JUNE

9 1935

When this Jinx is being read the conventions will be under way and
thousands of cards will have been selected and not found again. The
seventh annual conference of the S.A.M. will be in Washington,
D.C., May 30,31, and June 1, 1935 at the Wardman Park Hotel.
The I.B.M. will concede nothing to no one at Lima, Ohio on June
4,5,6. Then on July 22,23,24 the Pacific Coast mob sees red in
Hollywood. It will make that talked about Japanese invasion small town stuff.
Labor day weekend sees the Piff-Paff-Poofers in a melee at Fort Erie, Canada
and all of these stand quite a chance of being overshadowed by the free-for-all to
be held by the New York State Conclave at Utica.

Here and there ye editor shall make an appearance in that age old effort to find
something new. So all good tricks had better take to cover while The Jinx is
snooping for the best that magic can give to the world’s most critical magi, i.e.
859 Jinx readers as of May 2, 1935.

Books come and books go but It’s in the Bag by H. Adrian Smith is a
brochure worthy of much applause. It is what such things should be - a routine.
The idea of working a short program without actually being able to see is cute.
The effects are good and to the point in each case. It is more than worth the dollar
and half hour necessary to learn. I’m sorry to say it but I know Mr. Smith will
not garner the dollars due him for his labor. It just seems to happen that way. I
pause to comment, not because I might have had a free copy, but because I heard
it was good, bought it, and found out for myself that it was of tremendous value.

From the May 1935 Sphinx - Editor’s Page - “(...) and hope to be also able to go
to Kenton. Will you be there ?” … No, John, I won’t be there, but I’ll see you
at Lima.

On the same page is also a note that Miss Dorothy Wolf, of The Sphinx, would
be away from the office for a few weeks. After reading the paragraph mentioned
above we are of the opinion that mention of Miss Wolf’s absence is superfluous.

1
We read that Charlie Leedy of the Youngstown Telegram has written 100,000
jokes in thirty years. That’s about 9 1/8th jokes per day. Even so he’d have a
tough time writing patter for all the tricks Burling says he has invented.

Humdrum The Mystic warns, “Don’t never elect a

mayor who does magic. He sure is going to hold up the
parade whenever a new bridge is opened - trying to
restore the ribbon or tape he has just cut.”

I certainly got my wish and started something with the Five Foot Shelf
last month. Since then never a day has passed without a letter showing up to
ridicule my distorted (that is what one called it) opinion. Each one has told me
of a book or two I forgot to include. Now I know there are many good books and
many good tricks hidden here and there. If you find a trick or two you like in a
certain book, that book immediately becomes an important possession. However,
it is no secret that one person will like a trick that another thinks of little value
and as a result this second person will attach no importance to the book itself.

Not once did I say the shelf contained the only good books. It wasn’t meant to be
the starting and stopping points in the building of a library. Perhaps the former
but not the latter. As a foundation - a nucleus - and as a unit which embodies
every principle, basic sleight and mechanical principle known to Magic - there it
is. The closely allied subjects are covered, perhaps not in the detail a dozen books
on each subject would give, but by the best (my opinion) one to give the reader a
sound working knowledge of the subject. If it then be his desire to delve further
into a particular phase, let him cover the same with a more complete survey.
Answering my question as to whether or not there should
be a semi-monthly Jinx, I say “No.” Instead of instituting
a policy that could result only in a maelstrom for me and
uncertainty for the subscribers, I have decided upon an
alternative. In Summer and in Winter there shall be an EXTRA. Magical papers as
yet have never had an EXTRA although Goldston put out an Annual in addition
to his monthly magazine. In the Summer (after June 1st) and in the Winter (after
January 1st) an EXTRA equivalent to five issues of the monthly Jinx shall appear
a semi-annual stimulant for jaded minds of magic. Uniform in size and makeup
its 16 pages will carry the biggest dollar’s worth of information assembled in
many a magic moon. Twenty tricks will be the rule with quality as certain as that
the paper will be white. This EXTRA is not connected with monthly issues which
will continue as blithely as ever. It is a separate publication of twenty tricks for
one dollar in cash, money-order, check, stamps or what have you. When this is
read the SUMMER 1935 EXTRA will be in the hands of all dealers. Secure your
copy from them or from The Jinx, Waverly, New York.
Thus is solved the case of the semi-monthly.

