THESE JUST ARRIVED THIS MORNING:
I know it’s very confusing trying to keep up with the latest releases. You can imagine how tough it is for me as well.
I hope that many of you notice that I always try my best to keep GOOD magic in stock, whether they be new or old.
You can be assured that not only will we announce the “newest” items in stock, but we also keep advising you of the older items that are timeless. Remember, NEW does not always mean BETTER.
This newsletter contains a good mixture of both.
BELIEVE ME, THIS IS THE TALK OF THE MAGIC WORLD.
EMC2010 was a remarkable event and this is an incredible set of DVDs packed with great material!
If you did not register for EMC 2010 you can buy the DVD Box Set from your favorite magic dealer.
The world’s first internet conference for magic and magicians is now available in 8 DVDs. Every moment was captured on hi-quality video and audio and is now available on a special EMC Boxed Set of DVDs.
Every lecture and performance given at EMC is on the DVDs, together with our Discussion Panels, Q&As, Bonus Tricks from Max Maven and T. A. Waters and our Passion for Magic videos. That’s 16 hours of magical material. Also included are the complete chat logs, hundreds of pages of online chat. Check out what our registrants were talking about throughout the conference. An outstanding source of knowledge and a real collector’s item.
It’s a never before seen amazing line-up. The 8 DVDs contain performances and lectures from some of the world’s top magicians…
Anton Lopez, Apollo Robbins, Barry and Stuart, Carlos Vaquera, Cyril Takayama, Dani DaOrtiz, David Britland, De’Vo Vom Schattenreich, Eric Eswin, Eric Mead, Finn Jon, Gaetan Bloom, Gazzo, Gene Matsuura, Guy Hollingworth, Helder Guimarães, James Freedman, Jason England, Lennart Green, Luis de Matos, Marco Tempest, Max Maven, Miguel Angel Gea, Mike Caveney, Paul Kieve, Paulino Gil, Ponta The Smith, Richard McDougall, Richard Wiseman, Stan Allen, Ton Onosaka, Topas and William Kalush.
ASCANIO’S WORLD OF KNIVES by Arturo de Ascanio-$20.00
The Color-Changing Knives is a magic classic. Generally credited to Walter Jeans it became a popular pocket trick in the 1930s.
In 1958 Arturo de Ascanio, who went under the stage name Marcus, wrote the definitive book on the subject in Spanish. In 1975 Jose de la Torre released Ascanio’s World Of Knives in English which helped make the routine a staple of every close-up magician’s act.
The book was also one of the first Spanish magic books to be translated into English, introducing the genius of Ascanio to magicians around the world.
After being out of print for decades Ascanio’s World Of Knives is back and is better than ever, with many clear photographs and illustrations that make all the techniques and routines easy to learn. This book teaches you the many tools you need to create your own routines with pocket knives that change color on command.
Techniques and routines include: Classic Paddle Move (Modernized), Cleaning Paddle Move, Passing The Knife From Hand To Hand, Appearance By The Pinkie, Turn With The Ring Finger, Ultra Fast Turn, Classic Color Change, Ascanio’s Half Turn, Bringas’ Color Change, Ganson’s Color Change In A Spectator’s Hand, One Hand Color Change, Color Change With Normal Knives, Manipulating The Knife As A Cigarette, Push-Through Palm, Two Fu Manchu Passes, Stealing With A Pull, Change Of Normal Knife To A Gimmicked One, Ascanio’s Fast Change, To Tell The Sides Of The Knife By Touch, A Knives Classifier, Three Psychological Procedures, Psychological Aspects Of The Color Change, A Fred Kaps Routine, The Handkerchief Pass, A Short And Easy Routine, Ascanio’s Knives And Color-Blindness and much more.
The main reason the Color-Changing Knives are a classic of magic and a staple of many professional close-up magicians’ repertoire is that you are able to create beautiful and visual magic with ordinary objects. Once you learn these techniques you will never leave home without a set of Color-Changing Knives in your pocket. Second edition published by Meir Yedid Magic in 2011. 144-pages with more than 50 photographs and illustrations, 6″x9″ softcover with color cover. Written by Ascanio, translated by Jose de la Torre, with additions by Jose de la Torre, Slydini, David Bamberg, and Meir Yedid.
