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MO

A collection of routines from Lee Earle’s

early lectures, performances, & publications
 Early
Earle
A collection of routines from Lee Earle’s
early lectures, performances, & publications
Copyright © 2002 Lee Earle

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
permission of SYZYGY Press

Printed and Bound in the United States of America

Typesetting by Macintosh
Layout by PageMaker 7.0
Portable Document File (.pdf) by Adobe Acrobat
 Table of Contents

Foreword and Introduction 4

Manila Miracle 5

Five manila coin envelopes hold four nice prizes for participants. After a totally free
choice, all four helpers get the prizes - lottery tickets - while the fifth, unchosen envelope
left for the Mentalist has a large denomination bill.

Corsage Clairvoyance 8

A woman from the audience thinks of a randomly selected word. The Mentalist reads
her mind to tell her the word. In thanks for her help, he presents her with a gift - a
corsage made with her favorite flower accompanied by a sealed greeting card bearing a
poem which includes both her actual name and her Zodiac sign.

Telephone Bill 13

An audience participant writes his phone number on a bill, folds and seals it in a coin
envelope and retains the envelope. He’s invited on stage and the Mentalist tells him not
only the serial number on the bill but the telephone number as well!

The Prettelus Principle 16

A series of routines using variations of easily modified UPS Overnight envelopes.

Three different ways of quickly gaffing these for predictions, divinations, etc. This was
originally a $35 manuscript and now includes photos and graphics you can print to use for
your own presentations.

Supermarket Suprise 40

In an imaginary trip to the grocery store, a participant selects any item and takes it to
a cash register to have it scanned for price. Mentalist opens large envelope and removes a
panel inside with that price inked in digits four inches high!
Foreword and Introduction
Each of the routines
you’re about to read have,
at one time, been parts of
my personal performing
repertoire. Two of the
items, The Pretellus
Principle and Supermarket
Surprise, were also
released as commercial
items a few years ago.
For one routine,
Prettelus Prime, some
graphic materials for your
use have been appended.
You will find a set of full-
page handwriting samples
for one routine and ten
pages of 8 x 10 photos and
‘blow-ups’ of newspaper
articles for another effect.
Just print them to use as
mentioned in the
instructions.
Supermarket Surprise also has full-page graphics to employ for
that routine as well.
In case you were curious about the cover illustration, it’s a hint
about the material inside - every routine in this publication uses, in
one form or another, envelopes!
If these routines are half as successful for you as they have been
for me, then I know you’ll be delighted.

Regards,

Lee Earle
Phoenix, June 2002
Manila Miracle

This is a great opener

which allows for a lot of by-
play with the audience,
establishes your bona fides as
an intuitive individual, and
packs a very strong punch.
Essentially, the performer
shows a fan of small, manila
coin envelopes each of which
bears a number in the series
one through five. He explains that four of the envelopes contain gifts intended for the
audience and in the best tradition of “Lets Make A Deal’s” Monte Hall, the fifth envelope
contains a ‘zonker.’ In fact, it contains something which the performer would truly rather
the audience not get.
The entertainer approaches four people among the spectators and gives each of them a
choice of the remaining envelopes in his hand. They are cautioned to keep the envelopes
closed until instructed. One by one the choices are made until the performer holds but one
envelope. He tells the new owners of the envelopes to open them and remove what is
found inside each, demonstrating with his own envelope.
All four participants find a lottery ticket within their envelopes. The performer has a
ticket in his envelope as well. Just when the audience begins to wonder what the big deal
about the zonker was all about, the performer explains, “I told you that one envelope
contained something which I really didn’t want anyone to have. And here it is...”
He approaches someone in the front row who is asked to stand and hold out his hand.
Dumping the contents into his hand, the entertainer asks him to describe what he sees. It
is a one hundred dollar bill! Indeed, that is something which the performer did not want
the audience to get.
The working of the effect is simplicity itself. All five envelopes contain lottery tickets.
None of the envelopes is sealed. The hundred dollar bill is placed
in the remaining envelope in the act of demonstrating how to
open the envelope and remove the contents. This is a very easy
move and looks absolutely innocent. The hardest part is dealing
with the guilt about the very simple move.
You must number the envelopes in VERY LARGE digits, as
large as possible so that the folks in the last row can see what is
going on. Stack the five envelopes one atop the other. Fold a
piece of currency in eighths (about the size of a postage stamp)
and place it beneath the flap of the top envelope. The large fold
of the bill should be toward the bottom of the envelope. This is
the side which will go into the envelope first. The large fold goes
in first because there is less possiblility of an edge catching
during the move.
 Remove the rubber band and place it aside. Drag the
folded bill down from behind the flap with your thumb
and spread the envelopes into a small fan. Comment to
the audience regarding the fact that four of them contain
a prize indended for the audience while the fifth contains
the zonker.
This may seem very to be very restrictive as far as
angles of view are concerned, but that is not the case. By
holding the fan of envelopes “close to the vest” you run
little risk of exposure. If you must, slip the rear envelope
between your thumb and the bill, concealing it further.
This is really unnecessary but some folks feel more
comfortable with this handling.
When you are down to one envelope and are ready to
do the work, pull the flap open and transfer the bill to the
flap-end thumb at the same time.

