Ultimate Okito - Classic Magic Series

The
UlTimaTe
OkiTO
Robert J. albo, mD
DeSiGN aND layOUT
eric F. Glassy, mD
DVD eDiTiNG aND PRODUcTiON
Garin T. Glassy
PUbliSheR
Doug Pearson
2007

The Video Edition
of the
Ultimate Okito
is limited to
400 sets
Copyright 2007 Robert J. Albo, MD
All rights reserved. None of the contents of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Number:
ISBN:
Printed in Hong Kong
Robert J. Albo, MD
445 Mountain Ave.
Piedmont, CA 94611

iv
With compliments
and best wishes
from
Okito
The Chinese MYSTIC

Table of contents
DVD Listing........................................................................................................................................................................... vi
Foreword..................................................................................................................................................................................... ix
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................................xi
Reminiscences and Confessions ................................................................................................................3
Further Thoughts on Okito............................................................................................................................27.
. Time.Line........................................................................................................................................................29
. Inventor..............................................................................................................................................................63
. . Wand Shell........................................................................................................................................64
. . Substitution Principle.........................................................................................................65
. . Sliding Compartment and Black Art Principle.................................66
. . Penetration of Matter..........................................................................................................68
. . Flap (Flat) Principle.............................................................................................................71
. . Okito Glass........................................................................................................................................72
. . Trays..........................................................................................................................................................73
. . Multum in Parvo......................................................................................................................74
. . Cloth Flap Spring Load...................................................................................................75
. . Siamese Cylinders (Kuma Tubes)........................................................................76
. . Floating Ball...................................................................................................................................77
. . Break-Apart Box Vanish..................................................................................................78
. . Coin Box..............................................................................................................................................79
. Innovator..........................................................................................................................................................81
. . Birth of the Lotus Flower................................................................................................82
. . Angling...................................................................................................................................................83
. . Square Circle..................................................................................................................................84
. . Mystic Blocks...................................................................................................................................85
. . Tip-Over Box.................................................................................................................................86
. . Coin Ladder....................................................................................................................................87
. Craftsman........................................................................................................................................................89
. . Transfers...............................................................................................................................................90
.. . Wood and Metal Work......................................................................................................92
. Author,.Teacher,.and.Historian.........................................................................................95
The Albo Collection.............................................................................................................................................103
Index............................................................................................................................................................................................159
Ultimate Okito v

vi
DVD listings
List of tricks on each DVD with their page numbers in The Ultimate Okito.
Disc 1 page#
Gobi Bowl...........................................................................................................104
Canary Cage....................................................................................................106
Duck Vanish (Where Do the Ducks Go?)...........108
Checker Cabinet........................................................................................110
Penetration of Matter..........................................................................115
Mandarin and Tea Chest Mystery......................................116
Girl and the Ribbon Illusion.....................................................117
Shadow Cabinet.........................................................................................117
Disc 2 page#
Egg To Canary...............................................................................................118
Silk Decanter and Tray......................................................................118
Change Tray.....................................................................................................118
Production of 8 Glasses of Liquid......................................118
Chimerical Foulards/Silks............................................................119
Canary Vanish...............................................................................................119
Production of a Silk From a Glass of Liquid........119
Okito Glasses...................................................................................119, 136
Dove Pan Tray...............................................................................................119
Floating Ball (includes Lance Burton’s Floating
and Vanishing Birdcage)........................................................120
Zombie Cabinets.......................................................................................120
Triangular Mystery..................................................................................121
Die Box and Chimney........................................................................121
Die Block and Chimney (Okito/Nielsen)..............121
Visible Block Penetration..............................................................121
Double Block Penetration............................................................121
Color-Changing Die............................................................................121
Disc 3 page#
Mystic Blocks..................................................................................................124
Crystal Casket...............................................................................................124
Alphabet Block Trick...........................................................................124
Tea Leaves Chest and Bowl Effect......................................125
Water Bowl Production....................................................................125
Expanding Ball..............................................................................................126
Crystal Casket Production ................................... 126
Block off Ribbon........................................................................................126
Pearl Ball Vase................................................................................................126
Flip-Over Box................................................................................................127
Hindu Inkwell...............................................................................................127
Egg to Canary................................................................................................127
Dove Vanish Casket...............................................................................128
Break-Apart Dove Vanish..............................................................128
Rice Bowls...........................................................................................................129
Plate Off Ribbon........................................................................................129
Cups and Balls...............................................................................................129
Enchanted Rice and Silk Effect..............................................129
Birth of the Lotus Flower...............................................................130
Mandarin Center Table....................................................................130
Disc 4 page#
Borrowed Handkerchief in Potato....................................131
Large Phantom Tube............................................................................131
Crystal Tube.....................................................................................................131
Nest of Boxes...................................................................................................132
Rattle Box............................................................................................................132
Nest of Boxes for Marked Coin.............................................132
Living and Dead Buddha................................................................132
Lippincott Box.............................................................................................132
Confetti and Egg to Birdcage and
Canary Canister.................................................................................133
Rice, Orange, and Checkers........................................................133
Mysterious Casket Vanish..............................................................134
Siamese Cylinders (Kuma Tubes).......................................134
Multum in Parvo.......................................................................................134
Sleeve Production.....................................................................................135
Handkerchief in Candle..................................................................135
Color-Changing Candle.................................................................135
Papa Bamberg Egg Bag.......................................................................136
Jumbo Card Box.........................................................................................136
Blow Book..........................................................................................................136
Okito Glasses...................................................................................119, 136
Where Do The Ducks Come From?...............................137
Water Canister Effect..........................................................................137

