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Avrakdavra Loyal user The Pine Tree State, USA 224 Posts |
I believe the spirit tie can also be found in Fulves' book on rope magic (Dover Books).
I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but another flashy presentation is, of course, Copperfield's Barclay House routine, which can be seen on his illusions CD. In addition to the standard effects, it features appearing entities, explosions, fire, ghosts flying out into the audience, and the vanish of three volunteers from the cabinet. (But I bet it doesn't pack up quite so easily as the Hocus Pocus model!) Also, thanks Mr. Murphy for the tip on the alternate spirit tie. |
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cheesewrestler Inner circle Chicago 1157 Posts |
The real secret, whichever version of this effect you do, is rehearsal. Everything has to go like clockwork, but faster.
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
Oh..BTW
Go to Hocus Pocus .com and download the clip for yourself and time how long the routine runs.... .....you can see my point for yourself. In the Calvert version as shown, it is all about making someone from the audience look like an idiot. Not my way of performing. |
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magictim Veteran user Lake Charles, LA 396 Posts |
Wow....I was part of the spirit cabinet routine last night at John Calvert's lecture. I, along with John's wife Tammy, lifted up the "cabinet" curtain around John and a member of the audience. I was right next to them separated by a piece of cloth and had no idea what was going on or what was going to happen. When the curtain dropped the guys shirt & shoes were missing. I was in a state of shock. He explains the whole thing and how to consruct one. I asked how the "spirits" took the shirt...big mistake.....the spirits showed it to me in front of everyone. I had no will power....lol.
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
OK, I finally got around to downloading and viewing the clip. That is not a stellar performance. Frankly it is not the performance that I actually saw John Calvert perform.
Watching the clip I noticed the audience member was a stooge. No audience member reacts in that manner (takes his shirt and undershirt off then later grabs them and runs off stage covering himself) unless well rehearsed. Further, he had two assistants tying him up. In the performance I saw him do (and in every performance that I have ever seen by other performers), audience members were used to execute the tie and to hold the cabinet. The real strength of the tie is to have audience members do the tie. This is the convincer that all is fair. The performance on the clip is almost a throwaway. It looks as if it were something put together for a magic convention. Honestly, that particular performance clip would not encourage me to spend $500.00. Lucky for me I have seen Mr. Calvert’s presentation a couple of times (over two decades ago) and know what a strong piece it can be.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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the Sponge Inner circle Atlanta 2771 Posts |
Quote:
Watching the clip I noticed the audience member was a stooge. No audience member reacts in that manner (takes his shirt and undershirt off then later grabs them and runs off stage covering himself) unless well rehearsed. I haven't seen the clip, but by the description that you wrote, that is pretty much what happened except he did let us tie him up. I was not rehearsed at all, but my t-shirt and shoes flew over the curtain and I did run offstage covering myself. (I am a good sport though) s |
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
There is a one-person method, but it is not a simple affair. Billy Riggs, motivational magician from Texas, performed his one person method at the National Speakers Association Foundation fundraiser two years ago and I assisted in the presentation.
His routine is similar to those described above, but instead of a free standing curtained cabinet Billy used a curtain like one would use on a Substitution trunk illusion. The curtain was quickly raised and lowered to the floor at the appropriate times. Billy uses two volunteers from the audience recruited and rehearsed for about 30 minutes before the show to raise and lower the curtain. I was one of the volunteers. Billy gave very clear instructions from inside the curtain when to raise and lower it. The volunteers have no clue how he does the effect (unless they are magicians). Of course, he runs the risk of the volunteers missing a cue, but that's what the rehearsal was for. Billy has made this a one-person effect as much as possible and the routine was one of his best at the show. If you are interested, it might be available on video. PM me if interested. |
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
Harry,
You now see my point. The clip is the routine the person gets with the sale..... |
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rtgreen Inner circle Portland, Oregon 1322 Posts |
A few years ago I made a very workable spirit cabinet out of pvc and cloth shower curtains. It looked great and broke down into a packet smaller than a laundry basket. I learned the tie from Tarbell and the effect played very well. $500 is a bit much in my opinion. With a little thought, its not difficult to write up a good routine and the equipment is dirt cheap.
