Greetings from all of us here at Hank Lee's Magic Factory. For those of you who are counting, 3 and a half more pounds. Making the total for three weeks 18 and a half pounds lost. At this rate, I could be the biggest loser. I know my mother always thought so. No she didn't. She loved me.
In case you have been wondering what I've been doing with my free time, wonder no more. I am deep in catalog production. It's a major task, updating our gigantic catalog. Taking out "dead" items. Adding new items. Re-writing descriptions to make them even more accurate and fun. I have been working day and night, and hope to have the catalog ready to go to press by the end of this month. Keep your eyes open for an announcement when it is ready. It will be our biggest catalog yet!
Now, to this week's excitement. Since I have been doing a lot of stretching exercises lately, I decided to "extend" the Free Shipping for one more week!
FREE SHIPPING EXTENDED: For the next 7 days, until Thursday the 19th of October at midnight, we are offering free ground shipping to anywhere in the US, including Alaska and Hawaii! Just enter the special code SHIPMEFREE in the Discount Coupon Box at the bottom of the third page of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com. We will happily pick up the ground shipping charges on your order. Of course, if you want your order sent Fedex Three Day (Express Saver), Second Day or Next Day, you will just have to pay the difference. Overseas customers will save as well! We will pay one-half of the Air Post shipping charges on your orders for the next 7 days! Just remember to enter the special code SHIPMEFREE in the Discount Coupon Box, or let the person taking your phone order know when you place your order at 800 874 7400.
Now, let's take a look at all the great magic in this week's Hotlist.
Big Bag O' Blitzen: Oh, that Mike Bent. He's so darn clever. He just keeps coming up with one great kids' show routine after another. If you have been looking for something absolutely super to add to your holiday shows, look no further. Mike Bent's Big Bag O' Blitzen is exactly what you need.
Your show is coming to a close. And, you are looking for Santa's missing reindeer. Ask a kid from the audience to help. Reach into a small bag and pull out a red sponge nose and plush reindeer antlers. Place these on your helper. Magically, the bag turns into a 36" Reindeer Silk! Your helper is the missing reindeer!
Comes complete with Reindeer Blendo Bag with beautifully printed artwork, sponge nose, plush reindeer antlers and Mike's full routine! In stock for immediate shipment. $149.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8500&cat=0&page=1)
Essential Robert-Houdin : Edited by Todd Karr. Introduction by Jim Steinmeyer
Finally back in print! All the classic works of the great master of magic, Robert-Houdin, under one cover, lavishly illustrated with hundreds of beautiful prints, engravings, and photos. Robert-Houdin (1805-1871) revolutionized the art of magic with his incredible stage mysteries and lifelike automata, and he thankfully left a number of books recording his philosophy and techniques. In Essential Robert-Houdin, you'll find:
The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic: Considered one of the finest magic books ever, featuring coin sleights and effects; card techniques including palming, false shuffles, cuts, and stacked-deck work, with twenty card effects; Cups and Balls methods and routines; stage effects including the the Linking Rings, and Robert-Houdin's performance theories and essays on gimmicks, stagecraft, and psychology.
Card-Sharping Exposed: Robert-Houdin's pioneering work on card handling, with dozens of card techniques and routines.
The Secrets of Stage Conjuring: A dozen great stage pieces plus the inside techniques of Robert-Houdin's theatre and optical theories.
The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin: The most complete version of Robert-Houdin's wonderful autobiography ever published, with material previously omitted from earlier editions. You can now enjoy the complete work that Robert-Houdin envisioned.
The Priory: The unbelievable secrets of Robert-Houdin's automated house, with remote-control gates and automatic timers.
Plus selections from Robert-Houdin's never-before-translated scientific writings, a complete bibliography, and full index. 664 pages. Over 350 illustrations Special this week: $90.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8494&cat=0&page=1)
Nothing DVD Set - Max Maven - Max traveled from Hollywood to Lake Tahoe. He brought nothing but a nice suit. On the way from the airport to the studio, he stopped at a supermarket for less than ten minutes and spent less than ten dollars. Once in his room, he spent less than half an hour preparing, and proceeded to go on stage and do a 50-minute performance of mentalism.
