I am sorry that I have not posted for a long time because of some personal crap that is not bound to happen again anytime soon. So before I finish the LePaul stuff, here is a neat little documentary on intellectual property found on the interwebs.
The magic café in a nutshell.
The Card Magic of Le Paul: New and Improved Sleights and Flourishes (Short Version)
The first part of the book is heavily refined sleight of hand with a distinct mechanical flavour as well as self-contained misdirection.
The Card Magic of Le Paul: New and Improved Sleights and Flourishes (Part III/III)
Chaper VII: Controls
A Natural Jog Control
A neat, casual control. It’s one of those things that is always good to know and will work in the worst possible performing conditions.
A Fancy Control
Fancy, but more deceptive than swing-cut nonsense.
An Automatic Jog Control
One of the best sleight in the book. A card is inserted cleanly in a fan and yet, the performer has full control over the card.
Chapter IX: False Shuffles
A False Waterfall Shuffle
This is pretty much a precursor to Guy Hollingsworth’s false shuffle.
A False Riffle Shuffle
I really like this strip-out. It is relaxed, natural and LePaul’s handling of the whole procedure has a lot of very deceptive touches worth your attention. Ok, I’ll say it, I prefer Lepaul’s strip-out over Charlie Miller’s.
Chapter X: Flourishes
Although the flourishes described in this chapter can work very well for close up, LePaul’s original use for them was in a manipulation act. Since i don’t like to do fan productions and vanishes and related shenanigans, I admit that I don’t know the material in this chapter as well as the rest of book, so please take the following review with a larger grain of salt than the rest of the blog.
An Instantaneous Palm Flourish
A fan is produced in the right hand from a fan in the left hand. I beleive this has a lot of potential.
A Card Fan Flourish
+
The Vanish and Reproduction of a Deck of Cards
I beleive I saw both these items in every manipulation act ever. I would like to point out that very specific intruction for the motions are given and a manipulator might want to check how LePaul handled those items.
The Card Magic of Le Paul: New and Improved Sleights and Flourishes (Part II/III)
Chapter V: The Double-Lift
The Flip-Over Double-Lift
Along with Steranko’s, this is probably the best description of a hit double lift in the litterature, the pictures really clarify the correct pressure points and done at the right time, it will fly past the most discerning spectator.
The Snap-Over Double-Lift
I sometime do this from a standard dribble, it is a casual double that the audience does not expect since it’s done in an other action, classic LePaul thinking.
Chapter VI: Changes
The Top Change
First Method
A choreographed method with a discrepancy (finger position), great for stand up.
Second Method
Great blocking for the performer who might make less movement, covers the discrepancy found in the first method.
Third Method
Similar to the second method, but tables the card.
Fourth Method
Since Dany DaOrtiz’ Utopia, I saw some younger magicians start to use LePaul’s second deal (which will be discussed later in this review) as a top change. This method is pretty much LePaul’s second deal, but with minor additions that will make the whole action a lot smoother.
An Instantaneous Change
A cute little colour change, I really like how LePaul establishes the action of stroking the card before the steal. Like most non-visual colour changes, I beleive that this change has a lot more potential to confound than some eye-candy.
Chapter VII: False Dealing
The Second-Deal (Improved Method)
An unusual second deal where the card is taken more or less in biddle grip, as a fan of the Erdnase’s second method and Dai Vernon’s new theory deal, I rarely use it. However, It is a very deceptive and efficient deal which can also be used to establish Stuart Gordon’s double lift.
A Rapid One-Hand Deal (Legitimate)
Very flashy
A Rapid One-Hand Second-Deal
If you enjoy the rapid One-Hand deal, it is a disarming deal to learn.
The Bottom Deal (Simplified Method)
Although it is a neat idea, I would say that this is only marginally easier than a real strike deal.
That heart is not incidental
The Card Magic of Le Paul: New and Improved Sleights and Flourishes (Part I/III)
Chapter I: The pass
In a nutshell, LePaul breaks down the importance of the pass and compels the reader to grow a pair and learn the classic two handed shift. Then, two new shifts are introduced; LePaul’s Invisible Turn Over Pass and “A Flourish and a Pass”.
LePaul’s invisible turn over pass might seem mechanically ordinary by today’s standard, but the actions surrounding the move (please study the pictures) avoids the commonly seen awkwardness of the right hand’s motion after shift.
“A Flourish and a Pass” is perhaps the most misused shift in existence. The original blocking for LePaul’s spread pass remains unsurpassed, especially when compared with the “please kill me” handlings one might find on youtube.
Chapter II: The Side-Steal
Tight and cosy methods, but if you are going to do a side-steal, Marlo is the man.
Chapter III: Palming
I will admit that it is a bit hard to approach this chapter, since LePaul pretends to have improved several methods from Erdnase’s treatrise. I would say that LePaul’s greatest quality as a technician is the misderection he includes within his sleights. However, Erdnase’s original palms stand perfectly on their own and I find that any additional efforts to conceal the moves can only add suspicion. With that said, you read my take on the palms below.
Right Hand Top Palm (Group Method)
Very practical, but too much finger action for my taste
Right Hand Top Palm (Single Card Method)
This method looks great in the action of turning the deck over.
Erdnase Bottom Palm (Improved)
This method is like Vernon’s double pump for the DPS; if you have smaller hands, go for it, if not run away.
A Bottom Card Steal
I often use this steal in lieu of a cop, it takes some chutzpahto do it for the first time, but it is more angle friendly than a cop.
The Diagonal Left Hand Palm (Improved Method)
Way too much going on for my taste, I really do not like this.
Left Hand Center Card Steal
Nice way to work from a peek, can be combined with other techniques for pleasing results.
Chapter IV: A Useful Aquitment
A small chapter with a wonderful subtelty for palming that can be turned into a sleight. This aquitment is some real work stuff.
Book of The Month: The Card Magic of Le Paul
I chose this book not only for the amazing quality of the material, but also for the various thoughts of LePaul many of which adresses issues that are as relevant today as they were in 1949.
Bow ties are cool.
