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natural and appropriate than a costume trunk for Halloween shows?
The black cat was our "force" costume as the accompanying photo shows this month. This worked out so well that one month later as the season of holiday shows began, we re-decorated the trunk and switched to three different costumes: a toy soldier, a snowman and Miss Clause, The latter was the "force" although we added a fourth outfit - an elf -that we duplicated so it was "forceable" too. Once again we had a great response, so...
Six months later the trunk re-emerged with Old Glory on its front. Inside we had Uncle Sam, a marching band musician and, again, two "force" outfits: Miss Liberty and a drum majorette. We used this over the Fourth of July, 1981 and at that year's Abbott Get-Together.
When my California friend Alan Zagorsky opened up his custom illusion business (Alan S Associates) he wondered what he could build for me. Our Costume Trunk was well-used and, like all illusionists, I had some ideas for a super Costume Trunk Mystery. We obtained all the workshop plans and blueprints available to study the various versions of this act. I gave Alan the go-ahead with no delivery date in mind. In fact, I suggested that he take a long time to fabricate this illusion.
There certainly are advantages to working without a deadline. Nothing on this illusion is "make-do". When a particular type of hardware couldn't be found, Alan made it. The result is a fancier trunk with the look of a pirate's chest. The surface of the trunk was covered with a fabric used to restore antique car trunk interiors. Alan sealed it and then carefully distressed, or weathered it. It was sealed again and the
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natural wood framing applied.
The handmade hardware is pounded out of various decorative metals and this is a beautiful illusion. Alan was so happy that he made a second one with a slightly different color pattern, but with the same fancy detail work. At this writing, it is still available, but it is not cheap!
The lid is no longer removable so we have lost the stage setting beginning that I described above. The front, however, opens to show all the trays in place. Obviously. they are removed to display the clothing. We continue to use the illusion at Halloween and Christmas. Lately we have begun appearing at some fashion shows and it probably will see some very appropriate use in one of those soon.
The ethnic possibilities are strong, too. Costumes of various nationalities are a natural way to present this effect. I believe Harry Blackstone Sr. used a rack with costumed dolls for the selection process. An audience member aimed a rifle at the targets above the hanging figures and fired. The one that dropped was the chosen doll. Although I liked the theatricality of this routine, it seems like the choice is preordained. I prefer a simpler route.
Several years ago, actor Tony Curtis performed this illusion on a T.V. special. He used a changing bag of sorts - once again - with dolls. This was stronger than the Blackstone method, but the real impact comes from having the woman appear immediately after the selection is made; a touch that was missing in the Curtis presentation.
Currently, I'm using three jumbo cards. From a deck of blank faced cards my artist did a black cat, skeleton and witch. With absolutely no false moves I quickly ask someone
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