Stewart James - The Genii Forum

 Register  Login Home / Board index / Buzz, Biz, Collecting, Etc. / Buzz Stewart James Post Reply Search this topic… 30 posts • Page 1 of 1 Joe Mckay Stewart James May 16th, 2016, 11:46 am Just wanted to continue the discussion of Stewart James (from the Karl Fulves thread) over here. I have studied the Stewart James books dozens of times. And have a lot of affection for them. But I am not sure how strong the tricks are in terms of performing for laypeople. This was not a goal of Stewart James and even though Stewart James did perform professionally from time to time - his repertoire did not include effects that he created. This is taken from the chapter in The James File that discusses his professional career. Anyway - I thought it would be fun to share my notes (which I wrote up a few years ago) from the books over here. So hopefully they will of interest to a couple of you. STEWART JAMES IN PRINT – THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS JOGESTJA MAGAZINE TEST – Page 64 – An incredibly strong magazine test. This is powerful stuff. It is impossibly clean – looks like the real thing… MIRASKILL – Page 102 – See this trick below for a version by John Bannon which is my favourite: http://www.johnbannonmagic.com/images/Bannon_View_To_A_Skill_ebook.pdf A CHINAMAN’S CHANCE – Page 117 – A cute way to find a mentally selected card which is based around a swindle… PAGING A SNAPPY NUMBER – Page 185 – This is a magazine test based around a diabolical mathematical principle that I have never seen used before or since… QUARTER DECK QUANDARY – Page 204 – Interesting to see Stewart make use of GRAY CODES here. Esoteric stuff. If you become interested in this sort of thing then check out Leo Boudreau’s revolutionary work in this area… HANDS OFF – Page 242 – A clever mathematical effect with a nice twist at the end… ECHOING VISION – Page 270 – This is a fun card divination which looks impossible. It also uses an unusual principle which I have never seen before… VANISHING PROOF – Page 299 – This is a great effect. It is an adaptation (and improvement) of a strange principle discovered by Charles Jordan. It allows for a totally ‘hands off’ card vanish. NOTE: See TRANSCENDENTAL BAR BET by Paul Harris for the best use of this principle… REMEMBERING THE FUTURE – Page 341 – A classic. I rate it up there with MIRASKILL. It is a beautiful and elegant principle which will fool you when you play with it… BIBLICAL PROPHECY – Page 362 – You will be astonished at how Stewart discovered this book test. The method is just incredible… THE NEW LOOK – Page 404 – An interesting double-colour change with a strange method. It is a strong effect, and is the sort of weird effect that Gaetan Bloom might invent… AN ESSAY – Page 409 – See this essay for a fascinating insight into the workings of Stewart’s creative mind… JAMESWAY DICE TEST – Page 491 – This is a great effect which I first saw in MATHEMATICS, MAGIC AND MYSTERY. I still remember being delighted with the sneaky idea used at the end of the effect… NEW DEPARTURE ROPE MYSTERY – Page 555 – The method for this rope trick is great fun. The boldness always makes me smile… WORDITTO – Page 569 – This is a brilliant magazine test and amazingly the method makes use of the MIRASKILL principle. This is my favourite use for this principle… MATCHIMERA – Page 614 – A card matching effect done from a shuffled deck. I can’t imagine a more ingenious method than this one… ATLANTIC AVENUE – Page 664 – This is an excellent variation on a lovely Mel Stover principle. Two further variations are featured in THE JAMES FILE. These are some of the strongest tricks in these books… THE OPEN PREDICTION NO. 8 – Page 678 – David Britland says that this version counts as a solution to the FIFTY ONE FACES NORTH problem. See his analysis here: http://cardopolis.blogspot.co.uk/2008/06/fifty-one-faces-north-stewart-james-is.html Other versions I like are one that Steve Beam published in SEMI AUTOMATIC CARD TRICKS VOL. 1 and a cheat version which Paul Gordon published in CARBON FOOTPRINTS which makes sneaky use of a stooge. You can find that trick here: mallofmagic. See page 1870 for a variation by Max Maven… CAM-O-NEYRD – Page 878 – This trick contains a nice subtlety for use with a double-sided coin which I have never seen before… SNEAKY WILL – Page 942 – This is a real favourite.’ . Brilliant method… JUST FOUR FUN – Page 985 – This effect uses an amazing mathematical principle. It will actually fool you the first few times you use it… KORADOR – Page 946 – This is a clean card location which reminds me of the principle used in the UNDO INFLUENCE by Simon Aronson (which itself was based on an Alex Elmsley principle which was based on a Jack Avis effect). It is a brilliant re-working of a classic puzzle.’ And in the words of Gordon Bean: ‘There’s something thrilling about looking at the apparently innocuous face of the deck in its Robotic form and realizing how much work is contained therein. The method is diabolical and you will be sure to fool anyone with it. It is a brilliant principle which will astonish you when you use it. LETTERS FOR A STRANGER – Page 952 – I first came across this principle in a variation called VOODOO CLUE by Karl Fulves.pdf MATHEMATRICKER – Page 696 – Another clever mathematical effect with a cute twist at the end… PERSON TO PERSON – Page 763 – This is a great telephone effect.com/free%20stuff/BTROMF. It is very little known and it delighted me for a whole day when I first used it.http://www. A good one to pull on magicians… PACKAGE DEAL – Page 1089 – A fascinating thing here. The perfect trick to end this amazing book with… THE JAMES FILE – BOOK ONE LII-KELIHOOD – Page 1018 – This is a real fooler with an ingenious twist at the end. It is up there with the other classic principles discovered by Stewart… RETURN FOR SATAN – Page 959 – This is a lovely transposition which reminds me of BORDER CROSSING by Roy Walton… MY UNCLE’S ANTE – Page 984 – The date on a borrowed coin reveals the location of a selected card. Stewart re-discovers THE GILBREATH PRINCIPLE and then applies it in a unique way… A USA TRIAL – Page 1105 – This seems related to Alex Elmsley’s 16th CARD PRINCIPLE… THE ROBOT DECK – Page 1137 – In Stewart’s words: ‘It is a stack within a stack within a stack within a stack within a stack within a stack within a stack plus a stack. Performing the