The Pom-Pom Prayer Stick was invented by Louis Histed and published in his book The Magic of Louis S. Histed c. 1947 as the effect Papyrus (pg 55). The effect was made famous and very popular by the great Ali Bongo (William Oliver Wallace: 1829-2009). You can read more details about the origins here. It is really a beautiful effect full of comedy and mystery.
This version is beautifully produced with precision engineering and has been my goto version for about twenty years. You have a length of tube with a piece of cord passing thru each end. Different colored, bug fluffy Pom Poms are attached to each end of the cord. The pieces of cord are pulled back and forth thru the rod to prove the cords are unconnected. but just to confuse the audience, the magician pulls one cord out to double its original length, making the cord on the other end go up. From then on, whichever end the performer pulls it will become a long cord on its own, giving the impression that there are at least six cords.
With limitless and comic variation, the magician repeatedly pulls on the ends until the audience becomes completely bewildered. Then the great climax – unexpectedly you make both cords long, then pull the tube apart to show there is no connection between the cords (this amazes the audience and they show it!) Slip the two halves back together again, and to show the audience that you have a miracle in your hands, resume pulling the cords as before, and take a well deserved bow. This is always gets a great reaction, yet it is self contained and easy to do.
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