Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I hope you are having a wonderful Chanukah. No matter how you celebrate this time of year, I hope it has been great for you. Personally, my holiday has been great. I know that I am very difficult to shop for; my family complains about it all the time. The truth is, at this time in my life, just having my kids home for the holidays and my family all together is present enough for me. I think this sounds corny, but it is really the truth.
Christmas here at the Magic Factory has been busy. Honestly, not as busy as in past years. But, the economic times are not great. And, everyone is affected. The big and small. So, I just want to say a very personal “Thank You” to everyone who purchased magic from us this holiday season. We appreciate your business, and your friendship, more than ever. Hopefully, 2009 will be a gangbuster year, and we will be here for you, as always.
While I am in the thanking mood, I want to take a second to thank the elves for all their hard work. They are here every day, day in and day out, making sure that your orders are shipped with all possible speed and accuracy. And, they are here answering the phones, giving the best magical advice in the business. Really. Oh, and one other thing, they put up with me every day, and I can tell you that’s not the easiest job in the realm.
Finally, on my thank you list is Bonnie, the wifely elf. She puts up with me every day and every night and even on weekends. How she does it 24/7 is beyond me, but she does. She’s the best.
And that just about covers everything and everyone. So, let’s move along to this week’s excitement!
FREE SHIPPING EXTENDED: Until Thursday January 1st, 2009 at midnight Eastern time, 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.
True Astonishment Box Set (9 DVDs and props) - Paul Harris:
Perhaps the most exciting release of 2008! Imagine that thrill when you were a kid and got your first bike, your first dog, your first car. Imagine the thrill you got when you read the early Paul Harris books or the Art of Astonishment books. These are all moments you will never forget. You'll get that same feeling as you take a journey through Paul Harris' True Astonishments.
True Astonishments will be Paul Harris' current, definitive, and final legacy. This is a monumental project of the highest caliber from the production to the material. It's simple, elegant, practical, and beautiful. True Astonishments is one of the most important projects to be released in the last 30 years.
With the True Astonishments Collector's set you will get:
• 9 DVDs in three fold cases with elegant images and artwork to inspire.
• Material ranging from exciting new creations by Paul and friends to groundbreaking work on many Paul Harris classic effects.
• Effects with cards, coins, bills, business cards, lighters, bottles, leafs, buttons, oranges, and so much more.
• Interviews with David Blaine, Eric Mead, Michael Ammar, Eugene Burger, Jeff McBride, Mac King, Chuck Martinez, Looey Simonoff and with Paul himself.
• Secret props to help create cutting edge astonishments.
• In addition to the jam packed reputation making content contained within, you'll also find yourself twisting along secret passageways filled with hidden treasures. In over 40 hidden cookies throughout the DVDs you'll discover amazing bonus effects, interviews, and footage just waiting to be found.
• Performances and teachings by Bro Gilbert, Wayne Houchin, Jeff McBride, Cheng Lin, Andrew Gerard, and other top creators and performers.
• PHoote Notes for most effects which is Paul discussing his thoughts, ideas, tips, and added handlings for each effect.
• The TA Pen which will revolutionize the way you think about magic with dollar bills.
• Truly astonishing effects, interviews, philosophy and beautiful landscapes, all specially shot in the rain forest of a tiny beach town on the coast of British Columbia. The live performances include a cast of friendly dogs, walks in the wilderness, weird PH tidbits and a glut of local beauties who experience the True Astonishments.
• You'll find this all packaged in a beautiful, custom made wooden puzzle box designed by one of the world's leading puzzle box makers which will handsomely and proudly display this important collector's set
Be part of the most important project to come along during your time in magic - Paul Harris' True Astonishments. $300.00 (DVD00952)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9764&cat=0&page=1)
Trick Or Treat – John Kennedy: Brand new from John Kennedy! Make candy and gum pop into view like magic!
Produce as many treats as you like. Give them away to your spectators or eat them yourself.
Trick Or Treat looks impossible because the treat extends over the sides of the paddle when it appears! Your audience will be completely fooled. They can even inspect the paddle, but they won't find a clue to the mystery!
You will receive the special paddle along with some treats to get you started immediately.
