Difference between revisions of "Sponge balls"

Revision as of 04:19, 1 April 2010

Sponge balls, made of sponge rubber or polyurethane foam and usually about 2 inches in diameter are a common prop used in many sleight of hand routines.^[1]

One of the first routines was published by Jesse L. Lybarger in 1926.^[2] Also in 1926, Joe Berg introduced his Cups and Balls Routine wherein he made use of balls made of sponge instead of the usual cork. ^[3]

Al Stevenson devised a process for making perfect spheres from the polyurethane foam and later Albert Goshman improved the process.

Noted specialists in sponge ball magic are Audley Walsh, Frank Garcia and Frances Marshall.

Roy Benson used sponge balls for his Benson Bowl routine.

Other shapes have also been used including rabbits.

Variations

• Clones by Patrick Martin
• Multiplying Rabbits by Albert Goshman

Publications

• The Phantom Balls by Lybarger, Linking Ring Vol 5, No. 2 (Oct. 1926)
• AUDLEY WALSH'S SPONGE BALL ROUTINE (1936)
• Garcia on Sponge Balls

References

1. ↑ Encyclopedia of magic and Magicians by T.A. Waters
2. ↑ THE ENCYCLOPEDIC DICTIONARY OF MAGIC by Bart Whaley
3. ↑ Routined Manipulation Finale by Lewis Ganson (1954)