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Lothar Loyal user 248 Posts |
Does anyone know where I can find illusion plans, or any other information for the Motley Man? It's an old trick from the '60's and '70's, I think. I'd like to modernize it for my show.
Wes Fowler |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Any "Stack of Boxes" illusion can be painted as "Motley Man." Osborne has one.
Personally, I don't think you really NEED plans, as the concept is very easy. Determine the size of the bottom box (don't forget room in the base), and build up from there making the remaining three boxes the same size as the bottom one (minus base.) build in a ledge or "lip" so the boxes stay aligned, add a few doors, and there you have it. |
Lothar Loyal user 248 Posts |
Actually,
I need to know the effect. Can someone PM me , or recommend a book that explains the effect?? It sounds like a complicated prediction effect. I won't be using a stack of boxes . I'd like to use just a dressing screen. Wes "Macho Magic" |
M-Illusion Special user 549 Posts |
The "Motley Man" illusion incorporates the Stack of Boxes as part of the primary effect. Each side of each box has a different part of a different "character" painted on it.
Four separate cards are selected by the audience, one at a time, each one deciding which side of each box will be the front. After the first card is selected, the bottom box (on base) is turned to coordinate with the selected card. After the next card is selected, the following box is stacked with the proper side facing the front. And so on... The end result is a "character" that is "freely designed" by the audience. The front doors pop open, and there the character is. It's a unique effect, and I remember that Mark Wilson had a really goofy character on roller skates appear. Without the Stack of Boxes, it's not the Motley Man illusion. |
Mark Holstein New user Houston, Texas 54 Posts |
As far as I know, this effect is NOT in the public domain - it is, I believe, an Alan Wakeling effect.
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M-Illusion Special user 549 Posts |
I believe you're correct...and I also think that Mark Wilson sold his working model. Your best bet would be to give Johnny Gaughan a call.
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Mark could very well be right, as Mark Wilson is the only person I have ever seen do this effect.
But, that doesn't mean you can't use "Motley Man" as a catalyst for your own creation. Since you don't want to use the "Stack of Boxes," you have already chaged the concept dramatically. Perhaps all you are after is a prediction effect whereby the audience determines what your assistant will be wearing. That's certainly not copying, and may be the start of a good trick idea. |
the Sponge Inner circle Atlanta 2771 Posts |
Quote:
Perhaps all you are after is a prediction effect whereby the audience determines what your assistant will be wearing. That's certainly not copying, and may be the start of a good trick idea. This already exists in two forms that I know of. s |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Sponge,
What's your point? That he can't develop his own method or interpretation? I hope that's not what you meant, because by that yardstick the "Motley Man" never should have been created simply because the "Costume Trunk" used the basic principle (costume prediction). Sure, there may be similar tricks, but that can't limit our creativity. There are only so many basic magic effects (vanish, appearance, transposition, etc.), but thousands and thousands of tricks have sprung from them. I think we should ancourage Lothar, not discourage him because TWO similar effects exist. |
Paul Arthur Regular user 196 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-07-01 16:40, Starrpower wrote: John Bundy has one in his Halloween shows. |
chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
Give Stan Kramien a call. He used motley man many times -- and I believe he had one still in his warehouse.
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
Lothar Loyal user 248 Posts |
My idea was to predict what the assistant will be wearing. I show an empty changing screen , then I fold it. I show pictures of different dresses, shoes, hair, and jewelry. The audience picks the dress shoes, hair, etc. I open the screen , and there is the asst. wearing everything the audience picked. Is this what the "costume trunk " is? It'd be more complicated because the audience will pick not only the dress, but the shoes, jewelry, and hair .
It's meant to be a complicated prediction effect. I thought that it was like the Motley Man because that effect also has four different things for the audience to choose. Lothar |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Ah, yes ... Kramien DID use it, didn't he?
And I'd guess Bundy has used just about everything at one time or another! |
the Sponge Inner circle Atlanta 2771 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-07-01 18:40, Starrpower wrote: My response was mainly to you, not him. you wrote "Perhaps all you are after is a prediction effect whereby the audience determines what your assistant will be wearing. That's certainly not copying, and may be the start of a good trick idea." To me this sounds like you suggest the effect is new. The individual would be misled thinking the effect was original to him. Further, the other versions could be referenced, cutting out a lot of the work, and/or providing ideas. s |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Lothar -
Yes. Basically, you are describing a version of the costume trunk illusion. It's a classic illusion. Sure, you are using a screen instead of a trunk, but the premise is the same. Have a look at the description of the illusion on Paul Osborne's website (for example): http://www.osborneillusionsystems.com/ Click on plans, then on the costume trunk description. This is Paul's take on this classic illusion. Pretty close to what you want to do, right? Don't you hate it when you "re-invent" a classic! Hehehe. - Donald.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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John Bundy Regular user USA 193 Posts |
I spoke to Mark Wilson about the Motley Man illusion a long time ago and he credits it to Bev Bergeron and either Bob Fenton or Bob Towner. I can't remember which Bob it was. They were part of his creative staff for the Magic Land of Allakazam series.
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Magic Monkichi Elite user Ontario, Canada 401 Posts |
Hey guys,
You can also see a picture of an available model at http://www.klamm-magic.com As well as a lot of other illusions. Magically yours, Matt |
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