Tommy Wonder Entertains: Three Novel Routines Based on the Cups and Balls by Jos Bema by Gene Matsuura 1983, published by Jeff Busby Magic, Inc.
Just a heads up: This gem is brand new and untouched, but it’s been lounging in storage for decades, so don’t be surprised if you find some rusted staples or slightly warped pages (they're just adding character).
According to a Jeff Busby Magic, Inc. advertisement from November 1983:
Magicians from every corner of the globe have been itching for this splendid book packed with mind-bending tricks from one of the world's premier close-up artists - Jos Bema, who you might know better as Tommy Wonder. Gene Matsuura, a meticulous scribe of magic, has painstakingly mapped out every sleight, nuance, and cheeky rationale that Jos Bema employs in these three professional routines. The result? A comprehensive, beautifully illustrated tome that’ll have you performing these routines in no time.
Divided into two main sections, the first part features two utterly bonkers routines. Canned Craziness involves a soup can and a meatball, but don’t go thinking it’s just another Chop Cup scenario. This one’s an absolute showstopper: The performer uses a long-handled can opener to slice the lid off a can of soup. But uh-oh, the can’s empty, save for a lone meatball, which gets unceremoniously dumped out. After a bit of theatrical tossing and vanishing, the ball appears to be stuck halfway through the bottom of the can (what a tease!). It’s yanked free, only to balloon into a giant meatball! And the grand finale? The can is revealed to be a solid, unopened can—mind blown!
Then there’s Cough Cough—a routine that’s as unique as it is short and cheeky. It starts with our performer developing a pesky cough mid-show. To remedy this, he pulls out a tin of cough drops. Except, there’s only one lonely drop left in the tin. Just as he’s about to pop it in his mouth, poof—it vanishes! What follows is a comedic parade of empty lids appearing one after the other until, at last, the cough drop is revealed under the final lid—cue the applause!
The second section dives deep into the now-iconic Jos Bema Cups and Balls routine. When this masterpiece debuted at the 1977 Fechter convention, it left the room (and a few egos) in tatters!
Here’s the kicker: Two cups are shown empty, with a ball placed under each. Then, in a flash, the balls are drawn up through the tops of the cups! The cups are shown empty once more, only for a ball to be “blown” into one of them. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, a pom-pom that was chilling in the bag suddenly materialises under a cup! The routine is packed with ingenious vanishes and jaw-dropping moments—spectators are left scratching their heads (and you might just earn a standing ovation). The pièce de résistance is when the performer attempts to slap two balls through a cup, only to find the pom-pom back again, while the bag has mysteriously vanished. The other cup is lifted, and voilà, the bag tumbles out for a sensational finish.
Four detailed chapters guide you through understanding the props, creating the balls and bags, a precise breakdown of the routine (including patter and audience management), a step-by-step synopsis, and some cheeky variations to keep things spicy. All three routines reset quickly after performing, making them ideal for table hopping (you’ll thank me later).
The book is a visual treat—50 large 8 1/2 by 11 pages, meticulously typeset, with 85 stunning illustrations by John Elferink of Holland, spiral-bound for ease of use, all wrapped in eye-catching two-colour glossy covers.
