Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
- Bob Cunningham
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Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
I am working on a Chop Cup routine that uses a styrofoam coffee cup from a meeting room or office. While not Impromptu, the gaff is easily adapted to the particular type of styrofoam cup being used in any office in just a few minutes.
I am trying to find out if anyone else has written/produced something similar?
I would appreciate any help or leads that you may have.
I am trying to find out if anyone else has written/produced something similar?
I would appreciate any help or leads that you may have.
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
On page 78 of THE UNCANNY SCOT Ron Wilson explains his Uncanny Chop Cup in which a cardboard coffee cup is made into a chop cup.
-Marty
-Marty
- Bob Cunningham
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Thanks Marty.
I am assuming a cardboard cup is what Americans would call a paper cup?
I don't have a copy of "The Uncanny Scott". Can you tell me if this method involves a false bottom in anyway? If you'd be more comfortable sending that information to private message that would be fine.
Thanks again!
I am assuming a cardboard cup is what Americans would call a paper cup?
I don't have a copy of "The Uncanny Scott". Can you tell me if this method involves a false bottom in anyway? If you'd be more comfortable sending that information to private message that would be fine.
Thanks again!
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
gaffing ordinary cups with wax or spikes goes back a ways. Hoffmann's first book? The trick using a ball on a thread attached to the side of the cup (from the Eliot book?) goes back to mid last century in print.
Trying to drink from such a cup -or even mixing such props in a casual environment may be asking for problems.
Trying to drink from such a cup -or even mixing such props in a casual environment may be asking for problems.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time
- Bob Cunningham
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Thanks Jonathan!
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
I'm almost positive that Jack Avis had a routine with a Dixie cup or styrofoam cup in his book Vis-A-Vis (don't have the book with me so can't look it up). Thee was no false bottom. You could use a borrowed cup. The gimmick was in the wand. Today, you can have the gimmick in a finger ring and pretty much get the same effect.
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Or a thumb tip.James wrote: Today, you can have the gimmick in a finger ring and pretty much get the same effect.
As far as the original question goes (provenance), the Apr 1994 Linking Ring has a ring report describing a Steve Fearson lecture in which he used a styrofoam cup as a chop cup (with no further details).
- Bob Cunningham
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Thanks for all the input and resources! It is very helpful
- Bob Cunningham
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Based on the feedback I have received so far, and my own research, I think I may have something that has not been published before. I am certain that I came up with this idea on my own,but is definitely evolutionary – not revolutionary.
I am not a professional magician. I have no interest in marketing this. Instead I would like to share this information freely with the greater magic community. But in case this has already been published/marketed, I don't want to step on anyone's toes, violate anyone's rights or offend too many people unnecessarily
Would a couple of you be willing to look at what I've got and see if (based on your knowledge) you think this is different enough to warrant putting together a PDF and make it available here and elsewhere?
If you would be willing to give me your feedback about my "Semi impromptu Styrofoam chop cup" please PM me with your email address and I'll send you some pictures of the gaff.
I am not a professional magician. I have no interest in marketing this. Instead I would like to share this information freely with the greater magic community. But in case this has already been published/marketed, I don't want to step on anyone's toes, violate anyone's rights or offend too many people unnecessarily
Would a couple of you be willing to look at what I've got and see if (based on your knowledge) you think this is different enough to warrant putting together a PDF and make it available here and elsewhere?
If you would be willing to give me your feedback about my "Semi impromptu Styrofoam chop cup" please PM me with your email address and I'll send you some pictures of the gaff.
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
I thought it was William zavis who did the chop cup with magnetic pen/wand. I learned it from his early videonics video. of course, with the similarity of names I could be mistaken.
Brad Henderson magician in Austin Texas
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Brad, you're correct. It was William Zavis in the book Divers Deceits, published in 1973. I knew something didn't feel right as I made my first post.
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
This could turn into a need for a circle cutter tool from James Riser.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Bob,
If you want to make it available, why not send it in for Magicana? I may know one of the guys writing it (Andi)...
Ian
If you want to make it available, why not send it in for Magicana? I may know one of the guys writing it (Andi)...
Ian
Ian Kendall Close up magician in Edinburgh and Scotland
- Bob Cunningham
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Hi Ian,
Thanks for the idea. I'd be happy to do that. I look at their site and it does not seem like they have a place that would be a good fit for, "how to make an impromptu looking chop cup that doesn't look gaffed" I actually can't find a place on the site for individual effects, let alone DYI projects.
However, if I am wrong I will be happy to share this with them. If you get the contact information for your friend please share with me and I'll contact him.
Thanks,
Bob
Thanks for the idea. I'd be happy to do that. I look at their site and it does not seem like they have a place that would be a good fit for, "how to make an impromptu looking chop cup that doesn't look gaffed" I actually can't find a place on the site for individual effects, let alone DYI projects.
However, if I am wrong I will be happy to share this with them. If you get the contact information for your friend please share with me and I'll contact him.
Thanks,
Bob
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Bob -- Ian means "Magicana, the column of magic tricks in Genii that he hosts", not "Magicana, the Canadian magic website run by David Ben."
- Bob Cunningham
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Why do I feel like I'm in the middle of a Saturday Night Live skit from the 70s, "What's all this about violins on TV!"
Thanks Bill for the clarification.
Thanks Bill for the clarification.
- Bob Cunningham
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Re: Provenance of using a styrofoam coffee cup as a Chop Cup
Ian, if you can send me your email via PM I'll send you off pictures of what I have and you can determine if it's worth your time.