This is a really great idea and it looks amazing. The prop is well made and really does pack small.
But for me the prop is just too loud for any sort of performance I would make. Please watch my video to hear how really loud this bear is!!!
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What a very clean and impressive effect by Hathaway. The Abbott’s version is quite different and a lot larger than the Haenchen version here.
I do really like this effect but it has one major problem – every time you perform this you need to destroy the handkerchief. This is not a problem if you can get them cheaply but when I worked with this I needed a 17″ handkerchief to cover the space, and those are harder to find. In addition the handkerchiefs that work best are silk not cotton – cotton can get too bulky.
Also, of course, if you use silk handkerchiefs good luck borrowing one from a spectator. I think these days you can rarely assume someone has a white handkerchief readily available anyway. So I would not even attempt to borrow the hanky. So now you just need to find cheap silks for repeat performances, which I think is possible. For my tests I was paying $15 per silk so I could not do many live tests.
But I think if you use the correct handkerchief’s this is quite an amazing illusion. But it takes work, sourcing, and practice to get it right.
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The idea of The Chicken Sandwich (a spring chicken between two slices of bread) dates back at least to Don Alan c. 1960 in his first show on the Sullivan Show May 22nd. This wonderful version was professional created by David Martinez and sold exclusively by Stevens’ Magic c. 2013.
It is a beautifully made from wood, all hand cut, sanded, panted and assembled by hand.
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What an adorable version of the classic Thieves and Sheep or Cops and Robbers theme by the great German craftsman Tony Lackner, routined perfectly by Eckhard Boettcher.
This is a good time to remember the producers of magic – so often we think of the craftsmen who make these wonderful effects, but often there are other people involved that create the routine, patter, and bring the item to market. With the possible exception of Ken Brooke and his right hand man Roy Johnson, I don’t think there has been anyone finer than Eckhard Boettcher in this regard. So many of the effects he works on start of as good and become real miracles after he has finished.
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A great little outfit created by Joe Berg and Charles Miller that was very popular in the early days of the Princess Magic Shop in Chicago. It can be adapted to many effects, and includes three as released.
I had a few issues with the cork and it does take some practice to be quiet, but it probably needs a different size cork to the one supplied (which is likely not the original, given that this effect is almost 100 years old). But I think if you find the correct cork and spend an afternoon playing with it this could be a real winner and you’ll have something the other guy does not.
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The Curious Cubes was invented by Eric Lewis c. 1934 and originally produced by Magikraft. It has been recreated by a number of manufacturers, most notably Milson-Worth.
This is a perfect example of this fantastic effect and one of the most popular props created by Milson-Worth. I was really struggling to come up with a routine that would do justice to this perfect prop, and into my lap landed Jeff Prace’s Random Card Generator and the routine all came together.
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Another great stage item from Magic House of Babcock, better known as Shenanigan’s Die Box or Bud West’s Die Box and it was originally invented by Bud West and sold by Abbott’s c. 1971.
Mel apparently made less than a dozen of these natural wood versions and it is perfect. Mel really has created the gold standard for Die Boxes of all shapes and sizes.
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As always, Thomas Pohle uses his usual materials for the props. The overall decoration is gorgeous, and the block is well made. I really like it!
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This is by far the most complex metal mechanism in my little collection! The only downside is that it’s brass, so it needs regular oiling to keep it in top shape.
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The mechanism isn’t as complex as Dave Powell’s, but I super love the size! Very beautiful!
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