I am wanting to work on a matrix with seashells. Dose anyone do this and where can I find some shells the correct size and all alike? Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

You may want to try a craft store. Michael's Crafts sells bags of shells - different shapes and sizes. That may be a good start to at least find the shape and size you need.

Doug Henning did a Shell Matrix routine - around 1980 or so. I think it was his 5th TV special. I have a copy of it, if you're interested, let me know and I'll look for more info from it.

Mike Rogers had a routine that he called a Three Shell Game which was essentially a cup and ball routine with some flavor of the shell game. He used what he called Heart Clam Shells that you might find at a coastal shell store. They appeared to be about the size of the palm of your hand.

Dwight

I am going to give you some homework:

Alan Okawa had a fabulous.....FABULOUS routine using sea shells. It appeared in Apocalypse.

I saw another magician perform the routine and the effect and affect on the audience was stunning...STUNNING.

Find it, practice it, and have a truly memorable piece that will touch the emotions of any audience.

Paul(Do your homework before you watch TV)Green

There is also a very good seashell routine in The Collectd Almanac By Richard Kaufman. I want to say the routine is by Okawa also but am not sure..

There is a wizard in Japan whose last name is Sawa. He has some work with shells dating back to the 1970s. There are lots of nice things you can find on the beach, in the shops around the beach.

Sand dollars are also interesting. As are seahorses and starfish etc.

Mike Gallo has a great routine using sea shells in a set of his lecture notes, called "Mike Sells Sea Shells". it is well worth looking at.

Seashells get a lot of attention from the close up guys here in Hawaii, duh.

Allen Okawa's "Wishing Shells" is every bit as good as Paul says. It is one of the few magic tricks that can actually make you seem more attractive to members of the opposite sex. (if that's your particular objective) It appeared in one of the final issues of Richard's Almanac, and should not be sold to minors.

Allen also published an interesting "blendo" shell effect using small and large "puka" shells. old timers will recall the issue of Genii dedicated to Allen back int he 70's.

More recently, Allen has been showing around his effect with a big white rock from the beach. Absolutely unique.

Former Hawaii Magician Marvin Oka was the first person I ever saw do "Chink-a-Chink" with sea shells. Contrary to the Henning handling, Marvyn preferred to have the shells "mouth" down, presenting the smooth side to the performer's hands. (He used polished "Opihi" shells) One advantage of this handling was that it allowed him to start clean, since one of the shells had a, uh, shell.

I've had quite a lot of fun with "Spot, the Wonder Shell" a rather large Cowrie, complete with eyes and a personality, who catches folded-up cards in his mouth.

Most of the shells we use come from the Philipines. I tracked down the supplier used by people who make tourist junk out of shells. Shells are also carried by hobby shops for use as jewelry. These are generally smaller, and better quality than those destined to be ashtrays.

Allen's puka shells and "the Rock" came from the beach. I'm not sure where the little cowires for "wishing shells" came from.

And, as long as we're listing shell routines, don't forget Horace Bennnett's routine with pearls and shells.

As always a pleasure to read your informative posts Curtis. Thanks!

Does the Okawa routine need an exotic location to work best?