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
Mark, I finally see your point exactly and totally agree with you. Sponge, I am glad to hear that Mr. Calvert’s routine is more the case of an “instant” stooge than the use of an actual trained assistant.
Jim, the Billy Riggs routine sounds great. It also sounds like he has the brass to pull it off. I would love to see him perform it. RT, my present cabinet is very similar to yours. It is common PVC pipe and connections to make the frame but I have used inexpensive Satin bed sheets (king size) for the drapes. This is a killer trick and can be a killer routine in the right hands. Posted: Aug 12, 2004 8:16pm ----------------------------------------------------- OK, I finally found the Abbott's routine after digging and digging through the boxes and boxes of stored stuff. The routine came to you printed on one sheet of paper, front and back. It has one drawn illustration (all you need frankly). The props you got/get with the page of instructions are, one bell, one tambourine, two cloth bags for one of the effects, and two cloth tapes (ribbon)for the tie. That's it. You provide a deck of cards, a handkerchief (you will probably have to provide two since men don't carry handkerchiefs anymore), a slate (or a big pad of paper), a piece of chalk (or Sharpie), and a yardstick or cane. Plus you have to obtain or build a screen or cabinet (not at all discussed in the instructions). It cost $18.00 when I got it and I checked, it is still for sale, you still get pretty much the same stuff and it costs $30.00. Not a bad deal then and not a bad deal now! Mark has pretty much summed up the act as written. Each stunt is given the simplest explanation but that is typical Abbott's from years ago (and in truth typical of most instructions 20, 30 or more years ago). If you are interested in framing and presenting such a routine then I recomend that you get this little page of instructions.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Just watched John Calvert at 93 years of age lecture and perform this at Fort Smith, AK. It is simplicity itself.
The key to acting is the acting ability of the performer and cueing the assistant.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Michael Taggert Special user Fredericksburg Virginia 656 Posts |
I, like Geoffe, was watching John perform this routine when he lectured and performed in DC. I have also known several performers who likewise performed this in their shows over the years. Remember this is a very old bit that is well documented. Don't get hung up on BUYING the routine; it is out there for you to get. As for the purchase price is for the props and such such, I echo Harry's thoughts that they are available for next to nothing.
With a little work and creativity this is a simple but powerful routine. I have seen roll-on curtains and hand-held curtains. The comedy is the best part. The length of the routine is up to the performer. How many of us have spent thousands for a few seconds of an illusion? I have this one and it is worth the money but it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to build it yourself nicely. Also I find that John and Tammy are very open to discussion and help with the routines they are teaching in their lecture. Simply drop them an email at johnandtammycalvert@juno.com It may take them a few days to answer but they will write back when they get a chance. I am currently using his "Casper" routine and John has been a big help with the routine. |
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dsilverfield Special user 752 Posts |
Hi guys. The guy who started this thread is back again.
Just wanted to know if the rope tie used is called "The Jacoby Tie" or can this tie also be used as Harry Murphy describes in an earlier post? |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I believe it is called the Foxy Rope tie in one of Karrell's books.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
A year ago the Queen City Mystics put on a Ghost Show at a local theatre, and the acts scheduled to appear were mostly of the carny 'torture king' variety.
