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POST OFFICE BOX 144 • FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 07728
ACIDUS PLUS
Copyright
1979
by Al MannExclusives FOREWORD
For years, this author has been in search of some miraculous paper fold for use in billet work
so that all the thought-reader had to do was to squeeze it secretly and the paper would turn inside-out and reveal the hidden thought.
A short study was made of Origami, the Japanese paper folding art, with a threat of becoming expert in it in the search for the illusive magical fold.
My correspondant, Millard Longman from Florida made me realize that I already knew this fabulous fold and what's more I had invented it myself and was already in print in my former book 'Acidus.'
All the methods in this book have baffled men-talists everywhere as they looked for the 'dummy' billet that was not there and that necessary 'switch' that was no longer needed.
This book exposes the secret move to the frater-nity. It is very simple, as fabulous magic should be, yet it is most potent.
Use it well and gaurd the secret for it is this type of straight-forward presentation that creates the perfect illusion of the Mindreader's art.
Fraternally,
c tt/m/kf
MILLARD
LONGMAN
b. 10/6/43
home, Miami Florida.
pro~., Electrical Engineering.
Hol~s six US patents. Invents medical
instruments •. Magici Since
childhood. Loves Peychic Phenomena and Cold Reading. Has studied all the -isms and
-ologies of the art. Did a silent call and card act. Biggest datel one week at the Beach Theatre, in Miami Beach.
Millard has changed over to the mental-line of Magic and now presents an act of ESP. He is an avid subscriber to AME.
~.
\L
MANN
~d~
(201)431-~9
,
,
AME salutes Millard Longman and his expert pres
en-ta tion of "ACIDUS NOVUS.· .
Millard created the e~fect applying the principles o~
POST OFFICE BOX 144 • FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 07728 ACIDUS NOVUS by Millard Longman ;<---Fig. 1 kA,v\£_--PATE. billets, card always used. It is
EFFECTs A spectator is asked to write down his private thoughts on an index card or the magician's business card and then to fold the card twice. Performer then takes the folded card and places it against his temple for
just a moment and then passes the stil folded card back to the writer. The performer then proceeds to reveal the thought letter by letter.
NOTEs No switching, no dummy all done openly with the folded in site. Only one folded billet Sounds great and impossible? great but not impossible.
Secrets A blank-on-both-sides index card is used, size J by
5
inches.The card is filled with the spectator's name, birth date, birth signs, or whatever. The line on the lower right of the card is left blank and the spectator is asked to write his 'key' word or name on that line, see Fig. 1
The index card is prefolded before the show. First from right to left as in Fig. 2. This fold is made a bit off-center so that a step is formed on the left side as in Fig.
J.
Next the card is folded backwards as in Fig.
4
so that the step on the fold remains on the outside and visible. THIS FOLD IS ALSO OFF-CENTER so that a second step is formed as in Fig.
5.
This second step hides the back half of the card.Fig. 2
Fig. :3
Presentation and Handlings Performer asks the spectator for his name and birth date and writes same on the card plus any other thing needed to fill up the card. Spectator is then told to think of an important question and write a key word for that question on the line, or the name of a per-son, and then fold the card twice.
Performer takes the folded card with the tips of his left hand fingers (assuming the reader is right handed) and passes it to the tips of his right hand fingers and in the act, the right
thumb is slipped into the near-fold of the billet creating a gap. See Fig. 6 on next page.
o
Fig.4
o
ACIDUS PLUS AN AL Y~NN EXCLUSIVE ACIDUS NOVUS .•... cont.
Fig.
7
The move is done at waist level. The right hand then holds the billet in full sight
as the body turns a bit to the
left and the message is in / position for reading. (Fig. ?~
In r.dllard' s own words, "Watch yourself in a mirror
and you will see ~ ~ nothing unusual when you do this Fig. 6
move with the card at waist level."
"A quick glance will let you read the key word. I do it as
I bring the card to my forehead. I press it there with my middle finger and my hand spread wide. When this is done in one conti-nuous move, the thumb comes out of the fold automatically."
