Magic Roadshow #151
I hope you enjoy this issue. If you’re visiting.. be sure to sign up for the Roadshow HERE.. This will get you on my list of subscribers and you’ll receive an email notification when we publish a new issue. You will then be free to download anything offered in the Magic Roadshows “Free eBooks for Subscribers” section, including Erdnase’ Expert at the Card Table, JP Jacquard’s “Easy Mentalism“, and Hugard’s “Royal Road to Card Magic“. Although there’s nothing to stop you from downloading these ebooks without signing up.. I trust you to trust me with your email – in return for some of the greatest books on magic ever written.
Carolyn and I hope to attend Winter Carnival of Magic in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee the first weekend in March. I’ll attend the conference.. and she’ll shop. If you’re there, as I know some of you will be, look me up.
I’ve published many new magic-related articles in MAGIC NEWS. You’ll also find that I’ve included videos in the mix. Please take the time to check us out… http://MagicNews.org
Do the Magic Roadshow a big favor and go to http://www.facebook.com/magicroadshow and LIKE our page. That’s your assignment.. should you choose to accept. ( I wonder how many of you are old enough to ‘get’ that last line??..)
Wow.. we just experienced an earthquake. It’s about 10:30 Friday night, Valentines Day, and the whole house shook for several seconds. The lights almost went out and I had to close the computer for awhile and re-gather myself. My wife has never felt an earthquake, so it was a first for her. Social media and TV has lit up. Apparently there was a 4.something about 50 miles from Spartanburg SC. Nice…..
I look forward to your comments concerning this issue.. good or bad, That’s the ONLY way we get better…
EMAIL ME
PDF Version.. Roadshow 151
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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– CLAIRVOYANCE WITH CARDS – From: The Art of Magic – T. Nelson Downs
– A Selection of Vanishing Puzzles.. Mariano Tomatis – Wonder Injector
– Dai Vernon – The Spirit of Magic – Documentary
– Houdini Never Died – Documentary
– Why Magic on TV Bothers Me…
– Counterfeit – by Jay Sankey
– DECIM – Simon Holm
– Criss Angel’s BeLIEve – Watch all Past Episodes Online.
– Modern Mechanix – Yesterdays Tomorrow Today
– Practice.. Practice.. Practice – A Truthism
– Werner Miller’s Monthly Feature for Roadshow Readers.. 3 Effects
– Build Your Magic Show –
– Hofzinser Force – Video Tutorial
– TWO From FERNANDOP1 – Video Tutorials
Finding the Aces
One Hand Turn Over Switch
– TWO from XAVIER PERRET – Video Tutorials
How to Shoot Cards – Video Tutorial
Criss Angel Card Trick Revealed
– Vintage Comic Ads..
– Secret Fun Spot – A Blast from the Past
– For the Musical Side of Your Noggin’ – video
– From Our Archives… Physic Tricks – Free eBook
– Physics-org – Five Videos of the Best Busking Tricks.
– Vanish Magazine – A New Issue
– Free eBooks For Subscribers….
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“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.” Mark Twain
“Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” Jack London
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CLAIRVOYANCE WITH CARDS
From: The Art of Magic
T. Nelson Downs
(Editors note: I wanted to rewrite this effect, but after reading it once or twice, or ten times, I decided to let Mr. Downs tell it in his own words…)
This, in the opinion of the author, Theodore DeLand, Jr., is the most perfect method of reading cards ever invented. It is really a brilliant and bewildering trick.
The effect is as follows: A pack of cards is offered to the audience for shuffling, and while in possession of the audience a number of cards are drawn—six, eight, ten—any number, in fact, although six will be found the most effective number for the trick. These cards are replaced and the pack is held to the performer’s forehead, whereupon he divines the name of each selected card. The cards are not forced, nor does the performer employ the pass or palm or any other sleight. Furthermore, the method is absolutely undetectable. The trick, we believe, is the invention of Theodore L. DeLand, Jr.
In order to accomplish this effect two packs of cards are necessary. One pack is quite unprepared, but the other is not so innocent as it appears. Two of the cards are unprepared, but each of the remaining fifty has one of its indexes cut out.
Consequently, if an unprepared cards is replaced in a pack so prepared the index is plainly visible. The working of the trick will now be clear to the reader. The six cards, of course, are selected from the unprepared pack. While the cards are being marked the performer changes the unprepared pack for the prepared one, which can be done on the table or in the pocket. The faked pack has an unprepared card on top and one on the bottom, so that it does not differ in appearance from the ordinary deck.
