Is it magic - or is it SPIRITS??
More than 175 years ago, a movement known as spiritualism swept across America- and around the world. Based on the idea that it was possible to communicate with spirits, magicians quickly embraced this storyline and created many effects and routines to "demonstrate" that spirits could "speak". One of the most effective magic routines was called the Spirit Cabinet, a box that contained objects that "spirits" could move while the box was completely closed and secured. Sometimes the spirit cabinet was large enough to contain the magician, bound and tied to "prove" that there was no funny business going on, yet when the magician was enclosed in the box, objects would move, make noise, or fly out of the box, supposedly caused by the invisible spirits also inside the cabinet.
The ASTRO CABINET is a tabletop illusion that is based on the Spirit Cabinet idea. The door is opened on the cabinet, showing an upright glass to one side, and a small ball resting on the floor of the cabinet. The door is closed on the cabinet, and the magician calls on the spirits to prove their presence. When the door is opened again- the ball is now resting ON TOP of the glass! The spirits have spoken!
This Astro Cabinet is handcrafted by G&L Magic of Virginia. Made of solid wood, the cabinet features rich gold color with vivid red accents. Easily seen by a small audience or even from stage!
The cabinet is made of solid painted wood. It measures about 10" long x 7.5" tall x 4" wide.
This classic effect is inspired by Phase 1 of Stewart James’ Sefalaljia routine, published in JINX Magazine in 1939.
Interested in magic history? Visit our free online Magic Library, full of biographies of famous magicians plus lots of magic history and trivia!