Here's some oldies that always
get laughs from one of magic worlds icons--KARRELL
FOX--
KARRELL'S - KOMICAL- KURRENCY
- KOLLECTION -
For several years in my "FOX-TALES"
Column in "TOPS" magazine, I ran a series of
gags with dollar bills under the title of Karrell's
Korny Bill Collection". These gag bills proved
to be a very commercial and entertaining interlude
during my close-up magic. Some twenty-five to
thirty people contributed ideas for the collection.
If you have a file of "TOPS" look up the ideas,
but here, to get you started, are the original
dozen bills I started with. Anytime you take
out a wallet for an effect, or do any bill or
coin routine, you can display your little money-museum
of bills, and you'll find high interest and
heavyt chuckles will be your reward.
I usually started the bit by
remarking, "You've heard the expression, a fast
buck? Watch!" I had a bill fastened to a P &
L hand reel. The reel was held in my right hand
and I placed the bill on the table with my left
hand. As I released the "brake" on the reel,
it caused the bill to suddenly jump from the
table over to the edge and down into my lap.
I finished by saying, "that's the FASTEST BUCK
I've ever seen!" I would then take out my wallet
and show the gag bills one at a time, and pass
them around the table.
1. Take a regular bill and
cut out a piece of silver foil (kidnap it from
your wife's kitchen), and rubber cement it to
the back of the bill. Show the regular bill
side first, and as you turn it over, say "this
is of course, a SILVER DOLLAR".
2. "This is the 'new-type'
five dollar bill" says the magician. See, there's
TWO on this side and THREE on this side, to
make FIVE altogether!" All you've done here
is to take one of the phoney (but authentic
looking) three dollar bills, available at most
magic shops, and rubber cement it to the back
of a REAL two-dollar bill. Show the two-side
first, then flip it over and show the three.
3. This is the famous "BUFFALO
BILL" you say as you turn over another bill
displaying a picture of a buffalo that you've
cut out of a magazine and glued to the back
side of a regular bill.
4. Another bill is glued to
a thin piece of plywood. Those of you who live
in the east may display this as a "BILLBOARD".
I'm sure my Texas magic friends would display
it as a "BUCK-BOARD".
5. Before you put the glue
away, get a piece of chamois and glue it to
the back of a bill. Then you can say, as you
turn the bill over, "This dollar is made of
real "BUCKSKIN!.
6. You exhibit a dollar bill
and say, "This is a new ten dollar bill". I
hope your spextator will say "No, it isn't it's
only a one". But, you insist "No, IT'S A TIN".
(Turn the bill over and show the piece of tin
you've glued the bill onto.)
7. Using a felt marking pen
(or India ink) print the word RIGHT all over
the back of the bill. Ya' get it? It's now the
historic "BILL OF RIGHTS".
8. Soak a dollar bill overnight
in a bleach solution (I used "Roman cleanser").
When you remove it, it will be quite faded.
Before I bring it out of my wallet, I say "Here's
one that I received every month. It's called
a "LIGHT BILL".
9. This one is simply a large,
musical note which has been cut out of a dollar
bill, which naturally makes it a "BANK NOTE!"
10. Take a regular one dollar
bill, and using a razor blade, cut the complete
center out, leaving just a quarter of an inch
frame. When you display this bill frame, say
"Here's a dollar bill WITH THE TAXES REMOVED"!
11. "This is one that we're
all familiar with. It's MY RENT MONEY." When
bill is turned over there's a small sign on
it that reads, FOR RENT.
12. Rubber cement a regular
dollar bill to a piece of cardboard or clear
plastic. After it dries, cut the bill in half
lengthwise in a jagged manner. Bring both pieces
out held together. Separating them, remark,
"THIS IS A SAW-BUCK"!
If these gags don't get a few
laughs to enliven your close-up routine, then
SEND ME A BILL!
