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David Copperfield Magic Trick Revealed During Case..

David Copperfield Magic Trick Revealed During Case..

What happens when a world famous magician is sued over alleged injuries during a performance?  Well, the world gets to learn the inner workings of the effect. After a protracted debate, the judge ruled the secret could be revealed….   

A negligence lawsuit against David Copperfield is taking the mystery out of one of the Emmy-winning magician’s more famous routines.

In a Las Vegas, Nevada, courtroom on Tuesday, the 61-year-old’s executive producer Chris Kenner walked jurors through a trick performed during Copperfield’s 2013 MGM Grand Hotel show that a British man claims left him with both body and brain injuries, reported the Associated Press.

The man, Gavin Cox, was among the audience members asked to participate in the illusion — called “Lucky #13”  — on Nov. 12, 2013, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

During the illusion, Copperfield seemed to make the participants disappear from the stage and reappear at the back of the audience, the Review-Journal said.  Read more..

 

 Image result for david copperfield
Harry Anderson, ‘Night Court’ Actor, Dead at 65

Harry Anderson, ‘Night Court’ Actor, Dead at 65

Harry Anderson, the actor, comedian and magician known for playing Judge Harry Stone on ‘Night Court’ and Harry the Hat on ‘Cheers,’ has died at 65. 
Harry Anderson, the actor, comedian and magician best known for playing Judge Harry Stone on the sitcom Night Court, died Monday at his home in Asheville, North Carolina. He was 65.
“This morning at 6:41 a.m. the Asheville Police Department responded to the home of actor Harry Anderson where he was found deceased,” the Asheville Police Department confirmed told the Hollywood Reporter. “No foul play is suspected.”
Anderson started his career as a magician before turning to comedy and, eventually, acting. “I started in magic and then I got out on the street and realized I can make more money on the street hustling with the shell game,” Anderson told Johnny Carson in 1988. “So I hustled until I got my jaw broken and then I sat around with my mouth wired shut for six weeks and figured out maybe linking rings were safer. And went back to the magic, and on the street, comedy was a great tool.”   Read more.
The ZODIAC – A Review

The ZODIAC – A Review

The Zodiac
$25.00 at  Murphy’s Magic

Reviewed by Rick Carruth

First, lets read the ad copy for THE ZODIAC to get an idea of what the effect claims to do:

“With this little innocent-looking book, which fits perfectly in your pocket, you’ll be able to perform a complete mental act. You will divine instantly the sign, day, and month of birth of any spectator. You’ll also be able to divine the spectator’s aura, their personality trait, and the spectator’s lucky card. You will know everything immediately, without touching or coming near the book and without any fishing or questions. THE SPECTATOR NEVER WRITES ANYTHING. You’ll also be able to divine a freely chosen word from the book. This book allows you to do a complete routine with divinations, predictions, coincidences, ACAAN (Any Card At Any Number), calendar card, etc.”

“The spectator never writes anything, You never touch the book, Always ready and repeats instantly,  You never ask any questions or fish for information, no anagrams, new method and self-contained,
A complete mental routine, It includes a specially designed pocket book, written instructions, and a video download.”

That seems like a LOT of features for any magic product. I have the book, I’ve read the instructions and watched the online video. One thing I did notice is The Zodiac video states from the beginning that it is based on a product they (Vernet) released twelve or thirteen years ago called “Astrological Sign” by Eduardo Kozuch and Vernet Magic. I think Devin Knight also used a version in his dictionary test called “Word Sight”.

That may give you an idea of the very basic methodology, but it certainly will NOT reveal the guts of The Zodiac. This is a new, simplified method of performing the earlier effects. If you are familiar with Astrological Sign, you know that, although it performed as advertised, it was not easy to learn all the nuances to make it convincing. Vernet has released an effect similar to Astrological Sign, but definitely different enough to NOT be called a re-release.

Many of the basic reveals in The Zodiac are easi

ly learned. You can pick up on star signs, earth signs, and related playing cards in very short order. The method is really simple. To get into the specifics of your spectator’s personal traits is going to require some memorization. Obviously, if Vernet is offering you a complete mentalism act-in-a-pocket it’s going to require more than simply opening a package. I will say.. the effort is worth it. Just like a great stacked deck, the effort is paid back many times over.

Folks love to hear someone tell them about themselves. Knowing facts, star signs, traits and features are reputation makers.. IF you can pull it off.. and The Zodiac certainly gives you a great launching point. I have to say I agree with the sales copy, as diverse as it may sound. All you need to perform most of the feats is your vision. Memorize the finer points and you DO have a complete act. I would not say you’re ready to go onstage.. but I would say you’re ready for walk around and parlour performances. You can get a solid six to eight minutes from Zodiac and keep your audience thoroughly involved.

There are both written and video instructions. The written instructions are not deep, and are more like note sheets for learning the basics.. The online video includes a performance and how to

discover all the basic information. It run about 20 minutes.

If you have an interest in mentalism and enjoy engaging your spectator, I recommend The Zodiac…
$25.00 From dealers who sell the Murphy’s Magic line of products..

https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=61317