Magic: The Complete Course by Joshua Jay

Magic is everywhere, from the big spectacle celebrity of David Copperfield and Siegfried and Roy to the quirky Penn and Teller to the spooky David Blaine and Criss Angel to the endless material on YouTube. But until now, learning it has never been easy—that's all about to change with "Magic: The Complete Course", a book that does for close-up magic what How to Grill does for barbecue. Written by charismatic young magician Joshua Jay, Magic combines expertise, photographs, step-by-step directions showing how to perform 100 tricks, and a DVD that demonstrates 35 of them.

Joshua Jay took home the top prize at the World Magic Seminar (the Olympics of magic) when he was just 16 years old. Ten years later, he continues to perform magic, write about magic, eat, sleep, and breathe magic. Here, he brings all his passion and knowledge to teaching magic. Each trick is broken down into the Effect, the Secret, the Set-up, and, most important, the Performance, with lessons on what to say, how to direct the audience's attention, where to keep your hands, and so on. (In other words, how to be smart about the things your audience is surprisingly clueless about.)

Here are the Ten Greatest Card Tricks; tricks to dazzle a dinner date; tricks to perform for the boss (poke a hole through his shirt, then magically mend it); tricks especially for kids; and even tricks for an audience in another state—with "Australian Self-Help," you can find a participant's chosen card over the phone. It's the Aha! book for a subject whose time has come.

Joshua will be on NBC's the Today Show on Wednesday, December 17th during the 10 o'clock hour.

Joshua Jay is one of America's finest young magicians. He is a past Tannen's Magic Camper. He's performed and lectured in over 50 countries, is a headliner at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and writes a monthly column in MAGIC, the leading magazine for magicians. He lives in New York City.

Order Magic: The Complete Course by Joshua Jay, 288 pages, Paperback here from Tannen's Magic Store Online.


Magic by Joshua Jay, Book Trailer

Doug McKenzie Rolls on the "Fringe"

Tannen's Magic friend and NYC magician Doug McKenzie's stellar coin skills can be seen on the new television show the "Fringe". In the shows first season, the tenth episode titled "Safe", McKenzie's hands are shown rolling and vanishing a coin.

McKenzie is an internationally recognized magician, magic consultant, and magic television producer based in New York City. His innovative style of magic often merges classical sleight of hand techniques with new technologies. He specializes in both close-up magic and pickpocketing.

The "Fringe" from J.J. Abrams ("Lost"), Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, the team behind "Star Trek," "Mission: Impossible III" and "Alias," comes a new series that will thrill, terrify and explore the blurring line between the possible and the impossible. Fringe follows the exploits of FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham, scientist Walter Bishop, and his son Peter as they investigate aspects of fringe science (telepathy, levitation, invisibility, reanimation, genetic mutation, etc). All over the world, a series of apparent experiments collectively referred to as "the Pattern" (e.g., a newborn baby who rapidly ages and dies within a few hours, a bus full of passengers trapped in a strange substance like mosquitoes in amber) are occurring for reasons unknown. Olivia, Peter (Joshua Jackson), and Walter are in charge of investigating these strange events to determine their source. Connected to the Pattern is a company called Massive Dynamic, which is a leading global research company that holds the patents for a number of new and important technologies.

After a number of years of close-guarding his secrets, Doug released two of his pet effects for the magic world to learn:

Phoneomenon: A prediction appears on a stranger's cell phone in a number of ways. Featured both in Marco Tempest and David Blaine's television specials and most recently a Nokia mobile phone commercial.

The Juan Hundred Dollar Bill Switch: A $1 bill visibly transforms into a $100 bill.


Doug McKenzie performing coin rolls and a vanish for Joshua Jackson

Steve Valentine Hosts Estate of Panic

The Show:

There's no place like this home. Estate of Panic turns nightmares into reality and pushes phobias to the limit.

Each week, a new group of contestants enter the estate searching for money hidden inside of booby-trapped rooms. The walls in one cave in, creating a hopelessly small space. Can the contestants survive it? Then thousands of creepy, crawling bugs line the walls and floor of another room, and flooding water rises by the second in another.

Throughout it all, contestants must remain calm because if they panic, they won't get paid.

The game begins with seven contestants who compete in three nerve-wracking challenges. After each challenge two are eliminated and their winnings are added back into the prize pot. The last person standing faces a final challenge in the Vault Room.

In Estate of Panic it's winner-take-all — if players can overcome their fears.

It is aired on the Sci Fi Channel, USA Network, and on the Chiller Network

The Host:

Steve Valentine, a Tannen's Magic customer, has done it all, from playing a child Prince in The King and I in London theater at the age of 7, to starring in the hit TV series Crossing Jordan and appearing in various other TV shows, a dozen movies and countless commercials.

Always the performer, Valentine has DJ'd in Europe, run a club at the age of 18 in the former Yugoslavia, traveled the world on a cruise ship performing stand-up comedy, headlined in Las Vegas and became known as one of the top close-up magicians in the world.

"I had a chance to stay in Vegas with my own illusion show," says Valentine. "But I'm an actor at heart and needed to stay in L.A. to follow that dream."

While in L.A., he still dabbled in magic, winning the coveted Close Up Magician of the Year Award, two years in a row, from Hollywood's world-famous Magic Castle. Valentine then auditioned for a movie role and the producer was a past magic client who had hired him for his child's bar mitzvah. But the producer didn't take Valentine seriously as a trained actor. Yet the next day Valentine dropped his magic act and the rest is history.

