Magic Unlimited

Shape Of My Heart

A trick a day for a year

MARCH 22

ERDNASE ACES

'The Feints & Temps of Harry Riser' by Ed Brown (Page 52)

This is a great cut-to-the-aces routine presented as a gambling demonstration. What makes it especially interesting for magicians is the fact that most of the moves involved come direct from 'The Expert At The Card Table'.

Plus, if you'd prefer to produce the aces pretty much instantly, Harry offers an alternate "quick version".

A trick a day for a year

MARCH 21

JO-ANNE THE OUT OF LUCK DUCK

'Kid Stuff Five' by Frances Marshall (Page 65)

If you're a kid show performer who owns a Card Duck (and I'm talking to you Nicholas Johnson) you may have thought it was restricted to just tricks with cards. Perhaps by name, but not by nature.

This is a great little routine, from way back in 1975, that sees Jo-Anne grabbing bunches of balloons, popping balloons with her beak, and generally causing trouble that the kids will find hilarious.

The Flicking Fingers

This is a sampler for their full stage show from May last year. It is in German, but extremely entertaining even if you don't understand the language.

 

A trick a day for a year

MARCH 20

CHING LING FOO'S PAPER TRICK

'Houdini's Escapes and Magic' by Walter B Gibson (Page 154)

This old effect, where torn strips of paper are restored after being put into a bowl of water, could easily play to any audience today, but the sneaky method could be adapted as a Snowstorm in China.

Actually, re-reading this effect, I think the Foo effect is more mystifying than the Snowstorm...

 

A trick a day for a year

MARCH 19

HYPNO MAGNETISM

'Scarne's Magic Tricks' by John Scarne (Page 153)

The tip of a cane is placed on the horizontally opened palm of the performer. It is held at the other end by a spectator. The cane cannot be lifted by the spectator, except by the will of the performer, no matter how much force he applies.

These sort of effects enjoyed popularity many years ago, but with the rise of 'mentalism' I could imagine these could again play very well given the right presentation.

 

A trick a day for a year

MARCH 18

PSYCHIC SORTING

'13 Steps to Mentalism' by Corinda (Page 45)

There are many ways to mark cards, but this method has to be one of the more ingenious ones.

Without tipping it, because I really think you should read it, you could read these cards blindfolded. Interesting possibilities, especially for any vision-impaired or blind magicians.

 

Weird You Tube Discoveries - Condom Magic

Is this the first magic themed Google?

Celebrating Harry Houdini's 137th Birthday

Pasteboard Pimp

No wonder he prefers to remain anonymous