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 Remote
Card Fountain
Magic
by Nick
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Good |
A
long time ago I owned a Mallow Card Fountain that consisted
of a nicely made wooden box. The box had multiple problems
for me including the motor was loud, the box must be
hand-held, and it was not particularly reliable. I sold it
on eBay about two years ago.
When I saw this Remote Card
Fountain listed by a chap in the UK, I visited his web site
to learn more. The videos were quite good, so I bid and
eventually won it through a second chance.
The unit fits on the back of
a card case and you may fire the cards via remote from about
60 feet away. In the demo on his site, Nick also uses a
belljar to make one card pop at a time. I rushed out and
bought a belljar, too. It looks great. |
| No
Photo Available Ascension
Magic
by Nick
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Good |
This
is another rising card variant this is quite clever and will
fool magicians and laymen alike.
You give the spectator the
choice of two decks. One deck is placed aside, and the other
is used to select a card. You start turning cards over face
up, allowing the spectator to stop you anywhere, and the
card is selected.
You then pick up the other
deck, remove it from the case, and the selected card rises
from the deck.
You can repeat this
immediately with a different card. This is a neat
combination of tactics rolled into one trick, and the card
rise gimmick is new to me and quite clever. Easy to clean up
the deck, too, should you want to hand them out for
examination. |
Deck-Aid
Mark
Leveridge
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Good |
For
those us who aspire to be card men, but lack either the
talent or time to practice, Deck-Aid may be a viable
solution.
I must admit that when I
first examined the gimmicks supplied, I was a bit perplexed
by their simplicity, but once I read Mark's manuscript, I
began to realize just how clever this gimmick was, and how
sometimes the simplest solution can be the best.
If you want to handle your
cards with greater ease and not think about how good or bad
your breaks look, then Deck-Aid can help.
With it you can maintain
breaks, control packets of cards and more -- all without
sleight of hand. Learning to use the gimmicks supplied is
easy, and anyone worth their salt will quickly realize how
much better these gimmicks are then the usual short cards,
crimps and other subterfuges used to accomplish similar
sleights and effects. Worth a look-see. |
 The Animated Card Box
Diamond Jim
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
If you like the classic effect known as
the "Acrobatic Matchbox," then you'll love this updated version. Since
folks do not carry matchboxes with them anymore, using one in a magic trick makes it
highly suspect. But magicians always carry a deck of cards, so what better object to
animate than a card box?
Diamond Jim adapts another classic with smooth handling and routining. The
effect is simple: a card box lying flat on your palm spins around, stands up, and opens
itself up.
This is a great way to end your close-up show. Best of all, Diamond Jim explains
how to hand the deck and card box out at the end of the routine thus making this one
completely examinable, and the card box makes a neat and memorable gift. |
 Extra Sensory Poker
Diamond Jim
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Good |
While there are many card routines which
revolve around Poker, most require learning seconds, bottoms, and other knuckle-busting
moves. "Extra Sensory Poker" is a breath of fresh air. If you
can count and spread cards, you can do this one.
Using a small packet of cards, the spectator spells out cards to form a royal
straight flush, and the magician spells out cards to form four aces.
This is a simple, humorous effect that is easy to reset. |
 Easy Float
Steve Fearson
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
One of the things I like and respect most
about Steve Fearson's approach to magic is that he takes the straight path. Sometimes the
solution seems so obvious that it's surprising the audience doesn't figure it out. But
they don't and that's why it's good magic. Easy Float enables you to
levitate a selected card above a deck of cards. You can even move another card under and
around the levitating card to show there are no connections of any kind. This is a very
well-routined and thought out effect. A ballet of cards.
The pictures on his web site do the effect justice, and his claims of no threads
or magnets is 100% true. You can make this one in under an hour for the cost of a deck of
a cards. A bargain.
