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{{Youtube thumb|wX7ZOLmMBrU}}
A [[gaff]]ed cup with a built-in magnet in the base (or bottom), allowing the retention of magnetic balls or other [[load]]s.  Used alone or as part of a [[cups and balls]] set.
A [[gaff]]ed cup with a built-in magnet in the base (or bottom), allowing the retention of magnetic balls or other [[load]]s.  Used alone or as part of a [[cups and balls]] set.


Devised by [[Al Wheatley]], a professional magician who performed under the name [[Chop Chop]]. His original Chop Cup was made out of a section of hollow bamboo.
The premise of this concept was described in French in [[Récréations mathématiques et physiques]] by [[Jacques Ozanam]] in the revised edition of 1723 done by a so-called [[Grandin]]. There is wax or mutton suet on the balls or in one Cup.


The Chop Cup became a popular magician's tool in part due to the celebrity of [[Don Alan]], who made it a staple of his act.
It was popularized by [[Al Wheatley]], a professional magician who performed under the name [[Chop Chop]]. His original Chop Cup, created in the mid 1950's and presented in 1955 Santa Barbara Convention, was made out of a section of hollow bamboo and marketed as ''Chop Chop's One Cup & Ball Routine''. By 1957, Wheatley's company, Excato Magic, was advertising a modified aluminum Chop Cup in magic magazines.


A fine introduction to the Chop Cup is available at [http://magicref.tripod.com/magref/artchop.htm Doug Atkinson's Magic Reference Pages]


Here are a number of fine routines with such a cup from [[John Mendoza]], [[Dan Tong]], and [[James Swain]]. These are performances only. The DVD on which they appear (along with many other performances and full explanations) can be purchased from L&L Publishing at [http://www.llpub.com]
The Chop Cup became a popular magician's tool in part due to the celebrity of [[Don Alan]], who made it a staple of his act. Don Alan performed his Chop Cup routine on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1960.


{{#ev:youtube|UqiVeZPf3HM}}
Wheatley saw [[Larry Jennings]] perform his Chop Cup routine at The [[Magic Castle]] shortly after it opened in 1963. It was noted for its loading of a big ball and the use of a silk handkerchief and a shot glass.  He was so impressed that he asked Jennings to please not reveal his method or routine in print until after his death. Larry kept his promise, and did not publish his routine until a year after Wheatley's death. It was published in [[Genii]] Magazine, Volume 29, Number 7, in March of 1965. [[Don Alan]] used a  version of the Chop Cup on his national TV show and popularized it with magicians everywhere.


