Chinese Chow

This routine appeared in The Art Of Close-Up Magic Vol.1 written by Lewis Ganson.

The effect evolved after studying Roy Benson's Balls and Bowl routine, in Bruce Elliott's book Classic Secrets of Magic and Senator Crandall's Cups and Balls routine in The Tarbell Course.

Effect:
A Chinese bowl is shown and is placed mouth downwards on the table.
After the bowl is tapped with a Chinese stick, a sponge ball appears underneath.
The ball multiplies into two, then three. If one ball is taken away, another one always takes its place.
Two balls are placed in your hand and the third in the pocket, but it comes back to unite with the others.
This is repeated a second time.
Two balls are placed in the bowl and one in the pocket and the bowl is lifted three balls are seen.
The balls disappear and, eventually, a LEMON is found under the bowl, and finally a POTATO (or whatever you want to produce).

It is a terrific effect and once mastered you will have the pleasure of possessing a top-class routine.

The late Fred Kaps performed the routine in his close-up acts and in his lectures with incredible success.

PERFORMED BY CAMERON FRANCIS