Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. And, what a fine, fine week this has been. As you might imagine, with our Twenty Five Days of Savings event going strong, we are inundated with orders. A good thing. However, our entire shipping system crashed on Monday, leaving us powerless to ship anything until late Wednesday. It seems that some creepy little computer virus wheedled its way into the shipping system and wreaked havoc. I hate to say it, but the shipping system is the only non-Mac system in the place. And, as a PC, it is vulnerable to compu-viruses. The one that got us is especially nasty, and snuck right past the Anti Virus software.
I do want to apologize to anyone who received their orders later than anticipated. It was truly beyond our control. Hopefully this kind of thing will not happen again. I’m sure it won’t, but there will be some other thing, no doubt.
In the spirit of the season, we have hidden an Easter Egg somewhere on our web site at www.magicfact.com. If you find it, click on it and a very special gift will be yours! We haven’t made it all so hard to find, but you do have to look a little!
On the home front, Lucas has now been accepted at three of the schools at which he auditioned, University of Maryland, Frost School of Music, and Florida State. He is batting a thousand at this point. As you might imagine, we watch the mail every day for fat letters and skinny letters!
Aron is back at school, and basking in the Florida sunshine. No more need be said. I am very jealous.
And, the Conclave is less than two weeks away. It’s going to be a great one, and I sincerely hope you will be able to join us. You know the dates. You know how to register. Act now.
Speaking of now, now is the perfect time to check out this week’s continuing excitement!
25 Days Of Savings Sales Event. There are 25 days left in March (somewhat less now). In light of this, we have devised a brand new sales event, for your entertainment pleasure: The 25 Days Of Savings!
Here’s how it works: No matter what day in March you purchase from us at Hank Lee’s, you will save money. But, as you may have heard, the early bird gets the worm! So, last Friday, you saved 25% on your entire order, subject to the rules below. On Saturday you saved 24%. On Sunday you saved 23%. And on it goes. We will reduce the discount by 1% each day until the end of the month. All you need to do is enter the special code TWENTYFIVEDAYS in the Discount Coupon Box of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com and we will automatically deduct the correct amount from your order total. If you are calling your order in to the Toll Free Order Line at 800 874 7400, FAXing your order to us at 781 395 2034 or emailing us your order to magicfact@aol.com make sure to mention the special code so you can save
There are a few rules that apply, as with all things in life.
• The minimum order to use this discount is $25.00.
• The discount is deducted from the retail price of the item. No intermediate discounts (such as HankoGram pricing) may be applied. In the case of sets, such as DVDs and Videos, the discount is deducted from the retail price of each item and not from the set price.
• Certain items, due to contractual restrictions, are not included in this sale. All Joe Porper items, Johnson Products items, Paul Harris Prime Time Magic items, Viking/CW items, Kennedy Enterprises items, Colin Rose items, Mike Caveney Books, JB Magic, Martin Breese, Mikame Craft items, Greater Magic Teach-In DVDs, One Of A Kind Collectors' Items and a few other items are not included in the sale.
• If you place an order for an item that is not on this list or not noted in our online catalog, but is excluded from the sale, we will let you know before processing your order.
• Coupons will be deducted from the order total before the discount is applied.
• As the discount is automatically generated, you must put the special code TWENTYFIVEDAYS in the Discount Coupon Box. You may have to scroll to the bottom of the page to find the box, but it is there. If you are not sure how to do this, please phone your order in to our toll-free order line at 800 874 7400, and we will take care of you. We cannot offer discounts retroactively.
And that's it. It could not be easier. So, get your order together and save yourself some serious money! But, act quickly. The sooner you act, the more you save!
Now, let’s take a look at this week’s Hotlist!
Dream Coin Set: This great new coin set from Johnny Wong is perfectly named. It is truly a dream come true!
There are so many routines possible with this coin set, and we are positive you will “dream” up even more.
You will learn a fabulous Coin Assembly, a version of Three Fly that will make your audience’s eyes pop, the Production of Four Coins and the Vanish and Re-Appearance of Three Coins.
Every routine is made more powerful and easier through the use of these precision-made coins.
We are really pleased that Johnny Wong has given Hank Lee’s Magic Factory the exclusive on this fine coin set. It means that you will find it here and nowhere else!
$85.00 (20.384)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9347&cat=0&page=1)
Tear Down: Andrew Mayne’s new, totally impromptu newspaper tear based, with permission, on Jim Steinmeyer’s Incessant Newspaper.
