Heck the Computer Mouse Cord got me thinking. I might just cut me a small length and go into a friends office and do the Cut & Restored Mouse Cord using their scissors and there mouse.

Computer Mouse Cord is good or routines involving electrical cords ala Klamm Magic.

John

I agree that now days people see more mouse cords and fiber optic cables than ropes. But gosh it feel so nice to have a real rope in my hands. It is something physical that we all know has been around since almost dirt. I need to make a routine using electrical cable but know my love of ropes will always be strong.

If you are a guy that has grown up in the US and some of the other coutries that have Boy Scout troops or go camping, you will always use rope and will be familar with tying knots. So to answer the question, no.

I agree with Pete Biro on the Loftus rope, and also agree that rope magic will never be out of style.

Why will rope magic always be with us?

Every audience of every age, everywhere, in every country, "gets" that you're doing a magic trick with rope: No explanation needed....what could be a better "Universal" magic prop?

I think we are more in danger of newspaper magic becoming obsolete than rope magic. Seriously. With the advent of digital, I have read that a lot of newspapers in the U.S. are folding (I did NOT intend that as a pun!!)

And if our society goes "cashless", what will become of the thousands of effects that use paper currency and coins? (And the guys who make a living performing them?)

But rope magic? I think it's safe. Along with card magic. Probably the only safe place to run when the other forms of magic performance are memories.

And that's my take on it.

Doug
Little kids don't recognize a deck of cards.

Huh?

Doug
When I pull out a deck of cards at a bday party for 3 and 4 year olds they shout out "boring do something else" cards just don't compute for little ones.

Some kids equate the cards to flash cards or learning cards still used by some teachers. If you use card techniques with those cards, you will have their attention.

Now, if they don't recognize the regular cards, take 40 seconds to teach them. Ie; 52 cards with numbers and pictures all different with shapes like hearts and diamonds, and Kings and Queens. The story will hold their interest.

Personify the cards with a "cops and robbers" story or some other simple story. Get medieval cause kids still love good and evil and Kings queens and jokers and a pecking order of numbered cards.

Oh, I know that. I was just having trouble relating that post to the one that proceeded it as I had not mentioned kids.

The question was asked in 2006: Will Rope Magic Become Obsolete?

Here we are entering the tail end of 2025 (October 11, 2025 as I post) , nearly 20 years after the question was posed, but rope magic doesn't seem to have become obsolete. (on the other hand, Computer Mouse Cord magic hasn't been so lucky . Anyone still using a computer mouse with a cord? ... several posts in this topic from years ago suggested computer mouse cords as a substitute for the soon to be obsolete ropes ... I believe that earphone cord magic is also not flourishing ... but ropes are still being cut & restored, linked, stretched , etc.)

Happy to say that Baronian Trading company is still selling good quality cotton rope. https://www.baroniantrading.com/shop

In my recent gigs I've performed Professor's Nightmare, Cut and Restored Rope and even done "The Old Rope Trick" gag.

In my close up I perform ring and rope.

I've seen ads for electronic cord magic, but never seen the need for it. Rope is recognizable, visible from the stage and seems to me more "normal" than doing magic with electrical cords. I guess headphone cnr could have its place in close up, but headphone cords are pretty obsolete already with the advent of ear buds.

But I'm an old curmudgeon.

Likewise, I'm still doing a number of various rope routines today. Which routine(s) depends on venue and audience. I see ropes being around for a while. Maybe another 20 plus years.

Rope tricks will not go by the wayside, but it will become one of the most expensive trick in your show.
Ricky

Cut and restored charging cable works