The theme for April was “tricks without cards,” But it should have been called “anything but traditional card tricks.” So we got to see some very nice effects that sometimes used cards but also used something else.
Ben Eskenazi started us off with a slick matrix effect using four cards and four dice. The added thickness of the dice required that the cards be perpendicular to the table surface. Ben pulled if off brilliantly. Larry Dimmit brought out some ESP cards and predicted the thought of symbol. Ralph Huntzinger workshopped a new routine for his next family reunion where math, sudoku, cousins, and a little witchcraft led to an amazing sequence of coincidences.
Chuck Kleiner made a ball bearing slowly penetrate a sheet of glass without breaking the glass. John Cameron asked us to be creative and imaginative by having a spectator shuffle and select a card from an invisible deck. He then had a visible version of the “selected” card in his wallet. A new magician to our club, Kenny Wehl, had a spectator set a specific time on a watch. Kenny then predicted the time within a few minutes. But, after his applause he had the spectator look at the watch and the hands were gone. Nice kicker.
Hugh Castell showed us some serious sleight of hand by having a finger ring penetrate each of his fingers. Brian Cook brought three full size dump trucks to the meeting. Two were empty and one was full of top soil. He had the trucks drive around to confuse us and then had us select the one with the soil. We couldn’t get it right. Finally each truck was filled with soil. Hmmm.
Mark Paulson had an ESP card selected and showed that he had one card which matched the selected symbol. Michael Jacobs showed us an effect he had crafted called the Indigo Children, based on Professor Hoffman’s “The Q Trick.” His revelation seemed impossible, but he was correct. Michael’s magic is very creative.
Gary Parish came in full costume and performed a nice rope escape routine based on Grandmother’s Necklace. He then decided to compete with Brian and brought a pony into the meeting which he transformed into a full sized horse.
Some of the most amazing magic occurs at our April meeting.
Chuck Kleiner