Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. Last month, the air conditioning conked out. This week, it was the sump pump in the basement. Of course, if the sump pump is going to fail, it is right after a big rainstorm. Makes sense, right? Before you could say, “part the Red Sea,” the basement was flooded. Luckily, we did notice it before the water got too deep. And, like Johnny On the Spot, Greg, our favorite plumber from Bill’s Plumbing, came over with a brand new sump pump under his arm. He waded into the basement, hooked up the new pump, and the water level magically lowered! We are now back to normal, and I don’t think there was very much damage at all.
As summer begins to wind down, I must tell you that Frog World, Bonnie’s favorite summer project (second only to making lists of things for me to do) is now fully “with frog.” For quite a long time this summer, Frog World was actually Frog-Free World. But, during the past couple of weeks, the frogs have returned. There are even some baby frogs to watch. They are the most fun.
This weekend is the annual Agricultural Fair on Martha’s Vineyard. It features a huge barn filled with arts and crafts of every type, all kinds of animals, Robinson’s Racing Pigs (just for Richard), a midway, rides and more rides and a food court. We have been going to the fair for what seems like forever. We’ll do it again this year. Hopefully the weather will hold.
During the past couple of months, there have been several items that seemed to be on “pre-order” forever. At this point, the only long-time member of the “pre-order” club is Liquid Forks. Everything else has been shipped out. And, I am told that Liquid Forks is coming along very soon. It would be nice to get these out the door and clean up the “pre-orders” before the fall season begins. I am sure you think so as well.
We’ve got some really fine new items for you this week, as well as a very exciting excitement!
BUY MORE GET MORE: Starting right now and running through Thursday, August 25th at midnight, we are having a Buy More Get More event.
Here is how it works: For each order you place during the event, you will get a Promotional Gift Certificate which you can use towards any future purchase here at Hank Lee’s. The value of the coupon depends entirely on the size of your order. Here is the breakdown:
* Order between $25.00 and $100.00: Coupon is for 20% of the merchandise total. (Orders less than $25.00 get our sincere thanks, but sadly no coupon)
* Order between $100.00 and $300.00: Coupon is for 25% of the merchandise total.
* Order over $300.00: Coupon is for 30% of the merchandise total.
When you place your order online at www.magicfact.com, please put the secret phrase BUY MORE GET MORE in the Customer Notes Box of the online checkout. If you place your order by email or FAX, just include the secret phrase with your order. And, if you place your order by phone, toll free at 800 874 7400, please mention the secret phrase to get your coupon. The coupon will be sent along with your order and can be used whenever you wish, no expiration date. You will get a coupon for every order you place during the event. Just don’t lose the coupons, please. The Buy More Get More event includes every item we carry!
And now, this week’s Hotlist!
(1) Flush – John Stessel: Simple. Elegant. Impossible. You lightly hold two rubber bands at your fingertips. Touch them together. They link. Blow on them. They unlink. Both bands can be examined.
The problem with most rubber band tricks is that they require the magician to fiddle-to contort and stretch and loop the bands between each other and between the fingers. Well, the audience sees this. That's a bad thing.
With Flush, there's no fiddling. Two rubber bands are displayed, loosely held in the hands. They are gently tossed toward each other, and link instantly. It's that clean. What's more, it's easy to do and easy to learn. Flush is a new method that opens up many avenues for linking rubber bands.
Includes DVD instruction, plus all props to add this trick to your repertoire.
$14.95 (10.1656)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
(2) Rat Trap – Rich Marotta: A modern-day Card Sword!
A card is selected and lost in the deck.
Bring out a rat trap. Toss the cards in the air. Thrust the rat trap into the cascading cards. The selected card is captured in the trap!
It looks great. A real audience-pleaser.
Comes complete with the very special rat trap, gimmick and DVD instructions.
The Rat Trap is precision-made by Wellington Magic.
$125.00 (60.1773)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
(3) Flash – Chad Long: Chad Long’s version of the Color-Changing Knives, performed with flash drives! We love this routine, and the kicker ending will floor you!
A classic trick, brought up-to-date with modern technology! Two USB flash drives, one red and one black are freely shown. They switch places several times, each more visual than the last, and then the black drive stretches to three times its normal size!
Easy to do.
Fun to perform.
Eye-popping magic.
Great climax.
Perfect for strolling.
Includes: 2 small flash drives, 1 long flash drive and full-color instructions with photographs.
$30.00 (10.1657)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
Coming in stock in the next couple of weeks. Pre-order now and we’ll pay the shipping!
(4) Science Friction – Alexander Kolle: The revolutionary Nano Fluid for playing cards.
