Effect: Someone's name mysteriously appears written on your arm.
EFFECT: A card is selected, autographed, and shuffled back in the deck, which in turn is replaced in the case; before that an ordinary envelope is given for examination, is also initialed, sealed and stood on one end at the end of the bar, facing the audience. The card case is encircled with a heavy rubber band and placed far away from the envelope. A clap of the hand and the selected card finds its way into the envelope.
THE HOW: Any envelope, anybody’s deck of cards, anywhere, anytime, you are ready to perform this trick; if you carry a little dab of wax attached to one of the buttons on your coat or vest.
FIRST - Have a card reversed in the bottom of the deck. Offer the deck for a free selection. Have him or her notice the card. Have the deck cut in two halves and ask that the card be replaced on the top of either half.
SECOND - Cut the cards again and invariably you will cut at the reversed card bringing this to the bottom, the top card is the selected one. Before the card is replaced on the deck ask them to initial it on the face for further identification.
THIRD - During all the process of the trick you have ample time to secure the bit of wax with one of your fingernails.
FOURTH - Insert the deck back in the case and when you replace the flap of the case, insert its edge right under the top card, the selected one. Stick the bit of wax to the top edge of the card, place the envelope on top of the case momentarily pressing on it so the selected card will stick to the envelope. While holding deck and envelope ask your subject to sign the envelope. The last move is to carefully pull the envelope sideways which will carry the card with it on its back. The envelope is stood somewhere on the shelves of the bar with the card stuck behind it.
FIFTH - Now you propose to transport the card from the deck to the envelope without touching either one. Hand your assistant a rubber band and ask him to encircle the deck. A clap of the hands and picking the envelope and the card at the same time with your right hand you proceed to tear one end of the envelope with the left, blow into it, stick the fingers of your left hand into the envelope while the thumb secures the card from behind and raise slowly. To all appearances the card is coming out of the initialed envelope.
This stunt belongs to the series of spectacular tricks, and although looks like it is difficult to do, one trial will convince you that it is easy. Have a piece of heavy card-board 12" x 12" or a flat bar tray.
Four heavy tumblers, or four highball glasses two-thirds full of water.
Four playing cards rolled into tubes, about one inch in diameter, held together with small rubber bands.
Four fresh eggs, and one egg shell (blown out).
Place the tumblers in four corners of an imaginary square about 9 inches from each other, then the tray or cardboard on the top, so that each tumbler will be at equal distance. Two inches from the corners of the cardboard. Place the little cylinders made out of the playing cards on the top of the tray, standing, so they will be about the center of each tumbler. Place a fresh egg, one at a time, standing at its wider point, on top of each cylinder.
As you pick the eggs from paper bag or a plate, you give it a little shake, close to your ears, as if trying to listen to the inside of the egg, nodding in approval that the egg is fresh. After shaking the third egg a little bit (the blown out egg this time) toss it over the heads of the audience, then pick the third egg, shake and make believe you will toss it too, hesitate, shake again, then crack it, look at the audience again and act surprised. Take another egg, the last real egg, and place it on the last tube. The rest of the routine to all appearances is the most difficult. It consists in giving a short sharp blow, with the heel of your hand at point “B” on the edge of the tray, toward the audience. The tray will land on the floor a few feet away from your table, the tubes will all fly around, but thefour eggs will all drop directly into the tumblers, unharmed. I advise you to rehearse this with wooden eggs or hard boiled eggs, until you find out how hard you have to hit the tray.