Slide the bill toward the end of the flap until it clears the opening of the envelope.
Slide the bill into the envelope with your thumb as the other hand shifts position to
slightly “bow” the envelope. By pressing down (toward the face of the envelope) the lottery
ticket inside remains pressed against the rear of the envelope.
 Now it is necessary to turn the seam side of the envelope toward the audience, pivoting
on the inserted thumb. As you rotate the envelope, it also turns from a horizontal position
to a vertical alignment. Because the envlope is bowed, the folded bill to drop to the
bottom. At the end of the rotation sequence, the pad of the inserted thumb will be directly
against the folded lottery ticket inside.
Draw the ticket out and display it for
the audience to see. Then walk forward
and ask someone close to the platform to
stand and to hold out his hand, palm up.
That’s when you dump the folded bill into
his awaiting hand. If you are using a
microphone, be sure to hold it so what he
describes can be heard by everyone

Presentation tips:

I developed this routine because I

became so tired of the typical Cherchez le
Bill performance in which the participant
ends up empty handed and feeling
somehow victimized. By ensuring that
each person receives something of
potential value, that ‘sting’ is removed.
In addition, a cute bit of business is enabled. At the beginning of the routine, I mention
that each envelope contains something which has the potential of being worth thousands
of dollars (true). At the end, when each person withdraws a ticket, I remind, “Yes, that
lottery ticket could, indeed, be worth thousands. And in return for my generosity, may I
rest assured that if you win a substantial prize you will share it with me?”
Of course everyone will nod in agreement, whereupon I add, “Actually, you have no
choice - I’ve already signed the back of each ticket so if you hit it big, I’m your best friend!”
This always gets a good laugh.
Corsage Clairvoyance

This is one of those lovely pieces which has a special appeal. The Mentalist finds it
intriguing because it uses a multiplicity of methods; those wishing to disect it with
Occam’s razor will find they are using a double-edged blade. The charming gift at the end
of the routine generates a warm, fuzzy feeling.
From the audience’s viewpoint, you not only pull a random word from your
participant’s mind, but also predict her birthsign, her name, and favorite flower (never the
common rose, however). The prediction of her sign, as well as her name, is written in ink
on a card sealed in an envelope. That envelope is attached to a gift bag which contains a
mini-corsage featuring her favorite flower.
The combination of methods leaves a trail which is impossible to backtrack.
Your first preparation is twelve gift cards. The gift cards and envelopes are free, at
your local florist shop. It would be nice if you were to buy the flowers at the same store.
For my lecture, I use silk flowers because they are eaiser to pack and travel with but for
performances, I use real ones. On each card is inked the following verse, inserting a
different one of the twelve signs of the Zodiac for each card:

The author said I’d surely meet

a Sagittarius, truly awesome;
a beauty known as _____________
who favors just one blossom.

Note that the verse has a blank area (indicated by the underline) at the end of the third
line for a person’s name. A name you will learn during your preshow schmoozing. If the
audience are at a social
function at which name tags
are worn, your task is
simple. Otherwise, you
must discretely inquire or
Side view
contrive to overhear the
information. Just prior to
Strip of
the performance, you take a matte board

few moments (using the

same type of pen with which Duct tape
which you wrote the verses)
to fill in the name on all
twelve cards, seal them into Matte board
envelopes, and arrange the panel

envelopes in your index. My

index is illustrated here. it
fits against the inside of my
top-opening aviator style
case or in the top of a
section of a briefcase
 After you learn your participant’s astrological sign, the proper card is easily located
and removed to be matched with her favorite flower. Although it seems beyond belief every
possible choice of flower is also indexed, as you will read later.
The way in which you learn her favorite flower and Zodiac sign is certain to delight
your sneaky heart because it’s done right under the collective noses of the audience.
First, as to the selection of the word; it is forced. You must make up a forcing book by
modifying a hardbacked novel. It must have a dust jacket in good condition.
Find, near the center of the book, an odd-numbered page (on your left as you look at
the open book) which has only short words and one long word. Let’s use page 121 as an
example. To prepare the book to force that page, trim about 1/8” from the edge of pages
122/123, 124/125, and (if the pages are particularly thin) 126/127. Using the Svengali, or
short page, principle, you can riffle the book from back to front and ask the participant to
say, “Stop.” You vary your riffling speed so as to time your arrival at the short pages to
match her response. You will feel the heavier sensation of the short pages flipping over as
a blockand that’s where you break the book for her to read.
Ask her to look at the top line of the page, find the longest word, and remember it.
Once she has acknowledge the has the word in mind, close the book and hand it to her.
During the entire riffling process, you avert your gaze, turning your head away to avoid
any suspicion that you glimpsed at any words.
Immediately you peel the top sheet from a Post-It note pad and stick it to the front
cover of the book she is holding. Hand her a fine-tip ballpoint pen and ask her to write
that word down, as well as any other personal information which comes to mind.
Although the audience will assume you’re making a weak joke about the possibility of
getting her phone number or something similar, your participant will interpret the
comment differently. That’s because the audience is unaware that the Post-It note is
prepared as a questionairre, asking for not only the selected word but also the lady’s
Zodiac sign (or birthday and month) and a favored flower.
Remember I said “every possible choice of flower is indexed?” We only give her four or
five possible choices. The text of the note is reproduced below.