routine seems like unfolding a house out of a suitcase. By the way – Karl Fulves has stretched the MIRASKILL principle so much that he managed to uncover another principle lurking inside.BOOK TWO WHIM-BORROW – Page 1782 – This is a lovely trick. Steve Beam had some variations on this in one of the SEMI AUTOMATIC CARD TRICKS books… OBJECTIVE X – Page 1291 – This is a brilliant two-person test and is based on a wonderful principle which has been buried in print… NO-CAL TELEMATHY – Page 1293 – This is another excellent use of the principle mentioned above. It also doubles up as my favourite use of the Progressive Speller principle… PUSHING THE ENVELOPE – Page 1845 – This is a great prediction effect which is incredibly sneaky.FOURTH INCARNATION – Page 1173 – This is a trick well worth making up. The cool thing is that Stewart invented two different routines. It is incredible that Stewart managed to discover this all the way back in 1928… TWO-PART HARMONY – Page 2421 – This is a variation by Stewart of one of my favourite Bob Hummer tricks. It uses an ingenious principle and is one of the more ‘commercial’ tricks in this book… CODEAL – Page 1575 – This is a great version of THE OPEN PREDICTION. It is very interesting and includes a simple tip which will strengthen your performances of this trick ten-fold. It will easily fool other magicians. It seems to my brain to be a kind of ‘inversion’ of The Gilbreath Principle. . It has a clever twist at the end which makes it more fun to do than most other versions… THE JAMES FILE . And scattered through the books are some interesting variations of the Sefalaljiajia principle (as in the rope effect) itself.focusing on non-card effects. Check out Issue 6… BOCCA DELLA VERITA – Page 2410 – This is an amazing principle. And I found some very interesting items which I hadn't noticed before.I seem to have focused on card tricks. Gordon Bean correctly mentions it as being one of the best tricks in the book… MYRIADSKILL – Page 1904 – This is an essay by Bob Farmer about the MIRASKILL principle. Check out THE SURVIVOR PRINCIPLE which was published in his hard-to-find magazine DISCOVERIE. But I don't have those notes to hand just now. Which is a shame since Stewart James's Sefalaljia Spirit Cabinet routine is probably the best thing in the books. To be honest it feels like the sort of trick that Roy Walton might invent. Recently I went through the book again . It is one of Hummer’s best effects and contains a devious principle which is rarely used… ------------------------------ In the list above . This is one of my favourite effects by Stewart James… TROST-WORTHY – Page 1297 – A good variation of a strong Nick Trost effect. It is unlike most of the tricks that Stewart invented. without a doubt (in my mind) the strongest poker deal available. but "Pokericulum" and "Deckograph".. but oh my!!. my apologies for implying otherwise in the other thread I almost hesitate to say these two words because I use them myself (and no other card magician within 250 miles or more does or has in my 40 years of card magic) . the looks on peoples faces when you display the "printed" slip of paper (previously blank) of their freely selected card is fantastic! (Pro-Tip. but I do wish he had seen more recognition overall while he was still alive. ...... Then: You'll likely never find a Deckograph deck already made up. all the better. and even though it's a relatively short effect in performance . note the mechanism that allows you as the dealer to always win. and can flesh out some interesting factoids and stories about the game ... and considering what he overcame in his life. Re: Stewart James May 16th.. once you have the deck done up.there is an interesting online exhibition to the life and work of Stewart James which can be found over here: http://stewartjames. You obviously have respect for James. I repeatedly visit them to search out card effects that literally no card worker within 500 miles of me has done in the last 50 years . but rather borders on the utterly impossible. It's only when you deal all the hands out. Love Stewart James. Over the last 8 or so years that I've had all three of the big James books. Pokericulum is. if ever. 12:47 pm Joe. 2016. That he remains so underground in general terms is OK to me now that SJ is gone.com/index. and then sit back and smile that you realize just how Stewart made a highly commercial and highly entertaining poker dealing effect.magicana.Also . and they're a bit difficult to make such that they're flawless. The fact that each and every spectator can be invited to trade hands with the dealer. Making a perfect Deckograph deck is best done with Todd Lassens card gaffing genii. If you happen to be somewhat up on poker in general. that's a great list that will cause me to revisit some of the items you noted. and further trade cards to better their hand is something that doesn't play lightly . he remains my favorite creator of card magic ever.html  Roger M.. read James description and the "why" will be apparent).. This is repeated with the second pile… “Ace of Hearts. Well ... Alan Slaight.."/i] This is from the ON TO TORONTO chapter in which a lecture is reconstructed from notes . The trick he did can be found in the reference given (Tarbell Vol.if you follow the reference given for the ace effect in Tarbell Vol. although the exact process he used is not known. “Here’s the Ace of Clubs.. 2:10 pm Here is a little tidbit that was overlooked in the compilation of the Stewart James books.in which Stewart James taught a number of different card tricks (not created by him) ..5 (pp 115-117) .” He picks up the first packet. 2016. Michael Close. He removes the Ace of Clubs. . David Ben. We’ll use the Ace of Clubs pile.”. spreads the cards with the faces away from the audience. On page 2027 of THE JAMES FILE . Regardless of what Ace a spectator chooses. shows it and replaces it on the face of the packet.you will find the actual details of the sneaky ace packet force that Stewart James used. He first shuffles each card pile a bit….. Howard Lyons. I've always thought it was extremely classy that they made an effort to let James know what he meant to them.. “Will someone please name one of the Aces… Any Ace?”. 5). squares the cards and replaces them on the table….[i]". At the end of the description it says . “Ace of Diamonds...”