There it is, gentlemen, simple and sweet. The presentation is direct, and is the type of effect that will sell the mind-reader image to the public. Its criteria meets the standards of "Acidus" which spawned it. That is what we have aimed for.
Millard does an expert presentation of Acidus Novus and uses it in everyone of his shows. So do not be misled by its simplicity,
it is a winner.
A DOUBLE-BARREL EFFECT with Acidus Novus is to do
it with paper instead of card. Tha t way after the initial thoi.J.F,ht
is revealed, performer does the center-tear with the paper and then as an after thought reveals the spec-tator's name!
7400 Miami Lakes Drive Apartment 310 Miami Lakes. FL 33014
NOTca Only one person in the audience knows
that the key word is written on the bottom line, if he notices that at alll The rest of the audience are puzzled since they never see you open the billet.
F"'""======""""""=""""=~--""""---'\ Here is a full size
view of Millards business card which he uses for the test.
(201) 431-2429
POST OFFICE BOX 144 • FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 07728
Al Mann b. 1/20/24
home, New Jersey, USA Profession. Mindreader,
Author, Lecturer, World traveler.
Retired. Master Mariner. Stage name. Allemann Memberl International
Brotherhood of Magicians No. 22524.
The World Society for AL MANN (1959) Psychical Research,
No. 2
Knight of the Bluenose. (crossed into the Artic regions on Sept. 21st 1973)
Fernando Magellan Fellowship. (circumnavigated the globe between July 21st, 1971 to November 21st. 1971)
Phoenician Fellowship. (circumnavigated Africa twice in 1971) Walked and venerated on the hallowed grounds of the Buddhists, Moslems, Christians, Hebrews, Mayas and Egyptians.
Walked in the valley of the Kings of the Toltecs.
THE GR~T MOMENT. An ESP show, (1959) for The Lotus Club of New York City. Its honorary members include all the present and past presidents, admirals and generals of the USA. Plus most of the heads of state of 1urope and business tycoons of the world.
A lecture and show at The Magic Castle, Hollywood, 1979. Arch Mage Ipsissimus, Esoteric Order of Pan.
Master of Magic, order of the Silver Key.
POST OFFiCE BOX 144 • FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 077<8
THE AZONIC FORCE by Al Mann
EFFECT. A spectator is told to write down his secret thoughts on an index card. Spectator may write as many as three different items, a design, a word and a number.
Performer takes back the folded card and holds it at his fingertips. He calls attention to that fact and also that the folded card will remain in sight at all times. The folded card is further secured with a paper clip to avoid accidental exposure.
Performer then feels the folded card with his finger tips or places it openly to his forehead for just an instant and then crumples the card and throws it aside and proceeds to divine the secret thought by writing it on a slate.
Only one billet is used. No palming or switching or sus-picious moves. The card may be passed out for inspection after the effect is done.
SECRET. A J by
5
inch index card is folded twice as neatly as possible to make a billet1!
by2!
inchessquare, Fig. 8. ~
Next, pressure is applied to point "A" A downwards so as to open out the front folded
half of the card. This part is pressed to form a crease as shown in Fig.
9.
In actual practice this move is made with the right thumb tip. When this section is opened as shown, part of the inside of the card is exposed.This is the one move that makes the Fig. 8
entire effect possible.
Next, open out the index card fully and it will resemble Fig. 10. The dash lines represent the creases.made by the folds. .
The card is next prepared as in Fig.
11. This is all done before the show. You will also need some paper clips in the left coat pocket, plus the pens
~ or pencils to be used and chalk and . . slate if desired.
ACIDUS PLUS AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE THE AZONIC FORCE ••..•.•... cont.
Please note (Fig. 11) that the number chosen by the spectator must be written on the right top half of the card as indicated by the line.
Also the five ESP designs must be inked in by the performer so that the cross is right on the center fold of the card.
An X is marked on the bottom of the card to tell the spectator where to place the word.
