Search found 1087 matches

by El Mystico
March 13th, 2024, 1:02 pm
Forum: Reference Room
Topic: Looking for other info on 'puzzle' effect
Replies: 15
Views: 536

Re: Looking for other info on 'puzzle' effect

In Gardner's Mathematics Magic and Mystery there is a chapter - The Checkerboard Paradox - on this effect.
See https://www.conjuringarchive.com/list/category/2120
There was a particularly fine version in Magic Magazine... but can't easily find a reference. It is worth searching for.
by El Mystico
March 7th, 2024, 11:51 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Performing for Elders?
Replies: 6
Views: 1085

Re: Performing for Elders?

I've found the Lorayne advice helpful - get them to show the card to a few other people. Plus stick to visual effects. Avoid Mutus Nomen.
by El Mystico
March 4th, 2024, 3:54 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Daley Dilemma!
Replies: 22
Views: 3753

Re: Daley Dilemma!

Thanks, Philippe! My source was wrong.
by El Mystico
March 3rd, 2024, 12:10 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Daley Dilemma!
Replies: 22
Views: 3753

Re: Daley Dilemma!

As wrote Racherbaumer in Daley Bred (2018) Adrian Smith and Jacob Daley may have been inspired by Ottokar Fischer with the trick explained page 118 of Illustrated Magic published in 1931 which is the translation of DAS WUNDERBUCH DER ZAUBERKUNST published in 1929. Thank you, Philippe! A precursor t...
by El Mystico
March 3rd, 2024, 11:17 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Daley Dilemma!
Replies: 22
Views: 3753

Re: Daley Dilemma!

Richard Kaufman wrote:Daley could have easily created his trick before Smith.


Very unlikely. Daley records the Smith trick in Volume 2 pP3 397 of his Notebooks. If Daley had already created the trick, why did he make a detailed and credited note of the Smith trick?
by El Mystico
March 2nd, 2024, 11:18 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Daley Dilemma!
Replies: 22
Views: 3753

Re: Daley Dilemma!

For interest, on the presentation, and the use of all four Aces: Daley's Last Trick is heavily based on H. Adrian Smith’s ‘A “Four” Ace Trick’; The Sphinx April 1937. In that, the patter is: "One of the things which help a magician most is coincidence. For example, if we use merely the four ace...
by El Mystico
February 13th, 2024, 12:16 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: The "Clue Cards" Plot
Replies: 5
Views: 1078

Re: The "Clue Cards" Plot

Paul Harris' Micky Mouse Maths in Close Up Fantasies is a close relative...
by El Mystico
January 30th, 2024, 11:28 am
Forum: Reference Room
Topic: Slydini's material
Replies: 38
Views: 23030

Re: Slydini's material

My personal experience - timing is vital in the best Slydini effects. And you can only get the timing right with constant practice. A moment's hesitation, and you've lost. Timing is important in all magic. But with things like his One Coin Routine, it is essential.
by El Mystico
January 3rd, 2024, 11:04 am
Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
Topic: The Aretalogy of Vanni Bossi
Replies: 8
Views: 2236

Re: The Aretalogy of Vanni Bossi

Chris makes a good point. I remember discussing with Gordon Bruce years ago about the extent to which the title of Stanley Collin's 'A Conjuring Melange' hindered sales of that book!
by El Mystico
December 18th, 2023, 11:08 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Topping the Deck
Replies: 16
Views: 3912

Re: Topping the Deck

Hi Brad! Intelligent question! If you are then going on to square the deck as your cover, then, yes, of course the deck should be unsquared. Vernon offers at least two alternatives; a) if you take the deck with the right hand and place it on the table. b) If, after the palm, you move to a Hindu shuf...
by El Mystico
December 17th, 2023, 12:20 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Topping the Deck
Replies: 16
Views: 3912

Re: Topping the Deck

Interesting discussion. I love Royal Road. It was THE magic book that saw me through my teenage years. Yes, it was poor on crediting, but books for the public generally were. But - is the palm in Select Secrets the same as in Royal Road? No. I'll give you two significant differences. Hugard has the ...
by El Mystico
December 14th, 2023, 12:52 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Topping the Deck
Replies: 16
Views: 3912

Re: Topping the Deck

Hi Philippe; I'd argue that while Vernon's handling owes a lot to Robert-Houdin's, it goes a lot further in subtlety. Vernon identified the best way to get the card into position. The angle is smaller. And he adds the overt action of raising the deck to the fingertips, which helps cover the move bri...
by El Mystico
December 13th, 2023, 5:46 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Topping the Deck
Replies: 16
Views: 3912

