Spirit Cabinet Routines

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Bob Farmer
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Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Bob Farmer » September 25th, 2022, 4:39 pm

I am researching spirit cabinet routines.

Was the Falkenstein/Willard routine ever published?

Are there other routines of note?

Any info would be most appreciated.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Richard Kaufman » September 25th, 2022, 5:07 pm

You might start with the Davenport Brothers.
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Ian Kendall
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Ian Kendall » September 25th, 2022, 6:20 pm

At least part of the Falkenstein routine was on their L&L DVDs; the tied up jacket thing.

Romany did it in her stage show at the last Genii Bash.

Diego
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Diego » September 26th, 2022, 9:02 pm

Years ago, Willard and Falkenstein, advertised personal instruction for doing their spirit cabinet...while asking a hefty price, it would have been worth it to a working performer who wanted to perform it themselves...given the benefit of 3 generations of Willard knowledge/experience.

In the Virgil & Julie book, it has some coverage and their performance on the Garry Moore Show is online. Andre Kole's performance (which he learned from Frances Willard) with his 1st wife is available on video as well.

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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Bob Farmer » September 27th, 2022, 8:00 am

Do you have a link for the Andre Kole version?

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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby MagicbyAlfred » September 27th, 2022, 9:36 am

Bob Farmer wrote:Do you have a link for the Andre Kole version?


I have seen a lot of videos of various magicians performing the illusion, or some variation, but not Kole.

If you can't unearth one, Bob, this might be the next best thing -- a description of Andre's presentation by Terry Holley, who assisted him on stage with the illusion over the course of a decade:

https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/vie ... 27&forum=7

Joe Lyons
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Joe Lyons » September 27th, 2022, 10:29 am

Here are a couple of links to the Falkenstein/Willard routine:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BbPfK6K7LJE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsBY33ElyRI

I don't think the routine is in either of the Willard books, perhaps you could reach out to Frances Willard or Michael Ammar.

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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Diego » September 27th, 2022, 12:22 pm

I have seen either part if not the entire routine on one of the DVD/VHS tapes Andre sold. I do remember decades ago, seeing a tape of a Kole program which included the spirit cabinet performed in it's entirety on a Christian Channel. Don't recall if I saw it on youtube
I do remember it was very well done...both the instruction of Frances Willard and the work put in by the Kole's very evident.

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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Diego » September 27th, 2022, 12:31 pm

Watched Willard/Falkenstein perform the Cabinet at The Magic Castle, many times. Because of the suit/tie requirement, it was an added touch at the climax of the routine, when a spectator was blindfolded and sat next to Frances, but a few moments later when the curtain was pulled aside, the blindfolded spectator was seen with his tie was tossed over his right shoulder and his left pants leg was rolled up.
To a select group, that image had a special message. How many reading this would know what it was?

Ian Kendall
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Ian Kendall » September 27th, 2022, 3:09 pm

"To a select group, that image had a special message. How many reading this would know what it was?"

Sounds vaguely Masonic?

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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby PressureFan » September 27th, 2022, 3:34 pm

I get an image of Harpo Marx.

Joe Lyons
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Joe Lyons » September 27th, 2022, 3:35 pm

Ian Kendall wrote:
Sounds vaguely Masonic?

Sounds right.

Or another group like the Air Force, a fraternity or The Left-Handed League.

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Steve Bryant
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Steve Bryant » September 27th, 2022, 7:16 pm

Some of the most original bits I have read are in the massive book The Mind and Magic of David Berglas. I would love to
perform them some day. These are great.

And in my Book of Ghosts is a sexy version -- we produced a nude female ghost, to the sounds of David Rose's "The Stripper" -- but this is not for everyone!

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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Diego » September 27th, 2022, 9:11 pm

Masonic is right. One person said it was a Masonic signal of some sort. Others would better know. But in the initial ceremony/ritual for a new member, he is blindfolded, his tie placed/tossed over his right shoulder, and his left pant leg rolled up. Don't know if Willard was a Mason.

hugmagic
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby hugmagic » November 6th, 2022, 8:19 pm

Bob Blau, John Calvert both did spirit routines.
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jplibby
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby jplibby » November 13th, 2022, 1:42 pm

hugmagic wrote:Bob Blau, John Calvert both did spirit routines.


Years ago, John Calvert came to San Antonio to lecture for Ring 18. He demonstrated and explained his Spirit Cabinet routine. It was a great evening and a real pleasure to meet him and Tammy.

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Jim Gerrish
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Re: Spirit Cabinet Routines

Postby Jim Gerrish » November 17th, 2022, 5:49 pm

"Sefalaljia" is essentially a small Spirit Cabinet routine that can be performed on a tabletop or close-up depending on how small you make it. It was created by Stewart James' in 1939, but Spellbinder and I worked out a new version using a Dollar Store plastic crate that was published in The Wizards' Journal in 2006. By 2011, Wiz Kid Qua-Fiki was weaving his tale of the magic Babushka headscarf that is filled with the spirit of the Russian witch and fortune teller, Baba Yaga- but actually another form of Sefalaljia using a men's handkerchief instead of the plastic crate. I had already built a stage illusion Spirit Cabinet from PVC Pipes that was described in my Book 3 of PVC Pipe Illusions. So if anyone is looking for alternates to the bulky Davenport Wooden Stage Illusion, you have some alternate choices at The Magic Nook that you can easily build yourself.

Jim Gerrish
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