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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Holy Mackerel... been offline awhile and stumbled in here to see one of the GREAT CUPS & BALLS threads of all time.
As the dude that spent the big bucks to make the Galli Galli cups, I can only say thanks to those of you (D. Hustle in particular) for your unsolicited comments. I probably have 100 different makes of cups in my humble collection, and in fact was involved in the design of the Johnson Cups as well. Also, if you are doing bar/close up, check out the Johnny Paul cups especially made to work with sponge balls. They pick up a 2-inch ball like a chop cup and the ball is released when you place the cup down "smartly"--you MUST get the Stevens Magic Video on Cups and Balls. Mike Rogers, on that video, shows a way of doing the final loads with the Jumbo Paul Fox Chick cups (1/8-inch smaller than the Galli's) WITHOUT using pockets or a pouch. Matter of fact, if money is no object, at the recent World Magic Seminar, Nick Ruggerio (formerly of Collector's Workshop) had on display a special table top made just for the Galli Cups to mechanically put in the final loads (elevators and star traps in table). Anyway, am OUT of the Copper Cups, have nickle plated ones left--order thru Stevens Magic. Stay tooned... p biro
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Carlos Hampton Veteran user 363 Posts |
Pete,
I am hoping that you will get more coppers in soon right? I am saving my Pennies. |
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Jeff Jay New user Scottsdale, Arizona 11 Posts |
Just for your information... A set of Phoenix Cups -SECONDS- sold yesterday on ebay for $122 plus shipping! Not even a first quality set. This is almost as much as a brand new set of Johnson Cups at auction. Hocus Pocus has the complete first quality set of Phoenix Cups with box and accessories for $100.
I spend way too much time on the internet! Jeff
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression!"
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Going back through the messages here I note that Andrew Wimhurst, from Down Under, also gave high marks to my Galli Galli cups.
A belated "THINKS MITE" -- and I do not hold you responsible for Kangaroo Jack (the movie).
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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ASW Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Criii-i-i-i-i-i-i-key!
Whenever I find myself gripping anything too tightly I just ask myself "How would Guy Hollingworth hold this?"
A magician on the Genii Forum "I would respect VIPs if they respect history." Hideo Kato |
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Gerald Veteran user Arkansas 325 Posts |
What a terrific discussion on the Cups & Balls from some experienced and very knowledgeable performers. Since this great classic has been a staple in my repertoire for more than forty years – the last thirty as a full time professional, I guess I should add my two cents worth.
I used the Paul Fox and Ross Bertram design cups for years until they became collector’s pieces. Come to think of it, maybe I’m becoming a collector’s item myself! I also used the Rings ‘N Things steel cups for a time. I just couldn’t see myself carting those valuable pieces around, so recently I have been using the Johnson cups for close-up table hopping venues and the Cellini cups for street/festival work. I used some large, beat up Bosco cups in the past for street/festival work, but I now really like the Cellini cups. They are heavy and will take the beating they get from street/festival work. I use balls about 1.25 inches in diameter - the cups nest perfectly. I do not use more than one ball at a time on top of a cup, so they work fine in that respect. The Cellini cups are large enough for most any load that you would want to carry around in your pouch or pockets. I have also used them in close-up table work. They may be a little large for that situation, but they still work just fine. They do wobble a little when nested, but that doesn’t really bother me. I think the Cellini cups are a good choice - they are just under $300 a set. I’m sure the Galli Galli, Gazzo & other cups discussed here are great. I just haven’t had experience with them. There are so many good choices! I hope this information helps. . .just one ol' geezer's opinions. All the best, Gerald |
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Gerald,
What type of 1 1/4 inch balls are you using and where did you get them? Also, what final loads to you like to use with the Cellini cups? Do you work from a pouch? Lastly, can the Cellini's hold an orange? Thanks for your imput! Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Gerald Veteran user Arkansas 325 Posts |
Jim-
Years ago, in a moment of insanity, I learned to make the crocheted balls. If you want to make your own, tell the ladies in one of the sewing/hobby shops what you are trying to do. They will be happy to help you select the right crochet hook & the yarn. They can also help you to learn the proper stitch. After you’ve made two or three sets, you begin to learn how to make the stitches uniform, smooth, tight and even. I’ve made balls using other methods, but I always got the best results with the crocheted balls. But believe me, there is a better way to spend your life than crocheting those balls. Eric Evans, a fellow Texan and great performer, makes a beautiful, unique set of balls from leather. They are indeed a work of art. You might want to check on those with some of the dealers. For final loads, I’ve used all kinds of weird things in the past, but these days, I use lemons, oranges, turnips or similar sized fruit. For me, bright yellow large lemons are best. I carry a set of tennis balls for the final loads when I don’t have time to find a super market. Sometimes you can find apples that are the right size. But I really prefer the lemons or oranges. Yes, I use a pouch of my own design and making. The Cellini cups are about 3 inches inside diameter at the mouth. They will easily hold an orange that is a little smaller than a regulation baseball. A baseball is just slightly too large to use with my set of Cellini cups. I hope this information helps! Your time pursuing perfection with this terrific classic is well spent. Warmest regards, Gerald |
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Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-01-27 12:14, JamesinLA wrote: James, I just got off the phone with Gazzo and he wanted me to tell you that he is using soccer balls that came from key chains. You can probably get them on line and you just cut the little plastic hoop off. He says they are the best things. He says Fooze balls are too hard. He also said the Galli-Galli cups are great for a worker. Best, Dan- "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Eh, what does Gazzo Know about cups!! ?? Heheheh...
