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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Does anyone know the history of the "Bank Night" effect? I did a search, but didn't come up with much.
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
I believe Tom Sellers created the Bank Night plot in the mid 30's. It was called Just Chance. Not sure what you're looking for.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Thanks, Mowtown, that's a start.
Tom Sellers created the plot, which was what? Where did it go from there? When did it acquire the name "Bank Night"? The two versions I know of are John Scarne's and Ted Lesley's. The Scarne version appears in a book I have, "100 of Scarne's Magic Tricks," which is a reprint of the first 100 tricks from the book "Scarnes Magic Tricks" and was published in 1951. Five participants are given envelopes, four of which contain blank pieces of paper and one of which contains a, say, $100 bill. After mixing, everyone is found to hold envelopes with blank pieces of paper. The bill is found in a cigarette the performer has been smoking (politically incorrect today). The Lesley version appears on his DVDs published by L&L. A participant is allowed to select one envelope from three, one of which contains a drawing. She finds the correct envelope, but misses out on the other two, which contain currency. Similar basic plot, but the details are completely different. |
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Oops, sorry--that's Motown.
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Maybe this query belongs in another category, but if so, I'm not sure which one.
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Bank Night is the title used in Amercica for Tom Seller's Just Chance. The name used in the UK. Same plot, different name.
There are many diffent presentations and approaches, including Annemann's Seven Keys to Baldpate for the basic plot you listed. John Archer has a great version on his new dvds. Richard Osterlind has great version where the spectators end up with lottery tickets and he ends up with the money. This takes the sting out of not getting anything. Max Maven also has a nice version called Key To The Future on his Videomind DVD vol. 2.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Here's Another:
Fogel's Technicolour Chance Five closed and different coloured paper tissue bags sit in a row on a tray. The magician states that four of the bags contain crumpled pieces of paper. The fifth contains something of value. Spectators are asked to select bags. One by one, the bags are burned with a match, reducing them to ashes. When only three bags remain, a spectator is asked to choose one and another spectator another. They may change their minds as many times as they wish. Spectator one, opens his bag to find a crumpled piece of paper. Spectator two also finds a crumpled piece of paper in his bag. The magician opens his bag and finds... A crumpled piece of paper. He then opens the piece of paper and inside is a $100 bill, or other object of considerable value. A classic theme in magic, given a wonderful twist.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Burn Witch Burn by Docc Hilford is another really good one.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
I've got the history of the effect in my "Banker's Dream" e-Book published in The Wizards' Journal #20 (on my site), which is a compendium of favorite Bank Night variations through the years up to my present-day hand-held version.
So as not to leave you in suspense, the basic plot was and has pretty much always been (with variations): Several envelopes are presented to spectators, who freely choose the envelopes. They are told that only one of the envelopes contains money, and whoever chooses it, wins it. The last envelope belongs to the magician. The spectators open their envelopes one by one and all are empty except the magician’s, which contains the money. You are correct in that it invented by Tom Sellers, of Scotland, and published under the name “It’s Only Chance” in 1935. It acquired the name "Just Chance" which was popular among British magicians for a long time. In 1936, American magician Floyd Thayer published his version in the Genii Pacific Coast Magic News, October 1936, Volume 1. He named it "Bank Night" after the then popular intermission entertainment at American movie theaters, which was advertised as "Bank Night." The rest of the evolution of the effect you will find in my e-Book as mentioned.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Spellbinder,
What is it about your bank night that makes it better than the rest? Of course I'm not asking for the secret. Also, how many pages are in your ebook?
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Thanks everyone. Your responses have been very helpful.
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-27 20:18, motown wrote: Variations of an effect occur NOT because they are better than their predecessors, but because they fill a need. Magicians on this forum are always looking for an answer to the question: "what is the best one?" That's a question that has no answer in most cases. Best for whom? Best for what situation? My e-Book is a history of the effect known as "Bank Night." Each variation described takes the effect to a new level or makes it adapt to a new situation. My own version got rid of all the previous gimmicks; trick trays, magazines and newspapers, and so on. It is strictly "in your hands" and uses ordinary envelopes from the Dollar Store that people are used to buying and using every day. It is designed for close-up use as well as stage use. Does that fill a need for you, too? If so, look into it. If you are happy with the version you have, ignore it. How many pages are in an e-Book? Facetiously I would say there is only 1 page in any e-Book- you scroll up and down to read it. Judging an effect by the number of printed pages it takes to describe it tells you nothing. However, if you are just asking because you might want to print it out someday: my e-Book currently has 29 pages. I say "currently" because an e-Book, unlike a printed book, can easily be updated and if I discover any things that should be added, I send revised e-Books to all purchasers of the original e-Book. So it can grow, but it can never shrink.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Spellbinder,
I asked those questions to get additional information I couldn't find on your web site. Sorry to put you out.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
I'm just getting cranky in my old age. On my site, I state: I believe my version, first published in 1986, is the simplest and best. It is performed entirely in the hands, with no need for tricky trays or body work. It uses ordinary Dollar Store security envelopes, and best of all the method works with almost any "Bank Night" routine that has ever been developed. That's why I call it the "Banker's Dream."
However, you are correct; I do not mention how many pages, nor how many words, nor what size font, nor how many illustrations, etc., because I believe those details to be irrelevant.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Like I said, sorry I asked, bothered and this, that and the other thing.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Spellbinder,
I tried to find your e-book, Banker's Dream, on your website. Where is it? Thamks. |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-11 19:14, Ray Haining wrote: Banker's Dream is in Wizard's Journal # 20, it is listed on the home page if you scroll down a little. Or here: http://www.magicnook.com/WizJournal/WJ-20ALL.htm If you want only the Banker's Dream information it is sold separately here: http://www.magicnook.com/WizJ20/wizj20-04BankersDream.htm |
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
One last question: is the history of the effect included in the stand-alone version?
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
I include histories of most of the effects I write about, including Bank Night. I am avidly interested in magic history and like to share what I know from research, and what I remember from having been there with all who buy my e-Books. If you are not interested in magic history, you can just skip over it, but it's there because some day you may develop an interest in how things got from A to Z, so to speak.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Actually. it's the history part I'm most interested in and was very glad that such a resource existed. Thanks.
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