Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. And a very Happy Hanukkah to all of our Jewish friends. Remember, light the candles from right to left. When I was a kid, and I admit, it was a really long time ago, Hanukkah was not just Christmas with a Yarmulka. The only similarity between the two holidays was their time of celebration. While the kids in the neighborhood with the Christmas trees were racking up presents like there might never be presents again, we were getting one Silver Dollar per night. Had I been smart and kept all those Morgan Dollars, they would be worth a pretty penny right now. But, I spent mine on magic tricks. Money well spent, sez me. Somewhere between my childhood and my adulthood, Hanukkah became a retail goldmine. Kids are so lucky nowadays.
If you have been a regular reader of this weekly email newsletter, you know that I am, shall we say, obsessed with snow. I think it’s a New England thing. We all spend the winter discussing how much snow we got, how much snow we might get and how much we hate dealing with the snow. Normally, the first snowstorm of the year is a big event in my life. I make the kids get up early to see the snow. I zip up the window shades and make Bonnie look outside the window at six in the morning to see the snow. The first snow. It’s very important. However, this year, the first snow was eclipsed by a most newsworthy story coming right from our home, From Bonnie’s closet to be exact.
“Help,” she hollered. “What’s up?” I said. “The closet has exploded,” she cried. I always knew it would happen. It was just a matter of time. I tried to explain the concept of Critical Mass to Bonnie, but she chose to ignore it. So, on Sunday night, while she tried to hang just one more pair of pants in her cedar closet (which used to be our cedar closet until she took it over, along with every other closet within the general vicinity) the closet literally imploded. The shelves slowly pulled away from the wall, actually pulling some of the cedar planks with them. Suddenly there were shoes and shoeboxes and pants and blouses and skirts and coats and all kinds of clothing on the closet floor. And not one single item of that clothing belonged to me. I looked at the scene and chuckled a little tiny, to myself, silent chuckle that could not be heard outside my head. I told Bonnie how terrible the disaster was. I asked about her solution. “Stronger shelves!” Not less clothes. Oh,
never that. Tuesday the closest guy arrived to measure for much stronger shelves and supports. It all worked out. I had no idea what to give Bonnie this year for the holidays. Now, I know. A new closet. The perfect
gift.
Before we get into this week’s excitement and the Hotlist, I want to let you know that we have just booked Shawn Farquhar for next year’s Conclave! Shawn has won a boatload of awards, and will be lecturing, performing close-up and appearing on one of the evening shows. Pretty exciting, right? I think so. Exciting enough to get you to click on the Conclave Button at www.magicfact.com and register for the big event? I hope so.
Now, to this week’s excitement. As I explained last week, no big sales events between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. But, we are offering Free Shipping, our holiday gift to you!
FREE SHIPPING: Until Monday, the 24th of December at midnight, we are offering free ground shipping on any order over $25.00 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 first 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. Note: Your email confirmation from our online system will still list the shipping as free, but we will charge the difference when we ship your order. Overseas customers will save as well! We will pay one-half of the Air Post shipping charges on your orders until the 24th! 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 this week’s Hotlist
Q! Toon - Can you imagine what happens when the classic CardToon meets modern technology?
The answer is Q!
Q! is your personal assistant and he lives on your cell phone! Adults and kids love him. You already know the impact of such a charming and entertaining character.
Take your deck and spread through the cards, ask your spectator to pick any card and remember it. "Oh no, here it comes, the I-guess-your-card-thing." Even before your spectator thinks this, you explain that you have a new partner assisting you, and he is inside your pocket!
Take your cell phone and show them your little friend Q! He is going to find their card. He removes a card from the pocket, but it's the wrong card!
The good news is that Q! is very intelligent, and he has a digital top hat with magical powers. He places the wrong card inside the top hat and it visually changes to the correct card. Let your friend take a round of applause!
Ask if your spectator would like to keep it. Just send it to your spectators cell phone and they'll have remarkable souvenir forever!
* Easy to do!
* Highly visual
* No forces
* No helpers
* Your cell phone
* Any time & anywhere
* Can be repeated
* It won't wear out
* Perfect for walk-around! Resets instantly!
* Give it away as a souvenir: just send it to your spectators cell phone
Includes a bonus routine by Andrew Gerard, professional magician, consultant for Criss Angel.
Q! can live in almost any cell phone with a video playback capability or any cell phone that can play animated images.
Q! comes complete with instructional video and your Q! unit.
Your audience will be delighted. $34.95 (30.1281)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9161&cat=0&page=1)
Knaves Gone Wild - Visual magic at its best!
David Solomon’s Knaves Gone Wild starts off like many other assembly tricks. That’s where the similarities end.
Each Jack vanishes from its respective packet in a visual, impossible way. Spectators will rub their eyes, grasping for a solution and questioning what they’ve seen. Each vanish is different, surprising and easy-to-do. The trick’s plot is easy to follow, and in the end, the missing knaves arrive in the leader packet, safe and sound.
On this DVD, you will learn David Solomon’s personal handling of Knaves Gone Wild, as well as his cleverly-constructed O’Henry Jazz Aces, an assembly with an unexpected sucker-punch ending which can be performed with a borrowed deck.
* A Visual Tour-de-Force!
* Minimal Sleights Required!
* Includes Specially Printed Bicycle Cards!
* Bonus Trick Included!
$14.95 (30.1280)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9160&cat=0&page=1)
Invisible Touch - The anticipation is over! Lior Manor has finally released his Invisible Touch routine on DVD.
The Invisible Touch was invented by Lior Manor around 1987. A volunteer on stage feels the mentalist touching her lightly, while the audience sees that the performer's hands were not even close. In the DVD you will learn all about the performance of the effect. In addition, you will learn:
* Two spoon bending routines
* The Himber Ring routine
* The PK time idea
* The enhanced PK Touches routine (by Banachek) (performance only)
* The invisible Touch itself
The Invisible Touch was performed on TV by Derren Brown, Jerry McCambridge Alain Nu and Lior Manor.
$35.00 (DVD00800)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9166&cat=0&page=1)
Wipeout - From UK's brilliant creator, David Kemsley, comes Wipeout.
One of the most creative vanishing devices we have ever seen.
A vanish, but what a vanish!
Borrow any small object from a spectator, take it in your hands, squeeze it and it vanishes!
* No Reels
* No Pulls
* No Sleeves
Your hands are 100% empty immediately before and after the effect.
Endless possibilities! Use it in close-up, stage, or street magic!
Almost no sleight of hand! From beginner to pro!
In this booklet, David teaches you in detail how to construct, and use your device to get the most out of it.
$19.95 (10.1432)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9169&cat=0&page=1)
Simply Psychic DVD – Ross Johnson – A fine introduction to mental magic from one of the art's finest practitioners.
Imagine reaching inside someone’s head and discovering his innermost thoughts. On Simply Psychic, Ross Johnson performs the impossible and explains the unexplainable.
The effects are as evocative and thought-provoking as they are entertaining -- no mere magic tricks. Best of all, they’re aimed at the beginning mentalist, requiring few, if any special props. Ross’ clear and concise teaching makes every effect easy to understand. Each explanation is peppered with carefully considered, professional advice, hints and tips - salient points that professionals will find invaluable. Watch Simply Psychic, learn the material and perform. It’s that simple.
On this DVD you will learn:
* How to interrupt the thought and speech patterns of an entire audience - psychically!
* To predict the outcome of future events, including the flip of a coin and the selection of a card!
* What a spectator will do before even he knows!
* And much, much more!
Ross Johnson’s uncanny abilities have taken him around the globe. With over 25 years as a professional mind reader, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. He knows what you’re thinking. $14.95 (DVD00802)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9167&cat=0&page=1)
Cards Of Influence - Kenton Knepper & Mark Townsend
Kenton Knepper tips some of his highly successful and wildly entertaining examples of subliminal influence and word power, using cards no less!
Mark Townsend is a student of Kenton's who is well known for adding deeper dimensions and unusual presentations to all of his effects.
These two extraordinary thinkers present material you will use right away. It is unlike nearly anything else you may have seen or read before.
You will find everything from close up material and magic to story-telling effects, weird pieces, brand new card concepts and yes, even mentalism.
Memorable and unusual effects made simple, as only Kenton and his students can create.
Easy to do material. Basic card sleights or no sleights at all are required.
You should have a basic background in card sleights if you wish to perform all of the material. Other effects incorporate standard trick decks. In many cases you can simply make your own cards with a marker and blank cards, or use a regular deck to perform material in this book.
Includes the favorites:
* Subliminally Wild
* Your Spell Is Numbered
* The Well
* Amethyst
* Subliminal McCombical
* and much more.
With bonus effects by Allen Zingg. Be prepared for some real twists!
80 Pages of surprising, easy, innovative card magic and mentalism. $39.95 (BK01553)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9168&cat=0&page=1)
Pocket Space: A spectator cuts an invisible deck of cards. He tells you how many cards he cut off the deck. You remove a business card and a playing card from your wallet. The spectator takes the business card and turns it over. Printed on the back are all 52 cards of the deck. In a random order. With no repeats! He sees what card is at the cut number. (You don't know-really!) He turns over the playing card. It is the same card!
Reset? You put the two cards back in your wallet (ungimmicked wallet). Next table? Different number, different card!
No sleights. No gimmicked cards.
Plus, it takes up almost no space and gets a great reaction.
"Think of it as a combination of acaan and card to wallet. I came up with it after playing with acaan. But I hated all the dealing and extra decks and all the preparation and fussiness plus all the space they took up.
So I showed this to several people such as Jack Carpenter, John Mendoza, Chad Long, Jason Dean and Todd Lassen. They all gave Pocket Space a unanimous thumbs up.” - Tony Miller
$24.95 (30.1282)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9171&cat=0&page=1)
Pulse: Stop your pulse with no gimmicks or suggestion!
Anytime, anywhere. Someone grabs your wrist. A friend, a spectator, anyone. Ask them to find your pulse. They do.
You start to concentrate, and your pulse slows down until it finally stops. The spectator actually feels your pulse stop. Of course, you can also cause it to speed up again.
* Totally impromptu!
* No suggestion!
* No under arm gimmicks
* Different from any other versions
* Killer reactions!
Includes bonus routine Pain: Pinch someone's arm and they won't feel any pain. Again with no gimmicks or suggestion. 100% impromptu.
$19.95 (10.1433)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9170&cat=0&page=1)
Time And Space - What if you could take your audience through time and space, and then give them a tangible piece of their journey to keep forever?"
From Justin Miller, comes one of the most time-altering effects of his generation. With a story of what time travel might look like if it were possible, this one is sure to go right into your act.
Remove a playing card from your pocket with its back towards the audience. Place the card off to the side.
A deck is introduced and a card is selected and signed by a member of the audience.
Not wanting the audience to think that any funny business is going on, you take the two Jokers from the deck and tell the audience that the Jokers will be the "body guards" of the card that has been placed aside from the beginning. The mystery card is sandwiched face down between the two face-up Jokers. The packet is spread so all can see.
The signed selected card is then placed face down into the middle of the deck (by the spectator if you wish) and is totally lost. What ensues next is beyond words.
First, the signed card disappears from the deck. Every card is counted, one at a time, by the spectator. It really is gone!
Second, with absolutely nothing in your hands, the mystery card is turned over. It is the signed card!
And finally, the two Jokers and the signed card are placed into the spectator’s hand. In a flash all three cards fuse together into a single card! On one side, the two overlapping Jokers, on the other, their signed card to keep forever! What a souvenir!
* No Palming
* No Funny Moves
* No Rough and Smooth
* Includes gimmicked cards.