One year later, he appeared in The Nikki Show for the WB, followed by six years on NBC's Crossing Jordan. "While he is unorthodox in his approaches to his work and the people he works with, there is something amusing and charming about him," says Valentine of Dr. Nigel Townsend, his Crossing Jordan character.

Valentine's guest-starring role on NBC's Just Shoot Me, in which he played a flamboyant magician who has an affair with Nina (Wendie Malick), was a showstopper that gained him rave reviews. He's also guest starred on shows such as NBC's Will & Grace, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, Middleman, Dharma and Greg and The Hughleys to name a few.

Valentine's feature-film credits include co-starring roles in the upcoming Spiderman III, Albert Brooks's The Muse, with Jeff Bridges and Sharon Stone; Tim Burton's Mars Attacks, Return to the Secret Garden and George Huang's Trojan War.

Valentine's performances on the stage in both Los Angeles and London have ranged from stand-up comedy to Shakespeare. Among his favorite roles are as Stanley in Run for Your Wife!, Mozart in Amadeus, and Sidney in Deathtrap, for which he received a Best Actor Falcon Award from the Curtis Theater.

He is currently developing four drama projects and three reality concepts with producers and networks throughout Hollywood. A native of London, England, Valentine currently resides in Los Angeles with his dog Ziggy and two ghosts. And yes, if you ask nicely, he will still blow you away with an amazing trick!

Manhattan Magic: A New Weekly Magic Show Debuts in Times Square

Cool enough for friends, clean enough for families, Manhattan Magic will be bringing world-class magicians, as well as special guest comedians and variety performers, to the beautiful Sage Theater in New York City every Wednesday at 8 PM, beginning November 19th.

Manhattan Magic is a fresh, modern magic show that showcases incredible talent from around the world in an amazing, upscale theatrical environment. With different performers every week, Manhattan Magic is gearing up to be a premier venue for magic and variety performers in New York. It's a must-see event for anybody looking for a taste of the unordinary or extraordinary.

Manhattan Magic
Every Wednesday at 8 PM
From November 19, 2008 8:00 PM
Through December 17, 2008 8:00 PM
(Pre-show close-up magic begins at 7:30 PM)
Sage Theater
711 7th Ave., 2nd floor
(between 47th and 48th Streets)
Tickets: $20 (normally $30, but mention Tannen's for a $10 discount!)
Group discounts are available
Tickets can be can be reserved online at www.brownpapertickets.com or in person before the show.
For more info and ticket information go to www.manhattanmagicshow.com

Dr. Lawrence Hass Lecture: Report

Dr. Lawrence Hass is a Professor of Philosophy and Theatre at Muhlenberg College. He is also the Founding Director of the Theory and Art of Magic program, which is designed to bring more awareness to the art of magic.

The material in the lecture was simple to perform yet strong. The main focus of the lecture was on the presentations of the various effects. During the lecture there were various discussions on the presentations involved. Those who missed the lecture lost an opportunity to improve their magic.

Check out Dr. Hass's book Transformations: Creating Magic Out Of Tricks.

Dan & Dave Buck and Chad Nelson Lecture: Report

At Tannen's Magic we had the opportunity to host Dan & Dave Buck and Chad Nelson for a lecture. We had a full house for the sold-out lecture and the lecturers did not disappoint. Using a novel approach the lecture did not begin with any tricks or methods.

The lecture began with finger exercises and tips on breaking in a new deck. Then the lecture shifted into sleigh-of-hand techniques and flourishes. The one of highlights of the lecture was Chad Nelson explaining his revolutionary Clip Shift technique from his Surfaced DVD. The move had been generating some buzz on the Internet and it was great to see the sleight done well live in person. His effect ‘Criterion’ is a sublime visual version of Roy Walton’s Collectors plot.

The Buck twins also performed various effects and flourishes from their The Trilogy and The System DVDs . The lecture was well organized with the presenters reviewing the material during the lecture on a laptop just prior to the actual presentations. The material was well taught. And it was clearly evident that these young men knew not only the material but the history as well.

Eric DeCamps Pure Magic: Returns for the Holidays

Earlier this year we had wrote about Eric DeCamps Pure Magic show at the The Metropolitan Room here in New York City. Well after a great opening run Mr. DeCamps is back for a hoilday run on Sundays from November 9th throug December 28th, 2008 at 4:00 PM.

The Metropolitan Room.
34 West 22nd Street (Betw. 5th & 6th Ave.)
New York, NY 10010
Tel: 212 206 0440
$25.00 Cover + 2 Beverage Minimum

Reuben Moreland: Right At Home On Stage

Reuben Moreland hails from New York City, where he became interested in magic at the age of six. He joined the Manhattan chapter of the Society of Young Magicians in fifth grade, and has attended Tannen's Magic Camp for the past three summers. This past summer Reuben won first place in Tannen's 2008 Junior Stage Magic Competition with his rings and billiard balls act (and second place in 2007 with an original thimble and ball routine). He performs on closed-circuit TV with his SYM group for children at Mt. Sinai Hospital. He lives in Riverdale, NY and is a sophomore at the High School for American Studies at Lehman College. Reuben also enjoys juggling, bowling, architecture, movies and magic conventions.