Holding the pack with the prepared end in the crotch of the left thumb, the performer riffles the other end and invites, the spectators to return their cards, calling attention to the fact that the cards are replaced in different parts of the pack, and that everything is square and aboveboard. Now slip the unpre-pared card from the bottom to the top of the deck, and, if the pack is placed to the performer’s forehead (the back of the cards, of course, toward the audience) it is a simple matter to read the index of the first card, or, more properly, the card nearest the front of the pack.
The card should not be named immediately. The performer should press the pack to the forehead and endeavor to create the impression that the result is achieved by clairvoyance. After naming the first card the performer fans the pack, removes the card, and, handing it to spectator, requests him to identify the mark. The reader will understand that it is necessary to remove each card after it has been named, in order that the index of the card next nearest to the front may be seen. Whenever the face of the pack is exhibited cover the missing index with the flat of the thumb.
We have explained merely the bare bones of this effective trick, leaving it to the individuality of the performer to present it in as dramatic a manner as possible, and with suitable patter.
T. Nelson Downs
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Use your creativity and you’ll find MANY uses for this deck. DeLand knew his stuff. As the creator of DeLand’s Automatic Deck, he displayed an ability to create lasting magic effects. Honestly, this deck, utilizing cut out pips and numbers, is patiently waiting for some sharp magician to re-introduce to the magic community, complete with an accompanying DVD, and you’ll see in the small print..”adapted from an effect originally published by Robert DeLand Jr.”
Let me give you a couple of tips.. making your own deck, which I promise you, will be well worth your time, may require you to buy a paper punch. You can get one at most craft stores. Here’s one available from Walmart… EK Success Nesting Paper Punch, Circle, 1.25 .. Copy and paste this description in Google and you’ll see a number of places where you can buy it in-store or online. This particular punch will punch a 1.25″ clean cut hole, which may be too big for your purpose.. but other sizes are available. Trying to cut out fifty squares with an Exacto knife may leave you hating me. Finding a good paper punch that’ll cut through card stock will be worth the effort. You can make yourself a couple of decks.. and then work on a couple more for your buddies. The right hand picture is a deck altered with a punch. The punch was purchased at Michaels craft store and is a ‘Recollections’ brand… about seven bucks.. The cutout is scalloped, but who cares…
This is the second alternative. I made a complete deck in about twenty minutes simply cutting out the pips and numbers as shown. The downside is.. it requires slightly more cover when performing the effect, but it WORKS. You can still place a Joker on top and it will conceal the cut-out. This is by far the easier of the two options.
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A Selection of Vanishing Puzzles..
Mariano Tomatis – Wonder Injector
While researching Theodore DeLand Jr. I ran across this site, featuring what is called ‘Vanishing Puzzles’.. If you aren’t sure what they are.. click the link…
- Advertisement from Okito’s Magic Shop:
(This version was copyrighted in 1907 by Theodore L. DeLand Jr) - Sam Loyd’s Disappearing Bicyclist
- The Magic Egg Puzzle (1880)
- Mel Stover’s colour changing pencil
- Masao Atsukawa’s Warp 9 video -The Warp 9 puzzle is in Japan Ingeneous by Richard Kaufman, his new book.
http://www.marianotomatis.it/blog/research.php?url=20110715
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Dai Vernon – The Spirit of Magic – Documentary
Published on Feb 29, 2012 as “Dai Vernon: The Spirit Of Magic”.. This was a Documentary about the life and work of magician Dai Vernon, aka “The Professor” (David Frederick Wingfield Verner, 1894-1992).
46 min of pleasure..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeIBCLw4p8o#t=382
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Houdini Never Died – Documentary
Published on Jan 20, 2013 as “Houdini Never Died…”
This was a Documentary about the life and work of magician Harry Houdini (Ehrich Weiss, 1874-1926).
28 min of vintage photos and magic history..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kvADObB4ro&list=PLTeSU0MfpHX7AuIxQv7CD4O0cAMoN6jvb
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Why Magic on TV Bothers Me…
Zach King’s ‘Magic’ Vine Compilation.. Many of you may have seen this popular video already. That’s OK.. you can watch it again big guy.. Although this video is done in jest.. it’s still a good example of what a little electronic or video manipulation can accomplish.
No disrespect intended toward Zach King, as I understand his intentions.. everything is created tongue and cheek. He has created a series of 6 second videos, each depecting a magic ‘trick’ of some sort. His intention is to smoothly intergrate the videos to create magic effects that, although they ‘look’ good, are clearly impossible. This is exactly the opposite of what ‘some’ TV magicians try to accomplish. They perform effects that are impossible, and try, via video trickery, to make them seem plausable.