Disc 5 page#
Leg-Chopper Illusion..........................................................................138
Marvelous Production........................................................................138
Angling Trick..................................................................................................139
Card Prediction Paddle.....................................................................139
Card Prediction Trick.........................................................................139
Riddle of the Rabbit..............................................................................140
Rabbit Production .................................................................................140
Coin Ladder.....................................................................................................141
Scare Mask and Dove..........................................................................141
Tea Canister Transposition..........................................................142
Confetti to Wine Bottle..................................................................142
Three-Bowl Dove Production..................................................143
Fu-Manchu Finger-chopper........................................................143
Square Circle with Bouquet.......................................................143
Disc 6 page#
Square Circle Redone..........................................................................144
Vanishing Cage and Orange Effect...................................144
Color-Changing Wands...................................................................144
Color-Changing Parasol..................................................................144
Mat Trick..............................................................................................................144
Mutilated Parasol with Change Bag................................144
Butterfly Box...................................................................................................145
Bowl of Water Vanish..........................................................................145
Rising Card Deck Switch...............................................................145
Mechanical Card Rise Box...........................................................146
Jack-In-the-Box Card Production.......................................146
Clockwork Card Rise..........................................................................146
Card-to-Canary Box.............................................................................146
Mignon Production...............................................................................147
Three-Fold Production Screen................................................147
Three-Screen Production................................................................147
Silk Transposition to Beneath Plate.................................148
Handkerchief Plate.................................................................................148
Card Exchange Tray...............................................................................148
Disc 7 page#
Cut and Restored Ribbon.............................................................150
Jap Box.....................................................................................................................150
Blue Phantom................................................................................................151
Production Tubes......................................................................................151
Bonzai Tube.....................................................................................................151
Cotton to Coffee Canister...........................................................151
Linking the Links.....................................................................................152
Jewel Chest Mystery..............................................................................152
Visible Restoration of a Card....................................................152
Card Star...............................................................................................................152
Tip-Over Box.................................................................................................153
Spirit Origami...............................................................................................153
Block Rabbit Production...............................................................153
Confetti to Guinea Pig (or Candy).................................154
Confetti to Silks and Glass of Liquid............................154
Confetti to Goldfish in Water.................................................154
Coffee and Milk..........................................................................................154
Disc 8 page#
Okito’s Gimmick Box..........................................................................155
Silk Change and Vanish Gimmick.....................................155
Okito’s Third Hand................................................................................155
Card Display Stand.................................................................................155
Vanishing Balls..............................................................................................157
Billiard Balls.....................................................................................................156
Bewildering Balls.......................................................................................156
Special Tables for Card Change and Silk Vanish
(Transposition Extraordinary and Chimerical
Silks)..................................................................................................................156
Box on Rope.....................................................................................................157
Ring on Wand................................................................................................157
Threading the Needle..........................................................................157
Silk Cabby
Bonus: Okito Live Performance (special thanks to
Bill McIlhany)
Ultimate Okito vii

viii
Thank you, David, for
your continued support.

