Review by Andy Martin for Mystery Box, Exotic Woods by John Kennedy
5 out of 5
One of my all time favorites!
The John Kennedy Mystery Box has got to be one of the most convincing and impressive signed card effects ever. Quite simply the effect is exactly this: a small box is placed on the table in front of the specator then they choose and sign any card, and it is shuffled back into the pack. The peformer attempts to find their card behind his back and he announces he has found it and that now it is in the box that has been in front of the spectator all this time. They open the box and see a single card folded in the box. This card is tipped onto the specator’s hands – and the performers hands are clean and the box is empty. It is their card with their signature. So beautiful is this trick that I bought all 3 exotic wood versions: Ziricote, Paduk, Bloodwood!
If you want to move something and be nowhere near the table then this is the perfect gimmick from John Kennedy. So many uses come to mind, it is mind boggling! I use it for Plop Up, and it takes an interesting trick into a miracle!
Love the quality, the size, the speed, and the strength!
Review by Ted Leon for World's Beyond by Paul Curry
5 out of 5
World’s Beyond-complete review
I must tell you that my focus is mentalism…. in particular, two-person mentalism. My better half and I perform as the team, “Liz and Leondo” in Las Vegas. As I was ordering this book, I remember asking myself, “why are you buying another book on card tricks?”. Heaven knows I have enough of them in my library!
Here’s the reason: Like you, I remember very significant things in my life…Where I was when President Kennedy was shot or when I heard Elvis was dead. I can picture my surroundings as the news of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy’s assinations were announced. Our younger brothers and sisters will, no doubt, have the same thoughts about the Challenger explosion or the bombing of the World Trade Center.
Well, I may be odd, but I can remember the exact setting and feeling of “astonishment” (to coin a phrase) I had when I first had “Out Of This World” shown to me. It haunted me for years. It is for that very reason that I bought Curry’s “World’s Beyond”.
The book is broken down into sections titled:
“PASSPORT” in which he teaches some card moves. No doubt will be greatly appreciated by the card folks among us, in particular the Curry “Turn Over Change”. I have no personel use for them but I enjoyed them. Nothing earth shattering.
“PACKING” is the section in which I realized that Paul Curry had a very serious bent for mentalim. It has some coin work using fire to reveal some amazing revelations. Also included was some card work used in a poker setting reminesant of John Scarne. He also describes a two card trick (Sure Thing) that will make some people talk to themselves. His “Color Changing Deck” routine is so free of “moves”, and in the truely startling catagorie that I’m considering doing it myself… don’t tell Liz I particular liked “Don’t Lie To Me” as it is a prognostication slant. “Houdini’s Legacy” is a cool sceance type effect with cards that, under the right circumstances, could scare sombody. “Out of the Past” is Curry’s variation of Devant’s “The Triangle” card effect found in “Our Magic”. I love Curry’s working but lean towards Devant’s version for stage.
Ther are many more card effects in this chapter including some “Haunted Card” type effects under glass. The main thing I like about Curry’s card magic is it’s rare that a spectator would hear, “take a card”.
“POSTCARDS” is a section of no card work but some excellant mental effects. The first is “Probability Zero” that uses buisness cards that can be added to the short list of truelygreat stunners with buisness cards in my opinion. “Alias Sherlock Holmes” is a rational use for center tear work.”Matchmaker” is an ESP effect using 5 Zenner cards that I am going to add to our repertoire. It can also be used over the phone! There is much more to this chapter but I think you have the idea.
“SUITCASES” is the chapter that contains the original version of “OOTW” and the thoughts on it over the decades since he invented it. This chapter also contains his thoughts on the “Open Prediction” effect which has had the attention of some of the greatest minds in magic.
“TRAVEL TIPS” concerns itself with Paul’s thoughts on the “Cigarette Switch” and more on the “Center Tear”. He offers some good tips on “Psuedo-psychometry”. his “Miscalled Palm” is one I’ve already used to excellent results. Is it possible for an amazing trick to be “too easy?”
I will stop here because, so far, this is all of the book I’ve actually read. There is more. Even rope tricks. More, cards. More mentalism. More real magic.
Is this book worth the money? It’s worth, well…. more!
Review by George Guerra for Jack the Lad by Alan Warner
5 out of 5
Cute and Clever!
The props are, as usual, beautiful to behold. Teak sure has such a wide variation in color and grain that as your Warner collection grows, you begin to wonder if Alan does’nt use other exotic woods. This item has an entertaining story and interesting props – only the case with a “J” is teak. The method is clever and the piece a definite must for the Warner collector.
Review by George Guerra for Cover Up by Alan Warner
4 out of 5
Simple transposition but great props
The magic is simple – three coins “fly” one by one from one cover to the next. However, I am really impressed by what Alan can do with using wood as the predominant material to perform the magic. The workmanship is impeccable as always. Thanks, Alan.
Review by Andy Martin for Chaplin's Candle by Collectors' Workshop
4 out of 5
A great bit of Comedy for any bill routine
There are many types of candle on the market where the candle moves and burns the bill without the performer realising. This one from Collector’s Workshop is one of the better ones I have owned. It is very easy to reset, and the movement of the candle is not just slowly towards the bill. It actually moves away from the bill for a while too. The clockwork motor is silent. One of bonus with this version is that it uses a regular candle, so its easy to replace.
Review by Andy Martin for The Man-Eating Plant by Harold Thomas, Unknown
5 out of 5
Beautiful, Unusual, Funny, and Rare
This is a beautiful prop custom made based upon the Karrell Fox Man Eating Plant. It is very well made indeed and one day when I perform it I know it will cause a lot of commotion.
After a big build up you reveal the Man Eating Plant box, then after some byplay you are left with the spectators card partially bitten in one of the many sets of chomping teeth. Or something like that!
Review by Andy Martin for Six Bill Repeat by Tom Bowyer, Tommy Tucker
4 out of 5
An Oldie but Goldie
The effect on the audience is alway very surprizing with this trick. I think us magicians are jaded with this type of effect, but lay people seem to lap it up!
Review by Andy Martin for Mind's Eye Deck by Phil Goldstein
5 out of 5
Max Maven is very Clever!
I think this is a very ingenious effect: a spectator freely chooses any one of the cards in the deck – all with different shapes on – and you immediately can tell them your card without having to touch or riffle through the deck.
It works by a very clever use of a old card principle – that defies detection. I like this a lot!
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