17 - Thimble Jump From Hand to Hand:

Stand directly facing audience. Show thimble on left forefinger pointing upward. Hold right forefinger in similar position. Backs of both hands to audience and other fingers curled into palms, Figure 101.

Move left hand down about a foot and then suddenly up again. On upward motion, Thumb Palm thimble in left hand. Straighten forefinger immediately again. Effect is that thimble has suddenly vanished from left forefinger.

Now do a similar movement with right hand—down and suddenly up again. On upward motion, get the Thumb Palmed thimble on right forefinger. Do this in a flash so that it will not be noticed by audience. Straighten finger immediately and show it with thimble on. The effect is that thimble vanished from left forefinger and suddenly appeared on right. If movements are properly timed, the effect is that thimble jumps from one hand to the other.

The movement may be varied by holding fingers in horizontal position instead of vertical. Make throwing motions of hands toward each other to cover the small Thumb Palming or Production movements. Finish with thimble on right forefinger.

18 - Side Swing Jump Over:

This is a variation of the Thimble Jump which you may find it convenient to use sometimes when you have only one thimble in each hand and need not be so careful about not exposing palms of hands.

Show thimble on forefinger of left hand. Point at it with forefinger of right. Keep back of right hand to audience. In right hand you have a thimble Thumb Palmed. Figure 102. Bring left hand to right hand. When both hands are close together, backs to audience, Thumb Palm thimble in left hand and get thimble on right forefinger from Thumb Palm position in right hand, Figure 103.

Continue movement of hands to right. Now right hand goes out to right side with thimble on right forefinger and left hand points at it, Figure 104.

Effect is that thimble jumps from finger of left hand to finger of right. Reverse movement and thimble apparently travels back to left hand again.

To return to Thimble Act routine:

Turn right side to audience. You have thimble on right forefinger. Pretend to throw it into the air—but, in reality, Thumb Palm it in right hand. Just before doing this get thimble already Thumb Palmed onto second finger of right hand, Figure 105.

As you make this movement, curl left fingers up under left lower edge of vest and insert them into thimbles in holder there.

Figure 106 shows view away from audience. Your right hand is up. From it you vanish the thimble on your forefinger. This goes into Thumb Palm position. The thimble that was Thumb Palmed goes on second finger. You already have thimbles on third and fourth fingers. Under cover of body your left hand gets four thimbles, one on every finger, from holder under lower left edge of vest.

Keep left hand closed to conceal thimbles and drop to side. Your eyes must MISDIRECT attention of audience to right hand, Figure 107.

Suddenly pluck thimble out of the air with right forefinger, getting it from Thumb Palm position.

Then suddenly open all fingers and SHOW A THIMBLE ON EACH, Figure 108.

THIS IS THE FIRST BIG SURPRISE.

Now turn left side to audience, keeping left hand down at side. Thumb Palm thimble from forefinger. Hold forefinger outstretched with nothing on it. Then make sweeping motion of arm, produce thimble on finger-tip, and show to audience, Figure 109.

Suddenly open left hand and SHOW A THIMBLE ON EACH FINGER-TIP, Figure 110. THIS IS THE SECOND BIG SURPRISE.

Drop thimbles from right hand into glass on table. Let right hand fall to side. Then drop thimbles from left hand into glass. To do this, turn left side to audience, Figure 111.

Curl right fingers under lower right edge of coat and insert them in thimbles in holder there. Remove thimbles on finger-tips and keep hand closed and down at side. This view is away from audience, Figure 112.

Turn right side to audience now. Keep back of right hand to audience and Thumb Palm thimble on forefinger.

Now reach into air with right forefinger outstretched and nothing on it, and catch a thimble on the fingertip.

With right side turned to audience and the use of MISDIRECTION to the right hand, reach under lower left edge of coat with left hand and remove the four thimbles from holder on each of left finger-tips. Thumb Palm thimble from forefinger.

Suddenly open right hand and you again have a thimble on each finger-tip.

THIS IS THE THIRD BIG SURPRISE.

Turn left side to audience. Reach left forefinger with nothing on it into air. Catch a thimble on it.

Then suddenly open rest of hand and again you have produced a thimble on each finger-tip.

THIS IS THE FOURTH BIG SURPRISE.