THE PRESENTATIONa Lecture about
demons-trating the art of the thought-reader and ask someone to volunteer for a most unique test. A lady is the best subject.
Ask the lady to secretly draw a circle aroung one of the ESP designs and also to read the instructions on the card.
NOTE that no mention is made about writing in a number or the word. If the spectator follows the instructions she will write in a number and also a word and at the end the audience will be amazed that you were able to also tell what else the spectator is thinking ofl
While the lady is filling in the card, tell the audience that she is secretly drawing a circle around one of the famous ESP designs made famous by Duke University, and what have you.
Instruct the lady to fold the card
twice and then take it from her keeping it in sight at all times. Notify the aUdience that the card is folded four ways and that it is impossible for the human eye to pe-netrate the folded card as it is opaque.
Hold the card at the tips of your right hand fingers in the position shown in Fig. 8. As you reach into the coat pocket to get a paper clip, turn the body a bit to the left and reach over with the right thumb tip and open out the card as you call attention to the paper clip and then place the clip on the card and at the same time read the message.
After the message is read, the card is refolded, or crumpled and
pocketed, or later given back to the writer.
ACIDUS PLUS
THE AZONIC FORCE ....•.•• cont.
AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVg
As can be seen in Fig. 12, the number is upside down but since it is only a two-digit number it is easy to read. In the illustration the spectator circled the circle as the circle made by the spectator can not be seen. If the cross had been circled, half of the drawn circle would be visible.
The word is always right side up.
For the climax, the performer may open out the card to verify the th:>ughts and then pass it out to the writer as a souvineer. It is suggested that the performer crumple the card up in his closed fist as part of the dramatics and also to destroy the evidence of the creases.
A LETTER FROM ORVILLE MEYER
March 10,
1979
Dear All
Got your brief letter some days ago and I must respond with a comment concerning the billet (index card) fold you showed me. You see, I have been fooling around with this.
You don't need the extra slanted crease. Make just the first two folds in the original way. Now if you will hold the folded card in the same manner as you showed me, and press down with the right thumb on that same upper left corner, the right part of the card will pop out and unfold in the correct way. That extra crease develops automatica-lly. If you want to hand the card back afterwards and think
that that extra crease you've just made might provide a clue, then just bend the card around some more, here and there, while you are concentrating, so that the card ends up with several random creases.
Thought you'd like to know about this if you haven't already run onto it yourself.
Best
Orville
The Orville method is a good one. I had tried it before but was afraid to do it in public. However once the routine is mastered you will find that all the creases can be done during presentation and while casually handling the card. The spectator can be told to fold the card twice, first from top to bottom, etc. and they will comply with the request.
Another good move is to just tell the spectator to turn the card over on the table. Performer approaches the table picks up the card and folds it. The audience gets a glimpse of a lot of writing on the cardl
• ACIDUS PLUS
'"
AN AL MANN~CLUSIVE
THE HUGHES MOVE
Fig.14 Members of the ultra-exclusive magic club
of New York City, "The Thirteen,II had an entire
session devoted to 'Acidus Plus' and the Azonic Force.
A special card was printed and released for this publication. See Fig. 15, next page.
The back of this card, Fig. 16, shows an address with a special Zip Code. This Zip Code is numbered
consecutively from 1 to 5 or 12, depending on the presentaion. The purpose of the Zip code is to use it in conjunction with a psychometry effect. While the folded card is held by the performer, he glimpses the number and can tell what spec-tator did the writing before the card is opened.
FROM THE THIRTEEN
Bobby Hughes of Columbus Ohio, a close friend of Betty Nelson and this writer, presents mentalism in
some exclusive circles. Last May
(79)
he gavea show for the Midland Mutual Ins. Co. in which he performed his own version of the Azonic Force.
When Acidus first came out, Bobby mastered it to perfection. Later when he learned of the Azonic Force he applied his own in-sight and came up with the following, keeping the original 'Acidus' principle of having the billet in sight at all times!