David Blaine: Dive of Death Products

Be sure to watch the two-hour ABC primetime special this evening, David Blaine: Dive of Death, Wednesday, September 24 from 9:00-11:00 p.m., EST, on the ABC Television Network.

Please check our dedicated website page “Dive of Death” for products featured in tonight's event that will be available for sale after 11:00 a.m. EST.

NOTE: Products will be added to the site live and may continue to be added for hours after the event. So, be sure to check back frequently

Kepplinger Holding Out

Two months ago we posted a photo of an early Kepplinger Holdout made by Will & Finck from the Doug Edwards Collection. This month Doug sent us a photo of the actual PJ Kepplinger apparatus as made and used by Kepplinger himself in 1888! He has researched this extensively and found an accurate description and depiction of it in the book 'Sharps and Flats' by John Nevil Maskelyne (1894). Although only four or five of these enigmatic machines were built by Kepplinger, this is the only one known to exist today. It is made of lightweight pen metal and still retains 100% of its original interior green felt lining. Doug says, "Of all the items in my magic collection, this is the most ingenious and most substantially made. The inner workings are a visual knockout."

For magic tricks using current Holdouts and their variants, order The Invisible Hand Set new 3-DVD set with device.

The Kepplinger Holdout pictured above is from 1888. Courtesy of the Doug Edwards Collection.

David Blaine: Dive of Death

David Blaine, known for his headline-making spectacles of endurance, will attempt to hang from a wire five stories in the air for three days and nights.

David Blaine, known for his headline-making spectacles of physical, emotional and mental endurance, will live on the line -- literally. Blaine, the 'Upside Down Man,' will attempt to hang from a thin wire five stories in the air -- with no safety net or airbag to break his fall -- in Central Park's Wollman Rink for three days and nights. Using electro-magnetic boots, Blaine will walk on and under the wire during more than 60 hours of the challenge. How will he exit from his perch overlooking New York City? Details of Blaine's heart-stopping plunge at the conclusion of the special are a closely-guarded secret. He will surprise us all -- live -- on a new, two-hour ABC primetime special, David Blaine: Dive of Death, Wednesday, September 24 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Additionally, viewers will join Blaine on a unique cross-country trip, as he makes his way from the east coast to the Grand Canyon, performing his jaw-dropping illusions for people in his own distinctive style. Blaine, who has triumphantly revived amazing crowd-pleasing spectacles of magic, surprises people by appearing in the most unexpected places, bringing his amazing illusions to people who need it the most. The real people with whom Blaine shares the power of his magic include residents of the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, coal miners in West Virginia's Mingo County and inner city gangs of East St. Louis.

For more than 60 spellbinding hours, Blaine will be on the wire without food. He will pull himself up to drink liquids and to restore circulation. He will need to fight off muscle spasms and lack of sleep, as well as maintain maximum concentration in order to be successful. He will have to hang on for his life, even sleeping by dangling upside down.

Blaine's latest endurance challenge will take place in full public view -- a free, family friendly event beginning the morning of September 22 -- with passersby able to see him hanging precariously from his high wire.

Blaine successfully held his breath under water for longer than any human being (after inhaling pure oxygen) -- 17 minutes and four-seconds -- live on April 30 on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In May 2006, on ABC's live special, David Blaine: Drowned Alive, he attempted to break the 8-minute, 58-second record for a breath-hold under water (after inhaling air that was not oxygenated) after living for a record seven days and nights underwater -- longer than any human -- in an acrylic sphere in front of New York's Lincoln Center.

He also successfully completed a 44-day fast in an acrylic box suspended over the Thames River in London in the fall of 2003, surviving only on water. American viewers have been following his exploits for years on ABC Television. On David Blaine: Vertigo, in May of 2002, he balanced on a platform, 22 inches in diameter, atop a 90-foot pillar in Manhattan's Bryant Park for 35 hours.

In November 2000, Blaine's Frozen in Time challenge drew massive crowds in Times Square, as he successfully survived inside a block of ice for over 61 hours. In April 1999, he was Buried Alive for seven days and seven nights, stunning thousands of New Yorkers who filed by his see-through crypt. The country was initially introduced to Blaine's amazing brand of incredible effects on his first ABC special, David Blaine: Street Magic, which aired in May 1997.

Guy Hollingworth at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Guy Hollingworth is an English conjuror known for his skillful card magic and elegant performing style. He created a sensation in the magic community with his trick The Reformation, in which a signed playing card is torn into four pieces and then visibly restored one piece at a time. He is well known for his acclaimed book, Drawing Room Deceptions. Some of his card magic is also featured in his videos The London Collection and Routines. He was also featured on NBC's "World's Greatest Magic III" TV special.

Hollingworth is currently performing "Expert at the Card Table" at the Assembly's 2008 season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. The show contains deception, betrayal and cheating at cards. Renowned conjurer Guy Hollingworth performs dazzling exhibitions of card chicanery and incomparable legerdemain whilst unraveling the mystery of its enigmatic author.

Here is a review:

"This show is a curious but clever story within a story. Contained in a tight set, the audience is cast back to yesteryear, in this case, to 1902. Guy Hollingworth is both narrator and card manipulator, telling the story of a poor boy named Milton Andrews who became liberated by developing a talent to manipulate cards. Bound to a school friend who was everything Milton wasn't - handsome, slim, athletic and wealthy - the friend helped Andrews develop extraordinary card tricks and wrote a book describing their achievements, Expert at the Card Table. Unfortunately, Andrews drifted into cheating at poker, heavy drinking and eventually murder.