2
 No word has been received from Martin Sunshine regarding
the streamlined Mental Knockout with which I found so much
fault last month. Perhaps he’s mad at me. However, now that I
have bought one and thus officially know the secret perhaps I
have a better right to comment.
It’s a good trick but not, in my opinion, a saleable one. It needs nerve, a bit
of audacity, and a lot of showmanship to present it effectively. Tricks to sell
however, must be the kind of an average man can use without ability that comes
only through long professional training and experience if it isn’t an inherent trait.
I know of a number of excellent effects worth money to performers who could
use them professionally. Advertisements to stretch the imagination of a Hull are
possible about them. The buyers however, would not be satisfied for two reasons.
In order to work them they might need a large audience or theater conditions.
Comparatively few amateurs and buyers of magical secrets are touched by this.
On the other hand, those who constantly perform only for a few intimates lack
the nerve or showmanship to use this spectacular type of procedure. To a great
many this secret is worth the money as it is and in modified form. But sold at
large it becomes a boomerang glancing from the many more who find it to be
something they cannot use. As far as I am concerned the matter is now ended and
out of mind.

Cards and letters have been received regarding the wider margins last
month. It makes binding much more practical. Frank Ducrot was the first to
suggest this and he was followed by several more who wrote. I can always use
a good suggestion so I am telling you now they will be appreciated and always
acted upon if possible.

Frank N. Dodd of New York epistles regarding my May statement that

84 had written to support a semi-monthly Jinx. He tells me that by that token it
appears to be a good omen. From Royal V. Heath, the eminent mathemagician
he had it that ‘Eighty-four’ is the ONLY number between Zero and Four Billion,
Eight Hundred Million (a number recently popularized), that is spelled with ten
all different alphabetic letters, all of which makes it unique.
It is not news to us that The Jinx and contents is unique, but we like to know that
the readers think so too.
 THE MODERNIZED READING
(Annemann)

Of all the single or group reading methods that have been invented and
created, I think none have been as practically simple as the window frame
idea. I’ve always thought that it was mine but after eleven years I’m not so
sure. I made my first note of it on January 12, 1924 and thought of it while
reading about an alcohol envelope feke on page 92 of Alexander’s Dr. Q
book. I handled a lot of correspondence then and passed it around. Later
it was advertised in The Sphinx. Howard Albright used it in his Super-
Psychic Mental book, and in June 1934 it was reprinted (with permission) in
The Indian Magician, India’s crack magical monthly.

I originally used it, not for a single reading (I didn’t see its value as such
then), but only to ‘get’ the first question in a one-ahead routine with cards
and envelopes. Here is the method of handling. It can be used for the above
purpose or for a single reading, and is much cleaner and more safe than any
of the copies I have read.

For those who do not know this envelope it is a regular drug size end opening
type (#2 is best) and the face side has been cut out except for a quarter inch
margin around the edge. A card is written on by a sitter. The envelope is on
a stack of ordinary ones. The card is inserted into the envelope, writing side
down, and flap sealed. Holding the single envelope with this side towards
the sitter it is burned, but meanwhile the performer has read the question
through the window side. There are variations and niceties in handling but
we won’t go into them there.

My method now is to have the flap of the window envelope cut off. Six or
seven envelopes are in a stack. In one envelope is placed a blank card such
as will be used by the sitter for writing. This loaded envelope is on top of
the stack and on top of this is placed the window envelope with cut-out side
down. The flap belonging to the loaded envelope appears to be the flap of
the window feke.

When the sitter has written on a card, he is told to lay it writing side down.
Approaching with the stack in left hand (hold them with thumb and fingers
at sides, from above, and with the flap ends outward) the card is shoved into
the window envelope, and then by the flap, he pulls the envelope from the
pile and hands it to the spectator to seal.

4
Thus by the flap the loaded envelope is pulled from under the window
feke into which the card was put.

Asking the sitter to seal tightly and write his initials across the front and
back, the medium turns and lays the envelopes in hand aside. The one on
top is flipped over with a finger and the question read at a glance.

I suggest working at a small table with a drawer on your side. Merely

open it and put the envelopes in, getting the information at the same time.
Now take the sitter’s envelope and burn it right in front of him.

This is positively the quickest method I know of getting sealed information

without the sitter having reason for suspicion.
 THE RENOVATED SPHINX CARD TRICK
(Eddie Clever)

Old and well known (to magicians) card tricks which make use of
specially printed and feked cards can often be improved and modernized
to make present day miracles. Here is a version of the old Sphinx Card
Trick which has graced many a catalog for fifteen cents.

From an ordinary pack of Bicycle cards three are removed by different

persons and initialed. Dropping them into a hat, the performer asks one
to name his card and it is removed and replaced in the deck. Now the
remaining two spectators name their cards, look for them in the hat, but
they are gone. In their place is the one card just removed and placed in
the deck ! The two that have vanished are back in the deck, cards may
be shown one by one and the initialed pasteboards are the ones used.

