Do you know how Ian Adair’s Tight Squeeze trick is done?
How the slim lady could squeeze through the folding line of the clear PVC folder, but not when she is plump.
It is the late magician Ian Adair who created this toy magic trick for amusement.
- Definition of a toy magic trick: It is a simple pocket trick for amusement, and mostly to entertain kids, family members or close friends. No difficult secret move, or sleight of hand skill is required. It is not a grand illusion, but its effect is still magical, if you do not know trick works. Usually it is available in novelty shops selling toys, gifts, gags and pranks.
Two good examples of a toy magic tricks are: Charlie Chaplin Floating Head Trick and Lady To Lion Card Trick.
This amazing magician authored many magic books and invented thousand over tricks.
Tight Squeeze by Ian Adair is fun close up magic trick that makes a great novelty gift.
No doubt this is not a remarkable magical illusion, but the penetration effect still entertainingly astonishing.
You can perform this pocket trick close up and surrounded.
But the spectator cannot examined the clear PVC folder prop.
It comes with two different picture card, titled: EZEE-SQUEEZ and THE GREAT HOUDINI WATER TANK ESCAPE.
Both effects are the same, and they come with a special transparent folder and a picture card.
The first one is has a picture of a plump lady on one side, and the same lady but a svelte figure on the other.
EZEE-SQUEEZ
The second card is a picture of the legendary Harry Houdini chained and locked on one side.
But on the reverse side, he is without the chains and locks.
THE GREAT HOUDINI WATER TANK ESCAPE
Welcome to another post from the Info Ruckus Magic Trick Secrets Revealed series.
Where I answer the popular question: how are magic tricks done?
How magic tricks work, or what is the secret behind magic tricks?
The magicians refer to it as the method; the secret technique uses to create the illusion of a magical effect.
I would explain how the picture card could pass through the PVC folder, and also the psychology behind this magic trick.
Effect:
The performer introduces a special transparent bi-fold clear PVC folder with a cut-out window at the center folding line between the two side.
Then he opens up the folder, and places the picture card of a plump lady in a pink one-piece bikini.
He folds up the PVC folder, and he tries to push the picture card of the plump lady through the center folding line of the two pieces.
But he is not able to get the card with the plump lady through the folding line.
So he reinserts the picture card into the PVC folder, and he still could not push it through.
Then he reverses the PVC folder and shows the picture card with the same lady, but with a slimmer body.
Magically this time, the picture card of the slender lady could penetrate the folding line of the folder.
Watch this short demo video of Tight Squeeze trick by Ian Adair:
When using the picture card of the famous escape artist Harry Houdini, the one with the chains and locks, he could not get through.
Instead, the picture of Harry Houdini without being chained and locked, it manages to slip through the single-fold PVC folder.
Ian Adair’s Tight Squeeze Trick Secret
So how does the picture card pass through the clear bi-fold PVC folder?
Observe carefully the way they place the card into the PVC folder.
At first all the performers open up the folder, place the card inside and close it up.
All of them show the card is trapped inside the folder, and it cannot go through the center folding.
At 0:07 Madison Hagler of Presenting Tenyo opens up the folder, lays the card between the two clear PVC pieces, and shows it cannot pass through.
Roberto of Magic Patagonia also does the same act at 0:29.
The FunTime Magic video, at 0:18, after showing the stuck card, he spreads the folder apart to reveal the trapped card between the two panels.
Logically, the picture card can never go through the PVC folder folding line.
Insert Card Into Closed Up Folder
Now, watch closely when this performer inserts the card back into the folder the second time around.
They all have to fold up or close up the PVC folder, before slipping in the card.
When Madison Hagler of Presenting Tenyo slips in the picture card at 0:25, it’s a folded up folder.
So is Roberto of Magic Patagonia when he puts in the picture card into the PVC folder at 0:44.
The performer of this video does the same move; loading the card back into the closed-up folder at 0:29.
In fact at 0:33, he is just pretending he could not pull the card through the PVC folder!
At that juncture, actually he can pull out the card even though it has the picture of the plump lady.
It has nothing to do with the picture, be it the slim or the plump lady.
So are Madison Hagler of Presenting Tenyo at 0:33 and Roberto of Magic Patagonia at 1:02.
They do not have to turn to the card with the svelte lady to do the penetration trick.
So how does the picture card could manage to slip through the folding line?
The truth is the card does not get through the folding line between the two clear PVC panels.
The card is above the folding line, and it is not blocked by it.
Ian Adair’s Tight Squeeze Trick Concealed Pocket
The secret is there is a concealed pocket on one of the folder panels.
To be precise, there is another PVC piece attached on top of one of the folder panels, with two slit openings.
Here are close-up view of the slit openings where the card slips out of the folder.
The viewers do not notice this extra PVC piece is because it is a transparent like the folder itself.
This is the secret of Ian Adair Tight Squeeze trick; the card slipping through the two slit openings of the secret pocket.
Extra PVC Piece On Top Of Folder
Why do I assume there is a another PVC piece on top of one of the folder panels?
At 0:24 when he rotates the folder around, the PVC piece held by his right hand is less transparent than the other piece.
It is a bit blurred or clouded because it has two layers of PVC and it appears thicker too.
Like some other magic tricks, having proper lighting conditions are important, because of reflections.
This one is captured from FunTime Magic video clip:
This one is from Magic Patagonia:
From one of the demo videos, you can see the two pieces of clear PVC together.
There you have it, the secret working of Ian Adair’s Tight Squeeze trick.
Psychology Of Ian Adair Tight Squeeze Trick
There are various factors that influenced our perception, and that includes its visibility.
As for this toy magic trick, it is the transparent camouflage.
The transparency of the PVC panels that deceives your perception.
You do not see it because both layers of PVC panels are see-through.
According to psychology in conjuring tricks, this is also a form of misdirection.
It is called a non-attentional misdirection.
Some common magic trick props use the transparent camouflage principle.
For instance, the Ever Filling Glass, Disappearing Milk Glass, Mirror Glass Gimmick, Liquid Penetration Glasses or Hydrostatic Glass.
Ian Adair Free Book Online
You can either read or borrow this 1991 book by Ian Adair from Internet Archive Lending Library.
- NOTE: But if you want to download and keep it for yourself, read this tip by Digiztal, “How to save Internet Archive borrow books: 1 hour and 14 days“.
This book shows how to perform classic tricks and new twists on old favorites, and teaches simple effects as well as providing a starting point for more difficult illusions.
100 Magic Tricks By Ian Adair
Click on this: Link