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FrankFindley Inner circle 1028 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 31, 2018, Dick Oslund wrote: That is a very important point! When I first learned 20th Century Silks it was generally done by putting the two tied together silks in a glass, then vanishing the third silk, then pulling the three from the glass. This just didn't produce a reaction sufficient to merit a place in the act. Then I hit upon a routine, Baseball Silks, which gets a strong response. The patter is about how when I was a kid I always wanted to play ball in the house but was afraid of breaking something. But then I had an idea, what if I used silks instead of a ball?! I then bring a child from the audience to demonstrate. Two blue silks are tied together to create a "bat". I have the child strike a batter pose with the silks resting on his/her shoulder and them gripping only the un*******d silk. I tell the child I will 'pitch' the red silk and instruct him/her not to swing until I say. Then I take several steps away. I then visibly stuff the silk into my fist and motion like a pitcher saying 'swing!'. Of course the silk vanishes and a split second later reappears as the child goes through the swinging motion. It is a very strong 'in the hand' moment, very similar to what happens with sponge balls. Usually the child's eyes will get big and they will be shocked by the sudden appearance. The audience almost always goes dead silent. I then briskly step forward taking the silks from the child holding them high and saying 'that was almost a homerun swing but unfortunately they caught it just before it got over the wall! Everyone, please give [name] a round of applause for such a great swing." This breaks the silence and they respond very well. A few quick points. My g******d silk is of a heavier material which helps in the appearence as it has some inertia. It may seem risky putting the silks in the child's hands but in the several hundred times I have done this I have never had a child swing early or have the silk fall off their shoulder. It is just natural, and I reinforce, that they not swing until the pitch is underway and I tell them. Finally, I have found a solid color silk looks better than a burst design in this 'flash' appearance. If you haven't tried 20th century silks, this is another easy routine to give a go. |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hi Frank!
Good! It wouldn't work for ME, but, THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT! >>>It works for YOU!<<< I wish that more magicians would use a bit of imagination when they PRESENT a trick. The 'classics' just need a bit of thinking to update the basic EFFECT!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
P.S. I started using a routine for the 20thC Silks that Percy Abbott, when I was about 14 or 15 ('46 or '47) had in his catalog #7. The catalog name was "Yellow Joe or The Gangster's Waterloo". I needed help, at that age, in developing PRESENTATIONS! After about 6 or 7 shows, I realized that, "Joe" was not playing for ME!
I cut it, and kept searching. FINALLY, when I was in my mid '30s, I was able to develop a practical routine that fit ME, and, my PERSONALITY. I've used it ever since. It uses the standard set of silks, a "TT", set up for the Burling Hull "Elusive" silk vanish, plus a little boy. After a year, "on the road", it was so strong that it moved to NEXT TO CLOSING. It runs about 3 minutes, but, I can pad it out to about 4 minutes, with a a 6' string of 12" silks, from my pocket, or as much as 6 minutes with a production of 3 15" silks, and a 15' foot string of 12" silks from an old 'Demon Wonder Box. (THAT, fills the stage!). Set up time for the 3 minute basic routine, is about 15 seconds. If I use the pads, set up is about 2 minutes more. I wrote up the whole thing in my book. It gets laughs, then a big LAUGH, and then, a big MITT! It's designed to play for the elementary school kids, but, when I would have a Kindergarten thru 12th grade audience in rural western states, the teenagers (older brothers and sisters) enjoyed the little guys "starring role", because it's NOT a "kiddie trick". I don't use it, for a Jr. or Sr High School. It plays very well for family groups!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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FrankFindley Inner circle 1028 Posts |
Dick, sounds wonderful! I am now on the hunt for the book and DVD. I was a professional for only four years, which paid for my college. As a youth I was greatly influenced by two books, Hank Moorehouse's Words from the Wizard and Frances Marshal's The Happy Birthday Business. Your KISMIF! principle is a summary of what I took away from those two works. The 30 minute birthday party act fit in a suit case.
It was the routine in Marshall's book which led me to try 20th century silks as it is used to make the birthday child the center of attention and has a personalized message aspect similar to Dukes Dye Version. But it didn't quite 'hit' for me. It is interesting to note the number of great turn-of-the-last-century magicians who included a version of this in their act. For example, in Programmes of Famous Magicians https://archive.org/details/ProgrammesOfFamousMagicians we have: Durbin Frazee Mulholland Okito Rosini Ransom Tarbell Wouldnt it be wonderful if we knew all their routines? |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hello "dere" (Upper Peninsula of Michigan "dialect"!:)
I would imagine that the performers you mention would have done a fairly standard presentation of Frank Ducrot's "invention"! I didn't write a detailed presentation of my 20C, as it's "in the book"! I keep a stock of books and dvds here. I'll PM you with address, etc. I'm pleased that you like my limited description of my 20C. It's ultra simple! (KISMIF!) I helped Hank, when he was starting out as a professional. Frances and Jay were my dear friends for years. I think that Charlie Miller and I were "tied" for our stays in "the Suite"! Four years is "long enough" to qualify as a "retired" pro! I'll PM you in a day or two.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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RMV New user 69 Posts |
I have never purchased a version of 20th century silk, but have been performing the Tarbell version for almost 40 years. I especially like producing the silks out of a spectators magic hat.
The other silk trick I have enjoyed is a blendo from Manfred Thumm. His silks have been used hundreds of times and still look like new. |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hello "R" I hope you don't mind that I just used your first name! (We're quite casual here) hee hee
I gotta clarify something! I didn't purchase a version of the 20th C. Silk! I had started doing a version of the 20th C, in late 1946. I had already read my way through five volumes of TARBELL.) I stopped using using Percy Abbott's "Yellow Joe" version as it was too hokey. (Even at 15, I realized that!) For several years I considered doing it with a different presentation, Finally, I thought that I had a good idea. I purchased from my friend Harold Rice, the PROPS (four silks) for the 20th C. l tried out my "new" routine that fall, and, it was successful. By season's end, I moved it to "next to closing'. It was THAT strong! The late Harold Taylor passed along the "English method", and, I made that change in my routine. I have since bought from Harold two or three more sets of silks, to replace worn out silks.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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RMV New user 69 Posts |
Hi D! First names good with me. ;-). There are really only two Tarbell tricks I consistently used; 20th century and illusive silk. I normally run them together. Illusive first. Have to admit that I don’t know the English method. The closest I had to replacing my silks was when using a duck pan that caught my table on fire. Live and learn.
Wish that I performed enough to wear out the silks! |
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FrankFindley Inner circle 1028 Posts |
Interestingly, according to Programmes of Famous Magicians Tarbell used the Douglas version in his act. This is listed in the Tarbell Course volume 2 as 'The Elusive Rainbow'. He calls it "one of the best that has appeared to date." Guess he put his silks where his mouth was.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hello (again) R! I think that you mean Elusive Silk (vanish) Burling Hull is generally credited with the "decoy" silk scrap in the "TT". (In "those days", TTs were metal, and, mostly about an inch long. --A TT wouldn't hold even a 12" s*lk). I use the Hull Elusive for the 20C, too. (Watch the 20C on YOO TOOB! Darn near everyone of the "demonstrations" (certainly not performances!) uses a red velvet bag on a stick to vanish an 18" silk. (YUK!)
I'll PM you and try to give you the 'work' on the "English" method. It has been "around". but, is seldom seen (at least by ME! It's just a way of utilizing (I like THAT word) an ordinary silk, not a silk, gaffed for the 20C. I have owned, perhaps a half dozen different duck and/or dove pans in the past 60 years (bought at estate sales) and never have used one in my show! heehee On school tours, I would average 13 programs per week, and, have done as many as 20 per week! Even with care, things like silks, get worn. I saved, for example, the old rainbow silks for use as decoys in the TT. (I'm an old Boy Scout--THRIFTY!)
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hi Frank!
I can only remember seeing the Douglas version of the 20th C, performed ONCE, by Clem Magrum, in his retirement years. He had trimmed his school show, from 10 pieces of luggage, to one suitcase! (You'll read about that in my book!) It's a pretty effect, and he did it well, but, I don't care for "mouth magic"! Tarbell is still, and probably always will be, THE "course". Doc "gave" me the PRINCIPLES! The PRESENTATIONS, of course, need "up dating"!!! --But, the principles are the important thing!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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RMV New user 69 Posts |
Thanks Dick. The first magician I ever saw was in second grade at school. 1969. You never know, it could have been you! I begged for a magic kit after that.
I think you are right about elusive over illusive. I should go back to my book and make sure I know. I always try to be able to credit everything I perform. I used the pan one time and it was a disaster. Thought long and hard and realized I didn’t want fire to be in the back of my head while performing. So, changed out to a bottle appearance with a silk fountain finish. Btw, Eagle Scout here. Most of my performances have been for Scout groups. |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
If you want a good finale bottle production, check out James Rainho's lecture notes on bottles and glass productions.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
1969~~~Where (what town, and what school? I haven't kept detailed records of all the years, but, it would be fun to check this out!
I'm kinda busy this week, but, I WILL try to fill you in on the English "method" as soon as I find a free minute! You may never use it, but, the more that you know about a trick that you do, the more you will be able to handle any situation. (Be Prepared!)
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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RMV New user 69 Posts |
East Elementary, Mountain Home, Idaho
Thanks Bill, will take a look. |
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alan1954 New user 43 Posts |
Steven Hart sells a beautiful set of 21st Century Silks that are specially gimmicked so the appearing silk cannot show up while you tie the two silks together. Very handy! Also, this entire effect plays very well with the use of a puppet for kids. Adults love it, too!
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tgplano Special user Ted Gillam 614 Posts |
Where can you buy 21st Century Silks by Steven Hart?
Mentalism for the Metroplex
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
In 40+ seasons doing a minimum of 13 programs per week, and, often 16 -17 programs, I've NEVER had a problem with the "rainbow" silk "arriving too soon!!! --And, I often use the ENGLISH method of loading the rainbow in an ungaffed silk.
T. Francis Fritz (David Ducrot's birth name) never needed more than the standard load silk. His METHOD, and EFFECT has "survived" for a hundred years. I'll continue to "struggle" with the the "tried and true". (Keep it SIMPLE...Make it FUN!)
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
We still have some of the pro model 20th Century silks. These are for the pros, not most magic shops. (DoveLite silks are no longer available in USA magic dealers. They are available direct.) They are really 18" and can bee shown square. Rarely do I do a show without 20th century silks and typically combine it with Silk to Egg. It give me a clean vanish of an 18" silk and carries out the routine to a logical ending.
There are good reasons why they are used by the pros around the world. Bob Sanders Amazedwiz@yahoo.com |
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55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Bob,
I currently perform Silk2Egg (using your silks and eggs) and have been thinking about adding either 20th Century or Sympathetic as a leadin. Would love your thoughts on either of these, either here, via PM, or even over the phone! Merry Christmas! Hudson |
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