Reprint of the original, first published in 1876.

This is an incredible handbook on magic tricks for entertainment at home or at social gatherings. The author explains and simplifies many of the best magic tricks and illusions for beginners. These fantastic tricks can be mastered in a few hours, and one would not need expensive resources to perform them but items that are readily available in households. These items include handkerchiefs, coins, oranges, eggs, a glass bowl, etc. In addition, the author gives friendly suggestions in between the tricks and quick tips on how to keep the audience engaged so that they don't lose interest in the middle of the act. Children can learn the art in a significantly short time through this fascinating magic book to amuse and astonish their friends, family, or neighbors. It includes manuals on famous tricks like "the dancing egg," "the walking cent," "heads or tails," etc.

One of the world's most famous magicomedians and ventriloquists discusses every aspect of his art, revealing a wealth of insider's tricks. Schindler shows how to cultivate a variety of voices and offers helpful suggestions for putting an act together, developing comedy material and scripts, and handling bookings and publicity. 38 figures and photos.

This book puts ventriloquism in the same category as magic, because they both involve tricks of the eye and illusions.

Learn how to cut off someone's nose without hurting him and how to double your pocket money. Make an egg dance and a penny walk, produce feathers and candy from a silk handkerchief, and change a bowl of ink into clear water with swimming goldfish. With a little time, practice, and the help of this guide, aspiring magicians can astonish their friends and family with these and other classic parlor tricks. Designed especially for beginners by an expert in the art of legerdemain, the book presents simplified versions of popular illusions. Easy to obtain, inexpensive props include coins, handkerchiefs, eggs, and other common household items. In addition, the final third of this volume offers an introduction to the history and practice of ventriloquism.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1877.