Pages from precursor no 56 39174

R mnGnzinG OF innovnnon LVI

P R E C U R S O R

L V I

This is PRECURSOR LVI and is published in October 1996. PRECURSOR is edited by Williaa P. Miesel and is published by unikorn raagik. The editorial offices are at 2215 Myrtle Street, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16502-2643.

PRECURSOR will be published more than three times a year, and it will be sold for $18.00 (U.S.) for three issues. Outside the United States, Canada, and Mexico, three issues are sent Air Mail for $20.00 (U.S.).

Mel Stover's "The World's Greatest" is a story type effect that is performed with a Jumbo Deck of Playing Cards and is based on J. Stewart Smith's "Mighty Moments" in THE WEIRD INFLUENCE. In "Twisting Hofzinser," Nick Trost offers a very simple combination of "Twisting The Aces" and the "Hofzinser Card Problem." This effect uses the method from Vic Trabucco's "Twist" in Jerry Mentzer's CARD CAVALCADE II. Tony Econ contributes "Location By Separation" which is the control that he uses when performing Brother John Hamman's "A Devilish Miracle Retold" which can be found in SEVEN DEADLY MIRACLES. Of course, this is a versatile control that can be used in many varied effects.

"Coins As Cards" by David Drake is an interesting coin routine that has been developed through the use of card sleights.

Russ M. Polizzi's "Clip-Two-Mania" is a different revelation of two selections.

The principle behind this method is quite unusual and can be applied to many effects.

Danny Block is still fooling the guys with his "Super Flush" in PRECURSOR XLIX; if you haven't tried it yet, look it up now.

He has a couple different variations that he uses for a change of pace. "Aces - One Is Four" is one of these variations.

"The Visual Cut" by Gordon Boyd is an excellent "Pseudo Demonstration of Estimation" that is very well routined. Whether the break in step #10 is necessary can be decided by each individual performer. I, personally, feel the cut flows better without the break, but Gordon prefers to use it, so make up your own mind.

In "Odd/Even," Al Thatcher uses the old mathematical principle of "two evens make an even - two odds make an even - an odd and an even makes an odd" to allow you to make some pretty amazing predictions.

Ron Zollweg's "Australian Combo" is a routining of two tricks from the Phoenix.

The control is very effective but some might worry about the selections on the face of the two packets being prematurely exposed. If they are overhand shuffled to the back of the respective packets before being handed to the spectators, they won't be prematurely exposed. Now, if the "Under and Down" deal is substituted

for the "Down and Under" deal, the final two cards will be the two selections.

"Choice" by ToÂŤ Hubbard is an interesting application of a double prediction based on "Equivoque" and the "One Ahead Principle."

Williaa P. Miesel July 5, 1996

FURTHER REFERENCES No sooner was PRECURSOR LV sent out than I got a letter back from Karl Fulves giving a couple of references pertaining to two of the items contained therein.

The first item that Karl commented on was my own, "It Never Leaves Your Sight," which he thought would attract much comment. He immediately thought of a work from 1976 entitled "The Dream" in THE REAL WORK - CARD SECRETS OF BRUCE CERVON. If you like my little transposition, look up the Real Work of Bruce Cervon - I am sure you will be pleased with the ideas presented there.

If you have been struggling with Mike O'Dowd's "One Hand Steal," you may want to compare it with Karl Fulves' "Covered Top Palm" which he published in 1981 in CARDS #4 - SIDE STEAL. The two moves are very similar and should probably be studied together to develop a handling that fits you like a glove.

William P. Miesel

PRECURSOR has reviewed many books and tapes over the years. For the first time, I would like to call attention to a very nice piece of utility apparatus. It is called the "Shogun Wallet" and is the very clever invention of Elbert Gardner.

This is a nicely made bi-fold, soft leather hip pocket wallet (3 5/8" x 4") with six credit card slots. Thus, it could serve as a real wallet.

This wallet will do everything a Himber Wallet will do and then some. I've been playing with it for the last week, and every time I pick it up, I get a new idea for it. Obviously, I'm impressed.

The wallet is available from Al Cohen's Magic Shop in Washington, DC, or from your favorite dealer. The price is $39.95. And well worth it.

Ron Zollweg

For some of you older-timers, how about a new T&V show about a Canadian policeman who is also a magician: Set. Presto and the Montes. ee

THE WORLD'S GREATEST This routine is a story effect that presents a challenge between a gambler and a magician.

1. This simple routine starts out with the performer saying, "The 'World's Greatest Gambler' and the 'World's Greatest Magician' were sitting together on an airplane. The 'World's Greatest Gambler' said, 'Several years ago, I saw a magician do a great trick. The magician fanned the cards towards himself, removed one, placed it face down on the table and then handed me the deck. I dealt cards in a pile on the table and stopped whenever I wanted. The card that I stopped at was the Seven of Spades. The card that the magician placed aside at the beginning was the Seven of Clubs."

2. While pattering as the "World's Greatest Gambler," put on a pair of red tinted glasses or a visor such as the one reputedly worn by shady gamblers.

3. Continue, "At this point, the 'World's Greatest Gambler' looked at ME and asked if I knew that trick!" Take off the visor or the pair of glasses and put on a top hat because you are now going to play the part of the "World's Greatest Magician."

4. Say, "I not only know that trick, but I know one like it that is even better." Take a deck of Jumbo Cards and hand it out for shuffling.

5. Take back the Jumbo Cards and fan them with the faces towards yourself and note the top three cards of the deck. Let's assume that they are the Three of Hearts, the Nine of Spades, and the Queen of Diamonds, in that order from the back. Continue looking over the fan and remove the three mates of these cards, the Three of Diamonds, the Nine of Spades, and the Queen of Hearts, and place them in a face-down row on the table in that order. They are your prediction cards.

6. The deck is now handed to a spectator and he is instructed, "Deal cards, one at a time onto the table, and stop whenever you like." As the spectator is dealing the cards into a pile on the table, count the number of cards dealt to yourself.

7. If the spectator stops his deal at a number that is divisible by three, then the three prediction cards are left in the same order that they are already lying. If there is a remainder of one after the division, move the third card to the first position so they are in 3 - 1 - 2 order. If there is a remainder of two, move the first card to the third position so they are in 2 - 3 - 1 order.

8. A stand is introduced that is made from poster board with two strands of elastic attached to it in order to hold the cards.

The three face-down prediction cards are placed in order on the stand under the elastic as shown in Figure 1.

9.

The spectator is further instructed to deal the dealt packet of cards, one