Preserving the rich history of conjuring is absolutely es-
sential for our art to thrive now and in the future. As
someone who continually strives to collect, preserve,
and study the best from magic’s past greats, I am pleased
and greatly impressed by Bob Albo’s efforts in this re-
gard. The current collection of effects is a treasure in itself and a vital
link to one of the most fertile minds our art has known. Presented with
wonderful attention to detail and to the breadth of Okito’s remark-
able contributions, this volume and the accompanying DVDs serve to
document and inspire.
Foreword
David Copperfield
Ultimate Okito ix

The UlTimaTe
OkiTO
Reminiscences and confessions
of a magic collector
Robert J. albo, mD

Byron Walker Collection
For some mystical and unexplainable reason, ever since I
can remember, I’ve always been a collector. Long before
it was popular, I collected everything: comic books, in-
sects, butterflies, cigar boxes, Standard Gas Station color
pictures, and the usual—stamps, coins, stickers from na-
tional parks, so on and so forth. Yet when my parents gave me a Mysto
Magic Set for my ninth birthday, collecting magic apparatus was the
furthest thing from my mind. From my standpoint, magic was simply
for performing.
Reminiscences
and confessions
Then, in my early teens I met Marvin Burger, and later, Joe Berg at
Tom Dethlefsen’s Golden Gate Magic Studio. They influenced me in
such a way that my interest in magic changed and I began to collect
old (antiquarian) magic apparatus. I became particularly interested in
the magic made by Okito (“Theo” Bamberg in regular life) when I pur-
chased two pieces of Okito apparatus from Joe Berg. I later had the op-
portunity to personally meet Theo when he resided in Chicago, once
in 1955 and again in 1959. (Okito passed away on June 28, 1963—just
18 days before he would have celebrated his 88 th birthday.)
Ultimate Okito

The three-sheet
poster from the
Norm Nielsen
Collection is a
classic of Okito
performing the
Mat Trick.
When Joe Stevens and I introduced four VHS tapes
in 1992 under the title “The Oriental Magic of
the Bambergs, Video Edition,” it included a
booklet that contained an Okito time line. I am
modifying that time line and adding some newer
concepts. Okito was known for his craftsmanship, and a time line of
this aspect of his life would include the following:
1875 to 1889: Okito was born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1875 and
at the age of 11 made his first appearance as a magician with his father at
the court of Princess Wilhelmina of Holland and her father King Wil-
lem III.
circa 1890 to 1907: Okito performed in Europe and made all his
own apparatus, some of which I have in my collection. He began to per-
form as Okito with an oriental act in 1893. He performed in Europe,
including France, Spain, England and Holland, then in 1906 in China,
and in 1907 with his father in the Dutch Indies.
circa 1907 to 1920: Okito was first in New York, and magic con-
structed by him at that point in time was made for his magic shop, as
well as for the noted collector of magic apparatus, Victor Barbour. (See
discussion in Reminiscences and Confessions, starting on page 4.)
circa 1920 to 1935: Okito returned to Holland where he used Am-
sterdam as his base and performed all over Europe again. He continued
to make magic apparatus and made many of the pieces of furniture for
his home as well.
Time Line
Further Thoughts on Okito 29

1890; begins European tour as a magician
1947; crafts magic for Joe Berg in Chicago
Okito Time Line
1893; originates first Oriental
act as Okito at age 19
1907; after performing in Paris, comes to
U.S. with wife and brother Eduard
1909; trades name and show to Doc Nixon
for his home in Brooklyn, N.Y.
1909-1920; assists Thurston and other
magicians doing shadowgraphy; returns to
performing using various oriental names
1921; performs in England, France, Germany,
Egypt, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, and Burma
1922; begins another major tour of England,
France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Serbia,
Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Russia
1951; returns to Chicago
1875
1880
1885
1890
1895
1900
1905
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1875; Tobias Theodore Leendert Bamberg
born in Amsterdam, Holland, July 15
1886; at age 11, first appearance as a magician with his
father ‘Papa’ Bamberg in the court of King Willem III and
Princess Wilhelmina
1908; moves to New York; opens Bamberg Magic and
Novelty Company; 1908-1916; makes apparatus for
magic shop, Victor Barbour, and many other special
collectors and performers
1916; becomes a U.S. citizen
1938; flees Holland; sails to South America
to join his son (Fu-Manchu)
1950; joins Don Redmon in Louisville
Kentucky for Redmon-Okito magic
1963; dies in Chicago on June 28 at age 87
OKITO-HOLLAND
1891; age 17, suffers ear injury resulting in severe hearing loss
1895; begins touring as Okito performing in France,
Germany, Spain, Holland and England, then China and
Dutch Indies
OKITO-EUROPE
1915; first performs Mat Trick production;
Nixon gives Okito his name back
1920; returns to Holland, resumes his name Okito and
performs all over Europe and South America
1921; authors first book, “Quality Magic”
1922; first performs floating ball
1952; authors second book, “Okito on Magic”
1965; Okito/Nielsen
1970; Okito/Lewis, Okito/Gaughan,
Okito/Williams
OKITO-NEW YORK
OKITO-HOLLAND
OKITO-FU MANCHU
OKITO-BERG
OKITO-REDMON
OKITO-CHICAGO
OKITO-NIELSEN
OKITO-LEWIS
OKITO-GAUGHAN
OKITO-WILLIAMS
Further Thoughts on Okito 31

