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jondark445 Special user 716 Posts |
On a completely separate topic....I'd love to do a blade box routine with the ding...but have no desire to tote around a full size blade box.....anyone have any suggestions for alternatives to the blade box?
--T |
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Rod Pringle Special user 543 Posts |
I remember a Dagger head Chest on the old Famous Cole Circus, used instead of the coffin blade box. For the ding, you would pay an extra quarter and then be allowed to walk around back and look at the head chest from behind. But non of the doors were opened for an expose. You were just allowed to walk completly around the head box . and try an figure how it was done .
It travels light and is big on effect. These dagger head boxes are either ready made or you can build them from plans. ROD |
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Sword basket
Quote: On 2010-10-04 19:58, jondark445 wrote: |
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Stephon Special user Maryland, USA 911 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-10-04 21:02, Todd Robbins wrote: Yeah, that's how we've been doing it, and it's worked out well for us; only problem is occasional complaints from magicians that we're revealing the trick.
~Les S. Moore, The Dapper Dipper
Swami Yomahmi and Cheeky Monkey Sideshow "Comedy is a man in trouble." ~Bill Irwin |
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-10-07 10:38, Stephon wrote: A number of years ago an irate magician wrote a letter to one of the magic magazines that an old magician was revealing tricks to the public. What the guy was ****ed about was someone doing the blade box at a fund raiser...and that old magician was Jay Marshall. You are in good company. Posted: Oct 7, 2010 11:10am Swami, If that happens often, make up a letter from the President of the National Magic Society of India giving you permission to use the trick as a ding. This way you can show you have approval from the originators of the trick. Make sure the letter talks about how pleased they are that you are perserving the true cultural heritage of the trick (it was created by the Jaddo Wallah to be a ding, but in a slightly different presentation). |
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Stephon Special user Maryland, USA 911 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-10-07 11:10, Todd Robbins wrote: What an amazingly wonderful idea. Thanks!
~Les S. Moore, The Dapper Dipper
Swami Yomahmi and Cheeky Monkey Sideshow "Comedy is a man in trouble." ~Bill Irwin |
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
There's always an angle to work.
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jondark445 Special user 716 Posts |
Thanks everyone...and thanks Todd (how are you finding the time to pop up on here????!!!???) I will take all of this information and run with it like Forrest Gump.....thanks...and many thanks to the President of the National Magic Society of India...without whose help this scam...errr...presentation would not be possible....
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joe faro Regular user Salida Colorado 154 Posts |
I didn't know that Mr.Robbins was the President of the National Magic Society of India!
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-10-08 11:07, joe faro wrote: I get around. |
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jondark445 Special user 716 Posts |
To say the least....
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ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts |
Check out Chapter 10 of A,W.Stencell's "Circus and Carnival Ballyhoo, Sideshow Freaks, Jaggers and Bladebox Queens"
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
I've never before heard of Todd referred to, as a Blade Box Queen.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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Tom Jorgenson Inner circle LOOSE ANGLES, CALIFORNIA 4451 Posts |
T-
My first Blade Box was a Hull Box. I too had a space problem. I rerigged it so that the sides were pin-hinged all around and fell inward to pack, the lid went down on it and it was all flat, about 5" thick or so. The stage blade holder was the blades' packing box, as I recall. We were using it for Halloween at Knotts, with Bobby Reynolds, 24 years ago this year. There are few alternatives to the Blade Box, I'd think, that are anywhere near as strong. Not much that you could use (to save packing space) would be as satisfactory. Build one that packs flat. I used folding sawhorses to hold the box. Lock the box onto the sawhorses for stability and you're home free. I used big bolts and wingnuts. These things can pack flat if you design them that way.
We dance an invisible dance to music they cannot hear.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Tom, welcome to this section of the Café! For those of you who don't know Tom, you need to learn about the Lulu Hearst Society (which may at this point be defunct), and check out his book on medicine shows. It's full of great stuff, applicable to many other situations.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts |
Other than Jimmy Dixion's break apart box, and Ward's stand up box, I haven't seen any worthwhile improvements in the prop.
John Bradshaw had a great seg into the ding. He would have Albert ( Rubber ) short call the crowd down to the blade box stage, then do his entertaining India Rubber Man act, then let John take over while he climbed into the box" to continue his contortions". Nice. Jimmy Dixon does the box ( which breaks in half ) as the last part of his excellent and "free" magic act on an outdoor bally stage. This is at the end of a 15 min. act, that also has a mouse pitch halfway through. I really like the idea of folding saw horses for the bier. Not sure if pinning the box is worth the trouble. Your milage may very. Still the best box: http://www.goodmagic.com/websales/brill_bladebox/index.htm
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
I have two blade boxes. One was built for the Riverview Park sideshow. It is on wheels and is pinned. It works very well for a show that has to pack down. The other box was from the Kelly/Sutton sideshow. It is build like a truck and was made to also hold the tent stakes.
The Brill plans were "based" upon the Hull box design. One of these days I'm going to spend several hundred hours up at the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts reading the micro film complete file of Billboard. I will be looking for the first reference to the Blade Box. It's probably in the 1920s and the idea came from the Selbit sawing. My guess is that some enterprising showman got the idea of discarding the mess and reset hassle of the sawing part, kept the blades through the box and put in view holes so he could ding the crowd. In the 1933 movie The Circus Queen Murder there is a scene on a circus midway that shows a band depicting the Blade Box. Therefore, the act was clearly established before that date. So there. |
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jondark445 Special user 716 Posts |
Much more curious to me is where Todd is finding the time in his busy schedule for such lengthy posts chock full of great info! Thanks, Todd...looking forward to PLAY DEAD on the 20th!
--Tony |
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ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts |
Quote: On 2010-11-08 09:31, Todd Robbins wrote:
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-10-07 12:42, Stephon wrote: I don’t believe this is "an angle" .... it is clearly supporting the cultural heritage – we all know that all magic tricks come from India …… at least the instructions you get with them are clearly in Indian English!!! |
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