Greetings from all of us here at Hank Lee's Magic Factory, where everything, especially me, is looking thinner. 2 more pounds this week. And my blood pressure is great. And my blood sugar is great. In fact, just today they took me off one of the meds. Yippee! This taking care of myself really working out. I should have done it years ago.
As you recall from last week's installment, I am knee-deep in catalog work. It looks like I will be finished in about a week, and then we will put it to bed, as they say in the publishing business. Looks like we may have Catalog 15 in house by the end of November. Just in time for Thanksgiving.
And, the Conclave is looking better every day. We have booked some really terrific acts, acts that have not been seen here in the US, ever. You should take a look at your calendar, and make sure you clear April 20-22nd, 2007. Then, click on the Conclave Button at www.magicfact.com and sign up for what may prove to be the magic event of 2007!
Now, to this week's excitement:
FALL READING SALE: Right now is the best time for reading. The kids are back in school, and everyone has some extra time.
Starting right now and ending on Thursday, the 26thth of October at midnight, you can save 25% on every single book that we carry, except those published by Mike Caveney's Magic Words. All you need to do is enter the special code SAVEONBOOKS in the Discount Coupon Box at the bottom of page three of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com and we will automatically deduct the 25%. If you place your order by phone, toll free at 800 874 7400, just mention the special code, SAVEONBOOKS, and we will deduct the 25%. You can also place your order by FAX at 781 395 2034 or by email at magicfact@aol.com. No matter how you place your order, just mention the special code and save 25% on all the books!
And, now let's take a look at this week's Hotlist!
Folding Money - Joe Porper & Pete Biro: Joe Porper and Pete Biro have done it again. They have created a way to magically bend coins. And, the precision gimmick which Joe has crafted is right in front of the spectators’ eyes. They just don’t know it.
"What's folding money? It's paper money, but what's not folding money are coins."
As you speak, you bring out your Folding Money; a few bills in a money clip. "Do you have any non-folding money, say a quarter I can borrow? And just to make sure I don't do a switch or anything, I'd like you to mark your coin with this pen, mark it in any way you wish, so that there is no question that this is your coin. There is no other coin just like this one anywhere in the world.”
"One of the problems with many coins, when you want to use them in, say, a vending machine, is they don't work. You always wonder 'Why?' Well, the reason is they are bent, they won't fit in the coin slot and they often get stuck and you lose them.
"Do you know how they get bent? I do, let me show you."
You drop the marked coin into the folds of your Folding Money, as you say, "Your coins often get mixed in with your folding money, and if I give it a little squeeze, just watch, and it drops out bent!"
The coin is really bent. It is their coin; there is no switch. Your spectators have just watched you bend their quarter with the power of the your mind! $299.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8511&cat=0&page=1)
Sleightly Magical - Dan & Dave Buck: Dan and Dave’s sixth manual of card magic and they would tell you it’s their best yet. The effects are extremely visual and highly effective, the only problem is you’ll have to practice, a lot. Dan and Dave are known for their hardcore, flashy style, and this manual represents none the less. You will enjoy six brand new tricks featuring six original sleights that will entertain you with months of practice. And if that’s not enough, they continue their ongoing repertoire of flourishes with a new concept that is a must learn for any card manipulator. Although the majority of the material is demanding, there is something for everyone. Read through the content descriptions below and just think, the secrets are only a mouse click away.
TiVo 2:
The most visual two-card transposition ever published, and we’re not the only ones saying that. Imagine openly placing a selected card out-jogged in the center of the deck, turning the top card face up and without ever covering either card, they instantly transpose. In addition, you’ll learn an awesome new double lift from the center. This trick rocks on all levels!
Hedbergs Peak:
If you ever need a quick trick to shut that noisy guy up, this is it. It leaves them completely stumped after thinking they had you all along. It’s another quick transposition effect (might as well get them out of the way) but is open for tons of possibilities.
Carnahan Fan:
An instant classic and a must learn for all card manipulators. This is a lighting fast, almost instant, production of a huge fan of cards and then as quick as it appeared, it is gone and the deck is ready to do your bidding. Not too difficult either.
Ginastaire Double:
A beautiful flourishy double lift that spins from the top of the deck. Acts as a great opening for an ambitious card routine or just to produce a double from the top. Even a seasoned professional won’t believe this could be a double.
D.D.C: (discrepancy dribble control)
Similar to Lee Asher’s Losing Control but without having to spread the cards. Very open with practically no movement. Great for both large and small groups alike. $24.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8510&cat=0&page=1)
Dual Cyclone: Paul Knight’s Dual Cyclone will blow your audience away!
Show two cards in your pocket. The pocket is shown otherwise empty.
A spectator is invited to "physically" select either card without looking at the card's face. The spectator removes the card from your pocket and holds onto it.
Then the spectator mentally selects and names any card.
Explain that this is an experiment in physical and mental abilities.
State that you knew which card the spectator would remove from your pocket. The chosen card is turned face up to reveal a prediction:
"THIS IS THE CARD YOU WILL PICK PHYSICALLY".
Explain that the spectator could have chosen to "physically" remove either card.
Point out that if the spectator had chosen to remove the other card, well, that would have just been insane, because that was the card the selected "mentally"!
The spectator removes the only card remaining in your pocket.
It is their mental selection!
Any card can be thought of. It will always be their card!
No palming.
No Forcing.
No rough and smooth.
No indexes.
Only two cards in the pocket at the begining.
No cards in the pocket at the end.
The spectator removes both cards!
Instantly resets. $22.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8504&cat=0&page=1)
Coin Magnet: With the fantastic Coin Magnet, you will be able to produce coin after coin after coin. Using this horseshoe magnet you can apparently fill your pocket with coins that appear on the tip of the magnet. Produce coins out of thin air anytime!. Add a modern touch to your 'Miser Dream' routine with a straightforward coin production. Or, just make a quarter appear for that gumball machine. No sleights or funny moves - magnet does all the work for you. $47.50
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8506&cat=0&page=1)
Johnathan The Caterpillar: From Europe, it’s Johnathon The Caterpillar, a colorful and visual kidshow routine. A plastic board with a tree on one side, a caterpillar on the other side and a hole through its center is shown on both sides. No suspicious moves are used! Reach into the hole and produce a delicious red apple. Again, show the board front and back.
The apple is reinserted back into the hole, but when the board is shown the apple has vanished!
Show the board one last time and reach into the hole reproducing the apple. To everyone's surprise and amazement the apple has been chewed on by the caterpillar.
Comes with 42 in. x 48 in. silk screened plastic board & two apples that look good enough to eat. A fabulous take on Jerry Andrus’ Zone Zero. $79.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8505&cat=0&page=1)
Card Umbrella: The new production Card Umbrella is the perfect addition to any card act! In fact, if you already own our Production Parasols, this is the perfect climax!
The parasol opens in a flash, and the mechanism is really well-made.
The cloth is printed in full color with a splash of playing cards.
If you own the Card Topper, it would look great to produce one or two of the Card Umbrellas from it! $29.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8507&cat=0&page=1)
Freestyle Book Test: Greg Arce and Federico Luduena's Freestyle Book Test is a powerful book test that you can make at home, with practically any book.
Imagine... you display a book that you say you've had for a long time and have even written and doodled inside of it. Throughout the book there are notations of cards, serial numbers, dates, locations, names, drawing, highlighting, etc.
A spectator stops at any page and holds onto the book. You begin to call out various words from the book, numbers, doodles, colors, names and all sorts of information.
You've also written in playing cards throughout the book. You have the spectator call out their favorite card and then have them find it in the book. Without touching the book you begin to call out information from the pages they are looking at, including cards that are inscribed next to their card!
The Freestyle Book Test uses a method that has now been dubbed, "The Interlocking Mnemonic Lists." You'll be able to incorporate this method into any of your books plus even incorporate the method into other effects.
Now you can take any book and use your own personal history to make up a book test. And with a little effort, you can do this in any language.
The Freestyle Book Test gives you a book test that looks like no other used in mentalism. $97.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8508&cat=0&page=1)
Cheating At Blackjack DVD - George Joseph: Blackjack is the most popular and most profitable casino table game in the world. On this DVD George Joseph demonstrates and explains many sleight-of-hand techniques that are used to cheat at Blackjack.
