Harris, Paul: Close-up Fantasies Finale ©1981 Chuck Martinez Productions, CA Hardcover, w/dj, 176 pages |
Image courtesy e-Bay seller Bobbovent1 |
Comments (Stewart
Tame): Illustrations by Dwight Dunaway. Some of the sleights are
beyond my meager abilities, but Harris has an entertaining enough
writing style that I buy his books for the sheer pleasure of
reading them.
Contents:
I Introductions by Daniel Cros and Paul Harris
1 Escape From the Inner Circle (Looy Simonoff): An essay of
appreciation
5 The Vacuum Cleaner Card Case: Card selected, "vacuum cleaner"
(card case) used to reveal it, card case sticks to top of deck,
when pried off found to be holding selection.
15 Electric Aces: Paul says, "...the best in four aces effects
that combines the invisible palm, cards across, and elevator aces
into a stunningly direct close-up extravaganza. The no-moves
penetration of the final ace through the spectator's hand will
make your close-up mat proud to be associated with you."
29 Panic At the Poker Table (Allan Ackerman): Two Sevens and two
Eights shown, change to three Sevens and two Eights, then to four
Eights, finally change to four Aces.
43 Shuffle Time: Three cards removed from the pack, used to give
time of day (6:58, for example), time of day turns out to be
wrong, magician changes to three cards that show correct time.
49 Tayari's Camouflage: developed with Tayari Casel, card shown
with metallic gold coating on one side, metallic silver on other,
coin covered with matching material produced from gold side,
vanishes back into it, coin covered with silver material produced
from other side, covered with card, held with spectator's finger,
coin changes to silver dollar.
61 The Incredible Shrinking Hand: Magician's hand (not hand of
cards, but real hand) seems to visibly shrink when an attempt to
palm a card is made.
69 Thumb-Break: Spectator selects card, magician sticks thumb into
deck to explain "thumb-break", thumb visibly flattened across face
of selection, magician re-inflates thumb, spectator places hand
over card and cards below it, magician makes card disappear and
reappear in pocket.
81 The Bizarre Vanish: Playing card sandwiched between two others
grasped spectator, visibly vanishes.
89 A Very Strange Exchange: Paul says, "A card and a coin change
places in a most startling fashion."
99 Heart Burn: Magician rubs index corner of card to warm it, then
strikes it on a matchbook causing it to ignite.
105 Mickey Mouse Math: Magician locates chosen card in following
manner: starting with a Nine, the magician splits it into a Two
and a Seven, the Two is subtracted from the Seven leaving a Five,
the Five is split into an Ace and a Four, the Ace is subtracted
leaving a Three, which is the selected card.
113 The Beast With Two Backs (Paul & Looy): Prediction card
matches spectator's, two cards then placed face to face, melt
together forming double-backed card.
119 Close Quarters (Daryl): Two quarters held in the magician's
hand transform into a single half dollar.
123 The Second Middle Bottom: Magician demonstrates a false deal
that allows cheating from the second, middle, and bottom cards at
same time, magician deals Ace of Spades, Ace of Clubs, another Ace
of Spades, another Ace of Clubs, and a final Ace of Spades, hand
picked up to show Royal Flush instead.
129 The Bill Collector: Selected card penetrates hundred dollar
bill and rises out of deck at same time.
139 Just Call Me Mr. Wonderful: A flourish which allows the
magician to open card case, remove deck, fan it ... all with only
one hand.
149 Hit Me Again: Performer deals two Jacks, then third Jack,
third Jack changes to Ace.
157 Guts: Signed selected card visibly changes to another, wallet
can be removed from magician's pocket by spectator, hands can be
shown empty as magician opens wallet and removes signed card.
169 Torn and Restored Deck: The title says it all, really.