GOEBEL, THE MAN WITH THE MAGICAL MIND by William Rauscher-$45.00
The Story of a Conjuror and Costumer with a foreword by Jim Steinmeyer In the 1970′s and 1980′s George Goebel presented a grand, classical magic production called the Goebel Magical Revue. With a cast and staff of 35, he astonished lay audiences and received accolades from fellow magicians. Those shows wowed both Jim Steinmeyer and Lance Burton, each of whom contributed to this book. Goebel’s life and career in Baltimore, Maryland, brought him into contact with countless magicians, including Milbourne Christopher, Hen Fetsch, Doug Henning, and Phil Thomas. His knowledge of Howard Thurston, Thomas Chew Worthington III, Henry Ridgley Evans, and magicians around the country is extensive. His A. T. Jones Costume Company has 300,000 costumes for musicals, plays, and operas. It’s housed in a three-story building, which also serves as a haven for some very unusual friends. Goebel’s private collection of magic and escape restraints is exceptional. Goebel tells how he gained experience working with Milbourne Christopher on the Jackie Gleason and Garry Moore shows-assisting with the Vanishing Elephant plus rehearsals for Christopher’s Bullet Catch. His remembrance of the Baltimore eccentric magician Dantini is illuminating and touching. Read about Goebel’s escape work in Japan, Baltimore magic history, and his detailed account of building and presenting a full evening magic show that included a 10-member dance ensemble under the leadership of a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette.
8 1⁄2 by 11 – Cloth Bound – Color Dust Jacket – Over 200 Pages – Over 380 Photos and Illustrations Including 12 Color Pages – A complimentary DVD containing segments of a 1982 Goebel show, film clips, and news interviews plus views inside the Jones Costume Co.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF IMPROMPTU CARD FORCES by Lewis Jones-$50.00
H & R Magic Books is proud to present Encyclopedia of Impromptu Card Forces. There has never been a book quite like this before. It is the first-ever encyclopedic collection of card forces.
These forces don’t make use of gimmicked cards of any kind. Many of them are well off the beaten track, and many have never appeared in print before.
The previous British edition was limited to just 300 copies and sold out quickly. This American edition makes this work available to wider audience at a most reasonable price. It contains over 500 forces, and these are illustrated with more than a hundred photographed illustrations.
Steve Beam, funny man and card expert extraordinaire, gave us the following quotes:
“Forcing is about give and take – you give and they take. If your audiences wanted to select cards, they wouldn’t have to be forced. For these occasions, Lewis has created the one-stop force source.”
“If you are looking for the best ways to force yourself and your cards on future audiences, this is the book for you.”
“There are more forces here than Obi Wan could shake a light saber at. May the Source be with you.”
“Lewis Jones has marshaled his forces and published them in a giant volume. For those who believe that free choice is over-rated, this book was built for you. May the Source be with you.”
“Lewis Jones has added new meaning to the term “force book.” Any sissy can do 202 forces – real magicians will want 500 of them. The Encyclopedia of Card Forces is the mother lode.”
Steve Bryant in reviewing the British printing, said “Lewis Jones’s hardbound Encyclopedia of Impromptu Card Forces (subtitle: 500 Forces with a Borrowed Deck), weighing in at a whopping 294 oversized pages, is all its title and subtitle claim it to be. And to repeat that number, it’s five hundred practical forces. For this second edition Lewis Jones has rewritten, reshuffled, and expanded his prior compilation of practical card forces into the following categories: Blind forces, Combination forces, Comedy forces, Count forces, Cut forces, Equivocation forces, Forcing formulas, The glide, The hold out, Locators, Multiple forces, Probability forces, Spelling forces, Stop forces, and Switches. The list includes old favorites as well as those that will be new to you. … This is a grand resource…”
Pages: 294 – Hardbound with Dustjacket
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CIGARETTE TRICKS by Keith Clark-$20.00
This is a 1978 3rd enlarged edition of the classic work on cigarette magic by Keith Clark, “Encyclopedia of Cigarette Tricks.” This 304 page paperback book covers fifteen chapters on the cigarette and its history, the famous cigarette acts, basic principles, throwing, vanishes, transformations, sleeving, secret transfers, flourishes, tonguing and mouth sleights, productions and multiplications, loads, steals, full cigarette production acts, presentations and routines, lit droppers, etc. The most complete work ever done on cigarette magic complete with full dexcriptions and hundreds of black & white photos showing all moves and techniques.