Feked cards are used but they are natural and unsuspected. One is the
familiar double backed card to match the deck. The other is made as per
the illustration. This card has had the 7 index at one end erased and an
8 index drawn in.

This is put face up on top of the deck and covered with the double
backed card. The real 8 of Spades is in a position to be forced. You
have three chances to force this card as it doesn’t matter which of the
spectators gets it. We suggest dotting a corner and forcing it by the
‘classical’ method of fanning. One who can get rid of it in three trials
doesn’t have to be so very clever.

When the three cards have been selected, they are collected face up on
the deck after the initialing, the 8 spot being first and the remaining two
on top. Now the 5 top cards are turned over together. There is nothing
suspicious here as everyone knows three are being turned and two more
don’t make any difference. Then the three top ones are openly thumbed
off into the hat.

6
Thus, in the fairest of manners you have in the hat the real 8 spot, the
double backed card and the feked 7. The other two are on top of the
deck.

Cutting the deck it is placed on the table. Now turn to the three people
and, as if by chance, look at the one who had the 8 spot and ask him to
name his card. When he does, you reach into the hat and bring out the
double backed card and feke together as one, holding your finger over
the 7 index so it appears to be the 8. This is put onto the top of the deck
and cut to the center, but a slip cut is made which retains the double
backer on top.

Now finish as stated in the effect. On looking into the hat, the two other
people find only the genuine 8 of Spades. The deck is run through face
up with the 7 end of the feke card showing and the two cards are found
back (?) in the pack. If the cards be handed to a spectator to run through
himself, and the right end of the feke card is up, he can find them
himself. Naturally, while the real 8 spot is being found and removed
from the hat, the card on top of deck (double backer) is palmed off and
pocketed before the deck is run through.

This is an excellent close-up item gives the maximum of effect with a

minimum of skill.
 A MATTER OF POLICY
(Annemann)

Here is a funny adaptation of an old, old principle in The Magician’s Own

Book by Cremer. I’ve used it once and presented in this manner it seems
to grow on the audience until, at the finish, they are howling.

The performer says that after Mr. Roosevelt went into office, he gave
Mr. Farley a free hand with all patronage. Everybody, of course, knows
Mr. Farley to be a politician of the ne plus ultra type, and thereby hangs a
tale. As the story goes, it was very necessary to curtail all waste and slash
expenses wherever possible.
Everyone knows about the wage-cuts and lay-offs that took place in the
departments under the esteemed Mr. Farley’s jurisdiction. In his own
office he decided to cut the force in half - from twenty to ten. A glance at
his now famous card index system however, put him in a dilemma. Ten
were Republicans and ten were Democrats. Now Mr. Farley obviously
couldn’t do what he’d like to do, so he decided to be eminently fair and
give everybody a chance.

Stalking into his office he announced that the cutting down of the help
would be left to chance. He had them stand in one long line and started
counting from one end, eliminating every tenth man. Over and over the
line counted Mr. Farley until only ten were left. Then he took the rest
of the day off, satisfied that he was doing his bit towards keeping this
country a democracy.

In presenting this story, the performer has 20 giant size cards. Ten of them
have, on the face side, a drawing of the Democratic mule - and the other
ten contain a picture of the Republican elephant. Nothing else is necessary
except an audience. And don’t think they won’t get a kick out of this. Have
the cards in the order given in the illustration reading from top down. ‘R’
stands for Republican and ’D’ for Democrat.
Stand the cards around the front of the room and call them the employees
who were lined up by Mr. Farley who read off their names.

Now, with ceremony, start the count-off, counting aloud and turning
down each tenth card. After about the third and fourth cards go down, the
audience warms up and snickers start. By the sixth or seventh they are
ahead of you and it gets funnier.

8
When the ninth is down, stop for a moment and say, “This lone person
left finally gave up hope after seeing himself slowly outnumbered to an
alarming degree and decided not to wait.” (The audience has had the
chance to see that this last card was also tenth and this action gives you a
slightly different turn down for the finish). Now step forward and close it
by saying, “And so, my friends, I’ve given you my conception of politics
in our democratic land !”

As a club item this is superb comedy. Many performers work lodge

meetings where the members stay seated along the sides and back of the
room. In such a case, hand the cards along one side of the room and work
to the other. Have the 20 persons keep the cards facing outward so they
can’t see the faces. After all is over tell them they can then see what they
are holding and just where they stand. You’ll often hit prominent members
who are avowed Republicans and this apparent change of horses with the
resultant keeping of their job won’t stop the laughter any.

