Ed Marlo - Gimmicked Decks

[haroldross]

Yesterday I was reading from an old book from the 1940's by Ed Marlo. I was floored when I read that he used a gimmicked deck for Triumph. He was explaining how to use the rough/smooth princple with a stripper deck to do Triumph. The reason I was so surprised is that I have learned a few of his ways to do Triumph with a normal deck. I believe Ed Marlo to be one of the best cardicians of all times. This just goes to show that we all need to broaden our magical horizons.

[Jacob Hatfield]

Agreed!
I still have a great Svengali Deck Routine that you would never guess I used a Svengali for.

Trick decks are great tools. Magicians have them when they are young and they get stuck with the idea that they are made for "KIDS."
These tools in the hands of a skilled Magician are LETHAL.
You can thank sites like "***********" for promoting Knuckle Busting slights as they way to go and earn respect.
I agree. It's great to know the slights and to be able to do these amazing effects. But sometimes, the lasting impression is done with a trick deck. Besides...don't we always say, simple is better?

[CutNstuf]

Simple is better! Some magicians get it in their heads that the method has to be complex for the effect to be strong. We sometimes lose sight of the fact that the audience has absolutely no knowledge of the method employed. They only see the effect for it's presentation. The simpler it is for us to create the illusion, the more we can focus on the presentation. That's where the real magic is.

Cut