Boston Shut-Up Magician | Reflections of Magic up to now.

Boston Magic Scene within the Seventies

Within the mid-70s, I started my examine of magic as a younger grownup. I used to be involved in Card Magic and Coin Magic.

I loved my magic books, though it was generally troublesome, if not unattainable, to interpret a sleight from the written phrase. As for mentors, I by no means had one. I made one of the best of what assets I had and discovered quite a bit from what I may extract from my books. Sadly, studying solely from books, some sleights or methods, could be unattainable for me to course of, leaving my growth handicapped in some areas. 

My main curiosity was card magic. It at all times fascinated me. From the stage magicians who would pluck playing cards out of the air, nearly endlessly, to the Shut-Up Magicians who would discover a beforehand signed card, inside an envelope, inside a zippered compartment in a pockets.

Stage Card Magic/Shut-Up Card Magic

Maybe probably the most well-known of the cardboard manipulators was Cardini. (Richard Valentine Pitchford) I consider what made him the best card manipulator in historical past was his stage character. I don’t dismiss his technical expertise, which have been second to none throughout his profession.

As I recall, in his act he was a British gentleman, returning residence from a night out, and appeared innocently, slightly “tipsy”. And as a lot to his bewilderment, playing cards would seem at his fingertips, whereas sporting gloves. In contrast to most magicians, the magic occurred to him, versus being the magican himself.  

Cardini video 1957

My curiosity in enjoying playing cards was within the card trick class. I used to be on the lookout for one thing slightly extra “magical” than the “twenty-one card trick“, or the plain “Key Card” discovery, the place you’ll merely look by means of the deck and pull out the choice and ask, “Is that this your card?”

New Card Magic Plots

I beforehand talked about Walter Gibson’s e-book. Quickly after I found Shut Up Card Magic by Harry Lorayne. A a lot treasured e-book of many magicians. I additionally found the work of Paul Harris, a younger magician who had a singular perspective on magic. His writing was contemporary and amusing. Nobody had ever displayed a humorousness of their writing of card methods.

Paul additionally discovered new makes use of for taking part in playing cards. Tearing holes in playing cards and linking and unlinking them just like the well-known Chinese language Linking Rings. Or an everyday deck of enjoying playing cards, turning right into a stable block of playing cards.

I additionally began amassing the Tarbell Course in Magic. Which is a collection of books assembled from the unique mail order, Tarbell Course in Magic. Nonetheless thought-about important studying to this present day.

To be full, I additionally studied the work of Martin A. Nash and Coin Work in Bobo’s Fashionable Coin Magic. 

Issues generally change unexpectedly, and in 1978 I finished all my involvement in magic for about ten years. Subsequent time,         I return to magic, and ultimately uncover the enjoyment of performing as a semi-professional.

Joe Ferranti

Shut-Up Magician Boston