Ganson, Lewis: Routined Manipulation Volumes II
©1950 Harry Stanley Unique Magic Studio, London
Paper, perfectbound, 251 pages

1st of 2 copies

Comments: Photos by F. Oberhoff, Stanley Hart, & Kenneth Pratt, Illustrated by Frank Webster and Ted Elliott. This D. Robbins & Co. Inc. edtition combines Parts I and II into one volume. There is lots of good magic therein, and the writing is very good. Each effect is fully described. Some of my favorites include: (from Routined Manipulation I) 29 How Right You Are! uses Svengali Deck; 36 Koran torn/restored newspaper uses 10"x2" metal sheet; 61 Riffle pass, bottom deal; 65 Shells & Peas using real walnuts; 74 Ken Brook cups & balls routine; 80 Egg Skin trick; 89 Match-IC paddle trick; 100 Buckle count; 110 Linking Rings; (from Routined Manipulation II) 7 Money attracts Money (4 coins across); 12 Color Change Knife; 21 Thimbles

Part II: Note that page numbering starts over in this second part of the compiled book

5 Preface: Lewis Ganson, 1951
6 Prefatory Note: J. Barrows Mussey on Ganson and this 2nd volume

7 Money Attracts Money: Ganson's coins across routine. Four coins travel from one hand to the other. Uses a 5th silver coin to "attract" the coppers

12 The Colour Changing Pocket Knife: Ganson's routine uses three knives: W/R, W/B, and Striped. A holder for the knives is described. Moves described include: three color change moves, three vanishes, changing color in spectator's hand, and changing one knife for another. Routine is along the lines of trying to make a knife vanish, but it changes color instead. I have seen this routine available with a set of pretty cheap knives.

21 Thimble Manipulation: Objections to Thimble Magic addressed
22 Wilfred Bader's Thimble Routine: Uses on red and 10 yellow thimbles, recommends giant wooden thimbles. An additional red thimble will be needed and will need to be modified if you want to do the levitation portion. Two thimble holders are also explained. Sleights described include thumb palms, finger palm, change over palm, and several steals. Routine includes thimble appearances, vanishes, color change, and multiplication, ending with 5 thimbles (one on each finger).
34 Alternative Presentations: doing thimbles for a cabaret setting or a children's show; levitating a thimble.

37 The Crystal Prism: A selected card is revealed in a prism.

38 Card Quota: Section presents variations on common card sleights
38 The Glide
39 A New Location: described and applied to a commercial wallet by Bill O'Conner (gaff not exposed) and the card on the ceiling trick
41 A Simple Pack Switch
42 Card Coin Cut (Dr. Georg Schitzkowski): Deck is fanned and spectator touches one card. Fan is raised so spectator can note the selection. Pack is tabled, and a handkerchief placed over the pack. Spectator cuts the deck through the handkerchief, and a coin is seen on the revealed card. The card under the coin is the selection.


45 Ken Brook's Chapter: The Ken Brooke Routine for the Cap and Pence, and A Clean Prediction mentalist routine.
45 The Ken Brooke Routine For the Cap and Pence: requires the stack of pence, a gimmicked stack of pennies (other pennies are to be borrowed), a box of matches, and two small peanuts or other small objects. Includes Ken's effective vanish for small items.
47 A Clean Prediction: A prediction is placed in a hat. Three objects are borrowed from the audience, and one is selected. A spectator removes the prediction from the hat, and it names the selected object. No stooges, but not absolutely foolproof, although an out is suggested.

51 Henry Hay's Coins Up the Sleeve: Includes descriptions of Hay's palm and vanish sleights. Uses 5 silver dollars, four similar but one different. The effect is that coins pass from one hand into the trouser pocket.