Next thing you know he will produce a full size real socker ball from under his hat! Why not? I just got, via airmail from Sweden... a photo of Galli Galli himelf, with cups and baby chicks all over the table... also a lemon with a bill sticking out...(Publicity type photo, not an action shot). I think Cellini's bill in lemon looks more than promising... Galli Galli didn't mess around. He had an ungaffed envelope, and as he put the rolled bill in, he just poked a hole in envelope with his finger and palmed the bill. Reached in bag for a lemon and stuck it straight into it (pre cut). How easy is that?
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Ronnie Ramin Loyal user 233 Posts |
You can find large balls that work real well for the Cups and Balls at the hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot) they come on ceiling fan pull chains. They have basket balls, Baseballs, etc., ad nauseum.
Ronnie |
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RiserMagic Veteran user 361 Posts |
I finally have a couple minutes to join this thread. Carlos, I have not yet handled as set of the cups shown at:
http://www.cupsandballs.nl They do look nice Several of you were discussing table stands. If you do not need a wooden table for authenticity, a light weight keyboard stand is excellent for making a folding table stand. They run as cheap as $30 or so. Pete's Galli Galli Cups are an excellent street size. Cups any larger are very difficult to hold and use. I really like his Johnny Paul Cups. They look classy and are a nice size for close-up work. Even thou8gh Johhy Paul used sponge balls, they do not need to be done with sponge balls. Other balls work fine for some routines. With a little lead time. my "crochet mistress" can cover balls of about any size. And in a few weeks, we will be announcing our leather covered balls. Jim |
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Thank again, Gerald. I am doing some sewing for my props but I don't see any crochet work in my future. I admire you for making your own.
Thank you again, Dan. I can't say how great it is that you asked Gazzo for me! The fooze balls did turn out too hard. They're like rocks. I will look for the soccer keychains. I did find some 1.25 inch superballs that are printed with baseball and soccer ball patterns. If anyone is interested in them, let me know and I'll post the website. Just got them today. I believe the keychain balls that Gazzo uses are 1 3/8 inches, right? I think that's a good size. So far, a quick search has found some soccer keychains at 1.5 inches. Very close and sometimes they misquote the size a bit, but I will keep looking a bit more for the 1 3/8 inch size. Mars, thanks for the home depot tip. Someone actually suggested that and I did buy a set of the light pull leather baseballs. They are beautiful but perhaps a little big at 1.5 inches. Pete, saw them. Remember them, Pete? Jim Riser, please keep us updated on your leather balls. And those baseball sized cups. BTW, Dan, I am delighted with Pete's gali gali cups. They really are beautiful and I've gotten used to handling them. Now my old cups feel small, not the other way around. I've got a cool character I'm working on that is rather original and am putting the whole thing together, including my tray stand table per Danny's and others directions. I went ahead and make the tray stand as well as the table top. Used Poplar and stained it a dark color. Thanks for the continued help to everyone. Best, Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Gerald Veteran user Arkansas 325 Posts |
JamesinLA-
I don't blame you. You are a very wise fellow! I make them only when I must. Best wishes, Gerald |
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Carlos Hampton Veteran user 363 Posts |
James,
I agree with you about the balls from home depot. I got a set of the baseball set but they are to big for me. I found another balls in a key chain that you guys can acquire in this page and although they are not made as well as the one from home depot they have a perfect size (at least for my hand) you can find them here http://www.orientaltrading.com look under novelties, then key chains and them go to page 7 right top corner, the key chains come with a baseball bat. You can also find many other different balls. Regards, Carlos |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
If you check out the Stevens Magic video on the Cups and Balls, you will see Mike Rogers doing a routine with the Paul Fox Jumbo Chick Cups... (1/8-inch different in size from the Galli Galli cups)... that does not require a pouch.