The instructions teach you how to produce gum, mints, miniatures of your favorite brands, and even your own custom candies!
Presentation ideas by Gregory Wilson and Sylvester The Jester are included. It doesn't get any sweeter than this! $29.95 (10.1491)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9767&cat=0&page=1)
Floating Glass Plus: Show a regular bottle and a clear glass. Start to pour liquid from the bottle into the glass. Suddenly, release your grip on the glass and the glass levitates in midair! So far, so good but a well known trick in magic.
Now comes the new and exciting part: The glass starts to float downwards, nearly to the floor and then rises up again into your waiting hand! All this is done while you pour liquid from the bottle into the floating glass!
This new method is much more baffling than the standard version. There is action while the glass is levitating. The spectators won’t believe their eyes!
Works with nearly any type of bottle from all over the world! Use liquor and beer bottles, soft drink and soda bottles, milk bottles or whatever bottle you choose!
This effect is perfect for a manipulative act as well as for the MC and children’s entertainer. It fits into any magician’s repertoire. Tremendous impact has been added to the Floating Glass by the introduction of motion!
You receive a clever prepared glass. The glass is about 4 inches (10.5 cm) tall, with a diameter of approx. 3.14 inches (8 cm). The glass is made from high quality ABS plastic. It’s transparent with no mirrors used. $25.00 (60.1568)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9763&cat=0&page=1)
Thru: Every now and then, a trick comes in that really tickles our fancy. A trick that we just want to show everyone! Such is the case with Thru. It’s an amazing visual effect!
After performing a few card effects, you fan the deck and ribbon spreads the cards to show that the deck is just that, a normal deck of cards.
Then, square up the cards and grip the deck in your left hand. Pull your right hand back, extend your index finger and thrust your finger right through the center of the entire deck of 52 cards! Your index finger ends up tearing right through the face card of the deck!
A completely un-expected and shocking surprise. You can even have the spectators grip the deck, then thrust your index finger right thru the deck.
You are going to love this one!
Comes with:
Written instructions.
Gimmicked 52 card, red back, poker size Bicycle deck and replacements for five performances.
Full instructions to easily produce your own gimmicked cards. It’s quick and very simple.
$25.00 (30.1401)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9766&cat=0&page=1)
101108 Lecture Notes - Marc Spelmann:
Written exclusively for his 2 hour lecture in Las Vegas, Marc Spelmann has held nothing back in this limited edition booklet.
With eight previously unpublished routines and principles, from a super easy but highly effective chair test to a book test principle that astonished everyone who saw it live.
Contents include:
Time is of the Essence
Marc Spelmann's impromptu watch routine that is logical, effective for close up and parlor and astonishing. A borrowed watch and two business cards is all that is required for this routine that Marc demonstrated again and again in Las Vegas.
Booker
Using a similar principle to Time is of the Essence Marc has developed an impromptu book test that is logical and extremely direct.
No Such Luck
Spelmann's handling of the limited edition 'No Chance Deluxe Set.' An effect left to complete chance always seems to go the performer’s way despite the true fairness of the demonstration.
Perfect Location
Imagine being able to have a person focus on a postcard of a landmark in a city from around the world; not only do you know what landmark but you repeat the process matching every time. This routine is both direct and super easy. The principle can be adapted to practically any theme. Marc tips his use of the principle for his trade show performances.
N.A.M.D The Sequel
Marc has finally published his updated version of N.A.M.D. which was his marked deck from 2004. This deck is easily constructed in less than half an hour and is possibly the most easy to read marking system but also one of the hardest to detect.
PVP - Positional Visual Persuasion
Spelmann's brilliant handling of the bank night plot. Every step is logical and the routine is quite astonishing. No thumb tips, no awkward loads, no double envelopes, just 5 envelopes. This is certainly one of the easiest and cleanest bank nights and the fact that the spectator removes the contents of each envelope makes it totally baffling.
In Shaxon’s Shadow
Marc Spelmann has created a wonderful principle that seems so unbelievably fair yet you can predict or divine a word, in any book, on any page, on any line.
