Magic & Conjuring: page 9

A practical guide to the invention of tricks plus newly created tricks.

"I must say that I was prepared to dislike this book ... Wilker's discussion, however, is so pleasant and unassuming that one can hardly disagree with him. In part, this is because Wilker seems to recognize the inherent problems in stating hard and fast rules about creativity and so limits his conclusions accordingly." - Stephen Hobbs

From the Preface:

As previously recounted, I've been making notes and sticking Post-its in all my books for decades, so I still have hundreds of great tricks book-marked, annotated, and logged. The first two Hidden Gems ebooks proved far more popular than I could have reasonably expected, so here we are with Volume 3 and another 100 great tricks that most of us have sadly forgotten about.

These are tricks that define the very concept of 'hidden in print'. In each entry, I list the trick, where you can find it, why I love it and why you should look it up. I always describe the effect, occasionally the presentation,...

More excerpts from my notebooks, listing fantastic tricks that have caught my eye over the years. The first three Hidden Gems ebooks have been very, very popular so here we are with Volume 4.

These are tricks that define the very concept of 'hidden in print'. In each entry, I list the trick, where you can find it, why I love it and why you should look it up. I always describe the effect, occasionally the presentation, but never the method. Most are in books that you already own (or should!), some are in magazines that you can easily get access to and the odd one or two entries will send...

More excerpts from my notebooks, listing fabulous tricks that have caught my eye over the years. The first four Hidden Gems ebooks have been incredibly popular so here we are with Volume 5.

These are tricks that define the very concept of 'hidden in print'. In each entry, I list the trick, where you can find it, why I love it and why you should look it up. I always describe the effect, occasionally the presentation, but never the method. Most are in books that you already own (or should!), some are in magazines that you can easily get access to and the odd one or two entries will send you...

From the introduction:

This rare booklet contains some real gems. The routines are described concisely and with lots of clear photos.

• Introduction
• Fooling with Hoola Fooler
• A Ring and some rope
• Matched Up
• Card Production
• Phoa Yan Tiong's Cut and Restored Handkerchief
• Coin Manipulation
• Eddie Wards Card rise
• Quick Tricks
• Malini's Vanish of Note from a Handkerchief
• An effective routine for Equally Unequal Ropes
• Giant fans

• Preface
• The Vanishing Fan
• The Fountain Of Fire
• New Candle And Handkerchief Illusion
• New And Novel Watch Manipulation
• A New Impromptu Card Trick
• New Handkerchief Illusion
• Novel Transformation Of A Billiard Ball To A Bouquet
• A New Vanish For Coins
• A New Tub For The Production Of Live Stock
• Soup Plate And Handkerchiefs
• The Great Slate Mystery
• An Improved Coin Holder
• A New Card Trick
• A New Coin Trick
• Novel Change Of Handkerchief To Streamer
• Sensational Flag Production
• Anti-Gravity Ball
• New Card And Bird Trick
• Latest Omelette In Hat
• Billiard Ball Manipulation
• A Few Wrinkles ...

Under the title Presto Magic & Mystery, Heritage Films released a series of fifteen 8mm films (these are silent films) with magic performances during the 1950s/60s. This compilation includes eight of the fifteen films. They are:

• Ken Brooke performing the floating pencil and a sponge ball routine (original #10).
• Fred Lowe performs a safety pin routine, a burnt and restored handkerchief, and a cigarette and liquid-filled glass production.
• Ken Brooke, channeling Tony Slydini, performs the paper balls and hat routine and finishes with a four paper ball assembly using two hats.
• Fred Lowe performs a four ace production,...

This is volume 2 of the 8-volume Collected Magic Series.

• Compilers Preamble
• "Jack Sheppard" A Mysterious Release
• The Enchanted Fan
• "Shades & Shapes" A Pretty Effect with Silks
• "The Zodizignz" An Ancient Oracle
• The "Debur" Afghan Bands
• "The Red Hand!" A Perpetration
• An Ingenious Hat Load
• "A Means to an End"
• The Elusive Stop
• Another Ingenious Hat Load
• The Diving Ball
• The "Regimental" Effect
• "Woolly Wizardry''
• On Card Levitations
• An Easy Hat Production
• "Dissolving Silk"
• The Bretma "Glasgow" Tray

Sixteen beautiful routines, moves, and effects that, like the title says, will earn you plenty of audience applause. Most of the audience-pleasing routines use props that you likely already own, such as a Vanishing Cane, Comedy Funnel, Liquid Appear, silks, rope, magic wand, and other standard items.

Plus, Mardo tips a trio of coin effects that use standard coins and a modicum of sleights to accomplish the magic. And a swell card flourish that was later featured in the movie "The Sting," starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

Paul Fleming wrote:

From the introduction:

Here's an expanded and updated edition of a Paul Curry manuscript that contains not one, but two powerful effects that will give you a reputation as an outstanding magician and psychic entertainer.