He uses a table with a shelf on the back to hold the large load balls. I think with a little imagination and not too much work, you could make one up that HIDES the loads... perhaps with a cloth cover open at the back -- you put the cup down over it, the cloth gives way and you slide it back and the load squeezes out the rear. I'm going to put my thinking cap on and see what I can devise. ALSO... FIRST TIME ANNOUNCED... SOON (I HOPE) I WILL BE SELLING THE FOLLOWING ITEM. Brief Description of EFFECT seen by audience. Magician borrows 2 finger rings, drops into brandy snifter and starts to swirl... saying, "I will melt them down and they will become solidly linked"... keep swirling, let someone look into glass (RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSE) and suddenly... the rings are now ON THE STEM of the glass... and can be looked at RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSE. NO SWITCH OF GLASS, NO GOING UNDER THE TABLE... ALL IN PLAIN VIEW... You then take a small hammer to break the glass and return the rings. Rings are legitimately borrowed. DO NOT ASK WHEN....
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
I would just like to second Pete’s thoughts on Mr. Rogers’ routine. Mike Rogers was the real deal and that routine was Sooooo smooth. The loading was elegant and the final loads really seemed to come from nowhere.
There is a briefcase type table that would just work a treat for loading this way on the street. The top comes off the bottom and there is a screen that goes in between the top and bottom so that you can store props underneath. If you were to hang a pouch from the back of the table instead of around your waist it would be perfect. The only downside is one of the most interesting things I have noticed is that the people often think my loads come from the table even though I am wearing a big Gazzo size pouch. This being said I often lift the table top up with all the loads on it and show there is nothing under it but air. This gets a good reaction. It does baffle me that many people would much rather design a Rube Goldberg type device to have me load the balls in a mechanical way than to actually think they are coming from the bag around my waist. It is all about the construction of the routine I guess. I know I liked Mr. Rogers’ routine very much. Mike Rogers was also a very generous man and loved to help people out. I think he would have gotten a big kick out of our forum here. He and Mr. Biro were very active on the old Gemini BBS that Steven’s magic ran. I learned a lot of great stuff there. Mike Rogers’ book “The Complete Mike Rogers” was also a very good book filled with no nonsense straightforward magic. In my bartending days I used the gimmick for Mike’s coins through hand and the clip for the bunny routine gleened from this book nightly. Not to mention in my single days I ate quite a few Mike Roger’s famous tacos made from the recipe included in the book, soy sauce in a taco whodathunkit. I miss Mike, he was a real good guy and a fine magician. Best, Dan- "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
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KingStardog Inner circle 2134 Posts |
I think the shelf Idea is in Osborne's cups and balls booklet. The same one i'm pretty sure, has them hanging under the table on a thread ready to grab and load. In the end there is nothing under the table.
...think not that all wisdom is in your school. You may have studied other paths,but, it is important to remember that no matter who you are or where you come from, there is always more to learn.
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Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
That's nice, I like that idea.
"MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
I also noticed the different final load hiding places in Osborne's book as well as the section in Ammar's cups and balls book. I would like to use body loads however to be able to show the table is clean, per what Dan said above. Therefore...
Question: Ammar loads from his jacket pocket. I used to load from my jacket pocket. What's to keep me from loading from my jacket pocket if I'm working on the street? 1) Have to watch the angles because I probably will be surrounded. (Answer: so bring the cup right up to the top of the jacket pocket when I transfer the cup to the other hand in the same way Gazzo brings the cup right to the mouth of the pouch.) 2) You're not loading little racquet balls anymore, Jim. Those are gonna be big ole' oranges. (Answer: bigger jacket pockets, jacket pocket/toppit combo, load from both pockets instead of one to spread the load, and bring the cup to the pocket per above to ensure no flashes.) I would do 3 or 4 final loads of oranges this way. What do you guys think? Suggestions? Fesability debate? Thanks. Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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