The Hughes move is the same as in Fig. 12, except that the hand is held with the finger tips pointing upwards as in Fig. 1).
About 2/)rds of the folded billet is in sight from the back of the hand. The audience can be shown the hand all around as the per-former patters, then with the back of the hand facing the audience the secret move is madeJ
~ the tip of the right thumb comes up and opens
~ out the billet as in Fig. 14.
You must watch the angles and do a little practice before a mirror. The move is quite easy and can be mastered to perfection.
The Zip Code trick, made famous by Larry Becker, is quite well known and is an excellent idea.
~ ACIDUS PLUS
FROM THE THIRTEEN ...• cont. Fig.
15
shows the special card printed and released forthis publication by "The Thirteen." When the 'Azonic'Force' fold is made with this card, as many as four different pieces of in-formation can be glimpse.
On the back of the card is printed the following address I
RESEARCH SOCIETY FOR VALID PARAPSYCHOLOGY 371 Wisconsin Ave. M~
WASHINGTON, D.C. 23801 Fig. 16
The above mentioned address
~
must of course be printed with a different Zip code for as many times as desired;23801, 23802, 23803, etc. for the purpose of the psychome-tric effect.
SHADES OF BERT R~SS~
by Bob Haines
AN AL NillNN cXCLUSIV~
RESEARCH SOCIETY FOR VALID PARAPSYCHOLOGY
CIRCLE ONE:
O+~D*
DATE OF YOUR BIRTH:month day TESTER:
: DATE OF TEST:
FIELD EVALUATION TEST #3
I
INSTRUCTIONS
I.ESP SYMBOLS WERE DEVELOPED AS DESIGNS EASY TO VISUALIZE AND TRANSMIT. CIRCLE ONE.
2.PRINT THE MONTH AND DAY OF YOUR BIRTH.
3.PRINT IMPORTANT YEAR IN YOUR LIFE.
4.PRINT NAME IMPORTANT TO YOU. IMPORTANT YEAR:
\
IMPORTANT NAME:
Fold card in quarters Fig.
15
Performer has spectator write
several messages on index cards and fold them twice. The folded billets are mixed on the table or in a paper bag. Performer then takes out from his coat pocket a handful of paper clips and throws them on the table. Taking up a billet, performer asks spectator to pick out one of the paper clips and hand it to him. A glimpse of the message is made with the secret move as the spectator gets the paper clip and the performer then secures the folded card with it and tells the spectator to do the same with the rest of the billets.
Performer then proceeds to read the sealed messages, using the one-ahead system!
ACIDUS PLUS AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE THE AZONIC RENT
(2/14/79) (Columbus, Ohio) / / A t - - - ' I B_-:-_ _ / /1
,
/ 1/ I - I'. - -t <, I "I "-I ~--C-
--
,-
-
-Fig. 17 Fig. 18The Azonic Rent is a new and very
easy version of the center-tear. Only one message is written and the spectator apparently tears the folded paper him-self and burns it. Performer retains nothing but the thoughts.
METHODI Fig. 17 represents a sheet
from a standard scratch pad,
6
by9
inchesoverall. The rectangle in dash lines
in the center of the Fig. represents
the area that an index card,
J
by5
inches, would cover as in Fig. 10.
The
J
by5
rectangle is not on thepaper. It is only imaginary for the pur-pose of the illustration.
The other dash lines that criss cross the Fig. represent the folds made on the paper before the show.
Also drawn on the paper are three lines as follwsl
Line "A" is drawn
2t"
from the topof the paper and is one inch long on the right half of the
paper. Line B is
J
inches from the top about 2 inches long.Line "C" is drawn
2i
inches from the bottom of the paper andis
li
inches long.Fig. 18 shows the paper after it is filled with writting and as the spectator sees it. After the
thoughts are filled in and the paper
is refolded, performer takes back the billet and patters some mumbo-jumbo and
then tears the billet exactly in half
once a vertical tear and then a hori-zontal tear, keeping the message piece
in front. Some more patter and the
performer makes the secret move glimpsing
the information Then the pieces are
given back to the spectator and is told to tear everything to bits! and burn them.
