Review by Andy Martin for The Red Carpet by Ari Soroka, Jason Palter
5 out of 5
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!
Review by Andy Martin for No Camera Tricks by Richard Osterlind
5 out of 5
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!
Review by Andy Martin for Technicolor Prediction by Martin Lewis
5 out of 5
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.
Review by Andy Martin for See-Thru Geneva Prediction Watch by Collector's Workshop, Joe Silkie
5 out of 5
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.
Review by Andy Martin for Ultimate Ring and String by Jay Leslie
5 out of 5
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.
Review by Andy Martin for Money Machine (Geldmaschine) by Tony Lackner, Harold Voit
5 out of 5
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.
Review by George Guerra for Classic Coin Ladder by Chance Wolf
5 out of 5
A Masterpiece from Chance Wolf!
Though my main focus in collecting is towards small, so called Mini or Micro magic, I have added some big items in the past, but these were grand pieces that were a "must buy", such as the Milson-Worth Pillar of the Magi and Ruggiero’s Perfect Card. Not surprisingly, when I first saw the high resolution images of Chance’s new Classic Coin Ladder, I immediately pounced on it…I couldn’t type fast enough to get my order in as I knew only 12 would be sold and I wasn’t going to be left out.
Well, the Ladder arrived yesterday and after unpacking it, I was in complete awe at what I was seeing…it left me speechless. Now, I have had similar reactions with packages from Alan Warner, Richard Gerlitz, Colin Rose, Lyn Johnson, to name a few of the top talents, but Chance has clearly anted the standard on the craftsmanship of magical apparatus. Everything is, simply, in my opinion, PERFECT!
What struck me as I quickly eyed the entire unit is the weight of the components…lots of the most gorgeously colored and grained Cocobolo wood I have ever seen layered thick for strength and durability. The same was observed of the solid brass components throughout the apparatus (even the banding around the wood is the thickest I have ever seen in an apparatus…no thin flimsy metal strips here). Even the glass used in the ladder is heavy duty. This is one sturdy, but beautifully built apparatus…I just wish people could see it up close and their eyes would say more than words can.
Overall, I would venture to say that my Classic Coin Ladder is now the best, most prized, piece in my entire magic collection. Up to this point, I would have hesitated to make such a comment as I really have many very nice pieces and it has always been a difficult choice when asked, but, believe me, the Classic Coin Ladder is way too good…$3000 price tag – what a bargain, now that I have seen it.
This is not only a GG Standard item, but as with all nobility, there is always one at the top, the king, so it gives me great honor to crown the Wolf Classic Coin Ladder at the top of this elite list. The one thing I may change is the special Eisenhower coin that came with the apparatus. This masterpiece deserves better than clad coins, so I tried a Lassen magnetic Morgan 1921 silver dollar and it seems to work. I also like the fact that the music box motor is easily replaceable…this is an Achilles’ heel, as these are temperamental mechanisms (CW used a lot of these and the one in my Coin Classic easily broke down).
Thanks so much, Chance for an incredible magical heirloom and for remembering the No. 4 to match the serial number of my Wacky Micro Magic series.
Review by Andy Martin for Card on Ceiling by Michael Ammar
5 out of 5
One of the True Classics
Card on the Ceiling was one of the earliest effects I learnt from Bruce Elliot’s wondeful book: Classic Secrets of Magic. I have performed it many times over the last thirty years and it never fails to create a great reaction.
Michael Ammar has a number of very useful tips to make it work everytime and if you follow his directions you can’t go wrong. I am in two minds if the effect is better with all of the cards fluttering around you at the climax or not. Mr. Ammar chooses not to do this and I bow to his greater knowledge and experience.
Either way it is an easy trick to do, with minimal props and reset. You do need a ceiling however!
Review by Andy Martin for Stockholder by Gregory Wilson
4 out of 5
Great Rotuines, Nice Wallet
The best part of Gregory Wilson’s Stockholder is surely the huge book of routines that it comes with. The Stockholder Wallet is certainly nice, but I don’t know if it is as practical as something as simple as Doc Eason’s Out To Dinner. Either way there is no better way to breath life into the old Out To Lunch principle.
Review by Andy Martin for Jo-Anne – The Improved Card Duck by Warren Hamilton
5 out of 5
There is only one Duck!
For years and years I thought I owned a genuine Warren Hamilton Duck, but it turned out that it was one by Dick Chavel. Well the Dick Chavel one was easily the best duck I had used up until I recently acquired this orignal Hamilton. The paint job is amazing and the action is very smooth.
Until Chance Wolf comes out with his Duck (shortly I believe) the best duck by far is still Warren Hamilton’s Jo-Anne – and I should know I’ve tried a few over the years. A close second is the one by Dick Chavel – which looks very similar to the Hamilton one.
Whatever duck you own, without a good routine it will never have the impact it can. This is one of those props that requires good acting and presentation skills. But if you put the time in you’ll have an enduring crowd pleaser!
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