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Andrew Hillcoat New user Glasgow 5 Posts |
Hi folks,
I'm wondering if anyone has information on the history of the O.Henry Card Trick from Karl Fulves' Self-working Card Tricks? The O.Henry ending has been applied to ace assemblies and such like to suggest a double climax or twist ending. But did this effect get its name from falling into this category or was it from this effect that all others took their name? If it is the former, then with whom did this trick actually originate? If it is the latter, then who is O.Henry and do you have any other info? I would very much appreciate the help. Thanks Andrew |
ejohn Special user Atlanta 720 Posts |
William Sydney Porter, known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short story writer. His stories are known for their surprise endings. Wikipedia
Died: June 5, 1910, New York City, NY Hope this helps. |
Andrew Hillcoat New user Glasgow 5 Posts |
Thank you ejohn. That's interesting. I'll need to check him out. I have never hesrd of him. Appreciate your help.
So, that just leaves the question of who created this specific effect? |
JBSmith1978 Veteran user NY 389 Posts |
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Andrew Hillcoat New user Glasgow 5 Posts |
Hey.
Thanks for that. I appreciate it. I have already checked that website and unfortunately found only the references to ace assemblies. My enquiry is about The O.Henry Card Trick in Karl Fulves' book. It's a different effect. Thanks anyway. |
EndersGame Inner circle Reviewer EndersGame 2196 Posts |
I'm not sure about the history of this particular trick. I am very familiar with the author, O. Henry, that it is named after, and have many of his shorts stories. A common feature in his stories is an ironic twist. Many of his stories have a surprising ending, and that makes them thoroughly enjoyable to read. Sometimes he even reverses the entire story line in a single concluding one-liner. Obviously this is the element that inspired the trick.
Some suggestions for you, if you would be interested in reading some of his stories: The Jeff Peter story "The Love-philtre of Ikey Schoenstein" features a brilliant scheme of romance, and the way it backfires is unforgettable. Other delightful examples of ordinary stories with a glorious ironic twist include "Witches' Loaves" and "While the Auto Waits". The twist that comes at the end of "The Hypotheses of Failure" is so perplexing, that you'll have to re-read the entire story after reading the ending - but you will be completely delighted at the way in which O. Henry has misled you. Perhaps one of O. Henry's best uses of the ironic twist comes in "The Last Leaf", a warm and tragic tale describing how a dying artist proves as resilient as the last leaf on the wall outside, and through the self-less sacrifice of another. The "Cop and the Anthem" is another sentimental favourite. But perhaps his most famous story, and the one to start with, is "Gift of the Magi". His stories are all available online, so you can easily read them for free. You will need some sense of literary taste, because his vocabulary is quite extensive - this is good literature, not pulp fiction. |
Mofman New user 17 Posts |
This trick is one of the best in this book. Although the set up is incorrect. You have to place the 'chosen' card 11th not tenth from the top. Otherwise if spectator deals 10 cards on the table, it doesn't work. He ends up dealing the chosen card in his hand.
I've also performed this as matching pairs instead of a prediction on a piece of paper. I false shuffle then look through the deck to find a prediction (the matching card of the chosen card) at position 22 from top, this then gives me the opportunity to cut off the cards I need for the trick, whilst just looking like I've found the card for my prediction. |
Andrew Hillcoat New user Glasgow 5 Posts |
Thanks EndersGame for the information on O.Henry. I had never heard of him before, so I'm grateful for this info.
Now that I've gotten to the bottom of who O.Henry was, I guess it just leaves the question of who created this trick. I assume it was Karl Fulves? Anyway, Mofman, I also think this is one of the best tricks in the book and I also noticed the incorrect set up. I've been messing around with the effect and the force for weeks now and am having lots of fun with it. Thanks again for your input everyone. Andrew |
Amilkar New user Barcelona-Spain 7 Posts |
Dear friends,
O. Henry published a book and it was: COLLECTED STORIES OF O. HENRY. With 236 stories, edited by Paul J. Horowitz. AVENEL BOOKS-NEW YORK. ISBN 0-517-61839-7 I hope that will inspire you for a lot of tricks. Sincerely, F. AmÃlcar Riega I Bello. |
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