Years ago (I mean...sometime in the 90's) Genii published (monthly) Paul's Illusion plans. One was an appearance that was built to look like a giant camera. First, does anyone remember this (maybe it was called Shutterbug…)? And, two, does anyone know where one could get the plans now? Still published anywhere? Anyone have them…?

Thanks in advance.

Rusty

If you subscribe to Genii, all issues are online and you can search for free.

Good luck using the search engine . It's a bit eccentric, can sometimes be like searching for a needle in a hay stack . (but I still think having the digital archive of Genii is great and I use it all the time , worth the price of subscription, but the search engine will be a lesson to you in learning patience and how to endure tedious, repetitious tasks. Let's just say , Google it ain't ...)

I did not find anything by searching for "Paul Osborne camera illusion" or "Paul Osborne Shutterbug" with a date range from 01/01/1990 to 12/31/2000

However, I expanded the search range from 01/01/1980 - to - 12/31/2000 and using the search term "Paul Osborne camera" found The Shutter Bug by Paul Osborne, in the July 1985 issue.

Rusty the Osborne site is still on line and selling Paul's magnificent work. https://hamiltonholtinc.stores.yahoo.net/index.html
You can email Bentli@aol.com for information on the plan you are looking for they have the entire run of Genii plans.

Joe

Because it was published in the July 1985 issue, there's also a possibility that it was republished in the Big Black Book (Paul Osborne). I think that book has the Genii plans from 1981 to 1991.

They still sell the softcover version of the Big Black Book on the website, which I believe is run by Michelle.

https://hamiltonholtinc.stores.yahoo.net/sofverbigbla.html

I had one of the original hardcover versions of the Big Black Book, but I sold it a few years ago, so unfortunately I can't check the book myself to see if it's in there.

- Donald

It was indeed published in The Big Back Book, and the name is indeed The Shutter Bug. It appears on pages 144 - 145. Here's the description.

Effect:
The magician introduces his giant magical camera. It's wheeled out on a thin-looking platform and all sides are shown. Blank "film" is displayed and slid into the back of the camera as the front lens area is opened to show the interior empty. The front door is again closed and the magician shows different "negatives" and slides each one into the camera. The first one is the bird negative. Quickly the front is opened and there's a dove in front of the negative! The front is closed. the dove negative removed and the rabbit negative is inserted. Voila--a rabbit! And of course the grand finale-- a girl negative and the appearance of your beautiful girl assistant!

Thanks a billion gents. Great resources... Out of curiosity, are any of you aware of anyone how has built and performed this?

I've always liked the idea of the camera theme, seems easy for audiences to follow.

Not many videos of performances are posted. Here is a version using a different method with a vanish then reappearance sequence.



To me, the production build up of Shutter Bug seems more logical and direct. A similar idea is Christopher's Slot Machine which Dan Harlan built a couple years back in his Tarbell series of videos:

https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/9237