The trick has spawned many variations, leading to elaborate routines developed by Larry Jennings, Ron Wilson, Earl Nelson, Alan Wakeling, [[John Mendoza]], [[Danny Tong]], and [[Jim Swain]]. The Nelson and Wakeling routines eventually appeared in [[The Chop Cup Book]] (1979). Ron Wilson's Uncanny Chop Cup saw print in [[The Uncanny Scot: Ron Wilson]](1987)
== References ==
'''Chop cup routines in print:'''
*''Tea Cups and a Ball'' by [[Ajit Krishna Basu]], in The [[Magician Monthly]], november 1932. Vol. 28, no. 12, p. 144. It's not a Chop Cup routine but a transposition between a ball and a liquid in two tea cups but it seems to be the first use of a magnetized ball.
* ''A Novel Cup and Ball Effect'' by [[Fred Lodge]] in [[The Mysteries of the Mystic Seven]] (1936). The FIRST routine with a magnetized ball and a cup.
*''High Ball Cup'' by [[Ken Brooke]] in The [[Gen]], July 1962. Vol. 18, no. 3, p. 69-71, written by [[Lewis Ganson]].
*''Chop Cup to the Max'' by [[Ed Marlo]] in The [[New Phoenix]], 1962, no. 366, feb. p. 292. Reprint in [[Arcade Dream]], page 164, 1997.
*[[Larry Jennings]]' ''Famous Chop Cup Routine'', in [[Genii 1965 March]], Vol. 29, no. 7, p. 369-372.
*''Do It yourself Chop Cup Routine'' by [[John M. Gilliland]] in The [[Linking Ring]], December 1966, Vol. 46, no. 12, p. 77.
*''Impromptu Magnetic Cup'' by [[Gerald Kosky]] in [[Genii 1969 December]], Vol. 34, no. 4, p. 181.
*''One Cup - Two Balls'' by [[Rink]] in [[The Art of Close-up, Vol. 2]], written by [[Lewis Ganson]]. Harry Stanley Unique Magic Studio: London, 1969.
* ..... by [[Don Lawton]] in [[Lots of Lawton]], 1971.
*''Hemingway's 'Simplex' Chop Cup Routine'' by [[David Hemingway]] in [[Exclusive Routines]], Part 2. Preston, 1972, p. 42-43.
*''Combination Larry Jennings' One-Cup Three-Ball & Chop Cup Routine'' by Fred Kaps in [[Fred Kaps Lecture Book]]. London, 1973.
*''Cup Chop'' by [[Pete Biro]] in The [[Pallbearers Review]], April 1974. Vol. 9, no. 6, p. 723.
*''Chop Dixie Cup & Balls'' by [[Donald Moston]] in The [[Linking Ring]], May 1973. Vol. 53, No. 5, p. 71.
*''Paper Chop Cup'' by [[Tad Polhemus]] in [[Genii 1975 May]], Vol. 39, no. 5, p. 220.
*[[Pockety Chop]] by [[John Snider]]. Tom Zoss, 1975.
*''Chop Cone'' by [[Rick Johnsson]] in The [[Linking Ring]], June 1975, Vol. 55, no. 6, p. 73 & ''The Banbury Extrusion'', page 74.
*''The Gill Chop Cup Routine'' by [[Lewis Ganson]] in [[Magigram]], April 1976. Vol. 8, no. 8, p. 17-21.
*''The Chop Cone Routine'' by [[Rick Johnsson]] in The Linking Ring, April 1976. Vol. 56, no. 4, p. 73.
*''That Chop Cup Again'' by [[Lewis Ganson]] in [[Magigram]], May 1976. Vol. 8, no. 9, p. 3-7.
*''The Soft Chop-Chop or You Don't Have to be Chinese to do this Trick'' by [[Frank Garcia]] in The [[Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic]], 1976. p. 173-177.
*[[Wolfsberger's Chop Cup and Ball Routine]] by [[Gary Wolfsberger]]. Magic Emporium, Tarzana, CA, 1976.
*''Bowl or Cup Load'' by [[Don Alan]], page 42 in [[Pretty Sneaky]]. Ireland, Chicago, 1977.
*''Chop Cup with a Baffling Finale'' by [[E. Hammann-Boretti]] in [[Genii 1977 August]], Vol. 41, no. 8, p. 477.
*''The Larry Jennings Chop Cup Routine'' in [[Larry Jennings on Card and Coin Handling]] written by Nina Jennings. Jeff Busby Magic Inc. Oakland, 1977, p.  57.
*''Start for a Chop Cup Routine'' by [[Rink]] in [[Rink's Magic from Holland]] written by [[Hugh Miller]]. Supreme Magic Company, Bideford, 1978. p. 41-44 & ''A Chop Cup Prelude'', page 44-49.
*''Chinese Chop Cup'' by [[John Yeager]] in [[Magigram]], April 1978, Vol. 10, no. 8, p. 35-36.
*''Chop Cup Capers'' by [[Ralph A. Marcom]] in [[Marcom Presents Magic]]. Magic Inc. Chicago, IL, 1979. p. 59-62.
*''Chop Cup Climax'' by [[Bernard E. Simpkins]] in The [[Linking Ring]], July 1979, Vol. 59, no. 7, p. 84.
*[[The Chop Cup Book]] by [[Mark Wilson]] & [[Earl Nelson]]. Publications: Los Angeles, CA, 1979.
*''Chop Cup Finale'' by [[Frank Herman]] in The [[Linking Ring]], March 1980, Vol. 60, no. 3, p. 83.
*''The Reel Works: Letter From Danny Korem'' written by [[Pete Biro]] in [[Genii 1980 June]], Vol. 44, no. 6, p. 395-396.
*''My Chop Cup Routine'' by [[Ken Brooke]] in [[Ken Brooke's Magic: The Unique Years]]. Supreme Magic Co, 1980. p. 216.
*''The 'How To' Book of the Chop Cup'' by [[Merlyn T. Shute]]. Morrissey Magic Ltd. Montreal, Canada, 1980. p 45.
*''Transparent Chop Cup'' by [[Patrick Page]] in [[Pages from Patrick's Note Book]], 1980. p. 85.
*''The Instant Chop Cup'' by [[Magic Christian]] in [[Genii 1980 November]], Vol. 44, no. 11, p. 760-762.