When you do buy the manuscript, you'll probably giggle at the method's
simplicity, but that does not diminish the quality of this very startling effect. It's a
little angly, but under the right conditions it will be a freaking miracle. |
| Not Another
Card Trick Paul Hallas
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Good |
Paul is one clever magician, and it's
real obvious he likes packet tricks. He may be the new one-man Emerson & West. In
any event, this effect is a visual printing of four blank-faced cards into Threes,
culminating with the final Three of Clubs printing on the back of the playing card by
accident. It's a fun effect and easy to do. |
| Germ
Warfare Paul Hallas
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Good |
This started as a trade show effect, but
I could see this being performed for kids. Four cards are shown with
drawings of germs on them, and then one at a time they all turn blank. A clean trick!
This one's a little tricky on the fingers, but Paul includes full detailed
instructions. |
| Vampire
Dawn Paul Hallas
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
This is my favorite of the bunch. A
packet of cards is shown. A blank faced card is placed aside face down on the table. The
rest of the cards contain drawings of vampires. One by one, as the sun
rises, the vampires turn face down and then turn blank. But what of the face down card on
the table? Could it be the vampires have returned to the safety of their lair?
No! When you turn over the previously blank card it now displays the calling
card for Dr. Van Helsing, the famous vampire killer! Very, very cute! |
| The Vain
Queen & The Vanishing Cream Mark
Townsend
Paul Hallas
Rating: Fair
WOW: Fair
Method: Fair
Value: Fair |
OK, I admit it. This description reads a
little long winded, but once you play with it, you will probably like it. Mark
obviously loves effects with stories, so if you do, too, then this one may interest you.
Because of the nature of the story, this packet trick could also be used for kids.
The effect involves a vain Queen who applies some vanishing cream to her
wrinkles, only to cause her face to vanish. Then she vanishes completely. At the end she
reappears beside her loyal court jester -- a happy ending. |
 Left Handed Gun
Aaron Smith
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Good |
A card effect based in part on Brother
John Hamman's "Billy The Kid." Nicely told and orchestrated.
Full illustrated with patter.
Requires some ability with cards. |
 Mind Leaper
Aaron Smith
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: Good |
This is a clever gimmick whose
applications are as limited as your imagination. It allows you to make a playing card jump
out of a card case and into the air. The gimmick is practically
invisible to the naked eye. While the card box may not be examined, Aaron includes many
different handlings to take the heat off it. Clever and fun. |
 Loco Motion
Jay
Sankey
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: Good
Value: Good |
Jay takes relatively simple sleights and
applies them in all new ways with Loco Motion. You show the Ace of Clubs
on the face of the deck and then visually push the center club pip to the edge of the
card. It can be examined.
If you can perform a standard Erdnase Color Change, you can do this trick within
minutes. Specially printed Bicycle cards included.
Other variations of this handling appear on some of his videotapes where he
smudges a spectator's signature on a card and pushes the picture of a sailboat into a
picture of a bottle. |
 Pandora's Box
Jay
Sankey
Rating: Good
WOW: High
Method: OK
Value: OK |
This is a simple utility item which will
transform an ordinary playing card case into a useful piece of equipment. With it, you can
make a card case rattle even when it is empty. Unlike past
approaches, this gimmick allows you to place an entire deck of cards into the case without
disturbing the gimmick.
While the gimmick may not appear to be a killer, the ring transposition routine
and ideas which accompany the gimmick are priceless. |
 Special Delivery
David Regal
Meir
Yedid
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
I've never been a
big fan of card appearances in envelopes -- Tarbell dedicated many pages to these types of
effects. I find them boring, and the handling rather contrived. Regal's version involves a signed selection appearing in a stack of
envelopes secured by a rubberband.
What makes this different is the lack of palming and a
uniquely designed gaffed envelope which does all of the work for you.
The illusion of the signed card being pulled from the
envelope is perfect. Easy to do. A natural born killer.
