3 ROPE (JUMBO) CARD TRICK by Shigeo Futagawa

This effect first appeared as a packet card trick using 3 pokersized cards.

This version works exactly like the earlier version but uses jumbosized cards.

Each card measures 7 1/4” X 10 1/8” and is large enough for stage performance.

In effect, the performer displays 3 large cards.  Each card has a picture of different parts of ropes on their faces and a nice back design.

The 3 cards are placed side by side to show a picture of 3 ropes of very different lengths: one is a short piece, one a medium length piece, and one a very long piece of rope.

The 3 cards are gathered up and shown faces and backs.  When they are placed side by side, they now show 3 pieces of equal lengths of rope.

Again the performer gathers up the 3 cards, and shows their faces and backs.  When they are placed side by side, the picture that now greets the audience is one of a very long piece of rope.

The performer has transformed 3 different lengths of ropes into 3 ropes of equal lengths, and then fused them to become one very long piece of rope.  Magicians will recognise that this is the popular “Professor’s Nightmare” rope trick done with 3 cards.  This effect is still great when performed with cards instead of with actual pieces of ropes.

You receive the 3 well printed and laminated jumbo-sized cards together with 5 pages of illustrated instructions.  You need to provide your own stand for the 3 cards.

The secret is based on the very cleverly designed cards by Shigeo Futagawa, and well thought-out handling of the cards.  It does not need other items such as magnets or sticky tapes.

You will enjoy performing 3 Rope (Jumbo) Card Trick.  (Rated 4.5/5 stars)

EASY FRAME by Igamaru

“Easy Frame” is selected card inside a picture frame, or selected card to impossible location.

There are many versions available, from the very complicated to the very simple.  This employs the easy method and hence its name “Easy Frame”.  Not only is it easy to perform, the picture frame can be freely examined afterwards.

You receive the picture frame, measuring 4.25 X 5.75 inches.  It has a wooden frame and a glass panel.  The picture inside the frame is that of a tower.  This picture can of course be changed to a picture or photograph of your choice.  You also receive a specially made gimmick and printed instructions.  You need to supply your own blue back bicycle deck of cards.

In effect, the performer displays a small wooden picture frame with a picture of a tower.  The picture inside the frame can only be accessed through its back panel, like the usual picture frame.  The audience can see that the back panel is locked by 4 small levers.

A spectator is enlisted to help out.  She chooses a playing card which is then shuffled back into the deck.  Her card is lost in the deck.  The performer springs the deck of cards onto the picture frame.  The cards bounce off the picture frame and land on in a pool of cards on the table.  Magically, the chosen card is seen trapped inside the glass frame.  The picture frame can be handed to the spectator to examine at this stage.  The spectator has to undo the 4 levers at the back panel of the frame in order to be able to take out her selected card.

The effect is easy to perform and has little performing angle to worry about.  It is suitable for parlour magic and is quite visual.

When you first receive the product, you may think that the method will never fool an audience.  You need to try it out in an acutal performance to see that it is really effective and easy to do.

It is possible to have the selected card signed.  This is also taught in the instructions.  However, this version requires you to specially prepare the frame and have some audience management in terms of performing angle.  The frame will not be shown at the beginning, but only after the card is selcted and lost in the deck.  When the frame is first shown to the audience, it already has the signed selected card inside it.  However, it is still a mystery as the card can only be acessed by unlocking the back panel of the frame.    

The recommended version is the easy version.  This allows you to concentrate fully on your presentation.  It is also more visual.  The audience sees the picture frame and it is the same frame that suddenly has the selected card trapped inside it when the deck of cards is sprung onto the glass panel.  (Rated 5/5 stars)

“THREE CARD MONTE” & “CROSS- TOWN PADDLE”

Manufactured by: Redefine Magic

To purchase or reserve the product(s), read the conditions above.

This month, we review 2 close-up effects. Each of them retails for $15. Special discount is available for Ring 115 members at our meeting.