56
The Bamberg Magic and Novelty Company, with Okito in partnership with Joe Klein, was in business in New York from
1908 to 1912. Because of Okito’s close relationship with John Willmann, he became the exclusive distributor of Willmann
magic in the U.S.A. In April of 1910, Okito published an ad in the Sphinx magazine stating that he had severed all relationships
and ties with the Bamberg Magic Company (see also, page 24). The shop survived for two more years and then
closed in 1912, and the inventory was purchased by Martinka.
Magic Catalog of
Jasper Bamberg
H.J. Burlingame
took the stage name
Jasper Bamberg to
honor the family of
‘Papa’ Bamberg who
was his mentor and
taught him magic
in 1874. After he
retired as a professional
performer, he
established a magic
shop in Chicago.
Advertisement from Okito’s Magic Shop circa 1909. (Ed Hill collection)
Magic catalogs for the amateur and professional. The professional version
was basically Willmann’s 1905 catalog with deleted individual prices, a separate
price sheet (higher than Willmann’s) and Okito’s name and address.

My original Classic Magic Series and VHS tapes touched
briefly on the many aspects of Okito’s remarkable career
in magic. The time line on the previous pages outline his
life and performance highlights. But he was much more
than a consummate performer and artist. In the following
sections, I would like to spend some time elaborating on his inventions, inno-
vations and craftsmanship.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Okito’s life was his inventive mind
and attention to even the smallest detail of an effect. From small illusions, such
as the coin box that bears his name, to the stage filling production of Multum
in Parvo, the ingenuity of the man is quite amazing.
Inventor
63

Wand Shell for the
Wand Vanish
Okito had accompanied his father to do a magic show and, much to the dismay
of his father, he forgot to bring a wand. He asked Okito if, perhaps, he could
make something that would serve as a wand. Indeed, Okito could! He found a
dowel and some black paper and constructed a shell of paper around the dowel.
As he handed this newly handcrafted wand to his father, the dowel slipped out
of the inside of the wand leaving only the paper shell. His father looked at this
and said to Okito, “With your innovative and multifaceted mind, you ought to
be able to take this shell and wand and do something with it that would add to
the magic profession.” Indeed, Okito did that and came up with the Vanishing
Wand and Shell for a vanish. He also used this principle to change a wand into
a bouquet.
Wands and the Bambergs
Papa Emile Okito
64 Further Thoughts on Okito

Substitution Principle
Okito invented this principle in which an object is apparently placed on a table,
and in the movement of doing this, this object is exchanged for another that
looks exactly the same but is made differently for the purpose of magic. Ex-
amples of this are the Jewel Chest Mystery (p. 152), Confetti to Guinea Pig or
Candy (p. 154), Linking the Links (p. 152), and the Gobi Bowl (p. 104-105).
Further Thoughts on Okito 65

Transfers
Example of transfer
before application ( front
and back).
Examples of transfers used
to decorate the borders of
the apparatus, framing
more elaborate central
transfers.
Many of the pieces of Okito’s apparatus, especially during his time in Eu-
rope and New York, were painted black with gold trim. Trans-
fers were then applied to produce a beautiful oriental motif. The
transfers were from H. Wells in Germany.
The application of these oriental transfers is a very meticulous
and time-consuming process. The painted surface has to be carefully
prepared. The proper transfer is then chosen, and it requires a mini-
mum of five separate steps to apply correctly. The border around the
transfer is then added using the same five-step procedure. After a
drying period, the entire surface is over-coated with a clear dull
lacquer. (Today we use polyurethanes and spray cans of semi-gloss
lacquers.) The first coat of lacquer is a dust coat to fix the transfer.
90 Further Thoughts on Okito
After completely drying, three to four additional coats are applied, usually wait-
ing 24 hours between coats. Obviously with Okito’s apparatus, this had to be
done on all sides, inside and outside!