Hollingworth, dressed to the nines in tails and shoes that shine like diamonds, tells the story in a gentle patter, as if chatting from an armchair. His performance is almost magnetic, especially when demonstrating some incredible card manipulations. The overall effect of story, stage and performance weaves a charming spell through some ghastly acts by Andrews during his short career as a card hustler. It's an ingenious way to present card sharking and easily achieves its objectives.

Anticipating a series of card tricks, the conventional approach to this subject, the show was a pleasant and riveting experience having wonderful card dealing a part of a story involving people and places. The Wildman Room was packed, perhaps by the twofer ticket offer, and the audience loved this show even though it felt like a sauna. Be sure to get a seat in the centre to fully appreciate all the tricks..

A thoroughly original and clever show of card sharking, providing an invaluable lesson why you should never sit down to play poker with strangers who shuffle the cards before dealing a hand."

- Fringe Review by Kerry

Guy Hollingworth

Todd Robbins: "The Modern Con Man"

New York City magician and Tannen's Magic customer Todd Robbins has written a new book "The Modern Con Man" : How to Get Something For Nothing.

For years, con men have gotten fat scamming unsuspecting marks for food, shelter, money and from time to time, even clothes, while the rest of us suffer our honest lives in the quiet desperation. Isn't it about time we got in on all the fun?

In The Modern Con Man, entertainer extraordinaire Todd Robbins, with a little help from his Modern Conman Collective, explains the valuable tricks of his venerable trade-from simple bar bets (the Hoboken Bottle Cap bet) to can't-lose card tricks (the Poseidon). Whether it's winning fifty bucks, scoring seats closer to the fifty-yard line, or finagling a free meal, this one-of-a-kind collection of cons, bar bets, card games, and general chicanery ensures aspiring scam artists everywhere will always come out on top.

Filled with humorous facts and tables, a glossary of con terms, illustrations, the history of the con, and easy-to-follow swindles, The Modern Con Man is a hilarious and endlessly entertaining collection of safe, fun, and mostly legal cons for the natural-born prankster in all of us.

Pages 227 - Hardcover with dust jacket.

You can order the book by clicking here: "The Modern Con Man" : How to Get Something For Nothing.

Todd Robbins is the world's foremost purveyor of reality at it's most amazing -- He is the classiest act to ever grace the stage of the American Sideshow. If Todd looks familiar to you, it's probably because you have seen him on one of the over 100 TV appearances he has done! These include multiple appearances on the late night talkfests of David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien; and the NBC special Extreme Variety.

Chances are that if you have been amazed and amused by a guy on TV eating glass, hammering a nail into his nose, spitting out a huge ball of fire, walking over broken bottles in his bare feet, swallowing swords, sticking his hand into an animal trap, doing the unthinkable with a small balloon, using only the power of his lungs to blow up a hot water bottle until it explodes... it was Todd Robbins doing it!

Up Your Sleeve

In 1888, P. J. Kepplinger, a San Francisco gambler, revolutionized the mechanical holdout. Laboring in secret, Kepplinger, an inventive genius, combined the best features of several mechanical holdouts and added some innovations of his own. The result represented a high-water mark in card-cheating technology.

The core of Kepplinger’s device was a metal slide attached to a rod, which retracted into a pair of steel jaws. Kepplinger concealed this assembly in a double shirtsleeve. When the player activated the device, the steel jaws opened and the slide extended, gripped the cards, and withdrew them between the layers of the double sleeve. The jaws snapped shut, concealing the apparatus from view. The process could be reversed to return the cards into the hand.

Kepplinger’s method of triggering the device was his greatest innovation. A cable ran through a series of tubes and pulleys to terminate at the shoulder. A length of flexible tubing beneath the player’s clothing guided the cable from there to a seam at his knees. Thus, by separating his knees, the player extended the holdout, and by pressing his knees together, he retracted it.

Brilliant in design, the device worked flawlessly. The sharp examined his hand, subtly crimping the corners of the cards he wished to hold out. Spreading his knees, he caused the slide to emerge, grip the cards, and extract them into the double shirtsleeve. Later he reversed the process, returning the holdouts to his palm. Unlike earlier machines, Kepplinger’s creation operated imperceptibly and invisibly. His opponents could peer up his sleeve and discover nothing.

Had he been judicious in the use of his invention, Kepplinger could have bilked suckers forever. But something got the better of him. Perhaps he was greedy. Perhaps he put too much stock in the brilliance of his own invention. Or maybe he was just a gambler. In any event, he pushed his luck.

He used his holdout in San Francisco’s “hard” games, poker games frequented by professional gamblers schooled in the ways of cheating. And he didn’t just use it for the occasional big score; he won almost every game. His opponents knew this couldn’t be attributed to fortune.

They developed a plan. At a prearranged signal they seized Kepplinger, held him down, and conducted a methodical search—and discovered his device. They gave him a simple choice: Build a holdout for each of them or face the consequences of having cheated them. His life at risk, he agreed.

Within a decade Kepplinger’s secret got out. The Kepplinger holdout became the common property of sharps everywhere. By the 1890s gambling supply companies were selling Kepplinger or “San Francisco” holdouts for $100 apiece—a very steep sum, but a small price to pay for genius.

For a modern version of the magician’s holdout, take a look at the “Black Widow”.

