The Trick Cardini Didn't Like

[Guest]

Hi Everyone,
Remember in Lorayne's CLOSE UP CARD MAGIC, he mentioned that Cardini read the manuscript before the book was published and said that there was only one effect he didn't like, but wouldn't tell harry what it was? Weeeellllllll, does anyone know?

[Guest]

I have wondered this for 40 years. I bet it was the first one in the book.

[Jon Racherbaumer]

As we speculate on this one (which is probably more fun), I'll ask Harry.
Perhaps he'll remember?
I'll post the answer here.

Onward...

[Jon Racherbaumer]

Well, I asked Harry today.
He said, "Cardini never told me which trick he thought was bad."
I happen to believe Harry. Others will assume that he's holding out.

So, the minor mystery remains.
Therefore, continue speculating, speculators. Better still, conduct a poll.

Onward...

[John Pezzullo]

I'd like to nominate "Revolving Aces", a fine example of ho-hum card trickery.

[Roy McIlwee]

I'd like to put a ten timer in on Salt-Less.

[Guest]

I have used that Salt Less thing. Actually it's better than one would think. It gets a very good reaction, strangely enough.
I have not used the Revolving Aces but I rather like it.
The moral to this is that no trick is that good or bad. It is all in the presentation. I hate that first trick in the book (some location monstrosity) but I bet someone with a certain style could make it into a miracle.

[Guest]

Wasn't Close-up Card Magic published in thr 1960s? Cardtrickster, I thought that '54 was your cutoff date?

Harley

[Guest]

You are of course correct. I think it was published about 10 years after my cut off date.

However, at the time I was working in a magic shop and had a chance to look at the book. I was entrance, bewitched and bewildered. Harry Lorayne was not famous at the time so I had never heard of him. Yet I realised at the time that this was a fantastic book. I had to make an exception to my rule.

Mind you I noticed that Harry claimed to have been doing most of the material for years and years. I bet most of the stuff had been invented before 1954. The trick that Cardini didn't like was probably a more recent one.

As the years went by I bought more and more of Harry's books. Then I stopped buying them as the material got more exotic and "up to date".

As the material got more post 1954 I got less interested. Which kind of proves my point.

[Guest]

For as long as I can remember, my guess would be BLACKOUT. I think its a neat idea. But I just suspect that Cardini would think it somehow "impure", and not really magic. I mean...You have to do it in complete darkness!

[Bill Duncan]

Originally posted by John Blaze:
I mean...You have to do it in complete darkness!

John,
That's got to be it.

After all, Cardini did a silent act!
;)

[Guest]

If Cardini only hated one trick in the book, that should tell you how great the book is. Most likely Cardini would hate the majority of the drivel that people feel the need to publish today.

I think Close Up Card Magic is one of the greatest card books ever written. There is so much commercial material in this book.

[Guest]

Originally posted by Jon Racherbaumer:
Well, I asked Harry today.
He said, "Cardini never told me which trick he thought was bad."
I happen to believe Harry. Others will assume that he's holding out.

So, the minor mystery remains.
Therefore, continue speculating, speculators. Better still, conduct a poll.

Onward...

Maybe he just couldn't remember which trick it was!
:p
PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat
http://www.stores.ebay.ca/Abstagecraft

[Jon Racherbaumer]

Niggling Note: Cardini told Harry L. that there was only one BAD trick in the book. This does not mean that because Cardini thought it was bad that he also HATED it.

We should be careful how we read and interpret with the same regard we write. This is not always the case.

Onward...

Although it would likely open a can of nasty worms, perhaps readers would be interested in a thread titled TRICKS WE HATE?

If so, someone should begin a new thread with this topic. Don't post it here.

Onward, again...