Jack Chanin - Silk At The Fingertips.pdf

§

Silks at Your Finger

Thoroughly

Tips

Illustrated

Comprehensively

Described

m Equal Personal

#

to

Instructions

BY

JACK

CHANIN

—

W I L L ALMA M.I.M.C.

(LONDON)

Dedicated to my little Daughter ARLENE

J. C. GRAND FINALE By

JACK Author

"Hello

Sucker"

CHANIN of

(The Three Shell Game)

The o r i g i n a l b o o k o n the Three Shell Game " J . C . S i l k " ( C o l o r Change Supreme) " S e v e n in

One"

" F u r t h e r A d v e n t u r e s of Seven in

One"

" J . C. Cigar M a g i c " (Cigar Manipulations) "Ball-O-Tube

Mystery"

" J . C . Rope T r i c k " J. C . C i g a r e t t e

Routine

and others.

Published by JACK C H A N I N

Copyrighted 1940 by JACK C H A N I N

To all my Friends in Magic: Due to the fact that my many friends in the world of magic have made the sales of all my other books successful beyond my fondest hopes I have been inspired to place a book on the market that will furnish the magician, both professional and amateur alike, with a beautiful silk act. Therefore I hope that this, my latest attempt, will meet with the approval of my many friends. I have performed this silk act many times and h a v e received numerous requests to put it in print. I am certain that if the reader of this book will apply himself to the contents and study the illustrations carefully he will have at his command not only a beautiful act but one that he will be more than proud to present a n y place and under a n y conditions. The possibilities for adding to this act and making it still more spectacular are unlimited. Within these p a g e s you will find added suggestions that I h a v e used myself and found to b e practical, that if used will make this beautiful silk act a miracle in the e y e s of any audience. This act is really a magician's dream and is one surprise after another, ending up in a spectacular finish. The continuity of this act is what will bring you the much desired rounds of applause, which after all is said and done, leads only to success. At any time that I can be of assistance to you in this act do not hesitate to write me at my home address—4052 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., and I will be more than glad to assist you in any w a y possible. In closing this, let me not only wish you the greatest of success, but I hope that some day I may have the pleasure of sitting in an audience and seeing you present this act. JACK CHANIN

F R A N K

L A N E

BOSTON,

8c

CO.

MASS.

To all my Friends in Magic: At Jack's request, I am writing a little "ad lib" frontispiece for his new book on silks.

And I would be remiss if I did not

s a y in earnestness that it is a distinct pleasure for me to be singled out to do this, and I'll tell you why. convention in A l b a n y a few years back.

I met Jack at the

Late the last night,

it w a s hot, and muggy, one of those d a y s that you might like, but personally I'd rather do a show for five dollars.

Well,

Bob Weill and I were walking around with nothing in particular on our minds . . . w e even had left our hats in our rooms . . . and w e wandered into Jack's room, where he w a s displaying his wares . . . and although it w a s one o'clock in the morning, and the stickiest night we'd had for a long time, Jack kept us in a state of uproar for two hours, and although I have trained myself not to laugh aloud, as most of my work is dry, deadpan stuff, my training w a s forgotten and I enjoyed myself most thoroughly for one hundred and twenty very fast minutes. Jack, beside being very funny and original, is also one of the cleverest boys with his hands I've ever seen. of literally hundreds of "moves". shell trick is a classic.

He is originator

To see him do the pea and

And although I haven't seen the manu-

script of this new book of his, I heartily will recommend it, knowing as I do the quality of his other books and works.

To

me, Jack Chanin is one of the boys who, when w e speak of ability, is at the top, and I go on record now of wishing him sincerely everything that is good, in his magic work and life. Boston, Mass., Nov. 23, 1939.