. the one you selected. it comes from the same pile. Here are the details: NOTE: Stewart James has a clever way of forcing the Ace pile. And don't even get me going on Ten Nights In A Card Room!  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James May 16th.and showed how they could be put together as a routine such that one trick sets up the next trick.Stewart then forced this packet. Stephen Minch and other well known names paid Stewart such high regard in his later years. The third pile containing the Aces is picked up and spread.”.It's great that Max... And so on..mention is made of an ace effect that Stewart James performed at a magic lecture. Let us say someone says “Ace of Clubs. 10:37 am Dustin recently linked to this thread (cheers. This is one of the ideas that could probably be marketed today as a standalone trick. A marked golf ball buried in an inch of rice transposes from one tumbler to another..this middle ring can also be examined. Although I did include some non-card effects. I have not made up the trick yet so can only go off the diagrams which lay out how the method unfolds with each step. But throughout the magic literature - Sefalaljia usually refers to the clever rope/ribbon/string principle which makes its debut in this routine. The handling is straight forward and the use of a Chinese coin (which has a hole in it) adds an extra punch to the effect. This is the miniature spirit cabinet routine that originally appeared in The Jinx. As such . . SEFALALJIA . Dustin!).This is a lovely handling of the Sefalaljia principle.Page 548 . A third ring is displayed and under cover of a handkerchief . A few months ago I went over these books again focusing on non-card effects. This is a strong trick which makes use of a clever (but simple) topological idea and a split ring.Two rings are examined and tied to a a ribbon by the spectator.Page 49 . It is just a shame handkerchiefs are no longer that common since if they were this would still be a very popular effect.Page 386 .Page 362 . STEWART JAMES IN PRINT . The two ideas support each other well since it gives the impression that everything was examined before and after the trick.Probably Stewart's most famous routine and probably his best as well. CHINESE GOLF . FIRST CLASS PASSAGE .is magically placed in the middle of the two rings.Page 388 . This is Stewart at his best.  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 1st. HO-LA-MA .Page 189 .THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS NOT EXPECTED .A gimmicked handkerchief is used to make small objects instantly vanish with the flick of a wrist. GO GO VANISHER . After the trick is over .I thought it would be useful if I share my latest notes from these books.Another one of my favourites from these books. Watching the different principles interlock in this effect is fun. A split ring is used in this effect but is cleverly switched for an ordinary one as it is (apparently) placed in the middle. 2017. I posted my earlier notes (from a few years ago) at the top of the thread and they were made when my focus was on card magic.Stewart James adapts a clever topological principle (and one of his favourite tricks in magic) to tie a knot in a leather shoe lace nailed into a foot long piece of wood.. A practical approach to the key and padlock effect. This trick makes secret use of invisible thread and reminds me a little of the work of Gaetan Bloom.This is another approach to the Sefalaljia principle.A borrowed bill and ring are wrapped in a paper napkin and placed in a tumbler with a silk handkerchief and a rubber band. But this version is a good one and about as straightforward as you can get.Page 796 . DOUBLE-RING CEREMONY .At the end of this effect. I overlooked this trick until now . And that is the highest praise that I have when it comes to magic.Here Stewart James combines his Sefalaljia principle with the price-tag loop principle. It does away with some of the procedure traditionally used in this effect to achieve an unusual finish in which the rope is through one ring once and the second one twice.Page 585 .Page 791 . It allows for a very clean prediction effect and the principle itself is quite unusual. It is a straightforward idea . disappears from the performer's hand and materialised in a tumbler held by a spectator.not realising it is another example of Stewart James experimenting with this lovely principle. This trick reminds me of the thinking behind Chinese Golf. THE JAMES FILE . But as so often when reading these books .Page 710 . the Lamarque principle is reprinted from The Hugard's Magic Monthly.Page 1659 .some of the props used are not ones I have immediately to hand (tumblers.BOOK ONE THE SEFALALJIA TWINS .A marked ball of tissue paper.Page 692 .A coin penetrates through a cellophane cover that seals a bottle filled with water. THE GOFAR BALL .Page 895 . This trick was later varied by Peter Warlock and makes nice use of a Demon Glass. POLYCHROMOSPHERE . At the end of the effect Stewart says the same approach can be taken to switch out a gaffed Brema Nut. You can follow the method step by step like watching a cat corner a mouse. This is definitely one of the tricks I want to make up and play around with. I really like this effect.This is a nice variation on the Sefalaljia principle by Tom Daugherty. But the same lateral approach which zigs and zags its way to the magical finale. Different effect and different method. Demon Glasses and so on). SILVERSION . KEYRECT . They vanish from there and reappear in a second tumbler. It has the feel of a Lubor Fiedler trick that you might find in his lecture notes back in the 1970's. The result is that a cardboard disc looped on the string transposes with a ring which is not on the string.you really need to decide upon the trick you are most in love with before going on an online search for the materials needed.SOLUTIONS . It looks like a good effect. STRINGARINGADO . My favourite approach to this plot is by Barrie Richardson. The trick uses cardboard discs and a sneaky switch takes place during the trick. of a freely selected colour. PROBLEMS IN PROPHECY .This is a trick that Winston Freer told Stewart he was a fan of. A ball disappears from a tube and travels invisibly to an inverted tumbler which is partially concealed by a second tube.SNARETAINER . The method reminds me of the way the method unfolds step by step in a trick like Chinese Golf. It is another of those effects where