A bill routine I've seen Kaps perform

[John Bodine]

I'm not sure Kaps was the first to perform it but I'm looking for a reference to a routine he performed on a tape I watched. The routine uses 3 $5 bills and 5 $1 bills for a total of $20. Money is counted to show $20, clipped together at one end and handed to the spectator who upon counting only finds $19...

Please note, this is not Kaps handling of Patrick Page's EZ Money but a different effect.

Wondering if someone out there might know of a reference to this routine.

Kind regards,

johnbodine

[Guest]

Well, it's been awhile since I saw or read the effect...but it sure sounds alot like Bert Allerton's Bamboozeled from the Stars of Magic.

Mike

[Curtis Kam]

John,

I hate to differ with Mike, but I think you're talking about a version of George Starke's "Hornswoggled". Originally published in Hugard's Magic Monthly and later varied and republished in numerous journals. Somebody please correct me if I'm remembering this wrong.

The bulldog clip is a very clever way of displaying the bills for this effect, and the combination of 5's and 1's is characteristic of "Hornswoggled". However, I know Kaps also did the Victor "11 card trick" with bills, in that case, all the same denomination, and in the manuscript released on that trick, he states that he used to clip the bills together. So there's a chance it was the Victor trick you saw.

[Pete Biro]

Not the 11 bill trick (which is a counting trick) but am pretty sure Fred's was indeed Hornswoggled... he may have had a touch or two, but basically it was the Starke effect.

[John Bodine]

I think you got it Curtis. Kaps used a bulldog type clip to clip the money together. I'll have to track down a reference to hornswaggled but you've pointed me in the correct direction, thanks much!

johnbodine

[Guest]

"Hornswoggled" appeared in "Hugard's Magic Monthly", and was included in J. G. Thompson's compilation, "My Best", if memory serves...

Best, PSC

[Guest]

I hate to differ with Mike, but I think you're talking about a version of George Starke's "Hornswoggled". Originally published in Hugard's Magic Monthly and later varied and republished in numerous journals. Somebody please correct me if I'm remembering this wrong.

Curtis,
I stand corrected...you are right (but don't do it again;)) Funny thing is, after I posted my message...I knew I was wrong...just think how much I hate to differ with myself...LOL!

Mike

[Max Maven]

Fred did the Starke routine without any changes in the trick per se -- but, he created a brilliant justification for the bulldog clip, which made a hell of a difference.

However, so far as I know, that was never published.