NO Pre-Show Work; NO Stooges; NO Clipboards; NO Nailwriters; NO Playing Cards; NO ESP Cards; NO Billets; NO Wallets; NO Gaffs NO Gimmicks; NO Special Materials; NO Muscle Reading; NO Hypnotism; NO Threads; NO Mirrors; NO Electronics; NO Rough & Smooth; NO Gilbreath Principle; NO Filler. In fact, nothing but solid mentalism and great entertainment.
Let’s be clear. This is not a cluster of “”substitute” stuff to make up for having lost your props. It is a full-length show of top-notch real world material, much of it revealed for the very first time. The complete work, including variations and options, plus discussion of performance structure, scripting segues, audience management, blocking, timing—everything thoroughly explained with an unprecedented degree of detail.
Included is the rare “Para-Sight” routine, out of print for over 25 years; copies of the original limited-release manuscript have sold for as much as $400. And that’s something!
A boxed two-DVD set (with as much content as most three-DVD sets). Running time: 230 minutes, plus Easter Eggs and bonus material. Featuring Eugene Burger, Brandon Combs, Gene Matsuura, Stephen Minch, Jan Rose and Michael Weber. $99.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8499&cat=0&page=1)
Renaissance FX - Imagine the possibilities of a gimmick that will all you to perform a ton of effects for stage, close-up or strolling. Jay Mattioli has brought a breath of fresh air to one of magic's most powerful gimmicks and enhanced it with some unique ideas to create jaw-dropping illusions. Renaissance FX includes two sets of gimmicks, ropes, accessories and a detailed DVD showing 9 different effects and many ideas.
Floating iPOD: That's right, take an iPOD or mp3 player, place the ear bud headphones into your ears and_hypnotize the iPOD to stand and levitate! Immediately hand it back to the spectator! The iPOD can even be borrowed!
Dancing Hank: Make a hanky come to life in your hands! Hanky can be examined before and after. No strings!_
Flash Restored Rope: A visual merge of two short pieces of rope to one long piece of rope that can be examined._
Hypnotized Rope: An examined piece of rope becomes hypnotized, stands up ala Hindu Rope and then falls limp, only to be instantly examined again by the audience. No strings.
Cell Phone to Dove and Sunglasses To Silk explained and much more! $60.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8501&cat=0&page=1)
Extreme Card Magic DVD - Joe Rindfleisch - A brand new Two Volume Set with the emphasis on magic!
There are card tricks. You know the ones. The pick-a-card-any-card affairs that are usually boring to perform and even more boring to watch. Then there’s card magic where the cards do impossible things as if they had a life of their own. Effects like these are a joy to perform and mind-boggling and thoroughly entertaining to watch. This is the realm of Joe Rindfleisch.
The man behind the very popular Extreme Rubber Band Magic and Extreme Coin Magic DVDs, is back and this time, he’s turning his creative energies towards the pasteboards.
In this two-volume series, you’ll see – and learn – some of the most innovative and entertaining card magic ever created.
A total of seven complete card acts featuring some truly incredible magic. This is card magic – to the extreme! $64.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8502&cat=0&page=1)
Secrets of Metal Bending 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 the world of prestidigitation, there are magic tricks, and then there’s metal bending. Ever since Uri Geller set the imagination of the world on fire by bending silverware with seemingly nothing more than just his mind power, people have been fascinated by this arcane ability. On this DVD, you’ll learn all of the necessary techniques and important subtleties you’ll need to be a world-class metal bender from two of the world’s most acclaimed experts. Spoons, forks, keys, even nails and railroad spikes seem to turn to putty in the hands of Richard Osterlind and Banachek. And, on this volume, they hold nothing back as they demonstrate and teach every vital element. Each effect is taught in minute detail with able assistance from Jim Sisti and Scott Wells.
Imagine – no gimmicks or gadgets; just you, a piece of silverware, and a soon-to-be amazed spectator. Learn to bend metal and you’ll also be bending minds! $19.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8503&cat=0&page=1)
Street Cups DVD - Gazzo: Gazzo is one of the world's legendary street performers. In this three hour DVD, Gazzo demonstrates and teaches his famous Street Cups routine. This is the money-making routine Gazzo uses to close all of his street shows. You'll learn everything from placement of the wand to where to stand. You'll learn the moves, the misdirection, the subtleties, and all the presentation tips.
Gazzo teaches you how to do it, and then he teaches you why to do it that way. This is a tried and tested routine. It's being brought to you by way of the streets after over 20 years of live performance experience. Every action in the routine has a purpose. Nothing is left to chance.