The Kepplinger Holdout pictured above was made by Will & Finck of San Francisco, California, circa 1890. From the Doug Edwards Collection.

David Blaine Appears in Nashville

David Blaine, performer of street and close-up magic and the American world record holding magician and endurance artist magically appeared at the 2008 Nashville Predator Goal Girls auditions the other day.

He amazed the girls with a card effect where he transformed a signed card into a book of matches. The girls were mesmerized and stunned by Blaine's impromptu street magic and are hoping he can also help the team for next season.

Last year, the NHL ice hockey team, Nashville Predators were not expected to have a successful year. However, they did make the Stanley Cup Playoffs and met the Detroit Red Wings (the eventually the Stanley Cup winners) in the first round and were defeated four games to two. It was their fourth straight first round knockout.

Dynamo: Adidas Superstar Magic

Dynamo, known in the UK as the Hip Hop magician, has captivated audiences with his unique brand of street magic. The web film enables the viewer to traverse Miami for a week with Dynamo and his Superstars as he dazzles Miami locals with his unique brand of magic and exposes the city’s rich, local flavor through the eyes of an Englishman on holiday. To truly capture all of Miami’s essence, Dynamo visits Little Havana, the Arts district, South Beach, locals-only hang-outs, and other areas off the beaten path, mesmerizing a wide cross-section of interesting people with his street magic. Winter Music Conference provided a rich backdrop of entertainers who were in town for the event including Rich Medina, legendary club DJ from Philly, and Black Spade, who were blown away by Dynamo’s reality defying tricks.

Conceptualized and executed by TAOW, A Modern Marketing Agency and directed by Rob Bruce (Laguna Beach, The Hills, etc.), the Superstar Magic film features a musical score by Om Records / Om: Hip Hop, and also highlights the ‘Watch My Feet Superstar’ remix courtesy of the Tapemasterz, Inc. The film launchd digitally on Friday, the 13th of June, 2008, at the Adidas website, and is supported by a comprehensive online media rollout at retail and print as part of the Celebrate Originality campaign. The Superstar micro site will host the film and feature behind the scenes footage, downloads including new ring tones, and the newest collection of Superstars. Visitors can even perform some Superstar magic of their own on the site. Or, you might run in to him here at Tannen's Magic in NYC when he visits. He always does stop in.



Adidas Originals Film: Superstar Magic with Dynamo

David Boyd: Flying On

Tannen's Magic Camp, camper David Boyd, is featured in an article in the June issue of The Linking Ring. He is a 18-year old magician born and raised in Harlem, New York. He graduated W.C. Bryant High School in 2007.

David Boyd is an award-winning teen magician and has been involved with magic for six years. A believer in giving back, he had the chance in 2007 to produce and perform in an hour-long variety show benefiting the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He was one of the top five young musicians selected around the world to perform in “Stars of Tomorrow Show,” and has graced the pages of Magic Magazine.

He is a member of the Society of Young Magicians where he is constantly refining his talents with some of the world's top magic professionals performing all across the country. David is quickly becoming a rising star in the world of magic.


David Boyd

Does Coin Size Matter?

In our blog recent poll the half dollar was determined to be the most popular coin for coin effects with 72% of the votes over the quarter and dollar coins.

Of the half dollars the most popular would be the Kennedy half which went into circulation in 1964. The size of the coin endorses its popularity. At a diameter of 30.6 mm it is easy to classic palm the half dollar without giving the hand a ‘cramped’ appearance one gets from a quarter. The larger size over the quarter also makes it more visible.

Due to the half’s popularity the copper English penny is equally popular because it is the same size. By the way, if you’re using halves and English pennies a copper silver coin can be an indispensable tool to have. Fortunately there are Chinese brass coin to match the half dollar and English penny.

The only drawback to the half dollar is the availability of the coin. When the Kennedy half was first minted in 1964 it was 90% silver. The 1965-1970 mintages were 40% silver. This lead to collector’s and hoarders stockpiling the coins the silver coins. When the nickel-clad coins began circulating in 1971 the half dollar had fallen out of favor with banks and the public. It’s unlikely that it will ever make a comeback in popularity. But, until then it will up to the coin magician’s to keep the coins in the public eye.

Carter The Great

Photo courtesy of The Doug Edwards Collection

The magician in the photo is Carter The Great (Charles Joseph Carter 1874-1936). He has just produced his wife Corinne from behind the jumbo cards. Carter is especially known for his elaborate version of Cutting a Lady in Half and Cheating The Gallows. He has traveled on eight world tours.

You can read about Carter in the novel "Carter Beats the Devil" by Glen David Gold.

America in the 1920s was a nation obsessed with magic. Not just the kind performed in theaters and on stages across the country, but the magic of technology, science, and prosperity. Enter Charles Carter -- a.k.a. Carter the Great -- a young master performer whose skill as an illusionist exceeds even that of the great Houdini. Fueled by a passion for magic born of desperation and loneliness, Carter has become a legend in his own time.

Carter the Great's thrilling act involves outrageous stunts carried out on elaborate sets before the most demanding audiences. Night after night, in towns across the nation, he performs these masterful feats, bringing his unique brand of magic to those starved for wonder. But nothing in his career has prepared carter for his most outrageous stunt of all, which stars none other than President Warren G. Harding and which could end up costing Carter the reputation he has worked so hard to create.

Filled with historical references that evoke the excesses and exuberance of Roaring Twenties, pre-Depression America, Carter Beats the Devil is a complex and illuminating story of one man's journey through a magical -- and sometimes dangerous -- world, where illusion is everything.

