Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. What a week this has been. So much excitement! By far, the most important event of the week was the Presidential Election. No matter how it had turned out, it was going to be a history-making event. And, it was. People turned out to vote in record numbers, unheard of numbers. It was as if we all decided it was time to get involved. No matter how you voted, it was a good thing to do. As Bonnie and I stayed up late and watched the returns come in, we both felt that it had been a long time since we were so excited about an election. And, we both felt that it was really nice of the government to schedule the election on our Anniversary. 24 years, for those of you who are counting!
The election was not the only excitement this week. On Monday, the 2009 Tenyo samples arrived. Five new items. Some really interesting stuff. You can check all of the items out in this week’s Hotlist. As you might guess, we have played with all of the new items, and we have two clear favorites. Vanishing Point and Magical Door are the two that really tickled our fancy, as it were. The other three items are also very good, but those two stand out. They are classic Tenyo, in that they both use diabolically clever methods to create the effects. The Tenyo line will be available for shipping the second week of December. But, if you pre-order now, we will pay the shipping!
With the holiday season just around the corner, we have created a new Category in the Online Catalog at www.magicfact.com. Magic Sets. Look on the left side of the front page of the Online Catalog, and give it a click. If you are looking for the perfect gift for that magical beginner, this is the place to be!
This very morning, Bonnie and I are flying off to Oberlin, Ohio for parents’ weekend at Oberlin College. Of course, Lucas will roll out the red carpet. Nothing less than we would expect. I have looked over the list of events for the weekend, and there is so much going on, I will hardly have a chance to nap. Bummer.
Now, let’s look at this week’s magical excitement!
PRESIDENTIAL READING SALE: You will never be President unless you read a lot of books. Is there a better time than right now to curl up with a good magic book in front of a roaring fireplace? No, sez me!
Starting right now and ending on Thursday, the 13th of November at midnight, you can save 25% on every single book that we carry, except those published by Mike Caveney's Magic Words. All you need to do is enter the special code SAVEONBOOKS in the Discount Coupon Box of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com and we will automatically deduct the 25%. If you place your order by phone, toll free at 800 874 7400, just mention the special code, SAVEONBOOKS, and we will deduct the 25%. You can also place your order by FAX at 781 395 2034 or by email at magicfact@aol.com. No matter how you place your order, just mention the special code and save 25% on all the books!
Now, it’s time to check out this week’s Hotlist.
Flower Vase To Lamp: Tora’s Flower Vase To Lamp is exactly the kind of magic I like. Extremely visual, with a powerful impact!
A vase filled with colorful flowers sits on the table.
In the twinkling of an eye, the vase and flowers transforms into a very colorful, kind of retro-looking lamp!
The transformation happens automatically; extreme push button magic.
The flowers are absolutely beautiful. In fact, the quality of workmanship on the entire item is superb.
Perfect for platform, stage, even in the street! Comes with an instructional DVD. Imported. $875.00 (60.1553)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9686&cat=0&page=1)
Vanishing Point: My personal favorite of the five new effects in Tenyo’s 2009 line. The effect is excellent, and I just love the method. It is oh, so Tenyo!
Place a solid red ball in the center of a small platform, then shield the ball from the audience’s view, with a single playing card.
Balance the card so that it leans against the ball, remaining upright until the last second.
However, when you lower the card, the ball has completely vanished!
You can reproduce the ball form under the table, from your pocket, even from a kid’s ear!
I promise this one will be come a favorite! $37.95 (10.1485)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9687&cat=0&page=1)
WordWork - Larry Becker and Lee Earle: A walk-around book test that's repeatable and puzzling, too!
They just think of a crossword puzzle clue (ie. "39 Across; 9 letters; 'a vivid, sudden memory'") and you instantly tell them that very word, (ie. "Flashback"). Can be repeated immediately.
WordPlay - When they merely imagine one of more than 35 words on any page's clue list, you reveal it in a heartbeat. Or they can pick a clue word on any page and you guide them to that word in that puzzle's 19x25 letter grid - whether the word is horizontal, vertical, backwards, or on a diagonal!
Features:
* No pumping
* Real puzzles
* No crib sheets
* Self-contained
* Simple & easy
* Examinable
Comes complete with instruction sheet and two 64 page puzzle books (one word search the other crossword).
Book dimensions approximately 5" x 4" (12.7cm x 10cm)
$69.00 (40.655)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9694&cat=0&page=1)
Magical Door: One of our favorites items in the 2009 Tenyo product line, you are going to love this one!
Insert a solid metal key through two plates containing keyholes. Then, lift up a solid metal chain from below the shaft of the key. Despite the fact that there is no easy way to remove the chain, it magically penetrates upward through the key.
