n mfiGRZine OF innovATion XCVIII
PRECURSOR
XCVIII
This is PRECURSOR XCVIII and is published in November 2005. 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 1-814-454-8802). unikorn magik can be reached through Ed Eckl, "Clutter Cottage," 3 Gregg Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, 01915-2913 (phone 1-978-927-9388). PRECURSOR will be published more than three times a year, and it will be 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.). "Thatcherism" by Al Thatcher is his handling of the ''Continuous Speller" principle used by Mike Zerance in his trick "Zerancism" from the late 1940's or early 1950's. Bill Goodwin contributes "Trapped In A Tunnel" that uses the "Tunnel Principle" that originally came from Nick Trost's "Push Thru" that was in the New Phoenix #364 almost fifty years ago. "Underground Location" by Marty Kane is an extension of his own "Spell of Royalty" in Steve Beam's Trapdoor #66, which was inspired by Jim Steinmeyer's "One O1 Clock Mystery" from Impuzzibilities. Paul Gordon was fascinated by the idea of a "floating key" as used by Dave Solomon, Steve Draun, Simon Aronson, and John Bannon, which inspired "S-D/A/B-G Location." "Three Political Parties on a Train" is another story trick from Tom Batchelor. The Court Cards mix up and match up in a political theme. "Reds And Blacks And Jacks" by Robin Robertson is a combination of "Follow the Leader," "Oil and Water," and "Anti-Oil and Water," all mixed together. One of the true classics of Card Magic is the "General Card," which was introduced to the magic fraternity by Edwin Sachs in his book, Sleight of Hand. "Cards In General" is Paul Gordon's approach to this classic. Fifty years ago this year, Neal Elias came up with "Miniature Follow the Leader," which might prove to be interesting in combination with an "Oil and Water" routine. About fifteen years ago, Reinhard Miiller sent me "Slip Sleight Variant - An 'Ambitious' Idea." Somehow, it ended up in the wrong file. So, after an inexcusably long delay, it finally appears here. William P. Miesel August 23, 2005
THATCHERISM This is my handling of the Continuous Speller, "A Trick for Eddie Clever," actually, the creation of Mike Zerrance. This trick requires making up one special deck of cards out of two identical decks. a. Remove three different combinations of six cards that spell with different totals of letters ( 1 0 - 1 1 - 1 2 - 1 3 - 1 4 - 1 5 letters and set them up from back to face). b. For example: Two of Clubs - King of Clubs - Nine of Hearts - Eight of Spades - Four of Diamonds - Queen of Diamonds - etc. c. Make up two more sets of six cards from this deck following the above formula. Place this packet of eighteen cards face up on the table. d. On top of this eighteen-card packet, place any other nine cards from the first deck. Now, from the second deck, remove the duplicates of the three groups of six cards set up for spelling. e. Arrange the same six cards as in the first group so that they spell in the same order from ten to fifteen, and place this packet face up on top of the tabled packet. f. Repeat step "e" with the other two sets of six cards. g. Add seven more cards from deck #1 to the face of the tabled deck to make a total of fifty-two cards. h. Put a Breather Crimp in the face-card of the deck. This makes up the deck to be used for the performance. The remainder of the cards from the two decks are eliminated to be used for duplicate cards required in other routines. 1. Bring out the deck and give it any quick False Shuffle that retains the entire deck in order. 2. Hold the deck face down in your left hand. Cut off the top six cards of the deck in your right hand, give this six-card packet a One-Handed Fan, and hold it with the faces toward the first spectator. The first spectator thinks of any one of these six cards. 3. Close the fan and return these six cards to the face of the deck. 4. Repeat steps #2 & #3, showing the second six-card stock to the second spectator, and then return these six cards to the face of the deck. 5. Repeat steps #2 & #3 one more time, showing the third set of six cards to a third spectator for him to think of one, and then return the six cards to the face of the deck.