THREE CARD MONTE ($15)

The “Three Card Monte” has become a classical effect in close-up magic for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it takes up very little space in your pocket as it uses only 3 playing cards. Secondly, it is very visual: a lot of magic is happening within a short period of time.

Sometimes known as “Find The Lady”, it originated as a con game played by skillful sleight-of-hand artistes in the streets. Unsuspecting spectators bet to find the “odd” card among only 3 cards, but they always lose.

Michael Skinner first came up with this effect for magicians. Using specially printed cards, it eliminates sleight-of-hand with cards. So long as you can pick up a card placed on the table, you can perform this effect. This became so popular that many variations are available.

In this version, 3 playing cards are shown to consist of an ace of diamonds, a 2 of clubs and a 3 of clubs. The ace is the obvious odd card as it is the only red card among the 2 black cards. The spectator’s job is to find the odd card or the red ace.

The performer mixes the 3 cards face downwards slowly on the table so that the spectator can follow the movement of the red card. When the supposed red card is turned over, it is one of the 2 black cards, and the ace is found in one of the other 2 cards.

The performer plays another round. This time, he places one of the 2 black cards on the table. He also shows that the red ace is in one of the 2 cards left in his hand. Yet, when the tabled card is turned over, it is shown to be the red ace, and the 2 cards in the performer’s hand are turned over to show they are the 2 black cards.

Saying that 3 cards may be a little too many cards for the spectator to follow, the performer places one of the 2 black cards aside. He mixes the 2 cards in his hand, yet the spectator fails to find the red ace. It is finally revealed that there is no red ace in the 2 cards. The ace is revealed to be the black card that was segregated earlier.

You receive the 3 specially printed cards, and a link to Jeremy Pei’s personal magic coach tutorial video. There are only 3 cards, and the cards can be shown quite convincingly each time. It has a very strong impact on the spectators. As mentioned, if you can pick up a card from the table, you can perform this trick.

Cross Town Paddle ($15)

Effects with a paddle stick are highly visual. Again, a lot of magic is happening in a very short period of time.

In this efffect, a black paddle has 4 gemstones embeded in it. The performer commences by showing a red stone at one end of a row of stones on the stick. The stick is turned over to show the same situation on the other side.

With a magical gesture, the red stone is seen to have climbed up to the second position. Again both sides of the stick are shown to have the same situation. One more gesture and the red stone moves up to the third position. Finally, the red stone magically reaches the top position.

You receive the special paddle stick with the 4 embedded genstones on both sides. This paddle is unlike other paddles available in the market. This stick has ribs at both ends which makes it easier to grip. You are provided with a link to Jeremy Pei’s tutorial video. There is one master move called the “Paddle Move” that you need to learn. This is taught by Jeremy in the video. There are other moves taught, but they are more of a magical gesture than a move.

In the video, Jeremy also teaches another effect using the same stick. This time, you show 3 gemstones only and the red one is at one end of the row. The red stone magically jumps from one end to the other end of the row. When the spectators suspect that the stick is simply turned around to enable this to happen, the red stone then magically moves to the centre of the row.

Jeremy teaches you how to hand out the stick for examination. Learning the “Paddle Move” itself will enable you to perform other types of paddle effects which you can purchased from magic deals. As mentioned, paddle tricks have a great impact on the spectators as they enable a lot of magic to take place in a short period of time.

Both effects are highly recommended!

THIS, THAT & NOTHING by Wayne Dobson

When Deddy Corbuzier created the “Free Will” principle, it took the world of mentalism by storm. Many magicians came up with different effects using this clever idea.

Mark Chandaue wrote an entire 176-page tome on tricks using the “Free Will” plot. “This, That & Nothing” is an effect from by Wayne Dobson.

3 small cards with the words “THIS”, “THAT” and “NOTHING” are shown. A prediction is placed face downwards on the table.

A spectator mixes the 3 cards face downwards. He then takes any one of the cards into his own hand, hands one to the performer, and tucks the third card under his trouser belt.

The prediction is turned over and it reads “You have this, I have that, and I have nothing down my trousers.” It is a typical Wayne Dobson presentation with much witty and entertainment.

