Chas Eastman - Lu-Brent's Exclusive Card Mysteries

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"Lucent's Exclusive Card Mysteries

Compiled by

Chas. C. Eastman

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WILL ALMA

M.I.M.C. (LONDON)

INTRODUCTION Enclosed you will find a collection of valuable and exclusive card problems. Each effect has been performed under every condition with very satisfying results. I need not mention that a little practice is most essential before you attempt to perform these effects. This means that you can do them more justice; run through the routine a few times, before you attempt to show them in public; simply because in the performance of card magic, like anything else, whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. My reader will, of course, appreciate the common sense of these remarks. If you can perform these card problems as miracles and make audience believe them to be such, you should by all means do so. there are rare occasions upon which this can be done. First, you have the knack of doing them naturally; second, you must be sure your audience is receptive, and third, remember your showmanship, building the effect to a grand climax.

your But must that thus

If you are performing for a group of intimate friends and acquaintances, you can hardly assume the role of a mystery man, and should present these effects as diversions seeking to entertain rather than mystify, and doing everything in a light humorous manner. However, if you are among strange people, who believe you to be an unusual person; then and then only you can assume the mysterious role to great advantage. If you can perform a few of these card effects which can be attributed to telepathy, mindreading or some such power, a high effect may be proto telepathy, mind reading or some such power, a high effect may be proclosed for you depend upon clever systems and subtle principles, rather than dexterity. N o sleights are used. Skill is not necessary to the present day type of card magic. Therefore the reader will never be at a loss when called upon to exhibit his ability. Above all, remember one thing, keep these effects to yourself as cherished secrets, thus keeping the information for your own personal use. By doing so, you will be in a position as being classed a clever-cardperformer, to say the least. I thank you, and with best wishes and success, I remain Magically yours " L U - B R E N T " 1934

INDEX Pnge

Thought Spelling

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Move Two Cards

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You Selected the—? .

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Lu-Brent's Mental Card Mystery (Just Think) A Card Sympathy

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Lu-Brent's Reversed Card Location Lazybones

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Lu-Brent's Count Down Mystery . Lu-Brent's Matching the Aces The Siamese Pack Shark Food .

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The Coins and Card Mystery Think? —Stop

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The Suit & Value Coincidence A Card Prediction

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C o p y r i g h t e d 1934 by C h a s . C . E a s t m a n .

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The State Library of Victoria "ALMA CONJURING COLLECTION"

"Thought Spelling" F o r t h e f o l l o w i n g i n g e n i o u s s p e l l i n g effe;ct, I a m i n d e b t e d t o C o m m a n d e r C h a r l e s C . S l a y t o n , U . S . N . , f o r his u n i q u e s e t - u p f o r a c c o m p l i s h ing such a w o n d e r f u l and pleasing problem. I have, however, altered the p r e s e n t a t i o n s o m e w h a t , with t h e a d d i t i o n of u s i n g a s h o r t c a r d , a l s o s h o r t e n i n g t h e s e t - u p f r o m t w e n t y - f o u r c a r d s , t o t h a t of e i g h t e e n . Prea r r a n g e t h e t o p e i g h t e e n c a r d s as f o l l o w i n g : 10-C, A - S , 9 - H , Q - S , 4 - D , Q - D , 2-C, 1 0 - H , 5-S, 3 - H , K - D , 7 - D , 6 - C , 2-S, K - H , 8-S, J - D , 3 - D . T h e t o p c a r d of this s e t - u p is t h e 10-C, w h i l e t h e b o t t o m c a r d b e i n g t h e 3 - D . T h e s e c a r d s a r e p l a c e d o n t o p of t h e p a c k . T h e s h o r t c a r d is p l a c e d n i n t h f r o m t h e b o t t o m of t h e p a c k , in o t h e r w o r d s , e i g h t i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d s a r e ' j u s t below it.

Approach your audience with cards in the case. Take out the pack and false shuffle without disturbing the entire arrangement as given. You need not do this, but a certain amount of false shuffling and cutting of the pack will serve to heighten the effect. Fan out and show the first six cards to one person with the request that he mentally select one card. This done, place the cards in his breast coat pocket, after first closing them into a packet to lessen the possibility of disturbing the prearrangement. Show the next six cards to another person to think of one card, the next six cards to a third person, placing the cards in their pockets. Take back the cards and replace them on top of the pack which you are holding, the packet last given out being returned first, second next, and the packet first given out being placed on top last. T h e pack is now given a complete cut by any other party, now cut the pack yourself, thus bringing the short card to the top of pack after cut. This brings nine cards including the short card on top of the eighteen pre-arranged cards in top position. Holding the pack in your own hands, backs up, ask the first party to spell the name of his thought card out loud while you remove a card from the top of the pack for each letter spelled, including " O F " and on the last letter "S" of the name the performer takes this card and places it aside from the rest of the spelled cards on the table. Now have this spectator turn over this card. T h e surprise comes when it proves to be the mentally selected card. While everyone is watching this spectator turning his card over, pick up the remaining cards from the table, and place five of these cards on the bottom of the pack, the rest of the cards on top of pack, with the exception of spectators thought card which remains on the table. Give the pack to the second spectator and ask him to spell the name of his thought card aloud, including " O F , " in the exact manner which you have illustrated to spectator number one, and to place one card in your hand (performer's) with the pronunciation of each letter, this also includes the last letter "S." A f t e r this is done the last card on the last letter is turned over and it also proves to be his mentally selected card. Spectator is requested to show his card to the audience.

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In the meantime you note when you've received five cards and make a break. When you take back the pack place these five cards on the bottom, the rest on the top, disregarding the second person's card, as it also remains out of the pack. Now you are ready for the grand climax. H a n d the pack to the third person and ask that he spell out his thought card mentally to himself, without saying a word and exactly as illustrated by the other two persons. T h e performer states and stresses the point that he, the spectator, has thought of a card and that he had the privilege of changing his mind during the time of selection. N O T E : This can be done with impunity. And now he is to spell out his card mentally, placing last spelled letter card aside which is "S." Perfoimer still pattering along:—"No one in the audience including myself knows the name of this card," Yet, when this person announces in full name his card and upon turning over that card laid aside after spelling, it proves to be the mentally selected card. Work this effect up properly and you will never want of a better one along this line. Remember, do not at any time mention that you are using six cards for each person, just say:—"I will take a few cards at random from the top of pack, etc., etc.

"Move Two Cards" Lewis C. Duff. Effect:—A pack of cards after receiving an ordinary yet genuine shuffle is spread face down upon the table. Any spectator is now requested to remove two cards, one from each portion of the deck, look at them and to replace them in the opposite portion from which it was removed. T h e cards are now squared up by the spectator and handed to the performer who gives them another genuine shuffle. The performer then removes two cards which when looked at by the spectator prove to be the two which he selected from the pack. T h e method by which this effect is accomplished is very simple, but what we are after is the effect on the audience without a lot of unnecessary mental work to tax the performer. And so, my friend, just give this a trial and you will be surprised at the ease with which it works. Method:—You will need a short card, master card, double card or any sort of pet card you use for keeping track of any card in the deck. Sort out all your odd cards and place on top of this short card, now place all the even cards under the short card. This completes the set-up. T o perform, you cut the pack as you would to give it an overhand shuffle at the short card. Shuffle this bottom half (all even cards) on top of the other half (all odd cards). W h e n this bunch has been shuffled you take up the other half of the deck including the short card and shuffle on top of the even cards being sure that the short card falls first. This to keep the packs separate and which will leave them in the same position as at the1 start although the cards are mixed on each side of the short card. At this point you can now spread the cards and show to be completely shuffled as they will not have time to note that the odd and even are now A 4 b

together. Spread face down on the table and have spectator take a card f r o m each half, look at each card and to place them back in opposite portions of the deck. This done, have him square u p deck and hand it to you. Cut at the short card and give the regular overhand shuffle with each half of the deck and when finished you will have the pack just as it was at first although some cards will be mixed. Run through the pack and remove the odd card from the even and the even card from the odd cards. Place on the table and have them verified by the spectator. This trick does not require a lot of mental work and properly handled will bring much satisfaction to the performer as the climax is all that could be desired. T h e genuine shuffling of the pack more than convinces the spectators that all is fair and above board. Should you care to work this with a borrowed deck, it will be necessary to run through several tricks beforehand and then while apparently looking for certain cards to set the odd and even cards together. A bent corner card will serve as your locater to keep the two sections apart while shuffling. With a borrowed deck the effect should be astounding on your spectators.

"You Selected the

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T h e only objections to the usual spelling tricks which have come to light recently, so far as the performer is concerned, are the type of prearranged systems and special set-ups, others resort to a certain amount of memory work. In the following method there seems to be that certain novelty as well as its tendency to bewilder, and to say the least, it virtually works itself. While there is a certain similarity to the orthodox method, the application has a decidedly new twist. Begin this effect by having the pack shuffled by any person. Then the person is asked to take out any card and turn it face up. Now have this person insert this card partly into the pack somewhere near the center. Note: Stress the word C E N T E R , and you will be surprised how closely he will follow your off-hand instructions. Have this person look at the card facing this single card which was inserted partly into the pack. Note: Pack is held in the performer's hands. A f t e r he has done this, the single card is withdrawn and placed on top of pack. You then spell out, using each card coming off the top of the pack as a letter:—Y-O-U — S-E-L-E-C-T-E-D — T - H - E — at this point you ask the person the value of his card only. If it is the ten, you proceed -— T-E-N — laying down three more cards. Now ask the person to name the suit of his card and whatever it is, spell it out, using one card for each letter. (Omit " o f " for "Diamonds.") T h e basic principle in spelling effects is found upon the twelve or thirteen indifferent cards on top of the card to be spelled off, and since the card noted is located about the center of the pack or about twenty-six cards down, you can well understand the meaning of the introductory sentence comprising fourteen letters.

