Let’s do a magic trick. Think of a card, any card. Got it? Good.
Now take a trip to Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills…
Head into the cemetery, then turn right past the 1:1 scale replica of Boston’s Old North Church (yes, this really exists)…
Turn left and park, then walk north toward the graves, going up to the second tier…
Take a left on the pathway…
…and stop at the last quadrant at the end. Look down at your feet…
I’ll let the grave ask the question:
OK, so while the 1.9% of you who picked the 3 of Clubs are likely absolutely stunned right now, I’m sure everyone else is incredibly confused. Why is there a grave in Forest Lawn Cemetery of the very much alive Penn and Teller, and why does it have a 3 of Clubs on it?
This grave is actually the big reveal of a magic trick Penn and Teller created for anyone that anyone can perform for friends while hitting the tourist stops in LA. You will need: a deck of cards, a pen, an envelope, and a victim – ideally, someone visiting Los Angeles who wants to go sightseeing.
Before starting, remove the 3 of Clubs from the deck and put it under the envelope. Set them aside. Next: go to your victim and ask them to shuffle the deck, then cut to any card in the middle.
Hand your victim the pen and ask them to check what time it is – the person will likely have to look at their watch or pull out their phone. While they’re busy, bring out the envelope, with the 3 of Clubs held underneath, and drop it on top of the cut deck. The 3 of Clubs is now at the top of the pile.
Ask your victim to write the time and date on the envelope, and then to put the topmost card in the envelope.
Have them seal the envelope and put it in their pocket with a promise that you will “finish the trick later.” Then? Go sightseeing!
At some point in your travels, swing by Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, saying that you want to see some celebrity graves, like Laurel and Hardy, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, and Penn and Teller. “But they’re not dead,” your friend will likely say. “Are you sure?” you ask. “I heard they were both killed in a balloon animal demonstration gone horribly wrong.”
Follow the directions above (GPS coordinates: 34.14427, -118.31628) and simply point at the marker. As Penn and Teller recommend, be sure to have your camera ready as dawning realization hits your victim, they pull out the envelope from hours (or days) before, and marvel at your masterful insanity.
According to Penn, Forest Lawn was dead set on not allowing them to install something so whimsical in a “place with dignity,” but they persisted with the help of a tough lawyer, and the cemetery had no choice but to comply.
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