Month: August 2007

Clever, Well Made, Easy To Do, Wow!

Ton Onosaka makes really nice props in high grade plastic – his stuff looks good and makes sense. This effect is very visual, very clever, and easy to perform. The thinness and quality construction makes it stand out from its card board counterparts made famous by those long gone, but sadly missed, boys (Edwin + Ian) at Supreme Magic.

The construction will last a life time of performances and because there are so many changes this will surely fool those know it all types in the audience.

Highly Recommended!

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Finally a practical way to Shatter Glass!

So I have never been a lover of the special tables that shatter glasses, it just seems too obvious to me. However, this very well made book with built in glass shatterer is the way to go. In addition, by adding the book test to the book it seems you now have a reason for the book and demonstrate the power of your mind to read their thoughts first and then to use the same power to break a glass.

This could be huge! Of course, the biggest problem with any of these glass breaking tricks is: you’re breaking a glass! So be very careful where and when you do this, but in the right situation with the right precautions I really like this effect.

The mechanism is very well made too, and 100% reliable.

If you’re looking for a glass breaking effect, this is without doubt the one for you!

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Amazing Trick but Cheap Cards!

This is a very clever and convincing effect invented by Dr. Spencer P. Thornton and marketed by Ed Mellon. The props are simple and the revelation quite amazing. However, the cards supplied with this effect are cheap quality and stick together easily. If you want to do this more than once, and I think you will, you’d be wise to invest in some better quality cards.

But regardless of the quality of the cards the effect is quite stunning. You show a deck of alphabet cards that are clearly different and pick 4 that you place in a stand. The audience member now removes any 5 cards from the deck. From these 5 he freely discards any 1 and arranges the 4 that remain in any order to form a word. Amazingly enough when you reveal your previously chosen letters not only do they match the spectator’s but you are also spelling out the same word.

There are no moves and it looks like genuine mentalism. This would be a 5 star effect, but the cards reduced it by one. Contrary to the Ad Copy these are not, in my opinion, printed on heavy card stock.

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Plays Big, Looks Great, Wonderful Surprise Ending

Jason Palter has a winner on his hands here. The props are first class, the routine has some good laughs on the way, and in the end the revelation takes everyone by surprise.

The method is nothing new, but the props make it seem very clean, and the routine keeps the audience nicely entertained. It is easy to perform but requires some practice to make the performance seem convincing.

The sketch book is particularly well produced and this is a real packs flat plays big effect, suitable for small parlour to small stage.

What I really like about this effect is that it is different. Instead of the usual predictions we are used to this one has a very visual prediction that no one is expecting.

The only real downside with the effect is that it is the same outcome everytime. But it would be quite possible to rectify this and maybe for a few extra bucks Jason will come up with an alternate ending.

If you are looking for a performance piece that is a bit different then The Red Carpet is waiting for you!

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The Most Convincing Money Maker

I’ve owned a number of Money Maker’s over the years, including the incredibly beautiful Denver Mint from Owen’s. However, none of them look as clean and innocent as this one from Harold Voit.

Not only is this thing very flat with no signs of bulkly roller, you can even roll it back and forth on the pad and it really looks like you are see the same bill.

This unit is so thin and lightweight that it will easily fit in your jacket pocket. If you add it to the end of a routine like Xerox Money you will have a beautiful routine with a perfect kicker ending.

Highly Recommended!

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Heavy Brass and Ultra Convicing Moves

Jay Lesilie is a guy that produces a lot of magic, but is sometimes a bit spotty with the quality. These beautiful brass coins are one of the best things he produces, they are so heavy and well made that you just enjoy holding them.

If you watch the routine that Jay does with these bad boys you will be amazed, for a little bit of effort you have an amazing routine that is hard to beat.

Jay’s other really beautiful effects are his first Rib Block and the Gold Plated Vault Plus, all very high quality.

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Beautiful Watch and Great Effect

I think the original Geneva Prediction Watch is a beautiful piece of mentalism. This See-Thru version is the same effect but it uses a See-Thru watch in which all the clock-works can be seen ticking away during the performance. In fact the watch is a real watch that has been gimmicked for the effect.

This watch is a bit more impressive looking than the original and in fact the mechanism is a bit easier to trigger. However, it is hard to decide which one I prefer because although I really like the idea of hearing and seeing the watch working, in this version the magician has to reaveal the prediction time, whereas in the original the spectator can do it in their own hands.

In the end it is probably personal perference.

Either way both watches are beautiful and the method is still unique to these two watches.

Highly Recommended!

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Clean, Easy, Entertaining, and Nice Surprise Ending

This is a wonderful piece of entertaining Mentalism from Martin Lewis. Everything looks very clean and above board and the audience are sure they know how it works, until the final kicker ending when the magician shows he predicted the precise color of each envelope and who would pick them in advance.

It’s rare to find mentalism effects that are this much fun, easy to do, and end up having a very strong magical ending.

This is one you will use!

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Richard Osterlind Keeps Getting Better!

I’m a big fan of Richard Osterlind. However, I must admit to thinking that after the 11 other DVD’s I have of his that there would be a lot of repetition in this offering. How wrong could I be! Not only is there plenty of new material on these DVD’s the performances are amazing!

I was totally on the edge of my seat for the Rubiks cube demonstration and was cheering at the end. VooDoo had me scrambling to buy two Viking Card boxes and chilled me to the bone! Pegasus Page totally fooled me! Dracual/Errata is just beautiful, the list goes on and on. Time and time again when you think you have seen all Richard has to offer, you find he has plenty more in the wings.

You will not find better magic on TV than Richard Osterlind – No Camera Tricks, this truly is how magic should be peformed on TV. When will you have your own series Richard as I’m sure it would be a huge success!

Highly Recommended!

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Very Clever and Practical

I have lots of nest of boxes but I rarely get to use them as they are large, require some set-up or have certain angle issues. These boxes are small enough to take with you and the mechanism is clean and very clever.

What I particularly like is that you can show the boxes all around and even give them to someone to handle before you have made the load – so there is nothing sticking out waiting for a load. You could show the boxes, hand them to a spectator to make sure the lock is tight, then place them in a bag and in the process of placing them in a bag you could slip the load in all without anyone being the wiser.

Although these might not be my prettiest nest of boxes, they are probably the most practical.

Highly Recommended.

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