Description
This effect was created by Jack Hughes c. 1945 and is featured in his wonderful book World of Magic Vol. 2. Stevens Magic and Gimpy has recreated a perfect version with the permission of Derek Lever (the current owner of the Jack Hughes line).
The trick is great. Normally I would love to feature the video that Shawn Reida has done and is on the Stevens Magic website. Unfortunately, his performance misses the point of the trick and I believe ruins the overall effect. The big difference in the actual effect (and even the description on the Stevens website) is the four cards are chosen, they are all wrong, so the For Sale sign goes up. Then the magician asks what the actual card was, and now when the sign is lifted (without being turned around) the prediction has changed to one jumbo card. Having saved the day the magician now turns around the sign and hangs the new one: Offer Withdrawn. Which is more magical and funnier.
Shawn is a great and experienced performer so I’m sure this was just an omission under time pressure, but I wanted to mention it here. It is a really good effect otherwise 🙂
Effect: Four cards are selected and smuggled back into the pack. In the manner of a serious mentalist, the performer announces that he is going to attempt a stupendous feat of mind reading, after much concentrations and secret prayer; he removes four cards from the pack, and places them in a neat stand. Solemnly, he asks each assistant if his card is in the stand. Amid great laughter and apparent discomfort on the part of the magician, it appears that he has made a SERIOUS blunder, for the spectator’s state EMPHATICALLY that they do NOT see their selected cards.
Disconsolately, the magician covers the stand with a laminated sign, which reads GREAT TRICK FOR SALE! This gets a good laugh from the audience. However, it turns out THE Spectator’s are WRONG! And this is proved so in a funny revelation, as the magician slowly removes the laminated sign and in doing so the frame now houses ONE Jumbo card, which coincidentally happens to be the same card all four spectators choose! The final kicker? After everyone in the audience clearly witnesses the transition from four unique regular cards that were incorrect, to one JUMBO card that IS correct – the magician flips the laminated sign around and set it back over the roulette, and that sign now reads – OFFER WITHDRAWN!
- Great Comedy Piece.
- Great spectator participation and total audience reaction!
- Perfect for intimate parlor or small stage
- Parlor Size: Frame is 5 1/2″ x 8″ inches. Stands 12″ tall in total height and 5.5″ wide.
Comes complete with:
- custom crafted frame
- specialty cards
- professionally laminated signage
- routines and suggestions by Harry Stanley.
(Notice: Includes: Printed Instructions.)
( Post Source: martinsmagic.com - click for details )