Greetings from all of us here at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. Life is good. The Red Sox are in the playoffs, and maybe, just maybe, won’t have to play the Yankees. We can only hope. Please, no letters from Yankee fans.
Right now, even as you read this letter, we are working on something very cool. It’s the Hank Lee Rewards Points system that will earn you points, and by points I mean money, that you can use for future orders. The details are not all worked out, but suffice it to say, that by this time next week, the system will be fully operational and you will start earning points with every purchase. Stay tuned for more details.
For those of you who get the weekly Email Newsletter in html format (and you all should) check out the photo on the left. Our friend Michael Raeburn sent us the photo with the caption, “Hank Lee’s Magic Factory is famous even when it’s not there!” Meg Ryan was in Boston shooting her latest film, and one of the scenes was shot in front of our old store on South Street. They dressed the outside to look like a vegetable market, but we all know that it is really the old Hank Lee shop. Pretty cool, for sure.
Speaking of the Hank Lee showroom, the new showroom has been crazy busy. People have been waiting outside for the showroom to open at 1:00 PM. Yesterday, I could barely get from my office to the warehouse because the showroom was so jammed. This one really comes under heading of, “I should have done this years ago.” Who knew.
I have some very exciting news about next year’s Cape Cod Conclave. And, I don’t think it’s too early to mention it. It is looking like our old friend Harry Anderson will be with us for next year’s event. He will appear on the Saturday night show, and do a lecture with Jon Racherbaumer, which should be incredible. The Conclave dates are April 4th-6th, 2008. You can register now, if you are of the mind to do so, by clicking on the Conclave Button at www.magicfact.com.
And now, for this week’s excitement.
DVD GIVEAWAY EXTENDED: We have extended our DVD Giveaway! For the next seven days, from right now until Thursday, October 4th, at midnight, you have the opportunity to get DVDs for free! But, you have to get them the old fashioned way. You have to earn them.
Here's the way it works. For every order of $100 or more, you get one free DVD (your choice of any single DVD that sells for $35.00 or less). If you spend $200 or more, you get two free DVDs (again, your choice). $300 or more gets you three free DVDs. And on it goes. The more you buy, the more you get for free! It's an incredible deal when you figure that the average price of a DVD is $35.00! In order to claim your free DVD, just put the name of the DVD in the Customer Notes Box at the bottom of the second page of the online checkout (after you fill in your name, address, etc.) at www.magicfact.com. If you phone your order in to our toll free number at 800 874 7400, just let the order-person know what free DVD you want. If you FAX the order to us at 781 395 2034, same thing. Just let us know which ones you want. Remember, the giveaway ends on Thursday, October 4th, at midnight!
Now, let’s take a peek at this week’s Hotlist!
Swedish Signed Card To Hip Wallet: From El Duco, a new principle for the Signed Card to Hip Wallet. It’s a new way to load a card into the inner pocket of the wallet with absolutely no palming! As far as the audience is concerned - magicians and laymen alike - the deck itself never touches the wallet, because the full deck with the signed card is in the closed card case all the time!
The spectator picks any card from any deck, signs it and puts it back. You immediately place the full deck, with the chosen card, into the card case.
Then, introduce a modern hip wallet to the audience and take out a $20 bill or any other bill with the explanation that the spectator may keep the money if the trick fails! In saying this, you stress the fact that the signed card “is now somewhere in the deck inside the locked card case”.
But, when you put the twenty dollar bill on the table in front of the spectators, the card is already in the wallet!
Thanks to the special gimmick, the dirty work is done at the very same moment you touch the card case to the wallet!
It is that clean and easy to do. Perform it surrounded. No magnets, threads or complicated mechanics. Again, this is an entirely new principle.
You will love being able to invisibly load the card from somewhere in the card case into the wallet. It is such a cool principle!
The Swedish Signed Card to Hip Wallet is hand made from genuine Swedish reindeer leather. You will carry it with you all the time and use it as your regular wallet. The size of the wallet is 125 x 90 mm (5 x 3.5 inches). Comes complete with wallet, deck and DVD instructions. $75.00 (30.1265)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9055&cat=0&page=2)
Cash Flow: The very latest from Wayne Dobson.
A coin is borrowed and signed and placed in a small brass cap. The cap is just large enough to accommodate the coin, which remains in full view.
The coin magically vanishes only to re-appear under the spectator’s hand!
Comes complete with a precision made solid brass cap and a routine that requires no sleight of hand and instantly resets. $29.95 (20.373)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9049&cat=0&page=2)
No Switch Bullet Catch: A one person Bullet Catch effect.
-No Gun
-No Assistant
- No Switch!
Display a "live" bullet. Hold the flame of a cigarette lighter under the bullet and - BANG! The bullet explodes, leaving you holding an empty shell casing.
In your mouth - clenched between your teeth - is the slug! A daring (but not dangerous) version of this famous, reputation making feat.
