Special Powers

90 entries in Mental Magic / Effects / Special Powers
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Unknown To make one danse naked spectator is made to throw away clothes and dance and stomp, stooge
 		1584 The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Issue XXX) 192
Unknown Magische X-Strahlen performer is able to read content of envelope, x-ray patter, alcohol
 		Mar. 1897 Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 2 No. 7) 106
Oswald Rae Selected Smokes cigarettes of different brands are put in a bag, named brands are removed by performer, by touch
 		1928 Sub Rosa 18
Tom Sellers The Psychic Tissues feeling colors behind back
 		1931 Sellers' Secrets 10
Theodore Annemann The Color-Tell Billiard Balls several different colored balls, one is placed in a box and held by performer behind back, he divines the color
 		1931 The Book Without A Name 51
Theodore Annemann Seeing in the Dark reading in the dark
 		1931 The Book Without A Name 52
Tom Sellers Touch Counters several counters/chips of different colors in bag, initialed one found by performer
 		1933 More Secrets 14
Brainerd Baker Color Waves five chips with dots of different colors, performer removes named color from pocket without looking
 		1939 Chap's Scrapbook (Vol. 2 No. 3) 4
John Mulholland Wrong Way for the Answer spectator memorizes serial number of one of five bills, all five are placed in magician’s pocket and he is able to remove the four bills the spectator is not thinking of
 		1944 The Art of Illusion 66
John Mulholland A Matter of Luck discs, each showing a different word on them, are mixed and spectator chooses one, they are mixed up in hat, magician can blindly pick out correct one
 		1944 The Art of Illusion 82
L. Vosburgh Lyons Inhale This! with benzedrine inhaler, spectator drops amount of different colored candies in the inhaler and performer knows how many from each color
 		1947 The Phoenix 101-150 (Issue 122) 489
Dr. Ben B. Braude Tally Ho! spectator write numbers on a pad, under a handkerchief performer feels the numbers and names the total, see also p. 540
 		1947 The Phoenix 101-150 (Issue 131) 525
Ormond McGill Distant Magnetic Force spectator has a sensation of coldness on his hand when performer points on his palm
 		1951 Psychic Magic — Vol. 4 15
Ormond McGill Animal Magnetic Presentation spectator feels presence and energy of performer
 		1951 Psychic Magic — Vol. 4 18
Ormond McGill Blood and Pulse Control stopping and starting pulse at will
 		1951 Psychic Magic — Vol. 5 25
Ormond McGill Black Death pulse in both arms and heart beat stops
 		1951 Psychic Magic — Vol. 5 27
Nelmar Levitation of a Bar of Iron bar of iron is held by two spectators, it raises and lowers at the performer's fingertips, suggestion
Related to
  • Nelmar's "20 Hypnotic Tricks"
 1951 Psychic Magic — Vol. 6 9
Jay Lillis No T.V. magician turns off television by concentration
 		1951 The Phoenix 201 — 250 (Issue 228) 913
Eddie Joseph Individualism borrowed business cards are divined under table
 		1954 A Magician Goes to Dinner 21
Allessandro Color Divination wooden dowels with different colors, colors are divined behind back
 		1957 Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1957) 14
Dr. Spencer Thornton Magnetic Fingers objects stick to the hand
 		1958 Thornton's Secrets of Mental Magic 26
Martin Gardner Ein eigenartiger Schnurtrick as "Gardener", string is knotted to a loop and spectator places it on the table and builds a special form, sides are covered with paper so it's unclear which parts are inside the loop and which outside, performer returns and places pins at several places which are all outside the loop
 		1959 Hokus Pokus (Vol. 20 No. 3) 835
Gerry Findler Lucky Bag numbers from one to twelve are put in a bag, named numbers are drawn by performer, egg bag with index
 		1960 Magic of the Mind 72
Malcolm McCallum Cat's Eyes reading in the dark, method
 		1962 Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1962) 46
James G. Thompson Jr. Blackout Magic classic one ahead routine, with reading in the dark presentation
Inspired by 1967 Between Two Minds 46
Joseph Rossnagel Farbfühlen different colored needles, colors are divined with fingertips behind back
Also published here
  • "Magie" July 1968.
