MacDonald's Aces Handlings

[Philippe Billot]

I appreciate The Olram Aces (1979) by Jon Racherbaumer. Why? Because he explains (in his inimitable style) why his version is good.

Ace High (1947) by Daley & Horowith is also a good routine. Why? Because you have a borrowed deck and at the end all is clean.

A Dream of Aces (1993) by Gary Ouellett is a good one. Why? Because David Copperfield uses it.

Etc...

[erdnasephile]

I always heard that while "A Dream of Aces" was the origin of Grandpa's Aces, it was heavily changed by DC to accommodate the use of video in the presentation. That is, DC's routine would be way to angle-sensitive to use in a true close up situation. Is that correct?

[Philippe Billot]

Yes, it is.

[Richard Kaufman]

Grandpa's Aces was, I believe, created by Chris Kenner.

[Pete McCabe]

I've seen George Tovar do this several times in the Parlor at the Castle and his routine is outstanding. I don't know if it's in print or if it's even George's or someone else's but then I'm not always all that helpful.

My handling and routine are in Scripting Magic. My version has the gaffs in the receiving packet, which others have done but which is still relatively uncommon.

To my mind the most important part of any Ace Assembly is to present it as part of a poker game, where the gathering of the Aces into one hand is meaningful and compelling.

[Philippe Billot]

T. Page Wright had this approach in his book Page Wright's Notebook (1933) with his routine One Armed Poker.

[Jonathan Townsend]

T. Page Wright had this approach in his book Page Wright's Notebook (1933) with his routine One Armed Poker.

Glad folks are thinking... seemed a natural especially when Derek Dingle started making custom gaffs.

Did Page do the initial procedure as a dealout of four (or five) hands of five cards?

[Philippe Billot]

Four players and five cards each

[Pete McCabe]

I haven't read it but I've heard Scotty York has an Ace Assembly with a poker theme, in Revolutionary Routines with Aces.

[Philippe Billot]

Thank for this reference.

There is also Marlo's Aces in New Tops, Vol. 5, december 1965 in which you can show face AND back of the Aces but no Poker theme.

[Jonathan Townsend]

...important part of any Ace Assembly is to present it as part of a poker game, where the gathering of the Aces into one hand is meaningful and compelling.

* that points up a disconnect in modern context. A poker hand has five cards. Four of a kind is not the highest hand in poker. I have met few folks who take a royal flush and use that as the deal-cheat theme for the trick. Let's go with the antique four card plot for a moment.

That brings the question about whether it's worth setting up an alternate ending when working a venue. Is it better to feign ignorance about a four ace hand winning or to add in a fifth hand and/or a joker? IE you get to the third card packet displayed as four indifferent cards (or five when going for a straight up poker theme) ... then ask the question... I suppose you could stand on what you have ...
0) as usual they get the four of a kind.
1) deal down a joker as you're talking and then four more cards on top for yourself.
2) deal down a joker and offer it to them so they can have that winning hand. Ken Krenzel was kind of using that approach with a joker as his magic card for his version of the progressive assembly.
*
1) the joker makes five aces
2) some card swaps later they get a straight and you get a royal flush - other aces gone.

[Bob Farmer]

I've got an ace assembly but it's based on Blackjack. There are four Blackjack hands and the cards transpose to make one hand the winner. It also uses gaffs that completely eliminate any chance of there being double-face cards.

Anyone who wants a copy can send me an email to: trickmail@cogeco.ca

[Jonathan Townsend]

Thanks Bob! Wow - not just an assembly but a different approach to the trick and ... a different approach to method as well. This is not doing the same old with an additional gaff but instead evidence of lots of planning and effort put into a classic. Always a treat to read what comes from the land of Bammo. Especially when it involves overturning old habits.

[Roy M. McIlwee]

For those "McDonald's Aces" fans check out Derek Dingle's version in the December 2004 issue of Genii Magazine. Brilliant handling.

[Bob Farmer]

A new version using four aces, not a Blackjack theme, can be found in this manuscript:

https://www.lybrary.com/turnantula-p-922491.html

You need this move to do the routine. If you buy a copy, send me an email to Bammomagic@cogeco.ca and I will send you the original Blackjack version for free.