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Difference between revisions of "Sponge balls"

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One of the first routines was published by [[Jesse J. Lybarger]] in 1926.<ref> [[The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Magic]] by [[Bart Whaley]]</ref><ref>[[Genii 2001 January|Genii, Vol. 64, No. 1, January 2001]]</ref> Also in 1926, [[Joe Berg]] introduced his [[Cups and Balls]] Routine wherein he made use of balls made of sponge instead of the usual cork. <ref>[[Routined Manipulation Finale]] by [[Lewis Ganson]] (1954)</ref>
 
One of the first routines was published by [[Jesse J. Lybarger]] in 1926.<ref> [[The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Magic]] by [[Bart Whaley]]</ref><ref>[[Genii 2001 January|Genii, Vol. 64, No. 1, January 2001]]</ref> Also in 1926, [[Joe Berg]] introduced his [[Cups and Balls]] Routine wherein he made use of balls made of sponge instead of the usual cork. <ref>[[Routined Manipulation Finale]] by [[Lewis Ganson]] (1954)</ref>
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[[Al Cohn]], owner of [[The Magic Center]] in New York City, became known in the early forties as "The Sponge Ball King." He claimed to have invented the sponge balls, and sold his trick starting in 1944. After [[Karl Fulves]] ran a detailed description of Cohn's Sponge Ball trick in ''[[The Chronicles]]'' in 1979, he received a letter from [[Charles Rose]] concerning its origin, which stated that, according to [[Milbourne Christopher]], Cohn was probably unaware of Lybarger's previous trick.<ref>[[Karl Fulves]], "Reference File," ''[[The Chronicles]]'', No. 27, 1980, p. 1328.</ref>
  
 
[[Al Stevenson]] devised a process for making perfect spheres from the polyurethane foam and later [[Albert Goshman]] improved the process.
 
[[Al Stevenson]] devised a process for making perfect spheres from the polyurethane foam and later [[Albert Goshman]] improved the process.

Revision as of 06:39, 23 January 2015

Sponge Balls, made of sponge rubber or polyurethane foam and usually about 2 inches in diameter are a common prop used in many sleight of hand routines.[1]

One of the first routines was published by Jesse J. Lybarger in 1926.[2][3] Also in 1926, Joe Berg introduced his Cups and Balls Routine wherein he made use of balls made of sponge instead of the usual cork. [4]

Al Cohn, owner of The Magic Center in New York City, became known in the early forties as "The Sponge Ball King." He claimed to have invented the sponge balls, and sold his trick starting in 1944. After Karl Fulves ran a detailed description of Cohn's Sponge Ball trick in The Chronicles in 1979, he received a letter from Charles Rose concerning its origin, which stated that, according to Milbourne Christopher, Cohn was probably unaware of Lybarger's previous trick.[5]

Al Stevenson devised a process for making perfect spheres from the polyurethane foam and later Albert Goshman improved the process.

Noted specialists in sponge ball magic are Audley Walsh, Frank Garcia and Frances Marshall.

Roy Benson used sponge balls for his Benson Bowl routine.

Other shapes have also been used including rabbits.

Publications

  • Clones (Patrick Martin): Marketed item.
    • The Clones From Brazil (Ron Bauer): Genii, Vol. 47 No. 7 (July 1983, pp. 464-466).
      • The RB Sponge Pass: Genii, Vol. 47 No. 7 (July 1983, pp. 465-466).


References

  1. Encyclopedia of Magic and Magicians by T.A. Waters
  2. The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Magic by Bart Whaley
  3. Genii, Vol. 64, No. 1, January 2001
  4. Routined Manipulation Finale by Lewis Ganson (1954)
  5. Karl Fulves, "Reference File," The Chronicles, No. 27, 1980, p. 1328.
  6. Advertisement, The Sphinx, Vol. 24 No. 4, June 1925, p. 137.