Examples of a
central oriental
motif transfer with
elaborate borders.
Other examples of
elaborate transfers.
Further Thoughts on Okito 91

Clockwork Card Rise Box
Wood and Metal Work
Card to Canary Box
Clockwork Card Rise Box
92 Further Thoughts on Okito
Okito was equally at home using both wood and metal. Beneath the intricate
transfers were carefully constructed pieces with extraordinary attention to de-
tail. The stand for the canary cage (page 91) had a little door in the base to al-
low easy access to the load chamber. His boxes were sometimes made of select
hardwoods, inlaid with intricate designs. Inside were gears or hinges or secret
mechanical devices that relied on precise metal craftsmanship. Wood and metal
worked together to create a marvelous effect.
This inlaid wood work-of-art is 151/2 by 13 inches.
In the lower right is inscribed “Okito Maker U.S.A.”

The Albo
Collection
Okito Gallery
103

Checker Cabinet
1
A great deal of controversy involves who invented the Checker Cabinet, but
it may have been Okito’s father, David Tobias Bamberg. Okito, however,
made the trick his own and added many enhancements. The Checker Cabinet
was also Okito’s most commercially successful trick. He built many different
models in various sizes, as shown on the following pages depicting the pieces
in the Albo collection. The trick uses the black art principle and the sliding
compartment, as described on pages 66-67.
Doc Nixon’s Checker Cabinet
This was the first version that
Doc Nixon made of the Checker
Cabinet and was followed by
a version in which the front and
back could each be lifted and
the cabinet shown empty before
and after the effect.
110 The Albo Collection
This is the oldest Checker Cabinet
in the Albo collection. It was made
for Dr. Hooker and was one of two
made at that time.

Penetration of Matter
The larger stage version in which a large
object (an arm) can be passed through the
star trap. Only two were made. The trick is
described in detail on pages 68-70.
This is from
the Barbour
Collection and
probably dates
to 1908, long
before this
effect was ever
seen in Europe.
These models were made by Okito
when he was with Joe Berg.
The Albo Collection 115
1

Triangular Mystery
TRIANGuLAR MYSTERY
An outstanding production using three flat screens taken from a stand. The
screens form a triangle on an examined base. The trick uses the flap principle,
described on page 71.
The screen has been placed and the
flat black stand completely hides
the fact that there was a load chamber
attached to the last screen.
An earlier recent version of
the Triangular Mystery, made
by Norm Nielsen.
The last screen, with the load on its
back, is resting on the upright flat
stand. It is about to be placed on
the triangular base.
An older Okito piece made and decorated (as
are most of the Triangular Mysteries) by Okito
when he was with Berg in Chicago.
The Albo Collection 121
2

