Ben Harris - 6 Hallucinations by Ed Marlo

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This digital edition, edited by Steve Shufton

Ed and I used to correspond frequently. Back in those days it was by “snail mail” which was the norm. Ed’s wonderful contributions to various books and magazines I was publishing would arrive neatly typed and with black and white Polaroid photos. “Olram’s Hallucination” appeared spread across issues 1 and 2 of New Directions in 1985. That’s almost 25 years ago. This work is not only wonderful and powerful magic, it is also a true indicator of the depth to which Ed would go in order to really explore an effect. Discipline, discipline. We miss ya, Ed... Ben Harris, 2009

Ed Marlo and Ben Harris. Chicago, 1986

EDWARD MARLO'S OLRAM'S HALLUCINATION (Six Methods)

EFFECT: Three spectators peek at the top card of the deck in succession. The process is fair as the deck is constrained—both crosswise and lengthwise—with rubber bands. Equating the procedure with the unreliable eye-witness reports gathered from “accident scenes” for example, the performer makes his point: 1:

The three spectators are asked to name the card thy peeked at. All three name DIFFERENT CARDS.

2:

The performer fairly shows the top card, IT IS THE JOKER.

3:

The performer reproduces ALL THREE NAMED CARDS FROM HIS POCKETS!

The origin of the 'effect' per se, can be found in THE JINX No 1, October 1934. It was an EDDIE CLEVER concept and while it boasted a non-sleight method, it did use a form of Second Deal, a Palm, as well as a Triple Indexed card with a missing corner. This was to make the Second a little easier. The method to be described here eliminates the Second Deal and the Palm. A modified gimmick is used and the effect is enhanced as the deck is encased by elastic bands. Also, the three selected cards are produced from different pockets.

(Gimmicked Method) The revised gimmick consists of a regular Joker that has been mildly trimmed at both short ends. Onto the back of this you affix a Double Ended, Double Index Card. This card is displayed in DIAGRAM below.

Only affix the card along its middle portion. You must be able to lift the card at either end so as to allow a Peek. The gimmicked card can now be handled quite freely as one card. The gimmicked card is placed face-down atop the deck and the three cards that are represented by the gaff are removed and placed in separate pockets. You will also require a few rubber bands. To present the effect you can freely shuffle and locate the gimmick by feel. It is then cut to the top. A spectator can freely shuffle if you wish. He won't discover the 'work'. Anyway, secretly arrive with the gimmick atop the deck and then proceed. Another method to arrive at the starting position is to have the spectator shuffle and then take the cards from him. Openly spread through the face-down deck, locate the gaff by feel and openly transfer it to the top. This is quite disarming. Patter - "We'll just use one of these cards here.” Openly reverse the bottom card of the deck, leaving it on the bottom. Now snap the two rubber bands around the deck. Place one lengthwise and one widthwise.

Patter about the top card of the deck representing an auto accident. Mention that you require three witnesses to view the incident. Have the top gimmick positioned so that the 6H/4H indexes are at the outer end of the deck. Hold the cards with your thumb on top and fingers below. Assuming that everything is set to go, your left hand offers the outer right corner of the deck to a spectator on your right. Have him lift the top card to Peek its identity. Due to the Joker being shortened, he can't miss. Have him remember the card. In this instance, it will be the 6H. Move towards a spectator on your left. Have him Peek at the top card's outer left corner. To ensure that he lifts the left corner, firstly half lift it yourself and then allow it to snap back flat. This will prompt him to lift the same corner! Patter -"You have a look too!" [The discrepancy here is nicely concealed by the fact that the index on the bottom card was seen to have been positioned on the left hand side during the action of turning it over!] As you look around for a third spectator, casually turn or twist the deck around so that the KS half is outermost. Have the third spectator Peek and remember this card. Table the deck cleanly as you draw attention to the fact that three people have each observed the same accident while the deck was under stringent controls [banded]. Propose a question as to the reliability of the witnesses as you remove the bands. Leaving the deck tabled, ask each spectator to call out the card they observed. They will all call out different cards! This forms your first climax. Turn over the top card [gaff] allowing it to fall back Face-up onto the tabled deck. It shows as the Joker. Climax number two! Remove the three pre-pocketed cards as you explain that they each witnessed a different accident - one on the northside, one on the southside and one to the east!

Non-Gimmicked Version #1 Locate and then control the Joker to the bottom of the deck. Do this secretly as you shuffle. Table the deck and have a spectator cut the cards. Pick up the original top portion from above in your right hand. Hold the cards by their ends and allow them to dribble into the left hand. As you do this, comment, "You could have cut at any point!" In re-squaring these cards, secure a left 4th-finger break below the top two cards. Have a spectator look at and remember the TOP card of the still tabled packet. Use the presentational patter outlined in the original OLRAM'S HALLUCINATION during this business. As the spectator is occupied, Palm the top two cards from the left hand packet into Right Hand Classic Palm position. Once he has noted his card, have it returned Face-down atop the tabled group. As you ask the spectator to be sure to remember his card, table the left hand packet to the LEFT and allow the right hand to load its two palmed cards onto the originally tabled packet. In the same action, the right hand picks up the tabled group and hands it to a nearby spectator. Ask him to look at the top card and remember its identity. [Naturally, he is now looking at the top card of the just loaded pair.] Ask him to replace the card and return the packet to you. On getting this packet back, hold it in the left hand with all four fingers along the right side. With the right first and second fingers lift up the top two cards at the outer end and move them forward, as if one, into an out-jogged position. Do this as you ask a third 'witness' to view the 'top card.’ Raise the deck allowing a third spectator a glimpse. After he has noted the card, lower the left hand. The right hand will now apparently deal the top, out-jogged card to the table. In reality, a simple Bottom Deal is executed as follows. The right hand comes over the deck and directly in front of the outjogged card[s]. As soon as the card is shielded, the right hand pushes the out-jogged pair back onto the deck as the third or second finger contacts the Joker pulling it directly outwards. See Photos 1 and 2. This Joker is tabled and the remaining cards are placed back onto the previously tabled talon*. Now, while each spectator is naming the card that he sighted, casually cut the deck's

*a word not often seen now-a-days! It means “packet of cards” and is very 1970’s!

