If you hadn't guessed this is a review of Totally Out of Control by Chris Kenner.
Couple'a things before we get started on the descriptions of the actual tricks. First off, Kenner doesn't spoon feed you anything. There are no descriptions of basic slights and sometimes he doesn't suggest a slight at all; he just says "make this happen using your favorite method."
Some of the slights you will need to know include the Riffle Pass, the Classic Pass, the Elmsley Count, the Palm, the Jordan Count, the Three-is-Four Elmsley Count, the Erdnase Color Change, a Perfect Cut, the Zarrow Shuffle, a Perfect Faro, the Finger Count, the Pinkie Count, the Natural Break, the Swivel Cut, some false shuffles, a few Double Lifts, the Classic Palm, the Finger Palm, and a few other things like that.
But that doesn't mean that no slights are taught! Over the course of the book you will learn the Marlo Future Reverse, Brother John Hamman's multiple card lift from a four card packet, a Double Lift from the center of the deck -first published by Larry Jennings in The Gen (1964)-, the SWE shift, the Dribble Force, the Deep Back Clip (Guess what trick that's from.), how to make and use a Breather Crimp, and loads of trick specific slights.
On with the effects!
Missing Link-
Two rubber bands, a large and a small one, are examined by members of the studio audience. The "rubber checkers" verify the authenticity of the elastics. The two bands are stretched openly between the fingers of each hand and the strands are allowed to touch. Upon contact, the large band, mumbo jumbo, visibly links into the small band. To dispel any notions of foul play, the large band is allowed to dangle freely from the small band, the small one being stretched openly between the fingers. The large band is definitely linked into the other band. To conclude the effect, the bands visibly unlink.... Leaving the audience truly "miracle whipped."
I think Kenner was trying to annoy me when he wrote this. Each diagram has a number that is represented by a several tiny I marks in the lower corner. If you want to know what diagram you are looking at you have to count all those tiny marks! The last on has twenty six of them! Also half the time the diagram you are looking for is not on the page you are reading so you have to flip pages to find it, all while having two rubber bands stretched in between your fingers! Arghhh!
Great trick though.
See Kenner perform this one in person in the 1-on-1 section of Theory11.com
Hellbound-
The magician offers a demonstration of the classic spellbound coin routine. The performer displays a silver coin at his fingertips and waves his other hand over the coin causing it to change to copper. With another wave the copper coin transforms itself back to silver. Just when the magician thinks he has fooled his audience, the silver coin, accidentally, falls into his hand with a "clink." Now the audience suspects two coins. The magician, however, shows that both of the coins are silver! Now the two silver coins magically teleports from one hand to the other, one at a time. Just when the audience thinks the trick is over, the silver coins transform into two copper coins and the hands appear to be empty. Miracle, miracle. Definitely a miracle.
This is one of the best coin tricks I have ever seen. It truly blows minds like nobody's business! You're gonna need some English pennies for it though...
Threefry-
With delicate grace and serenity, three silver half dollars vanish one at a time into pure, natural effervescence. As swiftly as they have journeyed into the vast unknown, the gleaming silver discs reconvene within our dimensional existence. As an uncompromising encore, these small representations of silver molecular substances transform into three coins of the copper orientation. Smother the flaming spectator with sand and keep his feet elevated to ensure good blood circulation.
Skill Level: Intermediate. The hardest part is at the beginning where you have to perform a roll down and T. Nelson Downs Coin Star with the right hand, hiding the three classic palmed coins with the Malini Subtlety...Just kidding!
If I was forced to say something bad about this it would be about the end of the vanish. You leave off dirtier than a politician handing a sucker to a baby, so no by play allowed in between the vanish and the reproduction.
Special thanks to Ed Marlo for inventing friction.
See Kenner perform it in the 1-on-1 section of Theory11.com
Perversion-
This is a nice, snappy routine with a surprise finish. The magician allows a spectator to peek at a card in the center of the deck. The magician states that this particular selection is "fidgety." The cards are spread and the selection is seen to be reversed in the center. Even though the card is cleanly placed face down in the center, again it is found to be reversed. The magician offers one last performance and places the card in the center of the deck sticking out for half its length. Much to the audience's dismay however, the whole deck visibly turns face up and the selection remains face down. Snappy?
Be warned, this is by far the most difficult trick in the book. Not much else I can say about it...
Travlrs 1-
In classical manner, three aces vanish one at a time and join the leader ace in the cleanest possible fashion. Each ace becomes magically "invisible" and rematerializes on top of the leader ace. In a dramatic and breathtaking climax, the final ace, which is reversed in the deck, vanishes completely and joins the other three under the spectator's sweaty palm.
