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The Blurb
The first-ever trick to fool Penn & Teller on “Fool Us” is back with a new version featuring updated envelopes and instructions!
Back in 2011, during the first season of “Penn & Teller: Fool Us”, John Archer managed to leave the iconic duo dumbfounded with a sneaky twist on an all-time classic. This signature routine Blank Night is one of the most entertaining and deceptive Bank Night effects you’ll ever see.
You show five envelopes and explain how only one of them contains the top prize of $100 (or whatever amount or currency you desire). The other four have $0 bills, slips of paper, or even nothing at all.
Four different audience members freely choose whichever envelope they want. Upon opening them, they discover that, unfortunately, they have not won the top prize. It’s clear that the last envelope you’re still holding contains the top prize. The way that prize is revealed though is where Blank Night strays from the normal path and is the moment that earned John the coveted “Fool Us” trophy.
Without any suspicious moves, you take the final envelope and open it to reveal $100. Not only that, but it’s $100 in multiple bills that are NOT folded or wrinkled in any way. Everything can be seen being pulled directly from the envelope. There’s very clearly no thumb tips or body loads in play.
You won’t find a Bank Night more direct and impossible than this.
- Very easy to do
- No sleight of hand
- No equivoque or forces
- No thumb tips or body loads
- No envelope switches
- Works with paper or polymer currency
In collaboration with Vanishing Inc., John released Blank Night shortly after his “Fool Us” appearance and it was an instant success. After selling out on numerous occasions, it was unavailable for years before now. This updated version offers stunning new envelopes in two vibrant colors (Blue or Orange), as well as a brand-new video tutorial that makes it easier than ever to learn this amazing routine.
Blank Night is suitable for magicians of any skill level. Each set comes with the specially manufactured envelopes, as well as the deviously simple gimmick that allows you to perform this routine within minutes of opening the package. Not only will you learn John’s full routine, but the envelopes come blank so that you can customize them however you want.
NOTE: A couple dabs of restickable glue will need to be applied to the gimmick. Both John and Vanishing Inc. recommend Zig 2 Way Glue, which is readily available online and many other stores.
Jheff's Guide
WHAT IT IS:
Effect with Props
HOW ACCURATE OR COMPLETE THE AD COPY IS:
It’s accurate enough.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED THAT YOU NEED OR NEED TO KNOW:
As mentioned in the ad copy, you will need to obtain some restickable glue. You will also need to customize the envelopes either by printing or handwriting the words on them.
SET-UP AND RE-SET:
There is a one time set-up that takes just a few minutes. Beyond that, the re-set involves putting the envelopes and gimmick back in place. Since this is really not a walkaround or close-up piece, this is a negligible element of this.
ANGLES:
There is a slight angle issue with this. This can be taken care of, though, with careful prop management, which John explains on the instructional video.
SUITABLE VENUES:
Parlor, Stage, Internet
JHEFF’S JUDGMENT:
John Archer used this to fool Penn & Teller in their first Fool Us episode and the method is unlike the standard ones that came before, which is why P&T were fooled. It’s self-contained, the bills come out of the envelope flat (and the emphasis is on that there is more than one bill), the envelopes can be given away as souvenirs and/or entirely inspected as they are ordinary, and it doesn’t use an additional magician’s gimmick that many methods call for. For a parlor/stage version of the Bank Nite routine, this is definitely one of the best and, so far as I’m concerned, at the top of those.