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galerius Loyal user Piemontese Alps ( Northwestern Italy ) 245 Posts |
Dear friends,
can anyone tell me which book can be considered the best introduction to the 'ghost field', for a beginner ? I'm thinking especially of ghost apparitions, "how to haunt" a house etc, things of that kind. |
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Kenn Capman Regular user Southwestern Michigan 196 Posts |
I would suggest 'Spirit Theater' by Eugene Burger as a place to start.
"The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents."
- Salvador Dali - |
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Magickman Elite user St.Petersburg, Fl. 402 Posts |
Eugene Burgers: Spirit Theater
Jim Magus: Raising the Dead for Fun and Profit I believe Morris Costume has a book entitled How to Operate a Successful Haunted House. You should be able to order this from most magic shops. Morris also has an incredible line of "effects" and lighting. Hope this helps Galeruis! Magickman
What man knows he calls Science
What he has yet to learn he calls Magick Both are real! _Tony Andruzzi_ |
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galerius Loyal user Piemontese Alps ( Northwestern Italy ) 245 Posts |
Thank You Kenn and MagickMan ; I've heard of that book...if You say this is advisable for a person ( i.e. me ! ) who's not that able, experienced magician, I'll look for it. Btw I have to precise that I'd like to perform such effects ( apparitions, hauntings etc ) not necessarily organizing a seance.
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Magickman Elite user St.Petersburg, Fl. 402 Posts |
Eugene's book is on spiritualism, the only effect in it is the haunted deck.
Its more on the people who did seance in the past. Its an excellent book but it might not be what you are looking for. Of course learning the history is half the fun! Magickman
What man knows he calls Science
What he has yet to learn he calls Magick Both are real! _Tony Andruzzi_ |
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galerius Loyal user Piemontese Alps ( Northwestern Italy ) 245 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-09-04 12:26, Magickman wrote: Yes, I agree. Reading books on interesting subjects is always good, sometimes amusing, although You don't perform in that field of Art ( e.g. the Stage Illusions ). Anyway, thank You for the further explanation. |
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Magickman Elite user St.Petersburg, Fl. 402 Posts |
Try this url for the book.
I believe this is the one you want. I recommend it, a lot of imformation in there! http://daytonamagic.net/customer/index.c......tId=4375 Magickman
What man knows he calls Science
What he has yet to learn he calls Magick Both are real! _Tony Andruzzi_ |
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
That book, however, is more for the haunt professional who wishes to operate a commercial haunt - it covers advertising, fireproofing and getting a permit or certification from the fire marshall, a lot of the business end stuff.
Galerius, I would recommend these books, in addition to some of the others (by the way, Eugene Burgers "Sprit Theatre" contains a number of effects, not just the haunted deck): Spook Show in your Parlor: This is not a great book, it's old, rather dated, and utilizes a lot of black art, olt time seance / medium type tricks. Still, it can often be found on eBay for $10 or less. Not a bad start though, for a beginner. The Ghost Book of Dark Secrets: Same as above, generally. The Book of Haunted Magick by Rick Maue: This book's in an entirely different class - it's contemporary, based a little bit more on magic than manifestations, but overall is better. Runs about $35, it's now back in print. There's almost too many to mention! For the really classsic seance type effects, take a look at a DVD called "Seance" by Dixie Dooley from Penguin magic. Many people knock this DVD, but it does have value in it's explanation of classic medium effects, like the spirit hand, spirit cabinet, black art, haunted key, levitating table, crystal ball, etc.. it's good for a historical perspective. Dixie Dooley's main genre is escapology, and is an authority on Houdini. Here's a very good webpage full of bizarre, ghost and seance books, though it's primary focus is mental effects: http://www.misdirections.com/mental.html Also, here's a pretty cool site to start some research: http://www.prairieghosts.com/ Lastly, here's someone else asking the same question, more or less, on the genii forums, and they got good advice: http://geniimagazine.com/forum/cgi-bin/u......t=000154
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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Magickman Elite user St.Petersburg, Fl. 402 Posts |
He's not looking for that stuff
Magickman
What man knows he calls Science
What he has yet to learn he calls Magick Both are real! _Tony Andruzzi_ |
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galerius Loyal user Piemontese Alps ( Northwestern Italy ) 245 Posts |
Thanks to Mystician too...all informations and suggestions are the welcome, for, as I said, often it's nice reading about a subject albeit You don't perform any of described routines. And ghost world is always a fascinating subject to me.
What about those children books, on 'how to haunt a house' ? I've seen that there are at least two titles, by Wittkowski and Friedhoffer. They are children books, but, who knows, maybe You can find in them nice ideas...or no ? Do You know them ? |
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
My bad.. I'd assumed that, being in the bizarre magic forum, this was a little more related to magic than simply haunting a house, bu I didn't catch galerius' assertion that he wasn't really looking for seance stuff a few posts down .
