Victor Farelli – John Ramsay’s Routine with Cups and Balls

John Ramsay, whom we “killed off” in a review several years ago, by referring to him (mistakenly, we rejoice to say) as “the late John Ramsay,” is known in many lands for his remarkably clever close-up conjuring. Victor Farelli, who has abandoned the magic wand for the pen, is the author of several works on magic with cards, coins, and linking rings. In producing the book under review, Mr. Ramsay has contributed his favorite cup-and-ball routine, and Mr. Farelli his literary skill, to their joint undertaking.

The routine in question consists of (1) the passage of the performer’s wand through each of two small paper cups; (2) the production of two small cork balls from the wand; (3) the disappearance of these balls from the magician’s pockets and their reappearance under the cups; (4) the magical production of two large cork balls; (5) the magical production of two tomatoes under the cups, and the mysterious reappearance of the small cork balls; and (6) the production of colored paper ribbons from both of the cups. Every step of this routine is explained by Mr. Farelli in the most minute detail, as should be evident when we state that the explanation covers 52 pages of print and includes 47 illustrations. We see no reason why any intelligent person should not be able to master these extraordinarily thorough instructions without difficulty, and should expect him to feel that he had received “full money’s worth” provided this happens to be the sort of routine that meets his needs. On the other hand, the price would doubtless seem very high to someone who had hoped to learn an especially fine version of the orthodox Cup and Ball Trick, suitable for presentation before a group of considerable size.

Here, we believe, is a difficulty that faces every seller of a single routine, such as the one under discussion, as contrasted with the seller of a book which explains many tricks. In buying the latter the buyer “spreads the risk,” for the chances of finding something that he personally can use are obviously far greater than those of the buyer of a single trick – which, unless he has actually seen it performed, may turn out to be very different from what he has had in mind, and hence prove of little or no value to him, however useful it might be to other performers. Perhaps the best insurance against disappointment of this kind would be a refusal to purchase a single routine without first seeing it done or having heard or read a fairly detailed description of it. As for John Ramsay’s Routine with Cups and Balls, our description in the preceding paragraph should enable the potential buyer to decide whether it is an effect he would like to present. If so, we may assure him that the routine can be done precisely as described and that Mr. Farelli’s explanation makes everything very clear.

Only about half of this hundred-page book consists of explanation. The other half traces the history of The Cups and Balls, and includes a comprehensive bibliography of publications that relate to this trick. This, by the way, is the best piece of bookmaking that the publisher, George Armstrong, has yet produced. The proofreading is not beyond reproach, but the typographical errors are not really serious. The paper is suitable for the printing of halftone cuts, and the photographic illustrations are well reproduced. Finally, the book is attractively bound in bright red cloth, and gold-stamped on both front cover and spine.