You receive the 3 small cards with the words and back design attractively printed against a black background, and a link to download a 6-page printed instructions. You need to prepare the prediction yourself.

As with most of Wayne Dobson’s tricks, this one is easy to do and has no performing angle to worry about.

It packs small and fits into a shirt pocket and yet plays big in terms of entertainment value.

(Rated 5/5 stars)

BIG RESTORE CARD by Nojima

If you want to perform an easy version (sleight- free) of torn and restored playing card using a larger sized playing card, “Big Restore Card” meets your requirements.

The performer displays a large version of a playing card. He folds it in half width-wise. He tears out the 2 outer folded corners in a triangular shape, but leaves the last bit of each piece untorn. The entire card looks like a crab.

The performer completes the severence of the 2 triangular pieces, and inserts the pointed portions of both pieces into the torn edges. At this stage, the card looks like a samurai hat.

The performer pushes the 2 pieces completely into the torn edges. The playing card is flip opened and it is found to be completely restored, with creased lines that indicate where the card was torn earlier. The restored card can be shown both front and back.

You receive the specially made-up large playing card. The size of the card is approximately 3.75

inches X 5.5 inches, which is a little more than twice the size of a poker-sized playing card. Included in the package are 10 additional large playing cards. It takes 2 cards to prepare one large card for this effect. You use up one such card in each performance. Therefore, you are supplied with enough cards to make up 5 gimmicked cards. The additional cards come complete with the sticky tapes placed at the right places. You do not need anything else such as glue or scissors to prepare the replacement cards.

You are given a link to a video tutorial which is downloadable. The creator Nojima performs, explains the method and teaches you how to prepare your own gimmicked card. The method seems to be a reminiscent of an old diamond shape torn and restored newspaper. If you can obtain a larger size playing card, the effect will be even more visual.

In the video, Nojima teaches another effect possible with Big Restore Card. When the card is folded in half, you can take a pencil and pierce it through the card, and the pencil tip is seen to penetrate the card at the folded edge. When the card is flipped open, it is retored and there is no pierce hole in the card. However, the torn and restored card is the stronger effect.

Big Restore Card is visual, easy to do, and has a little comical element in it. If you had always wanted to perform the torn and restored playing card but do not want to spend too much time mastering the various moves needed for the trick, Big Restore Card may be what you are looking for.

(Rated 4/5 stars)

MAGICAL CANDY BOX

As the name suggests, “Magical Candy Box” is designed for making candies appear inside an empty box.

Its construction is very similar to the classic metal dove pan, except that this product is made of plastic, and it can also cause the candies to vanish when placed inside the box. A dove pan is not made to vanish a dove placed inside it.

You receive the nicely made box measuring 5 inches wide x 5 inches long x 2 inches high. It comes in the following colours: red, blue, yellow, green, or black. You also receive a small sheet of illustrated instructions printed on both sides.

The colour is bright and the mechanism in the box works smoothly.

Here is how the box works. Take the lid off the box and show that it is empty. Replace the cover over the box and make a magical gesture. When the lid is taken off again, a load-full of candies can be seen inside the box. Put the lid back onto the box and make another magical gesture. When the lid is taken off, the box is now empty inside. The working is smooth and there is no suspicious movement when making the transition from the appearance to the vanish of the candies.

This is a utility device. Some of the effects possible with this box are:

 Vanish an item in the box and make it reappear elsewhere in an impossible location.

     Vanish an item and make it reappear inside the box.

 Restore a torn piece of paper.

 Change a $10 note to $50.

 Write the name of an item on a piece of paper and it will materialise into the actual

thing in the box.

 Ghost writing – cause the name of a chosen object or card to magically appear on

a piece of blank paper.

 Change a wrong prediction to the correct one.

 Transform a black and white drawing into a colourful one.

- 17 -The use is only limited by your imagination. If you purchase 2 boxes, you can cause an object to travel invisibly from one box to the other.

The box can be used for stage or parlour performances. It is suitable for both adult and kids shows. (Rated 5/5 stars)