Difference between revisions of "The Stein and Day Handbook of Magic"

Latest revision as of 22:26, 6 March 2023

Also published as; The Complete Magician (Macmillan, 1974) / The Handbook of Magic (Dorset Press, 1989) / The Creative Magician's Handbook (Madison Books, 2001)

Quotes

• Any prominent quotes form the book

Awards and recognition

• List any awards received

Editions

• All known editions

Contents

Preface: The Magic Circle

Introduction

1. Modern Magic — Its Rise and Fall

2. Why Do People Like Magic?

3. Foolproof Magic

• 27 Non-Burning Handkerchief: cigaretted does not burn handkerchief
• 28 Hidden Treasure: assistant helps magician determine value of coin under mug
• 30 The Travelling Coin: assistant helps a coin vanish and appear in nest of boxes
• 33 - Asrah Device: enhancement
• 34 The Penetrating Cup: cup through table
• 35 Find the Ball: magician determines under which cup a ball is placed
• 37 The Colour-Changing Pencil
• 38 The Floating Pencil
• 40 A Reliable Prediction: 1089 trick
• 41 A Chronological Prediction: math prediction
• 43 Invisible Flight: handkerchief transposition in newspapers
• 44 A Ring on a Rope: bracelet penetrates a rope tied to the wrists
• 45 Two-Tone Prediction: magician predicts ration of red & black cards
• 46 The Know-All Turnover: one-way deck principle
• 48 Telepathic Tone: magician names selection as cards are named
• 49 Olympian Vision: self working two card selection divination
• 52 More Tricks: a list of inexpensive commercial effects to consider; effects are desribed but not the secrets
• 52 - Acrobatic Silks
• 53 - Mirror Glass
• 53 - Phantom Pencil
• 53 - Squircle
• 53 - Supersonic Card Prediction
• 53 - Wizard Pack
• 53 - Spikes Through Balloon
• 53 - Soft Soap
• 54 - Vanishing Wand
• 54 - Squaring the Circle
• 54 - Invisible Cow
• 54 - Blasted Jr.
• 54 - Colour Vision Box
• 54 - Deceptive Transparent Change Bag
• 54 References: additional book references

4. What Do You Say and How Do You Say It?

• 57 Sample Trick Walk-Through
• 61 Further Exercises

5. When Do You Move and Why Do You Do It?

• 68 Exercises
• 69 References: for further reading

6. Essential Sleight-of-Hand Movements

• 71 Card Sleight-of-Hand Movements
• 71 Card Spread
• 72 False Overhand Shuffle
• 73 False Riffle Shuffle
• 73 Three-Pile False Cut
• 74 False Overhand Cut
• 74 The Palm
• 76 The Glide
• 77 Reverse Slip Round
• 77 False Card Count
• 80 Key Cards
• 81 The Thumb Pushback
• 82 Top Count-off
• 82 Cutting Force
• 83 Behind-the-Back Force
• 83 Dealing-off Force

• 83 Coin Manipulations
• 84 Basic Coin Palm
• 84 Thumb Palm
• 84 French Drop
• 88 Handkerchief Coin Vanish
• 89 False Coin Count

• 89 Other Sleight-of-Hand Tricks
• 89 Billet Switch
• 90 False Knot

7. Tricks With Sleights-of-Hand

• 95 Coin Flick: a coin change
• 96 Serial Number Prediction: of borrowed pound note
• 97 Centre Tear: reading the spectator's mind
• 100 Flyaway Pip: wrong card is visibly changed to the right one
• 101 Sucker Ace Change: An Ace change seems to go wrong
• 102 Eliminating Cards: a discarded card becomes the selection
• 103 Two Reversed Cards: two selections found reversed in deck
• 104 Stop Me Anytime: spectator says stop and next card is selection
• 104 Card Push-Up: card rise
• 105 Double Coincidence and Prediction Miracle: spectator correctly marks a chosen card
• 107 Impossible Location: spectator finds a card
• 109 Cut and Restored Ropes: rope routine
• 119 More Tricks: sample commercial tricks you might want to buy; effect is described but not the secret
• 119 - The Four Blacks
• 119 - Okito Coin Box
• 119 - Long Card
• 119 - Svengali Pack
• 119 - Mandroop’s Pasteboard Policy
• 119 - Wild Cards
• 119 - Four Ace Trick
• 120 Reference: for further reading

8. Stacking The Pack

• 122 Eight Kings: location system
• 122 Si Stebbins: another location system
• 123 Two-Card Divination: using either system
• 123 Basic Mnemonic Coding: how to learn
• 126 Silent Card Coding: apparent mind reading with an assistant

• 128 Special Set-Ups
• 129 Paired-Card Force Deck: and how to use it
• 129 Out of this Universe: using a special deck setup
• 130 Missing But in Good Company: selection is found with its mates
• 132 Card Set-Ups Available for Purchase:
• 132 - Super Unnatural and Gambler's Luck
• 132 - Great Million Dollar Bridge and Poker Deal
• 133 - Synonymental or Triple Names Choice
• 133 - The Paul Fox 'Miracle' Gimmick
• 133 References: for further reading

9. Controlling The Audience’s Attention

• 136 Performer's Personality
• 136 Nature of Props
• 137 Sugesstions and Inducement - Patter
• 137 Pretence
• 137 Diversion
• 137 Distraction
• 138 Pointing
• 138 Repetition
• 138 Confusion
• 138 Anticipation
• 138 Premature Conclusion
• 138 Ruse

