Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. And welcome to fall in New England. The weather this past week has just been glorious. Perfect fall weather. Sunny, crisp days and cool nights. The leaves are in full color right outside my window. It’s a beautiful sight.
Right now, I am not looking outside my window. Right now, Bonnie and I are on our way to the airport, heading off to Gainesville, Florida and the University of Florida. It is not perfect fall weather in Gainesville, but it is parents’ weekend and we are going to visit Aron, the eldest son. It’s been a couple of months since we have seen him and everyone is missing everyone, so it is the perfect time to head South. I hope that the airline gods are with us this weekend and that the flights are close to on time. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
While we are away visiting Aron, Lucas, the other college boy, will be heading home for a six day break. Oberlin has a week off in October. Seems like a long break to me, but the kids can probably use it. We won’t see him until Monday, but can’t wait. Another case of everyone missing everyone.
I have lived in the Boston area almost my entire life. So, I have done just about every touristy thing there is to do here. But, last Sunday, Bonnie and I spent a good part of the day walking the Rose Kennedy Greenway. It is a swath of gardens and outdoor sculptures that stretch from Chinatown to the North End. It was created as part of the Big Dig and opens up the parts of Boston that were separated by the old Surface Artery and Expressway. We had read all kinds of reviews of the Greenway, both pro and con. While it is clearly a work in progress, we found it absolutely wonderful. The gardens are really lovely, and there are fountains and even a “dancing waters” installation. Since Sunday was a beautiful day, there were kids running in and out of the water and having a great time. My point in all of this is that if you live in the Boston area, or you are just visiting for a few days, you really should make time to walk the Greenway. You will be amazed at what a change it has made in the way the city “feels.”
The weekly Newsletter would not be complete without a mention of next year’s Cape Cod Conclave. I have been in touch with Laurent Beretta and the Pendgragons, and it looks like they will both be joining us next year. So, the talent lineup is getting better and better and better. Now is the perfect time to register, as there are great seats available. You can do it online at www.magicfact.com by clicking on the Conclave Button or you can call us toll free at 800 874 7400 to register.
Now for this week’s excitement!
By far the most popular sale we ever held was the Buy One Get One At Half Price Sale. When that event ran, we were inundated with orders. It's been quite a while, so we decided to do it again. Here's how it works. For the next 7 days, from right this very moment, until Thursday, October 23rd at midnight, you can save like crazy. How does it work? Simple, really. For every item you buy, you get the second item at half price. That's right, a full 50% off. So, if you buy a Harbin Suspension for $549.00 and a Sword Thru Neck for $199.95, you will get the Sword Thru Neck for $99.98! What a deal!!
The rules are also simple. We deduct the 50% from the lower priced of the two items. You can buy as many items as you want, we will do the math and you will save a bundle! We will try and pair the items for you to maximize your savings. There are a few items that are not included in this promotion. Very few. If you order one of those items, we will let you know before we process your order. If you are paying by PayPal, you will be charged the full price of each item, but when we process your order, we will calculate the discount and refund it to your account. For this particular sale, you might be better off using a credit card rather than PayPal. But, it will work either way.
Note: Since this is a somewhat complicated sale, the online system will not do the math. We will do it here before we process your order. Your email confirmation will show the full price for each item, but we will figure the discounts before you are charged.
In order to take advantage of this outrageous sale, you must put the words BUY ONE GET ONE in the Customer Notes Box of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com. If you are calling your order in to our toll free number at 800 874 7400, give the order person the special code. If you are FAXing your order to 781 395 2034 or emailing it to magicfact@aol.com, just remember to include the special code, BUY ONE GET ONE and you will get the biggest discount ever! So, hop to it and save some serious dough!
Now, let’s look at this week’s Hotlist!
Mini Smash and Stab – Wayne Dobson: Smash and Stab is one of our biggest selling items. The effect is a little scary, but great. Perfect for platform or stage.
Now, for you close-up folks, Wayne Dobson presents Mini Smash and Stab.
Four highly polished aluminum discs, one of which houses a copper bullet. The same method as the original "Smash and Stab" effect is used, but now the props fit into your pocket and it looks a 'million dollars'.
Lay out the four discs and cover all four with little cups. Mix the discs around while the spectator does not look. Then turn your back and allow the spectator to mix the discs as well.
