People show an unreserved interest in this effect - it looks unique. Then, too, it is in that class of "visible" card magic which enjoys a popularity with the layman. The magus shuffles a deck of cards, divides it into halves, and turns one half face up. The two halves are inter-shuffled and the deck then given to someone who further mixes the face-ups with the face-downs to his heart's content. The trickster takes back the deck and spreads it for a selection of a face-down card, for, as he says, "I otherwise would see what card you might take…
More often than not the very simplest kind of method applied to a very direct and uncomplicated effect makes the best table trick in a performer's repertoire. There have been a lot of reputations made with cute, close-up masterpieces passed by and over with undiscerning eyes. While that which follows will not win eternal fame or renown, it well may serve as a reliable talk-maker for others as it has me. The magician writes a short prophecy on a slip of paper which is folded and held by a spectator. A half-dollar is borrowed and placed on the table, date…
If a real black magic magician was doing a card trick, he would have the card selected, returned to the deck, and then, without further monkeyshines, let the audience tell him how they would like to have it located. That's what you do in this one! Briefly, the effect is this. You allow a spectator to cut a shuffled deck at any place, remove the card to which he cut, note and replace it, and put the cut-off cards back on it. Then, without (apparently) doing anything at all, you finish the trick in any one of three ways as…
Effect: The deck is cut into two halves. The spectator has one and shuffles into it a noted card. The performer does likewise with his half deck and a second noted card. Then the magician takes both halves, holds his face up, the spectator's face down, and gives them one magic, dovetail shuffle. The cards are spread and the two noted cards are found to have fallen together in the shuffle side by side! An impossible example of unparalleled dexterity, as a circus poster would say! Working: You don't do any of the things you pretend to do! First, borrow…
Presentation: "Magicians have had to alter the workings of many of their mysteries to the trend of the times. Illusionists today, upon a night club floor and surrounded by people, can perform miracles never even dreamed of but a decade ago. I have been asked as to what a card manipulator can do today that wasn't possible a few years ago. This is one thing. Will you help me, sir?" "Old time performers would fan the deck of cards for you to make a selection, BUT, as I am demonstrating modern, streamlined magic this problem goes further than that." "Take…
The performer puts a single slate and a pack of cards on the table. Before leaving the room he asks a spectator to shuffle the deck (all of this after he is out of sight, of course), cut it several times, and then put the top card face down under the slate. The mystic returns when this has been done. He peers at the blank upper surface of the slate. He may state that he is going to prove that man can, with proper training, use his eyes and brain to surmount normally impassible barriers. He draws a picture of…
The performer shuffles a deck before a volunteer and gives it to him for further mixing. He cuts, looks at the top card, and buries it in the center of the deck, or thereabouts. Next he is asked to fan the deck out and hold it with faces towards himself. All of this time has seen the performer at a far side of the room. The performer now holds a slate and chalk. He attempts to get an impression, but is dissatisfied. He moves toward the spectator, asking him to hold the fan of cards up and directly before himself.…
You can do this modern version of the You Do As I Do type of trick without any of the faults which haunted your first instruction sheet. Nobody exchanges decks, and it looks awfully fair to the initiated. This can follow either of the #1 or #2 effects because it needs only a marked deck and no stacking. The spectator gets the marked deck and you keep the one that is ordinary. Both of you shuffle well and then put your decks on the table opposite each other -- both decks are face down. Ask him to think of any…
Any card or cards selected freely from this deck can be revealed by a complete spelling, card for letter, including the "of" and the final "s". There is no forcing and the pack is a regular one of all different cards. The principle secret lies in the fact that the back design of the pack is "one-way". The cards spelling with 10, 11, and 12 letters are turned against those spelling with 13, 14, and 15 letters. That's the preparation. The deck may be overhand shuffled freely as the cards themselves are in no special order. Only the backs are…
Without being coy we begin by reminding that what is to follow can be a masterpiece of mystery at home as well as in the local bar or nearby pub. Upon a glass of beer is generally (and it had better be!) what is termed a "collar" of creamy foam. When and as two or more (including yourself) are partaking of malt's kindliness, the interloper, or performer, mentions a deck of cards and has one chosen, returned, and shuffled amongst the others. He starts to place the pack in one and another spot, finally saying, "Here. We'll cover the glass.…