Reviews of products by Joe Artanis

Artanis Bottom Deal

reviewed by John J. Crimmins, Jr.
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 14 January, 2006)

An unusual release including a series of photos and a 78 RPM Recording describing the sleight. Issued by Sid Weissman. Available at your magic dealer's shop. Price $5. According to information supplied to me, Artanis is a gambler and is not a magician. He is reputed to be one of the greatest card dealers and this release bears this out. With the packet you receive a set of mimeographed directions which explain in complete detail each of the twelve fine glossy photos of Artanis' hands in action with a deck of cards. Actually they are step by step photos from the time the deck is picked up until the bottom deal is consummated. By beveling the packet of photos slightly, and then riffling them you can actually see the mechanics of the sleight in movie-action. For those who find it difficult to follow through on a sleight from the written text, a two-sided record is provided which explains in clear, concise language exactly how the sleight is to be done and points out every detail of each of the 12 photos. Between the two, I can't see how you can miss mastering the bottom deal providing you give it the necessary practice. For those who want to know how this Artanis deal compares with other methods, all I can say it that the author made his living with this and other gambler's sleights - so it just has to be perfect! We're looking forward to Artanis' second deal and any other sleights that may be published from time to time.

(This is a review from Hugard's Magic Monthly, September 1958, p. 40.)