1

2

The original photos, supplied by Ed, are so degraded by time, we had to shoot these replacement shots

top card to the bottom. Palm it in the left hand. [This hand retains the deck which provides cover.] Once all three cards have been named, [and the obscurity of the situation has struck home], allow the right hand to reach forward to turn the Joker Face-up. You will now produce the three actual selections from three different pockets. Now, it is the usual procedure for the magician to execute the Top Palm while attention is on the tabled card. Don't, someone might just see it pop up into the palm. Instead, straighten the forefinger, palming the card AS the right hand moves the deck towards the left hand. Ensure that the card IS palmed before the hands meet. This way, the deck can be dropped directly into the left hand without any telltale pauses. The right hand produces its card from the outside right hand jacket pocket. Toss it Face-up to the table. The right hand now grasps the outer end of the deck as you either execute The Hugard Top Palm or The Marlo Technique, [see Tears book (Marlo Without tears) under Future Classic Palm]. The left hand now produces this copped card from the inner right jacket pocket.

Non-Gimmicked Version #2 This is very direct and will play for a lay audience better than any magical crowd. As with the first method, move the Joker to the deck's bottom and keep it there throughout any shuffling. Hand the deck to the first spectator and ask him to look at the top card, remember it and replace it. Take the deck back and as you look over the audience for a second spectator, Side-Steal a card from the middle and load it atop the deck. [This is easily covered by your 'looking' misdirection.] Hand the deck to spectator number two and ask him to note the top card. On taking the deck back from him, repeat the Side-Steal, loading another card on top.

Hand the deck to a third spectator and ask him to note the top card. Once he has done this, take the deck back and Side-Steal the bottom card, [the Joker] to the top. Cleanly deal this card to the table. Proceed from here as in METHOD #1.

Non-Gimmicked Verson #3 In this version, you hold out three cards from the deck. The Joker is the central card of these three which are stored in your right hand coat pocket until needed. Hand the deck to spectator number one. Ask him to shuffle and cut the cards and then note the top card. During all of this you have ample time to Palm the three card packet in your pocket. When the deck is returned, you accept it with your left hand as the right hand comes over and 'caps' the deck with the palmed triplet. This is done under the guise of squaring the cards. Hand the deck to a second spectator and ask him to note the top card. Once he has done so, take back the deck and look around for a third helper. As you do so, secure a left 4th finger break below the top three cards. [Either use a pinky count or simply push the cards off, secure the break and then pull them back flush.] The right hand now lifts the top three cards as if one and shows it [them] to spectator number three. [Do this by inserting the second and third fingers of the right hand into the break. The right thumb holds the cards together from above]. Replace the third card[s] and then use a Second Deal to deal the Joker to the table. Proceed now as in METHOD #1.

Non-Gimmicked Version #4 Here the Joker is 4th from the top of the deck. The performer must also be seated at a table. The deck is shuffled and the top four cards maintained in position. Hand the deck to spectator number one and ask him to note the top card. On getting

the deck back, Palm this card and then Lap it. Hand the deck to spectator number two and have him remember the top card. On receiving the deck back, repeat the Palm/Lap sequence. Have spectator number three remember the top card. When you get the deck back, Palm his card into the Right Hand Classic palm and RETAIN it. The left hand now moves forward and thumbs the Joker to the table. The deck is now tabled and the left hand moves back to the Joker to turn it Face-up. Allow the right hand to remove its already Palmed card from the right side coat pocket. During the process, the left hand drops to the lap and casually Palms one of the selections residing there. The right hand card is tossed Face-up to the table and then the left hand moves upwards to remove its Palmed card from the inside, right hand jacket pocket. During this action the right hand Palms the last card in the lap and then pretends to remove this from the inside, left hand jacket pocket.

Non-Gimmicked Version #5 This is almost identical to the above method except that only the first noted card is Palmed and then Lapped. The second noted card is Classic Palmed and the third is actually dealt to the table. To conclude the effect, the left hand, with deck, executes a CURRY CHANGE* with the tabled card thus revealing the Joker. The right hand now produces its card from the left, inside jacket pocket. A Hugard Top Palm is used to produce the top card of the deck from the inner right jacket pocket. The right hand, which has now taken the deck, must table it prior to the removal of card 'two' from the right pocket. This has left the right hand free so that it can drop to the lap to secure card number three. This card is finally produced from the right side pocket.

*Developed by 1940, find this in Paul Curry’s World’s Beyond. Harry Lorayne’s Close-Up Card Magic is another source.

FINAL WORDS While none of these five methods are as clean and easy as the original Gimmicked Version of “OLRAM'S HALLUCINATION', they should be considered in the event that you may be without the gaff or had simply not bothered to make one up.