Magic & Conjuring: page 199

Here is a mental effect that is useful for after-dinner shows.

EFFECT:

On the performer's table stand five bottled drinks. All contain different drinks, but they are all the same size. A spectator is invited to mentally choose one, then they are covered by him with five identical covers and, finally, mixed so no one can know the position of any particular drink. At this point, the performer turns his back and directs the spectator to move the bottles himself. Then one by one they are eliminated until only one remains.

He is asked to name the drink he chose, then lift the cover from...

Very easy to do, impromptu and with a big effect! What else would you ask? Count Down by Ken de Courcy is a card trick that you can present in several ways, all well explained in this little manuscript.

The basic effect is the following: A spectator shuffles his own pack (Yes! It can be his own pack of cards and he really shuffles it...), then counts ten cards in a reverse order. If a number of spots on a card happens to match the number he is counting aloud at the time, the card is thrown out face-up. If none match during the count, a card is dealt face down in front of the magician.

This...

Si tratta di un effetto impromptu, molto semplice da eseguire e dal grande effetto! Cos'altro volere di più?

CONTO ALLA ROVESCIA di Ken De Courcy è un gioco che può esser presentato in diversi modi, alcuni spiegati nel dettaglio in questo piccolo manoscritto.

L'effetto base è il seguente: uno spettatore mischia il proprio mazzo di carte (si proprio il suo mazzo che viene mischiato veramente!) quindi conta dieci carte facendo un conto alla rovescia. Se il valore della carta corrisponde al numero contato, la carta viene messa sul tavolo a faccia in alto. Se nessun valore delle carte...

The title of this little booklet is self-explanatory. In the pages of this lecture Ken gives advice on how to create a card act. He begins explaining his twists on classic card moves as the pass, card changes and force. Then he gives a brief description (direct to the point) of several card tricks that can be included in the act.

The majority of the tricks are improvements of other tricks or are Ken's original. Many are loaded with comedy in the usual Ken de Courcy style. In the manuscript you will find

• The face to face routine
• Nap hand Sam
• The Indian rope trick
• The triple cut discovery ...

From the introduction:

It is a children's game...it is a great magic trick...it is a mystifying series of magic tricks...it is SPOTITIS!

Do you remember the simple origami fold called "the salt cellar"? Well, Ken de Courcy in this manuscript teaches you how to use that simple fold for performing wonderful magic tricks. Ken says:

From the FOREWORD

From the fertile mind of Ken De Courcy, Edwin Hooper and Ian Adair, here is a manuscript loaded with wonderful ideas to magically introduce and produce your business card...

From the introduction:

Which is one of the best forces in magic? Undoubtedly the PATEO force! PATEO stand for "POINT AT TWO, ELIMINATE ONE", because that's exactly what happens.

The PATEO force is very easy to do end can be used not only with cards but with a variety of objects. It is a very strong force because the spectator seems to have very free choice. In this wonderful manuscript, Ken De Courcy give us, 33 ways to use the PATEO force. You will find card magic, mental magic, close-up magic, club magic, party magic and, yes, stage magic too. A real treasure house of good effects. You can surely find at least...

Time Flies! And it's hard to time it because it flies so fast. Anyway, here is a routine with a borrowed watch that you will find fun to make up. Even the most ham-fisted should be able to complete the job in about half-an-hour. It's fun-packed and the magic content is strong. In brief a borrowed wrist watch disappears in a cascade of streamers and is found in a sealed tin can.

5 pages

A brilliant card-up-the-sleeve routine wherein you perform the effect first with regular cards and then with JUMBO'S.

Not difficult to do - a pleasure to learn and a delight to perform. Complete with Ken de Courcy's original fully illustrated routine, (based on a concept by R. M. Jamison), and full patter presentation to perform this unusual and entertaining mystery.

The effect is the following:

The magician introduces three playing cards, for example, a Two of Hearts, a Three of Diamonds and a card which is conspicuously different to the other two, an Ace of Spades. The cards are...

From the introduction:

From the introduction:

Content

• PART ONE - Match...

Get the most from a classic trick. All you need is a single piece of rope (that can be borrowed) and you are always ready to entertain your audience. It packs so small but it plays so big. You can perform it close up or for a big audience.

