I have used the Kuma Tubes to produce huge amounts of silks, parasols, etc., but I am looking for something else with a similar effect, just for variety.

Hi Clinton, You have the large Kuma Tubes, that is wonderful, I only seen Dip Lip Soo perform that effect a couple of time years ago. Not many people perform it I believe.

To try to come close to such a fast paced surprising production item is very hard to match. I really do not think there is much outthere in a production appratus to compare to this effect. Being you mentioned parasols, that makes it difficult. Not many manufacturers are making these props now because the country is into close-up. Abbott's Magic refused to make me a Phantom Tube and they said it was to old and not a seller any longer.

Hocus-Pocus on their private estate sale is selling the Rice Chimney set currently. That is all silks. Then there is the old Jumbo Square Circle. Also there is a trifold screen production on the estate sale as well. The Westgate Bowl production is a good effect also, with silks and a fish bowl climax.

My favorite silk production is Duke's Dye Version from Abbott Magic. I produce a 25 foot streamer for the finale, then steal a parasol to top off the finish.

Wmhegbli: Either Dip Lip Soo is the name of an obscure magician from your deep past with whom I am completely unfamiliar, or you are thinking of De Yip Lou, famous father of Frances Mai-Ling (our own Marshall Thornside on the Café), who was famous for his Kuma Tube presentation.

ClintonMagus: I have always felt that the "Flower Growth Supreme," invented by William Russell and Ladson Butler, and built by Thayer c. 1915, had space to spare in its load chamber and could hold more than just one flowerpot. A few parasols and six foot silks would do nicely to fill up the remaining spaces. You'll find it described in The Wizards' Journal #14 with further improvements by Jim Gerrish, 2008.

While you're there, look at Thayer's floor model Square Circle and consider this: If you cover your Kuma Tubes with a stretchy cloth sleeve (like the stretch book covers used by school kids these days), you can easily change their outward appearance without harm to the Tube. By using them as the inner tubes to a floor model Square Circle, you can make it seem like a whole new effect, yet you are able to switch back to the old Kuma Tubes whever you want.

Spellbinder, yes it was the Chicago magician De Yip Lou, he did fly casting demonistrations at our home show one year as well. Working off my memory only and did not get up and get out his photo to check the correct name and spelling.

I use a drawer box for stage silk productions, as well as a square circle.

With the drawer box routine, I present it with patter, and in addition to the silks and beads, it also has some flower bouquet productions as a part of it.

With the square circle routine, I present it to music, and in addition to the silks, it also has a flagstaff production as a part of it.

- Donald

My description was somewhat incorrect. The parasols are produced via a table steal; they are not in the Kuma Tubes.

This item (Ghost Tube, from Barry Mitchell) might be of interest to you.

- Donald

Thanks Donald, I am old school and looking for a traditional type of Phantom Tube, with the end rings for the tissue paper cover. Thanks for your suggestion, I did not see that one in my search.

I only found Richard Hughes and another that are larger then I care to use. I am looking for one that is around 10" long and approx. 3 inches in diameter, that has the rings for the tissue. I am willing to bend a little but I don't care to have a monster tube to mess with, just a nice flash production.

Morrissey Magic makes a Dove Drumhead Tube about the size you described, where you use tissue held in place with rings, although the method is different than a phantom tube. (Scroll down towards bottom of page for the larger prop.)

I've seen performers use silks as the production item, instead of livestock.

- Donald

While I was searching for a response to this post in The Wizards' Journal #14 - "Flower Power" I ran across an old effect I had made from a Dollar Store clear plastic spaghetti canister that was just about the size of the Phantom Tube you mentioned. You trim the top and bottom off the spaghetti canister so you have a nice tube about 10" by 3". You cover the top and bottom openings with tissue paper, held on by rubber bands or plastic or cardboard rings. Suddenly a sizable load of silks and/or flowers appears inside the clear plastic tube. You remove the tissue from one end and pour out the load into a parasol or basket. Then a second load of similar size appears inside the clear plastic tube.


I also had a third load, now that I think of it, but I didn't put that into the e-Book. I'm getting forgetful. However, anyone who has (or gets) "Flower Power" from Wiz J #14 can have the principle of the third load just for the asking. The effect is, you have just removed the tissue from both ends of the clear plastic tube and reach into the tube one last time to pull one end of a huge 50 foot silk banner from one opening and the other end from the opposite opening. It happens too fast for anyone to catch on where it came from. Send me an e-mail from the same e-mail address you used to order the e-Book and request the THIRD LOAD for the Crystal Tube Production if you want it.

My favorite production of large quantity of silks that I use today is the Zebra Tube - You can produce an amazing amount of silks from it.

Without a doubt it is the Line of Silks that is made for the 36' or 48' stage. (That is 16 full sized 18" or 24" silks on a ribbon.) It packs very small and uses the whole stage.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Bob that is a great suggestion, but one 1st must have something to pull that great line of silks out of 1st.

Bill,

That is true. My favorite is after a bottle of wine from a THIS (Improved) but I can alos get them from coat pockets, square circles, pagodas, change bags, paper cup, etc.

The cargo space required is minimal. When loaded the 18" silk set is slightly larger than a pack of cigarettes and the 24" size is about twice that size.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Hi everyone, been gone for awhile. Good to be back.

Just finished a long run of library shows using Barry Mitchell's Ghost Tube. I used it with the Little Fishy silks sold by Tim Sonefelt. It made for a great "undersea" adventure story that blended nicely with the library theme this summer.

Hi TRUMPETMAN! Welcome back!

I had a unique, custom-built Square Circle, that held a phenomenal load. It was performed to music, and held all of my silks, the most beautiful of which I saved until last, and then, I pulled out a rubber chicken at the end. It always got a good laugh!

That Square Circle was beautiful in itself. I'd do that all over again, if I ever did stage magic again. I only paid something like $25 for it at a Magic yard sale.

Doug



Oh, and I might add, I would pay royalties to BMI/ASCAP for using copyrighted music.

;)