The most revolutionary invention since Roughing Fluid!
Science Friction is not Roughing Spray.
It's not sticky stuff.
It's completely new to Card Magic.
Use it for unbelievable card effects.
Easier approach to classic card sleights.
Develop your own applications.
You will not believe your eyes!
These key features make Science Friction so different:
*Prepared cards can be handled by the spectator; the preparation stays undetectable. Science Friction, if applied properly, is undetectable for spectators, so that you can even give away the prepared cards!
Endless Possibilities
* You will get a DVD with 3 hours of material, all details are discussed and explained thoroughly to give you the insight how to develop your own tricks.
* This is only the beginning. Additional DVD's are being developed and produced.
The creative juices are flowing and we are already working on new effects that will be released on additional DVDs soon, making your investment even more valuable.
* Use borrowed decks! This is the great part about Science Friction. Carry your prepared card(s) with you; if you see a matching deck, borrow it and add your card(s), you are ready to go!
* Easy to perform tricks and applications, never possible before.
* Foolproof preparation with provided Spraying Templates
* Tricks based on the preparation of single cards, not on complete decks. With Science Friction there is no need to have a prepared "partner card" to work, as with any trick based on Rough & Smooth. You prepare one card; it will work with any other one.
* Long lasting spray can; good for 500+ preparations
* Preparation completely and easily removable
* Simplification of classic sleights. Just imagine doing Double or Triple Lifts with ease. Pushing several cards over as one is just a breeze. With Science Friction you will never again telegraph these sleights.
* All Rough and Smooth effects are possible with Science Friction with a fraction of the usual preparation.
* Super fast drying time. Need a gimmick fast? Wake up in the middle of the night with a brilliant new idea? Can't wait until you can test it? Science Friction won't make you wait for long! Just a puff, wave the gimmicked card a few times, and you are good to go.
You get:
400 ml Science Friction spray can
Instructional DVD with 3 hours of instructions and spectacular effects.
Special Spraying Templates for poker and parlor size cards
Wallet that keeps the prepared cards in place
Special printed gaffed cards in poker and parlor size
Registration Code for getting access to the Science Friction Member's Area.
$95.00 (70.1015)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
Ready to ship the first week in September. Pre-order now and be among the first to use this fantastic product.
(5) Printing Coins – Ariel Carax: Ariel Carax delights us with this innovative and clever work of art. A visual and innovative effect you will definitely include in your pro repertoire or in your occasional performance.
The magician puts a pencil, a coin - you may borrow one from the audience - and a sheet of paper on the table. He puts the sheet of paper on top of the coin and rubs the pencil on it thus printing the coin on the sheet of paper. The magician prints the coin several times on the sheet of paper. He then raises the sheet of paper and shows that the coin has been multiplied into as many coins as the number of rubbings made. The coins, the sheet of paper and pencil are shown and given away to the audience as a souvenir.
The DVD includes a visual and emotional introduction of the Printing Coins.
A perfect and impressive opening effect
Very easy to do.
Easy and quick reset.
Quickly repeated.
You may perform it standing or sitting at a table.
No manipulation or palming.
No need to discard anything. No sleeves or lap required.
At the end, all the items used may be given away to the audience or handed out for examination.
Use any type of coin, even a borrowed one: Half Dollar, 2 euro, 2 pounds, peso, etc.
A gimmick and instructional DVD are included.
$60.00 (20.467)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
Coming in stock very soon. Pre-order now and we will pay the shipping!
(6) Wonder Sealer: Imagine being able to prepare a deck of card any way you wish, and then presenting it as a brand new, unopened, sealed pack of playing cards! What could be better?
This device is beautifully made and will enable you to perform miracles! The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
You receive: the Wonder Sealer, electrical plug and 30 refill seals to get you started. This unit uses 100V~220V.
We also carry US Playing Card Deck Seals, to make the job complete!
$49.95 (30.1608)
(7) No Smoking Zone – Nathan Kranzo: Want something that is socially unacceptable?
Perfect.
How about a cigarette? (you know...those long little white things people used to smoke in bars and stuff?)
Ever notice no matter where you go nowadays you can't smoke a cigarette? Not that you would, anyway. Right?
Well, why not turn this into a fantastic moment of astonishment?
Just when they scream at your for lighting a cigarette, it instantly changes into a piece of gun, a pack of gum, a lollipop, a piece of candy, a cigar, a cough drop, a breath mint, a pack of Altoids,a candy cane and the possibilities go on and on!!!
Or how about this? Just when people start to get angry because you want to light up a cigarette, your cigarette vanishes from your lips!!
The visual change is stunning and magical. All in short sleeves.