FRANK LANE

The St:i!e l ibrary of Victoria " A L M A t'ONJl'RINCj C O L L E C T I O N "

Silks at Your Finger Tips Effect Both h a n d s a r e s h o w n u n m i s t a k a b l y e m p t y at start of trick. M a g i c i a n reaches out into air a n d produces a silk. Hands are n o w s h o w n e m p t y w i t h the exception of silk just produced. Performer closes e m p t y h a n d a n d starts p u l l i n g out silks u n t i l h e has m a g i c a l l y p r o d u c e d a dozen. P l a c i n g these silks o n table or i n pocket he once more shows his h a n d s e m p t y a n d closes h a n d into a fist once more a n d reaches i n a n d pulls out about 30 y a r d s of different c o l o r e d ribbons. After p l a c i n g r i b b o n s aside he d i s p l a y s a s m a l l silk. After s h o w i n g h a n d s e m p t y a g a i n he shakes the silk a little a n d like a flash it c h a n g e s into a b e a u t i f u l l y colored r a i n b o w silk 36" x 36". He t h e n reaches u n d e r silk a n d produces a b e a u t i f u l b o u q u e t of flowers. Magician throws l a r g e silk over a r m a n d puts flowers o n table. He makes g r a b i n air a n d has another l a r g e 36" x 36" r a i n b o w silk o n the tips of his fingers. After d i s p l a y i n g this he reaches into a i r w i t h other h a n d a n d another l a r g e silk is produced. He t h e n takes his b o w a n d w a l k s off. Requirements The requirements for this b e a u t i f u l act are as follows: 1 1 10 1 3

Glass h a n k y b a l l , 2 inch. T h u m b tip. pieces of c o l o r e d ribbon, IV2 yds. i n length. doz. 10" silks of different colors. 36" x 36" silks.

Preparation Get one dozen s m a l l 10" silks a n d l o a d a 2-inch glass h a n k y b a l l w i t h the silks. Be sure that silks a r e twisted or interlocked at corners so that they w i l l come out easy as Fig. 1. It is a g o o d i d e a to put strips of lA" adhesive tape over glass b a l l to m a k e it easier to handle. Y o u w i l l f i n d that a 2-inch b a l l is not h a r d to h a n d l e if y o u f o l l o w these instructions. N o w get 10 different 1 i n c h w i d e silk ribbons, e a c h one IV2 yds. i n length. There are several grades of silk r i b b o n , so be sure y o u get the thinnest g r a d e y o u can, so as to take less space. A r r a n g e r i b b o n s so that w h e n p u l l e d out of h a n d the colors w i l l s h o w u p to the best a d v a n t a g e . N o w take a p e n c i l a n d start r o l l i n g r i b b o n o n e n d of pencil. A s y o u come to the e n d of e a c h r i b b o n be sure to p u l l tight so that it makes a taut, e v e n roll. Fig. No. 2 shows h o w it is r o l l e d o n p e n c i l a n d Fig. No. 3 shows h o w b e g i n n i n g of second r i b b o n is p l a c e d at the e n d of the first ribbon. C o n t i n u e this u n t i l r o l l is complete. Remember e a c h r i b b o n must be p u l l e d taut so as to m a k e a good, small, tight roll. N o w tie a t h r e a d a r o u n d the r o l l so as to h o l d it together. By a l l m e a n s do not use a r u b b e r b a n d . I c a n n o t emphasize this point too strongly, as r u b b e r b a n d s h a v e a t e n d e n c y to p u l l ribbons together too close a n d they w i l l not come out p r o p e r l y .

