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DaiBato Veteran user 310 Posts |
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this story from "Encyclopedia of Card Tricks" on page 374.
It is a great presentation (though not a card trick per se) that I have used to great effect down the years. Anyone else agree? Dai Bato |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
Nice alternative to 'Sam the Bellhop'.
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
In the right hands, this can be an audience mover.
However, I have heard this thing done and overdone. When Tex Ritter did his recording of it, it was played on the radio so often that you almost had to have rest stops for people to wring out their handkerchiefs. His version came out during the Korean war, if I remember correctly. This thing goes back to the 17th century. Just once, I would like to hear the story end this way. "So the judge looked the soldier straight in the eye and said: 'Nonsense! I saw you playing solitaire on the pew next to you last week as well.' Sergeant, take this man out and shoot him.' " Or, at a magic convention, "So the judge said, 'Nice story. Really nice story. Let me see the cards. Okay, here's three rows of seven cards. Look at the cards and remember one of them. Now which row is your card in?'"
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Julian Kestrel Loyal user 268 Posts |
Bwaaaaaa! Haaaa! Haaa! Oh Bill that is poignantly evil.
Julian Kestrel |
Cranial Fermentator Loyal user 238 Posts |
I have presented this at a poetry reading, and it went over very well with the audience. I performed the version that appears in "The Encyclopedia of Card Tricks", but if you do a google search, you can find countless variations on the web including the version recorded by Wink Martindale in 1957.
Paul |
dlhoyt Regular user 176 Posts |
Rhett Bryson has put together a collection of material based on this story, called, appropriately, "The Devil's Prayerbook". You can find out more about it here:
http://facweb.furman.edu/~rbryson/magic.html |
rhettbryson Elite user Greenville, SC Not ashamed of his 406 Posts |
This is an old thread - but there could be some interest in an update. I did, indeed, write a compilation of material concerning the deck of cards as an almanac and the history of the Soldier's prayerbook. This along with history, routines, stacks to do the whole deck spelling and other relevant material.
The wee book is still available for purchase from me, but I have made it available as an iBook on the Apple iBook store. It can be downloaded to iPads for reading there. Do check it out as I think you will find it encyclopedic on this subject. |
Paulgbel New user 5 Posts |
Hi I'm trying to find this book as I do mounty the spiv at the moment and work table to table sometimes so would like to switch the stories can't seem to find the book on iBooks can you let me know where I can get it with setup handling etc
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