The Genii Forum

I was lucky to receive an early copy of The Long Goodby (Latta on Coins) and have already read it three times ! It is fantastic. The material, writing, photography, printing and binding are all top notch. Although many of Geof's pieces are derivative from David Roth's work, his wrinkles are worth reading and comparing and then there are pieces that are more original. The book is very dense and there is enough in it to last a lifetime of study. It is already my favorite coin book. There will be a book of Geof's on cards (Latta on Cards). Highly recommended. Regards, Gregg Webb

I'd also like to thank Stephen Minch for bringing the book into print. And for the gift of that book. The Long Goodbye must have been a tough book to write. Geoff was a positive influence. The format of the book itself recalls Geoff's sense of humor. The book is a way to catch up with Geoff's thinking after couple of decades. Geoff's voice is there in the quotes. You can read about his refined approach to doing magic in the pages. At the back of the book against the cover there's a video disc - the pink purse tape - courtesy of Micheal Rubinstein.

Geoff's book is advertised at the Penguin site. First edition printings with the DVD now available. Enjoy

According to Penguin's latest email, the book is nearly sold out.

H&R has them as well. Always great service and good to help out the little guy!!!

I confirmed these have the DVD too.

https://www.magicbookshop.com/p/books/g ... ng-goodbye

Peace, Joe

Every copy that was printed has the DVD.

I picked up a copy from Vanishing Inc

It would be awesome if this sold out in the first run. It's such a wonderful tribute to an amazing artist.

Bill Duncan wrote:It would be awesome if this sold out in the first run. It's such a wonderful tribute to an amazing artist.

I just did my part to advance that very mission.

More importantly, if this book sells well it's much more likely that the second volume, of card magic, will come out.

AND we'll get to see the other half of the Pink Purse tape...

Bill Duncan wrote:AND we'll get to see the other half of the Pink Purse tape...

So, the DVD with this book is missing footage?

erdnasephile wrote:

Bill Duncan wrote:AND we'll get to see the other half of the Pink Purse tape...

So, the DVD with this book is missing footage?

The Pink Purse Tape also contains footage of Tim Conover performing several of his coin routines. Don't know if that is also in the disc along with this book, probably not since this is about Geoff.

Haven't purchased my copy of the Latta book yet. The magic world is just like the rest of the world: Divided between the haves and the have nots. Those who don't make huge salaries are struggling to catch up with every book and product release. The Deland book slides in on the heels of the budget busting Johnny Thompson book, and now the Latta book.

And on top of this, time is against you. Magic books sell out, go out of print, and become difficult to obtain fairly quickly. There is not enough time to save up your money.

The Pink Purse Tape is a privately made video. The part of it where Geoff Latta is doing coin magic is included with the book.

RK: does the Pink Purse footage fairly represent Geoff at the height of his skills?

erdnasephile wrote:RK: does the Pink Purse footage fairly represent Geoff at the height of his skills?

Latta and Conover look very young in this video, and their coin magic is beautiful and flawless.

Are you sure that Conover is on the Pink Purse video? I know he and Jeff are on a video (along with me and many others) in Atlantic City made while visiting Mike Skinner.

In my copy of the Pink Purse tape a young Latta and Conover are sitting at a table taking turns performing. Maybe it's incomplete? Or there's more than one Pink video floating out there?

I should add that I've never seen the Pink Purse video. It just sounded like you were referring to the Atlantic City video.

Could be. In my video Conover is wearing a yellow polo shirt--if I remember correctly. Latta hadn't cut his hair in a while, it looks pretty long. Almost a hippie doing coin magic.

The Pink Purse video can be identified by Geoff using a pink fabric coin purse he had to borrow because he forgot to bring one with him when he sat for the video. The footage in The Long Goodbye is taken from that privately circulated video, which also includes Geoff tipping some (at the time) inner circle card stuff.

The card stuff is not included with Latta On Coins (The Long Goodbye) because reasons...
: )

I want to meet the person who watches this video and doesn't feel like they need to practice more.

Bill Duncan wrote:I want to meet the person who watches this video and doesn't feel like they need to practice more.

Latta used to say: Every move's a move.

Leonard Hevia wrote:

Bill Duncan wrote:I want to meet the person who watches this video and doesn't feel like they need to practice more.

Latta used to say: Every move's a move.

which is why I personally think coin magic is a lot tougher than card magic to do deceptively.