$29.95 (30.1283)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9172&cat=0&page=1)
Our Best DVD Volume 2 – Greater Magic Video Library - Six of magic’s most exalted close-up workers treat you to nine of their favorite routines. You’ll enjoy the performance and explanation of these tricks-which were especially reserved for this volume. The tradition of excellence continues-Video magic doesn’t get any better than the best. Legendary legerdemain continued:
• Larry Becker-Intuition
• Charlie Miller-Coke Caps
• Daryl-EZ Coins Across
• Roger Klause-Gypsy Switch
• Billy McComb-Golf Ball through Handkerchief
• Bobo-Chinese Chopstick, Witch Doctor’s Coin, Trick with a Stick and Copper & Silver
$30.00 (DVD00799)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9165&cat=0&page=1)
Best of Classics - Royal Road To Card Magic - Jason Greenamyer
If you own the book and you want to know how a certain sleight should look, or if you find it easier to learn from a DVD, this is for you. You will learn the very best and most essential material from The Royal Road To Card Magic. In addition, you will learn nine amazing and very powerful routines.
Contents Include:
* Performances
* Holding the Deck
* Spreading the Deck
* Overhand Shuffle with Controls
* Riffle Shuffle with Controls
* The Glide
* Key Card
* Palming a Card
* False Cut
* Double Lift
* The Pass
* Top and Bottom Change
* Forcing a card
$19.95 (DVD00801)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9159&cat=0&page=1)
Black Moon - Docc Hilford - “Yang is the male. It is white and the sun. But Yin is the woman. It is black and the moon.” - Lao Tse 660 B.C.
For the mentalist, predicting the future is where reputations are made. And being contemporary is where the higher fees are found. The current craze in the New Age world is the Chinese Zodiac and the I Ching. Black Moon provides the modern mentalist with a self-contained method for knowing a person’s Chinese Zodiac sign and accurately predicting their future! And most importantly, you can prove you know the subject’s future for the next year!
On a piece of paper, the mentalist writes what he believes to be the subject’s Chinese Zodiac sign. He also makes a prediction of what I Ching symbol the subject will randomly choose. The subject states the year of her birth and throws three ancient coins to determine a symbol that foretells her future.
The paper is shown to have all the same information written on it before anything was chosen!
Docc has added a strong psychological touch that apparently proves the mentalist’s accuracy for the next year! This ploy is literally worth its weight in gold!
Bonus: The special papers are set for use with the Dance of Shiva or Acidus Novas. So you can do an additional reading with the same paper. There is also a hand made, pocket-sized book on I Ching and Zodiac interpretations. The mentalist can do a full length reading without any knowledge of cold reading, the Chinese Zodiac or I Ching. The interpretations on the paper and in the little book are enough to begin immediately.
Features: The sheet of paper used is beautifully designed by an Asian artist with I Ching trigrams and the twelve Zodiac signs. The paper can be marked with the subject’s initials. There are no gimmicks to use or lose. Due to a secret formula, all the mentalist needs is the subject’s birth year and he instantly knows the Zodiac sign even if the subject doesn’t! This feat alone establishes the mentalist as an expert.
Method: Here’s the basic method. Black Moon works on the same principle as the common Swami Gimmick, yet nothing is worn by the mentalist. The gimmick is built into the pad of papers. Every individual paper can be examined; it’s given to the subject, so it’s not chemically treated or gimmicked. The secret is old, but has never been utilized like this before.
You get the large, 100 sheet, special pads of Chinese Zodiac papers; three ancient Chinese I Ching coins; a pocket-size, hand-made Book of Changes and complete instructions, along with the Docc touch that makes this effect proof positive that you know the future. $45.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9173&cat=0&page=1)
And, that’s our Hotlist for this first week of December. Great magic, great time of year. Who could ask for more? As always, I hope you will find some time to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at our warm and toasty showroom at 102 North Street in Medford. Either way, we do love your company.
Hank Lee
