Maybe this should be in GQ, but I don’t think so.
We’ve all seen this done or referred to in movies (Bill Murray spoofed it at the fancy hotel in Ghostbusters), but I’ve never seen anyone actually do it. Is it possible? If it’s a magic trick, how is it done? Who was the first person or magician to actually do it? What other movies or TV shows can you recall which showed it done, and under what circumstances?
I believe it’s scientifically possible, provided:
I’ve done it. It’s not hard. It’s the sort of thing where you have to just do it–you can’t second-guess yourself and you can’t just half-ass it. Pull very quickly. I don’t remember if you’re supposed to pull straight out or down, but it shouldn’t be hard to test it out a few times.
Yeah, the things have to be very bottom heavy, so they’re less inclined to tip, and the tablecloth has to be absolutely smooth with no hems around the edges - the hemmed edges catch things at the last second. I’ve done it with teacups, candlesticks (low heavy ones) and a scarf - I haven’t worked my way up to a full table setting.
tips:
-Remove the hem from the trailing edge of the table cloth. Optional, but don’t even try it if there is a bulky hem.
-Start with as much slack as possible, and get your arms and body moving fast before the slack comes out.
-Place your body so that it is out of the way as you pull: Stand slightly sideways to the table (not facing it directly) Use the hand farthest from the table edge to grab the cloth near the hip that is closest to the table. Reach away from your body with the hand nearest the table. This soemwhat equalizes the speed that you pull two points as you rotate your body.
-Space your two hands just a little wider than the most widely spaced table furnishings. Keep the hem beween your hands stretched tightly.
-Step away from the table and rotate your body as you pull so that you pull fast and far. Start the step/turn before you start the pull. (diferent motion, but consider a baseball pitcher’s windup)
-Practice with cheap dishes.
Oh, I forgot:
Pull dead level or slightly downward. Make damn sure you don’t pull upward.
Quick and dirty version:
Place a coin atop a card over the mouth of a glass.
Flick the card away using your index or middle finger (You know – place the finger against the thumb, and “flick” it)
If you’ve done it right, the card flies off and the coin drops into the glass.
A lot easier to set up and do, and no broken dishes if you screw up.
Once you’ve mastered this, you can move on to tablecoths.
This was an outtake from the soap “Texas.” The good girl had invited the guy she was in love with for a fancy dinner. She had the table all set up really nice. The bad girl, who was also in love with the guy, paid her a visit, got into an argument, and was suppose to pull the tablecloth and have all the fancy dishes, silver, candle holders and candles, and floral centerpiece fall to the floor.
She whipped the tablecloth off the table, and nothing else moved. Everyone just froze, and then the actress playing the bad girl laughed her ass off.
It’s not that hard. You can recreate a smaller-scale version by whisking a napkin out from under a glass, or a doily out from under a number of them. You just have to make sure of a few points:
Obviously the more weight there is and/or more objects there are on the naplin/doily/cloth, the harder it is to perform. Furthermore, objects closest to you will be the hardest to avoid disturbing because they will be the ones subject to the most friction by virtue of having the most napkin/doily/cloth pass under them.