Next, you wind the chain around both plates and the key, with a double wrap of the chain. Still, with a simple pull of the chain, you are able to penetrate the key and plates with the greatest of ease.
This is classic Tenyo! Great effect and truly diabolical method. Comes with two plates, metal chain and solid metal key. $47.95 (10.1483)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9689&cat=0&page=1)
Ghost Ink – Andrew Mayne: An incredible way to perform magic with tattoos and writing that appear and vanish on your skin!
Start and end totally clean. Begin with everything you need in your wallet or deck of cards.
* Gypsy Curse - A tattoo of a chosen card appears before your audience's eyes!
* Secret Seal - Make a copy of a seal from a borrowed bill on your palm!
* Revelation - A totally freely selected word appears on your arm.
* Infection - A contagious card gives you spots!
* Tattoo of Fire - Burn a tattoo into your skin!
* Ace - A flashy tattoo appearance.
* Barcode - A product barcode jumps to your skin!
* Heart Effect - Move a tattoo on your arm to a card!
* Human Silly Putty - Transfer an image to your skin!
* iTattoo - The icons on an iPhone vanish and reappear on your body!
* Syntax - A thought of card appears on your arm!
* Self Promotion - Make a copy of your business card on your skin!
Comes with instructional DVD. $19.95 (10.1486)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9693&cat=0&page=1)
Synchro Boxes: Tenyo’s take on Bob Ostin’s Sympathetic Matchboxes. The effect is classic, but as you would expect, the method is absolutely diabolical!
Show two matchboxes to the audience, allowing them to see inside each box. To all appearances, the boxes are nothing more than an ordinary pair of empty boxes with sliding drawers.
However, when you close the drawer of one box, the drawer of the other box mysteriously opens! To prove that there is no connection between the boxes, you insert a playing card between them. The drawers still open and close as if by magic!
For a surprising finish, the boxes are completely separated from each other and they still move in sympathy with one another.
The gimmick is cleverly hidden inside the construction of the boxes, so there is no need to hide anything in your hands, or remove anything at the end of the trick.
You will be delightfully surprised at where the gimmick is hidden. And, you audience will be astounded by this baffling magic. $27.95 (10.1482)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9690&cat=0&page=1)
Secrets of Slydini's Knotted Silks: World’s Greatest Magic By The World’s Greatest Magicians - When asked to name his favorite trick from the many classic routines he created, Slydini would always say, "The silks." This trick, now known throughout the magic world as Slydini's Knotted Silks, is a masterpiece of magic. The silks don't change color or transform into birds but they do something just as mysterious – they magically untie themselves. Even under increasingly impossible conditions, even when the spectators tie the silks together themselves, they still melt apart.
On this DVD, you'll see three different presentations of Slydini's wonderful brainchild. Steve Draun is up first with the basic routine which obviously befuddles and entertains his audience and can do the same for yours. Jim Cellini, one of Slydini's prize students, demonstrates how a little bit of theater and music can make this routine play even on the largest stage. Finally, Bill Malone shows off his very funny routine that turns the trick into a spectator challenge of sorts, inevitably creating the kind of chaotic fun that Bill is known for.
Slydini's Knotted Silks is a magical classic and its creator not only entertained and mystified audiences all over the world with it but also baffled some of the best minds in magic in his day. Now, with the help of this DVD and three master magicians, Slydini's legacy can be yours. $19.95 (DVD00938)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9688&cat=0&page=1)
Newsworthy Tear: The beloved Torn and Restored Newspaper is now much easier to prepare and perform, with Tenyo’s latest version of the classic effect.
The Newsworthy Tear uses a brand-new gimmick that does not require scissors and glue to prepare, yet still provides a flash restoration. You will be able to quickly set up the newspaper with the latest edition, and baffle audiences with this new construction.
The effect is classic. Tear an ordinary newspaper into two sheets, then fold it and tear again. After several more folds and tears, you gather the pieces together and make a magical gesture. The pieces smoothly and suddenly restore into an undamaged sheet of newspaper. $28.95 (60.1556)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9691&cat=0&page=1)
Animation Frame: Another new item from Tenyo 2009. This effect is both humorous and surprising. It will capture your audience right away with the delightful story of Pinocchio.
Explain that Pinocchio’s nose grows every time he tells a lie, and, as you are talking, the nose visually grows longer and longer. Then, it visually returns to its original size!
Your audience will be a little suspicious of the picture, so you remove it from the frame and let them verify that it is nothing more than a single sheet of printed paper!
A very neat pocket trick! $37.95 (10.1484)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9692&cat=0&page=1)
And, that’s this week’s honest to goodness goodies! I am always excited when the new Tenyo items roll around, and hope you are as well!
As always, I hope you will find some time to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person in our beautiful Medford showroom at 102 North Street. Either way we do love the company!
Hank
