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50 Crazy Card Stunts

Grant, U. F.

Magic, Inc.

(Based on 1 review)
50 Card laugh getters. Effects to pep up more serious routines, all easy to do, impromptu, very effective.

Reviews

Thomas Sciacca

Sep 17, 2010

I ordered this little booklet, as it had not shown up in one of the more neglected corners at U.S. Toy and Magic. That U.F. Grant penned/compiled it, really motivated the purchase.
Knowing this booklet came about a few decades before I was born, was part of the novel thrill; so is reading about what all was considered 'crazy' back in the 30's, 40's, 50's, magic wise-compared to now, in 2010. It was and is an amusing read, sprinkled with lines that smell of vaudeville. The magician failing on purpose, and simply says he'd 'like to be able to get this trick right, someday'. Slapstick silliness, sucker gags, gentle stuff. The card magician palms off a selection at a restaurant, slips it to a waiter in the know, and, here comes the chosen card, delivered inside the spectators lunch ( note from the author: a balony sandwich works best!) Probably one of the more nostalgic tricks, is at the very end of the book. The situation is this: ' You and your friend are out for an ice cream sunday'....possibly a banana split. It's a wager trick, and the winner gets the sunday-a script/moment that Norman Rockwell would have painted. This time I live in now, still has ice cream sundays, and banana splits, but, even the restaurant world and eating is more complicated. This book is from when sundays, were probably all the rage. Anyway, the jokes in this work, are silly, some may get you a laugh, if your a comedy performer. I am always able to find at least ONE trick from everybook I get-including these forgotten classics, that were probably sold through comic book ads, and cost a quarter, back in the day. One potentiallly usable effect is what stands out in my mind-a simple hindu force of say a queen, who is put face down in the deck. With no funny moves, deck is spread, and there is the queen face up. It's simple, clever, and was a favorite of a veteran performer, who I hadn't heard of. So, there might be a couple of dusty jewels in this booklet, worth shining up. Suble things, ideas...but nothing 'crazy' as the title suggests.
I only wish U.F. Grant could have met, say Jay Sankey...
now, THAT boy, could really justify the title of this book!
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