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WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THIS ONE?

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JUMPING JOKER
Let me show you one of my favorite original card effects...

ZIG ZAG GIRL

A VERY brief film clip sent to me by a friend who saw one of my stage shows in 1998...

RESPECTING OTHER MAGICIANS

Please remember to follow the Golden Rule when you watch another magician's show...

RING MADE FROM A $1 BILL
Everyone loves the Money Ring!
This excellent video tutorial by Rob's World teaches you exactly how to make this popular novelty out of an ordinary dollar bill.
Give it a try...

MAGIC 8 BALL
Though we know it as a fun novelty toy, the Magic 8 Ball got its start as an authentic spiritualist tool.
It is a fascinating story...

What shenanigans are we up to at the Monticup house now??

DAVE AND DUSTY VISIT THE MAGIC SHOP
This 1946 film short is from the files of British Pathe.
Dave and his puppy pal Dusty explore the mysteries of a magic shop.
Watch as the little boy's curiosity gets the best of him...

HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE

"How Deep Is Your Love" is a pop ballad written and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977>
It's most remembered as part of the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever.

In my opinion, Barry Gibb is one of the most talented songwriters who ever lived.
His compositions, like this one, are challenging to play, which makes it all the more enjoyable for me...

CARD DUCK

This one is always a crowd pleaser!
Especially when you choose a terrific volunteer...

POPUP RABBIT IN HAT MADE FROM A $1 BILL
Origami is a lot of fun, especially when you can do it with money!
This excellent video tutorial by Jeremy Shafer teaches you exactly how to make his realistic rabbit design out of an ordinary dollar bill.
Give it a try...

WARMING UP

Giving yourself a mental and physical warmup before your shows is as important as all of your rehearsal and practice.

Here's how I do it...

ORSON WELLES
The most revered actor was also an accomplished magician.
Enjoy this rare film clip of Welles performing his magic on The Merv Griffin Show...

MAGIC FRUIT CRATE LABELS
I get a lot of questions about how I decorate my back library, where I have been filming the demo videos.
A quick, easy to find and inexpensive choice is to use fruit crate labels.
Here are some colorful examples from my collection...

SEVEN SINGALONG FAVORITES
In my younger days, I used to hire myself out as a piano player, mainly to Elks and Moose lodges for their Friday night social gatherings.
I got a lot of work because I knew their favorites, the older songs that would get everyone in the place singing and clinking their glasses.
Whenever I had to audition for a different club, I would play this medley- and I'd get the gig every time...

TRIBUTE TO GEORGE

This week we lost a member of the MagicTricks.com family.

George has crossed the Rainbow Bridge...

ORGANIZING YOUR CLOSEUP CASES

You asked: "How do you organize for your closeup shows?"

Here's how I do it...

STEVE THE MAGIC GUY
"Steve the Magic Guy" is the stage name used by our friend and colleague Steve Pittella (aka Sideshow Steve), when he performs his kids shows.
He is a master children's entertainer...

PHRENOLOGY
Phrenology is a quirky pseudoscientific idea that personality traits can be "read" by feeling the shape of the bumps on the head.
A replica of that head is in my collection...

What are cicadas, and why were we on the news with them??

GEORGES MELIES
"The Vanishing Lady" is an 1896 French short silent film directed by filmmaker and magician Georges Méliès.
Based on the stage act of the famous Buatier de Kolta, the film is one of the first uses of movie special effects...

IMPROMPTU BITE OUT QUARTER

Always carry some quick closeup tricks in your pocket!
Here I am entertaining people on the street in Lexington VA...

YOUR MOMMA DON'T DANCE
And your daddy may not rock and roll, but Nick Berkin and I got rockin' when we played this little duet during a break in our show rehearsal back in 2014...

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THIS ONE?

Ready to give your input on another product?
MIND FORCE KEY
Let me show you a fantastic closeup illusion, in the right hands...

ANTIQUE HANDCUFFS
After last week's post about the handcuffs used by Tony Curtis in the 1953 Houdini movie, I got several emails asking to see more antique handcuffs from my collection.
Here are a few of the hundreds of cuffs I have collected over the years...

BEING THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Performing as Master of Ceremonies means having a number of quick routines that will keep the audience enthusiastic and entertained between all the acts.
Quick and visual tricks like the Chameleon Silks are perfect, especially when you add a kicker like I did with the streamer at the end....