by DomanC » Nov 6th, '06, 01:50
I bought Hollingworth’s book Drawing Room Deceptions last year after I had seen him on WGM3 (I think) and it startled me. When I bought it they told me it would be difficult, but I know a snap change, double lifts, miracle change, Hermann pass, half pass would do it, it didn't! When I began reading it it was extremely difficult, but that’s why I think I like it so much, it challenges me when I read it and perform. The book is excellent and contains some great trick such as:
Cassandra Quandray: An amazing trick in which a selected card is put in a sealed un-gimmicked envelope, then the spectator by a process of elimination eliminates 50 cards from the pack leaving one, (the other one in the envelope makes 52) the one left would be impossible for it to be in the envelope, BUT IT IS, the sealed signed envelope is opened and there is no card in there! Talk about a paradox!
waving the aces: you saw it on TV!
Reformation: torn and restored card, I think the best one ever, and hardest one ever! you saw it on TV!
Oil and Water: red separates from black in a packet of six cards, audience sees the altered colors and instantly the are black separated from red! Fascinating!
Moving on if you buy the book the two videos are a must! The videos are London Collection, and Routines. They are great videos different from any magic video you've seen, the videos teach the real hard tricks in the books (not all, some are waving the aces, Casandra Quandray, Ambidextrous interchange, etc.) to simplify the understanding. PRICE: $20.00-$25.00 each video
Quartet: This card gaff is fantastic, simplifies routines, makes the original twisting the aces by Dai Vernon easier, you don't even have to do an Elmsley Count! It also simplifies Hollingsworth’s waving the aces, and it changes the kings to aces in both waving/twisting the aces. It comes with 10 tricks and one card gaff, great trick. PRICE $20.00
Reformation Videotape: It’s out of print but a friend of mine gave it to me, if you don't have it try to get your hands on it! The filming quality on it is crappy, but a good learning source to learn the reformation, if you want to learn how its done buy his book Drawing Room Deceptions, reformation video tape and the book are the only ways it teaches how to do the fascinating torn and restored card trick. PRICE: out of print.
Everything listed is recommended for advanced card magicians.