Here are some discussion questions for you and or a book club when you have finished:

1. In this case, the title of the book came from a real magic poster from the 1920s. There was never a question in the author's mind that the title was exactly what the book needed. How is the title significant to you?

2. We sometimes assume that our favorite characters would be the ones we would most like to meet. Is that true in this case?

3. The author was eager to hide any themes, symbolism, imagery, etc, within a roller coaster kind of plotline, hoping that with enough fun, the reader would hardly notice them. Brushing this misdirection aside, what sort of motifs stood out for you?

4. In a magic trick, the moment of transformation is when we know something miraculous has happened. Which -- if any -- of the central characters experienced similar transformations? Select a passage in the novel that you believe is pivotal to a character's development.

5. The novel is set mostly in San Francisco (of which much has been written) and Oakland, its somewhat impoverished cousin, a place relatively unknown. Are these settings at all evocative for the plot herein? Are you drawn to novels set in a particular time or place? Elaborate.

6. The 1890s-1920s were the so-called "Golden Age" of magic, and this novel makes the case for that era being a special time to be alive. What makes that period so appealing? In what ways does it seem knowing or naïve? Is our world right now experiencing a Golden Age in some other kind of way?

7. If you could change anything in the novel, what would it be and why?

8. Why did you choose this book? Would you recommend it to others?

9. Has this book altered your perspective on life? How?

10. When you finished reading the last page, what were you feeling?

Will Houstoun Lecture: Report

Will Houston from England presented an entertaining lecture focused mainly using cards and coins. He presented some interesting routines using a coin gimmick or two. Will presented a beautiful coin routine utilizing a lit candle very reminiscent of David Roth’s signature routines that was sublime.

Though most of his items used cards or coins, he did present one routine using something everyone has their right pinky. He bent his right little finger 90 degrees to the right then 90 degrees to the left. Then proceeded to explain how to perform it.

He concluded the lecture with a version of Chink a Chink. In conclusion Will Houstoun showed he was indeed worthy of all the accolades he has earned at such a young age.

Karl Eason: "The Great Karlini"

Tannen's Magic Camp, camper Karl Eason, "The Great Karlini", is featured in an article in the May issue of The Linking Ring. He is a 14-year old magician residing in Connecticut. He has performed across the country, competing in competitions in Ohio, Texas, and other states winning various awards.

His close-up ranges from cards, coins, and magic using everyday objects. On stage he is notorious for escaping from straitjackets upside down and suspending audience participants in the air.

Karl is involved in his local magic club's, and performs in their shows annually. He performs at weddings, corporate events, children's birthday parties, and more. Karl has mentored three rising magicians, and is currently working with a young magician on his comedic stage act. His magic comes from dozens of magic books and DVD's that he owns, as well as his local magic clubs. His mentor is past president of the Society of American Magicians Bill Andrews.

Celebracadabra!

Hosted by actor and magician Jonathan Levit VH1's "Celebracadabra!" will transform your favorite celebrities into masters of magic. Carnie Wilson, C. Thomas Howell, actress and comedian Lisa Ann Walter, Chris 'Kid' Reid, Hal Sparks, ANT and the Pussycat Doll's Kimberly Wyatt will get the chance of a lifetime to learn some of the most eye-catching and jaw-dropping tricks from some of the most respected and noteworthy magicians in the world.

In each episode celebs will be taught a different genre of magic from sleight-of-hand and comedy magic to phobia magic and even large-scale illusions. The celebrity cast will not have to master these tricks alone as they will be paired up with renowned magicians including: Asi Wind, Rocco, Silly Billy, Murray, David Regal, Derek Hughes and Simon Lovell. The magicians will do their best to teach the celebs several tricks a week when it usually takes years to master just one.

The competitors face tough crowds and a panel of judges that includes master magicians Max Maven, Jeff McBride and host Jonathan Levit who will determine which celebrities advance to the next round and get a shot at facing off in a battle of ultimate illusions in Vegas for a grand prize of $100,000. Seven wannabe magicians enter the castle but only one can be, "The Best Celebrity Magician".

Jonathan Levit:
It all started with a magic trick at the age of 8 -- Jonathan Levit has been amazing people and making them laugh ever since. Originally from New York, and having lived all over the world, with his roots firmly established in magic, he made the move to Los Angeles in 1997. He had his first shot at acting when he landed a starring role on "The X-Files." From there he co-starred in films such as "Tortilla Heaven," "Unspeakable," "Val Val" and "War of the Worlds II" and hosted tv series Green Wheels, Wired Next Fest and Miracle Hunters. In addition to bringing his first love of magic as host and judge of Celebracadabra, Jonathan can also be seen hosting Green With Envy on the Fine Living network and Paranormal U.S.A. on A&E Biography Channel in 2008. He is a Tannen's Magic Camp graduate.

Murray SawChuck:
Murray has exploded onto the entertainment scene with the charisma, personality, and talent of a natural born star! You can't miss this World Champion Magician with over 24 awards, with his signature electric blonde hair, black framed Armani glasses, and his contagious smile. He is the only one in the world that invented magic with Compact Discs. It was his signature for years before he got into television, comedy and hosting shows. He has done 4 world tours and has made 100's of Television appearances worldwide... As one of the youngest headliners on the Las Vegas strip playing the Frontier, Flamingo, Planet Hollywood, and MGM Grand Hotels... along with being voted Playgirl's Hot Guy of the Month... He is a host on the Vegas Entertainment Network and you have seen him on CBS's Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, Blinde Date, and Comedy Central's 'Reno 911'... "He's the Denise the Menace of Magic!"

