly.
i
-—O 10
x<36"——_]
SideSide View
[-
|
le So
- - Angled Cutaway ViewMECHANICS
‘cardboard box with a slit in the back, @ dbly, a U-shaped metal strut
bolted ta the dolly, and a paper bag, any questions?
‘The suppart can be cut from box steel and welded together at a welding
shop for Uitle cast. You might want to experiment a tittle onseats. The
smaller the better. Yeull be amazed at what you can balance on-with a
little practice. The rest can be put together with out much etfficulty,
If flap made front tape doesn suit your purist appreach, you can make
a folding pancl out of carcboard that wauld flip over the slot when the
box fs lifted and tumed,
The whole box, interiar and exterior could be trade ta look like a childs
toy chest if you went to add some calor te the sluston, In that case
you's want to finish the interior ina bright and confusing mianner. "Youd
also Wwant ta substitute the paper ba for samething else, perhaps 3
stuffed aniral,ETC.
| think a levitation {more accurately 3 suspension in this case) is one of
the most pure farirs of illusion. Everything is pretty much out in the
‘open. Something Is ether floating or its not. The froublets wath the
Super-K and other suspensions Ike it, there's net much of a buile up.
They soem Lo work better in publicity sills User on slage, | think part of
the prapteme is that audiences expect the persan ta fleat higher ence the
supports have been removed. Everything else is anticlimactic after the
audience sees the person flaat for two seconds, Close-up magician
wnichael Ammar makes 2 really good point when he discusses hs views on
the floating dollar. Me prefers to have it float in short bursts Just Long
‘enough for the audience to be made aware thar something weird is
happening. Let it hang in the open air, makes it more of a puzzle then a
tery, The difference being that a puzzle hes a definite obvious
solution, while 2 mystery is often left unsolved.
“The fact that you're floating so very clase to the ground makes this trick
alittle bit more intriguing. Wes a kind of subtlety that makes the
alidienee Jump te all arts of wang canclustans.
‘Tre principal for Unis effect lends ite to al sarts of vartatians.. The
paper bag usee here was enly a suggestion, Inthe mechanics section |
suggested a chiles toy chest, You can thers this Lhing ary variety of
ways. do however that you keep the bax itself as flimsy as possibie
‘This adds tremendously 20 the illusion.
6EFFECT
The Magician displays an open box with two
two funnels, He has a spectator sign a
basketball. The ball is aassed through the
the spectator to verify the signature. The
Magician says,"I Know what you are thinking,
emerges from the other side
METHOD
the illusion of depth to the box.
which light projects from external fixtures.
i
funnels facing each other. He then intraduces a
compact disc. He places the disc between the
funnels and the disc, The ball is brought back to
cither he’s a stooge or | have twa balls, Well fm
going to prove both those thearies wrong.” The
Magician walks to one end of the box and passes
his arm then his whole bady into the funnel and
The Magician and the ball bath pass thraugh a
secret passage formed by two mirrors that give
The mirror effect is similar to that of the dagger
head chest and the twister illusion, In this case
the mirrors refleet the top and bottom af the
box as opposed to the sides. li order to insure a
consistent reflection, the top and bottom panets
are covered with a translucent canvas through
-O 10S
xANGLED VIEW ——
CUTAWAY VIEW OF
‘CONE ASSEMBLY
| PASSAGE
SIDE VIEW
ie‘Dimensions mian® ighiug etches
Approximate Exterior Dimensions
“LIGHT ARMATURES (3)
“AT
CYCLONE
| PlateMECHANICS
The table, bax and frame ean all be bull from wood and finished ta your
lov spec. The mierars woule be best sereos if thay were Plexiglas oF
Lexan. Even though the tunnel you are crawling through fs rigid and
capable of supporting your entire weight, it might torque In some places
just enough to break a regular glass mirror. The retraction index of
plastics arent even close to thase of glans, hey are however more than
‘enough acequate to foal the hurnan eye. Dostt forget ta make a slit far
the CD to fit partially into
‘The top and bottom of the box should be covered with & white
translucent canvas. Halogen lights mounted on top, Below, and in back
(for effect), wil bathe the interior in a nice even glow. This prevents
any telltale shadows or funky mirror reflections.
“Thee funnels ean be made [rarm aluminurt or thin plastic sheet cut to size
then wrapped araund curvad ribs, The vection where the CD Is placed
can be rade fram wood or even FaamCare.
| supgest using overlapping spandex for the sides. This will help mask
(Une lack that you're entering the box through the bark quedrant.ETC.