Re: Topping the Deck

Joe - thank you! That's the one!
Philippe - thank you as always. Select Secrets is a wonderful booklet!
by El Mystico
December 13th, 2023, 1:23 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Topping the Deck
Replies: 16
Views: 3912

Topping the Deck

I have a memory that Vernon said that part of his inspiration for Topping the Deck was the top palm in Robert-Houdin's palm in Secrets of Conjuring and Magic.
Looking at the illustration,. I can see why.
But - I've been searching for where Vernon said it. Can anyone help?
Thanks!
by El Mystico
December 2nd, 2023, 10:45 am
Forum: General
Topic: Are Children more Imaginative than Adults?
Replies: 6
Views: 1576

Re: Are Children more Imaginative than Adults?

Interesting. I'd argue we are all highly creative - we all dream, don't we? It's more about what we do with that creativity - do we encourage or supress it?
by El Mystico
November 14th, 2023, 10:22 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Ibidem #20
Replies: 7
Views: 2328

Re: Ibidem #20

Very odd! I have issue 20 in my bound volume, which is marked 'First Edition.'
by El Mystico
November 6th, 2023, 12:33 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Method as Accoutrement - A Minor Rant
Replies: 25
Views: 4879

Re: Method as Accoutrement - A Minor Rant

What a great discussion! My tiny view: I agree with Richard when he says the New York Circle from the 30s and 40s revolutionised close-up magic (I paraphrase!). But - one of my parlour shows is on the history of magic. I take great delight in getting gasps from material from Hocus Pocus Junior and D...
by El Mystico
October 24th, 2023, 12:49 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Kuda Bux
Replies: 12
Views: 3631

Re: Kuda Bux

There is also footage of Bux on The Miracle Factory's DVD 'You Asked for It'. I know the principles, but still - it is impressive! As for the other comments on this thread, I'm reminded - I once knew a classical music agent. She was very sniffy about the pianist Lang Lang. 'Such a skin-flint. He has...
by El Mystico
October 9th, 2023, 11:18 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Marlo Outjogged Oil & Water
Replies: 17
Views: 17313

Re: Marlo Outjogged Oil & Water

I can't remember who first said it, but Dave is right - the presentation is different from the effect. I don't like the 'oil and water' presentation. Particularly now - who knows that oil and water don't mix? But the effect is a good one. Passes Carlyle's 'one sentence' rule. Lovell's idea is great....
by El Mystico
October 8th, 2023, 10:23 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Marlo Outjogged Oil & Water
Replies: 17
Views: 17313

Re: Marlo Outjogged Oil & Water

I think it's a cute move and it caught me the first time I saw it. what may be tripping you up is that in photo 2 it looks like the black card is going on top of the red Ace... it actually goes underneath, as is (almost) clear in the third photo. You are not reversing the cards, 'just' spreading the...
by El Mystico
August 31st, 2023, 12:33 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 11976157

Re: ERDNASE

I've just had a chance to read the article. I thought it was fascinating. What I now long for is an article by an expert at the Erdnase table, highlighting the weaknesses of the case. But, meanwhile all I can offer is some weak additional support for the case. The author mixed with magicians. e.g. p...
by El Mystico
August 30th, 2023, 12:16 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Derren Brown's Unbelievable - a review
Replies: 57
Views: 14485

Re: Derren Brown's Unbelievable - a review

Judging from his previous reviews, I have a much higher opinion of Derren's shows that Craig does. That's OK. His comments in his post on budgets - which surely are pure speculation - suggests his bias. That he quotes ONE tweet and says it represents 'some audience members' confirms that bias. It is...
by El Mystico
August 22nd, 2023, 10:20 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 11976157

Re: ERDNASE

Sad news for the wider Erdnase and magic history community. According to an email from Dr. Solka, Oleg Anatolyevich Stepanov, the translator of Erdnase into Russian and the foremost Russian historian of magic, passed away in St. Petersburg, Russia on December 4, 2022 at age 62. I exchanged a few em...
by El Mystico
June 23rd, 2023, 1:35 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Hofzinser's Palm to Palm Transfer
Replies: 2
Views: 2541

Re: Hofzinser's Palm to Palm Transfer

I should had added a couple more references: L&Ls DVD of Vernon's Magic Castle Lecture, April 1st 1977, contains Vernon demonstrating something closer to Hofzinser's handling of the Palm to Palm Change. 'The Lost Dai Vernon Lecture' - a treat from the 75th anniversary of Genii - contains a lovel...
by El Mystico
June 23rd, 2023, 12:51 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Hofzinser's Palm to Palm Transfer
Replies: 2
Views: 2541

