Master Sessions • Summer • Cards

Summer • Cards

Cards Under Cover 

A pack of cards is produced from a handkerchief. Three cards are selected, and the deck is wrapped in a handkerchief. The first card slowly, visibly, penetrates the handkerchief. The second card floats from the pack, carrying the handkerchief with it. The handkerchief is shaken, and the third card falls out. Finally, the handkerchief is shaken out, and the rest of the deck has vanished. 

ReVanishing

A clean vanish of a coins with the hands completely empty at the finish. Also explained is Chuck Smith’s excellent “Will O the Wisp” vanish and recovery of a coin. Also explained is John’s Fingertip Vanish, where the coin seems to slowly vanish when rubbed at the fingertips. With both hands apparently empty, the coin reappears. 

Crystal Flash

A card is selected and lost in the pack. The performer uses the spark of a cigarette lighter to illuminate and capture the light inside the crystal. The crystal is wrapped in a handkerchief, which is held over the the cards, which have been spread out on the table. Running the handkerchief along the spread, the crystal flashes over a portion. A few cards are removed from this spot, the handkerchief held over each, and the crystal flashes over one card. This card proves to be the selection. The handkerchief and crystal may be examined and there is nothing to find. 

 Hot Slot

John’s variations on Dr. Sawa’s brilliant Slot machine. A coin is inserted into the hand, which serves as a slot machine. A wand is inserted into the fist and pulled like a handle. When the hand opens, the nickel is gone “I lost”. A quarter is inserted into the hand and it too vanishes. Finally, a half dollar is inserted, and when the handle is pulled, a dozen half dollars fall from the hand “Jackpot!”.

In Hands Monte

A Queen is placed between two red Aces, instantly vanishes, and reappears on top of the pack. This is repeated, and finally, the three cards are placed in the middle of the pack and the pack is entirely contained between the performers hands. Nevertheless, the Queen penetrates through the deck and the performer’s hands, where the specter catches the card.

Seconds on Jack Sandwich

Two Aces placed on the table and a card is selected and lost in the pack. A magical gesture and the selection appears face down between the Aces on the table. The selected card is removed and re-inserted into the pack. The deck is dribbled onto the table and the Aces are tossed through the cards. When they emerge from the other side, the selected card is again seen between theme. Also described here is an unusual move to control a card to the top, from Holland’s Flip Helema. 

Spring • Eclectic Mix

Four Gone

Four Aces Appear, then, one at a time, vanish in mid-air. Without any obvious manipulation the Aces reappear in the performer’s pockets. Classic techniques, along with ideas of the brilliant Ross Bertram, along with some ideas of John’s own. 

Karate Coin 

The performer boasts of his Kung Fu skills, and demonstrates by visibly poking his finger through a half dollar, where it is impaled. After a moment, the coin is pulled of the finger, never appearing to have gone out of sight. The half dollar is examined, and found none the worse for wear.

Acrobatic/Ambitious Aces

The cards are shuffled and half the deck is interwoven with the other half, leaving the two halves telescoped. The assemblage is shaken, and one by one, the Aces fly from the pack. The last card turns out to not be an Ace, but it then quickly changes into one. The aces are distributed throughout the pack and one at a time the Aces appear on top with no apparent manipulation.  

Matchbox Surprise 

An expensive cigarette lighter is offered to the spectator as a gift. I changes into a box of matches. A card is selected and lost in the pack. The performer narrows the choices down to just a few cards, a small packet, with the selection being seen as one of them. From the box of wooden matches, a single match is removed, lit, and waved over the pack. The selected card is shown to have vanished from the packet and appears folded inside the matchbox. 

Slow Motion Coins

Several techniques for a slow motion coin vanish, including Leipzig method, along with John Cornelius’s touches. Also explained is a variation of Leipzig’s “Right There”.