Chazpro's "Eclipse Wallet" accomplished a
similar effect but nearly as cleanly. |
 Biting Sensations
Meir
Yedid
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
This effect
appeared in one of Meir's past publications. It's clever and takes advantage of a
principle he developed some time ago (he first used it in an effect in his first set of
lecture notes where he produces an arrow magically imprinted across an entire ribbon
spread deck (worth looking at if you can find it). Biting
Sensations is a specially designed deck, which when combined with Meir's clean
and clever handling, allows you to take a bite out of the entire deck (yes, every card has
a "bite" taken out of it) except for the selected card. Cute. |
 Soft Drink Surprise
Ron Frost
Meir
Yedid
Rating: OK
WOW: OK
Method: OK
Value: OK |
Long live Ron Frost
and packet tricks. A one man Emerson & West, Ronnie has created some memorable packet
card tricks over the years. This one isn't
bad, but it's not a killer. It's essentially a variant of "Follow the Leader"
and utilizes cards with Pepsi and Coke back designs.
The cards are switched and their mates follow, ending with
an appearance of Budweiser backed cards.
Not difficult, but nothing to write home about either. |
 X Factor
Ron Frost
Meir
Yedid
Rating: Good
WOW: High
Method: Good
Value: Good |
This packet effect
is one of Ronnie's stronger ones which involves a selected card and its three mates (say
the four Jacks). As the cards are cleanly
shown front and back, "X's" appear on the faces of the three mates, and as a
kicker, an "X" appears on the back of the selection and it is now a different
colored back to boot.
Some simple sleights required. |
 Prophecy Pack
David Regal
Meir
Yedid
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
This one is a
killer. It's so easy, too. You make a prediction, allow a spectator to shuffle and cut a
deck into a few face down piles, and then allow them to choose the top card of any pile.
When they turn it over, it matches the prediction. You
could not ask for a more perfect effect. It's devious and requires no special handling.
Anyone can master this one within a few minutes. It's that
easy and that strong. |
 Diamond Deck
Diamond Jim Tyler
Meir
Yedid
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
Diamond Jim has a
clever and refreshing approach to gaffed decks. The effect involves selections and decks
changing color, suits, and color separation. It's one of those nested climaxes that build
a stronger and stronger level of disbelief. You
could do this with sleights and deck switches and take years to perfect the handling.
Diamond Jim gives you the same stunning effect after playing with his deck for only a few
hours. Worth the investment as a closer effect. |
Name
That Card
Brown
Rating: Good
WOW: High
Method: Good
Value: Good |
I
am told there are many versions of this effect available. A card is named, say the Two of
Hearts, and the magician calls it Elmer. All the cards are then shown to have different
names on their backs, and the Two of Hearts does have Elmer on it.
This is a funny trick and it plays well in
close-up performances. It requires next to no skill, and the deck could actually be
examined if desired because it is not gaffed. No memorization required. The method is so
obvious you'll feel stupid when you buy it, but it will fool even magicians. It fooled me
for years. |
 Business Card Scanner
El
Duco
Rating: OK
WOW: OK
Method: OK
Value: OK
|
Like
most of El Duco's effects, this gimmicked leather business card is well-made, but the
problem here lies with deceptive advertising.
The ad implies both with pictures and text
that you visibly print or "scan" a copy of your business card for a production.
This is not entirely accurate as the printing happens face down after a card switch. You
have to turn the supposedly blank card face up to show the imprinted face. The pen merely
is used only for the scanning motion.
Very disappointed by this very obvious ploy
to make a fast buck off people.
The instructions (no doubt translated from
Swedish) are not the best either. |
| Omni Deck Palmer
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: Good
Value: High |
Ambitious card
routine where deck turns into a solid block of clear plastic. Got mine used for $10. Not made anymore so far as I can tell. Need
to know "The Tilt" but instructions provide full explanation.
There has to be a better handling for this great finale. |
 Eclipse Wallet
Chazpro
Rating: Fair
WOW: High
Method: Good
Value: Fair |
This leather wallet
allows you to visibly exchange one card for another to create a "Spirit
Printing" type of effect (i.e.: a blank signed card turns into a signed playing
card).
