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Holey Shirt

Joe Russell

(Based on 2 reviews)
The burnt and restored shirt is a classic show stopper that was wildly popular years ago. This simple effect has suddenly caught fire again, and now everyone wants to do it! Holey Shirt is a "real world" street effect with monster impact that can't be ignored!

You wander over to a total stranger, make some mild chit-chat, then gently persuade her to let you grab a bit of her shirt. You then take out a lighter to demonstrate an "interesting optical illusion" and visibly burn a smoldering ragged hole right into the cloth! You deal with the awkward situation for as long as your social skills allow. Then just before things get really ugly, you rub the burnt hole with your fingers to transform the shirt back to its original unburnt happy condition!

* Uses a classic method that is dirt simple to do.
* Perform totally surrounded - close up or on stage.
* Nothing to palm. Both hands are seen empty before and after.
* Re-sets in seconds.
* Works for any spectator wearing a black or white t-shirt.

WARNING: FIRE HAZARD. ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED.

Running Time Approximately 9min

Reviews

Gordon Meyer

Official Reviewer

Apr 19, 2007

While the running time of the video is about 9 minutes, one third of that is title sequences and a single, very flat, performance/demonstration. That leaves about six minutes of explanation, a good portion of which is taken up describing the additional props and materials that you have to purchase in order to perform this trick.

Holey Shirt fails to credit the source of this standard trick, but I’ll tell you that for a very small increase in expense you can buy The Tarbell Course In Magic - Volume One instead. That’s where you’ll find this trick described more clearly, in greater detail, and with an actual presentational premise. Consider the rest of the 400 page book to be bonus material.
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P.T. Murphy

Official Reviewer

Feb 14, 2007

Holey Shirt!

Remove the e and r from the above exclamation and you have my initial reaction to viewing this DVD.

Here is some hype from the ad: “The burnt and restored shirt is a classic show stopper that was wildly popular years ago. This simple effect has suddenly caught fire again, and now everyone wants to do it! Holey Shirt is a "real world" street effect with monster impact that can't be ignored!”

Ignored it cannot be, especially if light on fire the spectator you do.

Yes, I realize I am starting to sound like Yoda. Maybe I am growing old? No, I am growing old; there is no maybe about it. But am I growing out of touch with reality?

I think not.

Here is the basic effect of Holey Shirt:

The magician walks up to a complete stranger. The magi grabs the front of the stranger’s shirt. The magician then pulls a lighter out of his/her pocket and proceeds to light the stranger’s shirt on fire! After a few magical gesticulations the burnt fabric restores itself.

I am hip to the fact that if your audience member doesn’t run screaming or punch you in the face, you may indeed be able to create a memorable piece of magic.

That is, unless any number of things that can go wrong, do go wrong.

What if the person does jump away? Might you not catch another piece of clothing on fire? What if they do punch you in the face? What if that person is wearing a great deal of perfume? Might that not catch fire?

It is suggested by the makers of the DVD, that you avoid performing this effect indoors, that you avoid performing for somebody with long hair, and that you only perform this effect using fabric that is 100% cotton.

This DVD is targeted at the new breed of street magic enthusiasts who are looking for something shocking to add to their repertoire. Think of how shocked they will be when the burnt and restore shirt turns into the bloodied and incarcerated magician.

I cannot recommend “Holey Shirt”. There are too many variables that put the safety of the spectator at risk. The safety and well being of the audience should be your number one priority.

(These socks are way too tight…oh man… I am getting old.)
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