T h e f o l l o w i n g s e n t e n c e s c a n be u s e d to v a r y at e a c h p e r f o r m a n c e a n d t h a t each of t h e m c o n t a i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y e n o u g h l e t t e r s c o n f o r m i n g with t h e p r i n c i p l e of t h i r t e e n , t h e o n e e x t r a l e t t e r d o e s n o t m a t t e r ; Y O U SELECTED THE—, Y O U LOOKED AT THE—, Y O U PEEPED AT T H E — , Y O U R CARD IS THE—. T h e p e r f o r m e r h a s t h e a v e r a g e of f o u r c h a n c e s t o h i t u p o n t h e correct c a r d . W h e n t h e p e r s o n n a m e s t h e suit, y o u a l o n e can t h e n , b y easy c a l c u l a t i o n , spell t h ; c a r d ' s n a m e so t h a t y o u will a r r i v e at t h e r i g h t c a r d . I h i i is d o n e by t u r n i n g e a c h c a r d f a c e - u p o n t h e t a b l e . T r y t h i s w i t h a n y c a r d a b o u t c e n t e r of p a c k at r a n d o m , a n d y o u will find t h a t it will w o r k itself. H e r e a r e s o m e e x a m p l e s of s p e l l i n g : If it h a p p e n s t o be t h e t h r e e of s p a d e s t h a t t h i s p e r s o n l o o k e d at a n d it a p p e a r s E o n S p a d e s , t h e Irick is o v e r . If o n " S , " t h e s a m e result. If n o t o n " S , " it is t h e n e x t c a r d w h i c h y c u show. If it is n o t , I use t h e w o r d " p e r i o d , " s a y i n g : — p e r i o d a f t e r e a c h s e n t e n c e . T h e n e x t c a r d will be his to be s u r e , if m y r e a d e r h a s p e r f o r m e d it p r o p e r l y . S u p p o s e t h e s p e c t a t o r d o e s n o t i n s e r t t h e single c a r d in t h e m i d d l e o r t h e c e n t e r ? W e l l , we use this d o d g e : If h e i n s e r t s t h i s c a r d a n y w h e r e b u t this locality, s h o w h i m t h e c a r d f a c i n g single c a r d a n d s a y : " N o w if y o u were to insert t h e c a r d a g a i n y o u will n o t e t h a t it will be a d i f f e r e n t c a r d e v e r y t i m e , " so saying, h a v e h i m i n s e r t t h e c a r d a g a i n a t a n o t h e r p o i n t . Y o u m a y h a v e to r e s o r t t o this a f e w times, finally y o u g u i d e h i m r i g h t to t h e s p o t n e c e s s a r y f o r t h i s e f f e c t , o r u s e t h e r u s e as d e s c r i b e d u n d e r : " A c a r d p r e d i c t i o n , " e l s e w h e r e in this b o o k . S e e c h e c k * .

"Lu-Brent's" Mental Card Mystery (Just Think) R e q u i r e m e n t s : — A p a c k of c a r d s , y o u r own o r b o r r o w e d . Also a b l a n k c a r d a b o u t t h e size of a p l a y i n g c a r d o r a n y piece of p a p e r c u t t o size. Y o u a r e n o w r e a d y . H a v e a p e r s o n t h i n k of a c a r d w h i l e h e ( o r s h e ) is s h u f f l i n g t h e p a c k of c a r d s , c h a n g e his m i n d as o f t e n as h e pleases, b u t to set his m i n d o n l y o n o n e c a r d . T h e c a r d is n o t t o u c h e d o r r e m o v e d , just t h o u g h t of. A f t e r t h e p r o c e d u r e is c a r r i e d o u t , t h e p e r f o r m e r i n t r o d u c e s t h e b l a n k c a r d a n d d r a w s f o u r (4) lines across it to f o r m five ( 5 ) spaces. T h i s in t u r n is h a n d e d t o t h e p e r s o n w h o t h o u g h t of a c a r d w i t h t h e r e q u e s t t h a t h e p l a c e this b l a n k c a r d o n t o p of t h e p a c k as a r e s t t o write o n . T h e p e r s o n is n o w i n s t r u c t e d t o write t h e f u l l n a m e s of five (5) c a r d s , o n e in e a c h s p a c e i n c l u d i n g t h e n a m e of t h e c a r d h e h a s m e n t a l l y selected. I n o t h e r w o r d s , h e is t o write f o u r (4) i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d s t o g e t h e r with his own c a r d . A d d r e s s i n g s p e c t a t o r : T h i s can be d o n e in a n y o r d e r . Y o u r m e n t a l l y selected c a r d c a n be w r i t t e n in w h a t e v e r spac:e y o u see fit. Y o u m a y write y o u r c a r d in t h e first space, o r y o u m a y write it last, p e r h a p s t h e m i d d l e . H o w e v e r , d o n ' t let m e i n f l u e n c e y o u r choice of s p a c e as this is e n t i r e l y l e f t to y o u r o w n j u d g m e n t . N o t e : By a d d r e s s i n g t h e s p e c t a t o r in d i e pbove m a n n e r you a r e d e l i b e r a t e l y a n d in a m o s t n a t u r a l m a n n e r g u i d i n g h i m t o e l i m i n a t e t h e first, t h i r d a n d fifth spaces. 4

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T h e s p e c t a t o r n a t u r a l l y tries n o t to f o r g e t his t h o u g h t - c a r d , so by h a v i n g h i m write f o u r o t h e r i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d s , his m i n d is s o m e w h a t t a x e d to a certain d e g r e e . S u c h b e i n g t h e case a p e r s o n will always try to write his first t h o u g h t of c a r d as quickly as possible, lest h e f o r g e t it. H e will t h e n invariably write this c a r d in t h e s e c o n d space as first choice. His s e c o n d choice b e i n g t h e f o u r t h space. T h e first space as well as t h e f i f t h space a r e s e l d o m , if ever selected. T h e t h i r d space also is very s e l d o m selected, this is d u e to t h e f a c t t h a t it occupies a c e n t r a l position which i n d e e d is a c o n s p i c u o u s locality a n d since t h e p e r f o r m e r m e n t i o n e d t h e m i d d l e space p r e v i o u s l y it will t h e n be i g n o r e d c o m p l e t e l y . A n o t h e r s t r a n g e f a c t o r plays a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t in this p r o b l e m . T h e p e r f o r m e r s h o u l d stand, at a little distance f r o m t h e p e r s o n while h e is writing t h e n a m e s of t h e c a r d s , t h u s y o u will notice very clearly t h a t t h e r e is u s u a l l y a slight p a u s e b e f o r e writing t h e n a m e s of t h e f o u r (4) i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d s , yet w h e n this p e r s o n writes his m e n t a l l y selected c a r d , y o u will discover h e does so w i t h o u t the slightest h e s i t a t i o n , as t h i s c a r d h a s been c o n s t a n t l y fixed o n his m i n d , while t h e o t h e r f o u r c a r d s a r e t h o u g h t of later. By o b s e r v a t i o n y o u will be able t o s p o t t h e c o r r e c t position of his c a r d every time while w a t c h i n g h i m writing. T h e b l a n k c a r d also plays its p a r t in this p r o b l e m . W h e n y o u across t h e f o u r lines m a k i n g five spaces, y o u are to m a k e t h e first, a n d fifth spaces a p p e a r l a r g e r t h a n spaces s e c o n d a n d t h i r d . T h e s e m u s t be d r a w n d u r i n g t h e time of p e r f o r m a n c e a n d n o t by h a v i n g c a r d previously p r e p a r e d by c a r e f u l l y d r a w n lines.

draw third lines blank

T h e lines m u s t be d r a w n across in a m a n n e r i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e y a r e of n o c o n s e q u e n c e , except t h a t y o u a r e m e r e l y m a k i n g spaces. T h e reason f o r this is to avoid t h e p e r s o n f r o m u s i n g a n y of t h e l a r g e r spaces f o r his t h o u g h t c a r d . I n e e d n o t explain why t h e l a r g e r spaces in m a n y instances are i g n o r e d as this is a p p a r e n t u p o n close s t u d y by t h e p e r f o r m e r . T h e p e r f o r m e r is t h e r e f o r e f o r t i f i e d in p r e s e n t i n g this p r o b l e m successf u l l y f r o m t h r e e very logical angles. But r e m e m b e r o n e t h i n g which is also i m p o r t a n t , d o n o t r u s h this effect a l o n g , act slowly a n d d e l i b e r a t e l y , allowing t h e p e r s o n p l e n t y of time to digest y o u r r e m a r k s a n d y o u will discover t h a t h e will f o l l o w this s t r a n g e process of e l i m i n a t i o n with y o u . A f t e r t h e a b o v e p h a s e h a s b e e n c a r r i e d o u t t h e p e r f o r m e r takes u p t h e p a c k a n d t h e white c a r d with t h e five c a r d s w r i t t e n t h e r e o n , g l a n c e o v e r t h e list o p e n l y with t h e r e m a r k : — " A r e y o u t h i n k i n g of y o u r c a r d ? " T h e n t h e p e r f o r m e r f a n s t h e pack a n d w i t h d r a w s o n e c a r d . T h i s c a r d is p l a c e d on t h e table f a c e d o w n . T h e p e r f o r m e r n o w r e t u r n s t h e written iist-card a n d t h e pack to t h e p e r s o n with t h e r e q u e s t t h a t h e cross o u t all t h e c a r d s , with t h e exception of his t h o u g h t - c a r d . A f t e r t h e p e r s o n h a s d o n e this, you show t h e rest of n a m e of t h e r e m a i n i n g c a r d , also s t a t i n g t h e f a c t t h a t y o u c a r d o n th~ t i b l e b e f o r e this p e r s o n h a s even crossed off etc., etc. ( b u i l d i n g effect u p ) . T h i s p e r s o n t u r n s over table a n d lo! it is t h e very c a r d m e n t a l l y selected.

the audience the have placed one t h e o t h e r cards, the card on the

T h e w h o l e effect in g e n e r a l is simple in a c c o m p l i s h m e n t , yet it is e x t r e m e l y baffling, h a r d l y a n y o n e will suspect t h a t y o u h a v e d w i n d l e d d o w n a certain t h o u g h t - c a r d o u t of fifty-two to t h a t of five, b e c a u s e while

spectator was thinking of his card he had the entire pack in his own hands. If you are willing to put just a little effort and practice to it, you will find it a worth while effect that really is out of the ordinary run of card tricks. This of course requires a certain amount of common reasoning, close observation and a little psychology applied. I have performed this problem for some time and each time it was accepted by my audience as being something off the beaten tracks in card work and which does boarder along real mind reading. A few trials will convince my readers of its practicability. As an added precaution to those who would believe that they may not be able to spot the right card in their first attempt of this problem, then try this:— U p o n glancing over the list-card and then fanning the pack, pick out four cards possibly thought of and distribute them by placing one on top, one on bottom, and two in the center of the pack. Leave a slight break between the two sections of pack between the two center cards. Remember the positions of each card. Lay pack on table and state that you have placed one card in such a position that it will be within easy reach. After the four indifferent cards written on the list are crossed off, and as soon as you see the remaining cards, produce it as follows:— If it is on top, spectator turns up the top card. If it is on bottom spectator turns pack over, revealing it. It is one of the center cards performer cuts at the center and allows spectator to see either the bottom or top card. If you wish you can use only two possible thought-of-cards by placing one on top and one on bottom, then proceed as given in effect. T h e above variation is not strongly recommended to bring out the full value of this problem, but only serves rs a means of self assurance; to the performer who is exhibiting this effect for the first time.

