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Author: Rick Carruth

UNTOUCHED – by Ryuhei Nakamura – A Review

UNTOUCHED – by Ryuhei Nakamura – A Review

Untouched by Ryuhei Nakamura – A Review

This is the Ad Copy:

Gain telekinetic abilities that can be used under any circumstance.

A telekinetic routine that can be performed even in unsatisfactory conditions. Nothing will be able to stop you from performing this beast of an illusion! SansMinds is proud to introduce an effect brought to you from the mind of Ryuhei Nakamura, a master of telekinetic magic. He is famous for his ability to perform complex actions with the power of his mind. This is not just a simple push or pull – it is far more!

This is Untouched!

A weapon that will stop any passerby in their tracks! Create a show unique from the rest, with complicated actions normally not seen in other telekinetic routines. Use everyday objects, and make them dance with the power of your mind. This is truly a performance piece that is sure to gather an audience.

Here’s a truly special effect that is gaining immense popularity in the Far East. Don’t miss out on getting a taste of the insane magic scene in Japan.

Grab yourself a copy today!

What’s in the Box?

1 Untouched Instructional DVD
(Please note that this Instructional DVD has English subtitles with Japanese audio.)

My Thoughts:

SansMinds presents UNTOUCHED by Ryuhei Nakamura. I was not familiar with Ryuhei before watching this DVD, but it became obvious he is one of a number of Far East performers with great technical skills. SansMinds chose him to teach this DVD because of his use of invisible thread while performing an entire street routine, consisting of a number of spins, floats and flips with glassware and silverware.. all wrapped in a telekinetic performance. He literally goes down to street level, no table, and performs for his audiences.

I am going to tell you what you’ll find in UNTOUCHED. I am not going to tell you how easy or complicated it is.. as I have never performed thread work to this degree. My personal knowledge is limited to small pieces of thread and a few loops. I do own an ITR (invisible thread reel).. but I have a perpetual fear of failure.. and that’s on me.

First.. Is there an elephant in the room? Sort of.. The entire DVD is recorded with subtitles. I think Ryuhei’s skill level is such that SansMind couldn’t resist the opportunity to get this on video. As so much of the DVD is technical skill, and as so much of that skill can be demonstrated in virtual silence, I personally don’t have a problem with subtitles. The translation is correct and readable.. even for someone like me.. who has a problem with small lettering. They do not ‘hurry’ through the subtitles, and give you ample time to see what you need to see. Again, this is a very ‘visual’ subject.. and the quiet times and careful demonstrations are somewhat more important than the words.

Ryuhei explains his choice of clothing, flooring, and locations. There are good reasons for making good choices.. and he explains it all. He is well known for his outdoor work in broad daylight, which can be quite challenging -if- you are not familiar with the subtle nuances.

Yes, Ryuhei uses ITR’s.. sometimes two for safety sake.. and goes into detail about what to expect from small reels, medium reels and large reels. He covers where and how to place your reel to maximize its use and protect the thread. He gives time to wax, portions and placement.

In his personal performances, and most of his demonstrations, he uses a plastic, long stem glass and a fork. Ryuhei devotes a portion of the DVD to demonstrating his street routine… which he then breaks down, move for move, through much of the video. He wears black clothing and uses white, thick thread to give you a strong visual of exactly where and how he makes each connection and all the appropriate hand movements to sell his telekinetic premise. The DVD is filmed using a table, although he prefers to perform on the floor in real life. This is the crux of the teaching.. and why the subtitles are not a problem.

Part of the demonstration includes metal bending (the fork), which is not covered in this DVD.

About twenty minutes of the DVD is Ryuhei demonstrating how he makes connections with items borrowed from spectators. Ink pens, cola cans, bottles, mint packs, coffee cups and glasses are covered. Glasses are particularly interesting because of their ability to fold and unfold. My favorite is his hookup of a deck of boxed playing cards. He spins the box, opens the flap, and pulls the cards from the case.. and it’s a very convincing visual.. Probably my favorite moment on the DVD.

The final portion of the video is a section on troubleshooting. Ryuhei deals with using multiple reels in case of thread breakage.. and how to deal with tangles. My personal fear has always been breakage, unwarranted I’m sure, as there are several ways to deal with it.

Total run time is about one hour and five minutes. UNTOUCHED is sold as a DVD, and not a download, which is a plus for me. The video quality is good and the sound is good. No complaints.

If you have an interest in thread work or learning thread work from the ground up, this is an ideal DVD. I don’t know where else you can learn an entire thread routine from one source. You’ll learn a number of tricks and tips from UNTOUCHED.. and I’m pleased to recommend it to all you invisible thread guys and girls out there…

$34.95 .. From Murphy’s Magic and their Associates

https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=59615

Review by Rick Carruth for Murphy’s Magic & The Magic Roadshow

MAGIC – by Harvey Raft – A Review

MAGIC – by Harvey Raft – A Review

MAGIC – Harvey Raft – A Review
Ebook Download

This is the Ad Copy:

This book mostly deals with decks of cards that Harvey has designed over the years. We have included with ALL of the effects in this books the graphics needed to print YOUR OWN DECKS. The face of the cards have been designed to be seen on a large stage. Harvey gave these faces a lot of thought and discovered that if he had lots of pips on the cards people could easily see them from a distance.