I would say Paul Osborne's "Haunted Illusions" might also fit the bill, in addition to everything else listed. Here's a good listing of books for the haunted house genre: http://www.hauntedhouse.com/online-store/books.html I think you'll find that entire site very useful, actually. and for the Do-It-Yourself-Home-Haunter, http://www.monsterlinks.com Also, ptbeast is a pro at this stuff. Dave, any suggestions ? the definitive link list of halloween and haunt projects
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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ptbeast Special user Oregon 831 Posts |
Galerius,
Can you give us a little better idea of exactly what you want to achieve? Do you want to make your house appear haunted? Do you want to create a "walk-through" haunted house, along the lines of what the pros do? Or do you simply want to decorate your house for Halloween with some scary apparitions? The reason that I am asking is that I can recommend some recourses, but they are really designed for different things. In the mean time, here are a few links to get you thinking. This is Rick Maue's website. Though more magic based, the haunted chamber is a great way to approach a haunted house. http://www.deceptionsunlimited.com/ct1.html This is a link to Blackhart's website. Check out "The Ghost Illusion" http://www.blackhart.co.uk/page13.html If you explore Hauntworld for a while you will find some very interesting links. http://www.hauntworld.com I would also second Mystician's suggestions of Osborne's Haunted Illusions and Monsterlinks, but only if you are handy in the workshop (or want to be). I look forward to hearing more from you. If you can give us a better idea of what you want to do, or if you find any of the above links are interesting, then I am sure that we can provide much more. Keep 'em screaming. Dave |
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galerius Loyal user Piemontese Alps ( Northwestern Italy ) 245 Posts |
Dear Mystician and Dave...yes, maybe I had to be more precise, You're right ( often I tend to be laconic, being yet a beginner in your language ! )...no, I don't want to 'haunt' the whole house, or create walks thru or so. I'd like simply to create a scary effect, just for sake of amusement...for example, to make appear 'something' in a dark room, or at the end of a corridor in the twilight etc., something a bit more sophisticated than a balloon covered with a linen, You see. To 'create' a ghost, in a word.
Yep, maybe the Ghost Illusion could be what I'm looking for... Anyway, I have again to thank You for all the links You gave me ; being not an expert in this field check out them it's interesting, and exciting. |
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ptbeast Special user Oregon 831 Posts |
Galerius,
Now that I have a better idea of what you want, I can give you a few more ideas. Take a look a Mystician's web site and look at his Flying Crank Ghost. You can find plans for the FCG on the Monster List (above) or just do a google search. If you want to tackle a much more elaborate ghost illusion, do a search for Pepper's ghost. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them here or PM me. Good luck, Dave |
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Heh, Dave took the words right out of my mouth, an FCG sounds like it'd be just the ticket !! (and thanks for the mention, Dave ;-)
Galerius, here's a link to my website, a page which showcases my Flying Crank Ghost: http://www.phrets.com/anastasia Note: this is not an original idea or mechanical design, but everyone's FCG is unique because of the "puppet" they build. "Anastasia" is mine. The pictures on my site are really only of interest to someone building their own, but to really see and appreciate the beauty of an FCG, you have to see it in action, so I highly recommend downloading my first movie, which is only 3 MB. If you want to see a really detailed movie from the inside of the house, for the second movie I took the camera up in my attic where you can see the mechanism in action and the lighting and all that. That's a whopping 50MB however, and also requires the DIVX codec, so it might not play for everyone. For more info, check out the link to Phantasmechanics on my page. Scores of people have made their own FCG, and the credit belongs to Doug Ferguson, the original inventor of the design, and a genius as far as I'm concerned. Speaking of Pepper's Ghost, you could actually combine the two and really mess with people's heads, very badly at that. OOo, that's just evil. Now the gears & wheels in my head are turning ...
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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ptbeast Special user Oregon 831 Posts |
Mystician,
I saw the FCG and Pepper's Ghost combined in a haunt last year. They had a little girl transform into the ghost. It was very, very effective. Could be a very fun project. Dave |
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galerius Loyal user Piemontese Alps ( Northwestern Italy ) 245 Posts |
Thank You ! This is cool stuff, really ! Very nice.
What a pity that I can't open that link, but I will try later. Anyway, your page gives me an idea. |
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Midnight333 Veteran user 353 Posts |
The Friedhoffer book has been a favorite of mine for years. Some fun stuff in there.
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-09-06 11:33, galerius wrote: What link is that ?
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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galerius Loyal user Piemontese Alps ( Northwestern Italy ) 245 Posts |
Aw, it was only the link to Phantasmechanics ; it was momentarily unavailable on my browser, but later it worked.
Thank You |
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