I feel this version of the 15 Card Pass far surpasses any other in regards to method and presentation. Any pack of cards (no duplicates) and some envelopes may be borrowed and are all that you need. With a person standing at your left, and another at your right, the cards are produced and given the right hand assistant. He shuffles and counts 10 onto your right hand. They are sealed in an envelope by the helper and his initials put on the outside. The man on the left next shuffles the cards and counts 10 of them face down…
The magician shows what he calls a map to buried treasure. He crumples it into a ball and gives it to a spectator to hold. Then he says that he would like to take his audience back a hundred years or more to the time when that particular treasure was buried and the map made. The pirate loot was hidden upon an island in a remote part of an ocean so the performer puts a plate upon a glass of water to illustrate this location. Next he shows a pail of sand, saying that pirates always made certain their ill-gotten…
Always there seems to be a good reception for "sucker" tricks, and in the following, one can always be sure of getting a "rise" from his onlookers. The performer has a deck of cards shuffled and one selected by the spectator who marks it. The card is replaced among the others and the performer openly wraps the deck in a handkerchief. During this action, it is evident to the watchers that underhanded business is afoot, for they see the performer's cramped right hand and even catch a glimpse, perhaps between the fingers, of a palmed card. The performer suddenly realizes…
To quote Rudyard Kipling, who wrote somewhere: "There are five and thirty ways of constructing tribal lays, and every single one of them is right." Some years ago, I set myself the following problem. From a BORROWED pack of cards allow someone to remove the four aces and place them face upwards on table himself. On each of these aces the assisting party must put three ordinary cards, in turn faces upwards, and then choose any heap to be put aside. The selected packet having been removed, the twelve cards on table (three of which are aces) are to be…
Most magical effects could stand enough of a "change of pace" during their execution (That last word is very fitting in too many cases. Ed.) to make them really seem different from the usual "here it is" followed by "now it's there," remarks. Of course, combining a number of separate tricks can produce some bad preponderosities. But there are exceptions, and I have thought the answer might be found by putting a strong finish effect with an otherwise mediocre and too standard start, together with a good starting trick of the mental type which so often begins well only to…
(A takeoff on the ancient coin (glass disc) into a glass of water, this effect didn't sound so forte, but when I saw it done, in between other card effects, I reversed my opinion. Ed.) Five cards are taken from the pack's top and shown in a fan. A spectator names one of the five. We shall presume it to be the Ace of Clubs. The Ace is covered with a handkerchief and held by the performer. A shake of the hank shows the card to have vanished. It is reproduced from one of the magician's pockets. Don't grimace now.…
Ever since magicians started their attempts to pass a thought of card from one spot to another, Dr. Lyons has desired such an effect which would be absolutely impromptu. It appears that he has solved the problem. A member of the audience comes forward and may be seated before a small table. He brings a pack of his own, and two envelopes. He mixes the cards and gives them to the performer, who counts off ten cards and puts them on the table. The spectator is asked to spread them face down, and while the performer's back is turned, to…
One of the cleverest ideas which has come my way in a long while is this idea by Mr Steisal. I can record the subtlety which makes many variations possible and also suggest a possible presentation. After that I leave it to the individual performer to take it apart and work out a routine to suit his needs and fancy. In short, a dollar bill, the number of which has been recorded by a spectator himself, travels into a cigarette and from there to a lemon. From this spot it may find its way to a sealed box or envelope,…