After Dinner Tricks - Walter Gibson [52 Weeks Project - #15]
After Dinner Tricks - Walter Gibson [52 Weeks Project - #15]
A TESTAMENT OF MAGIC HISTORY!
Book #15 in the 52 Weeks Project
Walter Gibson was one of the great "talents" the world of magic produced: not only he obtained "celebrity status" by creating his famous "Shadow" character, not only was he a tremendously prolific writer, but he was actually one of the most creative magicians of the 20th Century.
Gibson was "the" guy to hire when famous magicians like Thurston and Blackstone wanted to write and publish "their own books" (Gibson ghostwrote for them).
During the first half of the 1920's decade, Gibson wrote a column for Philadelphia's "Evening Public Ledger" newspaper. Originally intended for only a few weeks, it ran for 5 years! The BEST material from the run was eventually compiled in this little booklet called "After Dinner Tricks".
Although originally a beginner's book, there IS interesting and useful material inside, such as:
"Telling Cards from Backs" - probably the BEST peek for a card being held in the hand (face down). You can perform a little "reading with the fingertips" routine with it - people will never figure it out.
"A Divination" - mentalists have exhausted the old gag of writing "No" on a paper, then asking "Can I possibly know what you are thinking?". Replace that old chestnut with this one instead. (Still corny, but fun).
"Coin Dissolves into Air" - a clever subtlety to add to a coin vanish used by no other than Tamariz himself.
"The Rejected Soldiers" - a nice little bit to introduce the jokers before any effect
"Rapid Addition to Make 100" - if you can commit to memorize a few numbers you can play a little addition game and NO ONE will beat you ever - "proof" of your incredible mental powers.
INCLUDES SAMPLE REPRODUCTIONS OF THE NEWSPAPERS WITH THE TRICKS IN THEM