 1968 Hokus Pokus (Vol. 29 No. 5) 89
Stuart P. Cramer The Parlor Yogi stopping pulse and blood flow
 		1969 HEX! 1
Roy Fromer Reading Through a Brick thing put on hand, covered with brick, information divined
 		1969 HEX! 86
Douglas Francis Idento six discs attached to a string, on one is a number written by a spectator, performer detects that one behind his bag by touch only
 		1969 The Art of Close-Up Magic — Volume 2 59
Don Nielsen, Karl Fulves Nor Eyes To See With
  • performer finds red card in black packet behind back
  • circled number on paper is divined behind back
  • set time on watch revealed behind back
fiber optic tube, see also p. 320 for idea by Harold Bester, p. 644 & p. 728 for comments by Syd Bergson & Karl Fulves
Related toVariations Nov. 1969 The Pallbearers Review Vol. 5-8 (Vol. 5 No. 1) 291
Pavel Das Geheimnisvolle Sehen different-colored needle pins are divined by performer behind back
 		1971 15 Mikrotricks 10
Al Mann Mind Cloud making a cloud disappear
Also published here 1974 Magick (Issue 113) 562
Al Mann To Command the Elements! making clouds disappear, cloud busting
Also published here 1976 Mental-Ettes 5
Olof Jonsson, Al Mann Seeing Through a Brick Wall spectator in other room holds card on a wall, performer in other room divines the card
 		1976 The Third Ecstasy 33
Karl Fulves (4) Raising Hell spectator feels someone choking him, apparently electronics, no details given
 		1976 Interlocutor (Issue 6) 21
Karl Fulves Voice From Beyond shattering a glass with recorded noice, posed as a problem
 		1976 Interlocutor (Issue 14) 54
Fredric Broder Mind over Matter Hurst / Goergia wonder presentation, arm can be pushed down of spectator
 		1976 Magick (Issue 163) 812
Burling Hull Ball of Paper Held by Spectator Bursts into Flame chemical
 		1976 The Amazing World of Mentalism 32
Barrie Richardson The Magnetic Force spectator is unable to pick up a pencil on performer's open hand
Also published here Dec. 1977 Pabular (Vol. 4 No. 4) 504
Philip T. Goldstein Power Drain magnet loses his force
Also published here 1977 The Red Book of Mentalism 18
Gene Nielsen May the Force Be with You spectator cannot bend performer's arm
 		1977 Magick (Issue 188) 938
Bob Paul Memory "Curiosities"
ten cards with words, spectator is able to memorize their order
Variations 1979 The Chronicles (Issue 22) 1279
Kate Shiels Psyche's Revenge medium breaks leg of a table with mind / energy
 		1979 Magick (Issue 227) 1131
Neal Rider The Power methods to appear supper natural or gifted, knowing names of people, finding lost objects etc
 		1979 Magick (Issue 230) 1149
Kate Shiels Witch's Plot publicity stunt for one reporter, performer apparently travels long distance very quickly
Variations 1979 Magick (Issue 231) 1152
Elmer Deffenbaugh Direct Dialing publicity stunt for one reporter, performer apparently travels long distance very quickly, different method than Shiels
Inspired by 1979 Magick (Issue 237) 1182
George Kemp The Force manifestation of the force / ghost under handkerchief, impromptu
 		1979 Magick (Issue 239) 1192
Sam Schwartz Hypno-Math No. 8, spectator cannot add two numbers correctly, upside-down numbers
 		1979 Self-Working Mental Magic 10
Jerry K. Hartman Memorease "Curiosities"
ten cards with letters, spectator is able to memorize their order
Inspired byAlso published here 1980 The Chronicles (Issue 28) 1341
Karl Fulves Colors by Mind Reading No. 2, three different-colored paper pieces, one given to performer behind back, he divines color
 		1980 The Children's Magic Kit 2
Tan Hock Chuan Discatorial four different-colored discs, colors divined by performer behind back, then order of four colors predicted
 		1980 After Dinner Technique 54
Jack Kent Tillar Dark Vision color vision with rubik's cube, in box, color is divined
 		1981 Magick (Issue 288) 1437
Al Mann The Seat of the Mighty seeing through a wall and describing the other room
 		1982 Through a Wall, Mistily! 1
Al Mann The Hole in the Wall spectator goes in other room selects a book, performer looks through the wall and divines the selection
 		1982 Through a Wall, Mistily! 2
Al Mann Thot on Titles "The Hole in the Wall" in a strange home
 		1982 Through a Wall, Mistily! 5
Al Mann One Thousand Skulls seeing through the wall theme, spectator in other room draws two miniature skulls from a bag, the skulls are either red or white, four phases
Related to 1982 Through a Wall, Mistily! 6
Al Mann Camera Obscura seeing through the wall theme, design duplication, singing blackboard, limited choice
Related to
  • "Singing Blackboard" in Amazing Maurice's "Mentalistrix Encore" 1969
 1982 Through a Wall, Mistily! 9
Al Mann Fail Safe out for the "Camera Obscura", prepared book
 		1982 Through a Wall, Mistily! 11
Al Mann The Jupiter Effect seeing through a wall, which book is chosen and where opened
Related to 1982 Through a Wall, Mistily! 12
Thomas Alan Waters SOREcery blister appears on thought of finger
 		1982 Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Grymwyr) 245
Frank Shields Star Power coins adhere to fingertips and apparently fall at command of performer
 		Jan. 1983 Magick (Issue 314) 1567
Delvin Lights Out! as Delvyn, turning out light of street lantern apparently by will power
 		May 1983 Magick (Issue 319) 1592