55 Colour Change, Penetration, and Vanish: a silk routine using the dye tube. Includes a Jack Chanin vanish.

61 Beer is Best: a paddle routine. Ganson shows in detail how to perform the move, and includes a routine using two paddles based on "what to drink"

63 Cecil Keech's Ropan Silk: two ropes are shown, one is long, one short. A silk tied to the short passes to the long, then back. The four ends are tied to form a loop and pulled through the hands. The rope visibly lengthens to fifteen feet. Uses a gimmicked rope.

66 My Opening Card routine: A fan of cards if produced from a puff of smoke, thrown away, and another fan appears. This is repeated several times. Gloves are removed, and still a fan appears. Finally, cards are produced singly. The sleights in this effect are not detailed extensively, you are referred instead to Expert Manipulation of Playing Cards.

70 Dr. Geimer's Dice Routine (Dr. Alexander Geimer): The "move" explained, and four effects offered. Inspired by Mr. Beaumont's routine in volume 1

72 Koran's Miracle Blindfold Card Act: A complete act with seven card revelations performed while blindfolded. Includes: Sense of Touch; Stop - By Power of Thought; Three Times Three; Double Thoughts; Prediction Plus; Force Superb; and The Payoff. This is a routine that begs to be sold with showmanship!

78 Harold G. Beaumont's Quartet: 4 effects
78 The Coincidental Cut: One blue and one red deck on the table. Spectator shuffles one, the performer the other. Both cut the decks. The top card of the performer's deck is placed on the bottom of the spectator's deck, and they are cut again. Again, the top card of the performer's deck is placed on the bottom of the spectator's deck. When the spectator's deck is examined, the odd colored cards are adjacent to their matches!
79 Maybe this is Crazy! Several fans of cards are produced and thrown into a hat, then a giant fan is produced (routine describes only the "final" giant fan).
79 Clean Cut Transposition. Four aces are shown and placed into a glass on the left. Four spot cards are placed into a glass on the right. After some byplay, they switch.
80 The Sympathetic Ropes: Three ropes are tied and dropped in a hat on the left. Three untied ropes are dropped in a hat on the right. The untied ropes are removed and found to be tied. These are now cut. The three on the left are found to be separate also (needs knowledge of Tom Osborne's Three to One rope trick)

82 The Sympathetic Disks: Hilliard's Sympathetic Coins (Matrix) using coloured disks. Four disks in four corners of table assemble to one corner under cover of a card. Includes addition by Terence J. Coates. Also, how to show both sides of the discs, and turning the disc under the card.

86 Egg Bag, Egg Bag (adapted from Percy Abbott routine): This egg bag routine uses a Japanese silk egg bag and the necessary blown egg. An egg is produced and vanished, and a bag is produced. The bag is run through a small ring, yet an egg is pulled from the bag. The egg vanishes and reappears, then finally vanishes, and then the bag vanishes. Routine ends with the Egg on Fan effect.

91 Will Ayling's Fashion Parade: An impromptu effect in which a rolled up magazine rises and falls over two cords.

93 Modern Billiard Ball Manipulation: Introduction and brief history of ball magic
94 The Type and Size of Balls to Use: discussion of various types and colors available with advantages and disadvantages
95 The Half Shelf: to use or not to use
96 The Care and Preparation of the Hands
97 The Two Palm Positions: The Palm Proper, The Finger Palm
99 Methods of Vanishing a Billiard Ball: 5 methods
103 Producing a Ball In the Hand: 2 methods
104 Productions With the Aid of the Shell
108 Acquitments with Billiard Balls: 6 methods to show the hands apparently empty
113 Manipulation of the Shell: palming, acquitments
115 Apparatus Used for Obtaining a Ball Secretly
116 The Use of Misdirection
118 The First Routine: single ball multiplies to four
122 The Second Routine: An extension to routine one
123 Colour Changes with Billiard Balls
123 The Substitution of One Ball for Another
127 Colour Changes by Means of the Shell
129 The "Eight Ball" Routine: climaxing with the production of 8 balls
133 Conclusion