First, Gazzo takes you on a tour of his equipment: The Table Top, The Stand, The Poacher's Pouch, The Gazzo Cups, The Balls, The Hat, etc. Gazzo says, "Professionals can't afford cheap props."
Next, he walks you through the entire routine: The Beginning Phase, The Middle Phase, and The Final Loads. He even walks you through the wand spin!
Finally, Gazzo invites you to sit in on a teach-in with fellow street pro Guy Collins. Guy is a juggler who is just starting to learn Gazzo's routine. You'll see Gazzo teaching Guy and walking him through the entire routine, correcting any mistakes and explaining why each move is done a certain way.
But, without question, the hi-light of the DVD is the one hour performance section. This is one of the best live street performance sequences ever captured. You'll see how Gazzo interacts with his spectators, how he builds the routine toward the finale, and how he encourages a massive hat.
The passionate student of the cups and balls will find this an invaluable resource.
On the Menu:
Over one hour of live performance footage!
Full in-depth explanation of the routine!
Performance by Gazzo's student, Billy Kidd.
Angles Section featuring head-on and ceiling cam. Use the angle button on your remote to switch angles.
Teach-In with street performer Guy Collins. $49.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8503&cat=0&page=1)
Art & Artifice - Jim Steinmeyer: From the author of Hiding the Elephant and The Glorious Deception comes a collection of five essays that shows how the great stage illusions were integrally products of their time, based on the traditions and fashions of the people, and the offspring of the incredible, inventive personalities who brought them to the stage. Like no other author, Jim Steinmeyer gives us insight into the timeless appeal of magic. His human subjects include such characters as Steele MacKaye, Maskelyne, David Devant, P.T. Selbit, Horace Goldin, and Charles Morritt. Illusions he discusses include: The Mascot Moth, Sawing a Lady in Halves, and Morritt's Disappearing Donkey. $14.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8496&cat=0&page=1)
Gazzo's Tossed Out Deck: Wrap the deck in rubber bands and throw it out to a punter in the audience.
As your back is turned, instruct him to open the deck anywhere he likes and remember one of the cards.
In turn you instruct him to throw the deck to anybody in the audience. That person is instructed to do the same thing. This is done to five different punters.
With Gazzo's routine you will have six people standing. You proceed to name each person's card and five of the people who looked at a card will sit down.
As a climax you will still have one person standing, and he will say that you have not yet named his card--which makes for a tricky situation. So you ask him, "If I name your card out loud, will you sit down. You name his card, and he sits down. You get a standing ovation Gazzo style.
A total miracle. Not hard to master.
Comes complete with gimmicked Bicycle Deck and illustrated instruction sheet. $25.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8497&cat=0&page=1)
Torn & Restored Treasure Map: Arrgh, me hardies. It's a new twist on a classic effect, Capstone's Torn & Restored Pirate Treasure Map! Why use a newspaper when you can display an old parchment treasure map and present an entertaining story about pirates and buried treasure?
Introduce an old piece of parchment which is folded into the shape a small pirate hat. As you unfold the piece of parchment, the audience realizes it is a treasure map. A volunteer is given the job of Captain of the Pirate Ship and will lead the audience in the official pirate cheer: "ARRRRRRRGH!"
As you the map, you tell an hilarious tale about a band of 9 crazy pirates and how they tore their treasure map into 9 pieces so that no one would find their buried treasure. Of course you use magic to restore the torn pieces in an instantaneous and visual flash restoration! Along the way there’s loads of comedy and participation by both the volunteer and the rest of the audience.
You Receive:
* A funny pirate story!
* 10 pages of easy to follow instructions
* All the patter lines, jokes, and bits of business.
* 25 lucid illustrations by Tony Dunn.
* Maps are made on parchment paper for antique look.
* 10 second reset time! Prepared & ready to perform.
* 8 fully-made refills to do the trick over and over.
This is a practical, real world, routine created by a full-time working pro.
The maps are printed on high quality, antique parchment paper and feature the artwork of acclaimed cartoonist, Steve Quinn.
$24.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8498&cat=0&page=1)
And that's all the fabulous new stuff for this week. I hope you'll find something that tickles your fancy. As to me, I am heading for the treadmill. Or should I ride the stationary bike today? Decisions, decisions.
I hope you'll find some time to spend with us online at www.magicfact.com. Or in person at our retail shop at 112 South Street. In Boston. Either way, we love the company.
Hank Lee
