Anderson, Gene and Frances I. Marshall: Newspaper Magic ©1968 Magic, Inc, Chicago. Eleventh Printing 1995. Softcover, comb-bound, 8.5x11", 144 pages ©1974 Third printing ©1976 Fourth printing (later edition is perfect-bound, 159 pages)

Image courtesy e-Bay seller Sorcar-TWGM

Image from Magicref

Comment: While newspapers are beginning to disappear with the many Internet news sites, they are still a well-known item and will be useful in magic for many years to come. This book provides a variety of ideas and routines for using newspaper and other papers. The primary feature of this book, however, is the Gene Anderson Torn and Restored Newspaper, for which I have read many recommendations. The later edition I have includes an enhanced section on the Gene Anderson method, with photographs and enhanced drawings.

Contents:

3 About Gene Anderson: brief biography
5 Extra! Extra! A complete paper act by Gene Anderson. A table is produced from some newspapers, a professor's mortarboard is folded from the papers, and a parade of hats and paper objects are created with a torn message finale. Comedy patter.

25 Stop Press Magic: a group of tricks by Val Andrews
25 Newprint - Nosegay: make spring flowers from newsprint, and it will seem the magician has excellent paper ripping skills!
26 The Egg-Mag: an egg-bag type effect using a gimmicked magazine
29 Nervous Man on the Subway: Stage Effect. Magician unfolds a newspaper to larger and larger sizes, and a woman appears behind it with him!
32 Newspaper Tree to Flowers: a newspaper is rolled in a tube, and a "tree" is formed, but then a bouquet of flowers emerges from underneath.
34 A Modern Miss "Behind the Times!": Stage Illusion. A girl bursts through a sheet of paper that was apparently empty
36 Gone To Pot: A potted flower emerges from inside a gardening magazine

37 Paper Tales by Eric Hawkesworth (and one by Derek Lawrence). Paper tearing routines generally designed for children audiences
37 The Curse of the Ju Ju Knife: a cut and restored newspaper trick; can be prepared quickly
40 Snow-White Paper Tear: a full paper tearing routine based on Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs. Includes paper tears such as the witch's broomstick, spinning wheel, and several characters.
44 Symbols of Good Will: a routine useful for a Rotary Club exhibition.
45 Big Top Paper Tear: a 10 minute paper tear routine based on the construction of a Circus set-up
50 Davy Crockett Paper Tear (Derek Lawrence): An easy to learn paper tear routine with some "woodsy" figures

54 Wet Stuff
54 Tom Harris Milk Paper: Milk is poured into a newspaper or small magazine, the magazine rotated, and the milk poured back out without the paper getting wet
57 Egg In Newspaper: Eggs are poured into a newspaper, which is then crumbled up with nothing leaking
59 Color Ad (Invented by Bruno): colors are poured into a B&W newspaper, and the ads are now in full color!

64 Silk News
64 Silks, Paper & Wrists (U.F. Grant): Two silks disappear, and are found around the assistant's wrists that were thrust through a newspaper.
65 Super Penetration (Glenn Gravatt): a selected silk penetrates a glass wrapped in paper
65 Flowers of Fatima (Gen. Franklin M. Davis): an empty pot is shown. A newspaper is rolled into a tube, three colored silks inserted, and three flowers are blown out, which are placed in the pot. The tube is then placed over the pot, and then a full bouquet appears; the newspaper shown empty.
69 20th Century In Newspaper: 20th Century Silks modified with a newspaper
70 Jack & The Chocolate Bean Stalk (Roy Baker): combines items like the Tarbell Cone into a story of Jack & the Beanstalk
72 Bunny In Print (Eugene Gloye): Spring Rabbit from newspaper
72 March of Time (Keith Clark): A spectator announces the time, the magician quickly paper tears a clock with the correct time showing
75 Spooky Paper (Glenn G. Gravatt): a newspaper seems to mysteriously revolve in the air around the magician's finger.
76 Again They Rise (Billy McComb): three selected cards rise from the deck when it is wrapped in newspaper
77 How to Balance a Double Sheet of Newspaper on Your Chin (George McAthy): a true balancing stunt
78 Simple Newspaper Test (W.G. Prunty): a simple newspaper prediction
79 Experiment in Auras (Ray Hyman): a slate test in clairvoyance
81 Opium Pipe (Alfred Herrmann): Chinese man is smoking an Opium pipe when the police knock. He places the pipe in the paper and answers the door. When the policeman opens the paper, he finds only a Chinese fan. When he leaves, the Chinese man opens the paper and resumes smoking his pipe.
82 Strip Tease (Jesse Schimmel): a torn and restored strip of paper, using the principle of "Clippo"
83 Burnt and Restored Paper Strip: the above strip of paper is then burnt and restored
84 Newspaper Stunt: bet spectator can't fold newspaper more than 7 times.
85 Paper Routine (John McArdle): a few ideas for a newspaper routine with items produced from advertisements and a torn & restored paper
86 Paper Routine II (Walt Kaeber): a torn and restored routine using Clippo, Abbott's Ashes, and a Chinese Laundry Ticket (commercial items)
87 Thomas Tambo Rings (Harold Thomas): a routine featuring the commercial item Tambo Rings