The backs might be different with different marking systems, but these are explained with each trick. You are supplied with downloads as PDFs so you have FULL ACCESS to print the cards yourself and can upload them to the various printing websites that offer this service. If you do print them off, you will have a unique deck of cards that most magicians will not own and will fool not only lay people but also your magic friends.

My Thoughts:

Harvey is a unique guy.. in that he spent the earlier part of his life performing as a clown. Not magic or mentalism, mind you.. but as a clown.. associated with the Shriners. Aside from voluntary work to raise money for Shriner hospitals, Harvey began to perform house parties and corporate events. He also co-wrote two books dealing with change bags and Christmas routines as well as co-created a number of different magic effects.

An untimely illness almost twenty years ago put Harvey out of business. But, you know what they say about keeping a good man down.. He attended a magic club meeting loaded with both magicians and mentalists, and the fire was re-lit.. Not just for magic.. but for his new-found appreciation for mentalism and mental magic.

During the past twenty years, Harvey has become, in my personal opinion, one of the foremost authorities on Zener cards.. and the use of Zener cards in mentalism. He has also created many other effects using his own specially crafted decks. I have spoke with Harvey numerous times via phone from his home in Toronto, and he has a mathematical mind to rival anyone I know. Period..

Aside from performing mentalism shows, he has over 50 effects published by Murphy’s Magic, which probably led to the publication of this ebook and it’s sister publication.. All For Fun and Fun For All..

Magic Squares, Zener Cards, Book Tests, Mnemonica – without the Mnemonics, Memorize TEN decks of cards, Shell Games, Image Cards, Super Zener, Flag Recognition, More Mental Picture Effects, Afghan Bands, Custom Zener Card Effects, Color Changing Water, Change Bag Effects, Movie Magic, Card Forces and Dice Tricks.

This is a partial list of the many different type effects in “MAGIC”. Most are number based and require mathematics to work properly. -But- they do not necessarily require you to use mathematics. Many use principles that require you to learn a basic method to derive the solution. For instance, a number in the first spot of a three digit number may represent a suit. The second and third numbers may represent a location. Using the numbers are a simple process and don’t require mental finesse on your part, only remembering a basic order or placement. As many effects use marked props or decks, the handling is simplified even more.. making your job an easy one..

A number of effects require a special deck. Harvey has designed the decks and included templates for you to have printed. He has also included printers he has used who he knows to be both reliable and affordable. For Harvey to provide all the decks in your purchase would cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Instead, you read the effects and decide what YOU like, and what you need to complete the effect. This allows you to have custom props and custom decks that make your performance an individual event.. something probably never seen by your audience.

With approximately 50 different effects in MAGIC, covering a very broad spectrum of performances, I can’t be overly specific with a wide array of examples. What I AM going to do is publish one of the many effects to give you focus on the type and quality of Harvey’s work. This effect, titled CARD SHARKS, shows the thinking behind the curtain. It allows ANY average magician/mentalist to know the identity of ANY one of over 500 cards in a stack. Personally, I think this is an amazing feat of memory.. that’s actually NOT a feat of memory, but appears to the audience to be just that..
(This effect will be available in Special Issue #12 of The Magic Roadshow.. which will publish around the end of February, 2022. Sign up now to receive this issue for free.)

I am recommending Harvey’s ebook to my friends and readers -if- you have any interest in performing mental feats, card magic with unique cards, or parlor magic effects with a very unique twist. MAGIC is one of the most original works out there, and
as such.. will be one of your best magic purchases ever if you’re willing to create the props and practice the magic.

MAGIC’s Editorial Director is Paul Romhany and all Artwork and Magic is courtesy of the author.. Harvey Raft.

I’ve included a short list of SOME of the many effects.. to give you a general idea of the content… (This is approx. half of the many effects)

5,000,000 To 1
A Moment in Time Super Magic Square
Be A Star
Card Shark
Dreamages Connection
Inflection Detection
Eye Detector
Retrospection
Super Sensory Touch Contact
Time on Your Hands
Total Premonition
What Number Please
What’s In A Name?
Zener Super Mind Power
Flag Recognition
I Get The Picture
I Am Able To Read Your Mind
Zener By Design
Projected Phantasm
Mental Pictures
Super Energy
Afghan Bands
Afgan Bands To Dove
Colour Changing Water

$35.00 .. Available from Murphy’s Magic and their Associates..

https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=70849

Review by Rick Carruth for Murphy’s Magic and The Magic Roadshow

The Princess Card Trick – Daryl Legacy Line – A Review

The Princess Card Trick – Daryl Legacy Line – A Review

Princess Card Trick by DARYL – A Review
(Gimmicks and Online Instruction)

This is the Ad Copy:

A mindreading trick that will blow your audiences away!