With the discs now thoroughly mixed, ask the spectator to select a disc.
Pull that disc towards the spectator and leave it alone.
One by one, you smash the cups on the discs while fearing for smashing the disc with the bullet.
The last one set aside by the spectator is revealed to be the disc with the copper bullet.
The effect is just as strong as the original Smash and Stab, especially when done right under the spectators’ noses.
Disc Dimension: Approximately 2 1/2" x 1/4" (6.35cm x 0.635cm). $130.00 (10.1476)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9656&cat=0&page=1)
Silk To Egg – Deluxe: A classic comedy/sucker routine created by Harold Rice and Fred Haenchen. Made by our friends at Viking Magic, this is unquestionably the finest on the market!
Explain that you are going to magically exchange a silk hank for an object in your pocket. Tuck the silk into your closed fist and then make a magical pass. Open your hand to reveal a large white egg! From your pocket you produce the missing hank.
"Would you like to learn to do this? Great! I'll teach you and you can all fool your friends when you go home, but remember, you must keep the secret." So saying, you let the audience in on the secret, or so it seems. Show them that you are using a fake egg with a hole on the side, and the silk is really stuffed into the egg and doesn't disappear at all.
"But, if someone guesses that you might have a fake egg, you have to really become a magician". Remove the 'hole' from the egg and break the egg into a glass showing it to be absolutely real! The fake egg has changed into a real egg and no one is the wiser!
This is the classic routine performed by leading professionals the world over.
You are supplied with all you need except the real egg:
• Special Egg: Many months of experimentation have gone into the development of this 'perfect fake'. This egg will fool anyone, even close-up. It has been specially designed to look and feel like the real thing. A perfect size for both stage and parlor. Made of resin so you know it will take the knocks of performance.
• 2-18" Silks
• Removable Silk Spot
• Complete professional routine. $35.00 (60.1552)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9661&cat=0&page=1)
Vegas Mentality - Kevin Burke:
Display a sealed prediction, and set it aside. You never touch it again.
Show a rainbow deck made of canceled casino cards from dozens of actual Las Vegas casinos.
Fan the faces toward the spectator and allow them to choose any card they see. Let’s say it’s the Nine of Hearts.
When the spectator opens the prediction, it is found to precisely match the casino depicted on the back of the chosen card!
A follow-up effect may be performed with a different result. Comes complete with deck and instructions.
$25.00 (30.1379)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9653&cat=0&page=1)
"I did it on TV, and it KILLED!" – Mac King
Spritz Switch - Lonnie Chevrie:
A one dollar bill morphs into a one hundred dollar bill! As quick as a wink! It looks absolutely amazing. Check out the video demo on this one!
* Visual
* Stunning!
* Easy-To-Do!
$20.00 (DVD00932)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9654&cat=0&page=1)
EXIT - Mickael Chatelain:
The latest from Mickael Chatelain, whose Matrix was such a huge hit!
A spectator picks a card from the deck. The playing card is replaced in the deck and the deck inside the case.
Simply pass a handkerchief or your hand in front of the case.
The chosen card appears under the cellophane. The spectator can remove the card from under the cellophane!
* The perfect finale for the Ambitious Card routine!
* The card instantly appears under the cellophane!
* Very easy to perform!
$55.00 (30.1381)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9655&cat=0&page=1)
Latex Coke Bottle – 1.5 Liter: This is the first time a full 1.5 liter latex Coke Bottle has been produced, and it is a beauty!
From the best latex maker from South America, a 1.5 liter Coke Bottle that looks 100% real! It looks perfect even a few inches from your spectators.
A useful magic prop that can be used in many different ways. Vanishes, productions, transposition. You name it!
The bottle collapses to just 1/10 of its real size! $45.00 (60.1551)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9657&cat=0&page=1)
Full House - Wayne Fox:
The ultimate business card giveaway!
A small sealed envelope is handed to a spectator for safekeeping.
A sliding number puzzle is passed amongst the audience and the numbers mixed. The spectator opens the envelope. Inside is the magician’s business card. On the back, hand written is a series of numbers. When compared to the puzzle the spectator is holding, they match exactly.
* Instant repeat (with different outcome of numbers)
* Perform surrounded
* Resets itself.