Here you have done exactly the same thing as in the Azonic Force except that
paper is being used and it is tore up
before the move is made.
This is a very strong presentation of thought reading. One simple move with the thumb tip and the trick is done. Try itl
ACIDUS PLUS
THE AZONIC RENT ••.•.•• cont.
AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE
If the reader is conversant with giving private readings or doing close-up mentalism, he knows the reaction of the spectator when the folded paper with his message is torn to bits and
burned. Usually after the second tear is made, the spectator gives up on the written message. He assumes the paper is to-tally destroyed beyond recovery.
This ~iter was recently visited by some seasoned spiri-tualists for a private reading. When these ladies were told to write down their most important questions, they became
sus-picious and a marked disappointment showed. But they went ahead and wrote out their questions. They have been told that written questions are open to trickery.
I cautioned them not to let me see what is written and then to fold the papers three times (Mental-Ettes). I then reached for the folded billets and they were very reluctent to let go but I told them to keep an eye on the paper, and that I had need of touching the folded paper with my finger tips to get
the necessary vibrations. Then I tore up the billet after which the ladies relaxed completely! The pieces of paper were then burned and the reading given. These ladies were totally satisfied and recommended me highly and have come back for repeats.
Mr. C. L. Boarde, the author of Mainly Mental Vols. I and II, and the most knowlegeable person on billet work, confided to me that nothing impresses a spectator more than to tear up and burn his own paper with his message in it. This Mr. Boarde does via the twice-written messages and the center-tear (see Torn Center Deluxe by Anderson in It must Be Mindreading).
The Azonic Rent allows the spectator to tear up his own paper and burn it. Or he can pocket it after tearing it to bits. Yet only once is the message written.
T~e Azonic Force betters the more diffi~ult 'Umbrella Move'
cred1t?d to Bert Reese by Dai Vernon. It also makes possible an eaS1er working for Al Baker's "Pellet Reading" from his
b?ok 'Mental ~agic.' The folded billet is picked up with the
~1ght hand wh1le the left hand holds the envelope. The billet
1S a~par?ntl¥ placed in the envelope, but is actually held
outs1de 1t w1th the left thumb. As the mentalist patters and
g?es fo~ the second billet, the left thumb opens out the
f1rst b1llet and the mentalist reads it as he places the second billet behind the envelope.
The Azonic Force can do much good in billet work. This book is only an introduction.
JsT OFFICE BOX 144 • FREEHOLD,NEW JERSEY 07728
•
./
V
ACIDUS PLUS A Histor:£
The original "Acidus" manuscript was perfected, written and the illustrations drawn in the latter part of 1971, while the author was on a J2-day ocean cruise circumnavigating
Africa from Arabia to Italy (via South Africa).
"Acidus" was the result of a long study on billet work'and it evolved from a two-hand billet test. In the former test, the performer held the folded billet on the tips of his fingers with both hands while he gestured, spoke and stared hypnoti-cally at his victim or audience. Behind the cupped hands, the two thumbs worked unseen opening out the palmed billet while the dummy was in full sight. The message was then read and the billet refolded and reswitched and given back to the writer.
A question then arose. "Why'can't this test be done with a single hand?" Experimentation proved that it could be done and "Acidus" was born. It was released in December of 1976.
The Acidus test was perfected and used for years under all conditions. It was used as an openner to prove the art of the thought-reader. 'This one test alone captivated the audience. Phil Goldstein requested a demonstration of the test in one of Larry Weeks one-day conventions in New York. I did it for Phil while he was two feet away. He remarked that it was indeed good.
. Rumores trickled into the AME offices from subscribers say-1ng that the Acidus principle had many possiblities.
On Oct. 9th, 1978, Mentalist-Magician Millard Longman from Florida sent in an order for Acidus.