"A Ghost Show WITHOUT GHOSTS?" I thought, "horrors!" I had already pledged to do mentalism, but asked if Bill Brewe still had an old cabinet stashed away for doing a spirit cabinet routine. He did, and I, being an old hand at spirit ties, began gathering the essential props: tambourine, Native American dance bells, rubber skull, dry marker board, chain and padlock, lighted skull mask converted into a one-handed 'puppet,' etc. After three rehearsals and much experimentation, the routine was ready. After my mentalist effects, I introduced the cabinet and was tied to the chair inside, going into my trance. The pandemonium started. The tambourine and bells played, peeked over the cabinet top and were tossed about; a sealed and marked padlock mysteriously separated from a marked chain and was found locked through a hole in the leather strap of the dance bells, the seals and marks intact; foam plates flew out of the cabinet like UFOs and the rubber skull hurtled over the top; a 7-foot 'phantom' peered over the top of the cabinet, and a spirit message appeared on the marker board ["Get Out!"]. The chaos ended when the MC placed scissors in the cabinet, and the 'poltergeists' cut the ropes binding me. As I came out of my 'trance,' I commented on what a mess the spirits made. It was a fun evening. Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
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Johnny_Dee Loyal user 225 Posts |
Personally, I agree that the price of the illusion is a little bit expensive for what you get. I admit that you receive a routine very well made which has been tested a number of years in front of live audiences, but you can build your own routine by reading the Tarbell book or buying the Falkenstein and Willard video. Then, to do the cabinet I would advise you to build it by yourself using the same principle that Andrew Mayne used to construct his shadow illusion. That packs really small. After you have to think of the routine itself, use your creativity to build something that will fit with your style. It is probably the hardest part but it is the most important because you want to convince your audience of what you are doing.
So my thought is to build it by yourself (for less than 100 bucks), find a good routine, and save your 400 bucks for something else. Johnny P.S. Don't get me wrong, I think that the Calvert cabinet is a great routine but it is not necessary to buy it to do the same kind of effect. |
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Steveo New user Shreveport, Louisiana 25 Posts |
About a month ago John Calvert came to my IBM (Internation Brotherhood of Magicians) ring and performed/lecture. While Calvert was performing, he performed his method of the Spirit Cabinet. I thought it was brilliant. It was a very inexpensive setup. It was unbelievable. He was amazing how he performed it. He had an audience member step into the cabinet (curtain drapes), and when the curtain was pulled up a lot of thing started flying out of the cabinet. When it was lowered, the audience member had his shirt, shoes, and socks completely off, sitting there with a lamp shade on his head. It was amazing. My really good friend (Tim Pardue) asked the question how to get the audience member's shirt off. I think that Tim then realized that all questions have a time to be asked, and then was not the time to ask that question; in front of everyone Mr. Calvert had him take his shirt off.
There are so many different possibilities to this illusion. Tim and I are preparing to use this illusion in our routine. So that is proof that this has many possibilities. Give me some news on how everything goes. Good luck with it.
"Just Enjoy The Art You Are Witnessing; Don't Destroy It."
-Steveo |
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boboshempy Veteran user Jersey 373 Posts |
Is John Calvert's Spirit Cabinet still for sale? If so where can you find it? Are there any good video clips of John in action online, I would like to see it? I have already seen Copperfield do it on his DVD, it was good but the assistants could have acted a little more natural.
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RSD Special user Toronto, Ontario 534 Posts |
I just recently learned the move that is used for the Spirit Tie. I got it from the Tarbell Course in Magic. Is this the same tie that DC uses in Barclay House? I have watched that Illusion dozens of times in slow motion and I still cant see DC do the move. I watch the rope's ends and they do appear to be on the correct side to prove he's tied securely. What method is he using? Or does he just do it so well I miss it? Inquiring minds want to know!
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Steveo New user Shreveport, Louisiana 25 Posts |
Hey RSD. DC does use the same spirit tie that you read about. It is the exact same one. When I do the Spirit Tie, sometimes I have to check to make sure I did it right because it even fools me when I'm performing it. It is such a deceptive illusion. But you answer your question you can do the exact same tie as you read and you can do almost anything you can do with your hands untied. Good Luck with this illusion. Get back to me on your improvments.
"Just Enjoy The Art You Are Witnessing; Don't Destroy It."
-Steveo |
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