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Part-Timer · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2004 10:32 pm Post subject: Heirloom

The Effect

“Heirloom” by Jamie Badman and Colin Miller.

The performer tells a story about hid Great Uncle Charlie, an inveterate gambler, and of how he got himself into a high stakes card game.

The spectator is invited to make a prediction, which is correct. The performer proves it by opening his wallet, which was in plain sight before the spectator revealed his choice, and removing a photograph of Great Uncle Charlie.

I’m not going to say much about the working of this effect, but as you can see from the link, it utilises Kenton Knepper’s wonderful “Kolossal Killer“ principle.

Cost

It’s available from Alakazam: http://alakazam.co.uk/acatalog/Card_Magic_38.html

They made it, so it seems to be exclusive to them. It costs £19.99

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

I’d put this as a 2. There are no sleights and in many respects it’s foolproof. However, you could mess it up, I suppose. It also needs a bit of thought as to presentation, to achieve maximum impact.

Review

I make no bones about being a huge fan of Kenton’s original effect and this is a nice variation on it. The prop photograph is a nice touch and the accompanying booklet is very good. It solves one problem of the original version (although I regard it as a very slight difficulty), but adds a replacement “wrinkle”. I am not yet convinced the change is for the better.

Overall

I’m giving this 10/10. The original version is mind-blowing and this is a very nice variation. It has a built-in story and interesting, ready-made props, so that might suit your style. Of course, these factors can actually count against you sometimes! As mentioned above, I am far from certain "Heirloom" is an improvement on the normal version of “Kolossal Killer“, but then it’s not easy to improve on perfection. Smile

Anonymous · Preferred Member Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 262

I agree with the review on the whole. I have had the trick for the better part of a week now and I must say this is quality stuff...tops! (although I would suggest a bit of 'weathering' is in order).

With good story telling combined with the right spec. and the right setting, this is a living, Psychic ghost story that draws the spectator in and leaves a deep and unnerving impression. You MUST be a good actor though, this is for those who can spin a yarn...well. If you can this is a trick for you.

Obviously a great deal of work went into this project and it shows...Well done "The Underground Collective" and Peter Nardi...again!

If anyone would like a few hints on how to "tweak" what you get for added realism PM me the last word on page 5 and page 9 of the instructions.

Ozman · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 3:52 pm Post subject:

tried this on my other half yesterday... and she went all milky on me! it's a very, very powerful effect... but the presentation is what really sells it... you have to treat the trick as an 'event'...

i was initally unsure about buying this... didn't want to have to carry the necessary 'bits' around with me... but it fits nicely in your wallet and is ABSOLUTELY worthy of your time and moolah!

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19332 Location: UK (62:AH)

Gee thanks guys, my credit card is getting all fidgety and itching to be used again. No, no - CUPS I am and CUPS I stay. I'll order it on Monday! Wink

Part-Timer · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 5:08 pm Post subject:

Ha! You call that CUPS, Mandrake?

REAL CUPS sufferers would have ordered it today.

Be honest, you just like the idea of people going all "milky" on you, right? Wink

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19332 Location: UK (62:AH)

I'm strong, so very, very strong and I can resist anything. Except temptation. So I'll probably order it Friday!

Part-Timer · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 5:15 pm Post subject:

That's more like it.

No comment about my "milky" remark, huh?

Wink

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19332 Location: UK (62:AH)

Still trying to figure it out - I'm not well, I have CUPS, can't think straight, must go buy something, must go buy something!

ceeswing · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 2

Fot of all, i like the effect. It depend on your presentation.

The props are not so good, the letter is not convincing and the photo's are not real high quality.

I make a story-line in Dutch and I translated the letter in Dutch.

I wrote a new letter on old paper, put it in the oven 200 degree's for
2 minutes and I have a really convincing letter.

PM me if you want to see a sample

Regards

Cornelius Laughing

ouch-kabibble · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:32 pm Post subject:

Hey guys,

I have read many reviews for heirloom and will most probably buy it. But before I do, one question, what actually happens in the trick?

I know there is a photograph, and a letter involved but know nothing else about it. Can anyone help?

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19332 Location: UK (62:AH)

In very general terms, you relate the story of Uncle Charlie and his fondness for gambling plus his faith in his lucky card. Your spec makes a truly random guess at which card this might be and you immediately produce a single, battered old sepia photograph from an otherwise apprently empty wallet - the photo is of Uncle Charlie (and a lady freind!) and he's holding a single playing card!

The Alakazam blub says: The 'Heirloom' is a old sepia photograph. Of your Great Uncle Charlie - a superstitious old gambler. The photograph clearly shows a prediction made by the spectator to be 100% correct. And... it can always be examined.

To be fair, there's a bit more to it than that and there's also a letter which comes in to play. The trick is very good but ideally you need to get the Heirloom wallet. This can be used for Heirloom and so many other effects - I thinbk there's a separate review of the wallet but, if you don't buy it, you'll need to get a similar type of wallet to do the trick as described.

badmanj · Junior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12

The Heirloom Wallet is definitely not needed for this effect. Colin and I invented this trick and we've never used the Heirloom Wallet to do it! We both use similar wallets - which need to have simple criteria; basically they need symmetrical compartments and enough of them. A trip to your local shopping centre should do the trick. The wallet I use currently cost very little.

The Heirloom Wallet is a nice prop but it's definitely not a requirement for performing Heirloom.

Jamie.

badmanj · Junior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12

Just to let you know...

"Legacy: Heirloom's Darkest Secrets"

The new ebook containing a whole host of new presentations, ideas and effects for Heirloom. It's 50+ pages and includes some new printable 'Charlie' pictures for use with a great new effect included in the manuscript!

Take a look on the website:

http://www.underground-collective.com

For some more details including a partial description of content.

Cheers,

Jamie.

shanester · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject:

I have heirloom in my wallet all of the time. I use my normal wallet and the photos have "naturally aged".
It is one piece I do when I have a group who can sit down and really get into the story (needs 5-10 mins of uninterrupted attention). It ALWAYS gets a strong reaction. It suprises me how strong this is but it is great. People alwalys talk about this when I see them months later.
I think the reason it is so strong is the whole Derren Brown mind control thing. I like to let people lead themselves into the "there was some way you led me to choose that card, some things you said controlled my choice without me knowing it" mindset. This is great. You want people to believe you can control their minds (although the presentation I use is that objects retain the power of emotional events that they are tied to, psychic echoes if you will- this helps throw people off track and fits with the story).

I am seriously considering buying The Legacy and will post a review if I do so.

Shanester

shanester · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:33 pm Post subject:

Incidentally,
Heirloom provides you with an automatic answer to why you can't repeat the effect- "because you already know what the photo is"