"A Card Sympathy" Lu-Brent. T h e following effect is another variation to the several marketed and known "coincidence" tricks of the "you do as I d o " type. In this method the first thing to do is to set two packs of cards in the well known Si Stebbins system. Now place them back into their respective cases. T h e two packs are placed on the table, one of the packs is freely selected by any spectator with the request that he shuffle them thoroughly. This procedure so far as the performer is concerned is immaterial. Performer asks spectator to fan his pack, this he does; performer selects a card and returns to center of pack. But make no effort in remembering the card as it does not matter, the reason will be obvious later on. Now have the spectator select a card from your pack which you were false shuffling vigorously. Make the usual break and under cut, glance at bottom card, add three as in system and you know the spectator's card. H e replaces his card at any point into the pack. But be sure to remember his chosen card only, forget the card you selected from the pack.

P e r f o r m e r shufHes his p a c k , w h i l e s p e c t a t o r in t u r n s h u f f l e s p e r f o r m e r ' s p a c k . E a c h r e t u r n t h e i r p a c k s a n d t h e p e r f o r m e r states t h a t b o t h will look t h r o u g h packs a n d withdraw their duplicate cards selected f r o m o p p o s i t e p a c k s . A f t e r t h i s is d o n e , b o t h c a r d s p r o v e t o be i d e n t i c a l . N o t e : - — T h e p e r f o r m e r h a s o n l y t o f i n d t h e d u p l i c a t e of selected c a r d .

spectator's

N o w this is a s i m p l e trick to p e r f o r m as f a r as t h e p e r f o r m e r is conc e r n e d , b u t i m a g i n e t h e e f f e c t u p o n y o u r a u d i e n c e . Y o u h a v e t a k e n two p a c k s of c a r d s f r o m y o u r p o c k e t s in t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e cases, h a d a m a n select a n y of t h e p a c k s , t h i s p a c k in t u r n was well s h u f f l e d b y h i m , w h i l e y o u were s h u f f l i n g t h e r e m a i n i n g p a c k , a c a r d selected f r o m e a c h o t h e r ' s p a c k p r o v e s t o be t h e s a m e . M a k e t h i s e f f e c t d r a m a t i c a n d y o u will f i n d t h a t it will e v e n f o o l y o u r b r o t h e r M a g i s . V a r i a t i o n of t h e a b o v e e f f e c t : — W i t h a s h o r t c a r d . Riffle y o u r p a c k and. h a v e s p e c t a t o r c o m m a n d y o u t o s t o p . T h i s y o u d o a t t h e s h o r t c a r d , say t h e n i n e of s p a d e s . S p e c t a t o r p e e p s a t t h i s c a r d a n d r e m e m b e r s it. S p e c t a t o r with his p a c k ( u n p r e p a r e d ) is r e q u e s t e d to riffle his p a c k . P e r f o r m e r c o m m a n d s spectator to stop. T h i s h e does a n d the p e r f o r m e r p e e p s at a c a r d , b u t m a k e s n o a t t e m p t to r e m e m b e r it. T h e p a c k s a r e e x c h a n g e d f o r p u r p o s e of s h u f f l i n g o n l y . P a c k s a r e r e t u r n e d , b o t h p e r f o r m e r a n d s p e c t a t o r h u n t t h r o u g h p a c k s t o f i n d c a r d s p e e p e d at, t h e n p l a c i n g t h e m o n t a b l e f a c e d o w n . C a r d s p r o v e t o be t h e s a m e .

"Lu-Brent's Reversed Card Location" A p a c k of b o r r o w e d c a r d s is s h u f f l e d by a s p e c t a t o r w h o in t u r n is a s k e d by t h e p e r f o r m e r to c u t p a c k i n t o two h e a p s . H e is a l l o w e d t o select a c a r d f r o m e i t h e r h e a p a t a n y p o i n t h e sees fit. A f t e r t h i s is d o n e , ask h i m to write his initials o n f a c e of h i s selected c a r d a n d t h e n t o s h o w it to t h e a u d i e n c e , l a t e r r e p l a c i n g t h i s c a r d o n t o p of his h e a p . W h i l e t h i s is b e i n g d o n e , t h e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s u p t h e r e m a i n i n g h e a p a n d t u r n s a s i d e , t h u s a s s u r i n g t h e a u d i e n c e as well as t h e s p e c t a t o r t h a t y o u h a v e n o c h a n c e t o see t h e c a r d while it is b e i n g i n i t i a l e d a n d s h o w n about. W h i l e t h e s p e c t a t o r is b u s y c a r r y i n g o u t h i s i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d w h i l e y o u h a v e y o u r b a c k t u r n e d , l o o k t h r o u g h y o u r h e a p a n d s e c u r e a low c a r d , s u c h as a 4, 5, o r a 6 - s p o t , d i s r e g a r d i n g t h e suits. T h i s d o n e , reverse this c a r d at t h e b o t t o m of y o u r h e a p , f o r e x a m p l e , we will say it is a five (5) s p o t . N o w d e a l off f o u r (4) m o r e c a r d s f r o m t h e t o p a n d a d d t h e m t o t h e b o t t o m in r e g u l a r o r d e r . Y o u will h a v e p l e n t y of t i m e d o i n g this, ro d o n ' t be in t o o g r e a t a h u r r y . If y o u a r e u s i n g a 4 - s p o t , a d d 3 c a r d s , etc. T h e p e r f o r m e r is l a t e r r e - c a l l e d . P l a c e y o u r h e a p o n t o p of spectat o r ' s h e a p a f t e r b e i n g a s s u r e d t h a t his c a r d was m a r k e d a n d t h e n p l a c e d o n t o p of his o w n h e a p . P e r f o r m e r picks u p t h e e n t i r e p a c k a n d t h e n l i f t s off ->bou: 7 c r 8 r a r d s f r o m t h e t o p of t h e p a c k a n d d r o p s t h e m o n t h e t a b l i . T h i s , t h e p e r f o r m e r r e m a r k s , a r e a f e w c a r d s t a k e n off a t r a n d o m , as we n e e d a n o t h e r c a r d f o r t h e e x p e r i m e n t . 9

h

T h e p e r f o r m e r r e q u e s t s a n y o n e t o slide o n e c a r d a w a y f r o m t h i s little g r o u p a n d t h a t it m u s t n o t b e l o o k e d at. T h i s d o n e , t h e p e r f o r m e r shows t h e f a c e s of t h e r e m a i n i n g g r o u p of c a r d s s h o w i n g c a r d s all d i f f e r e n t a n d r e m a r k i n g t h a t a n y o n e of t h e s e c a r d s c o u l d h a v e b e e n slid off. P i a c e t h e r e m a i n i n g c a r d s o n t h e b o t t o m of t h e p a c k , t h e n t u r n p a c k o v e r , f a c e u p . I n this p o s i t i o n a n d h o l d i n g t h e p a c k in y o u r l e f t h a n d , h a v e a n y o n e pick u p t h e u n k n o w n c a r d f r o m t h e t a b l e a n d insert it i n t o t h e p a c k f a c e d o w n . R e m e m b e r y o u r p a c k is f a c i n g u p w a r d s . W h i l e this p a r t y is d o i n g this, be v e r y c a r e f u l t h a t t h i s c a r d is i n s e r t e d b e y o n d t h e limits of t h e r e v e r s e d 5 - s p o t a n d t h e a d d i t i o n a l f o u r c a r d s below it. O r still b e t t e r , u s e t h e s a m e use as d e s c r i b e d e l s e w h e r e u n d e r " A C a r d P r e d i c t i o n . " See ( X ) m a r k . T h a t means, that a safe place f o r this inserted card would be about o n e - t h i r d of t h e p a c k d o w n w h i l e h o l d i n g p a c k in p o s i t i o n as s t a t e d above. P u s h this c a r d e n t i r e l y into t h e p a c k y o u r s e l f , t u r n p a c k o v e r b a c k s u p n o w , t h e n d e a l off c a r d s singly f r o m t o p , s t a t i n g t h a t y o u a r e g o i n g t o d e a l u n t i l you a r r i v e to this c a r d w h i c h was p l a c e d i n t o t h e p a c k in r e v e r s e position. U p o n c o m i n g to this c a r d o r a p p a r e n t l y t h e o n e , b u t i n s t e a d it is t h e 5-spot p r e v i o u s l y t u r n e d a t t h e b o t t o m of p e r f o r m e r ' s h e a p . N o w s t a t e t h a t t h e v a l u e o r a m o u n t of p i p s o n t h i s c a r d will d e t e r m i n e h o w m a n y m o r e c a r d s will be d e a l t o f f , also e m p h a s i z i n g t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s c a r d c o u l d h a v e b e e n of a n y d e n o m i n a t i o n , etc., etc. D e a l off t h e five c a r d s , p u s h i n g a s i d e t h e 5 t h c a r d . N o w ask n a m e of c a r d c h o s e n , t h e c a r d is n a m e d , t h e 5 t h c a r d is t u r n e d o v e r by s p e c t a t o r a n d it is f o u n d to b e h i s v e r y c a r d with initials o n it, t h u s p r o v i n g t h a t n o d u p l i c a t e c a r d s w e r e u s e d . A l s o r e m e m b e r t h a t y o u still h a v e a n o t h e r r e v e r s e d c a r d in t h e p a c k , so while e v e r y o n e is w a t c h i n g t h e s p e c t a t o r t u r n his c a r d o v e r , y o u riffle, l o c a t e this c a r d a n d r e v e r s e in r e g u l a r o r d e r , o r use t h i s c a r d f o r o t h e r effects t h a t u s e a r e v e r s e d c a r d at b o t t o m of p a c k .