This is the one you want. The one you will use. Once you learn it, you’ll tearing and restoring every newspaper in sight. You can do it anytime, anywhere with any newspaper. No duplicates. No gimmicks. No tape. No nothing.
Tear up a signed newspaper. Restore it. Hand it back to the spectators. Everything can be examined. $14.95 (60.1515)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9348&cat=0&page=1)
Minuette Aces: Paul Romhany is one of the busiest working magicians. Not only is he in demand with his innovative Charlie Chaplin Act, but he also works many private functions and parties with his close-up magic. This routine comes direct from his close-up act and his cruise ship show.
If you are looking for a beautiful piece of magical close-up theater, this is the routine for you. A well constructed and thought-out Four Ace routine that offers some stunning visual effects. The updated DVD includes some new 'twists' Paul has added since the original release as well as the original Minuette Aces routine.
This visual Four Ace Routine has been a feature of both his close-up and stage act on cruise ships throughout his professional career. Sit down with a deck of cards and some aces as Paul teaches you step by step his wonderful Minuette Ace routine. It is not just another card trick but a visual transformation where the aces appear, vanish, change and reappear making this a highly dramatic piece of theatrical close-up magic.
Perform it as Paul does with a "music box" or as a speaking routine and you will have a professionally orchestrated routine that will become a feature of your own close-up show. $24.95
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9346&cat=0&page=1)
The Secrets Of Dr. Tao - Docc Hilford
Three original close-up Monu-Mental effects designed for walk around cocktail parties.
Three original tricks of the mind. In this tome, the mysterious doctor also reveals three of his innermost ancient secrets to effective mentalism. Each lesson is more than merely an outstanding original effect; it's a lesson that can be applied to mentalism that students already perform.
Desire - A participant writes an item she desires on a piece of paper and leaves another paper blank. No matter how much the participant mixes the two papers; no matter how well she hides them from his sight, without even a glance in her direction, he is able to reveal which paper has the desire and where it is! This is repeated until finally the paper is burned. Although any item imagined was written on the paper and Dr. Tao never handled it, the ashes seem to form the desire in front of the participant's eyes!
Twin Swans - Dr. Tao writes a fortune for a young couple on a borrowed scrap of paper. The woman mentally chooses a card. Her partner is shown the faces of the cards and reaches out to take a card of his choice. It is the same card as that in his girlfriend's mind! And the fortune also has the name of the mentally chosen card written on it.
Bound Blossoms - Dr. Tao shows a large red envelope. A man goes through a borrowed deck of cards one at a time. A woman goes through a handful of page corners cut from a magazine. A third woman tells them both when to stop. The red envelope is opened. Inside is a sealed yellow envelope. A member of the audience removes a folded sheet of paper. Written on it in large black writing is a prediction containing the chosen page number and the chosen card! Everything is examinable! And, with the exception of the prediction, can be borrowed.
Each trick is a reputation maker, specially design by Dr. Tao to be used at cocktail parties or banquets.
But there is much more to this little book than just three fine mentalism tricks. The lessons hold ancient secrets that demonstrators of true mystery must know. Most of the secret books of Dr. Tao were lost, but in a dusty bookshop in Chinatown, Docc Hilford has uncovered Volume IX, Book 6 in this Monu-Mental series.
$20.00 (BK01571)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9344&cat=0&page=1)
Stag Surprise: From the master knife-maker, himself, Joe Mogar.
A black knife vanishes, then appears in a pocket, changes to white, then black. A white knife is removed from the pocket and the knives change places twice. Additional black and white knives are put in play. The black and whites jump around and change places. One set is the placed aside. Finally a white knife changes to a surprise red knife.
Fast moving action, spectator involvement and one surprise after another.
A great routine with the world's best knives.
Routine includes:
* 1 White Knife
* 1 Black Stag Knife
* 1 White/Black Stag Knife
* 1 White/Red Knife
* 1 Knife Pouch
Mogars Stag Handle Knives are the finest color-changing knives ever made. These have all the necessary requirements to allow you to perform the perfect routine. The knives are constructed with all the fine details incorporated.
