Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. This week, I am writing from the Charlotte, North Carolina airport. So far so good in the weather department. Tropical Storm Fay, or is it Hurricane Fay, seems to have veered off in another direction. So, there were no major delays getting into Charlotte. The big question now is, will we get to Gainesville on time? I’m a hopin’ we will. It would be a rare treat.
I have been speaking with Aron every day for the past 10 days, giving him the old “How’s the packing going?” pep talk. He says it’s all under control. The question is, does that mean he is actually packing, or does that mean that when I get there the packing will begin. Either way, the die is cast. I’ll either be the mover and the setter-upper or the packer, the mover and the setter-upper. If you hear screaming from the North of Florida, you’ll know what I found when I arrived.
It has been a crazy summer here at the Magic Factory. Orders after orders after orders. Fill ‘em up and ship ‘em out. And, we have been adding a lot of new items to our ever-growing inventory. Only the good ones; no junkie ones. In any case, it has created a bit of a logistical nightmare. We have more items than we have space. It happens. The ever-expanding universe, you know. So, we set up a Clearance Department with a lot of items that we have, shall we say, in ample supply. The Clearance prices are already really low. But, Clarence the Clearance Elf said to me this week, “Hank, you’ve got to move those Clearance Items out to make room for new stock. And, you’ve got to do it lickety-split.”
So, OK. I get the idea. Which brings us to this week’s excitement.
CLARENCE THE CLEARANCE ELF’S CLEAR THE SHELVES SALES EVENT: It could not be simpler. For the next seven days, from the very minute you receive this email until Thursday the 28th of August at midnight, we are giving you an extra 20% off the already low clearance prices in our Clearance Department. Go to the Clearance Department of the online catalog and pick a whole bunch of great items at their already lower than low prices. The Clearance Department is one of the category choices on the left side of the page. Then, put the code CLEARANCE in the Discount Coupon Box of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com and we will take another 20% off the already low clearance price. Remember, this only applies to items in the Clearance Department. Of course, you can order the Clearance items by calling our toll-free number at 800 874 7400 or FAXing us at 781 395 2034. Just mention the special code, CLEARANCE. This event will be fun for all of us!
Now, let’s check out this week’s Hotlist.
Shock Treatment – Bobby Motta: Bobby Motta, creator of Lethal, has done it again. Big time. His latest, Shock Treatment, is a performer’s dream come true.
The Shock Chair or Electric Chair routines are among the strongest in magic. Whether used for comedy, in a stage hypnotism act, in a stage séance, the reaction is always the same. When the spectator, for apparently no reason, jumps up out of his chair, the audience goes wild.
But, there was always a drawback. You had to carry the chair with you. Sometimes not such an easy thing to do.
Well, Bobby has changed all that, forever. With Shock Treatment, you can use any chair, and I do mean any chair. A folding chair, a comfy armchair, a metal chair, a wooden chair. It doesn’t matter, because the chair is not gimmicked!
You get two matching chair pads. They both look the same and both look very ordinary. But, one has the electronics built in to deliver a slight shock when you press the remote control button. Not enough to hurt anyone, just enough to make the person want to get right out of that chair. It gets the audience reaction, and that’s for sure.
You can pack the pads in the bottom of your suitcase and you’ll never have to carry a “special chair” again.
Comes complete with everything you need, plus an instructional DVD with several routines included. Available now at this introductory price. And, I guarantee that when the introductory period is over, this one will take a big price jump. So, act now! $695.00 (60.1541)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9569&cat=0&page=1)
Heartbreaker – Paul Gertner:
Paul Gertner’s Heartbreaker is a trick they'll never get over.
A heart is drawn on the face of a card. The spectator's initials from their childhood are written in the middle of the heart.
A second heart, a broken heart is drawn on a different card. The initials of their childhood sweetheart are written in the middle of the broken heart.
Now
Watch their reaction as you magically heal a broken heart from long ago!
Includes custom Bicycle deck and instructional DVD! $29.95 (30.1361)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9567&cat=0&page=1)
Trick Deck - Real Deck - Kenton Knepper:
We highly suggest that you watch this DVD with a deck of cards in hand. You'll learn the moves easier and you'll be even more astonished when you see it in your own hands.
The description cannot do this justice. If you have ever seen Kenton perform the routine with a deck that keeps changing into a trick deck, after it has been examined, and back again, then you are already rushing to the bottom of the page to order this DVD.
For those who have never seen this live, we'll do our best to give you a taste of what happens in this trademark, entirely mad, routine.
Kenton removes a deck from a card case marked TRICK DECK. He proceeds to explain what this "special deck" does.
The deck is fanned faces outward. All the red cards are seen on the faces - red cards only. But when Kenton shows the backs of the cards, the backs are all of the black cards. That's right - a double-faced deck shown openly in a wide fan - front and back.
Then, the deck is openly fanned to show all backs on both sides. Not just one or two backs are seen. Many backs are visible on all sides, from the top to the bottom of the deck.
And then, all the black cards turn face up in the deck. A selected card is peeked at and, after some byplay, Kenton names the card. Big deal? He "explains" that this is easy because after all the shuffles and mixes the deck is in perfect order - and it is. Then he has the spectator examine the deck.
It’s a real regular deck!
