Watched Bev's take on this and while OK, I think this sorta take on it is a bit more up to date and much more stealth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJLoZSt6eKM&feature=fvwp

Eric's is truly a ballet and looks very magical.

Eric, d**n he sure turns a tired old routine into a piece of sweet visual magic.

Eric's is nice but I still prefer having spectator hold on to the ends and bam their ring is on the wand stick etc.. Nothing better than that in my opinion. Mileage may vary for others of course.

Not for nothing but clearly you can see how in Eric's take on this where he could easily have spec's hold on to each end like in the old performances, he just didn't have anyone in the video with him to do that and so was just showing a few moves, as the video title speaks to. Personally I see no comparison as to the moves, the magician or the magic but you're right RS, mileage may vary.

Wow..., I'm surprised that that video reemergered! LoL It's a good routine, and I have reversed engineered it. But I haven't got around performing it for anyone.

Another Ring on Stick that I don’t think was mentioned here is R. Paul Wilson's "The One True Ring", which uses a one-piece street wand and an Ellis Ring. Three quick phases: On, off, and finally on again while specs hold the ends of the wand. Flows nicely and looks magical.

http://www.rpaulwilson.com/videos.htm

Thanks!

Jim

Tommy Wonder has a beautiful sequence written up in one of the Books of Wonder.

Yes, I agree R. Paul Wilson's "one True Ring" routine looks good, it will take some work to master it, but it would make a nice addition to any Ring on Stick routine using an Ellis Ring. It would be an easy matter to segway to a spectator's finger ring, and finish with the Classic handling mentioned previously.

I did not notice a ring on wand trick in the Wonder Books, do you have a volume and page number.

Sorry, I no longer own these books and have forgot which one it's in. Basically this is a move -one sequence- which contains some off beat deceptions... a sequence you could add to any existing routine... very Tommy Wonder and very cool

The Books of Wonder Volume II, pages 64 through 68. The chapter is called " "Clear Through".

Tommy Wonder/Jos Bema teaches "one original method for achieving this effect (Ring penetrating a stick)". He notes that single sequence is probably not substantial enough to stand alone but could be incorporated in a longer routine.

Thanks for following up, Harry. It's a terrific move

As was mentioned in a previous posting, I learned the Ring on Wand in the early 1960's from a Johnny Platt lecture. I feel that it is one of the strongest routines that I do. I do not know anything about the other methods, but Johnny's routine flows smoothly along with no awkward moves. I use a heavy gold ring of my own that I always wear. The spectator examines it to make sure it is OK. I find the weight to be perfect for the trick. It makes a great climax to see that shiny ring spinning on the wand.

If I am doing a kids show, I use this as an encore bit with an adult as my helper. It never fails to get a great reaction.

Sol Stone

To me R Paul Wilson is by far the most visual routine. It's not any shorter than other routines and its performance in full view (not even screened by the hand) is really astounding.

Now, apart from Michael Weber, who can be seen on his Greater Magic Video Library performing this Tom Sellers effect that he unearthed for us, Daryl has a version with a stick and a rope, Sol Stone in his DVD has another sleight of hand version...

With a little work, one could combine the script suggested by Ron Bauer and R Paul Wilson technique for a really entertaining routine.

The video clips of Paul R Wilson's and Eric Jones's take on the ring on stick are really excellent. Paul and Eric have both created terrific close up routines for the ring and stick.

They certainly do away with the issues and weaknesses that I earlier identified and completely change the feel of the effect. Making it a one man effect, with no assisting spectators involved, gives a reason and rationale for continuously holding onto the stick. This greatly adds to the effectiveness of the magic as all the handling becomes completely naturally motivated.

These two routines have the feel of the now rarely seen, slightly old fashioned Jardine Ellis ring routines that I enjoyed seeing members at my local club perform when I was a young lad.

They're great pieces of magic but they are very different in nature to the stand up cabaret style ring on stick effect.

Introducing spectators into these close up routines would change the requirements of the handling ( I'm not suggesting Paul or Eric's routines ought to, should or need spectators actively involved... I'm just pointing out that the inclusion of spectators completely changes the handling requirements) and the same problems of having the spectators holding while you also hold the stick would have to be addressed.

In an earlier post someone wrote about my stated dislike for the weakness in this effect saying. " Some prefer to work on over coming the weak point, but if you chose not accept that explanation, that is okay..."

I'm happy that some are working to overcome the weaknesses of otherwise excellent effects... it wasn't that I didn't accept that people were working to over come the weak points it's that no suggestions had been offered that addressed and solved the issue of the weakness that I disliked. Of course Paul and Eric's versions do remove the weakness I disliked but they also change the look of the routine. That's not a criticism... their routines are fantastic... but they no longer play like a classic stand up ring on stick routine.

But... since I last posted on this thread I had the pleasure of seeing Michael Weber give a lecture during which he included his handling for the ring on stick. His routine has a spectator holding the ends of the stick and in an explanation of his routine he mentioned the same potential weak moment in the routine that I brought attention to in this thread. Fortunately though he had a very small and quite subtle bit of handling that instantly dealt with this weakness in such a way that the problem instantly disappeared.

I guess we aren't all lucky enough to have a brain that thinks in the clever way Michael Weber's does.

Sol Stone's 3 phase Ring on Stick routine can be found in The Essential Sol Stone. It utilizes a borrowed wedding band and a pen that can also be borrowed. You can also do Sol's routine with a wand that can be adjusted to half its size. The ring penetrates the pen, you pretend to remove it with a bar gag to add soome humor and relax the spectator's attention for the final penetration off the pen.

The late, great, Jim Ryan took the time to teach me his version of his ring to stick routine many, many years ago during a Houdini Club of Wisconsin convention in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Jim was a great guy and was loved by all and will be missed.

This weekend I made another stick (wand) to use with this routine and as a backup for my cups and balls.

Jim Ryan's routine is pretty hard to beat!

You can see more information abut the Jim Ryan routine here: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&forum=4

Sure... Vernon, Leipzig, Malini, Skinner, I'm sure they had it all wrong. As far as those modern, "extreme" ultra visual updates, they're fine I guess. I've played with them, but I have enough to worry about in the real world, don't need knacky moves to stress over in the trenches.

the other problem with these newer variations is you cannot borrow the ring and if you are not borrowing the ring you are losing 75% of the routine's impact. Once again like all things modern it becomes "look at me, how clever I am"

"The other problem with these newer variations is you cannot borrow the ring and if you are not borrowing the ring you are losing 75% of the routine's impact".

I agree completely.

The best version I ever saw was Dr. Giovanni during the late '60's' thru 70's on television shows like Mike Douglas, Steve Allen, Merv Griffin, etc. Dr. Giovanni would be introduced and come out borrow the drummers drum stick and then go into the audience and borrow a ring. He had several phases which were amazing and he never failed to amaze. If anyone would ever be able to find old videos of Dr. Giovanni performing his version this would truly be a lesson in misdirection, showmanship and extremely strong magic.