10. In Search of Personal Style

11. Putting Together An Act

• 152 Sample Four Trick Act: Aldini's Salt Shaker, Clatter Box, Wrist Chopper, Soft Soap routines generally described

12. Magic of the Mind

• 157 ESP Card Finding: spectator picks predicted card, doesn't always work
• 158 Last-Minute Message Reading: through envelope
• 159 A Fast Prediction: card prediction
• 160 One-Ahead Message Reading: with aid of a confederate
• 162 Undetectable Object Code: for objects on a table
• 164 Code For Any Room: another assistant code
• 165 The Ultimate Premonition: named card is missing and found in pocket; uses index
• 166 Super Sucker Spirit Slates: spirit slate presentation
• 168 Free-Choice Telephone Test: phone trick using a Brainwave deck
• 169 Ultra-Mental Phone Code: using the Ultra-Mental pack
• 170 Two-Word Card Code: another assistant code
• 171 More Tricks From Magical Retailers: effect described but not the secrets
• 171 - Mental Epic
• 172 Popsy Pegs
• 172 Confabulation
• 172 Brainwave Pack
• 172 Phoney
• 172 The Mystic Three
• 172 Will Power
• 173 References: for further reading

13. Preparing For The Stage Show

14. Assistants and Volunteers

15. Tricks and Routines For Stage and Platform

• 188 The Drunken Magician: routine idea, with list of props and commercial effects that can be used
• 190 - Production of Objects
• 190 - Vanishing Key
• 190 - Objects in Pockets
• 190 - Rope Routine: recommends Houdini Outstripped Trick
• 190 - Food Tricks: such as Zipper Banana, Sandwich Watch, Candle Eating
• 190 - Bottle Production: recommends the inexpensive Coca Cola Production
• 191 - Suspended Glass: buy the Airborne Glass
• 191 - Going-to-Bed Tricks: And So To Bed
• 191 - Tips for Presentation
• 191 - Music is Essential
• 192 Closing-Time Blues: producing liquids from seemingly empty containers
• 192 - Colour-Changing Liquids: do it yourself
• 192 - Empty Full Jug: the Lota Vase
• 193 - Wilting Flower
• 193 - Empty Full Milk Can: the Foo Can
• 193 - Tips for Presentation
• 193 Impromtu Sawing a Woman in Half: ropes pulled through a woman
• 195 Silk Escape: wrist tie
• 196 Under-Chair Escape: rope escape
• 197 Comic Rope Tie: magician quickly binds or unbinds his hands
• 199 Knockout Card Prediction: mental card prediction
• 201 More Tricks: suggestions for commercial tricks, secrets not described
• 201 - Astrosphcre
• 201 - Floating Moon
• 201 - Blow-Van
• 201 - Clatter Box
• 201 - Coins in Glass
• 201 - Wrist Chopper
• 201 - Jumbo Cards To Pocket
• 201 - Unequal Equal Ropes
• 202 - Colour-Changing Records
• 202 - Seance
• 202 - Super Bill Tube
• 202 - Thumb Strap
• 202 - Zombie or Miracle Ball
• 202 References: for further reading

16. Performing For Children

• 203 Broadness of Gesture
• 203 Continuity
• 204 Vivacity
• 204 Diversity
• 207 Forget the Adults
• 207 Radiate Fun
• 207 Take the Audience's Limited Experience Into Account
• 208 Emphasize Visual Appeal
• 208 Personify Props
• 208 Forget About Subtleties of Routining
• 208 Keep Shows Short
• 209 Consider Sucker Tricks and Standard Effects Carefully
• 209 Select Assistants Carefully
• 210 Be Suspicious of Magic Tricks That Dealers Label "For Children"

17. Magic For Children’s Shows

• 213 Sample Show Routine
• 215 - Miser's Dream
• 216 - Melville the Dragon: puppet ventriloquism dialog
• 220 - Egg Bag: recommends the Mesh Egg Bag
• 221 - Rings on Rope: colored rings on a rope change places, commercial prop
• 223 - The Magic Word: flap poster idea
• 223 - Acrobatic Silks: or could use Monkey Bar trick
• 225 - Afghan Bands Contest: make it yourself
• 227 - Tri-Colour Cords: or the Rainbow Ropes
• 228 - Forgetful Freddie: popular children's effect
• 229 - Coin Flight: coin effect usng a Devil's Coin Box and Nest of Boxes
• 231 - Hat Loader Trick: production
• 235 - The Great Bullet-Catching Trick: cap gun bullet in coin
• 238 More Tricks: suggestions for other commercial effects
• 238 - Chapcaugraphy
• 238 - Egg Bag
• 238 - Norman’s Elusive Rabbits
• 238 - Napkin Folding
• 238 - Paper Tearing
• 238 - Run Rabbit Run
• 239 - Spelling Lesson
• 239 - M’Lady Steps Out
• 239 - Sliding Die Box
• 239 - School or Circus
• 239 References: for further reading

18. Other Special Audiences

• 241 Shows for Difficult Audiences
• 242 Geriatric Wards And Old People's Homes
• 244 Hospital Shows

19. Do’s and Dont’s of Magical Entertainment

Glossary

Appendix I -Supply Sources of Magical Tricks and Literature

Appendix II List of Magical Societies

• 252 Further Reading

Courtesy of Doug A's Magic Book TOCs

References