WHAT?….YOU DON’T HAVE THIS CLASSIC? SHAME ON YOU!
Just reprinted on glossy stock with clear, sharp black & white photos.
In the forties, some of the world’s top magicians were persuaded to release some of their finest routines in single pamphlets. These were mailed out to the magicians of the world as a subscription deal. Later these remarkable routines were published in one single volume and sold as “Stars of Magic.” This book still remains as the foundation of today’s close up magic and no magician should be without a copy. Just take a look at these contents and the magicians who are teaching them. Each routine is illustrated with black & white photos of the artist actually doing the teaching.
*JOHN SCARNE
Classic Ball Routine, Triple Coincidence, Silver Copper Routine
*DAI VERNON
Triumph, Cutting the Aces, Spellbound, Kangaroo Coins
*BERT ALLERTON
Pump Room Phantasy, Bamboozle
*S. LEO HOROWITZ
Chink A Chink, Egyptian Ball Mystery
*JARROW
Hanky Panky Cigarette thru Handkerchief
*FRANCIS CARLYLE
Decapitation, Homing Card, Wrist Watch Steal
*DAI VERNON
Impromptu Cups and Balls, Ambitious Card, Mental Card Miracle
*DAI VERNON
Ring on the Wand, Slow Motion 4 Aces, The Travelers
*DR. JACOB DALEY
Cards Up the Sleeve, Itinerant Pasteboards, Cavorting Aces
*SLYDINI
Torn & Restored Cigarette, Paper Balls Over the Head, Flyaway Coin
*ROSS BERTRAM
Coin Magic
*DAI VERNON ON LEIPZIG
Leipzig’s Opener, Leipzig’s Pride (Cap & Pence), Leipzig’s Tear-Up
*DAI VERNON ON MALINI
Malini’s Card Stabbing, Malini Color Change, Malini’s Favorite
*DAI VERNON
Royal Monte
*SLYDINI
Art of Using the Lap as a Servante
There’s more great magic in this book than you will ever use in a lifetime.
EDUCATING ARCHER DVD SET by John Archer-$45.00
What can I say about John that you don’t already know? John is one of the funniest entertainers I have ever seen! His comedy is funny and his magic is strong. What more could you possibly want from a performer?
On this DVD you will learn some of John’s favorite routines that have made him one of the busiest magicians in the UK.
If you like good, strong, entertaining and funny presentations accompanied by strong magic and mentalism, you will absolutely love this DVD.
Here are some of the routines performed and explained on this DVD:
John’s Tossed Out Deck
This is John’s comedy take on a classic plot with one big difference: the deck is completely examined and shuffled by a spectator before the effect! The chosen opener for many mentalists has now got a whole lot better!
Tragic Square
John’s opening effect. Under the guise of a record-breaking attempt, John rushes through a magic square at lightning speed (with a lot of humor along the way!) This really gets the crowd going!
Spelling Test (No Book Book-Test)
Wow!!! This is something really special. Comedy mentalism at its best! Your spectator merely thinks of a word (no force of any kind, no pre-show, your spectator never writes anything down or tells anyone the word that they have in their mind). Yet you have predicted in advance which word they will think of! This is a fun-packed routine with one heck of a killer ending!
Komedy Killer
This is John’s famous presentation for the Kenton Knepper classic. John’s story will have you in stitches. This is the ideal trick to have on you all the time. A 10 min routine you can do anywhere!