I don’t mind being fooled by Zach.. he doesn’t represent his videos as ‘genuine’, or having been filmed using ‘one continuously running camera’. Instead, he uses video trickery openly to show what CAN be accomplished with a camera. What I DON’T like is certain TV magicians who are lying to their audience, representing themselves as something they aren’t, namely MAGICIANS, and making a mockery of magic. Reminds me of Milli Vanilli, the early 90’s group that ‘got caught’ lip synching their videos, and it turned out they weren’t even the voices on their album. They were a complete ruse.
I’m afraid a couple of well known magicians are going to crash and burn one day under the same set of circumstances. .. And ALL of us will suffer… ( Sorry for the rant..)
Watch Zach’s Video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJIx4fRuOmE
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Counterfeit – by Jay Sankey
Jay sent me, and several thousand other magic junkies, this nice presentation of one of my favorite ‘quick’ tricks. I’ve used this effect for a number of years.. but I always enjoy watching others perform it. This is performed with a dollar bill and is a quick stunner. I know.. I know.. some of you are going to say you saw this long ago in a magic book for kids.. and maybe you did. But it’s STILL a good piece of magic for the layperson. Not everything good has to fool other magicians. If that’s your mantra, you’re missing out on a full range of magic that’s easy to perform and constantly catches your audience off-guard.
How many guitar players play Zeppelins “Whole Lotta Love”? Probably 90%.. But it’s NOT whether you can play it.. but how WELL you can play it. Same goes for COUNTERFEIT…
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DECIM – Simon Holm
The Routine:
A card is FREELY selected from a deck of playing cards. This card is signed by a spectator. Without any funny moves, the magician places the deck aside and shows his hands empty except for the selected card. He then rips a corner off the card and places in to his palm. Now comes the finish: The torn piece is thrown on to the card and in the blink of an eye the card is restored!
The card can be handed out as a souvenir and the setup required to perform this trick is minimal. Watch the video and get YOUR download for LESS than ten bucks. Support LuxonMagic and the Magic Roadshow…
http://www.luxonmagic.com/id25
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Criss Angel’s BeLIEve – Watch all Past Episodes Online.
Did you miss episodes of Criss Angel’s BeLIEve? Spike TV is making ALL episodes available to watch online. Nothing to download.. just click and watch.
http://www.spike.com/episodes/b1a1c8/criss-angel-believe-ship-appearance-season-1-ep-107
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Don’t forget about MAGIC NEWS.. I’ve received so many good comments from our over-ambitious attempt to report all the breaking magic news from around the world. I’m also adding videos to the mix to give your mind a break from all the reading.
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Modern Mechanix – Yesterday’s Tomorrow Today
If you’re anywhere near middle aged.. you’ll fondly remember Modern Mechanix. I recently ran across some interesting articles in old, and I mean REALLY old, MM’s. One would be considered politically incorrect.. and the other would be considered way too dangerous for todays coddled children.
PARLOR MAGIC with CIGARETTES published in March of 1933, teaches several effects with cigarettes, including how to tie a cigarette in a knot.
MAGIC TRICKS for the AMATEUR CHEMIST, published in April of 1936, provides a wide variety of ways to set your friends on fire.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/parlor-magic-with-cigarettes/
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/magic-tricks-for-the-amateur-chemist/
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Practice.. Practice Practice
How well-known magicians practice has been a long-time interest of mine. Why is it that some guys master all the difficult sleights.. and others ‘practice’ forever with minimal improvement?. Is there a proper way to learn that the rest of us will never understand?. Is there some ‘inside secret’ the rest of us don’t know? Is there an inner society of magicians beyond the inner society of magicians we all think we belong to..? The ‘10,000 Hour Rule’ has received it’s share of publicity recently, particularly related to musicians, magicians, and athletes. I ran across this quote in “The Hidden Driver of Excellence”.
The “10,000-hour rule” – that this level of practice holds the secret to great success in any field – has become sacrosanct gospel, echoed on websites and recited as litany in high-performance workshops. The problem: it’s only half true. If you are a duffer at golf, say, and make the same mistakes every time you try a certain swing or putt, 10,000 hours of practicing that error will not improve your game. You’ll still be a duffer, albeit an older one.
No less an expert than Anders Ericsson, the Florida State University psychologist whose research on expertise spawned the 10,000-hour rule of thumb, told me, “You don’t get benefits from mechanical repetition, but by adjusting your execution over and over to get closer to your goal.”
The Hidden Driver of Excellence (public library), celebrated psychologist and journalist Daniel Goleman
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Werner Miller’s Monthly Feature for Roadshow Readers.. 3 Effects
24. Hybrid
To prepare, sort out the twelve court cards and arrange them so that suits and values run cyclically, e.g. JC – QH – KS – JD – QC – KH – JS – QD – KC – JH – QS – KD.
