C BY WEBER AND TRONO

TO BEGIN: SECRET SETUP OTHER DRAWING MATERIALS

You have been supplied with a special Instead of a business card, you can have
credit card with a secret window in the your spectator draw on a folded bill, the
center. To prepare for performance, back of a receipt, a loyalty card, or an
hold the window card in your left hand appointment reminder. (Fig. 7) If the pa-
and place a business card on top, cov- per is too large, fold it so it is the same
ering the window. Drop a real credit width as the credit cards and won’t stick
Figure 1
card on top of all, and place this three- out from the sides.
card stack in your pocket, along with a
pen. (Fig. 1) Figure 7

PERFORMANCE
Remove the stack of cards from your pocket
and hold them in your right hand with your ALTERNATIVE GLIMPSES
thumb on top and fingers underneath. Hold You can casually flash the underside of the
the cards horizontally with the window fac- stack of cards if you use your fingers to
ing the floor and hidden from view. Slide completely cover the window. (Fig. 8)
the top credit card to the left just enough
to expose the corner of the business card
beneath. Grasp the corner of the business Figure 8
card with your left fingertips and slide it out
from between the two credit cards as you
Figure 2
keep the window covered by the top card.
(Fig. 2)
To use a wallet, get the glimpse while
sliding the cards into one of the interior
pockets. (Fig. 9) The stack of cards can
Place the business card blank-side up on
also be inserted into a peek wallet with
top of the other two cards, then remove
the oval window visible through the wal-
a pen and draw a rectangular frame to
let’s peek compartment.
match the position and dimensions of the
secret window. Hand the business card to Figure 9
a spectator and request that he make a
simple drawing inside the frame and keep
it a secret. (Fig. 3) Figure 3

CHOICE OF SUBJECT MATTER

Ask the spectator to turn his card draw- We suggest requesting a simple drawing instead of a word or number. The
ing- side down and place it on top of speed and naturalness of the secret glimpse are increased because there is
the two stacked cards in your left hand. no need to figure out or analyze writing. Think of obtaining the quick glimpse
Rest your left thumb on the center of the of the drawing as “taking a mental snapshot.”
business card and grasp the uppermost
credit card by its right edge with your
Figure 4 right fingers and thumb. (Fig. 4) BONUS C HANDLING
This bonus handling of C allows the
secret glimpse to be obtained invisibly
even if the performer is surrounded by
an audience. This approach is more
Slip the normal credit card to the formal than the original handling and
right, out from between the business you can wait to determine when you
card and the window card, and place Figure 10 want to obtain the secret glimpse.
it on top, sandwiching the spectator’s
Place three blank cards on the bottom
drawing. (Fig. 5) The card with the
of the stack with the C gimmick on top
drawing stays in place, aligned with
of them and a regular credit card on
the gimmicked card to cover the se- Figure 5 top of all. (Fig. 10) In these instructions,
cret window.
the regular credit card is illustrated us-
ing the Delta Card. You will also need a
wine glass or other transparent contain-
er that can hold the stack of cards ver-
Hold the stack of cards with your left fingers tically. (Fig. 11 showing both choices).
so the secret window-side is facing you.
Glance down as you pick up the pen to put Figure 11
it away. (Fig. 6) You will subtly tip the cards
forward to quickly glimpse the drawing be-
fore returning the pen and stack of cards
into your pocket. You can now duplicate the
Figure 6 hidden drawing.

Turn over ➧
Remove the stack, (the window will be hidden
no matter which side is uppermost because it Note that the stack will be angled away
is sandwiched between the credit card and the from you, which provides a clear view of
three business cards) and slightly spread all of the image. (Fig. 17 from the side)
the cards. Take the blank card from the bottom
of the stack and hold it vertically as you ask On the blank card, draw a picture which is
your friend to draw a picture. (Fig. 12) Turn similar to the drawing you peeked, but do
your back while he draws the picture, then not let it be seen. Turn it face down and set
request he hold it drawing-side down so you it on the table.
Figure 12
Figure 17
cannot see it. As the spectator is drawing, you
have time to perfectly adjust the credit card
so it is spread to the right but still covers the
secret window.
Rotate the glass so that the remain-
ing blank card is now facing the
audience. Reach in and remove
the regular credit card and place
Turn back around, take the facedown it in your left hand. (Fig. 18)
drawing, and slide it between the C Reach back into the glass and
gimmick and the credit card, which remove the remaining blank card
are slightly spread. (Fig. 13) and the C gimmick, holding them
Figure 18 together. (Fig. 18)
Figure 13

Place these on top of the regular credit card in your left hand before putting
all three of them away casually. This leaves the spectator’s drawing in the
Square up the stack of cards and drop glass facing the audience. Slowly turn your drawing over to reveal that it
them in the glass with the regular credit matches. Since the secret window is only visible for one second, it is possible
card closest to the spectators. Note that at to perform this surrounded by your audience.
this point and throughout, the gimmick win-
dow is covered front and back. With your
forefinger tap the stack of cards so it tips HISTORY
forward closest to the spectators. (Fig. 14) Figure 14
The concept of using a large opening or window for peeking has been used
in the past by several mentalism giants, including Theodore DeLand, Ted
Annemann, and J.G. Thompson. The remarkable Max Maven inspired our
design, as described in his routine Ghostwriter II.
All legal owners of original copies of this effect, prop, and instructions have
the right to perform this effect, and use these presentations and methods in
nonrecorded, non-broadcast, non-ticketed, live, first-person performance set-
tings only. No one is permitted to manufacture, sell, teach, lecture, translate,
Reach in and lift up both of the blank cards transfer, assign or otherwise use, demonstrate, display, vary or discuss the
until you have a full view of the drawing contents. Permission for any and all other uses must be obtained in writing,
through the C Gimmick. (Fig. 15) from the author or his assigns, in advance.
2022 The Journal of Psience
Figure 15

Immediately let the card closest to

the C gimmick drop back down to
join with the other cards in the glass
as you continue to remove the single
blank card. (Fig. 16) If you need a
longer look at the image, you can
act as if the cards are slightly stuck to
each other as you shake for one card
to fall back down. Figure 16