*''Chop Cup Frame Up'' by [[David Drake]] in The [[Linking Ring]], August 1981. Vol. 61, no. 8, p. 67.
*''Commercial Chop Cup Routine'' by [[Trevor Lewis]] in [[Trevor Lewis - ESOLC]] (That's Close Up) written by [[Philip Willmarth]]. Standridge Magic, Mesquite, Texas, 1981, p. 95-97.
*''New Look Climax to Cups and Balls''...Colombini in [[Magigram]], Feb 1982. Vol. 14, no. 6, p. 383.
*''The Chop Cup Revisited'', page 51 in [[The Close-Up Magic of Frank Garcia, Part II]], 1982.
*[[Tommy Wonder Entertains]]. Three Novel Routines based on the Cups and Balls by [[Jos Bema]] written by [[Gene Matsuura]]. Jeff Busby Magic Inc. Oakland, CA, 1983.
*''No-Magnet Chop Cup Routine'' by [[Bill Brodersen]] in [[Apocalypse]], August 1984. Vol. 7, no. 8, p. 958-960.
*''Revised Chop Cup Routine'' by [[David Roth]] in [[The New York Magic Symposium - Collection 3]] written by [[Stephen Minch]]. New York, 1984. p. 21.
*''New Wave Chop Cup'' by [[Danny Korem]] in [[Korem without Limits]]. D. Robbins Publication. New York, 1985, page 52.
*''Imprompchop'' by [[Karrell Fox]] in [[For My Next Trick...]] The Supreme Magic Company. Bideford, England, 1986. p. 15.
*''Squashing the Chop Cup'' by [[Johnny Thompson]] in [[Genii 1986 September]], Vol. 50, no. 3, p. 230.
*''A Chop Cup Routine'' by [[John Hostler]] in The [[Linking Ring]], July 1987, Vol. 67, no. 7, p. 67.
*''The Uncanny Chop Cup'' by [[Ron Wilson]] in [[The Uncanny Scot: Ron Wilson]] written by [[Richard Kaufman]]. New York, 1987. p. 78.
*[[Knowing the Chop Cup]] (and Other One Cup One Ball Routines) by [[Will Ayling]]. The Supreme Magic Co Ltd, 1989. p 40.
*''Chopper!'' by [[Roy Johnson]] in [[Silver Special]], New York, 1989, p. 44.
*''New Theory Chop Cup'' by [[Finn Jon]] in [[Spectacle]] written by [[Stephen Minch]]. L&L Publishing, 1990, p. 111-114.
* ..... by [[Mark Leveridge]] in [[3rd British Close-Up Magic Symposium]], 1993.
*''Chop Egg Cup'' by [[Ian Adair]] in The [[Magic Circular]], June 1994. Vol. 88, no. 946, p. 85.
*''Chop Cup and Balls'' by [[Jerry Mentzer]] in [[Close-Up File]]. Magic Methods, 1994. p. 126-131 & ''Ultimate Cup Routine'', page 131-136.
*''Chop Cup Load'' by [[Tommy Wonder]] in [[The Books of Wonder]], Vol. 2 written by [[Stephen Minch]]. Hermetic Press Inc, 1996, p. 94-97.
*''The Bayberry Bag Swindle'' by [[Paul Harris]] & [[Eric Mead]] in The [[Art of Astonishment]], Vol. 1, 1996, p. 63-66 & ''Uncanny'' by Paul Harris, page 225-228.
*[[Magic Treasures]] by [[John Fedko]], ed. Clifford, Tom. Fedko Magic Co. Santa Ana, CA, 1996.
*''#6 Chop Cup Routine'' by [[Bob King]] in [[Close-up Tutorial]], 1998.
*''Chop Cup Rainbow Routine'' by [[Shaun Yee]] in [[The Lecture Book]], 1998.
*''Larry Jennings' Famous Chop Cup Routine'' in [[21st Century Card Magic]] written by [[Jim Swain]]. Tampa, FL, 1999. p. 149.
*''My Best Friend'' by [[David Regal]] in [[Close-Up and Personal]]. Hermetic Press Inc. Seattle, WA, 1999, p. 90-94
*[[Strolling Chop Cup Routine]] by [[Scott Hollingsworth]] 1999.
*''Cheap Cup'' by [[Martin Lewis]] in [[Martin's Magical Inventions Lecture]], 1999.
*''Lean Mean Chop Cup'' by [[Don Alan]] in [[In a Class by Himself: the Legacy of Don Alan]] written by [[Jon Racherbaumer]]. L and L Publishing, Tahoma, CA, 2000. p. 269.
*''Chopped Taters'' by [[Doug Brewer]] in [[The Unexpected Visitor]]. Magic Smith, 2001.
*''Chop Cup Subterfuge'' by [[Jay Sankey]] in [[Sankedelic Magic]] Lecture Notes, 2001.
*[[The Dennis Loomis Routine for the James Riser/Dennis Loomis Micro Chop Cup]]. Loomis Magic. Bay Point, CA, 2002, p 11.
*[[The Complete Don Alan's Chop Cup]] by [[Ron Bauer]], 2005.
*''Children's Chop Cup'' by [[Trevor Lewis]] in [[Trevor Lewis Uncut]], 2006.
DATES PLEASE !
*[[Dr Bob's Complete Chop Cup Routine]].
*[[One Cup Three Ball Routine]] by [[Fred Kaps]]. Denny & Lee.
*[[New Chop Cup Routine]] by [[Joe Riding]].
*''The Working Professional's Chop Cup'' by [[Jim Sisti]] in [[The Confidential Manuscript]] Series #2.
*''Lean Chop'' by [[R. Paul Wilson]] in [[The Little Black Book]], p. 17.
'''Web references:'''
*[http://magicref.tripod.com/magref/artchop.htm Doug Atkinson's Magic Reference Pages]
[[Category:Close Up Magic]] [[Category:Prop]]
*[http://www.clarkwirthlin.com Clark Wirthlin's collection of Chop cups]
[[Category:Close Up Magic]] [[Category:Prop]]
[[Category:Close Up Magic]] [[Category:Prop]]
* [http://www.cupsandballsmuseum.com The Cups and Balls Museum (Bill Palmer's huge collection of cups, Chop cups and related props)]
[[Category:Close Up Magic]]
[[Category:Prop]]
[[Category:Cups and Balls]]
[[de:Chop Cup]]

