Reference For A Spelling Trick

[Bob Farmer]

I'm looking for a reference for a trick I dimly recall. A packet of cards is in play. The magician spells a card and it turns up but whenever the spectator tries to do the same thing, a Joker turns up.

[Jackpot]

Possibly "The Persistent Joker" by Tom Sellers? If yes, Trickshop.com offers it as a free download.

[katterfelt0]

Possibly "The Persistent Joker" by Tom Sellers? If yes, Trickshop.com offers it as a free download.

It can be found here.

[Brad Henderson]

I think Williamson does this on one of his videos. He taught it at a TAOM lecture and I’m sure mentioned the source.

[Bob Farmer]

Thank you all!

[Philippe Billot]

The Persistent Joker was described in Card Tricks That Work published, page 7, in 1934.

Paul Curry had a version A Futile Lesson in Magic in The Jinx, no. 105, August 10, 1940, page 631

[Denis Behr]

There are many versions, a few can be found HERE AMONG THESE.

[Tarotist]

I may well be imagining it but I vaguely remember reading something along those lines by Paul Rosini. I also remember reading something along those lines in the oddest of places. A Chewing Gum wrapper! When I was a small boy in Glasgow I remember some chewing gum company or other used to enclose some instructions on tricks in their packaging. The two I remember were this one and the rubber band trick where the band jumps from two fingers to another two fingers. I still do that to this day!

[Dave Le Fevre]

the rubber band trick where the band jumps from two fingers to another two fingers

Like you, I learned that at an early age from a confectionery company - a magic book from Milky Bar chocolate.

And like you, I still perform it, 67 years later.

[chetday]

I used to sit in meetings, bored to tears, with my hands on a table repeatedly doing that old jumping rubber band trick. After getting away with such behavior for a couple of weeks, the boss took me aside and told me my days working for him would be numbered if I didn't stop it. I gave brief consideration to switching to rolling a half dollar back and forth on my knuckles to keep myself amused during those mindless meetings, but since my wife was about to have our second child, I decided it would be best to feign interest and keep my restless hands still.

[Brad Henderson]

The jumping rubber band was the creation of Ellis Stanyon.

[Philippe Billot]

The jumping rubber band was the creation of Ellis Stanyon.

In 1911, which doesn't make anyone any younger!

[Grippo's Wish]

The trick was created by the “english dai vernon” edward brown

[Philippe Billot]

The trick was created by the “english dai vernon” edward brown

Which one ? The Persistent Joker or The Jumping Rubber Band ?

[Grippo's Wish]

The original question

[Philippe Billot]

And what is your reference, please ?

[Denis Behr]

Brown seems to be quite a bit later. In The Card Magic of Edward G. Brown his version can only be dated via a 1946 letter.

[Richard Kaufman]

I thought Stanley Collins created the Jumping Rubber Band.

[Q. Kumber]

Grippo's Wish wrote:

The trick was created by the “english dai vernon” edward brown

Here's Billy McComb talking about Edward G Brown:

First off, may I say th a t I saw Brown perform. It was probably in
the region of 1946-47. He died in 1 9 4 7. I was in the company of
Al Koran (then known as Edward Doe, a hairdresser in Bond
Street) and was briefly introduced by either Francis White,
President of The Magic Circle, or Peter Warlock, who like Brown,
was a bank official. I was a medical student on one of several visits
to London from Belfast to take courses. Al was always intrigued
with card magic and also with my designation of the grey area
between the amateur and the professional magician. I dubbed
them either Amateur-Amateurs or Amateur-Professionals, and
Professional-Amateurs or Professional-Professionals.

To elucidate further, the A-A was a magic society act, which would
not lead a layperson to book a magician for a function. An AP was
a good workmanlike act with regard for the entertainment of the
audience, but who, for varying reasons, held onto their day job.
The P-A was a pro who should never have turned pro in the first
place, wouldn’t make much of a living, and invariably worked really
cheap to get booked. The P-Ps were good, hard-working pros that
had enough personality, charm, and awareness of an audience’s
needs to make a very fair living.

As we walked away from the show we went over the acts and
designated Edward G. Brown as an A-A. Indeed, as he wrote to
Trevor Hall: “ I do not have to worry about getting laughs and
applause or return bookings. I can please myself.” There you are. A
self-defined Amateur-Amateur.

[Tarotist]

With regard to Edward G Brown's statement thus "“ I do not have to worry about getting laughs and
applause or return bookings. I can please myself.” I do know that another eminent "amateur-amateur" by the name of John Ramsey once mentioned to an even more eminent "amateur-professional" by the name of Dai Vernon that Edward G Brown was actually a better performer than a very eminent Professional-Professional by the name of Edward Victor!

As an aside I have noticed that many professional magicians look down on amateurs. I never do and in fact I envy them. They get far more fun out of magic than professionals do and the said Edward G Brown also gave good reasons to envy them in his statement. I have always said that as soon as money enters the picture the fun, enjoyment and excitement of magic tends to dilute somewhat either to lesser or greater degree.

Incidentally I always remember with great amusement at the late Roy Walton's remarks to me about professionals. He actually gave me the impression that HE looked down on THEM! I found that quite refreshing!

I do find it interesting that Billy gave his definitions when he was a medical student and Koran was a hairdresser. That means that at the time THEY were amateurs themselves! My own doctor in London told me he went to medical school with Billy!

Incidentally I once spent an evening with Billy McComb and Al Koran. I have to say that I found Koran somewhat insufferable. I do remember he kept complaining all evening that David Berglas stole his radio series!

[Tarotist]

I may well be imagining it but I vaguely remember reading something along those lines by Paul Rosini. I also remember reading something along those lines in the oddest of places. A Chewing Gum wrapper! When I was a small boy in Glasgow I remember some chewing gum company or other used to enclose some instructions on tricks in their packaging. The two I remember were this one and the rubber band trick where the band jumps from two fingers to another two fingers. I still do that to this day!

Aha! I was not imagining things after all! I accidentally came across it today in Chuck Caputo's excellent book on Paul Rosini! Page 195. It is called "A futile lesson in magic".

I am pleased that my aged memory is still working after all!