Please print your word:

Your Birthday or Zodiac Sign

1/20-2/18 Aquarius 7/23-8/22 Leo
2/19-3/20 Pieces 8/23-9/22 Virgo
3/21-4/19 Aires 9/23-10/22 Libra
4/20-5/20 Taurus 10/23-11/22 Scorpio
5/21-6/20 Gemini 11/23-12/21 Saggittarius
6/21-7/22 Cancer 12/22-7/19 Capricorn

Circle the flower you favor:

Iris Tulip Daisy Daffodil
 Please be aware that you should change the selection of flowers for her to check off as
the seasonal choice of blossoms varies. Never, however, use a rose. The audience will
assume it is a common choice and will not credit you with any particular foresight. It also
helps to select flowers which are easily spelled and pronounced. I stick to daisy, daffodil,
lily, lilac, daisy, etc.
You can handwrite the questionairre or you can attach the Post-It note to a sheet of
paper and run it through a photocopy machine or your computer printer. In either event,
the completed form is replaced atop the pad of Post-It notes, ready to be torn off and stuck
to the cover of the book.
The book itself has been modified alà Al Koran to become an impression device. The
accompanying illustration tells the story.

A panel is cut out of the cover of the book, just about the same size as the Post-It note
you will use later. The cut out section is glued to the first page of the book, usually a
heavyweight stock and often of a decorative color. If the cut on the side away from the
binding is not at 90 degrees but at a slight angle (see illustration detail), when the cover of
the book is opened, the panel remains locked in place. On the back of that heavyweight
page to which the cut out panel is glued, write an “inscription from the author”, something
to the effect of:

“To Lee Earle, for whom I predict an encounter with a beauty

whose name suggests a fragrant flower.”

Of course, you’ll insert your name in place of mine. Write the same inscription on the
inside of the hard cover panel, too. That’s the text you’ll read as you’re also sneak peeking
at the copy of your participant’s writing.
To keep the dust jacket in place, run a strip of sticky-on-both-sides tape down the right
edge of the cover and stick the dust jacket in position, wrapping the jacket around the
back cover and tucking it in as usual.
When it comes time for you to open the panel to view the carbon copy (as you pretend
to read aloud the inscription), a little thumb pressure in the center of the cover releases
the panel. Place a blank Post-It on the panel, with the flower choices written in the same
position as they are on the Post-It you’ll later stick to the cover of the book. When you
open the book, look for the circled flower and read the Zodiac sign or birthdate. If you’re
not immediately conversant with which sign goes with which date, include the date
equivalents on the Post-It note, in the same place as on your participant’s copy, in case she
chooses to circle the proper sign instead of writing it.
Finally, place a Post-It note on the cover over
the secret panel, perfectly aligned with the
one beneath the carbon paper. Look
near any of the corners of the
note for a spot on the dust cover
you can easily recognize.
During your routine, use this
“landmark” to help you
accurately but casually align
the Post-It over the carbon paper
and panel beneath.
The beautiful throw-off in this routine is
that you divine the selected word (the only thing
the audience thinks was written down) before the book
even leaves the participant’s hands. During the applause,
take the book and begin to escort your helper from the stage. At
the edge of the stage or platform you stop and mention that something has just come to
mind. Open the book (to the secret panel) and read the inscription (learning the flower
and the Zodiac sign or date). Close the book for a moment, re-engaging the flap with the
hard cover, and reopen the book to the inscription. Hand the open book to your helper and
ask if she has any idea what it means. She won’t of course.
Walk back to where your case is, reach inside and remove the appropriate envelope
from the index and, in a continuing movement, drop it into the gift bag containing the
matching flower. Lift the gift bag containing the flower and card into view and ask the
lady her name, birthsign, and which flower she favors.
 Reach into the bag, remove the envelope containing the gift card, and hand it to your
participant to open and read aloud. Before she begins, ask, “By the way, Diana (or
whatever her name is - you state it aloud to reinforce it with your audience) what’s your
sign of the Zodiac?” If she gives a date, just say, “Let’s see, that would make you a...” and
pause long enough for someone in your audience to give you the answer. Then she is cued
to read the card aloud. There will be a nice reaction to both her sign and her name.
Ask, indicating with your glance the Post-It note she still holds, “And what flower do
you favor?” The glance and the odd, but still correct, grammar cues her to recall which
flower she indicated on the Post-It. The audience will interpret that you’re asking her for
her favorite flower. When she replies, pull the blossom from the gift bag, present it to her
with a courtly bow or kiss on the hand, and take your applause as you escort her from the
platform.
Telephone Bill

Pre-show work is that staple of

Mentalism in which a member of
the audience is approached in
advance of the performance and a
situation is set up which will
culminate in an on-stage miracle.
Pre-show work has the advantage
of maximizing impact and
minimizing risk. After all, if you mess up your advance work with one helper, you can
simply consider the failure as a dress rehearsal and select a second person with whom to
do your setup.
At a recent banquet date at an exclusive Arizona resort, the audience was a medical
practice group from Cincinnatti. I approached one of the doctors during the cocktail hour
prior to the banquet and asked if he could give me a dollar bill for four quarters. As he
reached into his wallet to extract the currency, I withdrew from my pocket a packet of
manila coin envelopes. Before he could hand me the dollar bill, I gave him a felt tip pen
and asked him to write across Washington’s forehead any telephone number from his
memory.
After folding the bill a couple of times with the phone number on the inside, he inserted
the bill into one of the small envelopes and sealed the flap. I wrote my initials on the flap
and he did likewise. He was instructed to retain the envelope until I asked for it while
onstage.
In mid-performance, I asked him to bring the envelope to the stage and confirmed with
him the fact that the bill was his and that he wrote a telephone number on it for positive
identification. I further had him identify the initials on the sealed envelope as his. When I
tore open the envelope, he took the still-folded bill and opened it to verify its identity.
He was asked to focus his attention on the bill’s serial number which, letter by number,
I pulled from his mind. As an afterthought, I even managed to extract the seven digit
telephone number as well. For a finish, he dialed (in his imagination) that number and
pictured the person who would pick up the telephone. The killer conclusion came when I
not only told him the name of the person who answers the phone, but also supplied a
description of her as well!
The number, by the way, was that of his office practice, in Cincinnatti! When he wrote
it on the bill, it was about 7:30 p.m., Arizona time, which made it 9:30 p.m., Ohio time.
Well after office hours.
The M.O. (Modus Operandi) is suprisingly simple. Prepare a stack of manila coin
envelopes by sealing a folded dollar bill in one of them and placing your initials on the
flap. Put this envelope on the bottom of the stack, flap side down. When you approach the
participant pre-show hand him, from the top of the stack, an envelope in which to seal his
bill. Instruct him to fold the bill (until it is the size of the one in your switch envelope).
Once his envelope is sealed, take it from him and place it atop the stack in your hand and
write your initials on the flap, duplicating the writing on the bottom switch envelope.
 Ask him for the time. As he looks at his watch, you rotate your hand in order to look at
your watch as well, giving the stack of envelopes a half-turn. When you return your hand
to its normal position, an additional half-turn brings the switch envelope to the top. The
simple turnover has been masked in the greater movement of wristwatch access. Write the
time next to your initials.
Hand the stack to him (Horrors! Might he find the duplicate on the bottom? Only if
your attitude has generated suspicion on his part. Be cool.) and have him initial the
envelope as well. Take back your pen and the stack and have him retain “his” envelope.
Once you are safely away with the envelope containing his bill, open it, go to a
telephone, and dial the telephone number. In this example, I had to look up the area code
for Cincinnatti first. This is where you play Jim Rockford, private eye. When the person on
the other end of the line answers, identify yourself as a participant in the convention (or
whatever else will gain the trust and confidance of the other party) and get whatever
information you can. I just engage in small talk after the person tells me my party isn’t
there: “Oh, that’s right. He’s attending some function in Arizona. Never mind. By the
way, does he golf? I have a couple of gift packs of Top Flite golf balls I’d like to drop by...”
“No, he doesn’t golf, but he loves tennis,” might be the reply. Or, “That would be a
perfect gift.”
“Really,” you continue pumping, “does he have a ‘dream course’ he’s talked about
playing one day?” Small talk. You
can learn a lot in simple conversation.
I can’t tell you exactly how to
proceed here, because each situation
is different. Use your head and think
on your feet. It’s what Mentalists are
known for.
In this case his office answering
service came on the line. I explained
that I was entertaining the
convention and asked the names of
the people at the doctor’s office who
would answer the phone during
business hours. The bonus info came
after the answering service operator
said she was a friend of the
receptionist in the doctor’s office.
That’s when I got the physical
description.
During the show his stolen bill,
refolded and finger palmed, is
brought behind the envelope. The
envelope is torn open right across the
middle, taking the folded bill inside
with the torn off half. The bill behind
the half envelope stuck up in view (as
if it were peeking out of the torn open
envelope) to be taken by the helper as if it came from the envelope. It appears that I never
touch the bill.
You may ask why use a bill in the switch envelope at all? There are some times and
conditions when it may be advisable to do a billet switch with the bill after it has been
removed from the envelope. On at least one occasion, a helpful participant on his way to
the platform tore the envelope open and removed the bill! Plus, there’s always the
possibility that you won’t have time to do the routine and you don’t want to have stolen the
guy’s dollar. In the couple of cases where I didn’t get around to it, I made some mention
during my program of using ‘invisible ink’ so he won’t be too surprised when he opens the
bill later and there’s nothing written on it.
Semper Paratus.

Performance tip:

If you have immediate internet access (my laptop Macintosh is always with me and
most hotels which cater to business trade have speedy hookups) you can use any of the
reverse phone number lookup services to get an address and then move on to
Mapquest.com to get a description of his neighborhood (proximity to golf courses, parks,
lakes, etc.).
The Prettelus Principle

For those who are overwhelmed

with curiosity concerning the title,
PRETTELUS is an anagram for “UPS
Letter.” The idea of using the UPS
overnight envelope is a very practical
idea. The envelope is a common item
unlikely to arouse suspicion; it lends
an air of urgency (only important
papers receive this rather expensive
treatment); and the envelopes are
free (just stop by your local UPS
facility).
The Prettelus principle is an
updated collection of three uniquely
different implementations of a tried
and true chestnut that predates
Annemann. Of late, Daryl Bem, Steve Shaw, Ted Lesley and others have developed their
own versions. The Prettelus Principle takes up where they left off, providing the Mentalist
with a utility device of limitless application.

The Prettelus Effect

Imagine being able to predict the future with 100% accuracy. Imagine being able to
adjust the past to yield desirable results in the present. That and more is possible using
the Prettelus Principle. This section describes three utility envelopes which provide
almost unlimited versatility for the Mentalist. By using a sturdy, cardboard UPS Letter
envelope, larger and bulkier items can be introduced, withheld, or exchanged. Taking the
standard double envelope to new dimensions, the Prettelus envelopes are simple to use,
require no justification or explanation, and are virtually unsuspect.

Prettelus Prime

This is the most versatile of the three variants I have designed. It is used when you
want to hold out or switch a small item within a group of others. Obviously, the performer
is limited to thin, lightweight, and flexible objects to use in conjunction with the envelopes.
Photos, postcards, poster board bearing designs, alphabet cards, letters, greeting cards,
and predictions sealed within standard envelopes all work well. The inherent stiffness of
the envelope serves to conceal the double panel much better than a more flexible manila or
paper envelope might.
Prettelus Prime has one minor drawback: You can’t let anyone else handle the envelope
until it is sealed. This is usually not a problem in most situations, since the UPS Letter
envelope does not arouse suspicion. This inconvenience is more than made up by the fact
that it is extremely simple to construct and very easy to use. It also has the advantage of
allowing you to wait until the last minute to load the contents to be switched in.
All you need are two UPS Letter envelopes, scissors, and glue.
Actually, I prefer an Exacto knife, a metal straight edge, and Scotch Super 77 spray
adhesive however in a pinch, I’ve made Prettelus Prime using a sharp pocket knife and
sticky-on-both-sides tape.
Trim about 1/16" from the bottom and both sides of the UPS Letter envelope, yielding
two panels, the former front and back of the envelope. We’ll use the front panel, the one
with the flap. On the red & white side, mark a horizontal line exactly 8 1/2" up from the
bottom. At each edge, draw a diagonal line from the point where the flap fold meets the
edge to a point on the horizontal line about 7/8" in from the edge. Cut along the line you
have drawn.
Cut the back panel of a second UPS Letter envelope from side to side, exactly 8" up
from the bottom. The cut should extend from a point about 7/8" in from the edge of the
envelope, just inside the sealed, side flaps of the envelope. Extend the cut toward the
mouth of the envelope, along the edge of the sealed side flaps, and discard the piece you
just cut out. The removal of this piece makes it possible for the sealing strip on the flap to
adhere to both the envelope back and the divider panel.
Slide the divider panel in place with the red & white side facing the rear. Now you see
why you cannot allow anyone else to place items in the envelope, because they will
7/8" discover the dividing panel. After the envelope is sealed, any item placed in the
pocket between the divider and the address panel of the envelope will remain
sealed in a secret
compartment when the
envelope is torn open
using the rip cord.

TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER
SHOW
TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE,
REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER
TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER COMPARTMENT
TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMO

HIDE
COMPARTMENT

8 1/2"

1. Trim the front panel from a UPS NEXT DAY AIR LETTER
ENVELOPE and cut it as shown by the dotted line.

2. Trim a strip from a second envelope as shown by the dotted lines.

Worldwide
Olympic Partner
3. Slide the panel into the second envelope. The side bearing the
color printing faces the 'hide' compartment. Load the item to be 8"
switched in into the 'show' compartment.

To make the switch, put the item to switch out in the 'hide'
compartment, pull the protective strip and fold the flap to seal the
envelope. Half of the adhesive strip overlaps the envelope and sticks
to the divider panel. When the ripcord tabs are pulled, access is
allowed into the 'show' compartment only.
Whatever was previously loaded in the other pocket will apparently be the only item in the
envelope. Now I’ll tell you how to put this delightful device to use.

The Evil Hand

Obtain five samples of handwriting. No signatures, just body text. Each sample should
be markedly different from the others, and none of them should appear obviously
feminine. Several full-page samples of famous handwriting have been included in this
publication for you to use. Print two copies of each sample and affix them to 8 1/2" x 11"
panels of thin poster board. If you mount
each pair of samples on a different
color of poster board, it will make
your work simpler later.
Divide the cards into
two duplicate five-card
sets. Using a large black
felt marker print the name
“Charles Manson” on the
back of each card in one set.
(You can use the names of
other notorious persons as you
wish - ie Jeffrey Dahmer, Tim
McVeigh etc.) One of these cards goes in the ‘show’ compartment of each of five Prettelus
Prime envelopes. Place the loaded envelopes in a known order (I use a rainbow order –
red, yellow, green, blue, purple – of the poster panel colors) in your briefcase. This is sort of
an envelope index.
Use the same large black felt marker to write the name of a different famous
personality on the back of each of the second set of sample cards. Use names such
as John Denver, Walter Cronkite, Isaac Asimov, Harry
Anderson, etc. Place this set endways into the first of
the five Pretellus envelopes.
In performance, pull the envelope containing your
five handwriting panels from your briefcase.
Remove the panels from within and replace the TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER
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envelope in your briefcase. Display the five TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMOVE LINER TO EXPOSE ADHESIVE, REMO