Lazybones Lome Deblois. Effect: T w o cards are chosen a n d replaced, a n d the pack shuffled. T h e m a g i c i a n says t h a t h e is f e e l i n g lazy, a n d i n t e n d s t o let t h e c a r d s d o t h e trick f o r h i m . H e gives t h e p a c k t o s o m e o n e in t h e a u d i e n c e t o h o l d , a n d i n q u i r e s t h e n a m e of t h e s e c o n d c h o s e n c a r d . H e t a p s t h e p a c k , a n d t h e p e r s o n h o l d i n g it r u n s t h r o u g h t h e c a r d s a n d finds t h a t t h e c a r d n a m e d h a s o b l i n g i n g l y r e v e r s e d itself, a n d n e w l ; es f a c e u p in t h e d e c k . T h e conj u r o r i n s t r u c t s h i m to c u t t h e p a c k a t this r e v e r s e d c a r d , a n d t h r o w t h e c i r d c n t h e t a b l e . H e is t h e n t o spell o u t its n a m e , d e a l i n g o n e c a r d f r o m t h e t o p of t h e p a c k f o r e a c h l e t t e r . T h e n e x t c a r d is t u r n e d u p , a n d is f o u n d to b e t h e first o n e w h i c h was c h o s e n . S e c r e t : Y o u n e e d a s h o r t c a r d f o r this trick. T o p r e p a r e , p u t t h e s h o r t c a r d o n t h e b o t t o m of t h e d e c k , a n d t h e n p l a c e a n y o t h e r c a r d , say t h e T w o of C l u b s , b e l o w it. N o w p l a c e e n o u g h c a r d s u n d e r t h e T w o to spell its n a m e m i n u s o n e letter, i n c l u d i n g t h e w o r d " o f . " Reading

-'fio!:

d o w n w a r d , y o u n o w h a v e a stack in this o r d e r : s h o r t c a r d , T w o of C l u b s , a n d n i n e i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d s . If y o u k n o w h o w t o r u n c a r d s , it is v e r y easy to set u p t h i s stack d u r i n g a c o u p l e of shuffles. I n p r e s e n t i n g t h e trick, h a v e a c a r d c h o s e n , m a k i n g s u r e t h a t it is n o t t a k e n f r o m t h e stack. H a v e this c a r d r e p l a c e d so t h a t t h e stack c o m e s o n t o p of it. T h e s i m p l e s t way to d o this is to m a k e an e n d c u t with t h e e n d of t h e p a c k . T h e little f i n g e r of t h e l e f t h a n d is i n s e r t e d in t h e g r a s p i n g t h e c a r d s a t t h e sides a n d d r a w i n g t h e m b a c k so t h a t t h e y c l e a r t h e e n d of t h e d e c k . T h e l e f t h a n d , h o l d i n g t h e t o p p o r t i o n of t h e d e c k , is a d v a n c e d to receive t h e c h o s e n c a r d o n t o p of t h e c a r d s it h o l d s . The c a r d s in t h e r i g h t h a n d a r e n o w d r o p p e d o n t o p of t h e c h o s e n c a r d . N e x t , false shuffle the pack. F o r t h e s e c o n d c h o i c e of a c a i d , t h e r i g h t t h u m b , at t h e b a c k of t h e p a c k , f i n d s t h e end. of t h e p a c k . T h e little f i n g e r of deck at this point, a n d you are ready f o r m a k e a selection, a n d f o r c e t h e c a r d n e x t t h e T w o of C l u b s . K e e p t h e b r e a k , a n d same position.

T w o of C l u b s is f o r c e d . The t h e s h o r t c a r d by g e n t l y r i f f l i n g t h e l e f t h a n d is i n s e r t e d in t h e the force. Ask a spectator to below t h e s h o r t c a r d , — t h a t is, h a v e t h e c a r d r e p l a c e d in t h e

F a l s e s h u f f l e t h e p a c k o n c e m o r e . A t t h e e n d of t h e s h u f f l e , g e t all t h e c a r d s a b o v e t h e s h o r t c a r d t o t h e b o t t o m of t h e p a c k . T h e best way is to c u t t h e c a r d s o p e n l y . T o r e v e r s e t h e T w o of C l u b s , which is n o w s e c o n d f r o m t h e t o p , we m a k e u s e of a m e t h o d i n v e n t e d , I believe, by L a r s e n a n d W r i g h t . R e m a r k t h a t p e o p l e s o m e t i m e s t h i n k t h a t a m a g i c i a n gets a c h o s e n c a r d t o t h e t o p o r b o t t o m of t h e p a c k . T u r n t h e t o p c a r d f a c e u p o n t h e d e c k , a n d ask if it is o n e of t h e c h o s e n c a r d s . O n r e c e i v i n g a r e p l y in t h e n e g a t i v e , pick u p t h e t o p c a r d a n d t h e T w o of C l u b s as o n e c a r d , a n d t u r n t h e p a c k o v e r in t h e l e f t h a n d , s h o w i n g t h e b o t t o m c a r d . I n q u i r e if t h i s was o n e of t h e c a r d s c h o s e n . T h e n p u t t h e two c a r d s ( s u p p o s e d l y o n e ) in y o u r r i g h t h a n d o n t h e b o t t o m of t h e p a c k . T h i s b r i n g s t h e s h o r t c a r d t h e s a m e way as t h e rest of t h e p a c k , b u t t h e c o n c e a l e d T w o of C l u b s is reversed. A l l y o u h a v e t o d o n o w is t o c u t t h e p a c k so t h a t t h e T w o of C l u b s c o m e s t o t h e c e n t e r — o r m a k e t h e p a s s , — a n d you a r e r e a d y t o c o m p l e t e t h e trick as d e s c r i b e d a b o v e .

"Lu-Brent's Count Down Mystery" T h e f o l l o w i n g little c a r d p r o b l e m s h o u l d a p p e a l to m y r e a d e r s , d u e t o t h e f a c t t h a t it is v e r y easily a c c o m p l i s h e d with a b o r r o w e d p a c k , y e t its simplicity will b e w i l d e r s p e c t a t o r s . T h e p a c k is first s h u f f l e d b y a spect a t o r , t h e n h e is a s k e d t o m e r e l y t h i n k of a n y n u m b e r f r o m o n e to twentysix. A f t e r this is d o n e t h e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s u p t h e p a c k a n d i l l u s t r a t e s w h a t is to be d o n e while h e ( t h e p e r f o r m e r ) leaves t h e r o o m o r t u r n s a w a y . T h e s p e c t a t o r is t o c o u n t off o n t h e t a b l e singly t h e n u m b e r of c a r d s corr e s p o n d i n g t o t h e n u m b e r m e n t a l l y selected. T h i s d o n e , h e is r e q u e s t e d t o n o t e a n d r e m e m b e r t h e last c a r d d e a l t o n his h e a p , t h e n r e p l a c e b a l a n c e of p a c k o n t o p of his h e a p , c o n c l u d i n g b y g i v i n g t h e e n t i r e p a c k a c o m plete cut

A f t e r g i v i n g t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e s p e c t a t o r b y way of illustration, pick u p t h e p a c k f r o m t h e t a b l e a n d ask h i m if h e u n d e r s t a n d s w h a t is e x p e c t e d of h i m d u r i n g y o u r a b s e n c e . W h i l e a d d r e s s i n g t h e s p e c t a t o r a n d u p o n s q u a r i n g u p t h e p a c k , secretly n o t e t h e t o p a n d b o t t o m c a r d s , at t h e s a m e t i m e r e m e m b e r i n g e a c h c a r d ' s p o s i t i o n . T h i s is easily d o n e w h i l e in t h e act of p i c k i n g u p c a r d s f r o m t a b l e a n d s q u a r i n g t h e m . A n y o t h e r p e t m e t h o d of y o u r o w n will s e r v e j u s t as nicely. W e will say t h a t t h e b o t t o m c a r d is t h e 10 of clubs, while t h e t o p c a r d is t h e 7 of s p a d e s . T h e p e r f o r m e r r e t i r e s , s p e c t a t o r plays his p a r t , p e r f o r m e r r e t u r n s a n d u p o n r e c e i v i n g t h e p a c k y o u r u n t h r o u g h t h e c a r d s in f a n f a s h i o n , t h i s is d o n e o p e n l y , u n t i l y o u r e a c h t h e 7 of s p a d e s , r u n slowly n o w u n t i l y o u r e a c h t h e 10 of clubs. T h e c a r d n o t e d by t h e s p e c t a t o r is in f r o n t of t h e 10 of clubs, while c o u n t i n g t o t h e n o t e d c a r d f r o m t h e 7 of s p a d e s , (inc l u d e ) i n d i c a t e s t h e n u m b e r m e n t a l l y selected. This enables the perf o r m e r to d r a m a t i c a l l y a n n o u n c e b o t h n a m e a n d t h e n u m b e r t h o u g h t o f . A s h o r t c a r d c a n be u s e d f o r t h e a b o v e e f f e c t . I n this case t h e p e r f o r m e r n e e d s o n l y t o m a k e a cut, t h e n p r o c e e d as given.