 

A packet of cards is fanned before a spectator’s eyes. The spectator is asked to

merely think of ANY ONE of the cards (NO FORCING). At no time does the spectator tell anyone, write down or indicate his mental selection to anyone.

The Magician removes one of the cards from the pack to commit himself to a specific card! The magician shows the remaining cards and the thought of card WAS the selection removed from the pack.

This SELF-WORKING miracle is extremely easy to perform and instantly resets.

Princess Card Trick cards are printed by the United States Playing Card Company on red, Bicycle Rider back cards.

Note: written instructions no longer included. All instructions are via video link

.

My Thoughts:

The Princess Card Trick is a classic of magic. It was probably created by Henry Hardin around the first of the last century.. as reported by T.Nelson Downs in The Art of Magic.

At some point in time, it has been performed by many of the great performers, inclu

ding Dai Vernon, who influenced Daryl to market this effect using Bicycle brand cards. This release is part of The Legacy Line, which includes several of Daryl’s classic effects. ( The Whole Thing, Jumping Jacks, Ultra Monte, Bizarre Assembly, Morphed, Presto Printo, Papa Rabbit, Rainbow Ropes, Crossed Thought, Ultimate Ambition, Red Prediction, Enchanted Cube, and The Amazing Acrobatic Knot )

This release is a stylized version of Daryl’s effect.. intended to support Daryl’s family since his tragic passing, and to re-introduce a new generation of performers to several of his more popular effects.

The magi shows a spectator five different face cards and asks them to mentally s

elect one. Afterwards.. the magi mixes the cards, removes one and puts it in a pocket. He then asks the spectator to reveal their selection.. and after they do, he removes their selection from his pocket.. while showing the four remaining cards in his hand to NOT be the thought-of card.

Many folks are familiar with The Princess Card Trick, as it has been published online as an app and/or program. That doesn’t change the fact that this is still, after all these yea

rs, a strong effect that requires very little practice. In fact, the instruction video for this effect includes a method that adds an extra layer of magic to PCT. The magi, after the card is named, pulls the named card from his pocket.. before showing the card missing from those in his hand. I’ve included a link to a performance video below.. giving you a chance to view the complete effect.

Video demo of this effect… https://youtu.be/97bl-ac90zE

There are no printed instructions. Instead, there is a nine minute online video that teaches everything you need to know. All the gaffed cards are included, and they are
official Bike gaffed cards. The packaging is first class and very stylish. And, the e

ffect is a classic that still fools the heck out of an audience. If you were a fan of Daryl.. and who wasn’t.. you will find a place for The Princess Card Trick.. either in your repertoire or your pocket. At only $9.95.. this is money well spent.

$9.95 .. Available at Murphy’s Magic and their Associates

https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=62244

Review by Rick Carruth for Murphy’s Magic & The Magic Roadshow

Penn & Teller’s Fool Us & Masters of Illusion both Renewed..

Penn & Teller’s Fool Us & Masters of Illusion both Renewed..

January 20, 2022 (Burbank, CA) — The CW Network announced today the renewal of three hit alternative series for the 2022-2023 broadcast season, including the captivating magic competition PENN & TELLER: FOOL US, the awe-inspiring magical showcase MASTERS OF ILLUSION and the fur-ociously funny WORLD’S FUNNIEST ANIMALS. The 2022-23 premiere dates for these series will be announced at a later time.

Renewed for a ninth season, PENN & TELLER: FOOL US is a one-hour competition series celebrating magic and featuring the legendary duo Penn & Teller. On each episode, aspiring magicians are invited to perform their best trick to try and fool the world-famous team of Penn & Teller. Anyone who succeeds wins the right to perform with Penn & Teller in their celebrated show at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The remote studio audience and the TV audience watch along with Penn & Teller as they try to figure out the secrets. Penn & Teller see the trick only once and have to immediately try to work it out. The remote studio audience knows there are no camera tricks, secret edits or helpful camera cuts. This is all real magic.

Hosted by actress Alyson Hannigan (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “How I Met Your Mother”), PENN & TELLER: FOOL US is created and executive produced by Penn Jillette, Teller, Peter Adam Golden (“Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” “Penn & Teller: BS”), Andrew Golder (“Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” “Solitary”) and Lincoln Hiatt (“Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” “Solitary”), in association with 1/17 PRODUCTIONS and September Films (part of DCD Media).

Hosted by actor Dean Cain (“Supergirl,” “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”), MASTERS OF ILLUSION returns for its ninth season on The CW showcasing great escapes, fascinating sleight of hand and large scale illusions, all in front of a studio audience.

MASTERS OF ILLUSION is from Associated Television International with executive producers David McKenzie (“The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” “Marie”), Gay Blackstone (“The World Magic Awards” 2007-2009), David Martin (“The World Magic Awards” 2007-2009, “Marie”), and Al Schwartz (“The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” “The Golden Globe Awards” 2013 and 2014, “The Gulf is Back”).