The Genii Forum

Joe Mckay

I came across something interesting today. For a couple of years - I have been aware of an interesting magic effect that is often sold to the public. It is very cheap (a couple of dollars) but is actually very clever. It is a simple effect but is a fooler. And because the trick is 100% self-contain...

Joe Mckay

Michael Close made the excellent point that all coin magic is inherently unnatural since there is no logical reason to place a coin from one hand to another. It is an action that only ever takes place in the course of a coin trick.

Joe Mckay

I wonder if Mark Lewis has the Moving Pencil force in mind? You ribbon spread a face-up deck of cards on the table and you have a force card towards the end of the spread. You hold a pencil about 18 inches above the table. You pass the pencil over the deck as you ask the spectator to call stop. When...

Joe Mckay

This thread contains notes by Fred Braue giving his thoughts on the tricks that were published in the early volumes of Hugard's Magic Monthly.

https://forums.geniimagazine.com/viewtopic.php?t=10506

Joe Mckay

At the start of The James File - Allan Slaight describes how he started up a correspondence with Stewart James. His opening letter to Stewart James mentions a trick that Allan had heard described at the local magic shop. It is the same trick that Mark Lewis refers to (a stripped down version of The ...

Joe Mckay

I remember a boring card trick that Karl Fulves taught in The Pallbearer's Review. It was created by George Sands. Fulves actually said it was one of the greatest card tricks ever invented. But since the effect was pretty minimal - and involved a lot of boring dealing - I couldn't understand where h...

Joe Mckay

https://www.michaelclose.com/pages/michael-close-newsletters-1

Joe Mckay

Mark? Do you ever perform Out of This World? I am just curious what you think of the trick? I am not sure I have seen you discuss it before.

Joe Mckay

Al? Do you like Peter Kane's 3 cup handling? Tommy Wonder features it in the Books of Wonder. I don't know much about the Cups & Balls - but I always liked that Peter Kane strategy.

Joe Mckay

Andy over at The Jerx has a great presentation for Miraskill over here:

http://www.thejerx.com/blog/2018/6/26/the-harmony-ritual

It explores similar ideas to a version of Miraskill using coins that David Blaine had in his Mysterious Stranger book (which was written for the public).

Joe Mckay

To follow on from what Jack said. That is one of the interesting avenues that Andy is exploring over at The Jerx.

Jack is a fan of Andy's work as well. So I am sure he had Andy in mind when he wrote that.

Joe Mckay

Here is another idea. Why not nominally transfer all the broadcast rights to marketed tricks to a magic charity? Those rights would not be exploited for commercial reasons. But it would allow that charity to request the removal of videos exposing secrets on YouTube? A bit like how there are 2-3 gian...

Joe Mckay

Ask Michael Close to ask Penn Jillette to ask Sergey Brin? It is hard to make direct contact with people like Sergey Brin. Or maybe we could ask David Ben to ask Allan Slaight to ask Sergey Brin? He is very rich and may have a connection to Sergey Brin. Plus it would fit in with the ethos of the wor...

Joe Mckay

Penn Jillette was chatting to Sergey Brin (one of the co-founders of Google) a few years ago. And by chance - Sergey had become really interested in the faro shuffle. So they ended up chatting about that for a bit. So perhaps Sergey has a minor interest in magic to be interested enough to take this ...

Joe Mckay

I didn't see Mark's latest post before typing the above. So apologies for making some of the same points as him!

Joe Mckay

I agree 100% with Mark Lewis on this. This is a massive problem facing magic, and like gravity, it cannot be ignored. Whether you like it or not - this issue will literally define magic over the next few decades. Kids these days have smartphones. They have the internet in their pocket. And they are ...

Joe Mckay

Good idea.

I have sent him an email.

Thanks!

Joe Mckay

Quick request. I am having problems getting my copy of this CD ROM to play. I believe it contains a 300 page pdf interview with Jonathan Pendragon giving his thoughts on the world of illusions. I contacted Penguin Magic and they sent out a replacement CD ROM. And that one won't play either. There is...

Joe Mckay

I remember Penn once saying (or writing?) that he and Teller were once on the Letterman show. They did the Needles trick and Letterman examined Teller's mouth at the start of the trick. He was asked if he could find anything inside the mouth? Letterman responded, "Nothing except possible halito...

Joe Mckay

Bob Farmer recently emailed out a great version of Miraskill which takes the principle in a new direction. It was a freebie for those who have ordered from him before. Lovely thinking. A great addition to his previous work in this area that he contributed to The James File.