"Lu-Brent's Matching the Aces" T h e f o l l o w i n g e f f e c t b o a r d e r s a l o n g t h e m e n t a l line a n d j u s t like t h e " M e n t a l C a r d M y s t e r y " it a l s o r e q u i r e s a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of c o m m o n r e a s o n i n g a n d a little p s y c h o l o g y a p p l i e d . M y r e a d e r will n o d o u b t c o m p r e h e n d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e e l i m i n a t i o n p r o c e s s to t h i s e f f e c t a f t e r carefully reading over the latter effect mentioned. T h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r this e f f e c t a r e a d u p l i c a t e set of f o u r (4) A C E S which a r e n o t p r e p a r e d , to say t h e least, t h e s e m a y b e t a k e n f r o m a n o t h e r p a c k t h a t is close by o r a b o u t t h e p l a c e y o u a r e p e r f o r m i n g . T h e p e r f o i m e r allows a n y s p e c t a t o r t o m i x a n d r e t a i n f o u r (4) A C E S , while t h e o t h e r f o u r d u p l i c a t e s a r e h e l d by t h e p e r f o r m e r . T h e p e r f o r m e r places o n e of his aces f a c e d o w n o n t h e t a b l e first, t h e n t h e s p e c t a t o r is r e q u e s t e d t o f o l l o w suit b y p l a c i n g o n e of h i s aces o n t o p of t h e c a r d a l r e a d y o n t h e table. T h i s d o n e , t h e p e r f o r m e r s t a t e s t h a t h e will t r y t o m a t c h in suit each of t h e r e m a i n i n g aces h e l d in t h e spectator's hands. T h e s p e c t a t o r t u r n s f a c e u p a n y ace o n t h e t a b l e , p e r f o r m e r m a t c h i n g e v e r y ace. T h e two c a r d s first p l a c e d o n t h e t a b l e a r e t u r n e d o v e r a n d t h e y also m a t c h in d u p l i c a t i o n , even b e f o r e t h e o t h e r t h r e e (3) aces w e r e t u r n e d f a c e u p to be m a t c h e d later. S o f a r f o r t h e e f f e c t , h o w e v e r , I m u s t state at t h i s t i m e t h a t t h e r e a r e two s e p a r a t e m e t h o d s in a c c o m p l i s h i n g this e f f e c t . T h e first m e t h o d is a p p l i e d w h e n p e r f o r m i n g it f o r y o u r b r o t h e r m a g i s , w h o as yet a r e n o t f a m i l i a r with this effect, while t h e o t h e r m e t h o d is a p p l i e d f o r t h e a v e r a g e l a y m a n . I shall first d e s c r i b e t h e first m e t h o d , as I believe t h a t m y r e a d e r will w a n t to f o o l a n d m y s t i f y a m a g i c i a n . A f t e r g i v i n g h i m t h e f o u r d u p l i c a t e aces a n d r e t a i n i n g f o u r y o u r s e l f , b e g i n by s a y i n g : " B o t h of u s h a v e f o u r aces e a c h w h i c h a r e d u p l i c a t e s , n o w I w a n t y o u t o mix y o u r c a r d s so t h a t I m a y n o t k n o w of t h e i r p r e s e n t a r r a n g e m e n t . I shall also m i x m y c a r d s . N o w f a n y o u r c a r d s in f r o n t

of y o u , so t h a t y o u a r e a b l e to see t h e c e n t e r p i p s of e a c h ace, t h e n I w a n t y o u t o t h i n k of a n y o n e of t h e aces. O f c o u r s e y o u m i g h t t h i n k t h a t I a m a b o u t t o f o r c e a c e r t a i n ace, b u t be a s s u r e d t h a t I a m n o t t r y i n g t o d o a n y t h i n g of t h a t s o r t , t h a t is i m m a t e r i a l , y o u m a y t h i n k of a n y o n e of t h e m . " N o t e : T h i s is w h a t h a p p e n s . M o s t m a g i c i a n s a r e a w a r e of t h e m e n t a l f o r c i n g m e t h o d of t h e aces, in o t h e r w o r d s , t h e a c e of d i a m o n d s a n d d i e a c e of h e a r t s p l a y an i m p o r t a n t p a r t in m e n t a l selections as a f o r c e d c a r d , so B r o t h e r M a g i will i g n o r e t h e s e two c a r d s i m m e d i a t e l y , n e x t h e will i g n o r e t h e ace of s p a d e s w h i c h also a t times is u s e d as a m e n t a l f o r c e c a r d , o w i n g t o t h e e x t r a l a r g e p i p t h u s g i v i n g it a m o r e p r o m i n e n t a p p e a r a n c e t h a n t h e r e s t of t h e aces. B r o t h e r M a g i will n o t give it a t h o u g h t . N o w t h e ace of c l u b s is t h e o n l y c a r d l e f t t o d e c i d e u p o n . Strange b u t t r u e , v e r y s e l d o m if ever is this c a r d ever t h o u g h t of as q u i c k l y as t h a t of t h e o t h e r aces, t h e r e f o r e it is r a r e l y u s e d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e . Your B r o t h e r M a g i will t h e n p l a c e t h e ace of clubs o n t h e t a b l e f a c e d o w n o n t o p of y o u r c a r d . N o t e : Y o u p l a c e ace of c l u b s o n t a b l e f a c e d o w n first, w h i l e i n s t r u c t i n g w h a t is t o be d o n e a f t e r t h e c a r d is t h o u g h t o f . A l l y o u h a v e to d o n o w is t a o h a v e h i m t u r n o v e r o n e by o n e his r e m a i n i n g aces f a c e u p o n t h e t a b l e , y o u l o o k t h r o u g h y o u r h a n d a n d m a t c h his c a r d s . H e t u r n s o v e r t h e first two c a r d s p l a c e d o n t h e t a b l e , a n d t h e y also m a t c h . M e t h o d N o . 2: N o w f o r t h e a v e r a g e p e r s o n y o u will h a v e t o u s e d i f f e r e n t tactics in b r i n g i n g this e f f e c t a b o u t . F i r s t h a v e h i m s p r e a d t h e c a r d s a n d r e m a r k t h a t h e can t h i n k of a n y o n e of t h e aces, f o r i n s t a n c e , y o u s a y : " i t m a y b e t h e ace of s p a d e s , b u t d o n ' t let m e i n f l u e n c e y o u r m i n d o r choice, t h e n p l a c e y o u r t h o u g h t of c a r d o n t h e t a b l e f a c e d o w n like t h i s . " ( P e r f o r m e r places d o w n a n A c e of H e a r t s . ) S p e c t a t o r will p l a c e d o w n this c a r d , b e c a u s e y o u h a v e e l i m i n a t e d t h e a c e of s p a d e s by m e n t i o n i n g it t h r o u g h i l l u s t r a t i o n . T h i s leaves t h e o n e b l a c k c a r d ( c l u b s ) a n d two r e d c a r d s a n d t o say t h e least h e will c h o o s e t h e h e a r t s . If y o u a r e p e r f o r m i n g t h i s with a l a d y , y o u can e l i m i n a t e t h e c l u b s in y o u r r e m a r k s . T h i s leaves t h e s p a d e s a n d t h e two r e d c a r d s . T h e l a d y will t h e r e f o r e t a k e h e r m e n t a l c h o i c e of t h e r e d c a r d s w h i c h a r e v e r y b r i g h t a n d w h a t w o m a n d o e s n ' t like b r i g h t t h i n g s in c o l o r ? T h e s p a d e will b e c o m p l e t e l y i g n o r e d d u e to t h e f a c t t h a t it h a s b e e n u s e d f o r y e a r s as s i g n i f y i n g a d e a t h - c a r d in t h e a r t of f o r t u n e t e l l i n g , a n d b e s i d e s b e i n g a M a c k c a r d , t h e l a d y will n o t e v e n give it a s e c o n d c h o i c e , so p l a c e a diam o n d o n t h e t a b l e as s h e is s u r e t o select this c a r d . S t r a n g e , b u t t r u e . T h i s h a s b e e n m y p e t e f f e c t f o r m a n y years a n d I h a v e r a r e l y h a d vo r e s o r t to a M e x i c a n t u r n - o v e r to a c c o m p l i s h this e f f e c t b y a possible missh i t in selection.

"The Siamese Pack" H e r e is a n o v e l a r r a n g e m e n t f o r y o u r o l d " S v e n g a l i D e c k , " which p r o b a b l y y o u a r e n o t u s i n g d u e to r e c e n t e x p o s u r e of t h i s item by streetc o r n e r s a l e s m e n a n d t h e r e a r e m a n y l a y m e n w h o h a v e t h i s p a c k or h a v e seen t h e p r i n c i p l e at o n e t i m e o r a n o t h e r . :i3; •

I t is still possible t o v a r y t h e u s e of t h e s e c a r d s s o m e w h a t a n d b y d o i n g so, instill it with n e w life. W i t h this in m i n d I o f f e r y o u a n o t h e r u s e f o r t h e m : P r e p a r e y o u r p a c k by c u t t i n g s h o r t e r all t h e i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d s in t h e s a m e m a n n e r as t h e f o r c e c a r d s o r i g i n a l l y a r e : a f t e r this is d o n e y o u will h a v e a p a c k all even at t h e e n d s . N o w c u t t h e i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d s ( o n l y ) s h o r t e r t h a n t h e y a r e , in o t h e r w o r d s a f t e r y o u a r e t h r o u g h y o u wi 1 h a v e a p a c k vise-versa f r o m t h e o l d p r i n c i p l e . T h i s d o n e , g l u e backs of e a c h i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d to f a c e of e v e r y f o r c e c a r d flush at t h e b o t t o m e d g e a b o u t o n e - h a l f i n c h in m a r g i n . N o w let u s l o o k at t h e l e s u l t s o. o u r e t f o r t s . T h e r e a r e two c a r d s g l u e d t o g e t h e r t o a p p e a r as o n e t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n t i r e p a c k . T h e p e r f o r m e r may now go ahead and p e r f o r m m a n y eye-popper effects with t h e a s s u r a n c e t h a t n o l a y m e n will be t h e wiser. T h e i m a g i n a t i v e r e a d e r will n o t be in a n y d o u b t as t o w h a t m a g i c a l e f f e c t s m a y be o b t a i n e d with t h e a i d of this p a c k so p r e p a r e d . T h e field f o r m a n i p u l a t i o n o p e n s w i t h o u t b o u n d s . Color changes, f a n s , a n d f a n p r o d u c t i o n s . Y o u can f a n t o s h o w all c a r d s d i f f e r e n t witho u t calling a n y p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n to t h e m . S h u f f l i n g t h e c a r d s b r i n g s t h e s a m e r e s u l t s ( o v e r h a n d e d ) . T h i s is d o n e b y c a r d s f a c i n g a u d i e n c e . W e , of c o u r s e , u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e f o r c e c a r d c a n n o t be w i t h d r a w n , b u t by h a v i n g t h e p a c k c u t ( w h i c h is s a f e ) h e can p e e p a t t o p c a r d a f t e r b o t t o m r c pack n . d d i e o r a n y e t h e r p a : ' of p a c k by p e r f o r m e r , a n d it a bit, it is t h e f o r c e c a r d a n d b e i n g a trifle l o n g e r t h a n t h e o t h e r c a r d , t h e l i f t is m a d e w i t h o u t a n y e f f o r t . T h i s c a r d i n c l u d i n g t h e i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d g l u e d t o its f a c e is p l a c e d o n b o t t o m of p a c k . m i d d l e o r a n y o t h e r p a r t of p a c k b y p e r f o r m e r , a n d it always h o p s to t h e t o p of t h e p a c k o r e l s e w h e r e . T h e c o m b i n a t i o n s t h a t can be w o r k e d o u t with t h i s n o v e l m a k e - u p , a r e p r a c t i c a l l y e n d l e s s , so I leave t h e rest to y o u . A l s o r e m e m b e r t h a t o n e f o r c e c a r d s h o u l d n o t be p r e p a r e d as t h a t of t h e rest, as t h i s c a r d is u s e d as a b l i n d t o s h o w t h a t t h e r e is r e a l l y o n l y o n e c a r d t h a t d o e s all t h e s e m y s t e r i o u s r a m b l i n g s . I p e r s o n a l l y r e c o m m e n d still a n o t h e r n e w u s e f o r this p a c k as des c r i b e d in M r . B e r l a n d ' s latest w o r k " N e w a n d O r i g i n a l M a g i c , " c a l l e d : " S h a d e s of S v e n g a l i , " a r e v e l a t i o n i n d e e d , a n d w o r t h t h e i n v e s t m e n t a l o n e .

