|
|
Jonathanmc Loyal user Las Vegas, NV 209 Posts |
When I was a kid I remember seeing in a magic book a way to use dental floss and a sewing needle to cut a banana inside the skin so that you could peel it and then have it fall into parts.
I don't have the book anymore and really don't want to destroy too many poor bananas. Can anyone help out? Thank you |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
This involves sewing the thread (or floss) so that you run the needle and thread into the skin striving to stay just under the skin until you get to another point, at which time the needle emerges. Run the needle and thread back into the skin very close to where it came out continuing the same pattern. You are in essence, sewing around the banana with most of the thread under the skin. Once you have gone completely around the banana, gently pull the ends of the thread so as it tightens, it slices through the banana. The points where the thread is actually outside the banana are so close together that they will just tear through the skin leaving imperceptible holes in the skin. You will do this same proceedure for every slice you wish to make.
Another and probably simpler method is to stick a long needle straight into the banana and carefully move it from side to side, using the entrance point as the fulcrum. The needle acts as a slicing device as it passes through the flesh of the banana. Hope this helps.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
Just wondering, but did you see it in Tarbell?
Shane Wiker |
BigJ New user 5 Posts |
I've seen the needle and thread method in a Will Dexter book I've had for years
|
El_Lamo Special user Canada 589 Posts |
I just do it with a long needle.
Using the second method that Mr. Baker talks about above. It is easy and "does the trick" (pun intended!) Cheers - El Lamo P.S. In kids' shows I build it into a routine using my super frog. I have a child pass me the banana and then when we open it, I am astonished and ask the child how he/she did that.
Life is a system of circumstance presented coincidently in an illusory way.
|
blindbo Special user Bucks County, PA 790 Posts |
Related anecdote coming...
My son worked in the produce section of a local supermarket and had some free time on his hands some late evenings (do you know where this is going?). Well, knowing the secret to the banana slice he couldn't resist tampering with "at least 50 bananas from random bunches". We never heard of any complaints - can you imagine what people thought! I did the parental thing and slapped him heartily on the back exclaiming "That's my boy!". |
Jonathanmc Loyal user Las Vegas, NV 209 Posts |
Ok,
Well I promise you all that I have no intention of tampering with your produce...in the store that is. No I did not see it in Tarbell, because I never had Tarbell as a kid. Is this in one of the volumes? I will certainly try the two methods given. Can I just say that I'm glad I don't live in Bucks County. Blindbo, have you ever heard the one where you fill up several carts to the tip top place a carrot on top and leave them at various parts of the store? I have never done this by the way. Never. Really, I mean it. |
Brian Proctor Inner circle Somewhere 2323 Posts |
The late Shari Lewis used to have some children's televison programs on PBS back in the early 90's. She stated that her dad was a professional magician. Indeed he was, his name was Dr. Abraham Horwitz. He was referred to as the Official Magician of New York City from what I have read. (Does anyone have info about him?)
So from time to time she would share simple tricks with kids on her show. At age 7 and 8 I learned how to cut a bananna as stated, I learned how to do the Balducci Levatation, I learned how to do a double lift! I am amazed at the stuff that was on her show when I think back to it. |
BlendoSquid Regular user UK 140 Posts |
I read somewhere that you can just use a cocktail stick, either that or a needle. I think it was for performing some kind of invisible kunk-foo on a bannana.
Kevin Courtney :kewl: |
deerbourne Regular user Centennial, CO 174 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-09-10 01:36, Brian Proctor wrote: I have two of the books that they wrote together. They actually have a really nice tone to them. The tricks are OK (although they are fairly heavy on the 'I betcha' side) and they don't talk down to the kids. In 'Magic for Non-Magicians' (not children oriented), Shari Lewis talks quite a bit about her father in the introduction. I found a used copy for 75 cents. Deerbourne |
Brian Proctor Inner circle Somewhere 2323 Posts |
Thanks Deerbourne, perhaps I should just consult my library and see if they have that book available in their system. It would be interesting to learn more about the guy.
|
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
BTW - The needle and thread idea is also supposed to work for an apple. It slices the inside while leaving the skin basically intact. You can then perform a freakish strong man stunt of tearing an apple almost perfectly in half.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Yfirum New user 73 Posts |
With a little effort you should be able to tear a proper apple into two almost perfect halves. you don't need to hurt the apple unnecessarily
grim |
poiboy28056 New user N. Carolina 13 Posts |
If you want a good effect that you pull an apple in half get Robert Olson's Ultimate bill in lemon. at the back of the book it has the "signed coin in cut and restored apple.
a quarter is borrowed and signed and vanished. Using you bare hands you break the apple in half and find the signed coin. then you toss the apple into the air and restore it, in mid air. pretty cool. |
Magicman8 Regular user Michigan 113 Posts |
I have done a "Bil in lemon" before but the appple really beats what I did! I will have to try that sometime. You now have me wondering about the mid-air restoration.
Matthias
We go through life backwards. The past is visible and the future is cloudy, it seems we are walking backwards.-- Terry Pratchet
|
Tawkin2ya New user 50 Posts |
Incase anyone is interested, "Ultimate Bill in Lemon" by Robert Olson, it's available here:
http://www.magicmgmt.com/magicshop/ultimatebillinlemon.html Ray |
smartie_28 New user 56 Posts |
Sounds pretty cool.
|
paulmagic Loyal user Malaysia, now In New Zealand 290 Posts |
It is so nice for me to hear a discussion on somethign a ssimple as cutting a banana on theninside. So much "high tech magic is discussed and it overwhelms me -as it is out of my league (for now?).
Me, I simple use a toothpick - works well - and so far I have not been caught and it is so much fun. Especially with kids ... I give a a puzzled look face and ask something like where his mum bought the banana ... with some sily line about it being a very rare magic banana. They check out the banana and can't find anything wrong with it (perhppas its the bananas I choose (smaller types with dark patches). I love watching them peel it open only to see it fall apart in neat slices. The look on their faces is often priceless and they often grab for the other bananas to peel them as well. Also recently did this in Cambodia with adults and the reactions were so much fun. I love that country - so little exposure to magic. I can do all kinds of simple things like using simple home made gimmick cards, glass through the table etc. and get huge reactions.
Many Blessings!!
Paul |
Hideo Kato Inner circle Tokyo 5649 Posts |
I have a version in which spectator selects a numer from 2 to 5. You cut banana according to the selected numer. If the spectator selects 4, the banana is cut four times. If you think a while, you must be able to detect the method. I use needle method.
Hideo Kato |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Cutting a banana inside the skin (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |