left hand it swings back toward the left breast coat pocket. Therefore it is a simple matter to drop the coin in the pocket on the second pass. The hand must not hesitate when disposing of the coin; make each pass smoothly, blending it into the next without slowing down.
The breast pocket can be held open slightly by stuffing a crumpled handkerchief in it beforehand. The right side is toward the audience during the vanish, which shields the getaway and conceals the move of dropping the coin in the breast pocket. And don’t forget to keep your eyes firmly fixed on the left fist during the passes with the right hand and the disposing of the coin.
Practice and understand all moves so that you can do them automatically. Blend all moves into one complete action and you will have a baffling coin vanish. This has fooled some of the best posted magicians.
COMPLETE THUMB PALM VANISH
During the years I have been doing close-up magic I have discovered many unique ways of vanishing a coin. Here is one that is both easy and effective.
Proceed with the same moves as described in the Thumb Palm Vanish (page 60), up to the point where the coin has supposedly been placed in the left hand; really it is thumb palmed in the right. Right hand pulls up left sleeve slightly by grasping it midway between the shoulder and the elbow. You will notice that as the sleeve comes up the right hand moves inward towards the left breast pocket. It is in this action that the coin is dropped into the pocket.
This is a casual, offhand move, and appears quite natural. You have apparently pulled up the sleeve to show that the coin cannot go into it, but in this simple move you have disposed of the coin in the breast pocket.
After the proper build-up open the hand to show it empty. Show both hands—the coin has completely disappeared.
KNEE-ZY VANISH
Effect: A half dollar is held in the right hand. The performer removes it with his left and slaps it against his left knee, immediately reproducing it from behind his right knee with his right hand. This move is repeated, but this time the coin vanishes after being taken from behind the right knee.
Method: Show a coin in your right hand and apparently remove it with the left, actually back palming it in the right hand instead. (Your favorite coin sleight may be substituted.) Slap the non-existent coin against the left side of the left knee and then produce it with the right hand from behind the right knee.
Apparently repeat the same moves, but this time the left hand actually takes the coin and holds it in the closed hand. Slap the left fist against left side of knee as before and then, quickly pivoting on the left foot, swing the body so the right side will be toward the spectators. As you reach behind the right knee to produce the coin, drop it in the left trousers or coat pocket. Pretend to hold a coin in the right hand and go through the motions of placing the coin in the left. Finally reveal the vanish by tossing “it” into the air and showing both hands empty.
SUCKER VANISH
Effect: The performer shows a half dollar and apparently places it in his left hand, but the spectators see him remove it and carry it to his pocket. They waste no time in telling him where the coin is, but when he opens his hand the coin is still there. The same moves are repeated. This time the coin actually vanishes.
No better effect than this could be used to close a routine of coin tricks. It is a dandy for the wiseacre and perfect for the kids.
Method: Tell your audience that you will try to do the trick very slowly and that you will give them an opportunity to catch you. Warn them not to say anything, if they should see how it is done, until after it is over. It will be difficult for them to keep from speaking up when they think they know the answer. After that, it’s too late!
Show a half dollar and hold it clipped between the first and second fingers as you would to thumb palm it, Fig. 1. Place the coin in the left hand and close the fingers over it. Immediately remove it still clipped between the first and second fingers, allowing what you do to be seen, but not being too obvious about it. As soon as the spectators get a flash of the coin, bend the fingers inward as if to conceal it behind the hand. Place the right hand in the trousers pocket, palm the coin and remove the hand. The spectators will think you put the coin in your pocket. Your two hands should be fairly close together at this point; in fact, the extended fingers of the right hand al-most touch the closed left hand, Fig. 2. The spectators are sure that you slipped the coin into your pocket—they do not suspect that you removed it again and have it palmed. Say, “I will now strike the back of my left hand three times, like this.” At this instant swing both hands to the right so the palm of the right hand is toward the spectators, and drop the coin from the right palm, catching it in the left hand. The left fingers open slightly to admit the coin. (Fig. 3 shows the performer’s view of this action.) The depositing of the coin in the left hand and the showing of the right hand empty is all done in one move. The coin is actually thrown a distance of three or four inches. It is released from the right hand and caught in the left about midway in the swing from left to right. It cannot be seen if the transfer is made as described. There must be no stoppage or slowing down of action in this maneuver. The hands are brought over to the right in one continuous movement for the ostensible purpose of showing the right hand empty before striking the left hand. Allow the spectators to see the right hand empty then slowly tap the back of the left fist with the right fingers counting, “One, two, three!” Then say, “When I open my left hand the coin will be gone.” If someone doesn’t speak up at this point and say he saw you put it in your pocket, ask the spectators if they noticed where it went. They will, of course, say it is in your pocket. So you reply, “No, the coin is still here. It hasn’t disappeared yet.” This is a stunner and prepares you for the payoff!
The next time, you actually vanish it. State, “You know, a great many persons think that when I place a coin in my hand like this . . . (Pretend to place the coin in your left hand, but actually palm it in the right. This time you must fool them. The Bobo Vanish can be used to good advantage) . . . and then place my hand in my pocket, like this, that I put the coin there. (Place the hand in the right trousers pocket and keeping the coin palmed, turn the pocket wrong side out to show that it isn’t there. Push the pocket back and leave the palmed coin in the pocket.) However, that is not the case as you can see. All I need do to cause the coin to disappear is to blow on the hand.” Open the hand and show it empty. The coin has vanished completely.
At first it may not seem possible to transfer a coin undetectably from one hand to the other as the hands swing from one side of the body to the other, but it can be done. It is primarily a matter of timing and misdirection. Once the secret move is completely mastered it can be done without misdirection because the move is practically undetectable. I have performed it hundreds of times before magicians and not once has the move been detected. So what chance does a layman have?
But with the added advantage of timing and misdirection the effect is sure fire. Be sure to look directly at the spectators as you speak to them and make the secret transfer. Then you will have no trouble.