Drop thimbles into glass, first those from right hand, then those from left.

THIS COMPLETES YOUR THIMBLE ACT.

NOTES:

A Thimble Act of this kind may be finished after the Production of the first eight thimbles—that is, the two surprise productions of four thimbles on each hand. The double production of two sets of four thimbles on each hand, however, gives double the punch to the act. Producing thimbles in such numbers as a finish for the act gives a smashing climax to single thimble sleights. The act may be shortened by omitting some of the single thimble moves.

Trouser Leg Production:

Placing holders with thimbles inside of bottoms of trousers is another method for supplying thimbles for Productions.

Sew a holder of four thimbles inside bottom edge of right trouser's leg and a holder of three thimbles inside left trouser's leg, Figure 113.

Have thimble on right forefinger and vanish it into the air -- in reality, by Thumb Palming it. Slip this thimble from Thumb Palm on to second finger. Reach up under left trouser. Get the three thimbles from holder on to your free fingers -- first, third, and fourth.

Remove right hand with all fingers curled into palm but forefinger. Show this finger freely with thimble on it. You apparently vanished a thimble into the air and found it again under your left trouser.

Do the Pull-Away Vanish (Principle No. 8) — disappearing thimble from right forefinger supposedly in left hand. You really Thumb Palm this thimble in right hand.

Reach up under right trouser's leg with left hand, get thimbles on all finger-tips, remove hand with fingers curled into palm except for forefinger. Show this freely with thimble on it -- apparently the same thimble which you just vanished in the left hand.

Bring hands to front of body, backs of hands to audience. Do Thimble Jump from Hand to Hand as taught you above. See Figure 101. Perform this two or three times. Then say to audience:

"I just overheard someone remark that I ought to use more than one thimble. I do! I use EIGHT." Open fingers wide and show all eight thimbles at once -- one on each finger-tip.

Hat Production:

Another method of getting four thimbles. Have four placed inside of the tuck in the crown of a soft felt hat. Have hat on table nearby, Figure 114.

After you have vanished thimble from forefinger of right hand and Thumb Palmed it, reach into hat with left hand and insert each finger into a thimble. Figure 115. Remove hand with thimble on forefinger exposed and other fingers curled into palm. Figure 116. Then make your big production of four thimbles. Or, if you desire to produce eight thimbles from the hat, have three more thimbles concealed in another fold inside of hat.

After apparently vanishing a thimble, reach in with right hand, get the three thimbles on fingertips. The Thumb Palmed thimble makes the fourth for the right hand. Suddenly produce these four in right hand. Or, produce all eight thimbles at the same time.

OUTLINE OF THIMBLE ACT:

This outline gives you the sequence of Productions and Vanishes just to make it clear to you the effects which the audience sees as you proceed with your Thimble Act:

1 - Reach into air with left hand.

Reach into air with right hand and produce a thimble on tip of forefinger.

2 - Vanish thimble in left hand.

3 - Show both hands empty.

4 - Produce thimble on right forefinger from empty left hand.

5 - Vanish it again in left hand by pulling it away from right.

6 - Produce thimble from behind left elbow on right forefinger.

7 - Toss thimble into air and it vanishes.

8 - Produce thimble at right finger-tip again by reaching into air.

9 - Change silver thimble to red one.

10 - Change red thimble back to original silver one.

11 - Vanish silver thimble in air again.

12 - Produce thimble on right forefinger from behind left knee.

13 - Vanish it by striking right hand on left.

14 - Produce it on right forefinger again from left elbow.

15 - Vanish thimble suddenly and show both sides of both hands concealing nothing.

16 - Produce it on tip of second finger of right hand.

17 - Vanish by pounding thimble into top of head.

18 - Produce from mouth.

19 - Vanish in mouth and swallow.

20 - Produce from right ear. 21 - Vanish in mouth again.

22 - Produce from under right side of vest.

23 - Vanish in left hand.

24 - Produce from under left side of vest.

25 - Jump thimble from hand to hand several times.

26 - Vanish thimble from right forefinger into air.

27 - Produce it on right forefinger again. 28 - First big surprise production-- Four thimbles—one on each of right fingers.

29 - Produce thimble on forefinger of left hand. 30 - Second big surprise production-- Four thimbles—one on each of left fingers.