The No Switch Bullet Catch is made from a .38 Special Nickel Plated Brass Shell.
Comes with DVD demo and instructions. $35.00 (60.1476)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9054&cat=0&page=2)
The Lee Grabel Archival Project – Four DVD Set: Completed in 2004 under the guidance of Lee Grabel himself. The end result is a reference work to be placed in libraries, schools, institutions of higher education and magicians’ homes. This Limited Edition set chronicles the life work of a master entertainer and includes:
Disc One: Do Not Believe All You See Or Hear, Grand Illusions, The Royal Dynasty.
Disc Two: More History, The Big Show, Miscellaneous, How-To-Routines.
Disc Three: We Remember Lee Grabel 1 & 2.
Disc Four: Passing The Mantle, Cards and Walkoffs, 25th Anniversary, Q&A, Family Business, 2004 Honors.
$85.00 (DVD00773)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9053&cat=0&page=2)
Gold & Silver Bicycle Decks: Two genuine Bicycle decks featuring Gold and Silver Backs printed with metallic ink. Standard card faces. Includes a blank Face card per deck.
Made by United States Playing Card Company.
$22.50 (30.1264)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9052&cat=0&page=2)
Instant Magic Holiday Turkey: The one item we carry that is a 100% turkey! It’s Steve Axtell’s Instant Magic Holiday Turkey. Made from high quality latex, spring foam inside and amazing detailed airbrushing. Can be produced from a pizza box, or produce it from just about any magical apparatus. The turkey measures 16 x 12 x 7 inches and can compress down from to 1.5 inches! Perfect for your holiday shows! $99.95 (60.1475)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9051&cat=0&page=2)
Find The Queen: I don’t think this is the Queen that Bob Solari had in mind when he created his new Find The Queen.
Three cards are fanned and shown face up. The card in the middle is the Queen of Hearts. The cards on either side are black Fours.
A spectator is asked to remember where the Queen is, as you turn the fan face down.
“Where’s the Queen?” you innocently ask. “In the middle, they say.”
Take the middle card out and place it face down on the table. Show the other two cards; they are, of course, the black Fours.
Ask the spectator to turn the Queen face up. They do, and what a laugh, as, in place of the Queen of Hearts, there’s a full-color picture of a Drag Queen!
Will this offend? I hope not. It’s all in good fun, and the picture is really hilarious. But, hey, don’t do it at your next kids’ party. But, if you work for adults, it’s great. A perfect carry-around trick.
Instant reset. No skill other than knowing where to perform this and where not to perform it. $7.95 (30.1263)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9050&cat=0&page=2)
Stop & Pop: There has never been a trick from Ton Onosaka that I didn’t like. We carry a lot of Ton’s items, because we like them, and him as well!
His latest is really fun. It’s a flat Card In Balloon.
Show a large artists’ sketch book.
Have a spectator select a card from a bunc of Jumbo Cards. Ask her to think of her card.
As you flip through the pages of the book, the balloon appears to break apart until it finally bursts, revealing the selected card!
Four possible outcomes; always under your control. No balloons needed (duh). The book measures 9” x 12”
Good fun. Great magic! $49.95 (60.1474)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9048&cat=0&page=2)
Daring Spring Trap: One of the all time great visual comedy props!
A plated spring trap is shown. The kind used to trap bears or other wild animals. Like my kids.
The device is set and you show the effectiveness of the trap by placing a pencil between the heavy spring jaws. The trap is sprung. Bang! The pencil breaks in half!
Re-set the trap and place your hand near it as you speak to the audience. Withdraw your hand just before the trap springs. This back and forth by-play continues a number of times and, when the tension is at its highest, you actually place your hand into the trap, which springs shut. The spectators assume you have really hurt yourself. But, when they assist you in removing your hand from the trap, you are completely unharmed. Thank goodness. A very unique piece of entertainment, to be sure. Really well made. $25.00 (60.1473)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9047&cat=0&page=2)
Sleight Of Hand Secrets With Coins DVD – Jay Sankey: Learn the sleight of hand secrets of professional magicians!
Featuring 17 incredible effects and 24 killer sleights, this is the ultimate introduction to performing eye-popping sleight-of-hand magic with just a few borrowed coins!
Learn the secrets behind many of Jay Sankey's all-time favorite vanishes, productions, transpositions and routines! And as a very special added bonus, Jay has included two Bonus Sections!
Bonus 1: Coin Fluorishes
Learn two of the most popular flourishes in the history of coin magic.
Bonus 2: The Art of Lapping
A collection of powerful techniques you can use to astound people any time you are seated at a table!
If you are just starting out in sleight-of-hand magic, this is the perfect DVD for you! $24.95 (DVD00772)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9046&cat=0&page=2)
And that’s this week’s edition of the ever-burgeoning Hotlist. As always, I am amazed at how much new stuff we see every week. And how much of it is really good!
As always, I hope you will find some time to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at our suddenly busy showroom at 102 North Street in Medford.
Hank Lee