Collard
The ultimate comedy presentation for the Koran Medallion. This routine is worth the price of the entire DVD. A lot of the magicians that were present at the filming of this DVD have put this straight into their professional act! (Works well for parlor, cabaret, stage, or kids).
If the above routines are not enough to wet your appetite, this DVD also includes the following gems: Dodeckadeal: a great coincidence effect using a pack of cards; Spoon River: a great comedy spoon bending routine which gets people involved; Stapled: John’s fantastic comedy torn and restored card routine; Chinese Choice: a fun-packed routine using 3 spectators and a night out at a Chinese restaurant, and A Clean Ring Vanish: if you need to vanish a ring at any part of your act, then this is the cleanest method you will find!
Disc One Running Time Approximately 1hr 49min
Disc Two Running Time Approximately 2hr 7min
FURTHER EDUCATION DVD by John Archer-$45.00
Brand new from John Archer, FURTHER EDUCATION features more of John”s explosive blend of comedy, mentalism and magic, all packed into two high-energy discs of entertainment!
You will get to watch a full LIVE performance of John at his very best – not only performing a collection of KILLER routines but also mixing it with plenty of his superb comedy. There is much to be learnt from watching John really working the crowd and creating an entertainment experience like no other. There are gags-a-plenty throughout these professionally honed routines that you can add to your shows immediately!
After the show, John is joined by Peter Nardi to teach the inner-workings that make up each of these gems in full detail so you will be performing them in no time!
This is a MUST-HAVE set for any serious entertainer and will be a valuable addition to your collection!
The Further Education Stand Up Show:
*Blank Night: John”s extremely clean version of the “bank night” plot is a super-charged routine that is jam-packed with perfect in-built comedy, audience participation and a plot packs in plenty of entertainment value for an opening routine! Something, nothing, mine, yours or… sex?!
*De-Ja-Tu: A girl is thinking of a card and a man is invited to deal freely through a shuffled deck of cards. Amidst a cavalcade of comedy, the couple end up with a coincidence that is as baffling as it is entertaining; in short, a brilliant two-person mind reading effect that appears to happen between the minds of the spectators.
*One Lucky Number: Serial divination given the Archer treatment! Imagine taking a usually smaller effect and turning it into a full stand-up performance piece! Think serial number, burnt & restored note and signed note in wallet; all rolled into one mega, magical extravaganza!
*Soundbox: A hilarious routine in which you gamble everything on a simple game of choice! One box, one lock, five keys and tonnes of entertainment! A well-constructed presentation and excellent method make this a logical, funny and baffling lock and key routine. Bet everything you have on the power of your auditory sense!
*Comedy Killer: A brilliant new routine based around a very funny presentation about learning to become a mind reader – your audience will become engaged in your studies with Professor Hoffmann when honing your ESP abilities, before they themselves get the chance to test their own. One envelope, one choice and one stunning climax!
*Starstruck: Stars of Stage & Screen are the theme for this popular item from John”s act. A real lesson in how small props can be used to play a much larger routine that is clean and direct mindreading at its very best. A simple plot that can open up a string of revelations that will give your spectator the feeling you are really reading their thoughts.
*Stick with It: Multiple audience participation; several random numbers, one prediction and a stunning kicker that will knock their socks off! A multiple number routine like none you have ever seen before. No gimmicked notepads required, this is a really organic approach to the add-a-number plot using a small number of items to create a routine large enough to fill an entire stage.
*Streetwise: John”s brilliant book-test that uses remote viewing as a premise, a street map for a prop and a series of revelations with different audience members; this is destined to become a classic and combines all the best elements of the best book test routines to take your audience on the ultimate mental journey! Please note that although the prop is explained in full, the book itself is not provided and needs to be purchased separately.
*BONUS: John”s Professional Close Up “Set” Performed & Explained:
Just for You” & “52 Leaver: A two-person effect that is IDEAL for the walkabout performer and is one that combined mentalism, playing cards and a very special trick for “YOU.”
This is a professional “set” that is perfect for the strolling performer that wants to present powerful close-up mentalism in a commercial environment. It has all the best elements of a memorable close-up set, it will keep them talking long after you move on and best of all… it is ready for you to learn and add to your repertoire immediately.