When performing, ribbon-spread the cards face up, then gather them up, turn them face down, and square. Invite a spectator to give the packet one or more complete cuts. Have the final top card removed and tabled by the spectator, sight unseen.
Take the remaining eleven cards, and perform two Klondyke Shuffles. Then thumb off the top two cards as a unit, turn them face up (thus reversing their order) and fan them so that the faces of both cards are clearly visible. Name the cards, emphasizing the value of the left card and the suit of the right card, e.g. “Jack of Hearts, King of Spades”. Omit the unstressed parts of the names, while pointing to the cards in turn once more (“Jack … Spades”), then combine both getting the name of a new card: “The Jack of Spades!”
Ask the spectator to turn over the tabled card: It is really the JS!
25. Misleading
Openly sort out the four Queens and the four Kings. Take care that the Queens are in the same suit order as the Kings (e.g. QH – QS – QD – QC, KH – KS – KD – KC). Place one set on top of the other, then square the cards and turn them face down.
Ask a spectator to completely cut the packet. Then take two spot cards (e.g. a red Ace and a black Ace), and place one of them face up on top, the other one add face up at the bottom.
Now perform two Reverse Forward Faros. With each RFF the face-up cards switch places; they are now both back at their starting positions, giving the impression that the original order of all the cards has been restored.
Turn over the remaining eight cards in pairs: Each pair consists of a Queen and a King of the same suit!
26. Families
Openly sort out the twelve court cards, dealing Jacks, Queen and Kings face up into three separate piles. Take care that in each pile the cards are in the same suit order (e.g. JH – JS – JD – JC, QH – QS – QD – QC, KH – KS – KD – KC).
Assemble the three sets by placing one on top of the other, square the combined packet, turn it face down, and have it completely cut by a spectator. Then thumb off the top six cards (without disturbing their order) and set this portion alongside the bottom half of the packet.
Show the Joker, hand it to the spectator, and turn your back. Ask the spectator to decide on either packet; the top card of that packet will be his chosen card. Have this card (without looking at its face) replaced with the face-up Joker, then the Joker packet put on top of the other one.
Turn back. Mix the combined packet Under/Down style, then thumb off the top three cards and spread them. The card in the middle is the face-up Joker; remove it and ask the spectator to slide his card face down into the gap. Turn the 3-card fan face up: Jack, Queen and King of the same suit. Set this “family” down.
Give the remaining 9-card packet a Monge Shuffle, then thumb off cards in groups of three: The three other “families” are complete, too.
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Werner Miller is a retired math teacher living in Austria. He has created literally hundreds of math based magic tricks. His primary interest is recreational math and applying it to puzzles and magic.
He won the 1989 and 1992 Tenyo Magic Competition each with a Flash Dice Routine. In addition, Werner has written extensively for magic publications.. including The Magician, Abracadabra, The Mystery Magazine, and Club 71. Lybrary.com feature a number of books authored by Werner, most in English and some in German.
For more (and more elaborate) math-based magic by Werner Miller visit:
http://www.lybrary.com/werner-miller-m-7881.html
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Build Your Magic Show –
What do you REALLY want from your magic? Do you want to entertain your kids/grand kids? Do you want to impress fellow magicians? Do you want to attend magic meetings.. and silently watch as others present all the magic?
Or, do you want to develop a FULL magic show.. one you can present for REAL money, to a REAL audience, plus all the above as an added bonus? Let one of my favorite magicians in the world take you by the hand and show you EXACTLY what you need to do to succeed in Magic.. Watch an hour of Free Videos at:
https://magicroadshow.com/julian.php
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Hofzinser Force – Video Tutorial
One of the most impressive forces that doesn’t require a ton of experience. You can master this force in short time, and add an additional level of skill to your performance. Personally, I consider the Force and the Double Lift as the two absolutely must-have sleights you MUST master to take your card magic to the next level. Self Working card tricks will only take you so far…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxN_Gk7RDYw
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TWO From FERNANDOP1 – Video Tutorials
Finding the Aces
Produce the Aces from four randomly chosen cards by a spectator. FernandoP1 will show you all the critical moves in this nice 9 plus minute tutorial… Look for the links to four additional tutorials that will teach you the additional sleights… Controlling a Card to the Bottom, Turning over a Card, the Cover Pass, and the Real Pass..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN22OWUOO6Q
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One Hand Turn Over Switch
Another fine tutorial from FernandoP1, running about 21 minutes in length. This switch compares to the MacMillian Switch. If you enjoy slightly more complex moves that require a little work and practice, these two videos will be right up your alley… wherever your alley is located..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctTx8M3Lu8k
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TWO from XAVIER PERRET – Video Tutorials
How to Shoot Cards – Video Tutorial
Let Xavier Perret teach you how to shoot cards from one hand to another. This is the easiest way.. if there is such a thing. Once you learn the secret.. Practice is the key
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Criss Angel Card Trick Revealed
OK, I don’t know that this is necessarily a Criss Angel card trick. I suspect Xavier gave it this name to garner more views on Youtube. Regardless, It’s my type of trick.. basically self working, and a fooler if performed with style. This is NOT a new effect. I’ve seen it performed and written about many times… But, it IS one of those effects folks (magicians) tend to shrug off because it’s so simple. Don’t fall into that category. This is a great trick for the bar or for performing for one or two spectators. Note – although Xavier uses three marked cards, it’s not really necessary. If you show the two unselected cards first, you’ll know the third card by default. I suppose there is a certain level of security in the markings though.