Y o u c a n m a k e u p r o l l the p r o p e r size to suit y o u r h a n d . A 2-inch r o l l is not u n u s u a l , a n d I pers o n a l l y use a 2 1 /2-inch a n d often a 3-inch roll. N o w take out p e n c i l a n d p u l l the e n d out a little o n e a c h side of r o l l as illustrated i n Fig. 4.

j turns

N o w for the l a r g e 36-inch silks. T a k e t w o s m a l l b e a d s a n d p l a c e e a c h b e a d i n a s m a l l piece of silk a n d twist it a r o u n d a n d sew it o n opposite corners of l a r g e silk as i n Fig. No. 5. Figs. Nos. 6 a n d 7 s h o w c l e a r l y h o w to f o l d l a r g e silk, a l w a y s k e e p i n g the t w o b e a d s o n the outside fold. N o w f o l d over a b o u t 4 inches of the e n d opposite the buttons t o w a r d the m i d d l e . Next come b a c k to the e n d a g a i n a n d cont i n u e to r o l l i n a tight r o l l a l l the w a y u p to the buttons. T u c k e v e r y h i n g i n except the buttons a n d p l a c e s m a l l r u b b e r b a n d a r o u n d b u n d l e . Be sure y o u p l a c e r u b b e r b a n d a l o n g s i d e of buttons a n d not

b e t w e e n them, as they must b e perfectly free to grasp. See Fig. No. 8. Use a s m a l l r u b b e r b a n d a n d b e sure not to d o u b l e it, as it becomes too tight this w a y a n d silk w i l l not open. Second l a r g e silk is p r e p a r e d s l i g h t l y different as follows: It is l a i d flat o n t a b l e a n d f o l d e d f r o m A to B as i n Fig. No. 9. Dotted lines here s h o u l d m a k e this perfectly clear. N o w f o l d a g a i n as i n Fig. No. 10. F o l d once m o r e A o n B as i n Fig. No. 11. Next t a k e left e n d of silk a n d b r i n g to center as i n Fig. No. 12. F o l d silk u n t i l o n l y a b o u t \ V i inch, a n d r o l l same into tight p a c k a g e as per Fig. No. 13. Note h o w r u b b e r b a n d is p l a c e d a r o u n d silk i n Fig. No. 13.

HUhBER

BAND

'J ni FIG.

a *

\

\ \

\

\ A

F/G. 10

B S

\

\ \

\

X *

The t h i r d l a r g e silk is r o l l e d the same as silk No. 2. N o w silks No. 2 a n d No. 3 a r e vested as per Fig. No. 14. Dotted lines s h o w silks u n d e r vest. L a r g e silk No. 1 is p l a c e d i n left coat pocket. N o w p l a c e a glass b a l l c o n t a i n i n g l o a d of s m a l l silks i n r i g h t h a n d trousers pocket. A l s o tuck a small, r e d silk i n t h u m b tip a n d p l a c e i n l o w e r r i g h t vest pocket. N o w p l a c e r o l l of r i b b o n s i n r i g h t h a n d coat pocket. Y o u a r e n o w set to do the act.

T h u m b t i p c o n t a i n i n g s m a l l r e d silk is gotten o n r i g h t t h u m b f r o m out of vest pocket. N o w b o t h h a n d s are s h o w n empty. Carelessly s h o w b o t h h a n d s e m p t y a n d m a k e pretense of p i c k i n g somet h i n g f r o m the a i r w i t h r i g h t h a n d . Look at r i g h t h a n d as if it r e a l l y c o n t a i n e d s o m e t h i n g a n d close left h a n d into fist at this p o i n t a n d r e a c h over w i t h r i g h t h a n d a n d insert t h u m b tip f r o m r i g h t t h u m b

i n t o left fist at same time p u l l i n g out r e d silk f r o m tip. N o w the e m p t y t h u m b t i p is i n left h a n d . S i m p l y point w i t h left h a n d to the h a n k y just produced. N o w take silk a n d p u s h it into t h u m b t i p a g a i n a n d r e m e m b e r to keep left h a n d closed. Don't, u n d e r a n y condition, s h o w this h a n d e m p t y yet because it is s u p p o s e d to c o n t a i n r e d silk, b u t r e d silk is i n r e a l i t y b a c k i n tip that is n o w o n r i g h t t h u m b . N o w p l a c e r i g h t h a n d i n r i g h t trousers pocket a n d l e a v e tip i n pocket a n d p a l m b a l l , at same time r e m o v i n g s m a l l r e d silk that y o u h a d p l a c e d i n corner of pocket. Study Fig. No. 15 for arrangement.