Shark Food (For Card Sharks) Lome DeBlois. Y o u w h o d e l i g h t to f o o l y o u r b r o t h e r m a g i c i a n s , h e r e is a trick especially d e s i g n e d f o r y o u ! I t was i n v e n t e d f o r t h e sole p u r p o s e of p u z z l i n g c a r d w o r k e r s . T h e e f f e c t is as f o l l o w s : T h e p e r f o r m e r e x p l a i n s t h a t h e is a b o u t to p r e s e n t a n i m p r o v e m e n t o n t h e o l d trick, in w h i c h a m e m b e r of t h e a u d i e n c e was a s k e d to d e a l o u t c a r d s f r o m t h e t o p of t h e p a c k w h i l e t h e m a g i c i a n ' s b a c k was t u r n e d . H e stopped whenever he wished, n o t e d the next card, a n d placed the cards h e

had dealt on top of it. T h e pack was then cut two or three times and handed to the magician, who proceeded to find the chosen card. T h e method consisted of secretly noting the top card before the pack was handed out. W h i l e m a k i n g this explanation, the magician has been shuffling the p a c k . H e n o w gives it to a m e m b e r of t h e a u d i e n c e , a n d t u r n s his b a c k . T h e t e m p o r a r y a s s i s t a n t is a s k e d to cut t h e p a c k . If h e wishes, h e m a y c u t it two o r t h r e e t i m e s . T h e p e r f o r m e r p o i n t s o u t t h a t it is o b v i o u s l y imp o s s i b l e n o w f o r h i m to k n o w t h e p o s i t i o n of a n y c a r d . H e asks t h e a s s i s t a n t to d e a l o u t t h e c a r d s in a h e a p o n t h e t a b l e , a n d s t o p w h e n e v e r h e wishes. H e t h e n l o o k s a t t h e n e x t c a r d o n t h e d e c k , a n d s h u f f l e s it in a m o n g those he holds. T h e magician turns a r o u n d , takes the packet containing the chosen c a r d , a n d o p e n s it f o r t h e r e p l a c e m e n t of t h e d e a l t c a r d s , w h i c h a r e l y i n g o n t h e t a b l e . H e t h e n briefly s h u f f l e s t h e w h o l e p a c k . . I t w o u l d n o w a p p e a r to be q u i t e i m p o s s i b l e f o r even a m a g i c i a n t o find the chosen card; but own wonder-worker calmly looks t h r o u g h the find the chosen card; but our wonder-worker calmly looks t h r o u g h the d e c k a n d w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n t h r o w s o u t t h e c a r d t h a t was l o o k e d a t ! T h e secret is b e a u t i f u l l y s i m p l e . T h e e n t i r e d e c k is s t a c k e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Si S t e b b i n s o r " E i g h t s K i n g s " f o r m u l a , a n d t h e p r e l i m i n a r y s h u f f l i n g is f a l s e . W h e n t h e c a r d s a r e d e a l t o u t , t h e last c a r d d e a l t is necessarily j u s t b e f o r e t h e c h o s e n c a r d , a n d a g l a n c e at it tells t h e m a g i all h e w a n t s t o k n o w . T o g e t this g l a n c e , h e m e r e l y h o l d s t h e b r e a k w h e n t h e d e a l t p a c k e t is r e p l a c e d in t h e p a c k , a n d s h u f f l e s t h e t o p c a r d of this p a c k e t t o t h e t o p o r b o t t o m of t h e d e c k ; o r h e m a y leave it in t h e m i d d l e of t h e p a c k , a n d g l i m p s e it in t h e u s u a l way.

"The Coins and Card Mystery" James ( V e r n e s )

Thompson.

E f f e c t : — T h e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s f r o m his p o c k e t a n u m b e r of coins a n d f r o m t h e m h e p l a c e s o n t h e t a b l e in a r o w f r o m l e f t to r i g h t , a d i m e , p e n n y , nickel a n d a q u a r t e r . T h e s e coins a r e p l a c e d so t h a t all tails a r e u p . A p a c k of c a r d s is s h u f f l e d b y t h e s p e c t a t o r , h e is l a t e r r e q u e s t e d to d e a l o u t f o u r c a r d s in a h e a p b e l o w e a c h coin. A f t e r t h i s is d o n e , h e m a y p i c k u p a n y coin a n d place s a m e o n t o p of a n y h e a p . T h i s d o n e , t h e rest of t h e coins a r e p o c k e t e d by t h e p e r f o r m e r . T h e s p e c t a t o r is a s k e d to t u r n o v e r t h e c o i n o n l y a n d n o t e t h e d a t e o n it. F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e d a t e r e a d s 1928. H e is t h e n r e q u e s t e d t o pick u p t h e h e a p of f o u r c a r d s a n d to d e a l t h e m o u t f a c e u p in a r o w l e f t to r i g h t , a n d u p o n d o i n g this, h e is s u r p r i s e d to f i n d t h a t t h e c a r d s c o i n c i d e with t h e coin. N a m e l y : — t h e ace, n i n e , d e u c e , e i g h t o r 1928. T h e s i m p l i c i t y a n d n a t u r a l n e s s of t h i s e f f e c t is j u s t w h a t will f o o l t h e m . H o w e v e r , y o u m a y t h i n k o t h e r w i s e . J u s t give it a t r i a l . I n t h e first p l a c e all t h e coins with t h e e x c e p t i o n of t h e twenty-five-cent piece, a r e all of t h e s a m e d a t e s . P l a c e t h e m in a r o w as g i v e n in e f f e c t . H i v e t h e p a c k s h u f f l e d , t a k e u p t h e p a c k a n d s a y : " I w a n t y o u t o m o v e a n y o n e of t h e s e coins aside f r o m t h e o t h e r s , like t h i s " ( p e r f o r m e r m o v e s t h e qtiar-

ter by way of i l l u s t r a t i o n ) , b u t I d o n o t w a n t y o u t o t h i n k t h a t I p u r p o s e l y m o v e d t h i s coin to i n f l u e n c e y o u r m i n d , so in this case we will u s e o n l y t h e t h r e e r e m a i n i n g c o i n s . " ( P r o f e s s o r p o c k e t s this coin a n d in t h e act of d o i n g so r e m o v e s by p a l m i n g twelve c a r d s p r e v i o u s l y p l a c e d t h e r e f o r this effect. A d d t h e s e c a r d s to t h e p a c k y o u a r e h o l d i n g , a t t h e s a m e t i m e p a t t e r i n g a l o n g t h a t a n y coin can n o w be m o v e d aside as s h o w n b e f o r e . T h e c a r d s s h o u l d c o m e o u t of t h e r i g h t t r o u s e r s p o c k e t while t h e s p e c t a t o r is in t h e act of m o v i n g o n e of t h e coins. I n e e d n o t m e n t i o n t h a t t h e twelve c a r d s p r e v i o u s l y p l a c e d in t h e p o c k e t a r e set-up, t h a t is, in t h r e e g r o u p s of f o u r , r e a d i n g 8291, a n d as will be n o t i c e d is r e v e r s e d f r o m 1928. S o it h a p p e n s t h a t , r e g a r d l e s s of which h e a p p a r t y p l a c e s coin o n , t h e d a t e s c o i n c i d e . R E M E M B E R to r e t u r n t h e p a c k t o t h e s p e c t a t o r a f t e r h e m o v e s his selected coin, so t h a t h e m a y d e a l o u t t h e t h r e e h e a p s of f o u r c a r d s e a c h h i m s e l f , f i n i s h i n g t h e e f f e c t as g i v e n .

ANOTHER

VARIATION

Y o u will use a s h o r t c a r d f o r t h e a b o v e effect. P l a c e t h e twelve a r r a n g e d c a r d s u n d e r t h e s h o r t c a r d o n t h e b o t t o m of t h e p a c k . F a l s e shuffle, k e e p i n g t h e s e c a r d s o n b o t t o m . H a v e p a c k cut by s p e c t a t o r . T h e n c u t p a c k y o u r s e l f a t t h e s h o r t c a r d , s a y i n g : " W e n e e d two h e a p s to accomplish this p r o b l e m . " P e r f o r m e r m a k e s two h e a p s a n d s h o w s t o p c a r d s of e a c h h e a p . T h i s is d o n e to s h o w t h a t c a r d s a r e m i x e d . P l a c e t h e s e c a r d s u n d e r t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e h e a p s . T h i s m o v e t a k e s off t h e s h o r t c a r d , w h i c h is n o t n e e d e d . F o r c e t h e p r e p a r e d h e a p a n d c o n t i n u e as in t h e first m e t h o d .

