Robber Band It

This effect is the classic one in which two paper clips and a rubber band link with the aid of a folded dollar bill. There is a variation of it described in "The Dai Vernon Book of Magic".

The dollar bill should be pre-folded in half the long way and in thirds the other way as in the photo. Note that the borders of the bill are slightly offset so that it is easy to quickly fold and unfold the bill into thirds.



script
 action
 notes
 photos
Today I'd like to share with you an illustrated history of a bank robbery. The props are displayed and scattered on the table. 

a dollar bill, a rubber band, and two paper clips

This is the bank. The George Washington National Bank. 
 Show the dollar bill with the picture of George Washington facing the spectators. Then fold the bill in half the long way with the edges down, and fold the bill in thirds.

There's a front door . . .
 Open and close the third that is facing the spectators.

and a back door . . .
 Open and close the third that is away from the spectators.

Here's the robber . . . the bandit . . . the robber band . . . it . . ..
Pick up the rubber band and display it. Be sure to really emphasize robber band . . . it . . ..

And make a LONG pause between saying 'robber band' and 'it'.

Try to get a smile from the spectators
He went into the bank to commit the crime.
 Put the rubber band around the front third of the bill.

Just then two policemen came by. . . . Clip, and his brother . . . Fred. 
 Point to one paper clip, then the other. Or maybe 'Clip, and his sister . . . Alice.' Or maybe 'Big Red, and his sister . . . Beautiful Blue.'

Or maybe you can think of something even better.

Fred covered the front door.
 Put a paper clip on the front third and middle layer of the bill.

And Clip covered the back door.
 Put the other paper clip on the back third and middle layer of the bill.

That meant that the robber band . . . it . . . was completely trapped inside the bank.


Now our story is nearly at an end . . .
Pause for drama.
The police closed in . . .
 Pull the two ends of the bill about tiny bit very slowly. Pause for drama.
and the robber band-it . . . 
 Pull the two ends of the bill about tiny bit more very slowly.
 Pause for drama.
. . . was captured.
 Quickly pull the bill fully open and stay completely still. Pause for drama.


Entertaining.


Magical.


No sleights.


Just careful handling.