Billy Blockhead By Jim Gerrish By Wiz Kid Marquise
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em,
or better yet, pay them money to work for you. Like Spellbinder
in his Blendo Ropes, I was making a new version of a Jimmy King
Vanishing Block trick, when Wiz Kid Marquise stepped in and began adding his two cents here and
there. Pretty soon his ideas were taking over the effect, so like
Spellbinder, I stepped aside and let him do it his way.
Effect:
“Step right up, ladies and
gentlemen, boys and girls! Get ready to see with your own eyes
the most daring, fearless, trapeze artist in the entire circus
world! Here he is, a chip off the old block, Billy
Blockhead!”
Playing the part of a circus
barker, Wiz Kid Marquise introduces the little wooden block. The
block is first tied onto a rope and set to swing out over a
safety net. Suddenly the block penetrates the rope and falls
safely into the net. Next, Billy Blockhead is hypnotized into
believing he can disappear. He hides inside his circus trailer
(looking suspiciously like the 1965 Jimmy King Vanishing Block
Box, but newly made with a few enhancements). But poor Billy only
thinks he has disappeared. The kids can see him inside the
trailer. Then Billy tries hiding behind the sliding doors.
Finally, he makes a last effort and vanishes from the box,
leaving only a silken banner that says "Look in the
Net!"
The kids figure out the meaning
of Billy's "note" and he is discovered back in the
safety net.
Includes construction plans for
the revised block, circus trailer, and the safety net.
(7/23/08) Billy
Blockhead just got better! Jim Gerrish and
Wiz Kid Marquise have been working together to improve the
routine each time it is performed. Their new extension includes
the appearance of Betsy Blockhead, who has her own bit of magic
to perform. Then the little Blockheads begin to make appearances
from Marquise's Plush Top Hat. More and more, faster and faster,
until he dumps out a whole laundry basket full of little
Blockheads for the finale.
The addendum will be included in
the e-Book at no additional cost, and naturally, those who
purchased the older version have already been sent their updates.
Contact Professor Spellbinder at magicnook@yahoo.com if you did not receive your update.
WJ16-07
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Buy all 11 articles of this issue (#16)
of the Wizards' Journal $40.00
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