George Joseph is an authority on gaming protection and cheating. He has served as director of surveillance for Bally, Paris, Aladdin and Dunes casinos in Las Vegas. He has trained several law enforcement agencies and has served as an expert witness and consulting investigator on countless casino cheating prosecutions. His television appearances include: Dateline NBC, 48 Hours, America's Most Wanted, Cheating Las Vegas, The House of Cards, Watch Your Pockets, Secrets of Las Vegas, and many others.
Cheating subjects covered on this DVD include: False Shuffles, Stocking, Second Dealing, Pushthrough Shuffle, False Running Cut, Capping The Deck, The Elevator, Playing Slugs, The "Turn-Over", Curl Peek, Flash Peek, One-Hand Second, Front Loading, Shiners, Crimps, Edgework, Juice & Flash, Sand Work, Hole Card Switch, Card Mucking, Two Card Switch, The Brush, Topping The Deck, Chip Copping, Capping The Bet, Capping Overpay, Toke Stealing, The "Sub", Confederate Play, The Gambler's Stock, The Kentucky Step-Up, The Cold Deck and much more.
Sold for educational and entertainment purposes only. Millions of dollars are lost every year to card cheaters and we recommend that anyone who plays Blackjack be familiar with these techniques in order to protect themselves. $19.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8512&cat=0&page=1)
Buddha Surprise Chop Cup: The Chop Cup has proven itself to be among the most dependably entertaining routines in the repertoire of the close up performer. It has been adapted to cups of all kinds and used balls of a wide variety of descriptions. Oddly, the cups have never looked as though they were of Asian origins, despite its name. We think Asia still holds great mystery and we are wise to take advantage of that mystery to lend intrigue to our performances. With that in mind, we decided a cup that looked Asian in origins would compliment the routine. This cup is manufactured in China and it is hand painted with genuine Chinese calligraphy. And, each individually carved Buddha is unique in color and wood grain. The cup feels like leather and handles like a dream. The routine takes full advantage of the props. Here's what the audience sees:
After the traditional Chop Cup routine, you place a ball on the table and cover it with the cup. Ask whether the ball is on the table or in your pocket. Of course, the audience responds that it is on the table. When the cup is lifted, instead of the expected ball, they find the hand-carved statuette of the Buddha. The Buddha can immediately be lifted from the table and displayed--though you won't want your audience fondling your lovely Buddha. It is both a wonderful surprise and completely consistent with your truly Asian prop. You’re going to enjoy working with the Buddha Surprise Chop Cup. Your audiences will appreciate the appearance and the care reflected by your choice, excellence at an affordable price. $59.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8513&cat=0&page=1)
Klose-Up & Unpublished DVD - Kenton Knepper: You may be amazed at how astonishingly easy most of this material is to do. When Kenton revealed his secret in his lectures, magicians nearly fell to the floor. They couldn't imagine what they had seen was so simple.
This is the very same special material the Kenton has used to make a living doing close-up. This DVD comes with five routines that vary from coin tricks, mentalism, sponges, and cards. Kenton will show you how to perform these tricks like he does. $29.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8514&cat=0&page=1)
Seven Basic Secrets Of Illusion Design - Eric Van Duzer: A compilation of over 90 illusions. For the serious student of illusion, this is the ultimate book. With over 170 pages explaining over 90 illusions, this tome is the place to start. Never has there been a collection, in one publication, giving the secrets, dimensions and concepts behind all the basic illusions plus building and performing tips. It is all covered, from Appearances, Disappearances, Mutilations and Exchanges to several forms of Levitations. This is not a book of detailed illusion plans, but a compilation of the greatest illusions in the world. You will use this book to decide which illusions are the best to build and which best fit your performance style. The secrets are all here, from Aga to Zig Zag. Plus design and construction tips as well as valuable information on types of wood to use for specific illusions, use of Velcro, hinges, power tools and plastics. Published by Osborne Illusion Systems. $65.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8515&cat=0&page=1)
And that's the new stuff for this week. Something for everyone, no matter what your taste. I know you will find some of the items absolutely irresistible. At least, I hope you do. I also hope that you will find some time to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 112 South Street in beautiful downtown Boston. You know we love the company.
Hank Lee