"Think? Maurice ( N e l l i n i )

Stop" Glazer.

I h a v e o f t e n u s e d t h e f o l l o w i n g s i m p l e c a r d e f f e c t a n d f o u n d t h a t it c r e a t e s q u i t e a m y s t e r i o u s i m p r e s s i o n . N o t h i n g a b s o l u t e l y o r i g i n a l is c l a i m e d f o r it, a l t h o u g h I h a v e n e v e r seen it in p r i n t , n o r h a v e I ever seen it p e r f o r m e d . F i r s t p r e p a r e o n e - h a l f of y o u r p a c k o r twenty-six c a r d s in t h e f o l l o w i n g m a n n e r : W i t h a r a z o r b l a d e c u t l i g h t l y o n t h e b a c k s of e a c h c a r d a n o t c h . T h i s s h o u l d be d o n e in t h e a r e a of a d e s i g n e x a c t l y in t h e c e n t e r , so t h a t it will be possible f o r y o u t o l o c a t e a n y of t h e s e c a r d s b y sense of t o u c h l a t e r o n in t h e p e r f o r m a n c e , while in t h e act of d e a l i n g c a r d s . A f t e r this is d o n e p l a c e t h e b a l a n c e of t h e p a c k o n t o p a f t e r first p l a c i n g a j o k e r or a n y o t h e r c a r d b e t w e e n t h e s e two h e a p s as a d i v i d e r , thus keeping t h e m separate. T h e p e r f o r m e r begins by taking the pack out of t h e case, a n d r e m o v e s t h e j o k e r , d i v i d i n g t h e p a c k into two p o r t i o n s . A c o m m i t t e e of two p e r s o n s a r e s e l e c t e d t o assist t h e p e r f o r m e r a n d e a c h is g i v e n a p a c k e t of c a r d s with t h e r e q u e s t t h a t t h e y s h u f f l e t h e i r respective p a c k e t s . T h i s d o n e , t h e p e r f o r m e r r e q u e s t s t h e first p e r s o n (with prepared packet) to go down into the audience a n d have three or f o u r c a r d s selected, h a v i n g t h e m r e m e m b e r t h e i r selections a n d r e t a i n t h e c a r d s .

T h e s e c o n d p e r s o n h o l d i n g t h e u n p r e p a r e d p a c k e t is r e q u e s t e d to f o l l o w u p t h e first p e r s o n a n d h a v e t h e s e selected c a r d s r e t u r n e d a n y w h e r e i n t o t h i s p a c k e t . T h e first p e r s o n r e t u r n s t h e b a l a n c e of his c a r d s t o t h e p e r f o r m e r , w h o in t u r n p o c k e t s s a m e . T h e r e m a i n i n g p a c k e t , w h i c h cont a i n s t h e selected c a r d s , is s h u f f l e d b y a n y o n e to his h e a r t ' s c o n t e n t . P e r f o r m e r is n o w g e n u i n e l y b l i n d f o l d e d by t h e first p e r s o n in m a n n e r h e m a y see fit. A f t e r this is d o n e , t h e p e r f o r m e r asks f o r r e m a i n i n g p a c k e t , also a s k i n g t h a t it be p l a c e d in his h a n d s f a c i n g a u d i e n c e ; in o t h e r w o r d s t h e b a c k s of this p a c k e t s h o u l d be t o w a r d s performer.

any the the the

P e r f o r m e r h o l d s p a c k e t in l e f t h a n d in t h e m a n n e r of d e a l i n g , b u t a b o v e his h e a d a n d in f r o n t . T h e p e r f o r m e r states t h a t h e will d e a l off o n e c a r d at a t i m e f r o m t h e b a c k o r t o p of p a c k e t o n t h e t a b l e ( w h i c h is n e a r b y ) a n d t h a t if a n y p e r s o n w h o h a s selected a c a r d sees his selection, h e is to t h i n k " S T O P " a n d s h o u l d h e ( t h e p e r f o r m e r ) in a n y case d e a l p a s t t h e c a r d , t h a t p a r t y is t o t h i n k " P A S S E S , " a n d t h e p e r f o r m e r u p o n r e c e i v i n g t h e s e t h o u g h t v i b r a t i o n s f r o m t h e p e r s o n w h o selected t h e c a r d , s t o p s a n d r a i s i n g t h i s c a r d u p h e a n n o u n c e s : " T h i s is t h e c a r d y o u a r e thinking of." T h e p e r f o r m e r c o n t i n u e s this u n t i l all t h e selected c a r d s a r e f o u n d . W o r k t h i s e f f e c t u p p r o p e r l y with p a t t e r a n d t h a t g o o d o l d s t a n d b y , SHOWMANSHIP.

"The Suit & Value Coincidence" E f f e c t : — T h e p e r f o r m e r invites two p e r s o n s to assist in this experim e n t . T h e first p e r s o n is g i v e n a p a c k of c a r d s to be s h u f f l e d a n d h e is allowed to look t h r o u g h the pack carefully, thus satisfying himself that n o two c a r d s a r e alike in this p a c k . T h i s s a m e p e r s o n is a s k e d to w i t h d r a w a n y two c a r d s f r o m a n y p a r t of t h e p a c k a n d w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t t h e m t o p l a c e t h e m o n t h e t a b l e f a c e d o w n . I n t u r n t h e p e r f o r m e r picks o n e c a r d in e a c h h a n d a n d p l a c e s t h e m in his ( p e r f o r m e r ' s ) p o c k e t s , o n e in t h e l e f t t r o u s e r s p o c k e t , t h e o t h e r in t h e r i g h t p o c k e t . T h e s e c o n d p e r s o n is g i v e n t h e p a c k with t h e r e q u e s t t h a t h e w i t h d r a w o n e c a r d f r o m a n y p a r t of t h e p a c k a n d t u r n i n g it o v e r f a c e u p o n t h e t a b l e , first s h o w i n g it t o t h e a u d i e n c e . F o r t h e sake of c l e a r n e s s , let u s s u p p o s e it is t h e 6 of h e a r t s . T h e p e r f o r m e r r e a c h e s b a c k i n t o h i s t r o u s e r s p o c k e t s a n d w i t h d r a w s t h e two c a r d s p r e v i o u s l y p l a c e d t h e r e i n , a n d t o t h e s u r p r i s e of all, o n e c a r d is a H e a r t , w h i l e t h e o t h e r is a 6 S p o t , t h u s a strange coincidence having taken place. M e t h o d : — Y o u will n e e d two p a c k s of c a r d s . F r o m o n e p a c k t a k e o u t 13 c a r d s ( A c e t o K i n g ) , d i s r e g a r d i n g t h e suits. T h e s e c a r d s a r e p l a c e d in t h e l e f t t t o u s e r s p o c k e t . T h e r i g h t p o c k e t will c o n t a i n 4 c a r d s , d i s r e g a r d i n g t h e i r v a l u e ; D - C - H - S . O n e c a r d of e v e r y suit. I n all 17 c a r d s a r e used f r c m the duplicate pack u n k n o w n to the audience. T h e rest of t h e e f f e c t is p l a i n sailing, since a f t e r t h e single c a r d was t u r n e d o v e r f a c e u p a n d is k n o w n t o t h e p e r f o r m e r , all t h a t is t o be d o n e n o w is t o a p p a r e n t l y t a k e o u t t h e two c a r d s p r e v i o u s l y p l a c e d in t h e p o c k e t s , b u t le.illy w i t h d r a w t h e c a r d s c o i n c i d i n g with t h e single c a r d •4171-

s h o w i n g o n t h e t a b l e . T h e r o u t i n e is w o r k e d as t h e o l d c a r d s f r o m t h e p o c k e t m i n u s , of c o u r s e , t h e i n d e x e s . M a k e s u r e t h a t t h e two i n d i f f e r e n t c a r d s u n k n o w n even t o y o u r s e l f a r e p l a c e d in s u c h a p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e y d o n o t i n t e r f e r e with t h e s e t - u p in y o u r p o c k e t s . By b a c k i n g t h e e v e n c a r d s to t h e o d d c a r d s , t h e c o u n t c a n be m a d e easier a n d f a s t e r w h i l e y o u r h a n d is in this p o c k e t f o r t h e v a l u e c a r d . T h e suit c a r d s s h o u l d be r e m e m b e r e d in t h e o t h e r p o c k e t t o t h a t of Si S t e b b i n s s y s t e m , o r y o u r o w n m e t h o d will d o j u s t as well. Showmanship of c o u r s e is m o s t essential in b r i n g i n g this e f f e c t to a p r o p e r climax. A n y u n n a t u r a l d e l a y in c o u n t i n g t h e c a r d s in t h e p o c k e t w o u l d lessen t h e e f f e c t , so p r a c t i c e t h e c o u n t a n d y o u will h a v e a nice little c a r d m y s t e r y .

"A Card Prediction" Lu-Brent and J. ( V e r n e s )

Thompson.