IYP Chair Test (In Your Pocket)
Marc developed this beautiful two phase chair routine so that he always had something that could be performed on the largest stage yet could literally fit into his pocket. Four spectators each randomly choose a sweet. Three are green and one is red. Marc successfully locates the person with the red sweet, without equivoque, double talk or any electrical devices. He then instructs each person to sit on a chair. All is totally fair but he is able to influence the person holding the red sweet to sit in the chair he wants.
Theory & Thoughts
Marc divulges his current thoughts on mentalism, what is important, what we claim and how we develop our own persona in three compelling sections.
No Answers, Hurdles and No Show Willie.
Please note this is a limited printing. $25.00 (BK01623)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9768&cat=0&page=1)
Bullseye - Brent Braun:
So there you are hanging out in a pool hall or a pub, when someone wants to see something amazing. Never the type to disappoint, you have them select and sign a card. Then they shuffle it back into the deck.
With no idea where the card is, you casually walk over to the dart board, with the shuffled deck in one hand and a dart in the other. Toss the cards into the air. Throw the dart through the cards. The dart sticks into the dart board, with a little something special... their signed card!
• No special decks
• No special darts or dart boards
• No palming
• No stooges or assistants
• Easy to do
• Works every time
• No dart board required
• Learn to do it close-up or on stage.
$30.00 (30.1400)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9765&cat=0&page=1)
Chess Gambit - Devin Knight and Al Mann:
The effect reads totally impossible, yet it is accurate in every regard. One of the most unique and baffling magical effects on stage today. Direct from Devin Knight's own stage show and a limited release, this is based on a little known idea that Al Mann shared with Devin.
Introduce a table containing a chess set. Tell the audience before the show that you gave a copy of the best-selling book, "Chess Strategy" to an audience member. She was instructed to secretly take the book out of your sight and circle a chess piece on any page. She was also instructed to note the page number containing the circled piece and seal everything in a large yellow envelope.
Once the book is given to the spectator before the show, you never touch it again! The person in the audience holding the book chooses any two people to assist onstage and hands either one of them the book. She makes the selection, not you, and hands the book to either one. The volunteers are not stooges or plants; there is no secret cueing or anything of the sort. There are no offstage assistants. Strictly a one-man effect!
Ask the first volunteer to walk over to chess board and stand in front of it so the second volunteer and audience cannot see what he does. The first volunteer is instructed to freely choose any chess piece and place it inside a paper bag, so that no one can see it. He is further instructed to stand in front of the chess set blocking its view from the audience. The choice is completely free; there is no force of any kind. The volunteer has a free selection of any of the 32 chess pieces!
Next, ask the second volunteer to open the envelope and remove the chess book. There is a note attached to the book indicating the page that was marked. She turns to that page in the book and, sure enough, one chess piece is encircled with a red mark. This is visible to the audience, and she shows the book to the first volunteer holding the secret piece to verify it.
The second volunteer is then asked to riffle through the book and to make sure no other pages have been marked. She does so and assures everyone that all other pages are mark free.
Now, ask her to name the chosen piece within the book. Suppose she says, "The black bishop!"
Explain that it would be incredible if the piece the man secretly selected was indeed the black bishop. Ask the first volunteer to remove the piece from the bag, and indeed, it is revealed to be the black bishop!
Remember this is a one-man effect. There are no forces of any kind, and you never (even secretly) touch anything. You merely direct the spectators from a distance as to what they are to do. This is the ultimate in Two Minds, Single Thought effects; there are no switches or sleights. The audience will go home wondering how such a thing is possible!
You get everything you need to perform this mind-boggling effect, including a beautiful chess set large enough for stage. A special carry bag to carry chess pieces, a specially gimmicked 330-page "Chess Strategy" book, the necessary gimmicks, envelopes, paper bags and detailed directions with several alternative handlings, and complete performance rights. $149.95 (40.662)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9769&cat=0&page=1)
And, that’s this week’s Day After The Big Day Hotlist. Not a long list, but a really good one! The perfect items to spend your Chanukah Gelt on, or to use those Hank Lee’s Magic Factory Gift Certificates on!
As always, I hope you will find some time in your busy schedule to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at our fabulous post-holiday showroom at 102 North Street in Medford. Either way, we appreciate your company!
Hank
