Just noticed that Murphy's Magic Supplies just listed within the past hour, Wicker Man by Daniel Greenwolf.

This appears identical to Bruce Kalver's Okito Voodoo Doll.

Does anyone know anything about Wicker Man?

Sincerely,
Wayne Stevenson
The SpookClub

I'll be looking for this response.

The original Voodoo Doll was a Japanese import and based on the old pin in the pencil eraser thing. They stopped making the things which was a real shame as I could sell them about as fast as I could get them in stock.

The US version came out and it was ok. Not quite as elegant as the original, but those had disappeared off the market. Wicker Man actually looks like a very neat reworking of the theme.

Note that the idea has been around in magic for many, many years and has been down with pens, pencils, small wands, dolls, and on and on. Best,

I understood that the concept has been around. However, I was more-so questioning the origionality of doing it with a straw voodoo doll.

Anyone have an answer to that?

Sincerely,
Wayne Stevenson
The SpookClub

My basic point was that the Wicker Man IS in fact more original that the Kalver Voodoo doll as his is a direct idea copy of the Japanese original. But, let's be real, they are both basically the same thing as the Japanese Voodoo doll was a redo of a little plastic doll that was out a zillion years ago. It's one of those ideas that is in every basic magic book done with a pin in the pencil eraser. Best,

Gotcha. Thanks for your input on this.

Sincerely,
Wayne Stevenson
The SpookClub

I saw this topic so I felt it right to put in my two cents:

The Wicker Man is designed to be accessable to a larger audience. It is 8in. tall by about 3-4 inches wide. I used to love using the okito voodoo doll, but once I started playing Renaissance Faire crowds of 200 and more, the power of this great effect was lost.

So, I designed my Wicker Man for three reasons:

1. As I said above, to make this great effect from U.F. Grant accessible to a larger audience. Also, because of the sheer size the method becomes simply unfathomable by a spectator.

2. Durability for the professional. Any versions of the doll I had seen were just raffia or hay and string. I wanted an effect that wouldn't fray over time so I combined different gluing and sealing techniques to make sure it could go against a friggin' train wreck. I've used mine for 4 years and have yet to have a problem with it.

3. To put bizarre into the mainstream. Being a member of the Inner Circle of Bizarre Magick, the Magical Raconteurs, and other similar groups, etc. I wanted to be able to do bizarre magic for a larger range of audience without seeming hokey. I feel the Wicker Man helps that because even if kids don't understand the basic story I've written, they certainly understand the effect.

If anyone would like to talk on this, contact me on the Café or privately
And to see some pictures of it to get an idea of the size, check out my web site.

Are there any videos of the okito doll effect out there? Some sites say you can examine the doll and others say you can't. And some sites say that it rises slowly and then goes down again. I need to see it so I can make up my mind.

Anyone using the Wicker Man to compare it to Okito version?

I am curious if there are any problems with it suddenly falling.

Thanks

Candini

Note: The voodoo doll can be placed in their hand at the beginning of the routine but I wouldn't let them after.