"The Impossible Knot", originally called "G.W.Hunter's Puzzle Knot", was well-known to magicians fifty years ago but appears to have dropped out of use. This is a shame because it is easy to do, not well-known and, due to the method, almost impossible for a spectator to work out even when he is apparently shown how it is done. In short, it's a useful thing...

From the introduction:

An amazing three part routine with a simple piece of rope and a borrowed ring.

The routine is in three parts. In Part I, a borrowed signet-ring is threaded on a rope, then penetrates it. Part II sees the ring again threaded and also knotted on the rope. Nevertheless, the ring visibly dissolves through leaving just the knot. In Part III the ring is threaded and knotted on the rope then a handkerchief is wrapped round it and the whole thing is held by a spectator. When instructed, he allows the handkerchief to drop to the floor to disclose an 'empty' rope; no ring ... not even a knot.

Since...

From the introduction:

Impromptu tricks for audiences who speak little to no English.

In today's global world it is important to be able to do magic for folks who do not speak your language or who do not understand the cultural nuances and jokes you may have in your primary program. Many of the tricks taught are impromptu. From the introduction by Billy McComb:

Ken de Courcy and Billy McComb took an old chemical effect, figured out the secret that makes it work reliably, and worked out all the other kinks, to make it ready for real world performances. The effect reads like one from Lubor Fiedler.

Effect: The magician introduces a circle of yellow tissue paper and hands it to a spectator to crumple into a ball. He receives it back then, holding it at his fingertips, concentrates on it for a few moments. The tissue ball is placed on an ashtray then ... it suddenly bursts into flames and burns away.

PDF 6 pages.

Here is another magical gem from Ken De Courcy. It is packed with mystery, humor and audience participation. This card effect is suitable for close-up, stage, cabaret-floor or where you want to present it. The totally unexpected (yet logical) climax really hits the audience between the eyes and cannot fail to gather applause.

EFFECT: A lady is invited to assist. She chooses one of four envelopes and the remaining three are left in full view. She is then handed a red-backed pack to shuffle while the magician shuffles a blue pack. Then the packs are exchanged and shuffled again if you want. ...

Here is Ken's version of the signed card to wallet. A classic effect in a beautiful version with the complete presentation. The Effect: A card is chosen and signed by the taker. When it has been returned to the pack, a wallet is introduced. Inside it is a card which proves to be the one that was chosen and signed.

• No palming
• No force
• Use any wallet
• Easy to do
• Diabolical method

1st edition 1985, 1st digital edition 2018, 4 pages.

A chosen card that not only penetrates right through a deck of cards and a card-case, but also right through a spectator's hand. A very strong effect that looks impossible.

The effect is startling because it appears to happen in the spectator's own hands. As always Ken provides precious ideas for an intriguing presentation.

• Easy to do
• No palming
• The card can be signed

1st edition 1986; 1st digital edition 2018, 4 pages.

From the Foreword:

• Introduction ...
• Foreword ...
• CHAPTER ONE: MAGIC WITH CARDS
  • Reggie the Rattlesnake
  • Ri-Ki-Ki Poker
  • Silken Card Discovery
  • The Travelling Phoenix
  • The Snake Charmer
• CHAPTER TWO: MAGIC WITH THE MIND
  • Eve v Adam
  • "Hail, O Swami"
  • Tangled Thoughts
  • The Devil's Key
• CHAPTER THREE: MAGIC WITH ANYTHING
  • No Knot
  • The Sympathetic Note Trick
  • The Jeweller's Dream
  • Which Witch?
  • The Chinese Picture
  • The Fiddled Furniture
  • The Ju-Ju...

If you like a real card baffler, look no further. This is a sort of 'One-Deck Do-As-I-Do' but it works on a very different principle.

Cards are shuffled and cut both by the spectator and the performer (really!). The spectator mentally chooses a card (free choice) and the performer does the same. Then the cards are shuffled again. Unbelievably, the magician and the spectator get cards of the same value and colour. It almost works itself.

Effect: The performer cuts a portion off the pack, hands it to a spectator and asks him to do exactly as he does. First they both shuffle their packets,...