Poll Results: What Is Your Favorite Card Packet Trick?

The winner of the Tannen’s Magic Blog Poll “What Is Your Favorite Card Packet Trick?” is MacDonald’s $100 Four Ace Trick with 45% of the voting. The trick was published in 1972 by Tannen’s Magic and is a classic version of an ace assembly. An ace assembly is a trick were the four aces each start in a separate pile of four cards. Three of the aces vanish from their respective pile to assemble together in one pile. When Frank Garcia performed it in on a nationally televised show, then California Senator George Murphy said, “This is absolutely the most spectacular card trick I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Phil Goldstein’s B’wave came in second with 29% of the votes and Michael Skinner’s Ultimate Three Card Monte came in third with 12% of the votes. A future contender worthy of interest for the poll may be Royal Scam by John Bannon. NFW, Twisted Sister, and Wild Card all tied with 1% of the voting.

Marc Oberon Lecture: Report

Marc Oberon from Nottingham, England opened the lecture by performing his award winning contest act done to music. He did not explain the act completely but he did explain some interesting sleeving techniques used during the act. Next Marc went into a demonstration of the Master Deck. With the Master Deck he was able to instantly produce any card called for. He concluded the Master Deck session with ‘Any Card at Any Number’.

The second half of the lecture had more emphasis on mentalism. He began with an interesting chair prediction with an explanation of the subtleties that make it pretty sure-fire. Marc also gave a quick demonstration of two of his marketed effects Bang On and Oddball.

Professor Richard Wiseman: Quirkology

Richard Wiseman, Ph.D., is the first and only Professor of Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is also a practicing magician (a Tannen's Magic customer) and was one of the youngest members of The Magic Circle. Wiseman has published over forty papers in academic journals and gained an international reputation for research into unusual areas of psychology, including deception, luck, and the paranormal. He is the author of eight books, including The Luck Factor, which has been sold in twenty-five countries as well as Magic in Theory: An Introduction to the Theoretical and Psychological Elements of Conjuring. He lives in Hertfordshire, England.

His latest book is Quirkology: How We Discover the Big Truths in Small Things. For over twenty years, psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman has examined the quirky science of everyday life. In Quirkology, he navigates the backwaters of human behavior, discovering the tell-tale signs that give away a liar, the secret science behind speed-dating and personal ads, and what a person’s sense of humor reveals about the innermost workings of their mind- all along paying tribute to others who have carried out similarly weird and wonderful work. Wiseman’s research has involved secretly observing people as they go about their daily business, conducting unusual experiments in art exhibitions and music concerts, and even staging fake séances in allegedly haunted buildings. With thousands of research subjects from all over the world, including enamored couples, unwitting pedestrians, and guileless dinner guests, Wiseman presents a fun, clever, and unexpected picture of the human mind.

Take a look here at one of his experiments called the Colour-changing Card Trick.


Professor Richard Wiseman: Colour-changing Card Trick

Hans Klok Levitates Pamela Anderson

Dutch magician and actor Hans Klok, 39, has been working for some time using actress Pamela Anderson, 40, as an assistant.

In June 2007 Klok opened a 90-minute production in Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino called the The Beauty of Magic. Actress Carmen Electra was his assistant at the onset, but had to step down due to claustrophobia. Pamela Anderson replaced her.

Lately magicians seem to attracting the world's most beautiful ladies. Criss Angel has been seen with Pamela Anderson as well as Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Cameron Diaz. David Blaine has dated Madonna, Daryl Hannah and Fiona Apple.

Earlier this week Anderson was in Berlin performing as Klok's assistant once again. Anderson is in the midst of a divorce from Rick Salomon her third husband. The talk in Hollywood is that Anderson and Klok are now an item.


Hans Klok Levitates Pamela Anderson on German TV

The Trickiest Man in Hollywood

Neil Hamilton: Paramount Pictures by Gene Robert Richee
Courtesy of the Doug Edwards Collection

"The Trickiest Man in Hollywood is Neil Hamilton, Paramount player, and he is frankly proud of his title. Considered one of the best amateur magicians in the west, Hamilton amuses himself as well as his guests with a long list of intricate and mystifying tricks. His repertoire includes a record-breaking cleaning and dying act takes 'em out of their seats. Into his magic black velvet bag, Neil place a white handkerchief. In a spit second he brings forth the same object which has turned forth the same object which has turned a flaming red in the interim."

