Does anyone know where I can find info on a destroyed bill being found in a fortune cookie that was previously freely selected out of a bag of cookies?? The destruction part I've already worked out and I'll be using a c*****switch.

I know that I've heard of a similar trick by another magician but I can't remember who or where.

Thanks,

Howard

Try looking up ring in walnut

Jim Steinmeyer published a routine that captured the rare and ellusive triple object transposition in his (first I think) run of his "Conjuring" column in Magic. It was designed for standup or parlor magic, and in it, uncooked rice changed places with half a bill and a fortune cookie, I think. The half bill ended up inside the cookie.

My ring in selected fortune cookie was published in Dan Harlan's "Minotaur" long ago, I performed it and taught it at a convention here in Hawaii about a decade ago. Since then, Ken Noyle has performed his version of the ring effect on cruise ships from time to time.

I know Mike Ching performs the bill in cookie in his professional shows here in Hawaii, but I don't think the routine has seen print. It has been discussed and performed by others, elsewhere, but again, I can't recall seeing it in print.

Mike is a member here, and he posts mainly in the stage illusion section. You might see if he has any other info.

Thanks a lot for the information. I'll research in those areas.

Howard

The Conjuring Column was the best thing ever.
To be honest, it was the only thing in the magazine I paid any attention to.

Oh, wait. There was the monthy dose of the horrific photos of some magician with his "strange contourted face" in the ads.

Gee, what a great way to sell magic. *PUKE*

Ammar had a bill to shelled peanut where the spectator picked a peanut from a bag.
It'll take a whole afternoon with glue and patience but it's a great routine.

I don't know who he is, but he irritates the !#$%&* out of me too.

Some years ago I had a huge number of Fortune Cookies made with a prediction printed on the fortune... "You selected the Jack of Clubs."

I figured I'd make a stack of money with these at a convention.

Wound up eating most of them every day for lunch.

Dan Harlan has THE bill to fortune cookie effect. It is on his Premium Blend series, I think on the "Food Fun" DVD. Very much like Ammar's Bill to Nut. There is a recipe for fortune cookies on the DVD too!!!

Scott Compton

I was at the convention Curtis mentioned and still recall what a great response his ring in fortune cookie got. Especially when he smashed the non selected cookies. If you want to do an effect with fortune cookies you can't get any better than Curtis' routine.

Curtis, those were some great conventions you and Bailey put on. And great performers: Klause, Wonder, Jennings, Close, Darly, Colombini. It would sure be great if you would organize another one. I don't live in Hawaii anymore but I'd return for sure for another wonderworkers convention.

Re: Fortune Cookie

Mahalo for the mention Curtis.

Curtis and I used to hang out a lot growing up and went through a "Fortune Cookie Phase" when I was working on a Chinese Convention act. (The pic is me in makeup, I look more like Charlie Sheen after 100 miles of bad road).

All I wanted to do was come up with a bill in fortune cookie.

The final routine wich my act is based around involves several visceral "Rip & restores" of the borrowed bill, the audience member ripping his OWN bill in half (any value), a burned envelope vanish of the half bill, the bill found inside of a fortune cookie inside of a ziploc bag inside of a small chinese takeout pail inside of a medium chinese takeout pail inside of a larger Chinese takeout pail inside of a "Spongebob Squarepants" lunchbox. The "fortune" paper itself is read by the audience member and contains several shameless self-plugs. he goes back to his seat with two half-bills. For the encore, the borrowed bill is restored in the middle of the audience.

Routine is C. '85 & '05 (Will be released this year on DVD).

I discovered how to load the fortune cookie by trial and error, (100's of Fortune Cookies gave their lives). Curtis gave me some great initial tips, was also inspired by Darryls' lecture, and Rory Johnsons Bill work though had no knowledge of his methods. This started in the 80s', (years before the Steinmeyer article) and evolved by hammering away at it in real conditions over 20 years. Currently it is pretty much a slam-dunk, is LOADED with bits and went well at the 2004 WORLD MAGIC opening night.

PETE BIRO; I've always liked your MC work. Just a thought re your post: WHAT IF: during your act you had fortune cookies served to all attending with the instruction NOT TO OPEN THEM, (in sealed bags in tiny takeout pails) have a giant card selected and have all attending open their fortune cookies at once. Was that your plan or individual shows?

Nice meeting you all;

Magical Aloha;

MikeC