While clever in method, the gimmick sticks a bit. You can create the same effect
with a Himber style wallet. See my Rants
and Riffs for the routine. It
also doesn't look a wallet and can not be examined. |
| Pen-Ultimate
Prediction Archer
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Good |
Nice-looking
plastic pen displays multiple messages in little window on side of pen to help identify
the selection. Entirely self-working and
very surprising. |
 Deck Shell
Chazpro
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
Exactly what it
sounds like -- a shell of a pack of cards, limited only by your imagination. Incredible accessory helps you swap out one deck for another right
infront of the spectators.
Brilliant idea enables you to perform impossible magic. |
 Insertion
Steve Fearson
Rating: Fair
WOW: High
Method: OK
Value: Ugh |
I like Fearson's
approach to magic because it deals with twisting perceptions. His magic is very visual; however, it is sometimes also very
dependent upon angles. This one is no exception.
It's visual, but the handling is awfully kludgy and the
angles are severely limiting. It's like watching yourself do the pass in the mirror. |
| A Real
Turn-On Solari
Rating: Fair
WOW: Fair
Method: Good
Value: Ugh |
A freely selected
card shoots out of a deck when a swicth is thrown. If you liked Spinosa's Locked
Deck, then you'll probably like this one, too. Really just a silly presentation for a shooting card effect. I can
do it better with sleights. |
| Emergency El Duco
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
An electronic
version of the popular Car Buggy where a matchbox emergency vehicle flashes its lights and
siren when it rolls over a selected card. Supposed
to come with a magnet; mine was missing. Brilliant. |
| Tattoo Tale Mike Bent
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
You receive a
packet of temporary card tattoos to help reveal selections. Nicely made and a fun effect. |
| Magic
Printer Cho Cho Co., Ltd.
Rating: Good
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
A blank card
inserted into a little plastic holder suddenly changes into a real printed business card. The effect sounded startling in the flyer, but the instructions
were obviously translated from Taiwanese by an Asian writer, so it is impossible to figure
out how it works without playing with it for some time.
Bottom line: this is very strong magic where you visually
print your business card without any sleights.
You'll play with this for hours and giggle at its sheer
simplicity, but $10 is outrageous for a little piece of plastic. Great effect, poor value. |
| Lucky Lotto Archer
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
This is one of
those effects you can carry in your wallet and do anytime like "Out to Lunch." Destined to become your favorite revelation where the name of a
selected card appears on a lottery ticket they can keep! |
Credit Card
Change
Bromley
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
Oh, I like this
one. Toss your American Express card into the air and it visually changes to a selected
card. Not examinable. My only complaint is
that I am afraid I will wear out the gimmick because I can't stop playing with it!
Bridge-sized only. |
| Animated
ATM Wallet Don Wayne
Rating: Fair
WOW: Fair
Method: Ugh
Value: Fair |
If you want to
produce selected cards in a ghostly manner from your wallet, this will do the trick,
but... The bulky, gimmicked hip wallet is
not truly suited for your pocket.
Complicated threading system and documentation looks like
something out of a Rube Goldberg cartoon.
One can’t help feeling this would work better if
fitted with a reel. |
| Magic
Sketch Pad Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: OK
Value: Fair |
You draw a deck of
cards on a sketch pad and cause a drawing of the selected card to rise out of the pack.
You may then tear off and give the drawing away to a spectator. A classic effect. Handling is a little awkward though. Extra sheets provided need
edges prepared to make them look like they got ripped out of sketch pad better; why
didn’t they make them this way to begin with?
The ink on the extra sheets does not match the color of
the sketch pad at all. |
| Car Buggy Tannens
Rating: OK
WOW: Good
Method: OK
Value: Fair |
Little wooden car
rolls back and forth and stops in front of your card in a ribbon spread deck. Wheels are cut uneven and internal gimmick is too long. Needs to be
taken apart and shortened.