Total Running Time Approximately: 3hr 48min
21 MAGIC BY SWEDEN DVD by Assorted Artists-$40.00
Ten inventors and performers of magic took siege of the magic bar in stockholm to record project 21, but it proved impossible to hold a strong fort against the proprietor who opened the doors and laymen flooded the premises. Could they continue their secret work, just a few feet away from the unsuspecting guests? The following takes place between 10 am and 11 pm:
Axel Adlercreutz
* The Self Bending Straw – A drinking straw bends by itself as you hold it lightly.
* Circle Vanish – A very visual coin vanish.
* Two rope & ring moves – Fast, clean and super visual linking and unlinking of a ring and rope.
Erik Nordvall
* Memoradix – After three increasingly impossible card locations, the deck ends up in new deck order.
* The Real Green Shuffle – Lennart Green’s false riffle shuffle with Erik”s addition.
Johan Ståhl
* Sleeveless Sleeving – A pen appears, disappears, appears and transforms, a crash course in sleeving!
* Sleeveless & Purseless – Bonus sleeving.
Jonas Ljung
* Forced Will – An impromptu prediction of how the spectator will place random objects on the table.
Joachim Solberg
* JS Card Control, Double Lift and Top Change, adapted into three short and powerful card tricks.
Anders Modén
* Cherry Blossom – Not suitable at the dinner table. Regurgitation, sort of…
* Suction – Impromptu, designed for dinner seatings.
Tim Star
* Ace routine – Includes Ace Production, the Turnover Muck Switch, Vanishing Aces, the Breakaway Case.
Micke Askernäs
* Display Bend – Cheeky and visual spoonbending.
* Askernas Retention Pass – Utility coin vanish.
Tom Stone
* Redneck Remedy – An innovative twist on the multiplying bottles.
* Gap Drive – You will love to practise this magician fooler.
* Clink Catch – An eyecatching stunt. Start with coins, turn them into anything you like.
Tomas Blomberg
* Time After Time – An amazing principle. Three spectators, a shuffled deck and a series of random events leading to three impossible card revelations that will probably even fool the performer.
Quotes:
“I have rarely enjoyed watching a magic DVD as much as this one. The productions values are top-notch, the setting is elegant, the inventors are charming and well-rehearsed, and the material is of an extremely high quality.”
- Gordon Bean
“Ten of Scandinavias most clever and talented magicians demonstrate and teach their magic on this new DVD. This is creative, energetic and visual magic in a beautifully produced DVD, highly recommended.”
- Matthew Field, Editor, The Magic Circular
“Watch out for the latest invasion from Scandinavia! Fortunately it is just excellent magic, very well executed. A Smorgasbord of Magic – it”s their specialty.”
- Roberto Giobbi
“Do yourself a favor and get 21! Twen-ty-one, Twen-ty-one!”
- Bill-Ma-lone
“Refresh your perspective, recharge your attitude, and let the Lateral Thinking and novel approaches expand your consciousness! 21 does what creative works are supposed to do: inspire, guide, teach, satisfy, and make your magic new.”
- Jon Racherbaumer
“Creativity is certainly alive and well in Sweden! The thoughts that popped into my head as I watched were – Wow! This is excellent! Great thinking! Got me again! How cool is that! My two word recommendation – “Buy it!”
- Mike Powers
“These DVDs have something for everyone – great bar gags, great close-up ideas, great stage magic ideas.”
- Allan Ackerman
Total Running Time Approximately: 2hr 6min
REVIEWS
“I’m quoted on the DVD cover saying it is “highly recommended”. That quote is accurate. ”
Matthew Field, The Magic Circular Magazine 3/1/2011
IMAGINE by G & SM Productionz-$25.00
Materializing spectator’s thought onto a signed blank card…
Imagine being able to turn a SIGNED double blank card into a thought of playing card. Front AND Back, with the spectator’s SIGNATURE on the FACE of the card!