Okito display from the David
Copperfield museum in Las Vegas.
Abbott, David P., floating ball, 77
Albo, Robert, reminiscences, 1-25,
collection, 102-158
Alphabet Block, 124
Angling Trick, 22, 83, 138-139
Annemann Slate Prediction, 139
Austen, Bill, 141
Author, Okito as, 95-97
Averbook, Bruce, 25, 40, 50, 57, 61
Baldwin, David, 147
Balloon to Dove, 150
Ball(s), 12, 21, 31, 77, 86, 120, 126, 129,
153; Bewildering, 156; Vanishing, 156,
Billiard, 126, 156
Bamberg, xi-xii, xi, 3, 12, 21-23, 29-34, 46,
53-54, 56, 59-60, 68-69, 79, 99-101,
110, 136; Edmund, 30, 155; Eduard,
23, 31, 36-37, 59, 95; Emile, 23, 34, 36-
37, 59, 64, 95; Jasper, xi, 34, 56, 95;
Papa, xii, 23, 31-32, 36, 38, 56, 59, 64,
95, 136
Magic and Novelty Company, 31, 56-
57, 79, 155; business form for, 101
Magic School, prospectus for, 100
Barbour, Victor, 4-10, 12-14, 18-22, 29,
31, 68, 85, 89, 93, 115, 119, 122, 124-
125, 129, 131, 139, 143, 147, 151-154,
156-157
Berg, Joe, 3-5, 14, 20, 24, 30-31, 104, 112,
115, 121, 127, 132, 144, 148, 150, 152
Bewildering Balls, 12, 156
Billiard Balls, 126, 156
Birdcage production, 12, 75, 133
Birth of the Lotus Flower, 5, 82, 130
Black art, 5, 14, 66, 81, 123, 143-144
Blackstone, Harry, 59
Bloch, Rich, 13-14
Block(s), 20, 62, 66, 81, 85, 123, 125, 127,
153; Alphabet, 124
Off Ribbon, 126
Penetration, 123
Rabbit Production, 153
Book, Blow, 136; Skull to Silk, 146
Blue Phantom, 151
Bonzai Tube, 151
Botania, 5, 81, 84
Bottle, Confetti to, 142
Bottomless glass, 87, 136
Bowl, Gobi, see Gobi Bowl
Production, 5, 7, 12, 13, 52, 138, 143
of Water Vanish, 146
Box on Rope, 157
Break-Apart Dove Vanish, 76, 128
Brockman, Syd, 20, 132
Buddha, Living and Dead, 132
Burger, Marvin, 3, 13, 20
Burlingame, H.J., 56
Burton, Lance, xiii
Butterfly Box, 146
Cabinet, 5-6, 9, 12-14, 19, 23-24, 32, 36,
52, 66, 110-114, 116-117, 120, 137-
138, 143; Checker, see Checker
Cabinet; Mirror, 157
Cage, 6, 9, 12, 24, 75, 92, 106-107, 109,
130, 133, 144; Canary, 75, 106-107
Canary, Card to, 92, 147; Egg to, 118
Cage, 75, 106-107
Canister, 133
Production, 75, 106-107, 130, 139
Vanish, 14, 73, 119, 142
Candle, Color Changing, 135; Handkerchief
in, 135
Candy, Confetti to, 65, 154
Canister, 13, 18, 113, 133, 137, 142, 151-
152, 154
Card, Visible Restoration, 153
Box, Jumbo, 136
Change, table for, 156
Deck Switch Box, 146
Display Stand, 155
Exchange Tray, 149
Prediction Paddle, 139
Prediction Trick, 139
Production, Jack-in-the-Box, 147
Rise, Clockwork, 92, 147; Mechanical,
147
Star, 152
to Canary Box, 92, 147
Carrandi, Mario, 4, 13-14
Casket, 75, 78, 85, 120, 124, 126, 128, 134
