Not at These Prices!

After a standard four Ace trick, or two, this gag serves for a funny surprise finish. Most magicians do four Ace tricks (correct me if I’m wrong), so the idea shouldn’t be unwelcome.

The four Aces lie face up on the table and the spectator is asked to indicate his choice of one by turning it face down. All note its position and then the remaining three Aces are turned over also. Three cards are first placed on the selected Ace and then the same number on each of the remaining, as in the prosaic effect.

Now three of the packets are gathered together and shuffled, leaving the packet with the chosen Ace. The twelve cards comprising the three packets are further mixed into the deck.

“Would you like to see those cards on the table become Aces ?” questions the magician. Assuming that your man is a tolerant person, he will say yes. The cards on the table are taken and openly dropped on top of the deck. The end of the pack is riffled to suggest passage of the Aces to the top – and then the top four cards are dealt face up in a row, one at a time. Instead of the four Aces, as might well be expected, the cards are seen to be lettered, a word on each card, and the message thus conveyed to the onlookers is, “NOT AT THESE PRICES !“

That’s the whole gag – and all you have to do is get four blank cards with back design matching your favorite deck, some India ink, and make as neat a lettering job as possible.

When the four Aces are on the table to start, the four lettered cards, in correct order, are on top of the deck. They may either be palmed on from a pocket or shifted there from the bottom. The Aces are turned face down and then the three top cards of the deck are pushed to the side with the left thumb. In squaring these up on the deck, the left little finger goes under the fourth card and the four cards are taken and placed on top of the indicated Ace. Three cards are actually taken for each of the remaining Aces. Then the three packets are mixed together and into the pack. After asking the spectator if he would like the remaining cards to become Aces, take the last packet and drop it openly on top of the deck.

This rids you of the last Ace, as there are apparently only four cards, and you are ready for the finish.

It has occurred to me that this trick might be of value to table workers to make the illiberal patron “loosen up,” though its subtlety is somewhat questionable !