Magic & Conjuring: page 375

Unpacking the Smith Myth and the Rashomon Concept.

This collection of tricks focuses on a similar motif because they fit the precise definition of that word and, in each case, the goal is to show what unifies and specifically defines each one. I'm also using the term "curate," because I sifted through lots of material so readers can compare and analyze everything. I consider this to be a contextualizing exercise that reveals the motif's history and pinpoints its rightful place in the Creative Continuum.

The two motifs compiled here are the Smith Myth and what's popularly known as the Rashomon...

From the introduction:

• Just a Word
• Drum Head and Casatte
• Orange and Ribbon
• Astra Floating Ball
• The Rice Bowls
• The Hindoo Lota
• The Cards...

Here are 12 more mind-blowing Bob Hummer close-up and parlor puzzlers that will entertain most any audience. From the brilliant mind of Bob Hummer comes this tasty helping of magic and mental mysteries using cards, a spoon, and even a 6 x 6 checkerboard. Some of these offerings were originally sold as separate manuscripts and are now out of print.

Also included in this volume are the effects that made up Hummer's 3 Trix booklet in 1947, which has been out of print for decades. Now you can add these great tricks to your performing arsenal before the other magicians in your area get them....

Tricks about travel and more.

Here's a selection of cool self-working magic and mentalism tricks perfect for close-up and stand-up.

For example: The spectator freely selects a luggage label that has a holiday destination written on it. When a world map is opened, their chosen destination is circled.

Or how about this: A selection of postcards is shown - they're moved from the back of the pile to the front. When the spectator calls 'STOP!' the very next postcard is the only one with a hand-written message on it.

Or: Three luggage labels with vacation destinations written on them are...

The content of this publication collects the notes of a conference held some time ago to friends and colleagues, dedicated to the problem of "truth / lie". The book, published in Italy, has had a flattering success in bookstores: I think it is right to share the content also in the English language.

A good mentalist must necessarily acquire a good knowledge of the messages of the body and interpret the moods of the viewer to best conduct the effect. An excellent mentalist is always able to understand if the viewer is sincere or if he is lying, often leaving him the possibility to choose...

"I think your approach and method are brilliant." - Marc Salem

"I think it is a fun effect." - Mike Vance

The mentalist hands out a billet containing different objects. The participant then makes a series of choices and moves between objects while the mentalist eliminates different objects along the way with their help. In the end, the participant ends up with an object that matches what the mentalist has written before the start of the routine.

• You do not know how many times or how the participant moves in between objects.
• The participant is somehow involved in the elimination...

One of the classic forms of mind-reading is the center tear. With a center tear, you can get the secret information that a participant has written. Almost all of the center tears require a pre-folded billet which the participant needs to re-fold the same way after they write down the secret information. The Butterfly Center Tear (BCT) is my solution to a no pre-fold center tear. With BCT, you can now hand a flat billet to the participant and still be able to perform the center tear to peek the secret information. You can also use this method as your backup center tear in case the participant...

Gregg modifies Jackie Flosso's Bill in Lemon effect to use a matchbox rather than a lemon - much less messy - among other tweaks.

1st edition 2022, PDF 3 pages.

An excellent selection of tricks by no other than David Devant. From his introduction:

A complete performance of mentalism exactly as performed by Bob Cassidy in nightclubs and lounges all over America. This ebook is intended for the advanced performer who is well versed in the basics of the art.

• Part One
  • An Overview of the Act
  • The Logic of the Program
• Part Two
  • Performance Details
  • The Psychological Forces
  • The Book Test
  • The Three Envelope Test
  • Card Memory
• Part Three
  • The Challenge Tarot Card Reading
  • The Card Through the Window

1st edition 1995, revised 2003; PDF 45 pages.

These are the 2002 lecture notes by Bob Cassidy. As the nature of lecture notes often is, not everything is necessarily explained in detail, but many things are. For example, you will learn why Bob always has black lipstick in his go-bag, and many other wonderfully practical and effective methods and routines, some with detailed patter.

• My Mentalism Kit
• The Black Lipstick
• The Psychokinetic Pen and Keybending
• The Rainbow Pad
• The Three Envelope Test - the inside dope
• Card Memory
• The Enigma of #23

1st edition 2002, PDF 16 pages.

Falschspiel in Praxis und Theorie.

Viele, vielleicht allzu viele, versuchen ihr Glück im Spiel. Das war immer so und wird immer so bleiben. Sehr oft kann aber aus harmlosem Spiel bitterer Ernst werden - dann nämlich, wann der ehrliche Spieler, der das Spiel nur zum Vergnügen ausübt, an einen gewerbsmäßigen Falschspieler kommt. Er ist den unsauberen Methoden seines Partners nicht gewachsen, ja er ahnt es oft nicht einmal, daß er betrogen wird. Viele, die nur des Vergnügens wegen spielen wollen, haben in Gesellschaft von Falschspielern schon Vermögen verloren - und ihre Schulden, gemäß...