Did we mention this is all just "Phase One" of a four phase routine?
The deck is repeatedly shuffled by the performer, even by the spectator, yet the deck always separates into reds and black cards! It's "Oil and Water" with a full deck. Kenton shows that the deck is "really one of those Svengali Decks" and shows how these decks work with his deck. Then... yep, you guessed it... the deck is immediately handed to a spectator who finds that the deck is a real deck again.
From here, things just get wilder. The deck becomes "marked", turns colors, shrinks, goes blank, and becomes a different kind of Svengali Deck again with the spectator's card. At any time the deck is handed to the spectator and shown to be a real. Then, the deck vanishes!
There is also an amazing and ingenious "Lazy Man's Ambitious" routine by Kenton that includes a full deck Triumph, the signed card turning over repeatedly in the deck, jumping from pocket to the deck, etc.
NO DECK SWITCHES - EVER.
Important psychology and other concepts are dropped during the explanations that will blow your mind when you stop to really ponder them too.
$34.95 (DVD00914)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9571&cat=0&page=1)
Bite Me – Paul Gertner: Paul Gertner’s Bite Me is a trick you can really sink your teeth into!
A card is selected, signed and shuffled into the deck. You call attention to the Joker, which reads: "These cards should not be thrown, inserted or ingested."
"Ingested?" Watch them freak out as you take a bite out of the entire deck and swallow all the pieces!
But you're not done yet.
You then show that every card in the deck now has a bite mark in it!!
But you're not done yet.
You reveal one remaining piece between your teeth; it’s from the signed card!
But you're not done yet.
You then restore the spectator’s card, reattaching the piece with your teeth!
Now you are done
Includes custom Bicycle deck and instructional DVD! $34.95 (30.1362)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9568&cat=0&page=1)
FISM Monte – Hiro Sakai:
One of Hiro Sakai's greatest masterpieces!
The magician displays a spread of five cards, held in a metal clip to preclude any sleight of hand.
The cards consist of an Ace through Five of mixed suits; only the Three is red, the others are black.
A spectator is invited to participate, and given a paperclip.
The cards are turned face down, and the person is asked to find the red Three and mark it with the small clip.
This is done, but when the cards are turned over, it's seen that the participant missed; the clip is attached to the Ace.
The paperclip is returned to the spectator. "Perhaps," says the magician, "the large metal clip is confusing you."
With that, he puts the large clip away, so that he holds just five cards. Again, the spectator is asked to put the small clip on the red Three.
However, the outcome is the same: It is the Ace that is clipped.
The performer explains, "In fact, you never really had a chance. You had to pick the ace, because there was really no other choice."
The cards are turned over, and handed to the spectator who discovers that now all five are identical Aces!!
・All cards can be examined by the audience.
・Comes with special gimmick, cards, and big paperclip.
・Comes with detailed instruction.
$24.95 (30.1364)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9573&cat=0&page=1)
Unshuffling The Faro Shuffle, featuring Unshuffled:
Are you ready to take your close-up magic to the next level? Are you ready to learn the most amazing miracle that can be done with a deck of cards? Then you're ready for this DVD.
The Perfect Faro Teacher. In Unshuffling the Faro Shuffle, Paul Gertner gives you a private one on one lesson on how to perform the Holy Grail of card magic - the Faro Shuffle. His unique handling, fine tuned from 40 years of experience and literally millions of cards perfectly shuffled, is shared with you step by step in this exclusive teaching DVD.
The Perfect Card Trick. But there's more. Once you have mastered the Faro Shuffle, Paul personally teaches you his classic illusion Unshuffled. This is the effect Paul has used everywhere from national TV appearances to sales meetings with 3,000 people to one on one meetings where impressing an important client can close the deal. It's that good!
Anything else is just a card trick.
Includes a custom hand-lettered Bicycle deck for performing Unshuffled! $39.95 (30.1363)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9572&cat=0&page=1)
Millionaire - Peter Eggink:
Talk about your latest trip to Europe. Explain how the dollar, right now, is very weak against the Euro. But, you have solved the problem with magic!
Show a 20 Euro Bill. Fold the bill in fourths, and with no cover whatsoever, it changes into a 50 Euro bill! This really looks breathtaking. It's like you're watching a movie special effect! The most visual and fastest bill change you've ever seen.
The package comes complete with instructional DVD and a very special "pre-made" gimmick on a Euro bill. Simply provide your own bill and follow the instructions on the DVD to complete your gimmick.
Although the provided "pre-made" gaff is made for a Euro bill, instructions are included to customize a gimmick in your own currency! $35.00 (10.1468)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9570&cat=0&page=1)
What people say about Millionaire:
"Wow! A breath of fresh air in bill changes"
- Angelo Carbone
"Millionaire is without a doubt the most visual and fastest "Bill Change" I've ever seen. Brilliant!"
- Alexander de Cova
"Visually intoxicating and extremely magical...great effect!"
- Richard Sanders
And, that’s this week’s “Sittin’ In The Airport Jest Waitin’ for the USAir-plane” Hotlist. While it’s not the longest Hotlist by a long shot, it does contain some of the best new items we have seen!
As always, I hope you will find some time to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or live and in person at our “so much nicer than an airport waiting room” showroom at 102 North Street in Medford! Either way, we do love your company.
Hank