90 Clippo: description and routine for this approach to a cut and restored paper
91 Rubber Cement (Gene Anderson): ideas for its use
92 Clippo Routines (Ed Marlo): 2 routines for the Clippo idea
93 Clippo Repeat (Bert Douglas): paper is cut and restored several times
94 Fish Clippo (George McAthy): patter for Clippo about catching a fish
95 Shoe That Didn't Fit (Sid Fleischman & Bob Gunther): patter for Clippo about military boots

97 The Torn & Restored Newspaper: a brief description of some of the versions popular at printing, including the Al Baker method.
98 Gene Anderson's Torn and Restored Newspaper with Flash Restoration. This is the primary reason I purchased this book. The Anderson T&R Newspaper is regarded by many as one of the best. This section provides full instructions for preparation & presentation of the Anderson method. The newspaper is paged through both at the beginning and at the end of the routine, the pages are torn haphazardly, and the restoration happens in a flash.
109 Sucker Newspaper Tear (Eddie Joseph): this is a "sucker" torn & restored newspaper using smaller sheets of paper.
112 Shall We Restore It? (Al Sharpe): three ideas for switching torn pieces for whole
113 Simplicity Tear (George McAthy): a simple switch suitable only for the stage

114 Classic Effects
114 Afghan Bands: The Mobius Strip. an explanation of this paper loop trick with a limerick
116 A New Twist (Francis J. Rigney): some further suggestions
118 Chinese Version (Louis Bertol): the bands are dressed up, and presented in such a way that the twist in the bands is not seen
120 Martin Gardner on Afghan Bands: more discussion and even more ideas
122 Look! No Twist! (Tommy Thompson): a new design that doesn't show a twist
123 The Fir Tree: making a "tree" from a rolled up newspaper
124 Fir Tree Climax Growth (Lu Brent): application for above using a plant pot
125 Jacob's Ladder: making a ladder from a rolled up newspaper
126 Strings of Things: suggestions for basic paper folds
127 How to Make a Paper Cone: such as for a milk pitcher effect
127 New Life for an Old Bag (Robert Harbin): Using a newspaper cone with a special pocket

129 Hats
129 Bongo Hat: funny hat for a kid's birthday party
130 Indian Headdress: how to make it
132 Quick Change: Knights of Columbus gag
132 Pressman's Hat: how to do this traditional fold. William Myers states that he uses a Pressman's Hat for the Don Alan Bowl Routine.
135 The Soldier's Hat (T.W. Crovney): a poem to go along with a changing hat

138 On Newspapers (Frances Marshall): some history and ideas for using newspapers in your magic act.
141 These Are The Jokes! some corny jokes to use, such as "some newspapers are black and white, but the [local paper] is always read!"

144 Books on Paper Magic

145 The Famous Gene Anderson Torn and Restored Newspaper Trick: revised, enhanced with further drawings, and illustrated with action photographs. This is an update to the effect found on pages 98-108, and is not part of the earlier editions.

159 Index