Neil Hamilton (1899-1984) was a popular silent screen star, later working as a character actor in television. He is best known to later audiences as Commissioner Gordon in the Batman television series.

Nintendo DS: Master of Illusion

Stun Your Friends. Be The Master.

Nintendo has released an exciting new "game" for the DS. Actually, although it has levels to unlock, it's more of a portable magic show that fits in your pocket.

Recently Tannen's Magic ace demonstrator Mike Patrick was fooling even the most well posted magi with some of the routines possible with this awesome, ingenious and totally modern "killer app". Master of Illusion is one of those effects that is truly bringing conjuring into the 21st century.

Unique magic tricks - possible only on the Nintendo DS - stun your audience in to saying "How'd you do that?" Become the master of your DS as you learn, perform and amaze your friends and family. The secrets of magic are now yours to behold!

Practice your “Abracadabras” because now YOU’RE the magician!

* Step-by-step tutorials let you unlock the mystery of more than 20 tricks.
* Three individual modes make this game fun solo or with friends.
* A “special” deck of cards packaged with the game creates a fully portable magic kit. Now the fun extends beyond your Nintendo DS.
* Interactive tricks make the DS your magic assistant. Draw; speak; tap; instruct; and blow in to the microphone to astonish your audience.
* The learning curve keeps growing: unlock new tricks as you advance in skill.

MODES

Solo Magic: Here, magicians will experience the awe of being tricked themselves. Auto-performing stunts wow you in to wanting to learn more, and the magical deck will be used against you!

Magic Show: Leave your audience flabbergasted performing the tricks you’ve come to master. Where the DS was once your teacher, it is now your magical aide.

Magic Training: Hone your skills and learn secrets used by real magicians. Step-by-step tutorials teach budding magicians the essentials of performing long before show time.

Purchase Nintendo DS: Master of Illusion.

For more information go to the official site: Master of Illusion.

Siegfried and Roy: Audience with Pope John Paul II

Photo courtesy of: Arturo Mari

"His Holiness Pope John Paul II Greets Stars: World famous illusionists Siegfried and Roy greeted by His Holiness John Paul II in St. Peter's Square prior to a private tour of the Vatican in Rome."

In 1986 Siegfried and Roy's manager arranged a trip to the Vatican for an audience with Pope John Paul II. It was also a present to Siegfried's sister Margot, a Sister of the Franciscan Order. Roy asked the Pope to bless his amethyst-cross. In late 2003 the cross appears when Siegfried brings it to Roy in the hospital after his accident. Roy grasps the cross in his hand and believes that it will assist in his recovery.

Purchase Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Box DVD.

Micro Circus: The Floating Lady

New York City based and Tannen's Magic customer Mario the Magician presents the first installment of his new Micro Circus animated film series, starring his own handmade wire characters...Mario The Magician's Micro Circus.

Micro Circus: The Floating Lady

Mario began performing magic professionally in 2004, and since his debut he has performed thousands of shows for all types of public and private events. He is now a full-time magician with a particular affinity for entertaining the young and young-at-heart.

When Mario first became interested in magic, he was lucky to meet and receive ongoing guidance from renowned magician Gene Anderson. Mr. Anderson's encouragement and advice has been integral in giving Mario the confidence to pursue life as a magician.

Continual influence is garnered from old magic books, silent films, slapstick comedy,and all the great things one comes across in life.

Justin Miller Lecture: Report

On February 28th Justin Miller joined us at Tannen’s Magic from Ohio to lecture for us that evening. Justin performed several routines from his professional repertoire. The first half of the lecture focused on close-up items using cards and coins. An outstanding piece was Miller’s Silver Dream, which is a coin sequence vanishing and producing three coins. The second half of the lecture focused on invisible thread work. It was a treat to watch Justin perform and explain the Haunted Pack utilizing loops as a locomotive force. The evening was capped off with a demonstration and discussion of “The Cloak” hook-up. It was great to see in attendance that evening several Tannen’s Magic Camp Campers: Tatanka T., Colin Z., Alex B., and Spencer P. and Dan W. If you missed that lecture don’t fret we have a pair of gents from the UK forthcoming; Marc Oberon on March 13th and Will Houstoun on April 30th.

Justin is seen floating a Sharpie!