31 - Drop thimbles from both hands into glass.

32 - Produce thimble on right forefinger again from the air. 33 - Third big surprise production-- Four thimbles again on right hand.

34 - Produce thimble on left forefinger. 35 - Fourth big surprise production-- Four thimbles again on left hand.

36 - Drop thimbles from both hands into glass, and Act is completed.

THE MISER'S DREAM WITH THIMBLES

This effect is a variation of THE MISER'S DREAM taught you in a former lesson, using coins. The same principles are applied to the use of thimbles. Review the effect with coins before you study this variation and you will have no difficulty in mastering this new one.

To Prepare:

Stack 12 thimbles inside of each other, Figure 117.

Hold stacked thimbles inside of hat with left hand. In order to heighten effect of thimbles falling into hat, place a saucer or small plate in bottom of hat and when thimbles drop they will make a good sound, Figure 118.

To Perform:

A little ingenuity on your part can build up for you an interesting routine with thimbles. Vary it with Front and Back Hand Palming, Throwing thimble into air and catching in hat, Throwing thimble through bottom of hat, etc.

Refer back to THE MISER'S DREAM and use it as a basis for working up a thimble routine.

Here is a suggested routine:

Start with 12 thimbles stacked and held inside of hat in left hand.

1 - Pretend to catch something from the air and to throw it into hat. At the right moment drop one thimble from the stack in left hand. Reach in with right and get thimble on forefinger. Thumb Palm it in right hand and cause it to vanish by a slight upward throwing movement.

2 - Produce this thimble from under left elbow. Pretend to throw it into hat, Thumb Palming it again. Drop thimble from left hand into hat. You now have one thimble in hat.

3 - Produce thimble from left knee. Pretend to drop in hat. Drop second thimble into hat from left hand.

4 - Produce from air. Get thimble on right forefinger from Thumb Palm position, Figure 119.

Now turn left side to audience. Pretend to throw thimble into air—in reality, Back Palm it. Show both sides of hand empty. Then suddenly produce thimble at second finger-tip.

Turn right side to audience. Pretend to push thimble through bottom of hat. Have palm of hand to audience. Bring hand down about a foot, then up to hat, and in a flash Back Palm thimble. At proper time, drop thimble from left hand into hat. This is the third thimble in hat.

5 - Produce thimble from left elbow. Have palm of hand to audience, fingers screened behind left elbow. Bring thimble back on to second finger-tip. Then bring hand out and show to audience. Pretend to drop into hat. Release fourth thimble from left hand.

6 - Produce from ear. Pretend to place thimble in mouth. Place tongue in left cheek to give appearance of thimble inside. Pretend to blow thimble into hat. Thimble is, of course, Thumb Palmed in right hand, and you drop a fifth thimble into hat from left hand.

7 - Catch thimble from the air, producing it on right forefinger. Pretend to throw it high into air. Reach out with hat, supposedly catching it. Release sixth thimble from left hand.

8 - Catch thimble from air again. Pretend to throw into hat. Drop seventh thimble from left hand.

9 - Place right hand at nose. Pretend to blow thimble into hat held underneath. This time allow thimble to fall from right hand into hat. Reach into hat and remove one thimble on right forefinger. Look at it, then pretend to throw it back into hat. In reality, Thumb Palm it, and drop eighth thimble into hat from left hand.

10 - Produce thimble from under side of hat. Pretend to drop into hat. Release ninth thimble from left hand.

11 - Produce from under hat again and supposedly throw into hat. Drop tenth thimble into hat from left hand. You now have one thimble in right hand and one remaining in left.

12 - Produce thimble from behind right knee and pretend to throw it into hat. Drop eleventh and last thimble from left hand.

13 - Reach up as high as you can, standing on your tiptoes and pretend to catch a thimble from the air on right forefinger. Outstretched body gives good effect. Drop twelfth thimble into hat from right hand.

14 - Remove saucer from hat with thimbles on it. Pour thimbles back into hat or into glass on table to show them to audience.

Thimble catching may be elaborated by having holders with thimbles placed at various parts of body. You may place them in this way—one in vest pocket; one in holder under front edge of vest between second and third button-holes; one under right lower edge of vest; one under left lower edge of vest; one in holder under right coat lapel; one in holder under bottom edge of left trouser's leg.

