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Details

Miser's Miracle

Solari, Bob

Bob Solari Magic

(Based on 3 reviews)
Supplied with a stainless steel cup 4" x 3-3/16" in diameter, a giant size half dollar coin 3" in diameter and a normal half dollar incorporated into a special gimmick. The illustrated instruction sheet explains the routine and walks the performer through the two 'moves' involved in working the effect.

Performer is seen holding a stainless steel cup in one hand. Performer reaches in the air, plucks out a half dollar which is heard when thrown into the cup. This is repeated 6 or 7 times. Performer makes an upward toss motion with cup, out comes a 3" half dollar. Performer ends clean. Simple to do. The gimmick does the work, No sleight of hand, Learn in minutes, Can be performed close-up or on stage, Used by professionals world wide.

Reviews

Thomas Sisti

Feb 07, 2015

Bob has a very tough job. He looks at a classic piece of magic, and makes it work easier. This is an impressive piece of magic, and Bob makes it easy to work, and even makes it a comedy act, which it is.
Bob os a genius at what he does.
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Thomas Sciacca

Jan 17, 2015

Somewhere in Bobo's coin magic, is a story about a European Vaudeville era magican. His name escapes me. This magician, who was successful, was quite thrilled to introduce his own version of the Miser's Dream. Another magician, met him back stage after the first showing, and congradulated him-and, also asked the magician what in the world was wrong with his thumb? The formerly proud magician was crestfallen, hearing that his thumb-worn mechanical device was more easily seen than he thought, even from the house. It's too bad he didn't use Bob Solari's method.
I used this effect in an outdoor show once, with much success. It is indeed very effective, and drop dead simple. My own 'clever brain' saw the original demo, and thought there was more to the cup/pail than there actually is. Bob's version of this classic, is a beautiful reminder of how some of the best secrets in magic come to be: by paying close attention to what ALREADY IS-and capitalizing on that. The catching coins here, is pure simplicity-the dropping them in the cup, a perfect auditory illusion. More, the final punchline, adds the element of the unexpected, particularly when that one large half is flipped out into the air, simultaneously showing an empty cup. I have NOT seen additional handlings by Bob with this trick, referring solely to the basic routine that came with the props. What's more, the cup leaves room to carry additional props, and is not a flimsy/easily dented gauge of steel. I find this version to be an effective variation on a theme, a quicker one, compared with more complex classic versions. It's accessable-yet still requires some imagination to make the production part compelling. Four or five coins seems to suffice. After I got this, I was quite pleased to see how popular Miser's Miracle became. Anyone familiar with Bob Solari's work, will appreciate this-specifically the simple, direct, and effective workings. Again, it's accessable.
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Jeff McBride

Official Reviewer

Sep 06, 2012

If I had only one magic routine to perform, it would be my Sorcerer’s Apprentice act, commonly called “The Miser’s Dream,” or “Aerial Treasury.” It’s my favorite routine, ever. Many magicians have put their own touch on it, and many versions, gimmicked pails and coins exist to help the beginner to get a feel for the routine.

Bob Solari has created a simple and elegant solution to an almost sleight of hand-free version of the miser’s dream. In Solari’s version, the magician picks up a small can, about four inches tall, and three and half across, reaches into the air and apparently produces a number of Kennedy half dollars that are placed with a clink into the can. At the end of the routine, the little can is turned over and a jumbo Kennedy half dollar appears; the smaller coins seemingly vanished or melded into one giant coin.

My student, Rick Silver, showed me his presentation of Mr. Solari’s method many years ago at one of our Master Classes. Rick had worked out a fun routine to a pop song about money. The routine worked, and was short and sweet. When Rick showed me the method, I laughed with delight at its pure simplicity. I also encouraged Rick to learn a more classic sleight of hand method. My favorite one is found in Bobo’s Coin Magic by J. B. Bobo.

I realized it was important for Rick, and other students like Rick, to have an easily accessible version that gave them confidence and results. Solari’s version of the Miser’s Dream fills a place in the world of apparatus magic. This is an excellent beginner’s version of The Miser’s Dream. A beginner will gain confidence, and even a skilled sleight of hand worker will have a fun off-beat version of this timeless classic. What you get: small pail, coin production gimmick, jumbo half dollar and one page of instructions.
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