Latta was a hippie doing coin magic.

erdnasephile wrote:which is why I personally think coin magic is a lot tougher than card magic to do deceptively.

And you have to start with Bobo. Roth mentions in a YouTube interview that it contains fantastic coin magic hidden within its pages. I'm just glad I started with this book back in the late 70s.

Leonard Hevia wrote:

erdnasephile wrote:which is why I personally think coin magic is a lot tougher than card magic to do deceptively.

And you have to start with Bobo. Roth mentions in a YouTube interview that it contains fantastic coin magic hidden within its pages. I'm just glad I started with this book back in the late 70s.

I think that coin magic is tougher than card magic for not just me, but also in general because most people I've seen cannot hold out deceptively, must less constantly as some routines require. You can often tell something fishy is going on.

Richard Kaufman wrote:Latta was a hippie doing coin magic.

erdnasephile wrote:I think that coin magic is tougher than card magic for not just me, but also in general because most people I've seen cannot hold out deceptively, must less constantly as some routines require. You can often tell something fishy is going on.

They're not reading Bobo. The foundation of coin magic is in this book, starting with palming and basic moves. Latta undoubtedly started with this book as well.

I’d love to hear from the guys that get this book and also have the Luis Piedrahita book and their thoughts of both. Seems like two huge contributions to the coin magic library of must haves.

Peace, Joe

Of course coin magic is more difficult: you have many more sleights than in card magic, and there is palming in most coin tricks.

Joe Naud wrote:I’d love to hear from the guys that get this book and also have the Luis Piedrahita book and their thoughts of both. Seems like two huge contributions to the coin magic library of must haves.

Peace, Joe

Michael Close has a detailed review of the Latta book in his October newsletter.

To compare cards to coins - try doing Alex Elmsley's Four Card Trick using four coins. Then again these days it's much easier to borrow a pack of cards than a silver dollar.

erdnasephile wrote:

Joe Naud wrote:I’d love to hear from the guys that get this book and also have the Luis Piedrahita book and their thoughts of both. Seems like two huge contributions to the coin magic library of must haves.

Peace, Joe

Michael Close has a detailed review of the Latta book in his October newsletter.

Kainoa Harbottle was the reviewer for both books in Genii:

Latta: Aug 2018
Piedrahita: Jan 2018 -- except the reviewer is John Lovick. Rats! These aren't the droids I'm looking for...

Leonard Hevia wrote:Could be. In my video Conover is wearing a yellow polo shirt--if I remember correctly. Latta hadn't cut his hair in a while, it looks pretty long. Almost a hippie doing coin magic.

Were the Gallo's also on that tape?

erdnasephile wrote:

Leonard Hevia wrote:Latta used to say: Every move's a move.

which is why I personally think coin magic is a lot tougher than card magic to do deceptively.

Coin magic is harder because most of what's not a move is also a move. Doing something complicated, like a shuffle control, while doing something slightly less complicated like shuffling cards is relatively easy to hide.

Doing something complicated like switching one coin for another coin while seemingly turning over only one coin, a bit more so...

It should probably have been "Every action's a move." But that's not funny.

erdnasephile wrote:

Leonard Hevia wrote:Could be. In my video Conover is wearing a yellow polo shirt--if I remember correctly. Latta hadn't cut his hair in a while, it looks pretty long. Almost a hippie doing coin magic.

Were the Gallo's also on that tape?

Yes--Lou and Mike perform in another segment at their N.Y. home.

Bill Duncan wrote:

erdnasephile wrote:

Leonard Hevia wrote:Latta used to say: Every move's a move.

which is why I personally think coin magic is a lot tougher than card magic to do deceptively.

Coin magic is harder because most of what's not a move is also a move. Doing something complicated, like a shuffle control, while doing something slightly less complicated like shuffling cards is relatively easy to hide.

Doing something complicated like switching one coin for another coin while seemingly turning over only one coin, a bit more so...

It should probably have been "Every action's a move." But that's not funny.

That was a wonderful clarification of Latta's quote, Bill. Transitioning between sequences in coin magic usually does mean a secret maneuver is in the mix.

The Latta book and DVD are excellent. Watching Latta's lovely Retention Vanish prompted me to dig out my promotional DVD of Mickey Silver doing his astounding Retention Vanish. Has anyone heard from Mickey lately, and whether his vanish is any closer to being released?

Mickey lives in Las Vegas (according to his Facebook posts). I doubt he'll ever release his breadwinner.