Tim obsessed with technology and | think this effect shows that. it's kind
of away to take an ordinary every day object and present it ina whole
new light. The compact disc gives the audience a reference point. They
didn't watch a magician vanish from one end of the tunnel to the other,
they watched him crawl through a CD.
This idea first struck me when | was pondering the concept of passing
‘one item through another. | was trying to think of a whole different
angle on the traditional one like walking through a steel plate or brick
wail. The idea of passing through an object that just couldn't be
gimmicked intrigued me. | think that’s part of the beauty of Jim
Steinmeyer's "Permeability. Human beings aren't built with trap doors.
That's why his effect works so well. Since Steinmeyer had already
invented his version of a person passing through another person, not to
mention Paul Osborne's "just passing through” and Andre Kole’s effect of
the same name, | focused my attention on the small scale.
A compact disc seemed like a good idea because even if it did have a
trap door or a sliding panel, it wouldn't be larger than six inches. That's
way too small for even the most open minded audience member to
suspect that you crawied through the disc itself in your natural state.
| could of have enlarged the effect and perhaps veiled the method
slightly better by putting boxes on either end of the funnels and made
the whole thing more like a mini-Flyto. But | think this way is the best.EFFECT
The Magician unveils a squat cabinet. He enters
it through a door in the top. Once inside, His
head pops open a door in the middle and his
hands merge from holes on either end, His face
takes on a somewhat strained look as he splits
himself into three sections. His hands and face
all able to move at command despite his
condition.
METHOD
The illusion of separation is provided by two
mirrors aimed at the floor of the cabinet. the
magician in effect reaches around them to the
sections on either side. The mirrors also serve
to mask his body, making it appear that he has
been trisected. The space between the two
mirrors allows his head to be seen through the
front of the box.
-—-O TOS
xTRIPLEX “I
Plate
b:
Andrews Mayne
9s‘Sie View
| Right Hand segment Het Hana Segment
Ovechead View
Unestended
TRIPLEX
| Plate I
Design by
Andrew MayneMECHANICS
‘The majority uf she baw enn ive ried aut of plywmngd anc des'ance to
break dwn, The crisis shauld nawever be given special care
perhags have trcir ewn case,
Thane cam be gal aed inte the pap through either heving a daar in the
toper thro-gh one n che side. If the pros 'srigic ermmgh, you cole
fever rrake the sides out cl seandex, whicloses tre possibilizy af sour
ig the opportunity to pop ot.
The tluon uf the bax should te ces'gn te look exaccly how you'd eau the
‘ook. Straight [nes are always au eli
“The exterar of the box should emphasize too things. It show,
bore net amalige and imply the presenme uf = hurvan Dod
gi me
Since the box 's approximataly four feet valk. you ‘ey rhoase Ta elewate
fer platlare. hat “Ger tly us co you, Some venues would slimost
all ect,
aSPP EERE RTP ET EHR ERR
ETC.
This ‘dea nit me rather abruptly. They often ca. Usually hen tn teying
te force thor. Is End of aul, ‘er munst people creatiaty cant be
weer, for ie it searrs like the only way. About hell of my ies a
the bolt out of Bed and-urite it down belo you get ate Ihe ether
ali come from Ltn dann with a pecs of pager and a pencil anc sping
THINK EAMM IT! TRIMKY'. a green man seribcling away is a sity nottor
fut sure beats taking orsiers trom your mir ghlua’s dog,
This effect seems more similar to a stretch’na Uran an cutrihl ‘ut the
uy in hall’ Llusion, Teal has protably mone to wrth the fact that youre
dng a1 ther head anc their hands - just like in Lhe strese king,
Tre heid 2°¢ the hands serve as the groal (rat youve actually bee
ieee. Prool isan Iviporlant Ving. d&.clences areoften tao skeotical wo
rage aur word at aryehing.
The neture ef the effect lends set! to-a light he
presentat’on, cent chink arpbacy cull be expected to Se taken
veeevsly wilt Thess holy in such a ridicelous state.
The desin uf the been be rinditied consigerably. Various facades
fv adaranents can be wsee to rrake tt Look Lees ike a bes, | tbiek tun
is the key wor
I'm feping you wl be better than | aL Findng se-ne Kind oF motwation
for this (rick, AlUbavah FW" boyinemng ta suspact that mat vatian ‘s Lost
rye uften than aot en audiences. rm aatsaying audiences toe vrallew
secertatione, | jast th’nk shat the only mucivalion they need in onder
te accept you sloing weird th’ ngs If the fact that youre a mag‘cion. You
cart have to be Gary Ckdman, just ertertaining
.BladeRunner
0) SsEREEEBEEEEEEBESE ESE EERE ERB SBE
EFFECT
Gh g somewital bizarre note, the Tagiciar
intracuces the subject af chal suicide, small
cabinet is eisplayed and referred to as the
Symbolic Sticice Mactirc”. The Magician takes ins
place tn the cabinet, His legs and head are clearly
visibleat ailtimes. He explains that this could be
alchy new way to apologize to otners when ane
makes a mistake, A number of swords are welled.
