Roy Benson by Starlight Preview

27
T H E F L A S H
C I G A R E T T E
S
EATED at a table, the magician holds a piece of cigarette paper and sprinkles some
pepper on it as if he were pouring tobacco. The paper is set ablaze and in a flash
it transforms into a cigarette, which is then lit and smoked.
Discovered in Roy Benson’s notes, the Flash Cigarette is a very nice way to produce a
cigarette in a social setting. Within his text, Benson explains the story of how he came upon
the trick, which he later used as the opening effect of his billiard-ball routine, using his
Front-Loading Table to secretly obtain the cigarette.
The effect of the magician rolling an imaginary cigarette which suddenly transforms
into a real one is an old trick and is sometimes referred to as the Pantomime Cigarette
Production. But when I initially read Benson’s text, it occurred to me that he might have
been the first person to have performed this effect with a piece of flash paper. I have not
confirmed this, but so far I haven’t been able to find an account of a magician using this
now-standard presentation prior to Roy Benson. The first time Benson performed it on
television was in 1954, so it is indeed possible that other magicians copied it afterward.
Another interesting aspect of his description of the trick is the whimsical use of the
pepper shaker, which I had never encountered before.
Here is Benson’s description:
This effect began as a jest and wound up as a pet stage feature. It all happened
a few years ago. I was having dinner with a friend of mine who knew very little
about magic but a great deal about dramatics.
Originally, I wished merely to amuse him by performing a deliberately
mediocre effect. I had a cigarette loosely palmed in my left hand, which also
casually displayed a small piece of flash paper of the size and shape of a piece of
cigarette paper.
From Roy Benson by Starlight. Copyright 2006. Click here to order your copy frrom www.miraclefactory.net
414 R O Y B E N S O N B Y ST A R L I G HT
T O P
Figures 1-3
C E N T E R
Figures 4-6
B E L O W
Figures 7-9
“Watch this miracle,” I said, and so saying, picked up a lighter with the right
hand and ignited the paper. Lifting my left hand with the paper burning
rapidly, I produced the cigarette at the peak of the flash. Then I lighted the
cigarette.
My friend looked at me strangely for a moment and then started to rave. In
spite of all efforts to convince him of the trick’s simplicity and that I was only
joking, he refused to listen. He didn’t care as to the method employed and in fact
insisted that I try it before an audience.
Soon after this, I opened at a theater and tried it out. To my surprise, the
audience actually applauded the trick. Of course, by that time some touches
had been added to the presentation.
Preparation
The cigarette is in the left trousers pocket.
T H E F L A S H C I G A R ETT E 415
On the table to the performer’s right is a cigarette lighter, a pepper shaker

(plugged so that none may escape), and a piece of flash paper measuring two by
three inches.
Presentation and Handling

Casually place the hands in each of
the trousers pockets (fig. 1; Note from In his similar stage
Levent: We have decided to pose the version, Benson
photos with the cigarette in the coat lights the flash
pocket, which I found more convenient). paper to produce
a cigarette at the
I remark, “Before attempting my next
beginning of his
effect, I should like to show off my billiard-ball routine.
alleged ability to roll my own —
something I was compelled to learn
during the recent cigarette shortage.”
On this, and as you turn toward
the table, remove both hands from
the pockets, withdrawing the cigarette
loosely palmed in the left hand (fig. 2,
audience view, and fig. 3, exposed
view). The right hand picks up the
paper rather daintily (fig. 4, audience
view) and turns it over as the
performer examines it with feigned
interest.
Next, it is transferred to the left
hand, which holds it in the position
one would assume just prior to
pouring the tobacco. With the paper held in this well-known trough position,
the right hand picks up the pepper shaker and pretends to shake some of it onto
the paper (fig. 5, audience view). Return the shaker to the table, and with both
hands go through the exact motions of rolling your own up to the point of
wetting the edge.
The right hand picks up the lighter and ignites the paper (fig. 6, audience
view, and fig. 7, exposed view), lifting the left hand as the flame grows, and
produces it on the peak of the flash (fig. 8, exposed view). Pause for a split-
second at this point so that the audience has a chance to see that it is a real
cigarette.
Finally, with the lighter still burning, place the cigarette in the mouth and
light it (fig. 9, audience view). Remember not to flick out the lighter after the
flash paper has been ignited but hold it burning so that you may light up the
finally produced cigarette, for to relight the lighter at this point interferes with
the smoothness of the trick.
About Flash Paper

In Roy Benson’s notes, we discovered some tips for the magical use of flash paper,
though we do not know if he intended to include this material in his book or perhaps a set
of lecture notes. At the end of the page, Benson refers to “roll your own” paper folders.
416 R O Y B E N S O N B Y ST A R L I G HT
L E F T
Figure 10
Connye Benson’s
illustration of
Benson’s homemade
flash-paper pad
R I G H T
Benson kept packets
of flash paper in an
envelope trimmed
from a package of
lens-cleaning sheets.
These are, of course, the cardboard packages
containing commercially sold cigarette
papers for rolling cigarettes using the tobacco of your choice.
The following is Benson’s text:
One of the nice things about flash paper is that the layman regards its mere
burning as a trick in itself. Well-made flash paper spends itself so rapidly without
leaving an ash that spectators regard its behavior as magical. It is all so innocent-
looking.
A small piece may be used by a spectator to jot down the name of a chosen
card, then rolled into a ball or folded, and finally ignited at the time the selected
card appears.
Made up as an envelope, it furnishes a flashy interlude in the Bill in Lemon
trick. In this case, a slit is cut on the address side and the folded bill is inserted so
that it juts out halfway through the back. The bill is then stolen away and the
envelope ignited. The distraction furnished by the sudden flash enables the
performer to get the bill into the lemon without detection.
It is good policy to use a print trimmer or scissors, or to tear it under the
guidance of a straight-edge ruler, if you have a favorite trick using small pieces.
There is something unsatisfactory and wasteful about tearing off odd chunks
that never seem to be the right size or shape.
For my own use, I make them up to resemble a cheap little pad of note paper.
First a stack of about twenty pieces, each measuring 3½ by 4½ inches, are
attached along the narrow edge with paper fasteners.
Next, a piece of thin cardboard of the same size is placed under them to act as
a backing. It is attached to the packet with a piece of brown gummed paper
tape, which covers the metal clips on top, laps over the edge, and holds fast at
the bottom of the cardboard (fig. 10). This is openly used as a note pad and
pieces are torn off as needed.
Another favorite angle of mine is to trim a stack of papers, each measuring two
by three inches, and place them in one of the well-known “roll your own” paper
folders.
Important: Flash paper can be dangerous if mishandled, so take care. The reader is responsible
for any injury sustained in performing any of these effects!

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27

On the table to the performer’s right is a cigarette lighter, a pepper shaker

Presentation and Handling

About Flash Paper

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