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Vintage Comic Ads..
Sometimes the best source is… Google. This is one category where the Google image site has more to offer than the best of the rest. I’m sure you’ll see some ads here that really bring back some memories. Something you wanted, but didn’t have the money to order.. Or something you ordered and wished you had your money back…
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Secret Fun Spot – A Blast from the Past
Don’t visit this site until you’re ready to make a considerable investment in time. Tourist Traps, Dime Stores, Retro Signs, Wallpaper, Goofy Gifts, Adams Pranks… and the list goes on and on.
Check out this amazing site for a real trip to the past. Whether you’re that old or not doesn’t matter.. if your young you’ll wonder what the heck was wrong with your fathers generation.
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For the Musical Side of Your Noggin’
Really interesting video. I have never seen an instrument like this.. but it makes sense. Sort of a steel drum in reverse..
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=647516071951717″ data-width=”466″
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From Our Archives…
Physic Tricks.. Free eBook
I ran this one a couple of years ago and according to my stats it was one of the most downloaded ebooks I’ve ever offered. I thought it would be a good idea to run it again and give the new guys a chance to get it.. or, those of you who are like me, can’t remember where you put it… There are guys who ‘busk’ using these tricks, just as one would with magic tricks.
Here’s the physics tricks:
1. Alka-Seltzer Rocket
2. Water-Proof Hanky
3. Straw Oboes
4. Cloud In A Bottle
5. Lifting Lemon
6. The Power Of Words
7. Potato Straw
8. Erupting Fizz
9. Magical Match
10. Amazing Marshmallows
11. Cartesian Diver
12. Balloon Kebabs
13. Lager Lamp
14. Shrinking Coin
15. Extra Bounce
16. The Swing Thing
17. Egg-Citing Physics
18. One In The Hand
19. Bernoulli Balls
20. Tame Tornado
http://www.divshare.com/download/25177541-412
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Physics.org
Physics.org lists their top five tricks for busking.. most based on the above. If you would like to see videos of effects – including Amazing Marshmellows, Tame Tornado, Cartesian Driver, Straw Oboes, and Water Proof Hankey… just visit:
http://www.physics.org/tricks/
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Vanish Magazine – A New Issue
Paul Romhany announces a new Vanish Magazine..
“I am pleased to let you know that Edition 12 is now ready for you to read and download for FREE. This marks the end of the second year for VANISH MAGAZINE and with well over 100,000 readers we have now firmly established ourselves in the world of magic. Please share the magazine with all your magic friends and club members as that is what VANISH is all about. Be sure to join us on FACEBOOK and share it with your friends on there as well.”
Edition 12
Free to Download or read online..
http://www.vanishmagazine.com
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The Magic Roadshow Journal of Magic
Remember.. signing up for the Magic Roadshow Journal of Magic is Totally FREE. There is NO obligation and your email is 100% safe. (I don’t even share it with my closes fellow magicians..) You will be notified each month when a new issue of the Roadshow publishes and you can unsubscribe with one click.
Subscribe Here.. https://magicroadshow.com
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Free eBooks For Subscribers….
Here’s a link where you can download a variety of free ebooks, including Erdnase’ Expert At The Card Table… If you’re not a subscriber, you can sign up above…
http://streetmagic.info/cbmall3.html
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That does it for this issue. I hope you found something to help your magic studies along. Remember, if you have something you would like to share with the magic community, send it to:
Rick@MagicRoadshow.com
“May my next issue find you well..”
Rick Carruth / Editor
Senior Professor – Camelard College of Conjuring of Chemmis, Egypt
“Magic’s Only Worldwide Honor Society”
http://www.camelardcollege.org/
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