the diagrams are delightful.Page 718 .Page 722 . So I guess with a set of books like these .a ring is transposed on to the string to meet up with another ring (its "twin) already trapped in the middle of the ring by a safety pin. bottomless glasses. . We are tackling the same area with this effect as well. ------------------------ There is a ton of great non-card magic in these books.my favourite use for this principle is a ring on rope effect that Devin Knight released. This trick has a sneaky secret reminiscent of something Gaetan Bloom might come up with in his experiments with threads. It involves a clever topological secret that is hard to follow. SECOND CLASS PASSAGE . There is a lot going on in this trick which takes place as the spectator holds the string over her shoulders and behind her back.a lot of the tricks use items you will not have to hand. This time the trick takes place as she holds the string over her shoulders and behind her back.Page 1978 . KNOT OF ENCHANTMENT .Page 2285 . This a clever combination of principles that is very similar to another trick by Stewart called First Class Passage. My favourite uses for this principle can be found in IBIDEM and The Pallbearer's Review. My favourite phase is the final one called Present Under Glass.Page 2437 . SIMIAN SIMILE . RING LEADER .This is the impossible knot in rope secret that inspired Stewart James's love of magic. More recently . As opposed to making use of a miniature cabinet. This is an important trick in the history of magic since it inspired Stewart James's love of principles. BALLDOWN . BETWIXT . THREE-RING CIRCUIT . Sadly . SILAS DEEMER AND HIS INCREDIBLE INTENE ENERGIZER .Page 1987 . It is very different to the one he published in The Jinx back in the 1939. It feels like a long lost Tenyo effect.Page 2154 .THE JAMES FILE .Page 1984 .This is the updated Sefalaljia miniature cabinet routine that Stewart James released in 1982. So it will take more of an investment to bring these tricks to life compared to most modern magic . The second phase makes use of a clever rope trick by Charles Jordan called Jordan's Mystifying Knot Trick.This is a three phase routine making use of the Brema Nut. This is definitely a trick I am going to spend time going over with the props in hand.Page 1988 . It penetrates a large wooden ball inside the tube that is resting on top of a pencil. This is great.Page 2156 -This is a lovely topological principle. The thinking is diabolical.A small metal ball is dropped through a tube.A red and a white cardboard ring on a piece of rope transpose to the other side of a blue cardboard ring that is trapped by a knot. It will actually fool you as you do it.Two rings are passed on to a wand and the selected one magially penetrates the wand under cover of a handkerchief. Although the same idea can be found as The Jacoby Tie in the Art of Magic. It is actually the Borromean rings principle in disguise. Stewart felt that the discovery of a new principle in magic was the highest level of creativity an inventor could achieve. Both references are given at the start of the trick. I am always on the look out for clever routines that make use of overlooked magic props.This is similar to the trick above but this time it takes place inside a miniature cabinet.BOOK TWO BLUES IN THE BIGHT . Howard Lyons called it the finest routine with a Brema Nut he had run into.Page 2165 . Nor Stupid".I remember reading in some lecture notes by David Solomon that he had some interesting work on one of Stewart James's poker deals. To get two cards in different halves involved a procedure very similar to the selection in Tamariz's "Neither Blind.I was knee deep studying Stewart James's card work. Stewart James's poker deals (he had a bunch of them) were mentioned earlier in the thread.youtube. That said . A nice presentation angle too. 2017. 12:07 pm Some more housekeeping. I just never got round to doing it. Well . Unfortunately I don't recall the name of the routine so tracking it down in "The James File" is nearly impossible (checking the index for Svengali didn't bear fruit but I know the routine is in there). https://www. A few years ago .I did my best to work out the trick and got in touch with . It involved a prediction and reading someone's mind but the construction of the routine was great.. Also ..this is the one area of Stewart's work I have never really sat down and studied in depth.books. And back then I am sure I would have worked out what trick Paul had in mind.Stewart James's first published trick in magic. As it was .com/post/unusual-use-of-a-svengali-deck-7910636  I used to do a great Stewart James routine where the deck was divided up. I will end this overview by linking to an outlandish version of 'Match For Gravity' . And I should add that Stewart James has a very unusual take on The Ten Card Deal which makes use of alphabet cards called ALPHA BETTING which can be found on page 705 of STEWART JAMES IN PRINT .themagiciansforum.I was researching the Svengali deck one day when I found this post from Paul Hallas on a different forum: http://www.com/watch?v=5ZnKIPfIhAQ  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 15th.THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS. just email me at [email protected]/images/B ..Paul. But is very sneaky.I will probably report back here sometime if I figure out the trick Paul had in mind. Even though he was a big fan of Stewart James. and.pdf The MIRASKILL principle is killer and guaranteed to fool virtually any layman. It can be found on page 21 of 'Stewart James in Print . In the main restaurant where I work. This application by Bannon is brilliant. 6:30 pm Recent posts on this thread prompted me to go back and read the original and earlier posts which I'd somehow overlooked. It makes for fun (if bizarre) reading. magician who is unaware of it.  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 15th.com Jeff Busby may have been a crook and a crank.The First Fifty Years'. But apparently my guesses were incorrect. I have too many regulars who have been watching me perform for years and who are very shrewd. for that matter. "one").Jeff Busby had a pretty insane review where he tore the The James File to shreds. I would definitely do a false count of my cards after the first round/phase of the two-round "game" rather than announce my total and expect the spectator(s) to take my word for it.I cannot find the email which had my incorrect guesses. 