Butterfly Trick

Discuss the historical aspects of magic, including memories, or favorite stories.
MitsuMatsu
Posts: 115
Joined: February 11th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Yokohama, Japan

Butterfly Trick

Postby MitsuMatsu » April 21st, 2005, 12:32 am

The earliest Japanese magic introduced to the western world is known as the Butterfly Trick, however, who brought it first? It is said that the first Japanese magician, Asa-kitch-san aka Chojuro, performed it in London in early 1867, however, it is almost certain this is not true.
On the other hand, Bart Whaley's Encyclopedic Dictionary mentions of the Butterfly Trick as "Seen in Japan in 1863 by British magician Hugh Simmons (later famous as "Dr. H. S. Lynn") who introduced it to the West where he performed it at least as early as 18 April 1864 at the Tremont Temple in Boston".
I have already checked it at Clarke's Magic Wand 1926/1928 that Bart Whaley referred, a librarian at Harvard Theater Collection and newspaperarchive.com, but no good result at all.
Could anyone suggest me where the evidence can be found, or does anyone have Lynn's bio where some information may exist? Any suggestion would be appreciated!

Mitsunobu Matsuyama (Yokohama)

GAMOLO
Posts: 81
Joined: January 22nd, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Potomac, Md.

Re: Butterfly Trick

Postby GAMOLO » April 21st, 2005, 3:39 pm

A nice derivative can be found on Joe Steven's Collectibles section on his web site.

This is the Carl William's "Okito" version of the ButterFly box. Very beautiful box by Carl.

You hold the little box in your
hand, take off the lid...and take up a fan...and start to fan the box and a
Butterfly, (paper) flys up out of the box and flies around....up....down,
sideways, etc...as the fan works it.. And then it starts its descent back
into the box where it started from, etc.

Box has a cog wheel that you work with your fingers as it flys the paper around and
winds paper back down into the box....a neat piece.

Joe asks around a grand$$ though.

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Pete Biro
Posts: 7124
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Hollyweird
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Re: Butterfly Trick

Postby Pete Biro » April 21st, 2005, 5:01 pm

Jade features it in her act... However, the best version I have seen was the French magician/pickpocket DOMINIQUE, at the Lido, where he opens the act sitting on a stool playing a guitar

Two butterflies come out of the opening in the guitar and fly about to the music, then they fly back in as he finishes.

BRILLIANT.
Stay tooned.


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