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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
O.K., I finally did it. I bought one. I didn't really need one. I didn't even know if I wanted one. But the price was just too good to pass up. I received an email from the owner of our local brick & mortar store. He said he just purchased an estate of magic from a magician who was moving out of the country. Included within it was a used Super X.
I asked him what kind of condition it was in. He said, on a scale of one to ten (with ten being perfect), it was about a 7 or an 8. He said, if it was him, he would replace the outdated images on the stands with something more modern and replace the cloth with something that wasn't quite as dated. These were cosmetic touches that could easily be remedied. The important point was that the hardware and board were absolutely sound. Now, I've known and trusted this dealer for quite a number of years, and he's never steered me wrong (such is the result of my loyalty to brick & mortar stores). So, when he tells me something is worth buying, I take him seriously. But the best part was the price - $150.00 including shipping (I live abouot 200 miles north of the City where he is located). Like I said, I didn't really need it (I already have a chair suspension and flying carpet for my smaller shows and an asrah for my stage show), but I'm a sucker for a good deal. O.K., now that I've gotten that out of my system, I have to start thinking of how to update the cosmetic design of the illusion. The only thing I've thought of so far was to replace the side stands with large hinged playing cards. This would have visual appeal, and it would blend in nicely with my Victory Cubes. Any other thoughts or suggestions? Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
MCM Elite user Minnesota 456 Posts |
Once you get it, post a picture here of the condition it is in. Then people can see what you are starting with.
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Great idea! I tried attaching a picture, but I got a message saying it was too large. I'm kind of a technical idiot. Does anyone know how to reduce the size of the picture?
Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
Keith Jozsef Loyal user 212 Posts |
If you have Photoshop/Photoshop Elements you can easily reduce the image to any size you like.
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MCM Elite user Minnesota 456 Posts |
Or, if you have Microsoft Office, there is a photo editor that is pretty easy to use.
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
A very helpful Café member emailed me and offered to reduce the size of the photo. I forwarded it to him last night. Since then, however, I also found the picture on the dealer's site. Here is the link:
Super X Hope that works. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
freefallillusion1 Elite user Cincinnati, OH 446 Posts |
I use two folding chairs as stands. The person lies on the board, I get behind it, pick up the cloth, my stagehands come out and remove the chairs one at a time. I've found that folding chairs do vary slightly, so try several to get the ones that fit under the board.
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George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
I think it's so funny that the Super X originally came with a cloth in the center and two side screens, and it always manages to stay that way...
If you look at what it really is, other ideas come to mind right away. We're looking at a board held up by something, kinda like a table or an altar or even a sideboard. What if the side pieces are two-fold screens and the center piece is a four-fold matching screen? Or the side pieces are columns and the middle is a tapestry? Or even get rid of the side pieces and just have a solid center piece that moves back? For stuff ike this, I always like to refer to furniture books, especially antique furniture. However, If you can find something on modern high-end designer furniture, especially Italian, you might find something interesting.
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
the Sponge Inner circle Atlanta 2771 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-20 16:40, George Ledo wrote: I have seen this idea marketed by U.F. Grant. the "..... somthing... Devoe princess in the air..." or something. Strangely, I never see anyone mention it. It was in the Mak Catalog. s |
NFox Inner circle I Do Mentalism Now?! 1101 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-19 14:56, magicman845 wrote: The most important question to ask in theming or retheming, as it were, is what is your style? Defining your style will help you make the prop your own and create an overall better flow, and continuity throughout your show. So, what is your style? Nick Fox |
Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Nick,
Great point! My style is fairly modern and light hearted. I like to laugh at myself during various points of the show, and I have a continuing battle of wits with my assistant (of course she always seems to get the upper hand). Much of the stage is usually modern and simple, but very professional looking. I really like the idea of an altar. I wonder if I could combine the effect with my Zombie ball routine? Hypnotize my assistant by having her cradle the Zombie ball. Then lie her down on the altar with the Zombie still sitting on her chest. I could then go through the Zombie Ball routine, having it come to rest back on her chest at the end of the routine. Then, the stage hands can remove the bases of the altar as the power of the Zombie Ball makes her float. Think it might work? Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Funny me, but I like the existing side stands...
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
That Super X photo brought back memories. It even looks like it was taken in my backyard years ago.
Anyway, if you already do the chair suspension, the Super X can blow away those who have already seen you do it. Use (if they are tall enough) the same chairs or same style chairs, only have them with the seats facing outwards and the board apparently resting on the backs of the chairs. The big cloth can be reduced to a very narrow strip (about a foot wide) and still give you the coverage you need. Put the volunteer on the board and remove one chair, as in the chair suspension, then remove the other one. Finally step behind and roll the strip of cloth up and around the floatee. Do the hula hoop thing and get her back down again in reverse.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
THAT sounds like a great presentation.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Super X is one that is just too tough to give up. Half of the weight of ours, after all, this time must be paint. But life goes on. A magic show without the classics is like driving a car without oil. Try it! It has a short life.
(But do I hate to haul it? You bet!) Pete, I agree with you about the side stands. Ours is a picket fence with stands at the ends. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
That IS your backyard, Spellbinder. I was out there only yesterday and I stepped in a rusty bucket. I still have it stuck on my foot. Anyway, I think you forgot to mention that the foot wide skinny banner goes down both the front AND the back of the board to hide the works. It's a minor point, but it might be important for someone who is out there scratching valuable hair from his or hear head.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
freefallillusion1 Elite user Cincinnati, OH 446 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-23 00:57, Spellbinder wrote: How is that possible if audience members have any view other than dead-on center? When I arrive at a theater, one of the first things I do is to check the angles on my levitation. Yes, it can be played decently far away from the back curtain, which is good, but I find that even with my full width cover, I have to be careful of the side angles. |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
The standard cover goes down over the FRONT of the board. The strip Jim Gerrish and I are talking about goes down over the front AND down the back covering the (mmmmph! mmm! harumph! cough! cough!) like a sleeve but open at the back so it can be pulled up over the victim... I mean floater, or is that suspender? When that happens a certain body part is covering the (mmmmph! mmm! harumph! cough! cough!). The best way is to drag the prop out and try it with various width strips, walking around to check the angles as you already do. If it doesn't work for you, then we may have to try pictures, but it's hard to explain in photos without showing the (mmmmph! mmm! harumph! cough! cough!).
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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