4:42 pm One other thing .. 2017. But I always enjoyed his writings. then thumb off the second card into my left hand flush on top of the first . I don't know much about the linking rings . One other thing .  MagicbyAlfred Re: Stewart James January 17th.johnbannonmagic. If anyone wants to read a copy of it . I thumb off the first card into my left hand (counting aloud. but don't know who to credit) is very clean and deceptive. Sadly . I have my packet of cards face down in right hand biddle grip. The false count I decided to use (I'm sure I did not create it. skeptical and analytical. _ebook.so I am unsure how famous this move is. So .Stewart James has a beautiful linking ring move called The Captive Ring. I was very intrigued by this @ Joe McKay: MIRASKILL – Page 102 – See this trick below for a version by John Bannon which is my favourite: http://www. 2017. " you can have the spectator count your cards and then his/hers. until the cards are exhausted.wordpress.. in actuality... while they believe it is holding five). Kostya Kimlat was staying with me at the time.. the fourth and third cards are stolen beneath the packet. https://marklewistradeshowmagiciansecre . and between Kostya. The remaining cards in the right hand are thumbed off one-by-one.. 2017. the left hand is now holding only three cards..... for bringing this. counting as you go. Of course. In the process of thumbing off the fifth card (and counting "five")... per Miraskill.. with no trickery.. in a showing of the utmost "fairness...com/  MagicbyAlfred . if John Bowden was involved it must have been a masterpiece.. at the end of round two of the game.which is precisely what you want in order to make the first written prediction come to fruition.  Q. 7:20 pm Well. we came up with three ideas. and other fabulous items to our attention. Kumber Re: Stewart James January 17th... each of which adds a layer of deception to an already excellent routine...com/ https://marklewismagician..... 2017..  performer Re: Stewart James January 17th. So now there is a break separating cards one and two from cards three and four. (So..... Thank you Joe.... for they will always be the same.. The third card gets thumbed off on top of the first two (counting "three").(counting "two"). This count will always end up making it look like you have two more cards than you actually do . The fourth card is thumbed off onto the third (counting "four"). Hence your second prediction (that there will be a tie) proves spot on. myself and with an input from John Bowden. They are as yet unpublished.. but a break is held beneath the third card.. 6:53 pm It was back in 2010 when I first came across John Bannon's 'A View To a Skill'. press. Kumber wrote: It was back in 2010 when I first came across John Bannon's 'A View To a Skill'. myself and with an input from John Bowden. So . 2017..html Devin Knight is very creative and was a student of Al Mann (who was also wildly creative). But I didn't see any reference to it in the big Stewart James books.com called Far Sight: http://www.Re: Stewart James January 17th.com/far-sight-p-139291. Kostya Kimlat was staying with me at the time. A big part of me hopes the idea belongs to Stewart James since it is delightful and very bold. we came up with three ideas. And Al Mann told him that it was a Stewart James idea.that Stewart James (or a friend of Stewart James) showed to Al Mann? Or it could be a case of Stewart James getting confused with Stewart Judah (another creator of clever self- working card tricks)? . So ."  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 21st. Anyway .it is always worth checking out his work. and between Kostya. That's fascinating! Did Kostya do Triumph for you? I am excited to see the upcoming ideas re "A View to a Skill. each of which adds a layer of deception to an already excellent routine. Devin Knight has a clever trick available from Lybrary.in the ebook (which describes a single trick) Devin Knight tips a sneaky principle which he says that Al Mann taught him. 2017.it could be an unpublished Stewart James idea ..lybrary. They are as yet unpublished. 8:40 pm  Q. 10:37 pm Here is another Stewart James tidbit for y'all. wordpress. while a new principle.  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 23rd.the future is a hard thing to predict. He would approach magicians with an interest in the work of Stewart James and show them a trick he had just read in the new Stewart James books.com/2011/03/26/from-the-worlds-worst-card-trick-to-the-worlds-best/ I think every magician likes the idea of being shown a card trick by Stewart James that is buried in print and forgotten about. Still . But you can see my retelling of the story below: https://doubledeal. I think Stephen Minch lays out this story in the Paul Curry book he produced. Check out 'Oil and Vinegar' in the 'The Complete Works of Derek Dingle' that Richard Kaufman published. Since you can end up getting more excited about some monstrosity which. Over the years . And it is worth remembering that their is a link between Miraskill (the most famous principle that Stewart discovered) and Out of This World (often voted the best card trick ever). And I was enraptured by the thinking behind those effects. In many ways it is a self-indulgent way of approaching magic. This is something Michael Close used to play with when he was one of the first to read (and review) the galleys for The James File. And discover that the trick uses some new principle which completely baffles you. He said that his goal in magic was to discover a new principle that would be used long after he was gone. would rarely be of any major interest to a layperson. In that trick .I have seen some fascinating new principles discovered for use with the Down/Under principle. That many cards would be dealt to the table. He would ask for their help since he could not understand why the trick worked.Kaufman (or Dingle?) mixes up Stewart James with Stewart Judah in the credits to the trick. This was a magician looking at the field of magic the way a physicist or a mathematician might. Rather than simply inventing a new trick. Even though they would be of little interest to a layperson. . An odd number would be asked for between 5 and 25. 2017. 