In the 2 videos posted in this article, Slydini performed a total of 3 magic tricks. The precious thing in this video is Dick Cavett’s introduction to Tony Slydini and his ingenuity in performing magic.
The introduction is a little long and Slydini only appears at 1:42. So if you are impatient, you may want to forward the video to 1:42.
Table of Contents
Modification Of The Paper Balls In The Hat Trick
The first magic trick that lasted until 4:30, is some sort of a modification of the “Paper Balls in the Hat” trick using cigarettes. Notice the hand movement and body gesture are somewhat similar to those when he performed the “Paper Balls in the Hat” trick.
The difference here is that the paper balls are replaced by cigarettes and there is no hat or box. What you see here are cigarettes appearing and disappearing from one hand to another. Apply all the principles that I have discussed in my earlier articles “Tony Slydini – The Master of Misdirection” and “Slydini’s Helicopter Card”. Try to figure out for yourself and do it as an exercise. Just like back in school, the actual learning takes place only when we do our homework.
Slydini’s “Coins Through The Table Magic” Trick
The second magic trick from 4:50 to 6:30 presented to a lady was the same magic trick Tony Slydini performed to Dick Cavett in the earlier posting “Tony Slydini – The Master of Misdirection”.
The third magic trick from 0:08 of the second video (Part 2) to the end of the same video at 2:31 was the “Coins Through The Table” magic trick using 7 coins.
At the end of the trick you will see Tony Slydini put his right hand holding the 4 coins below the table while he put his left hand holding the 3 coins on top of the table. Tony Slydini slammed his left hand on the table and the 3 coins ‘penetrated’ the table and dropped into his right hand that was under the table. Slydini opened his left hand and there was no coin in his right hand or on the table because the 3 coins had supposedly penetrated through the table. As he brought forth his right hand from under the table, there were 7 coins in his right hand.
For the rest of the video, Tony Slydini performed variations of the same trick using different number of coins, but the same principle of the 7-coin trick applies.
The “Coin Through The Table” magic trick using 7 coins could have been done with any number of coins, say only 6 coins. However, by having 4 coins in one hand and 3 coins in another hand creates a stronger misdirection that no coin have been passed from one hand to the other while he showed the 3 coins in the left hand the first time (7:54) and 4 coins in the right hand the second time (8:08).
Coins Through The Table Explained
I will make the explanation of this magic trick here short.
The first time he revealed his left hand completely opened with 3 coins still in the left hand (7:54) was genuine. That was meant to convince the audience so as to make them let down their guard. The second time when he ‘dropped’ the 4 coins from the right hand (8:08) involved a sleight of hands.
Notice that he did not turn his right hand faced up like he did previously with his left hand. 3 coins were clipped with his thumb in his right hand while the one and only unique coin (the English penny among the 7 coins) was dropped onto the table from his right hand. The other 3 coins that appeared on the table were dropped (slid through the bottom) from the left hand. The one coin from the right hand and 3 coins from the left hand totaled up to 4 coins on the table.
Upon seeing 4 coins on the table, our minds deceive us that ALL the 4 coins are from the right hand. Right from beginning of the magic trick, Slydini had emphasized to the audience to watch the English penny (that was meant to fool them). He was setting up a mental trap for his audience. So when Slydini picked up the 4 coins from the table with his right hand (palm faced down hiding the 3 coins clipped in the right hand), he then have all the 7 coins in his right hand.
Conclusion
As a concluding statement, I would like to refer you to the movie “Swordfish” . John Travolta played the role of a ruthless terrorist when in actual fact he was a special government agent. He had fooled the police and the FBI agents time and time again, and in his final act, he faked his own death. Somewhere in the middle of the movie when he was driving in his car, he said something like this (pardon me because I can’t remember the exact words):
“I love Houdini. He could make an elephant disappear from the stage. The keyword is – MISDIRECTION. What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.”
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