Once again I introduce an effect that has been tested under fire and which has proven a good item for small club and close-up programs. It uses one of my favorite subterfuges - that of introducing an odd card into a borrowed deck - than which there is no other principle more intriguing at the moment. Asking two members of the audience to assist, you have one on each side and announce a most baffling problem with the borrowed deck. With the cards face up you deal them onto the spectator's hands, the man to your right getting the black…
I discovered this back around 1928 but, to date, it has never appeared in print to my knowledge. The discovery was quite accidental but at that time I was spending a lot of time and study on one-way back effects and chanced upon it. I can't guarantee this with any other back than the League Backs of Bicycle make. I consider that design the best one-way backed card for many reasons. Faces of cards are susceptible to the one-way principle in twenty-two instances if only the spot cards are considered. Picture cards generally have some differences that can be noted…
An extremely cute method of handling a one-way deck makes this secret of importance to those who favor such effects, and it will throw off the few who may know of the principle and possibly suspect it. There is an older subtlety invoked in many cases - that of reversing half the deck. A card is now selected and replaced after noting but it isn't necessary to reverse either the card or the deck. Simply have the card drawn from one half and replaced in the other. The deck is now cut at the center of the two sections and…
This effect, while a complete number in itself, makes possible two things heretofore considered impossible. Using a P&L metal card box you can actually change one or two cards and leave the rest unchanged. Secondly you can change cards that have been initialed. Two decks are used in the effect. One has a red back and the other is blue. Taking the blue deck the performer removes a card which he openly shows and has a spectator initial. Picking up a metal card box, the performer places the card face up within where it is fairly seen by all. Now…
Historical is the trick wherein the spectator is apparently made to name a card placed face down by the performer and in answer to his queries as to colors, suits and values. The main fault of course, is the constant variance in using or discarding the selection made each time. The layout I'm using for these presentations came to light through Walter B. Gibson except for the handling of the third layout of three which I think original. I included it in my compilation of Forces but it is not a very good force method because it is a long…
In The Jinx #5 for February 1935 there appeared two methods for performing an effect popularly labeled The Lie Detective. A spectator would read through a genuinely shuffled deck, lying at any time instead of calling the card correctly, whereupon the performer, at a distance and with back turn, would wax furious at such deception. Mr Christ approached me later with what he considers a better presentation and climax in the eyes of the audience. I quite agree that this present effect will hold attention to the finish whereas in the former case (it's still a good one) there was…
I have a nice version of the sympathetic cards that allows it being performed before a goodly sized audience. It has enough flash to it in the working to interest the ones not participating and certainly the selection of the cards from their decks (especially the second) couldn't be fairer in appearance. It all boils down to two forces - of the same card - from two decks. When at a private party or club it may be possible to borrow one of the two decks, all of which helps in the build-up and after effect. Using a small stand…
Should I merely say "force" a card anymore when describing a trick, guns would roar and moans be heard for a long time (that's because I suffer easily and to excess). Not satisfied with my head bending efforts when I put together 202 Methods of Forcing the customers wreck vengeance upon me everytime I mention 'force' and do not include a variation or new twist to those that have gone before. With that trite excuse I reveal an honest-to-goodness pet of mine and one that I've used constantly for nearly three years. It's only a combination of two known principles…
Borrowing a red and blue backed deck, the performer apparently forces the spectator to take a card, the duplicate of which the performer has already picked. In short, the magician apparently knows exactly which card the spectator will choose. Hand one deck to be shuffled. Take it back and the other is handed out at the same time. Hold the deck returned in the right hand, thumb at one end and fingers at the other with the deck facing palm. Take the second deck back face up in your left hand. Make a slight right turn as you tap the…
EFFECT A spectator draws a card while the deck is being held by the performer behind his back. The selection is perfectly free and the deck consists of but 52 cards. However, the performer states that the drawn card shall not be replaced. The spectator is to keep the card he has selected and the performer will reveal its 'identity in a most unusual manner'. So saying, the magician holds the remainder of the deck behind his back and drawing out one card throws it face down on the table. This is repeated with a second card. Explaining that it…