The most talked about underground effect 2009 is finally hitting the market. Equip yourself with one of the most powerful and practical tool in your arsenal.
“There is a point in magic where the spectators fool themselves… This effect exploits that to the max. I can tell you from performing this, it’s a beautiful moment for the participant and the performer. I call this effect ‘Something From Nothing’! ”
- Andrew Gerard from Mind Freak
“A visual, mental miracle that happens in their hands, this is an offbeat, simple effect that gets amazing reactions!”
- Bro Gilbert from True Astonishment Project
Running Time Approximately: 29min
DOUBLE BACK DVD AND CARDS by Jon Allen-$18.00
Double Back is quite possibly the most powerful transposition effect you will ever perform. Four cards (two 5s and two kings) are openly shown. The two 5s are placed on someone’s hand and you cleanly show you are holding the two kings. Instantly, you are now holding the two 5s and they are holding the two kings. Simple. Direct. Powerful.
When Double Back was first released, it became one of the most acclaimed packet effects ever. Now, with this updated release, you will see the routine performed in a working environment. You will also learn handling advice, presentations and subtleties perfected through thousands of performances. It has never been easier to perform an effect with such a strong impact!
For years, Jon Allen has begun close-up set with Double Back. Why?
It gets people involved. It’s easy to understand. No cards are picked. It’s extremely magical. It seems too impossible to be done live. It resets instantly. It quickly tells the audience, “This guys is good!”
Running Time: Approximately 38 mins
FUJIWARA GIMMICK DELUXE WITH DVD-$35.00
Fujiwara gimmick fits over the middle and ring fingers. The space inside the fingers is not separated, allowing concealment of larger items such as three or four Morgan dollar coins, or up to ten half dollar coins, silks, even a spoon and fork.
When first practicing magic, most people use the thumbtip gimmick. However, it’s natural to want to advance to producing more and larger items in their routines. The Fujiwara Gimmick lets you take that next step.
The possibilities of this gimmick are limited only by your imagination. The instructional DVD explains basic handling and gives several examples to get you started.
DVD Contents:
# Dividing Coin
(New Effect)
A single large coin is placed onto an empty silk. Wrapped in the silk, the coin magically divides and TEN coins pour out of the silk. A fantastic climax to your coin routine!
# Phantom Silverware (New Effect)
Magician displays a silk. He places a fork and spoon into the silk and with a magical gesture they are gone! Only the silk remains. But with another magical gesture the fork and spoon are back, and he is ready for dinner.
# Handkerchief and Coin
Magician shows a large silk. With a mystical gesture, a big coin appears from the silk. Magician shows the coin and puts it into the silk . . . where it completely disappears, nothing remains.
# Vanishing Coin
Magician pours a large coin out of a crystal glass into his hand. With a magical gesture the coin disappears; his hands are empty! With a second gesture the coin springs again from the empty hand.
# Exchange
Three coins magically change into a bill.
# Flying Silk (New Effect)
Magician covers the mouth of a glass with a tissue and seals it on with a rubber band. He retrieves a silk and tucks it into one hand. With glass in one hand and silk in the other, he magically throws the silk into the glass. He reaches through the tissue and pulls the silk from the glass.
# Handkerchief and Silk (New Effect)
A white handkerchief devours a red silk. No trace is left. But then the red silk is magically reborn from the handkerchief.
Running Time Approximately: 46min
The Kartis Visible Bill Change is one of the most ingenious and visible methods to turn a blank piece of paper into a bill that you will ever see. Imagine you show both sides of a blank piece of paper held dangling down from your finger tips. Only one hand is used. The paper visibly, with no cover, changes to a bill which is immediately shown on both sides. If you could do real magic it would look exactly like the Kartis Visible Bill Change.
You receive a detailed DVD and the gimmicks to perform the effect.
The Kartis Visible Bill Change is an effect you will always carry with you and use.
Truly one of the most visible and stunning bill changes you will ever see.
Running Time Approximately: 15min
GOLD STANDARD BICYCLE DECKS (RED OR BLUE)-$5.00
Return to the Gold Standard!