To the a u d i e n c e it looks as if y o u h a v e a r e d silk i n closed fist of left h a n d a n d another one that y o u just took out of trousers pocket. N o w o p e n left h a n d a n d s h o w it empty. N o w take silk f r o m r i g h t h a n d a n d s h o w it as per Fig. No. 16A. Fig. No. 17

a n d 17A shows h o w b a l l is p l a c e d i n left h a n d w h i l e c a r e f u l l y p u l l i n g silk up. Study these illustrations.

Positions of h a n d s s h o u l d b e as i n Fig. No. 18 as this m o v e is finished. N o w t h r o w r e d silk over left a r m a n d start p r o d u c i n g silks f r o m glass b a l l a n d t h r o w i n g them over left arm, a l w a y s rememb e r i n g y o u r last silk, as y o u must not p u l l the last one clear f r o m the b a l l . N o w stroke h a n k y h a n g i n g f r o m left h a n d a c o u p l e of times a n d o n the seco n d stroke s i m p l y t a k e e m p t y glass b a l l f r o m r i g h t h a n d as Fig. No. 19. Don't r e m o v e this last silk c o m p l e t e l y f r o m left h a n d yet but l e a v e it h a n g i n g there a n d k e e p h a n d closed. N o w w i t h r i g h t h a n d p i c k u p a l l silks off of left a r m a n d p l a c e t h e m i n r i g h t coat pocket w i t h the n o w e m p t y b a l l a n d at same time get possession of r o l l of r i b b o n s i n r i g h t h a n d that is at once b r o u g h t out of pocket a n d rem o v e the last silk that w a s left h a n g i n g from left hand. N o w o p e n left h a n d a n d s h o w it empty. To l o a d r i b b o n s i n left h a n d repeat the same moves as i n l o a d i n g s m a l l silks. N o w start p r o d u c i n g f r o m left fist a n d t h r o w over left a r m . A f t e r last r i b b o n is p r o d u c e d , s h o w b o t h h a n d s empty. N o w r e m o v e r i b b o n s f r o m left a r m a n d p l a c e i n left h a n d coat pocket. K e e p the s m a l l silk i n r i g h t h a n d a n d s h a k e slightly. A s r i b b o n s a r e p l a c e d i n coat pocket, p a l m l a r g e silk f r o m this pocket into left h a n d w h i l e r i g h t

h a n d is s h a k i n g s m a l l silk. Fig. No. 20 shows h o w l a r g e silk is p a l m e d i n left h a n d . N o w left h a n d comes over a n d w i t h b a c k of h a n d t o w a r d a u d i e n c e removes s m a l l silk f r o m r i g h t h a n d , a n d r i g h t h a n d is s h o w n empty. Left h a n d n o w contains s m a l l silk that is kept m o v i n g s l i g h t l y a n d it also contains the l a r g e silk i n its p a l m . Left h a n d c a n b e s h o w n f r o m b o t h sides if y o u k e e p it m o v i n g a n d at the same time keep g a t h e r i n g s m a l l silk together u n t i l it is i n a sort of s m a l l b a l l . A t this point b r i n g left a n d right h a n d s together w i t h backs of b o t h t o w a r d a u d i e n c e a n d get h o l d of one b u t t o n i n e a c h h a n d a n d s p r e a d h a n d s a p a r t w h e n l a r g e silk w i l l u n f o l d perfectly. S m a l l silk of course r e m a i n s i n left h a n d , r o l l e d u p a n d out of sight i n the left h a n d . This is a b e a u t i f u l a n d surp r i s i n g effect w h i c h w o r k s perfectly. T h r o w this silk over the shoulders like y o u w o u l d a r o b e a n d t u r n a r o u n d for a second a n d d i s p l a y silk. A s y o u continue y o u r t u r n m a k i n g a complete circle y o u h a v e a m p l e time to steal seco n d l a r g e silk f r o m u n d e r left side of vest w i t h y o u r r i g h t h a n d . A s y o u face a u d i e n c e y o u t a k e off the l a r g e silk f r o m shoulders a n d p l a c e o n c h a i r a l o n g w i t h the s m a l l silk. N o w look into air as if y o u see s o m e t h i n g a n d w h i p out second l a r g e silk f r o m r i g h t h a n d . Be sure to h o l d onto button. N o w for the t h i r d silk. T h r o w silk just p r o d u c e d over right a r m a n d d i s p l a y it. U n d e r cover of this silk r e a c h u n d e r vest w i t h left h a n d a n d p a l m the t h i r d l a r g e silk. N o w w h i p silk out a n d d i s p l a y same as silk No. 2. Y o u t h e n take a b o w . Fig. Y shows a v a r i a t i o n of the p r o d u c t i o n of the s m a l l silks f r o m the glass b a l l . This s h o u l d b e d o n e r a p i d l y . A s the r i g h t comes over to stroke silk i n left h a n d the fingers of r i g h t h a n d g r a s p corner of silk p r o t r u d i n g f r o m glass b a l l a n d d r a w same out w i t h a d o w n w a r d m o v e m e n t of r i g h t h a n d .

