a large, bright flame during your Fig 2

Animated Cigarette performance.

Use pliers to push the sharp end of the wire
by John Kennedy Magic gimmick into the bottom of the match. Now
place the hollow cigarette over the match tape

C ongratulations on your purchase of the (figure 2).

Animated Cigarette. This improved version PERFORMING CONDITIONS: You
includes the latest gimmicks and handling. must wear a dark patterned shirt, sweater, or
EFFECT: A cigarette slowly floats out of its pack coat while performing. The dark pattern will
and into your mouth. Suddenly the pack changes into cause the match and cigarette to stand out
a matchbox. The drawer slides open and a match while hiding the wire from audience view.
floats out and strikes itself. The match pushes the Not all dark shirts will hide the wire, so you
drawer closed, then floats up and lights the cigarette! must find one with a good color and pattern
EQUIPMENT: You have received the special box that will camouflage the wire. Avoid strong lighting
with an ignition circuit inside. One side of the box from behind, as it can expose the wire.
looks like a pack of cigarettes and the other side looks PERFORMANCE: Start with the box protruding
like a matchbox. Also included are 3 igniters and a up from your left hand and the wire in your right
black wire ‘float gimmick’ with a sharp tip on one end (figure 3). Your thumb and second finger should hold
and a coiled cylinder on the other end. the wire’s cylinder with the wire extending over your
You will need to supply an AA battery, clear forefinger. The cigarette should be suspended behind,
Scotch tape, a small candle, a cigarette, and some but not touching, the box.
wooden matches. Use larger matches like the From the front it looks like you are holding a pack of
kitchen matches sold in many grocery stores as they cigarettes. Slowly move your left hand down. The box
are easier for your audience to see. You also need a will move down while the cigarette stays still and it
pair of needle-nosed pliers and a small screwdriver will look like the cigarette is rising from the pack.
like the kind used for eyeglasses. Keep the top of the box tilted back slightly so it looks
PREPARATION: Slide the drawer out of the box. like the cigarette is coming from inside (figure 4).
There is a foam tape ‘stop’ inside the roof of the box. Now lower the box all the way down in front of your
Squeeze the box so the roof bows upwards and makes right hand while spinning the cylinder so that the
clearance for the drawer to slide out. Install the battery cigarette floats to your left (figure 5). Tilt your head
and insert one of the igniters into the terminal block. down and float the cigarette between your lips!
Tighten the screws to make a solid electrical Fig 3
connection. Bend the igniter upwards so that it’s tip is diamo
nd Fig 4 Fig 5
at the top of the box, but won’t snag against the
drawer. Figure 1 shows the finished circuit.
Burn off the tip of the igniter by
Fig 1
pressing against the side of the
switch and holding it for several
seconds. This one time burn off Now you will change the pack of cigarettes into a
will expose the glow wire, which matchbox. Thrust your left arm forward and then
will last for many performances. back. This large movement will hide your turning the
Extra igniters are included in box around (figure 6).
case the wire breaks during burn off. Replace the Hold the matchbox in front of the cigarette while
drawer inside the box with the foam tape ‘stop’ above pushing the drawer up with your little finger; it looks
the igniter tip. like the drawer is opening by itself! Simultaneously
Wrap a strip of Scotch tape completely around the lower the wire so that the match comes out of the
cigarette about 1/8" (3 mm) from the tip, then wrap a cigarette and stays hidden behind the box. Move the
second strip just below the filter. Roll the cigarette matchbox down to your chest, keeping the match
firmly between your thumb and fingers until all the hidden behind it while the drawer continues to open
tobacco falls out.
Light the candle and put a drop of wax on a wooden diamond

match just below the match head, spinning the match diam
ond

so a thin layer of wax goes around the top of the

matchstick. The wax will cause the match to burn with Fig 6 - turning the box around

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(figure 7). Tilt the box forward and make the match the box with your left thumb. Press against the loop of
float up, apparently out of the drawer (figure 8). tape near the filter, holding the match inside. When
Push the drawer open further with your little finger you’re ready to float the cigarette, grasp the wire’s
until the ‘stop’ pushes against the switch and makes cylinder with your right thumb and second finger and
the igniter heat up. Make the match's head float release your thumb from the cigarette. The loop of
against the hot wire and ignite, then move the box tape will cause it to spring back into shape so that it
quickly to your right while making a "TCHHH" doesn’t look crushed.
sound with your mouth. It looks and sounds like the You should move and sway your body naturally
match struck itself (fig 9)! while the cigarette and match are floating. This takes
focus away from your right hand holding the wire and
Fig 7 Fig 8
it also reduces any perception of excess wobble of the
Fig 9
floating objects.
You can exaggerate your body movement by acting
like a drunk. In fact, you can hold a liquor bottle by its
neck in your right hand while also holding the wire.
Or as Thom Peterson suggests you can hold a wine
Turn the matchbox drawer upwards and remove glass by its stem. It’s very deceptive because your
your little finger from the drawer, squeezing the box hand looks completely natural while you perform!
to hold the drawer open. Make the lit match float on
top of the drawer. Release your grip so that the drawer
slides down slowly, along with the match. It looks like
the match is pushing the drawer closed (fig 10). The
foam tape ‘stop’ will hold the drawer in place.
Now make the match float to your
left, then up to light the tip of the Fig 10
cigarette. The cigarette paper will burn
to the tape and then stop. You can blow
through the hollow cigarette to
extinguish the flame if necessary.
Make the burning match float over to
your left hand and take it between your www.johnkennedymagic.com
thumb and finger while holding the matchbox deep in
that hand. Spin the match so the wire gimmick swings
against your arm and stays hidden there.
Take the cigarette between your right first and
second fingers. Blow out the match and take a bow!
The wire should stay hidden against your left arm
while you put all of the props away.
NOTES: When sulfur from the match builds up on
the igniter wire, hold the switch down so the wire
stays hot while you carefully scrape off the sulfur
crust with a razor blade.
When you perform the Animated Cigarette for an
audience, you need to pick up the props and get them
into position without anyone seeing. One way is to
place the props on a chair with it's back towards your
audience so that the back of the chair provides ‘cover’
when you pick up the props. Or you can place the
props out of view on your table, then turn your back to
the audience while you pick them up. Be careful not to
expose the wire when you turn to face your audience.
You can begin your performance with your right
hand ‘free’ by pinning the cigarette against the back of

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