Stephen Tucker’s “Jumping Jokers” enables you to take out the 2 Jokers from a deck of cards in a magical way, so that the deck can now be used to perform your favourite card magic.

In effect, a deck is shuffled by a spectator. The performer then remembers that he ought to remove the 2 Jokers from the deck before it can be used to perform card tricks.

The deck is placed face down on the table. The performer touches lightly the bottom narrow end of the deck with his right thumb and middle finger. The deck slowly and eerily cuts by itself somewhere in the middle. The card cut to is removed and proves to be a Joker.

It is time to find the second Joker.

The deck is reassembled. The performer rubs his 2 hands together rigorously to create static electricity. This time, when he touches the bottom narrow end of the deck, a card shoots out of the deck and lands somewhere on the table a distance away from the deck. It is turned over and shown to be the second Joker.

With the 2 Jokers out of the way, it is time to use the full deck to perform card magic.

You are supplied with a cleverly gimmicked Joker with a bicycle back. When purchasing, state whether you want a red or blue bicycle back card. You are also given an extra accessory to make your own gimmicked card from your own deck of cards. Instructions comprise a nicely printed booklet and a link to a Youtube video instruction.

The gimmick does not use magnets or invisible thread. The moment the 2 Jokers are taken out of the way, the entire deck is examinable. This makes a very good introductory effect using a deck of cards. It is easy to do, and the impact to the audience is great. The audience is left very much in the dark when the deck mysteirously cuts by itself, and when a card is shot out from the middle of the deck.

This effect was priously known as Jumping Jack Flash and the gimmick was included in Stehen Tucker’s multi-effect DVD entitled “Whip Lash”.

Although the instructions describe the gimmick being used to get rid of the 2 Jokers, the gimmick can be used in a haunted deck scenario. A card is freely selected and lost in the deck. The performer casts a spell over the deck. The deck errily cuts by itself to locate the selected card. (Rated 4.5/5 stars).

This is like a torn and restored poster effect, except that the poster has already been neatly cut into several pieces and then it is magically restored.

There are many versions of this trick available. We will describe “The Creation” torn and restored poster.

In effect, the performer displays a stack of papers, each measuring approximately 6 inches X 8 inches.

The first sheet reads “’In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ Genesis 1:1” It is a quotation from the bible that tells of the creation of the world. This paper is placed behind the stack, revealing the second sheet which shows a picture of a bright light against a black background. The performer mentions that on the first day, God created light. Similar, the next sheet of paper shows that God created the atmosphere on the second day. The performer continues to show that God created land and plants on the third day, the sun, moon and stars on the fourth day, birds and sea animals on the fifth day, and land animals and Adam and Eve on the sixth day. Each time when the performer mentions what God has created in each of the 6 days, a different sheet of paper depicting the appropriate picture is shown.

The stack of papers is then magically transformed into one large poster showing Adam and Eve with the animals, fishes, birds and plants. The poster measures approximately 16.5 inches X 23.5 inches. It is shown on both sides to have the same picture. The various pieces of paper have vanished: they seemed to be restored into this large poster.

You receive the large colourful poster with the gimmick, and the various sheets of paper. They are constructed from special durable paper. You also receive a link to a video performance and explanation.

Although this effect mentions the bible, the Christian story of the creation of the world is quite well known. However, if you prefer not to be involved in any religion, there are other versions of this trick.

There are posters depicting the Avengers, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Toy Story 4, Frozen, The Lion King, Spider-Man and a “No Smoking Sign”. You should indicate which version you want when you place your order.

In each of these posters, you first show the various cut-up sheets, and then magically restore them into a large poster.

In contrast, each of the various pieces of paper in “The Creation” trick is not part of the cut-up pieces of the poster. Instead, each of them depicts what God has created in each of the six days.

The restoration is visual and the poster is large enough to be shown on stage. Most of the versions can be used for both adult and children performances. A good investment. (Rated 4/5 stars).

Coins through table has become a classic effect of coin magic. Three or four coins are made to pass through a solid table one coin at a time. The effect is accomplished purely by sleight-of-hand using borrowed coins and an ordinary table.

David Roth has described an interesting version of coins through table using a miniature table made of wood in his book Expect Coin Magic.

This “Coins Through Miniature Table” from Refine Magic accomplishes the same effect as that of David Roth, except it uses a different method. There are no magnets involved like for David Roth’s effect. As a result, the coins used can be borrowed.

You receive the elegant looking wooden table. It has a nice docoration all around its edges and measures approximately 5.45 inches X 2.45 inches and 2.45 inches tall. Although the table is gimmicked, its modus operandi is hidden in plain sight.