You don't ever have to actually smoke a cigarette to perform this effect.
Strong situational magic that is the perfect off-beat miracle.
Fits in your pocket or cigarette pack and you can carry it with you always.
*Do it in short sleeves.
*Easy as pie set up.
*Resets with every performance.
$34.99 (60.1772)
(8) Dirty Pool – Michel Huot: The magician shows 15 cards, each with a different billiard ball printed on the face.
A spectator is asked to "rack the balls," dealing the cards randomly onto the table in a triangle pattern.
The magician and spectator then engage in an unusual game of pool, each taking shots and eliminating cards as they go, until only one card remains. Let's say it's the 9 ball.
The magician states that he has a prediction in his card case, which been resting on the table from the outset. He picks up the case, then shakes it gently, whereupon a full size billiard ball falls out! It is, of course, the 9 ball!
Comes complete with 15 billiard-ball cards, printed in full color, a carry wallet, and a regulation billiard ball, plus Michel's full routine, written by David Acer!
$30.00 (30.1166)
(9) Dart – Chad Long: Chad Long has been fooling people with this visual card stab for 25 years!
A card is selected, signed and lost in the deck.
A toy dart gun is introduced and the cards are sprung in the air.
Pick up the gun and fire, nailing one card - the signed selection!
Lots of fun!
Cool revelation!
Super visual!
Everything you need is included: toy dart gun, darts, length of yarn, adhesive putty & full-color instructions with photographs.
$25.00 (30.1610)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
Coming in stock in the next couple of weeks. Pre-order now and we’ll pay the shipping!
(10) Briefcase Illusion – Paul Romhany: This has been the opening for Paul Romhany's act for the past twenty years! An illusion that is designed to set up in less than five minutes, and pack flat in less than two! The possibilities are endless!! Use it as an appearance or vanish, as a solo illusion or with an assistant.
No mirrors or black art to worry about. The unique table design will allow you to use it throughout your show to retrieve or put away props. Then, at the right moment, produce your assistant.
The illusion is designed to pack flat and play big, and best of all it is easy to build, requires only seven pin hinges.
The possibilities with this design are endless. Use it to produce a CEO of a company, for a product launch or at trade shows. You don't have to use a briefcase, you could produce a person from an empty box, a large hat or a modern looking suitcase. Paul has used this in almost every imaginable working condition from corporate shows, trade-shows to theatre shows, and cabaret work.
Easily build this illusion in a weekend, and have something unique and original to ad to your act.
Basic Performance: The MC walks on stage with a briefcase, no magician, just the case. He then places it on top of a writing desk. The lid of the case open, and the magician makes his appearance out of the briefcase.
Basic Vanish: The magician places the case on top of the writing desk, and a girl is pushed inside. The magician then picks up the case and walks off stage.
Variations: Use this for other productions with or without the briefcase. In Romhany's routine the briefcase lid opens up and an eight foot ladder appears from it, then Romhany makes his appearance out of the briefcase as though he is climbing up the ladder.
Produce or Vanish an assistant away from the table - use the table as a place to conceal your assistant.
Included in the book are:
Full plans both in 3D and 2D with all working dimensions so you can build this prop from home.
Photographs of each separate part of the prop
Step-by-step photographs on the set-up of the illusion
Variations on different routines and uses for the prop
Video links to live performances Plus the set-up and pack down of the illusion.
$24.95 (BK018705)
Coming in stock really soon. Pre-order now and we’ll pay the shipping!
(11) Fujiwara Ball Gimmick: You can perform amazing and beautiful effects with the Fujiwara Ball Gimmick!
Surprise your audience as you produce dollar bills and spectacular silks out of thin air!
How is Fujiwara's Ball Gimmick different from a Hank Ball?
* You can use the gimmick without palming it in your hand.
* The ball gimmick is not made of metal. Because the gimmick is made of very soft material, you can easily fold it up.
* It doesn't have string like the old style Hank Ball.
* The improvements make it even more magical!
Of course, you can still use Fujiwara's Ball Gimmick as a regular Hank Ball.
Comes with 2 different sizes of ball gimmick. No need to choose the size.
Bigger Size - three or four 18-inch silks can be held in the gimmick
Smaller Size – more than ten bills can be held in the gimmick
Comes with instructional DVD. Details and techniques for use are explained on the DVD
$29.00 (60.1774)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
And that, my friends, is this week’s Hotlist. Great new stuff, and a perfect opportunity for you to earn Gift Certificates for future purchases!
As always, we thank you sincerely for taking the time to spend with us. Whether it’s online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 102 North Street in Medford, we do love your company!
Hank