The tagician reeches vis eft had out af the
cazinct ard graas one of the swords. It's shoved
through a siot in the front of the Sax. He explain
that one can continue shoving swards into onesett
until forgiveness is granted. He cottindes to shove
swords into himsel®, apparently puncturing some
very vital areas,
Ho explains that wher forgiveness is finally
granted, the swords are removed. znd the
rggresgor alloWeC Our of the device.
METHOD
The swords are of the bendable variety (Made from
‘ape measure). The Magician just flexes them
around his a.‘éedy twisted body and gives the
Uuston of eing punctured by wincing each time
‘one aparently passes thraugh Fim.
|
-O 108
xDeng
acremoe Mayne 85Body Position
2
£
Flexible
SwordMECHANICS
The buls of the cabinet can be made from plywood. Youll want to brace
it acconling) 70 prevent 9 rut structural weakress trom the lack of &
lettsids, Since it coeseT support any weight, 1 doesnit hawt be that
easy duty,
Hw tipo on the tefl side should gpg hirge Inco place. You right Wat
te consider strmtchieg spandex aw Ube top ecge to helo sash angles.
‘he slazs for the sworcs crould be folly narrow in fret bul we deen
back, I weuilcrit look gooe! tu waste tire trying Wo wt the Blade
unagh,
The front of the bax shoule be desvaned in sugh # manner as to suggest
the pes'tiow of yar body at should be, The areas whore Une swords
are La Irwvil through shale Le strategicaly lacetoe near vital orga
fand afteries. AL the sry and 2xvt agin of the swords your should hewe &
‘wooden block Wath a helf inch sol 20 bend the swori plades back imo
e
‘The senres can be nace ‘tor two pleces of tape: measure tanec
ngetter. The sanklle cae be pipe, The flange showid be a fle larger
than usual in order to make it look like you're really Imiéa penetrated. W
Ie fact that Uke semtc blades are shork by sevecal inches afer #ssng
througl tbe: abinet bathers you, continue the blade 39s the lange anc
tn into the handle and ailow il tn slide out an catea she inches. You
might want to give Ure haces @ rusted appearance with Jus the hist of
telltale blood ston
2 sword rack cutr
the eff
int with the sesigne the illusion will asd greatly to
6ETC.
The original inspiration for th’s erick came tenn something La in
Dumminge’s Encyeloeda of Magic. It ras anold Incian Fckir {gu ahead
say 1 -fakint trick. Tre Indians have been slicking beridabie sianrs
through siots that wrap around the'r bores since before the Britis
joccupalion - Hos to menion Krenstars “Srord throust Nec!
This devine Cpe ln al atts oF rearbic interpretations. ‘You coule
vets ga Mid ef the swords are supplatt tiem oi long colnred! ammal
beloons, The-mest irgorant Using ® co make the casinet appear sa
engl, Rat you Mave no Ream to avo'd the swords (or asher obec)
Illes wt the cea uf having the vhhole effect happen in shadow, But
I rfecided the method used here is just ex eliective nol “a: mention eesier
to rranw’actuEFFECT
Explating that one of the biggest prabierns
facing people in shaw business, is a swelled
head, the Magicran offers zo shaw his audience
now he prevents this, He a-esents a device that
mixes Mtst century tectnology w'th Voo-Do. His
fread fs placed inta the device and a number of
reds are pushed invend, The front coor 13
opened and the magiciaa's head now appears to
be considerably swale,
METHOD
‘This Cevice shares the same basit prireiple of
the Dagger Heac chest, Here the head [sn
PACE to seers [ihe e's varished, only shales
Abox cantaining ¢ miniature kead is located at
the center af Ure larger bux at tne juncture ut
The swirrers. “The ‘oe thet goes from the top of
the ianer box and Uirougt Lhe ouler 30x seve
as @ mask for the edge of the rirrors.
B
-O 108
xS525
Ta
SE SS
SIDEINNER BO
HEAD SECTION
FRONT DOOR
Plate D
lowige oy
Jaane Maye
ysMECHANICS
‘Tne hoe and standean be made torr ptywnnd. ‘The four supparts c
be made from wiurinure tubing with break pare sections 'n the riddle.