8:18 am About 10-15 years ago. I spent a lot of time studying these books and I was fascinated by Stewart James obsession with discovering new principles.This is a possibility since it has happened before. There was something really exciting about this idea of discovery. One way to eliminate that possibility would be to see whether or not Stewart Judah was ever linked to the idea that Devin Knight teaches in this ebook. You are piggybacking on the back of a legendary magician's name in order to sell a trick which might otherwise be easily uncovered.The packet of cards would be shuffled and the top card remembered. Now .to sneak in the idea you are making use of a strange new principle in order to produce a minor miracle .. And a Down/Under deal would be performed. Later on .it makes for an interesting situation. Any idea what is going on?" He would then leave the magician scratching their head as they tried to figure out what strange new principle Stewart had uncovered.their selection would be found. He then has you freely pick a card and return it to the deck. No hidden mathematical principle will ever be as powerful as the effect you can produce by simply using a deck consisting of the same card. But I think there is something deeper to it than that. "I think I have worked this one out.most people might see this as a funny magician fooler/gag. You then give the deck a couple of cuts.. The spectator would then be asked to spell the value of the card they selected. You name .if you can leverage a magician's genius and reputation . So .Michael would show up and tell the magician. He then says to you . Imagine you met David Berglas? And he said he was not up for performing his legendary Berglas Effect since it had been a while since he performed it? So instead he would try something simpler. "It is that cut you gave the cards that I don't understand.32. The packet of cards would then be cut by the spectator.do you want the deck to be dealt face up or face down? ." He would then show the deck of cards in his hands to consist of entirely the same card. And at that card . Michael said the dirty looks he would get for pulling this gag were hilarious. David then asks you to name any number between 1-52. He would fool you with one card location after another. Yet again . This idea of using somebody's reputation to figuratively cash a blank cheque reminds me of one of my favourite stories. Fooled the pants off a lot of people. 8:35 am Yes . .You say face down. 2017. https://youtu.be/GIpm_8v80hw?t=23m26s As for Michael Close's brilliant (and dumb) gag.just as you were leaving .he would destroy you with a super impossible one that would keep you awake that night.the dumb secret is simply a deck consisting of 52 of the same card. It involves Salvador Dali and his unique method of paying for restaurant bills. It made me a little depressed to think that a lifetime's worth of hard work and genius can. be overshadowed by the use of a one-way deck. Michael used to talk about Harry Riser along similar lines.  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 23rd. and find your selected card. in some sense. And then you deal to the 32nd card. And then .  Jack Shalom Re: Stewart James January 23rd. You would probably be pretty impressed. 2017. 8:31 am See Derren Brown's Extreme Mental Effort.good call! Derren is one smart cookie. .with the 2C missing). 9:23 am you might like the trick in Ponsin's book where the performer lays out cards in a circle and then spins a bottle to point to one card.The secret? A one-way deck. 2017.  MagicbyAlfred . phone a stranger and ask for a number between 1 and 26. which is cleanly turned over and shown .. Spread the cards face-up to show they are all different.you gather up the remaining 25 cards and switch them for the rest of the deck (25 different cards . Force the pile with 26 identical cards.  Jonathan Townsend Re: Stewart James January 23rd. Have the selected card found in that pile any way you want (spin a bottle. 9:32 am The best use for a Svengali deck is to do something like that. 2017. Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 23rd. As the selection is shown around . Also free choice. Have a card cut to (eg the 2C). etc).selected card. Have the deck dealt into two piles. but rather tricks that baffle the socks off them.. "entertaining" them in this fashion it's a double-edged sword because if the secret is not tipped to them. Of course.. 3:02 pm  Joe Mckay wrote: GO GO VANISHER . especially ones for which they cannot come up with even a conceivable method. they don't care about funny lines or intriguing stories. So I look forward to studying your fix. I have found time and again that the best way to entertain magicians is to fool them.Re: Stewart James January 23rd. 3:12 pm Cheers. It is just a shame handkerchiefs are no longer that common since if they were this would still be a very popular effect. 2017. One of the suggested techniques does not work as described. 2:07 pm "Yet again .for those interested in Stewart James's Sefalaljia spirit cabinet routine ." I believe it was Prince Machiavelli who said that the ends justify the means. 2017. Generally speaking.Tom Stone has published work .  Tom Stone Re: Stewart James January 25th. Stuff & more stuff  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 25th. My fix can be found in the February 2017 issue of Genii. Tom! My issue should be here any day now. But I sleep like a baby.. or words to that effect. 2017. they may wrestle with chronic insomnia for quite a time to come. Also .A gimmicked handkerchief is used to make small objects instantly vanish with the flick of a wrist.the dumb secret is simply a deck consisting of 52 of the same card.Page 388 . This is one of the ideas that could probably be marketed today as a standalone trick. This trick is worth noting since it was not included in the recent large books compiling the magic of Gaetan Bloom that were published by The Miracle Factory.it is always worth checking out his work. A big part of me .in this area.in the ebook (which describes a single trick) Devin Knight tips a sneaky principle which he says that Al Mann taught him. As has Gaetan Bloom . Devin Knight has a clever trick available from Lybrary.see 'Sefalaljian Smoker' on page 311 of the March 1991 issue of GENII magazine.com/far-sight-p-139291.com/sefalaljia/book.com called Far Sight: http://www.html Devin Knight is very creative and was a student of Al Mann (who was also wildly creative).html I am not sure what the latest status on it is. 4:39 pm  Joe Mckay wrote: Here is another Stewart James tidbit for y'all.  