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dlcmagic Special user 887 Posts |
Anyone have ideas on magic using a Ben Franklin theme?
Thank you for your help. |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I think ol' Ben had the gout. You might be able to work that in somewhere.
Didn't he invent electricity? One of those zappers should come in handy. He was quite a lady's man too. The european ladies thought he was quite a stud. I also think he invented the umbrella (or was it the kite) so you might do a parasol production. Don't forget to wear bi-focals. He invented those too. I do not think he invented eyeballs, however. So don't wear those. He might have invented dirt but I'm not sure on that one. ... all this was the result of too much coffee.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
jkvand Special user Johnstown, PA 658 Posts |
A Makin' Sparks funkenring that goes off when you pick up a key would make a good bit, or a trick with a $100 bill and make jokes about the picture on it. He also instituted the first fire dept in Philadelphia, so any tricks involving fire would be open to that story as a backdrop. A book test (he was a printer's apprentice, then a printer himself I believe). I don't necessarily recommend using the standard Coloring Book prop if you're working for adults, but perhaps make your own book that is gimmicked like that, and patter about BF as a printer, then demonstrate by magically printing a book in front of them, using the Coloring Book principle.
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Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
As postmaster, Ben had to figure out routes for delivering the mail. He went out riding in his carriage to measure the routes and needed a way to keep track of the distance. He invented a simple odometer and attached it to his carriage.
The theme of distance could easily be demonstrated using a Professor's Nightmare... Lyndel |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
As one of our first postmaster generals, the old stamp album bit might be viable. The comedy eye chart with a collection of oddball glasses can also fit in a school setting. Vanishing and appearing candles can be used to discuss his adaptation of daylight savings time. He didn't actually discover electricity or that lightning consisted of electricity...by Franklin's time, this was fairly well known. But, he did present a series of parlour tricks and party effects using electricity...as well as a serious study of the energy. Some research here may find something of use.
I can think of dozens of effects using newspaper, newsprint and such that would address his earliest printing fame. In fact, Franklin was instrumental in creating counterfeit resistant currency for the fledgling United States...so a variety of bill transpositions come to mind...especially if you can get your hands on reproduction currency of the period. Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12938 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-01-05 13:50, dlcmagic wrote: I have an effect called Famous People (see my sig) Ben is in that routine. When you get the effect you can make Ben (or anyone or anything else) a larger part of it. John |
e-man Special user HILTON HEAD,SC 880 Posts |
USE Ben Franklin half dollars if you do close up.Althogh I don't suppose they had too many of those in his day.O.K. here it is...!Predict the future,Tell your audience that you predict in 200 years peolpe will visit your grave from all over the world and throw pennies on it,And at night Winos will steal the pennies to buy a 40.oz The (Magicians Insurance policy)-Ben created the early benevolent society.
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ERIC HELVENSTON |
dlcmagic Special user 887 Posts |
Anyone else ?
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
A thank you might have been nice...Never mind.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
One of Ben's most famous inventions, that you can find on every tall building in every part of the world today, is the lightning rod. It can also be used to "predict" when lightning is close-by or imminent. Ben attached his own lightning rod to a static electric bell device so it would jingle when enough static electricity was in the air to cause a potential lightning strike. This is something that could be built and used in a demonstration, magically of course, claiming that your lightning rod detects magical energy and the bell will jingle just before magic happens. So you are about to do a magic trick and you look over at the apparatus and suddenly the bell jingles and the object you are holding disappears (or whatever). Great misdirection, too!
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
dlcmagic Special user 887 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-01-13 11:28, Skip Way wrote: Didn't forget you Dan. Thank you everyone so far for their ideas. |
mcharisse Inner circle York. PA 1226 Posts |
I use Franklin halves for coin work sometimes, pattering about the higher silver content -- but this get me thinking about the multitalented Mr. Franklin - you just never know where he's going to turn up...
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chris mcbrien Inner circle Chicago 1235 Posts |
Dlcmagic,
There are a few books out there on Ben, I've read a few of them. He goes WAY beyond the stove and the key/kite thing. He's one of the most brilliant politician and inventor who ever lived. While I don't want to give away my own show routines that I currently do using Ben Franklin as a theme (I'm sure you can respect this) I would encourage you to do the research. If you love to read you'll be fascinated by Ben Franklin, I guarantee it. By the third chapter into one of these books I was madly scribbling down my ideas and putting them into routines. Best of luck! Chris |
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