Room for Doubt

[T Baxter]

Just curious -- I'm sure that many here are familiar with the effect marketed by Tony Spina called: ROOM FOR DOUBT.

Was the interactive principle that was utilized originated by Spina? If not, can anyone here give the source?

T. Baxter

[Richard Kaufman]

Max could give us a full rundown on this, but I think he's away at the moment.

No, Spina had little to do with it. The effect existed much earlier, and I believe was marketed earlier. It might even be Martin Gardner's.

It's a great trick: I used to do it as a kid.

[Evan Shuster]

Great trick! This was one of my favorites as a kid. I still have my original (from about 30 years ago). At one point the tape was eaten by my cassette player, and was never the same, but recently I was able to find someone to send me their tape, which I transferred to CD, on two tracks, enabling me to modernize it a bit.

Just a couple of weeks ago I found someone selling the trick; an original, but a later version with a slightly different recording, and small black plastic boxes to hold the weapons.

[Kevin Connolly]

This was big seller at Tannen's on the 1970's. I can almost see the ad in Top Hat Topics now. :) I think it sold for 10 bucks.