Val Andrews—now there’s a name that rings bells in the magic world. With over 1,000 books and booklets under his belt, he’s practically a walking library of wizardry (and probably has a few ghosts hiding in the pages).
We thought every last copy of his rare works had vanished into the depths of collectors' vaults, so you can imagine our shock when we stumbled upon a dusty stash of original Spook-Show Stoppers booklets lurking in our warehouse like a cheeky poltergeist.
First unleashed in 1984, Spook-Show Stoppers is a brilliantly crafted haunted show that promises to give your audience chills and chuckles in equal measure (and no, the ghost isn’t included in the ticket price).
You’ll lead your spectators through three spine-tingling demonstrations of supernatural shenanigans.
First up is Oscar, your invisible “pet ghost.” He’s a cheeky little blighter who tugs on your handkerchief, sips from a pint (classy ghost), and eventually makes a grand entrance for the audience. After a quick jig, poof! He’s off again, leaving everyone wondering if they’d just had a pint too many.
Next, we have a pesky poltergeist. Locked away in a transparent crate, this spirit is a right handful. Every time you pop a tambourine inside, it’s hurled back out with a vengeance. But hold your horses—eventually, our little ghost learns to respond, tapping out answers on the tambourine like it’s auditioning for a band.
For the grand finale, Andrews reveals his full Spirit Cabinet routine. Inside a seemingly ordinary cabinet, chaos reigns as objects levitate, zip about, and rattle like they’ve had one too many. Just when your audience thinks they’ve seen it all, they find themselves mysteriously pickpocketed! And for the pièce de résistance, the spirits manifest as a tangible, if slightly dodgy, figure that you can actually interact with (perfect for those awkward moments).
Spook-Show Stoppers is a delightful slice of classic stage magic from a time when things were a bit more… mysterious. These newly unearthed booklets are the last of their kind—just 40 copies left. Once they're gone, they’re gone for good. So, grab one before they disappear like a good ghost!