‘Thu: minors should be either Pexiglas or lexen. The interor of the bux
scnuld be firishee! ‘na cunsistenl mar-er in order to Fey the ills of
depth
you went to ovoid rioking the extertor 56% too large, you right want
Ur eal sparen fhe back By putting winge-on Ue ses tke a shsdom
bec} and maybe cen maairg Ube while Bark wall spandex.
The tnsenor box can be made (rom winod, plassi, a even Faamcere.
“The rods rurmnirg lw it can be made fren BUC, Use Uno widil of pipe +
fare chil will i lnslee the ether “er the rece Laat stick out the sides and
tap.
he face can be mede in a var'ely of ways: I cam be carved fror soft
wweoe, Yau (att puichase a small doli"s head. Or wos can meke it oy
‘tuffing che end of e partytese with coltoe, lying it off, anc sewirs
Features,
4aETC.
When ese eres to ‘riagine illus'one nn a smalier scale, the wes of
{ocusing 0° Jost une part of the human body eulckly comes to mind, For
severa\ will tlusions, the heac fies lem a frequent suvjeut, Hawever
sent of thase illusions focus on carne one af two things (A) he
penetration of and ullseate venishof the fend, oi {B.) the decapital-on
and wlocation af the hea, {haves weenany raally consine ing versions
of the first effeck, bul Aru Kate hag develuped 9 wery shusive rcchod.
for tee lars
sti. You et even need the stad. The
insice another larger Elusion
This illusion cane pac real
lop sexton could easly
This itlsion cols alsa be used with a ypecctator. They only need to be
gen the simsie instouct’om at “Put your heac intrere- and shut us. The
fly coniduration vould be making sure (oat thes sein tone sarwewhat
matches shat of the fake face:
ind is the fact white your eal is the
cempartment, your mouth Is also very close to the ewuith of the ake
heac. small piece of tubing coukk cnable yaur snrunken eae te blow
bubbles, werk a kazao, ane! for ail those tabacce industry sponsored
kiddy shows, srunke cigarettes,Design by Andrew Mayne 95EFFECT
4 lerge industrial fan sits conler stage. The
jcian turns it on and streamers waver in the
passing wind. Two shutters on either side of te far
are closed in front of it. Streamers at the corvers of
the four slits in the fabric snutters continue co
Acker. A light is turned an in back of the fan ard
the spinning progeller can be seen in shadow. The
‘tips of the fen blades are visitle through slits ‘n Une
shutters. T1c Magicien wads us a piece of paver
and steps in back of the fan. His land evnerges
‘through the ‘ron of the tan. When he opens ‘is
hand the aepey 1§ confetti, He wextL pushes Fis
who.e bady Unraugh the fem and emerges ‘rom a slit
netwrer: the shutters, The light is turned off and
‘the shuttess are opened, showing tne still spinning
fan.
METHOD
Once the shutte's are closed, the fan slirles back ten
inches. This allows enough space for the magician
te pass in front of ft and throug’ the shuts
the blades are in eanstant motiun it is impossible for
the audience to notice the difference of with when
the tarvis pushed back from the stits, The far ‘s
nly is shacew when it {5 in the furthest back
position
——
-O710s
~ANGLED VIEW
(Harms ot shown)MECHANICS
suggest roing cut and buy
cone frovt raten, ou next nese Lu build an addtional
Sroaite it and {e hold the bails n place when the fan is
a tage inser ams her egg ld
we that fi
ack.
“The «ine ef tracks sed for drawers would probably be surfs int to sae
low fan an, ins make certain that is fairy hems duty at can ee
weight ani rorgve,
fe your want Une tanto srt pack ‘nto plane after
fight, a Buse core shouldbe attactiodl tte casi
shutters saauld oe nia fret lawn L-shaped trames (preferably
hee ther, The wilges around the sits
ling, ochiag latch sowie hold tert
“The from;
erat with whise sparc at
should be sows (9 (ENR
ir place whey. they are in the close posi
dchelegen linat shoulc be bright enough Lo provide a goad shadow, ¥0
probably want 40 snve sin swiftches far it. Onerswecr at the light a1€
ithe near ti latch for the ower.
“Thy right side baile can be a sulic panel. The left ane showid ether
have a door, or spring aut sw'yau can gai ent
48ETC.
Lurectly there seers ta be a prolife-etion of illusions inwoly' ne pase
through fans gether spiring objects, The earliest example Ive see OF
his etfect Is print waule be “The Wheel of Lorture” fram tre book an
f, TIRED borrsus several elements ‘rom thal effect, hewing
buces 1 Uhiy gay faethe aurtence, and the ‘dea of
tiv streamers ta shove tear ig