Catalogs, Magic, 56
Caveney, Mike, 25, 46-47
Chain, in Linking the Links, 152
Change Tray, 75, 118, 149
Checker Cabinet, 5-6, 9, 13-14, 23-24, 32,
52, 66, 110-114, 116, 143
Checkers, Rice, Orange and, 133
Chimerical Foulards/Silks, 73, 118-119, 156
Chimney
and Die Block, 123
and Die Box, 22, 122
Clark, Ren, 4-5, 14
Clockwork Card Rise Box, 92, 147
Cloth flap spring load, 75, 106-107, 118
Coffee
and Milk, 93, 154
Canister, 151
Coin
Ladder, 87, 141
Tray, 118
Color Changing
Candle, 135
Die, 123
Parasol, 145
Wands, 144
Confetti, in Gobi Bowl, 65, 104-105
and Egg to Birdcage, 133
to Coffee or Milk, 93
to Goldfish, 154
to Guinea Pig, 20, 65, 154
to Silks and Glass of Liquid, 154
to Wine Bottle, 142
Conradi, 18, 22, 74, 96, 131, 134
Cook, John Brown, 68
Copperfield, David, ix, 158
Cotton to Coffee Canister, 13, 151
Craftsman/craftsmanship, 12, 22-24, 27,
29-30, 33, 63, 89, 92, 111, 126, 134-
Index
135, 140, 148
Crystal
Casket, 75, 85, 124, 126
Tube, 21, 131
Cups and Balls, 99, 129
Cut and Restored Ribbon, 150
Decoupage, 14, 127, 142
Dethlefsen, Tom, 3, 127
Die, 22, 99, 122; Color Changing, 123
Block and Chimney, 123
Box, 122
Die Mysterien des Orients, 18, 22, 74, 96, 134
Dixon, William (Doc Nixon), 57
Dove, 13, 73, 75, 118, 141, 143, 150
Pan Tray, 119
Vanish Casket, 78, 128
Dreyer, Roger, 57
Duck(s), 9. 7, 12, 18, 23-24, 71, 108-109.
137, 143, 148
Vanish, 12, 71, 23-24, 108-109
Dynasty, Bamberg, xi, 32-35, 95
Egg, 99, 118, 127, 133
Bag, Papa Bamberg’s, 136
to Canary, 73, 118, 127
Enchanted Rice and Silk, 18, 129
Ewing, Tom, 22, 25, 122
Expanding Ball, 126
Fall-Apart Dove Vanish, 76, 128
Fantastic Frame, 153
Fifth Dimension Card Frame, 152
Finger-Chopper, Fu-Manchu, 66, 143
Fire to Skull, 146
Firebowl, 21
Fishing pole, 22; see also Angling
Flap, cloth spring loaded, 75, 106-107, 118
principle, 71, 121, 137
on shell, 85
Flip-Over-Box, 14, 127
Floating Ball, 31, 77, 120, 158
Flosso, Al, 20, 22
Flower, production from table, 138; see
also, Lotus Flower
Flowerpot, 84, 130
Fu-Manchu, xi, 4, 31, 60-61, 66, 95, 108-
109, 120, 143
Finger Chopper, 66, 143
Gaughan, John, 14, 23-25, 30-32, 61, 108,
125, 145, 147, 153
Gimmick Box, 155
Girl and the Ribbon Illusion, 117
Gobi Bowl, 65, 104-105
Golden Gate Magic Studio, 3, 98, 127
Goldston, 18, 22
Goulet, Ray, 14, 68-69, 127
Gown, Okito’s, xii, 12, 50, 158
Guinea Pig, Confetti to, 20, 65, 154
Gun, silk vanishing, 20, 135
Hand, third, 155; Okito’s, 100
Handbills, 53
Handkerchief, 21, 99, 118-119, 126, 131,
135, 143, 149-150, 155
Gun, 20, 135
Jap Box, 150
in Candle, 135
Index 159