Jeff McBride:
You've seen him on A&E's MindFreak, on Star Trek - Deep Space 9 and as a featured performer in magic specials on every major TV network - now "Judge Jeff" is back on VH1's Celebracadabra! Known as a foremost innovator in the world of magic, McBride's unique combination of masks, mime and high-skill dramatic magic has won awards around the world, including being named Magician of the Year by Hollywood's famed Magic Castle. He is the founder of the McBride Magic & Mystery School, based in Las Vegas, and is a regular headliner in casino showrooms, theaters, arts festivals and special events worldwide. His teaching videos have introduced a whole generation of magicians to the joys of skill-based magic, and are consistent best-sellers.

Simon Lovell:
Simon Lovell started learning card effects at the age of four and it became a lifelong passion. After a time as a card cheat and con man he parlayed his skills into that of a highly successful entertainer using both his skills and comedy to enthrall audiences worldwide. He has created many effects, written books, and produced DVDs for other magicians including the popular book "How to Cheat at Everything". He currently resides in NYC performing his long running one-man Off-Broadway show "Strange and Unusual Hobbies."

Derek Hughes:
The New York Times called Derek Hughes "Thoroughly Entertaining!" and Time Out New York honored him with "Critic's Pick" for the off Broadway production of his original one man show Necromance: a Night of Conjuration, at Dixon Place Theater. HBO invited Derek to perform his unique brand of comedy and magic at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen Colorado and his stand up comedy has been featured on the NBC series, Late Friday. Derek worked as a head writer and cast member on MTV's Room 401, produced by Ashton Kutcher's production company Katalyst Films.

David Regal:
David Regal is a writer, performer and magician. Originally from New England, he moved to New York where he joined the main company of Chicago City Limits for over 2000 performances. After moving to Los Angeles, he began writing for television, eventually becoming the showrunner for the classic animated show Rugrats, then segued to writing for the living, where he wrote for numerous sitcoms, including the famous "Canister" episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. An author of books for the magic fraternity, David is a frequent and award-winning performer at Hollywood's Magic Castle, where he was elected to the board of trustees. As of this writing he is nominated for both Close-up Magician of the year and Parlour Magician of the year.

Silly Billy:
Silly Billy (David Kaye) is considered by many in the magic community to be the best in the country at entertaining children with magic. He has been named Best Children's Entertainer in New York by five different New York magazines. In addition, he was profiled in the New Yorker and has appeared on Late Show with David Letterman. His client list includes parents Bruce Springsteen, Susan Sarandon, Madonna, and Eddie Murphy.

Rocco Silano:
Legendary magician Harry Blackstone Jr. described Rocco Silano as "The epitome of real magic". With movie star good looks, Rocco carries with him all of the elements so crucial for "extraordinary magic". Poise, wit, charisma, and a European style of charm that is totally disarming, along with impeccable sleight of hand. This Paterson, NJ native says his magic career really began when he won the Golden Lion Award for stage and close-up magic from Siegfried & Roy at the Las Vegas Desert Seminar in 1986. Rocco is a two-time winner of the coveted Manhattan Association of Cabarets Award, and has been nominated nine times as "Magician of the Year" by the Academy of Magical Arts (the governing body of the Magic Castle) in four different categories. Rocco is the only American to win awards at two FISM (Federacion Internacional Societes de Magique) World Tournaments, the most prestigious Magic Organization in the World: 1994 in Yokohama, Japan, and "Most Original Act" in 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden. Rocco has literally performed his way around the world for such luminaries as Michael Jackson, Muhammed Ali and Howard Stern. Rocco is also the co-creator of D'lite, the number one selling magic trick in the history of magic.

Max Maven:
Orson Welles wrote that Max Maven has "the most original mind in magic." Fortuitously, he died before he could revise that opinion. The New York Times observed that Max's "category-defying mind-reading show veers into conceptual art." People magazine hailed his "new form of participatory theater." The Los Angeles Times stated that his "improvisational skill is enhanced by a charismatic animal magnetism," whatever that means. Apparently, audiences in over 30 countries agree. His television credits include hosting eight specials in Japan (performing in Japanese), and starring in series in Taiwan, Sweden, Norway, Finland, England and Canada. Behind the scenes, Max has been a consultant for most of the top names in contemporary magic, and an advisor on over 100 television shows. He's published approximately 2,000 articles, tricks and essays, and now he is very tired.

VH1's Celebracadabra: Episode 1
In the premiere episode of VH1's new celeb-reality series, Celebracadabra, we'll meet our seven wanna-be celebrity magicians -- 80s film icon C. Thomas Howell, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, comedian Hal Sparks, singer Carnie Wilson, Celebrity Fit Club host ANT, rapper Chris "Kid" Reid, and actress Lisa Ann Walter.

The celebs will get teamed up with professional magicians who'll coach them for their first challenge - Street Magic. Can these magic newbies perfect their tricks before hitting the streets to perform close-up wonders for unsuspecting crowds?

Six of the seven celebs will move on to the next challenge. Which one will have to disappear? Tune in and find out!

