|
|
Brad Lancaster Regular user 184 Posts |
Okay guys for the past 3 months I've been trying to develop a bizarre premise for an old magic effect that I recently re-discovered called Grid-Lock by Al Cohen. As much as I have tried, I've come up empty on a good presentation. Let me describe the effect.
A small padlock and a wedding band is handed to a spectator. He is instructed to lock the ring securely on the padlock and he retains the key. The lock and ring are placed on an open handkerchief. The corners are folded in covering the ring and lock. You say the magic words and the ring is now off and the lock is still closed! Any ideas would be welcomed. I feel this trick begs for a bizarre storytelling approach. Thanks! Brad |
YitzhakNoDice Special user Portland, Oregon 517 Posts |
I agree, it begs for a good story. What gender of wedding band is used? Is it a male or female ring?
What if, instead of a handkerchief, a swatch of a wedding dress were used? Or a shroud? Scrap of a Kittel (my own character bias showing through!)? Whatever is used, it imparts something to the story. The lock represents something, but it might not be the obvious (and it, hopefully, is a bit sinsiter). Figureative bondage?
A wise man's question contains half the answer. - Solomon ben Judah, Philosopher
|
Godzilla Inner circle Tied & Untied Witches on 5316 Posts |
Brad,at a quick thought,I can come up with a few reasons for the ring,wanting to be reunited with the owner.
Such as a love was taken to soon. The,spirit will not be at rest,until she has her ring. The ring,has to be with its true owner,and will not rest upon any finger,or object! etc... But,a logical reason to place the ring on a lock,alludes me! Now,if you are doing as a PK/TK...you could show your power of being able to open the lock,and remove the ring from it! ~G Add on: I was thinking about this,while writing...as, Yitzhak was posting! Yitzhak,has some wonderful advice,and would have not posted...
"If you watch Godzilla backwards, it's about a big ass lizard who helps rebuild a half burnt-down city, then moonwalks back into the ocean"
|
Brad Lancaster Regular user 184 Posts |
Wow! YitzhakNoDice, your ideas are fantastic. You gave me some great ideas to work with. Thanks so much!
Thank you Godzilla for your ideas. The use of the lock for some reason has got me stumped also, but it is an important part of the effect. Any other ideas are very welcomed! Brad |
Brynmore14 Inner circle The Séance Chamber 1815 Posts |
The lock was from a chastity belt and would not come off until after the wedding. An engagement ring was not enough, the actual wedding, symbolised by the wedding dress, was the only thing that could unlock the chastity belt.
A little laugh in the middle of some other serious effects, and a little sexy too. If you want spooky then make her the ghost bride |
GeoffreyD Loyal user Canberra, Australia 244 Posts |
What immediately came to mind was Harry Houdini (padlock) making a promise to his wife (wedding band).
What the promise entails and how it results in separating the padlock from the ring is up to you, however it could perhaps be a euphemism for separating his public life from his private life? |
Godzilla Inner circle Tied & Untied Witches on 5316 Posts |
After,thinking a bit about it.
Having the ring placed on the lock by spec.,could represent marriage/wedlock unity! Weave into the patter,how the two souls could not be as one! Unfaitfulness/Families/Religion,would not allow the marriage to be! Why,the ring has separated,from the lock! Or,symbolic for 'until death,do they part'. If you go Spooky,No...Living/Dead ,Vampire/Werewolf,etc... relationships!
"If you watch Godzilla backwards, it's about a big ass lizard who helps rebuild a half burnt-down city, then moonwalks back into the ocean"
|
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
The lovers were cheated by death and the relationship was cut short. However, after a year of pining the remaining lover sought help from a witch they had met at thr fair. The fortune telling witch gave a vial of liquid and all he/she had to do was to drink the potion and kiss the lovers dead lips. Payment was to be made later. The corpse was exhumed and, though the mouth was filled with magots, the lover placed a deep, passionate kiss upon the lips. The dead body slowly came to life and most of the body returned to normal after a few months. Through zombi magic had opened the lock to the prison of death and released the grief stricken lover. The payment? They were to give their first born child to the witch so, although freed from the prison of death the couple was still bound by a promise to another. The couple semi-lived happy ever after.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
|
KOTAH Inner circle 2289 Posts |
This may have been an arranged marriage rather than one of the heart. That yould have made the couple 'prisoners' in a way as symbolizes by the lock. Power driven families using their off spring as pawns, Chaining them to an unhappy union . The true love symbolized by the ring longing to be free.
Kotah |
YitzhakNoDice Special user Portland, Oregon 517 Posts |
Thanks for the positive comments; I'm glad the ideas are potentiall useful. I love Willie's story!
