Card On Forehead

Discuss your favorite close-up tricks and methods.
Bill Duncan
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Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » September 17th, 2005, 7:41 pm

As many of you know, Card on Forehead is my most frequent opener and also one of my favorite card tricks of all time... But I dont know who originated the trick.

Does anybody here have any idea from whence it comes?

Guest

Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Guest » September 17th, 2005, 9:03 pm

I first saw Heba Haba Al perform this at the New York Lounge in Chicago in the 70's. He killed with it!!

Philippe Billot
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Philippe Billot » September 18th, 2005, 1:28 am

According to Bart Whaley, this effect was first published in the magazine Tops in Jan. 1941 under the title :
"The Stuck Card Trick"

Bill Duncan
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » September 18th, 2005, 11:54 am

Philippe,
Is the trick credited to any person?

Merci,
bill

Philippe Billot
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Philippe Billot » September 18th, 2005, 1:44 pm

Unfortunetely not and I haven't this issue.
Also I have found that Marlo described this effect in Marlo's Discoveries in 1946 but he didn't write he was the creator. Sorry

Bill Duncan
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » September 18th, 2005, 6:34 pm

Thanks again Philippe. I have the Marlo credit (thanks to Steve Minch).

Anyone out there have a file of TOPS? If so could you check the article in question and see if there are any clues?

Who wrote the article? Any comments about seeing it performed at a particular location, which might offer some insight?

thanks
b

Bill Duncan
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » September 27th, 2005, 10:33 am

Thought I'd bump this thing one more time hoping someone out there who knows something has missed it.

Richard Hatch
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Richard Hatch » September 27th, 2005, 2:03 pm

Bill, here is the 1941 TOPS reference, verbatim. No credit given:
"THE STUCK CARD TRICK
Have a card selected and returned to the deck and secretly get it to the top. Then state you will endeavor to name the card by concentration. As you place your free hand to face, apparently concentrating, secretly moisten thumb, then press thumb against forehead as you are in deep thought then place deck against forehead back of deck next to the head. Name several cards at random and in each case you are wrong. Then say, "I guess I am stuck on this one" and bring deck away from head and there's the selected card stuck face out to your forehead."

Bill Duncan
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » September 27th, 2005, 2:23 pm

Dick,
Thanks. That helps.

Anyone know of a reference where the card appears on your forehead instead of openly sticking it there?

Jonathan Townsend
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Jonathan Townsend » September 27th, 2005, 2:31 pm

Originally posted by Bill Duncan:
...where the card appears on your forehead ...?
That is the effect. The method is ...
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

Bill Duncan
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » September 27th, 2005, 2:36 pm

Ok Jon, I'll clarify:

Where the card appears on your forehead without the deck coming near your face, nor the audience seeing the card placed there...

Vraagaard
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Vraagaard » September 28th, 2005, 2:18 am

Tons of ways to accomplish this - I find the card will stick to the forehead without adding moist. In a performance situation, you will have a little moist on your forehead already.

However - I would like to hear your presentations for this effect. Whats you patter and what is the flow.

What is in your opinion the "nest" way to present this effect.

Bill Duncan
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » September 28th, 2005, 9:17 am

My thoughts on the topic have been posted here on Genii and also make up the first chapter of my booklet Tubthumping.

I use it as an opener to control/defuse possibly challenging audience members and because it establishes an atmosphere of light humor.

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Pete Biro
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Pete Biro » September 28th, 2005, 11:10 pm

You run a strong invisible thread from the card up to your forhead... pierce your head, run the thread out the back where you have a locking reel under your hair.

The card will rise so fast from the deck and appear on your forehead no one will realize it.

Be careful to avoid a picture card as the "hit" could cause a headache. Smaller spot cards are less harmful. :D
Stay tooned.

Bill Duncan
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » September 29th, 2005, 10:39 am

Nice Pete. Post a method that requires hair...

;)

John Carey
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby John Carey » October 3rd, 2005, 11:19 pm

Hello there,

I can recall a whole room full of magicians being fried by John Carney doing his version at a lecture in London back in the nineties.

It was a lesson in misdirection and got a wonderful reaction.
It is in his book Carneycopia and called everywhere nowhere and on your face!

Regards
John

Bill Duncan
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Re: Card On Forehead

Postby Bill Duncan » October 4th, 2005, 11:06 am

I just picked up a (used) copy of Carneycopia the weekend BEFORE the reprint was announced.

A truely great, and easy, routine. And the inspiration for one of my all time favorite card routines: Michael Close's The Card, the Forehead and the Saltshaker.


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