Probability Zero

A batch of business cards are numbered and mixed, with their number sides down. A truly sensational climax is reached when a spectator, although he selects the cards at random and doesn't know the numbers on the cards, succeeds in arranging them in numerical order. Is it just chance? Not likely - the odds are over 300,000 to 1 against it.

The Color-Changing Deck

A new...

Here's an expanded and updated edition of the second and final Paul Curry manuscript in the series with a pair of powerful effects that'll give you a reputation as an outstanding magician and psychic entertainer. Both of these card miracles exhibit the brilliant methodology that you've come to expect from Paul Curry.

Think Of A Card

A spectator merely thinks of a card. The performer jots down the name of a card. The spectator names his card and the performer shows what he wrote - it's the name of the thought-of card. A clean-cut, logical effect.

Follow-up

This is a variation of the...

From the preface:

This work builds on Wilker's The Creation of Magic. It is helpful to have read it, but it is not required.

There is a definite mathematical theme running through this ebook. Not that there is any heavy math involved, just that the routines have an underlying mathematical basis. Wilker has a variety of interesting presentations and throw-offs that disguise the mathematics during the performance.

"Methods for Minor Miracles is an enjoyable and worthwhile read." - Stephen Hobbs

• Preface
• Chapter 1. Stacks And Double Stacks
  • Weighty Cards
  • One Third Lucky
  • Signpost
  • Match Point
  • Double Stack Principle
  • Animal Kingdom ...

From the introduction:

Translated from French (La Magie du Sorcier) to English by Dariel Fitzkee. It details the tricks, moves, ideas, and improvements of Rezvani, the Persian magician who has been a sensation among the magicians of Paris. Overall it is an excellent work, particularly for those who appreciate the finer points of sleights and how they are deployed in tricks. There is a lot here for card magicians. Also his most famous trick the Tomato trick is explained, but for that routine, I suggest studying The Cushions of the Princess: or the tomato game.

Paul Flemming writes:

The performer displays two straight large nails held at his fingertips. Slowly the two nails visibly bend to a 45-degree angle. The nails continue to visibly bend to almost a 90-degree angle. The nails remain in view throughout this bending process. The nails continue to bend to almost a horseshoe angle. The spectator can actually hear the nails bending, immediately hand the bent nails out for examination. The nails can even be examined before the bending. Nothing concealed in the hand. Resets in seconds. Nails can be used over and over again. No, you do not need super strength to perform this...

There are many books published for the card magician, the close-up magician, the mentalist, the illusionist, and even the kid show performer but there are very few books for the general practitioner of club and stage magic.

Showstuff caters to that neglected segment of the magic community. In this ebook, you'll find more than 50 tricks and routines, all of them professionally tested.

• Original showy tricks for your club and stage shows.
• Comedy routines that will get you laughs.
• New uses for common magic props you own.
• Strong closing items that will add professional luster to your show...

This is a compilation of Peter Wilker's contributions to Abra. In 1991 he contributed a Triad Cavalcade to issue #2357. A couple of individual tips and tricks from other issues complete the collection.

• Introduction
• The Broken Match Ceremony
• Third Clue
• Dating
• The Devil's End
• Saltpetre Indices
• The Missing Prediction

1st edition 1991, PDF 14 pages.

3 professional performance pieces direct from Mel's repertoire.

1: Spin a yarn a commercial presentation hook for the classic 'Gypsy thread' (performed with wool/yarn) with a great comedy spiel. Includes sample script and gags.

2: Around the world with a pack of cards. An offbeat and entertaining way to present the 'Six card repeat', enhancing the repetitive structure of the effect.

3: Totally scattered. Is a real fooler that plays big. A shuffled deck of cards is given to the spectator and they cut and note a card they then shuffle the cards again and scatter them. Under these impossible...

Montague was a member of the Hous of Commons and a hobby magician, which lead to his nickname "Conjurer of the House of Commons." Most of the tricks described here are of his invention.

From the introduction by Will Goldston:

Three more performance pieces designed with maximum entertainment in mind. Each effect includes sample scripts, handling's, and the all important presentational hooks with the emphasize on comedy.

POCKET POWER

Cards are shown portraying various items a person may have in their pockets such as, keys, pills, spectacles, etc. The performer invites the spectator to place various cards in their pocket (doesn't have to be pocket). Using x-ray vision (can place some x-ray specs on) the magician correctly identifies the items and the pockets.

THE BREAD KNIFE CARD STAB.

A unique and original...

A choice collection of smart close-up and pocket tricks of the type for which Dr. Ervin was famous. Originally sold as four separate booklets, these have now been combined into a single, greatly enlarged volume, edited by Ralph W. Read and fully illustrated.

Contains tricks with bills, coins, cigarettes, tobacco, matches, silks, needles, playing cards, ropes, mind reading, livestock, and more. Comedy, straight magic, even a few stunts that will play well as bar betchas. There's plenty of variety to capture and keep any audience's attention.

Our favorites include a very clever Thumb Tie that uses...