sample cards to your audience and remark that

one of the people whose handwriting is shown
doesn’t belong with the others. Don’t allow the
audience to see the names on the backs of the
panels.
Ask the audience to indicate, through their
applause, which sample their intuition tells
them is a stranger among the others. When the
choice has been made, move that panel to the
front of the stack and remark to your audience
that you will save the revelation for later.
Reach into your briefcase and remove the indexed envelope which contains the “Charles
Manson” version of the chosen panel (just look for the one containing the same color
panel).
Turn the stack of panels around so that the selected panel is facing away from the
audience. This automatically flashes the back of the bottom panel (and the name written
thereon) as they go inside. Slightly fan the panels so you can easily direct the chosen panel
(the one nearest you) into the ‘hide’ compartment and the others into the ‘show’ pocket.
Pull the protective strip and seal the envelope. Hand it to someone in your audience to
hold. In many cases, I hand the unsealed envelope to the helper and walk away. Then,
apparently thinking better of it, I return, pull the strip and seal the envelope, mumbling
something about not wanting to tempt curiosity. Then it’s handed back.
Later in your performance remind your audience that you began with a demonstration
of their intuitive abilities. Ask the person holding the envelope to zip the envelope open
and hand you the contents. Show each of the four non-selected panels and the name
written on the back of each. Then turn the Charles Manson card around and compliment
the audience on their intuitive skills for correctly identifying the ‘ringer.’ Following the
applause, drop the five panels into the open Prettelus Prime envelope and replace the
whole works in your briefcase. This works quite well as a lead in to a Q & A presentation
based on handwriting analysis, known as graphology. (See ‘SuperScript’ - an earlier E-
book which provides a perfect companion Question & Answer routine.)
Instead of handwriting, you can use doodles, mystic symbols, etc. If you are working for
an association (bankers, for example) then write occupations on the backs of the panels.
Things like “stock broker”, “insurance executive”, “investment counselor”, etc. Where you
would have written “Charles Manson” you instead write “career criminal” or “IRS agent”.
For a doctors’ group, you might write “x-ray technician”, “pharmacist”, “registered nurse”,
etc., with “chiropractor” as the ringer. You may see some other humorous applications
yourself. Five baby photos can be shown as early pictures of male movie stars except for
the one chosen by the audience - a female as a grown-up. Or four of the become famous
politicians or philanthropists while the fifth becomes Adolph Hitler or Ted Kaczynski (the
postal Unibomber).

Bascom’s Dark Memory

Bascom Jones once did a routine which was a little dark but very powerful using a
different style of switch envelopes. It’s perfect for Pretellus Prime. He showed five grainy,
enlarged black and white photos “from his family photo album” and asked the audience to
determine which of the scenes had something special about its ‘aura’. At the end, he would
explain that one had a very emotional significance - as a child his little brother died in one
of those places. Then all five were turned around to show notations on the backs - “My
backyard swing set”, “Our swimming pool”, “The family car”, “My elementary school”, and
“Our favorite hiking trail”. Of course one of them will have instead an enlarged photocopy
of a newspaper headline attached: “Playground Accident Kills Child” or “Toddler Drowns
in Family Pool” or “Car Crash Kills Infant” or “School Arson Kills Student” or “Fatal Bear
Attack on Boy Scouts”. Just find five appropriate headlines and then make snapshots to
match the major details. Prepare them as explained for the handwriting samples above.
If you have room and cover in your briefcase, you can index the panels and use only one
Prettelus Prime envelope. Select the proper panel, slide it into the front pocket, and bring
the envelope into view.

Headline Prediction Humor

A dummy prediction is typed on your letterhead and enclosed in a standard

correspondence envelope. Write any four-digit number in the corner. Seal it within a 5" x
7" manila envelope which is addressed and mailed to your showtime participant. Arrange
to meet him before the show and have him open the manila envelope and remove the
correspondence envelope.
Your justification is that you mail so many of these (and by deduction, are an
entertainer much in demand) that you privately identify each one with a serial number on
the inner envelope. You want to ensure that you mailed the proper envelope. Ask to see the
number and “verify” it by consulting a little notebook you pull from your pocket. Hand
another 5" x 7" manila envelope to your helper to reseal the prediction.
Because this is a “first class” presentation, the manila envelope is sealed in an 8 1/
2" x 11" catalog envelope, the kind with green diamonds on the edges denoting first class
mail. After that is done (and not wanting to show favoritism in selecting a carrier), bring
out the Prettelus Prime envelope and seal the catalog envelope in the rear compartment. A
final, larger envelope (from Federal Express, for example) holds the whole works.
Obviously the Prettelus Prime envelope contains its own nesting set of envelopes which
have the prediction you intend to reveal. Remember to place the same serial number on
the correspondence envelope as on the one you mailed.
When it’s time to open and reveal the prediction on stage, the ridiculous lengths to
which you’ve gone to enclose the final paper is certain to get a good reaction. By the time
you get to the final prediction, there is so much rubbish in the form of discarded envelopes
that none will receive any attention. Recognize this gambit? It’s the Bhudda Papers
principle updated.
The key to making this presentation work is to approach it with an attitude of light
humor. The audience will find themselves enjoying the clearly nonsensical overprotection
of the sealed envelope.
Prettelus Secundus

This version is intended for use as a prediction switch only because, due to the fact that
it can be handled by your participants, the switch item is already sealed inside. It is
somewhat more tedious to assemble but it gives you the comfort of knowing that its gaff is
secure. It should be noted that this variant was inspired by an earlier development by Dr.
Daryl Bem which used an end-opening Jiffy Padded Mailer. (See “Lee Earle’s 1-2-3
Trilogy”, an earlier E-Book.)
As before, Prettelus Secundus is made from two UPS Letter envelopes. Trim 1/16" from
the sides and bottom to produce a nice front panel which fits nicely within another UPS
Letter envelope. Because the panel is brown-with-UPS-logos on one side and red & white
on the other, we have a problem: the front pocket will appear very suspicious when
someone zips open the envelope and retrieves the switch item inside. One inside wall will
be brown with logos, the other will be red & white!
You can cut, from a third UPS Letter envelope, the front panel only (no flap) and attach
it with spray adhesive to the red & white face of the panel so you get brown-with-UPS-logo
on both sides. This will make the envelope a bit thicker than usual but should not cause
much of a problem.
Of course, if you are a recovering finger flinger with playing cards, a second method
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cardboard from which the

envelopes are
manufactured can be
split using the same
technique as when
peeling playing

Switch item
goes in here

1. Trim the front panel from a UPS NEXT DAY AIR LETTER
ENVELOPE and remove the rip cord. Spray paint red & white face of
panel brown (or laminate with a second UPS liner face).

2. Relocate the envelope's rip cord from the flap to the fold line
of the envelope.

3. Insert the panel into the envelope and fold the flap down. Do not
seal the flap, just fold it. Item to be switched in later is inserted
behind the flap.

4. Remove the protective paper from the adhesive strip, apply glue to
the real envelope flap and fold it over onto the panel's flap. Press in
place until the glue is set. Lift the double lap and trim any
misalignment around the tabs and edges.
cards to make double facers, etc. Lay the panel to be split, brown side down so it stays flat,
and peel the red & white layer up and away. There is somewhat of a knack to doing this
and you may try three or four until you get the hang of it. Thus if you are either purist or
masochistic, you can peel the brown lining from one panel and spray mount it to the panel
you intend to insert in Prettelus Secundus. Alignment is tricky, but no more difficult than
with playing cards. Or just cut a panel from a brown grocery bag to use. Just as long as
you cover the red & white.
Once the panel is prepared to your satisfaction, remove the rip cord from the panel.
The main envelope itself must also be gaffed. Using the point of your Exacto knife, lift
the rip cord from the back of the white tab and pull it (gently) away from the cardboard
until it is only attached to the red tab. Make a shallow cut (not completely through the
cardboard) from the spot where the rip cord is attached behind the red tab to the fold line
of the flap. This cut will ensure that the cardboard flap is ripped open cleanly later. Apply
a thin coat of white glue to the entire length of rip cord which is not attached to the red
tab and lay the glued cord along the cut and then along the fold line of the flap. This step
is extremely important. The rip cord must be securely glued in place and allowed to dry. If
you have a problem with the fibrous rip cord not coming cleanly off the flap, I have a
second solution for you: Use unwaxed dental floss. Just glue it down as previously
described. Make sure it is firmly glued to the rear of the red tab.
Slide the dividing panel into the envelope and crease its flap down as if it were being
sealed. Insert your showtime prediction, the one you want to be accessed when the
Prettelus Secundus envelope is ripped open, into the ‘show’ pocket. Pull the protective
paper from the adhesive strip on the envelope flap. Apply a coat of glue to the inside of the
flap of the envelope (again, I prefer spray adhesive when I can get it) and then fold the
envelope flap closed to seal it to the back of the panel flap. There will be some small
misalignment which can be trimmed away after the glue is set. When you are at it, cut the
white tab(s) completely flush with the edge of the double thick flap. This ensures that the
envelope will be opened using the red tab.
When the red tab is pulled, the rip cord cuts a diagonal path up to the fold line and
then across the top of the envelope, neatly opening Prettelus Secundus to the pocket
containing your prediction.
This envelope lends itself perfectly to pre-show work. Send your dummy prediction
several days ahead, by UPS Letter of course, and ask that the person receiving it meet you
backstage for a walk-through of what will be done onstage. Because most people are
apprehensive about working in front of an audience, this suggestion will be met with no
suspicion and some relief. Tell your participant what you expect of him and when to open
the envelope. Have him rip open his envelope to practice, and then offer your Prettelus
Secundus to reseal the prediction for showtime. Remind him that you made no attempt to
touch the prediction envelope and he should remember to tell the audience that you never
got within handshake distance once he received the UPS Letter.
Prettelus Tertius

This is the variation to employ when you are predicting an either/or outcome such as a
two party election, a sports contest, a baby’s sex, etc. The sealed prediction within the UPS
Letter envelope can be safely shipped ahead. When the time comes to reveal your
prediction, depending upon which tab (red or white) you pull, a different pocket is accessed
in the envelope! This one is diabolic.
To prepare, lay a UPS Letter envelope out flat and draw a line across the flap which is
aligned with the top edge of each pull tab. Draw a second line level with the bottom edge of
each pull tab. Using your Exacto knife, lightly cut along each of the lines, but not deeply
enough to go through the cardboard - just score it slightly.
Pull the fiber rip cord completely free of the envelope. Using unwaxed dental floss, coat
a length of it with glue, attach it to the white tab and angle it upwards to run along the
upper line you drew. A second dental floss rip cord is coated with glue, attached to the red
tab and angled down onto the line drawn between the bottom of the tabs.
Cut two more UPS Letter envelopes along both edges and the bottom to get a pair of
panels 9 1/8" high. Glue them back to back (or split and glue as in Prettelus Secundus) to
get a single panel which has UPS
logos on brown paper on both
sides. Front pocket Rear pocket
opened by opened by
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1. Relocate the rip cord to align with the bottom edge of the pull tab.
Glue a second rip cord (dental floss) in a similar position aligned
with top edge of pull tab.

2. Make a double-sided panel from two other UPS Letter envelopes

and insert it inside the envelope. Its top edge should be about 3/8"
down from the fold.

3. Insert both two-way predictions into their respective compartments.

One tab opens the rear compartment, other tab opens the front side.

