Tenkai "Coin in the hand gag"

Discuss your favorite close-up tricks and methods.
Bob Gerdes
Posts: 140
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Northport, NY

Tenkai "Coin in the hand gag"

Postby Bob Gerdes » April 10th, 2012, 2:39 pm

While reading some old issues of Genii on Ask Alexander, I came across the following description of a coin gag performed by Tenkai (the reference is in the October 1937 issue on page 52):

Tenkai's hand is wrapped in a handkerchief with only the fore-finger protruding. Now a borrowed half-dollar is balanced on this fore-finger. You hold another half-dollar in your open palm. Now Tenkai will click the balanced coin against the one in your palm and all [y]ou have to do is grab it. But just try and do it! He clicked the coins so fast and often, with the "stooge" really trying to beat him that it developed into a wow laugh.


http://askalexander.org/displaypdf?pid= ... ief%20coin

Now, I seem to recall reading about this little trick somewhere, but can't for the life of me remember where. Pretty sure it wasn't in Bobo, could be in Gardner's Encyclopedia... but I can't find it.

Does anyone know where this can be found in print?

Thanks,

Bob

Asser Andersen
Posts: 67
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Denmark

Re: Tenkai "Coin in the hand gag"

Postby Asser Andersen » April 10th, 2012, 3:32 pm

It is described in "Malini and his Magic" by Vernon: The Coin Game on page 35.

Also, Ken Brooke has quite a nice anecdote about the trick and book in Ken Brooke's Magic - The Unique Years

Bob Gerdes
Posts: 140
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Northport, NY

Re: Tenkai "Coin in the hand gag"

Postby Bob Gerdes » April 10th, 2012, 3:34 pm

That must be where I read it.

Thanks!


Return to “Close-Up Magic”