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James March 12th.lybrary. Check out page 29 of his book 'Maelstrom'. Anyway .  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James January 25th. So .Tabby Crabb (known as Tabman online) was close to completing a book devoted to the Sefalaljia routine when he died. You can read about it here: http://questx. 2017.. And Al Mann told him that it was a Stewart James idea. 3:37 pm Also . 2017.. Spread the cards face-up to show they are all different. In that trick . phone a stranger and ask for a number between 1 and 26. Have the selected card found in that pile any way you want (spin a bottle.you gather up the remaining 25 cards and switch them for the rest of the deck (25 different cards . One way to eliminate that possibility would be to see whether or not Stewart Judah was ever linked to the idea that Devin Knight teaches in this ebook. Just found this principle used by Larry Becker in his Magic Castle Lecture Notes (1984). So .Kaufman (or Dingle?) mixes up Stewart James with Stewart Judah in the credits to the trick. He doesn't reference anyone else in the trick .that Stewart James (or a friend of Stewart James) showed to Al Mann? Or it could be a case of Stewart James getting confused with Stewart Judah (another creator of clever self-working card tricks)? This is a possibility since it has happened before.  Philippe Billot Re: Stewart James March 13th. Have the deck dealt into two piles. hopes the idea belongs to Stewart James since it is delightful and very bold. . But I didn't see any reference to it in the big Stewart James books. etc).so my guess is that this sneaky idea belongs to Larry Becker. 3:17 am  Joe Mckay wrote: The best use for a Svengali deck is to do something like that. Have a card cut to (eg the 2C). Check out 'Oil and Vinegar' in the 'The Complete Works of Derek Dingle' that Richard Kaufman published. 2017. As the selection is shown around .with the 2C missing).it could be an unpublished Stewart James idea . Force the pile with 26 identical cards. I just found this scrap of information in Jack Kent Tillar's book. 11:28 am This two pile thing was invented by Al Baker and is as old as the hills. on page 31:  . See Criss-Cross in The Jinx no..I will just record this detail here and then hopefully somebody can add to this in the future.  performer Re: Stewart James March 13th. So for now .. Mr Baker agreed with me that this is the greatest book ever written on the svengali deck and permitted me to quote him any time I wished.wordpress.currently called the "Free Will" principle by Deddy (although Dennis [Marks] told me the name of the actual originator.. 'Solo'. 2017. In fact I contacted Al Baker in the spirit world to ask him for permission to include it in my most worthy book on the svengali deck known as the Long and the Short of It.. February 1939.  Ryan Matney . Anyway .. page 378. I can't for the life of me remember who it was.so I cannot ask him for further details.com/ https://marklewismagician. 5:20 pm I have always being a big fan of Deddy Corbuzier's "Free Will" principle. possibly Eddie Clever or Stewart James?).. https://marklewistradeshowmagiciansecre . press. 53.com/  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James March 29th. Sadly Dennis Marks is no longer alive . 2017.This idea was used by Stephen Simpson. And I just did. com/product/bada-bing-10-new-card-tricks-for-the-real-world/  webbmaster Re: Stewart James April 19th.The new e-book with Ten tricks for real world performance.by either method. Available now at http://retrorocketmagic.  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James April 19th. 3:42 pm Great research by Joe McKay. 2017. Take care! Joe  Joe Mckay . you are missing the point. "If you don't change the Svengali deck to all the same card and back again. 2017.Re: Stewart James March 29th. 5:48 pm Hey Gregg. 5:38 pm Some grafter named Mark Lewis once said something like. 2017.. Bada-Bing! ." I agree. Are you online these days? Or do you still prefer communication via letter? I will be in touch soon .. in other words. Stephen Minch. The Boy’s World The Knot of Enchantment A Match for Gravity Murder by Suggestion Spell of Mystery Balldown Freedom of the Size Simplicity Four-Ace Trick Miraskill Face-Up Prediction The Book of the Dead Sefalaljia Sefalaljia Jr The Man in Aberystwyth The Love-Sick Tennis Ball Remembering the Future Further Than That Half and Half The Robot Deck Silkscreen Vocalculate The Prophet’s Choice Go Go Vanisher . Gabe Fajuri. 2017. Gordon Bean. to whittle over 1.000 of James’ creations down to their fifty favourite. asked dozens of Stewart James’ aficionados including Max Maven. Roy Walton. 6:26 pm After the large Stewart James books came out . the essential Stewart James. The collection would also include essays covering Stewart James' life and creative process. Steve Beam. My understanding is that he asked a number of different magicians to each name their three favourite Stewart James effects.Re: Stewart James April 30th. David Ben. and Peter Duffie among others.Allan Slaight felt it would be useful to have a condensed "best of" collection for those who did not want to work through 2500 pages of Stewart James material. co-editor of Stewart James In Print and author of The James File. Michael Weber. Here are some names of those asked to contribute choices to this collection. Bill Goodwin. Along with the contents for this book:  Allan Slaight. And that list of effects would be used to compile an essential collection of Stewart James material. Charles Reynolds. Bob Farmer. 2017.The Clincher The Other Place First Class Passage Jamesway Poker Deal Ten Nights in a Cardroom Pokericulum So-Fair Poker Deal The Gobak Card Mystery The Purlooined Letters Pocket of Persistence Essay by SJ Ring Leader Falling Card MicawberBaker’s Dozen System The Doozer Matchimera Lejun The Gofar Ball The Tenth Variation 1 3 4 My Father’s House Card V The AAG Principle Split Second Stranger From Two Worlds Double Boomerang Incantations Oraclew Dollars and (6th) Sense Parenth-Thesis The Secret Partner TRY aNother FIELD Ontene Prediction The Dream Goes On A Class by Itself Anger with a “D” Package Deal While at the Talking Table  Joe Mckay Re: Stewart James May 6th. 10:38 pm . So that it really looks like 3 piles .reach into your pocket and remove the two red cards in a palm. Firstly .Let's talk a bit about Miraskill. As he does so . juan Tamariz. And it would be great to make use of it. Each pair is often made up of cards that are lying on opposite sides of the table. This is a casino style wash: https://www. Hand the spectator the deck of (48) cards and ask him to shuffle them. [The above is a Bob Farmer idea] Have the cards dealt into different piles .rather than dumping them all into the same pile.just casually help him mix the cards a . 