Peacock Phantasy (Peacock Fantasy) by Jack Hughes, Eric Lewis

This wonderful and colorful effect was invented by Eric Lewis as Peacock Fantasy and was inspired by an effect written by Larsen and Wright called “How the Finch Got Her Colors” in a 1928 booklet called the L.W. Mysteries for Children.  You can read full details of the original Lewis version in his book A Continuation of Miracles (pg. 125).  Eric Lewis sold the rights to Jack Hughes a few years later and c. 1952 Jack released Peacock Phantasy which is shown here.  It is described in World of Magic Vol. 2 (pg. 134).

It is a very intriguing effect and perfect for younger children with an interesting story and lots of color and action on stage.

Effect: The colorful apparatus of a large Bird without tail feathers standing in front of a Silver Spider’s Web is seen with a rack in front. In the rack are four paddles, each bearing a picture of a small Grey Bird.

To the accompaniment of a lovely CHILDREN’S Story, a brightly colored ribbon is wrapped around each paddle which is then put in the rack. When it is removed and unwrapped the Bird is seen to have assumed the color of the ribbon in which it was wrapped.

The large Bird is covered with a foulard, which when removed reveals a surprising and colorful finale. In place of the large Bird there is a PEACOCK IN ALL IT’S GLORIOUS COLORS.

The ideal children’s effect.

Patter: A long time ago in the beginning of things, the world was not such a colorful place as it now is. Among other things, all the birds were a drab gray, even the great King bird.

One day the great King bird called all the others to a meeting. “Everything is becoming colored,” he said. “The sky is turning blue, the earth is being covered with green, and in the sky is a rainbow of many colors. It is time the birds received their colors. “So, he took some red from the rainbow and used it to color many birds, the cardinals, some parrots, the robins, and others.

Then he took some yellow from the rainbow and gave it to other birds, and among these are the canaries. The performer repeats the preceding moves with the yellow ribbon and another paddle.

The story is repeated with the two remaining ribbons and paddles. The birds were very happy with their bright new plumage. But they were also sad because the King had used all the colors, and none remained for himself.

So, some of the red birds gave some of their color to the King. So did some of the yellow, the green and the blue. So today while many birds are colored, some are still gray. During this patter the performer picks up the paddles one by one, shows them colored both sides, and then shows that one side has suddenly reverted to gray.

As the birds lost their colors, they flapped their wings to make a great wind which blew the colors on to the King. So, the King became the most colorful of all. And that is how the peacock got its colors.

Found something wrong? Help us improve things by clicking here!