I think El Duco’s ambulance version is probably
better though I have not seen it yet. |
Cardtoon I
Harlan
Rating: Good
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: Good |
Reveal a selected
card by riffling the back of the deck towards the spectator to show them an animated
cartoon whereby a stick figure magician pulls the selected card from his hat. May be
repeated with different cards for table-hopping. Great
visual, fun effect. Handling requires some culling and control ability, but worth the
effort. |
Screwed
Deck
Palmer/Harris
Rating: Fair
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: Fair |
Saw this at
Fechter’s years ago and was mystified by Pete Lentini. In the hands of the right
person, it sells well to the crowd. A
little cumbersome for those of us with smaller hands. Probably needs a bridge-sized
version.
What you get is a split card case machined to screw
together. Everything else is performance and some sleight of hand. |
| Locking
Deck Spinosa
Rating: Good
WOW: High
Method: Good
Value: OK |
To find a selected
card, you make a combination lock dial appear on the top of the deck. After turning it
left and right a few times, you lift up, and half the deck attaches itself to the dial,
thus cutting the deck to the selection. Cute
effect but a little pricey considering the cost of materials. Needs some work on the
handling as those of us with smaller hands may find secreting the dial a bit cumbersome. |
Bicycle
Built for Five
Ton Osaka
Rating: Good
WOW: High
Method: Good
Value: Fair |
Fun effect as
packet tricks go; provides choice of two climaxes using specially printed Bicycle cards.
However, you need to know your counts and feel comfortable handling doubles. Considering you only receive two gimmicked cards, one wonders why
the price is so high.
May want to check Scotty York’s routine for alternate
handling, but do you really want to spend the extra money at $15? |
Floating
Diamond
Rating: Fair
WOW: High
Method: Good
Value: Fair |
The perfect
presentation of Ben Harris’ Floating Match, but a bit pricey. A diamond pip floats off the center of an Ace of Diamonds held in
your hands. It's very pretty and actually makes a lot more sense then the old match
routine.
Documentation is a little thin though. Doesn’t
explain why they include a pair of 3D glasses. |
| Business
Card Rise Cornelius
Rating: Good
WOW: Good
Method: OK
Value: Fair |
Your business card
rises from an open brass business card case. Very easy to do. Unexaminable. Commercial effect but a little pricey considering the cost of the
materials. Brass business card like these can be purchased from your local mall for a few
bucks. |
| Magic
Credit Card Jenest
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
Very clever prop
with multiple mentalism effects from the Disney magician. Looks like a real credit card, but it is specially prepared to
enable a number of predictions. Some are a little transparent and border on gags, but
overall entertainment value is high. Only problem is card will wear with usage and
eventually need to be replaced.
Carry this with me wherever I go. |
Ghost Disc
Viking
Rating: High
WOW: High
Method: High
Value: High |
An old favorite.
Glad to see it being remanufactured. A ghostly image of two selected cards appear on a
small clear disk. Understand there is a
manuscript out teaching you how to create similar effects.
Comes packaged in nice leatherette case. |
| Voodoo Tannens
Rating: Fair
WOW: OK
Method: OK
Value: Fair |
Magicians predicts
body part selected by spectator. Cheap
packet trick, poorly produced in black and white on cheap card stock.
Could use a face lift and better handling. Joe Givan has a
better routine in his lecture notes. |
| Portrait of
Lydia Marsh Thaumysta
Rating: Fair
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: Fair |
A ghostly
prediction effect that includes an adequate manuscript and contains additional suggestions
on handling, patter and how to age a deck of your cards. You could build this cheaper. Hoped for something more mechanical;
handling is awkward. |
 Magnetic Card Box
Viking
Rating: OK
WOW: Good
Method: Good
Value: OK |
Everubody needs a
card box, right? They can be used to switch or produce cards. This one is a nice looking wooden box, but the flap on mine does
not fall flat, and it is cut too small to provide total coverage of the hidden card
beneath it. |
| Omega Card
Fountain Dave Powell
Rating: Fair
WOW: Good
Method: Fair
Value: Ugh |
A nicely crafted
wooden box with poorly mounted electronics enables you to create a fountain of cards
shooting out from the box, leaving one card behind -- the selection. The climax card is visible from the front of the box rendering the
surprise somewhat questionable. Handling is poor. I needed to take it apart and remount
the electronics with velcro. |
