Dear David. I feel that the Roterberg concept is unfairly negated by many magicians these days. I published a very deceptive (imho) routine using it in my 1997 book, Protean Card Magic. Basically, the 6&9 are inserted into the deck by the spectator and INSTANTLY sandwich a previously selected card. The card is face up between the face-down 6&9.
I also use the idea for a "mystery card" effect in my 2017 book, Article 52.
Thanks Paul, good to hear from you. I'll check out those references. There's also a version in Expert at the Card Table under the title The Acme of Control. Erdnase uses the pseudo duplicate idea but adds some sleight of hand and allows the spectator to shuffle the deck. I've never quite got to the bottom of it, though others have done an analysis, but it seems Roterberg did influence the contents of Expert at the Card Table.
It's good to go back to these classic routines ie the card tricks we first learned as kids. They were good tricks then and they are good tricks now. Their plots were very direct. The handlings very clean.
I was talking with Shiv Duggal a month ago about the Four Burglars routine. Great trick, nice story, but no one does it. We thought it worth thinking about again.
Yes, the Erdnase one is a tad confusing. But, he was influenced by Roterberg, Sachs and Selbit. Still good stuff. The Four Burglars is a goodie. If I recall correctly, there's a nice handling in an old Fulves MS. But, I can't remember the exact details. I published one years ago twinning it with The Collectors. In essence, four police ran to the rooftop and captured the four burglars/Jacks. Method wise it was standard, but twinning the plots was interesting.
Thanks for that Paul. Re The Four Burglars I too was wondering what else could be added to the story without adding too much to the handling. One vague idea asked what was it that the burglars were trying to steal. And maybe their successful theft of the items is the unexpected kicker.
Yes, that's what I arrived at. And it would have worked well if only there were, say, four Ace of Diamonds in the deck. But when I started thinking about exactly which, say, four diamond cards could be produced, the effect became less clear. I wasn't going to sandwich them, just quickly deal them off the deck. And, if the spectator had helped bury the cards, then maybe that would be something. The goal, which of course is probably unrealistic, is to have a handling as simple, or almost as simple, as the original but with an enhanced effect and something that felt more contemporary. Otherwise I'm going back to hiding a bunch of extra cards behind an awkwardly held fan :-)
Ha, exactly my thoughts. 😂. How about Jacks go to the rooftop and disguise themselves as women (Queens) and then change back again? Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's best left alone. 😂 Or, just use better technique to do the original.
you try to find a chosen card. you take 4 cards, you turn it face up but nothing happens. when you turn over the chosen card (you know it via à si stebbins stack) you do long tall sally !
Dear David. I feel that the Roterberg concept is unfairly negated by many magicians these days. I published a very deceptive (imho) routine using it in my 1997 book, Protean Card Magic. Basically, the 6&9 are inserted into the deck by the spectator and INSTANTLY sandwich a previously selected card. The card is face up between the face-down 6&9.
I also use the idea for a "mystery card" effect in my 2017 book, Article 52.
Thank you for YOUR routine. ♥ Paul Gordon
Thanks Paul, good to hear from you. I'll check out those references. There's also a version in Expert at the Card Table under the title The Acme of Control. Erdnase uses the pseudo duplicate idea but adds some sleight of hand and allows the spectator to shuffle the deck. I've never quite got to the bottom of it, though others have done an analysis, but it seems Roterberg did influence the contents of Expert at the Card Table.
It's good to go back to these classic routines ie the card tricks we first learned as kids. They were good tricks then and they are good tricks now. Their plots were very direct. The handlings very clean.
I was talking with Shiv Duggal a month ago about the Four Burglars routine. Great trick, nice story, but no one does it. We thought it worth thinking about again.
Yes, the Erdnase one is a tad confusing. But, he was influenced by Roterberg, Sachs and Selbit. Still good stuff. The Four Burglars is a goodie. If I recall correctly, there's a nice handling in an old Fulves MS. But, I can't remember the exact details. I published one years ago twinning it with The Collectors. In essence, four police ran to the rooftop and captured the four burglars/Jacks. Method wise it was standard, but twinning the plots was interesting.
Re my trick discussed earlier, here's a vid: https://youtu.be/BlDQXsEHokE
Cheers, Paul ♥
Thanks for that Paul. Re The Four Burglars I too was wondering what else could be added to the story without adding too much to the handling. One vague idea asked what was it that the burglars were trying to steal. And maybe their successful theft of the items is the unexpected kicker.
I guess the obvious is DIAMONDS. But, sandwiching them is a bit lame. I've now got my "thinking cap" on! 😂
Yes, that's what I arrived at. And it would have worked well if only there were, say, four Ace of Diamonds in the deck. But when I started thinking about exactly which, say, four diamond cards could be produced, the effect became less clear. I wasn't going to sandwich them, just quickly deal them off the deck. And, if the spectator had helped bury the cards, then maybe that would be something. The goal, which of course is probably unrealistic, is to have a handling as simple, or almost as simple, as the original but with an enhanced effect and something that felt more contemporary. Otherwise I'm going back to hiding a bunch of extra cards behind an awkwardly held fan :-)
Ha, exactly my thoughts. 😂. How about Jacks go to the rooftop and disguise themselves as women (Queens) and then change back again? Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's best left alone. 😂 Or, just use better technique to do the original.
First Class as always David, thank you.
For Sally :
you try to find a chosen card. you take 4 cards, you turn it face up but nothing happens. when you turn over the chosen card (you know it via à si stebbins stack) you do long tall sally !
Congratulation for this news letter
Kind regards
Alain Gesbert
Thanks Alain. And welcome to Cardopolis!