A CASUAL LETTER
Just 21 days later, on Oct. Joth, Millard wrote me an elec-trifying letter. Here is part of the letterl
"Dear All Acidus is beautifulI I have worked out a variation that uses no switch. My handling is still "at the fingertips" and looks like Acidus to the spectator."
A casual letter with a modest revelation, yet it stunned • me.
l
ACIDUS PLUS AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE A HISTORy •.•.••..• cont.
Bear in mind that all these years, I had basked in the belief that Acidus was perfection unsurpassed. Millard's letter sounded like something from another world.
Oil was burnt that night and sleep lost as I tried to fathom out a method for doing Acidus with just one billet. Thanks to Millard's letter I worked out "The Azonic Force" and mailed it to him asking him
if
that was his discovery.To my surpirse he answered telling me that The Azonic Force was good but that he used another method which we
have called "Acidus Novus." Now we had two methods, both good. THE THIRTEEN
On December, 1978, The AME offices were honored by a visit from members of the ultra-exclusive magic club of New York City, "The Thirteen." In the group were Bob Haines, Charlie Reynolds,
and Dennis Marks. Carl Herron also called later.
During the gab-fest, the new bilet moves were shown. They became popular instantly but like all new discoveries, the real value was not felt yet.
The potential impact of "The Azonic Force" was not realized until the method was tried under fire.
It was presented for the first time at the Lecture at the Magic Castle in Hollywood on Jan. 14th, 1979. It took its toll amongst the mentalists. Many were amazed to see a new approach to billet work. Emphasis was placed on the fact that only one billet was used. No palming or switching. Everything done open-ly while the folded billet was in full sight.
The test was also presented three times a day for a week at the Parlour of Prestidigitation for the lay audiences.
Meanwhile, the boys of "The Thirteen" were busy evolving new effects for both Acidus Novus and The Azonic Force. They have come up with some amazing ideas, some of which will be offered here.
In a later letter Millard wrote to say, "The quality of your books is unsurpassed. -- I procrastinated for almost an ehtire year before sending my order for Acidus. I was afraid it would be a rip-off. Now I am sold on you and your works."
Many thanks to Millard Longman for the genesis of the idea. Thanks to my very good friends Bobby Huges, Ray Hafler, Orville Meyer, Bob Haines, Charlie Reynolds, Dennis Marks and Carl
Herron and Lee Noble for their accolade and encouragement. Thanks to Bascom Jones for his interest.
POST OFFICE BOX 144 • FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 07728
'\ l'
slit
Fig.
19
1£
Secret of
rBOMJrl
crus
Copyright by Al ~ann Exclusives
(Alexander Abonutichus of Paphlagonia, became famous for his gift of reading sealed messages in the 2nd c en tury A. D. )
~FFECT. A spectator secretly writes a message on an index card and folds it twice. He next seals the folded card in an envelope. The mentalist takes the sealed envelope and divines the tought and then tears up the sealed envelope to bits and burns it or gives it back to the writer to hold.
THE SECRET. The technique that follows will seem very trivial to the reader who will no doubt wonder what all the fuss is about.
The fact is that this writer has been in search of this method for decades. as stated in ~ental-Ettes. The solution came to light on
6/30/80.
The original idea (as shown in Mental-£ttes) was to simply steal the quarter of the envelope that contained the folded center of the billet after tearing the sealed envelope to bits.
In the Secret of Abonutichus, the performer returns all the torn pieces to the spectator. The performer glimpses the message in the act of tearing up the sealed envelope, so there is no need to sneak a glimpse behind a slate or danger of fum-bling. The performer can devote all his time to the presentation!
As stated in the ads, the reader must be acquainted with "Acidus Plus" in order to understand the instructions and work this effect. So I will not reveal the secret of Acidus Plus here.
PRePARATIONS. You will need envelopes that measure 2i by
4i
inches as shown in Fig.19.
The only preparation that this envelope has is a
lt
inch slit on the bottom edge as shown by the arrows. This slit should be done with a sharp knife so that it is hardly noticeable. The slit is only a hair longer than half the width of the envelope.The prepared envelope can be safely given to the spe:tator as there is no reason to suspect it.