From the preface by John Ramsay:

From the foreword:

From the Preface:

This collection of math-based tricks includes two effects suitable for virtual shows. One is a Triumph effect the other a spelling trick that works both in English and French. Again, Miller includes some nicely designed print templates which you can print out directly from the PDF to perform the tricks with appropriately themed cards.

• Star Day
• Doppio
• Left or Right?
• Talmi 1
• Talmi 2
• Separo 1
• Separo 2
• Gigl-Gogl 1
• Gigl-Gogl 2
• Verifying an Oddity
• Sweet and Luxurious
• Hands-off Triumph
• Buoyancy
• Boarding
• Chef’s Special
• Chiamato
• With Comp7ements I
• With Comp7ements II
• 25 cm
• Magic...

This effect is undoubtedly a fooler. The magician will be able to cut to three cards that reveal the exact position of the spectator's card. Conditions are really impossible. A true miracle with a normal deck. Always great reactions from both magicians and laypeople. Always a different number.

After the magician gives the deck a shuffle, the spectator is asked to cut the deck about in half and to take from the lower portion some cards, shuffle them, remember the top card, and put them back on top of the lower portion of the deck. Then the spectator shuffles the top portion of the deck and...

Volume 1, No. 7: July 2022, 47 pgs.

The seventh issue of The Hermit Magazine features:

• EFFECTS
  • CAANADA / Scott Baird
  • Changes in the Box / Luka Kratsashvili
  • Cryptic / Kyle Leon
  • Card Battle Royale / Fritz Alkemade
  • The Floating Bag (a.k.a. The Facebook Trick) / Patrik Kuffs
  • Another Nice Oil and Water / Rudy Tinoco
• ARTICLES
  • #hermitmagicchallenge / Photo Submissions
  • Sankey Says - We must encourage each other / Jay Sankey

A further selection of magical patter and other novelties, including chapeaugraphy and papertearing.

• Patter for Card Manipulation Act
• The Never-Empty Glass of Water
• Selbit’s Sugar and Milk Trick
• Paper Tearing
• Chapeaugraphy
• An Introduction to a Dumb Show
• Miscellaneous Gags

1st edition 1927, 14 pages; PDF 12 pages.

The reader will find in this volume witty and appropriate patter suitable for almost any and every trick. Including patter and hints for tricks with coins, eggs, birds, handkerchiefs, bird cages, oranges, ribbons, bottles, glasses, water, tubes, etc.

• To The Reader
• Opening Remarks
• Patter For Aerial Treasury Act
• Chosen Orange And Mystic Ribbon Trick
• The Egg And Handkerchief Trick
• Bagged Canaries And Cage Trick
• Handkerchief Manipulation Act
• How To Construct Patter
  • Bits About Bottles
  • Gags On Glasses
  • Tube Trifles
  • Water Witticisms

1st edition 1927, 14 pages; PDF 14 pages.

It is not easy to define, in a few words, Mariano Tomatis, but I want to try: he is a "Curiosity Generator". Because his books, his conferences, and, above all, his "pills" on Youtube (Mesmer in pills) are for me an inexhaustible source of information, culture (magical or otherwise), ideas, and, above all, a continuous stimulus to know, to seek, to try, to create, to "go upstairs".

Two pills, in particular, struck me and interested me (n ° 92: Coin, pen and cell phone, and n ° 228: Seeing with the third eye): once seen, I tried to analyze possible developments, discovering Masters, authors,...

Auch Sie können zaubern! Sicherlich haben Sie es schon erlebt, daß ganz plötzlich in einer Gesellschaft, die sich eben noch angeregt unterhielt, ein unliebsamer Gast auftaucht: die Langeweile. Das Gespräch verebbt, man weiß sich nichts mehr zu erzählen und unterdrückt nur mit Mühe ein Gähnen. Da hat ein Gast einen guten Einfall: er beginnt zu zaubern. Sogleich ist eine Sphäre des Interesses und regster Anteilnahme unter den Anwesenden geschaffen. Aber auch Sie können das, denn auch Sie können zaubern! Vielleicht haben Sie schon das eine oder andere Zauberbuch in der Hand gehabt,...

More than the twenty major Marlo items Ed contributed to New Tops Magazine in 1982-1983 - not to mention new sleights, finesses, and subtleties - these items have been largely unavailable since their publication, almost 40 years ago. Wesley James has added another two years of material toward fulfilling Ed Marlo's expressed wishes, keeping his material available "for the guys."

As with Wesley's two previous releases, M.I.N.T. III and M.I.N.T. IV, these long-unavailable Marlo items could have been all Wesley compiled. Such a volume would have been a huge contribution to the literature of card magic. As a tribute...

A comedy 'just chance' routine with a modern twist.

The performer has five envelopes numbered 1-to-5. One of the envelopes contains cocaine donated free for PR purposes by a leading Columbian drug cartel. (They're not all bad, after all!) Go with it - this is a comedy routine. (Non-adult version also included.)

Audience members select any four envelopes - but there's no 'snow' in any of them. The remaining envelope belongs to the performer - inside is the expensive white powder. This is a comedy routine with a brilliant visual ending that goes down a storm. But don't worry if you want...

From the introduction: