Friday, January 13, 2006

Come On In And See Us Some Time

Greetings from all of us here at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. Or, should we call it Hank Lee’s Busy Factory? Because, man o man, we have been busier than I can ever remember. One of the elves walked by my desk this morning and muttered, “Sheesh, it hasn’t slowed down one bit since the holidays. The orders just keep pouring in!” He was right, and we could not be happier. Of course, we have you all to thank, and we do.

This weekend, we have two different excitements. I hope you can handle it. For far too long, our in-store customers have been neglected in the sales events department. If they wanted to save, they had to order online or by phone. Which meant that they might be living two blocks from the store, but they could not get the same deals as our mail order customers. All that is past history. And, to show our in-store customers how special they are, this week we are having a 25% off sale just for them! From now through Wednesday the 18th, visit us in our fabuloso Boston retail store at 112 South Street, say the magic words, HANK IS GREAT, and we’ll give you a full 25% off your entire order. The usual rules apply, and the usual items are not available at discount. This is our way of saying “Thanks” to our in-store customers and letting you know you have not been forgotten!

I don’t want our wonderful mail-order customers forgotten either, so we are having a special event just for you! This weekend, you have a chance to win $750.00 in magic of your choice! Everyone who places an order from now until Monday, January 16th at midnight will be entered in the drawing for this Seven Hundred And Fifty Dollar gift certificate. On Tuesday morning, one of our fairer than fair elves will draw the lucky winner. I will personally contact the winner by email and let them know just how lucky they were! Even if you don’t need anything this weekend (impossible!), you can still enter the drawing and have an equal chance to win. Just send me an email to magicfact@aol.com with your full name and address and the words IWANNAWIN in the subject line. That's all it takes.

Now, let’s take a look at the great new stuff in the Hotlist at www.magicfact.com. I hope you brought your reading glasses, because there is a ton of stuff!

Stack Attack DVD – Lew Brooks - Stack Attack is a collection of absolutely stunning yet easy to do card miracles from Lew Brooks. All of the work is done before the performance by simply stacking the deck in a prearranged order!.
This DVD contains eight card routines based on gambling themes and there’s nothing hotter right now than gambling demonstrations. Lew will take you step-by-step through each routine. Absolutely nothing is left out, included with each effect is Lew’s complete patter and presentation.
Lew also completely covers an extremely easy false shuffle sequence that anybody can learn in a matter of minutes. If you can overhand shuffle a deck of cards you can do every routine on this amazing DVD. Even though the techniques are drop dead easy, they are totally deceptive. Combined with Lew’s patter and presentation, you will instantly have all of the professional level gambling style routines you’ll ever need!
Bonus: Included is a cheater card that contains all of the stacks. You can easily keep it in your case or wallet so you don't even have to remember the stacks! $34.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8130&cat=&page=1)

Revelations - From Wayne Dobson comes Revelations, a real crowd pleaser!
Place a packet of 9 cards on the table. Ask a spectator to think of any card in a deck (no force of any kind).
Turn the small packet of cards over one at a time.
Each card reveals a different gag, as you ask different questions.
Was your card the 15 of Diamonds, how about the 14 of Spades, was it a Credit Card, a Bingo Card, this card (card has THIS printed on it), Phone Card, etc. Finally the last card says “Your Card Is In My Pocket.” Reach into your pocket and remove your own business card as you say “This is my card, but I am sure you will want to keep it when I tell you which card you are thinking of.” You name the card they are thinking of!
Sounds impossible but it’s not. You really name their thought of card!
Comes complete with 9 specially printed bicycle cards that do all the work for you. Also features extra handlings and bonus handling tips on the included instructional DVD! $24.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8120&cat=&page=1)

Extreme Coin Magic DVD - Another brand new DVD from Joe Rindfleisch! Almost 2 1/2 hours of magic! Make no mistake; these aren’t your grandfather’s coin tricks! This is coin magic to the extreme!
Unfettered by coin magic’s time-worn traditional plots, Joe Rindfleisch has invented some of the most creative magic with coins ever developed. On this digital extravaganza, you’ll be able to see and learn it all! There’s almost two and a half hours of mind-bending coin magic here. 27 different items! With brand-new plots, exciting twists on classic effects, and innovative sleights, dodges and stratagems that are guaranteed to warm the heart of coin workers everywhere.
What’s more, all of the effects are arranged in performance sets as Joe, besides performing and teaching his powerhouse material, provides a post-graduate course in how to effectively routine close-up magic. $34.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8119&cat=&page=1)

Mindreading 101 - A complete comedy mentalism routine with a kicker ending!
Nine laugh-packed predictions! Every gag prediction known to man!
Use just one, or all of them! You receive stunning versions of these classic gag predictions with a very magical ending.
Tell your audience that you've enrolled in "Mindreading 101," a mail-order course for psychics. To try out what you've learned, you propose a few experiments with the spectators.
Begin by having a card selected and returned to the deck, but then decide to try a few more advanced tests. The audience is now treated to as many of these funny pseudo-predictions as you see fit.
When the laughs and groans subside, you return to the spectator's card. Show a large white image and claim that it's the selected card in the midst of a blizzard. Quickly explain that you always have to look at the big picture, as you unfold the picture into a giant 18" x 24" poster of the spectator's chosen card and accept your applause for finally performing a truly magical prediction.
All these great-looking images are printed on high-quality stock in a giant 11" by 14" size that even the largest audience can see with ease. Plus they're coated with a matte finish that won't reflect the spotlight.
You'll receive:
* The Baby Gag: The spectator names any celebrity and your prediction shows the chosen star...as a baby. If they choose a celebrity of African-American or Asian descent, you're ready!
* The Bar Code: An audience member selects any common supermarket product and its price. Your prediction is correct, since it's a large-scale price code.
* 52 Cards: Any card named matches your prediction...a photo of a spread of the entire deck.
* Around-the-World Trip: The volunteer names a city, and remarkably, you show it on the other side of the card...in a complete world map.
* Birthday Prediction: Any date selected is in this 12-month calendar.
* The "No" Card: "Do you have any idea what word is on this card?" you ask. "No? That's correct!" you exclaim as you reveal the word "NO."
*"Your Name": You ask, "Would you be surprised if your name was printed on the other side?" The card, of course, states "YOUR NAME."
* Sanskrit: Predict the name of a corporate officer or any well-known movie or book...and it's found on the other side in the ancient language of Sanskrit!
Mindreading 101 comes to you complete with all prediction cards, giant card prediction poster, and complete full-color instructions. $75.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8129&cat=&page=1)

Gaffed Coins DVD - World's Greatest Magic By The World's Greatest Magicians - This benchmark collection features just about all of magic’s most enduring and classic effects and routines. It’s a fabulous compendium with many of the top masters in the world of magic teaching their handlings and routines for some of magic’s classics. Each volume covers a specific subject and features new, old, and sometimes rare footage by some of the top video producers in magic.
In this volume, you’ll discover the Copper/Silver/ Brass and 2 Copper/1 Silver coin tricks, two of the most popular and ingenious gimmicked coin sets ever developed. You will learn some of the best handlings and routines for these coin sets by some of their best exponents. You’ll learn good, solid basic routines from David Roth and J.C. Wagner, along with additional handlings and ideas such as Doc Eason’s “Miracle Move” and Scotty York’s handling with absolutely no pocket work. $19.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8123&cat=&page=1)

Quick Change Shirt - Walk out onto the stage in a solid black button-up shirt.
Take a black opaque scarf out of your pocket, spread it open, and display it to the audience. Show both sides. There is nothing special about it.
Then, cross your arms and grab your shirt around the neckline. With the flick of your wrist, you pull the scarf away to reveal that your black shirt has miraculously and instantaneously changed colors! It is now a white button-up shirt with black sleeves!
Comes complete with gimmicked shirt, black opaque scarf, and detailed instructions! Available in men’s large only. $175.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8131&cat=&page=1)

The Magic Of Paul Potassy - - Uwe Schenk and Michael Sondermeyer - The Magic of Paul Potassy, or "How to live like a millionaire with just six scarves, thirty razor blades, and a great haircut!"
This new publication covers the act of World Class magician Paul Potassy. This is not merely a record of a remarkable performer's repertoire, but a template for other commercially minded performers.
Paul's entire show, with all the performance details and script are meticulously described. His Sympathetic Silks, razor blades from mouth, pickpocket sequence, newspaper tear, book test, and encore card stab are all included, along with much more!
Harbound with full color dust jacket, 6x9, 220 pages. $45.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8121&cat=&page=1)

Charlie Miller DVD – Greater Magic Video Series #14 - His trademark was a simple repetition of his name - Charlie Miller...Charlie Miller...Charlie Miller. But those two words conjure an image of a man who’s far from simple. He was known for clever close-up, stand-up and stage magic. Also for his role as author, lecturer and source of inspiration. Confidant to Vernon and Tomsoni, Charlie devoted his life to enhancing the magic profession.
Some of his “Magical Classics” are: • Ring and Rope • Malini’s Knives • Dissolving Knots. $29.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8122&cat=&page=1)

Sympathetic Wands - It’s rare that there is something really new in magic – a trick that no one could say he has seen before. This is one! Ramos invented the Sympathetic Wands and created a fascinating variety of effects with it: effects that involve levitation, animation and telekinesis.
Show two regular soft-drink bottles made from glass and two normal wands. Everything rests on a nice looking tray.
Place one of the wands into a soda bottle. Move the wand in your hand up and down. The wand in the bottle moves up and down as if connected by magnetism to the other wand. Of course, there are no magnets of any kind!
Now place the wand in your hand into the second bottle and move the other wand (held horizontally) in front of the bottle up and down: The wand in the bottle will also move up and down as if by magic!
Place one of the wands in one bottle and move the other wand in front of the other bottle up and down. As if a ghost were controlling the other wand in the bottle, it makes the same movements and moves up and down in the same way!
Another variation: One wand is dropped into the bottle and the other one held vertical without any movement. The wand in the bottle moves up and descends down again as if by magic!
Now, place the each wand into a bottle and place a book or a piece of cardboard between the bottles. Move one wand up and down and nothing happens: The invisible “rays” are disturbed so that no effect takes place. As soon as the book (or cardboard) is removed, the wands work just like before!
Something unexpected follows: After one wand has been placed in one of the bottles, the other wand is placed in the second soft-drink-bottle. The first wand shoots upwards as if there was not enough space for it in the bottle! The wand now floats freely inside the bottle. When you push it down, the other wand starts to levitate in the other bottle! In the end, both wands levitate inside their bottles!
At the end of this fascinating routine, you place one of the wands vertical on top of a bottle and concentrate while not making any move. The wand starts to rotate - first slowly and then faster! Take the wand in your hand and take your bow!
Is it Telekinesis? Is it just a trick? Do unseen forces really work? Is it a complicated mechanical marvel? Are wires used or is a thread running through the room? Is there a secret assistant? Nothing like that at all! The innocent-looking transparent tray contains the secret. You just have to place the wands in the bottles and everything happens nearly automatically.
Ramos’ Sympathetic wands come in a sturdy plastic-case complete with the specially prepared transparent plastic-tray, wands and detailed illustrated instructions Limited collector’s edition. $60.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8126&cat=&page=1)

Mark Leveridge’s Master Routines DVD - In 1984, Mark created The Master Routine Series. This was to be a showcase for his longer routines and over the course of the next 20 years, suitable effects were gradually added to the series until its completion in 2003. Now for the first time on DVD, the complete 12 routine series is made available and features a wide range of effects and ideas for close-up and stand-up work. Some of Mark's very best work is performed and explained here, including his highly praised Ring And String Routine which was part of the act which won Mark the IBM Close-Up Competition in the UK. 20 years is a long time to take to create just 12 routines, but the quality of the material proves it was worth the wait. Check the Hotlist for full descriptions of all items on this DVD. $34.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=5494&cat=&page=1)

Johnny Paul DVD – Greater Magic Video Series - Here’s a man who knew the secret of magic for some time. It’s entertainment. And for him, mixing amusement with magic came naturally. In fact, mastering magic looks easy for Johnny, from performing to teaching. But careful study and an innovative mind catapulted him to the top. A few that are shown are:
• The Bill Tear
• Invisible Cards
• 10 of Spades, and more! $29.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8127&cat=&page=1)

Stars Of Magic DVD Vol. 1 – Paul Harris - Three videos on one DVD!
Paul Harris is regarded as one of the most creative forces in the history of magic. Innovative methods, entertaining plots and great audience appeal are hallmarks of Paul’s effects.
Paul Harris Volume 1
. Super Swindle
. Bizarre Vanish
. Sidewinder
. Ultimate Ripoff
. Mickey Mouse Math
. Wack Your Pack
. Las Vegas Leaper
. Solid Deception
. Elevator Card Trick
. Bizarre Twist
. Overkill
Close-Up Classics Vol. 2
. Bush Whacker
. Seductive Switch
. Strange Exchange
. Hi-Ho Silver!
. Ballerina Cards (Las Vegas Split)
. Interlaced Vanish
. Reset
. Limo Service
. Screenplay
Adventures In Close-up Vol. 3
. Flash Fold
. Vanishing Deck
. Open Revelation
. Mondo Nifty Invisible Palm Aces
. Sticky Fingers
. Vacuum Cleaner Cards
. Immaculate Connection
. Monster Coin Routiune: featuring: Silver Slide, Giant Killer Coin, Free Flight, Michael’s Proposition, PDQ Coins Across
. Twilight
. Color Stunner
. Blue Tatoo
. The Uncut Version
. TV Magic Card
$19.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8132&cat=&page=1)

Dinner Table Magic DVD - World's Greatest Magic By The World's Greatest Magicians Series - This benchmark collection features just about all of magic’s most enduring and classic effects and routines. It’s a fabulous compendium with many of the top masters in the world of magic teaching their handlings and routines for some of magic’s classics. Each volume covers a specific subject and features new, old, and sometimes rare footage by some of the top video producers in magic.
In this volume, you’ll learn some of the best effects to perform around the dinner table. Experienced performers know that after a meal, everyone is ready for some entertainment and on this DVD, you’ll learn some of the most amazing magic ever created that can be performed with items routinely found on a dinner table. You’ll be the life of the dinner party when you learn these after-dinner miracles, many of which can be done totally impromptu. From classics such as Johnny Thompson’s version of the Vanishing Glass and David Roth’s handling of the Coins Through Table to unusual offerings such as Gregory Wilson’s Off Base, a startling broken and restored wine glass effect, there’s a treasure trove of magic offered here that’s virtually guaranteed to make you the hit of any gathering. $19.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8124&cat=&page=1)

Finger Ring Magic DVD - World's Greatest Magic By The World's Greatest Magicians - This benchmark collection features just about all of magic’s most enduring and classic effects and routines. It’s a fabulous compendium with many of the top masters in the world of magic teaching their handlings and routines for some of magic’s classics. Each volume covers a specific subject and features new, old, and sometimes rare footage by some of the top video producers in magic.
In this volume, you’ll find amazing magic that can be performed with ordinary finger rings. Almost everybody wears a ring of some kind and, because of the value people place on their jewelry, magic with finger rings assures immediate spectator interest. Perform miracles with a borrowed ring and little else - perhaps a shoelace or a wand - and, of course, the knowledge you’ll obtain from the expert performers gathered on this DVD. From entire routines by creators like Daryl, Mark Leveridge, Dan Fleshman and other artists to quick visual stunners from Gregory Wilson and Al Schneider you’ll be performing world-class finger ring magic in no time. $19.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=8125&cat=&page=1)

And that’s it for this week. I told you there was a boatload of new stuff! But, take your time looking it over. Then placed that big order that you’ve been dreaming of, or maybe it’s the big order that we’ve been dreaming of.

I hope you have a great weekend. Stop into the shop at 112 South Street and save a bundle. Or, visit us online and have a chance to win a big pile of free magic! Either way, you come out a winner.
See you next week,
Hank Lee