A g o o d i d e a is to cut s m a l l silks f r o m corner to corner as s h o w n b y dotted lines i n Fig. No. 9, just u s i n g Part " A " . This a l l o w s a l a r g e r load. Fig. J shows correct w a y to h o l d b a l l . If y o u w i s h y o u m a y use special clips k n o w n as b o d y l o a d clips u n d e r e d g e of coat as per Fig. C. To m a k e another nice finish if y o u o w n a flagstaff, r e m o v e f l a g a n d substitute a l a r g e silk i n its place. Y o u c a n p r o d u c e five or six of these silks if y o u so desire b y f o l l o w i n g the same instructions. Y o u m a y also p r o d u c e fish b o w l , b o u q u e t of flowers, etc., f r o m u n d e r silks if y o u wish. H o w e v e r , as the act has b e e n described, it is a b e a u t i f u l a n d m y s t i f y i n g silk act a n d easy to do. I use six l a r g e silks, a fish b o w l a n d a b o u q u e t of flowers. I use the n e w silks that are o n the m a r k e t that h a v e the pictures o n such as a r a b b i t c o m i n g out of a hat, a Chinese d r a g o n , etc. Y o u w i l l f i n d it best to use the finest silks y o u c a n get as they p a c k m u c h smaller a n d it w o u l d r e a l l y b e a detriment to m a g i c to use poor silks o n such a b e a u t i f u l effect. This is a complete silk act a n d w i l l r e a l l y get the m o n e y if presented as I h a v e d e s c r i b e d it.

Fig. Z shows m y l i g h t n i n g p r o d u c t i o n after prod u c i n g the first 36" silk, stroke a f e w times w i t h h a n d m d second 36" silk makes its a p p e a r a n c e . This is a c c o m p l i s h e d b y h a v i n g a silk w i t h a :at-gut l o o p o n the e n d u p y o u r sleeve as s h o w n i n Fig. Z. The first silk p r o d u c e d is h e l d i n r i g h t h a n d a n d second silk is i n left sleeve as per illustration. Stroke silk t w i c e w i t h left h a n d a n d o n second stroke e n g a g e t h u m b of r i g h t h a n d i n loop a n d b r i n g r i g h t h a n d d o w n r a p i d l y a n d separate hands. N o w b r i n g hands together a n d separate silks. If y o u w a n t to use three silks, h a v e one i n r i g h t sleeve a n d repeat moves the same. Silks m a y b e c a r r i e d i n sleeves d u r i n g other productions w i t h o u t i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h rest of the act.