Hofzinser's Palm to Palm Transfer

In this month's Genii, Richard understandably rues not having asked Vernon to explain his handling of the Hofzinser Palm-To-Palm transfer, and a bottom change from ECT. 'If you could have seen them!' he adds. Vernon does perform the palm to palm transfer on the Revelations DVDs, and briefly explains...
by El Mystico
May 8th, 2023, 10:50 am
Forum: Columns
Topic: Giobbi's Essay on the Daley Notebooks
Replies: 17
Views: 45168

Re: Giobbi's Essay on the Daley Notebooks

Thank you, everyone!
by El Mystico
May 6th, 2023, 10:38 am
Forum: Columns
Topic: Giobbi's Essay on the Daley Notebooks
Replies: 17
Views: 45168

Re: Giobbi's Essay on the Daley Notebooks

I'm wondering about the date of when Fulves issued the Daley Notebooks. The usually reliable Giobbi gives 1971. The usually reliable Conjuring Archive gives 1972. The usually reliable Magicpedia gives 1974. I see the December 1971 Pallbearers Review says that the Notebooks are ready. Does someone ha...
by El Mystico
March 29th, 2023, 4:48 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Jim Patton
Replies: 4
Views: 2470

Re: Jim Patton

Pity! Thanks.
by El Mystico
March 28th, 2023, 9:19 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Jim Patton
Replies: 4
Views: 2470

Jim Patton

Does anyone know if there are plans for a book on Jim Patton's material? Thanks.
by El Mystico
March 7th, 2023, 10:52 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Edwin A. Dawes, 1925-2023
Replies: 9
Views: 2272

Re: Edwin A. Dawes, 1925-2023

Years ago I wrote to him asking him a couple of questions about Malini and Leipzig. He wrote back, with a few photocopied pages from old magazines. I replied thanking him, and sending some money to cover the cost of the photocopies. He replied thanking me, saying few people thought of the cost of ph...
by El Mystico
February 18th, 2023, 11:22 am
Forum: General
Topic: 1958 Harry Stanley 16mm Film of Dai Vernon, Slydini and Ken Brooke
Replies: 10
Views: 3703

Re: 1958 Harry Stanley 16mm Film of Dai Vernon, Slydini and Ken Brooke

Thanks for sharing!
There is a better quality video of the Vernon section on the Lybrary site https://www.lybrary.com/dai-vernon-in-b ... 22176.html
by El Mystico
December 9th, 2022, 10:25 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: What are these cards for?
Replies: 11
Views: 1394

Re: What are these cards for?

I thought Side Swiped was great. Lovely, surprising effect, simple method.
I also think Philippe is great!
by El Mystico
December 5th, 2022, 8:36 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Bruce Cervon Video Notes
Replies: 30
Views: 5990

Re: Bruce Cervon Video Notes

I'm optimistic, but it isn't under my control.
by El Mystico
December 3rd, 2022, 6:45 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Bruce Cervon Video Notes
Replies: 30
Views: 5990

Re: Bruce Cervon Video Notes

Yes, the project is still going strong, although slightly later than expected! The writing is finished, the first major edit was recently completed. The next step is illustrations from photos. And yes there are plans to make some video footage available.
by El Mystico
October 27th, 2022, 11:57 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Cups and Balls
Replies: 139
Views: 12332

Re: Cups and Balls

Paul Daniels live, at his peak, gave a wonderful show. Great material which he knew inside out. I recommended it to anyone. My memory nis that he opened with the chop cup - which (if I remember right), shows how well it played for him. The later TV series in particular suffered from the problem that...
by El Mystico
October 21st, 2022, 11:20 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Cups and Balls
Replies: 139
Views: 12332

Re: Cups and Balls

I remember first seeing Johnny Paul on UK television around 1979? A superb, engaging performer, that did the basics so brilliantly. His Close-up Cards Across in particular, stood out for me. I too remember that! Paul Daniels' Show. His Cards Across was fantastic! I spent so long thinking about that...
by El Mystico
October 21st, 2022, 11:09 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Cups and Balls
Replies: 139
Views: 12332

Re: Cups and Balls

Thank you everyone! Dave; pity you can't remember who the close-up performer was! As to length...did Vernon say that the great thing about cups and balls was that you could use it to demonstrate all the main effects in magic? He didn't say you had to... But I do think that many C&B routines coul...

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