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TWO MAN CLIPPO

EFFECT: This version of Clippo is a comedy routine using a volunteer from the audience and two strips of paper. Either strip cut by the performer is always restored. However, either strip cut by a volunteer from the audience is never restored.

PREPARATION: Make two two-inch wide Clippo strips from newspaper want ads as follows: STRIP ONE should have just two inches at the center of the strip prepared to be restored. The STRIP TWO (the one first given to the volunteer from the audience) should be completely prepared, except for about two inches in the center of the strip. To prepare the strips, coat one side of the areas to be restored with rubber cement. When the rubber cement is no longer tacky, coat them with white talcum powder. Wipe off any excess powder to make the prepared strips of paper look natural.

PERFORMANCE: Explain to the volunteer that you are about to demonstrate amazing phenomena that can be performed with your magic "sishsures" (tell him you can’t say "scissors"). Explain that you can always cut the strip with the magic "sishsures" and it will remain unharmed. Fold STRIP ONE in half and cut about ½ to ¾ inch from the strip. Don’t cut too deep or you won’t be able to restore the paper. Take one end of the strip and drop the other end, demonstrating that the paper is unharmed.

Give STRIP TWO and the scissors to the volunteer. Tell him to fold it in half and to cut about the same amount from his strip. Make sure he doesn’t cut too deep. Tell him to take one end of the strip and drop the other end, demonstrating that the paper is unharmed. His paper will fall apart. Look puzzled and tell him to take yours (STRIP ONE), explaining that you’re giving it to him because we all know it works. Take his strip (STRIP TWO). Repeat the cutting process. STRIP ONE will now fail when he cuts it, but STRIP TWO now will work for you.

CURTAIN CALL: In making Clippo, use the want ads, because they conceal the fact that each cut makes the paper strip a little shorter. For example, if you use a strip with a picture, the cut will distort the image.

The late Don Hands taught Clippo to me. Don was a real gentleman who shared many of his magic "secrets" with me. Clippo was first developed and sold by Joseph J. Kolar in June of 1929 as "Kolar’s Magic Shears Trick". The effect was simplified and marketed by William H. Wilson (AKA Will de Sieve) as "Clippo". Ted Huber introduced de Sieve’s version at the IBM Convention in Philadelphia on October 15, 1937. The effect has been widely pirated and marketed under various names, including Clip-It, Clipper and Scissoring Caesar’s.

TWO OTHER ROUTINES USING CLIPPO

The modus operandi used to perform clippo can be used with objects other than newspaper. For example prepare the center of the face of king and the center of the back of a queen in the same manner as you would for clippo. Place the queen face down on top of the face up king so that the prepared surfaces come in contact. Cut the cards in half. When the cards or opened, they will be restored as ½ king and ½ queen.

Prepare the centers of the face and back of two dollar bills as outlined as you would for clippo. Hold the two bills so that the prepared surfaces are in contact – face to back. Cut the bills in half. When they opened, the two bills will be completely restored.

WANT ADS FOR YOUR CLIPPO ROUTINE

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Will swap a white wedding gown, never used, size sixteen, for 38 revolver.

Lost: A man’s toupee in the vicinity of main and Elm Streets. If found, please call 633-3333 and ask for baldy.

Lost: A brown dog in the vicinity of Main and Third. Has one eye, three legs and no tail, and answers to the name of "Lucky".

Cultured girl, with higher education, from a distinguished family, seeks a gentleman with similar tastes and background. Phone the Roxy Burlesque and ask for Toots.

Lion tamer and assistant seek tame lion. Call Claude Butts at 555-1323

For Sale: Bulldog; will eat anything. Very fond of small children.

For Sale: One used tombstone. Excellent buy for a person named Smedly.

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