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PseudoMentally Yours
Robert E Cassidy
(originally published in 1977)
copyright©2003 by Robert E Cassidy
My picture as it appeared in the original edition.
Taken during a performance on the Holland America Line
ship
M.S.
Rotterdam
in 1975. I was 26.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS
2
THE 35mm DIE CAN TEST
4
THE TELEPATHIC DIARY
7
BEATING THE BOOK TEST
9
PART ONE
9
THE PENCIL POINT PROPHECY
9
PART TWO
10
THE IMPROMPTU IMPRESSION
10
PART THREE
11
THE PHONE BOOK FINALE
11
A BRIEF DIVERSION
13
AN EXPERIMENT WITH TIME
14
ULTIMATE FOURTH DIMENSIONAL TELEPATHY
17
THE SHIRT POCKET MINDREADER
20
AND IN CONCLUSION:
22
PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS
This is an effective bit of mentalism which makes a good opening number. It is rather
novel since the whole thing appears to be a joke until the very last-moment.
EFFECT: The mentalist shows an 8xlO manila envelope in which he says he has
placed a drawing of a famous president. A volunteer stands and calls out the name of
any president that comes to mind. Opening the envelope, the performer exclaims that
the volunteer is correct and that the drawing is of the very president named.
"Off course," says the Master Mind, "I'm not the best artist in the world, but I'm sure you
can see the resemblance."
The audience is shown a primitive, childlike drawing of a face, which is really no more
than a circle with two eyes, a nose and a smile.
A 35mm TRIPLE TEST
6
"You don't recognize the picture? Well it's a good thing that I WROTE HIS NAME ON
THE BACKS" Whereupon the performer turns the picture around and shows the
selected name printed in black magic marker ink.
METHOD: No... .there is no Swami gimmick and the selection is apparently a free
one, yet the audience sees exactly what has been described above.
Try this - mentally visualize the faces of as many presidents as you can. How many can
you ACTUALLY SEE? Not their NAMES... .but their FACES. Now let's narrow it down
even more. Visualize a famous TWENTIETH CENTURY president. The word "Famous"
should limit you to about six names. And six choices we can cover easily. Don't worry,
though, if your volunteer comes up with Harding or Coolidge as there are two ways out
in such a case.
The volunteer, then, is asked to VISUALIZE the FACE of a famous TWENTIETH
CENTURY president. The large manila envelope has six pictures in it, all drawn on tag
board. The pictures are the same but each has a different name on the back. They are:
KENNEDY, TRUMAN, ROOSEVELT, JOHNSON, WILSON, and EISENHOWER. They
cover most of this century and 99% of the time your volunteer will name one of them.
Remember, he is asked to VISUALIZE the president, not to merely think of his name.
(Quick, describe Warren G. Harding! Also, if you consider that “Roosevelt” covers two
possibilities, you can see that the selection of a “force” name is almost foolproof. Of
course you can always use a stooge, and occasionally I have, but this isn’t always
practical at a private engagement where he might talk afterwards.
The first picture, KENNEDY, is just large enough to fit in the envelope. Each of the
following pictures is cut about ¼ inch shorter than its predecessor. This makes for
easy, fumble—free removal from the envelope. Also, the names are penciled lightly on
the exposed portion of each card. The cards are placed in the envelope so they can be
removed with the picture side facing the audience.
Don’t worry about the envelope never being shown empty. The joke covers that. As
soon as the picture is removed and the audience reacts, nonchalantly put the envelope
onto your table or into your attache case. Since they think you’ve only been kidding
them, they have no reason to suspect the envelope. At the conclusion of the effect it is
out of sight, completely forgotten.
I mentioned that there were two outs if an odd name was selected. Here they are: If the
volunteer gives a name you haven’t covered, ask him to describe the president as best
he can. Usually he won’t be sure of himself, so you ask him to think of someone whose
face he can actually visualize in his mind’s eye. (If he names Richard Nixon just say,
“No sir, a FAMOUS president, please.” — NOT recommended for the Republican Club
banquet.) If he persists in describing Warren C. Harding or Calvin Coolidge, just let it go
at that and proceed with the gag finish. It will be especially funny after the spectator
gives a detailed description and then sees your “portrait”.
