On the Other Side of the Footlights by George Silvers

An expose of routines, apparatus and deceptions resorted to by mediums, clairvoyants, fortune tellers and crystal gazers in deluding the public.

Excerpt from the introduction:

This manuscript was compiled primarily for the benefit of uninformed magicians, enabling them to adopt the various tricks and effects for their own amusement or to detect fraudulent mediums in the presentation of alleged spiritualistic communications.

• DEDICATION

• INTRODUCTION

• ROPE TIES

• BLINDFOLDS

• SEALED ENVELOPE READING

  • Alcohol Method

  • Wax Pads

  • Back Of House Steal

  • Switching In Audience

  • Changing Bag

  • Changing Basket

  • Mirror Bowl

  • Bowl And Stand

  • Bowl And Tongs

  • Carbon Table Top

  • The Ink Bottle

  • The Clip Board

• TRANSMITTING CONTENTS OF MESSAGES

  • Direct Connection Telephone

  • Induction System

  • The Blackboard Method

  • Cushion And Crystal

  • Reader Stand

  • Faro Box Hand Reader

  • Concealed Reader

  • Reader Balls

  • Mechanical Balls

  • Reading From Face Of Watch

  • Reading Off Cuff

  • Using Edge Of Envelope

  • Marking On One Envelope

  • Handing Back Original Queries

  • Trumpet Seance

  • Reading Under Sheet

• PSYCHIC TESTS

  • Thought Transmission Test

  • Stylus Method

  • Parlor Thought Transference

  • The Want Ad Test

  • Flap Slates

  • Medium’s Slate Mystery

  • The Bolted Slates

  • Mechanical Slates

  • Hinged Flap Slate

  • Wedge And Steel Hook

  • Slate Switches

  • Rapping Hands

  • Electric Magnet

  • Needle Point Method

  • Weighted Hand

  • Bible Test

  • Talking Skull

  • Spirit Clock

  • Spirit Photography

  • The Sand Frame

  • Table Lifting

  • Floating Ball

• CLAIRVOYANCE OR SECOND SIGHT

  • Suggested Feats In Audience

  • Playing Selected Pieces On Piano

  • “Object” Code

  • Silent Thought Transmission Test

• SPIRITUALISTIC EFFECTS

  • Floating Light

  • Materialization

  • A Typical Seance

• MISCELLANEOUS

  • The Living And The Dead

  • The Haunted Handkerchief

  • Second Sight With Clock

  • Penetrating Glass Of Water

  • Hindoo Lota

  • The Bewitched Umbrella

  • Finding Hidden Articles While Blindfolded

  • The Spirit Answer

  • The Ghost’s Message

  • Sack Escapes

  • Black Art

  • The Fortune Telling Ball

  • The Cut And Restored Turban

  • Catching Live Pigeons Out Of The Air

  • The Obedient Ball

• IN CONCLUSION

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