Make your performance of Thimble Productions SNAPPY and put a lot of PEP into the effects.

SOME INTERESTING THIMBLE VANISHES:

Thumb Tip Vanish:

The method is the same as the one used in vanishing a cigarette in a Thumb Tip. See Lesson 2. The bare hand vanish for the thimble is good. Figure 120 shows how thimble fits into Thumb Tip.

Phantom Thimble Vanish:

Take a thimble to fit closely on first finger of right hand. Cut it in half lengthwise. It is well to paint the edges flesh color. Place half thimble on back of right forefinger. Figure 121 shows how it fits finger. When front of hand is shown, thimble is not visible, Figure 122.

Cover back of right hand with palm of left and turn both hands over so that backs of both face audience, Figure 123.

Uncover right hand and expose thimble which has suddenly appeared on right forefinger, Figure 124.

Keep back of right hand well to audience and half of thimble looks like a whole one.

To vanish again, merely repeat motions used in making thimble appear. Cover right hand with left and turn both over to show thimble gone.

You may remove half thimble from pocket and put on back of right forefinger in full view of audience. Then vanish it and make it appear as taught you above. After the last production, just remove it from finger and place in pocket. Audience will not suspect that it is not an ordinary thimble.

Another Phantom Thimble Vanish. Hold a handkerchief over left hand and make a well in it, as you did in Lesson 2 for vanishing a cigarette by the Thumb Tip method.

Show thimble on back of right forefinger and place it in well of handkerchief. Turn left side to audience. Remove right forefinger with front of it facing audience. It appears that you placed the thimble in the handkerchief. Grasp handkerchief with right hand, being careful not to expose half thimble, and draw slowly from left hand. Thimble has vanished. Leave half thimble in pocket as you place handkerchief there.

Small Paper Bag Vanish:

A pretty little effect. Four thimbles are shown in a small cardboard box. They are removed one at a time and placed in a small opaque paper bag, about 3 inches high, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch across. Paper bag is then torn into bits, and thimbles are produced one at a time from various places on the body.

To Perform:

Place four thimbles in a small cardboard box and show them freely. Place on table at your right. Pick up small paper bag and open it, holding it in left hand. Turn left side to audience. Get half thimble on back of right forefinger from right trouser's pocket.

Reach into box on table, showing front of right forefinger to audience. Dip into box and then draw finger out with back turned to audience. You have apparently taken a thimble from box, but, in reality, you just turned your finger around to show half thimble. Figure 125. Place right forefinger in bag, apparently leaving thimble there. Withdraw finger with front to audience and half thimble on back concealed, Figure 126.

Continue this until you have apparently removed all four thimbles from box and have placed them in the bag.

Turn left side to audience. Reach into coat pocket with right hand for a rubber band and leave half thimble there. Twist top of paper bag and place rubber band around it.

Now suddenly tear up bag into small pieces and let pieces flutter to floor. Thimbles seem to have vanished

from the bag. To produce them, merely have four thimbles placed in various parts of your clothing. Produce them one at a time and drop them all into the cardboard box as if replacing them.

Phantom Thimble may be arranged on front of finger and productions and vanishes worked accordingly— producing thimble by showing front of finger and vanishing by showing back.

The Phantom Thimble may be used in many interesting effects. Place four half thimbles on backs or fronts of the four fingers of right hand. Cover them for a moment with left hand, turn hand to make them vanish. Then cover again and turn to produce them. Study your ANGLES OF VISIBILITY carefully in this effect.

TARBELL SYSTEM, INCORPORATED, Chicago.

LESSON 28

Fascinating Handkerchief Magic—called Magic Silks in the language of the Magician.

1 - An Egg, A Handkerchief, and A Glass. A mysterious transposition of an egg and a silk handkerchief. If desired, a borrowed lady's handkerchief may be used.

2 - A Wandering Silk. It wanders about from pocket to pocket, suddenly becomes untied when knotted, and then changes color.

3 - A series of vanishes, appearances and productions, with a candle and a handkerchief. Amazing effects!

4 - The educated silk which slowly unties itself when knotted right in front of the eyes of the audience.