Van Rensselaer Alexander: The Complete Party Book ©1948 Sheridan House Publishers, NY Hardcover, no dj, 317 pages Published in Candada by George J. McLeod Limited, Toronto

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Comments: There's not much magic in here, but the author has penned some magic books so decided to add it. There is a section on "stunts" detailed below that contains a few tricks.

Contents (from book):

7 Preface

13 Chapter 1 Want To Give A Party? Here's How
14 Take It Easy
15 Problems To Be Considered
16 Invitations
18 Planning And Directing Activities
22 Prizes
24 Welcomes And Introductions
27 Table Seating
27 Feeding The Multitude
29 What When And How
50 Mopping Up

52 Chapter 2 Party Plans And Ideas
53 Holiday Parties
53 Twelfth Night
56 Pancake Tuesday
58 Valentine’s Day
63 May Day
65 Easter Day
68 Halloween
72 Christmas Eve
74 The Progressive Dinner Party
76 Showers
79 A Sinners’ Party
81 Shipwreck Party
85 Circus Party
88 Inside Out Upside Down Party
91 A Superlative Party
92 As-You-Were Party
94 Advertising Party
97 Twenty-First Birthday Party
102 Wedding Anniversary Parties
103 A Paper Wedding Party
104 A Silver Wedding Party
105 A Golden Wedding Party

106 Chapter 3 Menus And Recipes

136 Chapter 4 Liquid Refreshment
136 Non-Alcoiiolic Drinks
141 Alcoholic Drinks

146 Chapter 5 Hors-D'oeuvres And Canapes

131 Chapter 6 Table Decorations

153 Chapter 7 Active Games: 52 games for parties

220 Chapter 8 Dramatic Games: 7 more games

233 Chapter 9 Oral Games: 21 word games

259 Chapter 10 Pencil And Paper Games: 23 games using pencil and paper for groups

288 Chapter 11 Stunts
288 Apple or Flour: guest tries to bite an apple, but may get the bag of flour
288 Bottoms Up: puzzle using glassware - spectator can't solve the puzzle
290 Candle Blowing: game to blow out candles blindfolded
290 Cardinal Puff: game for guest to repeat the steps in a drinking toast
293 Exchanging Wine for Water: science stunt
295 Forfeits: actions for losers of a game to perform
296 Guessing Your Girth: game
298 Heaving the Modern Manner: lifting a guest with just the fingers of 5 other guests
300 High Hat: game to guess the real height of the guests hats
300 Is This It?: a two person code for identifying the item named by the spectators
301 Magic Addition: a mathematical trick
303 Magic Eight Pile: a magic prediction
304 No!: tricking the guest to say "no"
305 Picking Two Coins Off a Glass: puzzle to remove coins from a glass
306 Prize Cards: game of chance with cards for up to 48 players
308 Putting Your Finger On It: a gag prediction
308 Removing a Bill From Under a Bottle: stunt
310 Spear the Ring: guest tries to put finger through a hanging ring
310 Spoon Portraiture: another 2 person code magic trick
311 Tongue-Twisters

313 Index