The index cards used should measure 4 by 6 inches. After the technique is mastered, then almost any size of index card can be used. For the instructions we will use the 4 by 6 in. cards.
ACIDUS PLUS
THe SECRET OF ABONUTICHUS cont.
15
AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE~D
fe ' 7 Fe. J[[Jc
Fig. 21 slitrr)
Fig.25
Fig. 22 tear I[E8~1
sli Fig.23
~
B Fig. 20 Fig. 24 tear I i\Let Fig. 20 represent a 4 by
6
inch index card. A line is drawn aboutI!
inches from the bottom. Another line may be also drawnit
from the top as in Fig. 11 of Acidus Plus. This second line is mentioned here in case the performer wishes to deal with more than one piece of in-formation.If the performer wishes. he
may prefold the card as shown in Fig. 20, A. Band C. Some subscribers have stated that they do not need to prefold the card. in which case the spectator may be allowed to fold the card as shown in Fig. 20.
But if the reader wishes, he can prefold the card together with the special crease as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of AP. The card shown in Fig. 20A must next be filled with the message as per Fig. 11.
After the spectator writes his thoughts on the card. he is given the envelope to seal it in after folding it. The performer must make sure that the card is placed into the envelope as shown in Fig. 21. with the
folded center at the lower left as seen by the per-former. The envelope is placed in front of the spec-tator as shown in Fig. 19. and the flap is opened out towards the spectator and he is told to insert the folded card into it and seal it!
Performer now takes the sealed envelope so that the top of the envelope is to his
left as shown in Fig. 22 and after saying that he already knows the
secret thought. he tears the envelope in half as shown by the dash lines, Fig. 22. The bottom right half is next placed over the top left as shown in Fig. 2;. Performer next turns the en-velopes so that the slit is on his 1'''''''''er right hand corner. This is shown in Fig. 24. Another tear is now done
do~~ "the middle and again the right
quarter in the right hand which contains the slit is placed over the left
quarter, as shown in Fig.
25.
" You are now holding all the pieces in your right hand and ready for the
ACIDUS PLUS
THE SECRET OF ABONUTICHUS cont.
AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE
Dormot try to open out the fold right away but patter a bit until you are sure it will open easily. Due to the slit, the top fold of the envelope is now loose and can be moved aside easily.
If there is any trouble and the card will not open out as shown in Fig. 12, the pieces may be transfered to the left hand OR the pieces may be held with both hands so that the left thumb can assist in opening out the billet. The important thing is to be sure that the pieces appear to be in sight at all times.
Usually it is quite easy to open out the center piece. The key here is to avoid holding the pieces too tightly. If the pieces are held loosely, the center piece will relax and almost open itself out.
Do not undersell this technique. It is very strong. Once you make the first tear before the eyes of the spectator, he will usually give up on the sealed envelope. Subsequent tears will
only deepen the mystery.
At the end it is a good thing to give the pieces to the spec-tator and tell him to tear them up some more.
PLEASE NOTEI Performer must make sure that the card is folded correctly. Please refer to Fig. 20 Band C. The card must ne folded first from top to bottom and then from right to left. IF it is folded from bottom to top and then right to left, the message will not show!
It is always better to work with fresh new materials. The envelopes should be new and made of light material so that they will tear easilly.
WITH TWO S~\LED ENVELOPESI Get the spectator to write his
thoughts, fold the card and seal it. Then force a word from a book and tell the spectator to write on a second card and fold it and seal it. Now, the spectator is given the sealed envelope with the word force while the performer takes the other one. Tell
the spectator to tear up the envelope while you tear up the other. This makes the task of 'reading' the thought easier since the spectator is busy tearing his envelope!
. Wi th a li ttle study, the reader may be able to do the same thing with letter size envelopes and a sheet of paper. By secret-1; wetting the right thumb, the paper folds can be pealed do~r
to reveal the writing!
Best Wishes, fin tt/t/fz