Joe Mckay

Thanks for that, Ryan. I was kinda' hoping I was wrong when I posted up my theory (taken from Bill Duncan). I like the idea of performing the Svengali deck and it pleases me that, despite my concerns, it really can be effective for laypeople. Hopefully I am wrong and based on your input I will go aw...

Joe Mckay

There are very few good performers in magic. Particularly close-up. I agree with Mark on that. Often the best performers in magic are those who don't particularly care for magic. Penn Jillette is one example. He was a juggler not a magician early on in his career. And Derren Brown came to magic from...

Joe Mckay

I will take this one.

Is it too late?

My email address is joe_mckay@hotmail.com

Joe Mckay

Kaymar Magic are in the process of reprinting an updated version of this book.

It is a great book.

It is worth signing up for their mailing list.

https://www.kaymarmagic.com/

Joe Mckay

Hey John,

Thanks for the intelligent response. Very interesting.

Just curious if it would ruin the mystery for you if the identity of Erdnase was ever conclusively proven? Or would you enjoy finally having the matter settled?

Joe Mckay

In light of the new Johnny Thompson books I thought I would bump this thread.

Great episode for those looking to hear more from Johnny!

Joe Mckay

Eddie Fields has the best version of this trick.

Joe Mckay

It sounds like John has a pretty cool collection. Penn & Teller are great. I am really interested in the "metaphysics" of collecting. One of the best books I have ever read was about the Beanie Baby craze: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Beanie-Baby-Bubble-Toy/dp/1591848008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=...

Joe Mckay

Why do people pay so much for collectibles? Is it because they think they can flip it for more at a later date? I can understand buying secret notebooks that are not available anywhere else. But to spend thousands buying something when the information can be found cheaply elsewhere makes no sense to...

Joe Mckay

What about Dr. James William Elliott (1874 - 1920).

Is that a silly suggestion?

Joe Mckay

Richard published a theory once that T. Nelson Downs was actually Charles Jordan.

Is it possible that T. Nelson Downs (1867-1938) was Erdnase as well?

Maybe T. Nelson Downs was an incredible genius who published under multiple names?

Joe Mckay

I just stumbled across a gimmicked hoop that allows you to pass the hoop over a levitating lady. Without having to resort to the gooseneck double pass move. Check out The Hoop of Mercedese by Arthur Mosher. It is on page 68 of the June, 1909 issue of The Sphinx (Vol. 8 No. 4). This achieves the same...

Joe Mckay

I will email you Bob.

Joe Mckay

Cheers for that, Bill! Also - here are some comments from Geoffrey Durham. I am not sure how well known he is in America. But he is one of the all-time greats here in the UK. The Spirit Paintings is a lovely trick, but I didn't do a good job on the Best of Magic. I later revived it in my theatre sho...

Joe Mckay

In my unqualified opinion - I think Tom Moore is correct. The original leaves a bit more to the imagination. It is more engaging since you are trying to imagine where the assistant could be hiding. In the Selbit book - I am not sure if it is Selbit or another great of magic - but somebody in there s...

Joe Mckay

Okay - I just found a couple of performances of the Wakeling Sawing by Paul Daniels.

I am gonna' watch them now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJLUtZEuW0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2QXaMDoBEE

Joe Mckay

Has anyone got a link to the Wakeling version? I don't have an opinion on this yet since I am still new to the world of illusions. I just always imagined that the likes of Wakeling and Steinmeyer would have good reason for preferring the newer version. They are about as smart as you can get when it ...

Joe Mckay

Here is another Selbit trick performed by Paul Daniels. The Bewildering Blocks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PfaaCemZe0 I know Geoffrey Durham performs this trick a lot as well. So I may find footage of him performing it somewhere as well. This trick is also covered in the Mike Caveney volume ca...

Joe Mckay

The audio is a bit out of sync here. But this performance by Paul Daniels seems to be an updating of Selbit's Through The Eye of a Needle illusion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDhxEb6Ex7A I am noticing a lot of Paul's illusions on YouTube. So soon I will start another thread - just so I can gath...

Joe Mckay

It was great seeing Paul Daniels do the Sawing in Half trick. Selbit said that his version was more of a puzzle effect (where is the girl hiding?) rather than a sawing effect. So his version has a much more relaxed feel to it compared to the versions that came after. It is great seeing so much magic...

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