Gamble Grumble Groumble

"Gamble Grumble Groumble" is a magic phrase (in conjunction with clapping three times) for activating a crystal ball in Oral Storytelling and Teaching Mathematics by Michael Schiro (2004).

Beethoven, Chopin, Vivaldi, Bach

This magic phrase conjures the names of four great musical geniuses, as in Lisa Fiedler's Know-It-All (2002).

Kraalax-Heeroz

"The mirror was blank. ‘Kraalax-Heeroz,’ she chanted quickly. The image returned.” —Douglas Niles, Black Wizards (2004)

Magic Geography

Fukuoka Takaoka Omsk
Fukuyama Nagayama Tomsk
Okazaki Miyazaki Pinsk
Pennsylvania Transylvania Minsk

I repeated this rhyme like a magic incantation and was transported far away without ever leaving our room. -- Uri Shulevitz, How I Learned Geography (2008)

"Houdini" as a Noun-Verb

"The name of Houdini [is] still . . . important in every type of literature as noun-verb." —Theo Annemann, The Jinx #87 (1940)

Annemann calls Houdini "the world's best recognized mysticist since Moses threw down his staff and caused it to appear as a snake."

Oh Mighty Isis

In the television series Isis (1977), the heroine is a high school teacher who discovered an ancient Egyptian amulet during an archaeological dig. By intoning the magic phrase “Oh mighty Isis!” she transforms into a superhero with the strengths and abilities of her Egyptian goddess patroness.

Shazza Bowzer Googly Nowzer

“What words would make the dog reappear? ‘Shazza Bowzer Googly Nowzer!’” —Susan Meddaugh, Lulu’s Hat (2002)