Search found 330 matches

by SteveP
July 1st, 2014, 8:45 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: IBM SAM - Day 1
Replies: 4
Views: 2227

Re: IBM SAM - Day 1

Welcome to St Louis Missouri ... A city in mid America, where it's 100 in the shade, they sing the national anthem before theatre shows and now Home to some 1300 magicians ... And one very large arch. Hi Craig, On behalf of the residents of St. Louis city and county, we apologize for the hot weathe...
by SteveP
June 23rd, 2014, 2:06 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Do people still wear watches?
Replies: 42
Views: 10748

Re: Do people still wear watches?

Jon, I don't think there is a reason to get someone in on it. Two performers were mentioned - Mac King and Jeff Hobson. I'll add two more - Michael Finney and Whit Haydn. All these guys do a watch steal regularly. But look at their personalities. Look at the context in which they're doing it. There ...
by SteveP
June 23rd, 2014, 12:35 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Do people still wear watches?
Replies: 42
Views: 10748

Re: Do people still wear watches?

Harry Blackstone's performance, OTOH, was a low point in his show for me. And it was still too much of a "look at what else I can do" filler bit for me as well. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying he didn't perform it well, but for me whenever I saw that part of the act it slide him down ...
by SteveP
June 19th, 2014, 9:26 pm
Forum: Convention Room Mate Finder
Topic: Go Best Express Shuttle for St. Louis IBM/SAM
Replies: 18
Views: 23457

Re: Go Best Express Shuttle for St. Louis IBM/SAM

Dustin, Not to offend any St. Louisan's who happen to read this, but take my advice - stay away from any St. Louis-style pizza. There is a local chain and they have a couple of them downtown, called Imo's Pizza. St. Louis pizza is very thin, almost crunchy crust made with a local hybrid cheese calle...
by SteveP
June 19th, 2014, 11:40 am
Forum: Convention Room Mate Finder
Topic: Go Best Express Shuttle for St. Louis IBM/SAM
Replies: 18
Views: 23457

Re: Go Best Express Shuttle for St. Louis IBM/SAM

There's also a grocery store about 2 blocks away - Culinaria at 9th & Olive. By the way, next to the hotel on 9th street is an Orpheum Theater where Houdini performed. Occasionally I'll see a program from his appearance there come up for auction. If you take a trek over to Union Station, that's ...
by SteveP
June 19th, 2014, 8:25 am
Forum: Convention Room Mate Finder
Topic: Go Best Express Shuttle for St. Louis IBM/SAM
Replies: 18
Views: 23457

Re: Go Best Express Shuttle for St. Louis IBM/SAM

Regarding Ted Drewes, there is one closer than you think. Next to the new Busch Stadium is the new Ballpark Village, which has a lot of restaurants, including Ted Drewes. In the past decade downtown St. Louis has become more residential, so early mornings you will find joggers and dog walkers. You'r...
by SteveP
June 19th, 2014, 7:41 am
Forum: Convention Room Mate Finder
Topic: Go Best Express Shuttle for St. Louis IBM/SAM
Replies: 18
Views: 23457

Re: Go Best Express Shuttle for St. Louis IBM/SAM

MetroLink is a convenient way to get from Lambert to your hotel. The Convention Center MetroLink stop is two blocks from your hotel. It will let you out on 6th & Washington. Your hotel is two blocks west on 8th & Washington. Two city blocks in St. Louis is a very short walk. The MetroLink fa...
by SteveP
November 24th, 2012, 9:06 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Gypsy Thread
Replies: 33
Views: 15594

Re: Gypsy Thread

I agree with forgetting about the figure eight. That always tangled on me. 30 years ago I spent some time with Alan Alan and he taught me the figure eight, but I was never consistent with a tangle-free restoration. I just wrap it around a Bic pen and it's never failed.
by SteveP
November 23rd, 2012, 12:59 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Juggler
Replies: 7
Views: 1633

Re: Juggler

I like the use of the mask. I've seen guys to this and all you can see is the top of their head. The guy is Dan Menendez. Here's a clip from the 1980's on The Tonight Show, before the mask. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbk7rxQVNDc And here's his website: http://pianojuggler.com/
by SteveP
November 23rd, 2012, 4:58 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Juggler
Replies: 7
Views: 1633

Re: Juggler

That is correct.

I worked with this guy at a trade show about 20 years ago and had a chance to see him many times during the week. The balls hit different keys almost every show.
by SteveP
December 31st, 2011, 8:14 am
Forum: Collector's Marketplace
Topic: Castle Notebooks on ebay
Replies: 15
Views: 3869

Re: Castle Notebooks on ebay

It was published about 10 years after. Slydini died in 1991 and L&L's book was published in 2001.
by SteveP
December 30th, 2011, 5:01 pm
Forum: Collector's Marketplace
Topic: Castle Notebooks on ebay
Replies: 15
Views: 3869

Re: Castle Notebooks on ebay

Although the product is no longer listed on L&L's site, the original product description is still in the database and I've included the full description below. Yes, these were published after he died and without his knowledge, meaning these weren't something he planned on having released after h...
by SteveP
December 3rd, 2011, 3:02 pm
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: Bad experience with Snapillusions
Replies: 49
Views: 16710

Re: Bad experience with Snapillusions

If you Google his address, it comes back to this thread. I think all he's asking is to have my post removed that had Moyer's old address. Eventually it will purge itself from Google. Simple.
by SteveP
December 2nd, 2011, 6:53 am
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: Bad experience with Snapillusions
Replies: 49
Views: 16710

Re: Bad experience with Snapillusions

Here's the updated address for Snap according to the link I previously posted:

Snap Illusions, LLC
1350 West Southport Road
Indianapolis, IN 46217

The link is still good, but it does show a new address.
by SteveP
November 27th, 2011, 10:57 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Guy Jarrett's 21-Person Cabinet performed on ABC by Scott Alexander
Replies: 3
Views: 1472

Re: Guy Jarrett's 21-Person Cabinet performed on ABC by Scott Alexander

Here's a YouTube video of Henning performing it on the TV special to produce cheerleaders:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkV34rtGzqI
by SteveP
November 23rd, 2011, 12:24 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Houdini Straitjacket Up for Auction this Wednesday!
Replies: 14
Views: 2165

Re: Houdini Straitjacket Up for Auction this Wednesday!

Did he make more money by auctioning it? Or did Rick make him a better offer on Pawn Stars? I saw the episode, but don't remember what he tried to buy it for.
by SteveP
November 21st, 2011, 9:31 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Jay Marshall Performance Clips
Replies: 10
Views: 2499

Re: Jay Marshall Performance Clips

Tom,

Thank you for making these available! There really isn't a lot of footage of Jay out there, especially on YouTube. It's important that performances like these are shared and don't get lost forever.
by SteveP
November 16th, 2011, 4:00 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Question about Blackstone Jr.
Replies: 44
Views: 13392

Re: Question about Blackstone Jr.

Years ago I saw him on TV performing at halftime of The Orange Bowl (I even taped it, but can't seem to find the tape now). You probably know what happened. I didn't work on The Orange Bowl number, but it isn't surprising that it went so poorly. Harry didn't rehearse. He hated rehearsing. The only ...
by SteveP
November 3rd, 2011, 8:31 am
Forum: Collector's Marketplace
Topic: Help Finding a Gimmicked Hole Punch
Replies: 11
Views: 2505

Re: Help Finding a Gimmicked Hole Punch

That's correct.

The original Weber routine used two inexpensive tickets that you can get from party supply stores, like these:

http://www.centurynovelty.com/detail_109_427-061.html

The hole punch is used to prepare the tickets and in the performance.
by SteveP
November 3rd, 2011, 6:33 am
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: Is this dangerous ?
Replies: 14
Views: 4698

Re: Is this dangerous ?

There's also Electric Touch, by Mesika which is a system you wear. http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/1366
by SteveP
November 3rd, 2011, 6:26 am
Forum: Collector's Marketplace
Topic: Help Finding a Gimmicked Hole Punch
Replies: 11
Views: 2505

Re: Help Finding a Gimmicked Hole Punch

The effect doesn't use a gimmicked hole punch. It uses a standard, inexpensive hole punch that you should be able to pick up anywhere. You manipulate (for lack of a better term) the spring in the punch to create the sound. I don't know if Close changed that aspect of the Weber routine, but I used to...
by SteveP
October 31st, 2011, 4:24 pm
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: Famous mentalists
Replies: 25
Views: 8644

Re: Famous mentalists

Diego, Getting back to the original question of this thread, "Who would you consider to be the most famous and best mentalist?" I think the answer would be Derren Brown. I doubt there are as many people who know who Kreskin is. If there were he would be selling out shows and still making m...
by SteveP
October 28th, 2011, 12:35 pm
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: Famous mentalists
Replies: 25
Views: 8644

Re: Famous mentalists

Kreskin's tv show ran from 72 - 75. Check out Google Trends for "mentalist" http://www.google.com/trends?q=mentalist&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0 The US isn't even in the top 10. I don't know if that's a measurable way of seeing the lack of interest in mentalism or maybe ...
by SteveP
October 28th, 2011, 9:47 am
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: Famous mentalists
Replies: 25
Views: 8644

Re: Famous mentalists

Kreskin is STILL the best known name in the USA.(Deal with it.) Diego, You don't have to be rude about it. In my post above I stated that Kreskin isn't as well known in the US as Derren is in the UK and that's a fact. Derren is selling out live shows months in advance and Kreskin can no longer fill...
by SteveP
October 26th, 2011, 1:19 pm
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: Famous mentalists
Replies: 25
Views: 8644

Re: Famous mentalists

Surely in the US, the most famous is Kreskin? I guess that would depend on who you ask. Kreskin isn't as famous in the US as Derren is in the UK. He was 40 years ago, but not any longer. The Patrick Jane character from The Mentalist TV show is probably the best known name associated with the term M...
by SteveP
October 16th, 2011, 6:46 am
Forum: iGenii
Topic: Ask Alexander on Safari (Mac)
Replies: 7
Views: 3535

Re: Ask Alexander on Safari (Mac)

You may want to try using Chrome. I'm using Lion as well and it works perfectly with Chrome.
by SteveP
October 11th, 2011, 10:45 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Best rising card gimmick?
Replies: 36
Views: 11007

Re: Best rising card gimmick?

Steve, are you sure that he's referring to the Levent gag? I distinctly remember Mark Wilson (or maybe it was Bill Bixby) doing that type of gag, but it looked different than the Levent one. Probably a flap. Levent's is the only one I'm familiar with. I had never seen that effect/gag prior to Leven...
by SteveP
October 11th, 2011, 6:11 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Best rising card gimmick?
Replies: 36
Views: 11007

Re: Best rising card gimmick?

There's a stage/parlor item where a card rises with its back to the audience and then flips around. Not directly examinable but it's cute. That's Levent's effect, the Roto-Riser Deck. A lot of sequential rising card routines really could use logical endings. The late David Alexander talked about th...
by SteveP
October 11th, 2011, 4:06 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Best rising card gimmick?
Replies: 36
Views: 11007

Re: Best rising card gimmick?

There are no forces in the Nemo rise. They take cards, one goes into an envelope and two are pushed into the pack. I was just going from the Paul Daniels clip that Stevens Magic is using for the demo and he does force three cards from a regular size deck and does the rising cards with a jumbo deck.
by SteveP
October 11th, 2011, 3:00 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Best rising card gimmick?
Replies: 36
Views: 11007

Re: Best rising card gimmick?

I guess the Nemo rise could be used close-up, but it seems to be a more restrictive setup. The other effects allow for free selections, whereas the Nemo requires 3 forces. Also I'm not sure three cards rising are better than one. After that first card rises, the audience gets it and there has to be ...
by SteveP
October 11th, 2011, 2:52 pm
Forum: Collector's Marketplace
Topic: The Eclectic Rainbow Deck 2011 Edition
Replies: 22
Views: 6268

Re: The Eclectic Rainbow Deck 2011 Edition

Mine arrive a couple of days ago. I picked up two of them so I had a backup deck. Really nice decks. I'm looking forward to using them. Thanks for putting these together David!
by SteveP
October 11th, 2011, 5:01 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Best rising card gimmick?
Replies: 36
Views: 11007

Re: Best rising card gimmick?

Kundalini Rising is a great effect. I've been using this effect since the late 80's when McBride first put it out. Like Dual Control you can use it on any deck and the deck can be handed out before and after. Unlike Dual Control, you don't need to wear a jacket, however there is a lot more you can d...
by SteveP
September 17th, 2011, 9:35 am
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Question about Blackstone Jr.
Replies: 44
Views: 13392

Re: Question about Blackstone Jr.

What is on the DVD is, I feel, Gay's attitude towards the show. The big expensive numbers is what she cared about. Unfortunately those illusions didn't make the show. They were dated and had drawn out presentations. Gay wanted to keep doing the big show even when it wasn't financially realistic and ...
by SteveP
September 16th, 2011, 9:51 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New on Tuesday from Conjuring Arts
Replies: 12
Views: 3220

Re: New on Tuesday from Conjuring Arts

For young guys, the Ellusionist/Theory 11 crowd, these custom playing cards are instant gratification. Most of these guys can do some manipulation with cards - some cuts, card fans, etc. They get these cards and in their minds they're handling the cards "the pros" use. They get caught up i...
by SteveP
September 15th, 2011, 6:01 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Question about Blackstone Jr.
Replies: 44
Views: 13392

Re: Question about Blackstone Jr.

It's not that surprising actually. When you look at Henning, Copperfield and even Mark Wilson, these guys had their own act. Blackstone was performing his father's act exactly like his father. Add to that early on he was being compared to his father and many times not in a positive way. He never too...
by SteveP
September 15th, 2011, 11:56 am
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Question about Blackstone Jr.
Replies: 44
Views: 13392

Re: Question about Blackstone Jr.

I tried to find a clip of that appearance on YouTube, but nothing came up. It was before he grew his goatee, so a very young Blackstone Jr. Also I haven't been able to find a clip of Harry doing The Committee either. In 2005 Gay Blackstone put out a DVD - Blackstone Magical Moments, but I don't know...
by SteveP
September 15th, 2011, 9:02 am
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Question about Blackstone Jr.
Replies: 44
Views: 13392

Re: Question about Blackstone Jr.

The pickpocket act was called "The Committee" and it was a routine that could go long or short, depending on the situation. I've seen him do 5 minutes with it on TV and 25 minutes live. It typically involved the card trick as a loose premise, then went into a Kellar rope tie and the pickpo...
by SteveP
September 14th, 2011, 2:48 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: DC - King of Magic
Replies: 15
Views: 3265

Re: DC - King of Magic

Harry was the same offstage as he was onstage. Even privately there wasn't a big shift in his personality. He amplified it a bit onstage, but he was basically the same guy. David onstage isn't the same person offstage and I think that makes a difference. I also think that there is also a different a...
by SteveP
August 16th, 2011, 10:59 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: David Copperfield is a dad...since last year!
Replies: 18
Views: 6412

Re: David Copperfield is a dad...since last year!

For a famous person, David is private about his personal life and would rather let his magic get the spotlight. The only time I've seen a relationship get a lot of attention was when he was with Claudia Schiffer. The National Enquirer article made sense when I first read it because it's such an obsc...

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