4. Apply a strip of glue between the two rip cords, remove the paper
strip protecting the adhesive, and fold the flap closed. Press flat with
weights until dry.
 Slip the double panel into the envelope and place your predictions on either side of the
divider. Make a note as to which one is which.
Run a strip of glue between the rip cords across the width of the flap. Make sure the
glue is as close to (without touching) the rip cords as you can manage. A hot glue gun is
ideal for this purpose, laying down a uniform bead of glue which sets quickly. These are
available at hardware and hobby stores for under $10.00. Pull the protective paper from
the adhesive strip and fold the flap closed. Press the flap flat with a couple of books for
weight and allow the glue to dry.
You are now ready to send the Prettelus Tertius envelope to your onstage participant.
If you have a good background in Mentalism, this application may bring to mind the
Annemann envelope published in “Practical Mental Effects.” This is a correspondence size
envelope which has three compartments, each of which is accessed by cutting a different
end or side of the envelope. You can use one of these in either side of Prettelus Tertius to
end up with a choice from among six possibilities.
You now have in your hands and mind a device of almost limitless potential. If you
develop any new ideas, uses, applications, etc. for The Prettelus Principle, drop a line or
ring me up for a chat. I’d be delighted to hear how these concepts are being put to use by
others and will be happy to pass along the latest tips.
Supermarket Surprise
The performer exhibits a large
envelope which contains a
prediction of an imaginary
shopping trip. A participant is
asked to take that imaginary tour
through a supermarket, choosing
the store, the aisle, the product,
and the price of that product. The
performer recaps all the decisions
made, all from the imagination of
the participant and all absolutely
random.
When the performer removes
the contents of the envelope he reveals the product prediction - designated in UPC barcode
(obviously a gag, and a “groaner” at that!). But when the barcode card is turned over, the
EXACT PRICE freely chosen by the spectator is seen inked in large 4" numbers!
The UPC barcode is one of thousands of similar codes found on products today. (If you
want some fun, go to a grocery store and ask them to scan it; you’ll be delighted with the
computer’s revelation!) The barcode evokes a laugh when revealed but allows you the
opportunity to do the dirty work on the price prediction side. You don’t write the price, you
erase it with your thumbs!
From your local office supply store, obtain an 8 1/2 x 11 inch dry erase panel. This has
a specially coated white surface and comes with a dry erase pen - one which writes like an
ordinary marker but whose ink can be wiped cleanly off of the white surface. The exact
size of the panel isn’t important, but the thinner the panel the better. You may also be
able to find a self-adhesive dry erase surface which can be attached to a foamcore panel or
section of poster board.
Print the UPC barcode artwork and mount it on the non-dry erase side of your panel.
Print the page with the three ‘8’s onto card or cover stock and cut along the dotted lines to
make a stencil. Place the stencil over the center of the dry erase surface and trace all the
shapes, filling in to make solid number segments.
As the audience is reacting to the gag, your thumbs secretly rub off the unused
segments of the three digits so they will match the price of the imaginary item. If your
performing conditions permit, you can cut a large opening in the back of the envelope to
make it possible to erase segments before the card is withdrawn.
The presentation goes something like this...
Speaking to a participant in your audience, you say “You are going on an imaginary
trip - to the supermarket. Which store would that be?”
The particpant replies, “Ralph’s.” (Or Piggly Wiggly, or Fry’s or Kroger, etc.)
Continuing, the performer instructs, “Visualize yourself entering the front door of the
market. Proceed until you find an aisle that appears interesting. Have you found one yet?
Which aisle is it?”
“Aisle number four,” answers the helper.
“Walk down that imaginary aisle,” continues the Mentalist, “and see in your mind’s eye
the thousands of items on display. Stop anywhere along that aisle you like. Reach out
your hand and remove a product from that imaginary shelf. Which item did you take?”
The participant replies, “Maxwell House Coffee.”
“It’s time to see yourself taking it to the checkout line,” reminds the performer, ‘Go the
the ‘Ten items or less’ register to save some time. Imagine the store clerk passing your
purchase over the laser scanner in the cash register counter. Now look at the digital
display on the register. What price is shown?”
“Two dollars and fifty-nine cents,” informs your helper.
With a bit of an exaggerated, prideful manner, the performer continues, “Do you think
it is possible for me to have known in advance the product, much less the price you would
imagine paying for that item? I call your attention to this envelope which has been in your
view all this time. On a card in this package I have predicted, in large and easy to read
notation, that very same product.”
He withdraws the card with the UPC symbol facing the audience and boasts, “There
you have it, Maxwell House Coffee at $2.59.” At the same time, he begins thumbing the
unused segments from the price display on the back of the card.
“Does anyone have a large laser scanner?”, asks the Mentalist. Then he ‘notices’ the
card and rotates it but still keeping the UPC side toward the audience, saying, “Excuse
me, it’s upside down! (Turning the card provides cover to erase any additional segments
from the price notation.) Continuing, the performer says, “Well, you’ll have to take my
word on the product code, but what was that price again? $2.59?”
The card is turned around to show the correct price.
Avoid any scraping contact between the erasable surface and the interior of the
envelope; some of the ink may be inadvertently removed when the card is withdrawn from
the envelope. Never clean the dry-erase surface with anything other than a soft cloth or
your fingers. If the ink is difficult to remove after being on the surface for several hours,
just scribble some fresh ink on the surface and then wipe. The solvent in the fresh ink will
allow you to easily remove the older ink.
The ink is most easily erased if it is fresh, no more than an hour or two on the surface.
Below is an illustration of the all ten digits and how they all may be formed from the
same set of segments.