This routine follows the conventional plot of Larry Jennings' classic Open Travelers.
I love this trick! It's easy, fun, short, and you're super clean throughout the entire performance!(Waaaaaay cleaner that Open Travelers.) Not only that, but there are some hilarious pictures too! The only bad thing I can think of is that it uses a small "helper."
For 4 For-
Four cards are cleanly displayed and flipped face down on top of the deck. In reality, through a deliberately diabolical devious disarming subterfuge the cards are juxtaposed for another set of cards on top of the deck. I cannot stress just how deceptive this switch can look if performed correctly.
Wow! This looks great! You could do it for a magician 1,534,990 times (almost) and he still wouldn't figure it out!
Peeeeerrrrrfection!
See Kenner himself perform it in the 1-on-1 section of Theory11.com
Diet-In classic "cannibals" type manner the King Balloo's four dudes are on a feeding frenzy in search of young, virgin, pasteboards. Unfortunately, to our dismay, our fine young cannibals discovered that they ate just a bit too much. Luckily Mylanta saved the day and everyone continued on their quest to find BOB.
Seriously, that's the description from the book! Kenner has a talent for writing pages without saying anything of use. Here's what really happens:
Four kings chew and swallow two indifferent cards. The four kings, however, unquestionably eat too much, resulting in their transformation into the four eights. An antacid soothes their digestive system and everybody launches a search party for the Black Lodge.
One of my favorite effects in the whole book! It's fast, it's clean, there is a variation designed to fool magicians (Lots of "fake" Ascanio Spreads and Elmsley counts. Then at the ending BAM! You only had four cards all along...), and the best part is no funny squaring of cards against the deck or anything that would make magicians or laypeople think you switched the cards.
I love the suggested patter too! "Do you know what the K on king stands for? Kannibal..." And the ending is especially enjoyable: "I think the kannibals eight too much though..." As you deliver this klassic line, reveal the four eights in the kleanest, most magikal manner. This is a killer. Konduct a body kount and perform an autopsy.
After Shock-
This is a coin assembly with a killer twist. Four halves gregariously convene under a single playing card, one at a time. In an attempt for the last coin to travel, however, the other three vanish from under the card and join the one in the hands.
Not much I can say about this.
You'll need an expanded shell for this one.
Couple'a things before we get started on the descriptions of the actual tricks. First off, Kenner doesn't spoon feed you anything. There are no descriptions of basic slights and sometimes he doesn't suggest a slight at all; he just says "make this happen using your favorite method."
Some of the slights you will need to know include the Riffle Pass, the Classic Pass, the Elmsley Count, the Palm, the Jordan Count, the Three-is-Four Elmsley Count, the Erdnase Color Change, a Perfect Cut, the Zarrow Shuffle, a Perfect Faro, the Finger Count, the Pinkie Count, the Natural Break, the Swivel Cut, some false shuffles, a few Double Lifts, the Classic Palm, the Finger Palm, and a few other things like that.
But that doesn't mean that no slights are taught! Over the course of the book you will learn the Marlo Future Reverse, Brother John Hamman's multiple card lift from a four card packet, a Double Lift from the center of the deck -first published by Larry Jennings in The Gen (1964)-, the SWE shift, the Dribble Force, the Deep Back Clip (Guess what trick that's from.), how to make and use a Breather Crimp, and loads of trick specific slights.
On with the effects!
Missing Link-
Two rubber bands, a large and a small one, are examined by members of the studio audience. The "rubber checkers" verify the authenticity of the elastics. The two bands are stretched openly between the fingers of each hand and the strands are allowed to touch. Upon contact, the large band, mumbo jumbo, visibly links into the small band. To dispel any notions of foul play, the large band is allowed to dangle freely from the small band, the small one being stretched openly between the fingers. The large band is definitely linked into the other band. To conclude the effect, the bands visibly unlink.... Leaving the audience truly "miracle whipped."
I think Kenner was trying to annoy me when he wrote this. Each diagram has a number that is represented by a several tiny I marks in the lower corner. If you want to know what diagram you are looking at you have to count all those tiny marks! The last on has twenty six of them! Also half the time the diagram you are looking for is not on the page you are reading so you have to flip pages to find it, all while having two rubber bands stretched in between your fingers! Arghhh!
Great trick though.
