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Bob G Inner circle 3003 Posts |
Hi folks,
It's on my list to learn the Benson Bowl routine. Can anyone suggest what characteristics the bowl should have? (I haven't seen details in the sources I've read.) I'd prefer not to spend the money for a professional bowl; rather, I plan to browse our local Asian store (and our cupboards at home). I'm open to whatever advice people want to give, but here are some questions; I'll be using 1.5 inch sponge balls. 1. Does it matter if the bottom of the bowl is flat? -- or isn't flat but has a flange to hold it upright? 2. Roughly how tall should the bowl be, and of what diameter its mouth? 3. About how heavy should it be? Thanks for your help! Bob |
David Todd Inner circle 2526 Posts |
In Bruce Elliott's "Classic Secrets of Magic" (where I first encountered the Benson Bowl routine) not much detail is given about the bowl, it's weight, or whether it has a flat bottom or a flange. "A low flat metal cup of some kind. Brass bowls made in the Orient are pleasant looking, and if of the shape shown will serve nicely."
In Levent's outstanding book "Roy Benson by Starlight" he writes: "Just about any small bowl can be used, and Benson used quite a few different ones over a thirty-year period. What’s important to remember is that n addition to being a performing artist, Benson was a visual artist. He was an inspired photographer, so the visual esthetics of magic props mattered a great deal to him. The shape, size, color, and texture of his equipment were all elements he really thought about, and nothing about his act was random. We should thus examine the various kinds of bowls Benson used. The first was a small brass bowl of the style commonly sold in Asian gift shops. Benson purchased many of them over the year. These bowls are generally inexpensive, durable, and attractive, but their main benefit is the resonant sound they make when hit by the wand. The second kind of bowl Benson used was a ceramic rice bowl from the Al Baker Rice Bowls trick. Today, you can purchase bowls like Baker’s at any large kitchenware store or Asian gift store for just a few dollars. Because Benson followed his Bowl Routine with his version of the Rice Bowls, I have decided to use a white ceramic rice bowl in the photographs for this chapter. The third kind of bowl Benson used is now owned by Doug Edwards, who has kindly photographed the stick, balls, and bowl for this book. The bowl is light brown and has an interesting texture because Benson made it himself with celastic, a canvas-like fabric impregnated with plastic. Benson shaped his celastic bowl like an oversized version of a cup from an East Indian Cups and Balls set." Levent also writes: "I want to remind you that this trick can be performed in a truly impromptu fashion. You can simply borrow a cereal bowl, remove the white cardboard tube from a dry-cleaning coat hanger to serve as your wand (as suggested in chapter 25 on the Ring on Stick), and roll a few paper tissues into balls. If the tissues are white, you will get the additional benefit of camouflage due to the white wand." With these guidelines and examples in mind , I think in the end you should try out a few different bowls and see what bowl suits you, what feels right when you perform it. |
Julie Inner circle 3940 Posts |
I remember Ireland's selling a smaller set (in addition to the "regular" size) so as to accomodate a hockey puck final load ala Don Alan).
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David Todd Inner circle 2526 Posts |
In the Benson book, Levent also mentions a smaller, portable ("pocket") version of the Benson Bowl that Fred Kaps worked out , which uses a camera lens hood as the bowl.
"Kaps devised a clever way to make a Benson-style bowl that folds flat and can be carried in your pocket. At a camera store, purchase a large folding rubber lens hood, along with its matching screw-on lens cap. With the lens cap in place on the end of the lens hood, you have a perfect little bowl for Benson’s routine. Use a 77-millimeter lens hood and cap that can be easily compacted flat for travel. Kaps used small sponge balls for the routine." (and if you are interested in reading Kaps’routine for the trick, see the October 1955 issue of The Gen). |
pabloinus Inner circle 1685 Posts |
I believe that a bowl with a foot or stand at the bottom will be more helpful to handle.
John mendoza's bowl has a stand |
Bob G Inner circle 3003 Posts |
David, Julie, and Pablonious,
Thanks for your help. David, special thanks for going to the trouble to compile all that info and photos! It sounds like my best bet is, as you say, to try different bowls and see what feels comfortable to me. I found the issue of the Gen on Lybrary. I like the idea of using a chopstick instead of a wand -- small and portable is good. Since I've done only card magic so far, I'm going to learn the simplest handling I can find. So far I haven't found Roy Benson by Starlight. Julie, this may be tricky if you have to rely on memory, but I'm wondering how big Ireland's "small" set is? Thanks, Pablonious, for the suggestion of using a bowl with a foot or stand (what I called a flange). Bob |
Levi Bennett Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Great information. Thanks for sharing.
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