Latest revision as of 09:09, 9 July 2023

A gaffed cup with a built-in magnet in the base (or bottom), allowing the retention of magnetic balls or other loads. Used alone or as part of a cups and balls set.

The premise of this concept was described in French in Récréations mathématiques et physiques by Jacques Ozanam in the revised edition of 1723 done by a so-called Grandin. There is wax or mutton suet on the balls or in one Cup.

It was popularized by Al Wheatley, a professional magician who performed under the name Chop Chop. His original Chop Cup, created in the mid 1950's and presented in 1955 Santa Barbara Convention, was made out of a section of hollow bamboo and marketed as Chop Chop's One Cup & Ball Routine. By 1957, Wheatley's company, Excato Magic, was advertising a modified aluminum Chop Cup in magic magazines.


The Chop Cup became a popular magician's tool in part due to the celebrity of Don Alan, who made it a staple of his act. Don Alan performed his Chop Cup routine on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1960.

Wheatley saw Larry Jennings perform his Chop Cup routine at The Magic Castle shortly after it opened in 1963. It was noted for its loading of a big ball and the use of a silk handkerchief and a shot glass. He was so impressed that he asked Jennings to please not reveal his method or routine in print until after his death. Larry kept his promise, and did not publish his routine until a year after Wheatley's death. It was published in Genii Magazine, Volume 29, Number 7, in March of 1965. Don Alan used a version of the Chop Cup on his national TV show and popularized it with magicians everywhere.

The trick has spawned many variations, leading to elaborate routines developed by Larry Jennings, Ron Wilson, Earl Nelson, Alan Wakeling, John Mendoza, Danny Tong, and Jim Swain. The Nelson and Wakeling routines eventually appeared in The Chop Cup Book (1979). Ron Wilson's Uncanny Chop Cup saw print in The Uncanny Scot: Ron Wilson(1987)

References

Chop cup routines in print:

  • Tea Cups and a Ball by Ajit Krishna Basu, in The Magician Monthly, november 1932. Vol. 28, no. 12, p. 144. It's not a Chop Cup routine but a transposition between a ball and a liquid in two tea cups but it seems to be the first use of a magnetized ball.
  • Combination Larry Jennings' One-Cup Three-Ball & Chop Cup Routine by Fred Kaps in Fred Kaps Lecture Book. London, 1973.
  • The Chop Cone Routine by Rick Johnsson in The Linking Ring, April 1976. Vol. 56, no. 4, p. 73.
  • The 'How To' Book of the Chop Cup by Merlyn T. Shute. Morrissey Magic Ltd. Montreal, Canada, 1980. p 45.
  • New Look Climax to Cups and Balls...Colombini in Magigram, Feb 1982. Vol. 14, no. 6, p. 383.

DATES PLEASE !


Web references:

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