Homing Card Routines

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Brad A._dup1
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Homing Card Routines

Postby Brad A._dup1 » February 1st, 2003, 12:57 pm

Would anyone know of a few "good" Homing Card routines?

I've learned a version that Fred Kaps did on television, and I have a copy of a Homing Card by Braue.

A friend told me that Bob Sheets has a great routine.

I'm just wondering if there is a superior routine than what I've gathered.

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Sean Piper
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Sean Piper » February 1st, 2003, 2:01 pm

Guy Hollingworth has a fantastic Homing Card routine on his video "The London Collection".

The gimmick used is SOOOO subtle that you can throw it on the floor after the trick and nobody will ever know.

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 1st, 2003, 8:01 pm

Brad, at the Columbus Magi-Fest today I had dinner with Bob Sheets and he sells his routine (which uses Jumbo cards). It's based on a routine by Trevor Lewis, and that is also a market item. So, you should be able to buy this somewhere.
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Anthony Brahams » February 6th, 2003, 1:49 am

Fred Kaps' Homing Card routine, which he performed on TV in England, was based on the Braue one. For close-up I have used Eddie Fechter's, in the wonderful book (IMHO) Fechter by Jerry Mentzer, although sometimes I change handling and use the Ascanio spread.
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Pete Biro
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Pete Biro » February 6th, 2003, 10:52 am

Having seen Kaps do the homing card soooo many times... it makes me wonder why anyone would want to do it any other way?

Of course the method was the least important part of the routine.

Believing what was happening was the key.
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Glen Guldbeck » February 6th, 2003, 11:11 am

Hello Pete,

Was talking to Gordon Bean last night at the Castle. The subject of Homing Card came up and he raved about Bob Sheets routine as well.

I can't agree more with you regarding your ability to act surprised with each reappearance of the ace. I feel that your ability to be as perplexed (if not more) than your audience greatly elevates the overall impact of the routine.

I also asked Gordon if there was any footage of Fred Kaps in the library. Unfortunately, there is not. I'm kicking myself for being out of town when you hosted the "Fred Kaps video night". Any plans to release the footage or have copies made for the library?

The best to you!

Glen

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Glen Guldbeck » February 6th, 2003, 11:32 am

Anthony,

I looked up the Fechter book regarding a "Homing Card" routine. Couldn't find it. Is there a different Mentzer book on Fechter's magic other than "Magician Nitely"?

Glen

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby pduffie » February 6th, 2003, 12:00 pm

Hi Glen

Mentzer published an expanded version. I think it's out of print, but I found it here:

http://mccullochs.on.ca/acatalog/ONLINE ... M_287.html

Magic of Eddie Fechter - New from Jerry Mentzer(Reference #B13002)
Thirteen chapters including three full chapters of new tricks. Includes a new chapter on new tricks and ideas with Peeks. Two full chapters of other new effects not in the original Fechter book. Chapters with history, stories, gags and shtick.

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Brad A._dup1 » February 6th, 2003, 12:02 pm

Glen,
I have footage of Fred doing his Homing Card routine taped from the Ed Sullivan show.

I believe it ran on the LA PBS station a few weeks ago.

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Glen Guldbeck » February 6th, 2003, 12:18 pm

Thank you Peter. I was not familiar with his expanded release. I'll look it up and check the Castle library as well.

Brad, thanks for the info. I'm in San Diego in two weeks. I would love to see that footage. I'll buy you a Carl's Jr. Famous Star (with cheese...that's how much I want to see Kaps).

Glen

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Philippe Noël » February 6th, 2003, 2:39 pm

Of course the method was the least important part of the routine
Well, yes and no.
I have seen Kaps doing the routine on tape and the way he handles the last card for example is from my point of view pure Kaps, I mean pure magic.

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Pete Biro » February 6th, 2003, 4:34 pm

I will talk to Gordon at the Castle Library and see if they have the facilities to copy the Kaps tapes... if so, I would donate the tapes (copies) to the library.
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Pete McCabe » February 6th, 2003, 4:48 pm

Pete:

I will be happy to take care of copying the Kaps tapes for donation to the Castle library, should they not be set up for that.

I'll even return the originals to you if you insist. ;)

the other Pete

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Glen Guldbeck » February 6th, 2003, 6:16 pm

Thanks Pete!

Thanks Pete!

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Pete Biro
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Pete Biro » February 6th, 2003, 9:41 pm

Pete and Re-Pete (sorry, I couln't resist). :p

I used to work for a guy who named his daughter Kate, and another on the way he said he was going to name Dupli-Kate. :confused:

Never did find out if he really did. :confused:
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Anthony Brahams » February 7th, 2003, 1:20 am

I have UK VHS of Kaps performing Homing Card on BBC tv and more items, also Slydini et al.
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Ian Kendall » February 7th, 2003, 3:22 am

Hmmm. I always thought Homing Card was Francis Carlyle's card to pocket from Stars of Magic...however, in reading through the post I think I know the routine in discussion.

A BBC tv show on Crimbo a couple of years ago had Kaps doing the routine, and it's also on the Personal Magic CD from Eric/Martin Lewis, and Martin performs the effect in a quicktime clip.

Unless I've got it spectacularly wrong again...

Oh well, Ian

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby John Smetana » February 7th, 2003, 6:59 am

Originally posted by Ian Kendall:
Hmmm. I always thought Homing Card was Francis Carlyle's card to pocket from Stars of Magic...however, in reading through the post I think I know the routine in discussion.

