Shoving a Straw Through a Potato

[Richard Kaufman]

Sounds absurd, but if you're old enough you may remember this effective stunt (you really do thrust a paper straw through a potato).
The trick vanished when paper straws vanished and plastic straws took their place.
But the wheel has spun back and paper straws are now available again.
Instructions can be found in Harry Lorayne's "The Magic Book." I know ... I drew the potato!

[Dustin Stinett]

Those that they had at the Castle were a tad thick. Not sure how well they would work. I say "had" because they seemed to have gone back to plastic--at least the last couple of times I was there. (Which kind of bums me out because my joke no longer works: "Thanks, I smuggled in my own." [Open jacket so inside pocket can be seen with a bunch of paper-wrapped plastic straws inside. Remove one ...])

[erdnasephile]

Paper straws suck!

Just sayin'

[Richard Kaufman]

Why are you saying that? I had no problem with them growing up, and have no problem with them now.

[Philippe Billot]

Sounds absurd, but if you're old enough you may remember this effective stunt (you really do thrust a paper straw through a potato).

Instructions can be found in Harry Lorayne's "The Magic Book." I know ... I drew the potato!

or in The New Phonix no. 324, march 1955 entitled Holy Potatoes by LePaul

[Dave Le Fevre]

Why are you saying that?

I'd assumed that it was a pun. One sucks through a straw.

[Tom Frame]

How about shoving a potato through a straw?

Take a tiny potato and apparently shove it into the right end of the straw. Roll the straw between your fingers from right to left end, and produce a French fry from the left end of the straw.

[erdnasephile]

Why are you saying that? I had no problem with them growing up, and have no problem with them now.

RK, I've never had much luck with paper straws as they always tended to squish down at the mouth end before I finished my milkshake as a kid. Maybe they are sturdier now?

[AJM]

One of the risks of not having plastic straws...

https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/national ... ar-AAE7CqX

[Richard Kaufman]

I haven't clicked on your link, but I'm guessing it's about the woman who impaled her eye and brain with a metal straw (by accident during a fall).

[Zig Zagger]

Here's a nice, short video of the effect. It uses a clear plastic straw which automatically turns into a "magic potato wand":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ewpwylbxec

[Richard Kaufman]

I see that the person uses a plastic straw in the video. I was always under the impression it had to be a paper straw.

[Steve Bryant]

I discussed this with my wife at lunch. She recommends that you bake the potato first!

[Randy Naviaux]

I read that effect in 78/79 and tried it with an actual paper straw a friend had in his kitchen. It worked!!! I was totally amazed. I must have reread that book a hundred times before trying that as I thought it couldn't possible work. I've always wanted to do it again but haven't seen a paper straw since then.

[chetday]

For those who can't find paper straws at the local supermarket (mine didn't even have decent plastic straws), Amazon has multiple choices:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=paper+straws ... b_ss_i_1_7

After ordering, let's see some youtube performances of straws through potatoes, eh?

Oh, for those with deep pockets who hate driving to the local market to load up on spuds:

https://www.amazon.com/POTATOES-RUSSET- ... way&sr=8-3