Jerry K. Hartman, Karl Fulves Memorease No. 91, spectator can memorize large number, also letters
Also published here 1983 Self-Working Number Magic 118
Piet Forton Der zauberhafte Farbensinn divination of different colored balls in a bag
 		1983 Je geschickter desto Zauberer 8
Barrie Richardson Heavy Metal! spectator is not able to lift pencil from performer's palm
 		Aug. 1984 Magick (Issue 336) 1677
Thomas Alan Waters Increditable two routines with credit cards
  • Creditouch (by sense of touch, number of card is divined)
  • Creditell (four credit cards put in envelopes and allocated correctly)
 		1985 Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Mystyx) 707
Philip T. Goldstein Power Drain magnet loses his force
Also published here 1989 A Phil Goldstein Collection 59
Michael Weber Sight of Hand reading in the dark
 		1991 Life Savers 110
David Harkey, Eric Anderson Budge! spectator cannot remove deck from case, but performer can, then same with half the deck and a single card
 		1991 Simply Harkey 79
Jerry K. Hartman Memorease ten cards with letters, spectator is able to memorize their order
Also published here 1991 Card Craft 496
Steve Dusheck Shattered glass in plastic bag breaks by itself
 		1993 Dusheck's Mental Magic 107
Karl Fulves Ribbon Revealed No. 26, three different colored ribbons, one given to performer behind back, he divines its color
 		1995 Easy Magic 34
Barrie Richardson The Psychic Strong Man performer holds two pieces of string or shoe lace, spectators cannot pull them out of performer's hand
Inspired by
  • "The Strong Man's Secret" (Henning Nelms, Magic & Showmanship, p. 14)
Also published here
  • Club 71, Summer 1987
 1999 Theater of the Mind 60
Barrie Richardson Pencil Pusher spectator is unable to pick up a pencil on performer's open hand, small thread loop
VariationsAlso published here 1999 Theater of the Mind 71
Barrie Richardson Powers of Darkness II marked coin turns over on spectator's palm without him noticing and with his eyes closed
Inspired by
  • "Powers of Darkness" (Tony Corinda, marketed ca. 1958)
Also published here
  • Magick, Jan. 1985
 1999 Theater of the Mind 74
Bob Still Color View spectators draw pictures on different-colored papers, torn up and tossed in clear plastic bag with more already torn up pieces, four matching pieces of chosen picture taken out by performer
Related to 2000 Latter Day Secrets (Issue 3) 53
Tony Bartolotta Jigsaw Puzzle clear plastic bag with torn colored paper pieces, three spectators take three paper pieces and write word, number and picture, pieces torn up and mixed with the rest, performer reaches in and locates the right pieces that combine to the spectators's writing
Related to 2001 Latter Day Secrets (Issue 6) 215
Philip T. Goldstein Electrovoyance
  • The Other Month
various AA batteries are mixed in bag, level of charge from a chosen battery is divined
Inspired by
  • "Free of Charge" (Phil Goldstein, Linking Ring, Sep. 1991)
 Mar. 2001 Genii (Vol. 64 No. 3) 53
Barrie Richardson The Human Scale
  • From My Thoughts
spectator grabs handful of coins from container, performer matches the same type and amount of coins
Also published here May 2001 Genii (Vol. 64 No. 5) 60
Barrie Richardson The Power of Suggestion: The Heavy Pen
  • From My Thoughts
spectator is unable to pick up a pen on performer's open hand, small thread loop
Inspired by Jan. 2002 Genii (Vol. 65 No. 1) 60
Eric Mead Discharge a battery is drained
 		2003 Connexions 9
Erik Jan Hanussen Can You Brea Chains?
  • Bending an Iron-Bar
  • Tearing a Deck of Cards
  • Pounding Nails into a Wooden Board
  • Breaking a Chain Linnk
Also published here
  • UHU, Jan. 1926
 July 2004 Genii (Vol. 67 No. 7) 57
Chuck Hickok Routine One: Testing Your Intuition pasteboards with different colors in envelops, colors are divined
 		2005 Mentalism, Incorporated: Volume Two 115
Barrie Richardson The Human Scale spectator grabs handful of coins from container, performer matches the same type and amount of coins
Inspired by
  • earlier version in Club 71, Winter 2000
Also published here 		2005 Act Two 87
David Berglas Spell-Bound unreadable gibberish on boards, suddenly spectator can read the words
 		May 2007 Genii (Vol. 70 No. 5) 94
Oliver Meech Invisible Man Magician claims to be able to see through a spectator and see the card written on a sticker stuck on their back
 		2009 The Plot Thickens 10
Barrie Richardson Mesmer's Pencil
  • Phase I - The Rise (pencil stands up on hand, small thread loop)
  • Phase II - The Heavy Pencil (spectator cannot lift pencil off the performer's hand)
  • Phase III - The Feather Test (variation of Phase II with feather on top, Chuck Smith idea)
Inspired by 2011 Curtain Call 13
Daniele Nigris Portia's Portrait finding a portrait in a chest by asking questions to three spectators that can lie, lie/truth effect, Shakespeare presentation
Inspired by
  • "Ring of Truth" (Banachek)
 July 2011 Genii (Vol. 74 No. 7) 25
Andy (The Jerx) Limitless Ahead One Ahead type of routine, spectator is apparently given heightened senses (hearing, smell etc.), able to guess what magician did
 		2016 The Jerx 69
Rick Maue Maue's Pen humorous demonstration on controlling the spectator's decision
Also published here
  • Rick Maue, Raw, 2008 & The Road, 2010
 2017 The Doors of Deception 89