T h e f o l l o w i n g e f f e c t is b a s e d u p o n t h e u s e of a s h o r t , n e v e r t h e l e s s it is a p e r f e c t little m a s t e r p i e c e w h e n p r o p e r l y p r e s e n t e d . S p e c t a t o r shuffles t h e p a c k , while t h e p e r f o r m e r writes d o w n a p r e d i c tion o n a slip of p a p e r (or s l a t e ) . T h e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s u p t h e p a c k a n d in r e t u r n gives this p a r t y t h e slip of p a p e r f o r s a f e - k e e p i n g , o r b e t t e r , places it in his u p p e r c o a t p o c k e t so t h a t e v e r y o n e will k n o w of its w h e r e a b o u t s . P e r f o r m e r locates t h e s h o r t c a r d b y a riffle cut, b r i n g i n g it t o t h e t o p . N e x t o p e n l y l o o k t h r o u g h t h e p a c k f o r t h e c a r d y o u p r e d i c t e d , w h i c h we will say is t h e 6 - H . T h i s r u s e is c o v e r e d b y a p p a r e n t l y l o o k i n g f o r a c e r t a i n c a r d , w h i c h will act as a m a r k e r . P e r f o r m e r of c o u r s e states this in his r e m a r k s . T h e 6 - H is f o u n d a n d p l a c e d o n t h e b o t t o m of t h e p a c k , also pick o u t a n y c a r d f o r t h e a b o v e n a t u r a l r u s e a n d place it o n t h e t a b l e f a c e u p . T h i s c o u l d be t h e j o k e r c a r d j u s t as well. N o w h a v e t h e p a c k g i v e n a c o m p l e t e c u t by a n o t h e r p a r t y , o r else c u t p a c k t w o - t h i r d s off t o p , p l a c i n g u n d e r . T h i s leaves y o u r s h o r t c a r d a n d predicted card, 6-H, about one-third pack down f r o m top. T h e markerc a r d o n t h e t a b l e is p i c k e d u p b y a n y p a r t y . P e r f o r m e r h o l d s p a c k s q u a r e d - u p b e t w e e n t h e t h u m b a n d t h e m i d d l e f i n g e r s in t h e h a n d . T h e p a c k is h e l d a l o n g t h e sides a b o u t m i d d l e , F i g . 1, also c a l l i n g p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n to this f a c t . C h e c k * . T h e p a r t y h o l d i n g t h e m a r k e r - c a r d is i n v i t e d t o i n s e r t it f a c e u p a t a n y p o i n t i n t o t h e p a c k a n d allow it t o p r o t r u d e a bit. T h i s is i l l u s t r a t e d b y t h e p e r f o r m e r , w h o a c t u a l l y p l a c e s t h i s c a r d in a b o u t t h e p o i n t w h e r e s h o r t c a r d a n d p r e d i c t e d c a r d s a r e l o c a t e d , w h i c h is a b o u t o n e - t h i r d of t h e p a c k d o w n a n d as m e n t i o n e d b e f o r e . T h i s m o v e o n t h e p e r f o r m e r ' s p a r t will c a u s e t h e p a r t y to i n s e r t t h i s m a r k e r - c a r d below t h e i l l u s t r a t e d p o i n t , which is j u s t w h a t y o u want. A f t e r this c a r d is i n s e r t e d p a r t l y in t h e p a c k , t h e p e r f o r m e r m o v e s it to p r o p e r p o s i t i o n , a n d t h a t is f l u s h l e n g t h w i s e to t h e t h u m b a n d t h e m i d d l e fingers. F i g . 2. W h i l e in this p o s i t i o n t h e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s off t h e t o p c a r d of p a c k a n d shows it. I n p l a c i n g this c a r d b a c k to its o r i g i n a l t o p p o s i t i o n a n d in t h e act of s q u a r i n g this c a r d , y o u r r i g h t t h u m b rests

I

at the bottom of pack's edge. T h e pack is now raised upwards in f r o n t of you to show bottom card of pack. At this movement you riffle, locating the short card. T h i s will be unnoticed due to the method of holding pack. N o w raise this group of cards upwards. Fig. 3. T h e predicted card is now on the bottom of this split group, while the short card remains on top of remaining half-pack. T h e marker-card in its present position will shield this split protruding top heap while in the act of showing bottom card as in the earlier part of the effect. T h e right h a n d apparently separates the pack at the point where the marker-card is inserted. But what really takes place, while pack is facing audience a n d spectator, is that the right fingers grasp inserted card where it projects at top, while right t h u m b grips the split p r o t r u d i n g packet at the same time. Fig. 4. Now remove both marker-card and upper packet, laying same on table with back of this packet facing the single card (the balance of the pack.remains in your left h a n d , which afterwards is placed aside). Spectator is asked to read out loud the note written on the slip of paper in his pocket. T h i s he does. T h e packet is turned over with the marker-card and it is f o u n d that the p e r f o r m e r has correctly predicted this very card.

EASTMAN'S LATEST RELEASE The "Stop" Trick of Tomorrow A s " u p to the s e c o n d " as t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g ' s n e w s p a p e r . F r o m t h e ever fertile b r a i n of M r . V a l E v a n s ( V a l c a r t e ) comes t h e latest, m o s t subtle a n d bewildering " S T O P " trick ever released to the magical f r a t e r n i t y . A baffling " c l o s e u p " effect, yet " b i g " e n o u g h f o r t h e stage. S t r i p p e d of all flowery a d j e c t i v e s a n d s u p e r f l u o u s verbosity h e i e is t h e actual e f f e c t : F r o m a n o r d i n a r y pack of u n p r e p a r e d , s h u f f l e d cards o n e is f r e e l y selected (in f a c t , b o r r o w e d c a r d s can be u s e d ) , n o t e d a n d r e t u r n e d to t h e deck, which is t h o r o u g h l y shuffled. A d a i n t y , well-made ( E a s t m a n Q u a l ity) c a r d h o l d e r is now i n t r o d u c e d . T h i s is of a skeleton design so t h a t t h e c a r d s r e m a i n in f u l l view. A l e n g t h of r i b b o n is laid across the h o l d e r a n d t h e c a r d s are inserted, of c o u r s e c a r r y i n g t h e m i d d l e of r i b b o n to t h e b o t t o m of c o n t a i n e r , which is p l a c e d on a chair or table. N o w with t h e tips of t h e t h u m b a n d first finger the c a r d s a r e t a k e n by t h e t o p e d g e a n d r e m o v e d slowly o n e a t a time. W h e n s p e c t a t o r — h a v i n g been i n s t r u c t e d — calls S T O P , p e r f o r m e r takes t h e e n d s of t h e r i b b o n a n d ties a k n o t — c o n t i n u i n g t h e pull on t h e r i b b o n until t h e k n o t comes to rest o n t h e t o p e d g e of t h e cards, t h u s h o l d i n g t h e p a c k securely t o g e t h e r , p r o v i n g t o t h e m o s t skeptical spect a t o r t h a t n o m a n i p u l a t i o n takes place. H o l d i n g t h e s u s p e n d e d p a c k by t h e r i b b o n t h e p e r f o r m e r h a n d s t h e c a r d s to t h e spectator, assisting h i m . T h e k n o t is l o o s e n e d a n d t h e t o p card t u r n e d over a n d it p r o v e s to be t h e previously selected c a r d . C a n be p e r f o r m e d entirely s u r r o u n d e d by spectators. N o sleight-ofh a n d , n o m a n i p u l a t i o n , n o p r e p a r e d c a r d s ; in f a c t N O T H I N G B U T T H E CARDS, RIBBON A N D HOLDER. R e c o m m e n d e d f o r all types of p e r f o r m e r s . W e h a v e m e n t i o n e d t h a t it r e q u i r e s n o skill, b u t t h e "clever b o y s " n e e d n o t scorn it on t h a t a c c o u n t , as it is w o r t h y of t h e best. G e t it to f o o l t h e " b o y s " at y o u r next m e e t i n g , t h e n y o u will a d d it to your program. R e m e m b e r , t h a t b e i n g m a d e by " E A S T M A N " gives y o u t h e a s s u r a n c e of p e r f e c t i o n a n d quality. Price complete with cards, etc.

#2.50

O u r R A B B I T V A N I S H is o n e of the prettiest a n d flashiest effects t h a t h a s been o f f e r e d to the magical p u b l i c f o r s o m e time. B e a u t i f u l floor s t a n d with a b r e a k - d o w n box to vanish t h e rabbit in. F i n i s h e d in o r a n g e a n d black with distinctive a i r - b r u s h designs. I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r r a b b i t is i n s e r t e d in box a n d cover p l a c e d on, t h e w h o l e outfit is k n o c k e d d o w n flat a n d dissected in f u l l view of t h e spectators. W e c a n n o t a d e q u a t e l y describe this effect, b u t will be p l e a s e d to s e n d a p h o t o of this to any w h o are interested. Price c o m p l e t e with floor s t a n d , table top, b r e a k - d o w n box a n d t o p $17.50

"Eastman's Four Ace Card Easel"

£ tstTna-n

H a v e y o u a c a r d e a s e l ? W e h a v e j u s t m a d e u p a n o t h e r lot of d a n d y , e y e - p l e a s i n g , " I ' m g o i n g to g e t m e o n e of t h e m " k i n d of s t a n d s . Beautif u l l y f i n i s h e d in black a n d o r a n g e w i t h a i r - b r u s h d e s i g n s . R e g u l a r " E a s t m a n " w o r k m a n s h i p a n d finish. P a c k s flat. I f y o u d o a f o u r ace t r i c k , o r in f a c t a n y trick t h a t will d i s p l a y c a r d s t o t h e a u d i e n c e t o t h e best a d v a n t a g e , y o u will w a n t t h i s p l e a s i n g s t a n d . A h i g h l y d e c o r a t i v e accessory f o r y o u r t a b l e . Price

$1.25

G i a n t C a r d F o u r A c e Easel, s a m e style a n d finish

2.00

A n d j u s t to m e n t i o n a f e w of o u r b o o k s in w h i c h y o u will f i n d m a n y i n t e r e s t i n g m a g i c a l e f f e c t s , s k i l l f u l sleights, in f a c t a l a r g e a r r a y of i t e m s of m u c h i n t e r e s t t o t h e m a g i c a l s t u d e n t . Manipulative Magic (Manuscript form) M o r e Manipulative Magic

$1.25

(Manuscript form)

1.25

French's Manipulative Magic (Manuscript form) French's Mysteries

1.25

(Manuscript form)

Subtle C a r d Sleights

1.25

(Manuscript form)

1.25

Winners All (Manuscript f o r m )

1.00

Choice Magic (Manuscript f o r m )

1.25

Just Card Magic (Manuscript form)

1.25

Master Mentalism

(Manuscript form)

.35

Expert Manipulative Magic (Printed book)

2.50

F o r y o u r tricks t h a t r e q u i r e t h e slow p u l l i n g of a t h r e a d , y e t leave t h e h a n d s e n t i r e l y f r e e a t all times, y o u n e e d o u r v a l u a b l e and useful M A G I C I A N ' S H A N D Y A C C E S S O R Y

50

Chas. C. Eastman P. O . B o x 2 4 5

Haverhill, Mass.