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Show a strip of newspaper, fold it in half, cut it, and restore it. Can it get any cooler or more visual than this?
Effect
You display a strip of newspaper and fold it in half. Taking out a pair of scissors you cut through the middle allowing a small piece of the paper you cut to flutter down. When the magic happens you allow the halves of paper to instantly restore in a visually stunning illusion.
Method
For this trick you will need a newspaper, scissors, rubber cement or a glue stick. Start off by trimming off a strip of the newspaper. I recommend a strip about an inch or two wide, nothing more.
Next take the strip and make sure it has a crease in the middle allowing it to easily fold in half. Most newspapers are folded so this shouldn’t be an issue. Open the strip back up and spread a layer of glue from the stick in the middle part of the strip. I recommend covering an area about an inch above and below the natural fold in the paper strip.
Take a look at the picture. The area marked in blue is where I have the layer of glue. Allow the glue to set for a few minutes. The idea behind this is that you will be cutting a small section from the middle of the paper when folded in half. The glue will bond the two new halves together with the pressure from the blades of the scissors. It cuts but at the same time allows the strip of paper to stay together.
You’ll see exactly how this all works as we get into the performance and through practicing.
The Performance
Show the strip of newspaper, perhaps read off a few lines from it then fold it in half. I allow the folded edge to be the bottom most.
Take your scissors and slowly and carefully cut straight across about a half inch from the folded edge. You need to make sure you are cutting in the glue layer, if not you will be embarrassed when the two pieces fall to the floor….
After completely cutting through a small piece should flutter to the floor. Allow your audience to see that you have indeed cut the paper. I pause for a moment at this point to let everything sink in.
To restore the strip of paper back to “one” piece allow the paper to unfold. You can let go with your fingers and give it a small shake and the paper will fuse itself back together in an incredible way.
Depending how large of a section you cut off it’s possible to repeat the illusion. Try experimenting when cutting the paper, you may want to cut less off so you could repeat it 2 or 3 times as a running gag throughout your routine or show.
This trick dates back quite a while and is credited to Joesph Kolar.