Tarbell's Mysterious Firecrackers

Tarbell'S mysterious firecrackers I designed this effect for use when I have children assisting me, although it may be performed with grownups assisting as well. Firecrackers are typical of Chinese effects and this one is something a little different. I know you will enjoy adding this mystic experiment to your repertoire of effects.

Three large firecrackers are shown. One is red, one yellow, and one green. A hat is borrowed and two children are asked to come up to assist you. Performer tells children that it is difficult to remember colors, especially more than two at a time. For this reason, he wants them to pay particular attention to see whether they can keep track of three colors. Magician drops each firecracker into the hat, naming the color of each. He then removes the red one, shows it, and wraps it in a piece of paper. He gives this to one of the children to hold.

This leaves the yellow and green firecrackers in the hat. Performer asks one of the children to select one of these two colors. Assume that he selects yellow. The wrapped firecracker is then taken out and shown to have turned to yellow and the red one is found back in the hat.