I n c l o s i n g I w o u l d l i k e to say that I h a v e f o u n d this r o u t i n e a sure a p p l a u s e getter a n d I h o p e a l l m y friends i n m a g i c w h o p u r c h a s e this h a v e as m u c h success w i t h it as I. I. C.

GUARANTEED TRICKS Y O U R DEALER HAS THE F O L L O W I N G EFFECTS b y JACK

HELLO,

SUCKER!

The o n l y original b o o k that t e a c h e s y o u h o w to master the ' 'Three Shell Game". It is e x p l a i n e d in such a careful m a n n e r , that it m a y b e e a s i l y m a s t e r e d b y a N o v i c e . 36 illustrations.

CHANIN

J. C . C I G A R

MAGIC

CIGAR MANIPULATION All y o u c a r e to k n o w a b o u t cigars. Price — $1.00

Price — $1.00 NEW '7AYSEE" COLOR

CHANGE

SUPREME After p r o d u c i n g a silk from the air, the performer p a s s e s a silk through h a n d w h i c h c h a n g e s into a different color. This b o o k contains 35 illustrations, m a k i n g this quite e a s y to d o . Price — $1.00 Torn a n d Restored C h i n e s e N e w s p a p e r with a Sucker G a g — a set of 18 for $1.00

3 to 1 R O P E

TRICK

Three Routines b y Jack Chanin. After d i s p l a y i n g 3 p i e c e s of r o p e , performer ties it in o n e long p i e c e a n d knots v a n i s h l e a v i n g p e r f o r m e r o n e long p i e c e of r o p e . Complete w i t h Illustrations — $1.00

I. C. C A R D T O

MATCHES—DELUXE

The performer d i s p l a y s a d e c k of c a r d s after c h a n g i n g the f a c e of c a r d s several times. The cards become smaller a n d fianlly c h a n g e to a b o x of matches. Complete — 50c

TORN

AND

RESTORED

CHINESE

L A U N D R Y CHECK A C h i n e s e l a u n d r y c h e c k AVi x 15 i n c h e s is torn in p i e c e s a n d immediately restored. Printed o n imported p a p e r with Chinese characters. Complete with a Sucker G a g . Price —

50c a

MATCHLESS

dozen

MATCHBOX

A full b o x of m a t c h e s is h a n d e d to a spectator, w h i l e h e l d b y him, a v a n i s h e d handkerchief is c a u s e d to a p p e a r in the b o x . Price — 50c

I. C. M I R A C L E

Price $2.00—with complete instructions.

FURTHER CHANIN'S

ORIGINAL

STREAMLINE

PALMING COINS Palming c o i n s a r e a necessity to m a g i c i a n s . W e n o w h a v e coins m a d e of nickel silver, extra thin for manipulation in all-around p u r p o s e s . They stack e v e n a n d they a r e n o i s e l e s s in operation. T h e H a l f Dollar Size — 10c e a c h $1.00 dozen The Dollar Size — 15c e a c h 2 for 25c

COIN

A half a dollar is b o r r o w e d a n d marked, a n d w r a p p e d in a p i e c e of n e w s p a p e r a n d left on table. The performer b r i n g s out a small p a c k a g e from pocket, w h i c h is w r a p p e d with ribbons, etc. Upon o p e n i n g the p a c k a g e , the performer finds two discs w h i c h a r e thoroughly s e c u r e d with rubber bands. After r e m o v i n g r u b b e r b a n d s , the half dollar is found inside the disc a n d p a p e r is f o u n d to b e empty.

ADVENTURES SEVEN IN

OF

THE

ONE

C a r d tricks with a b o r r o w e d d e c k . M a y b e d o n e with a g e n u i n e blindfold. The best for the m o n e y . Price — $1.00

CHANIN'S

QUARTERS

TO

DIMES

Six b o r r o w e d penetrate spectator's h a n d s a n d then c h a n g e into d i m e s or pennies. Price —

$3.00

W A T C H FOR CHANIN'S EFFECTS There is moie to follow — Novel Magic by Chanin