Trick and Treat - Paper and String Trick

(Music Playing) Male: Today on Trick and Treat, we will reach far back into ancient days and do a trick that must have been invented by some old Chinese magician, back in the days before paper had two sides and string had two ends. (Music Playing) Male: We have always felt that this trick must have been first performed in China because the Chinese invented paper and the objects we used for our trick are three circles cut from paper. A red one, a white one, and a blue one and they all have holes cut through the exact center. We also use a long piece of string, which we thread, through the holes in our paper’s circles and, we will be very careful not to hide the ends of the string from your sight. Now, in order to keep our secret for a little while, we will cover the paper’s circles with a handkerchief. Notice that the ends of the string are still in view. Now, we are going to let you choose one of the colors, which do you prefer, blue, white or red, have you chosen one? Then watch. We will reach up under the handkerchief and slowly bring out the red paper circle. And, you will notice that it is not torn and that the blue and white circles are still on the string. Oh, we could have taken off the blue one, or the white one but you, you sitting over there, you wanted the red one did not you? Do you think the secret is in paper or the string? Well, to tell the truth, the secret actually, but wait, it is time for you treat. The secret to our trick with the paper circles and string is so simply that nobody ever thinks of the answer. You can use any string and the paper circles our cut out of the colored contraction paper you used in school. But, you must cut out two circles of each color, two reds, two whites and two blues. You will only show your audience one of each color, the others you keep in your pocket. Now, it is best to keep them in the same order every time, red, white and blue, then, you can easily find the color you want without thumbling. While your audience is choosing a color, you stand with your hands in your pockets. As soon as they name a color, you hide that color in your hand, then, reach up under the handkerchief. All you have to do now is tear the paper circle of the string, wad it up into a little a ball and show the one you took from your pocket. You take the handkerchief off with the hand that holds the wadded up paper and put both handkerchief and paper back in your pocket. If you do not want to use your pockets, you can hang the extra paper circles under your coat. A safety pin and a bobby pin make a good holder and will be useful for many other tricks too. Next on trick and treat, we will have another secret of magic for you. Be sure to be with us, goodbye now.