I, like Ian, thought that the Homing Card effect was a Carlyle speciality. I recall seeing Francis perform his version at a small club in the Village in NYC. He wasn't in the best shape at the time, but his magic was great.

Best thoughts,
John Smetana :cool:

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Pete Biro
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Pete Biro » February 7th, 2003, 9:32 am

Carlyle's Homing Card is one great card effect, and much easier to do than the Hugard one Kaps used--in the acting sense.

If you can't act like Kaps, don't bother... you have to be really believable (that you don't know what is happening with the card) to sell it.

Carlysle came to me one night at the Castle all excited about something... he said, (I may have the exact words wrong but the essence of the story is what I want to relate)... "Pete, I got a new phone number... and guess what the mneumonic is??? 'DRUNKEN BUM OUT IN THE STICKS'--" :D
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Jon Racherbaumer » February 7th, 2003, 10:15 am

What makes Sheet's treatment of the Lewis handling so good is that he solved the vexing problem of the "last card". It truly crowns the effect. Furthermore, thanks to Sheets spending quality time with Bob Fitch, is now has a befitting "context"...

Let's not forget the version Larry Jennings published in EXPERT CARD MYSTERIES and later in his big book, p. 171.

Onward...

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Randy DiMarco » February 7th, 2003, 1:26 pm

I have not seen the Bob Sheets routine for sale. Where is it available?

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby John Smetana » February 7th, 2003, 4:42 pm

Originally posted by Pete Biro:
Carlyle's Homing Card is one great card effect, and much easier to do than the Hugard one Kaps used--in the acting sense.

If you can't act like Kaps, don't bother... you have to be really believable (that you don't know what is happening with the card) to sell it.

Carlysle came to me one night at the Castle all excited about something... he said, (I may have the exact words wrong but the essence of the story is what I want to relate)... "Pete, I got a new phone number... and guess what the mneumonic is??? 'DRUNKEN BUM OUT IN THE STICKS'--" :D
One thing I can say about Carlyle is that he was better when 'smashed" than a lot of guys are when sober.

Best thoughts,
John Smetana :cool:

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Guest » February 7th, 2003, 9:16 pm

Pete, that story comes under the heading of "the mneumonic plague"! --Asrah (Sorry, couldn't resist) :D

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Brad A._dup1 » February 7th, 2003, 11:47 pm

Jon, (or anyone),
What exactly happens with the last card in Sheets' version?

I've talked to Bob about ordering the effect from him; however, he hasn't mentioned how it differs from the rest.

-Brad
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Gerald Deutsch
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Gerald Deutsch » February 9th, 2003, 7:01 am

Some thoughts about the Homing Card Routines:

1 There are 2 different effects with this title, the Carlyle routine where a selected card keeps going to the performer's pocket and the Kaps routine (from an idea in Show Stoppers with Cards) where an unwanted card keeps coming back in a fan though repeatedly disgarded.

The first is generally a close up effect - the second generally a platform effect.

2 I came up with an idea for "the last card"

At the beginning of the routine I say that in addition to needing the 5 red cards I need the card case and during the routine while that black card keeps appearing the card box is taken out of and put back into my left or right pocket.

When I'm down to the last card(s) I show the red card on the face and lower the card so it's parallel to the floor and held in my right hand between the fingers on the outer edge and the thumb at the inner edge and side steal the face card (the red one) into the right palm.

My left hand goes to my left pocket looking for the card box and not finding it, I tranfer the card (the black one) from my right hand to my left and my right hand (with the red card) goes to my right pocket getting the card case and leaving the red card.

3 Peter Biro is right - it does take supurb acting to sell this routine.

(Note this is a good example of "Perverse Magic" which I discuss under the General Section of the forum."

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 9th, 2003, 12:59 pm

Bob Sheets used jumbo cards and, for the last card, tosses the remaining jumbo card in the air (a boomerang toss) and, while facing the audience, it visibly changes. A jaw-dropping killer.
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Sean Macfarlane » February 9th, 2003, 1:33 pm

I only know Larry Jennings version which I use when I'm working in the bar. The last transpostion really kills, I go back and forth between both methods for the ending depending on how I'm feeling. I use the patter from the book too, but I'm going to come up with my own sooner or later.

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Guest » February 11th, 2003, 12:21 pm

There's a pretty nice version from Hamman on the Mystic Craig tapes.

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Pete Biro
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Pete Biro » February 12th, 2003, 9:51 am

Got a phone call from Bob "himself" Sheets this morning and a set of his Homing Cards is in the mail... will review on arrival.

Stay tooned... :D
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Guest » September 30th, 2006, 9:04 am

Here is the Kaps performance of the homing card.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ6veWZQ9Hw

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Pete Biro
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Pete Biro » September 30th, 2006, 1:08 pm

Great clip, also has Fred's great Salt Pour. Thanks for posting.
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Guest » October 1st, 2006, 12:48 am

The warm up act for Fred that night was a musical group from England...Paul, John, George, and Ringo...whatever happened to them?

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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Danny Archer » November 14th, 2006, 6:57 pm

Horrible introduction by Ed ...
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Pete Biro
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Pete Biro » November 14th, 2006, 8:00 pm

Kaps was not there, but his segment was taped and inserted.
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby Guest » November 15th, 2006, 1:49 am

Kaps performed Homing Card in his BBC tv Special filmed at the old Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, in 1978 (?). Also featured, Slydini and others. I have video but not on dvd (yet!).

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David Devlin
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Re: Homing Card Routines

Postby David Devlin » June 10th, 2008, 1:47 pm

Max Maven's Lassie is really good. It can be found in Focus and in Snow.


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