in Potato, 131
Plate, 142
Hill, Ed, 25, 34-36, 52-53, 56-57, 58, 161-162
Hindu Inkwell, 20, 66, 114, 127
Histed, Louis, 14, 66, 143
Historian, Okito as, 98-101
Hoffmann, 86, 142
Hofzinser, 14
Hooker, 14, 52, 110
Illusions, stage, 116-117
Impenetrability of Matter, see Penetration
of Matter
Inkwell, Hindu, 20, 66, 114, 127
Inlaid wood, examples of, 92, 147
Innovation, 23-24, 27, 30, 63-64, 75, 77,
81, 86-87, 129, 132
Inventions, 22, 27, 30, 63, 78, 81, 134
Jack-in-the-Box Card Production, 147
Jap Box, Handkerchief, 150
Jewel Chest Mystery, 65, 152
Kaps, Fred, 59
Klein, Joe, 24, 56, 79
Klosterman, Ken, 5-7, 9, 14, 20, 25, 130,
140, 142, 146, 157
Kuma Tubes, 7, 76, 134
Larson, Charles, 89
Le Diable Boiteux, 95
Le Grand David, 20, 140
Lecture, Okito, 98-99
Leg-Chopper, 138
LeRoy, Servais, 24
Letter, Emile’s, 34; regarding sale of water
bowl, 16; sale of robe, 17-18
Lewis, Eric, 24, 108, 128, 118, 130, 134, 143
Lilly, Okito’s wife, xii, 4, 20, 37, 57
Linking the Links, 152
Lippincott Box, 89, 93, 132
Living and Dead Buddha, 132
Magic School, Bamberg, 100
Mandarin
and Tea Chests, 116
Table, 13, 111, 130
Mango Tree Effect, 5
Martinka, 22, 56, 122
Marvelous Production, 138
Mask, 13, 75, 141
Mat Trick, 5, 31, 61, 145; poster of, 28
McIlhany, Bill, vii, 25
McQuirk, John E., 12
Mechanical Card Rise Box, 147
Metal work, examples, 92-93
Mignon Production, 138, 148
Mingus, 22, 83
Mirror, commemorative, 55
Cabinet, 13, 157
Mishell, Ed, 4, 13-14
Money-Maker, 135
Multum in Parvo, 63, 74, 134
Mutilated Parasol, 145
Mysterious Casket, 134
Mystery Tube, 157
Mystic Blocks, 85, 124
Nameplates, Okito, xii, 93
Needle, Threading the, 157
Nelusco Brothers, 36, 95
Nest of Boxes, 132, 139
Nielsen, Norm, 18, 29-31, 33, 113, 121,
123, 148
Nixon, 4, 6-7, 9, 21, 23-24, 31, 58, 110, 132
Okito, origin of name, xii
Glasses, 72, 119, 136
Okito on Magic, book, 97
Origami, Spirit, 89, 153
Parasol, Color Changing, 145
Parrish, Robert, 97
Pearl Ball Vase, 126
Pelaez, Cesareo, 20, 140
Penetration of Matter, 13-14, 18, 68-69, 115
Phantom, Blue, 151
Tube, 84, 131
Plate Off Ribbon, 129
Platt, Johnny, 76, 134
Polising, 38-41
Poole, Lilly, xii
Potato, Silk in, 131
Prediction
Card Trick, 139
Card Paddle, 139
Production
Flower Vase and Belt, 142
of 8 Glasses of Liquid, 118
Tubes, 151
Pull, 118, 135
Purdy, C. McCord, 22
Quality Magic, book, 96
Rabbit, 6, 20, 99; Riddle of the, 140
Production, 71, 140, 153
Rattle Box, 132
Redmon, Don, 12-13, 30-31, 68, 92, 108,
111, 114, 117, 122, 126, 138, 143-144
Ribbon, 117, 126, 129, 145, 150, 157
Rice, 9, 18, 76
Bowls, 129
Orange and Checkers, 133
Riddle of the Rabbit, 6, 20, 71, 140
Ring on Wand, 157
Rising Card Deck Switch, 146
Robert-Houdin, 89, 99
Roterberg, 122
Scare Mask and Dove, 13, 75, 141
Screen Production, 121, 148
Shadowgraphy, 31, 43
Shadow Box/Cabinet, 117
Shell, 64, 85, 156
Shepherd, Balloon to Dove, 150
Siamese Cylinders, 7, 76, 134
Silk, 9, 18, 20, 52, 68-69, 72-73, 75, 84,
129-130, 137, 146, 149, 151, 153-156
Change and Vanish, 155
Decanter and Tray, 118-119
Under the Plate, 148
Skull, in Zombie Cabinet, 120
to Silk Book, 146
Sleeve Production, 135
Sorcar, 59
Sphinx, 6, 9, 22-24, 56
Spirit Origami, 153
Spreer, Edmund, 30, 155
160 Index
Spring load, cloth flap, 75, 126
Square Circle, 14, 81, 84,
with Bouquet, 143
Redone, 144
Stage illusions, 116-117
Stevens, Joe, 13, 22, 29, 130
Substitution Principle, 65, 104-105, 152, 154
Table, 5-6, 9, 13-14, 20-22, 24, 52, 65, 68-
69, 73, 76, 86, 108, 111, 125, 128-130,
134, 137-138, 153, 156
Taylor, Prentice, 20
Tea, 13, 66, 114, 116, 125, 142
Canister Transposition, 143
Leaves Chest and Bowl, 125
Thayer, xi, 4, 7, 9, 12, 15, 20-21, 30, 74, 85,
120, 123, 128-129, 131, 133-134, 150-151
Third Hand, 155
Thomas, Phil, 19
Threading the Needle, 157
Three-Bowl Production, 12, 143
Three-Screen Production, 148
Thurston, 20, 31, 77
Time line, 29-32
Tip-Over Box, 6, 20-21, 81, 86, 153
Transfers, 12, 14, 22, 24, 33, 89-92, 118,
127, 142, 150-151
Transposition, Silk to Plate, 149; Tea
Canister, 143
Extraordinary, 156
Tray, 73, 75, 118-119, 125, 134, 146, 149
Triangular Mystery, 71, 121
Triple Bowl Production (see Three Bowl
Production)
Two-Tube Production (see Birth of the
Lotus Flower)
Ubiquitous Ducks (Where Do the Ducks
Come From?), 71, 135
Vanishing
Cage and Orange, 144
Balls, 156
Vase, 76, 126, 133-134, 142, 154
and Flower Production, 138
Vermeyden, Hank, 59
Visible
Restoration of a Card, 153
Block Penetration, 121
Walker, Byron, xiii, 2, 25, 48-49, 54-57, 60,
98-101
Wand, 21, 64, 69, 144; Ring on, 157
shell, 64
Ware, Tad, 5, 22, 25
Water
Bowl Production, 12, 16, 52, 125 Canister
Effect, 18, 137
Wells, H., manufacturer of transfers, 22-24, 90
Where Do the Ducks Come From?, 71, 135
Where Do the Ducks Go?, 71, 108
Williams, Carl, 14, 18, 20-22, 24-25, 30,
99, 120, 122, 125-126, 128, 134-135,
140, 142, 153
Willmann, 21, 56, 72, 107, 118, 128, 133,
138, 151
Workmanship, 22, 106, 111, 150-151
Zombie Cabinet, 120