You are also given a nice rectangular cloth and a black velvet carrying draw-string pouch. As usual, Jeremy Pei himself will take you through the tutorial video obtainable from his Personal Magic Coach web-site.

This is a 2-phase routine.

In the first phase, 3 coins, which can be borrowed, passes through the solid miniature table one coin at a time.

In the second phase, the performer attempts to pass the 3 coins from underneath the miniature table all at one time up to the top of the wooden table.

The performer covers the small table with a nice decorative cloth. When he brings his hand down onto the cloth, the small table underneath the cloth appears to “melt” through the performing table. It is then brought up from underneath the performing table. The 3 coins did not pass through any table, rather, the miniature table has passed through the performing table.

You need some knowledge of coin sleights, but only the basic ones. The gimmicked wooden table helps to make the penetrations of the coins almost self-working.

The 2-phase routine seems like a small act in itself. The props look professional as everything can be carried in the black velvet pouch.

Highly Recommended!

A large paper bag is shown empty.

With a magical gesture, the performer reaches inside the paper bag and produces not one, but six large colourful Rubik’s Cubes.

You receive both the special paper bag which allows you to show that there is nothing inside it, and the six large Rubik’s Cubes.

The paper bag measures approximately 12 inches tall X 10 inches wide X 5 inches deep.

Each Rubik’s Cubes measures 4.5 inches X 4.5 inches X 4.5 inches cube.

Both the paper bag and the six cubes are well made and durable.

This product is suitable for stage performance.

You may not want to use the paper bag as supplied because of the advertisement of Tora Magic on both sides of the bag. You can easily replace this with one of similar dimensions from a stationery store.

A colourful and fast item for your stage act. (8/10 star rating)

The Great Escape – no, this is not the name of the classical 1963 war epic movie that starred Steve McQueen. It is, in fact, a children’s trick that involves one of 4 animals that escaped from the zoo.

Animals are not supposed to leave the zoo’s ground. If an animal manages to escape from the zoo, this makes for a sensational story. It will straight away captivate the children’s attention.

In effect, 4 children are invited onto the stage. Each child represents one of the 4 animals in the zoo: the elephant, zebra, mondky and tiger. Each child is given a large card depicting a colourful picture of the animal he or she represents. Much fun can be had as the other children in the audience make noises and actions associated with each of these animals.

These 4 animals intend to escape from the zoo over the course of 3 days. Which animals escaped and which got recaptured and put back to the zoo are choices to be made entirely by the children in the audience. They are in total control over what took place at the end of each of the 3 days. The ending of what happened to one of the 4 animals can therefore develop in many different ways.

Yet the outcome of the story coincides exactly with the official script contained in a large envelope that was conspicuously on display throughout the performance!

The “Number 4 Envelope” is a small 4-way out envelope. There are many multiple-outs wallets and envelopes available. So what makes the Number 4 Envelope different from the others?

Most multiple-outs devices appear too thick, when they contain the predictions for more than 3 outs.

Blake Vogt’s Number 4 Envelope does not appear bulky at all when filled with up to 4 playing cards.

I can see 2 possible reasons for this. Firstly, the envelope is black in colour – black colour tends to make things appear smaller or thinner than they are.

Secondly, the envelope is made of Tyvek. This special material does not make the envelope appear fluffy or bulky, even when it is filled up with contents inside. Tyvek also makes the envelope waterproof as well as tear-proof. Therefore you have 2 very important benefits for the Number 4 Envelope as well.

The design and construction of the Number 4 Envelope is very clever. You can show the envelope on both sides and it does not look suspicious. When you wish to reveal an out, you simply draw out the flap of the envelope. You can then hand over the envelope to a spectator for her to take out the content. She can see into the interior of the envelope and satisfy herself that there is nothing else there. There are no openings in the other 3 edges of the envelope to arouse suspicion. The Number 4 Envelope can be handled by a spectator freely, and she will be none the wiser.

You receive the special Tyvek envelope in black colour. It measures 3 inches X 4 inches, and can take 4 poker-sized playing cards comfortably. You are provided with a link to a set of video tutorials by Blake Vogt himself.

Blake teaches you how to “repair” the envelope if an edge or a side becomes undone. He explains how to handle the envelope, what types of items can be put inside the envelope, and provides 3 complete routines.

The first routine is a transposition. 4 aces are shown. A spectator freely names any one of the aces. This ace vanishes only to be found inside the envelope held by the spectator.