A few years ago, at a hotel on Lake Tahoe, I noticed a playing card stuck to the mirror in back of the bar. The bartender refused to allow anybody to touch it, or, for that matter, even go near it. "No, sir, you keep away. That was put up there by magic by Max Malini!" And he refused to touch it himself. All of this only goes to show that some of the oldest tricks have the most magical effect. This one was, of course, the very old effect of flinging the deck of cards against the wall, or…
This may be another location, but it most certainly isn't "just" another location. It has been proven to contain an unusual high content of what we call "baffle-power". An audience volunteer does most of the work, having three cards drawn and returned, and drawing and returning one himself, all of this while the performer's back is turned. The performer finally locates all cards without touching the deck himself. The principle is easily recognizable as the "divided pack". The handling and presentation, however, leaves little to be wanted. The odd cards are separated from the even ones -- the 28 odd…
Throughout the years, two person mental effects, in which the medium leaves the room while certain things are done (in the presence of the performer) to return later (after performer has absented himself) and reveal what has taken place, have not been varied much insofar as the general theme is concerned. In an effort to provide a routine, which is different in effect, and, at the same time, have it appear absolutely devoid of any possible opportunity for the employment of trickery, the following has been evolved. Accompanied by a committee of one, the medium is escorted to another room.…
I think it was Ralph W. Hull who suddenly made popular, with his Mental Discernment of a decade ago, the feat of locating a mentally thought of card by a system of procedure not easily recognized by the thinker. There were many who used this idea, because it made possible a dream of card men. As time went on, though, and as with all things, there came a demand for a more simplified way of handling the cards and the method of "discernment". Borrowing a pack of cards the performer has them well shuffled by anyone of the audience. Six…
Mr. Magician: I earnestly beg of you to give this effect just one trial; I am firmly convinced that you will then continue to finish your act with this one effect; it is fast and snappy. The full action takes just two minutes and the climax is one that enables the performer to make his exit to much applause. That is the reason why this card effect has such a name; I have been using it now for three seasons as a finish to my act, whether on stage, platform or cabaret. APPLAUSE is not difficult; it does not begin…
Card tricks in print often bore one to tears. One wades through the renowned Encyclopedia, then through the great Hilliard legacy. Crimps and squeezes, shuffles and passes, glides and peeks, and a thousand and one other sleights and subtleties jostle one to and fro in already over card-conscious minds. So we tend to overlook the magazine card trick and examine more closely that interesting looking item with a sticking plaster, a sheet of glass, a horseshoe magnet, and a length of wire. This card trick (!!!) is one of the minority that ARE really good for the platform; because it…
EFFECT A spectator is given the pack of cards and instructed to remove any one, look at it, commit it to memory, and replace in the pack. Then he places the pack in pocket. This may be done whilst magician's back is turned. Now you ask him to mentally add the number next higher in value to the value of his chosen card, multiply by 5, add the suit value (according to auction bridge), and then tell you the result of his calculations. Immediately you reveal the correct suit and value of his card. The puzzling feature is that the…
Many of the four ace card trick methods require getting secretly three other cards above them on the deck after the aces have been shown and returned to that position. Here is a subtle method of getting the extra three cards above the aces. Have the four aces removed from the pack by a spectator. Take back the deck, and then take the aces. as you place them on top of the pack, slip your little finger under them, square them up, and as you withdraw the little finger, allow the four aces to overlap the rest of the pack…
Recently I had the misfortune to lose a card while performing and it was rather embarrassing not to be able to complete the experiment just started. (In other words, the false shuffle wasn't so false.) At that time I wondered if there wasn't some means to cover-up in a case of that sort. Page Wright's Notebook gave an excellent cover-up, but it depended on a "one hand second deal" for its execution. Finally I hit on the following and it has since been tested to a good reaction. No one could have suspected that I wasn't doing exactly as planned.…
Eleven years ago I evolved a card location routine which, during that time, has served me very well and been taught to but two people. It was after I had seen that incomparable card showman, Maurice, then just a year from France, present his twelve card masterpiece. Maurice's various locations, brilliant and showy, left me with the impression that there was much sameness of flourishes and productions. My temperament desired a clean cut difference between each of the findings and more assistance from the spectators, although I readily admit it more practical to stay away from an audience as much…