1) FIRST PHASE Have two red cards in your pocket.two at a time.. But a pile made up of black/red cards and another pile next to it made up of red/black cards. This trick combines The Trick That Fooled Einstein with Miraskill. However there is no need to since Bob Farmer has some great thinking that makes the adding of the palmed cards a piece of cake.I just read a nice trick by Roy Johnson in 'Pure Gold'. However . You will see why later. RED RED/BLACK BLACK/RED BLACK Also .make the middle two piles close together.in this case you will make four piles.. The middle pile won't simply be a discard pile made up of red/black cards. This trick only makes use of 50 cards. reds and mixed colours. John Bannon has a lovely subetley for this trick (involving a miscount of the cards). My approach is based on the work of Bob Farmer. And place your first prediction on the table saying 'BLACK WINS BY TWO PAIRS'. I find that this really sells the randomness more than simply dealing off pairs of cards from a shuffled deck.as you talk to the spectator .com/watch?v=3azy4Z9x8_4 With the cards still in this position . since it is a sneaky way of avoiding the issue of adding palmed cards to the deck for the second phase of the trick. Stephen Hobbs. 2) SECOND PHASE Write out another prediction . You want to give the impression you are just being overly neat by keeping the discard pile split into two piles . So you can dump the other 2 red cards somewhere else since they won't be used in this trick. Have the spectator repeat the mixing procedure as above.youtube.have the spectator turn the cards up at random . Then ask him to "smoosh" the cards on the table to really mix them up. And I will share my favourite approach to this effect. It couldn't seem any fairer. And then . The trick is done with copper and silver coins.with the middle (mixed colour) pile separated out into two smaller piles. Allan Slaight and James Fulford (by way of David Williamson).ie blacks.this time saying 'BLACK WINS BY ONE PAIR'. Just square up and continue. If the piles each have a different coloured bottom card .and then take the top card of the pile of cards and use it to scoop up the spread of cards.two at a time . And of course it is a very elegant principle . So don't sweat it.you will give them a ribbon spread to show how mixed the cards are. And then show your final prediction to show that you predicted this. In some ways it is a pretty terrible trick.probably the loveliest thing that Stewart James ever discovered. Have the spectator deal through the cards . This is useful when dealing with a spectator who is determined to bust you. Before he squares the two packets . He sent it to David Williamson (as an improvement to his Aunt Mary's Terrible Secret routine) who then shared it on The Magic Cafe. But really it is so that you can get a quick glance of the bottom card of each pile.to show that none of the cards match.start a ribbon spread turnover. This is the worlds easiest move. But at the same time .tell the spectator you will focus on the discards. And it is another bonus feature of doing the mix the way Bob Farmer teaches it. But if the cards are the same colour .you will have four piles at the end: RED RED/BLACK BLACK/RED BLACK 3) FINAL PHASE Write out one last prediction .little and drop the two cards into the mess of cards on the table. Then have this pile dropped on top of the other discard pile.it allows for so much freedom that it makes for a very good 'test conditions' trick. This is apparently to show how "mixed" the cards are. As before . This simple displacement sets up the discard pile in perfect red/black/red/black/red/black order. As you say this . -------------------------------- I am not sure how I feel about Miraskill. This is a display that Juan Tamariz has popularized in recent years. As you do so . Pick up one of the cards from the two discard piles and use it to scoop up that pile. This final phase is an addition to Miraskill that Allan Slaight came up with a few decades ago.then square up the cards . The above is an idea from James Fulford. The above displacement is from Stephen Hobbs and is more elegant than the usual displacements used in Gilbreath Principle effects. It is an application of the Gilbreath Principle.place the red and black piles off to one side.. You now have the spectator cut the discard pile anywhere he wants and give the two packets a riffle shuffle..nothing needs to be done.this time saying 'THERE WILL BE NO MATCHES!' For the final phase . . ..... YOU are the magic not the bloody trick! Most tricks are pretty good if they fit you and you present them properly. press.com/ https://marklewismagician.wordpress... Practically any trick will do if it fits your style...com/  Display posts from previous: All posts Sort by Post time Ascending Go Post Reply 30 posts • Page 1 of 1 Return to “Buzz” Jump to Home / Board index / Contact us /   Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited Style we_universal created by INVENTEA ... It has nothing to do with the trick anyway..don't forget that it played a roundabout part in the creation of Paul Curry's legendary effect. However. 5:16 am I have never performed Miraskill and on the face of it one would assume that it is not much of a trick. And they usually are. having said that I have seen writers who have actually performed it rave about the trick's effect on laymen so I would have no idea until I actually try it for myself. 2017.wordpress. Some tricks are more inherently effective than others but they can still be ruined if presented badly. I will say one thing though.. https://marklewistradeshowmagiciansecre .. Also . Out of This World: https://doubledeal. You just can't tell sometimes until you actually do it.com/2011/03/26/from-the-worlds-worst-card-trick-to-the-worlds-best/  performer Re: Stewart James May 7th...