See Kenner perform this one in person in the 1-on-1 section of Theory11.com
Hellbound-
The magician offers a demonstration of the classic spellbound coin routine. The performer displays a silver coin at his fingertips and waves his other hand over the coin causing it to change to copper. With another wave the copper coin transforms itself back to silver. Just when the magician thinks he has fooled his audience, the silver coin, accidentally, falls into his hand with a "clink." Now the audience suspects two coins. The magician, however, shows that both of the coins are silver! Now the two silver coins magically teleports from one hand to the other, one at a time. Just when the audience thinks the trick is over, the silver coins transform into two copper coins and the hands appear to be empty. Miracle, miracle. Definitely a miracle.
This is one of the best coin tricks I have ever seen. It truly blows minds like nobody's business! You're gonna need some English pennies for it though...
Threefry-
With delicate grace and serenity, three silver half dollars vanish one at a time into pure, natural effervescence. As swiftly as they have journeyed into the vast unknown, the gleaming silver discs reconvene within our dimensional existence. As an uncompromising encore, these small representations of silver molecular substances transform into three coins of the copper orientation. Smother the flaming spectator with sand and keep his feet elevated to ensure good blood circulation.
Skill Level: Intermediate. The hardest part is at the beginning where you have to perform a roll down and T. Nelson Downs Coin Star with the right hand, hiding the three classic palmed coins with the Malini Subtlety...Just kidding!
If I was forced to say something bad about this it would be about the end of the vanish. You leave off dirtier than a politician handing a sucker to a baby, so no by play allowed in between the vanish and the reproduction.
Special thanks to Ed Marlo for inventing friction.
See Kenner perform it in the 1-on-1 section of Theory11.com
Perversion-
This is a nice, snappy routine with a surprise finish. The magician allows a spectator to peek at a card in the center of the deck. The magician states that this particular selection is "fidgety." The cards are spread and the selection is seen to be reversed in the center. Even though the card is cleanly placed face down in the center, again it is found to be reversed. The magician offers one last performance and places the card in the center of the deck sticking out for half its length. Much to the audience's dismay however, the whole deck visibly turns face up and the selection remains face down. Snappy?
Be warned, this is by far the most difficult trick in the book. Not much else I can say about it...
Travlrs 1-
In classical manner, three aces vanish one at a time and join the leader ace in the cleanest possible fashion. Each ace becomes magically "invisible" and rematerializes on top of the leader ace. In a dramatic and breathtaking climax, the final ace, which is reversed in the deck, vanishes completely and joins the other three under the spectator's sweaty palm.
This routine follows the conventional plot of Larry Jennings' classic Open Travelers.
I love this trick! It's easy, fun, short, and you're super clean throughout the entire performance!(Waaaaaay cleaner that Open Travelers.) Not only that, but there are some hilarious pictures too! The only bad thing I can think of is that it uses a small "helper."
For 4 For-
Four cards are cleanly displayed and flipped face down on top of the deck. In reality, through a deliberately diabolical devious disarming subterfuge the cards are juxtaposed for another set of cards on top of the deck. I cannot stress just how deceptive this switch can look if performed correctly.
Wow! This looks great! You could do it for a magician 1,534,990 times (almost) and he still wouldn't figure it out!
Peeeeerrrrrfection!
See Kenner himself perform it in the 1-on-1 section of Theory11.com
Diet-In classic "cannibals" type manner the King Balloo's four dudes are on a feeding frenzy in search of young, virgin, pasteboards. Unfortunately, to our dismay, our fine young cannibals discovered that they ate just a bit too much. Luckily Mylanta saved the day and everyone continued on their quest to find BOB.
Seriously, that's the description from the book! Kenner has a talent for writing pages without saying anything of use. Here's what really happens:
Four kings chew and swallow two indifferent cards. The four kings, however, unquestionably eat too much, resulting in their transformation into the four eights. An antacid soothes their digestive system and everybody launches a search party for the Black Lodge.
One of my favorite effects in the whole book! It's fast, it's clean, there is a variation designed to fool magicians (Lots of "fake" Ascanio Spreads and Elmsley counts. Then at the ending BAM! You only had four cards all along...), and the best part is no funny squaring of cards against the deck or anything that would make magicians or laypeople think you switched the cards.
I love the suggested patter too! "Do you know what the K on king stands for? Kannibal..." And the ending is especially enjoyable: "I think the kannibals eight too much though..." As you deliver this klassic line, reveal the four eights in the kleanest, most magikal manner. This is a killer. Konduct a body kount and perform an autopsy.
After Shock-
This is a coin assembly with a killer twist. Four halves gregariously convene under a single playing card, one at a time. In an attempt for the last coin to travel, however, the other three vanish from under the card and join the one in the hands.
Not much I can say about this.
You'll need an expanded shell for this one.
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