HELLO! Does anyone still do this old classic? If so, to what age group? Though it is easily made, does any company still manufacture it?

That was made by Arnold Furst. I had some in a magic collection I purchased and sold them on Ebay.

It was among the first tricks that I bought some 50 years ago.
It is indeed an old classic but with the right pattern it is still very good.
I don't know if you can still buy it these days.

Dick Oslund used to sell sets, including his changes to the standard script, but he has retired. Maybe you could track down someone willing to part with Dick's routine and signs.

(And according to a TMC thread, Jon Racherbaumer will be publishing Dick's autobiography perhaps as soon as 2013. I certainly hope so.)

Dick is now a member here at the Café, so you can send him a PM and ask him personally! His user name is.... Dick Oslund.

Jim

For the record: Fresh Fish was sold in both a large and a small size.

I'd love to hear Dick Oslund's story.

Julie

I belong to the Long Island Writers Guild and I decided to write a poem about “Fresh Fish” which is below.

If the trick is to be done reciting the poem it must be noted that the order of elimination of the words cannot be done by tearing but must be done by crossing out the called for word. Then, when all the words are crossed out the tearing (and restoration) can be done.


Last night I left the Writers’ Guild
With so many thoughts my head was filled

We were taught – and everyone heard
That we tend to use too many a word

I was going to work and saw a sign on the way

FRESH FISH SOLD HERE TODAY

I said to the store owner knowing he was wrong
“Sir, your sign is way too long

“You don’t need the word ‘sold’” I ventured to say
“Everyone knows you’re not giving them away.”

I shook my head with what appeared to be sorrow
“And sir ‘today”? Well, you’re not selling them tomorrow

“And why sir do you need this word ‘here’
“If this is not the place of sale then please tell me where

“And the word ‘fresh’ I won’t knock your sale
“But would you sell fish that folks would find stale?

“That leaves the word ‘fish” and you know darn well
They will know it’s fish – they can tell by the smell

So the Writers’ Guild advice was really fine
He really didn’t need the sign

I'm looking into making a color version with a more modern sign. I have the graphics, now looking for a way to sell it so it won't cost so much. Will keep you updated when I do.

Look here:
http://www.themagicdepot.com/product_inf......_id=1118

Fresh Fish

Above I posted a poem that I read at the Long Island Writers Guild for this effect. I have since completed the poem and now provide for a magical restoration of the crossed out sign.

Needed

1 The poem below on the table
2 The sign FRESH FISH SOLD HERE TODAY clipped on a magazine on the table
3 A duplicate sign crumpled under the magazine
4 A black marker-pen

To perform

Begin reading the poem and as you come to the words “FRESH FISH SOLD HERE TODAY” show the magazine with the sign.

As words are to be eliminated, cross them out with the marker-pen with a big X.


Last night I left the Writers’ Guild
With so many thoughts my head was filled

We were taught – and everyone heard
That we tend to use too many a word

I was going to work and saw a sign on the way
FRESH FISH SOLD HERE TODAY
I said to the store owner knowing he was wrong
“Sir, your sign is way too long

“You don’t need the word ‘sold’” I ventured to say
“Everyone knows you’re not giving them away.”

I shook my head with what appeared to be sorrow
“And sir ‘today”? Well, you’re not selling them tomorrow

“And why sir do you need this word ‘here’
“If this is not the place of sale then please tell me where

“And the word ‘fresh’ I won’t knock your sale
“But would you sell fish that folks would find stale?

“That leaves the word ‘fish” and you know darn well
They will know it’s fish – they can tell by the smell

So the Writers’ Guild advice was really fine
He really didn’t need the sign

At this point all the words are crossed out. The magazine is held in the left hand with the sign facing the audience, the crumpled sign behind the magazine in the left hand.

Pull the crossed out sign off the board with the right hand and crumple it into a ball.

Then simulate putting the crumpled up ball from the right hand into the left (under the magazine) by bending the magazine so the hands can meet but there is not exchange.

Take the magazine in the right hand (and the crumpled ball) and place it way to the right on the table. Place the ball that was in your left hand on the table to your left and keep reading. Note: Don’t make a move out of this. Never run when no one is chasing you. No one expects anything.

I thought the owner would be so glad
But I saw that he was really mad

He was just about to blow his top
Would he call his lawyer – or call a cop?

“Wait”, I said, “It’s not so tragic
Besides being a writer I also do magic

I waived my hand over the sign I’d destroyed
Open sign
And I saw the owner was no longer annoyed.

Note – some have told me they preferred the standard tearing and restoring of the sign to the above crossing out. However I would point out that (i) the torn and restoring can’ t work with the order of the elimination of words in the poem above and (ii) by crossing out instead of tearing the audience sees the cumulative effect as the poem is read.

Gerald--
Love your poem... but... why don't you just put the couplets in the right order? It still works AND the sign may be torn and restored:

I said to the store owner knowing he was wrong / “Sir, your sign is way too long
I shook my head with what appeared to be sorrow / “Why say ‘today”? Well, you’re not selling them tomorrow
“And why sir do you need this word ‘here’ / “If this is not the place of sale then please tell me where
“You don’t need the word ‘sold’” I ventured to say / “Everyone knows you’re not giving them away.”
“And the word ‘fresh’ I won’t knock your sale / “But would you sell fish that folks would find stale?
“That leaves the word ‘fish” and you know darn well / They will know it’s fish – they can tell by the smell

and so on...
--Harlan

Hi Dan
I guess you're a poet too.
I found out that "crossing out" the words was very visual and effective and became funny as it went on.

I had the privilege to meet Arnold Furst on many occasions. He developed this effect as a way to give his mentally challenged sister work to do. She folded every one of the sets. Probably a very little known bit of information.

I have a couple of packs of Laugh Makers called Fresh Pizza Sold Here Today.

Abbott's lists they Fresh Fish on their website.

http://www.abbottmagic.com/Abbotts-Fresh......oryId=-1

I love the poem that Gerald Deutsch provided some four years ago, and may find a way to modify that for a journalism class I'm teaching. Thanks!

For others who perform the classic "Fresh Fish" trick, have any of you developed alternate wording and patter to go with the basic effect? I'd love to do this with a news headline that keeps getting shorter and shorter.

What if you need to change the message? could they be ordered customized? do you know of somebody who does this kind of work or how this work can be done? Thanks a lot for the help! I love the effect but could not use it like that...I live in Spain!