n mnGflzine OF innovnnon LXXVII
PRECURSOR LXXVII This is PRECURSOR LXXVII and is published in February 2001. PRECURSOR is edited by William P. Miesel and is published by unikorn magik. The editorial offices are at 2215 Myrtle Street, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16502-2643 (phone 814-454-8802). PRECURSOR is being published more than three times a year and is sold for $21.00 (U.S.) for three issues. Outside the United States, Canada, and Mexico, three issues are sent Air Mail for $25.00 (U.S.) This issue opens up with a very commercial routine from my good friend Ron Zollweg. "Insured Card To Wallet" is a routine combining the Insurance Policy trick with the Card To Wallet. "X-Tract" by Phil Goldstein is just the opposite of the previous routine. Even though the work on this technique is quite old, it has been designed to fool magicians during a session that haven't read it here. Michael DeMarco's "Aces In Progress" is his version of the "Progressive Aces," Ken Krenzel's plot. This method is quite simple and direct; furthermore it still doesn't require any complex sleights. "Lie Down Under Here" by Marty Kane is another of his experiments using the Down/Under Deal. This time it is combined with Jim Steinmeyer's routine, entitled "The Nine Card Problem." Forty years ago, I was totally wrapped up in mentalism, but then my friend, Ed Mellon died from a heart attack at a very young age. It was at that time that mentalism seemed to melt into the background, but it is really making a comeback now. Ed Loveland asked if I would be interested in running a "bizarre trick." Since "The Tarot's Curse" uses Tarot Cards, I thought it would fit right into Precursor; besides, I liked it. Tom Hubbard's "Okito Coin Box Clean-Up" is a move to be used to right the Okito Box that is sitting on the close-up pad. I have used a similar move to turn over the box, with the coins in it, at the beginning of the routine, but here the empty box is turned over at the end of the routine. "Cut Still Deeper Force" by Dan Block, a variation of the Christ/Balducci "Cut Deeper Force," is made up of three cuts instead of two and because of this, should fool magicians. In fact, when Dan showed this to me, he fooled me three times until I finally caught a flash the fourth time. Of recent tricks in Precursor, Hideo Kato's "Magnetic Searcher" in his one-man issue elicited a great deal of response. In "Mentally Challenged Magnetic Searcher," Ezra Tawil comments on some interesting thoughts on this trick. Hideo Kato applies his "Floating Key" principle from the "Magnetic Searchers," in Precursor LXXIV, in an interesting effect of a psychic nature called "Splitting Elimination." In the August 1941 Genii, Vol. 5 #12, Dr. Jacob Daley published a routine of his, "The Affable Aces." Dr. Daley said, "It can be performed without any preparation, but requires considerable skill. With this in mind, I have simplified my method without sacrificing any of its strong points." In December 1956, Neal Elias worked out "Aces After Daley." This routine is a totally impromptu version of Dr. Daley's effect. 1
"Three Alike" is a move of my own that I have been using for over twenty-five years. This move accomplishes the same results as Frank Garcia's "Seeing Is Believing" that I learned in 1956 and Ed Mario's "Quick Three Way" that I learned in 1958. Since the "Quick Three Way" is so popular, "Three Alike" will never replace it, but I think that it looks just so natural. William P. Mies el December 12, 2000
EDcetera Well, here it is . . . 2001. I didn't celebrate as the new millennium began. A few martinis, early to bed, a bit of reading . . . and seven or so hours later, I awoke into the new year. At the end of the year, I feel I don't have anything to celebrate, because I've not accomplished what I'd hoped, and I don't have any hopes to change anything this year. But, hey, the time goes by, and William gets Precursor manuscripts to me. Accomplishments! Maybe an extra martini is called for. In the Boston Phoenix, a weekly newspaper, there's a column written by Cecil Adams, and he answers questions, many interesting. In a recent "The Straight Dope速", the question was, "Did (or do) the Chinese torture prisoners using the Chinese water torture?" Adams mentioned that this "Chinese" was most likely a pejorative related to "weird". Well, after some examples such as "Chinese handcuffs", he described the Chinese water torture as it is known today. Then, he wrote that Harry Popik, a "word sleuth", declares that the first use of the phrase was by Harry Houdini for his "Chinese Water Torture Cell" which was introduced circa 1903. The original water torture , according to Brian Innes's The History of Torture, was invented by Hippolytus de Marsiliis in 16th-century Italy. (The Boston Phoenix; 12 JAN 01) So, there! A book I just received is My Greatest Day In Show Business by Ray Richmond. It's interesting, for the most part, depending on your likes for the many show-business people interviewed. One monograph (diograph?) is by Penn and Teller discussing the details about their appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman" during which they produced hundreds and hundreds of cockroaches on David's desk. A funny story. You might find the book in your local library. It's worth the read. Because of all my clutter, I missed out on a special offer for their entire set of videos from The International Magicians Society. The 50 videos were offered for $500. But the offer ended at the end of 2000, so now I have to wait until 2099 in order to respond to the next offer of this magnitude. That's what the brochure said! From "Harper's Index" in Harper's Magazine, I learned that the levered voting machines which I thought so modern whilst I was in Binghamton and Rochester, were invented in 1892. I doubt if any of the originals exist, but later models were still in operation in the 2000 elections. In Beverly, MA, we filled in little ovals with a pencil. I was so excited, I broke three pencil points! I liked better punching out the little chads we used until this year. Ed Eckl
INSURED CARD TO WALLET A few years ago, Elbert Gardner showed me another one of his very clever inventions. That invention was called the "Shogun Wallet." I was taken with it and my mind began to work. For those who aren't familiar with this wallet, it does the same thing as a Himber Wallet, but it is much smaller and can serve as a hip pocket wallet. Therefore, it is possible to perform the Card to Wallet without wearing a coat. For many years, I did Don Alan's "Card To Wallet" as explained in his booklet, Pretty Sneaky. This utilizes two selected cards and a Tommy Windsor Insurance Policy. The beauty of the routine was that the card was loaded into my LePaul Wallet long before it is expected. I have tried to carry that element over to this routine. The loading technique came from Jerry Mentzer's instructions that came with the LePaul Wallet. Now, on to the routine: The performer has two cards selected and shown around. The first one is replaced. As the second card is about to be replaced, the performer hesitates and questions the second spectator's memory. He has the second spectator sign the card and then return it. The performer now says, "/ will find the cards by the supersensitivity of my fingertips. " After apparently sandpapering the fingers on the shirtsleeves, both hands go behind the back with the deck. Riffling sounds are heard and the performer's hands come forward with the deck in one hand and a card in the other. Announcing the card, the performer dramatically snaps it face up. Wrong! The audience jeers and the magician is momentarily confused. He then states, "/ have an insurance policy to protect me against this happening. " The policy is now brought out and the fine print says that he has three chances to find the card. The insurance policy is left on the table and he tries again to find the card. Wrong again - only one more chance! With the empty hand, the magician removes the wallet from his hip pocket and shows that there is twenty-two dollars inside - that is the amount that the insurance policy pays. Leave the wallet on the table. This time, the magician keeps the cards out front and clumsily tries to glimpse various cards. Finally, he makes the last try. Wrong again! The performer now opens the insurance policy and after various gags, reveals the first selection. The performer then turns his attention to the second spectator. Again, he attempts to find the selected card and fails. The performer says, "Well, I guess I'll have to pay up!" Open the wallet and start to count out the money and find the selected card. Ask for the name and turn it face up and show the spectator's signature. That long-winded beginning, of course, is also most of the presentation.