* Stag Handles
* Perfect Balance
* 3 inch length
* Single blade
* Bolster on one end only
* Straight tapered handle
$100.00 (10.1445)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9343&cat=0&page=1)
The Naked Zombie Ball DVD - Raymond Crowe:
Floating Ball study for the stage
Raymond appears at over 150 Corporate shows a year. His work has been featured on "World's Greatest Magic IV" and he received a standing ovation for his performance at the 2003 FISM. Classically trained in mime, Raymond applies these techniques to the Zombie Ball with some astonishing results - a complete routine for the Zombie using no cloth and no Zombie gimmick! Each phase of the routine is discussed in full detail.
Mini classes in mime techniques are taught, such as Fixed Point and the Showing of Weight.
This DVD is a must to anyone wishing to learn more about combining illusionary mime with magic. The routine is designed for stage/platform use but the principles taught here can be relevant to any performing environment. $34.95 (DVD00857)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9342&cat=0&page=1)
"I used to hate Zombie........not anymore.........Excellent!"
-WAYNE DOBSON
"It's just great. I laughed really loud .... makes brilliant sense as an intro to doing the Z without a gimmick. I'd hate you if I didn't like you so much."
-TINA LENERT
Steranko On Cards: Steranko is one of the most talked about legends in card magic. His avant-garde moves and ideas have set trends, goals and patterns for cardmen.
This newly published version with modern day commentary by Chicago card expert Terrence Francisco revisits the topics that made this book a card classic.
Contents include:
* Fundamentals
* Action Center Reverse
* Positive Card Control
* Lateral Palm
* Multiple Shift
* Card Miscellanea
* Cues for Cards
* Quick Trix
* Trio
* Aces in Abstraction
* Card Eclipse
* Dead Man's Hand Finale
* Fantasy Card Routine
$39.95 (BK01570)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9340&cat=0&page=1)
Juan Tamariz DVD: Greater Magic Video Library - Now available for the first time on video to American audiences, 90 minutes with Juan Tamariz. As star of his own TV show in Spain, Juan is loved around the world for his zany personality and unbelievable miracles. But American audiences could only see him on TV or at conventions to experience his magic. Now enthusiasts can delight in his escapades and effects in the comfort of their own homes. Here are just a few of the routines shown on this video: Three Card Monte, Color Changing Knives, Three Goblets Prediction and Tamariz Rabbits. $29.95 (DVD00854)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9338&cat=0&page=1)
Paul Daniels DVD: Greater Magic Video Library - Anyone can do a trick, but Paul Daniels entertains. No one matches his versatility and repertoire. He’s known throughout the world for his quick wit and showmanship.
In this video, Paul doesn’t teach you sleights, lifts, drops and passes, but he’ll show you what’s important: timing, humor and entertainment. Learn how to delight audiences.
* Cut & Restored $50 Bill
* Daniels’ version of Three Card Monte
* Sidewalk Shuffle
* The Rabbit In The Hat... and many more.
$29.95 (DVD00855)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9339&cat=0&page=1)
Brother John Hamman DVD: Greater Magic Video Library - As master of the O’Henry story, Brother John baffled laypeople and magicians with fresh plots and clever methods. To even the keenest observer, his card manipulations passed unnoticed. Yet no audience escaped the delight in watching him turn impossibility into reality.
Ironically, Brother John insisted that magic happen not in the hands of the performer, but in the mind of the spectator. Here are a few items of Vintage Hamman to be seen Two Card Trick, Signed Card, Multiplying Kings, Four Aces and Underground Transposition. $29.95 (DVD00856)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9341&cat=0&page=1)
It’s A Match 2.0: Transform your spectator into the star!
Display a glass bowl filled with over two dozen matchbooks from hotels around the country.
Also show a hotel key card, which is placed face down on the table. The key stays in full view the entire time.
The spectator randomly removes matchbooks from the glass bowl, one at a time, and stops on any one they choose. They turn the key over and both are a perfect match!
This is so diabolically clever; we wish we could tell you how it's done!
* The spectator freely chooses any matchbook.
* There are no switches or funny moves!
* Perfect for close up or even platform!
This updated version now includes 25% more custom printed matchbooks (with a different hotel from the original release), a custom manufactured hotel key, and detailed DVD instructions which include bonus ideas and tips. $24.95 (10.1059)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=1939&cat=0&page=1)
And, that’s the hottest of the hot, the coolest of the cool for this week. Now that we are back to 100% capability in the shipping department, we’ll be getting those orders off to you faster than fast! I am off to the dry cleaners to get my suit cleaned and pressed. There’s a Conclave comin’ real soon!
As always, I hope you will find some time this weekend to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 102 North Street in Medford. Either way, we do love the company!
Hank Lee
