Hello,

Just wanted to see what everyone thinks of the multiplying candles?

I have the smaller size and I think they are great. When I first bought them and opened the box up I didn't think they would look real on stage, but when you light them they really look real, and beautiful.

What do you all think?

eddiekap,

You revive one of my favorites! I know the gimmick is intense. I produce each candle by waving my right hand over the last produced candle.
Upon producing the fourth candle, I tilt the left hand to the left and vanish the same fourth candle. My right hand comes forward with a unlit candle which I light with the third in left hand. At that moment I re-produce the fourth candle in left hand. I then proceed to cross left and right hand while producing the final three candles in right hand.

I have yet to use them in my act but I am working on the routine. I remember watching Shimada produce one candle and then multiply it. That is what interested me in this effect and what eventually led to my purchase of it. I am surprised that not too many magicians, at least that I know and watch don't use this effect. I can't wait to finish my routine and perform it in my show. What is the best way to store the candles when they are soaked with lighter fluid before the show? Would a ziplock bag be efficient enough to keep the fluid from evaporating?

Thanks,
Ed

Ed, where did you see Shimada do that? Was it live or on a video. If on a video, I want it.

Randy, your routine sounds great. I think this may definitely be something I'll look into. I love all kinds of manipulations, mostly ball and thimbles (some cards too). I have been thinking about a set of candles. Any suggestions? Does it matter? What should I stay away from?

Thanks,

FC

I had to look through my videos but I found where Shimada peforms it. It is on the Sensational Acts of Mystery Men Volume 1. By Steven Magic Emporium.

It's not an instructional tape but just a performance tape. There is a bunch of great acts on there from Shimada, to Mr. Electric, Silvano, Charlie Miller, Paul Daniels, Hans Moretti, Jay Marshall.

Shimada produces the candle in his dove act.

"Shimada, Doves Vol. 2" video shows him with one small set of four candles (used in left hand) and a Fantasio vanishing candle. Following the vanishing candle, he transitions into his card manipulation. He performs a series of single card productions using an entire deck!

eddiekap, you asked about evaporation. My candles are on board as body loads. They remain in plastic tubes until produced. The tubes I purchased at a crafts store. I have no idea what others use them for but they come in all sizes. I use the large set of candles and cut two tubes to hold and cover the candle up to the finger grips. It's important to allow an extra two inches as you will warm the tube and close it shut on one end.

You guys who use them....I give you credit. They aren't the easiest objects to use. Why do you guys perfer to use multiplying candles instead of using a couple of appearing candles?


Leon.

The candle effect looks more unique than say a fantasio appearing candle, or vanishing. I do use them also. You can get some different effects with the multiplying than the fantasio products. I like how you can make candles appear in each hand at the fingertips, kind of like a multiplying ball routine. You can make one disappear and reappear in the other hand, etc.

You are correct, they are difficult to handle at first. It takes a knack, but I think I am doing fairly well. I just wish there were some more sources on information on these.

Thanks for the useful info on how to keep the fluid from evaporating Randy.
Best,
Ed

Ed,

Yeah, I guess the effect is different. Fluid can also be retained by putting them in a plastic ziplock baggy before performance and you can produce them at anytime during your act.


Leon

I am trying to find the best way to steal them, perhaps a body load, or a table load.

Any suggestions?

If it was me I would use the body. It is more magical when you do not go to the table, for any reason motivated or not. Stay away from the table!

Leon

Don't believe they are made any longer but Loyd's used to make a set of multipling candles that were produced between the fingers ala billiard balls. Unlike the set that was entirely hinged these were rather different.

One of the acts that utilised them was Rico, Magic by Candlelight which may have been the Gustafason's.

The multiplying candles are one of the great stage manipulation "images" in all of magic. My most recent moment of wonder involving the candles was in Torkova's stage act. He gets laughter and amazement from this wonderful bit of magic.

Ed

Fred Kap's ued them as part of his manipulation act as well. I believe that he used the Lloyd's, which are more difficult to master, but can do much more with. 2 hinged, and 2 nest over the hinged pair.
Lou

When I did stage work many years ago, I did a multplying candle act. It was one of the favorite parts of the show (at least for me), the audience seemed to really enjoy it also. I used the shorter ones then graduated to the larger set. After doing all the manipulation stuff, in the end, with the last candle, I turned it into a white silk, ditched the gimick and went on with an effect with the silk.

Are you talking about the kind of candles that Daytona Magic sells?

I’ve got a set of multiplying candles from several years ago. They are metal, all shells and they seem very fragile. I could see the weld on one of the hinges breaking easily. Using all of the lighter fluid they soak up and the hot flames made be nervous so I modified them to look like short stubby candy canes.

There are two types of multiplying candles. .The Morgan and Lloyd style. The Morgan's are hinged together and are much easier to learn and use. The originals were very good but unfortunately they have not been made in years. The ones availabable right now are imports from India. They are generally very poorly made.

The Lloyd's style is still made by Owens Magic. I also have very good set that was made by Tim Starr. This take more practice to use and it is best to practice over a bed to help with drops. They can be shown as solid candle on both sides where the Morgans can not.

I think one of the reasons people do not do this is because the fire. It looks best in a dimmed light. Most people I have seen use them in a manipulation act and secure them from a box type table.

Randy, your body loads are great. I used to load a firebowl on my body. A couple of times I got overzealous in adding the lighter fluid so I had plenty when it lit. I developed a nice arm rash from the fluid fumes. I have to admit as great as it was. I do not miss the hassles of packing and doing that effect.

Richard

The complete handling for the Multiplying Candles can be found in Lewis Ganson's Routined Manipulation series of books. Steals and all, along with suggested holders.

Shaun Yee magic offers a set that you can remove one at a time and show seperatly as they are produced. They are more expensive than the ones that are all hinged together, but still not nearly as expensive as Owen's. I don't know if being able to remove them and show them one at a time would be that important or not, as I have no experience with them.
I was thinking about purchasing a set, but thought that I might get some advice from you guys before I do.