Tomato Trick

The Tomato Trick, or Tomato Game, is a version of the Cups and Balls by Persian conjurer Medjid kan Rezvani. Its name comes from the small hair-filled silk bags he used, which resembled little squat tomatoes. He also used two bowls instead of the traditional three cups, and possibly inspired the Benson Bowl.

History

The first complete explanation of the Tomato Trick in English was in 1949 in The Magic of Rezvani. Rezvani later released a French manuscript devoted solely to the trick, which he titled Les Coussinets de la Princesse. An English translation, The Cushions of the Princess, was published as an ebook in 2013.

Rezvani became so well-known for the trick that he earned the moniker "The King of the Tomatoes" in France.

Publications

• The Tomato Trick (Rezvani): Le Journal de la Prestidigitation (February 1940).
  • Maurice Sardina, La Magie du sorcier (1946).
    • Dariel Fitzkee, tr., The Magic of Rezvani (1949).
  • Medjid kan Rezvani, Les Coussinets de la Princesse, ou le jeu des tomates par l'image (1950)
    • Michael Landes, tr., The Cushions of the Princess, or the Tomato Game (ebook, 2013)

• Le Jeu Des Tomates (The Tomato Game): Claude Rix, Original Close Up Routines (ca. 1980, pp. 22-30).

• The Tomato Trick: A Long Forgotten Classic: Pete Biro, 2000. 20 pages.
  • Pete Biro, BOWLing With the Stars, Pete Biro's Magic, No. 3 (2009, pp. 6-13).