Many magicians may remember bow ‘Thurston once made his entrance by stepping from a huge book after pages had been turned showing portraits of famous past magicians. Though it made an excellent opening, Thursion’s hook was not an actual illusion, but merely a mode of entrance. I liked the idea of the book opening, but wanted to tie it up with magic. So here I have the idea applied to an actual production and though it has the proportions of a large stage effect, this illusion is especially designed for night club presentation, both in operation and simplicity of construction. On a wheeled platform stands « huge book, Both covers of the book are opened, showing an empty interior shaped like a huge frame. The platform is resolved while the covers are open, and again after they are closed. The front cover is then opened and a girl in picturesque costume steps ftom the in- terior of the book. The hook is simply a large upright frame, approximately five and one-half feet high, four feet-wide, and two and onechalf deep. ‘This represents the book proper, but to the left of said frame {the left as viewed by the audience) is an eight inch extension that represents the binding of the giant book, This extension is simply a hollow post which contains the girl. She stands fac- ing the bock proper; hence she is in a space six inches deep, two and one-half feet wide (the depth of the book) and five and one-half feet high. ‘These di mensions are of eourse variable; if built for a girl who isto work regularly in the act, the book can be made to measure, The left side of the large frame has a secret door which swings into the book proper. This can be made in two Raps, but a single piece should be satisfactory because the girl can move over to theTight side of the book and thus allow the single flap to spring bock in place before abe turns frotward and step to the exact center in readiness for ber ap pearance ‘Two factors may be utilized to lessen the apparent thickness of the binding. ‘The left side of the frame can be inset 1 few incbes toward the book proper, beveled edges inthe frame of the serret, door cutting down the appearance of an projection. Als, te hinges of the book covers canbe painted to make it Took though they open almost a the extreme left of the binding, whereas they fare actually hinged to the edge of the frame that constitutes the book proper. ‘The book coves are simply big aps, rather than door, made oversized as ook covers would be, Thus in subalgoce the “book” is really an upright produce tion cabinet, of considerably more than rocesary width which "kille” te ball fof concealment place built into the side ofthe cabinet Any illusion cabinet of unorthodox pater i elfctive if there i rise rex son fort design and this particularly true with the "Book af Life", Repre senting a book it has the proper propor Sons and therefore allows for a new 7m af side concealment. Ils contac 1s ofthe simplest sort and for por: i, ican be made seaionlly, ith pls and sockets to conoect the portions of the elid binding th ight frame, constructed in sections and doots wih painted canvas Insta of wood, the whole appari ye reduced toa minimum in weight and packing sie, the same applying to {he platform, which ean be made in = ‘ons with Braces undemeath, ‘This is Teft tothe individaal builder, according to his own requirement. HARDEEN'S IDEAS ON PRESENTATION ‘The tage is dark as curtain ons up with dim epot playing fon book, Slosely it Becomes brighter and brighter, and cere tered in it stande BOOK OF LIFE. The leering is in white sgainat » dark Morocoo Finish Gonvas. “The font of the book slowly opens, and the magician sappen ALTERNATE OPENING ‘The letters BOOK OP LIFE are in luminous pain. The ext tain goes up on a dark tage tnd the worde BOOK OF LIFE sce all that ca be seen by the ‘tudience. Then all Tights on Including howe, book cover slowly opens. and appearaice of performer cece,