David Blaine: Breathtaking

David Blaine set the world record by holding his breath for 17 minutes and 4 seconds on Oprah Winfrey's TV show today in Chicago. The previous record, which was 32 seconds shorter, was set in February.

Blaine has followed Houdini's style by having the ability to perform difficult feats by remaining in excellent physical and mental condition. He has refined his techniques and has already mastered and continues to develop new and more daring escapes and challenges.

Sidney Crosby, Intern at Tannen’s Magic Shop

Risto Pakarinen is a Finnish freelance writer, and an entrepreneur. He is a regular contributor to The Hockey News, nhl.com, and SAS's in-flight magazine Scanorama. His stories have appeared also in, for example, Fast Company, ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine.

He has published two non-fiction books: Joukkue vailla vertaa, about Finland's first hockey world championship in May 2005, and Off the Post: hockey stories from across the world in November 2007. He is currently working on a Finnish translation of Ken Dryden's The Game.

He has just posted a blog at the nhl.com titled 'We All Have to Start Somewhere' where he talks about where some hockey players might intern. Here is what he says about Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sidney Crosby, intern at Tannen’s Magic Shop

“The world’s premier magic shop is pleased to announce the recruitment of Sidney Crosby as an unpaid intern through the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2008. As intern, he will not be creating grand illusions, but he will be doing sleight-of-hand and other regular magic tricks.”

Sidney Crosby, NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins

Eric DeCamps Pure Magic

After the success of the parlor show, 'An Evening of Intimate Magic with Eric DeCamps' at the Lincoln Room in Rockefeller Center, Eric Decamps is in a new production directed by Bob Fitch, 'Eric DeCamps Pure Magic – A Performance of Contemporary Conjuring'.

The performances will be at the elegant Metropolitan Room, located at 34 West 22nd Street in New York City. The ambiance of the Metropolitan Room is that of an intimate and stylish 1940’s jazz club. New York Magazine chose it as the city’s “Best Cabaret” for 2008.

The show, a limited engagement, will open May 3, 2008 and will be repeated every Saturday evening through the end of June. Please join him at one of his performances. His last show sold out. So, catch this one... before it disappears!

Saturdays at Midnight
May 3, 2008 thru July 26, 2008

The Metropolitan Room
34 West 22nd Street
New York, NY 10010
(Between. 5th & 6th Ave.)

Tickets are $25.00 Cover + $15.00 Minimum per person. To purchase tickets: Call 212-206-0440

The reviewers all agree!

“Eric DeCamps is a master of sleight-of-hand, and his show, one of the best you'll see of this kind of magic,
is entertaining from start to finish."
Richmond Shepard
Performing Arts INSIDER

“Eric DeCamps besides being an excellent sleight of hand artist, is debonair and appealing to a sophisticated palette.
A beautifully paced show that delivers all that it promises.”
Ryan Oakes
Magic Magazine

“Eric DeCamps enchanted us with majestic stories and kept us laughing with his quick wit. Even in this rough and tumble city, it turns out all it takes is a little magic to turn even the most hardened New Yorker into a kid again.”
Jane Marie
Glamourite

"Eric DeCamps establishes himself as a gentleman who could casually cause the impossible to happen and happen often. Visitors to the Big Apple are fortunate to have one of the finest practitioners of the art of magic in a public setting.”
Tom Gaudette
M-U-M Magazine

Rich Kameda's Five Foot Shelf

In the 21st century there will always be the ongoing debate of which is better to learn from books or DVDs. My personal opinion is that books are better to learn from.
I will make this point: Whom would you rather learn from? Someone who learned from a book or someone who learned from a DVD? Yes, it is harder to learn from a book.
Another great thing about books is that several great tricks get hidden in them. There’s also the old adage, “If you want to keep it a secret put it in print.”
While everyone is rushing to get the latest and greatest new trick, its even more rewarding to find ‘old wine in new bottles’(Greater Magic). There’s nothing better than breathing in new life into an old trick to fool your fellow magician. Chances are they will think you bought the new trick. It’s amazing to see how many new items are just reincarnations of tricks created decades ago.

Here are twenty book recommendations in alphabetical order that everyone should have. This is not ‘THE LIST’, so I may have omitted your favorite book. This list is just a good starting point to building a solid magic library. At some point I’ll discuss some hidden treasure buried in the books.

• 13 Steps To Mentalism
• Art of Astonishment
• Card College
• Card Magic of LePaul
• Classic Magic of Larry Jennings
• Close-Up Card Magic
• Complete Works of Derek Dingle
• Dai Vernon Inner Card Trilogy
  
• Effective Card Magic
• Expert Card Technique
• Expert Coin Magic
• Greater Magic (Out of Print)
• New Modern Coin Magic
• Practical Mental Effects
• Revolutionary Card Technique
• Royal Road to Card Magic
• Stars of Magic (Out of Print)
• Tarbell Course in Magic
• Versatile Card Magic

BTW feel free to weigh in on the poll, ‘How do like to learn magic?’ on the right hand side of the blog.

Orson, The Ring and the Soldier...

Dressed in a magic man's outfit, Orson Welles feigns surprise when a soldier the audience steps onto the stage and finds his missing ring high upon the garter of Orson's beautiful assistant. It's all part of the actor's magic show where he reveals his feats of legerdemain and prestidigitation. His second wife, Rita Hayworth, is seen here assisting him at a USO event in the 1940's.

Photo courtesy of the Doug Edwards Collection

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.