I was thinking the couple had been married when one was murdered. A long build-up in the story tells of their new love and devition. Someother props like pre-wedding photos, etc., can be introduced. The story diverges depending on the gender of the ring. If it were the wife, the lock represents the overbearingness of the husband who jealously guarded her. The story takes a turn as new marrige becomes routine. He's true violent and abusive nature is slowly revealed (by recalling several instances, each building him to be the monster that he is). Near the end, he would not let her leave the house, locked her in the basement, did the gas light treatment on her, etc., and how ever dark you want to go. Finally, the brother of the wife, with the wife's help, murders the husband, thereby freeing the wife (the ring) Now we're at the story's climax. At the funeral, the wife tears a corner of the burial shroud off (the handkerchief) as a reminder that she could live her live free. Everyday she took the swatch and the ring in her hand and gave thanks for her release. And this is how she felt...
A wise man's question contains half the answer. - Solomon ben Judah, Philosopher
|
Stephen Young Inner circle Thought Illusions 3933 Posts |
I was thinking a mourning handkerchief in black.
the husband (or wife) dies and the surviving patner vows to join the deceased by killing themselves, Their hearts were after all, locked together in death as in life. However the spirit of the deceased visits the survivor and says something like " I release you from your vows. I want to to live on. Embrace life. live it, not only to the full, but even more than that. Live it for me as well. I'll be waiting for you." Or if you want a less upbeat story (that was up beat?????) Maybe there's a way to tie it in with Till Death Do Us Part steve |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Thanks Yitzhak! Crap! Now I have to find a copy of the effect to do it....
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
|
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Without wishing to annoy anyone, I wish to offer a different perspective... I don't think bizarre always has to be dark, deathly or negative... and if the ring and padlock are specifically aged - then it'll fail on the "right side of realism" to make it work...
so the lock and ring are instead metaphors to work with...you can still tell a story with that, a positive one, an interesting one... here's a whole load of questions to answer/think about/ignore: what do these objects symbolise? how do they behave and are they similar to other "things"? so what does a wedding band symbolise apart from the obvious, its shape, its design...and what does a padlock do? what is it like? how does it behave and what else is similar to that? a padlock contains four numbers, and keeps things locked up or shut...a ring is endless and is a symbol of devotion... what do the numbers mean? does it have to be a year? can it be something else? why do you use these objects together? what is their relationship? that's how I see it anyway...
I've asked to be banned
|
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Quote:
On 2014-01-21 11:16, IAIN wrote: You are correct. It depends upon the venue. If my presentation doesn't have those things my cadavers get their anal plugs in an uproar. Don't ever want to go through that again.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
|
Tony Iacoviello Eternal Order 13151 Posts |
In the Arcana of Bizarre Magick, Jim Magus has a wonderful routine where a missing ring is discovered on a fingerbone burried in a shallow grave outside the home.
I've had the occasion to use this idea, and it is still talked about more,than a decade later. Tony |
RicHeka Inner circle 3999 Posts |
The happy couple are enjoying their honeymoon when the new husband suddenly and inexplicably is stricken with a high fever.He quickly lapses into a coma, and the wife is devastated by this unfortunate turn of events. She is now alone and afraid in a foreign land.
She anxiously imagines the various possible outcomes....will her beloved husband recover and awaken....will he remain in a coma....? or....will he God forbid die? A local woman observes the young ladys agonized state of mind, and after hearing her tragic tale, suggests that she visit a friend of hers...a gypsy fortuneteller. With nothing to lose, she goes to see the old woman. The old woman notices her wedding band and asks the young woman to remove it and lock it on 'this padlock' She does as requested,and the old gypsy woman places the padlock with enclosed ring on colorful handkerchief, and covers it by folding in the corners. The old woman explains...."there is only one way to predict the final outcome". As the young wife looks on, the gypsy removes a large old key from a pouch and lays the key across her palm. She explains: "if the key does not move, I am sorry but the ending will not be good" "if the key moves the outcome will be positive...your husband coma will end you dilemma will be unlocked". The key slowly turns on the gypsy's palm. The gypsy unfolds the corners of the handkercheif......smiles...and tells the new bride to retrieve her ring. |
Brad Lancaster Regular user 184 Posts |
You guys are totally awesome. You've got my head spinning with so many wonderful ideas. By the way I've had a few pm's on where this trick can be located. I honestly don't know. I bought it directly from Al Cohen many years ago.
As a trick on it's own it is definitely a real fooler no heavy moves and easy to execute. It comes with a small lock and and ring but can be substituted by any small lock and ring of your choice. I'm going to begin writing my presentation tonight. I can't promise when it will be finished, but when it is I'll share it with you fine gentlemen! Thanks so much!! Also any other creative input is more than welcomed. Brad |
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
An addition - if you had the ring in a ringbox, you could put a blank price sticker on the base of it - and sw**i on the same number as the padlock's 4digit number...
I've asked to be banned
|
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Looking forward to reading what you settle with.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre! » » Need presentation help!! (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |