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Dave Dorsett
Veteran user
Illinois
327 Posts
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Posted: Sep 10, 2004 6:11pm
OK, to perform due diligence, I would like to solicit background on the Bill in Light Bulb and Milk in Light Bulb effects.
In the early '90's, Marvyn Roy granted me exclusive rights to produce The Bill in Bulb. After several years of production I chose to stop building for a period of time. I am now considering re-entry into the field in a limited way and have contacted Marvyn to confirm that I am indeed still the only manufacturer with his permission and input to build this effect.
He also said that Owen was granted permission to do Milk in Bulb, a similar piece using nearly the same props.
During the time I was on hiatus I became aware of a couple of different "Bill and/or Milk in Bulbs" produced and marketed, which is neither here nor there as far as I'm concerned. My question is, does anybody have any alternate versions of the genesis of these two effects? To the best of my knowledge, they were created by Marvyn Roy and, while widely copied, his is the only permission I need to worry about. Anybody else have another story I need to look into?
DWD
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6550 Posts
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Posted: Sep 11, 2004 11:08am
I would refer back to the German trick of Canary in Light Bulb. I know Horace Marshall imported and later made these in the 1920's.
The U.F. Grant version of milk in the light bulb was different than Marvin's version as the light was reflected. I also have seen a version made by John Daniels (when he owned Owen's) that looked like a regular lamp but the extra bulb was spring loaded down inside the lamp and moved upward for the reappearance.
I do not know of any other version of bill in the lightbulb per say. I would market it as the only authorized version with Marvin's routine.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com
email-hugmagic@raex.com
Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's.
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Pete Biro
V.I.P.
17759 Posts
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Posted: Sep 13, 2004 12:49pm
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS TRICK?
Nobody ACTS properly. I have yet to see anyone, including my dear friend Marvyn Roy... when they grab the LIGHT BULB, that has been lit, act like the bulb is HOT... HOT HOT -- what do you do when you grab a real light bulb that is hot.
Think about that action.
Believe me this will sell sell sell the effect.
STAY TOONED... @ www.petebiro.com
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Dave Dorsett
Veteran user
Illinois
327 Posts
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Posted: Sep 13, 2004 11:43pm
I'm with you, Pete! As a matter of fact, when I went back to the instructions I used to send out with this effect in the early '90's, I mentioned that as well. Maybe coming from you it will help seal the deal!
DWD
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sethb
Inner circle
The Jersey Shore
2619 Posts
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Posted: Sep 14, 2004 8:11am
As usual, Pete, you have hit the nail on the head.
Many of us (present company included!) often get so fascinated with the working of our tricks that we fail to see the effect from the audience's point of view. We don't stop to consider how to "sell" the trick, which is probably just as important as how the trick is accomplished, if not more so.
As we know, there have always been plenty of magicians with so-so technical skills but loads of charisma and stage presence. They are the ones the audience remembers. Don't neglect your classic palm, but don't neglect your audience, either!
Thanks Pete, for reminding us what our priorities should be, and sorry for the slight digression! SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC
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Harry Murphy
Staff
Maryland
4853 Posts
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Posted: Sep 14, 2004 11:06am
Ted Lessey has a very nice, technically simple (as is much of his stuff), Signed Bill to Light bulb trick out. You can find it on one of his recent DVD’s. By the way, Ted acts as if the bulb was hot.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6550 Posts
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Posted: Sep 14, 2004 10:18pm
Maybe the milk cools off the bulb?
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com
email-hugmagic@raex.com
Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's.
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Dave Dorsett
Veteran user
Illinois
327 Posts
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Posted: Sep 15, 2004 11:23am
Logically speaking, if a refrigerated liquid such as milk (approx. 38 degrees F) were instantaneously introduced into a hot light bulb (nearly 6,000 degrees F filament temp) the bulb would shatter instantly. Without divulging how I know, if you spray a hot bulb with water from a squirt gun it will break! That's one of the reasons I always preferred the bill in bulb (which, of course, would burst into flame on contact with the filament!) If we can't bend the rules of physics it's not really magic, is it?
But Pete's point stands- psychologically, the audience knows IF that light was on and IF they touched it, the bulb would be hot! No hot bulb, there's something fishy.
DWD
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David Charvet
Elite user
www.charvetmagic.com
462 Posts
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Posted: Sep 21, 2004 2:41am
Regarding "hot" light bulbs:
You may remember when Harry Blackstone Jr. removed the bulb from the lamp before making it float he touched it and pantomimed it was "hot." When he took the hand away (which had been holding the bulb)to rub his "hot" finger, the bulb floated for the first time. A beautiful and logical bit of business.
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hugmagic
Inner circle
6550 Posts
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Posted: Sep 21, 2004 11:40am
Of course, I said the milk cooled the bulb in jest.
And I do remember Harry always acting the light was hot.
But I still think people think if you can put the milk in the light bulb by magic, you probably can cool it off too. I think it is a good effect. Virgil did Canary in Light Bulb and it played well also.
I just think it is good effect that maybe we are worrying a little to much about the reality of the heat of the bulb.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com
email-hugmagic@raex.com
Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's.
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David Charvet
Elite user
www.charvetmagic.com
462 Posts
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Posted: Sep 22, 2004 3:47am
I used to perform the Canary In Lightbulb but after a few run-ins with well-meaning(?) "animal rights" types, I took it out of my act. Even though the live bird was never in harm's way, the breaking of the light bulb (supposedly to release the bird) did cause a few people to cringe.
In talking with Julie while writing the Virgil book she told me that they took the effect out of their show in the 1960's for the same reason.
Still, it's a GREAT effect - just times have changed.
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Lee Darrow
V.I.P.
Chicago, IL USA
3594 Posts
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Posted: Sep 23, 2004 10:54am
What's the matter - you guys never have warm milk at bed time? 
Maestro Biro's comments on the acting were dead on, in fact, the other night, I was watching the film "Our Man Flint" and in it, Flint unscrewed a light bulb to use the socket as a source for doing electrocardiac stimulation - and missed the idea that the bulb was hot... or maybe Our Man Flint really is tough!
Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
"Because NICE Matters!"
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Bill Hegbli
Eternal Order
Bill and Bill in Fort Wayne Indiana
12909 Posts
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Posted: Nov 5, 2004 6:50pm
In the 1964, I made my 1st car trip to Abbott's Magic in Colon. At that time they had and were selling the Milk in Lightbulb effect as Marvyn Roy performed. I always thought Roy just used the same Abbott principal, a large watt bulb screwed into a socket on a long electrical cord.
A few years later Abbott's made the Milk in Lightbulb, using a Lamp. I still have one today, as a matter of fact it was the last one they made.
They have always sold a Milk in Lightbulb that only used a bulb in a paper bag.
As far as the Bill in Bulb it may be a Roy idea. Just as someone had an idea for a Silk in Bulb to replace the milk theme.
Make Magic has made the Milk in Lighbulb for many years. The method is different then the Abbott's model, and I believe, not as good.
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
23786 Posts
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Posted: Nov 6, 2004 11:07pm
Quote:
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I just think it is good effect that maybe we are worrying a little to much about the reality of the heat of the bulb.
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It is the details that make these things magical.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC
My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups."
www.cupsandballsmuseum.com
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