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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
I'm interested in learning Al's Lampkin's Foo Can routine from his book, "The Funniest Magic Show in the World." This is Al's take on the trick where you pour a glass of water into a container (Foo Can), cover it with a large card, invert everything, place the inverted can and card on a helper's head, and then carelessly remove the card leaving the helper in an apparently dire predicament: there's no way to remove the can without spilling the liquid all over the hapless helper. Eventually, of course, the can is removed without spillage and everything turns out all right (the liquid remains within the walls of the Foo Can). There are other variations on this routine using other mechanisms for seeming to pour liquid into the container--for example, Ali Bongo's routine used a milk pitcher but I don't like mile pitchers and particularly like Al's use of the Foo Can because of it's simplicity of method.
Anyway, I bought a standard Foo Can (no handles) and discovered it could only handle a tiny amount of liquid (about 1/4 cup) because of its poor design, although the instructions that were include stated it could handle a "full tumbler of water"--I assume a full tumbler of water would be 6oz-8oz, or close to a cup. Can someone recommend a Foo Can that can handle a larger amount of liquid than 1/4 cup? |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Consider using a regular tin can with absorbent "stuff" hidden inside.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 5, 2016, jimgerrish wrote: In Al's routine, he reproduces the water from the Foo Can at the end. I would like to keep this ending, so the absorbent "stuff" approach won't do. But thanks for the idea. |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Noland! PM me if you like....
I have a "pre-World War II ABBOTT'S CHROME PLATED (ON BRASS) FOO CAN. When I showed it to Greg Bordner, a few years ago, he said, "We never made anything that good!" I've never measured the capacity of the gaff, but, I had an Abbott Foo can in the mid '40s (NOT brass) and this chrome on brass model is identical with the '40s prop. I would guess that the capacity is about 6oz. I'll be out at my storage facility in a day or two, and, I can measure it.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 5, 2016, Dick Oslund wrote: Thanks, Dick. I'll PM you. |
noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
Does anyone use or have information on the Morrissey Magic foo can which, I believe, is made of copper? I've seen it advertised for sale in a few locations.
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jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
A secret hole in the side of the can for inserting a finger that can be used to squeeze the water back out of the absorbent stuff at the end solves the problem. You might not get it all back, but picky-picky for a home-made inexpensive prop.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
Noland,
Years back I had a copper foo can made by Owens Magic Supreme. While it was a tad expensive, itt was top quality and worth every penny. Sorry to say, I just can't remember how much liquid it held. If something like this is in your budget, I'm sure Owens could give you that information. Gerry |
jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
I use both a tiny India made can that holds a teaspoon of water (for shows that pack light) and I use a Morrissey or Swoger can for larger shows.
Here's the anology: Just like a chopper, arm, wrist, finger, head or other. The drama has nothing to do with the size but the situation. Even the Don Allen Egg trick could be a howl (using the volume of an egg sized prop) because just the idea of an egg getting on someone's head is a great premise for theater.... For theatre. The older egg in hat didn't provide a penility of getting someone wet, just their hat. Still funny. So whatever size your Foo Can may be, has no effect on the laughter or perceived danger of the situation. It's situational comedy. Yes, the situation is more important then the props. ---------- 30 people, finger chopper, 1,250 people, giant guillotine. The only difference is how many people are in the audience.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Yeah Jay! I remember Van Cleve's presentation of the SS Adams FINGER CHOPPER! It was built 'around" the French Revolution, and the GUILLOTINE! I think Frances Marshall wrote it up in the '69/70 "Ireland Year Book". Cleve used it in "parlor" shows.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 9, 2016, jay leslie wrote: I appreciate your larger point, Jay. My Foo Can is not tiny though--it's 8 inches tall, but still only handles about 2 oz. of water. The videos I've seen of other performers doing the trick involve pouring a full glass of water into a foo can of equivalent size to mine. My impression, is that the one I have is very poorly engineered, and handles less liquid than it should be able to. I feel like the size of my foo can dwarfs the quantity of water that vanishes, kind of like using a blanket to do a ring vanish instead of a handkerchief. How tall is your mini-foo can? |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Just as for a cow, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, for a magician, the Foo is always fuller on the other side of the TV screen. Did it ever occur to you that these other video magicians, who are not identified so no one can check, might be using a Multum in Parvo glass along with the Foo can to make it seem like they are using more liquid than actually possible?
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 9, 2016, jimgerrish wrote: I don't think Al Lampkin was using a special glass (at least he didn't mention it in his book), but that's an interesting idea. |
jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 9, 2016, noland wrote: 4.5 inches
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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