Effect
A spectator holds a cut flap of a dollar bill. The magician reverses the bill – without the spectator letting go of the bill.
Method
The way the bill is cut is based on proper measurement and dimensions. The special fold allows the bill to pass through itself, using the the hole cut into the bill.
Materials Needed
- A bill of your currency of choice. For a $1 bill I would use a real bill. For this $100 bill… I use a phony.
- Scissors, or a straight edge and hobby knife.
- Cutting pad.
Making The Bill
The gimmick bill is easy to make, you just have to take the time to fold it properly, to mark where to cut.
Start by folding the bill in half, end to end. Then fold in half again. Next you will take the top down to the bottom, but do not fold or crease the bill. Simply mark the halfway point with a small crease – you are only marking the halfway point, for the next step.
With the halfway point marked, fold the top and bottom portions of the bill to the center. That should leave you with a neat rectangular packet. Set the bill on a flat surface and press all the creases into the bill.
Ensure the folds are very straight, and each fold lines up the corners and edges of the bill as best you can.
Cutting The Doorway
Unfold the bill and you should see all the creases you just made. They will be your cutting guide, and later your folding guide.
Cut the three lines I marked in red. You are making a flap that hinges at the center of the bill. You might get a good cut with scissors but I prefer to use a straight edge and a hobby knife.
On the US $100 bill the window will line up very well with Ben Franklin’s head, later. I am unsure if other US bills line up the same, I have no US money.
Back/Performer View
To reverse the bill, you will be folding the bill into one package, and passing the package through the door.
Have the spectator hold the flap of the bill, the front of the bill facing them. Do whatever routine patter you want, I use the “hypnotize them, and shrink them to go through the door”. See the video (below) to see a sample routine.
As they are holding the flap, fold the ends to the center, towards you.
Next, fold the top and bottom to the center. The creases used for marking the cut will be used for the folding.
This is their front view. Franklin on the left, the folded package & the hole is on the right. Be careful not to let the folded package go through the hole yet – there is one more fold first.
From your view, fold the left of the bill to the right (the package folds to the right). This is your final view of the folded bill
As you unfold the bill, the first fold is actually passing the folded package through the door. Continue unfolding the bill and you will see that it did in fact reverse.
You are now looking at the front of the bill, and the spectator never let go of the flap.
Front/Audience View
This is the same folds, but from the audience view. No one is holding the flap in the picture, but in performance, of course, you ensure that they hold it and never release it.
What I really like about the $100 bill is the picture of Ben Franklin stays in place, facing them, until the last moment.
During the unfolding you even see Ben’s face through the door. At this point the bill has already reversed (as you can see the back of the bill) but because they can still see the face, they do not realize the bill reversed yet.
The final unfolding ends up with Ben’s face finally disappearing and they realize they are now looking at the back of the bill, but never released the flap.
This is not a major magical moment, but it is a fun head scratcher. They may try to recreate it in their heads, but will likely never figure out how it was accomplished.
To see a video of the dollar bill gag and making of please see THIS video on YouTube.
