I used to do a trick called, I believe, the "Devil's Elevator" -- a (pseudo) display of card gambling skill in which the magician appears to deal himself seconds, thirds, Greek bottom, bottom, etc.
I've forgotten the handling and can't remember where or how I first learned it. I want to say I read it in a book by Bruce Cervon, but I just can't remember anymore.
Any someone steer me back to the source?
Devil's Elevator
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Re: Devil's Elevator
I recall it from an issue of Pallbearers review. And have been using it since. Great little routine.Originally posted by Muscarella:
I used to do a trick called, I believe, the "Devil's Elevator" ...Any someone steer me back to the source?
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- Richard Kaufman
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Re: Devil's Elevator
Yes, it's in The Pallbearers Review, and it's by either Cervon or Mike Skinner.
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- Lance Pierce
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Re: Devil's Elevator
Richard,
Wasn't Michael's handling of this also in the Almanac?
Lance
Wasn't Michael's handling of this also in the Almanac?
Lance
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Re: Devil's Elevator
What do you think is the most effective way to present this trick? In the past I've always used it as a mini-ambitious card routine.
I suppose it depends on the crowd your working for.
I suppose it depends on the crowd your working for.
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Re: Devil's Elevator
That's both an answer and question. Not my answer though. I used to do the thing as tongue in cheek sleight of hand demonstration. Ended with 'tabled bottom'. Idea was if they could not spot moves when announced, they would stop looking for them in later routines.Originally posted by Ed Oschmann:
What do you think is the most effective way to present this trick? In the past I've always used it as a mini-ambitious card routine.
I suppose it depends on the crowd your working for.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time
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Re: Devil's Elevator
RK - Do you know the actual name of the routine? Devil's Elevator is not listed in the contents that I can see...
It is quite late, though, and I've not had much sleep...
Take care, Ian
It is quite late, though, and I've not had much sleep...
Take care, Ian
Ian Kendall Close up magician in Edinburgh and Scotland
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Re: Devil's Elevator
Got it: "Satan Deals Again" Richard's Almanac Quarterly Volume 3 Autumn '85. In the collection, it's on page 311.Originally posted by Ian Kendall:
RK - Do you know the actual name of the routine? Devil's Elevator is not listed in the contents that I can see...
It is quite late, though, and I've not had much sleep...
Take care, Ian
Cheers,
Lance
Re: Devil's Elevator
Thanks for the leads, re: "Devil's Elevator".
It appears that we might be talking about two different routines, as the title "Satan Deals Again" sounds like a "sequel" to something previous -- possibly the original "Devil's Elevator"?
Re: HOW to present this trick. I used to save it for those times when I'd encounter the inevitable question about card cheating from someone AFTER I'd done some straight magic. I'd offer to take the spectator into my confidence and show them a little "inside" card mechanic stuff. The great thing is, with this "behind the scenes" presentation (done, by the way, for just one person, ideally) they completely accept that I'm actually doing seconds and Greek bottoms, etc.. (The psychology being; why else would I be so "secretive" about it, if it wasn't the real deal.) Lots of fun!
It appears that we might be talking about two different routines, as the title "Satan Deals Again" sounds like a "sequel" to something previous -- possibly the original "Devil's Elevator"?
Re: HOW to present this trick. I used to save it for those times when I'd encounter the inevitable question about card cheating from someone AFTER I'd done some straight magic. I'd offer to take the spectator into my confidence and show them a little "inside" card mechanic stuff. The great thing is, with this "behind the scenes" presentation (done, by the way, for just one person, ideally) they completely accept that I'm actually doing seconds and Greek bottoms, etc.. (The psychology being; why else would I be so "secretive" about it, if it wasn't the real deal.) Lots of fun!
Re: Devil's Elevator
After a trip to the Magic Castle Library this afternoon I have some more information on the history of "Devil's Elevator".
According to Karl Fulves, "Devil's Elevator" was first published in "Necromancer #9". The handling in Fulves' "Epilogue" is credited to Vernon and Cervon and is also called "Devil's Elevator". (I did not have access to Necromancer to compare the handling further.)
"Satan Deals Again", published in "Richard's Almanac", is Mike Skinner's handling of "Devil's Elevator". Skinner accentuated the conditions and played up the apparent difficulty of the deals.
Having said all that, it would appear that the handling I used to perform has a few embellishments that are not in either of the previous versions.
For instance, Skinner ends his routine with an ACTUAL stud bottom deal (not hard to do considering you're using a packet of cards, not the whole deck). I decided to end with the (false)Greek Bottom because even a layperson would surmise that dealing a card SECOND from the bottom is harder than a "straight" bottom. This presentational change required making a few adjustments in the handling that I'm pretty sure I can reconstruct.
Anyway, thanks again to all who helped me track this trick down.
According to Karl Fulves, "Devil's Elevator" was first published in "Necromancer #9". The handling in Fulves' "Epilogue" is credited to Vernon and Cervon and is also called "Devil's Elevator". (I did not have access to Necromancer to compare the handling further.)
"Satan Deals Again", published in "Richard's Almanac", is Mike Skinner's handling of "Devil's Elevator". Skinner accentuated the conditions and played up the apparent difficulty of the deals.
Having said all that, it would appear that the handling I used to perform has a few embellishments that are not in either of the previous versions.
For instance, Skinner ends his routine with an ACTUAL stud bottom deal (not hard to do considering you're using a packet of cards, not the whole deck). I decided to end with the (false)Greek Bottom because even a layperson would surmise that dealing a card SECOND from the bottom is harder than a "straight" bottom. This presentational change required making a few adjustments in the handling that I'm pretty sure I can reconstruct.
Anyway, thanks again to all who helped me track this trick down.
Re: Devil's Elevator
Upon further study it is apparent that the "Devil's Elevator" routine I learned way back is quite different from the two I found.
I'm beginning to think that it must be someone else's handling. Anybody else have any more leads re: "Devil's Elevator?"
Jonathan Townsend mentioned a "tabled bottom" climax. This sounds familiar and is not part of the Vernon/Cervon or Skinner versions.
I'm beginning to think that it must be someone else's handling. Anybody else have any more leads re: "Devil's Elevator?"
Jonathan Townsend mentioned a "tabled bottom" climax. This sounds familiar and is not part of the Vernon/Cervon or Skinner versions.