Back Stage by Mephisto-Huis

This effect was invented by Jack Hughes’ c. 1947 as The Lady Vanishes.  Jack based it upon an earlier similar effect with a glass he also invented called Back Stage Beaker Vanish c. 1946. Both of these effects have been widely copied over the years with the names often switched (as in the case of this Mephisto release).

Mephisto’s version is very similar to the Viking version but Viking’s is made a little better with a nicer paint job.

Effect: A miniature stage is shown to the audience; a stage floor with a drape and two colorful placards. A playing card is selected by a member of the audience to represent ‘the magician’. A jumbo duplicate of this selected card is displayed by the performer and used so that all may see ‘the magician’.

The ‘magician’ (playing card) is now dropped between the two boards and when they are removed, the ‘magician’ has vanished! Oh, oh! as the performer turns to put the stage away the spectators see the ‘magician’ hiding beneath the stage floor! Well, since the performer has been caught, he proceeds to explain the effect and repeats the moves, but this time shows the ‘magician’ dropping through the trap door.

“Now”, states the performer, ” if people should demand to look under the cloth, you really do have to perform magic!” Here he wisps the cloth away and the ‘magician’ card has really vanished this time, without a trace! Every inch of the stage, boards, curtain etc., is shown, yet the jumbo card is nowhere to be found.

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