Second Sight Through Brick Walls Magic Trick. The “Second Sight Through Brick Walls” magic trick is an impressive demonstration of mentalism, often used for dramatic, public displays like hotel or press seances. The effect hinges on the apparent ability of an assistant, located remotely, to discern selected information without any verbal cues. This illusion involves secretive information transfer, making the trick seem mystical.
Second Sight Through Brick Walls Magic Trick
Trick Overview
- Setup: The performer gathers people in a public setting and engages them in conversation, suggesting a test of their assistant’s telepathic abilities from afar. To demonstrate, they request participants to:
- Draw a playing card.
- Write down initials.
- Roll a die and note the result.
- Think of a number.
- Note the time on a clock.
- Selecting Messengers: Two participants are chosen to act as messengers. They receive paper and an envelope, then head to the assistant’s location (e.g., her hotel room) to deliver the items, with instructions to remain silent.
- Performer’s Preparation: The performer prepares in advance:
- In their coat pocket, they have a cigarette paper book with elastic cords to hold it.
- In the same pocket is a short pencil, while a fountain pen is in the vest pocket.
- Writing Abbreviations: While interacting with the audience, the performer discretely writes down abbreviated answers on a cigarette paper sheet. For example:
- “K of H” for King of Hearts (card drawn).
- “6” for six on the die.
- “445” for a thought number.
- “E.H.” for chosen initials.
- “9:31” for the time observed.
- Secret Transfer of Information:
- After discreetly jotting down these notes, the performer tears off the sheet and rolls it into a tiny ball.
- They then subtly place the ball into the cap of their fountain pen, concealing it from view.
- Delivery to the Assistant: The messengers, unknowingly carrying the ball with encoded information in the pen cap, head to the assistant’s room. Upon arrival, she requests privacy, takes the paper ball, and reads the abbreviations using a hairpin to unroll it.
- Producing the Answer: The assistant translates the abbreviations into full answers on the given paper and hands it back to the messengers.
The Illusion
By appearing uninformed and detached from the assistant, the performer creates an illusion of telepathy or mind-reading abilities. The participants are left with a sense of awe, never realizing they themselves delivered the necessary information.
This trick demonstrates the powerful effects of clever preparation and covert communication, combined with an audience’s natural trust and expectations, to produce a magical experience.