* Full instructions and props
* Cabaret, Close Up, Street
$20.00 (40.651)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9660&cat=0&page=1)
'Clever, entertaining and totally practical' - Mark Hanson. USA Magic Reviews
'Once again Wayne takes intrinsically interesting objects (often from our childhood) and spins them into mind numbing and more importantly, ENTERTAINING magic routines.' - Simon Taylor
Flick: It’s Wayne Dobsons comedy card to pocket routine, Flick. The animation sensation!
With no deck of cards and no palming.
A spectator is asked to think of any card. The pages of a small 6 x 4 inch book are flicked through. The story unfolds, as the pages pass.
A small cartoon boy reaches into his pocket and removes one bicycle playing card. The magician states that this is the card the spectator is thinking of.
To prove this, the spectator is asked to reach inside the magician’s jacket pocket. There is one card and one card only in the pocket. When removed it is the spectator’s thought of card!
No indexes. Self working. Instant reset. Perfect for strolling. Very easy to do!
Comes complete with specially printed flick book and DVD with step by step instructions and bonus handlings. $30.00 (30.1382)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9659&cat=0&page=1)
Attack Of The Copper Silver Coin - Cameron Francis and David Forrest
It all started several months ago when Cameron showed Dave a little procedure with a Copper/Silver coin. Dave thought it was very cool and lo, a jam session began! By the end of the session both were in complete agreement that the Copper/Silver coin may well be the most underused coin gaff ever! So, further 'e-jams' took place and eventually a collection of Copper/Silver material had been amassed.
On this DVD you will find no less than ten effects with the Copper/Silver coin! You won't believe how versatile this stuff is, and it’s all been tested in the real world.
Where Eagles Dare: A signed coin is placed it between two copper coins. In a blink, it is gone! The signed coin is removed from your pocket with completely empty hands. But, it could appear in even more impossible places with a little bit of thought!
Opposites Attract: A signed copper coin magically jumps to join a signed silver coin, a number of times. For the finale, you place one coin in the spectator’s hand. Your coin vanishes and the spectator opens their hand to find just one coin! But, wait – as she turns it over she finds that your signed coin has fused to her signed coin leaving a ridiculously impossible object!
Double Transit: The spectator signs a silver coin and a selected card. The coin is placed under the card. You take a copper coin and an indifferent card and in a blink – they both change places at the same time! You've now got the signed coin and the signed card and the copper coin and indifferent card are now on the table! Everything may be examined.
Spectator’s Choice: The spectator is given a completely free choice of either a copper coin or a silver coin. No matter what they say – the chosen coin instantly jumps to your pocket! You offer to repeat the effect with surprising results!
Simple Alchemy: The trick that started it all! Three copper coins are displayed one at a time. Instantly all three change to silver coins! One at a time, you cause them to change back to copper and then again back to silver in a blink!
Metal Sink: Inspired by Bob Driebeck's 'Tosheroon' this is a super cool revelation of two playing cards using the Copper/Silver coin. First a silver coin vanishes and reappears halfway down in the pack – the card directly beneath it is one of the selections! The silver coin is placed under the first selection. Then a copper coin vanishes and reappears. It’s definitely not in the deck! Where is it? The first selection is slid aside and underneath we find the copper coin! The card has also changed to the second selection! But where's the silver coin and the first selection? They are both found under the cellophane of the card case that's been on the table throughout!
Metal Sink Too: A completely different handling of the above effect. The effect's a bit different too!
Heavy Mental: A feature of Dave Forrest's lecture, this could be the perfect 'carry everywhere' trick!
Money Business: You display two business cards onto which you have a drawn a large 'C' for copper and a large 'S' for silver. The coins placed under them magically change in sympathy with the cards.
Up For The Cup: Three silver coins travel invisibly, one at a time from your hand to a cup! When the three coins are tipped from the cup they are seen to have changed on the way into copper coins!
$30.00 (DVD00933)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9658&cat=0&page=1)
And that’s this week’s Hotlist. Short, but sweet. I really like this week’s items and I hope you will as well. I can hear them calling our flight in the distance. Could be we’re leaving on time! Nah.
As always, I sincerely hope you will find some time to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at our delightful showroom at 102 North Street in Medford. Either way, we love the company. And, don’t forget that it’s Buy One Get One At Half Price week!
Hank Lee