Incidentally, I’ve only had to use an out once in three years of performing the effect on
almost a weekly basis. I used the joke finish and found that it put the audience
effectively off guard for my next effect, which was all the stronger because of it.
The other out, for those of you who insist on showing the correct name every time, is as
follows. When the volunteer gives the wrong name, point to two or three other people
and have them name a president also. One of them will certainly give you a force name.
State that in order to prevent the possibility of confederacy or pre—arrangement, you
will write each of the selected names on slips of paper and have yet another party select
one of them. Write the exact same name on each slip, fold them up, and have one
selected. Pocket the remaining slips and finish as described.
NOTE: This effect is an extension of Robbins’ ESP PHOTO MIRACLE, a much
overlooked bit of business. Back in 1974, while I was performing weekly on the cruise
ship Statendam, the German magician Hans Moretti suggested that the effect would be
very strong if an actual photo of the person named could be removed from the
envelope. I agreed, but didn’t want to sacrifice the laugh because it always served to put
the audience at ease for participation in my later effects.
PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS combines the best of both ideas - it gives the audience a
good laugh as well as an effective mystery. And believe me, any mental act is all the
better with some occasional humor thrown in.
THE 35mm DIE CAN TEST
The mentalist shows a 35mm film can and demonstrates its complete opacity and
innocence. A die is also brought forth and handed to a spectator.
The spectator puts the die and can behind his back, drops the die inside and affixes the
lid. The can is brought forward and shaken by several persons. No one can possibly
know which number faces upward. Under these conditions the mentalist is able to cor-
rectly divine the hidden number. All of the props may be closely examined and no secret
preparation will be found.
PROPS: Two dice are required. They are ¾ inch wooden cubes with rounded
corners. (This allows them to turn freely in the can.)
A small carpet tack with a large head is hammered flush into one of the dice. Done
neatly, and with a little paint to touch up the work, the preparation isn’t noticeable. In
any case, the audience won’t have much of an opportunity to inspect this die closely.
Also needed is a small, easily palmed magnet. Or, use an Emerson & West “Cling
Ring”, which has the magnet built right in. A plastic or aluminum 35mm film canister
completes the list of props.
SET UP: Place the unprepared die into the left pocket. The Cling Ring is on the right
hand. If you’re using a magnet instead, it is palmed between the bases of the middle
and ring fingers. The film can, lid, and prepared die are on the table.
OPERATION The film can is freely shown and seen to be the same light tight can that
all standard 35mm photographic film cans are. The prepared die is given to a spectator
who verifies that it has all of its spots. He is then asked to place it behind his back and
to roll it around in his hand. Taking the can behind him also, the spectator drops the die
inside and puts the lid on.
Several people shake the can and the die is heard to tumble happily about. You then
take the can and place it in your right hand, directly over the magnet or Cling Ring. With
the right thumb on top of the can, give it a few more shakes. The very moment the die
ceases to make noise, the shaking must be stopped. The tack head is now stuck to the
magnet and the opposite side of the die faces upward. (Of course you have
remembered the number on that side.)
While all of this is going on, secretly finger palm the regular die from your left pocket.
The number is dramatically revealed and the can is opened to prove that you are
correct.
At this point comes a Chop Cup type switch. With the magnet still held against the
bottom of the can, the can is turned over onto the left palm, which simultaneously brings
the regular die into view. The gimmicked die, naturally, clings magnetically to the inside
bottom of the can.
The unprepared die is tossed to the table. As the audience examines it your hands
come together, the magnet is released, and the gimmicked die falls secretly into your
left hand. The can is then put on the table and also may be examined.
METHOD NUMBER TWO: To repeat the effect immediately you might like this idea. Get
an extra lid for the can and stick a piece of mirror finish mylar to its inside surface. After
presenting the effect as described, it is no problem to secretly switch caps.
Pick up the open can in the right hand, holding it horizontally with the open end toward
the spectators. Turn your head away and ask a spectator to place the die into the can
and note the number facing him. Meanwhile, you are holding the prepared lid in the left
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