Richard Turner’s brand new Gold Seal Bicycle Cards are The Gold Standard in Bicycle Playing Cards and are now available to the professional magician, gambler, card mechanic, and every playing card aficionado in search of a great deck of cards. You asked for it-you’ve got it!
Magicians and cardmen from around the world have asked Richard many times to employ the same card-making standards he developed for his Gamblers and Bee Cards to create a top of the line deck of the most popular playing cards ever produced, the trademarked 808 Rider Back Bicycles. The magic community also asked that Richard include two traditional matching Jokers in his deck, as well as a blank card with the Rider Bike back to use in reverse fans. Performers of gambling-related acts will also find the blank card useful as a cut-card when performing Greek-deals and other moves requiring a nondescript bottom card.
Quality
Each deck of Gold Seal Bicycle Cards is constructed using Bee stock, world renowned for its flexibility, yet long-lasting durability. They are stamped to a caliper/thickness that facilitates classic moves like bottom and center dealing and are embossed to a depth that does not break down the structural integrity of the card, yet still allows each card to breathe properly, thereby reducing the gum-up and hangers often caused by finger moisture.
But, most importantly, since these cards were manufactured to Richard Turner’s demanding personal specifications, they are Traditionally Cut!
The Process
Unlike most of the cards manufactured today, the cutting blade used in traditionally cut cards starts at the face of each card and punches through to its back. As a result, a sharp edge is created on the backside of each card and a rounded edge, which facilitates a flawless weave during each shuffle, is formed on the card’s face.
Traditionally cut cards ensure that card men and magicians can easily interlace the cards to produce crisp, clean shuffles, especially with some of the more intricate shuffling techniques like the one-handed shuffle, and the faro shuffle, both in-hand, and on the table.
For over 100 years traditional card cutting was the norm, but the process was changed about fifteen years ago. Casinos demand traditionally cut cards, and so does Richard Turner. Shouldn’t you?
If you demand the very best, be sure to look for the Gold Seal and gold label certifying that your deck is “Traditionally Cut for the Professional.”
So, take it from a fan whose interest in quality playing cards was piqued four decades ago: a deck of Gold Seal Bicycle Cards simply feels right in the hand, shuffles flawlessly right out of the box, and will enhance the performance of professional magicians everywhere.
Sincerely,
Bruce T. Samboy
Gambling regulator and longtime playing card enthusiast
=========================================================
STILL HAVE A FEW OF THESE “OUT OF PRINT” BOOKS. YOU CAN BUY THEM NOW OR WAIT TO PAY MORE ON EBAY WHEN THEY ARE GONE.
THE CHRONICLES by Karl Fulves-$55.00
The other day, one of my customers asked me if I had read a certain column by Jon Racherbaumer in one of the Chronicles issues. I didn’t remember reading it so I pulled out the book and read the article. I found that I simply could not put the book down. Trick after trick, article after article. About two hours later I finally put the book down. This book is just full of absolutely terrifc magic. I had forgotten how great this stuff was. For over thirty years Karl Fulves has published some of the greatest journals devoted to close-up magic. His Pallbearers and Epilogue explored the best in close up but it did not stop there. Shortly after those two publications, Karl published 36 issues of The Chronicles. During this ten year publication, some of the greatest in close-up magic contributed to its pages. Skinner, Baker, Walton, Dingle, Garcia, Cyprian, Slydini, Krenzel, Rosenthal, Schwartz, Sands, Cardini, Slaight, Gardner, Goldstein, Vernon, Cornelius, Hartman, Victor, Sellers, Judah, Elmsley, Haxton, Gagnon, Finnell, Busby, Jennings, Daley, Avis, Randi, Zarrow, Maze, James, Chanin, Lorraine, Horowitz, and many more. Here in these 395 hardbound pages is exceptional close-up magic with coins, cards, rubber bands, Okito boxes, bills, rope, rings, business cards, and even self-levitation. I highly recommend this great work on magic.