Don’t ever mention the fact that the R’s are the only ones getting the
sack. It is as the audience notices it themselves that it gets funny. Just
emphasize that Mr. Farley wanted to be fair. Some may try out the effect
with the backs outward after a pretended mixing, and after eliminating
the ten turn the cards over for a climax. The first is better because of no
monotony of just counting backs.

The Jinx is an independent monthly for magicians and published

by Theo. Annemann of Waverly, New York, U.S.A.

By the copy, 25c.

By subscription, 1$ for 5 issues postpaid to any address.

All magical depots in the world supply The Jinx.

Subscribe through them or direct from the publisher above.
 PSEUDO-PSYCHOMETRY
(Annemann)

This trick, to my mind, is one of the greatest one man psychic effects used
to puzzle an audience. It has all of the necessary elements to make a great
talk-maker, and a performer with only a bit of showmanship can’t help but
make a good thing of it. One with a decent amount of that valuable asset
will create an astounding impression whenever he presents the test.

Last, but far from least, the effect needs very little preparation, and it
can succeed under most exacting conditions. In short, we have before us
an idea with unlimited scope. Another of those rare secrets wherein the
method is nothing and the effect as seen through the eyes of the audience
is everything. The people who witness the performance of these individual
tests will never tumble to the simple detail that makes it possible.
The enormity of what the performer attempts completely overshadows
the means by which it is accomplished.

A packet of letter envelopes is all that is needed at any time by the

performer. About a dozen of these are passed out to spectators and the
performer returns to the front. Requesting those with envelopes to pay
strict attention he continues. They are to put into their envelopes some
single article and personal belonging that is on their person. It can be
a fountain pen, tie clasp, ribbon coin, hairpin, button, knife, pencil,
handkerchief, card, ring, in fact anything of that nature that can be sealed
inside the envelope. During this time the performer may be turned around
so that he in no way sees what is placed in any of the envelopes.

This looks important to the audience but it actually means nothing insofar
as the working of the trick goes.

10
Once the envelopes are ready, the performer has them collected by a
member of the audience and brought forward. This spectator mixes them
and hands one to the performer. He deliberately tears off the end of the
envelope and dumps the contents into his hand. Turning whatever it might
be over and over, he describes a person - giving the sex, type, approximate
age (if a man), and a few details of their dress. He then holds the article
so all can see and asks the owner to acknowledge it. They stand and turn
out to be the one described !

Another envelope is opened and the article once more seemingly gives a
clue regarding the characteristics of the owner. This time, however, the
performer walks among the audience and suddenly returns the article
directly to its owner !

As each envelope is handed to him, the performer successfully describes -

describes and finds - or merely locates the owner of the property.
The patter is about psychometry. Mediums of this type have the ability
to ‘see’ and locate people by touching some personal belongings. In this
case, instead of revealing information about a ‘dear one’, the performer
is able, through the same power, to describe and locate the owners of the
property he handles.

As I have said before, the audience never thinks that the important detail
is right under their noses. They all try to fathom how the performer is
able to trace the owner of the trinket each time, it being obvious that he
didn’t see what any person furnished, or know in what order the mixed
envelopes might be collected and given to him. And thus we have a test
that can be made large or small - fast or slow as desired.

The secret lies entirely in the envelopes. It is only necessary to know to

whom each envelope belongs ! My method of marking is to open the
envelope with the flap towards you, and write a figure lightly on the inside
of the side which is nearest to you, about an inch from the left end.
Have these in order from 1 to 10.

It is far from difficult to remember who get these envelopes as they are
passed out in numerical order from left to right, and by skipping a person
between each or through some other system of layout, the envelopes are
spread over the crowd but in an order the performer can trace. Those who
have learned memory principles will be able to pass them at random and
tie up each spectator mentally with the envelope given to him.

11
In tearing open an envelope, have the flap side towards you. Tear off a
half-inch from the left end. Right thumb and fingers are at the top and
bottom edges with the flap now turned towards the floor, and contents
are tipped into the left hand. The number is near the edge on the inside
looking up at you ! Dog ear one envelope instead of marking inside. When
you get it you know the owner without opening. You apparently get a
stronger impression this time, describe the person, locate them and return
the envelope still sealed. It makes a marked variation.

A marvelous stage version for two is possible. After passing the envelopes,
the performer introduces a medium, blindfolds her and leaves for a position
behind drop from where he can see the audience and communicate with
her. She directs the sealing and collecting. She sees the key number each
time by looking down, cues the performer with a simple finger code,
and he gives her a description of the owner with details of clothes and
appearance.

This version is a stunner for publicity with Lost and Found Departments.

IN NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE

Twentieth Century Cards
Surprise !!
The Henry E. Dixie Cigarette Vanish
Extra-Sensory Perception