Review by Andy Martin for Money Maker by Alan Warner
5 out of 5
Ah my good Friend Alan Warner always shows me the money!
Finally, more quality from the marvellous Alan Warner! There have been many versions of the money maker, I have been parital to the Delben Blotter and of course Owen’s Denver Mint. However, Alan Warner in his usual imagintive style has taken a fairly simple effect made it look beautiful and added the double whammy of the note changing not once but twice. It works cleanly, of course, and is actually quite amazing how he gets the change to work twice without removing or stealing anything away. Very simple to do and a sheer delight to behold.
The Money Maker follows along the same lines of Alan’s recent works – more intricate detail to the boxes, bigger and more impressive teak work. Another winner from Mr. Warner.
Review by Andy Martin for Isis Prediction Tomb by Arlen Studio
5 out of 5
Wow this is so much better than I was expecting!
This is a very beautiful outfit. The props are amazing and the prediction is not only very clean and convincing the whole unit automatically resets. It’s perfect for the walk around performer and really adds a touch of class to your act.
This is one of those effects that just plays better and feels better when you actually have the props in hand. Another wonderful effect from those good guys at Arlen Studio.
Review by Todd Dowell for Mini Mental by Alan Warner
5 out of 5
Expensive but worth it
This is my first Alan Warner effect and I am very pleased with the excellent construction and super clever principal. Alan’s stuff is not cheap, but it is fun to collect and worth the price.
Review by George Guerra for Mystery Box – Collector's Version by Dave Powell, John Kennedy
5 out of 5
Very Nice Indeed!!
Many are already familiar with this effect and the availability of the basic box in a variety of woods, but this beats the bunch. What a nice looking prop! I only have two problems that I see. First, the finish, though well applied, is a little too glossy for my taste; you can’t readily appreciate the natural grains in the woods especially with abundant lighting. Second, the props are too nice to use; you want to only put it on exhibit among your collection and just look at it.
Review by Andy Martin for Mystery Box – Collector's Version by Dave Powell, John Kennedy
5 out of 5
Still the best!
First there was the Mystery Box, then the Exotic Wood Mystery Box, and now the Collector’s Mystery box. You could say its a shame that the magic industry is so slow that one manufacturer puts out the exact same trick in 3 different versions. And of course you’d be right. But given that this is one of the best card effects of all time, I guess its not such a bad thing.
This is a very beautiful box. However, unless you are a collector or only appreciate the very best the magic industry has to offer I can see no reason why you would want this version over any of the other ones John creates. It is signifcanly nicer than the exotic wood versions, so if you are crazy like me it makes perfect sense to buy this. If you have missed out on one of the greatest tricks of all time then it might be worth your while getting the top of the line on this one. It won’t make the trick better – but the box really is a beauty!
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.
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