SECRET ART OF MAGIC by Eric Evans-$45.00
The Secret Art of Magic is comprised of two sections, essentially two books: Street Magic & The Art of War and The Secret Art of Dispersion. Separate, yet inextricably linked by the paradigm of ancient war strategy.
Street Magic & The Art of War uses strategies from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to teach the intricacies of street magic-from trick selection, to the pitch, to stopping people, to handling hecklers, to building a crowd, to collecting the hat. Its most profound lessons, however, deal with controlling yourself and your audience-the most critical thing for all performers.
Though Street Magic and The Art of War is already being called “THE textbook” for street magic, ultimately the most important-and largest at 170pp-section of the book is The Secret Art of Dispersion. It provides a framework to understand, assimilate, and implement deception as never before.
Using an ancient Chinese manuscript of 36 strategies for deception in warfare, The Secret Art of Dispersion teaches a new and expanded approach to misdirection-dispersion. Based on the military concept of dispersing concentration, it not only encompasses the concept of directing/misdirecting attention, but unifies all the ways magicians control their audience’s awareness-not just of what they see, but of what they think about (and conversely, and perhaps more importantly, what they don’t think about). While misdirection is usually thought of as a tool just for sleight of hand or manipulation, The Secret Art of Dispersion uses a plethora of examples to show the applications of dispersion with apparatus, illusions, stand-up, doves, mentalism, and children’s magic as well.
Pages 288 - Hard Bound
ART AND MAGIC by S.H. Sharpe-$60.00
Shortly before his death, S.H. Sharpe (author of Neo-Magic Artistry and other classics), completed a book of profound ideas about magic and art. This long awaited collection of over 1000 individual Sharpe thoughts is finally available to inspire and enlighten your magic. Art and Magic also contains amazing additional material by Sharpe, including the complete text of his much sought after “Words of Wonder.” 350 hardbound pages in typical, beautiful Miracle Factory style with acid free satin finish paper and full color cover by artist Katlyn Breene.
Just read what is being said about this great work:
“Sam Sharpe was a magical treasure. As I read these collected thoughts, I was struck by their sheer power and beauty. Never underestimate the power of a single thought and what it can do to change your magic and your life.” – EUGENE BURGER
“Sharpe will blow your mind with his insights. Art and Magic is a great book for all magicians, any page, any time. It’s a book of knowledge, a book of secrets, a book of magic for a new generation” – VITO LUPO
SILENCE OF CHUNG LING SOO by Todd Karr-$175.00
This is the third publication from the Miracle Factory and what a great book!! Chung Ling Soo has captured my attention from the time I was beginning in magic. Here is a beautiful limited edition book of almost 500 pages on this amazing magician, William Robinson. Howard Thurston once said of this man, “he knows more about magic than any other living person.” The writings, the creations, the routines of this great man have all been collected from various sources into one huge book. You will read his history and beginnings, the reprints of the wonderful William Robinson writings about the art of magic, the truth behind the challenge to Ching Ling Foo, reproductions of the letters to and from Houdini, Soo’s magic and routines fully explained, and finally a complete reproduction of three of Robinson’s works, Sprit Slate Writing and Kindred Phenomena, Extraordinary Magical Novelties, and Mystical Novelties. Also included are listings and descriptions of his performance programs as well as 40 full color plates of some of Soo’s beautiful posters, considered by many collectors to be the most beautiful ever produced. Like all of Miracle Factory publications, this book is a treasure and should be in every magician’s library.
GERMAIN THE WIZARD by Stuart Kramer-$150.00
The fourth fine book from Todd Karr’s Miracle Factory. Here is the work on Karl Germain. The two out of print books, Germain the Wizard and Secrets of Karl Germain have long been sought after. Now BOTH of these books have been redesigned and reprinted in this mammoth book as well as Germain’s scrapbook and notebook plus more than 25 additional close-up and stage effects, 10 full color Germain posters, rare photos and Germain memorabilia, Germain’s notes, writings, letters, and artwork, essays on Germain by Teller, David Ben, and Stuart Cramer and 100 new illustrations by Katlyn Breene. Over 500 pages, hardbound and sewn, with color plates and frontispiece.
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