Benson Bowl

Benson Bowl Routine is a variation of the Cups and Balls using a single brass bowl, a wooden wand, and three sponge balls developed by Roy Benson. It was probably inspired by Persian (Iranian) magician Rezvani's "The Cushions of the Princess," which became known as The Tomato Trick. Whereas Rezvani used small pincushions that looked like tomatoes, Benson adapted the trick using sponge balls. The Benson Bowl also included a sponge ball vanish technique that is still commonly used.

Don Alan is often connected to the trick; he became well known for his Don Alan Bowl Routine.

Also, Frank Garcia used Benson's routine in his close-up act for years.

Publications

The Tomato Trick

• The Tomato Trick (Rezvani): 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)
• 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).

The Benson Bowl

• The Benson Bowl ("It's Magic") (Roy Benson): The Phoenix, No. 156 (July 30, 1948, pp. 627-629).
  • Bruce Elliott, Classic Secrets of Magic (1953, pp. 189-198).
  • Roy Benson, Benson on Magic (1972).
  • Levent and Todd Karr, Roy Benson by Starlight (2006, pp. 375-400).
  • Pete Biro, BOWLing With the Stars, Pete Biro's Magic, No. 3 (2009, pp. 14-19).
• The Benson Bowl Revisited (Ross Bertram): Genii, Vol. 66 No. 3 (March 2003, pp. 56-57).

Don Alan's Bowl Routine

• Don Alan Bowl Routine (Don Alan): Marketed item, 1953. Martin's Magic Shop.
• Benson Bowl (Over) (Don Alan): Jon Racherbaumer, In a Class by Himself (1999, pp. 43-50).
• Bowl or Cup Load: Don Alan, Pretty Sneaky (1956, pp. 42-43).
  • Pete Biro, BOWLing With the Stars, Pete Biro's Magic, No. 3 (2009, p. 19).
• Idea for Don Alan Bowl Routine (Harold Martin): The Linking Ring, Vol. 44 No. 11 (November 1964, p. 80).